Walking In Circles Research Articles

James-Stein estimator improves accuracy and sample efficiency in human kinematic and metabolic data.

Human biomechanical data are often accompanied with measurement noise and behavioral variability. Errors due to such noise and variability are usually exaggerated by fewer trials or shorter trial durations, and could be reduced using more trials or longer trial durations. Speeding up such data collection by lowering number of trials or trial duration, while improving the accuracy of statistical estimates, would be of particular interest in wearable robotics applications and when the human population studied is vulnerable (e.g., the elderly). Here, we propose the use of the James-Stein estimator (JSE) to improve statistical estimates with a given amount of data, or reduce the amount of data needed for a given accuracy. The JSE is a shrinkage estimator that produces a uniform reduction in the summed squared errors when compared to the more familiar maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), simple averages, or other least squares regressions. When data from multiple human participants are available, an individual participant's JSE can improve upon MLE by incorporating information from all participants, improving overall estimation accuracy on average. Here, we apply the JSE to multiple time-series of kinematic and metabolic data from the following parameter estimation problems: foot placement control during level walking, energy expenditure during circle walking, and energy expenditure during resting. We show that the resulting estimates improve accuracy - that is, the James-Stein estimates have lower summed squared error from the 'true' value compared to more conventional estimates.

HORSES AN IMPORTANT SPECIE IN CHARRERIA, ITS MANAGE-MENT AND WELFARE IN THE STATE OF GUERRERO, MEXICO

The management practices provided to charrería horses in the state of Guerrero, Mexico were described and were related to animal welfare. Sixty-four owners of charrería horses were interviewed and 10% underwent an evaluation according to the protocol of the Welfare Quality ®. The most used breeds are Creole, Quarter Horse, Aztec, Spanish and Arabian. The starting age in charrería is 2 to 4 years, with workdays between two to four hours a day (81.2% of horses). Hoof shoeing is done every 8 to 12 weeks in 54.3%. The diet is based on forage and commercial feed (82.8%). Deworming is every six months (60.9%), 17.1% are vaccinated against tetanus, rabies, and influenza and very few owners (48.4%) request veterinary care. The most frequent diseases are digestive and locomotor, skin and respiratory. The stereotypes presented were rocking, nodding the head, kicking doors, chewing wood, and walking in circles. Body condition is good (3/5) (33.3%), fat (4/5) (33.3%), moderate (2/5) (16.6%) and Poor (1/5) in 16.6% of the animals. The majority had white hairs on their withers and back, because of injuries caused by their harnesses. The findings observed in the horses indicate that the welfare conditions were affected, which led to the development of vices, poor body condition, sick animals, and skin lesions in the animals

Meningoencephalitic Listeriosis in Iranian Sheep and Goats

Background: Meningoencephalitic listeriosis is a significant disease affecting goats and sheep, with potential implications for public health. This study aimed to investigate and report the occurrence, clinical manifestation, laboratory findings, and further understanding of neurolisteriosis in the goat and sheep populations in Tehran, Qazvin, and Kurdistan provinces of Iran. Methods: From 2018 to 2021, a program was implemented to monitor multiple flocks for meningoencephalitic listeriosis. Clinical manifestations of animals that showed suspected neurological signs of listeriosis (19 animals) were recorded, and necropsies were performed. Sampling of the brain tissue of infected animals was done. The specimens underwent a 'cold-enrichment' procedure, and subsequent culture and biochemical tests were conducted to confirm the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. Results: According to the clinical and bacteriological findings, 19 animals were diagnosed with neurolisteriosis. The affected animals exhibited various signs of the disease, including head deviation, head tilt, head pressing, mouthfuls, walking in circles, drooping of the ear, and unilateral hypalgesia. L. monocytogenes was isolated from brain samples of 11 animals. Conclusion: The study revealed potential indications of meningoencephalitic listeriosis in certain breeds of goats and sheep. Recognizing these typical signs can contribute to early detection, diagnosis, and proper management of listeriosis cases, improving welfare and health outcomes for affected animals. The results underscore the importance of strengthened disease surveillance, prevention, and control strategies.

Walking speeds are lower for short distance and turning locomotion: Experiments and modeling in low-cost prosthesis users.

