Hemispheric Asymmetry for Affective Stimulus Processing in Healthy Subjects–A fMRI Study

Background

While hemispheric specialization of language processing is well established, lateralization of emotion processing is still under debate. Several conflicting hypotheses have been proposed, including right hemisphere hypothesis, valence asymmetry hypothesis and region-specific lateralization hypothesis. However, experimental evidence for these hypotheses remains inconclusive, partly because direct comparisons between hemispheres are scarce.

Methods

The present fMRI study systematically investigated functional lateralization during affective stimulus processing in 36 healthy participants. We normalized our functional data on a symmetrical template to avoid confounding effects of anatomical asymmetries. Direct comparison of BOLD responses between hemispheres was accomplished taking two approaches: a hypothesis-driven region of interest analysis focusing on brain areas most frequently reported in earlier neuroimaging studies of emotion; and an exploratory whole volume analysis contrasting non-flipped with flipped functional data using paired t-test.

Results

The region of interest analysis revealed lateralization towards the left in the medial prefrontal cortex (BA 10) during positive stimulus processing; while negative stimulus processing was lateralized towards the right in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9 & 46) and towards the left in the amygdala and uncus. The whole brain analysis yielded similar results and, in addition, revealed lateralization towards the right in the premotor cortex (BA 6) and the temporo-occipital junction (BA 19 & 37) during positive stimulus processing; while negative stimulus processing showed lateralization towards the right in the temporo-parietal junction (BA 37,39,42) and towards the left in the middle temporal gyrus (BA 21).

Conclusion

Our data suggests region-specific functional lateralization of emotion processing. Findings show valence asymmetry for prefrontal cortical areas and left-lateralized negative stimulus processing in subcortical areas, in particular, amygdala and uncus.     

橡胶树转基因植株Southern杂交体系的优化

以地高辛标记的Southern杂交技术已广泛应用于多个物种中。选择橡胶树为材料,就基因组DNA的提取、探针标记方法的选择以及具体的杂交操作过程等方面对该体系进行了优化。结果表明,至少40μg高质量的DNA在300μL的大酶切体系中,酶切12 h可获得良好效果;PCR法标记的探针杂交条带清晰、背景浅,其效率明显强于随机引物法标记的探针。本研究优化的体系信号强、背景浅和灵敏度高,为橡胶树Southern杂交鉴定分析提供参考。     

转基因甘蔗植株Southern杂交体系的优化

对甘蔗Southern杂交体系的优化,旨为转基因甘蔗Southern杂交鉴定分析提供参考。以转基因甘蔗为材料,就探针不同标记方法的比较、甘蔗基因组DNA的提取、基因组DNA酶切量、酶切时间及杂交过程等方面,对地高辛标记的Southern杂交技术进行了优化研究。结果表明,改良的CTAB法提取的甘蔗DNA能满足后期实验的要求;PCR法标记探针的效率较随机引物法标记探针的效率高,更适合用于Southern杂交;40μg的DNA在400μL酶切体系中,酶切10 h可获得良好的酶切效果;杂交温度40℃,杂交18 h,可获得清晰的杂交条带。     

一种改进的快速Southern杂交方法

本文提出一种使用琼脂糖凝胶直接杂交的方法,结果准确、简单可行,是微量核酸、低拷贝基因鉴定以及疾病核酸诊断的一种较好方法。     

Is tree diversity different in the Southern Hemisphere?

Questions: Is tree diversity higher in the southern hemisphere? Are latitudinal asymmetries in diversity sensitive to sampling effects? Location: 198 forested locales worldwide. Methods: I re‐analysed the Gentry database, which I augmented with an additional survey from New Zealand. Data were used to test whether latitudinal declines in tree diversity differ between the northern and southern hemispheres. Data were also used to test whether hemispheric asymmetries in diversity are sensitive to sampling effects, or geographic variation in tree densities. Results: Area‐based measurements of species diversity are higher in the southern hemisphere. However, southern forests house denser plant populations. After controlling for geographic variation in tree densities, diversity patterns reverse, indicating tree diversity is higher in the northern hemisphere. Conclusions: Latitudinal changes in tree diversity differ between hemispheres. However, the nature of hemispherical asymmetries in species diversity hinges on how diversity is defined, illustrating how different definitions of diversity can yield strikingly different solutions to common ecological problems.     

