Common seal populations around the Scottish coast were less severly devastated by phocine distemper than those on the Continent. Nevertheless, over a 4-month period, 59 common seals were examined postmortem. The macroscopic and histopathological lesions are described. Forty-two per cent of these seals were considered to be suffering from phocine distemper. Serology on 29 of the 59 seals was undertaken and the results are discussed in relation to the histopathological findings. Bordetella bronchiseptica proved to be an important secondary invader in phocine distemper virus infected seals. Verminous pneumonia was shown to be a frequent problem, particularly in juveniles.

ABSTRACTChanges during storage in color of Concord grape juice extracted after heating to different temperatures and the carbohydrate and nonvolatile acid composition of Concord grapes were studied. Heating crushed Concord grapes under pilot plant conditions to 88° and 99°C inactivated nearly all of the polyphenoloxidase, increased the extraction of anthocyanins (ACN) and reduced polymeric color in the grape juice. During storage of the juice for 8 months, the rate of ACN degradation and color density decrease was the same in all samples. Glucose, fructose and sucrose were the only sugars found in Northwest Concord grapes, while malic and tartaric acids were the major nonvolatile acids. Lesser amounts of phosphoric, citric and coumaric acids were present.

Certain matrix elements of Pn=(λPx + μPy + νPz)n where n takes on the values one through five are calculated for a slightly asymmetric rotor molecule in a perturbation theory expansion in terms of the molecular asymmetry parameter b. The expressions are correct to second order in b for P1, to first order in b for P3 and P4, and to zeroth order in b for P5. Two tables are presented from which these matrix elements can be simply transformed into any of the conventional axis representations. The results are useful for the interpretation of effects arising from perturbations, such as centrifugal distortion and internal rotation, which commonly appear in the microwave spectra of slightly-asymmetric-rotor molecules.

The spectrum of CH3AsF2 was investigated over the range 10–33 kMc/sec. Three Q branches (Kc=5→4, 6→5, 7→6) and two R transitions (J=2→3, Kc=2→3; J=3→4, Kc=3→4) were fitted by a Hamiltonian which included terms for over-all rotation, internal rotation, nuclear quadrupole coupling, and centrifugal distortion. The internal rotation perturbation calculations were carried in some cases to the fifth order. The reciprocal moments of inertia are A=5414.49±0.15 Mc/sec, B=5381.28±0.15 Mc/sec, and C=3871.88±0.15 Mc/sec. The b axis is perpendicular to the plane of symmetry. The height of the internal rotation barrier (assumed to be sinusoidal) is 463±6 cm−1. The quadrupole coupling constants for As75 are eQqcc=−220±4 Mc/sec and η0=(qbb—qaa)/qcc = −1.20±0.05. The structure, barrier height, and quadrupole coupling constants are discussed briefly.