Differences In Spatial Orientation Research Articles

Visualization research of modern ceramic production art based on 3D modeling technology

Abstract This paper is based on the research of visual shell related technology of 3D modeling method to extract the corresponding points of the graphical shell, through matching, filtering and denoising operations, to obtain the accurate 3D visualization model and provide new creative ideas and paths for contemporary ceramic art. In the actual ceramic membrane visualization feature extraction, six feature quantities of ceramic membrane, namely, area, aspect ratio, area perimeter, circularity, diagonal length, and angular second-order moments, can be obtained. The application of the visualization technique proposed in this paper to teaching ceramic production art was assessed by the performance of the knowledge answer questions. Regarding the average score, the experimental group (75.5) performed significantly better than the control group (63.6). Significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups in mental rotation (P=0.03<0.05), spatial visualization (P=0.006<0.05), and spatial reasoning skills (F=6.98, P=0.014<0.05). However, the two groups had no significant difference in spatial orientation (P=0.13>0.05). This suggests that the immersive learning environment of visualization technology can significantly enhance learners’ spatial reasoning skills, mental rotation, and spatial orientation.

Individual Differences in Spatial Orientation Modulate Perspective Taking in Listeners.

Previous research suggests that individuals exhibit consistent tendencies towards taking their own (an egocentric) or their partner's (an othercentric) spatial perspective. In addition, several factors such as spatial orientation ability, inhibitory control, and social preferences, have been found to mediate these perspective taking tendencies. However, these factors have not been studied together in the context of a single task. The present study explores these individual differences together in spatial perspective taking, using a task of simulated interaction in which listeners can choose to interpret an ambiguous spatial utterance egocentrically or othercentrically. We use a data-driven approach of latent profile analysis to classify participants into subgroups based on their spatial perspective taking tendencies. Our results show that stable subgroups of participants can be identified who differ in their perspective taking tendencies. This behaviour also correlates with a measure of listeners' spatial orientation ability, but not their inhibitory control or social preferences. Our results can be interpreted within a framework that views spatial perspective taking as an embodied cognitive process of a mental reorientation of the self relative to the environment, providing insight on the nature of the mechanisms underlying this operation.

Impact of Chronic Oral Administration of Gold Nanoparticles on Cognitive Abilities of Mice.

The influence of gold nanoparticles after their prolonged oral administration to mice (during pregnancy and lactation) on spatial memory and anxiety levels in offspring was investigated. Offspring were tested in the Morris water maze and in the elevated Plus-maze. The average specific mass content of gold which crossed the blood-brain barrier was measured using neutron activation analysis and constituted 3.8 ng/g for females and 1.1 ng/g for offspring. Experimental offspring showed no differences in spatial orientation and memory compared to the control, while their anxiety levels increased. Gold nanoparticles influenced the emotional state of mice exposed to nanoparticles during prenatal and early postnatal development, but not their cognitive abilities.

Revisiting the Santa Barbara sense of direction scale, mental rotations, and gender differences in spatial orientation

Angular direction estimation to landmarks of varying distance in the physical environment was utilised to investigate the ecological validity of the Santa Barbara sense of direction scale (SBSOD). Two- and three-dimensional MR measures were included to enable further the scale applicability. Results showed a moderate correlation between SBSOD and angular deviation from landmarks in the immediate landscape, but not with local or distant landmarks. Moreover, the findings suggest that skills which underlie three-dimensional MR better relate to pointing accuracy (PA) of distant landmarks and the cardinal direction, North. Results also showed a gender-related systematic biases in landmark estimation.

Axial shielding of Pd(II) complexes enables perfect stereoretention in Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of Csp3 boronic acids

Stereocontrolled Csp3 cross-coupling can fundamentally change the types of chemical structures that can be mined for molecular functions. Although considerable progress in achieving the targeted chemical reactivity has been made, controlling stereochemistry in Csp3 cross-coupling remains challenging. Here we report that ligand-based axial shielding of Pd(II) complexes enables Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling of unactivated Csp3 boronic acids with perfect stereoretention. This approach leverages key differences in spatial orientation between competing pathways for stereoretentive and stereoinvertive transmetalation of Csp3 boronic acids to Pd(II). We show that axial shielding enables perfectly stereoretentive cross-coupling with a range of unactivated secondary Csp3 boronic acids, as well as the stereocontrolled synthesis of xylarinic acid B and all of its Csp3 stereoisomers. We expect these ligand design principles will broadly enable the continued search for practical and effective methods for stereospecific Csp3 cross-coupling.

