Analysis of spectral shape in the barn owl auditory system

In a behavioral experiment, we investigated how efficiently barn owls (Tyto alba) could detect changes in the spectral profile of multi-component auditory signals with stochastic envelope patterns. Signals consisted of one or five bands of noise (bandwidth 4, 16, or 64 Hz each; center frequencies 1.02, 1.43, 2.0, 2.8, 3.92 kHz). We determined increment thresholds for the 2 kHz component for three conditions: single-band condition (only the 2 kHz component), all five noise bands with the envelope fluctuations of the bands being either correlated or uncorrelated. Noise bandwidth had no significant effect on increment detection. Increment thresholds for the different conditions, however, differed significantly. Thresholds in correlated conditions were generally the lowest of all conditions, whereas, thresholds in uncorrelated conditions mostly resulted in the highest thresholds. This can be interpreted as evidence for comodulation masking release in barn owls. If the increment in the 2 kHz component is balanced by decrementing the four flanking bands in amplitude, increment detection thresholds are not affected. The data suggest that the barn owls used information from simultaneous spectral comparison across different frequency channels to detect spectral changes in multi-component noise signals rather than sequential comparison of overall stimulus levels.     

Complexity and idiosyncrasy in the responses of algae to disturbance in mono- and multi-species assemblages

There is considerable debate about whether stability (e.g. inertia) of an assemblage, or of individuals in an assemblage, is positively associated with the number of species or whether there are idiosyncratic effects of particular species. We assessed the general model that the loss of an individual alga, caused by trampling, is greater in monospecific than in multi-species stands but that the responses of algae are idiosyncratic, depending on the morphology of the species. The experiment was done on conspicuous and dominant algae with different morphology on temperate Australian rocky shores: the fucalean algae Hormosira banksii and Sargassum sp. and the coralline alga Corallina officinalis. We assessed the relative and interactive effects of the extent of trampling (number of paths) and the localised intensity of trampling (number of travels per path) on the three algae. The number of paths trampled (the extent of disturbance) had more impact on each alga than the number of times paths were travelled (the intensity of disturbance). As predicted, H. banksii was most susceptible to trampling at each level than were the coarser algae Sargassum sp. and C. officinalis. There was a consistent trend for each alga to be more inert to trampling when in the presence of the other two species than when in monospecific stands, but this was only statistically significant (P < 0.05) for the softer alga H. banksii. The responses of H. banksii and Sargassum sp. to disturbance seemed, in many cases, to be due to the presence of C. officinalis rather than to "diversity" per se. The relationship between the number of species and stability is complex in intertidal habitats, depending on the species and the combinations of species with which it grows.     

Proteomic adaptation to chronic high intensity swimming training in the rat heart

Cardiac hypertrophy induced by exercise is associated with less cardiac fibrosis and better systolic and diastolic function, suggesting that the adaptive mechanisms may exist in exercise-induced hypertrophy. To identify molecular mechanisms by which exercise training stimulates this favorable phenotype, a proteomic approach was employed to detect rat cardiac proteins that were differentially expressed or modified after exercise training. Sixteen male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into trained (T) and control(C). T rats underwent eight weeks of swimming training seven days/week, using a high intensity protocol. Hearts were used to generate 2-D electrophoretic proteome maps. Training significantly altered 23 protein spot intensities (P < 0.05), including proteins associated with the mitochondria oxidative metabolism, such as prohibitin, malate dehydrogenase, short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, triosephosphate isomerase, electron transfer flavoprotein subunit beta, ndufa10 protein, ATP synthase subunit alpha and isocitrate dehydrogenase [NAD] subunit. Additionally, Prohibitin was increased in the exercise-induced hearts. Cytoskeletal, signal pathway, stress and oxidative proteins also increased within T groups. These results strongly support the notion that the observed changes in the expression of energy metabolism proteins resulted in a potential increase in the capacity to synthesise ATP, probably via mitochondrial oxidative metabolism. The observed changes in the expression of these metabolic and structural proteins induced by training may beneficially influence heart metabolism, stress response and signalling paths, and therefore improve the overall cardiac function.     

