Human responses to high levels of carbon dioxide and air temperature

In this study, 30 subjects were exposed to different combinations of air temperature (T_a: 24, 27, and 30°C) and CO₂ level (8000, 10 000, and 12 000 ppm) in a high-humidity (RH: 85%) underground climate chamber. Subjective assessments, physiological responses, and cognitive performance were investigated. The results showed that as compared with exposure to T_a = 24°C, exposure to 30°C at all CO₂ levels caused subjects to feel uncomfortably warm and experience stronger odor intensity, while increased mental effort and greater intensity of acute health symptoms were reported. However, no significant effects of T_a on task performance or physiological responses were found. This indicated that subjects had to exert more effort to maintain their performance in an uncomfortably warm environment. Increasing CO₂ from 8000 to 12 000 ppm at all T_a caused subjects to report higher rates of headache, fatigue, agitation, and feeling depressed, although the results were statistically significant only at 24 and 27°C. The text typing performance and systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased significantly at this exposure, whereas diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and thermal discomfort increased significantly. These effects suggest higher arousal/stress. No significant interaction effect of T_a and CO₂ concentration on human responses was identified.     

Improving storability,physiological disorders,and antioxidant properties of ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d’Anjou’ pears (Pyrus communis L.) by pre-harvest 1-methylcyclopropene spraying

Ethylene continues to be a major factor influencing quality of European pears during storage. Although research has been done on the effect of pre-harvest 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on physiological characteristics in pears, a full understanding of cultivar response and antioxidant metabolism remains elusive. Spraying 1-MCP on ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d’Anjou’ pears was studied with respect to physiology, storage and eating quality, disorders, and antioxidant properties at two harvest date (H1 and H2) during storage and ripening. Treatment with 1-MCP extended the harvest window of ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d’Anjou’ pears 3 and 4 days, respectively, without reducing storage or eating quality. Treatment with 1-MCP reduced ethylene production (EPR) and respiration rates (RR), maintained fruit firmness and green colour during storage and retarded development of desirable melting texture in both cultivars. Additionally, 1-MCP lowered the incidence of disorders by alleviating membrane lipid peroxidation, retaining high total flavonoids (TF) and antioxidant capacity, and enhancing superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity in both cultivars. Overall, pre-harvest 1-MCP applications could extend storage time of ‘Bartlett’ and ‘d’Anjou’ pears to 5 and 6 months, respectively, at −1.1 ± 0.5 °C, by reducing ethylene synthesis and enhancing antioxidant metabolism.     

应用激光活化饵料藻种的研究

应用Nd:YAG激光(波长1.06μm,功率5w,照射时间0.5-3 min)和Ar+激光(波长488nm,功率70mw,照射时间5-15min)对长期保存的不同保存形式的塔胞藻(Pyramidomonassp.)进行辐照处理。研究了不同剂量激光辐照对藻体生长和叶绿素含量的影响。实验结果表明:照射剂量为60s的Nd:YAG激光及剂量为15min的Ar+激光对液体保存形式的藻种有较明显的促长效果,接种后这两种激光处理组的比生长速率分别较对照提高达53.33%和28.89%,叶绿素含量分别增加73.33%和65.69%。两种激光对液体保存藻种的活化效果均好于固体保存种。     

纳米技术在生物传感器中的应用

介绍了纳米技术在生物传感器中的应用，重点阐述当前发展方向的前沿。     

大蒜活性成分阿霍烯的研究概况

阿霍烯作为源自于大蒜的一种活性成分，较之蒜素更加稳定且不具有令人难以接受的蒜辣蒜臭气味，具有抗血栓形成，诱导肿瘤细胞调亡及抗菌消炎等特别的生理功效，是一种天然高效的活性成分。本文综述了近年来有关阿霍烯的生理功效，结构组成及形成机制等的研究概况。     

Neural components of social evaluation.

Evaluative responses appear to involve 2 seemingly distinct sets of processes: those that are automatically activated and others that are more consciously controlled. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, the authors investigated the brain systems associated with automatic and controlled evaluative processing. Participants made either evaluative (good-bad) or nonevaluative (past-present) judgments about famous names. Greater amygdala activity was observed for names rated as "bad" relative to those rated as "good," regardless of whether the task directly involved an evaluative judgment (good-bad) or not (past-present). Good-bad judgments resulted in greater medial and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity than past-present judgments. Furthermore, there was greater ventrolateral PFC activity in good-bad judgments marked by greater ambivalence. Together, these findings indicate a neural distinction between processes engaged for automatic and controlled evaluation. Whereas automatic processes are sensitive to simple valence, controlled processes are sensitive to attitudinal complexity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bisensors for amino acids

Two kinds of biosensors for amino acids (one with nonspecific enzyme as bioelement, the other with specific enzyme(s) as bioelement), including their principles, applications, recent researches and future trends were discussed in detail. 61 references were given. A part of work for gaining Ph. D in chemical and biochemical application at FPMs (Mons, Belgique) Synopsis of the first author Xia Jinlan, Male, born in 1963, now at Facult’e Polytechnique de Mons, Belgique     

Political orientation and modern versus aversive racism: Tests of Dovidio and Gaertner's (1998) integrated model.

According to J. F. Dovidio and S. L. Gaertner's (1998) integrated model of racism, politically liberal European Americans tend to express racism differently than conservative European Americans, with liberals demonstrating aversive racism and conservatives, symbolic or modern racism. In support of the model, in Experiment 1 liberals showed bias in favor of a twice-prosecuted African American relative to a European American in their judgment of double jeopardy, whereas conservatives did the reverse. Experiment 2 replicated these effects while eliminating a confound in the design of Experiment 1. Experiment 3 found evidence for the intrapsychic conflict hypothesized to underlie aversive racism. Specifically, only liberals displayed greater physiological arousal to the touch of an African American versus a European American experimenter. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Physiological deterioration of cassava roots

Rapid post-harvest physiological deterioration of cassava roots (Manihot esculenta Crantz) appears to be due essentially to wound responses, comparable to those observed in other plant storage organs. The wound responses observed include: increased activity of phenylalanine ammonia lyase, an enzyme associated with phenol biosynthesis; increased activity of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase; formation of phenols/polyphenols including leucoanthocyanidins, catechins, sco-poletin and condensed tannins, and often the formation of a wound periderm. In cassava, the responses did not remain localised at wound surfaces in roots when held at low storage humidity but spread through the roots causing a discolouration of the vascular tissue and storage parenchyma. Roots stored at high humidity showed a more typical wound response with localised production of phenols and periderm formation.     

éditorial.

This issue begins with an invited paper by Ronald Melzack, continuing the "Distinguished Contribution Series" begun in 1990 by my predecessor, Gordon Winocur. Professor Melzack is known world-wide for his research on pain. In 1965, together with Patrick Wall, he proposed the gate control theory, an entirely new conception of pain. For the first time, there was an explicit physiological model emphasizing the role played by the brain as well as by the spinal cord, leading to a new integration of psychological and physiological contributions to pain, as well as to new avenues for the control of pain. This theory has been highly influential, as a quick look in virtually any textbook in biology or medicine will confirm. Professor Melzack's continuing development of his ideas is presented with remarkable clarity in his books and in his many journal articles. It is, therefore, especially exciting for CJEP to be the first to publish a sketch of his new neuromatrix theory. When the book developing this theory is published, it too will no doubt have an immediate and major impact. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)