Neural dynamics of inflectional and derivational morphology processing in the human brain

We investigated neural distinctions between inflectional and derivational morphology and their interaction with lexical frequency using the mismatch negativity (MMN), an established neurophysiological index of experience-dependent linguistic memory traces and automatic syntactic processing. We presented our electroencephalography (EEG) study participants with derived and inflected words of variable lexical frequencies against their monomorphemic base forms in a passive oddball paradigm, along with acoustically matched pseudowords. Sensor space and distributed source modelling results showed that at 100–150 msec after the suffix onset, derived words elicited larger responses than inflected words. Furthermore, real derived words showed advantage over pseudo-derivations and frequent derivations elicited larger activation than less frequent ones. This pattern of results is fully in line with previous research that explained lexical MMN enhancement by an activation of strongly connected word-specific long-term memory circuits, and thus suggests stronger lexicalisation for frequently used complex words. At the same time, a strikingly different pattern was found for inflectional forms: higher response amplitude for pseudo-inflections than for real inflected words, with no clear frequency effects. This is fully in line with previous MMN results on combinatorial processing of (morpho)syntactic stimuli: higher response to ungrammatical morpheme strings than grammatical ones, which does not depend on the string's surface frequency. This pattern suggests that, for inflectional forms, combinatorial processing route dominates over whole-form storage and access. In sum, our results suggest that derivations are more likely to form unitary representations than inflections which are likely to be processed combinatorially, and imply at least partially distinct brain mechanisms for the processing and representation of these two types of morphology. These dynamic mechanisms, underpinned by perisylvian networks, are activated rapidly, at 100–150 msec after the information arrives at the input, and in a largely automatic fashion, possibly providing neural basis for the first-pass morphological processing of spoken words.     

Brief Communication SEX DIFFERENCES AND RIGHT-LEFT ASYMMETRIES IN RAT HIPPOCAMPAL COMPONENTS

Previous reports have indicated morphologic hippocampal asymmetry in thickness in male and female rats. In the present study, the possible sex differences and right-left asymmetries in rat hippocampal components were investigated. Pyramidal cells in four hippocampal sectors on thionin-stained sections were counted and the thickness of the hippo campal components was measured on microslide-projected images. The present study showed significant sexual dimorphism in two hippocampi as well as asymmetry in male. These findings agree with those found in humans.     

Multiword Constructions in the Grammar

There is ample evidence that speakers’ linguistic knowledge extends well beyond what can be described in terms of rules of compositional interpretation stated over combinations of single words. We explore a range of multiword constructions (MWCs) to get a handle both on the extent of the phenomenon and on the grammatical constraints that may govern it. We consider idioms of various sorts, collocations, compounds, light verbs, syntactic nuts, and assorted other constructions, as well as morphology. Our conclusion is that MWCs highlight the central role that grammar plays in licensing MWCs in the lexicon and the creation of novel MWCs, and they help to clarify how the lexicon articulates with the rest of the grammar.     

滑脱腰椎椎体间接触面积变化规律在临床应用中的价值

背景：腰椎滑脱直接导致滑脱椎体与下位椎体间接触面积的减少，滑脱椎体间接触面积是决定椎间应力和腰椎退变的重要因素。腰椎椎体截面是不规则的肾形，没有成熟的数学公式可以直接计算出椎体间接触面积的变化规律。 目的：观察腰椎滑脱时椎体间接触面积的变化规律，并分析其临床意义。 方法：采集25套L4椎体下表面和L5椎体上表面的图像，在二维平面上均分为14步模拟腰椎滑脱过程，Image-ProPlus软件计算每一滑脱点(n)椎体间重叠面积Sn，取平均值后再换算成百分面积，Sn%=Sn/S×100%，观察0~100%滑移时椎体间接触面积的变化规律。根据此规律提出新的腰椎滑脱临床分期，并应用其指导治疗56例腰椎滑脱患者。 结果与结论：腰椎滑脱过程中，Sn%的变化是一个双曲线：滑脱率0~23%阶段，Sn%降低较缓慢；23%~44%阶段，Sn%的变化明显加快；44%~100%阶段，Sn%的变化再次变缓，拐点分别出现在一维滑脱率的(23±2)%和(44±2)%处。48例腰椎滑脱患者获得随访，临床疗效按Staufee标准优良率达90%左右。提示腰椎滑脱时椎体间接触面积的变化是非线性的，有助于腰椎稳定性评估并指导腰椎滑脱的临床治疗。     

碘酸钾、碘化钾对小鼠甲状腺形态结构和功能的影响

目的 用接近于流行病现场调查的碘水平复制小鼠动物模型，研究不同碘剂对小鼠甲状腺形态结构和功能的影响。方法 将小鼠按体重随机分为基础饲料组(NG)、适碘酸钾组(NO)、高碘酸钾组(HO)、高碘化钾组(HI)，喂养90d后，测定甲状腺重量、血清甲状腺激索、尿碘水平，在光镜和电镜下观察甲状腺形态结构的变化。结果 100μg／L的水碘即可导致小鼠胶质样甲状腺肿，使甲状腺绝对重量和相对重量增加；与NG组比较，HO组和HI组血清Td、尿碘水平上升，血清B水平无明显变化；HO组尿碘水平高于HI组；NO组与NG组比较，除尿碘水平上升外，其余各项指标无明显变化。结论 当饮水中碘浓度为100μg／L时，碘酸钾与碘化钾均可引起小鼠甲状腺肿大和甲状腺功能改变，两者无明显不同；小鼠对碘酸钾的利用率低于对碘化钾的利用率。     

