Interaction of music and emotional stimuli in modulating working memory in macaque monkeys

Background music is one of the most frequently encountered contextual factors that affect cognitive and emotional functions in humans. However, it is still unclear whether music induces similar effects in nonhuman primates. Answering this question might bring insight to the long‐lasting question regarding the ability of nonhuman primates in perceiving and dissociating music from other nonmusical acoustic information. In the present study, macaque monkeys were trained to perform a working memory task that required matching visual stimuli. These stimuli had different emotional content (neutral, negative, and positive). Monkeys performed the task within different background acoustic conditions (music, same‐intensity noise, and silence). We hypothesized that the auditory stimuli might interact with emotional information of visual stimuli and modulate monkeys’ performance. Furthermore, if the effects of music and noise on monkeys’ behavioral measures differ it would mean that monkeys perceived and processed music differently. We found that, monkeys committed more errors and were slower when they encountered stimuli with negative or positive emotional content. In the presence of music, the influence of emotional stimuli on monkeys’ performance significantly differed from those of the neutral stimuli, however, in the presence of noise, the effects of emotional stimuli on monkeys’ performance were not distinguishable. The dissociable effects of music and noise on monkeys’ performance show that the effects of emotional stimuli were dependent on the background acoustic conditions. Our findings indicate that background music and the same‐intensity noise were differentially perceived by monkeys and influenced their cognitive functions.     

The Footprints of Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Impairment in Arsenic Trioxide-Induced Testosterone Release Suppression in Pubertal and Mature F1-Male Balb/c Mice via the Downregulation of 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD,and CYP11a Expression

Biological Trace Element Research - Exposure to arsenic (AS) causes abnormalities in the reproductive system; however, the precise cellular pathway of AS toxicity on steroidogenesis in developing...     

A comparative study of the bispecific monoclonal antibody,blinatumomab expression in CHO cells and E. coli

Abstract

The “bispecifics” market improved over the past decade due to the development of many technological platforms including bispecific T cell engagers (BiTEs). The approval of blinatumomab, the most advanced bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) in clinical trials, can be a significant milestone in the development of bispecific antibodies. Both Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and E. coli strain are considered as the most widely used hosts for the large-scale production of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Since both of the economic and qualitative aspects of protein production are important in industry, selection of a suitable protein expression system is very critical. The BsAb gene was cloned into the expression vectors FC550A-1, pcDNA3.1 (+), and PET22b and 6?×?His-tagged BsAb then purified on a Ni-NTA chromatography column. Both SDS–PAGE and Western blotting analysis of the purified protein demonstrated that blinatumomab was successfully expressed as a 55?kDa in both expression systems. The antigen-binding properties of blinatumomab were compared in the mammalian system versus Escherichia coli. The results showed that the purified antibody from a mammalian expression system has better binding activity than the one from E. coli host.     

The effect of dimerization on the interaction of ibuprofen drug with calf thymus DNA: Molecularmodeling and spectroscopic investigation

The interaction between the dimer structure of ibuprofen drug (D-IB) and calf thymus DNA under simulative physiological conditions was investigated with the use of Hoechst 33258 and methylene blue dye as spectral probes by the methods of UV-visible absorption, fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy and molecular modeling study.Using the Job's plot, a single class of binding sites for theD-IB on DNA was put in evidence. The Stern–Volmer analysis of fluorescence quenching data shows the presence of both the static and dynamic quenching mechanisms. The binding constants, K_b were calculated at different temperatures, and the thermodynamic parameters ?G^°, ?H^° and ?S^° were given. The experimental results showed that D-IB molecules could bind with DNA via groove binding mode as evidenced by: I. DNA binding constant from spectrophotometric studies of the interaction of D-IB with DNA is comparable to groove binding drugs. II. Competitive fluorimetric studies with Hoechst 33258 have shown that D-IB exhibits the ability of this complex to displace with DNA-bounded Hoechst, indicating that it binds to DNA in strong competition with Hoechst for the groove binding. III. There is no significantly change in the absorption of the MB-DNA system upon adding the D-IB, indicates that MB molecules are not released from the DNA helix after addition of the D-IB and are indicative of a non-intercalative mode of binding. IV. Small changes in DNA viscosity in the presence of D-IB, indicating weak link to DNA, which is consistent with DNA groove binding. As well as, induced CD spectral changes, and the docking results revealed that groove mechanism is followed by D-IB to bind with DNA.     

In silico and in vivo analysis of signal peptides effect on recombinant glucose oxidase production in nonconventional yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis>

Signal peptide (SP) is an important factor and biobrick in the production and secretion of recombinant proteins. The aim of this study was in silico and in vivo analysis of SPs effect on the production of recombinant glucose oxidase (GOX) in Yarrowia lipolytica. Several in silico softwares, namely SignalP4, Signal-CF, Phobius, WolfPsort 0.2, SOLpro and ProtParam, were used to analyse the potential of 15 endogenous and exogenous SPs for the secretion of recombinant GOX in Y. lipolytica. According to in silico results, the SP of GOX was predicted as suitable in terms of high secretory potential and of protein solubility and stability which is chosen for in vivo analysis. The recombinant Y. lipolytica strain produced 280 U/L of extracellular GOX after 7 days in YPD medium. The results show that the SP of GOX can be applied to efficient production of extracellular heterologous proteins and metabolic engineering in Y. lipolytica.     

