Mice heterozygous for missense mutations of the Notch ligand Jagged1 (Jag1) exhibit head-shaking behavior indicative of an inner ear vestibular defect. In contrast, mice heterozygous for a targeted deletion of the Jag1 gene (Jag1del1) do not demonstrate obvious head-shaking behavior. To determine whether the differences in inner ear phenotypes were due to the types of Jag1 mutations or to diffe...

Temporal and spatial coordination of multiple cell fate decisions is essential for proper organogenesis. Here, we define gene interactions that transform the neurogenic epithelium of the developing inner ear into specialized mechanosensory receptors. By Cre-loxP fate mapping, we show that vestibular sensory hair cells derive from a previously neurogenic region of the inner ear. The related bHLH...

The intricate shaping of the facial skeleton is essential for function of the vertebrate jaw and middle ear. While much has been learned about the signaling pathways and transcription factors that control facial patterning, the downstream cellular mechanisms dictating skeletal shapes have remained unclear. Here we present genetic evidence in zebrafish that three major signaling pathways - Jagge...

Aim. To evaluate the relationship between uterine artery Doppler indices and placental bed histopathology independent of clinical outcome. Materials and Methods. Uterine artery measurements were performed to 510 pregnant women who had come for routine antenatal care in 11-14th and 20-24th weeks. Placental bed biopsies from 141 cases were taken during cesarean section. Physiological changes and ...

Real-ear sound pressure levels (SPLs) were compared among three methods used for positioning a probe microphone in the ear canal. The probe insertion techniques included (1) an acoustic method that incorporates use of the quarter-wave anti-resonance property of the ear to determine acoustically the location of the probe tube relative to the eardrum; (2) a constant insertion depth method (25 mm ...

The external-ear transfer function for big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) contains two prominent notches that vary from 30 to 55 kHz and from 70 to 100 kHz, respectively, as sound-source elevation moves from -40 to +10 degrees. These notches resemble a higher-frequency version of external-ear cues for vertical localization in humans and other mammals. However, they also resemble interference not...

PURPOSE Glycoconjugates regulate a variety of biological events in mucosal surfaces, such as differentiation of postmitotic epithelial cells and maintenance of the wet-surfaced phenotype. This study aimed to identify the repertoire of genes (glycogenes) involved in biosynthesis of glycoconjugates in conjunctiva of normal subjects and patients with dry eye. METHODS RNA from conjunctival impres...

In inclined U-notches, the mixed mode (I + II) loading occurs and the mode ratio can be increased by varying the notch angle. In this paper, the effect of the inclined U-notch geometry, i.e. the notch depth, the notch angle, the notch root radius, and the position of the notch with respect to supports, on the mode ratio (KII/KI) have been studied. Three-point bending and plane strain condition ...