Cognitive control in recognition of an emotionally negative face in five- to ten-year-old children

We used the experimental model of cognitive visual set, designed by D.N. Uznadze, to study the influence of previous experience on emotional face expression recognition in pre-school (6.1 ± 0.3 years) and elementary school (10.5 ± 0.1 years) children. Our results suggest that the ability to form a cognitive set to an angry face expression develops in ontogenesis in strong concordance with functional maturation of prefrontal cortex that takes place at the age of approximately 10 years. At this age children display almost the same level of set plasticity and a similar kind of erroneous perceptions during set actualization as grown-ups. Children of younger age (6.1 ± 0.3 years) display more perceverative erroneous perceptions, or assimilative illusions (probably of a priming origin), than the above mentioned groups. We consider this to be a result of a more strong influence of previous experience in their case.     

Development of a function to recognize angry facial expressions in 5- to 11-year-old children

In 5- to 6-, 7- to 8-, and 10- to 11-year-old children, age-related features of the effects of former experience on the recognition of emotional facial expressions were found using a cognitive set model. In five- to six-year-old children, an inert set to an angry facial expression was formed and expressed during testing as a large number of erroneous recognition of facial expressions of the perseverative type (assimilative) illusions. Set plasticity was increased in seven- to eight-year-old children and the number of assimilative illusions decreased. In 10- to 11-year-old children, the cognitive set was similar to adults in terms of its plasticity and a ratio of assimilative and contrast illusions. Changes in the spatial synchronization of electrical potentials in the ??- and ??-frequency bands were observed in all age groups, mainly during set formation. In all age groups, we observed a correlation between the bioelectrical data and the effects of former experience on the recognition of facial expression. Based on the data on the coherence of the potentials of the ??- and ??-ranges we propose age-related changes in the involvement of the cortico-hippocampal and fronto-thalamic functional systems of integration of brain activity in organizing the sets to emotionally negative facial expressions.     

Context effects recognition of the emotional facial expression

Influence of additional working memory load on emotional face recognition was studied in healthy adults. Visual set to emotional face expression was experimentally formed, and two types of additional task--visual-spatial or semantic--were embedded in the experiment. Additional task caused less plastic set, i.e., a slower set-shifting. This effect displayed itself in an increase of erroneous facial expression perceptions. The character of these erroneous perceptions (assimilative or contrast or visual illusions) depended on the type of the additional task. Pre-stimulus EEG coherence across experimental trials in theta (4-7), low alpha (8-10 Hz) and beta (14--20) bands was analysed. Data of low-alpha and beta-coherence supported the hypothesis that increased memory load caused less involvement of frontal lobes in selective attention mechanisms that are associated with set-forming. This results in a slower set-shifting. Increased memory load also led to a growth of theta-band coherence in the left hemisphere and its decrease in the right hemisphere. The account of theta-coherence decrease in the right hemisphere between prefrontal and temporal areas for a slower set-shifting is discussed.     

Insulin sensitivity measured with the minimal model is higher in moderately overweight women with predominantly lower body fat.

Lower-body obesity is associated with a lower incidence of diabetes and high values of HDL2 cholesterol and thus seems to have a metabolic profile opposite to upper-body obesity. We measured insulin sensitivity by the minimal model procedure in 20 lower-body overweight women (age 40.3+/-2.3 years, waist-to-hip ratio WHR 0.75+/-0.01, body mass index BMI 29.9+/-0.7 kg/m2), compared to 18 women with a similar degree of upper-body obesity (age 40.4+/-3years, WHR 0.91+/-0.02, BMI 29.4+/-0.7 kg/m2) and 28 control women matched for age and height. Insulin sensitivity and basal insulin effect were higher in lower-body obesity (11.2+/-0.2 min-1/[microU/ml]x 10(-4) and 0.8+/-0.2 min(-1) x 10(-2), respectively) compared to upper-body obesity (2.6+/-0.4, p < 0.001 and 0.3+/-0.05, p < 0.01) and controls (6.1+/-0.7, p < 0.02 and 0.5+/-0.07, p < 0.02). It is suggested that lower-body obesity could be associated with a reduced free fatty acids-induced inhibition of insulin action by the Randle mechanism. This study confirms that body fat distribution is a more relevant determinant than obesity itself in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Contrary to upper-body obesity, moderate lower-body overweight seems to be associated with high values on insulin sensitivity.     

