Cyber Buddy is Better than No Buddy: A Test of the Köhler Motivation Effect in Exergames.

Objective: Although exergames are popular, few people take advantage of the potential of group dynamics to motivate play (and achieve associated health bene?ts). One motivation gain phenomenon has shown promise for motivating greater effort in partnered exergames: The Koehler effect (working at a task with a more capable partner where one’s performance is indispensable to the group). This article examines whether a Koehler effect can be demonstrated in an exergame by exercising with a moderately superior humanoid, software-generated partner. Materials and Methods: Male and female (n = 120; mean age, 19.41 years) college students completed a series of plank exercises using ‘‘CyBuddy Exercise,’’ a program developed speci?cally for this study. In a lab in an academic building, participants completed the exercises individually and, after a rest, were randomly assigned to complete the same exercises again, but with a ‘‘live’’ human partner (HP) presented virtually, a nearlyhuman-like, humanoid partner (NHP), a hardly human-like, software-generated partner (HHP), or a no-partner control condition (IC), with equal numbers in each group (i.e., n = 30). Exercise persistence, perceived exertion, self-ef?cacy beliefs, enjoyment, and intentions to exercise were recorded and analyzed. Results: A 4X2 analysis of variance on the (Block 2 – Block 1) difference scores showed that a signi?cant Koehler motivation gain was observed in all partner conditions (compared with IC), but persistence was signi?cantly greater with HPs than with either NHP or HHP humanoid partners (P < 0.05). By the conclusion of the study, there were no signi?cant differences among the partnered conditions in perceived exertion, self-ef?cacy, enjoyment, or future intentions to exercise. Conclusions: These results suggest that a software-generated partner can elicit the Koehler motivation gain in exergames, but not as strongly as a partner who is thought to be human

Análise do pico de frequência alfa do EEG durante a memorização de figuras em pacientes com comprometimento cognitivo leve

OBJECTIVE: To investigate spectral analysis of electroencephalograms (EEG) for the alpha frequency band during rest and cognitive stimulation in healthy adults and individuals with mild cognitive impairment. METHOD: We analyzed 56 EEGs from 28 patients, 7 men and 21 women, 12 of whom (40%) were controls, 16 patients with mild cognitive impairment (60%). Ages ranged from 61 to 83 years. All individuals were patients in the Psycho-geriatric Out-patients Clinic of LIM-27, of the Psychiatric Institute of the Clinicas Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo, IPq-HCFMUSP, between 2004 and 2007. Each patient underwent two exams with an interval of at least six months between them. During the exam, performed after a period of wakefulness and rest, the patients memorized series of pictures. RESULTS: Analysis of spectral potential both at rest and during the memorizing task showed no statistical differences between baseline and final recordings. CONCLUSION: Spectral analysis of EEGs showed coherent results with the clinical stability of the patients evaluated but was unable to distinguish between the control group and patients with MCI. Future studies should include a larger sample and a longer follow up.OBJETIVO: Realizar a análise espectral da banda de frequência alfa do EEG em adultos saudáveis, com comprometimento cognitivo leve (CCL), durante o repouso e a estimulação cognitiva. MÉTODO: Analisamos 56 EEGs de 28 pacientes, 7 homens e 21 mulheres, 12 dos quais (40%) controles, 16 pacientes com CCL (60%), com idades entre 61 a 83 anos.Todos os pacientes foram atendidos no serviço de psicogeriatria do LIM 27, do Instituto de Psiquiatria da Faculdade de Medicina da USP,entre os anos de 2004 a 2007, sendo que cada paciente realizou 2 exames com intervalo de 6 meses entre eles. Os registros dos EEGs foram realizados em repouso e durante a realização de atividade de memorização de figuras. RESULTADOS: A analise espectral durante o repouso e a tarefa de memorização não mostraram diferenças estatísticas entre os EEGs iniciais e finais. CONCLUSÃO: A análise espectral dos EEGs mostrou-se coerente com a estabilidade clínica dos dois grupos, no entanto não foi capaz de distinguir o grupo controle do grupo CCL. Estudos futuros deverão incluir um maior número de indivíduos por um tempo maior de seguimento

The Effect of Headphone Verses Room Music on Aerobic Performance

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The role of TAU protein in the pathophysiology of frontotemporal dementia

