The Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell line, derived from distal tubule/collecting duct, expresses differentiated properties of renal tubule epithelium in culture. We studied the expression of adrenergic receptors in MDCK to examine the role of catecholamines in the regulation of renal function. Radioligand-binding studies demonstrated, on the basis of receptor affinities of subtype-selective adrenergic agonists and antagonists, that MDCK cells have both alpha 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptors. To determine whether these receptor types were expressed by the same cell, we developed a number of clonal MDCK cell lines. The clonal lines had stable but unique morphologies reflecting heterogeneity in the parent cell line. Some clones expressed only beta 2-adrenergic receptors and were nonmotile, whereas others expressed both alpha 1- and beta 2-receptors and demonstrated motility on the culture substrate at low cell densities. In one clone, alpha- and beta-receptor expression was stable for more than 50 passages. Catecholamine agonists increased phosphatidylinositol turnover by activating alpha-adrenergic receptors and cellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate accumulation by activating beta-adrenergic receptors. Guanine nucleotide decreased the affinity of isoproterenol for the beta 2-receptor but did not alter the affinity of epinephrine for the alpha 1-receptor. These results show that alpha 1- and beta 2-receptors can be expressed by a single renal tubular cell and that the two receptors behave as distinct entities in terms of cellular response and receptor regulation. Heterogeneity of adrenergic receptor expression in MDCK clones may reflect properties of different types of renal tubule cells.

This article is designed to examine the role non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play in politics. Previous evidence suggests that NGOs mobilize communities to challenge existing patterns of authority or that they serve hand in glove with existing elites. We reconcile these two contradictory findings by identifying an important contextual feature that helps determine the extent NGOs mobilize or anesthetize. We argue that a community’s level of education influences not only whether people vote but how they vote. We employ a cross-sectional data set from Brazilian municipalities that allows us to estimate the relationship between NGOs, voting turnout, and electoral results. We find that although there is a significant statistical interaction between literacy and NGOs when explaining voting turnout, the effect is not substantively important. The interaction between literacy and NGOs is, however, an important consideration in determining how people vote: in communities with relatively low literacy rates, a robust NGO presence significantly increases the left’s electoral fortunes. Our findings imply the influence NGOs have on society is more political than social.

Appendix E to Real Time System Operation 2006-2007

Purpose - To report the highlights of the annual Library and Information Technology Association (LITA) Top Technology Trends program at 2007 American Library Association Annual Conference in Washington, DC. Design/methodology/approach - Provides a brief review of the conference program on technology issues in libraries. Findings - This summary of LITA section Top Technology Trends program with presentations and information. The presentations focus is on new technologies and their applications in a variety of library environments. The program offered a wide variety of timely presentations that were on new and emerging technologies and the application to the library environment. Originality/value - Provides descriptions of opinions on technological trends in library and information services from industry professionals.

Final Project Report prepared for CIEE and California Energy Commission