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Dopamine‐ and cAMP‐regulated phosphoprotein (Mr 32 kDa, DARPP‐32) is an integrator of multiple neuronal signals and plays a crucial role particularly in mediating the dopaminergic component of the systems involved in the evaluation of stimuli and the ensuing elaboration of complex behavioral responses (e.g., responses to reinforcers and stressors). Dopamine neurons can fire tonically or phasically in distinct timescales and in specific brain regions to code different behaviorally relevant information. Dopamine signaling is mediated mainly through the regulation of adenylyl cyclase activity, stimulated by D1‐like or inhibited by D2‐like receptors, respectively, that modulates cAMP‐dependent protein kinase (PKA) function. The activity of DARPP‐32 is finely regulated by its phosphorylation at multiple sites. Phosphorylation at the threonine (Thr) 34 residue by PKA converts DARPP‐32 into an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1, while the phosphorylation at the Thr75 residue turns it into an inhibitor of PKA. Thus, DARPP‐32 is critically implicated in regulating striatal output in response to the convergent pathways that influence signaling of the cAMP/PKA pathway. This review summarizes some of the landmark and recent studies of DARPP‐32‐mediated signaling in the attempt to clarify the role played by DARPP‐32 in the response to rewarding natural stimuli. Particularly, the review deals with data derived from rodents studies and discusses the involvement of the cAMP/PKA/DARPP‐32 pathway in: 1) appetitive food‐sustained motivated behaviors, 2) motivated behaviors sustained by social reward, 3) sexual behavior, and 4) responses to environmental enrichment. Dopamine‐ and cAMP‐regulated phosphoprotein (Mr 32 kDa, DARPP‐32) is an integrator of multiple neuronal signals, in particular of dopaminergic and glutamatergic transmissions, and its activity is finely regulated by phosphorylation at multiple sites [threonine (Thr) 34 and 75; serine (Ser) 97 and 130]. This review discusses the role of DARPP‐32 in mediating biochemical, electrophysiological, transcriptional, and behavioral effects of dopamine. The evidences available on rodents, and some indirect evidence in humans, on the role played by DARPP‐32 in the integration of the responses to rewarding natural stimuli such as food, social and sexual interactions, and environmental enrichment are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to describe the prevalence and transitions of frailty among rural-community dwelling older adults in Malaysia and to analyse factors associated with different states of frailty transition. Frailty was conceptualized using modified Fried phenotype from the Cardiovascular Health Study. Design: This is a prospective longitudinal study with 12-months follow up among older adults in Malaysia. Setting: Kuala Pilah, a district in Negeri Sembilan, which is one of the fourteen states in Malaysia. Participants: 2,324 community-dwelling older Malaysians aged 60 years and older. Results: The overall prevalence of frailty in this study was 9.4% (95% CI 7.8–11.2). The prevalence increased at least three-fold with every 10 years of age. This increase was seen higher in women compared to men. Being frail was significantly associated with older age, women, and respondents with a higher number of chronic diseases, poor cognitive function and low socioeconomic status (p<0.05). During the 12-months follow-up, our study showed that the transition towards greater frailty states were more likely (22.9%) than transition toward lesser frailty states (19.9%) while majority (57.2%) remained unchanged. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that presence of low physical activity increased the likelihood of worsening transition towards greater frailty states by three times (OR 2.9, 95% CI 2.2–3.7) and lowered the likelihood of transition towards lesser frailty states (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.2–0.4). Conclusion: Frailty is reported among one in every eleven older adults in this study. The prevalence increased across age groups and was higher among women than men. Frailty possesses a dynamic status due to its potential reversibility. This reversibility makes it a cornerstone to delay frailty progression. Our study noted that physical activity conferred the greatest benefit as a modifiable factor in frailty prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Decline in physical activity and functioning is commonly observed in the older population and might be associated with biomarkers such as advanced glycation end products (AGEs). AGEs contribute to age-related decline in the function of cells and tissues in normal aging and have been found to be associated with motor function decline. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the levels of AGEs, as assessed by skin autofluorescence, and the amount of physical activity and loss of physical functioning in older participants.Methods: Cross-sectional data of 5,624 participants aged 65 years and older from the LifeLines Cohort Study were used. Linear regression analyses were utilized to study the associations between skin autofluorescence/AGE levels (AGE Reader), the number of physically active days (SQUASH), and physical functioning (RAND-36). A logistic regression analysis was used to study the associations between AGE levels and the compliance with the Dutch physical activity guidelines (SQUASH).Results: A statistical significant association between AGE levels and the number of physically active days (β = -0.21, 95% confidence interval: -0.35 to -0.07, p = .004), physical functioning (β = -1.60, 95% confidence interval: -2.64 to -0.54, p = .003), and compliance with the Dutch physical activity guidelines (odds ratio = 0.76, 95% confidence interval: 0.62 to 0.94, p = .010) was revealed.Conclusions: This study indicates that high AGE levels may be a contributing factor as well as a biomarker for lower levels of physical activity and functioning in the older population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decision making based on behavioral and neural observations of living systems has been extensively studied in brain science, psychology, neuroeconomics, and other disciplines. Decision-making mechanisms have also been experimentally implemented in physical processes, such as single photons and chaotic lasers. The findings of these experiments suggest that there is a certain common basis in describing decision making, regardless of its physical realizations. In this study, we propose a local reservoir model to account for choice-based learning (CBL). CBL describes decision consistency as a phenomenon where making a certain decision increases the possibility of making that same decision again later. This phenomenon has been intensively investigated in neuroscience, psychology, and other related fields. Our proposed model is inspired by the viewpoint that a decision is affected by its local environment, which is referred to as a local reservoir. If the size of the local reservoir is large enough, consecutive decision making will not be affected by previous decisions, thus showing lower degrees of decision consistency in CBL. In contrast, if the size of the local reservoir