Search

Objectives: This study, based on socioemotional selectivity theory and cognitive theory, investigates the dynamic and reciprocal relationship between perceived discrimination and cognitive function in later life. Methods: Data were drawn from four waves of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2018). A total of 4,125 people who were 51 and older were included. Cognitive function was measured by the telephone interview for cognitive status (TICS-27). Perceived discrimination was measured using scores of the perceived everyday discrimination scale. Random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM) was utilized. The model was adjusted for a range of covariates. Subgroup analysis by ethnoracial groups was conducted. Results: Cross-sectionally, while lower cognitive function was associated with higher perceived discrimination, this relationship was unidirectional. Longitudinally, higher perceived discrimination predicted lower cognitive function in later waves only among non-Hispanic White individuals. Conclusion: Results suggested that a decline in cognitive function may precede and contribute to the worsening of perceived discrimination, which may result in further decline in cognitive function. Lifetime experience of discrimination was discussed as a possible source of the racial/ethnic variations in the relationship. Further study is needed to examine whether this relationship holds among people with cognitive impairment and dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsidized senior housing (SSH) is important to support healthy aging among vulnerable subgroups of older adults, yet progress in developing and expanding SSH has been limited. This scoping review had two research questions: (1) What are the trends in SSH empirical studies? (2) What are the main topics in the existing literature on SSH in the US? We reviewed a total of 61 articles and found several notable trends, including a focus on racial and ethnic minorities, cognitive impairment among SSH residents, and collaborative partnerships between housing operators and healthcare providers. More than half of the studies were quantitative, while the rest were qualitative or mixed-methods. The lack of longitudinal or causal design research reflects the limited empirical knowledge of SSH. Four themes emerged: health and well-being, healthcare use and health behaviors, social relations, and housing relocation. We discussed implications for future research and program development efforts in SSH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: African American adolescents (N = 372), recruited from public housing in three large U.S. cities, participated in this study that explores individual, familial, and sociocontextual correlates of maternal caregiving profiles, based on supervision and encouragement. Background: Maternal caregivers play an important role in ensuring the safety and welfare of adolescents as they encounter multiple challenges in their social environment. Public housing magnifies the risk of experiencing such challenges for African American adolescents. Evidence on the experiences of African American adolescents living in public housing is scarce. Our study contributes to this body of knowledge by exploring profiles of maternal caregivers, based on supervision and encouragement, their association with demographics, and familial and sociocontextual challenges among adolescents in public housing. Method: Using multinomial logistic regression, we explore the associations between profiles of maternal caregiving, based on supervision and encouragement and adolescent characteristics, adolescents' experiences, and assessment of their family (e.g., quality of parent–child relationship, family conflict) and sociocontextual (e.g., peer influence, victimization, witnessing of community violence). Results: Adolescents living in households with high levels of maternal encouragement and supervision reported a high‐quality relationship with their caregivers and less witnessing of community violence. These adolescents were also less likely to report victimization. Conclusions: The study identified parenting strategies that could potentially reduce risks of adverse exposures among urban African American youth in public housing. Practitioners and policymakers must consider programs to bolster these strategies and further serve urban African American adolescents in challenging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to chronic stress is a major public health concern. Black youth are vulnerable to chronic stress exposure given their overrepresentation in urban neighborhoods characterized by socio-ecological stressors. We contribute to this emerging body of knowledge by (1) investigating stress-induced variability in cortisol response patterns among Black youth, and (2) examining risk and protective factors associated with physiological stress responses. Salivary cortisol was collected from a community sample of 123 low-income Black youth ages 13 to 21. Latent class analysis (LCA) and logistic regression were utilized to identify discrete groups based on cortisol reactivity, and psychological, behavioral, and socio-ecological correlates of class membership. LCA supported a 2-class model of cortisol reactivity. Youth in class one were indicative of a normative stress response with mean cortisol awakening response of 0.38 μg/dL (SD = 0.19), 0.48 μg/dL (SD = 0.20) at time 2, and 0.44 μg/dL (SD = 0.20) at time 3. Youth in class two exhibited a blunted stress response with mean cortisol awakening response of 0.20 μg/dL (SD = 0.11), 0.21 μg/dL (SD = 0.09) at time 2, and 0.18 μg/dL (SD = 0.08) at time 3. Delinquent peer exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms were negatively associated with blunted stress responses, while greater depressive symptoms were positively associated with blunted stress responses. Black youth displayed distinct physiological stress reactivity patterns. Interventions are needed to assist youth in coping with stress while transforming the upstream factors that give rise to adverse community conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activities of daily living (ADL) limitations and cognitive impairment have been identified as key risk factors for depression among older adults. However, little has been done to compare the strength of these relationships. The current study describes the prevalence and compares the independent and joint associations of ADL and cognitive limitations with depression among older adults in the US. Analyses are based on a sample of 30,923 observations on 13,545 unique respondents from three waves (2012, 2014, and 2016) of the Health and Retirement Study. Linear and logistic multivariate regression models with random and individual fixed effects were estimated. Findings indicate that both cognitive and ADL limitations are associated with depression; however, across all models, ADL limitations have a much stronger association. Further, in our most rigorous models, having both limitations is not significantly different from having just ADL, and not cognitive, limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although volunteering has been shown to benefit cognitive health, there is a paucity of evidence on informal volunteering and subjective measures of cognitive impairment. Also, little is known about whether such relationships vary by race/ethnicity. This study aimed to examine the associations of both formal and informal volunteering with older adults' objective and subjective cognition and explore the moderating role of race/ethnicity in such associations. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study in the United States (2010–2016), 9941 older adults (51+) who were cognitively unimpaired in 2010 and alive through 2016 were included. Ordered logistic regression models were performed to assess the relationships among volunteering, cognitive impairment and race/ethnicity. Findings showed that more years of formal and informal volunteering significantly reduced the odds of objective cognitive impairment; neither volunteering type was significant for subjective cognitive impairment. The relationship between informal volunteering and objective cognition varied by race/ethnicity. Compared to non‐Hispanic Whites, non‐Hispanic Black older adults who engaged in more years of informal volunteering had a significantly higher odds of cognitive impairment over time. The current study is one of the first to look at the associations between informal volunteering and cognition. The inclusion of subjective cognitive impairment, paired with objective measures of cognition, also adds value to the knowledge body. Our findings indicate any type of volunteering is a viable approach to prevent cognitive impairment for older populations. However, more research is needed to better understand why racial/ethnic minority, particularly non‐Hispanic Black older adults, do not benefit from informal volunteering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Research has found that music‐based interventions can decrease behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia or behaviors that challenge (BPSD/BtC). However, how to effectively implement these interventions is unclear. This study synthesizes available evidence regarding implementation strategies and outcomes of music‐based interventions for people with dementia at residential long‐term care facilities. Methods: Study registered with PROSPERO (registration number: CRD42020194354). We searched the following databases: PsychInfo, PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria included articles targeting music‐based interventions conducted for people with dementia, studies conducted in residential long‐term care facilities, and articles that reported implementation strategies and outcomes of the intervention. Results: Of the included eight studies, half were studies of music therapy and the other half were on individualized music. 49 implementation strategies were reported. The most frequently reported category of strategies was planning (34.7%), followed by education (24.5%), quality management (24.5%), restructuring (12.2%), and finance (4.1%). No strategies under the category of attending to the policy context were reported. The most frequently reported implementation outcomes were appropriateness (27.3%), followed by adoption (22.7%), fidelity (22.7%), acceptability (9.1%), sustainability (9.1%), and cost (9.1%). No studies measured feasibility or penetration. Conclusions: Although various effective implementation strategies were identified, we were unable to examine the effectiveness of individual implementation strategies due to the designs of the selected studies. Less attention has been paid to strategies that aim at structural changes of intervention delivery systems. Future studies should investigate facilitators and barriers of implementing music‐based interventions especially focusing on structural aspects. Key points: Although previous studies have shown music‐based interventions are effective at improving various outcomes of dementia in long‐term care facilities, implementing them can be challenging.Various effective implementation strategies have been utilized in previous studies.Designs of selected studies preclude from assessing which implementation strategy is the most effective.There is a paucity of research on our setting strategies that aim to influence the behavior of intervention delivery systems (e.g., external policy, incentives). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study explores how variations in maternal caregiver types may be associated with adolescents' internalized behaviors (i.e., depressive symptoms) and resources (i.e., attitudes toward delinquent behaviors and efficacious beliefs). Method: Using a sample of 375 African American youth from public housing in three large US cities, we used Latent Profile Analysis to identify various maternal caregiver classes. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess whether youth can be correctly classified into maternal caregiver classes based on their internalized behaviors. Results: Three maternal caregiver classes were identified. Results suggest youth living with high encouragement and high (supervision) maternal caregivers were associated with more conventional attitudes, higher self‐efficacy, and lower depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Findings highlight how maternal caregivers can influence the internalizing behaviors of African American youth in US public housing. Individual, community, and system‐level interventions can be leveraged to support the impact of these maternal caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Although early diagnosis has been recognized as a key strategy to improve outcomes of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), the effect of receiving a diagnosis on patients' well-being is not well understood. This study addresses this gap by examining if receiving a dementia diagnosis influences social relationships. Methods: Data from the 3 waves (2012, 2014, and 2016) of the Health and Retirement Study were utilized as part of this study. This study examined whether receiving a new diagnosis of ADRD changed subsequent social relationships (social networks, social engagement, and social support). Regression analyses with inverse probability weighting were performed to estimate the impact of receiving a dementia diagnosis on changes in social relationships. Results: Receiving a new diagnosis of ADRD reduced both informal and formal social engagement. We found no statistically significant impacts of receiving a diagnosis of ADRD on social networks and social support. Conclusions: Results suggest that receiving a new diagnosis of ADRD may have unintended impacts on social relationships. Practitioners and policymakers should be aware of these consequences and should identify strategies to alleviate the negative impact of receiving a diagnosis of ADRD and methods to mobilize support networks after receiving a diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We aimed to provide the Asian experience with the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) in pediatric thyroid nodules.Methods: Consecutive thyroid fine-needle aspirates (patient age, ≤18 years) were retrospectively collected from 7 tertiary centers in 5 Asian countries.Results: Of 194,364 thyroid aspirates, 0.6% were pediatric cases (mean age, 15.0 years). Among 827 nodules with accessible follow-up, the resection rate and risk of malignancy (ROM) were 36.3% and 59.0%, respectively. Malignant nodules (n = 179) accounted for 59.7% of resected nodules and 21.6% of all thyroid nodules with available follow-up. Compared with the published adult series, pediatric nodules had a higher resection rate and ROM, particularly in the indeterminate categories.Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that Asian pediatric thyroid nodules had higher ROM than those from adults. The prototypic outputs of TBSRTC may need to be adjusted in the pediatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Person-Environment Fit on trajectories of cognitive function. Data came from the Health Retirement Study (1998-2010), focusing on those aged 65 and above who had at least one limitation in activities of daily living. Using longitudinal mixed-effect modeling, we analyzed the effects of living in supportive home environments on trajectories of cognitive function over time. Disabled older individuals living alone were likely to experience a decline in cognitive function over time. However, the detrimental effects of living alone were moderated when the home was equipped with supportive features and accessibility. The findings reveal the importance of home modifications for socially and physically vulnerable elders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify those populations that should be targeted by specific interventions. A cross-sectional design was utilized. Ordered logistic regression analysis was utilized to assess the association between ethnic identity and risk of malnutrition. Data were drawn from Ecuador's Survey of Health, Welfare and Aging (SABE). The final sample consisted of 4,572 people who were 60 years or older who were able to provide responses to the survey by themselves. Ethnic identity was categorized into four: indigenous, mestizo (Spanish and Indigenous mixed heritage), Afro-Ecuadorian/mulato, and other. Risk of malnutrition was measured using Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF). A range of covariates were selected from three groups of factors: sociodemographic, health-related, and social network. Results revealed that the indigenous ethnicity was the only group who had significantly higher risk of