The P3 components (P3a and P3b) of the event-related potentials have been analysed in sixteen in-patients with a major depressive episode (DSM III-R) according to their subtype - anxious-agitated and impulsive versus retarded and blunted-affect - assuming that these two opposite dimensions of the depressive mood would rely on different physiopathological mechanisms. The P3a component, which indexes automatic cognitive processes, was dramatically decreased in the retarded and blunted-affect group. This suggests that this special type of cognitive dysfunction in depression is rather related to negative symptoms than to depression itself.

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve (GSDNPP) in the San Luis Valley, Colorado, contains a variety of eolian landforms that reflect Holocene drought variability. The most spectacular is a dune mass banked against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, which is fronted by an extensive sand sheet with stabilized parabolic dunes. Stratigraphic exposures of parabolic dunes and associated luminescence dating of quartz grains by single-aliquot regeneration (SAR) protocols indicate eolian deposition of unknown magnitude occurred ca. 1290–940, 715 ± 80, 320 ± 30, and 200–120 yr ago and in the 20th century. There are 11 drought intervals inferred from the tree-ring record in the past 1300 yr at GSDNPP potentially associated with dune movement, though only five eolian depositional events are currently recognized in the stratigraphic record. There is evidence for eolian transport associated with dune movement in the 13th century, which may coincide with the “Great Drought”, a 26-yr-long dry interval identified in the tree ring record, and associated with migration of Anasazi people from the Four Corners areas to wetter areas in southern New Mexico. This nascent chronology indicates that the transport of eolian sand across San Luis Valley was episodic in the late Holocene with appreciable dune migration in the 8th, 10–13th, and 19th centuries, which ultimately nourished the dune mass against the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

The deposits of Glacial Lake Quincy overlie a diamicton associated with the classically defined Illinoian limit in central Indiana. This lake covered at least 180 km2 with a depth of > 20 m and developed when the Illinoian ice sheet retreated 15 km from the maximum limit, causing lake impoundment against Devore Ridge. Overflow from Glacial Lake Quincy eroded across the ridge forming a number of steeped-walled outlets. A section along Mill Creek exposes a sedimentologic sequence associated with Glacial Lake Quincy from a subglacial diamicton to ice-proximal to ice-distal glacial lacustrine sediments. We report new optical ages by multiple aliquot regenerative dose procedure for the fine-grained rhythmically bedded sediments presumed to represent the lowest energy depositional facies, dominated by suspension settling, which maximized sunlight exposure. In turn, optical ages were determined on the fine-grained (4-11 μm) polymineral and quartz fractions under infrared and blue excitation, which yielded statistically similar ages. Optical ages span from ca. 170 to 108 ka, with the average of 16 optical ages indicating deglaciation at ca. 135 ka, generally coincident with Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 6-to-5 transition and rise in global sea level.

The use of exogenous enzymes to improve the nutritional value of poultry diets is a relatively new concept. The technology is rapidly evolving, with new enzymes, enzyme combinations, and novel applications being developed as rapidly as regulatory restrictions will allow. Most researchers in the field of poultry nutrition would consider phytase to be the last significant leap forward in terms of enzyme use in the animal feed industry. However, there is a great deal of ongoing research into the next generation of enzymes with a focus on ingredient quality, predictability of response via least-square models, improvements in food safety, effect of bird age, effect of various side activities and enzyme dose, maximisation of net income and reduction in environmental pollution. It is the purpose of the present review article to summarise the current research in the area of feed enzymes for poultry and to speculate on future applications of enzymes and new enzyme technologies that may be of value to the industry in the coming years.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2005

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, USA, July 30 – August 3, 2005

