Structural colors result from the physical interaction of light with organic materials of differing refractive indexes organized at nanoscale dimensions to produce significant interference effects. ...Because color properties emerge from these finely organized nanostructures, the production of structural coloration could respond to environmental factors and be developmentally more plastic than expected, functioning as an indicator of individual quality. However, there are many unknown factors concerning the function and mechanisms regulating structural coloration, especially relative to social environment. We hypothesized that social environment, in the form of competitive settings, can influence the developmental pathways involving production of feather structural coloration. We experimentally assessed the impact of social environment upon body condition, molt and spectral properties of two types of structural color that compose the nuptial plumage in blue-black grassquits: black iridescent plumage and white underwing patches. We manipulated male social environment during nine months by keeping individuals in three treatments: (1) pairs; (2) all-male groups; and (3) male-female mixed groups. All morphological characters and spectral plumage measures varied significantly through time, but only acquisition of nuptial plumage coverage and nuptial plumage color were influenced by social environment. Compared with males in the paired treatment, those in treatments with multiple males molted into nuptial plumage faster and earlier, and their plumage was more UV-purple-shifted. Our results provide experimental evidence that social context strongly influences development and expression of structural plumage. These results emphasize the importance of long-term experimental studies to identify the phenotypic consequences of social dynamics relative to ornament expression.
Ageing is associated with declines in cognitive functions and physical fitness (PF). Physical exercise training and physical activity (PA) have been shown to have positive effects on cognitive ...functions and brain plasticity. This study aims to establish a practical equation for evaluating cognitive functions using PF parameters in healthy older adults. One-hundred and two older subjects were physically and clinically evaluated. Participants performed the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and handgrip test (HG); general cognitive functions were examined using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). For all of them, a multiple regression analysis was used to predict MMSE from age, SPPB and HG variables. The new equation was cross validated to determine its prediction accuracy. Considering that SPPB and MMSE reference score are not different between genders, only one equation was developed for females and males. Age, SPPB and HG correlated significantly (p<0.01) with the MMSE score. The developed equation was MMSE = 19.479 + (1.548 x SPPB)-(0.130 x age) (R2 = 0.72 and root mean square errors of 3.6). The results of PF are useful for exercise specialists to achieve the best physical exercise training and PA in older adults. In conclusion, this study showed for the first time that our new equation can be used to predict subjects' cognitive functions based on SPPB results and subject age. We suggest its use when patients' cognitive functions or more appropriate clinical tests cannot be pursued.
The challenge hypothesis proposes that testosterone (T) elevation above what is needed for breeding is associated with social factors, and males possibly modulate their hormonal response to ...variations in population density and sex ratio. We investigated the role of social environment in altering testosterone levels and aggression in a tropical, seasonally breeding grassquit (Volatinia jacarina). We exposed males to three social conditions during 1year: all-males treatment (six males), mixed treatment (three males–three females), and paired treatment (one male–one female). We quantified aggressiveness among males and T plasma concentration for each individual in each treatment monthly. We found that more aggressive interactions occurred in the all-males treatment than in the mixed treatment. The data also revealed that, coincident with these behavioral changes, the patterns of T variation through time in each treatment were markedly different. The all-males treatment exhibited an early increase in T concentration, which was sustained for a lengthy period with two distinctive peaks, and subsequently declined sharply. The mixed treatment presented an intermediate pattern, with more gradual increase and decrease in T levels. At the other extreme, the paired treatment presented a later rise in T concentration. We conclude that the more competitive environment, with higher density of males, caused the early and higher elevation in T level, thus the presence of competitors may influence the decision of how much a male should invest in reproduction. We suggest that the male's perception of his social environment ultimately mediates hormonal production and alters his reproductive strategy.
►We tested how social setting changes testosterone level and aggression in blue–black grassquits. ► Males were submitted to three social conditions during 1year: all males, mixed, and paired. ► We quantified aggressiveness among males and T plasma for individuals in each treatment monthly. ► There was more aggressiveness in the all-males treatment and T patterns varied across treatments. ► Male perception of social environment ultimately mediates hormonal production.
Combined therapy of memantine or acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, with cholinergic precursors such as citicoline, can be effective in Alzheimer's disease. Indeed, they are able to increase the ...intrasynaptic levels of acetylcholine more than the single drug. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral citicoline plus memantine plus rivastigmine in patients with Alzheimer's disease.
This was a multi-centric, retrospective case-control study conducted in Italian Centers for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia on consecutive patients aged 65 years or older affected with Alzheimer's disease. Overall, 104 patients were recruited (27% male, mean age 76.04 ± 4.92 years); 41 (39.42%) treated with citicolin 1000 mg/day given orally + memantine + rivastigmine (Cases) and 63 (60.58%) treated with memantine + rivastigmine (Controls). At baseline (T0), month 6 (T1) and month 12 (T2), cognitive functions were assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), functional dependence by basal Activities (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), comorbidity by the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS), mood by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and behavioural disturbances by the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Adverse events were reported during the study.
The difference in MMSE score was not significant when comparing the two groups at T0, T1 or T2. However, in the case group, the MMSE total score showed a statistically significant difference at T0 versus T1 (13.63 ± 2.46 vs. 14.17 ± 2.24; p = 0.008), and at T0 versus T2 (13.63 ± 2.46 vs. 14.32 ± 2.53; p = 0.002). In the control group, no statistical differences were found at baseline (T0), T1 and T2. ADL, IADL, GDS and NPI total score did not improve during the study in either the case or the control group.
