Abstract: The present invention relates to the engineering an animal model, preferably mammalian models, more preferably a rat model representing Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease 2A (CMT2A) harboring the p.Arg364Trp or p.His361Tyr Mfn2 mutation, whose human counterpart results in a severe, early-onset axonal neuropathy. A model having the p.Arg364Trp Mfn2 mutation is based on a mutation made using zinc finger endonuclease technology in fertilized rat eggs. Cohorts of mutants and wild type littermates were characterized behaviorally and shown to develop multiple motor deficits that worsened over time. Separate cohorts of mutant and wild type rats sacrificed at 7, 40, and 48 weeks and analyzed by light microscopy showed a reduced density of myelinated axons and active axonal degeneration in distal but not proximal nerves, as well as axonal degeneration in the fasciculus gracilis of the cervical spinal cord at 40 and 48 weeks.

Abstract: The present invention resides in a method for making an internal combustion engine intake valve. An iron aluminum alloy, in the form of a coil or bar stock, is provided. The alloy comprises 76.05 to 90.15 weight percent iron, 9 to 13.3 weight percent aluminum, 0.05 to 0.35 weight percent carbon, and 0.5 to 3 weight percent of a refractory metal, and/or 0.3 to 1.5 weight percent of titanium in combination with, or in place of, the refractory metal. The coil or bar stock is extruded to a poppet valve preform configuration at a heading temperature in the range of 800.degree. to 2,000.degree. F. and a true strain of about 0.5 to 2.2. The preform configuration is then headed to a pre-machined configuration while maintaining the head of such preform at an effective heading temperature up to 2,200.degree. F. said heading being carried out at a true strain of about 1.4 to 2.3.

Abstract: The present invention resides in a method for making an internal combustion engine intake valve. An iron aluminum alloy, in the form of a coil or bar stock, is provided. The alloy comprises 76.05 to 90.15 weight percent iron, 9 to 13.3 weight percent aluminum, 0.05 to 0.35 weight percent carbon, and 0.5 to 3 weight percent of a refractory metal, and/or 0.3 to 1.5 weight percent of titanium in combination with, or in place of, the refractory metal. The coil or bar stock is extruded to a poppet valve preform configuration at a heading temperature in the range of 800.degree. to 2,000.degree. F. and a true strain of about 0.5 to 2.2. The preform configuration is then headed to a pre-machined configuration while maintaining the head of such preform at an effective heading temperature up to 2,200.degree. F., said heading being carried out at a true strain of about 1.4 to 2.3.