Preferred walking speed is a widely-used performance measure for people with mobility issues, but is usually measured in straight line walking for fixed distances or durations, and without explicitly accounting for turning. However, daily walking involves walking for bouts of different distances and walking with turning, with prior studies showing that short bouts with at most 10 steps could be 40% of all bouts and turning steps could be 8-50% of all steps. Here, we studied walking in a straight line for short distances (4 m to 23 m) and walking in circles (1 m to 3 m turning radii) in people with transtibial amputation or transfemoral amputation using a passive ankle-foot prosthesis (Jaipur Foot). We found that the study participants' preferred walking speeds are lower for shorter straight-line walking distances and lower for circles of smaller radii, which is analogous to earlier results in subjects without amputation. Using inverse optimization, we estimated the cost of changing speeds and turning such that the observed preferred walking speeds in our experiments minimizes the total cost of walking. The inferred costs of changing speeds and turning were larger for subjects with amputation compared to subjects without amputation in a previous study, specifically, being 4x to 8x larger for the turning cost and being highest for subjects with transfemoral amputation. Such high costs inferred by inverse optimization could potentially include non-energetic costs such as due to joint or interfacial stress or stability concerns, as inverse optimization cannot distinguish such terms from true metabolic cost. These experimental findings and models capturing the experimental trends could inform prosthesis design and rehabilitation therapy to better assist changing speeds and turning tasks. Further, measuring the preferred speed for a range of distances and radii could be a more comprehensive subject-specific measure of walking performance than commonly used straight line walking metrics.

Lafora Disease and Alpha-Synucleinopathy in Two Adult Free-Ranging Moose (Alces alces) Presenting with Signs of Blindness and Circling.

Simple SummaryReports of behavioral signs, such as blindness and circling in free-ranging moose from different parts of the world, have spurred comprehensive pathological investigation to find the causes of the disease that have clinical relevance. In this case study, brains collected from two adult free-ranging moose (Alces alces) cows that were seemingly blind and found walking in circles were examined by light and electron microscopy with further ancillary testing. Here, we report for the first time Lafora disease and alpha-synucleinopathy in two wild free-ranging moose cows who presented with abnormal behavior and blindness, with similar neuronal polyglucosan body (PGB) accumulations identified in humans and other animals. Microscopic analysis of the hippocampus of brain revealed inclusion bodies resembling PGBs (Lafora disease) in the neurons with ultrastructural findings of aggregates of branching filaments, consistent with polyglucosan bodies. Furthermore, α-synuclein immunopositivity was noted in the hippocampus, with accumulations of small granules ultrastructurally distinct from PGBs and morphologically compatible with alpha-synucleinopathy (Lewy body). The apparent blindness found in these moose could be related to an injury associated with secondary bacterial invasion; however, an accumulation of neurotoxicants (PGBs and α-synucleins) in retinal ganglion cells could also be the cause. Lafora disease and alpha-synucleinopathy were considered in the differential diagnosis of the young adult moose who presented with signs of blindness and behavioral signs such as circling.Lafora disease is an autosomal recessive glycogen-storage disorder resulting from an accumulation of toxic polyglucosan bodies (PGBs) in the central nervous system, which causes behavioral and neurologic symptoms in humans and other animals. In this case study, brains collected from two young adult free-ranging moose (Alces alces) cows that were seemingly blind and found walking in circles were examined by light and electron microscopy. Microscopic analysis of the hippocampus of the brain revealed inclusion bodies resembling PGBs in the neuronal perikaryon, neuronal processes, and neuropil. These round inclusions measuring up to 30 microns in diameter were predominantly confined to the hippocampus region of the brain in both animals. The inclusions tested α-synuclein-negative by immunohistochemistry, α-synuclein-positive with PAS, GMS, and Bielschowsky’s staining; and diastase-resistant with central basophilic cores and faintly radiating peripheral lines. Ultrastructural examination of the affected areas of the hippocampus showed non-membrane-bound aggregates of asymmetrically branching filaments that bifurcated regularly, consistent with PGBs in both animals. Additionally, α-synuclein immunopositivity was noted in the different regions of the hippocampus with accumulations of small granules ultrastructurally distinct from PGBs and morphologically compatible with alpha-synucleinopathy (Lewy body). The apparent blindness found in these moose could be related to an injury associated with secondary bacterial invasion; however, an accumulation of neurotoxicants (PGBs and α-synuclein) in retinal ganglions cells could also be the cause. This is the first report demonstrating Lafora disease with concurrent alpha-synucleinopathy (Lewy body neuropathy) in a non-domesticated animal.

