Towards mastery of complex visuo-motor transformations.

In this paper we review and integrate a set of findings on learning the transformation of a sliding first-order lever, a type of tool with a prominent role in minimal access surgery. Its kinematic transformation is characterized by the so-called fulcrum effect, the inversion of the movement direction of the tip of the lever relative to that of the hand for rotations. A second characteristic is gain anisotropy, which results in curved paths of the tip of the lever for straight paths of the hand and vice versa.

Unintended hand movements after abrupt cessation of variable and constant opposing forces.

Humans are highly efficient in moving in a world of variable resistive forces which result, e.g., from different masses of objects or different directions of movements relative to gravity.

Bacillus and Streptomyces were selected as broad-spectrum antagonists against soilborne pathogens from arid areas in Egypt.

Plant protection via disease-suppressive bacteria in desert farming requires specific biological control agents (BCAs) adapted to the unique arid conditions. We performed an ecological study of below-ground communities in desert farm soil and untreated desert soil, and based on these findings, selected antagonists were hierarchically evaluated. In contrast to the highly specific 16S rRNA fingerprints of bacterial communities in soil and cultivated medicinal plants, internal transcribed spacer profiles of fungal communities were less discriminative and mainly characterised by potential pathogens.

GABAB receptor antibodies in paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia.

Autoantibodies to the gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) receptor were recently described in patients with limbic encephalitis presenting with early or prominent seizures. We report on a 64-year-old man with malignant melanoma who during adjuvant therapy with interferon (IFN)-alpha developed cerebellar ataxia. Indirect immunofluorescence on brain tissue sections revealed high-titer (1:20,000) IgG1 serum autoantibodies to the cerebellar molecular and granular layer, which were confirmed to be directed against GABAB receptor in a cell-based assay.

Increased abundance and transferability of resistance genes after field application of manure from sulfadiazine-treated pigs.

Spreading manure containing antibiotics in agriculture is assumed to stimulate the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in soil bacterial populations. Plant roots influencing the soil environment and its microflora by exudation of growth substrates might considerably increase this effect. In this study, the effects of manure from pigs treated with sulfadiazine (SDZ), here called SDZ manure, on the abundance and transferability of sulfonamide resistance genes sul1 and sul2 in the rhizosphere of maize and grass were compared to the effects in bulk soil in a field experiment.

Tetrac can replace thyroid hormone during brain development in mouse mutants deficient in the thyroid hormone transporter mct8.

The monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) plays a critical role in mediating the uptake of thyroid hormones (THs) into the brain. In patients, inactivating mutations in the MCT8 gene are associated with a severe form of psychomotor retardation and abnormal serum TH levels. Here, we evaluate the therapeutic potential of the TH analog 3,5,3',5'-tetraiodothyroacetic acid (tetrac) as a replacement for T(4) in brain development.

Mineral composition and charcoal determine the bacterial community structure in artificial soils.

To study the influence of the clay minerals montmorillonite (M) and illite (I), the metal oxides ferrihydrite (F) and aluminum hydroxide (A), and charcoal (C) on soil bacterial communities, seven artificial soils with identical texture provided by quartz (Q) were mixed with sterilized manure as organic carbon source before adding a microbial inoculant derived from a Cambisol. Bacterial communities established in artificial soils after 90 days of incubation were compared by DGGE analysis of bacterial and taxon-specific 16S rRNA gene amplicons. The bacterial community structure of charcoal-containing soils highly differed from the other soils at all taxonomic levels studied.

Quantification of IncP-1 plasmid prevalence in environmental samples.

To study the role of broad-host-range IncP-1 plasmids in bacterial adaptability to irregular environmental challenges, a quantitative real-time PCR assay was developed that specifically detects the korB gene, which is conserved in all IncP-1 plasmids, in environmental samples. IncP-1 plasmid dynamics in a biopurification system for pesticide wastes were analyzed.

Optimization of electrode size for aluminum-nitride matrix ultrasonic transducers in the frequency range above 200 MHz.

This paper describes an optimization method of the top electrode size for a thin film matrix ultrasonic transducer (M-UT) in the frequency range above 200 MHz. The goal of this work is to design an optimal top electrode size for an M-UT providing the maximal output peak-peak voltage (V(PP)) and the maximal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) without additional electrical impedance matching. In order to reduce the complexity of the M-UT with more than 1000 elements, an intrinsic matching by electrode size variation is necessary.

Generalization of adaptation to a complex visuo-motor transformation across the workspace.

For the efficient use of tools, the visuo-motor transformation relating body movements to movements of the effective part of the tool has to be learned. Here we ask whether adaptation to a complex tool transformation generalizes to new regions of the workspace of the tool. Three groups of participants performed goal-directed movements of a cursor on a computer monitor.

Antihypertensive and laxative effects by pharmacological inhibition of sodium-proton-exchanger subtype 3-mediated sodium absorption in the gut.

High intestinal sodium absorption is one mechanism of hypertension and constipation. The sodium-proton-exchanger subtype 3 (NHE3) is an important mediator of sodium absorption in the gut. SAR218034 (SAR) is an orally nonabsorbable specific NHE3 inhibitor.

A new bacterial disease on Mandevilla sanderi, caused by Pseudomonas savastanoi: lessons learned for bacterial diversity studies.

