Active cocaine immunization attenuates the discriminative properties of cocaine.

Anticocaine antibody, resulting from immunization with the cocaine-keyhole-limpethemocyanin (KLH) conjugate, weakened the ability of cocaine to act as a discriminative stimulus in rats. Subjects were given extensive training to discriminate 5.0 mg/kg of cocaine from saline prior to immunization. Several weeks following immunization with cocaine-KLH, subjects failed to reliably discriminate cocaine from saline. Nonimmunized control rats retained the ability to discriminate cocaine from saline throughout the experiment. These results further demonstrate that active immunization is effective in blunting cocaine effects. Immunized subjects were able to discriminate 20 mg/kg of cocaine, however, suggesting that anticocaine antibody may be overwhelmed by large cocaine doses. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Electron back-scattered diffraction of crystallized vanadium dioxide thin films on amorphous silicon dioxide

Crystalline films and isolated particles of vanadium dioxide (VO₂) were obtained through solid phase crystallization of amorphous vanadium oxide thin films sputtered on silicon dioxide. Electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD) was used to study the crystals obtained in the thin films, to differentiate them from different vanadium oxide stoichiometries that may have formed during the annealing process, and to study their phase and orientation. EBSD showed that the crystallization process yielded crystalline vanadium dioxide thin films, semi-continuous thin films, and films of isolated particles, and did not show evidence of other vanadium oxide stoichiometries present. Indexing of the crystals for the orientation study was performed using EBSD patterns for the tetragonal phase of vanadium dioxide, since it was observed that EBSD patterns for the monoclinic and tetragonal phases of vanadium dioxide are not distinguishable by computer automated indexing. Using the EBSD patterns for the tetragonal phase of vanadium dioxide, orientation maps showed that all VO₂ crystals that were measurable (approximately the thickness of the film) had a preferred orientation with the c-axis of the tetragonal phase parallel to the plane of the specimen.     

Exceptional stability of the HLA-DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602 alpha beta protein dimer, the class II MHC molecule associated with protection from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

HLA-DQ alleles are closely associated with susceptibility and resistance to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) but the immunologic mechanisms involved are not understood. Structural studies of the IDDM-susceptible allele, HLA-DQA1*0301/DQB1*0302, have classified it as a relatively unstable dimer, particularly at neutral pH. This is reminiscent of studies in the nonobese diabetic mouse, in which I-A(g7) is relatively unstable, in contrast to other murine I-A alleles, suggesting a correlation between unstable MHC class II molecules and IDDM susceptibility. We have addressed this question by analysis of dimer stability patterns among various HLA-DQ molecules. In EBV-transformed B-lymphoblastoid cell lines and PBL, the protein encoded by the IDDM-protective allele HLA-DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602 was the most SDS stable when compared with other HLA-DQ molecules, including HLA-DQA1*0102/DQB1*0604, a closely related allele that is not associated with protection from IDDM. Expression of six different HLA-DQ allelic proteins and three different HLA-DR allelic proteins in the bare lymphocyte syndrome cell line, BLS-1, revealed that HLA-DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602 is SDS stable even in the absence of HLA-DM, while other HLA class II molecules are not. These results suggest that the molecular property of HLA-DQ measured by resistance to denaturation of the alphabeta dimer in SDS may play a role in IDDM protection.     

In vivo neutron activation analysis measurements of calcium using the 40Ca(n, alpha) 37Ar reaction

The authors report the possible interference due to minovine when seeking tricyclic antidepressant derivatives in biological material or pharmaceutical substances. However, their work has shown that kinetic studies using absorption spectrophotometry of the colouration obtained with phosphoric-ceric reagent and thin layer adsorbant chromatography make it possible to eliminate the doubt and identify the Vinca-Minor alkaloid.     

Symptoms of depression and anxiety in pediatric epilepsy patients

The XPF and ERCC1 proteins form a tight complex and function as an endonuclease to incise on the 5'-side of pyrimidine dimers in DNA. Levels of both proteins are extremely low in group F xeroderma pigmentosum (XP-F) cells. We transfected XP-F cells with the plasmids expressing XPF or ERCC1 and examined levels of both proteins in the cells. Although XP-F cells are sensitive to UV and mitomycin C (MMC), cells overexpressing XPF expressed ERCC1 as well and resistance to UV and MMC was restored to the normal level. In contrast, cells overexpressing ERCC1 did not express XPF and were still sensitive to UV and MMC. These results indicate that both the XPF and ERCC1 proteins are required to repair UV- and MMC-induced DNA damage. Even though a high level of ERCC1, which has been presumed to be a catalytic subunit of the endonuclease, is stably present in XP-F cells, ERCC1 protein alone cannot carry out excision repair completely.     

