bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Provincializing Geographies of Religion: Muslim Identities Beyond the ‘West’
Authors: Mills Amy , Gökarıksel Banu
Published: December 2014

Most of the research on Islam and on Muslims, within geographies of religion, focuses on Muslims in diaspora. A trend in geographic research on non‐Western places has emerged, however, illuminating the global variance of Muslim communities and identities. Yet in spite of scholarly efforts to draw attention to the development of research in these ‘other’ contexts, there has been little explicit examination of how studies of Muslim geographies in non‐Euro‐American places contribute to geographies of religion, beyond an empirical or topical diversification of the field. This paper argues that geographic research on religion is situated knowledge that reflects the social and political contexts within which it is conceived and conducted. As such, it reflects particular cultures and priorities of place. The paper begins by situating Anglophone geographic literature about Muslim communities and identities by examining how the ‘West’ operates as a geographic imaginary that implicitly but powerfully conditions research contexts in Europe and the United States. This research responds to the popular and political discursive framing of Muslims as minorities, and as separate from others. As a result, Muslims appear to constitute bounded and distinct (albeit internally diverse and contextually dependent) communities. By contrast, research conducted in predominantly Muslim societies illuminates the relational, historical and cultural dynamics that bring Muslims of different sects, and Muslims and non‐Muslims, into co‐constitutive identity relationships. Indeed, the sites, practices, and things that constitute or represent identity for Jews and Muslims, for Sunni and Shi'a, or for pious and secular people, are the same: what it means to be Muslim is contextually specific and formed through relationships with others. This approach involves a more dynamic and productive theoretical conceptualization of place than operates in most Anglo‐European geographies of religion. By illuminating the specific empirical and theoretical contributions of Muslim/non‐Muslim geographies beyond the West, this paper provincializes geographies of religion and offers observations that may extend the field in new directions.
Clinical Trials Update 2014: Year in Review
Authors: Peroutka Stephen J.
Published: December 2014

This section of Headache annually reviews the status of recently completed and ongoing major clinical trials involving common headache disorders. The review will focus on multicenter trials of new therapies as well as novel formulations of previously approved therapeutics.

Table 1 summarizes the major therapeutic headache trials that were ongoing at the end of 2014, according to data obtained from both the “ClinicalTrials.Gov” website and from corporate press releases and presentations.
Nomogram to predict the likelihood of upgrade of atypical ductal hyperplasia diagnosed on a core needle biopsy in mammographically detected lesions
Authors: Khoury Thaer , Chen Xiwei , Wang Dan , Kumar Prasanna , Qin Maochun , Liu Song , Turner Bradley
Published: December 2014

Aims

To estimate the likelihood of the upgrade for atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) diagnosed on a core needle biopsy of a mammographically detected lesion.

Methods and results

A total of 203 consecutive ADH cases diagnosed on core biopsy in mammographically detected lesions and having subsequent surgical excision were reviewed. The pathological features of ADH were assessed with multivariable logistic regression to predict the likelihood of upgrade for these patients. A nomogram was created using statistically significant variables. A corresponding formula was created to calculate the risk of upgrade. This risk was divided further into low, intermediate and high. A total of 57 (28.1%) cases had upgrade. A nomogram was created that included age, menopausal status, hormone therapy status, personal history of breast cancer, number of involved cores, solid growth pattern, size of largest focus and mammographic mass versus calcifications. The nomogram had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.775.

Conclusions

We have developed a user‐friendly nomogram that uses easily recognized variables to calculate the likelihood of upgrade for ADH. The nomogram could assist the treating surgeon in decision‐making, particularly when the patient is at risk for surgical intervention.
Conservation of the Hungarian meadow viper Vipera ursinii rakosiensis
Authors: Péchy T. , Halpern B. , Sós E. , Walzer C.
Published: December 2014

In order to stop the decline of Hungarian meadow viper Vipera ursinii rakosiensis, in 2004 MME BirdLife Hungary together with national parks and Budapest Zoo started a complex conservation programme, supported by the European Union LIFE‐Nature fund. The Hungarian Meadow Viper Conservation Centre was established with 16 adult individuals, collected from six different populations. By 2013 the number of vipers bred reached c. 1700 individuals. First reintroductions took place in March 2010, with 30 adult snakes released into a reconstructed habitat in Kiskunság National Park. By 2013, a total of 240 snakes had been released into three locations. Snakes were released by relocating the animals in the artificial burrows they used in the semi‐natural terrariums at the Hungarian Meadow Viper Conservation Centre. At the release sites vipers were recorded 255 times during post‐release monitoring, and 69 individuals were identified. Eighteen of the observed ♀♀ were gravid, and ten juvenile or subadult individuals were documented. In order to develop a remote‐tracking method, pre‐programmed radio‐tags with a detection range of 200–300 m were surgically implanted into the abdomens of 16 vipers. These tags also operated as temperature loggers, recording data every 5 minutes for one year. Zoos play an important role in communicating the results of this captive‐breeding and release programme. Exhibits of live Hungarian meadow vipers are located at Budapest Zoo and Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, and there are information points about the species located in all Hungarian zoos.
Flexible Porous SiO2–Bi2WO6 Nanofibers Film for Visible‐Light Photocatalytic Water Purification
Authors: Liao Chenxing , Ma Zhijun , Dong Guoping , Qiu Jianrong
Published: December 2014

