Impaired Conscious Recognition of Negative Facial Expressions in Patients with Locked-in Syndrome

The involvement of facial mimicry in different aspects of human emotional processing is widely debated. However, little is known about relationships between voluntary activation of facial musculature and conscious recognition of facial expressions. To address this issue, we assessed severely motor-disabled patients with complete paralysis of voluntary facial movements due to lesions of the ventral pons [locked-in syndrome (LIS)]. Patients were required to recognize others’ facial expressions and to rate their own emotional responses to presentation of affective scenes.LISpatientswere selectivelyimpairedin recognition of negativefacial expressions,thusdemonstratingthatthe voluntary activation of mimicry represents a high-level simulation mechanism crucially involved in explicit attribution of emotions

Vitellogenin gene family in vertebrates: evolution and functions

The vitellogenin gene family is constituted of variable gene numbers encoding for polypeptides that are precursors of yolk proteins and derivatives in oviparous and ovoviviparous vertebrates. The comprehension of which mechanisms have shaped the evolution of vtg gene family represents an attractive field of research. The primary intent of this review is to summarize the evolutionary hypotheses that have been proposed over recent decades, highlighting the differences between the proposed models. Overall in vertebrates the evolutionary history of this gene family is the result of complex modifications deeply influenced by events such as Whole Genome Duplications (WGDs), lineage-specific gene losses and duplications. Interestingly the last hypothesis allowed to date the vitellogenin gene cluster origin in the common ancestor of gnathostomes. In addition, in the last decades, several works evidenced non-nutritional functions such as antibacterial, immunological and antioxidant activities overcoming its classical view as a simple source of nourishment for the developing embryos

Transposable elements in vertebrates: species evolution and environmental adaptation

The evolutionary success of species is strictly related to their genome in terms of composition and functionality. Transposable elements (TEs) represent a considerable fraction of the nuclear DNA content, and given to their ability to spread throughout the genome, they are able to create genetic diversity at sequence, gene structure, and chromosome level. Vertebrates represent a highly successful taxon and its lineages are characterized by a variable TE content suggesting a different impact on the genome. In this manuscript, we highlight the importance of TEs in creating new regulatory sequences and genetic innovations extremely useful for diversification of vertebrates. Moreover, an increasing number of evidence suggests a link between TEs and environment. Indeed, given the richness of species adapted to a wide range of habitats and conditions, vertebrates are exposed to several ecological pressures with consequent effects on evolutionary adaptation

Early-Morning and Late-Night Maximal Runs: Metabolic and Perceived Exertion Outcomes

People may exercise at the ends of their day to fit activity into their schedule; the purpose of this investigation was to determine if metabolic or perceived exertion outcomes differed between maximal runs early in the morning and late at night. After consuming a standardized, glucose drink, thirteen recreationally active individuals completed an early-morning and a late-night run on the treadmill while researchers measured metabolic (aerobic capacity and substrate usage) and perceived exertion outcomes. Point of application #1: Aerobic capacity (maximal consumption of oxygen) and the usage of fat as a fuel to support energy production during exercise were similar between runs. Point of application #2: Maximal perceived exertion (Borg’s 6-20) was similar during early-morning and late-night runs. Point of application #3: While research indicates that people may prefer activity in the morning or evening, and this might impact metabolic responses to the exercise bout, most of our participants (n=8) identified with no preference for exercising in the early-morning or late-night. Key Words: glucose; CHO shake; VO2max; fat oxidation; effor

Shedding light upon the complex net of genome size, genome composition and environment in chordates

The nucleotype theory has been advanced on the basis of studies regarding genome size and composition in various plant and animal species, i.e. the influence that genome can have on the phenotype independently of the informational content of DNA. It has also been noted that during evolution various interactions between different environmental factors and genome structural and functional parameters would have occurred. In this review, changes in genome size, transposon content, and base composition occurred during the evolution of chordates were examined. Many environmental stresses, such as temperature, can act on transposons and through these on genome size. Temperature is also one of the most important elements of natural selection able to interact both with base composition and genome size. It has been evidenced that temperature exerts a direct influence on base composition and its increase would have led to an higher content of genome GC-rich components during the evolution of chordates, in particular in endotherms. Temperature would have controlled the rate of biosynthesis in G1 phase and consequently the cell cycle duration which in turn would have interacted with genome size. The combined action of temperature, base composition, and genome size would also have been very important in controlling the metabolic rate. Finally, another important aspect of the nucleotypic effect is the influence that genome size and cell cycle duration, in correlation with environmental temperature, would have exert on embryo and larval development, very important for environmental adaptation. In conclusion, studies here reviewed to confirm the existence in chordates of a mutual influence between environment and genome non-coding components that would have played an important role in the evolution of these animals especially in environmental adaptation processes

Pandemic influenza in the Marche region: organisation of an epidemiological network in response to health emergencies of infectious origin

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CTX-M-15 Type Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacter cloacae In Bioaerosol of a Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Plant: A New Possible Reservoir of Infection?

