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The question addressed in the present study is whether children and adults are able to combine and decompose separate kinematic (visual-feedback-shift) and dynamic (velocity-dependent force) transformations in goal-directed arm movements. A total of 64 participants (32 adults and 32 children) performed horizontal forearm movements using a single-joint arm manipulandum. When participants first learned kinematic and dynamic transformations separately, target error decreased in a subsequent combined transformation task. This effect was based on previous learning of the kinematic transformation. When they first learned the combined transformation, target error was smaller in the following kinematicÑbut not in the dynamicÑtransformation. No difference was found in adaptation performance between children and adults. The results suggest that there are two separate models for the kinematic and dynamic transformation and that a possible differentiation of kinematic and dynamic features of the motor task might already be present at age 11. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society 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.)

Copyright of Collegium Antropologicum is the property of Croatian Anthropological Society 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.)

[17‐2H2]GA20‐13‐O‐[6′‐2H2]glucoside was synthesized and applied to seedlings of Phaseolus coccineus L. After incubation for 72 h the conjugate metabolites were purified and shown by LC‐ESI‐tandem‐MS and GC‐MS to be [17‐2H2]GA1‐13‐O‐[6′‐2H2]glucoside and [17‐2H2]GA29‐13‐O‐[6′‐2H2]glucoside. This is the first evidence for the conversion of intact GA‐O‐glucosides, and represents an additional metabolic pathway of the gibberellin metabolism in P. coccineus L. The results indicate that intact GA‐O‐glucosides are accepted by 2‐ and 3‐oxidases in the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative DNA levels of different developmental stages of Babesia bigemina and B. canis were measured by cytophotometry using the fluorochrome Hoechst 33258 as a staining dye. The DNA measurements provided direct proof of sexual reproduction, i.e., fusion of gametes resulting in the formation of zygotes followed by a meiotic division. Both Babesia species are considered to be typical members of the genus Babesia; however, the DNA measurements revealed important differences in the life cycle of these parasites, indicating that Babesia species are not characterized by a life cycle, which is specific for this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Four derivatives of betulin containing a d-glucopyranosyl moiety at C3 position were synthesized and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry. The crystal structure of 28-O-acetylbetulin-3-yl-β-d-(2′,3′,4′,6′-tetra-O-acetyl)glucopyranoside was determined. The compounds were tested against fifteen tumor cell lines of different histogenic origins. The α- and β-anomers of 28-O-acetylbetulin-3-yl-d-glucopyranoside, exerted a dose dependent antiproliferative action towards the tumor cell lines. Treatment of HCT-116 cells for 24h induced apoptosis, which was confirmed by the appearance of a typical ladder pattern in the DNA fragmentation assay and cell cycle analysis. The α- and β-anomers of 28-O-acetylbetulin-3-yl-d-glucopyranoside seem to induce apoptosis by activation of different upstream caspases on colon cancer HCT-116 cell line. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Approximately 30 million people currently suffer from late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) worldwide. Twin studies demonstrated that 60 to 80% of LOAD is genetically determined, 20% of which remaining unassigned. This case-control study included 118 cognitively healthy controls, 52 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; the pre-stage of LOAD) and 71 LOAD patients. The participants were genotyped for the genetic LOAD marker apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) and the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs4925 in glutathione S-transferase omega-1 (GSTO1). Additive logistic regression showed a novel, statistically significant association of the major allele GSTO1*C with MCI (OR1.9; p = 0.032). However, identification of significant SNP-disease relations required well-defined study groups. When classifying participants solely by the short Mini Mental State examination (MMSE), the associations of GSTO1*C and the reference marker APOE4 with MCI were cancelled. Moreover, even identifying only the control group by MMSE nullified a statistically significant association (OR1.8; p = 0.045) between GSTO1*C and LOAD. In contrast, these statistical relations were retained when the detailed Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD-Plus) test battery was used. Hence, besides proposing rs4925 as a genetic marker for cognitive impairment, this work also emphasized the importance of carefully characterized controls in addition to well-diagnosed patients in case-control studies., Competing Interests: The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. All authors declare no conflict of interest and concur with this submission.

It has been suggested that certain viruses such as human papillomaviruses (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) might have a role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, results of the published studies are controversial and are dependent on the geographic distribution and methods of sampling and sample analysis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HPV 16 and EBV in OSCC patients. In 24 patients with OSCC (mean age 59.6 +/- 8.8) and 30 controls (mean age 49.1 +/- 8.3), 5 mL of blood was collected to determine the prevalence of EBV by serologic methods. In addition, swabs were obtained to analyze the presence of HPV 16 and EBV by use of polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was performed by use of Mann-Whitney test, chi2-test and Spearman correlation test. The results of this study showed that there were no significant differences between OSCC patients and control subjects according to the presence of EBV or HPV 16. Therefore, it can be concluded that the role of the aforementioned viruses is less likely in our population of OSCC patients.

Purpose of this study was to compare the effects of combined therapy using nonsteroid anti-inflammatory analgetics and corticosteroids, and the effects of the mono-therapy with same drugs for post-operative pain after surgical removal of the impacted mandibular third molar. The study was completed at the Department of Oral Surgery and at the Department of Dental Medicine of the Public Institute Health Center Zenica in Zenica. The research included 60 patients divided into 3 groups using random selection, including both sexes. Age range was between 18 and 45 years. All participants came without any pain or other inflammatory symptoms at the time of oral surgical intervention. Two medicaments were prescribed after the impacted tooth removal: 15 mg of nonsteroid anti-inflammatory analgesic drug (Meloxicam, Bosnalijek, BiH) and 32 mg Methylprednisolone (corticosteroid, Bosnalijek, BiH). Both medicaments were applied per os, according to schedule determined by the research protocol. The level of post-surgical pain was evaluated by the 1-10 visual analog scale (VAS). One way ANOVA was made with Tuckey post-hoc tests. Statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was found between the group treated with mono therapy and the group treated with combined therapy. Application of monotherapy using only corticosteroids or only nonsteroid anti-inflammatory pain-killers was less effective compared to the combined therapy with both medicaments after surgical removal of the impacted mandibular third molar.

[17-2H2]GA20-13-O-[6'-2H2]glucoside was synthesized and applied to seedlings of Phaseolus coccineus L. After incubation for 72 h the conjugate metabolites were purified and shown by LC-ESI-tandem-MS and GC-MS to be [17-2H2]GA1-13-O-[6'-2H2]glucoside and [17-2H2]GA29-13-O-[6'-2H2]glucoside. This is the first evidence for the conversion of intact GA-O-glucosides, and represents an additional metabolic pathway of the gibberellin metabolism in P. coccineus L. The results indicate that intact GA-O-glucosides are accepted by 2- and 3-oxidases in the plant.