As a result of the slow action of two-body encounters, globular clusters develop mass segregation and attain a condition of only partial energy equipartition even in their central, most relaxed regions. Realistic numerical simulations show that, during the process, a radially-biased anisotropy profile slowly builds up, mimicking that resulting from incomplete violent relaxation. Commonly used dynamical models, such as the one-component King models, cannot describe these properties. Here we show that simple two-component models based on a distribution function originally conceived to describe elliptical galaxies, recently truncated and adapted to the context of globular clusters, can describe in detail what is observed in complex and realistic numerical simulations.

This review examines the relative bioefficacy of 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMTBA) and DL-methionine (DL-Met) which includes chemical, metabolic, nutritional, and statistical aspects of its bioefficacy. The chemical, enzymatic and biological differences and similarities between these two products are explained and the evidence and reasons for HMTBA relative bioefficacy to DL-Met in monogastric animals are discussed. In addition, appropriate statistical methods for comparing the bioefficacy of these two products for successful use of each product are provided. HMTBA is an organic acid precursor of L-Met. The chemical structure differences between HMTBA and DL-Met leads to differences in how and where the two materials are absorbed, enzymatically converted to L-Met and used by the animal. Because of these differences, when the two compounds are supplemented into animal feeds in graded doses, they do not produce dose response curves of the same form due in part to differences in intake and metabolism at the extremes of the dose response curves. At deficient levels of the response curve, HMTBA fed animals may exhibit lower feed consumption and growth than DL-Met while at requirement levels they may have greater feed consumption and growth. This review provides biological evidence for why these differences in growth response occur and demonstrates that lower growth, whether for DL-Met or HMTBA, does not mean that either product is being converted to methionine inefficiently. Since the two products have different dose response curves, statistically valid methods are provided for unbiased determination of relative bioefficacy across tested dose ranges. Field nutritionists typically feed commercial doses of HMTBA or DL-Met at a total sulphur amino acid dietary level capable of achieving maximum performance. At these commercial levels, and based on the evidence, the full relative bioefficacy of HMTBA relative to DL-Met is discussed.

The Dark Energy Survey is undertaking an observational programme imaging 1/4 of the southern hemisphere sky with unprecedented photometric accuracy. In the process of observing millions of faint stars and galaxies to constrain the parameters of the dark energy equation of state, the Dark Energy Survey will obtain pre-discovery images of the regions surrounding an estimated 100 gamma-ray bursts over 5 yr. Once gamma-ray bursts are detected by, e.g., the Swift satellite, the DES data will be extremely useful for follow-up observations by the transient astronomy community. We describe a recently-commissioned suite of software that listens continuously for automated notices of gamma-ray burst activity, collates information from archival DES data, and disseminates relevant data products back to the community in near-real-time. Of particular importance are the opportunities that non-public DES data provide for relative photometry of the optical counterparts of gamma-ray bursts, as well as for identifying key characteristics (e.g., photometric redshifts) of potential gamma-ray burst host galaxies. We provide the functional details of the DESAlert software, and its data products, and we show sample results from the application of DESAlert to numerous previously detected gamma-ray bursts, including the possible identification of several heretofore unknown gamma-ray burst hosts.

In this work, we present an analysis of SNe number ratios in spiral galaxies with different morphological subtypes, luminosities, sSFR, and metallicities, to provide important information about the physical properties of the progenitor populations.

The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of total selenium (Se) and the proportions of total Se comprised as selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys) in the postmortem tissues of female pheasants (Phasianus Colchicus Torquator) offered diets that contained graded additions of selenised-enriched yeast (SY) or a single comparative dose of sodium selenite (SS). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and tissue glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of breast (Pectoralis Major) were assessed at 0 and 5 days postmortem. A total of 216 female pheasant chicks were enrolled into the study. Twenty-four birds were euthanased at the start of the study, and samples of blood, breast muscle, leg muscle (M. Peroneus Longus and M. Gastrocnemius), heart, liver, kidney and gizzard were collected for determination of total Se. Remaining birds were blocked by live weight and randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments (n = 48 birds/treatment) that either differed in Se source (SY v. SS) or dose (control (0.17 mg total Se/kg), SY-L and SS-L (0.3 mg/kg total Se as SY and SS, respectively) and SY-H (0.45 mg total Se/kg)). Following 42 and 91 days of treatment, 24 birds per treatment were euthanased, and samples of blood, breast muscle, leg muscle, heart, liver, kidney and gizzard were retained for determination of total Se and the proportion of total Se comprised as SeMet or SeCys. Whole blood GSH-Px activity was determined at each time point. Tissue GSH-Px activity and TBARS were determined in breast tissue at the end of the study. There were increases in both blood and tissues to the graded addition of SY to the diet (P < 0.001), but the same responses were not apparent with the blood and tissues of selenite-supplemented birds receiving a comparable dose (SY-L v. SS-L). Although there were differences between tissue types in the distribution of SeMet and SeCys, there were few differences between treatments. There were effects of treatment on erythrocyte GSH-Px activity (P = 0.012) with values being higher in treatments SY-H and SS-L when compared with the negative control and treatment SY-L. There were no effects of treatment on tissue GSH-Px activity, which is reflected in the overall lack of any treatment effects on TBARS.

