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This study aimed to develop and validate a machine learning-based short measure to assess 5 functions (the ML-5F) (activities of daily living [ADL], balance, upper extremity [UE] and lower extremity [LE] motor function, and mobility) in patients with stroke.Secondary data from a previous study. A follow-up study assessed patients with stroke using the Barthel Index (BI), Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke (PASS), and Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement (STREAM) at hospital admission and discharge.A rehabilitation unit in a medical center.Patients (N=307) with stroke.Not applicable.The BI, PASS, and STREAM.A machine learning algorithm, Extreme Gradient Boosting, was used to select 15 items from the BI, PASS, and STREAM, and transformed the raw scores of the selected items into the scores of the ML-5F. The ML-5F demonstrated good concurrent validity (Pearson's r, 0.88-0.98) and responsiveness (standardized response mean, 0.28-1.01).The ML-5F comprises only 15 items but demonstrates sufficient concurrent validity and responsiveness to assess ADL, balance, UE and LE functions, and mobility in patients with stroke. The ML-5F shows great potential as an efficient outcome measure in clinical settings.

International audience; Motivated by the analysis of complex dependent functional data such as event-related brain potentials (ERP), this paper considers a time-varying coefficient multivariate regression model with fixed-time covariates for testing global hypotheses about population mean curves. Based on a reduced-rank modeling of the time correlation of the stochastic process of pointwise test statistics, a functional generalized F-test is proposed and its asymptotic null distribution is derived. Our analytical results show that the proposed test is more powerful than functional analysis of variance testing methods and competing signal detection procedures for dependent data. Simulation studies confirm such power gain for data with patterns of dependence similar to those observed in ERPs. The new testing procedure is illustrated with an analysis of the ERP data from a study of neural correlates of impulse control.

Both luminance contrast and character size are critical factors affecting reading performance. Previous studies reported on the effect of luminance contrast on the reading-speed function, that is, the relationship between reading speed and character size. In particular, when contrast was reduced, the critical print size (CPS) was found to shift to a larger character size even though the maximum reading speed and function shape did not change [Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology 52(1) (2008) 44-47]. In the present study, the effect of luminance contrast on the reading function was quantitatively examined. Japanese phrases with a luminance contrast of 0.03-0.99 were prepared as stimuli. Observers with normal vision were asked to read aloud phrases with several character sizes. Then, the reading functions were obtained for each luminance contrast. CPS was found to increase as the luminance contrast decreased. The relationship between contrast and CPS was linear in log-log coordinates, that is, log-CPS increased as the log-contrast of the characters decreased. It was found that the contrast of the stimulus systematically affects the location of the reading function.

Date Presented 04/23/21 The Neonatal Oral–Motor Assessment Scale is a clinical tool commonly used to evaluate the oral–motor skills of neonates. This study is to examine its predictability in feeding performance using newly organized items. The results showed that in addition to the adjusted age and weight at observed feed, jaw depression and jaw initiation were the significant predictors for successful bottle feed. Discuss implications of findings and the need for standardized assessment in neonates' feeding. Primary Author and Speaker: Tsu-Hsin Howe Additional Authors and Speakers: Christine L. Kroll

OBJECTIVE. We explored the cultural beliefs that influence Latino-American mothers’ feeding practices with their young children and the sources they referenced in making food choices for their children.METHOD. We conducted semistructured interviews with 12 Latino-American mothers focusing on their experiences of feeding their young children. Data analysis, based in grounded theory, consisted of interview transcription, content analysis, coding, and theme development.RESULTS. We identified four themes summarizing the mothers’ feeding practices: (1) “Grandma knows best,” (2) “I want my child(ren) to be healthy,” (3) “always soup and always rice,” and (4) “mealtime is family time.”CONCLUSION. Occupational therapy practitioners need to obtain accurate information from families about feeding practices and to understand and interpret those practices in broader cultural contexts to design and implement targeted feeding intervention strategies that avoid stereotyping or misinterpreted information. To promote family-centered, meaningful interventions, practitioners must understand the cultural influences on feeding practices and be sensitive to mothers’ needs.

