Isothermal sensitive detection of microRNA using an autonomous DNA machine recycling output as input

An autonomous DNA machine recycling the output as the input for isothermal, sensitive, and specific detection of miRNAs has been developed. This machine shows considerably high signal amplification efficiency (～1000-fold) and thus a low detection limit (～20 amol). The machine also shows high specificity, discriminating 50 amol of synthetic miRNA from 100-fold larger amounts of its family member and from 100 ng of unrelated total RNAs. Moreover, it is available for practically detecting natural miRNAs in total RNAs.     

Translation of sensory input into behavioral output via an olfactory system

We investigate the logic by which sensory input is translated into behavioral output. First we provide a functional analysis of the entire odor receptor repertoire of an olfactory system. We construct tuning curves for the 21 functional odor receptors of the Drosophila larva and show that they sharpen at lower odor doses. We construct a 21-dimensional odor space from the responses of the receptors and find that the distance between two odors correlates with the extent to which one odor masks the other. Mutational analysis shows that different receptors mediate the responses to different concentrations of an odorant. The summed response of the entire receptor repertoire correlates with the strength of the behavioral response. The activity of a small number of receptors is a surprisingly powerful predictor of behavior. Odors that inhibit more receptors are more likely to be repellents. Odor space is largely conserved between two dissimilar olfactory systems.     

Is multiple sclerosis an infectious disease? Inference about an input process based on the output

The output process of an infinite-server queue with a Poisson process input is observed starting at time 0 with an empty queue. It is assumed that the service time distribution is known. This article discusses statistical inference about the input intensity. A controversial issue in the study of multiple sclerosis is addressed as a motivation for the model and methods developed.     

The JAK-STAT signaling pathway: input and output integration

Universal and essential to cytokine receptor signaling, the JAK-STAT pathway is one of the best understood signal transduction cascades. Almost 40 cytokine receptors signal through combinations of four JAK and seven STAT family members, suggesting commonality across the JAK-STAT signaling system. Despite intense study, there remain substantial gaps in understanding how the cascades are activated and regulated. Using the examples of the IL-6 and IL-10 receptors, I will discuss how diverse outcomes in gene expression result from regulatory events that effect the JAK1-STAT3 pathway, common to both receptors. I also consider receptor preferences by different STATs and interpretive problems in the use of STAT-deficient cells and mice. Finally, I consider how the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins regulate the quality and quantity of STAT signals from cytokine receptors. New data suggests that SOCS proteins introduce additional diversity into the JAK-STAT pathway by adjusting the output of activated STATs that alters downstream gene activation.     

Leg vasoconstriction during dynamic exercise with reduced cardiac output.

We evaluated whether a reduction in cardiac output during dynamic exercise results in vasoconstriction of active skeletal muscle vasculature. Nine subjects performed four 8-min bouts of cycling exercise at 71 +/- 12 to 145 +/- 13 W (40-84% maximal oxygen uptake). Exercise was repeated after cardioselective (beta 1) adrenergic blockade (0.2 mg/kg metoprolol iv). Leg blood flow and cardiac output were determined with bolus injections of indocyanine green. Femoral arterial and venous pressures were monitored for measurement of heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and calculation of systemic and leg vascular conductance. Leg norepinephrine spillover was used as an index of regional sympathetic activity. During control, the highest heart rate and cardiac output were 171 +/- 3 beats/min and 18.9 +/- 0.9 l/min, respectively. beta 1-Blockade reduced these values to 147 +/- 6 beats/min and 15.3 +/- 0.9 l/min, respectively (P < 0.001). Mean arterial pressure was lower than control during light exercise with beta 1-blockade but did not differ from control with greater exercise intensities. At the highest work rate in the control condition, leg blood flow and vascular conductance were 5.4 +/- 0.3 l/min and 5.2 +/- 0.3 cl.min-1.mmHg-1, respectively, and were reduced during beta 1-blockade to 4.8 +/- 0.4 l/min (P < 0.01) and 4.6 +/- 0.4 cl.min-1.mmHg-1 (P < 0.05). During the same exercise condition leg norepinephrine spillover increased from a control value of 2.64 +/- 1.16 to 5.62 +/- 2.13 nM/min with beta 1-blockade (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Leg glucose and protein metabolism during an acute bout of resistance exercise in humans.

The present study investigated the responses of leg glucose and protein metabolism during an acute bout of resistance exercise. Seven subjects (5 men, 2 women) were studied at rest and during a strenuous lower body resistance exercise regimen consisting of approximately 8 sets of 10 repetitions of leg press at approximately 75% 1 repetition maximum and 8 sets of 8 repetitions of knee extensions at approximately 80% 1 repetition maximum. L-[ring-2H5]phenylalanine was infused throughout the study for measurement of phenylalanine rates of appearance, disappearance, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown across the leg. Femoral arterial and venous blood samples were collected at rest and during exercise for determination of leg blood flow, concentrations of glucose, lactate, alanine, glutamine, glutamate, leucine, and phenylalanine, and phenylalanine enrichments. Muscle biopsies were obtained at rest and immediately after exercise. Leg blood flow was nearly three times (P <0.009) higher and glucose uptake more than five times higher (P=0.009) during exercise than at rest. Leg lactate release was 86 times higher than rest during the exercise bout. Although whole body phenylalanine rate of appearance, an indicator of whole body protein breakdown, was reduced during exercise; leg phenylalanine rate of appearance, rate of disappearance, protein synthesis, and protein breakdown did not change. Arterial and venous alanine concentrations and glutamate uptake were significantly higher during exercise than at rest. We conclude that lower body resistance exercise potently stimulates leg glucose uptake and lactate release. In addition, muscle protein synthesis is not elevated during a bout of resistance exercise.     

