Why Use Multiple Representations in the Mathematics Classroom? Views of English and German Preservice Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dreher, Anika; Kuntze, Sebastian; Lerman, Stephen

2016-01-01

Dealing with multiple representations and their connections plays a key role for learners to build up conceptual knowledge in the mathematics classroom. Hence, professional knowledge and views of mathematics teachers regarding the use of multiple representations certainly merit attention. In particular, investigating such views of preservice…

Identifying spatially integrated floodplains/riparian areas and wetlands

EPA Science Inventory

Floodplain delineation may play an important role in managing wetlands and riparian areas at multiple scales - local, state, and federal. This poster demonstrates multiple GIS-based approaches to delimiting floodplains and contrasts these with observed flooding events from a majo...

Te Tremble: An Unnatural Disaster--A Trial Role Play Probes the Roots of Devastation in Haiti

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanchez, Adam

2011-01-01

When the author first heard that the earthquake that hit Haiti destroyed entire Haitian cities and killed more than a quarter million people, he was shocked. For him, it was apparent that this was more than a natural disaster. As he learned about the role the U.S. government had played in Haitian affairs--the multiple occupations, the support for…

Language Learning Enhanced by Massive Multiple Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) and the Underlying Behavioral and Neural Mechanisms

PubMed Central

Zhang, Yongjun; Song, Hongwen; Liu, Xiaoming; Tang, Dinghong; Chen, Yue-e; Zhang, Xiaochu

2017-01-01

Massive Multiple Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) have increased in popularity among children, juveniles, and adults since MMORPGs’ appearance in this digital age. MMORPGs can be applied to enhancing language learning, which is drawing researchers’ attention from different fields and many studies have validated MMORPGs’ positive effect on language learning. However, there are few studies on the underlying behavioral or neural mechanism of such effect. This paper reviews the educational application of the MMORPGs based on relevant macroscopic and microscopic studies, showing that gamers’ overall language proficiency or some specific language skills can be enhanced by real-time online interaction with peers and game narratives or instructions embedded in the MMORPGs. Mechanisms underlying the educational assistant role of MMORPGs in second language learning are discussed from both behavioral and neural perspectives. We suggest that attentional bias makes gamers/learners allocate more cognitive resources toward task-related stimuli in a controlled or an automatic way. Moreover, with a moderating role played by activation of reward circuit, playing the MMORPGs may strengthen or increase functional connectivity from seed regions such as left anterior insular/frontal operculum (AI/FO) and visual word form area to other language-related brain areas. PMID:28303097

Multiple Export Mechanisms for mRNAs

PubMed Central

Delaleau, Mildred; Borden, Katherine L. B.

2015-01-01

Nuclear mRNA export plays an important role in gene expression. We describe the mechanisms of mRNA export including the importance of mRNP assembly, docking with the nuclear basket of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), transit through the central channel of the NPC and cytoplasmic release. We describe multiple mechanisms of mRNA export including NXF1 and CRM1 mediated pathways. Selective groups of mRNAs can be preferentially transported in order to respond to cellular stimuli. RNAs can be selected based on the presence of specific cis-acting RNA elements and binding of specific adaptor proteins. The role that dysregulation of this process plays in human disease is also discussed. PMID:26343730

Fair Play: A Study of Scientific Workforce Trainers' Experience Playing an Educational Video Game about Racial Bias

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Katz, Anna; Carnes, Molly; Gutierrez, Belinda; Savoy, Julia; Samuel, Clem; Filut, Amarette; Pribbenow, Christine Maidl

2017-01-01

Explicit racial bias has decreased in the United States, but racial stereotypes still exist and conspire in multiple ways to perpetuate the underparticipation of Blacks in science careers. Capitalizing on the potential effectiveness of role-playing video games to promote the type of active learning required to increase awareness of and reduce…

Great plains regional climate assessment technical report

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Great Plains region (GP) plays important role in providing food and energy to the economy of the United States. Multiple climatic and non-climatic stressors put multiple sectors, livelihoods and communities at risk, including agriculture, water, ecosystems and rural and tribal communities. The G...

Hypergraph-Based Combinatorial Optimization of Matrix-Vector Multiplication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wolf, Michael Maclean

2009-01-01

Combinatorial scientific computing plays an important enabling role in computational science, particularly in high performance scientific computing. In this thesis, we will describe our work on optimizing matrix-vector multiplication using combinatorial techniques. Our research has focused on two different problems in combinatorial scientific…

Sociological and economic theories of suicide: a comparison of the U.S.A. and Taiwan.

PubMed

Yang, B; Lester, D; Yang, C H

1992-02-01

Time-series analyses were carried out to explore the importance of sociological and economic variables in accounting for the suicide rate in the U.S.A. and in Taiwan for 1952-1984. Sociological variables (divorce and female labor force participation) played similar roles in the multiple regressions for both nations while economic variables (GNP per capita/growth and unemployment) played a role only in the U.S.A.

Motivations to play specifically predict excessive involvement in massively multiplayer online role-playing games: evidence from an online survey.

PubMed

Zanetta Dauriat, Francesca; Zermatten, Ariane; Billieux, Joël; Thorens, Gabriel; Bondolfi, Guido; Zullino, Daniele; Khazaal, Yasser

2011-01-01

Several studies have linked massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) with possible problematic usage or internet addiction. The main goal of the present study was to assess links between motivations to play in MMORPGs and addictive involvement in such types of games. A total of 696 gamers responded to an online survey. Five distinct motivations to play were identified in gamers: achievement, socializing, immersion, relaxing and escaping. Multiple regression analysis revealed that addictive MMORPG use patterns are predicted by achievement, escapism and socializing motives. Gender was also a significant predictor of problematic involvement in MMORPGs. Moreover, addictive MMORPG use positively correlated with the weekly time devoted to playing MMORPGs. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Response to Nicholas Allix.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gardner, Howard; Connell, Michael

2000-01-01

Replies to "The Theory of Multiple Intelligences: A Case of Missing Cognitive Matter," also in this issue. Disagrees about the role theory of knowledge plays in the context of justification of multiple intelligences. Specifically, asserts that the article's criticisms based on philosophy of science claims and work with artificial neural…

Living with uncertainty and hope: A qualitative study exploring parents' experiences of living with childhood multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Hinton, Denise; Kirk, Susan

2017-06-01

Background There is growing recognition that multiple sclerosis is a possible, albeit uncommon, diagnosis in childhood. However, very little is known about the experiences of families living with childhood multiple sclerosis and this is the first study to explore this in depth. Objective Our objective was to explore the experiences of parents of children with multiple sclerosis. Methods Qualitative in-depth interviews with 31 parents using a grounded theory approach were conducted. Parents were sampled and recruited via health service and voluntary sector organisations in the United Kingdom. Results Parents' accounts of life with childhood multiple sclerosis were dominated by feelings of uncertainty associated with four sources; diagnostic uncertainty, daily uncertainty, interaction uncertainty and future uncertainty. Parents attempted to manage these uncertainties using specific strategies, which could in turn create further uncertainties about their child's illness. However, over time, ongoing uncertainty appeared to give parents hope for their child's future with multiple sclerosis. Conclusion Illness-related uncertainties appear to play a role in generating hope among parents of a child with multiple sclerosis. However, this may lead parents to avoid sources of information and support that threatens their fragile optimism. Professionals need to be sensitive to the role hope plays in supporting parental coping with childhood multiple sclerosis.

Building Regression Models: The Importance of Graphics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dunn, Richard

1989-01-01

Points out reasons for using graphical methods to teach simple and multiple regression analysis. Argues that a graphically oriented approach has considerable pedagogic advantages in the exposition of simple and multiple regression. Shows that graphical methods may play a central role in the process of building regression models. (Author/LS)

Isl1 Is required for multiple aspects of motor neuron development

PubMed Central

Liang, Xingqun; Song, Mi-Ryoung; Xu, ZengGuang; Lanuza, Guillermo M.; Liu, Yali; Zhuang, Tao; Chen, Yihan; Pfaff, Samuel L.; Evans, Sylvia M.; Sun, Yunfu

2011-01-01

The LIM homeodomain transcription factor Islet1 (Isl1) is expressed in multiple organs and plays essential roles during embryogenesis. Isl1 is required for the survival and specification of spinal cord motor neurons. Due to early embryonic lethality and loss of motor neurons, the role of Isl1 in other aspects of motor neuron development remains unclear. In this study, we generated Isl1 mutant mouse lines expressing graded doses of Isl1. Our study has revealed essential roles of Isl1 in multiple aspects of motor neuron development, including motor neuron cell body localization, motor column formation and axon growth. In addition, Isl1 is required for survival of cranial ganglia neurons. PMID:21569850

The role of astrocytes in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis.

PubMed

Guerrero-García, J J

2017-09-25

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), in which astrocytes play an important role as CNS immune cells. However, the activity of astrocytes as antigen-presenting cells (APC) continues to be subject to debate. This review analyses the existing evidence on the participation of astrocytes in CNS inflammation in MS and on several mechanisms that modify astrocyte activity in the disease. Astrocytes play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of MS because they express toll-like receptors (TLR) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) classI andII. In addition, astrocytes participate in regulating the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and in modulating T cell activity through the production of cytokines. Future studies should focus on the role of astrocytes in order to find new therapeutic targets for the treatment of MS. Copyright © 2017 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Human spleen and red blood cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pivkin, Igor; Peng, Zhangli; Karniadakis, George; Buffet, Pierre; Dao, Ming

2016-11-01

Spleen plays multiple roles in the human body. Among them is removal of old and altered red blood cells (RBCs), which is done by filtering cells through the endothelial slits, small micron-sized openings. There is currently no experimental technique available that allows us to observe RBC passage through the slits. It was previously noticed that people without a spleen have less deformable red blood cells, indicating that the spleen may play a role in defining the size and shape of red blood cells. We used detailed RBC model implemented within the Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) simulation framework to study the filter function of the spleen. Our results demonstrate that spleen indeed plays major role in defining the size and shape of the healthy human red blood cells.

Probing for the Multiplicative Term in Modern Expectancy-Value Theory: A Latent Interaction Modeling Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Trautwein, Ulrich; Marsh, Herbert W.; Nagengast, Benjamin; Ludtke, Oliver; Nagy, Gabriel; Jonkmann, Kathrin

2012-01-01

In modern expectancy-value theory (EVT) in educational psychology, expectancy and value beliefs additively predict performance, persistence, and task choice. In contrast to earlier formulations of EVT, the multiplicative term Expectancy x Value in regression-type models typically plays no major role in educational psychology. The present study…

Piloting a Polychotomous Partial-Credit Scoring Procedure in a Multiple-Choice Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tsopanoglou, Antonios; Ypsilandis, George S.; Mouti, Anna

2014-01-01

Multiple-choice (MC) tests are frequently used to measure language competence because they are quick, economical and straightforward to score. While degrees of correctness have been investigated for partially correct responses in combined-response MC tests, degrees of incorrectness in distractors and the role they play in determining the…

Comparative Genomics and Reverse Genetics Analysis Reveal Indispensable Functions of the Serine Acetyltransferase Gene Family in Arabidopsis[W][OA

PubMed Central

Watanabe, Mutsumi; Mochida, Keiichi; Kato, Tomohiko; Tabata, Satoshi; Yoshimoto, Naoko; Noji, Masaaki; Saito, Kazuki

2008-01-01

Ser acetyltransferase (SERAT), which catalyzes O-acetyl-Ser (OAS) formation, plays a key role in sulfur assimilation and Cys synthesis. Despite several studies on SERATs from various plant species, the in vivo function of multiple SERAT genes in plant cells remains unaddressed. Comparative genomics studies with the five genes of the SERAT gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana indicated that all three Arabidopsis SERAT subfamilies are conserved across five plant species with available genome sequences. Single and multiple knockout mutants of all Arabidopsis SERAT gene family members were analyzed. All five quadruple mutants with a single gene survived, with three mutants showing dwarfism. However, the quintuple mutant lacking all SERAT genes was embryo-lethal. Thus, all five isoforms show functional redundancy in vivo. The developmental and compartment-specific roles of each SERAT isoform were also demonstrated. Mitochondrial SERAT2;2 plays a predominant role in cellular OAS formation, while plastidic SERAT2;1 contributes less to OAS formation and subsequent Cys synthesis. Three cytosolic isoforms, SERAT1;1, SERAT3;1, and SERAT3;2, may play a major role during seed development. Thus, the evolutionally conserved SERAT gene family is essential in cellular processes, and the substrates and products of SERAT must be exchangeable between the cytosol and organelles. PMID:18776059

Isl1 is required for multiple aspects of motor neuron development.

PubMed

Liang, Xingqun; Song, Mi-Ryoung; Xu, ZengGuang; Lanuza, Guillermo M; Liu, Yali; Zhuang, Tao; Chen, Yihan; Pfaff, Samuel L; Evans, Sylvia M; Sun, Yunfu

2011-07-01

The LIM homeodomain transcription factor Islet1 (Isl1) is expressed in multiple organs and plays essential roles during embryogenesis. Isl1 is required for the survival and specification of spinal cord motor neurons. Due to early embryonic lethality and loss of motor neurons, the role of Isl1 in other aspects of motor neuron development remains unclear. In this study, we generated Isl1 mutant mouse lines expressing graded doses of Isl1. Our study has revealed essential roles of Isl1 in multiple aspects of motor neuron development, including motor neuron cell body localization, motor column formation and axon growth. In addition, Isl1 is required for survival of cranial ganglia neurons. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Interaction between HIV awareness, knowledge, safe sex practice and HIV prevalence: evidence from Botswana.

PubMed

Ray, Ranjan; Sinha, Kompal

2012-05-01

This paper makes methodological and empirical contributions to the study of HIV in the context of Botswana, a country with high HIV prevalence. Comparable evidence is presented from India to put the Botswana results in perspective. The results point to the strong role played by affluence and education in increasing HIV knowledge, promoting safe sex and reducing HIV prevalence. The study presents African evidence on the role played by the empowerment of women in promoting safe sex practices such as condom use. The lack of significant association between HIV prevalence and safe sex practice points to the danger of HIV-infected individuals spreading the disease through multiple sex partners and unprotected sex. This danger is underlined by the finding that females with multiple sex partners are at higher risk of being infected with HIV. These results take on special policy significance in the context of Botswana, where the issue of multiple sex partners has not been adequately addressed in the programme to contain the spread of HIV.

Teacher Roles of Questioning in Early Elementary Science Classrooms: A Framework Promoting Student Cognitive Complexities in Argumentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, Ying-Chih; Hand, Brian; Norton-Meier, Lori

2017-04-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the various roles that early elementary teachers adopt when questioning, to scaffold dialogic interaction and students' cognitive responses for argumentative practices over time. Teacher questioning is a pivotal contributing factor that shapes the role teachers play in promoting dialogic interaction in argumentative practice and that different roles serve different functions for promoting students' conceptual understanding. The multiple-case study was designed as a follow-up study after a 4-year professional development program that emphasized an argument-based inquiry approach. Data sources included 30 lessons focusing on whole class discussion from three early elementary teachers' classes. Data were analyzed through two approaches: (1) constant comparative method and (2) enumerative approach. This study conceptualized four critical roles of teacher questioning—dispenser, moderator, coach, and participant—in light of the ownership of ideas and activities. The findings revealed two salient changes in teachers' use of questions and the relationships between teachers' question-asking and students' cognitive responses: (1) teachers increasingly used multiple roles in establishing argumentative discourse as they persistently implemented an argument-based inquiry approach, and (2) as teachers used multiple roles in establishing patterns of questioning and framing classroom interactions, higher levels of student cognitive responses were promoted. This study suggests that an essential component of teacher professional development should include the study of the various roles that teachers can play when questioning for establishing dialogic interaction in argumentation and that this development should consist of ongoing training with systematic support.

The Relationship between Multiple Intelligences and Iranian EFL Learners' Level of L2 Lexical Knowledge: The Case of Gender

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Biria, Reza; Boshrabadi, Abbas Mehrabi; Nikbakht, Elham

2014-01-01

Human cognitive competence represents individuals' subconscious knowledge of abilities, talents, and mental skills collectively called "multiple intelligences (MIs)", which play a pivotal role in facilitating human learning. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to determine the magnitude of the relationship existing between…

A Microswitch-Based Program to Enable Students with Multiple Disabilities to Choose among Environmental Stimuli

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lancioni, Giulio E.; O'Reilly, Mark F.; Singh, Nirbhay N.; Sigafoos, Jeff; Didden, Robert; Oliva, Doretta; Severini, Laura

2006-01-01

Students with multiple disabilities, such as severe to profound mental retardation combined with motor and visual impairment, are usually unable to engage in constructive activity or play a positive role in their daily context. Microswitches are technical tools that may help them improve their status by allowing them to control environmental…

Developing above-ground woody biomass equations for open-grown, multiple-stemmed tree species: shelterbelt-grown Russian-olive

Treesearch

Xinhau Zhour; James R. Brandle; Michele M. Schoeneberger; Tala Awada

2007-01-01

Multiple-stemmed tree species are often used in agricultural settings, playing a significant role in natural resource conservation and carbon sequestration. Biomass estimation, whether for modeling growth under different climate scenarios, accounting for carbon sequestered, or inclusion in natural resource inventories, requires equations that can accurately describe...

Multiple Perspectives of Conceptual Change in Science and the Challenges Ahead

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Treagust, David F.; Duit, Reinders

2009-01-01

Conceptual change views of teaching and learning processes in science, and also in various other content domains, have played a significant role in research on teaching and learning as well as in instructional design since the late 1970s. Conceptual change can be interpreted from different individual perspectives or from multiple perspectives. In…

The MORPG-Based Learning System for Multiple Courses: A Case Study on Computer Science Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Kuo-Yu

2015-01-01

This study aimed at developing a Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game-based (MORPG) Learning system which enabled instructors to construct a game scenario and manage sharable and reusable learning content for multiple courses. It used the curriculum of "Introduction to Computer Science" as a study case to assess students' learning…

Comparing the Effects of Two Facets of Multiple Intelligences Theory on Developing EFL Learners' Listening

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bemani Naeini, Ma'ssoumeh

2015-01-01

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory (MIT), however having been embraced in the field of language acquisition, has apparently failed to play a role in research on learning styles as an alternative construct. This study aims at examining the potential effects of MI-based activities, as learning styles, on the listening proficiency of Iranian…

Uric acid, lung function, physical capacity and exacerbation frequency in patients with COPD: a multi-dimensional approach.

PubMed

Kahnert, Kathrin; Alter, Peter; Welte, Tobias; Huber, Rudolf M; Behr, Jürgen; Biertz, Frank; Watz, Henrik; Bals, Robert; Vogelmeier, Claus F; Jörres, Rudolf A

2018-06-04

Recent investigations showed single associations between uric acid levels, functional parameters, exacerbations and mortality in COPD patients. The aim of this study was to describe the role of uric acid within the network of multiple relationships between function, exacerbation and comorbidities. We used baseline data from the German COPD cohort COSYCONET which were evaluated by standard multiple regression analyses as well as path analysis to quantify the network of relations between parameters, particularly uric acid. Data from 1966 patients were analyzed. Uric acid was significantly associated with reduced FEV 1 , reduced 6-MWD, higher burden of exacerbations (GOLD criteria) and cardiovascular comorbidities, in addition to risk factors such as BMI and packyears. These associations remained significant after taking into account their multiple interdependences. Compared to uric acid levels the diagnosis of hyperuricemia and its medication played a minor role. Within the limits of a cross-sectional approach, our results strongly suggest that uric acid is a biomarker of high impact in COPD and plays a genuine role for relevant outcomes such as physical capacity and exacerbations. These findings suggest that more attention should be paid to uric acid in the evaluation of COPD disease status.

The Multiple Roles of Mentors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sanchez, Sabrina R.; Roegman, Rachel; Goodwin, A. Lin

2016-01-01

Teaching Residents at Teachers College (TR@TC) is an 18-month program that prepares teachers for high-needs schools in New York City in two areas: teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and teaching students with disabilities. Student teachers, called residents, spend a year working with a mentor teacher. Mentors play three roles:…

Figuring Home: The Role of Commodities in the Transnational Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Penman, Christine; Omar, Maktoba

2011-01-01

This article proposes to investigate the role played by material goods in the transnational experience. Previous research has shown that the movement of people across the world comes with a corollary of cultural flows which find their expression in multiple ways. This article looks more specifically at the kind of commodities that international…

Socialization, Social Support, and Social Cognitive Theory: An Examination of the Graduate Teaching Assistant

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dixon, Kelly Elizabeth

2012-01-01

Graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) face the unknown as they negotiate their multiple roles and identities within the graduate school and classroom setting as teachers, students, and researchers. The purpose of this study is to identify the role that institutionalized socialization, social support, and behavioral observation and modeling play for…

Making Philosophy of Science Education Practical for Science Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Janssen, F. J. J. M.; van Berkel, B.

2015-01-01

Philosophy of science education can play a vital role in the preparation and professional development of science teachers. In order to fulfill this role a philosophy of science education should be made practical for teachers. First, multiple and inherently incomplete philosophies on the teacher and teaching on what, how and why should be…

Genome-wide identification of microRNAs in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) by high-throughput sequencing

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, play multiple key roles in plant growth and development and in biotic and abiotic stress response. Knowledge and roles of miRNAs in pomegranate fruit development have not...

Normative beliefs and sexual risk in China.

PubMed

Li, Li; Ding, Ying Ying; Wu, Zunyou; Rotheram-Borus, Mary Jane; Guo, Sam

2011-08-01

We examined normative beliefs about multiple sexual partners and social status in China and their association with risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Self-reported and biological markers of sexual risk were examined among 3,716 market vendors from a city in eastern China. Men who were older or with less education believed having multiple sexual partners was linked to higher social status. Adjusting for demographic characteristics, normative beliefs were significantly associated with having multiple sexual partners, while having multiple sexual partners was significantly associated with STIs. Normative beliefs regarding sexual behaviors may play an important role in individual risk behaviors. Future HIV/STI interventions must address community beliefs about the positive meaning of sexual risks, particularly among men with traditional beliefs about gender roles.

NITRIC OXIDE, MITOCHONDRIAL HYPERPOLARIZATION AND T-CELL ACTIVATION

PubMed Central

Nagy, Gyorgy; Koncz, Agnes; Fernandez, David; Perl, Andras

2007-01-01

T lymphocyte activation is associated with nitric oxide (NO) production that plays an essential role in multiple T cell functions. NO acts as a messenger, activating soluble guanyl cyclase and participating in the transduction signaling pathways involving cyclic GMP. NO modulates mitochondrial events that are involved in apoptosis and regulates mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial biogenesis in many cell types, including lymphocytes. Mitochondrial hyperpolarization (MHP), an early and reversible event during both T lymphocyte activation and apoptosis, is regulated by NO. Here, we discuss recent evidence that NO-induced MHP represents a molecular switch in multiple T cell signaling pathways. Overproduction of NO in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) induces mitochondrial biogenesis and alters Ca2+ signaling. Thus, while NO plays a physiological role in lymphocyte cell signaling, its overproduction may disturb normal T cell function, contributing to the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. PMID:17462531

Recognizing the Role of Community in Civic Education: Lessons from Hull House, Highlander Folk School, and the Neighborhood Learning Community. Circle Working Paper 30

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Longo, Nicholas V.

2005-01-01

This study unearths and examines rich models of learning in which multiple institutions collaboratively play a role in promoting civic education. Using historical and ethnographic case study analysis, this paper addresses the research question: What is the role of community in civic education? Specifically, the author examines Hull House and the…

Fair Play: A Study of Scientific Workforce Trainers’ Experience Playing an Educational Video Game about Racial Bias

PubMed Central

Kaatz, Anna; Carnes, Molly; Gutierrez, Belinda; Savoy, Julia; Samuel, Clem; Filut, Amarette; Pribbenow, Christine Maidl

2017-01-01

Explicit racial bias has decreased in the United States, but racial stereotypes still exist and conspire in multiple ways to perpetuate the underparticipation of Blacks in science careers. Capitalizing on the potential effectiveness of role-playing video games to promote the type of active learning required to increase awareness of and reduce subtle racial bias, we developed the video game Fair Play, in which players take on the role of Jamal, a Black male graduate student in science, who experiences discrimination in his PhD program. We describe a mixed-methods evaluation of the experience of scientific workforce trainers who played Fair Play at the National Institutes of Health Division of Training Workforce Development and Diversity program directors’ meeting in 2013 (n = 47; 76% female, n = 34; 53% nonwhite, n = 26). The evaluation findings suggest that Fair Play can promote perspective taking and increase bias literacy, which are steps toward reducing racial bias and affording Blacks equal opportunities to excel in science. PMID:28450447

Multiple Roles of Photosynthetic and Sunscreen Pigments in Cyanobacteria Focusing on the Oxidative Stress

PubMed Central

Wada, Naoki; Sakamoto, Toshio; Matsugo, Seiichi

2013-01-01

Cyanobacteria have two types of sunscreen pigments, scytonemin and mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs). These secondary metabolites are thought to play multiple roles against several environmental stresses such as UV radiation and desiccation. Not only the large molar absorption coefficients of these sunscreen pigments, but also their antioxidative properties may be necessary for the protection of biological molecules against the oxidative damages induced by UV radiation. The antioxidant activity and vitrification property of these pigments are thought to be requisite for the desiccation and rehydration processes in anhydrobiotes. In this review, the multiple roles of photosynthetic pigments and sunscreen pigments on stress resistance, especially from the viewpoint of their structures, biosynthetic pathway, and in vitro studies of their antioxidant activity, will be discussed. PMID:24958001

Contingent interaction during work and play tasks for mothers with multiple sclerosis and their daughters.

PubMed

Crist, P

1993-02-01

Occupational therapy has focused on activity as a catalyst for understanding human roles and interactions, regardless of whether disability or chronic illness is present. Parenting is an important interactional activity accompanied by specific role expectations. This investigation examined the interaction patterns of mothers with multiple sclerosis and their daughters. Thirty-one mothers with multiple sclerosis and their daughters aged 8 to 12 years were compared with 34 mothers without disabilities and their daughters aged 8 to 12 years. Videotaped mother-daughter interactions during a work task and a play task were scored by two raters for 11 different behaviors. These behaviors were collapsed into three behavioral composites--receptiveness, directiveness, and dissuasiveness--for statistical analysis. Statistical analysis revealed no significant differences between the two groups on the behavioral composites for either mothers or their daughters. The two tasks stimulated a different pattern of mother-daughter interactions. For both members of the dyad, interactions during the work task were more directive and less dissuasive than those in the play task. The clinical implication of this finding indicates the importance of understanding the influence of the task selected when observing interaction. Because of recent social and legal changes, understanding parenting and chronic illness is critical.

The multiple roles of sGP in Ebola pathogenesis.

PubMed

de La Vega, Marc-Antoine; Wong, Gary; Kobinger, Gary P; Qiu, Xiangguo

2015-02-01

Ebola causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates, and there are currently no approved therapeutic countermeasures. The virulence of Ebola virus (EBOV) may be partially attributed to the secreted glycoprotein (sGP), which is the main product transcribed from its GP gene. sGP is secreted from infected cells and can be readily detected in the serum of EBOV-infected hosts. This review summarizes the multiple roles that sGP may play during infection and highlights the implications for the future design of vaccines and treatments.

The Multiple Roles of sGP in Ebola Pathogenesis

PubMed Central

de La Vega, Marc-Antoine; Wong, Gary; Kobinger, Gary P.

2015-01-01

Abstract Ebola causes severe hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates, and there are currently no approved therapeutic countermeasures. The virulence of Ebola virus (EBOV) may be partially attributed to the secreted glycoprotein (sGP), which is the main product transcribed from its GP gene. sGP is secreted from infected cells and can be readily detected in the serum of EBOV-infected hosts. This review summarizes the multiple roles that sGP may play during infection and highlights the implications for the future design of vaccines and treatments. PMID:25354393

EPAS-1 mediates SP-1-dependent FBI-1 expression and regulates tumor cell survival and proliferation.

PubMed

Wang, Xiaogang; Cao, Peng; Li, Zhiqing; Wu, Dongyang; Wang, Xi; Liang, Guobiao

2014-09-04

Factor binding IST-1 (FBI-1) plays an important role in oncogenic transformation and tumorigenesis. As FBI-1 is over-expressed in multiple human cancers, the regulation of itself would provide new effective options for cancer intervention. In this work, we aimed to study the role that EPAS-1 plays in regulating FBI-1. We use the fact that specificity protein-1 (SP-1) is one of the crucial transcription factors of FBI-1, and that SP-1 can interact with the endothelial pas domain protein-1 (EPAS-1) for the induction of hypoxia related genes. The study showed that EPAS-1 plays an indispensible role in SP-1 transcription factor-mediated FBI-1 induction, and participated in tumor cell survival and proliferation. Thus, EPAS-1 could be a novel target for cancer therapeutics.

How Variables Uncorrelated with the Dependent Variable Can Actually Make Excellent Predictors: The Important Suppressor Variable Case.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woolley, Kristin K.

Many researchers are unfamiliar with suppressor variables and how they operate in multiple regression analyses. This paper describes the role suppressor variables play in a multiple regression model and provides practical examples that explain how they can change research results. A variable that when added as another predictor increases the total…

Learning to Question: The Roles of Multiple Hypotheses, Successive Approximations, Balloons and Toilet Paper in University Science Programs of Southwestern Amazonia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, I. Foster

2008-01-01

Learning to question is essential for determining pathways of conservation and development in southwestern Amazonia during a time of rapid global environmental change. Teaching such an approach in graduate science programs in regional universities can be done using play-acting and simulation exercises. Multiple working hypotheses help students…

Effects of Inservice Teacher Training on Correct Implementation of Assessment and Instructional Procedures for Teachers of Students with Profound Multiple Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horrocks, Erin L.; Morgan, Robert L.

2011-01-01

A multicomponent training package (live training, video modeling, role playing, and feedback) was used to train teachers to conduct assessment and to instruct students with profound multiple disabilities. Phase 1 of the study involved training seven teachers to conduct assessment in three areas: (a) preference assessment (i.e., identification of…

Ontogenetic Trajectories of Chimpanzee Social Play: Similarities with Humans

PubMed Central

Cordoni, Giada; Palagi, Elisabetta

2011-01-01

Social play, a widespread phenomenon in mammals, is a multifunctional behavior, which can have many different roles according to species, sex, age, relationship quality between playmates, group membership, context, and habitat. Play joins and cuts across a variety of disciplines leading directly to inquiries relating to individual developmental changes and species adaptation, thus the importance of comparative studies appears evident. Here, we aim at proposing a possible ontogenetic pathway of chimpanzee play (Pan troglodytes) and contrast our data with those of human play. Chimpanzee play shows a number of changes from infancy to juvenility. Particularly, solitary and social play follows different developmental trajectories. While solitary play peaks in infancy, social play does not show any quantitative variation between infancy and juvenility but shows a strong qualitative variation in complexity, asymmetry, and playmate choice. Like laughter in humans, the playful expressions in chimpanzees (at the different age phases) seem to have a role in advertising cooperative dispositions and intentions thus increasing the likelihood of engaging in solid social relationships. In conclusion, in chimpanzees, as in humans, both play behavior and the signals that accompany play serve multiple functions according to the different age phases. PMID:22110630

Ontogenetic trajectories of chimpanzee social play: similarities with humans.

PubMed

Cordoni, Giada; Palagi, Elisabetta

2011-01-01

Social play, a widespread phenomenon in mammals, is a multifunctional behavior, which can have many different roles according to species, sex, age, relationship quality between playmates, group membership, context, and habitat. Play joins and cuts across a variety of disciplines leading directly to inquiries relating to individual developmental changes and species adaptation, thus the importance of comparative studies appears evident. Here, we aim at proposing a possible ontogenetic pathway of chimpanzee play (Pan troglodytes) and contrast our data with those of human play. Chimpanzee play shows a number of changes from infancy to juvenility. Particularly, solitary and social play follows different developmental trajectories. While solitary play peaks in infancy, social play does not show any quantitative variation between infancy and juvenility but shows a strong qualitative variation in complexity, asymmetry, and playmate choice. Like laughter in humans, the playful expressions in chimpanzees (at the different age phases) seem to have a role in advertising cooperative dispositions and intentions thus increasing the likelihood of engaging in solid social relationships. In conclusion, in chimpanzees, as in humans, both play behavior and the signals that accompany play serve multiple functions according to the different age phases.

Suicidal Ideation and Distress among Immigrant Adolescents: The Role of Acculturation, Life Stress, and Social Support

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cho, Yong-Beom; Haslam, Nick

2010-01-01

Acculturative stress and social support play important roles in suicide-related phenomena among adolescent immigrants. To examine their contributions, measures of acculturative and general life stress and a measure of multiple sources of social support were used to predict psychological distress and suicidal ideation among Korean-born high school…

Discourse of the Firetenders: Considering Contingent Faculty through the Lens of Activity Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Doe, Sue; Barnes, Natalie; Bowen, David; Gilkey, David; Smoak, Ginger Guardiola; Ryan, Sarah; Sarell, Kirk; Thomas, Laura H.; Troup, Lucy J.; Palmquist, Mike

2011-01-01

In this article, the authors explore the multiple roles that contingent faculty play in an evolving system of higher education. They consider the professional work of faculty in contingent positions at Colorado State University through the lens of activity theory, analyzing workplace discourse logs in an effort to understand the roles of…

Linking Local Food Systems and the Social Economy? Future Roles for Farmers' Markets in Alberta and British Columbia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wittman, Hannah; Beckie, Mary; Hergesheimer, Chris

2012-01-01

Often organized as grassroots, nonprofit organizations, many farmers' markets serve as strategic venues linking producers and consumers of local food while fulfilling multiple social, economic, and environmental objectives. This article examines the potential of farmers' markets to play a catalyst role in linking local food systems to the social…

Here We Like "Playing" Princesses--Newcomer Migrant Children's Transitions within Day Care: Exploring Role Play as an Indication of Suitability and Home and Belonging

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kalkman, Kris; Clark, Alison

2017-01-01

Using the concept of "suitability" to describe newcomer migrant children's connection to multiple fields of social and cultural relations, we explore a newcomer migrant girl's transition from an introductory group for migrant children with a refugee background into a mainstream day-care group. Inspired by sociocultural and transitional…

The immunoregulatory role of type I and type II NKT cells in cancer and other diseases

PubMed Central

Terabe, Masaki; Berzofsky, Jay A.

2014-01-01

NKT cells are CD1d-restricted T cells that recognize lipid antigens. They also have been shown to play critical roles in the regulation of immune responses. In the immune responses against tumors, two subsets of NKT cells, type I and type II, play opposing roles and cross-regulate each other. As members of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, which form a network of multiple components, they also interact with other immune components. Here we discuss the function of NKT cells in tumor immunity and their interaction with other regulatory cells, especially CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells. PMID:24384834

Stakeholder Conference on Bee Health

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

USDA and EPA released a comprehensive scientific report on honey bee health in May 2013. The report points to multiple factors playing a role in honey bee colony declines, including parasites and disease, genetics, poor nutrition, and pesticide exposure.

MiR-218 Mediates tumorigenesis and metastasis: Perspectives and implications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lu, Ying-fei; Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong; Zhang, Li

2015-05-15

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. As a highly conserved miRNA across a variety of species, microRNA-218 (miR-218) was found to play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis and progression. A group of evidence has demonstrated that miR-218 acts as a tumor suppressor by targeting many oncogenes related to proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. In this review, we provide a complex overview of miR-218, including its regulatory mechanisms, known functions in cancer and future challenges as a potential therapeutic target in human cancers. - Highlights: • miR-218 is frequently down regulatedmore » in multiple cancers. • miR-218 plays pivotal roles in carcinogenesis. • miR-218 mediates proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, invasion, etc. • miR-218 mediates tumorigenesis and metastasis via multiple pathways.« less

A Study of the Relationship between Iranian EFL Learners' Level of Spatial Intelligence and Their Performance on Analytical and Perceptual Cloze Tests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ahmadian, Moussa; Jalilian, Vahid

2012-01-01

During the last two decades, Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences with its emphasis on learner variables has been appreciated in language learning. Spatial intelligence, as one domain of the multiple structures of intelligence, which is thought to play a great role in reading, writing, and literacy, particularly in L2 learning, has not…

Older Sibling Support of Younger Siblings' Socio-Emotional Development: A Multiple-Case Study of Second-Generation Mexican and Honduran Children's Initiative and Co-Construction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palacios, Natalia; Kibler, Amanda K.; Yoder, Michelle; Baird, Ashley Simpson; Bergey, Rebecca

2016-01-01

Siblings play a critical role in the socialization experiences of their younger siblings. Societal values, standards, and customs are transmitted and created through the process of modeling and the construction of shared meaning. It follows, therefore, that the process of socialization may be culturally dependent. Using multiple case studies of…

Microtubule organization during human parthenogenesis.

PubMed

Terada, Yukihiro; Hasegawa, Hisataka; Ugajin, Tomohisa; Murakami, Takashi; Yaegashi, Nobuo; Okamura, Kunihiro

2009-04-01

In human fertilization, the sperm centrosome plays a crucial role as a microtubule organizing center (MTOC). We studied microtubule organization during human parthenogenesis, which occurs when a human egg undergoes cleavage without a sperm centrosome. Multiple cytoplasmic asters were organized in the human oocyte after parthenogenetic activation, indicating that multiple MTOC are present in the human oocyte cytoplasm and function like a human sperm centrosome during parthenogenesis.

PSP: rapid identification of orthologous coding genes under positive selection across multiple closely related prokaryotic genomes.

PubMed

Su, Fei; Ou, Hong-Yu; Tao, Fei; Tang, Hongzhi; Xu, Ping

2013-12-27

With genomic sequences of many closely related bacterial strains made available by deep sequencing, it is now possible to investigate trends in prokaryotic microevolution. Positive selection is a sub-process of microevolution, in which a particular mutation is favored, causing the allele frequency to continuously shift in one direction. Wide scanning of prokaryotic genomes has shown that positive selection at the molecular level is much more frequent than expected. Genes with significant positive selection may play key roles in bacterial adaption to different environmental pressures. However, selection pressure analyses are computationally intensive and awkward to configure. Here we describe an open access web server, which is designated as PSP (Positive Selection analysis for Prokaryotic genomes) for performing evolutionary analysis on orthologous coding genes, specially designed for rapid comparison of dozens of closely related prokaryotic genomes. Remarkably, PSP facilitates functional exploration at the multiple levels by assignments and enrichments of KO, GO or COG terms. To illustrate this user-friendly tool, we analyzed Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus genomes and found that several genes, which play key roles in human infection and antibiotic resistance, show significant evidence of positive selection. PSP is freely available to all users without any login requirement at: http://db-mml.sjtu.edu.cn/PSP/. PSP ultimately allows researchers to do genome-scale analysis for evolutionary selection across multiple prokaryotic genomes rapidly and easily, and identify the genes undergoing positive selection, which may play key roles in the interactions of host-pathogen and/or environmental adaptation.

Microglia and Beyond: Innate Immune Cells As Regulators of Brain Development and Behavioral Function.

PubMed

Lenz, Kathryn M; Nelson, Lars H

2018-01-01

Innate immune cells play a well-documented role in the etiology and disease course of many brain-based conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, and brain cancers. In contrast, it is only recently becoming clear that innate immune cells, primarily brain resident macrophages called microglia, are also key regulators of brain development. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding microglia in brain development, with particular emphasis on how microglia during development are distinct from microglia later in life. We also summarize the effects of early life perturbations on microglia function in the developing brain, the role that biological sex plays in microglia function, and the potential role that microglia may play in developmental brain disorders. Finally, given how new the field of developmental neuroimmunology is, we highlight what has yet to be learned about how innate immune cells shape the development of brain and behavior.

EPAS-1 Mediates SP-1-Dependent FBI-1 Expression and Regulates Tumor Cell Survival and Proliferation

PubMed Central

Wang, Xiaogang; Cao, Peng; Li, Zhiqing; Wu, Dongyang; Wang, Xi; Liang, Guobiao

2014-01-01

Factor binding IST-1 (FBI-1) plays an important role in oncogenic transformation and tumorigenesis. As FBI-1 is over-expressed in multiple human cancers, the regulation of itself would provide new effective options for cancer intervention. In this work, we aimed to study the role that EPAS-1 plays in regulating FBI-1. We use the fact that specificity protein-1 (SP-1) is one of the crucial transcription factors of FBI-1, and that SP-1 can interact with the endothelial pas domain protein-1 (EPAS-1) for the induction of hypoxia related genes. The study showed that EPAS-1 plays an indispensible role in SP-1 transcription factor-mediated FBI-1 induction, and participated in tumor cell survival and proliferation. Thus, EPAS-1 could be a novel target for cancer therapeutics. PMID:25192290

An epigenetic view of developmental diseases: new targets, new therapies.

PubMed

Xie, Pei; Zang, Li-Qun; Li, Xue-Kun; Shu, Qiang

2016-08-01

Function of epigenetic modifications is one of the most competitive fields in life science. Over the past several decades, it has been revealed that epigenetic modifications play essential roles in development and diseases including developmental diseases. In the present review, we summarize the recent progress about the function of epigenetic regulation, especially DNA and RNA modifications in developmental diseases. Original research articles and literature reviews published in PubMed-indexed journals. DNA modifications including methylation and demethylation can regulate gene expression, and are involved in development and multiple diseases including Rett syndrome, Autism spectrum disorders, congenital heart disease and cancer, etc. RNA methylation and demethylation play important roles in RNA processing, reprogramming, circadian, and neuronal activity, and then modulate development. DNA and RNA modifications play important roles in development and diseases through regulating gene expression. Epigenetic components could serve as novel targets for the treatment of developmental diseases.

Roles of V-shaped pits on the improvement of quantum efficiency in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well light-emitting diodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Quan, Zhijue, E-mail: quanzhijue@ncu.edu.cn; Wang, Li, E-mail: wl@ncu.edu.cn; Zheng, Changda

2014-11-14

The roles of V-shaped pits on the improvement of quantum efficiency in InGaN/GaN multiple quantum well (MQW) light-emitting diodes are investigated by numerical simulation. The simulation results show that V-shaped pits cannot only screen dislocations, but also play an important role on promoting hole injection into the MQWs. It is revealed that the injection of holes into the MQW via the sidewalls of the V-shaped pits is easier than via the flat region, due to the lower polarization charge densities in the sidewall structure with lower In concentration and (10–11)-oriented semi-polar facets.

Exosomes participate in the carcinogenesis and the malignant behavior of gastric cancer.

PubMed

Yan, Yunmeng; Fu, Guangzhen; Ye, Yafei; Ming, Liang

2017-05-01

In order to summarize the role of exosomes in invasion and metastasis in gastric cancer (GC). Exosomes are vesicles of endocytic origin ranging from 30 to 100 nm in size; they are composed of a lipid bilayer and contain DNA, mRNA, miRNA, circular RNA and multiple proteins. Recently, increasing evidence shows that exosomes play a crucial role in the tumorigenesis of GC. In this review, we focus on the latest findings on GC exosomes, mainly summarizing their role in invasion and metastasis in GC. Then, exosomes? potential functions as novel diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for GC are briefly discussed. At last, we prospect the clinical application perspective of exosomes in GC. Exosomes play a vital role in gastric cancer carcinogenesis and metastasis.

Genetics Home Reference: familial pityriasis rubra pilaris

MedlinePlus

... interacting proteins known as nuclear factor-kappa-B (NF-κB). NF-κB regulates the activity of multiple genes, including ... but it is particularly abundant in the skin. NF-κB signaling appears to play an important role ...

Coping Self-Efficacy and Academic Stress among Hispanic First-Year College Students: The Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Joshua C.; Watson, April A.

2016-01-01

In this study, the authors examined the role that emotional intelligence plays in moderating the relationship between academic stress and coping self-efficacy among a sample of 125 Hispanic 1st-year college students enrolled at a medium-size, southern Hispanic-serving institution. Results of a 2-stage hierarchical multiple regression analysis…

Using a Learning Management System to Personalise Learning for Primary School Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Edmunds, Bronwyn; Hartnett, Maggie

2014-01-01

This paper reports on one aspect of a descriptive multiple-case study which set out to explore the role of a learning management system (LMS) in personalising learning for students from the perspective of three teachers in one primary school in New Zealand. The intention was to provide insight into the role the LMS could play in classrooms when…

Stressing on the nucleolus in cardiovascular disease.

PubMed

Hariharan, Nirmala; Sussman, Mark A

2014-06-01

The nucleolus is a multifunctional organelle with multiple roles involving cell proliferation, growth, survival, ribosome biogenesis and stress response signaling. Alteration of nucleolar morphology and architecture signifies an early response to increased cellular stress. This review briefly summarizes nucleolar response to cardiac stress signals and details the role played by nucleolar proteins in cardiovascular pathophysiology. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Role of the Nucleolus in Human Disease. © 2013.

Mild deficits in mice lacking pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide receptor type 1 (PAC1) performing on memory tasks.

PubMed

Sauvage, M; Brabet, P; Holsboer, F; Bockaert, J; Steckler, T

2000-12-08

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and its receptor subtype 1 (PAC1) have been suggested to play a role in the modulation of learning and memory. However, behavioral evidence for altered mnemonic function due to altered PAC1 activity is missing. Therefore, the role of PAC1 in learning and memory was studied in mouse mutants lacking this receptor (PAC1 knock-out mice), tested in water maze two-choice spatial discrimination, one-trial contextual and cued fear conditioning, and multiple-session contextual discrimination. Water maze spatial discrimination was unaffected in PAC1 mutants, while a mild deficit was observed in multiple session contextual discrimination in PAC1 knock-out mice. Furthermore, PAC1 knock-out mice were able to learn the association between context and shock in one-trial contextual conditioning, but showed faster return to baseline than wild-type mice. Thus, the effects of PAC1 knock-out on modulating performance in these tasks were subtle and suggest that PAC1 only plays a limited role in learning and memory.

Supernumerary impacted teeth in a patient with SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome.

PubMed

Numakura, Chikahiko; Kitanaka, Sachiko; Kato, Mitsuhiro; Ishikawa, Shigeo; Hamamoto, Yoshioki; Katsushima, Yuriko; Kimura, Toshiyuki; Hayasaka, Kiyoshi

2010-09-01

SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome characteristically presents as anophthalmia or microphthalmia, with various extraocular symptoms, such as hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, brain anomaly, and esophageal abnormalities. In this report, we describe a patient with SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome complicated with a dental anomaly, multiple supernumerary impacted teeth, and persistence of deciduous teeth. Multiple supernumerary teeth are usually not solitary symptoms, but indicate systemic syndrome such as cleidocranial dysplasia. In odontogenesis, many transcriptional factors, such as BMPs, FGFs, and Wnts, play significant roles and SOX2 is known to interact with some of them. The role of SOX2 in dental development remains unknown, however, multiple supernumerary teeth can be considered as extraocular symptoms of SOX2 anophthalmia syndrome, rather than the coincidence of two rare diseases.

Respiratory dose assessment of inhaled particles: continuing progress

EPA Science Inventory

Internal dose is a key factor for determining the health risk ofinhaled pollutant particles on the one hand and the efficacy ofdrug inhalantsonthe other. Accurateestimation ofrespiratorydose, however, is a difficult task because multiple factors come to play roles in the process....

The moderator-mediator role of social support in early adolescents.

PubMed

Yarcheski, A; Mahon, N E

1999-10-01

The purpose of this study was to examine social support as both a mediator and a moderator of the relationship between perceived stress and symptom patterns in early adolescents. Data were collected from 148 early adolescent boys and girls, ages 12 to 14, who responded to the Perceived Stress Scale, the Personal Resource Questionnaire 85-Part II, and the Symptom Pattern Scale. Using multiple regression analysis procedures specified for the testing of moderation and mediation, results indicated that social support did not play a moderating role in the relationship between perceived stress and symptom patterns, but social support did play a mediating role in this relationship. The findings are interpreted within the two major theoretical orientations that guided the study.

Hormone balance and abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants.

PubMed

Peleg, Zvi; Blumwald, Eduardo

2011-06-01

Plant hormones play central roles in the ability of plants to adapt to changing environments, by mediating growth, development, nutrient allocation, and source/sink transitions. Although ABA is the most studied stress-responsive hormone, the role of cytokinins, brassinosteroids, and auxins during environmental stress is emerging. Recent evidence indicated that plant hormones are involved in multiple processes. Cross-talk between the different plant hormones results in synergetic or antagonic interactions that play crucial roles in response of plants to abiotic stress. The characterization of the molecular mechanisms regulating hormone synthesis, signaling, and action are facilitating the modification of hormone biosynthetic pathways for the generation of transgenic crop plants with enhanced abiotic stress tolerance. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Combined action of time-delay and colored cross-associated multiplicative and additive noises on stability and stochastic resonance for a stochastic metapopulation system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Kang-Kang; Zong, De-Cai; Wang, Ya-Jun; Li, Sheng-Hong

2016-05-01

In this paper, the transition between the stable state of a big density and the extinction state and stochastic resonance (SR) for a time-delayed metapopulation system disturbed by colored cross-correlated noises are investigated. By applying the fast descent method, the small time-delay approximation and McNamara and Wiesenfeld's SR theory, we investigate the impacts of time-delay, the multiplicative, additive noises and colored cross-correlated noise on the SNR and the shift between the two states of the system. Numerical results show that the multiplicative, additive noises and time-delay can all speed up the transition from the stable state to the extinction state, while the correlation noise and its correlation time can slow down the extinction process of the population system. With respect to SNR, the multiplicative noise always weakens the SR effect, while noise correlation time plays a dual role in motivating the SR phenomenon. Meanwhile, time-delay mainly plays a negative role in stimulating the SR phenomenon. Conversely, it could motivate the SR effect to increase the strength of the cross-correlation noise in the SNR-β plot, while the increase of additive noise intensity will firstly excite SR, and then suppress the SR effect.

Multiple functions of neuronal plasma membrane neurotransmitter transporters.

