Corpus Callosum Morphology in Capuchin Monkeys Is Influenced by Sex and Handedness

Sex differences have been reported in both overall corpus callosum area and its regional subdivisions in humans. Some have suggested this reflects a unique adaptation in humans, as similar sex differences in corpus callosum morphology have not been reported in any other species of primate examined to date. Furthermore, an association between various measurements of corpus callosum morphology and handedness has been found in humans and chimpanzees. In the current study, we report measurements of corpus callosum cross-sectional area from midsagittal MR images collected in vivo from 14 adult capuchin monkeys, 9 of which were also characterized for hand preference on a coordinated bimanual task. Adult females were found to have a significantly larger corpus callosum: brain volume ratio, rostral body, posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium than adult males. Left-handed individuals had a larger relative overall corpus callosum area than did right-handed individuals. Additionally, a significant sex and handedness interaction was found for anterior midbody, with right-handed males having a significantly smaller area than right-handed females. These results suggest that sex and handedness influences on corpus callosum morphology are not restricted to Homo sapiens

Physical activity guidelines and cardiovascular risk in children: a cross-sectional analysis to determine whether 60 minutes is enough

Background Physical activity reduces cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends children engage in 60 min daily moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). The effect of compliance with this recommendation on childhood cardiovascular risk has not been empirically tested. To evaluate whether achieving recommendations results in reduced composite-cardiovascular risk score (CCVR) in children, and to examine if vigorous PA (VPA) has independent risk-reduction effects. Methods PA was measured using accelerometry in 182 children (9–11 years). Subjects were grouped according to achievement of 60 min daily MVPA (active) or not (inactive). CCVR was calculated (sum of z-scores: DXA body fat %, blood pressure, VO2peak, flow mediated dilation, left ventricular diastolic function; CVR score ≥1SD indicated ‘higher risk’). The cohort was further split into quintiles for VPA and odds ratios (OR) calculated for each quintile. Results Active children (92 (53 boys)) undertook more MVPA (38 ± 11 min, P  0.05). CCVR in the lowest VPA quintile was significantly greater than the highest quintile (3.9 ± 0.6, P < 0.05), and the OR was 4.7 times higher. Conclusion Achievement of current guidelines has positive effects on body composition and cardiorespiratory fitness, but not CCVR. Vigorous physical activity appears to have beneficial effects on CVD risk, independent of moderate PA, implying a more prescriptive approach may be needed for future VPA guidelines

Molecular basis of structure and function of the microvillus membrane of intestinal epithelial cells

Correlation of molecular structure with biochemical functions of the plasma membrane of the microvilli of intestinal epithelial cells has been investigated by biochemical and electron microscopic procedures. Repeating particles, measuring approximately 60 &#197;in diameter, were found on the surface of the microvilli membrane which had been isolated or purified from rabbit intestinal epithelial cells and negatively stained with phosphotungstic acid. These particles were proved to be inherent components of the microvillus membrane, attached to the outer surface of its trilaminar structure, and were designated as the elementary particles of the microvilli of intestinal epithelial cells. Biochemical and electron microscopic identification of these elementary particles has been carried out by isolation of the elementary particles with papain from the isolated microvillus membrane, followed by purification of the particles by chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex columns. The partially purified particles containing invertase and leucine aminopeptidase are similar in size and structure to those of the elementary particles in the microvillus membrane. Evidence indicates that each of the elementary particles coincide with or include an enzyme molecule such as disaccharidase or peptidase, which carry out the terminal hydrolytic digestion of carbohydrates and proteins, respectively, on the surface of the microvillus membrane. Magnesium ionactivated adenosine triphosphatase and alkaline phosphatase cannot be solubilized with papain but remains in the smooth-surface membrane after the elementary particles have been removed. Cytochemical electron microscopic observation revealed that the active site of magnesium ion-activated adenosine triphosphatase is localized predominantly in the inner surface of the trilaminar structure of the microvillus membrane.</p

Shared Pattern of Endocranial Shape Asymmetries among Great Apes, Anatomically Modern Humans, and Fossil Hominins

