When good enough is best

In this issue of Neuron, Rinberg et al. show that mice use a speed-accuracy tradeoff in odor discrimination. Shorter sampling results in high performance for easy problems, and enforced longer sampling results in higher accuracy for difficult problems, but mice freely choose intermediate sampling durations and accuracy varies with difficulty. Reward value and task requirements may determine sampling time choice and performance levels.     

When BAD is good for beta cells

BAD, a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family of proteins, is regulated by phosphorylation. A recent study (Danial et al., 2008) suggests a phosphorylation-state-dependent bifunctional role of BAD in the regulation of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion and beta cell mass.     

When is homology not homology?

Although genes have specific phenotypic consequences in a given species, this functional relationship can clearly change during the course of evolution. Many cases of evolutionary dissociations between homologous genes and homologous morphological features are now known. These dissociations have interesting and important implications for understanding the genetic basis for evolutionary change in morphology.     

When 2D is not enough,go for an extra dimension

The use of an extra SDS separation in a different buffer system provide a technique for deconvoluting 2D gel spots made of several proteins (Colignon et al. Proteomics, 2013, 13, 2077–2082). This technique keeps the quantitative analysis of the protein amounts and combines it with a strongly improved identification process by mass spectrometry, removing identification ambiguities in most cases. In some favorable cases, posttranslational variants can be separated by this procedure. This versatile and easy to use technique is anticipated to be a very valuable addition to the toolbox used in 2D gel‐based proteomics.     

When is a family not a family?

Recent molecular investigations of the small-subunit rRNA gene sequences have indicated that established taxonomic hierarchies can be clearly at odds with the degree of evolutionary divergence (as inferred from molecular divergence) between supposedly equivalent taxa at every rank (i.e., species through class), both within and across biological divisions. This is particularly true between the Rhodophyta and the Phaeophyta, whose higher-order taxa appear under- and overinflated, respectively. We present two plausible alternatives that algal taxonomists might adopt in order to invoke discussion on their relative merits.     

When the heart is stopped for good: hypotension-bradycardia paradox revisited

In vasovagal syncope, occurrence of bradycardia/asystole in the wake of hypotension has often been considered paradoxical. The major objective of this teaching module is to critically examine the pathophysiological mechanism and significance of the hypotension-bradycardia paradox unique to this condition. We narrate here how we discussed the pathophysiology of vasovagal syncope in a large classroom session attended by 275 doctors and medical students. A case study was used to describe the typical clinical presentation of vasovagal syncope. The pathophysiological mechanisms involved were then discussed systematically using a series of open-ended questions. We made it clear 1) that the occurrence of bradycardia or asystole in the face of acute severe hypotension is a mechanism to possibly minimize further blood loss, prevent myocardial damage, and increase ventricular filling; and 2) that fainting, which occurs as a consequence of this, is a homeostatic mechanism that serves to restore venous return and cerebral blood flow before blood pressure is normalized by neural reflex mechanisms. Eighty-four percent of participants reported that they were satisfied with the session. The information contained herein could be used to explain to any suitable audience the neural regulation of blood pressure in the face of acute severe hypotension and the pathophysiology of vasovagal syncope.