Theory of mind performance predicts tdcs-mediated effects on the medial prefrontal cortex: A pilot study to investigate the role of sex and age

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has become an increasingly promising tool for understanding the relationship between brain and behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the magnitude of sex-and age-related tDCS effects previously found in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during a Theory of Mind (ToM) task correlates with social cognition performance; in particular, we explored whether different patterns of activity would be detected in high-and low-performing participants. For this, young and elderly, male and female participants were categorized as a low-or high-performer according to their score on the Reading the Mind in the Eyes task. Furthermore, we explored whether sex-and age-related effects associated with active tDCS on the mPFC were related to cognitive functioning. We observed the following results: (i) elderly participants experience a significant decline in ToM performance compared to young participants; (ii) low-performing elderly females report slowing of reaction time when anodal tDCS is applied over the mPFC during a ToM task; and (iii) low-performing elderly females are characterized by lower scores in executive control functions, verbal fluency and verbal short-term memory. The relationship between tDCS results and cognitive functioning is discussed in light of the neuroscientific literature on sex-and age-related differences

THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPORT MOVEMENT ANALYSIS BY MEANS OF FREE FLOATING TV CAMERAS WITH VARIABLE OPTICS

INTRODUCTION: Video analysis and off-line manual digitalization is usually used for 2-D and 3-D studies of human movement in sport science. The main advantage of this approach, with respect to the recourse to opto-electronic automatic motion analyzers, is the high flexibility in system set-up, the avoidance of marking procedures and the possibility of successful operation in a wide range of environmental situations. Such features turn out to be particularly important for recordings to be performed in the frame of high-level competition, when the experimental set-up must be adapted to a pre-defined competitive environment, without interfering with the performances of the athletes. However, when methods proper to conventional close-range photogrammetry are used, most of the advantages offered by the flexibility of video analysis are not obtained. Particularly critical is the restriction of the useful calibrated volume to the field of view made possible by fixed pairs of TV cameras. In this case the useful sequence of images (where the dimension of the acquired subject allows one to limit macroscopic digitalization errors) is often insufficient for the analysis of a complete movement cycle. This limitation hinders a fruitful application of video analysis in the frame of sport activities (alpine and Nordic skiing, swimming, track and field) in which the execution of the particular technical movement is performed within a large physical space. A solution to the problem is proposed based on the use of free moving and zooming cameras. The corresponding dedicated software for repeated calibration based on Direct Linear Transformation (DLT)(Abdel Aziz and Karara, 1971) is described. Results of recording performed in the laboratory are discussed aiming at the validation of the implemented method. The description of the methodology for the recording of sport activities and the presentation of the related results confirm the operational feasibility of the proposed method and the reliability of the resulting quantitative kinematics analysis

P316Expression and functional role of Ccdc80 in developing heart and in cardiomyopathies.

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Acute effects of whole-body vibrations on the fatigue induced by multiple repeated sprint ability test in soccer players

Background: We tested the hypothesis that whole-body vibration (WBV) positively affects the fatigue process ensuing from repeated bouts of maximal efforts, as induced by repeated sprints' ability (RSA). Eleven male soccer players performed three sets of six repeated shuttle sprints (40 meters). Methods: Eleven male soccer players (age 23.6±4.5 years) were cross-randomized to perform WBW before RSA and during the recovery between sets (WBV-with) or to warm-up and passive recovery between sets (WBV-without). The effects of WBV were quantified by sprint time (ST) and blood lactate concentration (LA), collected up to 15 min after completion of tests. Results: ST during RSA showed a better maintenance of performance in the WBV-with compared to WBV-without condition in all three sets, reaching a statistical significance between-groups during the 2nd and 3rd set (P<0.05). No significant differences in ST over the sets were detected in WBV-with, whereas a significant decrease was observed in the WBV-without condition (P<0.001). LA recovered significantly faster from the 9th to 15th minute of recovery in WBV-with as compared to WBV-without (P<0.05). Conclusions: These findings would indicate that WBV performed during recovery between RSA sets can delay the onset of muscle fatigue resulting in a better maintenance of sprint performance

VIRTUAL REALITY TECHNIQUES IN THE AID TO POPULATION AWARENESS AROUND A NUCLEAR WASTE

Nuclear energy has proved to be an extremely important source of energy for today's society. However, these achievements, even present in people's daily lives, often go unnoticed and suffer rejection by the same society that enjoys such contributions. Rejection, mainly due to the lack of information. In this context, this work used Virtual Reality technology to inform and make the population aware of the benefits and disadvantages of nuclear energy. For this purpose, an interactive virtual environment was produced that allowed the exploration of a nuclear waste repository. Subsequently, an educational video was developed to provide end-user information support. Finally, an educational game was also created with the aim of raising public awareness and demystifying the nuclear area by bringing knowledge, in a clear and engaging way, to the population around a nuclear repository. The developed environment allowed the user to walk through the virtual representation of the reject repository, and also enabled the creation of a video capable of transmitting the initial information and improving the spatial comprehension of the model as a whole. In conclusion, the tool developed in the present work has the capacity to assist in the production of nuclear projects before even entering the construction phase. In addition, it is possible to apply this technique to inform the population about the nuclear practices that will be applied, providing a greater involvement of the people and, consequently, a better assimilation of knowledge about nuclear energy