Anatomical asymmetries of the human brain are a topic of major interest because of their link with handedness and cognitive functions. Their emergence and occurrence have been extensively explored in human fossil records to document the evolution of brain capacities and behaviour. We quantified for the first time antero-posterior endocranial shape asymmetries in large samples of great apes, modern humans and fossil hominins through analysis of “virtual” 3D models of skull and endocranial cavity and we statistically test for departures from symmetry. Once based on continuous variables, we show that the analysis of these brain asymmetries gives original results that build upon previous analysis based on discrete traits. In particular, it emerges that the degree of petalial asymmetries differs between great apes and hominins without modification of their pattern. We indeed demonstrate the presence of shape asymmetries in great apes, with a pattern similar to modern humans but with a lower variation and a lower degree of fluctuating asymmetry. More importantly, variations in the position of the frontal and occipital poles on the right and left hemispheres would be expected to show some degree of antisymmetry when population distribution is considered, but the observed pattern of variation among the samples is related to fluctuating asymmetry for most of the components of the petalias. Moreover, the presence of a common pattern of significant directional asymmetry for two components of the petalias in hominids implicates that the observed traits were probably inherited from the last common ancestor of extant African great apes and Homo sapiens

Night-time measurements of HO<inf>x</inf> during the RONOCO project and analysis of the sources of HO<inf>2</inf>

Abstract. Measurements of the radical species OH and HO2 were made using the fluorescence assay by gas expansion (FAGE) technique during a series of night-time and daytime flights over the UK in summer 2010 and winter 2011. OH was not detected above the instrument's 1σ limit of detection during any of the night-time flights or during the winter daytime flights, placing upper limits on [OH] of 1.8 × 106 molecule cm−3 and 6.4 × 105 molecule cm−3 for the summer and winter flights, respectively. HO2 reached a maximum concentration of 3.2 × 108 molecule cm−3 (13.6 pptv) during a night-time flight on 20 July 2010, when the highest concentrations of NO3 and O3 were also recorded. An analysis of the rates of reaction of OH, O3, and the NO3 radical with measured alkenes indicates that the summer night-time troposphere can be as important for the processing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the winter daytime troposphere. An analysis of the instantaneous rate of production of HO2 from the reactions of O3 and NO3 with alkenes has shown that, on average, reactions of NO3 dominated the night-time production of HO2 during summer and reactions of O3 dominated the night-time HO2 production during winter. This work was funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NE/F004664/1). The authors would like to thank ground staff, engineers, scientists, and pilots involved in RONOCO for making this project a success. Airborne data were obtained using the BAe 146-301 Atmospheric Research Aircraft (ARA) flown by Directflight Ltd. and managed by the Facility for Airborne Atmospheric Measurements (FAAM), which is a joint entity of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Met Office.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Copernicus Publications via http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-8179-201

Night-time measurements of HOx during the RONOCO project and analysis of the sources of HO2

Measurements of the radical species OH and HO2 were made using the fluorescence assay by gas expansion (FAGE) technique during a series of night-time and daytime flights over the UK in summer 2010 and winter 2011. OH was not detected above the instrument's 1σ limit of detection during any of the night-time flights or during the winter daytime flights, placing upper limits on [OH] of 1.8 × 106 molecule cm−3 and 6.4 × 105 molecule cm−3 for the summer and winter flights, respectively. HO2 reached a maximum concentration of 3.2 × 108 molecule cm−3 (13.6 pptv) during a night-time flight on 20 July 2010, when the highest concentrations of NO3 and O3 were also recorded. An analysis of the rates of reaction of OH, O3, and the NO3 radical with measured alkenes indicates that the summer night-time troposphere can be as important for the processing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the winter daytime troposphere. An analysis of the instantaneous rate of production of HO2 from the reactions of O3 and NO3 with alkenes has shown that, on average, reactions of NO3 dominated the night-time production of HO2 during summer and reactions of O3 dominated the night-time HO2 production during winter

A pilot study of an integrated mental health, social and medical model for diabetes care in an inner‐city setting: three dimensions for diabetes (3DFD)

