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Introduction In India, despite significant advances in the prevention and treatment of sexual dysfunctions, the majority of these have focused on male sexual dysfunction disorders. There is still a paucity of literature that adequately explains the relationship between sexual knowledge and attitudes of women and female sexual dysfunctions. Furthermore, physiological events such as pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, menopause, and ageing have a significant impact on sexual well-being, particularly when co-morbid psychiatric illnesses are present. The prevalence of these interactions and their relationship with female sexual dysfunctions are being explored which have consequences in the prevention and treatment of female sexual dysfunctions Objective 1. To assess sexual health knowledge and attitudes regarding sexual practices in women attending Obstetrics and Gynecology Out Patient Department. 2. To assess presence and extent of sexual dysfunctions in these women 3. To evaluate for presence of co-morbid psychiatric conditions Methods Hospital based cross-sectional study with a sample size of 220 women in the category of pregnant, nulliparous and perimenopause/ menopause/ post menopause with age range from 18 to 65 years. Pregnancy carrying high risk and women nearing term were excluded from the study. After a detailed history regarding their socio-economic data, each of them were handed out questionnaires. The SKAQ-II (Sexual knowledge and attitude questionnaire), which was standardized using Indian population assessed their sexual knowledge and attitude, the Female Sexual Functioning Index scale (FSFI) evaluated sexual dysfunction and the presence of psychiatric comorbidities was assessed with the M.I.N.I PLUS scale. Results 93% of the women had an adequate amount of knowledge regarding sexual practice and 83.2% had liberal attitude. Level of sexual knowledge and attitude was positively correlated with presence of sexual dysfunction, with the prevalence of latter being 65.5% with 63% of pregnant women having sexual dysfunction and 77.8% of menopausal women having sexual dysfunction. Rural women had lower levels of sexual knowledge and conservative attitude towards sexual practice, leading to more sexual problems. Around one-fourth of women reported psychiatric morbidities with majority suffering from depression. Conclusions Women with greater sexual knowledge and a liberal mindset towards sexual practices tend to have lower levels of sexual dysfunction. Rural women tended to have lower levels of sexual knowledge and poor attitude towards sexual practice. There was no association found between religious attitudes. Most dysfunctions were reported by the menopausal age group. Sexual issues were more common in the domains of desire, lubrication, orgasm and pain. A positive correlation was noted between sexual dysfunction and kind of housing, leading to lack of intimacy being an important contributing factor. Disclosure No

Selectivity between Am3+ and Cm3+ was investigated after their aqueous complexation with three structurally tailored hydrophilic bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl) ligands followed by their extraction with N,N,N′N′-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) dissolved in an ionic liquid (C4mim·Tf2N). The three hydrophilic ligands used were SO3PhBTP, SO3PhBTBP, and SO3PhBTPhen. It was evident from the solvent extraction studies that SO3PhBTP formed a stronger complex with Cm3+ than with Am3+, but SO3PhBTPhen showed better complexation ability for Am3+ than for Cm3+, and SO3PhBTBP showed no selectivity for the two actinide ions. DFT calculations indicated that the coordinating ‘N’ atoms in BTP were more co-planar in the complex and this co-planarity was higher in the Cm3+ complex as compared to that in Am3+. In the case of BTBP and BTPhen ligands, on the other hand, the co-planarity was more pronounced in the Am3+ complexes. Mayer's bond order calculations of M–N bonds in the complexes also indicated a reversal of the complexation ability of the BTP and BTPhen ligands for Am3+ and Cm3+. Calculations of the complexation energies further supported the higher selectivity of the BTP ligand for Am3+ by −52.0 kJ mol−1, and better selectivity of the BTPhen ligand for Cm3+ by −24.7 kJ mol−1.

