Examination of religious identity meta-stereotypes when defying its relevant source through outgroup helping.

The present paper addresses a deficit in research on indirect and direct sources of threat to meta-stereotypes in strategic outgroup helping. In Study 1 (N = 70), where the source of threat to participants’ own religious identities was directly relevant, offers of help were made only if the available forms of help were pertinent to negating the negative religious stereotypes or if such offers could put the stereotypes in favorable light. This pattern also held in Study 2 (N = 97), where the source of threat to participants’ religious identities was peripheral and therefore indirect. Taken together, it appears that it is not so much the directness of sources of threat to meta-stereotypes as the possibility of meaningfully rebutting the negative stereotype or presenting it in favorable terms that matters in strategic outgroup helping

Histological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Co-Existing with Triple-Negative Carcinoma of the Breast

BACKGROUND: Triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBCs) are associated with high-grade histological tumor and a poor clinical outcome. In this study, we evaluated the histology and immunohistochemical features of DCIS co-existing with TNBC to determine the characteristics of the precursor lesions of TNBC. METHODS: Among the 1,610 cases of breast carcinoma, we selected the TNBCs with DCIS (n=196), and compared the pathological and immunohistochemical findings of the DCIS with those of the invasive carcinoma areas. RESULTS: Among the 1,610 breast carcinomas, the TNBCs accounted for 330 cases (20.5%) and there were 196 cases with DCIS. The TN-DCIS cases exhibited high nuclear (94.5%) and histological (94.5%) grades, comedo-necrosis (68.9%) and a small extent of the DCIS-involved area. Immunohistochemically, a p53 expression was present in 48.4% of the TN-DCIS cases and a high Ki-67 index was present in 31.5%. The same TN immunohistochemical profiles as the carcinoma were detected in 109 of the 124 (87.9%) cases, but different profiles were observed in 15 of the 124 (12.1%) cases. The 15 discordant cases were associated with a low histological grade (p=0.037), low p53-positivity (p=0.006) and a low Ki-67 index (p=0.026), as compared to the invasive carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that TN DCIS is a highly probable, but not obligate, precursor lesion of TNBC

The adjunctive effect of polydeoxyribonucleotide on bone formation in alveolar ridge preservation: A pre-clinical in vivo study

AimThis study investigated the adjunctive effect of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) on bone formation in alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) sockets.Materials and MethodsBoth mandibular second, third and fourth premolars of eight beagle dogs were randomly divided into ARP and ARP/PDRN groups. Following tooth extraction, ARP procedures were conducted using collagenized alloplastic graft material and bilayer collagen membrane soaked with normal saline (ARP group) or PDRN (ARP/PDRN group) for 10 min before application. Both groups were also randomly allocated to 2-, 4- or 12-week healing subgroups. The primary endpoint of this study was to compare histomorphometric differences between ARP and ARP/PDRN. The secondary endpoints of this study were to compare micro-CT analysis and three-dimensional volumetric measurement between the two groups.ResultsIn the histomorphometric analysis, the ARP/PDRN group exhibited greater new bone formation at coronal, middle and total position compared with the ARP group at 2-week healing. The number of newly formed blood vessels was higher in the ARP/PDRN group than in the ARP group at 2- and 4-week healing. In micro-CT analysis, the mean new bone volume/total bone volume between ARP and ARP/PDRN was statistically significant at 2-week healing. Ridge volume alterations were significantly decreased in the ARP/PDRN group during entire healing time compared with the ARP group, especially on the buccal side.ConclusionsThe application of PDRN in ARP might provide additional benefits for early bone regeneration and maintenance of buccal ridge volume

Adaptive changes in physiological and perceptual responses during 10-day heat acclimation training using a water-perfused suit

