Are Boredom Prone Individuals Creative and Curious About Their Environment?

After controlling for overall personality characteristics, boredom proneness did not predict creativity, but did positively predict people’s motivation to seek out novel experiences and find answers to things they do not understand. Thus, future work should explore how to use these relationships to help individuals respond effectively to the experience of boredom.Knowledge Mobilization at York - York University’s Knowledge Mobilization Unit provides services for faculty, graduate students, community and government seeking to maximize the impact of academic research and expertise on public policy, social programming, and professional practice. This summary has been supported by the Office of the Vice-President Research and Innovation at York and project funding from SSHRC and CIHR. [email protected] www.researchimpact.c

Lower Extremity Joint Stiffness During Running in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder

During late adolescence, children undergo rapid skeletal growth changes leaving the child more vulnerable to injury during physical activity. This is consistent for autistic youth, who reportedly enjoy individual activities, such as running, more than team-based sports [1-3]. Inadequate joint stiffness is one of several factors that may influence injury risk [4]. The purpose of this study was to examine lower extremity joint stiffness in autistic and non-autistic matched controls at self-selected and matched running speeds. Twenty-two persons with a confirmed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis and seventeen age, sex, and body mass index controls (CON) were enrolled into the study. Position and force data were collected in the Neuromechanics Laboratory using the motion capture system. Participants were asked to complete a series of over-ground running trials at their self-selected speed and a standardized speed of 3.0 m/s. Joint stiffness was calculated as the quotient of the change in joint moment and the change in joint angle during the energy absorption period of stance. Statistical analyses were performed in SPSS (version 27, IBM Corp.). Stiffness and changes in joint moments were analyzed using 2 (group) x 2 (speed) analyses of variance. There were no significant interactions between groups and speeds (p\u3e0.05) for any variable. Persons with ASD had reduced knee and ankle joint stiffness (all p Persons with ASD had reduced lower extremity stiffness, which was due to their reduced joint moments. Decreased joint stiffness by those with ASD could be indicative of a less efficient running style whereby the elastic recoil is not being optimally utilized.https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/gradposters2022_education/1006/thumbnail.jp

Antimicrobial, cytotoxic and insulin‐releasing activities of the amphibian host‐defense peptide ocellatin‐3N and its L‐lysine‐substituted analogs

The host-defense peptide ocellatin-3N (GIFDVLKNLAKGVITSLAS.NH2), first isolated from the Caribbean frog Leptodactylus nesiotus, inhibited growth of clinically relevant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as well as a strain of the major emerging yeast pathogen Candida parapsilosis. Increasing cationicity while maintaining amphipathicity by the substitution Asp(4)-> Lys increased potency against the microorganisms by between 4- and 16-fold (MIC <= 3 mu M) compared with the naturally occurring peptide. The substitution Ala(18)-> Lys and the double substitution Asp(4)-> Lys and Ala(18)-> Lys had less effects on potency. The [D4K] analog also showed 2.5- to 4-fold greater cytotoxic potency against non-small-cell lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, breast adenocarcinoma MDA-MB-231 cells, and colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells (LC50 values in the range of 12-20 mu M) compared with ocellatin-3N but was less hemolytic to mouse erythrocytes. However, the peptide showed no selectivity for tumor-derived cells [LC50 = 20 mu M for human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs)]. Ocellatin-3N and [D4K]ocellatin-3N stimulated the release of insulin from BRIN-BD11 clonal beta-cells at concentrations >= 1 nM, and [A18K]ocellatin-3N, at concentrations >= 0.1 nM. No peptide stimulated the release of lactate dehydrogenase at concentrations up to 3 mu M, indicating that plasma membrane integrity had been preserved. The three peptides produced an increase in intracellular [Ca2+] in BRIN-BD11 cells when incubated at a concentration of 1 mu M. In view of its high insulinotropic potency and relatively low hemolytic activity, the [A18K] ocellatin analog may represent a template for the design of agents with therapeutic potential for the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes

Axonal growth arrests after an increased accumulation of Schwann cells expressing senescence markers and stromal cells in acellular nerve allografts

Acellular nerve allografts (ANAs) and other nerve constructs do not reliably facilitate axonal regeneration across long defects (>3 cm). Causes for this deficiency are poorly understood. In this study, we determined what cells are present within ANAs before axonal growth arrest in nerve constructs and if these cells express markers of cellular stress and senescence. Using the Thy1-GFP rat and serial imaging, we identified the time and location of axonal growth arrest in long (6 cm) ANAs. Axonal growth halted within long ANAs by 4 weeks, while axons successfully regenerated across short (3 cm) ANAs. Cellular populations and markers of senescence were determined using immunohistochemistry, histology, and senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining. Both short and long ANAs were robustly repopulated with Schwann cells (SCs) and stromal cells by 2 weeks. Schwann cells (S100β(+)) represented the majority of cells repopulating both ANAs. Overall, both ANAs demonstrated similar cellular populations with the exception of increased stromal cells (fibronectin(+)/S100β(−)/CD68(−) cells) in long ANAs. Characterization of ANAs for markers of cellular senescence revealed that long ANAs accumulated much greater levels of senescence markers and a greater percentage of Schwann cells expressing the senescence marker p16 compared to short ANAs. To establish the impact of the long ANA environment on axonal regeneration, short ANAs (2 cm) that would normally support axonal regeneration were generated from long ANAs near the time of axonal growth arrest (“stressed” ANAs). These stressed ANAs contained mainly S100β(+)/p16(+) cells and markedly reduced axonal regeneration. In additional experiments, removal of the distal portion (4 cm) of long ANAs near the time of axonal growth arrest and replacement with long isografts (4 cm) rescued axonal regeneration across the defect. Neuronal culture derived from nerve following axonal growth arrest in long ANAs revealed no deficits in axonal extension. Overall, this evidence demonstrates that long ANAs are repopulated with increased p16(+) Schwann cells and stromal cells compared to short ANAs, suggesting a role for these cells in poor axonal regeneration across nerve constructs

