Tumor necrosis factor enhances the capsaicin sensitivity of rat sensory neurons

The capacity of the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), to modulate the sensitivity of isolated sensory neurons grown in culture to the excitatory chemical agent capsaicin was examined. Alterations in capsaicin sensitivity were assessed by quantifying the number of neurons labeled with cobalt after exposure to capsaicin and by recording the whole-cell response from a single neuron to the focal application of capsaicin. A 24 hr pretreatment of the neuronal cultures with TNF alpha (10 or 50 ng/ml), but not IL-1 beta (10 or 50 ng/ml), produced a concentration-dependent increase in the number of cobalt-labeled neurons after exposure to 100 nM capsaicin. The peak increase in the number of labeled neurons was attained after a 4 hr treatment with 10 ng/ml TNF alpha. Similarly, pretreatment with TNF alpha (10 ng/ml for 4, 12, and 24 hr) produced a greater than twofold increase in the average peak amplitude of the inward current evoked by 100 nM capsaicin. Both the TNF alpha-induced increase in labeling and current amplitude were blocked by treating the neuronal cultures with indomethacin before the addition of TNF alpha. Enhancement of the capsaicin-evoked current also was blocked by the specific cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitor SC-236. These results indicate that TNF alpha can enhance the sensitivity of sensory neurons to the excitation produced by capsaicin and that this enhancement likely is mediated by the neuronal production of prostaglandins. Isolated sensory neurons grown in culture may prove to be a useful model system in which to explore how prolonged exposure to mediators associated with chronic inflammation alter the regulatory pathways that modulate the excitability of the nervous system

Identifying and Correcting Iron Deficiency in Field Crops.

2 p

The Rapidly Flaring Afterglow of the Very Bright and Energetic GRB 070125

We report on multiwavelength observations, ranging from X-ray to radio wave bands, of the IPN-localized gamma-ray burst GRB 070125. Spectroscopic observations reveal the presence of absorption lines due to O i,Si ii,and C iv, implying a likely redshift of z ¼1:547. The well-sampled light curves, in particular from 0.5 to 4 days after the burst, suggest a jet break at 3.7 days, corresponding to a jet opening angle of $7.0, and implying an intrinsic GRB energy in the 1Y10,000 keV band of around E ¼(6:3Y6:9) ; 1051 ergs (based on the fluences measured by the gamma-ray de-tectorsof the IPN).GRB070125 is among the brightest afterglows observed to date.The SEDimplies ahostextinction of AV \u3c 0:9 mag. Two rebrightening episodes are observed, one with excellent time coverage, showing an increase in fluxof 56$8000 s.The evolution of the afterglow light curve is achromatic at all times.Late-time observationsof the afterglow do not show evidence for emission from an underlying host galaxy or supernova. Any host galaxy would be subluminous, consistent with current GRB host galaxy samples. Evidence for strong Mg ii absorption features is not found, which is perhaps surprising in view of the relatively high redshift of this burst and the high likelihood for such features along GRB-selected lines of sight

Rapid adaptive radiation of Darwin's finches depends on ancestral genetic modules

Recent adaptive radiations are models for investigating mechanisms contributing to the evolution of biodiversity. An unresolved question is the relative importance of new mutations, ancestral variants, and introgressive hybridization for phenotypic evolution and speciation. Here, we address this issue using Darwin's finches and investigate the genomic architecture underlying their phenotypic diversity. Admixture mapping for beak and body size in the small, medium, and large ground finches revealed 28 loci showing strong genetic differentiation. These loci represent ancestral haplotype blocks with origins predating speciation events during the Darwin's finch radiation. Genes expressed in the developing beak are overrepresented in these genomic regions. Ancestral haplotypes constitute genetic modules for selection and act as key determinants of the unusual phenotypic diversity of Darwin's finches. Such ancestral haplotype blocks can be critical for how species adapt to environmental variability and change

Applications of advanced metrology for understanding the effects of drying temperature in the lithium-ion battery electrode manufacturing process

The performance of lithium-ion batteries is determined by the architecture and properties of electrodes formed during manufacturing, particularly in the drying process when solvent is removed and the electrode structure is formed. Temperature is one of the most dominant parameters that influences the process, and therefore a comparison of temperature effects on both NMC622-based cathodes (PVDF-based binder) and graphite-based anodes (water-based binder) dried at RT, 60, 80, 100 and 120 °C has been undertaken. X-ray computed tomography showed that NMC622 particles concentrated at the surface of the cathode coating except when dried at 60 °C. However, anodes showed similar graphite distributions at all temperatures. The discharge capacities for the cathodes dried at 60, 80, 100 and 120 °C displayed the following trend: 60 °C < 80 °C < 100 °C < 120 °C as C-rate was increased which was consistent with the trends found in adhesion testing between 60 and 120 °C. Focused-ion beam scanning electrode microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy suggested that the F-rich binder distribution was largely insensitive to temperature for cathodes. In contrast, conductivity enhancing fine carbon agglomerated on the upper surface of the active NMC particles in the cathode as temperature increased. The cathode dried at RT had the highest adhesion force of 0.015 N mm−1 and the best electrochemical rate performance. Conversely, drying temperature had no significant effect on the electrochemical performance of the anode, which was consistent with only a relatively small change in the adhesion, related to the use of lower adhesion water-based binders

In search of the authentic nation: landscape and national identity in Canada and Switzerland

While the study of nationalism and national identity has flourished in the last decade, little attention has been devoted to the conditions under which natural environments acquire significance in definitions of nationhood. This article examines the identity-forming role of landscape depictions in two polyethnic nation-states: Canada and Switzerland. Two types of geographical national identity are identified. The first – what we call the ‘nationalisation of nature’– portrays zarticular landscapes as expressions of national authenticity. The second pattern – what we refer to as the ‘naturalisation of the nation’– rests upon a notion of geographical determinism that depicts specific landscapes as forces capable of determining national identity. The authors offer two reasons why the second pattern came to prevail in the cases under consideration: (1) the affinity between wild landscape and the Romantic ideal of pure, rugged nature, and (2) a divergence between the nationalist ideal of ethnic homogeneity and the polyethnic composition of the two societies under consideration

An early developmental vertebrate model for nanomaterial safety:Bridging cell-based and mammalian toxicity assessment

Background. With the rise in production of nanoparticles for an ever-increasing number of applications, there is an urgent need to efficiently assess their potential toxicity. We propose a nanoparticle hazard assessment protocol that combines mammalian cytotoxicity data with embryonic vertebrate abnormality scoring to determine an overall toxicity index. Results. We observed that, after exposure to a range of nanoparticles, Xenopus phenotypic scoring showed a strong correlation with cell based in vitro assays. Magnetite-cored nanoparticles, negative for toxicity in vitro and Xenopus, were further confirmed as non-toxic in mice. Conclusion. The results highlight the potential of Xenopus embryo analysis as a fast screening approach for toxicity assessment of nanoparticles, which could be introduced for the routine testing of nanomaterials