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.

     

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.     

Shyness and face scanning in children

Contrary to popular beliefs, a recent empirical study using eye tracking has shown that a non-clinical sample of socially anxious adults did not avoid the eyes during face scanning. Using eye-tracking measures, we sought to extend these findings by examining the relation between stable shyness and face scanning patterns in a non-clinical sample of 11-year-old children. We found that shyness was associated with longer dwell time to the eye region than the mouth, suggesting that some shy children were not avoiding the eyes. Shyness was also correlated with fewer first fixations to the nose, which is thought to reflect the typical global strategy of face processing. Present results replicate and extend recent work on social anxiety and face scanning in adults to shyness in children. These preliminary findings also provide support for the notion that some shy children may be hypersensitive to detecting social cues and intentions in others conveyed by the eyes. Theoretical and practical implications for understanding the social cognitive correlates and treatment of shyness are discussed.     

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     

下半面部除皱术的综合设计

目的：中年人下半面部皮肤松弛整形时，对不同特点的患者进行不同的手术设计，使面部有明显且理想的改善。方法：通过23例就医者面部的综合设计，采用耳前耳屏切口下半面部SMAS筋膜提紧术，结合下颌吸脂、脂肪移植填充、祛眼袋术及隆鼻术，达到一个理想的面部除皱效果。结果：本组患者23例，年龄28~56岁，女性21例，男性2例，下半面部除皱术结合眼袋手术14例，下半面部除皱术结合下颌吸脂12例，其中有9例行脂肪移植术，下半面部除皱术结合隆鼻4例。通过23例患者面部的综合设计，将面部皮肤提紧术、吸脂术、脂肪移植术、隆鼻术、祛眼袋术结合进行，患者均达到满意的效果。结论：对面部松弛的患者，应综合考虑，发现患者的缺陷，精心设计，减少创伤，手术才能达到理想效果。     

多济敷对面部磨削创面愈合的临床疗效观察

目的：本研究采用多济敷外用于面部皮损磨削术后创面,观察其对创面愈合时间、皮肤色素沉着等的变化。方法：采用区域神经阻滞或局部浸润麻醉,对不同类型的面部皮损34例进行皮肤磨削治疗,术后创面应用多济敷或凡士林纱布作为底层敷料包扎创面,术后换药一次,保留底层敷料。结果：2001年8月至2003年9月间,通过自身对照,34例面部磨削术后采用多济敷治疗组较凡士林纱布组创面愈合时间缩短(P＜0．05),经过6个月至2年的随访,皮肤色素沉着也有明显改善。结论：多济敷有利于缩短面部磨削术后创面愈合时间,改善面部色素沉着,外观满意。     

颌面部爆炸伤软组织缺损早期修复的实验研究

将犬随机分为Ａ（即时）组、Ｂ（７２ｈ）组，采用ＫＴＹ－０４型雷管置于犬面颊部引爆致伤，造成软组织洞穿性缺损。Ａ组伤后即刻清创、隐动脉皮瓣立即移植修复皮肤缺损；Ｂ组伤后即刻清创，７２ｈ后二次清创，同时切取隐动脉皮瓣，吻合血管修复皮肤缺损，颊粘膜缺损两组均行局部拉拢缝合。术后观察１～６个月，Ａ组５例均失败；Ｂ组１５例，成功１２例，游离皮瓣成活率为８０％。实验结果表明口腔颌面部爆炸伤软组织缺损经早期清创，７２ｈ后扩创，用吻合血管游离皮瓣修复是可行的。     

Neurosarcoma of the face: MRI

Neurosarcoma is a rare tumour originating from the sheath of peripheral nerves. Facial lesions have been reported in about 20 patients. We describe the MRI appearances of neurosarcoma with histological correlation in three patients. The lesions lay in the submandibular region, the left parapharyngeal space and the right orbit. MRI showed a well-defined mass with mixed components. The lesions were moderately heterogeneous on T1-weighted images in two cases and on T2-weighted images in all cases. Gadolinium enhancement occurred in all cases to variable degrees. In two cases, small high signal foci were seen on T2-weighted sequences. MRI appearances of neurosarcoma are not specific. Received: 3 September 1996 Accepted: 26 November 1996     

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.