Yes / Assessing and interpreting dental and skeletal age-related changes in both the living and the dead is of interest to a wide range of disciplines (e.g. see Bittles and Collins 1986) including human biology, paediatrics, public health, palaeodemography, archaeology, palaeontology, human evolution, forensic anthropology and legal medicine. ... This special issue of Annals of Human Biology arises from the 55th annual symposium of the Society for the Study of Human Biology in association with the British Association for Biological Anthropological and Osteoarchaeology held in Oxford, UK, from 9–11 December 2014. Only a selection of the presentations are included here which encompass some of the major recent advances in age estimation from the dentition and skeleton.

INTRODUCTION Autonomic control of cardiac function is fundamental for the maintenance of circulatory homeostasis under changing environmental and behavioral conditions (Pardini et al., 1987). The intrinsic cardiac nervous system is principal in the maintenance of the adequate cardiac output, the power, the rate of contraction, and the volume of blood delivered to cardiac muscle thorough the coronary vasculatures (Armour and Ardell, 1994). For many years it has been thought that cardiac ganglia possess only cholinergic parasympathetic postganglionic neurons and serve as simple stations of transmission of inhibitory impulse to the heart (Mawe et al., 1996). However, recent morphological and physiological evidence indicates that the mammalian intrinsic cardiac nervous system contains afferent sensory (Ardell et al., 1991; Armour and Hopkins, 1990; Cheng et al., 1997), efferent sympathetic and parasympathetic postganglionic neurons (Horackova et al., 1996; Mawe et al., 1996; Randall et al., 1987), and a population of local circuit neurons that function to interconnect neurons within and between the separate aggregates of ganglia that form the various intrinsic cardiac ganglionated plexuses (Butler et al., 1990). These neurons might be unipolar, bipolar or multipolar in shape (Armour et al., 1997; Baptista and Kirby, 1997; Edwards et al., 1995; Xi et al., 1991) and possesses varied immunohistochemical properties (Singh et al., 1999). Functionally diverse cardiac ganglion neurons... [to full text]

Eine der häufigsten Behinderungen des alternden Menschen stellt die Beeinträchtigung der Hörfunktion durch degenerative Veränderungen der Cochlea, beispielsweise am Ganglion spirale, am CORTI-Organs oder an der Stria vascularis dar. Basierend auf histologischen und funktionellen Untersuchungen, wird die Altersschwerhörigkeit (Presbycusis) beim Menschen durch SCHUKNECHT und GACEK (1993) in sechs verschiedenene Typen eingeteilt: sensorisch, strial/metabolisch, neural, cochlear-konduktiv, gemischt, unbestimmt. Die in diesem Rahmen auftretenden pathophysiologischen und pathomorphologischen Veränderungen der Cochlea sind bedingt durch hörschädigende Faktoren (u.a. Lärm, ototoxische Substanzen, Infektionen sowie genetische Ursachen), die im Laufe des Lebens im Bereich des peripheren Hörorgans und der zentral auditiven Verarbeitung gewirkt haben. Die meisten in der Literatur beschriebenen Untersuchungen, die sich mit cochleären Alterationen mit zunehmendem Alter befassen, wurden an Labortieren unternommen und beschreiben oft nur Alterationen einzelner Strukturen, nicht aber der gesamten Cochlea. Bei Hunden sind in der Literatur überwiegend ausführliche Untersuchungen bezüglich der kongenitalen vererbten Taubheit, z.B. bei Dalmatinern, beschrieben. Es existieren jedoch kaum Studien über altersbedingte morphologische und funktionelle Veränderungen der Cochlea bei Hunden. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit besteht daher in der (immun-) histologischen Untersuchung der Cochlea von 50 Hunden im Alter von 7 Tagen bis 16 Jahren, um altersbedingte morphologische und funktionelle Veränderungen in der Cochlea von Hunden, die nicht unter Laborbedingungen gehalten wurden, zu charakterisieren und sie mit den Befunden an Innenohren von anderen Tierarten und des Menschen zu vergleichen. Anhand der erhobenen Befunde sollen anschließend eventuelle Rückschlüsse auf intra vitam vorhandene Hörstörungen gezogen werden.

