Linear perspective cues have a greater effect on the perceptual rescaling of distant stimuli than textures in the virtual environment.

The presence of pictorial depth cues in virtual environments is important for minimising distortions driven by unnatural viewing conditions (e.g., vergence-accommodation conflict). Our aim was to determine how different pictorial depth cues affect size constancy in virtual environments under binocular and monocular viewing conditions. We systematically removed linear perspective cues and textures of a hallway in a virtual environment. The experiment was performed using the method of constant stimuli. The task required participants to compare the size of 'far' (10 m) and 'near' (5 m) circles displayed inside a virtual environment with one or both or none of the pictorial depth cues. Participants performed the experiment under binocular and monocular viewing conditions while wearing a virtual reality headset. ANOVA revealed that size constancy was greater for both the far and the near circles in the virtual environment with pictorial depth cues compared to the one without cues. However, the effect of linear perspective cues was stronger than textures, especially for the far circle. We found no difference between the binocular and monocular viewing conditions across the different virtual environments. We conclude that linear perspective cues exert a stronger effect than textures on the perceptual rescaling of far stimuli placed in the virtual environment, and that this effect does not vary between binocular and monocular viewing conditions.

Effectiveness of pre-employment independent life education program designed for young adults with intellectual disability.

It is important to provide the independent life support individuals with intellectual disabilities need in preparing for employment. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of the Pre-Employment Independent Life Education Program (PILEP) design based on the needs to inform and support young adults. The research model is a pre-test post-test control group design. Thirty young adults with intellectual disabilities participated in the study. Also, included within the scope of the social validity study were the opinions of the participants and stakeholders in the PILEP. The PILEP consists of three modules: (1) Personal Care and Hygiene, (2) Preparation to Community Life and (3) Health and Safety. A mixed ANOVA (2x3) with two factors was performed to investigate the effectiveness of the PILEP. The results showed that PILEP was effective regarding the knowledge and skills of young adults. A significant difference (p < .05; η2 = 0.94) was found between the experimental group and control group with large effect size. In the social validity study, the opinions of the participants, their parents, employer, job teacher and lead waiter were interviewed. The opinions on the content, presentation, and implementation with multimedia design of the PILEP were positive.

"I think they do not know how to lie:" The perceptions of legal support staff about person with intellectual disabilities/autism in Turkish legal system.

BACKGROUND: Increased social integration of individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism could may raise their likelihood of interacting with justice system and legal staff. AIMS: The present article aimed to determine the perceptions of the legal support staff about the individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the study, conducted with the phenomenological method, the views of 15 legal support staff were obtained. The study reported what participants perceived and examined whether participants had an accurate understanding of the experiences/support needs of people with intellectual disabilities/autism. The data were analysed with content analysis. RESULTS: Three themes were determined: (1) Experience of interview with an individual with intellectual disabilities/autism, (2) attitudes of judges, lawyers and other staff, and (3) abuse/trauma. DISCUSSION: Findings are consistent with literature. Individuals with intellectual disabilities/autism have problems in expressing themselves, also staff do not know them, do not know their features. Studies show that staff often do not know what to do in these interviews. CONCLUSION: Based on the participant perspectives, it was determined that individuals with intellectual disabilities/autism experienced self-expression problems, interviewees did not understand children/individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism and could exhibit negative attitudes, the children could be abused and traumatised during judicial processes, they were more prone to abuse when compared to their peers, they could be involved in certain events more frequently and could be pushed to crime.

A tablet game or training booklet? Two methods for evaluating symptom management and quality-of-life of children receiving chemotherapy.

