Facial asymmetry in posed and spontaneous expressions of emotion

Patterns of facial asymmetry (i.e., extent of movement) as a function of elicitation condition, emotional valence, and sex of subjects are examined. Thirty-seven right-handed adult males and females were videotaped making positive and negative expressions of emotion under posed (verbal, visual) and spontaneous conditions. There were no differences in facial asymmetry as a function of condition. Overall, expressions were significantly left-sided, a finding implicating the right hemisphere. When sex and valence were considered, negative expressions were left-sided for all subjects, while positive expressions were left-sided for males only. Further, positive expressions were significantly less lateralized than negative ones for females. Measures of hemiface mobility and ocular dominance did not mediate these patterns of facial lateralization.

Asymmetries in body part size, mobility, and usage. Relationship between structure and function

Asymmetries in structure (size) and function (usage or mobility) for the upper and lower face, hands, and feet were investigated in 42 left- and right-handed male and female college students. Size measurements were taken from photographs, mobility was rated from videotapes, and usage was assessed by questionnaire. Size asymmetries were typical, and independent of handedness, but were not consistent across body parts; usage asymmetries varied as a function of handedness. No systematic relationships were found between structure and function.

A left hemispace bias for visualizing emotional situations

Forty-three college-aged subjects posed a series of emotional facial expressions and described their strategies for creating such expressions. The majority of subjects (86%) reported visualizing an image or situation. When asked for the location of the image, the majority (62%) indicated the left hemispace, and only 5% indicated the right.

Comparison of red cell and kidney (Na+ +K+)-ATPase at 0 degrees C

Human red cell and guinea pig kidney (Na+ +K+)-ATPase were phosphorylated at 0 degrees C. Using concentrations of ATP ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-8) M, ATP-dependent regulation of reactivity is observed with red cell but not kidney (Na+ +K+)-ATPase at 0 degrees C. In particular, with the red cell enzyme only, the following are observed: (i) the ratio of enzyme-bound ATP (E.ATP, measured by the pulse-chase method of Post, R.L., Kume, S., Tobin, T., Orcutt, B. and Sen, A.K. (1969) J. Gen. Physiol. 54, 306s-326s) to steady-state level of total phosphoenzyme (EP) decreases with decrease in ATP concentration and (ii) the apparent turnover of phosphoenzyme (ratio of Na+-stimulated ATP hydrolysis to level of total EP at steady state) also varies as a function of ATP concentration. In addition, when EP is formed at very low ATP (0.02 microM), and then EDTA is added, rapid disappearance of a fraction of EP occurs, presumably due to ATP resynthesis, only with the red cell enzyme. These differences in behaviour of the red cell and kidney enzymes are explained on the basis of the observed predominance of K+-insensitive EP in red cell, but K+-sensitive EP in kidney (Na+ +K+)-ATPase at 0 degrees C.

The treatment of giant hairy naevi by dermabrasion in the first few weeks of life. Case reports

A method for treating congenital giant naevi in the first few weeks of life by mechanical dermabrasion is described. From reports in the literature and from our 2 cases it would seem that this is a very effective method for removing pigmentation early in life. The cosmetic deformity of these lesions is eradicated and their malignant potential possibly minimized.

Ribulose biophosphate carboxylase from Thiobacillus A2. Its purification and properties

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39) from Thiobacillus A2 has been purified to homogeneity on the basis of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and U.V. analysis during sedimentation velocity studies. The enzyme had an optimum pH of about 8.2 with Tris-HCl buffers. The molecular weight was about 521000 with an Srel. of 16.9. Km for RuBP was 122 muM, for total "CO2" it was 4.17 mM, and for Mg2+ 20.0 muM. The absolute requirement for a divalent cation was satisfied by Mg2+ which was replaceable to a certain extent by Mn2+. Activity was not significantly affected by SO(2-4), SO(2-3), or S(2)O(2-3) at 1.0 mM. At this concentration S(2-) caused a 27% stimulation. All mercurials tested were inhibitory. pHMB was the most potent causing about 60% inhibition at 0.04 mM. This inhibition was reversible by low concentrations of cysteine. Cyanide was also inhibitory. Its mode of inhibition with respect to RuBP was un-competitive and with a Ki of 20 muM. Lost activity could be restored partially by GSH or Cu2+. Although azide at the concentration tested had no significant effect on enzyme activity, 2, 4-dinitrophenol at 1.0 mM caused 91% inhibition. Finally, activity was also affected by energy charge.

Physical properties and metabolite regulation of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase from Thiobacillus A2

Purified ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39) was strongly and equally inhibited either by ADP or GDP and to a lesser extent by IDP. AMP or ATP exerted little effect on activity. Inhibition by the nucleotide diphosphates was competitive with respect to RuBP and non-competitive with respect to "CO2" and Mg2+, respectively. Treatment of the enzyme with urea or guanidine-HCl resulted in rapid loss of activity that was not restored by dialysis even in the presence of Mg2+ and cysteine. Sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis of 8.0 M urea treated enzyme revealed the presence of a fast-moving (small) sub-unit with molecular weight 14150 and a slower moving (large) sub-unit with molecular weight 68000. Examination of native enzyme by sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis gave sub-units of 13700 and 55500 respectively. The amino acid content standardized to phenylalanine was essentially similar to that from other sources. Arrhenius plots showed a "break" at 29 degrees C with an Ea of 12.34 kcal per mole for the steeper part of the curve and a deltaH of 11.43 kcal per mole while for the less steep region, the Ea was 1.04 kcal per mole and the deltaH 1.92 kcal per mole.

Wind Tunnel Simulations of Light and Dark Streaks on Mars

Wind tunnel experiments have revealed a characteristic flow field pattern over raised-rim craters which causes distinctive zones of aeolian erosion and deposition. Comparisons of the results with Mariner 9 images of Mars show that some crater-associated dark zones result from wind erosion and that some crater-associated light streaks are depositional.

Anaesthesia for thyroid surgery

The principles involved in preoperative assessment and management of the patient who is to undergo thyroidectomy are discussed.

The techniques of anaesthesia that have been found most successful for thyroidectomy at The Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney are described. The effectiveness of these techniques is indicated by reference to the complications found following review of 200 consecutive thyroidectomies.

Sensory Deprivation and Visual Speed: An Analysis

Speeds of moving objects were markedly underestimated by human observers after prolonged patternless visual stimulation. Even greater underestimation followed exposure to a "noisy" visual field; on the other hand, exposure to a hyperstable field caused overestimation. The effects of external visual noise simulate those of deprivation; this finding suggests that similarly disordered but spontaneous neural discharge dominates the visual nervous system in deprivation.