Resume

• 2007

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Spring

  Kasey Bell

  Maneuvering Obstacles On a Treadmill By Hopping Kangaroo Rats

  Dipodomys ordii

  We tested the hypothesis that these kangaroo rats could handle obstacles suddenly appearing within view while hopping bipedally

  by easily maneuvering over them. My assistants helped me train and videotape these animals while they hopped on a treadmill. The bare

  but grid-marked treadmill belt was used as the control. I had put velcro strips at various locations on the belt

  during filming of locomotion without obstacles. When we filmed locomotion with obstacles

  we added them to the locations of velcro strips. All obstacles were made of soft

  polyurethane foam

  and high enough that the animal could only see if future obstacles were coming when they hopped high enough. I did all the planning

  analysis

  and preparation of the presentation of this paper at a meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology

  Jan. 2007.

  Sarah Elizabeth Riley

  Kasey Bell

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Spring

  Julie Lankford

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Spring

  Laura Parra

  Private Industry

  Denver

  CO

  USA

  This school started up in 2000

  funded by a Japanese organization. Unfortunately it folded in 2002 over problems with that organization during certification. CCC was a part of Marycrest University. But

  CCC had really cool letterhead

  and an extremely good faculty

  dean

  and some of the best students I have ever taught. During this period

  I taught courses in Gross Anatomy (including Embryology)

  Histology

  and helped develop curriculum for the Anatomy program.

  Assistant Professor

  Colorado College of Chiropractic

  Pullman

  WA

  USA

  Taught labs in Human Anatomy

  Embryology & Development

  Comparative Anatomy

  Introductory Biology

  Human Physiology.

  Graduate Teaching Assistant

  Washington State University

  Bakersfield

  CA

  USA

  Taught courses in: Human Anatomy

  Animal Biology

  Ecomorphology

  Human Physiology Laboratories

  Science Education Laboratories.

  Lecturer

  California State University

  Bakersfield

  Pullman

  WA

  USA

  Dept. of VCAPP (Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy

  Physiology

  and Pharmacology). Taught course in Veterinary Anatomy for Undergraduates

  Lecturer

  Washington State University

  Montreal

  Canada

  Post-doctoral position at the Centre de recherche en sciences neurologiques. Studied cortical control of forelimb movement in the irus macaque. EMGs and EEGs from motor cortex neurons

  biomechanical analysis of shoulder movement. My research often included translating French journal articles to English.

  Herbert W. Jasper Fellow in Neurosciences

  Universite de Montreal

  Canyon

  TX

  USA

  Dept. of Life

  Earth and Environmental Sciences. Teaching position primarily: Courses in General Biology

  Histology

  Embryology

  Neuroscience

  Herbal Medicine\nResearch: Pineal body

  kangaroo rat locomotion

  Mind-body medicine

  teaching critical thinking in students

  Assistant Professor

  West Texas A&M University

  Chadron

  NE

  USA

  Dept. of Biology. Taught courses in Anatomy & Physiology

  Analysis of Human Movement

  Bioterminology

  Biology Senior Seminar

  Assistant Professor

  Chadron State University

  United States

  I am presently engaged in private research on mind-body medicine techniques and writing books on how it works

  a theory on how the neuroimmune system works

  based upon its anatomy

  physiology

  embryology

  and theories derived from these disciplines and evolutionary and comparative anatomy theory. Other books I am writing are on group activities for science courses in college

  my field experiences with rodents

  and papers on how various techniques in mind-body medicine work. I am presently working on video demonstrations on using learning and using these techniques

  as well as teaching videos on how basic inorganic chemistry of the internal bodily fluids can be changed

  in order to get rid of toxins. I am increasingly taking part in discussion at various websites where science is being discussed

  e.g. NICABM (http://www.nicabm.com)

  AAAS ScienceNOW (news.sciencemag.org)

  and Sigma Xi's ResearchGate (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martha_Hyde

  available only to subscribers).

  Independent Scholar & Consultant

  Private Industry

  Portland

  Oregon

  Collect and analyze data on force-transducing shoes

  electrogoniometers

  film analysis

  using SAS

  ASYST

  programming and statistical languages. I often had to translate French articles on horse locomotion to English.

