The bacterial flagellum is a motile organelle driven by a rotary motor, and its axial portions function as a drive shaft (rod), a universal joint (hook) and a helical propeller (filament). The rod and hook are directly connected to each other, with their subunit proteins FlgG and FlgE having 39% sequence identity, but show distinct mechanical properties; the rod is straight and rigid as a drive...

This study evaluated the capacity of Xenopus laevis retina to regenerate photoreceptor cells after cyclic light-mediated acute rod photoreceptor degeneration in a transgenic P23H mutant rhodopsin model of retinits pigmentosa. After discontinuation of cyclic light exposure, we monitored histologic progression of retinal regeneration over a 3 week recovery period. To assess their metabolomic stat...

In the classic theory of elastic rods, two non-adjacent points along the rod may upon contact occupy the same physical space. We develop an elastic rod model with a pairwise repulsive potential such that if two non-adjacent points along the rod are close in physical space, there is an energy barrier that prevents contact. For adjacent pairs, the repulsive potential is negligible and the elastic...

Hue-naming was used in conjunction with a probe-flash procedure to determine the time-course of rod-mediated effects on hue appearance across the spectrum. Two types of rod influence on hue are distinguishable on the basis of differences in both spectral specificity and time course of effect: (1) a "faster" rod influence enhances green relative to red and (2) a "slower" rod influence enhances s...

The time course of dark adaptation was measured in 10 subjects from three families with autosomal dominant sector retinitis pigmentosa (RP) due to mutations in the first exon of the rod opsin gene. In each subject cone adaptation and the early part of the recovery of rod sensitivity followed the normal time course, but the later phase of rod adaptation was markedly prolonged. The recovery of ro...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of ceramic surface texture on the wear of rounded rod specimens. Plate specimens were fabricated from zirconia (ZrO2), feldspathic porcelain, and lithium disilicate glass ceramics (LDG ceramics). Plate surfaces were either ground or polished. Rounded rod specimens with a 2.0-mm-diameter were fabricated from type 4 gold alloy and heat-press...

In the retina, rod and cone photoreceptors form distinct connections with different classes of downstream bipolar cells. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for their selective connectivity are unknown. Here we identify a cell-adhesion protein, ELFN1, to be essential for the formation of synapses between rods and rod ON-bipolar cells in the primary rod pathway. ELFN1 is expressed sele...

PURPOSE To investigate whether rod a-wave analysis using high intensity flashes adds information above that obtained with standard ERG. METHODS A total of 2,396 eyes were recorded. Patient age was 2.4 months-84.6 years. RESULTS A-wave analysis of high intensity flashes provided additional information on rod system function in 25% of eyes recorded, most importantly in subjects with midretina...

The time course of rod dark adaptation was measured in 12 patients and carriers of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). In contrast to previous studies the rod absolute threshold was determined prior to any exposure to the bleaching light. For seven of the patients and carriers the recovery of rod sensitivity to the prebleach level was prolonged, with the delay ranging from mild to severe. The prolongati...