1,011 research outputs found
Otoliths in situ in the stem teleost Cavenderichthys talbragarensis (Woodward, 1895), otoliths in coprolites, and isolated otoliths from the Upper Jurassic of Talbragar, New South Wales, Australia
Finding binaries from phase modulation of pulsating stars with \textit{Kepler}: VI. Orbits for 10 new binaries with mischaracterised primaries
Measuring phase modulation in pulsating stars has proved to be a highly
successful way of finding binary systems. The class of pulsating main-sequence
A and F variables known as delta Scuti stars are particularly good targets for
this, and the \textit{Kepler} sample of these has been almost fully exploited.
However, some \textit{Kepler} Scuti stars have incorrect temperatures
in stellar properties catalogues, and were missed in previous analyses. We used
an automated pulsation classification algorithm to find 93 new Scuti
pulsators among tens of thousands of F-type stars, which we then searched for
phase modulation attributable to binarity. We discovered 10 new binary systems
and calculated their orbital parameters, which we compared with those of
binaries previously discovered in the same way. The results suggest that some
of the new companions may be white dwarfs.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures that make liberal use of colou
Mortality of Cranes (Gruidae) Associated with Powerlines over a Major Roost on the Platte River, Nebraska
Two 69-kilovolt powerlines spanning the Platte River in south central Nebraska are suspected to cause substantial mortality to sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) and pose a threat to endangered whooping cranes (G. americana) that roost overnight on the river during spring and fall migrations. Most studies of crane collisions with powerlines in the region have focused on counts of carcasses away from night roosts on the river and none have accounted for potential biases in detecting carcasses. We found 61 carcasses of sandhill cranes below over-river segments of the two powerlines during 4 March to 7 April 2006 and 90 such carcasses between 5 March and 13 April 2007. In 2007 we estimated the number of carcasses undetected in our surveys due to removal by scavengers, loss to downstream flow, and observer oversight. We estimated between 165 and 219 sandhill cranes were killed by the two powerlines during spring 2007. These cnlculations exclude mortalities from individuals injured by powerline collisions and dying elsewhere, as well as those killed before or after our 5 March to 13 April survey period. We detected no evidence of mortality for whooping cranes during our surveys. Our results corroborate anecdotal evidence of signficant sandhill crane mortality each spring due to collisions with above-ground powerlines at this major night roost. Collisions by sandhill cranes will continue and collisions by Whooping cranes seem likely unless an effective means of averting birds from powerlines is implemented at this site
Genetic Variants of Milk Proteins - Relevance to Milk Composition and Cheese Production.
End of Project ReportObjectives: (i) to develop rapid screening procedures for the determination of milk
protein polymorphism (genetic variants)
(ii) to determine the frequency distribution of milk protein genetic variants in
a large population of Irish Holstein-Friesians and to determine if there was an
association between κ-casein variant and milk yield and composition in this group
of animals, and
(iii) to make Cheddar and low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella cheese from
different κ-casein genetic variant milks and to assess any effect on cheese yield,
composition and functional characteristics. Conclusions:Analysis of 6,007 individual Irish Holstein-Friesian milks showed that the
phenotype distribution of the κ-casein BB variant was very low at 1.98%
compared to 53.07% for κ-casein AA and 44.95% for κ-casein AB. While no statistically significant associations were observed between κ-casein
variant and milk yield and composition, κ-casein BB variant milks had superior
rennet coagulation properties to that of the AA or AB variants.
Generally, κ-casein variant had little effect on compositional attributes of cheese
apart from FDM (fat in dry matter) which was significantly higher in cheeses from
κ-casein BB milk than in those from κ-casein AA milk.
Generally, κ-casein variant had no significant effects on either primary or
secondary proteolysis, or on the sensory and/or textural characteristics of Cheddar
or Mozzarella cheese throughout ripening; or on the functional characteristics (e.g.
flow and stretch) of baked Mozzarella on storage for 90 days at 4°C.
However, κ-casein BB variant milk gave significantly higher actual, and moisture
adjusted yields of Cheddar and Mozzarella cheese than either κ-casein AB or AA
variant milks. For example, the moisture adjusted Cheddar yield from κ-casein
BB milk was 8.2% higher than from κ-casein AA milk. In the case of Mozzarella,
the moisture adjusted yield was 12% higher.