  Consultant in Data and Statistical Analysis

  Independent Research

  Pullman

  WA

  USA

  Dept. VCAPP. Analysis of locomotion in Thoroughbred horses

  using special force-transducing shoes

  force plates

  electrogoniometers

  films and videos. Supervision and development of statistical and data analysis software. Programming in Pascal

  Dos-Batch

  ASYST

  SAS. Development of major analysis program in ASYST that returns peak and user-determined location values

  timing parameters of waveforms

  writes files of values

  transformed waveforms

  and slide files of user-determined regions. Write papers for publication

  present papers at national and international conferences

  write a manual for use with instrumented force-transducing shoes

  assist graduate students with their research.

  Post-doctoral Research Associate

  Washington State University

  Portales

  NM

  USA

  Dept. of Biology. Taught courses in Human Anatomy

  Embryology

  Comparative Anatomy

  Assistant Professor

  Eastern New Mexico University

  This is a professional website for discussions on various scientific topics

  where I keep a profile of both published and unpublished research. I do not remember exactly when ResearchGate was established by Sigma Xi

  but I joined as soon as it was established. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Martha_Hyde/?ev=hdr_xprf

  Sigma Xi ResearchGate

  Spanish

  French

  Herbert W. Jasper Fellowship in Neurosciences

  This is a one-year fellowship to work with John Kalaska on his research on macaque motor control

  doing the biomechanical analysis of arm movement. We used EMGs and EEGs from motor cortex neurons to correlate with various bioimechanical paramters.

  Université de Montréal

• 2006

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Spring

  Sarah Elizabeth Riley

  Blog: Mind-Body Medicine in Research & Practice

  This blog discusses data

  analysis of research

  and presents my opinions on mind-body medicine

  alternative medicine in general

  along with science and science policy pertaining to health and education.

• 2005

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Spring

  Aaron Morgan

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Fall

  Steven Parks

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Fall

  Rebecca McCarthy

  Proposal for studying the neural control in kangaroo rats

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Summer II

  Shari Parker

  Martha

  Hyde

  West Texas A&M University

  Washington State University

  Chadron State University

  Washington State University

  Universite de Montreal

  Colorado College of Chiropractic

  Eastern New Mexico University

  Independent Research

  California State University

  Bakersfield

• 2004

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Fall

  Sarah Elizabeth Riley

  Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna in a Human Cadaver: Integrating Clinical Thinking Within a Basis Science Course

  Student Directed Project\nColorado College of Chiropractic. ACC/RAC Conference meetings.\nPresented at the 9th Annual conference of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges

  and published by T Ritter & M Brumelle in Journal of Chiropractic Education 16(1): 4-7.

  Michelle Clark Brumelle

  Tara A. Ritter

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Problems in Biology

  Spring

  Brandi Harrell

  Characterization of Bipedal Locomotion While Feeding in Kangaroo Rats in the Natural \tHabitat

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University McNair Scholars Program.\nLaura worked closely with me as we filmed these animals in their natural habitat while they foraged within a \"protected\" arena set up with a backdrop grid marked with reflectors

  natural soil for the substrate

  and only the wooden frame as any kind of confinement. The animals frequently were outside of the arena but we tried to scatter seeds only within the arena. We filmed with an infrared camera as a \"lens\" which fed the image to a video camera for storage. Laura did most of the data analysis and wrote the paper. We worked closely together on interpretation and graphics for this paper which she presented at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology meetings in Jan 2006.

  Laura Parra

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Spring/Summer

  Dana Walters

• 2003

  Student Directed Project\nWest Texas A&M University

  Research in Biology

  Summer II

  Shari Parker

  Differences in Bipedal Locomotion Between Two Species of Kangaroo Mice in the Laboratory

  Annette Wells Strongly encouraged the animals to move from one end of the arena to the other while I filmed. Since we had to film in the dark

  we allowed some very indirect lighting from a subdued TV to which the video was routed while filming the animals. The animals could not see the TV directly from the arena. I did all the analysis

  writing

  creation of graphics and slides for the talk at the International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology.

