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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2009.05.007 Byline: Stella F. Lourenco (a), Dede Addy (a), Janellen Huttenlocher (b) Keywords: Location; Disorientation; Young children; Scalar dimensions; Composite information; Spatial representation Abstract: It has been suggested that young children can only reorient, locating a target object, when the geometry of an enclosed space provides distinctive shape information [e.g., Hermer, L., & Spelke, E. (1994). A geometric process for spatial reorientation in young children. Nature, 370, 57-59]. Recently, however, young children were shown to specify location in a square-shaped space, where geometry is uninformative, so long as scale-like information was available on the walls of the space [Huttenlocher, J., & Lourenco, S. F. (2007a). Coding location in enclosed spaces: Is geometry the principle? Developmental Science, 10, 741-746]. Here we build on this work by examining more closely what types of cues afford 18- to 24-month-olds an advantage in locating a target object following disorientation. Their performance was assessed when linear scale-like information was presented either in isolation or in composite form. It was found that, even in isolation, young children searched at the appropriate locations, with added benefit when presented as a composite. We suggest that linear scale-like dimensions, especially when available in composite form, play a critical role in supporting location representation in young children. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA (b) Department of Psychology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA Article History: Received 27 September 2008; Revised 13 May 2009

An a posteriori gradient estimation scheme based on Gibbs sampler is used in a Bayesian net approach for defining and solving a stochastic optimization problem. The use of the Bayesian net approach allows for the description of joint probability distributions in the optimization model while the Gibbs sampler allows for gradient estimation when random variables are discrete. A validation of the model in a semiconductor environment proved the robustness of the technique.

A 15-year-old captive female Urutu snake (Bothrops alternatus) was presented with anorexia, apathy, dehydration, pale mucous membranes and marked enlargement of the caudal third of the coelomic cavity. Radiographs and ultrasonography were suggestive of faecal impaction or neoplasia. Post-mortem findings consisted of solid faecal impaction of the intestines, secondary to obstruction caused by a rectal tumour. Cytological examination of impression smears of the tumour revealed polygonal to round neoplastic cells arranged in clusters in an abundant extracellular mucinous matrix. Histologically, there was transmural growth of neoplastic epithelial cells arranged in small nests or individually and immersed in abundant extracellular mucin lakes. The neoplastic cells were immunopositive for cytokeratin. Clinical and pathological aspects indicated a diagnosis of mucinous rectal adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Sulfur deficiency in soils has become an increasing concern over the past decades. Despite elemental sulfur (S 8) vast utilization as a commercial fertilizer, S 8 has to be biologically oxidized for plant assimilation, drastically limiting its efficiency. Therefore, we propose a new fertilizer in which S 8 structure is more accessible to oxidizing microorganisms by chemical modification via inverse vulcanization technique, a solvent-free copolymerization method, with soybean oil as comonomer. Sulfur oxidation experiments were performed by A. niger submerged cultivation, confirming that the homogeneous rubbery-like material provides enhanced oxidation, with great potential as multifunctional sulfur-fertilizer. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Polysulfide fertilizers were synthesized via inverse vulcanization. • The polysulfides achieved superior S-oxidation than elemental sulfur. • The alkene content of the polymer contributed as substrate for biological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In mammals and across rat species, the variation in conformation is markedly observed in the head and the variation in the shape of the head is mostly determined by the shape of the skull. Hence comparative topographic analysis and morphometry is a veritable tool in precise categorization of peri-domestic rats and species identification. Methods Killed rodents around residential dwellings of students on campus were collected and measurements taken of external morphology. Thirty-one external head and corporal parameters; and 40 cranial measurements respectively were obtained. Topographic features and specific anatomical landmarks measured were matched using congruent anatomical landmarks and compared to referenced standard measurements. Results External morphometry suggests that all retrieved samples were more closely related to the species Rattus rattus . However, craniodental analysis of captured rats reveals variations from the mean of typical R. rattus . In comparison with Mastomys natalensis , the mean averages of the rat species were perceptibly different for only two of the parameters viz palatine fissure length (PL) (p = 0.039) and distance between interparietal bone (DP) (p = 0.06). In contrast, the mean of whole length of skull (WL), length of diastema (PI), length of nasal bone (NL), length of frontal bone (LF) and occipital width (OH) were significantly different from that of R. rattus with p values of 0.047, 0.036, 0.048, 0.032 and 0.034 respectively. Conclusion This study focuses on peridomestic rat’s identification within the University campus based on morphometry, providing unique landmarks for differentiation between Mastomys , Mus , Rattus and other rat species with emphasis on the need for more comprehensive investigation, categorization and morphometric profiling of rat population in Nigeria. Metric data generated for rat profiling in Nigeria is pivotal for a more comprehensive strategy for prevention of Lassa fever. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To navigate the world, human adults rely on various types of geometric cues. Yet there is debate over which cues young children use to guide reorientation. Some researchers have argued that particular geometric cues, such as distance, are privileged with respect to navigation, at least early in human ontogeny. On this view, children rely exclusively on distance to regain their orientation. Other geometric cues, such as length, are used for object recognition or two-dimensional form analysis, not reorientation. Here we show that children are capable of using multiple Euclidean cues to reorient, but their ability to use these cues can be masked by global shape information. We argue that children are flexible in their use of geometric cues for reorientation, using both distance and length cues. The role of global shape in facilitating or impeding reorientation is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease characterized by keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration induced by IL-17. However, the molecular mechanism through which IL-17 signaling in keratinocytes triggers skin inflammation remains not fully understood. Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), a glycolytic enzyme, has been shown to have non-metabolic functions. Here, we report that PKM2 mediates IL-17A signaling in keratinocytes triggering skin psoriatic inflammation. We find high expression of PKM2 in the epidermis of psoriatic patients and mice undergoing psoriasis models. Specific depletion of PKM2 in keratinocytes attenuates the development of experimental psoriasis by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. Mechanistically, PKM2 forms a complex with Act1 and TRAF6 regulating NF-κB transcriptional signaling downstream of the IL-17 receptor. As IL-17 also induces PKM2 expression in keratinocytes, our findings reveal a sustained signaling circuit critical for the psoriasis-driving effects of IL-17A, suggesting that PKM2 is a potential therapeutic target for psoriasis. [Display omitted] • Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is highly expressed in the psoriatic epidermis • Deficiency of PKM2 in keratinocytes reduces skin psoriatic inflammation • PKM2 mediates IL-17A biological effects in keratinocytes • PKM2-Act1-TRAF6 cytoplasmic complex regulates NF-κB signaling in keratinocytes Veras et al. report that PKM2 controls the IL-17 signaling in keratinocytes triggering psoriatic inflammation. Mechanistically, PKM2 forms a complex with Act1 and TRAF6, regulating NF-κB activation downstream of the IL-17 receptor. Besides, IL-17A induces PKM2 expression in keratinocytes, thus resulting in a signaling circuit critical for psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study concerns the links between analog representations of spatial extent and visuospatial geometric competence in childhood. Research with college students suggests that individual differences in adults' ability to approximate cumulative surface area are reflected in their knowledge of school-relevant geometry. Other research suggests that the link between analog magnitude representations and mathematical reasoning may be present earlier in development, at least for representations of numerical magnitude and arithmetic concepts. Here we asked whether the understanding of basic geometric concepts and transformations, such as parallelism and mental rotation, makes similar psychological connections to spatial magnitude, particularly representations of area, prior to extensive education with geometry. We found that the precision with which 4- to 6-year-olds approximate area for irregular 2D shapes positively correlated with their performance on a basic geometry test, even when controlling for age and verbal intelligence. This finding points to a previously undocumented relationship between a system for representing analog magnitude and geometric competence. The potential interactions with systems of object recognition and navigation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A numerical study of pressure oscillation generated in Solid Rocket Motors (SRM) is presented. Attention is focused on the effect of the cavity located in the vicinity of the nozzle on the flow–acoustic coupling and therefore on the consequent pressure oscillations. A parametric study with different cavity volumes has been conducted assuming the flow to be axi-symmetric. Results show that the cavity volume plays an important role in the flow–acoustic coupling