decreases, a biased distribution occurs within it, which leads to higher degrees of decision consistency in CBL. In this study, an analytical approach for characterizing local reservoirs is presented, as well as several numerical demonstrations. Furthermore, a physical architecture for CBL based on single photons is discussed, and the effects of local reservoirs are numerically demonstrated. Decision consistency in human decision-making tasks and in recruiting empirical data is evaluated based on the local reservoir. This foundation based on a local reservoir offers further insights into the understanding and design of decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity promotes better health outcomes across the lifespan, and provides physical and mental health benefits for women who have recently given birth. However, research has not adequately characterized physical activity levels or risk factors for inadequate physical activity during the postpartum period. The objective of the present study was to describe levels and correlates of physical activity at 6 months postpartum in mothers of diverse race/ethnicity (55% African American, 23% White, 22% Hispanic/Latina), with the majority living in or near poverty. We analyzed data collected by the five-site Community Child Health Network study. Women (n = 1581) were recruited shortly after the birth of a child. Multinomial logistic regression models tested associations of demographic factors and self-reported stress in several life domains with total physical activity levels at 6-9 months postpartum, including activities done at work, at home, for transportation, and leisure. Thirty-five percent of participants in this sample reported low levels of physical activity. African American race, Latina ethnicity, and living in a rural area were associated with low levels of physical activity, whereas working outside the home was associated with high physical activity. Contrary to hypotheses, chronic stress was not associated with physical activity with the exception of financial stress, which predicted greater likelihood of being highly physically active. These findings suggest that optimal postpartum care should integrate physical activity promotion, and that African American, Latina, and rural-dwelling women may benefit most from efforts to promote activity following birth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present herein the utilization of NHC‐stabilized alane adducts of the type (NHC)·AlH3 [NHC = Me2Im (1), Me2ImMe (2), iPr2Im (3), iPr2ImMe (4), Dipp2Im (5)] and (NHC)·AliBu2H [NHC = iPr2Im (6), Dipp2Im (7)] as novel hydride transfer reagents in the hydrodefluorination (HDF) of different fluoroaromatics and hexafluoropropene. Depending on the alane adduct used, HDF of pentafluoropyridine to 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoropyridine in yields of 15–99 % was observed. The adducts 1, 2, and 5 achieved a quantitative conversion into 2,3,5,6‐tetrafluoropyridine at room temperature immediately after mixing the reactants. Studies on the HDF of fluorobenzenes with the (NHC)·AlH3 adducts 1, 3, and 5 and (Dipp2Im)·AliBu2H (7) showed the decisive influence of the reaction temperature on the H/F exchange and that 135 °C in xylene afforded the best product distribution. Although the HDF of hexafluorobenzene yielded 1,2,4,5‐tetrafluorobenzene in moderate yields with traces of 1,2,3,4‐tetrafluorobenzene and 1,2,4‐trifluorobenzene, pentafluorobenzene was converted quantitatively into 1,2,4,5‐tetrafluorobenzene, with (Dipp2Im)·AliBu2H (7) showing the highest activity and reaching complete conversion after 12 h at 135 °C in xylene. The HDF of hexafluoropropene with (Me2Im)·AlH3 (1) occurred even at low temperatures and preferably at the CF2 group with the formation of 1,2,3,3,3‐pentafluoropropene (with 0.4 equiv. of 1) or 2,3,3,3‐tetra‐fluoropropene (with 0.9 equiv. of 1) as the main product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental enrichment is typically associated with enhanced well-being, improved cognitive function and stress resilience. However, in some instances grouping adult male mice in enriched conditions promoted a stressful environment, which resulted in elevated endocrine, monoamine and inflammatory outcomes in response to subsequent stressor exposure. The current investigation examined whether raising male mice in an enriched environment (EE) would modulate social and anxiety-like behaviors in early adulthood and influence brain expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Immediately after weaning (postnatal day [PD] 21), CD-1 male mice were housed with their siblings (3/cage) for 6 weeks in an EE or a standard (SE) environment. Body weights and aggressive interactions were monitored weekly. Social avoidance behaviors in the social interaction test and anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated-plus maze were examined in early adulthood. Ninety minutes following the behavioral tests, mice were sacrificed and a blood sample and the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were collected for the determination of plasma corticosterone levels as well as cytokine and BDNF mRNA expression. Mice raised in an EE exhibited more wounds and gained less weight than mice housed in a SE. Enriched mice also spent a greater amount of time in proximity of a social target in the social interaction test and made fewer transitions into the closed arms of the elevated-plus maze. Interestingly, the elevated plasma corticosterone and upregulated prefrontal interleukin (IL)-1β expression observed after the social interaction test among the SE mice were not apparent among those housed in an EE. Enrichment also increased prefrontal BDNF expression, especially among mice that experienced the social interaction test. These results suggest that although raising male mice in an EE may elicit aggressive interactions between sibling cage-mates (as indicated by a high number of wounds), this environment also enhances social behaviors and limits the corticosterone and cytokine impacts of mild social stressors encountered in early adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Ni-catalyzed C-F bond functionalization of unactivated aryl fluorides with oxazoles as coupling partners was developed. Various arylated oxazoles could be obtained in moderate to good yields in the presence of Ni(cod)2/IMes catalytic system. A rapid synthesis of natural product texaline was also demonstrated using this protocol. This transformation could be potentially utilized in regioselective introduction of an oxazole group in late-stage synthetic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the effect of a memory parameter on the performance of adaptive decision making using a tug-of-war method with the chaotic oscillatory dynamics of a semiconductor laser. We experimentally generate chaotic temporal waveforms of the semiconductor laser with optical feedback and apply them for adaptive decision making in solving a multiarmed bandit problem that aims at maximizing the total reward from slot machines whose hit probabilities are dynamically switched. We examine the dependence of making correct decisions on different values of the memory parameter. The degree of adaptivity is found to be enhanced with