  Cancer and the Action of the Pineal Body

  Student Directed Project: Poster for National Alliance for Minority Participation Conference

  Eastern New Mexico University

  Guarena Adeky

  Bipedal Locomotion in Two Species of Kangaroo Mice in the Laboratory

  Because these animals seem to be a critical link between the fully bipedal Dipodomys species and their quadrupedal

  but leaping North American relatives (Perognathines)

  the question of how they hop is important to evolutionary and behavioral ecologists. I filmed these animals in a free-running locomotion within somewhat narrow confines of a runway with “natural” substrate. I had to film them differently from the fully lighted conditions in which I could film kangaroo rats. Thus

  I used an Infrared camera to document the body and joint movements for a biomechanical analysis. I compared their bipedal locomotion on natural surfaces with what I found on the treadmill and with locomotion of kangaroo rats in the field

  in the lab on natural surfaces and on the treadmill. I presented these results at the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Jan

  2005.\n

• 1979

  Ph.D.

  Specialization in anatomy

  behavior

  ecology

  and statistics. Dissertation: Anatomical and behavioral adaptations to the substrate in kangaroo rat locomotion

  genus Dipodomys.

  Zoology

  Anatomy

  Teaching Assistant in Human Physiology

  Human and Comparative Anatomy

  Embryology and Development

  Histology. \nWrote lab exercises for Comparative Morphology

  worked on computer programs for Introductory Biology for non-majors. Directed teaching labs in Comparative Morphology

  Comparative Embryology and Development.

  Washington State University

  3.88 of 4.0

• 1976

  A.M.

  NIH Traineeship 5 T32 GM07117-02

  04 to Farish Jenkins

  Jr. for training in \"The Musculoskeletal System\"

  Harvard University.\nSpecialization in anatomy

  both human and comparative with respect to evolutionary biology. Studied locomotion in kangaroo rats

  taking x-ray movies of their hopping on a treadmill.

  Biology

  Anatomy

  Evolution

  Teaching Fellow in Comparative Anatomy and Physiology

  Introduction to Biology

  Ethology. Wrote laboratory exercises for Comparative Anatomy

  and compiled a bibliography for student research projects in behavior

  ecomorphology

  ecophysiology

  evolutionary biology

  Harvard University

  3.4 of 4.0

• 1974

  M.S.

  Specialization in anatomy

  ecology

  behavior and neuroscience. Thesis: Analysis and comparison of locomotion in three species of kangaroo rats

  genus Dipodomys.

  Zoology

  Teaching Assistant in Neuroanatomy

  Comparative Anatomy

  Embryology

  and Introduction to Zoology. Wrote lab exercises for Introductory Zoology.

  Texas Tech University

  3.7 of 4.0

• 1970

  A.B.

  I had a double major. The independent major was called \"Locomotion as an Evolutionary Adaptation\"

  for which I took a series of Zoology

  Physics

  Chemistry

  and Biology courses

  along with Statistics and Kinesiology

  and wrote a thesis

  with the above title. I was considered one of the few people who did an independent major who took the subject matter to a higher degree in graduate school (at that time).

  Anthropology

  and Independent Major

  Several independent research projects in linguistic anthropology (nicknames among field crew friends)

  primatology (tail use in monkeys)

  archeology (enamel hypoplasia & nutrition in museum skeletons)

  survey of Native American skeletal remains in the Museum of Anthroplogy

  extensive library research for professors in primatology

  archeology & psychology; translation of papers from Spanish to English

  French to English for two professors

  curation of Comp Anatomy collection in Zoology.

  University of California

  Berkeley

  3.3 of 4.0

• 1968

  none

  I studied Anthropology as a subdiscipline with particular emphasis on cultural anthropology.

  Anthropology & Sociology

  I held work-study jobs in Sociology

  tabulating test scores of students (GRE

  MCAT

  ACT

  SAT

  LSAT)

  editing articles

  and writing brief summaries of student achievement in preparation for graduation. I specialized in archeology and took part in six-week summer field projects for two years.

  Kalamazoo College

  3.2 of 4.0

  Science Education Lab

  Histology for medical students

  Human Anatomy at Cal State Bakersfield

  Principles of Animal Biology

  Medicinal Herbs

  Ecomorphology

  Analysis of Human Movement

  Embryology at WTAMU

  Histology for undergrads

  Senior Seminar

  Human Physiology

  Bioterminology

  Basic & Contemp Biol II

  Basic & Contemp Biol I

  Human Anatomy & Physiology

  Comparative Anatomy

  Embryology at ENMU

  Human Physiology Lab

  Human Anatomy at ENMU

• 3

  Guide to the single transducer instrumented shoe for horses (With comments on the 3-transducer shoes). \nExtract\n\"The Amplifier/Analog Integrator Unit\nThe amplifier unit is set up for analog integration and amplification of both single- and three-transducer shoes. Two input connectors are located on each end of the box

  labeled 1

  and 4. An on/off locking toggle switch and battery-test switch with indicator are situated between inputs 3 and 4 (Fig. 1). The battery test circuit monitors current and voltage across two nine-volt batteries

  lighting the indicator when combined battery voltage meets or exceeds 15 volts. However

  the user has approximately 20-30 minutes left of battery power (under load). The user can alter this minimum battery power needed for test light operation by adjusting potentiometer R48 (see Appendix C

