Olfactory metacognition

The current paper focuses on the subjective knowledge people have about their ability to name odors. Previous investigations of such metacognitive aspects of olfactory cognition are very scarce and have yielded results that need further scrutiny. In two experiments, we investigated three metamemory judgments about odor identity. As opposed to previous findings, participants' feeling of knowing judgments about odor identity predicted later recognition. Participants were also accurate but highly overconfident in their retrospective confidence in odor identification. A strong and imminent feeling of being able to name an odor, a so-called 'tip of the nose' experience, was found to predict later recall, but was otherwise poorly related to any partial activation of the odor name or other information associated with the odor. This makes it different from the commonly investigated 'tip of the tongue' phenomenon. The current study shows that olfactory metamemory is related to actual knowledge, a finding that is in line with what has been observed for other modalities.     

Demographic and cognitive predictors of cued odor identification: evidence from a population-based study

This study investigated demographic and cognitive correlates of cued odor identification in a population-based sample from the Betula project: 1906 healthy adults varying in age from 45 to 90 years were assessed in a number of tasks tapping various cognitive domains, including cognitive speed, semantic memory and executive functioning. The results revealed a gradual and linear deterioration in cued odor identification across the adult life span. Overall, females identified more odors than men, although men and women performed at the same level in the oldest age cohort (85-90 years). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that age, sex, education, cognitive speed and vocabulary were reliable correlates of performance in the odor identification task. In addition, age-related deficits in the included demographic and cognitive variables could not fully account for the observed age-related impairment in identification, suggesting that additional factors are underlying the observed deterioration. Likely candidates here are sensory abilities such as olfactory detection and discrimination.     

Sniff magnitude test: relationship to odor identification, detection, and memory tests in a clinic population

Recently a novel measure of olfactory function, the Sniff Magnitude Test (SMT), was developed that relies on changes in inhalation in response to an odor. The relationship of this unique test to that of other olfactory tests has received little investigation. In this study, we assessed, in 132 patients presenting to a chemosensory disorders clinic, the relationship of SMT scores to those from 3 standardized psychophysical tests: the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT), a phenyl ethyl alcohol odor detection threshold test, and a short-term odor memory/discrimination test. SMT scores were roughly related to olfactory dysfunction categories defined for the UPSIT and correlated moderately with the other tests. Malodors (1% and 3% methylthiobutyrate [MTB], 1% ethyl 3-mercaptoproprionate) exhibited stronger correlations than nonmalodors (3% phenyl ethyl alcohol [PEA], 3% amyl acetate, 3% n-butanol) and elicited greater sniff suppression. In a principal component analysis, the SMT measures loaded on components different from those of the other tests, which loaded on a separate component. Anticipatory responses (i.e., smaller sniffs) occurred across trials for the first malodor (1% MTB), but not for the first nonmalodor (3% PEA), that was encountered. These results, along with those of an earlier factor analysis, suggest that sniff magnitude is influenced by odorant quality and intensity, as well as by cognitive factors.     

多育赛多孢菌性鼻窦炎1例——致病菌的鉴定和体外抗真菌药物敏感性研究

目的报告国内首例多育赛多孢菌致鼻窦炎,并探讨致病菌的鉴定及其对抗真菌药物体外敏感性。方法取患者左侧上颌窦分泌物进行真菌培养和形态学鉴定,分离菌株β-球蛋白、rDNAITS序列分析确切鉴定,对分离菌进行7种抗真菌药体外药敏试验。结果根据菌株的形态学特点和基因序列结果鉴定为多育赛多孢菌。体外药敏试验显示该菌对7种抗真菌药物耐药。结论多育赛多孢菌所致的真菌病较少见,其确切鉴定靠形态学特征和基因分析。该菌株对多种抗真菌药物耐药。     

