Caractéristiques de la coquille des oeufs chez la souche hybride (ovipare × vivipare) du lézard Lacerta vivipara

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (11) ◽  
pp. 2242-2246 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Heulin ◽  
Maria Jesus Arrayago ◽  
Antonio Bea ◽  
Florentino Brana
Keyword(s):  
Outer Surface ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Eggshell Membrane ◽  
Hybrid Strain ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Lacerta Vivipara

The lizard Lacerta vivipara has both oviparous and viviparous populations. Experimental crossbreedings (oviparous strain × viviparous strain) in the laboratory have previously allowed us to obtain a hybrid strain. Hybrids have also laid eggs in the laboratory. The aim of the present study was to determine the eggshell characteristics of the hybrid and to compare them with the characteristics previously studied in the oviparous and viviparous strains. The mean thickness of the eggshell is 21 μm for the hybrid, 40 μm for oviparous eggshell, and 9 μm for the viviparous eggshell membrane. Mean dry mass of the eggshell is 3 mg for hybrids, 5 mg for the oviparous strain, and 0.6 mg for the viviparous strain. Ash mass of the eggshell is 0.79 mg for hybrids, 1.05 mg for the oviparous strain, and 0.22 mg for the viviparous strain. Fibrils were observed in both oviparous and hybrids' eggshells and in the viviparous eggshell membrane. The outer surface of the hybrids' eggs presents both places with a calcareous layer (61%) and places where fibrils are not covered with a calcareous layer (39%). These incompletely calcified eggshells are intermediate between the oviparous eggshells (complete calcareous layer) and the regressed eggshell membrane (fibrils with minor traces of calcite) observed during the gestation of the viviparous lizards. This situation is of considerable interest for further experimental studies dealing with physiological and genetic aspects of the evolution of viviparity.

Étude comparative de la membrane coquillère chez les souches ovipare et vivipare du lézard Lacerta vivipara

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 1015-1019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Heulin
Keyword(s):  
Outer Surface ◽  
Eggshell Membrane ◽  
Complete Regression ◽  
Etude Comparative ◽  
Étude Comparative ◽  
Eggshell Membranes ◽  
Lacerta Vivipara ◽  
Interest In Research

Evolution of viviparity in reptiles has resulted in more or less complete regression of the eggshell membrane. Such a regression has been studied in a lizard, Lacerta vivipara, which has both oviparous and viviparous populations. In oviparous reproduction, eggs laid have parchmentlike eggshells with a mean thickness of 36 μm. These eggshell membranes are composed of fibrils and of calcite, which is distributed over the outer surface and in the interfibrillar matrix. In viviparous reproduction, a transparent eggshell membrane remains between the embryonic and maternal tissues throughout pregnancy. This membrane consists mainly of fibrils and has only minor traces of calcite. Its mean thickness is only 9 μm. Reduction of thickness and of calcification is thought to be an adaptation that allows better respiratory exchanges at the end of pregnancy, when embryos require more oxygen. The author emphasizes that species with bimodality of reproduction (oviparity and viviparity) are of considerable interest in research investigating the evolution of viviparity in reptiles.

scholarly journals Generation of Reverse Meniscus Flow by Applying An Electromagnetic Brake

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Vakhrushev ◽  
Abdellah Kharicha ◽  
Ebrahim Karimi-Sibaki ◽  
Menghuai Wu ◽  
Andreas Ludwig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Lorentz Force ◽  
Applied Magnetic Field ◽  
Numerical Study ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Submerged Entry Nozzle ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Slab Caster ◽  
The Mean

AbstractA numerical study is presented that deals with the flow in the mold of a continuous slab caster under the influence of a DC magnetic field (electromagnetic brakes (EMBrs)). The arrangement and geometry investigated here is based on a series of previous experimental studies carried out at the mini-LIMMCAST facility at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). The magnetic field models a ruler-type EMBr and is installed in the region of the ports of the submerged entry nozzle (SEN). The current article considers magnet field strengths up to 441 mT, corresponding to a Hartmann number of about 600, and takes the electrical conductivity of the solidified shell into account. The numerical model of the turbulent flow under the applied magnetic field is implemented using the open-source CFD package OpenFOAM®. Our numerical results reveal that a growing magnitude of the applied magnetic field may cause a reversal of the flow direction at the meniscus surface, which is related the formation of a “multiroll” flow pattern in the mold. This phenomenon can be explained as a classical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) effect: (1) the closure of the induced electric current results not primarily in a braking Lorentz force inside the jet but in an acceleration in regions of previously weak velocities, which initiates the formation of an opposite vortex (OV) close to the mean jet; (2) this vortex develops in size at the expense of the main vortex until it reaches the meniscus surface, where it becomes clearly visible. We also show that an acceleration of the meniscus flow must be expected when the applied magnetic field is smaller than a critical value. This acceleration is due to the transfer of kinetic energy from smaller turbulent structures into the mean flow. A further increase in the EMBr intensity leads to the expected damping of the mean flow and, consequently, to a reduction in the size of the upper roll. These investigations show that the Lorentz force cannot be reduced to a simple damping effect; depending on the field strength, its action is found to be topologically complex.

