The relationship between diurnal type and time duration estimation at morning and evening times of day

This study investigates whether different diurnal types (morning versus evening) differ in their estimation of time duration at different times of the day. Given that the performance of morning and evening types is typically best at their preferred times of day, and assuming different diurnal trends in subjective alertness (arousal?) for morning and evening types, and adopting the attentional gate model of time duration estimation, it was predicted that morning types would tend to underestimate and be more accurate in the morning compared to evening types where the opposite pattern was expected. Nineteen morning types, 18 evening types and 18 intermediate types were drawn from a large sample (N=1175) of undergraduates administered the Early/Late Preference Scale. Groups performed a time duration estimation task using the production method for estimating 20-s unfilled intervals at two times of day: 0800/1830. The median absolute error, median directional error and frequency of under- and overestimation were analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA. While all differences were statistically non-significant, the following trends were observed: morning types performed better than evening types; participants overestimated in the morning and underestimated in the evening; and participants were more accurate later in the day. It was concluded that the trends are inconsistent with a relationship between subjective alertness and time duration estimation but consistent with a possible relationship between time duration estimation and diurnal body temperature fluctuations. (C) 2002 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A pathology of the animal spirits – the clinical neurology of Thomas Willis (1621–1675) Part II – Disorders of intrinsically abnormal animal spirits

Thomas Willis (1621-1675), author of the classical work Cerebri Anatome (1664), was arguably the father of the modern era of neurology. His clinical neurology, as described in his Pathologiae Cerebri (1667) and De Anima Brutorum (1672), was largely derived from personal observations and not from traditional authorities and was based around his concept of the animal spirits, a fictitious entity in many ways analogous to the present day idea of the nerve impulse. This concept allowed him to develop a pathology of the animal spirits which embraced the whole content of the clinical neurology and psychiatry of his times. The anatomical and physiological background to Willis' concepts of animal spirit dysfunction, and those disorders he regarded as due to disturbed function of intrinsically normal animal spirits, have been dealt with in the previous part of this paper. The disorders he attributed to intrinsically abnormal animal spirits, dealt with in this part of the paper, comprised two categories. In one, the animal spirits possessed explosive properties, whilst in the other the abnormalities were non-explosive in their nature. The former category included epilepsy, hysteria and hypochondriasis, whilst the latter included mainly disorders now considered psychiatric e.g. delirium, melancholy, madness and stupidity. Willis' ideas about the pathogenesis of nervous system disorder seem never to have been generally accepted, partly because they appeared at a time when others were increasingly calling into question the existence of the animal spirits. Nevertheless, Willis' attempt to record and interpret all nervous system disease on the basis of disorder of function of a single underlying mechanism represents a formidable synthetic intellectual endeavour on the part of a very busy physician. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The epileptology of William Aldren Turner

William Aldren Turner (1864-1945), in his day Physician to the National Hospital, Queen Square, and to King's College Hospital, London, was one of the major figures in the world of epileptology in the period between Hughlings Jackson in the latter part of the 19th century and the advent of electroencephalography in the 1930s. Although he also made contributions to knowledge in other areas of neurology, and with Grainger Stewart wrote a competent textbook on that subject, Turner's main professional interest throughout his career seems to have been epilepsy. On the basis of a series of earlier, rather heavily statistical, personal publications dealing with various aspects of the disorder, he authored what became a well-accepted monograph entitled Epilepsy-a study of the idiopathic disorder, which appeared in 1907, and he also gave the 1910 Morison lectures in Edinburgh on the topic. His writings on epilepsy over a period of three decades consolidated knowledge rather than led to significant advances, but helped maintain interest in the disorder during a rather long fallow phase in the development of the understanding of its nature. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A pathology of the animal spirits - the clinical neurology of Thomas Willis (1621-1675) Part I - Background, and disorders of intrinsically normal animal spirits

