Mosaic Configuration Research Articles

Pathogenic MTOR somatic variant causing focal cortical dysplasia drives hyperexcitability via overactivation of neuronal GluN2C N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Genetic variations in proteins of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway cause a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders often associated with brain malformations and with intractable epilepsy. The mTORopathies are characterized by hyperactive mTOR pathway and comprise tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) type II. How hyperactive mTOR translates into abnormal neuronal activity and hypersynchronous network remains to be better understood. Previously, the role of upregulated GluN2C-containing glutamate-gated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) has been demonstrated for germline defects in the TSC genes. Here, we questioned whether this mechanism would expand to other mTORopathies in the different context of a somatic genetic variation of the MTOR protein recurrently found in FCD type II. We used a rat model of FCD created by in utero electroporation of neural progenitors of dorsal telencephalon with expression vectors encoding either the wild-type or the pathogenic MTOR variant (p.S2215F). In this mosaic configuration, patch-clamp whole-cell recordings of the electroporated, spiny stellate neurons and extracellular recordings of the electroporated areas were performed in neocortical slices. Selective inhibitors were used to target mTOR activity and GluN2C-mediated currents. Neurons expressing the mutant protein displayed an excessive activation of GluN2C NMDAR-mediated spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents. GluN2C-dependent increase in spontaneous spiking activity was detected in the area of electroporated neurons in the mutant condition and was restricted to a critical time window between postnatal days P9 and P20. Somatic MTOR pathogenic variant recurrently found in FCD type II resulted in overactivation of GluN2C-mediated neuronal NMDARs in neocortices of rat pups. The related and time-restricted local hyperexcitability was sensitive to subunit GluN2C-specific blockade. Our study suggests that GluN2C-related pathomechanisms might be shared in common by mTOR-related brain disorders.

P-744 Reporting chromosomal mosaicism reduces the overall accuracy of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies: results from the extended in vitro culture of 230 human embryos

Abstract Study question What is the accuracy of reporting chromosomal mosaicism in the context of next generation sequencing (NGS)-based preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A)? Summary answer Extended in vitro culture of human embryos demonstrated that reporting mosaicism increased the risk of false positives, reducing the overall accuracy of PGT-A to 70%. What is known already PGT-A has been introduced into IVF practice to improve clinical outcomes. However, diagnostic accuracy remains controversial, particularly regarding chromosomal mosaicism. While NGS allows the detection and reporting of mosaicism from a trophectoderm (TE) biopsy, the inability to discern biological variability from technical artefacts continues to limit the interpretation of PGT-A results. As reports of mosaicism often have a major impact on patient management, achieving an appropriate level of standardization will be vital to avoid overestimation. Extended in vitro culture of human embryos up to 12 days post fertilization (D12) delivers an important, clinically relevant platform for the validation of PGT-A. Study design, size, duration A total of 230 clinically unsuitable blastocysts were included in the study. Embryos were selected based on their original diagnosis following PGT-A as: uniformly abnormal (n = 158), aneuploid and mosaic (n = 21), mosaic only (n = 36) and euploid (n = 15) but carrying a monogenic disease mutation in homozygosis. Blastocysts were originally classified as mosaic if they contained 30-70% abnormal cells, with <50% mosaicism defined as low level and >50% considered high level mosaicism. Participants/materials, setting, methods Vitrified blastocysts were warmed and cultured to D12 using established protocols to generate embryo outgrowths. A total of 90 outgrowths were selected for NGS. Outgrowths were collected whole (n = 64) or separated into 2-4 portions (n = 26), which were then analyzed individually. We correlated the original PGT-A diagnoses to developmental outcomes and the chromosomal status of the embryo outgrowths. Fisher’s Exact test (two-sided) was used for evaluating associations. All p-values <0.05 were considered significant. Main results and the role of chance Following extended culture, 49.1% (113/230) of embryos remained viable and attached, while 50.9% (117/230) degenerated and detached. As previously observed in our model, euploid blastocysts and embryos diagnosed with trisomies, duplications or chromosomal mosaicism were significantly more likely to attach throughout the extended culture, while monosomies, deletions and complex chromosomal constitutions impaired in vitro development (total attached, 78.3% vs. 24.8%, p < 0.0001). When compared to the original biopsy, we established 100% concordance when reporting euploidy and uniform whole chromosome aneuploidies, demonstrating an overall high sensitivity of PGT-A. Of the blastocysts diagnosed as mosaic only, 80.6% (29/36) remained viable throughout the extended culture. These were sequenced either whole (n = 11) or in parts (n = 18). At D12, 69.0% (20/29) of these embryos were uniformly euploid, while 27.6% (8/29) were uniformly aneuploid across all outgrowth samples. Notably, the latter were all originally diagnosed as high level mosaics. One embryo (3.4%) revealed a true mosaic configuration, with evidence of a reciprocal event across the different outgrowth samples. Ultimately, the proportion of embryos accurately diagnosed as euploid was 25.0% (8/35), with an overall false positive error rate of 77.1%. False positives were largely attributed to the diagnosis of mosaicism, 85.2% (23/27) or segmental aberrations, 14.8% (4/27). Limitations, reasons for caution This study was performed using a single PGT-A assay and cannot be extrapolated to other platforms. To evaluate the predictive value of chromosomal mosaicism, we selected embryos based on their chromosomal profiles. This may underestimate the accuracy of PGT-A, as sampling of embryos was not performed randomly. Wider implications of the findings We confirm the high sensitivity of PGT-A, as euploidy and uniform whole chromosome abnormalities were detected with high accuracy. However, predictive value is considerably reduced when diagnosing mosaicism. Given the high false positive rate, reporting mosaicism remains difficult to justify, as potentially viable embryos continue to be excluded for transfer. Trial registration number NA

