No / Background. Early detection of cognitive decline in the elderly is important because this may precede progression to Alzheimer's disease. The aim of this study was to see whether sensitive neuropsychological tests could identify pre-clinical cognitive deficits and to characterize the cognitive profile of a subgroup with poor memory. Methods. A neuropsychological test battery was administered to a community-dwelling sample of 155 elderly volunteers who were screened with CAMCOG at enrolment (mean age 74·7 years). The battery included tests of episodic memory, semantic and working memory, language and processing speed. Results. Episodic memory test z scores below 1 S.D. from the cohort mean identified 25 subjects with `non-robust¿ memory performance. This group was compared to the remaining `robust memory¿ group with a General Linear Model controlling for age, IQ, education and gender. Test performance was significantly different in all tests for episodic and semantic memory, but not in tests for working memory, processing speed and language. CANTAB paired associates learning and spatial recognition tests identified the highest percentages of those in the `non-robust memory¿ group. Processing speed partialled out the age effect on memory performance for the whole cohort, but the `non-robust memory¿ group's performance was not associated with age or processing speed. Conclusions. Sensitive neuropsychological tests can detect performance below the norm in elderly people whose performance on MMSE and CAMCOG tests is well within the normal range. Age-related decline in memory performance in a cohort of the elderly may be largely due to inclusion within the cohort of individuals with undetected pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease or isolated memory impairment.

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This thesis discusses the decline of the Venetian nobility, the collapse of the Venetian economy, and the political results of the surrender of the Venetian Republic to Napoleon Bonaparte in 1797. Topics include the formation of Venice, Venetian domination of trade, the class system in Venice prior to 1797, the collapse of the aristocracy, feudalism in Venice, Venice’s presence in the Adriatic and Aegean seas, and the rise of the middle class within the provisional democratic government. Very few historians have attempted to research the provisional democracy of Venice and how the political and class structure of Venice changed as a result of the collapse of the Republic in 1797. Using primary sources, including government documents and contemporary histories, one can see how the once dominant noble class slowly fell victim to economic ruin and finally lost their role in the political leadership of Venice all together. During this same period, the middle class went from only holding secretarial jobs within the government, to leaders of a modern democratic movement. On top of primary research, several secondary sources helped in explaining the exclusivity of the noble class and their journey from economic dominance to economic ruin and the administrative consequences of this decline for the people of the Republic. This thesis aims to fill gaps in recent research concerning Venetian political history and specifically the period between the surrender of Venice on 12 May 1797, and the signing of the Treaty of Campo Formio, in which France awarded Venice to Austria, on 18 October 1797.

Resumo: O envelhecimento provoca declínios físico e/ou cognitivo. Ainda, algumas conseqüências da institucionalização do idoso parecem influenciar negativamente suas esferas física e cognitiva, geralmente já prejudicadas. Porém, o exercício aeróbio pode beneficiar ambas as esferas. Assim, esta pesquisa divide-se em Estudo #1 (transversal) e Estudo #2 (longitudinal) OBJETIVO: realizar o perfil de nível de atividade física, independência funcional básica, funções executivas, memória e estado cognitivo geral de idosos moradores de instituições de longa permanência para idosos de Rio Claro-SP (Estudo #1), e analisar possíveis efeitos de um programa de Dança de Salão nestas variáveis (Estudo #2). MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: para o Estudo #1, a amostra foi aleatória e abrangeu 89,8% da população institucionalizada. Para o Estudo #2, a amostra foi de 14 idosos no Grupo Controle e de 13 idosos no Grupo Treinamento; o treinamento foi de três sessões de Dança de Salão por semana, durante seis meses. Em ambos os estudos foi aplicada a mesma bateria de testes e questionários. Os dados foram analisados com p<0,05. No Estudo #1, foi calculada média, desvio-padrão e quartis, além do coeficiente de correlação de Pearson para nível de atividade física e independência funcional básica com as outras variáveis. No Estudo #2, utilizou-se o teste de Shapiro-Wilk para analisar a normalidade da distribuição dos dados, teste t de Student para análise de similaridade inicial entre ambos os grupos. Assim, utilizou-se ANOVA two-way, three-way e four-way, dependendo do teste, além do coeficiente de correlação de ix Pearson. RESULTADOS: Em ambos os estudos, o desempenho dos idosos foi muito abaixo do esperado. No Estudo #1, obteve-se: idade=75,3 anos; Mini- Exame do Estado Mental=11,5 pontos; Escala Geriátrica de Depressão=12,8 pontos; Questionário Baecke Modificado... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Aging causes physical and/or cognitive decline. Moreover, some consequences of older adult's institutionalization seem to exert a negative influence on their physical and cognitive spheres, which are generally are impaired. Anyhow, aerobic exercise can benefit both spheres. So, this research is divided into Study #1 (transversal) and Study #2 (longitudinal). OBJECTIVE: accomplish the profile of physical activity level, basic functional independence, executive functions, memory and general cognitive state of older adults living in the long-care homes at Rio Claro-SP (Study #1), and to analyze the possible effects of a Ballroom Dancing program in those variables (Study #2). MATERIAL AND METHODS: the sample selected in the framework of the Study#1 was randomized and achieved 89,8% of institutionalized population. With regard to Study #2, the sample included 14 older adults in the control group and 13 older adults in the training group. The training consisted by three sessions of Ballroom Dancing a week, during six months. The same battery of tests and questionnaires was applied to both studies. The data were analyzed with p<0,05. Along the Study #1, the mean and the standard-desviation e quarters were calculated, as well as the Pearson correlation coefficient concerning the physical activity level and the basic functional independence with other variables. Along the Study #2, ANOVA two-way, three-way e fourway was used, according with the test, in addition to the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS: in both studies, older adult's engagement was lower than expected. Study #1 shows that: age=75.3 years old; Mini Exam of Mental State=11.5 points; Geriatric Depression Scale=12.8 points; Modified Baecke 100 Questionnaire for Older Adults=1.0 point, and Katz Scale of Basic Functional Independence=4.5 points, in addition... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Orientador: Sebastião Gobbi / Coorientador: Ruth Ferreira Santos / Banca: Hanna Karen Moreira Antunes / Banca: Cátia Mary Volp / Mestre

