Improved antenna pattern recorder provides visual display of RF power

Antenna pattern recording system has a discretionary signal level monitor which senses a specified minimum level occurring between sampling intervals. This enables RF power and percent coverage to be calculated more accurately

Measurement technique for the determination of antenna directivity

Measurement of great circle patterns requires rotation in azimuth with discrete rotation in elevation. This technique eliminates a set of slip-rings and rotary joints and permits the use of larger models since only continuous azimuth rotation is required

Automatic reference level control for an antenna pattern recording system

Automatic gain control system keeps recorder reference levels within 0.2 decibels during operation. System reduces recorder drift during antenna radiation distribution determinations over an eight hour period

Spelling, phonology and etymology in Hittite historical linguistics, a review article on Kloekhorst, A. Etymological Dictionary of the Hittite Inherited Lexicon (Leiden: 2008)

This review article addresses the representation of glottal stops in Akkadian and Hittite cuneiform

The C-type natriuretic peptide induces thermal hyperalgesia through a noncanonical Gβγ-dependent modulation of TRPV1 channel

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) control natriuresis and normalize changes in blood pressure. Recent studies suggest that NPs are also involved in the regulation of pain sensitivity, although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Many biological effects of NPs are mediated by guanylate cyclase (GC)-coupled NP receptors, NPR-A and NPR-B, whereas the third NP receptor, NPR-C, lacks the GC kinase domain and acts as the NP clearance receptor. In addition, NPR-C can couple to specific Gα(i)-βγ-mediated intracellular signaling cascades in numerous cell types. We found that NPR-C is co-expressed in TRPV1-expressing mouse DRG neurons. NPR-C can be co-immunoprecipitated with Gα(i), and CNP treatment induced translocation of PKCε to the plasma membrane of these neurons, which was inhibited by pertussis toxin pre-treatment. Application of CNP potentiated capsaicin- and proton-activated TRPV1 currents in cultured mouse DRG neurons, and increased neuronal firing frequency, an effect that was absent in DRG neurons from TRPV1(−/−) mice. CNP-induced sensitization of TRPV1 activity was attenuated by pre-treatment of DRG neurons with the specific inhibitors of Gβγ, PLCβ or PKC, but not of PKA, and was abolished by mutations at two PKC phosphorylation sites in TRPV1. Further, CNP injection into mouse hind paw led to the development of thermal hyperalgesia that was attenuated by administration of specific inhibitors of Gβγ or TRPV1, and was also absent in TRPV1(−/−) mice. Thus, our work identifies the Gβγ-PLCβ-PKC-dependent potentiation of TRPV1 as a novel signaling cascade recruited by CNP in mouse DRG neurons that can lead to enhanced nociceptor excitability and thermal hypersensitivity

Failing Corporate Tax Transparency and the Immediate Need to Reduce Overburdening Duplicative Tax Reporting Requirements

The benefits to corporate taxpayers from the continuing additions to disclosure requirements have not been obvious. Despite expenditures by corporate taxpayers on compliance, there is evidence that the Service has not been using all of the information it receives from additional disclosure forms.28 Duplicative disclosures of the same or similar tax information that lead to additional costs are of immediate concern to the corporate taxpayer.29 The estimated corporate taxpayers’ compliance tax burden is summarized in Appendix 1. Part II of this article describes in detail key existing reporting requirements such as reportable transaction disclosure statement and Form 8886, disclosure statements and Forms 8275 and 8275-R, net income (loss) reconciliation disclosure form and Schedule M-3, and disclosure of uncertain tax positions through Schedule UTP. Part III of this article highlights the duplicative disclosures required by these forms and schedules and proposes means to reduce redundant duplicative reporting. The duplicative disclosures are thereafter summarized in Appendix 2. Part IV discusses possible solutions to mitigation of duplicative reporting requirements and suggests creation and implementation of a comprehensive disclosure form that should replace the existing reporting mechanism in order to achieve the desired transparency and efficiency. Lastly, Part V concludes this article

Rhinosporidium seeberi proven as a fungus for the first time after a century since its discovery

