148 research outputs found
Functional and molecular analysis of proprioceptive sensory neuron excitability in mice
Neurons located in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are crucial for transmitting peripheral sensations such as proprioception, touch, temperature, and nociception to the spinal cord before propagating these signals to higher brain structures. To date, difficulty in identifying modality-specific DRG neurons has limited our ability to study specific populations in detail. As the calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) is a neurochemical marker for proprioceptive DRG cells we used a transgenic mouse line expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in PV positive DRGs, to study the functional and molecular properties of putative proprioceptive neurons. Immunolabeled DRGs showed a 100% overlap between GFP positive (GFP+) and PV positive cells, confirming the PVeGFP mouse accurately labeled PV neurons. Targeted patch-clamp recording from isolated GFP+ and GFP negative (GFPâ) neurons showed the passive membrane properties of the two groups were similar, however, their active properties differed markedly. All GFP+ neurons fired a single spike in response to sustained current injection and their action potentials (APs) had faster rise times, lower thresholds and shorter half widths. A hyperpolarization-activated current (Ih) was observed in all GFP+ neurons but was infrequently noted in the GFPâ population (100% vs. 11%). For GFP+ neurons, Ih activation rates varied markedly, suggesting differences in the underlying hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (HCN) subunit expression responsible for the current kinetics. Furthermore, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) showed the HCN subunits 2, 1, and 4 mRNA (in that order) was more abundant in GFP+ neurons, while HCN 3 was more highly expressed in GFPâ neurons. Likewise, immunolabeling confirmed HCN 1, 2, and 4 protein expression in GFP+ neurons. In summary, certain functional properties of GFP+ and GFPâ cells differ markedly, providing evidence for modality-specific signaling between the two groups. However, the GFP+ DRG population demonstrates considerable internal heterogeneity when hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (HCN channel) properties and subunit expression are considered. We propose this heterogeneity reflects the existence of different peripheral receptors such as tendon organs, muscle spindles or mechanoreceptors in the putative proprioceptive neuron population
Some unique benefits with Sudangrass for improved U.S. #1 yields and size of Russet Burbank potato
Three studies provided additional knowledge of
beneficial effects of sudangrass for yield and quality
increases of the Russet Burbank potato. Thro of these
studies showed significant 'increases of both U.S. #1 and
smooth tubers >280 g following green manures of sudangrass.
These sudangrass (HS-33) effects did not differ
from a sorghum-sudan hybrid (Trudan-8). When a sudangrass
green manure was compared with a fallow treatment,
results of the first study showed mean yield
increases of 36% for U.S. #1 tubers >280 g and yields of
a second study by 34% for U.S. #1 tubers. This same
sudangrass treatment outperformed green manures of
either Austrian winter pea, barley, or sweet corn by
increased U.S. #1 yields that ranged from 27% to 61%.
By several lines of evidence, these benefits were found
to extend beyond the effect of Verticillium suppression.
Soil N was significantly increased following green
manures of sudangrass, and these increases were in turn
negatively correlated with wilt incidence and positively
correlated with yields of both U.S. #1 tubers and tubers
>280 g. Additional benefits also included significant
increases of tuber grade percentages for marketable
tubers and of smooth tubers >280 g. Benefits from
sudangrass green manures beyond the effects of Verticillium
suppression became further evident following a
greenhouse study that involved field soil and sudangrass
that had been grown in the same field. This study corroborated both field experiments by showing increased
yields with green manures of sudangrass that approximated
5.5 t ha-1 dry wt. As with the field studies, these
yield benefits also extended beyond the effects of Verticillium
suppression and were closely associated with significant
increases of Fusarium equiseti, F. oxysporum,
and F. solani. Throughout all studies, sudangrass green
manures significantly increased microbial activities with
increased populations of Fusarium spp. and increased
concentrations in soil of mineralizable N, organic P, K,
Mn, along with the percent soil organic matter â all factors
that could have contributed to significant increases
of yield and quality
A measurement of the tau mass and the first CPT test with tau leptons
We measure the mass of the tau lepton to be 1775.1+-1.6(stat)+-1.0(syst.) MeV
using tau pairs from Z0 decays. To test CPT invariance we compare the masses of
the positively and negatively charged tau leptons. The relative mass difference
is found to be smaller than 3.0 10^-3 at the 90% confidence level.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, Submitted to Phys. Letts.
First Measurement of Z/gamma* Production in Compton Scattering of Quasi-real Photons
We report the first observation of Z/gamma* production in Compton scattering
of quasi-real photons. This is a subprocess of the reaction e+e- to
e+e-Z/gamma*, where one of the final state electrons is undetected.
