Relative abilities of young sheep and goats to self-medicate with tannin-rich sainfoin when infected with gastrointestinal nematodes.

Plant secondary metabolites (PSM) are one of the promising options to control gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep and goats. The objective of this study was to assess the abilities of sheep and goats to self-medicate with tannin-rich sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) (SF) when infected with gastrointestinal nematodes, using a cafeteria and an operant conditioning trial. Hypotheses were that parasitized (P) lambs and goat kids would show greater intake and preference for SF than their non-parasitized (NP) counterparts, that kids would eat more SF than lambs (due to their lower resistance against parasites and their greater ability to consume PSM), and that SF intake would increase over time for P animals. We used 20 female kids and 20 ewe lambs aged 3 months. Half of the animals per species (n = 10) were experimentally infected with 170 L3 larvae of Haemonchus contortus/kg of BW (P). The other half were free from parasites throughout the study (NP). Five weeks after infection, animals were exposed to a 24-day cafeteria trial (three 8-day periods) offering a free choice between two legume pellets: SF (3.8% condensed tannins) and alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa; no tannin). Subsequently, animals were involved in an operant conditioning trial of two 4-day long sessions, to assess in short-term tests their motivation to walk for a SF reward when offered in choice with freely available ALF. In the cafeteria trial, SF preference was greater in kids than in lambs, particularly in the first two periods. We did not observe a greater preference for SF in P animals, which was even greater in NP animals for periods 1 and 2. Sainfoin intake increased through periods for P animals, which led to similar SF preferences for all groups during period 3. In the operant-conditioning trial, motivation to get the SF reward was similar between P and NP animals. These results support the hypotheses that goats are more willing to consume tanniferous feeds than sheep, and that P animals increased SF intake through time. However, the emergence of a curative self-medicative behaviour was not supported, as P individuals did not show greater SF intake, preference, nor a greater motivation to get SF than NP animals, regardless of animal species. These findings are discussed with previous results and some explanations are presented.

Evolution of Electronic Circuits using Carbon Nanotube Composites.

Evolution-in-materio concerns the computer controlled manipulation of material systems using external stimuli to train or evolve the material to perform a useful function. In this paper we demonstrate the evolution of a disordered composite material, using voltages as the external stimuli, into a form where a simple computational problem can be solved. The material consists of single-walled carbon nanotubes suspended in liquid crystal; the nanotubes act as a conductive network, with the liquid crystal providing a host medium to allow the conductive network to reorganise when voltages are applied. We show that the application of electric fields under computer control results in a significant change in the material morphology, favouring the solution to a classification task.

Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the high-temperature modification of TbTiGe.

The high-temperature form (HT) of the ternary germanide TbTiGe was prepared by melting. The investigation of HT-TbTiGe by x-ray and neutron powder diffractions shows that the compound crystallizes in the tetragonal CeScSi-type structure (space group I4/mmm; a = 404.84(5) and c = 1530.10(9) pm as unit cell parameters). Magnetization and specific heat measurements as well as neutron powder diffraction performed on HT-TbTiGe reveal a ferromagnet having T(C) = 300(1) K as the Curie temperature; the Tb-moments are aligned along the c-axis. This magnetic ordering is associated with a modest magnetocaloric effect around room temperature. The isothermal magnetic entropy change ΔS(m) was determined from the magnetization data; ΔS(m) reaches, respectively, a maximum value of  - 4.3 and  - 2.0 J K(-1) kg(-1) for a magnetic field change of 5 and 2 T.

Magnetic structure of the ferromagnetic new ternary silicide Nd5CoSi2.

Nd(5)CoSi(2) was obtained from the elements by arc-melting followed by annealing at 883 K. Its investigation by single-crystal x-ray and neutron powder diffraction shows that this ternary silicide crystallizes as Nd(5)Si(3) in a tetragonal structure deriving from the Cr(5)B(3)-type (I4/mcm space group; a = 7.7472(2) and c = 13.5981(5) Å as unit cell parameters). The structural refinements confirm the mixed occupancy on the 8h site between Si and Co atoms, as already observed for Gd(5)CoSi(2). Magnetization and specific heat measurements reveal a ferromagnetic behavior below T(C) = 55 K for Nd(5)CoSi(2). This magnetic ordering is further evidenced by neutron powder diffraction investigation revealing between 1.8 K and T(C) a canted ferromagnetic structure in the direction of the c-axis described by a propagation vector k = (0 0 0). At 1.8 K, the two Nd(3+) ions carry ordered magnetic moments equal respectively to 1.67(7) and 2.37(7) µ(B) for Nd1 and Nd2; these two moments exhibit a canting angle of θ = 4.3(6)°. This magnetic structure presents some similarities with that reported for Nd(5)Si(3).

