Judging the probability that the next point in an observed time-series will be below,or above,a given value

We presented people with trended and untrended time series and asked them to estimate the probability that the next point would be below each of seven different reference values. The true probabilities that the point would be below these values were 0.01, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 0.90 and 0.99. People overestimated probabilities of less than 0.50 and underestimated those of more than 0.50. Consequently, their subjective probability distributions were flatter than they should have been: people appeared to be under confident in their estimates of where the next point would lie. This bias was greater for the trended series. It was also greater in a second experiment in which people estimated the probability that the next item would be above the reference values. We discuss reasons for these effects and consider their implications for decision making.     

Amylin given by central or peripheral routes decreases gastric emptying and intestinal transit in the rat

The effect of rat amylin on gastric emptying and intestinal transit in the rat was examined. Amylin administered intracerebroventricularly (1, 2, 2.5 or 4 g/rat) produced the maximal decrease in gastric emptying and intestinal transit at the dose of 2.5 g/rat. Higher doses produced a lower effect. Peripheral administration (25, 50 or 100 g/kg) produced dose-dependent effects. Pre-treatment with neostigmine blocked the effect of amylin when it was centrally injected, while the effect of amylin given peripherally was partially reduced. Pre-treatment with domperidone decreased the inhibitory effect of peripherally injected amylin, but no effect was observed when the peptide was centrally injected.     

Vitamin A consumption in pregnant and non pregnant rats, and in castrated rats receiving or not receiving estradiol or pregnenolone; relation to tocopherol and cytochrome P-450]

Consumption of vitamin A and cytochrome P 450 by pregnant Rat is more important than in non pregnant and ovariectomised Rat. Estradiol implant in ovariectomised female has some, but slighter, influence only on retinol. These physiological situations have no action on the hepatic levels of tocopherols (total and alpha). These results are discussed.     

Surface exchange adsorption between precipitates of BaSO4 and solutions of BaCl2, Pb(NO3), CaCl2, CsCl,NaCl, and Na2CrO4

Résumé Nous avons étudié l'adsorption d'échange entre des précipités de BaSO₄ et des solutions de BaCl₂, Pb(NO₃)₂ et CaCl₂ à l'aide de «tracers». Nous avons trouvé que l'adsorption peut être représentée par l'équation (1) pour l'adsorption d'échange; la capacité d'adsorption de notre BaSO₄ était égale à 1,4 × 10^–5 éq./g. Les grandeurs caractéristiquesf, figurant dans l'équation pour l'adsorption d'échange, avaient les valeursf(Ba)=1;f(Pb)=0,44;f(Ca)=0,00137. Il n'était pas possible de démontrer l'adsorption de CsCl, NaCl or Na₂CrO₄ de solutions aqueuses.     

Mechanoelectrical transduction,ion movement and water stasis in uromodulin

Mechanical movement of a column of the urinary glycoprotein uromodulin modulates an applied voltage. This change is a property of the glycoprotein and its interaction with the walls of the container and is related to its capacitance. The voltage modulation is not accompanied by changes in rotationally restricted water as has been reported for hyaluronic acid. Diffusion experiments with tritiated water also support the hypothesis that uromodulin acts as a water barrier, but allows ion movement.     

Effects of L-aspartic acid,L-asparagine and/or L-asparaginase on forced swimming-induced immobility,analgesia, and decrease in rectal temperature in rats

Summary The effect of L-aspartic acid, L-asparagine and/or L-asparaginase were compared with those of imipramine on immobility, number of defecations, increase of nociceptive threshold, and hypothermia, induced by forced swimming in rats. L-Aspartic acid was found to be as effective as imipramine in reducing the effects of forced swimming, presumable by normalizing the decreased level of endogenous L-aspartic acid, due to the inhibition of L-asparaginase activity and/or by stimulated the inhibited enzyme. The other treatments antagonized the immobility, but not the increased number of defecations. All compounds abolished the elevation of nociceptive threshold and hypothermia.     

William Hasledine Pepys FRS: A Life in Scientific Research,Learned Societies and Technical Enterprise

