ALBERT

Notes: Abstract. We studied two species of Ceratogymna hornbills, the black-casqued hornbill, C. atrata, and the white-thighed hornbill, C. cylindricus, in the tropical forests of Cameroon, to understand their movement patterns and evaluate their effectiveness as seed dispersers. To estimate hornbill contribution to a particular tree species' seed shadow we combined data from movements, determined by radio-tracking, with data from seed passage trials. For 13 individuals tracked over 12 months, home range varied between 925 and 4,472 ha, a much larger area than reported for other African avian frugivores. Seed passage times ranged from 51 to 765 min, with C. atrata showing longer passage times than C. cylindricus, and larger seeds having longer gut retention times than smaller seeds. Combining these data, we estimated that seed shadows were extensive for the eight tree species examined, with approximately 80% of seeds moved more than 500 m from the parent plant. Maximum estimated dispersal distances for larger seeds were 6,919 and 3,558 m for C. atrata and C. cylindricus, respectively. The extent of hornbill seed shadows suggests that their influence in determining forest structure will likely increase as other larger mammalian dispersers are exterminated.

Notes: Summary A tethered balloon sounder was used to collect vertical temperature and wind structure data in the Gore River Valley of Western Colorado during December, 1975. Observations taken on a clear morning in which a deep inversion was initially present in the valley showed that the inversion top descended at a steady rate of ∼120 m hr−1. reaching the valley bottom after approximately 4 hours. Weak down-valley winds were present within the inversion layer while stronger up-valley winds prevailed above. A hypothesis is presented to account for these observations. A case study is presented for afternoon and evening cooling in which a ground-based inversion developed to a depth of 175 m in less than 2 hours. Winds within the inversion became decoupled from the synoptic-scale winds and remained very weak during the night. The effect of cloud cover during a morning heating cycle was to make the temperature soundings approach isothermal while sensible heating continued throughout the valley volume.

Notes: Abstract Current learning approaches to computer vision have mainly focussed on low-level image processing and object recognition, while tending to ignore high-level processing such as understanding. Here we propose an approach to object recognition that facilitates the transition from recognition to understanding. The proposed approach embraces the synergistic spirit of soft computing, exploiting the global search powers of genetic programming to determine fuzzy probabilistic models. It begins by segmenting the images into regions using standard image processing approaches, which are subsequently classified using a discovered fuzzy Cartesian granule feature classifier. Understanding is made possible through the transparent and succinct nature of the discovered models. The recognition of roads in images is taken as an illustrative problem in the vision domain. The discovered fuzzy models while providing high levels of accuracy (97%), also provide understanding of the problem domain through the transparency of the learnt models. The learning step in the proposed approach is compared with other techniques such as decision trees, naïve Bayes and neural networks using a variety of performance criteria such as accuracy, understandability and efficiency.

Notes: Abstract New methods of determining the structural groups —COOH and —CH2— have been developed. The investigation of carboxyl groups is possible both after derivatization with p-fluorophenacylbromide and by quantitative interpretation of the Fourier transform infrared (FT IR) spectra. There exists a linear relationship between the results of these two methods that is generally valid for the analysis of all brown coal components. The maximum extinction coefficient of the symmetric stretching vibration band of the CH2 groups has been determined using model substances. This allows quantification of this structural group directly from the FT IR spectrum. The results agree with the contents of methylene groups as determined by 13C-cross polarization–magic angle spinning–nuclear magnetic resonance (13C CPMAS NMR) spectroscopy. Using these methods, the COOH and CH2 groups contained in brown coals of the North Rhine region and in their bioconversion products have been quantified.

Notes: Abstract. Newly-prosperous Ireland has a number of sites which the scientific traveller can visit. There are apparatus museums at Birr and Maynooth, and a collection of early apparatus at the physics department of the Irish National University in Galway. The main attraction at Birr is the Rosse Telescope, with its 6-ft diameter speculum, built in the 1840s, and recently refurbished. Travellers to Northern Ireland can see applied geology at the Giant's Causeway.

Notes: Abstract Changes in vegetation and land use since 1826 were evaluated along the 800 kilometer portion of the Missouri River flood-plain that extends across the State of Missouri using County Land Office Survey records for 1826 and aerial photos for 1937, 1958, and 1972. The combined results show a decline in flood-plain forest coverage from 76% in 1826 to 13% in 1972; cultivated land increased from 18% to 83% during the same time. Uncultivated-unforested areas increased from 6% in 1826 to 27% in 1937, then declined to 1% in 1972; these changes occurred coincident with extensive bank-stabilization and channelization activities initiated in 1912 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Riverbank stabilization activity since that time may account for the increased rate of decline in flood-plain forests from 0.25% per year between 1826 and 1937 to 1.6% per year between 1937 and 1972. The overall species composition of the 1826 flood-plain forests was found to be most similar to mature forest stands evaluated in 1972; similar frequencies in 1826 and 1972 occurred for hackberry (Celtis occidentalis; 80% in 1826, 83% in 1972), elm (Ulmus spp.; 80% and 83%), and sycamore (Platanus occidentalis; 57% and 50%). Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), found only in mature flood-plain forests in 1972, was recorded along 54% of the 1826 section lines. These combined data indicate (1) that pre-settlement flood-plain forests were extensive and included frequent, mature stands, (2) that in certain areas substantial portions of the flood-plain were in cultivation prior to extensive riverbank stabilization and channelization, and (3) that increased flood-plain forest clearing occurred coincident with increased bank-stabilization activities.