A study on the antiferromagnetic behavior of the hydride CeRuGeH adopting the ZrCuSiAs-type structure.

The non-magnetic heavy fermion behavior of CeRuGe is destroyed by hydrogen insertion. The resulting hydride CeRuGeH, investigated by magnetization, thermoelectric, electrical resistivity and specific heat measurements, exhibits an antiferromagnetic ordering below T(N) = 4.0(2) K weakly influenced by the Kondo effect. Below T(N), a metamagnetic double transition induced by an applied magnetic field was evidenced for CeRuGeH. This hydride presents a simple field-temperature phase diagram in comparison to that determined for the equivalent compound CeRuSiH.

New high temperature modification of CeTiGe: structural characterization and physical properties.

The new high temperature form (HT) of the ternary germanide CeTiGe was prepared by annealing at 1373 K. The investigation of HT-CeTiGe by x-ray powder diffraction shows that the compound crystallizes in the tetragonal CeScSi type structure (space group I4/mmm; a=414.95(2) and c=1590.85(10) pm as unit cell parameters). Electrical resistivity, thermoelectric power, magnetization and specific heat measurements performed down to 2 K on HT-CeTiGe reveal a non-magnetic strongly correlated electron system; the specific heat divided by temperature attains a value of 0.635 J mol(-1) K(-2) at 2 K. The comparison of the physical properties of the two crystallographic modifications of CeTiGe suggests a decrease of the hybridization J(cf) between 4f(Ce) and conduction electrons in the sequence LT-CeTiGe [Formula: see text]-CeTiGe (CeScSi type).

Indium tellurium trioxide chloride, InTeO3Cl.

The new oxychloride InTeO(3)Cl was synthesized from a mixture of In(2)O(3), InCl(3) and TeO(2). Its structure has been determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure is composed of layers separated by a van der Waals gap. The layers consist of edge-sharing chains of [InO(4)Cl(2)] octahedra linked through [TeO(3)] trigonal pyramids. No free Cl atoms are located between the layers.

Structures and phase transitions of the A7PSe6 (A = ag, Cu) argyrodite-type ionic conductors. III. alpha-Cu7PSe6

The crystal structure of the third polymorph of the Cu(7)PSe(6) argyrodite compound, alpha-Cu(7)PSe(6), heptacopper phosphorus hexaselenide, is determined by means of single-crystal diffraction from twinned crystals and X-ray powder diffraction, with the help of extensive NMR measurements. In the low-temperature form, i.e. below the last phase transition, alpha-Cu(7)PSe(6) crystallizes in orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pna2(1), with a = 14.3179 (4), b = 7.1112 (2), c = 10.1023 (3) A, V = 1028.590 (9) A(3) (deduced from powder data, T = 173 K) and Z = 4. Taking into account a twinning by reticular merohedry, the refinement of the alpha-Cu(7)PSe(6) structure leads to the residual factors R = 0.0466 and wR = 0.0486 for 127 parameters and 3714 observed, independent reflections (single-crystal data, T = 173 K). A full localization of the Cu(+)d(10) element is reached with one twofold-, one threefold- and five fourfold-coordinated Cu atoms. The observation of two phase transitions for Cu(7)PSe(6), to be compared with only one for Ag(7)PSe(6), is attributed to the d(10) element stability in a low coordination environment, copper being less prone to lower coordination sites than silver, especially at low temperature.

Structures and phase transitions of the A7PSe6 (A = Ag, Cu) argyrodite-type ionic conductors. II. Beta- and gamma-Cu7PSe6

