Dopaminergic modulation of olfactory bulb processing affects odor discrimination learning in rats.

Olfactory behavioral studies have shown that, when modulated through systemic injections, D1 and D2 receptors have opposing effects on odor discrimination learning. In the present study, cannulated male Sprague–Dawley rats were used to investigate how the modulation of these 2 types of dopaminergic receptors through direct infusion of D1/D2 agonists and antagonists into the olfactory bulb affect olfactory perception. Dopaminergic modulation was locally altered by manipulations of D1 (agonist SKF 82958: 14.6, 43.8, & 143.6 mM; antagonist SCH-23390: 13.4, 40.1, & 60.1 mM) and D2 (agonists quinpirole: 78.2, 117.3, & 156.4 mM; antagonist sulpiride: 0.3, 0.9, & 2.9 mM) receptors during a simultaneous odor discrimination task. The authors found that modulation of D2, but not D1, receptors significantly affected rats’ odor discrimination performance. A significant positive correlation between blockade of D2 receptors and discrimination performance, as well as a significant negative correlation between D2 receptor activation and discrimination performance, was observed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Smoking is associated with lower performance in WAIS-R Block Design scores in adults with ADHD.

Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are predisposed to smoking, but the neuropsychological correlates of this association have not been elucidated so far. The present study evaluates possible associations between cognitive performance and smoking and other comorbidities in adults with ADHD. Two hundred and sixty-four (264) patients were evaluated in the adult ADHD outpatient clinic of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The diagnoses were based on the DSM-IV criteria and interviews were performed with the Portuguese version of K-SADS-E for ADHD and oppositional-defiant disorder. Axis I psychiatric comorbidities were evaluated with the SCID-IV and the cognitive performance with the Vocabulary and Block Design subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R). The evaluation of the influence of the WAIS-R scores on each dependent variable was performed with logistic regression analyses. Lower scores in the Block Design subtest of WAIS-R were associated with smoking and the presence of anxiety disorder. These results suggest that a subgroup of ADHD patients with lower Block Design subtest scores may be at increased risk of smoking as a cognitive enhancement. Our findings also confirmed the previously suggested association between anxiety and lower Block Design scores.     

HE6/GPR64 adhesion receptor co-localizes with apical and subapical F-actin scaffold in male excurrent duct epithelia

A role for HE6/GPR64 in male excurrent ducts in the regulation of water balance was suggested from targeted gene mutation in the mouse. Results of the present immunolocalization study strengthen this hypothesis. Employing monospecific antibodies and laser confocal microscopy, we studied the localization of the receptor protein in the human and wild-type mouse ductuli efferentes and epididymis. We show that HE6/GPR64 is specifically associated with cell types and subcellular domains involved in the process of fluid reabsorption. In the mouse, dual labelling with anti-tubulin antibodies revealed that HE6/GPR64 was absent from the (kino-) cilia of ciliated cells. Instead, the receptor protein accumulated in the non-ciliated principal cells. Specifically, strong immunofluorescence was observed in the apical compartment of these cells. Dual labelling with phalloidin and anti-ezrin antibodies revealed that in the mouse the bulk amount of HE6/GPR64 protein co-localized with the F-actin-ezrin scaffold in brush border-like microvilli of ductuli efferentes and long stereocilia of the epididymis proper. In the ductuli efferentes, HE6/GPR64 also co-localized with the subapical F-actin network immediately below the microvilli. Comparable immunostaining patterns were observed in human and mouse; however, a specific feature of the human ductuli efferentes was an intense HE6/GPR64-related labelling of crypt-like grooves or furrows of hitherto unknown function.     