Study of a Vibratory Feeder with Repulsive Surface Which Has Directional Characteristic

1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Okabe ◽  
Y. Yokoyama
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Directional Characteristic ◽  
Vibratory Feeder ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Theoretical Results

This paper treats the motion of a particle on a vibratory feeder whose track has directional characteristic in repulsive motion, for examples, obliquely bristled track, obliquely sliced track and so on. Under some assumptions, the practical equation for predicting the mean conveying velocity is shown and the relations between conveying condition and the mean conveying velocity are clarified theoretically. These relations are shown in various diagrams. Referring these diagrams, the optimum conveying conditions are discussed also. The theoretical results show that the mean conveying velocity is considerably larger than that of the ordinary feeder. The theoretical results are confirmed by experimental studies.

The growth of Moniliformis (Acanthocephala) in rats fed on various monosaccharides and disaccharides

1980 ◽  
Vol 209 (1175) ◽  
pp. 299-315 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Tract ◽  
Anterior Part ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Male And Female Rats ◽  
Host Diet ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Aspects of the course of infection, growth and reproductive activity of Moniliformis were studied in adult male and female rats fed on iso -energetic purified diets containing various sugars. When rats were infected and fed on experimental diets containing either 3% glucose or 3% galactose for 5 weeks, very little growth of the worms and no signs of reproduction were observed. In contrast, Moniliformis grew well and showed many signs of normal reproduction when the rats were fed on diets containing either 3% fructose or 3% mannose. The ability of the worms to grow and reproduce was not lost by maintaining them first for 5 weeks in rats fed on diets containing 3% glucose and 3% galactose. When the diets of such rats were changed to ones containing 3% starch and 3% fructose, respectively, for a further 5 weeks, the worms grew and normal reproduction occurred. Similar experiments were carried out in which groups of infected rats were fed for 5 weeks on diets containing gradually increasing amounts of glucose (6-36%). It was not until the rats were fed on diets containing 24% glucose that the mean dry mass of the worms approached that of worms from rats fed on the diet con­taining 3% fructose; no host diet was found to be as effective a supporter of worm growth as 3% mannose. Under no circumstances, not even when the host’s diet contained 36%, was galactose found to be a suitable sugar for supporting the growth and reproduction of Moniliformis . Results consistent with those recorded for worms from rats fed on the diets containing monosaccharides were obtained when infected rats were fed for 5 weeks on diets containing 3% of various disaccharides. Considerable growth and reproduction of Moniliformis occurred when sucrose was included in the host’s diet, but not when lactose, maltose or trehalose was present. Several of these observations may be related to the fact that different sugars are absorbed at different rates from the intestinal tract. It is suggested that all of a given sugar, when present in the diet at a low concentration, may be removed rapidly from the anterior part of the small intestine with the result that none will be available to the parasites. Significant amounts, however, of those sugars that are absorbed more slowly may reach the region of the intestine in which the parasite normally lives.

scholarly journals Effects of microhabitat on leaf traits in Digitalis grandiflora L. (Veronicaceae) growing at forest edge and interior

2014 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 615-627
Author(s):  
J. Kołodziejek
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Leaf Area ◽  
Stomatal Density ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
Leaf Mass Per Area ◽  
Forest Interior ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Shade Leaves

