Washington, Oct 21 (ANI): A new study has determined that reducing the number of deer in forests and parks may unexpectedly reduce the number of snakes, salamanders and insects in that area, thus suggesting that these creatures thrive in areas with higher deer populations.

The study was carried out by researchers at Ohio State University and National Park Service, who found that higher deer activity is modifying forest ecosystems in unexpected ways.

Out of several species of snakes, salamanders, and invertebrates studied, a greater diversity of animals were found in areas with deer populations than were in areas with no deer activity.

The study, which comes at a time when many states in the US have begun to selectively control deer populations, challenges previous research that has suggested deer populations can negatively impact forest ecosystems through eating plants that many smaller animals may depend on.

The areas with higher deer populations may appear to lack the high variety of low-lying plants found in exclosures, but the deer may be creating a richer soil mixture through their droppings.

This rich soil may be benefiting some plants in the area, which in turn is attracting a larger diversity of insects and invertebrates.

Instead, researchers found that high numbers of deer may in fact be attracting a greater number of species.

This may be because their waste creates a more nutrient-rich soil and as a result, areas with deer draw higher numbers of insects and other invertebrates.

These insects then attract larger predators, which thrive on insect lava such as salamanders, and the salamanders in turn attract even larger predators such as snakes.

The results highlight how recent attempts to control deer populations in and around forests may indirectly affect other animals in the forest.

"By just reducing the number of deer in the forest, we're actually indirectly impacting forest ecosystems without even knowing the possible effects," said Katherine Greenwald, co-author of the study and doctoral student in evolution, ecology, and organismal biology at Ohio State.

"Smaller creatures like salamanders and insects are all part of the base of a larger food web that can be affected by small changes," she added.

According to Greenwald, "We need to be aware of what's happening in these forest ecosystems. Culling deer may cascade into affecting plants, salamanders, and other creatures in ways we can't even imagine."

"So before we start removing deer, we should study what's really happening in these areas because there are a whole host of other issues that go along with culling," she added. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Oct 21 (ANI): The World Trade Organisation Secretariat has said that ndia leads all WTO member-countries in implementing anti-dumping measures followed by European Union and Indonesia during the first six months of 2008.

"Concerning application of new final anti-dumping measures, India reported applying 16 new measures, thereby registering an increase of 78 per cent during January-June over the same period last year," the WTO said in its report.

India applied for six of the 16 new measures on products in the chemicals sector, it said.

European Union bagged the second place reporting eight new measures initiating anti-dumping actions, which is the first step before members decide to take initial and final anti-dumping measures, India ranks third after Turkey and the US in the first half of the calendar year.

The member countries reporting the highest number of new initiations during January-June were Turkey (13) followed by the US (12) and India (11), World Trade Organisation (WTO) Secretariat report said. (ANI)

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Washington, Oct 21 (ANI): A team of scientists have conducted sophisticated mapping of the soil landscape on an extinct American volcano.

The volcano that featured in the research was the Capulin volcano, which formed approximately 62,000 years ago, and is the youngest volcano in the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field in New Mexico, US.

The cone rises 396 m from the plain, reaching an altitude of 2,495 m above sea level. The base of the volcano is 6.4 km in circumference, and the crater is 126 m deep and 442 m across.

Four different flows of lava can be observed across the monument, indicative of different eruptive events.

Conditions across the park are highly dynamic with respect to vegetation distribution, slope, and depth to bedrock, but the available soils data was highly generalized and lacked sufficient specificity to be of much use in park management of natural resources.

In 2006, Dr. David C. Weindorf, Assistant Professor of Soil Classification and Land Use at the LSU AgCenter in Baton Rouge, LA, visited the volcano with a group of undergraduate soil science students.

As a result of the visit, the National Parks Service commissioned a more detailed study of soils in the park.

The unprecedented access for sampling allowed for the collection of more than 140 soil samples, and the description of five soil profiles (vertical cross sections of soil extending into the subsoil).

At each site, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates were recorded so the exact location of the sample could be mapped.

Slope and site characteristics such as vegetative cover were also noted at each point.

In the lab, soil color, texture, organic matter, pH, and other properties were carefully examined. When all datasets were complete, they were loaded into a computer program that creates interpolated maps between data collection points.

In doing so, map layers were created of each data parameter.

Finally, when all maps are simultaneously considered, the research team drew the boundaries of each unique soil.

Accurate soils information is vital not only to agriculture, but also civil engineering, environmental science, and other disciplines. (ANI)

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New Delhi, Oct 21 (ANI/Business Wire India): Aimed at reducing software piracy in India, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. today announced a series of education and enforcement initiatives under the aegis of 'Global Anti-Piracy Awareness Day', a simultaneous launch of local and international programs to combat the sophisticated trade of pirated and counterfeit software through education initiatives and enforcement actions in 49 countries on six continents.

