Human Movement Studies Research Articles

Ethnochoreology as a Mediating Perspective in Irish Dance Studies

Up until the 1980s, dance in Ireland existed as an important human activity, engaged in for various reasons: socialization, entertainment, competition, performance, tourism, ceremonial occasions, and so on. It was not, however, researched and examined on a par with other fields of study within the social sciences. From the 1980s on, however, the academic study of dance within the context of culture increasingly gained ground in the West, due to the influence of a number of anthropologists in the United States interested in human movement studies. 1 Academicians also began to note the work of ethnochoreologists in Europe who, since the 1960s, had been involved in field research and studies of dance in their respective cultures. 2 Dance and the role that it played—together with the meaning that it embodied within diverse societies around the world— gradually became a significant field of research and study. Scholars within mul tidisciplinary fields of study—including anthropology, ethnochoreology, eth nomusicology, dance ethnology, sociology, philosophy, cultural studies, cultural geography and feminist scholarship—argued for the significance of dance and the body as a way of illuminating and understanding issues relating to human

Visual spatial attention influences plasticity in the human motor cortex

Event Abstract Back to Event Visual spatial attention influences plasticity in the human motor cortex Marc R. Kamke1*, Alexander Ryan2, Martin V. Sale1, Stephan Riek3, Timothy J. Carroll3 and Jason B. Mattingley1, 2 1 The University of Queensland, The Queensland Brain Institute, Australia 2 The University of Queensland, School of Psychology, Australia 3 The University of Queensland, School of Human Movement Studies, Australia It is well established that changes in the structural and functional organisation of the brain, or plasticity, play a fundamental role in adaptation, learning and memory. It is also well known that mechanisms of spatial attention can dramatically alter ongoing brain activity, but the influence of attention on plasticity is poorly understood. In this study we investigated the capacity for visual spatial attention to modify plasticity induced by external stimulation of the human motor cortex. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and a paired associative stimulation procedure, which induces long-term potentiation-like plasticity, were used to alter functional responses in the thumb area of the primary motor cortex. During the induction of plasticity, participants focused their attention on one of two visual stimulus streams located adjacent to each hand. Single-pulse TMS and motor evoked potentials were used to assess changes in neural excitability induced by the plasticity procedure. When participants attended to visual stimuli located near the left thumb, which was targeted by the plasticity intervention, the amplitude of motor evoked potentials was significantly enhanced relative to when they attended instead to stimuli located near the right thumb. The findings suggest that voluntary attention can potentiate functional plasticity in the human cortex, and thus have important implications for neurorehabilitation. Acknowledgements This work was supported by a Project Grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (#APP1028210), and by a bequest made to the University of Queensland by The Estate of Dr Salvatore Vitale. Keywords: Paired associative stimulation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, plasticity, spatial attention, Motor Cortex Conference: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 29 Nov - 2 Dec, 2012. Presentation Type: Poster Presentation Topic: Attention Citation: Kamke MR, Ryan A, Sale MV, Riek S, Carroll TJ and Mattingley JB (2012). Visual spatial attention influences plasticity in the human motor cortex. Conference Abstract: ACNS-2012 Australasian Cognitive Neuroscience Conference. doi: 10.3389/conf.fnhum.2012.208.00153 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 10 Oct 2012; Published Online: 17 Nov 2012. * Correspondence: Dr. Marc R Kamke, The University of Queensland, The Queensland Brain Institute, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia, m.kamke@uq.edu.au Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Marc R Kamke Alexander Ryan Martin V Sale Stephan Riek Timothy J Carroll Jason B Mattingley Google Marc R Kamke Alexander Ryan Martin V Sale Stephan Riek Timothy J Carroll Jason B Mattingley Google Scholar Marc R Kamke Alexander Ryan Martin V Sale Stephan Riek Timothy J Carroll Jason B Mattingley PubMed Marc R Kamke Alexander Ryan Martin V Sale Stephan Riek Timothy J Carroll Jason B Mattingley Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Measurement of human energy expenditure, with particular reference to field studies: an historical perspective

