Visual enhancement of touch in spatial body representation

Perception of our own bodies is based on integration of visual and tactile inputs, notably by neurons in the brain's parietal lobes. Here we report a behavioural consequence of this integration process. Simply viewing the arm can speed up reactions to an invisible tactile stimulus on the arm. We observed this visual enhancement effect only when a tactile task required spatial computation within a topographic map of the body surface and the judgements made were close to the limits of performance. This effect of viewing the body surface was absent or reversed in tasks that either did not require a spatial computation or in which judgements were well above performance limits. We consider possible mechanisms by which vision may influence tactile processing.     

Fingertip contact influences human postural control

Touch and pressure stimulation of the body surface can strongly influence apparent body orientation, as well as the maintenance of upright posture during quiet stance. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between postural sway and contact forces at the fingertip while subjects touched a rigid metal bar. Subjects were tested in the tandem Romberg stance with eyes open or closed under three conditions of fingertip contact: no contact, touch contact (<0.98 N of force), and force contact (as much force as desired). Touch contact was as effective as force contact or sight of the surroundings in reducing postural sway when compared to the no contact, eyes closed condition. Body sway and fingertip forces were essentially in phase with force contact, suggesting that fingertip contact forces are physically counteracting body sway. Time delays between body sway and fingertip forces were much larger with light touch contact, suggesting that the fingertip is providing information that allows anticipatory innervation of musculature to reduce body sway. The results are related to observations on precision grip as well as the somatosensory, proprioceptive, and motor mechanisms involved in the reduction of body sway.     

Measurement of self-propulsion distance of wheelchair using cycle computer excluding assistance distance by touch switch: A pilot study

Objective: Although the propulsion distance of a wheelchair is measured by some devices, measuring self-propulsion distance, excluding assistance propulsion distance by the caregiver, is difficult. This is a pilot study conducted to verify whether the propulsion distance of wheelchair users, excluding the assistance propulsion distance, can be measured using a cycle computer by attaching the touch switch.Methods: The wheelchair propulsion distance was measured using a cycle computer. We connected the touch switch and the cycle computer to the wheelchair to exclude assistance propulsion distance. We set the cycle computer to stop recording while the caregiver was touching the sensor. To confirm the propulsion distance using the cycle computer, the volunteer propelled the wheelchair on a rectangular facility with a total distance of 181 m, and the examiner confirmed the propulsion distance. The validation test to confirm the accuracy of the touch switch attached to the cycle computer was performed on a 50-m straight runway. The volunteer and caregiver propelled the wheelchair alternately by 10 m and continued until 50 m. The examiner confirmed the distance after 50-m propulsion.Results: In the 181-m rectangular facility, the propulsion distance that the volunteer propelled the wheelchair with the cycle computer was 180 m. In the 50-m straight runway, the propulsion distance was 30 m with caregiver assistance for 20 m.Conclusion: The present study showed that our modified device could measure the self-propulsion distance, excluding assistance propulsion distance in wheelchair users.     

联合应用消化道干预措施对新生儿黄疸的影响

目的:探讨联合应用消化道干预措施对降低新生儿黄疸的效果。方法:将192例正常足月新生儿随机分为直接消化道干预组、间接消化道干预组、综合组。间接消化道干预组应用游泳并抚触措施、直接消化道干预组应用早期通便措施、综合组联合应用游泳并抚触及早期通便两种措施,比较3组胎粪初排时间、胎粪转黄时间、每日排便次数、生后1～6d黄疸指数及病理性黄疸发生率。结果:综合组胎粪初排时间及胎粪转黄时间较直接消化道干预组和间接消化道干预组提前(P<0.01),每日排便次数较其他两组增多(P<0.01),生后3～6d黄疸指数及病理性黄疸发生率比两组降低(P<0.01)。结论:联合应用消化道干预措施能有效降低新生儿黄疸,减少病理性黄疸的发生率。     

抚触护理在新生儿黄疸护理中的价值分析

目的：研究抚触护理在新生儿黄疸护理中应用的临床效果。方法选择2011年1月—2014年1月该院收治的160例新生儿黄疸患儿进行研究。按照随机数表法,随机分为试验组和对照组。试验组80例采用常规护理及抚触护理方式进行护理,对照组80例采用常规护理方式进行护理。经不同护理方式后,对两组患儿各项黄疸相关指标进行比较分析。结果经过不同护理后,试验组总胆红素、胎便排出时间及黄疸消退时间均显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）;试验组排便次数高于对照组（P＜0.05）。试验组治疗总有效率为97.5%,对照组治疗总有效率为85.0%,试验组总有效率显著高于对照组,两组比较差异有统计学意义（χ2=7.8278,P=0.0051）。结论采用抚触护理方法护理新生黄疸患儿,效果良好,值得临床推广应用。     

