Simultaneous estimation of global background synaptic inhibition and excitation from membrane potential fluctuations in layer III neurons of the rat entorhinal cortex in vitro

It is becoming clear that the detection and integration of synaptic input and its conversion into an output signal in cortical neurons are strongly influenced by background synaptic activity or "noise." The majority of this noise results from the spontaneous release of synaptic transmitters, interacting with ligand-gated ion channels in the postsynaptic neuron [Berretta N, Jones RSG (1996); A comparison of spontaneous synaptic EPSCs in layer V and layer II neurones in the rat entorhinal cortex in vitro. J Neurophysiol 76:1089-1110; Jones RSG, Woodhall GL (2005) Background synaptic activity in rat entorhinal cortical neurons: differential control of transmitter release by presynaptic receptors. J Physiol 562:107-120; LoTurco JJ, Mody I, Kriegstein AR (1990) Differential activation of glutamate receptors by spontaneously released transmitter in slices of neocortex. Neurosci Lett 114:265-271; Otis TS, Staley KJ, Mody I (1991) Perpetual inhibitory activity in mammalian brain slices generated by spontaneous GABA release. Brain Res 545:142-150; Ropert N, Miles R, Korn H (1990) Characteristics of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in CA1 pyramidal neurones of rat hippocampus. J Physiol 428:707-722; Salin PA, Prince DA (1996) Spontaneous GABAA receptor-mediated inhibitory currents in adult rat somatosensory cortex. J Neurophysiol 75:1573-1588; Staley KJ (1999) Quantal GABA release: noise or not? Nat Neurosci 2:494-495; Woodhall GL, Bailey SJ, Thompson SE, Evans DIP, Stacey AE, Jones RSG (2005) Fundamental differences in spontaneous synaptic inhibition between deep and superficial layers of the rat entorhinal cortex. Hippocampus 15:232-245]. The function of synaptic noise has been the subject of debate for some years, but there is increasing evidence that it modifies or controls neuronal excitability and, thus, the integrative properties of cortical neurons. In the present study we have investigated a novel approach [Rudolph M, Piwkowska Z, Badoual M, Bal T, Destexhe A (2004) A method to estimate synaptic conductances from membrane potential fluctuations. J Neurophysiol 91:2884-2896] to simultaneously quantify synaptic inhibitory and excitatory synaptic noise, together with postsynaptic excitability, in rat entorhinal cortical neurons in vitro. The results suggest that this is a viable and useful approach to the study of the function of synaptic noise in cortical networks. © 2007 IBRO.

Public opinion and the making of foreign policy in the 'New Europe':a comparative study of Poland and Ukraine

Since 1989, by drawing a new boundary between the EU and its eastern neighbours, the European Union has created a frontier that has been popularly described in the frontier states as the new 'Berlin Wall'. This book is the first comparative study of the impact of public opinion on the making of foreign policy in two eastern European states that live on either side of the new European divide: Poland and Ukraine. Focusing on the vocal, informed segment of public opinion and drawing on results of both opinion polls and a series of innovative focus groups gathered since the Orange Revolution, Nathaniel Copsey unravels the mystery of how this crucial segment of the public impacts on foreign policy-makers in both states. In developing this argument, Copsey takes a closer look at the business community and how important economic factors are in forming public opinion. Filling a gap in the literature currently available on the topic, this book presents a fresh approach to our understanding of Polish-Ukrainian relations and how the public's view of the past influences contemporary politics. It is an ideal resource for those researching in the field of Russian and Eastern European Studies.

Study of neutral Fe(III) complexes of pyridoxal-N-substituted thiosemicarbazone with desolvation induced spin-state transformation above room temperature

