Object Retrieval in the 1st Year of Life: Learning Effects of Task Exposure and Box Transparency.

Before 12 months of age, infants have difficulties coordinating and sequencing their movements to retrieve an object concealed in a box. This study examined (a) whether young infants can discover effective retrieval solutions and consolidate movement coordination earlier if exposed regularly to such a task and (b) whether different environments, indexed by box transparency, would impact the rate of learning and time of discovery of these solutions. Infants (N=12) were presented with an object retrieval task every week from 6 1/2 months of age until they were able to retrieve the toy from the box using coordinated two-handed patterns for 3 weeks. To reach that criterion, infants tested with an opaque box took 2 1/2 months and infants tested with a semitransparent box took 1 1/2 months. Both groups outperformed age-matched controls who received a one-time exposure to the task. Repeated exposure to the task and vision of the toy significantly enhanced this process of solution discovery. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Hepatitis G virus infection in hemodialysis patients

The increased risk of hemodialysis patients for infections sustained by hepatitis viruses is likely to extend to a newly discovered parenterally transmitted virus, HGBV-C/HGV, able to cause acute and chronic hepatitis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and clinical relevance of this infection in Italian hemodialysis patients. Nineteen of 100 patients (19%) on maintenance hemodialysis were viremic for HGBV-C/HGV, and all of them were infected with a HGV-like genotype. Eight of these patients were coinfected by hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses. A clinical picture of chronic hepatitis was not appreciable in patients with isolated HGV infection and the presence of HGV did not appear to modify the clinical course of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections.     

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of epitaxial graphene nanoisland on Ir(111)

ABSTRACT: Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) was used to measure local differential conductance (dI/dV) spectra on nanometer-size graphene islands on an Ir(111) surface. Energy resolved dI/dV maps clearly show a spatial modulation, which we ascribe to a modulated local density of states due to quantum confinement. STS near graphene edges indicates a position dependence of the dI/dV signals, which suggests a reduced density of states near the edges of graphene islands on Ir(111).     

The developmental origins of bimanual coordination: A dynamic perspective.

Patterns of interlimb coordination associated with infant reaching fluctuate frequently over developmental time. This study investigated whether these fluctuations are related to coordination tendencies. Interlimb patterns were studied in reaching and nonreaching movements in 4 infants, which were followed through their 1st year. Each week, reaching and nonreaching endpoint kinematics were recorded in both arms during multiple 14-s trials. It was found that patterns of interlimb coordination in reaching matched coordination tendencies in nonreaching. Reaching fluctuated between uni- and bimanual periods. During the bimanual periods, nonreaching interlimb activity tended to be synchronous. During the unimanual periods, nonreaching activity revealed no predominant form of interlimb coordination. It is argued that changing coordination tendencies may influence the organization of specific goal-oriented behaviors from early in life. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Lack of effects of circulating thyroid hormone levels on serum leptin concentrations

A newly developed nonparametric multipoint linkage analysis (NPL) by Kruglyak et al. [1996] was applied to the data set from the Johns Hopkins Bipolar Study available through the GAW10 workshop. Our results from GENEHUNTER do not support the analyses of Stine et al. [1995]. Some possible extensions to incorporate unaffecteds are also discussed.     

A hybrid inductive learning-based and deductive reasoning-based 3-D path planning method in complex environments

Autonomous Robots - Traditional path planning methods, such as sampling-based and iterative approaches, allow for optimal path’s computation in complex environments. Nonetheless, environment...     

Metabolic factors in the renal response to amino acid infusion

A mechanism of mate selection in humans is proposed and elaborated. It is further proposed that this mechanism constitutes one of the important factors for stability and the necessary longevity of the procreational dyad and therefore the procreational success of humans as a species. The concepts and mechanisms of assortative mating (homogamy) and that of complementarity of temperaments of the mates (heterogamy) which guide such selections are described, the relationships between the two are explored, and finally their possible early developmental origins are proposed. Evidence from a small study of 20 married couples' responses in temperament tests is offered as well as some illustrative case histories all pointing to those mechanisms. The argument is based mainly on principles of evolutionary psychology.