Characterization of membrane occupation and recognition nexus repeat containing 3, meiosis expressed gene 1 binding partner,in mouse male germ cells

Mammalian spermatogenesis is a well-organized process of cell development and differentiation. Meiosis expressed gene 1 (MEIG1) plays an essential role in the regulation of spermiogenesis. To explore potential mechanisms of MEIG1''s action, a yeast two-hybrid screen was conducted, and several potential binding partners were identified; one of them was membrane occupation and recognition nexus repeat containing 3 (MORN3). MORN3 mRNA is only abundant in mouse testis. In the testis, Morn3 mRNA is highly expressed in the spermiogenesis stage. Specific anti-MORN3 polyclonal antibody was generated against N-terminus of the full-length MORN3 protein, and MORN3 expression and localization was examined in vitro and in vivo. In transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells, the antibody specifically crossed-reacted the full-length MORN3 protein, and immunofluorescence staining revealed that MORN3 was localized throughout the cytoplasm. Among multiple mouse tissues, about 25 kDa protein, was identified only in the testis. The protein was highly expressed after day 20 of birth. Immunofluorescence staining on mixed testicular cells isolated from adult wild-type mice demonstrated that MORN3 was expressed in the acrosome in germ cells throughout spermiogenesis. The protein was also present in the manchette of elongating spermatids. The total MORN3 expression and acrosome localization were not changed in the Meig 1-deficient mice. However, its expression in manchette was dramatically reduced in the mutant mice. Our studies suggest that MORN3 is another regulator for spermatogenesis, probably together with MEIG1.     

An electronic travel guide for visually impaired – vehicle board recognition system through computer vision techniques

Abstract

Purpose: In the context of assistive technology, mobility takes the meaning of “moving safely, gracefully, and comfortably”.The aim of this article is to provide a system which will be a convenient means of navigation for the Visually Impaired people, in the public transport system.

Method: A blind regular commuter who travels by public transport facility finds difficulty in identifying the vehicle that is nearing the stop. Hence, a real-time system that dynamically identifies the nearing vehicle and informs the commuters is necessary. This paper proposes such a system namely the “Vehicle Board Recognition System” (VBRS). Computer Vision techniques such as segmentation, object recognition, text detection and optical character recognition are utilized to build the system, which will detect, analyze, derive and communicate the information to the passengers.

Results: Thanks to the rapid development in technology, there are several navigation systems both hand held and wearable, available to help visually impaired (VI) people move comfortably both indoor and outdoor. Many blind people are not comfortable in using these devices or they are not affordable for them. Thus the proposed system gives them the comfort of navigation.

Conclusion: This system can be installed in the bus stop to assist the Visually Impaired, from externally rather than their hand held or wearable assistive devices.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• This proposed system will help the visually impaired to

• ensure secure navigation

• be independent of the others

• develop self confidence.

• overcome the training, affordability of wearable/ handheld devices.

     

Souviens-toi. Processus de deuil,processus de création

ObjectivesThe authors set out to cast light on certain psychic mechanisms that help to give meaning to death, in particular via objects of great symbolic value, as links between the dead and the survivors.MethodsIn this clinical article using a heuristic methodology, we combine the analysis of a clinical situation of antenatal death, a paradigm of loss with a pathological risk, and that of the artistic creation of Michel Nadjar, linked to the genocide of the Jews.ResultsThe psychic processing of the loss of a loved one is accompanied by considerable psychopathological risk. While funeral rites, whether religious or lay, and the support of the family and the community often provide mourners with a framework that favours the achievement of the period of mourning, so as to continue living with the loss (rather than living with the deceased person), there are certain traumatic situations that make access to a non-pathological mourning process impossible.DiscussionThe authors reappraise the exclusiveness of Freud's mourning and melancholia model, and consider Winnicott's theoretical model of transitional phenomena to cast light on the psychic processes at work.ConclusionsThe creativity operating in the two situations maintains a certain distinction: sublimation for the artist, resurgence of transitional phenomena for the bereaved individual.     

Decreased hyperthermic effect of MK-801 in selectively bred hypercholinergic rats

The Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) of rats has been selectively bred to have increased sensitivity to cholinergic agonists. However, these rats exhibit altered responsiveness to a number of noncholinergic agents, such as apomorphine, buspirone and ethanol. This study compared the FSL and control Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats in terms of their hyperthermic response to the phencyclidine (PCP) receptor agonist, MK-801 (0.2 mg/kg SC) and their MK-801 binding characteristics. We have found that FSL rats react with a delayed hyperthermia, having a significantly lower hyperthermia for the first 120 min of observation. Thereafter the response does not differ in FSL and FRL rats. Both groups had similar affinities and numbers of [3H]MK-801 binding sites in the hippocampus/cerebral cortex. Pretreatment with scopolamine (1 mg/kg SC) failed to affect MK-801-induced hyperthermia in either line of rats. These findings suggest that selective breeding of FSL rats attenuated the secondary mechanisms involved in the PCP receptor-mediated hyperthermic response. However, by itself cholinergic supersensitivity does not appear to be a major factor in the blunted responsiveness of FSL rats to MK-801.     

