A stress-induced,developmentally regulated,highly polymorphic protein family in Pisum sativum L.

The expression of members of two closely related abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive pea protein families, ABR17 and ABR18 (ABA-responsive 17200-M_r and 18100-M_r, respectively), is developmentally, tissueand stress-specifically regulated. Two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a number of ABR polypeptides on fluorographs of immunoprecipitated translation products of mRNAs, depending on the tissue, stage of development or type of stress. High endogenous ABA, or added ABA, enhanced the accumulation of translatable mRNA for specific ABR members under certain conditions, but high endogenous ABA was not a pre-requisite for accumulation of translatable ABR mRNA. The accumulation of ABR polypeptides was examined by Western blot analysis of acetate-buffer-extracted proteins. In fully expanded, young unstressed leaves, the ABR17 polypeptides (ABR18 polypeptides not detectable) accumulated to markedly higher levels in the epidermis than in the mesophyll. Dehydration stress caused an increased (ABR17) and detectable (ABR18) polypeptide accumulation which occurred predominantly in the epidermis. Detached leaves were used further to characterise factors affecting ABR polypeptide accumulation. An enhanced (ABR17) and detectable (ABR18) polypeptide accumulation occurred in the presence of ABA (10^–4 M) but ABR18-polypeptide accumulation required light. The accumulation of both ABR polypeptides was stimulated in the presence of metabolisable and non-metabolisable carbohydrate sources but not in water or glutamine, indicating an osmotic rather than metabolic response. This carbohydrate-stimulated accumulation was markedly enhanced by light but unaffected by 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea, an inhibitor of photosynthesis, indicating other photoreceptive processes besides photosynthesis were involved. The function of the ABR proteins remains unknown but their accumulation in aging tissues indicates a role in senescence. The results clearly demonstrate highly complex interactions between different environmental and developmental signals leading to the expression of these stressrelated proteins. In light of these results, the induction of protein expression of the newly-termed intracellular pathogenesis-related proteins, to which the ABR proteins are closely related, is discussed.Abbreviations ABA (±)cis, trans-abscisic acid - ABR17 M_r17200 ABA-responsive protein - ABR18 M_r-18100 ABA-responsive protein - 2-D two-dimensional - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - FW fresh weight - IgG immunoglobulin G - M_r apparent molecular mass - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis     

ABR, an active BCR-related gene.

The human BCR gene on chromosome 22 is specifically involved in the Philadelphia translocation, t(9;22), a chromosomal rearrangement present in the leukemic cells of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia or acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In most cases, the breakpoints on chromosome 22 are found within a 5.8 kb region of DNA designated the major breakpoint cluster region (Mbcr) of the BCR gene. Hybridization experiments have indicated that the human genome contains BCR gene-related sequences. Here we report the molecular cloning of one of these loci, for which we propose the name ABR. In contrast with the other BCR-related genes studied to date, ABR represents a functionally active gene and contains exons very similar to those found within the Mbcr. Unlike the BCR gene, the ABR gene exhibits great genomic variability caused by two different variable tandem repeat regions located in two introns. All other BCR gene-related sequences isolated so far and the BCR gene itself are located on chromosome 22. In contrast, the ABR gene is located on chromosome 17p.     

Neurodynamics, tonality, and the auditory brainstem response

Tonal relationships are foundational in music, providing the basis upon which musical structures, such as melodies, are constructed and perceived. A recent dynamic theory of musical tonality predicts that networks of auditory neurons resonate nonlinearly to musical stimuli. Nonlinear resonance leads to stability and attraction relationships among neural frequencies, and these neural dynamics give rise to the perception of relationships among tones that we collectively refer to as tonal cognition. Because this model describes the dynamics of neural populations, it makes specific predictions about human auditory neurophysiology. Here, we show how predictions about the auditory brainstem response (ABR) are derived from the model. To illustrate, we derive a prediction about population responses to musical intervals that has been observed in the human brainstem. Our modeled ABR shows qualitative agreement with important features of the human ABR. This provides a source of evidence that fundamental principles of auditory neurodynamics might underlie the perception of tonal relationships, and forces reevaluation of the role of learning and enculturation in tonal cognition.     