PubMed

Raiteri, Luca; Raiteri, Maurizio

2015-11-01

Removal from receptors of neurotransmitters just released into synapses is one of the major steps in neurotransmission. Transporters situated on the plasma membrane of nerve endings and glial cells perform the process of neurotransmitter (re)uptake. Because the density of transporters in the membranes can fluctuate, transporters can determine the transmitter concentrations at receptors, thus modulating indirectly the excitability of neighboring neurons. Evidence is accumulating that neurotransmitter transporters can exhibit multiple functions. Being bidirectional, neurotransmitter transporters can mediate transmitter release by working in reverse, most often under pathological conditions that cause ionic gradient dysregulations. Some transporters reverse to release transmitters, like dopamine or serotonin, when activated by 'indirectly acting' substrates, like the amphetamines. Some transporters exhibit as one major function the ability to capture transmitters into nerve terminals that perform insufficient synthesis. Transporter activation can generate conductances that regulate directly neuronal excitability. Synaptic and non-synaptic transporters play different roles. Cytosolic Na(+) elevations accompanying transport can interact with plasmalemmal or/and mitochondrial Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchangers thus generating calcium signals. Finally, neurotransmitter transporters can behave as receptors mediating releasing stimuli able to cause transmitter efflux through multiple mechanisms. Neurotransmitter transporters are therefore likely to play hitherto unknown roles in multiple therapeutic treatments. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Role of intestinal microbiota in the development of multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Castillo-Álvarez, F; Marzo-Sola, M E

2017-04-01

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease that affects young adults; in that age group, it represents the second leading cause of disability in our setting. Its precise aetiology has not been elucidated, but it is widely accepted to occur in genetically predisposed patients who are exposed to certain environmental factors. The discovery of the regulatory role played by intestinal microbiota in various autoimmune diseases has opened a new line of research in this field, which is discussed in this review. We reviewed published studies on the role of the microbiota in the development of both MS and its animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In mice, it has been shown that intestinal microorganisms regulate the polarisation of T helper cells from Th1-Th17 up to Th2, the function of regulatory T cells, and the activity of B cells; they participate in the pathogenesis of EAE and contribute to its prevention and treatment. In contrast, evidence in humans is still scarce and mainly based on case-control studies that point to the presence of differences in certain bacterial communities. Multiple evidence points to the role of microbiota in EAE. Extrapolation of these results to MS is still in the early stages of research, and studies are needed to define which bacterial populations are associated with MS, the role they play in pathogenesis, and the therapeutic possibilities this knowledge offers us. Copyright © 2015 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Autophagy and kidney inflammation

PubMed Central

Kimura, Tomonori; Isaka, Yoshitaka; Yoshimori, Tamotsu

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Inflammation plays a pivotal role in pathophysiological processes of kidney diseases. Macroautophagy/autophagy plays multiple roles in inflammatory responses, and the regulation of inflammation by autophagy has great potential as a treatment for damaged kidneys. A growing body of evidence suggests autophagy protects kidney from versatile kidney inflammatory insults, including those that are acute, chronic, metabolic, and aging-related. It is noteworthy that, in kidney, mitophagy is active, and damaged lysosomes are removed by autophagy. In this mode, autophagy suppresses inflammation to protect the kidney. Systemic inflammation also affects the kidney via pro-inflammatory cytokines and infiltration of inflammatory cells, and autophagy also has a regulatory role in systemic inflammation. This review focuses on the roles of autophagy in kidney diseases and aging through inflammation, and discusses the potential usage of autophagy as an inflammatory modulator for the treatment of kidney diseases. PMID:28441075

Autophagy and kidney inflammation.

PubMed

Kimura, Tomonori; Isaka, Yoshitaka; Yoshimori, Tamotsu

2017-06-03

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in pathophysiological processes of kidney diseases. Macroautophagy/autophagy plays multiple roles in inflammatory responses, and the regulation of inflammation by autophagy has great potential as a treatment for damaged kidneys. A growing body of evidence suggests autophagy protects kidney from versatile kidney inflammatory insults, including those that are acute, chronic, metabolic, and aging-related. It is noteworthy that, in kidney, mitophagy is active, and damaged lysosomes are removed by autophagy. In this mode, autophagy suppresses inflammation to protect the kidney. Systemic inflammation also affects the kidney via pro-inflammatory cytokines and infiltration of inflammatory cells, and autophagy also has a regulatory role in systemic inflammation. This review focuses on the roles of autophagy in kidney diseases and aging through inflammation, and discusses the potential usage of autophagy as an inflammatory modulator for the treatment of kidney diseases.

Emerging role for corticotropin releasing factor signaling in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis at the intersection of stress and reward.

PubMed

Silberman, Yuval; Winder, Danny G

2013-01-01

Stress and anxiety play an important role in the development and maintenance of drug and alcohol addiction. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain region involved in the production of long-term stress-related behaviors, plays an important role in animal models of relapse, such as reinstatement to previously extinguished drug-seeking behaviors. While a number of neurotransmitter systems have been suggested to play a role in these behaviors, recent evidence points to the neuropeptide corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) as being critically important in BNST-mediated reinstatement behaviors. Although numerous studies indicate that the BNST is a complex brain region with multiple afferent and efferent systems and a variety of cell types, there has only been limited work to determine how CRF modulates this complex neuronal system at the circuit level. Recent work from our lab and others have begun to unravel these BNST neurocircuits and explore their roles in CRF-related reinstatement behaviors. This review will examine the role of CRF signaling in drug addiction and reinstatement with an emphasis on critical neurocircuitry within the BNST that may offer new insights into treatments for addiction.

Integrating Environmental Sustainability into Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ralph, Meredith; Stubbs, Wendy

2014-01-01

Universities play a fundamental role in addressing global environmental challenges as their education, research and community involvement can produce long-lasting environmental effects and societal change. By demonstrating best practice in their operations, research and teaching, universities have both multiple and multiplier effects on society.…

Assessing Effects of Pesticides on the Bee Immune System

EPA Science Inventory

Populations of some managed and wild pollinators are in decline as a result of multiple interacting factors including parasites, disease, poor nutrition and pesticides. The role that diminished immunity plays in these declines is not understood. The U.S. Environmental Protection ...

Primary Care Sports Medicine: A Part-Timer's Perspective.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howe, Warren B.

1988-01-01

A family practice physician describes his part-time sports medicine experience, including the multiple roles he plays as team physician, the way sports medicine is integrated into his family practice, and how it affects his professional life and peer relationships. (Author/MT)

Scientists find link between allergic and autoimmune diseases in mouse study

Cancer.gov

Scientists at the National Institutes of Health, and their colleagues, have discovered that a gene called BACH2 may play a central role in the development of diverse allergic and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, asthma, Crohn's disease, ce

Remedying Social Skills Deficits in a Chronic Schizophrenic-Retarded Person.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Henry J.; Martin, Rose

1983-01-01

An adult chronic schizophrenic, residual type, with an additional diagnosis of mild-moderate retardation, received social skills training (SST). Videotaped role-play assessments showed change occurred following SST, while a multiple-baseline design demonstrated functional control over the behaviors. (Author/CL)

Ambient Air Mitigation Strategies for Reducing Exposures to Mobile Source PM2.5 Emissions

EPA Science Inventory

Presentation discussing ambient air mitigation strategies for near-road exposures. The presentation provides an overview of multiple methods, but focuses on the role roadside features (sound walls, vegetation) may play. This presentation summarizes preoviously published work by...

MITOCHONDRIAL BIOENERGETICS FOLLOWING OZONE EXPOSURE IN SEDENTARY VERSUS ACTIVE LIFESTYLE OF FEMALE LONG-EVANS RATS

EPA Science Inventory

Mitochondria are key regulators of cellular energy homeostasis and may play a key role in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders and chemical induced neurotoxicity. However, mitochondrial bioenergetic parameters have not been systematically evaluated within multiple brain ...

Inhibitors of the proteasome suppress homologous DNA recombination in mammalian cells.

PubMed

Murakawa, Yasuhiro; Sonoda, Eiichiro; Barber, Louise J; Zeng, Weihua; Yokomori, Kyoko; Kimura, Hiroshi; Niimi, Atsuko; Lehmann, Alan; Zhao, Guang Yu; Hochegger, Helfrid; Boulton, Simon J; Takeda, Shunichi

2007-09-15

Proteasome inhibitors are novel antitumor agents against multiple myeloma and other malignancies. Despite the increasing clinical application, the molecular basis of their antitumor effect has been poorly understood due to the involvement of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in multiple cellular metabolisms. Here, we show that treatment of cells with proteasome inhibitors has no significant effect on nonhomologous end joining but suppresses homologous recombination (HR), which plays a key role in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. In this study, we treat human cells with proteasome inhibitors and show that the inhibition of the proteasome reduces the efficiency of HR-dependent repair of an artificial HR substrate. We further show that inhibition of the proteasome interferes with the activation of Rad51, a key factor for HR, although it does not affect the activation of ATM, gammaH2AX, or Mre11. These data show that the proteasome-mediated destruction is required for the promotion of HR at an early step. We suggest that the defect in HR-mediated DNA repair caused by proteasome inhibitors contributes to antitumor effect, as HR plays an essential role in cellular proliferation. Moreover, because HR plays key roles in the repair of DSBs caused by chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin and by radiotherapy, proteasome inhibitors may enhance the efficacy of these treatments through the suppression of HR-mediated DNA repair pathways.

Grassland species differentially regulate proline concentrations under future climate conditions: an integrated biochemical and modelling approach.

PubMed

AbdElgawad, Hamada; De Vos, Dirk; Zinta, Gaurav; Domagalska, Malgorzata A; Beemster, Gerrit T S; Asard, Han

2015-10-01

Proline (Pro) is a versatile metabolite playing a role in the protection of plants against environmental stresses. To gain a deeper understanding of the regulation of Pro metabolism under predicted future climate conditions, including drought stress, elevated temperature and CO2 , we combined measurements in contrasting grassland species (two grasses and two legumes) at multiple organisational levels, that is, metabolite concentrations, enzyme activities and gene expression. Drought stress (D) activates Pro biosynthesis and represses its catabolism, and elevated temperature (DT) further elevated its content. Elevated CO2 attenuated the DT effect on Pro accumulation. Computational pathway control analysis allowed a mechanistic understanding of the regulatory changes in Pro metabolism. This analysis indicates that the experimentally observed coregulation of multiple enzymes is more effective in modulating Pro concentrations than regulation of a single step. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS) and pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase (P5CR) play a central role in grasses (Lolium perenne, Poa pratensis), and arginase (ARG), ornithine aminotransferase (OAT) and P5CR play a central role in legumes (Medicago lupulina, Lotus corniculatus). Different strategies in the regulation of Pro concentrations under stress conditions were observed. In grasses the glutamate pathway is activated predominantly, and in the legumes the ornithine pathway, possibly related to differences in N-nutritional status. © 2015 The Authors. New Phytologist © 2015 New Phytologist Trust.

[The possibility of using music therapy in neurology on the example of multiple sclerosis].

PubMed

Boiko, E A; Ivanchuk, E V; Gunchenko, M M; Batysheva, T T

2016-01-01

Currently music therapy plays an important role in the drug-free treatment and rehabilitation of children and adults with acute and chronic neurological and somatic diseases including demyelinating diseases. Existing studies show the effectiveness of music therapy in the improvement of social skills, cognitive function and sleep as well as in the reduction in the severity of depression, anxiety and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Current and Emerging Therapies in Multiple Sclerosis: Implications for the Radiologist, Part 1-Mechanisms, Efficacy, and Safety.

PubMed

McNamara, C; Sugrue, G; Murray, B; MacMahon, P J

2017-09-01

Imaging for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with suspected or confirmed multiple sclerosis is a common scenario for many general radiologists and subspecialty neuroradiologists. The field of MS therapeutics has rapidly evolved with multiple new agents now being used in routine clinical practice. To provide an informed opinion in discussions concerning newer MS agents, radiologists must have a working understanding of the strengths and limitations of the various novel therapies. The role of imaging in MS has advanced beyond monitoring and surveillance of disease activity to include treatment complications. An understanding of the new generation of MS drugs in conjunction with the key role that MR imaging plays in the detection of disease progression, opportunistic infections, and drug-related adverse events is of vital importance to the radiologist and clinical physician alike. Radiologists are in a unique position to detect many of the described complications well in advance of clinical symptoms. Part 1 of this review outlines recent developments in the treatment of MS and discusses the published clinical data on the efficacy and safety of the currently approved and emerging therapies in this condition as they apply to the radiologist. Part 2 will cover pharmacovigilance and the role the neuroradiologist plays in monitoring patients for signs of opportunistic infection and/or disease progression. © 2017 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.

Understanding the Concepts of Proportion and Ratio Constructed by Two Grade Six Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Singh, Parmjit

2000-01-01

Reports on a study designed to construct an understanding of two grade 6 students' proportional reasoning schemes. Finds that two mental operations, unitizing and iterating, play an important role in students' use of multiplicative thinking in proportion tasks. (Author/MM)

Emergence of parochial altruism in well-mixed populations of multiple groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Shiping; Wu, Te; Nie, Suli; Wang, Long

2015-10-01

Understanding the evolution of parochial altruism is of great importance. We here institute an analytical model to study the emergence of parochial altruism in group-structured populations. Individuals' strategy is contingent on interacting partners' group property. Only when sharing common tag(s), they play the prisoner's dilemma game; otherwise they play the punishment game. The conditions for the emergence of parochial altruism are specified for weak selection. Emergence of parochial altruism is promoted by assortment as well as by intergroup punishment. Furthermore, the affiliation plays a negative (positive) role in the emergence of parochial altruism for low (high) mutation.

Carbon stocks and changes on Pacific Northwest national forests and the role of disturbance, management, and growth

Treesearch

Andrew N. Gray; Thomas R. Whittier

2014-01-01

The National Forest System (NFS) of the United States plays an important role in the carbon cycle because these lands make up a large proportion of the forested land in the country and commonly store more wood per unit area than other forest ownerships. In addition to sustaining natural resources, these lands are managed for multiple objectives that do not always align...

Improving hand functional use in subjects with multiple sclerosis using a musical keyboard: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Gatti, Roberto; Tettamanti, Andrea; Lambiase, Simone; Rossi, Paolo; Comola, Mauro

2015-06-01

Playing an instrument implies neuroplasticity in different cerebral regions. This phenomenon has been described in subjects with stroke, suggesting that it could play a role in hand rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to analyse the effectiveness of playing a musical keyboard in improving hand function in subjects with multiple sclerosis. Nineteen hospitalized subjects were randomized in two groups: nine played a turned-on musical keyboard by sequences of fingers movements (audio feedback present) and 10 performed the same exercises on a turned-off musical keyboard (audio feedback absent). Training duration was half an hour per day for 15 days. Primary outcome was the perceived hand functional use measured by ABILHAND Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were hand dexterity, measured by Nine-Hole Peg Test, and hand strength, measured by Jamar and Pinch dynamometers. Two-way analysis of variance was used for data analysis. The interaction time × group was significant (p = 0.003) for ABILHAND Questionnaire in favour of experimental group (mean between-group difference 0.99 logit [IC95%: 0.44; 1.54]). The two groups showed a significant time effect for all outcomes except for Jamar measure. Playing a musical keyboard seems a valid method to train the functional use of hands in subjects with multiple sclerosis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Phytochromes play a role in phototropism and gravitropism in Arabidopsis roots

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Correll, Melanie J.; Coveney, Katrina M.; Raines, Steven V.; Mullen, Jack L.; Hangarter, Roger P.; Kiss, John Z.

2003-05-01

Phototropism as well as gravitropism plays a role in the oriented growth of roots in flowering plants. In blue or white light, roots exhibit negative phototropism, but red light induces positive phototropism in Arabidopsis roots. Phytochrome A (phyA) and phyB mediate the positive red-light-based photoresponse in roots since single mutants (and the double phyAB mutant) were severely impaired in this response. In blue-light-based negative phototropism, phyA and phyAB (but not phyB) were inhibited in the response relative to the WT. In root gravitropism, phyB and phyAB (but not phyA) were inhibited in the response compared to the WT. The differences observed in tropistic responses were not due to growth limitations since the growth rates among all the mutants tested were not significantly different from that of the WT. Thus, our study shows that the blue-light and red-light systems interact in roots and that phytochrome plays a key role in plant development by integrating multiple environmental stimuli.

Pickering-type water-in-oil-in-water multiple emulsions toward multihollow nanocomposite microspheres.

PubMed

Maeda, Hayata; Okada, Masahiro; Fujii, Syuji; Nakamura, Yoshinobu; Furuzono, Tsutomu

2010-09-07

Multihollow hydroxyapatite (HAp)/poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) nanocomposite microspheres were readily fabricated by solvent evaporation from a "Pickering-type" water-in-(dichloromethane solution of PLLA)-in-water multiple emulsion stabilized with HAp nanoparticles. The multiple emulsion was stabilized with the aid of PLLA molecules used as a wettability modifier for HAp nanoparticles, although HAp nanoparticles did not work solely as particulate emulsifiers for Pickering-type emulsions consisting of pure dichloromethane and water. The interaction between PLLA and HAp nanoparticles at the oil-water interfaces plays a crucial role toward the preparation of stable multiple emulsion and multihollow microspheres.

Rab7: roles in membrane trafficking and disease.

PubMed

Zhang, Ming; Chen, Li; Wang, Shicong; Wang, Tuanlao

2009-06-01

The endocytosis pathway controls multiple cellular and physiological events. The lysosome is the destination of newly synthesized lysosomal hydrolytic enzymes. Internalized molecules or particles are delivered to the lysosome for degradation through sequential transport along the endocytic pathway. The endocytic pathway is also emerging as a signalling platform, in addition to the well-known role of the plasma membrane for signalling. Rab7 is a late endosome-/lysosome-associated small GTPase, perhaps the only lysosomal Rab protein identified to date. Rab7 plays critical roles in the endocytic processes. Through interaction with its partners (including upstream regulators and downstream effectors), Rab7 participates in multiple regulation mechanisms in endosomal sorting, biogenesis of lysosome [or LRO (lysosome-related organelle)] and phagocytosis. These processes are closely related to substrates degradation, antigen presentation, cell signalling, cell survival and microbial pathogen infection. Consistently, mutations or dysfunctions of Rab7 result in traffic disorders, which cause various diseases, such as neuropathy, cancer and lipid metabolism disease. Rab7 also plays important roles in microbial pathogen infection and survival, as well as in participating in the life cycle of viruses. Here, we give a brief review on the central role of Rab7 in endosomal traffic and summarize the studies focusing on the participation of Rab7 in disease pathogenesis. The underlying mechanism governed by Rab7 and its partners will also be discussed.

Evolution of cooperation in a heterogeneous population with influential individuals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuang, Qian; Wang, Dong; Fan, Ying; Di, Zengru

2012-02-01

Influential individuals are introduced and integrated with the public goods game (PGG) to investigate their influence on the emergence and evolution of cooperation. In the model, some influential individuals whose behaviors can be controlled by us are introduced into a homogeneous population on a square lattice. The influential individuals can play three kinds of roles: I. exemplar, II. supervisor with the power to punish defectors, and III. supervisor with the power to reward cooperative co-players. It is found that the existence of influential individuals who play Role I turns out to be detrimental to cooperation and that the larger the number of influential individuals is, the more difficult it is for cooperation to be maintained. For those playing supervisory roles, both punishment and reward are found to be effective ways for the influential individuals to promote and stabilize cooperative behavior. By comparing the critical costs and the mean payoffs for a low multiplication factor under the role of punishment and the role of reward, it is found that reward is a more effective intervention measure than punishment for influential individuals seeking to improve cooperation and that reward leads to a higher mean payoff.

Serious Use of a Serious Game for Language Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, W. Lewis

2010-01-01

The Tactical Language and Culture Training System (TLCTS) helps learners acquire basic communicative skills in foreign languages and cultures. Learners acquire communication skills through a combination of interactive lessons and serious games. Artificial intelligence plays multiple roles in this learning environment: to process the learner's…

Paranormal belief, experience, and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter.

PubMed

Fox, J; Williams, C

2000-06-01

121 college students completed the Anomalous Experience Inventory and the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. Multiple regression analyses provided significant models predicting both Paranormal Experience and Belief; the main predictors were the other subscales of the Anomalous Experience Inventory with the Keirsey variables playing only a minor role.

Genepleio software for effective estimation of gene pleiotropy from protein sequences.

PubMed

Chen, Wenhai; Chen, Dandan; Zhao, Ming; Zou, Yangyun; Zeng, Yanwu; Gu, Xun

2015-01-01

Though pleiotropy, which refers to the phenomenon of a gene affecting multiple traits, has long played a central role in genetics, development, and evolution, estimation of the number of pleiotropy components remains a hard mission to accomplish. In this paper, we report a newly developed software package, Genepleio, to estimate the effective gene pleiotropy from phylogenetic analysis of protein sequences. Since this estimate can be interpreted as the minimum pleiotropy of a gene, it is used to play a role of reference for many empirical pleiotropy measures. This work would facilitate our understanding of how gene pleiotropy affects the pattern of genotype-phenotype map and the consequence of organismal evolution.

Carotenoid Extraction and Quantification from Capsicum annuum.

PubMed

Richins, Richard D; Kilcrease, James; Rodgriguez-Uribe, Laura; O'Connell, Mary A

2014-10-05

Carotenoids are ubiquitous pigments that play key roles in photosynthesis and also accumulate to high levels in fruit and flowers. Specific carotenoids play essential roles in human health as these compounds are precursors for Vitamin A; other specific carotenoids are important sources of macular pigments and all carotenoids are important anti-oxidants. Accurate determination of the composition and concentration of this complex set of natural products is therefore important in many different scientific areas. One of the richest sources of these compounds is the fruit of Capsicum ; these red, yellow and orange fruit accumulate multiple carotenes and xanthophylls. This report describes the detailed method for the extraction and quantification of specific carotenes and xanthophylls.

Micropropagation and in vitro conservation of vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews).

PubMed

Divakaran, Minoo; Babu, K Nirmal

2009-01-01

Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Andrews (syn. V. fragrans Salisb.), a source of natural vanillin, plays a major positive role in the economy of several countries. A native to the Central America, its primary gene pool is threatened by deforestation and over collection that has resulted in disappearance of natural habitats and wild species. Therefore, multiplication and conservation of vanilla diversity is of paramount importance because of its narrow genetic base. It plays an important role in the production of disease free planting material for commercial cultivation. Simple protocols for micropropagation, in vitro conservation and synthetic seed production are described in this chapter which could further be applied to other related vanilla species as well.

The role of tactile sensation in online and offline hierarchical control of multi-finger force synergy.

PubMed

Koh, Kyung; Kwon, Hyun Joon; Yoon, Bum Chul; Cho, Yongseok; Shin, Joon-Ho; Hahn, Jin-Oh; Miller, Ross H; Kim, Yoon Hyuk; Shim, Jae Kun

2015-09-01

The hand, one of the most versatile but mechanically redundant parts of the human body, must overcome imperfect motor commands and inherent noise in both the sensory and motor systems in order to produce desired motor actions. For example, it is nearly impossible to produce a perfectly consistent note during a single violin stroke or to produce the exact same note over multiple strokes, which we denote online and offline control, respectively. To overcome these challenges, the central nervous system synergistically integrates multiple sensory modalities and coordinates multiple motor effectors. Among these sensory modalities, tactile sensation plays an important role in manual motor tasks by providing hand-object contact information. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of tactile feedback in individual finger actions and multi-finger interactions during constant force production tasks. We developed analytical techniques for the linear decomposition of the overall variance in the motor system in both online and offline control. We removed tactile feedback from the fingers and demonstrated that tactile sensors played a critical role in the online control of synergistic interactions between fingers. In contrast, the same sensors did not contribute to offline control. We also demonstrated that when tactile feedback was removed from the fingers, the combined motor output of individual fingers did not change while individual finger behaviors did. This finding supports the idea of hierarchical control where individual fingers at the lower level work together to stabilize the performance of combined motor output at the higher level.

DNA Damage Repair and the Emerging Role of Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibition in Cancer Therapeutics.

PubMed

Rabenau, Karen; Hofstatter, Erin

2016-07-01

As a result of improved understanding of DNA repair mechanisms, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are increasingly recognized to play an important therapeutic role in the treatment of cancer. The aim of this article is to provide a review of PARPi function in DNA damage repair and synthetic lethality and to demonstrate how these mechanisms can be exploited to provide new PARPi-based therapies to patients with solid tumors. Literature from a range of sources, including PubMed and MEDLINE, were searched to identify recent reports regarding DNA damage repair and PARPi. DNA damage repair is central to cellular viability. The family of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase proteins play multiple intracellular roles in DNA repair, but function primarily in the resolution of repair of single-strand DNA breaks. Insights through the discovery of germline BRCA1/2 mutations led to the understanding of synthetic lethality and the potential therapeutic role of PARPi in the treatment of cancer. Further understanding of DNA damage repair and the concept of BRCA-like tumors have catalyzed PARPi clinical investigation in multiple oncologic settings. PARPi hold great promise in the treatment of solid tumors, both as monotherapy and in combination with other cancer therapeutics. Multiple PARPi clinical trials are currently underway. Further understanding of aberrant DNA repair mechanisms in the germline and in the tumor genome will allow clinicians and researchers to apply PARPi most strategically in the era of personalized medicine. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier HS Journals, Inc. All rights reserved.

PPAR-γ in innate and adaptive lung immunity.

PubMed

Nobs, Samuel Philip; Kopf, Manfred

2018-05-16

The transcription factor PPAR-γ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ) is a key regulator of lung immunity exhibiting multiple cell type specific roles in controlling development and function of the lung immune system. It is strictly required for the generation of alveolar macrophages by controlling differentiation of fetal lung monocyte precursors. Furthermore, it plays an important role in lung allergic inflammation by licensing lung dendritic cell t helper 2 (Th2) priming capacity as well as acting as a master transcription factor for pathogenic Th2 cells. Due to this plethora of functions and its involvement in multiple pulmonary diseases including asthma and pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, understanding the role of PPAR-γ in lung immunity is an important subject of ongoing research. ©2018 Society for Leukocyte Biology.

BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION TO TREAT SELECTIVE MUTISM ACROSS MULTIPLE SOCIAL SITUATIONS AND COMMUNITY SETTINGS

PubMed Central

Lang, Russell; Regester, April; Mulloy, Austin; Rispoli, Mandy; Botout, Amanda

2011-01-01

We evaluated a behavioral intervention for a 9-year-old girl with selective mutism. The intervention consisted of role play and video self-modeling. The frequency of spoken initiations, responses to questions, and communication breakdowns was measured during three social situations (i.e., ordering in a restaurant, meeting new adults, and playing with new children) and in three community settings. Results demonstrated increases in spoken initiations and responses and decreases in communication breakdowns across all situations and settings. PMID:21941394

Behavioral intervention to treat selective mutism across multiple social situations and community settings.

PubMed

Lang, Russell; Regester, April; Mulloy, Austin; Rispoli, Mandy; Botout, Amanda

2011-01-01

We evaluated a behavioral intervention for a 9-year-old girl with selective mutism. The intervention consisted of role play and video self-modeling. The frequency of spoken initiations, responses to questions, and communication breakdowns was measured during three social situations (i.e., ordering in a restaurant, meeting new adults, and playing with new children) and in three community settings. Results demonstrated increases in spoken initiations and responses and decreases in communication breakdowns across all situations and settings.

Return to play after infectious mononucleosis.

PubMed

Becker, Jonathan A; Smith, Julie Anne

2014-05-01

Infectious mononucleosis is a disease primarily of adolescence and early adulthood. The risk of splenic injury and chronic fatigue make return-to-play decisions a challenge for the clinician caring for athletes with infectious mononucleosis. Data were obtained from the PubMed and MEDLINE databases through December 2012 by searching for epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestations, management, and the role of the spleen in infectious mononucleosis. Clinical review. Level 4. Infectious mononucleosis is commonly encountered in young athletes. Its disease pattern is variable and can affect multiple organ systems. Supportive care is the cornerstone, with little role for medications such as corticosteroids. Physical examination is unreliable for the spleen, and ultrasound imaging has limitations in its ability to guide return-to-play decisions. Exercise does not appear to place the young athlete at risk for chronic fatigue, but determining who is at risk for persistent symptoms is a challenge. Return-to-play decisions for the athlete with infectious mononucleosis need to be individualized because of the variable disease course and lack of evidence-based guidelines.

Preschool Child Care and Parents' Use of Physical Discipline

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Magnuson, Katherine A.; Waldfogel, Jane

2005-01-01

Parenting practices, including the use of physical discipline, are shaped by multiple influences. Although much research focuses on how parent, child, and dyadic characteristics shape parenting practices, extra-familial resources may also play a role. This paper focuses on how children's experiences of child care during the preschool years may…

Identifying thresholds in pattern-process relationships: a new cross-scale interactions experiment at the Jornada Basin LTER

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Interactions among ecological patterns and processes at multiple scales play a significant role in threshold behaviors in arid systems. Black grama grasslands and mesquite shrublands are hypothesized to operate under unique sets of feedbacks: grasslands are maintained by fine-scale biotic feedbacks ...

Representational Competence: Towards a Distributed and Embodied Cognition Account

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pande, Prajakt; Chandrasekharan, Sanjay

2017-01-01

Multiple external representations (MERs) are central to the practice and learning of science, mathematics and engineering, as the phenomena and entities investigated and controlled in these domains are often not available for perception and action. MERs therefore play a twofold constitutive role in reasoning in these domains. Firstly, MERs stand…

FULL-GENOME ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE SPLICING IN MOUSE LIVER AFTER HEPATOTOXICANT EXPOSURE

EPA Science Inventory

Alternative splicing plays a role in determining gene function and protein diversity. We have employed whole genome exon profiling using Affymetrix Mouse Exon 1.0 ST arrays to understand the significance of alternative splicing on a genome-wide scale in response to multiple toxic...

Strategies for Creating Supportive School Nutrition Environments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014

2014-01-01

Good nutrition is vital to optimal health. The school environment plays a fundamental role in shaping lifelong healthy behaviors and can have a powerful influence on students' eating habits. A supportive school nutrition environment includes multiple elements: access to healthy and appealing foods and beverages available to students in school…

A social and ecological assessment of tropical land uses at multiple scales: the Sustainable Amazon Network

EPA Science Inventory

Science has a critical role to play in guiding more sustainable development trajectories. Here we present the Sustainable Amazon Network (Rede Amazônia Sustentável, RAS): a multi-disciplinary research initiative involving more than 30 partner organisations working to assess both ...

The Bordetella Bps polysaccharide is required for biofilm formation and persistence in the lower respiratory tract of swine

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Bordetella bronchiseptica is pervasive in swine populations and plays multiple roles in respiratory disease. Additionally, B. bronchiseptica is capable of establishing long-term or chronic infections in swine. Bacterial biofilms are increasingly recognized as important contributors to chronic bacter...

MUD for Learning: Classification and Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsieh, Chung-Hsiang; Sun, Chuen-Tsai

2006-01-01

From a constructivist point of view, the importance of MUDs (Multiple User Dungeons) in education is justified based on their community-forming, learning, and role-playing functions. The authors propose a typology for educational MUDs and discuss their individual instructional approaches in order to measure MUD potential in ten-os of…

ABERRANT PROMOTER METHYLATION OF MULTIPLE GENES IN SPUTUM FROM INDIVIDUALS EXPOSED TO SMOKY COAL EMISSIONS

EPA Science Inventory

Aberrant methylation in the promoter region of cancer-related genes leads to gene transcriptional inactivation and plays an integral role in lung tumorigenesis. Recent studies demonstrated that promoter methylation was detected not only in lung tumors from patients with lung canc...

Management of Giant Sequoia on Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest

Treesearch

Norman J. Benson

1986-01-01

Established in 1946, the Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest, Tulare County, California, is managed by the California Department of Forestry. It is a multiple-use forest with recreation as its primary focus, although timber management has always played an important role. Giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum [Lindl. ] Buchholz) occurs in...

Biodiversity in the city: key challenges for urban green space management

Treesearch

Myla F.J. Aronson; Christopher A. Lepczyk; Karl L. Evans; Mark A. Goddard; Susannah B. Lerman; J. Scott MacIvor; Charles H. Nilon; Timothy Vargo

2017-01-01

Cities play important roles in the conservation of global biodiversity, particularly through the planning and management of urban green spaces (UGS). However, UGS management is subject to a complex assortment of interacting social, cultural, and economic factors, including governance, economics, social networks, multiple stakeholders, individual preferences, and social...

School-Family Relationships, School Satisfaction and the Academic Achievement of Young People

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hampden-Thompson, Gillian; Galindo, Claudia

2017-01-01

Families' perceptions of, and interactions with, schools and teachers can play an essential role in young people's educational outcomes. According to Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, young people grow within multiple nested systems of influence interacting with each other. Thus, their development is affected by persons, processes, and…

Multiple chemosensory targets for discovery of novel chemicals for disruption of mosquito behavior

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The yellow-fever mosquito Aedes aegypti is an important vector of diseases including dengue fever, yellow fever, chikungunya and West Nile virus. Olfactory and gustatory signals play important roles in the orientation of female mosquitoes to vertebrate hosts and initiation of blood feeding. Using re...

The Impact of Simulated Interviews for Individuals with Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Walker, Zachary; Vasquez, Eleazar; Wienke, Wilfred

2016-01-01

The purpose of this research study was to explore the efficacy of role-playing and coaching in mixed-reality environments for the acquisition and generalization of social skills leading to successful job interview performance. Using a multiple baseline across participants design, five young adults with intellectual disability practiced…

Conditions for the Effectiveness of Multiple Visual Representations in Enhancing STEM Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rau, Martina A.

2017-01-01

Visual representations play a critical role in enhancing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning. Educational psychology research shows that adding visual representations to text can enhance students' learning of content knowledge, compared to text-only. But should students learn with a single type of visual…

Assessing the Application of Three-Dimensional Collaborative Technologies within an E-Learning Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McArdle, Gavin; Bertolotto, Michela

2012-01-01

Today, the Internet plays a major role in distributing learning material within third level education. Multiple online facilities provide access to educational resources. While early systems relied on webpages, which acted as repositories for learning material, nowadays sophisticated online applications manage and deliver learning resources.…

Adolescent Developmental Experiences and Participation in Extracurricular Activities in Saudi Arabia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alfnifie, Shuaa

2012-01-01

This study examined adolescent developmental experiences and participation in extracurricular activities. Providing youth with multiple channels to nurture their development and acknowledge their interests and strengths can play a significant role in their holistic growth. This is a descriptive study of a mixed-methods design (quantitative and…

The Human Factor

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnson, Jean

2013-01-01

Unless school leaders do more to help teachers, students, parents, taxpayers, and other key groups understand the need for change and the key roles they can play, school improvement will be spotty and nearly impossible to sustain, writes Public Agenda senior fellow Jean Johnson. Citing multiple surveys of these groups conducted by Public Agenda,…

Genetic admixture and body composition in Puerto Rican adults from the Boston Puerto Rican osteoporosis study

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Population admixture plays a role in the risk of chronic conditions that are related to body composition; however, our understanding of these associations in Puerto Ricans, a population characterized by multiple ancestries, is limited. This study investigated the relationship between genetic admixtu...

β catenin in health: A review

PubMed Central

Prakash, Sharada; Swaminathan, Uma

2015-01-01

β catenin belongs to the armadillo family of proteins. It plays a crucial role in developmental and homeostatic processes. Wnts are a family of 19 secreted glycoproteins that transduce multiple signaling cascades, including the canonical Wnt/β catenin pathway, Wnt/Ca2+ pathway and the Wnt/polarity pathway. This is a review on β catenin, Wnt proteins and their secretion, the signaling pathway, the associated factors and the crucial role of β catenin in odontogenesis. PMID:26604501

Alternative Splicing of sept9a and sept9b in Zebrafish Produces Multiple mRNA Transcripts Expressed Throughout Development

PubMed Central

Hannibal, Mark C.; Kimelman, David

2010-01-01

Background Septins are involved in a number of cellular processes including cytokinesis and organization of the cytoskeleton. Alterations in human septin-9 (SEPT9) levels have been linked to multiple cancers, whereas mutations in SEPT9 cause the episodic neuropathy, hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA). Despite its important function in human health, the in vivo role of SEPT9 is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we utilize zebrafish to study the role of SEPT9 in early development. We show that zebrafish possess two genes, sept9a and sept9b that, like humans, express multiple transcripts. Knockdown or overexpression of sept9a transcripts results in specific developmental alterations including circulation defects and aberrant epidermal development. Conclusions/Significance Our work demonstrates that sept9 plays an important role in zebrafish development, and establishes zebrafish as a valuable model organism for the study of SEPT9. PMID:20502708

Cancer Survivors Who Play Recreational Computer Games: Motivations for Playing and Associations with Beneficial Psychological Outcomes.

PubMed

Comello, Maria Leonora G; Francis, Diane B; Marshall, Laura Heisner; Puglia, Deanna R

2016-08-01

Playing recreational videogames is a common activity, yet little is known about its role in the lives of people who are coping with serious illness. These individuals may experience depression and isolation and may turn to games to help alleviate negative experiences and support well-being. We explored these possibilities in the context of cancer survivors. The study aimed to discover motivations underlying game play and the extent to which motivations are associated with psychological health and well-being. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey of survivors who play recreational games (N = 794). Key variables were motivations and indicators of psychological health, including self-efficacy in cancer communications, resilient coping, and beliefs that one is living a fulfilling and meaningful life (flourishing). Participants were most likely to be motivated to play for stimulation and a sense of accomplishment (intrinsic rewards), followed by development of self, sense of community, and personal affirmation. Multiple regression analyses revealed positive associations between playing for intrinsic rewards and all three psychological health outcomes. Playing for a sense of community was also positively associated with coping and flourishing. Playing recreational videogames, particularly to receive intrinsic rewards and to connect with others, may play a supportive role in the psychological health of survivors. Findings suggest future areas for research and implications for development of serious games.

Elevated arousal levels enhance contrast perception.

PubMed

Kim, Dongho; Lokey, Savannah; Ling, Sam

2017-02-01

Our state of arousal fluctuates from moment to moment-fluctuations that can have profound impacts on behavior. Arousal has been proposed to play a powerful, widespread role in the brain, influencing processes as far ranging as perception, memory, learning, and decision making. Although arousal clearly plays a critical role in modulating behavior, the mechanisms underlying this modulation remain poorly understood. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the modulatory role of arousal on one of the cornerstones of visual perception: contrast perception. Using a reward-driven paradigm to manipulate arousal state, we discovered that elevated arousal state substantially enhances visual sensitivity, incurring a multiplicative modulation of contrast response. Contrast defines vision, determining whether objects appear visible or invisible to us, and these results indicate that one of the consequences of decreased arousal state is an impaired ability to visually process our environment.

Liar, liar, working memory on fire: Investigating the role of working memory in childhood verbal deception.

PubMed

Alloway, Tracy Packiam; McCallum, Fiona; Alloway, Ross G; Hoicka, Elena

2015-09-01

The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of working memory in verbal deception in children. We presented 6- and 7-year-olds with a temptation resistance paradigm; they played a trivia game and were then given an opportunity to peek at the final answers on the back of a card. Measures of both verbal and visuospatial working memory were included. The good liars performed better on the verbal working memory test in both processing and recall compared with the bad liars. However, there was no difference in visuospatial working scores between good liars and bad liars. This pattern suggests that verbal working memory plays a role in processing and manipulating the multiple pieces of information involved in lie-telling. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Obesity and government.

PubMed

Kahan, Scott; Zvenyach, Tracy

2016-10-01

Despite much effort, obesity prevalence and disease severity continues to worsen. The purpose of this review is to describe the leading government supported food and nutrition interventions and policies to prevent and address obesity in the USA. The review also summarizes obesity interventions and policies that the government plays a role in, but further development is warranted. The government's role in obesity has largely focused on interventions and policies such as national surveillance, obesity education and awareness, grant-based food subsidy programs, zoning for food access, school-based nutrition programs, dietary guidelines, nutrition labeling, and food marketing and pricing policies. The government has played a lesser role in obesity interventions and policies that provide access to evidence-based obesity care to people affected by the disease. Given the magnitude of the obesity epidemic, the government should explore multiple evidence-based interventions and policies across prevention and clinical care.

[Neural Mechanisms Underlying the Processing of Temporal Information in Episodic Memory and Its Disturbance].

PubMed

Iwata, Saeko; Tsukiura, Takashi

2017-11-01

Episodic memory is defined as memory for personally experienced events, and includes memory content and contextual information of time and space. Previous neuroimaging and neuropsychological studies have demonstrated three possible roles of the temporal context in episodic memory. First, temporal information contributes to the arrangement of temporal order for sequential events in episodic memory, and this process is involved in the lateral prefrontal cortex. The second possible role of temporal information in episodic memory is the segregation between memories of multiple events, which are segregated by cues of different time information. The role of segregation is associated with the orbitofrontal regions including the orbitofrontal cortex and basal forebrain region. Third, temporal information in episodic memory plays an important role in the integration of multiple components into a coherent episodic memory, in which episodic components in the different modalities are combined by temporal information as an index. The role of integration is mediated by the medial temporal lobe including the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus. Thus, temporal information in episodic memory could be represented in multiple stages, which are involved in a network of the lateral prefrontal, orbitofrontal, and medial temporal lobe regions.

Convergence of multimodal sensory pathways to the mushroom body calyx in Drosophila melanogaster

PubMed Central

Yagi, Ryosuke; Mabuchi, Yuta; Mizunami, Makoto; Tanaka, Nobuaki K.

2016-01-01

Detailed structural analyses of the mushroom body which plays critical roles in olfactory learning and memory revealed that it is directly connected with multiple primary sensory centers in Drosophila. Connectivity patterns between the mushroom body and primary sensory centers suggest that each mushroom body lobe processes information on different combinations of multiple sensory modalities. This finding provides a novel focus of research by Drosophila genetics for perception of the external world by integrating multisensory signals. PMID:27404960

The Arabidopsis thaliana homolog of the helicase RTEL1 plays multiple roles in preserving genome stability.

PubMed

Recker, Julia; Knoll, Alexander; Puchta, Holger

2014-12-01

In humans, mutations in the DNA helicase Regulator of Telomere Elongation Helicase1 (RTEL1) lead to Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome, a severe, multisystem disorder. Here, we demonstrate that the RTEL1 homolog in Arabidopsis thaliana plays multiple roles in preserving genome stability. RTEL1 suppresses homologous recombination in a pathway parallel to that of the DNA translocase FANCM. Cytological analyses of root meristems indicate that RTEL1 is involved in processing DNA replication intermediates independently from FANCM and the nuclease MUS81. Moreover, RTEL1 is involved in interstrand and intrastrand DNA cross-link repair independently from FANCM and (in intrastrand cross-link repair) parallel to MUS81. RTEL1 contributes to telomere homeostasis; the concurrent loss of RTEL1 and the telomerase TERT leads to rapid, severe telomere shortening, which occurs much more rapidly than it does in the single-mutant line tert, resulting in developmental arrest after four generations. The double mutant rtel1-1 recq4A-4 exhibits massive growth defects, indicating that this RecQ family helicase, which is also involved in the suppression of homologous recombination and the repair of DNA lesions, can partially replace RTEL1 in the processing of DNA intermediates. The requirement for RTEL1 in multiple pathways to preserve genome stability in plants can be explained by its putative role in the destabilization of DNA loop structures, such as D-loops and T-loops. © 2014 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.

The Arabidopsis thaliana Homolog of the Helicase RTEL1 Plays Multiple Roles in Preserving Genome Stability[C][W

PubMed Central

Recker, Julia; Knoll, Alexander; Puchta, Holger

2014-01-01

In humans, mutations in the DNA helicase Regulator of Telomere Elongation Helicase1 (RTEL1) lead to Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome, a severe, multisystem disorder. Here, we demonstrate that the RTEL1 homolog in Arabidopsis thaliana plays multiple roles in preserving genome stability. RTEL1 suppresses homologous recombination in a pathway parallel to that of the DNA translocase FANCM. Cytological analyses of root meristems indicate that RTEL1 is involved in processing DNA replication intermediates independently from FANCM and the nuclease MUS81. Moreover, RTEL1 is involved in interstrand and intrastrand DNA cross-link repair independently from FANCM and (in intrastrand cross-link repair) parallel to MUS81. RTEL1 contributes to telomere homeostasis; the concurrent loss of RTEL1 and the telomerase TERT leads to rapid, severe telomere shortening, which occurs much more rapidly than it does in the single-mutant line tert, resulting in developmental arrest after four generations. The double mutant rtel1-1 recq4A-4 exhibits massive growth defects, indicating that this RecQ family helicase, which is also involved in the suppression of homologous recombination and the repair of DNA lesions, can partially replace RTEL1 in the processing of DNA intermediates. The requirement for RTEL1 in multiple pathways to preserve genome stability in plants can be explained by its putative role in the destabilization of DNA loop structures, such as D-loops and T-loops. PMID:25516598

C/EBPα deregulation as a paradigm for leukemogenesis.

PubMed

Pulikkan, J A; Tenen, D G; Behre, G

2017-11-01

Myeloid master regulator CCAAT enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) is deregulated by multiple mechanisms in leukemia. Inhibition of C/EBPα function plays pivotal roles in leukemogenesis. While much is known about how C/EBPα orchestrates granulopoiesis, our understanding of molecular transformation events, the role(s) of cooperating mutations and clonal evolution during C/EBPα deregulation in leukemia remains elusive. In this review, we will summarize the latest research addressing these topics with special emphasis on CEBPA mutations. We conclude by describing emerging therapeutic strategies to restore C/EBPα function.

Investigating the role of Clinical Nurse Consultants in one health district from multiple stakeholder perspectives: a cooperative inquiry.

PubMed

Walsh, Kenneth; Bothe, Janine; Edgar, Denise; Beaven, Geraldine; Burgess, Bernadette; Dickson, Vhari; Dunn, Stephen; Horning, Lynda; Jensen, Janice; Kandl, Bronia; Nonu, Miriam; Owen, Fran; Moss, Cheryle

2015-01-01

The impetus for this research came from a group of 11 Clinical Nurse Consultants (CNCs) within a health service in NSW, Australia, who wanted to investigate the CNC role from multiple stakeholder perspectives. With support from academic researchers, the CNCs designed and implemented the study. The aim of this research project was to investigate the role of the CNC from the multiple perspectives of CNCs and other stakeholders who work with CNCs in the Health District. This was a co-operative inquiry that utilised qualitative descriptive research approach. Co-operative inquiry methods enabled 11 CNCs to work as co-researchers and to conduct the investigation. The co-researchers implemented a qualitative descriptive design for the research and used interviews (7) and focus groups (16) with CNC stakeholders (n = 103) to gather sufficient data to investigate the role of the CNC in the organisation. Thematic analysis was undertaken to obtain the results. The CNC role is invaluable to all stakeholders and it was seen as the "glue" which holds teams together. Stakeholder expectations of the CNC role were multiple and generally agreed. Five themes derived from the data are reported as "clinical leadership as core", "making a direct difference to patient care", "service development as an outcome", "role breadth or narrowness and boundaries", and "career development". There was clear appreciation of the work that CNCs do in their roles, and the part that the CNC role plays in achieving quality health outcomes. The role of the CNC is complex and the CNCs themselves often negotiate these complexities to ensure beneficial outcomes for the patient and organisation. For the wider audience this study has given further insights into the role of these nurses and the perspectives of those with whom they work.

A Novel Role of Periostin in Postnatal Tooth Formation and Mineralization*

PubMed Central

Ma, Dedong; Zhang, Rong; Sun, Yao; Rios, Hector F.; Haruyama, Naoto; Han, Xianglong; Kulkarni, Ashok B.; Qin, Chunlin; Feng, Jian Q.

2011-01-01

Periostin plays multiple functions during development. Our previous work showed a critical role of this disulfide-linked cell adhesion protein in maintenance of periodontium integrity in response to occlusal load. In this study, we attempted to address whether this mechanical response molecule played a direct role in postnatal tooth development. Our key findings are 1) periostin is expressed in preodontoblasts, and odontoblasts; and the periostin-null incisor displayed a massive increase in dentin formation after mastication; 2) periostin is also expressed in the ameloblast cells, and an enamel defect is identified in both the adult-null incisor and molar; 3) deletion of periostin leads to changes in expression profiles of many non-collagenous protein such as DSPP, DMP1, BSP, and OPN in incisor dentin; 4) the removal of a biting force leads to reduction of mineralization, which is partially prevented in periostin-null mice; and 6) both in vitro and in vivo data revealed a direct regulation of periostin by TGF-β1 in dentin formation. In conclusion, periostin plays a novel direct role in controlling postnatal tooth formation, which is required for the integrity of both enamel and dentin. PMID:21131362

MhYTP1 and MhYTP2 from Apple Confer Tolerance to Multiple Abiotic Stresses in Arabidopsis thaliana

PubMed Central

Wang, Na; Guo, Tianli; Wang, Ping; Sun, Xun; Shao, Yun; Jia, Xin; Liang, Bowen; Gong, Xiaoqing; Ma, Fengwang

2017-01-01

The first YTH domain-containing RNA binding protein (YTP) was found in rat, where it was related to oxidative stress. Unlike characterizations in yeast and animals, functions of plant YTPs are less clear. Malus hupehensis (Pamp.) Rehd. YTP1 and YTP2 (MhYTP1 and MhYTP2) are known to be active in leaf senescence and fruit ripening. However, no research has been published about their roles in stress responses. Here, we investigate the stress-related functions of MhYTP1 and MhYTP2 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Both of the two genes participated in salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling and play roles in plant responses to oxidative stress, chilling, high temperature, high salinity, and mannitol induced physiological drought stress. Moreover, MhYTP1 plays leading roles in SA and ABA signaling, and MhYTP2 plays leading roles in JA signaling and oxidative stress responses. These results will fill a gap in our knowledge about plant YTPs and stress responses and provide a foundation for future attempts to improve stress tolerance in apple. PMID:28824695

Psychological predictors of problematic involvement in massively multiplayer online role-playing games: illustration in a sample of male cybercafé players.

PubMed

Billieux, Joël; Chanal, Julien; Khazaal, Yasser; Rochat, Lucien; Gay, Philippe; Zullino, Daniele; Van der Linden, Martial

2011-01-01

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) are video games in which a large number of players interact with one another in a persistent virtual world. MMORPGs can become problematic and result in negative outcomes in daily living (e.g. loss of control on gaming behaviors, compromised social and individual quality of life). The aim of the present study is to investigate psychological predictors of problematic involvement in MMORPGs. Fifty-four males who played MMORPGs regularly were recruited in cybercafés and screened using the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (which assesses 4 facets of impulsivity) and the Motivation to Play Online Questionnaire (which assesses personal motives to play online). Negative consequences due to excessive time spent on the Internet were assessed with the Internet Addiction Test. Multiple regression analysis showed that problematic use of MMORPGs is significantly predicted by: (1) high urgency (b = 0.45), and (2) a motivation to play for immersion (b = 0.35). This study showed that, for certain individuals (who are characterized by a proneness to act rashly in emotional contexts and motivated to play to be immersed in a virtual world), involvement in MMORPGs can become problematic and engender tangible negative consequences in daily life. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Cortical Networks for Visual Self-Recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sugiura, Motoaki

This paper briefly reviews recent developments regarding the brain mechanisms of visual self-recognition. A special cognitive mechanism for visual self-recognition has been postulated based on behavioral and neuropsychological evidence, but its neural substrate remains controversial. Recent functional imaging studies suggest that multiple cortical mechanisms play self-specific roles during visual self-recognition, reconciling the existing controversy. Respective roles for the left occipitotemporal, right parietal, and frontal cortices in symbolic, visuospatial, and conceptual aspects of self-representation have been proposed.