Advancement of the synthetic performance of photocatalysts in environmental applications has been the most clinging pursue in relevant research fields. In this article, we propose a novel design strategy of an efficient visible‐light photocatalyst with versatile advantages for environmental remediation. Flexible SiO2 nanofibers were prepared with sol–gel and electrospinning techniques, followed by uniform anchoring of Bi2WO6 nanoplatelets on the fibers’ surface, forming unique hierarchical SiO2–BiWO6 composite fibers. Benefitting from the combination of the advantages from both the SiO2 nanofibers and the Bi2WO6 nanoplatelets, the film composed of SiO2–Bi2WO6 fibers simultaneously possess high visible‐light photocatalytic reactivity, good flexibility, and excellent thermal stability, affording many potential applications especially in environmental remediation. Water purification performance of the SiO2–Bi2WO6 fibers film was evaluated here as an application example, and the results demonstrated are intriguing.
The Molten Salt Synthesis of (Y1−xEux)4Al2O9 Solid Solution Powders and Their PL Properties
Authors: Ma Junfeng , Yu Zhiqiang , Zhang Dahai , Fan Jinpeng , Fu Wenfeng , Chen Jianhong , Cai Shan , Wang Bin
Published: December 2014

(Y1−xEux)4Al2O9 solid solution powders can be easily prepared by a simple and convenient method, which effectively combined a molten salt process with a chemical co‐precipitation technique. All the samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, and photoluminescence (PL) spectra techniques. The results show that the incorporation of NaCl salt can greatly promote the formation and crystallization of (Y1−xEux)4Al2O9 crystallites, and lower their synthesizing temperature, and that their particle size and morphology strongly rely on x value, which finally dominates their PL properties. The prominent emission intensity of 5D0→7F2 transition rather than 5D0→7F1 indicates doped Eu3+ cations occupy Y3+ position in monoclinic Y4Al2O9, which is sensitive to Eu3+ local environment, and at x = 0.10, there exist a maximum PL intensity due to the concentration quenching effect.
The Role of Family Phenomena in Children and Adolescents With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Paidipati Cynthia P. , Deatrick Janet A.
Published: December 2014

Topic

Previous research suggests that families are integral to the understanding of children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to identify family phenomena related to children and adolescents with ADHD and highlight research findings that intersect family phenomena with the care and treatment of ADHD in youth.

Sources

A literature review was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania in spring of 2014 using an online library system. The four major databases utilized are Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Ovid Medline, Scopus, and Psyc‐INFO.

Conclusions

A wide array of family‐related concepts are identified in the literature and represent a multifaceted and dynamic range of family phenomena related to ADHD youth. Four major themes emerged in the literature, including family stress and strain, parenting practices and caregiver health, family relationships, and family processes related to ADHD management. Different cultural and ethnic groups are reflected in the studies, but the majority of participants are self‐identified Caucasian. As a collective, the research findings suggest family‐related phenomena are essential and relevant to the investigation of children and adolescents with ADHD and worthwhile to explore in future research endeavors, especially in diverse populations.
Automated system for characterization and classification of malaria‐infected stages using light microscopic images of thin blood smears
Authors: DAS D. K. , MAITI A. K. , CHAKRABORTY C.
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we propose a comprehensive image characterization cum classification framework for malaria‐infected stage detection using microscopic images of thin blood smears. The methodology mainly includes microscopic imaging of Leishman stained blood slides, noise reduction and illumination correction, erythrocyte segmentation, feature selection followed by machine classification. Amongst three‐image segmentation algorithms (namely, rule‐based, Chan–Vese‐based and marker‐controlled watershed methods), marker‐controlled watershed technique provides better boundary detection of erythrocytes specially in overlapping situations. Microscopic features at intensity, texture and morphology levels are extracted to discriminate infected and noninfected erythrocytes. In order to achieve subgroup of potential features, feature selection techniques, namely, F‐statistic and information gain criteria are considered here for ranking. Finally, five different classifiers, namely, Naive Bayes, multilayer perceptron neural network, logistic regression, classification and regression tree (CART), RBF neural network have been trained and tested by 888 erythrocytes (infected and noninfected) for each features’ subset. Performance evaluation of the proposed methodology shows that multilayer perceptron network provides higher accuracy for malaria‐infected erythrocytes recognition and infected stage classification. Results show that top 90 features ranked by F‐statistic (specificity: 98.64%, sensitivity: 100%, PPV: 99.73% and overall accuracy: 96.84%) and top 60 features ranked by information gain provides better results (specificity: 97.29%, sensitivity: 100%, PPV: 99.46% and overall accuracy: 96.73%) for malaria‐infected stage classification.
The effect of domain prestige and interlocutors' bilingualism on loanword adaptations
Authors: Lev‐Ari Shiri , San Giacomo Marcela , Peperkamp Sharon
Published: December 2014