Assessing seed priming,sowing date,and mulch film to improve the germination and survival of direct‐sown Miscanthus sinensis in the United Kingdom

Direct sowing of Miscanthus seed could lower crop establishment costs, and increase the rate of grower uptake and biomass supply for the emerging bio‐economy. A replicated field trial was conducted at two contrasting UK sites: Aberystwyth (ABR) in mid‐Wales and Blankney (BLK) in Lincolnshire. These sites encompass the west–east meteorological gradient in the United Kingdom where the growing season at ABR is cooler and wetter while BLK is warmer and drier. Primed and unprimed Miscanthus sinensis seeds were sown directly onto the soil surface with and without a clear biodegradable mulch film, at nine dates interspersed from May to October. Average daily mean soil surface temperatures measured over the first 2 months after sowing under the mulch film were higher than control plots (2.7°C ABR and 4.2°C BLK). At both sites, the film covering also affected soil volumetric moisture relative to uncovered control plots (?3% ABR and 8% BLK), demonstrating the negative impact of mulch film when sowing on dry soil. Over nine sowings, seed germination at ABR under film varied between ?28% and +18% of germination under control conditions. Seedlings from the first three sowings at both sites under film had sufficient physiological maturity to survive the first winter period. At BLK, mulch film significantly increased tiller count and height in both the first and second years after sowing. At ABR, where temperatures were lower, film covering significantly increased tiller height but not count. Water priming had no significant effect on seed viability or germination in the field tests. Base temperatures for germination of primed and unprimed seeds on a thermal gradient plate were 7.0°C and 5.7°C, respectively, with a ± 1.7°C confidence interval. Based on our results for M. sinensis in the United Kingdom, we recommend the sowing of unprimed seed in May under film and only when the soil is moist.     

土壤灭菌-生物有机肥联用对连作马铃薯及土壤真菌群落结构的影响

甘肃省中部沿黄灌区是全国重要的加工型马铃薯生产基地,然而因集约化生产带来的连作障碍问题已经严重影响到当地马铃薯种植业的健康发展。结合田间试验和相关的室内分析,从马铃薯块茎产量和品质、植株生理特征和土壤真菌群落结构等角度,初步评估土壤灭菌和生物有机肥联用(Ammonia Disinfection plus Bio-organic Fertilizer Regulation,ABR)对马铃薯连作障碍的防控效果。同对照相比,ABR处理的块茎产量和商品薯率分别显著增加约71.1%—152.1%和39.2%—53.3%,但块茎化学品质变化不大。ABR处理叶绿素含量和根系活力较CK均显著增加,而叶片和根系丙二醛含量显著下降。PCR-DGGE分析发现,ABR处理显著影响了马铃薯连作土壤的真菌群落结构,表现为真菌群落的多样性指数较CK相比显著下降。ABR处理还有效抑制了土传病害的滋生,植株发病率和收获后的病薯率较CK分别显著下降约67.2%—82.2%和69.1%—70.5%。采用Real-time PCR评估连作土壤中3种优势致病真菌的数量变化,显示ABR处理下立枯丝核菌、茄病镰刀菌和接骨木镰刀菌的数量在生育期内较CK均有不同程度的下降。综合来看,土壤灭菌和生物有机肥联用技术在防控甘肃省中部沿黄灌区马铃薯连作障碍上具有较大的应用潜力,而对土传病害的抑制和微生物群落结构的改善是其主要的作用机理。     

Proteomics and functional analyses of pepper abscisic acid-responsive 1 (ABR1), which is involved in cell death and defense signaling