O-289 Morphology should be prioritised over presumed mosaicism status in PGT-A cycles: data from a non-selection study of 2,621 embryo transfers

Abstract Study question Is morphological grade or presumed low-mosaicism status the most impactful parameter on live birth rate (LBR) when selecting the embryo to transfer in PGT-A cycles? Summary answer Among euploid/presumed low-mosaic embryos, morphology provides a better selection parameter for improving live birth in PGT-A cycles. What is known already NGS-based technologies enable the detection of intermediate chromosomal copy number (CN) values, which are commonly interpreted as embryonic chromosomal mosaicism. So far, studies showed that low morphological grade blastocysts are associated with poorer prognoses. Prospective blinded trials also showed that embryos displaying putative mosaic profiles produce comparable clinical outcomes to uniformly euploid ones. Nonetheless, scientific societies suggest different approaches on embryo prioritisation: PGDIS and COGEN advise a selection based on presence of mosaicism, while ESHRE suggests parallel evaluation of mosaicism and morphology. However, the combined effect of morphology and mosaicism on live birth rate (LBR) hasn’t yet been thoroughly investigated. Study design, size, duration This retrospective multisite cohort analysis is based on a euploid/low-mosaic non-selection study, where the presumed mosaicism was not disclosed to clinics and did not affect the embryo selection procedure. It includes 2,339 consecutive IVF/PGT-A treatments (January2018-December2021) that led to 3,999 transferable blastocysts (euploid or presumed mosaic <50%) and resulted in 2,621 frozen single embryo transfers (SETs). Morphological (i.e., good/poor quality) and chromosomal (i.e., euploid/mosaic) features were assessed. Clinical outcomes were followed up for each subgroup. Participants/materials, setting, methods Morphological grading was assessed using Gardner’s criteria, <BB for poor-quality and >BB for good-quality embryos. PGT-A analysis and CN values calculations were performed on IonTorrentS5 and Ion-Reporter software (ThermoFisher). Based on raw NGS data, CN variations <30% and 30%-50% were internally categorised euploidy and mosaicism, respectively. Nevertheless, embryos belonging to either category were reported to clinics as euploid. The association between morphology, chromosomal status, and LBR was evaluated using Fisher’s exact test and multivariate analysis. Main results and the role of chance In this study population, low-mosaicism had an incidence of 15.8% (N = 630/3,999; 95%CI:14.7-16.9). Overall, LBR and miscarriage rate did not differ between euploid and presumed mosaic SETs: 45.0% vs. 44.8% (P=NS), and 11.2% vs. 13.2% (P=NS), respectively. Also, euploid and presumed mosaic embryos showed similar incidence of poor morphology (7.4% vs. 9.7%; P=NS). In the good-quality category, LBR and miscarriage rate were 46.2% vs. 44.8% (P=NS), and 11.3% vs. 13.1% (P=NS) for euploid and presumed mosaic embryos, respectively. In the poor-quality category, LBR was 21.0% vs. 23.8% (P=NS), respectively; whilst miscarriage rates could not be compared due to insufficient number of cases across the whole morphological category (N = 4/33). Accordingly, the focused scenario that employed poor-quality uniformly euploid embryos instead of good-quality mosaic embryos showed the highest impact on LBR (21.0% vs. 44.8%; P < 10-5). Finally, the proportion of cases where both selection strategies (i.e., mosaicism vs. morphology) could be applied accounted for 6.1% (N = 44/717; 95%CI:4.6-8.1) of all cycles where >1 transferable embryo was available (N = 717/2,339). Limitations, reasons for caution The results were obtained through the analysis of raw NGS data independent from any proprietary diagnostic algorithm or chromosome-specific consideration commonly used by PGT-A laboratories. These findings concern putative whole-chromosome mosaic aneuploidies only and cannot be extended to segmental mosaic configuration. Follow-up studies in prenatal diagnosis are needed. Wider implications of the findings This study suggests that, when selecting embryos for transfer, morphological grading should be considered as a higher criterion than low-mosaic conformation (i.e., mosaicism <50% of copy-number). Reporting mosaicism based on intermediate copy-number categorization ranges <50% appears to provide no clinical utility in the current technological landscape. Trial registration number not applicable

