The impact of auditory continual feedback on take-overs in Level 3 automated vehicles

ObjectiveTo implement auditory continual feedback into the interface design of a Level 3 automated vehicle and to test whether gaze behavior and reaction times of drivers improved in take-over situations.BackgroundWhen required to assume manual control in take-over situations, drivers of Level 3 automated vehicles are less likely than conventional drivers to spot potential hazards, and their reaction time is longer. Therefore, it is crucial that the interface of Level 3 automated vehicles will be designed to improve drivers’ performance in take-over situations.MethodIn two experiments, participants drove a simulated route in a Level 3 automated vehicle for 35 min with one imminent take-over event. Participants’ gaze behavior and performance in an imminent take-over event were monitored under one of three auditory interface designs: (1) Continual feedback. A system that provides verbal driving-related feedback; (2) Persistent feedback. A system that provides verbal driving-related feedback and a persistent beep; and (3) Chatter feedback. A system that provides verbal non-driving-related feedback. Also, there was a control group without feedback.ResultsUnder all three auditory feedback designs, the number of drivers' on-road glances increased compared to no feedback, but none of the designs shortened reaction time to the imminent event.ConclusionIncreasing the number of on-road glances during automated driving does not necessarily improve drivers’ attention to the road and their reaction times during take-overs.ApplicationPossible implications for the effectiveness of auditory continual feedback should be considered when designing interfaces for Level 3 automated vehicles.     

Movement of Pt markers in MgO during a solid-state reaction

The effectiveness of Pt in marking the initial location of heterophase boundaries between two reactants in a thin-film solid-state reaction is discussed. The Pt markers were produced by dewetting a continuous Pt film at elevated temperatures, thus forming an array of small isolated particles. These particles can then serve as fine-scale markers for tracking the motion of interfaces. The thin-film diffusion couples with Pt markers were used, in this study, to investigate the effect of an applied electric field on a spinel-forming reaction. The reacted diffusion couples with Pt markers were analysed using both transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Analysis of the diffusion couples showed that the Pt markers could be affected by, or themselves affect, the reaction process. The interface between the Pt marker and surrounding oxide matrix plays an important role in the reliability of Pt as an effective marker.     

Some new features of interface roughening dynamics in paper-wetting experiments

Some new observations concerning the spatial-temporal dynamics of selfaffine interfaces formed in paper-wetting experiments are reported. We find that the motion of the wet front in a porous medium has a stepwise nature. The height of the wetted area, as a function of time, displays a Devil's-staircase-like behaviour with scaling exponent delta, whereas the front width oscillates erratically with time. These erratic oscillations possess a statistical self-affine invariance in time with the scaling exponent chi, which is found to be equal to the growth exponent beta. We also note that the values of chi, beta and delta, as well as the interface roughness (Hurst) exponent H vary from one experiment to another in wide ranges, and that their distributions obey a normal distribution. The mean values of all the exponents are dependent on the paper structure, but not on the environmental conditions. Furthermore, we find that the mean value of beta depends on the interface front orientation with respect to the fibre direction in the paper, whereas the mean values of H and delta do not depend on it.     

Pedestrian interaction with automated vehicles at uncontrolled intersections

Automated Vehicles (AVs) are being developed rapidly and tested on public roads, but pedestrians’ interaction with AV is not comprehensively understood or thoroughly investigated to ensure safe operations and the public’s trust of AVs. In this study, we aimed to provide another research evidence to enhance such understanding with the use of external interfaces for facilitating the interaction between pedestrians and AVs. We developed five external interfaces, including text, symbol, animated-eye, a combination of text and symbol, and speed. These interfaces communicated five types of information, including (1) intent of AV; 2) advice to pedestrians of what to do, (3) AV’s awareness of pedestrians, (4) combination of intent and advice, and (5) vehicle movement (i.e., speed). We tested the interfaces through two field studies at uncontrolled intersections with crosswalks. The Wizard of Oz method was used, in which an experimenter worked as a driver in an instrumented vehicle and wore an outfit to be invisible to the pedestrians, thus rendering the set-up to simulate an AV interacting with a pedestrian. The interfaces were displayed on an LED panel mounted on the AV. Results showed that the AV’s external interface did not change pedestrians’ response time in comparison with the baseline without any interface. There was no statistically significant difference in response time among the external interfaces either. According to the post-experimental interview, vehicle movement pattern (e.g., vehicle speed) continued to be a significant cue for pedestrians to decide when to cross the intersections. Participants perceived the communication of the AV’s intent and vehicle speed as more beneficial than the communication of AV’s awareness. The subjective ratings showed positive effects of those interfaces that were easy to understand (e.g., text interface and speed interface), which also helped pedestrians feel safer when interacting with the AV.     

