Effects of Hippocampus and Medial Caudate Nucleus Lesions on Memory for Direction Information in Rats.

A delayed matching-to-sample task was designed to assess memory for direction information in rats. During the study phase, rats traversed a maze arm oriented in 1 of 3 directions. After a delay period, a test phase was presented that required a choice between the study phase direction and a foil direction. Once rats reached a learning criterion, probe trials suggested that normal rats favor the use of direction, rather than turning response, information and use vestibular feedback. Rats were then given hippocampus, medial caudate nucleus (MCN), or cortical control lesions. Unlike control rats, those with hippocampus and MCN lesions exhibited marked impairments when retested. However, all rats were able to learn a direction discrimination task. These results suggest that the hippocampus and MCN support processes associated with short-term memory for direction information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physiologic MRI of a tumefactive multiple sclerosis lesion

Structural and physiologic MRI were performed after subacute onset of left hemiparesis in a patient with MS. MRI showed a large ring-enhancing lesion with surrounding edema and mass effect; differential diagnosis included a neoplasm or a large MS plaque. Physiologic MRI showed reduced blood flow and magnetization transfer, as well as increased diffusion, in the large lesion. Because these findings suggested a tumefactive MS plaque rather than a neoplasm, the patient received steroid treatment for acute MS exacerbation. Three months later the patient improved clinically and on MRI.     

Uptake of hypertriglyceridemic very low density lipoproteins and their remnants by HepG2 cells: the role of lipoprotein lipase, hepatic triglyceride lipase, and cell surface proteoglycans

Hypertriglyceridemic very low density lipoproteins (HTG-VLDL, S(f) 60-400) are not taken up by HepG2 cells. However, addition of bovine milk lipoprotein lipase (LPL) at physiological concentrations markedly stimulates uptake. In the present study, we determined whether: a) LPL catalytic activity is required for uptake, b) LPL functions as a ligand, and c) cell surface hepatic triglyceride lipase (HL) and/or proteoglycans are involved. Incubation of HepG2 cells with HTG-VLDL plus LPL (8 ng/ml) increased cellular cholesteryl ester (CE) 3.5-fold and triglyceride (TG) 6-fold. Heat-inactivation of LPL abolished the effect. Addition of tetrahydrolipstatin (THL, an LPL active-site inhibitor) to HTG-VLDL + LPL, inhibited the cellular increase in both CE and TG by greater than 90%. Co-incubation of HTG-VLDL + LPL with heparin, heparinase, or heparitinase, blocked CE accumulation by 70%, 48%, and 95%, respectively, but had no effect on the increase in cellular TG. Pre-treatment of cells with 1 mM 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-xyloside, (beta-xyloside) to reduce cell surface proteoglycans inhibited the increase in CE induced by HTG-VLDL + LPL by 78%. HTG-VLDL remnants, prepared in vitro and isolated free of LPL activity, stimulated HepG2 cell CE 2.8-fold in the absence of added LPL, a process inhibited with THL by 66%. Addition of LPL (8 ng/ml) to remnants did not further enhance CE accumulation. HepG2 cell HL activity, released by heparin, was inhibited 95% by THL. The amount of HL activity and immunoreactive mass, released by heparin, was reduced 50-60% in beta-xyloside-treated cells. These results indicate that physiological concentrations of LPL promote HepG2 cell uptake of HTG-VLDL primarily due to remnant formation and that LPL does not play a major role as a ligand. HL activity and cell surface proteoglycans significantly enhance the subsequent uptake of VLDL remnants.     

Managing risk in the new supply chain [performance-based logistics]

This article examines performance-based logistics (PBL), which is now well established as a cost-effective support philosophy and arrangement guaranteeing the availability of units in the field, reducing cost and sharpening the supply chain.     