The crystal structures of two of the three polymorphic forms of the Cu7PSe6 argyrodite compound are determined by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In the high-temperature form, at 353 K, i.e. 33 K above the first phase transition, gamma-Cu7PSe6 crystallizes in cubic symmetry, space group F43m. The full-matrix least-squares refinement of the structure leads to the residual factors R = 0.0201 and wR = 0.0245 for 31 parameters and 300 observed independent reflections. In the intermediate form, at room temperature, beta-Cu7PSe6 crystallizes again in cubic symmetry, but with space group P2(1)3. Taking into account a merohedric twinning, the refinement of the beta-Cu7PSe6 structure leads to the residual factors R = 0.0297 and wR = 0.0317 for 70 parameters and 874 observed, independent reflections. The combination of a Gram-Charlier development of the Debye-Waller factor and a split model for copper cations reveals the possible diffusion paths of the d10 species in the gamma-Cu7PSe6 ionic conducting phase. The partial ordering of the Cu+ d10 element at the phase transition is found in concordance with the highest probability density sites of the high-temperature phase diffusion paths. A comparison between the two Cu7PSe6 and Ag7PSe6 analogues is carried out, stressing the different mobility of Cu+ and Ag+ and their relative stability in low-coordination chalcogenide environments.

Fcalpha receptor (CD89) mediates the development of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (Berger's disease). Evidence for pathogenic soluble receptor-Iga complexes in patients and CD89 transgenic mice.

The pathogenesis of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN), the most prevalent form of glomerulonephritis worldwide, involves circulating macromolecular IgA1 complexes. However, the molecular mechanism(s) of the disease remain poorly understood. We report here the presence of circulating soluble FcalphaR (CD89)-IgA complexes in patients with IgAN. Soluble CD89 was identified as a glycoprotein with a 24-kD backbone that corresponds to the expected size of CD89 extracellular domains. To demonstrate their pathogenic role, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice expressing human CD89 on macrophage/monocytes, as no CD89 homologue is found in mice. These mice spontaneously developed massive mesangial IgA deposition, glomerular and interstitial macrophage infiltration, mesangial matrix expansion, hematuria, and mild proteinuria. The molecular mechanism was shown to involve soluble CD89 released after interaction with IgA. This release was independent of CD89 association with the FcRgamma chain. The disease was induced in recombination activating gene (RAG)2(-/-) mice by injection of serum from Tg mice, and in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID)-Tg mice by injection of patients' IgA. Depletion of soluble CD89 from serum abolished this effect. These results reveal the key role of soluble CD89 in the pathogenesis of IgAN and provide an in vivo model that will be useful for developing new treatments.

[Modulators of intracellular metabolism in the treatment of diseases of the internal ear]. / Moduliatory vnutrikletochnogo metabolizma v lechenii zabolevanii vnutrennego ukha.

Stress reactions develop in different organs as a result of the effect of unfavourable factors which increase the differential threshold for men. These derangements mainly occur in the organs where we can observe an inadequacy between high level of metabolism in the cell and instability of energy supply. Under such conditions stress reactions in the cells have the following stages in succession: intensiveness of the lipolysis in mitochondria, accumulation in the cells of fatty acid metabolites, destruction of the membranous apparatus of the cells, increase in the presence of Ca++ in the cells.

[Blood supply of the ear and gravity]. / Krovosnabzhenie ukha i gravitatsiia.

The terminal circulation of the labyrinth is weak and slow. There is no musculature or vasomotor innervation in labyrinthine arterial vessels, which makes hardly feasible circulation control for therapeutic purposes. The rate of circulation in the labyrinth varies as a function of local pCO2 and is controlled by arteriolar-venular anastomoses. Labyrinthine circulation is also influenced by the gravitational field. This is especially true of man and his upright posture because changes in the spatial body position cause significant blood shifts. In the dependent segments of the body, the hydrostatic pressure of arterial and venous blood increases and intracapillary pressure grows. As a result, capillaries become enlarged inducing mixed-type hyperemia. Transcapillary filtration of plasma containing oxygen and trophic substances, including drugs, enhances. Under conditions of mixed, partially venous, hyperemia the number of functioning capillaries increases. In the cranial part, including the labyrinth, these reactions have a negative sign in the orthostatic position, and a positive sign in the antiorthostatic position. In order to increase the efficacy of innex ear treatment, we applied the method of therapeutic hyperemia. Patients were kept in a head-down position at -15 degrees for an hour and drugs were administered. This therapy proved effective in cases of sensory hypoacusis.

Prolonged and monosymptomatic dysphasic status epilepticus.

Dysphasic seizures are an infrequent form of epilepsy, and their serial appearance as a partial status epilepticus is quite exceptional. The young patient reported here had a partial dysphasic status epilepticus of 3 weeks' duration without other temporal lobe seizures. Simultaneous serial electroencephalograms, tape recordings of the seizures, and repeated neuropsychologic ictal examinations permitted studies of increased impairment of neuropsychologic function on testing and the appearance of new irritative discharges on encephalography.