Needle electromyography

Physiologic assessment of diseases of the motor unit from the anterior horn cells to the muscles relies on a combination of needle electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Both require a unique combination of knowledge of peripheral nervous system anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, diseases, techniques, and electricity is necessary. Successful, high‐quality, reproducible EMG depends on the skills of a clinician in patient interaction during the physical insertion and movement of the needle while recording the electrical signals. These must be combined with the skill of analyzing electric signals recorded from muscle by auditory pattern recognition and semiquantitation. 10 , 52 This monograph reviews the techniques of needle EMG and waveform analysis and describes the types of EMG waveforms recorded during needle EMG. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Muscle Nerve 39: 244–270, 2009     

A binocular machine vision system for three-dimensional surface measurement of small objects

Rendering three-dimensional information of a scene from optical measurements is very important for a wide variety of applications. However, computer vision advancements have not yet achieved the accurate three-dimensional reconstruction of objects smaller than 1 cm diameter. This paper describes the development of a novel volumetric method for small objects, using a binocular machine vision system. The achieved precision is high, providing a standard deviation of 0.04 mm. The robustness, of the system, issues from the lab prototype imaging system with the crucial z-axis movement without the need of further calibration and the fully automated volumetric algorithms.     

视场角设置对虚拟环境中目标判断的影响

目的探讨不同视场角参数对虚拟环境中目标判断的影响规律 ,找出最佳视场角参数。方法利用自行研制基于PC平台的虚拟现实 (VR)实验系统 ,选定 45名年龄在 2 3～ 5 8岁被试者并完成大小与角度判断的实验设计。首先进行 30 0人次的预实验 ,确定引起虚拟环境中目标判断差错的视场角及相应观察任务的差别等级 ,然后开始单因素、4水平的完全随机正式实验。结果方差分析表明 ,不同的虚拟环境视场角对目标判断的真实性有显著性影响 ,当视场角为 60°时 ,目标判断的正确率最大。结论利用VR技术进行载人航天器工效设计、操作训练或其它任务的研究时 ,应考虑视场角的作用 ,适合目标大小判断的视场角参数值宜取 60°,以便获得最大的工效     

Monkey hippocampal neuron responses to complex sensory stimulation during object discrimination.

The purpose of this study was to investigate, during the performance of an object discrimination task, responses of neurons in the monkey hippocampal formation to the sight of several objects that have biological meaning, and compare these responses with those of amygdalar neurons studied previously using the same task. Neuronal activity in the hippocampal formation of conscious monkeys was recorded during performance of a task that led to presentation of familiar rewarding, familiar aversive, or unfamiliar objects. Of 864 neurons recorded in the hippocampal formation and adjacent cortices, 160 (18.5%) responded to the sight of a certain object(s). Responses to the sight of different kinds of objects were analyzed in detail. Nondifferential neurons (n = 73) responded to different objects with no significant difference in response magnitudes, and differential neurons (n = 87) responded to different objects with different response magnitudes. Of the differential neurons, 23 responded more strongly to rewarding objects than to other objects (rewarding-object-dominant neurons), but the magnitude of responses to objects did not necessarily correlates with the order of preferences to the objects as determined from observation of animal behavior. Aversive-object-dominant neurons (n = 13) responded more to aversive objects than to other objects. Unfamiliar-object-dominant neurons (n = 7) responded more to unfamiliar objects than to familiar objects. Selective neurons (n = 10) responded selectively to only one object or one category of objects. Fourteen of the rewarding- or averse-object-dominant neurons were tested in extinction or reversal trials. In 12 of 14 neurons, responses to a rewarding or aversive object did not change, or slightly weakened, in extinction or reversal trials. The results suggest the following. (1) Responses of rewarding- or aversive-object-dominant neurons may be involved in object-reward or object-aversion association. However, responses of many of these neurons might reflect past inputs to reinforcement rather than extant emotional processing. (2) Responses of unfamiliar-object-dominant neurons may be involved in recognition of objects based on their familiar or unfamiliar aspects. These results are further discussed and compared with responsiveness of amygdalar neurons.     

甲襞微循环观测辅助诊断的初步研究

甲襞微循环观测辅助诊断的初步研究胡金麟＊田牛＊刘凤英＊宋欣＊李向红＊规范化的甲襞、球结膜、舌、口唇、牙龈、耳廓、皮肤、子宫颈、阴茎头微循环观测方法标志着我国临床微循环的研究与应用已进入了一个新的阶段［１，２］。临床微循环观测结果的数学公式表达，促进了...