121,751 research outputs found
Differences Between the Family-Centered "COPCA" Program and Traditional Infant Physical Therapy Based on Neurodevelopmental Treatment Principles
No full textBackground. Evidence for effectiveness of pediatric physical therapy in infants at high risk for developmental motor disorders is limited. Therefore, "Coping With and Caring for Infants With Special Needs" (COPCA), a family-centered, early intervention program, was developed. The COPCA program is based on 2 components: (1) family involvement and educational parenting and (2) the neuromotor principles of the neuronal group selection theory. The COPCA coach uses principles of coaching to encourage the family's own capacities for solving problems of daily care and incorporating variation, along with trial and error in daily activities. Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the content of sessions of the home-based, early intervention COPCA program differs from that of traditional infant physical therapy (TIP) sessions, which in the Netherlands are largely based on neurodevelopmental treatment. Setting. The study was conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. Design. A quantitative video analysis of therapy sessions was conducted with infants participating in a 2-arm randomized trial. Patients and Intervention. Forty-six infants at high risk for developmental motor disorders were randomly assigned to receive COPCA (n = 21) or TIP (n = 25) between 3 and 6 months corrected age. Intervention sessions were videotaped at 4 and 6 months corrected age and analyzed with a standardized observation protocol for the classification of physical therapy actions. Outcome parameters were relative amounts of time spent on specific physical therapy actions. Results. The content of COPCA and TIP differed substantially. For instance, in TIP sessions, more time was spent on facilitation techniques, including handling, than in COPCA sessions (29% versus 3%, respectively). During COPCA, more time was spent on family coaching and education than during TIP (16% versus 4%, respectively). Limitations. The major limitation of the study was its restriction to the Netherlands, implying that findings cannot be generalized automatically to other countries. Conclusion. The COPCA program differs broadly from TIP as applied in the Netherlands. Studies on the effectiveness of this family-centered program are needed
Platelet-rich plasma PRP vs. absorbable mesh as cruroplasty reinforcement: a study on an animal model
No full textBackground: Reinforcement of posterior cruroplasty has been proposed to minimize the failure of hiatal hernia repair (HHR). The applications of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and absorbable mesh are barely reported in this area. Aims: To analyze local macroscopic and microscopic changes induced by mesh vs. PRP as reinforcement of HHR, using a reliable laparoscopic experimental porcine model. Material and methods: This prospective, comparative pilot study was conducted on 14 female pigs, aged four to six months. An iatrogenic hiatal defect was laparoscopically simulated and repaired, reinforced with Bio-A® mesh (group A) or PRP (group B). Specimen retrieval was performed after seven months for histopathological (HP) examination. Results: No local or general complications were registered, with complete resorption of reinforcements, that determined inflammatory infiltrates with local collagen production and tissue neo-vascularization. Group A had an increased mean chronic inflammation score (p =.3061), showing significant sclerotic collagenizing process. PRP enhanced angiogenesis, collagenizing, myofibroblast recruitment and tissue ingrowth. Conclusions: No residual materials or evidence of anatomical distortion were found. Animal model was safe and reliable. This is the first report of complete absorption of Bio-A® positioned on crural area. HP results suggest the clinical application of PRP in HHR as a promising co-adjuvant to local remodeling and healing. Abbreviations: ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists; AB: Alcian Blue; PAS: Periodic Acid-Schiff; CP: platelet concentrate; fPC: filtered plasma concentrate; GERD: gastro-esophageal reflux disease; HSA: hiatal surface area; HHR: hiatal hernia repair; HP: histopathological; HH: hiatal hernia; HE: hematoxylin and eosin; HR: hiatus repair alone; HRM: hiatus repair and acellular dermal matrix; NM: Nicolae Manolesccu; LNF: laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication; PC: posterior cruroplasty; PPP: platelet-poor plasma; RP: platelet-rich plasma
Houdingsregulatie bij zuigelingen met een hoog risico op neurologische ontwikkelingsstoornissen. De behandeling: traditionele babyfysiotherapie of COPCA
No full textIntroduction:
Knowledge on the development of postural control in infants at high risk for developmental disorders is limited. In the neural control of posture two levels can be distinguished. The first level consists of direction-specific postural activity. This means that the dorsal muscles are primary activated when the body sways forward and the ventral muscles are primary activated when the body sways backward. The second level is the fine-tuning, for example the adaptation of the number of direction-specific muscles used and the order of muscle activation.
The early intervention project (Dutch: Vroegtijdige Interventie Project, VIP) investigates the development of infants at high risk for developmental disorders and studies differences between infants who are treated with Traditional Infant Physical Therapy (TIP) and infants treated with the new ‘COPing with and Caring for Infants with Special Needs’ (COPCA) program.
Method:
Forty six infants participated in the VIP-project. They had been admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG) and had definitely abnormal general movements at 3 months corrected age. They were randomized in two intervention groups (TIP n = 25; COPCA n = 21).
At the corrected ages of 4, 6 and 18 months, video and EMG-registration of the postural muscles were made while the children were reaching. The reaches were elicited by presenting a toy in the infant’s midline. The analyses focused on the number of direction-specific trials; the number of direction-specific muscles that were used and the order of activation of the direction-specific muscles.
