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Aim: To investigate developmental trajectories in early childhood and predictors of class assignment. Methods: Data were available for Gen2 infants at 12 (n = 2275), 24 (n = 1845) and 36 (n = 2110) months of age in the Raine Study. Latent growth class analysis was used to identify developmental trajectories based on the Ages and Stages Questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to estimate associations between foetal growth restriction, gestational age, child biological sex, breast feeding, parental age, socioeconomic factors and developmental trajectories. Results: Two groups of infants were identified, one typically performing and one poorer performing. Being born early-term, pre-term and male were associated with poorer development. Not exposed to breastfeeding was associated with the lower trajectories in the adaptive and personal-social domains. Conclusions: Developmental surveillance and advice for early-term infants should be considered. Findings highlight the continued need to support and promote breastfeeding as a protective mechanism for child development.

Wearable motion sensors, specifically, Inertial Measurement Units, are useful tools for the assessment of orientation and movement during sleep. The DOTs platform (Xsens, Enschede, The Netherlands) has shown promise for this purpose. This pilot study aimed to assess its feasibility and validity for recording sleep biomechanics. Feasibility was assessed using four metrics: Drift, Battery Life, Reliability of Recording, and Participant Comfort. Each metric was rated as Stop (least successful), Continue But Modify Protocol, Continue But Monitor Closely, or Continue Without Modifications (most successful). A convenience sample of ten adults slept for one night with a DOT unit attached to their sternum, abdomen, and left and right legs. A survey was administered the following day to assess participant comfort wearing the DOTs. A subset of five participants underwent a single evaluation in a Vicon (Oxford Metrics, Oxford, UK) motion analysis lab to assess XSENS DOTs' validity. With the two systems recording simultaneously, participants were prompted through a series of movements intended to mimic typical sleep biomechanics (rolling over in lying), and the outputs of both systems were compared to assess the level of agreement. The DOT platform performed well on all metrics, with Drift, Battery Life, and Recording Reliability being rated as Continue Without Modifications. Participant Comfort was rated as Continue But Monitor Closely. The DOT Platform demonstrated an extremely high level of agreement with the Vicon motion analysis lab (difference of <0.025°). Using the Xsens DOT platform to assess sleep biomechanics is feasible and valid in adult populations. Future studies should further investigate the feasibility of using this data capture method for extended periods (e.g., multiple days) and in other groups (e.g., paediatric populations). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Chronic non-specific musculoskeletal pain (CNSMSP) may develop in childhood and adolescence, leading to disability and reduced quality of life that continues into adulthood. The purpose of the study was to build a biopsychosocial profile of children and adolescents with CNSMSP. Methods CNSMSP subjects (n = 30, 18 females, age 7-18) were compared with age matched pain free controls across a number of biopsychosocial domains. Results In the psychosocial domain CNSMSP subjects had increased levels of anxiety and depression, and had more somatic pain complaints. In the lifestyle domain CNSMSP subjects had lower physical activity levels, but no difference in television or computer use compared to pain free subjects. Physically, CNSMSP subjects tended to sit with a more slumped spinal posture, had reduced back muscle endurance, increased presence of joint hypermobility and poorer gross motor skills. Conclusion These findings support the notion that CNSMSP is a multidimensional biopsychosocial disorder. Further research is needed to increase understanding of how the psychosocial, lifestyle and physical factors develop and interact in CNSMSP.

Abstract Background Children with poor motor ability have been found to engage less in physical activities than other children, and a lack of physical activity has been linked to problems such as obesity, lowered bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, if children are confident with their fine and gross motor skills, they are more likely to engage in physical activities such as sports, crafts, dancing and other physical activity programs outside of the school curriculum which are important activities for psychosocial development. The primary objective of this project is to comprehensively evaluate a whole of class physical activity program called Animal Fun designed for Pre-Primary children. This program was designed to improve the child's movement skills, both fine and gross, and their perceptions of their movement ability, promote appropriate social skills and improve social-emotional development. Methods The proposed randomized and controlled trial uses a multivariate nested cohort design to examine the physical (motor coordination) and psychosocial (self perceptions, anxiety, social competence) outcomes of the program. The Animal Fun program is a teacher delivered universal program incorporating animal actions to facilitate motor skill and social skill acquisition and practice. Pre-intervention scores on motor and psychosocial variables for six control schools and six intervention schools will be compared with post-intervention scores (end of Pre-Primary year) and scores taken 12 months later after the children's transition to primary school Year 1. 520 children aged 4.5 to 6 years will be recruited and it is anticipated that 360 children will be retained to the 1 year follow-up. There will be equal numbers of boys and girls. Discussion If this program is found to improve the child's motor and psychosocial skills, this will assist in the child's transition into the first year of school. As a result of these changes, it is anticipated that children will have greater enjoyment participating in physical activities which will further promote long term physical and mental health. Trial registration This trial is registered in the Australian and New Zealand Clinical trials Registry (ACTRN12609000869279).

