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At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Action observation and speech production: study on children and adults.

The present study aimed to determine whether observation of upper limb actions selectively influences speech production. We compared the effects on children with those on adults, hypothesizing that action observation is used by children for speech learning. Children and adults observed an actor either grasping a cherry or an apple, or bringing the same fruits to his mouth. They pronounced the syllable/ba/ at the end of the action. In a control experiment, children and adults executed the two bringing-to-the-mouth actions, still pronouncing/ba/. As previously found ([Euro. J. Neurosci., 17 (2003) 179]; [Euro. J. Neurosci., 19 (2004) 192]), the observed kinematics of the action, which were different according to the fruit size, influenced lip shaping kinematics and voice formants. In addition, the effect was selective for the action since the observations of actions such as grasping and bringing-to-the-mouth affected formant 1 and formant 2 in the voice spectra, respectively. The effects on speech were greater in the children than in the adults. By contrast, the effects on lip shaping did not differ between the two groups. Effects similar to those found for action observation were found for action execution in spite of a different arm kinematics between children and adults. The results of the present study are discussed according to the hypothesis that action observation induces in the viewer action recognition and activation of the successive mouth act (probably grasping-with-the-mouth when observing grasping-with-the-hand and chewing when observing bringing-to-the-mouth). This subsequently seems to affect characteristics peculiar to the emitted vowel. This mechanism might have been used by humans to transfer a primitive arm gesture communication system from the arm to the mouth and may be further used by children for speech learning.

Adult↗
PubMed1973

Genetic analysis of developmental stages of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium purpureum.

71 Mutants of Dictyostelium purpureum, unable to carry out normal development, were isolated. These mutants fall into three phenotypic classes. The mutants of the first class do not aggregate. Those of the second class develop a little further and form conical aggregates. The mutants of the third class progress still further, and the conical aggregates are transformed into finger-shaped masses, but no fruiting bodies are formed. Mutants of each class were able to form fruiting bodies when mixed with mutants of other classes. Pairs of mutants belonging to the same class, however, never responded synergistically. This result indicates the presence of three distinct developmental stages in the process of the fruiting-body formation. Experiments with actinomycin D suggested that genes controlling the developmental process of D. purpureum were divided into three groups which were identical to those identified by the analysis of synergism.

Dactinomycin↗
PubMed2006

Qualitative inheritance of rind pattern and flesh color in watermelon.

Watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai var. lanatus] is a diverse species, with fruits of different sizes, shapes, rind patterns, and flesh colors. This study measured the inheritance of novel rind phenotypes and verified the genetics of white, red, salmon yellow, and canary yellow flesh colors. For each of the 11 crosses, six generations (P(a)S1, P(b)S1, F1, F2, BC1P(a), and BC1P(b)) were produced to form 11 families. Three new genes were identified and designated as follows: Scr for the scarlet red flesh color of Dixielee and Red-N-Sweet, Yb for the yellow belly (ground spot) of Black Diamond Yellow Belly, and ins for the intermittent stripes of Navajo Sweet. The inheritance of the C gene for the canary yellow flesh color was verified as single dominant, and a new inbred type line was developed possessing that gene. Aberrations in the segregation of red, white, and salmon yellow flesh colors were recorded, raising questions on the inheritance of these traits. Finally, the spotted phenotype from Moon and Stars was combined with light green and gray rind patterns for the development of novel cultivars with distinctive rind patterns.

Breeding↗
PubMed2004

Sigma54 enhancer binding proteins and Myxococcus xanthus fruiting body development.

A search of the M1genome sequence, which includes 97% of the Myxococcus xanthus genes, identified 53 sequence homologs of sigma54-dependent enhancer binding proteins (EBPs). A DNA microarray was constructed from the M1genome that includes those homologs and 318 other M. xanthus genes for comparison. To screen the developmental program with this array, an RNA extract from growing cells was compared with one prepared from developing cells at 12 h. Previous reporter studies had shown that M. xanthus has initiated development and has begun to express many developmentally regulated genes by 12 h. The comparison revealed substantial increases in the expression levels of 11 transcription factors that may respond to environmental stimuli. Six of the 53 EBP homologs were expressed at significantly higher levels at 12 h of development than during growth. Three were previously unknown genes, and they were inactivated to look for effects on fruiting body development. One knockout mutant produced fruiting bodies of abnormal shape that depended on the composition of the medium.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1992

[Identification of medicinal gualou (fruit-rind of Trichosanthes) and its mixed fruits in Sichuan].

