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PubMed2004

Convenient determination of DNA extraction efficiency using an external DNA recovery standard and quantitative-competitive PCR.

Molecular biology techniques have advanced the field of microbial ecology through the analysis of nucleic acids. Most techniques that use DNA or RNA require their extraction from environmental matrices, which can be tedious and inefficient. While a number of extraction methods, both laboratory-based and commercially available, have been developed, none of these include a convenient method to determine extraction efficiency. We have developed an external DNA recovery standard, Lambda DNA (target DNA) contained within pBR322, allowing routine determinations of DNA recovery efficiency. Target DNA was added to sediments as whole cells, total DNA extracted using commercial DNA extraction/purification kits and the amount of target DNA recovered quantified by quantitative-competitive PCR (QC-PCR). Three commercially available kits (UltraClean Soil DNA, FastDNA SPIN and Soil Master DNA Extraction) were evaluated for recovery efficiency. Recoveries for the three kits ranged from undetectable to 43.3% with average recoveries of 14.9+/-16.0%, 28.3+/-10.5% and 2.4+/-0.1% (UltraClean, FastDNA and Soil Master, respectively). Quantification of target DNA proved robust in sediments heavily polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the external recovery standard could be detected following extraction and amplification from as few as 1 x 10(3) cells added to 0.5 g sediment (wet weight). The external DNA recovery standard was also added directly to the sediment as purified plasmid DNA prior to extraction. It was recovered with similar efficiency as when added as whole cells, suggesting its usefulness in estimating DNA recovery in ribosomal DNA studies. These results show that, while the commercial kits offer expedited sample processing, the extraction efficiencies vary on a sample-by-sample basis and were <100%. Therefore, quantitative DNA studies require an estimation of DNA recovery.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

PubMed2005

Efficient gene transfer and targeted mutagenesis in Fusobacterium nucleatum.

Fusobacterium nucleatum is a Gram-negative anaerobe important in dental biofilm ecology and infectious diseases with significant societal impact. The lack of efficient genetic systems has hampered molecular analyses in this microorganism. We previously reported construction of a shuttle plasmid, pHS17, using the native fusobacterial plasmid pFN1 and an erythromycin resistance cassette. However, the host range of pHS17 was restricted to F. nucleatum, ATCC 10953, and the transformation efficiency was limited. This study was undertaken to improve genetic systems for molecular analysis in F. nucleatum. We identified a second F. nucleatum strain, ATCC 23726, which is transformed with improved efficiency compared to ATCC 10953. Two novel second generation pFN1-based shuttle plasmids, pHS23 and pHS30, were developed and enable transformation of ATCC 23726 at 6.2 x 10(4) and 1.5 x 10(6) transformants/mug plasmid DNA, respectively. The transformation efficiency of pHS30, which harbors a catP gene conferring resistance to chloramphenicol, was more than 1000-fold greater than that of pHS17. The improved transformation efficiency facilitated disruption of the chromosomal rnr gene using a suicide plasmid pHS19, the first demonstration of targeted mutagenesis in F. nucleatum. These results provide significant advances in the development of systems for molecular analysis in F. nucleatum.

Chloramphenicol Resistance↗

PubMed2004

The efficiency of depth discrimination for non-transparent and transparent stereoscopic surfaces.

The perception of transparency in binocular vision presents a challenge for any model of stereopsis. We investigate here how well human observers cope with stereo transparency by comparing their efficiency between transparent and opaque depth judgments. In two experiments, the efficiency measure was computed relative to an ideal observer to take into account the larger correspondence ambiguity in the transparent condition. We found that thresholds for human and ideal observers were consistently higher in the transparent condition than in the opaque condition, across a range of dot densities (Experiment 1) and disparity ratios (Experiment 2). Efficiencies (the ratio of human to ideal performance) were approximately equivalent for the opaque and transparent conditions across all stimulus conditions. Therefore, the cost for stereoscopic transparency can be accounted for by the greater correspondence problem in that condition. Indeed, the fact that efficiencies were very low, around 1%, and decreased with increasing dot density demonstrates that human observers use far less information than is available to perform the task. This account contrasts with previous interpretations for the cost in stereoscopic transparency in terms of inhibitory interactions specific to transparent configurations. We relate our findings to a previous and comparable study of motion efficiency, and discuss our findings in terms of a physiologically plausible model.

Depth Perception↗

PubMed2005

Why is second-order vision less efficient than first-order vision?