Over the years, techniques for the study of human movement have ranged in complexity and precision from direct observation of the subject through activity diaries, questionnaires, and recordings of body movement, to the measurement of physiological responses, studies of metabolism and indirect and direct calorimetry. This article reviews developments in each of these domains. Particular reference is made to their impact upon the continuing search for valid field estimates of activity patterns and energy expenditures, as required by the applied physiologist, ergonomist, sports scientist, nutritionist and epidemiologist. Early observers sought to improve productivity in demanding employment. Direct observation and filming of workers were supplemented by monitoring of heart rates, ventilation and oxygen consumption. Such methods still find application in ergonomics and sport, but many investigators are now interested in relationships between habitual physical activity and chronic disease. Even sophisticated questionnaires still do not provide valid information on the absolute energy expenditures associated with good health. Emphasis has thus shifted to use of sophisticated pedometer/accelerometers, sometimes combining their output with GPS and other data. Some modern pedometer/accelerometers perform well in the laboratory, but show substantial systematic errors relative to laboratory reference criteria such as the metabolism of doubly labeled water when assessing the varied activities of daily life. The challenge remains to develop activity monitors that are sufficiently inexpensive for field use, yet meet required accuracy standards. Possibly, measurements of oxygen consumption by portable respirometers may soon satisfy part of this need, although a need for valid longer term monitoring will remain.

Common functional principal components analysis: A new approach to analyzing human movement data

In many human movement studies angle-time series data on several groups of individuals are measured. Current methods to compare groups include comparisons of the mean value in each group or use multivariate techniques such as principal components analysis and perform tests on the principal component scores. Such methods have been useful, though discard a large amount of information. Functional data analysis (FDA) is an emerging statistical analysis technique in human movement research which treats the angle-time series data as a function rather than a series of discrete measurements. This approach retains all of the information in the data. Functional principal components analysis (FPCA) is an extension of multivariate principal components analysis which examines the variability of a sample of curves and has been used to examine differences in movement patterns of several groups of individuals. Currently the functional principal components (FPCs) for each group are either determined separately (yielding components that are group-specific), or by combining the data for all groups and determining the FPCs of the combined data (yielding components that summarize the entire data set). The group-specific FPCs contain both within and between group variation and issues arise when comparing FPCs across groups when the order of the FPCs alter in each group. The FPCs of the combined data may not adequately describe all groups of individuals and comparisons between groups typically use t-tests of the mean FPC scores in each group. When these differences are statistically non-significant it can be difficult to determine how a particular intervention is affecting movement patterns or how injured subjects differ from controls. In this paper we aim to perform FPCA in a manner allowing sensible comparisons between groups of curves. A statistical technique called common functional principal components analysis (CFPCA) is implemented. CFPCA identifies the common sources of variation evident across groups but allows the order of each component to change for a particular group. This allows for the direct comparison of components across groups. We use our method to analyze a biomechanical data set examining the mechanisms of chronic Achilles tendon injury and the functional effects of orthoses.

Outdoor Webcams as Geospatial Sensor Networks: Challenges, Issues and Opportunities

Study of the proliferation of spatially referenced webcams and their attendant infrastructure, technology, and societal implications lies at the convergence of numerous geographical sub-disciplines. These now ubiquitous devices, accessible via the Internet, have new geographical and cartographic uses that are only now being discovered. In this paper, we discuss the issues, challenges, and opportunities surrounding monitoring with spatially referenced outdoor webcams, including digital repeat photography, lateral surveillance, webcam visualization, and analysis. A common theme throughout is spatial and temporal coverage and the power of imagery archives. Comprehensive image databases and flexible interfaces are highly desirable for environmental analysis, public safety, and study of human movement but become contentious when recast in the context of personal surveillance, with webcams viewable by anyone with an internet connection. While there are many opportunities for new scientific and practical uses of webcams as geospatial sensors, their widespread use will require a better understanding of geoprivacy and perhaps a new philosophy toward legal regulation.

Can computer mice be used as low-cost devices for the acquisition of planar human movement velocity signals?

The main goal of this work is to determine whether a computer mouse can be used as a low-cost device for the acquisition of two-dimensional human movement velocity signals in the context of psychophysical studies and biomedical applications. A comprehensive overview of the related literature is presented, and the problem of characterizing mouse movement acquisition is analyzed and discussed. Then, the quality of velocity signals acquired with this kind of device is measured on horizontal oscillatory movements by comparing the mouse data to the signals acquired simultaneously by a video motion tracking system and a digitizing tablet. A synthesis of the information gathered in this work indicates that the computer mouse can be used for the reliable acquisition of biosignals in the context of human movement studies, particularly for many applications dealing with the velocity of the end effector of the upper limb. This paper concludes by discussing the possibilities and limitations of such use.

