A time-course study of the effect of sulphur on glucosinolates in oilseed rape (Brassica napus) from the vegetative stage to maturity

Samples consisting of the whole above-ground part of the oilseed rape plant (Brassica napus L), were taken every 2 weeks from before stem extension to maturity. The plants were separated into vegetative tissue, floral tissue, pods and seeds (when these components appeared), and the individual glucosinolates present were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography. A high glucosinolate variety (Rafal) and a low glucosinolate variety (Cobra) were compared. The effect of sulphur (32 kg ha^?1 elemental sulphur applied at the beginning of stem extension) on the various parts of the plant was investigated. Total glucosinolate concentration in all plant parts was higher in Rafal than in Cobra. Glucosinolate concentration in the vegetation declined over time, most noticeably when the flowers and seeds were produced, and glucosinolate concentration of the pods also fell as that of the seeds rose. It is suggested that there may have been some redistribution of glucosinolates or glucosinolate precursors within the plant as maturity approached. Changes occurred in the proportions that individual glucosinolates contributed to the total glucosinolate content, and this may be relevant to plant/pathogen relationships. Sulphur application increased the glucosinolate concentration of the vegetative tissue by mid April and also increased the glucosinolate concentration of the flowers. It is suggested that this could affect the plant's resistance to disease.     

Attention for emotional faces under restricted awareness revisited: Do emotional faces automatically attract attention?

Theoretical models of attention for affective information have assigned a special status to the cognitive processing of emotional facial expressions. One specific claim in this regard is that emotional faces automatically attract visual attention. In three experiments, the authors investigated attentional cueing by angry, happy, and neutral facial expressions that were presented under conditions of limited awareness. In these experiments, facial expressions were presented in a masked (14 ms or 34 ms, masked by a neutral face) and unmasked fashion (34 ms or 100 ms). Compared with trials containing neutral cues, delayed responding was found on trials with emotional cues in the unmasked, 100-ms condition, suggesting stronger allocation of cognitive resources to emotional faces. However, in both masked and unmasked conditions, the hypothesized cueing of visual attention to the location of emotional facial expression was not found. In contrary, attentional cueing by emotional faces was less strong compared with neutral faces in the unmasked, 100-ms condition. These data suggest that briefly presented emotional faces influence cognitive processing but do not automatically capture visual attention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Network-Based Predictions and Simulations by Biological State Space Models: Search for Drug Mode of Action

Since time-course microarray data are short but contain a large number of genes, most of statistical models should be extended so that they can handle such statistically irregular situations. We introduce biological state space models that are established as suitable computational models for constructing gene networks from microarray gene expression data. This chapter elucidates theory and methodology of our biological state space models together with some representative analyses including discovery of drug...     

Effect of Benzo(a)pyrene on Hepatic Biotransformation Activities: Time Course of Induction in Aquaculture European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The responses of phase I and phase II enzymes to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) exposure were characterized in liver of fish farm European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Treatment of sea bass with BaP by intraperitoneal injection produced a rapid putative MFO induction. Highest ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) and benzo(a)pyrene monooxygenase (BaPMO) activities were observed in microsomes 14–24 h after BaP injection. EROD was induced 14.5 fold, ECOD 3.9 and BaPMO 13 fold. Spectrophotometrically measured microsomal cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity were not induced by BaP injection, whereas a low increase in cytochrome b₅ level was observed (induction factor 1.6 fold). Induction of phase II enzyme activities was lower than that of phase I enzymes: microsomal uridine diphospho-glucuronyl transferase (UDPGT) and cytosolic glutathion-S-transferase (GST) were induced 3.9 and 1.5 fold, respectively. The results indicate that sea bass is a sensitive species with respect to exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, exhibiting early marked responses of phase I and phase II biotransformation enzymes. The species offers potential as a tool for both laboratory studies and pollution monitoring. In the latter context it could be employed in the fish farms that occur alongside coastal regions.     

Crossmodal semantic priming by naturalistic sounds and spoken words enhances visual sensitivity.

We propose a multisensory framework based on Glaser and Glaser's (1989) general reading-naming interference model to account for the semantic priming effect by naturalistic sounds and spoken words on visual picture sensitivity. Four experiments were designed to investigate two key issues: First, can auditory stimuli enhance visual sensitivity when the sound leads the picture as well as when they are presented simultaneously? And, second, do naturalistic sounds (e.g., a dog's “woofing”) and spoken words (e.g., /d?g/) elicit similar semantic priming effects? Here, we estimated participants' sensitivity and response criterion using signal detection theory in a picture detection task. The results demonstrate that naturalistic sounds enhanced visual sensitivity when the onset of the sounds led that of the picture by 346 ms (but not when the sounds led the pictures by 173 ms, nor when they were presented simultaneously, Experiments 1-3A). At the same SOA, however, spoken words did not induce semantic priming effects on visual detection sensitivity (Experiments 3B and 4A). When using a dual picture detection/identification task, both kinds of auditory stimulus induced a similar semantic priming effect (Experiment 4B). Therefore, we suggest that there needs to be sufficient processing time for the auditory stimulus to access its associated meaning to modulate visual perception. Besides, the interactions between pictures and the two types of sounds depend not only on their processing route to access semantic representations, but also on the response to be made to fulfill the requirements of the task. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of methylphenidate in the classroom: What dosage, for which children, for what problems?

In this study the authors conducted single-case analyses of the dosage and time-course effects of methylphenidate (MPH; Ritalin) on disruptive classroom behavior, math and reading performance, and social engagement. Clear individual differences were demonstrated (a) across children (aged 7 yrs) with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); (b) across academic, behavioral, and social domains of functioning; (c) for dose-response effects; and (d) in the onset and duration of effects. These results are in contrast to the majority of group studies that suggest a generally positive and linear dose-response effect for MPH across both children and domains of functioning. No particular dose-response relationship between disruptive behavior and academic performance was indicated. However, an increasing dosage of MPH was associated with increasing social withdrawal for 2 of the 3 participants. Implications for school-based medication evaluations and for designing optimal comprehensive interventions for children who receive MPH are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

基于AR模型的动态模糊聚类算法

与传统的硬划分聚类相比,模糊聚类算法(以FCM为例)对数据的比例变化具有鲁棒性,能够更准确地反映数据点与类中心的实际关系,目前已得到广泛应用.然而对于时序基因表达数据来说,传统的聚类算法往往不能充分利用到数据中时间上的动态关联信息.因此可以在模糊聚类算法的基础上引入自回归(AR)模型,将时序基因表达数据作为一组时间序列进行动态的聚类分析.这样不仅可以充分利用到时序基因表达数据的内部自相关性,并且可以进一步利用隶属度函数对AR模型的预测过程进行模糊化调整,从而得到更为理想的聚类结果.     

Blinded by headlights.

Abstract Target identification is impaired when targets are presented during the planning or execution of a compatible response (e.g., right-pointing arrow during a right keypress) relative to an incompatible response (J. Müsseler and B. Hommel, 1997 a, b). Examinations of this blindness to response-compatible stimuli have typically used arrowheads as targets. The importance of the target symbol was examined by manipulating subjects' (aged 18-30 yrs) interpretation of that symbol. Targets were presented at varying times during the planning or execution of a response in order to examine the time-course of the effect. Results showed that the interpretation, and not the physical identity, of the target was important for the blindness effect. Although the blindness effect was largest during the planning and execution of a response, it was not always confined to that temporal interval. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)