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Type C botulism was determined to be the cause of an epizootic among waterfowl and shorebirds in a phosphate mine settling pond in northern Florida during May and June of 1979. Several hundred birds, the most common of which were American coots (Fulica americana), wood ducks (Aix sponsa), common gallinules (Gallinula chloropus), and northern shovelers (Anas clypeata), were afflicted over about a three-week period. A second smaller outbreak occurred in the same pond in early December of 1979. This is apparently the first time that botulism has been reported in waterbirds of Florida.

1. 1. Seasonal variation in total lipids was examined in several body components of the turtle Sternotherus odoratus . 2. 2. Carcass fat stores in both sexes were depleted during winter. Additionally, a decline in carcass lipids was associated with increases in gonadal mass. 3. 3. Concentrations of liver lipids were maximal during August and minimal during winter. 4. 4. Males showed little seasonal change in plasma lipid levels, whereas females had seasonal peaks temporally associated with ovarian development and carcass fat storage. 5. 5. Ovarian concentrations of lipids were minimal after nesting and increased during fall. 6. 6. Results suggest that S. odoratus uses stored fats both for reproduction and maintenance during winter.

Seasonal variation in plasma androgen levels was determined for males of the lizard Sceloporus undulatus. Plasma androgens peaked in both spring and in fall prior to brumation, coinciding with periods of maximum testicular enlargement and advanced spermatogenic development. Plasma androgen concentrations were minimal during summer, following testicular regression and breeding in spring. Epididymal masses were positively correlated to plasma androgen levels, while abdominal fat body masses demonstrated a negative correlation.

Rangia cuneata were collected every six weeks for one year from February 1984 to January 1985 at the mouth of the Dog River, Alabama, USA and dosed with 200 ppb [9−14C] anthracene at 10, 20, and 30°C. Uptake rates of [9−14C] anthracene measured over a 15-h period were not significantly different (P>0.05), but depuration rates measured over a two-week period were significantly higher with increasing temperature. The seasonal changes in rates were related to the annual changes in biochemical composition of the clams associated with the reproductive cycle. Lipid levels were nearly constant over the year, averaging 88.0±2.0 mg/g dry wt. The level of carbohydrates peaked in July, a month before the maximal gonad index, and decreased steadily through September during spawning. The level of proteins increased from 76.6 mg/g dry wt prior to spawning to 138.3 mg/g dry wt after spawning. Uptake rates were highest in late summer during the peak of gametogenesis and decreased during spawning in the fall. Depuration rates remained low from March through August and rapidly increased to the highest levels during the fall spawning period. The results suggest that the stage of the reproductive cycle, with its associated biochemical changes, and temperature play an important role in the pattern of accumulation and release of anthracene in R. cuneata.

Consumer cooperatives are currently of greater interest in the U.S., than at any time in recent history, but the experiences of those recently established have been very mixed. There is a great need for factual information to record those experiences and identify factors and conditions that have led to success or failure. In addition, there are continuing serious deficiencies in the food distribution system that serves the inner-city poor. This article deals with both of these problem areas in examining the role and potential for consumer food cooperatives, with special attention to low-income, urban areas.

Data on the thermoregulation of Anolis limifrons in Panama suggest that at least some tropical species are less warm adapted than previously thought. Anolis limifrons has a lower minimum voluntary temperature, eccritic temperature, and critical thermal maximum than a majority of the temperate zone lizards thus far studied. Thermoregulatory adjustment is by behavioral mechanisms as indicated by observations on basking and orientation. A seasonality in the preferred temperature is indicated by field data from the wet and dry seasons. It is suggested that the lower preferred temperature in the dry season is an adaptation to conserve water or minimize water loss. Anoles (A. limifrons and A. frenatus) in colsed canopy forests are less warm adapted than the grassland A. auratus, whereas an ecotone species (A. tropidogaster) is intermediate in its thermoregulatory characteristics. Differences in dermal morphology in three species of Panamanian anoles are suggested to be an adaptation to varied capacities of heat gain.

Entering the decade of the 80's, the U.S. faces a number of difficult challenges carried over from the decade just ended. A pressing domestic problem is that of poverty, and its many manifestations. Major cities are confronted with a particularly difficult problem. Concentrations of low-income persons, unemployment, congestion, dilapidated structures, high crime rates, struggling education systems, and deteriorated business and economic conditions, create a seemingly impossible morass of redevelopment problems. One aspect of the decline of the cities that has had particularly serious consequences, is the gradual deterioration of the food delivery system there. It is especially critical because of its implications for the diets and budgets of low-income families.