Setting sail for glucose homeostasis with the AKAP150-PP2B-anchor.

PubMed

Teo, Adrian Kee Keong; Kulkarni, Rohit N

2012-10-17

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, controlled by multiple protein phosphorylation events, is critical for the regulation of glucose homeostasis. Protein kinase A (PKA) is known to play a role in β cell physiology, but the role of its anchoring protein is not fully understood. Hinke et al (2012) illustrate the significance of A-kinase anchoring protein 150 in tethering protein phosphatase 2B to mediate nutrient-stimulated insulin secretion and thus modulate glucose homeostasis.

Income inequality in today’s China

PubMed Central

Xie, Yu; Zhou, Xiang

2014-01-01

Using multiple data sources, we establish that China's income inequality since 2005 has reached very high levels, with the Gini coefficient in the range of 0.53–0.55. Analyzing comparable survey data collected in 2010 in China and the United States, we examine social determinants that help explain China’s high income inequality. Our results indicate that a substantial part of China’s high income inequality is due to regional disparities and the rural-urban gap. The contributions of these two structural forces are particularly strong in China, but they play a negligible role in generating the overall income inequality in the United States, where individual-level and family-level income determinants, such as family structure and race/ethnicity, play a much larger role. PMID:24778237

Income inequality in today's China.

PubMed

Xie, Yu; Zhou, Xiang

2014-05-13

Using multiple data sources, we establish that China's income inequality since 2005 has reached very high levels, with the Gini coefficient in the range of 0.53-0.55. Analyzing comparable survey data collected in 2010 in China and the United States, we examine social determinants that help explain China's high income inequality. Our results indicate that a substantial part of China's high income inequality is due to regional disparities and the rural-urban gap. The contributions of these two structural forces are particularly strong in China, but they play a negligible role in generating the overall income inequality in the United States, where individual-level and family-level income determinants, such as family structure and race/ethnicity, play a much larger role.

The relationship between gene transcription and combinations of histone modifications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cui, Xiangjun; Li, Hong; Luo, Liaofu

2012-09-01

Histone modification is an important subject of epigenetics which plays an intrinsic role in transcriptional regulation. It is known that multiple histone modifications act in a combinatorial fashion. In this study, we demonstrated that the pathways within constructed Bayesian networks can give an indication for the combinations among 12 histone modifications which have been studied in the TSS+1kb region in S. cerevisiae. After Bayesian networks for the genes with high transcript levels (H-network) and low transcript levels (L-network) were constructed, the combinations of modifications within the two networks were analyzed from the view of transcript level. The results showed that different combinations played dissimilar roles in the regulation of gene transcription when there exist differences for gene expression at transcription level.

A unique role of endogenous visual-spatial attention in rapid processing of multiple targets

PubMed Central

Guzman, Emmanuel; Grabowecky, Marcia; Palafox, German; Suzuki, Satoru

2012-01-01

Visual spatial attention can be exogenously captured by a salient stimulus or can be endogenously allocated by voluntary effort. Whether these two attention modes serve distinctive functions is debated, but for processing of single targets the literature suggests superiority of exogenous attention (it is faster acting and serves more functions). We report that endogenous attention uniquely contributes to processing of multiple targets. For speeded visual discrimination, response times are faster for multiple redundant targets than for single targets due to probability summation and/or signal integration. This redundancy gain was unaffected when attention was exogenously diverted from the targets, but was completely eliminated when attention was endogenously diverted. This was not due to weaker manipulation of exogenous attention because our exogenous and endogenous cues similarly affected overall response times. Thus, whereas exogenous attention is superior for processing single targets, endogenous attention plays a unique role in allocating resources crucial for rapid concurrent processing of multiple targets. PMID:21517209

The relationship between soil management and the Sustainable Development Goals: the case of global banana production

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stoorvogel, Jetse; Segura, Rafael; Erima, Rockefeller

2017-04-01

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a good example of the increasing demand on our soil resources. Our soil resources play a central role in multiple SDGs while talking about poverty (SDG 1), food security (SDG 2), clean energy through biofuels (SDG 7), climate mitigation (SDG 13), and land degradation (SDG 15). This means that basic decisions on soil management are now placed in the context of multiple soil functions. A good example is the global production of bananas and plantains with a total harvested area of almost 10 million ha. While the export bananas played a central role in economic development, an even larger share of the production plays a role in food security. Nevertheless, the production is also criticized due the intensive use of agricultural chemicals (fertilizers and pesticides) and the risk of soil degradation in the monoculture plantations. Decisions on soil management are context specific and depending on the environment. In this study we will analyse and discuss three production environments from the Philippines, Uganda, and Costa Rica. The role of the SDGs in the regions is very different. Where SDG 1 and SDG15 play an important role in the Costa Rican situation, SDG 2 is more important in Uganda and the Philippines. Decisions on soil management strongly depend on the agro-ecology with the available technological packages. The technological packages include low external input farming, organic farming, precision agriculture, and so-called best management practices. While producers take decisions at the field and farm level, we are now increasingly forced for joined action at the regional level with the rapid spread of highly virulent crop diseases. The SDGs have major consequences for soil management but this study shows that, at the same time, they cannot be translated one-to-one to the farm level at which the management decisions are taken. Therefore, off-farm effects and externalities are often not considered in farm management except if they are explicitly being targeted by policies or other interventions. Specific attention is required to analyse the aggregated effect of soil management decisions at the regional level.

Participation in Science Practices while Working in a Multimedia Case-Based Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kang, Hosun; Lundeberg, Mary A.

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate how two female students participated in science practices as they worked in a multimedia case-based environment: interpreting simulated results, reading and writing multiple texts, role-playing, and Internet conferencing. Using discourse analysis, the following data were analyzed: students' published…

Celebrating Poetic Nonfiction Picture Books in Classrooms

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kesler, Ted

2017-01-01

Children's literature plays an essential role in the literacy development of children. This department column focuses on the teaching and use of children's literature and provides educators with information about a wide range of books across multiple genres that are representative of the diverse world in which we live. A strong emphasis is placed…

Three Graphic Nonfiction Series That Excite and Educate

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kersten-Parrish, Sara; Dallacqua, Ashley K.

2018-01-01

Children's literature plays an essential role in the literacy development of children. This department column focuses on the teaching and use of children's literature and provides educators with information about a wide range of books across multiple genres that are representative of the diverse world in which we live. A strong emphasis is placed…

The Influence of Distractor Strength and Response Order on MCQ Responding

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kiat, John Emmanuel; Ong, Ai Rene; Ganesan, Asha

2018-01-01

Multiple-choice questions (MCQs) play a key role in standardised testing and in-class assessment. Research into the influence of within-item response order on MCQ characteristics has been mixed. While some researchers have shown preferential selection of response options presented earlier in the answer list, others have failed to replicate these…

Teaching Historical Geographies of American Film Production

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lukinbeal, Chris

2002-01-01

The geographies of Hollywood are multiple, contradictory, ephemeral and tangible. Our preconceived conceptions of space and place play a dynamic role in what elements we tend to focus on when discussing the cultural industry of American cinema. This essay uses Hollywood as a metaphor for the American film production industry and a historical…

Predictors of College Readiness: An Analysis of the Student Readiness Inventory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wilson, James K., III

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to better predict how a first semester college freshman becomes prepared for college. The theoretical framework guiding this study is Vrooms' expectancy theory, motivation plays a key role in success. This study used a hierarchical multiple regression model. The independent variables of interest included high school…

The Applicability of Interactive Item Templates in Varied Knowledge Types

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Koong, Chorng-Shiuh; Wu, Chi-Ying

2011-01-01

A well-edited assessment can enhance student's learning motives. Applicability of items, which includes item content and template, plays a crucial role in authoring a good assessment. Templates in discussion contain not only conventional true & false, multiple choice, completion item and short answer but also of those interactive ones. Methods…

A Module-Based Approach: Training Paraeducators on Evidence-Based Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Da Fonte, M. Alexandra; Capizzi, Andrea M.

2015-01-01

Paraeducators are on the front lines in special education settings, providing support to teachers and students with significant disabilities and specific health-care needs. The important role they play demands efficient and cost-effective training in core skills. This study utilized a multiple-baseline across behaviors design to evaluate a…

Screening the ToxCast Phase I, II, and e1K Chemical Libraries for Inhibition of Deiodinase Type 1,2 and 3 Enzyme Activity

EPA Science Inventory

Thyroid hormone (TH) signaling and homeostasis is dependent upon coordination of multiple key events including thyroidal iodide uptake and hormone synthesis, and peripheral metabolism and elimination. Deiodinase enzymes play an essential role in converting the pro-hormone thyroxi...

Phylogeography, postglacial gene flow, and population history of North American northern goshawks (Accipiter gentilis)

Treesearch

Shelley Bayard de Volo; Richard T. Reynolds; Sarah A. Sonsthagen; Sandra L. Talbot; Michael F. Antolin

2013-01-01

Climate cycling during the Quaternary played a critical role in the diversification of avian lineages in North America, greatly influencing the genetic characteristics of contemporary populations. To test the hypothesis that North American Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) were historically isolated within multiple Late Pleistocene refugia, we assessed diversity...

The Bordetella bronchiseptica type III secretion system is required for persistence and disease severity but not transmission in swine

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Bordetella bronchiseptica is pervasive in swine populations and plays multiple roles in respiratory disease. Most studies addressing virulence factors of B. bronchiseptica utilize isolates derived from hosts other than pigs in conjunction with rodent infection models. Based on previous in vivo mouse...

Integrating Human Health and Environmental Health into the DPSIR Framework: A Tool to Identify Research Opportunities for Sustainable and Healthy Communities

EPA Science Inventory

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently realigned its research enterprise around the concept of sustainability. Scientists from across multiple disciplines have a role to play in contributing the information, methods, and tools to more fully understand the long-term...

Logan Park Neighborhood Assistance--A Case of Analysis and Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Williams, Sandra L.

2015-01-01

Workers, both paid employees and volunteers, contribute in multiple ways to an organization's output, its culture, and its internal environment. Employees also play a critical role in the organization's impact upon its community. Career development involves the full understanding of worker contributions to the organization, as well as…

Investing in Our Young People. NBER Working Paper No. 16201

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cunha, Flavio; Heckman, James J.

2010-01-01

This paper reviews the recent literature on the production of skills of young persons. The literature features the multiplicity of skills that explain success in a variety of life outcomes. Noncognitive skills play a fundamental role in successful lives. The dynamics of skill formation reveal the interplay of cognitive and noncognitive skills, and…

Analysis of Peer Learning Behaviors Using Multiple Representations in Virtual Reality and Their Impacts on Geometry Problem Solving

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hwang, Wu-Yuin; Hu, Shih-Shin

2013-01-01

Learning geometry emphasizes the importance of exploring different representations such as virtual manipulatives, written math formulas, and verbal explanations, which help students build math concepts and develop critical thinking. Besides helping individuals construct math knowledge, peer interaction also plays a crucial role in promoting an…

The porous borders of the protein world.

PubMed

Cordes, Matthew H J; Stewart, Katie L

2012-02-08

Fold switching may play a role in the evolution of new protein folds and functions. He et al., in this issue of Structure, use protein design to illustrate that the same drastic change in a protein fold can occur via multiple different mutational pathways. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Our Visible Work: Community & Collaboration in an Educator Inquiry Group

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Margaret R.

2016-01-01

Early childhood education has recently been heralded as the cornerstone of a brighter future for the United States, playing an important role in the healthy development of our youngest children (Perry, 2015; Bornfreund, 2015). However, the teachers of these children face multiple challenges in the profession, including unlivable wages, low morale…

A Contemporary, Laboratory-Intensive Course on Messenger RNA Transcription and Processing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Carson, Sue; Miller, Heather

2012-01-01

Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) plays a pivotal role in the central dogma of molecular biology. Importantly, molecular events occurring during and after mRNA synthesis have the potential to create multiple proteins from one gene, leading to some of the remarkable protein diversity that genomes hold. The North Carolina State University…

Phonetic, Phonemic, and Phonological Factors in Cross-Language Discrimination of Phonotactic Contrasts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davidson, Lisa

2011-01-01

Previous research indicates that multiple levels of linguistic information play a role in the perception and discrimination of non-native phonemes. This study examines the interaction of phonetic, phonemic and phonological factors in the discrimination of non-native phonotactic contrasts. Listeners of Catalan, English, and Russian are presented…

Den use and selection by northern flying squirrels in fragmented landscapes

Treesearch

Sanjay Pyare; Winston P. Smith; Colin S. Shanley

2010-01-01

We studied den use and den-habitat selection by the Prince of Wales Island flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus griseifrons) at multiple spatial scales in fragmented temperate rain-forest habitats because of the role dens play in the distribution, reproduction, and population density of this endemic subspecies. We observed differences in spatial...

Free energy landscape and transition pathways from Watson–Crick to Hoogsteen base pairing in free duplex DNA

PubMed Central

Yang, Changwon; Kim, Eunae; Pak, Youngshang

2015-01-01

Houghton (HG) base pairing plays a central role in the DNA binding of proteins and small ligands. Probing detailed transition mechanism from Watson–Crick (WC) to HG base pair (bp) formation in duplex DNAs is of fundamental importance in terms of revealing intrinsic functions of double helical DNAs beyond their sequence determined functions. We investigated a free energy landscape of a free B-DNA with an adenosine–thymine (A–T) rich sequence to probe its conformational transition pathways from WC to HG base pairing. The free energy landscape was computed with a state-of-art two-dimensional umbrella molecular dynamics simulation at the all-atom level. The present simulation showed that in an isolated duplex DNA, the spontaneous transition from WC to HG bp takes place via multiple pathways. Notably, base flipping into the major and minor grooves was found to play an important role in forming these multiple transition pathways. This finding suggests that naked B-DNA under normal conditions has an inherent ability to form HG bps via spontaneous base opening events. PMID:26250116

Mechanisms of lymphocyte migration in autoimmune disease.

PubMed

Norman, M U; Hickey, M J

2005-09-01

The recruitment of leukocytes to inflamed tissues plays an essential role in combating infection and promoting wound healing. However, in autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and diabetes, leukocytes enter tissues and contribute to inappropriate inflammatory responses, which cause tissue injury and dysfunction. In diseases of this type, lymphocytes play critical roles in initiating and maintaining these aberrant inflammatory responses. The aim of this review is to examine the mechanisms whereby T-lymphocytes enter tissues in autoimmune diseases and to compare these mechanisms between various organs and diseases. An overview of the mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment and the techniques used to study leukocyte trafficking is provided, focusing on the use of intravital microscopy as a tool to assess the functional microvasculature in vivo. We also discuss the series of tissue homing events which allow naïve lymphocytes to first enter lymph nodes and undergo activation, then subsequently to home to the peripheral organ where their cognate antigen is present. Finally, we examine mechanisms of leukocyte recruitment in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, autoimmune diabetes, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and asthma.

Differential effects of multiplicity of infection on Helicobacter pylori-induced signaling pathways and interleukin-8 gene transcription.

PubMed

Ritter, Birgit; Kilian, Petra; Reboll, Marc Rene; Resch, Klaus; DiStefano, Johanna Kay; Frank, Ronald; Beil, Winfried; Nourbakhsh, Mahtab

2011-02-01

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) plays a central role in the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori infection. We used four different H. pylori strains isolated from patients with gastritis or duodenal ulcer disease to examine their differential effects on signaling pathways and IL-8 gene response in gastric epithelial cells. IL-8 mRNA level is elevated in response to high (100) multiplicity of infection (MOI) independent of cagA, vacA, and dupA gene characteristics. By lower MOIs (1 or 10), only cagA ( + ) strains significantly induce IL-8 gene expression. This is based on differential regulation of IL-8 promoter activity. Analysis of intracellular signaling pathways indicates that H. pylori clinical isolates induce IL-8 gene transcription through NF-κB p65, but by a MOI-dependent differential activation of MAPK pathways. Thus, the major virulence factors of H. pylori CagA, VacA, and DupA might play a minor role in the level of IL-8 gene response to a high bacterial load.

Phytochromes play a role in phototropism and gravitropism in Arabidopsis roots.

PubMed

Correll, Melanie J; Coveney, Katrina M; Raines, Steven V; Mullen, Jack L; Hangarter, Roger P; Kiss, John Z

2003-01-01

Phototropism as well as gravitropism plays a role in the oriented growth of roots in flowering plants. In blue or white light, roots exhibit negative phototropism, but red light induces positive phototropism in Arabidopsis roots. Phytochrome A (phyA) and phyB mediate the positive red-light-based photoresponse in roots since single mutants (and the double phyAB mutant) were severely impaired in this response. In blue-light-based negative phototropism, phyA and phyAB (but not phyB) were inhibited in the response relative to the WT. In root gravitropism, phyB and phyAB (but not phyA) were inhibited in the response compared to the WT. The differences observed in tropistic responses were not due to growth limitations since the growth rates among all the mutants tested were not significantly different from that of the WT. Thus, our study shows that the blue-light and red-light systems interact in roots and that phytochrome plays a key role in plant development by integrating multiple environmental stimuli. c2003 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phytochromes play a role in phototropism and gravitropism in Arabidopsis roots

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Correll, Melanie J.; Coveney, Katrina M.; Raines, Steven V.; Mullen, Jack L.; Hangarter, Roger P.; Kiss, John Z.

2003-01-01

Phototropism as well as gravitropism plays a role in the oriented growth of roots in flowering plants. In blue or white light, roots exhibit negative phototropism, but red light induces positive phototropism in Arabidopsis roots. Phytochrome A (phyA) and phyB mediate the positive red-light-based photoresponse in roots since single mutants (and the double phyAB mutant) were severely impaired in this response. In blue-light-based negative phototropism, phyA and phyAB (but not phyB) were inhibited in the response relative to the WT. In root gravitropism, phyB and phyAB (but not phyA) were inhibited in the response compared to the WT. The differences observed in tropistic responses were not due to growth limitations since the growth rates among all the mutants tested were not significantly different from that of the WT. Thus, our study shows that the blue-light and red-light systems interact in roots and that phytochrome plays a key role in plant development by integrating multiple environmental stimuli. c2003 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Facebook Role Play Addiction - A Comorbidity with Multiple Compulsive-Impulsive Spectrum Disorders.

PubMed

Nathan, Deeepa; Shukla, Lekhansh; Kandasamy, Arun; Benegal, Vivek

2016-06-01

Background Problematic Internet use (PIU) is an emerging entity with varied contents. Behavioral addictions have high comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders. Social networking site (SNS) addiction and role playing game (RPG) addiction are traditionally studied as separate entities. We present a case with excessive Internet use, with a particular focus on phenomenology and psychiatric comorbidities. Case presentation Fifteen-year-old girl with childhood onset attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, adolescent onset trichotillomania, and disturbed family environment presented with excessive Facebook use. Main online activity was creating profiles in names of mainstream fictional characters and assuming their identity (background, linguistic attributes, etc.). This was a group activity with significant socialization in the virtual world. Craving, salience, withdrawal, mood modification, and conflict were clearly elucidated and significant social and occupational dysfunction was evident. Discussion This case highlights various vulnerability and sociofamilial factors contributing to behavioral addiction. It also highlights the presence of untreated comorbidities in such cases. The difference from contemporary RPGs and uniqueness of role playing on SNS is discussed. SNS role playing as a separate genre of PIU and its potential to reach epidemic proportions are discussed. Conclusions Individuals with temperamental vulnerability are likely to develop behavioral addictions. Identification and management of comorbid conditions are important. The content of PIU continues to evolve and needs further study.

Facebook Role Play Addiction – A Comorbidity with Multiple Compulsive–Impulsive Spectrum Disorders

PubMed Central

Nathan, Deeepa; Shukla, Lekhansh; Kandasamy, Arun; Benegal, Vivek

2016-01-01

Background Problematic Internet use (PIU) is an emerging entity with varied contents. Behavioral addictions have high comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorders. Social networking site (SNS) addiction and role playing game (RPG) addiction are traditionally studied as separate entities. We present a case with excessive Internet use, with a particular focus on phenomenology and psychiatric comorbidities. Case presentation Fifteen-year-old girl with childhood onset attention deficit disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, adolescent onset trichotillomania, and disturbed family environment presented with excessive Facebook use. Main online activity was creating profiles in names of mainstream fictional characters and assuming their identity (background, linguistic attributes, etc.). This was a group activity with significant socialization in the virtual world. Craving, salience, withdrawal, mood modification, and conflict were clearly elucidated and significant social and occupational dysfunction was evident. Discussion This case highlights various vulnerability and sociofamilial factors contributing to behavioral addiction. It also highlights the presence of untreated comorbidities in such cases. The difference from contemporary RPGs and uniqueness of role playing on SNS is discussed. SNS role playing as a separate genre of PIU and its potential to reach epidemic proportions are discussed. Conclusions Individuals with temperamental vulnerability are likely to develop behavioral addictions. Identification and management of comorbid conditions are important. The content of PIU continues to evolve and needs further study. PMID:27156380

MiR-191 Regulates Primary Human Fibroblast Proliferation and Directly Targets Multiple Oncogenes

PubMed Central

Polioudakis, Damon; Abell, Nathan S.; Iyer, Vishwanath R.

2015-01-01

miRNAs play a central role in numerous pathologies including multiple cancer types. miR-191 has predominantly been studied as an oncogene, but the role of miR-191 in the proliferation of primary cells is not well characterized, and the miR-191 targetome has not been experimentally profiled. Here we utilized RNA induced silencing complex immunoprecipitations as well as gene expression profiling to construct a genome wide miR-191 target profile. We show that miR-191 represses proliferation in primary human fibroblasts, identify multiple proto-oncogenes as novel miR-191 targets, including CDK9, NOTCH2, and RPS6KA3, and present evidence that miR-191 extensively mediates target expression through coding sequence (CDS) pairing. Our results provide a comprehensive genome wide miR-191 target profile, and demonstrate miR-191’s regulation of primary human fibroblast proliferation. PMID:25992613

Epithelial Integrity Is Maintained by a Matriptase-Dependent Proteolytic Pathway

PubMed Central

List, Karin; Kosa, Peter; Szabo, Roman; Bey, Alexandra L.; Wang, Chao Becky; Molinolo, Alfredo; Bugge, Thomas H.

2009-01-01

A pericellular proteolytic pathway initiated by the transmembrane serine protease matriptase plays a critical role in the terminal differentiation of epidermal tissues. Matriptase is constitutively expressed in multiple other epithelia, suggesting a putative role of this membrane serine protease in general epithelial homeostasis. Here we generated mice with conditional deletion of the St14 gene, encoding matriptase, and show that matriptase indeed is essential for the maintenance of multiple types of epithelia in the mouse. Thus, embryonic or postnatal ablation of St14 in epithelial tissues of diverse origin and function caused severe organ dysfunction, which was often associated with increased permeability, loss of tight junction function, mislocation of tight junction-associated proteins, and generalized epithelial demise. The study reveals that the homeostasis of multiple simple and stratified epithelia is matriptase-dependent, and provides an important animal model for the exploration of this membrane serine protease in a range of physiological and pathological processes. PMID:19717635

The impact of wildland fires on calcareous Mediterranean pedosystems (Sardinia, Italy) - An integrated multiple approach.

PubMed

Capra, Gian Franco; Tidu, Simona; Lovreglio, Raffaella; Certini, Giacomo; Salis, Michele; Bacciu, Valentina; Ganga, Antonio; Filzmoser, Peter

2018-05-15

Sardinia (Italy), the second largest island of the Mediterranean Sea, is a fire-prone land. Most Sardinian environments over time were shaped by fire, but some of them are too intrinsically fragile to withstand the currently increasing fire frequency. Calcareous pedoenvironments represent a significant part of Mediterranean areas, and require important efforts to prevent long-lasting degradation from fire. The aim of this study was to assess through an integrated multiple approach the impact of a single and highly severe wildland fire on limestone-derived soils. For this purpose, we selected two recently burned sites, Sant'Antioco and Laconi. Soil was sampled from 80 points on a 100×100m grid - 40 in the burned area and 40 in unburned one - and analyzed for particle size fractions, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, total N, total P, and water repellency (WR). Fire behavior (surface rate of spread (ROS), fireline intensity (FLI), flame length (FL)) was simulated by BehavePlus 5.0.5 software. Comparisons between burned and unburned areas were done through ANOVA as well as deterministic and stochastic interpolation techniques; multiple correlations among parameters were evaluated by principal factor analysis (PFA) and differences/similarities between areas by principal component analysis (PCA). In both sites, fires were characterized by high severity and determined significant changes to some soil properties. The PFA confirmed the key ecological role played by fire in both sites, with the variability of a four-modeled components mainly explained by fire parameters, although the induced changes on soils were mainly site-specific. The PCA revealed the presence of two main "driving factors": slope (in Sant'Antioco), which increased the magnitude of ROS and FLI; and soil properties (in Laconi), which mostly affected FL. In both sites, such factors played a direct role in differentiating fire behavior and sites, while they played an indirect role in determining some effects on soil. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Identification of Ind transcription activation and repression domains required for dorsoventral patterning of the CNS.

PubMed

Von Ohlen, Tonia L; Moses, Cade

2009-07-01

Specification of cell fates across the dorsoventral axis of the central nervous system in Drosophila involves the subdivision of the neuroectoderm into three domains that give rise to three columns of neural precursor cells called neuroblasts. Ventral nervous system defective (Vnd), intermediate neuroblasts defective (Ind) and muscle segment homeobox (Msh) are expressed in the three columns from ventral to dorsal, respectively. The products of these genes play multiple important roles in formation and specification of the embryonic nervous system. Ind, for example, is known to play roles in two important processes. First, Ind is essential for formation of neuroblasts conjunction with SoxB class transcription factors. Sox class transcription factors are known to specify neural stem cells in vertebrates. Second, Ind plays an important role in patterning the CNS in conjunction with, vnd and msh, which is also similar to how vertebrates pattern their neural tube. This work focuses two important aspects of Ind function. First, we used multiple approaches to identify and characterize specific domains within the protein that confer repressor or activator ability. Currently, little is known about the presence of activation or repression domains within Ind. Here, we show that transcriptional repression by Ind requires multiple conserved domains within the protein, and that Ind has a transcriptional activation domain. Specifically, we have identified a novel domain, the Pst domain, that has transcriptional repression ability and appears to act independent of interaction with the co-repressor Groucho. This domain is highly conserved among insect species, but is not found in vertebrate Gsh class homeodomain proteins. Second, we show that Ind can and does repress vnd expression, but does so in a stage specific manner. We conclude from this that the function of Ind in regulating vnd expression is one of refinement and maintenance of the dorsal border.

[c-MET Oncogene in Renal Cell Carcinomas].

PubMed

Erlmeier, F; Weichert, W; Autenrieth, M; Ivanyi, P; Hartmann, A; Steffens, S

2016-12-01

c-Met plays a significant role in multiple cellular processes. Being encoded by a proto-oncogene, tyrosine kinase supports aggressive tumour behaviour such as tumour invasiveness and formation of metastases. For some subtypes of renal cell carcinoma studies have shown a association between c-Met expression and clinical outcome or prognosis. Therefore, c-Met represents a prognostic marker in renal cell carcinoma.Furthermore, c-MET will play a decisive role as a possible target for targeted therapies in the era of personalised medicine. Especially for RCC, the dual inhibition of VEGF and c-MET tyrosine kinase in cases of metastatic, treatment-resistant tumours is gaining clinical relevance. The role of c-Met has not been fully elucidated for all subtypes of renal cell carcinomas. The relevance of c-Met for the remaining subtypes of renal tumours has yet to be clarified. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

When, where, why and with whom homeless women engage in risky sexual behaviors: A framework for understanding complex and varied decision-making processes

PubMed Central

Ryan, Gery W.; Stern, Stefanie A.; Hilton, Lara; Tucker, Joan S.; Kennedy, David P.; Golinelli, Daniela; Wenzel, Suzanne L.

2010-01-01

Impoverished women worldwide are at high risk for contracting HIV/AIDS. This study explores how homeless women make risky sex decisions and the role that alcohol and drugs play in this process. We analyze 56 in-depth qualitative descriptions of recent sexual episodes among 28 women living in shelters in Los Angeles, California, USA. The sample (age 18–63) was 46% African American, 21% Hispanic/Latina, and 21% white. Findings suggest that: (1) homeless women engage in multiple types of relationships and sexual behaviors; (2) emotion and attachment play critical roles in women’s risky sex choices; and (3) the role of alcohol and drugs on such choices varies across relationship commitment. Understanding the complexity of sexual decision-making among this population has implications for developing successful risk reduction interventions. PMID:20485467

A compensatory role for declarative memory in neurodevelopmental disorders.

PubMed

Ullman, Michael T; Pullman, Mariel Y

2015-04-01

Most research on neurodevelopmental disorders has focused on their abnormalities. However, what remains intact may also be important. Increasing evidence suggests that declarative memory, a critical learning and memory system in the brain, remains largely functional in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders. Because declarative memory remains functional in these disorders, and because it can learn and retain numerous types of information, functions, and tasks, this system should be able to play compensatory roles for multiple types of impairments across the disorders. Here, we examine this hypothesis for specific language impairment, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. We lay out specific predictions for the hypothesis and review existing behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging evidence. Overall, the evidence suggests that declarative memory indeed plays compensatory roles for a range of impairments across all five disorders. Finally, we discuss diagnostic, therapeutic and other implications. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A compensatory role for declarative memory in neurodevelopmental disorders

PubMed Central

Ullman, Michael T.; Pullman, Mariel Y.

2015-01-01

Most research on neurodevelopmental disorders has focused on their abnormalities. However, what remains intact may also be important. Increasing evidence suggests that declarative memory, a critical learning and memory system in the brain, remains largely functional in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders. Because declarative memory remains functional, and because this system can learn and retain numerous types of information, functions, and tasks, it should be able to play compensatory roles for multiple types of impairments across the disorders. Here, we examine this hypothesis for specific language impairment, dyslexia, autism spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. We lay out specific predictions for the hypothesis and review existing behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging evidence. Overall, the evidence suggests that declarative memory indeed plays compensatory roles for a range of impairments across all five disorders. Finally, we discuss diagnostic, therapeutic and other implications. PMID:25597655

Immunological modes of pregnancy loss: inflammation, immune effectors, and stress.

PubMed

Kwak-Kim, Joanne; Bao, Shihua; Lee, Sung Ki; Kim, Joon Woo; Gilman-Sachs, Alice

2014-08-01

Inflammatory immune response plays a key role in reproductive failures such as multiple implantation failures (MIF), early pregnancy loss, and recurrent pregnancy losses (RPL). Cellular immune responses particularly mediated by natural killer (NK), and T cells are often dysregulated in these conditions. Excessive or inappropriate recruitment of peripheral blood NK cells to the uterus may lead to cytotoxic environment in utero, in which proliferation and differentiation of trophoblast is hampered. In addition, inadequate angiogenesis by uterine NK cells often leads to abnormal vascular development and blood flow patterns, which, in turn, leads to increased oxidative stress or ischemic changes in the invading trophoblast. T-cell abnormalities with increased Th1 and Th17 immunity, and decreased Th2 and T regulatory immune responses may play important roles in RPL and MIF. A possible role of stress in inflammatory immune response is also reviewed. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Phosphatidic acid - a simple phospholipid with multiple faces.

PubMed

Zegarlińska, Jolanta; Piaścik, Magda; Sikorski, Aleksander F; Czogalla, Aleksander

2018-01-01

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is the simplest glycerophospholipid naturally occurring in living organisms, and even though its content among other cellular lipids is minor, it is drawing more and more attention due to its multiple biological functions. PA is a precursor for other phospholipids, acts as a lipid second messenger and, due to its structural properties, is also a modulator of membrane shape. Although much is known about interaction of PA with its effectors, the molecular mechanisms remain unresolved to a large degree. Throughout many of the well-characterized PA cellular sensors, no conserved binding domain can be recognized. Moreover, not much is known about the cellular dynamics of PA and how it is distributed among subcellular compartments. Remarkably, PA can play distinct roles within each of these compartments. For example, in the nucleus it behaves as a mitogen, influencing gene expression regulation, and in the Golgi membrane it plays a role in membrane trafficking. Here, we discuss how a biophysical experimental approach enabled PA behavior to be described in the context of a lipid bilayer and to what extent various physicochemical conditions may modulate the functional properties of this lipid. Understanding these aspects would help to unravel specific mechanisms of PA-driven membrane transformations and protein recruitment and thus would lead to a clearer picture of the biological role of PA.

The role of hospitals in bridging the care continuum: a systematic review of coordination of care and follow-up for adults with chronic conditions.

PubMed

De Regge, Melissa; De Pourcq, Kaat; Meijboom, Bert; Trybou, Jeroen; Mortier, Eric; Eeckloo, Kristof

2017-08-09

Multiple studies have investigated the outcome of integrated care programs for chronically ill patients. However, few studies have addressed the specific role hospitals can play in the downstream collaboration for chronic disease management. Our objective here is to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of the hospitals by synthesizing the advantages and disadvantages of hospital interference in the chronic discourse for chronically ill patients found in published empirical studies. Systematic literature review. Two reviewers independently investigated relevant studies using a standardized search strategy. Thirty-two articles were included in the systematic review. Overall, the quality of the included studies is high. Four important themes were identified: the impact of transitional care interventions initiated from the hospital's side, the role of specialized care settings, the comparison of inpatient and outpatient care, and the effect of chronic care coordination on the experience of patients. Our results show that hospitals can play an important role in transitional care interventions and the coordination of chronic care with better outcomes for the patients by taking a leading role in integrated care programs. Above that, the patient experiences are positively influenced by the coordinating role of a specialist. Specialized care settings, as components of the hospital, facilitate the coordination of the care processes. In the future, specialized care centers and primary care could play a more extensive role in care for chronic patients by collaborating.

The Gas6/TAM System and Multiple Sclerosis.

PubMed

Bellan, Mattia; Pirisi, Mario; Sainaghi, Pier Paolo

2016-10-28

Growth arrest specific 6 (Gas6) is a multimodular circulating protein, the biological actions of which are mediated by the interaction with three transmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors: Tyro3, Axl, and MerTK, collectively named TAM. Over the last few decades, many progresses have been done in the understanding of the biological activities of this highly pleiotropic system, which plays a role in the regulation of immune response, inflammation, coagulation, cell growth, and clearance of apoptotic bodies. Recent findings have further related Gas6 and TAM receptors to neuroinflammation in general and, specifically, to multiple sclerosis (MS). In this paper, we review the biology of the Gas6/TAM system and the current evidence supporting its potential role in the pathogenesis of MS.

Exacerbation of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by passive transfer of IgG antibodies from a multiple sclerosis patient responsive to immunoadsorption.

PubMed

Pedotti, Rosetta; Musio, Silvia; Scabeni, Stefano; Farina, Cinthia; Poliani, Pietro Luigi; Colombo, Emanuela; Costanza, Massimo; Berzi, Angela; Castellucci, Fabrizio; Ciusani, Emilio; Confalonieri, Paolo; Hemmer, Bernhard; Mantegazza, Renato; Antozzi, Carlo

2013-09-15

The pathogenic role of antibodies in multiple sclerosis (MS) is still controversial. We transferred to mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), animal model of MS, IgG antibodies purified from a MS patient presenting a dramatic clinical improvement during relapse after selective IgG removal with immunoadsorption. Passive transfer of patient's IgG exacerbated motor paralysis and increased mouse central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and demyelination. Binding of patient's IgG was demonstrated in mouse CNS, with a diffuse staining of white matter oligodendrocytes. These data support a growing body of evidence that antibodies can play an important role in the pathobiology of MS. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Non-muscle myosin IIB is critical for nuclear translocation during 3D invasion

PubMed Central

Yenepalli, Aishwarya; Denais, Celine Marie; Rape, Andrew; Beach, Jordan R.; Wang, Yu-li; Schiemann, William P.; Baskaran, Harihara; Lammerding, Jan

2015-01-01

Non-muscle myosin II (NMII) is reported to play multiple roles during cell migration and invasion. However, the exact biophysical roles of different NMII isoforms during these processes remain poorly understood. We analyzed the contributions of NMIIA and NMIIB in three-dimensional (3D) migration and in generating the forces required for efficient invasion by mammary gland carcinoma cells. Using traction force microscopy and microfluidic invasion devices, we demonstrated that NMIIA is critical for generating force during active protrusion, and NMIIB plays a major role in applying force on the nucleus to facilitate nuclear translocation through tight spaces. We further demonstrate that the nuclear membrane protein nesprin-2 is a possible linker coupling NMIIB-based force generation to nuclear translocation. Together, these data reveal a central biophysical role for NMIIB in nuclear translocation during 3D invasive migration, a result with relevance not only to cancer metastasis but for 3D migration in other settings such as embryonic cell migration and wound healing. PMID:26261182

Autophagy, programmed cell death and reactive oxygen species in sexual reproduction in plants.

PubMed

Kurusu, Takamitsu; Kuchitsu, Kazuyuki

2017-05-01

Autophagy is one of the major cellular processes of recycling of proteins, metabolites and intracellular organelles, and plays crucial roles in the regulation of innate immunity, stress responses and programmed cell death (PCD) in many eukaryotes. It is also essential in development and sexual reproduction in many animals. In plants, although autophagy-deficient mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana show phenotypes in abiotic and biotic stress responses, their life cycle seems normal and thus little had been known until recently about the roles of autophagy in development and reproduction. Rice mutants defective in autophagy show sporophytic male sterility and immature pollens, indicating crucial roles of autophagy during pollen maturation. Enzymatic production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by respiratory burst oxidase homologues (Rbohs) play multiple roles in regulating anther development, pollen tube elongation and fertilization. Significance of autophagy and ROS in the regulation of PCD of transient cells during plant sexual reproduction is discussed in comparison with animals.

CCR4-Not Complex Subunit Not2 Plays Critical Roles in Vegetative Growth, Conidiation and Virulence in Watermelon Fusarium Wilt Pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum

PubMed Central

Dai, Yi; Cao, Zhongye; Huang, Lihong; Liu, Shixia; Shen, Zhihui; Wang, Yuyan; Wang, Hui; Zhang, Huijuan; Li, Dayong; Song, Fengming

2016-01-01

CCR4-Not complex is a multifunctional regulator that plays important roles in multiple cellular processes in eukaryotes. In the present study, the biological function of FonNot2, a core subunit of the CCR4-Not complex, was explored in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon), the causal agent of watermelon wilt disease. FonNot2 was expressed at higher levels in conidia and germinating conidia and during infection in Fon-inoculated watermelon roots than in mycelia. Targeted disruption of FonNot2 resulted in retarded vegetative growth, reduced conidia production, abnormal conidial morphology, and reduced virulence on watermelon. Scanning electron microscopy observation of infection behaviors and qRT-PCR analysis of in planta fungal growth revealed that the ΔFonNot2 mutant was defective in the ability to penetrate watermelon roots and showed reduced fungal biomass in root and stem of the inoculated plants. Phenotypic and biochemical analyses indicated that the ΔFonNot2 mutant displayed hypersensitivity to cell wall perturbing agents (e.g., Congo Red and Calcofluor White) and oxidative stress (e.g., H2O2 and paraquat), decreased fusaric acid content, and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during spore germination. Our data demonstrate that FonNot2 plays critical roles in regulating vegetable growth, conidiogenesis and conidia morphology, and virulence on watermelon via modulating cell wall integrity, oxidative stress response, ROS production and FA biosynthesis through the regulation of transcription of genes involved in multiple pathways. PMID:27695445

The Influence of Self-Efficacy, Fear-Avoidance Belief, and Coping Styles on Quality of Life for Chinese Patients with Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Multisite Cross-Sectional Study.

PubMed

Du, Shizheng; Hu, Lingli; Bai, Yamei; Dong, Jianshu; Jin, Shengji; Zhang, Heng; Zhu, Ying

2017-11-23

As a bio-psycho-social issue, chronic low back pain (CLBP) has been a significant topic in health management, and patients' quality of life (QOL) is gaining extensive attention. Self-efficacy, pain fear-avoidance belief (FAB), and coping styles play important roles in the QOL of CLBP patients. However, it remains unclear how self-efficacy and FAB influence QOL through specific coping styles. This study aimed to explore the influencing paths of self-efficacy, FAB, and coping styles on the QOL of patients with CLBP. This study relies on a multisite, cross-sectional design involving 221 CLBP patients. Stepwise multiple regression and structural equation modeling were employed. CLBP patients lived with a poor global QOL. Self-efficacy played a direct, positive role in predicting QOL for patients with CLBP (β = 0.35), and it also played an indirect, positive role in predicting QOL (β = 0.19) through active coping styles (β = 0.31). FAB played a direct, negative role in predicting QOL (β = -0.33), and it also played an indirect, negative role in predicting QOL (β = -0.32) through passive coping styles (β = 0.32). Self-efficacy and FAB are both directly and indirectly related to global QOL, and coping styles are important mediating variables. Self-efficacy and active coping are protective factors for the QOL of CLBP patients, while FAB and passive coping are risk factors. Health education strategies are recommended by medical personnel to enhance CLBP patients' pain self-efficacy, decrease pain FAB, and modify pain coping styles, so that their global QOL can be improved. © 2017 World Institute of Pain.

Phosphorylation of paramyxovirus phosphoprotein and its role in viral gene expression.

PubMed

Fuentes, Sandra M; Sun, Dengyun; Schmitt, Anthony P; He, Biao

2010-01-01

Paramyxoviruses include many important human and animal pathogens such as measles virus, mumps virus, human parainfluenza viruses, and respiratory syncytial virus, as well as emerging viruses such as Nipah virus and Hendra virus. The paramyxovirus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase consists of the phosphoprotein (P) and the large protein. Both of these proteins are essential for viral RNA synthesis. The P protein is phosphorylated at multiple sites, probably by more than one host kinase. While it is thought that the phosphorylation of P is important for its role in viral RNA synthesis, the precise role of P protein phosphorylation remains an enigma. For instance, it was demonstrated that the putative CKII phosphorylation sites of the P protein of respiratory syncytial virus play a role in viral RNA synthesis using a minigenome replicon system; however, mutating these putative CKII phosphorylation sites within a viral genome had no effect on viral RNA synthesis, leading to the hypothesis that P protein phosphorylation, at least by CKII, does not play a role in viral RNA synthesis. Recently, it has been reported that the phosphorylation state of the P protein of parainfluenza virus 5, a prototypical paramyxovirus, correlates with the ability of P protein to synthesize viral RNA, indicating that P protein phosphorylation does in fact play a role in viral RNA synthesis. Furthermore, host kinases PLK1, as well as AKT1 have been found to play critical roles in paramyxovirus RNA synthesis through regulation of P protein phosphorylation status. Beyond furthering our understanding of paramyxovirus RNA replication, these recent discoveries may also result in a new paradigm in treating infections caused by these viruses, as host kinases that regulate paramyxovirus replication are investigated as potential targets of therapeutic intervention.

Return to Play After Infectious Mononucleosis

PubMed Central

Becker, Jonathan A.; Smith, Julie Anne

2014-01-01

Context: Infectious mononucleosis is a disease primarily of adolescence and early adulthood. The risk of splenic injury and chronic fatigue make return-to-play decisions a challenge for the clinician caring for athletes with infectious mononucleosis. Evidence Acquisition: Data were obtained from the PubMed and MEDLINE databases through December 2012 by searching for epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical manifestations, management, and the role of the spleen in infectious mononucleosis. Study Design: Clinical review. Level of Evidence: Level 4. Results: Infectious mononucleosis is commonly encountered in young athletes. Its disease pattern is variable and can affect multiple organ systems. Supportive care is the cornerstone, with little role for medications such as corticosteroids. Physical examination is unreliable for the spleen, and ultrasound imaging has limitations in its ability to guide return-to-play decisions. Exercise does not appear to place the young athlete at risk for chronic fatigue, but determining who is at risk for persistent symptoms is a challenge. Conclusion: Return-to-play decisions for the athlete with infectious mononucleosis need to be individualized because of the variable disease course and lack of evidence-based guidelines. PMID:24790693

The Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Heart Failure.

PubMed

Peterzan, Mark A; Rider, Oliver J; Anderson, Lisa J

2016-11-01

Cardiovascular imaging is key for the assessment of patients with heart failure. Today, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging plays an established role in the assessment of patients with suspected and confirmed heart failure syndromes, in particular identifying aetiology. Its role in informing prognosis and guiding decisions around therapy are evolving. Key strengths include its accuracy; reproducibility; unrestricted field of view; lack of radiation; multiple abilities to characterise myocardial tissue, thrombus and scar; as well as unparalleled assessment of left and right ventricular volumes. T2* has an established role in the assessment and follow-up of iron overload cardiomyopathy and a role for T1 in specific therapies for cardiac amyloid and Anderson-Fabry disease is emerging.

Loss of laminin alpha 1 results in multiple structural defects and divergent effects on adhesion during vertebrate optic cup morphogenesis

PubMed Central

Bryan, Chase D.; Chien, Chi-Bin; Kwan, Kristen M.

2016-01-01

The vertebrate eye forms via a complex set of morphogenetic events. The optic vesicle evaginates and undergoes transformative shape changes to form the optic cup, in which neural retina and retinal pigmented epithelium enwrap the lens. It has long been known that a complex, glycoprotein-rich extracellular matrix layer surrounds the developing optic cup throughout the process, yet the functions of the matrix and its specific molecular components have remained unclear. Previous work established a role for laminin extracellular matrix in particular steps of eye development, including optic vesicle evagination, lens differentiation, and retinal ganglion cell polarization, yet it is unknown what role laminin might play in the early process of optic cup formation subsequent to the initial step of optic vesicle evagination. Here, we use the zebrafish lama1 mutant (lama1UW1) to determine the function of laminin during optic cup morphogenesis. Using live imaging, we find, surprisingly, that loss of laminin leads to divergent effects on focal adhesion assembly in a spatiotemporally-specific manner, and that laminin is required for multiple steps of optic cup morphogenesis, including optic stalk constriction, invagination, and formation of a spherical lens. Laminin is not required for single cell behaviors and changes in cell shape. Rather, in lama1UW1 mutants, loss of epithelial polarity and altered adhesion lead to defective tissue architecture and formation of a disorganized retina. These results demonstrate that the laminin extracellular matrix plays multiple critical roles regulating adhesion and polarity to establish and maintain tissue structure during optic cup morphogenesis. PMID:27339294

Genetic susceptibility to lung cancer—light at the end of the tunnel?

PubMed Central

Christiani, David C.

2013-01-01

Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadliest cancers in the world. The major socio-environmental risk factor involved in the development of lung cancer is cigarette smoking. Additionally, there are multiple genetic factors, which may also play a role in lung cancer risk. Early work focused on the presence of relatively prevalent but low-penetrance alterations in candidate genes leading to increased risk of lung cancer. Development of new technologies such as genomic profiling and genome-wide association studies has been helpful in the detection of new genetic variants likely involved in lung cancer risk. In this review, we discuss the role of multiple genetic variants and review their putative role in the risk of lung cancer. Identifying genetic biomarkers and patterns of genetic risk may be useful in the earlier detection and treatment of lung cancer patients. PMID:23349013

EZH2 in Bladder Cancer, a Promising Therapeutic Target

PubMed Central

Martínez-Fernández, Mónica; Rubio, Carolina; Segovia, Cristina; López-Calderón, Fernando F.; Dueñas, Marta; Paramio, Jesús M.

2015-01-01

Bladder Cancer (BC) represents a current clinical and social challenge. The recent studies aimed to describe the genomic landscape of BC have underscored the relevance of epigenetic alterations in the pathogenesis of these tumors. Among the epigenetic alterations, histone modifications occupied a central role not only in cancer, but also in normal organism homeostasis and development. EZH2 (Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2) belongs to the Polycomb repressive complex 2 as its catalytic subunit, which through the trimethylation of H3 (Histone 3) on K27 (Lysine 27), produces gene silencing. EZH2 is frequently overexpressed in multiple tumor types, including BC, and plays multiple roles besides the well-recognized histone mark generation. In this review, we summarize the present knowledge on the oncogenic roles of EZH2 and its potential use as a therapeutic target, with special emphasis on BC pathogenesis and management. PMID:26580594

Synchronous occurrence of prostate carcinoma and multiple myeloma: a case report.

PubMed

Sehgal, Tushar; Sharma, Sudha; Naseem, Shano; Varma, Neelam; Das, Ashim; Sharma, S C

2014-09-01

We describe a rare case of metastatic prostate cancer to bone marrow and synchronous multiple myeloma as the second malignant disease. Various diagnostic procedures, including cytomorphology and immunohistochemistry analyses together contributed to the detection of metastasis of prostate cancer and synchronous plasma cell proliferation in the bone marrow. The association between these two disorders is poorly understood however, some studies show that bone marrow microenvironment may play a crucial role. The need for further research in this regard is required to unfold this fascinating association.

Multiple Light Scattering Probes of Soft Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheffold, Frank

2007-02-01

I will discuss both static and dynamic properties of diffuse waves. In practical applications the optical properties of colloidal systems play an important role, for example in commercial products such as sunscreen lotions, food (drinks), coatings but also in medicine for example in cataract formation (eye lens turbidity). It is thus of importance to know the key parameters governing optical turbidity from the single to the multiple scattering regime. Temporal fluctuations of multiply scattered light are studied with photon correlation spectroscopy (Diffusing Wave Spectroscopy). This DWS method and its various implementations will be treated.

A centralized platform for geo-distributed PACS management.

PubMed

Silva, Luís A Bastião; Pinho, Renato; Ribeiro, Luís S; Costa, Carlos; Oliveira, José Luís

2014-04-01

Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) is a globally adopted concept and plays a fundamental role in patient care flow within healthcare institutions. However, the deployment of medical imaging repositories over multiple sites still brings several practical challenges namely related to operation and management (O&M). This paper describes a Web-based centralized console that provides remote monitoring, testing, and management over multiple geo-distributed PACS. The system allows the PACS administrator to define any kind of service or operation, reducing the need for local technicians and providing a 24/7 monitoring solution.

Epstein-Barr virus in systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis—association and causation.

PubMed

Lossius, Andreas; Johansen, Jorunn N; Torkildsen, Øivind; Vartdal, Frode; Holmøy, Trygve

2012-12-01

Epidemiological data suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, it is not clear whether EBV plays a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases, and if so, by which mechanisms the virus may contribute. In this review, we discuss possible viral and immunological mechanisms that might explain associations between EBV and autoimmune diseases and whether these associations represent causes or effects of inflammation and autoimmunity.

Epstein-Barr Virus in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Multiple Sclerosis—Association and Causation

PubMed Central

Lossius, Andreas; Johansen, Jorunn N.; Torkildsen, Øivind; Vartdal, Frode; Holmøy, Trygve

2012-01-01

Epidemiological data suggest that the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is associated with several autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. However, it is not clear whether EBV plays a role in the pathogenesis of these diseases, and if so, by which mechanisms the virus may contribute. In this review, we discuss possible viral and immunological mechanisms that might explain associations between EBV and autoimmune diseases and whether these associations represent causes or effects of inflammation and autoimmunity. PMID:23342374

TSLP: A Key Regulator of Asthma Pathogenesis.