Intracranial Meningioma in a Dog - Treatment with Radiotherapy

Background: The most common primary brain neoplasm is meningioma. Dolichocephalic breeds are predisposed and there is no sexual predilection. Clinical signs depend on the location and size of the tumor and have a progressive course. Primary treatement includes surgery, radiotherapy or both. This study aimed to describe the treatment of a dog with suspected intracranial meningioma with definitive radiotherapy, which resulted in significant clinical improvement and prolonged survival. Case: A 9-year-old Shetland Shepherd bitch was diagnosed with a head tilt to the left side that progressed over a few weeks. She previously received corticosteroid therapy, which resulted a clinical improvement that worsened after treatment was discontinued. Computed tomography revealed an extra-axial brain mass in the caudal fossa, lateralized to the right, well-delimited, and measuring approximately 1.5 × 1.4 × 1.7 cm, suggestive of intracranial meningioma. The patient was treated with radiotherapy using Cobalt-60 equipment, with 18 daily fractions of 2.5 Gy at a total dose of 45 Gy using parallel and opposite technique fields. A new tomography performed 30 days after treatment showed a remission of 85% of the initial brain mass measuring approximately 0.9 × 1.0 × 0.5 cm, as well as complete resolution of the clinical signs initially presented. After 14 months, the patient presented with signs of lethargy and ataxia and was medicated with hydroxyurea at a dose of 50 mg/kg 3 times a week and corticosteroid therapy. However, the patient’s neurological condition deteriorated, and she was subjected to reirradiation using the same protocol used previously, which resulted in clinical improvement and a 54% reduction in tumor volume on magnetic resonance. As a late side effect, only permanent alopecia in the irradiated region was observed. The patient died of disease 330 days after the second course of radiotherapy, with a total survival time of 1087 days. Discussion: Meningiomas are extra-axial neoplasms of the central nervous system that grow inside the dura mater. The literature shows that meningiomas are more common in dolichocephalic races with a mean age of 9 years, which supports our findings. Meningiomas most commonly affect the cortical thalamus and cerebellopontine region in dogs, which are normally associated with vestibular symptoms, as seen in this case. Diencephalic damage can result in vestibular signals since the thalamus functions as a relay station for vestibular afferent stimuli that are relayed to the cerebral cortex. In addition to the vestibular syndrome, common clinical signs associated with meningiomas in dogs include seizures, behavioral changes, and walking in circles, which are frequently misinterpreted due to tumor-induced side effects, such as cerebral edema, obstructive hydrocephalus, and cerebral hernia. Advanced imaging techniques should be used to diagnose intracranial neoplasms. In this case, computed tomography was critical for diagnosis and treatment planning. Meningioma treatment may comprise palliative measures, surgery, and radiotherapy. Radiotherapy as a single treatment can improve the quality of life with a decrease in clinical signs and a median survival time of approximately 250-536 days, as reported in the literature. Hydroxyurea can be a therapeutic option in inoperable cases and for patients with clinical limitations to undergo successive anesthesia during radiotherapy. Its most serious side effect is progressive myelosuppression. It can cause temporary partial tumor remission and improvement in clinical signs. As previously stated, radiotherapy can be an effective primary treatment option for treating intracranial meningiomas in dogs, with significant improvement in neurological clinical signs and mild side effects. Keywords: dogs, central nervous system, radiotherapy, reirradiation, oncology. Título: Meningioma intracraniano em cão - tratamento com radioterapia Descritores: cães, sistema nervoso central, radioterapia, reirradiação, oncologia.

Colombian Creole Horse: Frequency of oral and motor stereotypies.

