Towards a more balanced understanding of motor control systems

Roberts's book provides a reasonably thorough guide to the physiology and biomechanics of balance, unfortunately the discussion of the neural and cognitive aspects of motor control is less satisfactory. We propose that Roberts's statement of the problem of balance control should be extended to include control of non-equilibrium states, and we discuss sensorimotor calibration and integration in the context of maturation of the organism.Peer reviewe

The Integrated Sachs-Wolfe Signal from BOSS Super-Structures

Cosmic structures leave an imprint on the microwave background radiation through the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. We construct a template map of the linear signal using the SDSS-III Baryon Acoustic Oscillation Survey at redshift 0.43 < z < 0.65. We verify the imprint of this map on the Planck CMB temperature map at the 97% confidence level and show consistency with the density-temperature cross-correlation measurement. Using this ISW reconstruction as a template we investigate the presence of ISW sources and further examine the properties of the Granett-Neyrinck-Szapudi supervoid and supercluster catalogue. We characterise the three-dimensional density profiles of these structures for the first time and demonstrate that they are significant structures. Model fits demonstrate that the supervoids are elongated along the line-of-sight and we suggest that this special orientation may be picked out by the void-finding algorithm in photometric redshift space. We measure the mean temperature profiles in Planck maps from public void and cluster catalogues. In an attempt to maximise the stacked ISW signal we construct a new catalogue of super-structures based upon local peaks and troughs of the gravitational potential. However, we do not find a significant correlation between these structures and the CMB temperature.Comment: Updated to match journal articl

Jevne v. Superior Court

Published in cooperation with the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolutio

Designs of Kings and Farmers: Landscape Systems of the Greater Angkor Urban Complex

Greater Angkor was the capital of the Khmer Empire from the ninth to the fourteenth centuries a.d. The rulers of Angkor left behind magnificent temples, along with extensive, centrally planned landscapes and massive urban complexes. However, the landscape of Greater Angkor also represents a decentralized planning tradition. This article addresses the different scales of economic landscapes at Greater Angkor: from massive rice-field superstructures watered by artificial irrigation, to smaller patches of fields organized around local temples and ponds. Contrary to widely accepted views, the design of extensive cultural landscapes does not require the presence of an elite controlling authority, or the guidance of a commonly conceived plan. Within Greater Angkor, the design of extensive landscapes often occurred at the local level, most likely involving local traditions rather than abstract, centrally approved plans. The relationship between centralized and decentralized planning traditions is investigated using a topographic classification of the landscape based on extensive mapping from remote sensed imagery from 2007–2010. Covering 1000 km2 of rice fields, and including 22,000 km of rice-field bunds, the topographic classification of the rice-field systems reveals two very different ways of building. These two systems are best described as coaxial systems and cardinal systems: both suggest dramatically different development models and socioeconomic frameworks. The two different, and extensive, development processes had a lasting physical impact on the resulting landscapes, and are still actively used today. This article discusses the evidence for both central and local plans as well as more complicated examples, where both central and local plans seem to have influenced the design of landscapes. Illustrated examples of centrally planned landscapes and local approaches to planning landscapes demonstrate this premise

Thermal Effects During Incubation on Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) Pigment and Pattern Formation

Coloration and patterning can be as critical to an animal’s survival and fitness as its physiology and behavior, and how appearance develops is key in determining likelihood of survival. In reptiles, the environmental factor of higher vs. lower mean temperatures during egg incubation can influence physical and physiological traits and incubation length to hatching, important in temperate regions or habitats with seasonal food supplies; fluctuating temperatures may have additive effects. Pattern or color may also influence fitness via aposematism, crypsis, and other survival strategies; however, thermal effects on pattern development have not been fully studied. This experimental study used the Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus) as a model species, with parents (one male, two females) showing genetically-determined polymorphic traits. Egg clutches were incubated under three temperature regimes (control and two lower temperatures) to evaluate effects on the level of pigment deposition/development and whether pattern phenotype is altered by exposure to temperatures below a standard average. Image analysis was used to quantify differences between treatment groups; significant impact on both color intensity and pattern structure, as well as other observable irregularities, was observed. Additional data on specific effects of temperature on both erythrin pigment and iridophore cell layers were also analyzed and decreased deposition of both were observed as incubation temperature decreased; anecdotal evidence of increased melanin production was also noted. This study provides evidence that temperature has a significant impact on the development of corn snake pattern, effects that can strongly influence survival of this wide-ranging species at differing latitudes

Playing the Goblin Post Office game improves movement control of the core: a case study

Movement function of the core (trunk and pelvis) can be improved in cerebral palsy, potentially leading to benefits which transfer to activities of daily living. A single child with CP diplegia played our custom made game which runs on the CAREN system. Three playing postures gradually introduced more and more joints in the legs to be controlled. Vicon cameras tracked trunk and pelvic rotations which drove a dragon towards envelope targets. Forward speed of the game was adjusted by an adaptive algorithm leading to a maximum settled speed for the various conditions. Results showed that core control improved after the six week training period. The trunk was better controlled than the pelvis, sideways rotations were better controlled than fore-aft rotations of body segments, and single plane rotations were more efficient than cross-plane rotations of the core. The quantifiable improvements suggest a good potential for our technique to improve core control which is a prerequisite for good movement control of the legs and arms

Paul Hawken discusses Blessed Unrest: How the Largest Movement in the World Came into Being, and Why No One Saw it Coming at the Ford Hall Forum, audio recording and transcript

From billion-dollar nonprofits to single person causes, there is a growing worldwide movement of organizations dedicated to restoring the environment and fostering social justice. This is a movement with no name, leader, or headquarters, but it can be seen in every city, town, and culture. It is organizing from the bottom up and is emerging as an extraordinary and creative expression of shared values worldwide. What are the driving forces behind these developments? Can the interests of these organizations translate into effective government policies and profitable businesses? Paul Hawken, environmentalist, businessman, and founder of the first natural foods company, addresses the creation of a worldwide grassroots movement based on hope and humanity.https://dc.suffolk.edu/fhf-av/1069/thumbnail.jp

The effects of virtual reality game training on trunk to pelvis coupling in a child with cerebral palsy

Background: Good control of trunk and pelvic movements is necessary for well controlled leg movements required to perform activities of daily living. The nature of movement coupling between the trunk and pelvis varies and depends on the type of activity. Children with cerebral palsy often have reduced ability to modulate coupling between the trunk and pelvis but movement patterns of the pelvis can be improved by training. The aim of this study was to examine how pelvis to trunk coupling changed while playing a computer game driven by pelvic rotations