There is great variability in whether foreign sounds in loanwords are adapted, such that segments show cross‐word and cross‐situational variation in adaptation. Previous research proposed that word frequency, speakers' level of bilingualism and neighborhoods' level of bilingualism can explain such variability. We test for the effect of these factors and propose two additional factors: interlocutors' level of bilingualism and the prestige of the donor language in the loanword's domain. Analyzing elicited productions of loanwords from Spanish into Mexicano in a village where Spanish and Mexicano enjoy prestige in complementary domains, we show that interlocutors' bilingualism and prestige influence the rate of sound adaptation. Additionally, we find that speakers accommodate to their interlocutors, regardless of the interlocutors' level of bilingualism. As retention of foreign sounds can lead to sound change, these results show that social factors can influence changes in a language's sound system.
REAL OPTIONS WITH COMPETITION AND REGIME SWITCHING
Authors: Bensoussan Alain , Hoe SingRu , Yan ZhongFeng , Yin George
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we examine irreversible investment decisions in duopoly games with a variable economic climate. Integrating timing flexibility, competition, and changes in the economic environment in the form of a cash flow process with regime switching, the problem is formulated as a stopping‐time game under Stackelberg leader‐follower competition, in which both players determine their respective optimal market entry time. By extending the variational inequality approach, we solve for the free boundaries and obtain optimal investment strategies for each player. Despite the lack of regularity in the leader's obstacle and the cash flow regime uncertainty, the regime‐dependent optimal policies for both the leader and the follower are obtained. In addition, we perform comprehensive numerical experiments to demonstrate the properties of solutions and to gain insights into the implications of regime switching.
Comparison of intrarenal renin‐angiotensin system activity in diabetic versus non‐diabetic patients with overt proteinuria
Authors: Park Ji Hyeon , Jang Hye Ryoun , Lee Jong‐Ho , Lee Jung Eun , Huh Wooseong , Lee Kyu‐Beck , Kwon Young‐Joo , Do Jun Young , Kim Hye Young , Kim Yoon‐Goo
Published: December 2014

Aim

The intrarenal renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) has been reported to be activated in chronic proteinuria patients. This study aimed to compare intrarenal RAS activity between diabetic nephropathy (DN) and non‐diabetic nephropathy (NDN) patients with overt proteinuria.

Methods

A multicenter, cross‐sectional study was conducted in 116 patients with overt proteinuria (urinary protein/creatinine ratio [uPCR] > 1 mg/mg Cr). To estimate intrarenal RAS activity we measured urinary excretion of angiotensinogen (uAGT) and renin (uRenin) in patients with DN (n = 38) and NDN (n = 78).

Results

Both natural logarithms of uAGT/urinary creatinine (ln[uAGT/uCr]) and uRenin (ln[uRenin/uCr]) levels were significantly higher in patients with DN compared with those with NDN (ln[uAGT/uCr]: 4.16 ± 1.13 in DN vs. 3.52 ± 1.21 in NDN, P = 0.007; ln[uRenin/uCr]: 5.66 ± 1.60 in DN vs. 4.29 ± 1.48 in NDN, P < 0.001), when estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and uPCR showed no significant difference between the two groups. In a subgroup analysis, according to amount of proteinuria, both uAGT and uRenin were higher in DN in patients with subnephrotic‐range proteinuria (uPCR < 3.5 mg/mg Cr). However, in patients with nephrotic‐range proteinuria (uPCR ≥ 3.5 mg/mg Cr), only uRenin was higher in DN compared to NDN. In a multiple regression analysis, diabetes showed independent association with uRenin.

Conclusion

Consistently elevated uRenin in DN, regardless of the amount of proteinuria, indicates that intrarenal RAS activity may be higher in DN compared to NDN in patients with overt proteinuria.
Reduced‐intensity conditioning umbilical cord blood transplantation in Nijmegen breakage syndrome
Authors: Woźniak Magdalena , Krzywoń Marta , Hołda Mateusz K. , Goździk Jolanta
Published: December 2014

NBS is a rare autosomal recessive congenital disorder associated with chromosome instability caused by a mutation in the NBN gene (8q21). Clinical manifestations include microcephaly, growth retardation, combined immunodeficiency, and a strong predisposition to develop (mainly lymphatic) malignancies. There is no specific treatment for patients with NBS, and the prognosis is generally poor. The therapeutic option for some patients with NBS may be HSCT. We present a case of safe and successful non‐myeloablative UCB transplantation in the 19th month of the life of a female child with NBS concomitant with SCID.
Fully automatic generation of geoinformation products with chinese zy‐3 satellite imagery
Authors: Zhang Yongjun , Wang Bo , Zhang Zuxun , Duan Yansong , Zhang Yong , Sun Mingwei , Ji Shunping
Published: December 2014

The advantages of continuously and soundly obtaining large multidimensional, multiscale and multitemporal observation datasets from satellite remote sensing make it indispensable in building a national spatial data infrastructure. This paper introduces the ZY‐3 satellite developed in China and discusses a fully automatic data‐processing system to generate geoinformation products, such as digital elevation models (DEMs) and digital orthophotomaps (DOMs), based on ZY‐3 imagery. The key technologies of automatic geoinformation product generation, including strip image‐based bundle adjustment together with creating DEMs and DOMs, are illustrated. The accuracies of the georeferencing and automatically generated geoinformation products are also discussed. This automatic data‐processing system is shown to provide a good foundation for near real‐time derivation of such geoinformation products and for the promotion and application of Chinese domestic satellites.
Terrestrial laser scanning as a key element in the integrated monitoring of tidal influences on a twin‐tube concrete tunnel
Authors: Nuttens Timothy , Stal Cornelis , De Backer Hans , Schotte Ken , Van Bogaert Philippe , Detry Pierre , De Wulf Alain
Published: December 2014