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey was used to measure the effect of isolation on patient satisfaction. Isolated patients reported lower scores for questions regarding physician communication and staff responsiveness. Overall scores for these domains were lower in isolated than in nonisolated patients.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, August 7–August 11, 2011.

The objective of this study was to determine the concentration of total selenium (Se) and proportions of total Se comprised as selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys) in the tissues of female turkeys offered diets containing graded additions of selenized-enriched yeast (SY), or sodium selenite (SS). Oxidative stability and tissue glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of breast and thigh muscle were assessed at 0 and 10 days post mortem. A total of 216 female turkey poults were enrolled in the study. A total of 24 birds were euthanized at the start of the study and samples of blood, breast, thigh, heart, liver, kidney and gizzard were collected for determination of total Se. Remaining birds were blocked by live weight and randomly allocated to one of four dietary treatments (n = 48 birds/treatment) that differed either in Se source (SY v. SS) or dose (Con [0.2 mg/kg total Se], SY-L and SS-L [0.3 mg/kg total Se as SY and SS, respectively] and SY-H [0.45 mg total Se/kg]). Following 42 and 84 days of treatment 24 birds per treatment were euthanized and samples of blood, breast, thigh, heart, liver, kidney and gizzard were retained for determination of total Se and the proportion of total Se comprised as SeMet or SeCys. Whole blood GSH-Px activity was determined at each time point. Tissue GSH-Px activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were determined in breast and thigh tissue at the end of the study. There were responses (P < 0.001) in all tissues to the graded addition of dietary Se, although rates of accumulation were highest in birds offered SY. There were notable differences between tissue types and treatments in the distribution of SeMet and SeCys, and the activity of tissue and erythrocyte GSH-Px (P < 0.05). SeCys was the predominant form of Se in visceral tissue and SeMet the predominant form in breast tissue. SeCys contents were greater in thigh when compared with breast tissue. Muscle tissue GSH-Px activities mirrored SeCys contents. Despite treatment differences in tissue GSH-Px activity, there were no effects of treatment on any meat quality parameter.

We are developing neutron diagnostics to characterize the implosions performed with the Phebus laser, operating at 5 kJ blue light delivered in 1·3 ns. For measuring the glass pusher areal density, (ρΔR), of the target, a silicon radiochemistry diagnostic has been implemented and is currently being used. We describe the diagnostic and its performance. Pusher areal density measurements, (ρΔR) and calculated values of fuel density are given. Deuterium (D)-tritium (T) final densities as high as 100 × D-T liquid density (20 g/cm3) have been achieved.

The first 14-MeV neutron images of imploded microballoons have been obtained on the Phébus laser facility at CEL-V. The sizes of the source have been measured, in direct-drive experiments, by means of a coded-aperture imaging system. The principle is to use a thick aperture with a diameter larger than that of the source to image the microballoon. The deconvolution of the recorded image allows one to reconstruct the image of the neutron source, and this technique allows one to obtain images at a lower neutron yield than with a conventional pinhole camera. The choice of the experimental conditions is a trade-off between the Phébus conditions, the spatial resolution, and the image reconstruction method that is related to the signalto-noise ratio. The sensitivity of the diagnostic is strongly dependent on the number of scintillator photons that are collected by the recording system. The neutron measurement threshold of our experimental setup is typically 2 × 1010 neutrons/shot for neutron source sizes of 800 μm.