Abstract Background While active heat acclimation strategies have been robustly explored, not many studies highlighted passive heat acclimation strategies. Particularly, little evidence demonstrated advantages of utilizing a water-perfused suit as a passive heating strategy. This study aimed to explore heat adaptive changes in physiological and perceptual responses during 10-day heat acclimation training using a water-perfused suit. Methods Nineteen young males were divided into three experimental groups: exercise condition (N = 6, HAEXE, 1-h exercise at 6 km h−1 followed by 1-h rest in a sitting position), exercise and passive heating condition (N = 6, HAEXE+SUIT, 1-h exercise at 6 km h−1 followed 1-h passive heating in a sitting position), and passive heating condition (N = 7, HASUIT, 2-h passive heating in a sitting position). All heating programs were conducted for 10 consecutive days in a climatic chamber maintained at 33 °C with 60% relative humidity. The passive heating was conducted using a newly developed water-perfused suit with 44 °C water. Results Greater whole-body sweat rate and alleviated perceptual strain were found in HASUIT and HAEXE+SUIT after 5 and/or 10 days (P < 0.05) but not in the exercise-only condition (HAEXE). Lower rectal temperature and heart rate were found in all conditions after the training (P < 0.05). Heat adaptive changes appeared earlier in HASUIT except for sweat responses. Conclusions For heat acclimation in hot humid environments, passive and post-exercise heat acclimation training using the suit (water inflow temperature 44 °C) were more effective than the mild exercise (1-h walking at 6 km h−1). This form of passive heating (HASUIT) may be an especially effective strategy for the elderly and the disabled who are not able to exercise in hot environments

Valproic acid inhibits neural progenitor cell death by activation of NF-κB signaling pathway and up-regulation of Bcl-XL

Abstract Background At the beginning of neurogenesis, massive brain cell death occurs and more than 50% of cells are eliminated by apoptosis along with neuronal differentiation. However, few studies were conducted so far regarding the regulation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) death during development. Because of the physiological role of cell death during development, aberration of normal apoptotic cell death is detrimental to normal organogenesis. Apoptosis occurs in not only neuron but also in NPCs and neuroblast. When growth and survival signals such as EGF or LIF are removed, apoptosis is activated as well as the induction of differentiation. To investigate the regulation of cell death during developmental stage, it is essential to investigate the regulation of apoptosis of NPCs. Methods Neural progenitor cells were cultured from E14 embryonic brains of Sprague-Dawley rats. For in vivo VPA animal model, pregnant rats were treated with VPA (400 mg/kg S.C.) diluted with normal saline at E12. To analyze the cell death, we performed PI staining and PARP and caspase-3 cleavage assay. Expression level of proteins was investigated by Western blot and immunocytochemical assays. The level of mRNA expression was investigated by RT-PCR. Interaction of Bcl-XL gene promoter and NF-κB p65 was investigated by ChIP assay. Results In this study, FACS analysis, PI staining and PARP and caspase-3 cleavage assay showed that VPA protects cultured NPCs from cell death after growth factor withdrawal both in basal and staurosporine- or hydrogen peroxide-stimulated conditions. The protective effect of prenatally injected VPA was also observed in E16 embryonic brain. Treatment of VPA decreased the level of IκBα and increased the nuclear translocation of NF-κB, which subsequently enhanced expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-XL. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to indicate the reduced death of NPCs by VPA at developmentally critical periods through the degradation of IκBα and the activation of NF-κB signaling. The reduced NPCs death might underlie the neurodevelopmental defects collectively called fetal valproate syndrome, which shows symptoms such as mental retardation and autism-like behavior. </jats:sec

Flexible Electronics Sensors for Tactile Multi-Touching

Flexible electronics sensors for tactile applications in multi-touch sensing and large scale manufacturing were designed and fabricated. The sensors are based on polyimide substrates, with thixotropy materials used to print organic resistances and a bump on the top polyimide layer. The gap between the bottom electrode layer and the resistance layer provides a buffer distance to reduce erroneous contact during large bending. Experimental results show that the top membrane with a bump protrusion and a resistance layer had a large deflection and a quick sensitive response. The bump and resistance layer provided a concentrated von Mises stress force and inertial force on the top membrane center. When the top membrane had no bump, it had a transient response delay time and took longer to reach steady-state. For printing thick structures of flexible electronics sensors, diffusion effects and dimensional shrinkages can be improved by using a paste material with a high viscosity. Linear algorithm matrixes with Gaussian elimination and control system scanning were used for multi-touch detection. Flexible electronics sensors were printed with a resistance thickness of about 32 μm and a bump thickness of about 0.2 mm. Feasibility studies show that printing technology is appropriate for large scale manufacturing, producing sensors at a low cost

The transcriptomic blueprint of molt in rooster using various tissues from Ginkkoridak (Korean long-tailed chicken)

