Protein nitration in Parkinson''s disease

The development of five schistosome species was compared in mice by the recovery of schistosomula from chopped lung tissue and of adult worms by portal perfusion. Three developmental patterns appeared. (1) Schistosoma japonicum was unique in showing an early establishment of schistosomula in and a rapid departure from the lungs together with the highest worm recovery; (2) S. haematobium contrasted by establishing later and persisting in the lungs for at least 2 weeks while yielding the lowest adult worm recovery; and (3) S. intercalatum, S. mansoni, and S. rodhaini had an intermediate pattern--they resided in the lungs for several days, then disappeared and produced intermediate numbers of adults. Lung petechiae, known to accompany the migration of S. japonicum, were never detected after infection with the other species. We speculate that the three migration patterns of schistosomes are related to the size of the relative spectra of naturally infected definitive hosts.     

Targeted deletion of the GluR-1 AMPA receptor in mice dissociates general and outcome-specific influences of appetitive rewards on learning.

The authors assessed the hypothesis that deletion of the GluR-1 subtype of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptor in mice disrupts the associative activation of a sensory-specific representation of an appetitive reward. In Experiment 1, mice received training on a Pavlovian-instrumental transfer task. In the test stage, conditioned stimulus (CS) presentations enhanced instrumental actions in both groups. However, this effect was specific to the action that shared the same outcome as the CS in wild-type (WT), but not GluR-1-/-, mice. In Experiment 2, the mice were trained on a heterogeneous instrumental chain in which rewards were obtained for emitting 1 response (R1, that was distal to reward delivery), followed by a 2nd response (R2, that was proximal to reward delivery). A change in general motivational state (from hungry to sated) reduced the number of R2 responses in both groups. In contrast, an outcome-specific satiety treatment produced a selective decline in R1 responding only in WT mice. The results support the hypothesis that GluR-1 deletion impairs the associative activation of a representation of the sensory-specific incentive motivational properties of an appetitive reward. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Teachers' beliefs about interaction control and their observed behavioral correlates.

A teacher's perception of control over interactions with pupils has been suggested as a possible mediator of the expectation communication process. The present study tested some predictions based on this line of reasoning, with both between- and within-classroom analysis models. Participants were 204 3rd–5th graders from 5 schools and 17 teachers. The within-classroom analysis found, as predicted, that teachers viewed interactions with low-expectation pupils as less controllable than those with high-expectation pupils and that teacher initiations were perceived as more controllable than child initiations. In addition, a predicted (but nonsignificant) negative relation was found between the frequency of a teacher's ignoring a pupil's response and interaction control: Less relative perceived control over a pupil was associated with a relatively more frequent occurrence of no feedback. Reasons for the weakness in relations are discussed. Also, explanatory analyses involving control and the frequency of 6 types of classroom interaction are presented. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Olfactory identification ability in patients with panic disorder

Deficits in olfactory identification ability have been reported in some groups of psychiatric patients, but not others. Our study examined olfactory identification ability in patients with panic disorder. Results indicate that this ability is intact in this population and, further, that psychotropic medications appear not to interfere with olfaction.     

High-Purity Electrolytic Chromium

A study of massive chromium electrodeposited from aqueous chromic-acid electrolytes at elevated temperatures—the relative effect of the catalytic action of sulfate, fluoride, and silicofluoride ions on mechanical properties was investigated with a subsequent determination of optimum compositions.     

Nanoengineered Light‐Activatable Polybubbles for On‐Demand Therapeutic Delivery

Vaccine coverage is severely limited in developing countries due to inefficient protection of vaccine functionality as well as lack of patient compliance to receive the additional booster doses. Thus, there is an urgent need to design a thermostable vaccine delivery platform that also enables release of the bolus after predetermined time. Here, the formation of injectable and light‐activatable polybubbles for vaccine delivery is reported. In vitro studies show that polybubbles enable delayed burst release, irrespective of cargo types, namely small molecule and antigen. The extracorporeal activation of polybubbles is achieved by incorporating near‐infrared (NIR)‐sensitive gold nanorods (AuNRs). Interestingly, light‐activatable polybubbles can be used for on‐demand burst release of cargo. In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies demonstrate successful activation of AuNR‐loaded polybubbles. Overall, the light‐activatable polybubble technology can be used for on‐demand delivery of various therapeutics including small molecule drugs, immunologically relevant protein, peptide antigens, and nucleic acids.     

Snow parameter determination by multichannel microwave radiometry

A long-term observational program on the microwave scatter and emission behavior of snow began in 1977 at a high-altitude Alpine test site. The brightness temperatures at 4.9, 10.5, 21, 36, and 94 GHz measured at different incidence and polarization angles during the first season are analyzed with the aid of correlation, factorial, and cluster algorithms. The structure mathematically found within the data is compared with classical parameters of the snow cover. Snow state changed from a high winter state to a late spring state during our measurements. At least three different snow qualities and two grades of moisture for the uppermost 10 cm of the snow layer can clearly be distinguished with a high degree of accuracy. The information content of our measurements does not substantially degrade by reducing our data to data as delivered by the NIMBUS-5 and as expected of the NIMBUS-G satellites. Recommendations for optimum frequencies for the remote sensing of snow are given.     

Learning to Think and Communicate with Diagrams: 14 Questions to Consider

This paper looks at the particular role which diagrammatic representations, and external representations more generally, play within an educational context. In particular, it considers the way in which the demands on diagrammatic representational systems in educational settings differ with respect to other settings (e.g. professional): in some instances, these demands are increased, while in others, the demands are markedly different.The paper considers three key issues: the question of whether diagrams make certain tasks easier (and whether this is desirable from an educational point of view), the generalisation and transfer of diagrammatic skills once learnt, and the possible problems associated with simultaneously learning domain knowledge and a novel representational system.The paper then considers a number of sub-issues, and concludes by highlighting areas of particular interest for future AI research.     

Involvement of the entorhinal cortex in a process of attentional modulation: Evidence from a novel variant of an IDS/EDS procedure.

Novel behavioral assays were used to assess the role of the entorhinal cortex in modulating attention to components of stimulus compounds. In Stage 1, rats received discrimination training with compounds constructed from 3 dimensions (auditory, visual, and tactile); in each compound the combination of components from 2 dimensions (e.g., auditory and visual) were relevant to the solution of the discrimination, and the remaining dimension (e.g., tactile) was irrelevant. In Stage 2, rats received a different discrimination in which the relevant dimensions were either congruent (auditory and visual) or incongruent (auditory and tactile) with those that were relevant in Stage 1. Sham-operated rats acquired the congruent discrimination more rapidly than the incongruent discrimination—a finding indicative of a process of attentional modulation—whereas rats with excitotoxic lesions of the entorhinal cortex acquired both discriminations equally readily. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)