Background and Aim:The current stable housing of Colombian Creole Horses severely restricts the animals’ locomotion and natural behaviors. In addition, their feed consists of a combination of high-energy concentrates with considerably little forage which potentially leads to locomotor or oral stereotypies. This study aimed to report the frequency of locomotor and oral stereotypies in Colombian Creole Horses in Girardota (Antioquia, Colombia) and associated risk factors.Materials and Methods:A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from 2019 to 2020, in which 102 stabled horses aged 28 months and older participated. A questionnaire was developed to collect information on the horses’ daily barn routines. The horses were observed twice a day for 2 h for 3 consecutive days to record information related to stereotypy behaviors. The Fisher’s exact test and the Mann–Whitney U test were utilized for data analyses. Associations were considered statistically significant at p<0.05.Results:Among the horses evaluated, 32.35% presented at least one stereotyped behavior. The most common was crib-biting (i.e., cribbing), with 17.65% exhibiting this behavior. Age, weight, gender, type of feeding, visual contact between horses, and natural lighting were all associated with oral stereotypies. Crib-biting was most common in young horses (U=1.36, p≤0.05), wind-sucking was more common in lighter weight animals (U=1.45, p=0.01), and lip-smacking was more common in stallions (χ2=9.10, p≤0.01). It is noteworthy that their feeding diet included bran, molasses, and gopher. Horses that did not have visual contact with other horses and those that did not have natural lighting were associated with pica (χ2=9.52, p≤0.02; χ2=3.72, p≤0.05; and χ2=3.72, p≤0.05, respectively). Of locomotor stereotypies, kicking the wall was significant in young animals (U=1.54, p=0.03) and walking in circles in lactating mares (χ2=13.20, p≤0.02).Conclusion:Housing conditions in this study were found to have several risk factors affecting horses that exhibit stereotypic behaviors, and all these factors resulted in a higher frequency of stereotypies. Establishing risk factors for the presentation of abnormal behaviors allows for the implementation of better management practices in the production systems of the Creole Colombian Horse and will help improve their overall welfare.

West Nile Fever Virus Infection in Horses in São Paulo State, Brazil

Background: The West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies were reported in Brazil in the serum samples taken from horses and birds in the Midwest region and Paraíba state in 2008 and 2013, respectively. In 2014, the first human case was confirmed in a rural worker in the state of Piauí and, in 2018, the virus was isolated from the central nervous system of a horse with nervous symptoms in the state of Espírito Santo. The virus is a member of the Flaviviridae family of the genus Flavivirus (neurotropic), infecting several mammalian species, with humans and horses being the most susceptible. Approximately 35% of horses develop clinical signs, thus they are considered the best sentinels for this disease. The aim of this case report is to describe the first confirmed cases of West Nile Fever (WNF) in two horses in the state of São Paulo.Cases: Two horses with neurological symptoms were treated at the Veterinary Hospital of Cruzeiro do Sul University (São Paulo, SP), in 2019. Both horses came from neighboring regions that have a large Atlantic Forest preservation area and are also routes for migratory birds, known to be competent hosts for transmitting the West Nile Fever virus, such as the swallow, the falcon and the hawk. The first one had symptoms, such as weakness and sporadic seizures; however, after recovering, it was hospitalized a few days later due to kidney failure and laminitis. The second one showed incoordination, pelvic limb weakness, and was walking in circles, evolving to seizures. Both animals were euthanized, and their central nervous system samples and total blood samples were tested for rabies, herpes virus, and WNV; the first 2 tests showed negative results. Ribonucleic acids (RNA) were extracted from erythrocytes using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in-house. The WNV-specific reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction amplification products were obtained using the nested PCR-multiplex PCR combination.Discussion: Since the 1940s, several WNF outbreaks have been reported around the world (Africa, Europe, Asia and Middle East). In the 2000s, the USA had the most amount of WNF cases reported; cases started being reported in Central and South America in the following years. The virus was identified for the first time in Brazil in 2014. Since then, our country is a route for migratory birds, with many states still having forests, several arboviruses are found such as WNF, which could become a public health problem. Both horses in the present study showed neurological signs and the horse that recovered had renal failure. Such signs are inconclusive, however, similar to those that occur in humans infected by the virus in its neurotropic form. The emergence of new diseases is an important aspect of public health. The literature is vast regarding the description of the pathogenesis, clinical signs, diagnosis, viral persistence and sequelae of WNF in humans, however, it is scarce regarding the viral persistence and sequelae of the disease in horses. Future studies are needed to understand the post-infection period in horses, as they are the most sensitive animals along with humans to this virus. Here, we report the first confirmed cases of WNF in the city of São Paulo to bring awareness about considering this disease while diagnosing horses with nervous system disorders.Keywords: encephalitis, horses, flavivirus, mosquito.Título: Infecção pelo vírus da Febre do Nilo Ocidental em equinos no Estado de São PauloDescritores: encefalite, equinos, flavivírus, mosquito.

