Proactive effects in pigeons' memory for event duration: Evidence for analogical retention.

An intratrial proactive interference design was used to examine the nature of pigeons' memory for duration in a delayed matching task. Short (2 s) or long (10 s) target samples were preceded on test trials by a short or long presample. The durations were consistent on some trials (short-short or long-long) and inconsistent on others (short-long or long-short). Contrary to predictions based on prospective or categorical coding, accuracy was not related to duration consistency. Instead, accuracy was reduced on short-short and long-short trials and somewhat enhanced on short-long and long-long trials, suggesting that the Ss "summed across" the durations. This occurred even with a 10-s interstimulus interval (Experiment 1) and even when the presample and target sample were physically distinct (Experiment 2). Results suggest that pigeons remember event durations in an analogical and retrospective fashion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

New focusing and dispersive planar component based on an opticalphased array

A novel focusing and dispersive component is presented which is based on a phased array of bent optical waveguides. It combines good optical properties with small dimensions and can be realised with (high-quality) optical lithography. Applications are (de)multiplexers, wavelength filters and polarisation splitters     

A phase II study of paclitaxel in heavily pretreated patients with small-cell lung cancer

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) are major complications associated with total knee arthroplasty. The American College of Chest Physicians recommends twice-daily, fixed-dose low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) as routine prophylaxis in this patient population. This study represents a cost analysis of ardeparin and enoxaparin, the two LMWHs currently available for this indication in the United States. Costs for treating DVT, PE, and major bleeding episodes were derived from values reported in the literature. Both ardeparin and enoxaparin were found to produce significant cost savings when used routinely as DVT prophylaxis after knee replacement surgery compared with no prophylaxis. Based on the currently available data, enoxaparin 40 mg once daily appears to be the least costly LMWH for routine pharmacoprophylaxis of DVT in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.     

Triple therapy with ursodeoxycholic acid, prednisone and azathioprine in primary biliary cirrhosis: a 1-year randomized, placebo-controlled study

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid has been shown to decrease the rate of disease progression in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, although the effect is modest. Since primary biliary cirrhosis has many features of an autoimmune disorder, immunosuppressives added to ursodeoxycholic acid may be of value in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis. METHODS: A 1-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out in 50 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, who had already been treated with ursodeoxycholic acid for at least 1 year, but had not achieved complete disease remission. Patients were randomized to additional prednisone (30 mg per day initially, tapered to 10 mg daily after 8 weeks) and azathioprine (50 mg daily) or placebo. A subgroup of patients received cyclical etidronate and calcium. The principal aim of the study was to assess the short-term benefits and risks of the combined bile acid and low-dose immunosuppressive regimen. Primary endpoints were effects on symptoms, liver biochemistry, liver histology, bone mass and the occurrence of adverse events. RESULTS: Pruritus (p=0.02), alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, IgM and procollagen-III-propeptide improved significantly (all p<0.002) in the combined treatment group as compared to the placebo group. Histological scores for disease activity and disease stage decreased significantly within the combination treatment group (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with primary biliary cirrhosis receiving ursodeoxycholic acid, there is an additional beneficial effect of 1-year treatment with prednisone and azathioprine on symptoms and biochemical, fibrogenetic and histological parameters. These results strongly encourage the evaluation of this triple treatment regimen in long-term controlled trials of adequate size to document its effect on clinical events.     

Properties of electrical insulating materials at cryogenictemperatures: A literature review

Many insulating materials and systems for superconducting electrical equipment have been developed in response to the severe demands of safe usage, such as in cryogenic temperature, high mechanical stresses, high radiation, etc. They have been designed to fulfill very extreme service conditions, either at liquid helium or liquid nitrogen temperatures. Whatever the future industrial development, there is already abundant knowledge about insulating materials at cryogenic temperatures, and the feasibility has been proven. Many laboratories in the world continue research to increase this knowledge and to fill in the remaining gaps     

Reagentless enzyme electrode for the determination of manganese through biocatalytic enhancement.

An amperometric enzyme electrode is described for the detection and determination of manganese(II). The biosensor is based on the stimulation by manganese of the aerobic oxidation of substrates by horseradish peroxidase. A mediator, 1,2-naphthoquinone, is used as the substrate and is incorporated with the enzyme into a carbon-paste electrode. The resulting electrode acts as an enzyme-based oxygen sensor, which is sensitive to manganese. Electrochemical control of enzyme activity is achieved through substrate promotion of catalysis. Enzyme modulation by manganese can be switched on and off or adjusted through the appropriate selection of the applied potential. Currents are generated due to the bioelectrocatalytic reduction of oxygen in response to the introduction of manganese sulfate. A sustained current is achieved which is dependent on manganese concentration. Concentrations of 0.5 microM manganese or greater can be measured, and the sensor is reversible, as demonstrated by manganese removal. Biological selectivity for manganese provides a sensor which does not respond to other divalent cations tested, with the possible exception of cobalt. Reagentless, continuous sensing is achieved through substrate cycling.     

Severe B cell deficiency and disrupted splenic architecture in transgenic mice expressing the E41K mutated form of Bruton's tyrosine kinase

To identify B-cell signaling pathways activated by Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) in vivo, we generated transgenic mice in which Btk expression is driven by the MHC class II Ea gene locus control region. Btk overexpression did not have significant adverse effects on B cell function, and essentially corrected the X-linked immunodeficiency (xid) phenotype in Btk- mice. In contrast, expression of a constitutively activated form of Btk carrying the E41K gain-of-function mutation resulted in a B cell defect that was more severe than xid. The mice showed a marked reduction of the B cell compartment in spleen, lymph nodes, peripheral blood and peritoneal cavity. The levels in the serum of most immunoglobulin subclasses decreased with age, and B cell responses to both T cell-independent type II and T cell-dependent antigens were essentially absent. Expression of the E41K Btk mutant enhanced blast formation of splenic B cells in vitro in response to anti-IgM stimulation. Furthermore, the mice manifested a disorganization of B cell areas and marginal zones in the spleen. Our findings demonstrate that expression of constitutively activated Btk blocks the development of follicular recirculating B cells.