a smaller memory parameter, whereas the degree of convergence to the correct decision is higher for a larger memory parameter. The relations among the adaptivity, environmental changes, and the difficulties of the problem are also discussed considering the requirement of past decisions. This examination of ultrafast adaptive decision making highlights the importance of memorizing past events and paves the way for future photonic intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many age-related diseases can be prevented or delayed by daily physical activity. Unfortunately, many older adults do not perform physical activity at the recommended level. Professional interventions do not reach large numbers of older adults for a long period of time. We studied a peer-coach intervention, in which older adults coach each other, that increased daily physical activity of community dwelling older adults for over 6 years. We studied the format and effects of this peer coach intervention for possible future implementation elsewhere. Through interviews and participatory observation we studied the format of the intervention. We also used a questionnaire (n = 55) and collected 6-min walk test data (n = 261) from 2014 to 2016 to determine the motivations of participants and effects of the intervention on health, well-being and physical capacity. Vitality Club is a self-sustainable group of older adults that gather every weekday to exercise coached by an older adult. Members attend on average 2.5 days per week and retention rate is 77.5% after 6 years. The members perceived improvements in several health measures. In line with this, the 6-min walk test results of members of this Vitality Club improved with 21.7 meters per year, compared with the decline of 2-7 meters per year in the general population. This Vitality Club is successful in durably engaging its members in physical activity. The members perceive improvements in health that are in line with improvements in a physical function test. Because of the self-sustainable character of the intervention, peer coaching has the potential to be scaled up at low cost and increase physical activity in the increasing number of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Towards the construction of functional devices and systems using optical near-field processes, we demonstrate the multivalent features in the path-branching phenomena in a photochromic single crystal observed in optical phase change between colorless (1o) and blue-colored (1c) phases that transmits in subwavelength scale over a macroscopic spatial range associated with local mechanical distortions induced. To observe the near-field optical processes of transmission path branching, we have developed a top-to-bottom double-probe scanning near-field optical microscope capable of nanometer-scale correlation measurements by two individually position-controlled probes that face each other sandwiching the photochromic material. We have experimentally confirmed that a local near-field optical excitation applied to one side of the photochromic crystal by a probe tip resulted in characteristic structures of subwavelength scale around 100 nm or less that are observed by the other probe tip located on the opposite side. The structures are different from those resulting from far-field excitations that are quantitively evaluated by autocorrelations. The results suggest that the mechanical distortion caused by the local phase change in the photochromic crystal suppresses the phase change of the neighboring molecules. This new type of optical-near-field-induced local photoisomerization has the potential to allow the construction of functional devices with multivalent properties for natural intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Readily accessed cobalt pre-catalysts with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands catalyze the Suzuki cross-coupling of aryl chlorides and bromides with alkyllithium-activated arylboronic pinacolate esters. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the cobalt species is reduced to Co0 during the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Readily accessed cobalt pre-catalysts with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands catalyze the Suzuki cross-coupling of aryl chlorides and bromides with alkyllithium-activated arylboronic pinacolate esters. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate that the cobalt species is reduced to Co0 during the reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Folia Medica Indonesiana (2355-8393) is the property of Universitas Airlangga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The number of patients suffering from dementia is expected to more than triple by the year 2040, and this represents a major challenge to publicly-funded healthcare systems throughout the world. One of the most effective prevention mechanisms against dementia lies in increasing brain- and cognitive-reserve capacity, which has been found to reduce the behavioral severity of dementia symptoms as neurological degeneration progresses. To date though, most of the factors known to enhance this reserve stem from largely immutable history factors, such as level of education and occupational attainment. Here, we review the potential for basic lifestyle activities, including physical exercise, meditation and musical experience, to contribute to reserve capacity and thus reduce the incidence of dementia in older adults. Relative to other therapies, these activities are low cost, are easily scalable and can be brought to market quickly and easily. Overall, although preliminary evidence is promising at the level of randomized control trials, the state of research on this topic remains underdeveloped. As a result, several important questions remain unanswered, including the amount of training required to receive any cognitive benefit from these activities and the extent to which this benefit continues following cessation. Future research directions are discussed for each lifestyle activity, as well as the potential for these and other lifestyle activities to serve as both a prophylactic and a therapeutic treatment for dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) are gaining increasing applicability to lightweight structures (e.g., automotive applications) due to their outstanding mechanical properties. High-performance parts can be fabricated from CFRPs, but they have the disadvantages of low shear and bearing strength. To achieve detachable connections and introduce loads without decreasing the load-bearing capacity of the composite, it is important to use mechanical fasteners without drilling into the parts. To accomplish this, metal elements called inserts are embedded in the CFRP laminate. Damage behavior in a CFRP under tensile conditions has several different mechanisms, depending primarily on the deformation of the insert. This research investigates the in-situ failure behavior of the composite under tensile loads by investigating the deformation of the insert via computed tomography (CT). The results are also used for validation of the insert's deformation using a finite-element model (FEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recently proposed 'Projection-based Digital Volume Correlation' (P-DVC) method is extended in this work to a cone-beam lab-tomograph in which a mechanical test is performed. This consists of a crack propagation test in an elastic-brittle gypsum specimen. Kinematic analysis is performed based on a reduced finite element modeling for which the appropriate boundary conditions and crack propagation stage are determined from the radiographs. By considering only two projections per loading step, an integrated model-based analysis of the entire test provides a full space and time identification of the kinematics, including the crack position and the determination of two material parameters. This is achieved with a drastic reduction in the acquisition time compared to classical digital volume correlation analysis. In the examples presented, the acquisition time was reduced by a factor of 350. