Atypical Social Modulation of Imitation in Autism Spectrum Conditions.

Appropriate modulation of imitation according to social context is important for successful social interaction. In the present study we subliminally primed high-functioning adults with ASC and age- and IQ-matched controls with either a pro- or non- social attitude. Following priming, an automatic imitation paradigm was used to acquire an index of imitation. Whereas imitation levels were higher for pro-socially primed relative to non-socially primed control participants, there was no difference between pro- and non- socially primed individuals with ASC. We conclude that high-functioning adults with ASC demonstrate atypical social modulation of imitation. Given the importance of imitation in social interaction we speculate that difficulties with the modulation of imitation may contribute to the social problems characteristic of ASC

Co-rumination buffers the link between social anxiety and depressive symptoms in early adolescence

Objectives: We examined whether co-rumination with online friends buffered the link between social anxiety and depressive symptoms over time in a community sample. Methods: In a sample of 526 participants (358 girls; Mage = 14.05) followed at three time points, we conducted a latent cross-lagged model with social anxiety, depressive symptoms, and co-rumination, controlling for friendship stability and friendship quality, and adding a latent interaction between social anxiety and co-rumination predicting depressive symptoms. Results: Social anxiety predicted depressive symptoms, but no direct links between social anxiety and co-rumination emerged. Instead, co-rumination buffered the link between social anxiety and depressive symptoms for adolescents with higher but not lower levels of social anxiety. Conclusions: These findings indicate that co-rumination exerted a positive influence on interpersonal relationships by diminishing the influence from social anxiety on depressive symptoms over time

Selenium increases seed production in Brassica

Selenium (Se) is essential for humans and animals but is not considered to be essential for higher plants. Although researchers have found increases in vegetative growth due to fertiliser Se, there has been no definitive evidence to date of increased reproductive capacity, in terms of seed production and seed viability. The aim of this study was to evaluate seed production and growth responses to a low dose of Se (as sodium selenite, added to solution culture) compared to very low-Se controls in fast-cycling Brassica rapa L. Although there was no change in total biomass, Se treatment was associated with a 43% increase in seed production. The Se-treated Brassica plants had higher total respiratory activity in leaves and flowers, which may have contributed to higher seed production. This study provides additional evidence for a beneficial role for Se in higher plants. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.G. H. Lyons, Y. Genc, K. Soole, J. C. R. Stangoulis, F. Liu, R. D. Graha

Utilização do esfigmomanômetro na avaliação da força dos músculos extensores e flexores da articulação do joelho em militares Utilización del esfigmomanómetro en la evaluación de la fuerza de los músculos extensores y flexores de la articulación de la rodilla en militares Use of the sphygmomanometer in the evaluation of the knee joint flexor and extensor muscle strength in militaries

