论生物体的信息代谢

生物体的信息代谢是指依托生物体物质和能量代谢、建立在生物体各组织结构层次上的由单源信息的出现到互信息的构建到组合信息的形成到信息网络的整合以及由信息网络到组合信息到互信息到单源信息的逐渐崩解的同期性动态链接过程。信息代谢是生命信息进化的高级表现,也是生命的本质;它蕴育着各种生命活动。     

基于医学信息数据仓库模型的数据挖掘

利用数据仓库和数据挖掘技术,以现有医院信息系统HIS及医学信息资源为基础,基于PC和Windows操作系统,利用SQL Server2005及SQL Server 2005 Analysis Services（SSAS）等软件,搭建了医学信息数据仓库模型,并运用数据挖掘技术抽取数据库中数据隐藏的规律,提高医学信息的利用率。为从错综复杂的、庞大的医学信息库中提取有价值的决策支持信息提供有效的途径和方法。     

An evaluation of the extent to which young people are informed about the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

The data on the evaluation of the volume of information on the transmission routes of HIV infection, risk groups and prophylactic measures, acquired by young people aged 14-18 years, their attitude to different sources of information on AIDS, as well as the evaluation of the influence of lectures on the formation of their opinion of these problems, are presented. As found by questioning, 84.4-98.7% of adolescents who answered the questionnaires correctly indicated the routes of the transmission of HIV infection, prophylactic measures were known to 73.1-90.3%, risk groups were correctly defined by 80.6-98.0%, more than 70% of adolescents covered by questioning believed that mass media provided insufficient information on AIDS. In a group of adolescents given a lecture an increase in the number of correct answers and a decrease in the number of wrong answers on the transmission routes of HIV infection and on risk groups were registered.     

Health and cancer prevention: knowledge and beliefs of children and young people.

OBJECTIVE--To collect information from children and young people about their knowledge of and attitudes towards cancer and their understanding of health and health related behaviours to inform future health promotion work. DESIGN--Questionnaire survey of 15-16 year olds, and interviews with play materials with 9-10 year old children. SETTING--Six inner city, suburban, and rural schools. SUBJECTS--226 children aged 15-16 years and 100 aged 9-10 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Knowledge about different types of cancer; beliefs about health; sources of information; quality of research data obtainable from young children about cancer and health. RESULTS--Both samples knew most about lung cancer, but there was also some knowledge of breast and skin cancer and leukaemia. Smoking, together with pollution and other environmental factors, were seen as the dominant causes of cancer. Environmental factors were mentioned more often by the inner city samples. Television and the media were the most important sources of information. Young people were more worried about unemployment than about ill health. More than half the young people did not describe their health as good, and most said they did not have a healthy lifestyle. Children were able to provide detailed information about their knowledge and understanding by using drawings as well as interviews. CONCLUSIONS--Children and young people possess considerable knowledge about cancer, especially about lung cancer and smoking, and show considerable awareness of predominant health education messages. Despite this knowledge, many lead less than healthy lifestyles. Health is not seen as the most important goal in life by many young people; the circumstances in which many children and young people live are not experienced as health promoting.     

Statistical recovering of incomplete genotypic information of DNA molecular markers

Ａｍｏｌｅｃｕｌａｒｍａｒｋｅｒｃａｎｂｅｄｅｓｉｇｎａｔｅｄａｓｃｏｄｏｍｉｎａｎｔｏｒｄｏｍｉｎａｎｔｔｙｐｅａｃｃｏｒｄｉｎｇｔｏｔｈｅｇｅｎｏｔｙｐｉｃｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎｐｒｏｖｉｄｅｄ[1—4].Ｆｏｒａｃｏｄｏｍｉｎａｎｔｍａｒｋｅｒ,ｔｈｒｅｅｂａｎｄｐａｔｔｅｒｎｓｃａｎｂｅｏｂｓｅｒｖｅｄｉｎｅｌｅｃｔｒｏｐｈｏｒｅｔｉｃｇｅｌｓ,ｗｈｉｃｈｃｏｒｒｅｓｐｏｎｄｔｏｔｗｏｃｏｐｉｅｓｏｆｔｈｅＤＮＡｓｅｇｍｅｎｔｓｏｎｔｈｉｓｌｏｃｕｓｂｅｉｎｇｈｏｍｏｚｙｇｏｕｓＰ1ｔｙｐｅ,ｈ…     