PubMed

West, Erin E; Kashyap, Mohit; Leonard, Warren J

2012-12-01

Asthma is a complex disorder of the airways that is characterized by T helper type 2 (Th2) inflammation. The pleiotrophic cytokine TSLP has emerged as an important player involved in orchestrating the inflammation seen in asthma and other atopic diseases. Early research elucidated the role of TSLP on CD4 + T cells, and recent work has revealed the impact of TSLP on multiple cell types. Furthermore, TSLP plays an important role in the sequential progression of atopic dermatitis to asthma, clarifying the key role of TSLP in the pathogenesis of asthma, a finding with therapeutic implications.

Psychological Science's Contributions to a Sustainable Environment: Extending Our Reach to a Grand Challenge of Society

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kazdin, Alan E.

2009-01-01

Climate change and degradation of the environment are global problems associated with many other challenges (e.g., population increases, reduction of glaciers, and loss of critical habitats). Psychological science can play a critical role in addressing these problems by fostering a sustainable environment. Multiple strategies for fostering a…

Robust Scale Transformation Methods in IRT True Score Equating under Common-Item Nonequivalent Groups Design

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

He, Yong

2013-01-01

Common test items play an important role in equating multiple test forms under the common-item nonequivalent groups design. Inconsistent item parameter estimates among common items can lead to large bias in equated scores for IRT true score equating. Current methods extensively focus on detection and elimination of outlying common items, which…

International Association of Counseling Services: Standards for University and College Counseling Services

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 2011

2011-01-01

University and college counseling services have played a vital role in higher education for many years. In the last 40 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of campus counseling services and the multiplicity of functions that are performed. Guidelines for university and college counseling services were first developed in 1970 by…

GLABROUS (CmGL) encodes a HD-ZIP IV transcription factor playing roles in multicellular trichome initiation in melon

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Trichomes are small hairs covering the above-ground parts of plants that serve multiple functions in plant life such as protection against insects and pathogens. Little is known about the genetic control and regulation of trichome development in melon. In this study, we identified a melon mutant, cm...

#WeNeedMirrorsAndWindows: Diverse Classroom Libraries for K-6 Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McNair, Jonda C.

2016-01-01

Children's literature plays an essential role in the literacy development of children. This department column focuses on the teaching and use of children's literature and provides educators with information about a wide range of books across multiple genres that are representative of the diverse world in which we live. A strong emphasis is placed…

Perilipin-2 null mice are protected against diet-induced obesity, adipose inflammation, and fatty liver disease

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The cytoplasmic lipid droplet (CLD) protein perilipin-2 (Plin2) is expressed in multiple nonadipose tissues, where it is thought to play a role in regulating their lipid storage properties. However, the extent to which Plin2 functions in nutrient utilization and metabolism, or how it influences the ...

Managing the Student with Severe Food Allergies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robinson, Joanne M.; Ficca, Michelle

2012-01-01

School nurses play a key role in managing students with food allergies. It is becoming more common to encounter students with severe allergies to multiple foods, putting them at risk for anaphylaxis. It is essential that the school nurse have a clear understanding of food allergies and how to effectively manage students in the school setting.…

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Student-Faculty Perspectives of the Course Syllabus

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDonald, Jeanette; Siddall, Gillian; Mandell, Deena; Hughes, Sandy

2010-01-01

Course syllabi play an important role in teaching, learning, and course design. They serve multiple functions and audiences and represent the end product of a scholarly process. In the following article, select findings from a mixed methods study examining how faculty and students conceptualize course syllabi are presented, specifically the design…

Evaluating the Pedagogic Value of Multi-word Expressions Based on EFL Teachers' and Advanced Learners' Value Judgments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Omidian, Taha; Shahriari, Hesamoddin; Ghonsooly, Behzad

2017-01-01

Multi-word expressions play an important role in second language acquisition, comprehension, and production. Therefore, there is great need for a list of frequent, useful multi-word expressions in language teaching classrooms. Despite multiple attempts at defining multi-word sequences, researchers and teaching experts are divided over the nature…

Screening the ToxCast Phase 1, 2, and e1k Chemical Libraries for Inhibition of Deiodinase Type 1, 2 and 3 Enzyme Activity

EPA Science Inventory

Thyroid hormone (TH) homeostasis is dependent on multiple proteins for TH synthesis, transport, and peripheral metabolism and elimination. Deiodinase enzymes play an essential role in converting THs between active and inactive forms by converting the pro-hormone thyroxine (T4) to...

Not Just Fun, But Serious Strategies: Using Meta-Cognitive Strategies in Game-Based Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Bokyeong; Park, Hyungsung; Baek, Youngkyun

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of the meta-cognitive strategies on the academic and gaming achievements. Exploring the effects of those achievements on the social problem solving of students is also of interest. For this purpose, the MMORPG [Massively Multiple Online Role Playing Game] "Gersang" was used. The…

A Study on Effects of Yoga on Adjustment Problems of School Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tamilselvi, B.; Thangarajathi, S.

2013-01-01

Teaching is a very stressful job requiring a teacher to stand for many hours daily alone before a group of some alienated pupils. Moreover, the teacher has to play multiple roles such as supporting parent, disciplinary taskmaster, stimulating actor and informative resource person. Researchers have identified various causes of job related stress of…

Am I a Student and/or Entrepreneur? Multiple Identities in Student Entrepreneurship

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nielsen, Suna Løwe; Gartner, William B.

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study different aspects and tensional forces that play a role in the internal and contextual negotiation that takes place within students in the exploration of the possible identity of entrepreneur. It expands the knowledge of how the university context influences student entrepreneurial processes from a…

Evaluation of an Efficient Method for Training Staff to Implement Stimulus Preference Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Roscoe, Eileen M.; Fisher, Wayne W.

2008-01-01

We used a brief training procedure that incorporated feedback and role-play practice to train staff members to conduct stimulus preference assessments, and we used group-comparison methods to evaluate the effects of training. Staff members were trained to implement the multiple-stimulus-without-replacement assessment in a single session and the…

Preventing Conduct Problems and Improving School Readiness: Evaluation of the Incredible Years Teacher and Child Training Programs in High-Risk Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Webster-Stratton, Carolyn; Reid, M. Jamila; Stoolmiller, Mike

2008-01-01

Background: School readiness, conceptualized as three components including emotional self-regulation, social competence, and family/school involvement, as well as absence of conduct problems play a key role in young children's future interpersonal adjustment and academic success. Unfortunately, exposure to multiple poverty-related risks increases…

Influence of wood on invertebrate communities in streams and rivers

Treesearch

Arthur Benke; J. Bruce Wallace

2010-01-01

Wood plays a major role in creating multiple invertebrate habitats in small streams and large rivers. In small streams, wood debris dams are instrumental in creating a step and pool profile of habitats, enhancing habitat heterogeneity, retaining organic matter, and changing current velocity. Beavers can convert sections of free-flowing streams into ponds and wetlands...

Multiple Case Studies of Public Library Systems in New York State: Service Decision-Making Processes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ren, Xiaoai

2012-01-01

This research examined the functions and roles of public library systems in New York State and the services they provide for individual libraries and the public. The dissertation further studied the service decision-making processes at three selected New York State cooperative public library systems. Public library systems have played an important…

Screening the ToxCast Phase 1, 2, and e1k chemical libraries for inhibition of Deiodinase Types 1, 2 and 3 enzyme activity

EPA Science Inventory

Thyroid hormone (TH) homeostasis is dependent on multiple proteins for TH synthesis, transport, and peripheral metabolism and elimination. Deiodinase enzymes play an essential role in converting THs between active and inactive forms by deiodinating the pro-hormone thyroxine (T4) ...

Advancing Understanding of Affordability in Washington State: An Interactive Model Exploring Student Higher Education Financing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fridley, James L.; Sharpe, Rachelle E.

2016-01-01

Higher education affordability is a complex concept that reflects resources available from multiple parties, the remaining cost of education, and the ability of students and families to pay the balance. States play a key role in determining the affordability of higher education for students attending public institutions. Yet decisions are made…

Behavioral Intervention to Treat Selective Mutism across Multiple Social Situations and Community Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lang, Russell; Regester, April; Mulloy, Austin; Rispoli, Mandy; Botout, Amanda

2011-01-01

We evaluated a behavioral intervention for a 9-year-old girl with selective mutism. The intervention consisted of role play and video self-modeling. The frequency of spoken initiations, responses to questions, and communication breakdowns was measured during three social situations (i.e., ordering in a restaurant, meeting new adults, and playing…

Detangling Spaghetti: Tracking Deep Ocean Currents in the Gulf of Mexico

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Curran, Mary Carla; Bower, Amy S.; Furey, Heather H.

2017-01-01

Creation of physical models can help students learn science by enabling them to be more involved in the scientific process of discovery and to use multiple senses during investigations. This activity achieves these goals by having students model ocean currents in the Gulf of Mexico. In general, oceans play a key role in influencing weather…

One Miami-Dade Elementary School's Approach to Wellness: A Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keele, Holly Towle

2017-01-01

The health and wellness of children is a growing concern as the number of children that are unhealthy continues to increase. Schools can play a pivotal role in promoting wellness among children and teenagers through implementing school-wide wellness initiatives that provide students multiple opportunities to learn and use healthy behaviors (Center…

Cloning and characterization of a novel oocyte-specific gene encoding an F-Box protein in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Oocyte-specific genes play critical roles in oogenesis, folliculogenesis and early embryonic development. Through analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from a rainbow trout oocyte cDNA library, we identified a novel transcript which is represented by multiple ESTs derived only from the oocyte c...

Teaching Acculturation: Developing Multiple "Cultures" in the Classroom and Role-Playing the Acculturation Process

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tomcho, Thomas J.; Foels, Rob

2002-01-01

Psychology recognizes the importance of educating students regarding cross-cultural issues. We designed a classroom exercise to give students a firsthand appreciation of a specific cross-cultural issue, that of acculturation. After a brief lecture on acculturation, we divided students in the class into 2 groups and helped each group to develop a…

Supporting Infant Teachers in Their Care of Fussy Babies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jurie, Cindy; Baker, Marsha

2008-01-01

Child care teachers cope with juggling multiple competing demands: (1) managing relationships with parents; (2) coping with individual infant temperaments; and (3) meeting the group needs of the other infants in their care. Infant teachers often play a unique role in that they may be the first adults to listen and understand what the experience of…

Multiple Responses through Verbal Discourse in the Reading of Literary Texts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vethamani, Malachi Edwin; Nair, Premalatha

2009-01-01

The past decade has viewed the important role literature plays in enhancing the learning process among students in Malaysian English classrooms. However, most English teachers in particular are not prepared to teach literature due to the lack of training and exposure on the subject. This paper seeks to explore the ways teacher trainees from one…

Mitigating "Milliken"? School District Boundary Lines and Desegregation Policy in Four Southern Metropolitan Areas, 1990-2010

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Siegel-Hawley, Genevieve

2014-01-01

Over the past half century, law and policy have helped cement tremendous inequities into the structure of our cities. District boundary lines separating multiple, unequal school systems within a single metropolitan (metro) area play a central role in structuring racial and economic isolation. Using data from the National Center for Education…

Selective Memories: Infants' Encoding Is Enhanced in Selection via Suppression

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Markant, Julie; Amso, Dima

2013-01-01

The present study examined the hypothesis that inhibitory visual selection mechanisms play a vital role in memory by limiting distractor interference during item encoding. In Experiment 1a we used a modified spatial cueing task in which 9-month-old infants encoded multiple category exemplars in the contexts of an attention orienting mechanism…

Can Education Play a Role in the Prevention of Youth Gangs in Indian Country? One Tribe's Approach. ERIC Digest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hernandez, Arturo

Traditionally an urban problem, gang involvement is growing on Native American reservations. This digest examines common factors in gang development and one tribe's response through a Native-centric education and juvenile justice system. The sum of handicaps associated with gang involvement has been termed "multiple marginality," and…

Multiple Memory Stores and Operant Conditioning: A Rationale for Memory's Complexity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meeter, Martijn; Veldkamp, Rob; Jin, Yaochu

2009-01-01

Why does the brain contain more than one memory system? Genetic algorithms can play a role in elucidating this question. Here, model animals were constructed containing a dorsal striatal layer that controlled actions, and a ventral striatal layer that controlled a dopaminergic learning signal. Both layers could gain access to three modeled memory…

[Epidemiology of infections after liver transplantation in children].

PubMed

Pawłowska, J

2001-01-01

One of the most important problems after solid organ transplantation including liver, remains infections. Multiple risk factors play a role among which the most important are: general patients health before transplantation, prolong operative time, graft function and type of immunosuppression. The most important problems with bacterial, fungal and viral infections was described as well as treatment and profilaxis.

Misconceptions and Biases in German Students' Perception of Multiple Energy Sources: Implications for Science Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Roh Pin

2016-01-01

Misconceptions and biases in energy perception could influence people's support for developments integral to the success of restructuring a nation's energy system. Science education, in equipping young adults with the cognitive skills and knowledge necessary to navigate in the confusing energy environment, could play a key role in paving the way…

Live Action Role Play and the Development of Teacher Competences: Evaluation of "Everyday Life in the Classroom"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Imhof, Margarete; Starker, Ulrike; Spaude, Elena

2016-01-01

Building on Dörner's (1996) theory of complex problem-solving, a learning scenario for teacher students was created and tested. Classroom management is interpreted as a complex problem, which requires the integration of competing interests and tackling multiple, simultaneous tasks under time pressure and with limited information. In addition,…

The ubiquitous PM component Zn2+ induces HO-1 expression through multiple targets in the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway

EPA Science Inventory

Oxidant stress can play an important role in particulate matter (PM)–mediated toxicity in the respiratory tract. Zinc (Zn2+) is a ubiquitous component of ambient PM that induces adverse responses such as inflammatory and adaptive gene expression in human airway epithelial c...

The Role Played by Contextual Challenges in Practising Inquiry-Based Science Teaching in Tanzania "Secondary Schools"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mkimbili, Selina Thomas; Tiplic, Dijana; Ødegaard, Marianne

2017-01-01

Our study aims to explore the practice of Inquiry-based Science Teaching (IBST) in schools with contextual challenges in Tanzania. The study draws on multiple data sources. Eleven teachers purposively selected were interviewed. Also, out of 11 teachers, seven were observed in their practical sessions. Participants were selected from community…

Learning for Social Justice: A Cultural Historical Activity Theory Analysis of Community Leadership Empowerment in a Korean American Community Organization

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kim, Junghwan

2012-01-01

Community organizations, especially those aiming at social change, play a significant role in establishing societal health and contributing to adult learning in daily communities. Their existence secures marginalized groups' involvement in society and enhances community development by building community leadership with multiple stakeholders…

The metabolic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase acts as a transcriptional regulator in pathogenic Francisella.

PubMed

Ziveri, Jason; Tros, Fabiola; Guerrera, Ida Chiara; Chhuon, Cerina; Audry, Mathilde; Dupuis, Marion; Barel, Monique; Korniotis, Sarantis; Fillatreau, Simon; Gales, Lara; Cahoreau, Edern; Charbit, Alain

2017-10-11

The enzyme fructose-bisphosphate aldolase occupies a central position in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis pathways. Beyond its housekeeping role in metabolism, fructose-bisphosphate aldolase has been involved in additional functions and is considered as a potential target for drug development against pathogenic bacteria. Here, we address the role of fructose-bisphosphate aldolase in the bacterial pathogen Francisella novicida. We demonstrate that fructose-bisphosphate aldolase is important for bacterial multiplication in macrophages in the presence of gluconeogenic substrates. In addition, we unravel a direct role of this metabolic enzyme in transcription regulation of genes katG and rpoA, encoding catalase and an RNA polymerase subunit, respectively. We propose a model in which fructose-bisphosphate aldolase participates in the control of host redox homeostasis and the inflammatory immune response.The enzyme fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) plays central roles in glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. Here, Ziveri et al. show that FBA of the pathogen Francisella novicida acts, in addition, as a transcriptional regulator and is important for bacterial multiplication in macrophages.

Genomic and Epigenomic Alterations in Cancer.

PubMed

Chakravarthi, Balabhadrapatruni V S K; Nepal, Saroj; Varambally, Sooryanarayana

2016-07-01

Multiple genetic and epigenetic events characterize tumor progression and define the identity of the tumors. Advances in high-throughput technologies, like gene expression profiling, next-generation sequencing, proteomics, and metabolomics, have enabled detailed molecular characterization of various tumors. The integration and analyses of these high-throughput data have unraveled many novel molecular aberrations and network alterations in tumors. These molecular alterations include multiple cancer-driving mutations, gene fusions, amplification, deletion, and post-translational modifications, among others. Many of these genomic events are being used in cancer diagnosis, whereas others are therapeutically targeted with small-molecule inhibitors. Multiple genes/enzymes that play a role in DNA and histone modifications are also altered in various cancers, changing the epigenomic landscape during cancer initiation and progression. Apart from protein-coding genes, studies are uncovering the critical regulatory roles played by noncoding RNAs and noncoding regions of the genome during cancer progression. Many of these genomic and epigenetic events function in tandem to drive tumor development and metastasis. Concurrent advances in genome-modulating technologies, like gene silencing and genome editing, are providing ability to understand in detail the process of cancer initiation, progression, and signaling as well as opening up avenues for therapeutic targeting. In this review, we discuss some of the recent advances in cancer genomic and epigenomic research. Copyright © 2016 American Society for Investigative Pathology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pathogens and Disease Play Havoc on the Host Epiproteome-The "First Line of Response" Role for Proteomic Changes Influenced by Disorder.

PubMed

Rikkerink, Erik H A

2018-03-08

Organisms face stress from multiple sources simultaneously and require mechanisms to respond to these scenarios if they are to survive in the long term. This overview focuses on a series of key points that illustrate how disorder and post-translational changes can combine to play a critical role in orchestrating the response of organisms to the stress of a changing environment. Increasingly, protein complexes are thought of as dynamic multi-component molecular machines able to adapt through compositional, conformational and/or post-translational modifications to control their largely metabolic outputs. These metabolites then feed into cellular physiological homeostasis or the production of secondary metabolites with novel anti-microbial properties. The control of adaptations to stress operates at multiple levels including the proteome and the dynamic nature of proteomic changes suggests a parallel with the equally dynamic epigenetic changes at the level of nucleic acids. Given their properties, I propose that some disordered protein platforms specifically enable organisms to sense and react rapidly as the first line of response to change. Using examples from the highly dynamic host-pathogen and host-stress response, I illustrate by example how disordered proteins are key to fulfilling the need for multiple levels of integration of response at different time scales to create robust control points.

The effects of anterior arcuate and dorsomedial frontal cortex lesions on visually guided eye movements: 2. Paired and multiple targets.

PubMed

Schiller, P H; Chou, I

2000-01-01

This study examined the effects of anterior arcuate and dorsomedial frontal cortex lesions on the execution of saccadic eye movements made to paired and multiple targets in rhesus monkeys. Identical paired targets were presented with various temporal asynchronies to determine the temporal offset required to yield equal probability choices to either target. In the intact animal equal probability choices were typically obtained when the targets appeared simultaneously. After unilateral anterior arcuate lesions a major shift arose in the temporal offset required to obtain equal probability choices for paired targets that necessitated presenting the target in the hemifield contralateral to the lesion more than 100 ms prior to the target in the ipsilateral hemifield. This deficit was still pronounced 1 year after the lesion. Dorsomedial frontal cortex lesions produced much smaller but significant shifts in target selection that recovered more rapidly. Paired lesions produced deficits similar to those observed with anterior arcuate lesions alone. Major deficits were also observed on a multiple target temporal discrimination task after anterior arcuate but not after dorsomedial frontal cortex lesions. These results suggest that the frontal eye fields that reside in anterior bank of the arcuate sulcus play an important role in temporal processing and in target selection. Dorsomedial frontal cortex, that contains the medial eye fields, plays a much less important role in the execution of these tasks.

Fair Play: A Study of Scientific Workforce Trainers' Experience Playing an Educational Video Game about Racial Bias.

PubMed

Kaatz, Anna; Carnes, Molly; Gutierrez, Belinda; Savoy, Julia; Samuel, Clem; Filut, Amarette; Pribbenow, Christine Maidl

2017-01-01

Explicit racial bias has decreased in the United States, but racial stereotypes still exist and conspire in multiple ways to perpetuate the underparticipation of Blacks in science careers. Capitalizing on the potential effectiveness of role-playing video games to promote the type of active learning required to increase awareness of and reduce subtle racial bias, we developed the video game Fair Play, in which players take on the role of Jamal, a Black male graduate student in science, who experiences discrimination in his PhD program. We describe a mixed-methods evaluation of the experience of scientific workforce trainers who played Fair Play at the National Institutes of Health Division of Training Workforce Development and Diversity program directors' meeting in 2013 ( n = 47; 76% female, n = 34; 53% nonwhite, n = 26). The evaluation findings suggest that Fair Play can promote perspective taking and increase bias literacy, which are steps toward reducing racial bias and affording Blacks equal opportunities to excel in science. © 2017 A. Kaatz et al. CBE—Life Sciences Education © 2017 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). It is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).

Uridine Nucleoside Thiation: Gas-Phase Structures and Energetics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamlow, Lucas; Lee, Justin; Rodgers, M. T.; Berden, Giel; Oomens, Jos

2016-06-01

The naturally occurring thiated uridine nucleosides, 4-thiouridine (s4Urd) and 2-thiouridine (s2Urd), play important roles in the function and analysis of a variety of RNAs. 2-Thiouridine and its C5 modified analogues are commonly found in tRNAs and are believed to play an important role in codon recognition possibly due to their different structure, which has been shown by NMR to be predominantly C3'-endo. 2-Thiouridine may also play an important role in facilitating nonenzymatic RNA replication and transcription. 4-Thiouridine is a commonly used photoactivatable crosslinker that is often used to study RNA-RNA and RNA-protein cross-linking behavior. Differences in the base pairing between uracil and 4-thiouracil with adenine and guanine are an important factor in their role as a cross linker. The photoactivity of s4Urd may also aid in preventing near-UV lethality in cells. An understanding of their intrinsic structure in the gas-phase may help further elucidate the roles these modified nucleosides play in the regulation of RNAs. In this work, infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) action spectra of the protonated forms of s2Urd and s4Urd were collected in the IR fingerprint region. Structural information is determined by comparison with theoretical linear IR spectra generated from density functional theory calculations using molecular modeling to generate low-energy candidate structures. Present results are compared with analogous results for the protonated forms of uridine and 2'-deoxyuridine as well as solution phase NMR data and crystal structures.

Multiple protocadherins are expressed in brain microvascular endothelial cells and might play a role in tight junction protein regulation.

PubMed

Dilling, Christina; Roewer, Norbert; Förster, Carola Y; Burek, Malgorzata

2017-10-01

Protocadherins (Pcdhs) are a large family of cadherin-related molecules. They play a role in cell adhesion, cellular interactions, and development of the central nervous system. However, their expression and role in endothelial cells has not yet been characterized. Here, we examined the expression of selected clustered Pcdhs in endothelial cells from several vascular beds. We analyzed human and mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell (BMEC) lines and primary cells, mouse myocardial microvascular endothelial cell line, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We examined the mRNA and protein expression of selected Pcdhs using RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunostaining. A strong mRNA expression of Pcdhs was observed in all endothelial cells tested. At the protein level, Pcdhs-gamma were detected using an antibody against the conserved C-terminal domain of Pcdhs-gamma or an antibody against PcdhgC3. Deletion of highly expressed PcdhgC3 led to differences in the tight junction protein expression and mRNA expression of Wnt/mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) pathway genes as well as lower transendothelial electrical resistance. Staining of PcdhgC3 showed diffused cytoplasmic localization in mouse BMEC. Our results suggest that Pcdhs may play a critical role in the barrier-stabilizing pathways at the blood-brain barrier.

p21 induction plays a dual role in anti-cancer activity of ursolic acid

PubMed Central

Zhang, Xudong; Song, Xinhua; Yin, Shutao; Zhao, Chong; Fan, Lihong

2015-01-01

Previous studies have shown that induction of G1 arrest and apoptosis by ursolic acid is associated with up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) protein p21 in multiple types of cancer cells. However, the functional role of p21 induction in G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and the mechanisms of p21 induction by ursolic acid have not been critically addressed. In the current study, we demonstrated that p21 played a mediator role in G1 cell cycle arrest by ursolic acid, whereas p21-mediated up-regulation of Mcl-1 compromised apoptotic effect of ursolic acid. These results suggest that p21 induction plays a dual role in the anti-cancer activity of ursolic acid in terms of cell cycle and apoptosis regulation. p21 induction by ursolic acid was attributed to p53 transcriptional activation. Moreover, we found that ursolic acid was able to inhibit murine double minute-2 protein (MDM2) and T-LAK cell-originated protein kinase (TOPK), the two negative regulator of p53, which in turn contributed to ursolic acid-induced p53 activation. Our findings provided novel insights into understanding of the mechanisms involved in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction in response to ursolic acid exposure. PMID:26582056

[Association of Kaposi sarcoma--multiple myeloma. A new case].

PubMed

Cohen, J D; Thomas, E; Garnier, N; Hellier, I; Durand, L; Guilhou, J J; Baldet, P; Blotman, F

2000-11-01

Kaposi's disease is an angiogenic multifocal cancer process that has several forms, namely Mediterranean, African, HIV-associated, and secondary to a preexisting immunodepressive state (hematological disorder, corticosteroid therapy, immunodepressive treatment). Whatever its form, Kaposi's sarcoma is probably associated with a chronic viral human herpes type 8 infection (HHV8). This virus has been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (17 cases recorded to date). In the present study, a further case of Kaposi's sarcoma associated with multiple myeloma has been reported. However, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C, HIV and HHV8 serologies were negative. Radiotherapy on the lower limbs was initiated. It is concluded that HHV8 does not appear to play a pathogenic role in cases of multiple myeloma, given the rarity of the association between Kaposi's sarcoma/multiple myeloma/HHV8.

The Usefulness of Assessing and Identifying Workers' Temperaments and Their Effects on Occupational Stress in the Workplace.

PubMed

Deguchi, Yasuhiko; Iwasaki, Shinichi; Konishi, Akihito; Ishimoto, Hideyuki; Ogawa, Koichiro; Fukuda, Yuichi; Nitta, Tomoko; Inoue, Koki

2016-01-01

The relationship between temperaments and mental disorders has been reported in previous studies, but there has been little attention to temperaments in the occupational safety and health research. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of temperaments on occupational stress among local government employees. The subjects were 145 Japanese daytime workers in local government. Temperaments were assessed by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A). Occupational stress was assessed using the Generic Job Stress Questionnaire (GJSQ). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was used. Hyperthymic temperament predicted a higher level of job control, and a lower level of role ambiguity and job future ambiguity. Irritable temperament predicted a lower level of social support from supervisors and a higher level of role conflict, variance in workload and intragroup conflict. Anxious temperament predicted a lower level of social support from coworkers and a higher level of job future ambiguity. The sample size was small. Only Japanese local government employees were surveyed. Hyperthymic temperament played a protective role, and irritable, anxious temperament played a vulnerable role against one's own occupational stress and recognizing the roles they play in work life would lead to self-insight. Additionally, recognition of the temperaments and temperament-related stressors by one's supervisors or coworkers would facilitate provision of social support.

The Usefulness of Assessing and Identifying Workers’ Temperaments and Their Effects on Occupational Stress in the Workplace

PubMed Central

Konishi, Akihito; Ishimoto, Hideyuki; Ogawa, Koichiro; Fukuda, Yuichi; Nitta, Tomoko; Inoue, Koki

2016-01-01

The relationship between temperaments and mental disorders has been reported in previous studies, but there has been little attention to temperaments in the occupational safety and health research. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of temperaments on occupational stress among local government employees. The subjects were 145 Japanese daytime workers in local government. Temperaments were assessed by the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego-Auto questionnaire (TEMPS-A). Occupational stress was assessed using the Generic Job Stress Questionnaire (GJSQ). Hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis was used. Hyperthymic temperament predicted a higher level of job control, and a lower level of role ambiguity and job future ambiguity. Irritable temperament predicted a lower level of social support from supervisors and a higher level of role conflict, variance in workload and intragroup conflict. Anxious temperament predicted a lower level of social support from coworkers and a higher level of job future ambiguity. The sample size was small. Only Japanese local government employees were surveyed. Hyperthymic temperament played a protective role, and irritable, anxious temperament played a vulnerable role against one’s own occupational stress and recognizing the roles they play in work life would lead to self-insight. Additionally, recognition of the temperaments and temperament-related stressors by one’s supervisors or coworkers would facilitate provision of social support. PMID:27227771

Emotional contagion of dental fear to children: the fathers' mediating role in parental transfer of fear.

PubMed

Lara, America; Crego, Antonio; Romero-Maroto, Martin

2012-09-01

Dental fear is considered to be one of the most frequent problems in paediatric dentistry. According to literature, parents' levels of dental fear play a key role in the development of child's dental anxiety. HYPOTHESIS OR AIM: We have tried to identify the presence of emotional transmission of dental fear among family members and to analyse the different roles that mothers and fathers might play concerning the contagion of dental fear to children. We have hypothesized a key role of the father in the transfer of dental fear from mother to child. A questionnaire-based survey (Children's Fear Survey Schedule-Dental Subscale) has been distributed among 183 schoolchildren and their parents in Madrid (Spain). Inferential statistical analyses, i.e. correlation and hierarchical multiple regression, were carried out and possible mediating effects between variables have been tested. Our results support the hypothesis that family members' levels of dental fear are significantly correlated, and they also allow us to affirm that fathers' dental fear is a mediating variable in the relationship between mothers and children's fear scores. Together with the presence of emotional transmission of dental fear among family members, we identified the relevant role that fathers play as regards the transfer of dental fear from parents to children. © 2011 The Authors. International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry © 2011 BSPD, IAPD and Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

I don't think we've quite got there yet: The experience of allyship for mental health consumer researchers.

PubMed

Happell, Brenda; Scholz, Brett; Gordon, Sarah; Bocking, Julia; Ellis, Pete; Roper, Cath; Liggins, Jackie; Platania-Phung, Chris

2018-06-12

Australia and New Zealand mental health policy requires consumer participation in all aspects of mental health services. Systemic participation informs and improves the quality of mental health services. Collaboration with consumer researchers should be similarly required. Enhanced understandings of collaborations are needed. To enhance understanding of the perspectives and experiences of nonconsumer researchers in working collaboratively with consumers as researchers. This qualitative exploratory study involved interviews with non-consumer mental health researchers who have worked collaboratively with consumers in research. Interviews were conducted with participants from Australia and New Zealand. 'Allyship' emerged as a major theme. This describes non-consumer researchers playing an actively supportive role to facilitate opportunities for the development and growth of consumer research roles and activities. Seven sub-themes were identified: establishing and supporting roles, corralling resources, guiding navigation of university systems, advocacy at multiple levels, aspiring to coproduction and consumer-led research, extending connections and partnerships, and desire to do better. Allyship may have an important role to play in the broader consumer research agenda and requires further consideration. Embedding meaningful consumer participation within mental health services requires active consumer involvement in research. Allies can play an important facilitative role. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Interaction of tumor and host cells with adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules in the development of multiple myeloma.

PubMed

Teoh, G; Anderson, K C

1997-02-01

Adhesion molecules play an important role in the growth regulation and migration of multiple myeloma (MM) cells. They mediate homing of MM cells to the bone marrow and MM cell to bone marrow stromal cell adhesion, with resultant interleukin-6 related autocrine and paracine growth and antiapoptotic affects. Their pattern of expression on tumor cells correlates with the development of plasma cell leukemia or extramedullary disease. Clinically, expression of adhesion molecules on tumor cells or in the serum has already shown prognostic utility. Finally, since adhesion molecules are involved at multiple steps in the pathogenesis of MM, therapeutic studies may target these molecules.

Use of interactive theater and role play to develop medical students' skills in breaking bad news.

PubMed

Skye, Eric P; Wagenschutz, Heather; Steiger, Jeffrey A; Kumagai, Arno K

2014-12-01

Creative arts have been increasingly implemented in medical education. This study investigated the use of interactive theater and role play with professional actors in teaching breaking bad news to medical students. The objectives were to explore the contexts, approaches, experiences, and reactions in giving and receiving bad news. Second-year medical students participated in a required educational session that utilized interactive theater which helps students learn about the issues of breaking bad news to a patient with cancer. Following the interactive theater piece, professional actors provided students role play experiences in small groups with breaking bad news. Anonymous evaluation surveys were given out to all second-year medical students at the conclusion of the breaking bad news session. Surveys contained quantitative and qualitative responses. Three years of evaluations were analyzed. A total of 451 (88 %) students completed the evaluations. Comments were thematically analyzed. Ninety-four percent agreed that the theater piece prompted reflection on patient-provider communications, and 89 % agreed that it stimulated discussion on complex issues with breaking bad news. The two most common themes in student comments concerned the importance of realism in the theater piece, and the value of experiencing multiple perspectives. Use of professional actors during the role play exercises enhances the realism and pushed the students out of their own "comfort zones" in ways that may more closely approximate real life clinical situations. Interactive theater can be a potentially powerful tool to teach breaking bad news during medical school.

Brain nuclear receptors and body weight regulation

PubMed Central

O’Malley, Bert W.; Elmquist, Joel K.

2017-01-01

Neural pathways, especially those in the hypothalamus, integrate multiple nutritional, hormonal, and neural signals, resulting in the coordinated control of body weight balance and glucose homeostasis. Nuclear receptors (NRs) sense changing levels of nutrients and hormones, and therefore play essential roles in the regulation of energy homeostasis. Understanding the role and the underlying mechanisms of NRs in the context of energy balance control may facilitate the identification of novel targets to treat obesity. Notably, NRs are abundantly expressed in the brain, and emerging evidence indicates that a number of these brain NRs regulate multiple aspects of energy balance, including feeding, energy expenditure and physical activity. In this Review we summarize some of the recent literature regarding effects of brain NRs on body weight regulation and discuss mechanisms underlying these effects. PMID:28218618

Iron in Multiple Sclerosis and Its Noninvasive Imaging with Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping

PubMed Central

Stüber, Carsten; Pitt, David; Wang, Yi

2016-01-01

Iron is considered to play a key role in the development and progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In particular, iron that accumulates in myeloid cells after the blood-brain barrier (BBB) seals may contribute to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and eventually neurodegeneration. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a well-established tool for the non-invasive study of MS. In recent years, an advanced MRI method, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM), has made it possible to study brain iron through in vivo imaging. Moreover, immunohistochemical investigations have helped defining the lesional and cellular distribution of iron in MS brain tissue. Imaging studies in MS patients and of brain tissue combined with histological studies have provided important insights into the role of iron in inflammation and neurodegeneration in MS. PMID:26784172

The expression and evolution of virulence in multiple infections: the role of specificity, relative virulence and relative dose

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Multiple infections of the same host by different strains of the same microparasite species are believed to play a crucial role during the evolution of parasite virulence. We investigated the role of specificity, relative virulence and relative dose in determining the competitive outcome of multiple infections in the Daphnia magna-Pasteuria ramosa host-parasite system. Results We found that infections by P. ramosa clones (single genotype) were less virulent and produced more spores than infections by P. ramosa isolates (possibly containing multiple genotypes). We also found that two similarly virulent isolates of P. ramosa differed considerably in their within-host competitiveness and their effects on host offspring production when faced with coinfecting P. ramosa isolates and clones. Although the relative virulence of a P. ramosa isolate/clone appears to be a good indicator of its competitiveness during multiple infections, the relative dose may alter the competitive outcome. Moreover, spore counts on day 20 post-infection indicate that the competitive outcome is largely decided early in the parasite’s growth phase, possibly mediated by direct interference or apparent competition. Conclusions Our results emphasize the importance of epidemiology as well as of various parasite traits in determining the outcome of within-host competition. Incorporating realistic epidemiological and ecological conditions when testing theoretical models of multiple infections, as well as using a wider range of host and parasite genotypes, will enable us to better understand the course of virulence evolution. PMID:23641899

The expression and evolution of virulence in multiple infections: the role of specificity, relative virulence and relative dose.

PubMed

Ben-Ami, Frida; Routtu, Jarkko

2013-05-03

Multiple infections of the same host by different strains of the same microparasite species are believed to play a crucial role during the evolution of parasite virulence. We investigated the role of specificity, relative virulence and relative dose in determining the competitive outcome of multiple infections in the Daphnia magna-Pasteuria ramosa host-parasite system. We found that infections by P. ramosa clones (single genotype) were less virulent and produced more spores than infections by P. ramosa isolates (possibly containing multiple genotypes). We also found that two similarly virulent isolates of P. ramosa differed considerably in their within-host competitiveness and their effects on host offspring production when faced with coinfecting P. ramosa isolates and clones. Although the relative virulence of a P. ramosa isolate/clone appears to be a good indicator of its competitiveness during multiple infections, the relative dose may alter the competitive outcome. Moreover, spore counts on day 20 post-infection indicate that the competitive outcome is largely decided early in the parasite's growth phase, possibly mediated by direct interference or apparent competition. Our results emphasize the importance of epidemiology as well as of various parasite traits in determining the outcome of within-host competition. Incorporating realistic epidemiological and ecological conditions when testing theoretical models of multiple infections, as well as using a wider range of host and parasite genotypes, will enable us to better understand the course of virulence evolution.

Trust in Vaccines: Why It Takes More than Good Faith.

PubMed

Begg, Norman

2013-08-12

This Vaccines issue on "Confidence in Vaccines" provides sound evidence through multiple perspectives of life-saving impacts when vaccination programs are effectively implemented in a population. Yet there remain challenges to achieving this impact, including scientific, medical, manufacturing, policy-related and logistical issues. Additionally, socio-cultural, religious and political agendas can come into play, taking public health hostage and sometimes allowing the circulation of myths regarding vaccination. All of these challenges play a role in public confidence in vaccines and vaccination. What we trust, we embrace. What we do not trust, we do not embrace.

Roles of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in Guillain-Barré syndrome and experimental autoimmune neuritis: beneficial or harmful?

PubMed

Shen, Donghui; Lang, Yue; Chu, Fengna; Wu, Xiujuan; Wang, Ying; Zheng, Xiangyu; Zhang, Hong-Liang; Zhu, Jie; Liu, Kangding

2018-06-11

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and its animal model experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN), which may offer an opportunity for the development of the novel therapeutic strategies for GBS. Areas covered: 'macrophage migration inhibitory factor' and 'Guillain-Barré syndrome' were used as keywords to search for related publications on Pub-Med, National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), USA. MIF is involved in the etiology of various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders. However, the roles of MIF in GBS and EAN have not been summarized in the publications we identified. Therefore, in this review, we described and analyzed the major roles of MIF in GBS/EAN. Primarily, this molecule aggravates the inflammatory responses in this disorder. However, multiple studies indicated a protective role of MIF in GBS. The potential of MIF as a therapeutic target in GBS has been recently demonstrated in experimental and clinical studies, although clinical trials have been unavailable to date. Expert opinion: MIF plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of GBS and EAN, and it may represent a potential therapeutic target for GBS.

Gender-specific association between dietary acid load and total lean body mass and its dependency on protein intake in seniors

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: Sarcopenia, the age-related decline of muscle mass, is one of the most important causes of loss of physical function and falls in seniors. Causes of sarcopenia are multiple, but there is evidence that diet-related mild metabolic acidosis may play a role in the development of skeletal mus...

What Does Professional Rank Mean to Teachers? A Survey of the Multiple Impacts of Professional Rank on Urban and Rural Compulsory Education Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yuyou, Qin; Wenjing, Zeng

2018-01-01

Professional rank is an important indicator of the professional capacity of compulsory education teachers. A rational professional rank evaluation system plays an important role in mobilizing the enthusiasm of teachers, improving the overall quality of teachers, and promoting the development of education. Based on stratified random sample data…

Science through Drama: A Multiple Case Exploration of the Characteristics of Drama Activities Used in Secondary Science Lessons

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dorion, Kirk Robert

2009-01-01

Over 20 years of research into the use of cross-curricular drama in secondary science has indicated that this medium enables learning of affective, cognitive and procedural knowledge. To date, academic research has tended to frame successful drama pedagogy as resulting from a Drama-in-Education approach, incorporating extended role plays and…

Postsecondary Play: The Role of Games and Social Media in Higher Education. Tech.edu: A Hopkins Series on Education and Technology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tierney, William G., Ed.; Corwin, Zoë B., Ed.; Fullerton, Tracy, Ed.; Ragusa, Gisele, Ed.

2017-01-01

The college application process--which entails multiple forms, essays, test scores, and deadlines--can be intimidating. For students without substantial school and family support, the complexity of this process can become a barrier to access. William G. Tierney, Tracy Fullerton, and their teams at the University of Southern California approach…

A resistant-kernel model of connectivity for amphibians that breed in vernal pools

Treesearch

Bradley W. Compton; Kevin McGarigal; Samuel A. Cushman; Lloyd R. Gamble

2007-01-01

Pool-breeding amphibian populations operate at multiple scales, from the individual pool to surrounding upland habitat to clusters of pools. When metapopulation dynamics play a role in long-term viability, conservation efforts limited to the protection of individual pools or even pools with associated upland habitat may be ineffective over the long term if connectivity...

A Multiple Case Study: Gauging the Effects of Poverty on School Readiness amongst Preschoolers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Onesto, Melissa J.

2017-01-01

The home environment, which includes the level of organization and stability in the home, plays a crucial role in the development of executive function and oral language skills. For children who live in a low-SES environment, executive function and oral language acquisition are inferior compared to that of students living at other economic levels.…

Central Computer Science Concepts to Research-Based Teacher Training in Computer Science: An Experimental Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zendler, Andreas; Klaudt, Dieter

2012-01-01

The significance of computer science for economics and society is undisputed. In particular, computer science is acknowledged to play a key role in schools (e.g., by opening multiple career paths). The provision of effective computer science education in schools is dependent on teachers who are able to properly represent the discipline and whose…

North Carolina Today: A State of Emergency, A State of Grace, A State of Anticipation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sher, Jonathan P.

This report focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of North Carolina, its future and potential, and the roles that the citizens and the state government play in moving the state forward. There are multiple realities within North Carolina. The average income has increased, unemployment rates have dropped, and educational levels have risen. The…

ICTs for TVET. Report of the UNESCO-UNEVOC Online Conference, 14-28 May, 2013

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

UNESCO-UNEVOC International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training, 2013

2013-01-01

Recent years have seen an explosion in the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs), which have come to play an increasingly important role in multiple aspects of daily lives. There is an unprecedented expansion of the information available online and existing in an ever more interconnected world; however, this change has been so…

A basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, PhFBH4, regulates flower senescence by modulating ethylene biosynthesis pathway in petunia

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) play important roles in regulating multiple biological processes in plants. However, there are few reports about the function of bHLHs in flower senescence. In this study, a bHLH TF, PhFBH4, was found to be dramatically upregulated during...

The Fluctuating Development of Cross-Linguistic Semantic Awareness: A Longitudinal Multiple-Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zheng, Yongyan

2014-01-01

Second language (L2) learners' awareness of first language-second language (L1-L2) semantic differences plays a critical role in L2 vocabulary learning. This study investigates the long-term development of eight university-level Chinese English as a foreign language learners' cross-linguistic semantic awareness over the course of 10 months. A…

Targeting the Hedgehog pathway in cancer: can the spines be smoothened?

PubMed

Ailles, Laurie; Siu, Lillian L

2011-04-15

Aberrant Hedgehog (Hh) pathway signaling has been suggested to play a role in the development of multiple solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. GDC-0449 is a novel first-in-human, first-in-class smoothened (SMO) inhibitor, which has completed its phase I evaluation and achieved proof of concept in tumors with Hh pathway mutations. ©2011 AACR.

The Team Process: Realizing Effective Group Work and Enhancing School Improvement Plans (S.I.P.).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beiter, David J.; And Others

The use of the team process in school improvement plans may play a role in how effective the group is in achieving its goals and objectives. Representative efforts and perceptions of the use of teams in local educational agencies were surveyed in multiple measurements, such as interviews, self-assessments, self-perceptions, and observations. The…

Selecting HVAC Systems for Schools To Balance the Needs for Indoor Air Quality, Energy Conservation and Maintenance. Technical Bulletin.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wheeler, Arthur E.; Kunz, Walter S., Jr.

Although poor air quality in a school can have multiple causes, the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system plays a major role. Suggestions that architects, facilities managers, school board members, and administrators can use in selecting HVAC systems are discussed. Focus is on the performance criteria for classroom systems, and…

College Students' Perceived Wellness among Online, Face-to-Face, and Hybrid Formats of a Lifetime Physical Activity and Wellness Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Milroy, Jeffrey J.; Orsini, Michael Mushi; D'Abundo, Michelle Lee; Sidman, Cara Lynn

2013-01-01

Background: College students are vulnerable to risks associated with unhealthy behaviors. Considering the role that colleges play in facilitating lifelong health and wellness behaviors of college students, health-related fitness (HRF) courses are being offered using multiple delivery formats. Purpose: There is a need to better understand the…

Impact of Game-Based Training on Classroom Learning Outcomes

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-01

Erwin, 2000). Several studies support the notion that GBT increases learners’ motivation. Massively multiple online role-playing games ( MMORPGs ) are...synthetic arenas where players interact, collaborate, and strategize with others. The nature of MMORPGs challenges players to think critically and...comfortable with the course, yet avoid strong influence of cumulative course learning. Each PE included several stages—classroom lecture, group

The Effects of Modified Games on the Development of Gross Motor Skill in Preschoolers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lestari, Indah; Ratnaningsih, Tri

2016-01-01

Gross motor skills on children must be optimized much earlier since it plays important role not only on their interaction process but also in supporting other multiple developments. One of the means in developing child's motor skill is by providing innovative games i.e. modified games including game format, game timing, and game sequence. The…

Wildland fires and dwarf mistletoes: A literature review of ecology and prescribed burning

Treesearch

Martin E. Alexander; Frank G. Hawksworth

1975-01-01

Wildfires play a multiple role in the distribution of dwarf mistletoes - they may either inhibit or encourage these parasites depending primarily on the size and intensity of the burn. Many reports suggest that fire exclusion policies of the past half century have resulted in increased dwarf mistletoe levels as, well as increased fire behavior potential. Prescribed...

The Love That Takes a Toll: Exploring Race and the Pedagogy of Fear in Researching Teachers and Teaching

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Keffrelyn D.

2013-01-01

In this paper, I examine how what I call a "pedagogy of fear" played a role in the sociocultural context of research on teachers and teaching. Drawing from multiple literature on emotions, qualitative research, and race, I examine how a racialized field context framed my subsequent emotional responses and performance as an…

Deep sequencing of amplicons reveals widespread intraspecific hybridization and multiple origins of polyploidy in big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata, Asteraceae)

Treesearch

Bryce A. Richardson; Justin T. Page; Prabin Bajgain; Stewart C. Sanderson; Joshua A. Udall

2012-01-01

Premise of the study: Hybridization has played an important role in the evolution and ecological adaptation of diploid and polyploid plants. Artemisia tridentata (Asteraceae) tetraploids are extremely widespread and of great ecological importance. These tetraploids are often taxonomically identified as A. tridentata subsp. wyomingensis or as autotetraploids of diploid...

Target oriented drugs against leishmania. Annual summary report no. 2, 1 May 1980-30 April 1981

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zehavi, U.; El-On, J.

1981-01-31

Excreted Factor (EF) is a carbohydrate-rich material released by different strains of Leishmania during growth. It has antigenic properties similar to those of the intact parasite and plays a role in the infective process. Isolation and purification of EF is necessary for study of its biological function, its use for diagnostic purposes, its use in immunization experiments, the study of its biosynthesis, and the preparation of inhibitors of particular biosynthetic steps. Purification of EF by affinity chromatography was markedly improved by introducing Ricinus lectin (specific for galactose) column. This enabled us to obtain more reliable amino acid and sugar analysismore » and will be instrumental in more advanced physical, chemical, and immunological studies. We have developed a radioimmunoassay for leishmaniasis utilizing purified EF. The assay can distinguish between Leishmania strains and once further developed, should prove most valuable for the diagnosis of the disease. EF plays a role in the infective process of Leishmania. We have now shown that surface carbohydrate, related to EF, plays a role in the initial attachment of Leishmania promastigots to macrophages - a stage that is a prelude to their engulfment by the macrophages followed by multiplication in their cells.« less

[MAIT cells in autoimmunity].

PubMed

Miyake, Sachiko

2012-01-01

Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are restricted by a nonpolymorphic MHC-related molecule-1 (MR1), and express an invariant TCRα chain: Vα7.2-Jα33 in humans and Vα19-Jα33 in mice. MAIT cells are selected in the thymus, but, interestingly, MAIT cells require B cells as well as commensal flora for their peripheral expansion. Bourhis et al demonstrated that MAIT cells display antimicrobial capacity. Both human and mouse MAIT cells have been shown to be activated by Escherichia coli-infected antigen presenting cells in an MR1-dependent manner. MAIT cells show a protective role against Mycobacteriu abscessus or E. coli infections in mice. Human MAIT cells are capable of producing IFNγ and IL-17 and are found in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected lung tissues. Thus, MAIT cells play an antimicrobial function under these infectious conditions. MAIT cells play a protective role against autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS), whereas they play a pathogenic role in murine models of arthritis. In patients with autoimmune diseases, the frequency of MAIT cells in peripheral blood was significantly reduced. The frequency of MAIT cells reflected the disease activity in MS patients, suggesting the involvement of MAIT cells in the regulation of autoimmune diseases.

Free energy landscape and transition pathways from Watson-Crick to Hoogsteen base pairing in free duplex DNA.

PubMed

Yang, Changwon; Kim, Eunae; Pak, Youngshang

2015-09-18

Houghton (HG) base pairing plays a central role in the DNA binding of proteins and small ligands. Probing detailed transition mechanism from Watson-Crick (WC) to HG base pair (bp) formation in duplex DNAs is of fundamental importance in terms of revealing intrinsic functions of double helical DNAs beyond their sequence determined functions. We investigated a free energy landscape of a free B-DNA with an adenosine-thymine (A-T) rich sequence to probe its conformational transition pathways from WC to HG base pairing. The free energy landscape was computed with a state-of-art two-dimensional umbrella molecular dynamics simulation at the all-atom level. The present simulation showed that in an isolated duplex DNA, the spontaneous transition from WC to HG bp takes place via multiple pathways. Notably, base flipping into the major and minor grooves was found to play an important role in forming these multiple transition pathways. This finding suggests that naked B-DNA under normal conditions has an inherent ability to form HG bps via spontaneous base opening events. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Interplay between the lung microbiome and lung cancer.