Thomas Willis (1621-1675), author of the classical work Cerebri Anatome (1664), was arguably the father of the modem era of neurology. As compared with his neuroanatomy, relatively little attention has been paid to Willis' clinical neurology, as described in his Pathologiae Cerebri (1667) and Do Anima Brutorum (1672), where he gave a structured account of disease of the nervous system as it was known in his day. His account was largely derived from personal observations and not from traditional authorities and was based around his concept of the animal spirits, a fictitious entity in many ways analogous to the present day idea of the nerve impulse. This concept allowed him to develop a pathology of the animal spirits which embraced the whole content of the clinical neurology and psychiatry of his times. The anatomical and physiological background to Willis! concepts of animal spirit dysfunction, and those disorders he regarded as due to disturbed function of intrinsically normal animal spirits (mainly headache, disorders of consciousness, apoplexy and palsy) are dealt with in the present paper. The disorders he attributed to inherently abnormal animal spirits are considered in a second part of the paper. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All eights reserved.

Seasonal changes in the diel surfacing behaviour of the bimodally respiring turtle Rheodytes leukops

The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship existed between the diel surfacing trends of the bimodally respiring freshwater turtle Rheodytes leukops and daily fluctuations in specific biotic and abiotic factors: The, diel surfacing behaviour of adult R. leukops was recorded over four consecutive seasons (Austral autumn 2000 - summer 2001) within Marlborough Creek, central Queensland, Australia, using pressure-sensitive time-depth recorders. Additionally, diurnal variations in water temperature and aquatic Po-2 level, as well as the turtle's behavioural state (i.e., active versus resting), were monitored. In autumn and summer, surfacing frequency increased significantly during the daylight hours, with peak levels normally occurring around dawn (0500-0700) and. dusk (1700-1900). However, no consistent diel surfacing trend was recorded, for the turtles in winter or spring, owing to considerable variation among individual R. leukops. Diurnal surfacing trends recorded for R. leukops in, autumn and summer are attributed to periods of increased activity (possibly associated with foraging) during the daylight hours and not to daily variations in water temperature or aquatic Po-2 level. Turtles generally remained at a depth greater than 1 m throughout the day, where the effect of diel fluctuations in water temperature, (

Biology and conservation of the rare New Zealand land snail Paryphanta busbyi watti (Mollusca, Pulmonata)

The biology of Paryphanta busbyi watti, an endangered carnivorous land snail, was studied mostly by following large juvenile and adult snails with harmonic radar. The snails are nocturnally active and most (79%) hide during the day under leaf litter or in dense vegetation. Fecal analysis showed that the diet is primarily earthworms, but some cannibalism of smaller snails occurs. Empty shells appear to be an additional source of dietary calcium. Mating occurred most frequently between April and July. Mating snails stayed together for 4-7 days, and each pair reversed their positions at least twice. Four snails were first found mating 151-1240 d after they acquired adult shells, and 7 snails were observed mating a second time after 66-298 d. We found 8 nests and observed 6 snails ovipositing; 5 snails laid eggs in holes they dug and one laid eggs in a crevice between rocks. In 2 instances, oviposition was recorded 52 and 140 d after mating. Snails were estimated to lay on average similar to17.5 eggs per year in 3-5 clutches. Most oviposition was observed in August/September, but some occurred between November and February. Of the snails that died, pigs killed 13.6% and humans inadvertently killed another 13.6%. Other snails died from unknown causes mostly during the drier and warmer months, from November to April. This large land snail survives in the presence of introduced predators, but some life history traits could predispose it to a rapid decline in numbers if new predators arrive.

Studies on the cryopreservation of common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) spermatozoa

In an attempt to develop a gamete-recovery protocol for the northern hairy nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii), spermatozoa were removed from the cauda epididymides of four common wombats (Vombatus ursinus) and cryopreserved following a variety of prefreeze storage conditions. Spermatozoa stored for 72 h at 4 degrees C within the testicle before cryopreservation tolerated the freeze-thaw procedure remarkably well, resulting in a higher post-thaw viability (% motile P< 0.01; rate of movement P< 0.01; % live P< 0.01) than sperm recovered on the day of post-mortem, stored in a test tube for 72 h at 4 degrees C and then frozen. The effect of post-thaw dilution with Tris citrate fructose (TCF) diluent on the survival of epididymal common wombat spermatozoa was also investigated. Motility (P< 0.05), rate of sperm movement (P< 0.01) and the percentage of live spermatozoa (P< 0.05) were all significantly greater when spermatozoa were thawed and diluted immediately in TCF than when thawed without dilution. The present study also reports, for the first time, a successful pellet method of freezing wombat spermatozoa on dry ice; volumes of 0.25 and 0.5mL resulted in higher post- thaw survival compared with 0.1-mL pellets.