  Analog Integrator circuit diagram). Batteries can be changed (Fig. 2 & 3) by unscrewing the two larger inset screws at the top of the box (where the gain adjustment screws are) and removing the batteries in the bottom of the box. The user should test the batteries with the main power switch OFF

  to ensure accurate measurement of battery voltage. Do not leave the battery test switch ON

  however

  during collection of data

  since this additional load will deplete the battery power.\"

  The Equine Instrumented Shoe System: Manual

  I go into detail about how our body chemistry

  histology

  anatomy and physiology affect our nutritional status and the food choices we make. A large part of my discussion is theoretical with reference to what is known and familiar to most people. I make the point that our food choices are far more complicated than what most medical practitioners and researchers tell us.

  Nutrition and Chemistry

  J. Cannon

  K. Mama

  P. Wilson

  M. Ratzlaff

  B. Grant

  O. Balch

  Proc. Ann. Convention of Am. Assoc. Equine. Pract. 35: 405-418

  The design

  physical properties and fitting of the Seattle Shoe are described. The shoe

  machined from acetal resin

  resembles 2 saucer shaped discs connected at the apex of their convex sides and is used in conjunction with an aluminium wear rim. The effects of the shoe were evaluated by cinematography

  instrumental shoes and clinical observations on 21 normal and 34 lame horses. The spring design of the shoe increases the arcs of flight of the limbs but does not alter the temporal components of the stride. Many of the lame horses responded well to the application of the shoes

  particularly where concussion played a dominant role in the pathogenesis. Seventeen of 18 horses in race training returned to normal activity and 14 of 16 horses not involved in training improved. However

  failure to provide the 1/16 inch clearance between the sole and foot surface resulted in lameness due to bruising.

  Design \tapplication

  testing and use of compressible plastic horseshoes \"Seattle Shoes\"

  This article addresses a theoretical compartment that plays such a critical role in our health that I thought that it should be addressed in detail to relate the hypodermis to conventional Western

  Chinese

  and Mind-Body Medicine practice. I describe it in detail and relate it to the physiological status of our bodies. It is referred to when discussing acupuncture meridians

  transport of nutrients to cells

  pathologies

  and even our physiological responses to strong emotions and emotional trauma.

  What is the Hypodermis?

  M. Prud'homme

  D.A.D. Cohen

  J.F. Kalaska

  J. Neurosci. 9 (6): 2080-2102

  Shoulder joint-related motor cortex cells show continuously graded changes in activity

  centered on a preferred movement direction

  during active arm movements in 8 directions away from a central starting position (Georgopoulos et al.

  1982). We demonstrate here that many of these cells show similar large continuously graded changes in discharge when the monkey compensates for inertial loads which pull the arm in 8 different directions. These load-dependent discharge variations are typically unimodal

  centered on one load direction called the cell's load axis

  and are often sufficiently continuous

  symmetric

  and broad as to show a good fit to a sinusoidal curve. A vectorial representation of cell activity indicates that the pattern of load-dependent activity changes in the population forms a signal whose direction is appropriate to compensate for the loads. The responses of single cells to different combinations of movement and load direction are often complex. Nevertheless

  the mean activity of the sample population under any condition of movement direction and load direction can be described reasonably well by a simple linear summation of the movement-related discharge without any loads

  and the change in tonic activity of the population caused by the load

  measured prior to movement. The strength of the load-dependent discharge variation differs among cells. Cells can be sorted into 2 phasic and 2 tonic groups that show differing degrees of sensitivity to loads. In particular

  it was found that the greater the degree of cell discharge variation associated with different actively maintained limb postures

  the greater the activity changes caused by loads. No similar correlation was found for the degree of discharge variation during movement. Preliminary evidence suggests that phasic and tonic cell groups may be spatially segregated in the motor cortex. These observations are consistent with the idea that there exists in the motor cortex activity encoding...