Ultrasonographic detection of meningoencephalitis in a dog

The aim of this report is to disseminate ultrasound findings of meningoencephalitis in a dog, diagnosed by analysis of cerebrospinal fluid collected by guided-ultrasound puncture. The patient presented walking in circles, absence of bilateral threat reflex, decreased left eyelid reflex, divergent strabismus of the right eye, negative nasal sensation on the right side, and an increase in volume of skullcap with the presence of open fontanelle. The clinical suspicion was hydrocephalus and/or inflammatory/infectious disease. The distemper rapid test was negative. The hematological profile showed an increase in alanine aminotransferase enzyme. Ultrasound examination was performed with patient in sternal decubitus, using a linear transducer (9.0 MHz). Images were obtained in longitudinal and transverse sections through the temporal windows and bregmatic fontanelle. The presence of a marked anechogenic content with moderate amount of floating hyperechogenic spots was observed, with retraction and increased echogenicity of the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid was collected using the bregmatic fontanelle for ultrasound-guided puncture, under general anesthesia. Meningoencephalitis was indicated by mononucleated cells and red blood cells founded in cerebrospinal fluid analysis. However, the patient not return to start treatment and investigate the cause of the meningoencephalitis.

Walking in Circles: Making Stories out of Landscapes

Using the example of her novel, Call of The Undertow, published in 2013, Linda Cracknell writes about how repeated walks in a new place rich with possibility resulted in a fictional narrative out of observation and sensation. She also draws on her non-fiction book, Doubling Back: Ten Paths Trodden in Memory, a book described as a combination of ‘memoir, travelogue and literary meditation’, inspired by re-treading former journeys on foot taken by herself or by others.Both books have involved a ‘multiple gaze’ across nature, social history, communities and inner lives, and share some creative methods. In both she’s attracted to liminal worlds, exploration and often to women who challenge boundaries. Motion is necessary to this writer’s imaginative writing, but in Doubling Back, the motion has itself become the subject. For the writer, the craft is similar but fiction feels a greater transformation of the material. For the reader, which kind of text provides a more visceral experience of having travelled herself, and is it necessary for the reader to be a walker in order to fully engage with accounts of journeys on foot?

Walking in Circles: Making Stories out of Landscapes

Using the example of her novel, Call of The Undertow, published in 2013, Linda Cracknell writes about how repeated walks in a new place rich with possibility resulted in a fictional narrative out of observation and sensation. She also draws on her non-fiction book, Doubling Back: Ten Paths Trodden in Memory, a book described as a combination of ‘memoir, travelogue and literary meditation’, inspired by re-treading former journeys on foot taken by herself or by others.Both books have involved a ‘multiple gaze’ across nature, social history, communities and inner lives, and share some creative methods. In both she’s attracted to liminal worlds, exploration and often to women who challenge boundaries. Motion is necessary to this writer’s imaginative writing, but in Doubling Back, the motion has itself become the subject. For the writer, the craft is similar but fiction feels a greater transformation of the material. For the reader, which kind of text provides a more visceral experience of having travelled herself, and is it necessary for the reader to be a walker in order to fully engage with accounts of journeys on foot?

Consequences of Canine Ehrlichiosis: Clinical Case Successfully Resolved

This work aims to report the case of a canine that survived erlichiosis with severe consequences of the disease, such as meningitis, hind limb paresis, circle walking, cerebrovascular accident. The onset of paresis was sudden, soon after a hygienic grooming. X-ray examinations ruled out suspected trauma. A cerebrovascular accident is suspected due to vasculitis found by electrocardiogram examination. Traditional treatment for doxycycline-based erlichiosis (200 mg) 1 comp. 2 x day for 24 days was recommended; anti-inflammatory drug Prednisone - IDB for 15 days, antianemic Erythros - 1 comp./day, Leucogen (H) 5 mL (2 x day) immunomodulator for platelet elevation and a peripheral and cerebral vasodilator Revimax - 1 comp./ day were the drugs of choice. The case seems to suggest that the bacterium, through the hematogenous route, reaches the intervetbral discs, paralyzing the pelvic limbs, bladder, anal sphincter and tail, and may even cause neurological disorders and even lead to death of the animal. Since paresis and stroke, as well as hydrocephalus and meningitis, clinical signs were much more atypical and are currently becoming more frequent.

Changes in Stereotypical Behavior Following Chlorpromazine Termination: Polypharmcy Effects on Response Class Membership.

