Rearing in captivity affects spermatogenesis and sperm quality in greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili (Risso, 1810).

The greater amberjack, (Risso, 1810), is a promising candidate for the diversification of European aquaculture production, but inconsistent reproduction in captivity prevents commercial production. Recent studies showed that greater amberjack confined in sea cages exhibited scarce gonad development and early interruption of gametogenic activity during the reproductive season. The aim of the present study was to improve our understanding of the observed impairment of spermatogenesis. Adult wild and captive-reared males were sampled during 3 different phases of the reproductive cycle: early gametogenesis (EARLY; late April to early May), advanced gametogenesis (ADVANCED; late May to early June), and spawning (SPAWNING; late June to July). Spermatogonial stem cells and proliferating germ cells were identified through the immunohistochemical localization of and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, respectively. Apoptotic germ cells were identified throughout the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated 2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate nick end labeling method. Sperm quality of captive-reared fish was evaluated using computer-assisted sperm analysis. Captive-reared males exhibited seminiferous lobules of a smaller diameter, a precocious and progressive decrease of spermatogonial mitosis, and a high level of apoptosis at the beginning of the reproductive season, concomitant with a many-fold higher 17ß-estradiol plasma concentration. The motile spermatozoa percentage of captive greater amberjack was lower than in other teleosts, and a drastic decrease of spermatozoa motility duration, velocity, and ATP content occurred along the reproductive season. An abnormal increase of sperm concentration as well as an increase of dead spermatozoa occurred during the SPAWNING phase, probably because of lack of sperm hydration and ejaculation and consequent sperm ageing. The present study demonstrates the extreme susceptibility of greater amberjack to rearing stress and underscores the need for improvement of the rearing and handling procedures to ameliorate gametogenesis dysfunctions in commercial aquaculture production.

A novel oncogenic BTK isoform is overexpressed in colon cancers and required for RAS-mediated transformation.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is essential for B-cell proliferation/differentiation and it is generally believed that its expression and function are limited to bone marrow-derived cells. Here, we report the identification and characterization of p65BTK, a novel isoform abundantly expressed in colon carcinoma cell lines and tumour tissue samples. p65BTK protein is expressed, through heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNPK)-dependent and internal ribosome entry site-driven translation, from a transcript containing an alternative first exon in the 5'-untranslated region, and is post-transcriptionally regulated, via hnRNPK, by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. p65BTK is endowed with strong transforming activity that depends on active signal-regulated protein kinases-1/2 (ERK1/2) and its inhibition abolishes RAS transforming activity. Accordingly, p65BTK overexpression in colon cancer tissues correlates with ERK1/2 activation. Moreover, p65BTK inhibition affects growth and survival of colon cancer cells. Our data reveal that BTK, via p65BTK expression, is a novel and powerful oncogene acting downstream of the RAS/MAPK pathway and suggest that its targeting may be a promising therapeutic approach.

Personal meanings of death in older adults and young adults in relation to their fears of death.

Age and gender differences in personal meanings of death have been noted from late childhood to middle adulthood but have been little studied in older adults, for whom death is less remote. Also, such meanings have not been related to their fears of death. Groups of 78 young adults (aged 19-29) and 68 older adults (aged 70-97) were compared on the Personal Meanings of Death (Extinction, After-life, Motivator, Legacy) and on 4 Multidimensional Fear of Death (MFODS) subscales. Analysis of variance indicated that the young scored higher (p <.05) than older adults on death as Motivator and on 3 MFODS subscales. Women scored higher than men on Motivator and fear of the dying process, but men had greater fear of the unknown. Death meanings After-life and Extinction were most strongly correlated with fear of death for both young and old. Further analysis revealed age differences within the older adult group.

Hastening death: a comparison of two end-of-life decisions.

This study determined the relationship of psychosocial and background variables to elders' end-of-life (EOL) decision preferences. Responding to 5 EOL decision scenarios depicting terminally ill elders, 200 elders aged 60-90 indicated preferences regarding extending life (EL), refusing treatment (RT), and assisted suicide (AS). They were also assessed on religiosity, values, fear of death, locus of control, health, socioeconomic status, and age. Results of multinomial logistic regression indicated that EOL decisions of three groups (favoring EL, favoring RT, and favoring both AS and RT) were significantly influenced by religiosity, value for preservation of life, value for quality of life, fear of death, and locus of control belief. The importance of safeguarding older adults' autonomy in EOL decisions was stressed.

