A Substrate Trapping Mutant Form of Striatal-Enriched Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Prevents Amphetamine-Induced Stereotypies and Long-Term Potentiation in the Striatum

Background: Chronic, intermittent exposure to psychostimulant drugs results in striatal neuroadaptations leading to an increase in an array of behavioral responses on subsequent challenge days. A brain-specific striatal-enriched tyrosine phosphatase (STEP) regulates synaptic strengthening by dephosphorylating and inactivating several key synaptic proteins. This study tests the hypothesis that a substrate-trapping form of STEP will prevent the development of amphetamine-induced stereotypies. Methods: A substrate-trapping STEP protein, TAT-STEP (C-S), was infused into the ventrolateral striatum on each of 5 consecutive exposure days and I hour before amphetamine injection. Animals were challenged to see whether sensitization to the stereotypy-producing effects of amphetamine developed. The same TAT-STEP (C-S) protein was used on acute striatal slices to determine the impact on long-term potentiation and depression. Results: Infusion of TAT-STEP (C-S) blocks the increase of amphetamine-induced stereotypies when given during the 5-day period of sensitization. The TAT-STEP (C-S) has no effect if only infused on the challenge day. Treatment of acute striatal slices with TAT-STEP (C-S) blocks the induction of long-term potentiation and potentates long-term depression. Conclusions: A substrate trapping form of STEP blocks the induction of amphetamine-induced neuroplasticity within the ventrolateral striatum and supports the hypothesis that STEP functions as a tonic break on synaptic strengthening.

Karyotypes of a Cryptic Diploid Form of the Unisexual Leposoma percarinatum (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) and the Bisexual Leposoma ferreirai from the Lower Rio Negro, Amazonian Brazil

Karyotypes of Leposoma show a clear differentiation between species of the scincoides group from Brazilian Atlantic Forest (2n = 52, without distinctive size groups of chromosomes) and those of the parietale group from the Amazon (2n = 44, with 20M + 24m). In a previous study, we found that in the parietale group the parthenoform Leposoma percarinatum from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, exhibited a triploid karyotype (3n = 66) with 30 macrochromosomes and 36 microchromosomes. It was suggested that this karyotype arose after hybridization between a bisexual species with N = 22 (10M + 12m) and a hypothetical unisexual cryptic diploid form of the L. percarinatum complex. Herein, we describe the karyotypes for two species of the parietale group occurring sympatrically in the Arquipelago das Anavilhanas, lower Rio Negro, in Amazonian Brazil. The first represents a distinctive diploid parthenogenetic clone of the L. percarinatum complex, and the other is the recently described Leposoma ferreirai. Both species have 44 biarmed chromosomes clearly represented by 20 macrochromosomes and 24 microchromosomes and present Ag-NORs in one pair of the smallest sized microchromosomes; heteromorphism of size for these regions was detected in L. percarinatum. C-banding revealed blocks of constitutive heterochromatin on the telomeric and pericentromeric regions of macrochromosomes and some microchromosomes. The description of a diploid karyotype (2n = 44, 20M + 24m) for the L. percarinatum complex and its sympatric congener L. ferreirai provides new insight for a better understanding of the origin of parthenogenesis in the L. percarinatum complex.

ADCK3, an ancestral kinase, is mutated in a form of recessive ataxia associated with coenzyme Q(10) deficiency

Muscle coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10) or ubiquinone) deficiency has been identified in more than 20 patients with presumed autosomal-recessive ataxia. However, mutations in genes required for CoQ(10) biosynthetic pathway have been identified only in patients with infantile-onset multisystemic diseases or isolated nephropathy. Our SNP-based genome-wide scan in a large consanguineous family revealed a locus for autosomal-recessive ataxia at chromosome 1q41. The causative mutation is a homozygous splice-site mutation in the aarF-domain-containing kinase 3 gene (ADCK3). Five additional mutations in ADCK3 were found in three patients with sporadic ataxia, including one known to have CoQ(10) deficiency in muscle. All of the patients have childhood-onset cerebellar ataxia with slow progression, and three of six have mildly elevated lactate levels. ADCK3 is a mitochondrial protein homologous to the yeast COQ8 and the bacterial UbiB proteins, which are required for CoQ biosynthesis. Three out of four patients tested showed a low endogenous pool of CoQ(10) in their fibroblasts or lymphoblasts, and two out of three patients showed impaired ubiquinone synthesis, strongly suggesting that ADCK3 is also involved in CoQ(10) biosynthesis. The deleterious nature of the three identified missense changes was confirmed by the introduction of them at the corresponding positions of the yeast COQ8 gene. Finally, a phylogenetic analysis shows that ADCK3 belongs to the family of atypical kinases, which includes phosphomositide and choline kinases, suggesting that ADCK3 plays an indirect regulatory role in ubiquinone biosynthesis possibly as part of a feedback loop that regulates ATP production.

