Implication of GluR2 subunit of AMPA receptor in RGS14(414)-mediated memory enhancement

Ongoing quest for finding treatment against memory loss seen in aging and in many neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, so far has been unsuccessful and memory enhancers are seen as a potential remedy against this brain dysfunction. Recently, we showed that gene corresponding to a protein called regulator of G-protein signaling 14 of 414 amino acids (RGS14414) is a robust memory enhancer (Lopez-Aranda et al. 2009: Science). RGS14414-treatment in area V2 of visual cortex caused memory enhancement to such extent that it converted short-term object recognition memory (ORM) of 45min into long lasting long-term memory that could be traced even after many months. Now, through targeting of multiple receptors and molecules known to be involved in memory processing, we found that GluR2 subunit of AMPA receptor might be key to memory enhancement in RGS-animals. RGS14-animals showed a progressive increase in GluR2 protein expression while processing an object information which reached to highest level after 60min of object exposure, a time period required for conversion of short-term ORM into long-term memory in our laboratory set up. Normal rats could retain an object information in brain for 45min (short-term) and not for 60min. However, RGS-treated rats are able to retain the same information for 24h or longer (long-term). Therefore, highest expression of GluR2 subunit seen at 60min suggests that this protein might be key in memory enhancement and conversion to long-term memory in RGS-animals. In addition, we will also discuss the implication of Hebbian plasticity and interaction of brain circuits in memory enhancement.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. This work was supported by project BFU2013-43458-R from MINECO, P12-CTS-1694 from JA

Testing for hysteresis in unemployment in OECD countries. New evidence using stationarity panel tests with breaks†

This paper tests hysteresis effects in unemployment using panel data for 19 OECD countries covering the period 1956-2001. The tests exploit the cross-section variations of the series, and additionally, allow for a different number of endogenous breakpoints in the unemployment series. The critical values are simulated based on our specific panel sizes and time periods. The findings stress the importance of accounting for exogenous shocks in the series and give support to the natural-rate hypothesis of unemployment for the majority of the countries analyzed.

Microsoft Access Application Support as Making Tape and Compact Disk Cataloging in PT. Suara Tunggal Angkasa Raya

Increasing number of private radio stations today, spur competition in improving thequality of the radio station. One is the format of the show, a radio star who has theformat of the show playing the songs in the form desired by the listener, to facilitatethe implementation of the screening officer within the song, the writer assists them inmaking cassette and compact disk catalog. With the aim of presenting information tostakeholders about the layout of cassettes and compact disks.Before you create a catalog, first cassettes and compact disks are grouped accordingto the Dewey classification tithing, through microsoft access software application.Currently preparing a cassette and a compact disc is grouped by type of music and asinger, as well as placed on the shelf placement of cassette tapes that have not beenfilled (empty) with the type of music

Extramarital sexual practices and perceived association with HIV infection among the Borana pastoral community

Background: Evidence has shown that in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV spreads mainly through heterosexual relationships. It is documented that, among others, the problem is more pronounced in connection to prevailing multiple sexual relations and marital infidelity. Despite evident association between such practice and spread in HIV infection, to date multiple sexual partnerships is a common practice. Among the Borana pastoral community, where awareness about HIV and AIDS is documented to be limited, engagement in extramarital sexual practice is believed to be the norm rather than exception. However, it remains unclear as to why the practice continues and if the community feels its consequences.Objectives: To explore if and why extramarital sexual practice is maintained and sustained and perceived vulnerability to HIV infection among the Borana pastoral community.Methods: An ethnographic study design was employed to responds to the objectives of this study. Such questions: whether extramarital sex is still practiced, if so why? Who practices it, whether the community is aware of the consequence of such practice vis-a-vis HIV infection, were set to be answered. A total of nine FGDs with sixty-eight participants and sixty in-depth interviews with men and women participated in the study. Information so generated was coded, categorized and summarized with an application of MAXQDA version 10 qualitative data analysis software, and interpretation of the results was carried out based on the objectives of the study.Results: Sex before marriage is considered as a taboo and those involved are out-casted (cabana) from the normal life processes of the community. While young men may engage in sexual activity with married women even before marriage and continues to maintain extramarital partner (jaalto) after marriage, women’s engagement in the practice follows marriage. Participants agreed that although local culture ‘disproves’ it and the community recognizes the fact that it would facilitate HIV infection, extramarital sexual practice remains common in the community. Its persistence is attributed to multiple factors including personal interest to prove that one is wanted by the opposite sex given fulfillment of socially prescribed gender roles, and economic transactions between families of those involved. Despite consistent denial of the cultural approval of such practice and the growing concern over its consequences to the spread of HIV infection, extramarital sexual activity remains to be valued and cherished in the community.Conclusion: Despite the widespread recognition of the consequences of extramarital sex on the spread of HIV infection, there is vested interest among the community numbers to maintain the practice. This calls for urgent action to launch culturally sound HIV interventions to mitigate further spread of HIV infection in Borana

Some Water Properties and Suitability of Shatt Al-Hilla in Babil Governorate, Iraq