Influence of Light Intensity on Plasma Melatonin and Locomotor Activity Rhythms in Tench

Melatonin production by the pineal organ is influenced by light intensity, as has been described in most vertebrate species, in which melatonin is considered a synchronizer of circadian rhythms. In tench, strict nocturnal activity rhythms have been described, although the role of melatonin has not been clarified. In this study we investigated daily activity and melatonin rhythms under 12∶12 light‐dark (LD) conditions with two different light intensities (58.6 and 1,091 µW/cm²), and the effect of 1 h broad spectrum white light pulses of different intensities (3.3, 5.3, 10.5, 1,091.4 µW/cm²) applied at middarkness (MD) on nocturnal circulating melatonin. The results showed that plasma melatonin in tench under LD 12∶12 and high light conditions displayed rhythmic variation, where values at MD (255.8±65.9 pg/ml) were higher than at midlight (ML) (70.7±31.9 pg/ml). Such a difference between MD and ML values was reduced in animals exposed to LD 12∶12 and low light intensity. The application of 1 h light pulses at MD lowered plasma melatonin to 111.6±3.2 pg/ml (in the 3.3–10.5 µW/cm² range) and to 61.8±18.3 pg/ml (with the 1,091.4 µW/cm² light pulse) and totally suppressed nocturnal locomotor activity. These results show that melatonin rhythms persisted in tench exposed to low light intensity although the amplitude of the rhythm is affected. In addition, it was observed that light pulses applied at MD affected plasma melatonin content and locomotor activity. Such a low threshold suggests that the melatonin system is capable of transducing light even under dim conditions, which may be used by this nocturnal fish to synchronize to weak night light signals (e.g., moonlight cycles).     

Is volumetric modulated arc therapy with constant dose rate a valid option in radiation therapy for head and neck cancer patients?

Background

Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) improves dose distribution in head and neck (HN) radiation therapy. Volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT), a new form of IMRT, delivers radiation in single or multiple arcs, varying dose rates (VDR-VMAT) and gantry speeds, has gained considerable attention. Constant dose rate VMAT (CDR-VMAT) associated with a fixed gantry speed does not require a dedicated linear accelerator like VDR-VMAT. The present study explored the feasibility, efficiency and delivery accuracy of CDR-VMAT, by comparing it with IMRT and VDR-VMAT in treatment planning for HN cancer.

Running economy deteriorates following 60?min of exercise at 80% V˙O2max

Fifteen young adult Singaporean male physical education students maximum oxygen consumption [(V˙O_2max) = 56 (4.7) ml · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹] performed three prolonged runs in a counterbalanced design. The running bouts varied in time (40 vs 60 min) and intensity (70% vs 80% V˙O_{2 max} ). Each prolonged run was separated by 7 days. The running economy (RE) at 10.8 km · h⁻¹ during 10-min running bouts was measured before (RE1) and after (RE2) each prolonged run. A control study involved monitoring RE at 10.8 km · h⁻¹ before and after 60 min rest. There were no differences between RE1 and RE2 values during the control run. However, there were differences between RE1 and RE2 values when separated by a prolonged run. For example, the mean (SD) changes in oxygen consumption (ml · kg⁻¹ · min⁻¹) values were 38.2 (2.5) versus 40.1 (2.6) (40 min at 80% V˙O_{2 max} ), 38.9 (2.8) versus 41.5 (2.6) (60 min at 70% V˙O_{2 max} ), and 39.0 (3.1) versus 42.7 (2.9) (60 min at 80% V˙O_{2 max} ; P < 0.01). The results of this investigation support the hypothesis that RE deteriorates during prolonged running, and that the magnitude of the deterioration in RE increases with both increasing exercise intensity and duration. Accepted: 14 July 1997     

Non-Homogeneous Gibbs Process Models for Forestry — A Case Study

Forestry statistics needs realistic models for non-homogeneously distributed trees in forests. For elder trees, non-homogeneous Poisson or Cox processes are not realistic models. Instead, non-homogeneous Gibbs processes are suggested, which are described by a fixed pair potential describing the short-range interaction of trees and a location dependent intensity function describing long-range variation of tree density. The application of this model is demonstrated for a hickory forest in North Carolina and an artificial forest stand.     