The use of copy number loads to designate mosaicism in blastocyst stage PGT-A cycles: fewer is better.

The use of copy number loads to designate mosaicism in blastocyst stage PGT-A cycles: fewer is better.

EDUCATIONAL MOBILITY AS AN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE “WORLD – MAN” PROJECT IN THE CONTEXT OF THE FLOODING PRESENT

The statement of basic materials. A new vision of philosophy is represented as one whose main task is compliance with new realities, where man and the world as realities become poly-paradigmatic, poly-essential, thus expanding the philosophical space of research. Innovative projects for the development of society arise, thanks to which philosophy becomes open to society. It is about the need to use new research paradigms to clarify modern processes. It is noted that today there are new forms of presentation of philosophy outside academic institutes. This new picture of philosophy presentation models states a public turn in the philosophy of the present. The public turn created a mosaic configuration of philosophy, including both popularizers of science and academic philosophers. Despite this, the problem of becoming a person as an agent remains undefined. The process of education as a mechanism for preserving the integrity of the individual is increasingly criticized. It is about the transformation of educational institutions as the formation of a post-university. The concept of “meaning of being” is involved in the analysis, which allows considering post-university as being (Z. Bauman, L. Donskis). P. Freire's concept of education as “reading the word and reading the world” was considered in the context of teaching as a dialogic method, which testifies to the reciprocity of thoughts and actions. It is about the need for cultural anthropotechnics for the subject's improvement of himself. An innovative approach to the education system meets the call to create a new generation of people, which is facilitated by educational mobility, which is possible under the conditions of openness. Educational mobility primarily acts as a project to enrich one's own thesaurus, in connection with the involvement of various cultural practices, and as a way of recognizing and adapting to those changes that are the realities of today, where mobility is a criterion for the preservation and existence of modern society. The concept of mobility is still debatable. Turning to educational mobility allows us to talk about its flexible configuration, where professional training and the existing cultural level intersect, which are aimed at forming a personality that must meet modern challenges. During educational mobility, the social role of an individual changes: from a subject who acts / learns to the formation of an individual who perceives the world holistically, thereby affirming the principle of unity in diversity, which resonates with the principle of multiculturalism and tolerance. Educational mobility corresponds to the principle of “man's concern for himself” (M. Foucault) and is associated with such processes as integration, modernization, transmission of experience and practices, deepening of interaction between all participants of both social and cultural interaction. This allows us to define educational mobility as a plane of social interaction, where a new network pattern of social institutions and social communities is formed.

Tunable mosaic structures in van der Waals layered materials.

Intrinsic mosaic structures composed of distinctive stacking domains separated by domain walls (DWs) show the potential to regulate many outstanding properties of van der Waals layered materials. A comprehensive simulation at the atomic scale is performed to explore how the lattice/twist mismatch and the interlayer interaction influence the mosaic configuration from the incommensurate Moiré pattern to commensurate mosaic structures by adapting a complex amplitude version of the phase field crystal method. It is found that after an incommensurate-commensurate transition occurs, the topology of the mosaic structure indicated by different domain wall (DW) patterns can be drastically changed. An experimentally observed intriguing spiral domain wall (SDW) network is revealed as result of the emergent mixed dislocation driven by minimizing the elastic and interlayer energies in the presence of both lattice and twist mismatches. The transition process from a herringbone domain wall (HBDW) network to a SDW network is also simulated, elucidated by a dislocation reaction and in good agreement with the experimental observations.