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key regulator of plant growth and development, as well as plant defense responses. A high-throughput in planta proteome screen identified the pepper (Capsicum annuum) GRAM (for glucosyltransferases, Rab-like GTPase activators, and myotubularins) domain-containing ABA-RESPONSIVE1 (ABR1), which is highly induced by infection with avirulent Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria and also by treatment with ABA. The GRAM domain is essential for the cell death response and for the nuclear localization of ABR1. ABR1 is required for priming cell death and reactive oxygen species production, as well as ABA-salicylic acid (SA) antagonism. Silencing of ABR1 significantly compromised the hypersensitive response but enhanced bacterial pathogen growth and ABA levels in pepper. High levels of ABA in ABR1-silenced plants antagonized the SA levels induced by pathogen infection. Heterologous transgenic expression of ABR1 in Arabidopsis thaliana conferred enhanced resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato and Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis infection. The susceptibility of the Arabidopsis ABR1 putative ortholog mutant, abr1, to these pathogens also supports the involvement of ABR1 in disease resistance. Together, these results reveal ABR1 as a novel negative regulator of ABA signaling and suggest that the nuclear ABR1 pool is essential for the cell death induction associated with ABA-SA antagonism.     

Identifying the Threshold of Iron Deficiency in the Central Nervous System of the Rat by the Auditory Brainstem Response

The deleterious effects of anemia on auditory nerve (AN) development have been well investigated; however, we have previously reported that significant functional consequences in the auditory brainstem response (ABR) can also occur as a consequence of marginal iron deficiency (ID). As the ABR has widespread clinical use, we evaluated the ability of this electrophysiological method to characterize the threshold of tissue ID in rats by examining the relationship between markers of tissue ID and severity of ABR latency defects. To generate various levels of ID, female Long-Evans rats were exposed to diets containing sufficient, borderline, or deficient iron (Fe) concentrations throughout gestation and offspring lifetime. We measured hematological indices of whole body iron stores in dams and offspring to assess the degree of ID. Progression of AN ID in the offspring was measured as ferritin protein levels at different times during postnatal development to complement ABR functional measurements. The severity of ABR deficits correlated with the level of Fe restriction in each diet. The sufficient Fe diet did not induce AN ID and consequently did not show an impaired ABR latency response. The borderline Fe diet, which depleted AN Fe stores but did not cause systemic anemia resulted in significantly increased ABR latency isolated to Peak I.The low Fe diet, which induced anemia and growth retardation, significantly increased ABR latencies of Peaks I to IV. Our findings indicate that changes in the ABR could be related to various degrees of ID experienced throughout development.     

The role of hydrodynamics in recruitment,growth, and survival of Argopecten irradians (L.) and Anomia simplex (D'Orbigny) within eelgrass meadows

Larvae of the bay scallop Argopecten irradians (L.) and the common jingle Anomia simplex (D'Orbigny) use byssal threads to settle onto blades of eelgrass Zostera marina (L.) and other elevated substrata. A 2-yr study of the role of hydrodynamics in recruitment of these bivalves into eelgrass meadows, and in their subsequent growth and survival as juveniles, was conducted in Northwest Harbor, New York. Sea-water flux through the meadow varied significantly among sites and depended on the numerical density of eelgrass shoots. Recruitment of both bivalves varied significantly among sites in a similar manner, indicating that hydrodynamics in eelgrass meadows strongly affects bivalve recruitment. Results from experimental deployments of two types of substrata indicate that hydrodynamics in eelgrass meadows exerts a stronger influence on bivalve recruitment than does either interblade abrasion or possible differences among sites in the nature of the blade substratum. In one of the two study years, hydrodynamics in eelgrass meadows influenced growth and survival of Argopecten following settlement. Abundances and growth of Anomia following settlement appeared unaffected by hydrodynamics. Several lines of evidence suggest that predation is less important than hydrodynamics in determining abundances of recruits and early juvenile stages of these bivalves.     

Proteins arising during the late stages of embryogenesis in Pisum sativum L.