Our investigation shows that in Sichuan Province there are 7 species of medicinal gualou (fruid-rind of Trichosanthes) and its confused fruits (6 species of Trichosanthes and 1 species of Citrullus), among which 2 species are included in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The drug and its confused fruits are similar in shape. This paper emphatically deals with the tissue identification of the above mentioned 7 species.

Drug Contamination↗
PubMed1991

[Morphological and histological studies of Chinese traditional drug "hua jiao" (pericarpium zanthoxyli) and its allied drugs].

The Chinese traditional drug "Hua Jiao" specified in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 1990 edition is the dried pericarp of ripe fruit of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc. or Z. bungeanum Maxim., family Rutaceae. It has been used for epigastric pain accompanied by cold sensation, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain due to intestinal parasitosis, ascariasis and used externally for eczema. By the investigation of the drug resources in the main producing areas and distributing regions (Sichuan, Guangxi, Henan, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong Provinces or Autonomous Regions), we found that there are pericarps derived from more than 18 spp. of Zanthoxylum used as drugs in China. In this paper, the morphological and histological characters of crude drugs derived from the following 8 species, viz. Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim., Z. schinifolium Sieb. et Zucc., Z. armatum DC., Z. simulans Hance, Z. avicennae (Lam.) DC., Z. ailanthoides Sieb. et Zucc., Z. molle Rehd. and Z. nitidum (Roxb.). DC. were described with illustrations. It was discovered that such features as the external characters of pericarp, the occurrence of hairs on fruit stalk, the presence and location of pigment and crystals of hesperidin, the thickness of the cell walls of endocarp and the presence and shape of nonglandular hairs on fruit stalk were important for the identification of these drugs.

Medicine, Chinese Traditional↗
PubMed2003

Peroxisomes from pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.): purification, characterisation and antioxidant activity.

Pepper is a vegetable of importance in human nutrition. Currently, one of the most interesting properties of natural products is their antioxidant content. In this work, the purification and characterisation of peroxisomes from fruits of a higher plant was carried out, and their antioxidative enzymatic and non-enzymatic content was investigated. Green and red pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L., type Lamuyo) were used in this study. The analysis by electron microscopy showed that peroxisomes from both types of fruits contained crystalline cores which varied in shape and size, and the presence of chloroplasts and chromoplasts in green and red pepper fruits, respectively, was confirmed. Peroxisomes were purified by differential and sucrose density-gradient centrifugations. In the peroxisomal fractions, the activity of the photorespiration, beta-oxidation and glyoxylate cycle enzymes, and the ROS-related enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, xanthine oxidase, glutathione reductase and NADP(+)-dehydrogenases, was determined. Most enzymes studied had higher specific activity and protein content in green than in red fruits. By native PAGE and western blot analysis, the localisation of a Mn-SOD in fruit peroxisomes was demonstrated. The ascorbate and glutathione levels were also determined in crude extracts and in peroxisomes purified from both green and red peppers. The total ascorbate content (200-220 mg per 100 g FW) was similar in crude extracts from the two types of fruits, but higher in peroxisomes from red peppers. The glutathione concentration was 2-fold greater in green pepper crude extracts than in red fruits, whereas peroxisomes from both tissues showed similar values. The presence in pepper peroxisomes of different antioxidative enzymes and their corresponding metabolites implies that these organelles might be an important pool of antioxidants in fruit cells, where these enzymes could also act as modulators of signal molecules (O2*-, H202) during fruit maturation.

Antioxidants↗
PubMed2001

Fruits, foliage and the evolution of primate colour vision.

