Modalités spatio-temporelles de la dispersion d'alevins de saumon atlantique (Salmo salar L.) à l'émergence

Nous avons étudié la dispersion (vitesse, durée, distance) d'alevins de saumon atlantique à l'émergence dans un ruisseau expérimental.Le rythme journalier de dévalaison suit étroitement le rythme d'émergence des alevins, ce qui montre une bonne corrélation entre les deux activités, tout au moins en début de période. Les histogrammes de capture des alevins échantillonnés tous les 10 m présentent des caractéristiques de forme similaires (durée, asymétrie et aplatissement). Jusqu'au pic des captures, près de 50 % des alevins dévalent en 5 jours. Ils se dispersent à partir de la frayère sur 50 m en 3 ou 4 nuits et forment une cohorte homogène d'après leur rythme de dévalaison et leur taille. Après le mode, les captures sont plus étalées dans le temps (environ 10 jours) et montrent plus de variabilité en fonction de la distance. Les alevins résidents ne sont pas distribués uniformément dans les cinq biefs : les densités, de même que les poids moyens, tendent à augmenter vers l'aval. Plus de 50 % de la population d'alevins survivants s'est établi dans les 50 m en aval de la frayère. Les résultats révèlent deux vagues de dévalants. La première vague de dispersion, aussitôt après l'émergence, est rapide et importante. Elle ne dépendrait pas directement de la compétition territoriale et de la densité, mais permettrait d'éviter des densités localement trop élevées et d'utiliser plus efficacement les zones productives situées en aval de la frayère. La deuxième vague d'alevins dévalants correspondrait aux émergents tardifs et aux poissons soumis aux effets de la compétition territoriale.We have analysed the dispersal patterns (rate, duration, extent) of Atlantic salmon fry at emergence. The rate and duration of movement, and the distance travelled were measured in an experimental stream, located near S-Pée-sur-Nivelle, in SW France. A batch of 8 850 eyed eggs, from the grilse wild stock of the Nivelle River, was buried in the gravel substrate at the upstream end of a series of 5 sections, each 10 m long by 3 m wide. Shortly before emergence, drift nets equipped with fry traps were installed at the downstream end of each section. The nets sampled about 1/10 of the flow, except for those nets at the downstream end of the last section which collected all downstream moving fry. The traps were visited every morning and the fry enumerated. At the time of peak movements, samples were collected for length-weight measurements. At the end of the dispersal period, fry which had settled in the different sections (residents) were captured with electro-fishing gear and measured.The pattern of downstream movement of fry in a set of drift nets was closely related to the pattern of emergence from an artificial redd upstream of the nets. Hence, emergence and downstream dispersion were well synchronized, at least during the first part of the dispersal from the redd. The time-frequency histograms of fry sampled every 10 m showed the same pattern and general shape (duration, skewness and kurtosis). Until the peak of captures, nearly 50 % of all downstream moving fry were caught within 5 days in each section. Dispersion from the redd over 50 m occurred within 3-4 nights. During this first period, the fry exhibited similar characteristics with respect to activity patterns and sizes. After the modal day of capture, catches were more evenly spread over time (about 10 days) and showed greater variability in relation to the distance travelled from the redd.Resident fry were not uniformly distributed in the 5 sections : densities, as well as average weights, increased from upstream to downstream. Over 50 % of the surviving fry (75.3 % of planted eggs) settled within 50 m downstream from the redd.Our results showed two waves of downstream dispersion. The first dispersal wave, occurring soon after emergence, was swift and implied large numbers of fry. It was not the result of territorial competition or density, since it occurred before the onset of aggressive behaviour. Rather, this first wave appeared as process to avoid the formation of clumps and allow for a more efficient use of the more productive zones, generally located downstream from the redd. The second wave of downstream moving fry corresponded to late emerging fry and to those fry which, 10-12 days after emergence, were displaced by territorial competition

Neuropsychological and information processing deficits following mild traumatic brain injury

Neuroradiological and neuropathological investigations have found evidence of diffuse brain damage in the frontal and temporal lobes, corpus callosum, and fornices in patients who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, neuropsychological assessments of these patients do not typically target many of the subtle information processing deficits that may arise from diffuse damage involving the frontotemporal regions of the brain as well as white matter pathology, including the corpus callosum. Consequently, we have a limited understanding of the deficits that may be attributable to temporary or permanent disruptions to these functional pathways. This study assessed a group of mild TBI patients (N = 40) and a matched control group (N = 40) on a number of standard neuropsychological tests of selective and sustained attention, verbal and non-verbal fluency, and verbal memory. In addition, reaction time (RT) tasks, requiring both the inter- and intra-hemispheric processing of visual and tactile information, were used to assess the functional integrity of the tracts that are likely to be affected by diffuse damage. In the 1st month after sustaining their injury, the mild TBI group demonstrated deficits in attention, non-verbal fluency, and verbal memory. They also demonstrated slower visual and tactile RTs, with the visual RTs of mild TBI patients being more affected by increased task difficulty and the need to transfer information across the corpus callosum, than did their matched controls.Jane L. Mathias, Jaqcui A. Beall and Erin D. Bigle

Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate by Heat-Catalyst and Gamma-Irradiation Methods

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) was bulk-polymerized with 0 to 4% crosslinker (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, EGDM, and trimethylol propane trimethacrylate, TMPTM), initiated with 0.05 to 5% catalyst (Vazo) at 65-75 C or 0.1 to 1 Mrad/hr gamma radiation at 20 C. Heat-catalyzed MMA conversion to polymer vs. time was obtained directly from polymer mass, which indicated that about 90% conversion had occurred at the exothermic peak temperature. The time to the exothermic peak temperature was used to determine sample polymerization time. The over-all polymerization rate varied with the half-power of initiator concentration. An Arrhenius plot of the initiator-time data gave an activation energy of 18 kcal/mole. A log-log relationship was found between crosslinker concentration and polymerization time over the 65-75 C temperature and 0.1-0.4% initiator range. The crosslinkers were found equally efficient in reducing polymerization time. Peak exothermie temperature varied directly with time, irrespective of the initiator and crosslinker concentrations or bath temperature except as they affected time. In the irradiation tests, the crosslinkers exhibited different data fits: log-log with EGDM and semilog for TMPTM. The time-dose rate equation for uncrosslinked MMA was analogous to that for heat-catalyzed polymerization. Molecular weight of uncrosslinked PMMA was determined as a function of temperature and catalyst concentration, and dose rate. Similar molecular weights were obtained for heat-catalyzed polymerization at 65 C and gamma irradiation at 20 C for numerically the same initiator concentration (%) and does rate (Mrad/hr)

Detection of high energy X-rays from the galactic center region

Observations of the galactic center region made with the high energy X-ray detector on OSO-8 are discussed. A strong hard X-ray which was detected during these observations from the vicinity of the galactic center are examined. The counting rate spectrum and the photon number spectrum of the flux are determined. Comparisons with the high energy X-ray fluxes observed from sources in the region by others are discussed

Dynamic Mechanical Behavior of Black Cherry (Prunus Serotina EHRH.)

The dynamic mechanical properties of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) have been investigated as a function of temperature at audio frequencies. Relaxation processes are evident near 200, 360, and 510 K. The process near 200 K was investigated as a function of initial moisture content (based on mass measurements prior to testing). At moisture contents greater than about 20%, the damping peak is centered near 185 K. This relaxation shifts with moisture content, and at moisture contents below 6%, the peak is centered near 225 K. The relaxation in the 360 K region is also associated with initial moisture content. For oven-dry black cherry specimens, the dynamic mechanical properties in the 360 K region are nearly temperature-independent. The relaxation near 510 K is believed to be associated with thermal degradation of wood constituents that are known to degrade in that temperature region

Observations of celestial X-ray sources above 20 keV with the high-energy scintillation spectrometer on board OSO 8

High-energy X-ray spectra of the Crab Nebula, Cyg- XR-1, and Cen A were determined from observations with the scintillation spectrometer on board the OSO-8 satellite, launched in June, 1975. Each of these sources was observed over two periods of 8 days or more, enabling a search for day-to-day and year to year variations in the spectral and temporal characteristics of the X-ray emission. No variation in the light curve of the Crab pulsar was found from observations which span a 15-day period in March 1976, with demonstrable phase stability. Transitions associated with the binary phase of Cyg XR-1 and a large change in the emission from Con A are reported

Some Physical Properties of Birch Carbonized in A Nitrogen Atmosphere

The dynamic mechanical properties, mass loss, and shrinkage data of birch carbonized in a nitrogen atmosphere to different temperatures from 473 to 973 K have been investigated. The dynamic elastic modulus data decreased as the heat treatment temperatures approached 673 K. Major mass loss and shrinkage accompanied the decrease in the modulus data. Treatments at higher temperatures (> 673 K) produced substantially less additional mass loss and shrinkage but produced increased rigidity in the char. The internal friction behavior of the char was complex

Applications of aerospace technology in biology and medicine

Utilization of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) technology in medicine is discussed. The objective is best obtained by stimulation of the introduction of new or improved commercially available medical products incorporating aerospace technology. A bipolar donor/recipient model of medical technology transfer is presented to provide a basis for the team's methodology. That methodology is designed to: (1) identify medical problems and NASA technology that, in combination, constitute opportunities for successful medical products; (2) obtain the early participation of industry in the transfer process; and (3) obtain acceptance by the medical community of new medical products based on NASA technology. Two commercial transfers were completed: the Stowaway, a lightweight wheelchair that provides mobility for the disabled and elderly in the cabin of commercial aircraft, and Micromed, a portable medication infusion pump for the reliable, continuous infusion of medications such as heparin or insulin. The marketing and manufacturing factors critical to the commercialization of the lightweight walker incorporating composite materials were studied. Progress was made in the development and commercialization of each of the 18 currently active projects