Sonification as Concurrent Augmented Feedback for Motor Skill Learning and the Importance of Mapping Design

In recent years, sonification of movement has emerged as a viable method for the provision of feedback in motor learning. Despite some experimental validation of its utility, controlled trials to test the usefulness of sonification in a motor learning context are still rare. As such, there are no accepted conventions for dealing with its implementation. This article addresses the question of how continuous movement information should be best presented as sound to be fed back to the learner. It is proposed that to establish effective approaches to using sonification in this context, consideration must be given to the processes that underlie motor learning, in particular the nature of the perceptual information available to the learner for performing the task at hand. Although sonification has much potential in movement performance enhancement, this potential is largely unrealised as of yet, in part due to the lack of a clear framework for sonification mapping: the relationship between movement and sound. By grounding mapping decisions in a firmer understanding of how perceptual information guides learning, and an embodied cognition stance in general, it is hoped that greater advances in use of sonification to enhance motor learning can be achieved.

Duration-dependent effects of the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism on anodal tDCS induced motor cortex plasticity in older adults: a group and individual perspective

The brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism and stimulation duration are thought to play an important role in modulating motor cortex plasticity induced by non-invasive brain stimulation (NBS). In the present study we sought to determine whether these factors interact or exert independent effects in older adults. Fifty-four healthy older adults (mean age = 66.85 years) underwent two counterbalanced sessions of 1.5 mA anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS), applied over left M1 for either 10 or 20 min. Single pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to assess corticospinal excitability (CSE) before and every 5 min for 30 min following atDCS. On a group level, there was an interaction between stimulation duration and BDNF genotype, with Met carriers (n = 13) showing greater post-intervention potentiation of CSE compared to Val66Val homozygotes homozygotes (n = 37) following 20 min (p = 0.002) but not 10 min (p = 0.219) of stimulation. Moreover, Met carriers, but not Val/Val homozygotes, exhibited larger responses to TMS (p = 0.046) after 20 min atDCS, than following 10 min atDCS. On an individual level, two-step cluster analysis revealed a considerable degree of inter-individual variability, with under half of the total sample (42%) showing the expected potentiation of CSE in response to atDCS across both sessions. Intra-individual variability in response to different durations of atDCS was also apparent, with one-third of the total sample (34%) exhibiting LTP-like effects in one session but LTD-like effects in the other session. Both the inter-individual (p = 0.027) and intra-individual (p = 0.04) variability was associated with BDNF genotype. In older adults, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism along with stimulation duration appears to play a role in modulating tDCS-induced motor cortex plasticity. The results may have implications for the design of NBS protocols for healthy and diseased aged populations.

Determining the optimal current direction of transcranial magnetic stimulation to induce motor responses in the tongue: A preliminary study of neurologically healthy individuals

Objective
To determine the optimal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coil direction for inducing motor responses in the tongue in a group of non-neurologically impaired participants.
Methods
Single-pulse TMS was delivered using a figure-of-eight Magstim 2002 TMS coil. Study 1 investigated the effect of eight different TMS coil directions on the motor-evoked potentials elicited in the tongue in eight adults. Study 2 examined active motor threshold levels at optimal TMS coil direction compared to a customarily-used ventral-caudal direction. Study 3 repeated the procedure of Study 1 at five different sites across the tongue motor cortex in one adult.
Results
Inter-individual variability in optimal direction was observed, with an optimal range of directions determined for the group. Active motor threshold was reduced when a participant's own optimal TMS coil direction was used compared to the ventral-caudal direction. A restricted range of optimal directions was identified across the five cortical positions tested.
Conclusions
There is a need to identify each individual's own optimal TMS coil direction in investigating tongue motor cortex function. A recommended procedure for determining optimal coil direction is described.
Significance
Optimized TMS procedures are needed so that TMS can be utilized in determining the underlying neurophysiological basis of various motor speech disorders.

Going above and beyond: how sustainability culture and entrepreneurial orientation drive social sustainability supply chain practice adoption

Purpose
– This paper aims to examine what drives the adoption of different social sustainability supply chain practices. Research has shown that certain factors drive the adoption of environmental sustainability practices but few focus on social supply chain practices, delineate which practices are adopted or what drives their adoption.

Design/methodology/approach
– The authors examine the facilitative role of sustainability culture to explain the adoption of social sustainability supply chain practices: basic practices, consisting of monitoring and management systems and advanced practices, which are new product and process development and strategic redefinition. The authors then explore the role played by a firm’s entrepreneurial orientation in shaping and reinforcing the adoption of social sustainability supply chain practices. A survey of 156 supply chain managers in multiple industries in Ireland was conducted to test the relationship between the variables.

Findings
– The findings show that sustainability culture is positively related to all the practices, and entrepreneurial orientation impacts and moderates social sustainability culture in advanced social sustainability supply chain adoption.

Research limitations/implications
– As with any survey, this is a single point in time with a single respondent. Implications for managers include finding the right culture in the organisation to implement social sustainability supply chain management practices that go beyond monitoring to behavioural changes in the supply chain with implications beyond the dyad of buyer and supplier to lower tier suppliers and the community surrounding the supply chain.

Practical implications
– The implications for managers include developing and fostering cultural attributes in the organisation to implement social sustainability supply chain management practices that go beyond monitoring suppliers to behavioural changes in the supply chain with implications beyond the dyad of buyer and supplier to lower tier suppliers and the community surrounding the supply chain.