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of rare [NiX2(MeCCprop)] complexes bearing the cis-chelating benzimidazole-derived dicarbene ligand MeCCprop and varying anionic coligands (2, X = N3; 3, X = NCS; 4, X = I; 5, X = O2CCF3) have been prepared and coligand dependent structural and spectroscopic features have been evaluated. This study also revealed an unusual ‘reverse’ carbene transfer reaction from nickel to silver giving the disilver species [Ag2X2(μ–κ2-MeCCprop)] (6, X = OAc; 7, X = O2CCF3). A preliminary catalytic study of two representative NiII diNHC complexes in the aqueous and phosphine-free Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction of aryl halides is reported as well. These reactions provide good yields of coupling products, but do not require inert conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultimate goal of radiotherapy using external beams is to maximize the dose delivered to the tumor while minimizing the radiation given to surrounding healthy critical organs. Prompt Gamma Spectroscopy (PGS) has been proposed for range control of particle beams along with the determination of the elemental composition of irradiated tissues. We aim at developing a PGS system for the German Cancer Research Center – DKFZ that takes advantage of the superior selectivity of Helium and Carbon beams accelerated at the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center. Preliminary tests with protons accelerated with an IBA C230 cyclotron located at the Universitäts Protonen Therapie Dresden were performed at OncoRay – National Center for Radiation Re-search in Oncology. We present results obtained with a PGS system composed of CeBr3 detectors (Ø 2" × 2") and (Ø 1.5" × 3") coupled to a Hamamatsu R13089 photomulti-plier tube and plugged to a Target U100 Spectrometer. Such system provides accurate time-of-flight measurements to increase the signal-to-noise ratio relative to neutron-induced background. First measurements resulted from the irradiation of PMMA and water phantoms, and graphite and aluminum bricks. Several PG energy lines ranging from 0.511 MeV up to 8 MeV were identified and compared with reference re-sults. Two further experiments consisted in irradiating PMMA phantoms in a slit- and semi-collimated configuration with mono-energetic proton beams of 165 MeV and 224 MeV, respectively. Results acquired by means of trans-versal PGS at different phantom depths, ranging from 6 cm before the Bragg peak (BP) to 3.5 cm beyond the BP in 5 mm steps with a 1 cm slit collimation (tungsten) showed a slight decrease of PG yields after the BP. Similar measurements with a semi-opened collimation configuration demonstrated a steeper decrease of PG yields after the BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Human Movement is the property of Asociacion Espanola de Ciencias del Deporte and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Identifying attributes of the built environment associated with health-enhancing levels of physical activity (PA) in older adults (≥65 years old) has the potential to inform interventions supporting healthy and active ageing. The aim of this study was to first systematically review and quantify findings on built environmental correlates of older adults' PA, and second, investigate differences by type of PA and environmental attribute measurement. Methods: One hundred articles from peer-reviewed and grey literature examining built environmental attributes related to total PA met inclusion criteria and relevant information was extracted. Findings were meta-analysed and weighted by article quality and sample size and then stratified by PA and environmental measurement method. Associations (p < .05) were found in relation to 26 individual built environmental attributes across six categories (walkability, residential density/urbanisation, street connectivity, access to/availability of destinations and services, infrastructure and streetscape, and safety) and total PA and walking specifically. Reported individual- and environmental-level moderators were also examined. Results: Positive environmental correlates of PA, ranked by strength of evidence, were: walkability (p < .001), safety from crime (p < .001), overall access to destinations and services (p < .001), recreational facilities (p < .001), parks/ public open space (p = .002) and shops/commercial destinations (p = .006), greenery and aesthetically pleasing scenery (p = .004), walk-friendly infrastructure (p = .009), and access to public transport (p = .016). There were 26 individual differences in the number of significant associations when the type of PA and environmental measurement method was considered. No consistent moderating effects on the association between built environmental attributes and PA were found. Conclusions: Safe, walkable, and aesthetically pleasing neighbourhoods, with access to overall and specific destinations and services positively influenced older adults' PA participation. However, when considering the environmental attributes that were sufficiently studied (i.e., in ≥5 separate findings), the strength of evidence of associations of specific categories of environment attributes with PA differed across PA and environmental measurement types. Future research should be mindful of these differences in findings and identify the underlying mechanisms. Higher quality research is also needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) arising from a hepatic adenoma is a rare phenomenon accounting for fewer than 5% of hcc cases; it seldom recurs after resection of the primary tumour. We report a case of extrahepatic metastasis of HCC arising from a hepatic adenoma that presented as a solitary sternal metastasis without any evidence of intrahepatic recurrence. Our patient was initially treated with radiation therapy and bland embolization, without response. Subsequently, the patient developed progressive disease while taking sorafenib. He later received chemotherapy with docetaxel and gemcitabine, with the development of multiple pulmonary and splenic nodules. However, he remained free of intrahepatic recurrence. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of extrahepatic metastasis of hcc arising from a hepatic adenoma without evidence of intrahepatic recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first synthesis of cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbenes (cAACs) was reported in 2005, and since then this class of carbenes has been on a victory tour in main-group-element and transition-metal chemistry. CAACs are easy to synthesize and among the most nucleophilic (s-donating) and simultaneously most electrophilic (p-accepting) carbenes known to date. These properties have led to a vast number of applications of cAACs in main-group-element chemistry in, for example, the activation of small-molecule compounds and enthalpically strong bonds, as well as in the stabilization of highly reactive main-groupelement compounds. They also proved to possess outstanding ligand properties in transition-metal chemistry in, for example, the stabilization of unusual low-valent transition-metal complexes, leading to enormously highly active but robust catalysts. Here a brief overview of cAAC-ligated transition-metal compounds, mainly in low oxidation states, with an emphasis on nickel complexes, is provided, and a personal account of some of the recent developments in the use of cAACs in coordination chemistry and catalysis is given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: While there is strong evidence that regular participation in physical activity (PA) brings numerous health benefits to older adults, and interventions to effectively promote PA are being developed and tested, the characteristics and components of the most effective interventions remain unclear. This systematically conducted review of systematic reviews evaluated the effects and characteristics of PA promotion interventions aimed at community dwelling people over 50 years old. Methods: Major databases were searched for reviews from January 1990 to May 2015. TIDieR guidelines aided data extraction and the ROBIS tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Primary outcomes were objective and self-reported levels of PA. Indicators of psychological wellbeing and participation rates were secondary outcomes. Results: Of 1284 records identified, 19 reviews met inclusion criteria and eight included meta-analyses. Interventions typically incorporated behaviour change techniques (BCTs) and were delivered as face-to-face, remote, group, individual or as combined interventions. Despite their heterogeneity, interventions often resulted in sustained improvements in PA over the study period, typically at 12 months, and led to improvements in general wellbeing. However, ways to ensure effective maintenance beyond one year are unclear. Certain intervention components were more clearly associated with positive effects (e.g. tailoring promotion strategy with combination of cognitive and behavioural elements, low to moderate intensity activity recommended). We found no evidence that certain other intervention characteristics were superior in achieving positive outcomes (e.g. mode of delivery, setting, professional background of the intervention provider, type of PA recommended). Conclusion: The evidence suggests that interventions to promote PA among older adults are generally effective but there is uncertainty around the most beneficial intervention components. There are indications that purely cognitive strategies and BCTs might be less suitable for older adults than motivators more meaningful to them, including social and environmental support, and enjoyment coming from being physically active. A whole system-oriented approach is required that is tailored to meet the needs of older adults and aligned with social, individual and environmental factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motor and nonmotor symptoms associated with Parkinson disease place individuals at greater risk of sedentary behaviors and comorbidities. Physical activity is one modifiable means of improving health and reducing the risk of morbidity. We applied a behavioral framework to classify existing research on physical activity and Parkinson disease to describe the current evolution and inform knowledge gaps in this area. Research placed in phase 1 establishes links between physical activity and health-related outcomes; phase 2 develops approaches to quantify physical activity behavior; phase 3 identifies factors associated with implementation of physical activity behaviors; phase 4 assesses the effectiveness of interventions to promote activity; and phase 5 disseminates evidence-based recommendations. Peer-reviewed literature was identified by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCO-host. We initially identified 287 potential articles. After further review, we excluded 109 articles, leaving 178 included articles. Of these, 75.84% were categorized into phase 1 (n = 135), 10.11% in phase 2 (n = 18), 9.55% into phase 3 (n = 17), 3.37% into phase 4 (n = 6), and 1.12% into phase 5 (n = 2). By applying the behavioral framework to the physical activity literature for people with Parkinson disease, we suggest this area of research is nascent with more than 75% of the literature in phase 1.Level Of Evidence: III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A variety of NiII complexes with a wide range of electronic and steric properties, bearing picolylimidazolidene ligands (a-g) and Cp (Cp = η5-C5H5; 2a-f ) or Cp* (Cp* = η5- C5Me5; 3a, c, g) groups, have been synthesised and characterised by using NMR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The complexes have been used as precatalysts for a wide range of catalytic transformations, which most likely involve a Ni0/NiII catalytic cycle. In particular, the new welldefined 2a, 2c, 3a and 3c complexes have demonstrated great efficiency and versatility towards Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reactions, hydroamination of activated olefins and C-S cross-coupling reactions of aryl halides and thiols under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite the detrimental effects of physical inactivity for older adults, especially aged residents of residential care settings may spend much time in inactive behavior. This may be partly due to their poorer physical condition; however, there may also be other, setting-related factors that influence the amount of inactivity. The aim of this review was to review setting-related factors (including the social and physical environment) that may contribute to the amount of older adults' physical inactivity in a wide range of residential care settings (e.g., nursing homes, assisted care facilities).Methods: Five databases were systematically searched for eligible studies, using the key words 'inactivity', 'care facilities', and 'older adults', including their synonyms and MeSH terms. Additional studies were selected from references used in articles included from the search. Based on specific eligibility criteria, a total of 12 studies were included. Quality of the included studies was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).Results: Based on studies using different methodologies (e.g., interviews and observations), and of different quality (assessed quality range: 25-100%), we report several aspects related to the physical environment and caregivers. Factors of the physical environment that may be related to physical inactivity included, among others, the environment's compatibility with the abilities of a resident, the presence of equipment, the accessibility, security, comfort, and aesthetics of the environment/corridors, and possibly the presence of some specific areas. Caregiver-related factors included staffing levels, the available time, and the amount and type of care being provided.Conclusions: Inactivity levels in residential care settings may be reduced by improving several features of the physical environment and with the help of caregivers. Intervention studies could be performed in order to gain more insight into causal effects of improving setting-related factors on physical inactivity of aged residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