Primates are apparently unique amongst the mammals in possessing trichromatic colour vision. However, not all primates are trichromatic. Amongst the haplorhine (higher) primates, the catarrhines possess uniformly trichromatic colour vision, whereas most of the platyrrhine species exhibit polymorphic colour vision, with a variety of dichromatic and trichromatic phenotypes within the population. It has been suggested that trichromacy in primates and the reflectance functions of certain tropical fruits are aspects of a coevolved seed-dispersal system: primate colour vision has been shaped by the need to find coloured fruits amongst foliage, and the fruits themselves have evolved to be salient to primates and so secure dissemination of their seeds. We review the evidence for and against this hypothesis and we report an empirical test: we show that the spectral positioning of the cone pigments found in trichromatic South American primates is well matched to the task of detecting fruits against a background of leaves. We further report that particular trichromatic platyrrhine phenotypes may be better suited than others to foraging for particular fruits under particular conditions of illumination; and we discuss possible explanations for the maintenance of polymorphic colour vision amongst the platyrrhines.

Animals↗
PubMed2025

Tm-1 back in business: an allele from Solanum pennellii accessions plays a major role in ToBRFV resistance.

The Tm-1 allele from Solanum pennellii accessions together with an additional, likely recessive, locus are required for complete ToBRFV resistance. The Tobamovirus Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) poses a significant threat to global tomato production. ToBRFV is a mechanically transmitted virus containing a single-stranded positive sense RNA genome. Disease symptoms include brown, rough patches on fruit surfaces, leaf mosaicism and shape abnormalities, and, in advanced stages, total collapse of infected plants. ToBRFV was first detected in the Middle East in 2014 and has rapidly spread to multiple countries across Asia, Europe, and America. In recent years, numerous studies have focused on the identification of ToBRFV resistance traits that are suitable for tomato breeding programs. In this study, we identified five ToBRFV-resistant accessions of Solanum pennellii, a wild relative of cultivated tomato. We confirmed that the major gene controlling this resistance trait is the S. pennellii allele of Tm-1. Tm-1 was previously identified in S. habrochaites as a semidominant Tomato Mosaic Virus (ToMV) resistance gene. Our results show that full resistance to ToBRFV disease requires an additional undescribed locus. These results show the potential of S. pennellii as a novel source of resistance against ToBRFV.

Disease Resistance↗
PubMed2006

Interval mapping for loci affecting unordered categorical traits.

Many traits including shapes and colors of flowers, fruits and seeds in plants, as well as coat colors and some behavioral properties in animals, are recorded in discrete categories. If categories are ordered, genetic analyses of the categorical traits are often performed using the threshold model, which considers a latent continuous variable, called the liability, underlying a trait and assumes the monotonic relationship between the phenotype and the liability. In some categorical traits, however, descriptions of phenotypes are purely nominal and the phenotypic scores cannot be ordered. The threshold model is unreasonable for the analyses of such unordered categorical traits. In this study, we developed a method for interval mapping of loci affecting unordered categorical traits with more than two categories. The probability of the phenotype of an individual falling in each of the categories was expressed by a polychotomous logistic model, in which the log-odds for each category relative to the reference category were assumed to follow a linear model including genotype at a locus affecting a trait as covariate. Based on the model, the interval mapping using a maximum likelihood method was devised for the analysis of complex categorical traits described with unordered categories. We confined ourselves to the case of F2 populations derived from a cross between two inbred lines, although this approach can easily be extended to the analyses for other populations of general structures. As results of analyses of simulated data show, the method showed high efficiency in detecting the loci affecting unordered categorical traits.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Morphologies and phylogenetic classification of cellulolytic myxobacteria.

The evolutionary distances of the 16S rDNA sequences in cellulolytic myxobacteria are less than 3%, which units all the strains into a single genus, Sorangium. The size of myxospores and the shape of sporangioles, rather than fruiting body colors or swarm morphologies are consistent with the changes of the 16S rDNA sequences. It is suggested that there are at least two species in the genus Sorangium: one includes strains with small myxospores and spherical sporangioles, and the color of the fruiting bodies is normally orange or brown, though sometimes yellow or black. The second species has large myxospores, polyhedral sporangioles with many inter-cystic substrates, and normally deep brown to black color.

Cellulose↗
PubMed1981

Field recognition of eastern poison oak: with emphasis on plants in Alabama.