Selectivity between Am3+ and Cm3+ was investigated after their aqueous complexation with three structurally tailored hydrophilic bis-(1,2,4-triazin-3-yl) ligands followed by their extraction with N,N,N'N'-tetraoctyl diglycolamide (TODGA) dissolved in an ionic liquid (C4mim·Tf2N). The three hydrophilic ligands used were SO3PhBTP, SO3PhBTBP, and SO3PhBTPhen. It was evident from the solvent extraction studies that SO3PhBTP formed a stronger complex with Cm3+ than with Am3+, but SO3PhBTPhen showed better complexation ability for Am3+ than for Cm3+, and SO3PhBTBP showed no selectivity for the two actinide ions. DFT calculations indicated that the coordinating 'N' atoms in BTP were more co-planar in the complex and this co-planarity was higher in the Cm3+ complex as compared to that in Am3+. In the case of BTBP and BTPhen ligands, on the other hand, the co-planarity was more pronounced in the Am3+ complexes. Mayer's bond order calculations of M-N bonds in the complexes also indicated a reversal of the complexation ability of the BTP and BTPhen ligands for Am3+ and Cm3+. Calculations of the complexation energies further supported the higher selectivity of the BTP ligand for Am3+ by -52.0 kJ mol-1, and better selectivity of the BTPhen ligand for Cm3+ by -24.7 kJ mol-1.

Introduction:The diagnosis of Ewing sarcoma family of tumours (ESFT) is challenging, especially in adults and in extra-skeletal or visceral location. Several morphologic mimics with varied treatment options and prognosis confer diagnostic dilemmas. Application of ancillary diagnostic modalities in surgical pathology in clinical routine has enabled accurate diagnosis of ESFT in bone, soft tissues, and viscera.Aim:The study aims to assess the clinicopathological features including molecular test results of ESFT with emphasis on sex, age, and location, especially extra-skeletal soft tissue and visceral location.Material and Methods:Data of clinicopathological, molecular tests (wherever performed), diagnosis rendered in 302 ESFT over a decade from our centre were reviewed. Statistical comparison of skeletal and extra-skeletal tumours with reference to age and sex was done using SPSS package. The P value of Results:The cohort included 302 ESFTs with 49% skeletal and 51% extra-skeletal tumours. Thigh was most common site among skeletal tumours; chest wall, paraspinal location, and retroperitoneum among soft tissues (39.4%); and kidney, ovary, and cervix among visceral tumours (11.3%). Fluorescence in situ hybridisation for EWSR1 gene rearrangement was positive in 54 patients and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 19 patients. Predominance of male sex, younger age and location in extremities among skeletal tumours and lack of gender predilection, higher age and axial location in extra-skeletal tumours were noted, which were statistically significant. Molecular tests were performed more frequently in extra-skeletal tumours, especially in visceral tumours to establish the diagnosis.Conclusions:The study showed statistically significant differences in the age, sex, and location between skeletal and extra-skeletal ESFT. The increased percentage of extra-skeletal tumours especially in viscera was attributed to the increased awareness and availability of ancillary techniques.

Type 2 branchial cleft anomalies are the most common cause of lateral neck swelling. We report two cases of type 2 branchial cleft anomalies. The first case is branchial cleft cyst and the second one is branchial fistula. Both cases were managed surgically. The post operative outcomes were uneventful. Second branchial cleft anomalies are the most common branchial anomalies. Branchial cysts are more common than sinuses and branchial fistulae are extremely rare. There is no gender predilection. The location, clinical symptoms and imaging findings aid in the diagnosis of this condition. Surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment.Keywords: branchial cleft; branchial cyst; branchial fistula.

Port-site metastasis (PSM) is cancer growth at the site of a port insertion after laparoscopic surgery for cancer. The pathophysiology of isolated PSM is unknown. Metastatic workup need to be done in all cases to confirm its isolated recurrence or widespread metastasis. We present a case report on isolated PSM with review of the literature. Isolated PSM should be treated with surgery. For disseminated metastasis, palliative chemotherapy or best supportive care are options.

