Re-evaluating split-fovea processing in word recognition: Effects of fixation location within words

It has been claimed that word recognition is affected fundamentally by the precise location at which a word is fixated because a precise split in hemispheric processing at the point of fixation causes all letters to the left and right of fixation to project to different, contralateral hemispheres. To assess this claim, 5-letter words (and nonwords) were presented for lexical decision when participants fixated the space immediately to the left (location 1) or right (location 6) of each stimulus, or one of the four possible inter-letter spaces (locations 2-5). Fixation location was controlled using an eye-tracker linked to a fixation-contingent display and all stimuli were presented entirely within foveal vision to avoid confounding influences of extrafoveal hemispheric projections. Performance was equally poorest when fixating locations 1 and 6 (when words were shown entirely to either the right and left of fixation), intermediate for location 5, and equally superior for locations 2, 3, and 4. Additional word-specific analyses also showed no evidence of the effects of fixation location on optimal word recognition predicted by split-fovea processing. These findings suggest that, while fixation location influences word recognition, word recognition is apparently not affected by a split in hemispheric processing at the point of fixation and does not depend critically on the precise location at which a word is fixated. Implications of these findings for the role of fixation location in word recognition are discussed.     

Novel Mutations in the DYNC1H1 Tail Domain Refine the Genetic and Clinical Spectrum of Dyneinopathies

The heavy chain 1 of cytoplasmic dynein (DYNC1H1) is responsible for movement of the motor complex along microtubules and recruitment of dynein components. Mutations in DYNC1H1 are associated with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN), cortical malformations, or a combination of these. Combining linkage analysis and whole‐exome sequencing, we identified a novel dominant defect in the DYNC1H1 tail domain (c.1792C>T, p.Arg598Cys) causing axonal HMSN. Mutation analysis of the tail region in 355 patients identified a de novo mutation (c.791G>T, p.Arg264Leu) in an isolated SMA patient. Her phenotype was more severe than previously described, characterized by multiple congenital contractures and delayed motor milestones, without brain malformations. The mutations in DYNC1H1 increase the interaction with its adaptor BICD2. This relates to previous studies on BICD2 mutations causing a highly similar phenotype. Our findings broaden the genetic heterogeneity and refine the clinical spectrum of DYNC1H1, and have implications for molecular diagnostics of motor neuron diseases.     

Number and function of circulating human antigen presenting cells regulated by sleep

STUDY OBJECTIVES: There is evidence that sleep facilitates the adaptive immune response to infectious agents and, thereby, supports immunologic memory. The effect might be attained by sleep-induced changes in the number and function of dendritic cells (DCs), which play a key role in the initiation of the immune response. This study aimed to dissociate effects of sleep and circadian rhythm on circulating numbers of DC precursors, ie, CD14+CD16- and CD14(dim)CD16+ monocytes, myeloid dendritic cell precursors (pre-mDC), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDC) and on 2 key cytokines produced by these cells, ie, interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon (IFN)-alpha. DESIGN: In a within-subject cross-over design, human subjects were examined on 2 occasions, ie, during a normal sleep-wake cycle and during 24 hours of wakefulness. Blood was sampled every 1.5 hours during nighttime and every 3 hours during daytime. SETTING: Experiments took place under controlled laboratory conditions. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven healthy men aged between 18 and 30 years. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Compared with wakefulness, sleep was associated with a striking increase in the number of pre-mDC producing IL-12, which is a main inducer of Th1 responses. In addition, sleep slightly decreased PDC and also T cell counts but did not affect IFN-alpha production by PDC. Sleep, however, substantially decreased numbers of CD14(dim)CD16+ monocytes, probably reflecting increased margination of the cells upon a sleep-related drop in catecholamine release. CONCLUSIONS: Our data identify pre-mDC producing IL-12 as a basic target of sleep that is most closely related to mature APC function and whereby sleep can effectively enhance adaptive immune responses.     

