Variation in movement: Multiple locomotor gaits in neotropical harvestmen

Navigation of complex environments is crucial for animals to find food, mates and/or shelter and to escape enemies. In order to move successfully in variable conditions, many animals have evolved the ability to switch between several patterns of locomotion or gaits. Here, we describe and differentiate between putative locomotor gaits in the harvestman, an arachnid that uses a hexapod-like alternate tripod gait. We recorded Neotropical harvestmen of the genus Prionostemma moving across a flat surface using high-speed video. We reconstructed three-dimensional trajectories and associated kinematics and found four different locomotor gaits: running, stotting, bobbing and walking. Gaits differed in their performance and postural kinematics, body trajectory, gait diagrams and/or kinetic and potential energy exchange. Our approach points out the importance of using multiple kinematic features to differentiate gaits. The use of a specific gait was not predicted by leg length, body area or sex. We propose testable hypotheses regarding the function of each gait and the factors that drive the evolution of different gaits. Ultimately, the diversity of locomotory gaits can allow animals to respond to different environmental challenges and contexts

Gamma glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase as biochemical markers of severity of preeclampsia among Sudanese pregnant women

Background: Preeclampsia is a disorder of widespread vascular endothelial malfunction and vasospasm that occurs after 20 weeks' gestation and can present as late as 4-6 weeks post-partum. Pre-eclampsia is a syndrome with multiple aetiologies which has made it difficult to develop adequate screening tests and treatments. Objective of this study to assess the level of gamma glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase as biochemical markers of severity of preeclampsia in Sudanese pregnant women.Methods: This is a case control hospitalize base study. The study was conducted in preeclamptic pregnant women in Omdurman maternity hospital and medical military hospital in Khartoum state. In this study glutamyl transferase and lactate de-hydrogenase was estimation in 100 Sudanese pregnant women by spectrophotometer method, 50 of them were diagnosed with preeclampsia 27 from this is severe preeclampsia and 23 is mild preeclampsia was matched in aged. Serum samples of all the cases were assayed for GGT and LDH. The data was recorded and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPS –version 16) on programmed computer. The mean standard deviations of variable were calculated for both the test group and the control group and P value for comparison was obtained.Results: The mean values of plasma gamma glutamyl transferase in mild and severe preeclamptic pregnant women were insignificant difference when compared to control P value (0.346 - 0.089) respectively. The mean values of plasma lactate dehydrogenase in mild and severe preeclamptic pregnant women were significant increase when compared to control P value (0.008 - 0.001) respectively.Conclusions: The levels of LDH is raised in Sudanese pregnant women with hypertensive also can be useful biochemical marker that reflects the severity of and the occurrence of complications of pre-eclampsia. GGT levels were normal in Sudanese pregnant women with hypertensive preeclampsia

Habitual chocolate intake and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study: (1975-2010): Prospective observations

Compounds in cocoa and chocolate have established cardiovascular benefits, including beneficial effects on insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aims of this study was to investigate relations between habitual chocolate intakes and diabetes mellitus. Cross-sectional and prospective analyses were undertaken on 953 community-dwelling participants (mean age 62 years, 59% women) from the Maine-Syracuse Longitudinal Study (MSLS). Habitual chocolate intakes, measured using a food frequency questionnaire, were related to prevalence of diabetes mellitus (cross-sectionally) and with risk of diabetes measured approximately five years later (prospectively). We also examined the relation between diabetes (the predictor) and chocolate consumption (the outcome) up to 30 years later. Chocolate intake was inversely associated with type 2 diabetes. Compared to participants who consumed chocolate more than once per week, those who never or rarely ate chocolate exhibited a significantly higher odds of having type 2 diabetes 5 years later (OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.03, 3.55, p ¼ 0.04), after adjustment for cardiovascular, lifestyle and dietary factors including other polyphenol-rich beverages. However, individuals diagnosed with diabetes prior to the nutritional assessment consumed lower amounts of chocolate at the time of the dietary assessment. Our findings suggest that relations between chocolate and type 2 diabetes may be bi-directional

Challenging the “jolly fat” hypothesis among older adults: High body mass index predicts increases in depressive symptoms over a 5-year period

Several investigators have observed lowered risk of depression among obese older adults, coining the “jolly fat” hypothesis. We examined this hypothesis using baseline and a 5-year follow-up body mass index, depressive symptoms, and covariates from 638 community-based older adults. High objectively measured body mass index and functional limitations predicted increased future depressive symptoms. However, symptoms did not predict future body mass index. Self-reported body mass index showed similar associations despite underestimating obesity prevalence. Results did not differ on the basis of gender. Results for this study, the first longitudinal reciprocal risk analysis between objectively measured body mass index and depressive symptoms among older adults, do not support the “jolly fat” hypothesis

Publicaciones periódicas en Cataluña

Tras subrayar la importancia de las publicaciones periódicas en la formación de una colectividad, especialmente cuando expresan las opiniones de un colectivo determinado, las autoras establecen tres grupos de publicaciones, a partir de este axioma: la fuente informativa condiciona totalmente la información. Investigación centrada en Cataluña, sus alcances son más vastos, dado que algunas de las publicaciones registradas tuvo y/o tiene -es el caso de la propia ROL- proyección nacional. Se matizan, también, detalles a veces anecdóticos pero siempre significativos sobre los grupos y/o organizaciones que promovieron estas revistas

