Digit ratio (2D:4D) and the spatial representation of magnitude

Digit ratio (as a putative indicator of prenatal androgen exposure) is related to a range of sexually dimorphic abilities, including spatial skills and mathematical ability. This study examined a phenomenon known as the SNARC effect (Spatial Numerical Association of Response Codes), which is taken as evidence of a mental representation of magnitude along a left-right-oriented number line, with low magnitudes associated with the left side of space, and high numbers with the right side of space. Participants made a parity judgement of numbers with responses made with a left key to odd numbers and a right key to even numbers. This was reversed for a second block of trials. Response times to numbers one to nine with both the right and left hand were calculated, and regression analyses conducted to analyse whether lower magnitudes were responded to faster with the left hand and higher magnitudes with the right hand. Participants with lower (more masculine) digit ratios on the right hand showed a stronger SNARC effect compared to participants with high digit ratios. This pattern of results was also found when the analyses were conducted separately for men and women. Results from left hand digit ratios indicated that only low digit ratio females showed a significant SNARC effect. These findings add to a growing literature on the relationship between digit ratio and cognitive abilities; in this case, simple cognitive representations that are accessed automatically rather than complex skills such as mental rotation or "mathematics" where a variety of solution strategies may be utilised.     

Measles immunisation in children with allergy to egg.

OBJECTIVE--To examine the occurrence of adverse reactions to measles vaccine given as a single dose to children with egg allergy, and to determine if the administration of single dose to children with a positive result in an intradermal skin prick test with the vaccine is associated with adverse reactions. DESIGN--Review of results of immunisation and prospective study of 96 consecutively presenting children given intradermal skin testing with the vaccine. SETTING--Children''s allergy centre. SUBJECTS--410 children sensitive to egg referred to the allergy unit for advice about measles immunisation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Nature and severity of reactions associated with the administration of measles vaccine. RESULTS--All children had a positive result in a skin prick test with egg white, and five had a positive result in a skin prick test with vaccine. Of 96 consecutive children, 46 had a positive result in an intradermal test with vaccine. After immunisation with a full dose (0.5 ml) of vaccine adverse reactions were associated with a mild reaction in four children, none of whom required treatment. Only one of the 46 children with a positive result in an intradermal vaccine skin test had a reaction associated with vaccine administration. None of the children with a positive result in a skin prick test with measles vaccine reacted to the vaccine. The rate of minor reactions to the vaccine not requiring treatment was 0.98% (95% confidence interval 0.27% to 2.48%) and serious reactions requiring treatment was 0% (0% to 0.9%). CONCLUSION--Children with IgE mediated allergic reactions to egg protein should be investigated and managed by practitioners with special knowledge in this subject. Measles immunisation should be performed in a setting where any adverse reactions can be dealt with appropriately. Skin tests and measles vaccine and desensitisation are not necessary.     

On the interactions of catalase with subcellular structure

The interaction of mouse liver catalase with subcellular membranes was studied, and an ionic interaction with a variety of membranes, including those derived from the microsomes, was observed. The interaction with microsomal membranes was found to be abolished by pre-treatment of catalase with neuraminidase, indicating a functional significance for catalase-bound sialic acid. Catalase activity was found to be enhanced when bound to membranes, and evidence for a weak association of catalase with peroxisomal structure in mouse liver was also obtained. It is concluded that mouse liver catalase has a capacity to bind to a variety of subcellular membranes in vivo and that this interaction may be consistent with a general protective role for the enzyme, as well as being compatible with a model of peroxisomal biogenesis which involves the interaction of catalase with microsomal membranes.Abbreviations LGF Large Granule Fraction     

Description and identification of two new diseases of guariroba palm (Syagrus oleraceae) in Brazil