Background: Ras genes are thought to play an important role in human cancer since they have been found to be activated frequently in several types of tumors including breast cancer, where the overall incidence of K-RAS oncogene activation is 0-10%. Evaluation of K-RAS gene not only for mutational frequency but also for mutation types in this downstream signaling gene pathway is necessary to determine the mechanisms of action. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that K-RAS activation is involved in breast cancer risk of south Indian population. Materials and Methods: A total of 70 paired pathologically confirmed tumor and non-tumor tissues from the same breast cancer patients were analysed for most common K-RAS mutations of codon 12,13 and 61 by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction digestion and direct nucleotide sequencing method. Results: We found that a high rate of homozygous and heterozygous mutations of codon 12, but not codon 13 and 61, may influence the invasive ductal carcinoma of breast risk in this study. Conclusions: Our study indicated that only codon 12 may be involved in initiating breast carcinogenesis in India.

Degeneration of oligodendroglial distal processes has been identified as an early event in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesion development. Our objective was to further define the development of the "dying-back" oligodendrocyte lesion in situ and to model the development and potential reversibility of such responses using dissociated cultures of adult human brain-derived oligodendrocytes.In situ analyses were performed on glutaraldehyde-fixed thin sections of clinically acute and pathologically active cases of MS. In vitro studies were conducted using adult human brain-derived oligodendrocytes challenged by metabolic stress conditions (low nutrient/glucose).In situ analyses indicated a spectrum of myelin changes in the presence of morphologically intact oligodendrocytes; these included degeneration of the inner cytoplasmic tongue with increasing sizes of intramyelinic bleb formation that could result in radial fractures of the myelin sheath. Macrophages with ingested myelin fragments were identified only once the fragmentation was established. In vitro studies indicated that oligodendrocyte process retraction, which was linked to reduced glycolytic respiratory activity, is reversible until a critical time point. Subsequent cell death was not linked to caspase-3-dependent programs. Gene expression studies conducted at the latest reversible time point revealed reduced expression of pathways associated with cell process outgrowth and myelination, as well as with metabolic activity.Our findings reveal the potential to protect and possibly restore myelin elaborated by existent oligodendrocytes in early and evolving MS lesions, and suggest the necessity of ongoing studies of the mechanisms underlying subsequent adult human oligodendrocyte cell death. Ann Neurol 2017;81:811-824.

This paper presents the preliminary results obtained in developing a powder metallurgy process involving an approach based on the use of press (compaction) and sintering together with subsequent extrusion on one hand and press and extrusion on the other hand. Two systems have been compared: an unreinforced AA6061 alloy (matrix) and AA6061-2 wt.% fly ash particulate composite. Mechanical mixing of the matrix powder, obtained from elemental powders, and particulate reinforcement was followed by compaction. Pressurisation was carried out at 345 MPa with zinc stearate as die wall lubricant. Some green compacts were extruded subsequently at 5–10 mm min−1 rate with a reduction ratio of 16:1 at 500°C. And some were sintered at 620°C for 4 h before extrusion. From XRD, SEM EDAX and mechanical testing studies it was observed that the press extruded samples were showing improvement in density, hardness, 0·2% proof stress and tensile strength over press sinter extruded samples.

This paper presents about performance analysis of circular microstrip patch antenna over which square and circular slots have been etched. The proposed antenna is designed at 2.4GHz which is suitable for WLAN base station antenna. This antenna provides circular polarization with wide bandwidth.

Kinectics and Mechanism of the Rapid Oxidation of Iodine in Weakly Acidic Solutions

Rotavirus gastroenteritis is one of the leading causes of diarrhea in Indian children less than 2 years of age. The 116E rotavirus strain was developed as part of the Indo-US Vaccine Action Program and has undergone efficacy trials. This paper reports the efficacy and additional safety data in children up to 2 years of age. In a double-blind placebo controlled multicenter trial, 6799 infants aged 6–7 weeks were randomized to receive three doses of an oral human-bovine natural reassortant vaccine (116E) or placebo at ages 6, 10, and 14 weeks. The primary outcome was severe (≥11 on the Vesikari scale) rotavirus gastroenteritis. Efficacy outcomes and adverse events were ascertained through active surveillance. We randomly assigned 4532 and 2267 subjects to receive vaccine and placebo, respectively, with over 96% subjects receiving all three doses of the vaccine or placebo. The per protocol analyses included 4354 subjects in the vaccine and 2187 subjects in the placebo group. The overall incidence of severe RVGE per 100 person years was 1.3 in the vaccine group and 2.9 in the placebo recipients. Vaccine efficacy against severe rotavirus gastroenteritis in children up to 2 years of age was 55.1% (95% CI 39.9 to 66.4; p

