erosion by wind is one of the most important factors in desert environment. prevailing winds can shift sand dunes and affect their accumulation. also, wind regime determines the direction of sand dune mobility. the aim of this research was to investigate sand drift potential using sand movement models. for this research, wind data between 1986 and 2005 from the meteorological station of yazd we...

The red palm mite Raoiella indica Hirst has recently invaded the Neotropical region, which demands implementation of pest management strategies. In this study, toxicity leaf extracts Mexican oregano Lippia berlandieri Schauer, neem Azadirachta A. Juss, mint Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng., rue Ruta graveolens L. and Persian lime Citrus x latifolia Tanaka against R. was evaluated under l...

Synthetic musks are used as additives in many household products. After absorption into the human body, they accumulate and their concentrations in human milk reflect both the mother and her infant's exposure level. Concentrations of four synthetic musks, musk xylene (1-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, MX), musk ketone (4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitroacetophenone, MK), 1,3,4...

The localization of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) to the vertebrate neuromuscular junction is mediated, in part, through selective transcription of AChR subunit genes in myofiber subsynaptic nuclei. Agrin and the muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase, MuSK, have critical roles in synapse-specific transcription, because AChR genes are expressed uniformly in mice lacking either agrin or MuSK...

BACKGROUND Postsynaptic enrichment of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction (NMJ) depends on the activation of the muscle receptor tyrosine MuSK by neural agrin. Agrin-stimulation of MuSK is known to initiate an intracellular signaling cascade that leads to the clustering of AChRs in an actin polymerization-dependent manner, but the molecular steps which link ...

The present study investigated whether kisspeptin-G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54) signaling plays a role in mediating mating-induced ovulation in the musk shrew (Suncus murinus), a reflex ovulator. For this purpose, we cloned suncus Kiss1 and Gpr54 cDNA from the hypothalamus and found that suncus kisspeptin (sKp) consists of 29 amino acid residues (sKp-29). Injection of exogenous sKp-29 m...

OBJECTIVE Because the extracellular matrix protein agrin is essential for neuromuscular junction formation and maintenance, we tested the hypothesis that autoantibodies against agrin are present in sera from patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). METHODS We determined the presence of anti-agrin antibodies in 54 sera from patients with generalized MG using a solid-phase ELISA with purified mini...

Agrin and its receptor MuSK are required for the formation of the postsynaptic apparatus at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). In the current model the local deposition of agrin by the nerve and the resulting local activation of MuSK are responsible for creating and maintaining the postsynaptic apparatus including clusters of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). Concomitantly, the release of acetylc...

Morphological features of the testicular artery and vein in the spermatic cord of the musk shrew (Suncus murinus) were evaluated by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, corrosion cast technique combined with scanning electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The vascular architecture in the spermatic cord of the musk shrew was simple. The testicular artery in the musk shrew w...

INTRODUCTION Congenital myasthenic syndromes are rare. Mutations in MUSK were first described in 2004. Thirteen patients have been reported to date, mostly with a relatively mild course. The molecular diagnosis has implications for choice of treatment and genetic counseling. METHODS Clinical course and electrophysiological, pathological, and genetic findings were assessed. RESULTS We descri...