Guariroba is a palm species native to central Brazil. Seedlings of guariroba with leaf spots of unknown aetiology were found in Patos de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The leaf spots were manifest as two different symptom types: the first lesion type consisted of necrotic spots with a rounded to elongate shape, with a light colour and dark edges; the second lesion type had a rounded shape, was dark brown in colour with a light brown edge. The objective of this study was to elucidate the aetiology of both diseases. The likely causal agents were isolated and Koch's postulate fulfilled. Subsequently, the ITS region of rDNA from both micro‐organisms were amplified and sequenced. According to the morphological characteristics and molecular analyses, the fungal species were identified as Pestalotiopsis adusta (causing necrotic spots with a rounded to elongate shape, with a light colour and dark edges), and Alternaria tenuissima (causing lesions with a rounded shape, dark brown in colour with a light brown edge). Identification of the causal organisms of these two diseases will help guide management approaches that might be tested to reduce impact of the disease on Guariroba, including the use of fungicides and cultural approaches.     

Clinical and scientific progress related to the interface between cardiology and psychology: lessons learned from 35 years of experience at the Thoraxcenter of the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam

In November 1975, as the first in the Netherlands, a full-time psychologist was employed at the Department of Cardiology of the Thoraxcenter of the Erasmus Medical Center. This innovative decision was consistent with a view to treat the patient as a whole rather than the heart as a single body part in need of repair, combined with the understanding that the heart and mind interact to affect health. The present selective review addresses the broad range of contributions of 35 years of psychology to clinical cardiology and cardiovascular research with a focus on research, teaching, psychological screening and patient care. The review ends with lessons to be learned and challenges for the future with respect to improving the care and management of patients with heart disease in order to enhance secondary prevention and the role of behavioural and psychological factors in this endeavour.     

Nonverbal Communication and Human–Dog Interaction

Human–dog interaction relies to a large extent on nonverbal communication, and it is therefore plausible that human sensitivity to nonverbal signals affects interactions between human and dog. Experience with dogs is also likely to influence human–dog interactions, and it has been suggested that it influences human social skills. The present study investigated possible links between human nonverbal sensitivity, experience with dogs, and the quality of human–dog interactions. Two studies are reported. In study 1, 97 veterinary students took a psychometric test assessing human nonverbal sensitivity and answered a questionnaire on their experience with dogs. The data obtained were then used to investigate the relationship between experience with dogs and sensitivity to human nonverbal communication. The results did not indicate that experience with dogs improves human nonverbal sensitivity. In study 2, 16 students with high, and 15 students with low, levels of human nonverbal sensitivity were selected. Each of the 31 students interacted once with an unknown dog in a greeting situation, and these human–dog interactions were videoed. We found that a combined score of dog behaviors relating to insecurity was associated with the students' level of nonverbal sensitivity and experience with dogs: the dog showed more of the insecure behavior when interacting with students with a low level of nonverbal sensitivity and no experience with dogs than it did when interacting with students with a high level of nonverbal sensitivity (irrespective of experience with dogs).     

基于小波分析的大豆叶绿素a含量高光谱反演模型

 2003和2004年分别在长春市良种场和中国科学院海伦黑土生态实验站实测了大田耕作与水肥耦合作用下大豆（Glycine max）冠层高光谱反射率 与叶绿素a含量数据,对光谱反射率、微分光谱与叶绿素a含量进行了相关分析;采用归一化植被指数(Normalized diffe rence vegetation index, NDVI)、土壤调和植被指数(Soil-adjusted vegetation index, SAVI)、再归一植被指数(Renormalized difference vegetation index, RDVI)、第二修正比值植被指数(Modified second ratio index, MSRI)等建立了大豆叶绿素a反演模型;应用小波分析对采集的光谱反 射率数据进行了能量系数提取,并以小波能量系数作为自变量进行了单变量与多变量回归分析,对大豆叶绿素a进行了估算。研究结果表明,大 豆叶绿素a 与可见光光谱反射率相关性较好,并在红光波段取得最大值(R²>0.70),但在红边处,微分光谱与大豆叶绿素a的相关性较反射率好 得多,在其它波段则相反;由NDVI、SAVI、RDVI、MSRI等植被指数建立的估算模型可以提高大豆叶绿素a的估算精度（R²>0.75）;小波能量系 数回归模型可以进一步提高大豆叶绿素a含量的估算水平,以一个特定小波能量系数作为自变量的回归模型,大豆叶绿素a回归决定系数R²高达 0.78;多变量回归分析结果表明,大豆叶绿素a实测值与预测值的线性回归决定系数R²均高达0.85。以上结果表明, 小波分析可以对高光谱进 行特征变量提取,并可在一定程度上提高大豆生理参数反演精度。     