PubMed

Mao, Qixing; Jiang, Feng; Yin, Rong; Wang, Jie; Xia, Wenjie; Dong, Gaochao; Ma, Weidong; Yang, Yao; Xu, Lin; Hu, Jianzhong

2018-02-28

The human microbiome confers benefits or disease susceptibility to the human body through multiple pathways. Disruption of the symbiotic balance of the human microbiome is commonly found in systematic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and chronic gastric diseases. Emerging evidence has suggested that dysbiosis of the microbiota may also play vital roles in carcinogenesis at multiple levels, e.g., by affecting metabolic, inflammatory, or immune pathways. Although the impact of the gut microbiome on the digestive cancer has been widely explored, few studies have investigated the interplay between the microbiome and lung cancer. Some recent studies have shown that certain microbes and microbiota dysbiosis are correlated with development of lung cancer. In this mini-review, we briefly summarize current research findings describing the relationship between the lung microbiome and lung cancer. We further discuss the potential mechanisms through which the lung microbiome may play a role in lung carcinogenesis and impact lung cancer treatment. A better knowledge of the interplay between the lung microbiome and lung cancer may promote the development of innovative strategies for early prevention and personalized treatment in lung cancer. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multiple effects of S13 in modulating the strength of intersubunit interactions in the ribosome during translation.

PubMed

Cukras, Anthony R; Green, Rachel

2005-05-27

The ribosomal protein S13 is found in the head region of the small subunit, where it interacts with the central protuberance of the large ribosomal subunit and with the P site-bound tRNA through its extended C terminus. The bridging interactions between the large and small subunits are dynamic, and are thought to be critical in orchestrating the molecular motions of the translation cycle. S13 provides a direct link between the tRNA-binding site and the movements in the head of the small subunit seen during translocation, thereby providing a possible pathway of signal transduction. We have created and characterized an rpsM(S13)-deficient strain of Escherichia coli and have found significant defects in subunit association, initiation and translocation through in vitro assays of S13-deficient ribosomes. Targeted mutagenesis of specific bridge and tRNA contact elements in S13 provides evidence that these two interaction domains play critical roles in maintaining the fidelity of translation. This ribosomal protein thus appears to play a non-essential, yet important role by modulating subunit interactions in multiple steps of the translation cycle.

Deciphering the biological effects of acupuncture treatment modulating multiple metabolism pathways.

PubMed

Zhang, Aihua; Yan, Guangli; Sun, Hui; Cheng, Weiping; Meng, Xiangcai; Liu, Li; Xie, Ning; Wang, Xijun

2016-02-16

Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that is widely used to treat various diseases. However, detailed biological interpretation of the acupuncture stimulations is limited. We here used metabolomics and proteomics technology, thereby identifying the serum small molecular metabolites into the effect and mechanism pathways of standardized acupuncture treatments at 'Zusanli' acupoint which was the most often used acupoint in previous reports. Comprehensive overview of serum metabolic profiles during acupuncture stimulation was investigated. Thirty-four differential metabolites were identified in serum metabolome and associated with ten metabolism pathways. Importantly, we have found that high impact glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism were acutely perturbed by acupuncture stimulation. As such, these alterations may be useful to clarify the biological mechanism of acupuncture stimulation. A series of differentially expressed proteins were identified and such effects of acupuncture stimulation were found to play a role in transport, enzymatic activity, signaling pathway or receptor interaction. Pathway analysis further revealed that most of these proteins were found to play a pivotal role in the regulation of multiple metabolism pathways. It demonstrated that the metabolomics coupled with proteomics as a powerful approach for potential applications in understanding the biological effects of acupuncture stimulation.

Origin and maintenance of chemical diversity in a species-rich tropical tree lineage.

PubMed

Salazar, Diego; Lokvam, John; Mesones, Italo; Vásquez Pilco, Magno; Ayarza Zuñiga, Jacqueline Milagros; de Valpine, Perry; Fine, Paul V A

2018-06-01

Plant secondary metabolites play important ecological and evolutionary roles, most notably in the deterrence of natural enemies. The classical theory explaining the evolution of plant chemical diversity is that new defences arise through a pairwise co-evolutionary arms race between plants and their specialized natural enemies. However, plant species are bombarded by dozens of different herbivore taxa from disparate phylogenetic lineages that span a wide range of feeding strategies and have distinctive physiological constraints that interact differently with particular plant metabolites. How do plant defence chemicals evolve under such multiple and potentially contrasting selective pressures imposed by diverse herbivore communities? To tackle this question, we exhaustively characterized the chemical diversity and insect herbivore fauna from 31 sympatric species of Amazonian Protieae (Burseraceae) trees. Using a combination of phylogenetic, metabolomic and statistical learning tools, we show that secondary metabolites that were associated with repelling herbivores (1) were more frequent across the Protieae phylogeny and (2) were found in average higher abundance than other compounds. Our findings suggest that generalist herbivores can play an important role in shaping plant chemical diversity and support the hypothesis that chemical diversity can also arise from the cumulative outcome of multiple diffuse interactions.

Proteomic analysis of mouse islets after multiple low-dose streptozotocin injection.

PubMed

Xie, Xiaolei; Li, Shuai; Liu, Siyu; Lu, Yan; Shen, Pingping; Ji, Jianguo

2008-02-01

The islets of Langerhans are scattered throughout the pancreas and play a major role in the control of metabolic fuel homeostasis. To get a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying type 1 diabetes mellitus, we have generated a mouse model by injections of multiple low-dose streptozotocin. The islets in the mouse pancreas were handpicked and proteins from the islets were then isolated and separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Seven proteins were found to be altered significantly at expression level. Among the seven proteins, four were up-regulated and three were down-regulated in diabetic mice as compared with controls. These proteins were successfully identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry and the changes of selected protein expression were further validated by quantitative real time PCR and Western blotting. Voltage-dependent anion-selective channel protein 1 and peroxiredoxin-4 were found for the first time to be associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus in mouse islets in the current study. These results suggest that glucose transport, beta cell proliferation/death, and oxidative stress play important roles in maintaining the balance of glucose level. Our study also provides novel insight into the mechanism of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Forecasting on the total volumes of Malaysia's imports and exports by multiple linear regression

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beh, W. L.; Yong, M. K. Au

2017-04-01

This study is to give an insight on the doubt of the important of macroeconomic variables that affecting the total volumes of Malaysia's imports and exports by using multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis. The time frame for this study will be determined by using quarterly data of the total volumes of Malaysia's imports and exports covering the period between 2000-2015. The macroeconomic variables will be limited to eleven variables which are the exchange rate of US Dollar with Malaysia Ringgit (USD-MYR), exchange rate of China Yuan with Malaysia Ringgit (RMB-MYR), exchange rate of European Euro with Malaysia Ringgit (EUR-MYR), exchange rate of Singapore Dollar with Malaysia Ringgit (SGD-MYR), crude oil prices, gold prices, producer price index (PPI), interest rate, consumer price index (CPI), industrial production index (IPI) and gross domestic product (GDP). This study has applied the Johansen Co-integration test to investigate the relationship among the total volumes to Malaysia's imports and exports. The result shows that crude oil prices, RMB-MYR, EUR-MYR and IPI play important roles in the total volumes of Malaysia's imports. Meanwhile crude oil price, USD-MYR and GDP play important roles in the total volumes of Malaysia's exports.

SENP1 inhibition induces apoptosis and growth arrest of multiple myeloma cells through modulation of NF-κB signaling

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Xu, Jun; Department of Experimental Hematology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850; Sun, Hui-Yan

2015-05-01

SUMO/sentrin specific protease 1 (Senp1) is an important regulation protease in the protein sumoylation, which affects the cell cycle, proliferation and differentiation. The role of Senp1 mediated protein desumoylation in pathophysiological progression of multiple myeloma is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that Senp1 is overexpressed and induced by IL-6 in multiple myeloma cells. Lentivirus-mediated Senp1 knockdown triggers apoptosis and reduces viability, proliferation and colony forming ability of MM cells. The NF-κB family members including P65 and inhibitor protein IkBα play important roles in regulation of MM cell survival and proliferation. We further demonstrated that Senp1 inhibition decreased IL-6-induced P65more » and IkBα phosphorylation, leading to inactivation of NF-kB signaling in MM cells. These results delineate a key role for Senp1in IL-6 induced proliferation and survival of MM cells, suggesting it may be a potential new therapeutic target in MM. - Highlights: • Senp1 is overexpressed and induced by IL-6 in multiple myeloma cells. • Senp1 knockdown triggers apoptosis and reduces proliferation of MM cells. • Senp1 inhibition decreased IL-6-induced P65 and IkBα phosphorylation.« less

The Role of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Heart Failure

PubMed Central

Peterzan, Mark A; Rider, Oliver J

2016-01-01

Cardiovascular imaging is key for the assessment of patients with heart failure. Today, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging plays an established role in the assessment of patients with suspected and confirmed heart failure syndromes, in particular identifying aetiology. Its role in informing prognosis and guiding decisions around therapy are evolving. Key strengths include its accuracy; reproducibility; unrestricted field of view; lack of radiation; multiple abilities to characterise myocardial tissue, thrombus and scar; as well as unparalleled assessment of left and right ventricular volumes. T2* has an established role in the assessment and follow-up of iron overload cardiomyopathy and a role for T1 in specific therapies for cardiac amyloid and Anderson–Fabry disease is emerging. PMID:28785465

High-resolution temporal and regional mapping of MAPT expression and splicing in human brain development.

PubMed

Hefti, Marco M; Farrell, Kurt; Kim, SoongHo; Bowles, Kathryn R; Fowkes, Mary E; Raj, Towfique; Crary, John F

2018-01-01

The microtubule associated protein tau plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease. Recent studies suggest that tau also plays a role in disorders of neuronal connectivity, including epilepsy and post-traumatic stress disorder. Animal studies have shown that the MAPT gene, which codes for the tau protein, undergoes complex pre-mRNA alternative splicing to produce multiple isoforms during brain development. Human data, particularly on temporal and regional variation in tau splicing during development are however lacking. In this study, we present the first detailed examination of the temporal and regional sequence of MAPT alternative splicing in the developing human brain. We used a novel computational analysis of large transcriptomic datasets (total n = 502 patients), quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and western blotting to examine tau expression and splicing in post-mortem human fetal, pediatric and adult brains. We found that MAPT exons 2 and 10 undergo abrupt shifts in expression during the perinatal period that are unique in the canonical human microtubule-associated protein family, while exon 3 showed small but significant temporal variation. Tau isoform expression may be a marker of neuronal maturation, temporally correlated with the onset of axonal growth. Immature brain regions such as the ganglionic eminence and rhombic lip had very low tau expression, but within more mature regions, there was little variation in tau expression or splicing. We thus demonstrate an abrupt, evolutionarily conserved shift in tau isoform expression during the human perinatal period that may be due to tau expression in maturing neurons. Alternative splicing of the MAPT pre-mRNA may play a vital role in normal brain development across multiple species and provides a basis for future investigations into the developmental and pathological functions of the tau protein.

The hearing ear is always found close to the speaking tongue: Review of the role of the motor system in speech perception.

PubMed

Skipper, Jeremy I; Devlin, Joseph T; Lametti, Daniel R

2017-01-01

Does "the motor system" play "a role" in speech perception? If so, where, how, and when? We conducted a systematic review that addresses these questions using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative review of behavioural, computational modelling, non-human animal, brain damage/disorder, electrical stimulation/recording, and neuroimaging research suggests that distributed brain regions involved in producing speech play specific, dynamic, and contextually determined roles in speech perception. The quantitative review employed region and network based neuroimaging meta-analyses and a novel text mining method to describe relative contributions of nodes in distributed brain networks. Supporting the qualitative review, results show a specific functional correspondence between regions involved in non-linguistic movement of the articulators, covertly and overtly producing speech, and the perception of both nonword and word sounds. This distributed set of cortical and subcortical speech production regions are ubiquitously active and form multiple networks whose topologies dynamically change with listening context. Results are inconsistent with motor and acoustic only models of speech perception and classical and contemporary dual-stream models of the organization of language and the brain. Instead, results are more consistent with complex network models in which multiple speech production related networks and subnetworks dynamically self-organize to constrain interpretation of indeterminant acoustic patterns as listening context requires. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

The AGPase Family Proteins in Banana: Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogeny, and Expression Analyses Reveal Their Involvement in the Development, Ripening, and Abiotic/Biotic Stress Responses.

PubMed

Miao, Hongxia; Sun, Peiguang; Liu, Qing; Liu, Juhua; Xu, Biyu; Jin, Zhiqiang

2017-07-25

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) is the first rate-limiting enzyme in starch biosynthesis and plays crucial roles in multiple biological processes. Despite its importance, AGPase is poorly studied in starchy fruit crop banana ( Musa acuminata L.). In this study, eight MaAGPase genes have been identified genome-wide in M. acuminata , which could be clustered into the large (APL) and small (APS) subunits. Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis revealed temporal and spatial expression variations of MaAPLs and MaAPSs and their differential responses to abiotic/biotic stresses in two banana genotypes, Fen Jiao (FJ) and BaXi Jiao (BX). MaAPS1 showed generally high expression at various developmental and ripening stages and in response to abiotic/biotic stresses in both genotypes. MaAPL-3 and -2a were specifically induced by abiotic stresses including cold, salt, and drought, as well as by fungal infection in FJ, but not in BX. The presence of hormone-related and stress-relevant cis -acting elements in the promoters of MaAGPase genes suggests that MaAGPases may play an important role in multiple biological processes. Taken together, this study provides new insights into the complex transcriptional regulation of AGPases , underlying their key roles in promoting starch biosynthesis and enhancing stress tolerance in banana.

The AGPase Family Proteins in Banana: Genome-Wide Identification, Phylogeny, and Expression Analyses Reveal Their Involvement in the Development, Ripening, and Abiotic/Biotic Stress Responses

PubMed Central

Miao, Hongxia; Sun, Peiguang; Liu, Qing; Liu, Juhua; Xu, Biyu; Jin, Zhiqiang

2017-01-01

ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase) is the first rate-limiting enzyme in starch biosynthesis and plays crucial roles in multiple biological processes. Despite its importance, AGPase is poorly studied in starchy fruit crop banana (Musa acuminata L.). In this study, eight MaAGPase genes have been identified genome-wide in M. acuminata, which could be clustered into the large (APL) and small (APS) subunits. Comprehensive transcriptomic analysis revealed temporal and spatial expression variations of MaAPLs and MaAPSs and their differential responses to abiotic/biotic stresses in two banana genotypes, Fen Jiao (FJ) and BaXi Jiao (BX). MaAPS1 showed generally high expression at various developmental and ripening stages and in response to abiotic/biotic stresses in both genotypes. MaAPL-3 and -2a were specifically induced by abiotic stresses including cold, salt, and drought, as well as by fungal infection in FJ, but not in BX. The presence of hormone-related and stress-relevant cis-acting elements in the promoters of MaAGPase genes suggests that MaAGPases may play an important role in multiple biological processes. Taken together, this study provides new insights into the complex transcriptional regulation of AGPases, underlying their key roles in promoting starch biosynthesis and enhancing stress tolerance in banana. PMID:28757545

The role of prepartum motivation in the maintenance of postpartum smoking abstinence

PubMed Central

Heppner, Whitney L.; Ji, Lingyun; Reitzel, Lorraine R.; Castro, Yessenia; Correa-Fernandez, Virmarie; Vidrine, Jennifer Irvin; Li, Yisheng; Dolan-Mullen, Patricia; Velasquez, Mary M.; Cinciripini, Paul M.; Cofta-Woerpel, Ludmila; Greisinger, Anthony; Wetter, David W.

2011-01-01

Objective Motivation plays an important role in a variety of behaviors, including smoking cessation, and is integral to theory and treatment of smoking. For many women, pregnancy offers a motivational shift that helps them stop smoking and maintain abstinence during pregnancy. However, women's motivation to maintain smoking abstinence postpartum is not well-understood and may play a role in high postpartum relapse rates. The current study utilized multiple measures of prepartum motivation to maintain smoking abstinence to predict postpartum smoking abstinence. Design As part of a randomized clinical trial on postpartum smoking relapse prevention, pregnant women who quit smoking during pregnancy reported their motivation to continue smoking abstinence at a prepartum baseline session. Continued smoking abstinence was assessed at 8 and 26 weeks postpartum. Main Outcome Measure Biochemically verified continuous abstinence from smoking. Results Direct relationships among multiple measures of motivation were significant, and ranged in strength from weak to moderate. All motivation measures individually predicted continuous smoking abstinence, after controlling for treatment group, demographics, and pre-quit tobacco use. When tested simultaneously, a global motivation measure and parenthood motives for quitting remained significant predictors of abstinence. Backward selection modeling procedures resulted in a reduced model of prepartum predictors of postpartum abstinence including global motivation, parenthood motives, and stage of change. Conclusion Global motivation for smoking abstinence and parenthood motives for quitting are particularly important motivational constructs for pregnant women's continued smoking abstinence. PMID:21859215

Cell-type-specific expression of NFIX in the developing and adult cerebellum.

PubMed

Fraser, James; Essebier, Alexandra; Gronostajski, Richard M; Boden, Mikael; Wainwright, Brandon J; Harvey, Tracey J; Piper, Michael

2017-07-01

Transcription factors from the nuclear factor one (NFI) family have been shown to play a central role in regulating neural progenitor cell differentiation within the embryonic and post-natal brain. NFIA and NFIB, for instance, promote the differentiation and functional maturation of granule neurons within the cerebellum. Mice lacking Nfix exhibit delays in the development of neuronal and glial lineages within the cerebellum, but the cell-type-specific expression of this transcription factor remains undefined. Here, we examined the expression of NFIX, together with various cell-type-specific markers, within the developing and adult cerebellum using both chromogenic immunohistochemistry and co-immunofluorescence labelling and confocal microscopy. In embryos, NFIX was expressed by progenitor cells within the rhombic lip and ventricular zone. After birth, progenitor cells within the external granule layer, as well as migrating and mature granule neurons, expressed NFIX. Within the adult cerebellum, NFIX displayed a broad expression profile, and was evident within granule cells, Bergmann glia, and interneurons, but not within Purkinje neurons. Furthermore, transcriptomic profiling of cerebellar granule neuron progenitor cells showed that multiple splice variants of Nfix are expressed within this germinal zone of the post-natal brain. Collectively, these data suggest that NFIX plays a role in regulating progenitor cell biology within the embryonic and post-natal cerebellum, as well as an ongoing role within multiple neuronal and glial populations within the adult cerebellum.

Analysis of Extracellular Vesicles in the Tumor Microenvironment.

PubMed

Al-Nedawi, Khalid; Read, Jolene

2016-01-01

Extracellular vesicles (ECV) are membrane compartments shed from all types of cells in various physiological and pathological states. In recent years, ECV have gained an increasing interest from the scientific community for their role as an intercellular communicator that plays important roles in modifying the tumor microenvironment. Multiple techniques have been established to collect ECV from conditioned media of cell culture or physiological fluids. The gold standard methodology is differential centrifugation. Although alternative techniques exist to collect ECV, these techniques have not proven suitable as a substitution for the ultracentrifugation procedure.

Female orgasm and the emergence of prosocial empathy: An evo-devo perspective.

PubMed

Kennedy, James; Pavličev, Mihaela

2018-03-01

In human females, direct or indirect stimulation of the clitoris plays a central role in reaching orgasm. A majority of women report that penetrative coitus alone is insufficient for triggering orgasm, puzzling researchers who expect orgasm to be an outcome of procreative intercourse. In the present paper, we turn our attention to the evolutionary role that such unreliability of orgasm at coitus might have played in human evolution. We emphasize that we do not thereby attempt an explanation of its origin, but its potential evolutionary effect. The present proposal suggests that the variable female orgasm, the position of the clitoris remote from the vagina, and the mismatch of the male refractory period with the female capacity for multiple orgasms, may have contributed to the evolution of human prosocial qualities. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Intravital imaging of multicolor-labeled tumor immune microenvironment through skin-fold window chamber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qi, Shuhong; Zhang, Zhihong

2015-03-01

Tumor immune microenvironment became very important for the tumor immunotherapy. There were several kinds of immune cells in tumor stromal, and they played very different roles in tumor growth. In order to observe the behaviors of multiple immune cells in tumor microenvironment and the interaction between immune cells and tumor cells at the same time, we generated a multicolor-labeled tumor immune microenvironment model. The tumor cells and immune cells were labeled by different fluorescent proteins. By using of skin-fold window chamber implanted into mice and intravital imaging technology, we could dynamically observe the different immune cells in tumor microenvironment. After data analysis from the video, we could know the behavior of TILs, DCs and Tregs in tumor immune microenvironment; furthermore, we could know these immune cells play different roles in the tumor microenvironment.

Pregnant women in the workplace: distinguishing between normal and abnormal physiologic changes.

PubMed

Draper, London

2006-05-01

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 2001 that 51% of married women return to the work force before their children are 1 year old (Rojjanasrirat, 2004). Women's roles in the United States are rapidly changing, and the workplace environment is also changing to meet the added demands of women in the work force. Many women assimilate the multiple roles of wife, mother, and working professional into a cohesive unit; however, this is often difficult. Occupational health nurses play a vital role advocating for women in the work force. A critical area of advocacy (and education) focuses on providing necessary support to pregnant employees.

Taurine and its neuroprotective role.

PubMed

Kumari, Neeta; Prentice, Howard; Wu, Jang-Yen

2013-01-01

Taurine plays multiple roles in the CNS including acting as a -neuro-modulator, an osmoregulator, a regulator of cytoplasmic calcium levels, a trophic factor in development, and a neuroprotectant. In neurons taurine has been shown to prevent mitochondrial dysfunction and to protect against endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress associated with neurological disorders. In cortical neurons in culture taurine protects against excitotoxicity through reversing an increase in levels of key ER signaling components including eIF-2-alpha and cleaved ATF6. The role of communication between the ER and mitochondrion is also important and examples are presented of protection by taurine against ER stress together with prevention of subsequent mitochondrial initiated apoptosis.

Librarians' roles in evidence-based dentistry education: a review of literature and a survey in North America.

PubMed

Gu, Xiao-Mei

2010-10-01

This study describes the current roles of dental librarians in Evidence-based Dentistry (EBD) education including their perceptions of EBD and barriers to their involvement. A Web-based survey was distributed to the dental librarians in North America, with a 71% response rate. The results showed that the majority of dental librarians are playing multiple and diverse roles in EBD education. The most frequently cited barrier to their involvement is the low level of interest from the dental faculty/student/school. Most dental librarians felt competent in supporting EBD, although continuing education needs in both EBD and teaching skills were pointed out.

Research on growth factors in periodontology.

PubMed

Smith, Patricio C; Martínez, Constanza; Cáceres, Mónica; Martínez, Jorge

2015-02-01

Growth factors play critical roles in periodontal repair through the regulation of cell behavior. Many of the cell responses regulated by these proteins include cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and differentiation. Periodontal regeneration involves an organized response of different cells, tissues and growth factors implicated in the coordination of these events. However, periodontal tissue reconstruction is an extremely difficult task. Multiple studies have been performed to understand the specific role of growth factors in periodontal wound healing. In the present review we analyze the evidence that supports the roles of growth factors in periodontal wound healing and regeneration. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Update in TSH Receptor Agonists and Antagonists

PubMed Central

Neumann, Susanne

2012-01-01

The physiological role of the TSH receptor (TSHR) as a major regulator of thyroid function is well understood, but TSHRs are also expressed in multiple normal extrathyroidal tissues, and the physiological roles of TSHRs in these tissues are unclear. Moreover, TSHRs play a major role in several pathological conditions including hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and thyroid tumors. Small molecule, “drug-like” TSHR agonists, neutral antagonists, and inverse agonists may be useful as probes of TSHR function in extrathyroidal tissues and as leads to develop drugs for several diseases of the thyroid. In this Update, we review the most recent findings regarding the development and use of these small molecule TSHR ligands. PMID:23019348

Psychological effects of dog ownership: role strain, role enhancement, and depression.

PubMed

Cline, Krista Marie Clark

2010-01-01

The purpose of this study is to examine the link between multiple roles and depression and to attempt to provide a clearer answer to the question of what effect, if any, the role of dog ownership plays. Role strain and role enhancement theories are drawn upon to study this relationship. Ordinary least squares regression is used to examine a national sample of 201 adults in the United States. Findings revealed sex and marital status differences in the relationship between dog ownership and well-being, with women and single adults more likely to benefit from dog ownership. The findings presented here suggest that inattention to variations in marital status and sex may have been one factor in the inconsistency in the literature on pets and well-being.

Hereditary Multiple Exostoses: a review of clinical appearance and metabolic pattern

PubMed Central

Beltrami, Giovanni; Ristori, Gabriele; Scoccianti, Guido; Tamburini, Angela; Capanna, Rodolfo

2016-01-01

Summary Hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) is an inherited genetic condition characterized by the presence of multiple exostoses (osteochondromas). MHE is a relatively rare autosomal dominant disorder, mainly caused by loss of function mutations in two genes: exostosin-1 (EXT1) and exostosin-2 (EXT2). These genes are linked to heparan sulfate (HS) synthesis, but the specific molecular mechanism leading to the disruption of the cartilage structure and the consequent exostoses formation is still not resolved. The aim of this paper is to encounter the main aspects of HME reviewing the literature, in order to improve clinical features and evolution, and the metabolic-pathogenetic mechanisms underlying. Although MHE may be asymptomatic, a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations is found in paediatric patients with this disorder. Pain is experienced by the majority of patients, even restricted motion of the joint is often encountered. Sometimes exostoses can interfere with normal development of the growth plate, giving rise to limb deformities, low stature and scoliosis. Other many neurovascular and associated disorders can lead to surgery. The most feared complication is the malignant transformation of an existing osteochondroma into a secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma, during adulthood. The therapeutic approach to HME is substantially surgical, whereas the medical one is still at an experimental level. In conclusion, HME is a complex disease where the paediatrician, the geneticist and the orthopaedic surgeon play an interchangeable role in diagnosis, research and therapy. We are waiting for new studies able to explain better the role of HS in signal transduction, because it plays a role in other bone and cartilage diseases (in particular malignant degeneration) as well as in skeletal embryology. PMID:27920806

Random matrices and condensation into multiple states

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadeghi, Sina; Engel, Andreas

2018-03-01

In the present work, we employ methods from statistical mechanics of disordered systems to investigate static properties of condensation into multiple states in a general framework. We aim at showing how typical properties of random interaction matrices play a vital role in manifesting the statistics of condensate states. In particular, an analytical expression for the fraction of condensate states in the thermodynamic limit is provided that confirms the result of the mean number of coexisting species in a random tournament game. We also study the interplay between the condensation problem and zero-sum games with correlated random payoff matrices.

[Unilateral exophthalmos as the debut of a non-secretory multiple myeloma].

PubMed

Castro-Rebollo, M; Cañones-Zafra, R; Vleming-Pinilla, E N; Drake-Rodríguez-Casanova, P; Pérez-Rico, C

2009-12-01

A 56 year-old male presented blurred vision and diplopia for 2 months, left unilateral exophthalmos, restricted ocular motility and papilledema. The imaging proofs showed osteolytic lesions in the left sphenoid bone, fourth rib and fourth dorsal vertebral body with associated masses of soft tissues. Biopsy was performed and the diagnosis of plasma cell neoplasm was established. The diagnosis of non-secretory multiple myeloma was made by analytical criteria and bone marrow biopsy. Local radiotherapy and polychemotherapy was prescribed. The ophthalmologist can play an important role in the diagnosis of systemic neoplasms that require the intervention of a multidisciplinary team.

Estimation of perceptible water vapor of atmosphere using artificial neural network, support vector machine and multiple linear regression algorithm and their comparative study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shastri, Niket; Pathak, Kamlesh

2018-05-01

The water vapor content in atmosphere plays very important role in climate. In this paper the application of GPS signal in meteorology is discussed, which is useful technique that is used to estimate the perceptible water vapor of atmosphere. In this paper various algorithms like artificial neural network, support vector machine and multiple linear regression are use to predict perceptible water vapor. The comparative studies in terms of root mean square error and mean absolute errors are also carried out for all the algorithms.

The ALMA OT in early science: supporting multiple customers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bridger, Alan; Williams, Stewart; McLay, Stewart; Yatagai, Hiroshi; Schilling, Marcus; Biggs, Andrew; Tobar, Rodrigo; Warmels, Rein H.

2012-09-01

The ALMA Observatory is currently operating 'Early Science' observing. The Cycle0 and Cycle1 Calls for Proposals are part of this Early Science, and in both the ALMA Observing Tool plays a crucial role. This paper describes how the ALMA OT tackles the problem of making millimeter/sub-millimeter interferometry accessible to the wider community, while allowing "experts" the power and flexibility they need. We will also describe our approach to the challenges of supporting multiple customers, and explore the lessons learnt from the Early Science experiences. Finally we look ahead to the challenges presented by future observing cycles.

Masculine Gender Role Conflict and Negative Feelings about Being Gay

PubMed Central

Sánchez, Francisco J.; Westefeld, John S.; Liu, William Ming; Vilain, Eric

2009-01-01

Professional psychologists who work with gay men have noted that traditional masculine ideals play a prominent role in the gay community whereby some endorse these traditional ideals and stigmatize effeminate behavior by other gay men. One hypothesis is that this behavior reflects negative feelings about being gay. This article examined this hypothesis by reporting the results of an online survey of 622 self-identified gay men. Participants completed the Gender Role Conflict Scale, Lesbian and Gay Identity Scale, the Social Desirability Scale, and questions related to the importance of masculinity. Results showed that most participants valued the public appearance of masculinity; and they ideally wished to be more masculine than they felt they were (Cohen’s d = 0.42). A multiple regression analysis showed that the degree to which they valued masculinity and were concerned with violating masculine ideals was positively related with negative feelings about being gay (Cohen’s f2 = .67). These findings highlight the importance of exploring the role that masculine ideals play in gay client’s lives given that negative feelings about oneself can adversely affect psychological well-being. PMID:20428323

Epigenetics in breast and prostate cancer.

PubMed

Wu, Yanyuan; Sarkissyan, Marianna; Vadgama, Jaydutt V

2015-01-01

Most recent investigations into cancer etiology have identified a key role played by epigenetics. Specifically, aberrant DNA and histone modifications which silence tumor suppressor genes or promote oncogenes have been demonstrated in multiple cancer models. While the role of epigenetics in several solid tumor cancers such as colorectal cancer are well established, there is emerging evidence that epigenetics also plays a critical role in breast and prostate cancer. In breast cancer, DNA methylation profiles have been linked to hormone receptor status and tumor progression. Similarly in prostate cancer, epigenetic patterns have been associated with androgen receptor status and response to therapy. The regulation of key receptor pathways and activities which affect clinical therapy treatment options by epigenetics renders this field high priority for elucidating mechanisms and potential targets. A new set of methylation arrays are now available to screen epigenetic changes and provide the cutting-edge tools needed to perform such investigations. The role of nutritional interventions affecting epigenetic changes particularly holds promise. Ultimately, determining the causes and outcomes from epigenetic changes will inform translational applications for utilization as biomarkers for risk and prognosis as well as candidates for therapy.

Transcription of tandemly repetitive DNA: functional roles.

PubMed

Biscotti, Maria Assunta; Canapa, Adriana; Forconi, Mariko; Olmo, Ettore; Barucca, Marco

2015-09-01

A considerable fraction of the eukaryotic genome is made up of satellite DNA constituted of tandemly repeated sequences. These elements are mainly located at centromeres, pericentromeres, and telomeres and are major components of constitutive heterochromatin. Although originally satellite DNA was thought silent and inert, an increasing number of studies are providing evidence on its transcriptional activity supporting, on the contrary, an unexpected dynamicity. This review summarizes the multiple structural roles of satellite noncoding RNAs at chromosome level. Indeed, satellite noncoding RNAs play a role in the establishment of a heterochromatic state at centromere and telomere. These highly condensed structures are indispensable to preserve chromosome integrity and genome stability, preventing recombination events, and ensuring the correct chromosome pairing and segregation. Moreover, these RNA molecules seem to be involved also in maintaining centromere identity and in elongation, capping, and replication of telomere. Finally, the abnormal variation of centromeric and pericentromeric DNA transcription across major eukaryotic lineages in stress condition and disease has evidenced the critical role that these transcripts may play and the potentially dire consequences for the organism.

Major Surface Protease of Trypanosomatids: One Size Fits All? ▿

PubMed Central

Yao, Chaoqun

2010-01-01

Major surface protease (MSP or GP63) is the most abundant glycoprotein localized to the plasma membrane of Leishmania promastigotes. MSP plays several important roles in the pathogenesis of leishmaniasis, including but not limited to (i) evasion of complement-mediated lysis, (ii) facilitation of macrophage (Mø) phagocytosis of promastigotes, (iii) interaction with the extracellular matrix, (iv) inhibition of natural killer cellular functions, (v) resistance to antimicrobial peptide killing, (vi) degradation of Mø and fibroblast cytosolic proteins, and (vii) promotion of survival of intracellular amastigotes. MSP homologues have been found in all other trypanosomatids studied to date including heteroxenous members of Trypanosoma cruzi, the extracellular Trypanosoma brucei, unusual intraerythrocytic Endotrypanum spp., phytoparasitic Phytomonas spp., and numerous monoxenous species. These proteins are likely to perform roles different from those described for Leishmania spp. Multiple MSPs in individual cells may play distinct roles at some time points in trypanosomatid life cycles and collaborative or redundant roles at others. The cellular locations and the extracellular release of MSPs are also discussed in connection with MSP functions in leishmanial promastigotes. PMID:19858295

Spin-orbit-driven magnetic structure and excitation in the 5d pyrochlore Cd 2Os 2O 7

DOE PAGES

Calder, Stuart A; Vale, James G.; Bogdanov, Nikolay; ...

2016-06-07

Here, much consideration has been given to the role of spin-orbit coupling (SOC) in 5d oxides, particularly on the formation of novel electronic states and manifested metal-insulator transitions (MITs). SOC plays a dominant role in 5d 5 iridates (Ir 4+), undergoing MITs both concurrent (pyrochlores) and separated (perovskites) from the onset of magnetic order. However, the role of SOC for other 5d configurations is less clear. For example, 5d 3 (Os 5+) systems are expected to have an orbital singlet with reduced effective SOC. The pyrochlore Cd 2Os 2O 7 nonetheless exhibits a MIT entwined with magnetic order phenomenologically similarmore » to pyrochlore iridates. Here, we resolve the magnetic structure in Cd 2Os 2O 7 with neutron diffraction and then via resonant inelastic X-ray scattering determine the salient electronic and magnetic energy scales controlling the MIT. In particular, SOC plays a subtle role in creating the electronic ground state but drives the magnetic order and emergence of a multiple spin-flip magnetic excitation.« less

The role of TGF-β/SMAD4 signaling in cancer.

PubMed

Zhao, Ming; Mishra, Lopa; Deng, Chu-Xia

2018-01-01

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays important roles in many biological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, as well as cancer initiation and progression. SMAD4, which serves as the central mediator of TGF-β signaling, is specifically inactivated in over half of pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma, and varying degrees in many other types of cancers. In the past two decades, multiple studies have revealed that SMAD4 loss on its own does not initiate tumor formation, but can promote tumor progression initiated by other genes, such as KRAS activation in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma and APC inactivation in colorectal cancer. In other cases, such as skin cancer, loss of SMAD4 plays an important initiating role by disrupting DNA damage response and repair mechanisms and enhance genomic instability, suggesting its distinct roles in different types of tumors. This review lists SMAD4 mutations in various types of cancer and summarizes recent advances on SMAD4 with focuses on the function, signaling pathway, and the possibility of SMAD4 as a prognostic indicator.

The role of TGF-β/SMAD4 signaling in cancer

PubMed Central

Zhao, Ming; Mishra, Lopa; Deng, Chu-Xia

2018-01-01

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling pathway plays important roles in many biological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, migration, as well as cancer initiation and progression. SMAD4, which serves as the central mediator of TGF-β signaling, is specifically inactivated in over half of pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma, and varying degrees in many other types of cancers. In the past two decades, multiple studies have revealed that SMAD4 loss on its own does not initiate tumor formation, but can promote tumor progression initiated by other genes, such as KRAS activation in pancreatic duct adenocarcinoma and APC inactivation in colorectal cancer. In other cases, such as skin cancer, loss of SMAD4 plays an important initiating role by disrupting DNA damage response and repair mechanisms and enhance genomic instability, suggesting its distinct roles in different types of tumors. This review lists SMAD4 mutations in various types of cancer and summarizes recent advances on SMAD4 with focuses on the function, signaling pathway, and the possibility of SMAD4 as a prognostic indicator. PMID:29483830

Masculine Gender Role Conflict and Negative Feelings about Being Gay.

PubMed

Sánchez, Francisco J; Westefeld, John S; Liu, William Ming; Vilain, Eric

2010-04-01

Professional psychologists who work with gay men have noted that traditional masculine ideals play a prominent role in the gay community whereby some endorse these traditional ideals and stigmatize effeminate behavior by other gay men. One hypothesis is that this behavior reflects negative feelings about being gay. This article examined this hypothesis by reporting the results of an online survey of 622 self-identified gay men. Participants completed the Gender Role Conflict Scale, Lesbian and Gay Identity Scale, the Social Desirability Scale, and questions related to the importance of masculinity. Results showed that most participants valued the public appearance of masculinity; and they ideally wished to be more masculine than they felt they were (Cohen's d = 0.42). A multiple regression analysis showed that the degree to which they valued masculinity and were concerned with violating masculine ideals was positively related with negative feelings about being gay (Cohen's f(2) = .67). These findings highlight the importance of exploring the role that masculine ideals play in gay client's lives given that negative feelings about oneself can adversely affect psychological well-being.

Epigenetics in Breast and Prostate Cancer

PubMed Central

Wu, Yanyuan; Sarkissyan, Marianna; Vadgama, Jaydutt V.

2015-01-01

SUMMARY Most recent investigations into cancer etiology have identified a key role played by epigenetics. Specifically, aberrant DNA and histone modifications which silence tumor suppressor genes or promote oncogenes have been demonstrated in multiple cancer models. While the role of epigenetics in several solid tumor cancers such as colorectal cancer are well established, there is emerging evidence that epigenetics also plays a critical role in breast and prostate cancer. In breast cancer, DNA methylation profiles have been linked to hormone receptor status and tumor progression. Similarly in prostate cancer, epigenetic patterns have been associated with androgen receptor status and response to therapy. The regulation of key receptor pathways and activities which affect clinical therapy treatment options by epigenetics renders this field high priority for elucidating mechanisms and potential targets. A new set of methylation arrays are now available to screen epigenetic changes and provide the cuttingedge tools needed to perform such investigations. The role of nutritional interventions affecting epigenetic changes particularly holds promise. Ultimately, determining the causes and outcomes from epigenetic changes will inform translational applications for utilization as biomarkers for risk and prognosis as well as candidates for therapy. PMID:25421674

Tumor necrosis factor-α in Guillain-Barré syndrome, friend or foe?

PubMed

Wang, Ying; Zhang, Jingdian; Luo, Peijuan; Zhu, Jie; Feng, Jiachun; Zhang, Hong-Liang

2017-01-01

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated disorder in the peripheral nervous system (PNS), and experimental autoimmune neuritis (EAN) serves as an animal model of GBS. TNF-α plays an important role in the pathogenesis of GBS and is a potential therapeutic target of GBS. Areas covered: 'TNF-α' and 'Guillain-Barré syndrome' were the keywords used to search for related publications on Pubmed. By binding to different TNF receptors, TNF-α bears distinct immune properties. TNF-α gene polymorphisms are associated with the features of GBS. The major role of TNF-α in GBS/EAN is to aggravate inflammation; however, data from several studies indicated a protective role of TNF-α. Multiple lines of evidence point to TNF-α as a potential therapeutic target for GBS. However, such clinical trials are scarce in that GBS per se is a probable side effect of anti-TNF-α treatment. Expert opinion: TNF-α plays a dual role in GBS and EAN, and is a potential therapeutic target on GBS/EAN.

Polymorphisms in miRNA genes and their involvement in autoimmune diseases susceptibility.

PubMed

Latini, Andrea; Ciccacci, Cinzia; Novelli, Giuseppe; Borgiani, Paola

2017-08-01

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that negatively regulate the expression of multiple protein-encoding genes at the post-transcriptional level. MicroRNAs are involved in different pathways, such as cellular proliferation and differentiation, signal transduction and inflammation, and play crucial roles in the development of several diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. They have recently been recognized to play a role also in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Although the majority of studies are focused on miRNA expression profiles investigation, a growing number of studies have been investigating the role of polymorphisms in miRNA genes in the autoimmune diseases development. Indeed, polymorphisms affecting the miRNA genes can modify the set of targets they regulate or the maturation efficiency. This review is aimed to give an overview about the available studies that have investigated the association of miRNA gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility to various autoimmune diseases and to their clinical phenotypes.

p110α and p110β isoforms of PI3K signaling: are they two sides of the same coin?

PubMed

Singh, Paramjeet; Dar, Mohd Saleem; Dar, Mohd Jamal

2016-09-01

Class-1 phosphatidylinositol-3-kinases (PI3Ks) are activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli and have been implicated in a wide range of cellular processes. p110α and p110β are the two most studied isoforms of the class-1A PI3K signaling pathway. Although these two isoforms are ubiquitously expressed and play multiple redundant roles, they also have distinct functions within the cell. More recently, p110α and p110β isoforms have been shown to translocate into the nucleus and play a role in DNA replication and repair, and in cell cycle progression. In the following Review article, we discuss the overlapping and unique roles of p110α and p110β isoforms with a particular focus on their structure, expression analysis, subcellular localization, and signaling contributions in various cell types and model organisms. © 2016 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

Cutting edge: Th17 and regulatory T cell dynamics and the regulation by IL-2 in the tumor microenvironment.

PubMed

Kryczek, Ilona; Wei, Shuang; Zou, Linhua; Altuwaijri, Saleh; Szeliga, Wojciech; Kolls, Jay; Chang, Alfred; Zou, Weiping

2007-06-01

Th17 cells play an active role in inflammation and autoimmune diseases. However, the nature and regulation of Th17 in the context of tumor immunity remain unknown. In this study, we show that parallel to regulatory T (Treg) cells, IL-17(+) CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells are kinetically induced in multiple tumor microenvironments in mice and humans. Treg cells play a crucial role in tumor immune pathogenesis and temper immune therapeutic efficacy. IL-2 is crucial for the production and function of Treg cells. We now show that IL-2 reduces IL-17(+) T cell differentiation in the tumor microenvironment accompanied with an enhanced Treg cell compartment in vitro and in vivo. Altogether, our work demonstrates a dynamic differentiation of IL-17(+) T cells in the tumor microenvironment, reveals a novel role for IL-2 in controlling the balance between IL-17(+) and Treg cells, and provides new insight of IL-17(+) T cells in tumor immune pathology and therapy.

The multifaceted influence of histone deacetylases on DNA damage signalling and DNA repair

PubMed Central

Roos, Wynand Paul; Krumm, Andrea

2016-01-01

Histone/protein deacetylases play multiple roles in regulating gene expression and protein activation and stability. Their deregulation during cancer initiation and progression cause resistance to therapy. Here, we review the role of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and the NAD+ dependent sirtuins (SIRTs) in the DNA damage response (DDR). These lysine deacetylases contribute to DNA repair by base excision repair (BER), nucleotide excision repair (NER), mismatch repair (MMR), non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), homologous recombination (HR) and interstrand crosslink (ICL) repair. Furthermore, we discuss possible mechanisms whereby these histone/protein deacetylases facilitate the switch between DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways, how SIRTs play a central role in the crosstalk between DNA repair and cell death pathways due to their dependence on NAD+, and the influence of small molecule HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) on cancer cell resistance to genotoxin based therapies. Throughout the review, we endeavor to identify the specific HDAC targeted by HDACi leading to therapy sensitization. PMID:27738139

Host and viral RNA-binding proteins involved in membrane targeting, replication and intercellular movement of plant RNA virus genomes

PubMed Central

Hyodo, Kiwamu; Kaido, Masanori; Okuno, Tetsuro

2014-01-01

Many plant viruses have positive-strand RNA [(+)RNA] as their genome. Therefore, it is not surprising that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play important roles during (+)RNA virus infection in host plants. Increasing evidence demonstrates that viral and host RBPs play critical roles in multiple steps of the viral life cycle, including translation and replication of viral genomic RNAs, and their intra- and intercellular movement. Although studies focusing on the RNA-binding activities of viral and host proteins, and their associations with membrane targeting, and intercellular movement of viral genomes have been limited to a few viruses, these studies have provided important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the replication and movement of viral genomic RNAs. In this review, we briefly overview the currently defined roles of viral and host RBPs whose RNA-binding activity have been confirmed experimentally in association with their membrane targeting, and intercellular movement of plant RNA virus genomes. PMID:25071804

Multiple Classes of Immune-Related Proteases Associated with the Cell Death Response in Pepper Plants

PubMed Central

Bae, Chungyun; Kim, Su-min; Lee, Dong Ju; Choi, Doil

2013-01-01

Proteases regulate a large number of biological processes in plants, such as metabolism, physiology, growth, and defense. In this study, we carried out virus-induced gene silencing assays with pepper cDNA clones to elucidate the biological roles of protease superfamilies. A total of 153 representative protease genes from pepper cDNA were selected and cloned into a Tobacco rattle virus-ligation independent cloning vector in a loss-of-function study. Silencing of 61 proteases resulted in altered phenotypes, such as the inhibition of shoot growth, abnormal leaf shape, leaf color change, and lethality. Furthermore, the silencing experiments revealed that multiple proteases play a role in cell death and immune response against avirulent and virulent pathogens. Among these 153 proteases, 34 modulated the hypersensitive cell death response caused by infection with an avirulent pathogen, and 16 proteases affected disease symptom development caused by a virulent pathogen. Specifically, we provide experimental evidence for the roles of multiple protease genes in plant development and immune defense following pathogen infection. With these results, we created a broad sketch of each protease function. This information will provide basic information for further understanding the roles of the protease superfamily in plant growth, development, and defense. PMID:23696830

Genetic monogamy despite social promiscuity in the pot-bellied seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis).

PubMed

Wilson, A B; Martin-Smith, K M

2007-06-01

Sexual selection theory predicts a positive correlation between relative parental investment and mate choice. In syngnathid fishes (seahorses and pipefish), males brood offspring in specialized brooding structures. While female-female mating competition has been demonstrated in some pipefishes, all seahorses (genus Hippocampus) studied to date have been found to have conventional sex roles with greater male-male competition for access to mates despite possessing the most complex brood structures in the family. Although multiple mating is common in pipefish, seahorses are again exceptional, exhibiting strict genetic monogamy. Both demographic and behavioural explanations have been offered to explain the lack of multiple mating in seahorse species, but these hypotheses have not yet been explicitly addressed. We investigated mating systems and brood parentage of the pot-bellied seahorse, Hippocampus abdominalis, a temperate-water species that is socially promiscuous with conventional sex roles in laboratory populations. We observed promiscuous courtship behaviour and sex-role reversal in high density, female-biased field populations of H. abdominalis. We hypothesize that sex roles are plastic in H. abdominalis, depending on local population density and sex ratio. Despite promiscuous courtship behaviour, all assayed male seahorses were genetically monogamous in both laboratory and wild populations. Physiological limitations associated with embryo incubation may explain the absence of multiple mating in seahorses and may have played an important role in the development of the unique reproductive behaviour typical in these species.

Focal plane for the next generation of earth observation instruments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pranyies, P.; Toubhans, I.; Badoil, B.; Tanguy, F.; Descours, Francis

2017-09-01

Sodern is the French focal plane provider for Earth Observation (EO) satellites. Since the 1980's, Sodern has played an active role first in the SPOT program. Within the two-spacecraft constellation Pleiades 1A/1B over the next years, Sodern introduced advanced technologies as Silicon Carbide (SiC) focal plane structure and multispectral strip filters dedicated to multiple-lines detectors.

Evidence that multiple genetic variants of MC4R play a functional role in the regulation of energy expenditure and appetite in Hispanic children

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) haploinsufficiency is the most common form of monogenic obesity; however, the frequency of MC4R variants and their functional effects in general populations remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the effects of MC4R variants in Hispani...

Integrating Sustainable Development in Higher Education through Experience-Based Learning: Insights from Experts in Team (EiT) for Developing a Combined Theoretical Framework

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Otte, Pia Piroschka

2016-01-01

Universities are understood to play an essential role in the promotion of sustainable development. However, the recognition of sustainable development in higher education poses multiple challenges to the traditional higher education system. This article introduces a course concept called "Experts in Teams" (EiT) as a new platform of…

An Unsung Fashion Designer, Congo Square, Pinktoe Tarantulas, and Dead People: Expecting the Unexpected in Children's Literature

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McNair, Jonda C.

2017-01-01

Children's literature plays an essential role in the literacy development of children. This department column focuses on the teaching and use of children's literature and provides educators with information about a wide range of books across multiple genres that are representative of the diverse world in which we live. A strong emphasis is placed…

Comparing the Internet Usage of Pre-Service Language Teachers with Teachers of Other Subjects: Distance Learning vs. On-Campus Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Firat, Mehmet; Serpil, Harun

2017-01-01

Teachers play a crucial role in helping individuals gain adequate Internet competency, which requires teachers themselves to be Internet-literate. The purpose of this study is to investigate the Internet use of the distance and on-campus pre-service teachers of language and other disciplines by multiple parameters. A total of 789 teacher…

Dysfunctions of the Iga system: a common link between intestinal and renal diseases

PubMed Central

Papista, Christina; Berthelot, Laureline; Monteiro, Renato C

2011-01-01

Immunoglobulin A (Iga)-isotype antibodies play an important role in immunity owing to their structure, glycosylation, localization and receptor interactions. Dysfunctions in this system can lead to multiple types of pathology. This review describes the characteristics of Iga and discusses the involvement of abnormalities in the Iga system on the development of celiac disease and Iga nephropathy. PMID:21278767

A Nonparametric Approach for Assessing Goodness-of-Fit of IRT Models in a Mixed Format Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liang, Tie; Wells, Craig S.

2015-01-01

Investigating the fit of a parametric model plays a vital role in validating an item response theory (IRT) model. An area that has received little attention is the assessment of multiple IRT models used in a mixed-format test. The present study extends the nonparametric approach, proposed by Douglas and Cohen (2001), to assess model fit of three…

Game Design and Learning: A Conjectural Analysis of How Massively Multiple Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) Foster Intrinsic Motivation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickey, Michele D.