Approximately 55 pb-1 of data collected in the year 1997 at an e+e-
centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV with the OPAL detector at LEP have been
analysed. The Z/gamma* from Compton scattering has been detected in the
hadronic decay channel. Within well defined kinematic bounds, we measure the
product of cross-section and Z/gamma* branching ratio to hadrons to be
(0.9+-0.3+-0.1) pb for events with a hadronic mass larger than 60 GeV,
dominated by (e)eZ production. In the hadronic mass region between 5 GeV and 60
GeV, dominated by (e)egamma* production, this product is found to be
(4.1+-1.6+-0.6) pb. Our results agree with the predictions of two Monte Carlo
event generators, grc4f and PYTHIA.Comment: 18 pages, LaTeX, 5 eps figures included, submitted to Physics Letters
Search for Higgs Bosons in e+e- Collisions at 183 GeV
The data collected by the OPAL experiment at sqrts=183 GeV were used to
search for Higgs bosons which are predicted by the Standard Model and various
extensions, such as general models with two Higgs field doublets and the
Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM). The data correspond to an
integrated luminosity of approximately 54pb-1. None of the searches for neutral
and charged Higgs bosons have revealed an excess of events beyond the expected
background. This negative outcome, in combination with similar results from
searches at lower energies, leads to new limits for the Higgs boson masses and
other model parameters. In particular, the 95% confidence level lower limit for
the mass of the Standard Model Higgs boson is 88.3 GeV. Charged Higgs bosons
can be excluded for masses up to 59.5 GeV. In the MSSM, mh > 70.5 GeV and mA >
72.0 GeV are obtained for tan{beta}>1, no and maximal scalar top mixing and
soft SUSY-breaking masses of 1 TeV. The range 0.8 < tanb < 1.9 is excluded for
minimal scalar top mixing and m{top} < 175 GeV. More general scans of the MSSM
parameter space are also considered.Comment: 49 pages. LaTeX, including 33 eps figures, submitted to European
Physical Journal
A Measurement of the Product Branching Ratio f(b->Lambda_b).BR(Lambda_b->Lambda X) in Z0 Decays
The product branching ratio, f(b->Lambda_b).BR(Lambda_b->Lambda X), where
Lambda_b denotes any weakly-decaying b-baryon, has been measured using the OPAL
detector at LEP. Lambda_b are selected by the presence of energetic Lambda
particles in bottom events tagged by the presence of displaced secondary
vertices. A fit to the momenta of the Lambda particles separates signal from B
meson and fragmentation backgrounds. The measured product branching ratio is
f(b->Lambda_b).BR(Lambda_b->Lambda X) = (2.67+-0.38(stat)+0.67-0.60(sys))%
Combined with a previous OPAL measurement, one obtains
f(b->Lambda_b).BR(Lambda_b->Lambda X) = (3.50+-0.32(stat)+-0.35(sys))%.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX, 3 eps figs included, submitted to the European
Physical Journal
Measurement of the Michel Parameters in Leptonic Tau Decays
The Michel parameters of the leptonic tau decays are measured using the OPAL
detector at LEP. The Michel parameters are extracted from the energy spectra of
the charged decay leptons and from their energy-energy correlations. A new
method involving a global likelihood fit of Monte Carlo generated events with
complete detector simulation and background treatment has been applied to the
data recorded at center-of-mass energies close to sqrt(s) = M(Z) corresponding
to an integrated luminosity of 155 pb-1 during the years 1990 to 1995. If e-mu
universality is assumed and inferring the tau polarization from neutral current
data, the measured Michel parameters are extracted. Limits on non-standard
coupling constants and on the masses of new gauge bosons are obtained. The
results are in agreement with the V-A prediction of the Standard Model.Comment: 32 pages, LaTeX, 9 eps figures included, submitted to the European
Physical Journal
Particles-vortex interactions and flow visualization in He4
Recent experiments have demonstrated a remarkable progress in implementing
and use of the Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and particle tracking
techniques for the study of turbulence in He4. However, an interpretation of
the experimental data in the superfluid phase requires understanding how the
motion of tracer particles is affected by the two components, the viscous
normal fluid and the inviscid superfluid. Of a particular importance is the
problem of particle interactions with quantized vortex lines which may not only
strongly affect the particle motion, but, under certain conditions, may even
trap particles on quantized vortex cores. The article reviews recent
theoretical, numerical, and experimental results in this rapidly developing
area of research, putting critically together recent results, and solving
apparent inconsistencies. Also discussed is a closely related technique of
detection of quantized vortices negative ion bubbles in He4.Comment: To appear in the J Low Temperature Physic
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