Attributions for recovery and adherence to rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: A prospective analysis

Abstract

The relationship between causal attributions for recovery and adherence was examined in a sample of 80 individuals (25 females and 55 males) undergoing rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Participants estimated their speed of recovery and then rated their open-ended attributions for recovery on the Revised Causal Dimension Scale (McAuley, Duncan and Russell, 1992). Adherence was assessed in terms of attendance at rehabilitation sessions and practitioner ratings for the remainder of the rehabilitation period. Participants who perceived themselves as recovering rapidly attributed their recovery to more stable and personally controllable factors than participants who perceived themselves as recovering slowly. Causal dimension ratings predicted attendance at rehabilitation sessions, but not practitioner ratings of adherence. The results, which further demonstrate the relevance of causal attributions to health behavior, are compared with previous cross-sectional findings.     

Interfacing the Somatosensory System to Restore Touch and Proprioception: Essential Considerations

ABSTRACT

State-of-the-art upper extremity prostheses include anthropomorphic hands with dexterity that approximates that of a human. To be fully useful, these devices will require an advanced somatosensory neural interface to convey tactile and proprioceptive feedback to the user. To this end, microstimulation methods are being developed using microelectrode arrays implanted at various locations along the somatosensory neuraxis, from peripheral nerves to primary somatosensory cortex. There is presently no consensus as to the best approach, although results from animal and human studies lend support for each. The purpose of this review is to outline practical considerations for the design of a somatosensory interface based on present knowledge of the anatomy and physiology, prior attempts to elicit somatic sensations using electrical stimulation, and lessons learned from successful sensory neuroprostheses such as the cochlear implant.     

A scoping review of non-linear analysis approaches measuring variability in gait due to lower body injury or dysfunction

ObjectivesThe aim of this review is to evaluate and summarize existing literature using non-linear analysis methodology to consider variability of human movement due to lower limb injury or dysfunction.DesignScoping review.MethodsAn electronic keyword search was performed on three databases to identify appropriate research. This research was then examined for details of measures and methodology, use of control groups and general study characteristics to identify related themes.ResultsFifteen papers were reviewed and synthesized. A range of conditions were studied, mainly affecting knee and ankle joints, and each using different non-linear methods and different equipment (motion capture, accelerometry, and muscle activation) to evaluate the mathematically chaotic nature of the movement and assess the variability in gait. Sample sizes and effect sizes are commonly small in these studies.ConclusionsNon-linear analysis is a potentially useful tool in both diagnosis and evaluation of injury, and this should inform future clinical processes when dealing with injury and movement variability. Despite numerous studies evaluating neurological conditions and ageing, focus on injury is limited, with notable gaps in terms of considering other joints and joint actions, so this should be a promising area of research to develop our understanding of injury and rehabilitation and how this affects gait variability.     

Evaluation of the Effects of Prescribing Gait Complexity Using Several Fluctuating Timing Imperatives

Abstract

Variability in the temporal structure of gait patterns, measured by “Fractal Index” (FI), is thought to represent abundancy of movement patterns facilitating adaptive control of walking. However we do not know how FI changes according to different walking rhythms or if this is repeatable, as needed to exploit the paradigm for rehabilitation. Fourteen healthy young adults synchronised heel contact to an auditory metronome twice each in four conditions (uncued, white noise, pink noise, and red noise) and three sessions. FI differed based on the walking condition while no effect of session was revealed. The results of this study suggest gait fractality changes systematically with different stimuli and can be consistently prescribed in a desired direction within a group of healthy young individuals.     

