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The SuperCDMS experiment in the Soudan Underground Laboratory searches for dark matter with a 9-kg array of cryogenic germanium detectors. Symmetric sensors on opposite sides measure both charge and phonons from each particle interaction, providing excellent discrimination between electron and nuclear recoils, and between surface and interior events. Surface event rejection capabilities were tested with two 210Pb sources producing ∼130 beta decays/hr. In ∼800 live hours, no events leaked into the 8-115 keV signal region, giving upper limit leakage fraction 1.7 × 10-5 at 90% C.L., corresponding to < 0.6 surface event background in the future 200-kg SuperCDMS SNOLAB experiment. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

Abstract Background Endothelial dysfunction underlies cardiovascular disease that frequently affects aged individuals. Characterized by local decrease in nitric oxide, it results from down-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression/activity. Aiming to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in age-related endothelial dysfunction and to unveil potential therapeutic targets, we tested how diet pattern, exercise and atorvastatin modulate the expression of eNOS, inducible NOS (iNOS), endothelin-1, sirtuins (SIRT) and microRNA-155 in the erectile tissue of high-fat fed aged rats. Methods Sprague-Dawley male rats fed with high-fat diet until they completed 12 months were grouped and subjected to energy restriction (ER), ER and atorvastatin, or, ER, atorvastatin and physical exercise. Controls were fed with standard rodent chow. The blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method before sacrifice at 18 months. Glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, triglyceride and CRP were assessed in blood and eNOS, endothelin-1, iNOS and sirtuins were detected by immunofluorescence in the penis sections; eNOS, endothelin-1, iNOS, SIRT2–4 and SIRT6–7 were semi-quantified by western blotting in tissue homogenates. MicroRNA-155 was quantified using RT-PCR in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded sections. To compare the studied variables, two-tail student t test was used. Results Atorvastatin promotes eNOS expression and is more efficient than ER or exercise in the control of hyperlipidemia and inflammation. Among the studied sirtuins, detected for the first time in the erectile tissue of the aged rat, SIRT2 aligns with eNOS expression. Both proteins exhibit over-expression in animals with combined exercise, atorvastatin and ER. Analysis of microRNA-155 expression also suggests its intervention in the regulation of eNOS expression. ER, particularly when combined with atorvastatin, was able to reverse the increase of iNOS and endothelin-1 in high-fat fed rats. Conclusions The present results indicate that the association of ER, atorvastatin and exercise is more efficient than isolated interventions in the prevention of endothelial dysfunction.

Diet has an impact on male reproductive potential, but few studies have focused on the specific impact of food groups or dietary patterns on fertility. Male reproductive health, as indicated by improved semen parameters and increased chances of conceiving, is associated with the Mediterranean diet, while the Western diet is considered a risk factor for male infertility. The potential mechanisms that may explain the impact of these diets on semen quality are still largely unknown. However, numerous studies suggest that nutritional interventions are crucial for the preservation and improvement of male fertility. This review aims to summarize the most recent evidence on the influence of components of the Mediterranean diet on sperm parameters. Unlike other risk factors, dietary modulation represents a great opportunity for improving overall health and can also be an important tool in recommendations for male reproductive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor school adjustment is a known correlate of peer rejection in childhood. However, the impact of change in sociometric status on children's academic performance over time is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether improvement or decline in children's sociometric status would predict corresponding changes in their academic performance trajectories. Two hundred and seventy-two boys and 252 girls in Florence, Italy (mean age at Time 1:7.42 years) and their teachers participated in this 18-month investigation. Hierarchical linear models indicated that children who were rejected by their peers across the four measurement points of the study demonstrated consistently worse academic performance than did children who were not rejected throughout, whereas children who were regularly accepted by their peers performed better in school than did their peers who were rejected one or more times. A number of children who became rejected exhibited an academic decline, but others who became accepted showed improvement. The implications of these results for children, parents, teachers and school administrators are discussed. (Contains 2 tables and 3 figures.)

