Search

The possible magnetophoretic migration of iron oxide nanoparticles through the cellulosic matrix within a single layer of paper is challenging with its underlying mechanism remained unclear. Even with the recent advancements of theoretical understanding on magnetophoresis, mainly driven by cooperative and hydrodynamics phenomena, the contributions of these two mechanisms on possible penetration of magnetic nanoparticles through cellulosic matrix of paper have yet been proven. Here, by using iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), both nanospheres and nanorods, we have investigated the migration kinetics of these nanoparticles through grade 4 Whatman filter paper with a particle retention of 20–25 μm. By performing droplet tracking experiments, the real-time stained area growth of the particle droplet on the filter paper, under the influences of a grade N40 NdFeB magnet, were recorded. Our results show that the spatial and temporal expansion of the IONP stain is biased toward the magnet and such an effect is dependent on (i) particle concentration and (ii) particle shape. The kinetics data were first analyzed by treating it as a radial wicking fluid, and later the IONP distribution within the cellulosic matrix was investigated by optical microscopy. The macroscopic flow front velocities of the stained area ranged from 259 μm/s to 16 040 μm/s. Moreover, the microscopic magnetophoretic velocity of nanorod cluster was also successfully measured as ∼214 μm/s. Findings in this work have indirectly revealed the strong influence of cooperative magnetophoresis and the engineering feasibility of paper-based magnetophoretic technology by taking advantage of magnetoshape anisotropy effect of the particles.

A stereoselective synthetic entry point to the 5–8–5 carbocyclic core of the ophiobolins was developed. This strategy exploits the chiral tertiary alcohol of ophiobolin A to guide assmebly of the 5–8–5 scaffold in a single step via a photoinitiated cycloisomerization. Mechanistic insights into the origin of stereocontrol in this reaction are described, as are efforts to elaborate the resultant fused 5–8–5 ring system to the pharmacophore of ophiobolin A.

A new polyene cyclization strategy exploiting β-ionyl derivatives was developed. Photoinduced deconjugation of the extended π-system within these chromophores unveils a contrathermodynamic polyene that engages in a Heck bicyclization to afford [4.4.1]-propellanes. This cascade improves upon the limited regioselectivity achieved using existing biomimetic tactics and tolerates both electron-rich and electron-deficient (hetero)aryl groups. The utility of this approach was demonstrated with the diverted total synthesis of taxodione and salviasperanol, two isomeric abietane diterpenes that were previously inaccessible along the same synthetic pathway.

While previous research has suggested that lowering athletes’ heart rates can enhance sports performance, it is unknown whether slow-paced music might induce a lower heart rate and thereby improve some types of motor performance. In this study, we investigated the effects of different types of music during dart-throw training on both heart rate and dart-throwing performance in 45 (Mage = 19.7, SD= 0.31 years) novice dart throwers who were randomly assigned to either a Slow Music Group (SMG), a Fast Music Group (FMG), or a Control Group (CG). All participants completed three dart-throwing blocks - Pre-Test, Practice, and Post-Test. During the Practice block, participants practiced dart-throwing with either slow-paced, fast-paced or no music according to their assigned group. We recorded the participants’ heart rates and total dart-throwing accuracy scores during Pre-Test and Post-Test. Music-assisted dart-throw training with slow-paced music was effective in significantly inhibiting a performance-related increase in heart rate and was associated with the greatest dart throwing improvement after training.

In a retrospective study at 2 institutions, the authors demonstrate that age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index is associated with disease-related mortality in invasive orbital fungal disease.Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

Around 8% of children at school entry are thought to be affected by developmental language disorder. This article explains why a public health approach across agencies is needed to give children the best possible start in life and reduce inequalities

Visual illusions caused by varied orientations of visual patterns may influence the perception of space and size, possibly affecting body stability during locomotion. This study examined the effect of variations in shoe top visual patterns on perception and biomechanical stability while walking and running. Twenty healthy adults performed five walking and running trials along an instrumented walkway when wearing shoes with five different striped patterns (plain, vertical, outward, horizontal, and inward). Before these locomotion trials, participants ranked their perceptions of shoe width. We used synchronized force platform and motion capturing systems to measure ground reaction force, mediolateral center of position displacement, ankle inversion and eversion, ankle excursion, and maximum eversion velocity. We rated stability perception on a 150-mm visual analog scale immediately after each shoe condition. Data analyses indicated that participants perceived plain and horizontal striped shoes as significantly wider than inward and vertical patterned shoes. During walking, participants wearing shoes with plain and horizontal striped patterns demonstrated smaller mediolateral center of position displacement, maximum eversion velocity, and ankle range of motion when compared with walking when wearing outward and vertical striped patterns; when running, we observed a similar effect for maximum eversion velocity. Thus, certain visual patterns on the tops of shoes influence the wearers’ width perception and locomotion in ways that affect ankle stability during walking and running, with implications for risk of injury.