In 2012, for the first time in Belgium, integrated monitoring was carried out to assess the deformations of a twin‐tube tunnel below the River Scheldt in Antwerp under the influence of estuarine tides. Levelling measurements during a tide cycle showed a variation in the height of levelling bolts of up to 10 mm between low and high tide. Simultaneous strain‐gauge measurements also showed a significant difference in strains. A deformation of the tunnel section during each twice‐daily tide cycle, resulting in an eccentric “egg” or “pumpkin” shape, could hold large risks for the strength and durability of the tunnel structure. However, laser scanning results showed that there were no significant deformations of the tunnel's shape during the tide cycle. The laser scanning measurements resulted in a more thorough view of the deformation pattern which was much needed and improved the long‐term risk assessment of the tunnel.
Bayesian Structured Additive Distributional Regression for Multivariate Responses
Authors: Klein Nadja , Kneib Thomas , Klasen Stephan , Lang Stefan
Published: December 2014

We propose a unified Bayesian approach for multivariate structured additive distributional regression analysis comprising a huge class of continuous, discrete and latent multivariate response distributions, where each parameter of these potentially complex distributions is modelled by a structured additive predictor. The latter is an additive composition of different types of covariate effects, e.g. non-linear effects of continuous covariates, random effects, spatial effects or interaction effects. Inference is realized by a generic, computationally efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm based on iteratively weighted least squares approximations and with multivariate Gaussian priors to enforce specific properties of functional effects. Applications to illustrate our approach include a joint model of risk factors for chronic and acute childhood undernutrition in India and ecological regressions studying the drivers of election results in Germany.
Which White Horse Temple? Some Difficulties in Achieving a Singular Nationalist Archaeological Narrative in Republican China
Authors: Kyong‐McClain Jeff
Published: December 2014

The modern academic discipline of archaeology in China was born in a period of heightened nationalism. This fact, combined with repeated pronouncements by early twentieth‐century Chinese archaeologists, museum curators, and nationalist intellectuals that archaeology could ‘awaken’ the Chinese to patriotism, has led many contemporary historians to assert that archaeology was an effective tool in educating the people in nationalist ideology at the time. This research note seeks to qualify that assessment by calling for closer attention to the working of the discipline at the local level. Using archaeological activities conducted under the auspices of the Sichuan Provincial Education Office in the late 1930s and early 1940s as a case study, this essay suggests the ambiguities inherent in the discipline, as local actors used it to bolster their case for historic differences from the putative centre of Chinese civilization, thus creating a sort of provincial nationalism, which stood in contrast to the version of national history expounded by the centre.
Blood group B gene is barely expressed in in vitro erythroid culture of Bm‐derived CD34+ cells without an erythroid cell‐specific regulatory element
Authors: Sano R. , Nogawa M. , Nakajima T. , Takahashi Y. , Takahashi K. , Kubo R. , Kominato Y. , Yokohama A. , Tsukada J. , Yamao H. , Kishida T. , Ogasawara K. , Uchikawa M.
Published: December 2014

Background and Objectives

Previously, a weak phenotype Am or Bm was assumed to be caused by a reduction of A or B gene expression in bone marrow cells, but not in mucus‐secreting cells. However, ABO expression has not been examined in erythroid progenitor cells of Am or Bm individuals.

Materials and Methods

We carried out in vitro erythroid differentiation of CD34+ cells from peripheral blood of a Bm individual harbouring a 3·0‐kb deletion including an erythroid cell‐specific regulatory element, named the +5·8‐kb site, in intron 1 of the human ABO blood group gene.

Results

During the in vitro differentiation of CD34+ cells from this Bm individual into erythroid cells, B‐antigens were not detectable on the cultured cells by flow cytometric analysis, and allele‐specific RT‐PCR consistently detected the transcripts from the O allele, but not from the B allele. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that both RUNX1 and GATA‐2 or GATA‐1 were bound to the +5·8‐kb site in cultured erythroid cells expressing ABO.

Conclusion

It is likely that the +5·8‐kb site enhances transcription from the ABO promoter in erythroid cells through binding of RUNX1 and GATA‐2 or GATA‐1.
Accelerated mobilization and formation of histamine in the gastric mucosa evoked by vagal excitation
Authors: Kahlson G. , Rosengren Elsa , Thunberg R.
Published: December 2014

1. The changes in the rate of histamine formation and in the histamine content of the parietal cell containing region of the gastric mucosa have been studied in rats under the influence of agents which evoke or abolish vagal excitation.

2. The hypoglycaemia producing agents, insulin and 2‐deoxyglucose (2‐DG), raised the mucosal histamine‐forming capacity (HFC) in a way similar to that previously observed on re‐feeding, gastrin injection, and distension of the stomach wall.

3. In cats, insulin injection elicited an elevation of mucosal HFC similar to the corresponding effect of insulin in rats.

4. Hoechst 9980, which inhibits post‐ganglionic cholinergic transmission, counteracted the elevation of mucosal HFC following vagal excitation, but did not inhibit changes produced by gastrin, thus indicating the absence of a cholinergic intermediary link between gastrin and changes in mucosal histamine.