土鳖虫与其混淆品的微性状鉴别研究

为对目前药材市场流通的中药材土鳖虫进行微性状特征研究,探究土鳖虫与其混淆品的区别。实验通过查阅资料,对市场土鳖虫品种进行调查,运用中药微性状鉴定法对土鳖虫的不同部位采用体视显微镜、生物显微镜、扫描仪等仪器进行图像采集,并利用Photoshop CS5软件景深合成高清晰度微性状特征图片来对其进行鉴别研究。实验结果表明,土鳖虫口器、腹背板边缘、肛上板、生殖板、触角、单眼间距与复眼间距比例、单眼、复眼、前足胫节、跗节、爪、尾须、背甲及腹甲刚毛等方面与混淆品有比较明显的区别。     

高效净水细菌的分离鉴定及其净水能力分析

[目的]分离筛选获得能高效净化污水的净化细菌。[方法]利用氨氮降解筛选培养基对某污水处理厂的活性污泥进行净水细菌的分离筛选,并研究分离菌株对污水有机质、氨态氮、总磷与总氮含量的去除效果以及药敏性分析。[结果]比较去除效果,获得了1株最高效的净水细菌,该菌株对污水有机质、氨态氮、总氮与总磷均具有较强的净化效果,其去除率分别达58. 90%、65. 45%、51. 91%和35. 00%。结合菌落形态特征观察、生理生化分析及分子鉴定,鉴定该菌株为暹罗芽胞杆菌(Bacillus siamensis)。该菌株对7种常见抗生素均具有一定敏感性,其中对氨苄青霉素最敏感,卡那霉素次之,对庆大霉素最不敏感。[结论]分离筛选获得1株能高效净化污水的暹罗芽胞杆菌,对常见抗生素具有一定敏感性。     

Woodlands at the edge: A European perspective on the Atlantic Oakwood Plant Communities

Summary

The Atlantic Oakwoods can be seen as ‘at the edge’ in two ways. First, they lie at the extreme oceanic end of a series of Quercus robur and Q. petraea woodlands which stretches eastwards from the North Atlantic coast to the continental heartland of Europe. Second, they are at the northern limit of a range of oceanic oakwoods which extends southwards to Iberia where Q. pyrenaica is an important canopy companion. This paper outlines the main variations in trees, shrubs, herbs and cryptogams that can be seen along these two climatic gradients, so as to highlight what is truly distinctive about the Atlantic Oakwoods and how we might rightly value them.     

Bacterial and archaeal globins — A revised perspective

A bioinformatics survey of putative globins in over 2200 bacterial and some 140 archaeal genomes revealed that over half the bacterial and approximately one fifth of archaeal genomes contain genes encoding globins that were classified into three families: the M (myoglobin-like), and S (sensor) families all exhibiting the canonical 3/3 myoglobin fold, and the T family (truncated myoglobin fold). Although the M family comprises 2 subfamilies, flavohemoglobins (FHbs) and single domain globins (SDgbs), the S family encompasses chimeric globin-coupled sensors (GCSs), single domain Pgbs (protoglobins) and SSDgbs (sensor single domain globins). The T family comprises three classes TrHb1s, TrHb2s and TrHb3s, characterized by the abbreviated 2/2 myoglobin fold. The Archaea contain only Pgbs, GCSs and TrHb1s. The smallest globin-bearing genomes are the streamlined genomes (~ 1.3 Mbp) of the SAR11 clade of alphaproteobacteria and the slightly larger (ca. 1.7 Mbp) genomes of Aquificae. The smallest genome with members of all three families is the 2.3 Mbp genome of the extremophile Methylacidiphilum infernorum (Verrumicrobia). Of the 147 possible combinations of the eight globin subfamilies, only 83 are observed. Although binary combinations are infrequent and ternary combinations are rare, the FHb + TrHb2 combination is the most commonly observed. Of the possible functions of bacterial globins we discuss the two principal ones — nitric oxide detoxification via the NO dioxygenase or denitrosylase activities and the sensing of oxygen concentration in the environmental niche. In only few cases has a physiological role been demonstrated in vivo. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Oxygen Binding and Sensing Proteins.     