NS1 protein secretion during the acute phase of West Nile virus infection

The West Nile virus (WNV) nonstructural protein NS1 is a protein of unknown function that is found within, associated with, and secreted from infected cells. We systematically investigated the kinetics of NS1 secretion in vitro and in vivo to determine the potential use of this protein as a diagnostic marker and to analyze NS1 secretion in relation to the infection cycle. A sensitive antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of WNW NS1 (polyclonal-ACE) was developed, as well as a capture ELISA for the specific detection of NS1 multimers (4G4-ACE). The 4G4-ACE detected native NS1 antigens at high sensitivity, whereas the polyclonal-ACE had a higher specificity for recombinant forms of the protein. Applying these assays we found that only a small fraction of intracellular NS1 is secreted and that secretion of NS1 in tissue culture is delayed compared to the release of virus particles. In experimentally infected hamsters, NS1 was detected in the serum between days 3 and 8 postinfection, peaking on day 5, the day prior to the onset of clinical disease; immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were detected at low levels on day 5 postinfection. Although real-time PCR gave the earliest indication of infection (day 1), the diagnostic performance of the 4G4-ACE was comparable to that of real-time PCR during the time period when NS1 was secreted. Moreover, the 4G4-ACE was found to be superior in performance to both the IgM and plaque assays during this time period, suggesting that NS1 is a viable early diagnostic marker of WNV infection.

Thomas Mitchell and the Wellington caves: The relationship among science, religion, and aesthetics in early-nineteenth-century Australia

THOMAS MITCHELL (1792–1855), explorer and Surveyor-General in New South Wales between 1828 and 1855, was a talented and competent draughtsman who was responsible for the original sketches and even some of the lithographs he used to illustrate his two journals of exploration, published in 1838 and 1848. In this paper, I will be concerned with the 1838 journal, entitled Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia; with descriptions of the recently explored region of Australia Felix, and of the Present Colony of New South Wales. On the whole, it is a detailed and lavishly illustrated account of the land Mitchell encountered, along with its inhabitants and natural history. My particular interest is in offering an explanation for differences between a sepia sketch depicting a cave at Wellington, NSW, that Mitchell prepared as one of the illustrations for geological material included in this journal, and the final lithograph.

Testosterone secretion and pharmacological spermatozoal recovery in the cane toad (Bufo marinus)

The cane toad (Bufo marinus) was used as a model to study male anuran reproductive endocrinology and to develop a protocol for non-invasive sperm recovery. Circulating testosterone concentrations in 6-hourly samples did not vary significantly (P < 0.05) over a 24 h period although there was a tendency (P = 0.06) for testosterone to be elevated at 19:00 h relative to other times of the day, which may be related to the nocturnal activity pattern of this species. Testosterone secretion after intraperitoneal (IP) injection of either a GnRH agonist (5 mu g IP) or hCG (1000 IU) was also examined. While the GnRH agonist did not produce a significant increase above basal plasma testosterone (0.29, 95% C.I. of 0.05-1.10 ng/ml), injection of hCG resulted in an increase (P < 0.01) of plasma testosterone with peak concentrations at approximately 120 min (4.17, 95% C.I. of 2.69-7.44 ng/ml) after injection. Non-invasive pharmaceutical sperm recovery was attempted following IP injection of graded doses of GnRH agonist, hCG or FSH. Urine was collected at 3, 6 and 12 h after treatment to assess sperm quality and quantity. The optimal protocol for sperm recovery in cane toads was injection of either 1000 or 2000 IU hCG; there was no significant difference in the quality of the spermic urine samples obtained using either dose of hCG or with respect to collection time. The findings indicated that hCG can be used to assess testicular steroidogenic status and also to induce sperm recovery in the cane toad. The hCG protocols developed in this study will have application in studies on the reproductive biology of rare and endangered male anurans. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Measuring the ability of school children with a history of otitis media to understand everyday speech