Research has shown that the sensitivity to second-order modulations of carrier contrast is lower than that to first-order luminance modulations stimuli. We sought to compare the efficiency of processing first- and second-order information. Employing a phase-discrimination paradigm we found that when humans were given sufficient a priori information of signal parameters they detected both luminance and contrast modulations of 0.6 and 2c/deg by a phase-sensitive algorithm. The overall detection efficiency for second-order patterns, however, was lower that that for first-order stimuli. To study the factors which limit the efficiency of first- and second-order vision, we measured detection performance for luminance and contrast modulations of 0.6 and 2c/deg embedded in Gaussian noise. The results showed that the detection of second-order patterns had lower sampling efficiency and higher additive internal noise as compared to the detection of first-order stimuli. Classification images for detecting contrast modulations of 2c/deg resembled the side-band component of the contrast modulations which suggests that human observers may detect contrast modulations of a sinusoidal carrier using first-order luminance channels. The lower sensitivity of the mechanism detecting second-order patterns might be due to higher levels of additive internal noise and lower sampling efficiency than those of the mechanism analysing first-order patterns.

Contrast Sensitivity↗

PubMed2005

Influence of the redox condition dynamics on the removal efficiency of a laboratory-scale constructed wetland.

A laboratory reactor planted with Juncus effusus treating an artificial wastewater was used to investigate the short-term and long-term variations and interactions in the redox conditions as well as the removal efficiency of C and the N turnover. The permanent circulation of the process water enabled the micro-gradient processes to be evaluated for an operating period of 20 months. Steady-state conditions were achieved throughout the operating period with high mean removal efficiencies of 92.7% total organic carbon, 82.0% ammonia and 97.6% nitrate. Daily variations in the redox state of the rhizosphere of a few hundred mV were observed, ranging from about -200 to oxidized conditions of about +200 mV and driven by daylight. Variations in pH associated with changes in light and redox were linked to the dynamics of the fates of organic and inorganic carbon species. The ammonia removal processes were found to be firmly established, including for moderately reduced redox conditions with high efficiencies for E(h)>-50 mV. The enrichment of ammonia (up to 13 mg l(-1)) closely linked to the light, particularly during summertime, indicates the existence of hitherto unconsidered additional N turnover pathways in the rhizoplane involving N(2) produced by microbes or released by plants. C turnover was strongly related to the seasonal variation in illumination with minimum efficiencies during the dark season. In addition, it was characterized by oscillation with periods of approximately 1 month. The relationships found are dominant for biofilms on the rhizoplane and decisive for the removal efficiency of especially simple constructed and natural wetlands. The results highlight the importance of helophytes and their physiological specifics for removal processes.

Acetates↗

PubMed2026

Kinetic model of a determinate legume root nodule reveals plant metabolic characteristics for more efficient nitrogen fixation symbiosis.

While nitrogen fertilizers are widely used in agricultural production, their application incurs significant environmental and energetic costs. In contrast, some crops are less dependent on these fertilizers because they engage in symbioses with rhizobia, nitrogen-fixing bacteria that provide ammonium to the plant in exchange for carbon. However, the carbon cost associated with nitrogen fixation can negatively impact crop yields. Improving the efficiency of this metabolic process could alleviate this impact on crop productivity. Mathematical models can help us quantitatively explore metabolic behavior and identify potential targets for metabolic engineering. In this work, we developed a kinetic model of determinate root nodule metabolism, where this symbiotic exchange of carbon from the plant and nitrogen from the bacteria occurs. We used this model to evaluate how the predicted metabolic behavior differs between inefficient and efficient nodules, and to identify potential engineering targets for improving nitrogen fixation efficiency and rate. We show that the enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and pyruvate kinase have significant influence on the predicted rate and efficiency of nitrogen fixation, especially when their expression is varied in combination with oxidative Pentose Phosphate Pathway enzymes like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconolactonase. The model predicts that pairing a 3-fold decrease in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity along with either a 3-fold increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity or decrease in pyruvate kinase activity could increase nitrogen fixation rate by 8.82% while improving nitrogen fixation efficiency by 10.99%.

Enzyme kinetics↗

PubMed2004

Self-complementary adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV)-T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase vectors as helper viruses to improve transduction efficiency of conventional single-stranded AAV vectors in vitro and in vivo.