小鼠对不同拓扑性质图形的识别

视觉感知的一系列研究都支持大范围拓扑感知的理论．拓扑性质作为整体性质,是视觉感知的基础．视觉对图形拓扑特征差异的感知要优先于对局部特征差异的感知．采用Y迷宫研究了小鼠对不同拓扑性质图形的识别．训练小鼠学习识别圆环和实心矩形这一对拓扑性质不同的图形,之后用拓扑特征相同或不同的其他图形测试小鼠,这些图形包括空心矩形、实心圆、缺口的圆环、缺口的空心矩形．实验结果表明,学会识别圆环(奖励)和实心矩形(无奖励)的小鼠无法区分实心圆和实心矩形以及圆环和空心矩形,但是能够分别从缺口圆环、缺口的空心矩形、实心圆与空心矩形组成的图形对中识别出空心矩形．因此证实了小鼠的视觉系统能够感知拓扑特征的差异并且具有对拓扑性质的概括能力．结果为拓扑知觉对视觉系统来说是基本的这一假设提供了证据．     

Anopheles gambiae females readily learn to associate complex visual cues with the quality of sugar sources

The ability to learn plays a key role in tuning and adapting the behaviours of animals for their unpredictable biotopes. This also applies to insect vectors of disease. Anautogenous mosquitoes need to find both sugar and blood for survival and reproduction. Learning processes are expected to contribute to a mosquito’s ability to undertake repeated feeding behaviours more efficiently with time, serving to decrease energy demands and avoid hazards. Here we report how visual learning by the Afrotropical malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae allows it to readily associate visual cues with the quality of a sugar source. Circular black and white patterns were used as visual cues. An. gambiae females were conditioned in cages with a chequered pattern paired with sucrose and a concentric pattern paired with non-palatable sucrose-NaCl and with reverse combinations. Hours later, significantly higher numbers of feeding attempts were counted on sucrose paired with the chequered pattern following conditioning with the same combination. This was also the case on the concentric pattern paired with sucrose following conditioning with this combination. However, the effect was weaker than with sucrose paired with the chequered pattern. These findings indicate a differential capacity of visual stimuli to induce learning, explained in our experiments by a significantly higher mosquito appetence on sucrose paired with a chequered pattern that mimics floral shape. Training that induced a higher propensity for feeding attempts was found to allow the females to display a fast learning curve (<4 min) on the less suitable concentric pattern paired with sucrose, several hours after conditioning on the chequered pattern paired with sucrose. This has important implications for mosquito behavioural ecology, suggesting that An. gambiae shows plasticity in its learning capacities that would allow it to readily turn to alternative sources for a sugar meal once initiated in the process by an appropriate stimulus combination.     

Localization of Rheb to the endomembrane is critical for its signaling function

Rheb, a small GTPase, has emerged as a key molecular switch that directly regulates the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Similar to other members of the Ras superfamily, Rheb has a C-terminal CaaX box that is subject to farnesylation. This study reports that farnesylation is a key determinant of Rheb's subcellular localization and directs its association with the endomembrane. Timed imaging of live cells expressing EGFP-Rheb reveals that following brief association with the ER, Rheb localizes to highly ordered, distinct structures within the cytoplasm that display characteristics of Golgi membranes. Failure of Rheb to localize to the endomembrane impairs its ability to interact with mTOR and activate downstream targets. Consistent with the notion that the endomembrane may serve as a platform for the assembly of a functional Rheb/mTOR complex, treatment of cells with brefeldin A interferes with transmission of Rheb signals to p70S6K.     