2013版BI-RADS分类标准结合声触诊组织量化技术鉴别诊断乳腺良恶性病灶的价值

目的 探讨2013版超声乳腺影像报告和数据系统(BI-RADS)分类诊断标准结合声触诊组织量化技术(VTQ)鉴别乳腺良恶性病灶的价值。方法 对251位患者共334个乳腺病灶行常规超声检查,并用BI-RADS分类诊断标准判断其良恶性;然后应用VTQ技术测量病灶的剪切波速度(SWV);以病理结果作为金标准,构建受试者的工作特征曲线,比较两种方法的诊断价值。结果 BI-RADS分类诊断标准及VTQ技术鉴别乳腺良恶性病灶的ROC曲线下面积分别为0.899、0.855,两者差异无统计学意义(z=1.367,P=0.172)。结论 BI-RADS分类诊断标准与VTQ技术结合可以提高乳腺病灶的诊断准确性。对于BI-RADS 4类的病灶,联合VTQ技术可减少不必要的穿刺活检或手术。     

Exploring tapelifts as a method for dual workflow STR amplification

Although a version of direct PCR is implemented in forensic laboratories for reference material, its incorporation into workflow for the analysis of touch DNA, as a form of latent DNA, from casework exhibits is not. In addition to concerns about increased sensitivity causing more complex mixtures or the generation of more genetic data implicating an individual superfluous to the context of the alleged event, the complete use of the collected sample in the PCR as template has meant that there is no possibility for data reproducibility when needed. Here it is proposed that the use of tapelifts in touch DNA collection can facilitate replicate direct PCR analysis from a single sample allowing the sample to be re-tested. If all portions of the tapelift result in profiles with allelic and likelihood ratio concordance, these sub-samples may be accepted as technical replicates, thus meeting any accreditation guideline requirements. Furthermore, we assess the use of a single tapelift for both direct PCR and extraction-based PCR workflows to illustrate the potential for benefits of both systems to be facilitated. DNA was deposited by three donors onto six substrates with five sample replicates of each condition. Separation of each tapelift into three portions for three direct PCRs ensued using VeriFiler™ Plus. Separation of single tapelifts into three direct PCRs showed no statistical difference in donor allele calls or RFU, or subsequent LRs associated with their profiles. Comparison of profiles within the single tapelift showed more similarity, with high mixture-to-mixture match likelihoods, than when these sub-samples were compared with profiles generated from other samples. This allows each sub-sample taken from the tapelift to be considered as technical replicates. For dual workflow facilitation assessment, one donor deposited DNA through touch onto six substrates with five research replicates of each. Separation of single tapelifts into two portions, one for direct PCR and the retention and use of the remaining portion for extraction and subsequent PCR, showed no significant difference in allelic yield and subsequent donor comparison LRs. Comparison of deconvoluted profiles produced from a single tapelift showed high mixture-to-mixture match likelihoods, supporting DNA donor concordance. This indicates that removing a portion of a tapelift for direct PCR amplification, while processing the remainder through standard processes, allows increased sensitivity through direct PCR while offering the preparation of an eluate suitable for repeated analyses.     

The color of touch: A case of tactile–visual synaesthesia

We report a single-case study, EB, who experiences synaesthetic sensations of color from tactile stimulation. Developmental synaesthesia is typically characterized by the consistency of synaesthetic pairings over time, in that stimuli tend to generate the same synaesthetic responses on different occasions. Here we demonstrate that EB's touch–color associations are significantly more consistent over time compared to a group of non-synaesthete controls, but that this comes in the face of surprisingly high consistency among non-synaesthetes themselves, for certain tactile stimuli. We show, too, that EB's touch–color correspondences are guided by an implicit rule system, and that this system is shared by non-synaesthetes. Both synaesthetes and non-synaesthetes are sensitive to tactile qualities such as smoothness and softness, and these qualities are systematically related to the luminance and chroma of associated colors.     

Teaching memory-impaired people to touch type: The acquisition of a useful complex perceptual-motor skill

This study provides ecological validity for laboratory findings that people with memory difficulties following brain injury can learn new skills. This was done by testing the acquisition of a useful real-world perceptual-motor skill. Using a conventional computer software training package supplemented by one-to-one coaching, a woman with severely impaired memory and a man with poor memory learned to touch type. They achieved the initial criterion of 20 wpm with over 90% accuracy; reached a top speed of 30 wpm and retained their skill a year later. The memory-impaired participants received short sessions of distributed practice and as far as possible were taught under error-free learning conditions. Their performance was broadly comparable with that of two non-memory-impaired comparison participants in terms of acquisition, consolidation and transfer, speed and accuracy, and retention.