The elephant shark methylome reveals conservation of epigenetic regulation across jawed vertebrates

Background: Methylation of CG dinucleotides constitutes a critical system of epigenetic memory in bony vertebrates, where it modulates gene expression and suppresses transposon activity. The genomes of studied vertebrates are pervasively hypermethylated, with the exception of regulatory elements such as transcription start sites (TSSs), where the presence of methylation is associated with gene silencing. This system is not found in the sparsely methylated genomes of invertebrates, and establishing how it arose during early vertebrate evolution is impeded by a paucity of epigenetic data from basal vertebrates. Methods: We perform whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to generate the first genome-wide methylation profiles of a cartilaginous fish, the elephant shark Callorhinchus milii. Employing these to determine the elephant shark methylome structure and its relationship with expression, we compare this with higher vertebrates and an invertebrate chordate using published methylation and transcriptome data. Results: Like higher vertebrates, the majority of elephant shark CG sites are highly methylated, and methylation is abundant across the genome rather than patterned in the mosaic configuration of invertebrates. This global hypermethylation includes transposable elements and the bodies of genes at all expression levels. Significantly, we document an inverse relationship between TSS methylation and expression in the elephant shark, supporting the presence of the repressive regulatory architecture shared by higher vertebrates. Conclusions: Our demonstration that methylation patterns in a cartilaginous fish are characteristic of higher vertebrates imply the conservation of this epigenetic modification system across jawed vertebrates separated by 465 million years of evolution. In addition, these findings position the elephant shark as a valuable model to explore the evolutionary history and function of vertebrate methylation.

The elephant shark methylome reveals conservation of epigenetic regulation across jawed vertebrates.

Methylation of CG dinucleotides constitutes a critical system of epigenetic memory in bony vertebrates, where it modulates gene expression and suppresses transposon activity. The genomes of studied vertebrates are pervasively hypermethylated, with the exception of regulatory elements such as transcription start sites (TSSs), where the presence of methylation is associated with gene silencing. This system is not found in the sparsely methylated genomes of invertebrates, and establishing how it arose during early vertebrate evolution is impeded by a paucity of epigenetic data from basal vertebrates. We perform whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to generate the first genome-wide methylation profiles of a cartilaginous fish, the elephant shark Callorhinchus milii. Employing these to determine the elephant shark methylome structure and its relationship with expression, we compare this with higher vertebrates and an invertebrate chordate using published methylation and transcriptome data. Results:Like higher vertebrates, the majority of elephant shark CG sites are highly methylated, and methylation is abundant across the genome rather than patterned in the mosaic configuration of invertebrates. This global hypermethylation includes transposable elements and the bodies of genes at all expression levels. Significantly, we document an inverse relationship between TSS methylation and expression in the elephant shark, supporting the presence of the repressive regulatory architecture shared by higher vertebrates. Our demonstration that methylation patterns in a cartilaginous fish are characteristic of higher vertebrates imply the conservation of this epigenetic modification system across jawed vertebrates separated by 465 million years of evolution. In addition, these findings position the elephant shark as a valuable model to explore the evolutionary history and function of vertebrate methylation.

Electrochemical Performance of Ti- and Zr-Doped LiCoO2 Film Cathodes Prepared By Rf-Magnetron Sputtering for Lithium Microbatteries

In an attempt to enhance the microstructural and electrochemical (EC) properties, LiCoO2 thin films were doped with titanium or zirconium. RF magnetron sputtering technique has been employed for the deposition of films on Au/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates from lithium-rich LiCoO2 target with mosaic configuration. The as-deposited and Ti- and Zr-doped LiCoO2 thin films at lower doping concentration exhibited the α-NaFeO2 structure with R-3 m symmetry as confirm from X-ray diffraction and Raman studies. The cyclic voltammogram of micro-electrodes in aqueous electrolyte exhibited perfect redox peaks with good reversibility. The chronopotentiometry studies revealed that the discharge capacity of pure LiCoO2 was 64 µAh cm-2 µm-1, while 2% Ti- and Zr-doped films showed enhanced capacities 69 and 68 µAh cm-2 µm-1 (248 mC cm-2 µm-1, 245 mC cm-2 µm-1) respectively. The Zr-doped films exhibited good structural stability even after 25 cycles with the capacity retention of 95%. The kinetics of lithium ions in pure and Ti/Zr-doped LiCoO2 thin film cathodes and their cycleability are studied using both aqueous Pt//LiCoO2and and non-aqueous Li//LiCoO2 cells and the results will be presented.

