No effect of targeted memory reactivation during sleep on retention of vocabulary in adolescents

Re-exposure of newly acquired vocabulary during sleep improves later memory recall in healthy adults. The success of targeted memory reactivation (TMR) during sleep presumably depends on the presence of slow oscillations (i.e., EEG activity at a frequency of about 0.75Hz). As slow oscillating activity is at its maximum during adolescence, we hypothesized that TMR is even more beneficial at this developmental stage. In the present study, adolescents aged 11 to 13 learnt Dutch vocabulary in the evening and were tested on recall performance the next morning. Half of the words were presented via loudspeakers during post-learning periods of NREM (Non Rapid Eye Movement) sleep in order to stimulate memory reactivation. Unexpectedly, TMR during sleep did not improve memory on the behavioral level in adolescents. On the oscillatory level, successful reactivation during sleep resulted in the characteristic increase in theta power over frontal brain regions, as reported in adults. However, we observed no increase in spindle power during successful reactivation. Possible factors that may explain the lacking effect of TMR in adolescents in this study such as differences in learning abilities and pre-sleep performance levels are discussed

A modernização do baixo elétrico no samba: análise de transcrições do baixista Luizão Maia na década de 1970

O que se buscou neste trabalho foi encontrar as raízes que fundamentam as bases musicais do samba, bem como as estragégias presentes na construção de uma linha de baixo neste gênero, tanto no que herdou das origens da música europeia, quanto naquilo que incorporou da cultural musical africana. Depois disso, através da transcrição e análise das linhas de baixo de duas versões do samba Águas de Março, música de autoria de Tom Jobim e gravadas nos discos Elis (1972) e Elis & Tom (1974), buscouqse identificar os padrões rítmicos, melódicos, técnicos e interpretativos mais presentes e marcantes do estilo de Luizão Maia. Percebemos haver grande escassez de trabalhos sobre baixo elétrico no samba, e aparentemente nenhuma dissertação ou tese sobre Luizão, apesar de ser considerado pela maior parte dos baixistas como o criador da linguagem musical do samba no baixo elétrico; “The modernization of electric bass in samba: analysis of transcriptions of bassist Luizão Maia in the 1970’s”. ABSTRACT: This work intended to find the roots that guides the musical bases of samba, as well as the strategies present in the construction of a samba’s bass line, both in what it inherited from the origins of european music, and in what was incorporated from african’s musical culture. After that, through the transcription and analysis of the bass lines of two versions of the samba Águas de Março, written by Tom Jobim and recorded on the albuns Elis (1972) and Elis & Tom (1974), we sought to identify the rhythmic and melodic patterns, as well the technical and interpretive elements more present and salient in the style of Luizão Maia. We perceive a big gap on works of electric bass in samba, and apparently no dissertations or thesis of Luizão Maia, although he’s considered by most bassists as the creator of the musical language of samba on electric bass

The Effect of an Intravitreal Triamcinolone Acetonide Injection for Acute Nonarteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

The purpose of this case report is to evaluate the visual outcome of an intravitreal triamcinolone acetonide injection (IVTA) as a treatment for a patient with acute nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). A 65-year-old male patient with severe visual loss due to acute NAION was treated with 4 mg/0.1mL IVTA. Fundus examination and measurements of the patient's best-corrected visual acuity and visual field were performed before and after the injection at 2 weeks, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The best-corrected visual acuity changed from 0.05 before the injection to 0.16 at 2 weeks, 0.3 at 1 month, and 0.4 at 3 months and at the final visit. Optic disc swelling had markedly decreased at 1 week postoperatively and disappeared at 2 weeks after the injection. The clinical course of this patient suggests that an IVTA may be effective in increasing visual acuity following an acute NAION. A large randomized controlled trial is needed to assess the efficacy of IVTA as a treatment for NAION

DIVERSIDADE E CLASSIFICAÇÃO DA COMUNIDADE ARBÓREA DA FLORESTA OMBRÓFILA MISTA DA FLONA DE SÃO FRANCISCO DE PAULA, RS

Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever a diversidade e classificar a comunidade arbórea da Floresta Ombrófila Mista da FLONA de São Francisco de Paula, RS, utilizando dados florísticos e análise hierárquica por meio do programa TWINSPAN (Two-way Indicator Species Analysis). Foram utilizadas dez parcelas de 1 hectare, distribuídas aleatoriamente pela área da FLONA. Em cada conglomerado de 1 hectare, foram levantados todos os indivíduos com DAP ≥ 30 cm. A diversidade de espécies encontrada está dentro dos limites descritos para a Floresta Ombrófila Mista no Sul do Brasil, com estimativas variando de 75 a 110 espécies arbóreas. O método TWINSPAN determinou três grandes grupos florísticos: Grupo 1 – Associação Araucaria que apresentou como espécie indicadora a Araucaria angustifolia (Betol.) Kuntze; Grupo 2 – Associação Sebastiania que apresentou como espécies indicadoras Sebastiania commersoniania (Baill.) L. B. Sm. et Downs, Sebastiania brasiliensis Spreng. e Cryptocarya aschersoniana Mez e o Grupo 3 – Associação Podocarpus que apresentou como espécie indicadora Podocarpus lambertii Klotzsch ex Endl

