Behavioral Neuroscience Area Seminar
Department of Psychology
UT Austin
"Rapid, effective and permanent repair of severed PNS nerves:
It's not just for Mr. Crabs and Luke Skywalker anymore"
George D. Bittner, Ph.D.
Professor
Neurobiology
UT Austin
Wednesday, Feb. 15
Seay Bldg 4.244 (4th floor)
3:00 PM
http://www.kvue.com/video?id=138826279&sec=551077
http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg21328514.400-new-surgery-heals-ner
Rapid, effective, and long-lasting behavioral recovery produced by microsutures, methylene blue, and polyethylene glycol after completely cutting rat sciatic nerves (2012). GD Bittner, CP Keating, JR Kane, JM Britt, CS Spaeth, JD Fan, A Zuzek, RW Wilcott, WP Thayer, JM.Winograd, F Gonzalez-Lima, T Schallert
Journal of Neuroscience Research
Article first published online: 3 FEB 2012
DOI: 10.1002/jnr.23023
Abstract:
Behavioral function lost in mammals (including humans) after peripheral nerve severance is slowly (weeks to years) and often poorly restored by 1-2-mm/day, nonspecifically directed outgrowths from proximal axonal stumps. To survive, proximal stumps must quickly repair (seal) plasmalemmal damage. We report that, after complete cut- or crush-severance of rat sciatic nerves, morphological continuity, action potential conduction, and behavioral functions can be consistently (>98% of trials), rapidly (minutes to days), dramatically (70-85% recovery), and chronically restored and some Wallerian degeneration prevented. We assess axoplasmic and axolemmal continuity by intra-axonal dye diffusion and action potential conduction across the lesion site and amount of behavioral recovery by Sciatic Functional Index and Foot Fault tests. We apply well-specified sequences of solutions containing FDA-approved chemicals. First, severed axonal ends are opened and resealing is prevented by hypotonic Ca2+-free saline containing antioxidants (especially methylene blue) that inhibit plasmalemmal sealing in sciatic nerves in vivo, ex vivo, and in rat B104 hippocampal cells in vitro. Second, a hypotonic solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) is applied to open closely apposed (by microsutures, if cut) axonal ends to induce their membranes to flow rapidly into each other (PEG-fusion), consistent with data showing that PEG rapidly seals (PEG-seals) transected neurites of B104 cells, independently of any known endogenous sealing mechanism. Third, Ca2+-containing isotonic saline is applied to induce sealing of any remaining plasmalemmal holes by Ca2+-induced accumulation and fusion of vesicles. These and other data suggest that PEG-sealing is neuroprotective, and our PEG-fusion protocols that repair cut- and crush-severed rat nerves might rapidly translate to clinical procedures. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The University of Texas at Austin
UT ECE Distinguished Lecture Series
"Computational Imaging: Functionality and Complexity"
Shree Nayar, T. C. Chang Professor of Computer Science
Columbia University
2/23/2012
4:00 PM
ACE 2,302, Avaya Auditorium
Find more information at the ECE website:
http://www.ece.utexas.edu/aboutece/seminars.cfm
Abstract: Computational imaging uses new optics to capture a coded image, and an appropriate algorithm to decode the captured image. This approach of manipulating images before there are recorded and processing recorded images before they are presented has three key benefits. First, it enables us to implement imaging functionalities that would be difficult, if not impossible, to achieve using traditional imaging. Second, it can be used to significantly reduce the hardware complexity of an imaging system. Lastly, under appropriate imaging conditions, it allows us to break the limits of traditional imaging. In this talk, I'll show recent examples of imaging systems that demonstrate these benefits.
Center for Perceptual Systems
NETI 2012
The Center for Perceptual Systems at the University of Texas at Austin is hosting the third workshop on "Natural Environments, Tasks and Intelligence" (http://www.cps.utexas.edu/neti2012/).
Dates: April 20-22, 2012
Registration deadline: March 19, 2012
Purpose: Perceptual and motor systems must reflect the natural tasks the organism performs as well as the properties of the natural environments in which the organism performs those tasks. Thus, the aim of this workshop is to stimulate research in "natural systems analysis," which consists of several interrelated components: (i) identification and characterization of natural tasks, (ii) measurement and analysis of natural scene statistics, (iii) analysis of the computational requirements of natural tasks, (iv) rigorous experimental study of neural and behavioral performance in natural tasks.
Organizers: Bill Geisler, Mary Hayhoe, and Dana Ballard
Speakers:
Dana Ballard (University of Texas at Austin )
Vijay Balsubramanian (University of Pennsylvania)
Jack Gallant (University of California at Berkeley)
Karl Gegenfurtner (Giessen University)
Jackie Gottlieb (Columbia University)
Mitra Hartmann (Northwestern University)
Mary Hayhoe (University of Texas at Austin)
Alex Huk (University of Texas at Austin)
Robbie Jacobs (University of Rochester)
Eileen Kowler (Rutgers University)
Mike Landy (New York University)
Leslie Osborne (University of Chicago)
Jose Pena (Albert Einstein Medical School)
John Reynolds (Salk Institute)
Helge Ritter (University of Bielefeld)
Ranulfo Romo (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
Sara Wooley (Columbia University)
In addition to the oral presentations there will also be a poster session.
Registration is free to CPS faculty and students, but the total registration is limited, so sign up soon if you would like to attend. You do not have to present a poster to attend.
Registration deadline: March 19, 2012