Retention at room temperature of the tetragonal t ``-form in Sc(2)O(3)-doped ZrO(2) nanopowders

Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction was applied to the study of the effect of crystallite size on the crystal structure of ZrO(2)-10 mol% Sc(2)O(3) nanopowders synthesized by a nitrate-lysine gel-combustion route Nanopowders with different average crystallite sizes were obtained by calcination at several temperatures, ranging from 650 to 1200 degrees C The metastable t""-form of the tetragonal phase, exhibiting a cubic unit cell and tetragonal P4(2)/nmc spatial symmetry, was retained at room temperature in fine nanocrystalline powders, completely avoiding the presence of the stable rhombohedral beta phase. Differently, this phase was identified in samples calcined at high temperatures and its content increased with increasing crystallite size The critical maximum crystallite size for the retention of the mestastable t""-form resulted of about 35 nm (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved

Scalar form factors and nuclear interactions

The scalar-isoscalar term in the two-pion exchange NN potential is abnormally large and does not respect the hierarchy of effects predicted by chiral perturbation theory. We argue that this anomaly is associated with non-perturbative effects, which are also present in the pi N scalar form factor.

Cathepsin X cleaves the beta 2 cytoplasmic tail of LFA-1 inducing the intermediate affinity form of LFA-1 and alpha-actinin-1 binding

The motility of T cells depends on the dynamic spatial regulation of integrin-mediated adhesion and de-adhesion. Cathepsin X, a cysteine protease, has been shown to regulate T-cell migration by interaction with lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1). LFA-1 adhesion to the ICAM-1 is controlled by the association of actin-binding proteins with the cytoplasmic tail of the beta(2) chain of LFA-1. Cleavage by cathepsin X of the amino acid residues S(769), E(768) and A(767) from the C-terminal of the beta(2) cytoplasmic tail of LFA-1 is shown to promote binding of the actin-binding protein alpha-actinin-1. Furthermore, cathepsin X overexpression reduced LFA-1 clustering and induced an intermediate affinity LFA-1 conformation that is known to associate with a-actinin-1. increased levels of intermediate affinity LFA-1 resulted in augmented cell spreading due to reduced attachment of T cells to the ICAM-1-coated surface. Gradual cleavage of LFA-1 by cathepsin X enables the transition between intermediate and high affinity LFA-1, an event that is crucial for effective T-cell migration.

A canonical form for nonderogatory matrices under unitary similarity

A square matrix is nonderogatory if its Jordan blocks have distinct eigenvalues. We give canonical forms for (1) nonderogatory complex matrices up to unitary similarity, and (2) pairs of complex matrices up to similarity, in which one matrix has distinct eigenvalues. The types of these canonical forms are given by undirected and, respectively, directed graphs with no undirected cycles. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

REIDEMEISTER SPECTRUM FOR METABELIAN GROUPS OF THE FORM Q(n) x Z AND Z[1/p](n) x Z, p PRIME

In this paper, we study the Reidemeister spectrum for metabelian groups of the form Q(n) x Z and Z[1/p](n) x Z. Particular attention is given to the R(infinity)-property of a subfamily of these groups.

Thermal analysis and compatibility studies of prednicarbate with excipients used in semi solid pharmaceutical form

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry/derivative thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) and infrared spectroscopy (IR) techniques were used to investigate the compatibility between prednicarbate and several excipients commonly used in semi solid pharmaceutical form. The thermoanalytical studies of 1:1 (m/m) drug/excipient physical mixtures showed that the beginning of the first thermal decomposition stage of the prednicarbate (T (onset) value) was decreased in the presence of stearyl alcohol and glyceryl stearate compared to the drug alone. For the binary mixture of drug/sodium pirrolidone carboxilate the first thermal decomposition stage was not changed, however the DTG peak temperature (T (peak DTG)) decreased. The comparison of the IR spectra of the drug, the physical mixtures and of the thermally treated samples confirmed the thermal decomposition of prednicarbate. By the comparison of the thermal profiles of 1:1 prednicarbate:excipients mixtures (methylparaben, propylparaben, carbomer 940, acrylate crosspolymer, lactic acid, light liquid paraffin, isopropyl palmitate, myristyl lactate and cetyl alcohol) no interaction was observed.

