Erratum on ISSPIT Publication

This document is intended to serve as erratum on the ISSPIT publication “Co-Channel Interference Cancellation: A Prefiltering Approach”, see [1], by the same authors.     

Animal awareness: Current perceptions and historical perspective.

An examination of the writings of 19th and early 20th century comparative psychologists such as G. J. Romanes (1883, 1888) and C. L. Morgan (1903, 1923) indicates that they were well aware of many of the issues raised by the recent "cognitivism" in psychology and ethology. A survey completed by 349 Ss in undergraduate ethology classes, an animal behavior conference, and meetings on creationism on attitudes concerning mental continuity between humans and nonhumans showed that emotional continuity was considered more likely than intellectual continuity and that acceptance of evolution favorably disposed Ss to both. Critical anthropomorphism often aids in formulating testable hypotheses, but cognitive approaches to animals are in danger of suffering a fate similar to the earlier comparative mentalism. (88 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Assessment of applications of conducting polymers in powerequipment

A feasibility study has been completed to assess potential applications of conducting polymers in the manufacture of power equipment. Ten areas were studied: solid and liquid dielectric cables, capacitors, rotating machinery, transformers, bushings, surge suppressors, vacuum interrupters, gas-insulated equipment, and other miscellaneous applications. Each application was rated according to technical impact, probability of success, economic impact, and time frame for implementation. Of the 32 potential applications proposed, the top ranking areas were: coating of dielectric films for capacitors, conducting compounds to cover conductors in rotating machines, surface coatings to dissipate charges in bushings, coatings for controlled surface conductivity in gas insulated equipment, and thermal history monitors. Finally, the issues that have to be resolved before conducting polymers can find use in the identified applications are discussed     

Critical evaluation of factors influencing pancreatic cytoprotection

The authors give a brief survey on adaptive pancreatic cytoprotection and vasoprotection in the framework of which noxious agents and factors of defensive mechanism are made known and critically evaluated. In development of acute pancreatitis intraacinar redistribution of lysosomal hydrolases, colocalization of digestive and lysosomal enzymes, escape of digestive and lysosomal enzymes from pancreatic ductal system into the interstitium, inflammatory modulators released from macrophages and evoking local inflammation, ischaemia, furthermore feedback regulation of pancreatic secretion can be regarded as motives. Factors of defensive mechanism include prostaglandins, nitric oxide and the unobstructed, juice flow which promote the repair of injured membranes in acinar and vascular endothelial cells, respectively. Their whole sum may be called adaptive pancreatic cyto- and vasoprotection or pancreatic "self-defence mechanism".     

Language authoring with “comet”

Conclusion From the language teacher's point of view, authoring languages and systems have always had two major drawbacks: flexibility and simplicity of use seemed to exclude each other, and features specific to language instruction were not included in the design. COMET's template collection with its variants for individual languages attempts to deal with these problems. The present package of highutility programs has proven its worth in a university context by making it possible to create-full-year language courses at relatively modest cost. Since a lesson of five exercises, containing from 10 to 20 questions each, can be input by a careful typist in one working day, the term development has once again become synonymous with the creative process of designing pedagogic material.Future work will concentrate on incorporating user suggestions for improvement and creating new, specialized patterns to enhance the methodological versatility of the system.Wolfram Burghardt, an associate professor of modern languages and literatures of the University of Western Ontario, has developed print, audio and computer-based courses.     

Analysis of cardiac membrane phospholipid peroxidation kinetics as malondialdehyde: Nonspecificity of thiobarbituric acid-reactivity

When exposed to xanthine oxidase (superoxide)-dependent, iron-promoted Fenton chemistry, purified cardiac membranes evidenced, by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA) test, a virtually instantaneous peroxidative response with a maximal linear rate of 5.8 nmol malondialdehyde (MDA)-equivalents/mEquivalents lipid ester reacted/min. Yet when the lipids purified from these same membranes and reconstituted into liposomes were peroxidized under identical reaction conditions, the TBA test indicated that a pronounced (∼20-min) lag period preceded a maximal peroxidation rate of only 2.1 nmol MDA-equivalents/ mEquivalents lipid ester reacted/min. After 120 min of peroxidation, the cardiac membranes yielded some 300 nmol TBA-reactive MDA-equivalents/mEquivalent ester, whereas the isolated membrane lipids evidenced ∼40% less TBA-reactivity. To verify that these quantitative and kinetic differences in membrane (phospho)-lipid peroxidation occurred with removal of the lipids from their membrane milieu, the MDA produced during both cardiac membrane peroxidation and the peroxidation of the lipids derived therefrom was isolated as its free anion by ion-pair high-pressure liquid chromatography. As quantified spectrophotometrically, true MDA production during myocardial membrane peroxidation was identical in kinetics and in amount to the production of TBA-reactive substance from the peroxidized isolated membrane lipids. These results demonstrate that significant non-MDA. TBA-reactive species are generated during the peroxidation of cardiac membranes, especially before the maximal rates of bona fide MDA production. As a direct consequence, artifactual levels and kinetics of membrane lipid peroxidation do result. Presented in part at the 78th American Oil Chemists' Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (May, 1987). Recipient of an Outstanding Paper Presentation Award (1).     