克拉玛依地区的利什曼病 Ⅲ.大沙鼠体内利什曼原虫的形态及其对实验动物致病力的研究

在新疆克拉玛依的小拐和白碱滩两地,从20只大沙鼠的耳组织徐片上查出9只有利什曼原虫的感染。经测量69个原虫,平均大小为4.71±0.71×2.35±0.44μm,t试验结果显示,该地大沙鼠体内的利什曼原虫较沙鼠利什曼明显为小,与硕大利什曼原虫的形态比较,也有显著不同。 动物实验感染结果表明,该地大沙鼠体内的利什曼原虫在接种到BALB/c小鼠的足垫皮下后。可使小鼠产生皮肤溃疡和转移性皮肤损害,小鼠最后死于全身性感染。在远交系小鼠(昆明株)的足垫组织内,利什曼原虫可引起足垫局部短期肿胀,旋后消退,在外观正常的足垫皮下组织内,原虫可持续7个月以上。当原虫被注入黑线仓鼠的睾丸内后,产生睾丸局部感染,利什曼原虫主要寄生在鼠睾间质部位的巨噬细胞内,在曲细精管内的一些塞氏细胞中也有原虫寄生,偶而也发生转移性皮损。在长爪沙鼠耳组织内,原虫能持续14个月以上,并且可使鼠耳发生溃疡。 上述各项观察和实验结果表明,克拉玛依大沙鼠体内的利什曼原虫在形态大小、对4种实验动物所致的病变都与沙鼠利什曼原虫不同,对自然宿主大沙鼠的耳组织和远交系小鼠的致病力又与硕大利什曼原虫相异。作者认为,该地大沙鼠耳组织感染的利什曼原虫可能是一个新种(或新亚种),宜通过进一步的实验研究,来确定它分类上的地位。     

肝内胆管细胞癌的形态学CT分型及临床意义

目的对肝内胆管细胞癌的形态学CT分型以及临床意义进行评价分析,为今后的临床治疗工作提供可靠的理论依据。方法抽取在2013年1月~2014年6月我院收治的临床确诊肝内胆管细胞癌患者24例,对其CT扫描情况展开回顾性分析,评价形态学CT分型以及临床诊断价值。结果本组24例患者中,包括有肿块型者10例,CT表现为肝内结节状肿瘤,未出现周围胆管扩张现象;管周围浸润型者5例,CT表现为沿着胆管纵轴生长的树枝状肿瘤,合并有周围胆管扩张;肿块合并管周浸润型者7例,CT表现出肝内结节状肿瘤,并且合并有胆管扩张;管内生长型2例,CT表现为单发、多发肿瘤结节位于扩张的胆管内。结论经CT检查可以对肝内胆管细胞癌展开准确的形态学分型,为临床治疗方案的选择提供了可靠的参考依据,临床价值显著,值得关注。     

Morphological and Molecular Discrimination of Fasciola Species Isolated From Domestic Ruminants of Urmia City,Iran

Background:

The trematodes of the genus Fasciola (the liver flukes) are among the well-known instances of food-borne parasites worldwide. Differentiation of Fasciola species is important because of their different transmission and epidemiological characteristics. The current study was undertaken to discriminate Fasciola species in the domestic ruminants of Urmia city, Iran.

Methods:

Adult flukes were isolated from the naturally infected livers of the slaughtered water buffaloes and sheep. The flukes were initially identified based on morphological and morphometric parameters. A 618-bp-long fragment of the 28SrRNA gene of Fasciola was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The amplified fragment was digested by DraII or AvaII enzymes for a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and sequenced for the phylogenetic tree construction.

Results:

Based on the morphometric examination, the flukes belonged to F. hepatica, F. gigantica and an intermediate Fasciola form. The PCR-RFLP analysis was able to differentiate F. hepatica from F. gigantica. While the phylogenetic reconstruction justified, to some extent, the morphological diagnosis, it failed to segregate F. hepatica from F. gigantica identified in this and the previous studies.

Conclusion:

To resolve fully the problem of taxonomy and evolution in Fasciola species, employing a broad range of molecular and morphological approaches is necessary. This is crucial for epidemiological surveys and successful clinical management of their infection.     

From cutting edge to guideline: A first step in harmonization of the zebrafish embryotoxicity test (ZET) by describing the most optimal test conditions and morphology scoring system

In the last couple of years, the interest in the zebrafish embryotoxicity test (ZET) for use in developmental toxicity assessment has been growing exponentially. This is also evident from the recent proposal for updating the ICHS5 guideline. The methodology of the ZET used by the different groups varies greatly. To further evaluate its successfulness and to take the ZET to the next level, harmonization of procedures is crucial. In the present study, based on literature and empirical data, the most optimal study design regarding temperature, test chamber, exposure period, presence of chorion, solvent use, exposure method, choice of concentrations, and teratogenic classification is proposed. Furthermore, our morphology scoring system is reported in detail as protocol to further enhance study design harmonization.