mechanism. Indeed, the maximum pressure oscillation magnitude is observed to be highly dependent on the cavity volume and a close to linear dependence of the maximum excited mode against the volume of the cavity is documented. Satisfactory comparisons with experimental data available on the same geometrical configuration are also presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Numbers are often proposed to be represented spatially as lying along a mental number line. The present study examined whether the direction of spatial attention operates similarly in physical and numerical space. Participants bisected physical lines by indicating the perceived center and “bisected” the mental number line by estimating (without calculating) the number midway between two others. Healthy participants generally show a slight leftward bias (pseudoneglect) when bisecting physical lines. In the present study, pseudoneglect was also observed on mental number line bisection and, importantly, was greater for participants who showed stronger pseudoneglect on physical line bisection. This finding suggests that hemispheric asymmetries in spatial attention operate similarly in physical and numerical space. Furthermore, this bias increased with the average of the numbers, consistent with the proposal that the spatial representation of the mental number line is nonlinearly compressive, with pairs of numbers lying closer together as their magnitude increases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Cognitive scientists have ramped up online testing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although research conducted online solves the problem of data collection, the paucity of internet access among low-income and minority communities may reduce the diversity of study samples, and thus have an impact on the generalizability of scientific findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many researchers have proposed that the near space immediately surrounding the body is represented differently than more distant space. Indeed, it has often been suggested that near space encompasses that within arm's reach. The present study used a line bisection task in healthy adults to investigate the effects of tool use on space perception, and the nature of the transition between near and far space. Subjects bisected lines at four distances controlled for both veridical and angular size using a laser pointer and a set of sticks. When the laser pointer was used, a left to right shift in bias was observed as stimuli were moved from near to far space. When a tool was used, however, a leftward bias was observed at all distances, similar to that observed with the laser pointer in near space. These results suggest that the tool expanded the range of near space. Additionally, the transition from near to far space was gradual, with no abrupt shift at arm's length (or at any other distance). In contrast to theories describing near space as that within arm's reach, these findings suggest that the representation of near space is less rigid, extending with tool use and gradually transitioning into far space. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Systems for navigation and objects both rely on properties of Euclidean geometry. • Nevertheless, there is debate about the relation between these systems. • We tested whether magnitude perception contributes to representations of geometry. • Area perception correlated with both navigation and object analysis abilities. • Moreover, area perception served as an indirect mediator between the two systems. What is the relation between navigation and object analysis? Although researchers agree that such systems are, to some extent, dissociable, open questions remain about the potential interactions between them. Using an individual differences approach with young children (4-year-olds; N = 90), we examined the novel proposal that navigation and object analysis interact indirectly by way of magnitude perception. A system for magnitude perception may be ideally suited to support such interactions because it is present from early in development and is capable of discriminating geometric properties on the basis of spatial extent. Across two experiments, we tested for relations between children's ability to reorient within an environment, analyze the geometric properties of object forms, and discriminate area. We found that area precision was correlated with both reorientation ability and geometric form analysis, though reorientation and form analysis did not correlate with one another. Importantly, we also found that the precision of children's area discrimination supported an indirect link between their reorientation ability in a physical environment and visual analysis of object forms. Together, these results suggest a network for representing Euclidean geometry that includes both direct and indirect relations among navigation, object analysis, and magnitude perception. The potential role of magnitude perception within such a network is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the effects of constant rate infusions (CRI) of fentanyl or dexmedetomidine, combined with lidocaine and ketamine, on cardiovascular response during surgery, sevoflurane requirement and postoperative pain in dogs undergoing mastectomy. Prospective, randomized, blinded, clinical