Recombinant vectors based on adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV) target the liver efficiently, but the transgene expression is limited to approximately 5% of hepatocytes. The lack of efficient transduction is due, in part, to the presence of a cellular protein, FKBP52, phosphorylated forms of which inhibit the viral second-strand DNA synthesis. We have documented that dephosphorylation of FKBP52 at tyrosine residues by the cellular T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TC-PTP) enhances AAV-mediated transduction in primary murine hematopoietic cells from TC-PTP-transgenic mice. We have also documented that AAV-mediated transduction is significantly enhanced in hepatocytes in TC-PTP-transgenic as well as in FKBP52-deficient mice because of efficient viral second-strand DNA synthesis. In this study, we evaluated whether co-infection of conventional single-stranded AAV vectors with self-complementary AAV-TC-PTP vectors leads to increased transduction efficiency of conventional AAV vectors in established human cell lines in vitro and in primary murine hepatocytes in vivo. We demonstrate here that scAAV-TC-PTP vectors serve as a helper virus in augmenting the transduction efficiency of conventional AAV vectors in vitro as well as in vivo which correlates directly with the extent of second-strand DNA synthesis of conventional single-stranded AAV vectors. Toxicological studies following tail-vein injections of scAAV-TC-PTP vectors in experimental mice show no evidence of any adverse effect in any of the organs in any of the mice for up to 13 weeks. Thus, this novel co-infection strategy should be useful in circumventing one of the major obstacles in the optimal use of recombinant AAV vectors in human gene therapy.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Efficient gene transfer into mouse embryonic stem cells with adenovirus vectors.

Efficient and transient gene transfer into embryonic stem (ES) cells is expected to be of use for basic studies in developmental biology and for applications in regenerative medicine. Here, we report the development of an adenovirus (Ad) vector that efficiently expresses foreign genes in mouse ES (mES) cells. We prepared four LacZ-expressing Ad vectors, each of which contained one of the following: Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), beta-actin promoter/CMV enhancer (CA), or EF-1alpha promoter. While the RSV and CMV promoters were inactive in mES cells, the CA and EF-1alpha promoters strongly drove LacZ expression in more than 90% of the mES cells. The EF-1alpha promoter was found to be slightly more efficient than the CA promoter. mES cells were found to express the Ad primary receptor, coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor, suggesting that while Ad vectors could introduce the exogenous gene into mES cells, the choice of a suitable promoter was critical for efficient gene expression. Fiber-mutant Ad vectors containing RGD or polylysine peptide on the fiber knob mediated efficient LacZ expression, not only in mES cells, but also in feeder cells. Exogenous expression of Oct-3/4 or the dominant-negative mutant of STAT3 (STAT3F) by conventional Ad vectors containing the EF-1alpha promoter promoted the differentiation of mES cells into the cells of three germ layers, and STAT3F-mediated differentiation was rescued by the coexpression of Nanog. These results suggest that Ad vectors can be used for basic research using ES cells and that they may be of great utility for therapeutic applications in gene-modified regenerative medicine based on ES cells.

Actins↗

PubMed2003

Amplification efficiency of thermostable DNA polymerases.

The amplification efficiencies of several polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enzymes were compared using real-time quantitative PCR with SYBR Green I detection. Amplification data collected during the exponential phase of PCR are highly reproducible, and PCR enzyme performance comparisons based upon efficiency measurements are considerably more accurate than those based on endpoint analysis. DNA polymerase efficiencies were determined under identical conditions using five different amplicon templates that varied in length or percentage GC content. Pfu- and Taq-based formulations showed similar efficiencies when amplifying shorter targets (<900 bp) with 45 to 56% GC content. However, when amplicon length or GC content was increased, Pfu formulations with dUTPase exhibited significantly higher efficiencies than Taq, Pfu, and other archaeal DNA polymerases. We discuss the implications of these results.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2002

Correlation between hydrophobic properties and efficiency of carrier-mediated membrane transduction and apoptosis of a p53 C-terminal peptide.

