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Background: Morphosyntactic problems are a core symptom of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). In the Netherlands, children with (presumed) DLD can receive special care in language-focused treatment groups. The focus of these groups mainly lies in improving communicative intentions, vocabulary and phonology. Morphosyntactic skills receive less attention. Aims: The authors developed a scripted group-based intervention targeting morphosyntactic skills in young children with DLD. In this study, the effect of the intervention on the morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers with (presumed) DLD was tested and the usability for pedagogical practitioners (PPs) was evaluated. Methods & Procedures: Twenty-seven preschoolers with DLD (aged 2;10-3;10 [years;months]) participated in an A-B group study in which the development of grammatical structures was monitored with a morphosyntactic task and language sample analyses (LSA). Progression during 8 weeks usual care (UC) and 8 weeks morphosyntactic intervention was examined using Bayesian mixed effects models. In LSA, structures that were targeted were compared to control structures. The intervention consisted of a weekly script-based group session in which morphosyntactic structures were targeted, and daily activities in which these target structures were repeated. The intervention was provided by trained PPs, who were coached by a speech-language therapist. An early indication of usability and feasibility was evaluated using an online questionnaire. Outcomes & Results: The analyses show that morphosyntactic skills improved during the intervention period, with strong evidence for growth in the production of target structures on the morphosyntactic task and target and control structures in LSA, while barely any evidence was found for growth in the use of these structures in UC. However, target structures and control structures seem to develop at the same rate. General measures of morphosyntactic ability showed improvement both during UC and the intervention phase. Evaluation among practitioners suggested that the intervention is regarded as usable and feasible. Conclusions & Implications: Growth in morphosyntactic skills of children in the intervention period was demonstrated, but this could not be proven to be related to the intervention because both target and control structures improved during the intervention. This growth might be due to maturation instead of the intervention. Nevertheless, our study demonstrates that the morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers with DLD can show considerable improvement over a period of 8 weeks. Furthermore, our study underlines the importance of using LSA measures when monitoring the morphosyntactic development of children, as they might be more sensitive to change than standardised tests.

Abstract Intravascular surgical instruments require precise navigation within narrow vessels, necessitating maximum flexibility, minimal diameter, and high degrees of freedom. Existing tools often lack control during insertion due to undesirable bending, limiting vessel accessibility and risking tissue damage. Next-generation instruments aim to develop hemocompatible untethered devices controlled by external magnetic forces. Achieving this goal remains complex due to testing and implementation challenges in clinical environments. Here we assess the operational effectiveness of hemocompatible untethered magnetic robots using an ex vivo porcine aorta model. The results demonstrate a linear decrease in the swimming speed of untethered magnetic robots as arterial blood flow increases, with the capability to navigate against a maximum arterial flow rate of 67 mL/min. The untethered magnetic robots effectively demonstrate locomotion in a difficult-to-access target site, navigating through the abdominal aorta and reaching the distal end of the renal artery.

Background: Morphosyntactic problems are a core symptom of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD). In the Netherlands, children with (presumed) DLD can receive special care in language‐focused treatment groups. The focus of these groups mainly lies in improving communicative intentions, vocabulary and phonology. Morphosyntactic skills receive less attention. Aims: The authors developed a scripted group‐based intervention targeting morphosyntactic skills in young children with DLD. In this study, the effect of the intervention on the morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers with (presumed) DLD was tested and the usability for pedagogical practitioners (PPs) was evaluated. Methods & Procedures: Twenty‐seven preschoolers with DLD (aged 2;10–3;10 [years;months]) participated in an A‐B group study in which the development of grammatical structures was monitored with a morphosyntactic task and language sample analyses (LSA). Progression during 8 weeks usual care (UC) and 8 weeks morphosyntactic intervention was examined using Bayesian mixed effects models. In LSA, structures that were targeted were compared to control structures. The intervention consisted of a weekly script‐based group session in which morphosyntactic structures were targeted, and daily activities in which these target structures were repeated. The intervention was provided by trained PPs, who were coached by a speech‐language therapist. An early indication of usability and feasibility was evaluated using an online questionnaire. Outcomes & Results: The analyses show that morphosyntactic skills improved during the intervention period, with strong evidence for growth in the production of target structures on the morphosyntactic task and target and control structures in LSA, while barely any evidence was found for growth in the use of these structures in UC. However, target structures and control structures seem to develop at the same rate. General measures of morphosyntactic ability showed improvement both during UC and the intervention phase. Evaluation among practitioners suggested that the intervention is regarded as usable and feasible. Conclusions & Implications: Growth in morphosyntactic skills of children in the intervention period was demonstrated, but this could not be proven to be related to the intervention because both target and control structures improved during the intervention. This growth might be due to maturation instead of the intervention. Nevertheless, our study demonstrates that the morphosyntactic skills of preschoolers with DLD can show considerable improvement over a period of 8 weeks. Furthermore, our study underlines the importance of using LSA measures when monitoring the morphosyntactic development of children, as they might be more sensitive to change than standardised tests. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Most children with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) experience difficulties in their morphosyntactic development. In the Netherlands, preschoolers with DLD can receive special care in language‐focused treatment groups. These groups mainly focus on stimulating communicative intentions, vocabulary and phonology, but less so on stimulating morphosyntactic skills. What this study adds: We designed a new group‐based intervention targeting the expressive morphosyntactic skills of children with DLD, examined the effect and investigated the usability and feasibility. Although there is strong evidence for growth in morphological skills, intervention effects could not be demonstrated. Evaluations among practitioners suggested that the intervention is regarded as usable and feasible. Furthermore, this study shows that children's morphosyntactic skills can improve over relatively short periods of time and language sample analyses seem to be sensitive to detect these changes. What are the clinical implications of this work?: Currently, very few group‐based morphosyntactic interventions exist (in the Netherlands). Since practitioners were generally positive about the intervention and its usability and feasibility, the proposed intervention might benefit the treatment of morphosyntactic problems in children with DLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The effects of neighborhood density (ND) and lexical frequency on word recognition and the effects of phonotactic probability (PP) on nonword repetition (NWR) were examined to gain insight into processing at the lexical and sublexical levels in typically developing (TD) children and children with developmental language problems. Method: Tasks measuring NWR and word recognition were administered to 5 groups of children: 2 groups of TD children (5 and 8 years old), children with specific language impairment (SLI), children with reading impairment (RI), and children with SLI + RI (all 7-8 years old). Results: High ND had a negative effect on word recognition in the older TD children and in the children with RI only. There was no ND effect in the younger children or in the children with SLI, who all had lower receptive vocabulary scores than the age-matched TD children and the RI groups. For all groups, NWR items with low PP were more difficult to repeat than items with high PP. This effect was especially pronounced in children with RI. Conclusion: Both the stage of vocabulary development and the type of language impairment (SLI or RI) impact the way ND and PP affect word recognition and NWR.