malnutrition compared to mestizo even after controlling for a range of covariates including socio-economic status, health related factors, and social support. Findings suggest the existence of underlaying factors hindering the risk of malnutrition among indigenous older adults. Considering the information revealed by SABE, interventions and other strategies should be targeted and designed specifically accounting for the needs, preferences, and culture of the most vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing from the social convoy model, this study investigates whether the nature of retirement (voluntary or involuntary) influences loneliness among retirees, and how different social support types may affect this association. Data come from the 2014 Health and Retirement Study (N = 2,055). Five social support types were identified: weak, ambivalent, strong positive, children strain, and family strain. Involuntary retirement was associated with a higher level of loneliness; however, involuntarily retired individuals with strong positive social support had a relatively lower level of loneliness. Findings from this study suggest that social support may alleviate the negative impacts of involuntary retirement. Our research provides a theoretical basis for developing a practical program to reduce the negative impacts of involuntary retirement on well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Promoting engagement in social activities may be an intervention that prevents or delays cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, little is known about social engagement among people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We aim to examine patterns of social engagement among people with MCI and to assess whether factors under 4 domains of the WHO's ICF model (personal factors, environmental factors, body functions and structure, and health condition) associate with different patterns of social engagement. Method Data were drawn from the 2010 Health and Retirement Study. The final sample comprised 1,227 people with cognitive impairment no dementia (CIND). Latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression were utilized. Results Three patterns of social engagement were identified: informal social engagement only, formal and informal social engagement, and low social engagement. Factors in each of the 4 ICF model domains were associated with the probability of class membership. Discussion Our findings suggest that social engagement is heterogeneous among people with CIND and that some groups of people with CIND have possibilities of engaging in more social activities, especially in formal social activities. Results also indicate that providing informal social resources may be essential for social programs designed specifically for people with CIND to promote their formal social engagement. Future study is needed to examine possible differences in outcomes across groups with similar patterns of social engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of an achromatic lens in the deep ultraviolet (DUV) region is reported. The dispersion and Abbe numbers of lithium calcium aluminum fluoride (LiCaAlF6), magnesium fluoride (MgF2), lithium fluoride (LiF), calcium fluoride (CaF2), and fused silica (SiO2) are investigated in the wavelength range from 200 to 300 nm to determine appropriate material combinations for minimizing chromatic aberration in a doublet. Based on the results of these investigations, a prototype DUV objective lens is fabricated using a LiCaAlF6 (convex lens)SiO2 (concave lens) doublet. The objective lens has a focal length of 10 mm, working distance of 2 mm, and numerical aperture (NA) of 0.2. The objective lens is evaluated to have a chromatic aberration of about 2.8% and resolution of at least 2 μm. It is also evaluated to have a smaller spherical aberration compared with a reflective objective lens with a similar NA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of volunteering are well-documented, however, studies specifically investigating the cessation of volunteering in old age are relatively limited, especially on multiple stops of volunteering. The present study explores the number of times older people stop volunteering over 14 years, and examines its association with financial resources, health, family demands, social networks, neighborhood environment as well as the sociodemographic characteristics. Using eight-wave data from the Health and Retirement Study, the sample included 3914 volunteers who were 50 + in 1998 and were alive throughout 2012. Among the sample, 32.75% never stopped volunteering, 41.47% stopped once, 20.77% stopped twice, and 5.01% stopped three times. Findings from Poisson regression models indicated that respondents who were older, less educated, less religious, had lower income at baseline, later developed cognitive problems, became caregivers, and had no friends living nearby were more likely to stop volunteering multiple times. Findings from the present study suggest retaining volunteers by adjusting volunteering responsibilities for older volunteers who are more vulnerable to volunteering cessation and encouraging continued commitment by maximizing their friendship and religious networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate implementation strategy reporting restricts research synthesis and replicability. We explored the implementation strategy reporting quality of a sample of mental health articles using Proctor et al.'s (Implement Sci 8:139, 2013) reporting recommendations. We conducted a narrative review to generate the sample