trial. A total of 29 female dogs with mammary tumors. Premedication consisted of intramuscular acepromazine and morphine. General anesthesia was induced with intravenous propofol and maintained with sevoflurane. Dogs were randomized to be administered intravenous DLK [dexmedetomidine 1 μg kg–1 loading dose (LD) and 1 μg kg–1 hour–1; lidocaine 2 mg kg–1 LD and 3 mg kg–1 hour–1; ketamine 1 mg kg–1 LD and 0.6 mg kg–1 hour–1; n = 14] or FLK (fentanyl 5 μg kg–1 LD and 9 μg kg–1 hour–1; same doses of lidocaine and ketamine; n = 15) during anesthesia. Cardiorespiratory variables and end-tidal sevoflurane (F e′ Sevo) were recorded during surgery. The number of dogs administered ephedrine to treat arterial hypotension [mean arterial pressure (MAP) < 60 mmHg] was recorded. Meloxicam was administered to both groups. Postoperative pain and rescue analgesia requirement were assessed for 24 hours using the short form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale. Data were compared using a mixed effects model or a Mann–Whitney test. More dogs required ephedrine in FLK than in DLK (67% versus 7%). Heart rate was not significantly different between groups, whereas lower values of MAP (p ≤ 0.01) and F e′ Sevo (p = 0.018) were observed in FLK than in DLK. Rescue analgesia was administered to 2/15 dogs in FLK and 0/14 dogs in DLK. Based on the cardiovascular response during surgery, intraoperative infusions of FLK and DLK provided adequate antinociception. Infusion of DLK provided greater stability of blood pressure. Both protocols resulted in minimal need for additional analgesia within 24 hours postoperatively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We quantify lane changing behavior in response to visual in-car warnings. • We use data from a driving simulator and a simulation model. • On average participants changed lanes timely. • Sometimes a change was not timely, which could have negative consequences. • The model suggests last-minute warnings might not be effective for 50% of drivers. We investigate how quickly drivers can change lanes in response to a visual in-car warning. Our work is motivated by technological developments, in which beacons along the road can trigger in-car warnings, for example when a driver is approaching a lane closure. What is not known, however, is at what distance such an in-car warning still allows for a timely lane change. We measured how quickly drivers respond to a visual in-car warning in a driving simulator. The driving task was combined with an audio task that provided different levels of cognitive distraction. We found that the initial reaction time to in-car warnings was significantly larger for drivers that were distracted by the audio task. Although the majority of drivers responded in time for a safe lane change, some drivers occasionally missed these signals, pointing at a serious potential hazard. Indeed, the results of a simulation model, used to investigate how this might extrapolate to regular traffic conditions, suggest that around 50% of drivers might not make a timely lane change in response to a last-minute warning. This indicates that these signals might be insufficient on their own when applied in the real world. This work can inform the design and evaluation of safer roads and in-car interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in tobacco and alcohol prevalence among Nigerian teenagers necessitates the need to understand the factors influencing use. The aim of this systematic literature review was to synthesis evidence from studies on tobacco and alcohol use among Nigerian adolescents and young adults in order to determine factors influencing tobacco and alcohol use. Six databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were used to search for peer-reviewed articles reporting the prevalence and predictors of tobacco and alcohol use among adolescents/youths published between 2010 and 2022. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guided this review. From our search, twelve articles from the 6 geopolitical zones within Nigeria were included. The high prevalence of tobacco and alcohol use among Nigerian adolescents necessitates the need to understand the factors influencing use. A high prevalence rate was recorded among the male gender. Gender, age, and curiosity appear to place adolescents at extra risk for tobacco and alcohol use. Lack of parental monitoring, peer influence, low socio-economic status, low education level, stressful life events, advertisements, availability, and accessibility are factors identified to influence adolescents' alcohol and tobacco use. Alcohol and tobacco use remains a major public health issue as it continues to contribute largely to the growing occurence of diseases globally. Our review showed that adolescents' alcohol and tobacco use behaviour is triggered by various factors on the personal, interpersonal, organisational, community, and policy levels, and these factors are understood to predict or protect against alcohol and tobacco use. • Early exposure of adolescents to tobacco and alcohol products are contributing factor to the initiation of smoking and alcohol consumption. • Various factors trigger adolescents' substance use behaviour and understanding the factors is pertinent to the adoption of health-promoting behaviour. • Attempts