Recognition and lysis by natural killers of tumor cells with participation of laminin

According to the data obtained in the present work, the receptor complex of mouse natural killers (NK) includes laminin, an antibody that blocks NK activity (NKA) regardless of the presence of a complement. Preincubation of mouse splenocytes with antilaminin serum led to a decrease in their NKA towards tumor cell-stargets (CT) with the NKA activity decreasing by a factor of 2 with respect to cultivated cells of rat hepatoma HTC and by a factor of 10 with respect to cultivated cells of human erythroblastosis K562. Pretreatment of splenocytes with normal nonimmune serum did not lead to a change of NKA. The pattern after tumor-cell preincubation with antilaminin serum was quite different; pretreatment of CT K562 led to a twofold decrease in the sensitivity of these cells to NK lysis, whereas the pretreatment of CT K562, on the contrary, made them twice as sensitive to NK lysis. Electrophoretic separation of proteins of CT plasma membranes with subsequent immunoblotting with antilaminin immune serum revealed the presence of laminin on HTC cell plasma membrane, which was identified as laminin 8/9 by the mass-spectrometry method, while no laminin was detected on K562 cells. Preincubation of splenocytes with laminin did not affect NKA with respect to CT K562 and HTC. Pretreatment of CT K562 and HTC with laminin decreased the NKA to zero. The obtained data allow for the suggestion of the doubtless participation of laminin and its receptors in CT cytolysis by NK.     

Mutation of albedo and growth response produces oscillations in a spatial Daisyworld

We extended a two-dimensional cellular automaton (CA) Daisyworld to include mutation of optimal growth temperature as well as mutation of albedo. Thus, the organisms (daisies) can adapt to prevailing environmental conditions or evolve to alter their environment. We find the resulting system oscillates with a period of hundreds of daisy generations. Weaker and less regular oscillations exist in previous daisyworld models, but they become much stronger and more regular here with mutation in the growth response. Despite the existence of a particular combination of mean albedo and optimum individual growth temperature which maximises growth, we find that this global state is unstable with respect to mutations which lower absolute growth rate, but increase marginal growth rate. The resulting system oscillates with a period that is found to decrease with increasing death rate, and to increase with increasing heat diffusion and heat capacity. We speculate that the origin of this oscillation is a Hopf bifurcation, previously predicted in a zero-dimensional system.     

Repetitive mating and female fitness in Dysdercus cardinalis (Hemiptera: Pyrrhocoridae)

Using three mating-treatment groups–pairing with a male for life, pairing with a male from adult emergence to first oviposition, and no pairing (virgin)–of Dysdercus cardinalis females in a laboratory study, the following results were obtained. Most of the virgin females did not lay eggs; those that did oviposited for the first time at a considerably older age than females in the other two groups. In a lifetime, females pairing with a male for life and those pairing with a male up to first oviposition produced essentially the same number of eggs, and this was more than 3.5 times the number of eggs laid by a virgin female. Virgin females produced an average of 1.3 clutches in a lifetime, compared with about 4.5 clutches produced by females in the other two groups. Reproductive span was significantly shorter, and fecundity per day of reproductive span significantly greater, for females pairing with males for life than for those pairing with a male up to first oviposition. Age at death was significantly different amongst females in different mating-treatment groups. Virgin females had the longest life, followed by females pairing with a male up to first oviposition and females pairing with a male for life, in that order. There was a positive correlation between lifetime gross reproduction and age at death for females pairing with a male for life. There was no relationship between these two characters for females pairing with a male up to first oviposition. Both females pairing with a male for life and those pairing with a male to first oviposition exhibited a significant inverse relationship between fecundity per day and age at death. The results obtained indicate that (1) mating is a prerequisite for normal gonadal activity in Dysdercus cardinalis , and (2) repetitive mating increases the rate of reproduction. This would reduce the mean age of parenthood which is inversely related to the intrinsic rate of increase.     

