Visual Sensitivity Underlying Changes in Visual Consciousness

Alais, David,Cass, John,O'Shea, Robert P.,Blake, Randolph Elsevier 2010 Current biology Vol.20 No.15

<P><B>Summary</B></P><P>When viewing a different stimulus with each eye, we experience the remarkable phenomenon of binocular rivalry: alternations in consciousness between the stimuli [<ce:cross-refs refid='bib1 bib2'>1, 2</ce:cross-refs>]. According to a popular theory first proposed in 1901, neurons encoding the two stimuli engage in reciprocal inhibition [<ce:cross-refs refid='bib3 bib4 bib5 bib6 bib7 bib8'>3–8</ce:cross-refs>] so that those processing one stimulus inhibit those processing the other, yielding consciousness of one dominant stimulus at any moment and suppressing the other. Also according to the theory, neurons encoding the dominant stimulus adapt, weakening their activity and the inhibition they can exert, whereas neurons encoding the suppressed stimulus recover from adaptation until the balance of activity reverses, triggering an alternation in consciousness. Despite its popularity, this theory has one glaring inconsistency with data: during an episode of suppression, visual sensitivity to brief probe stimuli in the dominant eye should decrease over time and should increase in the suppressed eye, yet sensitivity appears to be constant [<ce:cross-refs refid='bib9 bib10'>9, 10</ce:cross-refs>]. Using more appropriate probe stimuli (experiment 1) in conjunction with a new method (experiment 2), we found that sensitivities in dominance and suppression do show the predicted complementary changes.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P><P>► We devised a new method to probe contrast sensitivity during rivalry episodes ► Sensitivity of the dominant eye declines; sensitivity of the suppressed eye improves ► Sensitivities are similar just prior to a switch of perceptual dominance ► This confirms predictions from the reciprocal inhibition theory of binocular rivalry</P>

Porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus (Gammaherpesvirinae) DNA in free-living wild boars (Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758) in Brazil

Gisele S. Porto,Raquel A. Leme,Alais M. Dall Agnol,Tatiana C.G.D. de Souza,Amauri A. Alfieri,Alice F. Alfieri 대한수의학회 2021 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.22 No.6

Background: Suid gammaherpesvirus 3, 4, and 5 (porcine lymphotropic herpesvirus – PLHV-1, -2, and -3) are viruses that infect domestic and feral pigs. Objectives: This study examined the presence of PLHV DNA in biological samples from free-living wild boars circulating in a Brazilian geographical region with a high density of commercial domestic pigs. Methods: Lung samples of 50 free-living wild boars were collected by exotic wildlife controller agents between 2017 and 2019 in the state of Paraná, southern Brazil. Lung and spleen fragments were obtained from six fetuses collected by hysterectomy post mortem from a pregnant sow. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using consensus primers (pan-herpesviruses) was performed to detect PLHV DNA. The samples showing positive results for PLHV DNA were submitted to single-round PCR assays with the specific primers for identifying PLHV-1 (213-S/215-As), PLHV-2 (208-S/212-As), and PLHV-3 (886s/886As). The specificity of the species-specific PCR products was assessed by nucleotide sequencing of the amplicons. Results: Forty-eight (96%) of the 50 lung samples analyzed were positive for PLHV by PCR using pan-herpesvirus primers. In 33 (68.75%) of the positive samples, at least two PLHV species were identified simultaneously. The DNA of PLHV-1, -2, and -3 was found in free-living wild boars of all ages, but not in the fetuses, even though they were from a sow that tested positive for all three viruses. Conclusion: These viruses are endemic to the population of feral pigs in the Brazilian region evaluated, as well as in domesticated pigs.

Etude biochimique de la fonte des fromages

LEE, B. O.,PAQUET, D.,ALAIS, C. 全北大學校 附設 畜産開發硏究所 1987 畜産開發硏究報告 Vol.1 No.-

A model system was used to measure the peptization rate during cheese processing. Capacity of peptization for orthophosphate is very limited and with polyphosphates peptization rate increases rapidly with concentration and polyphosphate polymerization. Important peptization is obtained with polyphosphates that contain at least 3 atoms of phosphorus. The influence of pH has been studied ; highest peptization is near pH 6.5. At lower pH, near isoelectric point of caseins, the peprization is very weak. There is a relationship between unsedimentable calcium proportion and peprization. The reduction of the size of protein aggregates during melting is confirmed.