Forty multiparous Holstein cows were used in a 16-week continuous design study to determine the effects of either selenium (Se) source, selenised yeast (SY) (derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060) or sodium selenite (SS), or Se inclusion rate in the form of SY in the diets of lactating dairy cows on the Se concentration and speciation in blood, milk and cheese. Cows received ad libitum a total mixed ration (TMR) with a 1 : 1 forage : concentrate ratio on a dry matter (DM) basis. There were four diets (T1 to T4), which differed only in either source or dose of Se additive. Estimated total dietary Se for T1 (no supplement), T2 (SS), T3 (SY) and T4 (SY) was 0.16, 0.30, 0.30 and 0.45 mg/kg DM, respectively. Blood and milk samples were taken at 28-day intervals and at each time point there were positive linear effects of Se in the form of SY on the Se concentration in blood and milk. At day 112, blood and milk Se values for T1 to T4 were 177, 208, 248 and 279 ± 6.6 and 24, 38, 57 and 72 ± 3.7 ng/g fresh material, respectively, and indicate improved uptake and incorporation of Se from SY. In whole blood, selenocysteine (SeCys) was the main selenised amino acid and the concentration of selenomethionine (SeMet) increased with the increasing inclusion rate of SY. In milk, there were no marked treatment effects on the SeCys content, but Se source had a marked effect on the concentration of SeMet. At day 112, replacing SS (T2) with SY (T3) increased the SeMet concentration of milk from 36 to 111 ng Se/g and its concentration increased further to 157 ng Se/g dried sample as the inclusion rate of SY increased further (T4) to provide 0.45 mg Se/kg TMR. Neither Se source nor inclusion rate affected the keeping quality of milk. At day 112, milk from T1, T2 and T3 was made into a hard cheese and Se source had a marked effect on total Se and the concentration of total Se comprised as either SeMet or SeCys. Replacing SS (T2) with SY (T3) increased total Se, SeMet and SeCys content in cheese from 180 to 340 ng Se/g, 57 to 153 ng Se/g and 52 to 92 ng Se/g dried sample, respectively. The use of SY to produce food products with enhanced Se content as a means of meeting the Se requirements is discussed.

The objective was to determine the concentration of total selenium (Se) and the proportion of total Se comprised as selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys) in post mortem tissues of lambs in the 6 weeks period following the withdrawal of a diet containing high-dose selenised yeast (HSY), derived from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisae CNCM (Collection Nationale de Culture de Micro-organism) I-3060. Thirty Texel × Suffolk lambs used in this study had previously received diets (91 days) containing either HSY (6.30 mg Se per kg dry matter (DM)) or an unsupplemented control (C; 0.13 mg Se per kg DM). Following the period of supplementation, all lambs were then offered a complete pelleted diet, without additional Se (0.15 mg Se per kg DM), for 42 days. At enrolment and 21 and 42 days later, five lambs from each treatment were blood sampled, euthanased and samples of heart, liver, kidney and skeletal muscle (longissimus dorsi and psoas major) tissue were retained. Total Se concentration in whole blood and tissues was significantly (P < 0.001) higher in HSY lambs at all time points that had previously received long-term exposure to high dietary concentrations of SY. The distribution of total Se and the proportions of total Se comprised as SeMet and SeCys differed between tissues, treatment and time points. Total Se was greatest in HSY liver and kidney (22.64 and 18.96 mg Se per kg DM, respectively) and SeCys comprised the greatest proportion of total Se. Conversely, cardiac and skeletal muscle (longissimus dorsi and psoas major) tissues had lower total Se concentration (10.80, 7.02 and 7.82 mg Se per kg DM, respectively) and SeMet was the predominant selenised amino acid. Rates of Se clearance in HSY liver (307 μg Se per day) and kidney (238 μg Se per day) were higher compared with HSY cardiac tissue (120 μg Se per day) and skeletal muscle (20 μg Se per day). In conclusion, differences in Se clearance rates were different between tissue types, reflecting the relative metabolic activity of each tissue, and appear to be dependent on the proportions of total Se comprised as either SeMet or SeCys.

Many astrophysical problems, ranging from structure formation in cosmology to dynamics of elliptical galaxies, refer to slow processes of evolution of essentially collisionless self-gravitating systems. To determine the relevant quasi-equilibrium configuration at time t from given initial conditions, such slow evolution is often approximated in terms of adiabatic evolution. Here we focus on the slow process of evolution induced by dynamical friction of a spherical stellar system (the host galaxy) on a minority component of “satellites” (distributed in a spherical shell), to determine to what extent an adiabatic description might be applied.

Background. To establish whether high-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have enlarged brains in later childhood, and if so, whether this enlargement is confined to the gray and/or to the white matter and whether it is global or more prominent in specific brain regions.

Method. Brain MRI scans were acquired from 21 medication-naive, high-functioning children with ASD between 7 and 15 years of age and 21 comparison subjects matched for gender, age, IQ, height, weight, handedness, and parental education, but not pubertal status.

Results. Patients showed a significant increase of 6% in intracranium, total brain, cerebral gray matter, cerebellum, and of more than 40% in lateral and third ventricles compared to controls. The cortical gray-matter volume was evenly affected in all lobes. After correction for brain volume, ventricular volumes remained significantly larger in patients.