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<p> The anaerobic-to-aerobic power ratio is a useful tool to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. The traditional method of calculation has shown this ratio to increase with age in children and to plateau by late adolescence or early adulthood. However, by using the traditional approach, the aerobic component of the ratio is likely highly influenced by anaerobic sources and therefore, may not demonstrate the true proportional changes observed in the respective physiological capacities comprising this ratio with age through childhood and adolescence. The purpose of this study was to examine the age-related development of the power ratio using two new approaches. The lactate threshold (LT) and ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) were identified in 31 competitive male hockey players ranging from 10 to 21 years of age and compared across three discrete age groups. Peak mechanical anaerobic power was obtained from a Wingate test (WAnT) and incorporated into the numerator of the power ratio, while peak mechanical aerobic power was obtained from a modified McMaster all-out progressive test and included into the denominator of the ratio. Mechanical power at the LT and VAT were also identified and integrated into the denominator of the power ratio and results compared to the traditional approach to identify similarities or differences in developmental trends with age. Furthermore, the reliability of the traditional, LT and VAT approaches was examined with retests of six subjects using intra-class correlation analysis and Method Error analysis. When power ratio approaches were compared among discrete age groups, significant differences (P≤0.05) were found between the youngest and oldest age groups for each of the three approaches. Notwithstanding the trend for progressive increases with advancing age group for all approaches, significant correlations with age were only found for the traditional approach (r=0.36). Finally, the VAT approach was the most reliable (r=0.95; ME=0.13) while the LT and traditional approaches demonstrated strong but non-significant test-retest correlations. Results of this study suggest that the LT and VAT approaches may theoretically be more accurate methods of measuring the power ratio than the traditional approach, as there is likely less anaerobic contribution to the denominator of the ratio. Each of the new approaches demonstrates expected age-related trends, and notwithstanding methodological and sample limitations, the VAT in particular, appears to be a more reliable and accurate means of assessing the power ratio compared to the traditional or LT approach.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

A fundamental question in language research is the extent to which linguistic and cognitive systems interact. The aim of this thesis is to explore that relationship across new contexts and over the entire adult lifespan. This work centers on two branches of empirical research: the first is an investigation into the impact of later-life language learning on cognitive ageing (chapters 2-4), and the second examines the cognitive mechanisms underlying communicative perspective-taking from young adulthood into old age (chapter 5). The results of these chapters demonstrate that changes to one's linguistic environment can affect cognitive functions at any age, and similarly age-related changes to cognition can affect linguistic abilities, shedding light on the extent to which language and the brain are intricately connected over the lifespan. In the discussion (chapter 6), I consider how this work contributes new insights to the field, opening the door for future research to explore methods of improving cognitive abilities and linguistic behavior in old age.

Darbo tikslas - Įvertinti su amžiumi susijusius struktūrinius žmogaus pamatinės arterijos sienelės pokyčius. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Ištirti pamatinės arterijos medijos kolageninių skaidulų kiekybinius pokyčius; 2. Nustatyti pamatinės arterijos sienelės medijos raumeninių ląstelių kiekybinius pokyčius; 3. Ištirti pamatinės arterijos sienelės medijoje esančių elastinių skaidulų kiekybinius pokyčius; 4. Ištirti pamatinės arterijos sienelės medijos storio pokyčius; 5. Nustatyti žmogaus pamatinės arterijos intimos, vidinės elastinės membranos struktūrinius pokyčius; 6. Įvertinti kiekybinių histologinių pokyčių tarpusavio priklausomybę bei sąsają su amžiumi. Mokslinis naujumas Galvos smegenų kraujotakos sutrikimai yra viena iš priežasčių, lemiančių didžiausią mirtingumą ir neįgalumą. Epidemiologiniai tyrimai rodo, kad sergamumas ir mirtingumas dėl galvos smegenų kraujotakos sutrikimų tarp vyresnio amžiaus asmenų turi tendenciją sparčiai didėti. Šiame darbe žmogaus galvos smegenų pamatinės arterijos sienelės struktūros pokyčiai vertinti amžiniu aspektu. Histomorfometriškai analizuota medžiaga leido įvertinti bendruosius pamatinės smegenų arterijos sienelės ypatumus, susijusius su amžiumi. Histomorfometriškai įvertinome pamatinės arterijos medijos elastinių ir kolageninių skaidulų bei raumeninių ląstelių kiekybinius pokyčius susijusius su amžiumi skirtingose amžiaus grupėse. Tyrimo metu nagrinėjome ne tik elastinių skaidulų ir kolageno tinklo plotą, bet apskaičiavome ir skaidulų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the investigation was to examine and evaluate age-related structural changes in media of human basilar artery The main objectives of the thesis were as follows: 1. To examine the quantitative changes in the collagen fibres in media of basilar artery; 2. To evaluate the quantitative changes in muscular cells in the media of basilar artery; 3. To evaluate the quantitative changes in the elastic fibres in the media of basilar artery; 4. To evaluate the changes in the thickness of the tunica media; 5. To examine the structural changes in the human basilar artery intima and internal elastic membrane; 6. To assess the relation of different quantitative histological changes and to determine their correlation with age. Academic novelity of the investigation Cerebrovascular diseases cause huge mortality and disablement. Epidemiologic research has revealed that the morbidity and mortality rates due to cerebrovascular diseases tend to increase. We evaluated basilar artery wall structural changes occuring while ageing. Histomorphometrically analysed material enabled to evaluate general cerebral artery wall peculiarities related to age. We evaluated histomorphometrically quantitative changes of elastic and collagen fibres, muscular cells in ageing in different age groups. We also made analysis not only of elastic and collagen fibres area, but also of perimeter and number of fibres. We analyzed the changes in the thickness of the tunica media. We examined the structural... [to full text]