The 3-step approach for the treatment of multisegmental thoraco-abdominal aortic pathologies

Open in a separate window OBJECTIVESThe goal of this study was to describe our 3-step approach to treat multisegmental thoraco-abdominal aortic disease due to aortic dissection and to present our initial clinical results.METHODSNine patients with multisegmental thoraco-abdominal aortic pathology due to aortic dissection underwent our 3-step approach, which consisted of total aortic arch replacement via the frozen elephant trunk technique, thoracic endovascular aortic repair for distal extension down to the level of the thoraco-abdominal transition and, finally, open thoraco-abdominal aortic replacement for the remaining downstream aortic segments. We assessed their baseline and aortic characteristics, previous aortic procedures, intraoperative details, clinical outcomes and follow-up data.RESULTSThe median age was 58 (42–66) years; 4 patients (44%) presented connective tissue disease. Eight patients (89%) had undergone previous aortic surgery for aortic dissection. In-hospital mortality was 0% (n = 0). None suffered symptomatic spinal cord injury or disabling stroke. During the follow-up period, 1 patient died of acute biliary septic shock 6 months after thoraco-abdominal aortic replacement.CONCLUSIONSThe 3-step approach to treat multisegmental thoraco-abdominal aortic pathology due to aortic dissection, which involves applying both open and endovascular techniques, is associated with an excellent clinical outcome and low perioperative risk. Distal shifting of the disease process through the thoracic endovascular aortic repair extension—and thereby necessitating limited open thoraco-abdominal aortic repair—seems to be the major factor enabling these favourable results.IRB approvalIRB approval was obtained (No. 425/15) from the institutional review board of the University of Freiburg.     

RANDOM SYSTEMS OF HARD PARTICLES:MODELS AND STATISTICS

1　Ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎ　　Ｉｎｍａｎｙｓｉｔｕａｔｉｏｎｓ ,ｅｎｇｉｎｅｅｒｓａｎｄｓｃｉｅｎｔｉｓｔｓａｒｅｃｏｎ ｆｒｏｎｔｅｄｗｉｔｈｉｒｒｅｇｕｌａｒｓｐａｔｉａｌｓｔｒｕｃｔｕｒｅｓｗｈｉｃｈｃａｎｂｅｉｎ ｔｅｒｐｒｅｔｅｄａｎｄｍｏｄｅｌ     

Minor and major complications of arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint performed by rheumatologist

The aim of the study was to analyze the type and incidence of major and minor complications resulting from arthroscopy with arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint performed by rheumatologist in different rheumatological diseases. METHODS: In a prospective study the incidence of complications in arthroscopic subtotal synovectomy with subsequent tidal flow lavage was analyzed in 201 rheumatic patients. The arthroscopic synovectomies were performed by one team of rheumatologists in the operation room of the University Clinic of Rheumatology in the town of Plovdiv for a period of 8-9 years. RESULTS: The major complications related to the arthroscopic synovectomy included septic arthritis (0.5%) and rupture of the joint capsule with edema of the thigh and leg (1.5%). The minor postarthroscopic complications were infection of the operative skin incision (2.0%), hemarthrosis (3.5%), severe postoperative pain (1.5%) and gout relapse (0.5%). Complete recovery was achieved after complications were treated and the result of the synovectomy was not compromised. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic synovectomy of the knee joint performed by rheumatologist in in-patients involves low risk of complications among which minor operative and postoperative ones are prevalent. These do not compromise near and late results of the arthroscopic synovectomy.     

Conditionally replicating mycobacteriophages: A system for transposon delivery to Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Transposon mutagenesis provides a direct selection for mutants and is an extremely powerful technique to analyze genetic functions in a variety of prokaryotes. Transposon mutagenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been limited in part because of the inefficiency of the delivery systems. This report describes the development of conditionally replicating shuttle phasmids from the mycobacteriophages D29 and TM4 that enable efficient delivery of transposons into both fast- and slow-growing mycobacteria. These shuttle phasmids consist of an Escherichia coli cosmid vector containing either a mini-Tn10(kan) or Tn5367 inserted into a nonessential region of the phage genome. Thermosensitive mutations were created in the mycobacteriophage genome that allow replication at 30°C but not at 37°C (TM4) or 38.5°C (D29). Infection of mycobacteria at the nonpermissive temperature results in highly efficient transposon delivery to the entire population of mycobacterial cells. Transposition of mini-Tn10(kan) occurred in a site-specific fashion in M. smegmatis whereas Tn5367 transposed apparently randomly in M. phlei, Bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG), and M. tuberculosis. Sequence analysis of the M. tuberculosis and BCG chromosomal regions adjacent to Tn5367 insertions, in combination with M. tuberculosis genomic sequence and physical map data, indicates that the transpositions have occurred randomly in diverse genes in every quadrant of the genome. Using this system, it has been readily possible to generate libraries containing thousands of independent mutants of M. phlei, BCG, and M. tuberculosis.