Two abscisic acid (ABA)-responsive seed proteins, ABR17 and ABR18 (ABA-responsive 17000-M_r and 18000-M_r, respectively), previously found to be induced in cultured embryos of pea (Pisum sativum L.) are major components synthesised during normal seed desiccation. The ABR17 and ABR18 proteins showed different patterns of accumulation. The ABR18 protein was abundant in the testa during early seed development but in desiccating seed it was synthesised in the embryo, indicating spacial as well as temporal regulation of expression. The ABR18 protein was undetectable soon after germination but reappeared after adding ABA. The ABR17 protein was not detected in the testa but appeared in the embryo just prior to maximum fresh weight. The ABR17 protein continued to be synthesised during germination and was also present in non-stressed leaves. A high level of endogenous ABA or added ABA increased levels of translatable ABR17 mRNA. The ABR17 and ABR18 proteins were further characterised so as to help determine their structure and function. Neither protein appeared to contain a signal peptide but both proteins appeared to be glycosylated. The proteins had similar amino-acid compositions and limited Nterminal analysis showed 56% sequence identity. Neither protein had any significant N-terminal sequence homology to any of the late embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) proteins or dehydrins. Both proteins, however, show striking homology with a pea disease-resistance-response protein and the major birch pollen allergen, indicating that the ABR17 and ABR18 proteins may be members of a distinct group of stress-induced proteins.Abbreviations ABA (±) cis,trans-abscisic acid - ABR17 M_r-17200 ABA-responsive protein - ABR18 M_r-18 100 ABA-responsive protein - FW fresh weight - I_gG immunoglobulin G - LEA late embryogenesis-abundant - M_r apparent molecularmass - SDS-PAGE sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - TCA trichloroacetic acid This work was supported by the Agricultural and Food Research Council via grants-in-aid to Long Ashton Research Station.     

Methods for determining auditory evoked brain-stem response thresholds in human newborns

Previous investigators have reported that newborn auditory evoked brain-stem responses (ABRs) are 20–30 dB higher than adult psychophysical thresholds to the same stimuli. These investigators reduced the intensity of the stimulus until they no longer reported an ABR to the stimulus. We adapted 2 widely used psychophysical methods, the up-down-transformed response (UDTR) method and the method of constant stimuli, for ABR threshold determination of human newborns. Response judgments were made blindly. ABR thresholds of healthy normal newborns by both procedures were no more than 10–15 dB higher than adult psychophysical thresholds. The differences between the newborn ABR thresholds we reported and those in the literature were probably explained by different procedures including the method used to estimate adult psychophysical thresholds. The correlations between ABR thresholds and suprathreshold ABR latencies and amplitudes and latency and amplitude/intensity functions were modest at best. In normal newborns suprathreshold ABR measurements are of little value in predicting ABR thresholds.     

对处理不同废水的几种厌氧消化器生物量中优势产甲烷菌的观察

The biomass taken from AF, ABR, and UASB digesters treating municipal wastewater, swine waste and molassese stillage wastewater, municipal and molassese stillage wastewater respectively, were observed by light, epifluorescence microscope and scanning electron microscope. The prevalent methanogens in these digesters were Methanothrix. Exception for ABR carried out to treat swine waste, Methanosarcina with three forms of aggregations, cysts, and granules were presented in other digesters. A suggestion can be made that reactors with packing materials, such as, anaerobic filters, anaerobic contact beds and two-phase methanation digesters can be used to accumulate Methanosarcina due to their morphological, mu max, and Ks characteristics, in order to increase the wastewater treatment efficiency further.     

Two ABA-responsive proteins from pea (Pisum sativum L.) are closely related to intracellular pathogenesis-related proteins

We report here the isolation of cDNAs encoding two abscisic acid-responsive pea (Pisum sativum L.) proteins, ABR17 and ABR18, which are synthesized during late seed development in vivo. Southern blot analyses suggest that ABR17 cDNA corresponds to a single-copy gene, but ABR18 is one member of a family of closely related sequences in the pea genome. The deduced amino acid sequences of ABR17 and ABR18 cDNAs showed similarity to those of the pea disease resistance response proteins, to pathogenesis-related and to stress-induced proteins in other species and to the major birch pollen allergen Betvl.     