This paper deals with the conceptual design of Experimental Helium Cooling Loop (EHCL) for Indian Test Blanket Module (TBM) and its related thermal hydraulic experiments. Indian TBM team is developing Lead Lithium cooled Ceramic Breeder (IN-LLCB) TBM to be tested in ITER. The TBM box structure is cooled by high pressure (8 MPa) and high temperature (300-500C) helium gas. The first wall of TBM made of complex channel geometry having several parallel channels carrying helium gas for efficient heat extraction. Several mock-ups of these channels need to be tested before finalizing the TBM first wall design and fabrication. Besides the individual testing of such mock-ups of breeding blanket, the testing of Pb-Li to helium heat exchanger, the operational experience of helium loop and understanding of the behavior of high pressure and high temperature system components are very essential for final development of Helium Cooling System for LLCB TBM in ITER. The main requirements and characteristics of the EHCL and its conceptual design are presented in this paper., {"references":["Indian TBM Design Team, Design Description Document (DDD) for \"Lead Lithium Cooled Ceramic Breeder (LLCB) Blanket\", Version1.0, April 2008.","Status and progress of Indian LLCB test blanket systems for ITER, Fusion Engineering and Design, Volume 87, Issues 7–8, August 2012, Pages 1009-1013. Paritosh Chaudhuri, E. Rajendra Kumar, A. Sircar, S. Ranjithkumar, V. Chaudhari, C. Danani, B. Yadav, R. Bhattacharyay, V. Mehta, R. Patel, K.N. Vyas, R.K. Singh, M. Sarkar, R. Srivastava, S. Mohan, K. Bhanja, A.K. Suri","Overview of the ITER TBM Program, Fusion Engineering and Design, Volume 87, Issues 5–6, August 2012, Pages 395-402, L.M. Giancarli, M. Abdou, D.J. Campbell, V.A. Chuyanov, M.Y. Ahn, M. Enoeda, C. Pan, Y. Poitevin, E. Rajendra Kumar, I. Ricapito, Y. Strebkov, S. Suzuki, P.C. Wong, M. Zmitko.","Paritosh Chaudhuri, C. Danani, V. Chaudhari, C. Chakrapani, R.Srinivasan, I. Sandeep, et al., Thermal-Hydraulic and Thermo-Structural Analysis of First Wall for Indian DEMO Blanket Module, Fusion Engineering and Design 84 (2009) 573–577.","Analysis of the Reference Accidental Sequence for Safety Assessment of LLCB TBM System, Fusion Engineering and Design, Volume 87, Issues 5–6, August 2012, Pages 747-752. Vilas Chaudhari, Ram Kumar Singh, Paritosh Chaudhuri, Brijesh Yadav, Chandan Danani, E. Rajendra Kumar.","M. Ionescu Bujor, et al., Helium Loop Karlsruhe (HELOKA): Large Experimental Facility for the In-Vessel ITER and DEMO Components, in: Proceedings of the 20th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, 2005."]}

Este articulo se enfoca en obtener condiciones necesarias y suficientes para la existencia de la menos una solucion Ψ-acotada para la ecuacion lineal en diferencias matricial X (n + 1) = A (n) X (n) B (n) + F (n), donde F (n) es una funcion Ψ-sumable con valores matriciales en Z+.Finalmente, probamos un resultado relacionado al comportamiento asintotico de las soluciones Ψ-acotadas de esta ecuacion en Z+.

