1,169 research outputs found

    Serotonin Modulates Oscillations of the Membrane Potential in Isolated Spinal Neurons from Lampreys

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    Studies were performed on spinal neurons from lampreys isolated by an enzymatic/mechanical method using pronase. The effects of 100 µM serotonin (5-HT) on membrane potential oscillations induced by a variety of excitatory amino acids were studied. 5-HT was found to depolarize branched cells (presumptive motoneurons and interneurons) by 2–6 mV without inducing membrane potential oscillations. However, when oscillations were already present because of an excitatory amino acid, 5-HT changed the parameters of these oscillations, increasing the amplitudes of all types of oscillations, increasing the frequency of irregular oscillations, and increasing the duration of the depolarization plateaus accompanied by action potentials. Serotonin modulation of the effects of excitatory amino acids and the electrical activity of cells in the neural locomotor network facilitates motor activity and leads to increases in the contraction of truncal muscles and more intense movements by the animal. The possible mechanisms of receptor coactivation are discussed, along with increases in action potential frequency and changes in the parameters of the locomotor rhythm

    The Effects of Serotonin on Functionally Diverse Isolated Lamprey Spinal Cord Neurons

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    The experiments reported here showed that application of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) (100 µ M) did not induce any significant current through the membranes of any of the spinal neurons studied (n = 62). At the same time, the membranes of most motoneurons and interneurons (15 of 18) underwent slight depolarization (2–6 mV) in the presence of 5-HT, which was not accompanied by any change in the input resistance of the cells. Depolarization to 10–20 mV occurred in some cells (3 of 18) of these functional groups, this being accompanied by 20–60% decreases in input resistance. The same concentration of 5-HT induced transient low-amplitude depolarization of most sensory spinal neurons (dorsal sensory cells), this changing smoothly to long-term hyperpolarization by 2–7 mV. The input resistance of the cell membranes in these cases showed no significant change (n = 8). Data were obtained which provided a better understanding of the mechanism by which 5-HT modulates the activity of spinal neurons. Thus, 5-HT facilitates chemoreceptive currents induced by application of NMDA to motoneurons and interneurons, while the NMDA responses of dorsal sensory cells were decreased by 5-HT. 5-HT affected the post-spike afterresponses of neurons. 5-HT significantly decreased the amplitude of afterhyperpolarization arising at the end of the descending phase of action potentials in motoneurons and interneurons and increased the amplitude of afterdepolarization in these types of cells. In sensory spinal neurons, 5-HT had no great effect on post-spike afterresponses. The results obtained here support the suggestion that 5-HT significantly modulates the activity of spinal neurons of different functional types. 5-HT facilitates excitation induced by subthreshold depolarization in motoneurons and some interneurons, facilitating the generation of rhythmic discharges by decreasing afterhyperpolarization. In sensory cells, 5-HT enhances inhibition due to hyperpolarization, suppressing NMDA currents. The differences in the effects of 5-HT on functionally diverse neurons are presumed to be associated with the combination of different types of 5-HT receptors on the membranes of these types of spinal neurons

    Redshifts and Luminosities for 112 Gamma Ray Bursts

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    Two different luminosity indicators have recently been proposed for Gamma Ray Bursts that use gamma-ray observations alone. They relate the burst luminosity (L) with the time lag between peaks in hard and soft energies, and the spikiness or variability of the burst's light curve (V). These relations are currently justified and calibrated with only 6 or 7 bursts with known red shifts. We have examined BATSE data for the lag and V for 112 bursts. (1) A strong correlation between the lag and V exists, and it is exactly as predicted from the two proposed relations. This is proof that both luminosity indicators are reliable. (2) GRB830801 is the all-time brightest burst, yet with a small V and a large lag, and hence is likely the closest known event being perhaps as close as 3.2 Mpc. (3) We have combined the luminosities as derived from both indicators as a means to improve the statistical and systematic accuracy when compared with the accuracy from either method alone. The result is a list of 112 bursts with good luminosities and hence red shifts. (4) The burst averaged hardness ratio rises strongly with the luminosity of the burst. (5) The burst luminosity function is a broken power law, with the break at L = 2x10^{52} erg/s. The luminosity function has power law indices of -2.8+-0.2 above the break and -1.7+-0.1 below the break. (6) The number density of GRBs varies with red shift roughly as (1+z)^(2.5+-0.3) between 0.2<z<5. Excitingly, this result also provides a measure of the star formation rate out to z~5 with no effects from reddening, and the rate is rising uniformly for red shifts above 2.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, submitted to ApJLet

    Coherent amplitudon generation in K_0.3MoO_3 through ultrafast inter-band quasi particle decay

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    The charge density wave system K_0.3MoO_3 has been studied using variable energy pump-probe spectroscopy, ellipsometry, and inelastic light scattering. The observed transient reflectivity response exhibits quite a complex behavior, containing contributions due to quasi particle excitations, coherent amplitudons and phonons, and heating effects. The generation of coherent amplitudons is discussed in terms of relaxation of photo-excited quasi particles, and is found to be resonant with the interband plasmon frequency. Two additional coherent excitations observed in the transients are assigned to zone-folding modes of the charge density wave state

    Development of network remote tecnologies in UrFU

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    В докладе рассмотрены реализованные в УрФУ подходы к внедрению сетевых учебных курсов в системе дистанционного обучения. Приведены рекомендации по структуре сетевого курса.In the report the approaches realized in UrFU to introduction of network training courses in system of remote training are mentioned. Recommendations about structure of a network course are resulted

    Uniformity of V minus Near Infrared Color Evolution of Type Ia Supernovae, and Implications for Host Galaxy Extinction Determination

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    From an analysis of SNe 1972E, 1980N, 1981B, 1981D, 1983R, 1998bu, 1999cl, and 1999cp we find that the intrinsic V-K colors of Type Ia SNe with multi-color light curve shape (MLCS) parameter -0.4 < Delta < +0.2 suggest a uniform color curve. V-K colors become bluer linearly with time from roughly one week before B-band maximum until one week after maximum, after which they redden linearly until four weeks after maximum. V-H colors exhibit very similar color evolution. V-J colors exhibit slightly more complex evolution, with greater scatter. The existence of V minus near infrared color relations allows the construction of near infrared light curve templates that are an improvement on those of Elias et al. (1985). We provide optical BVRI and infrared JHK photometry of the Type Ia supernovae 1999aa, 1999cl, and 1999cp. SN 1999aa is an overluminous "slow decliner" (with Delta = -0.47 mag). SN 1999cp is a moderately bright SN unreddened in its host. SN 1999cl is extremely reddened in its host. The V minus near infrared colors of SN 1999cl yield A_V = 2.01 +/- 0.11 mag. This leads to a distance for its host galaxy (M 88) in agreement with other distance measurements for members of the Virgo cluster.Comment: 57 pages, 13 postscript figures, to appear in the August 20, 2000, issue of the Astrophysical Journal. Contains updated references and a number of minor corrections dealt with when page proofs were correcte

    `Pure' Supernovae and Accelerated Expansion of the Universe

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    A special class of type Ia supernovae that is not subject to ordinary and additional intragalactic gray absorption and chemical evolution has been identified. Analysis of the Hubble diagrams constructed for these supernovae confirms the accelerated expansion of the Universe irrespective of the chemical evolution and possible gray absorption in galaxies.Comment: 2 figures, 1 tabl
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