Eighty-two consecutive filtering procedures (47 thermal sclerostomies and 35 posterior lip sclerectomies), performed by senior staff and residents at the Duke University Eye Center between 1972-1976, were reviewed and compared. Operative and early postoperative complications were more common with the posterior lip sclerectomies. However, late postoperative complications were equal for the two groups, with cataracts occurring in approximately 30% of both categories. A final intraocular pressure of 20 mm Hg or less, with or without medication, was achieved in 66% of the thermal sclerostomies and 85.7% of the posterior lip sclerectomies. Residents did not perform as well as the senior staff when using thermal sclerostomy (60% vs. 70%, respectively), but performed equally well when using posterior lip sclerectomy (85.7% for both groups). In comparing black and white patients, the final intraocular pressures were the same in both groups.

In 3400 midtrimester amniocenteses, 68 fetuses had abnormal findings. Three women elected to continue their pregnancies and the remainder chose terminations. Of these, 29 were cared for in our hospitals. Pregnancy termination was carried out in gestations averaging 21.6 +/- 2.3 weeks and fetal weights averaging 531 +/- 351 g. Three prostaglandins techniques were used, two of which proved to be effective. Dosages employed were comparable to those used in early second trimester pregnancy terminations. Side effects were similar; one retained placenta occurred. We have used a multidisciplinary counseling approach for these couples and have restricted ourselves to the medical aspects of their problems. Techniques are described for the psychologic support of the couple during this stressful period.

The annual reproductive cycle of the stinkpot turtle, Sternotherus odoratus, is described and correlated with plasma changes of testosterone in males, and estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in females. Maximum plasma concentrations of testosterone in males were temporally associated with spermiogenesis and spermiation during fall. In winter, plasma testosterone levels declined and remained low until the renewal of spermiogenesis in summer. Females were observed to produce more than one clutch annually. After the oviposition of the last clutch of eggs, there was a brief period of ovarian inactivity, followed by vitellogenesis during fall. Females overwintered with preovulatory-size follicles, which were ovulated as the first clutch of eggs in spring. The three sex steroids underwent marked changes associated with the annual ovarian cycle. Testosterone concentrations increased during the periovulatory period of the first clutch, but during vitellogenesis, ovulation, and oviposition of the second and third clutches, plasma levels remained low. A small increase in testosterone level was associated with fall vitellogenesis. High estrogen titers were associated with the vitellogenic periods during fall and spring-early summer. Progesterone concentrations increased markedly during the periovulatory period and declined as shelling of the eggs progressed in the oviducts. A small increase in progesterone levels was observed during fall. These data are discussed with regard to the possible role of sex steroids in a multiclutched freshwater turtle.

We report a case of sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (SHML) with a right inferior orbital mass. The mass was excised and, on histopathologic examination, was believed to be a "lipogranuloma." Thirteen years later, the patient was seen at our institution for what appeared to be a recurrent orbital mass. Orbital tumors were removed from the right superior and inferior orbit and from the left superior orbit. Histopathologic examination of these tumors at this institution and at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology showed them to be SHML. The original biopsy tissue obtained in 1969 was reexamined and found also to be SHML. The clinical and histopathologic features of this disease are discussed.

Using a perfusion system, synaptosomes prepared from rat brain released 3H-norepinephrine in a Ca2+-dependent manner when pulse depolarized by briefly elevating external potassium concentrations. Tetrodotoxin (10−7M) inhibited 48% of the pulsed release and D595 (10−5M), a phenethylamine-type calcium channel blocker, inhibited 27%. In combination, these two specific ion channel antagonists appear to function independently of each other in an additive fashion. Pretreatment of this preparation with deltamethrin resulted in an enhanced release of norepinephrine which occurred in a biphasic fashion with a greater enhancement evident in the second or tailing peak when compared to release in both the presence and absence of tetrodotoxin. Addition of deltamethrin to D595-pretreated synaptosomes resulted in no significant enhancement of release from either peak. This indicates that deltamethrin may be enhancing norepinephrine release by increasing the uptake of Ca2+ via other voltage-gated channels (e.g., calcium) or ion-selective transporters in addition to its action at voltage-gated sodium channels. To determine whether deltamethrin may also have an effect on intraterminal Ca2+ homeostasis, external Ca2+ was replaced with Ba2+ and synaptosomes depolarized with pentylenetetrazol. Deltamethrin enhanced neurotransmitter release over that induced by pentylenetetrazol alone with an estimated ED50 value calculated to be 2.4 × 10−10 M. It is concluded that Type II pyrethroids may be acting as voltage-gated channel agonists in a manner consistent with their structure and activity relationship to the phenethylamine-type calcium channel blockers.