Prevention of Lens Epithelial Cell Growth In Vitro Using Mibefradil-Containing PLGA Micro Particles

The prevention of the posterior capsule opacification is still unsolved. To interfere with proliferating cells the T-type calcium channel antagonist Mibefradil was immobilized in poly-lactic-co-glycolic-acid micro particles which were fixed at a capsular tension ring and tested in a human organ culture model as well as in human lens cells HLE-B3 in vitro. It is feasible to get a release significantly affecting cell viability and growth evaluated by MTT test and cell cycle analysis. In addition, Bionas® sensor chips were used for time-dependent adhesion experiments in living lens cells. Interestingly, the concentration of Mibefradil which inhibited subconfluent cells is not effective in confluent cells. This is an important feature for the protection of the intact tissue in the eye

Optic Nerve Head Change in Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy and Its Influence on Visual Outcome

To evaluate changes in cup/disc (C/D) diameter ratios and parapapillary atrophy in patients with non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NA-AION), using morphometric methods.The clinical non-interventional study included 157 patients with unilateral or bilateral NA-AION. Optic disc photographs taken from both eyes at the end of follow-up were morphometrically examined.Follow-up was 86.3±70.3 months. Horizontal and vertical disc diameters (P = 0.30;P = 0.61, respectively), horizontal and vertical C/D ratios (P = 0.47;P = 0.19,resp.), and size of alpha zone and beta zone of parapapillary atrophy (P = 0.27;P = 0.32,resp.) did not differ significantly between affected eyes and contralateral normal eyes in patients with unilateral NA-AION. Similarly, horizontal and vertical disc diameters, horizontal and vertical C/D ratios, and size of alpha zone and beta zone did not vary significantly (all P>0.05) between the unaffected eyes of patients with unilateral NA-AION and the eyes of patients with bilateral NA-AION. Optic disc diameters, C/D ratios, size of alpha zone or beta zone of parapapillary atrophy were not significantly associated with final visual outcome in the eyes affected with NA-AION (all P>0.20) nor with the difference in final visual acuity between affected eyes and unaffected eyes in patients with unilateral NA-AION (all P>0.25).NA-AION did not affect C/D ratios nor alpha zone and beta zone of parapapillary atrophy. Optic disc size was not related to the final visual acuity outcome in NA-AION

Imaging foreign bodies in head and neck trauma: a pictorial review

Open injuries bear the risk of foreign body contamination. Commonly encountered materials include gravel debris, glass fragments, wooden splinters or metal particles. While foreign body incorporation is obvious in some injury patterns, other injuries may not display hints of being contaminated with foreign body materials. Foreign objects that have not been detected and removed bear the risk of leading to severe wound infections and chronic wound healing disorders. Besides these severe health issues, medicolegal consequences should be considered. While an accurate clinical examination is the first step for the detection of foreign body materials, choosing the appropriate radiological imaging is decisive for the detection or non-detection of the foreign material. Especially in cases of impaired wound healing over time, the existence of an undetected foreign object needs to be considered. Here, we would like to give a practical radiological guide for the assessment of foreign objects in head and neck injuries by a special selection of patients with different injury patterns and various foreign body materials with regard to the present literature

Kohlenwasserstoffverbrückte Komplexe, XXX

Hydrocarbon-Bridged Complexes, XXX. - Nucleophilic Addition of Carbonylmetallates to Cationic Vinyl, Diene, Dienyl and Triene Complexes of Iron, Ruthenium and Cobalt: Di-, Tri-, Tetra- and Pentametallic Complexes with ,- and ,-Hydrocarbon Bridges[Note ][Herrn Professor Ekkehard Lindner zum 60. Geburtstag gewidmet.] The reactions of [Re(CO)5]-, [Ru(CO)2Cp]-, and [Os(CO)4]2- with [Cp2(OC)2Fe2(-CO)(-1:2-CH=CH2)]+, [Cp*Ru(2:4-1,3,7-octatriene)]+, [(OC)Fe(4-diene)(5-cycloheptadienyl)]+, and [CpCo(5-cyclodienyl)]+ give the nucleophilic adducts whereas with [Mn(CO)5]-, [W(CO)3Cp]-, and [Fe(CO)2Cp]- formation of the corresponding C-C coupling products and of the metal-metal-bonded dimers is observed. The structures of Cp*Ru(-1:2:3-1,5-octadienyl)Re(CO)5 (4), [Cp* Ru(-1:2:3-1,5-octadienyl)]2Os(CO)4 (6), and of (OC)-Fe(4-1,3-cyclohexadiene) (-1:4-1,3-cycloheptadiene)Re(CO)5 (9) have been determined by X-ray diffraction