Adaptive motor unit action potential clustering using shape and temporal information

An adaptive algorithm is described that groups motor unit action potentials (MUAPs), detected in a composite EMG signal during signal decomposition, and creates partial motor unit action potential trains (MUAPTs). Data-driven MUAP shape and motor unit firing-pattern based criteria are used to form the clusters. An algorithm for estimating MUAPT temporal parameter, which provides accurate estimates even for partially defined trains, is used to obtain firing-pattern information. No a priori knowledge is required regarding the number of clusters or the distribution of their template shapes. The clustering algorithm when applied to real concentric-needle detected MUAP data provides accurate and useful clustering results. Compared to a classical leader-based algorithm, it provides more robust performance, is better able to estimate the true number of motor units represented in a set of detected MUAPs, and obtains more complete and accurate MUAPTs.     

Excitation of units in the lateral geniculate and contiguous nuclei of the cat by stretch of extrinsic ocular muscles

Summary In cats, anaesthetized with chloralose and paralysed, the responses of units in the right lateral thalamus were recorded while the extrinsic ocular muscles (EOM) of the right eye were stretched in the dark. Phasic responses were found in all layers of the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGNd) and in the perigeniculate nucleus (PGN). A given unit usually responded to stretch of more than one EOM and thus to more than one direction of rotation of the eye in the orbit. LGNd. Of a sample of 76 units in LGNd, 55 (72%) gave visual but no muscle responses and 21 (28%) responded to EOM stretch. In all, 40 units with EOM responses were examined and 25 of the 27 tested (93%) also had visual responses. Of the 40 units, 32 could be allocated to layers, thus: layer A, 8 (25%); layer A1, 20 (63%); layer B, 3 (9%); central interlaminar nucleus, 1 (3%). It is interesting that most of the EOM responses were found in layer A1 which receives the excitatory visual input from the eye whose EOM were stretched. Muscle responsive units occurred with ON- and OFF-centre visual responses of sustained and transient types. PGN. In PGN, 21 units gave EOM responses and most of them were also excited by visual input.The conclusion is that the LGNd and PGN recieve an extraretinal proprioceptive signal which should be present during at least large saccadic eye movements. The anatomical pathways which may be involved and the significance of the signal are discussed briefly.     

Interleukin-12/T cell stimulating factor,a cytokine with multiple effects on T helper type 1 (Th1) but not on Th2 cells

At least two subsets of CD4⁺ T helper cell lymphocytes termed T_h1 and T _h, 2 exist in the mouse and probably in humans. They are characterized by the secretion of different lymphokines and by their functional behavior. Dysregulated expansion of one or the other subset may be one reason for the development of certain diseases. Thus, it is of importance to define the signals involved in the differentiation and activation of the two T_h cell subsets. It is known and has been confirmed in this report that the cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 acts onT_h2 cells but not on T_h1 cells. We now report that a previously identified cytokine which was provisionally termed T cell stimulating factor is identical with IL-12 and exhibits a reciprocal behaviour to IL-1. IL-12 has several effects on T_h1 cells. It can induce the proliferation of certain T_h1 cells in combination with IL-2. Synthesis of interferon (IFN)-γ by T_h1 cells can be triggered by IL-2 plus IL-12. In contrast to the IFN-γ production observed after T cell receptor (TcR) CD3 stimulation of T_h1 cells with lectin Concanavalin A the IFN-γ production induced by IL-12+IL-2 is insensitive to the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A. Furthermore, IL-12 enhances the TcR/CD3-induced synthesis of IFN-γ of several T_h1 clones. Finally, IL-12 (+ IL-2) induces homotypic cell aggregation of T_h1 clones. This type of cell aggregation depends on the participation of LFA-1 and ICAM-1 molecules. In all activation systems with T_h1 cells no effect of IL-1 was demonstrable. In contrast, only IL-1 but not IL-12 served as a co-stimulatory signal for several T_h2 cell lines activated via the TcR/CD3 complex.     