Student attitudes towards doping in sport: Shifting from repression to tolerance?

In the debate on the use of illegal substances for performance enhancing aims, commonly referred to as doping, perceptions and interpretations of doping by significant outsiders has received little attention compared to media attention for doping in elite sports. Therefore, this study focuses on opinions on doping in elite sports by students in human movement studies covering a period from 1998–1999 to 2005–2006 ( N = 555). Three research questions were examined: 1) how much attention do students pay to the issue of doping in elite sports; 2) what are the students’ opinions; and 3) which arguments do students use to substantiate these opinions? A four-level model was developed to categorize the ethical arguments according to who or what is at stake: the individual athlete ( the self), the athlete’s opponents and social environment ( the other), the sport and its fair play essence ( the play) and the spectator sport and its social role ( the display). Over the years studied students seem to have developed a more diffuse ethical attitude on the doping issue. A shift from the zero tolerance principle towards a more lenient attitude towards doping in elite sports is observed and discussed.

Forensic Kinesiology

Kinesiology is the study of human movement, and comprises several disciplines, each devoted to a specific aspect of human activity, each with its own set of principles and methods to assess and analyze movement. Forensic kinesiology is the application of kinesiological techniques to accident/crime investigation; specialists in this field can use various tools and procedures to measure, analyze, model, and determine the movement sequences involved in events under investigation. This article will highlight major subdisciplines of kinesiology most relevant to forensics, present the key assessment and analytical tools used by kinesiologists, and demonstrate how both the principles and the practices of kinesiology can be applied to accident/crime investigation.

Evaluation of a modified Fitts law brain–computer interface target acquisition task in able and motor disabled individuals

A brain–computer interface (BCI) is a communication system that takes recorded brain signals and translates them into real-time actions, in this case movement of a cursor on a computer screen. This work applied Fitts' law to the evaluation of performance on a target acquisition task during sensorimotor rhythm-based BCI training. Fitts' law, which has been used as a predictor of movement time in studies of human movement, was used here to determine the information transfer rate, which was based on target acquisition time and target difficulty. The information transfer rate was used to make comparisons between control modalities and subject groups on the same task. Data were analyzed from eight able-bodied and five motor disabled participants who wore an electrode cap that recorded and translated their electroencephalogram (EEG) signals into computer cursor movements. Direct comparisons were made between able-bodied and disabled subjects, and between EEG and joystick cursor control in able-bodied subjects. Fitts' law aptly described the relationship between movement time and index of difficulty for each task movement direction when evaluated separately and averaged together. This study showed that Fitts' law can be successfully applied to computer cursor movement controlled by neural signals.

Clarifying the Concept of Communities of Practice in Sport: A Commentary

Steven B. RynneSchool of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland,Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia.Email: srynne@hms.uq.edu.auINTRODUCTIONSport is a unique social setting in which to examine the learning of various actors. Thediversity of sports, sporting levels, as well as the dominant sporting cultures and traditions,means that there is an undeniable need to explain and clarify the place and the potential ofany concept of learning. This is particularly so for a widely used (and often misused) conceptlike Communities of Practice (CoPs).The underlying reason that theories of situated learning have the potential to be so powerfulis because they foreground an aspect of learning the social - that had previously beenuncritically omitted in many discussions of learning. This is particularly relevant to coachdevelopment where learning from others, whether as athletes or developing coaches, has beenrepeatedly shown to be critical [1-5]. Indeed, as noted by Culver and Trudel, CoPs offer a wayin which we can describe and understand certain out-of-the-classroom learning opportunities.JOINT ENTERPRISE AND MUTUAL ENGAGEMENTCulver and Trudel remind us that CoPs are not simply groups of people who are gatheredwith the clear objective of learningŽ (p. 3). Other conditions must be satisfied for anycollectivity to be considered a CoP. In particular, the aspects of joint enterprise and mutualengagement are of great significance to the sporting domain. Indeed, previous research [6, 7]has been able to identify examples of joint enterprise. A major difficulty, however, isachieving a quorum of coaches over an extended period to negotiate a shared joint enterprise.W ithout a sufficiently captivating joint enterprise, the relations may more closely resemblean informal knowledge network [8].Regarding mutual engagement, it is the development of sufficiently engaging and bindingrelations that are difficult to achieve in coaching settings where the barriers to meaningfulinteractions are many and varied. This may be reduced in settings where competition isdecreased (e.g., coaches within the same club, coaches across leagues, coaches acrossdifferent sports), but these interactions are not without problems either [9]. Geographicalconsiderations are also of significance in Australia where the numbers of coaches availablefor involvement in particular communities (i.e., of similar standing who have a better chanceof establishing mutual engagement around a joint enterprise) are reduced. Perhaps a futureaspect that might be emphasised and investigated is the role of technology in formingdistributed CoPs. This may also aid interaction between coaches in different leagues,countries or even sports.

