420 research outputs found
Cosmic ray tests of a GEM-based TPC prototype operated in Ar-CF4-isobutane gas mixtures
Argon with an admixture of CF4 is expected to be a good candidate for the gas
mixture to be used for a time projection chamber (TPC) in the future linear
collider experiment because of its small transverse diffusion of drift
electrons especially under a strong magnetic field. In order to confirm the
superiority of this gas mixture over conventional TPC gases we carried out
cosmic ray tests using a GEM-based TPC operated mostly in Ar-CF4-isobutane
mixtures under 0 - 1 T axial magnetic fields. The measured gas properties such
as gas gain and transverse diffusion constant as well as the observed spatial
resolution are presented.Comment: 22 pages, 18 figures. Published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in
Physics Research A. Fig. 3 in the introduction was corrected since it had not
been properly normalized. Minor corrections and no changes in the conclusio
Assessing Smoking Behaviour and Tobacco Smoke Exposure: Definitions and Methods
AbstractIn recent years, the increased availability of tobacco products other than conventional cigarettes, the use of puffing topography devices for smoking behaviour studies and the use of biomarkers to study smoke constituents exposure have generated the need for a more comprehensive set of definitions concerning smoking behaviour and exposure to smoke. The definitions offered in this paper are based on many years of practical experience and on consensus within a broad group of scientists working in these areas. It is intended that, with wider and more consistent usage, these definitions should reduce any misunderstandings and facilitate interpretation of future studies
Synaptic activity-responsive element (SARE):A unique genomic structure with an unusual sensitivity to neuronal activity
Formation of a new memory requires plasticity at the synaptic level. However, it has also been shown that the consolidation and the maintenance of such a new memory involve processes that necessitate active mRNA at the nucleus of the cell. How can robust changes in synaptic efficacy specifically drive new transcription and translation of new gene transcripts, and thus transform an otherwise transient plasticity into a long-lasting and stable one? In this article, we highlight the conceptual advance that was gained by the discovery of a potent Synaptic Activity-Responsive Element (SARE) found ∼7 kb upstream of the transcription initiation site of the neuronal immediate early gene Arc. The unique genomic structure of SARE, which contained adjacent and cooperative binding sites for three major activity-dependent transcription factors within a 100-bp locus, was associated with an unusual responsiveness to neuronal stimuli. Taken together, these findings shed light on a new class of transcriptional sensor with enhanced sensitivity to synaptic activity
Low glucose under hypoxic conditions induces unfolded protein response and produces reactive oxygen species in lens epithelial cells
Aging is enhanced by hypoxia and oxidative stress. As the lens is located in the hypoglycemic environment under hypoxia, aging lens with diabetes might aggravate these stresses. This study was designed to examine whether low glucose under hypoxic conditions induces the unfolded protein response (UPR), and also if the UPR then generates the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in lens epithelial cells (LECs). The UPR was activated within 1 h by culturing the human LECs (HLECs) and rat LECs in <1.5 mM glucose under hypoxic conditions. These conditions also induced the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant-protective UPR, production of ROS, and apoptosis. The rat LECs located in the anterior center region were the least susceptible to the UPR, whereas the proliferating LECs in the germinative zone were the most susceptible. Because the cortical lens fiber cells are differentiated from the LECs after the onset of diabetes, we suggest that these newly formed cortical fibers have lower levels of Nrf2, and are then oxidized resulting in cortical cataracts. Thus, low glucose and oxygen conditions induce the UPR, generation of ROS, and expressed the Nrf2 and Nrf2-dependent antioxidant enzymes at normal levels. But these cells eventually lose reduced glutathione (GSH) and induce apoptosis. The results indicate a new link between hypoglycemia under hypoxia and impairment of HLEC functions
Cross-reactive LTP sensitization in food-dependent exercise-induced urticaria/anaphylaxis: a pilot study of a component-resolved and in vitro depletion approach
Conductance Ratios and Cellular Identity
Recent experimental evidence suggests that coordinated expression of ion channels plays a role in constraining neuronal electrical activity. In particular, each neuronal cell type of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion exhibits a unique set of positive linear correlations between ionic membrane conductances. These data suggest a causal relationship between expressed conductance correlations and features of cellular identity, namely electrical activity type. To test this idea, we used an existing database of conductance-based model neurons. We partitioned this database based on various measures of intrinsic activity, to approximate distinctions between biological cell types. We then tested individual conductance pairs for linear dependence to identify correlations. Contrary to experimental evidence, in which all conductance correlations are positive, 32% of correlations seen in this database were negative relationships. In addition, 80% of correlations seen here involved at least one calcium conductance, which have been difficult to measure experimentally. Similar to experimental results, each activity type investigated had a unique combination of correlated conductances. Finally, we found that populations of models that conform to a specific conductance correlation have a higher likelihood of exhibiting a particular feature of electrical activity. We conclude that regulating conductance ratios can support proper electrical activity of a wide range of cell types, particularly when the identity of the cell is well-defined by one or two features of its activity. Furthermore, we predict that previously unseen negative correlations and correlations involving calcium conductances are biologically plausible
Cerebrospinal fluid sodium rhythms
Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sodium levels have been reported to rise during episodic migraine. Since
migraine frequently starts in early morning or late afternoon, we hypothesized that natural sodium chronobiology
may predispose susceptible persons when extracellular CSF sodium increases. Since no mammalian brain sodium
rhythms are known, we designed a study of healthy humans to test if cation rhythms exist in CSF.
Methods: Lumbar CSF was collected every ten minutes at 0.1 mL/min for 24 h from six healthy participants. CSF
sodium and potassium concentrations were measured by ion chromatography, total protein by fluorescent
spectrometry, and osmolarity by freezing point depression. We analyzed cation and protein distributions over the
24 h period and spectral and permutation tests to identify significant rhythms. We applied the False Discovery Rate
method to adjust significance levels for multiple tests and Spearman correlations to compare sodium fluctuations
with potassium, protein, and osmolarity.
Results: The distribution of sodium varied much more than potassium, and there were statistically significant
rhythms at 12 and 1.65 h periods. Curve fitting to the average time course of the mean sodium of all six subjects
revealed the lowest sodium levels at 03.20 h and highest at 08.00 h, a second nadir at 09.50 h and a second peak
at 18.10 h. Sodium levels were not correlated with potassium or protein concentration, or with osmolarity.
Conclusion: These CSF rhythms are the first reports of sodium chronobiology in the human nervous system. The
results are consistent with our hypothesis that rising levels of extracellular sodium may contribute to the timing of
migraine onset. The physiological importance of sodium in the nervous system suggests that these rhythms may
have additional repercussions on ultradian functions
- …