to utilize school-based surveys to study teenage alcohol and tobacco use behaviour without considering the population of non-schoolers are likely to present an incomplete picture • further research is required to provide an understanding of adolescents' attitudes and knowledge of the health implications of tobacco and alcohol use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Delayed-DES simulations of a transonic nozzle capture the salient features of shock unsteadiness. • A modification of the model lenghtscale improves DDES performance. • The enhanced DDES approach accelerates the passage from RANS to LES. • Enhanced DDES correctly predicts the peak frequency of the shock motion. An enhanced delayed detached eddy simulation of a shock wave/boundary layer interaction in an over-expanded planar transonic nozzle has been carried out to predict the fundamental features of shock low-frequency unsteadiness. The modification of the sub-grid length-scale proposed in Shur et al. (2015) has been implemented to attenuate some well-known problems of detached eddy simulation: the modeled-stress depletion in the switch region between RANS and LES and the consequent delay of transition to turbulence at the onset of separation. The comparison of the computational results with the experimental data shows that the enhanced DDES leads to significant improvements in the estimation of some flow features with respect to a different DDES version, even though some discrepancies are still observable in the distribution of the mean wall pressure, and additional work is needed to further improve the transition from modeled to resolved turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • An innovative fuel-cooled combustor is set-up. • The sensible and chemical heat sink absorbed by the decomposing fuel are determined. • The cooling system heat exchange efficiency is investigated. • Fuel coking activity is analyzed and quantified. • A coking monitoring method suitable for on-board application is validated. Abstract Scramjets engines are suitable to propel high-speed hypersonic vehicles. As flight velocities increase, vehicle thermal protection becomes very critical. In this sense, regenerative cooling is a well-known cooling technique, particularly effective when an endothermic hydrocarbon is used as fuel. The development of regeneratively cooled engines faces several challenges, the most important being the difficulty of defining an engine regulation strategy because of the dual function of the fuel (both propellant and coolant). In this context, a regeneratively cooled combustor allowing the experimental study of a fuel-cooled engine has been designed. Experiments are run using ethylene as fuel and air as oxidizer. Two command parameters, i.e. fuel mass flow rate and equivalence ratio (1.0–1.5), are investigated. It has been observed that fuel mass flow rate increases by 16–20% result in heat flux density (from the combustion gases to the combustor wall) increases between 20 and 28%, depending on equivalence ratio and pressure. The dependence of the cooling system heat exchange efficiency on the two operating parameters has been demonstrated. Ethylene coking activity has been investigated. For applied interest, a monitoring method for carbon deposits formation has been developed and validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scramjets are suitable for hypersonic flight, but their use requires the ability to ensure their thermal protection. In this context, a remotely controlled fuel-cooled combustor, suitable for the experimental analysis of the pyrolysis–combustion coupling characterizing a regeneratively cooled combustion chamber when a hydrocarbon propellant is used, has been designed. Similitude rules were used. Ethylene is used as fuel, air as oxidizer, with an equivalence ratio between 1.0 and 1.5 and a fuel injection pressure between 1 and 10 bar. Experiments are realized by varying operating conditions, to determine their impact on combustor heat transfer dynamics. Previous numerical results have been confirmed. A hysteresis effect has been demonstrated. It has been observed that system response time to fuel mass flow rate increases is lower (of about 40 to 50%) than system response time to fuel mass flow rate decreases and that a rise in equivalence ratio from 1.0 to 1.25 produces an increase in system response intensity that is, following the operating conditions, in the range from 90% to 170%. It has also been seen that an increase in equivalence ratio from 1.0 to 1.5 produces a raise of the temperature of the fuel-coolant (of about 40 to 50%), due to the increase in the emissivity of the flame. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, the right cerebral hemisphere has been considered to be specialized for spatial attention and orienting. A large body of research has demonstrated dissociable representations of the near space immediately surrounding the body and the more distance far space. In this study, we investigated whether right hemisphere activations commonly reported for tasks involving spatial attention (such as the line bisection and landmark tasks) are specific to stimuli presented in near space. In separate blocks of trials, participants judged either whether a vertical transector was to the left or right of the centre of a line (landmark task) or whether the line was red or blue (colour task). Stimuli were seen from four distances (30, 60, 90, 120 cm). We used EEG to measure an ERP component (the ‘line-bisection effect’) specific to the direction of spatial attention (i.e., landmark minus colour). Consistent with previous results, spatial attention produced a right-lateralized negativity over occipito-parietal channels. The magnitude of this negativity was inversely related to viewing distance, being largest in near space and reduced in far space. These results suggest that the right occipito-temporal cortex may be specialized not just for the orientation of spatial attention generally, but specifically for orienting attention in the near space immediately surrounding the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report on the fabrication in a single step of a channel grating loaded waveguide on Titanium based hybrid sol-gel material. This result has been accomplished by the merging of several lithographic techniques, namely conventional, laser interference, and soft lithography. Conventional lithographic processes have been employed for fabricating channel waveguides on a previously holographically written planar photopolymerizable sol-gel film. Such structures have been used as a master to produce a negative replica in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and subsequently exploited to reproduce the master patterns by UV-nanoimprinting on photopolymerizable hybrid sol-gel coatings (titanium and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate). Optical and morphological characterization of the various fabrication steps and of the final device have been reported and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the effects of regular, systematic and supervised activity on the cognitive functions, balance and risk of falls of elderly patients with Alzheimer's Dementia (AD). Methods: Sixteen elderly patients (mean age 78.5±6.8 years) were divided into two groups: intervention group (IG; n=9) and routine group (RG; n= 7) The IG exercised systematically for six months, and both groups were submitted to the following tests: Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) and the agility/dynamic balance (AGIBAL) item of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) test battery. Results: There was a statistically significant interaction (two-way ANOVA; F1, 14 =32.07; p=0.01) between groups and moments for the AGIBAL. The Mann Whitney U test indicated significant differences between groups (p=0.03), only at the post-intervention moment for the TUG measured in steps and for BBS. Therefore, no significant intergroup differences were found for the TUG, BBS and MMSE at the pre-intervention moment or at post-intervention moment for the TUG measured in seconds and MMSE. The intragroup analysis by means of the Wilcoxon test showed a significant decline in the TUG, BBS and MMSE for the RG, but not for the IG. Spearman's coefficient showed a significant correlation between the results of the MMSE and AGIBAL. Conclusions: Physical activity may be an important non-pharmacological approach that can benefit cognitive functions and balance and reduce the risk of falls. Moreover, agility and balance are associated with cognitive functions in elderly patients with AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Congenital chloride diarrhea is due to mutations in the intestinal Cl−/HCO3− exchange (SLC26A3) which results in sodium chloride and fluid depletion leading to hypochloremic and hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis. Although treatment with sodium and potassium chloride offers protection from renal involvement in childhood, the long-term renal outcome remains unclear. Here we describe two cases of congenital chloride diarrhea-associated end-stage renal disease with transplantation. Further, we show that there is a high incidence of mild chronic kidney disease in 35 other patients with congenital chloride diarrhea. The main feature of the renal injury was nephrocalcinosis, without hypercalciuria or nephrolithiasis with small sized kidneys and commensurately reduced glomerular filtration rates. This suggests that diarrhea-related sodium chloride and volume depletion, the first signs of non-optimal salt substitution, promote urine supersaturation and crystal precipitation. The poor compliance with salt substitution along with long-lasting hypochloremic and hypokalemic metabolic alkalosis is likely to induce progressive calcification and renal failure. Both our patients developed nephrocalcinosis in the transplanted kidneys suggesting that this complication is a consequence of intestinal SLC26A3 deficiency. Interestingly, the transporter is expressed in the distal nephron but the recurrence of nephrocalcinosis in the transplanted kidney suggests that it does not play a significant renal role in this syndrome.Kidney International (2008) 74, 1085–1093; doi:10.1038/ki.2008.401; published online 13 August 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine which spatial and temporal parameters are predictors of the gait pattern of individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, for the aerobic endurance and agility tests included in the battery of tests of the AAHPERD protocol. Methods: Six men and six women with mild and moderate impairment and disease stage were selected. They performed agility and aerobic endurance test in accordance with the AAHPERD protocol, and walked 8 m on a walkway. A digital video camera recorded one central stride. Markers were attached to the fifth metatarsal and lateral face of the calcaneus of the right leg and to the first metatarsal and medial face of the calcaneus of the leg. The dependent variables selected were the time taken in the agility and endurance tests and the kinematic variables: stride length (SL), cadence (CAD), stride time (ST), double support time (DS), single support time (SS), swing time (SW) and stride velocity (SV). Results: For agility, Pearson's test showed statistically significant correlations with SL (r=-0.70; p

