Climate Based Predictability of Oil Palm Tree Yield in Malaysia.

The influence of local conditions and remote climate modes on the interannual variability of oil palm fresh fruit bunches (FFB) total yields in Malaysia and two major regions (Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah/Sarawak) is explored. On a country scale, the state of sea-surface temperatures (SST) in the tropical Pacific Ocean during the previous boreal winter is found to influence the regional climate. When El Niño occurs in the Pacific Ocean, rainfall in Malaysia reduces but air temperature increases, generating a high level of water stress for palm trees.

A Regional Climate Mode Discovered in the North Atlantic: Dakar Niño/Niña.

The interrannual variability of coastal sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies confined off Senegal is explored from a new viewpoint of the ocean-land-atmosphere interaction. The phenomenon may be classified into "coastal Niño/Niña" in the North Atlantic as discussed recently in the Northeastern Pacific and Southeastern Indian Oceans. The interannual variability of the regional mixed-layer temperature anomaly that evolves in boreal late fall and peaks in spring is associated with the alongshore wind anomaly, mixed-layer depth anomaly and cross-shore atmospheric pressure gradient anomaly, suggesting the existence of ocean-land-atmosphere coupled processes.

Transcutaneous bilirubinometry: 22 months experience at Waikato Women's Hospital.

Twenty-two months experience with a transcutaneous bilirubinometer (TCB) at Waikato Hospital is reported. During this period 2787 paired TCB and serum bilirubin samples were collected. Correlation coefficients for TCB (forehead and sternum) versus serum bilirubin in both Maori and caucasian infants ranged from 0.

Sensory neuronopathy in dogs: a study of four cases.

A neurological disease which selectively affects the primary sensory pathways was observed in 4 dogs. Clinical signs were dominated by ataxia due to impaired position sense. Deficient or abnormal pain sensation was also observed.