一株耐受低pH、高浓度硒菌株的筛选鉴定及两阶段pH调控高效除硒的研究

通过酸性含硒平板和摇瓶筛选出一株对低pH、高浓度硒有很好耐受性的菌株Y1,通过菌落形态特征分析和26S rDNA测序,鉴定该菌株为Pichia kudriavzevii,多抗性实验结果显示该菌是一株多重耐受性毕赤酵母。通过摇瓶实验研究了温度、接种量、摇床转速、pH对菌株除硒性能的影响,结果显示当温度为25℃,接种量为12%(v/v),摇床转速为250 r/min,pH为3.0时,菌株对硒的去除率最高为58.3%。基于不同pH发酵过程中菌体生物量及富硒量的不同表现:pH 3.0时生物量最高,pH 5.0时富硒量最高,提出两阶段pH调控策略:发酵0 h~14 h将pH控制在3.0,14 h~28 h将pH控制在5.0,最终除硒率可达78.6%,分别比pH恒定在3.0及5.0条件下提高了15.4%和21.7%。     

Peptide microarrays for detailed, high-throughput substrate identification, kinetic characterization, and inhibition studies on protein kinase A

A microarray-based mix-and-measure, nonradioactive multiplex method with real-time detection was used for substrate identification, assay development, assay optimisation, and kinetic characterization of protein kinase A (PKA). The peptide arrays included either up to 140 serine/threonine-containing peptides or a concentration series of a smaller number of peptides. In comparison with existing singleplex assays, data quality was high, variation in assay conditions and reagent consumption were reduced considerably, and assay development could be accelerated because phosphorylation kinetics were monitored simultaneously on 4, 12, or 96 arrays. PKA was shown to phosphorylate many peptides containing known PKA phosphorylation sites as well as some new substrates. The kinetic behavior of the enzyme and the mechanism of inhibition by AMP-PNP, staurosporin, and PKA inhibitor peptide on the peptide microarray correlated well with data from homogeneous assays. Using this multiplex setup, we showed that the kinetic parameters of PKA and the potency of PKA inhibitors can be affected by the sequence of the peptide substrate. The technology enables kinetic monitoring of kinase activity in a multiplex setting such as a cell or tissue lysate. Finally, this high-throughput method allows fast identification of peptide substrates for serine/threonine kinases that are still uncharacterized.     

A large scale survey of Populus nigra presence and genetic introgression from non-native poplars in Switzerland based on molecular identification

Populus nigra is considered a rare and threatened tree species in Switzerland because of dramatic habitat loss owing to river regulations during the last two centuries and because of potential gene introgression from non-indigenous P. deltoides through planted P. x canadensis hybrids. The significance of introgression as an endangerment to P. nigra, however, is controversial. The aims of the present study were (1) to assess how abundant P. nigra trees are in Switzerland and (2) to assess potential gene introgression. We present data from a molecular survey of 1372 putative P. nigra trees from Switzerland, using both chloroplast DNA and nuclear DNA markers. The results show that P. nigra is more abundant in Switzerland than hitherto thought. Furthermore, we detected a low frequency of gene introgression.     

A strategy for high-resolution protein identification in surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: calgranulin A and chaperonin 10 as protein markers for endometrial carcinoma

Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (SELDI-MS) has conventionally been practiced on linear time of flight (TOF) which has low mass accuracy and resolution. Here we demonstrate in an examination of both malignant and nonmalignant endometrial tissue homogenates that high mass accuracy and resolution in the MS stage are crucial. Using a commercially available quadrupole/TOF (QqTOF), we were able to resolve two potential cancer markers, subsequently identified off-line as chaperonin 10 and calgranulin A, that differ by 8 Da in mass. Two off-line protein identification protocols were developed: the first was based on size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), protein extraction, trypsin digestion, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-tandem MS (MALDI-MS/MS); the second on SEC and shotgun nano-liquid chromatography (nanoLC)-MS/MS. Analyses on a cohort of 44 endometrial homogenates showed 22 out of 23 nonmalignant samples had nondetectable to very low abundance of chaperonin 10 and calgranulin A; 17 of the 21 malignant samples had detectable to abundant levels of both proteins. Immunohistochemical staining of a tissue microarray of 32 samples showed that approximately half of malignant endometrial tissues exhibited positive staining for calgranulin A in the malignant epithelium, while 9 out of 10 benign tissues exhibited negative epithelial staining. In addition, macrophages/granulocytes in malignant as well as nonmalignant tissues showed positive staining. No immunostaining occurred in stroma or myometrium. Calgranulin A, in combination with chaperonin 10 and other proteins, may eventually constitute a panel of markers to permit diagnosis and screening of endometrial cancer.     

