420 research outputs found

    The Embodied Simulation of Verticality

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    The existing literature suggests that metaphorical effects are mediated by semantic priming and embodied simulation is not necessary for these effects to occur. We qualify this prediction by showing that embodied simulation is necessary for dynamic metaphorical effects (i.e., moving down)and activates regulatory goals that increase preferences for status consumption

    Automatic EMI filter design for power electronic converters oriented to high power density

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    In this paper, a complete computer aided procedure based on the power density concept and aimed at the automatic design of EMI filters for power electronic converters is presented. It is rule-based, and it uses suitable databases built-up by considering information on passive components available from commercial datasheets. The power density constraint is taken into consideration by imposing the minimization of the filter volume and/or weight; nevertheless, the system in which the automatically designed filter is included satisfies the electromagnetic compatibility standards limits. Experimental validations of the proposed procedure are presented for two real case studies, for which the performance and the size of the best filter design are compared with those related to a conventionally designed one

    Draft Genome Sequence of Legionella Species Isolated from Drinking Water in an Italian Industry

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    We report the draft genome sequences of an environmentalLegionellastrainisolated from an industrial water distribution system in Italy. Macrophage infectivity poten-tiator (mip)andb-subunit of RNA polymerase (rpoB) genes were used to perform the spe-cies identification. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and average nucleotide identity (ANI)identified the isolate as belonging to a presumptive novelLegionellaspecies, with a ge-nome length of 3,281,851 bp

    The Dancers’ Visuospatial Body Map Explains Their Enhanced Divergence in the Production of Motor Forms: Evidence in the Early Development

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    Dance represents an opportunity to promote not only motor skills but also other cognitive functions and general well-being. In this study, 58 children aged 6–10 years were enrolled in order to test the issue if dance improves divergent thinking in motor and visual domains (domain-general and domain-specificity hypotheses), and whether the topological map of the body mediates their performance at the motor task (mediation hypothesis). Therefore, 33 children practicing dance were compared with a control group (25 children). Children were administered the visual divergent thinking task of the Torrance Test of Creative Thinking, consisting in making drawings starting from given shapes, and the motor-form divergent thinking task, opportunely developed consisting in producing acted motor forms in the extrapersonal space. Both tasks were presented for 10 min and were scored in terms of fluency, flexibility, and originality. The ability to form the topological map of the body was measured by the frontal body-evocation test. Results revealed that children practicing dance outperformed the control group only in terms of the ability to perform motor forms. In addition, dancers showed a better topological map of the body, and, most importantly, besides the direct effect of group on the ability to produce acted motor forms, a significant indirect effect of the group, mediated by performances on frontal body-evocation task, was found. These results have important implications for cognition, showing that dance can improve the topological map of the body that in turn enhances creativity in motor domain since the early developmental age

    [OP.7B.08] INFLUENCE OF GENDER ON THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NEW INDICES OF ADIPOSITY AND LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS AND HYPERTROPHY IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

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    OBJECTIVE: The unfavourable effects of the association of obesity with hypertension on cardiac structure and function have been extensively studied. However, controversy still exists about the influence of gender on the relationship between obesity and left ventricular mass (LVM) and hypertrophy (LVH). Even if body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are widely used as anthropometric predictors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD), their validity has been questioned. Recently, Body Shape Index (ABSI) and Body Roundness Index (BRI) were proposed as alternative measures of adiposity that may better reflect health status (1-2).Our study was aimed to assess the ability of ABSI and BRI in identifying LVH and to determine whether they are superior to BMI and WC. Moreover, the influence of gender on the relationships between all these indices of adiposity and LVM was also evaluated. DESIGN AND METHOD: We enrolled 724 subjects with EH (mean age 45 ± 12 years, 63 % men) without cardiovascular complications.In all subjects the anthropometric indices (weight, height and waist circumference) and the routine biochemical parameters were determined. BMI, ABSI and BRI were calculated. Furthermore, all patients underwent a 24-h blood pressure monitoring and an echocardiogram. LVM was indexed for body surface area (LVMI) and for height2.7 (LVMH2.7). RESULTS: The univariate correlations of LVMI and LVMH2.7 with the measures of adiposity evaluated are shown in the table 1.ROC curves analysis revealed that in overall population (table 2) and in men BRI has a greater ability to identify LVH defined as LVMH2.7 > 51 g/m2.7.(Figure is included in full-text article.) CONCLUSIONS: : Our results seems to suggest that in men, but not in women, the BRI has a greater sensitivity to detect LVH than ABSI and the traditional measures of adiposity

    Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN): clinico-pathological correlations and surgical indications

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are increasingly recognized entities, whose management remains sometimes controversial, due to the high rate of benign lesions and on the other side to the good survival after resection of malignant ones.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected Western series of IPMN.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty cases of IPMN were analysed (1992-2007). Most patients were symptomatic (72.5%); cholangio-MRI had the best diagnostic accuracy both for the tumour nature (83.3%) and for the presence of malignancy (57.1%). ERCP was done in 8 cases (20%), and the results were poor. Thirteen patients were treated by pancreatic resection and 27 were maintained in follow-up. Total pancreatectomy was performed in 46% of the cases; in situ and invasive carcinoma were recognized in 15.4% and 38.4% of the cases, respectively. The mean follow-up was 42 months (range 12-72). One only patients with nodal metastases died 16 months after the operation for disease progression, while 91.6% of the operated patients are disease free. Out of the 27 not resected patients, 2 out of 4 presenting a lesion at high risk for malignancy died, while the remaining are in good conditions and disease free, with a mean follow-up of 31 months.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Therapeutic indication for IPMNs is mainly based upon radiological evaluation of the risk of malignancy. While the main duct tumours should be resected, preserving whenever possible a portion of the gland, the secondary ducts tumours may be maintained under observation, in absence of radiological elements of suspicion such as size larger than 3 cm, or a wall greater than 3 mm or nodules or papillae in the context of the cyst.</p
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