Impact of Zumba on Cognition and Quality of Life is Independent of APOE4 Carrier Status in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Women: A 6-Month Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Objective: To investigate the association of a 6-month Zumba intervention with cognition and quality of life among older cognitively unimpaired apolipoprotein SMALL ELEMENT OF4 (APOE4) carrier and noncarrier women. Methods: Fifty-three women were randomly assigned to either twice-weekly Zumba group classes or maintenance of habitual exercise (control group) for 6 months. At baseline, 3, and 6 months, all participants underwent neuropsychological, physical activity, and quality-of-life assessments. Results: Overall, neuropsychological test scores and level of physical activity did not differ between intervention and control groups at any time. However, compared to the control group, quality of life was higher at 3 months, and visuospatial working memory and response inhibition improved more in the intervention group by 6 months. Apolipoprotein SMALL ELEMENT OF4 status did not affect the results. Discussion: Zumba may strengthen performance on visuospatial working memory among cognitively unimpaired older women but this needs to be tested in a larger clinical trial

Courtship, egg sac construction, and maternal care in Kukulcania hibernalis, with information on the courtship of Misionella mendensis (Araneae, Filistatidae)

Morphological and behavioural traits place Filistatidae basally within Araneomorphae, although some features, such as their continuing to moult after reaching adulthood, are reminiscent of mygalomorph spiders. This paper describes the courtship behaviour and other aspects of the reproductive biology of Kukulcania hibernalis and Misionella mendensis, and compares this information with that from related filistatid species and with Mygalomorphae. K. hibernalis has some unique behaviours during courtship (e.g. male lays threads on female web); other behaviours are probably widespread within Filistatidae (e.g. male uses the tarsi and metatarsi of one of his legs to rub the basal sections of the female’s legs and the sides of her cephalothorax). Some other behaviours seem more similar to Mygalomorphae than to those of other, more derived Araneomorphae. These include male construction of a large sperm web, and the positions of male and female facing each other during copulation, with the male holding the female cephalothorax lifted while insertions occur, similar to some mygalomorphs. The adult female K. hibernalis and the first instar spiderlings (outside the egg sac) feed simultaneously on the same prey, but spiderlings are also capable of cooperating during the attack of large prey. The courtship behaviour supports the hypothesis that places Filistatidae basally within Araneomorphae.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de Biologí

Frequency fluctuations in silicon nanoresonators

Frequency stability is key to performance of nanoresonators. This stability is thought to reach a limit with the resonator's ability to resolve thermally-induced vibrations. Although measurements and predictions of resonator stability usually disregard fluctuations in the mechanical frequency response, these fluctuations have recently attracted considerable theoretical interest. However, their existence is very difficult to demonstrate experimentally. Here, through a literature review, we show that all studies of frequency stability report values several orders of magnitude larger than the limit imposed by thermomechanical noise. We studied a monocrystalline silicon nanoresonator at room temperature, and found a similar discrepancy. We propose a new method to show this was due to the presence of frequency fluctuations, of unexpected level. The fluctuations were not due to the instrumentation system, or to any other of the known sources investigated. These results challenge our current understanding of frequency fluctuations and call for a change in practices

Descriptions and figures of the Araneides of the United States

Volume: 4Start Page: 54End Page: 5

Descriptions and figures of the araneides of the United States

Volume: 4Start Page: 386End Page: 39