The Translation of the -ing form in the Novel The Da Vinci Code

This essay deals with the translation into Swedish of the ing-form in the popular novel The Da Vinci Code. The reason for looking at the -ing form is that it is a grammatical structure which is difficult to render in Swedish since there is no exact equivalent, at least not one which is used in the same manner as the English. The aim is to find out how the translator has dealt with the ing-form and also to find out whether there are any instances where the context has been altered due to the manner in which the translation has been carried out.

Kan ett synintryck upphäva en ljudillusion? : En undersökning av oktavillusionen kopplad till visuella stimuli i form av noter

The present study origins from Diana Deutschs work with the octave illusion and investigates if musically trained subjects can give a more correct perception of the octave illusion if their visual senses also get stimulated in form of scores.Ten subjects, with over 20 years experience playing an instrument, participated in the investigation. The result shows that a more correct perception of the octave illusion depends on the educational level in scorereading. Four out of five subjects who valued their knowledge in scorereading as being good or very good reported that the score corresponded to what they could hear in the right ear, which is connected to the dominant hemisphere. When they were instructed to focus on both ears three of these subjects reported that the score corresponded to what they could hear in the left ear, but that they could not hear the lower tone in the right ear. As the scores for the right ear were equal for the identical soundexamples this perception could be an indication that stimuli are percieved as being complex and the interpretation is alternated to the non dominant hemisphere.

Ungdomars tankar kring betydelsen av färg och form vid framställningen av en internationell webbtidning

När en grafisk profil för en spännande ny internationell webbtidning för ungdomar skall göras är det viktigt att tänka på hur färg och form påverkar våra känslor. Experiment med färg som har gjorts av ledande färgpsykologer och färgvetare som Goethe, Itten, Lüscher och Karl Ryberg bevisar att färg har en stor psykologisk påverkan på människan. Internet är ett väldigt effektiv kommunikationsmedium och för att kommunicera effektivt är det inte bara orden, utan även färgerna och formerna på webbsidorna som skall vara väl genomtänkta. Vilka färger kopplar ungdomar i Sverige och Chile ihop med vissa känslor? Vilka former kopplas ihop med samma känslor? Svaren på de frågorna sammanställdes och analyserades efter svaren på en enkät om färg och form som delades it till två högstadieskolor i Borlänge, Sverige och en i Santiago, Chile.

Omvårdnadsbehov i form av stöd hos kvinnor med bröstcancer : En systematisk litteraturstudie

Föreliggande systematiska litteraturstudie syftade till att samla information och söka evidens för bröstcancerdrabbade kvinnors omvårdnadsbehov från sjuksköterskans i form av stöd för psykiska, sociala eller informativa behov. Sexton vetenskapliga artiklar valdes ut via databasen CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) och fulltextdatabasen ELIN (Elecronic Library Information Navigator) för vidare granskning. Till sökningen användes sökorden breast*, cancer*, nurs* och support. Alla utvalda artiklar som härrör till syftet kvalitetsbedömdes genom på förhand bestämda granskningskriterier från modifierade förlagor efter Forsberg och Wengström (2003) och Willman, Bahtsevani och Stoltz (2007). Av resultatet framkom det att det fanns stark evidens för att kvinnor med bröstcancer har ett omvårdnadsbehov av socialt stöd, psykiskt stöd och även av information av sjuksköterskan. Omvårdnadsbehov som även kom fram i denna studie är kontinuitet i vården och personliga samtal med sjuksköterskan. Att få utöva sin religiösa tro, sin andlighet och utöva sin kulturella tillhörighet samt likaså känna förtroende är omvårdnadsbehov som blev uppenbarat i resultatet. Resultatet diskuterades utifrån Aaron Antonovskys omvårdnadsteori där känslan av sammanhang är central.