Object recognition and location: Which component of object location memory for landmarks is affected by gender? Evidence from four to ten year-old children

Memory for object location requires at least three processes: object recognition, object location, and object-location binding. Gender-related differences during childhood are still a matter of debate, especially concerning memory for object location, where females are expected to outperform males. Memory for object position is pivotal for spatial navigation and its investigation during childhood is crucial in order to understand the roots of gender-related differences in spatial orientation. Actually, environmental objects, namely landmarks, can be located using egocentric and/or allocentric frames of references, as well as using the spatial translation between them. Here, we investigated gender-related differences during childhood in object recognition and location whenever a shift between egocentric and allocentric frame of reference is required. Sixty-three boys and 44 girls (aged between four and ten years old) were asked to egocentrically learn a path on the Walking Corsi Test enriched with three landmarks. Then, children were asked to recognize (object recognition) the landmarks encountered along the path and locate them (object location) on an allocentric configuration of the spatial array. Girls outperformed boys in locating landmarks, whereas no difference occurred in landmark recognition. These results provide insights into the gender-related differences in location memory of landmarks, suggesting that females are better than males in the object location component well before the age of 13.

Motor imagery, perspective taking and gender differences: a VVIQ2-based study

Scientific literature highlighted gender differences in spatial orientation. In particular, men and women differ in terms of the navigational processes they use in daily life. Scientific literature highlighted that women use analytical strategies while men tend to use holistic strategies. Furthermore, studies exploring gender differences in self-reported dream perspectives reported that women dream mainly in first person and men mainly in third person. This work used Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2 to verify if gender differences in perspective taking last also in motor imagery practice. The aim of VVIQ2 questionnaire is to determine the vividness of movement imagery. In the VVIQ2, the image can be obtained watching oneself while performing the movement from an external point of view (External Visual Imagery), or from an internal point of view, as if you were looking out through your own eyes while performing the movement (Internal Visual Imagery). The Questionnaire was administered to students of Sports Sciences Degree from University of Salerno.

Gender-biased Appropriation of Space?

Several studies indicate gender differences in spatial orientation, map reading, and the way people appropriate spaces for everyday action. Thereby, the most important factor of gender differences in spatially related abilities is socialization. Gender roles and differences are already present in primary school age, and gender differences in the appropriation of space may lead to unequal chances of societal participation. Therefore, it is worth drawing a focus on gender-biased education in primary geography learning. This study examines potential gender differences in primary school with subjective cartography, respectively mapping of children’s everyday spaces.

Dualsteric muscarinic antagonists--orthosteric binding pose controls allosteric subtype selectivity.

Bivalent ligands of G protein-coupled receptors have been shown to simultaneously either bind to two adjacent receptors or to bridge different parts of one receptor protein. Recently, we found that bivalent agonists of muscarinic receptors can simultaneously occupy both the orthosteric transmitter binding site and the allosteric vestibule of the receptor protein. Such dualsteric agonists display a certain extent of subtype selectivity, generate pathway-specific signaling, and in addition may allow for designed partial agonism. Here, we want to extend the concept to bivalent antagonism. Using the phthal- and naphthalimide moieties, which bind to the allosteric, extracellular site, and atropine or scopolamine as orthosteric building blocks, both connected by a hexamethonium linker, we were able to prove a bitopic binding mode of antagonist hybrids for the first time. This is demonstrated by structure-activity relationships, site-directed mutagenesis, molecular docking studies, and molecular dynamics simulations. Findings revealed that a difference in spatial orientation of the orthosteric tropane moiety translates into a divergent M2/M5 subtype selectivity of the corresponding bitopic hybrids.