多野照射、三维适形放疗与调强放疗对胃癌根治术患者癌周围组织的影响

目的:探讨多野照射、三维适形放疗与调强放疗对胃癌根治术患者癌周围组织的影响。方法:选取收治的103例行胃癌根治术的患者,将所有患者随机分为甲乙丙三组,其中甲组患者34例,均采用多野照射治疗;而乙组患者也是34例,均使用三维适形放疗;丙组患者则有35例,均使用调强放疗。观察比较各组患者放疗后的上腹部症状改善情况,并且检测各组患者的肝功能和血常规以及胰淀粉酶等临床指标,比较各组患者经治疗后的复发率以及生存率。结果:甲组患者的近期疗效显著低于乙组患者(P0.05),而乙组患者的近期疗效则明显低于丙组患者(P0.05);三组患者的钡餐造影均有所改善,但是其组间比较差异不具有统计学意义(÷2=9.012,P0.05)。甲组的不良反应率显著高于乙组和丙组(均P0.05),并且各组患者的不良反应中血常规异常的发生率显著高于肝功能和胰脏功能的异常(均P0.05),同时甲组患者出现放射性脊髓病的患者明显多于乙组(P0.05),仅丙组患者未见放射性脊髓病。随访三年间三组患者第一年随访生存率无明显差异(P0.05),而在第2年至第3年则三组患者的随访生存率有明显差异(均P0.05),其中随访生存率以丙组患者最高,其次为乙组患者;另外随访三年间甲组患者的随访复发率显著高于乙组和丙组患者(均P0.05),其复发率由低至高依次为丙组乙组甲组。结论:与多野照射治疗相比,三维适形放疗和调强放疗均能够更好地降低对胃癌周围组织的损伤和改善患者的临床症状,并且不良反应发生率低,对于降低复发率和提高生存率方面亦有不错的效果。     

Dream Intensity Inventory and Chinese people's dream experience frequencies.

The present study aimed to devise a parsimonious instrument for evaluating both the quantitative and qualitative aspects of dream experiences and to quantify Chinese people's dream experiences in ways that facilitated cross-cultural comparisons. The Dream Intensity Inventory was developed and administered to 348 Chinese university students. Individual differences in dream recall frequency were observed, with some participants recalling dreams almost every morning whereas others recalled dreams less than once a month. By contrast, the Chinese participants exhibited less diverse dream awareness frequencies. Multiple dreams in a single night and nightmares were found to be prevalent among the Chinese participants. On the other hand, fewer than half of the participants experienced regularly voluntary control over dream activities and consciousness. The factor analyses of the items in the Dream Intensity Inventory resulted in three readily interpreted factors, which were labeled as the "dream quantity," "altered dream episodes," and "dream vividness" subscales, respectively. When compared with men, women participants had higher frequencies of regular dream experiences including dream awareness, nightmares, and multiple dreams, as measured by the dream quantity subscale. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

高强度聚焦超声换能器温度场的数值仿真

相控阵高强度聚焦超声换能器可以通过换能器上不同阵元发射超声波的时间不同来实现变焦、多焦点。该论文应用Westervelt方程的近似式,结合Pennes热传导方程,以人体乳房为例,FDTD(finite difference time domain)仿真对比研究平面阵列相控聚焦换能器与曲面阵列相控聚焦换能器形成温度场的特性,同时数值仿真研究不同占空比的正弦激励函数、不同治疗频率、声强对曲面阵列相控聚焦换能器超声温度场的影响。研究结果表明曲面阵列相控聚焦换能器能有效地减少皮肤处的温升,对皮肤的伤害较小;对于曲面阵列相控聚焦换能器,不同占空比的正弦激励函数形成的可治疗区域(60℃以上)大小差别不大,但最高温度不同;随着频率升高,形成的可治疗区域体积减小;随着输入声强的增大,可治疗区域变大,但焦距不变。