First analysis of ancient burned human skeletal remains probed by neutron and optical vibrational spectroscopy.

Burned skeletal remains are abundant in archaeological and paleontological sites, the result of fire or of ancient funerary practices. In the burning process, the bone matrix suffers structural and dimensional changes that interfere with the reliability of available osteometric methods. Recent studies showed that these macroscopic changes are accompanied by microscopic variations are reflected in vibrational spectra. An innovative integrated approach to the study of archaeological combusted skeletal remains is reported here, where the application of complementary vibrational spectroscopic techniques-INS (inelastic neutron scattering), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared), and micro-Raman-enables access to the complete vibrational profile and constitutes the first application of neutron spectroscopy to ancient bones. Comparison with data from modern human bones that were subjected to controlled burning allowed identification of specific heating conditions. This pioneering study provides archaeologists and anthropologists with relevant information on past civilizations, including regarding funerary, burial, and cooking practices and environmental settings.

Enabling a young man with minimal motor behavior to manage independently his leisure television engagement.

Persons with severe spastic tetraparesis and minimal motor behavior may be confined to a wheelchair or bed and have virtually no chances of constructive engagement with their immediate environment. A possible way to modify this situation may involve the use of technology. The present study (a) assessed specific technology to enable a young adult to manage his leisure television engagement independently and (b) carried out a social validation assessment of the technology-supported performance involving 90 teacher trainees as raters. The intervention period with the new technology included 67 sessions, during which the participant performed independently 392 of the 408 television-management responses, i.e., turning on the television, finding a channel with a preferred program, setting the volume, and turning off the television. He also indicated preference for using the technology as opposed to not using it. The raters provided relatively high (positive) scores for the technology-supported performance compared to the baseline performance. Implications of the findings are discussed.

Assessing the effects of stimulation versus microswitch-based programmes on indices of happiness of students with multiple disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Stimulation and microswitch-based programmes are considered main strategies to promote indices of happiness in students with multiple disabilities. However, only limited attempts have been made to assess the relative effects of the two programmes. This study conducted such an assessment with seven students with multiple disabilities. METHODS: The first four phases of the study served to: (1) provide the students with a systematic exposure to each of the programmes; and (2) measure the programmes' effects on indices of happiness by comparing them with baseline levels. The fifth phase served to compare the programmes with each other. RESULTS: The first four phases of the study showed that the microswitch-based programme produced a significant increase in indices of happiness for all seven students, and the stimulation programme produced a significant increase for six students. During the fifth phase of the study (i.e. when the two programmes were alternated), the microswitch-based programme promoted significantly higher indices of happiness than the stimulation programme for four of the seven students. CONCLUSIONS: Microswitch-based programmes might be deemed preferable to stimulation programmes because they can promote higher or comparable indices of happiness while promoting the acquisition of adaptive responses and self-determination.

A microswitch cluster to enhance arm-lifting responses without dystonic head tilting by a child with multiple disabilities.

This study assessed whether a microswitch duster with favorite stimulation could help a 9.1-yr.-old child with multiple disabilities increase arm-lifting responses without dystonic, sideways head tilting. The microswitch cluster involved two microswitches, one at the child's arm to monitor the lifting response, and the other at the child's head to monitor whether it was tilted during arm lifting. Analysis showed that the percentage of arm-lifting responses occurring without head tilting increased most visibly when favorite stimulation focused on those (appropriate) responses.

Adapting a grid into a microswitch to suit simple hand movements of a child with profound multiple disabilities.

We adapted a grid into a microswitch for the hand movements of a girl with profound multiple disabilities who lay on her back. The grid, suspended above the girl's face, was equipped with two mercury devices, i.e., small sealed ampoules containing a mercury drop and ending with conductive leads. A lateral or forward movement of the grid would make the mercury drop of at least one device slide to the conductive leads and activate the device. During the intervention, activations of the devices, i.e., microswitch activations, produced the occurrence of favorite stimuli. Analysis showed that the girl increased the frequency of hand movements and microswitch activations during the intervention phases compared to the baseline phases (when the favorite stimuli were not available). The increase was retained at a 1-mo. postintervention check.