Two membrane transporters, the 17 amino acid (aa) oligopeptide penetratin derived from the homeodomain of Antennapedia (Ant) and an analogue of the basic domain of TAT (aa 47-57) (TAT-a) from HIV-1, were tested as carriers for a p53 C-terminal peptide (aa 361-382) into human breast cancer cells. The studies were performed to determine whether the membrane-transduction efficiency of membrane carriers: Ant, TAT or TAT analogue (TAT-a) correlated with peptide hydrophobic features. Peptide-sequence analysis clearly demonstrated that the Ant sequence and p53 peptide sequence (p53p) together created a peptide with enhanced hydrophobic characteristics; while the TAT or TAT analogue (TAT-a) and p53p sequence together created a peptide with significantly less hydrophobic qualities. The degree of hydrophobic moment and helical wheel plots for these peptides correlated directly with their ability to transduce the p53 peptide. Western blot analysis revealed that Ant was able to transduce p53 C-terminal peptide into human breast cancer cells as a highly efficient membrane transporter. Compared to Ant, TAT-a fused to the C-terminus of p53 peptide (p53p-TAT-a) was a less efficient carrier into these cells under the conditions of our study. Additionally, N-terminal linked TAT-a to p53p (TAT-a-p53p) showed even lower efficiency as a transporter than p53-TAT-a. Apoptosis assays showed that the p53 peptide, fused at its C-terminus to Ant (p53p-Ant), induced a higher percentage of apoptotic cells in human breast cancer cell lines expressing mutant or wild-type p53 as compared to p53 peptide fused at its C-terminus to the TAT-a sequence (p53p-TAT-a) or when fused at the N-terminus to TAT-a (TAT-a-p53p). These data suggested a direct correlation between hydrophobic characteristics and efficiency as a transporter. Sequence study, using hydrophobic moment and helical wheel analyses, may be useful predictive tools for choosing the best carrier for a peptide.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1980

Efficiency of light diffraction by cross-striated muscle fibers under stretch and during isometric contraction.

When light is diffracted by a single frog muscle fiber the intensities I kappa of the different orders kappa (kappa = 1,2,3) strongly depend on the angle between the axis of the incident beam and the fiber axis. Maximum intensity is not obtained with perpendicular incidence (omega = 0 degree) but at angles that can be calculated for each order number and sarcomere length using Bragg's formula. In analogy to techniques developed for x-ray structure analysis of mosaic crystals we have rotated the fiber around an axis perpendicular to the fiber axis and to the incident beam axis within an angular range delta omega = +/- 35 degrees and recorded the light intensities I kappa. Diffraction efficiencies defined as E kappa = integral of I kappa d omega were studied as a function of sarcomere length and during isometric contraction. The sarcomere length dependences of the efficiencies E kappa of the first three orders show characteristic trends. E1 increases with fiber stretch, E2 has a minimum at a sarcomere length near 2.8 micrometers, and E3 has a maximum near 2.5 micrometers. These trends as well as the observed efficiency ratios are in fairly good agreement with predictions by the intensity formula developed for x-ray structure analysis. During isometric contraction, the diffraction efficiencies of the fiber decrease, with the decreases becoming greater the higher the order number. These decreases might be caused by a longitudinal displacement of myofibrils of up to 0.4 micrometers. The efficiency of light diffraction strongly depends on the tonicity of the bathing fluid. Hypertonic (3/2 x normal) solution reduces E1 to less than half, hypotonic (2/3 x normal) solution increases E1 to almost twice the value obtained in normal Ringer's solution.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Effects of aging on the work output and efficiency of rat papillary muscle.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the effect of aging on the work output and efficiency of rat papillary muscle. METHODS: The mechanical and energetic properties of left ventricular papillary muscle preparations isolated from 6-, 15-, and 27- to 32-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were measured in myothermic experiments at 27 degrees C at a stimulus frequency of 0.167 Hz. RESULTS: We found that the basal metabolism measured in quiescent papillary muscles was significantly reduced in the 27- to 32-month-old group (4.9 mWg(-1) compared to 7.7 and 7.0 mWg(-1) in the 6- and 15-month groups). In isotonic experiments, the work output (at a range of afterloads) was significantly depressed for the 27- to 32-month group being only 52% of the work output of the 6-month group. This outcome was due to a decrease in both the extent of muscle shortening only, 66% of 6- and 15-month data, and in the maximum force developed. The reduced work was accompanied by a parallel decrease in energy consumption (enthalpy) and hence, the net mechanical efficiency (work/active enthalpyx100%) was not altered. A force-length- area (FLA) analysis was applied to the isotonic data and an energy: FLA regression line was obtained for each preparation. We found that there were no significant differences in either the intercept or slope of the energy: FLA relation with age. Contractile efficiency (39+/-3%) in the 27- to 32-month group was not significantly different to that found in the 6-month (43+/-4%) or 15-month (40+/-3% group). CONCLUSION: There are no changes in the mechanical performance or efficiency of cardiac muscle from young (6-month-old) or adult (15-month-old) rats but in the aged and senescent rats (27-32-month-old) there is a pronounced decline in stress development and shortening ability leading to a fall in work output. Mechanical and contractile efficiency however remain unchanged in old age and the data resembles that obtained in pressure overload hypertrophy.