This paper is a summary of the Second Bat-Sheva Seminar on magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Flows and turbulence. It was held in the University of the Negev, Israel, on 28-31 March 1978, with 64 participants from 7 countries. Reviews and research papers were presented on the general theory of MHD, MHD duct flows (with emphasis on novel aspects such as non-uniform fields and fluid properties, bends, free-surface effects and longitudinal diffusion), two-phase flows (especially those likely to occur in a liquid-metal generator), turbulence and instabilities, and electrically driven flows (with new results presented for the theory of laminar and turbulent flows in induction furnaces, and for the theory of thermo-electrically driven flows in transverse magnetic fields). One day of the conference was devoted to turbulence, mainly without magnetic fields, with reviews and new results presented on the theory and measurements of coherent structures, intermittency at high Reynolds number, methods of calculating shear flows, and measurement techniques. The seminar was a strange mixture of people and topics, which produced some interesting papers and some useful discussion.

Extended abstract of a paper presented at Microscopy and Microanalysis 2005 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, July 31--August 4, 2005

The black and white ruffed lemur, Varecia variegata, which is endemic to Madagascar, is under the threat of extinction due to the loss and fragmentation of its natural habitat, a consequence of deforestation. Behavioural researchers studying a population of V. variegata inhabiting the Manombo Special Reserve, noted that over a 4-year period, none of the family groups within the reserve produced offspring while those in neighbouring populations had been reproductively successful. Inbreeding depression was postulated as the trigger for this occurrence. However, another explanation exists. A cyclone, striking the region in 1997, destroyed a large percentage of the mature fruit-producing trees that V. variegata relied upon as a food source, which is likely to have produced a nutritional deficit. A panel of 25 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers was utilised to assess the genetic diversity within four V. variegata populations, including individuals from Manombo and three other populations in southeastern Madagascar. The data revealed that the level of genetic diversity apparent within the Manombo population is comparable to the other groups studied. Therefore, it seems probable that genetic factors are not responsible for the recent lack of reproductive success on the part of the V. variegata at Manombo Special Reserve.

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of a novel intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure, as well as the in vitro and in vivo developmental competence of goat embryos produced by ICSI. Oocyte-cumulus complexes recovered by LOPU from donors stimulated with gonadotrophins were matured in vitro. Fresh goat semen was used for ICSI following Percoll gradient washing. Tail-cut spermatozoa were microinjected into the ooplasm of goat oocytes using a piezo micropipette-driving system (PiezoDrill). In order to assess developmental competence, the ICSI-derived zygotes were cultured in one of two media systems (mTALP-mKSOM vs G1.3-G2.3) for in vitro development or were transferred into recipients for full-term development. The results suggest that cutting sperm tails using the oocyte-holding pipette coupled with the PiezoDrill is an efficient approach for goat ICSI in terms of oocyte survival, pronuclear development and initial cleavage. The mTALP-mKSOM culture system was more suitable for in vitro development of ICSI-derived goat embryos than G1.3-G2.3. This first report of full-term development of an ICSI-derived goat embryo suggests that ICSI can be applied to assisted reproduction in goats.

It is shown that the properties of sprayed (Cd, Zn)S layers obtained by means of a pneumatic nozzle depend dramatically on the type of flow gas used (air or nitrogen). The role of chemisorbed oxygen is demonstrated. Independently of the various heat treatments applied the resulting CuxS obtained has always a coefficient x closer to 2 when the flow gas is nitrogen. A subsequent annealing of the (Cd, Zn)S layers is found to increase the CuxS growth speed.

It is also shown that the quality of (Cd, Zn)S layers determines to a great extent that of the cuprous sulfide in (Cd, Zn)S-CuxS heterojunctions. The data are interpreted in terms of the modification of the layers structure, composition and charge carrier concentration.

The author is Professor of Oceanography in the School of Engineering and Science of New York University and this paper was prepared for the Imco joint ad hoc group for the study of external forces affecting ships. Reviewing the circumstances attending the loss of the trawlers Blue Crusader and Boston Pionair in 1965 he attributes them to high pyramidal seas caused by the crossing of wave trains refracted in water of varying depth. The use of model experiments, air photography and laser altimeters is suggested for verifying the theoretical conclusions, in the light of which corrective measures might be taken when navigating under such conditions.