C−F and C−H bond activation reactions of polyfluoroaromatics at the cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene (cAAC) cAACmethyl ( 1) are reported. Studies on the C−F bond activation using the cAAC-stabilized nickel(0) complex [Ni(cAACmethyl)2] ( 2) have shown that 2 does not react with fluorinated arenes. However, these investigations led to the observation of C−F bond cleavage of perfluorinated arenes by the carbene ligand cAACmethyl ( 1) itself. The reaction of 1 with C6F6, C6F5−C6F5, C6F5−CF3, and C5F5N afforded the insertion products of cAAC into one of the C−F bonds of the substrate, that is, the C−F bond activation products (cAACmethyl)F(Arf) (Arf=C6F5 4 a, C6F4−C6F5 4 b, C6F4−CF3 4 c, C5F4N 4 d). These products decompose readily upon heating to 80 °C within a few hours in solution with formation of ionic iminium salts [(cAACmethyl)(Arf)][X] 6 a- d or neutral alkenyl perfluoroaryl imine compounds 7 a- d. The compounds (cAACmethyl)F(Arf) 4 a- d readily transfer fluoride, which has been exemplified by the fluoride transfer of all compounds using BF3 etherate as fluoride acceptor. Fluoride transfer has also been achieved starting from (cAACmethyl)F(C6F4-CF3) ( 4 c) or (cAACmethyl)F(C5F4N) ( 4 d) to other selected substrates such as trimethylchlorosilane, benzoyl chloride and tosyl chloride. Instead of C−F bond activation, insertion of the cAAC into the C−H bond was observed if 1 was treated with the partially fluorinated arenes C6F5H, 1,2,4,5-C6F4H2, 1,3,5-C6F3H3, and 1,3-C6F2H4. The compounds (cAACmethyl)H(Arf) (Arf=C6F5 12 e, 2,3,5,6-C6F4H 12 f, 2,4,6-C6F3H2 12 g and 2,6-C6F2H3 12 h) have been isolated in good yields and have been characterized including X-ray analysis. Fluorobenzene C6FH5 (p Ka ≈37), the least C−H acidic fluoroarene used in this study, does not react. In order to investigate the scope and limitations of this type of cAAC C−H bond activation reaction, cAACmethyl ( 1) was treated with several other reagents of different C−H acidity such as imidazolium salts, imidazoles, esters, and trimethylphosphine. These investigations led to the isolation and characterization of the compounds [(cAACmethyl)H(R2ImMe2)]X ( 13 a,b), (cAACmethyl)H(ImR2) ( 14 a- c), (cAACmethyl)H(CH(COOCH3)2) ( 15 b) and (cAACmethyl)H(CH2-PMe2) ( 16). Deprotonation of [(cAACmethyl)H(Me2ImMe2)][BF4] ( 13 a) at the cAAC carbon atom using KHMDS as a base led to isolation and structural characterization of the cAACmethyl-NHC heterodimer ( 17). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-verbal communication plays a major role in social interaction understanding. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we explored the development of the neural networks involved in social interaction recognition based on human motion in children (8-11), adolescents (13-17), and adults (20-41). Participants watched point-light videos depicting two actors interacting or moving independently and were asked whether these agents were interacting or not. All groups successfully performed the discrimination task, but children had a lower performance and longer response times than the older groups. In all three groups, the posterior parts of the superior temporal sulci and middle temporal gyri, the inferior frontal gyri and the anterior temporal lobes showed greater activation when observing social interactions. In addition, adolescents and adults recruited the caudate nucleus and some frontal regions that are part of the mirror system. Adults showed greater activations in parietal and frontal regions (part of them belonging to the social brain) than adolescents. An increased number of regions that are part of themirror systemnetwork or the social brain, as well as the caudate nucleus, were recruited with age. In conclusion, a shared set of brain regions enabling the discrimination of social interactions from neutralmovements through humanmotion is already present in 8-year-old children. Developmental processes such as refinements in the social brain andmirror systemwould help grasping subtle cues in non-verbal aspects of social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An author index for the volume 63 of the journal "IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science" is presented.

The reaction of the silyl complex [Rh{Si(OEt)3}(PEt3)3] (1) with 3,3,3-trifluoropropene afforded the rhodium complex [Rh(CH2CHCF3){Si(OEt)3}(PEt3)2] (2) which features a bonded fluorinated olefin. In contrast the rhodium hydrido complex [Rh(H)(PEt3)3] (3) yielded on treatment with 3,3,3-trifluoropropene in the presence of a base the fluorido complex [Rh(F)(PEt3)3] (4) together with 1,1-difluoro-1-propene by C–F bond activation. At low temperature the intermediate fac-[Rh(H)(CH2CHCF3)(PEt3)3] (5) was detected by NMR spectroscopy. The germyl complex [Rh(GePh3)(PEt3)3] (6) reacted also with 3,3,3-trifluoropropene by C–F bond activation affording again the fluorido complex [Rh(F)(PEt3)3] (4) as well as the (3,3-difluoroallyl)triphenylgermane 7. The catalytic hydrogermylation of 3,3,3-trifluoropropene in the presence of various germanium hydrides under mild conditions was developed by employing complex 6 as a catalyst. The molecular structures of both germane derivatives (3,3-difluoroallyl)triphenylgermane 7 and 1,1,1-trifluoropropane-3-triphenylgermane 8 were determined by X-ray crystallography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avoiding overeating and being physically active is associated with healthy aging, but methodological issues challenge the quantification of the association. Intrapair comparison of twins is a study design that attempts to minimize social norm-driven biased self-reporting of lifestyle factors. We aimed to investigate the association between self-reported lifestyle factors and subsequent survival in 347 Danish twin pairs aged 70 years and older and, additionally, to investigate the reliability of these self-reports. The twins were interviewed in 2003 and followed for mortality until 2015. They were asked to compare their appetite and physical activity to that of their co-twins in different stages of life. On an individual level, we found a positive association between current self-reported physical activity and late-life survival for elderly twins. This was supported by the intrapair analyses, which revealed a positive association between midlife and current physical activity and late-life survival. A positive association between lower appetite and late-life survival was found generally over the life course in the individual level analyses but not in the intrapair analyses. Kappa values for the inter-twin agreement on who ate the most were 0.16 to 0.34 in different life stages, and for physical activity 0.19 to 0.26, corresponding to a slight-to-fair agreement. Approximately, 50% of the twin pairs were not in agreement regarding physical activity, and of these twins 75% (95% CI: 67–82%) considered themselves the most active twin. These findings indicate a still-existing tendency of answering according to social norms, even in a twin study designed to minimize this. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The ageing process is intrinsically associated with decline in physical endurance, muscle strength and gait ability and balance, which all contribute to functional disability. Regular physical training, and more particularly multicomponent training (MCT), has demonstrated many health benefits.Objective: To evaluate the evidence of the health benefits of MCT including endurance training, muscle strengthening, balance exercises, and/or stretching (i.e. flexibility training) and/or coordination training in adults aged 65 years or over.Methods: A comprehensive, systematic database search for manuscripts was performed in CINAHL Plus, Embase, Medline, PubMed Central, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Sport Discus and Web of Science using key words. For potential inclusion, two reviewers independently assessed all intervention studies published in English language from 1 January 2000 to 30 April 2015.Results: Of 2525 articles initially identified, 27 studies were finally included in this systematic review. They were all divided into five categories according to their main outcome measurements (cardio-respiratory fitness, metabolic outcomes, functional and cognitive functions and quality of life, QoL). These studies reported that MCT has a significant beneficial effect on cardio-respiratory fitness and on metabolic outcomes. Substantial improvement in functional and cognitive performance was also measured and a slighter but positive effect on QoL.Conclusion: Overall, this review demonstrates a positive effect of MCT with functional benefits and positive health outcomes for seniors. Based on this evidence, clinicians should encourage all adults aged 65 or over to engage in MCT programmes to favour healthy ageing and keeping older members of our society autonomous and independent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Most nations of the world are undergoing rapid and dramatic population ageing, which presents great socio-economic challenges, as well as opportunities, for individuals, families, governments and societies. The prevailing biomedical strategy for reducing the healthcare impact of population ageing has been 'compression of morbidity' and, more recently, to increase healthspan, both of which seek to extend the healthy period of life and delay the development of chronic diseases and disability until a brief period at the end of life. Indeed, a recently established field within biological ageing research, 'geroscience', is focused on healthspan extension. Superimposed on this background are new attitudes and demand for 'optimal longevity' - living long, but with good health and quality of life. A key obstacle to achieving optimal longevity is the progressive decline in physiological function that occurs with ageing, which causes functional limitations (e.g. reduced mobility) and increases the risk of chronic diseases, disability and mortality. Current efforts to increase healthspan centre on slowing the fundamental biological processes of ageing such as inflammation/oxidative stress, increased senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired proteostasis and reduced stress resistance. We propose that optimization of physiological function throughout the lifespan should be a major emphasis of any contemporary biomedical policy addressing global ageing. Effective strategies should delay, reduce in magnitude or abolish reductions in function with ageing (primary prevention) and/or improve function or slow further declines in older adults with already impaired function (secondary prevention). Healthy lifestyle practices featuring regular physical activity and ideal energy intake/diet composition represent first-line function-preserving strategies, with pharmacological agents, including existing and new pharmaceuticals and novel 'nutraceutical' compounds, serving as potential complementary approaches. Future research efforts should focus on defining the temporal patterns of functional declines with ageing, identifying the underlying mechanisms and modulatory factors involved, and establishing the most effective lifestyle practices and pharmacological options for maintaining function. Continuing development of effective behavioural approaches for enhancing adherence to healthy ageing practices in diverse populations, and ongoing analysis of the socio-economic costs and benefits of healthspan extension will be important supporting goals. To meet the demands created by rapid population ageing, a new emphasis in physiological geroscience is needed, which will require the collaborative, interdisciplinary efforts of investigators working throughout the translational research continuum from basic science to public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton beams are promising means for treating tumors. Such charged particles stop at a defined depth, where the ionization density is maximum. As the dose deposit beyond this distal edge is very low, proton therapy minimizes the damage to normal tissue compared to photon therapy. Nevertheless, inherent range uncertainties cast doubts on the irradiation of tumors close to organs at risk and lead to the application of conservative safety margins. This constrains significantly the potential benefits of protons over photons. In this context, several research groups are developing experimental tools for range verification based on the detection of prompt gammas, a nuclear by-product of the proton irradiation. At OncoRay and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, detector components have been characterized in realistic radiation environments as a step toward a clinical Compton camera. On the one hand, corresponding experimental methods and results obtained during the ENTERVISION training network are reviewed. On the other hand, a novel method based on timing spectroscopy has been proposed as an alternative to collimated imaging systems. The first tests of the timing method at a clinical proton accelerator are summarized, its applicability in a clinical environment for challenging the current safety margins is assessed, and the factors limiting its precision are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If aging is a physiological phenomenon—as maintained by the programmed aging paradigm—it must be caused by specific genetically determined and regulated mechanisms, which must be confirmed by evidence. Within the programmed aging paradigm, a complete proposal starts from the observation that cells, tissues, and organs show continuous turnover: As telomere shortening determines both limits to cell replication and a progressive impairment of cellular functions, a progressive decline in age-related fitness decline (i.e., aging) is a clear consequence. Against this hypothesis, a critic might argue that there are cells (most types of neurons) and organ parts (crystalline core and tooth