Identification of peanut agglutinin receptors on mouse testicular germ cells

Peanut agglutinin receptors expressed specifically in mouse testicular germ cells have been identified by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and lectin blotting techniques. Two major components were estimated to have molecular weights of 86,000 and isoelectric points of 6.1 +/- 0.3 and 6.2 +/- 0.3. Minor components with molecular weights of 71,000-74,000 and isoelectric points of 6.1 +/- 0.3 were also detected. Specific expression of these receptors on testicular germ cells was confirmed using the testes of mutant mice, Sld/Sld, devoid of germ cells.     

Flexibility of cognitive activity depends on its context

The main purpose of this survey is to explain the importance of set-shifting for a flexible cognitive activity. Working memory overload may result in set-shifting slowdown, i.e., in a more rigid set and in a less flexible cognitive activity. This effect displays itself in an increase of erroneous perceptions of external stimuli. Set rigidity level also depends on the cognitive activity context (i.e., on the type of external stimuli the person has to deal with). We analyzed EEG-coherence function and induced synchronization/desynchronization responses in theta (4-7 Hz) and low alpha (8-10 Hz) bands. Basing on these data, we discuss the role of tonic and phasic forms of cortico-hippocampal and fronto-thalamic systems' activation in cognitive activity flexibility.     

Improving adherence to medication in stroke survivors (IAMSS): a randomised controlled trial: study protocol

Background  

Adherence to therapies is a primary determinant of treatment success, yet the World Health Organisation estimate that only 50% of patients who suffer from chronic diseases adhere to treatment recommendations. In a previous project, we found that 30% of stroke patients reported sub-optimal medication adherence, and this was associated with younger age, greater cognitive impairment, lower perceptions of medication benefits and higher specific concerns about medication. We now wish to pilot a brief intervention aimed at (a) helping patients establish a better medication-taking routine, and (b) eliciting and modifying any erroneous beliefs regarding their medication and their stroke.     

Extra structurally abnormal chromosomes (ESAC) detected at amniocentesis: frequency in approximately 75,000 prenatal cytogenetic diagnoses and associations with maternal and paternal age.

We analyzed rates of extra structurally abnormal chromosomes (ESAC) detected in prenatal cytogenetic diagnoses of amniotic fluid reported to the New York Chromosome Registry. These karyotypes include both extra unidentified structurally abnormal chromosomes (EUSAC)--often denoted as "markers"--and extra identified structurally abnormal chromosomes (EISAC). The rate of all EUSAC was 0.64/1,000 (0.32-0.40/1,000 mutant and 0.23-0.32 inherited), and that of all EISAC was 0.11/1,000 (0.07/1,000 mutant and 0.04/1,000 inherited). The rate of all ESAC was approximately 0.8/1,000-0.4-0.5/1,000 mutant and 0.3-0.4/1,000 inherited. Mean +/- SD maternal age of mutant cases was 37.5 +/- 2.9, significantly greater than the value of 35.8 years in controls. A regression analysis indicated a rate of change of the log of the rate of about +0.20 with each year of maternal age between 30 and 45 years. When paternal age was introduced, the maternal age coefficient increased to about +0.25--close to that seen for 47, +21--but the paternal age coefficient was -0.06. After being matched for maternal age and year of diagnosis, the case-control difference in paternal age for 24 mutant cases was -2.4 with a 95% confidence interval of -4.6 to -0.1 years. In a regression analysis of the effects of both parental ages on the (log) rate, the maternal age coefficient was +0.25 and the paternal age coefficient was -0.06. These results are consistent with a (weak) negative paternal age effect in the face of a strong maternal age effect. Since ESAC include a heterogeneous group of abnormalities, the maternal age and paternal age trends, if not the result of statistical fluctuation or undetected biases, may involve different types of events. Data in the literature suggest that chromosomes with de novo duplicated inversions of 15p have a strong maternal age effect (but little paternal age effect). Such chromosomes, however, do not account for the active maternal age trends seen in the data analyzed here. Inherited ESAC exhibited no such trends.     

Visual nonverbal set in preschool- and schoolchildren

Visual set for perception of unequal circles was formed in 5-6-year-old preschool- (n = 30) and schoolchildren (n = 43). Children of 5.3-6.1 years old formed a less rigid set than 9-10-year-olds. The reaction time to a probe stimulus significantly depended on the set stability and stage. The role of structural maturation of the frontal cortical areas in set formation and stability is discussed. The factor of set rigidity was shown to be significant for cognitive activity.     