一株新的鼠抗人2IgB7-H3功能性单克隆抗体的研制及其生物学特性的鉴定

研制功能性鼠抗人2IgB7-H3单克隆抗体。以人2IgB7-H3基因转染细胞L929/2IgB7-H3为免疫原,常规免疫6~8周龄的雌性BALB/c小鼠;利用B淋巴杂交瘤技术,将免疫小鼠脾脏细胞和骨髓瘤细胞株SP2/0融合,L929/2IgB7-H3细胞为抗原筛选阳性细胞;经间接免疫荧光标记法对杂交瘤细胞进行反复筛选和多次克隆化培养;采用快速定性试纸法鉴定单抗Ig亚类;利用竞争抑制性实验分析该单抗识别的抗原表位;采用MTT法分析该单抗在体外阻断DC对T细胞的促增殖效应。结果:获得了1株持续稳定分泌鼠抗人2IgB7-H3单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株(命名为7D7),该单抗可特异识别L929/2IgB7-H3分子和介导有效的共刺激信号。该单抗的成功获得和其生物学特性的初步鉴定,为进一步研究B7-H3两个异构体在DC细胞及肿瘤细胞上的作用机制奠定了物质基础。     

tPA信号肽和鼠疫杆菌保护性抗原V融合基因的构建及免疫效果鉴定

获得含有鼠疫杆菌V抗原编码基因以及tPA信号肽编码序列的重组质粒,并测定其诱导特异性免疫应答的能力。采用PCR扩增鼠疫菌杆菌V基因构建到pVAX1质粒中产生pVAX1/V重组质粒,PCR扩增tPA信号肽编码序列片段并将其插入到pVAX1/V中V基因的上游,构建tPA-pVAX1/V重组质粒;转染COS-7细胞,免疫细胞化学方法鉴定V蛋白的表达;二重组质粒分别加mGM-CSF质粒免疫BALB/c小鼠,观察免疫应答反应;以400个LD50强毒鼠疫杆菌皮下攻击免疫小鼠观察保护效率。结果显示,tPA-pVAX1/V在COS-7细胞中表达了V蛋白;免疫小鼠血清产生了特异性抗体和细胞免疫应答;攻毒保护率达80%。成功构建了分泌型V蛋白的真核表达质粒载体,具有诱导特异性细胞免疫和体液免疫应答的能力,对强毒鼠疫杆菌攻毒有一定的保护效力,为鼠疫杆菌新型疫苗研制奠定了基础。     

Sonic phase delay from trachea to chest wall: spatial and inhaled gas dependency

A parametric phase delay estimation technique is used to determine the spatial and inhaled gas composition dependencies of sound propagation time through an intact human lung at frequencies of 150–1200 Hz. Noise transmission measurements from the mouth to the extrathoracic trachea and six sites on the posterior chest wall are performed in 11 healthy adult subjects at resting lung volume after equilibration with air, an 80% helium-20% oxygen mixture, and an 80% sulfurhexafluoride-20% oxygen mixture. The phase delay, τ(f), exhibits a bilateral asymmetry with relatively decreased delays to the left posterior chest as compared with the right. The phase delay to lower lung sites is greater than to upper sites at frequencies below 300 Hz; yet the opposite is found at higher frequencies, indicating changing propagation pathways with frequency. There is no measurable effect of inhaled gas composition on τ(f) below 300 Hz. At higher frequencies, changes in τ(f) that reflect the relative sound speed of the particular inhaled gas are observed. These findings support and extend previous measurements and hypotheses concerning the strong frequency dependence of the acoustical properties of the intact respiratory system.     

The sources of odors from stressed rats

Recent studies [8,9] have shown that odors from stressed Norway rats act as signals to which other rats respond primarily by overall changes in activity and exploration. At present the source of these odors is unknown. In this study odors from urine, feces and the bodies of stressed rats were delivered along a runway in which the subjects had been previously trained to run for a water reward in the presence of odors from non-stressed rats. The results indicate that odors are released from the body surface and in the urine but not the feces of stressed rats.     

Preprocessor Adapts Cardiovascular Signals to a Minicomputer

A laboratory-developed analog signal processor, driven by a conventional polygraph recorder and associated signal conditioning devices, provides automatic heart beat-by-heart beat preprocessing of various cardiovascular functions for input to a laboratory-type minicomputer. The technique of preprocessing individual functions, integrated with the minicomputer system which includes an A/D converter and teletype as input-output peripherals, provides a low-cost data acquisition and reduction system for the on-line computation and analysis of cardiovascular functions in experimental research applications. Such preprocessing more efficiently uses the minicomputer's memory to handle large amounts of information since the digitized data is in the form of one data sample, per function, per heart beat. Preprocessing analog data provides a low density data format and simplified software programs that are ideally suited for the utilization of a minicomputer in this on-line application.