Growth-associated protein-43 in the rat nervous system

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Sodium channel β1 and β3 subunits associate with neurofascin through their extracellular immunoglobulin-like domain

Sequence homology predicts that the extracellular domain of the sodium channel β1 subunit forms an immunoglobulin (Ig) fold and functions as a cell adhesion molecule. We show here that β1 subunits associate with neurofascin, a neuronal cell adhesion molecule that plays a key role in the assembly of nodes of Ranvier. The first Ig-like domain and second fibronectin type III–like domain of neurofascin mediate the interaction with the extracellular Ig-like domain of β1, confirming the proposed function of this domain as a cell adhesion molecule. β1 subunits localize to nodes of Ranvier with neurofascin in sciatic nerve axons, and β1 and neurofascin are associated as early as postnatal day 5, during the period that nodes of Ranvier are forming. This association of β1 subunit extracellular domains with neurofascin in developing axons may facilitate recruitment and concentration of sodium channel complexes at nodes of Ranvier

Daily activity in minimal footwear increases foot strength

The human foot is uniquely adapted to bipedal locomotion and has a deformable arch of variable stiffness. Intrinsic foot muscles regulate arch deformation, making them important for foot function. In this study we explore the hypothesis that normal daily activity in minimal footwear, which provides little or no support, increases foot muscle strength. Western adults wore minimal footwear for a six-month period (the “intervention” group). Foot strength, i.e., maximum isometric plantarflexion strength at the metatarsophalangeal joints, and foot biometrics were measured before and after the intervention. An additional group was investigated to add further insight on the long-term effects of footwear, consisting of Western adults with an average 2.5 years of experience in minimal footwear (the “experienced” group). This study shows that foot strength increases by, on average, 57.4% (p < 0.001) after six months of daily activity in minimal footwear. The experienced group had similar foot strength as the post intervention group, suggesting that six months of regular minimal footwear use is sufficient to gain full strength, which may aid healthy balance and gait

Crew factors in flight operations 6: Psychophysiological responses to helicopter operations

Thirty-two helicopter pilots were studied before, during, and after 4-5 day trips providing support services from Aberdeen, Scotland, to rigs in the North Sea oil fields. Early on-duty times obliged subjects to wake up 1.5 hours earlier on trip days than on pretrip days. Consequently, they slept nearly an hour less per night on trips. They reported more fatigue on post-trip days than on pretrip days, suggesting a cumulative effect of duty-related activities and sleep loss. Fatigue and negative affect were higher, and activation lower, by the end of trip days than by the end of pretrip days. The earlier a subject went on duty, the lower his activation by the end of the day. Caffeine consumption increased 42 percent on trip days. The incidence of headache doubled, of back pain increased twelve fold, and of burning eyes quadrupled. In the aircraft studied, thermal discomfort and high vibration levels were common. The longer pilots remained on duty, the more negative their mood became

The First Post-Kepler Brightness Dips of KIC 8462852

We present a photometric detection of the first brightness dips of the unique variable star KIC 8462852 since the end of the Kepler space mission in 2013 May. Our regular photometric surveillance started in October 2015, and a sequence of dipping began in 2017 May continuing on through the end of 2017, when the star was no longer visible from Earth. We distinguish four main 1-2.5% dips, named "Elsie," "Celeste," "Skara Brae," and "Angkor", which persist on timescales from several days to weeks. Our main results so far are: (i) there are no apparent changes of the stellar spectrum or polarization during the dips; (ii) the multiband photometry of the dips shows differential reddening favoring non-grey extinction. Therefore, our data are inconsistent with dip models that invoke optically thick material, but rather they are in-line with predictions for an occulter consisting primarily of ordinary dust, where much of the material must be optically thin with a size scale <<1um, and may also be consistent with models invoking variations intrinsic to the stellar photosphere. Notably, our data do not place constraints on the color of the longer-term "secular" dimming, which may be caused by independent processes, or probe different regimes of a single process