Auditory brain-stem responses in hydrocephalic patients

Auditory brain-stem response (ABR) was measured in 40 patients (80 ears) with confirmed hydrocephalus. Eighty-eight percent of these patients showed some form of ABR abnormality. Responses indicative of brain-stem dysfunction consisted of prolonged I–V interwave latency (38%), reduced V/I amplitude ratio (33%), and abnormalities in wave-shape of components III (27%) and V (53%). In addition, 70% of the patients had elevated ABR thresholds; 45% had responses in excess of 20 dB HL and the remaining 25% had no ABR activity. The etiology of the hydrocephalus, head circumference and brain-stem symptoms were not associated with particular ABR abnormalities. Communicating hydrocephalus correlated significantly with both prolonged I–V conduction time and absence of ABR activity, compared with non-communicating hydrocephalus. Four of the 9 patients retested showed ABR improvement on follow-up; one patient showed deterioration.The results were compared to our prior studies of ABR in 60 post-meningitic patients and in 100 severely neurologically impaired institutionalized children in whom the incidence of intrinsic brain-stem abnormalities was one-third and two-thirds that of the hydrocephalic group, respectively.The results of this study suggest that ABR can be used to document clinically unsuspected brain-stem pathology that may accompany hydrocephalus. Auditory brain-stem dysfunction is likely to complicate the assessment of hearing sensitivity in hydrocephalic patients.     

脑干缺血对听觉脑干反应影响的实验研究

目的 :探讨脑干缺血模型ABR变化特点及其在脑缺血早期诊断中的应用价值。方法 :阻断猫基底动脉不同部位血流 ,观察记录阻断血流后不同时间ABR变化特点及其规律。结果 :①夹闭基底动脉上、下段或小脑下前动脉 10min左右 ,ABRP3 ,P4振幅明显减小 (P <0 .0 1,P <0 .0 5 ) ,60min恢复夹前水平 ;②夹闭基底动脉上段 10～60minP5明显减小 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,直到 12 0min尚未恢复至夹前状态。结论 :①猫的ABRP3脑区的血供主要来自小脑下前动脉 ,P1,P2产生部位基本不依赖基底动脉供血 ;②轻度暂短性脑缺血时ABR振幅比潜伏期更敏感 ,振幅减小的程度与脑干缺血的程度密切相关 ;③ABR可用于脑缺血定位诊断及脑功能动态观察的电生理检测。     

Auditory brain stem responses to monoaural stimulation registered in symmetrical areas of cat's brain cortex

In five anaesthetized cats (Nembutal 35 mg/kg) with 14 chronically implanted recording epidural electrodes the auditory brain stem responses (ABR) to monoaural stimulation (click) in symmetrical areas of the brain cortex were recorded. Each ABR to acoustic stimulus of sufficient intensity is formed by a complex of alternating five positive (P1-P5) and four negative (N1-N4) peaks; two further small peaks often follow on this complex. The amplitude of ABR peaks N3, P4, N4 and P5 to monoaural stimulation in symmetrical areas of cat's cortex was always higher in records from the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulated ear than in records from the ipsilateral one. The amplitude of P3 ABR peak behaved to the contrary--it was higher on ipsilateral hemisphere. On the other hand the amplitude of ABR peaks P1, N1, P2 and N2 to monoaural stimulation in symmetrical areas of the brain cortex showed no degree of lateralization in our experimental animals. The present findings support indirectly the presumption that each peak of the ABR is generated by a particular acoustic brain stem structure.     

A comparison of auditory brainstem responses and behavioral estimates of hearing sensitivity in Lemur catta and Nycticebus coucang