Eastern poison oak, Toxicodendron toxicarium, is a nonclimbing shrub whose leaves have three leaflets. The leaflets with their numerous round lobes resemble somewhat the leaves of some oaks in the white oak groups. The plant grows in nutritionally poor, sandy soil, and especially in dry pine-oak woodland. Deposits resembling black enamel paint can often be seen where plants have been injured. During winter, the U- or V-shaped leaf scars, the naked fruit stalks in female plants, and the sparse upright branches all aid in recognition. Other features can be useful in spring and fall. While poison oak and poison ivy are so closely related that the sensitivity of individuals and resulting dermatitis are not markedly different, accurate recognition is important in avoiding contact.

Alabama↗
PubMed2000

[Morphometric and cytogenetic characteristics of haploid tomato plants].

Stable differences have been found between haploid and diploid Mikado tomato plants with respect to quantitative characteristics of their vegetative and generative organs, whereas these plants were phenotypically similar with respect to qualitative characteristics, such as the bush habitus and the shapes of leaves, flowers, and fruit. A simple indirect method based on counting the chloroplasts in guard cells has been suggested to diagnose haploids. Analysis of meiosis during microspore formation in haploids has revealed considerable anomalies leading to heterogeneity and a high sterility rate of pollen, which has been confirmed by differences in DNA content. The data obtained suggest that formation of fertile gametes is accounted for by the absence of reduction division. It has been hypothesized that meiosis in haploids induces the genotypic variation that is subject to selection.

Cytogenetics↗
PubMed2003

Food procurement and tooth use in two sympatric lemur species.

This study of two lemur species (Lemur catta and Propithecus v. verreauxi) in Madagascar combines observations of food procurement and initial food placement in the mouth with comparisons to food toughness and external properties. Food toughness was hypothesized to play a decisive role in determining food placement during ingestion. It was found that tougher foods are generally ingested on the postcanines for all foods eaten. However, when leaves and fruits are analyzed separately, food size and shape, represented here by mass and food type, are more reliable predictors of initial food placement. Larger leaves and bulkier fruits and stalks are ingested posteriorly. Leaf toughness is not related to leaf size, though the toughness and size of the most commonly eaten fruits are correlated. Furthermore, ingestive food toughness, which is the maximum toughness, and "average" food toughness may make different mechanical demands on the masticatory apparatus that have consequences for jaw morphology.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Evolution of mutualism between globeflowers and their pollinating flies.

Plant/seed-eater pollinators mutualisms involve a plant pollinated by an insect whose larvae develop by eating a fraction of host-plant seeds. The outcome of the interaction therefore depends on the number of ovules fertilized by adult visits and the number of seeds destroyed by larvae. Among the very few cases of such mutualisms reported so far is the globeflower-globeflower flies mutualism, which is unique in that it involves several congeneric fly species (Chiastocheta genus) coexisting within a single host-plant species, Trollius europaeus. These species exhibit contrasted oviposition behaviors resulting in a more or less beneficial outcome for the plant. We designed an adaptive dynamics model to investigate how morphological traits of globeflower could affect the evolution of oviposition in its pollinating flies. Three fly traits (flower age at oviposition, clutch size and the level of avoidance of already parasitized flowers) and one plant trait (closed or open corolla) were examined. Whatever the shape of the flower, evolutionary branching occurs between early and late ovipositing flies, driven by strong competition among larvae within a fruit. Once this branching occurred, the closed shape of the corolla is likely to offer a better protection to eggs of early but not of late ovipositing flies. The difference in egg survival results in higher competition among early larvae and thus selects for decreased clutch size in early flies. This can be seen as a first step in the evolution of a mutualistic behavior. The prediction of our model fits field observations of fly behavior, giving theoretical support to the hypothesis of fly sympatric speciation within its host plant. Moreover, flower closed globe shape can be positively selected in globeflowers as it results in a reduction of parasitism strength. This last evolution therefore leads to a stable mutualism between globeflowers and globeflower flies.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Object motor representation and reaching-grasping control.

