1,355,127 research outputs found
Evidence for a link among cognition, language and emotion in cerebellar malformations
No full textWe compared the neurobehavioral profiles of children with Joubert syndrome OS participants), a rare autosomal recessive condition characterized on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by hypoplasia of the cerebellar vermis and midbrain-hindbrain malformations, and children with malformations confined to the cerebellar vermis and one or both hemispheres (Cerebellar malformations - CM participants). We aimed at investigating the influence of anatomo-clinical similarities (vermian malformation) and differences (intact cerebellar hemispheres us sparing of the pons, respectively) with respect to cognitive, linguistic and emotional development, assuming as a reference framework the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome (CCAS). Results show that severe to moderate mental retardation is infrequent in JS children, while it is present in more than half the sample of CM children. Affect development was generally preserved in JS, in high-functioning CM individuals and also in some of the CM children with moderate mental retardation, which raised questions as to the role of a cerebellar vermis lesion in determining affect disorders. Further, cognitive and linguistic profiles on both intellectual and neuropsychological evaluations provided evidence for distinct patterns of peaks and valleys in the two groups, with JS children being significantly more impaired in language and verbal working memory and CM individuals showing a significant impairment of executive functions and emotional development. The overall evidence provides support for an important role of cerebellar structures per se in shaping emotional, cognitive and linguistic development, when vermian lesions are associated to cerebellar hemispheric lesions. Cerebellar vermis and brainstem lesions instead appear to have a major impact on motor-related skills, including oro-motor abilities and verbal working memory. (C) 2009 Elsevier Srl. All rights reserved
Effect of urban environment and cultural use of social space on population well-being: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
No full textBackground:
There is compelling evidence that the urban environment, meaning spaces, relationships and activities, may have a greater impact on individual state of health and on the possibility of increasing or decreasing individual physical and psychological conditions. The tangible urban dimension such as physical infrastructures (e.g. buildings) and the intangible (e.g. interpersonal relationships and leisure and cultural activities) may be considered as possible predictors of short- and long-terms adverse outcomes, increasing the risk for those living in deprived city areas compared to those living in wealthy areas well provided with social and cultural provision.
Despite researchers’ findings that the presence or absence of ‘cultural boxes’, such as socially and culturally oriented spaces, buildings, and activities decrease depressive and health criticalities, the fact that such results are validated mostly in their short-term effect and not through a rigorous longitude analysis prevent us making a wide generalization of welfare-strategy results.
Methods/design:
This cluster randomized trial will test the affect of individual participation in culturally- and socially-related activities on health and well-being, in comparison also with the classic individual determinant, in relation to urban renovation schemes. We will using a questionnaire based on several areas such as individual psychological well-being (PGWBI), individual happiness positioning (Keyes
2 Grossi & Tavano Blessi
Scale) and health status perception (SF-12 Health Survey). Secondary outcomes will be related to social capital density (relationships and trust), culture (participation) and religion. The survey will be undertaken in a mid-size Italian city, namely Bologna.
Results:
In relation to the different elements gathered from the survey, we will present a ranking of the possible determinants of individual well-being as outcomes of the adoption of urban renovation policy such as investments in cultural and social infrastructures and urban dwellers’ involvement in the activities promoted. Furthermore, we will evaluate the net effect of the pure presence or absence of such spaces and activities within deprived urban areas.
Conclusions:
Cultural and social boxes and activities can play an important role in the urban planning process and management within the social dimension of urban areas in relation to the use of this space and to events enhancing social well-being goals. Attendance at different kinds of events may have a modulating effect on the negative impact of disease occurrence in the maintenance of perceived well-being and might become an important weapon in the policy-development of public decision makers aiming to combat individual and social distress
Teutamus leptothecus Dankittipakul, Tavano & Singtripop, 2012, sp. nov.
