We thus conclude that GAG side chains of small leucine-rich proteoglycans are not a primary determinant of tensile mechanical behavior in mature rat tail tendons. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Long-term potentiation (LTP) of synaptic efficacy is considered a fundamental mechanism of learning and memory. At the cellular level a large

body of evidence demonstrated that the major neuromodulatory neurotransmitters dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and acetylcholine (ACh) influence LTP magnitude. Noninvasive brain stimulation protocols provide the opportunity to study LTP-like plasticity at the systems level of human cortex. Here we applied paired associative stimulation (PAS) to induce LTP-like plasticity in the primary

motor Copanlisib cortex of eight healthy subjects. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design, the acute effects of a single oral dose of the neuromodulatory drugs cabergoline (DA agonist), haloperidol (DA antagonist), Trichostatin A methylphenidate (indirect NE agonist), prazosine (NE antagonist), tacrine (ACh agonist), and biperiden (ACh antagonist) on PAS-induced LTP-like plasticity were examined. The antagonists haloperidol, prazosine, and biperiden depressed significantly the PAS-induced LTP-like plasticity observed under placebo, whereas the agonists cabergoline, methylphenidate, and tacrine had no effect. Findings demonstrate that antagonists in major neuromodulatory neurotransmitter systems suppress LTP-like plasticity at the systems level of human cortex, in accord with evidence of their modulating action of LTP at the cellular level. This provides further supportive evidence for the known detrimental effects of these drugs on LTP-dependent mechanisms such as learning and memory. Neuropsychopharmacology (2011) 36, 1894-1902; doi:10.1038/npp.2011.75; published online 4 May 2011″
“A two-patch discrete time plant-insect model coupled through insect dispersal is studied. The model

is based on three different phases: Plant growth is followed by the dispersal of insects followed by insect attacks. Our objective is to understand how different intensities MRIP of dispersal impact both local and global population dynamics of the two-patch model. Special attention is paid to two situations: When the single-patch model (i.e., in the absence of dispersal) is permanent and when the single-patch model exhibits Allee-like effects. The existence and stability of synchronous and asynchronous dynamics between two patches is explored. If the single-patch system is permanent, the permanence of the system in two patches is destroyed by extremely large dispersals and large attacking rates of insects, thus creating multiple attractors.