골프 드라이버스윙 시 지면반력 반복측정 횟수와 지면반력 특성

Grould Reaction force(GRF) is important in human movements and GRF measurements are one of the most frequently used tool in biomechanical studies. In the studies of the golf swing motion, people refer to GRF as weight transfer. A successful golf swing motion requires many segments activation sequences which are controled by the nerve system. Due to the inter- and intra-individual variability of the human movement and the movement strategies, reliability of the measurements are important in human movement studies. Previous golf researches were based on group studies and certain events' values were analyzed. The purposes of this study were to determine the number of trials for the reliable golf swing GRF data collection, to reveal the variability level of the meaningful components of the golf swing GRF, and to classify the types of the golf swing GRF patterns. Twenty three male professional golfers(<TEX>$26.4{\pm}6.6$</TEX> years, <TEX>$174.3{\pm}5.2\;cm$</TEX>, <TEX>$71.3{\pm}6.5\;kg$</TEX>) signed an informed consent form prior to participation in this study. GRFs of driver swings were collected with Kistler 9285 force platform and 9865A amplifier, and calculated by the KwonGRF program(Visol, Korea). Sampling frequency was 1080 Hz. GRF data were trimmed from 1.5 s prior to the impact to 0.5 s after the impact. The number of trials for the reliable GRF collection was determined when the change in floating mean overs the 25 % of the standard deviation of that variable. Variabilities of the variables were determined by the coefficient of variation(CV) of 10 %. The types of GRF patterns were determined by visual inspection of the peak GRF shapes. The minimum number of trials for the reliable golf swing GRF data collection was five. Ten-trial seems more conservative. The value of the peak GRF was more reliable than the value of the impact GRF. The CV of the peak GRF and impact GRF were 7.4 %, 15.2 %, respectively. Because of the +/- sigh of the peak GRF appearance time, it was impossible to calculate CV of the peak GRF appearance time. Golf swing GRF patterns were classified as sing peak type, double peak type, and plateau peak type. This classification suggests the presence of the different golf swing weight transfer strategies.

Philosophical aesthetics and the study of dance as an academic discipline

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes 1. For a thoughtful and thought‐provoking paper on the concept of a degree, what counts as academic study, etc,. see Best (1980 Best, D. 1980. A policy for the study of physical education and human movement. The Journal of Human Movement Studies, 6: 336–347. [Google Scholar]). 2. See, for example, Binkley (1976 Binkley, T. 1976. “Deciding about art”. In Culture and art, Edited by: Aagaard‐Mogensen, L. Atlantic Highlands, NJ: Humanities Press. [Google Scholar]). 3. This is not to discount the possibility of accompaniment being provided by an individual or individuals other than the choreographer alongside the composing of the movement. Nevertheless, decisions as to its suitability at every stage do require time on her/his part (and if s/he does not take ultimate responsibility, difficult problems must arise here when it comes to evaluation). 4. See, for example, Griffiths (1965 Griffiths, A. P. 1965. “A deduction of universities”. In Philosophical analysis and education, Edited by: Archambault, R. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. [Google Scholar]). 5. See Schaper (1983 Schaper, E. 1983. “The pleasures of taste”. In Pleasure, preference and value, Edited by: Schaper, E. London: Cambridge University Press. [Google Scholar]). 6. The valuable work of David Best in recent years, however, should not go unmentioned. 7. This sort of doubt, it might be said, typically assails the ‘man in the street’ confronted by anything new in the arts. My point here is that even for those accustomed to radical departures from what has previously been accepted as art (or dance, music, etc.) perhaps expecting to be surprised, shocked, disturbed, and so on, new dances sometimes seem retrogressive rather than progressive in terms of art; and that this is often confirmed by what choreographers say about their work. See Redfern (1983 Redfern, B. 1983. Dance, art and aesthetics, London: Dance Books Ltd. [Google Scholar]). 8. See, for example, the chapter on Deborah Hay in Banes (1980 Banes, S. 1980. Terpsichore in sneakers: post‐modern dance, Boston: Houghton Mifflin. [Google Scholar]). 9. In a Radio 4 ‘Kaleidoscope’ programme, July, 1981. 10. See, however, Sircello (1975 Sircello, G. 1975. A new theory of beauty, Princeton: University Press. [Google Scholar]). 11. See Stolnitz (1960 Stolnitz, J. 1960. Aesthetics and the philosophy of art criticism, Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. [Google Scholar]). 12. See Scruton (1979 Scruton, R. 1979. The aesthetics of architecture, London: Methuen. [Google Scholar]) and Tanner (1977 Tanner, M. 1977. Sentimentality. The Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, LXXVII: 127–147. [Google Scholar]).