No full textTeutamus leptothecus sp. nov. (Figures 3 H, 16 A,B) Diagnosis Females of T. leptothecus sp. nov. can be recognized by the anteriorly narrowed, elliptic spermathecae and the simple curved ducts (Figure 16 A,B). Type material Holotype. ♀, Malaysia: Johor State: Kota Tinggi Waterfalls, at the foot of Mt Muntahak, 170 m, rainforest along stream, 24–26 June 2001, leg. P.J. Schwendinger (MHNG, SIM-01 / 07). Paratype. Data as holotype, 1♀, (MHNG, SIM-01 / 07). Etymology The specific epithet is a nominative form of an adjective (leptos = thin; thecus = sac), and refers to the shape of spermathecae. Description Female (holotype). Total length 5.86; prosoma 2.62 long, 1.62 wide; opisthosoma 3.24 long, 1.62 wide. Leg formula: 1423; I 11.78 (2.58, 1.00, 3.96, 2.62, 1.62); II 8.94 (2.06, 0.98, 3.04, 1.68, 1.18); III 7.84 (1.72, 0.92, 2.22, 1.82, 1.16); IV 11.30 (2.64, 1.00, 3.22, 2.80, 1.64). Spination: Leg I: Femora p1-1-1; tibiae p9 r9; metatarsi p6 r6. Leg II: Tibiae p8 r8; metatarsi p5 r5. Carapace dark chestnut-brown; submarginal lobes blunt. Sternum brown. Legs hairless, bi-coloured: Tibiae, metatarsi and tarsi yellowish brown, other segments brown. Opisthosoma elongate-ovoid. Dorsum pale, posteriorly with a series of faint chevrons. Genitalia (Figure 16 A,B): Epigyne with circular copulatory orifices situated anteriorly. Insemination ducts curving posteriorly, connected to apical portion of spermathecae. Spermathecae elliptic, distinctly narrowed anteriorly, surface provided with numerous pore ductules. Fertilization ducts lanceolated. Male. Unknown. Distribution Known only from the type locality in Malaysia (Figure 18).Published as part of Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2012, Seventeen new species of the spider genus Teutamus Thorell, 1890 from Southeast Asia (Araneae: Liocranidae), pp. 1689-1730 in Journal of Natural History 46 on pages 1723-1725, DOI: 10.110.1080/00222933.2012.681314, http://zenodo.org/record/57464
Comparison of bactericidal and cytotoxic activities of trichogin analogs
Get PDFPeptaibiotics are a group of membrane active peptides of fungal origin. They typically contain alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib; 1-letter code, U) and other non-coded residues (Toniolo and Bruckner, 2009; Neumann et al., 2015; Benedett et al., 1982) [1], [2], [3] stabilizing their helical structure. Peptaibols are peptaibiotics carrying a 1, 2-aminoalcohol at the C-terminus. When a fatty acid chain (of 810 carbon atoms) is present at their N-terminus, they are called lipopeptaibols (Toniolo et al., 2001; Degenkolb et al., 2003) [4], [5]. We found (Tavano et al., 2015) [6] that the lipopeptaibol trichogin displays no antibacterial effects up to 64 mu M, against both Gram- and Gram(+) bacteria, but kills tumor and healthy human cells via a mechanism requiring both the C-terminal primary alcohol group and the N-terminal n-octanoyl moiety, with EC50s around 45 mu M. However, the substitution of single Gly residues with Lys strongly improves anti-Gram+ activity (Tavano et al., 2015; De Zotti, Biondi, Park et al., 2012; De Zotti, Biondi, Peggion et al., 2012) [6], [7], [8]. To further characterize the activity of trichogin analogs as antibiotics and cytotoxic agents, we here manipulated the peptide helix amphipathicity by means of two different substitutions: (i) Aib to Leu (De Zotti et al., 2012) [7] or (ii) multiple Gly to Lys changes (Tavano et al., 2015; De Zotti, Biondi, Park et al., 2012; De Zotti, Biondi, Peggion, Formaggio et al., 2012; De Zotti, Biondi, Peggion, De Poli et al., 2012) [6], [7], [8], [9]. The antibacterial activity against four commensal or opportunistic bacterial species and the cytotoxicity against a panel of 9 healthy and tumor-derived eukaryotic cell types (including erythrocytes) are reported as MIC and EC50 (MTS - [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)]-2H-tetrazolium- reduction and LDH - lactate dehydrogenase - release assay). (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY licens
Jacaena thakek Dankittipakul & Tavano & Singtripop 2013, comb. nov.