Background: While narrative tasks have proven to be valid measures for detecting language disorders, measuring communicative skills and predicting future academic performance, research into the comparability of different narrative tasks has shown that outcomes are dependent on the type of task used. Although many of the studies detecting task differences touch upon the fact that tasks place differential demands on cognitive abilities like auditory attention and memory, few studies have related specific narrative tasks to these cognitive abilities. Examining this relation is especially warranted for children with specific language impairment (SLI), who are characterized by language problems, but often have problems in other cognitive domains as well. Methods & Procedures: In the current research, a comparison was made between a story retelling task ("The Bus Story") and a story generation task ("The Frog Story") in a group of children with SLI (n= 34) and a typically developing group (n= 38) from the same age range. In addition to the two narrative tasks, sustained auditory attention (TEA-Ch) and verbal working memory (WISC digit span and the Dutch version of the CVLT-C word list recall) were measured. Correlations were computed between the narrative, the memory and the attention scores. Outcomes & Results: A group comparison showed that the children with SLI scored significantly worse than the typically developing children on several narrative measures as well as on sustained auditory attention and verbal working memory. A within-subjects comparison of the scores on the two narrative tasks showed a contrast between the tasks on several narrative measures. Furthermore, correlational analyses showed that, on the level of plot structure, the story generation task correlated with sustained auditory attention, while the story retelling task correlated with word list recall. Mean length of utterance (MLU) on the other hand correlated with digit span but not with sustained auditory attention. Conclusions: While children with SLI have problems with narratives in general, their performance is also dependent on the specific elicitation task used for research or diagnostics. Various narrative tasks generate different scores and are differentially correlated to cognitive skills like attention and memory, making the selection of a given task crucial in the clinical setting. (Contains 7 tables and 4 figures.)