Cyclic and Post-Cyclic Shear Behaviour of Interface between Geogrid and EPS Beads-Sand Backfill

Reza Alaie,Reza Jamshidi Chenari 대한토목학회 2018 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.22 No.9

Lightweight sand–EPS beads composite is a new artificial geo-material, which has been recently found applications in geotechnical engineering projects. A series of laboratory tests were carried out using a large-scale cyclic direct shear test apparatus to evaluate the monotonic, cyclic and post-cyclic behaviour of an interface between EPS-sand mixtures and a Polyfelt geogrid. EPS were added to sand at 0%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% by weight. Tests were conducted under three different vertical stresses (30 kPa, 60 kPa and 90 kPa). The influences of cyclic shear semi-amplitude, number of cycles and normal stress on interface properties are investigated. The test results revealed that for a given strain level, interface shear stiffness decreases and damping ratio was shown to increase with increasing EPS content. Hardening behaviour was observed with the number of cycles under different normal stress levels and EPS contents. The EPS-sand-geogrid specimens did not develop clear peak shear stress at monotonic and post-cyclic direct shear tests. The EPS-sand-geogrid mixtures represent an overall contraction behaviour in monotonic, cyclic and post-cyclic stages. The apparent adhesion of interface was shown to increase and the friction angle of interface to decrease with EPS content.

A novel selective H2S sensor using dodecylamine and ethylenediamine functionalized graphene oxide

M. Malek Alaie,M. Jahangiri,A.M. Rashidi,A. Haghighi Asl,N. Izadi 한국공업화학회 2015 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.29 No.-

Dodecylamine (DDA) and ethylenediamine (EDA) functionalized graphene oxide (GO) nanosensorswere synthesized by amidation methods and characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The resultsshowed that compared to pristine GO-based sensor, the DDA-GO and EDA-GO chemiresistors have asignificant response to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) down to 50 ppm at room temperature. Furthermore,operating temperature effects, H2S concentration and GO suspension concentration on sensor responseare also investigated. Functionalized graphene oxide chemiresistors offer advantages such asremarkable potential for mass production due to their ease of manufacturing, significant selectivityand performance.

COD removal from gasfield produced water using photoelectrocatalysis process on coil type microreactor

Sadegh Ebadi,Karim Ghasemipanah,Ebrahim Alaie,Alimorad Rashidi,Alireza Khataee 한국공업화학회 2021 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.98 No.-

A special type of reactor with a high active surface-to-volume ratio was used for investigation of organicpollutants degradation from a gasfield produced water by photoelectrocatalysis process. The GC–MSanalysis showed that there were more than 50 organic substances in this wastewater; therefore, COD wasconsidered as the target parameter for studying. A simple evaporation process used for decreasing highTDS of the wastewater reduced its electrical conductivity from 6300 mS/cm to 1100 mS/cm and also initialCOD decreased simultaneously from 9500 mg/L to 750 mg/L. Distilled wastewater from the evaporationprocess was treated again by the photoelectrocatalysis process using a coil type microreactor, and its CODdropped off to 143 mg/L. Instead of usual semiconductors in photoelectrocatalysis like TiO2, boron carbonnitride (BCN) nanosheets are used as a photocatalyst in this study. Investigating the impact of differentparameters on COD removal efficiency showed that the greatest COD removal efficiency (81%) wasobtained at residence time 15 min, pH = 3, applied cell voltage 20 V, electrical conductivity = 2500 mS/cmand H2O2 concentration of 8 mM.

Does Foreign Aid Affect the Environment in Developing Economies?

B.Mak Arvin,Parviz Dabir-Alai,Byron Lew 중앙대학교 경제연구소 2006 Journal of Economic Development Vol.31 No.1

Preserving the environment is important from both national and international perspectives. Similarly, the provision of foreign assistance from richer to poorer nations is often seen as an imperative. However, there is a noticeable gap in research on how aid flows are linked to the environment in developing economies. Using the method of Granger causality, this paper explores the possible linkages. Results indicate that the external debt of a developing country bears upon the relationship in important ways. The second part of the paper entertains the possibility of spurious causality, tests for cointegration, and present additional results using an error-correction model.

Combination of antibiotics and chitin synthesis inhibitors for the control of Microcerotermes diversus (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Qasem Mousavi Seyed,Reza Bandani Ali,Alaie Ebrahim 한국응용곤충학회 2020 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.23 No.4

The symbiotic microorganisms in the gut of termites play a key role in the digestion of cellulose and nitrogen metabolism. Therefore, disruption of these symbioses activity can open a door toward termite management. Thus, the current study aimed to exploit termite gut bacterial capacity in order to utilize it for efficient termite control. So, in the current study, gut bacteria of Microcerotermes diversus have been extracted, cultivated on both liquid and solid media, and screened with a range of antibiotics to find the most effective antibiotics. Results showed that chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid were the most effective antibiotics in preventing the colony unit formation of the gut bacteria amongst 16 antibiotics tested. Also, from two chitin synthesis inhibitors tested hexaflumuron with an LC 50 of 613.9 µg ml −1 was more toxic than lufenuron with an LC 50 of 1414.5 µg ml −1 . Thus, two antibiotics (chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid) were used simultaneously with a sub-lethal con centration of hexaflumuron against the termite and a variety of factors such as wood consumption rate, running speed, body water content, and tunneling activity were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Results showed that the combination of these two antibiotics (chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid) with hexaflumuron caused a significant decrease in termite consumption rate, running speed, and tunneling behavior, but didn’t affect the body water contents of termites. These results suggest that using a combination of antibiotic/s and hexaflumuron is a promising management practice to get a suitable control measure for the studied termite.