地高辛标记探针Southern印迹杂交技术要点及改进

Southern印迹杂交技术是检测特定DNA片段的常规方法之一,其操作程序繁琐,对基因组DNA的提取、纯化、酶切等均有较高要求,要获得理想杂交结果需要反复摸索.总结地高辛标记探针Southern印迹杂交的技术要点,并结合具体操作提出改良方案.     

Will krill fare well under Southern Ocean acidification?

Antarctic krill embryos and larvae were experimentally exposed to 380 (control), 1000 and 2000 µatm pCO₂ in order to assess the possible impact of ocean acidification on early development of krill. No significant effects were detected on embryonic development or larval behaviour at 1000 µatm pCO₂; however, at 2000 µatm pCO₂ development was disrupted before gastrulation in 90 per cent of embryos, and no larvae hatched successfully. Our model projections demonstrated that Southern Ocean sea water pCO₂ could rise up to 1400 µatm in krill''s depth range under the IPCC IS92a scenario by the year 2100 (atmospheric pCO₂ 788 µatm). These results point out the urgent need for understanding the pCO₂-response relationship for krill developmental and later stages, in order to predict the possible fate of this key species in the Southern Ocean.     

Are Neoclassical Canons Valid for Southern Chinese Faces?

Background

Proportions derived from neoclassical canons, initially described by Renaissance sculptors and painters, are still being employed as aesthetic guidelines during the clinical assessment of the facial morphology.

Objective

1. to determine the applicability of neoclassical canons for Southern Chinese faces and 2. to explore gender differences in relation to the applicability of the neoclassical canons and their variants.

Methodology

3-D photographs acquired from 103 young adults (51 males and 52 females) without facial dysmorphology were used to test applicability of four neoclassical canons. Standard anthropometric measurements that determine the facial canons were made on these 3-D images. The validity of the canons as well as their different variants were quantified.

Principal Findings

The neoclassical cannons seldom applied to these individuals, and facial three-section and orbital canons did not apply at all. The orbitonasal canon was most frequently applicable, with a frequency of 19%. Significant sexual dimorphism was found relative to the prevalence of the variants of facial three-section and orbitonasal canons.

Conclusion

The neoclassical canons did not appear to apply to our sample when rigorous quantitative measurements were employed. Thus, they should not be used as esthetic goals for craniofacial surgical interventions.     

向下转膜法在乙肝病毒Southern杂交中的应用

目的评价向下转膜法在乙肝病毒(HBV)Southern杂交中的应用效果。方法用带有1.3倍HBV基因的真核表达载体转染HepG2细胞,使其产生瞬时HBV表达,72小时收集细胞并提取细胞总DNA,琼脂糖凝胶电泳后,以向上和向下两种方式转移在尼龙膜上;用化学发光标记和检测试剂盒将乙肝病毒基因片段标记成探针,再与向上和向下转膜后的尼龙膜进行杂交,判断产生明显HBV杂交条带所需的细胞总DNA量,从而验证向下转膜法在乙肝病毒Southern杂交中的应用效果。结果发现向下转膜后,检测HBV表达所需的细胞总DNA量极少,灵敏度高,0.5μg细胞总DNA电泳后转膜,即可检测出HBVDNA的表达,凝胶中仅有8%的DNA残留;而向上转膜所需的总DNA量大,灵敏度低,25μg的细胞总DNA电泳后转膜,仅能检测出弱的条带。结论向下转膜法是一种较好的转膜方式,适于对乙肝病毒的Southern杂交,值得推广应用。     

PCR和Southern Blot检测土拉弗氏菌气溶胶

为提高检测土拉弗氏菌的特异性和敏感性,建立了土拉菌ＰＣＲ及核酸杂交检测方法。运用平板计数、多聚酶链反应对土拉菌气溶胶稳定性进行了比较,结果表明ＰＣＲ具有较高灵敏度,并且在采样后３小时ＰＣＲ就可以得出定性结果,而平板计数则需要３～７天。采用ＰＣＲ法合成了土拉菌３７６－ｂｐ探针,分别对细菌菌液、５６８－ｂｐＰＣＲ产物和气溶胶样品进行杂交,结果表明菌悬液直接杂交可检出１０５ＣＦＵ左右的细菌,检测ＰＣＲ产物可达４０ｐｇ。ＰＣＲ和Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ印迹相结合有利于细菌的分离鉴定     

