The intra-ovarian presence of ootids, i.e. female gametes that have completed meiosis, is considered exceptional in the animal kingdom. The present study explores the first such case to be reported in a sea cucumber (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea). In the overwhelming majority of animals, including holothuroids, oocytes (i.e. immature female gametes) that are developing in the ovary undergo a primary arrest at the prophase stage of meiosis, which may last from days to decades. In free-spawning taxa, this arrest is normally lifted only during or shortly before transit in the gonoduct, when gamete release (spawning) is imminent. However, oocytes of the holothuroid Chiridota laevis were discovered to have resumed the second meiotic division including the completion of germinal vesicle breakdown and polar-body expulsion inside the ovary, effectively reaching the ootid stage concomitantly with ovulation (i.e. escape from follicle cells) prior to spawning. The potential drivers and significance of this exceptionally rare case of full intra-ovarian oogenic maturation are discussed.

Infringement of broadcasts is often treated as a crime. The Nigerian Constitution guarantees that no-one can be prosecuted for any act that is not prescribed in a written law. Section 20 of Nigeria's Copyright Act only criminalizes dealing with infringing copies. A “copy” is defined in terms of material form. An infringing broadcast therefore connotes a recorded broadcast or a copy of a broadcast. This article argues that, statutorily, not every act that gives rise to civil liability for broadcast copyright infringement constitutes a crime. The article reviews the first broadcast copyright prosecution Court of Appeal decision in Eno v Nigerian Copyright Commission. Eno was unlawfully prosecuted, convicted and imprisoned. The article seeks to stem the wave of prosecutions on the type of charges used in Eno. In the absence of law reform, the prosecutions based on the line of charges in Eno constitute a fracturing of constitutional rights.

A 3-yr study was conducted in eastern Wyoming from 1995 to 1997 to evaluate the effect of fertilizer placement on jointed goatgrass competitiveness with winter wheat. Fertilizer placement methods consisted of applying 45 kg/ha of nitrogen (50% as urea and 50% as ammonium nitrate) in a deep band 5 cm below and 2.5 cm to the side of the wheat row, broadcasting on the soil surface, or injecting fertilizer by spoke wheel 10 cm deep and 5 cm to the side of the wheat row. Neither fertilizer placement nor jointed goatgrass presence affected winter wheat stand. Wheat yield reductions from jointed goatgrass competition were 7 and 10% higher with the broadcast than deep-band or spoke-wheel injection methods, respectively. Wheat spikes/plant, seeds/spike, 200-seed weight, and plant height were not influenced by fertilizer placement; however, the presence of 35 jointed goatgrass plants/m2 reduced spikes/plant 21%, seeds/spike 12%, and 200-seed weight 6%. Jointed goatgrass populations were not influenced by fertilizer placement method; however, the number of spikes/plant was reduced 8 and 10%, joints/spike 3%, and biomass 15 and 21% by deep band or spoke wheel fertilizer placement.

Concern about the effects of pesticides on the environment and the desire to reduce purchased inputs are stimuli to reduce herbicide use. Field research was conducted at two locations for two growing seasons to identify integrated weed management practices in corn that are effective and economical. Weed control treatments included PRE application of a herbicide mixture of 1.8 kg ai ha−1 of atrazine plus 2.2 kg ai ha−1 of metolachlor alone, this mixture broadcast or band-applied at a reduced rate in combination with mechanical weeding, and mechanical weeding alone. Weed control, corn yield, and economic returns were generally higher in treatments combining herbicides and mechanical weeding than those using only mechanical measures. Without herbicides, timeliness of rotary hoeing was critical. Herbicide use can be reduced 50 to 75% in integrated systems with minimal risk of yield loss due to uncontrolled weeds.

Largeleaf lantana is a perennial shrub that commonly infests pastures, roadsides, and natural areas. Many experiments have been conducted to manage this weed, but few successful herbicides have been found. Little information is available for the effectiveness of fluroxypyr, aminopyralid, or aminocyclopyrachlor on largeleaf lantana. Experiments were conducted in central Florida on dense, natural infestations of largeleaf lantana. Aminopyralid (0.12 kg ha−1), fluroxypyr (0.56 kg ha−1), and aminocyclopyrachlor (0.2 kg ha−1) were either applied in the fall (approximately 2 mo before frost) or in the fall followed by a spring application. Aminopyralid was ineffective on largeleaf lantana, and neither one nor two applications resulted in > 20% control 1 yr after treatment (YAT). Fluroxypyr applied once in the fall resulted in 12% control at 1 YAT, but two applications resulted in 80% control after 1 yr. The combination of fluroxypyr + aminopyralid, applied twice, resulted in approximately 90% control 1 YAT. A single application of fluroxypyr + aminopyralid failed to provide greater than 20% control. Conversely, aminocyclopyrachlor applied once in the fall provided 98% control of largeleaf at 1 YAT. Where aminocyclopyrachlor was applied twice, largeleaf lantana control was 100%. From these data, largeleaf lantana can be effectively controlled by two applications of fluroxypyr, two applications of fluroxypyr + aminopyralid, or a single application of aminocyclopyrachlor. Individual plant treatments were also investigated using herbicides applied as basal or cut surface applications. At 1 YAT, only triclopyr + aminopyralid provided > 90% control as a basal application. The other herbicide combinations appeared to be effective earlier, but significant regrowth had occurred by 1 YAT. Cut surface applications were similar with triclopyr + aminopyralid and triclopyr + fluroxypyr providing effective control. Neither triclopyr alone nor imazapyr provided effective control for 1 YAT with basal or cut surface applications.

Palmer amaranth is one of the most troublesome weeds in the southeast. Significant reductions in cotton yield because of Palmer amaranth competition warrant intense control efforts consisting of both PRE and POST herbicides. Flumioxazin is a soil-active, protoporphyrinogen oxidase-inhibiting herbicide that is labeled for use in cotton 14 to 21 d before planting; however, shorter preplant application intervals could increase the duration of control from this herbicide. Flumioxazin was applied at 3 rates (0.03 and 0.06 kg ai ha−1 in 2009 and an additional rate of 0.09 kg ai ha−1 in 2010 and 2011) and 6 application timings (30, 20, 15, 10, 5, and 0 d before planting cotton). Cotton emergence, height, and yield were documented. In 2009, at the Jay and Citra, FL, sites, cotton emergence, plant height, and yield were not affected by any herbicide rate or timing. At Dawson, GA, in the same year, significant reduction in cotton stand counts were observed with application timings < 10 d before planting. Cotton height was reduced similarly at Dawson, GA, but recovered to levels equal to the control by 45 d after planting (DAP). It is believed that rainfall during cotton emergence resulted in this significant level of injury at Dawson, GA. In 2010 and 2011, at Citra, FL, cotton emergence was only reduced when 0.06 and 0.09 kg ha−1 were applied at planting. Cotton height showed a similar pattern with additional reductions in height at 0.03 kg ha−1 applied at planting and 0.09 kg ha−1 applied 5 d before planting. In 2010 and 2011, at Citra, FL, yield was reduced when 0.09 kg ha−1 flumioxazin was applied 5 d before planting and when 0.06 and 0.09 kg ha−1 were applied at planting. These results indicate that flumioxazin application intervals can be shortened with little crop impact likely to be seen at lower use rates. However, rainfall at crop emergence has the potential to significantly injure cotton and reduce yield.