Species-characteristic responses to catnip by undomesticated felids

Thirty-three large felids belonging to six different species were exposed to catnip and catnip extract. The species-characteristic response to catnip and the sensitivity of the response to various concentrations of catnip were examined. Putative relationships between catnip sensitivity, species range, age, estrous cycle, and behavioral complexity are discussed. The behavioral response to catnip shown by the domestic cat is seen in several different large felids. Lions and jaguars were extremely sensitive to catnip compared to tigers, cougars, and bobcats, who gave little or no response. Both males and females of the same species tested alike. Reproductive-age adults were more sensitive than either aged or immature animals. It was quantitatively demonstrated that catnip responsiveness is not limited to the domestic cat, that it is not limited to the female, and that it varies dramatically between species and age of felids.Study was supported in part by an NSF Faculty Research fund award to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.     

One- and two-photon excited optical ph probing for cells using surface-enhanced Raman and hyper-Raman nanosensors

We demonstrate spatially resolved probing and imaging of pH in live cells by mobile and biocompatible nanosensors using surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (pMBA) on gold nanoaggregates. Moreover, we also show that this concept of pH nanosensors can be extended to two-photon excitation by using surface-enhanced hyper-Raman scattering (SEHRS). In addition to the advantages of two-photon excitation, the SEHRS sensor enables measurements over a wide pH range without the use of multiple probes.     

Untersuchungen zur Sulfochlorierung von Paraffinen. V. Kinetische Untersuchungen über die Sulfochlorierung definierter Alkansulfochloride

Studies on Sulphochlorination of Paraffins. V. Kinetic Studies on the Sulphochlorination of Pure Alkanesulphochlorides The mixtures of disulphochlorides formed by sulphochlorination of 1-alkanesulphochlorides C₄ C₉ may be analyzed gaschromatographically after transformation into the corresponding dimethylamides. The individual peaks could be identified in some cases with the aid of pure isomeric disulphochlorides, in other cases they were identified by analogy. The mixtures formed by sulphochlorination of the isomeric heptane sulphochlorides also could be analyzed after transformation into the dimethylamides; the identification of all peaks was possible by comparison of the mixtures obtained from different heptane sulphochlorides. For the alkane sulphochlorides studied the relative rates of sulphochlorination (with reference to n-octane) were determined, and therefore the relative reaction rates of the individual C H-bonds with reference to one primary C H-bond of n-octane could be calculated. The results show a geminal or vicinal disubstitution not to take place in noticeable amount. In position 3 or in greater distance the influence of the sulphochloride group on the reactivity of the C H-bonds is not significant.     

Repeated and Interrupted Resistance Exercise Induces the Desensitization and Re-Sensitization of mTOR-Related Signaling in Human Skeletal Muscle Fibers

The acute resistance exercise (RE)-induced phosphorylation of mTOR-related signaling proteins in skeletal muscle can be blunted after repeated RE. The time frame in which the phosphorylation (_p) of mTOR^S2448, p70S6k^T421/S424, and rpS6^S235/236 will be reduced during an RE training period in humans and whether progressive (PR) loading can counteract such a decline has not been described. (1) To enclose the time frame in which _pmTOR^S2448, _prpS6^S235/236, and _pp70S6k^T421/S424 are acutely reduced after RE occurs during repeated RE. (2) To test whether PR will prevent that reduction compared to constant loading (CO) and (3) whether 10 days without RE may re-increase blunted signaling. Fourteen healthy males (24 ± 2.8 yrs.; 1.83 ± 0.1 cm; 79.3 ± 8.5 kg) were subjected to RE with either PR (n = 8) or CO (n = 6) loading. Subjects performed RE thrice per week, conducting three sets with 10–12 repetitions on a leg press and leg extension machine. Muscle biopsies were collected at rest (T0), 45 min after the first (T1), seventh (T7), 13th (T13), and 14th (X-T14) RE session. No differences were found between PR and CO for any parameter. Thus, the groups were combined, and the results show the merged values. _prpS6^S235/236 and _pp70s6k^T421/S424 were increased at T1, but were already reduced at T7 and up to T13 compared to T1. Ten days without RE re-increased _prpS6^S235/236 and _pp70S6k^T421/S424 at X-T14 to a level comparable to that of T1. _pmTOR^S2448 was increased from T1 to X-T14 and did not decline over the training period. Single-fiber immunohistochemistry revealed a reduction in _prpS6^S235/236 in type I fibers from T1 to T13 and a re-increase at X-T14, which was more augmented in type II fibers at T13 (p < 0.05). The entity of myofibers revealed a high heterogeneity in the level of _prpS6^S235/236, possibly reflecting individual contraction-induced stress during RE. The type I and II myofiber diameter increased from T0 and T1 to T13 and X-T14 (p < 0.05) _prpS6^S235/236 and _pp70s6k^T421/S424 reflect RE-induced states of desensitization and re-sensitization in dependency on frequent loading by RE, but also by its cessation.