Response dynamics of goldfish saccular fibers: effects of stimulus frequency and intensity on fibers with different tuning, sensitivity, and spontaneous activity

The effects of stimulus frequency and intensity on response patterns (PST histograms) to tone burst stimulation were examined in differently tuned saccular fibers of the goldfish. In addition, the sensitivity of these fibers to amplitude-modulated (AM) signals of different carrier frequencies was measured. The response patterns evoked by unmodulated signals were a complex function of tuning, spontaneous activity and sensitivity of the fiber, and the frequency and intensity of the signal. Frequency-dependent response patterns were found in low-frequency fibers with best frequencies (BF) below 200 Hz. Responses in these fibers ranged from tonic to phasic in nonspontaneous fibers and included more complex patterns in spontaneously active fibers, such as suppression of evoked activity below spontaneous levels. Midfrequency fibers (BF = 500-600 Hz) showed responses similar to those in low-frequency fibers, but with less dependence on frequency. In contrast, both high-frequency (BF = 800-1000 Hz) and wideband, untuned fibers showed frequency-invariant patterns of adaptation. High-frequency fibers were equally sensitive to AM signals at all frequencies tested. The sensitivity of low-frequency fibers to AM, however, increased as a function of carrier frequency and corresponded to the degree of adaptation in response to unmodulated tones. In general, the AM sensitivity of a fiber could be predicted more by its pattern of response to unmodulated signals than by its tuning characteristics.     

Pulsed titration sensors: Part 1: A breath-by-breath CO2 sensor

A novel electrochemical sensor for the determination of CO₂ in expired breath is described. The sensor works by generating from the reduction of O₂ in dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) in a generating pulse. There is a rapid titration reaction between the and any CO₂ present. In the recovery pulse the amount of unreacted is determined. The larger the concentration of CO₂ the less is found in the recovery pulse. The solubilities and diffusion coefficients of O₂ and CO₂ in DMSO have been determined using rotating disc voltammetry and rotation speed step experiments. The stoichiometry, the product, and the rate constant of the titration reaction have been determined using ring—disc voltammetry and laser Raman spectroscopy. The operation and the effect of adventitious water on the sensor are described. Results are presented which show that the sensor can indeed measure the breath-by-breath rhythm of expired CO₂ from a human subject.     

The decomposition of iron(III) sulfate in air

The decomposition of initially hydrated powders of iron(III) sulfate was carried out in air over the temperature range 823–923 K. The decomposition process, which gave Fe₂O₃ as a solid product, was seen to have zero-order kinetics and an activation energy of 219 kJ·mol^–1. The nature of the product and the kinetics of decomposition were the same for samples decomposed in air and in argon. Sulfate samples with additives of FeS and Fe₂O₃ were also decomposed under similar conditions and the results confirmed the zero-order kinetics (for the case of the Fe₂O₃ additives) and the lack of effect of FeS on the decomposition of iron(III) sulfate.

---

Zusammenfassung Anfänglich hydratiertes Eisen(III)-sulfatpulver wurde in Luft im Temperaturbereich 823–923 K zersetzt. Für die Reaktionsordnung des Zersetzungsprozesses, der als Endprodukt festes Fe₂O₃ lieferte, wurde Null und für die Aktivierungsenergie 219 kJ·mol^–1 ermittelt. Die Art des Produktes und der Kinetik der Zersetzung war in Luft und Argon gleich. Unter den gleichen Bedingungen wurden auch Sulfatproben mit Zusätzen von FeS und Fe₂O₃ zersetzt. Die Ergebnisse bekräftigen sowohl die nullte Reaktionsordnung (im Falle von Fe₂O₃ Zusätzen) als auch einen fehlenden Einfluß von FeS auf die Zersetzung von Eisen(III)-sulfat.

---

823–923 . , , , 219 · ^–1. . FeS Fe₂O₃ . ( Fe₂O₃) - .

---

---

This work was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences. The authors gratefully acknowledge this support.     

Mammalian reovirus core protein micro 2 initiates at the first start codon and is acetylated

Mammalian reovirus is an enteric virus that contains a double-stranded RNA genome. The genome consists of ten RNA segments that encode eight structural and three non-structural proteins. The structural proteins form a double-layered structure. The innermost layer, called the core, consists of five proteins (lambda1, lambda2, lambda3, micro 2, and sigma2). Protein lambda3 is the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and micro 2 is thought to be an RdRp cofactor. Translation of most reovirus proteins is known to commence at the first start codon. However, the translation initiation site of the viral core protein micro 2, encoded by the M1 RNA segment, has been in dispute. Although the theoretical molecular weight of micro 2 is 83 267 Da the actual molecular weight is unknown because micro 2 runs aberrantly in SDS-PAGE and has resisted characterization by Edman degradation, indicating that the amino terminus is post-translationally modified. In this study, we used proteolysis coupled with MALDI-Qq-TOFMS to determine that translation of micro 2 initiates at the first AUG codon, that its actual molecular weight approximates the theoretical value of 83 kDa, that the amino terminal methionine residue is removed, and that the next amino acid (alanine) is post-translationally acetylated.     

