Recent evidence shows that brain-derived steroids such as estrogens ("neuroestrogens") are controlled in a manner very similar to traditional neurotransmitters. The advent of in vivo microdialysis for steroids in songbirds has provided new information about the spatial and temporal dynamics of neuroestrogen changes in a region of the auditory cortex, the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM). Here, exp...

The structural, mechanical, anisotropic, electronic and thermal properties of Si, Si0.667Ge0.333, Si0.333Ge0.667 and Ge in P4₂/ncm phase are investigated in this work. The calculations have been performed with an ultra-soft pseudopotential by using the generalized gradient approximation and local density approximation in the framework of density functional theory. The achieved results for the l...

Recently, fMRI was introduced in a well-documented animal model for vocal learning, the songbird. Using fMRI and conspecific signals mixed with different levels of broadband noise, we now demonstrate auditory induced activation representing discriminatory properties of auditory forebrain regions in anesthetized male zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). Preceding behavioral tests showed comparab...

Recent studies on the anatomical and functional organization of GABAergic networks in central auditory circuits of the zebra finch have highlighted the strong impact of inhibitory mechanisms on both the central encoding and processing of acoustic information in a vocal learning species. Most of this work has focused on the caudomedial nidopallium (NCM), a forebrain area postulated to be the son...

The estrogen synthesizing enzyme, P450 aromatase, plays a critical role in the regulation of vertebrate sexual behavior. Songbirds differ from other avian species in the distribution and expression of aromatase in the telencephalon. The highest concentration of aromatase in the songbird brain is found in the caudomedial neostriatum (NCM). This area surrounds the only nucleus of the neural song ...

Like humans, songbirds learn vocal sounds from "tutors" during a sensitive period of development. Vocal learning in songbirds therefore provides a powerful model system for investigating neural mechanisms by which memories of learned vocal sounds are stored. This study examined whether NCM (caudo-medial nidopallium), a region of higher level auditory cortex in songbirds, serves as a locus where...

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to compare torques applied by new and used manual torque devices for Morse-taper implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifteen ITI manual torque devices were tested. Those in group 1 (n = 5) were new (ie, never used), those in group 2 (n = 5) had been used 50 to 200 times, and those in group 3 (n = 5) had been used 500 to 1,000 times. The torques applied by ea...

OBJECTIVES Culturally tailored diabetes self-management education (DSME) improves glycemic control and other health outcomes in Mexican Americans but sociocultural barriers to health improvements remain. This study explored the feasibility of adding a nurse case manager (NCM) to DSME to foster DSME attendance and increase utilization of other available health care services. DESIGN, SETTING AN...

Vocal learning occurs during an experience-dependent, age-limited critical period early in development. In songbirds, vocal learning begins when presinging birds acquire an auditory memory of their tutor's song (sensory phase) followed by the onset of vocal production and refinement (sensorimotor phase). Hearing is necessary throughout the vocal learning critical period. One key brain area for ...

BACKGROUND The survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) can be affected by noncancer health events (NCHE) as well as by index cancer progression and second primary cancer (SPC). This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for NCHE and noncancer mortality (NCM) in patients with advanced-stage HNSCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS This cohort study involved 600 consecu...