In the present study, we explored whether the perception of impoverished motion stimuli’, such as shadow animations, is sufficient to activate motor areas. To do so, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was applied over the hand area of the primary motor cortex

(M1) while subjects observed shadow animations depicting finger motions. Data showed that resonant motor responses in M1 were only found when a biological effector was recognized from the observed shadow animation. Interestingly, M1 responses were similar for observing shadow or real motions. Therefore, the loss of ‘pictorial’ movement features in a shadow animation appeared to have no effect on motor resonance in M1. In summary, these findings suggest that BMS-777607 cost the ‘recognition’ of biological motion from sparse visual input is both necessary and sufficient to recruit motor areas. This supports the hypothesis that the motor system is involved in recognizing the actions per-formed by others. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

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“To study the prevalence and characterize atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) in avian species in India.

Two hundred and twelve faecal samples collected from 62 chickens, 50 ducks and 100 pigeons were investigated for the presence of stx(1), stx(2), eae and ehxA virulence genes by multiplex PCR. In all, 42 E. coli isolates (25 chicken, 2 duck and 15 pigeon) possessed at least one virulence gene. Out of these, nine (4.24%) isolates were STEC and 33 (15.56%) were EPEC. All isolates from duck and chicken Paclitaxel order were EPEC while among 15 pigeon isolates Ketanserin nine (60%) were STEC and six (40%) were EPEC. Among the STEC isolates four

each carried stx(1) or stx(2) and one possessed both stx(1) and stx(2). Subtype analysis of stx revealed the presence of stx(2f) in four STEC isolates. None of the STEC isolates carried stx(1c), stx(2c), stx(2d) or stx(2e). Isolates carrying stx(2f) demonstrated vero cell toxicity. One each belonged to serogroup O17 and O78, while one was rough and the other untypeable. All EPEC isolates were atypical as they lacked bfpA. This appears to be the first report of detection of stx(2f) from India.

The study established the presence of stx(1) and stx(2f) containing E. coli in pigeons and atypical EPEC in poultry in India. Pigeons might serve as vectors for transmission of STEC to environment and humans.

Taking into account the close contact between fanciers and pigeons, these findings warrant a more critical appraisal of these zoonotic pathogens in pigeons and humans.”
“The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of tactile afferents from the medial arch of the foot on postural control. The center of pressure (CoP) position and right/left plantar pressure distributions of 13 gymnasts, with and without a medial arch support, were recorded by a force platform coupled with a baropedometry analysis.