Assessment,Treatment, and Rehabilitation for Interpersonal Violence Victims

Abstract

Psychotherapists who have received minimal training in neuropsychology do not consider cognitive rehabilitation among the treatment options for their clients who have mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Historical perspectives on mTBI did not acknowledge brain plasticity and/or rehabilitation, yet rehabilitation might provide a necessary foundation for a client to be able to benefit from traditional feminist psychotherapy. This article provides an overview of two treatment modalities, biofeedback and neuropsychologically-informed feminist psychotherapy, for women with mTBI who sought relief from interstitial cystitis and headaches. Assessment for neuropsychological treatment planning and monitoring is illustrated with employment of the Ackerman-Banks Neuropsychological Rehabilitation Battery. Clinical examples are provided to demonstrate a variety of manifestations of mTBI and responses to treatment.     

Epitaxy and interfacial energy of heterostructure interfaces

Abstract

Geometric models relating the energy of composite interfaces to their atomic structure can be based on the concept of static distortion waves. This approach constitutes the physical basis for two-dimensional geometric models, including the ‘lock-in model’ previously proposed for metal/ceramic interfaces. Several examples are discussed, providing new insight into such phenomena as epitaxy of thin films.     

Effect of Sb on coarsening of Fe particles in a Cu-Fe alloy

The influence of Sb on the coarsening behaviour of spherical α-Fe and γ-Fe particles in a Cu?Fe alloy has been investigated. The size of thparticles was determined by transmission electron microscopy and the Fe concentration in the Cu matrix by electric resistivity measurements. Adding Sb decreases the coarsening rate of the Fe particles, primarily via a reduction in the volume diffusivity of Fe in Cu. The pre-exponential factor and activation energy for volume diffusion are increased by the addition of Sb atoms in the matrix. The Sb addition changes the incoherent α-Fe?Cu interface energy by segregation of Sb at the incoherent interfaces but not the coherent γ-Fe?Cu interface energy.     

Energetics and kinetics of surfaces and interfaces in the Fe-Pb system

The energy and the diffusivity of interfaces in the solid Fe-liquid Pb system have been investigated in the temperature range 650-900°C. Grain-boundary grooves are formed at the solid Fe-liquid Pb interface and these have been studied by atomic force microscopy. From the topography of the grooves the relative interfacial energies and interfacial diffusivities are obtained. It is found that liquid Pb does not wet the grain boundaries in Fe. Possible mechanisms for the growth of the grain-boundary grooves are discussed.     

Tablets,touchscreens, and touchpads: How varying touch interfaces trigger psychological ownership and endowment

As mouse-driven desktop computers give way to touchpad laptops and touchscreen tablets, the role of touch in online consumer behavior has become increasingly important. This work presents initial explorations into the effects of varying touch-based interfaces on consumers, and argues that research into the interfaces used to access content can be as important as research into the content itself. Two laboratory studies using a variety of touch technologies explore how touchscreen interfaces can increase perceived psychological ownership, and this in turn magnifies the endowment effect. Touch interfaces also interact with importance of product haptics and actual interface ownership in their effects on perceived product ownership, with stronger effects for products high in haptic importance and interfaces that are owned. Results highlight that perceptions of online products and marketing activities are filtered through the lens of the interfaces used to explore them, and touch-based devices like tablets can lead to higher product valuations when compared to traditional computers.     

Perceptions of coordinated movement

BackgroundHumans are highly social creatures who use others' movements to evaluate their social competencies. Smooth movement specifically signals an attractive, trustworthy or competent person. Those with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), have peer relationship difficulties and lower sociometric preference scores. However, the relationship of perception of poor movement coordination to stereotyping has not been directly demonstrated.AimWe aimed to describe typically developing individuals' social stereotyping of individuals with and without DCD from minimal visual cues.Method3D motion capture tracked the movement of four ‘targets’ (two adult males with DCD and two male controls) in a variety of everyday scenarios. Kinematic footage of the target's movements was presented as a point-light-display to 319 typically developing adults who used The Rating Scale of Social Competence to report perceptions of the target's social competencies.ResultsTargets with DCD were rated as having significantly lower social competence (M = 3.37, SD = 0.93) than controls (M = 3.46, SD = 0.89) t(269) = −5.656; p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.34.DiscussionHumans incorporate minimal information on movement fluency to evaluate others' social competencies, including individuals with DCD. Such stereotyping may be automatic and may be an ill-understood mechanism sustaining persistent rejection by peers for individuals with DCD and higher rates of loneliness, isolation and mental disorders. In addition, our study expands research on competence-based stereotyping to a new applied domain, confirming the minimal cues needed to initiate stereotyping of the competencies of others.     