A quantitative structure activity analysis on the relative sensitivity of the olfactory and the nasal trigeminal chemosensory systems

We have applied a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) approach to analyze the chemical parameters that determine the relative sensitivity of olfaction and nasal chemesthesis to a common set of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We used previously reported data on odor detection thresholds (ODTs) and nasal pungency thresholds (NPTs) from 64 VOCs belonging to 7 chemical series (acetate esters, carboxylic acids, alcohols, aliphatic aldehydes, alkylbenzenes, ketones, and terpenes). The analysis tested whether NPTs could be used to separate out "selective" chemosensory effects (i.e., those resting on the transfer of VOCs from the gas phase to the receptor phase) from "specific" chemosensory effects in ODTs. Previous work showed that selective effects overwhelmingly dominate chemesthetic potency whereas both selective and specific effects control olfactory potency. We conclude that it is indeed possible to use NPTs to separate out selective from specific effects in ODTs. Among the series studied, aldehydes and acids, except for formic acid, show clear specific effects in their olfactory potency. Furthermore, for VOCs whose odor potency rests mainly on selective effects, we have developed a QSAR equation that can predict their ODTs based on their NPTs.     

我国代表地区须癣毛癣菌复合体的分子鉴定与分型研究

目的对我国代表地区的须癣毛癣菌菌株进行分子再鉴定和分型研究。方法选取我国南北方8个省市地区经表型鉴定的须癣毛癣菌菌株47株,通过再培养形态观察、生理试验;PCR扩增核糖体DNA(rDNA)的内转录间隔区(ITS)和核糖体大亚基(LSU)D1-D2区,测序后利用数据库进行序列比对,对须癣毛癣菌复合体进行再鉴定;PCR扩增rDNA非转录间隔区(NTS)的三个串联重复亚单位S0、S1和S2区,进行种内分型,并比较不同部位来源菌株型别的差异性。结果我国南北方8个省市地区47株须癣毛癣菌中3株鉴定为断发毛癣菌,6株鉴定为无性型苯海姆节皮菌,其余均鉴定为万博节皮菌中的亲人型趾间毛癣菌;三对不同引物扩增38株趾间型毛癣菌和2株苯海姆节皮菌NTS区,共产生28种特征性带型。带型和菌株来源及发生部位无相关性。结论我国分离自人类须癣毛癣菌复合体的主要组成菌种为趾间毛癣菌;ITS区结合LSU D1-D2区测序有助于鉴定须癣毛癣菌复合体至种水平;NTS区的三个串联重复亚单位所产生的特征性指纹图提供了一种快速、稳定的分子生物学种内分型方法,可应用于趾间毛癣菌感染的流行病学研究。     

A world-wide perspective on crucifer speciation and evolution: phylogenetics,biogeography and trait evolution in tribe Arabideae

Background and Aims

Tribe Arabideae are the most species-rich monophyletic lineage in Brassicaceae. More than 500 species are distributed in the majority of mountain and alpine regions worldwide. This study provides the first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis for the species assemblage and tests for association of trait and characters, providing the first explanations for the enormous species radiation since the mid Miocene.

Methods

Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence variation of nuclear encoded loci and plastid DNA are used to unravel a reliable phylogenetic tree. Trait and ancestral area reconstructions were performed and lineage-specific diversification rates were calculated to explain various radiations in the last 15 Myr in space and time.

Key Results

A well-resolved phylogenetic tree demonstrates the paraphyly of the genus Arabis and a new systematic concept is established. Initially, multiple radiations involved a split between lowland annuals and mountain/alpine perennial sister species. Subsequently, increased speciation rates occur in the perennial lineages. The centre of origin of tribe Arabideae is most likely the Irano-Turanian region from which the various clades colonized the temperate mountain and alpine regions of the world.

Conclusions

Mid Miocene early diversification started with increased speciation rates due to the emergence of various annual lineages. Subsequent radiations were mostly driven by diversification within perennial species during the Pliocene, but increased speciation rates also occurred during that epoch. Taxonomic concepts in Arabis are still in need of a major taxonomic revision to define monophyletic groups.     