Notes: Summary Intranuclear and cytoplasmic annulate lamellae were studied in grasshopper spermatocytes (Melanoplus) with the electron microscope. Although cytoplasmic annulate lamellae were observed in all three species examined, intranuclear annulate lamellae were found in only one species. The intranuclear annulate lamellae encompass certain nuclear material adjacent to the nuclear envelope forming a vesicle that is extruded into the spermatocyte cytoplasm. In this same species, cytoplasmic annulate lamellae are seen contiguous with granular masses of varying size. These structures were noted as being morphologically indistinguishable from the “yolk nuclei” of dragonfly oocytes (Kessel and Beams, 1969; Kessel, 1973).

Notes: e transformation resulted in normal distributions for most soil properties and reduced variability two- to threefold. However, a few soil properties remained non-normally distributed. Soil pH may be monitored at the regional scale with a high degree of precision. Small changes in soil C content (3–8% of the regional mean) may be detected using loge transformed total organic C as the indicator. Sampling soil properties as part of the NRI should improve NRCS' ability to monitor soil condition on a regional scale.

Notes: Abstract The interpretation of diagnostic parameters in the spectral reflectance data for asteroids provides a means of characterizing the mineralogy and petrology of asteroid surface materials. An interpretive technique based on a quantitative understanding of the functional relationship between the optical properties of a mineral assemblage and its mineralogy, petrology and chemistry can provide a considerably more sophisticated characterization of a surface material than any matching or classification technique for those objects bright enough to allow spectral reflectance measurements. Albedos derived from radiometry and polarization data for individual asteroids can be used with spectral data to establish the spectral albedo, to define the optical density of the surface material and, in general, to constrain mineralogical interpretations. Mineral assemblages analogous to most meteorite types, with the exception of ordinary chondritic assemblages, have been found as surface materials of Main Belt asteroids. C1- and C2-like assemblages (unleached, oxidized meteoritic clay minerals plus opaques such as carbon) dominate the population (∼80%) throughout the Belt, especially in the outer Belt. A smaller population of asteroids exhibit surface materials similar to C3 (CO, CV) meteoritic assemblages (olivine plus opaque, probably carbon) and are also distributed throughout the Belt. The relative size (diameter) distributions for these two populations of objects are consistent with an origin by sequential accretion from a cooling nebula (‘C2’ as surface layers, ‘C3’ as interior layers or cores). Based on information from meteoritic analogues and on qualitative models for the behavior of these materials during a heating episode, it seems unlikely that these ‘C2’- and ‘C3’-like asteroidal bodies have experienced any significant post-accretionary heating event either near surface or in the deep interior. The majority of remaining studied asteroids (20) of 65 asteroids exhibit spectral reflectance curves dominated by the presence of metallic nickel-iron in their surface materials. These objects are most probably the several end products of an intense thermal event leading to the melting and differentiating of their protobodies. These thermalized bodies are concentrated toward the inner part of the Asteroid Belt but exist throughout the Belt. The size of the proto-asteroid has apparently exercised control over the post-accretionary thermal history of these bodies. The available evidence indicates that all asteroids larger than about 450 km in (present) diameter have undergone a significant heating episode since their formation. The post-accretionary thermal history of the asteroidal parent bodies was apparently affected by both distance from the Sun and body size. The C2-like materials which dominate the main asteroid belt population appear to be relatively rare on earth-approaching asteroids. This suggests that most of these Apollo-Amor objects are not randomly derived from the main belt, but (a) may derive from a single event in recent time (∼107 yr), (b) may derive from a favorably situated source body, (c) may derive from a particular, compositionally anomalous region of the belt, or (d) may derive from an alternate source (e.g. comets).

Notes: Abstract Using somatic cell hybridization gene mapping methodology, genes coding for human cell-surface proteins have been assigned to specific chromosomes. Lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination was employed to label external membrane proteins in cell hybrids between mouse and human cultured cells. Mouse and human external membrane proteins were separated by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. After electrophoresis, external membrane proteins were identified by autoradiography. An external membrane protein of 130,000 molecular weight (EMP-130) segregated concordantly with glutamic oxaloacetic transaminases (GOTs, EC 2.6.1.1), an enzyme marker encoded on chromosome 10. External membrane proteins of 195,000 and 175,000 molecular weight (EMP-195 and EMP-175) segregated concordantly with nucleoside phosphorylase (NP, EC 2.4.2.1), an enzyme marker encoded on chromosome 14. Limited proteolysis of the 195,000 and 175,000 molecular weight proteins suggests that these two proteins are modified forms of each other and are encoded by the same locus. These findings demonstrate the mapping of human genes coding for external proteins EMP-130 and EMP-195 to chromosomes 10 and 14, respectively. Chromosome analyses of cell hybrids supported these assignments.