Solid-state time-to-pulse-height converter developed

Solid-state circuit produces an output pulse with an amplitude directly proportional to the time interval between two input pulses. It uses selected circuit options to achieve variable mode operation and a tunnel diode controls the charging time of a capacitor in proportion to the time interval being measured

Effect of fumaric acid, calcium formate and mineral levels in diets on the intake and growth performance of newly weaned pigs

peer-reviewedThe weaned pig has limited ability to acidify its stomach contents. The objective of this study (comprising three experiments) was to examine the effect of feeding diets containing fumaric acid (FA), calcium formate (CF) or diets of low acid binding capacity (ABC) on post-weaning pig performance. In all three experiments, pigs (10 per treatment) were weaned at 19 to 24 days, blocked on sex and weight and assigned at random to one of six treatments. In Experiment 1, treatments were: (1) control diet, (2) control 20 g/kg FA, (3) control 15 g/kg CF, (4) low Ca (2.8 g/kg) and P (5.1 g/kg) (LCaP) diet for seven days followed by the control diet, (5) LCaP diet for seven days followed by control 20 g/kg FA, and (6) LCaP diet for seven days followed by control 15 g/kg CF. In Experiment 2, treatments were: (1) control diet, (2) control 20 g/kg FA, (3) control 15 g/kg CF, (4) LCaP diet for 14 days followed by the control diet, (5) LCaP diet for 14 days followed by control 20 g/kg FA, and (6) LCaP diet for seven days followed by control diet. In Experiment 3, treatments were: (1) high Ca (HC) diet (12 g/kg), (2) medium Ca (MC) diet (9 g/kg), (3) low Ca (LC) diet (6 g/kg), (4) HC 20 g/kg FA, (5) MC 20 g/kg FA, and (6) LC 20 g/kg FA. Pigs were individually fed for 26 days. In Experiment 1, CF tended to depress daily feed intake (DFI) in the final two weeks (691 v. 759 and 749, (s.e. 19) g/day, P = 0.07) and overall average daily gain (322 v. 343 and 361 (s.e. 11) g/day, P = 0.09) compared with the control and FA supplemented diets, respectively. Feeding diets with LCaP for seven days post weaning increased DFI (208 v. 178, (s.e. 8) g/day, P < 0.01) in week 1 and tended to improve feed conversion rate in the first two weeks (1.65 v. 1.85, s.e. 0.10, P = 0.09). In Experiment 2, treatment had no significant effect on pig performance but feed conversion rate in weeks three and four was improved for Treatment 5 compared with Treatment 4 (1.30 v. 1.39 (s.e. 0.06) g/g, P < 0.01). In experiment 3, FA increased (P < 0.05) pig weight at day 14 (8.4 v. 7.7 (s.e. 0.2) kg) and feed intake in weeks one and two (223 v. 251, (s.e. 9) g/day). It is concluded that CF did not improve performance but reducing diet ABC or including FA in the diet did improve performance

Isolation of Nuclei from Physarum flavicomum: Demonstration of Nuclear Cyclic Acid AMP Phosphodiesterase

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in the nucleus of the myxomycete Physarum flavicomum was demonstrated by cytochemical staining utilizing electron microscopy and by enzymatic assays with tritiated cyclic AMP as the substrate. Cytochemical staining showed Physarum\u27s plasmodial phosphodiesterase activity to be located in the nucleus, along the plasma membrane, in vesicles, and free in the cytoplasm. Nuclear phosphodiesterase, which may be cell cycle dependent, was primarily located in the nucleolus. Nuclei from three to five day old microplasmodial cultures were isolated by the method of Henney and Yee. Whole cells were collected through centrifugation and washed. Pellets were homogenized in a medium composed of 0.01 MTris-HC1 (pH 7.2 at 4 °C), 0.25 M sucrose, 0.01% Triton X-100, and 5mM CaC1₂. Nuclei were collected through double filtration and two 1.0 M sucrose density gradient centrifugations. After the nuclei were washed, microscopic examination revealed a purity of over 90%. Radioactive assays of the nuclear preparations demonstrated phosphodiesterase activity consistant with that indicated by cytochemical localization. The specific activity of the nuclear enzyme was 15 nMole of cyclic AMP hydrolyzed /min/mg. of protein

Submicrosecond comparisons of time standards via the Navigation Technology Satellites (NTS)

An interim demonstration was performed of the time transfer capability of the NAVSTAR GPS system using a single NTS satellite. Measurements of time difference (pseudo-range) are made from the NTS tracking network and at the participating observatories. The NTS network measurements are used to compute the NTS orbit trajectory. The central NTS tracking station has a time link to the Naval Observatory UTC (USNO,MC1) master clock. Measurements are used with the NTS receiver at the remote observatory, the time transfer value UTC (USNO,MC1)-UTC (REMOTE, VIA NTS) is calculated. Intercomparisons were computed using predicted values of satellite clock offset and ephemeus

TTC5 is required to prevent apoptosis of acute myeloid leukemia stem cells

Using a screening strategy, we identified the tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) motif protein, Tetratricopeptide repeat domain 5 (TTC5, also known as stress responsive activator of p300 or Strap) as required for the survival of human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. TTC5 is a stress-inducible transcription cofactor known to interact directly with the histone acetyltransferase EP300 to augment the TP53 response. Knockdown (KD) of TTC5 induced apoptosis of both murine and human AML cells, with concomitant loss of clonogenic and leukemia-initiating potential; KD of EP300 elicited a similar phenotype. Consistent with the physical interaction of TTC5 and EP300, the onset of apoptosis following KD of either gene was preceded by reduced expression of BCL2 and increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes. Forced expression of BCL2 blocked apoptosis and partially rescued the clonogenic potential of AML cells following TTC5 KD. KD of both genes also led to the accumulation of MYC, an acetylation target of EP300, and the form of MYC that accumulated exhibited relative hypoacetylation at K148 and K157, residues targeted by EP300. In view of the ability of excess cellular MYC to sensitize cells to apoptosis, our data suggest a model whereby TTC5 and EP300 cooperate to prevent excessive accumulation of MYC in AML cells and their sensitization to cell death. They further reveal a hitherto unappreciated role for TTC5 in leukemic hematopoiesis

Sensory Aids Research

Contains reports on two research projects.National Institutes of Health (Grant MH-04737-03)National Science Foundation (Grant G-16526