Assessing core manipulative skills in a large, first-year laboratory

Responding to the concern from our faculty that undergraduate students do not have robust laboratory skills, we designed and implemented a strategy to individually teach and assess the manipulative skills of students in first-year laboratories. Five core laboratory skills were selected for the course entitled Human Biology, a large, first-year class of students, most of whom were enrolled in Bachelor of Pharmacy and Human Movement Studies. Here, we report details for the 365 students enrolled primarily in Pharmacy and Human Movement Studies bachelor degree programs in semester 1 of 2006. We designed a specific strategy to assess five core laboratory skills: 1) accurate and precise use of a micropipette, 2) calculation of dilutions and preparation of diluted samples of saline, 3) accurate representation of data using a graph, 4) use of a light microscope, and 5) acquisition of digital data by measuring the latent period for the Achilles reflex. Graduate tutors were trained to teach and assess each student on each skill. The development of competency was tracked for all students across all five skills. Most students demonstrated proficiency on their first attempt. The development of proficiency across the core skills depended on both the skill and degree program. In semester 2 of 2006, 854 students mostly enrolled in the Bachelor of Science degree program and were similarly taught and assessed on the same five core skills. This approach was an effective teaching and assessment strategy that, when applied beyond first year, should increase the level of laboratory skills across undergraduate programs in physiology.

Motor skills of first year students in Human Movement Studies

The facilitating of Human Movement Studies form an important part of a learner's total development. The World Health Organization found that more than two thirds of young people are not sufficiently physically active (Brundtland, 2002: 2). This lack of movement above all entails inadequate physical development. The aim of this study is to determine the level of the motor skills of first year students by using a test battery which was developed by the researchers. The level of motor skills was recorded by means of a five point scale. It was found that more than half of the respondents' motor skills were insufficiently developed. The article concludes with the recommendation that physical education students and teachers need to improve their own levels of motor skills in order to develop movement activities significantly. There should also be a clear distinction between movement activities as part of the formal academic programme and activities as part of an extra mural activity plan. Keywords: Motor skills; Movement; Physical development; First year students. South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 29 (1) 2007: pp. 39-52

Análise cinemática tridimensional do movimento de eqüinos em esteira rolante

Adaptou-se uma metodologia utilizada no estudo do movimento humano para analisar o movimento de eqüinos em esteira rolante de alto desempenho, construindo-se um sistema de calibração utilizando-se um teodolito eletrônico de alta precisão e calibradores que demarcavam o espaço ocupado pelo animal. Dessa forma, foram obtidas as coordenadas espaciais dos marcadores presentes nos calibradores, compondo o arquivo de calibração. Duas câmeras de vídeo (60Hz) foram posicionadas em vista lateral esquerda, distantes 5m da manta de rolagem da esteira a 1,8m de altura. As imagens foram enquadradas utilizando-se um monitor de vídeo. Para a validação do método, um membro da equipe movimentou, no espaço calibrado, uma haste rígida com marcadores fixados nas suas extremidades, distantes um do outro 43,8cm. Para a análise das imagens, utilizou-se o programa Dvideow, desenvolvido pelo Laboratório de Instrumentação para Biomecânica - UNICAMP. Após a reconstrução tridimensional das imagens utilizou-se um programa matemático para o cálculo do valor médio da distância entre os marcadores. Obteve-se, após a mensuração em 100 quadros, o valor médio de 43,7cm com coeficiente de variação de 0,8%. Estes resultados mostram que a metodologia desenvolvida é precisa e adequada para o estudo da locomoção de eqüinos.