Background Annual molt is a critical stage in the life cycle of birds. Although the most extensively documented aspects of molt are the renewing of plumage and the remodeling of the reproductive tract in laying hens, in chicken, molt deeply affects various tissues and physiological functions. However, with exception of the reproductive tract, the effect of molt on gene expression across the tissues known to be affected by molt has to date never been investigated. The present study aimed to decipher the transcriptomic effects of molt in Ginkkoridak, a Korean long-tailed chicken. Messenger RNA data available across 24 types of tissue samples (9 males) and a combination of mRNA and miRNA data on 10 males and 10 females blood were used. Results The impact of molt on gene expression and gene transcript usage appeared to vary substantially across tissues types in terms of histological entities or physiological functions particularly related to nervous system. Blood was the tissue most affected by molt in terms of differentially expressed genes in both sexes, closely followed by meninges, bone marrow and heart. The effect of molt in blood appeared to differ between males and females, with a more than fivefold difference in the number of down-regulated genes between both sexes. The blueprint of molt in roosters appeared to be specific to tissues or group of tissues, with relatively few genes replicating extensively across tissues, excepted for the spliceosome genes (U1, U4) and the ribosomal proteins (RPL21, RPL23). By integrating miRNA and mRNA data, when chickens molt, potential roles of miRNA were discovered such as regulation of neurogenesis, regulation of immunity and development of various organs. Furthermore, reliable candidate biomarkers of molt were found, which are related to cell dynamics, nervous system or immunity, processes or functions that have been shown to be extensively modulated in response to molt. Conclusions Our results provide a comprehensive description at the scale of the whole organism deciphering the effects of molt on the transcriptome in chicken. Also, the conclusion of this study can be used as a valuable resource in transcriptome analyses of chicken in the future and provide new insights related to molt.This work was funded by Population genomics of Korean long-tailed fowl the Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. PJ0133402) of the Rural Development Administration (RDA). The funding body had a role in sample collection

Repression of FLOWERING LOCUS T Chromatin by Functionally Redundant Histone H3 Lysine 4 Demethylases in Arabidopsis

FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) plays a key role as a mobile floral induction signal that initiates the floral transition. Therefore, precise control of FT expression is critical for the reproductive success of flowering plants. Coexistence of bivalent histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3) and H3K4me3 marks at the FT locus and the role of H3K27me3 as a strong FT repression mechanism in Arabidopsis have been reported. However, the role of an active mark, H3K4me3, in FT regulation has not been addressed, nor have the components affecting this mark been identified. Mutations in Arabidopsis thaliana Jumonji4 (AtJmj4) and EARLY FLOWERING6 (ELF6), two Arabidopsis genes encoding Jumonji (Jmj) family proteins, caused FT-dependent, additive early flowering correlated with increased expression of FT mRNA and increased H3K4me3 levels within FT chromatin. Purified recombinant AtJmj4 protein possesses specific demethylase activity for mono-, di-, and trimethylated H3K4. Tagged AtJmj4 and ELF6 proteins associate directly with the FT transcription initiation region, a region where the H3K4me3 levels were increased most significantly in the mutants. Thus, our study demonstrates the roles of AtJmj4 and ELF6 as H3K4 demethylases directly repressing FT chromatin and preventing precocious flowering in Arabidopsis

Clinical significance of soft markers in second trimester ultrasonography for pregnant Korean women: a multicenter study and literature review

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical significance of soft markers for aneuploidy screening in Korean women. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 5,428 singleton pregnant women who underwent sonography during the second trimester at seven institutions in South Korea. We evaluated the prevalence of the following soft markers: intracardiac echogenic focus, choroid plexus cysts, pyelectasis, echogenic bowel, and mild ventriculomegaly. We developed best-fitted regression equations for the fetal femur and humerus length using our data and defined a short femur and humerus as both long bones below the fifth centile. The results of genetic testing and postnatal outcomes were investigated in patients who had been diagnosed with aforementioned soft markers. RESULTS: The median maternal age of our study population was 33 years, and the median gestational age at the time of ultrasonographic examination was 21 weeks. We detected soft markers in 10.0% (n=540) of fetuses: 9.3% (n=504) were isolated cases and 0.7% (n=36) of cases had two or more markers. We identified only two aneuploides (trisomy 18, 46,XX,t[8;10][q22.1;p13]), of which one was clinically significant. We presented the neonatal outcomes of the fetuses with the respective soft markers. Preterm delivery, low birth weight, and small-for-gestational-age (SGA) were significantly more common in women with a shortened fetal femur (P&lt;0.001, all). However, the presence of a shortened fetal humerus was not associated with those outcomes excluding SGA. CONCLUSION: Soft markers in second-trimester ultrasonography have limited use in screening for fetal aneuploidy in Korean women. However, these markers can be used as a screening tool for adverse outcomes other than chromosomal abnormality