Aims We examined the effectiveness of a service innovation, Three Dimensions for Diabetes (3DFD), that consisted of a referral to an integrated mental health, social care and diabetes treatment model, compared with usual care in improving biomedical and health economic outcomes. Methods Using a non‐randomized control design, the 3DFD model was offered in two inner‐city boroughs in London, UK, where diabetes health professionals could refer adult residents with diabetes, suboptimal glycaemic control [HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥ 9.0%)] and mental health and/or social problems. In the usual care group, there was no referral pathway and anonymized data on individuals with HbA1c ≥ 75 mmol/mol (≥ 9.0%) were collected from primary care records. Change in HbA1c from baseline to 12 months was the primary outcome, and change in healthcare costs and biomedical variables were secondary outcomes. Results 3DFD participants had worse glycaemic control and higher healthcare costs than control participants at baseline. 3DFD participants had greater improvement in glycaemic control compared with control participants [−14 mmol/mol (−1.3%) vs. −6 mmol/mol (−0.6%) respectively, P < 0.001], adjusted for confounding. Total follow‐up healthcare costs remained higher in the 3DFD group compared with the control group (mean difference £1715, 95% confidence intervals 591 to 2811), adjusted for confounding. The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio was £398 per mmol/mol unit decrease in HbA1c, indicating the 3DFD intervention was more effective and costed more than usual care. Conclusions A biomedical, psychological and social criteria‐based referral system for identifying and managing high‐cost and high‐risk individuals with poor glycaemic control can lead to improved health in all three dimensions

Розрахунок та проектування окремого фундаменту будівлі на природній ґрунтовій основі. Методичні рекомендації до виконання практичних завдань та курсового проекту з дисципліни «Механіка ґрунтів, основи і фундаменти» сту- дентами напрямів підготовки 6.060101 Будівництво та 6.050301 Гірництво

Подано методичні рекомендації до виконання практичних завдань та кур- сового проекту з дисципліни «Механіка ґрунтів, основи і фундаменти» для сту- дентів напрямів підготовки 6.060101 Будівництво та 6.050301 Гірництво. Розглянуто порядок проектування фундаменту будівлі мілкого закладан- ня на природній ґрунтовій основі. Методичні рекомендації передбачають виконання курсового проекту «Розрахунок та проектування окремого фундаменту будівлі на природній ґрун- товій основі» як із викладачем, так і під час самостійної роботи. Можна використовувати також у підготовці курсового та дипломного про- ектування

Efficacy of imidacloprid + moxidectin and selamectin topical solutions against the KS1 Ctenocephalides felis flea strain infesting cats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Two studies were conducted to evaluate and compare the efficacy of imidacloprid + moxidectin and selamectin topical solutions against the KS1 flea strain infesting cats. In both studies the treatment groups were comprised of non-treated controls, 6% w/v selamectin (Revolution^®; Pfizer Animal Health) topical solution and 10% w/v imidacloprid + 1% w/v moxidectin (Advantage <it>Multi</it>^®for Cats, Bayer Animal Health) topical solution. All cats were infested with 100 fleas on Days -2, 7, 14, 21, and 28. The difference in the studies was that in study #1 efficacy evaluations were conducted at 24 and 48 hours post-treatment or post-infestation, and in study #2 evaluations were conducted at 12 and 24 hours.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In study #1 imidacloprid + moxidectin and the selamectin formulation provided 99.8% and 99.0% efficacy at 24 hours post-treatment. On day 28, the 24 hour efficacy of the selamectin formulation dropped to 87.1%, whereas the imidacloprid + moxidectin formulation provided 98.9% efficacy. At the 48 hour assessments following the 28 day infestations, efficacy of the imidacloprid + moxidectin and selamectin formulations was 96.8% and 98.3% respectively. In study # 2 the efficacy of the imidacloprid + moxidectin and selamectin formulations 12 hours after treatment was 100% and 69.4%, respectively. On day 28, efficacy of the imidacloprid + moxidectin and selamectin formulations 12 hours after infestation was 90.2% and 57.3%, respectively. In study #2 both formulations provided high levels of efficacy at the 24 hour post-infestation assessments, with selamectin and imidacloprid + moxidectin providing 95.3% and 97.5% efficacy, following infestations on day 28.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>At the 24 and 48 hour residual efficacy assessments, the imidacloprid + moxidectin and selamectin formulations were similarly highly efficacious. However, the imidacloprid + moxidectin formulation provided a significantly higher rate of flea kill against the KS1 flea strain infesting cats at every 12 hour post-infestation residual efficacy assessment. Both formulations should provide excellent flea control for an entire month on cats.</p