Upon repetition, certain stimuli induce reduced neural responses (i.e., repetition suppression), whereas others evoke stronger signals (i.e., repetition enhancement). It has been hypothesized that stimulus properties (e.g., visibility) determine the direction of the repetition effect. Here, we show that the very same stimuli can induce both repetition suppression and enhancement, ...

In many sensory systems adaptation acts as a gain control mechanism that optimizes sensory performance by trading increased sensitivity to low stimulus intensity for decreased sensitivity to high stimulus intensity. Adaptation of insect antennal olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) has been studied for strong odour concentrations, either pulsed or constant. Here, ...

Despite the fact that acute cases of multiple sclerosis (MS)-related pure-tone hearing loss have been reported in the literature, consensus is lacking as to the chronic influences of MS on pure-tone thresholds. Most studies examining such influences have been limited by small sample sizes, lack of statistical comparisons between patients ...

Nitrogen-doped, porous rutile has been prepared by hydrothermal reaction of TiN in nitric acid, with the nitrogen atoms present in the interstitial sites and in the form of adsorbed nitrate ions. The N-rutile powder exhibits outstanding photocatalytic activity toward degradation of adsorbed methylene blue under visible light irradiation.

The role of genetic inheritance in brain development has been well characterized, but little is known about the contributions of natural environmental stimuli, such as the effect of light-dark cycles, to brain development. In this study, we determined the role of light stimuli in neuronal cell migration to elucidate how ...

Frequency modulated (FM) sweeps are common components of species-specific vocalizations. The intensity of FM sweeps can cover a wide range in the natural environment, but whether intensity affects neural selectivity for FM sweeps is unclear. Bats, such as the pallid bat, which use FM sweeps for echolocation, are suited to ...

Hair cells in the auditory, vestibular, and lateral-line systems of vertebrates receive inputs through a remarkable variety of accessory structures that impose complex mechanical loads on the mechanoreceptive hair bundles. Although the physiological and morphological properties of the hair bundles in each organ are specialized for detecting the relevant inputs, ...

Absolute positions of several oxygen B-band lines were measured with the Pound-Drever-Hall-locked frequency-stabilized cavity ring-down spectrometer. The frequency axis of spectra was linked to the optical frequency comb. Achieved uncertainties of line positions are between 0.9 and 2.9 MHz. Self-pressure shifts coefficients are also reported.

INTRODUCTION: Although both humans and quadrupeds frequently coordinate breathing and limb movement during running, early studies in humans focused on how increased breathing flexibility in humans allowed for relaxed or even transient coordination during locomotion. This difference was used to explain why quadrupeds had an optimal running speed while humans ...

For ergonomic purposes it is useful to quantify the energy expenditure and the level of physical activity imposed on workers. Oxygen consumption (VO2) is often used to calculate energy expenditure and can be used as an indication of physical activity. Twenty-five subjects participated in the study. Oxygen consumption (VO2) in ...

Aims;  The objective was to study the response of C. sakazakii ATCC 29544 cells to heat, pulsed electric fields (PEF), ultrasound under pressure (Manosonication, MS) and ultraviolet light (UV-C) treatments after exposure to different sublethal stresses that may be encountered in food-processing environments. Methods and Results:  C. sakazakii stationary growth-phase ...

The heat shock protein Hsp60 exhibited marked oscillation during a 12-hour day period when the coral Turbinaria reniformis was maintained in the laboratory under constant conditions of light (200μE) and temperature (27°C). A biphasic pattern of Hsp60 was apparent, punctuated by a low protein level at the midpoint of the ...

Climate change scenarios predict that rivers, lakes, and reservoirs will experience increased temperatures, more intense and longer periods of thermal stratification, modified hydrology, and altered nutrient loading. These environmental drivers will have substantial effects on freshwater phytoplankton species composition and biomass, potentially favouring cyanobacteria over other phytoplankton. In this Review, ...

Gymnotiform weakly electric fishes generate electric organ discharges (EODs) and sense perturbations of the resulting electric field for purposes of orientation, prey detection and communication. Some species produce oscillatory ('wave-type') EODs at very high frequencies (up to 2 kHz) that have been proposed to be energetically expensive. If high-frequency EODs ...

The acute in vitro brain slice model is a widely used neurophysiological research tool. When applying this method, most researchers continuously perfuse slices with carbogenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) to maintain pH balance and tissue oxygen delivery. Common wisdom suggests that static recordings are incompatible with submerged bath methodology because ...

Different from the electrical conductivity of conductive composites, the thermal conductivity usually does not have distinctive percolation characteristics. Here we report that graphite suspensions show distinct behavior in the thermal conductivity at the electrical percolation threshold, including a sharp kink at the percolation threshold, below which thermal conductivity increases rapidly ...