CONTEXTO: Sob a denominação demência frontotemporal (DFT) enquadram-se importantes síndromes demenciais de natureza degenerativa progressiva que acometem os lobos frontais e temporais em ambos os hemisférios. As DFTs podem ser agrupadas, segundo seus aspectos clínicos dominantes, em variante frontal, afasia progressiva não fluente e demência semântica. A proteína Tau tem papel importante na patogenia desses transtornos, e anormalidades conformacionais estão presentes em até 50% dos casos de DFT esporádica. Do ponto de vista neuropatológico, as DFTs podem ser classificadas em Tau negativas e Tau positivas, estas últimas também classificadas entre as tauopatias. OBJETIVO: Neste trabalho será revisto o papel da proteína Tau na patogenia das DFTs. MÉTODOS: Busca simples no Scielo e na Pubmed por meio das palavras-chave: "tauopatias", "demência frontotemporal" e "proteína Tau". Foram revisados os artigos publicados a partir de 2000, e artigos anteriores de maior relevância, identificados a partir das referências estudadas. RESULTADOS: Dentre os trabalhos incluídos nesta análise, 12 abordam as tauopatias, sendo dez originais e sete de revisão. Foram identificados 20 artigos sobre DFT, sendo 16 artigos originais e quatro de revisão. CONCLUSÃO: A proteína Tau tem papel fundamental na patogenia das DFTs e outras doenças neurodegenerativas. O conhecimento desses mecanismos fisiopatológicos é o passo inicial para o desenvolvimento de estratégias terapêuticas.BACKGROUND: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) represents an important group of neurodegenerative diseases, affecting temporal and frontal lobes of both hemispheres. FTD can be divided into three clinical subsyndromes: frontal variant, non-fluent progressive aphasia, and semantic dementia. Abnormalities of the metabolism of Tau protein are present in the physiopathology of FTD, and is found in approximately 50% of sporadic cases, supporting the classification of the FTDs into Tau-negative and Tau-positive subtypes, the latter also called "Tauopathies". OBJECTIVE: To review the role of Tau in the pathophysiology of FTD. METHODS: Review of the literature on FTD published in the Pubmed and Scielo databases since the year 2000, using the keywords: Tau, Tauopathies, frontotemporal dementia. Relevant references previously published, as indicated in the reference list of selected articles, were also included. RESULTS: Through electronic search we identified 12 articles addressing Tauopathies (ten containing original data and seven reviews), and 20 articles (16 with original data and four reviews) on FTDs. CONCLUSIONS: There is consistent evidence in the literature to support the notion that Tau protein plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of FTDs and other neurodegenerative dementias, and the knowledge on these mechanisms is necessary for the development of more specific therapies

Psicomotricity and retrogenesis: considerations about aging and Alzheimer's disease

CONTEXTO: A teoria da retrogênese refere-se às mudanças nas habilidades psicomotoras que ocorrem de forma inversa à aquisição do desenvolvimento motor normal. Tais mudanças ocorrem ao longo do processo de envelhecimento e também são ilustradas por mudanças degenerativas ocorridas na doença de Alzheimer (DA). OBJETIVOS: Revisar o conceito de retrogênese no envelhecimento e na DA e discutir os artigos publicados sobre o assunto nos últimos 10 anos. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma pesquisa nas bases de dados PubMed (MEDLINE), Lilacs, Cochrane e Sci SciELO com as palavras-chave "retrogenesis" (retrogênese), "elderly" (idoso) e "Alzheimer's disease" (doença de Alzheimer). RESULTADOS: A busca bibliográfica resultou em seis artigos, dois dos quais publicados nos primeiros meses de 2009, sendo realizadas análise descritiva e interpretação crítica deles. Foi possível observar que o estudo da retrogênese na velhice tem sido feito fundamentalmente com base na DA, principalmente por meio de revisões bibliográficas e explorações teóricas. Esses trabalhos correlacionam manifestações observadas na DA com determinadas alterações fisiológicas, seguindo o sentido oposto ao do desenvolvimento normal do ser humano. CONCLUSÃO: A partir da revisão realizada, destacou-se o modelo da retrogênese funcional que ilustra as alterações involutivas que ocorrem em pacientes acometidos em pacientes com DA. Modelos experimentais utilizando-se de técnicas de ressonância magnética com medidas de anisotropia, identificando alterações de substância branca, têm sido apresentados para testar as hipóteses teóricas da retrogênese.BACKGROUND: The theory of retrogenesis refers to changes in psychomotor abilities that occur in the reverse order in which they are acquired in normal psychomotor development. Such changes occur along the aging process and are also illustrated by the degenerative changes that occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD). OBJECTIVES: To review the concept of retrogenesis in aging and in AD and to discuss the articles published on the subject in the last ten years. METHODS: A search was conducted in the databases PubMed (MEDLINE), Lilacs, Cochrane and SciELO with the keywords "retrogenesis", "elderly" and "Alzheimer's disease". RESULTS: The literature search resulted in six articles, two of which recently published. We conducted a descriptive analysis of them. We observed that the study of retrogenesis in old age has been done primarily on the basis of AD, mainly through literature reviews and theoretical explorations. These works correlate events observed in AD with some physiological changes, following the opposite direction to the normal development of human beings. DISCUSSION: Based on available literature, we support the notion that functional retrogenesis model illustrate the changes that occur in patients with AD. This notion is supported by experimental models using diffusion tensor imaging and addressing white-matter changes that occur along the aging and the disease processes