Based on the results, it is estimated that the actual yield of cheese in a plant
producing 20,000 tonnes per year from κ-casein AA milk would increase to
approximately 21,180 tonnes of Cheddar, or 21,780 tonnes of Mozzarella if made
from κ-casein BB milk. Where κ-casein AB milk is used instead of κ-casein BB
milk, the estimated yield of Mozzarella would increase to 21,580 tonnes.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin
Campylobacter pylori in Patients with Dyspeptic Symptoms and Endoscopic Evidence of Erosion(s)
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73797/1/j.1572-0241.1989.tb02609.x.pd
Properties of Nearby Starburst Galaxies Based on their Diffuse Gamma-ray Emission
The physical relationship between the far-infrared and radio fluxes of star
forming galaxies has yet to be definitively determined. The favored
interpretation, the "calorimeter model," requires that supernova generated
cosmic ray (CR) electrons cool rapidly via synchrotron radiation. However, this
cooling should steepen their radio spectra beyond what is observed, and so
enhanced ionization losses at low energies from high gas densities are also
required. Further, evaluating the minimum energy magnetic field strength with
the traditional scaling of the synchrotron flux may underestimate the true
value in massive starbursts if their magnetic energy density is comparable to
the hydrostatic pressure of their disks. Gamma-ray spectra of starburst
galaxies, combined with radio data, provide a less ambiguous estimate of these
physical properties in starburst nuclei. While the radio flux is most sensitive
to the magnetic field, the GeV gamma-ray spectrum normalization depends
primarily on gas density. To this end, spectra above 100 MeV were constructed
for two nearby starburst galaxies, NGC 253 and M82, using Fermi data. Their
nuclear radio and far-infrared spectra from the literature are compared to new
models of the steady-state CR distributions expected from starburst galaxies.
Models with high magnetic fields, favoring galaxy calorimetry, are overall
better fits to the observations. These solutions also imply relatively high
densities and CR ionization rates, consistent with molecular cloud studies.Comment: Accepted to Ap
Anatomy and Three-Dimensional Reconstructions of the Brain of a Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) From Magnetic Resonance Images
Cetacean (dolphin, whale, and porpoise) brains are among the least studied mammalian brains because of the formidability of collecting and histologically preparing such relatively rare and large specimens. Magnetic resonance imaging offers a means of observing the internal structure of the brain when traditional histological procedures are not practical. Furthermore, internal structures can be analyzed in their precise anatomic positions, which is difficult to accomplish after the spatial distortions often accompanying histological processing. In this study, images of the brain of an adult bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, were scanned in the coronal plane at 148 antero-posterior levels. From these scans a computer-generated three-dimensional model was constructed using the programs Voxel-View and VoxelMath (Vital Images, Inc.). This model, wherein details of internal and external morphology are represented in three-dimensional space, was then resectioned in orthogonal planes to produce corresponding series of virtual sections in the horizontal and sagittal planes. Sections in all three planes display the sizes and positions of major neuroanatomical features such as the arrangement of cortical lobes and subcortical structures such as the inferior and superior colliculi, and demonstrate the utility of MRI for neuroanatomical investigations of dolphin brains
Targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis: prebiotics have anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects and reverse the impact of chronic stress in mice
Background: The realization that the microbiota-gut-brain axis plays a critical role in health and disease, including neuropsychiatric disorders, is rapidly advancing. Nurturing a beneficial gut microbiome with prebiotics, such as fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), is an appealing but underinvestigated microbiota manipulation. Here we tested whether chronic prebiotic treatment modifies behavior across domains relevant to anxiety, depression, cognition, stress response, and social behavior. Methods: C57BL/6J male mice were administered FOS, GOS, or a combination of FOS+GOS for 3 weeks prior to testing. Plasma corticosterone, microbiota composition, and cecal short-chain fatty acids were measured. In addition, FOS+GOS- or water-treated mice were also exposed to chronic psychosocial stress, and behavior, immune, and microbiota parameters were assessed. Results: Chronic prebiotic FOS+GOS treatment exhibited both antidepressant and anxiolytic effects. Moreover, the administration of GOS and the FOS+GOS combination reduced stress-induced corticosterone release. Prebiotics modified specific gene expression in the hippocampus and hypothalamus. Regarding short-chain fatty acid concentrations, prebiotic administration increased cecal acetate and propionate and reduced isobutyrate concentrations, changes that correlated significantly with the positive effects seen on behavior. Moreover, FOS+GOS reduced chronic stress-induced elevations in corticosterone and proinflammatory cytokine levels and depression-like and anxiety-like behavior in addition to normalizing the effects of stress on the microbiota. Conclusions: Taken together, these data strongly suggest a beneficial role of prebiotic treatment for stress-related behaviors. These findings strengthen the evidence base supporting therapeutic targeting of the gut microbiota for brain-gut axis disorders, opening new avenues in the field of nutritional neuropsychopharmacology
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