A “ticklish” belly button…

Neuromechanics of a Button Press

To press a button, a finger must push down and pull up with the right force and timing. How the motor system succeeds in button-pressing, in spite of neural noise and lacking direct access to the mechanism of the button, is poorly understood. This paper investigates a unifying account based on neuromechanics. Mechanics is used to model muscles controlling the finger that contacts the button. Ne...

A push-button molecular switch.

The preparation, characterization, and switching mechanism of a unique single-station mechanically switchable hetero[2]catenane are reported. The facile synthesis utilizing a "threading-followed-by-clipping" protocol features Cu(2+)-catalyzed Eglinton coupling as a mild and efficient route to the tetrathiafulvalene-based catenane in high yield. The resulting mechanically interlocked molecule op...

Prune Belly Syndrome.

Prune Belly Syndrome

Prune belly syndrome is a rare congenital disorder of the urinary system, characterized by a triad of abnormalities. The aetiology is not known. Many infants are either stillborn or die within the first few weeks of life from severe lung or kidney problems, or a combination of congenital anomalies.

Prune belly and schizencephaly.

A 45-year-old man without relevant family history presented with prune belly syndrome (PBS). He had a 34year history of right simple partial motor seizures with and without secondary generalization, with a good response to carbamazepine monotherapy; there was no cognitive or social impairment. MRI showed global brain atrophy, ventricular asymmetry, left hemisphere schizencephaly, and bihemisphe...