No effects of 1 Hz offline TMS on performance in the stop-signal game

Stopping an already initiated action is crucial for human everyday behavior and empirical evidence points toward the prefrontal cortex playing a key role in response inhibition. Two regions that have been consistently implicated in response inhibition are the right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and the more superior region of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The present study investigated the effect of offline 1 Hz transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the right IFG and DLPFC on performance in a gamified stop-signal task (SSG). We hypothesized that perturbing each area would decrease performance in the SSG, albeit with a quantitative difference in the performance decrease after stimulation. After offline TMS, functional short-term reorganization is possible, and the domain-general area (i.e., the right DLPFC) might be able to compensate for the perturbation of the domain-specific area (i.e., the right IFG). Results showed that 1 Hz offline TMS over the right DLPFC and the right IFG at 110% intensity of the resting motor threshold had no effect on performance in the SSG. In fact, evidence in favor of the null hypothesis was found. One intriguing interpretation of this result is that within-network compensation was triggered, canceling out the potential TMS effects as has been suggested in recent theorizing on TMS effects, although the presented results do not unambiguously identify such compensatory mechanisms. Future studies may result in further support for this hypothesis, which is especially important when studying reactive response in complex environments

Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS) - First Detection of OH+ in Planetary Nebulae

We report the first detections of OH$^+$ emission in planetary nebulae (PNe). As part of an imaging and spectroscopy survey of 11 PNe in the far-IR using the PACS and SPIRE instruments aboard the Herschel Space Observatory, we performed a line survey in these PNe over the entire spectral range between 51 and 672$\mu$m to look for new detections. OH$^+$ rotational emission lines at 152.99, 290.20, 308.48, and 329.77$\mu$m were detected in the spectra of three planetary nebulae: NGC 6445, NGC 6720, and NGC 6781. Excitation temperatures and column densities derived from these lines are in the range of 27 to 47 K and 2$\times$10$^{10}$ to 4 $\times$10$^{11}$ cm$^{-2}$, respectively. In PNe, the OH+ rotational line emission appears to be produced in the photodissociation region (PDR) in these objects. The emission of OH+ is observed only in PNe with hot central stars (T$_{eff}$ > 100000 K), suggesting that high-energy photons may play a role in the OH+ formation and its line excitation in these objects, as it seems to be the case for ultraluminous galaxies.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures; accepted for publication in A&

Are Proto-Planetary Nebulae Shaped by a Binary? Results of a Long-Term Radial Velocity Study

The shaping of the nebula is currently one of the outstanding unsolved problems in planetary nebula (PN) research. Several mechanisms have been proposed, most of which require a binary companion. However, direct evidence for a binary companion is lacking in most PNs. We have addressed this problem by obtaining precise radial velocities of seven bright proto-planetary nebulae (PPNs), objects in transition from the asymptotic giant branch to the PN phases of stellar evolution. These have F-G spectral types and have the advantage over PNs of having more and sharper spectral lines, leading to better precision. Our observations were made in two observing intervals, 1991-1995 and 2007-2010, and we have included in our analysis some additional published and unpublished data. Only one of the PPNs, IRAS 22272+5435, shows a long-term variation that might tentatively be attributed to a binary companion, with P $>$ 22 years, and from this, limiting binary parameters are calculated. Selection effects are also discussed. These results set significant restrictions on the range of possible physical and orbital properties of any binary companions: they have periods greater than 25 years or masses of brown dwarfs or super-Jupiters. While not ruling out the binary hypothesis, it seems fair to say that these results do not support it.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, to appear Astrophys J, 734 (2011 June 10