Variability in trunk and pelvic movement of transfemoral amputees using a C-leg system compared to healthy controls

ObjectiveGait variability is a measure of gait disturbance, and therefore constitutes a useful parameter for gait assessment as well as planning of therapeutic and medical interventions. To date, variability during walking has not been adequately analyzed in amputees. The aim of this examination was to evaluate trunk and pelvic movement variability in transfemoral amputees. The effect of different types of walking surfaces on variability in trunk and pelvic movement was also studied.MethodThis prospective clinical examination compares 20 transfemoral amputees (17 ♂, 42 ± 16 years; 3 ♀, 48 ± 3 years) with a group of 20 age and mass matched healthy controls regarding the extent of variability in trunk and pelvic movement. Kinematic data of trunk and pelvic movement during walking on level, uneven ground and slope was captured by eight infrared cameras (Vicon Nexus ™, Oxford, UK). Variability in trunk and pelvic movement was analyzed. Univariate ANCOVA and ANOVA with repeated measures and post hoc tests were used for statistical comparison. Fall history was retrospectively collected from medical history to assess the association between falls and variability in trunk and pelvic movement.ResultsTrunk and pelvic movement variability in amputees was significantly higher during walking on uneven ground and slope compared to healthy controls (p ≤ 0.05). Variability in trunk and pelvic movement was increased during walking on uneven ground and slope compared to even ground for both groups (p ≤ 0.05).ConclusionAmputees showed increased trunk and pelvic movement variability during walking on uneven ground and slope, indicating an affected gait pattern in comparison to healthy controls. Therefore, trunk and pelvic movement variability could be a potential marker for gait quality with diagnostic implications.     

An internal focus of attention is optimal when congruent with afferent proprioceptive task information

Whilst benefits of an external focus are shown to govern several characteristics of skill execution, specificity theory indicates that sources of afferent information most useful to performance execution are typically prioritised during processing.ObjectivesWe investigated whether an internal focus facilitates performance when pertinent afferent information is proprioceptive in nature and congruent with attentional focus. We also considered whether the mechanisms behind attentional focus differences are attributable to planning processes or online motor control.DesignExperiments 1 and 2 adopted a randomised design, whilst experiment 3 used a repeated measures approach.MethodIn Experiment 1 we investigated movement variability as a measure of planning and error correction under external and internal focus conditions in an aiming task. Experiment 2 removed visual information to increase pertinence of proprioceptive feedback for movement execution and Experiment 3 adopted a leg-extension task, where proprioceptive salience was enhanced using an ankle weight. We hypothesised that this would increase congruency between internal focus instructions and movement production.ResultsExperiments 1 and 2 revealed reduced amplitude errors under an internal focus whilst Experiment 3 showed similar findings with the addition of lower EMG activity when adopting an internal focus. Movement variability findings were indicative of enhanced planning.ConclusionsWhen pertinence of proprioceptive information was amplified, benefits of an internal focus were more pronounced and performance was higher. Participants were better able to focus on movement characteristics to process proprioceptive feedback: something not afforded under an external focus. This raises doubts regarding the rigidity of the constrained action hypothesis.     

Movement competence: Association with physical self-efficacy and physical activity

BackgroundThe purpose of this paper was to investigate whether physical self-efficacy mediates the relationship between movement competence (fundamental movement skills and perceived movement skill competence) and physical activity in children.MethodsA purposive sample of 860 children (47.7% female, 10.9 ± 1.16 years) were recruited and completed assessments for physical self-efficacy (Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale), fundamental movement skills (Test of Gross Motor Development-3), perceived movement skill competence (Pictorial Scale of Perceived Movement Skill Competence), and physical activity (PACE+). A bootstrap mediation analysis was employed using movement competence as the predictor variable and physical activity as the outcome variable, and physical self-efficacy as the potential mediator of the relationship.ResultsThe results from a bootstrap mediation analysis yielded a statistically significant mediation effect for physical self-efficacy, with the entire model explaining approximately 10.3% of the variance of physical activity. The indirect effect of perceived movement skill competence through physical self-efficacy was significantly larger than the indirect effect of fundamental movement skills through physical self-efficacy. Neither sex nor age acted as a covariate.ConclusionMovement competence (fundamental movement skills and perceived movement skill competence) acts as a source of information for children's physical self-efficacy, moreover physical self-efficacy mediates the movement competence – PA relationship. Findings highlight the need for interventions to target and improve movement competence as a whole for children.     

