Some determinants of self-monitoring effects

Studied self-monitoring of eyeblink responses in 80 undergraduate volunteers to test hypotheses that (a) the direction of reactive effects is a function of the perceived value of the target behavior; (b) neither the behavior's value nor self-monitoring alone is sufficient to produce significant effects but that both are necessary; (c) self-monitoring is more reactive than monitoring by the E; (d) multiple reports of monitoring are more reactive than a single report of monitoring; and (e) self-monitoring effects are more reactive than a single report of merely attending to a particular behavior. Results provide general support for the 1st 2 hypotheses and suggestive support for the 3rd. Results pertaining to the 4th and 5th hypotheses took an unexpected twist and suggest the need for further study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Plasma progestins, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone following prostaglandin F2 alpha injection

Dairy animals, ranging from days 8 to 13 of the estrous cycle, were fitted with indwelling jugular catheters 1 day prior to either intramuscular injection of prostaglandin F2alpha free acid (30 mg, n=4) or intrauterine deposition of prostaglandin F2alpha free acid (10 mg, n = 3). Blood samples were collected at 6, 4, 2, and 0 h prior to administration of prostaglandin F2alpha and at 1, 3, and every 2 h thereafter until ovulation. Progestins, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone in plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay. Hormonal changes and interrelationships within animals were evaluated by least squares analyses. Decreases in progestins of plasma within 24 h indicated prostaglandin F2alpha induced luteolysis in six of the seven animals. Estradiol increased linearly from time of injection to 52 h postinjection. Intervals from administration of prostaglandin to onset of estrus, peak of luteinizing hormone, and ovulation were 74.9 +/- 21, 78.8 +/- 21, and 99.5 +/- 19 h.     

Bulling among yearling feedlot steers

The effect of ingestion of 250 ml X-ray contrast medium on resting gastrooesophageal sphincter pressure was studied in 10 normal human subjects. Twenty minutes after initiated intake of the contrast medium, a significant fall in sphincter pressure was recorded. In the light of studies on the neurogenic and hormonal regulation of the sphincter pressure it is attempted to account for this effect, and it is concluded that it must be a manifestation of a reflectory relaxation of the sphincter region. From a clinical point of view the consequence must be a demand for standardized conditions with regard to composition and pH of the contrast medium, time schedule and degree of abdominal compression in those cases in which radiological evaluation of the resistance against reflux is called for.     

Gas exchange during exercise in healthy people II. Venous admixture

1. Venous admixture/cardiac output ratio (Qva/Qt) has been measured in twenty-four healthy volunteer subjects of both sexes aged 20-71 years, at rest and during the steady state of treadmill exercise at two rates of work, and breathing air and breathing oxygen. 2. With oxygen breathing, Qva/Qt was considerably less during exercise than during the time subjects were taking either normal or deep breaths of oxygen at rest, and did not significantly increase with the intensity of exercise. It is postulated that the increase in ventilation during exercise opens most or all of those alveoli which, during oxygen breathing at rest, close because of critically low ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) ratios. 3. With air breathing, Qva/Qt fell from rest to exercise (especially in older subjects), presumably due to improved ventilation of alveoli at the lung bases. With an increase in work rate Qva/Qt increased in all age groups. This increase was not due to increase in the shunt fraction (Qs/Qt), nor to limitation of diffusing capacity; it arose from an increase in V/Q variance. 4. Equations have been derived for the prediction of normal Qva/Qt during exercise, with or without correction for the effects of increasing pulmonary capillary temperature. These effects do not materially influence the accuracy of prediction, but may be relevant to some of the interpretations. In particular, they provide a further indication that Qs/Qt probably cannot be measured by breathing oxygen at rest, even in deep breathing.     

Acidity and Power: The Politics of Natural Wine in Nineteenth-Century Germany

This article examines the origins of the natural-wine movement in Germany—the first of its kind in Europe—by exploring the crucial technological and social developments which prompted the use of derided “artificial” winemaking techniques. The forgotten social reformer Ludwig Gall, once known to as the “savoir of the small vintner,” helped to relieve the unreliable dependency of winegrowers on nature by perfecting a deacidification technique which allowed for pleasant wines in any vintage. While Gall's technique became an important part of the road out of impoverishment for many winegrowers in the Mosel River Valley, it had the additional effect of challenging the static nature of the wine trade and the monopolies and economic efficiencies of large landowners. By outlining the initial uses of Gall's technique and the opposition to it, this article reveals the formative debates in the ongoing controversy over the definition of natural wine. In turn, the concepts of “artificial” and “natural” are shown to be grounded more in the social and political spheres of the nineteenth-century German wine trade and less in matters of consumer choice or concerns over the environment.     