Urban heat island is among the most evident aspects of human impacts on the earth system. Here we assess the diurnal and seasonal variation of surface urban heat island intensity (SUHII) defined as the surface temperature difference between urban area and suburban area measured from the MODIS. Differences in SUHII ...

Low-frequency ultrasound (LFUS) irradiation induces morphological, optical and surface changes in the commercial nano-TiO(2)-based photocatalyst, Evonik-Degussa P-25. Low-temperature electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements performed on this material provided the first experimental evidence for the formation of oxygen vacancies (V(o)), which were also found responsible for the visible-light absorption. The V(o) ...

AIMS: We studied whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO(2)) treatment, which is known to increase production of nitric oxide (NO) in the brain, might also produce an NO-dependent anxiolytic-like behavioral response. MAIN METHODS: Male NIH Swiss mice (20-25g) were subjected to a 60-min HBO(2) treatment at different absolute atmospheres, and anxiety was ...

Junction temperature (JT) is a key parameter of the performance and lifetime of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In this paper, a mobile instrument system has been developed for the non-contact measurement of JTs of LED under LabVIEW control. The electroluminescence (EL) peak shift of the LED is explored to measure ...

The machinery that conducts the light-driven reactions of oxygenic photosynthesis is hosted within specialized paired membranes called thylakoids. In higher plants, the thylakoids are segregated into two morphological and functional domains called grana and stroma lamellae. A large fraction of the luminal volume of the granal thylakoids is occupied by ...

In field conditions, the zebra2 (z2) mutant in rice (Oryza sativa) produces leaves with transverse pale-green/yellow stripes. It was recently reported that ZEBRA2 encodes carotenoid isomerase (CRTISO) and that low levels of lutein, an essential carotenoid for non-photochemical quenching, cause leaf variegation in z2 mutants. However, we found that the ...

In Drosophila multiple circadian oscillators and behavioral rhythms are known to exist, yet most previous studies that attempted to understand circadian entrainment have focused on the activity/rest rhythm and to some extent the adult emergence rhythm. Egg laying behavior of Drosophila females also follows circadian rhythmicity and has been seen ...

Coral bleaching is the manifestation of the dysfunction of the symbiosis between scleractinian corals and dinoflagellates of the diverse genus Symbiodinium and is induced by elevated temperatures and high irradiance. We investigated the photophysiological response of two genetically distinct Symbiodinium subtypes within clade A upon exposure to elevated temperatures at two ...

Consumers and cooks often assess the degree of doneness of roasted beef by the internal meat colour. Real-time colour measurement of the cooking process is therefore developed in order to determine the degree of doneness, and thus the end of the cooking process, by the internal meat colour. The colour ...

The cyanobacteria Planktothrix agardhii and Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii are common bloom forming species in eutrophic freshwaters. These filamentous species share certain physiological traits that imply they might flourish under similar environmental conditions. We compared the distribution of the two species in a large database (940 samples) covering different climatic regions and ...

The purpose of this study was to compare the activation and deactivation forces generated during first-order archwire deflections when different sizes and types of NiTi wires are paired with conventional and self-ligating brackets (SLBs) and to evaluate the rotational control between these same archwire and bracket combinations. Four maxillary premolar ...

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of superelastic and thermal nickel-titanium (NiTi) archwires for correct selection of orthodontic wires. Seven different NiTi wires of two different sizes (0.014 and 0.016 inches), commonly used during the alignment phase, were tested. A three-point bending test was carried ...

Upward leaf movement (hyponastic growth) is adopted by several plant species including Arabidopsis thaliana, as a mechanism to escape adverse growth conditions. Among the signals that trigger hyponastic growth are, the gaseous hormone ethylene, low light intensities, and supra-optimal temperatures (heat). Recent studies indicated that the defence-related phytohormones jasmonic acid ...

It has been proposed that at moderate concentrations, reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role as regulatory mediators in signaling processes. Many of the ROS-mediated responses, such as those mediated by the glutathione (GSH) system, protect cells against oxidative stress and reestablish "redox homeostasis". The response to stress is ...

BACKGROUND: High frequency oscillation is a safe and effective treatment for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome, but poses a patient and caregiver risk when the circuit is disconnected. We modified the circuit to include a heated expiratory filter, eliminating the need for daily filter changes due to buildup of ...

We investigated changes in heart rate variability (HRV) across different degrees of acute dilutional anemia (hemoglobin [Hb]=9, 7, 5, 4, and 3 g/dL) in a pig model. Twelve anesthetized mechanically ventilated pigs of either gender (mean body weight 27.5±5.5 kg) were hemodiluted by exchange of blood for hydroxyethyl starch (6%; ...

An experiment was conducted to compare the effect of two chilling rates (Con and Fast) on colour change of lamb meat during simulated retail display. Measurements were made on 3 muscles; LD (m. longisimuss dorsi), SM (m semimembranosus) and ST (m. semitendinous). Meat samples from 32 Merino crossbred lambs were ...