To define the functional significance of increased miR-155 expression in myeloid cells in multiple sclerosis (MS).miR-155 expression levels were measured in CD14+ monocytes from untreated relapsing-remitting MS patients and compared to healthy controls. Similar microRNA (miRNA) analyses were performed in laser-captured CD68+ cells from perivascular (blood-derived macrophages) and parenchymal (microglia) brain regions in both active MS lesions and noninflammatory cases. Using human adult blood-derived macrophages and brain-derived microglia, in vitro experiments were performed to demonstrate how miR-155 influences the polarization state, phenotype, and functional properties of myeloid cells, in addition to their ability to subsequently impact adaptive T-cell responses.In MS, miR-155 expression was significantly increased in both peripheral circulating CD14+ monocytes and active lesions (CD68+ cells) compared to control donor monocytes and parenchymal microglia, respectively. In vitro, miR-155 was significantly increased in both M1-polarized primary human macrophages and microglia. Transfection of an miR-155 mimic increased proinflammatory cytokine secretion and costimulatory surface marker expression in both cell types; an miR-155 inhibitor decreased proinflammatory cytokine expression. Coculture experiments demonstrated that allogeneic T-cell responses were significantly enhanced in the presence of miR-155-transfected myeloid cells compared to controls.Our results demonstrate that miR-155 regulates proinflammatory responses in both blood-derived and central nervous system (CNS)-resident myeloid cells, in addition to impacting subsequent adaptive immune responses. Differential miRNA expression may therefore provide insight into mechanisms responsible for distinct phenotypic and functional properties of myeloid cells, thus impacting their ability to influence CNS injury and repair.

Several multiquantum wells of InP/Ga x In1−x As y P1−y grown by chemical‐beam epitaxy have been studied by high‐resolution x‐ray diffraction, low‐temperature photoluminescence, and Raman scattering to characterize interfacial layers between the barriers and the wells. These interfacial layers are created during the initial stage of growth of the quaternary material as a result of the longer transient for the saturation of the group‐III elements flux. The combination of x‐ray diffraction and photoluminescence allows a precise determination of the interfacial layer thickness and composition grading and shows that interface roughness is of the order of 1 monolayer.Raman scattering confirms these results and is used to determine values of the sound velocity and of the index of refraction in the quaternary alloy material.

The addition of small quantities of a Bi surfactant is shown to have dramatic effects on the microstructure of GaAsSb alloys grown by organometallic vapor phase epitaxy (OMVPE). Epilayers grown without Bi show weak atomic ordering in plan-view selective area electron diffraction measurements, with periodicity of three or six times the [110] lattice spacing as previously reported. The addition of Bi at a ratio of 1% Bi∕Ga to the gas flow results in the appearance of strong CuAu and chalcopyrite ordering, as determined from electron diffraction measurements in both undoped, and heavily carbon doped layers. High-resolution, transmission electron microscopy lattice images clearly show the coexistence of {100}, {210} ordered and disordered structures with domain sizes of ∼10–20nm. Photoluminescence shows no band gap changes in GaAsSb samples with and without {100} and {210} ordering.

A series of alkyl, alkenyl and β-D-ribofuranosyl derivatives of 7-deazaguanine were synthesized and their ability to inhibit certain RNA virus infections was assessed in mice. 8-Chloro-7-deazaguanosine (6) protected the majority of mice infected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with benzi, encephalomyocarditis, San Angelo, or Semliki Forest virus at doses as low as 50 mg/kg/day. It was also orally active.

The ability of simple azole nucleosides to promote antiparallel triplex formation at non-homopurine duplex targets was explored. It was also shown that spermidine-cholesterol conjugation is effective in enhancing cellular uptake and stability of oligonucleotides.

Triple helix-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) offer the potential to specifically modulate expression of gene in a sequence dependent manner. TFOs containing G and T residues that bind to duplex DNA, forming a series of GGC and TAT base triplets, have been well studied. It has been observed that T is relatively nonspecific in that it binds with similar affinity to AT, GC, and CG base pairs. This may significantly reduce the specificity of a given TFO, leading to undesired effects on the expression of genes unrelated to the intended target. We have now prepared 3-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,7(8H )- dione (P) and incorporated it into TFOs using the solid-support, phosphoramidite chemistry. It has been demonstrated that a limited substitution of P for T in a G-rich 26-mer TFO can improve binding specificity for AT base pairs in antiparallel motif under certain conditions. The specificity exhibited by P is suggestive of base pair specific interactions that influence the binding strength and consequently enhance the potential therapeutic application of TFOs. However, the effect of substitution of P for T is dependent on the binding conditions, as well as the number of position of substitutions.