Originality/value
– This is the first time, to the authors’ knowledge, that cultural and entrepreneurial variables have been tested for social sustainability supply chain practices, giving them new insights into how and why social sustainability supply chain practices are adopted.

Motor deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder: A cross-syndrome study

Recent research suggests that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience some level of motor difficulty, and that this may be associated with social communication skills. However, other studies show that children with language impairments, but without the social communication problems, are at risk of motor difficulties as well. The aim of the present study was to determine if children with ASD have syndrome specific motor deficits in comparison to children with specific language impairment (SLI). We used an independent groups design with three groups of children (8-10 years old) matched on age and nonverbal IQ; an ASD group, an SLI group, and a typically developing (TD) group. All of the children completed an individually administered, standardized motor assessment battery. We found that the TD group demonstrated significantly better motor skills than either the ASD or SLI groups. Detailed analyses of the motor subtests revealed that the ASD and SLI groups had very similar motor profiles across a range of fine and gross motor skills, with one exception. We conclude that children with ASD, and SLI, are at risk of clinically significant motor deficits. However, future behavioural and neurological studies of motor skills in children with ASD should include an SLI comparison group in order to identify possible autism specific deficits.

Experimental validation of a drive-by stiffness identification method for bridge monitoring

An experimental investigation is carried out to verify the feasibility of using an instrumented vehicle to detect and monitor bridge dynamic parameters. The low-cost method consists of the use of a moving vehicle fitted with accelerometers on its axles. In the laboratory experiment, the vehicle–bridge interaction model consists of a scaled two-axle vehicle model crossing a simply supported steel beam. The bridge model also includes a scaled road surface profile. The effects of varying the vehicle model configuration and speed are investigated. A finite element beam model is calibrated using the experimental results, and a novel algorithm for the identification of global bridge stiffness is validated. Using measured vehicle accelerations as input to the algorithm, the beam stiffness is identified with a reasonable degree of accuracy.

Experimental investigation of drive-by bridge inspection

This study presents a vibration-based health monitoring of short span bridges by
an inspection vehicle. How to screen health condition of short span bridges in terms of the
drive-by bridge inspection is described. Feasibility of the drive-by bridge inspection is
investigated through a scaled laboratory moving vehicle experiment. The feasibility of using an
instrumented vehicle to detect the natural frequency and changes in structural damping of a
model bridge is observed. Observations also demonstrate possibility of diagnosis of bridges by
comparing patterns of identified dynamic parameters of bridges through a periodical
monitoring. It is confirmed that the method for damage identification under a moving vehicle
identifies the damage location and severity well.

A Parametric Study of a Drive by Bridge Inspection System Based on the Morlet Wavelet

Many of the bridges currently in use worldwide are approaching the end of their design lives. However, rehabilitating and extending the lives of these structures raises important safety issues. There is also a need for increased monitoring which has considerable cost implications for bridge management systems. Existing structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques include vibration-based approaches which typically involve direct instrumentation of the bridge and are important as they can indicate the deterioration of the bridge condition. However, they can be labour intensive and expensive. In the past decade, alternative indirect vibration-based approaches which utilise the response of a vehicle passing over a bridge have been developed. This paper investigates such an approach; a low-cost approach for the monitoring of bridge structures which consists of the use of a vehicle fitted with accelerometers on its axles. The approach aims to detect damage in the bridge while obviating the need for direct instrumentation of the bridge. Here, the effectiveness of the approach in detecting damage in a bridge is investigated using a simplified vehicle-bridge interaction (VBI) model in theoretical simulations and a scaled VBI model in a laboratory experiment. In order to identify the existence and location of damage, the vehicle accelerations are recorded and processed using a continuous Morlet wavelet transform and a damage index is established. A parametric study is carried out to investigate the effect of parameters such as the bridge span length, vehicle speed, vehicle mass, damage level and road surface roughness on the accuracy of results.

Timing of response differentiation in human motor cortex during a speeded Go/No-go task

We explored the brain's ability to quickly prevent a pre-potent but unwanted motor response. To address this, transcranial magnetic stimulation was delivered over the motor cortex (hand representation) to probe excitability changes immediately after somatosensory cues prompted subjects to either move as fast as possible or withhold movement. Our results showed a difference in motor cortical excitability 90 ms post-stimulus contingent on cues to either promote or prevent movement. We suggest that our study design emphasizing response speed coupled with well-defined early probes allowed us to extend upon similar past investigations into the timing of response inhibition.

A wavelet based drive-by bridge inspection system

This paper investigates a low-cost wavelet-based approach for the preliminary monitoring of bridge structures, consisting of the use of a vehicle fitted with accelerometers on its axles. The approach aims to reduce the need for direct instrumentation of the bridge. A time-frequency analysis is carried out in order to identify the existence and location of damage from vehicle accelerations. Firstly, in theoretical simulations, a simplified vehicle-bridge interaction model is used to investigate the effectiveness of the approach. A number of damage indicators are evaluated and compared. A range of parameters such as the bridge span, vehicle speed, damage level and location, signal noise and road roughness are varied in simulations. Secondly, a scaled laboratory experiment is carried out to validate the results of the theoretical analysis and assess the ability of the selected damage indicators to detect changes in the bridge response from vehicle accelerations.