of articles and assigned a reporting quality score to each article. The mean article reporting score was 54% (range 17–100%). The most reported domains were: name (100%), action (82%), target (80%), and actor (67%). The least reported domains included definition (6%), temporality (26%), justification (34%), and outcome (37%). We discuss limitations and provide recommendations to improve reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little evidence exists regarding the role of Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) utilization on life satisfaction among older people who are both homebound and low-income. Guided by the personal-environment (P-E) fit perspective, this study aims to: (1) describe characteristics of older people with homebound and low-income status; (2) investigate how the combination of homebound and low-income status is associated with life satisfaction; and (3) examine whether HCBS utilization moderates the association between homebound and low-income status and life satisfaction. Data were drawn from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study, and the sample included respondents who were 51+ years who completed a questionnaire for HCBS utilization (n= 1,662). Results describe sociodemographic, health-related, and environmental characteristics of older adults. Combined homebound and low-income status was a significant predictor of lower life satisfaction (β = −0.15, p<.05), but better life satisfaction when they used HCBS (β = 0.33, p <.10). These findings suggest that promoting HCBS utilization is a promising strategy to enhance well-being among those homebound and poor. Further studies are needed to test the effectiveness of HCBS with longitudinal data and to investigate the details of effective HCBS utilization such as frequency of use and types of services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concerned with the importance of prevailing knowledge about dementia in supporting those with dementia, large-scale educational programs have been implemented in some countries. Although Japan is one of those few countries, the experience from Japanese programs has been rarely shared because of the lack of a standardized measurement for assessing knowledge about dementia. This study aims to develop a Japanese version of the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (JADKS) and to examine its reliability and validity. The JADKS was developed through a translation–back-translation process and was distributed to 837 people including university students, community-dwelling older people, health and welfare professionals, and family caregivers. Using data from the 566 participants who fully completed the questionnaire, test–retest reliability, internal consistency, and concurrent validity were evaluated. The results indicate that the JADKS has acceptable psychometric properties. The JADKS may be useful in assessing knowledge about dementia and could help compare effectiveness of educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess the association between cognitive impairment and activity engagement patterns. Data from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study were used. A total of 3,943 participants aged 65 or older were included in analyses. Latent class analysis and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used. Four activity engagement profiles were identified: high activity (31.2%), active leisure (18.9%), passive leisure (28.2%), and low activity (21.7%). People in the high activity group engaged in all activities more than people in any other group, whereas people in the low activity group did not actively engage in most activities. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that cognitive impairment had an independent effect on the probability of being assigned to the low activity group compared to other groups. Cognitive impairment was associated with inactivity in a variety of activities. Future studies should examine supportive factors, which facilitate active patterns among people with cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) is a significant challenge for staff working in long-term care facilities. This study examines the effectiveness of a psycho-educational training aimed at changing staff's attitudes. The results indicated that participants' attitudes toward dementia were more positive, person-centered, and hopeful; some participants' attitudes were unchanged or altered negatively after the training sessions. The conclusiveness of evaluation findings was limited due to time constraints for staff to participate in the complete educational program and the small dataset. Further research is indicated to revise the methodology of the training to ascertain if the framework regarding education on dementia influences staff's attitude and the overall well-being of the residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goats (Capra hircus) are one of the oldest domesticated species, and they are kept all over the world as an essential resource for meat, milk, and fiber. Although recent archeological and molecular biological studies suggested that they originated in West Asia, their domestication processes such as the timing of population expansion and the dynamics of their selection pressures are little known. With the aim of addressing these issues, the nearly complete mitochondrial protein-encoding genes were determined from East, Southeast, and South Asian populations. Our coalescent time estimations suggest that the timing of their major population expansions was in the Late Pleistocene and significantly