Terrestrial gastropods zoogeography in Southern Tamaulipas, México

Biogeography of Mexican terrestrial mollusks is poorly known, although many studies have described some of their biological aspects. This study aimed to contribute with new information on the distribution of terrestrial mollusks in this region of high altitudinal, topographic and climatic variations of Southern Tamaulipas State, México. For this, terrestrial gastropods were surveyed from December 1990 to November 2006. A total of 525 samples were obtained from 121 localities, characterized with different vegetation types. The primary zoogeographical feature was the presence of many endemic taxa, with 45 species or subspecies, representing the 43%, the highest value for Northeastern México. In addition, a total of 24 species (23%), were of Neotropical and Neartic distributions, and 15 species or subspecies (14%) exhibited Neotropical distributions. Furthermore, the family Spiraxidae showed the largest number of endemic species, with 17 species and two subspecies, and had the largest number of endemic species (27) for Northeastern México.     

基于DIG -化学发光法的Southern blot方法优化

目前,基于DIG-化学发光法的Southern blot技术已在生物实验室广泛应用,但在试验过程中经常会遇到背景黑、目的信号弱等问题,以致不能获得理想结果.在棉花线拉体基因组RFLP分析过程中结合前人经验对基于DIG -化学发光法的Southern blot技术在探针标记、探针浓度、探针剥高等方面进行了优化.优化后的方...     

地高辛标记探针在Southern杂交分析中的技术要点

外源基因是否成功导入受体材料的基因组中 ,必须从转化植株中找到分子生物学的检测证据。目前 ,PCR、Southern杂交等作为常用检测手段而被广泛采用。虽然 PCR技术可以快速得到结果 ,但是 ,以农杆菌介导的材料必须慎重这一结论 ,以免由于农杆菌污染造成假阳性。而 Southern分析由于操作程序繁琐 ,对植物基因组DNA的提取、纯化、酶切等技术要求较高 ,有时使杂交结果不甚理想。我们在植物基因转化的研究中 ,对荞麦 ,桑树 ,紫景天 ,洋麻等基因组 DNA的提取、纯化、酶切进行了探讨 ,对流程中的有关步骤进行技术改良 ,使酶切后的 PNA在凝胶…     

Southern杂交方法用于近交系小鼠H-2基因检测

目的建立一种简便、快捷、准确的检测方法用于近交系小鼠的遗传检测。方法根据近交系小鼠的H-2基因序列设计相应的探针,并标记生物素,利用微孔板Southern杂交技术,使探针与模板DNA杂交,再加入亲和素标记的辣根过氧化物酶进行酶显色反应,通过酶标仪检测杂交结果,以确定近交系小鼠的基因型。结果57BL／6和C57B：／10为H-2^b型;DBA／2和Scid为H-2^d型;615和C3H为H-2^k型;NCPC／2、TA1、TA2和T739均为H-2^b型。结论通过Southern杂交检测可以确定近交系小鼠的基因型。该检测方法简便、易行,检测结果客观,可以应用于近交系小鼠的遗传检测。     

转基因甘蔗植株Southern杂交体系的优化北大核心CSCD

对甘蔗Southern杂交体系的优化,旨为转基因甘蔗Southern杂交鉴定分析提供参考。以转基因甘蔗为材料,就探针不同标记方法的比较、甘蔗基因组DNA的提取、基因组DNA酶切量、酶切时间及杂交过程等方面,对地高辛标记的Southern杂交技术进行了优化研究。结果表明,改良的CTAB法提取的甘蔗DNA能满足后期实验的要求;PCR法标记探针的效率较随机引物法标记探针的效率高,更适合用于Southern杂交;40μg的DNA在400μL酶切体系中,酶切10 h可获得良好的酶切效果;杂交温度40℃,杂交18 h,可获得清晰的杂交条带。     