No full text<i>Jacaena thakek</i> (Jäger, 2007) comb. nov. <p>(Figures 1F, 5G–I, 10D–F)</p> <i>Sesieutes thakek</i> Jäger, 2007: 48, figs 73–82, description of ♂. <i>Type material</i> <p> Holotype: ♂, Laos, Khammouan Province, 9.5 km northeast of Thakek, 159 m, 17 ◦ 26.936 ′ N, 104 ◦ 52.499 ′ E, sieving leaf litter in front of cave, 30 October 2004, P. Jäger and V. Vedel leg. (SMF–56635, examined, Figures 1F, 5G–I, 10D–F).</p> <i>Diagnosis</i> <p> This species seems to be closest to <i>J. mihun</i>, because both species have very distinctly enlarged PME; their palps can be distinguished from other members of <i>Jacaena</i> by the pear-shaped bulb anteriorly narrowed, and the apex of the short, triangular conductor is pointing apically (Figures 4G–I cf. 5G–I). The male of this species can be separated from that of <i>J. mihun</i> by the absence of a small, triangular denticle on the dorsal surface of the conductor (Figure 10A cf. 10D). However, we have a private notion that the boundary between these two species is vague and <i>J. thakek</i> comb. nov. is possibly a junior synonym of <i>J. mihun</i>. Much larger samples would be needed to corroborate these slight differences as species-specific rather than intraspecific variation because more material recently obtained suggests that <i>J. mihun</i> has relatively broad distribution covering northern and north-eastern parts of Thailand (and most likely extending eastwards to Laos where <i>J. thakek</i> comb. nov. was collected).</p> <i>Distribution</i> <p>Known only from the type locality, Khammouan Province, Laos.</p>Published as part of <i>Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2013, Revision of the spider genus Jacaena Thorell, 1897, with descriptions of four new species from Thailand (Araneae: Corinnidae), pp. 1539-1567 in Journal of Natural History 47 (23 - 24)</i> on page 1553, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2012.763059, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/556127">http://zenodo.org/record/556127</a>
Teutamus deelemanae Dankittipakul, Tavano & Singtripop, 2012, sp. nov.