Multiscale connectivity and graph theory highlight critical areas for conservation under climate change.

Conservation planning and biodiversity management require information on landscape connectivity across a range of spatial scales from individual home ranges to large regions. Reduction in landscape connectivity due changes in land use or development is expected to act synergistically with alterations to habitat mosaic configuration arising from climate change. We illustrate a multiscale connectivity framework to aid habitat conservation prioritization in the context of changing land use and climate. Our approach, which builds upon the strengths of multiple landscape connectivity methods, including graph theory, circuit theory, and least-cost path analysis, is here applied to the conservation planning requirements of the Mohave ground squirrel. The distribution of this threatened Californian species, as for numerous other desert species, overlaps with the proposed placement of several utility-scale renewable energy developments in the American southwest. Our approach uses information derived at three spatial scales to forecast potential changes in habitat connectivity under various scenarios of energy development and climate change. By disentangling the potential effects of habitat loss and fragmentation across multiple scales, we identify priority conservation areas for both core habitat and critical corridor or stepping stone habitats. This approach is a first step toward applying graph theory to analyze habitat connectivity for species with continuously distributed habitat and should be applicable across a broad range of taxa.

Influence of Ti and Zr dopants on the electrochemical performance of LiCoO2 film cathodes prepared by rf-magnetron sputtering

Influence of Ti and Zr dopants on the electrochemical performance of LiCoO2 film cathodes prepared by rf-magnetron sputtering

The sensitivity of simulated competition between different plant functional types to subgrid‐scale representation of vegetation in a land surface model

Abstract The Canadian Land Surface Scheme coupled to the Canadian Terrestrial Ecosystem Model is used to simulate competition between the model's seven non‐crop plant functional types (PFTs) for available space. Our objective is to assess if the model is successfully able to reproduce the observed mix of PFTs and their fractional coverages and to what extent the simulated competition is affected by the manner in which the subgrid‐scale variability of vegetation is represented. The model can be run either in a composite (single tile) configuration, where structural vegetation attributes of PFTs are aggregated for use in grid‐averaged energy and water balance calculations, or a mosaic (multiple tiles) configuration, where separate energy and water balance calculations are performed for each PFT. The model realistically simulates the fractional coverages of trees, grasses, and bare ground, as well as that of individual tree and grass PFTs and their succession patterns. Our results show that the model is not overly sensitive to the manner in which subgrid‐scale variability of vegetation is represented. Of the seven sites chosen across the globe to illustrate the difference between the two configurations, the simulated fractional coverage of PFTs are generally very similar (root‐mean‐square difference, RMSD, < 5%) between the composite and mosaic configurations at locations characterized by low heterogeneity (e.g., Amazonia, Vancouver Island, and the Tibetan Plateau), whereas at locations characterized by high heterogeneity (e.g., India, South Sudan and California), the two configurations yield somewhat different results (RMSD > 5%).

About the Cover

<p>The cover shows a montage of images representing the themes of the researches showcased in this issue. The symbolic convergence of two identical strong arch steel bridges towards a geometric solid of balance and symmetry captures the iconic portrait of a budding research culture at the University of the Immaculate Conception. The mosaic configuration of snapshots overtures a powerful glimpse over the issues and concerns that create a consistent and reverberating clamor of societal depictions of today.</p> <p>A heartfelt expression of thanks is extended to <strong>Engr. Michael M. Obenque </strong>for the layout of the entire cover.</p>

Growth of ZnSe Nanospirals with Bending Mediated by Lomer−Cottrell Sessile Dislocations through Varying Pressure

ZnSe nanospirals, with zinc blende structured building blocks exhibiting unconventional mosaic configuration, were successfully fabricated via a two-stage growth process, in which abrupt variation of reaction pressure was introduced. In-plane bending, with remarkable morphological difference from the commonly reported nanorings or nanohelixes induced by spontaneous polarization in II−VI semiconductors, has been observed, which can be mainly attributed to existence of numerous Lomer−Cottrell sessile dislocations with edge components. Investigations on morphological evolutions by applying different reaction pressure and growth time in the second stage imply that the formation of nanospirals is closely related to the pressure variation. The results may provide useful information for further understanding the strain release mechanism and mechanical response of ZnSe at the nanoscale.

