Hand and joint paths during reaching movements with and without vision

 This study examines whether the kinematics of pointing movements are altered by the sensory systems used to select spatial targets and to guide movement. Hand and joint paths of visually guided reaching movements of human subjects were compared with two non-visual conditions where only proprioception was available: (1) movements of the same subjects with blindfolds, and (2) movements by congenitally blind subjects. While hand-path curvatures were overall quite small, sighted subjects wearing a blindfold showed a statistical increase in hand-path curvature compared with their visually guided movements. Blindfolded subjects also showed greater hand-path curvature than blind subjects. These increases in hand-path curvature for blindfolded subjects did not always lead to a decrease in joint-path curvature. While there were differences between blind subjects and sighted subjects using vision for some movement directions, there was no systematic difference between these two groups. The magnitude of joint-path curvature showed much greater variation than hand-path curvature across the movement directions. We found variation in joint-path curvature to be correlated to two factors, one spatial and one geometrical. For all subject groups, joint-path curvature tended to be smaller for sagittal-plane movements than for transverse or diagonal movements. As well, we found that the magnitude of joint-path curvature was also related to the relative motion at each joint. Joint-path curvature tended to increase when movements predominantly involved changes in shoulder angle and was minimal when movements predominantly involved elbow motion. The consistently small curvatures of hand trajectory across blind and sighted subjects emphasize the powerful tendency of the motor system to generate goal-directed reaching movements with relatively straight hand trajectories, even when deprived of visual feedback from very early in life. Received: 16 July 1997 / Accepted: 20 May 1998     

Detecting antibodies with similar reactivity patterns in the HLDA8 blind panel of flow cytometry data

The blind panel collected for the 8th Human Leucocyte Differentiation Antigens Workshop (HLDA8; ) included 49 antibodies of known CD specificities and 76 antibodies of unknown specificity. We have identified groups of antibodies showing similar patterns of reactivity that need to be investigated by biochemical methods to evaluate whether the antibodies within these groups are reacting with the same molecule. Our approach to data analysis was based on the work of Salganik et al. (in press) [Salganik, M.P., Milford E.L., Hardie D.L., Shaw, S., Wand, M.P., in press. Classifying antibodies using flow cytometry data: class prediction and class discovery. Biometrical Journal].     

一种EEG信号盲分离和分类的神经网络方法

提出一种采用多神经网络处理脑电(EEG)信号的方法。首先，对混有噪声的脑电信号给出一种盲分离的自适应神经算法。通过寻求采样时间序列线性组合的kurtosis系数的局部极值，得出该算法的模型和步骤。在盲分离的基础上，对分离出的估计信号进一步利用Kohonen网络进行分类。将该算法用于300个EEG样本处理，并给出处理结果。     

Tips and tricks to increase the success rate of blind tracheal intubation through the Air-Q™ versus the intubating laryngeal mask airway Fastrach™

BackgroundThe Air-Q intubating laryngeal airway is a new supraglottic airway device which overcomes some of the limitations inherent to the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA Fastrach^™) for tracheal intubation. Previous studies showed lower success rate of the Air-Q^™ versus ILMA Fastrach^™. This study was conducted to illustrate new maneuvers for increasing the success rate of Air-Q^™ versus ILMA Fastrach^™ and compare between both devices.MethodsOne-hundred and seventy adult patients, ASA I or II, aged >16 years old undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia were divided randomly into 2 equal groups (85 each). Group A: using Air-Q ILA size 3.5 or size 4.5 Group B: using ILMA size 4 or size 5 according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for body weight in both groups. The time and the total success rate of blind intubation through them in 2 attempts only were recorded. In Group A, extension of the head with cricoid pressure was applied. The hemodynamic response to devices insertion and the complications related to both devices were compared.ResultsIn Group A, the total success rate in 2 attempts was 94.12%, while in Group B, it was 96.47%. However, this difference was not statistically significant. The first attempt success rate was 81.18% in Group A, while it was 82.35% in Group B. The total time to intubate the hemodynamic response to device insertion and the incidence of complications (sore throat, trauma and hoarseness of voice) showed no statistically significant difference between both groups.ConclusionThis study showed that extension of the head with cricoid pressure greatly increases the success rate of blind intubation through the Air-Q to 94.12% versus the ILMA Fastrach 96.47% with no statistically significant difference between both devices.     

