Neurons express multiple types of voltage-gated calcium (Ca2+) channels. Two subtypes of neuronal L-type Ca2+ channels are encoded by CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 pore-forming subunits. Both CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 subunits contain class I PDZ (postsynaptic density-95/Discs large/zona occludens-1) domain-binding consensus at their C termini. In yeast two-hybrid screen of rat brain cDNA library with the C-termin...

Despite numerous advantages, knee disarticulations (KDs) are rarely performed because of the anticipated KD prosthesis fitting problems that include the positioning of the knee joint distally from the KD socket. This results in lengthening of the thigh and subsequent shortening of the shank. The objective of this study was to assess the cosmetic effect of the knee joint in a KD prosthesis by de...

Feathering effect is a typical phenomenon present on video frames generated by interlacing process. This effect is easily identified by the human eye when objects in motion are present in the scene, since it causes visual discomfort. This paper presents an algorithm to detect feathering effect on interlaced video frames, identifying areas on the image to be corrected by another algorithm at a l...

Psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) is a common disease of the psittacine species and is caused by the psittacine beak and feather disease virus (PBFDV). In this study the occurrence of the disease in ring-neck parakeets and budgerigars in South Africa suffering from feathering problems, using polymerase chain reaction as a diagnostic test was investigated. The genetic variation between ...

CONTEXT Kinematic patterns during gait have not been extensively studied in relation to chronic ankle instability (CAI). OBJECTIVE To determine whether individuals with CAI demonstrate altered ankle kinematics and shank-rear-foot coupling compared with controls during walking and jogging. DESIGN Case control. SETTING Motion-analysis laboratory. PARTICIPANTS 7 participants (3 men, 4 wome...

Postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins in excitatory synapses are relatively immobile components, while there is a structured organization of mobile scaffolding proteins lying beneath the PSDs. For example, shank proteins are located further away from the membrane in the cytosolic faces of the PSDs, facing the actin cytoskeleton. The rationale of this organization may be related to important roles...

BACKGROUND The tibialis posterior muscle is believed to play a key role in controlling foot mechanics during the stance phase of gait. However, an experiment involving localised tibialis posterior muscle fatigue, and analysis of discrete rearfoot and forefoot kinematic variables, indicated that reduced force output of the tibialis posterior muscle did not alter rearfoot and forefoot motion duri...

Shank proteins (Shank1, Shank2, and Shank3) act as scaffolding molecules in the postsynaptic density of many excitatory neurons. Mutations in SHANK genes, in particular SHANK2 and SHANK3, lead to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in both human and mouse models. Shank3 proteins are made of several domains-the Shank/ProSAP N-terminal (SPN) domain, ankyrin repeats, SH3 domain, PDZ domain, a proline-...

Postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins include scaffold, cytoskeletal, and signaling proteins that structurally and functionally interact with glutamate receptors and other postsynaptic membrane proteins. The molecular mechanisms regulating the assembly of PSD proteins and their associations with synapses are still widely unknown. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of Shank1 targeting and sy...

This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin E selenium ( Na2-SeO3) and organic selenium (Sel-Plex) on performance of broiler reared under chronic heat stress during summer season (30.043.5°C). A total of 180 one-day-old broiler chicks were randomly assigned to three selenium treatments, and two stocking density with two replicates of 15 birds each. The birds with a 3 x 2 factor...