Configurational lattice dynamics: The phase diagram of Rh − Pd

Free energies of Rh-Pd alloys as functions of both temperature and composition are calculated using quasiharmonic lattice dynamics. The free energy of the disordered solid is determined from an ensemble of a large number of randomly generated configurations. Both configurational and vibrational contributions to the entropy and enthalpy of mixing are taken into account. We study the convergence with the number of random configurations, and analyze the validity of the zero static internal stress approximation ZSISA, where only external strains are relaxed fully dynamically while internal stresses are relaxed in the static approximation. It is shown that the use of ZSISA allows an accurate calculation of free energies in a fraction of the time needed to carry out fully dynamic optimizations. From the values of free energies as functions of composition and temperature the phase diagram of Rh-Pd alloys is calculated, showing a good agreement with Monte Carlo simulations as well as with experiment. It is also shown that although free energies of mixing appear to be linear functions of temperature to a good approximation, the explicit expressions given by the configurational lattice dynamics method show that both enthalpies and entropies of mixing change appreciably with temperature.Fil: Cienfuegos, Clarisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; ArgentinaFil: Isoardi, E. P.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física; ArgentinaFil: Barrera, Gustavo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentin

Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Signaling Plays a Limited and Subtle Role in Amygdala Physiology and Aversive Memory

Links between synaptic plasticity in the lateral amygdala (LA) and Pavlovian fear learning are well established. Neuropeptides including gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) can modulate LA function. GRP increases inhibition in the LA and mice lacking the GRP receptor (GRPR KO) show more pronounced and persistent fear after single-trial associative learning. Here, we confirmed these initial findings and examined whether they extrapolate to more aspects of amygdala physiology and to other forms of aversive associative learning. GRP application in brain slices from wildtype but not GRPR KO mice increased spontaneous inhibitory activity in LA pyramidal neurons. In amygdala slices from GRPR KO mice, GRP did not increase inhibitory activity. In comparison to wildtype, short- but not long-term plasticity was increased in the cortico-lateral amygdala (LA) pathway of GRPR KO amygdala slices, whereas no changes were detected in the thalamo-LA pathway. In addition, GRPR KO mice showed enhanced fear evoked by single-trial conditioning and reduced spontaneous firing of neurons in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). Altogether, these results are consistent with a potentially important modulatory role of GRP/GRPR signaling in the amygdala. However, administration of GRP or the GRPR antagonist (D-Phe6, Leu-NHEt13, des-Met14)-Bombesin (6–14) did not affect amygdala LTP in brain slices, nor did they affect the expression of conditioned fear following intra-amygdala administration. GRPR KO mice also failed to show differences in fear expression and extinction after multiple-trial fear conditioning, and there were no differences in conditioned taste aversion or gustatory neophobia. Collectively, our data indicate that GRP/GRPR signaling modulates amygdala physiology in a paradigm-specific fashion that likely is insufficient to generate therapeutic effects across amygdala-dependent disorders

Mortalità intraospedaliera DRG specifica: performances di alcuni nosocomi dell'Italia centro-settentrionale

Suppl. 2 - Atti 38° Congresso Naz. S.It.I

Identification of the basic subunit of Ara h 3 as the major allergen in a group of children allergic to peanuts

BACKGROUND: Several proteins have been identified as peanut allergens; among them, Ara h 1 (7S globulin) and Ara h 2 (2S globulin) are usually considered the major allergens. OBJECTIVE: To identify the major allergens in a group of children selected for their specific pattern of immunoreactivity. METHODS: We identified the dominant allergen by using (1) amino acid sequencing of the bands that show the strongest IgE immunoreactivity in 1-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting and (2) specific animal IgGs raised against the dominant immunoreactive band to pinpoint the allergen(s) in peanut proteins separated by 2-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting. To confirm these data, we further examined the peanut proteome using serum samples from the children with the unusual immunoreactivity. RESULTS: We found a group of children with marked peanut allergy who are specifically sensitized to the basic subunit of Ara h 3 (11S globulin family). CONCLUSION: That the dominant immunoreactivity in these patients is in a basic subunit of Ara h 3 was unexpected, because previous studies had indicated that Ara h 3 was only a minor peanut allergen and that the identified allergenic epitopes occurred mainly in the acidic Ara h 3 subunit