Most school transitions are characterised by sweeping changes in children's social and learning environments, often accompanied by important biological and cognitive changes; the multiple changes occurring within the child and the environment make the results of school-transition studies difficult to interpret. Italian elementary school children experience a marked transition in teaching and evaluation style at the end of second grade, but do not change schools. Formal academic instruction begins and pupils' progress begins to be evaluated individually by means of oral examinations. The present longitudinal study focuses on the role of friends during this transition. The participants were pupils of 17 classes in 11 schools in the city of Florence, Italy, and surrounding towns. Self-reported liking of school decreased sharply after the transition. There were some indications that having friends contributed overall to successful adjustment after the transition, especially in terms of children's liking of school. There was also some evidence that friendship is an asset to children undergoing stressful life experiences. Both children's liking of school and their antisocial behaviours were predicted by their friends' attitudes toward school and their friends' antisocial behaviour. (Contains 2 tables.)

Introduction: Peyronie′s disease is an acquired penile deformity with a variety of presentations, caused by the formation of fibrous plaques within the tunica albuginea, leading to bio-mechanical and vascular abnormalities. The objective is to investigate the 18 years outcome of patients with Peyronie′s disease treated with penile corporoplasty (Yachia technique) in our department. Materials and Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients underwent surgical treatment for PD between 1991 and 2009 and were retrospectively evaluated. We used the Levine and Lenting′s algorithm for surgical treatment. Data was obtained from medical records, clinical evaluation, and telephone interview. Post-operative follow-up was at 6 weeks and 12 months. The mean time of follow-up was 14 months (12-19 months). Main Outcome Measures: Patient demographic, co-morbidities, erectile function, penile curvature, and surgical intervention were documented. The main outcome measures of this study are postoperative complications, surgical purpose, and patients and partner′s satisfaction rates. Results: Surgical aim was obtained in 106 patients (success rate of 94.6%). Complications occurred in 4.5% of patients, but most of these were mild. At 6 weeks, complete straightening of the penis was achieved in 57 patients (50.9%), and partial straightening which allow sexual intercourse in 49 patients (43.7%). Nine patients report gland hypoesthesia and almost all report subjective perception of penis shortening (0.5 cm to 5 cm). Twenty-two patients developed recurrent deformity at 12 months follow-up, with compromise of sexual intercourse in 7 patients. Patients′ responses to our questionnaire showed that overall 88.4% of the patients and partners were satisfied with the surgical results. Conclusion: According to the results of this long-term, retrospective study, surgical correction, using the Yachia technique, is an excellent option for patients with functional impairment from their Peyronie′s disease, especially.

Bacterial cells can display different types of motility, due to the presence of external appendages such as flagella and type IV pili. To date, little information on the mechanisms involved in the motility of the Lysobacter species has been available. Recently, L. capsici AZ78, a biocontrol agent of phytopathogenic oomycetes, showed the ability to move on jellified pea broth. Pea broth medium improved also the biocontrol activity of L. capsici AZ78 against Plasmopara viticola under greenhouse conditions. Noteworthy, the quantity of pea residues remaining on grapevine leaves fostered cell motility in L. capsici AZ78. Based on these results, this unusual motility related to the composition of the growth medium was investigated in bacterial strains belonging to several Lysobacter species. The six L. capsici strains tested developed dendrite-like colonies when grown on jellified pea broth, while the development of dendrite-like colonies was not recorded in the media commonly used in motility assays. To determine the presence of genes responsible for biogenesis of the flagellum and type IV pili, the genome of L. capsici AZ78 was mined. Genes encoding structural components an d regulatory factors of type IV pili were upregulated in L. capsici AZ78 cells grown on the above-mentioned medium, as compared with the other tested media. These results provide new insight into the motility mechanism of L. capsici members and the role of type IV pili and pea compounds on the epiphytic fitness and biocontrol features of L. capsici AZ78.