The morphological, anatomical and biochemical traits of the leaves of yellow foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora Mill.) from two microhabitats, forest interior (full shade under oak canopy) and forest edge (half shade near shrubs), were studied. The microhabitats differed in the mean levels of available light, but did not differ in soil moisture. The mean level of light in the forest edge microhabitat was significantly higher than in the forest interior. Multivariate ANOVA was used to test the effects of microhabitat. Comparison of the available light with soil moisture revealed that both factors significantly influenced the morphological and anatomical variables of D. grandiflora. Leaf area, mass, leaf mass per area (LMA), surface area per unit dry mass (SLA), density and thickness varied greatly between leaves exposed to different light regimes. Leaves that developed in the shade were larger and thinner and had a greater SLA than those that developed in the half shade. In contrast, at higher light irradiances, at the forest edge, leaves tended to be thicker, with higher LMA and density. Stomatal density was higher in the half-shade leaves than in the full-shade ones. LMA was correlated with leaf area and mass and to a lesser extent with thickness and density in the forest edge microsite. The considerable variations in leaf density and thickness recorded here confirm the very high variation in cell size and amounts of structural tissue within species. The leaf plasticity index (PI) was the highest for the morphological leaf traits as compared to the anatomical and biochemical ones. The nitrogen content was higher in the ?half-shade leaves? than in the ?shade leaves?. Denser leaves corresponded to lower nitrogen (N) contents. The leaves of plants from the forest edge had more potassium (K) than leaves of plants from the forest interior on an area basis but not on a dry mass basis; the reverse was true for phosphorus.

scholarly journals Effect of temperature on dry mass of polytene nuclei in Drosophila

1979 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 405-416
Author(s):  
I.J. Hartmann-Goldstein ◽  
D.J. Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Salivary Glands ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Nuclear Volume ◽  
Interference Microscopy ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Percentage Loss ◽  
Mass Group ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Polytene Nuclei ◽  
Aqueous Detergent

Nuclei were isolated by an aqueous detergent method from Drosophila prepupal salivary glands, and measured by integrating interference microscopy. There was a highly significant correlation between nuclear volume and dry mass. Dry masses fell into 2, 3 or 4 distinct groups corresponding to polytene replication classes; the mean of a given dry mass group was between 8 and 30% less than twice that of the group below, indicating that the ratio of DNA:dry mass increases during polytenic growth. The proportion of nuclei in the higher mass groups, the mean dry mass of nuclei within a given mass group, and the percentage loss of nuclear dry mass in the first hour after isolation were all higher when animals were reared at 15 degrees instead of 25 degrees C. Nuclear dry mass in prepupae was affected by the temperature during both the embryonic and larval periods, and also to some extent by the nutrition and degree of crowding of the cultures.

scholarly journals Steroids for delayed cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 46
Author(s):  
G. Lakshmi Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Brain Edema ◽  
Cerebral Edema ◽  
Head Injuries ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Symptomatic Improvement ◽  
High Dose ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Key Aspects

Background: Brain edema is a common phenomenon after traumatic brain injury (TBI) resulting in increased intracranial pressure and subsequent neurological deterioration. Experimental studies have proven that brain edema is biphasic (cytotoxic followed by vasogenic). Till date, all studies, including the corticosteroid randomization after significant head injury (HI) trial, have used high-dose steroids in the acute period during which the edema is essentially cytotoxic in nature. No clinical data exist pertaining to delayed cerebral edema (vasogenic) and steroids. Methods: Patients who had received steroids for delayed cerebral edema after TBI were retrospectively analyzed over a 2-year period. Steroid dose, timing of steroid prescription, time to improvement of symptoms, and complications were noted. Results: There were six males and three females. Mean age was 41.1 years. There were no severe HI cases. All subjects had cerebral contusions on imaging. Dexamethasone was the preferred steroid starting with 12 mg/day and tapered in 5–7 days. The mean interval to steroid administration after trauma was 7 days. The mean duration of steroid prescription was 6.3 days. All patients had complete symptomatic improvement. The mean time to symptom resolution was 3.8 days. No patients experienced any complications pertinent to steroid usage. Conclusion: This is the first study to document efficacy of steroids for delayed cerebral edema after TBI, at least in mild/moderate head injuries. The timing of steroid usage and dose of steroids is key aspects that might determine its efficacy in TBI which was the drawbacks of the previous studies. Future prospective trials with the above factors in consideration may confirm/refute above findings.