PURPOSE: In chemotherapy process, the innovative and educational roles of nurses come to the forefront so that children can manage the symptoms they will encounter and thus increase their quality-of-life. Therefore, a tablet game was developed by the authors of this study to evaluate the effect of training children aged 10-16 who receive chemotherapy by a tablet game and a booklet on symptom management and quality-of-life. METHODS: This was a non-randomized pre and post-test control group study. The study sample consisted of 50 children (game: 25; booklet: 25) who met the inclusion criteria and hospitalized between February 2017-July 2018 in two hospitals' Paediatric Haematology-Oncology Units. Data collection tools consisted of a child evaluation form, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, KINDL-Cancer Module, a tablet game, and booklet. RESULTS: When groups were evaluated within themselves after the intervention, the decrease of disturbance level of symptoms at the game group was higher than the booklet group (p:.004). Before the intervention, there was not any difference in the quality-of-life mean between groups (p < .05). After the intervention quality-of-life total (p:.000), mental (p:.030), and treatment (p:.009) subscale means were statistically significantly less at game group than booklet group. CONCLUSIONS: Both interventions were effective for symptom management, and they were not superior to each other, but the quality-of-life was higher in the game group.

Late onset Bartter syndrome: Bartter syndrome type 2 presenting with isolated nephrocalcinosis and high parathyroid hormone levels mimicking primary hyperparathyroidism.

OBJECTIVES: Nephrocalcinosis is associated with conditions that cause hypercalcemia and the increased urinary excretion of calcium, phosphate, and/or oxalate. A monogenic etiology is found in almost 30% of childhood-onset nephrocalcinosis which is also a common manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism. We discuss a child with nephrocalcinosis and features mimicking primary hyperparathyroidism. CASE PRESENTATION: A 7-year-old girl presented with nephrocalcinosis. Hypercalciuria, hyperphosphaturia, mild hypercalcemia, hypophosphatemia and elevated parathyroid hormone levels along with normal serum creatinine and absence of hypokalemic alkalosis suggested primary hyperparathyroidism. However, she was ultimately diagnosed with Bartter syndrome type 2 based on the presence of homozygous pathogenic variation in KCNJ1gene. CONCLUSIONS: This is the second reported case of late-onset Bartter syndrome type 2 without hypokalemic alkalosis. Patients with Bartter syndrome may present with high parathyroid hormone levels and hypercalcemia in addition to hypercalciuria. Thus, the present case suggests that the KCNJ1 gene should be included in genetic analysis even in older children with isolated nephrocalcinosis.

The Effects of Adding Pictorial Depth Cues to the Poggendorff Illusion.

We tested if the misapplication of perceptual constancy mechanisms might explain the perceived misalignment of the oblique lines in the Poggendorff illusion. Specifically, whether these mechanisms might treat the rectangle in the middle portion of the Poggendorff stimulus as an occluder in front of one long line appearing on either side, causing an apparent decrease in the rectangle's width and an apparent increase in the misalignment of the oblique lines. The study aimed to examine these possibilities by examining the effects of adding pictorial depth cues. In experiments 1 and 2, we presented a central rectangle composed of either large or small bricks to determine if this manipulation would change the perceived alignment of the oblique lines and the perceived width of the central rectangle, respectively. The experiments demonstrated no changes that would support a misapplication of perceptual constancy in driving the illusion, despite some evidence of perceptual size rescaling of the central rectangle. In experiment 3, we presented Poggendorff stimuli in front and at the back of a corridor background rich in texture and linear perspective depth cues to determine if adding these cues would affect the Poggendorff illusion. The central rectangle was physically large and small when presented in front and at the back of the corridor, respectively. The strength of the Poggendorff illusion varied as a function of the physical size of the central rectangle, and, contrary to our predictions, the addition of pictorial depth cues in both the central rectangle and the background decreased rather than increased the strength of the illusion. The implications of these results with regards to different theories are discussed. It could be the case that the illusion depends on both low-level and cognitive mechanisms and that deleterious effects occur on the former when the latter ascribes more certainty to the oblique lines being the same line receding into the distance.

Atypical comorbidities in a child considered to have type 1 diabetes led to the diagnosis of SLC29A3 spectrum disorder.