Results:
The development of postural control was characterized by variation. The VIP-group showed at 18 months less direction-specific trials than the control group (median resp. 63% vs. 88%, p = 0,002). The complete pattern was the most frequently use strategy in control and VIP-group (median 58%-75%). The recruitment order of the postural muscles was characterized by variation in both groups. The preference for a top-down recruitment order in the control group decreased with increasing age (100% - 16,7%, p = 0,033), while the preference for a bottom-up recruitment order increased (0% - 66,7%, p = 0,031). Similar changes were absent in the VIP-group. The TIP- and the COPCA-group showed no differences in the development of postural control.
Conclusion:
In typically developing infants and in infants at high risk for developmental disorder development of postural control is characterized by variation. Nevertheless, the current study showed that infants at high risk for developmental disorders, show a slower and different development of the postural control than typically developing in infants. The effect of both interventions on the development of postural control was similar.
A Multi-Language Comparison of Influences on Author Verification using Character N-Grams
No full textWe create a new multi-language corpus for author verification based on Wikipedia talkpages, and evaluate the influence that differences in topic and time have on character n-gram author profiles. Topic alignment between two texts is found to increase author verification precision, and an authors writing style is found to change over time, but not more significantly after 3 years than after 1 year.Information ArchitectureWISElectrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Scienc
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
No full textWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
The vanishing author in computer-generated works: a critical analysis of recent Australian case law
No full textAbstract
The use of software is ubiquitous in the creation of many copyright works, yet the requirement in copyright law that every work have a human author who engages in independent intellectual effort means that its use may prevent copyright subsistence. Several recent Australian cases have refocused attention on authorship as an essential criterion of copyright subsistence, and these cases suggest that much computer-produced output may be authorless and thus lack copyright protection. This article, the first in a two-part series, analyses how each case deals with the question of authorship of computer-produced works and why the use of software diminishes copyright protection for a significant number of computer-generated works. The article critiques the application of conventional notions of human authorship developed in the pre-computer age to modern productions and suggests alternative approaches to authorship that satisfy both the major objectives of copyright policy and the need to adapt to the computer age. The article argues that, without a broader judicial approach to authorship of computer-generated works, Parliament must remedy the lacuna in protection for these ‘authorless’ works. Possible solutions for reform are suggested. In a forthcoming article, the author comprehensively examines those reform proposals
Diffusive author(s), cohesive author: Analysis of S/N (1994)
No full textThis study indicates the ways in which various aspects of the author(s) are brought forth in Dumb type’s performance art, the S/N production. Previous research has suggested a non-hierarchical organization of Dumb type and the absence of a “privileged author” in Dumb type’s collaborative work, S/N. However, the results that I have investigated from member’s interviews on the creative process of S/N along with my analysis of the recorded images of S/N, indicate a different aspect of the author(s). First, S/N was created through, so to speak, the collective ideas of the members of Dumb type. Further, S/N has at least nine quotations from previous performances, installations, and printed writings, besides the work-in-progress technique. Explicating one of the “author functions” as given by Michel Foucault, each text has plural subjects of the author. However, it has been revealed from members’ interviews that Teiji Furuhashi had a decision-making role in selecting the members’ ideas within the performance. Since then, S/N has had plural subjects of creation; however, Furuhashi is one of the subjects of creation along with the “privileged author.” S/N has plural authors (diffusive authors) yet at the same time, it has a “privileged author,” Teiji Furuhashi (cohesive author)
Risk factors for identifying feeding difficulties and undernutrition in children with cerebral palsy
No full textIntroduction: Studying effects of early intervention in infants at risk for cerebral palsy is challenging, due to low prevalence, large heterogeneity and variation in natural course. Assessment of contents of intervention may improve understanding of working mechanisms. Therefore, we compared effects - including analyses of contents of physiotherapy - of COPCA (COPing with and CAring for infants with special needs) and Typical Infant Physiotherapy (TIP). Patients and method: Forty-three very high risk (VHR)-infants were included before 9 months corrected age (CA), based on either a severe brain lesion or clear neurological dysfunction. They were randomly assigned to receive 1 year of intervention, COPCA (n=23) or TIP (n=20). Infants were assessed at baseline, after 3, 6 and 12 months, and at 21 months CA with a large battery of neuromotor, cognitive, functional and family tests, with the Infant Motor Profile (IMP) as primary outcome. Physiotherapeutic intervention sessions were videotaped and quantitatively analyzed. Statistics included factoranalysis, partial correlations and multivariable mixed-effects models. Results: At RCT-level, cross-sectional outcome of COPCA and TIP was similar on primary and secondary outcomes. Mixed-effect models did not show significant differences over time between COPCA and TIP on total IMP-score. Process analyses revealed virtually no associations between physiotherapy and outcome. Conclusion: Current analyses indicate that in VHR infants 1 year of COPCA has a similar effect as 1 year of TIP. Our next step is to evaluate longitudinal outcome for secondary measures and to explore factors that influence outcome. These data will be presented at the meeting
Dissipative Range Scaling of Higher Order Structure Functions for Velocity and Passive Scalars
No full textDifferently to Kolmogorov's second similarity hypothesis, we find that the 2n-th order velocity and scalar structure functions scale with n-th order moment of the energy dissipation and the scalar dissipation, respectively. The origins of this scaling are analyzed by the transport equations of the fourth order velocity and scalar increment moments and by direct numerical simulations
Fast implementation of iterative adaptive approach for wideband unambiguous radar detection
No full textAccepted author manuscriptMicrowave Sensing, Signals & System
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