2007-01-01

During the past two decades, the popularity of computer and video games has prompted games to become a source of study for educational researchers and instructional designers investigating how various aspects of game design might be appropriated, borrowed, and re-purposed for the design of educational materials. The purpose of this paper is to…

Living with high putrescine: expression of ornithine and arginine biosynthetic pathway genes in high and low putrescine producing poplar cells

Treesearch

Andrew F. Page; Rakesh Minocha; Subhash C. Minocha

2012-01-01

Arginine (Arg) and ornithine (Orn), both derived from glutamate (Glu), are the primary substrates for polyamine (PA) biosynthesis, and also play important roles as substrates and intermediates of overall N metabolism in plants. Their cellular homeostasis is subject to multiple levels of regulation. Using reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), we studied...

The nonlinear instability in flap-lag of rotor blades in forward flight

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tong, P.

1971-01-01

The nonlinear flap-lag coupled oscillation of torsionally rigid rotor blades in forward flight is examined using a set of consistently derived equations by the asymptotic expansion procedure of multiple time scales. The regions of stability and limit cycle oscillation are presented. The roles of parametric excitation, nonlinear oscillation, and forced excitation played in the response of the blade are determined.

Naive CD8 T-Cells Initiate Spontaneous Autoimmunity to a Sequestered Model Antigen of the Central Nervous System

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Na, Shin-Young; Cao, Yi; Toben, Catherine; Nitschke, Lars; Stadelmann, Christine; Gold, Ralf; Schimpl, Anneliese; Hunig, Thomas

2008-01-01

In multiple sclerosis, CD8 T-cells are thought play a key pathogenetic role, but mechanistic evidence from rodent models is limited. Here, we have tested the encephalitogenic potential of CD8 T-cells specific for the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) sequestered in oligodendrocytes as a cytosolic molecule. We show that in these "ODC-OVA" mice, the…

Enzymatic oxalic acid regulation correlated with wood degradation in four brown-rot fungi

Treesearch

Anne Christine Steenkjær Hastrup; Frederick Green III; Patricia K. Lebow; Bo Jensen

2012-01-01

Oxalic acid is a key component in the initiation of brown-rot decay and it has been suggested that it plays multiple roles during the degradation process. Oxalic acid is accumulated to varying degrees among brown-rot fungi; however, details on active regulation are scarce. The accumulation of oxalic acid was measured in this study from wood degraded by the four brown-...

Designing for Humans in Autonomous Systems: Military Applications

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

attentional control, and gaming experience are important determinants of how well humans interact with agents supervising multiple assets . 6 4...mission performance, operator workload, trust, SA, and, most important , how they affected human safety. The initial experiments were conducted in a...that humans can also play an important role by being able to identify these objects (perception by proxy). Therefore, human involvement is useful

Child AD/HD Severity and Psychological Functioning in Relation to Divorce, Remarriage, Multiple Transitions and the Quality of Family Relationships

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Heckel, Leila; Clarke, Adam R.; Barry, Robert J.; McCarthy, Rory; Selikowitz, Mark

2013-01-01

Both Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) and divorce are very prevalent in western societies, and they may occur together. AD/HD is generally viewed as a neurobiological disorder, which has led to a commonly held belief that social-environmental factors play little role in the symptom profile of children diagnosed with the disorder.…

Exosomes confer pro-survival signals to alter the phenotype of prostate cells in their surrounding environment

PubMed Central

Hosseini-Beheshti, Elham; Choi, Wendy; Weiswald, Louis-Bastien; Kharmate, Geetanjali; Ghaffari, Mazyar; Roshan-Moniri, Mani; Hassona, Mohamed D.; Chan, Leslie; Chin, Mei Yieng; Tai, Isabella T.; Rennie, Paul S.; Fazli, Ladan; Guns, Emma S. Tomlinson

2016-01-01

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men. Current research on tumour-related extracellular vesicles (EVs) suggests that exosomes play a significant role in paracrine signaling pathways, thus potentially influencing cancer progression via multiple mechanisms. In fact, during the last decade numerous studies have revealed the role of EVs in the progression of various pathological conditions including cancer. Moreover, differences in the proteomic, lipidomic, and cholesterol content of exosomes derived from PCa cell lines versus benign prostate cell lines confirm that exosomes could be excellent biomarker candidates. As such, as part of an extensive proteomic analysis using LCMS we previously described a potential role of exosomes as biomarkers for PCa. Current evidence suggests that uptake of EV's into the local tumour microenvironment encouraging us to further examine the role of these vesicles in distinct mechanisms involved in the progression of PCa and castration resistant PCa. For the purpose of this study, we hypothesized that exosomes play a pivotal role in cell-cell communication in the local tumour microenvironment, conferring activation of numerous survival mechanisms during PCa progression and development of therapeutic resistance. Our in vitro results demonstrate that PCa derived exosomes significantly reduce apoptosis, increase cancer cell proliferation and induce cell migration in LNCaP and RWPE-1 cells. In conjunction with our in vitro findings, we have also demonstrated that exosomes increased tumor volume and serum PSA levels in vivo when xenograft bearing mice were administered DU145 cell derived exosomes intravenously. This research suggests that, regardless of androgen receptor phenotype, exosomes derived from PCa cells significantly enhance multiple mechanisms that contribute to PCa progression. PMID:26840259

Expert model of decision-making system for efficient orientation of basketball players to positions and roles in the game--empirical verification.

PubMed

Dezman, B; Trninić, S; Dizdar, D

2001-06-01

The purpose of the research was to empirically verify the expert model system designed for more efficient orientation of basketball players to particular positions and /or roles in the game (specialization). Participants were 60 randomly chosen male basketball players (12 players per each position) from the 12 Croatian 1st league teams in season 1998/99. Data were gathered from 10 basketball coaches who estimated overall performance (actual quality) of players on defense (7 variables) and on offense (12 variables). Variables were established by Trninić, Perica and Dizdar. A measure of body height was added to the aforementioned group of variables. The results obtained suggest that the proposed decision-making system can be used as an auxiliary instrument in orienting players to the positions and roles in the game. It has been established that the players have attained the highest grades of overall performance exactly at their primary playing positions in the game. The largest differences were determined between point guards (position 1) and centers (position 5). The greatest difficulties have occurred in determining optimal position for small forwards (position 3), then for shooting guards (position 2) and, last, for power forwards (position 4), because all these basketball players are the most versatile ones. Therefore, reliability of the system is the lowest when it is applied for selecting and orientating players to these positions. Convenient body height significantly contributes to aptitude of these players to play multiple positions and to assume multiple roles in the game. This research has reinforced the thesis that body height is a variable with the greatest influence on orientation of players to particular positions and roles in the game.

Are adolescents with high self-esteem protected from psychosomatic symptomatology?

PubMed

Piko, Bettina F; Varga, Szabolcs; Mellor, David

2016-06-01

This study investigated the role of self-esteem, social (need to belong, loneliness, competitiveness, and shyness), and health (smoking, drinking) behaviors in Hungarian adolescents' psychosomatic symptoms. Our sample of 490 students (ages 14-19 years) from Debrecen (Hungary) completed the questionnaires. Besides descriptive statistics, correlation and multiple regression analyses were applied to test interrelationships. Frequency analysis revealed that fatigue was the most commonly experienced psychosomatic symptom in this sample, followed by sleeping problems and (lower) back pain. Girls reported experiencing more symptoms. Multiple regression analyses suggested that (1) need to belong, shyness, and competitiveness may serve as social behavioral risk factors for adolescents' psychosomatic symptomatology, whereas (2) self-esteem may play a protective role. The role of social and health behaviors was modified when analyzed by gender: the psychosomatic index score was positively related to smoking and shyness among girls, and need to belong among boys. Self-esteem provided protection for both sexes. We conclude that problems with social relationships (namely, unmet need to belong, competitiveness, and shyness) may lead to psychosomatic health complaints, whereas self-esteem may serve as a protection. Findings suggest that social skills training and strengthening self-esteem should be an important part of children's health promotion programs in schools to improve their psychosomatic health and well-being. • Despite being free of serious physical illness, many adolescents often report subjective health complaints, such as psychosomatic symptoms • As children in this life stage develop independence and autonomy, new types of social relationships, and identity, their social needs and skills also change What is new: • Need to belong, shyness, and competitiveness may serve as social behavioral risk factors for adolescents' psychosomatic symptomatology, whereas self-esteem may play a protective role • The role of social and health behaviors may vary by gender.

The role of emotions in clinical reasoning and decision making.

PubMed

Marcum, James A

2013-10-01

What role, if any, should emotions play in clinical reasoning and decision making? Traditionally, emotions have been excluded from clinical reasoning and decision making, but with recent advances in cognitive neuropsychology they are now considered an important component of them. Today, cognition is thought to be a set of complex processes relying on multiple types of intelligences. The role of mathematical logic (hypothetico-deductive thinking) or verbal linguistic intelligence in cognition, for example, is well documented and accepted; however, the role of emotional intelligence has received less attention-especially because its nature and function are not well understood. In this paper, I argue for the inclusion of emotions in clinical reasoning and decision making. To that end, developments in contemporary cognitive neuropsychology are initially examined and analyzed, followed by a review of the medical literature discussing the role of emotions in clinical practice. Next, a published clinical case is reconstructed and used to illustrate the recognition and regulation of emotions played during a series of clinical consultations, which resulted in a positive medical outcome. The paper's main thesis is that emotions, particularly in terms of emotional intelligence as a practical form of intelligence, afford clinical practitioners a robust cognitive resource for providing quality medical care.

Roles of mTOR Signaling in Brain Development.

PubMed

Lee, Da Yong

2015-09-01

mTOR is a serine/threonine kinase composed of multiple protein components. Intracellular signaling of mTOR complexes is involved in many of physiological functions including cell survival, proliferation and differentiation through the regulation of protein synthesis in multiple cell types. During brain development, mTOR-mediated signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the process of neuronal and glial differentiation and the maintenance of the stemness of neural stem cells. The abnormalities in the activity of mTOR and its downstream signaling molecules in neural stem cells result in severe defects of brain developmental processes causing a significant number of brain disorders, such as pediatric brain tumors, autism, seizure, learning disability and mental retardation. Understanding the implication of mTOR activity in neural stem cells would be able to provide an important clue in the development of future brain developmental disorder therapies.

MicroRNA-133 mediates cardiac diseases: Mechanisms and clinical implications

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Yi; Liang, Yan; Zhang, Jin-fang

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) belong to the family of small non-coding RNAs that mediate gene expression by post-transcriptional regulation. Increasing evidence have demonstrated that miR-133 is enriched in muscle tissues and myogenic cells, and its aberrant expression could induce the occurrence and development of cardiac disorders, such as cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, etc. In this review, we summarized the regulatory roles of miR-133 in cardiac disorders and the underlying mechanisms, which suggest that miR-133 may be a potential diagnostic and therapeutic tool for cardiac disorders. - Highlights: • miR-218 is frequently downregulated in multiple cancers. • miR-218 plays pivotal roles in carcinogenesis.more » • miR-218 mediates proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, invasion, etc. • miR-218 mediates tumorigenesis and metastasis via multiple pathways.« less

Positive or negative involvement of heat shock proteins in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis: an overview.

PubMed

Turturici, Giuseppina; Tinnirello, Rosaria; Sconzo, Gabriella; Asea, Alexzander; Savettieri, Giovanni; Ragonese, Paolo; Geraci, Fabiana

2014-12-01

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most diffuse chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Both immune-mediated and neurodegenerative processes apparently play roles in the pathogenesis of this disease. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a family of highly evolutionarily conserved proteins; their expression in the nervous system is induced in a variety of pathologic states, including cerebral ischemia, neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, and trauma. To date, investigators have observed protective effects of HSPs in a variety of brain disease models (e.g. of Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease). In contrast, unequivocal data have been obtained for their roles in MS that depend on the HSP family and particularly on their localization (i.e. intracellular or extracellular). This article reviews our current understanding of the involvement of the principal HSP families in MS.

Multiple Immune-Inflammatory and Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Pathways Explain the Frequent Presence of Depression in Multiple Sclerosis.

PubMed

Morris, Gerwyn; Reiche, Edna Maria Vissoci; Murru, Andrea; Carvalho, André F; Maes, Michael; Berk, Michael; Puri, Basant K

2018-01-02

Patients with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) or major depressive disorder (MDD) share a wide array of biological abnormalities which are increasingly considered to play a contributory role in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of both illnesses. Shared abnormalities include peripheral inflammation, neuroinflammation, chronic oxidative and nitrosative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, gut dysbiosis, increased intestinal barrier permeability with bacterial translocation into the systemic circulation, neuroendocrine abnormalities and microglial pathology. Patients with MS and MDD also display a wide range of neuroimaging abnormalities and patients with MS who display symptoms of depression present with different neuroimaging profiles compared with MS patients who are depression-free. The precise details of such pathology are markedly different however. The recruitment of activated encephalitogenic Th17 T cells and subsequent bidirectional interaction leading to classically activated microglia is now considered to lie at the core of MS-specific pathology. The presence of activated microglia is common to both illnesses although the pattern of such action throughout the brain appears to be different. Upregulation of miRNAs also appears to be involved in microglial neurotoxicity and indeed T cell pathology in MS but does not appear to play a major role in MDD. It is suggested that the antidepressant lofepramine, and in particular its active metabolite desipramine, may be beneficial not only for depressive symptomatology but also for the neurological symptoms of MS. One clinical trial has been carried out thus far with, in particular, promising MRI findings.

Teacher’s Autonomy Support and Engagement in Math: Multiple Mediating Roles of Self-efficacy, Intrinsic Value, and Boredom

PubMed Central

Wang, Jia; Liu, Ru-De; Ding, Yi; Xu, Le; Liu, Ying; Zhen, Rui

2017-01-01

Previous studies have highlighted the impacts of environmental factors (teacher’s autonomy support) and individual factors (self-efficacy, intrinsic value, and boredom) on academic engagement. This study aimed to investigate these variables and examine the relations among them. Three structural equation models tested the multiple mediational roles of self-efficacy, intrinsic value, and boredom in the relation between teacher’s autonomy support and behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement, respectively, in math. A total of 637 Chinese middle school students (313 males, 324 females; mean age = 14.82) voluntarily participated in this study. Results revealed that self-efficacy, intrinsic value, and boredom played important and mediating roles between perceived teacher’s autonomy support and student engagement. Specifically, these three individual variables partly mediated the relations between perceived teacher’s autonomy support and behavioral and cognitive engagement, while fully mediating the relation between perceived teacher’s autonomy support and emotional engagement. These findings complement and extend the understanding of factors affecting students’ engagement in math. PMID:28690560

Teacher's Autonomy Support and Engagement in Math: Multiple Mediating Roles of Self-efficacy, Intrinsic Value, and Boredom.

PubMed

Wang, Jia; Liu, Ru-De; Ding, Yi; Xu, Le; Liu, Ying; Zhen, Rui

2017-01-01

Previous studies have highlighted the impacts of environmental factors (teacher's autonomy support) and individual factors (self-efficacy, intrinsic value, and boredom) on academic engagement. This study aimed to investigate these variables and examine the relations among them. Three structural equation models tested the multiple mediational roles of self-efficacy, intrinsic value, and boredom in the relation between teacher's autonomy support and behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement, respectively, in math. A total of 637 Chinese middle school students (313 males, 324 females; mean age = 14.82) voluntarily participated in this study. Results revealed that self-efficacy, intrinsic value, and boredom played important and mediating roles between perceived teacher's autonomy support and student engagement. Specifically, these three individual variables partly mediated the relations between perceived teacher's autonomy support and behavioral and cognitive engagement, while fully mediating the relation between perceived teacher's autonomy support and emotional engagement. These findings complement and extend the understanding of factors affecting students' engagement in math.

Can child injury prevention include healthy risk promotion?

PubMed Central

Brussoni, Mariana; Brunelle, Sara; Pike, Ian; Sandseter, Ellen Beate Hansen; Herrington, Susan; Turner, Heather; Belair, Scott; Logan, Louise; Fuselli, Pamela; Ball, David J

2015-01-01

To reflect on the role of risk-taking and risky play in child development and consider recommendations for the injury prevention field, a symposium was held prior to the November 2013 Canadian Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Conference. Delegates heard from Canadian and international researchers, practitioners and play safety experts on child development, play space design and playground safety, provision of recreation, and legal and societal perceptions of risk and hazard. The presenters provided multidisciplinary evidence and perspectives indicating the potential negative effect on children's development of approaches to injury prevention that prioritise safety and limit children's opportunities for risky play. Delegates considered the state of the field of injury prevention and whether alternative approaches were warranted. Each presenter prepared a discussion paper to provide the opportunity for dialogue beyond attendees at the symposium. The resulting discussion papers provide a unique opportunity to consider and learn from multiple perspectives in order to develop a path forward. PMID:25535208

A combined gene expression and functional study reveals the crosstalk between N-Myc and differentiation-inducing microRNAs in neuroblastoma cells

PubMed Central

Zhao, Zhenze; Ma, Xiuye; Shelton, Spencer D.; Sung, Derek C.; Li, Monica; Hernandez, Daniel; Zhang, Maggie; Losiewicz, Michael D.; Chen, Yidong; Pertsemlidis, Alexander; Yu, Xiaojie; Liu, Yuanhang; Du, Liqin

2016-01-01

MYCN amplification is the most common genetic alteration in neuroblastoma and plays a critical role in neuroblastoma tumorigenesis. MYCN regulates neuroblastoma cell differentiation, which is one of the mechanisms underlying its oncogenic function. We recently identified a group of differentiation-inducing microRNAs. Given the demonstrated inter-regulation between MYCN and microRNAs, we speculated that MYCN and the differentiation-inducing microRNAs might form an interaction network to control the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. In this study, we found that eight of the thirteen differentiation-inducing microRNAs, miR-506-3p, miR-124-3p, miR-449a, miR-34a-5p, miR-449b-5p, miR-103a-3p, miR-2110 and miR-34b-5p, inhibit N-Myc expression by either directly targeting the MYCN 3′UTR or through indirect regulations. Further investigation showed that both MYCN-dependent and MYCN-independent pathways play roles in mediating the differentiation-inducing function of miR-506-3p and miR-449a, two microRNAs that dramatically down-regulate MYCN expression. On the other hand, we found that N-Myc inhibits the expression of multiple differentiation-inducing microRNAs, suggesting that these miRNAs play a role in mediating the function of MYCN. In examining the published dataset collected from clinical neuroblastoma specimens, we found that expressions of two miRNAs, miR-137 and miR-2110, were significantly anti-correlated with MYCN mRNA levels, suggesting their interactions with MYCN play a clinically-relevant role in maintaining the MYCN and miRNA expression levels in neuroblastoma. Our findings altogether suggest that MYCN and differentiation-inducing miRNAs form an interaction network that play an important role in neuroblastoma tumorigenesis through regulating cell differentiation. PMID:27764804

A combined gene expression and functional study reveals the crosstalk between N-Myc and differentiation-inducing microRNAs in neuroblastoma cells.

PubMed

Zhao, Zhenze; Ma, Xiuye; Shelton, Spencer D; Sung, Derek C; Li, Monica; Hernandez, Daniel; Zhang, Maggie; Losiewicz, Michael D; Chen, Yidong; Pertsemlidis, Alexander; Yu, Xiaojie; Liu, Yuanhang; Du, Liqin

2016-11-29

MYCN amplification is the most common genetic alteration in neuroblastoma and plays a critical role in neuroblastoma tumorigenesis. MYCN regulates neuroblastoma cell differentiation, which is one of the mechanisms underlying its oncogenic function. We recently identified a group of differentiation-inducing microRNAs. Given the demonstrated inter-regulation between MYCN and microRNAs, we speculated that MYCN and the differentiation-inducing microRNAs might form an interaction network to control the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. In this study, we found that eight of the thirteen differentiation-inducing microRNAs, miR-506-3p, miR-124-3p, miR-449a, miR-34a-5p, miR-449b-5p, miR-103a-3p, miR-2110 and miR-34b-5p, inhibit N-Myc expression by either directly targeting the MYCN 3'UTR or through indirect regulations. Further investigation showed that both MYCN-dependent and MYCN-independent pathways play roles in mediating the differentiation-inducing function of miR-506-3p and miR-449a, two microRNAs that dramatically down-regulate MYCN expression. On the other hand, we found that N-Myc inhibits the expression of multiple differentiation-inducing microRNAs, suggesting that these miRNAs play a role in mediating the function of MYCN. In examining the published dataset collected from clinical neuroblastoma specimens, we found that expressions of two miRNAs, miR-137 and miR-2110, were significantly anti-correlated with MYCN mRNA levels, suggesting their interactions with MYCN play a clinically-relevant role in maintaining the MYCN and miRNA expression levels in neuroblastoma. Our findings altogether suggest that MYCN and differentiation-inducing miRNAs form an interaction network that play an important role in neuroblastoma tumorigenesis through regulating cell differentiation.

First demonstration of olfactory learning and long term memory in honey bee queens.

PubMed

Gong, Zhiwen; Tan, Ken; Nieh, James C

2018-05-18

As the primary source of colony reproduction, social insect queens play a vital role. However, the cognitive abilities of queens are not well understood, although queen learning and memory are essential in multiple species such as honey bees, in which virgin queens must leave the nest and then successful learn to navigate back over repeated nuptial flights. Honey bee queen learning has never been previously demonstrated. We therefore tested olfactory learning in queens and workers and examined the role of DNA methylation, which plays a key role in long term memory formation. We provide the first evidence that honey bee queens have excellent learning and memory. The proportion of honey bee queens that exhibited learning was 5-fold higher than workers at every tested age and, for memory, 4-fold higher than workers at a very young age. DNA methylation may play a key role in this queen memory because queens exhibiting remote memory had a more consistent elevation in Dnmt3 gene expression as compared to workers. Both castes also showed excellent remote memory (7 day memory), which was reduced by 14-20% by the DNA methylation inhibitor, zebularine. Given that queens live about 10-fold longer than workers, these results suggest that queens can serve as an excellently long-term reservoir of colony memory. © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

Endolysosomal Cation Channels and Cancer-A Link with Great Potential.

PubMed

Grimm, Christian; Bartel, Karin; Vollmar, Angelika M; Biel, Martin

2018-01-05

The endolysosomal system (ES) consists of lysosomes; early, late, and recycling endosomes; and autophagosomes. It is a key regulator not only of macromolecule degradation and recycling, plasma membrane repair, homeostasis, and lipid storage, but also of antigen presentation, immune defense, cell motility, cell death signaling, tumor growth, and cancer progression. In addition, it plays a critical role in autophagy, and the autophagy-lysosome pathway is intimately associated with the hallmarks of cancer, such as escaping cell death pathways, evading immune surveillance, and deregulating metabolism. The function of endolysosomes is critically dependent on both soluble and endolysosomal membrane proteins such as ion channels and transporters. Cation channels found in the ES include members of the TRP (transient receptor potential) channel superfamily, namely TRPML channels (mucolipins) as well as two-pore channels (TPCs). In recent studies, these channels have been found to play crucial roles in endolysosomal trafficking, lysosomal exocytosis, and autophagy. Mutation or loss of these channel proteins can impact multiple endolysosomal trafficking pathways. A role for TPCs in cancer cell migration and metastasis, linked to distinct defects in endolysosomal trafficking such as integrin trafficking, has been recently established. In this review, we give an overview on the function of lysosomes in cancer with a particular focus on the roles which TPCs and TRPML channels play in the ES and how this can affect cancer cells.

Endolysosomal Cation Channels and Cancer—A Link with Great Potential

PubMed Central

Grimm, Christian; Bartel, Karin; Vollmar, Angelika M.; Biel, Martin

2018-01-01

The endolysosomal system (ES) consists of lysosomes; early, late, and recycling endosomes; and autophagosomes. It is a key regulator not only of macromolecule degradation and recycling, plasma membrane repair, homeostasis, and lipid storage, but also of antigen presentation, immune defense, cell motility, cell death signaling, tumor growth, and cancer progression. In addition, it plays a critical role in autophagy, and the autophagy-lysosome pathway is intimately associated with the hallmarks of cancer, such as escaping cell death pathways, evading immune surveillance, and deregulating metabolism. The function of endolysosomes is critically dependent on both soluble and endolysosomal membrane proteins such as ion channels and transporters. Cation channels found in the ES include members of the TRP (transient receptor potential) channel superfamily, namely TRPML channels (mucolipins) as well as two-pore channels (TPCs). In recent studies, these channels have been found to play crucial roles in endolysosomal trafficking, lysosomal exocytosis, and autophagy. Mutation or loss of these channel proteins can impact multiple endolysosomal trafficking pathways. A role for TPCs in cancer cell migration and metastasis, linked to distinct defects in endolysosomal trafficking such as integrin trafficking, has been recently established. In this review, we give an overview on the function of lysosomes in cancer with a particular focus on the roles which TPCs and TRPML channels play in the ES and how this can affect cancer cells. PMID:29303993

Identification, expression analysis, and the regulating function on C/EBPs of KLF10 in Dalian purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus nudus.

PubMed

Wu, Kaikai; Jia, Zhiying; Wang, Qi'ai; Wei, Zhenlin; Zhou, Zunchun; Liu, Xiaolin

2017-10-01

Accumulating evidence indicates that Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) play important roles in fat biology via the regulation of CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs). However, KLFs and C/EBPs have not been identified from Strongylocentrotus nudus, and their roles in this species are not clear. In this study, the full-length cDNA of S. nudus KLF10 (SnKLF10) and three cDNA fragments of S. nudus C/EBPs (SnC/EBPs) were obtained. Examination of tissue distribution and expression patterns during gonadal development implied that SnKLF10 and SnC/EBPs play important roles in gonadal lipogenesis. The presence of transcription factor-binding sites (TFBSs) for KLFs in SnC/EBPs, and the results of an over-expression assay, revealed that SnKLF10 negatively regulates the transcription of SnC/EBPs. In addition, the core promoter regions of SnC/EBPs were determined, and multiple TFBSs for transcription factor (TFs) were identified, which are potential regulators of SnC/EBP transcription. Taken together, these results suggest that SnC/EBP genes are potential targets of SnKLF10, and that SnKLF10 plays a role in lipogenesis by repressing the transcription of SnC/EBPs. These findings provide information for further studies of KLF10 in invertebrates and provide new insight into the regulatory mechanisms of C/EBP transcription.

Top-down, Bottom-up and Sideways: The Multilayered Complexities of Multi-level Actors Shaping Forest Governance and REDD+ Arrangements in Madre de Dios, Peru.

PubMed

Rodriguez-Ward, Dawn; Larson, Anne M; Ruesta, Harold Gordillo

2018-01-03

This study examines the role multilevel governance plays in the adoption of sustainable landscape management initiatives in emerging arrangements aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). It sheds light on the challenges these multiple layers of actors and interests encounter around such alternatives in a subnational jurisdiction. Through transcript analysis of 93 interviews with institutional actors in the region of Madre de Dios, Peru, particularly with regard to five sites of land-use change, we identified the multiple actors who are included and excluded in the decision-making process and uncovered their complex interactions in forest and landscape governance and REDD+ arrangements. Madre de Dios is a useful case for studying complex land-use dynamics, as it is home to multiple natural resources, a large mix of actors and interests, and a regional government that has recently experienced the reverberations of decentralization. Findings indicate that multiple actors shaped REDD+ to some extent, but REDD+ and its advocates were unable to shape land-use dynamics or landscape governance, at least in the short term. In the absence of strong and effective regional regulation for sustainable land use alternatives and the high value of gold on the international market, illegal gold mining proved to be a more profitable land-use choice. Although REDD+ created a new space for multilevel actor interaction and communication and new alliances to emerge, the study questions the prevailing REDD+ discourse suggesting that better coordination and cooperation will lead to integrated landscape solutions. For REDD+ to be able to play a role in integrated landscape governance, greater attention needs to be paid to grassroots actors, power and authority over territory and underlying interests and incentives for land-use change.

The putative roles of the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway in resistance to anticancer therapy.

PubMed

Smith, Laura; Lind, Michael J; Drew, Philip J; Cawkwell, Lynn

2007-11-01

The ubiquitin/proteasome (UP) pathway plays a significant role in many important biological functions and alterations in this pathway have been shown to contribute to the pathology of many human diseases, including cancer. Proteasome inhibition has been well established as a rational strategy for the treatment of multiple myeloma and is currently under investigation for the treatment of other haematological malignancies and solid tumours. Recent evidence suggests that proteasome inhibition may also sensitise tumour cells to the actions of both conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, suggesting that this pathway may modify clinical response to anticancer therapy. However, conflicting evidence exists as to the roles of the UP pathway in resistance to treatment. This review endeavours to discuss such roles.

Multifaceted role of lipids in Mycobacterium leprae.

PubMed

Kaur, Gurkamaljit; Kaur, Jagdeep

2017-03-01

Mycobacterium leprae must adopt a metabolic strategy and undergo various metabolic alterations upon infection to survive inside the human body for years in a dormant state. A change in lipid homeostasis upon infection is highly pronounced in Mycobacterium leprae. Lipids play an essential role in the survival and pathogenesis of mycobacteria. Lipids are present in several forms and serve multiple roles from being a source of nutrition, providing rigidity, evading the host immune response to serving as virulence factors, etc. The synthesis and degradation of lipids is a highly regulated process and is the key to future drug designing and diagnosis for mycobacteria. In the current review, an account of the distinct roles served by lipids, the mechanism of their synthesis and degradation has been elucidated.

HIV and host immunogenetics: unraveling the role of HLA-C.

PubMed

Bardeskar, N S; Mania-Pramanik, J

2016-11-01

Host genetic factors play a major role in determining the outcome of many infections including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Multiple host factors have been studied till date showing their varied role in susceptibility or resistance to HIV infection. HLA-C, however, has been recently started gaining interest in researchers mind revealing its polymorphisms to have an important effect on viral load set-points, disease progression as well as transmission. In this review report, we have compiled these significant findings of HLA-C in HIV infection, in an attempt to highlight the need for further research in the area in different ethnic population to establish its role in the infection. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effects of Si/Al Ratio on Cu/SSZ-13 NH3-SCR Catalysts: Implications for the active Cu species and the Roles of Brønsted Acidity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gao, Feng; Washton, Nancy M.; Wang, Yilin

2015-09-03

Cu/SSZ-13 catalysts with three Si/Al ratios of 6, 12 and 35 were synthesized with Cu incorporation via solution ion exchange. The implications of varying Si/Al ratios on the nature of the multiple Cu species that can be present in the SSZ-13 zeolite are a major focus of this work, as highlighted by the results of a variety of catalyst characterization and reaction kinetics measurements. Specifically, catalysts were characterized with surface area/pore volume measurements, temperature programmed reduction by H2 (H2-TPR), NH3 temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), and DRIFTS and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. Catalytic properties were examined using NO oxidation,more » ammonia oxidation, and standard ammonia selective catalytic reduction (NH3-SCR) reactions on selected catalysts under differential conditions. Besides indicating possible variably active multiple Cu species for these reactions, the measurements are also used to untangle some of the complexities caused by the interplay between redox of Cu ion centers and Brønsted acidity. All three reactions appear to follow a redox reaction mechanism, yet the roles of Brønsted acidity are quite different. For NO oxidation, increasing Si/Al ratio lowers Cu redox barriers, thus enhancing reaction rates. Brønsted acidity appears to play essentially no role for this reaction. For standard NH3-SCR, residual Brønsted acidity plays a significant beneficial role at both low- and high-temperature regimes. For NH3 oxidation, no clear trend is observed suggesting both Cu ion center redox and Brønsted acidity play important and perhaps competing roles. The authors gratefully acknowledge the US Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vehicle Technologies Office for the support of this work. The research described in this paper was performed in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), a national scientific user facility sponsored by the DOE’s Office of Biological and Environmental Research and located at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). PNNL is operated for the US DOE by Battelle.« less

Is the Relationship Between ADHD Symptoms and Binge Eating Mediated by Impulsivity?

PubMed

Steadman, Kylie M; Knouse, Laura E

2016-11-01

Individuals with ADHD may be at risk of developing binge eating disorder (BED). Impulsivity correlates with both BED and ADHD; however, more research is needed to explore whether impulsivity plays an underlying role in the observed relationship between ADHD and BED. Questionnaires were used to assess ADHD and BED symptoms. Multiple questionnaires and a behavioral task were used to assess impulsivity in undiagnosed undergraduate participants (n = 50). Expected correlations were found among ADHD symptoms, BED tendencies, and measures of impulsivity with the exception of impulsivity on the behavioral task and BED symptoms; however, none of the measures of impulsivity were found to be significant mediators between ADHD and BED symptoms. Although impulsivity may play an important role in the interrelationship of ADHD and binge eating, other factors may also be critical in the development of this comorbidity. Investigation of this research question in clinical samples is needed. © The Author(s) 2014.

Barriers to Asthma Management for School Nurses: An Integrative Review.

PubMed

Hanley Nadeau, Ellen; Toronto, Coleen E

2016-04-01

Childhood asthma is a growing health concern. Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood and a leading cause of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and school absenteeism. School nurses play a valuable role in asthma management. The purpose of this integrative review is to examine barriers to asthma management for school nurses in the school setting. Findings revealed multiple barriers school nurses encounter in managing asthma. Six themes emerged that included lack of resources and support, insufficient time, communication challenges, limited knowledge, and lack of awareness of school nurses' expertise. Students, parents, primary care physicians, school administration, staff, and school nurses themselves all play a role in constructing barriers to asthma management. There is a need for school nurses and school nurse leaders to focus efforts to develop strategies to overcome barriers to ensure evidence-based, best practice management of asthma in the school setting. © The Author(s) 2015.

Mutations of RNA splicing factors in hematological malignancies.

PubMed

Shukla, Girish C; Singh, Jagjit

2017-11-28

Systematic large-scale cancer genomic studies have produced numerous significant findings. These studies have not only revealed new cancer-promoting genes, but they also have identified cancer-promoting functions of previously known "housekeeping" genes. These studies have identified numerous mutations in genes which play a fundamental role in nuclear precursor mRNA splicing. Somatic mutations and copy number variation in many of the splicing factors which participate in the formation of multiple spliceosomal complexes appear to play a role in many cancers and in particular in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Mutated proteins seem to interfere with the recognition of the authentic splice sites (SS) leading to utilization of suboptimal alternative splicing sites generating aberrantly spliced mRNA isoforms. This short review is focusing on the function of the splice factors involved in the formation of splicing complexes and potential mechanisms which affect usage of the authentic splice site recognition. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Light Chain Cast Nephropathy: Practical Considerations in the Management of Myeloma Kidney-What We Know and What the Future May Hold.

PubMed

Manohar, Sandhya; Nasr, Samih H; Leung, Nelson

2018-05-03

To update and evaluate the current knowledge on pathogenesis and management of light chain cast nephropathy. Light chain cast nephropathy (LCCN) is the leading cause of acute renal failure in patients with multiple myeloma and is currently recognized as a myeloma defining event. The immunoglobulin free light chain plays an integral role in the pathogenesis of LCCN. The level of free light chain (FLC) in the blood and urine is directly associated with the risk of developing LCCN. Recovery of renal function is related to the speed and degree of the serum FLC reduction. Recently, two randomized trials using high cutoff dialyzer for the removal of serum FLC produced different results in terms of renal recovery. FLC plays a key role in the development and resolution of LCCN. Future therapies will aim to rapidly reduce its concentration or interrupt its interaction with Tamm-Horsfall protein.

E3 ubiquitin ligase Cbl-b in innate and adaptive immunity

PubMed Central

Liu, Qingjun; Zhou, Hong; Langdon, Wallace Y; Zhang, Jian

2014-01-01

Casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene-b (Cbl-b), a RING finger E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, has been demonstrated to play a crucial role in establishing the threshold for T-cell activation and controlling peripheral T-cell tolerance via multiple mechanisms. Accumulating evidence suggests that Cbl-b also regulates innate immune responses and plays an important role in host defense to pathogens. Understanding the signaling pathways regulated by Cbl-b in innate and adaptive immune cells is therefore essential for efficient manipulation of Cbl-b in emerging immunotherapies for human disorders such as autoimmune diseases, allergic inflammation, infections, and cancer. In this article, we review the latest developments in the molecular structural basis of Cbl-b function, the regulation of Cbl-b expression, the signaling mechanisms of Cbl-b in immune cells, as well as the biological function of Cbl-b in physiological and pathological immune responses in animal models and human diseases. PMID:24875217

Cyclophilin A Associates with Enterovirus-71 Virus Capsid and Plays an Essential Role in Viral Infection as an Uncoating Regulator

PubMed Central

Huang, Jiaoyan; Yan, Wenzhong; Wang, Jinglan; Su, Dan; Ni, Cheng; Li, Jian; Rao, Zihe; Liu, Lei; Lou, Zhiyong

2014-01-01

Viruses utilize host factors for their efficient proliferation. By evaluating the inhibitory effects of compounds in our library, we identified inhibitors of cyclophilin A (CypA), a known immunosuppressor with peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity, can significantly attenuate EV71 proliferation. We demonstrated that CypA played an essential role in EV71 entry and that the RNA interference-mediated reduction of endogenous CypA expression led to decreased EV71 multiplication. We further revealed that CypA directly interacted with and modified the conformation of H-I loop of the VP1 protein in EV71 capsid, and thus regulated the uncoating process of EV71 entry step in a pH-dependent manner. Our results aid in the understanding of how host factors influence EV71 life cycle and provide new potential targets for developing antiviral agents against EV71 infection. PMID:25275585

Magnesium degradation as determined by artificial neural networks.

PubMed

Willumeit, Regine; Feyerabend, Frank; Huber, Norbert

2013-11-01

Magnesium degradation under physiological conditions is a highly complex process in which temperature, the use of cell culture growth medium and the presence of CO2, O2 and proteins can influence the corrosion rate and the composition of the resulting corrosion layer. Due to the complexity of this process it is almost impossible to predict the parameters that are most important and whether some parameters have a synergistic effect on the corrosion rate. Artificial neural networks are a mathematical tool that can be used to approximate and analyse non-linear problems with multiple inputs. In this work we present the first analysis of corrosion data obtained using this method, which reveals that CO2 and the composition of the buffer system play a crucial role in the corrosion of magnesium, whereas O2, proteins and temperature play a less prominent role. Copyright © 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Expansion of Protein Farnesyltransferase Specificity Using “Tunable” Active Site Interactions

PubMed Central

Hougland, James L.; Gangopadhyay, Soumyashree A.; Fierke, Carol A.

2012-01-01

Post-translational modifications play essential roles in regulating protein structure and function. Protein farnesyltransferase (FTase) catalyzes the biologically relevant lipidation of up to several hundred cellular proteins. Site-directed mutagenesis of FTase coupled with peptide selectivity measurements demonstrates that molecular recognition is determined by a combination of multiple interactions. Targeted randomization of these interactions yields FTase variants with altered and, in some cases, bio-orthogonal selectivity. We demonstrate that FTase specificity can be “tuned” using a small number of active site contacts that play essential roles in discriminating against non-substrates in the wild-type enzyme. This tunable selectivity extends in vivo, with FTase variants enabling the creation of bioengineered parallel prenylation pathways with altered substrate selectivity within a cell. Engineered FTase variants provide a novel avenue for probing both the selectivity of prenylation pathway enzymes and the effects of prenylation pathway modifications on the cellular function of a protein. PMID:22992747

Molecular Signaling in Tumorigenesis of Gastric Cancer

PubMed

Molaei, Fatemeh; Forghanifard, Mohammad Mahdi; Fahim, Yasaman; Abbaszadegan, Mohammad Reza

2018-07-01

Gastric cancer (GC) is regarded as the fifth most common cancer and the third cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Mechanism of GC pathogenesis is still unclear and relies on multiple factors, including environmental and genetic characteristics. One of the most important environmental factors of GC occurrence is infection with Helicobacter pylori that is classified as class one carcinogens. Dysregulation of several genes and pathways play an essential role during gastric carcinogenesis. Dysregulation of developmental pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Hedgehog signaling, Hippo pathway, Notch signaling, nuclear factor-kB, and epidermal growth factor receptor have been found in GC. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, as an important process during embryogenesis and tumorigenesis, is supposed to play a role in initiation, invasion, metastasis, and progression of GC. Although surgery is the main therapeutic modality of the disease, the understanding of biological processes of cell signaling pathways may help to develop new therapeutic targets for GC.

Reduced Fat Food Emulsions: Physicochemical, Sensory, and Biological Aspects.

PubMed

Chung, Cheryl; Smith, Gordon; Degner, Brian; McClements, David Julian

2016-01-01

Fat plays multiple important roles in imparting desirable sensory attributes to emulsion-based food products, such as sauces, dressings, soups, beverages, and desserts. However, there is concern that over consumption of fats leads to increased incidences of chronic diseases, such as obesity, coronary heart disease, and diabetes. Consequently, there is a need to develop reduced fat products with desirable sensory profiles that match those of their full-fat counterparts. The successful design of high quality reduced-fat products requires an understanding of the many roles that fat plays in determining the sensory attributes of food emulsions, and of appropriate strategies to replace some or all of these attributes. This paper reviews our current understanding of the influence of fat on the physicochemical and physiological attributes of food emulsions, and highlights some of the main approaches that can be used to create high quality emulsion-based food products with reduced fat contents.

[MAIT cells in autoimmunity].

PubMed

Miyake, Sachiko

2014-01-01

Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells express a semi-invariant TCRα chain: Vα7.2-Jα33 in humans and Vα19-Jα33 in mice. They are restricted by a nonpolymorphic MHC-related molecule-1 (MR1), and cells are selected in the thymus. Interestingly, MAIT cells require B cells as well as commensal flora for their peripheral expansion. MAIT cells display antimicrobial capacity. Recently, vitamin metabolites were demonstrated as antigens created by intestinal flora for MAIT cells. MAIT cells play a protective role against autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of human multiple sclerosis (MS), wheras they play a pathogenic role in murine models of arthritis. In patients with autoimmune diseases, the frequency of MAIT cells in peripheral blood was significantly reduced. The frequency of MAIT cells reflected the disease activity in MS patients, suggesting the involvement of MAIT cells in the regulation of autoimmune diseases.

Proteomes and Phosphoproteomes of Anther and Pollen: Availability and Progress.

PubMed

Zhang, Zaibao; Hu, Menghui; Feng, Xiaobing; Gong, Andong; Cheng, Lin; Yuan, Hongyu

2017-10-01

In flowering plants, anther development plays crucial role in sexual reproduction. Within the anther, microspore mother cells meiosis produces microspores, which further develop into pollen grains that play decisive role in plant reproduction. Previous studies on anther biology mainly focused on single gene functions relying on genetic and molecular methods. Recently, anther development has been expanded from multiple OMICS approaches like transcriptomics, proteomics/phosphoproteomics, and metabolomics. The development of proteomics techniques allowing increased proteome coverage and quantitative measurements of proteins which can characterize proteomes and their modulation during normal development, biotic and abiotic stresses in anther development. In this review, we summarize the achievements of proteomics and phosphoproteomics with anther and pollen organs from model plant and crop species (i.e. Arabidopsis, rice, tobacco). The increased proteomic information facilitated translation of information from the models to crops and thus aid in agricultural improvement. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The intestinal barrier in multiple sclerosis: implications for pathophysiology and therapeutics.

PubMed

Camara-Lemarroy, Carlos R; Metz, Luanne; Meddings, Jonathan B; Sharkey, Keith A; Wee Yong, V

2018-05-30

Biological barriers are essential for the maintenance of homeostasis in health and disease. Breakdown of the intestinal barrier is an essential aspect of the pathophysiology of gastrointestinal inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease. A wealth of recent studies has shown that the intestinal microbiome, part of the brain-gut axis, could play a role in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis. However, an essential component of this axis, the intestinal barrier, has received much less attention. In this review, we describe the intestinal barrier as the physical and functional zone of interaction between the luminal microbiome and the host. Besides its essential role in the regulation of homeostatic processes, the intestinal barrier contains the gut mucosal immune system, a guardian of the integrity of the intestinal tract and the whole organism. Gastrointestinal disorders with intestinal barrier breakdown show evidence of CNS demyelination, and content of the intestinal microbiome entering into the circulation can impact the functions of CNS microglia. We highlight currently available studies suggesting that there is intestinal barrier dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. Finally, we address the mechanisms by which commonly used disease-modifying drugs in multiple sclerosis could alter the intestinal barrier and the microbiome, and we discuss the potential of barrier-stabilizing strategies, including probiotics and stabilization of tight junctions, as novel therapeutic avenues in multiple sclerosis.

DNA is structured as a linear "jigsaw puzzle" in the genomes of Arabidopsis, rice, and budding yeast.

PubMed

Liu, Yun-Hua; Zhang, Meiping; Wu, Chengcang; Huang, James J; Zhang, Hong-Bin

2014-01-01

Knowledge of how a genome is structured and organized from its constituent elements is crucial to understanding its biology and evolution. Here, we report the genome structuring and organization pattern as revealed by systems analysis of the sequences of three model species, Arabidopsis, rice and yeast, at the whole-genome and chromosome levels. We found that all fundamental function elements (FFE) constituting the genomes, including genes (GEN), DNA transposable elements (DTE), retrotransposable elements (RTE), simple sequence repeats (SSR), and (or) low complexity repeats (LCR), are structured in a nonrandom and correlative manner, thus leading to a hypothesis that the DNA of the species is structured as a linear "jigsaw puzzle". Furthermore, we showed that different FFE differ in their importance in the formation and evolution of the DNA jigsaw puzzle structure between species. DTE and RTE play more important roles than GEN, LCR, and SSR in Arabidopsis, whereas GEN and RTE play more important roles than LCR, SSR, and DTE in rice. The genes having multiple recognized functions play more important roles than those having single functions. These results provide useful knowledge necessary for better understanding genome biology and evolution of the species and for effective molecular breeding of rice.

Differentiation and Transmigration of CD4 T Cells in Neuroinflammation and Autoimmunity.

PubMed

Sonar, Sandip Ashok; Lal, Girdhari

2017-01-01

CD4 + T cells play a central role in orchestrating protective immunity and autoimmunity. The activation and differentiation of myelin-reactive CD4 + T cells into effector (Th1 and Th17) and regulatory (Tregs) subsets at the peripheral tissues, and their subsequent transmigration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) into the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma are decisive events in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. How the Th1, Th17, and regulatory Tregs transmigrate across the BBB into the CNS and cause CNS inflammation is not clearly understood. Studies with transgenic and gene knockout mice have unraveled that Th1, Th17, and Tregs play a critical role in the induction and resolution of neuroinflammation. However, the plasticity of these lineages and functional dichotomy of their cytokine products makes it difficult to understand what role CD4 + T cells in the peripheral lymphoid organs, endothelial BBB, and the CNS parenchyma play in the CNS autoimmune response. In this review, we describe some of the recent findings that shed light on the mechanisms behind the differentiation and transmigration of CD4 + T cells across the BBB into the CNS parenchyma and also highlight how these two processes are interconnected, which is crucial for the outcome of CNS inflammation and autoimmunity.

Differentiation and Transmigration of CD4 T Cells in Neuroinflammation and Autoimmunity

PubMed Central

Sonar, Sandip Ashok; Lal, Girdhari

2017-01-01

CD4+ T cells play a central role in orchestrating protective immunity and autoimmunity. The activation and differentiation of myelin-reactive CD4+ T cells into effector (Th1 and Th17) and regulatory (Tregs) subsets at the peripheral tissues, and their subsequent transmigration across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) into the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma are decisive events in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. How the Th1, Th17, and regulatory Tregs transmigrate across the BBB into the CNS and cause CNS inflammation is not clearly understood. Studies with transgenic and gene knockout mice have unraveled that Th1, Th17, and Tregs play a critical role in the induction and resolution of neuroinflammation. However, the plasticity of these lineages and functional dichotomy of their cytokine products makes it difficult to understand what role CD4+ T cells in the peripheral lymphoid organs, endothelial BBB, and the CNS parenchyma play in the CNS autoimmune response. In this review, we describe some of the recent findings that shed light on the mechanisms behind the differentiation and transmigration of CD4+ T cells across the BBB into the CNS parenchyma and also highlight how these two processes are interconnected, which is crucial for the outcome of CNS inflammation and autoimmunity. PMID:29238350

Repetitive sequences and epigenetic modification: inseparable partners play important roles in the evolution of plant sex chromosomes.

PubMed

Li, Shu-Fen; Zhang, Guo-Jun; Yuan, Jin-Hong; Deng, Chuan-Liang; Gao, Wu-Jun

2016-05-01

The present review discusses the roles of repetitive sequences played in plant sex chromosome evolution, and highlights epigenetic modification as potential mechanism of repetitive sequences involved in sex chromosome evolution. Sex determination in plants is mostly based on sex chromosomes. Classic theory proposes that sex chromosomes evolve from a specific pair of autosomes with emergence of a sex-determining gene(s). Subsequently, the newly formed sex chromosomes stop recombination in a small region around the sex-determining locus, and over time, the non-recombining region expands to almost all parts of the sex chromosomes. Accumulation of repetitive sequences, mostly transposable elements and tandem repeats, is a conspicuous feature of the non-recombining region of the Y chromosome, even in primitive one. Repetitive sequences may play multiple roles in sex chromosome evolution, such as triggering heterochromatization and causing recombination suppression, leading to structural and morphological differentiation of sex chromosomes, and promoting Y chromosome degeneration and X chromosome dosage compensation. In this article, we review the current status of this field, and based on preliminary evidence, we posit that repetitive sequences are involved in sex chromosome evolution probably via epigenetic modification, such as DNA and histone methylation, with small interfering RNAs as the mediator.

The Role of Intestinal Microbiota in Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease.

PubMed

Chen, Yuanyuan; Zhao, Ye; Cheng, Qiao; Wu, Depei; Liu, Haiyan

2015-01-01

The mammalian intestinal microbiota is a complex ecosystem that plays an important role in host immune responses. Recent studies have demonstrated that alterations in intestinal microbiota composition are linked to multiple inflammatory diseases in humans, including acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). aGVHD is one of the major obstacles in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), characterized by tissue damage in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver, lung, and skin. Here, we review the current understanding of the role of intestinal microbiota in the control of immune responses during aGVHD. Additionally, the possibility of using probiotic strains for potential treatment or prevention of aGVHD will be discussed.

The 2013 US Government Shutdown (#Shutdown) and health: an emerging role for social media.

PubMed

Merchant, Raina M; Ha, Yoonhee P; Wong, Charlene A; Schwartz, H Andrew; Sap, Maarten; Ungar, Lyle H; Asch, David A

2014-12-01

In October 2013, multiple United States (US) federal health departments and agencies posted on Twitter, "We're sorry, but we will not be tweeting or responding to @replies during the shutdown. We'll be back as soon as possible!" These "last tweets" and the millions of responses they generated revealed social media's role as a forum for sharing and discussing information rapidly. Social media are now among the few dominant communication channels used today. We used social media to characterize the public discourse and sentiment about the shutdown. The 2013 shutdown represented an opportunity to explore the role social media might play in events that could affect health.