"Psyching-up" enhances force production during the bench press exercise

We investigated the effect of "psyching-up" on force production during the bench press. Twelve men (mean age +/- SD: 27.4 +/- 11.2 years) and 8 women (20.9 +/- 2.5 years) with strength-training experience performed 5 bench press repetitions on a modified Biodex isokinetic dynamometer during 3 interventions. The interventions were counterbalanced and included a free-choice psych-up, a cognitive distraction, and an attention-placebo. Peak force recorded after psyching-up (mean +/- SD: 764 +/- 269 N.m) was significantly different from both distraction (703 +/- 282 N.m, p = 0.003) and attention-placebo (708 +/- 248 N.m, p = 0.01). The mean percentage increase in peak force from distraction to psyching-up was 11.8% (6 to 18%, 95% confidence interval [CI]) and 8.1% from placebo to psyching-up (3 to 13%, 95% CI). The results of the present study indicate that psyching-up may increase force production during the bench press exercise in participants with at least 1 year strength-training experience.     

Dependence of plasticity of set to emotional facial expression on working memory load

The effect of increasing working memory load (by introduction of an additional cognitive task into the experimental context) on the recognition of emotional facial expression in a visual set paradigm was studied in healthy adult subjects. The link between plasticity of the cognitive set to emotional facial expression and the working memory was revealed. It was found that an increase in the working memory load was associated with a delay of set shifting in a modified situation. The set became more rigid which appeared as increasing number of trials with erroneous assessments of facial expression in the form of contrast or assimilative illusions. The significance of inner states and priming for the insight into psychophysiological mechanisms of erroneous assessments under conditions of the working memory loading is discussed in terms of the concept of the integration of bottom-up and top-down streams.     

High incidence of hyperandrogenism-related clinical signs in patients with multiple sclerosis

A mild prevalence of multiple sclerosis (MS) is present in females (2:1). To elucidate the pathogenetic role of sex steroids on the disease, we studied 76 women affected by MS, compared to 50 healthy women (mean age +/- SD, 34.9 +/- 0.9 vs. 33.4 +/- 1.7 years). The menarche was at mean age of 12.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 12.4 +/- 0.2. Interval between menses was 28.0 +/- 0.3 vs 27.8 +/- 0.3 days, with duration of menstrual flow of 5.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.0 +/- 0.2 days. Oligo- or amenorrhea was present in 20% of patients and in 16% of controls. Oral contraceptives were assumed by 21% of patients and 34% of controls (n.s.). Premenstrual symptoms were found in 43% of patients and in 46% of controls (n.s.). The incidence of hyperandrogenism (greasy skin, acne and hirsutism), evaluated by a specific questionnaire, was higher and statistically significant in MS patients than in controls (28% vs. 10%, p<0.05). Further studies, including a complete clinical and laboratory evaluation of gonadal function, are necessary in order to clarify whether hyperandrogenism may influence MS disease activity.     

Effect of ejaculation frequency and season on donkey jack semen

Semen characteristics of first and second successive ejaculates from 6 jacks were evaluated weekly for 12 mo. The semen was collected at 4-h intervals, using an artificial vagina with a female in either natural or induced estrus. The statistical analysis was done by factorial delineation 2 x 2 in randomized blocks. Due to some ejaculation failures, the data had to be divided into 2 Groups (A and B) for statistical analysis: Group A - ejaculates preceded by 2 ejaculates in the previous week and Group B - ejaculates preceded by only 1 ejaculate in the previous week. If no statistical difference was observed between the groups in a given parameter, the data was grouped together. Semen characteristics for the first and second ejaculates, respectively, showed the following mean +/- SEM: gel-free semen volume 29.2 +/- 2.2 and 31.7 +/- 2.2 ml; progressive motility 71.0 +/- 1.6 and 72.9 +/- 1.6%; sperm vigor 3.8 +/- 0.1 and 4.1 +/- 0.1; live spermatozoa for Group A 82.6 +/- 2.1 and 82.3 +/- 2.1%, and for Group B 84.6 +/- 1.4 and 86.6 +/- 1.4%; total number of spermatozoa for Group A 10.6 +/- 0.8 x 10(9) and 5.8 +/- 0.8 x 10(9), and for Group B 13.3 +/- 1.2 x 10(9) and 9.6 +/- 1.2 x 10(9); head abnormalities for Group A 1.2 +/- 0.3 and 1.4 +/- 0.3%, and for Group B 1.6 +/- 0.3 and 1.9 +/- 0.3%; mid piece abnormalities 7.7 +/- 0.7 and 6.1 +/- 0.7%; tail abnormalities 7.3 +/- 0.7 and 6.8 +/- 0.7%; pH 7.6 +/- 0.0 and 7.6 +/- 0.0. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed between the animals for all sperm characteristics except for sperm vigor. The means for the first and second ejaculates were significantly different (P < 0.05) for the total number of spermatozoa in all the animals, while the percentage of mid piece abnormalities was significantly different in only 1 jack. Seasonal effects on sperm parameters were observed only for semen pH.     

