Influence des stimulations auditives sur le comportement sexuel du taureau

Summary In a preliminary series of experiments, it was noted that dairy bulls who refused to mount the cow for a long time, could be induced to mount it again when acoustically stimulated by specific calls of cows emitted by a magnetophone. In these conditions, the reaction time of the bulls was also shorter, while ejaculated quantities did not differ from those obtained before the experiments. It is suggested that this rather simple procedure could be helpful when the use of bulls as teasers raises difficulties.     

Global variation in copy number in the human genome

Copy number variation (CNV) of DNA sequences is functionally significant but has yet to be fully ascertained. We have constructed a first-generation CNV map of the human genome through the study of 270 individuals from four populations with ancestry in Europe, Africa or Asia (the HapMap collection). DNA from these individuals was screened for CNV using two complementary technologies: single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays, and clone-based comparative genomic hybridization. A total of 1,447 copy number variable regions (CNVRs), which can encompass overlapping or adjacent gains or losses, covering 360 megabases (12% of the genome) were identified in these populations. These CNVRs contained hundreds of genes, disease loci, functional elements and segmental duplications. Notably, the CNVRs encompassed more nucleotide content per genome than SNPs, underscoring the importance of CNV in genetic diversity and evolution. The data obtained delineate linkage disequilibrium patterns for many CNVs, and reveal marked variation in copy number among populations. We also demonstrate the utility of this resource for genetic disease studies.     

Disruption of extended defects in solid oxide fuel cell anodes for methane oxidation

Point defects largely govern the electrochemical properties of oxides: at low defect concentrations, conductivity increases with concentration; however, at higher concentrations, defect-defect interactions start to dominate. Thus, in searching for electrochemically active materials for fuel cell anodes, high defect concentration is generally avoided. Here we describe an oxide anode formed from lanthanum-substituted strontium titanate (La-SrTiO3) in which we control the oxygen stoichiometry in order to break down the extended defect intergrowth regions and create phases with considerable disordered oxygen defects. We substitute Ti in these phases with Ga and Mn to induce redox activity and allow more flexible coordination. The material demonstrates impressive fuel cell performance using wet hydrogen at 950 degrees C. It is also important for fuel cell technology to achieve efficient electrode operation with different hydrocarbon fuels, although such fuels are more demanding than pure hydrogen. The best anode materials to date--Ni-YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia) cermets--suffer some disadvantages related to low tolerance to sulphur, carbon build-up when using hydrocarbon fuels (though device modifications and lower temperature operation can avoid this) and volume instability on redox cycling. Our anode material is very active for methane oxidation at high temperatures, with open circuit voltages in excess of 1.2 V. The materials design concept that we use here could lead to devices that enable more-efficient energy extraction from fossil fuels and carbon-neutral fuels.     

A propos du complexe neuroglandulaire deCiona intestinalis

Sans résumé     

一种密度法测量动物血液容量的实验研究

介绍了一种采用超声波血浓密度计测量家兔血容量的新方法。通过测定家兔循环血液中注射生理盐水后其血液密度和血浆密度的变化来确定血容量,与传统的血容量测量方法相比,密度法具有结构简单,测量精度高,对动物无害等优点。     

木屑新法制草酸的研究

本文简要地介绍了木屑新法制草酸的原理、工艺流程和操作方法.制得的草酸经分析质量符合二级品标准.利用木屑生产草酸方法简单,有一定经济效益、环境效益和社会效益     

The bounded heavens: defining the limits of astrological practice in the Iberian indices

ABSTRACT

This paper explores the rules for the expurgation of texts of astrology in the Iberian Indices of forbidden books. It addresses the prohibitions put forward in Rule IX of the Index of Trent and the bull Coeli et terrae of Sixtus V, and studies its impact on the rules and their interpretation in the Spanish and Portuguese Indices, in particular, those published in the first decades of the seventeenth century: the Spanish Index librorum prohibitorum et expurgatorum of 1612 and the Portuguese Index auctorum damnatae memoriae of 1624. It shows how these indices offer a more meticulous examination of the prohibitions providing not only more detail regarding the different practices of astrology, but also explicitly accept the doctrine of inclinations of Thomas Aquinas as a central rule to deal with astrological judgments on human behaviour. It also highlights some specific details of the practice of censorship of astrological books by examining case studies of censored Portuguese and Spanish astrological publications. These provide new dimensions and highlight significant differences between the theoretical rules, practical guidelines, and actual restriction of astrological content.