Photobiological control of crop production and plant diseases

Plants, as well as fungi, use ambient sunlight as information to regulate photomorphogenetic processes. The photobiological control of this information showed that the development of photobiological greenhouse plastic covers simulates a photonic information that leads to a physiological enhancement of plant productivity and fungal disease control, thus minimizing the need for the use of agrochemicals. The main characteristics of these photobiological greenhouse plastic covers are the high transmission of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700 nm) combined with an increase of the factor zeta = RL(655-665 nm)/FRL(725-735 nm), which affects the cellular phytochromic equilibrium phi = Pfr/(Pfr + Pr) and regulates the photosynthetic activity and therefore the plant productivity. Additionally, increase of the spectral ratios from the transmitted light: BL(420-500 nm)/nearUV(290-370 nm) and BL(420-500 nm)/ FRL(725-735 nm), cause mainly the induction of biochemical, physiological and morphological responses, regulated by cryptochromes in plants (e.g. inflorescence and infructescence) and mycochrome in fungi (e.g. inhibition of sporulation). In the present work, comparative studies with randomly selected greenhouse plastics showed that small changes in the above-mentioned "photobiological" parameters raise the productivity of tomato plants and inhibit the sporulation of several isolates of the fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Thus, a model for the photoregulation of these two phenomena in greenhouses is proposed.     

MAR1-a Regulator of the HMa and HMalpha Loci in SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

A mutation in the MAR1 (mating-type regulator) locus causing sterility in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is reported. The mutation maps on the left arm of linkage group IV between trp1 and cdc2 at a distance of about 27 cM from trp1 and about 31 cM from cdc2. Haploid strains with genotype MATalpha HMalpha HMa mar1-1 and MATa HMalpha HMamar1-1 are sterile. However, MATalpha hmalpha HMa mar1-1 and MATa HMalpha hma mar1-1 strains exhibit alpha and a mating type, respectively. The sterile strains can be "rare mated" with standard strains as a consequence of mutational changes at HMa and HMalpha. It is proposed that the MAR1 locus blocks the expression of MATalpha and MATa information thought to exist at HMa and HMalpha loci, respectively (Hicks, Strathern and Herskowitz, 1977). In a mar1-1 mutant, the expression of both HMalpha and HMa information leads to a nonmating phenotype similar to that of MATa/MATalpha diploids. The genetic evidence reported here is consistent with a central feature of the "cassette model", namely that HMalpha and hma carry MATa information and HMa and hmalpha carry MATalpha information.     

Sensory processing of ambient CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> information in the brain of the moth<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Manduca sexta</Emphasis>

Insects use information about CO₂ to perform vital tasks such as locating food sources. In certain moths, CO₂ is involved in oviposition behavior. The labial palps of adult moths that feed as adults have a pit organ containing sensory receptor cells that project into the antennal lobes, the sites of primary processing of olfactory information in the brain. In the moth Manduca sexta and certain other species of Lepidoptera, these receptor cells in the labial-palp pit organ have been shown to be tuned to CO₂, and their axons project to a single, identified glomerulus in the antennal lobe, the labial-palp pit organ glomerulus. At present, however, nothing is known about the function of this glomerulus or how CO₂ information is processed centrally. We used intracellular recording and staining to reveal projection (output) neurons in the antennal lobes that respond to CO₂ and innervate the labial-palp pit organ glomerulus. Our results demonstrate that this glomerulus is the site of first-order processing of sensory information about ambient CO₂. We found three functional types of CO₂-responsive neurons (with their cell bodies in the antennal lobe or the protocerebrum) that provide output from the antennal lobe to higher centers in the brain. Some physiological characteristics of those neurons are described.Abbreviations AL Antennal lobe - AN Antennal nerve - CMB Calyces of the mushroom body - IPSP Inhibitory postsynaptic potential - LC-I Dorsal cluster of the lateral group of AL neuronal somata - LH Lateral horn of the protocerebrum - LPN Labial-palp nerve - LPO Labial-palp pit organ - LPOG LPO glomerulus - PC Protocerebrum - PI AL neuron that projects to the PC through the inner antenno-cerebral tract - PN Projection neuron     