Kinetics of lipid-membrane binding and conformational change of L-BABP

We designed an experimental approach to differentiate the kinetics of protein binding to a lipid membrane from the kinetics of the associated conformational change in the protein. We measured the fluorescence intensity of the single Trp6 in chicken liver bile acid-binding protein (L-BABP) as a function of time after mixing the protein with lipid membranes. We mixed the protein with pure lipid membranes, with lipid membranes in the presence of a soluble quencher, and with lipid membranes containing a fluorescence quencher attached to the lipid polar head group. We fitted simultaneously the experimental curves to a three-state kinetic model. We conclude that in a first step, the binding of L-BABP to the interfacial region of the anionic lipid polar head groups occurred simultaneously with a conformational change to the partly unfolded state. In a second slower step, Trp6 buried within the polar head group region, releasing contacts with the aqueous phase.     

Development of oral home telecare programme for the home-dwelling elderly: a pilot study

Objectives: The aim of the pilot study was to develop and evaluate a telecare programme for home‐dwelling elderly to provide education on oral and general health care. Design: A field trial with a computer system linking a university with a structured network. Subjects: A group of home‐dwelling elderly males with a mean age of 73.3 years. Methods: Qualitative assessment following videophone interviews with clients and their families. Results: Clients and families were able to gain a better understanding and knowledge of oral health care particularly the skills required to perform new oral care procedures. Conclusions: Preventive oral homecare via videophone offers the potential for providing a long‐term structure for maintaining oral health particularly with limited social resources.     

Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance Influence Pet Choice and Pet-directed Behaviors

Attachment theory is a useful lens through which to examine both perceptions and selection of companion animals. Study 1 compared perceptions of dogs and cats, and found that dogs were perceived as having more positive relationship qualities and secure attachment-related characteristics, whereas cats were perceived as having more negative relationship qualities and avoidant attachment-related characteristics. In addition, people perceived relationships with dogs to involve less avoidance and less anxiety relative to relationships with people. In study 2, which built on the findings of study 1, attachment avoidance was negatively associated with wanting to own a pet, whereas attachment anxiety was positive associated with wanting to own a pet. These attachment dimensions were not associated with wanting to own a dog, but lower avoidance and higher anxiety were associated with wanting to own a cat. Study 3 was a longitudinal study of SPCA-type shelter visitors (510 participants, with 169 reporting a recent pet adoption). Lower attachment anxiety predicted recently adopting a dog rather than a cat, though neither anxiety nor avoidance predicted adopting a cat. Individuals who wanted a pet in order to facilitate human relationships were more likely to adopt a dog than a cat. Those high in attachment avoidance reported turning to their pet as a replacement for human companionship, and those high in attachment anxiety reported feeling more concern about their pets requiring more attention. Attachment anxiety and avoidance may influence the decision whether or not to adopt a pet, as well as the motivation underlying the adoption choice. Attachment also may influence the type of pet chosen (i.e., dog versus cat). In addition, attachment may influence the nature of the human–animal relationship, such as the time spent together, and the security felt regarding the relationship.     

Membrane interactions of the putative fusion peptide (MFalphaP) from fertilin-alpha,the mouse sperm protein complex involved in fertilization

Mammalian fertilization depends upon successful binding and fusion between the membranes of the spermatozoon and the oocyte. These processes are thought to be mediated by a series of protein-protein interactions in which sperm antigens known as fertilins are thought to play a key role. Using a recently developed fluorescence technique, the interactions of the oligopeptide sequence corresponding to the fusogenic domain of mouse fertilin-alpha (MFalphaP) and phospholipid vesicles have been investigated. Following stopped-flow mixing, MFalphaP bound rapidly to phospholipid membranes in a co-operative manner with a Hill coefficient of 2.4 and binding rate constants in excess of 1000 s-1. The co-operative nature of the binding process is suggested to represent evidence of a structural mechanism to prevent egg fertilization by immature spermatozoa. The subsequent membrane insertion was found to take place over a longer time period (with rate constants of up to 6.3 s-1), and was linear with respect to peptide concentration. Comparison of these processes with similar time-resolved circular dichroism measurements revealed that changes in peptide secondary structure were very rapid. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements confirmed changes in the secondary structure of MFalphaP during interaction with PC phospholipid membranes, indicating that the peptide is mainly present in a beta-structure with a small proportion of alpha-helix. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that fertilin-alpha is the fusogenic species with an important role in fertilization.     