FUNDAMENTOS E OBJETIVO: Este estudo descritivo comparativo visa analisar a força nos diferentes ângulos na extensão e flexão do joelho em militares. Seu objetivo foi o de avaliar a força dos músculos extensores e flexores da articulação do joelho em diferentes ângulos por meio de esfigmomanômetro modificado (EM) em militares saudáveis. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi composta por 31 militares, sendo 19 do sexo feminino e 12 do sexo masculino, com idade média de 26,5 ± 5,8 anos; estatura média respectiva de 162,00 ± 0,06 (cm) e 175,00 ± 0,06 (cm); massa corporal média de 56,83 ± 5,85 (kg) e 73,25 ± 10,46 (kg). A metodologia de avaliação foi a proposta por Helewa, Goldsmith e Smithe (1981), utilizando-se o esfigmomanômetro modificado (EM). As contrações isométricas máximas em 30º de flexão e 30º/90º de extensão foram obtidas no teste de execução (Make test), na mesa flexo-extensora Inbaf e registradas pelo EM Tycos. A análise dos dados foi descritiva, aplicando-se o teste "t" de Student para comparar as médias, adotando-se um nível de significância de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Tanto no grupo feminino quanto no masculino, observou-se diferença significativa somente entre os ângulos de 30 e 90 graus da extensão do joelho direito (p > 0,05). Nos ângulos de 90 graus para a extensão e 30 graus para a flexão do joelho não foram observadas diferenças significativas intragrupos (p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Os militares apresentaram diferenças de força entre os grupos musculares anterior e posterior da articulação do joelho nos diversos ângulos estudados. A metodologia utilizada mostrou-se satisfatória para avaliação qualitativa da força.<br>FUNDAMENTOS Y OBJETIVO: Este estudio descriptivo comparativo tiene el objetivo de analizar la fuerza en los distintos ángulos en la extensión y flexión de la rodilla en militares saludables, utilizándose el esfigmomanómetro modificado (EM). MÉTODOS: Se evaluaron 31 militares, 19 del sexo femenino y 12 del sexo masculino, con promedio de edad de 26,5 ± 5,8 años, promedio de estatura respectiva de 162,00 ± 0,06 (cm) y 175,00 ± 0,06 (cm); promedio de masa corporal de 56,83 ± 5,85 (kg) y 73,25 ± 10,46 (kg). Se empleó la metodología de evaluación sugerida por Helewa, Goldsmith y Smithe (1981), utilizándose el esfigmomanómetro modificado (EM). Las contracciones isométricas máximas en 30º de flexión y 30º/90º de extensión se obtuvieron en la prueba de ejecución (Make test), en la mesa flexo-extensora Inbaf y registradas por EM Tycos. El análisis de los datos fue descriptiva, aplicándose la prueba "t" de Student para comparar los valores promedios, adoptándose un nivel de significancia de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Tanto en el grupo femenino como en el masculino, se observó una diferencia significativa solamente entre los ángulos de 30 y 90 grados de la extensión de la rodilla derecha (p > 0,05). En los ángulos de 90 grados para la extensión y 30 grados para la flexión de la rodilla, no se observaron diferencias significativas intragrupos (p < 0,05). CONCLUSIÓN: Los militares presentaron diferencias de fuerza entre los grupos musculares anterior y posterior de la articulación de la rodilla en los diferentes ángulos estudiados. La metodología utilizada se mostró satisfactoria para la evaluación cualitativa de la fuerza.<br>BASES AND OBJECTIVE: This is a comparative and descriptive study that aims at analyzing the strength for the different angles of the knee flexion and extension in militaries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the extensor and flexor muscles of the knee joint for different angles by means of the Modified Sphygmomanometer (MS) in healthy militaries. METHODS: The sample was composed of 31 militaries as follows: 19 male and 12 female with average age of 26.5 ± 5.8 years; respective average height of 162.00 ± 0.06 (cm) and 175.00 ± 0.06 (cm) and average body mass of 56.83 ± 5.85 (kg) and 73.25 ± 10.46 (kg). The evaluation methodology was the one proposed by Helewa, Goldsmith and Smithe (1981) using Modified Sphygmomanometer (MS). The maximal isometric contractions at 30º of flexion and 30º/90º of extension were obtained in the Make test, in the Inbaf flexion-extension table and recorded by the MS Tycos. The data was analyzed using the "t" Student-test to compare the averages, and the significance level adopted was p > 0.05. RESULTS: In both the female and the male groups, significant difference was only observed between angles of 30 and 90 degrees of the right knee extension (p > 0.05). At angles of 90 degrees for the knee extension and of 30 degrees for knee flexion, no intra-groups significant differences were observed (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Militaries present strength differences between knee joint anterior and posterior muscular groups at the different angles studied. The methodology used showed to be satisfactory for the strength qualitative evaluation

Allelic variants of SNAP25 in a family-based sample of ADHD

Altered neurotransmission has been suggested to be a crucial factor in the pathophysiology of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder ADHD. Subsequently genes encoding for synaptic proteins have been investigated in candidate gene studies. These proteins mediate the release of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft in the process of signal transduction by forming a transient complex, enabling the junction of vesicle and synaptic membrane. One of the core proteins of this complex is the synaptosomal-associated protein 25 (SNAP25). It is one of the most validated candidate genes in ADHD according to meta-analyses. However, differing results were observed in previous studies, some of which were not able to observe association with ADHD. In this study we aimed to investigate association of genetic variants of SNAP25 located in the putative promoter region of SNAP25 and a SNP in intron 8, previously reported to associated with ADHD. A family based design was applied to detect preferential transmission of genetic variants. In our German ADHD sample no preferential transmission of either variant could be observed. Further investigation considering sub-sample analysis regarding response to D-amphetamine could enlight the role of SNAP25 in ADHD