Objective Recently, exergames have been used an exercise modality as aerobic fitness activities. However, evidence of its effectiveness on cardiovascular (CV)‐related risk factors remain unclear. Hypothesis We evaluate the effects of exergaming on CV‐related risk factors compared with traditional aerobic exercise in high CV risk patients. Methods Sixty‐five postmenopausal women with high CV risk were randomized among exergame (n = 22), treadmill (n = 22), and control (n = 21) groups. The exergame group was engaged in the running‐based exergame using Exer Heart and the treadmill group walked or jogged on a treadmill. Cardiorespiratory fitness, flow‐mediated dilation, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), epicardial fat thickness, metabolic parameters, and anthropometric parameters were measured in patients before and 12 weeks after the training. Results Exergaming significantly improved VO2 peak (P < .001; different from control, P < .05), flow‐mediated dilation (P < .001; different from control, P < .05), EPCs (CD34/CD117+, P < .01). Treadmill exercise was effective at improving VO2 peak (P < .01; different from control, P < .05), flow‐mediated dilation (P < .05), EPCs (CD34/CD117+, P < .01; different from control P < .05). Epicardial fat thickness decreased after both exercise programs (exergame, P < .01; treadmill, P < .01; no different from control). Conclusion Exergaming showed similar effects to traditional aerobic exercise in improving cardiorespiratory fitness and endothelial function in postmenopausal women with high CV risk. These findings suggest that the exergames may serve as an alternative to conventional aerobic exercises for prevention and treatment in high CV risk patients.

Habitat selection by Chinese pangolin (Manis pentadactyla) in winter was studied in Dawuling Natural Reserve, Maoming City of Guangdong Province, China, from December 1999 through February 2001.The objective of this study was to determine the pangolin's habitat requirement in winter during poor environmental conditions. The dominant habitat of this Reserve was classified into 4 types, i.e. mixed coniferous and broadleaf forest (MCBF), evergreen broadleaf forest (EBF), coniferous forest (CF) and shrub forest (SF). The results showed that the ranking of vegetation types selected by pangolins in winter was MCBF > SF > EBF > CF. Pangolins preferred MCBF, and avoided CF. The environmental factors preferred by pangolins in winter were 30°-60° steep slopes, middle of slopes and bottom of slopes, sunny slopes, dis-KEY WORDS Dawuling Natural Reserve, pangolin, Manis pentadactyla, habitat selection. MAMMALIA, t. 67. n° 4 · 2003 · 493-501 493 Brought to you by | University of Georgia Libraries Authenticated Download Date | 6/1/15 1:07 AM Wu S.B. andai.tance from human disturbance source exceeding 1 000 m with a minor disturbance degree, heavy (81 % -100 0/ o) undergrowth with good shelter conditions, moderate (760 -1 500 m) elevation, and medium (31 "o -70 %) closure of arbor canopy. The surroundings factors avoided by pangolins were sharp slopes steeper than 60° or gentle slopes less than 30°, shady slopes, distance from human disturbance source within 1 000 m, dense (71 % -100 %) or sparse (0 % -30 %) closure of arbor canopy, medium or lower coverage (0 % -50 %) of undergrowth, and the top of the slope. Pangolins preferred south-facing burrow entrances with thick cover, and avoided north-facing burrow entrances with bare or poor shelter. The thick layer of shrub and herbs growing under the tree canopy appeared to be especially important to pangolins during winter.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Switch costs have been constantly found asymmetrical when switching between two tasks of unequal dominance. We used a combined Stroop-task-switching paradigm and recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) signals to explore the neural mechanism underlying the phenomenon of asymmetrical switch costs. The results revealed that a fronto-central N2 component demonstrated greater negativity in word switch (cW) trials relative to word repeat (wW) trials, and both First P3 and P3b components over the parieto-central region exhibited greater positivity in color switch (wC) trials relative to color repeat (cC) trials, whereas a contrasting switch-related fronto-central SP effect was found to have an opposite pattern for each task. Moreover, the time-frequency analysis showed a right-frontal lower alpha band (9-11 Hz) modulation in the word task, whereas a fronto-central upper alpha band (11-13 Hz) modulation was exclusively found in the color task. These results provide evidence for dissociable neural processes, which are related to inhibitory control and endogenous control, contributing to the generation of asymmetrical switch costs.

Post-error slowing (PES) reflects efficient outcome monitoring, manifested as slower reaction time after errors. Cognitive control account assumes that PES depends on error information, whereas orienting account posits that it depends on error frequency. This raises the question how the outcome valence and outcome frequency separably influence the generation of PES. To address this issue, we varied the probability of observation errors (50/50 and 20/80, correct/error) the “partner” committed by employing an observation-execution task and investigated the corresponding behavioral and neural effects. On each trial, participants first viewed the outcome of a flanker-run that was supposedly performed by a ‘partner’, and then performed a flanker-run themselves afterwards. We observed PES in the two error rate conditions. However, electroencephalographic data suggested error-related potentials (oERN and oPe) and rhythmic oscillation associated with attentional process (alpha band) were respectively sensitive to outcome valence and outcome frequency. Importantly, oERN amplitude was positively correlated with PES. Taken together, these findings support the assumption of the cognitive control account, suggesting that outcome valence and outcome frequency are both involved in PES. Moreover, the generation of PES is indexed by oERN, whereas the modulation of PES size could be reflected on the alpha band.

No abstract