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[[sup.18]F]MK-9470 is a selective, high-affinity, inverse agonist (human I[C.sub.50], 0.7 nM) for the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) that has been developed for use in human brain imaging. Autoradiographic studies in rhesus monkey brain showed that [[sup.18]F]MK-9470 binding is aligned with the reported distribution of CB1 receptors with high specific binding in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, caudate/putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and hippocampus. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies in rhesus monkeys showed high brain uptake and a distribution pattern generally consistent with that seen in the autoradiographic studies. Uptake was blocked by pretreatment with a potent CB1 inverse agonist, MK-0364. The ratio of total to nonspecific binding in putamen was 4-5:1, indicative of a strong specific signal that was confirmed to be reversible via displacement studies with MK-0364. Baseline PET imaging studies in human research subject demonstrated behavior of [[sup.18]F]MK-9470 very similar to that seen in monkeys, with very good test-retest variability (7%). Proof of concept studies in healthy young male human subjects showed that MK-0364, given orally, produced a dose-related reduction in [[sup.18]F]MK-9470 binding reflecting CBIR receptor occupancy by the drug. Thus, [[sup.18]F]MK-9470 has the potential to be a valuable, noninvasive research tool for the in vivo study of CB1R biology and pharmacology in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders in humans. In addition, it allows demonstration of target engagement and noninvasive dose-occupancy studies to aid in dose selection for clinical trials of CB1R inverse agonists. inverse agonist occupancy

A newly found genus and species of monostiliferous hoplonemertean, collected from a hydrothermal vent on the Juan de Fuca Ridge in the northeastern Pacific, is bright red in color and up to five centimeters long. Their type species is Thermanemertes valens. An important feature of the species is the presence of lipid-like globules related to a large numbers of mitochondria in the irregular groups of cells below the body wall musculature. These nemerteans are early colonizers of vents and vent endemic.

Marco Morales, 59, once a prominent Chicago businessman who was convicted in the Operation Silver Shovel probe of public corruption was sentenced 59-months prison in 1997 after he pleaded guilty of selling cocaine to Silver Shovel mole John Christopher and bribing an undisclosed. U.S. Authorities issued a warrant for Morales' in February 1998 after learning that he had fled to Mexico and Mexico Authorities arrested him on May 20, 2004 in the city of Merida, Mexico.