Influence of exercise order in a resistance-training exercise session

The order of resistance exercises within a training session may have a vital impact on the quality of the constituent exercises performed. However, very few studies have documented the specific influence of exercise order. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise order on back squat performance in the context of a whole-body workout. Nine resistance-trained male subjects (age: 24 +/- 4 years, body mass: 81.5 +/- 15.3 kg, resistance-training experience: 7 +/- 4 years) performed the back squat exercise (4 sets at 85% of 1 repetition maximum) on 2 separate occasions in a balanced, crossover design. During one protocol, the squat exercise was performed first (protocol A); during the other protocol, it was performed after a whole-body resistance-exercise session (protocol B). Number of repetitions, average power, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were collected during each set of the squat exercise. All subjects performed significantly (p < 0.01) more repetitions during set 1 when they performed protocol A (8.0 +/- 1.9 repetitions) compared with protocol B (5.4 +/- 2.7 repetitions). The average power for each set was higher during protocol B compared with protocol A. There were no significant differences in RPE values between the 2 protocols. In conclusion, performing the barbell back squat first in an exercise session allowed the completion of more total repetitions. However, this study showed that performing the squat exercise after a whole-body workout session may result in greater power output if the squat is preceded by a power exercise (i.e., hang pull). This phenomenon may have been due to postactivation potentiation.     

Public opinion,prejudice and the racialization of welfare in Canada

Drawing on a unique survey experiment in the 2011 Canadian Election Study data set, this paper examines the ways in which racial cues influence attitudes towards redistributive policy. While work in the USA points to a strong racialization of welfare attitudes, little research explores the ways in which racial cues may structure attitudes about welfare elsewhere. In the Canadian context, Aboriginal peoples have faced both historic persecution and continue to face severe discrimination. They also experience much higher levels of poverty than other groups in Canada. Our results examine the effect that (hypothetical) Aboriginal recipients have on public support for social assistance. Results suggest that respondents' support for redistribution is lower when recipients are Aboriginal rather than white. As we have seen in the USA, then, support for welfare is related to racialized perceptions about those who benefit from social assistance.     

Left ventricular diastolic filling in young persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of diabetes mellitus on left ventricular function. Using Doppler echocardiography we examined a group of 49 young (20-32 years old) persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus and a group of healthy age-matched men and evaluated the parameters of diastolic filling of the left ventricle (LV). We found significant differences in peak velocity of early filling of the left ventricle ((70.07+/-10.84 vers. 78.2+/-10.59 cm.s(-1), p+/-0. 01), peak velocity of late diastolic filling of LV (A = 47.74+/-11.6 vers. 43.15+/-7.48 cm.s(-1), p < or = 0.027), ratio E/A (1.53+/-0.4 vers. 1.84+/-0.33), time velocity integral of peak E (TVIE = 0.083+/-0.014 vers. 0.1+/-0.022 m, p < or = 0.001), time velocity integral of peak A (TVIA = 0.039+/-0.011 vers. 0.037+/-0.012 m, p < or = 0.3), ratio TVIE/TVIA (2.3+/-0.73 vers. 2.9+/-0.9, p < or = 0.001), time E (204.4+/-31.59 vers. 198.4+/-19.09 ms, p < or = 0.27), time A (126.9 < or = 23.0 vers. 113.5+/-15.59 ms, p < or = 0.002), time E/time A (1.64+/-0.3 vers. 1.76+/-0.22, p < or = 0.039) and duration of isovolumic relaxation period (IVRT = 88.2+/-10.8 vers. 71.13+/-8.4 ms, p < or = 0.0001). Despite significant differences all the results were in the range of values for the healthy population. However in detailed analysis we found that the values measured in young (20-32 years old) persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus corresponded with diastolic parameters of healthy men of the age of 50 years and more. Thus, diabetes mellitus can influence the relaxation properties of the left ventricle.     