The preparation and characterization of two new neutral ferric complexes with desolvation-induced discontinuous spin-state transformation above room temperature are reported. The compounds, Fe(Hthpy)(thpy).CH3OH.3H2O (1) and Fe(Hmthpy)(mthpy).2H2O (2), are low-spin (LS) at room temperature and below, whereas their nonsolvated forms are high-spin (HS), exhibiting zero-field splitting. In these complexes, Hthpy, Hmthpy, and thpy, mthpy are the deprotonated forms of pyridoxal thiosemicarbazone and pyridoxal methylthiosemicarbazone, respectively; each is an O,N,S-tridentate ligand. The molecular structures have been determined at 100(1) K using single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques and resulted in a triclinic system (space group P1) and monoclinic unit cell (space group P21/c) for 1 and 2, respectively. Structures were refined to the final error indices, where RF = 0.0560 for 1 and RF = 0.0522 for 2. The chemical inequivalence of the ligands was clearly established, for the "extra" hydrogen atom on the monodeprotonated ligands (Hthpy, Hmthpy) was found to be bound to the nitrogen of the pyridine ring. The ligands are all of the thiol form; the doubly deprotonated chelates (thpy, mthpy) have C-S bond lengths slightly longer than those of the singly deprotonated forms. There is a three-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds in both compounds. The discontinuous spin-state transformation is accompanied with liberation of solvate molecules. This is evidenced also from DSC analysis. Heat capacity data for the LS and HS phases are tabulated at selected temperatures, the values of the enthalpy and entropy changes connected with the change of spin state were reckoned at DeltaH = 12.5 0.3 kJ mol-1 and DeltaS = 33.3 0.8 J mol-1 K-1, respectively, for 1 and DeltaH = 6.5 0.3 kJ mol-1 and DeltaS = 17.6 0.8 J mol-1 K-1, respectively, for 2

The political economy of Poland's transition:New Firms and Reform Governments, J. Jackson, J. Klich, K. Poznanska. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (2005), (xvi+277 pp., £45/$80, ISBN 0-521-83895-9)

Book review

The influence of newer member states in the European Union:the case of Poland and the Eastern partnership

This article seeks to examine and assess the role of Poland in the early stages of the making of the Eastern Partnership of the European Union. First, it briefly reviews Poland's aims and ambitions with regard to the European Union's policy towards its eastern neighbours, both before and since it joined the European Union in 2004. Second, it describes and analyses the Eastern Partnership, including its added value for the European Neighbourhood Policy. Third, it draws on a range of interviews carried out by the authors in Brussels and Warsaw on Poland's role in the initial formation of the Eastern Partnership, as seen by its partners in the other member states and European institutions. In addition, it seeks to unpack some of the early stage lessons learnt by the Polish government about how best to achieve its ambitions in the European Union, and notes the remaining weaknesses of the Polish administration, particularly in the area of administrative capacity. © 2013 University of Glasgow.

Crystal structure and magnetic behaviour of a five-coordinate iron(III) complex of pyridoxal-4-methylthiosemicarbazone

The crystal structure and magnetic properties of a penta-coordinate iron(III) complex of pyridoxal-4-methylthiosemicarbazone, [Fe(Hmthpy)Cl](CHCHSO), are reported. The synthesised ligand and the metal complex were characterised by spectroscopic methods (H NMR, IR, and mass spectroscopy), elemental analysis, and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The complex crystallises as dark brown microcrystals. The crystal data determined at 100(1) K revealed a triclinic system, space group P over(1, ¯) (Z = 2). The ONSCl geometry around the iron(III) atom is intermediate between trigonal bipyramidal and square pyramidal (t = 0.40). The temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility (5-300 K) is consistent with a high spin Fe(III) ion (S = 5/2) exhibiting zero-field splitting. Interpretation of these data yielded: D = 0.34(1) cm and g = 2.078(3). © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis and characterization of some Mn(II) and Mn(III) complexes of N,N′-o-phenylenebis(salicylideneimine)(LH2) and N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5-bromosalicylideneimine)(L′H2). Crystal structures of [Mn(L)(H2O)(ClO4)], [Mn(L)(NCS)] and an infinite linear chain of [Mn(L)(OAc)]

