Induction of long-term receptive field plasticity in the auditory cortex of the waking guinea pig by stimulation of the nucleus basalis.

Learning induces neuronal receptive field (RF) plasticity in primary auditory cortex. This plasticity constitutes physiological memory as it is associative, highly specific, discriminative, develops rapidly, and is retained indefinitely. This study examined whether pairing a tone with activation of the nucleus basalis (NB) could induce RF plasticity in the waking guinea pig and, if so, whether it could be retained for 24 hrs. Subjects received 40 trials of a single frequency paired with electrical stimulation of the NB at tone offset. The physiological effectiveness of NB stimulation was assessed later while subjects were anesthetized with urethane by noting whether stimulation produced cortical desynchronization. Subjects in which NB stimulation was effective did develop RF plasticity and this was retained for 24 hrs. Thus, activation of the NB during normal learning may be sufficient to induce enduring physiological memory in auditory cortex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparative study of prothrombinase and thrombin inhibitors in a novel rabbit model of non-occlusive deep vein thrombosis

A quantitative and non-occlusive deep vein thrombosis model was developed in rabbits. We used this model to test the antithrombotic activity of the prothrombinase complex inhibitors factor rXai and its chemical analog glutamyl-glycyl-arginyl chloromethyl ketone inactivated human factor Xa (EGR-Xai), along with the thrombin inhibitors D-phenylalanyl-prolyl-arginyl chloromethyl ketone (PPACK) and heparin. Dose dependent effects of the inhibitors during constant infusion were monitored. Measurements included thrombus weights, hemostatic parameters and both cuticle and ear bleeding times. In this model, factor rXai and EGR-Xai had comparable in-vivo efficacy, and showed 80%-93% inhibition at plasma levels of 6.5 nM (rXai) and 8 nM (EGR-Xai). Effects on ex-vivo clotting times varied among the inhibitors. At 80-100% thrombus inhibition, factor rXai and EGR-Xai had no statistically significant effect, while PPACK extended thrombin clotting time (TCT) times 2.3-fold, and heparin prolonged both activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and TCT ex-vivo clotting times 6.9-, 1.2-, and 7-fold respectively. At these dosages, cuticle and ear bleeding times were prolonged for all inhibitors and showed increases of 177%-389% (cuticle) and 45%-129% (ear). Our results demonstrate that direct inhibition of prothrombinase complex assembly is effective in arresting venous thrombosis.     

A study of the association of Epstein-Barr virus with Burkitt''s lymphoma occurring in a Chinese population

Several (carbamoylalkenyl)- and (carbamoylalkenyl)phenyloxy carboxylic acids (Table 1) and some of their ethyl esters (Table 2) were synthesized and evaluated in vitro as inhibitors of steroid 5 alpha-reductase. Inhibitors of this enzyme may be useful in treating dihydrotestosterone-related diseases such as prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Using an enzyme preparation obtained from human prostate carcinoma tissue, the inhibition values ranged from 0 to 57% at the given dose of 100 microM. In the series of free acids, surprisingly, the compounds showed only modest inhibitory potency (0-26%). By contrast, the ethyl esters displayed inhibition values up to 57%. Structure-activity relationships are discussed.     

Historical Records of Metal Pollution in Sediments of Toronto and Hamilton Harbours

The sediments of Hamilton and Toronto Harbours contain some of the oldest records of metal pollution in the Great Lakes basin. The fluxes of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, Fe, and Mn into the two harbours have been estimated from the analyses of core samples dated by the Pb-210 technique. The contrasting metal levels in the two harbour sediments are viewed in relation to the differences in the disposal strategies of the dredged spoils and the sources of metal pollution in the harbours. The Zn and Fe concentrations of 5 to 8 mg g^?1 and 10 to 13 % dry wt. in Hamilton Harbour sediments, which are among the highest recorded in any harbour, can be related to effluent discharges from the large local iron and steel plants. An inventory of the sources and sinks of pollutant metals in Hamilton Bay shows a substantive export of the metals to Lake Ontario.     

Separation-bubble flow solution using Euler/Navier-Stokes zonal approach with downstream compatibility conditions

An Euler/Navier-Stokes zonal scheme is developed to numerically simulate the two-dimensional flow over a blunt leading-edge plate. The computational domain has been divided into inner and outer regions where the Navier-Stokes and Euler equations are used, respectively. On the downstream boundary, compatibility conditions derived from the boundary-layer equations are used. The grid is generated by using conformal mapping and the problem is solved by using a compressible Navier-Stokes code, which has been modified to treat Euler and Navier-Stokes regions. The accuracy of the solution is determined by the reattachment location. Bench-mark solutions have been obtained using the Navier-Stokes equations throughout the optimum computational domain and size. The problem is recalculated with sucessive decrease of the computational domain from the downstream side where the compatibility conditions are used, and with successive decrease of the Navier-Stokes computational region. The results of the zonal scheme are in excellent agreement with those of the benchmark solutions and the experimental data. The CPU time saving is about 15%.     

Transient diffusion and reaction of ions in an electrostatic double-layer: Application to the response of potentiometric electrodes

The transport equations for unsteady diffusion and simultaneous chemical reaction in an electrostatic double-layer in series with a mass transfer boundary layer have been solved. The results are presented in terms of the transient response of a potentiometric electrode, and show hysteresis and non-first-order behavior associated with the transport phenomena in the double-layer. The double-layer effects can be reduced and even eliminated in the presence of chemical reaction, which provides an alternate mechanism for ion transport within the double-layer.     

Thermophilic anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent

A laboratory study was carried out using the thermophilic anaerobic process to treat palm oil mill effluent containing 67,000 mg 1⁻¹, COD, 31,800 mg 1⁻¹ suspended solids and a pH of 4.5. Completely mixed reactors were operated to evaluate the effects of feed strength and solids retention times on the system's performance. A range of 5–35 days solids retention time was studied. COD reduction was 72% for the 5-day unit and greater than 90% for units having detention time 15 days or more. pH of all units was self adjusted to 7.4. Gas production was, in general, greater than 0.3 m³ kg⁻¹ volatile solids feed.     

TORUS: A step towards bridging the gap between data bases and the casual user

This paper describes TORUS, a natural language understanding system that serves as a front end to a data base management system in order to facilitate communication with casual users. The system employs a semantic network to store knowledge about a data base of student files. This knowledge is used to find the meaning of each input statement, to decide what action to take with respect to the data base, and to select information that must be output in response to the input statement. A prototype version of TORUS has been implemented.