Gender and Rapid Alterations of Hemispheric Dominance during Planning

Background: Mental planning and carrying out a plan provoke specific cerebral hemodynamic responses. Gender aspects of hemispheric laterality using rapid cerebral hemodynamics have not been reported. Method: Here, we applied functional transcranial Doppler sonography to examine lateralization of cerebral hemodynamics of the middle cerebral arteries of 28 subjects (14 women and 14 men) performing a standard planning task. There were easy and difficult problems, and mental planning without motor activity was separated from movement execution. Results: Difficult mental planning elicited lateralization to the right hemisphere after 2 or more seconds, a feature that was not observed during movement execution. In females, there was a dominance to the left hemisphere during movement execution. Optimized problem solving yielded an increased laterality change to the right during mental planning. Conclusions: Gender-related hemispheric dominance appears to be condition-dependent, and change of laterality to the right may play a role in optimized performance. Results are of relevance when considering laterality from a perspective of performance enhancement of higher cognitive functions, and also of psychiatric disorders with cognitive dysfunctions and abnormal lateralization patterns such as schizophrenia. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Solutions of the Generic Non-Compact Weyl Equation

In this paper, solutions of the generic non-compact Weyl equation are obtained. In particular, by identifying a suitable similarity transformation and introducing a non-trivial change of variables we are able to implement azimuthal dependence on the solutions of the diagonal non-compact Weyl equation. We also discuss some open questions related to the construction of infinite BPS monopole configurations.Comment: 12 pages, Latex. Few extra comments and a reference adde

The Non-Compact Weyl Equation

A non-compact version of the Weyl equation is proposed, based on the infinite dimensional spin zero representation of the sl_2 algebra. Solutions of the aforementioned equation are obtained in terms of the Kummer functions. In this context, we discuss the ADHMN approach in order to construct the corresponding non-compact BPS monopoles.Comment: 10 pages Latex. Extra comments and an Appendix added. To appear in JHE

The use of storm fragments and biodegradable replanting methods allows for a low-impact habitat restoration method of seagrass meadows, in the eastern Aegean Sea

Seagrasses are important marine ecosystems but are vulnerable to physical damage from anthropogenic activities such as anchoring and trawling. Replanting damaged areas can represent a viable restoration strategy, yet current methods rely on the removal of plants from existing meadows and in some cases the use of non-sustainable planting materials. In this paper, we present evidence of a sustainable replanting strategy. Storm fragments of the endemic Mediterranean seagrass, neptune grass Posidonia oceanica were collected from the shore and shallow water, both the plagiotropic and orthotropic (horizontal and vertical) growth forms were then replanted using one of two biodegradable materials, coconut fibre pots or bamboo stakes, to secure them to the seafloor. Establishment of plagiotropic fragments were increased by bamboo anchorage (x̅ = 89% SE ± 0%) compared to orthotropic storm fragments (x̅ = 66.5% SE ± 6.5%). By contrast a coconut fibre method resulted in greater establishment of orthotropic fragments (x̅ = 79% SE ± 7%) compared to plagiotropic (x̅ = 51% SE ± 11%). Fragments showed some blade growth, but little shoot growth after 15 months. The fragment shoot and blade growth did not differ between the plagiotropic or orthotropic fragments replanted by bamboo stakes or coconut fibre pot. Our results suggest that the use of storm fragments and biodegradable anchoring materials constitutes a viable, non-destructive replanting technique in seagrass restoration. Furthermore success can be increased by selecting a growth-form appropriate planting method

Intussusceptive pillar formation in developing porcine glomeruli

Background/Aims: Intussusceptive angiogenesis (IA) is a dynamic process which contributes to vascular expansion and remodeling. Intraluminal pillars have long been the distinctive structural indicator of intussusceptive angiogenesis. However, the mechanism of their formation has not been fully elucidated yet. Methods: Using light and electron microscopy, we studied intussusceptive vascular growth in the developing porcine metanephric kidney. Results: We observed intraluminal pillars formed by endothelial cells in the vasculature of developing glomeruli. Their diameter was < 2.5 µm, consistent with the diameter of nascent pillars. TEM revealed that the majority of these pillars consisted only of endothelium. However, a central core of extracellular matrix (ECM) covered by endothelium, reminiscent of a more mature intussusceptive pillar, was also found in the lumen of a glomerular capillary. Perivascular cells or pericytes were not involved in the pillar structure during these stages of formation. Conclusion: This study shows ECM presence in a mature intussusceptive pillar without any perivascular cell involvement in the structure. This leads to the hypothesis that ECM deposition preceeds the participation of these cells in the formation of intraluminal pillars during IA in porcine metanephric glomerular capillaries

Whole genome sequencing of Salmonella Typhimurium illuminates distinct outbreaks caused by an endemic multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis type in Australia, 2014

Phylogeny of the outbreak A and M strains in the context of national and international STM isolates. Genome data analysed in Octavia et al. representing five STM outbreaks in Australia [25]; Kingsley et al. representing ST313 outbreak in Malawi [30]; Leekitcharoenphon et al. representing six STM outbreaks in Denmark [15] and Hawkey et al. representing STM DT135a outbreak in Australia [21] were also included as comparisons and marked as the corresponding study/outbreak. Other branches that are not labelled are background isolates from the above studies; draft genomes from Pang et al. [29] which include five diverse Australian STM isolates; Fu et al. representing Salmonella reference collection A; [28] and other fully sequenced STM genomes available from GenBank including LT2 (Accession No. NC003197), 798 (Accession No. CP003386), DT2 (Accession No. HG326213), DT104 (Accession No. HF937208), 14028S (Accession No. CP001363), SL1344 (Accession No. FQ312003), UK-1 (Accession No. CP002614), T000240 (Accession No. AP011957), U288 (Accession No. CP003836) and ST4/74 (Accession No. CP002487). Bootstrap values if greater than 50 %, are presented on the internal branches. (PPTX 74 kb

