Release and actions of neurotransmitter molecules at neuroglandular junctions in cockroach salivary glands

The innervation of the salivary gland of the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea (Olivier) has been investigated with the use of light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Light microscopy revealed the presence of a dual innervation arising from the ventral nerve cord and the stomadeal nervous system; the principal innervation is that from the ventral nerve cord which passes to the gland via the reservoir ducts. Branches of these nerves form a plexus on the acinar surface, the axons of which exhibit swellings at irregular intervals. The presence of this plexus and the axonal swellings was confirmed by SEM both in normal glands and in those in which the basement membrane had been removed by means of an HCl-collagenase digestion method. Cell bodies associated with the larger axons of the duct nerves were identified in the sub-oesophageal ganglion using an axonal filling method employing cobalt chloride and horseradish peroxidase. No acinar plexus was apparently formed by branches of the stomatogastric nerve associated with the gland. Other branches of this nerve were connected with a network of multipolar neurones on the surface of both salivary reservoirs. Intracellular recordings from the gland cells revealed that a hyperpolarizing response evoked by electrical stimulation of the duct nerve was graded according to the number of stimuli. The biogenic amines, adrenaline, dopamine, noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine and octopamine, produced dose-dependent hyperpolarizing responses. A quantitative study of the inhibition by phentolamine on the response to nerve stimulation and the bath applied agonists was made. The investigation showed that phentolamine discriminates between two kinds of receptor in this gland, one binding 5-hydroxytryptaraine and the other combining with the catecholamines and the neurotransmitter. The inhibition appeared to be competitive and measures of phentolaraines affinity constant gave values of 0*015 (^M) 1 and 1 (^M) 1 for each type of receptor respectively. It was concluded that the neurotransmitter in the cockroach salivary gland was probably dopamine

The role of the traditional Mediterranean diet in the development of Minoan Crete : archaeological, nutritional and biochemical evidence

Bibliography: pages 245-268.Archaeological evidence reveals that a diet consisting of mainly of cereals, pulses and olives, supplemented by fish and with a low percentage of animal products, was consumed on Crete in the Minoan period, as it was up to this century. Modem clinical and biochemical research indicates that this traditional 'Mediterranean diet' offers certain nutritional and health benefits depending on the balances of the components - particularly relating to moderately high carbohydrate intake, low saturated (mainly animal) fatty acids and the presence of beneficial fatty acids of vegetable (especially olive) and fish origin. It has been demonstrated that intake of these latter fatty acids is associated with reduction in cardiac pathology and the development of visual and mental acuity in neonatal infants. Beneficial effects in certain cancers and auto-immune diseases are also being investigated. Lipid analyses of samples of Cretan olive oil and Aegean fish (identified taxonomically from faunal remains and Minoan frescoes) confirm good levels of both essential and other dietary fatty foods. An assessment of the nutritional benefits of the Minoan diet and its possible role in the development of Minoan Crete are investigated, using archaeological, demographic, biochemical and skeletal evidence

CLIPS: An expert system tool for delivery and training

The C Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS) is a forward chaining rule-based language. The requirements necessary for an expert system tool which is used for development, delivery, and training are examined. Because of its high portability, low cost, and ease of integration with external systems, CLIPS has great potential as an expert system tool for delivery and training. In addition, its representation flexibility, debugging aids, and performance, along with its other strengths, make it a viable alternative for expert system development

Out of gas: looming Russian gas deficits demand readjustment of European energy policy

"An immanent threat of significant gas shortfalls further jeopardizes Russia's status as a reliable energy partner. The supply gap that Gazprom faces has severe implications for European importers and EU energy policy in general. The European Union must diversify its natural gas imports and expand other energy sources—including nuclear power." (author's abstract

New Power Law Signature of Media Exposure in Human Response Waiting Time Distributions

We study the humanitarian response to the destruction brought by the tsunami generated by the Sumatra earthquake of December 26, 2004, as measured by donations, and find that it decays in time as a power law ~ 1/t^(alpha) with alpha=2.5 +/- 0.1. This behavior is suggested to be the rare outcome of a priority queuing process in which individuals execute tasks at a rate slightly faster than the rate at which new tasks arise. We believe this to be the first empirical evidence documenting this recently predicted regime, and provide additional independent evidence that suggests it arises as a result of the intense focus placed on this donation "task" by the media.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted for publicatio

Estimating Modified Duration and Convexity for Income Properties

Some institutions hold income producing properties directly as part of an investment portfolio. These properties are subject to interest rate risk. The two widely used measures of interest rate risk are modified duration and convexity. These measures can be difficult to calculate directly for income properties when net operating income and cash flows are not constant or when they are functions of the underlying yield. A numerical technique using sensitivity analysis is developed to provide estimates of modified duration and convexity. These estimates can then be used, along with corresponding values for debt, to determine the modified duration and convexity of the equity of the property. This can be extended to a portfolio of properties. The measurement of the interest rate risk of the equity of a portfolio of properties, using conventional interest rate risk measures, has a number of useful applications

Rubidium spacecraft atomic timing system Final report

Rubidium 87 atomic time and frequency reference system for manned space fligh

Russisches Roulette: Gazprom und die Gaslücke - eine Gefahr für Deutschland und Europa

"Investitionsstau, Intransparenz, Versorgungsunsicherheit: Russlands Stellung als Energielieferant Europas steht durch einen bedrohlichen Engpass auf dem Spiel, der Deutschland am härtesten treffen könnte. Die EU muss reagieren - durch konsequente Verhandlungsmacht gegenüber Moskau und rasche Diversifizierung ihrer Energieträger." (Autorenreferat