Meditation Experience Predicts Introspective Accuracy

The accuracy of subjective reports, especially those involving introspection of one''s own internal processes, remains unclear, and research has demonstrated large individual differences in introspective accuracy. It has been hypothesized that introspective accuracy may be heightened in persons who engage in meditation practices, due to the highly introspective nature of such practices. We undertook a preliminary exploration of this hypothesis, examining introspective accuracy in a cross-section of meditation practitioners (1–15,000 hrs experience). Introspective accuracy was assessed by comparing subjective reports of tactile sensitivity for each of 20 body regions during a ‘body-scanning’ meditation with averaged, objective measures of tactile sensitivity (mean size of body representation area in primary somatosensory cortex; two-point discrimination threshold) as reported in prior research. Expert meditators showed significantly better introspective accuracy than novices; overall meditation experience also significantly predicted individual introspective accuracy. These results suggest that long-term meditators provide more accurate introspective reports than novices.     

Spatial and temporal distributions of submarine groundwater discharge rates obtained from various types of seepage meters at a site in the Northeastern Gulf of Mexico

Direct measurements of submarine groundwaterdischarge (SGD) were taken by three different(continuous heat, heat pulse, and ultrasonic)types of automated seepage meters as well asstandard Lee-type manually operated meters. SGD flux comparisons and the spatial andtemporal variations in groundwater flow wereanalyzed. Seepage rates measured by thedifferent meters agree relatively well witheach other (more than 80% agreement). Comparisons of flux rates as a function ofdistance offshore using exponentialapproximations show that more than fivemeasurement locations (200 m offshore) areneeded for a precise integrated estimation ofSGD offshore within an accuracy of ±10%. Thedominant period of seepage variations isestimated to be about 12 hours, which closelymatches the semidiurnal tides in this area. Our analysis also shows that short durationmeasurement periods may cause significantunderestimates or overestimates of the dailyaveraged groundwater flow rates (±25%–±60% difference when the measurement durationis less than 12 hours). Thus, continuousmeasurements of SGD using automated seepagemeters with high time resolution should enableus to evaluate temporal and spatial variationsof dissolved material transports viagroundwater pathways. Such inputs may affectbiogeochemical phenomena in the coastal zone.     

Untersuchungen über das Verhalten des nukleolus während der Kernteilung

Zusammenfassung Es wurden Wurzelspitzen von Soja hispida, Phaseolus vulgaris, Vicia, saliva und Zea mays fixiert und Präparate daraus hergestellt, die für die Untersuchungen beim Verhalten des Nukleolus während der Kernteilung benutzt wurden.Obwohl es nicht ganz klar ist, deuten doch die Kernteilungsbilder der späteren Prophase darauf hin, daß zwischen dem Nukleolus und dem Kernfaden ein stofflicher Austausch stattfindet. Der Nukleolusrest unterwirft sich dann, während der Metaphase, einer direkten Teilung. Während der Telophase, zur Zeit der Alveolierung der Chromosomen, wird der Nukleolusstoff, welcher an dem Chromosomenaufbau teilnahm, ausgeschieden und lagert sich in Form von Tropfen um die aus der direkten Teilung entstammende Nukleoluskugel. Mit der Zeit verschwinden zahlenmäßig diese Tropfen, um eine zweite ebenso große Kugel zu bilden. Am Ende verschmelzen beide Kugeln und in jedem Tochterkern ist wieder je ein Nukleolus entstanden, womit auch die Kernteilung zu Ende ist.Die Experimente mit Einwirkung von elektrischem Strom auf die Zellen der Wurzelspitzen von Zea mays deuten ebenfalls auf die stoffliche Verschiedenheit des Nukleolus hin.     

The bioavailability of colloidal and dissolved organic phosphorus to the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata in relation to analytical phosphorus measurements

The speciation of phosphorus (P) in freshwater affects its bioavailability. Analytical detection methods were compared for different colloidal and dissolved organic forms of phosphorus (P) in relation to the potential P bioavailability to Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, determined with a 14 day growth response to P. Growth on these P-forms was referenced to supplies of inorganic P (P_i) as operational definition of the relative potential bioavailability. The bioavailability of ten organic P molecules ranged 1–70% of P_i while these forms were generally not detected by colorimetric method (CM, malachite green) or ion chromatography (IC). The bioavailability of P associated with Fe- and Al oxides ranged 55–85% of P_i and these forms were completely detected by CM and partially by IC. The bioavailability of total dissolved P in the environmental samples ranged 7–85% (mean 43%) of P_i. The P detected by IC underestimates bioavailable P while CM and total dissolved P (inductively coupled plasma, ICP) overestimate P bioavailability by, on average 44% (CM) or 57% (ICP) in the environmental samples. We conclude that CM is the best index among the three tested for predicting long-term availability of environmental dissolved P in which colloidal P contributes more importantly than organic P.     

Comparison of the Respiratory Metabolism of Plantago lanceolata L. and Plantago major L.

Bryce, J. H. and ap Rees, T. 1985. Comparison of the respiratorymetabolism of Plantago lanceolata L. and Plantago major L.—J.exp. Bot. 36 1559–1565. The aim of this work was to discover if the respiratory metabolismof the roots of Plantago lanceolata L. differed from that ofthe roots of Plantago major L. Measurements of oxygen uptakeand dry weight of excised root systems during growth of seedlingsprovided evidence that the two species differed in the amountof respiration needed to support a given increase in dry weight.Excised root systems were given a 6-h pulse in [U-¹⁴C]sucrosefollowed by a 16.5-h chase in sucrose. The detailed distributionof ¹⁴C amongst the major components of the roots at the endof the pulse and the chase revealed no significant differencebetween the two species. Patterns of ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C],[2-¹⁴C], [3,4-¹⁴C], and [6-¹⁴C]glucose of excised root systemsfrom plants of three ages were similar for the two species.It is suggested that there is no conclusive evidence for anysignificant inherent difference in the respiratory metabolismof the roots of the two species. Key words: ¹⁴C sugar metabolism, respiration, roots, Plantago     

Rapid recycling of triose phosphates in oak stem tissue

We report the carbon-13 and oxygen-18 isotope ratios in cellulose from the early and late wood of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.). The δ¹³ C value of the early wood correlates best with that of the late wood of the previous year. The δ¹⁸O value of the early wood correlates best with that of the late wood of the same year. We suggest that a biochemical explanation of these data is that there is a rapid cycle between hexose monophosphates and triose phosphates in oak stem tissue during cellulose synthesis. Evidence in support of this explanation is provided by the intramolecular distribution of ¹⁴C in labelled fructose extracted from cores of wood that had been supplied with [1?¹⁴C]- and [6-¹⁴C]glucose.