Background: Although there are many reports of antibiotic resistant microorganisms released from the treated municipal wastewater, less attention has been given to other waste treatment activities. We report the occurrence of antibiotic resistant strains isolated from the working setting of a solid waste recycling plant in Italy which serves 195 municipalities. Methods: To assess microbial contamination levels, several sampling points were chosen for their relevance in evaluating exposure of the workers to biological risk, especially during indoor operations. Active sampling was carried out using the Surface Air System and Rodac plate method was applied to surface sampling. Species identification and antimicrobial susceptibilities were obtained by Vitek2 System (bioMérieux, France) and by the agar-diffusion method. The presence of resistance genes was investigated by multiplex PCR assay. Results: In all sampling points a significant contamination of aerosol was detected, although the total microbial counts resulted within the limit proposed by the National authority (10000 CFU/sqm). The counts of Enterobacteriaceae were always above the limit of 100 CFU/sqm and strains of Enterobacter cloacae resistant to third generation cephalosporins were detected, carrying the blaCTX-M15 gene. Conclusions: The contamination of workplace with multidrug-resistant strains is a crucial area for public health actions to avoid the conjunction of factors that promote evolution and spread of antibiotic resistance

Preliminary data related to the effect of climacostol produced by the freshwater ciliate climacostomum virens on human adenovirus

The new epidemiological scenario has so far focused on the environmental circulation of human viral pathogens. Owing to the side effects of chemical disinfectants, there is an increasing need for knowledge on the use of virucidal compounds, especially those of a natural origin. Climacostol is a molecule produced by a freshwater ciliate and it exhibits activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. We thus also speculated that there might be an effect on viral viability, which has never been tested. To evaluate such activity, we chose human adenovirus (HAdV), which is representative of waterborne viruses. We conducted experiments using HAdV serotype 5, whose titer was determined by infecting HeLa cell cultures. HAdV5 was shown to be sensitive to climacostol at a concentration of 0.0002 mg/mL, with an approximate 3 Log10 reduction when the initial titer of HAdV5 was approximately 104 and 103 TCID50/mL. These preliminary results could be an important starting point for further research aimed at improving the characterization of climacostol activity under different experimental conditions and against various viruses, including enveloped ones (i.e., the coronavirus). The production of climacostol by a protist living in fresh water also suggests a possible application in the activated sludge of wastewater treatment plants

Executive function impairment in early - treated PKU subjects with normal mental development

Executive functions were studied in 14 early and continuously treated PKU subjects (age 10.8 years, range 8-13) in comparison with controls matched for IQ, sex, age and socioeconomic status. Brain MRI examination was normal in all PKU patients. Neuropsychological evaluation included Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Rey-Osterreith Complex Figure Test, Elithorn's Perceptual Maze Test, Weigl's Sorting Test, Tower of London, Visual Search and Motor Motor Learning Test. Whatever the IQ, PKU subjects performed worse than controls in tests exploring executive functions. Subgrouping the PKU subjects according to the quality of dietary control for the entire follow-up period (using 400 micromol/L as cut-off value for blood phenylalanine (Phe) concentration) showed that patients with worse dietary control performed more poorly than both the PKU group with the best dietary control and the control group. However, a mild impairment of executive functions was still found in PKU patients with a good dietary control (Phe 400 micromol/L) compared to controls. Concerning the PKU group as a whole, no linear correlation was found between neuropsychological performance and historical and concurrent biochemical parameters. We conclude that (a) PKU patients, even when treated early, rigorously and continuously, show an impairment of frontal lobe functions; (b) a protracted exposure to moderately high levels of Phe can affect frontal lobe functions independently of the possible effect of the same exposure on IQ; (c) in order to reduce the risk of frontal lobe dysfunction, the target of dietary therapy should be to maintain blood Phe concentration below 400 micromol/L

How Should Institutions of Higher Education Define and Measure Student Success? Student Success as Liberal Education Escapes Definition and Measurement

[First paragraph] The question structuring this chapter begins with the presumption that we should define and measure student success. The perspective missing from this question is: What possibilities exist for versions of student success in excess of its definition and measurement? Measurements ask us to standardize definitions of success—say, four-year graduation—and work to produce all students in this image. As a former academic adviser, I can read a university catalog and tell you the quickest pathways to graduation a university has to offer. This makes me an asset to institutions that place a value on student success as measured by graduation rates, but does shuttling students to majors with comparatively lax degree requirements produce an expansive version of student success? I am the last person to argue that metrics of student success such as college graduation lack all meaning. However, when measurements of achievements like college graduation become the focus of student affairs practice, they warp our institutions and our students in their image.1 I use graduation here as it is the most frequently cited definition of student success today, but this logic follows no matter what definition you substitute in its place. In what follows, I argue that definitions and measurements of student success construct student realities in ways that are counterproductive to liberal education, and liberal education is the ineffable outcome of higher education that produces students capable of changing the structures of our profoundly problematic world