5. It is emphasized that although re‐feeding, vagus excitation, gastrin and distension all produce similar changes in mucosal histamine, the clarification of the precise role of histamine as a natural stimulant for the parietal cells may require a fresh kind of approach.
Myelinated afferent fibres responding specifically to noxious stimulation of the skin
Authors: Burgess P. R. , Perl E. R.
Published: December 2014

1. The characteristics of receptors from the hairy skin of the hind limb of cat were studied by recording from single primary afferent fibres with fine micropipettes. The distinctive features of 513 fibres conducting under 51 m/sec are described.

2. Seventy‐four fibres conducting between 6 and 37 m/sec were classified as nociceptors because they responded only to damaging mechanical stimulation of the skin. These fibres responded maximally to pinching the skin with a serrated forceps or to cutting the skin. Noxious heat, noxious cold, acid applied to the receptive field and bradykinin injected into skin cuts did not evoke discharges from such receptors. Typically their receptive fields were 2‐5 cm long by 1‐2·5 cm wide and consisted of responsive spots (under 1 mm diameter) separated by unresponsive areas. There was a tendency for the most slowly conducting fibres so classified to be the least sensitive.

3. Other afferent fibres had receptive fields similar to the nociceptors; however, they were excited by substantial but not noxious mechanical deformation. Their conduction velocities overlapped those of the nociceptors and extended upwards to 51 m/sec; the most rapidly conducting fibres tended to be the most sensitive to mechanical stimuli. These insensitive mechanoreceptors or moderate pressure receptors adapted more slowly than the nociceptors.

4. The majority of fine myelinated axons originated from hair receptors and had conduction velocities concentrated between 14 and 22 m/sec.

5. The possible relation of these observations to pain and reactions typical of pain is considered.
An afferent pathway for the selective release of vasopressin in response to carotid occlusion and haemorrhage in the cat
Authors: Clark Barbara J. , Silva M. Rocha E
Published: December 2014

1. The release of neurohypophysial hormones in response to carotid occlusion and haemorrhage has been studied in anaesthetized cats. Samples of jugular venous blood were extracted with alcohol and the extracts assayed for antidiuretic and milk‐ejecting activity.

2. The release of vasopressin in response to bilateral occlusion of the common carotid arteries has been confirmed in the cat; this effect was abolished when the sinus nerves were divided.

3. Using a new sensitive preparation for the assay of milk‐ejecting activity in blood extracts, it has been shown that no oxytocin accompanies the release of vasopressin during carotid occlusion.

4. The independent release of vasopressin without oxytocin during haemorrhage has also been confirmed, and the role of the sinus nerves and vagi in this response investigated. Bilateral division of either nerve reduced the response, but the vagus appeared to be of greater importance than the sinus nerve.

5. A reflex arc for the selective release of vasopressin has been proposed, of which the fibres of the sinus nerves and vagi form the afferent component and the neurones of the supraoptic nucleus the efferent component.
Responses of a spino‐olivo‐cerebellar pathway in the cat
Authors: Armstrong D. M. , Harvey R. J.
Published: December 2014

1. Surface potentials, similar to those found by earlier workers, have been recorded from the vermis of the anterior lobe of the cerebellum following stimulation of muscular, cutaneous and articular nerves of the ipsilateral hind limb. The most conspicuous component of the response consisted of a positive potential succeeded by a smaller negative potential.

2. Micro‐electrode recordings showed that this component coincided both with climbing fibre responses in individual Purkinje cells, and with extracellular field potentials within the cerebellar cortex which closely resembled those found by Eccles, Llinás & Sasaki (1966) following electrical stimulation of the inferior olive.

3. Stimulation of the cerebellar surface, in the region where the responses to limb nerve stimulation were largest, led to antidromic invasion of neurones of the contralateral inferior olive. The antidromic action potentials were sometimes followed by up to three orthodromic spikes. Histological techniques were used to show that these neurones were located in the caudal parts of the dorsal and medial accessory olives.

4. Stimulation of nerves of the hind limb evoked discharges of the same neurones of the dorsal accessory olive which were antidromically invaded from the vermis of the anterior lobe. The nerves used (quadriceps, gastrocnemius‐soleus, sural and the posterior nerve to the knee joint) were shown to excite heavily overlapping populations of neurones.

5. Those neurones of the medial accessory olive, which were identified antidromically from the anterior lobe vermis, were not discharged by stimulation of hind limb nerves.

6. Simultaneous recording from the surface of the anterior lobe and from the dorsal accessory olive showed that the onset of olive cell discharges occurred about 5 msec before the onset of the positive potential at the cerebellar surface.
Ionic requirements for arterial action potential
Authors: Keatinge W. R.
Published: December 2014

1. Strips of smooth muscle from common carotid arteries of sheep were electrically quiescent in solution containing Na 148 m
M and Ca 2·5 m
M.

2. When Ca was removed they became electrically active. Addition of low concentrations of Ca (0·025‐0·075 m
M) or Mg (0·025‐0·750 m
M) stopped their activity while ethylenediamine tetra‐acetate (EDTA) (1·25 m
M) accelerated it.

3. Replacement of Na by Tris or choline stopped the activity in Ca‐free solution. After partial replacement of Na electrical activity could be restored by lowering the resting potential but after complete replacement of Na it could not.

4. In the presence of Ca (2·5 m
M) small spikes could sometimes be induced after 20 min in Na‐free Tris solution by lowering the resting potential by an increase in the external K concentration.