Direct visualization of layer-by-layer self-assembled multilayers of organometallic polymers

Direct visualization of organometallic-organic and novel all-organometallic multilayer superlattices prepared by layer-by-layer assembly of cationic/anionic polyferrocenylsilane and anionic polystyrene sulfonate polyelectrolytes using a gold coating/transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique is reported.     

Polyferrocenylsilane microspheres: synthesis,mechanism of formation,size and charge tunability,electrostatic self-assembly,and pyrolysis to spherical magnetic ceramic particles

Pt(0)-catalyzed ring-opening precipitation copolymerization of [1]silaferrocenophanes fcSiMe(2) (3) and the spirocyclic cross-linker fcSi(CH(2))(3) (4) (fc = Fe(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))(2)) was used to prepare polyferrocenylsilane microspheres (PFSMSs) under mild conditions. By varying the reaction conditions, a wide variety of other morphologies was obtained. The effects of temperature, monomer ratio, solvent composition, catalyst concentration, and time on the observed morphology were investigated and interpreted in terms of a mechanism for microsphere formation. The most well-defined particles were formed using equimolar amounts of 3 and 4, in a 50:50 mixture of xylenes and decane at 60 degrees C with gentle agitation. Chemical oxidation of the polymeric microspheres led to positively charged particles (OPFSMSs) which underwent electrostatically driven self-assembly with negatively charged silica microspheres to form core-corona composite particles. Redox titration with controlled amounts of the one-electron oxidant [N(C(6)H(4)Br-p)(3)][PF(6)] in acetonitrile led to the oxidation of the outer 0.15 microm (ca. 32%) of the PFSMSs. The resulting OPFSMSs were reduced back to their neutral form by reaction with hydrazine in methanol. Pyrolysis of the PFSMSs led to spherical magnetic ceramic replicas with tunable magnetic properties that organize into ordered 2-D arrays at the air-water interface under the influence of a magnetic field.     

The significance of high-order resonances of spherical bubbles to the acoustic response of fish with swimbladders

The high-order resonant response of spherical gas bubbles in seawater, when insonified by an acoustic pulse of 12 cycles of 38 kHz, used for target strength measurements, shows substantial variation in shape with only small changes in bubble radius. In contrast, the amplitude response of a gas bubble near its fundamental resonance changes predominantly in magnitude as the radius changes. The fundamental response is very similar to that of a more rigid target such as a tungsten carbide sphere. It might initially be thought that the high-order resonant response of spherical gas bubbles in seawater would have little relevance to the response of a gas-filled spheroidal swimbladder immersed in a viscous fish body. However, target responses similar to those predicted theoretically for gas bubbles have been found in data collected in situ for estimating target strength from normal fish populations. With further theoretical and experimental work, high-order resonances could be a useful aid to estimating target size and possibly target species.     

Hot-film anemometry for measuring lateral line stimuli

A hot-film anemometer system has been calibrated and evaluated for the measurement of sinusoidal water motions used in stimulating the mechanosensory lateral line system of a teleost fish. The response of the anemometer system to water motions created by a vibrating sphere was measured over a wide range of frequencies, intensities, and distances from the sphere. The amplitude response of the system to signals along the axis of sphere vibration was found to be linear over a 50-dB range for frequencies from 10-200 Hz, with the lowest end of the dynamic range (between 10(-8) and 10(-9) m) corresponding to physiological measures of best sensitivity in the lateral line system of the mottled sculpin, Cottus bairdi. The measured attenuation of the signal with distance was also linear over this frequency range out to distances of six times the radius ( = 3 mm) of the sphere and followed the predicted falloff rate for a dipolar source. The linear response of the anemometer system over a wide dynamic range encompassing the detection range of the lateral line system, and the match between predicted and measured motions at varying distances from a dipolar source, indicates that hot-film anemometry is a useful technique for measuring low-level, low-frequency signals likely to stimulate the lateral line system and other hydrodynamic detectors.     

An Evershed type superconducting flywheel bearing

The objective of this work is to develop a bearing using high temperature superconductors (HTSs) for use in an energy storage flywheel. The experimental apparatus includes a cylindrical rotor levitated with the Evershed design in which the majority of the levitation force is provided by a permanent magnet arrangement and the stabilization of the system is achieved by HTS elements. The design characteristics and dynamics of the bearing associated with the rotor part are presented. The instrumentation measures the out of balance force and magnetomechanical stiffness associated with the rotor. A study of the rotational losses was performed using free spin down experiments associated with magnetic field variation measurements. The results are consistent with the loss being caused by hysteresis in the superconductor due to magnet inhomogeneity.