Performance rítmica. Análisis y cuantificación de la capacidad rítmica. (Rhythmic performance. Analysis and quantification of the rhythm capacity)

This manuscript aims to show that rhythm belongs to a scientific language witch is the object of Human Movement studies. The important of this position demented the development of different approaches on this specific theme. They go from the concept of rhythm to that of rhythmic structure, rhythmic factors and, rhythmic ability. Rhythmic behaviour in movement is so important that we believe it should be integrated by teachers as one of the essential paradigms in the movement learning process. We understand rhythmic behaviour as a fulcra point of technical and expressive qualities. Rhythm is not only one of the operational units of movement, but also as support element for the detection of motor and aesthetic quality. It is also aim to select the rhythmic units implied in the motor project, namely the rhythmical factors - Transcription, Synchronization and Reproduction (TSR) and rhythmical structures in hierarquy according to the complexity degree. This has the aim of showing the possibility of quantifying general rhythmic motor ability (CRMG). This strategy applied to TSR factors allowed to analytically evaluate the rhythmical factors, establishing relations that translate individual behaviours, actualizing a new dimension of Rhythm- type in an integrated way.

Biohorizons

We detail the design, implementation and evaluation of an eConference entitled "Biohorizons", using a presage-process-product model to describe the development of an eLearning community. Biohorizons was a summative learning and assessment task aiming to introduce large classes of first-year Human Biology students to the practices of professional scientists. It was implemented in semester 1 for students enrolled in Pharmacy and Human Movement Studies degree programs, and in semester 2, for Science students. Pairs of students selected a topic of interest in Human Biology, registered into on-line clusters, then developed and wrote a short scientific paper and accompanying PowerPoint presentation. They then individually participated in an online Discussion. All three tasks were assessed using standards-referenced assessment rubrics. Learning was supported by eTutors, working in asynchronous mode. Biohorizons was evaluated by analyzing student achievement data, surveys and focus group interviews. Most students were able to achieve high academic standards (global mean scores for semester 1, 85-96%; semester 2, 81-90%). Student evaluations support: 1) the successful integration of eLearning into large classes of Human Biology, 2) the engagement of first-year students through collaborative learning, and 3) the fostering of learning through challenging assessment relevant to the core practices of professional scientists.

The personal response: A novel writing assignment to engage first year students in large human biology classes

The teaching of highly valued scientific writing skills in the first year of university is challenging. This report describes the design, implementation, and evaluation of a novel written assignment, The Personal Response and accompanying Peer Review, in the course, Human Biology (BIOL1015) at The University of Queensland. These assignments were the first assessment tasks of the course and were set early in the first semester of university. BIOL1015 had a diverse cohort of 319 first year students from five bachelor degree programs, primarily from Pharmacy and Human Movement Studies. Audio files in the form of interviews with eminent biomedical scientists were obtained from a leading public radio program. Students used these files as triggers to submit a short but highly structured assignment written from a personal perspective and in an expressive style. Evaluations revealed that overall, students found the task interesting and challenging. Students performed well, regardless of their background knowledge, disciplinary interest, or preference for topics within human biology. This study demonstrated that The Personal Response was an appropriate task for these first year students of human biology. It represents an alternative to traditional essay writing.

Gender Based Variance in Tissue Velocity Does Not Reflect Differences in Myocardial Deformation