Primates depend on acoustic signals and cues to avoid predators, locate food, and share information. Accordingly, the structure and function of acoustic stimuli have long been emphasized in studies of primate behavioral and cognitive ecology. Yet, few studies have addressed how well primates hear such stimuli; indeed, the auditory thresholds of most primate species are unknown. This empirical void is due in part to the logistic and economic challenges attendant on traditional behavioral testing methods. Technological advances have produced a safe and cost‐effective alternative—the auditory brainstem response (ABR) method, which can be utilized in field conditions, on virtually any animal species, and without subject training. Here we used the ABR and four methods of threshold determination to construct audiograms for two strepsirrhine primates: the ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta) and slow loris (Nycticebus coucang). Next, to verify the general efficacy of the ABR method, we compared our results to published behaviorally‐derived audiograms. We found that the four ABR threshold detection methods produced similar results, including relatively elevated thresholds but similarly shaped audiograms compared to those derived behaviorally. The ABR and behavioral absolute thresholds were significantly correlated, and the frequencies of best sensitivity and high‐frequency limits were comparable. However, at frequencies ≤2 kHz, ABR thresholds were especially elevated, resulting in decreased agreement with behavioral thresholds and, in Lemur, the ABR 10‐dB range starting points were more than 2 octaves higher than the behavioral points. Finally, a comparison of ABR‐ and behaviorally‐derived audiograms from various animal taxa demonstrates the widespread efficacy of the ABR for estimating frequency of best sensitivity, but otherwise suggests caution; factors such as stimulus properties and threshold definition affect results. We conclude that the ABR method is a promising technique for estimating primate hearing sensitivity, but that additional data are required to explore its efficacy for estimating low‐frequency thresholds. Am. J. Primatol. 72:217–233, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Kinetic analysis of bioconversion of cellulose in attrition bioreactor

The attrition bioreactor (ABR) combines wet ball milling and enzymatic hydrolysis in one process step. It was found that the ABR did not accelerate enzyme deacti-vation. Interfacial forces, not shear forces, caused the most deactivation. Elimination of the air-liquid interface by covering the reactor substantially increased enzyme stability. A simple exponential kinetic model was tested to predict the cellulose conversion in an ABR. Kinetic parameters were estimated from batch runs performed at various enzyme and substrate concentrations.     

Environmental stress and antibiotic resistance in food-related pathogens

This study investigated the possibility that sublethal food preservation stresses (high or low temperature and osmotic and pH stress) can lead to changes in the nature and scale of antibiotic resistance (ABR) expressed by three food-related pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus). The study found that some sublethal stresses significantly altered antibiotic resistance. Incubation at sublethal high temperature (45 degrees C) decreased ABR. Incubation under increased salt (>4.5%) or reduced pH (<5.0) conditions increased ABR. Some of the pathogens continued to express higher levels of ABR after removal of stress, suggesting that in some cases the applied sublethal stress had induced stable increases in ABR. These results indicate that increased use of bacteriostatic (sublethal), rather than bactericidal (lethal), food preservation systems may be contributing to the development and dissemination of ABR among important food-borne pathogens.     

动脉压力感受性反射受损后血浆和心脏、肾脏组织AngⅡ含量的变化

既往的研究表明,动脉压力感受性反射（ABR）功能下降在高血压靶器官损伤中起独立作用。为进一步研究ABR功能下降致器官损伤的可能机制,实验采用去窦弓神经（SAD）大鼠作为ABR受损的动物模型,分别测定清醒、自由活动状态下SAD及对照的假手术组大鼠24h动脉血压、心率、血压波动性（BPV）及心率波动性（HRV）。并采用放免法测定血浆、心脏和肾脏组织的血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）含量。结果发现,SAD术后1周大鼠的24h平均收缩压（SBP）、舒张压（DBP）均显著高于对照组及术后18周的慢性期SAD大鼠。SAD术后18周,24h平均SBP、DBP及HR与假手术对照组均无显著差异;24h收缩压波动性（SBPV）和舒张压波动性（DBPV）均显著高于对照组大鼠。SAD大鼠术后1周的血浆、心脏和肾脏组织的AngⅡ含量及术后18周的血浆AngⅡ水平与对照组之间相比无显著差异。而在术后慢性期（18周）,SAD大鼠的心肌及肾组织AngⅡ含量显著高于假手术对照组大鼠。在术后18周时,接受慢性应激刺激的SAD大鼠,其血浆、心肌及肾组织中AngⅡ水平显著高于同处应激状态下的假手术对照组大鼠及未接受应激刺激的SAD大鼠。这些结果表明,SAD术后急性期血压增高,但在慢性期平均血压并无增高,仅BPV增高;慢性期心、肾组织内AngⅡ的分泌增加。在慢性期接受应激可致AngⅡ过度分泌,上述结果提示,BPV增高和心、肾组织AngⅡ含量升高与SAD大鼠发生心脏、肾脏等器官损害有关。