We present to a general readership an overview of the rich variety of phenomena and applications that arise from the interaction of metallic nanoparticles with light. First, we present the fundamental physics of localized surface plasmon resonances, the most relevant theories and numerical methods, as well as optical detection schemes. ...

Abstract Objectives: To investigate and compare the characteristics of commonly used types of traditional and heat-activated initial archwire by plotting their load/deflection graphs and quantifying three suitable parameters describing the discharge plateau phase. Materials and Methods: Forty-eight archwires (22 nickel titanium [NiTi] and 26 heat-activated) of cross-sectional diameter ranging from ...

Motion sickness (MS) has been identified as a non-thermal factor that can moderate autonomic thermoregulatory responses. It has been shown that MS exaggerates core cooling during immersion in cold (15°C) and luke-warm (28°C) water by attenuating cold-induced vasoconstriction. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether MS affects ...

Wave-optics analysis is performed to show that selectively transparent and conducting photonic crystals (STCPCs) can be utilized as rear contacts to enhance the performance of building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). For instance, the current generated in an a-Si:H cell with an STCPC functioning as its rear contact is comparable to that of ...

Determination of the thermal thresholds is used clinically for evaluation of peripheral nervous system function. The aim of this study was to evaluate reliability of the method of levels performed with a new, low cost device for determining cutaneous temperature sensitivity. Nineteen male subjects were included in the study. Thermal ...

Heme oxygenase (HO) catalyzes the oxygen-dependent cleavage of heme to produce biliverdin IXα in phycobilin biosynthesis. In the genome of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 there are two genes, ho1 (sll1184) and ho2 (sll1875), encoding HO isoforms. Reverse-transcription PCR indicated that ho1 is constitutively expressed, and ho2 is induced ...

This study suggests a shift in focus from studying environmental discomfort in urban strategic stations, from which average results for the city or specific results for selected sites are deduced, and from measuring environmental conditions in fixed monitoring stations to a study in which we monitor, with mobile portable sensors, ...

Direct degradation of macromolecules by photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) is important for the industrial application of PSB wastewater treatment. Light and oxygen are the most important parameters in PSB growth. This paper studied the PSB macromolecule degradation process under three different light and oxygen conditions: light-anaerobic, natural light-microaerobic and dark-aerobic. The ...

Behavioural signs of pain are difficult to quantify and interpret in animals. Nociceptive threshold testing is therefore a useful method for examining the perception and processing of noxious stimuli underlying pain states. Devices were developed to measure response thresholds to quantified, ramped mechanical and thermal nociceptive stimuli applied to the ...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of multilayer high-compression bandaging on ankle range of motion, oxygen consumption and subjective walking ability in healthy subjects. METHOD: A volunteer sample of 22 healthy subjects (10 women and 12 men; aged 67 [63-83] years) were studied. The intervention included treadmill-walking at self-selected speed with ...

High frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), contrary to conventional ventilation, enables a safe increase in tidal volume (V(T)) without endangering alveoli by volutrauma or barotrauma. The aim of the study is to introduce the concept of normocapnic high frequency oscillatory hyperventilation and to assess its effect upon oxygen gain under experimental ...

High-quality epitaxial AlN films were deposited on sapphire substrates at low growth temperature using a helicon sputtering system. SAW filters fabricated on the AlN films exhibited excellent characteristics, with center frequency of 354.2 MHz, which corresponds to a phase velocity of 5667 m/s. An oscillator fabricated using AlN-based SAW devices ...

The wound response of plants is characterised by rapid changes in gene expression, biochemistry and physiology, and is important both in its own right and as a model for studying events elicited by herbivory. We have recently identified links between light and the wound response in Arabidopsis leaves. This includes ...

The SrZnO2 of beardlike and sheetlike nanobundles, rod and treelike nanostructures have been synthesized by a citrate-gel combusting synthesis approach. As-prepared SrZnO2 shows orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group and unit cell with the lattice parameters: a = 5.830 A, b = 3.340 A and c = 11.348 A. By ...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate cable tension during installation, and during loading similar to walking in a cable grip type greater trochanter (GT), reattachment system. A 4th generation Sawbones composite femur with osteotomised GT was reattached with four Cable-Ready® systems (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN). Cables were tightened at ...

Passive-elastic foot prostheses cannot produce net work. Consequently, passive-elastic foot prostheses are limited in their ability to enable a biologically-realistic gait pattern in transtibial amputees. This shortcoming results in difficulties in balance and walking and leads to high levels of oxygen consumption during locomotion. A powered prosthesis has the potential ...

Photodegradation of PAHs in the water-soluble fraction of Kuwait crude oil in seawater was investigated under various environmental factors (temperature, light intensity, oxygen levels and presence of a sensitizer) in laboratory conditions. All factors investigated had significant effect on the degradation rates of PAHs. At 15 °C almost all PAHs optimally ...