The influence of water temperature and pH on the survival of Fasciola hepatica miracidia

Parasitology ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Smith ◽  
B. T. Grenfell
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Likelihood Method ◽  
Fasciola Hepatica ◽  
Good Description ◽  
Survival Function ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Likelihood Method ◽  
Confidence Limits ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Influence Of Water ◽  
The Mean

SUMMARYExperimental studies on the survival of Fasciola hepatica miracidia show no evidence that miracidial mortality varies with the pH of the medium, at least in the range 6·0–8·0. On the other hand, miracidial mortality is shown to vary with both the temperature of the medium and the age of the larvae. The mean expected life-span of the miracidium decreases from about 35 h at 6°C to about 6° h at 25° C. The Gompertz survival function provides a good description of the miracidial survivorship curves over the range of temperatures used, and we describe, a maximum likelihood method of estimating the mean values of the parameters of this function, together with their approximate 95% confidence limits.

scholarly journals The Role of Cardiac T-Cadherin in the Indicating Heart Failure Severity of Patients with Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Medicina ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 27
Author(s):  
Vaida Baltrūnienė ◽  
Ieva Rinkūnaitė ◽  
Julius Bogomolovas ◽  
Daiva Bironaitė ◽  
Ieva Kažukauskienė ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Failure ◽  
Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Human Myocardium ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Cox Regression Analysis ◽  
Non Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy ◽  
The Mean

Background and objectives: T-cadherin (T-cad) is one of the adiponectin receptors abundantly expressed in the heart and blood vessels. Experimental studies show that T-cad sequesters adiponectin in cardiovascular tissues and is critical for adiponectin-mediated cardio-protection. However, there are no data connecting cardiac T-cad levels with human chronic heart failure (HF). The aim of this study was to assess whether myocardial T-cad concentration is associated with chronic HF severity and whether the T-cad levels in human heart tissue might predict outcomes in patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NI-DCM). Materials and Methods: 29 patients with chronic NI-DCM and advanced HF were enrolled. Patients underwent regular laboratory investigations, echocardiography, coronary angiography, and right heart catheterization. TNF-α and IL6 in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, endomyocardial biopsies were obtained, and the levels of T-cad were assessed by ELISA and CD3, CD45Ro, CD68, and CD4- immunohistochemically. Mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) was used as a marker of HF severity, subdividing patients into two groups: mean PCWP > 19 mmHg vs. mean PCWP < 19 mmHg. Patients were followed-up for 5 years. The study outcome was composite: left ventricular assist device implantation, heart transplantation, or death from cardiovascular causes. Results: T-cad shows an inverse correlation with the mean PCWP (rho = −0.397, p = 0.037). There is a tendency towards a lower T-cad concentration in patients with more severe HF, as indicated by the mean PCWP > 19 mmHg compared to those with mean PCWP ≤ 19 mmHg (p = 0.058). Cardiac T-cad levels correlate negatively with myocardial CD3 cell count (rho = −0.423, p = 0.028). Conclusions: Univariate Cox regression analysis did not prove T-cad to be an outcome predictor (HR = 1, p = 0.349). However, decreased T-cad levels in human myocardium can be an additional indicator of HF severity. T-cad in human myocardium has an anti-inflammatory role. More studies are needed to extend the role of T-cad in the outcome prediction of patients with NI-DCM.

Experimental Studies and Correlations of Radially Outward and Inward Air-Flow Heat Transfer in a Rotating Square Duct

1996 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Kuo ◽  
G. J. Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Wall Heat Transfer ◽  
Square Duct ◽  
Reinforced Plastic ◽  
Flow Heat ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Heated Length

Experiments were conducted to investigate the convective heat transfer of radially outward and inward air flows in a uniformly heated rotating square duct. The interior duct surfaces, constructed by fiberglass-reinforced plastic, were plated with separated film heaters for distinguishing the local wall heat transfer rate. The duct hydraulic diameter, the actively heated length, and the mean rotation radius are 4, 120, and 180 mm, respectively. In the experiments, the parameters were the throughflow Reynolds number, Re = 1,000∼15,000; the rotation number, Ro = 0∼0.32; and the rotational buoyancy parameter, Ra* = 0∼0.5. For the outward flow the Coriolis-induced cross-stream secondary flow strongly enhanced the heat transfer on the leading edge. But for the radially inward flow the trend was reversed. When the throughflow Reynolds number was increased, the rotating-buoyancy decreased, then increased the heat transfer for the outward flow; however, the rotating-buoyancy always increased the heat transfer for the inward flow. The heat transfer data are correlated for the outward and inward flows for the ranges of parameters under study.

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