The almost alternating diagrams of the trivial knot

Bankwitz characterized an alternating diagram representing the trivial knot. A non-alternating diagram is called almost alternating if one crossing change makes the diagram alternating. We characterize an almost alternaing diagram representing the trivial knot. As a corollary we determine an unknotting number one alternating knot with a property that the unknotting operation can be done on its alternating diagram.Comment: 29 pages, 18 figure

Developmental genetic bases behind the independent origin of the tympanic membrane in mammals and diapsids

International audienceThe amniote middle ear is a classical example of the evolutionary novelty. Although paleontological evidence supports the view that mammals and diapsids (modern reptiles and birds) independently acquired the middle ear after divergence from their common ancestor, the developmental bases of these transformations remain unknown. Here we show that lower-to-upper jaw transformation induced by inactivation of the Endothelin1-Dlx5/6 cascade involving Goosecoid results in loss of the tympanic membrane in mouse, but causes duplication of the tympanic membrane in chicken. Detailed anatomical analysis indicates that the relative positions of the primary jaw joint and first pharyngeal pouch led to the coupling of tympanic membrane formation with the lower jaw in mammals, but with the upper jaw in diapsids. We propose that differences in connection and release by various pharyngeal skeletal elements resulted in structural diversity, leading to the acquisition of the tympanic membrane in two distinct manners during amniote evolution

光学式雨量計による降雪強度推定値の検証比較観測

第6回極域科学シンポジウム[OM] 極域気水圏11月16日（月）　国立極地研究所１階交流アトリウ

神経心理学的検査を用いて評価した実行機能の発達的側面

Children with executive dysfunction may have a decreased quality of life. Neuropsychological tests include the Stroop test, Trail-making Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Continuous Performance Test, and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test are administered to evaluate the above functions. To broaden the opportunities for clinical application,we have modified these tests to make them applicable to younger children and to obtain their standard values. The purpose of this research is to study the developmental aspects of these tests, focusing on the difference between the original method and the modified method. Index scores that reflected executive function were rapidly reduced until 9 to 11 years of age, and developments showed a deceleration during the adolescent period. This result was comparable with that of the index scores of the original tests. We also discussed the involvement of background neuronal maturation associated with developmental changes in these tests.実行機能の障害は、子どもの生活の質の低下につながる可能性があるため、Stroop Test,Trail Making Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Continuous Performance Test,Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Testなどの神経心理学的検査を用いて同機能を適切に評価することが求められている。すでに我々は、これら検査の臨床応用の機会を広げるために、低年齢の子どもに運用が可能な短縮版を開発し成果の報告を行ってきた。本研究は、従来の方法と短縮化された方法との成績の違いに焦点を当て、これらのテストの発達的側面を研究することを目的とした。実行機能を反映した指標のスコアは、9歳から11歳まで急速に減少し、発達は青年期に減速傾向を示した。この結果は、従来の検査の指数スコアと同等であった。我々はまた、これらの検査指標における発達的変化と背景に存在するニューロン成熟課程との関連についても考察した

Evolution of the muscular system in tetrapod limbs

Abstract While skeletal evolution has been extensively studied, the evolution of limb muscles and brachial plexus has received less attention. In this review, we focus on the tempo and mode of evolution of forelimb muscles in the vertebrate history, and on the developmental mechanisms that have affected the evolution of their morphology. Tetrapod limb muscles develop from diffuse migrating cells derived from dermomyotomes, and the limb-innervating nerves lose their segmental patterns to form the brachial plexus distally. Despite such seemingly disorganized developmental processes, limb muscle homology has been highly conserved in tetrapod evolution, with the apparent exception of the mammalian diaphragm. The limb mesenchyme of lateral plate mesoderm likely plays a pivotal role in the subdivision of the myogenic cell population into individual muscles through the formation of interstitial muscle connective tissues. Interactions with tendons and motoneuron axons are involved in the early and late phases of limb muscle morphogenesis, respectively. The mechanism underlying the recurrent generation of limb muscle homology likely resides in these developmental processes, which should be studied from an evolutionary perspective in the future

Impact of Active Ankle Movement Frequency on Velocity of Lower Limb Venous Flow following Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background. Although active ankle movement plays a predominant role in mechanical thromboprophylaxis following total hip arthroplasty (THA), the most effective frequency of movement remains unclear. Materials and Methods. In 29 consecutive patients undergoing THA, the velocity of blood flow in the profunda femoris was measured after various frequencies of ankle movement two days after THA using a pulse wave Doppler ultrasound system. To test the interobserver reliabilities for the velocity measured with Doppler ultrasound system, the intraclass correlation coefficient was calculated based on the measurement in 10 limbs of healthy volunteers. Results. At 0, 1, and 2 minutes after ankle movement, the velocity after movement at 60 contractions per minute was significantly faster than that after movement at 40 or 80 contractions per minute (p=0.0007, repeated-measures analysis of variance). The intraclass correlation coefficient score in two investigators was 0.849 (95% confidence interval, 0.428 to 0.962). Conclusions. Active ankle movement at 60 contractions per minute is recommended in patients receiving THA to obtain optimal venous blood flow

Additional file 4: Table S2. of Palaeospondylus as a primitive hagfish

Comparison of cranial skeletal elements among extant cyclostomes and Palaeospondylus. Names of skeletal elements in Palaeospondylus are shown by abbreviations employed in the present paper. For the nomenclature of the lamprey and hagfish chondrocrania, see [23]. (DOC 38 kb

Additional file 2: Figure S2. of Palaeospondylus as a primitive hagfish

Referred Palaeospondylus specimens illustrated in previous studies. (a,b) A specimen in dorsal (a) and ventral (b) views, from [26]. (c,d) three-dimensional model reconstructed from sections in dorsal (c) and ventral (d) views, from [5]. (e) NHM (Natural History Museum, London) P 16123 in dorsal view, from [8]. (f), NHM P 16125 in ventral view, from [8]. amp, ampyx; cp, caudal plate; gam, gammation; hem, hemidome; otc, otic capsule; ros, rostralia; ve, V-shaped element; vert, vertebra. (JPG 860 kb

Quantification of cerebral enzyme activity with irrevesible radiotracer method: Tracer selection for static image analysis

第6回放射薬剤化学に関する中国／日本合同セミナ