Monday 1 December 2014

e-Cigarettes

With an expected five every penny of the NHS plan used on the treatment of smoking-related disease, Prof Britton contends that speculation ought to be used on smoking anticipation and the instruction about the dangers of nicotine so that proceeding onward to an option, for example, e-cigarettes bodes well, with a perspective to annihilating smoking totally.

He likewise remains a staunch supporter of the regulation of e-cigarettes in the UK through the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The issue is, as Prof Britton clarifies: 'Some e-cigarettes contain a scope of toxins that don't have to be there. The danger may be minor in connection to smoking, yet could in any case be critical if these items are utilized as a part of the long haul.

'So we have to know the arrangements are clean, we have to know the gadgets work and convey nicotine successfully. Numerous smokers have said to me e-cigarettes didn't work for them and have depended on smoking once more; this could be on account of  the item didn't convey enough nicotine. We likewise need to verify organizations are advancing the wellbeing increases as an option to tobacco as opposed to promoting to youngsters or as an issue embellishment.'

This is precisely the issue of Cancer Research UK, which is worried that VIP supports sway youngsters to utilize e-cigarettes - at present there is no age confinement on purchasing them. Alison Cox, Cancer Research UK's head of tobacco strategy, says: 'Tobacco causes one in four tumor passings. Many kids begin smoking consistently and we don't need the advertising of e-cigarettes to befuddle the message that smoking slaughters. We aren't contradicted to them being showcased to grown-ups and trust the exertion urges numerous smokers to surrender.'

Thursday 14 March 2013

Night herons



They are medium-sized herons in the genera Nycticorax, Nyctanassa and Gorsachius. The genus name Nycticorax derives from the Greek for “night raven” and refers to the largely nocturnal feeding habits of this group of birds, and the croaking crow-like call of the best known species, the Black-crowned Night Heron. In Europe, Night Heron is often used to refer to the Black-crowned Night Heron, since it is the only member of the genus in that continent. Adults are short-necked, short-legged and stout herons with a primarily brown or grey plumage, and, in most, a black crown. Young birds are brown, flecked with white.

At least some of the extinct Mascarenes taxa appear to have retained this juvenile plumage in adult birds. Night herons nest alone or in colonies on platforms of sticks in a group of trees, or on the ground in protected locations such as islands or reedbeds. 3-8 eggs are laid. Night herons stand still at the water's edge, and wait to ambush prey, mainly at night. They primarily eat small fish, crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects, and small mammals. During the day they rest in trees or bushes. There are seven extant species. The genus Nycticorax has suffered more than any other ciconiiform genus from extinction, mainly because of their capability to colonize small, predator-free oceanic islands, and a tendency to evolve towards flightlessness.

Wednesday 2 May 2012

American Goldfinch


The American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis), also known as the Eastern Goldfinch and Wild Canary, is a small North American bird in the finch family. It is migratory, ranging from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, and from just south of the Canadian border to Mexico during the winter.

The only finch in its subfamily which undergoes a complete molt, the American Goldfinch displays sexual dimorphism in its coloration; the male is a vibrant yellow in the summer and an olive color during the winter months, while the female is a dull yellow-brown shade which brightens only slightly during the summer. The male displays brightly colored plumage during the breeding season to attract a mate.

The American Goldfinch is a granivore and adapted for the consumption of seedheads, with a conical beak to remove the seeds and agile feet to grip the stems of seedheads while feeding. It is a social bird, and will gather in large flocks while feeding and migrating. It may behave territorially during nest construction, but this aggression is short-lived. Its breeding season is tied to the peak of food supply, beginning in late July, which is relatively late in the year for a finch. This species is generally monogamous, and produces one brood each year.
Human activity has generally benefited the American Goldfinch. It is often found in residential areas, attracted to bird feeders which increase its survival rate in these areas. Deforestation also creates open meadow areas which are its preferred habitat.

The phylogeny has been obtained by Antonio Arnaiz-Villena et al.

Thursday 8 December 2011

Yellow-crowned Night Heron


The Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea, formerly placed in the genus Nycticorax), also called the American Night Heron or squawk, is a fairly small heron, similar in appearance to the Black-crowned Night Heron. It is found throughout a large part of the Americas, especially (but not exclusively) in warmer coastal regions; an example occurrence is the Petenes mangroves of the Yucatan.

A related heron, the Bermuda Night Heron, was endemic to Bermuda, but became extinct following human colonisation.