INTRODUCTION: SLC29A3 spectrum disorder is an autosomal, recessively inherited, autoinflammatory, multisystem disorder characterized by distinctive cutaneous features, including hyperpigmentation or hypertrichosis, hepatosplenomegaly, hearing loss, cardiac anomalies, hypogonadism, short stature, and insulin-dependent diabetes. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report a 6-year-old boy who presented with features resembling type 1 diabetes mellitus, but his clinical course was complicated by IgA nephropathy, pure red cell aplasia, and recurrent febrile episodes. The patient was tested for the presence of pathogenic variants in 53 genes related to monogenic diabetes and found to be compound heterozygous for two SLC29A3 pathogenic variants (p. Arg386Gln and p. Leu298fs). CONCLUSION: This case demonstrated that SLC29A3 spectrum disorder should be included in the differential diagnosis of diabetes with atypical comorbidities, even when the distinctive dermatological hallmarks of SLC29A3 spectrum disorder are entirely absent.

A broad clinical spectrum of PLCε1-related kidney disease and intrafamilial variability.

BACKGROUND: The phenotypic and genotypic spectrum and kidney outcome of PLCε1-related kidney disease are not well known. We attempted to study 25 genetically confirmed cases of PLCε1-related kidney disease from 11 centers to expand the clinical spectrum and to determine the relationship between phenotypic and genotypic features, kidney outcome, and the impact of treatment on outcome. METHODS: Data regarding demographics, clinical and laboratory characteristics, histopathological and genetic test results, and treatments were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Of 25 patients, 36% presented with isolated proteinuria, 28% with nephrotic syndrome, and 36% with chronic kidney disease stage 5. Twenty patients underwent kidney biopsy, 13 (65%) showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), and 7 (35%) showed diffuse mesangial sclerosis (DMS). Of the mutations identified, 80% had non-missense, and 20% had missense; ten were novel. No clear genotype-phenotype correlation was observed; however, significant intrafamilial variations were observed in three families. Patients with isolated proteinuria had significantly better kidney survival than patients with nephrotic syndrome at onset (p = 0.0004). Patients with FSGS had significantly better kidney survival than patients with DMS (p = 0.007). Patients who presented with nephrotic syndrome did not respond to any immunosuppressive therapy; however, 4/9 children who presented with isolated proteinuria showed a decrease in proteinuria with steroids and/or calcineurin inhibitors. CONCLUSION: PLCε1-related kidney disease may occur in a wide clinical spectrum, and genetic variations are not associated with clinical presentation or disease course. However, clinical presentation and histopathology appear to be important determinants for prognosis. Immunosuppressive medications in addition to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may be beneficial for selected patients. "A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information".

Comparison of clinical, pathological and long-term renal outcomes of children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis and IgA nephropathy.

PURPOSE: To compare clinical, pathological, and long-term renal outcomes of children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN). METHODS: The medical records of patients diagnosed as HSPN and IgAN during childhood were evaluated retrospectively. HSPN and IgAN groups were compared in terms of gender, age, upper respiratory infection history, blood pressure; presence of nephrotic and/or nephritic syndrome; hemoglobin level, leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), serum albumin (sAlb), creatinine, complement 3 (sC3), complement 4 (sC4) and immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria levels; and renal pathology findings at the onset of disease; total follow-up time; and blood pressure, eGFR and proteinuria levels at the last visit. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were enrolled in the study [38 (70%) HSPN and 16 (30%) IgAN]. The median follow-up time was 60.5 and 72.0 months in HSPN and IgAN groups, respectively (p > 0.05). The HSPN and IgAN groups were also not different in terms of gender, age at the onset; leukocyte count, eGFR, sC3-sC4-sIgA levels; and the presence of endocapillary, extracapillary and mesangial proliferation, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis and IgA, IgM, C3 accumulation in renal tissue. Upper respiratory tract infection history was more common in children with IgAN (8/16 vs 8/38, p = 0.045). sAlb (3.96 ± 0.58 vs 4.40 ± 0.46 g/dL, p = 0.005), hemoglobin (12.1 ± 1.3 vs 13.3 ± 1.2 g/dL, p = 0.004,) and the incidence of mesangial IgG deposition (15/38 vs 11/16, p = 0.049) were lower, while CRP (16.3 ± 7.2 vs 7.8 ± 4.4 mg/L, p = 0.002) and proteinuria (72.1 ± 92.4 vs 34.2 ± 37.9 mg/m2/24 h, p = 0.041) was higher in HSPN group at the onset of disease. Proteinuria and eGFR were similar between the two groups at last visit. CONCLUSION: Children with HSPN and IgAN have little clinical and histological differences in our population. The most prominent difference at presentation with nephritis was higher proteinuria in HSPN probably associated with inflammation due to systemic vasculitis. Long-term renal outcome was good in both HSPN and IgAN.