  A comparison of movement direction-related vs. load direction-related activity in primate motor cortex

  using a two-dimensional reaching task

  This post is a response to the discovery of an \"itch\" molecule by neuroscientists. I remind the viewers that the nervous system plays a large influence in our interpretation of \"itch\" that a molecule cannot do by itself. I show how we have to look at the body holistically with an eye toward the roles that are played by structures of all levels of organization in the determination of \"itch

  \" and relate it to my article on the Hypodermis.

  Itching and Dialysis

  I comment on the discussion about the causes of obesity and link one cause to pesticide use in agriculture. I also refer to other interpretations we can make from results of nutrition research and news reports about diet and nutrition.

  Obesity and Pesticides

  Karl K. White

  Marc H. Ratzlaff

  Olin K. Balch

  Proc.Amer.Assoc.Equine Practitioners 37: 687-705

  Two conditioned

  clinically sound

  treadmill-experienced horses were exercised on a treadmill at a walk (1.9 m/s)

  trot (4.0 m/s)

  and canter (10 m/s). Instrumented shoes

  each containing transducers located at the toe and each side of the heel

  were attached to all hooves. Kinetic and kinematic parameters were analyzed from the left forelimb at the three gaits. Effects of hoof angle were evaluated by shoeing the horses at a normal angle

  an elevated angle (4.0 deg raised)

  and a decreased angle (4.0 deg lowered). Effects of mediolateral balance were evaluated by shoeing the horses with a normal mediolateral orientation and on a 0.38-in. elevation of the lateral and medial sides of the hooves

  respectively. Alterations in hoof angle and mediolateral balance changed the magnitude and direction of vertical forces on the hoof and altered the timing of breakover. Elevating the toe (decreasing the hoof angle) increased the peak force of the propulsive component of the force-time curve associated with the toe and lengthened breakover. Elevating the heel (increasing the hoof angle) increased the peak force and impulse on the medial side of the hoofs and shortened breakover. Elevating the medial side of the hoof increased impulse and peak force on that side. Interindividual differences

  likely associated with limb conformation

  produced diverse landing and loading patterns on the lateral aspect of the hoof.

  Locomotor effects of \thoof angle and mediolateral balance of horses exercising on a high speed treadmill: Preliminary results

  Laura Parra did most of the data analysis. We both had major discussions about the interpretation of results and how best to show the relationships among the measured characters and the differences seen in locomotion. She and I both prepared the graphics and slides for this paper. I wrote this paper and presented it at a meeting of The Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology

  Jan. 2006.

  Laura Parra

• ResearchGate

  ResearchGate is a network dedicated to science and research. Connect

  collaborate and discover scientific publications

  jobs and conferences. All for free.

  Sigma Xi ResearchGate for Scientific Discussion

  Critical Thinking

  Neuroscience

  Field Work

  Science

  Statistics

  Teaching

  Animal Behavior

  SAS programming

  Curriculum Development

  Ecology

  Cinematography

  Biology

  Research

  Student Affairs

  Data Analysis

  Literature Reviews

  Scientific Writing

  Technical Writing

  Higher Education

  Editing

  The effects of different pads on locomotor forces exerted by a horse exercising on a high-speed treadmill

  Marc Ratzlaff

  Olin Balch

  Equine Athlete 4(5): 21-25

  The effects of different pads on locomotor forces exerted by a horse exercising on a high-speed treadmill

  Originally posted in 2011

  I did a major update on this article in 2014. The topic is critical

  since the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) published by the American Psychiatric Association has decided that early childhood trauma cannot produce PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in children suffering from attachment disorder. I think that all children who were abused sexually

  emotionally

  physically from either direct maltreatment or neglect will suffer PTSD and should be treated as such

  not just for having an attachment disorder. This article addresses what the phenomenon of rejection by the mother causes in a child

  how that child will behavior both as a child and as an adult

  and the consequences of not treating a child who suffers from maltreatment/neglect during those earliest critical postnatal years. This is the most popular of all my posts.