Influence of modifier on hardening cement stone and refractory concrete properties

A tendency to increasing the volumes of production and application of low cement refractory concrete has determined the development of theoretical and practical aspects of modifying concrete with surfactants. Varying the rate of hydration of calcium aluminate cement, surfactants (deflocculants) has influenced the rheotechnological characteristics of concrete masses and their consolidation, formation of the solid low porosity concrete structure, both when hardening at normal temperatures and in conditions of thermal heating.The influence of the low cement refractory cement deflocculant − sodium tripolyphosphate and a complex modifier, containing sodium tripolyphosphate, and an organic superplasticizer, on changing the nature of hydration processes of cement and the ratio between the crystalline and amorphous phases, the strength properties of cement stone at early stages of hardening, was studied in the paper. The differences in spatial orientation and density of the nanostructures on the surface of cement crystallohydrates, modified with sodium tripolyphosphate and the complex modifier were revealed. It was found that the complex modifier, presented by surfactants of different nature, has a significant influence on the formation of a finely porous and mechanically strong structure of composite material, physical and technical properties of the heat-treated concrete.

Sex-specific development of spatial orientation is independent of peripubertal gonadal steroids

Prenatal exposure to androgens has been shown to modulate brain development, resulting in changed behavioral attitudes, sexual orientation and cognitive functions, including processing of spatial information. Whether later changes in gonadotropic hormones during puberty induce further organizational effects within the brain is still insufficiently understood. The purpose of this study was to assess development of spatial orientation before and after the time of normal pubertal development, in an ovine model where half of the animals did not undergo typical reproductive maturation due to the pharmacological blockade of gonadotropin releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR) signaling. The study formed part of a larger trial and utilized 46 pairs of same sex Scottish Mule Texel Cross twins (22 female and 24 male). One twin remained untreated throughout (control) while the other received a subcutaneous GnRH agonist (GnRHa: Goserelin-Acetate) implant every fourth week. GnRHa treatment began at eight and 28 weeks of age, in males and females respectively, because the timing of the pubertal transition is sexually differentiated in sheep as it is in humans. Spatial orientation was assessed at three different time points: eight weeks of age, before puberty and treatment in both sexes; 28 weeks of age, after 20 weeks GnRHa treatment in males and before puberty and GnRHa treatment in females; and at 48 weeks of age, which is after the normal time of the pubertal transition in both sexes. Spatial orientation was tested in a spatial maze with traverse time as the main outcome measure. GnRHa treatment did not affect spatial maze performance as no significant differences in traverse time between treated and untreated animals were observed at any time-point. Adolescent females (48 weeks of age) traversed the maze significantly faster than adolescent males, whereas no sex differences in traverse time were seen at earlier developmental stages (eight and 28 weeks). Development of sex differences in spatial orientation was independent of exposure to pubertal hormones since puberty-blocked and control animals both showed the same pattern of spatial maze performance. This result demonstrates the prenatal nature of spatial orientation development. Furthermore, the unexpected finding that female animals outperformed males in the spatial orientation task, underscores the importance of the testing context in spatial orientation experiments.

GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE USE OF EXTERNAL LANDMARKS VERSUS SPATIAL REPRESENTATIONS UPDATED BY SELF-MOTION

Numerous data in the literature provide evidence for gender differences in spatial orientation. In particular, it has been suggested that spatial representations of large-scale environments are more accurate in terms of metric information in men than in women but are richer in landmark information in women than in men. One explanatory hypothesis is that men and women differ in terms of navigational processes they used in daily life. The present study investigated this hypothesis by distinguishing two navigational processes: spatial updating by self-motion and landmark-based orientation. Subjects were asked to perform a pointing task in three experimental conditions, which differed in terms of reliability of the external landmarks that could be used. Two groups of subjects were distinguished, a mobile group and an immobile group, in which spatial updating of environmental locations did not have the same degree of importance for the correct performance of the pointing task. We found that men readily relied on an internal egocentric representation of where landmarks were expected to be in order to perform the pointing task, a representation that could be updated during self-motion (spatial updating). In contrast, women seemed to take their bearings more readily on the basis of the stable landmarks of the external world. We suggest that this gender difference in spatial orientation is not due to differences in information processing abilities but rather due to the differences in higher level strategies.

Gender differences in spatial orientation: A review

While significant gender differences in spatial abilities consistently emerge, results concerning gender differences in spatial orientation skills are mixed, ranging from “marked differences” to “no-differences”. In order to improve our understanding of this phenomenon, literature about gender differences in spatial orientation skills is reviewed from 1983 to 2003. The influence of biological and socio/cultural factors is discussed as well as the hypothesis that gender differences are due to different strategies used to solve orientation tasks. The role of personality factors and the influence of spatial anxiety in orientation performance are also discussed. An additional interpretative hypothesis is proposed highlighting the role of task-difficulty expressed in terms of Visuo-Spatial Working Memory involvement. This interpretation can explain the overall results, resolving some apparent contradictions.