Can we protect the gut in critical illness? The role of growth factors and other novel approaches.

PubMed

Dominguez, Jessica A; Coopersmith, Craig M

2010-07-01

The intestine plays a central role in the pathophysiology of critical illness and is frequently called the "motor" of the systemic inflammatory response. Perturbations to the intestinal barrier can lead to distant organ damage and multiple organ failure. Therefore, identifying ways to preserve intestinal integrity may be of paramount importance. Growth factors and other peptides have emerged as potential tools for modulation of intestinal inflammation and repair due to their roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration, and survival. This review examines the involvement of growth factors and other peptides in intestinal epithelial repair during critical illness and their potential use as therapeutic targets. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Role of Intestinal Microbiota in Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease

PubMed Central

Chen, Yuanyuan; Zhao, Ye; Cheng, Qiao; Wu, Depei; Liu, Haiyan

2015-01-01

The mammalian intestinal microbiota is a complex ecosystem that plays an important role in host immune responses. Recent studies have demonstrated that alterations in intestinal microbiota composition are linked to multiple inflammatory diseases in humans, including acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD). aGVHD is one of the major obstacles in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), characterized by tissue damage in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, liver, lung, and skin. Here, we review the current understanding of the role of intestinal microbiota in the control of immune responses during aGVHD. Additionally, the possibility of using probiotic strains for potential treatment or prevention of aGVHD will be discussed. PMID:26090477

Molecular and genetic epidemiology of cancer in low- and medium-income countries.

PubMed

Malhotra, Jyoti

2014-01-01

Genetic and molecular factors can play an important role in an individual's cancer susceptibility and response to carcinogen exposure. Cancer susceptibility and response to carcinogen exposure can be either through inheritance of high penetrance but rare germline mutations that constitute heritable cancer syndromes, or it can be inherited as common genetic variations or polymorphisms that are associated with low to moderate risk for development of cancer. These polymorphisms can interact with environmental exposures and can influence an individual's cancer risk through multiple pathways, including affecting the rate of metabolism of carcinogens or the immune response to these toxins. Thus, these genetic polymorphisms can account for some of the geographical differences seen in cancer prevalence between different populations. This review explores the role of molecular epidemiology in the field of cancer prevention and control in low- and medium-income countries. Using data from Human Genome Project and HapMap Project, genome-wide association studies have been able to identify multiple susceptibility loci for different cancers. The field of genetic and molecular epidemiology has been further revolutionized by the discovery of newer, faster, and more efficient DNA-sequencing technologies including next-generation sequencing. The new DNA-sequencing technologies can play an important role in planning and implementation of cancer prevention and screening strategies. More research is needed in this area, especially in investigating new biomarkers and measuring gene-environment interactions. Copyright © 2014 Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Role of Allergen Exposure and Avoidance in Asthma

PubMed Central

Baxi, Sachin N.; Phipatanakul, Wanda

2010-01-01

Allergy testing and avoidance of allergens plays an important role in asthma control. Increased allergen exposure, in genetically susceptible individuals, can lead to allergic sensitization. Continued allergen exposure can increase the risk of asthma and other allergic diseases. In a patient with persistent asthma, identification of indoor and outdoor allergens and subsequent avoidance can improve symptoms. Often times, a patient will have multiple allergies and the avoidance plan should target all positive allergens. Several studies have shown that successful allergen remediation includes a comprehensive approach including education, cleaning, physical barriers and maintaining these practices. PMID:20568555

Development of Serologic Assays for the Diagnosis of New World Leishmaniasis

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-02-20

the skin by the bite of the phlebotomine sandfly vector , and is maintained by subsequent parasite invasion of and multiplication within cells of the...distribution within the lipid bilayer may play a significant role in the behavior of the parasite within the insect vector and the mammalian host...by the phlebotomine sandfly vector . Promastigotes are then phagocytized by dermal macrophages, where they differentiate into the intracellular, or

Neurocomputation by Reaction Diffusion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liang, Ping

1995-08-01

This Letter demonstrates the possible role nonsynaptic diffusion neurotransmission may play in neurocomputation using an artificial neural network model. A reaction-diffusion neural network model with field-based information-processing mechanisms is proposed. The advantages of nonsynaptic field neurotransmission from a computational viewpoint demonstrated in this Letter include long-range inhibition using only local interaction, nonhardwired and changeable (target specific) long-range communication pathways, and multiple simultaneous spatiotemporal organization processes in the same medium.

Roadmap on semiconductor-cell biointerfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tian, Bozhi; Xu, Shuai; Rogers, John A.; Cestellos-Blanco, Stefano; Yang, Peidong; Carvalho-de-Souza, João L.; Bezanilla, Francisco; Liu, Jia; Bao, Zhenan; Hjort, Martin; Cao, Yuhong; Melosh, Nicholas; Lanzani, Guglielmo; Benfenati, Fabio; Galli, Giulia; Gygi, Francois; Kautz, Rylan; Gorodetsky, Alon A.; Kim, Samuel S.; Lu, Timothy K.; Anikeeva, Polina; Cifra, Michal; Krivosudský, Ondrej; Havelka, Daniel; Jiang, Yuanwen

2018-05-01

This roadmap outlines the role semiconductor-based materials play in understanding the complex biophysical dynamics at multiple length scales, as well as the design and implementation of next-generation electronic, optoelectronic, and mechanical devices for biointerfaces. The roadmap emphasizes the advantages of semiconductor building blocks in interfacing, monitoring, and manipulating the activity of biological components, and discusses the possibility of using active semiconductor-cell interfaces for discovering new signaling processes in the biological world.

Spatiotemporal evolution of Calophaca (Fabaceae) reveals multiple dispersals in the Central Asian mountains and adjacent regions

Treesearch

Ming-Li Zhang; Zhi-Bin Wen; Peter W. Fritsch; Stewart C. Sanderson

2015-01-01

The Central Asian flora plays a significant role in Eurasia and the Northern Hemisphere. Calophaca, a member of this flora, includes eight currently recognized species, and is centered in Central Asia, with some taxa extending into adjacent areas. A phylogenetic analysis of the genus utilizing nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid trnS-trnG and rbcL sequences was carried...

Integrating Algebra and Proof in High School: Students' Work with Multiple Variables and a Single Parameter in a Proof Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martinez, Mara V.; Castro Superfine, Alison

2012-01-01

In the United States, researchers argue that proof is largely concentrated in the domain of high school geometry, thus providing students a distorted image of what proof entails, which is at odds with the central role that proof plays in mathematics. Despite the centrality of proof, there is a lack of studies addressing how to integrate proof into…

FireScape: A program for whole-mountain fire management in the Sky Island Region

Treesearch

Brooke Gebow; Christopher Stetson; Donald A. Falk; Corrine Dolan

2013-01-01

The Coronado National Forest’s (CNF) FireScape program works to remove barriers to fire playing its natural role on the landscape. A long-term goal is creating landscapes that are able to survive wildfire with biodiversity and key ecological processes intact, especially important in the face of a drier, hotter Southwest. The FireScape team is nurturing multiple efforts...

NOGO-A induction and localization during chick brain development indicate a role disparate from neurite outgrowth inhibition

PubMed Central

Caltharp, Shelley A; Pira, Charmaine U; Mishima, Noboru; Youngdale, Erik N; McNeill, David S; Liwnicz, Boleslaw H; Oberg, Kerby C

2007-01-01

Background Nogo-A, a myelin-associated protein, inhibits neurite outgrowth and abates regeneration in the adult vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) and may play a role in maintaining neural pathways once established. However, the presence of Nogo-A during early CNS development is counterintuitive and hints at an additional role for Nogo-A beyond neurite inhibition. Results We isolated chicken NOGO-A and determined its sequence. A multiple alignment of the amino acid sequence across divergent species, identified five previously undescribed, Nogo-A specific conserved regions that may be relevant for development. NOGO gene transcripts (NOGO-A, NOGO-B and NOGO-C) were differentially expressed in the CNS during development and a second NOGO-A splice variant was identified. We further localized NOGO-A expression during key phases of CNS development by in situ hybridization. CNS-associated NOGO-A was induced coincident with neural plate formation and up-regulated by FGF in the transformation of non-neural ectoderm into neural precursors. NOGO-A expression was diffuse in the neuroectoderm during the early proliferative phase of development, and migration, but localized to large projection neurons of the optic tectum and tectal-associated nuclei during architectural differentiation, lamination and network establishment. Conclusion These data suggest Nogo-A plays a functional role in the determination of neural identity and/or differentiation and also appears to play a later role in the networking of large projection neurons during neurite formation and synaptogenesis. These data indicate that Nogo-A is a multifunctional protein with additional roles during CNS development that are disparate from its later role of neurite outgrowth inhibition in the adult CNS. PMID:17433109

The Dopamine Imbalance Hypothesis of Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis and Other Neurological Disorders

PubMed Central

Dobryakova, Ekaterina; Genova, Helen M.; DeLuca, John; Wylie, Glenn R.

2015-01-01

Fatigue is one of the most pervasive symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), and has engendered hundreds of investigations on the topic. While there is a growing literature using various methods to study fatigue, a unified theory of fatigue in MS is yet to emerge. In the current review, we synthesize findings from neuroimaging, pharmacological, neuropsychological, and immunological studies of fatigue in MS, which point to a specific hypothesis of fatigue in MS: the dopamine imbalance hypothesis. The communication between the striatum and prefrontal cortex is reliant on dopamine, a modulatory neurotransmitter. Neuroimaging findings suggest that fatigue results from the disruption of communication between these regions. Supporting the dopamine imbalance hypothesis, structural and functional neuroimaging studies show abnormalities in the frontal and striatal regions that are heavily innervated by dopamine neurons. Further, dopaminergic psychostimulant medication has been shown to alleviate fatigue in individuals with traumatic brain injury, chronic fatigue syndrome, and in cancer patients, also indicating that dopamine might play an important role in fatigue perception. This paper reviews the structural and functional neuroimaging evidence as well as pharmacological studies that suggest that dopamine plays a critical role in the phenomenon of fatigue. We conclude with how specific aspects of the dopamine imbalance hypothesis can be tested in future research. PMID:25814977

Therapeutic plasma exchange in the treatment of neuroimmunologic disorders: review of 50 cases.

PubMed

Yücesan, Canan; Arslan, Onder; Arat, Mutlu; Yücemen, Nezih; Ayyildiz, Erol; Ilhan, Osman; Mutluer, Nermin

2007-02-01

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) has been used for the treatment of neurologic diseases in which autoimmunity plays a major role. We reviewed the medical records of our patients who had consecutively been treated by TPE between January 1998 and June 2000. Neurological indications included myasthenia gravis (30 patients), multiple sclerosis attack (6 patients with remitting-relapsing course and 3 patients with secondary progressive course), Guillain-Barrè syndrome (6 patients), paraproteinemic neuropathy (2 patients), and chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy (CIDP), transverse myelitis due to systemic lupus erythematosus, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis in one patient each. Continuous flow cell separators were used for TPE. TPE was generally given every other day for all of the patients and one plasma volume was exchanged for each cycle. Although the patients with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (3 patients) and paraproteinemic neuropathy (2 patients) did not show any improvement after TPE, other patients' targeted neurological deficits were improved by TPE. During the TPE procedures, no patient had any morbidity or mortality, and the complications were mild and manageable such as hypotension, hypocalcemia and mild anemia; three patients had septicemia due to the venous catheter used for TPE. TPE is an effective treatment in neurologic diseases in which autoimmunity plays an important role in pathogenesis, and it is safe when performed in experienced centers.

Basic pharmacology of NMDA receptors.

PubMed

Gonda, Xenia

2012-01-01

NMDA receptors are ionotropic receptors mediating glutamatergic neurotransmission and play a role in several basic functions in the central nervous system, from regulating neurodevelopment and synaptic plasticity, learning and memory formation, cognitive processes, rhythm generation necessary for locomotor activity and breathing, and excitotoxicity. Due to their complex involvement in the above processes, NMDA receptors have been established to play a role in the etiopathology of several neuropsychiatric disorders such as ischaemia and traumatic brain injury, neurodegenerative disorders, pain syndromes, addiction, affective disorders and such neurodevelopmental disorders as autism or schizophrenia. NMDA receptors contain multiple types of subunits with distinct functional and pharmacological properties making the picture more complex. These receptors also offer multiple binding sites to be targeted with pharmacons, however, early broad-spectrum NMDA receptor antagonists had limited clinical use due to their intolerable adverse effect profile. The discovery of several types of subunit selective NMDA receptor antagonists may offer valuable therapeutic possibilities for several disorders, with improved clinical efficacy and decreased side effects. However, in spite of our increasing knowledge concerning the involvement of NMDA receptors in pathological processes, molecules with a selective action, tolerable side effect profile and good clinical efficacy are still only in clinical development in the majority of cases. Nevertheless, NMDA receptors offer a novel opportunity in the treatment of various neuropsychiatric conditions.

Fatigue is not associated with impaired function of regulatory T cells in untreated patients with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Yaldizli, Ozguer; Kumar, Manoj; Vago, Susanne; Kreuzfelder, Erich; Limmroth, Volker; Putzki, Norman

2009-01-01

The pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS)-associated fatigue is poorly understood. Immunological mechanisms may play a role. Alterations in immunological profile indicate a chronic immune activation in MS patients with fatigue. T-regulatory (Treg) cells seem to play a key role in coordinating autoimmune mechanisms in MS. This is the first study investigating the relationship between Treg cell function and fatigue in MS patients. In this cross-sectional in vitro, ex vivo study, we isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 20 MS patients with fatigue, determined lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry and suppressive function of Treg cells in PBMC cultures with antigen stimulation. Forkhead box protein 3 expression was evaluated by PCR. Results were compared with 20 MS patients without fatigue and with 19 healthy controls. Leukocytes and lymphocyte subsets including Treg cell frequency did not differ in patients with and without fatigue. Co-culturing of Treg cells with CD4+CD25- cells did not lead to a significant suppression of myelin basic protein- and pokeweed mitogen-induced proliferation in MS patients in contrast to healthy controls. There were no statistical differences between MS patients with and without fatigue regarding this suppression activity. Fatigue seems not to be associated with impaired function of Treg cells in untreated MS patients.

Short-Term Local Adaptation of Historical Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties and Implications for In Situ Management of Bean Diversity.

PubMed

Klaedtke, Stephanie M; Caproni, Leonardo; Klauck, Julia; de la Grandville, Paul; Dutartre, Martin; Stassart, Pierre M; Chable, Véronique; Negri, Valeria; Raggi, Lorenzo

2017-02-28

Recognizing both the stakes of traditional European common bean diversity and the role farmers' and gardeners' networks play in maintaining this diversity, the present study examines the role that local adaptation plays for the management of common bean diversity in situ. To the purpose, four historical bean varieties and one modern control were multiplied on two organic farms for three growing seasons. The fifteen resulting populations, the initial ones and two populations of each variety obtained after the three years of multiplication, were then grown in a common garden. Twenty-two Simple Sequence Repeat (SSR) markers and 13 phenotypic traits were assessed. In total, 68.2% of tested markers were polymorphic and a total of 66 different alleles were identified. F ST analysis showed that the genetic composition of two varieties multiplied in different environments changed. At the phenotypic level, differences were observed in flowering date and leaf length. Results indicate that three years of multiplication suffice for local adaptation to occur. The spatial dynamics of genetic and phenotypic bean diversity imply that the maintenance of diversity should be considered at the scale of the network, rather than individual farms and gardens. The microevolution of bean populations within networks of gardens and farms emerges as a research perspective.

Genome-Wide Detection and Analysis of Multifunctional Genes

PubMed Central

Pritykin, Yuri; Ghersi, Dario; Singh, Mona

2015-01-01

Many genes can play a role in multiple biological processes or molecular functions. Identifying multifunctional genes at the genome-wide level and studying their properties can shed light upon the complexity of molecular events that underpin cellular functioning, thereby leading to a better understanding of the functional landscape of the cell. However, to date, genome-wide analysis of multifunctional genes (and the proteins they encode) has been limited. Here we introduce a computational approach that uses known functional annotations to extract genes playing a role in at least two distinct biological processes. We leverage functional genomics data sets for three organisms—H. sapiens, D. melanogaster, and S. cerevisiae—and show that, as compared to other annotated genes, genes involved in multiple biological processes possess distinct physicochemical properties, are more broadly expressed, tend to be more central in protein interaction networks, tend to be more evolutionarily conserved, and are more likely to be essential. We also find that multifunctional genes are significantly more likely to be involved in human disorders. These same features also hold when multifunctionality is defined with respect to molecular functions instead of biological processes. Our analysis uncovers key features about multifunctional genes, and is a step towards a better genome-wide understanding of gene multifunctionality. PMID:26436655

Balanced regulation of the CCN family of matricellular proteins: a novel approach to the prevention and treatment of fibrosis and cancer.

PubMed

Riser, Bruce L; Barnes, Jeffrey L; Varani, James

2015-12-01

The CCN family of matricellular signaling proteins is emerging as a unique common link across multiple diseases and organs related to injury and repair. They are now being shown to play a central role in regulating the pathways to the initiation and resolution of normal wound healing and fibrosis in response to multiple forms of injury. Similarly, it is also emerging that they play a key role in regulating the establishment, growth, metastases and tissue regeneration in many forms of cancer via the interaction of cancer cells with the tumor stroma. Evidence has been recently provided that these proteins do not act independently but are co-regulated working in a yin/yang manner to alter the outcome of both normal physiological processes as well as pathology. The purpose of this review is to twofold. First, it will summarize work to date supporting CCN2 as a therapeutic target in the formation and progression of renal, skin, and other organ fibrosis, as well as cancer stroma formation. Second, it will highlight recent evidence for CCN3 as a counter-regulator and a potential therapeutic agent in these diseases with an exciting, novel potential to both treat and then restore tissue homeostasis in those afflicted by these devastating disorders.

Hyperhomocysteinaemia is an independent risk factor of abdominal aortic aneurysm in a Chinese Han population

PubMed Central

Liu, Jie; Wei Zuo, Shang; Li, Yue; Jia, Xin; Jia, Sen Hao; Zhang, Tao; Xiang Song, Yu; Qi Wei, Ying; Xiong, Jiang; Hua Hu, Yong; Guo, Wei

2016-01-01

The associations between hyperhomocysteinaemia (HHcy), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism, and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remain controversial, with only few studies focused on these associations within the Chinese population. We performed subgroup and interaction analyses in a Chinese Han population to investigate these associations. In all, 155 AAA patients and 310 control subjects were evaluated for serum total homocysteine levels and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the aforementioned associations. Interaction and stratified analyses were conducted according to age, sex, smoking status, drinking status, and chronic disease histories. The multiple logistic analyses showed a significant association between HHcy and AAA but no significant association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and AAA. The interaction analysis showed that age and peripheral arterial disease played an interactive role in the association between HHcy and AAA, while drinking status played an interactive role in the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and AAA. In conclusion, HHcy is an independent risk factor of AAA in a Chinese Han population, especially in the elderly and peripheral arterial disease subgroups. Longitudinal studies and clinical trials aimed to reduce homocysteine levels are warranted to assess the causal nature of these relationships PMID:26865327

Rare loss-of-function mutations in ANGPTL family members contribute to plasma triglyceride levels in humans

PubMed Central

Romeo, Stefano; Yin, Wu; Kozlitina, Julia; Pennacchio, Len A.; Boerwinkle, Eric; Hobbs, Helen H.; Cohen, Jonathan C.

2008-01-01

The relative activity of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in different tissues controls the partitioning of lipoprotein-derived fatty acids between sites of fat storage (adipose tissue) and oxidation (heart and skeletal muscle). Here we used a reverse genetic strategy to test the hypothesis that 4 angiopoietin-like proteins (ANGPTL3, -4, -5, and -6) play key roles in triglyceride (TG) metabolism in humans. We re-sequenced the coding regions of the genes encoding these proteins and identified multiple rare nonsynonymous (NS) sequence variations that were associated with low plasma TG levels but not with other metabolic phenotypes. Functional studies revealed that all mutant alleles of ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 that were associated with low plasma TG levels interfered either with the synthesis or secretion of the protein or with the ability of the ANGPTL protein to inhibit LPL. A total of 1% of the Dallas Heart Study population and 4% of those participants with a plasma TG in the lowest quartile had a rare loss-of-function mutation in ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, or ANGPTL5. Thus, ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, and ANGPTL5, but not ANGPTL6, play nonredundant roles in TG metabolism, and multiple alleles at these loci cumulatively contribute to variability in plasma TG levels in humans. PMID:19075393

Rapid Development of Orion Structural Test Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baker, Dave

2012-07-01

NASA is currently validating the Orion spacecraft design for human space flight. Three systems developed by G Systems using hardware and software from National Instruments play an important role in the testing of the new Multi- purpose crew vehicle (MPCV). A custom pressurization and venting system enables engineers to apply pressure inside the test article for measuring strain. A custom data acquisition system synchronizes over 1,800 channels of analog data. This data, along with multiple video and audio streams and calculated data, can be viewed, saved, and replayed in real-time on multiple client stations. This paper presents design features and how the system works together in a distributed fashion.

Older women's experiences with multiple health conditions: daily challenges and care practices.

PubMed

Roberto, Karen A; Gigliotti, Christina M; Husser, Erica K

2005-09-01

Guided by life-course theory and a trajectory model of chronic illness, we examined the health care practices and management strategies used by 17 older women with multiple chronic conditions. Qualitative analyses revealed that the women played an active role in shaping the course of their illness within their everyday lives. Pain and a decline in energy frequently interfered with completion of daily activities. To compensate, many women reduced and slowed down the pace of activities they performed while emphasizing the importance of maintaining independence and autonomy. Appreciative of support from family members, at times the women received more help and advice than they preferred.

The development of platinum compounds and their possible combination.

PubMed

Pasetto, Lara Maria; D'Andrea, Mario Rosario; Brandes, Alba Ariela; Rossi, Elena; Monfardini, Silvio

2006-10-01

Cisplatin plays a central role in cancer chemotherapy in spite of its toxicity. To circumvent this toxicity and to enhance its therapeutic index a lot of preclinical and clinical studies have been conducted and several thousand analogues have been synthesized. Much more analysis remains to be done, but nowadays, the absence of any definitive, biologically interpretable molecular predictor of activity is consistent with the idea that platinum compounds have multiple intracellular targets and that cells can have multiple mechanisms of resistance. This review analyses a part of these platinum compounds analyzed to date, their mechanism of action, resistance and the future trends in this sector.

Inhibition-of-return at multiple locations in visual space.

PubMed

Wright, R D; Richard, C M

1996-09-01

Inhibition-of-return is thought to be a visual search phenomenon characterized by delayed responses to targets presented at recently cued or recently fixated locations. We studied this inhibition effect following the simultaneous presentation of multiple location cues. The results indicated that response inhibition can be associated with as many as four locations at the same time. This suggests that a purely oculomotor account of inhibition-of-return is oversimplified. In short, although oculomotor processes appear to play a role in inhibition-of-return they may not tell the whole story about how it occurs because we can only program and execute eye movements to one location at a time.

Geochemistry of lavas from Taal volcano, southwestern Luzon, Philippines: evidence for multiple magma supply systems and mantle source heterogeneity

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miklius, Asta; Flower, M.F.J.; Huijsmans, J.P.P.; Mukasa, S.B.; Castillo, P.

1991-01-01

Taal lava series can be distinguished from each other by differences in major and trace element trends and trace element ratios, indicating multiple magmatic systems associated with discrete centers in time and space. On Volcano Island, contemporaneous lava series range from typically calc-alkaline to iron-enriched. Major and trace element variation in these series can be modelled by fractionation of similar assemblages, with early fractionation of titano-magnetite in less iron-enriched series. However, phase compositional and petrographic evidence of mineral-liquid disequilibrium suggests that magma mixing played an important role in the evolution of these series. -from Authors

COMMENTARY ON FATHERS' PLAY: MEASUREMENT, CONCEPTUALIZATION, CULTURE, AND CONNECTIONS WITH CHILD DEVELOPMENT.

PubMed

MajdandžIć, Mirjana

2017-11-01

The diverse set of studies in this special issue on fathers' play includes empirical research from several countries, observational measures of play, and multiple children's outcomes, including language, negativity, social competence, aggression and internalizing problems. The chief conclusion across studies is that the role of paternal play is important in various domains of child development. This is encouraging, yet also disturbing given the results of the State of the World's Fathers: Time for Action report 2017, revealing the low amount of care fathers provide to their children worldwide, relative to mothers. In this commentary, the measurement and conceptualization of play are discussed, as well as cultural considerations regarding the meaning and consequences of play. The findings of the studies are integrated in order to guide future research, addressing what domains of child development appear to be influenced by what types of paternal play, and discussing the contexts that affect paternal play. Lastly, the collective results are related to recent efforts to increase fathers' involvement and implications for interventions are discussed. © 2017 The Authors. Infant Mental Health Journal published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health.

Cucumber Necrosis Virus Recruits Cellular Heat Shock Protein 70 Homologs at Several Stages of Infection

PubMed Central

Alam, Syed Benazir

2015-01-01

ABSTRACT RNA viruses often depend on host factors for multiplication inside cells due to the constraints of their small genome size and limited coding capacity. One such factor that has been exploited by several plant and animal viruses is heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) family homologs which have been shown to play roles for different viruses in viral RNA replication, viral assembly, disassembly, and cell-to-cell movement. Using next generation sequence analysis, we reveal that several isoforms of Hsp70 and Hsc70 transcripts are induced to very high levels during cucumber necrosis virus (CNV) infection of Nicotiana benthamiana and that HSP70 proteins are also induced by at least 10-fold. We show that HSP70 family protein homologs are co-opted by CNV at several stages of infection. We have found that overexpression of Hsp70 or Hsc70 leads to enhanced CNV genomic RNA, coat protein (CP), and virion accumulation, whereas downregulation leads to a corresponding decrease. Hsc70-2 was found to increase solubility of CNV CP in vitro and to increase accumulation of CNV CP independently of viral RNA replication during coagroinfiltration in N. benthamiana. In addition, virus particle assembly into virus-like particles in CP agroinfiltrated plants was increased in the presence of Hsc70-2. HSP70 was found to increase the targeting of CNV CP to chloroplasts during infection, reinforcing the role of HSP70 in chloroplast targeting of host proteins. Hence, our findings have led to the discovery of a highly induced host factor that has been co-opted to play multiple roles during several stages of the CNV infection cycle. IMPORTANCE Because of the small size of its RNA genome, CNV is dependent on interaction with host cellular components to successfully complete its multiplication cycle. We have found that CNV induces HSP70 family homologs to a high level during infection, possibly as a result of the host response to the high levels of CNV proteins that accumulate during infection. Moreover, we have found that CNV co-opts HSP70 family homologs to facilitate several aspects of the infection process such as viral RNA, coat protein and virus accumulation. Chloroplast targeting of the CNV CP is also facilitated, which may aid in CNV suppression of host defense responses. Several viruses have been shown to induce HSP70 during infection and others to utilize HSP70 for specific aspects of infection such as replication, assembly, and disassembly. We speculate that HSP70 may play multiple roles in the infection processes of many viruses. PMID:26719261

Effects of work-family-school role conflicts and role-related social support on burnout in Registered Nurses: a structural equation modelling approach.

PubMed

Goong, Hwasoo; Xu, Lijuan; Li, Chun-Yu

2016-11-01

To examine the effects of work-family-school role conflicts and role-related social support (RRSS) on burnout of nurses pursuing an advanced degree. A predictive correlational cross-sectional study design was used. Nurses were found to be a high-risk group for burnout, even more so among nurses pursuing an advanced degree. When nurses with a professional career marry and decide to become students, inter-role conflicts and burnout are possible outcomes of the resulting multiple roles. Using convenience sampling, data were collected from October 2011-May 2012. A questionnaire about work-family-school role conflicts, RRSS, burnout and general information was completed by 286 nurses pursuing an advanced degree at 12 hospitals in Korea. Data were analysed using SPSS and structural equation modelling with the Analysis of Moment Structures program. The proposed model provided a good fit to the obtained data. Work-family-school role conflicts and social support exerted significant effects on burnout. Role-related social support was found to play a partial mediating role between work-family-school role conflicts and burnout. The findings of this study imply that RRSS significantly directly and indirectly influences burnout among the nurses pursuing an advanced degree. It is necessary for nursing managers to consider implementing family- and school-friendly policies (e.g. flexible work schedules) to help nurses to manage their multiple roles and thereby decrease their burnout rate. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Case Studies of Multilingual/Multicultural Asian Deaf Adults: Strategies for Success.

PubMed

Wang, Qiuying; Andrews, Jean; Liu, Hsiu Tan; Liu, Chun Jung

2016-01-01

Case studies of adult d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing Multilingual Learners (DMLs) are few, especially studies of DMLs who learn more than one sign language and read logographic and alphabetic scripts. To reduce this paucity, two descriptive case studies are presented. Written questionnaires, face-to-face interviews, and self-appraisals of language-use rubrics were used to explore (a) the language and literacy histories of two adult Asian DMLs who had learned multiple languages: Chinese (spoken/written), English (written), Chinese Sign Language, and American Sign Language; and (b) how each language was used in different cultural communities with diverse conversational partners. Home literacy environment, family support, visual access to languages, peer and sibling support, role models, encouragement, perseverance, and Deaf identity all played vital roles in the participants' academic success. The findings provide insights into the acquisition of multiple languages and bi-literacy through social communication and academic content.

Mitochondrial Redox Signaling and Tumor Progression.

PubMed

Chen, Yuxin; Zhang, Haiqing; Zhou, Huanjiao Jenny; Ji, Weidong; Min, Wang

2016-03-25

Cancer cell can reprogram their energy production by switching mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. However, mitochondria play multiple roles in cancer cells, including redox regulation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and apoptotic signaling. Moreover, these mitochondrial roles are integrated via multiple interconnected metabolic and redox sensitive pathways. Interestingly, mitochondrial redox proteins biphasically regulate tumor progression depending on cellular ROS levels. Low level of ROS functions as signaling messengers promoting cancer cell proliferation and cancer invasion. However, anti-cancer drug-initiated stress signaling could induce excessive ROS, which is detrimental to cancer cells. Mitochondrial redox proteins could scavenger basal ROS and function as "tumor suppressors" or prevent excessive ROS to act as "tumor promoter". Paradoxically, excessive ROS often also induce DNA mutations and/or promotes tumor metastasis at various stages of cancer progression. Targeting redox-sensitive pathways and transcriptional factors in the appropriate context offers great promise for cancer prevention and therapy. However, the therapeutics should be cancer-type and stage-dependent.

Podocalyxin Is a Novel Polysialylated Neural Adhesion Protein with Multiple Roles in Neural Development and Synapse Formation

PubMed Central

Vitureira, Nathalia; Andrés, Rosa; Pérez-Martínez, Esther; Martínez, Albert; Bribián, Ana; Blasi, Juan; Chelliah, Shierley; López-Doménech, Guillermo; De Castro, Fernando; Burgaya, Ferran; McNagny, Kelly; Soriano, Eduardo

2010-01-01

Neural development and plasticity are regulated by neural adhesion proteins, including the polysialylated form of NCAM (PSA-NCAM). Podocalyxin (PC) is a renal PSA-containing protein that has been reported to function as an anti-adhesin in kidney podocytes. Here we show that PC is widely expressed in neurons during neural development. Neural PC interacts with the ERM protein family, and with NHERF1/2 and RhoA/G. Experiments in vitro and phenotypic analyses of podxl-deficient mice indicate that PC is involved in neurite growth, branching and axonal fasciculation, and that PC loss-of-function reduces the number of synapses in the CNS and in the neuromuscular system. We also show that whereas some of the brain PC functions require PSA, others depend on PC per se. Our results show that PC, the second highly sialylated neural adhesion protein, plays multiple roles in neural development. PMID:20706633

Muc4/MUC4 functions and regulation in cancer.

PubMed

Carraway, Kermit L; Theodoropoulos, George; Kozloski, Goldi A; Carothers Carraway, Coralie A

2009-12-01

The membrane mucin MUC4 (human) is abundantly expressed in many epithelia, where it is proposed to play a protective role, and is overexpressed in some epithelial tumors. Studies on the rat homologue, Muc4, indicate that it acts through anti-adhesive or signaling mechanisms. In particular, Muc4/MUC4 can serve as a ligand/modulator of the receptor tyrosine kinase ErbB2, regulating its phosphorylation and the phosphorylation of its partner ErbB3, with or without the involvement of the ErbB3 ligand neuregulin. Muc4/MUC4 can also modulate cell apoptosis via multiple mechanisms, both ErbB2 dependent and independent. Muc4/MUC4 expression is regulated by multiple mechanisms, ranging from transcriptional to post-translational. The roles of MUC4 in tumors suggest that it may be valuable as a tumor marker or target for therapy.

Quadruple Burden of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Chronic Intestinal Parasitoses, and Multiple Micronutrient Deficiency in Ethiopia: A Summary of Available Findings

PubMed Central

Amare, Bemnet; Moges, Beyene; Mulu, Andargachew; Yifru, Sisay; Kassu, Afework

2015-01-01

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB), and helminthic infections are among the commonest public health problems in the sub-Saharan African countries like Ethiopia. Multiple micronutrient deficiencies also known as the “hidden hunger” are common in people living in these countries either playing a role in their pathogenesis or as consequences. This results in a vicious cycle of multiple micronutrient deficiencies and infection/disease progression. As infection is profoundly associated with nutritional status resulting from decreased nutrient intake, decreased nutrient absorption, and nutrient losses, micronutrient deficiencies affect immune system and impact infection and diseases progression. As a result, micronutrients, immunity, and infection are interrelated. The goal of this review is therefore to provide a summary of available findings regarding the “quadruple burden trouble” of HIV, TB, intestinal parasitic infections, and multiple micronutrient deficiencies to describe immune-modulating effects related to disorders. PMID:25767808

Quadruple burden of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, chronic intestinal parasitoses, and multiple micronutrient deficiency in ethiopia: a summary of available findings.

PubMed

Amare, Bemnet; Moges, Beyene; Mulu, Andargachew; Yifru, Sisay; Kassu, Afework

2015-01-01

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB), and helminthic infections are among the commonest public health problems in the sub-Saharan African countries like Ethiopia. Multiple micronutrient deficiencies also known as the "hidden hunger" are common in people living in these countries either playing a role in their pathogenesis or as consequences. This results in a vicious cycle of multiple micronutrient deficiencies and infection/disease progression. As infection is profoundly associated with nutritional status resulting from decreased nutrient intake, decreased nutrient absorption, and nutrient losses, micronutrient deficiencies affect immune system and impact infection and diseases progression. As a result, micronutrients, immunity, and infection are interrelated. The goal of this review is therefore to provide a summary of available findings regarding the "quadruple burden trouble" of HIV, TB, intestinal parasitic infections, and multiple micronutrient deficiencies to describe immune-modulating effects related to disorders.

Expanding frontiers in materials chemistry and physics with multiple anions.

PubMed

Kageyama, Hiroshi; Hayashi, Katsuro; Maeda, Kazuhiko; Attfield, J Paul; Hiroi, Zenji; Rondinelli, James M; Poeppelmeier, Kenneth R

2018-02-22

During the last century, inorganic oxide compounds laid foundations for materials synthesis, characterization, and technology translation by adding new functions into devices previously dominated by main-group element semiconductor compounds. Today, compounds with multiple anions beyond the single-oxide ion, such as oxyhalides and oxyhydrides, offer a new materials platform from which superior functionality may arise. Here we review the recent progress, status, and future prospects and challenges facing the development and deployment of mixed-anion compounds, focusing mainly on oxide-derived materials. We devote attention to the crucial roles that multiple anions play during synthesis, characterization, and in the physical properties of these materials. We discuss the opportunities enabled by recent advances in synthetic approaches for design of both local and overall structure, state-of-the-art characterization techniques to distinguish unique structural and chemical states, and chemical/physical properties emerging from the synergy of multiple anions for catalysis, energy conversion, and electronic materials.

Bridges or Barriers? Conceptualization of the Role of Multiple Identity Gateway Groups in Intergroup Relations.

PubMed

Levy, Aharon; Saguy, Tamar; Halperin, Eran; van Zomeren, Martijn

2017-01-01

The modern era of globalization has been accompanied by a massive growth in interconnections between groups, and has led to the sharing of multiple identities by individuals and groups. Following these developments, research has focused on the issue of multiple identities, and has shed important light on how individuals who hold these complex forms of identity feel and behave, and on the reactions they elicit from members of other groups. However, the potential of groups with such multiple identities (e.g., biracials, immigrants, etc.) to affect the intergroup relations between the groups that represent the respective sources of the different identities (e.g., Blacks and Whites, country of origin and country of residence, etc.) has not been examined to date. Accordingly, in this paper, we first systematically explore the potential of groups in which people identify with multiple social categories, or groups that are perceived as such by others, to play a role in intergroup dynamics. Next, we offer a theoretical framework outlining what functions groups of people with shared multiple identities may serve (as bridges or barriers ) by proposing how their presence may facilitate or deteriorate intergroup relations. Finally, we present recent empirical research examining how groups of people with shared multiple identities can act as gateways and bridge the cleft between two separate groups that represent the respective sources of their different identities, and discuss the theoretical and practical implications for the field of intergroup relations.

Bridges or Barriers? Conceptualization of the Role of Multiple Identity Gateway Groups in Intergroup Relations

PubMed Central

Levy, Aharon; Saguy, Tamar; Halperin, Eran; van Zomeren, Martijn

2017-01-01

The modern era of globalization has been accompanied by a massive growth in interconnections between groups, and has led to the sharing of multiple identities by individuals and groups. Following these developments, research has focused on the issue of multiple identities, and has shed important light on how individuals who hold these complex forms of identity feel and behave, and on the reactions they elicit from members of other groups. However, the potential of groups with such multiple identities (e.g., biracials, immigrants, etc.) to affect the intergroup relations between the groups that represent the respective sources of the different identities (e.g., Blacks and Whites, country of origin and country of residence, etc.) has not been examined to date. Accordingly, in this paper, we first systematically explore the potential of groups in which people identify with multiple social categories, or groups that are perceived as such by others, to play a role in intergroup dynamics. Next, we offer a theoretical framework outlining what functions groups of people with shared multiple identities may serve (as bridges or barriers) by proposing how their presence may facilitate or deteriorate intergroup relations. Finally, we present recent empirical research examining how groups of people with shared multiple identities can act as gateways and bridge the cleft between two separate groups that represent the respective sources of their different identities, and discuss the theoretical and practical implications for the field of intergroup relations. PMID:28706501

The role of discourse in group knowledge construction: A case study of engineering students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kittleson, Julie M.; Southerland, Sherry A.

2004-03-01

This qualitative study examined the role of discourse (verbal elements of language) and Discourse (nonverbal elements related to the use of language, such as ways of thinking, valuing, and using tools and technologies) in the process of group knowledge construction of mechanical engineering students. Data included interviews, participant observations, and transcripts from lab sessions of a group of students working on their senior design project. These data were analyzed using discourse analysis focusing on instances of concept negotiation, interaction in which multiple people contribute to the evolving conceptual conversation. In this context, despite instructors' attempts to enhance the collaboration of group members, concept negotiation was rare. In an effort to understand this rarity, we identified themes related to an engineering Discourse, which included participants' assumptions about the purpose of group work, the views about effective groups, and their epistemologies and ontologies. We explore how the themes associated with the engineering Discourse played a role in how and when the group engaged in concept negotiation. We found that underlying ideologies and assumptions related to the engineering Discourse played both facilitating and inhibitory roles related to the group's conceptually based interactions.

PIWI Proteins and PIWI-Interacting RNA: Emerging Roles in Cancer.

PubMed

Han, Yi-Neng; Li, Yuan; Xia, Sheng-Qiang; Zhang, Yuan-Yuan; Zheng, Jun-Hua; Li, Wei

2017-01-01

P-Element induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a type of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and interact with PIWI proteins. piRNAs were primarily described in the germline, but emerging evidence revealed that piRNAs are expressed in a tissue-specific manner among multiple human somatic tissue types as well and play important roles in transposon silencing, epigenetic regulation, gene and protein regulation, genome rearrangement, spermatogenesis and germ stem-cell maintenance. PIWI proteins were first discovered in Drosophila and they play roles in spermatogenesis, germline stem-cell maintenance, self-renewal, retrotransposons silencing and the male germline mobility control. A growing number of studies have demonstrated that several piRNA and PIWI proteins are aberrantly expressed in various kinds of cancers and may probably serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Nevertheless, their specific mechanisms and functions need further investigation. In this review, we discuss about the biogenesis, functions and the emerging role of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in cancer, providing novel insights into the possible applications of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in cancer diagnosis and clinical treatment. © 2017 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

The Hippo pathway in heart development, regeneration, and diseases

PubMed Central

Zhou, Qi; Li, Li; Zhao, Bin; Guan, Kun-Liang

2015-01-01

The heart is the first organ formed during mammalian development. A properly sized and functional heart is vital throughout the entire lifespan. Loss of cardiomyocytes due to injury or diseases leads to heart failure, which is a major cause of human morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, regenerative potential of the adult heart is very limited. The Hippo pathway is a recently identified signaling cascade that plays an evolutionarily conserved role in organ size control by inhibiting cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, regulating fates of stem/ progenitor cells, and in some circumstances, limiting cell size. Interestingly, research indicates a key role of this pathway in regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart size. Inactivation of the Hippo pathway or activation of its downstream effector, the Yes-associated protein (YAP) transcription co-activator, improves cardiac regeneration. Several known upstream signals of the Hippo pathway such as mechanical stress, G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling, and oxidative stress, are known to play critical roles in cardiac physiology. In addition, YAP has been shown to regulate cardiomyocyte fate through multiple transcriptional mechanisms. In this review, we summarize and discuss current findings regarding the roles and mechanisms of the Hippo pathway in heart development, injury, and regeneration. PMID:25858067

Multiple functions of the E3 ubiquitin ligase CHIP in immunity.

PubMed

Zhan, Shaohua; Wang, Tianxiao; Ge, Wei

2017-09-03

The carboxyl terminal of Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays a pivotal role in the protein quality control system by shifting the balance of the folding-refolding machinery toward the degradative pathway. However, the precise mechanisms by which nonnative proteins are selected for degradation by CHIP either directly or indirectly via chaperone Hsp70 or Hsp90 are still not clear. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive model of the mechanism by which CHIP degrades its substrate in a chaperone-dependent or direct manner. In addition, through tight regulation of the protein level of its substrates, CHIP plays important roles in many physiological and pathological conditions, including cancers, neurological disorders, cardiac diseases, bone metabolism, immunity, and so on. Nonetheless, the precise mechanisms underlying the regulation of the immune system by CHIP are still poorly understood despite accumulating developments in our understanding of the regulatory roles of CHIP in both innate and adaptive immune responses. In this review, we also aim to provide a view of CHIP-mediated regulation of immune responses and the signaling pathways involved in the model described. Finally, we discuss the roles of CHIP in immune-related diseases.

The hippo pathway in heart development, regeneration, and diseases.

PubMed

Zhou, Qi; Li, Li; Zhao, Bin; Guan, Kun-Liang

2015-04-10

The heart is the first organ formed during mammalian development. A properly sized and functional heart is vital throughout the entire lifespan. Loss of cardiomyocytes because of injury or diseases leads to heart failure, which is a major cause of human morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, regenerative potential of the adult heart is limited. The Hippo pathway is a recently identified signaling cascade that plays an evolutionarily conserved role in organ size control by inhibiting cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, regulating fates of stem/progenitor cells, and in some circumstances, limiting cell size. Interestingly, research indicates a key role of this pathway in regulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart size. Inactivation of the Hippo pathway or activation of its downstream effector, the Yes-associated protein transcription coactivator, improves cardiac regeneration. Several known upstream signals of the Hippo pathway such as mechanical stress, G-protein-coupled receptor signaling, and oxidative stress are known to play critical roles in cardiac physiology. In addition, Yes-associated protein has been shown to regulate cardiomyocyte fate through multiple transcriptional mechanisms. In this review, we summarize and discuss current findings on the roles and mechanisms of the Hippo pathway in heart development, injury, and regeneration. © 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.

The parietal cortex in sensemaking: the dissociation of multiple types of spatial information.

PubMed

Sun, Yanlong; Wang, Hongbin

2013-01-01

According to the data-frame theory, sensemaking is a macrocognitive process in which people try to make sense of or explain their observations by processing a number of explanatory structures called frames until the observations and frames become congruent. During the sensemaking process, the parietal cortex has been implicated in various cognitive tasks for the functions related to spatial and temporal information processing, mathematical thinking, and spatial attention. In particular, the parietal cortex plays important roles by extracting multiple representations of magnitudes at the early stages of perceptual analysis. By a series of neural network simulations, we demonstrate that the dissociation of different types of spatial information can start early with a rather similar structure (i.e., sensitivity on a common metric), but accurate representations require specific goal-directed top-down controls due to the interference in selective attention. Our results suggest that the roles of the parietal cortex rely on the hierarchical organization of multiple spatial representations and their interactions. The dissociation and interference between different types of spatial information are essentially the result of the competition at different levels of abstraction.

The Parietal Cortex in Sensemaking: The Dissociation of Multiple Types of Spatial Information

PubMed Central

Sun, Yanlong; Wang, Hongbin

2013-01-01

According to the data-frame theory, sensemaking is a macrocognitive process in which people try to make sense of or explain their observations by processing a number of explanatory structures called frames until the observations and frames become congruent. During the sensemaking process, the parietal cortex has been implicated in various cognitive tasks for the functions related to spatial and temporal information processing, mathematical thinking, and spatial attention. In particular, the parietal cortex plays important roles by extracting multiple representations of magnitudes at the early stages of perceptual analysis. By a series of neural network simulations, we demonstrate that the dissociation of different types of spatial information can start early with a rather similar structure (i.e., sensitivity on a common metric), but accurate representations require specific goal-directed top-down controls due to the interference in selective attention. Our results suggest that the roles of the parietal cortex rely on the hierarchical organization of multiple spatial representations and their interactions. The dissociation and interference between different types of spatial information are essentially the result of the competition at different levels of abstraction. PMID:23710165

IRAK4 deficiency promotes cardiac remodeling induced by pressure overload

PubMed Central

Yuan, Yuan; Gan, Huawen; Dai, Jia; Zhou, Heng; Deng, Wei; Zong, Jing; Bian, Zhouyan; Liao, Haihan; Li, Hongliang; Tang, Qizhu

2015-01-01

Background: Interluekin1 receptor-associated kinase-4 (IRAK4) plays an essential role in the innate immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IRAK4 in cardiac remodeling induced by pressure overload and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods: In vivo studies were performed using IRAK4 heterozygous knockout (HET) mice and wild type (WT) mice. Models of cardiac remodeling were induced by aortic banding (AB). Cardiac remodeling was evaluated by Echocardiography and histological analysis. Results: IRAK4 was upregulated in hearts of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients and also pressure overload-induced mice hearts. IRAK4 HET mice exhibited exacerbated cardiac hypertrophy, dysfunction and fibrosis after 4 weeks of AB compared with that in WT mice. Furthermore, enhanced activation of the MEK-ERK1/2, p38 and NFκB pathways was found in IRAK4 HET mice compared to WT mice. Conclusion: Our results suggest that IRAK4 may play a crucial role in the development of cardiac remodeling via negative regulation of multiple signaling pathways. PMID:26884959

Transcription factors involved in retinogenesis are co-opted by the circadian clock following photoreceptor differentiation

PubMed Central

Laranjeiro, Ricardo; Whitmore, David

2014-01-01

The circadian clock is known to regulate a wide range of physiological and cellular processes, yet remarkably little is known about its role during embryo development. Zebrafish offer a unique opportunity to explore this issue, not only because a great deal is known about key developmental events in this species, but also because the clock starts on the very first day of development. In this study, we identified numerous rhythmic genes in zebrafish larvae, including the key transcriptional regulators neurod and cdx1b, which are involved in neuronal and intestinal differentiation, respectively. Rhythmic expression of neurod and several additional transcription factors was only observed in the developing retina. Surprisingly, these rhythms in expression commenced at a stage of development after these transcription factors are known to have played their essential role in photoreceptor differentiation. Furthermore, this circadian regulation was maintained in adult retina. Thus, once mature photoreceptors are formed, multiple retinal transcription factors fall under circadian clock control, at which point they appear to play a new and important role in regulating rhythmic elements in the phototransduction pathway. PMID:24924194

Emerging roles and regulation of MiT/TFE transcriptional factors.

PubMed

Yang, Min; Liu, En; Tang, Li; Lei, Yuanyuan; Sun, Xuemei; Hu, Jiaxi; Dong, Hui; Yang, Shi-Ming; Gao, Mingfa; Tang, Bo

2018-06-15

The MiT/TFE transcription factors play a pivotal role in the regulation of autophagy and lysosomal biogenesis. The subcellular localization and activity of MiT/TFE proteins are primarily regulated through phosphorylation. And the phosphorylated protein is retained in the cytoplasm and subsequently translocates to the nucleus upon dephosphorylation, where it stimulates the expression of hundreds of genes, leading to lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy induction. The transcription factor-mediated lysosome-to-nucleus signaling can be directly controlled by several signaling molecules involved in the mTORC1, PKC, and AKT pathways. MiT/TFE family members have attracted much attention owing to their intracellular clearance of pathogenic factors in numerous diseases. Recently, multiple studies have also revealed the MiT/TFE proteins as master regulators of cellular metabolic reprogramming, converging on autophagic and lysosomal function and playing a critical role in cancer, suggesting that novel therapeutic strategies could be based on the modulation of MiT/TFE family member activity. Here, we present an overview of the latest research on MiT/TFE transcriptional factors and their potential mechanisms in cancer.

The presence and significance of polar meibum and tear lipids.

PubMed

Pucker, Andrew D; Haworth, Kristina M

2015-01-01

The ocular tear film is a complex structure composed of a number of elements. While all of these components serve valuable functional and structural roles, the external lipid layer has been a focus because it is known to play a critical role in dry eye. Traditionally, meibomian gland phospholipids have been considered to be the vital amphiphilic molecules needed to create an interphase between the outer nonpolar lipid layer and inner aqueous layers, yet recent work has called this theory into question. The purpose of this review is to clarify the current understanding of the origins, identity, and significance of polar tear lipids. Studies indicate that both phospholipids and ω-hydroxy fatty acids likely play a critical role in tear film stability. Studies also indicate that polar lipids likely originate from multiple sources and that they are integrally involved in ocular surface disease. Additional studies are needed to fully understand the origins and significance of polar tear lipids, because to date only correlational evidence has described their hypothesized origins and functions. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Inside story of Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors (mGluRs).