5. The results indicate that the depolarizing current of action potentials in this smooth muscle was largely carried by Na, although a little may have been carried by Ca in Ca‐containing solutions.

6. The arteries in general resembled striated muscle rather than intestinal smooth muscle in these respects, but unlike striated muscle their action potentials were not stopped by tetrodotoxin.
Reticulospinal inhibition of interneurones
Authors: Engberg I. , Lundberg A. , Ryall R. W.
Published: December 2014

1. The effect of electrical stimulation of the brain stem on interneurones in the dorsal horn and intermediary region has been investigated in decerebrate cats after partial transection of the spinal cord.

2. Stimuli that effectively depress reflex transmission without giving a primary afferent depolarization inhibit the discharge evoked from the flexor reflex afferents in interneurones.

3. Brain stem stimulation did not give post‐synaptic potentials in the great majority of interneurones but effectively depressed the excitatory post‐synaptic potentials (EPSPs) and inhibitory post‐synaptic potentials (IPSPs) evoked from the flexor reflex afferents in these interneurones.

4. IPSPs were, however, evoked in five of seventy‐eight intracellularly recorded interneurones. These five interneurones were monosynaptically activated from primary afferents.

5. It is tentatively postulated that a dorsal reticulospinal system inhibits reflex transmission by giving post‐synaptic inhibition in first order interneurones. The results are also discussed in relation to effects on interneurones from other descending pathways.
Electrical potential and short circuit current of an in vitro preparation of rat colon mucosa
Authors: Edmonds C. J. , Marriott Jane
Published: December 2014

1. Using a preparation of rat colon mucosa mounted in vitro in small chambers, some factors which influence the electrical properties of the mucosa have been investigated.

2. The mucosa behaved mainly as an ohmic resistance although a very brief transient occurred on first passing current. At 32° C, the fresh preparation had a mean resistance of 108Ω/cm2 and a mean short circuit current (s.c.c.) of 143 μA/cm2. Tissues taken from Na‐depleted and adrenalectomized rats differed little from normal tissues in electrical resistance but those from Na‐depleted rats had higher potential difference (p.d.) and s.c.c.

3. Increase of temperature led to a rise of conductance of similar order to that found for ions in aqueous solution. S.c.c. also rose with increase of temperature but the effect was relatively greater consistent with its being dependent on metabolic processes.

4. Anoxia or the addition of cyanide, iodoacetate or 2,4‐dinitrophenol to the bath fluid caused considerable fall in the p.d. and s.c.c.

5. Ouabain decreased the p.d. and s.c.c. when added to the serosal side but had no effect when on the luminal side.

6. Aldosterone and acetazolamide had no effect.

7. Varying serosal side [K] produced only minor changes in p.d.

8. Reducing [Na] of the luminal solution caused a considerable fall of p.d. but similar reduction of [Na] on the serosal side had little effect.

9. The frequently employed model which represents the transepithelial p.d. as the sum of diffusion potentials originating at the luminal and serosal sides of the cell layer is not consistent with the present results. The colonic transmucosal p.d. probably originates in the electrogenic transport of Na by a mechanism located on the serosal side of the epithelium.
Release of noradrenaline from the cat spleen by potassium
Authors: Kirpekar S. M. , Wakade A. R.
Published: December 2014

1. Cat spleens were perfused with Krebs‐bicarbonate solution by means of a constant flow pump. The amount of noradrenaline released by an injection of potassium chloride solution (3·7
M) was measured. The dependence of noradrenaline released by KCl on the ionic composition of perfusion medium was determined.

2. In normal cats, the average output was 166 ng following a low dose of KCl (0·2 ml.), and 507 ng following a high dose (0·8 ml.). After phenoxybenzamine treatment, the outputs with both doses were nearly doubled.

3. In both normal and phenoxybenzamine treated cats, removal of calcium from the perfusing solution nearly abolished the release of noradrenaline. Replacing the calcium in Krebs solution restored the output. Increasing the magnesium concentration to 20 m
M also markedly reduced the noradrenaline output.

4. Lowering the sodium concentration to either 25 or 0 m
M increased the noradrenaline output by nearly two‐ to threefold. In solutions with reduced concentrations of sodium, noradrenaline was released over longer periods following KCl injections. In phenoxybenzamine treated cats, reduction of sodium in the perfusing solution also increased the noradrenaline output by nearly twofold following either the low or the high dose of KCl.

5. It is concluded that calcium ions are necessary for the release of noradrenaline from post‐ganglionic sympathetic nerves following depolarization by potassium ions. It is also suggested that sodium ions are specifically needed for the reincorporation of released transmitter into the sympathetic nerve endings.
Factors influencing noradrenaline uptake by the perfused spleen of the cat
Authors: Kirpekar S. M. , Wakade A. R.
Published: December 2014

1. Noradrenaline was infused intra‐arterially at the constant rate of 0·51 μg/min for 22 min into the cat spleen perfused with Krebs saline, and the amount appearing in the perfusate was assayed either chemically or on the blood pressure of the pithed rat.

2. In normal animals, 34% of the infused noradrenaline appeared in the perfusate, indicating 66% removal by the spleen.

3. Neither removal of calcium from Krebs solution nor perfusion with 25 m
M‐Ca2+ Krebs solution had significant effects on noradrenaline recovery.

