Enhancement of information transmission of sub-threshold signals applied to distal positions of dendritic trees in hippocampal CA1 neuron models with stochastic resonance

Stochastic resonance (SR) has been shown to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio and detection of low level signals in neurons. It is not yet clear how this effect of SR plays an important role in the information processing of neural networks. The objective of this article is to test the hypothesis that information transmission can be enhanced with SR when sub-threshold signals are applied to distal positions of the dendrites of hippocampal CA1 neuron models. In the computer simulation, random sub-threshold signals were presented repeatedly to a distal position of the main apical branch, while the homogeneous Poisson shot noise was applied as a background noise to the mid-point of a basal dendrite in the CA1 neuron model consisting of the soma with one sodium, one calcium, and five potassium channels. From spike firing times recorded at the soma, the mutual information and information rate of the spike trains were estimated. The simulation results obtained showed a typical resonance curve of SR, and that as the activity (intensity) of sub-threshold signals increased, the maximum value of the information rate tended to increased and eventually SR disappeared. It is concluded that SR can play a key role in enhancing the information transmission of sub-threshold stimuli applied to distal positions on the dendritic trees.     

Late Quaternary variation of lignin composition in core MD01-2421 off central Japan, NW Pacific

In order to understand the responses of terrestrial vegetation in central Japan to global climate changes, we have generated the record of lignin composition from Core MD01-2421 off central Japan in the NW Pacific during the last 145,000 years by tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)-pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The relative abundance of lignin was significantly low in early MIS-1 and MIS-5e and higher in MIS-5c to early MIS-4. This reflects glacial-interglacial changes in sea level and riverine runoff. The ratio of syringyl (S)- to vanillyl (V)-phenols (S / V ratio), which is a contribution index of angiosperms against gymnosperms, was lower in MIS-2, MIS-4 and MIS-6, reflecting the glacial-interglacial variation of air temperature. The ratio of cinnamyl (C)- to vanillyl (V)-phenols (C / V ratio), which indicates the contribution of grasses, was higher in late MIS-2, early-mid MIS-3 and MIS-6. The periods of higher C / V ratio correspond to the periods of lower sea surface temperatures (SSTs), suggesting a dry and cold climate in late MIS-2, mid-MIS-3 and MIS-6.     

Streptococcus pyogenes upregulates arginine catabolism to exert its pathogenesis on the skin surface

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Specificity of Glossopharyngeal Nerve Responses to Astringent Compounds in Xenopus

Astringent compounds were applied to oral epithelium of theclawed toad, Xenopus laevis, and rapidly rising and highly sensitiveresponses could be recorded from the whole glossopharyngealnerve, but not at all from the trigeminal nerve. The responseto 10 mM tannic acid decreased progressively with repetitiveapplication. These responses to tannic acid, however, recoveredcompletely by treating with chemicals capable of forming stronghydrogen and hydrophobic bonds. These chemical bondings aregenerally recognized as a model for polyphenol (tannin)-proteininteractions based on physico-chemical measurements in vitro.The high affinities of these chemicals for tannic acid may beeffective in releasing both bonds in the interaction of tannicacid with the receptor molecules. Our results provide in vivoevidence for this model. Chem. Senses 21: 459–465, 1996.     

Comparison of the terrestrial cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 and the freshwater Leptolyngbya boryana PCC 6306 genomes

The cyanobacterial genus Leptolyngbya is widely distributed throughout terrestrial environments and freshwater. Because environmental factors, such as oxygen level, available water content, and light intensity, vary between soil surface and water bodies, terrestrial Leptolyngbya should have genomic differences with freshwater species to adapt to a land habitat. To study the genomic features of Leptolyngbya species, we determined the complete genome sequence of the terrestrial strain Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 and compared it with that of the near-complete sequence of the freshwater Leptolyngbya boryana PCC 6306. The greatest differences between these two strains were the presence or absence of a nitrogen fixation gene cluster for anaerobic nitrogen fixation and several genes for tetrapyrrole synthesis, which can operate under micro-oxic conditions. These differences might reflect differences in oxygen levels where these strains live. Both strains have the genes for trehalose biosynthesis, but only Leptolyngbya sp. NIES-2104 has genetic capacity to produce a mycosporine-like amino acid, mycosporine-glycine. Mycosporine-glycine has an antioxidant action, which may contribute to adaptation to terrestrial conditions. These features of the genomes yielded additional insights into the classification and physiological characteristics of these strains.