Aging↗

PubMed2003

Effects of endotoxic shock on right ventricular systolic function and mechanical efficiency.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of endotoxin infusion on right ventricular (RV) systolic function and mechanical efficiency. METHODS: Six anesthetized pigs (Endo group) received a 0.5 mg/kg endotoxin infusion over 30 min and were compared with six other anesthetized pigs (Control group) receiving placebo for 5 h. RV pressure-volume (PV) loops were obtained by the conductance catheter technique and pulmonary artery flow and pressure were measured with high-fidelity transducers. RESULTS: RV adaptation to increased afterload during the early phase of endotoxin-induced pulmonary hypertension (T30) was obtained by both homeometric and hetereometric regulations: the slope of the end-systolic PV relationship of the right ventricle increased from 1.4+/-0.2 mmHg/ml to 2.9+/-0.4 mmHg/ml (P<0.05) and RV end-diastolic volume increased from 56+/-6 ml to 64+/-11 ml (P<0.05). Consequently, right ventricular-vascular coupling was maintained at a maximum efficiency. Ninety minutes later (T120), facing the same increased afterload, the right ventricle failed to maintain its contractility to such an elevated level and, as a consequence, right ventricular-vascular uncoupling occurred. PV loop area, which is known to be highly correlated with oxygen myocardial consumption, increased from 1154+/-127 mmHg/ml (T0) to 1798+/-122 mmHg/ml (T180) (P<0.05) while RV mechanical efficiency decreased from 63+/-2% (T0) to 45+/-5% (T270) (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the very early phase of endotoxinic shock, right ventricular-vascular coupling is preserved by an increase in RV contractility. Later, myocardial oxygen consumption and energetic cost of RV contractility are increased, as evidenced by the decrease in RV efficiency, and right ventricular-vascular uncoupling occurs. Therefore, therapies aiming at restoring right ventricular-vascular coupling in endotoxic shock should attempt to increase RV contractility and to decrease RV afterload but also to preserve RV mechanical efficiency.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Vectors based on Semliki Forest virus for rapid and efficient gene transfer into non-endothelial cardiovascular cells: comparison to adenovirus.

OBJECTIVE: Replication-deficient, recombinant adenovirus is used as a carrier for gene transfer, but it is unspecific and the onset of transgene expression is relatively late. Here, we evaluated the efficiency and selectivity of gene transfer mediated by recombinant Semliki Forest virus (SFV). METHODS: We compared the efficiency of a SFV-based vector with an adenoviral vector, using LacZ as a reporter gene. Firstly, the affinity for vascular smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and cardiac myocytes was assessed. Secondly, we compared the time course of LacZ expression and cytotoxicity in vascular smooth muscle cells. RESULTS: The SFV-based vector infects vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes as efficiently as adenovirus. In contrast to adenovirus, SFV hardly transfers LacZ to endothelial cells (2.6% or less). SFV-mediated expression was visible after 1 h, reaching a maximum after 6 h. In contrast, adenovirus-mediated expression became visible after 6 h, and reached a maximum after 48-72 h. Both vectors were cytotoxic. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate that SFV efficiently transfers LacZ to vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes, but not to endothelial cells. In contrast, adenovirus causes efficient transgene expression in all cell types tested. Furthermore, SFV-mediated expression is faster than adenovirus-mediated expression. Therefore, SFV-mediated gene transfer may be a suitable alternative to adenovirus, providing a fast expression in non-endothelial cardiovascular cell types.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed1994

Features in the 5' non-coding sequences of rabbit alpha and beta-globin mRNAs that affect translational efficiency.