Personality and demographic factors in older adults' fear of death.

Study objectives were to clarify controversy regarding the factors influencing fear of death in old age, using a hypothesized path model. Participants were 123 African American and 265 White elders aged 60 to 100; they were assessed on specific fears of death, religiosity, externality, perceived social support, socioeconomic status, age, ethnicity, and gender. Externality, religiosity, and social support had direct effects on fear of the unknown, whereas remaining variables had indirect effects (p < .05). Externality, religiosity, ethnicity, age, and gender all had direct effects on fear of dying, with the background factors also having indirect effects. Conclusions underscore the need for practitioners to understand and consider older adults' fears.

Personal meanings of death in relation to fear of death.

This study assessed death meanings and death fears held by 2 age groups of adults, related the death meanings to fear of death, and determined whether death meanings and fear of death depended on age and gender. Study participants were 265 college students (aged 19 to 55). Factor analysis of participant responses to 30 death-meaning items identified 3 dimensions of death meanings: Extinction, Afterlife, and Legacy. Hierarchical regression analyses determined the combined effect of the 3 death-meaning dimensions on each of 8 Leming Fear of Death Scale (LFDS) subscales, after effects of gender and age group were accounted for. Younger respondents and women had greater fear of death on certain subscales. Extinction was a significant predictor (p less than .05) of 7 LFDS subscores, Afterlife predicted 4 subscores, and legacy predicted 2 subscores.

Relationship of psychosocial and background variables to older adults' end-of-life decisions.

Aims were to determine acceptability of a full range of end-of-life decision options and identify related variables; 388 Black and White older adults ages 60-100 responded to 17 decision situations depicting terminal and nonterminal conditions with a very low quality of life, rating the acceptability of 7 end-of-life options per decision situation, and completed demographic, health, and psychosocial measures. Despite low quality of life, maintaining life (striving to live and seeking treatment) was the most acceptable option, but a significant minority of participants wished to end life (suicide, assisted suicide, or euthanasia) and a moderate number wished to defer the decision to others. In hierarchical regressions, psychosocial variables (religiosity, values, fear of death, etc.) contributed significantly (p < .05) to decisions beyond the effects of demographic and health variables.

Elders' end-of-life decisions: implications for hospice care.

Elders' views on various end-of-life decision options were studied to determine each option's acceptability if they were faced with the need for such decisions. 388 black and white elders aged 60 to 100 responded to 17 decision scenarios depicting situations with a low quality of life, rating acceptability of each of 7 options for each scenario. Based on factor analysis of responses over scenarios, three scores were computed: maintaining life, ending life, and letting others decide. Profile types were identified and related to demographic background and personality variables. Implications for hospice care are drawn.

Attachment and obligation as daughters' motives for caregiving behavior and subsequent effect on subjective burden.

Existing studies have failed to adequately determine the combined effects of attachment and filial obligation as motives for adult children's caregiving behavior. This study's aim was to clarify the effects of these motives on caregiving and subsequent feelings of burden. In a path analysis of data from 78 daughters caring for elderly mothers, both attachment and obligation were related to amount of help provided. Stronger attachment was related to less subjective burden, whereas stronger obligation was related to greater burden. Contextual variables also contributed to the explanation.

Relationship of personal-social variables to belief in paternalism in parent caregiving situations.

Paternalism in family caregiving may jeopardize the older persons' autonomy; it needs to be better understood. Study objectives were to determine the relationship of belief in paternalism to personal-social characteristics and to determine the relative importance of these variables as predictors of belief in paternalism. Forty-six pairs of daughters (age 49.7) and mothers (age 77.7) were measured on belief in paternalism, dogmatism, attitude toward elders, affective feelings toward the other, and background and caregiving variables. Among both mothers and daughters, dogmatism and attitude toward elders were related to belief in paternalism; daughters' affective feelings was also related. Caregiving variables were unrelated, and demographic background was important only for daughters. Attitude toward elders was the strongest predictor. Results were interpreted in terms of a traditional family ideology.

Feelings of attachment to siblings and well-being in later life.

