121,861 research outputs found
A cross-sectional observational study comparing foot and ankle characteristics in people with stroke and healthy controls
No full textPurpose: The purpose of this study was to explore and compare foot and ankle characteristics in people with stroke and healthy controls; and between stroke fallers and non-fallers.Methods: Participants were recruited from community groups and completed standardized tests assessing sensation, foot posture, foot function, ankle dorsiflexion and first metatarsal phalangeal joint range of motion (1st MPJ ROM), hallux valgus presence and severity.Results: Twenty-three stroke participants (mean age 75.09?±?7.57 years; 12 fallers) and 16 controls (mean age 73.44?±?8.35 years) took part. Within the stroke group, reduced 1st MPJ sensation (p?=?0.016) and 1st MPJ ROM (p?=?0.025) were observed in the affected foot in comparison to the non-affected foot; no other differences were apparent. Pooled data (for both feet) was used to explore between stroke/control (n?=?78 feet) and stroke faller/non-faller (n?=?46 feet) group differences. In comparison to the control group, stroke participants exhibited reduced sensation of the 1st MPJ (p?=?0.020), higher Foot Posture Index scores (indicating greater foot pronation, p?=?0.008) and reduced foot function (p?=?0.003). Stroke fallers exhibited significantly greater foot pronation in comparison to non-fallers (p?=?0.027).Conclusions: Results indicated differences in foot and ankle characteristics post stroke in comparison to healthy controls. These changes may negatively impact functional ability and the ability to preserve balance. Further research is warranted to explore the influence of foot problems on balance ability and falls in people with stroke. Implications for Rehabilitation Foot problems are common post stroke. As foot problems have been linked to increased fall risk among the general population we recommend that it would be beneficial to include foot and ankle assessments or a referral to a podiatrist for people with stroke who report foot problems. Further research is needed to explore if we can improve functional performance post stroke and reduce fall risk if treatment or prevention of foot problems can be included in stroke rehabilitation
Outcomes in third and fourth kidney transplants based on the type of donor
No full textBackground. An increasing number of patients are requiring multiple retransplants. We assessed outcomes of third and fourth kidney transplants, to aid decision making on the most suitable donor type. Methods. Data were collected retrospectively for 2561 transplants, including 69 third and 8 fourth, performed from 2000 to 2017. Demographics and outcomes for the combined third/fourth group were compared to first and second transplants. Within the third/fourth kidney transplant group, comparisons were made between deceased donors (n = 39), live donor HLA-compatible (n = 23) and -incompatible (n = 13) transplants, as well as between standard (n = 25) and extended-criteria (n = 14) deceased donor transplants. Results. Patient survival did not differ significantly by transplant number (P = 0.532), whereas death-censored graft survival declined progressively, from 89% at 5 years in first, 85% in second and 74% in the third/fourth transplant group (P < 0.001). Within the combined third/fourth transplant subgroup, 5-year graft survival was found to be 100% in recipients of HLA-compatible live donors, compared to 75% in deceased donors and 53% in HLA-incompatible live donors, although this difference did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.083). No significant difference in patient survival (P = 0.356) or complication rates (P = 0.757) were detected between these groups. For recipients of deceased donors in the third/fourth transplant group, there were no significant differences between standard versus extended-criteria donors for any of the outcomes considered. Conclusions. Despite variable functional outcomes, third and fourth kidney transplant recipients experience comparable patient survival rates to first and second transplants, regardless of the donor type. In selected patients, HLA-incompatible live donors and extended-criteria deceased donors should be considered
UK Renal Registry 16th annual report: chapter 4 demography of patients waitlisted for renal transplantation in the UK: national and centre-specific analyses
No full textIntroduction: for suitable patients, renal transplantation is considered the optimal modality of renal replacement therapy, with availability of donor organs limiting the number of transplants undertaken. The 2006 kidney allocation policy was developed to ensure equity of allocation to patients on the transplant waiting list, whilst still achieving a good donor/recipient match. This study aims to describe the characteristics of the kidney transplant waiting list and variations in median waiting times. Methods: demographics and clinical characteristics of all patients listed for a kidney only transplant in the UK on 1st January 2011 were examined. Renal unit variations were explored. Patients listed between January 2006 and December 2009 were included in analysis of waiting times to transplant. Results: at the beginning of 2011, there were 6,699 patients registered active for kidney only transplant in UK; a prevalence rate of 107 pmp. The median age of prevalent listed patients was 53 years, with 8% aged 70 or above. Of the patients listed, 84% had started renal replacement therapy (RRT), 59% were male, 28% were from ethnic minorities, 50% had blood group type O, 28% were defined as difficult to HLA match and 23% were highly sensitised (calculated HLA antibody reaction frequency 85%). Median waiting time to transplant was 38 months. Waiting time was shorter for White patients (36 months) compared to Asian or Black patients (46 months), and was doubled in highly sensitised compared to un-sensitised patients. Conclusions: intercentre variation was observed in the rate of wait-listing and in the proportion of listed patients across different ethnic groups, age, blood groups and level of sensitisation. This may reflect differences in baseline population characteristics as well as individual centre practice patterns. Median waiting times differ significantly across blood groups, degree of sensitisation and ethnic grou
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)
Dealing with public solicitation of organs from living donors: an ELPAT view
No full textAlthough transplant professionals have initially been reluctant to perform transplants after public solicitation of organs from living donors, nowadays these transplants are increasingly being performed and reported. After clarifying the existing terminology, we elaborate an operational definition of public solicitation that is consistent with the Ethical, Legal, and Psychosocial Aspects of Transplantation classification for living organ donation. Our aimis to critically assess this phenomenon, from a legal, moral, and practical perspective, and to offer some recommendations. From a legal point of view, we analyze the current situation in the Europe and the United States. From a moral perspective, we evaluate the various arguments used in the literature, both in favor and against. Finally, we offer a set of recommendations aimed at maximizing the organ donor pool while safeguarding the interests of potential living donors
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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