Enthesopathies (lesions of muscular insertions) as indicators of the activities of neolithic Saharan populations

Enthesopathies are bony lesions involving the sites of insertion of muscles or ligaments. Those caused by hyperactivity of the relevant muscles may be distinguished clearly from those of metabolic or inflammatory origin. Observations from sporting and occupational medicine indicate that specific enthesopathies are correlated with different activities. Examination of the enthesopathies present on two groups of well-preserved neolithic skeletons from separate regions of the Sahara with different paleoenvironments show that overall 20% of the skeletons presented lesions. Three different forms of enthesopathy involved the arm, principally the elbow, and may be tentatively correlated with javelin throwing, wood cutting, and archery. Two types of lesion involving the foot were observed in skeletons from a hunter-gatherer population and may be correlated with much walking or running over hard ground. I suggest that the analysis of such lesions on ancient skeletons may, in concert with other archaeological data, throw light on the activities of ancient people.     

关于几种避孕植物药的药理初筛及成份预试

本文对云南滇西地区民间用于避孕和绝育秘方中的槌果藤,野花椒寄生、花椒寄生、螃蟹树寄生、鸡矢藤及野花椒的醇提取物进行了小鼠最大耐受量测定及小鼠抗生育实验,结果表明,花椒寄生、螃蟹树寄生的醇提取物具有明显抗生育活性,槌果藤也具有一定的抗生育作用。此外,还对槌果藤、野花椒寄生进行了化学成份预试。     

Genetic evidence for functional specificity of the yeast GCN2 kinase

In yeast the GCN2 kinase mediates translational control ofGCN4 by phosphorylating the subunit of eIF-2 in response to extracellular amino acid limitation. Although phosphorylation of eIF-2 has been shown to inhibit global protein synthesis, amino acid starvation results in a specific activation effect onGCN4 mRNA translation. Under the same conditions, translation of other mRNAs appears only slightly affected. The mechanism responsible for the observed selectivity of the GCN2 kinase is not clear. Here, we present genetic evidence that suggests that locally restricted action of the GCN2 kinase facilitatesGCN4-specific translational regulation.     

Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy with high count rate and low background: analysis of translational diffusion

An epi-illuminated microscope configuration for use in fluorescence correlation spectroscopy in bulk solutions has been analyzed. For determining the effective sample dimensions the spatial distribution of the molecule detection efficiency has been computed and conditions for achieving quasi-cylindrical sample shape have been derived. Model experiments on translational diffusion of rhodamine 6G have been carried out using strong focusing of the laser beam, small pinhole size and an avalanche photodiode in single photon counting mode as the detector. A considerable decrease in background light intensity and measurement time has been observed. The background light is 40 times weaker than the fluorescence signal from one molecule of Rh6G, and the correlation function with signal-to-noise ratio of 150 can be collected in 1 second. The effect of the shape of the sample volume on the autocorrelation function has been discussed. Correspondence to: R. Rigler     

Mother-infant bonding

A study of the research on postpartum mother-infant bonding shows that results from poorly constructed research programs were published in major journals and became a part of hospital policy because the bonding concept was politically useful in the struggle between advocates of natural childbirth and managers of the medical model of birth. The concept was also uncritically accepted because it was consistent with a longstanding ideology of motherhood that sees women as the prime architects of their children’s personalities. Diane Eyer earned her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently writing a book on the ways in which the concepts of bonding and attachment have affected our understanding of appropriate early childcare.     

Subcellular Distribution and Chemical Forms of Cadmium in the Medicine Food Homology Plant <i>Platycodon grandiflorum</i> (Jacq.) A.DC.

Although Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A.DC. is a renowned medicine food homology plant, reports of excessive cadmium (Cd) levels are common, which affects its safety for clinical use and food consumption. To enable its Cd levels to be regulated or reduced, it is necessary to first elucidate the mechanism of Cd uptake and accumulation in the plant, in addition to its detoxification mechanisms. This present study used inductively couple plasma-mass-spectrometry to analyze the subcellular distribution and chemical forms of Cd in different tissues of P. grandiflorum. The experimental results showed that Cd was mainly accumulated in the roots [predominantly in the cell wall (50.96%–61.42%)], and it was found primarily in hypomobile and hypotoxic forms. The proportion of Cd in the soluble fraction increased after Cd exposure, and the proportion of insoluble phosphate Cd and oxalate Cd increased in roots and leaves, with a higher increase in oxalate Cd. Therefore, it is likely that root retention mechanisms, cell wall deposition, vacuole sequestration, and the formation of low mobility and low toxicity forms are tolerance strategies for Cd detoxification used by P. grandiflorum. The results of this study provide a theoretical grounding for the study of Cd accumulation and detoxification mechanisms in P. grandiflorum, and they can be used as a reference for developing Cd limits and standards for other medicine food homology plants.     

2种中草药对福寿螺的杀灭效果及对肝脏影响

【目的】有效控制福寿螺产生的危害,为实现中草药的资源化利用提供依据。【方法】以甘草、陈皮为植物源灭螺剂,进行不同浓度梯度(0、0.5、1.5、3.0、4.5、6.0 g·L^-1)提取液浸泡下的灭螺活性探究。【结果】甘草组、陈皮组处理下福寿螺死亡率随时间的增长在不同浓度下毒杀效果明显。对48 h时福寿螺死亡率数据进行概率单位法回归分析,发现甘草组(LC₂₅、LC₅₀、LC₇₅)<陈皮组(LC₂₅、LC₅₀、LC₇₅),说明福寿螺对甘草更敏感。为进一步探究福寿螺死亡原因,在前期研究的基础上深入探讨甘草、陈皮提取液对福寿螺的肝脏的影响,在亚致死浓度甘草0.511 g·L^-1 (LC₂₅)、0.940 g·L^-1 (LC₅₀)、1.727 g·L^-1 (LC₇₅)和陈皮3.892 g·L^-1 (LC₂₅)、4.863 g·L^-1 (LC₅₀)、6.076 g·L^-1 (LC₇₅)处理下对福寿螺肝脏进行扫描电镜观察,结果表明,相比对照组,处理组福寿螺肝脏组织表面干瘪,失去水分,受损严重时,质地松散,表面组织脱落。【结论】2种植物提取液均可以较好地灭杀福寿螺,且严重破坏福寿螺核心组织肝脏,甘草、陈皮可作为植物源灭螺剂进一步研究开发利用。     

枯草杆菌核糖体蛋白质突变对碱性蛋白酶基因表达的影响

用枯草杆菌体外转录-翻译偶联系统检测13种19株枯草杆菌核糖体蛋白质突变对碱性蛋白酶基因表达的影响,发现10种13株核糖体蛋白质突变能影响碱性蛋白酶基因的表达。其中依赖链霉素突变核糖体几乎不能翻译碱性蛋白酶mRNA。依赖链霉素突变在翻译层次抑制碱性蛋白酶基因的表达,但对中性蛋白酶基因的表达没有影响。在碱性蛋白酶mRNA翻译起始区有一个复合二级结构,用体外突变方法破坏其中一个,翻译效率提高8.2倍。依赖链霉素突变和抗链霉素突变核糖体的高级结构不同,与碱性蛋白酶mRNA 5'端片段的亲合力也有差异。由于碱性蛋白酶mRNA翻译起始区的复合二级结构和低起始强度以及依赖链霉素突变核糖体高级结构的改变,使依赖链霉素突变核糖体不能翻译碱性蛋白酶mRNA。