Abstract Lion populations in West and Central Africa are small and fragmented. In areas where park management is weak, threats will likely facilitate the extinction of the lion. Wildlife management requires knowledge of the population estimate. The population of lions in Waza National Park (Waza NP) was assessed by individual identification of members in the population. The population was assessed to comprise of 14–21 adult individual lions. The age structure was skewed towards adults; cubs comprised 22% of all lions identified while the sex ratio was 1 : 3. Two out of four collared lions were lost to illegal, retaliatory killings within 1 year; and probably two more males and one more female were also killed during this period. The lion population appears to have declined during the last 5 years with six lions dying per year, which is at a much higher rate than observed in the previous decades. Human-livestock pressure has increased tremendously in this period, resulting to frequent human-lion conflicts. To ensure the survival of the lion in Waza NP and in the entire region, management needs to intensify efforts to mitigate the pressure from humans and their livestock.

In recent decades, many softwater lakes on the boreal shield have experienced significant reductions in aqueous calcium (Ca) concentrations. These declines are a long-term consequence of acid deposition due to the depletion of base cations from watershed soils. There is concern that in some lakes [Ca] may be falling to levels detrimental to the competitiveness of Ca-rich organisms. By examining the crustacean zooplankton remains preserved in lake sediments, this thesis provides field evidence of reduced [Ca] impacting a Ca-sensitive crustacean zooplankton species (Daphnia pulex). Additionally, a 770 lake data set compiled from several Ontario monitoring programs revealed that 62 % (an increase from 35% in the early 1980s) of the lakes were near or below the laboratory-determined Ca threshold (1.5 mg•L-1) for the growth and survival of D. pulex. To determine whether the 1.5 mg•L-1 Ca threshold could be observed in a spatial survey of crustacean zooplankton sedimentary remains, surface sediments from 36 softwater (Ca range 1-3 mg•L-1) Ontario lakes were analyzed. Significant differences in daphniid abundances across the Ca threshold were present; however, only for the D. longispina species complex, indicating differences in Ca tolerances within daphniid species complexes. Extending the analysis to a comparison of modern-day vs. preindustrial assemblages revealed that in the same 36 lakes there have been large declines (by up to 30%) in daphniid relative abundances since preindustrial times coincident with increases in Ca-poor species (i.e. Holopedium gibberum) irrespective of modern day pH. These findings demonstrate that in natural settings, the competitive disadvantages of Ca limitation may occur at a higher [Ca] than previously suspected. Finally, zooplankton sedimentary remains were analyzed from several “pristine” lakes in northwestern Ontario that have also experienced Ca declines in recent years. Reduced abundances of Ca-sensitive taxa and increases in Ca-insensitive fauna provided further evidence of the impacts of Ca decline independent of acid deposition. Collectively these analyses demonstrate the potential importance of Ca as an environmental stressor in softwater regions, as well as the need for further research in order to make better use of the available information preserved in the sediment record. / Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2011-03-31 16:17:57.86

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