A reverse genetics and genomics approach to gene paralog function and disease: Myokymia and the juxtaparanode

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面孔社会信息对注视提示效应的调制及其神经机制

眼睛注视是一种独特的非言语社会线索,能够诱发对生存和进化至关重要的注意效应。近年来,研究者采用中央线索提示范式及其变式,关注了面孔社会信息尤其是表情对这一注意效应的调节。面孔表情的调节作用与具体的表情类型有关,同时会受到任务因素和个体因素的影响。这一调节作用会随个体发展而逐渐成熟,与负责对面孔表情和注视方向各自及整合加工的机制相关,涉及到杏仁核和颞上沟脑区。除了面孔表情,其他面孔社会信息(如熟悉性和可信任度、优势度和社会地位、群体属性)也可以调节注视提示效应。这一调节可能涉及额叶视区、额顶注意网络。对面孔表情及其他社会信息调制注视提示效应的行为学证据及其神经机制进行系统综述,能够深化当前对面孔加工和注视提示效应间关系的理解,为社会认知障碍的临床诊断和干预提供参考。     

Nonparametric inference for the cumulative incidence function of a competing risk,with an emphasis on confidence bands in the presence of left‐truncation

Motivated by a study on pregnancy outcome, a computationally simple resampling procedure for nonparametric analysis of the cumulative incidence function of a competing risk is investigated for left‐truncated data. We also modify the original procedure to producing the more desirable Greenwood‐type variance estimates. These approaches are used to construct simultaneous confidence bands of the cumulative incidence functions which is otherwise hampered by the complicated nature of the covariance process. Simulation results and a real data example are provided.     

A型肉毒毒素注射影响情绪加工的认知神经机制

A型肉毒毒素（简称肉毒素）可引起可逆的局部肌肉麻痹，注射于特定面部肌肉可影响个体的情绪体验，还会干扰个体对情绪性材料（面部表情、语言文字和视频）中情绪信息的加工。认知神经科学研究发现，注射肉毒素会影响杏仁核的激活，影响奖赏系统的功能，以及其他大脑皮层的认知神经功能。面部反馈假说和社会反馈假说分别从个体与社会层面对肉毒素的作用加以解释：注射肉毒素使被注射者的肌肉反馈减少，弱化相应情绪的体验和加工；人际交往中，面部模仿使观察者的情绪体验与被注射者趋同，反过来同样影响被注射者的情绪体验。基于已有研究，本文提出面部反馈与社会反馈的整合模型对注射肉毒素影响情绪加工的认知神经机制进行系统阐释。未来研究可拓展相关的研究范式和方法，关注肉毒素注射对不同层面和水平的情绪加工的影响，及其相应的认知神经机制，进一步明确面部反馈与社会反馈的相互作用，并且考察肉毒素用于抑郁症等心理疾病治疗的作用机制。     

The effect of sperm storage and timing of mating on offspring sex ratios in the yellow dung fly Scatophaga stercoraria

1. Offspring sex ratios in the yellow dung fly Scatophaga stercoraria were examined in the laboratory. 2. Previous work indicated that females using previously stored sperm to fertilise their eggs produced male‐biased sex ratios. This result may have been due to female influences or the effects of sperm storage per se. 3. This pattern was not reproduced in the study presented here. Females that were allowed to mate just prior to oviposition produced similarly male‐biased sex ratios to those females that used previously stored sperm to fertilise their clutch. 4. Captive‐reared females may have perceived a lack of males in the population and thus produced a male‐biased offspring sex ratio. Alternatively, gamete ageing or extra‐chromosomal sex ratio distorters may have produced the male bias.     

Photobiomodulation at a wavelength of 633 nm leads to faster functional recovery than 804 nm after facial nerve injury

We analyzed the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) of various wavelengths on regeneration of the facial nerve using in vitro and in vivo experimental models. We assessed the antioxidative effect of PBM in geniculate ganglion neurons irradiated with a diode laser at 633 nm, 780 nm and 804 nm. Wavelengths of 633 and 780 nm but not 804 nm inhibited cell death by oxidative stress. We assessed the effects of PBM on functional and morphologic recovery in rats divided into control, facial nerve damage (FND) and FND irradiated with a 633 nm or 804 nm lasers. Injured rats treated with 633-nm light had better facial palsy scores, larger axon diameter and higher expression of Schwann cells compared with the FND group. No positive results were observed in rats irradiated at 804-nm light. These findings indicate that 633-nm PBM promotes accelerated nerve regeneration and improved functional recovery in an injured facial nerve.     

Delayed mating and the reproductive fitness of aponomma hydrosauri (Acari: Ixodidae)

, and 1992. Delayed mating and the reproductive fitness of Aponomma hydrosauri (Acari: Ixodidae). International Journal for Parasitology 22: 1197–1200. This study examines whether delayed mating influences the reproductive fitness of female reptile ticks, Aponomma hydrosauri. Delayed mating was induced by the prevention of male attachment to hosts for 20 or 40 days after females had been attached. The results showed that delayed mating had no significant influence on the number of viable progeny produced by female ticks. This may represent an important advantage for colonizing Ap. hydrosauri females in marginal population areas, particularly at parapatric boundaries.     

A dual action of taurine on the delayed rectifier K+ current in embryonic chick cardiomyocytes

Summary Effects of taurine on the delayed rectifier K⁺ channel in isolated 10-day-old embryonic chick ventricular cardiomyocytes were examined at different intracellular Ca²⁺ concentrations ([Ca]_i), using whole-cell voltage and current clamp techniques. Experiments were performed at room temperature (22°C). Test pulses were applied between -20 to +90m V from a holding potential of -40mV. When [Ca]_i was pCa 7, addition of 10 and 20 mM taurine to the bath solution reduced the delayed rectifier K⁺ current (I_K) at +90mV by 17.4 ± 2.8% (n = 5, P < 0.01) and 25.5 ± 2.6% (n = 5, P < 0.001), respectively. In contrast, when [Ca]_i was pCa 10, I_K at +90 mV was enhanced by 19.1 ± 3.1% (n = 7, P < 0.01) at 10mM taurine, and by 29.3 ± 2.4% (n = 7, P < 0.001) at 20mM taurine. The voltage of half-maximum activation (V_1/2) was shifted in a hyperpolarizing direction; at pCa 7, the value was +0.2 ± 2.2mV (n = 5) in control and -10.6 ± 1.8mV (n = 5) in 20mM taurine. At pCa 10, the V_1/2 value was +18.5 ± 4.6mV (n = 5) in control and +6.6 ± 5.2mV (n = 5) in taurine (20mM). Taurine decreased the action potential duration (APD) at pCa 10, but at pCa 7 did not affect it. In addition, taurine enhanced the transient outward current in a concentration-dependent manner. These results indicate that taurine modulates the delayed rectifier K⁺ channel, an effect dependent on [Ca]_i and capable of regulating APD.