A focus-of-attention preprocessing scheme for EM-ML PETreconstruction

The expectation-maximization maximum-likelihood (EM-ML) algorithm belongs to a family of algorithms that compute positron emission tomography (PET) reconstructions by iteratively solving a large linear system of equations. The authors describe a preprocessing scheme for automatically focusing the attention, and thus the computational resources, on a subset of the equations and unknowns. Experimental work with a CM-5 parallel computer implementation using a simulated phantom as well as real data obtained from an ECAT 921 PET scanner indicates that quite significant savings can be obtained with respect to both time and space requirements of the EM-ML algorithm without compromising the quality of the reconstructed images     

Gallium-arsenide process evaluation based on a RISC microprocessorexample

The authors evaluate the features of a gallium-arsenide E/D MESFET process in which a 32-b RISC microprocessor was implemented. The design methodology and architecture of this prototype CPU are described. The performance sensitivities of the microprocessor and other large circuit blocks to different process parameters are analyzed, and recommendations for future process features, circuit approaches, and layout styles are made. These recommendations are reflected in the design of a second microprocessor using a more advanced process that achieves much higher density and performance     

Extracellular matrix (mesoglea) of Hydra vulgaris III. Formation and function during morphogenesis of hydra cell aggregates

The cell wall arabinogalactans of strains of Mycobacterium, Rhodococcus, and Nocardia were per-O-methylated, partially hydrolyzed with acid, and the resulting oligosaccharides were reduced and per-O-ethylated to yield per-O-alkylated oligoglycosyl alditol fragments. Analyses of these fragments by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and of the intact solubilized polysaccharides by 1H and 13C NMR revealed the major structural features of the different arabinogalactans from representatives of the different genera. All of the mycobacterial products contained a homogalactan segment of alternating 5-linked alpha-galactofuranosyl (Galf) and 6-linked beta-Galf residues. The arabinan segment consisted of three major domains, linear 5-linked alpha-arabinofuranosyl (Araf) residues and branched (3-->5)-linked Araf units substituted with either 5-linked Araf or the disaccharide beta-Araf-(1-->2)-alpha-Araf at both branched positions. The recognition of these features in in vivo grown Mycobacterium leprae is an important development. The arabinan from strains of Nocardia contains a nonreducing-end motif composed of the linear trisaccharide, beta-Araf-(1-->2)-alpha-Araf-(1-->5)-Araf, attached to linear 5-linked alpha-Araf units. The galactan segment of the arabinogalactan of Nocardia sp. is composed of linear 5-linked beta-Galf units substituted in part at O-6 with terminal beta-glucosyl units. The two representative strains of Rhodococcus also differed in the composition of the galactan moiety; in addition to the 5-linked Galf, 2- and 3-linked beta-Galf units are present. The reducing end of the galactans, and therefore, apparently, of the entire arabinogalactans from all species from all genera, are apparently composed of the unit, rhamnosyl-(1-->3)-N-acetyl-glucosamine, which, in turn, is apparently attached to peptidoglycan via phosphodiester linkage.     

Phases of neon monolayers adsorbed on basal plane graphite

The first monolayer of neon adsorbed on exposed basal planes of graphite has been explored in detail by means of heat capacity measurements on 15 different coverages ranging from 0.06 to 0.91 monolayer for 1.25<T<20 K. Experimental resolution and reproducibility were enhanced by means of an on-line minicomputer. The heat capacity signatures indicate a 2D triple point at 13.5 K (T _t,bulk =24.54 K) as well as several other transitions in the adsorbed films. Vapor pressure measurements extend from 0.5 monolayer to 1.5 monolayers for 19<T<26 K. In the second layer the vapor pressure isotherms indicate a 2D liquid-vapor critical point at a film density comparable to the bulk critical density and at a temperature of 20 K (T _c,bulk =44.40 K).Research supported by the National Science Foundation.     

The preparation of crystalline polypropylene sodium sulfonates and their interaction with an included sodium hydroxide phase

Sodium sulfonated polypropylenes have been prepared by the slurry chlorosulfonation of polypropylene or propylene—ethylene copolymer followed by hot aqueous sodium hydroxide treatment. Low levels of excess sodium hydroxide were added to the materials to stabilize them against thermal decomposition. It was found that there was a strong interaction between the sodium hydroxide phase and the polymer sodium sulfonate groups which persisted above the nominal melting point of crystalline polypropylene. Evidence for the interaction includes an increased melt viscosity and a greatly increased nucleation rate for the composites as compared to the polypropylene sodium sulfonates not containing the sodium hydroxide phase. The composites have an improved balance of mechanical properties as compared to the materials from which they are prepared.