高产池塘混养鱼类相互关系及主体鱼资金投入产出模型的建立

应用灰色关联度分析法对顺德高产池塘的多品种混养鱼类关系进行分析,各种不同鱼类的放养对产量的关系为：鲮放养量对镛的净产量影响最大（Ｇ３４＝０．７９２１）,其次为草鱼放养对鲮的净产量影响（Ｇ１３＝０．７４１５）,最小为鲢的放养对草鱼的净产量关系（０．５９３２）。鲮的放养为优势母因子,鳙的收获为优势子因子。应用灰色动态模型ＧＭ（１,２）建模法建立了高产池塘主体鱼的产投关系模型,在该模型的基础上建立了系统     

Engineering synthetic signaling proteins with ultrasensitive input/output control

Many signaling proteins are built from simple, modular components, yet display highly complex signal-processing behavior. Here we explore how modular domains can be used to build an ultrasensitive switch--a nonlinear input/output function that is central to many complex biological behaviors. By systematically altering the number and affinity of modular autoinhibitory interactions, we show that we can predictably convert a simple linear signaling protein into an ultrasensitive switch.     

Leg skin temperature and thigh sweat output: possible central influence of local thermal inputs

To demonstrate whether or not the skin temperature of one lower limb can have an influence on the sweat rate of the contralateral leg, the two legs of five subjects were exposed inside leg-chambers to specific local thermal conditions while sweat rates were measured on both limbs. Three experiments (C I,II,III) of 3 h were carried out: each included two phases A and B. During A, the right leg was not ventilated, while the left leg was (C I) or was not (C II–III) ventilated. During B, the legs were either removed from the leg-chambers (C I) or ventilated inside the chambers at differently controlled levels of leg skin temperature (C II–III). At all times, sweat capsules on both legs measured the sweat rates of local areas of the thigh which were also temperature-controlled. Results showed that, at constant or slightly increased mean skin and core temperatures, the sweat output of one leg could be decreased at constant (C II) or higher local skin temperature (C III) probably due to a decrease in the temperature of the opposite leg. This finding is interpreted as a consequence of a central negative effect, originating from contralateral thermal inputs.     

Measures of transinformation for multiple input/single output neuronal systems

This paper presents a method for the calculation of the information transfer, or transinformation, in multiple input/single output neuronal systems. Our approach is an extension of an approach introduced by Eckhorn and Poepel in 1974. These authors computed the transinformation in single input/single output neuronal channels by regarding the spike (or stimulus) trains involved as finite Markov chains. The expressions for multiple input systems presented here are derived in close analogy to formulae in linear systems theory which show explicity the correlations between the different input channels. A number of equivalent forms for the transinformation are discussed.     

不同轮作制对农田生态系统中土壤硫攫取与归还途径的研究

研究了我国北方地区主要轮作制度下,土壤一植物生态系统中硫的主要输入(归还)与输出(攫取)途径．结果表明,在我国北方普遍推行的小麦-玉米轮作制中,作物收获物从土壤中攫取的硫素总量为每年26．4kg·hm^-2,由根系和植物其它残留物归还给土壤的硫素为每年6．8kg·hm^-2;在小麦．大豆轮作制中。作物收获物从土壤中攫取的硫素总量为每年24．4kg·hm^-2,对土壤的归还量为每年7．2kg·hm^-2;而在玉米-油菜轮作制中,收获物从土壤中攫取的硫量为每年45．4kg·hm^-2,归还给土壤的硫量为每年8．7kg·hm^-2;其它作物如棉花、高粱、花生、水稻种植一季通过收获物从土壤中带走的硫量分别为每年7．9、6．4、6．7和18．9kg·hm^-2。对土壤的归还量分别为每年2．6、1．8、4．3和5．6kg·hm^-2．通过对系统主要输入输出通量的估算,几种主要农田生态系统硫盈亏的状况计算结果说明,供试作物皆存在硫亏缺状况：小麦每年6kg·hm^-2、玉米8．5kg·hm^-2、油菜24kg·hm^-2、水稻7．1kg·hm^-2．     

Zeolites as supports for an enzymatic alcoholysis reaction

A recombinant cutinase from Fusarium solani pisi was immobilized by adsorption on several zeolites and its activity towards the alcoholysis reaction of butyl acetate with hexanol, in organic media (isooctane), was measured as a function of the water content and water activity. The effects of the zeolite framework composition (including cation nature) and acidity were studied. The results were compared with other commonly used supports: polyamide Accurel-PA6, silica and alumina. Both the nature of the cation and the silica:alumina (Si:Al) ratio of the framework revealed to be important parameters. The most promising results were obtained for supports with little acidity and with lower Si:Al ratio. This last observation is in accordance with the results obtained with silica and alumina.