Prognostic value of serum and tumor tissue CA 72-4 content in gastric cancer

To date no general agreement has been reached regarding the prognostic significance of CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 72-4 as serum markers in gastric cancer, and only scattered information is available on the predictive value of marker expression in tumor tissue. Therefore, a longitudinal study was designed to analyze the presurgical serum and tumor tissue content of CA 72-4, CEA and CA 19-9 in 166 patients at different stages of gastric cancer, and to evaluate the possible correlation with clinicopathological features in respect to prognostic information on relapse-free survival. The results obtained showed that 48.4% of patients with tumor recurrence had positive presurgical CA 72-4 levels compared to approximately 24% of patients who remained free of disease. Furthermore, the median presurgical serum CA 72-4 levels were significantly elevated in relapsing patients. Serosa and lymph node involvement as well as positive presurgical serum CA 72-4 levels had independent prognostic value in predicting recurrence. A significant association between disease-free survival and lymph node involvement, depth of invasion and tumor tissue content of CA 72-4 was also demonstrated. We may therefore conclude that CA 72-4 antigen can be considered the marker of choice in the follow-up of gastric cancer patients and may be used as a prognostic indicator of relapse.     

Initial processing of visual information within the retina and the LGN

The initial stage of information processing by the visual system reduces the information contained in the continuous image on the retina into a discrete set of responses which are carried from the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) to the visual cortex.-1. The optimal sampling of the light intensity distribution in the visual environment is achieved only if each channel in the visual pathways carries undistorted information corresponding to an image element. The visual system approaches as closely as possible the scheme of optimal spatial sampling, retaining the full information on the low spatial frequency content of the object light intensity. The ideal receptive field of a sustained LGN cell is then of the form J ₁ (Kr)/Kr.-2. The experimentally determined receptive fields of sustained LGN cells (and to some extent retinal ganglion cells as well) in cat closely resemble the functional form J ₁ (Kr)/Kr. The centre-surround organization of the receptive fields is therefore understood as a scheme which leads to a maximal information flow through the visual pathways.-3. The optimal sampling scheme cannot be realized by the retina alone, because of restrictions on the size of neural networks. It is therefore constructed in two stages, ending at the LGN level. A recombination of ganglion cell signals into optimal receptive fields is a major role of the LGN.     

Development and refinement of pregnane X receptor (PXR) DNA binding site model using information theory: insights into PXR-mediated gene regulation

The pregnane X receptor (PXR) acts as a receptor to induce gene expression in response to structurally diverse xenobiotics through binding as a heterodimer with the 9-cis retinoic acid receptor (RXR) to enhancers in target gene promoters. We identified and estimated the affinities of novel PXR/RXR binding sites in regulated genes and additional genomic targets of PXR with an information theory-based model of the PXR/RXR binding site. Our initial PXR/RXR model, the result of the alignment of 15 previously characterized binding sites, was used to scan the promoters of known PXR target genes. Sites from these genes, with information contents of >8 bits bound by PXR/RXR in vitro, were used to revise the information weight matrix; this procedure was repeated by screening for progressively weaker binding sites. After three iterations of refinement, the model was based on 48 validated PXR/RXR binding sites and has an average information content (Rsequence) of 14.43 +/- 3.21 bits. A scan of the human genome predicted novel PXR/RXR binding sites in the promoters of UGT1A3 (19.78 bits at -8040 and 16.37 bits at -6930) and UGT1A6 (12.74 bits at -9216), both of which were identified previously as targets for PXR. These sites were subsequently demonstrated to specifically bind PXR/RXR in competition electrophoretic mobility shift assays. A strong PXR site was also predicted upstream of the CASP10 gene (18.69 bits at -7872) and was validated by binding studies and reporter assays as a PXR responsive element. This suggests that the PXR-mediated response extends beyond genes involved in drug biotransformation and transport.     

Providing information about a flavor to preschoolers: effects on liking and memory for having tasted it

This study sought to determine if providing affectively positive information about a flavor to preschool-aged children during tasting will increase recognition of and liking for the flavor and if the recognition and liking are associated. Forty-six 3- to 6-year-old children tasted 10 flavors: 5 presented with affectively positive information and 5 without. The 10 flavors were then presented again interspersed with 10 distracter flavors. Children reported whether they had tasted the flavor previously and provided hedonic ratings for each flavor. Children's ability to remember having tasted a flavor was greater when the flavor was presented with affectively positive information than without in children throughout the age range of 3-6 years. In children younger than 4.5 years, the provision of information had no effect on hedonic rating, whereas in older children, the provision of information was associated with greater hedonic ratings. We conclude that providing affectively positive information to children about a flavor can increase their ability to recognize the flavor as previously tasted and increases hedonic rating of the flavor in children older than 4.5 years.     