No full textTeutamus deelemanae sp. nov. (Figure 16 C,D) Diagnosis The female of T. deelemanae sp. nov. can be recognized by the elliptic spermathecae and the partially hidden glandular pore situated underneath the insemination ducts (Figure 16 D). Type material Holotype. ♀, Malaysia: Johor State: Mt Ophir, Puteri Waterfall, 80–130 m, rainforest near stream, 21 May 2004, leg. P.J. Schwendinger (MHNG, MAL-04 / 03). Etymology The specific epithet is an eponymous patronym (genitive form of a noun), dedicated to Dr Christa Deeleman-Reinhold, a prolific expert on Southeast Asian spider fauna. Description Female (holotype). Total length 5.12; prosoma 2.46 long, 1.68 wide; opisthosoma 2.66 long, 1.32 wide. Leg formula: 1423; I 11.26 (2.54, 1.02, 3.54, 2.46, 1.70); II 8.98 (2.06, 1.00, 2.76, 1.94, 1.22); III 7.62 (1.72, 1.00, 2.16, 1.68, 1.06); IV 10.70 (2.58, 1.02, 3.00, 2.64, 1.46). Spination: Leg I: Femora p1-1-1; tibiae p8 r8; metatarsi p6 r6. Leg II: Tibiae p7 r7; metatarsi p4 r5. Carapace reddish brown; submarginal lobes triangular, their apices bluntly pointed. Sternum brown. Legs hairless, uniform in colour, yellowish brown. Opisthosoma elongate-ovoid. Dorsum pale. Genitalia (Figure 16 C,D): Epigyne with circular copulatory orifices situated anteriorly. Insemination ducts elongated, curving posteriorly then forming two tortuous loops, connected to apical portion of spermathecae. Spermathecae more or less elliptic, provided with apical glandular pore on dorsal surface, partially hidden by insemination ducts. Fertilization ducts lanceolated. Male. Unknown. Distribution Known only from the type locality in Malaysia (Figure 18).Published as part of Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2012, Seventeen new species of the spider genus Teutamus Thorell, 1890 from Southeast Asia (Araneae: Liocranidae), pp. 1689-1730 in Journal of Natural History 46 on pages 1725-1726, DOI: 10.110.1080/00222933.2012.681314, http://zenodo.org/record/57464
Jacaena zhui Dankittipakul & Tavano & Singtripop 2013, comb. nov.
No full text<i>Jacaena zhui</i> (<i>Zhang and Fu</i>, 2011) comb. nov. <i>Sesieutes zhui</i> Zhang and Fu, 2011: 71, figs 1–15, description of ♂ ♀. <i>Diagnosis</i> <p> Females of <i>J. zhui</i> comb. nov. can be distinguished from those of <i>J. schwendingeri</i> comb. nov. by their smaller copulatory orifices that are located more anteriorly, internal ducts that are simple, and the spermathecae that are robust. In <i>J. schwendingeri</i> comb. nov. the copulatory orifices are distinctly larger and medially situated on the epigynal plate (Figure 7A), the internal ducts are partially enlarged, and the anterior portion of the spermathecae is spherical (Figure 8F). Males differ by the apex of the conductor, which is blunt, whereas in <i>J. schwendingeri</i> comb. nov. the conductor is sharply pointed and more elongate (Figures 4A, 9A).</p> <i>Distribution</i> <p>Yunnan Province, southern China.</p>Published as part of <i>Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2013, Revision of the spider genus Jacaena Thorell, 1897, with descriptions of four new species from Thailand (Araneae: Corinnidae), pp. 1539-1567 in Journal of Natural History 47 (23 - 24)</i> on page 1556, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2012.763059, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/556127">http://zenodo.org/record/556127</a>
Teutamus hirtellus Dankittipakul, Tavano & Singtripop, 2012, sp. nov.
No full textTeutamus hirtellus sp. nov. (Figures 2 H, 14 A) Diagnosis The male holotype of T. hirtellus sp. nov. closely resembles that of T. rothorum in having a large conductor but can be easily distinguished by the more elongate conductor pointing anteriad instead of prolaterad (Figure 14 A). To our knowledge, only the male of this new species and those of T. andrewdavisi (Figure 14 B) and T. vittatus possess a group of bristles on the RTA. In other species the postepigastric scuta slightly extend posteriorly (Figure 2I), whereas in T. hirtellus sp. nov. and T. orthogonus sp. nov. they extend further and fuse with the dorsal scutum to