两种方法检测LGC盲样及效果探讨

目的：检测LGC盲样中的小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌并对过程和结果进行探讨。方法①分离培养法。②实时荧光PCR法。结果两者均检出小肠结肠炎耶尔森氏菌。结论两种方法的有效结合对目标菌检出有更重要的意义。     

Grasping without vision: Time normalizing grip aperture profiles yields spurious grip scaling to target size

The analysis of normalized movement trajectories is a popular and informative technique used in investigations of visuomotor control during goal-directed acts like reaching and grasping. This technique typically involves standardizing measures against the amplitude of some other variable – most typically time. Here, we show that this normalizing technique can lead to some surprising results. In the first of two experiments, we asked participants to grasp target objects without ever seeing them from trial to trial. In the second experiment, participants were given a brief preview of the target and were then cued 3 s later to pick it up while vision was prevented. Critically, on some trials during the delay period and unbeknownst to the participants, the previewed target was swapped for a new unseen one. The results of both experiments show that time-normalized measures of grip aperture during the closing phase of the movement appear to be scaled to target size well before the fingers make contact with the target – even though participants had no idea what the size of the target was that they were grasping. In contrast, a classical measure of anticipatory grip scaling, maximum grip aperture, did not show scaling to target size. As we demonstrate, however, in both experiments, movement time was longer for the larger target than the smaller ones. Thus, the comparisons of time-normalized grip aperture, particularly during the closing phase of the movements, were made across different points in real time. Taken together, the results of these experiments highlight a need for caution when investigators interpret differences in time-normalized dependent measures – particularly when the effect of interest is correlated with the dependent measure and a third variable (e.g., movement time) that is used to standardize the dependent measure.     

“挑厌式”盲探气管内插管术应用于头后仰度差患者的临床观察

目的观察经口“挑厌式”盲探气管内插管术应用于头后仰度差患者全身麻醉气管内插管的可行性。方法30例气管内麻醉患者随机分为盲、明两组各15例,盲组应用经口“挑厌式”盲探气管内插管,明组应用普通喉镜（弯喉镜片）气管内插管。结果盲组一次成功12例,1次插管成功率高（80％）,平均用时（31±15）s,较明组用时显著缩短（P〈0.01）。结论经口“挑厌式”盲探气管内插管术对头后仰度要求低,应用在“头后仰度Ⅲ～Ⅳ级”患者全身麻醉快速诱导插管可行,简便快捷,成功率高,可操作性强。     

2011年微生物实验室质控盲样结果分析

目的通过质量控制考核评价实验室的检测能力,提高实验室的检测水平,保证检测结果准确、可靠。方法依据《中华人民共和国国家标准食品卫生微生物检验方法》及河南省和洛阳市下发的《卫生微生物质控作业指导书》对4份盲样菌株进行检验。结果从4份盲样菌株中检出1株志贺氏菌、2株金黄色葡萄球菌、1株阪崎肠杆菌,检测结果正确率为100%。结论实验室质控有助于提高检验水平。     

Oblique spatial shifts of subjective visual straight ahead orientation in quadrantic visual field defects

Patients with postchiasmatic visual field defects often show a contralesional bias towards the scotoma in line bisection or when indicating their visual subjective straight ahead (VSSA). Recent evidence suggests a retinotopic misrepresentation of visual space in patients with homonymous quadrantanopia (HQ). We therefore assessed in the present study whether patients with HQ show an oblique shift of their VSSA towards their scotoma, in addition to the known bias in horizontal line bisection. Moreover, we examined whether eccentric fixation contributes to this shift. To this purpose, 15 non-neglecting stroke patients with HQ and 15 matched healthy control subjects were assessed in horizontal line bisection and in the horizontal and vertical dimension of their VSSA. Additionally, perimetric blind spot mapping was performed. Eight out of nine patients with left quadranopia showed the typical leftsided, horizontal line bisection error, while only one out of seven patients with rightsided quadranopia showed a rightsided shift. Normal subjects showed a non-significant leftward shift in line bisection (pseudoneglect). All 15 patients with HQ showed a large oblique shift of their VSSA towards the blind quadrants, while normal subjects showed no systematic left-rightward shift, but a small downward shift of the VSSA. The position of the blind spot was normal in all testable eyes of patients and control subjects, thus excluding eccentric fixation or cyclorotation of the eyes. In conclusion, our study reveals a hitherto unreported oblique spatial shift of subjective visual body orientation towards the blind quadrants in non-neglecting patients with quadranopia.     

盲人青年学生的心理特点与施教原则

本文根据多年观察研究和对6所盲人培训机构共463名盲人青年学生的问卷调查,分析了盲人青年学生在认知、情感与情绪、意志、人际交往等方面的心理特点,并针对这些特点提出了“师生互信”、“针对性”、“正常化”、“环境适应”等施教原则。