  Special Case of Type I PTSD: Rejected Children

  O. Balch

  B. Grant

  M.Ratzlaff

  J.Equine Vet.Sci. 14(1): 45-52

  The temporal components and vertical forces of the strides before

  during and following rupture of the distal sesamoidean ligaments of the right forelimb were recorded from instrumented shoes. The right front hoof was shod with an instrumented shoe containing transducers located at the toe and both sides of the heel. The left front hoof was shod with a shoe containing a single transducer positioned over the center of the frog. The Thoroughbred mare had galloped through a track straightaway and entered the turn when the injury occurred. The horse had changed from a right to left lead five strides before the breakdown. In the three strides prior to the injury

  no abnormalities

  such as stumbling

  were observed. During the stride in which the breakdown occurred

  the right front hoof landed first on the lateral side of the heel rather than on the medial side as in the preceding strides. The forces on both sides of the heel initially increased in a normal pattern and at the time of peak force

  rupture of the distal sesamoidean ligaments apparently occurred. Following the injury

  marked changes were observed in the force-time curves which included a pronounced impact force on the toe and very low peak forces on all transducers.

  Rupture of distal sesamoidean ligaments of a \thorse: Vertical forces and temporal components of the strides before

  during

  and after injury

  B.D. Grant

  O.K. Balch

  P.D. Wilson

  M.H. Ratzlaff

  Acta Anat. (Cells Tiss.Organs) 146(2): 200-204.

  Three methods were used simultaneously to determine the relationships betwen the vertical forces exerted on the hooves and the positions of the limbs and hooves at the times of peak vertical forces from 2 horses galloping on a track straightaway. Vertical forces were recorded from an instrumented shoe

  fetlock joint motion was measured with an electrogoniometer and the angles of the carpus

  fetlock and hoof were determined from slow-motion films. At hoof contact

  the mean angles of the carpus and fetlock were 181-182° and 199-206°

  respectively. Peak vertical forces on the heel occurred at or near maximum extension of the carpal and fetlock joints. Peak forces on the toe occurred during flexion of the fetlock joint and at mean hoof angles of 28-31° from the horizontal. The mean angles of the hoof from the horizontal at the time of heel contact were 6-7°. Hoof lift occurred at mean carpal angles of 173-174° and mean fetlock angles of 199-200°.

  Relationships between locomotor forces

  hoof position

  and joint motion during the support phase of the stride of galloping horses

  I take a stand that organically-raised foods are actually healthier for us than conventionally-raised foods. I comment on some news reports that raise doubts about this opinion. My arguments are bolstered by the chemistry of the foods where nutrition includes the micronutrients as well as the macronutrients

  something rarely done in the nutrition news reports.

  Health from Organic Foods

  Olin K. Balch

  Barrie D. Grant

  Marc H. Ratzlaff

  Patrick D. Wilson

  J. Equine Vet. Sci. 12(6): 374-381

  This study was undertaken to determine if the kinematic parameters of galloping horses were altered when these horses were shod with Seattle Shoes+. Analyses of films of six Thoroughbred horses galloping through a track straightaway

  with and without Seattle Shoes+

  were used to determine velocity

  stride length

  stride time

  swing time and support time of the limbs

  the percentages of the stride time spent in the swing and support phases

  and the arcs of flight of the carpi and fetlocks of the forelimbs and the coronets of all four limbs. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each of these variables. Comparisons were made between those measured from horses shod with and without the Seattle Shoe+

  using both the paired-t test and analysis of covariance

  which eliminated the influence of differing velocities. No significant differences occurred in the stride lengths or timing parameters when these horses were shod with Seattle Shoes+. The Seattle Shoe+ had its most significant effect on the arcs of flight of the limbs. The compression of the Seattle Shoe+ appears to store a portion of the potential energy normally stored in the suspensory apparatus and results in a decreased extension of the fetlock. This energy is then released

  causing significant increases in the heights of the forelimb during retraction and protraction. Although kinematic adjustments are required by horses to maintain the level of performance

  the Seattle Shoe+ appears to have no detrimental effects on the performance of galloping horses and it may decrease strain on the suspensory apparatus.

