334 research outputs found
Novel object recognition is not affected by age despite age-related brain changes
Cataloged from PDF version of article.Age-related memory impairments show a progressive decline across lifespan. Studies have demonstrated equivocal results in biological and behavioral outcomes of aging. Thus, in the present study we examined the novel object recognition task at a delay period that has been shown to be impaired in aged rats of two different strains. Moreover, we used a strain of rats, Fisher 344XBrown Norway, which have published age-related biological changes in the brain. Young (10 month old) and aged (28 month old) rats were tested on a standard novel object recognition task with a 50-minute delay period. The data showed that young and aged rats in the strain we used performed equally well on the novel object recognition task and that both young and old rats demonstrated a righthanded side preference for the novel object. Our data suggested that novel object recognition is not impaired in aged rats although both young and old rats have a demonstrated side preference. Thus, it may be that genetic differences across strains contribute to the equivocal results in behavior, and genetic variance likely influences the course of cognitive aging
Social and Emotional Skills in at-Risk Adolescents through Participation in Sports
(1) Background: Adolescents who are under the care of child and youth institutions are vulnerable due to factors that can include disruption to family structure or education and adverse experiences. They often experience poor or unstable support systems, leaving them at risk of delinquency. In this context, sports engagement may provide a stable structure and have positive effects in this population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions, knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding social and emotional skills among at-risk adolescents, with a specific focus on their engagement in sports. (2) Methods: Ninety-six adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (66 female, 30 male), residing in child and youth care institutions across Italy, Portugal, the UK, and Turkey, participated in this study. The participants were divided into 14 focus groups, each with six to eight participants of similar ages. (3) Results: Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: Emotional causes of behavioral problems; Emotional skills to regain control; Social support makes sports worthwhile; Sport as a socio-emotional resource. (4) Conclusions: The study findings highlight that although sports create many challenging emotional situations for these adolescents, they also provides resources that may help them cope with their emotions within and beyond sports
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Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study
Objective To analyze pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), urinary continence and quality of life related to urinary incontinence (UI) of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method Cross-sectional study with a sample of 500 women who started prenatal care in a complementary healthcare facility in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, from 2012 and 2013. Pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated through perineometry. The pregnant women who presented UI answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Results It was found that maternal age (OR=1.06; CI95% 1.02-1.11) and prior UI (OR=15.12; 95%CI 8.19-27.92) are the variables that, in tandem, best explain the occurrence of UI at the beginning of pregnancy. The mean score on the ICIQ-SF was 8.2 (SD=3.9), considered a moderate impact on quality of life. Conclusion Older pregnant women with prior UI are more likely to have UI in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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Corporate governance compliance and disclosure in the banking sector: using data from Japan
Using regression model this study investigates which characteristics of a bank is associated with the extent of corporate governance disclosure in Japan. The findings suggest that on average 8 banks out of a sample of 46 disclose optimal corporate governance information. The regression model results reveal in general that non-executive directors, cross-ownership, capital adequacy ratio and type of auditors are associated with the extent of corporate governance disclosure. Of these four variables, non-executive directors have a more significant impact on the extent of disclosure contrary to total assets and audit firms of banks in the context of Japan. The findings of this paper are relevant for corporate regulators, professional associations and developers of corporate governance code when designing or updating corporate governance code
Local Earthquake Tomography of Central Costa Rica: Transition from seamount to ridge subduction
The structure and seismicity of the subduction zone of centralCosta Rica have been investigated
with local earthquake tomography down to ca. 50 km depth. Seismic traveltime data sets of
three on- and offshore seismic networks were combined for a simultaneous inversion of
hypocentre locations, 3-D structure of P-wave velocity and Vp/Vs ratio using about 2000 highquality
events. The seismicity and slab geometry as well as Vp and Vp/Vs show significant
lateral variation along the subduction zone corresponding to the changes of the incoming plate
which consists of serpentinized oceanic lithosphere in the northwest, a seamount province
in the centre and the subducting Cocos Ridge in the southeast of the investigation area.
