Laterality, Perception, and Action during the Size-weight Illusion

In the classic size-weight illusion (SWI), a small object will feel heavier than an larger object of equal weight (Charpentier, 1891). Individuals continue to perceive this illusory difference in weight long after their gripping and lifting forces have scaled to the actual, identical, mass of the illusion-inducing stimuli (Flanagan & Beltzner, 2000). The independence of our weight perception and fingertip force application has only been quantified in the right hand of right-handers. The immunity to this perceptual illusion may be affected by manual asymmetries (e.g., Gonzalez, Ganel & Goodale, 2006). We examined perception of heaviness and fingertip force scaling in right- and left-handers during repeated lifts of SWI-inducing cubes with their dominant and non-dominant hands. We also examined the optimal direction for intermanual transfer of the scaled fingertip forces.

In situ study of soil processes in an oxisol-spodosol sequence of Amazonia (Brazil)

L'étude in situ de l'évolution d'échantillons de vermiculite et de résines à cations échangeables et kelates insérés dans le sol met en évidence les processsus pédogénétiques caractérisant une séquence de sols de la région de Manaus (Brésil

Tracing the origin of dissolved silicon transferred from various soil-plant systems towards rivers: a review

Silicon (Si) released as H4SiO4 by weathering of Si-containing solid phases is partly recycled through vegetation before its land-to-rivers transfer. By accumulating in terrestrial plants to a similar extent as some major macronutrients (0.1–10% Si dry weight), Si becomes largely mobile in the soil-plant system. Litter-fall leads to a substantial reactive biogenic silica pool in soil, which contributes to the release of dissolved Si (DSi) in soil solution. Understanding the biogeochemical cycle of silicon in surface environments and the DSi export from soils into rivers is crucial given that the marine primary bio-productivity depends on the availability of H4SiO4 for phytoplankton that requires Si. Continental fluxes of DSi seem to be deeply influenced by climate (temperature and runoff) as well as soil-vegetation systems. Therefore, continental areas can be characterized by various abilities to transfer DSi from soil-plant systems towards rivers. Here we pay special attention to those processes taking place in soil-plant systems and controlling the Si transfer towards rivers. We aim at identifying relevant geochemical tracers of Si pathways within the soil-plant system to obtain a better understanding of the origin of DSi exported towards rivers. In this review, we compare different soil-plant systems (weathering-unlimited and weathering-limited environments) and the variations of the geochemical tracers (Ge/Si ratios and d30Si) in DSi outputs. We recommend the use of biogeochemical tracers in combination with Si mass-balances and detailed physico-chemical characterization of soil-plant systems to allow better insight in the sources and fate of Si in these biogeochemical systems

Provider Counseling, Health Education, and Community Health Workers: The Arizona WISEWOMAN Project

Background: The Arizona Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) project used provider counseling, health education, and community health workers (CHWs) to target chronic disease risk factors in uninsured, primarily Hispanic women over age 50. Methods: Participants were recruited from two Tucson clinics participating in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP). Women were randomly assigned into one of three intervention groups: (1) provider counseling, (2) provider counseling and health education, or (3) provider counseling, health education, and CHW support. At baseline and 12 months (1998–2000), participants were measured for height, weight, waist and hip circumference, and blood pressure. Blood tests were conducted to check blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels. At each time point, participants also completed 24-hour dietary recalls and questionnaires focusing on their physical activity levels. Results: A total of 217 women participated in baseline and 12-month follow-up. Three fourths were Hispanic. All three intervention groups showed an increase in self-reported weekly minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, with no significant differences between the groups. Significantly more women who received the comprehensive intervention of provider counseling, health education, and CHW support progressed to eating five fruits and vegetables per day, compared with participants who received only provider counseling or provider counseling plus health education. Conclusions: All three interventions increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity but not fruit and vegetable consumption. The intervention group with provider counseling, health education, and CHW support significantly increased the number of women meeting national recommendations for fruit and vegetable consumption

Living Coast: Understanding Local Perspectives and Values of the Coast using Community Voice Method in Portsmouth and on the Durham Heritage Coast