Changes in face expression recognition caused by additional visual-spatial load

Changes in face expression recognition and EEG synchronization arising from additional load on working memory were studied in healthy adults. Two types of additional task--semantic and visuospatial--were used to load working memory in an experiment with a visual set, formed to facial stimuli. During perception of new facial stimuli, both these types of additional task caused an increase of erroneous face expression recognitions in the form of assimilative illusions. Alpha-band (8-10 Hz) EEG synchronization analysis revealed that additional memory load causes a decrease of frontal attention system input in set-forming and set-shifting. As for theta-band (4-7 Hz) synchronization, it changed ambiguously at additional memory load--in right fronto-temporal region coherence function decreased; other coherence connections, especially intra-hemispheric and in the left hemisphere, increased. At issue is the crucial role of fronto-thalamic and cortico-hippocampal systems in plasticity of visual sets formed to facial expressions.     

Mechanism of enhanced cardiac function in mice with hypertrophy induced by overexpressed Akt

Transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of active Akt (TG) not only exhibit hypertrophy but also show enhanced left ventricular (LV) function. In 3-4-month-old TG, heart/body weight was increased by 60% and LV ejection fraction was elevated (84 +/- 2%, p < 0.01) compared with nontransgenic littermates (wild type (WT)) (73 +/- 1%). An increase in isolated ventricular myocyte contractile function (% contraction) in TG compared with WT (6.1 +/- 0.2 versus 3.5 +/- 0.2%, p < 0.01) was associated with increased Fura-2 Ca2+ transients (396 +/- 50 versus 250 +/- 24 nmol/liter, p < 0.05). The rate of relaxation (+dL/dt) was also enhanced in TG (214 +/- 15 versus 98 +/- 18 microm/s, p < 0.01). L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) density was increased in TG compared with WT (-9.0 +/- 0.3 versus 7.2 +/- 0.3 pA/pF, p < 0.01). Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase 2a (SERCA2a) protein levels were increased (p < 0.05) by 6.6-fold in TG, which could be recapitulated in vitro by adenovirus-mediated overexpression of Akt in cultured adult ventricular myocytes. Conversely, inhibiting SERCA with either ryanodine or thapsigargin affected myocyte contraction and relaxation and Ca2+ channel kinetics more in TG than in WT. Thus, myocytes from mice with overexpressed Akt demonstrated enhanced contractility and relaxation, Fura-2 Ca2+ transients, and Ca2+ channel currents. Furthermore, increased protein expression of SERCA2a plays an important role in mediating enhanced LV function by Akt. Up-regulation of SERCA2a expression and enhanced LV myocyte contraction and relaxation in Akt-induced hypertrophy is opposite to the down-regulation of SERCA2a and reduced contractile function observed in many other forms of LV hypertrophy.     

Interleukin-6 is increased in breath condensate of patients with non-small cell lung cancer

Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), most patients still present with advanced stage disease at the time of diagnosis. Recent studies suggest that IL-6 is involved in the development of lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the measurement of IL-6 levels in the breath condensate of NSCLC patients could be used to bring forward the moment of diagnosis and to monitor the progression of the disease. Twenty patients with histological evidence of NSCLC (14 men and 6 women, age 63+/-8 years) and 15 healthy controls (8 men and 7 women, age 45+/-6 years) were enrolled in the study. IL6 was measured in the exhaled breath condensate of patients and controls by means of a specific enzyme immunoassay kit. Higher concentrations of exhaled IL-6 were found in NSCLC patients (9.6+/-0.3 pg/mL) than in controls (3.5+/-0.2 pg/mL). A statistically significant difference was observed between patients with NSCLC at different stages: higher concentrations of IL-6 (10.9+/-0.5 pg/mL) were found in patients with metastatic disease than in those with stage III (9.7+/-0.4 pg/mL), stage II (8.9+/-0.3 pg/mL) and stage I disease (7.9+/-0.3 pg/mL). These findings suggest that the measurement of IL-6 in the breath condensate of patients with NSCLC could be proposed as a parameter to take into account in early diagnosis and disease monitoring.