In our study we observed absence of a statistically significant difference between case and control groups for the MMSE total scores. However, in the case group in the MMSE total scores, there was a statistically significant increase between the baseline and the end of the study.
Podocnemis expansa is the only freshwater turtle species that presents a social nesting behavior in South America, where thousands of females congregate on nesting beaches. We recorded the death of ...15 females that were found fully or partially buried by other females at a gregarious nesting site from 2013 to 2017 on 2 beaches of the Tabuleiro of Monte Cristo, Pará, Brazil; another 2 buried females were rescued while still alive. This is the first study to quantify and record biometrical information of females' deaths not caused by predation or harvesting in a nesting area.
The studio di intervento nel decadimento vascolare lieve (IDEALE study) was an open multicenter Italian study, the aim of which was to assess the effectiveness and safety of oral citicoline in ...elderly people with mild vascular cognitive impairment.
The study was performed in 349 patients. The active or citicoline group was composed of 265 patients and included 122 men and 143 women of mean age 79.9 ± 7.8 years selected from six Italian regions. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 65 years, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 21, subjective memory complaints but no evidence of deficits on MMSE, and evidence of vascular lesions on neuroradiology. Those with probable Alzheimer's disease were excluded. The control group consisted of 84 patients, including 36 men and 48 women of mean age 78.9 ± 7.01 (range 67-90) years. Patients included in the study underwent brain computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and plasma dosage of vitamin B12, folate, and thyroid hormones. Functional dependence was investigated by scores on the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scales, mood was assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), and behavioral disorders using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory scale. Comorbidity was assessed using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale. An assessment was made at baseline (T0), after 3 months (T1), and after 9 months (T2, ie, 6 months after T1). The main outcomes were an improvement in MMSE, ADL, and IADL scores in the study group compared with the control group. Side effects were also investigated. The study group was administered oral citicoline 500 mg twice a day throughout the study.
MMSE scores remained unchanged over time (22.4 ± 4 at T0; 22.7 ± 4 at T1; 22.9 ± 4 at T2), whereas a significant difference was found between the study and control groups, both in T1 and in T2. No differences were found in ADL and IADL scores between the two groups. A slight but not statistically significant difference was found in GDS score between the study and control groups (P = 0.06). No adverse events were recorded.
In this study, citicoline was effective and well tolerated in patients with mild vascular cognitive impairment. Citicoline activates biosynthesis of phospholipids in neuronal membranes, increases brain metabolism as well as norepinephrine and dopamine levels in the central nervous system, and has neuroprotective effects during hypoxia and ischemia. Therefore, citicoline may be recommended for patients with mild vascular cognitive impairment.
Individuals suffering from dementia are affected by a progressive and significant global deterioration and, consequently, might require longer assistance in the advanced stage of the illness. The ...illness is a great burden on the person who takes care of a patient, namely, the caregiver. This study aims to analyze the presence and relationship of specific sociodemographic variables, subjective burden, and depressive symptoms among caregivers of patients with dementia.
The participants of this study were caregivers at a health care unit for the elderly in southern Italy. An evaluation of the burden of patients with dementia on caregivers was carried out using the Caregiver Burden Inventory (CBI) and depressive symptoms using the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS).
A total of 150 caregivers completed the study. In all, 83 (55%) caregivers showed a total CBI score ≥36, of whom 70% showed pathological depression scores in SDS. According to SDS, 28 (19%) caregivers showed a total CBI score from 24 to 36, of whom 32% were depressed. Depression was present in 5% of the caregivers whose CBI score was <24. Hence, an association between burden and depression was evident (χ(2)=47.446, P<0.001). A multiple linear regression analysis showed that depression (adjusted R(2)=0.622, F=50.123, P<0.001) was associated with higher physical (β=0.666, P=0.001) and developmental (β=0.712, P<0.001) burdens, lower socioeconomic status (β=-4.282; P=0.002), higher level of urbanicity (β=3.070; P=0.012), and advanced age (β=2.132; P=0.08).
Our study confirms the presence of depressive symptoms in a large number of caregivers with high burden. Nevertheless, this study demonstrates that depressive symptoms are mainly associated with sociodemographic variables and, to a lesser degree, physical and developmental burdens.
There is a long history of exploitation of the South American river turtle Podocnemis expansa. Conservation efforts for this species started in the 1960s but best practices were not established, and ...population trends and the number of nesting females protected remained unknown. In 2014 we formed a working group to discuss conservation strategies and to compile population data across the species’ range. We analysed the spatial pattern of its abundance in relation to human and natural factors using multiple regression analyses. We found that > 85 conservation programmes are protecting 147,000 nesting females, primarily in Brazil. The top six sites harbour > 100,000 females and should be prioritized for conservation action. Abundance declines with latitude and we found no evidence of human pressure on current turtle abundance patterns. It is presently not possible to estimate the global population trend because the species is not monitored continuously across the Amazon basin. The number of females is increasing at some localities and decreasing at others. However, the current size of the protected population is well below the historical population size estimated from past levels of human consumption, which demonstrates the need for concerted global conservation action. The data and management recommendations compiled here provide the basis for a regional monitoring programme among South American countries.
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