This project was commissioned by Natural England with the aim of using the Community Voice Method to explore the values and perceptions of people in Portsmouth and along the Durham Heritage Coast in relation to their local coastal environments and the England Coast Path. The study focused on less affluent areas because wider evidence, including Natural England’s Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment, suggests this is where people are less likely to experience and, therefore benefit from, the natural environment. Through understanding what people think and feel about the coast, it is hoped the benefits of the England Coast Path and a healthy environment can be harnessed for a diverse range of users. The work was undertaken by the Marine Conservation Society, the University of Greenwich and Community Voice Consulting. The approach involved conducting filmed interviews with sample populations in both areas. Forty-one people were interviewed in 33 interviews across the two areas (19 in Portsmouth and 22 along the Durham Coast). The aim was to have a diverse sample of interviewees that included both regular coastal users and those who visited less often, or not at all. The sample populations were fairly evenly divided between active and limited users with a range of ages represented, although the greatest number of responses was in the 60-69 age range. Two films (each approximately 20 mins long) were produced based on the analysis of the interview transcripts. The Portsmouth CVM film can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/jJB94V2g7LY The Durham Heritage Coast CVM film can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmCdqdLoVww A short documentary film explaining the background and method used in this research is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxj_GQyCX2s The CVM films were shown in 5 locations along the Durham coast and 3 in Portsmouth in a variety of community settings. The screenings and workshops provided opportunities to involve some additional people from the local communities, add content that people thought was missing in the films, or expand topics that had already been raised. For analysis, the interviews were divided into themes related to wellbeing, place values, features of coastal places and responses to the England Coast Path

Genetic Diversity of PCR-Positive, Culture-Negative and Culture-Positive Mycobacterium ulcerans Isolated from Buruli Ulcer Patients in Ghana.

Culture of Mycobacterium ulcerans from Buruli ulcer patients has very low sensitivity. Thus confirmation of M. ulcerans infection is primarily based on PCR directed against IS2404. In this study we compare the genotypes obtained by variable number of tandem repeat analysis of DNA from IS2404-PCR positive cultures with that obtained from IS2404 positive, culture-negative tissue. A significantly greater genetic heterogeneity was found among culture-negative samples compared with that found in cultured strains but a single genotype is over-represented in both sample sets. This study provides evidence that both the focal location of bacteria in a lesion as well as differences in the ability to culture a particular genotype may underlie the low sensitivity of culture. Though preliminary, data from this work also suggests that mycobacteria previously associated with fish disease (M. pseudoshottsii) may be pathogenic for humans

MicroRNA expression profiles in pediatric dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors.

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015Among noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been most extensively studied, and their biology has repeatedly been proven critical for central nervous system pathological conditions. The diagnostic value of several miRNAs was appraised in pediatric dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumors (DNETs) using miRNA microarrays and receiving operating characteristic curves analyses. Overall, five pediatric DNETs were studied. As controls, 17 samples were used: the FirstChoice Human Brain Reference RNA and 16 samples from deceased children who underwent autopsy and were not present with any brain malignancy. The miRNA extraction was carried out using the mirVANA miRNA Isolation Kit, while the experimental approach included miRNA microarrays covering 1211 miRNAs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to validate the expression profiles of miR-1909* and miR-3138 in all samples initially screened with miRNA microarrays. Our findings indicated that miR-3138 might act as a tumor suppressor gene when down-regulated and miR-1909* as a putative oncogenic molecule when up-regulated in pediatric DNETs compared to the control cohort. Subsequently, both miRNA signatures might serve as putative diagnostic biomarkers for pediatric DNETs.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Marine turtle harvest in a mixed small-scale fishery: Evidence for revised management measures

Copyright © 2013 Elsevier. NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Ocean and Coastal Management. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Ocean and Coastal Management, 2013, Vol. 82, pp. 34 – 42 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2013.05.004Small-scale fisheries (SSF) account for around half of the world's marine and inland fisheries, but their impact on the marine environment is usually under-estimated owing to difficulties in monitoring and regulation. Successful management of mixed SSF requires holistic approaches that sustainably exploit target species, consider non-target species and maintain fisher livelihoods. For two years, we studied the marine turtle fishery in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) in the Wider Caribbean Region, where the main export fisheries are queen conch (Strombus gigas) and the spiny lobster (Panulirus argus); with fin-fish, green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) taken for domestic consumption. We evaluate the turtle harvest in relation to the other fisheries and recommend legislation and management alternatives. We demonstrate the connectivity between multi-species fisheries and artisanal turtle capture: with increasing lobster catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE), hawksbill catch increased whilst green turtle catch decreased. With increasing conch CPUE, hawksbill catch declined and there was no demonstrable effect on green turtle catch. We estimate 176–324 green and 114–277 hawksbill turtles are harvested annually in TCI: the largest documented legal hawksbill fishery in the western Atlantic. Of particular concern is the capture of adult turtles. Current legislation focuses take on larger individuals that are key to population maintenance. Considering these data we recommend the introduction of maximum size limits for both species and a closed season on hawksbill take during the lobster fishing season. Our results highlight the need to manage turtles as part of a broader approach to SSF management