The present study compared the ability of school-aged children with and without a history of otitis media (OM) to understand everyday speech in noise using the University of Queensland Understanding of Everyday Speech Test (UQUEST). Participants were 484 children (246 boys, 238 girls) attending Grade 3 (272, mean age = 8.25 yr., SD = 0.43) and Grade 4 (212, mean age = 9.28 yr., SD = 0.41) at 19 primary schools in Brisbane metropolitan and Sunshine Coast schools. Children selected for inclusion were native speakers of English with normal hearing on the day of testing and had no reported physical or behavioral impairments. The children were divided into three groups according to the number of episodes of OM since birth. The results showed no significant differences in speech scores across the participant groups. However, a significant difference in mean speech scores was found across the grades and the noise conditions. Although children with a history of OM performed equally well at a group level when compared to the controls, they exhibited a large range of abilities in speech comprehension within the same group.

Decreased hephaestin activity in the intestine of copper-deficient mice causes systemic iron deficiency

Copper and iron metabolism intersect in mammals. Copper deficiency simultaneously leads to decreased iron levels in some tissues and iron deficiency anemia, whereas it results in iron overload in other tissues such as the intestine and liver. The copper requirement of the multicopper ferroxidases hephaestin and ceruloplasmin likely explains this link between copper and iron homeostasis in mammals. We investigated the effect of in vivo and in vitro copper deficiency on hephaestin (Heph) expression and activity. C57BL/6J mice were separated into 2 groups on the day of parturition. One group was fed a copper-deficient diet and another was fed a control diet for 6 wk. Copper-deficient mice had significantly lower hephaestin and ceruloplasmin (~50% of controls) ferroxidase activity. Liver hepcidin expression was significantly downregulated by copper deficiency (~60% of controls), and enterocyte mRNA and protein levels of ferroportin1 were increased to 2.5 and 10 times, respectively, relative to controls, by copper deficiency, indicating a systemic iron deficiency in the copper-deficient mice. Interestingly, hephaestin protein levels were significantly decreased to ~40% of control, suggesting that decreased enterocyte copper content leads to decreased hephaestin synthesis and/or stability. We also examined the effect of copper deficiency on hephaestin in vitro in the HT29 cell line and found dramatically decreased hephaestin synthesis and activity. Both in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that copper is required for the proper processing and/or stability of hephaestin.

The impact of spectral composition and light periodicity on the activity of two antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in the coral Favia favus

In oligotrophic waters the light spectrum is mostly blue, and therefore the physiological and biochemical responses to blue light occurring in the coral tissue and in the symbiotic algae are important. Examination of the wavelength dependence of two free radical scavenger enzyme activity revealed an increase in activity in the blue light range (440-480 nm) compared to the red (640680 nm) in the full visible light (400-700 nm) range. These data show for the first time the relationship between the action spectra of photosynthesis and the activity of two main antioxidant enzymes in the symbiotic coral Favia favus. It was found that in the animal (host) the enzyme response to the spectral distribution of light was higher than that of the zooxanthellae, probably due to accumulation of free radicals within the host tissue. Furthermore, we found that the activity of these enzymes is affected in nature by the length of the day and night, and in the laboratory, by the duration of the illumination. Changes in the pigment concentrations were also observed in response to growth under the blue region and the whole PAR spectrum, while fluorescence measurements with the fast repetition rate fluorometer (FRRF) showed a decrease in the sigma cross section and a decrease in the quantum yield also in the blue part of the spectrum. These changes of scavenger enzymes activity, pigment concentration and fluorescence yield at different light spectra are vital in acclimatization and survival of corals in shallow water environments with high light radiation. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.