On the Inverse Problem of Binocular 3D Motion Perception

It is shown that existing processing schemes of 3D motion perception such as interocular velocity difference, changing disparity over time, as well as joint encoding of motion and disparity, do not offer a general solution to the inverse optics problem of local binocular 3D motion. Instead we suggest that local velocity constraints in combination with binocular disparity and other depth cues provide a more flexible framework for the solution of the inverse problem. In the context of the aperture problem we derive predictions from two plausible default strategies: (1) the vector normal prefers slow motion in 3D whereas (2) the cyclopean average is based on slow motion in 2D. Predicting perceived motion directions for ambiguous line motion provides an opportunity to distinguish between these strategies of 3D motion processing. Our theoretical results suggest that velocity constraints and disparity from feature tracking are needed to solve the inverse problem of 3D motion perception. It seems plausible that motion and disparity input is processed in parallel and integrated late in the visual processing hierarchy

Panorama do estado antropométrico dos escolares brasileiros

OBJETIVO: Revisar, na literatura, pesquisas que abordem o perfil antropométrico dos escolares brasileiros. FONTES DE DADOS: Buscaram-se artigos originais nas bases de dados SciELO, LILACS e MedLine, compreendidos no período entre 1985 e 2009, que avaliaram o estado antropométrico de escolares brasileiros (sete a dez anos). Foram utilizadas as palavras-chave: "escolar", "escolares", "avaliação nutricional", "antropometria", "criança", "estatura", "saúde escolar", em português e inglês. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Foram encontrados 28 trabalhos realizados em escolas públicas e privadas de âmbito municipal, estadual e regional, com amostra variando de 86 a 50.114 indivíduos, com estudos do tipo transversal, inquérito, casos-controle e prospectivo, utilizando seis tipos diferentes de protocolo para classificar o estado antropométrico dos escolares. Os resultados mostram que, nas regiões Norte, Nordeste e nas áreas carentes há maior prevalência de desnutrição, enquanto nas regiões Sudeste, Sul e zonas mais favorecidas há maior prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade, mas coexistem as duas condições nas mesmas localidades. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar do aumento ao acesso aos alimentos, das políticas públicas contra a fome e ações governamentais e não-governamentais, ainda há a coexistência da dupla carga de doenças, desnutrição e excesso de peso que aflige a população escolar brasileira. Ações simples como medidas de peso e altura são de suma importância para classificar o estado nutricional e definir rumos de políticas públicas.OBJECTIVE: To review studies that address the anthropometric profile of Brazilian schoolchildren. DATA SOURCES: Original articles published in SciELO, LILACS and MedLine databases from 1985 to 2009, which assessed the anthropometric status in Brazilian schoolchildren (seven to ten years old). Key-words used: "school", "schoolchild", "nutritional assessment", "anthropometry", "child", "stature", "school health". DATA SYNTHESIS: Twenty eight publications were found. The studies were done in local and regional public and private schools, with samples ranging from 86 to 50,114 individuals. Cross-sectional, case-control, and prospective investigations were found, with six different types of protocol for the anthropometric status classification. The results show that there is a higher prevalence of malnutrition in the North and Northeast regions and in the deprived Brazilian areas, while in the Southeast and South regions there is a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity, but both conditions coexist in the same areas. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the increased access to food, public policies against hunger and non-governmental and governmental actions, malnutrition and overweight still coexist in Brazilian schoolchildren. Simple actions such as measuring weight and height are extremely important for the nutritional status classification and for designing public policies

'Statins in retinal disease'

Statins are known for their blood cholesterol-lowering effect and are widely used in patients with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Research over the past three decades shows that statins have diverse effects on different pathophysiological pathways involved in angiogenesis, inflammation, apoptosis, and anti-oxidation, leading to new therapeutic options. Recently, statins have attracted considerable attention for their immunomodulatory effect. Since immune reactivity has been implicated in a number of retinal diseases, such as uveitis, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, there is now a growing body of evidence supporting the beneficial effects of statins in these retinopathies. This review evaluates the relationship between statins and the pathophysiological basis of these diseases, focusing on their potential role in treatment. A PubMed database search and literature review was conducted. Among AMD patients, there is inconsistent evidence regarding protection against development of early AMD or delaying disease progression; though they have been found to reduce the risk of developing choroidal neovascular membranes (CNV). In patients with retinal vein occlusion, there was no evidence to support a therapeutic benefit or a protective role with statins. In patients with diabetic retinopathy, statins demonstrate a reduction in disease progression and improved resolution of diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Among patients with uveitis, statins have a protective effect by reducing the likelihood of uveitis development