4. In spleens perfused with 0 or 50 m
M‐K+ Krebs solution the noradrenaline recoveries were not significantly different from the control recoveries.

5. Removal of sodium from Krebs solution increased the recoveries to 92%.

6. The effect of interference with energy metabolism on noradrenaline recoveries was investigated. Iodoacetate or dinitrophenol alone increased the recoveries only moderately, but combined treatment with both metabolic inhibitors increased the recoveries to 74%.

7. If the temperature of the perfusion fluid was reduced to 15° C, noradrenaline recoveries increased to 96%. At 27° C the recoveries were 48%.

8. At pH 5·6, noradrenaline recoveries in the venous effluent increased to 63%. At pH 9·0 the recoveries were not significantly different from the control recoveries.

9. When (+)‐noradrenaline was infused at 0·51 μg/min into the spleen, 55% of the infused amount was recovered in the venous effluent. This recovery is significantly higher than the 34% for (‐)‐noradrenaline.

10. Ouabain and tetracaine increased the recoveries to over 70%, whereas mercuric chloride and insulin had no effect.

11. Neither the flow rate nor the size of the spleen correlated with noradrenaline recovery.

12. Our results suggest that uptake of infused noradrenaline is energy dependent and has an absolute requirement for the presence of sodium ions in the perfusion medium.
Parturient pressures in the ovine uterus
Authors: Hindson J. C. , Schofield Brenda M. , Turner C. B.
Published: December 2014

1. Intra‐uterine pressure changes were followed by radio‐telemetry in ten ewes carrying one lamb in each horn. One endo‐radiosonde was implanted in each horn some 2‐3 weeks before term and the pressure changes in the two horns were recorded simultaneously thereafter.

2. The first isolated pressure waves which could be ascribed to myometrial activity were detected about 12 hr before delivery. Once pressure waves had become established, it was found that one horn developed waves which were about double the amplitude of those in the other horn and of greater duration. Thus one horn became dominant and the lamb occupying this horn was the first to be presented at the cervix. There appeared to be no difference between the two horns in the frequency of the waves.

3. Digital examination of the os led to a phase of increased pressure waves which was considered to be due to oxytocin release.

4. These findings are discussed and it is suggested that some local factor maintains the dominance of one horn and that this factor may be related to the local influence of the placenta.
Excitation in the goldfish retina: evidence for a non‐linear intensity code
Authors: Easter S. S.
Published: December 2014

1. Experiments were done on isolated photopic goldfish retinas. They were stimulated by brief flashes of red light, and the spike activity of single ganglion cells was monitored by micro‐electrodes. Red‐ON‐units were used exclusively.

2. The spatial integration of intensity was investigated using concentric disks of various diameters. Under these conditions, Ricco's relation (1877) was obtained.

3. Two small spots of light were positioned on two equisensitive sites in the receptive field; the (equal) intensities of both were varied in unison, and the responses recorded. An identical response was evoked by simultaneous illumination of both sites with an intensity, I, or by illumination of a single one of the sites with an intensity, KI. K always exceeded 2 (it averaged about 4) and it was constant in any one experiment.

4. The analysis of these results employed the assumption that an hypothetical quantity, the excitation, intervenes between the stimulus (light intensity) and the response (spike train). The excitation is a function of intensity, and it determines the response. The excitation from two spots is assumed to be twice that from one.

5. It was inferred that the excitation (E) was a power function of the intensity (I): E = CIn, in which C and n are constants. The exponent, n, was always less than unity.

6. Two other experiments tested the predictive value of this inference. It accurately predicted the responses to a single spot anywhere in the field, and to two unequal intensities simultaneously illuminating two equisensitive sites.
The role of calcium in neuromuscular facilitation
Authors: Katz B. , Miledi R.
Published: December 2014

1. The hypothesis is put forward that a residue of the ‘active calcium’ which enters the terminal axon membrane during the nerve impulse is responsible for short‐term facilitation.

2. This suggestion has been tested on the myoneural junction by varying the local calcium concentration so that during the first of two nerve impulses [Ca]o is either much lower than, or raised to a level approaching that, during the second impulse. Facilitation is much larger in the latter case, which is in accordance with the ‘calcium hypothesis’.

3. A short pulse of depolarization focally applied to the junction is followed by a brief period of very intense facilitation. This can be seen in the tetrodotoxin‐treated preparation, e.g. by lengthening the depolarization from 1 to 2 msec which can cause a more than fifty‐fold increase in transmitter release. This large ‘early facilitation’ (which presumably occurs also during the course of a normal action potential) is discussed in relation to the ‘calcium hypothesis’.
The effect of atropine on the frog sartorius neuromuscular junction
Authors: Beránek R. , Vyskočil F.
Published: December 2014

1. The effect of atropine sulphate and of (+)‐tubocurarine chloride (TC) on the amplitude and time course of end‐plate potentials (e.p.p.s) and miniature end‐plate potentials (m.e.p.p.s) was studied in the sartorius muscle of the frog.

2. Atropine sulphate reduces the amplitude of intracellularly recorded e.p.p.s and m.e.p.p.s, in concentrations 100 times higher than TC (6 × 10−5
M for 50% reduction of amplitude compared with 6 × 10−7
M for TC).

