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Biomass from short rotation coppice (SRC) plantations has attracted widespread attention as a component of new sustainable energy concepts. Nevertheless, as yet the surface area of SRC plantations in Europe is relatively low compared to other biomass producing land-use systems. This is somewhat incomprehensible because it has been shown that SRC systems also offer distinct ecological benefits. Therefore, greater consideration of the related ecosystem services should be incorporated into land-use planning processes. Presented in this study is a conceptual framework for the integration of soil protection and nature conservation into the spatial prioritization of areas suitable for SRC. This approach includes the development of a site-specific yield model and the identification and classification of criteria and indicators for both soil protection and nature conservation. The basic concept for planning procedures was established and tested for the State of Saxony (Germany). Existing constraints were identified, and could be attributed mainly to the availability of adequate information at different spatial scales. The regional-scale study emphasized the considerable biomass potential of SRC and the related synergy effects for soil protection and nature conservation. Future work should focus on the local (district, farm) and catchment scale and attempt to integrate additional aspects such as hydrological ecosystem services and carbon sequestration.

• Purinergic signaling participates in embryonic and adult neurogenesis. • P2Y1 receptor stimulation leads to Ca2+ waves propagation and consequent NSCs proliferation. • P2X3 and P2X7 receptors are related to embryonic sensory circuitry and neuronal fate, respectively. • A 1 , P2Y13 and P2X7 receptor stimulation impair adult neurogenesis. • A 2A and P2Y1 receptors stimulation enhance adult neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is a process of generating functional neurons, which occurs during embryonic and adult stages in mammals. While neurogenesis during development phase is characterized by intensive proliferation activity in all regions of the brain to form the architecture and neural function of the nervous system, adult neurogenesis occurs with less intensity in two brain regions and is involved in the maintenance of neurogenic niches, local repair, memory and cognitive functions in the hippocampus. Taking such differences into account, the understanding of molecular mechanisms involved in cell differentiation in developmental stages and maintenance of the nervous system is an important research target. Although embryonic and adult neurogenesis presents several differences, signaling through purinergic receptors participates in this process throughout life. For instance, while embryonic neurogenesis involves P2X7 receptor down-regulation and calcium waves triggered by P2Y1 receptor stimulation, adult neurogenesis may be enhanced by increased activity of A 2A and P2Y1 receptors and impaired by A 1 , P2Y13 and P2X7 receptor stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS) require lifelong therapy. However, success of disease-modifying therapies is dependent on patients' persistence and adherence to treatment schedules. In the setting of a large multicenter observational study, we aimed at assessing multiple parameters for their predictive power with respect to discontinuation of therapy. Materials and methods We analyzed 13 parameters to predict discontinuation of interferon beta-1b treatment during a 2-year follow-up period based on data from 395 patients with MS who were treatment-naïve at study onset. Besides clinical characteristics, patient-related psychosocial outcomes were assessed as well. Results Among patients without clinically relevant fatigue, males showed a higher persistence rate than females (80.3% vs 64.7%). Clinically relevant fatigue scores decreased the persistence rate in men and especially in women (71.4% and 51.2%). Besides gender and fatigue, univariable and multivariable analyses revealed further factors associated with interferon beta-1b therapy discontinuation, namely lower quality of life, depressiveness, and higher relapse rate before therapy initiation, while higher education, living without a partner, and higher age improved persistence. Conclusions Patients with higher grades of fatigue and depressiveness are at higher risk to prematurely discontinue MS treatment; especially, women suffering from fatigue have an increased discontinuation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison with a discontinuation design. 49 mentally retarded patients with aggressive behaviour were treated with zuclopenthixol at a dose of 2-20 mg/d. At each visit the clinical effect was evaluated. Correlations between dose, serum concentration, and efficacy measures were calculated. The mean dose was 10.0 mg/day ( ± 5.17); the mean serum concentration 4.19 ng/ mL ( ± 3.16). Associations of dosage, serum concentration and clinical efficiency did not result in coherent patterns. Correlations with clinical efficiency measures appeared to be contradictory for dosage and serum concentrations, respectively. As no consistent associations between dosage, serum concentration, and clinical efficiency measures were found, different hypotheses explaining the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A functional prototype two-plane Compton camera array for localization and identification of remote radiation sources, consisting of four PVT and four NaI(Tl) scintillation detectors with PMT readout, is presented. The large-volume, 76\times 76\times 76\ \ mm scintillators provide a broad field of view for scattered photons and facilitate maximum efficiency at moderate cost. Each detector is equipped with a voxelSPEC, a compact electronic module that provides high voltage for the PMT, signal processing, detector stabilization, and an Ethernet communication interface. The voxelSPEC delivers list-mode event data with nanosecond precision timing over non-proprietary Ethernet and makes a system extension very easy. A software package has been developed for real-time data processing and image reconstruction. Advantages in the hard- and software allow stable, unattended operation of the camera array for many days, and provide easy-to-read information on the radiation source in real time. Measurements with the prototype array have been performed for a few standard scenarios and geometries to verify the model predications obtained by Monte-Carlo simulations. Simulations have been further performed to explore larger camera arrays with 2\times 4\times 4, 2\times 8\times 8, 2\times 10\times 10, 2\times 13\times 13 and 2\times 16\times 16 detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: People with mental retardation often display aggressive behavior against themselves or others making care within institutions or foster families difficult. Due to a lack of viable alternatives, antipsychotics of the first and second generations are often used for long-term treatment despite the fact that only data about short-term treatment exist. Methods: A short-time withdrawal trial of 12 weeks (n = 39) was extended at open label to 2 years. 31 patients received zuclopenthixol after the end of the withdrawal and were examined using the same instruments as in the withdrawal period (DAS, MOAS, CGI). Results: Patients still treated with zuclopenthixol after 2 years (n = 21) benefitted, compared to the drop-outs (n = 10). Analyses of time trends revealed an early effect of zuclopenthixol which could not be enhanced afterwards. Discussion: Zuclopenthixol proved to be safe and effective to keep a lower rate of aggressive behavior in adults with mental retardation also over a longer period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flupentixol (FLX) has been used as a neuroleptic for nearly 4 decades. In vitro data show comparable affinity to dopamine D2, D1 and 5-HT2A receptors and recently, FLX showed to be not inferior to risperidone in schizophrenic patients with predominant negative symptomatology, which was implicated with flupentixol’s interaction with 5-HT2A and/or D1 receptors. To assess in vivo receptor occupancy (RO) in patients clinically treated with FLX ( n = 13, 5.7 ± 1.4 mg/day) in comparison with risperidone (RIS, n = 11, 3.6 ± 1.3 mg/day) and haloperidol (HAL, n = 11, 8.5 ± 5.5 mg/day). Each patient underwent two PET scans with 3- N-[11C]methylspiperone (target: frontal 5-HT2A), [11C]SCH23390 (striatal D1) or [11C]raclopride (striatal D2). RO was calculated as the percentage reduction of specific binding in comparison with healthy controls. D2-RO under FLX was between 50% and 70%, indicating an ED50 of about 0.7 ng/ml serum. 5-HT2A and D1-RO was 20 ± 10% and 20 ± 5% (mean, SEM). Under HAL, D1-RO was 14 ± 6% and under RIS not significantly different from zero. We were able to demonstrate a moderate 5-HT2A and D1 occupancy under clinically relevant doses of flupentixol, albeit lower than expected from in vitro data and clearly below saturation. Therefore, if flupentixol’s efficacy on negative symptoms is based on its interaction with 5-HT2A and/or D1 receptors, it should be highly dependent on serum concentration and thus on dosage and metabolism. However, these data suggest that mechanisms other than D1 or 5-HT2A antagonism may contribute to flupentixol’s efficacy on negative symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The primary aim of this paper was to compare the effects of flupenthixol and risperidone on subjective quality of life and attitude towards medication in chronic schizophrenic patients with mainly negative symptoms. In a spectrum ranging from its typical end ‘haloperidol’ to its atypical end ‘clozapine’, flupenthixol has typical and atypical characteristics. Methods: The effects of flupenthixol versus risperidone were investigated in a multicenter, double-blind trial, whereas subjective quality of life was assessed by means of the EuroQuol-Visual Analogue Scale and the patient satisfaction questionnaire. The attitude towards medication was assessed by means of the Drug Attitude Inventory-30 (DAI-30). Results: Mean daily dose of study medication was 6.6 (SD 2.9) mg/day flupenthixol and 3.6 (SD 1.2) mg/day risperidone. Both groups showed a significant improvement regarding subjective quality of life and positive attitude towards medication. Especially the categories ‘control of their thoughts’, concentration and ‘feeling better in general’ ameliorated in both groups. In the flupenthixol group, the ‘ability to cope with stress’, ‘feel more relaxed’ and the ‘ability to achieve something’ improved significantly more than in the risperidone group. Conclusions: (1) The spectrum of schizophrenia can be treated effectively with different neuroleptic treatments. (2) Flupenthixol especially improves the ability to cope with stress, the ability to achieve something and feeling more relaxed. (3) Subjective quality of life significantly increased with no difference between the groups.Copyright © 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroids are essential for the control of oedema in human malignant glioma patients but may interfere with the efficacy of chemotherapy. Boswellic acids are phytotherapeutic anti-inflammatory