Testing the effectiveness of REACH Pregnancy Circles group antenatal care: protocol for a randomised controlled pilot trial

Background Antenatal care is an important public health priority. Women from socially disadvantaged, and culturally and linguistically diverse groups often have difficulties with accessing antenatal care and report more negative experiences with care. Although group antenatal care has been shown in some settings to be effective for improving women’s experiences of care and for improving other maternal as well as newborn health outcomes, these outcomes have not been rigorously assessed in the UK. A pilot trial will be conducted to determine the feasibility of, and optimum methods for, testing the effectiveness of group antenatal care in an NHS setting serving populations with high levels of social deprivation and cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity. Outcomes will inform the protocol for a future full trial. Methods This protocol outlines an individual-level randomised controlled external pilot trial with integrated process and economic evaluations. The two trial arms will be group care and standard antenatal care. The trial will involve the recruitment of 72 pregnant women across three maternity services within one large NHS Acute Trust. Baseline, outcomes and economic data will be collected via questionnaires completed by the participants at three time points, with the final scheduled for 4 months postnatal. Routine maternity service data will also be collected for outcomes assessment and economic evaluation purposes. Stakeholder interviews will provide insights into the acceptability of research and intervention processes, including the use of interpreters to support women who do not speak English. Pre-agreed criteria have been selected to guide the decision about whether or not to progress to a full trial. Discussion This pilot trial will determine if it is appropriate to proceed to a full trial of group antenatal care in this setting. If progression is supported, the pilot will provide authoritative high-quality evidence to inform the design and conduct of a trial in this important area that holds significant potential to influence maternity care, outcomes and experience

Caffeinated Gum Does Not Influence RPE-Regulated Cadence in Recreationally-Active, College Females Regardless of Habitual Caffeine Consumption

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(2): 1375-1387, 2021. Caffeine (CAF) has been extensively studied for its ergogenic and analgesic effects during exercise. However, the majority of these studies have been conducted in male populations. This study investigated the effects of acute CAF chewing gum on self-selected exercise intensity during a rating of perceived exertion (RPE) production trial in active females (n = 16, 21.0 ± 2.8 y). Data were also analyzed based on habitual CAF consumption level. Participants completed a V̇O2peak trial, followed by a familiarization and two randomized, triple-blinded experimental RPE production trials on an arm ergometer [clamped resistance, blinded to self-selected cadence (CAD)] with either CAF gum (300 mg; 4.8 ± 0.7 mg/kg-1 body mass) or placebo (PLA), at a prescribed RPE of 4 and 7 (10 min each). Self-selected CAD did not statistically differ (p \u3e 0.05) between CAF or PLA for an RPE4 (37.7 ± 1.6 vs. 37.6 ± 1.6 rev·min-1) or RPE7 (42.9 ± 1.6 vs. 41.2 ± 1.7 rev·min-1), respectively. There were no statistical differences between treatment groups for any other variables, except restlessness rating which was significantly higher (3.5 vs. 2.2; p = 0.03, d = 0.64) for the CAF group compared to PLA. Secondary analysis revealed no statistical differences for any variables between habitual consumers of low (23 ± 20 mg/day) or mod/high (195 ± 93 mg/day) CAF. Our data support previous studies examining CAF in women across different testing modalities and suggest that regardless of habitual CAF consumption, females might require higher doses of CAF to replicate subjective and physiological responses commonly observed using similar RPE production protocols in male participants. These findings support the need for additional investigations into female physiological and perceptual responses following CAF ingestion

The Grizzly, March 31, 2005

Poem-palooza Tonight • Senior Speaks About Giving Back • Get Amped for Airband! • No Boredom Allowed • Students Petition for Comcast Cable • SERV Members Attend National Conference • Help Hobson Help Others • Ursinus Students Build House During Spring Break • Study Abroad Cancellations • Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men • Experiencing the London Perspective • A New Drink: Water from the Body • Conversation with Mike Ditty • Fitzgerald Returns to Coach Women\u27s Lacrosse • Chemistry is the Ingredient for Success • Men\u27s Lacrosse Team Loses in a Nail-biter to F&Mhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1581/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, April 14, 2005

Iraqi Visit for Model UN • Airband Raises Over $12k for Charity • Spring Fling is in the Air • Death of the Pope • UC\u27s Five Year Plan • Collective Soul Concert a Success • Ritter\u27s Last Play Debuts • Business Students go All-in for ALS • Art of Emotional Foreplay • Who\u27s in the Accepted Class of 2009? • Opinions: Lesson in Filibustering: Why You Need to Know; It\u27s my Party, I Invite Who I Want to; It\u27s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year; People Don\u27t Cause Traffic Problems, SUVs Do • Long Week for Women\u27s Softball • Women\u27s Lacrosse Team Continues Winning Streakhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1583/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 17, 2005

UC Students Tour Washington D.C. to Prepare for Model UN • Wismer Music Makes a Comeback • Problems with New Member Education • Ursinus Students Sprint into SPINT Housing • Leaders Wanted: Do You Have What it Takes? • Sexual Physical Fitness • Dramaturgy: New Course for Theater • Philadelphia Gets Closer for Ursinus Students • Opinions: Speak Up, It\u27s Your Right; God in the Government: Can we Escape Him?; What Rules the Media, Entertainment or Information? • Track and Field Team Headed in Right Direction • Lady Bears Dominate Bryn Mawr • Murray Helps Wrestling Team Remain Undefeatedhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1578/thumbnail.jp