Eine der häufigsten Behinderungen des alternden Menschen stellt die Beeinträchtigung der Hörfunktion durch degenerative Veränderungen der Cochlea, beispielsweise am Ganglion spirale, am CORTI-Organs oder an der Stria vascularis dar. Basierend auf histologischen und funktionellen Untersuchungen, wird die Altersschwerhörigkeit (Presbycusis) beim Menschen durch SCHUKNECHT und GACEK (1993) in sechs verschiedenene Typen eingeteilt: sensorisch, strial/metabolisch, neural, cochlear-konduktiv, gemischt, unbestimmt. Die in diesem Rahmen auftretenden pathophysiologischen und pathomorphologischen Veränderungen der Cochlea sind bedingt durch hörschädigende Faktoren (u.a. Lärm, ototoxische Substanzen, Infektionen sowie genetische Ursachen), die im Laufe des Lebens im Bereich des peripheren Hörorgans und der zentral auditiven Verarbeitung gewirkt haben. Die meisten in der Literatur beschriebenen Untersuchungen, die sich mit cochleären Alterationen mit zunehmendem Alter befassen, wurden an Labortieren unternommen und beschreiben oft nur Alterationen einzelner Strukturen, nicht aber der gesamten Cochlea. Bei Hunden sind in der Literatur überwiegend ausführliche Untersuchungen bezüglich der kongenitalen vererbten Taubheit, z.B. bei Dalmatinern, beschrieben. Es existieren jedoch kaum Studien über altersbedingte morphologische und funktionelle Veränderungen der Cochlea bei Hunden. Das Ziel dieser Arbeit besteht daher in der (immun-) histologischen Untersuchung der Cochlea von 50 Hunden im Alter von 7 Tagen bis 16 Jahren, um altersbedingte morphologische und funktionelle Veränderungen in der Cochlea von Hunden, die nicht unter Laborbedingungen gehalten wurden, zu charakterisieren und sie mit den Befunden an Innenohren von anderen Tierarten und des Menschen zu vergleichen. Anhand der erhobenen Befunde sollen anschließend eventuelle Rückschlüsse auf intra vitam vorhandene Hörstörungen gezogen werden.

