Is there only one type of male handicap?

The handicap principle has been one of the most important developments in sexual selection theory. Numerous theoretical papers have considered whether extreme male ornaments could have arisen through female choice by being handicaps to the male. These models have been defined as belonging to one of three categories: (i) Zahavi's (J. theor. Biol. 53, 205 (1975)); (ii) the revealing; or (iii) the condition-dependent handicap. Here I discuss whether the division is still helpful for empirical purposes, or whether handicaps are not best considered as being condition dependent. I argue that in fact the revealing and condition-dependent handicaps are indistinguishable empirically, and that the 'Zahavi' handicap models arose due to a misunderstanding of what Zahavi originally proposed, which was in fact a condition-dependent handicap.     

Protein kinase A activators inhibit agonist induced prostaglandin production in human amnion

Prostaglandin (PG) production by human amnion has been postulated to have a role in the onset of labor. Previous work by ourselves and others has demonstrated that oxytocin, phorbol esters and epidermal growth factor (EGF) increase PGE2 production in human amnion cells by activation of the Phospholipase C/Protein Kinase C (PKC) cascade system. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of prior activation of the Adenylate Cyclase cascade system upon subsequent stimulation of PGE2 production by oxytocin, phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or EGF in amnion cells and membrane discs. Isoproterenol, forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) were utilized to activate the Adenylate Cyclase system at the receptor, enzyme and second messenger level. In control amnion cells, oxytocin, PMA and EGF each provoked dose dependent increases in PGE2 production. In cells preincubated with dbcAMP, forskolin or isoproterenol, agonist stimulated PGE2 production was markedly (50-90%) inhibited (p < 0.01). Inhibition was dose dependent upon preincubator concentrations. Maximal inhibition by adenylate cyclase activators occurred with 2-4 h of preincubation. In membrane discs, forskolin preincubation also inhibited oxytocin, PMA and EGF stimulation of PGE2 production. Activation of the Adenylate Cyclase system in human amnion cells or membrane discs inhibits the subsequent action of potent stimulators of PGE2 production in human amnion.     

Muscle-ligament interactions at the knee during walking.

A two-dimensional mathematical model of the knee is used with gait analysis to calculate muscle, cruciate ligament and tibio-femoral contact forces developed at the knee during normal level walking. Ten normal adult subjects--four females and six males--participated. The knee model is based upon a four-bar linkage comprising the femur, tibia and two cruciate ligaments. It takes account of the rolling and sliding of the femur on the tibia during flexion/extension and the changes in direction of the ligaments and muscle tendons. We considered forces transmitted by six elements: quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius, anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and tibio-femoral contact. The equations of mechanics can be used to determine the absolute values of only three of the knee forces simultaneously, so that twenty limiting solutions of three of the six forces were considered. A limiting solution was rejected if any of the three forces were negative, corresponding to compressive muscle or ligament forces, or tensile contact forces. These constraints always reduced and at times removed the redundancy of the knee structures. The high incidence of predicted single muscle activity, supported by electromyography, suggested that the ligaments play a significant role in load transmission during gait. The temporal patterns of muscle and ligament activity and ligament force magnitudes were sensitive to the choice of model parameters. The analysis showed that each of four possible minimum principles of muscle selection--minimal muscle force, muscle stress, ligament force and contact force--was unlikely to be valid throughout the walking cycle.     

Motion Planning for Redundant Manipulators Using a Floating Point Genetic Algorithm

This paper deals with the trajectory planning problem for redundant manipulators. A genetic algorithm (GA) using a floating point representation is proposed to search for the optimal end-effector trajectory for a redundant manipulator. An evaluation function is defined based on multiple criteria, including the total displacement of the end-effector, the total angular displacement of all the joints, as well as the uniformity of Cartesian and joint space velocities. These criteria result in minimized, smooth end-effector motions. Simulations are carried out for path planning in free space and in a workspace with obstacles. Results demonstrate the effectiveness and capability of the proposed method in generating optimized collision-free trajectories.     