The effect of simulative heartbeat nest used in preterm new-borns on vital signs, pain, and comfort in Turkey: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Creating a womb-like environment for the preterm infant is vital to reduce the stress caused by stimuli and facilitate optimal neurological-behavioral development. PURPOSE: This randomized-controlled study aimed to determine the effect of simulative heartbeat nest use on vital signs, pain level, and comfort in preterms. METHODS: The study population consisted of 52 (experiment: 25, control: 27) preterms hospitalized in a university hospital's neonatal intensive care unit between May-November 2018. Before the application, preterms in both groups were evaluated with PIPP and Comfort scales. The experiment group was monitored in the nest with a heart beating device for 15 min. The control group was observed in the nest without the device for 15 min. Their heartbeats and oxygen saturation were recorded. After the application, preterms in both groups were re-evaluated with PIPP and Comfort scale. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of gestation week, age, birth weight and height, HB, SaO2, PIPP, and Comfort Scale total scores before and after the application (p > .05). However, the mean SaO2 increased significantly during the application (p < .003) in the experiment group; and that the PIPP total score decreased statistically significantly (p: 0.001) after the application. The comfort scale total score averages of the preterms in both groups decreased statistically significantly after the application (experiment:p < .01; control:p < .05). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: Preterms in both groups had similar indicators. The nests that create heartbeat provide positive outcomes, such as the standard nests'.

A review on various explanations of Ponzo-like illusions.

This article reviews theoretical and empirical arguments for and against various theories that explain the classic Ponzo illusion and its variants from two different viewpoints concerning the role of perceived depth in size distortions. The first viewpoint argues that all Ponzo-like illusions are driven by perceived depth. The second viewpoint argues that the classic Ponzo illusion is unrelated to depth perception. This review will give special focus to the first viewpoint and consists of three sections. In the first section, the role of the number of pictorial depth cues and previous experience in the strength of all Ponzo-like illusions are discussed. In the second section, we contrast the first viewpoint against the theories that explain the classic Ponzo illusion with mechanisms that are unrelated to depth perception. In the last section, we propose a Bayesian-motivated reconceptualization of Richard Gregory's misapplied size constancy theory that explains Ponzo-variant illusions in terms of prior information and prediction errors. The new account explains why some studies have provided inconsistent evidence for misapplied size constancy theory.

The conceptual understanding of depth rather than the low-level processing of spatial frequencies drives the corridor illusion.

Our objective was to determine how different spatial frequencies affect the perceptual size rescaling of stimuli in the corridor illusion. Two experiments were performed using the method of constant stimuli. In experiment 1, the task required participants to compare the size of comparison and standard rings displayed over the same background image. ANOVA on the points of subject equality (PSEs) revealed that the perceived size of the top and bottom standard rings changed as a function of the availability of the high, medium, and low spatial frequency information. In experiment 2, the task required participants to compare the size of a comparison ring presented outside of the background image with a standard ring presented inside it. ANOVA on the PSEs revealed that the apparent size of the top and not the bottom standard ring changed depending on the availability of medium spatial frequency information. Eye-tracking revealed that the spatial frequency range of the background image in the periphery affected participants' eye positioning, which may explain why the effects of different spatial frequencies fluctuated across experiments. Nonetheless, when we consider these findings together, we propose that the conceptual understanding of depth plays a more important role in explaining the corridor illusion than the low-level processing of depth information extracted from different spatial frequencies along separate channels.

Grey-Matter Thickness of the Left But Not the Right Primary Visual Area Correlates with Autism Traits in Typically Developing Adults.

