A new biomechanical model of the mammal jaw based on load path analysis.

The primary function of the tetrapod jaw is to transmit jaw muscle forces to bite points. The routes of force transfer in the jaw have never been studied but can be quantified using load paths - the shortest, stiffest routes from regions of force application to support constraints. Here, we use load path analysis to map force transfer from muscle attachments to bite point and jaw joint, and to evaluate how different configurations of trabecular and cortical bone affect load paths.

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Associated Disease-Causing Variants in and Cause Axonemal Absence of Inner Dynein Arm Heavy Chains DNAH1, DNAH6, and DNAH7.

Disease-causing bi-allelic DNA variants in and are frequent causes of the hereditary disorder of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). The encoded proteins form a molecular ruler complex, crucial for maintaining the 96 nm repeat units along the ciliary axonemes. Defects of those proteins cause a stiff, rapid, and flickery ciliary beating pattern, recurrent respiratory infections, axonemal disorganization, and abnormal assembly of GAS8, CCDC39, and DNALI1.

Computational Approaches and Observer Variation in the 3D Musculoskeletal Modeling of the Heads of .

High-resolution imaging, 3D modeling, and quantitative analyses are equipping evolutionary biologists with new approaches to understanding the variation and evolution of the musculoskeletal system. However, challenges with interpreting DiceCT data and higher order use of modeled muscles have not yet been fully explored, and the error in and accuracy of some digital methods remain unclear. West Indian lizards are a model clade for exploring patterns in functional adaptation, ecomorphology, and sexual size dimorphism in vertebrates.

The dual function of prokinesis in the feeding and locomotor systems of parrots.

Prokinesis, a mode of avian cranial kinesis involving motion between the neurocranium and upper beak, has long been investigated in biomechanical analyses of avian feeding and drinking. However, the modern avian beak is also used for non-feeding functions. Here, we investigate the dual function of prokinesis in the feeding and locomotor systems of the rosy-faced lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis).

Pathogenic gene variants in , , , , and cause defects of sperm flagella composition and male infertility.

Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder affecting the function of motile cilia in several organ systems. In PCD, male infertility is caused by defective sperm flagella composition or deficient motile cilia function in the efferent ducts of the male reproductive system. Different PCD-associated genes encoding axonemal components involved in the regulation of ciliary and flagellar beating are also reported to cause infertility due to multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF).

Digital teaching and learning of surgical skills (not only) during the pandemic: a report on a blended learning project.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, digital teaching approaches should be used wherever possible. In this article we report on our project for digital teaching and learning of surgical skills. The compulsory elective "Intensivkurs Chirurgische Techniken" for medical students starting with semester 5 was designed as a blended learning course.

The roles of joint tissues and jaw muscles in palatal biomechanics of the savannah monitor () and their significance for cranial kinesis.

Numerous vertebrates exhibit cranial kinesis, or movement between bones of the skull and mandible other than at the jaw joint. Many kinetic species possess a particular suite of features to accomplish this movement, including flexible cranial joints and protractor musculature. Whereas the musculoskeletal anatomy of these kinetic systems is well understood, how these joints are biomechanically loaded, how different soft tissues affect joint loading and kinetic capacity, and how the protractor musculature loads the skull remain poorly understood.

Running out of lithium? A route to differentiate between capacity losses and active lithium losses in lithium-ion batteries.

Active lithium loss (ALL) resulting in a capacity loss (Q), which is caused by lithium consuming parasitic reactions like SEI formation, is a major reason for capacity fading and, thus, for a reduction of the usable energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Q is often equated with the accumulated irreversible capacity (Q). However, Q is also influenced by non-lithium consuming parasitic reactions, which do not reduce the active lithium content of the cell, but induce a parasitic current.

Investigation of the interaction of Mercurochrome constituents with proteins using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry.

The interaction of Mercurochrome, a medical preparation based on the mercury organic compound merbromin, with free thiols in low molecular weight peptides and in proteins has been investigated by means of liquid chromatography (LC) and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Beta-lactoglobulin A (beta-LGA) from bovine milk (18.4 kDa) has been used as the model protein.

DICER-LIKE 4 functions in trans-acting small interfering RNA biogenesis and vegetative phase change in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Arabidopsis thaliana contains four DICER-LIKE (DCL) genes with specialized functions in small RNA biogenesis for RNA interference-related processes. A mutant with defects in DCL4 was identified and analyzed for microRNA- and endogenous, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-related functions. The dcl4-2 mutant contained normal or near-normal levels of microRNAs (21 nt) and heterochromatin-associated siRNAs (24 nt).

The interaction of bovine adrenodoxin with CYP11A1 (cytochrome P450scc) and CYP11B1 (cytochrome P45011beta ). Acceleration of reduction and substrate conversion by site-directed mutagenesis of adrenodoxin.

The kinetics of protein-protein interaction and heme reduction between adrenodoxin wild type as well as eight mutants and the cytochromes P450 CYP11A1 and CYP11B1 was studied in detail. Rate constants for the formation of the reduced CYP11A1.CO and CYP11B1.

Evidence against the presence of A2 adenosine receptors on guinea pig ventricular myocytes.

The effects of different adenosine agonists on cAMP levels in isolated adult guinea pig ventricular myocytes were investigated. 2-Chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CCPA), R-N6-phenylisopropyl-adenosine (R-PIA), S-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (S-PIA) and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) reduced isoprenaline-stimulated cAMP Both the nonselective adenosine antagonist 8-[4-[( [[(2-aminoethyl)amino]carbonyl]methyl)oxy]-phenyl]-1, 3-dipropylxanthine ('xanthine amine congener'; XAC) and the A1-selective adenosine antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX) blocked the inhibitory effect of NECA. Basal cAMP levels were not altered by NECA or the highly A2-selective 2-[p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino]-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosin e (CGS 21680), either alone or in the presence of DPCPX or XAC.

Pharmacological characterization of the adenylate cyclase-coupled adenosine receptor in isolated guinea pig atrial myocytes.

Although adenosine is known to activate K+ conduction in atrial tissue, there is still debate as to the involvement of cAMP-dependent mechanisms. In isolated adult guinea pig atrial myocytes, we demonstrate that the highly A1-selective adenosine receptor agonist 2-chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine reduced basal cAMP levels by 30-40% in the absence and presence of the nonxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitor Ro 20-1724. Isoprenaline caused a concentration-dependent increase in cAMP levels, which was more pronounced in the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

Pertussis toxin prevents adenosine receptor- and m-cholinoceptor-mediated sinus rate slowing and AV conduction block in the guinea-pig heart.

The influence of pertussis toxin on the effects of adenosine, the adenosine receptor agonist (-)-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine (PIA) and the m-cholinoceptor agonist carbachol on heart rate and atrioventricular (AV) conduction was investigated in spontaneously beating isolated perfused guinea-pig hearts. In addition, the effects of the agents on the electrocardiogram recorded from anesthetized guinea pigs were studied. Adenosine (0.