High-latitude supergiants: anomalies in the spectrum of LN Hya in 2010

High-resolution echelle spectra taken with the 6-m telescope in 2003-2011 are used to study features of the optical spectrum and the velocity field in the atmosphere of the semiregular variable LN Hya in detail. The weak symmetric photospheric absorptions indicate radial velocity variations from night to night (by as much as 3 km/s), resulting from small pulsations. Peculiarities and profile variations were found for strong lines of FeI, FeII, BaII, SiII, etc. The profiles of these lines were asymmetric: their short-wave wings were extended and their cores were either split or distorted by emission. During the 2010 observing season, the position and depth of the Halpha absorption component, the intensities of the short and long-wave emission components, and the intensity ratio of the latter components varied from spectrum to spectrum. Weak emissions of neutral atoms (VI, MnI, CoI, NiI, FeI) appeared in the spectrum of June 1, 2010. All these spectral peculiarities, recorded for the first time, suggest that we have detected rapid changes in the physical conditions in the upper atmospheric layers of LN Hya in 2010.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, 3 table

Wartosc gospodarcza mieszancow kukurydzy zarejestrowanych i uprawianych w Polsce w latach 1972-1996

Testing of maize hybrids productivity has been performed in 25 basic experiments in localities representing various soil types and climatic regions. The results discussed in the article concern registered hybrids, both domestic and foreign, from 1972. List of tested hybrids was modified each year after registration of new cultivars and removing the inferior ones. The number of registered hybrids has increased gradually. The experiments are split in two series - growing for grain and for silage. The major criteria of evaluation of hybrids destined for grain are yield of grain, its moisture content at harvest as a measure of earliness and lodging resistance. Hybrids destined for silage are evaluated according to the total dry matter yield, dry matter yield of ears and dry matter content in whole plants. The yield of hybrids and its fluctuations, as well as their earliness were the basis for evaluation of economic value of hybrids in long run. Yields of maize hybrids were compared to that of spring barley. Yearly averages, moving averages for a 5-year interval and the regression coefficients of main parameters against the years were calculated. The trends of presented characters of maize in the last 25 years were determined. Conclusions: 1. Since 1972 only hybrids made of inbred lines were registered. Recently the number of SC type hybrids is increasing. 2. A significant progress in maize breeding and agronomy, expressed in higher productivity, earliness and better yield structure has occurred in the last 25 years. 3. Polish agriculture does not make full use of the yield potential of maize. The area of its cultivation is very small as compared to the needs and natural possibilities. 4. Higt competition among the seed companies on the Polish seed market results in an increasing importance of promotion of the hybrids.Ocenę plonowania kukurydzy pastewnej prowadzi się w 25 doświadczeniach podstawowych zlokalizowanych w miejscowościach reprezentujących różne typy gleb i rejony klimatyczne. W pracy przedstawiono wyniki zarejestrowanych mieszańców krajowych i zagranicznych, od roku 1972. Wykaz ocenianych mieszańców każdego roku był modyfikowany wobec wpisywania do Rejestru nowych i wycofywania starych (gorszych) mieszańców. Liczba mieszańców w Rejestrze wykazywała tendencję wzrostową. Doświadczenia realizowane są w dwóch seriach: uprawy na ziarno i na kiszonkę. Główne kryteria oceny przydatności do produkcji ziarna to plon ziarna, jego wilgotność w czasie zbioru jako miernik wczesności mieszańców oraz odporność na wylęganie. Mieszańce kiszonkowe ocenia się według ogólnego plonu suchej masy, plonu suchej masy kolb i zawartości suchej masy w roślinach. Wartość użytkową mieszańców oceniano na podstawie plonów i wczesności w wieloleciu. Dla porównania podano plony ziarna jęczmienia jarego. Obliczono wyniki średnie roczne, średnie ruchome o interwale pięcioletnim oraz wykonano rachunek regresji cech względem lat. Określono trendy zmian wartości cech użytkowych w 25-leciu. Wnioski: 1. W okresie od roku 1972 do Rejestru Odmian wpisywane były wyłącznie mieszańce liniowe; ostatnio wzrasta liczba mieszańców typu SC. 2. Nastąpił znaczący postęp odmianowy wyrażający się większą plennością i lepszą strukturą plonu kukurydzy. 3. Wysoka wartość gospodarcza kukurydzy nie jest w pełni wykorzystana w praktyce; areał uprawy jest zbyt mały w porównaniu z możliwościami i potrzebami. 4. Konkurencja na rynku nasiennym kukurydzy powoduje wzrost znaczenia promocji mieszańców

Kinetics of growth process controlled by mass-convective fluctuations and finite-size curvature effects

