Modulation of the asymmetry of sea urchin sperm flagellar bending by calmodulin

Sea urchin spermatozoa demembranated with Triton X-100 in the presence of EGTA, termed potentially asymmetric, generate asymmetric bending waves in reactivation solutions containing EGTA. After they are converted to the potentially symmetric condition by extraction with Triton and millimolar Ca++, they generate symmetric bending waves in reactivation solutions containing EGTA. In the presence of EGTA, their asymmetry can be restored by addition of brain calmodulin or the concentrated supernatant obtained from extraction with Triton and millimolar Ca++. These extracts contain calmodulin, as assayed by gel electrophoresis, radioimmunoassay, activation of brain phosphodiesterase, and Ca++-dependent binding of asymmetry-restoring activity to a trifluorophenothiazine-affinity resin. Conversion to the potentially symmetric condition can also be achieved with trifluoperazine substituted for Triton during the exposure to millimolar Ca++, which suggests that the calmodulin-binding activity of Triton is important for this conversion. These observations suggest that the conversion to the potentially symmetric condition is the result of removal of some of the axonemal calmodulin and provide additional evidence for axonemal calmodulin as a mediator of the effect of Ca++ on the asymmetry of flagellar bending

Near-Solar-Circle Method for Determination of the Galactic Constants

We propose a method to determine the galactic constants R_0 (distance to the Galactic Center) and V_0 (rotation velocity of the Sun) from measurements of distances, radial velocities and proper motions of objects near the solar circle. This is a modification of the solar-circle method to a more practical observational method. We apply the method to determine R_0 using data from the literature with known distances and radial velocities, and obtain R_0 = 7.54 +/- 0.77 kpc.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for PASJ (Vol. 63 No. 5

CHANGE OF ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES IN THE SKIN OF THE BIG TOE DURING ACUTE ASTHMA

Background: Meridian function during acute asthma has not been studied. Materials and Methods: Electrical properties at 14 Well points (most peripheral acupoints) of patients with acute asthma were studied bilaterally before and after treatment in 22 moderate and 5 severe acute episodes. Square wave pulses (3VÅ~256μsec) were sequentially applied via each active electrode (4mm square) on Well points and the indifferent electrode (2 cmÅ~3 cm) on the extensor surface of each forearm about 5 cm above the wrist through an external electric resistance of 100 Ω. The electrical current flowing as a result is characterized by 3 parameters: BP [Before Polarization] current, AP [After Polarization] current, and IQ [Integrated Qoulomb]. Mean and right-to-left difference values of these 3 parameters were calculated for the 14 Well points. These parameters in groups of patients with acute moderate or acute severe asthma were compared with non-asthmatic controls. Results: No significant changes of mean BP, AP or IQ values related to acute asthma were seen at any Well point. On the other hand, the right-to-left IQ difference at the LV (Liver) Well point (IQ(LR)LV) before treatment was significantly greater than after treatment in both acute moderate and acute severe asthma. This difference at the LV Well point (⊿IQ(L-R)LV) before and after treatment was greater in acute severe than in acute moderate asthma. The right-to-left BP difference at the LV Well point (BP(L-R)LV) before treatment was also significantly lower after treatment in acute severe asthma. Conclusions: A meridian reaction occurs during acute asthma in the LV but not in Lung (LU) meridian. Severity of acute asthma associates with increased prominence of the LV meridian reaction

Nominalization in Alutor

Alutor has a rich set of deverbal nominalizers, which are often followed by the absolutive case marker. Following the classification of Comrie and Thompson, Alutor nominalizers and the corresponding nominalized forms can be divided into four groups: (i) action/state nominalizations; (ii) instrumental nominalizations; (iii) locative nominalizations; and (iv) agentive/objective nominalizations. In this paper, I will introduce these various types of nominalization. As will be seen, in Alutor the same nominalizer is used for both transitive and intransitive verbs, while in Chukchi, a language related to Alutor, different nominalizers are used for transitives and intransitives.В алюторском языке есть большое число глагольных номинализаторов, за которыми часто следует падежный маркер абсолютива. В соответствии с классификацией Комри и Томпсон, алюторские номинализаторы и соответствующие номинализированные формы можно разделить на четыре группы: (i) акциональные/стативные, (ii) инструментальные, (iii) локативные и (iv) агентивные/объектные номинализации. В настоящей статье рассматриваются данные типы номинализаций. Как будет показано, в алюторском языке один и тот же номинализатор используется как для транзитивных, так и для интранзитивных глаголов, тогда как в родственном алюторскому чукотском языке для транзитивов и интранзитивов используются различные номинализаторы

Beyond the Bluish Smoke

pages 33-5

WHAT IS QI ENERGY FLOW? INTERPRETATION OF OUR RESULTS OF AMI MEASUREMENTS

From the AMI (the Apparatus for measuring the functioning of the Meridians and their corresponding Internal organs) data reported by us previously, it is discussed that Qi energy flow is flow of electric dipoles which are generated in cells