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A microstructural investigation of a VVER400-type reactor pressure vessel (RPV) steel in the initial state (unirradiated) is presented. Key points include a detailed characterization by electron backscatter diffraction and an analysis of precipitates and inclusions performed by transmission as well as scanning electron microscopy.

Penbutolol is a new, potent and long-acting. noncardioselective B-adrenergic blocker which has been evaluated in a 6-month open study of patients with moderate essential or renal hypertension. Eightytwo patients entered the study and 69 completed at least 3 months of treatment. Two-thirds of these showed a good response to penbutolol given alone as a single daily dose of either 40 mg or 80 mg. The major reduction in blood pressure occurred within the first 2 weeks of active therapy. This response was maintained for· the entire study period. Blood pressure reduction after penbutolol did not correlate with the small reduction in heart rate observed. The remaining patients were treated with a combination of penbutolol and furosemide and most had achieved satisfactory control of their blood pressure by the end of the study. Penbutolol was well tolerated and produced no serious adverse effects. Some patients developed gastro-intestinal side-effects at the beginning of treatment which subsequently resolved. One patient with chronic glomerulonephritis showed a marked deterioration in renal function during the study. This may well have been related to disease progression. No other significant changes in biochemical or haematological parameters were observed.

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field. Common sequence variants have recently joined rare structural polymorphisms as genetic factors with strong evidence for association with schizophrenia. Here we extend our previous genome-wide association study and meta-analysis (totalling 7 946 cases and 19 036 controls) by examining an expanded set of variants using an enlarged follow-up sample (up to 10 260 cases and 23 500 controls). In addition to previously reported alleles in the major histocompatibility complex region, near neurogranin (NRGN) and in an intron of transcription factor 4 (TCF4), we find two novel variants showing genome-wide significant association: rs2312147[C], upstream of vaccinia-related kinase 2 (VRK2) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, P = 1.9 × 10(-9)] and rs4309482[A], between coiled-coiled domain containing 68 (CCDC68) and TCF4, about 400 kb from the previously described risk allele, but not accounted for by its association (OR = 1.09, P = 7.8 × 10(-9)). European Union LSHM-CT-2006-037761 PIAP-GA-2008-218251 HEALTH-F2-2009-223423 National Genome Research Network of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) 01GS08144 01GS08147 National Institute of Mental Health R01 MH078075 N01 MH900001 MH074027 Centre of Excellence for Complex Disease Genetics of the Academy of Finland 213506 129680 Biocentrum Helsinki Foundation Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki Stanley Medical Research Institute Danish Council for Strategic Research 2101-07-0059 H. Lundbeck A/S Research Council of Norway 163070/V50 South-East Norway Health Authority 2004-123 Medical Research Council Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Spain PI081522 Xunta de Galicia 08CSA005208PR Swedish Research Council Wellcome Trust 083948/Z/07/Z Max Planck Society Eli Lilly and Company info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/218251

Fil: Rossner, M. V. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Fil: Aguilar, Nadia M. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Fil: Koscinczuk, Patricia. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. La preocupación acerca del bienestar animal ha ido en aumento, particularmente por la presión del público consumidor. Se entiende por bienestar al estado del individuo en relación a sus intentos de adaptarse al ambiente en un momento determinado. Al ser un concepto con bases científicas debe ser medido objetivamente. Por otra parte, la definición tiene algunas implicancias como la de ser una característica del animal, en lugar de algo que se le pueda brindar, así como variar dentro de un rango –desde muy bueno a muy malo– siendo malo cuando existen dificultades para mantener el control de las funciones o fallas en las tentativas de adaptarse al ambiente. En la cría y producción de bovinos existe una opinión generalizada que los sistemas extensivos son siempre buenos, porque mantienen a los animales lo más cerca posible del estado natural y que los sistemas intensivos son malos porque las libertades de elección y movimientos están restringidas. No obstante, en cualquier sistema productivo, extensivo o intensivo, pueden existir fracasos en la adaptación y consecuente estrés. Actualmente algunas organizaciones internacionales se han planteado como objetivo lograr que las nuevas tecnologías mejoren el bienestar sin producir mermas en la producción. Esto se puede alcanzar mediante el reconocimiento de los comportamientos naturales del bovino, teniendo en cuenta sus señales visuales, auditivas y olfativas, bases del manejo racional de los animales. Esta práctica no solo permite mejorar la relación humano–animal disminuyendo los signos de estrés, sino que también proporciona beneficios prácticos y económicos, generando efectos psicosociales positivos para el bienestar humano. Concern about animal welfare has been increasing due to consumers’ pressure. Animal welfare is defined as the individual state in its attempts to cope with the environment in a particular moment. Being a concept with scientific bases, it must be determined objectively. On the other hand, definition of welfare has some implications such as a characteristic inherent to the animal, contrary to something that may be offered or provided, as well as a variation within a range –from very good to very bad– being bad when there are difficulties to maintain normal functions or there is a lack in coping with the environment. There is a general opinion that extensive systems are always good because they allow animals to keep as close as possible to the natural state, and intensive systems are bad because freedom of choice and movement are restricted. But in any production system, failures in adaptation and consequent stress may be present. Nowadays, some global organizations pointed out new technologies that improve animal welfare without causing production losses. This can be reached by means of recognition of the natural behavior of cattle taking into account the visual, auditory and olfactory signals, being these baselines for rational handling. This practice not only improves the human–animal relationship by decreasing stress, but also provides practical and economical benefits generating psychosocial positive effects for human welfare.

We have developed a new casting technique basing on old recipes from the 17. and 18. century to restaurate old lead pipes as well as to produce new pipes approaching the quality of the old ones. Materials studies of old and new metal probes were performed by metallography, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction analysis. Different casting variants as well as the influence of hammering the casted metal plates onto the microstructure were investigated. Moreover we investigated by PIXE (Proton induced X-ray Emission) the residuals of old glue on the old pipes which remaining from tin foil adornment. In this manner we positioned the pipe directly in front of an external ion beam and analysed it without cutting pieces away from the metal pipe.