predates the beginning of their domestication in the Neolithic era (≈10,000 years ago). The ω (ratio of non-synonymous rate/synonymous substitution rate) for each lineage was also estimated. We found that the ω of the globally distributed haplogroup A which is inherited by more than 90% of goats examined, turned out to be extremely low, suggesting that they are under severe selection pressure probably due to their large population size. Conversely, the ω of the Asian-specific haplogroup B inherited by about 5% of goats was relatively high. Although recent molecular studies suggest that domestication of animals may tend to relax selective constraints, the opposite pattern observed in our goat mitochondrial genome data indicates the process of domestication is more complex than may be presently appreciated and cannot be explained only by a simple relaxation model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) has shown to have significant benefits in improving the cognitive function and quality of life (QOL) in people with mild-to-moderate dementia in a UK randomized controlled trial (RCT). We developed and examined the Japanese version of group CST (CST-J) in a single-blind, controlled clinical trial. Method: CST-J consisting of 14 sessions was administered to a treatment group (n = 26) twice a week for 7 weeks. The treatment group was compared with a control group (n = 30). Based on single-blindness, cognition was evaluated by a researcher, and QOL and mood were rated by the participants themselves. Additionally, QOL and mood of participants were rated by care workers who were not blind but who observed them most directly in their daily life (important for social validity). Results: A linear mixed model was used for analyses of cognition and QOL. There were significant improvements in cognition [COGNISTAT (Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination) and MMSE (Mini-Mental State Examination)] for the treatment group compared with the control group (p < 0.01). Regarding QOL, the EQ-5D was significant (p = 0.019) and the QoL-AD (Quality of Life - Alzheimer's Disease) showed a positive trend (p = 0.06) when rated by care workers, although not when rated by the participants themselves. Using a nonparametrical analysis, there were significant improvements in the face scale for mood when rated by both the participants (p < 0.01) and the care workers (p = 0.017). Conclusion: The CST-J shows promising improvements in cognition, mood, and aspects of QOL for people with dementia in Japanese care settings. A large RCT is now needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The coat of a goat, like that of many mammalian species, consists of an outer coat of coarse hairs and an under coat of fine, downy hairs. The coarse guard hairs are produced by primary follicles and the finer cashmere hairs by secondary follicles. We previously reported that hair keratins are components of cashmere hair, and proteomic analysis revealed that their expression is elevated in winter coat hair. To determine detailed characterization, we have cloned keratin 33A gene, a major highly expressed keratin in winter, and then analyzed the expression of goat hair coat. By Western analysis, we detected that keratin 33A protein is expressed only in hair coat among the various goat tissues. Moreover, the expression level in winter has increased in cashmere high-producing Korean native breed, whereas the expression levels between summer and winter had not changed in cashmere low-producing Saanen. In addition, by immunohistochemistry we determined that keratin 33A is localized in the major cortex portion of cashmere fiber. These results confirm that keratin 33A is a structural protein of goat cashmere hair fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrophoretic variation in bovine hemoglobin-beta (HBB) is one of the most investigated genetic markers. The presence of a unique HBB variant, HBB, in Southeast Asian cattle has been reputed as a sign of gene-flow from wild bovine species. In this study, we analyzed the DNA sequences of HBB genes in domestic and wild bovine species to verify this belief. Isoelectric focusing of HBB chain revealed that the HBB in domestic cattle had dimorphism and was separated into HBB and HBB. The HBB had the same DNA sequence of the common HBB variant in gayal ( Bos gaurus frontalis), while some of the HBB were identical with that of Cambodian banteng ( Bos javanicus birmanicus). As a result, we confirmed that the bovine HBB variants can be a good indicator of introgression between wild and domestic cattle. The HBB was always predominant to HBB in the continental populations, suggesting that the gaur had contributed to the gene pool of domestic cattle in this region much more than the banteng. On the other hand, the mitochondrial DNA analysis could not detect gene-flow from wild species. Autosomal markers that can trace the phylogeny between alleles are suitable for the assessment of bovine interspecific introgression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an analysis of the cashmere proteins by Type IV 2-DE, ten kinds of components, including three components with molecular mass 42–50 kDa whose expression level increased in the winter, were separated. In analyzing nine components of these ten using a mass spectrometer, the three components of molecular mass 70–120 kDa and pI5.3 were identified as keratin type II microfibrillar (accession no.), keratin 48 k type I microfibrillar component 8c-1 (accession no.) and cytosolic phospholipase A2 (accession no.), respectively. The three components whose