A paucity of information exists relating to the possible biological and environmental interactions influencing the occurrence of stereotypical behavior. In particular, there is limited research on the effects of psychotropic medication use on stereotypy presentation in individuals diagnosed with developmental disabilities such as intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder. We studied the stereotypy of a man with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability across 2 years. The topographies of stereotypical behavior included walking in circles, head tapping, arm flinging, and object stereotypy. These behaviors were observed weekly while the participant received daily dosages of 25 mg of chlorpromazine, 1.5 mg of lorazepam, and 2,500 mg of divalproex. At Week 75, chlorpromazine was discontinued while the other drugs and dosages were maintained. We observed a statistically significant decrease in walking in circles, but no changes in the other topographies of stereotypy. The results suggest that the gross motor activity was differentially affected by the chlorpromazine discontinuation and also suggests that alterations in dopamine receptor binding may have selectively influenced changes in stereotypical responding.

“Revisiting the Rusty Ring – Ecofeminism Today?”

This video essay is based on a revisit to the rusty ring on the cliffs of Harakka Island where the video work Year of the Ox – Walking in Circles and Day and Night of the Ox were performed during the year 2009 as part of a series of performances for camera called Animal Years (2002-2014). It focuses especially on the confrontation between the nesting seagulls and the human performer. Looking at the renewed interest in ecofeminism today, as well as Marie-Anne Casselot’s comparison of new materialism and ecofeminism, it returns to Val Plumwood’s thoughts on decolonizing our relationship to nature.&#x0D; The text is a transcript of the voice-over text, the spoken and recorded text added to the video https://vimeo.com/375148286

West Nile Virus Infection in Human and Animals: Potential Risks in Malaysia

West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic RNA virus maintained in enzootic cycles involving mosquito mainly Culex and Aedes spp. as the vector and birds as the reservoir host. WNV is endemic in Africa, Europe and Western Asia. Human infection results in asymptomatic illness such as fever, headache, tiredness, body aches, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, swollen lymph glands and neuroinvasive disease are seen in less than 1% of infected persons. The spectrum of symptoms in animals includes fever, weakness and paralysis of hind limbs, impaired vision, ataxia, head pressing, aimless wandering, seizures, inability to swallow, walking in circles and coma. Based on the previous study in Malaysia, the antibody and nucleic acid against WNV were detected in Orang Asli, captive birds and horses. In this paper, potential risk factors contributing to WNV occurrence are discussed. How the disease or infection is diagnosed and controlled was also discussed.

Walking in circles: Dancing with shadows – Choreo-cartography as a strategy to explore and embody ephemeral mnemonic geographies

How might strategies of choreographic embodiment generate cartographies of a ‘shadow city’? How might the deconstruction and exploration of memory reveal that which can no longer be seen? This article explores specific elements of a site-responsive PaR process based in Berlin from 2012 to 2015 that explored ‘reading’ and writing the experience of the city as a corporeal spatial practice. This research created a platform in which participants deconstructed the environment in which they lived in order to (re) construct a heightened sense of sensitivity to the embodied experience of being in time and space. The article articulates how this was achieved through the creation, implementation and evaluation of a dynamic series of choreographic, cartographic and visual practice workshops in which I collaborated with elderly members of the city and young dancers in professional training. Through a combination of reflexive writing and the presentation of project materials (including reflection upon the materials which this study generated in the form of poetic reflection, choreographic scores, interview footage hand drawn maps and images) the article reflects upon the landscape of the city as an active archive for memory of unmarked and marked ground. It scrutinizes samples and performance traces of my socio-ethno choreographic field research. It frames the narratives, memories and improvisations gathered through this research, and explores how a sustained artistic process of dialogue and interpretation augments a specific form of cultural knowledge by generating a systematic vision and perspective of the city as a form of embodied memory and knowledge. The body in the city acts a vessel to carry, contain and interact, forming routes and navigations through the immediacies of its encounter ...

Potential Markers of Progression in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease Derived From Assessment of Circular Gait With a Single Body-Fixed-Sensor: A 5 Year Longitudinal Study.