High-volume extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) centers generally have better outcomes than (new) low-volume ECMO centers, most likely achieved by a suitable exposure to ECMO cases. To achieve a higher level of training, simulation-based training (SBT) offers an additional option for education and extended clinical skills. SBT could also help to improve the interdisciplinary team interactions. However, the level of ECMO simulators and/or simulations (ECMO sims) techniques may vary in purpose. We present a structured and objective classification of ECMO sims based on the broad experience of users and the developer for the available ECMO sims as low-, mid-, or high-fidelity. This classification is based on overall ECMO sim fidelity, established by taking the median of the definition-based fidelity, component fidelity, and customization fidelity as determined by expert opinion. According to this new classification, only low- and mid-fidelity ECMO sims are currently available. This comparison method may be used in the future for the description of new developments in ECMO sims, making it possible for ECMO sim designers, users, and researchers to compare accordingly, and ultimately improve ECMO patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: High mammographic density is a known risk factor for breast cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms of high mammographic density development and breast cancer are unknown. MicroRNAs are potential biomarkers indicative of carcinogenesis and can be assessed in nipple aspirate fluid. We used nipple aspirate fluid from women with very low and extremely high mammographic density to examine differences in expression of multiple miRNAs between both extremes in the spectrum of mammographic density. We found that hsa-miR-29c-5p was upregulated in an extremely high mammographic density context and potential targets were identified that might provide clues of the relationship between high mammographic density and breast cancer risk. Understanding the relationship between high mammographic density and breast cancer is of great value for early breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. With our research we provide new insight into this relationship and further research could determine the effects of dysregulated hsa-miR-29c-5p on the identified candidate targets. High mammographic density (MD) is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, however the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This research aimed to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) that play a role in the development of extremely dense breast tissue. In the discovery phase, 754 human mature miRNAs were profiled in 21 extremely high MD- and 20 very low MD-derived nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) samples from healthy women. In the validation phase, candidate miRNAs were assessed in a cohort of 89 extremely high MD and 81 very low MD NAF samples from healthy women. Independent predictors of either extremely high MD or miRNA expression were identified by logistic regression and linear regression analysis, respectively. mRNA targets and pathways were identified through miRTarBase, TargetScan, and PANTHER pathway analysis. Statistical analysis identified four differentially expressed miRNAs during the discovery phase. During the validation, linear regression (p = 0.029; fold change = 2.10) and logistic regression (p = 0.048; odds ratio = 1.38) showed that hsa-miR-29c-5p was upregulated in extremely high MD-derived NAF. Identified candidate mRNA targets of hsa-miR-29c-5p are CFLAR, DNMT3A, and PTEN. Further validation and exploration of targets and downstream pathways of has-miR-29c-5p will provide better insight into the processes involved in the development of high MD and in the associated increased risk of breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experiments are conducted in a Ø600 mm tank to analyse the 3D motion of buoyant particles in the free-surface vortex flow. The experiments revealed two stages in the particle motion: stage 1 is the helical motion along the vortex air core and stage 2 is the axial motion inside the vortex core. The stage 1 motion is sensitive to the particle's initial conditions by showing a chaotic behaviour and quantified by determining the largest Lyapunov exponent. Consequently, the predictability (forecast horizon) of the particle's motion is limited. A motion parameter is proposed that indicates if a continuous downward motion along the air core occurs. The dynamics in the stage 2 motion is determined by the imbalance between the particle's buoyancy force and fluid drag force. The drag appears to be determined by the Taylor column drag force as present in rotating fluids. Based on this force, a motion condition is proposed that indicates if axial motion inside the vortex core occurs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyse the flow characteristics of free-surface vortexes and to validate the Burgers vortex model by using stereo particle image velocimetry, experiments are conducted in a 600 mm diameter vortex tank. Measured axial velocities indicate that 10–25% of the flow is transported through the vortex core. The velocity profiles show that the axial flow is concentrated in a domain bounded by two times the core radius. Despite Burgers' assumption of radially independent axial velocity profiles, the model quantifies the tangential velocity profile within a relative uncertainty of circa 10%. The measurements show that it seems valid to use Burgers' model to obtain an estimate for the core radius by taking the average axial velocity over a radial domain of approximately 2.2 times the core radius. The Burgers model quantifies the air core depth with an uncertainty of 20% relative to the measurements. When compared with the magnitude of vorticity diffusion by molecular viscosity, the experiments show that there is no significant diffusion by radial turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Additionally, Azarpira and Zarrati confirm their proposed relationship by applying the vorticity equation B I i b = × B I V i b and stating that due to symmetry of the vortex flow, there is only a vorticity vector along the I z i -axis. B Closure to b "Experimental study on the 3D-flow field of a free-surface vortex using stereo PIV" by ALEX DUINMEIJER, GOSSE OLDENZIEL and FRANCOIS CLEMENS, I J. Hydraulic Res. i 58(1), 2020, 105-119, https://doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2018. [Extracted from the article]

Morphological structures used as weapons in male–male competition are not only costly to develop but are also probably costly to maintain during adulthood. Therefore, having weapons could reduce the energy available for other fitness‐enhancing actions, such as post‐copulatory investment. We tested the hypothesis that armed males make lower post‐copulatory investments than unarmed males, and that this difference will be most pronounced under food‐limited conditions. We performed two experiments using the male‐dimorphic bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini, in which males are either armed "fighters" or unarmed "scramblers." Firstly, we tested whether fighters and scramblers differed in their reproductive output after being starved or fed for 1 or 2 weeks. Secondly, we measured the reproductive output of scramblers and fighters (starved or fed) after one, two or three consecutive matings. Scramblers sired more offspring than fighters after 1 week, but scramblers and fighters only sired a few offspring after 2 weeks. Scramblers also sired more offspring than fighters at the first mating, and males rarely sired offspring after consecutive matings. Contrary to our hypothesis, the fecundity of starved and fed males did not differ. The higher reproductive output of scramblers suggests that, regardless of nutritional state, scramblers make larger post‐copulatory investments than fighters. Alternatively, (cryptic) female choice generally favours scramblers. Why the morphs differed in their reproductive output is unclear. Neither morph performed well relatively late in life or after multiple matings. It remains to be investigated to what extent the apparent scrambler advantage contributes to the maintenance and evolution of male morph expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]