Methylphenidate (MPD) is a psychostimulant used in the treat treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and more recently is being used as a cognitive enhancement and recreational drug. Its therapeutic effects are not fully understood, nor are the long term effects of the drug on brain development. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) is a site of psychostimulant action thought to be inv...

The basis of the decline in circadian rhythms with aging was addressed by comparing the patterns of three behavioral rhythms in young and old rats with the in vitro rhythm of neuronal activity in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), the primary circadian pacemaker. In some old rats, rhythms of body temperature, drinking, and activity retained significant 24-h periodicities in entraining light-dark...

The effects of formalin as a peripheral noxious stimulus on the activity of lateral paragigantocellularis nucleus (LPGi) neurons were examined. Spontaneous activity ofLPGi neurons was recorded after confirmation of their responsiveness to acute pain, and thereafter formalin (50 µL, 2.5%) was injected in the contralateral hindpaw. The response of the LPGi neurons was monitored for 60 min. A...

Using microdata for adults from 1987 to 2000 years of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), I show that smoking and excess weight decline during temporary economic downturns while leisure-time physical activity rises. The drop in tobacco use occurs disproportionately among heavy smokers, the fall in body weight among the severely obese and the increase in exercise among those ...

Ogedegbe et al, and Mancuso et al in developing randomized controlled trials to test the effects of an intervention that was designed to increase positive affect and self-affirmation on sustained healthbehavior change. Aligned with psychosocial models of behavior change, patients in both groups received an educational workbook relevant to the clinical focus of the study, a behavioral contract c...

BACKGROUND To be an older woman, live alone, have chronic pain, and be dependent on support are all factors that may have an impact on daily life. One way to promote ability in everyday activities in people with pain-related conditions is to use individualized, integrated behavioral medicine in physical therapy interventions. How this kind of intervention works for older women living alone at h...

INTRODUCTION Physical activity helps diabetic older adults who have physical impairments or comorbid conditions to control their disease. To enable state planners to select physical activity programs for these adults, we calculated synthetic state-specific estimates of inactive older adults with diabetes, categorized by defined health status groups. METHODS Using data from the 2000 through 20...

BACKGROUND European adolescents and students tend to have low levels of physical activity and eat unhealthy foods, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased, which poses a public health challenge. Mobile apps play an important role in their daily lives, suggesting their potential to be used in health-promoting strategies. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to explore how mobile apps...

STUDY OBJECTIVE To assess the association between physical activity and health related quality of life (HRQOL) among persons with arthritis or chronic joint symptoms (CJS). DESIGN Cross sectional survey investigating the relation between physical activity level and HRQOL. HRQOL was estimated using the number of physically or mentally unhealthy days during the past 30 days. Physical activity w...

The analysis of human activity data is an important research area in the context of ubiquitous and social environments. Using sensor data obtained by mobile devices, e. g., utilizing accelerometer sensors contained in mobile phones, behavioral patterns and models can then be obtained. However, the utilized models are often not simple to interpret by humans in order to facilitate assessment, eva...