Leaf lesions of Mandevilla sanderi were shown to be caused by Pseudomonas savastanoi. While BOX fingerprints were similar for P. savastanoi isolates from different host plants, plasmid restriction patterns and sequencing of plasmid-located pathogenicity determinants revealed that Mandevilla isolates contained similar plasmids distinct from those of other isolates.

Dynamics of bacterial communities in two unpolluted soils after spiking with phenanthrene: soil type specific and common responders.

Considering their key role for ecosystem processes, it is important to understand the response of microbial communities in unpolluted soils to pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Phenanthrene, a model compound for PAH, was spiked to a Cambisol and a Luvisol soil. Total community DNA from phenanthrene-spiked and control soils collected on days 0, 21, and 63 were analyzed based on PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments.

Specificity of motor learning in simulator training of endoscopic-surgery skills.

Unlabelled: The introduction of simulators for the practice of endoscopic-surgery sensori-motor skills opens a wide range of design options. An obvious one is augmented visual information early in practice, in particular a direct view of the site instead of the endoscopic view. We studied the effects of such augmented visual information on the simulated ablation of tissue with straight, horizontal and parallel cuts.

Robotic guidance benefits the learning of dynamic, but not of spatial movement characteristics.

Robotic guidance is an engineered form of haptic-guidance training and intended to enhance motor learning in rehabilitation, surgery, and sports. However, its benefits (and pitfalls) are still debated. Here, we investigate the effects of different presentation modes on the reproduction of a spatiotemporal movement pattern.

Abundance and transferability of antibiotic resistance as related to the fate of sulfadiazine in maize rhizosphere and bulk soil.

Veterinary antibiotics entering agricultural land with manure pose the risk of spreading antibiotic resistance. The fate of sulfadiazine (SDZ) introduced via manure and its effect on resistance gene levels in the rhizosphere were compared with that in bulk soil. Maize plants were grown for 9 weeks in soil fertilized with manure either from SDZ-treated pigs (SDZ treatment) or from untreated pigs (control).

Understanding the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis in mct8 deficiency.

Thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism and action via binding to nuclear receptors are intracellular events that require the passage of TH across the plasma membrane. This process is mediated by specific TH transporters of which the monocarboxylate transporter 8 (Mct8) has received major attention. Mct8 is highly expressed in different tissues such as liver, kidney, thyroid, pituitary and brain.

A progression of approximations to internal models of complex visuo-motor transformations.

Previous research suggests that the acquisition of an internal model of a complex visuo-motor transformation might proceed as a progression of approximations. Here, we test this assumption by comparing performance of three groups of participants during practice and subsequent open-loop tests with three different types of visuo-motor transformation: the kinematic transformation of a sliding first-order lever, a point-symmetric transformation, and a line-symmetric transformation. With the point-symmetric transformation, participants showed the most accurate performance from early practice on and essentially no practice benefit.

More functional genes and convergent overall functional patterns detected by GEOCHIP in phenanthrene-spiked soils.

To explore the effect of phenanthrene on the functional diversity of soil microbial communities, Luvisol and Cambisol spiked with phenanthrene and their corresponding control soils were incubated in soil microcosms. Total community DNA extracted from samples taken at days 0 and 21 was analyzed by geochip. The number of genes detected by geochip was unexpectedly higher in spiked soils than in control soils, especially for Luvisol.

Multicenter validation of a bedside antisaccade task as a measure of executive function.

Objective: To create and validate a simple, standardized version of the antisaccade (AS) task that requires no specialized equipment for use as a measure of executive function in multicenter clinical studies.

Methods: The bedside AS (BAS) task consisted of 40 pseudorandomized AS trials presented on a laptop computer. BAS performance was compared with AS performance measured using an infrared eye tracker in normal elders (NE) and individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia (n = 33).

The pathophysiological consequences of thyroid hormone transporter deficiencies: Insights from mouse models.

Background: As a prerequisite for thyroid hormone (TH) metabolism and action TH has to be transported into cells where TH deiodinases and receptors are located. The trans-membrane passage of TH is facilitated by TH transporters of which the monocarboxylate transporter MCT8 has been most intensively studied. Inactivating mutations in the gene encoding MCT8 are associated with a severe form of psychomotor retardation and abnormal serum TH levels (Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome).

Saccade abnormalities in autopsy-confirmed frontotemporal lobar degeneration and Alzheimer disease.

Background: Deficits in the generation and control of saccades have been described in clinically defined frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer disease (AD).

Objective: To determine the saccade abnormalities associated with autopsy-defined cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and of AD, because clinical FTD syndromes can correspond to a number of different underlying neuropathologic FTD and non-FTD diagnoses.

Design: An infrared eye tracker was used to record visually guided saccades to 10° targets and antisaccades in subjects with autopsy-confirmed FTD and subjects with autopsy-confirmed AD, a mean (SE) of 35.

Plasmids foster diversification and adaptation of bacterial populations in soil.

It is increasingly being recognized that the transfer of conjugative plasmids across species boundaries plays a vital role in the adaptability of bacterial populations in soil. There are specific driving forces and constraints of plasmid transfer within bacterial communities in soils. Plasmid-mediated genetic variation allows bacteria to respond rapidly with adaptive responses to challenges such as irregular antibiotic or metal concentrations, or opportunities such as the utilization of xenobiotic compounds.