A dose of vitamins and a pinch of salt

Article Abstract:

A report published recently by S.J. Schoenthaler, H.J. Eysenck, J. Yudkin and colleagues in the journal Personality and Individual Differences, volume 12, pages 329-366, claimed that a daily dietary supplement of 23 vitamins and minerals can cause a substantial increase in the nonverbal intelligence quota (IQ) in children. The nonverbal IQ represents the natural ability of an individual rather that those abilities that can be taught by schooling, as seen in the verbal or achievement tests. However, four out of the seven tests that were reported to be significantly improved in those who took the vitamins were related to the achievement tests and not the nonverbal IQ. The improvement in individuals who took the vitamins in other tests which were related to the nonverbal IQ were not significant enough to have confidence in the results of the study. Tests for significance were not done on all the tests, nor was there an overall significance test done on all the tests together. However, the results were presented as if they were significant. Not all the data necessary for proper interpretation of the data are given. Therefore, based on these studies, parents should not believe that dietary supplements will make their children more intelligent. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Testing, Dietary supplements, Vitamins, Cognition in children, Cognitive development, Intelligence tests

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Domatia mediate plant-arthropod mutualism

Article Abstract:

Research undertaken using cotton plants seems to indicate that there is mutualism between predatory arthropods and plants which have large numbers of leaf domatia. In cotton plants which had experimentally added leaf domatia, the population of predatory arthropods was greater than on control plants, while the population of herbivorous mites was lower. It seems that plants benefit from the presence of domatia, especially in terms of higher fruit production. It may be worth breeding plants for better expression of leaf traits such as domatia, thus boosting the population of predators.

Research, Control, Predator control, Herbivores

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Salt plant would pump life from lagoon

Article Abstract:

Animal welfare activists are criticizing Mitsubishi Corp's plan because it would endanger the habitat of grey whales, sea turtles, pygmy owls and other fauna and flora native to the region. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has joined in the protests against Mitsubishi's plan.

Planning, Conglomerate corporations, Environmental aspects, Demonstrations and protests, Factories, Mitsubishi Corp., International Fund for Animal Welfare, Baja California (Peninsula)

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