Three prominent features can be identified in the Vp and Vp/Vs tomograms: a high-velocity
zone with a perturbation of 4–10 per cent representing the subducting slab, a low-velocity
zone (10–20 per cent) in the forearc crust probably caused by deformation, fluid release and
hydration and a low-velocity zone below the volcanic arc related to upwelling fluids and
magma. Unlike previously suggested, the dip of the subducting slab does not decrease to the
south. Instead, an average steepening of the plate interface from 30◦ to 45◦ is observed from
north to south and a transition from a plane to a step-shaped plate interface. This is connected
with a change in the deformation style of the overriding plate where roughly planar, partly
conjugated, clusters of seismicity of regionally varying dip are observed. It can be shown that
the central Costa Rica Deformation Belt represents a deep crustal transition zone extending
from the surface down to 40 km depth. This transition zone indicates the lateral termination
of the active part of the volcanic chain and seems to be related to the changing structure of the
incoming plate as well
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Historical and current patterns of gene flow in the butterfly Pararge aegeria
Aim. We have investigated the phylogeography and genetic structure of the Speckled Wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria) across its entire distribution range and studied its dispersal both on mainland and across sea straits. The apparent lack of gene flow between Sardinia and Corsica was further investigated by means of mating experiments. Location. Europe and North Africa. Methods. We sampled 345 individuals and sequenced one mitochondrial gene (Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I, COI) for all samples and two nuclear genes (wingless and zerknullt) for a subset of the specimens. A total of 22 females from Corsica and Sardinia were used to establish a series of crosses to investigate reproductive compatibility and were screened for the presence of Wolbachia. Bayesian inference (BI) and haplotype networks were employed to infer phylogenetic relationships and a Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) was used to represent 4
geographical patterns of genetic diversity. Mating and courtship data were analysed using linear mixed effect models. Results. We detected two main COI lineages separated by the Mediterranean Sea and maintained over relatively short sea straits. While nuclear gene variation was generally in agreement with that of COI, this was not the case in all areas (e.g. Iberian Peninsula and Corsica/Sardinia). Mating experiments revealed no evidence of reproductive isolation between the lineages, nor clear relation to Wolbachia infection status. Main conclusions. We propose that following the post-glacial recolonisation of Europe, the ancestral COI lineage of P. aegeria was maintained in North Africa and Mediterranean islands, while a new lineage colonised from Eastern Europe, replacing and apparently outcompeting the ancestral variant. Several hypotheses are discussed that may explain the local discordance between the nuclear genes and COI, including sex-specific dispersal, selection and differential rates of gene evolution
Circulating LL37 targets plasma extracellular vesicles to immune cells and intensifies Behçet's disease severity
Behçet's disease (BD) activity is characterised by sustained, over-exuberant immune activation, yet the underlying mechanisms leading to active BD state are poorly defined. Herein, we show that the human cathelicidin derived antimicrobial peptide LL37 associates with and directs plasma extracellular vesicles (EV) to immune cells, thereby leading to enhanced immune activation aggravating BD pathology. Notably, disease activity was correlated with elevated levels of circulating LL37 and EV plasma concentration. Stimulation of healthy PBMC with active BD patient EVs induced heightened IL1β, IFNα, IL6 and IP10 secretion compared to healthy and inactive BD EVs. Remarkably, when mixed with LL37, healthy plasma-EVs triggered a robust immune activation replicating the pathology inducing properties of BD EVs. The findings of this study could be of clinical interest in the management of BD, implicating LL37/EV association as one of the major contributors of BD pathogenesis. © 2017 The Author(s)
Comparison of Anterior Segment Optical Tomography Parameters Measured Using a Semi-Automatic Software to Standard Clinical Instruments
10.1371/journal.pone.0065559PLoS ONE86
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