Older adults’ experiences of internet-based vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness: A longitudinal study

Objective: Factors influencing engagement with self-managed rehabilitation are not well understood, but evidence suggests they may change over time. Despite increasing digitalisation of self-managed interventions, little is known about the role of internet-based interventions in patients’ experiences of self-directed rehabilitation. This longitudinal qualitative study investigated individuals’ ongoing experiences of internet-guided, self-managed rehabilitation within the context of rehabilitation for dizziness.

Methods: Eighteen adults aged fifty and over who experienced dizziness used the ‘Balance Retraining’ internet intervention for six weeks. Participants took part in semi-structured telephone interviews at two-week intervals to explore their experiences. Data were inductively thematically analysed.

Results: The internet intervention was reported to facilitate engagement with rehabilitation exercises, providing motivation to continue through symptom reduction and simple but helpful strategies. It was perceived as informative, reassuring, visually pleasing and easy to use. Barriers to engagement included practicalities, symptoms and doubts about exercise efficacy. Participants’ perceptions did not always remain consistent over time.

Conclusion: The internet intervention may be a feasible method of supporting self-managed vestibular rehabilitation. More generally, longitudinal findings suggest that appearance-related perceptions of online interventions may be especially important for initial engagement. Furthermore, intervention features targeting self-efficacy seem important in overcoming barriers to engagement.     

Choice of practice-task order enhances golf skill learning

ObjectiveThe purpose of the present study was to examine whether supporting learners’ autonomy, by giving them a small choice (i.e., order of practice devices) while practicing a golf putting task, would enhance learning, confidence, and positive affect.DesignExperimental, between-participants, and yoked design.MethodsTwo groups of participants practiced a golf-putting task under choice or control conditions. Choice group participants selected the order of three practice devices (visual cues, auditory cues, chest bar), while control group participants had to use those devices in the same order as their yoked choice-group counterpart. Learning was assessed by a delayed retention test. In addition to putting accuracy, we measured learners’ perceived choice, confidence, and positive affect.ResultsPractice and retention performance were enhanced in the choice relative to the control group. Perceived choice, confidence, and positive affect were rated higher by choice group participants as well.ConclusionsProviding performers with a small choice during task practice had motivational benefits that resulted in enhanced learning, increased confidence, and more positive emotional responses.     

The cognitive structure of movements in classical dance

AimsThis study was designed to elicit differences in the mental representations of two basic movements from classical ballet, the Pirouette en dehors and the Pas assemblé, stored in long-term memory of dancers of different skill-levels.MethodThe movements were demonstrated and explained verbally to professional ballet dancers, amateur dancers, and non-dancers. Subsequently, participants were assigned to a hierarchical sorting (splitting) task in which Basic Action Concepts (BACs) of the movements had to be sorted according to their functional relevance in movement execution. The task was presented as verbal labels on a computer screen. The responses were subjected to the application of a new analytical method, called SDA-M, which includes a hierarchical cluster analysis. The method enabled eliciting cognitive structures of the movements in the participants' long-term memory, and thus enabled comparing these cognitive structures in subjects of different skill-level.ResultsParticipants of different skill-level showed movement-specific differences in their mental representation structures in long-term memory. A similar structure was noted in advanced amateurs and professionals for the Pirouette en dehors, which referred to the functional phases of the movement, and less functional representations were noted in beginners and novices. For the Pas assemblé, the experts' representation structure was different from that of amateurs and novices, pointing toward differences in movement execution. It is concluded that movement representations of this kind in long-term memory might provide the basis for motor control in skilled ballet movements in the form of suitably organized perceptual-cognitive reference structures.ImplicationsThe results point toward a unique mental representation as a function of skill-level and movement nature. Individual and group results obtained with the applied method can be implemented to support (mental) training methods in classical dance practice.