In this study, a comprehensive view of a model crystal formation in a complex fluctuating medium is presented. The model incorporates Gaussian curvature effects at the crystal boundary as well as the possibility for super-diffusive motion near the crystal surface. A special emphasis is put on the finite-size effect of the building blocks (macroions, or the aggregates of macroions) constituting the crystal. From it an integrated static-dynamic picture of the crystal formation in terms of mesoscopic nonequilibrium thermodynamics (MNET), and with inclusion of the physically sound effects mentioned, emerges. Its quantitative measure appears to be the overall diffusion function of the formation which contains both finite-size curvature-inducing effects as well as a time-dependent super-diffusive part. A quite qualitative agreement with experiments, mostly those concerning investigations of dynamic growth layer of (poly) crystalline aggregation, exemplified by non-Kossel crystals and biomolecular spherulites, has been achieved

Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin d level does not adversely affect bone turnover in prepubertal children

Both vitamin D and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) play essential roles in bone metabolism and may interact during prepubertal bone accrual. We investigated the association of low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) (<20 ng/mL) with the circulating bone turnover markers, when compared to their interaction with IGF-1. Subjects and Methods: Serum 25(OH)D, IGF-I, P1NP (N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen), and CTX-1 (C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen) were measured, and the bone turnover index (BTI) was calculated in 128 healthy children, aged 9–11 years. Results: Mean 25(OH)D concentration was 21.9 ± 4.9 ng/mL, but in 30.5% of participants it was <20 ng/mL (<50 nmol/L). We observed a trend for higher P1NP (p < 0.05) and IGF-1 (p = 0.08), towards lower 25(OH)D in tertiles. Levels of P1NP in the lowest 25(OH)D tertile (<20 ng/mL) were the highest, while CTX and BTI remained unchanged. Additionally, 25(OH)D negatively correlated with IGF-1, while the correlation with P1NP was not significant. A strong positive correlation of IGF-1 with P1NP and BTI but weak with CTX was observed. Low 25(OH)D (<20 ng/mL) explained 15% of the IGF-1 variance and 6% of the P1NP variance. Conclusions: Low levels of 25(OH)D do not unfavorably alter bone turnover. It seems that serum 25(OH)D level may not be an adequate predictor of bone turnover in children

A Survey of Patients' Views From Eight European Countries of Interpretive Support From Specialists in Laboratory Medicine

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Relationships between Bone Turnover Markers and Factors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Prepubertal Girls and Boys

The associations between individual components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and bone health in children are complex, and data on this topic are sparse and inconsistent. We assessed the relationship between bone turnover markers and markers of the processes underlying MetS (insulin resistance and inflammation) in a group of presumably healthy children aged 9–11 years: 89 (51 girls, 38 boys) presenting without any features of MetS and 26 (10 girls, 16 boys) with central obesity and two features of MetS. Concentrations of glucose, triglycerides (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), C-reactive protein (CRP), HbA1c, total 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), intact-P1NP (N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen), CTX-1 (C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen) were assayed and insulin resistance was assessed (HOMA-IR). BMI centile, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure were measured. The presence of MetS in girls resulted in significantly lower concentrations of CTX-1 and a trend to lower CTX-1 in boys. The concentrations of bone formation marker i-P1NP were not affected. Among the features associated with MetS, HOMA-IR appeared as the best positive predictor of MetS in girls, whereas CRP was the best positive predictor in boys. A significant influence of HOMA-IR on the decrease in CTX-1 in girls was independent of BMI centile and WC, and the OR of having CTX-1 below the median was 2.8-fold higher/1SD increased in HOMA-IR (p = 0.003). A weak relationship between CTX-1 and CRP was demonstrated in girls (r = −0.233; p = 0.070). Although TG, as a MetS component, was the best significant predictor of MetS in both sexes, there were no correlations between bone markers and TG. We suggest that dyslipidemia is not associated with the levels of bone markers in prepubertal children whereas CRP is weakly related to bone resorption in girls. In prepubertal girls, insulin resistance exerts a dominant negative impact on bone resorption, independent of BMI centile and waist circumference