Progress of 1D protein structure prediction at last

Accuracy of predicting protein secondary structure and solvent accessibility from sequence information has been improved significantly by using information contained in multiple sequence alignments as input to a neural 'network system. For the Asilomar meeting, predictions for 13 proteins were generated automatically using the publicly available prediction method PHD. The results confirm the estimate of 72% three-state prediction accuracy. The fairly accurate predictions of secondary structure segments made the tool useful as a starting point for modeling of higher dimensional aspects of protein structure. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

高邮杂交鲫（鲫♀×白鲫）及其亲本血清生化组成的比较研究

本文对高邮杂交鲫（鲫♀×白鲫♂）及其亲本血清生化组成的定量分析。结果表明,在测定的血清总蛋白、白蛋白、胆固醇、尿素氮、葡萄糖、乳酸脱氢酶、ａ－羟丁酸脱氢酶、ａ－淀粉酶和谷草转氨酶等九个生化指标中,大部分指标高邮杂交鲫与母本无显著差异,而与父本则有极显著差异。这从代谢方面论证了高邮杂交鲫是一个偏向于母本的杂交种。     

Biodegradation ofShorea robusta Gaertn. leaf litter and the cycling of minerals in a tropical sal forest

Summary Microbial degradation of the leaf litter ofShorea robusta Gaertn. was studied for a period of one year. The changes in the major litter constituents like sugar, starch, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin were analysed from the litter kept under the nylon bags, at a month's interval. Four major elements phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and calcium were also assessed monthly from the decaying litter and the soil. The role of microfungi in mineral cycling and loss of litter substrates have been correlated.     

A phylogenetic study of the free-living amoeba

Immunological distances were determined for four strains of the free-living amoeba classified as Amoeba proteus, two strains classified as Polychaos dubia and a single strain classified as Chaos carolinensis. The data show that the _ShP strain does not belong to the proteus group; that A. proteus is more closely related to C. carolinensis and is derived from Chaos as is the _ShP strain; that P. dubia and C. carolinensis are the more distantly related species and appear to be the first of the above to have diverged from a common ancestor; and that the amoebae have a long evolutionary history. The accuracy of the phylogenetic tree and the distance Wagner network was discussed. Since the amoebae may be polyphyletic in origin, the latter was assumed to be a more accurate representation of the immunological distance data.     

Effect of disulfiram on turnover of 5-hydroxytryptamine in rat brain.

Effect of disulfiram on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) turnover was studied. Treatment with disulfiram caused increases in 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in rat brain. Under the same condition, activity of brain mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase was reduced, however, supernatant aldehyde dehydrogenase and monoamine oxidase activities remained unchanged. Disulfiram had no effect on synthesis rate of 5-HT, but decreased metabolism of 5-HT. Moreover, disulfiram impaired transport of 5-HIAA from brain tissue.     

Physiological and biochemical contributions to the taxonomy of the genus prototheca

Five physiological and biochemical characters, which had proved to be valuable for the taxonomy of the genus Chlorella, were studied in the genus Prototheca. There is no hydrogenase activity and no liquefaction of gelatin. Most strains are very acidtolerant (limit of growth at pH 2.0 or 2.5) and very salt-tolerant (limit of growth at 4 or 5% NaCl). Two strains grow well at 38°C. The 16 strains, which were previously assigned to seven taxa, fall into four different groups. Our results tend to support the assumption that Prototheca might be related to Chlorella protothecoides.     

Spatial patterns in coupled biochemical oscillators

Summary The effects of diffusion on the dynamics of biochemical oscillators are investigated for general kinetic mechanisms and for a simplified model of glycolysis. When diffusion is sufficiently rapid a population of oscillators relaxes to a globally-synchronized oscillation, but when diffusion of one or more species is slow enough, the synchronized oscillation can be unstable and a nonuniform steady state or an asynchronous oscillation can arise. The significance of these results vis-a-vis models of contact inhibition and zonation patterns is discussed.     

Inheritance of three electrophoretically determined protein bands in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Summary A modified polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique is employed to resolve proteins for use as biochemical gene markers in potato. Dominant, duplicate dominant and complementary gene action are three modes of inheritance that adequately explain the segregation of three respective protein bands in two generations of crossing within diploid Phureja X haploid Tuberosum families.Scientific Journal Seires Article 10,171 of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station     

Hierarchical clustering of 54 races and strains of the mulberry silkworm,Bombyx mori L: Significance of biochemical parameters

Summary A detailed analysis was undertaken to test the efficacy of hierarchical agglomerative clustering (UPGMA method) in grouping the races and strains of the mulberry silkworm, Bombyx moti L., and to ascertain the importance of biochemical parameters in the clustering process. The analysis was based on data from two rearing seasons with 54 selected races/strains of different geographic origin and varying yield potentials. The results indicate that seven clusters can be realised with yield parameters alone, whereas the inclusion of biochemical parameters in clustering resulted into two broad groups: one having all the breeds with high cocoon weight and shell weight, the other having all the low-yielding silkworm strains both from India and from other countries. Further sub-grouping under these two groups highlights genetical differences associated with the differentiation of various groups of races in temperate and tropical areas as well as their significance for silkworm breeding. Estimates of all ten variables were further subjected to quick clustering and the results showed that cluster 5, constituted by 38 lowyielding strains of India, China and Europe, had the highest values of the final cluster centre for amylase and the effective rate of rearing (ERR), while clusters 1 and 4 had the highest values for invertase and alkaline phosphatase. The evolutionary aspect of the genetic channelisation of silkworm races from various countries is discussed against the background of differences in the biochemical parameters and yield variables.     

Cone penetrometer testing,hydropunch®, and borehole geophysics applications for environmental investigations

An effective groundwater monitoring system can be implemented by the combined utilization of cone penetrometer (CPT), HydroPunch^® sampling, and borehole geophysical methods. The combined techniques provide a cost‐effective method for the design of a groundwater monitoring system for geologists or hydrogeologists assessing a site. With the relatively high costs associated with determining groundwater quality for site assessments, coupled with regulatory agency compliance, these combined methods can provide an effective edge in an increasingly competitive environmental industry. CPT combined with HydroPunch sampling can delineate the horizontal and vertical extent and concentration of a contaminant plume, define the extent and thickness of a free product plume, define soil and aquifer characteristics, and aid in the proper selection of well location and screen placement. The use of borehole geophysics further enhances the interpretation provided from the CPT. The interpretation of borehole geophysics provides additional information about the deposition regime of the area of investigation and a more detailed investigation of the stratigraphy. The CPT and HydroPunch can be used in unconsolidated sediments, and HydroPunch sampling can be combined with a hollow‐stem auger system. Borehole geophysics can be run in almost any environment. CPT and borehole geophysics provide information on specific lithologic characteristics necessary to obtain a groundwater sample from vertically separated aquifers. The HydroPunch can obtain a discrete, chemically representative groundwater sample from the targeted aquifer. CPT and borehole geophysics can also be used to determine lithology and for correlation of equivalent stratas from one borehole or well to the next. Borehole geophysical interpretation also provides a means of determining not only the stratigraphy and lithology but also the aquifer parameters and the type of fluids in the aquifer. Hydrogeologic and geologic data obtained from using these three methods can be employed to maximize the cost‐effectiveness and design efficiency of a groundwater monitoring system. Proper location of wells and screened interval placements are determined by a coherent design process rather than by random chance. Two studies demonstrating the combined applications of CPT, HydroPunch, and borehole geophysics for the design and placement of groundwater monitoring wells are presented in the following discussion.