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Temporal dynamics of binocular disparity processing in the central visual pathway.

To solve the stereo correspondence problem (i.e., find the matching features of a visual scene in both eyes), it is advantageous to combine information across spatial scales. The details of how this is accomplished are not clear. Psychophysical studies and mathematical models have suggested various types of interactions across spatial scale, including coarse to fine, fine to coarse, averaging, and population coding. In this study, we investigate dynamic changes in disparity tuning of simple and complex cells in the cat's striate cortex over a short time span. We find that disparity frequency increases and disparity ranges decrease while optimal disparity remains constant, and this conforms to a coarse-to-fine mechanism. We explore the origin of this mechanism by examining the frequency and size dynamics exhibited by binocular simple cells and neurons in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN). The results suggest a strong role for a feed-forward mechanism, which could originate in the retina. However, we find that the dynamic changes seen in the disparity range of simple cells cannot be predicted from their left and right eye monocular receptive field (RF) size changes. This discrepancy suggests the possibility of a dynamic nonlinearity or disparity specific feedback that alters tuning or a combination of both mechanisms.

Animals↗

Geometric morphometric differences between Panstrongylus geniculatus from field and laboratory.

The finding of Panstrongylus geniculatus nymphs inside a house in northeastern Antioquia, Colombia, and the reports related to their increasing presence in homes suggest the need for surveillance methods for monitoring the invasion processes. We analyzed the morphological differences between a wild population and its laboratory descendants, using the techniques of geometric morphometry, with the idea that such differences might parallel those between sylvatic and synanthropic populations. The analyses over five generations showed differences in size but not in shape. Head size and wing size were both reduced from sylvatic to laboratory populations, but the decrease in head size occurred only up to the second generation while the decrease in wing size proceeded up to the fifth generation. In contrast, although a decrease in sexual size dimorphism has been proposed as a marker of colonization in human dwellings, we did not detect any significant loss of dimorphism between sexes of P. geniculatus over the five generations studied. We conclude that size changes may have a physiological origin in response to a change of ecotopes, but more than five generations may be required for the expression of permanent morphological markers of human dwellings colonization.

Animals↗

Age-related changes in glomerular volume and hydroxyproline content in rat and human.

Total 4-hydroxyproline content and volume were measured in the same sample of microdissected glomeruli obtained fro rat and human outer or inner cortex. Glomerular volume was determined by computer-assisted image analysis, and 4-hydroxyproline was measured by a highly sensitive gas-liquid chromatographic method. Results were expressed as weight of basement membrane material by comparison with the amount of 4-hydroxyproline in purified basement membrane/mesangial matrix preparations. Microanalyses were possible in samples containing as few as eight human glomeruli. Rat glomerular size increased sevenfold between 5 wk and 2 yr of age, with volume being consistently 36 to 45% greater in inner than in outer cortex glomeruli. Basement membrane material content per glomerulus markedly increased with age (12-fold); however, when expressed per unit volume, this change was greatly reduced (2-fold). Expressed per volume, inner and outer cortex glomerular content of basement membrane material was always similar, regardless of age. Therefore, a greater glomerular size, in itself, does not accelerate the rate of basement membrane material deposition. Glomerular size distributions (measured by skewness and kurtosis) did not change, indicating that, although glomerular volume increases with age, aging does not appear to cause the emergence of distinct glomerular populations within an age group. Basement membrane material accumulation is probably a generalized change. Human glomeruli increased sevenfold in size from infancy to adulthood and then declined during senescence. Contrary to that in the rat, glomerular basement membrane material content appeared to closely follow size changes, thus, varying little from infancy to senescence if expressed per unit of glomerular volume.

Adolescent↗

The influence of castration and methimazole on deoxyribonucleic acid content of the pituitary and thyroid glands of White Leghorn cockerels.

The pituitary gland of birds is known to increase in weight with castration and decreases with chemical thyroidectomy. Whether these changes are due to alterations in mitotic activity or to cell size changes has been examined by measurement of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein content of these glands. The DNA content of the enlarge pituitary of castrated cockerels is the same as that in the pituitary of normal cockerels. The pituitary size increase may be due to an increase in gonadotrope size including any part of the gonadotrope population which may be obtained by recruitment of other basophils. The retardation in pituitary size and DNA content with methimazole treatment is probably due, at least in part, to growth retardation but may also be due, in part, to the conversion of larger basophils to smaller thyrotropes.

Animals↗

A cross-national analysis of family and household structure.

"Profound demographic change has taken place in the past few decades in many countries including decreases in fertility and household size, and increases in divorce and non-traditional living arrangements. This paper analyzes the cross-national variation in these trends by utilizing two data sets. Fertility, marriage/divorce and household structure are modeled as separate domains of family life and tested in a LISREL model. The correlations across these domains are examined along with indicators of socioeconomic development and cultural context. Findings indicate that the level of economic development has direct and negative associations with all three family domains. Culture has an independent effect on family demographics but it does not override the forces of development."

Culture↗