Biomorphous porous hydroxyapatite-ceramics from rattan (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Calamus Rotang</Emphasis>)

The three-dimensional, highly oriented pore channel anatomy of native rattan (Calamus rotang) was used as a template to fabricate biomorphous hydroxyapatite (Ca₅(PO₄)₃OH) ceramics designed for bone regeneration scaffolds. A low viscous hydroxyapatite-sol was prepared from triethyl phosphite and calcium nitrate tetrahydrate and repeatedly vacuum infiltrated into the native template. The template was subsequently pyrolysed at 800°C to form a biocarbon replica of the native tissue. Heat treatment at 1,300°C in air atmosphere caused oxidation of the carbon skeleton and sintering of the hydroxyapatite. SEM analysis confirmed detailed replication of rattan anatomy. Porosity of the samples measured by mercury porosimetry showed a multimodal pore size distribution in the range of 300 nm to 300 μm. Phase composition was determined by XRD and FT-IR revealing hydroxyapatite as the dominant phase with minimum fractions of CaO and Ca₃(PO₄)₂. The biomorphous scaffolds with a total porosity of 70–80% obtained a compressive strength of 3–5 MPa in axial direction and 1–2 MPa in radial direction of the pore channel orientation. Bending strength was determined in a coaxial double ring test resulting in a maximum bending strength of ~2 MPa.     

Goals and everyday problem solving: Manipulating goal preferences in young and older adults.

In the present study, we examined the link between goal and problem-solving strategy preferences in 130 young and older adults using hypothetical family problem vignettes. At baseline, young adults preferred autonomy goals, whereas older adults preferred generative goals. Imagining an expanded future time perspective led older adults to show preferences for autonomy goals similar to those observed in young adults but did not eliminate age differences in generative goals. Autonomy goals were associated with more self-focused instrumental problem solving, whereas generative goals were related to more other-focused instrumental problem solving in the no-instruction and instruction conditions. Older adults were better at matching their strategies to their goals than young adults were. This suggests that older adults may become better at selecting their strategies in accordance with their goals. Our findings speak to a contextual approach to everyday problem solving by showing that goals are associated with the selection of problem-solving strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Zukünftige Brandschutzbemessung von schlanken Kalksandstein‐Wänden mit deutlich höheren Auflasten

Die Feuerwiderstandsdauer von tragenden, raumabschließenden Mauerwerkswänden muss derzeit in Abhängigkeit des Ausnutzungsfaktors entsprechend den Regelungen in der Anlage zur Liste der technischen Baubestimmungen bestimmt werden. Die Beschränkung des Ausnutzungsfaktors auf 1,0 bedeutet, dass keine höheren Lasten auf die Wände einwirken dürfen als nach dem vereinfachten Verfahren in DIN 1053‐1 statisch nachweisbar sind. Anderenfalls muss die Wanddicke erhöht werden, um den Ausnutzungsfaktor entsprechend zu reduzieren. Um bei schlanken Kalksandsteinwänden die deutlich höheren zulässigen Las ten nach dem genaueren Berechnungsverfahren und insbesondere nach dem Teilsicherheitskonzept auch bei Anforderungen an den Brandschutz ausnutzen zu können, wurde von der euro päischen Kalksandsteinindustrie ein umfangreiches Forschungsprogramm durchgeführt, worüber bereits ausführlich berichtet wurde. In diesem Beitrag werden nunmehr die Auswirkungen auf die zukünftige Normung, insbesondere auf die derzeit in Bearbeitung befindlichen änderungen zu den Normen DIN 4102‐4 und ‐22, erläutert. Abschließend wird ein Vorschlag für die zukünftige Regelung zur Ermittlung der Feuerwiderstandsdauer von tragenden, raumabschlie ßenden Kalksandsteinwänden unterbreitet. Future calculation of the fire resistance of slender calcium silicate walls with explicitly higher loads. At present the fire resistance endurance of load bearing walls with a fire‐separating function has to be determined depending on the utilisation factor as given in the rules of the annex to the list of technical rules. The restriction of the utilisation factor to 1,0 means that no higher loads are allowed as calculated in the structural analysis according to the simplified calculation method in DIN 1053‐1. Otherwise the thickness of the wall has to be increased to reduce the utilisation factor. To take advantage for slender calcium silicate masonry walls in applying the permitted clearly higher loads according to the more exact calculation method in DIN 1053‐1 and especially according to the semi‐probabilistic safety concept also in case of requirements on fire protection, the European calcium silicate industry realized a substantial research project as already described in details earlier. Now in this article the effect on future standardisation projects, especially on the currently revised standards DIN 4102‐4 and ‐22, will be illustrated. Finally a proposal is given for future rules to determine the fire resistance period of load bear ing calcium silicate walls with a fire‐separating function.