We examined whether functional and structural variability in the primary visual area (V1) correlated with autism traits. Twenty-nine participants (16 males; MAge = 26.4 years, SDAge = 4.0 years) completed the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ) questionnaire prior to a magnetic resonance imaging session. The total AQ scores was used to assess the degree of self-reported autism traits. The average functional activation in V1 to visual stimulation and its average grey-matter thickness were calculated. There were no correlations between functional activation in V1 and autism traits. Conversely, grey-matter thickness of the left but not the right V1 correlated with autism traits. We conclude that structural changes in the left V1 could be a marker for the presence of autism traits.

IL-1ß blockade in periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome: case-based review.

Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and cervical adenitis (PFAPA) syndrome and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) are considered as inflammasome disorders associated with uncontrolled interleukin (IL)-1ß production. Anti-IL1 agents are used in colchicine-resistant cases of FMF. Increase in pro-inflammatory mediators even between febrile attacks in PFAPA suggests that anti-IL1 treatment might be beneficial in these patients. We describe a child presenting with recurrent, self-limited febrile attacks at 1 year of age who was diagnosed as FMF being heterozygous for M694 V mutation. Her clinical findings were only controlled by the addition of canakinumab (2 mg/kg/8 week) to colchicine treatment. However, she developed typical PFAPA attacks during this treatment at 3 years of age. We conducted a literature search focusing on English articles with keywords including PFAPA, anakinra, canakinumab, and rilonacept. Five children and one adult patient with PFAPA were found and evaluated. Anakinra was reported to abort PFAPA attacks in children, while the adult patient first responded and then became resistant to anakinra. Canakinumab was effective in preventing febrile attacks in this patient. Failure of canakinumab to prevent PFAPA attacks in our case may arise from the differences in the pathophysiology of PFAPA and FMF. Thus, further experience with higher doses or shorter intervals of canakinumab is needed in children with PFAPA.

Interocular transfer effects of linear perspective cues and texture gradients in the perceptual rescaling of size.

Our objective was to determine whether the influence of linear perspective cues and texture gradients in the perceptual rescaling of stimulus size transfers from one eye to the other. In experiment 1, we systematically added linear perspective cues and texture gradients in a background image of the corridor illusion. To determine whether perceptual size rescaling takes place at earlier or later stages, we tested how the perceived size of top and bottom rings changed under binocular (rings and background presented to both eyes), monocular (rings and background presented to the dominant eye only), and dichoptic (rings and background presented separately to the dominant and nondominant eyes, respectively) viewing conditions. We found differences between viewing conditions in the perceived size of the rings when linear perspective cues, but not texture gradients, were presented. Specifically, linear perspective cues produced a stronger illusion under the monocular compared to the dichoptic viewing condition. Hence, there was partial interocular transfer from the linear perspective cues, suggesting a dominant role of monocular neural populations in mediating the corridor illusion. In experiment 2, we repeated similar procedures with a more traditional Ponzo illusion background. Contrary to findings from experiment 1, there was a full interocular transfer with the presence of the converging lines, suggesting a dominant role of binocular neural populations. We conclude that higher order visual areas, which contain binocular neural populations, are more involved in the perceptual rescaling of size evoked by linear perspective cues in the Ponzo compared to the corridor illusion.

The Effect of Sunflower Seed and Almond Oil on Preterm Infant Skin: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of sunflower seed oil (SSO) and almond oil (AO) on stratum corneum hydration and Neonatal Skin Condition Scores (NSCSs) of preterm infants. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial recruited 90 preterm infants whose gestational ages were between 32 and 37 weeks in the neonatal ICU. Infants were randomly assigned to three groups (SSO, AO, or control). The oils were applied to the whole body of each infant except for the head and face by a nurse researcher four times a day (4 mL/kg) for 5 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Skin condition of the infants as evaluated with the NSCS; hydration as measured by a skin moisture meter before and after application. MAIN RESULTS: When average stratum corneum hydration was compared, infants in the SSO and AO groups had better hydration than infants in the control group. The NSCS scores in the control group were significantly higher than in the intervention groups, but there was no difference between the SSO and AO groups. CONCLUSIONS: Neither SSO nor AO has harmful effects on the skin, and their use may improve stratum corneum hydration. These oils can be used by nurses to hydrate the skin of preterm infants. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of natural oils on infant skin.