The statistical and biological implications of sampling units for mountain pine beetle populations in lodgepole pine

Summary Populations of the mountain pine beetle in lodgepole pine were measured using two sample sizes: a single gallery—this is the basic family unit constructed by the parent beetles; and a 6- by 6-inch square area—the bark was removed and the brood counted. Data from the 6- by 6-inch sample were recorded in three ways. Each measurement unit provided different biological information and required different statistical considerations. The single gallery sample provided the most representative data of the entire population, but required additional biological measurement of attack density. The 6- by 6-inch sample brood data taken on an attack density basis provided the most statistically reliable information and encompassed the pertinent biological information. Percent survival, as could be used in elementary life tables, was rather consistent in all measurement units, regardless of point in time of sampling.     

Evaluation of quality in adult cardiac surgery: let us speak the same language

Over the last years, measurements of quality of care have become more and more a public product, used by providers, purchasers and consumers, and patients. This information serves as an important guide for improvement, as well as a decision support tool for everybody taking part in medical treatment. This evolution can be compared with advertising and as in commercials it is important to use the right information. In this report we focus on the quality of adult cardiac surgery. Honest information is of course essential, but in this article attention is asked for the variables used to evaluate the quality of cardiac surgery. (Neth Heart J 2010;18:365-9.)     

Feeding ecology and niche segregation of the spider crab Libinia ferreirae (Decapoda,Brachyura, Majoidea), a symbiont of Lychnorhiza lucerna (Cnidaria,Scyphozoa, Rhizostomeae)

Hydrobiologia - Feeding strategies provide essential information to help understand symbiotic relationships and resource competition as well as environmental integrity. This study examined the...     

Phytochromes and Other (Photo)Receptors of Information in Plants

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - In land plants, at least five groups of photoreceptors perceive information about light conditions and diurnal rhythm, as well as about ambient temperature,...     

The road will be mastered by the walker

Anonymous questioning by the distribution of questionnaires among 1,600 young people (68.9% of them were city dwellers, 31.1% were villagers) was carried out. The questioning covered 1,079 adolescents aged 12-16 years (67.3%), 501 young people aged 16-19 years (31.3%) and 20 respondents aged 19-23 years (1.4%). The analysis of answers to questionnaires indicated that all respondents had the same level of knowledge on the subject, but the information they possessed was not duly analyzed and had no influence on their own behavior. It should be pointed out that 1% of persons aged 12-19 years took drugs by intravenous injection. These data, as well as other materials, gave grounds for the development of a new educational program on the prophylaxis of HIV/AIDS/STD and its introduction in 1997. The program is intended for a school course of 6 years (forms 6-11) and must provide adolescents with reliable and comprehensible information, conductive to the formation of a healthy mode of life.     

中国中东部地区暴雨气候及其农业灾情的风险评估

利用中国中东部292个站点1961-2008年的暴雨气候资料和各省的农业灾情资料,采用主成分分析、软直方图估计、灰色关联法、正态信息扩散等方法,分别构建了暴雨气候指数、农业相对灾情指数及其风险估算模型,对中国中东部地区暴雨气候及其农业灾情的风险进行了研究.结果表明:中国中东部地区的暴雨气候风险,由南向北逐渐减少,高值区位于海南和广东、广西的沿海地区,其次是广西和广东的中北部,江淮地区的湖北、安徽、江西以及湘赣地区的湖南,低值区主要位于除辽宁沿海区域外的东北地区以及华北北部的河北和山西;农业相对灾情风险的高值区位于江淮地区的安徽、湖北,湘赣地区的湖南,东南沿海的广东,低值区是华北地区的河北、河南,东北地区的辽宁;除广东省外,各代表省的暴雨气候指数与农业相对灾情指数的相关系数均达到0.6以上(P＜0.Ol).经多年实际农业灾情验证,暴雨气候指数和农业相对灾情指数能较好地评估实际暴雨的强度及其对农业的影响.