On the basis of an adult model of sibling attachment, I hypothesized that the well-being of older persons depends on their perception of the closeness of the sibling bond, on their perception of any disruption of that bond, and on the sex combination of the siblings being considered. In all, 83 persons, aged 61 to 91 years, were interviewed about their relationships with each of their living siblings. They rated their feelings of closeness, conflict or rivalry, and indifference to the sibling. A measure of depression was used as the indicator of well-being. Separate correlational analyses were carried out for the four sex combinations of siblings. Closeness of the bond to a sister (by both men and women) was related to less depression. Also, women's perceptions of conflict and indifference in their relationships with sisters were related to increased depression. Findings are interpreted in terms of attachment theory and sex role expectations.

Locus of control and patient role adjustment of the elderly in acute-care hospitals.

Felton and Kahana's (1974) conclusion that patients with external locus of control beliefs were better adjusted in institutions was reexamined in a high-constraint acute-care hospital. Subjects were 105 patients aged 60-93. The Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC) scales were used to measure of locus of control, and eight staff-rating items measured hospital adjustment. Also, the Loss of Independence subscale of the Hospital Stress Rating Scale was used to indicate perceived institutional constraint. The three MHLC scales correlated weakly (p less than .05) with adjustment (Internality, -.24; Externality-Powerful Others, .22; Externality-Chance, -.22), and each contributed significantly in multiple regression (R = .48). Those patients who perceived greater constraint were more poorly adjusted (r = -.24). Those with stronger beliefs that powerful others control health outcomes perceived less constraint in the hospital situation (r = -.19), whereas those with stronger internal control beliefs perceived greater constraint (r = .29). Beliefs in chance were unrelated. Findings are related to concepts of primary and secondary control.

Relationship of family background variables to locus of control in the elderly.

The present study sought to determine how family variables are related to locus of control, under the hypothesis that a larger and more cohesive family would provide greater reinforcement for the elderly person's actions. Two hundred elderly aged 60 to 90 were interviewed at home and given Rotter's I-E scale. After removing effects of age and socioeconomic status, in a regression analysis, number of living brothers, sibling cohesiveness, and child cohesiveness accounted for 8% of variance in locus of control, with cohesiveness related to greater internality.

Effect of external standards on children's evaluations of their reproduction of visual forms.

96 second grade children and 144 4-yr-old nursery school children were asked to copy geometric designs. One group was given high standards for evaluating their work, one group was given low standards, and a control group was given no external standards. Differences between treatment groups were significant (p = .01); there were no sex or socioeconomic differences. Children in the low standards group rated their drawings higher, and children in the high standards group rated their drawings lower, thah children in the control group. Results suggest perceptual judgments might be used to shape visual-motor reproduction, rather than vice vera.

Relationship of siblings to the elderly person's feelings and concerns.

This study investigated the feelings and concerns of 64 elderly persons, as revealed by a projective instrument, in relation to number of sex of siblings. Partilal correlations, with effects of age, education, and occupation removed, were computed separately for each sex. The number and proportion of female siblings were found to have a greater influence than male siblings on the elderly's feelings and concerns. For men, sisters appeared to be emotionally supportive, while for women sisters appeared to be more challenging, as indicated by greater social concerns.

Effects of evaluating task competence on the self-concept of children from different socioeconomic status levels.

Previous studies reported low SES children with higher self-concepts than high SES children; this experimental study probes explanatory factors. One hundred sixty second grade boys and girls were measured on self-concept following a design-copying task on which they received either a positive or a negative evaluation, either through the E's evaluative statements or through presentation of standards for the task. Direction of evaluation was reflected in children's ratings of their own work. There was an interaction between direction of evaluation and SES as they affected self-concept, with negative evaluation leading to enhanced self-concept scores of low SES children.

Categorization behavior in aging subjects.

Age changes in categorization and conceptual styles were studied using an object-sorting task in 276 subjects representing 7 age groups: 5, 6, 7, 19-21, 60-69. 70-79, and 80-89. Significant age effects (p less than 01) were found in the analysis of variance for four of six measures; there were no significant sex or interaction effects. Strong quadratic trends were found for number of ungrouped objects, % relational-thematic responses, and % categorical-inferential responses; oldest groups' responses were similar to children's. A linear trend was found for number of groups. There was no significant age effect for category breadth. Use of descriptive-analytic categories by the elderly was negligible compared to younger subjects.