Alcohol dependence and opiate dependence: lack of relationship in mice

According to a recently proposed hypothesis, physical dependence upon alcohol is due to the formation of an endogenous opiate. We tested the hypothesis by determining whether or not ethanol-dependent mice would show typical opiate-dependent behavior (withdrawal jumping syndrome) when challenged with the opiate antagonist naloxone. Our results do not support the hypothesis.     

Differential Rotation and Dynamics of the Solar Interior

Splitting of the sun's global oscillation frequencies by large-scale flows can be used to investigate how rotation varies with radius and latitude within the solar interior. The nearly uninterrupted observations by the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) yield oscillation power spectra with high duty cycles and high signal-to-noise ratios. Frequency splittings derived from GONG observations confirm that the variation of rotation rate with latitude seen at the surface carries through much of the convection zone, at the base of which is an adjustment layer leading to latitudinally independent rotation at greater depths. A distinctive shear layer just below the surface is discernible at low to mid-latitudes.     

Norepinephrine biosynthesis inhibition: effects on memory in mice

Diethyldithiocarbamate, a dopamine beta hydroxylase inhibitor, decreases biosynthesis of norepinephrine in the brain. The effects of this inhibitor coincide with alterations in memory as demonstrated in single-trial passive avoidance in C57BL/6J mice.     

A radar snapshot of venus

A radar brightness map of Venus has been obtain d. It reveals interesting surface features and much structure over a large area.     

A search for intergalactic hydrogen in the virgo cluster

A fixed-horn antenna having a beam 10 degrees by 10 degrees , and a switched-load radiometer with traveling-wave-maser preamplifier were used to observe the 21-cm spectrum of the Virgo cluster of galaxies. An upper limit to the antenna temperature is 0.024 degrees K relative to regions outside the cluster with filters whose width is 2 Mc/sec. If the excitation temperature of the intergalactic hydrogen is enough greater than the background continuum radiation so that absorption can be ignored, and if the velocity spectrum is that defined by the galaxies, the density of optically thin neutral hydrogen in the cluster does not exceed that outside of the cluster by an amount that gives 5.6 x 10(12) solar masses in the cluster.     

Lectin structure-activity: the story is never over

Advances in plant lectin biochemistry have made great strides during the past decade. Technical advances in biophysical techniques and molecular biology, the availability of synthetic oligosaccharides, and characterization of lectins with unique carbohydrate-binding properties are responsible for these advances. Studies in this laboratory support the view that interesting new discoveries are yet to be made. A new lectin was recently isolated from a fungus (Polyporous squamosus) that recognizes the Neu5Ac alpha2,6 Gal beta1,4 GlcNAc/Glc trisaccharide epitope with high affinity. The lectin does not interact with alpha2,3-linked Neu5Ac or Neu5Ac alpha2,6 GalNAc groups as occur in ovine submaxillary mucin. An unusual lectin with two distinctly different carbohydrate-binding sites is present in tubers of Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L). One species of sites recognizes clusters of oligomannosyl residues. The other type of binding site best accommodates a nonsialylated, triantennary oligosaccharide having LacNAc or Lacto-N-biose (Gal beta1,3GlcNAc) groups at its three nonreducing termini. The banana lectin has also been studied. It recognizes both alpha and beta1,3-linked glucosyl oligosaccharides, generates a precipitin curve with the branched trisaccharide Man alpha1,6[Man alpha1,3]Man, and binds to beta-glucans containing beta1,6-glucosyl end groups.     

Superior conjunction of pioneer 6

Spectrograms of the radio signals from Pioneer 6 were taken as the spacecraft was occulted by the sun. The spectral bandwidths increased slowly at first, then very rapidly at 1 degree from the sun. In addition, six solar "events" produced marked increases of bandwidth lasting for several hours. The received signal power seemed unaffected by the solar corona.