The 5' non-coding sequence of rabbit beta-globin mRNA was mutagenized in an attempt to identify structural features that might contribute to the ability to support translation in an homologous rabbit reticulocyte lysate. Translational efficiency was not reduced by substitutions introduced in nearly every position of the beta-globin leader sequence, suggesting that the 5' non-coding domain of this highly efficient mRNA contains no special effector motifs. Instead, efficient translation appears to require only a moderately long leader sequence devoid of secondary structure, especially near the 5' end. Consistent with that interpretation, substitutions in several positions actually improved translation relative to the wild-type beta-globin leader sequence; experimental assessment of the secondary structure of these derivatives revealed a perfect inverse correlation between secondary structure content and translational efficiency. Other experiments probed the structural basis for the long-noted difference in translational efficiency between rabbit alpha and beta-globin mRNAs, a difference that was reproduced here using only the 5' non-coding domains of those mRNAs. The possibility that translation of ribosomal protein mRNAs might be modulated by a mechanism similar to that of alpha-globin mRNA is discussed. Because the beta-globin leader sequence has been incorporated into some popular expression vectors, and because globin genes are targets for gene therapy, this analysis of how globin mRNA leader sequences function in translation and how they can be improved may have practical applications.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Topical treatment with hexadecylphosphocholine (Miltex) efficiently reduces parasite burden in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Ether-lipids and alkylphosphocholines have been found to have anti-leishmanial activity. Oral treatment with hexadecylphosphocholine (HePC) efficiently reduces parasite burden in murine visceral leishmaniasis. Drugs for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis are most commonly administered parenterally, whereas efficient drugs for topical treatment are not in current use. Here we investigate the efficacy of topical treatment with HePC in mice infected with Leishmania mexicana or L. major, causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New and Old World, respectively. BALB/c, CBA/J and C57BL/6 inbred mice do not control infection with L. mexicana because they do not mount an efficient Th1-type anti-parasitic lymphocyte response. In contrast, C57BL/6 mice are resistant to an infection with L. major, developing only transient lesions that heal spontaneously owing to an efficient Th1 response. BALB/c, CBA/J and C57BL/6 mice were infected subcutaneously with L. mexicana amastigotes, causing nodular lesions after 5 months. Topical treatment with HePC (Miltex) was highly effective in reducing parasite burden and healed established lesions. The treatment did not induce a Th1 response in L. mexicana-infected susceptible mice and most of the mice relapsed. In resistant C57BL/6 mice infected subcutaneously with 2 x 10(6) L. major promastigotes at the tail base, nodular lesions developed after 2 weeks. Topical treatment with Miltex reduced the parasite load and the mice healed their lesions much faster than the untreated infected controls. The clinical application of Miltex for treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis may be highly efficient because humans, similarly to resistant mice, in general do not relapse after healing. Clinical trials should be straightforward considering that Miltex is an approved drug for the treatment of breast cancer metastases.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed2002

Estimating the efficiency of recognizing gender and affect from biological motion.

It is often claimed that point-light displays provide sufficient information to easily recognize properties of the actor and action being performed. We examined this claim by obtaining estimates of human efficiency in the categorization of movement. We began by recording a database of three-dimensional human arm movements from 13 males and 13 females that contained multiple repetitions of knocking, waving and lifting movements done both in an angry and a neutral style. Point-light displays of each individual for all of the six different combinations were presented to participants who were asked to judge the gender of the model in Experiment 1 and the affect in Experiment 2. To obtain estimates of efficiency, results of human performance were compared to the output of automatic pattern classifiers based on artificial neural networks designed and trained to perform the same classification task on the same movements. Efficiency was expressed as the squared ratio of human sensitivity (d') to neural network sensitivity (d'). Average results for gender recognition showed a proportion correct of 0.51 and an efficiency of 0.27%. Results for affect recognition showed a proportion correct of 0.71 and an efficiency of 32.5%. These results are discussed in the context of how different cues inform the recognition of movement style.

Affect↗

PubMed2002

EPR investigation on the efficiency of hydroxyl radical production of gamma-irradiated anatase and bentonite.

Anatase and bentonite were treated by gamma rays in various conditions, and the change of the catalysts was characterized by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Anatase gave four peaks with g(parallel) = 1.951 g(perpendicular) = 1.973, g = 1.992 and 2.005. The height of the four peaks was directly proportional to the efficiency of hydroxyl radical production, and anatase treated by gamma rays in alkaline condition showed the most efficient production. Bentonite gave a peak with g = 2.005. In contrast to anatase, the peak height was inversely proportional to the efficiency of hydroxyl radical production, and non-treated bentonite was the most efficient catalyst. Furthermore, the efficiency of hydroxyl radical production of the catalysts significantly influenced the decomposition of trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene by gamma rays.

Bentonite↗