Element-selective imaging of atomic columns in a crystal using STEM and EELS

Microstructure characterization has become indispensable to the study of complex materials, such as strongly correlated oxides, and can obtain useful information about the origin of their physical properties. Although atomically resolved measurements have long been possible, an important goal in microstructure characterization is to achieve element-selective imaging at atomic resolution. A combination of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) and electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) is a promising technique for atomic-column analysis. However, two-dimensional analysis has not yet been performed owing to several difficulties, such as delocalization in inelastic scattering or instrumentation instabilities. Here we demonstrate atomic-column imaging of a crystal specimen using localized inelastic scattering and a stabilized scanning transmission electron microscope. The atomic columns of La, Mn and O in the layered manganite La1.2Sr1.8Mn2O7 are visualized as two-dimensional images.     

Synapse elimination in the developing cerebellum

Neural circuits in neonatal animals contain numerous redundant synapses that are functionally immature. During the postnatal period, unnecessary synapses are eliminated while functionally important synapses become stronger and mature. The climbing fiber (CF) to the Purkinje cell (PC) synapse is a representative model for the analysis of postnatal refinement of neuronal circuits in the central nervous system. PCs are initially innervated by multiple CFs with similar strengths around postnatal day 3 (P3). Only a single CF is selectively strengthened during P3–P7 (functional differentiation), and the strengthened CF undergoes translocation from soma to dendrites of PCs from P9 on (dendritic translocation). Following the functional differentiation, supernumerary CF synapses on the soma are eliminated, which proceeds in two distinct phases: the early phase from P7 to around P11 and the late phase from around P12 to P17. Here, we review our current understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms of CF synapse elimination in the developing cerebellum.     

Recent structural studies of carbohydrate-binding modules

Carbohydrate-binding modules (CBMs) are found in many carbohydrate-active enzymes. CBMs bind to a range of polysaccharides, their primary function being to increase the catalytic efficiency of the carbohydrate-active enzymes against soluble and/or insoluble substrates. CBMs bind to their target ligands with high specificities and affinities. Thus, CBM systems are excellent models to study the mechanism of protein-carbohydrate interaction. To date, CBMs have been classified into 45 different families and many structural and functional studies have been reported. At present, three-dimensional structures of CBMs from 31 different families have been determined. These structures demonstrate that the fold most commonly found in CBMs is the β-sandwich. In the past few years, about 10 new structures from different families have been reported. These enable detailed classification of CBM structures. This article reviews recent structural and functional studies of CBMs and discusses the sub-classification of β-sandwich CBMs. Received 28 April 2006; received after revision 12 July 2006; accepted 14 September 2006     

Germline loss-of-function mutations in SPRED1 cause a neurofibromatosis 1-like phenotype

We report germline loss-of-function mutations in SPRED1 in a newly identified autosomal dominant human disorder. SPRED1 is a member of the SPROUTY/SPRED family of proteins that act as negative regulators of RAS->RAF interaction and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. The clinical features of the reported disorder resemble those of neurofibromatosis type 1 and consist of multiple café-au-lait spots, axillary freckling and macrocephaly. Melanocytes from a café-au-lait spot showed, in addition to the germline SPRED1 mutation, an acquired somatic mutation in the wild-type SPRED1 allele, indicating that complete SPRED1 inactivation is needed to generate a café-au-lait spot in this syndrome. This disorder is yet another member of the recently characterized group of phenotypically overlapping syndromes caused by mutations in the genes encoding key components of the RAS-MAPK pathway. To our knowledge, this is the first report of mutations in the SPRY (SPROUTY)/SPRED family of genes in human disease.     

The effect of glycine on serum luteinizing hormone in adult female rats

Summary The response of serum luteinizing hormone to glycine has been studied during the estrous cycle in adult female rats. I.p. administration of 200 mg of glycine significantly elevated serum luteinizing hormone levels at all stages of the estrous cycle.The authors wish to express their gratitude to Dr A.F. Parlow, NIAMDD Rat Pituitary Hormone Program, for the kind supply of radioimmunoassay kits.     

Ultrastrukturelle Aspekte des supraoptikohypophysären Systems in der hypophysektomierten Ratte

Summary The supraoptico-hypophyseal system in the hypophysectomized rat was studied by electron microscopy. Light microscopic observations hitherto reported that, after hypophysectomy the proximal cut end of the infundibular stalk becomes reorganized into a neural lobelike organ, could be reconfirmed. The ultrastructural aspect of the supraoptic cells following hypophysectomy was also described.     

Beta-adrenergic blocking effect of dichloroisoprenaline (DCI), (H 56/28, I.C.I. 50172, LB 46), methoxamine (MJ 1999) and propranolol on the sinus node activity of the dog heart

Zusammenfassung Der Hemmungseffekt sieben-adrenergischer Blockierungsmittel auf positive chronotrope Wirkung bei zunehmender Dosierung von Isoprenalin wurde durch Verabreichung in die Sinusknotenarterie vergleichend untersucht. Reihenfolge der Wirksamkeit: LB 46, H 56/28, Propranolol>I.C.I. 50172, DCI>MJ 1999>Methoxamin.     

Experimental study on the in-plane thermal conductivity of Au nanofilms

The in-plane thermal conductivity of Au nanofilms with thickness of 23 nm, which are fabricated by the electron beam-physical vapor deposition method and a suspension technology, is experimentally measured at 80-300 K by a one-dimensional steady-state electrical heating method. Strong size effects are found on the measured nanofilm thermal conductivity. The Au nanofilm in-plane thermal conductivity is much less than that of the bulk material. With the increasing temperature, the nanofilm thermal conductivity increases. This is opposite to the temperature dependence of the bulk property. The Lorenz number of the Au nanofilms is about three times larger than the bulk value and decreases with the increasing temperature, which indicates the invalidity of the Wiedemann-Franz law for metallic nanofilms.     

FORMATION OF SOCIAL NORMS IN COMMUNICATING AGENTS WITH COGNITIVE FRAMEWORKS

1 IntroductionWe study how individuals' actions form social norms and the actions are edicted by thenorms in a social system. Action is a set of oriented processes[1], namelyl individualsl acttoward some objects, whether intelltionally or unintentionally. Orientations to objects fromindividuals are conceived as structured or patterned in a social system. Namelyl there are someconsistencies or regularities between the orientations and actions of dtherelit indi.id.al,[21. 'Thestructure forms th…