Outcomes related to burn-related child abuse: a case series

Nationally, approximately 10% of child abuse cases involve burning, and up to 20% of pediatric burn admissions involve abuse or neglect. Historically, these cases have been more difficult to prosecute than nonburn cases for multiple reasons. Between 1995 and 1999, there were 285 pediatric (under 18) patients admitted to the Spectrum Health Regional Burn Center. Of these cases, 18 of the alleged perpetrators were legally investigated for suspicion of child abuse, and 7 received punitive sentences. We found that men tended to be prosecuted and convicted more often than women and that cases involving multiple instances of injury tended to be prosecuted more frequently. Similarly, we found that cases involving more severe injuries tended to be prosecuted more successfully. There are many psychological and social factors involved in handling burn abuse cases. However, by successful prosecution of these crimes, victims tend to fare better both socially and psychologically.     

Transient Response and Fixed Pattern Noise in Logarithmic CMOS Image Sensors

Logarithmic CMOS image sensors are appealing for their high-contrast and high-speed response but they require postprocessing to achieve high-quality images. Previously published work has explained the fixed pattern noise (FPN) in these image sensors using a steady-state analysis. This paper explains how the transient response of the readout circuit may also contribute to FPN. Thus, the performance of these CMOS cameras may be optimized with a proper understanding of the transient response, which is explained here through modeling and simulation with some experimental validation. In particular, the gain variation of a logarithmic camera is shown to be caused primarily by premature digitization. As logarithmic and linear active pixel sensors use similar circuits, some results in this paper, e.g., an analysis of readout capacitance, apply equally to the latter.     

Clinical applications of fundus reflection densitometry

Fundus reflection densitometry or retinal densitometry is a non-invasive technique to examine the visual photopigment kinetics in living eyes. The technique is based on the comparison of the reflected light from the fundus in a fully light adapted eye (when all visual photopigment has been bleached) with the reflected light following complete dark adaptation (when the retina contains its maximum amount of visual photopigment). The technique provides a measure of the density of visual photopigment, its time constant of regeneration, its distribution and spectral characteristics if measured at a series of wavelengths. Fundus reflection densitometry in the human eye was introduced 40 years ago. Presently, it is the only available technique from which direct and objective insight can be obtained into visual photopigment. This knowledge is particularly relevant in eyes where abnormalities of photoreceptor function are suspected. This paper summarizes the current knowledge of fundus reflection densitometry in the diseased and in the aging human retina, gathered over the last 30 years. Considerable improvements of the instrument for clinical purposes have been obtained, and are also discussed.     

Embryotoxic doses of vitamin A to rabbits result in low plasma but high embryonic concentrations of all-trans-retinoic acid: risk of vitamin A exposure in humans

Retinoid pharmacokinetics were examined in plasma, placenta and embryos of gestational d 12 rabbits following application of an embryotoxic dosing regimen (10 mg retinyl palmitate/kg body wt per day from gestational d 7 to 12). Vehicle-treated or untreated rabbits served as controls. Physiological concentrations of all-trans-retinoic acid (all-trans-RA) and 13-cis-RA in rabbit plasma (5-8.33 nmol/L) were very close to the endogenous levels in human plasma. In addition, we identified endogenous all-trans-RA, 3,4-didehydroretinol and 3,4-didehydroretinoic acid in rabbit embryo. Following the last retinyl palmitate administration, apparent steady-state concentrations of all retinoids were reached in the examined compartments of rabbits. The major polar retinoid in plasma was 9, 13-di-cis-RA, but its embryonic concentrations were only about 6% of those in plasma. In the embryo, retinol and its esters were found at high concentrations; lower amounts of all-trans-4-oxo-RA and the newly identified 14-hydroxy-4, 14-retro-retinol could also be measured. Embryonic concentrations of all-trans-RA were about 100% higher than endogenous levels. The overall exposure of the embryo to this retinoid was, however, substantial. Embryonic area under the concentration time curve values strongly suggest that the embryotoxicity of the applied dosing regimen is mainly due to the action of all-trans-RA. A very remarkable finding of this study is the marginal increase of plasma concentrations of all-trans-RA over their endogenous levels, which is comparable to the human situation after vitamin A intake. This analogy indicates that high vitamin A intake may be associated with a higher risk for teratogenic effects in humans even in the absence of high elevation of plasma all-trans-RA levels.     

On the measurement of SSB noise figure using sideband cancellation

A new method for determining the single-sideband noise figure of a device from double-sideband measurements is proposed which eliminates the need for tunable filters and hence greatly reduces the complexity and cost of performing accurate noise figure measurements. This paper compares results obtained to those obtained using a traditional single-sideband measurement system with a tuneable filter and provides a full error analysis of the new technique. The method also offers considerable possibilities for future use at higher (microwave) frequencies where YIG filters and image reject mixers are not readily available