The impacts of Macleaya cordata extract and naringin inclusion in post-weaning piglet diets on performance,nutrient digestibility and intestinal histomorphology

The current study investigated the impacts of supplementation of post-weaning piglet diets with Macleaya cordata extract (MCE) and naringin (NAR) on performance, nutrient digestibility and intestinal histomorphology. Post-weaning crossbred piglets (28 males and 28 females; age at weaning 25 d) were randomly allotted to 28 pens. The experiment consisted of a control and three treatment groups (MCE60, MCE120 and NAR). For diets MCE60 and MCE120, the control diet was supplemented with 60 and 120 mg Sangrovit® Extra (a standardised premixture of MCE) per kg diet, respectively. Group NAR received 50 mg pure NAR per kg diet. The experiment lasted 42 d (d 25 – 66 of age). At d 66, apparent pre-caecal digestibility (APD) of nutrients was determined and histomorphological changes in mid-jejunum were evaluated. Feeding diets MCE120 and NAR improved body weight gain and feed conversion ratio of piglets. After feeding diets MCE120 and NAR, the APD of phosphorus and different single and total amino acids were greater than after feeding the control diet. The present data demonstrated that supplementation of post-weaning piglet diets with 120 mg MCE or 50 mg NAR per kg diet could improve growth performance and nutrient digestibility and had no impact on histomorphological variables in the jejunum. These findings indicate the potential of these products to be used as growth promoters in pig nutrition.     

Genomic organization and expression profile of the small GTPases of the RhoBTB family in human and mouse

Members of the RhoBTB subfamily of Rho GTPases are present in vertebrates, Drosophila and Dictyostelium. RhoBTB proteins are characterized by a modular organization, consisting of a GTPase (guanosine triphosphatase) domain, a proline rich region, a tandem of two BTB (Broad-Complex, Tramtrack, and Bric à brac) domains and a C-terminal region of unknown function and might act as docking points for multiple components participating in signal transduction cascades. We have determined the genomic organization and the expression pattern of the three RHOBTB genes of human and mouse. The exon-intron organization of each gene is conserved in three vertebrate species (human, mouse and Fugu). RHOBTB1 and RHOBTB2 have a similar exon-intron organization and are closely related to the single gene encoding the RhoBTB orthologs of two insect species. By contrast, the exon-intron organization of RHOBTB3 differed substantially from that of the two other genes, indicating that this gene arose by a duplication event independent of the one that gave rise to RHOBTB1 and RHOBTB2. RHOBTB1 (located on chromosome 10) and RHOBTB3 (located on chromosome 5) appear ubiquitously expressed. However, they display a differential pattern of expression: RHOBTB1 showed high levels in stomach, skeletal muscle, placenta, kidney and testis, whereas RHOBTB3 was highly expressed in neural and cardiac tissues, pancreas, placenta and testis. RHOBTB2 (located on chromosome 8) showed much lower levels of expression than the other two human RHOBTB genes and it was most abundant in neural tissues. The expression patterns of the human and mouse genes were roughly comparable. All three genes were also detected in fetal tissues, and in a number of cell lines RHOBTB3 predominates. RHOBTB genes are upregulated in some cancer cell lines, suggesting that these proteins might participate in tumorigenesis.     

The association of plasma levels of miR-146a,miR-27a,miR-34a,and miR-149 with coronary artery disease

Molecular Biology Reports - Coronary artery disease (CAD) is considered to be one of the most pivotal causes of death in the world. Over the past two decades, significant changes occurred in the...     

Position of the Physician’s Nametag - A Randomized,Blinded Trial

Background

The patient-physician relation begins when the physician introduces himself with name and function. Most institutions request a nametag with name and function to be worn. Although nametags are consequently worn, the optimal position for the nametag is unknown. It was the purpose of this study to identify whether positioning the nametag on the right or the left chest side provides better visibility to the patient.

Method and Material

One hundred volunteers, blinded to the experimental setup, presented for an orthopedic consultation in a standardized manner. The nametag of the physician was randomly positioned on the left chest side and presented to 50 individuals (age 35 years (range 17 to 83)) or the right chest side and then presented to 50 other individuals (35 years (range 16 to 59)). The time of the participant noticing the nametag was documented. Subsequently, the participant was questioned concerning the relevance of a nametag and verbal self-introduction of the physician.

Results

38% of the participants noticed the nametag on the right as opposed to 20% who noticed it if placed on the left upper chest (p = 0.0473). The mean time to detection was 9 (range 1–40) seconds for nametags on the right and 25.2 seconds (range 3 to 49, p = 0.006) on the left. For 87% of the participants, a nametag is expected and important and nearly all participants (96%) expected the physician to introduce himself verbally.

Conclusion

It is expected that a physician wears a nametag and introduce himself verbally at the first encounter. Positioning the nametag on the right chest side results in better and faster visibility.