A series of manganese(II) [Mn(L)] and manganese(III) [Mn(L)(X)] (X = ClO4, OAc, NCS, N3, Cl, Br and I) complexes have been synthesized from Schiff base ligands N,N′-o- phenylenebis(salicylideneimine)(LH2) and N,N′-o-phenylenebis(5- bromosalicylideneimine)(L′H2) obtained by condensation of salicylaldehyde or 5-Br salicylaldehyde with o-phenylene-diamine. The complexes have been characterized by the combination of IR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, magnetic measurements and electrochemical studies. Three manganese(III) complexes 3 [Mn(L)(ClO4)(H2O)], 5 [Mn(L)(OAc)] and 13 [Mn(L)(NCS)] have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The X-ray structures show that the manganese(III) is hexa-coordinated in 3, it is penta-coordinated in 13, while in 5 there is an infinite chain where the MnL moieties are connected by acetate ions acting as bridging bidentate ligand. The cyclic voltammograms of all the manganese(III) complexes exhibit two reversible/quasi-reversible/ irreversible responses assignable to Mn(III)/Mn(II) and Mn(IV)/Mn(III) couples. It was observed that the ligand L′H2 containing the 5-bromosal moiety always stabilizes the lower oxidation states compared to the corresponding unsubstituted LH2. Cyclic voltammograms of the manganese(II) complexes (1 and 2) exhibit a quasi-reversible Mn(III)/Mn(II) couple at E1/2 -0.08 V for 1 and 0.054 V for 2. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The SCUBA HAlf degree extragalactic survey - III. Identification of radio and mid-infrared counterparts to submillimetre galaxies

Determining an accurate position for a submillimetre (submm) galaxy (SMG) is the crucial step that enables us to move from the basic properties of an SMG sample - source counts and 2D clustering - to an assessment of their detailed, multiwavelength properties, their contribution to the history of cosmic star formation and their links with present-day galaxy populations. In this paper, we identify robust radio and/or infrared (IR) counterparts, and hence accurate positions, for over two-thirds of the SCUBA HAlf-Degree Extragalactic Survey (SHADES) Source Catalogue, presenting optical, 24-μm and radio images of each SMG. Observed trends in identification rate have given no strong rationale for pruning the sample. Uncertainties in submm position are found to be consistent with theoretical expectations, with no evidence for significant additional sources of error. Employing the submm/radio redshift indicator, via a parametrization appropriate for radio-identified SMGs with spectroscopic redshifts, yields a median redshift of 2.8 for the radio-identified subset of SHADES, somewhat higher than the median spectroscopic redshift. We present a diagnostic colour-colour plot, exploiting Spitzer photometry, in which we identify regions commensurate with SMGs at very high redshift. Finally, we find that significantly more SMGs have multiple robust counterparts than would be expected by chance, indicative of physical associations. These multiple systems are most common amongst the brightest SMGs and are typically separated by 2-6 arcsec, similar to 15-20/sin i kpc at z~ 2, consistent with early bursts seen in merger simulations.

Commentary on the Statute of Monopolies 1624

Legislation restricting the monarch's ability to make monopoly grants in accordance with the royal prerogative, and providing a statutory basis for the patent system. The legislation established the basis upon which patents for "new manufacture[s]" might be granted to "the true and first inventor" of the same in furthering the interests of industry, the economy, and the state. At the same time, privileges concerning printing were left unaffected by the legislation, as were those for the manufacture of saltpetre or gunpowder and for the casting and making of ordnance (canons). In limiting the term of protection for future patents to 14 years while confining existing patents for the same to a period of 21 years, the legislation influenced the choice of the two copyright terms in the Statute of Anne 1710.

King of the Renaissance: Art and Politics at the Neapolitan Court of Ferrante I, 1458-1494

In the second half of the fifteenth century, King Ferrante I of Naples (r. 1458-1494) dominated the political and cultural life of the Mediterranean world. His court was home to artists, writers, musicians, and ambassadors from England to Egypt and everywhere in between. Yet, despite its historical importance, Ferrante’s court has been neglected in the scholarship. This dissertation provides a long-overdue analysis of Ferrante’s artistic patronage and attempts to explicate the king’s specific role in the process of art production at the Neapolitan court, as well as the experiences of artists employed therein. By situating Ferrante and the material culture of his court within the broader discourse of Early Modern art history for the first time, my project broadens our understanding of the function of art in Early Modern Europe. I demonstrate that, contrary to traditional assumptions, King Ferrante was a sophisticated patron of the visual arts whose political circumstances and shifting alliances were the most influential factors contributing to his artistic patronage. Unlike his father, Alfonso the Magnanimous, whose court was dominated by artists and courtiers from Spain, France, and elsewhere, Ferrante differentiated himself as a truly Neapolitan king. Yet Ferrante’s court was by no means provincial. His residence, the Castel Nuovo in Naples, became the physical embodiment of his commercial and political network, revealing the accretion of local and foreign visual vocabularies that characterizes Neapolitan visual culture.