يعتبر شط الحلة في محافظة بابل احد المصادر الرئيسية للماء في مدينة الحلة ويستخدم لاغراض مختلفة. الهدف من البحث هو دراسة نوعية المياه السطحية ضمن منطقة الدراسة ومدى ملائمتها للاغراض المذكورة سابقا ,كذلك تصنيف نوعية المياه. تضمنت الدراسة تحليل 9 نماذج للمياه السطحية على طول شط الحلة, من العناصر الكيميائية التي تم تحليلها (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+)  و (HCO3=, CO3=, SO42-, Cl-) ومن العناصر الاخرى (NO3=) و(PO43-), وكذلك قياس العسرة الكلية و التوصيلية الكهربائية والاملاح الكلية الذائبة . اظهرت نتائج مؤشر نوعية المياه ان المياه تراوحت بين الجيد الى الممتاز, مخطط بابيبر اظهر نوع المياه من النوع c  والذي يدل المياه ذات اصل قلوي ارضي مع زيادة القلوية بزيادة الكبريتات والكلورديات. تم قياس ملائمة المياه للاغراض المختلفة وذلك بمقارنتها مع مقياس منظمة الصحة العالمية ومع المقياس العراقي وقد اظهرت نتائج المقارنة ان المياه ملائمة للاغراض والاستخدامات المختلفة ( لغرض الشرب, الري, للمواشي, لغرض البناء) عدا عن استخدامها للاغراض الصناعية وذلك لزيادة تراكيز العناصر الكيميائية عن الحد المسموح به.Shatt Al Hilla River within Babylon Governorate is one of the main water resources in Hilla citys which uses for different purposes. The object of this paper is studying the quality of surface water resources in the study area besides determining its suitability for different anthropogenic uses and classifying the water type. This study included the analysis of (9) surface water samples along the river, those analyses included chemical parameters such as (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+) and main anions (HCO3=, CO3=, SO42-, Cl-) and other important anions, i.e. Nitrate (NO3=) and (PO43-), Total Hardness, Electrical Conductivity, Total Dissolved Salts. Results of Water quality index ranged from good to excellent type, Piper Diagram referred to water of class (c) which means the water of Earth Alkaline source with increasing in portions of Alakalis under prevailing sulfate and Chloride. Water suitability conducted by comparing with World health organization standers and Iraqi standers, the result of water suitable for different uses (drinking, irrigation, livestock, building purposes) except for industrial uses because of the high concentrations of the chemical parameters

Global imbalances and the intertemporal external budget constraint: A multicointegration approach

This paper analyzes the external solvency of a group of 23 OECD countries for the period 1970–2012. The empirical strategy adopted underlines the increasing importance of the financial channel for the external adjustment as proposed in Gourinchas and Rey (2007). We unify the traditional approaches to testing for external sustainability considering the stock-flow system created by the variables representing the external relationships of an open economy. External sustainability is tested using several types of cointegration and multicointegration tests. The results obtained point to weak sustainability in the flows analysis, whereas some degree of strong sustainability is found for up to six countries in the stock-flow approach. Among these countries we find both non-European economies, such as Japan and New Zealand, and Euro-area members, especially those with more restricted access to financing in the international markets

Testing for external sustainability under a monetary integration process. Does the Lawson doctrine apply to Europe?

Monetary integration, and more specifically, the creation of a monetary union in Europe, raises new economic questions concerning its functioning and governance. In particular, we focus on the implications of high and persistent current account deficits for the economic performance of monetary union members in the medium term. Recent literature has argued that conventional measures of external sustainability are misleading because they omit the effects of capital variations on net foreign asset positions due to, among others, stock or debt market crises. In this paper we revisit external sustainability making use of the database developed by Lane and Milesi-Ferretti (2007) that includes these “valuation effects”. The sample period studied covers from the launching of the monetary integration process in Europe (the creation of the European Snake in 1972) up to 2011. Our econometric methodology accounts for the increasing cross-section dependence among EMU countries as well as for possible structural breaks endogenously determined. The results point to the need of abrupt adjustments, either led by the markets or promoted by pro-active policy measures, in order to offset external disequilibria. These results would give support to the surveillance measures proposed by the European Commission (2009, 2010a) and would reject the Lawson's doctrine of “laissez-faire”.M. Camarero and C. Tamarit, and J.L. Carrion-i-Silvestre gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the MICINN CICYT co-ordinated projects CICYT ECO2011-30260-C03-01 and 03 respectively. Cecilio Tamarit and Mariam Camarero are also members of the Research Group of Excellence on Economic Integration INTECO, funded by Generalitat Valenciana Prometeo action 2009/098. This paper has been developed within the research network SOLVEX, (ECO2009-06676-E/ECON) funded by MICINN

The relationship between debt level and fiscal sustainability in OECD countries

In this article we unify the traditional approaches to testing for fiscal sustainability considering the stock-flow system that fiscal variables configure. Our approach encompasses previous ways of testing for sustainability. The results obtained for a group of 17 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development -OECD- countries point to weak fiscal sustainability, as well as to the existence of cointegration between deficit and debt, confirming the relevance of the stock-flow approach. Allowing for structural breaks and multicointegration turns out to be of critical importance to assess whether the fiscal authorities apply their policies looking for sustainability and whether, simultaneously, they try to stabilize real debt target levels