Объектом исследования является психологическая готовность к освоению возрастно-возрастных изменений у студентов. Предметом исследования стали личностные предикторы у студентов к освоению временно-возрастных изменений. Магистерская диссертация состоит из введения, двух глав, заключения, списка литературы (60 источников), 75 страниц, 6 рисунков, 1 таблицы (без приложений) и трех приложений. Во введении раскрывается актуальность проблемы исследования, разработанность проблематики, ставятся цель и задачи исследования, определяются объект и предмет исследования, формулируются основная и дополнительные гипотезы, указываются методы и эмпирическая база, а также этапы проведения исследования, научная новизна, теоретическая и практическая значимость работы. Первая глава включает в себя обзор иностранной и отечественной литературы по теме личностных предикторов готовности к освоению возрастно-временных изменений у молодежи. Представлены разделы, посвященные представлению молодежи о будущем, психологической характеристики молодости. Выводы по первой главе представляют собой итоги по изучению теоретического материала. Вторая глава посвящена эмпирической части исследования. В ней представлено описание организации и методов проведенного исследования и результатов, полученных по всем использованным методикам: методика многофакторного исследования личности Р.Кэттелла, уровень субъктивного контроля (УСК), опросник «Готовность к возрастным изменениям». Также в главе представлен корреляционный и сравнительный анализ результатов исследования. Выводы по главе 2 включают в себя основные результаты эмпирического исследования. В заключении в обобщенном виде изложены результаты теоретической и эмпирической частей работы, а также выводы по выдвинутым гипотезам, обоснована практическая значимость исследования и описаны возможные перспективы дальнейшей разработки данной проблематики. / The object of the study is the psychological readiness for the development of age-related changes in students. The subject of the study was the personal predictors of students to the development of time-age changes. The master's thesis consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, a list of references (60 sources), 75 pages, 6 figures, 1 table (no attachments) and three attachments. The introduction reveals the relevance of the research problem, the development of the problem, sets the goal and objectives of the study, defines the object and subject of the study, formulates the main and additional hypotheses, indicates the methods and empirical base, as well as the stages of the study, scientific novelty, theoretical and practical significance of the work. The first chapter includes a review of foreign and domestic literature on the topic of personal predictors of readiness for mastering age-time changes in young people. The sections devoted to the idea of youth about the future, the psychological characteristics of youth are presented. The conclusions on the first chapter are the results of the study of theoretical material. The second chapter is devoted to the empirical part of the study. It presents a description of the organization and methods of the study and the results obtained by all the methods used: the method of multivariate personality research by R. Cattell, the level of subjective control (SCC), the questionnaire "Readiness for age-related changes." The chapter also presents a correlation and comparative analysis of the results of the study. Chapter 2's conclusions include the main findings of the empirical study. In conclusion, the results of the theoretical and empirical parts of the work, as well as conclusions on the hypotheses put forward, are summarized, the practical significance of the study is substantiated, and possible prospects for further development of this issue are described.

L'idée que les souches de rongeurs de laboratoire ne soient pas des modèles idéaux pour la recherche sur le vieillissement n’est pas nouvelle. Pourtant, l’attitude des chercheurs face à l’introduction d’animaux de type sauvage dans leurs travaux demeure frileuse bien que ces derniers apporteraient une solution adéquate pour l’étude d’un processus aussi complexe et multifactoriel que le vieillissement et permettraient d’intégrer les traits d’histoire de vie des individus afin de rendre compte de façon pertinente des changements liés à l’âge. Chez la souris glaneuse, le report de l’âge de première reproduction des animaux juvéniles hivernants conduit à la création de deux cohortes. Ces deux groupes d’animaux devront, à un âge plus ou moins avancé, explorer des environnements anxiogènes et faire face à des compétiteurs lors de leur dispersion, se reproduire et élever leur progéniture qui devra à son tour disperser. L’objectif de cette thèse est d’étudier les conséquences émotionnelles et sociales du vieillissement qui pourraient influencer les stratégies comportementales de ce rongeur de type sauvage. Ce travail s’ouvre également sur des thématiques d’actualité dans le domaine de la biogérontologie. Notre étude montre qu’à l’instar de celles réalisées chez l’Homme, le niveau d’anxiété d’un individu peut être déterminé par son âge mais aussi par l’âge de ses parents. L’âge de mise en couple va quant à lui influencer certaines stratégies liées à la reproduction comme la latence d’accouplement ou l’effort parental fourni par les mères et les pères et va conditionner l’apparition des premiers signes de sénescence reproductive. Enfin, cette étude dévoile que la durée de vie reproductive d’un couple monogame pourrait être un facteur renforçateur des liens qui unissent un mâle à sa partenaire. / The idea that standard laboratory rodents may not be an ideal model for aging research is not new. Nonetheless, the researcher's attitude toward using wild-type species remains cautious although these animals would make a suitable solution to study a process as complex and multifaceted as aging, and would allow to incorporate the life history traits of individuals to reflect appropriately age-related changes. In the mound-building mouse, the delay of the age of first reproduction of over wintering juvenile animals leads to the establishment of two cohorts. These two groups of animals have to, at more or less advanced ages, explore anxiogenic environnements and face competitors during dispersal, reproduce and raise their offspring wich will in turn disperse. The aim of this thesis is to study the emotional and social consequences of aging that could influence the behavioral strategies in this wild-type rodent focusing on current issues in the biogerontogical field. Our study shows that, like in humans, the anxiety level of an individual can be determined by its own age but also by the age of its parents at conception. For its part, the age at pairing influences reproduction-related strategies as the latency of first reproduction or parental effort provided by mothers and fathers and affects the appearence of the first signs of reproductive senescence. Finally, this work reveals that the duration of pairing could strengthen the social bond between a male and its partner in a monogamous species.