The following two competing hypotheses were tested in the present study. Is grasp guided by multiple representations of a single object, each of which codes a different grasp motor act according to the physical properties of that item? Conversely, is grasp guided by a single representation that codes all the possible affordances enabled by the object? Subjects reached different objects, but the object part used by subjects to grasp them was identical. In experiments 1 and 2, two familiar objects (fruits) which varied for size and shape were presented. Subjects grasped their stalks whose size and shape were equal. In experiments 3-7 the presented objects were geometrical solids, which varied, respectively, for weight, volume, intrinsic height, centre of mass and shape. Nevertheless, in all experiments the object portion where subjects' fingers grasped it had the same physical features. Finally, experiment 8 was a control experiment in which subjects reached and grasped equal handles of bells of the same shape, but different size. Volume, shape, and familiarity of the object influenced the grasp kinematics, even if the features of the grasped object part did not change. Variation in intrinsic object height and weight influenced final reach kinematics. Variation in centre of mass influenced neither grasp nor reach kinematics. Data are discussed in support of the hypothesis that a single object motor representation, which codes all the object affordances, is involved in grasp kinematic implementation.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Gravimorphogenesis in agarics.

The shape changes which occur in agaric fruit bodies in response to change in the direction of gravity, usually referred to as gravitropism are morphogenetic changes. Our interest in what we prefer to call gravimorphogenesis is to use it to examine morphogenesis experimentally. We are examining two agarics, Coprinus cinereus and Flammulina velutipes, and applying the best available technologies, including video analysis, all forms of electron microscopy, computer-aided image analysis and experiments in orbit in Spacelab. Responses to gravity of the two organisms differ in ways which can be related to their ecological and structural adaptations. C. cinereus reacts extremely rapidly; its fruit body can regain the vertical within 3 h of being placed horizontal, whereas F. velutipes requires 12 h to bend through 90 degrees. The fungi also differ in the bulk of tissue involved in the response. In Coprinus, a zone extending several cm down from the apex is normally involved in bending. In Flammulina, gravisensing is limited to a region just a few mm immediately below the cap, although curvature is performed in a zone of up to 2 cm below. Flammulina cultures were flown on the Spacelab D-2 mission in 1993, and fruit body disorientation in orbit provides the first definitive proof that 'gravitropism' really is a response to the unidirectional gravity vector. Experiments with different clinostat rotation rates in Flammulina indicate that the perception threshold is about 10(-4) x g. Analysis of different times of exposure to an altered gravity vector prior to clinorotation in Coprinus reveals that the perception time is 7 minutes and that continued response requires continued exposure. Cell size determinations in Coprinus demonstrate that cells of the stem increase in length, not diameter, to produce the growth differential. In Flammulina a unique population of highly electron-transparent microvacuoles changes in distribution; decreasing in upper cells and increasing in the lower cells in a horizontal fruit body within a few minutes of disorientation. These are thought to contribute to vacuolar expansion which accompanies/drives cell elongation. Application of a variety of metabolic inhibitors indicates that the secondary messenger calcium is also involved in regulating the growth differentials of gravimorphogenesis but that gravity perception is unaffected by inhibitors of calcium signalling. In both Flammulina and Coprinus, gravity perception seems to be dependent on the actin cytoskeleton since cytochalasin treatment suppresses gravitropic curvature in Flammulina and, in Coprinus, significantly delays curvature without affecting stem extension. This, together with altered nuclear motility observed in living hyphae during reorientation suggests that gravity perception involves statoliths (possibly nuclei) acting on the actin cytoskeleton and triggering specific vesicle/microvacuole release from the endomembrane system.

Basidiomycota↗
PubMed2001

Capsanthone 3,6-epoxide, a new carotenoid from the fruits of the red paprika Capsicum annuum L.

The structure of a new carotenoid, isolated from the fruits of the red tomato-shaped paprika Capsicum annuum L., was elucidated to be (3S,5R,6S,5'R)-3,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-5-hydroxy-beta,kappa-carotene-3',6'-dione by spectroscopic analyses, including fast atom bombardment collision-induced dissociation-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (FAB CID-MS/MS) and was designated capsanthone 3,6-epoxide. Capsanthone 3,6-epoxide is assumed to be an oxidative metabolite of capsanthin 3,6-epoxide in paprika.

Capsicum↗