Genetic risk for neurodegenerative disorders, and its overlap with cognitive ability and physical function

Neurodegenerative disorders are associated with impaired cognitive function and worse physical health outcomes. This study aims to test whether polygenic risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), or frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is associated with cognitive function and physical health in the UK Biobank, a cohort of healthy individuals. Group-based analyses were then performed to compare the top and bottom 10% for the three neurodegenerative polygenic risk scores; these groups were compared on the cognitive and physical health variables. Higher polygenic risk for AD, ALS, and FTD was associated with lower cognitive performance. Higher polygenic risk for FTD was also associated with increased forced expiratory volume in 1s and peak expiratory flow. A significant group difference was observed on the symbol digit substitution task between individuals with high polygenic risk for FTD and high polygenic risk for ALS. The results suggest some overlap between polygenic risk for neurodegenerative disorders, cognitive function and physical health

Postawy młodzieży wobec celów Nowej Agendy na rzecz zrównoważonego rozwoju

The whole world adopted a global strategy as the only possible one – a global development strategy based on the principles of sustainability. This strategy includes not only all types of politics, economies and societies, but is also an integral part of life and wellbeing of all people. A new sustainable development agenda for the period 2015-2030 identifies youth not only as a category much more sensitive to sustainability, but in each of its 17 goals of sustainable development emphasizes the role of young people and the need for their active participation in the promotion and realization of these objectives and its targets. Bearing this in mind, the research presented in the paper deals with young people’s knowledge on sustainable development, the strategy of sustainable development, and their attitudes towards the goals of sustainable development in the context of what they themselves find most important. Obtained results in the case study of the Republic of Serbia, not only show the results of the analysis of young people’s viewpoints on these crucial issues but also of a good way to continue research in this area not only by the authors of the paper but other researchers who are engaged in activism and participation of youth in sustainable development as well.Społeczność międzynarodowa przyjęła strategię rozwoju globalnego opartą na zasadach zrównoważoności. Uwzględnia ona nie tylko wszystkie występujące typy polityk, ekonomii i społeczeństw, ale także dobrostan wszystkich ludzi. Nowa Agenda dla zrównoważonego rozwoju obejmująca lata 2015-2030 wskazuje na młodzież jako na grupę bardziej wrażliwą na zagadnienie zrównoważoności W każdej z 17 grup celów zrównoważonego rozwoju podkreśla rolę, jaką powinni w tych ramach odgrywać młodzi ludzie i wskazuje na potrzebę ich aktywnego uczestnictwa w promocji i realizacji założonych celów. Niniejsza praca prezentuje wyniki badań odnoszących się do wiedzy młodych ludzi o zrównoważonym rozwoju, strategii zrównoważonego rozwoju, a także ich postaw odnośnie celów zrównoważonego rozwoju i ich własnych przekonań. Badania przeprowadzone w Republice Serbii omawiają opinie młodzieży na te ważne tematy, a ponadto wskazują na ważny kierunek badań nie tylko dla autorów tego artykułu, ale także innych naukowców zaangażowanych we włączenie młodych ludzi w pracę dla zrównoważonego rozwoju

The Middle and Late Pleniglacial (Weichselian) malacofauna of the Zemun loess–paleosol sequence, Serbia

The aim of our study was to describe the succession of malacological assemblages along the exposed loess profile located in Belgrade, along the banks of the Danube River (municipality of Zemun). Deposits that belong to the composite loess unit L1 were sampled. Loess unit L1 included two subunits: L1SS1 (a Middle Pleniglacial subunit with two weakly developed initial pedogenic horizons) and L1LL1 (a Late Pleniglacial loess subunit). Three malacological zones were distinguished. Malacological results imply a change in climatic conditions and subsequently in vegetation structure. The molluscs indicate an environment with a moderate (warm and dry) climate and a mosaic vegetation type composed of grasslands and forest steppe. Gradual cooling was inferred within the Late Pleniglacial period. Our findings concur with the results of earlier studies indicating that the Zemun site and the adjacent area served as a transition zone between the refuge areas within the southeastern part of the Carpathian Basin during the Late Pleistocene