We explored parental feeding practices, feeding issues during the first 2 yr of life, and the relationship between feeding issues and levels of maternal distress in preterm infants. Four hundred twenty mothers (239 with preterm infants, 181 with full-term infants) participated in the study. The Behavior-Based Feeding Questionnaire for Infants With Premature History and the Parenting Stress Index–Chinese Version were used as the two outcome measures. The results indicated that preterm infants had different feeding experiences compared with their full-term counterparts. They tended to start solid food later in life and had limited experiences in food variation. Parenting stress was prevalent in parents with preterm infants and was associated with the frequency of feeding issues, especially at later ages when supplementary foods were being introduced.

Date Presented 03/26/20 The NOMAS is a clinical tool commonly used to evaluate the oral-motor skills of neonates. This study is to examine its predictability in feeding performance using newly organized items. The results showed that in addition to the adjusted age and weight at observed feed, jaw depression and jaw initiation were the significant predictors for successful bottle feed. Participants will discuss implications of findings and the need for standardized assessment in neonate feeding. Primary Author and Speaker: Tsu-Hsin Howe Contributing Authors: Ching-Fan Sheu

Cooperative learning provides an important vehicle for active learning, as knowledge is socially constructed through interaction with others. This study investigated the effect of cooperative learning on occupational therapy (OT) theory knowledge attainment in professional-level OT students in a classroom environment. Using a pre- and post-test group design, 24 first-year, entry-level OT students participated while taking a theory course in their second semester of the program. Cooperative learning methods were implemented via in-class group assignments. The students were asked to complete two questionnaires regarding their attitudes toward group environments and their perception toward group learning before and after the semester. MANCOVA was used to examine changes in attitudes and perceived learning among groups. Students' summary sheets for each in-class assignment and course evaluations were collected for content analysis. Results indicated significant changes in students' attitude toward working in small groups regardless of their prior group experience.

International audience; Event-related potentials (ERPs) are recordings of electrical activity along the scalp time-locked to perceptual, motor and cognitive events. Because ERP signals are often rare and weak, relative to the large between-subject variability , establishing significant associations between ERPs and behavioral (or experimental) variables of interest poses major challenges for statistical analysis. Noting that ERP time dependence exhibits a block pattern suggesting strong local and long-range autocorrelation components, we propose a flexible factor modeling of dependence. An adaptive factor adjustment procedure is derived from a joint estimation of the signal and noise processes, given a prior knowledge of the noise-alone intervals. A simulation study is presented using known signals embedded in a real dependence structure extracted from authentic ERP measurements. The proposed procedure performs well compared with existing multiple testing procedures and is more powerful at discovering interesting ERP features.

The purpose of this study was to examine predictors of neurodevelopmental outcome in very low birth weight children without major impairment at 5 years of age, as well as to identify the contribution of early neurodevelopmental assessment to preterm children's later developmental outcomes. The participants in this study included 126 children who were prematurely born with very low birth weight. Outcomes of the childrens' later development were measured in tests that factored cognitive function, motor performance, and adaptive behavior. The results indicated that more than 50% of full-scale intelligence and 30% of both motor performance and adaptive behavior at the age of 5 can be explained by four predictors. The four predictors include preterm children's medical complications at birth, maternal education, early motor assessments, and cognitive assessments. Adding each test score obtained in early ages provides additional information to predict children's cognitive, motor, and adaptive behavior at 5 years of age. Manifold assessments conducted in multiple time periods strengthen the predictive values of later developmental outcomes. In addition, the findings of this study indicate that very low birth weight children tend to have lower adaptive behavior at 5 years old. With regard to our findings, we believe that having adaptive function is a reflection of a child's overall integrated abilities. Further study is warranted to increase understanding of this topic, as well as to be able to predict adaptive strengths and weakness and pinpoint limiting factors that may be useful for targeting behaviors in intervention.

Date Presented 4/8/2016 This mixed-methods study of cooperative learning was implemented in a professional-level theory course. The results showed significant changes in attitude toward small-group learning regardless of prior group experience. Attitude toward groups influenced how students engaged in group activities. Primary Author and Speaker: Jim Hinojosa Contributing Authors: Tsu-Hsin Howe, Ching-Fan Sheu