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Remarkable Consistency (remarkable + consistency)
Selected AbstractsOsteological features in pure-bred dogs predisposing to cervical spinal cord compressionJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 5 2001S. BREIT Relative to body size, midsagittal and interpedicular diameters of the cranial and caudal aspects of cervical vertebral foramina (C3,C7) were found to be significantly (P < 0·05) larger in small breeds than in large breeds and Dachshunds, and also larger in Dachshunds (P < 0·05) than in large breeds. This condition increases the risk for spinal cord compression resulting from relative stenosis of the cervical vertebral foramina, especially in large dogs, and this is also exacerbated by the typical shape of the vertebral foramina (i.e. dorsoventrally flattened cranially and bilaterally narrowed caudally). Within large dogs those breeds highly predisposed to cervical spinal cord compression were Great Danes (the breed with the smallest midsagittal vertebral foramen diameters from cranial C6 to cranial T1) and Doberman Pinschers, because of the most strikingly cranially dorsoventrally narrowed cone-shaped vertebral foramina at C6 and C7. The existence of a small midsagittal diameter in the cranial cervical spine was a high risk factor predisposing to spinal cord compression in small breeds and Dachshunds. Remarkable consistency was noted between the spinal level of the maximum enlargement of the spinal cord which previously was reported to be at C6, and the site of maximum enlargement of the vertebral canal currently stated in Dachshunds and small breeds. In large breeds the maximum enlargement of the vertebral canal tended to be located more caudally at the caudal limit of C7. The average age at which large dogs were most susceptible to noxious factors causing abnormal growth of the pedicles was determined to be 16 wk. [source] Are Oxazolidinones Really Unproductive, Parasitic Species in Proline Catalysis?HELVETICA CHIMICA ACTA, Issue 3 2007Experiments Pointing to an Alternative View, Thoughts Abstract The N,O-acetal and N,O-ketal derivatives (oxazolidinones) formed from proline, and aldehydes or ketones are well-known today, and they are detectable in reaction mixtures involving proline catalysis, where they have been considered ,parasitic dead ends'. We disclose results of experiments performed in the early 1970's, and we describe more recent findings about the isolation, characterization, and reactions of the oxazolidinone derived from proline and cyclohexanone. This oxazolidinone reacts (THF, room temperature) with the electrophiles , -nitrostyrene and chloral (=trichloroacetaldehyde), to give the Michael and aldol adduct, respectively, after aqueous workup (Scheme,5). The reactions occur even at ,75° when catalyzed with bases such as 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) or EtN(i-Pr)2 (DIPEA) (10%; Table,1). It is shown by NMR (Figs.,1 and 3) and IR analysis (Figs.,2 and 4) that the primarily detectable product (before hydrolysis) of the reaction with the nitro-olefin is again an oxazolidinone. When dissolved in hydroxylic solvents such as MeOH, ,hexafluoroisopropanol' ((CF3)2CHOH; HFIP), AcOH, CF3COOH, or in LiBr-saturated THF, the ring of the oxazolidinone from cyclohexanone and proline opens up to the corresponding iminium ion (Tables,2,4), and when treated with strong bases such as DBU (in (D8)THF) the enamino-carboxylate derived from proline and cyclohexanone is formed (Scheme,8). Thus, the two hitherto putative participants (iminium ion and enamine) of the catalytic cycle (Scheme,9) have been characterized for the first time. The commonly accepted mechanism of the stereoselective C,C- or C,X-bond-forming step (i.e., A,D) of this cycle is discussed and challenged by thoughts about an alternative model with a pivotal role of oxazolidinones in the regio- and diastereoselective formation of the intermediate enamino acid (by elimination) and in the subsequent reaction with an electrophile (by trans -addition with lactonization; Schemes,11,14). The stereochemical bias between endo - and exo -space of the bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-type oxazolidinone structure (Figs.,5 and 6) is considered to possibly be decisive for the stereochemical course of events. Finally, the remarkable consistency, with which the diastereotopic Re -face of the double bond of pyrrolidino-enamines (derived from proline) is attacked by electrophiles (Schemes,1 and 15), and the likewise consistent reversal to the Si -face with bulky (Aryl)2C-substituents on the pyrrolidine ring (Scheme,16) are discussed by invoking stereoelectronic assistance from the lone pair of pyramidalized enamine N-atoms. [source] Time allocation between feeding and incubation in uniparental arctic-breeding shorebirds: energy reserves provide leeway in a tight scheduleJOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Ingrid Tulp Birds with uniparental incubation may face a time allocation problem between incubation and feeding. Eggs need regular warming to hatch successfully, but the parent must leave the nest to feed and safeguard its own survival. Time allocation during incubation is likely to depend on factors influencing egg cooling rates, parental energy requirements and feeding intake rate. How this allocation problem is resolved was subject of this study on arctic-breeding shorebirds. We compared incubation rhythms between four uniparental shorebird species differing in size and expected to find both species differences and weather effects on the organisation of incubation. Attentive behaviour and responses to variation in weather showed a remarkable consistency across species. All species alternated feeding bouts (recesses) with brooding bouts throughout the day. Recesses were concentrated in the warmer parts of the day, while recess duration showed little diurnal variation. Despite continuous daylight, a pronounced day-night rhythmicity was apparent. The four species in this study spent a similar proportion (13,19%) of the time off their nest. After correction for weather effects, the number of recesses was largest in the smallest species, while recess duration was longest in the largest species. Total recess time per day increased on cold days through an increase of mean recess length, while the number of recesses decreased. Comparing our observations to predictions derived from criteria that birds might use to organise their attentive behaviour, showed that the limits are set by parental requirements, while the energy stores of adults provide some leeway for short-term adjustments to environmental variability. If breeding birds trade off feeding time against incubation time, energy stores are expected to be influenced by weather. We expected uniparental species to be more likely to show weather effects on condition than biparentals, as in the latter ,off duty' time is much larger and independent of weather. This prediction was tested by comparing energy stores in two uniparental species and a biparental congener. While body mass of uniparental incubators decreased after a period with low temperatures, body mass of the biparental species did not. [source] Inheritance of sutural pattern at the pterion in rhesus monkey skullsTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 10 2006Qian Wang Abstract Five of the bones that characteristically comprise the cranial vault articulate on the lateral aspect of the skull at or near the cephalometric landmark referred to as the pterion. The pattern of articulation in the sutures associated with these bones varies among and within primate species and has been used as a criterion for classification in taxonomic studies, as well as in archeological and forensic studies. Within species, the sutural patterns found within the region of the pterion have remarkable consistency, which lead to the hypothesis that these patterns have a genetic basis. Sutural pattern variations were investigated at the pterion in 422 skulls from 66 rhesus monkey families with known genealogies from the long-standing colony on Cayo Santiago. Four specific types of articulation patterns were recorded. The results demonstrated that the most common suture pattern at the pterion of Cayo Santiago rhesus monkeys (86%; similar to that seen in some other anthropoid species but not humans and some apes) was characterized by an articulation between the temporal bone and parietal bone. Articulation between the sphenoid and parietal bones (type SP) accounted for 14% of the specimens and was concentrated in a dozen families. Mothers with the SP phenotype had a high incidence of offspring with SP phenotypes. Most non-SP mothers having SP offspring had siblings or family members from previous generations with the SP type. This is the first study to examine variation in sutural patterns at the pterion in pedigrees. Variation of sutural patterns shows familial aggregation, suggesting that this variation is heritable. Future work will be focused on defining the inheritance patterns of variation at the pterion, with the ultimate objective of identifying the specific genes involved and their mechanism of action. Anat Rec Part A, 288A:1042,1049, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||