  The effects of a compressible plastic shoe

  the \"Seattle Shoe©\"

  on the kinematics of the strides of galloping Thoroughbred horses

  M. Prud'homme

  D.A.D. Cohen

  D.J. Crammond

  J.F. Kalaska

  Pp. 129-146 in Control of Arm Movement in Space: Neurophysiological and Computational Approaches. Roberto Caminiti

  Paul B. Johnson and Yves Burnod

  eds. N.Y.: Springer-Verlag ISBN 978-3-642-77237-5

  \"Coordinate Frameworks

  Serial Hierarchies

  and Parallel Processing\nReaching movements of the arm to visual targets in different spatial locations can be described in terms of many different spatiotemporal movement attributes

  that is to say

  parameters of movement kinematics. These include the spatial location of the target

  the path and instantaneous velocity of the hand through external space toward the target and the sequence of joint angle changes. The same movement can also be described in terms of movement dynamics

  such as the causative forces

  joint torques and muscle activity patterns (Kalaska 1991b; note that this use of kinematics and dynamics does not conform to their formal definitions in mechanics

  but is intended to distinguish parameters that are purely descriptive of the movement itself from those which reflect its underlying causal forces). Each set of parameters defines a coordinate framework for the description of motor behavior (Hildreth and Hollerbach 1987; Soechting and Flanders 1991; Kalaska 1991a

  1991b). There is

  however

  no fixed or predetermined relation among the different reference frames. For instance

  one can approach a given target location via many different handpaths. One can follow a particular handpath while positioning the arm in different geometrical configurations

  i.e.

  while using different joint angle sequences

  and one can use many different patterns of muscle activity to produce any specific sequence of joint angle changes. This is one manifestation of the problems of degrees of freedom and redundancy in the motor system (Bernstein 1967; Hildreth and Hollerbach 1987). Within limits set by biomechanics and the laws of mechanics

  the motor system possesses a considerable degree of independent control of movement in each of the reference frames. Intuition suggests

  therefore

  that the central nervous system must generate multiple neuronal representations of movement

  one for each coordinate system

  in order to control...\"

  Comparison of cell discharge in motor

  premotor

  and parietal cortex during reaching

  A news report on healthy eating had several faulty assumptions in it. I critique it and offer my own suggestions as to what is healthy for us. I go into how the chemistry of the micronutrient content of foods as being critical for our nutrition. The macronutrients of food are the most often mentioned to the exclusion of any discussion about the micronutrients. I bring into the discussion the effect of toxins on our bodies and the need for consideration of the micronutrients for the removal of toxins. Also important is how we prepare our food

  whether it is processed by a distributor or by ourselves.

  Recipes for Healthy Eating

  M. Prud'homme

  D.A.D. Cohen

  J.F. Kalaska

  Exp. Brain Res. 80(2): 351-364

  A previous study reported that proximal-arm related area 5 neurons showed continuously-graded changes in activity during unloaded arm movements in different directions (Kalaska et al. 1983)

  which resembled the responses of primary motor cortex cells in several respects (Georgopoulos et al. 1982). We report here that loading the arm reveals an important difference between cell activity in the two areas. Loads were continuously applied to the arm in different directions. The loads produced large continuously-graded changes in muscle activity but did not alter the handpath or joint angle changes of the arm during the movements. The activity of most area 5 cells was only weakly affected by the loads

  and the overall pattern of population activity was virtually unaltered under all load conditions. This indicates that area 5 activity encodes the invariant spatial parameters (kinematics) of the movements. In contrast

  many motor cortex cells showed large changes in activity during loading

  and so signal the changing forces

  torques or muscle activity (movement dynamics; Kalaska et al. 1989).

  Parietal area 5 neuronal activity encodes movement kinematics

  not movement dynamics

  P.D.Wilson

  O.Balch

  B.D. Grant

  Ratzlaff

  M.H.

  J.Equine Vet.Sci. 10(1): 23-35

  Instrumented shoes were used to measure the vertical forces exerted by horses moving at a variety of gaits. Two types of shoes were used; one contained a single transducer positioned over the center of the frog and the second contained transducers located at the toe and both sides of the heel. Horses were shod with these instrumented shoes and walked and trotted over a force plate. Forces were simultaneously recorded from the transducers in the shoes and from the force plate. Comparisons were made between the amount and duration of the forces exerted on the transducers and the vertical and horizontal forces recorded from the force plate. Forces recorded from the single transducer shoes showed strong correlations with the forces recorded from the force plate for horses moving at the walk; however

  at the trot only moderate correlations occurred between these forces. At both the walk and trot

  forces recorded from each side of the heel and the total forces occurring on all three transducers from the front hooves of horses shod with three transducer shoes showed strong correlations to the vertical forces recorded from the force plate.\nVertical forces were also recorded from the instrumented shoes as horses walked

  trotted and galloped on a track straightaway. Forces recorded from normal horses shod with single transducer shoes on all four feet were greater on the forelimbs than the rear limbs at the walk and trot. At the gallop

  forces were highest on the lead front followed by the nonlead front

  lead rear and nonlead rearlimb

  respectively. Forces recorded from a three transducer shoe on the right front hoof of a horse walking

  trotting and galloping in a right lead were highest on the medial side of the heel and occurred during the middle of the support period. Peak forces on the toe occurred at or near the time of heel lift.\nThe results of these studies indicate that these instrumented shoes have advantages over the methods previously...