A [SU(6)]4^4 FLAVOR MODEL WITHOUT MIRROR FERMIONS

We introduce a three family extension of the Pati-Salam model which is anomaly-free and contains in a single irreducible representation the known quarks and leptons without mirror fermions. Assuming that the breaking of the symmetry admits the implementation of the survival hypothesis, we calculate the mass scales using the renormalization group equation. Finally we show that the proton remains perturbatively stable.Comment: Z PHYS. C63, 339 (1994

Espacios híbridos, espacios humanos, para un futuro “viable”: revisitando la psicología ambiental

Llibre d'actes: Congrés Internacional de Psicologia Ambiental, que inclou el XII Congrés de Psicologia Ambiental (PsicAmb) i les VI Jornades Científiques de l'ArpEnv. Barcelona, 22-25 octubre 2013.Este libro es una recopilación de los trabajos presentados en el Congreso Internacional de Psicología ambiental “Espacios híbridos, espacios humanos, para un futuro “viable”: revisitando la Psicología ambiental”, celebrado en Barcelona los días 22 a 25 de octubre de 2013. En este encuentro se hizo coincidir el XII Congreso de Psicología de Psicamb (asociación que reúne la Psicología ambiental desarrollada en la Península Ibérica y las islas Canarias y Baleares) con las 6as jornadas científicas del ArpEnv (asociación de Psicología ambiental de la área francófona europea), además de estar abierto a las aportaciones de otros colegas de todo el mundo

Evaluación del índice de pie plano y prevalencia de trastornos músculo-esqueléticos del pie en deportistas Jóvenes: natación, remo y levantamiento de pesas

Objectives: The objective of this work was to analyze the morphology of the soles of the feet in young athletes to find the prevalence of these pathologies through the Chippaux-Smirak index. Material and Methods: Seventy-five athletes between nine and twenty years old participated in the study (56% female and 44% male), the average mass was 62.92 ± 13.46kg and the average height was 1.67 ± 0.11m. The sports considered in the study were weightlifting, swimming, and rowing. Results: The results clearly show that flatfeet in adolescents and young adults is a condition with a low prevalence level, 10.7% and 12% for the right and left foot, respectively. One of the most outstanding results found in the study is the high prevalence of cavus foot, where women are the most affected by this pathology. Furthermore, swimming presented the highest prevalence of cavus foot, 42.1% and 52.6% for the right and left foot, respectively. Conclusion:  In conclusion, the understanding of the morphology of the soles of the feet can help to determine the foot type in these three different sports, and therefore, it can be implemented physiotherapeutic treatments or orthotics devices for overcome the musculoskeletal disorders and prevent future injures.Objetivos: El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar la morfología de las plantas de los pies en jóvenes deportistas para encontrar la prevalencia de estas patologías a través del índice de Chippaux-Smirak.  Material y Métodos: Setenta y cinco atletas entre nueve y veinte años de edad participaron en el estudio (56% mujeres y 44% hombres), la masa promedio fue de 62.92 ± 13.46kg y la altura promedio fue de 1.67 ± 0.11m. Los deportes considerados en el estudio fueron levantamiento de pesas, natación y remo. Resultados: Los resultados muestran claramente que los pies planos en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes son una condición con un nivel de prevalencia bajo, 10.7% y 12% para el pie derecho e izquierdo, respectivamente. Uno de los resultados más sobresalientes encontrados en el estudio es la alta prevalencia de pie cavo, donde las mujeres son las más afectadas por esta alteración. Además, natación presentó mayor prevalencia de pie cavo, 42.1% y 52.6% para el pie derecho e izquierdo, respectivamente. Conclusiones: La comprensión de la morfología de las plantas de los pies puede ayudar a determinar el tipo de pie en estos tres deportes diferentes y, por lo tanto, se pueden implementar tratamientos fisioterapéuticos o dispositivos ortopédicos para superar los trastornos músculo-esqueléticos y prevenir futuras lesiones

Proteomics to go: Proteomatic enables the user-friendly creation of versatile MS/MS data evaluation workflows

We present Proteomatic, an operating system independent and user-friendly platform that enables the construction and execution of MS/MS data evaluation pipelines using free and commercial software. Required external programs such as for peptide identification are downloaded automatically in the case of free software. Due to a strict separation of functionality and presentation, and support for multiple scripting languages, new processing steps can be added easily

The Interplay Between GUT and Flavour Symmetries in a Pati-Salam x S4 Model

Both Grand Unified symmetries and discrete flavour symmetries are appealing ways to describe apparent structures in the gauge and flavour sectors of the Standard Model. Both symmetries put constraints on the high energy behaviour of the theory. This can give rise to unexpected interplay when building models that possess both symmetries. We investigate on the possibility to combine a Pati-Salam model with the discrete flavour symmetry $S_4$ that gives rise to quark-lepton complementarity. Under appropriate assumptions at the GUT scale, the model reproduces fermion masses and mixings both in the quark and in the lepton sectors. We show that in particular the Higgs sector and the running Yukawa couplings are strongly affected by the combined constraints of the Grand Unified and family symmetries. This in turn reduces the phenomenologically viable parameter space, with high energy mass scales confined to a small region and some parameters in the neutrino sector slightly unnatural. In the allowed regions, we can reproduce the quark masses and the CKM matrix. In the lepton sector, we reproduce the charged lepton masses, including bottom-tau unification and the Georgi-Jarlskog relation as well as the two known angles of the PMNS matrix. The neutrino mass spectrum can present a normal or an inverse hierarchy, and only allowing the neutrino parameters to spread into a range of values between $\lambda^{-2}$ and $\lambda^2$, with $\lambda\simeq0.2$. Finally, our model suggests that the reactor mixing angle is close to its current experimental bound.Comment: 62 pages, 4 figures; references added, version accepted for publication in JHE