Platelet monoamine oxidase activity in mental disorders: 2. Affective psychoses and suicidal behavior

A case of permanent atrial standstill is described in a 10-month-old dog with ascites as a presenting complaint. The patient had absence of P waves in all leads in numerous ECG's and had a regular idioventricular rhythm. Pathologically, the patient had multiple areas of atrial and ventricular myocardial necrosis and fibrosis, with chronic active myocarditis and obliteration of the SA and AV node and AV bundle.     

A multivariate approach to the analysis of genetic and septal lesion effects on maze performance in mice.

Reports univariate and multivariate analyses concerning spatial discrimination behavior of Binghamton heterogeneous (HET), C57BL/6J, and RF/J mice that had received either septal lesions or control surgery (N?=?80). In acquisition of an appetitively motivated T-maze task, lesions impaired HET but improved RF performance relative to their respective controls. When Ss with lesions were reversed on a spatial discrimination acquired in a 17°C water maze, their performance was worse than control Ss; the magnitude of the deficit was strain-specific. Measures of reactivity to handling suggested that HET and RF Ss with lesions were more reactive than their controls; there was no such difference in C57 Ss. Multivariate approaches broadly corroborated the importance of complex Gene?×?Environment interactions that mold experience and thus behavior. They appeared to give some potentially important insights into the differential "behavioral profiles" of Ss with lesions and control Ss of the 3 genotypes; for instance, reactivity to handling and repeated error measurements were important variables in discriminating among the groups in both learning tasks. Thus, multivariate techniques should be considered as useful, additional tools for the development and evaluation of explanatory theories regarding functions of CNS regions. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Study on the role of patulin on pathogenicity and virulence of Penicillium expansum

Although the antibacterial activity and toxicity to humans and animals of the mycotoxin patulin are well known, its role in the postharvest decay of apples by Penicillium expansum has never been investigated. In the present study the gene disruption technique was used to alter the sequence of 6-methyl-salicylic acid synthase, an enzyme involved in the first committed step of patulin biosynthesis. Thirty-nine mutants were obtained, however only two of them (M5 and M21) passed the sub-cultural and molecular confirmation tests. They proved to produce 33-41% less patulin than their wild-type (WT) strain, although no difference in the growth and morphology of the colony was observed. Moreover, the mutants showed a significantly reduced pathogenicity and virulence on artificially inoculated apples. In particular, a 33-34% and 47-54% reduction of disease incidence and severity were recorded for M5 and M21, respectively. As confirmation, when the biomass of the mutants was quantified in vivo by Real-time PCR, a significant difference was recorded as compared to the WT and even between mutants. Moreover, when patulin production potential of mutants was restored by exogenous application of the mycotoxin, their ability to cause the disease was not significantly different from that of WT. Finally, mutants showed an increased susceptibility to the application of the antioxidant quercetin, their pathogenicity and virulence being significantly reduced at only 1/100 of the concentration needed for the WT. Based on these findings, patulin seems to have a role in the development of blue mold decay on apples.     

Computer simulations of signal transduction mechanism in {alpha}1B-adrenergic and m3-muscarinic receptors

Molecular dynamices simulations of the hamster _1Badrenergicand the rat m3-muscarinic seven-helix bundle receptor modelshave been carried out. The free, agonist-bound and antagonist-boundforms have been considered. Moreover, three mutant forms ofthe m3-muscarinic recep-tor (N507A, N507D and N507S) have alsobeen simulated; among these, the N507S mutant shows a constitutiveactivity. A comparative structural/dynamics analysis has beenperformed to elucidate (i) the perturbations induced by thefunctionally different ligands upon binding to their targetreceptor, (ii) the features of the three single-point mutantswith respect to the receptor wild type and (iii) the propertiesshared by the agonist-boundforms of the _1B-adrenergic receptorand the m3-muscarinic receptor and by the constitutively activemutant N507S. The consistency obtained between the structuralrearrangement of the transmembrane seven-helix bundle modelsconsidered, and the experimental pharmacological efficaciesof the ligands and of the mutants, constitute an important validationof the 3-D models obtained and allow the inference of the mechanismof ligand- or mutation-induced receptor activation at the molecularlevel.     

Comparison of orthorhombic and alpha-two titanium aluminides as matrices for continuous SiC-reinforced composites

The attributes of an orthorhombic Ti aluminide alloy, Ti-21Al-22Nb (at. pct), and an alpha-two Ti aluminide alloy, Ti-24Al-11Nb (at. pct), for use as a matrix with continuous SiC (SCS-6) fiber reinforcement have been compared. Foil-fiber-foil processing was used to produce both unreinforced (“neat”) and unidirectional “SCS-6” reinforced panels. Microstructure of the Ti-24A1-11Nb matrix consisted of ordered Ti₃Al (α ₂) + disordered beta(β), while the Ti-21 Al-22Nb matrix contained three phases: α₂, ordered beta (β ₀), and ordered orthorhombic(O). Fiber/ matrix interface reaction zone growth kinetics at 982 °C were examined for each composite system. Although both systems exhibited similar interface reaction products(i.e., mixed Ti carbides, silicides, and Ti-Al carbides), growth kinetics in theα ₂ +β matrix composite were much more rapid than in theO +β ₀ +α ₂ matrix composite. Additionally, interfacial reaction in theα ₂ +β} composite resulted in a relatively large brittle matrix zone, depleted of beta phase, which was not present in theO +β ₀+α ₂ matrix composite. Mechanical property measurements included room and elevated temperature tensile, thermal stability, thermal fatigue, thermo-mechanical fatigue (TMF), and creep. The three-phase orthorhombic-based alloy outperformed the α₂+β alloy in all of these mechanical behavioral areas, on both an absolute and a specific(i.e., density corrected) basis.     

Mechanical properties and 95 ° aging characteristics of zircon-reinforced Zn-4AI-3Cu alloy

A process for preparing zinc alloy castings containing dispersions of zircon particles is described. Composites were prepared by stirring zircon particles in Zn-4Al-3Cu (ZAS) alloy melts and subsequently casting these melts in permanent molds. It was found that additions of zircon resulted in an increase in the sliding wear resistance and in the proportional limit in compression. The aging characteristics of the ZAS alloy have also been investigated by hardness tests, dilatometry technique, and transmission electron microscopy observations. There are two kinds of precipitates that occur during the aging process. The α-phase precipitates from the ŋ phase in the early stage of aging and the copper-rich ɛ-phase precipitates from the ŋ phase in the later stage of aging. Therefore, there are two peaks in the hardening curve caused by both a-phase and ŋ-phase precipitation. The a-phase precipitation induces the dimensional shrinkage, and the copper-rich ŋ phase precipitation results in dimensional expansion. Zircon particles existing in ZAS alloy reduce the maximum shrinkage from 353 × 10^-6 for the monolith to 167 × 10^-6 for the composite. Two groups of parallel a-phase plates had formed within the ŋ dendrite during aging at 95 °. The orientation relationship between the a phase and matrix was determined as [άcr1l01]_ŋ//[lάrc10]_a, (1120)ŋ/(lll)α.     

Nutrition screening: an essential assessment parameter

Nutrition plays a significant role in preventing the incidence and prevalence of disease and more importantly, promoting health. Nutrition screening is an important tool used by nurses and dietitians to identify and assess clients at risk for nutritional compromise.