PubMed

Bhattacharyya, Samarjit

2016-08-01

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) that are activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate in the central nervous system. Among the eight subtypes, mGluR1 and mGluR5 belong to the group I family. These receptors play important roles in the brain and are believed to be involved in multiple forms of experience dependent synaptic plasticity including learning and memory. In addition, group I mGluRs also have been implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders like Fragile X syndrome, autism etc. The normal signaling depends on the precise location of these receptors in specific region of the neuron and the process of receptor trafficking plays a crucial role in controlling this localization. Intracellular trafficking could also regulate the desensitization, resensitization, down-regulation and intracellular signaling of these receptors. In this review I focus on the current understanding of group I mGluR regulation in the central nervous system and also their role in neuropsychiatric disorders. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cost-effectiveness analyses and their role in improving healthcare strategies.

PubMed

Rodriguez, Maria I; Caughey, Aaron B

2013-12-01

In this era of healthcare reform, attention is focused on increasing the quality of care and access to services, while simultaneously reducing the cost. Economic evaluations can play an important role in translating research to evidence-based practice and policy. Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and its utility for clinical and policy decision making among U.S. obstetricians and gynecologists is reviewed. Three case examples demonstrating the value of this methodology in decision making are considered. A discussion of the methodologic principles of CEA, the advantages, and the limitations of the methodology are presented. CEA can play an important role in evidence-based decision making, with value for clinicians and policy makers alike. These studies are of particular interest in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, in which uncertainty from epidemiologic or clinical trials exists, or multiple perspectives need to be considered (maternal, neonatal, and societal). As with all research, it is essential that economic evaluations are conducted according to established methodologic standards. Interpretation and application of results should occur with a clear understanding of both the value and the limitations of economic evaluations.

Language and Play in Students with Multiple Disabilities and Visual Impairments or Deaf-Blindness

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pizzo, Lianna; Bruce, Susan M.

2010-01-01

This article investigates the relationships between play and language development in students with multiple disabilities and visual impairments or deaf-blindness. The findings indicate that students with higher levels of communication demonstrate more advanced play skills and that the use of play-based assessment and exposure to symbolic play are…

Fructose metabolism in the cerebellum.

PubMed

Funari, Vincent A; Crandall, James E; Tolan, Dean R

2007-01-01

Under normal physiological conditions, the brain utilizes only a small number of carbon sources for energy. Recently, there is growing molecular and biochemical evidence that other carbon sources, including fructose, may play a role in neuro-energetics. Fructose is the number one commercial sweetener in Western civilization with large amounts of fructose being toxic, yet fructose metabolism remains relatively poorly characterized. Fructose is purportedly metabolized via either of two pathways, the fructose-1-phosphate pathway and/or the fructose-6-phosphate pathway. Many early metabolic studies could not clearly discriminate which of these two pathways predominates, nor could they distinguish which cell types in various tissues are capable of fructose metabolism. In addition, the lack of good physiological models, the diet-induced changes in gene expression in many tissues, the involvement of multiple genes in multiple pathways involved in fructose metabolism, and the lack of characterization of some genes involved in fructose metabolism have complicated our understanding of the physiological role of fructose in neuro-energetics. A recent neuro-metabolism study of the cerebellum demonstrated fructose metabolism and co-expression of the genes specific for the fructose 1-phosphate pathway, GLUT5 (glut5) and ketohexokinase (khk), in Purkinje cells suggesting this as an active pathway in specific neurons? Meanwhile, concern over the rapid increase in dietary fructose, particularly among children, has increased awareness about how fructose is metabolized in vivo and what effects a high fructose diet might have. In this regard, establishment of cellular and molecular studies and physiological characterization of the important and/or deleterious roles fructose plays in the brain is critical. This review will discuss the status of fructose metabolism in the brain with special reference to the cerebellum and the physiological roles of the different pathways.

An Unbiased Assessment of the Role of Imprinted Genes in an Intergenerational Model of Developmental Programming

PubMed Central

Radford, Elizabeth J.; Isganaitis, Elvira; Jimenez-Chillaron, Josep; Schroeder, Joshua; Molla, Michael; Andrews, Simon; Didier, Nathalie; Charalambous, Marika; McEwen, Kirsten; Marazzi, Giovanna; Sassoon, David; Patti, Mary-Elizabeth; Ferguson-Smith, Anne C.

2012-01-01

Environmental factors during early life are critical for the later metabolic health of the individual and of future progeny. In our obesogenic environment, it is of great socioeconomic importance to investigate the mechanisms that contribute to the risk of metabolic ill health. Imprinted genes, a class of functionally mono-allelic genes critical for early growth and metabolic axis development, have been proposed to be uniquely susceptible to environmental change. Furthermore, it has also been suggested that perturbation of the epigenetic reprogramming of imprinting control regions (ICRs) may play a role in phenotypic heritability following early life insults. Alternatively, the presence of multiple layers of epigenetic regulation may in fact protect imprinted genes from such perturbation. Unbiased investigation of these alternative hypotheses requires assessment of imprinted gene expression in the context of the response of the whole transcriptome to environmental assault. We therefore analyse the role of imprinted genes in multiple tissues in two affected generations of an established murine model of the developmental origins of health and disease using microarrays and quantitative RT–PCR. We demonstrate that, despite the functional mono-allelicism of imprinted genes and their unique mechanisms of epigenetic dosage control, imprinted genes as a class are neither more susceptible nor protected from expression perturbation induced by maternal undernutrition in either the F1 or the F2 generation compared to other genes. Nor do we find any evidence that the epigenetic reprogramming of ICRs in the germline is susceptible to nutritional restriction. However, we propose that those imprinted genes that are affected may play important roles in the foetal response to undernutrition and potentially its long-term sequelae. We suggest that recently described instances of dosage regulation by relaxation of imprinting are rare and likely to be highly regulated. PMID:22511876

Impact of alemtuzumab treatment on the survival and function of human regulatory T cells in vitro

PubMed Central

Havari, Evis; Turner, Michael J; Campos-Rivera, Juanita; Shankara, Srinivas; Nguyen, Tri-Hung; Roberts, Bruce; Siders, William; Kaplan, Johanne M

2014-01-01

Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody specific for the CD52 protein present at high levels on the surface of B and T lymphocytes. In clinical trials, alemtuzumab has shown a clinical benefit superior to that of interferon-β in relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis patients. Treatment with alemtuzumab leads to the depletion of circulating lymphocytes followed by a repopulation process characterized by alterations in the number, proportions and properties of lymphocyte subsets. Of particular interest, an increase in the percentage of T cells with a regulatory phenotype (Treg cells) has been observed in multiple sclerosis patients after alemtuzumab. Since Treg cells play an important role in the control of autoimmune responses, the effect of alemtuzumab on Treg cells was further studied in vitro. Alemtuzumab effectively mediated complement-dependent cytolysis of human T lymphocytes and the remaining population was enriched in T cells with a regulatory phenotype. The alemtuzumab-exposed T cells displayed functional regulatory characteristics including anergy to stimulation with allogeneic dendritic cells and ability to suppress the allogeneic response of autologous T cells. Consistent with the observed increase in Treg cell frequency, the CD25hi T-cell population was necessary for the suppressive activity of alemtuzumab-exposed T cells. The mechanism of this suppression was found to be dependent on both cell–cell contact and interleukin-2 consumption. These findings suggest that an alemtuzumab-mediated increase in the proportion of Treg cells may play a role in promoting the long-term efficacy of alemtuzumab in patients with multiple sclerosis. PMID:24116901

Discontinuity in the responses of ecosystem processes and multifunctionality to altered soil community composition.

PubMed

Bradford, Mark A; Wood, Stephen A; Bardgett, Richard D; Black, Helaina I J; Bonkowski, Michael; Eggers, Till; Grayston, Susan J; Kandeler, Ellen; Manning, Peter; Setälä, Heikki; Jones, T Hefin

2014-10-07

Ecosystem management policies increasingly emphasize provision of multiple, as opposed to single, ecosystem services. Management for such "multifunctionality" has stimulated research into the role that biodiversity plays in providing desired rates of multiple ecosystem processes. Positive effects of biodiversity on indices of multifunctionality are consistently found, primarily because species that are redundant for one ecosystem process under a given set of environmental conditions play a distinct role under different conditions or in the provision of another ecosystem process. Here we show that the positive effects of diversity (specifically community composition) on multifunctionality indices can also arise from a statistical fallacy analogous to Simpson's paradox (where aggregating data obscures causal relationships). We manipulated soil faunal community composition in combination with nitrogen fertilization of model grassland ecosystems and repeatedly measured five ecosystem processes related to plant productivity, carbon storage, and nutrient turnover. We calculated three common multifunctionality indices based on these processes and found that the functional complexity of the soil communities had a consistent positive effect on the indices. However, only two of the five ecosystem processes also responded positively to increasing complexity, whereas the other three responded neutrally or negatively. Furthermore, none of the individual processes responded to both the complexity and the nitrogen manipulations in a manner consistent with the indices. Our data show that multifunctionality indices can obscure relationships that exist between communities and key ecosystem processes, leading us to question their use in advancing theoretical understanding--and in management decisions--about how biodiversity is related to the provision of multiple ecosystem services.

Discontinuity in the responses of ecosystem processes and multifunctionality to altered soil community composition

PubMed Central

Bradford, Mark A.; Wood, Stephen A.; Bardgett, Richard D.; Black, Helaina I. J.; Bonkowski, Michael; Eggers, Till; Grayston, Susan J.; Kandeler, Ellen; Manning, Peter; Setälä, Heikki; Jones, T. Hefin

2014-01-01

Ecosystem management policies increasingly emphasize provision of multiple, as opposed to single, ecosystem services. Management for such “multifunctionality” has stimulated research into the role that biodiversity plays in providing desired rates of multiple ecosystem processes. Positive effects of biodiversity on indices of multifunctionality are consistently found, primarily because species that are redundant for one ecosystem process under a given set of environmental conditions play a distinct role under different conditions or in the provision of another ecosystem process. Here we show that the positive effects of diversity (specifically community composition) on multifunctionality indices can also arise from a statistical fallacy analogous to Simpson’s paradox (where aggregating data obscures causal relationships). We manipulated soil faunal community composition in combination with nitrogen fertilization of model grassland ecosystems and repeatedly measured five ecosystem processes related to plant productivity, carbon storage, and nutrient turnover. We calculated three common multifunctionality indices based on these processes and found that the functional complexity of the soil communities had a consistent positive effect on the indices. However, only two of the five ecosystem processes also responded positively to increasing complexity, whereas the other three responded neutrally or negatively. Furthermore, none of the individual processes responded to both the complexity and the nitrogen manipulations in a manner consistent with the indices. Our data show that multifunctionality indices can obscure relationships that exist between communities and key ecosystem processes, leading us to question their use in advancing theoretical understanding—and in management decisions—about how biodiversity is related to the provision of multiple ecosystem services. PMID:25246582

Protein kinase FgSch9 serves as a mediator of the target of rapamycin and high osmolarity glycerol pathways and regulates multiple stress responses and secondary metabolism in Fusarium graminearum.

PubMed

Gu, Qin; Zhang, Chengqi; Yu, Fangwei; Yin, Yanni; Shim, Won-Bo; Ma, Zhonghua

2015-08-01

Saccharomyces cerevisiae protein kinase Sch9 is one of the downstream effectors of the target of rapamycin (TOR) complex 1 and plays multiple roles in stress resistance, longevity and nutrient sensing. However, the functions of Sch9 orthologs in filamentous fungi, particularly in pathogenic species, have not been characterized to date. Here, we investigated biological and genetic functions of FgSch9 in Fusarium graminearum. The FgSCH9 deletion mutant (ΔFgSch9) was defective in aerial hyphal growth, hyphal branching and conidial germination. The mutant exhibited increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses, cell wall-damaging agents, and to rapamycin, while showing increased thermal tolerance. We identified FgMaf1 as one of the FgSch9-interacting proteins that plays an important role in regulating mycotoxin biosynthesis and virulence of F. graminearum. Co-immunoprecipitation and affinity capture-mass spectrometry assays showed that FgSch9 also interacts with FgTor and FgHog1. More importantly, both ΔFgSch9 and FgHog1 null mutant (ΔFgHog1) exhibited increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses. This defect was more severe in the FgSch9/FgHog1 double mutant. Taken together, we propose that FgSch9 serves as a mediator of the TOR and high osmolarity glycerol pathways, and regulates vegetative differentiation, multiple stress responses and secondary metabolism in F. graminearum. © 2014 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Cytokine networking of innate immunity cells: a potential target of therapy.

PubMed

Striz, Ilja; Brabcova, Eva; Kolesar, Libor; Sekerkova, Alena

2014-05-01

Innate immune cells, particularly macrophages and epithelial cells, play a key role in multiple layers of immune responses. Alarmins and pro-inflammatory cytokines from the IL (interleukin)-1 and TNF (tumour necrosis factor) families initiate the cascade of events by inducing chemokine release from bystander cells and by the up-regulation of adhesion molecules required for transendothelial trafficking of immune cells. Furthermore, innate cytokines produced by dendritic cells, macrophages, epithelial cells and innate lymphoid cells seem to play a critical role in polarization of helper T-cell cytokine profiles into specific subsets of Th1/Th2/Th17 effector cells or regulatory T-cells. Lastly, the innate immune system down-regulates effector mechanisms and restores homoeostasis in injured tissue via cytokines from the IL-10 and TGF (transforming growth factor) families mainly released from macrophages, preferentially the M2 subset, which have a capacity to induce regulatory T-cells, inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and induce healing of the tissue by regulating extracellular matrix protein deposition and angiogenesis. Cytokines produced by innate immune cells represent an attractive target for therapeutic intervention, and multiple molecules are currently being tested clinically in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic diseases, autoinflammatory syndromes, fibrosing processes or malignancies. In addition to the already widely used blockers of TNFα and the tested inhibitors of IL-1 and IL-6, multiple therapeutic molecules are currently in clinical trials targeting TNF-related molecules [APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) and BAFF (B-cell-activating factor belonging to the TNF family)], chemokine receptors, IL-17, TGFβ and other cytokines.

Uncovering a Dual Regulatory Role for Caspases During Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-induced Cell Death

PubMed Central

Anania, Veronica G.; Yu, Kebing; Gnad, Florian; Pferdehirt, Rebecca R.; Li, Han; Ma, Taylur P.; Jeon, Diana; Fortelny, Nikolaus; Forrest, William; Ashkenazi, Avi; Overall, Christopher M.; Lill, Jennie R.

2016-01-01

Many diseases are associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which results from an accumulation of misfolded proteins. This triggers an adaptive response called the “unfolded protein response” (UPR), and prolonged exposure to ER stress leads to cell death. Caspases are reported to play a critical role in ER stress-induced cell death but the underlying mechanisms by which they exert their effect continue to remain elusive. To understand the role caspases play during ER stress, a systems level approach integrating analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, and proteolytic substrate profile was employed. This quantitative analysis revealed transcriptional profiles for most human genes, provided information on protein abundance for 4476 proteins, and identified 445 caspase substrates. Based on these data sets many caspase substrates were shown to be downregulated at the protein level during ER stress suggesting caspase activity inhibits their cellular function. Additionally, RNA sequencing revealed a role for caspases in regulation of ER stress-induced transcriptional pathways and gene set enrichment analysis showed expression of multiple gene targets of essential transcription factors to be upregulated during ER stress upon inhibition of caspases. Furthermore, these transcription factors were degraded in a caspase-dependent manner during ER stress. These results indicate that caspases play a dual role in regulating the cellular response to ER stress through both post-translational and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, this study provides unique insight into progression of the unfolded protein response into cell death, which may help identify therapeutic strategies to treat ER stress-related diseases. PMID:27125827

Uncovering a Dual Regulatory Role for Caspases During Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-induced Cell Death.

PubMed

Anania, Veronica G; Yu, Kebing; Gnad, Florian; Pferdehirt, Rebecca R; Li, Han; Ma, Taylur P; Jeon, Diana; Fortelny, Nikolaus; Forrest, William; Ashkenazi, Avi; Overall, Christopher M; Lill, Jennie R

2016-07-01

Many diseases are associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which results from an accumulation of misfolded proteins. This triggers an adaptive response called the "unfolded protein response" (UPR), and prolonged exposure to ER stress leads to cell death. Caspases are reported to play a critical role in ER stress-induced cell death but the underlying mechanisms by which they exert their effect continue to remain elusive. To understand the role caspases play during ER stress, a systems level approach integrating analysis of the transcriptome, proteome, and proteolytic substrate profile was employed. This quantitative analysis revealed transcriptional profiles for most human genes, provided information on protein abundance for 4476 proteins, and identified 445 caspase substrates. Based on these data sets many caspase substrates were shown to be downregulated at the protein level during ER stress suggesting caspase activity inhibits their cellular function. Additionally, RNA sequencing revealed a role for caspases in regulation of ER stress-induced transcriptional pathways and gene set enrichment analysis showed expression of multiple gene targets of essential transcription factors to be upregulated during ER stress upon inhibition of caspases. Furthermore, these transcription factors were degraded in a caspase-dependent manner during ER stress. These results indicate that caspases play a dual role in regulating the cellular response to ER stress through both post-translational and transcriptional regulatory mechanisms. Moreover, this study provides unique insight into progression of the unfolded protein response into cell death, which may help identify therapeutic strategies to treat ER stress-related diseases. © 2016 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Gender as a variable in the assessment of final year degree-level communication skills.

PubMed

Wiskin, Connie M D; Allan, Teresa F; Skelton, John R

2004-02-01

To investigate possible bias due to gender combination of students, role players and examiners in a high-stakes assessment. Valid oral interactive contextualized examinations (VOICEs) is a long-station OSCE-style exam in general practice (GP). At the time of writing it consisted of 65% of the student's final GP mark. In the VOICE, students undertake six tasks--four vivas and two role-plays. "Patient" roles are taken by professional role players who work regularly on the undergraduate curriculum. During the role-play, the student's clinical competence is assessed by an observing GP examiner. The communication skills marks are awarded by the role player and the examiner together, by negotiation. Data have been recorded detailing the role player's initial marks, the examiner's initial marks and their final (awarded) agreed marks for 1024 consultations. 512 final year medical students, 28 role players and 48 examiners. There were no inclusion or exclusion criteria. All those present on exam day became part of the data. There was a significant relationship between gender and performance for some, but not all, stations. Correlations for multiple comparisons removed the significance. Female students perform better across the board than male students. While not always significant, this did affect grading. There was no significant association between the genders of role players and examiners with the question choices. There has been a significant worsening of male results since 1999. Differences exist in the way that pairs of mixed or single genders score students.

The central role of myostatin in skeletal muscle and whole body homeostasis.

PubMed

Elliott, B; Renshaw, D; Getting, S; Mackenzie, R

2012-07-01

Myostatin is a powerful negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass in mammalian species. It plays a key role in skeletal muscle homeostasis and has now been well described since its discovery. Myostatin is capable of inducing muscle atrophy via its inhibition of myoblast proliferation, increasing ubiquitin-proteasomal activity and downregulating activity of the IGF-Akt pathway. These well-recognized effects are seen in multiple atrophy causing situations, including injury, diseases such as cachexia, disuse and space flight, demonstrating the importance of the myostatin signalling mechanism. Based on this central role, significant work has been pursued to inhibit myostatin's actions in vivo. Importantly, several new studies have uncovered roles for myostatin distinct from skeletal muscle size. Myostatin has been suggested to play a role in cardiomyocyte homeostasis, glucose metabolism and adipocyte proliferation, all of which are examined in detail below. Based on these effects, myostatin inhibition has potential to be widely utilized in many Western diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, type II diabetes and obesity. However, if myostatin inhibitors are to successfully translate from bench-top to bedside in the near future, awareness must be raised on these non-traditional effects of myostatin away from skeletal muscle. Indeed, further research into these novel areas is required. © 2012 The Authors Acta Physiologica © 2012 Scandinavian Physiological Society.

Roles of frequency, attitudes, and multiple intelligence modality surrounding Electricity Content-Based Reader's Theatre

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hosier, Julie Winchester

Integration of subjects is something elementary teachers must do to insure required objectives are covered. Science-based Reader's Theatre is one way to weave reading into science. This study examined the roles of frequency, attitudes, and Multiple Intelligence modalities surrounding Electricity Content-Based Reader's Theatre. This study used quasi-experimental, repeated measures ANOVA with time as a factor design. A convenience sample of two fifth-grade classrooms participated in the study for eighteen weeks. Five Electricity Achievement Tests were given throughout the study to assess students' growth. A Student Reader's Theatre Attitudinal Survey revealed students' attitudes before and after Electricity Content-Based Reader's Theatre treatment. The Multiple Intelligence Inventory for Kids (Faris, 2007) examined whether Multiple Intelligence modality played a role in achievement on Electricity Test 4, the post-treatment test. Analysis using repeated measures ANOVA and an independent t-test found that students in the experimental group, which practiced its student-created Electricity Content-Based Reader's Theatre skits ten times versus two times for the for control group, did significantly better on Electricity Achievement Test 4, t(76) = 3.018, p = 0.003. Dependent t-tests did not find statistically significant differences between students' attitudes about Electricity Content-Based Reader's Theatre before and after treatment. A Kruskal-Wallis test found no statistically significant difference between the various Multiple Intelligence modalities score mean ranks (x2 = 5.57, df = 2, alpha = .062). Qualitative data do, however, indicate students had strong positive feelings about Electricity Content-Based Reader's Theatre after treatment. Students indicated it to be motivating, confidence-building, and a fun way to learn about science; however, they disliked writing their own scripts. Examining the frequency, attitudes, and Multiple Intelligence modalities lead to the conclusion that the role of frequency had the greatest impact on the success of Electricity Content-Based Reader's Theatre. The participating teachers, students, and research found integrating science and reading through Electricity Content-Based Reader's Theatre beneficial.

Ironing out the role of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21 in cancer: Novel iron chelating agents to target p21 expression and activity.

PubMed

Moussa, Rayan S; Park, Kyung Chan; Kovacevic, Zaklina; Richardson, Des R

2018-03-20

Iron (Fe) has become an important target for the development of anti-cancer therapeutics with a number of Fe chelators entering human clinical trials for advanced and resistant cancer. An important aspect of the activity of these compounds is their multiple molecular targets, including those that play roles in arresting the cell cycle, such as the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p21. At present, the exact mechanism by which Fe chelators regulate p21 expression remains unclear. However, recent studies indicate the ability of chelators to up-regulate p21 at the mRNA level was dependent on the chelator and cell-type investigated. Analysis of the p21 promoter identified that the Sp1-3-binding site played a significant role in the activation of p21 transcription by Fe chelators. Furthermore, there was increased Sp1/ER-α and Sp1/c-Jun complex formation in melanoma cells, suggesting these complexes were involved in p21 promoter activation. Elucidating the mechanisms involved in the regulation of p21 expression in response to Fe chelator treatment in neoplastic cells will further clarify how these agents achieve their anti-tumor activity. It will also enhance our understanding of the complex roles p21 may play in neoplastic cells and lead to the development of more effective and specific anti-cancer therapies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Simulating Social and Political Influences on Hazard Analysis through a Classroom Role Playing Exercise

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hales, T. C.; Cashman, K. V.

2006-12-01

Geological hazard mitigation is a complicated process that involves both detailed scientific research and negotiations between community members with competing interests in the solution. Geological hazards classes based around traditional lecture methods have difficulty conveying the decision-making processes that go into these negotiations. To address this deficiency, we have spent five years developing and testing a role- playing exercise based on mitigation of a dam outburst hazard on Ruapehu volcano, New Zealand. In our exercise, students are asked to undertake one of five different roles and decide the best way to mitigate the hazard. Over the course of their discussion students are challenged to reach a consensus decision despite the presence of strongly opposed positions. Key to the success of the exercise are (1) the presence of a facilitator and recorder for each meeting, (2) the provision of unique information for each interested party, and (3) the division of the class into multiple meeting groups, such that everyone is required to participate and individual groups can evolve to different conclusions. The exercise can be completed in a single hour and twenty minute classroom session that is divided into four parts: an introduction, a meeting between members of the same interested party to discuss strategy, a meeting between different interested parties, and a debriefing session. This framework can be readily translated to any classroom hazard problem. In our experience, students have responded positively to the use of role-playing to supplement lectures.

Astrocyte elevated gene-1 regulates hepatocellular carcinoma development and progression

PubMed Central

Yoo, Byoung Kwon; Emdad, Luni; Su, Zao-zhong; Villanueva, Augusto; Chiang, Derek Y.; Mukhopadhyay, Nitai D.; Mills, Alan Scott; Waxman, Samuel; Fisher, Robert A.; Llovet, Josep M.; Fisher, Paul B.; Sarkar, Devanand

2009-01-01

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive vascular cancer characterized by diverse etiology, activation of multiple signal transduction pathways, and various gene mutations. Here, we have determined a specific role for astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG1) in HCC pathogenesis. Expression of AEG1 was extremely low in human hepatocytes, but its levels were significantly increased in human HCC. Stable overexpression of AEG1 converted nontumorigenic human HCC cells into highly aggressive vascular tumors, and inhibition of AEG1 abrogated tumorigenesis by aggressive HCC cells in a xenograft model of nude mice. In human HCC, AEG1 overexpression was associated with elevated copy numbers. Microarray analysis revealed that AEG1 modulated the expression of genes associated with invasion, metastasis, chemoresistance, angiogenesis, and senescence. AEG1 also was found to activate Wnt/β-catenin signaling via ERK42/44 activation and upregulated lymphoid-enhancing factor 1/T cell factor 1 (LEF1/TCF1), the ultimate executor of the Wnt pathway, important for HCC progression. Inhibition studies further demonstrated that activation of Wnt signaling played a key role in mediating AEG1 function. AEG1 also activated the NF-κB pathway, which may play a role in the chronic inflammatory changes preceding HCC development. These data indicate that AEG1 plays a central role in regulating diverse aspects of HCC pathogenesis. Targeted inhibition of AEG1 might lead to the shutdown of key elemental characteristics of HCC and could lead to an effective therapeutic strategy for HCC. PMID:19221438

Cross-Cultural Adaptation in the Discourse of Education and Motherhood: An Autoethnography of a Korean International Graduate Student Mother in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chung, Yunjeong

2015-01-01

This study explores the cross-cultural adaption experience of myself as a Korean graduate student woman coming from a Confucian-heritage culture. The study focuses on the multiple roles I played as an Asian graduate student mother in the host cultural environment and the way I have undergone throughout the process of my adaptation. As a research…

Endoreplication and polyploidy: insights into development and disease

PubMed Central

Fox, Donald T.; Duronio, Robert J.

2013-01-01

Polyploid cells have genomes that contain multiples of the typical diploid chromosome number and are found in many different organisms. Studies in a variety of animal and plant developmental systems have revealed evolutionarily conserved mechanisms that control the generation of polyploidy and have recently begun to provide clues to its physiological function. These studies demonstrate that cellular polyploidy plays important roles during normal development and also contributes to human disease, particularly cancer. PMID:23222436

Quality in School Environments: A Multiple Case Study of the Diagnosis, Design and Management of Environmental Quality in Five Elementary Schools in the Baltimore City Public Schools from an Action Research Perspective. Volumes I and II.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lackney, Jeffery A.

Environmental factors are being increasingly recognized as playing a role in school effectiveness and educational outcomes. Volume 1 examines what is known concerning the diagnosis, design, and management of environmental quality in schools, and the perceived relationship between environmental quality and educational outcomes, as revealed in an…

Nanometric summation architecture based on optical near-field interaction between quantum dots.

PubMed

Naruse, Makoto; Miyazaki, Tetsuya; Kubota, Fumito; Kawazoe, Tadashi; Kobayashi, Kiyoshi; Sangu, Suguru; Ohtsu, Motoichi

2005-01-15

A nanoscale data summation architecture is proposed and experimentally demonstrated based on the optical near-field interaction between quantum dots. Based on local electromagnetic interactions between a few nanometric elements via optical near fields, we can combine multiple excitations at a certain quantum dot, which allows construction of a summation architecture. Summation plays a key role for content-addressable memory, which is one of the most important functions in optical networks.

Enhanced MHT encryption scheme for chosen plaintext attack

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Dahua; Kuo, C. C. J.

2003-11-01

Efficient multimedia encryption algorithms play a key role in multimedia security protection. One multimedia encryption algorithm known as the MHT (Multiple Huffman Tables) method was recently developed by Wu and Kuo. Even though MHT has many desirable properties, it is vulnerable to the chosen-plaintext attack (CPA). An enhanced MHT algorithm is proposed in this work to overcome this drawback. It is proved mathematically that the proposed algorithm is secure against the chosen plaintext attack.

Shedding the Ego: Drama-Based Role-Play and Identity in Distance Language Tuition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brash, Barbel; Warnecke, Sylvia

2009-01-01

In this article, the authors attempt to answer the following questions: How do we understand role-play? How are role-play and identity linked? What are the purposes, benefits and challenges of role-play as a teaching tool? What are the roles of students and teachers in role-play? What does role-play add to telephone tutorials and online…

GM-CSF: An Immune Modulatory Cytokine that can Suppress Autoimmunity

PubMed Central

Bhattacharya, Palash; Thiruppathi, Muthusamy; Elshabrawy, Hatem A.; Alharshawi, Khaled; Kumar, Prabhakaran; Prabhakar, Bellur S.

2015-01-01

GM-CSF was originally identified as a colony stimulating factor (CSF) because of its ability to induce granulocyte and macrophage populations from precursor cells. Multiple studies have demonstrated that GM-CSF is also an immune-modulatory cytokine, capable of affecting not only the phenotype of myeloid lineage cells, but also T-cell activation through various myeloid intermediaries. This property has been implicated in the sustenance of several autoimmune diseases like arthritis and multiple sclerosis. In contrast, several studies using animal models have shown that GM-CSF is also capable of suppressing many autoimmune diseases like Crohn's disease, Type-1 diabetes, Myasthenia gravis and experimental autoimmune thyroiditis. Knockout mouse studies have suggested that the role of GM-CSF in maintaining granulocyte and macrophage populations in the physiological steady state is largely redundant. Instead, its immune-modulatory role plays a significant role in the development or resolution of autoimmune diseases. This is mediated either through the differentiation of precursor cells into specialized non-steady state granulocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells, or through the modulation of the phenotype of mature myeloid cells. Thus, outside of myelopoiesis, GM-CSF has a profound role in regulating the immune response and maintaining immunological tolerance. PMID:26113402

The 2013 US Government Shutdown (#Shutdown) and Health: An Emerging Role for Social Media

PubMed Central

Ha, Yoonhee P.; Wong, Charlene A.; Schwartz, H. Andrew; Sap, Maarten; Ungar, Lyle H.; Asch, David A.

2014-01-01

In October 2013, multiple United States (US) federal health departments and agencies posted on Twitter, “We’re sorry, but we will not be tweeting or responding to @replies during the shutdown. We’ll be back as soon as possible!” These “last tweets” and the millions of responses they generated revealed social media’s role as a forum for sharing and discussing information rapidly. Social media are now among the few dominant communication channels used today. We used social media to characterize the public discourse and sentiment about the shutdown. The 2013 shutdown represented an opportunity to explore the role social media might play in events that could affect health. PMID:25322303

miRNA profiling in gastrointestinal stromal tumors: implication as diagnostic and prognostic markers.

PubMed

Nannini, Margherita; Ravegnini, Gloria; Angelini, Sabrina; Astolfi, Annalisa; Biasco, Guido; Pantaleo, Maria A

2015-01-01

MicroRNAs are a class of short noncoding RNAs, that play a relevant role in multiple biological processes, such as differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are considered as a paradigm of molecular biology in solid tumors worldwide, and after the discovery of specific alterations in the KIT and PDGFRA genes, they have emerged from anonymity to become a model for targeted therapy. Epigenetics have an emerging and relevant role in different steps of GIST biology such as tumorigenesis, disease progression, prognosis and drug resistance. The aim of the present review was to summarize the current evidence about the role of microRNAs in GIST, including their potential application as well as their limits.

The Emerging Roles of Forkhead Box (FOX) Proteins in Osteosarcoma

PubMed Central

Zhang, Wentao; Duan, Ning; Song, Tao; Li, Zhong; Zhang, Caiguo; Chen, Xun

2017-01-01

Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer primarily occurring in children and young adults. Over the past few years, the deregulation of a superfamily transcription factors, known as forkhead box (FOX) proteins, has been demonstrated to contribute to the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma. Molecular mechanism studies have demonstrated that FOX family proteins participate in a variety of signaling pathways and that their expression can be regulated by multiple factors. The dysfunction of FOX genes can alter osteosarcoma cell differentiation, metastasis and progression. In this review, we summarized the evidence that FOX genes play direct or indirect roles in the development and progression of osteosarcoma, and evaluated the emerging role of FOX proteins as targets for therapeutic intervention. PMID:28775781

Enhancing the primary care team to provide redesigned care: the roles of practice facilitators and care managers.

PubMed

Taylor, Erin Fries; Machta, Rachel M; Meyers, David S; Genevro, Janice; Peikes, Deborah N

2013-01-01

Efforts to redesign primary care require multiple supports. Two potential members of the primary care team-practice facilitator and care manager-can play important but distinct roles in redesigning and improving care delivery. Facilitators, also known as quality improvement coaches, assist practices with coordinating their quality improvement activities and help build capacity for those activities-reflecting a systems-level approach to improving quality, safety, and implementation of evidence-based practices. Care managers provide direct patient care by coordinating care and helping patients navigate the system, improving access for patients, and communicating across the care team. These complementary roles aim to help primary care practices deliver coordinated, accessible, comprehensive, and patient-centered care.

Breakdown of Immune Tolerance in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by Dendritic Cells

PubMed Central

Reihl, Alec M.

2016-01-01

Dendritic cells (DC) play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease with multiple tissue manifestations. In this review, we summarize recent studies on the roles of conventional DC and plasmacytoid DC in the development of both murine lupus and human SLE. In the past decade, studies using selective DC depletions have demonstrated critical roles of DC in lupus progression. Comprehensive in vitro and in vivo studies suggest activation of DC by self-antigens in lupus pathogenesis, followed by breakdown of immune tolerance to self. Potential treatment strategies targeting DC have been developed. However, many questions remain regarding the mechanisms by which DC modulate lupus pathogenesis that require further investigations. PMID:27034965

Nuclear receptors and metabolism: from feast to famine.

PubMed

Hong, Suk-Hyun; Ahmadian, Maryam; Yu, Ruth T; Atkins, Annette R; Downes, Michael; Evans, Ronald M

2014-05-01

The ability to adapt to cycles of feast and famine is critical for survival. Communication between multiple metabolic organs must be integrated to properly metabolise nutrients. By controlling networks of genes in major metabolic organs, nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) play central roles in regulating metabolism in a tissue-specific manner. NHRs also establish daily rhythmicity by controlling the expression of core clock genes both centrally and peripherally. Recent findings show that many of the metabolic effects of NHRs are mediated through certain members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family. This review focuses on the roles of NHRs in critical metabolic organs, including adipose tissue, liver and muscle, during the fed and fasted states, as well as their roles in circadian metabolism and downstream regulation of FGFs.

Astrocytic IL-6 Influences the Clinical Symptoms of EAE in Mice.

PubMed

Erta, Maria; Giralt, Mercedes; Jiménez, Silvia; Molinero, Amalia; Comes, Gemma; Hidalgo, Juan

2016-05-17

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional cytokine that not only plays major roles in the immune system, but also serves as a coordinator between the nervous and endocrine systems. IL-6 is produced in multiple cell types in the CNS, and in turn, many cells respond to it. It is therefore important to ascertain which cell type is the key responder to IL-6 during both physiological and pathological conditions. In order to test the role of astrocytic IL-6 in neuroinflammation, we studied an extensively-used animal model of multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), in mice with an IL-6 deficiency in astrocytes (Ast-IL-6 KO). Results indicate that lack of astrocytic IL-6 did not cause major changes in EAE symptomatology. However, a delay in the onset of clinical signs was observed in Ast-IL-6 KO females, with fewer inflammatory infiltrates and decreased demyelination and some alterations in gliosis and vasogenesis, compared to floxed mice. These results suggest that astrocyte-secreted IL-6 has some roles in EAE pathogenesis, at least in females.

Direct and interactive effects of parent, friend and schoolmate drinking on alcohol use trajectories.

PubMed

Lynch, Alicia Doyle; Coley, Rebekah Levine; Sims, Jacqueline; Lombardi, Caitlin McPherran; Mahalik, James R

2015-01-01

This study considered the unique and interactive roles of social norms from parents, friends and schools in predicting developmental trajectories of adolescent drinking and intoxication. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, which followed adolescents (N = 18,921) for 13 years, we used discrete mixture modelling to identify unique developmental trajectories of drinking and of intoxication. Next, multilevel multinomial regression models examined the role of alcohol-related social norms from parents, friends and schoolmates in the prediction of youths' trajectory group membership. Results demonstrated that social norms from parents, friends and schoolmates that were favourable towards alcohol use uniquely predicted drinking and intoxication trajectory group membership. Interactions between social norms revealed that schoolmate drinking played an important moderating role, frequently augmenting social norms from parents and friends. The current findings suggest that social norms from multiple sources (parents, friends and schools) work both independently and interactively to predict longitudinal trajectories of adolescent alcohol use. Results highlight the need to identify and understand social messages from multiple developmental contexts in efforts to reduce adolescent alcohol consumption and alcohol-related risk-taking.

Ectopic expression of Capsicum-specific cell wall protein Capsicum annuum senescence-delaying 1 (CaSD1) delays senescence and induces trichome formation in Nicotiana benthamiana.

PubMed

Seo, Eunyoung; Yeom, Seon-In; Jo, Sunghwan; Jeong, Heejin; Kang, Byoung-Cheorl; Choi, Doil

2012-04-01

Secreted proteins are known to have multiple roles in plant development, metabolism, and stress response. In a previous study to understand the roles of secreted proteins, Capsicum annuum secreted proteins (CaS) were isolated by yeast secretion trap. Among the secreted proteins, we further characterized Capsicum annuum senescence-delaying 1 (CaSD1), a gene encoding a novel secreted protein that is present only in the genus Capsicum. The deduced CaSD1 contains multiple repeats of the amino acid sequence KPPIHNHKPTDYDRS. Interestingly, the number of repeats varied among cultivars and species in the Capsicum genus. CaSD1 is constitutively expressed in roots, and Agrobacterium-mediated transient overexpression of CaSD1 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves resulted in delayed senescence with a dramatically increased number of trichomes and enlarged epidermal cells. Furthermore, senescence- and cell division-related genes were differentially regulated by CaSD1-overexpressing plants. These observations imply that the pepper-specific cell wall protein CaSD1 plays roles in plant growth and development by regulating cell division and differentiation.

Automated Comparative Auditing of NCIT Genomic Roles Using NCBI

PubMed Central

Cohen, Barry; Oren, Marc; Min, Hua; Perl, Yehoshua; Halper, Michael

2008-01-01

Biomedical research has identified many human genes and various knowledge about them. The National Cancer Institute Thesaurus (NCIT) represents such knowledge as concepts and roles (relationships). Due to the rapid advances in this field, it is to be expected that the NCIT’s Gene hierarchy will contain role errors. A comparative methodology to audit the Gene hierarchy with the use of the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s (NCBI’s) Entrez Gene database is presented. The two knowledge sources are accessed via a pair of Web crawlers to ensure up-to-date data. Our algorithms then compare the knowledge gathered from each, identify discrepancies that represent probable errors, and suggest corrective actions. The primary focus is on two kinds of gene-roles: (1) the chromosomal locations of genes, and (2) the biological processes in which genes plays a role. Regarding chromosomal locations, the discrepancies revealed are striking and systematic, suggesting a structurally common origin. In regard to the biological processes, difficulties arise because genes frequently play roles in multiple processes, and processes may have many designations (such as synonymous terms). Our algorithms make use of the roles defined in the NCIT Biological Process hierarchy to uncover many probable gene-role errors in the NCIT. These results show that automated comparative auditing is a promising technique that can identify a large number of probable errors and corrections for them in a terminological genomic knowledge repository, thus facilitating its overall maintenance. PMID:18486558

Mitochondrial DNA as an inflammatory mediator in cardiovascular diseases.

PubMed

Nakayama, Hiroyuki; Otsu, Kinya

2018-03-06

Mitochondria play a central role in multiple cellular functions, including energy production, calcium homeostasis, and cell death. Currently, growing evidence indicates the vital roles of mitochondria in triggering and maintaining inflammation. Chronic inflammation without microbial infection - termed sterile inflammation - is strongly involved in the development of heart failure. Sterile inflammation is triggered by the activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that sense endogenous ligands called damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Mitochondria release multiple DAMPs including mitochondrial DNA, peptides, and lipids, which induce inflammation via the stimulation of multiple PRRs. Among the mitochondrial DAMPs, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is currently highlighted as the DAMP that mediates the activation of multiple PRRs, including Toll-like receptor 9, Nod-like receptors, and cyclic GMP-AMP synthetase/stimulator of interferon gene pathways. These PRR signalling pathways, in turn, lead to the activation of nuclear factor-κB and interferon regulatory factor, which enhances the transcriptional activity of inflammatory cytokines and interferons, and induces the recruitment of inflammatory cells. As the heart is an organ comprising abundant mitochondria for its ATP consumption (needed to maintain constant cyclic contraction and relaxation), the generation of massive amounts of mitochondrial radical oxygen species and mitochondrial DAMPs are predicted to occur and promote cardiac inflammation. Here, we will focus on the role of mtDNA in cardiac inflammation and review the mechanism and pathological significance of mtDNA-induced inflammatory responses in cardiac diseases. © 2018 The Author(s).

Psychiatrists' Perceptions of Role-Playing Games.

PubMed

Lis, Eric; Chiniara, Carl; Biskin, Robert; Montoro, Richard

2015-09-01

The literature has seen a surge in research on the mental health impacts of technologies such as Facebook, video games, and massively-multiplayer online role-playing games such as World of Warcraft, but little is known regarding the mental health impact of non-video role-playing games, such as Dungeons & Dragons. The present study examines how psychiatrists' perceive role-playing games and whether they play them. Psychiatrists at a tertiary care centre in Canada completed a questionnaire assessing history of playing role-playing games and whether they associate them with psychopathology. Forty-eight psychiatrists responded. Twenty-three percent have played a role-playing game over their lifetimes. Twenty-two percent believed there was an association between psychopathology and role-playing games. A majority of psychiatrists who responded do not associate role-playing games with psychopathology. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

Playing with the Multiple Intelligences: How Play Helps Them Grow

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eberle, Scott G.

2011-01-01

Howard Gardner first posited a list of "multiple intelligences" as a liberating alternative to the assumptions underlying traditional IQ testing in his widely read study "Frames of Mind" (1983). Play has appeared only in passing in Gardner's thinking about intelligence, however, even though play instructs and trains the verbal, interpersonal,…

HDGF: a novel jack-of-all-trades in cancer.

PubMed

Bao, Cihang; Wang, Jianbo; Ma, Wei; Wang, Xintong; Cheng, Yufeng

2014-12-01

HDGF is an important regulator of a broad range of cancer cell activities and plays important roles in cancer cell transformation, apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastasis. Such a divergent influence of HDGF on cancer cell activities derives from its multiple inter- and sub-cellular localizations where it interacts with a range of different binding partners. Interestingly, high levels of HDGF could be detected in patients' serum of some cancers. This review is focused on the role of HDGF in tumorigenesis and metastasis, and provides insight for application in clinical cancer therapy as well as its clinical implications as a prognostic marker in cancer progression.

Cancer Stem Cells and Chemoresistance: The Smartest Survives the Raid

PubMed Central

Zhao, Jihe

2016-01-01

Chemoresistant metastatic relapse of minimal residual disease plays a significant role for poor prognosis of cancer. Growing evidence supports a critical role of cancer stem cell (CSC) behind the mechanisms for this deadly disease. This review briefly introduces the basics of the conventional chemotherapies, updates the CSC theories, highlights the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which CSC smartly designs and utilizes multiple lines of self-defense to avoid being killed by chemotherapy, and concisely summarizes recent progress in studies on CSC-targeted therapies in the end, with the hope to help guide future research towards developing more effective therapeutic strategies to eradicate tumor cells in the patients. PMID:26899500

A delicate balance: role of MMP-9 in brain development and pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.

PubMed

Reinhard, Sarah M; Razak, Khaleel; Ethell, Iryna M

2015-01-01

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical regulator of neural network development and plasticity. As neuronal circuits develop, the ECM stabilizes synaptic contacts, while its cleavage has both permissive and active roles in the regulation of plasticity. Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is a member of a large family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that can cleave ECM and several cell surface receptors allowing for synaptic and circuit level reorganization. It is becoming increasingly clear that the regulated activity of MMP-9 is critical for central nervous system (CNS) development. In particular, MMP-9 has a role in the development of sensory circuits during early postnatal periods, called 'critical periods.' MMP-9 can regulate sensory-mediated, local circuit reorganization through its ability to control synaptogenesis, axonal pathfinding and myelination. Although activity-dependent activation of MMP-9 at specific synapses plays an important role in multiple plasticity mechanisms throughout the CNS, misregulated activation of the enzyme is implicated in a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease. Growing evidence also suggests a role for MMP-9 in the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders including Fragile X Syndrome. This review outlines the various actions of MMP-9 during postnatal brain development, critical for future studies exploring novel therapeutic strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders.

Magnetically multiplexed heating of single domain nanoparticles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Christiansen, M. G.; Senko, A. W.; Chen, R.; Romero, G.; Anikeeva, P.

2014-05-01

Selective hysteretic heating of multiple collocated types of single domain magnetic nanoparticles (SDMNPs) by alternating magnetic fields (AMFs) may offer a useful tool for biomedical applications. The possibility of "magnetothermal multiplexing" has not yet been realized, in part due to prevalent use of linear response theory to model SDMNP heating in AMFs. Dynamic hysteresis modeling suggests that specific driving conditions play an underappreciated role in determining optimal material selection strategies for high heat dissipation. Motivated by this observation, magnetothermal multiplexing is theoretically predicted and empirically demonstrated by selecting SDMNPs with properties that suggest optimal hysteretic heat dissipation at dissimilar AMF driving conditions. This form of multiplexing could effectively offer multiple channels for minimally invasive biological signaling applications.

[A report on the inspection of the Shinkansen Multiple Inspection Train].

PubMed

Niijima, Kuniyuki; Enta, Kazuhiko; Sashihara, Shunsuke

2003-03-01

The multiple inspection train nicknamed "Doctor Yellow" is capable of taking necessary measurements of the track and electrical facilities, and maintains the safety and reliability of the Tokaido Shinkansen corridor. We performed a workplace inspection to examine environmental conditions in this train. The workers were engaged in VDT (visual display terminal) work including the inspection task. The labor environments such as vibration, noise, temperature and lighting, were comfortable. However, some of the working conditions while the Bullet train is running are inevitably restricted. The occupational physicians of the Central Japan Railway Company are expected to play important roles in providing effective health management for the employees under the characteristic work environments on the railroad.

Adverse events after endovascular treatment of chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) in patients with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Ghezzi, A; Annovazzi, P; Amato, M P; Capello, E; Cavalla, P; Cocco, E; Falcini, M; Gallo, A; Patti, F; Perini, P; Rodegher, M E; Rovaris, M; Rottoli, M R; Comi, G

2013-06-01

Although it is debated whether chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) plays a role in multiple sclerosis (MS) development, many patients undergo endovascular treatment (ET) of CCSVI. A study is ongoing in Italy to evaluate the clinical outcome of ET. Severe adverse events (AEs) occurred in 15/462 subjects at a variable interval after ET: jugular thrombosis in seven patients, tetraventricular hydrocephalus, stroke, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, status epilepticus, aspiration pneumonia, hypertension with tachicardia, or bleeding of bedsore in the remaining seven cases. One patient died because of myocardial infarction 10 weeks after ET. The risk of severe AEs related to ET for CCSVI must be carefully considered.

Multiple sensory modalities used by squid in successful predator evasion throughout ontogeny.

PubMed

York, Carly A; Bartol, Ian K; Krueger, Paul S

2016-09-15

Squid rely on multiple sensory systems for predator detection. In this study we examine the role of two sensory systems, the lateral line analogue and vision, in successful predator evasion throughout ontogeny. Squid Doryteuthis pealeii and Lolliguncula brevis were recorded using high-speed videography in the presence of natural predators under light and dark conditions with their lateral line analogue intact or ablated via a pharmacological technique. Paralarval squid showed reduced escape responses when ablated; however, no differences were found between light and dark conditions in non-ablated paralarvae, as was previously shown in juveniles and adults, indicating that the lateral line analogue is integral for predator detection early in life. However, vision does play a role in survival because ablated squid in dark conditions had lower levels of survival than all other treatments. Throughout ontogeny, squid oriented themselves anteriorly towards the oncoming predator, maximizing sensory input to the lateral line analogue system and providing better positioning for tail-first escape jetting, the preferred escape mode. Ablated juveniles and adults had lower response times, escape velocities and peak acceleration than non-ablated individuals, indicating that the lateral line analogue enables squid to respond quicker and with more powerful jets to a predator and maximize escape success. Our findings reveal that the lateral line analogue plays a role in predator detection and successful escape response at the earliest life stages, and continues to contribute to successful evasion by aiding visual cues in juvenile and adult squid. © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.

MicroRNA-20a is essential for normal embryogenesis by targeting vsx1 mRNA in fish

PubMed Central

Sun, Lei; Li, Heng; Xu, Xiaofeng; Xiao, Guanxiu; Luo, Chen

2015-01-01

MicroRNAs are major post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression and have essential roles in diverse developmental processes. In vertebrates, some regulatory genes play different roles at different developmental stages. These genes are initially transcribed in a wide embryonic region but restricted within distinct cell types at subsequent stages during development. Therefore, post-transcriptional regulation is required for the transition from one developmental stage to the next and the establishment of different cell identities. However, the regulation of many multiple functional genes at post-transcription level during development remains unknown. Here we show that miR-20a can target the mRNA of vsx1, a multiple functional gene, at the 3′-UTR and inhibit protein expression in both goldfish and zebrafish. The expression of miR-20a is initiated ubiquitously at late gastrula stage and exhibits a tissue-specific pattern in the developing retina. Inhibition of vsx1 3′-UTR mediated protein expression occurs when and where miR-20a is expressed. Decoying miR-20a resulted in severely impaired head, eye and trunk formation in association with excessive generation of vsx1 marked neurons in the spinal cord and defects of somites in the mesoderm region. These results demonstrate that miR-20a is essential for normal embryogenesis by restricting Vsx1 expression in goldfish and zebrafish, and that post-transcriptional regulation is an essential mechanism for Vsx1 playing different roles in diverse developmental processes. PMID:25833418