Differential reaction of cell membrane phospholipids and proteins with chemical probes.

The major aims of this study were to determine the degree of phospholipid asymmetry and the neighbor analysis of phospholipids in different types of cell membranes. For this study a penetrating probe (FDNB), a non-penetrating probe (TNBS) and a cross-linking probe (DFDNB) were used. The reaction of hemoglobin, membrane protein and membrane PE and PS of erythrocytes with DFNB and TNBS was studied over a concentration range of 0.5 to 10 mM probe. TNBS reacts to an extremely small extend with hemoglobin over the concentration range 0.4 to 4 mM whereas FDNB reacts with hemoglobin to a very large extent (50 fold more than TNBS). The reaction of membrane protein of intact erythrocytes reaches a sharp plateau at 1 mM TNBS whereas the reaction of membrane protein goes to a much larger extent with FDNB with no plateau seen up to 4 mM FDNB. This data shows that TNBS does not significantly penetrate into the cell under our conditions whereas FDNB does penetrate into the cell. The results show that there are four fold more reactive sites on proteins localized on the inner surface of the erythrocyte membrane as compared to the outer surface. TNBS at 0.5 to 2 mM concentration does not label membrane PS and labels membrane PE to a small extent. The reaction of PE with TNBS shows an initial plateau at 2 mM probe and a second slightly higher plateau between 4 to 10 mM probe. TNBS from 0.5-2.0 mM does not react with PS, but between 3 to 10 mM concentration, a very small amount of PS reacts with TNBS. Hence above 2 mM TNBS or FDNB a perturbation occurs in the membrane such that more PE and PS are exposed and react with these probes. These results demonstrate that essentially no PS is localized on the outer surface of the membrane and only 5% of the total membrane PE is localized on the outer surface of the erythrocyte membrane. TNBS and FDNB were reacted with yeast, E. coli, and Acholeplasma cells. With yeast cells, FDNB reacts to a much larger extent with PE than does TNBS, indicating that FDNB penetrates into the cell and labels more PE molecules. With E. coli, but not with erythrocytes or yeast cells, phospholipase A activity was very pronounced at pH 8.5 giving rise to a large amount of DNP-GPE from DNP-PE. A phosphodiesterase was also present which hydrolyized DNP-GPE to DNP-ethanolamine. The multilayered structure of the E. coli cell envelop did not permit a definitive interpretation of the results. It is clear, however, that TNBS and FDNB react to a different extent with PE in this cell. The Acholeplasma membrane had no detectable PE or PS but contains amino acid esters of phosphatidylglycerol. The reaction of these components with TNBS and FDNB indicate that these aminoacyl-PG are localized on both surfaces of the membrane, with 31% being on the outer surface and 69% on the inner surface...     

Effects of initial-link duration on preference and resistance to change in concurrent-chains schedules

Previous studies with concurrent-chains procedures have shown that preference for a terminal-link signaling a higher reinforcement rate decreases as initial-link durations increase. Using a concurrent-chains procedure, the present experiment examined the effects of manipulating initial-link duration on preference and resistance to disruption with rats nose poking for different rates of food reinforcement in the terminal links. Consistent with previous findings, preference for a terminal link with a higher reinforcement rate decreased with longer initial links. Conversely, relative resistance to disruption in the terminal link with a higher reinforcement rate increased with longer initial links. These findings are counter to the prediction of behavioral momentum theory that preference and resistance to change should be positively related.