A peptide binding motif for HLA-DQA1*0102/DQB1*0602, the class II MHC molecule associated with dominant protection in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

The central integration of signals from pulmonary vagal C-fibers (or type-J receptors) with those arising from cardiac, peripheral chemoreceptor, and baroreceptor afferents to neurons within the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) was studied in an arterially perfused working heart-brain stem preparation of adult mouse. Pulmonary vagal C-fibers were excited by right atrial injection of phenylbiguanide (PBG) while cardiac receptors were stimulated by left ventricular injection of veratridine (1-3 micrograms/kg) or mechanically by distension of the left ventricle (20-50 microl perfusate) using an indwelling cannula. Carotid body chemoreceptors were activated by aortic injection of Na cyanide, whereas baroreceptors were stimulated by increasing arterial perfusion pressure. Stimulation of pulmonary C-fibers and cardiac, chemo-, and baroreceptors all produced a reflex bradycardia (23-133 bpm). Central respiratory activity, as recorded from the phrenic nerve, was depressed by stimulating pulmonary C-fibers and cardiac and baroreceptors but enhanced in amplitude and frequency during chemoreceptor stimulation. Twenty-seven NTS neurons were excited and three were inhibited after pulmonary C-fiber stimulation displaying decrementing discharges with a peak firing frequency of up to 42 Hz (15 +/- 2.2 Hz, mean +/- SE) that lasted for 8.8 +/- 0.9 s. These responses occurred <1 s from the end of the PBG injection that was within the pulmonary circulation time. None of these cells responded to increases in right atrial pressure. All cells excited by PBG were also driven synaptically after electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral cervical vagus nerve at a latency of 32.9 +/- 3.2 ms (range 20-62 ms). None of these neurons had ongoing activity related to central respiratory activity. Convergence from cardiorespiratory afferents to 21 neurons driven by pulmonary C-fibers was tested. Twenty-five percent of cells were selectively excited by chemical stimulation of cardiac receptors alone, 19% were driven by peripheral chemoreceptors, and 38% responded to both cardiac and chemoreceptor activation. In contrast, only 13% of the cells activated by PBG injection responded to stimulation of baroreceptors and only 6% to cardiac mechanoreceptor stimulation. None of these neurons were activated by increasing right atrial pressure. The data indicate a high proportion of afferent convergence from pulmonary C-fibers, cardiac receptors, and peripheral chemoreceptors in the NTS. However, these neurons appear not to integrate inputs from cardiovascular mechanoreceptors. The significance of the data is discussed in relation to pathological disease states such as pulmonary congestion and cardiac failure.     

Estimation of VO2 in older individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee and cardiovascular disease

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) equation for estimating oxygen consumption (VO2) is often inappropriately applied to non-steady-state treadmill exercise. Therefore, it was the purpose of this investigation to develop an equation to estimate VO2 that could be applied to non-steady-state treadmill exercise in a population of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, and to assess the generalizability of this equation for estimating VO2peak in patients with cardiovascular disease. Subjects for the investigation were 414 participants in the Fitness and Arthritis in Seniors Trial (FAST), and 362 patients with cardiovascular disease. Results from the FAST subjects showed that the ACSM equation was inappropriate for estimating VO2 during non-steady-state incremental treadmill walking. We developed the following equation (FAST) using speed and the interaction between speed and grade as the predictor variables during treadmill walking: VO2(ml.kg-1.min-1) = 0.0698 x speed(m.min-1) + 0.8147 x grade(%) x speed(m.min-1) + 7.533 ml.kg-1.min-1 The generalizability of the FAST equation for estimating VO2peak was evaluated in the patients with cardiovascular disease. The measured VO2peak of these patients was 23.7 +/- 0.3 ml.kg-1.min-1, whereas the VO2peak values estimated from the FAST equation and the ACSM equation were 24.1 +/- 0.3 and 33.2 +/- 0.5 ml.kg-1.min-1, respectively. No significant differences were found between the measured VO2peak and that estimated from the FAST equation. The VO2peak estimated from the ACSM equation was significantly greater than the measured VO2peak. These results suggest it is more appropriate to use the FAST equation rather than the ACSM equation to estimate VO2 in older patients with either osteoarthritis of the knee or cardiovascular disease.     

The influence of temperature on the eigenmodes of a semiconductorlaser

The influence of heating on the eigenmodes of a semiconductor laser is studied, using finite elements to solve for the transverse temperature distribution and the eigenmode, and assuming a first-order variation of the material index with temperature. Besides the expected increase of the effective index, a self-focusing effect leading to beam narrowing and an increase of the confinement factor (which can change by as much as 10%) is evidenced     

In the Supreme Court of the United States: Clara Watson v. Fort Worth Bank & Trust..

Discusses the U. S. Supreme Court case of Watson v. Fort Worth Bank and Trust (1988), in which the American Psychological Association participated by submitting an amicus brief. The brief outlined infirmities in the bank's performance evaluations of the defendant. (0 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)