ABSTRACTInterest in brown adipose tissue has increased in recent years as a potential target for novel obesity, diabetes and metabolic disease treatments. One of the significant limitations to rapid progress has been the difficulty in measuring brown adipose tissue activity, especially in humans. Infrared thermography (IRT) is being increasingly recognized as a valid and complementary method to standard imaging modalities, such as positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT). In contrast to PET/CT, it is non-invasive, cheap and quick, allowing, for the first time, the possibility of large studies of brown adipose tissue (BAT) on healthy populations and children. Variations in study protocols and analysis methods currently limit direct comparison between studies but IRT following appropriate BAT stimulation consistently shows a change in supraclavicular skin temperature and a close association with results from BAT measurements from other methods.

The deployment of collaborative robotic systems in industry 4.0 raises the potential for complex human-robot interaction to create highly flexible processes. This brings a need for systems that can facilitate rapid programming and development of safe collaborative processes, without the need for extensive training. In this paper we introduce a novel Application Programming Interface (API) for the KUKA Intelligent Industrial Work Assistant (iiwa) Lightweight Robot (LBR) that enables fast development and integration of devices, using the popular Robot Operating System (ROS), without compromising the inherent safety features of the robot. We describe the API, released as a freely available download, and provide an example application of its use to support a large-scale interactive participant experiment. As flexible manufacturing technologies become ever more connected and complex, it is important to ensure compatibility between networked devices and provide tools to support system integration based on common platforms. Our API is one such tool, and has been designed to support faster and easier system integration and development, providing particular support to scientists in creating experiments for studying human-robot collaboration.

Metallo prodrugs that take advantage of the inherent acidity surrounding cancer cells have yet to be developed. We report a new class of pH-activated metallo prodrugs (pHAMPs) that are activated by light- and pH-triggered ligand dissociation. These ruthenium complexes take advantage of a key characteristic of cancer cells and hypoxic solid tumors (acidity) that can be exploited to lessen the side effects of chemotherapy. Five ruthenium complexes of the type [(N,N)2Ru(PL)]2+were synthesized, fully characterized, and tested for cytotoxicity in cell culture (1A: N,N = 2,2′-bipyridine (bipy) and PL, the photolabile ligand, = 6,6′-dihydroxybipyridine (6,6′-dhbp); 2A: N,N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and PL = 6,6′-dhbp; 3A: N,N = 2,3-dihydro-[1,4]dioxino[2,3-f][1,10]phenanthroline (dop) and PL = 6,6′-dhbp; 4A: N,N = bipy and PL = 4,4′-dimethyl-6,6′-dihydroxybipyridine (dmdhbp); 5A: N,N = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and PL = 4,4′-dihydroxybipyridine (4,4′-dhbp). The thermodynamic acidity of these complexes was measured in terms of two pKavalues for conversion from the acidic form (XA) to the basic form (XB) by removal of two protons. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data is discussed for 2A, 2B, 3A, 4B, and 5A. All complexes except 5Ashowed measurable photodissociation with blue light (λ = 450 nm). For complexes 1A–4Aand their deprotonated analogues (1B–4B), the protonated form (at pH 5) consistently gave faster rates of photodissociation and larger quantum yields for the photoproduct, [(N,N)2Ru(H2O)2]2+. This shows that low pH can lead to greater rates of photodissociation. Cytotoxicity studies with 1A–5Ashowed that complex 3Ais the most cytotoxic complex of this series with IC50values as low as 4 μM (with blue light) versus two breast cancer cell lines. Complex 3Ais also selectively cytotoxic, with sevenfold higher toxicity toward cancerous versus normal breast cells. Phototoxicity indices with 3Awere as high as 120, which shows that dark toxicity is avoided. The key difference between complex 3Aand the other complexes tested appears to be higher uptake of the complex as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and a more hydrophobic complex as compared to 1A, which may enhance uptake. These complexes demonstrate proof of concept for dual activation by both low pH and blue light, thus establishing that a pHAMP approach can be used for selective targeting of cancer cells.

This paper discusses Responsible (Research and) Innovation (RRI) within a UKRI project funded through the Trustworthy Autonomous Systems Hub, Imagining Robotic Care: Identifying conflict and confluence in stakeholder imaginaries of autonomous care systems. We used LEGO®Serious Play®as an RRI methodology for focus group workshops exploring sociotechnical imaginaries about how robots should (or should not) be incorporated into the existing UK health-social care system held by care system stakeholders, users and general publics. We outline the workshops’ protocol and some emerging insights from early data collection, including the ways that LSP aids in the surfacing of tacit knowledge, allowing participants to develop their own scenarios and definitions of ‘robot’ and ‘care’. We further discuss the implications of LSP as a method for upstream stakeholder engagement in general and how this may contribute to embedding RRI in robotics research on a larger scale.