Microsoft India has launched a channel education and awareness initiative in collaboration with various the Channel Associations in India.

The objective of this collaboration is to broaden the understanding of the dangers surrounding software piracy to the resellers to protect the interest of the consumers. The company is already partnering with Computer Association of Eastern India, Kolkata (COMPASS) and North East Computer Traders Association, Guwahati (NECTA) to educate members on the pitfalls and risks of piracy and spread the Value of Original Software.

In addition, it has sent education letters to over three thousand channel resellers across the country to drive greater understanding for the Value of Original Software.

Microsoft is also investing significantly to ensure that end customers can easily access original Microsoft software and is working closely with Organized Retail Stores including Croma, Reliance Digital and Vijay Sales. Additionally, the company has launched an e-commerce platform www.buyoriginalms.com to enable customers across 52 Indian cities and towns to buy Microsoft software including Windows, Office, Xbox, games and gaming accessories as well as server products.

On the enforcement front, Microsoft has taken 15 civil enforcement actions against resellers indulging in hard-disk loading case involving Microsoft products such as Windows and MS Office.

The actions were primarily based out of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Patna. On the criminal enforcement front, Microsoft along with other software companies, busted a hard core software piracy racket in the city of Bangalore with the assistance of City Crime Branch and recovered pirated software worth 20 lakhs. The persons arrested (three) were involved in the rampant piracy and were offering home delivery service to the consumers.

"Software piracy and counterfeiting is a sophisticated, global trade and Microsoft is committed to working with industry partners in India and around the world to stay a step ahead of this criminal industry," said Vipul Sant, Director - Original Software Initiative, Microsoft India.

He further added, "Sustained industry efforts have helped reduce software piracy in India by four percentage points in as many years and we are committed to continuing on this path and working closely with the Government, law enforcement agencies and our customer and partner communities to protect legitimate businesses from this illegal trade."

Globally, the programs announced by Microsoft today include intellectual property awareness campaigns, innovation fairs, engagements with partner businesses and education forums, as well as new legal actions against criminals engaged in this illegal trade.

Microsoft is taking these steps as part of its commitment to working with communities, national governments and local law enforcement, and in order to protect its customers and partners and promote the value of intellectual property as a driver of innovation. An interactive map detailing specific legal actions and education efforts being announced around the world today can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/antipiracy.

Piracy and counterfeiting pose a real and growing threat to intellectual property.As technological advances expand opportunities for criminal syndicates to manufacture and distribute fakes, Microsoft is concerned not only about the continued negative impact on economies and legitimate businesses, but the risk to consumers, as well.

Counterfeit software opens consumers up to an increased risk of exposure to viruses, worms and other damaging code including spyware and Trojan horses.It hampers economic growth and poses risks to those that come into contact with it while creating a global economic loss of nearly 50 billion dollars in 2007 (5th Annual BSA and IDC Global Software Piracy Study).In India itself a ten point reduction in PC software piracy would deliver an additional 44,000 new jobs, 200 million dollars in tax revenues, and 3.1 billion dollars in economic growth (BSA - IDC: The Economic Benefits of Lowering PC Software Piracy 2008)

"Increasingly, highly organized criminal networks are engaging in the global trade of counterfeit software and other goods to finance their illegal activities. It has therefore become imperative for the public and private sector to partner closely and mobilize their resources towards ensuring greater appreciation for Intellectual Property and reduction in software piracy. In this context, I would like to commend Microsoft for the stance they are taking on this issue, and the wide ranging initiatives being undertaken by them," said Lizum Mishra, Director, Business Software Alliance (BSA) India.

More than one third of PCs around the world are unlicensed or contain pirated or counterfeit software. The losses inflicted on legitimate business by this widespread software piracy are huge, and rising. According to the fifth annual global PC software piracy study, released in May 2008 by the Business Software Alliance, the economic losses from piracy increased from 7.2 billion dollars in 2006 to over 8 billion dollars in 2007. By addressing this illegal activity, Microsoft is helping to level the playing field for legitimate dealers who are harmed when illegal sales cut into their business, and ensuring that consumers receive the full value of licensed, original Microsoft products.

Commenting on the partnership with Microsoft, and the overall issue of software piracy as it impacts channel resellers, Pawan Jajodia, President, COMPASS said, "Not only does the end-consumer suffer greatly as a result of software piracy, it also severely impacts the livelihood and credibility of the channel community. It is heartening to see companies such as Microsoft take this issue seriously and with the help of resellers, educate end users on how to minimize this menace. This ensures that customers are better educated and get long term benefits, due to risk free use of computing power." (ANI)

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