Most liquidity-providing operations of the European Central Bank (ECB) have been conducted through variable-rate tenders. However, fixed rates were first employed in the main refinancing operations (MROs) and are still used in other liquidity management operations. In October 2008, the ECB decided to carry MROs again at a fixed rate. In a simple threestage game in which banks can obtain liquidi...

Electrochemical buffing technology (ECB) applies electrochemical and mechanical finishing characteristics in the surface finishing process. ECB can buff ultrahigh purity components to make them shine, without leaving residual stress, micro-cracks, and etc. The control parameters of the ECB process include current density, the rate of revolution of the buffing head, the buffing pressure on the s...

The olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) and behavioral responses of hybrids between the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis, and the E-strain European corn borer (ECB(E)), Ostrinia nubilalis were examined and compared to the parental populations. In hybrids and both parents, the large-spike-size ORN was capable of responding to all four pheromone components of ACB and ECB, despite differenc...

The human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus secretes several complement evasion molecules to combat the human immune response. Extracellular complement-binding protein (Ecb) binds to the C3d domain of C3 and thereby blocks C3 convertases of the alternative pathway and C5 convertases via all complement pathways. Inhibition of C5 convertases results in complete inhibition of C5a generation and subse...

Do endocannabinoids (eCBs) participate in long-term synaptic plasticity in the brain? Using pharmacological approaches and genetically altered mice, we show that stimulation of prelimbic cortex afferents at naturally occurring frequencies causes a long-term depression of nucleus accumbens glutamatergic synapses mediated by eCB release and presynaptic CB1 receptors. Translation of glutamate syna...

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to examine the effects of horseback riding simulator exercise on postural balance of chronic stroke patients. [Subjects] A total of 67 stroke patients were assigned either to a horseback riding simulator exercise group (HEG, n=34) or a mat exercise group (MEG, n=33). [Methods] The subjects exercised three times per week for 8 weeks. Static balance ability was...

Correlations between concentrations of cell wall components (CWCs) in the leaf sheath and stalk and resistance to stalk tunneling by the European corn borer (ECB) [Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner)] have been reported in some maize (Zea mays L.) populations. Evaluations of resistance to ECB stalk tunneling (ECB-ST) and concentrations of neutral detergent fi ber (NDF), acid detergent fi ber (ADF), and...

Endocannabinoids (eCBs) released from postsynaptic neurons mediate retrograde suppression of neurotransmitter release at central synapses. eCBs are crucial for establishing proper synaptic connectivity in the developing nervous system. Mobilization of eCBs is driven either by a rise in intracellular Ca(2+) (depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition, DSI) or postsynaptic G protein-coupled...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and endocannabinoids (eCBs) have been individually implicated in behavioral effects of cocaine. The present study examined how BDNF-eCB interaction regulates cocaine-induced synaptic plasticity in the ventral tegmental area and behavioral effects. We report that BDNF and selective tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) agonist 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF) activ...

We developed an affordance-based methodology to support environmentally conscious behavior (ECB) that conserves resources such as materials, energy, etc. While studying concepts that aim to support ECB, we noted that characteristics of products that enable ECB tend to be more accurately described as affordances than functions. Therefore, we became interested in affordances, and specifically how...