Tissue-specific expression and circulating concentrations of nesfatin-1 in domestic animals.

Nesfatin-1 is a naturally occurring 82-amino acid protein encoded in the precursor nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2) and has been implicated in multiple physiological functions, including food intake and blood glucose regulation. This study aimed to characterize nesfatin-1 in domestic species, especially cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and pigs (Sus scrofa). Our in silico analysis demonstrated that the NUCB2/nesfatin-1 amino acid sequence, especially the bioactive core region of the peptide, is very highly conserved (more than 90% identity) in domestic animals. Expression of mRNAs encoding NUCB2/nesfatin-1 was detected in the cat, dog, and pig stomach and pancreas. Immunohistochemistry revealed the presence of nesfatin-1 in the gastric mucosa of the stomach of dogs, cats, and pigs, and in the pancreatic islet ß-cells of dogs and pigs. No nesfatin-1 immunoreactivity was found in the cat pancreas. Nesfatin-1 was detected in the serum of dog, cat, pig, bison, cow, horse, sheep, and chicken. Circulating nesfatin-1 in male and female dogs remained unchanged at 60 min after glucose administration, suggesting a lack of meal responsiveness in nesfatin-1 secretion in this species. The presence of nesfatin-1 in the gastric and endocrine pancreatic tissues suggests possible roles for this peptide in the metabolism of domestic animals. Future research should focus on elucidating the species-specific functions and mechanisms of action of nesfatin-1 in health and disease of domestic animals.

Low energy elastic electron scattering from CF3Br molecules.

CF3Br is a potentially valuable precursor molecule for generating beams of gas phase Br radicals suitable for electron collisions studies. However, the utility of CF3Br for this purpose depends critically on the availability of sound scattering cross sections to allow the contribution of the precursor to be isolated within the total scattering signal. To this end, here we present elastic differential cross section (DCS) measurements for CF3Br at incident energies between 15 and 50 eV. Comparison of these DCSs to those from the only other available experimental study [Sunohara et al., J. Phys. B: At., Mol. Opt. Phys. 36, 1843 (2003)] and a Schwinger multichannel with pseudo potentials (SMCPPs) calculation [Bettega et al., J. Phys. B: At., Mol. Opt. Phys. 36, 1263 (2003)] shows generally a very good accord. Integral elastic and momentum transfer cross sections, derived from our DCSs, are also found to be in quite good agreement with the SMCPP results.

Dissociative identity disorder and the nurse-patient relationship in the acute care setting: an action research study.

This paper presents the results of an action research study into the acute care experience of Dissociative Identity Disorder. The study, which was grounded in principles of critical social science, utilized focus group interviews and narrative construction. Nurses and patients are under-represented in all clinical evaluation and their voices need to be heard if services are to be truly collaborative. Findings of the study extend intrapsychic theories of trauma to emphasize the interpersonal relationship between nurse and person who can work together to facilitate recovery from trauma, make connections both intra and interpersonally and build resilience.

Effect of aerobic exercise on negative affect, positive affect, stress, and depression.

Three groups of subjects, 15 Longer-term Exercisers, 14 Short-term Exercisers, and 18 Nonexercisers completed questionnaires designed to measure negative affect associated with thoughts, negative affect associated with day-to-day experiences, positive affect associated with thoughts, and positive affect associated with day-to-day experiences, depression, and stress. All the subjects also provided a rating of their over-all general stress. The Longer-term Exercisers reported more positive affect associated with their thoughts and day-to-day experiences than the Nonexercisers. There also was a trend for the Longer-term Exercisers to report less over-all stress than the Nonexercisers.