The El Niño / Southern Oscillation and Australian vegetation

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon has a marked effect on Australia's rainfall. The tendency for major Australian droughts to coincide with ENSO “events” (i.e. anomalously warm sea surface temperatures in the east equatorial Pacific), and for extensive wet periods to accompany “anti-ENSO” events, is well documented. Also well-known is the partial predictability of Australian rainfall anomalies provided by ENSO. Some other ENSO-related characteristics of interannual fluctuations of Australian rainfall are lesswidely recognised, viz:

- rainfall variability is very large

- droughts and wet periods have time scales of about one year

- they exhibit very large (continental) spatial scales

- they tend to be phase-locked with the annual cycle

- they are often followed/preceded by the opposite rainfall anomaly.

The character of Australian rainfall fluctuations is thus very different from that of areas where the influence of ENSO is weak, Europe for instance. Rainfall in some other areas, notably southern Africa and India and parts of the Americas, is also strongly affected by ENSO and shares some of the above characteristics. The relevance of these ENSO-related characteristics of Australian rainfall to its vegetation will be discussed. Australian native vegetation is adapted to these characteristics, especially in the semi-arid inland where ENSO's influence is strong. Most introduced plants are not adapted to ENSO and this has sometimes complicated their use here. The combination of ENSO-related rainfall fluctuations and European land-use strategies has resulted in some very rapid, unpredicted and undesirable changes in vegetation in the past two centuries. It has also increased the risk of soil erosion. Recognition of the real character of Australian rainfall fluctuations may help avoid further degradation of soil and vegetation.     

Pollen calendar of malaga (Southern Spain), 1991–1995

A pollen calendar has been constructed for Malaga (Southern Spain) based on the data obtained during 5 years (1991–95) using a Burkard spore trap set up approximately 1 km west of the city. The calendar only reflects taxa which showed a 10-day mean pollen concentration equal to or greater than 1 grain of pollen/m³ of air. Twenty nine taxa are included, of which the three commonest (Olea europaea, Cupressaceae andQuercus) represent approximately 54% of the total annual count and the following four (Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae, Gramineae, Urticaceae andPlantago) represent 21.3%. The greatest diversity of pollen types occurs during Spring and the highest concentrations from February to June, when approximately 85% of the total annual pollen is registered. Several peaks occur during the year principally due to Cupressaceae in February,Quercus in April,Olea europaea in May andCasuarina in October, although substantial quantities of Urticaceae, Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae,Plantago and Gramineae are also detected in April and May. The pollination of important allergy-producing taxa such as olive and grass takes place earlier in Malaga than in cities more inland, so that the data presented here may be useful in predicting the beginning of the pollination season of these localities.     

Frequency of cystathionine β-synthase 844INS68 polymorphism in Southern Iran

Iranian population with an Indo-European origin is one of the oldest populations in the world. Historical evidence suggests the close similarity in the origin of Iranian, European and north Indian population. However, there are few anthropological and genetic evidences on this subject. This study, which is the first report from Iran, was performed to investigate the genetic origin of Iranian population using a polymorphism in Cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) gene known as 844INS68bp in this respect, genomic DNA was extracted from the whole blood of 480 healthy normal blood donors referred to Fars Blood Transfusion Center, using a salting out method. The fragment containing 844INS68bp was amplified, the normal fragment was 174 bp and the fragment containing the insertion was 242 bp in length. Results indicated that 418 (87.08%) out of 480 individuals had a normal (N/N) genotype, 59 (12.29%) individuals were heterozygote (N/I) and 3 (0.63%) had homozygote a mutated genotype (I/I). The total frequency of 844INS68bp allele was found 6.8% which is similar to with the reported in White Caucasians. Comparison of the genotype of this study with the polymorphism in other populations revealed that Southern Iranian population has a great similarity with other Caucasians populations’ especially South Italy and North America while differed from East Asian and African populations. These results are in agreement with the result of other studied polymorphisms. Therefore, despite the great admixture of Iranian population with the neighboring non-Caucasian populations during the time, Iranian population still share a genetic background with other Caucasian populations.