Behavioral and growth effects induced by low dose methamphetamine administration during the neonatal period in rats

The investigation of methamphetamine exposure during neonatal development in rats has demonstrated that long-term spatial learning deficits are induced. A previous dose–response study showed that administration of 5mg/kg methamphetamine, four times daily from postnatal days 11 to 20 produced these deficits, although the effects were not as severe as at higher doses of 10 or 15mg/kg. This study examined concentrations of methamphetamine at or below 5mg/kg given over the same period of time. Five different concentrations of methamphetamine (i.e., 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, or 0) were administered every 2h four times daily from postnatal days 11 to 20. Body weights, zero maze performance, and Morris water maze learning were examined. A dose-dependent decrease in body weight was observed during the period of methamphetamine administration and these lower weights continued throughout adulthood for the 5, 2.5, and 1.25mg/kg concentrations, although the adult decreases were negligible. No differences were noted in the zero maze. In the Morris water maze during the acquisition period, dose-dependent differences in spatial orientation were seen, however non-dose related deficits were observed for other parameters. During the shifted platform phase (“reversal”), a similar dose-dependent difference in spatial orientation was observed, although no other effects were noted during this phase. Females performed worse than males regardless of treatment or the phase of learning in the Morris water maze. These data suggest that even lower doses of methamphetamine can alter learning and memory in adulthood, although with less consistent results than with doses higher than 5mg/kg/dose. These data would caution against even casual use of methamphetamine by women during pregnancy since even low doses could alter the ability of the child to learn.

The mu- and delta-opioid pharmacophore conformations of cyclic beta-casomorphin analogues indicate docking of the Phe3 residue to different domains of the opioid receptors.

Cyclic beta-casomorphin analogues with a D-configured amino acid residue in position 2, such as Tyr-c[-Xaa-Phe-Pro-Gly-] and Tyr-c[-Xaa-Phe-D-Pro-Gly-] (Xaa = D-A2bu, D-Orn, D-Lys) were found to bind to the mu-opioid receptor as well as to the delta-opioid receptor, whereas the corresponding L-Xaa2 derivatives are nearly inactive at both. Low-energy conformers of both active and nearly inactive derivatives have been determined in a systematic conformational search or by molecular dynamics simulations using the TRIPOS force field. The obtained conformations were compared with regard to a model for mu-selective opiates developed by Brandt et al. [Drug Des. Discov., 10 (1993) 257]. Superpositions as well as electrostatic, lipophilic and hydrogen bounding similarities with the delta-opioid receptor pharmacophore conformation of t-Hpp-JOM-13 proposed by Mosberg et al. [J. Med. Chem., 37 (1994) 4371, 4384] were used to establish the probable delta-pharmacophoric cyclic beta-casomorphin conformations. These conformations were also compared with a delta-opioid agonist (SNC 80) and the highly potent antagonist naltrindole. These investigations led to a prediction of the mu- and delta-pharmacophore structures for the cyclic beta-casomorphins. Interestingly, for the inactive compounds such conformations could not be detected. The comparison between the mu- and delta-pharmacophore conformations of the cyclic beta-casomorphins demonstrates not only differences in spatial orientation of both aromatic groups, but also in the backbone conformations of the ring part. In particular, the differences on phi2 and psi2 (mu approximately 70 degrees, -80 degrees; delta approximately 165 degrees, 55 degrees) cause a completely different spatial arrangement of the cyclized peptide rings when all compounds are matched with regard to maximal spatial overlap of the tyrosine residue. Assuming that both the mu- and delta-pharmacophore conformations bind with the tyrosine residue in a similar orientation at the same transmembrane domain X of their receptors, the side chain of Phe3 as a second binding site has to dock with different domains.

