Depletion of TrkB Receptors From Adult Serotonergic Neurons Increases Brain Serotonin Levels, Enhances Energy Metabolism and Impairs Learning and Memory

Neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT) regulate each other and have been implicated in several neuronal mechanisms, including neuroplasticity. We have investigated the effects of BDNF on serotonergic neurons by deleting BDNF receptor TrkB from serotonergic neurons in the adult brain. The transgenic mice show increased 5-HT and Tph2 levels with abnormal behavioral phenotype. In spite of increased food intake, the transgenic mice are significantly leaner than their wildtype littermates, which may be due to increased metabolic activity. Consistent with increased 5-HT, the proliferation of hippocampal progenitors is significantly increased, however, long-term survival of newborn cells is unchanged. Our data indicates that BDNF-TrkB signaling regulates the functional phenotype of 5-HT neurons with long-term behavioral consequences.Peer reviewe

Validation of European CFD Codes for SCT low-speed high-lift Computations

The validation of several European Navier-Stokes solvers for low-speed high-lift flow prediction around a Supersonic Commercial Transport (SCT) is reviewed. Realistic, project based, accuracy requirements are formulated by industrial partners within the EU research project EPISTLE (European Project for Improvement of Supersonic Transport Low Speed Efficiency) and fulfilled by the partners computations. Mesh density and turbulence model effects on flow topology and aerodynamic coefficients are described and compared to experimental results. It is found that increased mesh density compared to the used mesh is needed for accurate separation onset prediction. The algebraic Baldwin-Lomax turbulence model with Degani-Schiff extension (BLDS) was found to be a good engineering tool and able to predict high-lift flows well into vortex onset

Computation of the Flow of Thermally Perfect Gas Past a Supersonic Projectile with Base Bleed

This paper deals with Navier-Stokes simulations for a supersonic projectile with base bleed. A separate specie