enamel) that have no turnover and are subject to wear or manifest alterations similar to those of cells with turnover. In this review, it is shown how cell types without turnover appear to be strictly dependent on cells subjected to turnover. The loss or weakening of the functions fulfilled by these cells with turnover, due to telomere shortening and turnover slowing, compromises the vitality of the served cells without turnover. This determines well-known clinical manifestations, which in their early forms are described as distinct diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, age-related macular degeneration, etc.). Moreover, for the two organ parts (crystalline core and tooth enamel) without viable cells or any cell turnover, it is discussed how this is entirely compatible with the programmed aging paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Environmental factors influence the etiology of many psychiatric disorders. Likewise, environmental factors can alter processes central to motivation. Therefore, motivational deficits present in many disorders may be influenced by early life environmental conditions. Objective: We examined whether housing animals in different environmental conditions influenced the ability of sensory stimuli to acquire incentive value and whether elevated monoamine activity altered responsing for these stimuli. Methods: Isolation-housed (IH), pair-housed (PH), and environmentally enriched (EE) male C57BL/6N mice were examined in tests of responding for a conditioned reinforcer (CRf) or an unconditioned sensory reinforcer (USRf). The CRf was previously paired with saccharin delivery through Pavlovian conditioning, while the USRf was not conditioned with a reward. Following baseline tests of responding for the CRf or USRf, the effects of elevated monoamine activity were examined. Results: At baseline, PH and EE mice responded similarly for the CRf or USRf. IH mice responded more for the CRf but exhibited slower acquisition of responding for the USRf. Administration of citalopram, a serotonin transporter blocker, or atomoxetine, a norepinephrine transporter blocker, decreased responding for the CRf and USRf in all groups. The dopamine transporter blocker GBR 12909 generally increased responding for the CRf and USRf, but further analysis revealed enhanced responding for both reinforcers only in EE mice. Conclusions: Baseline incentive motivation is strongly influenced by the social component of housing conditions. Furthermore, environmental enrichment increased the sensitivity to elevated dopamine activity, while acute elevations in serotonin and norepinephrine inhibit incentive motivation irrespective of housing condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the lack of awareness of deficits, i.e., anosognosia, is a major obstacle in the healthcare circuit that delays the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, a clear framework is lacking in the literature related to this phenomenon in terms of its definition, mechanisms, and objects. The aim of this study is to assess the different levels of cognitive anosognosia using a prediction-performance procedure and to identify the potential correlates of these levels. A sample of patients with probable AD was divided into three groups according to the severity of dementia (mild (MiD), moderate (MoD), and moderately severe (MSD) dementia), ranked according to the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination. We observed the following three scores: the real score, the prediction score, and the anosognosia score. These scores were calculated based on the prediction-performance task MISAwareness from the Dementia Rating Scale for cognitive processes (i.e., Attention, Initiation, Conceptualization, Construction, and Memory). We obtained a strong plateau effect between the MiD and MoD groups for anosognosia scores for actual performance or prediction for both the level of overall functioning and for specific processes. The sole exception was the result for memory processes. Moreover, the profiles of the patients' responses on the Memory subscale were substantially different and, indeed, opposite from those for the other processes. The main results confirm the multidimensionality of anosognosia and its variability with the stage of dementia and specifically implicate memory processes that indicate a cleavage between memory and other cognitive functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We examined the association of health literacy with physical activity and physical activity guideline adherence in older adults. Methods.Weused cross-sectional data from a 2012 population-based study in Alberta, Canada, assessing health literacy, and deriving moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes per week from the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, and steps per day via a pedometer. Results. Mean age of participants (n = 1296) was 66.4 (SD = 8.2) years, 57% were female, and 94% were White. Nine percent had inadequate health literacy, and 46% met guidelines for self-reported physical activity and 18% for steps per day. Participants with inadequate health literacy had nonsignificant adjusted decrements of 58 MVPA minutes and 218 MET minutes per week and were less likely to meet physical activity guidelines (MVPA: odds ratio = 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41, 0.97; P = .037; MET: odds ratio = 0.65; 95% CI = 0.42, 1.01; P = .057) compared with their health-literate counterparts. Such differences were nonsignificant for steps per day. Conclusions. Inadequate health literacy was associated with less likelihood of meeting MVPA guidelines based on self-reported physical activity, but not based on an objective measure of steps per day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a simple model for an atomic switch-based decision maker (ASDM), and show that, as long as its total number of metal atoms is conserved when coupled with suitable operations, an atomic switch system provides a sophisticated "decision-making" capability that is known to be one of the most important intellectual abilities in human beings. We considered a popular decisionmaking problem studied in the context of reinforcement learning, the multi-armed bandit problem (MAB); the problem of finding, as accurately and quickly as possible, the most profitable option from a set of options that gives stochastic rewards. These decisions are made as dictated by each volume of precipitated metal atoms, which is moved in a manner similar to the fluctuations of a rigid body in a tug-of-war game. The "tug-of-war (TOW) dynamics" of the ASDM exhibits higher efficiency than conventional reinforcement-learning algorithms. We show analytical calculations that validate the statistical reasons for the ASDM to produce such high performance, despite its simplicity. Efficient MAB solvers are useful for many practical applications, because MAB abstracts a variety of decisionmaking problems in real-world situations where an efficient trial-and-error is required. The proposed scheme will open up a new direction in physics-based analog-computing paradigms, which will include such things as "intelligent nanodevices" based on self-judgment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]