Influence of cortisol and dexamethasone on estrous behavior of estradiol-treated ovariectomized cows and heifers

Two experiments were conducted with estradiol-treated ovariectomized cows and heifers to determine if cortisol and dexamethasone inhibit estrous behavior. In Experiment 1, eight ovariectomized Holstein cows were subjected to weekly hormonal treatments in a replicated 4 X 4 Latin square. Treatments consisted of 500 micrograms estradiol benzoate and either 0, 40, 80, or 160 mg cortisol. During the 48 h after hormonal injection, 2-h periods of observation were alternated with 2-h periods of no observation. During each observation period, cows were observed continuously for 14 behavioral interactions that increase in frequency at estrus. Percentage of cows exhibiting estrus, interval from injection of hormones to the onset of estrus, duration of estrus, and total numbers of each behavioral interaction were similar for all treatments. In Experiment 2, 10 ovariectomized Holstein heifers were subjected to weekly hormonal treatments in a replicated 5 X 5 Latin square. Treatments consisted of 500 micrograms estradiol benzoate and either 4 mg dexamethasone, 0, 50, 100, or 200 mg cortisol. The estradiol benzoate plus dexamethasone treatment tended to lower the percentage of cattle exhibiting estrus. Interval from injection to onset of estrus, duration of estrus, and total numbers of each behavioral interaction were similar for all treatments. These data indicate that cortisol given with estradiol did not inhibit estrus in ovariectomized cows and heifers, whereas dexamethasone tended to inhibit induced estrus.     

Mania and low self-esteem.

Tested the theory that although bipolar patients do not report low self-esteem, they do possess a cognitive schema of low self-esteem. 16 remitted bipolars (mean age 47.4 yrs), 16 remitted depressives (mean age 42.1 yrs), and 16 normals (mean age 43.4 yrs) completed a self-report battery consisting of the Self-Report Inventory, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, and a measure of self-deception. Ss also completed a task designed to assess whether self-esteem influenced inferences about the causes of imagined events. Results show that remitted bipolars scored the same as normals and higher than remitted depressives on self-esteem, and they scored higher than the other groups on both social desirability and self-deception. Remitted bipolars' inferences about the causes of failures resembled those of a depressive, suggesting the presence of a low self-worth schema. Data are consistent with the view that bipolar patients have negative feelings of self that are not revealed on usual self-report inventories. Because remitted depressives showed a depressive attributional style on the inference task, issues concerning the mood dependence of depressive cognitions are discussed. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Equalization in coherent lightwave systems using a fractionallyspaced equalizer

The performance of a fractionally spaced analog tapped delay line equalizer that has the advantages of being adaptive, being capable of equalizing other linear distortions such as polarization dispersion and nonideal receiver response, and eliminating chromatic dispersion over any distance if a sufficient number of taps are used is discussed. It is shown how this equalizer can be implemented at intermediate frequency and at baseband (for homodyne detection). Results show that an N-tap equalizer increases the maximum bit rate distance approximately (N-1)/twofold (e.g. a threefold increase in distance with a seven-tap equalizer)     

The role of trait emotional intelligence in gamers’ preferences for play and frequency of gaming

This paper examines the role of trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) in gamers’ preferences for play and frequency of gaming in a sample of 1051 young adult US/European gamers, who play frequently the online massively multiplayer game, World of Warcraft (WoW). Trait EI was shown to predict social and achievement preferences for play as well as frequency of gaming. In particular, trait EI was positively correlated to a preference for social practices per se and negatively correlated to a preference for achievement-oriented, instrumental practices. These findings advocate that gamers’ preferences for play are in accordance with their emotion-related personality characteristics. Trait EI was also negatively associated with frequency of gaming suggesting that lower scorers on trait EI are more likely associated with more frequent game use.     

Contribution of NMDA and non-NMDA receptors to synaptic transmission from the brachium of the inferior colliculus to the medial subdivision of the medial geniculate nucleus in the rabbit

Previous work from this laboratory has demonstrated that monosynaptic inputs from the brachium of the inferior colliculus (BIC) to the medial subdivision of the medial geniculate nucleus (mMG) strengthen as a result of associative conditioning with an acoustic conditioned stimulus (i.e., fear conditioning). One model that has been proposed to underlie certain types of neuronal plasticity involves the recruitment of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relative contributions of glutamatergic NMDA and non-NMDA receptors to synaptic transmission within this pathway. Individual contributions of the specific receptor types were assessed through the use of 2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5), a selective NMDA receptor antagonist, and 6-cyano-5-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX), a non-NMDA receptor antagonist. Bipolar stimulating electrodes were stereotaxically implanted in BIC and recording electrodes (attached to dual 32-gauge cannulae for delivery of drug) were positioned in mMG of New Zealand albino rabbits. Single pulses (150 micros, 100-350 microA) delivered to BIC resulted in short-latency (<4 ms) responses in mMG. BIC-evoked single-unit activity was recorded from mMG before, during, and at several intervals after injection of AP5, CNQX, and/or artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). Injection of either AP5 or CNQX, but not ACSF, significantly attenuated the short-latency BIC-evoked responses in the vast majority of cells tested. These findings suggest that the monosynaptic pathway from BIC to mMG is glutamatergic and that this pathway frequently employs NMDA-type receptors during electrically stimulated synaptic transmission. Due to the NMDA receptors' proposed role in plasticity (e.g., long-term potentiation), these results may have implications for understanding the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity observed at this synapse during associative learning.     

Implications of enhancing critical flux of particulates by AC fields in RO desalination and reclamation

This paper discusses fouling in reverse osmosis in terms of the critical flux of foulants and the fouling mechanisms based on hydraulic resistance and loss of driving force due to cake-enhanced osmotic pressure (CEOP). In many cases CEOP is the dominant effect and this is exacerbated by the use of constant flux processing. The implications of increasing critical flux are described and the potential benefit of using AC field gradients to do this is illustrated for a model foulant.