agents that may be alternative drugs to corticosteroids in the treatment of cerebral oedema. Here, we report that boswellic acids are cytotoxic to malignant glioma cells at low micromolar concentrations. In-situ DNA end labelling and electron microscopy reveal that boswellic acids induce apoptosis. Boswellic acid-induced apoptosis requires protein, but not RNA synthesis, and is neither associated with free radical formation nor blocked by free radical scavengers. The levels of BAX and BCL-2 proteins remain unaltered during boswellic acid-induced apoptosis. p21 expression is induced by boswellic acids via a p53-independent pathway. Ectopic expression of wild-type p53 also induces p21, and facilitates boswellic acid-induced apoptosis. However, targeted disruption of the p21 genes in colon carcinoma cells enhances rather than decreases boswellic acid toxicity. Ectopic expression of neither BCL-2 nor the caspase inhibitor, CRM-A, is protective. In contrast to steroids, subtoxic concentrations of boswellic acids do not interfere with cancer drug toxicity of glioma cells in acute cytotoxicity or clonogenic cell death assays. Also, in contrast to steroids, boswellic acids synergize with the cytotoxic cytokine, CD95 ligand, in inducing glioma cell apoptosis. This effect is probably mediated by inhibition of RNA synthesis and is not associated with changes of CD95 expression at the cell surface. Further studies in laboratory animals and in human patients are required to determine whether boswellic acids may be a useful adjunct to the medical management of human malignant glioma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigorous coupled-wave analysis indicates that diffraction efficiencies greater than 99% are feasible for dielectric phase-gratings with a rectangular profile. The use of rectangular rather than blazed profiles implies simplified fabrication techniques, since deep-etch submicrometre structuring techniques can be utilized. We identify several parameter combinations with high diffraction efficiencies using rigorous coupled wave analysis, demonstrate experimentally diffraction efficiencies of 94% in a Bragg mount configuration at a wavelength of 543nm and discuss the influence of substrate thickness on the transmitted light intensities. A direct writing electron-beam lithography fabrication process gives wide flexibility in design realization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes research in which the homologous chromosomal region in the mouse genome was mapped and an animal model was defined in order to study the WAGR syndrome in humans, which consists of aniridia, Wilms tumor, genitourinary formations and mental retardation. Localization of nine evolutionarily conserved DNA clones; Deletion of three clones related to aniridia and Wilms tumor susceptibility; Possible role of AN2 gene product.

The effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY), peptide YY (PYY), pancreatic polypeptide and of another four peptides on the electrically evoked H overflow were studied in superfused rat brain cortex slices preincubated with H-serotonin. In addition, we determined the effect of NPY on the Ca-induced H overflow from rat brain cortex slices and synaptosomes (preincubated with H-serotonin) and on the forskolin-stimulated accumulation of cAMP in a membrane fraction from rat brain cortex. The electrically (3 Hz) evoked H overflow was inhibited by PYY, NPY and pancreatic polypeptide (decreasing order of potency), but not affected by ACTH, angiotensin 11, bradykinin and delta-sleep-inducing peptide. The inhibitory effect of NPY did not change when the stimulation frequency was lowered to 1 Hz, but was markedly reduced at 10 Hz. The inhibitory effect of a presumably maximally active concentration of PYY was not altered in the presence of NPY or pancreatic polypeptide (effects not additive), whereas the inhibition produced by a maximally active concentration of the α-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine was further increased by NPY. NPY also inhibited (1) the tritium overflow, evoked by introduction of Ca, in slices superfused with Ca-free and K-rich medium containing tetrodotoxin, (2) the tritium overflow, evoked by simultaneously increasing Ca and K in the superfusion fluid of synaptosomes previously superfused with Ca-free medium and (3) the forskolin-stimulated accumulation of cAMP in rat brain cortex membranes. The present results suggest that NPY inhibits serotonin release in the rat brain via presynaptic NPY receptors, which are also activated by PYY and pancreatic polypeptide and may be negatively coupled to an denylate cyclase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to clarify the mechanism of action of the putative nonbenzodiazepine anxiolytic TVX Q 7821 [2-(4-(4-(2-pyrimidinyl)-1-piperazinyl)butyl)-1,2-benzisothiazol-3-(2H)one-1,1-dioxidehydrochloride], binding studies with the radio labelled compound were performed.H-TVX Q 7821 bound apidly, reversibly and in a saturable manner with high affinity to calf brain structures with preference for the hippocampus ( K 1.62 nmol/l; B 320 fmol/mg protein).H-TVX Q 7821 binding was displaced only by 5-hydroxytryptamine and its agonists and antagonists including spiperone, but was not displaced by a variety of other neurotransmitters and drugs. The 5-HT receptor antagonist ketanserin was a weak displacer. The hippocampal binding sites forH-TVX Q 7821 were pharmacologically very similar to the 5-HT-binding sites in this region. TVX Q 7821 is likely to be an important tool in research on functional aspects of 5-HT binding sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]