Protein kinase A activators inhibit agonist induced prostaglandin production in human amnion

Prostaglandin (PG) production by human amnion has been postulated to have a role in the onset of labor. Previous work by ourselves and others has demonstrated that oxytocin, phorbol esters and epidermal growth factor (EGF) increase PGE2 production in human amnion cells by activation of the Phospholipase C/Protein Kinase C (PKC) cascade system. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of prior activation of the Adenylate Cyclase cascade system upon subsequent stimulation of PGE2 production by oxytocin, phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or EGF in amnion cells and membrane discs. Isoproterenol, forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) were utilized to activate the Adenylate Cyclase system at the receptor, enzyme and second messenger level. In control amnion cells, oxytocin, PMA and EGF each provoked dose dependent increases in PGE2 production. In cells preincubated with dbcAMP, forskolin or isoproterenol, agonist stimulated PGE2 production was markedly (50-90%) inhibited (p < 0.01). Inhibition was dose dependent upon preincubator concentrations. Maximal inhibition by adenylate cyclase activators occurred with 2-4 h of preincubation. In membrane discs, forskolin preincubation also inhibited oxytocin, PMA and EGF stimulation of PGE2 production. Activation of the Adenylate Cyclase system in human amnion cells or membrane discs inhibits the subsequent action of potent stimulators of PGE2 production in human amnion.     

Detection of Discordant Content Uniformity Observations and Compendial Compliance

A discordant observation is a data point whose value is drastically different from that of the rest of the members in the data set. In the context of content uniformity experiments, however, a discordant observation arises in two ways: (i) when the value of an observation is markedly distant from that of the other data points even though it is within the required compendial range, and (ii) when the value of an observation is outside the permissible compendial range. Several statistical tests for detecting one or more discordant observations are presented. Since discordancy distorts the symmetricity of the data, several tests of symmetricity are provided. Tests for detection of group discordancy induced by discordant samples are also included. The compendial requirements are explained in statistical terms. The impact of discordant observations on compendial compliance requirements is assessed. The statistical basis of the construction of compendial limits as well as the assumptions implicit in the construction is elaborated. The results of the statistical analysis of three content uniformity studies are appropriately interpreted.     

Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and Orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) Encode Relevant Problem Features in a Tool-Using Task.

Two important elements in problem solving are the abilities to encode relevant task features and to combine multiple actions to achieve the goal. The authors investigated these 2 elements in a task in which gorillas (Gorilla gorilla) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) had to use a tool to retrieve an out-of-reach reward. Subjects were able to select tools of an appropriate length to reach the reward even when the position of the reward and tools were not simultaneously visible. When presented with tools that were too short to retrieve the reward, subjects were more likely to refuse to use them than when tools were the appropriate length. Subjects were proficient at using tools in sequence to retrieve the reward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Remote sensing of species mixtures in conifer plantations using LiDAR height and intensity data

In even-aged, single species conifer plantations LiDAR height data can be modelled to provide accurate estimates of tree height and volume. However, it is apparent that growth models developed for single species stands are not directly transferable to a more general situation of mixed species plantations. This paper evaluates the ability of small footprint, dual-return, pulsed airborne LiDAR data to estimate the proportion of the productive species when mixed with a nurse crop in closed canopy plantations. A study area located in Galloway Forest District in Scotland is used as an example of Lodgepole pine and Sitka spruce mixed plantation; this area contains good examples of a wide range of pure and mixed species plantation types. Three species groups are studied: areas of pure Sitka spruce, areas of pure Lodgepole pine and areas where the two species have been planted together. Two approaches are assessed for detection of plantation mixtures: the first uses LiDAR intensity data to separate spruce and pine species and the second uses LiDAR-derived canopy density measures, coefficient of variation, skewness, percent of ground returns (which provides a measure of canopy openness) and the mean canopy height, which enables areas with height variations to be identified. From analysis of LiDAR data extracted from 54 study plots using logistic regression, the coefficient of variation and LiDAR intensity data provide the most useful predictors of the proportion of spruce in a pine/spruce mixture with coefficients of determination (R²) of 0.914 and 0.930 respectively. The method could be developed as a mapping tool, which in combination with existing inventory data should help to improve timber volume forecasting for mixed species even-aged plantations.     

The Silicon Backplane Design for an LCOS Polarization-Insensitive Phase Hologram SLM

Polarization-insensitivity is achieved in a reflective spatial light modulator by laying a quarter-wave plate (QWP) at the incident wavelength directly over the mirror pixels of a silicon backplane, and forming a nematic Freedrickcz cell over the QWP to modulate the reflected phase. To achieve the highest drive voltage from the available silicon process, a switched voltage common front electrode design is described, with variable amplitude square wave drive to the pixels to maintain constant root-mean-square drive and minimize phase fluctuations during the dc balance refresh cycle. The silicon has been fabricated and liquid-crystal-on-silicon cells both with and without the QWP assembled; applications include optically transparent switches for optical networks, beam steering for add-drop multiplexers for wavelength-division-multiplexing telecommunications, television multicast, and holographic projection.     

Visual insights into high-resolution earthquake Simulations.

This study focuses on the visualization of a series of large earthquake simulations collectively called TeraShake. The simulation series aims to assess the impact of San Andreas Fault earthquake scenarios in Southern California. We discuss the role of visualization in gaining scientific insight and aiding unexpected discoveries.     

Exploiting ILP, TLP, and DLP with the polymorphous trips architecture

The Tera-op reliable intelligently adaptive processing system (TRIPS) architecture seeks to deliver system-level configurability to applications and runtime systems. It does so by employing the concept of polymorphism, which permits the runtime system to configure the hardware execution resources to match the mode of execution and demands of the compiler and application.     

The extracorporeal circuit: Materials,problems, and solutions

The extracorporeal circuit in hemodialysis and related therapies facilitates passage of blood to and from the patient and forms an integral link with the safety systems of the proportioning system. Historically, elements of the circuit were subject to problems such as spallation introduced by the blood pump and plasticizer from the tubing sets leaching into the blood. Many of these early issues have been largely resolved, although there is still potential for further improvement and innovation. The introduction of such improvements and innovations into clinical practice is critically dependent upon their cost and benefit to patient and renal unit staff.     

SDR走向军用领域

JTRS正致力于将可互换SDR(软件无线电)带入军用领域。但SDR对商业应用是否也是足够好的选择呢?SDR(软件无线电)并不是一种新技术。过去业界就已经尝试实现SDR,但都没有达到目标。最近激发起对SDR兴趣的是创新性软硬件技术的出现,这些技术能够以市场可承受的价格提供足够的灵活性、性能和功率效率。例如,宽带变换器现在可以工作在宽频率范围内,根据一种特定的位分辨率处理接收到的波形,而高频处理器可以直接与信号工作,从而省掉IF(中频)级,并降低成本。