Secondary vocational directors in Utah noticed a decline in enrollments in vocational courses in 1989 and decided to take action to reverse the trend. The most crucial step was to ask the state government to allocate 10% of state-appropriated funds for vocational education to a comprehensive vocational guidance program, which included the retraining of counselors, teachers, principals and other persons involved in vocational guidance. Evaluations show that the vocational guidance program has been successful.

The article suggests few points to be kept in mind by care providers, while handling clients with vision loss, such as specifying exact location of the object and providing medication instructions in variety of formats including large prints and audio. The case of a 52-year-old woman suffering from diabetic retinopathy is described to provide a better understanding. Common causes of vision loss and few visual enhancement techniques such as contrast, lightning and colour are also highlighted.

Background: Children with poor motor ability have been found to engage less in physical activities than other children, and a lack of physical activity has been linked to problems such as obesity, lowered bone mineral density and cardiovascular risk factors. Furthermore, if children are confident with their fine and gross motor skills, they are more likely to engage in physical activities such as sports, crafts, dancing and other physical activity programs outside of the school curriculum which are important activities for psychosocial development. The primary objective of this project is to comprehensively evaluate a whole of class physical activity program called Animal Fun designed for Pre-Primary children. This program was designed to improve the child's movement skills, both fine and gross, and their perceptions of their movement ability, promote appropriate social skills and improve social-emotional development. Methods: The proposed randomized and controlled trial uses a multivariate nested cohort design to examine the physical (motor coordination) and psychosocial (self perceptions, anxiety, social competence) outcomes of the program. The Animal Fun program is a teacher delivered universal program incorporating animal actions to facilitate motor skill and social skill acquisition and practice. Pre-intervention scores on motor and psychosocial variables for six control schools and six intervention schools will be compared with post-intervention scores (end of Pre-Primary year) and scores taken 12 months later after the children's transition to primary school Year 1. 520 children aged 4.5 to 6 years will be recruited and it is anticipated that 360 children will be retained to the 1 year follow-up. There will be equal numbers of boys and girls. Discussion: If this program is found to improve the child's motor and psychosocial skills, this will assist in the child's transition into the first year of school. As a result of these changes, it is anticipated that children will have greater enjoyment participating in physical activities which will further promote long term physical and mental health. Trial registration: This trial is registered in the Australian and New Zealand Clinical trials Registry (ACTRN12609000869279). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Web site/email-based pest alert system was developed to notify people interested in crop production of pest outbreaks or forecasts of outbreaks. When pest outbreaks are confirmed or predicted, an email notification is immediately sent to subscribers. Links to pest management information are included. In 2006, the service had 465 subscribers and 31,000 Web visits. As a result of this service, an average of 11% of subscribers reduced the number of sprays applied to their crops, and 54% of all subscribers increased field scouting to document pest levels. This system has helped increase the adoption of IPM practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The current diagnostic pathways for cognitive impairment rarely identify babies at risk before 2 years of age. Very early detection and timely targeted intervention has potential to improve outcomes for these children and support them to reach their full life potential. Early Moves aims to identify early biomarkers, including general movements (GMs), for babies at risk of cognitive impairment, allowing early intervention within critical developmental windows to enable these children to have the best possible start to life., Method and Analysis: Early Moves is a double-masked prospective cohort study that will recruit 3000 term and preterm babies from a secondary care setting. Early Moves will determine the diagnostic value of abnormal GMs (at writhing and fidgety age) for mild, moderate and severe cognitive delay at 2 years measured by the Bayley-4. Parents will use the Baby Moves smartphone application to video their babies' GMs. Trained GMs assessors will be masked to any risk factors and assessors of the primary outcome will be masked to the GMs result. Automated scoring of GMs will be developed through applying machine-based learning to the data and the predictive value for an abnormal GM will be investigated. Screening algorithms for identification of children at risk of cognitive impairment, using the GM assessment (GMA), and routinely collected social and environmental profile data will be developed to allow more accurate prediction of cognitive outcome at 2 years. A cost evaluation for GMA implementation in preparation for national implementation will be undertaken including exploring the relationship between cognitive status and healthcare utilisation, medical costs, health-related quality of life and caregiver burden., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethics approval has been granted by the Medical Research Ethics Committee of Joondalup Health Services and the Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee (1902) of Curtin University (HRE2019-0739)., Trial Registration Number: ACTRN12619001422112., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)