Changes in Balance Measures During a Pedometer-Based Senior Citizen Walking Program

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Effect of a Walking Program on Functional Fitness Measures in Older Adults

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Rethinking the End of Christian Democracy

L'articolo tratta del seminario svoltosi il 17 giugno 2024 presso l'Università Luiss di Roma sul tema ‘La fine della Democrazia Cristiana: Prospettive di una ricerca’. Il seminario la prima occasione di discussione e il lancio ufficiale del progetto di ricerca PRIN ‘La fine della Democrazia Cristiana: Il collasso di un sogno politico – voci dai margini’ condotto da un consorzio di quattro università: Luiss, Roma Tre, Bologna e Suor Orsola Benincasa, Napoli.This article is about the seminar held at Luiss University in Rome on 17 June 2024. The seminar focused on ‘The End of Christian Democracy: A New Direction for Research’ and was the first milestone and official launch of the PRIN research project ‘The End of Christian Democracy: The Collapse of a Political Dream – Voices from the Margins’, led by a consortium of four universities: Luiss, Roma Tre, Bologna and Suor Orsola Benincasa, Naples

The end of fascism?

When did fascism end? Did it end in July 1943, with the fall of Mussolini from power, or in April 1945, with Liberation Day? The argument of this article is that fascism was not simply a historical experience but a political form that attempted to transcend Italy's social and political fractures with fantasies and unrealistic but nevertheless captivating expectations. Its hypnotic contagious power cast a mimetic spell that can be continuously reloaded: by blurring the boundaries between truth and lies; by exploiting crowd irrationality; by establishing boundaries between outsiders and insiders; by perpetuating negative sentiments of hostility, fear and envy within society; and by manipulating time. The argument, therefore, is that fascism has never ended, not merely in the sense of political and cultural continuity, but in the deeper sense of immanency within the body politic of Italy's democracy. As such, it is meaningless to wonder whether fascism might come back. It is here and now, in the only form that current historical circumstances allow it to exist - and yet it might be countered by a process of rejection that individuals and political communities can and should exercise in their everyday life, adopting the political form generated by the Resistance.Il principale argomento di questo articolo &amp; egrave; che il fascismo non fu semplicemente un'esperienza storica ma una forma politica che tent &amp; ograve; di trascendere le fratture sociali e politiche dell'Italia con fantasie e aspettative irrealistiche, ma comunque accattivanti, che sono state poi nel tempo riattivate e imitate e che possono essere ancora riattivate e imitate nel futuro. Da questo punto di vista, il fascismo non &amp; egrave; mai finito, non solo nei termini di continuit &amp; agrave; politica e culturale, ma nel senso pi &amp; ugrave; profondo di immanenza all'interno del corpo politico della democrazia italiana. Tuttavia, il processo mimetico che garantisce la sopravvivenza del fascismo pu &amp; ograve; essere contrastato da un processo di rifiuto che individui e comunit &amp; agrave; politiche possono e devono attivamente esercitare nella vita quotidiana a partire dalla forma politica inaugurata nella storia d'Italia dalla Resistenza