form a complete tubular ring enclosing anterior half of the opisthosoma entirely (Figure 2 H). Type material Holotype. ♂, Philippines: Palawan, Puerto Princesa Region: Sabang Underground NP, Daylight Hole and Lions Cave, 100–200 m, primary forest, 6–8 December 2009, leg. A. Schulz (MHNG, PAL-09 / 07). Etymology The specific epithet is a nominative form of an adjective (Latin: hirtellus, - a,- um = slightly hairy), and refers to the tuft of bristles on RTA of the male palp. Description Male (holotype). Total length 4.74; prosoma 2.26 long, 1.44 wide; opisthosoma 2.48 long, 1.26 wide. Leg formula: 1423; I 10.48 (2.36, 0.92, 3.38, 2.32, 1.50); II 8.08 (1.86, 0.90, 2.54, 1.76, 1.02); III 6.84 (1.54, 0.88, 2.00, 1.44, 0.98); IV 10.16 (2.46, 0.92, 2.88, 2.56, 1.34). Spination: Leg I: Femora p1-1; tibiae p10 r10; metatarsi p6 r6. Leg II: Tibiae p10 r8; metatarsi p6 r5. Carapace dark reddish brown; submarginal lobes blunt, slightly elevated. Sternum dark reddish brown. Legs hairless, bi-coloured: Coxae, trochanters and femora dark brown, other segments slightly paler, their distal portion white. Opisthosoma elongate-ovoid. Dorsal scutum covering two-thirds of length of opisthosoma. Venter covered by posteriorly extended post-epigastric scuta (Figure 2 H). Palp (Figure 14 A): RTA digitiform in ventral view, elongated-slender, its apex bluntly pointed, lateral margin covered with bristles. DTA short, almost indistinct. Tegulum elongate-ovoid, slightly excavated on apico-prolateral side. Conductor elongated, broad at base, its apex sharply pointed, almost reaching apex of cymbium. Embolic base clearly visible. Female. Unknown. Distribution Known only from the type locality on the island of Palawan, the Philippines.Published as part of Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2012, Seventeen new species of the spider genus Teutamus Thorell, 1890 from Southeast Asia (Araneae: Liocranidae), pp. 1689-1730 in Journal of Natural History 46 on pages 1718-1719, DOI: 10.110.1080/00222933.2012.681314, http://zenodo.org/record/57464
Jacaena schwendingeri Dankittipakul & Tavano & Singtripop 2013, comb. nov.
No full text<i>Jacaena schwendingeri</i> (Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001) comb. nov. <p>(Figures 1A, 2A, 4A–C, 7A, 8F, 9A–C)</p> <p> <i>Sesieutes schwendingeri</i> Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001: 461, figs 771–774, description of ♂ ♀.</p> <i>Type material</i> <p>Holotype: ♂, Thailand, Chiang Mai Province, Chiang Dao District, Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, 510 m, pitfall trap, 22 September–25 October 1990, P.J. Schwendinger leg. (MHNG, examined, Figures 1A, 4A–C, 9A–C).</p> <p>Paratype: From type locality, 450 m, 7 March 1987, P.J. Schwendinger leg., 1♀ (MHNG, examined, Figures 2A, 7A, 8F).</p> <i>Diagnosis</i> <p> Males of <i>J. schwendingeri</i> comb. nov. can be recognised by the large and curved conductor that is divided into a heavily sclerotised outer margin and a semi-transparent inner membrane (Figures 4A, 9A–C); the apex of conductor is gradually tapered and abruptly bent anteriorly (Figures 4C, 9B). Females can be distinguished by the large copulatory orifices that are situated at the centre of the epigynal region (Figure 7A), and by the middle portion of the internal ducts, which are greatly enlarged, whereas the anterior part of the spermathecae is spherical (Figure 8F).</p> <i>Distribution</i> <p> Known only from the type locality in northern Thailand. Other specimens from different localities previously known (Deeleman-Reinhold 2001: 461) were misplaced (see <i>J. lunulata</i> sp. nov. for more details).</p>Published as part of <i>Dankittipakul, Pakawin, Tavano, Maria & Singtripop, Tippawan, 2013, Revision of the spider genus Jacaena Thorell, 1897, with descriptions of four new species from Thailand (Araneae: Corinnidae), pp. 1539-1567 in Journal of Natural History 47 (23 - 24)</i> on pages 1553-1555, DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2012.763059, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/556127">http://zenodo.org/record/556127</a>
- …