Student evaluation of teaching effectiveness is widely used in undergraduate institutions as one element of determining overall faculty effectiveness. The evaluation format typically consists of (1) a number of questions the student answers by indicating a numerical rating and (2) an open-ended section for written comments. Some faculty members believe that the numerical ratings are not taken seriously by the students, and that the written comments impose greater accountability on the part of students. On the other hand, numerical ratings are necessary to minimize the fear that unfavorable written comments will be taken out of context in promotion decisions. Tabulation of numerical ratings is essential if a computerized data base for faculty evaluation is to be established. This study was designed to examine the relationship between student's numerically based ratings and written comments by evaluating allied health instructors using a standard, schoolwide evaluation form. Written comments were categorized according to a five-point scale and compared to mean values obtained from numerical ratings. Twenty-two faculty and 1,311 student evaluations were included. Significant positive correlations were found between the numerical student ratings and the written comments. The highest correlations were between student comments and two items related to overall teaching effectiveness. Students who evaluated instructors at either extreme on the spectrum of effectiveness were most likely to include written comments. Based on the consistency of numerical ratings and written comments we recommend that only the numerical ratings be used as part of the promotion and tenure decision-making process.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Severe obstructive sleep apnea in a patient with achondroplasia syndrome was found to result in a definitive deficiency of overnight growth hormone secretion related to absence of slow-wave sleep. Resolution of the apnea by tracheostomy resulted in normalization of growth hormone release and normal growth rates postoperatively. Sleep-related growth hormone deficiency may contribute to the short stature so often seen in a variety of craniofacial syndromes. Furthermore, this short stature may be reversible.

We have described a 14-month-old white boy with a laceration of the right upper eyelid draining CSF. Careful evaluation, including computerized tomography, revealed a penetrating injury of the right frontal fossa. Determination of the glucose level in fluid draining from upper eyelid lacerations aids in the diagnosis of CSF fistulas. Language: en

Adult male rats (Rattus norvegicus) were trained in a Y-maze to discriminate the presence of a littermate from its absence. Transfer of training in subsequent tests indicated that (a) the animals were capable of distinguishing among individuals when relatedness and familiarity were held constant, (b) this ability was not due to training, and (c) their performance was based solely on odor cues. The results are discussed in relation to social behavior in rats.

Prevalence and conditions for occurrence of Clostridium botulinum type C were examined on phosphate-mine settling ponds and a natural wetland in northern Florida between April 1981 and March 1982. Substrate samples were collected monthly (winter) and semi-monthly (summer) from 16 locations on seven ponds. Selected environmental parameters were measured at each location at the time of sampling. Mouse inoculation tests and toxin neutralization tests using enrichment culture filtrates were conducted to identify C. botulinum type C in the samples. The bacteria were identified in 26 (5.6%) of 467 sediment samples. Occurrences were distributed over four of the seven ponds and included nine of the 16 sample locations, but were restricted to the months April through October. The organism occurred over a wide range of ecological conditions found on the ponds during these months. If the presence of C. botulinum type C in the substrate is a prerequisite for botulism to occur, the prevalence and fairly wide distribution of this organism on settling ponds makes it difficult to predict where future outbreaks may occur.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether sincere and faked grip strength measurements could be distinguished from one another by the patterns of measurements obtained for the five handle (hand size) positions of the Jamar dynamometer. Healthy subjects were instructed on different trials to give a sincere, maximal effort or to fake weakness of grip. Results were that the patterns did differ for sincere and fake trials, but not as strongly as expected. The recommendation is made that further research be done using patients with upper extremity injury.