In the past few years, chemical beam epitaxy (CBE) has succeeded in producing high purity InP with residual carrier concentrations in the low 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/ range and liquid nitrogen temperature mobilities much higher than 10/sup 5/ cm/sup 2//Vs. The authors present the results of a study where they have combined electrical, chemical, and optical measurements to identify the residual impurities in InP layers grown with different growth parameters. It is shown that S and Si are the two major residual donor impurities in InP layers grown by CBE and that they originate from the gas sources. Arsenic contamination of InP layers is a common problem in gas source systems, particularly when a single cracker cell is used for both As and P sources. However this contamination can be greatly reduced with a thorough baking prior to InP growth. The concentration of acceptors is negligible and too low to allow the identification of the residual acceptor impurities. Under optimized growth conditions, InP layers with residual carrier concentrations less than 10/sup 14/ cm/sup -3/ can be routinely grown with 77 K mobilities larger than 2 /spl times/ 10/sup 5/ cm/sup 2//Vs. >

Preclinical and clinical data have suggested the potential use of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands for treating cognitive dysfunction associated with neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. SIB-1553A, (+/-)-4-[[2-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)ethyl]thio]phenol hydrochloride, a novel nAChR ligand with predominant agonist subtype selectivity for beta4 subunit-containing human neuronal nAChRs, was tested in a variety of cognitive paradigms in aged rodents and nonhuman primates after acute and repeated administration. Subcutaneous administration of SIB-1553A improved delayed nonmatching to place performance in aged mice. In aged rhesus monkeys, intramuscular and oral administration of SIB-1553A improved choice accuracy in a delayed matching to sample task. SIB-1553A improved performances in these spatial and nonspatial working memory tasks but was less effective at improving performances in spatial reference memory tasks (i.e., aged rodents exposed to a discrimination task in a T-maze or trained to locate a hidden platform in a water maze). These data suggest that SIB-1553A has a predominant effect on attention/working memory processes. SIB-1553A also induced the release of acetylcholine in the hippocampus of aged rats and was equally effective whether administered acutely or repeatedly (6 weeks of daily subcutaneous administration). Thus, rats repeatedly treated with SIB-1553A exhibit neither tolerance nor sensitization to the effects of the compound. The SIB-1553A-induced cognitive improvement may be in part related to an increase in cholinergic function. The present study provides additional support for the use of subtype-selective nAChR ligands as a potential therapy for the symptomatic treatment of specific cognitive deficits (such as attention/working memory deficits) associated with aging and neurological diseases.

In this study, the mechanism of nicotine-induced hippocampal acetylcholine (ACh) release in awake, freely moving rats was examined using in vivo microdialysis. Systemic administration of nicotine (0.4 mg kg(-1), s.c.) increased the levels of ACh in hippocampal dialysates. The nicotine-induced hippocampal ACh release was sensitive to the pretreatment of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) antagonists mecamylamine (3.0 mg kg(-1), s.c.) and dihydro-beta-erythrodine (DHbetaE; 4.0 mg kg(-1), s.c.) as well as systemic administration of the dopamine (DA) D1 receptor antagonist SCH-23390 (R-(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-benzaz epine; 0.3 mg kg(-1), s.c.). Local perfusion of mecamylamine (100 microM), DHbetaE (100 microM) or SCH-23390 (10 microM) through microdialysis probe did not increase basal hippocampal ACh release. Hippocampal ACh release elicited by systemic administration of nicotine (0.4 mg kg(-1), s.c.) was antagonized by local perfusion of SCH-23390 (10 microM), but not by MEC (100 microM) or DHbetaE (100 microM). Direct perfusion of nicotine (1 mM, but not 0.1 mM) increased hippocampal ACh levels; however, this effect was relatively insensitive to blockade by co-perfusion of either mecamylamine (100 microM) or SCH-23390 (10 microM). These results suggest that nicotine-induced hippocampal ACh release occurs by two distinct mechanisms: (1) activation of nAChRs outside the hippocampus leading to DA release and subsequent ACh release involving a permissive DA synapse, and (2) direct action of nicotine within the hippocampus leading to ACh release via non-DA-ergic mechanism.

