Hand to mouth: automatic imitation across effector systems

The effector-specificity of automatic imitation was investigated using a stimulus-response compatibility (SRC) procedure in which participants were required to make an open or a close response with either their hand or their mouth. The correct response for each trial was indicated by a pair of letters, and each of these imperative stimuli was accompanied by task-irrelevant action images depicting a hand or mouth opening or closing. Relative to the response, the irrelevant stimulus was either movement compatible or movement incompatible, and either effector compatible or effector incompatible. A movement compatibility effect was observed for both hand and mouth responses. These movement compatibility effects were present when the irrelevant stimulus was effector compatible and when it was effector incompatible, but they were smaller when the irrelevant stimulus and response effectors were incompatible. These findings, which are consistent with the associative sequence learning model of imitation, indicate that automatic imitation is partially effector-specific, and therefore that the effector specificity of intentional and instructed imitation reflects, at least in part, the nature of the mechanisms that mediate visuomotor translation for imitation

Social attitudes modulate automatic imitation

In naturalistic interpersonal settings, mimicry or ‘automatic imitation’ generates liking, affiliation, cooperation and other positive social attitudes. The purpose of this study was to find out whether the relationship between social attitudes and mimicry is bidirectional: Do social attitudes have a direct and specific effect on mimicry? Participants were primed with pro-social, neutral or anti-social words in a scrambled sentence task. They were then tested for mimicry using a stimulus-response compatibility procedure. In this procedure, participants were required to perform a pre-specified movement (e.g. opening their hand) on presentation of a compatible (open) or incompatible (close) hand movement. Reaction time data were collected using electromyography (EMG) and the magnitude of the mimicry / automatic imitation effect was calculated by subtracting reaction times on compatible trials from those on incompatible trials. Pro-social priming produced a larger automatic imitation effect than anti-social priming, indicating that the relationship between mimicry and social attitudes is bidirectional, and that social attitudes have a direct and specific effect on the tendency to imitate behavior without intention or conscious awareness

The Rights of Man in the World Community: Constitutional Illusions Versus Rational Action

It is only from a perspective of centuries that the United Nations program for human rights can be accurately observed or rationally appraised. This program, too often thought to be at the periphery of the purposes of the United Nations, represents in fact the main core of rational objectives not only of the United Nations but of all democratic government. It represents the converging and integration on a global scale of many movements, movements hitherto restricted in areal diffusion but centuries-old and rooted deep in universal human nature and civilized culture. It is heir to all the great historic democratic movements—for constitutionalism, freedom, equality, fraternity, humanitarianism, liberalism, enlightenment, peace, opportunity, and so on It is the contemporary culmination of man\u27s long struggle for all his basic human values: for participation in the processes by which he is governed, equality before the law, and that wide sharing of power, both formal and real, which we call democracy; for sanctity of person, for freedom from arbitrary restraints and cruel and inhuman punishments, and for positive opportunity to develop latent talents for the enrichment and well-being of personality; for the enlightenment by which rational decisions can be made and for freedom of inquiry and opinion; for that fundamental respect for human dignity which both precludes discrimination based on race, sex, color, religion, political opinion, or other ground irrelevant to capacity and provides positive recognition of common merit as a human being and special merit as an individual; for access to resources to produce the goods and services necessary to maintain rising standards of living and comfort; for acquisition of the skills necessary to express talent and to achieve individual and community values to the fullest; for freedom to explain life, the universe, and values, to fix standards of rectitude, and to worship God or gods as may seem best; for affection, fraternity, and congenial personal relationships in groups freely chosen; for, in sum, a security which includes not only freedom from violence and threats of violence but also full opportunity to preserve and increase all values by peaceful, noncoercive procedures

Solar array flight experiment/dynamic augmentation experiment

This report presents the objectives, design, testing, and data analyses of the Solar Array Flight Experiment/Dynamic Augmentation Experiment (SAFE/DAE) that was tested aboard Shuttle in September 1984. The SAFE was a lightweight, flat-fold array that employed a thin polyimide film (Kapton) as a substrate for the solar cells. Extension/retraction, dynamics, electrical and thermal tests, were performed. Of particular interest is the dynamic behavior of such a large lightweight structure in space. Three techniques for measuring and analyzing this behavior were employed. The methodology for performing these tests, gathering data, and data analyses are presented. The report shows that the SAFE solar array technology is ready for application and that new methods are available to assess the dynamics of large structures in space

Restoring Medicaid and SCHIP Coverage to Legal Immigrant Children and Pregnant Women: Implications for Community Health and Health Care for Tomorrow\u27s Citizens

In the coming weeks, Congress will consider the reauthorization of the State Children\u27s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), whose legislative authorization will expire on March 31, 2009. SCHIP\u27s overarching goal, in tandem with Medicaid, is to assure coverage of low-income children, regardless of race or national origin. As the proportion of uninsured immigrant children grows, a crucial question is whether the SCHIP reauthorization will address the need to restore eligibility for legal immigrant children and pregnant women. Although SCHIP and Medicaid have been successful in improving health insurance coverage for most low-income American children since the mid-1990s, the health coverage gaps for immigrant children have deepened and about half of all low-income immigrant children are now uninsured. SCHIP reauthorization represents a critical opportunity to restore access to Medicaid and SCHIP coverage for some of the most vulnerable children and pregnant women, those who are legally-admitted immigrants. (Undocumented immigrants would remain ineligible for Medicaid and SCHIP, as they always have been, except for coverage of emergency care under Medicaid.) Welfare reform legislation passed in 1996 requires that most legal immigrants wait for five years before qualifying for coverage under Medicaid, regardless of how poor or sick they are. While numerous Senators and Congressmen from both sides of the aisle have supported proposals to allow states to restore coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women, they have yet to come to a full vote before both chambers of Congress. The lack of coverage makes it harder for these children and pregnant women to get necessary health care, especially if they lack access to a health center or other safety net provider. Thus, they may fail to receive immunizations or prenatal care, which are needed to grow up healthy. The restoration of Medicaid and SCHIP would enhance health centers\u27 ability to furnish care for more needy patients in the community, by freeing up funds now used for uncompensated care. Barring coverage for legal immigrant children and pregnant women jeopardizes community health while discriminating against future citizens, workers and family members. Restoring Medicaid and SCHIP coverage to these vulnerable populations will improve their health and strengthen their ability to contribute to the nation and economy

Do Medicaid and CHIP Measure Errors Correctly?

Measuring and reducing errors in Medicaid and CHIP is important, but the current program and the proposed regulatory provisions are flawed and misleading. Reducing errors should involve not only reducing payments that are issued in error, but reducing the rate at which eligible applicants are erroneously denied Medicaid coverage. CMS should give develop a better, more valid approach to error determination when there are cases of missing or insufficient provider or eligibility data and issue a new proposed rule that offers a new approach or approaches