We have studied the thermal interactions of acetone and acetaldehyde on Si͑100͒, both sputtered and annealed, using high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, ͑HREELS͒, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy ͑XPS͒, and temperature programmed desorption ͑TPD͒. There is no carbonyl stretch in HREELS and the C and O(1s) XPS peaks reflect two different carbonyl processes, one involving bond cleavage, the other a reduction of the C-O bond order. Hydrogen TPD gives a peak at 840-850 K which is as much as threefold more intense than from H-saturated Si͑100͒. SiO desorbs near 1050 K and XPS shows total loss of oxygen and retention of carbon. Approximately 34% of the acetaldehyde monolayer and 62% of the acetone monolayer decomposes on annealed Si͑100͒ to produce silicon carbide. In contrast, after sputtering with 500 eV Ar ions, these percentages are reduced to 14% and 25%, respectively. We conclude that Si dimers play an important role in the chemistry of carbonyl groups.

The objective was to determine factors that affect the expression of estrus. Thirteen lactating Holstein cows were ovariectomized about 4 to 6 wk postpartum and then challenged repeatedly with progesterone and estradiol benzoate to induce estrus six times during the postpartum period. Each challenge included 5 d when the cow was primed with progesterone through insertion of a progesterone-impregnated, foam rubber pessary. Estradiol benzoate (1 mg) was injected intramuscularly 36 h after removal of the pessary. Groups of two to three cows each began the experiment at 3-mo intervals to avoid confounding treated simultaneously. Observations for estrous behavior were at 8-h intervals following each challenge. A minimum of three sexually active cows were always observed together to avoid differences in estrous behavior caused by having too few sexually active animals in the group. Observations for estrous behavior were at 8-h intervals following each challenge. During each observation, cows were observed for 30 min on dirt and for 30 min on concrete. Standing behavior was not influenced by postpartum interval, season of year, or milk yield. Mounting behavior increased from the first to the sixth postpartum challenge, but it was not affected by season of year or milk yield. Duration of estrus, mounting activity, and standing activity were greater on dirt than on concrete. These results indicate that the surface on which cows were observed had a profound effect on sexual behavior; however, postpartum interval, season of year, and milk yield were of minor importance.

Bubble chamber pictures have been scanned for the interactions of stopping K mesons in hydrogen. New déterminations of the ratios T,~n* K~p-»• charged partieles •y =-R = " K~p-S *jr~' *^ K~p-* ail final S tates for K~ meson interactions at rest, are presented, as well as the branching ratio ^ n;r^ Z+-> m t*, PTT" ' The values found for «g, 0.664 ± 0.011, and for B, 0.488 ± 0.008, are in agreement with previous results. On the other hand, two values, resulting from différent methods of analysis, have been found for 7, namely 2.38 + 0.04 and 2.35 ± 0.07. They agrée with one of the two previous précise measurements but are inconsistent with the other.

Two experiments determined how feed restriction and realimentation altered metabolism and ovarian function in gilts. In Exp. 1, cyclic (INTACT-R, n=6) and ovariectomized (OVEX-R, n=6) gilts were fed restricted diets (.23 kg feed.d-1) or ovariectomized (OVEX-C, n=6) gilts were fed control diets (1.81 kg.d-1). Estrous cycles stopped after 46 +/- 9 d of feed restriction. Average weight (WT), backfat thickness (BF) and concentrations of insulin (INS) were lower and free fatty acids (FFA) were greater in OVEX-R than in OVEX-C gilts. Frequency of luteinizing hormone (LH) release (peaks.6 h-1) was reduced by feed restriction (.2 +/- .2, 1.8 +/- 1.0 and 5.8 +/- .2 in INTACT-R, OVEX-R and OVEX-C gilts, respectively). Patterns of secretion of LH and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) after gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) or estradiol benzoate were not altered by feed restriction. Feed intake was then increased in INTACT-R and OVEX-R gilts beginning on d 80 and 82, respectively. Resumption of estrous cycles in INTACT-R gilts occurred on d 116.0 +/- 4.0 and was preceded by a significant increase in WT, but not BF, and a linear increase in concentration and frequency of release of LH. Increasing feed intake in OVEX-R gilts increased WT and frequency of LH release, while FFA decreased and INS increased to concentrations not different from those of OVEX-C gilts. The hypothesis that nutritionally-induced anestrus resulted from decreased activity of the hypothalamic pulse-generator was evaluated in Exp. 2 by providing 144 hourly pulses (iv) of saline (n=3), GnRH (n=3) or LH (n=4) to nutritionally-anestrous gilts.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Brachyuran crabs in the family Cancridae are found in a variety of habitats, ranging from ‘open’ sandy or muddy grounds to ‘structured’ rocky bottoms rich in refuge space. Cancer gracilis Dana inhabits shallow open habitats in the north‐east Pacific Ocean. Females in all reproductive conditions aggregate in relatively small areas, where mating activity appears most intense. Maximum mating activity was observed towards the end of the spawning/hatching season (August). Females play an active role in mating, often initiating interactions with the prospective male partner. Mating in the field was non‐assortative with respect to size. There was no indication of direct mate choice by either males or females; resolution of male‐male competitive interactions was size‐based. Males below minimum mating size (77 mm carapace width) had spermatophores in the vas deferens but did not react to receptive females. Sperm competition is likely because sperm can be retained across moults and multiple copulations are possible within a receptive period. Female spermathecae are of the ‘ventral’ type (contrary to what has been indicated for cancrids), and during intercourse are beyond the reach of male gonopods. Mechanisms to exclude competing sperm include male‐produced sperm plugs and post‐copulatory mate guarding. Results are discussed in the context of the ‘structured‐to‐open’ habitat gradient, which may underlay much of the diversity in cancrid reproductive ecology. We argue that, by comparison with C. magister (a larger size sympatric species also found in open habitats), (1) reproductive asynchrony and female gregariousness in C. gracilis increase the environmental potential for polygyny, resulting in a female defence polygynous mating system, and (2) reproductive asynchrony inflates the operational sex ratio, leading to stronger sexual selection.