Zebrafish as a Model to Investigate Dynamin 2-Related Diseases

Mutations in the dynamin-2 gene (DNM2) cause autosomal dominant centronuclear myopathy (CNM) and dominant intermediate Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy type B (CMTDIB). As the relation between these DNM2-related diseases is poorly understood, we used zebrafish to investigate the effects of two different DNM2 mutations. First we identified a new alternatively spliced zebrafish dynamin-2a mRNA (dnm2a-v2) with greater similarity to human DNM2 than the deposited sequence. Then we knocked-down the zebrafish dnm2a, producing defects in muscle morphology. Finally, we expressed two mutated DNM2 mRNA by injecting zebrafish embryos with human mRNAs carrying the R522H mutation, causing CNM, or the G537C mutation, causing CMT. Defects arose especially in secondary motor neuron formation, with incorrect branching in embryos injected with CNM-mutated mRNA, and total absence of branching in those injected with CMT-mutated mRNA. Muscle morphology in embryos injected with CMT-mutated mRNA appeared less regularly organized than in those injected with CNM-mutated mRNA. Our results showing, a continuum between CNM and CMTDIB phenotypes in zebrafish, similarly to the human conditions, confirm this animal model to be a powerful tool to investigate mutations of DNM2 in vivo

Ve-ptp modulates vascular integrity by promoting adherens junction maturation

Background: Endothelial cell junctions control blood vessel permeability. Altered permeability can be associated with vascular fragility that leads to vessel weakness and haemorrhage formation. In vivo studies on the function of genes involved in the maintenance of vascular integrity are essential to better understand the molecular basis of diseases linked to permeability defects. Ve-ptp (Vascular Endothelial-Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase) is a transmembrane protein present at endothelial adherens junctions (AJs). Methodology/Principal Findings: We investigated the role of Ve-ptp in AJ maturation/stability and in the modulation of endothelial permeability using zebrafish (Danio rerio). Whole-mount in situ hybridizations revealed zve-ptp expression exclusively in the developing vascular system. Generation of altered zve-ptp transcripts, induced separately by two different splicing morpholinos, resulted in permeability defects closely linked to vascular wall fragility. The ultrastructural analysis revealed a statistically significant reduction of junction complexes and the presence of immature AJs in zve-ptp morphants but not in control embryos. Conclusions/Significance: Here we show the first in vivo evidence of a potentially critical role played by Ve-ptp in AJ maturation, an important event for permeability modulation and for the development of a functional vascular system

SMYD3 promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer

SMYD3 is a methylase previously linked to cancer cell invasion and migration. Here we show that SMYD3 favors TGF\u3b2-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in mammary epithelial cells, promoting mesenchymal and EMT transcription factors expression. SMYD3 directly interacts with SMAD3 but it is unnecessary for SMAD2/3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. Conversely, SMYD3 is indispensable for SMAD3 direct association to EMT genes regulatory regions. Accordingly, SMYD3 knockdown or its pharmacological blockade with the BCI121 inhibitor dramatically reduce TGF\u3b2-induced SMAD3 association to the chromatin. Remarkably, BCI121 treatment attenuates mesenchymal genes transcription in the mesenchymal-like MDA-MB-231 cell line and reduces their invasive ability in vivo, in a zebrafish xenograft model. In addition, clinical datasets analysis revealed that higher SMYD3 levels are linked to a less favorable prognosis in claudin-low breast cancers and to a reduced metastasis free survival in breast cancer patients. Overall, our data point at SMYD3 as a pivotal SMAD3 cofactor that promotes TGF\u3b2-dependent mesenchymal gene expression and cell migration in breast cancer, and support SMYD3 as a promising pharmacological target for anti-cancer therapy

X-ray microscopy of living multicellular organisms with the Prague Asterix Iodine Laser System

Soft X-ray contact microscopy (SXCM) experiments have been performed using the Prague Asterix Iodine Laser System (PALS). Laser wavelength and pulse duration were λ = 1.314 μm and τ (FWHM) = 450 ps, respectively. Pulsed X rays were generated using teflon, gold, and molybdenum targets with laser intensities I ≥ 1014 W/cm2. Experiments have been performed on the nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans. Images were recorded on PMMA photo resists and analyzed using an atomic force microscope operating in contact mode. Our preliminary results indicate the suitability of the SXCM for multicellular specimens

Time-gated optical projection tomography allows visualization of adult zebrafish internal structures

Optical imaging through biological samples is compromised by tissue scattering and currently various approaches aim to overcome this limitation. In this paper we demonstrate that an all optical technique, based on non-linear upconversion of infrared ultrashort laser pulses and on multiple view acquisition, allows the reduction of scattering effects in tomographic imaging. This technique, namely Time-Gated Optical Projection Tomography (TGOPT), is used to reconstruct three dimensionally the internal structure of adult zebrafish without staining or clearing agents. This method extends the use of Optical Projection Tomography to optically diffusive samples yielding reconstructions with reduced artifacts, increased contrast and improved resolution with respect to those obtained with non-gated techniques. The paper shows that TGOPT is particularly suited for imaging the skeletal system and nervous structures of adult zebrafish