Understory 2014

“Art is the struggle to be, in a particular sort of way, virtuous.” —Iris Murdoch Indeed, when we embark on any creative adventure it is with the purpose of conveying a certain truth; an emotion, an idea that brings us together and reminds us of the innate consciousness that dwells within. Understory is emblematic of this; where individuals intent on honing their craft can join others to become a part of something greater, their work immortalized to become a time capsule. Decades from now a volume of Understory may be discovered on a dusty bookshelf in some forgotten corner and the lucky explorer who finds it shall be enlightened by pages of gold. We, as editors of Understory 2014, have worked very hard this year to put together a journal that showcases the very best of the University of Alaska Anchorage undergraduate student work. We hope you enjoy your journey through this issue as much as we have enjoyed ours. Thank you to the English and Art Departments, for the staff and faculty’s unerring support of our club; to Provost Baker, for seeing and believing in the vision of Understory; and to our club’s faculty advisor, Douglass Bourne, for his guidance and tireless assistance. Finally, thank you to the wonderful students who submit such excellent work each year. Without your passion for the arts, we would not be here.Staff / Letter from the Editors / Glass Blower / Writing / Obsolete Evolution / Permafrost / Phoenix / Untitled / Ratio / Tripping / Abiogenesis / My Heart Beats for You / Meeting of the Fingerprint Lines / You Are No Stranger / Nightmare Fuel / Cane-Sugar / Gossamer Strands / Panthera Gold / Butterfly / A Mantis Too Far / Long and Winding Road / Chasing Shadows / Merisunas / Chequer Grove / Modzilla / Beans / Little Red and Mr. Wolf / In Memoriam, Joel Fletcher Armstrong / Glance / Courage / Uranium Waltz / Danger / Journey to the West / Antumbra / Roaring Like a Lion / Pre-boarding / Untitled / How Do You Say a Word / Fishing for Doom/ Contributor

Is All Seagrass Habitat Equal? Seasonal, Spatial, and Interspecific Variation in Productivity Dynamics Within Mediterranean Seagrass Habitat

Seagrass meadows’ ability to capture carbon through sequestering autochthonous carbon via photosynthesis means they could represent a potential nature-based solution to rising carbon emissions. In multispecies seagrass communities, and due to species introduction or predicted range shifts, it is important to know which species deliver different carbon sequestration gains to inform conservation actions. Large benthic chamber experiments (volume = 262L) assessed the seasonal and spatial variation in metabolism dynamics of the endemic and dominant Mediterranean seagrass, P. oceanica whilst small benthic chamber experiments (volume = 7L) compared the dynamics between, P. oceanica the native C. nodosa and non-native H. stipulacea. Within shallow P. oceanica edge habitat lower Net Apparent Productivity (NAP) occurs in autumn ((Formula presented.) = 1.3, SD ± 2.95 O2 mmol m-2 d-1) compared to summer ((Formula presented.) = 9.9, SD ± 2.75 O2 mmol m-2 d-1 corresponding with periods of light limiting and light saturating conditions, but it remains overall autotrophic annually (2.3 C mol m-2 yr-1). However, spatial heterogeneity exists, the center areas of P. oceanica were more productive (NAP (Formula presented.) =19.7, SD± 3.83 O2 mmol m-2 d-1) compared to edge habitat with spatial changes in productivity relating to plant surface area (96%), shoot density (81%), blade length (72%) and seagrass percentage cover (64%). Under comparative conditions in a sparse multispecies area of the meadow the species demonstrated different capacities for carbon fixation. H. stipulacea was carbon positive and P. oceanica fluctuated between positive and negative carbon balance suggesting both can maintain a balance between carbon fixation and carbon utilised for metabolic activity. In contrast the C. nodosa here would be expected to deteriorate as it was utilising carbon more than it was fixing (NAPN2 ((Formula presented.) = -0.0012, SD ± 0.0007 O2 mmol cm-2 d-1). This study demonstrates that not all seagrass habitat is equal. If seagrass meadows are to play a part in mitigating CO2 emissions, variability in primary productivity within seagrass meadows needs to be accounted for to produce accurate total fixed carbon estimates, and subsequently autochthonous carbon sequestration estimates. This means seagrass meadow species composition and the condition of these meadows must be better understood

Liquid-microjet photoelectron spectroscopy of the green fluorescent protein chromophore

Green fluorescent protein (GFP), the most widely used fluorescent protein for in vivo monitoring of biological processes, is known to undergo photooxidation reactions. However, the most fundamental property underpinning photooxidation, the electron detachment energy, has only been measured for the deprotonated GFP chromophore in the gas phase. Here, we use multiphoton ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy in a liquid-microjet and high-level quantum chemistry calculations to determine the electron detachment energy of the GFP chromophore in aqueous solution. The aqueous environment is found to raise the detachment energy by around 4 eV compared to the gas phase, similar to calculations of the chromophore in its native protein environment. In most cases, electron detachment is found to occur resonantly through electronically excited states of the chromophore, highlighting their importance in photo-induced electron transfer processes in the condensed phase. Our results suggest that the photooxidation properties of the GFP chromophore in an aqueous environment will be similar to those in the protein