A history of concussions is associated with symptoms of common mental disorders in former male professional athletes across a range of sports

Objective: Recent reports suggest that exposure to repetitive concussions in sports is associated with an increased risk of symptoms of distress, anxiety and depression, sleep disturbance or substance abuse/dependence (typically referred as symptoms of common mental disorders[CMD]) and of later development of neurodegenerative disease, in particular chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The primary aim of this study was to explore the relationship between sports career-related concussions and the subsequent occurrence of symptoms of CMD among former male professional athletes retired from football (soccer), ice hockey and rugby (union). Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were performed on baseline electronic questionnaires from three prospective cohort studies among former male professional athletes retired from football (soccer), ice hockey and rugby (union). The number of confirmed concussions was examined through a single question, while symptoms of distress, anxiety and depression, sleep disturbance and adverse alcohol use were assessed using validated questionnaires. Results: From 1,957 former professional athletes contacted, a total of 576 (29%) completed the questionnaire. Of these, 23% had not incurred a concussion during their career, 34% had two or three, 18% four or five, and 11% six or more concussions. The number of sports career-related concussions was a predictor for all outcome measures (β = 0.072–0.109; P ≤ 0.040). Specifically, former professional athletes who reported a history of four or five concussions were approximately 1.5 times more likely to report symptoms of CMD, rising to a two- to five-fold increase in those reporting a history of six or more sports career-related concussions. Conclusions: These data demonstrate an association between exposure to sports concussion and subsequent risk of symptoms of CMD in former professional athletes across a range of contact sports. Further work to explore the association between sports concussion and symptoms of CMD is required; in the meanwhile, strategies for effective risk reduction and improved management appear indicated

One-dimensional fluids with second nearest-neighbor interactions

As is well known, one-dimensional systems with interactions restricted to first nearest neighbors admit a full analytically exact statistical-mechanical solution. This is essentially due to the fact that the knowledge of the first nearest-neighbor probability distribution function, $p_1(r)$, is enough to determine the structural and thermodynamic properties of the system. On the other hand, if the interaction between second nearest-neighbor particles is turned on, the analytically exact solution is lost. Not only the knowledge of $p_1(r)$ is not sufficient anymore, but even its determination becomes a complex many-body problem. In this work we systematically explore different approximate solutions for one-dimensional second nearest-neighbor fluid models. We apply those approximations to the square-well and the attractive two-step pair potentials and compare them with Monte Carlo simulations, finding an excellent agreement.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figures; v2: more references adde

Tunesiens Wahl setzt ein Zeichen, eine Wende ist sie nicht: Nach der Parlamentswahl blockiert der Konflikt um Staats- und Gesellschaftsmodell weiterhin Institutionen und Reformen

Die Parlamentswahl vom 26. Oktober zeigt, dass viele Wähler ein islamistisches Staatsmodell für Tunesien ablehnen. Sie verdeutlicht auch, wie zersplittert und zerstritten die Befürworter eines säkularen Modells sind, obwohl ihre Zusammenarbeit mehr denn je notwendig wäre, um Reformen umzusetzen und einen modernen, am Staatsbürgerkonzept ausgerichteten Staat aufzubauen. Europa sollte eine Konsensfindung zwischen den Säkularen unterstützen, damit Tunesien international zukunftsfähig bleibt

Interaction of copper (II) complexes by bovine serum albumin: spectroscopic and calorimetric insights

<p>Serum albumins being the most abundant proteins in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid are significant carriers of essential transition metal ions in the human body. Studies of copper (II) complexes have gained attention because of their potential applications in synthetic, biological, and industrial processes. Study of binding interactions of such bioinorganic complexes with serum albumins improves our understanding of biomolecular recognition process essential for rational drug design. In the present investigation, we have applied quantitative approach to explore interactions of novel synthesized copper (II) complexes <i>viz</i>. [Cu(L¹)(L²)ClO₄] (complex I), [Cu(L²)(L³)]ClO₄] (complex II) and [Cu(L⁴)₂(H₂O)₂] (complex III) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) to evaluate their binding characteristics, site and mode of interaction. The fluorescence quenching of BSA initiated by complexation has been observed to be static in nature. The binding interactions are endothermic driven by entropic factors as confirmed by high sensitivity isothermal titration calorimetry. Changes in secondary and tertiary structure of protein have been studied by circular dichroism and significant reduction in α-helical content of BSA was observed upon binding. Site marking experiments with warfarin and ibuprofen indicated that copper complexes bind at site II of the protein.</p