  Measurement of vertical forces and temporal components of the strides of horses using instrumented shoes

  J. M. Frame

  B.D. Grant

  M.H. Ratzlaff

  Equine Exercise Physiology 2

  pp. 574-586

  Vertical forces exerted by galloping horses were measured using instrumented shoes nailed to each hoof. Each shoe consisted of an aluminum racing plate

  aluminum transducer mount

  and piezoelectric force transducer. The transducers were positioned over the center of the frog of each foot. Simultaneous recordings of the vertical forces exerted by all four feet were obtained from consecutive strides of each horse as it galloped through the straightaways and turns of a one-half mile (0.8 km) research track. The temporal patterns and force-time curves of each limb were repetitive for successive strides. On the straightaways

  the greatest forces were exerted by the lead forelimb followed by the lead rear

  non-lead fore

  and non-lead rear limbs. The mean peak forces and ranges

  expressed as a percentage of the total force exerted on the transducers from the four feet

  were 29.3 (24.6-33.4)

  26.4 (16.2-32.4)

  23.3 (18.4-30.4)

  and 21.0 (17.0-29.3) for the lead front

  lead rear

  non-lead front

  and non-lead rear limbs

  respectively. On the turns the greatest forces were exerted by the lead forelimb followed by the non-lead fore

  lead rear

  and non-lead rear limbs. The mean peak forces and ranges

  expressed as a percentage of the total vertical force

  were 30.1 (26.3-35.1)

  26.3 (23.8-31.5)

  23.0 (17.2-25.3)

  and 20.7 (17.6-25.0) for the lead fore

  non-lead fore

  lead rear

  and non-lead rear limbs

  respectively. The greater vertical forces exerted by the front legs of horses galloping through the turns may help explain the propensity for forelimb injuries in racing Thoroughbred horses.

  Locomotor forces of galloping horses

  Olin K. Balch

  Rhonda A. Rathgeber

  David V. Hutton

  Marc H. Ratzlaff

  J. Equine Vet. Sci. 17(1): 35-42

  Three methods were used to examine the relationships between the dynamic properties of a track and the locomotor forces exerted by galloping horses. The impact resistance and the percentage of energy returned by the track were determined using a trailer mounted track testing device. Vertical forces were measured from instrumented horseshoes nailed to all four hooves and the velocities of each of the six horses galloping in a track straight-away were determined from slow-motion films. The moisture content of the track was altered by the addition of water. These data were analyzed to determine the relationships between changes in moisture content on the energy returned by the track

  impact resistance of the track and locomotor forces exerted by the horses. There was a strong linear relationship between impact resistance and the percentage of energy returned by the track. Changes in moisture content of the track cushion resulted in similar changes in both the percentage of energy returned and the impact resistance of the track. Energy return and impact resistance decreased at 8% moisture and progressively increased from 8.5 to 14% moisture. The horses were divided into two groups based upon their speed during each trial (Group I: 14.5 to 15.4 m/sec and Group II: 15.5 to 16.5 m/sec). Changes in the moisture content of the track cushion altered the forces exerted by the horses. Forces were lowest at 8% moisture content for Group 1 and at 12% moisture for Group II. Changes in the percentage of energy returned and the impact resistance of the track also affected the forces exerted by the horses. For the horses in Group I forces increased as energy return and impact resistance increased. Conversely

  horses in Group II exhibited a decrease in force as energy return and impact resistance increased. These results suggest that the dynamic properties of the track may be suitable for horses traveling at relatively narrow ranges of velocity and that when horses work at speeds....

  Interrelationships between moisture content of the track

  dynamic properties of the track and the locomotor forces exerted by galloping horses

  O. K. Balch

  M.H. Ratzlaff