Changes in the Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of Winneshiek County, Iowa After 90 Years

In 1908, Bert Porter reported the presence of 73 species of butterflies in the Decorah, Iowa area. Since then, no systematic surveys of the butterflies in the Decorah area have been completed despite extensive habitat changes and degradation of native prairie and timber that have occurred over the past 90 years. In 1998, an extensive survey of the butterflies of Winneshiek County confirmed the presence of 55 species of butterflies. Our findings generated a checklist of the butterflies currently found in Winneshiek County, and were compared to Porter\u27s original list. Unfortunately, the regal fritillary, Speyeria idalia, and several other butterfly species found in 1908 apparently no longer occur in the Decorah area

Understanding Speech in Noise by Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often display a heightened sensitivity to environmental noises. In addition, it is well known that even typically-developing children struggle to understand speech in noisy situations. However, it is unclear how children with ASD perform on speech tasks when background noise is present. A study was conducted to determine whether children with high-functioning ASD perform more poorly than typically-developing children on word recognition in noise. Two groups of children, typically-developing individuals and individuals with high-functioning ASD, aged 6-12 years participated. Word recognition was measured in four types of background noise: speech-shaped noise, babble-modulated speech-shaped noise, multi-talker babble, and time-reversed multi-talker babble. A group of typically-developed adults served as a control. Results and implications will be discussed

Evidence of the indirect hormonal activity of prohormones using liver S9 metabolic bioactivation and an androgen bioassay

Prohormones such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are steroid precursors that do not show hormonal activity by themselves. Abuse of these prohormones in cattle fattening is hard to prove because of strong in vivo metabolism and the difficulty to detect metabolites which are not significantly above endogenous levels. The aim of the present work was to develop an in vitro assay capable of detecting the indirect hormonal activity of prohormones that might be present in feed supplements and injection preparations. Sample extracts were incubated with a bovine liver S9 fraction in order to mimic the in vivo metabolic activation. Subsequently incubated extracts were exposed to a highly androgen-specific yeast bioassay to detect hormonal activity. Metabolic activation of DHEA, 4-androstene-3,17-dione (4-adione) and 5-androstene-3,17-diol (5-adiol) resulted in an increased androgenic activity caused by the formation of the active androgen 17ß-testosterone (17ß-T), as shown by ultra-performance liquid chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry with accurate mass measurement. The developed in vitro system successfully mimics the hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD)- and cytochrome P450-mediated in vivo metabolic transitions, thus allowing assessment of both bioactivity and chemical identification without the use of animal experiments. Screening of unknown supplement samples claimed to contain DHEA resulted in successful bioactivation and positive screening results according to the androgen yeast biosenso

The Delicate Process and Relational Style of Solution Focused Brief Therapy: Ericksonian Hypnotherapy Resemblances in SFBT

Solution focused brief therapy (SFBT) is an approach that facilitates movement of problems toward solutions. If applied as Insoo Kim Berg and Steve de Shazer intended, this approach requires a “delicate process” of attentive observational skills and use of language. This delicate process can be seen in SFBT with several resemblances of Ericksonian hypnotherapy. Through James Paul Gee’s discourse analysis, these resemblances were explored in two commercially available videos of SFBT sessions facilitated by Insoo Kim Berg. Both SFBT features and Ericksonian features were noted in these sessions, as well as an overlap of both approaches, and Ericksonian resemblances in SFBT. In both sessions, Berg appeared to work in clusters with a figured world that attends to strength and resilience, a common theme of bridging and building throughout, and great attention and significance to exceptions. These features are common in Ericksonian hypnotherapy as well, and appear significant in a relational style of training new therapists to utilize the SFBT approach as Berg and de Shazer intended

Effects of transcendental medication on blood pressure

Many prevention and treatments methods exist for hypertension, but not all are effective or easy to incorporate into one\u27s life. Stress-reduction methods, including Transcendental Meditation (TM), has been suggested as such a method, but have received inconsistent reviews about its effect on blood pressure. This literature review of twelve clinical studies concludes patients who practice TM can significantly reduce blood pressure. The technique was found to be effective for groups at high risk for hypertension, such as African-Americans, as well as low-risk groups. TM also appears to be more effective than progressive muscle relaxation, another popular stress-management technique. TM should be incorporated into plans for treatment of hypertension

In Memoriam: Theodore Louis Jahn

Dr. Theodore Louis (Ted) Jahn, Professor-Emeritus of Biology at the University of California at Los Angeles, died 1 May, 1979 following a cerebral hemorrhage. A longtime member of the Iowa Academy of Science, he was among the first to receive its Award of Merit

Selected Physiological Changes in College Men and Women Participating in Social Dance

The purpose of this investigation was to study the physiological effects of social dance on selected bodily responses of freshman male and female students at South Dakota State University. The selected bodily responses investigated were dynamic balance, static balance, trunk flexibility, agility, leg power, and leg strength