Haematological characteristics of Brazilian Teleosts: III. Parameters of the hybrid tambacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg x Colossoma macropomum Cuvier) (Osteichthyes, Characidae)

Fifty six specimens of the hybrid tambacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 male x Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818 female) were collected from fishfarm of Guariba, São Paulo, to evaluate their haematology. Fishes presented 400.0 to 3,100.0 g total weight and 20.0 to 52.0 cm total length. Haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean corpuscular haemoglobin content (MCHC) and percentage of defense blood cells including leucocytes and thrombocytes, were studied. Statistical analysis showed positive correlation (P<0.01) between haematocrit, MCHC and haemoglobin rate. Nevertheless, thrombocytes and lymphocytes showed negative correlation (P<0.01).

A “REVOLTA” DE JEÚ E A ESTELA DE DÃ: Um Estudo Em 2 Reis 10,28-36

A pesquisa tem por objetivo trabalhar o evento da Revolta de Jeú, em conjunto com a Estela de Dã, tendo como ponto de partida para tal, a exegese da perícope de 2 Reis 10-28,36. A história Deuteronomista apresenta o ato da Revolta de Jeú como sendo um feito demasiadamente importante, na restauração do culto a Javé em Israel, a partir de um contexto onde o culto a outras divindades, em Israel Norte, estava em pleno curso. No entanto, a partir da análise conjunta da Estela de Dã, que tem como provável autor o rei Hazael de Damasco, somos desafiados a ler esta história pelas entrelinhas não contempladas pelo texto, que apontam para uma participação ativa de Hazael, nos desfechos referentes a Revolta de Jeú, como sendo o responsável direto que proporcionou a subida de Jeú ao trono em Israel, clarificando desta forma este importante período na história Bíblica. Para tal análise, observar-se-á três distintos tópicos, ligados diretamente ao tema proposto: (1) A Revolta de Jeú e a Redação Deuteronomista, a partir do estudo exegético da perícope de 2 Reis 10,28-36, onde estão descritas informações pontuais sobre período em que Jeú reinou em Israel; (2) Jeú e a Estela de Dã, a partir da apresentação e análise do conteúdo da Estela de Dã, tratando diretamente dos desdobramentos da guerra em Ramote de Gileade, de onde se dá o ponto de partida à Revolta de Jeú; e por fim (3) O Império da Síria, onde a partir da continuidade da análise do conteúdo da Estela de Dã, demonstraremos a significância deste reino, além de apontamentos diretamente ligados ao reinado de Hazael, personagem mui relevante no evento da Revolta de Jeú.

Narrazione delle solenni reali feste : fatte celebrare in Napoli da Sua Maestà il re delle Due Sicilie Carlo infante di Spagna, duca di Parma, Piacenza &c. &c. per la nascita del suo primogenito Filippo real principe delle Due Sicilie.

The plates depict floor plans of the Palazzo reale and of the Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, a vertical cross section of the Palazzo reale; interior decoration of the Teatro di San Carlo; most plates depict festivities taking place in the decorated interiors of the theater and the royal palace, including a masquerade at the royal palace, the stage scenery and a scene from the opera "Il sogno di Olimpia" by Ranieri de Calzabigi, which was performed at the Teatro di San Carlo; a view of the illuminated Castello Nuovo in Naples, the fireworks installation at the Piazza del Castello Nuovo, and a floorplan of the fire works installation. Plate XI depicts the mythical land of plenty "Cuccagna", arranged as a landscaped hill with an architectural grotto, richly decorated with food and drink, which was offered as part of the festivities to the common people. Most plates have a detailed legend in the lower margin.

Hannah Lightfoot. Queen Charlotte & the Chevalier d'Eon. Dr. Wilmot's Polish princess.

Reprinted with additions from "Notes and queries."