Objective: To determine which spatial and temporal parameters are predictors of the gait pattern of individuals with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease, for the aerobic endurance and agility tests included in the battery of tests of the AAHPERD protocol. Methods: Six men and six women with mild and moderate impairment and disease stage were selected. They performed agility and aerobic endurance test in accordance with the AAHPERD protocol, and walked 8 m on a walkway. A digital video camera recorded one central stride. Markers were attached to the fifth metatarsal and lateral face of the calcaneus of the right leg and to the first metatarsal and medial face of the calcaneus of the left leg. The dependent variables selected were the time taken in the agility and endurance tests and the kinematic variables: stride length (SL), cadence (CAD), stride time (ST), double support time (DS), single support time (SS), swing time (SW) and stride velocity (SV). Results: For agility, Pearson's test showed statistically significant correlations with SL (r=-0.70; p≤0.05), CAD (r=-0.72; p≤0.01), SV (r=-0.83; p≤0.01), ST (r=0.71; p≤0.01) and DS (r=0.90; p≤0.01). For endurance, there were correlations with SL (r=-0.67; p≤0.05), CAD (r=-0.72; p≤0.01), SV (r=-0.82; p≤0.01), ST (r=0.71; p≤0.01), and DS (r=0.90; p≤0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed that DS was the only variable that predicted performance in both the agility (R2=0.82; p≤0.01) and the endurance (R2=0.81; p≤0.01) tests. Conclusions: It was observed that DS measure has a potential use as a kinematic parameter of gait that predicts the performance in agility and aerobic endurance tests in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shape perception is crucial for object recognition. However, it remains unknown exactly how shape information is represented and used by the visual system. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the visual system represents object shape via a skeletal structure. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and representational similarity analysis (RSA), we found that a model of skeletal similarity explained significant unique variance in the response profiles of V3 and LO. Moreover, the skeletal model remained predictive in these regions even when controlling for other models of visual similarity that approximate low-to high-level visual features (i.e., Gabor-jet, GIST, HMAX, and AlexNet), and across different surface forms, a manipulation that altered object contours while preserving the underlying skeleton. Together, these findings shed light on shape processing in human vision, as well as the computational properties of V3 and LO. We discuss how these regions may support two putative roles of shape skeletons: namely, perceptual organization and object recognition. • The neural correlates of shape skeletons remain unclear. • We tested where in the visual hierarchy shape skeletons are represented. • Skeletal coding was observed in V3 and LO, even when controlling for other visual models. • Shape skeletons may play roles in perceptual organization and object recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive wind tunnel test campaign devoted to the characterization of the aerodynamic and aeroacoustic behaviour of the new Space Launcher VEGA-C has been carried out in the trisonic wind tunnel available at the National Institute for Aerospace Research (INCAS) in Bucharest. The present paper summarizes the main results of the aeroacoustic investigation with a specific focus on the buffeting analysis. For this reason, the results presented herein are limited to the transonic conditions which are the most critical in terms of occurrence of flow instabilities. The scaled instrumented model of the VEGA-C launcher has been equipped with flush mounted Kulite sensors that provided the distribution of the wall pressure fluctuations. Pressure measurements at the wall of the wind tunnel have been carried out as well, with the scope of measuring reference signals to be used for cleaning the model pressure data from the background noise. Numerical simulations have been also performed to facilitate the physical interpretation of the experimental outcomes by qualitatively identifying the position of the shockwaves and tracking their evolution along the launcher for increasing Mach number. Data processing provides temporal statistics of the wall pressure signals as well as spectral quantities that give clear indications about the absence of buffeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]