Fatty acid profile and sensory characteristics of table eggs from laying hens fed hempseed and hempseed oil

Hempseed (HS) is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, with approximately 17% of total fatty acids as alpha-linolenic acid. As such, HS and its oil may be used in hen diet formulations to produce eggs enriched in essential fatty acids. Because omega-3 eggs have the potential for unpleasant aromas and flavors, the current study was designed to assess the fatty acid profile and sensory attributes of eggs procured from hens consuming diets containing hempseed oil (HO) or HS. A total of 48 individually caged White Bovan hens received 1 of 6 diets containing 4%, 8%, 12% HO, 10%, 20% HS or 0% hemp (w/w) for 12 wk. Total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content was highest in the 12% HO group (15.3 mg/g of yolk) compared to the control (2.4 mg/g of yolk). Trained panellists (n= 8) found no significant differences (P≥ 0.05) in aroma or flavor between cooked eggs from different dietary treatments, with the exception of sweet flavor. The 4% HO group yielded the least sweet eggs compared to the 20% HS group, which was highest. For yolk color, L*, a*, and b* values (Mean ± SEM) for control eggs were 61.2 ± 0.10, 1.1 ± 0.05, and 43.0 ± 0.22, respectively. Addition of hemp led to significant (P < 0.001) reductions in L*, and significant increases in a* and b*, with the largest changes observed in the 20% HS treatment (L*= 58.7 ± 0.10; a*= 5.8 ± 0.05; b*= 60.5 ± 0.22). The results show that hemp use in hen diets leads to increased omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid content and color intensity of egg yolks, but does not have adverse effects on the sensory profiles of the cooked eggs. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study provides evidence that HS and hempseed oil (HO) can safely be utilized as feed ingredients for laying hens to produce table eggs that are enriched in essential fatty acids. Additionally, the eggs procured from these hens had similar aroma and flavor compared to eggs from hens not fed any hemp. The greater the dietary hemp inclusion, the more pigmented the resulting yolks became in terms of darkness, redness, and yellowness.     

The labile pool of manganese in soil: Comparison of E and L value measurements with extraction methods

The size of the manganese labile pools of three sandy soils from south east Scotland with a history of Mn deficiency was investigated by four methods: extraction with CaCl₂; extraction with DTPA; E-value determination by exchange with ⁵⁴Mn; and L-value determination using barley as the test crop. There was little agreement between the methods. The L-values varied with the period of plant growth and with soil bulk density but greatly exceeded the E-values, which in turn were about twice the quantities obtained by prolonged extraction with CaCl₂ and an order of magnitude greater than the quantities extracted after 1 h with CaCl₂-DTPA extraction gave values three to six times those obtained with CaCl₂. Extractable Mn increased dramatically after prolonged air drying, indicating the need for standardisation of both pre-extraction conditions and extraction times when comparing the Mn availability of different soils.     

Neural parameters contributing to temperature compensation in the flight CPG of the locust, Locusta migratoria

Elevated thoracic temperature increases the wingbeat frequency of flying locusts. We investigated the extent to which temperature-induced changes in resting membrane potential and postsynaptic potential amplitude contribute to the effects of increased temperature on the frequency of the central flight rhythm. Flight neurons were hyperpolarized by changing the K+ concentration of the superfusing saline from 10 mM to 2 mM. 5 min of low-K+ superfusion hyperpolarized flight motoneurons from -42.8 mV to -50.1 mV with a concomitant decrease of the frequency of the central flight rhythm from 11.6 Hz to 10.5 Hz. The amplitude of postsynaptic potentials was halved after 10 min of zero Ca2+/high Mg2+ superfusion, but the frequency of the central rhythm did not change significantly. GABAergic inhibitory connections were reduced in amplitude using picrotoxin. This treatment increased the frequency of the central rhythm from 11.6 Hz to 12.9 Hz, and increased the thermosensitivity of the rhythm frequency. We conclude that the excitatory effect of increased temperature on rhythm frequency is not mediated by temperature effects on membrane potential and/or synaptic potential amplitude. We propose that the inhibitory effect of temperature-induced hyperpolarization of the membrane potential compensates for the excitatory effect of temperature on rhythm frequency (e.g. via increased conduction velocity). We further suggest that some measure of temperature compensation is afforded by equal effects on the amplitudes of excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, such that the net effect on the level of excitation is zero.     

Transient central hypothyroidism as a cause of failure to thrive in newborns and infants

The course of two neonates and one 4-month-old infant with laboratory and clinical evidence of central hypothyroidism is described. All three presented with failure to thrive and improved after L-T4 therapy. Early recognition and treatment of newborns and infants with central hypothyroidism is important to maximize the potential for growth and development. Two of the three infants have been documented to have transient central hypothyroidism of hypothalamic origin, not previously reported.