Additional file 2: of Allelic variants of OsSUB1A cause differential expression of transcription factor genes in response to submergence in rice

Table S1. List of genes represented in Rice TF Primer Platform (Caldana et al., 2007). Complete list of 2508 TF genes, their primer sequences and their corresponding PCR efficiencies. Genes were presented with version 2.0 and version 5.0 RGAP genome annotations. Table S2. Transcription factor genes with and without annotations in version 5.0 and 7.0 of RGAP Pseudomolecule. Table S3. Expression profile of transcription factor genes in IR64 control and stress-treated plants upon submergence. Recorded Ct, R2, Efficiency and ΔCt values for all reactions. The list of used reference genes and their distribution on the plates is also given. Table S4. Expression profile of transcription factor genes in IR64-Sub1 control and stress-treated plants upon submergence. Worksheets record Ct, R2, Efficiency and ΔCt values for all reactions. The list of used reference genes and their distribution on the plates is also given. Table S5. Promoter sequences of SUB1A-1 and SUB1A-2. Table S6. Moderated t-tests results from LIMMA package for identifying differentially expressed genes. P-values were recorded and FDR corrections were also performed. Table S7. Details about the list of differentially expressed genes and their putative functions. (DOCX 29 kb

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Allelic variants of OsSUB1A cause differential expression of transcription factor genes in response to submergence in rice

The submergence tolerance locus Sub1 in rice. The Sub1 locus is located on rice chromosome 9 with a variable number of SUB1 genes. In different rice genotypes, SUB1A is either absent or present as different allele. (a). Introgression of the Sub1 locus into the rice variety IR64 (IR64-Sub1) enhanced survival after complete submergence. (b). The photo shows the IRRI demonstration field plot in the Philippines. Phenotyping for submergence tolerance can also be conducted by submerging plants grown in trays (inlay). The SUB1A-1 and SUB1A-2 alleles are both highly expressed in nodes of submerged plants but SUB1A-1 expression is higher in internodes. (c). Schematic illustration based on (Singh et al., 2010). (PPTX 3066 kb

Additional file 3; Figure S2. of Allelic variants of OsSUB1A cause differential expression of transcription factor genes in response to submergence in rice

Sequence alignment of the SUB1A-1 and SUB1A-2 upstream promoter regions. 2 kb upstream of the start site (promoter regions) were analysed for SUB1A-1 and SUB1A-2 alleles and putative cis-regulatory elements were identified. (XLSX 3.76 kb

Physicochemical Properties and Supernucleophilicity of Oxime-Functionalized Surfactants: Hydrolytic Catalysts toward Dephosphorylation of Di- and Triphosphate Esters

Aggregation and kinetic studies have been performed to understand the hydrolytic potencies of the series of oxime-functionalized surfactants, viz., 3- hydroxyiminomethyl-1-alkylpyridinium bromide (alkyl = C_<i>n</i>H_2<i>n</i>+1, <i>n</i> = 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) in the cleavage of phosphate esters, <i>p</i>-nitrophenyl diphenyl phosphate (PNPDPP) and bis­(2,4-dinitrophenyl) phosphate (BNDPP), in mixed micelles with cetylpyridinium bromide (CPB). Micellization and surface properties of mixed micelles functional surfactants with CPB were studied by conductivity and surface tension measurements. Acid dissociation constants (p<i>K</i>_a) were determined, the effect of functional surfactant alkyl chain length and pH on the observed rate constant (<i>k</i>_obs) for phosphate ester cleavage has been discussed, and the effect of substrate on the supernucleophilicities of the studied oximes was monitored. Functionalized oxime-based surfactants were proved to be supernucleophiles to attack on the PO center of tri- and diphosphate esters. Oximes with hexadecyl alkyl chain length (3-C₁₆) showed maximum micellar effect on the rate constants toward PNPDPP. Micellar effects were analyzed in terms of the pseudophase model

Additional file 12: Figure S8. of Population Dynamics Among six Major Groups of the Oryza rufipogon Species Complex, Wild Relative of Cultivated Asian Rice

Chloroplast haplotype network including admixed samples. (PDF 598 kb

Additional file 9: Figure S5. of Population Dynamics Among six Major Groups of the Oryza rufipogon Species Complex, Wild Relative of Cultivated Asian Rice

Pericarp Color Associated with RC Haplotype Groups. (PDF 253 kb