Monolayer behavior of some stereoregular poly(methacrylates)

The monolayer behavior of some poly(methacrylates) with short ester side chains (methyl, ethyl, and isobutyl) is studied as a function of the tacticity. In all cases, the isotactic polymers are observed to form expanded monolayers, whereas the syndiotactic materials yield more condensed monolayers. These observations are attributed to differences in the lateral cohesive interactions of the segments in the monolayer, which again can be correlated with the difference in spatial orientation of the ester groups with respect to the backbone and the air-water interface. The anomalous temperature dependence of the isotactic polymers (a contraction of the monolayers at higher temperatures) can be interpreted in terms of an enhancement of these lateral cohesive interactions (a decrease of the solvent quality of the environment). Surface potential measurements yield results which appear to be in agreement with the interpretation of the monolayer isotherm data and also illustrate the monolayer crystallization process proposed for isotactic PMMA in a previous publication. Isotactic poly(methacrylic acid) is observed to form stable monolayers on a pure water subphase, in contrast to syndiotactic poly(methacrylic acid).

Visual feedback, movement learning and the representation of movement

Two experiments on movement learning are reported where the orientation of a visual curve on a graphics terminal, defining a relatively complex arm movement, was either orthogonal to or compatible with the direction of the required movement. In addition, individual differences in spatial orientation and visualization abilities were correlated with motor performance. Results in both experiments showed that equivalent amounts of learning occurred in the two visual conditions. However, during transfer trials to the opposite condition, virtually no transfer occurred for the compatible group when they performed in the orthogonal condition whereas there was tranfer when the orthogonal group performed in the compatible condition. The results supported the idea that very early in learning the orthogonal orientation of visual curve promoted the development of an orientation processing stage which facilitated transrer performance of the orthogonal group. Integrating these results with the past literature on movement learning led to the notion that the orientation information processing stage can be considered a cognitive system that interacts with the image of the act. Finally, contrary to expectations, spatial orientation ability failed to account for any performance while spatial visualization ability moderately correlated with performance.

No evidence for sex-linked or sex-limited gene expression influencing spatial orientation.

Scores of 83 pairs of twins and their parents on the Cubes Comparison Test have been analyzed to test competing hypotheses about the origin of individual differences in spatial orientation. Models allowing for polygenic sex-linked or sex-limited gene expression show no improvement in fit over the simple autosomal additive polygenic model. However, individual environmental influences (E 1) account for twice as much variance in males as in females.

Stereoselective covalent binding of anti-benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide to DNA conformation of enantiomer adducts.

The conformation of adducts derived from the reactions and covalent binding of the (+) and (-) enantiomers of 7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (anti-BaPDE) with double-stranded calf thymus DNA in vitro were investigated utilizing the electric linear dichroism technique. The linear dichroism and absorption spectra of the covalent DNA complexes are interpreted in terms of a superposition of two types of binding sites. One of these conformations (site I) is a complex in which the plane of the pyrene residue is close to parallel (within 30 degrees) to the planes of the DNA bases (quasi-intercalation), while the other (site II) is an external binding site; this latter type of adduct is attributed to the covalent binding of anti-BaPDE to the exocyclic amino group of deoxyguanine (N2-dG), while site I adducts are attributed to the O6-deoxyguanine and N6-deoxyadenine adducts identified in the product analysis of P. Brookes and M.R. Osborne (Carcinogenesis (1982) 3, 1223-1226). Site II adducts are dominant (approximately 90% in the covalent complexes derived from the (+) enantiomer), but account for only 50 +/- 5% of the adducts in the case of the (-)-enantiomer. The orientation of site II complexes is different by 20 +/- 10 degrees in the adducts derived from the binding of the (+) and the (-) enantiomers to DNA, the long axis of the pyrene chromophore being oriented more parallel to the axis of the DNA helix in the case of the (+) enantiomer. These findings support the proposals by Brookes and Osborne that the difference in spatial orientation of the N2-dG adducts of (-)-anti-BaPDE together with their lower abundance may account for the lower biological activity of the (-) enantiomer. The external site II adducts, rather than site I adducts, appear to be correlated with the biological activity of these compounds.

Usefulness of the Group-Comparison Method to Demonstrate Sex Differences in Spatial Orientation and Spatial Visualization in Older Men and Women

This paper reports an analysis of sex differences in cognitive test scores covering the dimensions of spatial orientation and spatial visualization in groups of 6 older men and 6 women matched for speed of performance on a maze test and level of performance on a spatial relations task. Older men were more proficient solving spatial problems using the body as a referent, whereas there was no significant difference between the sexes in imagining spatial displacement. Matched comparisons appear a useful adjunct to population research to understand the type(s) of cognitive processes where differential performance by the sexes is observed.