Measurement of Surface Orientations of Transparent Objects Using Polarization in Highlight

This paper proposes a method for obtaining surface orientations of transparent objects using polarization in highlight. Since the highlight, the specular component of reflection light from objects, is observed only near the specular direction, it appears merely limited parts on an object surface. In order to obtain orientations of a whole object surface, we employ a spherical extended light source. This paper reports its experimental apparatus, a shape recovery algorithm, and its performance evaluation

Determining surface orientations of transparent objects based on polarization degrees in visible and infrared wavelengths

"Determining surface orientations of transparent objects based on polarization degrees in visible and infrared wavelengths,&quot

Mouse Germ Cell-Less as an Essential Component for Nuclear Integrity

A mouse homologue of the Drosophila melanogaster germ cell-less (mgcl-1) gene is expressed ubiquitously, and its gene product is localized to the nuclear envelope based on its binding to LAP2β (lamina-associated polypeptide 2β). To elucidate the role of mgcl-1, we analyzed two mutant mouse lines that lacked mgcl-1 gene expression. Abnormal nuclear morphologies that were probably due to impaired nuclear envelope integrity were observed in the liver, exocrine pancreas, and testis. In particular, functional abnormalities were observed in testis in which the highest expression of mgcl-1 was detected. Fertility was significantly impaired in mgcl-1-null male mice, probably as a result of severe morphological abnormalities in the sperm. Electron microscopic observations showed insufficient chromatin condensation and abnormal acrosome structures in mgcl-1-null sperm. In addition, the expression patterns of transition proteins and protamines, both of which are essential for chromatin remodeling during spermatogenesis, were aberrant. Considering that the first abnormality during the process of spermatogenesis was abnormal nuclear envelope structure in spermatocytes, the mgcl-1 gene product appears to be essential for appropriate nuclear-lamina organization, which in turn is essential for normal sperm morphogenesis and chromatin remodeling

Expanding Role of the Jumonji C Domain as an RNA Hydroxylase*

JmjC (Jumonji C) domain-containing proteins are known to be an extensive family of Fe(II)/2-oxoglutarate-dependent oxygenases involved in epigenetic regulation of gene expression by catalyzing oxidative demethylation of methylated histones. We report here that a human JmjC protein named Tyw5p (TYW5) unexpectedly acts in the biosynthesis of a hypermodified nucleoside, hydroxywybutosine, in tRNAPhe by catalyzing hydroxylation. The finding provides an insight into the expanding role of JmjC protein as an RNA hydroxylase