A set of three experiments was performed to investigate the role of visual imaging in the haptic recognition of raised-line depictions of common objects. Blindfolded, sighted (Experiment 1) observers performed the task very poorly, while several findings converged to indicate that a visual translation process was adopted. These included: (1) strong correlations between imageability ratings (obtained in Experiment 1 and, independently, in Experiment 2) and both recognition speed and accuracy, (2) superior performance with, and greater ease of imaging, twodimensional as opposed to three-dimensional depictions, despite equivalence in rated line complexity, and (3) a significant correlation between the general ability of the observer to image and obtained imageability ratings of the stimulus depictions. That congenitally blind observers performed the same task even more poorly, while their performance did not differ for two-versus three-dimensional depictions (Experiment 3), provides further evidence that visual translation was used by the sighted. Such limited performance is contrasted with the considerable skill with which real common objects are processed and recognized haptically. The reasons for the general difference in the haptic performance of two-versus three-dimensional tasks are considered. Implications for the presentation of spatial information in the form of tangible graphics displays for the blind are also discussed.The haptic perceptual system uses both cutaneous and kinesthetic inputs to derive information about the properties of objects and about their spatial layout (Gibson, 1966;Loomis & Lederman, 1986). Past research has consistently represented haptics as an ineffective system for learning about the concrete world. It has been compared to vision in particularly unfavorable ways. The evidence derives largely from three sets of perceptual tasks: the perception of extent, direction, and position of simple point and line stimuli, the recognition of raised-line drawings of familiar objects, and the recognition of planar nonsense shapes. We will consider each in tum.

OBJECTIVEThe childhood obesity epidemic has been accompanied by an increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D), particularly in minority children. Twenty to thirty percent of obese youth have “prediabetes,” a precursor to diabetes marked by insulin resistance, β-cell dysfunction, and impaired glucose tolerance. The Diabetes Prevention Program demonstrated that T2D could be prevented/delayed by intensive lifestyle modification in adults with prediabetes, but efficacy of similar interventions in youth has not been established. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of the Bright Bodies (BB) Healthy Lifestyle Program on 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) glucose in comparison with adolescents receiving standard of care.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSA parallel-group randomized controlled trial comparing BB with standard clinical care (CC) in obese adolescents (10–16 years old, Tanner stage >2) with elevated OGTT 2-h blood glucose (130–199 mg/dL) from a racially/ethnically diverse population. OGTTs, including cardiovascular and anthropometric assessments, were conducted at baseline and 6 months. Children attended BB twice per week for exercise and nutrition/behavior modification, and the CC group received CC from their pediatrician. Primary outcome was change in 2-h OGTT glucose and percentage conversion from elevated 2-h blood glucose to nonelevated (<130 mg/dL) 2-h blood glucose. Changes in outcomes were compared between groups using an ANCOVA, with adjustment for baseline outcome and multiple imputation for missing data.RESULTSReductions in 2-h glucose were more favorable in BB compared with CC (−27.2 vs. −10.1 mg/dL; difference = −17.1, 95% CI; P = 0.005). Moreover, greater conversion to <130 mg/dL 2-h glucose occurred in BB than CC (P = 0.003), and other insulin sensitivity indices were significantly improved.CONCLUSIONSCompared with standard of care, the Yale BB Program is a more effective means of reducing the risk of T2D in obese adolescents with elevated 2-h glucose levels.

The influence of modality-encoding bias on the relative importance ('cognitive salience') of object shape, size, and material, with the last determined by weight and thermal variations, was examined. Experiment 1 confirmed that for these stimulus objects all five properties were very accessible haptically, as measured by the time to identify the property level of each designated property; however, observers were still generally faster for geometric than material properties. In experiment 2, the influence of modality-encoding bias on cognitive salience was assessed by using a task involving free sorting by similarity. As predicted, modality-encoding bias strongly influenced cognitive salience. Observers favoured sorting by material under haptic- bias instructions, and three-dimensional geometric properties (especially shape) under visual-bias instructions. Videotaped hand movements indicated that modality-encoding biases reflect long-term knowledge of the relative speed and precision of manual exploration patterns, rather than exploration of the current set of objects.

Residents of four northern communities were surveyed about Atomic Energy of Canada Limited's proposal to site an underground repository for high‐level nuclear waste somewhere in the Canadian Shield. Opposition to the repository was relatively strong in all communities, but was strongest among aboriginal respondents. Path analysis revealed that trust in nuclear regulators, faith in science and technology, and anticipated net costs were important mediators of this effect. Aboriginals were less trusting, exhibited less faith in science and technology, and perceived the costs associated with the repository to be higher than their nonaboriginal counterparts. No support was found for the hypothesis that, after controlling for aboriginal status, financially insecure individuals would display greater support for the nuclear waste repository than financially secure individuals. Policy implications for balancing perceived risks and siting needs are discussed.

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