significantly higher baseline strain/WS ratio (−0.20± 0.1 versus −0.28± 0.1, P= 0.02) compared to the tertile who deteriorated (deformation decrease of 6.9± 5.4%). EndsystolicWSwas similar betweengroups (58.8± 18.7 versus 66.2± 23.4 dynes/cm2, P= 0.28). Conclusion: Inappropriately low tissue deformation for the level of end-systolic wall stress is associated with progression of myocardial dysfunction in treated hypertensive patients. Strain/wall stress relationships may aid in prognostication in these patients. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2007.06.107 103 Tissue Deformation is Associated with LV Geometry in Hypertensive Patients J.L. Hare ∗, M. Bansal, J.K. Brown, T.H. Marwick University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia Background:Different patterns of abnormal LV geometry are associatedwith variations inprognosis, but themechanisms of these effects remain undefined. We investigated the functional associations of these findings using measures of tissue deformation, specifically strain and strain rate (SR). Methods: 2D echocardiography in 60 unselected hypertensive patients (age 58± 12 years, 52% male). LV mass 104 Gender Based Variance in Tissue Velocity Does Not Reflect Differences in Myocardial Deformation D.J. Holland1,2,∗, J.E. Sharman1,2, R.L. Leano1, T.H. Marwick1 1Department of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4102, Australia; 2 School of Human Movement Studies, University of Queensland, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane 4102, Australia Background: Reports regarding the impact of gender on myocardial velocity and deformation are inconsistent. In this study, we sought the mechanism of the effect of gender on Doppler indices of left ventricular (LV) function in healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: LV deformation (strain and strain rate), systolic (Sm) and diastolic (Em) tissue velocities weremeasured in thebasal septumby tissueDoppler in a total of 276patients (148 men; aged 54± 11 years). All subjects had preserved systolic function, normal stress echo and had no history of coronary artery disease. Results: Sm was significantly higher in men compared to women (5.5± 1.10 versus 4.8± 1.15; p< 0.001) however Em, Strain and Strain Rate were not significantly different betweengenders.Onmultiple regression analysis, gender index (LVMI) and regional wall thickness were used to assign into groups with normal geometry (NG), concentric remodelling (CR), concentric hypertrophy (CH) and eccentric hypertrophy (EH). Strain/SRwasmeasured from basal septum in the apical four chamber view using velocity vector imaging (VVI, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). Results: VVI was feasible in 57 studies (95%). Analysis of LV geometry revealed NG in 10 patients (17%), CR in 15 (25%), CH in 28 (47%) and EH in 7 (11%). Overall strain was −14.0± 4.8 % and SR was −0.73± 0.70 /s. Strain was significantly lower in patients with CR (−13.1± 4.1 %) or CH (−12.3± 4.3 %), compared to patients with NG (−18.5± 5.5 %, P≤ 0.05). Results were independent of blood pressure (MAP 113± 15mmHg), with no significant differences between groups (P= 0.29). SR was non-significantly reduced in patients with CR and CH (−0.64± 0.25 /s, −0.56± 0.19 /s) compared to NG (−0.85± 0.33 /s, P=NS), but significantly lower in patients withCHversus patientswith EH (−1.40± 1.86 /s, P≤ 0.05). Conclusions: Tissue deformation is related to LV geometry, independent of BP, in treated hypertensive patients. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2007.06.108 was identified as themost significant independent predictorofSm(β = 0.23;p= 0.001), and remainedsignificant after correcting for body mass index (BMI), age, mean arterial pressure, LV mass and LV end diastolic and end systolic volumes. Inclusion of central hemodynamics such as augmentation index (AIx) and central systolic blood pressure had no effect on the significance of gender in the model. BMI, end diastolic volume (EDV) and end systolic volume (ESV) were also significant predictors in the model. Conclusions: Men have significantly higher LV systolic tissue velocity than women, independent of differences in myocardial deformation measured by strain and strain rate. Male (n= 148) Female (n= 129) p-value Sm (cm/s) 5.4 ± 1.1 4.8 ± 1.2 <0.001 Strain (%) 20.5 ± 3.7 20.7 ± 3.5 NS SR (/s) 1.31 ± 0.37 1.29 ± 0.25 NS EDV (mL) 83 ± 20 60 ± 14 <0.001 ESV (mL) 32 ± 9 22 ± 7 <0.001 doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2007.06.109

“Come on momma, let’s see the drummer”: movement-based interaction and the performance of personal style

Interaction forms are beginning to make more use of the way we move our bodies in the physical and social world. This paper aims to contribute to a new generation of personal computing by showing how the medium of everyday clothing and dress can bring valuable perspectives to the study of human embodiment and movement. The author refers to ideas from fashion theory and clothing design that can contribute to a richer understanding of the many influences that convene emotions of style and identity. In order to indicate the potential of personal style as a social medium with relevance to human computer interaction (HCI), some existing artefacts that entail interaction through movement are referenced, along with research outcomes from biomechanics, dance and performance. In conclusion design strategies are constructed for new movement-based interaction concepts that can have relevance to the changing meanings of identity in twenty-first century mass society.