3. Atropine sulphate causes a marked shortening of both e.p.p.s and m.e.p.p.s: when the amplitude of e.p.p.s or m.e.p.p.s is reduced by 50%, their rise‐time and half‐decay time are both shortened by 40%. The corresponding shortening produced by TC is 15%.

4. E.p.p.s prolonged by prostigmine 10−6 g/ml. undergo a larger shortening (30%) in TC, while atropine‐induced shortening related to the corresponding drop of amplitude is the same whether prostigmine is used or not.

5. On repeated applications after recovery of amplitude and time course, TC loses its shortening effect on e.p.p.s while the atropine shortening effect remains unchanged.

6. Atropine sulphate shortens the rise‐time but not the falling phase of brief depolarizations produced by electrophoretic applications of acetylcholine (ACh) to the muscle fibre surface in the end‐plate region. It also reduces their amplitude, in the same way that it reduces the amplitude of e.p.p.s.

7. Atropine sulphate in concentrations which markedly reduce the amplitude and time course of e.p.p.s has no effect on their quantum content.

8. Atropine sulphate at a concentration of 10−4
M does not change the amplitude and time course of an electrotonic potential produced by a rectangular current pulse passed through the end‐plate region of a muscle fibre.

9. It is suggested that either enhanced removal of ACh or a spatial gradient of effectiveness of the blocking drugs, or both these mechanisms, participate in shortening the e.p.p. by atropine sulphate and TC.
The release of acetylcholine from carotid body tissues. Further study on the effects of acetylcholine and cholinergic blocking agents on the chemosensory discharge
Authors: Eyzaguirre C. , Zapata P.
Published: December 2014

1. Both carotid bodies were removed from cats and placed in a small Perspex channel through which Locke solution was allowed to flow under a layer of paraffin oil. Stimulation of the upstream (‘donor’) organ elicited an increased sensory discharge in the downstream (‘detector’) preparation (Loewi effect).

2. This effect was enhanced by eserine, depressed by hexamethonium and blocked by either mecamylamine or acetylcholinesterase. The Loewi effect did not disappear when chronically denervated (4 days) ‘donor’ carotid bodies were stimulated.

3. These experiments led to the conclusion that ACh is released by the carotid body tissues (probably from the glomus cells) during stimulation and that this substance is responsible for the initiation of the chemosensory discharges.

4. In single preparations the chemosensory endings proved to be very sensitive to ACh especially in the presence of eserine which, in all probability, inactivated the tissue cholinesterase. Curarizing agents such as mecamylamine, hexamethonium, (+)‐tubocurarine and atropine blocked the response of the sensory endings to applied ACh in what appeared to be ‘surmountable’ antagonism.
Renal excretion of potassium in the sheep
Authors: Dewhurst J. K. , Harrison F. A. , Keynes R. D.
Published: December 2014

1. Observations were made on the daily intake and excretion of potassium and sodium in sheep housed in metabolism cages and fed once daily.

2. The diet of chaffed hay and crushed oats provided 400‐600 m‐moles K and 50‐60 m‐moles Na daily. About 90% of the K was excreted in the urine, and over 90% of the Na was found in the faeces.

3. In two groups of three experiments on each of three sheep, the urinary responses to intra‐ruminal dosing just before feeding of (i) 1 l. distilled water, (ii) 1 l. 0·25
N‐KCl, and (iii) 1 l. 0·125
N‐NaCl, were studied. In the first group, urine was collected via the urine/faeces separator of the metabolism cage, whereas for part of the experiments in the second group it was collected by an indwelling bladder catheter.

4. In a third group of experiments with the same sheep, the effects on urinary excretion of K and Na of intra‐ruminal dosing with (i) 1 l. distilled water, (ii) 1 l. 0·25
N‐K acetate, and (iii) 1 l. 0·25
N‐Na acetate were investigated. During part of these experiments urine was again collected via an indwelling bladder catheter. With chloride, 82% of the additional potassium was excreted in urine in the 24 hr after dosing, but with acetate only 65%. For sodium, the corresponding figures were 12‐40% with chloride and 43% with acetate.

5. In most experiments, the administration of K salts produced a marked kaliuresis and, in spite of the low sodium intake, a natriuresis as well, which did not usually coincide with maximum K excretion. No adequately tested explanation appears to exist for the natriuresis observed in response to treatment with K salts.
The effect of catecholamines on unit activity in afferent nerves from the adrenal glands
Authors: Niijima A. , Winter D. L.
Published: December 2014

1. Afferent discharges were observed in dissected filaments of nerves to the adrenal gland in the rabbit and cat.

2. Systemic intravenous and close intra‐arterial injections of (‐)‐adrenaline and (‐)‐noradrenaline caused cessation or depression of the spontaneous firing rate.

3. Intravenous injection of acetylcholine and electrical stimulation of the splanchnic nerve also depressed the afferent discharge rate.

4. Modification of blood pressure levels by chemical and mechanical means did not modify the afferent discharge.

5. Alpha blocking agents (ergotamine and phenoxybenzamine) blocked the effect of (‐)‐adrenaline on the firing rate. Beta blocking agents (dichloroisoprenaline and propranolol) were without effect.

6. It is suggested that an afferent system is present in the adrenal gland. Within this system are chemosensitive receptors which may constitute the afferent limb of a local feed‐back loop involved in adrenal catecholamine release.