expression level increased in the winter, were identified as keratin type I microfibrillar 48 kDa component 8C-1 (accession no.) and keratin type I microfibrillar 47.6 kDa (accession no.) (pI5.2/42 kDa), keratin type II microfibrillar component 7C (accession no.) and keratin typeII-sheep (accession no.) (pI5.5/45 kDa), and the keratin type II microfibrillar component 5 (accession no.) (pI5.8–6.0/45 kDa), respectively. The three components of less than 17 kDa were identified as hair keratin type II intermediate filament (accession no.) (pI5.2) and keratin high-sulfur matrix protein(accession no.) with a different isoelectric point (pI5.4 and 5.9), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Certain kinds of cellulose, such as a hydroxyethylcellulose, swell in a humid atmosphere and show a decrease in refractive index. Using this effect, a simple optical humidity sensor with fast response and high sensitivity, which is based on the plastic optical fibre structure change from leaky to guided, was easily fabricated and could be used for real-time humidity monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Cell-mediated cytotoxicity may be involved in delayed and/or chronic xenograft rejection in which apoptosis is induced in the grafted cells via the Fas/Fas-ligand (FasL) and perforin/granzyme pathways. One barrier to the potential use of xeonogenic grafts for humans may be Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis, which would be blocked by the gene expression of cytokine response modifier A (CrmA), a cowpox virus gene product. The purpose of this study is to explore whether crmA is an effective candidate gene for inhibiting apoptosis in an in vitro model of xenograft rejection, using Fas-expressing non-primate cells cultured with a soluble recombinant human FasL (sFasL). A recombinant adenovirus vector expressing CrmA (AxCALNLCrmA) was successfully generated with a Cre-mediated switching system. PK15 cells, derived from a porcine kidney and infected with AxCALNLCrmA and/or AxCANCre at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) ranging from 0.1 to 100, were cultured with human sFasL derived from KFL74.18, a human FasL-overexpressed cell line. The gene-expression level of the PK15 cells was confirmed by CrmA-immune staining. Approximately 70% of the control PK15 cells showed induced apoptosis when cultured with sFasL. In contrast, the apoptosis was dramatically reduced in crmA-gene-transduced PK15 cells. The inhibitory effect of apoptosis increased with an increase in the infection dose of AxCANCre. In addition, the activity of caspases 3 and 8 was significantly inhibited in the crmA-transduced cells. These results indicate that CrmA is an effective gene product for inhibiting Fas/FasL-mediated apoptosis, which suggests the potential therapeutic use of its gene transduction to protect against graft damage due to delayed and/or chronic xenograft rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae ruficornis (Tenthredinidae: Hymenoptera), frequently visit a plant, Clerodendron trichotomum (Verbenaceae), and feed pharmacophagously on the glandular trichomes on the leaf surface. A series of neo-clerodane diterpenoids ( e.g. clerodendrins B and D) contained in glandular organs on the leaf surface stimulate feeding of the sawflies (both males and females). The adults fed selectively on the trichomes were found to sequester a series of the bitter-tasting diterpenes (clerodendrin D, ajugachin A, athaliadiol) in the body tissues, which suggested their primary role as defense substances against predators. Females fed on Clerodendron leaves or on clerodendrin B or D were more successful in mating than unfed females. Thus, females seem to obtain an advantage in mating success through the acquisition of the defensive principles from the Clerodendron plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leading hypothesis on the ancestor of domestic goats (Capra hircus) is that it is the wild goat called the bezoar or pasang (Capra aegagrus). To verify this hypothesis, we sequenced and compared the cytochrome b gene of mitochondrial DNA from six domestic goats and a bezoar. A further sequence for the markhor was taken from the database. In total we detected 51 nucleotide substitutions among the domestic goats, bezoar and markhor. However, only one specific nucleotide substitution was found between the domestic goats and the bezoar. On the other hand, 43 nucleotide substitutions were specific for the markhor. This result suggested a close relationship between the domestic goats and the bezoar. A neighbor-joining and parsimony phylogenetic tree constructed using the sequences showed that the domestic goats and the bezoar belong to the same cluster, while the markhor showed a distinct cluster separate from that of the domestic/bezoar cluster. This result was confirmed by trees based on the sequence of the mitochondrial displacement loop regions. These results suggest that the strongest candidate for a matriarchal ancestor of domestic goats is the bezoar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

99m-Tc-methylene diphosphonate (Tc-MDP) was found to accumulate in one of the two radiolucent areas of the bilateral femoral neck, both of which were radiographically typical of the so-called conversion defects of the proximal femur, a type of normal roentgen variant. The mechanisms possibly involved in this previously unreported phenomenon are discussed in relation to the apparent discrepancy regarding radionuclide uptake by the two lesions of the same entity in one patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]