Family history of FXTAS is associated with age-related cognitive-linguistic decline among mothers with the FMR1 premutation

Background Women who carry a premutation allele of the FMR1 gene are at increased vulnerability to an array of age-related symptoms and disorders, including age-related decline in select cognitive skills. However, the risk factors for age-related decline are poorly understood, including the potential role of family history and genetic factors. In other forms of pathological aging, early decline in syntactic complexity is observed and predicts the later onset of neurodegenerative disease. To shed light on the earliest signs of degeneration, the present study characterized longitudinal changes in the syntactic complexity of women with the FMR1 premutation across midlife, and associations with family history of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) and CGG repeat length. Methods Forty-five women with the FMR1 premutation aged 35–64 years at study entry participated in 1–5 longitudinal assessments spaced approximately a year apart (130 observations total). All participants were mothers of children with confirmed fragile X syndrome. Language samples were analyzed for syntactic complexity and participants provided information on family history of FXTAS. CGG repeat length was determined via molecular genetic testing. Results Hierarchical linear models indicated that women who reported a family history of FXTAS exhibited faster age-related decline in syntactic complexity than those without a family history, with that difference emerging as the women reached their mid-50 s. CGG repeat length was not a significant predictor of age-related change. Conclusions Results suggest that women with the FMR1 premutation who have a family history of FXTAS may be at increased risk for neurodegenerative disease, as indicated by age-related loss of syntactic complexity. Thus, family history of FXTAS may represent a personalized risk factor for age-related disease. Follow-up study is needed to determine whether syntactic decline is an early indicator of FXTAS specifically, as opposed to being a more general age-related cognitive decline associated with the FMR1 premutation.

Granulated Sugar-Containing Functional Products in Jelly Fillings

Introduction. Iodine is one of the most important elements for maintaining human health and cognitive skills. Contemporary food industry is looking for new functional foods fortified with macro- and micronutrients. Confectionery products occupy a fairly large segment of human diet. The present research objective was to substitute traditional white sugar with an experimental granulated sugar-containing product that contained maltodextrin, cane molasses, and Japanese kelp extract. This substitute could reduce the calorie content of jelly and increase its functional properties while maintaining its sensory profile, e.g. consistency, increasing its shelf-life, and simplifying the tec hnological process. Study objects and methods. Granulated sugar-containing product is a new component for the confectionery industry, but its effect on technological processes is unpredictable. The research featured an experimental granulated sugar-containing product with maltodextrin, cane molasses, and Japanese kelp. The growth rate of granules and their structure were studied by scanning microscopy and radiography, the granulometric composition and solubility – by determining the relative dissolution rate, the effect of the granulated sugar-containing product on the sensory and physicochemical parameters of jelly – by refractometry and titrometry. Results and discussion. The experimental granulated sugar-containing product contained sucrose both in crystalline and amorphous state, which affected the distribution of nutrients within the product. The growth rate of granules affected the resulting structure of the product and its solubility, which decreased by 2.5 times as the size of the granules grew. The dissolution rate decreased compared to crystalline sugar. As a result, the technological process of jelly production had to be adjusted. The developed jelly had a lower energy value and better nutritional qualities. The high content of vitamins and macro- and microelements makes it a functional product. The experimental jelly received 22.3 points for sensory profile. Its hysico-chemical parameters (soluble solids < 68%, acidity > 2.2 8%) met the standard requirements for this type of product. Conclusion. The new granulated sugar-containing product simplified the technological process and improved the sanitary, hygienic, and working conditions.

ДІАГНОСТИКА ЗА ДОПОМОГОЮ ІНСТРУМЕНТАРІЮ ХАКАТОН-ЕКОСИСТЕМИ ГОТОВНОСТІ СТУДЕНТСЬКОЇ МОЛОДІ ДО НАУКОВО-ДОСЛІДНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ

The article seeks to provide insights into the growing role of the research component within the higher education system as a key element in ensuring quality education and boosting student talent and potential. Given that modern society imposes new demands for a more skilled workforce, future professionals must demonstrate not only high-level professional competencies but also display well developed cognitive skills, independence, initiative and creative thinking. In the context of this study, a research competence is viewed as an integral personality trait which translates into the capacity and willingness to resolve research problems independently, mastering of research technology skills, recognition of the value of research and the ability to use it in the professional business settings. The dominant methodology of the study is to build a linear mathematical model that allows evaluating the readiness of student and post-graduates to conduct a research. The developed model provides the minimum, maximum and threshold values as well as diagnostic assessment indicators of the student readiness to perform research. In addition, the study presents a method to assess the readiness of student and post-graduates to research activities which was tested on the basis of the Hackathon Ecosystem of the Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design. The survey held has revealed the structure of a research competence that consists of ten main elements (competencies) of readiness of student and post-graduates to conduct research. Processing the results of the questionnaire has enabled to calculate the weight of each element, their mathematical expectation values, the density of probability distribution, and the average value of all the necessary characteristics for research. The calculation results have verified that the priority competencies of student and post-graduates are motivation to research and the level of academic training. University student and post-graduate engagement into research activities is an integral part of academic training to tackle professional issues. Within the study process, student research practices involve problem-based learning, a professional focus of training through a wide range of problem solving activities, as well as encouraging enhanced creativity. The findings demonstrate that making use of the University Hackathon ecosystem tools will contribute to identifying the students’ and post-graduates’ propensity to research activities, building relevant skills and abilities of research competence.

No Country for Non-Graduate Men: The Childish Roots of Adult Job Tasks \& Employment

Male employment has declined across advanced economies as non-graduate men found it increasingly difficult to gain jobs in the wake of technological change and globalisation. This has led to rising earnings and, subsequently, income inequality. Female employment, by contrast, has risen in this period. Previous work has shown changing job task demands explain this pattern - with declining manual tasks penalising men and rising non-routine tasks benefiting women. In this paper, I test whether gendered differences in childhood \&amp; adolescent cognitive, social, perseverance, and emotional-health skills can help explain why men are less adept at non-routine tasks using long-term longitudinal data from the United Kingdom. I find that childhood \&amp; adolescent skills have a significant effect on adult job tasks and employment outcomes. Greater cognitive and childhood emotional-health skills lead to people performing more high-pay analytical and interactive job tasks as adults. Greater cognitive and non-cognitive skills are also associated with higher adult employment levels. Indicative calculations show that gendered differences in these childhood and adolescent skills explain an economically significant decline in the analytical and interactive job tasks performed by non-graduate men as well as their employment rates.

The price of prosociality in pandemic times

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has imposed widespread negative impacts (economically, psychologically, neurologically, and societally), and has changed daily behaviors on a global scale. Such impacts are more significant and pervasive in countries with higher levels of inequality and reduced Government capacity and responsiveness, such as those in the Global South (e.g., Colombia). Differences in social and moral cognitive skills may significantly impact individual attitudes and responses to the pandemic. Here, we aimed to assess the extent to which factors associated with prosociality (including empathy, theory of mind (ToM), and moral judgments) predict the perception of SARS-CoV-2 impacts and responses. Participants (N = 413) from Colombia answered factors associated with prosociality measures and judgments about SARS-CoV-2 risk, impact, and acceptance of quarantine guidelines. Results revealed that affective empathy (personal distress and empathic concern) and moral tendencies (deontological trends) predicted greater acceptance of quarantine but in turn yielded an increased perception of risks and individual impacts of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, age (older) and gender (female) also increased the risk perception and impact estimation. These results underscore the role of prosocial-related predispositions informing individual responses to the pandemic and provide an opportunity to exploit this knowledge to inform successful interventions favoring behavioral change.