The interpretation of a magnetic survey over the whin dykes

Not availabl

Effectiveness of computer-based auditory training in improving the perception of noise-vocoded speech

Five experiments were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of “high-variability” lexical training in improving the ability of normal-hearing subjects to perceive noise-vocoded speech that had been spectrally shifted to simulate tonotopic misalignment. Two approaches to training were implemented. One training approach required subjects to recognize isolated words, while the other training approach required subjects to recognize words in sentences. Both approaches to training improved the ability to identify words in sentences. Improvements following a single session (lasting 1–2 h) of auditory training ranged between 7 and 12 %pts and were significantly larger than improvements following a visual control task that was matched with the auditory training task in terms of the response demands. An additional three sessions of word- and sentence-based training led to further improvements, with the average overall improvement ranging from 13 to 18 %pts. When a tonotopic misalignment of 3 mm rather than 6 mm was simulated, training with several talkers led to greater generalization to new talkers than training with a single talker. The results confirm that computer-based lexical training can help overcome the effects of spectral distortions in speech, and they suggest that training materials are most effective when several talkers are included

Asphaltene detection using Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)

Peer reviewedPostprin

Search for correlation effects in linear chains of trapped ions

We report a precise search for correlation effects in linear chains of 2 and 3 trapped Ca+ ions. Unexplained correlations in photon emission times within a linear chain of trapped ions have been reported, which, if genuine, cast doubt on the potential of an ion trap to realize quantum information processing. We observe quantum jumps from the metastable 3d 2D_{5/2} level for several hours, searching for correlations between the decay times of the different ions. We find no evidence for correlations: the number of quantum jumps with separations of less than 10 ms is consistent with statistics to within errors of 0.05%; the lifetime of the metastable level derived from the data is consistent with that derived from independent single-ion data at the level of the experimental errors 1%; and no rank correlations between the decay times were found with sensitivity to rank correlation coefficients at the level of |R| = 0.024.Comment: With changes to introduction. 5 pages, including 4 figures. Submitted to Europhys. Let

SPIFI: a Direct-Detection Imaging Spectrometer for Submillimeter Wavelengths

The South Pole Imaging Fabry-Perot Interferometer (SPIFI) is the first instrument of its kind -a direct-detection imaging spectrometer for astronomy in the submillimeter band. SPIFI ’s focal plane is a square array of 25 silicon bolometers cooled to 60 mK; the spectrometer consists of two cryogenic scanning Fabry-Perot interferometers in series with a 60-mK bandpass filter. The instrument operates in the short submillimeter windows (350 and 450 μm) available from the ground, with spectral resolving power selectable between 500 and 10,000. At present, SPIFI’s sensitivity is within a factor of 1.5-3 of the photon background limit, comparable with the best heterodyne spectrometers. The instrument ’s large bandwidth and mapping capability provide substantial advantages for specific astrophysical projects, including deep extragalactic observations. We present the motivation for and design of SPIFI and its operational characteristics on the telescope

Ras-mediated phosphorylation of a conserved threonine residue enhances the transactivation activities of c-Ets1 and c-Ets2

The Ras oncogene products regulate the expression of genes in transformed cells, and members of the Ets family of transcription factors have been implicated in this process. To determine which Ets factors are the targets of Ras signaling pathways, the abilities of several Ets factors to activate Ras-responsive enhancer (RRE) reporters in the presence of oncogenic Ras were examined. In transient transfection assay, reporters containing RREs composed of Ets-AP-1 binding sites could be activated 30-fold in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and 80-fold in the macrophage-like line RAW264 by the combination of Ets1 or Ets2 and Ras but not by several other Ets factors that were tested in the assay. Ets2 and Ras also superactivated an RRE composed of Ets-Ets binding sites, but the Ets-responsive promoter of the c-fms gene was not superactivated. Mutation of a threonine residue to alanine in the conserved amino-terminal regions of Ets1 and Ets2 (threonine 38 and threonine 72, respectively) abrogated the ability of each of these proteins to superactivate reporter gene expression. Phosphoamino acid analysis of radiolabeled Ets2 revealed that Ras induced normally absent threonine-specific phosphorylation of the protein. The Ras-dependent increase in threonine phosphorylation was not observed in Ets2 proteins that had the conserved threonine 72 residue mutated to alanine or serine. These data indicate that Ets1 and Ets2 are specific nuclear targets of Ras signaling events and that phosphorylation of a conserved threonine residue is a necessary molecular component of Ras-mediated activation of these transcription factors

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin: its response to hypoxia and association with acute mountain sickness.

Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a common clinical challenge at high altitude (HA). A point-of-care biochemical marker for AMS could have widespread utility. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) rises in response to renal injury, inflammation and oxidative stress. We investigated whether NGAL rises with HA and if this rise was related to AMS, hypoxia or exercise. NGAL was assayed in a cohort (n = 22) undertaking 6 hours exercise at near sea-level (SL); a cohort (n = 14) during 3 hours of normobaric hypoxia (FiO2 11.6%) and on two trekking expeditions (n = 52) to over 5000 m. NGAL did not change with exercise at SL or following normobaric hypoxia. During the trekking expeditions NGAL levels (ng/ml, mean ± sd, range) rose significantly (P < 0.001) from 68 ± 14 (60-102) at 1300 m to 183 ± 107 (65-519); 143 ± 66 (60-315) and 150 ± 71 (60-357) at 3400 m, 4270 m and 5150 m respectively. At 5150 m there was a significant difference in NGAL between those with severe AMS (n = 7), mild AMS (n = 16) or no AMS (n = 23): 201 ± 34 versus 171 ± 19 versus 124 ± 12 respectively (P = 0.009 for severe versus no AMS; P = 0.026 for mild versus no AMS). In summary, NGAL rises in response to prolonged hypobaric hypoxia and demonstrates a relationship to the presence and severity of AMS

Characterization of Suspension Polymerized Polyacrylamide and Poly(sodium acrylate-acrylamide) Copolymer and their Size Influence on the Properties of Concrete

Shrinkage leading to cracking and mechanical instability is a major problem for concrete due to the loss of water during the curing process. However, through the addition of Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) hydrogels, shrinkage can be prevented, increasing the strength of concrete. Characterization of suspension polymerized polyacrylamide (PAM) poly(sodium acrylate-polyacrylamide) (PANa-PAM) copolymer microsphere sizes, morphology and swelling behavior was conducted before adding them to concrete. Size was determined using microscopy paired with ImageJ analysis. Coulter Counter size characterization was also used to determine the particle size distribution. Swelling behavior was determined using the tea bag method as well as size analysis before and after hydration. After characterization, concrete containing various sizes of SAP microspheres will be tested for shrinkage and mechanical strength. These tests will allow us to discover the optimal size of SAP microspheres in concrete to increase its mechanical properties as well as control shrinkage. We will also investigate if the shape of particles has an impact on the final properties of the concrete. The results of this study will contribute to the growing knowledge of applying SAPs in concrete and will give a better understanding on how the size and shape of SAP hydrogels influence the properties of concrete. Using this knowledge, concrete can be made to perform better resulting in more mechanically sound structures

Redefining the expressed prototype SICAvar gene involved in Plasmodium knowlesi antigenic variation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The <it>SICAvar </it>gene family, expressed at the surface of infected erythrocytes, is critical for antigenic variation in <it>Plasmodium knowlesi</it>. When this family was discovered, a prototypic <it>SICAvar </it>gene was characterized and defined by a 10-exon structure. The predicted 205-kDa protein lacked a convincing signal peptide, but included a series of variable cysteine-rich modules, a transmembrane domain encoded by the penultimate exon, and a cytoplasmic domain encoded by the final highly conserved exon. The <it>205 SICAvar </it>gene and its family with up to 108 possible family members, was identified prior to the sequencing of the <it>P. knowlesi </it>genome. However, in the published <it>P. knowlesi </it>database this gene remains disjointed in five fragments. This study addresses a number of structural and functional questions that are critical for understanding <it>SICAvar </it>gene expression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Database mining, bioinformatics, and traditional genomic and post-genomic experimental methods including proteomic technologies are used here to confirm the genomic context and expressed structure of the prototype <it>205 SICAvar </it>gene.</p> <p><b>Results</b></p> <p>This study reveals that the <it>205 SICAvar </it>gene reported previously to have a 10-exon expressed gene structure has, in fact, 12 exons, with an unusually large and repeat-laden intron separating two newly defined upstream exons and the <it>bona fide </it>5'UTR from the remainder of the gene sequence. The initial exon encodes a PEXEL motif, which may function to localize the SICA protein in the infected erythrocyte membrane. This newly defined start of the 205 <it>SICAvar </it>sequence is positioned on chromosome 5, over 340 kb upstream from the rest of the telomerically positioned <it>SICAvar </it>gene sequence in the published genome assembly. This study, however, verifies the continuity of these sequences, a 9.5 kb transcript, and provides evidence that the 205 <it>SICAvar </it>gene is located centrally on chromosome 5.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The prototype <it>205 SICAvar </it>gene has been redefined to have a 12-exon structure. These data are important because they 1) address questions raised in the <it>P. knowlesi </it>genome database regarding <it>SICAvar </it>gene fragments, numbers and structures, 2) show that this prototype gene encodes a PEXEL motif, 3) emphasize the need for further refinement of the <it>P. knowlesi </it>genome data, and 4) retrospectively, provide evidence for recombination within centrally located <it>SICAvar </it>sequences.</p