Groundwater contamination is a serious water quality problem since 50% of the population derives drinking water from groundwater sources. Severe water quality problems have resulted from deep percolation under irrigated areas, carrying high salt loads and increased nitrate concentrations to groundwater aquifers. This review looks at studies that have dealt with the effect of deep percolation from irrigation on groundwater quality. Recommendations are developed to minimize the undesirable effects of groundwater contamination by irrigated agriculture. Major among the conclusions is that improved andor more efficient irrigation and fertilizer management practices are required to minimize the adverse impact of irrigated agriculture on the quality of underlying groundwater. When water and nutrient application and use efficiencies are improved, deep percolation is decreased and less downward movement of pollutants occurs. Structural improvements in irrigation systems are a necessary aid to achieving the desired level of management.

Speech and Communication Problems in Psychiatry Edited by Rosemary Gravell and Jenny France. London: Chapman & Hall. 1991. Pp. 358. £14.99. ISBN 0-412-34700-8.Children with Acquired Aphasias Janet A Lees. London: Whurr Publishers. 1993. Pp. 160. £19.50. ISBN 1-870332-69-5.Language of the Elderly: A Chnical Perspective Jane Maxim and Karen Bryan. London: Whurr Publishers. London. 1994. Pp. 297. £19.50. ISBN 1-870332-35-0.Cochlear Implants for Young Children: The Nottingham Approach to Assessment and Rehabilitation Barry McCormick, Sue Archbold and Sarah Sheppard. London: Whurr. 1994. Pp. 291. £24.50. ISBN I-8976358-0.Social Skills in Interpersonal Communication Hargie, Christine Saunders and David Dickson. London: Routledge. 1994. Pp. 369. E12.99. ISBN 0-415-08137-8.Language and Communication Disorders in Children, 3rd edition Bernstein and E. Tiegerman. Oxford: Maxwell Macmillan. 1993. Pp. 543. £19.50. ISBN 0-02-309011-1.Enhancing Children's Communication - Research Foundations for intervention A. P. Kaiser and D.B. Gray. London: Paul Brookes. 1993. Pp. 423. £37.50. ISBN 1-55766-076-X.

Gaze control requires the coordination of movements of both eyes and head to fixate on a target. Using our biologically constrained architecture for gaze control we show how the relationships between the coupled sensorimotor systems can be learnt autonomously from scratch, allowing for adaptation as the system grows or changes. Infant studies suggest developmental learning strategies, which can be applied to sensorimotor learning in humanoid robots. We examine environmental constraints for the learning of eye and head coupled mappings, and give results from implementations on an iCub robot. The results show the impact of these constraints and how they can be overcome to benefit the development of fast, cumulative, on-line learning of coupled sensorimotor systems.

Dynamic assessment (DA) has been proposed as an alternative or complementary means for assessing children's language development. This study investigates the use of a DA methodology alongside a static assessment in order to obtain information on the receptive vocabulary skills of young children with suspected language impairments. A DA procedure was piloted with a group of 14 children for whom there were no concerns about speech and language development and 40 children who had been referred to speech and language therapy (age 3;05 to 5 years). Twelve of the referred children had English as an additional language (EAL) and 28 were monolingual English. The static assessment from which the DA was developed was the British Picture Vocabulary Scales. The DA incorporated measures of children's ability to match a word to a referent and to retain the words for expressive and receptive purposes. Results indicated that monolingual children and those with EAL had comparable DA scores even though their static vocabulary scores were significantly different. Children with normally developing language and children referred to speech and language therapy performed significantly differently on these dynamic measures. In addition, there was greater variability in performance on the dynamic measures within the delayed language group than in the language normal group. The DA appears to capture additional information above and beyond that captured by the BPVS especially in the group of children with the lowest language skills.

Whereas collaboration between practitioners such as teachers and therapists is relatively well documented, less is known about collaboration between their respective services at managerial level. This article reports on the case-study phase of a national study into provision of services to children with speech, and language needs. The case sites were 15 LEAs and a corresponding health trust partner, 10 self-rated as high collaborators. 57 health and education managers were interviewed about a range of themes relating to the strategic planning of services, collaboration, funding and resource allocation, training and professional development and the involvement of parents. We find extensive recognition of the need for collaboration between agencies, but wide variation in practices across England and Wales. At strategic level, various factors appear to facilitate joint planning, although constraints operate at several levels. Tensions in the current system are explored, with particular reference to how to achieve equitable distribution of resources whilst working towards an agenda of inclusive education.

