Generation of cell diversity in the vertebrate central nervous system starts during gastrulation stages in the ectodermal germ layer and involves specialized cell groups, such as the organizer located at the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB). Mutations in the zebrafish no isthmus (noi) gene alter development of the MHB, and affect the pax2.1 gene (formerly pax(zf-b)). Analysis of the structure ...

Regulation of development and entry into sporulation is critical for fungi to ensure survival of unfavorable environmental conditions. Here we present an analysis of gene sets regulating sporulation in the homothallic ascomycete Ashbya gossypii. Deletion of components of the conserved pheromone/starvation MAP kinase cascades, e.g., STE11 and STE7, results in increased sporulation. In kar3 mutan...

The pax2.1 gene encodes a paired-box transcription factor that is one of the earliest genes to be specifically activated in development of the midbrain and midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB), and is required for the development and organizer activity of this territory. To understand how this spatially restricted transcriptional activity of pax2.1 is achieved, we have isolated and characterized t...

A phenomenological model of air entrainment into combusting regions of axisymmetric fire plumes is developed and compared with some existing experimental entrainment data. The model considers engulfment of ambient air into a fire plume due to the action of the toroidal vortices that are formed periodically close to the source of an axisymmetric fire. It is shown that the diffusive entrainment r...

A conserved endothelin 1 signaling pathway patterns the jaw and other pharyngeal skeletal elements in mice, chicks and zebrafish. In zebrafish, endothelin 1 (edn1 or sucker) is required for formation of ventral cartilages and joints in the anterior pharyngeal arches of young larvae. Here we present genetic analyses in the zebrafish of two edn1 downstream targets, the bHLH transcription factor H...

The organization of the vertebrate brain and its differentiation into functionally and anatomically distinct areas is based on early patterning and regional specification of the neural plate during embryonic development. Both vertical signals that emanate from the mesendoderm and planar signals travelling within the plain of the neuroectoderm itself are thought to be involved in neural plate pa...

Computer simulation is a popular method that is often used as a decision support tool in industry to estimate the performance of systems too complex for analytical solutions. It is a tool that assists decision-makers to improve organizational performance and achieve performance objectives in which simulated conditions can be randomly varied so that critical situations can be investigated withou...

A recorded nerve signal via an electrode is composed of many evokes or action potentials, (originated from individual axons) which may be considered as different initial sources. Recovering these primitive sources in its turn may lead us to the anatomic originations of a nerve signal which will give us outstanding foresights in neural rehabilitations. Accordingly, clinical interests may be r...

Commuters in urban areas suffer from traffic congestion on a daily basis. The increasing number of vehicles and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are exacerbating this congested roadway problem for society. Although literature contains numerous studies that strive to propose solutions to this congestion problem, the problem is still prevalent today. Traffic congestion problem affects society's quali...

Commuters in urban areas suffer from traffic congestion on a daily basis. The increasing number of vehicles and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) are exacerbating this congested roadway problem for society. Although literature contains numerous studies that strive to propose solutions to this congestion problem, the problem is still prevalent today. Traffic congestion problem affects society's quali...