Unusual Patch-Matrix Organization in the Retrosplenial Cortex of the reeler Mouse and Shaking Rat Kawasaki

The rat granular retrosplenial cortex (GRS) is a simplified cortex, with distinct stratification and, in the uppermost layers, distinct modularity. Thalamic and cortical inputs are segregated by layers and in layer 1 colocalize, respectively, with apical dendritic bundles originating from neurons in layers 2 or 5. To further investigate this organization, we turned to reelin-deficient reeler mouse and Shaking rat Kawasaki. We found that the disrupted lamination, evident in Nissl stains in these rodents, is in fact a patch-matrix mosaic of segregated afferents and dendrites. Patches consist of thalamocortical connections, visualized by vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2) or AChE. The surrounding matrix consists of corticocortical terminations, visualized by VGluT1 or zinc. Dendrites concentrate in the matrix or patches, depending on whether they are OCAM positive (matrix) or negative (patches). In wild-type rodents and, presumably, mutants, OCAM(+) structures originate from layer 5 neurons. By double labeling for dendrites (filled by Lucifer yellow in fixed slice) and OCAM immunofluorescence, we ascertained 2 populations in reeler: dendritic branches either preferred (putative layer 5 neurons) or avoided (putative supragranular neurons) the OCAM(+) matrix. We conclude that input-target relationships are largely preserved in the mutant GRS and that dendrite-dendrite interactions involving OCAM influence the formation of the mosaic configuration.

Seed and Forest Dynamics: A Theoretical Framework and an Example from the Neotropics

Models that combine seed demography and forest dynamics to predict seed densities in forest patches of different disturbance ages are proposed. Two models are derived from a generalized Lefkovitch model with immigration. The first model assumes constant seed rain; the second one considers seed rain as a function of the forest mosaic configuration that changes according to a Markov-chain process. This theoretical framework was used to analyze data for the pioneer tree Cecropia obtusifolia at Los Tuxtlas rain forest. Our first model suggests that despite low soil-seed survival rates, high seed densities in all patch types in a forest mosaic may be explained by the abundant seed rain typical of pioneer species. We found that an abundant seed rain to all patches enables the regeneration of this species despite high seed predation and pathogen attack rates in the soil. Analysis of the second model suggests that increased gap formation in sites 2-35 yr since disturbance seems to alter seed availability of pioneers and patch dynamics less than an equal increase in gap formation in mature patches (>35 yr since disturbed). Extensive deforestation that alters seed-rain regimes will prevent regeneration of secondary species such as C. obtusifolia that have fast seed-bank turnover rates. A comparison with previous works calls for more quantitative studies on the input and loss dynamics of soil seeds in different patches for particular tropical species.

Further studies on the ultrastructure of the cochlea

Hearing research is important not only for clinical, professional and military medicine, but also for toxicology, gerontology and genetics. Ultrastructure of the cochlea attracts much attention of electron microscopists, (1―3) but the research lags far behind that of the other parts of the organnism. On the basis of careful microdissection, technical improvment and accurate observation, we have got some new findings which have not been reported in the literature.We collected four cochleas from human corpses. Temporal bones dissected 1 h after death and cochleas perfused with fixatives 4 h after death were good enough in terms of preservation of fine structures. SEM:The apical surface of OHCs (Outer hair cells) and DTs (Deiters cells) is narrower than that of IPs (Inner pillar cells). The mosaic configuration of the reticular membrane is not typical. The stereocilia of IHCs (Inner hair cells) are not uniform and some kinocilia could be seen on the OHCs in adults. The epithelial surface of RM (Reissner’s membrane) is not smooth and no mesh could be seen on the mesothelial surface of RM. TEM.

Simplified analysis of body-contact effect for MOSFET/SOI

A simplified experimental analysis of the body-contact effect and its impact on drain current reduction is carried out to clarify the relevant parameters for MOSFET/SOI design. In the experiments, body contacts in the source are distributed in a mosaic configuration. The empirical relationship between drain current and the number of body contacts is obtained. The relationship suggests that there must be a sufficient number of body contacts to suppress the kink effect to avoid reduction in drain current.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>