Conclusions. High-functioning children with ASD showed a global increase in gray-matter, but not white-matter and cerebellar volume, proportional to the increase in brain volume, and a disproportional increase in ventricular volumes, still present after correction for brain volume. Advanced pubertal development in the patients compared to the age-matched controls may have contributed to the findings reported in the present study.

The use of direct fed microbials has been shown to enhance digestion in the ruminant. One source of microbial live populations is a yeast culture Saccharomyces cerevisae (Yea-Sacc1026, CBS 493.94; Alltech Inc, USA), and its use in ruminants has been associated with a range of benefits including an overall increase in dry matter and fiber digestibility (Wiedmeier and Arambel, 1985), combating heat stress in lactating cows (Huber and Higgenbotham, 1985) and increased performance (Fallon and Harte, 1987). Glade and Biesik (1982) working with yearling horses, demonstrated increased DM and N digestibility when S. cerevisae was added to the diet. It was suggested that S. cerevisae enhanced cellulolytic activity, triggering microbial metabolism changes in the horse’s large intestine that enhance hemicellulose fermentation. They also reported that the addition of S. cerevisae results in smaller percentages of absorbed nitrogen excreted in the urine, indicating that the biological value of the S. cerevisae -supplemented diets may be more than the direct contribution of the nitrogen within the yeast itself. The aim of this review is to determine the effects of S. cerevisae on performance parameters of bulls.

Feeding strategies for performance horses generally involves the substitution of one-two thirds of the fibrous feeds (e.g., forages and pastures) with starchy materials, primarily cereal grains. Such strategies can result in enhanced susceptibility to colic or laminitis (Kronfeld and Harris, 1997) which can be reduced through the use of beneficial microbial combinations that increase nutrient availability, modify gut microflora and enhance performance. One source of microbial live populations is a yeast culture Saccharomyces cerevisae (Yea-Sacc 1026; CBS 493.94, Alltech Inc, USA) which has been shown to increase the digestibility of gross energy (GE) and enhance the retention of N in yearling horses (Glade and Biesik, 1986), together with enhanced performance. The aim of this review is to determine the effects of S. cerevisae on the digestibility of nutrients in the mare, and subsequent effects on milk composition, quality and performance of the offspring.

The hypothesis has been advanced that synovium offers the main resistance to fluid escape from joints, even though it is under 20 µm thick. To test this, fluid was infused into the knee joint cavity of anaesthetised rabbits to set up a pressure gradient, then the profile of periarticular interstitial fluid pressure (Pif) was measured by advancing a micropipette, connected to a servo-null pressure recorder, in steps through a periarticular tissue 'window' until the joint cavity was entered. With intra-articular pressure (Pj) raised to 15 cmH2O (the pressure of an acute joint effusion) the pressure gradient dPif /dx (where x is distance) across the synovial lining was 0.47 ± 0.04 cmH2O µm-1 (n = 10 joints). This was 23.5-fold greater than the gradient in the subsynovium (0.02 ± 0.01 cmH2O µm-1; P < 0.0001, Student's t test), indicating that the hydraulic resistivity of the subsynovium is <=<>4 % of that of the synovium. The pressure profile was not altered by circulatory arrest. To test the hypothesis further, the effect of a stab perforation of the synovial lining on fluid drainage rate ((·Qs) was studied. Perforation raised both ·Qs and the conductance term d ·Qs/dPj more than 10-fold (n = 6 joints; P < 0.0001, ANOVA). The results thus support the view that, despite its thinness, the synovial lining offers the main hydraulic resistance to fluid drainage from a synovial joint. Experimental Physiology (2001) 86.6, 739-747.

Neodymium- or erbium-doped silica films are deposited on single crystal silicon substrates using a sol-gel process and a spin-coating technique. These glasses are doped with neodymium or erbium in various Nd/Si or Er/Si atomic ratios up to 8% using neodymium nitrate or erbium nitrate as precursor. A preparation method of such films is described. Film rare earth concentration measured by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS) is the same as in the initial liquid solution. Film thickness and refractive index are obtained by variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry. We have shown that both RBS analysis and spectroscopic ellipsometry are powerful tools to control rare earth doping level and optical properties of the silica films.

The cold interstellar medium plays a dominant role in determining the observed spiral structure in galaxies not only because it is the site of the generation of young and bright objects, but also because it is both a source of excitation (Jeans instability) and of regulation (since it can dissipate) for the overall dynamics of the disk. Here I review a physical picture of spiral galaxies developed in the last few years and present recent results on the mechanism of self-regulation of the disk, on the modeling of individual objects, and on the modeling of categories of spiral galaxies (morphological classification).