Morphological and morphometric analysis of the distal branches of the rat brachial plexus

The rat brachial plexus has gained interest recently in neuro-regenerative research due to the advancement of neurosurgical equipment and techniques, but moreover in that it provides a model that can closely resemble the common peripheral nerve injuries seen in humans. The aim of this study was to provide a systematic baseline quantification for fibre type and morphology of the major terminal nerve branches of the rat brachial plexus (radial, ulnar and median) at four surgically accessible sites, through the forelimb. We applied a microstructural and immunohistological analysis of 12 rat brachial plexuses using three forms of micro-visualisation: electron microscopy; whole mount; and immunohistology. The three distal nerves studied showed a similar patterning in terms of the number and size of myelinated fibres, with all proportionally decreasing when moving distally. The fibre types of both the median and ulnar nerve appeared to be homogenously mixed throughout their trajectory, while the radial nerve had a more distinct patterning, especially distal to the elbow, with the entire nerve’s main branch appearing to consist of sensory fibres only. Our microstructural analysis of the rat brachial plexus provides important normative reference data for future peripheral nerve research using the forelimb of the rat

Beyond Antagonism? The Discursive Construction of ‘New’ Teachers in the United Arab Emirates

The UAE, which celebrated independence in 1971, is a rapidly changing environment where aspects of traditional Bedouin culture co-exist with the immense changes being wrought by the forces of globalization and the wealth brought about by the development of the oil industry. Emirati nationals are a minority within the UAE, comprising approximately 20% of the population, and the majority of the schoolteachers are expatriates drawn from other Arabic speaking countries. Within this context, the Higher Colleges of Technology's Bachelor of Education degree in Teaching English to Young Learners prepares young UAE national women for English language teaching positions in local government schools. The research presented in this paper is drawn from this two-year study of student teachers and explores the discursive construction of the students' systems of knowledge and belief. The paper concludes with a critical consideration of the study's implications and some possible recommendations for teacher education in the UAE that may also have resonance for teacher education programs in other contexts

Quantitative approach to Grover's quantum walk on graphs

In this paper, we study Grover's search algorithm focusing on continuous-time quantum walk on graphs. We propose an alternative optimization approach to Grover's algorithm on graphs that can be summarized as follows: instead of finding specific graph topologies convenient for the related quantum walk, we fix the graph topology and vary the underlying graph Laplacians. As a result, we search for the most appropriate analytical structure on graphs endowed with fixed topologies yielding better search outcomes. We discuss strategies to investigate the optimality of Grover's algorithm and provide an example with an easy tunable graph Laplacian to investigate our ideas

Should all paediatric patients with presumed idiopathic scoliosis undergo MRI screening for neuro-axial disease?

Background: Idiopathic scoliosis is a relatively common childhood condition affecting 0.47–5.2% of the population. Traditional interventions focus on orthopaedic correction of the curve angle. There is a spectrum of patients with scoliosis who are found to have neuro-axial abnormality on full MRI of the spine, but not all surgeons request imaging in the absence of neurological symptoms. There is evidence to suggest that treatment of neuro-axial disease may improve scoliosis curve outcome. We therefore sought to estimate what proportion of patients with normal neurology and scoliosis are found to have neuro-axial abnormality on full MRI imaging of the spine, in particular Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. Results: Out of 11 identified studies consisting of 3372 paediatric patients (age 20°) and normal neurological examination will demonstrate a neuro-axial abnormality on full MRI imaging of the spine. Of patients, 8.3 and 8.4% were found to have Chiari malformation and syringomyelia, respectively. Conclusions: Up to one in seven paediatric patients with scoliosis and normal neurological examination will demonstrate neuro-axial disease on MRI imaging of the spine. Given that younger age and earlier age of decompression is associated with improvement in curve angle, it seems important that MRI screening be considered in all patients regardless of neurological examination findings. There is a potentially long-term benefit in these patients. Multi-cross institutional prospective studies are encouraged to further investigate effect on curve angle

Morphological and morphometric analysis of the distal branches of the rat brachial plexus

The rat brachial plexus has gained interest recently in neuro-regenerative research due to the advancement of neurosurgical equipment and techniques, but moreover in that it provides a model that can closely resemble the common peripheral nerve injuries seen in humans. The aim of this study was to provide a systematic baseline quantification for fibre type and morphology of the major terminal nerve branches of the rat brachial plexus (radial, ulnar and median) at four surgically accessible sites, through the forelimb. We applied a microstructural and immunohistological analysis of 12 rat brachial plexuses using three forms of micro-visualisation: Electron microscopy; whole mount; and immunohistology. The three distal nerves studied showed a similar patterning in terms of the number and size of myelinated fibres, with all proportionally decreasing when moving distally. The fibre types of both the median and ulnar nerve appeared to be homogenously mixed throughout their trajectory, while the radial nerve had a more distinct patterning, especially distal to the elbow, with the entire nerve's main branch appearing to consist of sensory fibres only. Our microstructural analysis of the rat brachial plexus provides important normative reference data for future peripheral nerve research using the forelimb of the rat