Plain chachalacas (Ortalis vetula) from the intensively cultivated and sprayed Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas were analyzed for pesticide residues during 1971 and 1972. Residues of eight organochlorine pesticides and a polychlorinated biphenyl were identified in fat tissues of specimens collected from four study areas. Chemicals detected in all 24 birds and average residue levels (+/- SD) in ppm wet weight were: DDT (1.52 +/- 4.12), DDE (2.48 +/- 2.09), dieldrin (0.23 +/- 0.59), endrin (0.13 +/- 0,52), and Aroclor 1248 (0.17 +/- 0.20). Residue levels varied considerably, but the majority of the fat tissues contained significantly less than 1 ppm of these chemicals. Because birds of this species feed primarily on unsprayed native fruits rather than on sprayed crops, they adsorb very few pesticides through their diet. Although birds from exposed areas near cultivated field had generally higher residues than had birds from less exposed areas, these herbivores generally had much lower residues than would most birds living near heavily treated lands. During the present study there was no evidence that plain chachalacas died as a direct result of exposure to agricultural chemicals, nor was there evidence that eggshells of this species have thinned significantly since 1900.

Phosphate-mine operations in Florida have directly disturbed over 51,700 ha of terrestrial and wetland ecosystems (C. W. Hendry, unpubl. rep., Governor's Office, Tallahassee, Fla., 1978). Even though these operations drastically alter natural habitats, they simultaneously create large impoundments (settling ponds) used for retention of waste clays. These impoundments provide productive habitat for many species (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv., unpubl. rep., Gainesville, Fla., 1978), and are important wintering grounds for migratory waterfowl (Montalbano et al. 1978). Resident wood ducks (Aix sponsa) use portions of the approximately 24,000 ha of settling ponds in Florida (U.S. Environ. Protection Agency 1978), but absence of cavity trees apparently restricts production. The objective of this study was to determine whether settling ponds can provide productive nesting and brood-rearing habitat for wood ducks when artificial nest sites are

Musk turtles of the Kinosternon minor complex (K. minor minor, K. m. peltifer, K. m. minor x K. m. peltifer, K. depressum, and presumed K. depressum x K. m. peltifer) were examined for proportional differences in shell morphology. Kinosternon m. peltifer was the most distinct taxon, differing significantly in slope and intercept of the growth curve log CH versus log CL. Discrimination between K. depressum populations from central Alabama and presumed intermediate populations (K. depressum x K. m. peltifer) from west-central Alabama was not possible based on the characters used in the analysis. However, discriminant analysis showed these populations were significantly different from the K. m. peltifer populations examined. These findings support the hypothesis, advanced in other studies, that K. depressum is a distinct species. Lacking empirical data to the contrary, these results also suggest that the presumed intermediate populations in west-central Alabama are referable to K. depressum.

Etude conduite dans une zone de mines de phosphate de l'Occidental Chemical Company's Suwannee River et dans les bois environnants. Etude comparative de l'effectif des mammiferes et de la diversite des especes dans plusieurs types d'habitat: terrain boise de pins, non exploite; emplacements de mines abandonnees mis en valeur ou non, residus sablonneux

Radium-226 is a naturally-occurring radionuclide found in enhanced levels at Florida phosphate mines. We inventoried levels of radium-226 in the tissues of 4 wetland bird species from 2 mined and 2 umined areas in Florida. Bone tissues of wood duck (Aix sponsa), mottled duck (Anas fulvigula), common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus), and double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) colleted at phosphate mines contained more radium-226 than tissues from unmined areas. Radium-226 concentrations in these birds were within guidelines inferred from radiological standards designed for human protection and should not adversely affect bird populations.

The testicular cycle of Sceloporus undulatus from Alabama was examined and com- pared to populations from Missouri and other areas. In Alabama males, the height of the breeding season (spermiogenesis and spermiation) occurred from March to May, accompanied by a decline in testis mass. Spermatozoa were present in the epididymides until July. During June and July, testis mass was minimal. A new spermatogenic cycle had begun by August. Testicular recrudescence occurred in fall with concomitant increase in testis mass. Seminiferous tubules contained many spermatids with a few transforming spermatozoa by the time lizards entered brumation. The timing of testicular events differs between northern and southern populations, likely reflecting regional differences in seasonal temperature regimes. Specifically, a longer warm season in Alabama appar- ently permits males to begin spermiogenesis and spermiation earlier and to complete fall recru- descence later than S. undulatus from Missouri.