Background and Aim: Development of objective, reliable and easy-to-use methods to obtain progression markers of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is required to evaluate interventions and to advance research in PD. This study aimed to provide quantitative markers of progression in idiopathic PD from the assessment of circular gait (walking in circles) with a single body-fixed inertial sensor placed on the lower back.Methods: The assessments were performed every 6 months over a (up to) 5 years period for 22 patients in early-stage PD, 27 patients in middle-stage PD and 25 healthy controls (HC). Longitudinal changes of 24 gait features extracted from accelerometry were compared between PD groups and HCs with generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis, accounting for gait speed, age and levodopa medication state confounders when required.Results: Five gait features indicated progressive worsening in early stages of PD: number of steps, total duration and harmonic ratios calculated from vertical (VT), medio-lateral (ML), and anterior-posterior (AP) accelerations. For middle stages of PD, three gait features were identified as potential progression markers: stride time variability, and stride regularity from VT and AP acceleration.Conclusion: Faster progressive worsening of gait features in early and middle stages of PD relative to healthy controls over 5 years confirmed the potential of accelerometry-based assessments as quantitative progression markers in early and middle stages of the disease. The difference in significant parameters between both PD groups suggests that distinct domains of gait deteriorate in these PD stages. We conclude that instrumented circular walking assessment is a practical and useful tool in the assessment of PD progression that may have relevant potential to be implemented in clinical trials and even clinical routine, particularly in a developing digital era.

Dominant Metaphorical Model “MOVEMENT” in the Discourse of British Prime Minister David Cameron: a Technique for Studying Temporal Dynamics

The article analyzes the metaphors used in the texts of the contemporary British politician David Cameron. The authors carry out metaphorical modeling of the political discourse of D. Cameron, on the one hand, during his election campaign and, on the other, during the period when he held office of the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The article argues that the metaphorical model with the source domain “MOVEMENT” is dominant for D. Cameron’s discourse. The authors present a detailed analysis of the frames and typical slots employed. The following frames are very frequently used: “Travel”, “Type of movement”, “Character of movement”, “Obstacle to movement”, “Factors facilitating movement”. It has been found that D. Cameron regularly uses the following slots: “Way”, “Walking”, “Motor transport”, “Climbing”, “Walking in circles”, “Change of direction”, “Movement forward”, “Obstacle”, “Trap”, “Dead Weight”, as functional and structural elements that provide vertical relationships. The authors conclude that during the period when David Cameron held the position of the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the metaphorical load of his speech significantly increased, the quantity of bright images grew up, and new spheres and frames of metaphorical attraction became more active. The change of politician’s functions naturally leads to the transformation of his rhetoric. In its final part, the article provides statistical information to confirm the results of the work carried out.

Evaluation of Viral Migration of Different Variants of Equid Alphaherpesvirus 1 in the Central Nervous System of Hamsters by Immunohistochemistry

The intranasal inoculation of equid alphaherpesvirus1 (EHV-1) Brazilian variants A4/72, A9/92, A3/97, Iso72/10 and the Argentine variant AR4 in a Syrian hamster model <i>Mesocricetus auratus</i> induced severe encephalitis. Clinical signs included weight loss, lethargy, somnolence, anorexia, and intense salivation two days post-inoculation (dpi), followed by neurological signs such as loss of proprioception, walking in circles, spastic paralysis, seizures, recumbency and death at 3^rd dpi (A9/92 and A4/72 variants) and 4^th dpi. Respiratory signs such as dyspnea and serosanguinous nasal discharge were also observed. Histopathological changes in brain included mixed inflammatory infiltrate with predominance of mononuclear cells, neuronal degeneration, liquefactive necrosis, hemorrhagic foci, leptomeningitis, perivascular edema, mononuclear infiltration, and perivascular cuffing. Immunohistochemical examination showed viral replication in neurons restrict predominantly to olfactory bulb and frontal cortex (variants AR4 and A3/97) and in groups of cells from distant regions, such as the caudal diencephalon and rostral mesencephalon (variants Iso72/10) and absence of viral antigen labeling of variants A9/92 and A4/72 despite these variants were the most neurovirulent, so new experiments not staggered in days but in hours post inoculation are needed to better understand the viral migration of these variants.

LANGUAGE TEACHING AND HISTORY OF EDUCATION: THE BRAZILIAN CASE

The aim of this article is to evince the correspondence and interdependence between the teaching of languages and the history of education in general and thehistory of Brazilian education in particular. Language teaching is a common objectof study for linguists and pedagogues but not for historians, and this lack of a historical perspective makes those researchers come to conclusions that, without discussing with what has been studied and spoken of the matter, always run the risk of walking in circles, or, in a different degree, rediscovering gunpowder.Keywords: Brazilian education. History of education. Language teaching.