This paper reports on a systematic review of the literature commissioned to examine the feasibility of universal screening for speech and language delay. The results, based on an examination of productivity figures, including positive predictive ability and likelihood ratio, indicate that a number of screening tests are adequate. Sensitivity was generally lower than specificity, and study quality was inversely related to both sensitivity and likelihood ratio, suggesting that it is easier to identify accurately children who do not have language and speech problems than those who do. The review concluded that there is insufficient evidence to warrant the introduction of universal screening at this stage. This paper discusses the type of data that would be needed to address this issue further and recommendations are made for alternative approaches to early identification.

Groundwater contamination is a serious water quality problem since 50&percent; of the population derives drinking water from groundwater sources. Severe water quality problems have resulted from deep percolation under irrigated areas, carrying high salt loads and increased nitrate concentrations to groundwater aquifers. This review looks at studies that have dealt with the effect of deep percolation from irrigation on groundwater quality. Recommendations are developed to minimize the undesirable effects of groundwater contamination by irrigated agriculture. Major among the conclusions is that improved and/or more efficient irrigation and fertilizer management practices are required to minimize the adverse impact of irrigated agriculture on the quality of underlying groundwater. When water and nutrient application and use efficiencies are improved, deep percolation is decreased and less downward movement of pollutants occurs. Structural improvements in irrigation systems are a necessary aid to achieving the desired level of management.

This paper examines the effects of two different types of treatment provided for young children with a specific language impairment (SLI). Two groups of seven children matched for language skills were ran domly allocated to one of two treatment conditions. In the first, the children were given group treatment three times a week over a seven week period. At the same time the parents were provided with weekly sessions encouraging them to focus on specific aspects of their child's interaction and language development. In the second condition, children were provided with group treatment equivalent to that in the first condition but parents were not provided with the additional support. Change was measured using video analysis of parent/child interaction in a fixed context before and after the intervention. As predicted, child initiations increased following both groups providing input to children. The parents who were involved in the intervention increased their use of specific referent terms directly relevant to the nonverbal context. How ever, very little difference was noted in the behaviour of parents who were not involved in intervention. The clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

Water quality problems associated with irrigation return flows are difficult to assess accurately and to control effectively. They include salinity increase, nutrient loss, sediment transport, and pesticide residue. The effects of these on the quality of receiving waters are discussed. Potential control measures that may prove effective in alleviating the detrimental effects of irrigation return flows are suggested. These may involve physical changes in the system, improvements in present management and cultural practices, or changes in the institutional influences upon the system. The potentials for improving the quality of return flows through changes in the water delivery system, farm water management practices, and water removal system are outlined and discussed. Research investigations will be required to further evaluate the effectiveness of many of the controls suggested.

Interest in brown adipose tissue remains high a decade after it was determined to be present outside of the neonatal period. In vivo imaging, however, has remained a challenge due to the lack of a imaging modality suitable for large healthy-volunteer studies, post-prandial investigations and vulnerable groups, such as children. Infra-red thermography is increasingly accepted as valid, non-invasive and flexible alternative but there is a wide approach to analysis between different groups. Defining the region of interest with anatomical borders rather than using a simple polygon may have advantages in terms of consistency but makes image analysis slower, limiting some applications. Our novel semi-automated method, using a custom-built graphical user interface, allows an 86% improvement in speed of image analysis (54.9 (38.3-71.4) seconds/image) without increases in variation between analysers or with repeated analysis. The improved efficiency demonstrated makes feasible larger studies, longer imaging periods or increased image acquisition frequency, providing an opportunity to study novel features of brown adipose tissue function.

Eighty-one patients with long-term tracheostomy tubes (mean duration, 4.9 months) were examined via fiberoptic bronchoscopy prior to decannulation. Obstructive airway lesions were observed in 54 patients (67 percent). All tracheal lesions were anatomically located proximal to the stoma. No cuff lesions were observed. The two most commonly observed lesions were tracheal granuloma (60 percent) and tracheomalacia (29 percent). Less frequently observed lesions were tracheostenosis (14 percent) and vocal cord and laryngeal dysfunction (8 percent). As a result of the high frequency of tracheal abnormalities, especially that for tracheal granuloma which has not been previously reported (to our knowledge), we recommend that all decannulation candidates undergo anatomic examination of the airways.

The article reports that U.S. Air Force airmen assigned to the First Expeditionary RED HORSE Group have completed a barrier arresting kit on the flightline at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The barrier arresting kit 12-series is the second of two installed at Bagram. It replaces mobile aircraft arresting systems.

Two experiments investigated gender differences in recognition memory for faces and cars. Stimuli were line drawings of cars and of adult men and women (Experiment 1) and photographs of real cars and of real boys and girls (Experiment 2). In both experiments, performance was better on faces than on cars. Regarding recognition memory for men’s faces, in Experiment 1, men’s scores were higher than women’s scores. However, in Experiment 2, men recognized more cars than did women, and women recognized more children than did men. Results are generally consistent with the hypothesis that memory reflects male and female interest in, and/or differential familiarity for, different kinds of material.