In a long and many-sided career, William Hasledine Pepys (1775-1856) contributed significantly to the advancement of the chemical and physical sciences during the first half of the nineteenth century. As an original investigator he determined, in collaboration with William Allen, the composition of carbon dioxide, and the density of ammonia, and elucidated the chemical phenomena of respiration in man, animals, and plants. The success of these researches was largely due to the use of ingenious apparatus of his own invention and design. In the field of experimental physics, he investigated several aspects of the recently discovered Voltaic electricity: his 'Voltaic coil', consisting of only two plates, but of very large dimensions, was particularly suited for investigating electromagnetic phenomena and was so used in Davy's researches. Pepys was one of the co-founders of the Mineralogical and Geological Societies, and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1808. As a prominent member of both the Royal and London Institutions, he held honorary office as Manager and Vice-President, contributing materially to the direction of the affairs of these bodies. Pepys was a friend of Humphry Davy and was acquainted with nearly all the leading scientists and medical men of the day. At the same time, he superintended a notable manufacture of surgical instruments in the City, and promoted by his active directorship the affairs of two public companies, both pioneers in their technological fields, namely the Imperial Continental Gas Association, which was active in introducing the new gas illumination to cities and towns across Europe, and the General Steam Navigation Company, which first maintained a regular passenger and cargo service to Continental ports by the exclusive use of steam-propelled vessels. Pepys' advice in scientific and technical matters was widely sought and freely given; he retained his mental powers to the end of his long life, fulfilling his professional commitments until a few days before his death.     

Mechanoelectrical transduction, ion movement and water stasis in uromodulin.

Mechanical movement of a column of the urinary glycoprotein uromodulin modulates an applied voltage. This change is a property of the glycoprotein and its interaction with the walls of the container and is related to its capacitance. The voltage modulation is not accompanied by changes in rotationally restricted water as has been reported for hyaluronic acid. Diffusion experiments with tritiated water also support the hypothesis that uromodulin acts as a water barrier, but allows ion movement.     

Vitamin D3 sulfoconjugate distribution and evolution in pregnant or lactating rats]

24 hrs after intravenous injection of vitamin D3 35S sulfoconjugate the radioactivity in kidney is about twice as much in pregnant Rats as in lactating Rats. It decreases from 24 to 48 hrs in pregnant but increases in lactating Rats kidneys. Hydrolysis of vitamin 3H D3 sulfate is detected in kidney and liver extracts, the ratio of free vitamin D3 on vitamin D3 sulfate is higher in pregnant than in lactating animals. Mammary glands of lactating Rats contain mainly the unchanged vitamin D3 sulfate which can be hydrolysed by new born suckling pups.     

Antidiuretic and thermogenic effects of intracerebroventricular prostaglandin H2 in ethanol-anaesthetized rats

Summary When PGH₂ was administered intracerebroventricularly at doses of 5 and 15 nmoles in ethanol-anaesthetized rats, alcohol diuresis was inhibited and rectal temperature, blood pressure and heart rate were all significantly increased.     

Changes in total and polymerized tubulin of the medial basal hypothalamus and adenohypophysis of castrated or hormone-injected rats

Summary Treatment of orchidectomized rats with LH, FSH or prolactin decreased the tubulin content of the medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), whereas FSH or prolactin augmented it in the adenohypophysis (AH). After castration, negative correlations existed between serum LH and total or polymerized MBH tubulin, whereas in the AH positive correlations were found. After estradiol-progesterone treatment of spayed rats a significant correlation was found between serum LH and the percentage of AH tubulin in the polymerized form.Deceased November 24, 1979This study was supported in part by grants from the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CON-ICET), Argentina (grant n^o 6638) and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship to DPC.     

Effect of cortisone or triiodothyronine administration to pregnant rats on lysosomal hydrolases in fetal forebrain and cerebellum

Triiodothyronine injected daily to pregnant rats for the last week of gestation (50 microgram/100 g b.wt) increased the specific activities of 5 acid glycosidases in the fetal forebrain and cerebellum. Cortisone (50 mg/100 g b.wt) administered in the same period had no effect on cerebellum acid hydrolases, but decreased their activity in the forebrain.     

Effect of cortisone or triiodothyronine administration to pregnant rats on lysosomal hydrolases in fetal forebrain and cerebellum

Summary Triiodothyronine injected daily to pregnant rats for the last week of gestation (50 g/100 g b.wt) increased the specific activities of 5 acid glycosidases in the fetal forebrain and cerebellum. Cortisone (50 mg/100 g b.wt) administered in the same period had no effect on cerebellum acid hydrolases, but decreased their activity in the forebrain.Supported by grant No. HD 08536 from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.     

Elevation of hepatic tyrosine 2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase in rats by 4-pentynoic acid,a hypoglycemic agent

Zusammenfassung 4-Pentinsäure, ein hypoglykämisches Mittel, vermehrte Leber-Tyrosinaminotransferase in intakten, nicht aber in adrenalektomierten Ratten.     

Urinary excretion of C14-histamine and metabolites in cats after C14-histamine given intravenously,and into the cerebral ventricles

Zusammenfassung In narkotisierte Katzen wurde C¹⁴-Histamin entweder durch Hirnventrikel perfundiert oder intravenös injiziert. Seine Ausscheidung und Metabolite in Urin wurde gleichzeitig bestimmt: Ca. 2% des durch die Hirnventrikel perfundierten C¹⁴-Histamins wurde im Blutstrom resorbiert.