The 18S rRNA gene sequencing of a pure microorganism isolated in pure culture from human rhinosporidiosis cases coded UMH.48 and preserved at 4oC, and, the fungal extracts of biopsy from new cases of nasal rhinosporidiosis were done. Both the sequences were compared for the presence any identical regions by BLAST tool. Astonishingly both the sequences showed 100% identity with each other. The sequences were further compared with the sequences present in NCBI database, followed by sequences of specific organisms like Mesomycetozoa sp and Synchytrium sp. Based on the morphological features, life cycle and BLAST analysis the organism UMH.48 was categorized as a Fungus. The sequences of UMH.48 and sequences from the fungus extracts from new tissue biopsies were deposited in Genbank with accession numbers JN807465 and JN807466 respectively. This paper reports the identity of 18S rRNA sequences between the pure, preserved, isolate with those obtained from biopsies of nasal rhinosporidiosis obtained from totally new cases. Our isolate has been tentatively identified as a lower aquatic fungus with 100% alignment with Colletotrichum truncatum and Glomerulla sps and lesser score similarity with Synchytrium minutum. Yet the absence of a perfect sexual phase or any asexual fungal spores, very rare  microscopic morphology, life cycle and remarkable resemblance with members of lower aquatic fungi led us to surmise (also through personal communication with NCBI, Taxonomy expert) that the isolate is a Fungus (unknown) and not an Ascomycete

Conditional deletion of Pip5k1c in sensory ganglia and effects on nociception and inflammatory sensitization

Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type 1 gamma (Pip5k1c) generates phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, also known as PI(4,5)P2 or PIP2. Many pronociceptive signaling pathways and receptor tyrosine kinases signal via PIP2 hydrolysis. Previously, we found that pain signaling and pain sensitization were reduced in Pip5k1c+/− global heterozygous knockout mice. Here, we sought to evaluate the extent to which dorsal root ganglia selective deletion of Pip5k1c affected nociception in mice. Initially, we crossed sensory neuron-selective Advillin-Cre mice with a conditional Pip5k1c knockout (cKO) allele (Pip5k1cfl/fl). However, these mice displayed an early onset proprioceptive deficit. To bypass this early onset phenotype, we used two different tamoxifen-inducible Cre lines (Brn3a-Cre-ERT2 and Advillin-Cre-ERT2) to conditionally delete Pip5k1c in adults. Tamoxifen induced high efficiency deletion of PIP5K1C in dorsal root ganglia and slightly reduced PIP5K1C in spinal cord and brain in Brn3a-Cre-ERT2 × Pip5k1cfl/fl (Brn3a cKO) mice while PIP5K1C was selectively deleted in dorsal root ganglia with no changes in spinal cord or brain in Advillin-Cre-ERT2 × Pip5k1cfl/fl (Advil cKO) mice. Acute thermosensation and mechanosensation were not altered in either line relative to wild-type mice. However, thermal hypersensitivity and mechanical allodynia recovered more rapidly in Brn3a cKO mice, but not Advil cKO mice, following hind paw inflammation. These data collectively suggest that PIP5K1C regulates nociceptive sensitization in more regions of the nervous system than dorsal root ganglia alone

UMH.48 (NCBI JN807465) the Fungus causing Rhinosporidiosis is sensitive to anti fungal

UMH.48, JN807465, a fungus causing Rhinosporidiosis was isolated in pure culture from biopsies from patients with nasal Rhinosporidiosis. It was  identified as a lower aquatic fungus by 18S rRNA gene sequencing which compared 100% similar to the sequences from fungal extract of the tissue, thus establishing the etiologic role of UMH.48 in Rhinosporidiosis. UMH.48 18S rRNA sequence showed significant similarity with Synchytridium minutum and very low varying percentages of similarity with Mycobacterium sps., Corynebactrium sps., and Actinomycetales. The organism was tested for susceptibility and sensitivity to antibiotics and antifungal drugs such as  Norfloxacin, Dapsone, Rifampicin and Amphotericin B. UMH.48 was highly sensitive to Amphotericin B and Rifampicin. It was resistant to Dapsone at the concentrations tested