MPO和CD24在食管癌组织中的表达及相关性研究

目的：探讨MPO和CD24在食管癌组织中的表达及其意义。方法：通过免疫组织化学染色法检测食管癌组织及Barrett食管组织中MPO和CD24的表达及其相互关系。结果：MPO和CD24阳性表达在食管癌组织中为（80.39%,45.09%）,均显著性高于Barrett食管组织（62.74%,14.28%）,其差异有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。MPO和CD24在食管癌组织中表达有正相关性（r=0.29,P〈0.05）。结论：MPO和CD24可能参与了食管癌的启动及发生过程,在食管癌的发生、发展和转移过程中起着重要作用。     

Conformational studies on the gramicidin A transmembrane channel in lipid micelles and liposomes

The interaction of gramicidin A with lysolecithin micelles and with lecithin liposomes is demonstrated by circular dichroism to result in several metastable conformational states. A stable state can be obtained after extensive heating when the gramicidin A was added dry or in ethanol solution to the phospholipid dispersion but the stable state is readily obtained when gramicidin A is added in a trifluoroethanol solution. The circular dichroism of the stable conformational state is characterized by negative ellipticity below 205 nm and principally by a positive 220 nm band on which is superposed a weak 230 nm band (the latter likely arising from tryptophan side chains). The stable conformational state is considered to be that of the functional transmembrane channel primarily on the basis of extensive studies on its interaction with sodium ions.     

转录因子AP-2beta和p53蛋白相互作用的研究

转录因子p53与AP-2基因家族成员AP-2beta发生突变后,均会导致个体出现相应的疾病。本文首先利用两个重组质粒p CMV-HA-p53和p Myc-AP-2beta,转染永生化的胚胎肾细胞HEK293(野生型),在细胞中表达相应蛋白质。通过免疫共沉淀实验证明AP-2beta和p53蛋白在体内可以相互作用。并将梯度增加的p MycAP-2beta质粒及等量p CMV-HA-p53质粒转染到HEK293细胞,SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳实验证明AP-2beta能正向调控p53蛋白的表达。为了进一步探讨AP-2beta与p53的作用机制,利用蛋白质合成抑制剂CHX(cycloheximide)处理转染了AP-2beta与p53表达质粒的细胞,实验结果说明,AP-2beta能增加p53蛋白的稳定性来调控p53的表达。     

Genome-wide identification of allele-specific effects on gene expression for single and multiple individuals

The analysis of allele-specific gene expression (ASE) is essential for the mapping of genetic variants that affect gene regulation, and for the identification of alleles that modify disease risk. Although RNA sequencing offers the opportunity to measure expression at allele levels, the availability of powerful statistical methods for mapping ASE in single or multiple individuals is limited. We developed a maximum likelihood model to characterize ASE in the human genome. Approximately 17% of genes displayed an allele-specific effect on gene expression in a single individual. Simulations using our model gave a better performance and improved robustness when compared with the binomial test, with different coverage levels, allelic expression fractions and random noise. In addition, our method can identify ASE in multiple individuals, with enhanced performance. This is helpful in understanding the mechanism of genetic regulation leading to expression changes, alternative splicing variants and even disease susceptibility.     

A Comparison Between Melanotic and Amelanotic Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells In Vitro Concerning the Effects of L-Dopa and Oxygen on Cell Cycle

Melanin precursors and free radicals, cytotoxic substances, are produced during melanin synthesis by tyrosinase. We compared these cytotoxic effects of L-dopa and oxygen on the cell cycle of melanotic retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells with amelanotic RPE cells because of the differences of tyrosinase activities between melanotic and amelanotic RPE cells. Flow cytometric DNA analysis of RPE cells exposed to L-dopa (100 μM and 250 μM) were conducted at several oxygen concentrations (20%, 10%, and 5%). The dose-dependent effect of L-dopa to arrest the cell cycle (the S phase) was more pronounced in melanotic than in amelanotic RPE cells, and oxygen caused arrest in the G₁ phase.