We have examined epitaxial InSb films by Raman scattering for the first time. The films, 0.17–2.67 μm thick, were grown on (100) GaAs substrates by the new technique of metalorganic magnetron sputtering. We observe the first and second order longitudinal optical phonon peaks, the latter enhanced by outgoing resonance with the E1+Δ1 gap of InSb, and an upshift of this gap due to compressive biaxial stress. We also observe an anomalous dependence of stress on film thickness. The Raman data indicate good sample quality despite the large lattice mismatch between InSb and GaAs.

SIB-1765F ([+/-]-5-ethynyl-3-(1-methyl-2-pyrrolidinyl)pyridine fumarate) is a novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (NAChR) agonist displaying a different in vitro pharmacological profile than nicotine and epibatidine, suggestive of NAChR subtype selectivity. Our study describes the effects of SIB-1765F on locomotor activity in rats, which were compared to those observed for nicotine and epibatidine. The three NAChR agonists decreased or increased locomotor activity in rats naive or habituated to the test apparatus, respectively. The transient reduction in locomotor activity induced by SIB-1765F was quantitatively similar to those induced by nicotine and epibatidine but, unlike the effects of nicotine and epibatidine, was not blocked by the NAChR antagonists mecamylamine and dihydro-beta-erythroidine, suggesting different mechanisms of action. Furthermore, SIB-1765F produced a larger and longer-lasting increase in locomotor activity when administered to rats familiar with the test apparatus. Mecamylamine and dihydro-beta-erythroidine but not hexamethonium blocked the increase in locomotor activity induced by SIB-1765F, suggesting that SIB-1765F elicits this effect predominantly through the activation of central NAChR. The SIB-1765F-induced increase in locomotor activity was also attenuated by selective D1 and D2 dopamine receptor antagonists, implying that this increase in locomotor activity is mediated through the activation of dopamine receptors subsequent to the release of dopamine. Based on these results, SIB-1765F appears to have a different locomotor activity profile than nicotine and epibatidine.

SIB-1765F, a novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist, was tested for its efficacy in attenuating reserpine-induced hypolocomotion in rats. SIB-1765F was administered alone or in combination with L-DOPA and its effects were compared to those of nicotine, d-amphetamine and amantadine in the same conditions. Consistent with previous reports, reserpine-induced hypolocomotion was reversed by L-DOPA (plus benserazide), d-amphetamine and amantadine in a dose-dependent manner and the effect of L-DOPA in reserpine-treated rats was potentiated by amantadine. SIB-1765F also increased the locomotor activity of reserpine-treated rats and potentiated the effect of L-DOPA on reserpine-induced hypolocomotion. The onset of potentiation of L-DOPA by SIB-1765F was rapid (5 min) compared to the onset of potentiation by amantadine (105 min). Interestingly, nicotine did not attenuate reserpine-induced hypolocomotion nor did it affect the action of L-DOPA on reserpine-treated rats. Biochemical analysis of levels of dopamine and its metabolites, dihydroxyphenylacetic and homovanillic acid, indicated that, in contrast to amphetamine, SIB-1765F did not inhibit dopamine reuptake. The effect of SIB-1765F in reserpine-treated rats was attenuated by alpha-methyl-p-tyrosine, implying that SIB-1765F acts by releasing dopamine from both reserpine-insensitive and reserpine-sensitive pools. Our findings demonstrate that nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists may offer a new therapeutic approach to the symptomatic treatment of the motor deficits in patients with Parkinson's disease.