Energy saving ceramic discharge metal halide lamps (CDM) have been developed to start and operate on magnetic probe and pulse start ballasts originally designed for quartz metal halide (QMH) lamps. The energy saving performance of these retrofit CDM lamps has been evaluated on several types of commercial magnetic ballast systems including constant wattage auto-transformers (CWA), reactors, and magnetic regulated lag (mag-reg) types. System evaluations result in linear models that depend on ballast type and lamp power. These models, which show excellent agreement with measurements, are used in Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the relative power savings that can be expected when replacing an installation of QMH lamps having a range of electrical characteristics, with the energy saving CDM retrofit lamps. The system evaluations show that the CDM lamps save 18 percent lamp power and an average system power savings of up to 17 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduction of energy consumption for lighting has received more and more attention as a global effort to preserve our natural resources. In past years, high efficiency pulse-start quartz metal halide (QMH) lamps have gained momentum and have been applied in many new installations. However, over 80 percent of systems installed in the North American (NA) market are probe-start ballasts. The technologically advanced ceramic discharge metal halide (CDM) lamp has emerged in the market having excellent color properties and improved lumen maintenance compared to QMH lamps while limited to operation on pulse-start metal halide ballasts. Furthermore, the existing QMH and CDM lamps are designed to operate at nominal power on these systems, therefore no energy savings can be realized in existing installations. In realizing the future, this paper describes new energy saving medium wattage CDM lamps that can directly retrofit on either probe-start or pulse-start ballasts. The lamps, which operate at 205 watts and 330 watts respectively on 250/400 watt ballasts, can save 18 percent in energy while providing the equivalent mean luminous flux, superior lumen maintenance, greater service life, and enhanced color properties compared to the existing QMH lamps. By utilizing the latest advancements in ceramic arc tube design, the energy saving CDM retrofit lamps can reliability start on probe-start ballasts. Furthermore, the lamps have universal orientation in open fixtures and long life. With significant energy savings and improved lamp features, the energy saving CDM lamps are ideal for existing and new lighting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: α5IA (3-(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)-6-[(1-methyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyloxy]-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4- a]phthalazine) is a triazolophthalazine with subnanomolar affinity for α1-, α2-, α3- and α5-containing GABAA receptors. Here we have evaluated the relationship between plasma α5IA concentrations and benzodiazepine binding site occupancy in rodents and primates (rhesus monkey). Experimental approach: In awake rats, occupancy was measured at various times after oral dosing with α5IA (0.03–30 mg·kg−1) using an in vivo {[3H]flumazenil (8-fluoro 5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4 H-imidazo[1,5- a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester)} binding assay. In anaesthetized rhesus monkeys, occupancy was measured using {[123I]iomazenil (ethyl 5,6-dihydro-7-iodo-5-methyl-6-oxo-4 H-imidazo[1,5- a][1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester)} γ-scintigraphy and a bolus/infusion paradigm. In both rat and rhesus monkey, the plasma drug concentration corresponding to 50% occupancy (EC50) was calculated. Key results: In rats, α5IA occupancy was dose- and time-dependent with maximum occupancy occurring within the first 2 h. However, rat plasma EC50 was time-independent, ranging from 42 to 67 ng·mL−1 over a 24 h time course with the average being 52 ng·mL−1 (i.e. occupancy decreased as plasma drug concentrations fell). In rhesus monkeys, the EC50 for α5IA displacing steady-state [123I]iomazenil binding was 57 ng·mL−1. Conclusions and implications: Rat plasma EC50 values did not vary as a function of time indicating that α5IA dissociates readily for the GABAA receptor in vivo. These data also suggest that despite the different assays used (terminal assays of [3H]flumazenil in vivo binding in rats and [123I]iomazenil γ-scintigraphy in anaesthetized rhesus monkeys), these techniques produced similar plasma α5IA EC50 values (52 and 57 ng·mL−1 respectively) and that the plasma–occupancy relationship for α5IA translates across these two species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most ribborn worms (phylum Nemertea) are marine and only 22 of the currently named around 1,200 species are known from freshwater habitats (mainly lakes/ponds). They are all free-living benthic forms found in all continents except Antarctica. The vast majority of species have been recorded from the Palearctic region, but this may reflect sampling efforts rather than biogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[18F]MK-9470 is a selective, high-affinity, inverse agonist (human 1C50, 0.7 nM) for the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) that has been developed for use in human brain imaging. Autoradiographic studies in rhesus monkey brain showed that [18F]MK-9470 binding is aligned with the reported distribution of CB1 receptors with high specific binding in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum. caudate/putamen, globus pallidus, substantia nigra, and hippocampus. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging studies in rhesus monkeys showed high brain uptake and a distribution pattern generally consistent with that seen in the autoradiographic studies. Uptake was blocked by pretreatment with a potent CB1 inverse agonist, MK-0364. The ratio of total to nonspecific binding in putamen was 4–5:1, indicative of a strong specific signal that was confirmed to be reversible via displacement studies with MK-0364. Baseline PET imaging studies in human research subject demonstrated behavior of [18F]MK-9470 very similar to that seen in monkeys, with very good test-retest variability (7%). Proof of concept studies in healthy young male human subjects showed that MK-0364, given orally, produced a dose-related reduction in [18F]MK-9470 binding reflecting CB1R receptor occupancy by the drug. Thus, [18F]MK- 9470 has the potential to be a valuable, noninvasive research tool for the in vivo study of CB1R biology and pharmacology in a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders in humans. In addition, it allows demonstration of target engagement and noninvasive dose-occupancy studies to aid in dose selection for clinical trials of CB1R inverse agonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey of the nemertean fauna along the Swedish west coast found specimens of 20 genera and 32 species, of which one genus and species is new to science (Tetraneuronemertes lovgreni gen. et sp. n.). The proportions of the three taxa Hoplonemertea, Heteronemertea, and Palaeonemertea are 34, 55, and 11%, respectively, with respect to specimen numbers, and the proportions for species within these taxa are 53, 31 and 16%, respectively. The most common species encountered during the survey were the heteronemerteans Lineus bilineatus, Micrura fasciolata, and Micrura purpurea, the hoplonemertean Nipponnemertes pulcher, and the palaeonemertean Cephalothrix rufifrons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new breed of high-pressure sodium retrofit lamps has evolved utilizing the best of high-pressure sodium and metal halide technologies. These medium wattage ceramic discharge metal halide lamps have brought color and clarity to formerly dreary HPS industrial installations. A comparison of the two lamp technologies, with the intent of addressing both the similarities and differences, is presented. This comparison focuses on some of the physical, electrical, and photometric aspects of these two different, and yet similar, lamp types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sundberg, P., Gibson, R. & Olsson, U. (2003). Phylogenetic analysis of a group of palaeonemerteans (Nemertea) including two new species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. —Zoologica Scripta, 32, 279–296. Based on 18S rDNA nucleotide sequences and morphological characters, we reconstruct the phylogeny for a group of palaeonemerteans estimated to be monophyletic. Two new palaeonemertean species from Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef, Australia are included in the phylogenetic analysis. The results confirm that one of the species, Cephalothrix queenslandica sp. n., is part of the Cephalothrix–Cephalotrichella–Procephalothrix group. These genera are redefined phylogenetically under the name Cephalothrix based on the cladistic analysis. The other species, Balionemertes australiensis gen. et sp. n., is placed in a new genus which forms a sister taxon to Cephalothrix . The morphology of both new species is described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potamostoma shizunaiense gen. et sp. nov. (Nemertea: Hoplonemertea: Monostilifera) is described from the mouth of the River Shizunai, Hokkaido, Japan. This genus is readily distinguished from other' monostiliferans by an oesophagus opening far anteriorly into the rhynchodaeum, a well developed excretory system extending the whole body length, terminals of the excretory collecting tubules situated between the body wall circular muscle layer and the dermis, and bilobed testes in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]