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Objectives. To investigate (i) the interrater and test-retest reliabilities of completion time and number of steps in the Narrow Corridor Walking Test (NCWT); (ii) the minimal detectable changes (MDCs) in NCWT results; (iii) the correlations between NCWT results and stroke-specific outcome measures; and (iv) the optimal cut-off values of NCWT results for discriminating the difference in advanced balance ability between people with stroke and healthy older adults. Design. Cross-sectional. Subjects. Thirty people with stroke and 30 healthy older adults. Methods. People with stroke completed the NCWT on two separate days with a 7- to 10-day interval. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA), ankle dorsiflexor and plantarflexor muscle strength, Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and the Chinese version of the Community Integration Measure (CIM) were used to assess. The healthy older adults completed the NCWT once. Results. The NCWT completion time and NCWT steps showed excellent interrater reliability and test-retest reliability and significant correlations with FMA, affected ankle dorsiflexor muscle strength, BBS score, and TUG completion time. A cut-off value of 7.40 s for NCWT completion time and 13.33 for the NCWT steps distinguished people with stroke from healthy older adults. The MDCs of the NCWT completion time and NCWT steps were 6.87 s and 5.50, respectively. Conclusion. The NCWT is a reliable clinical measurement tool for the assessment of advanced balance ability in people with stroke.

Rehabilitation of severe impairment in motor function following stroke is very challenging. This is because one of the driving forces for recovery of motor function is tasks practice, something this category of patients cannot voluntarily perform. However, it has now been shown that tasks practice can equally be carried out cognitively and through observation of another person’s practice, using techniques known as mental practice and tasks observation, respectively. Mental practice and tasks observation are believed to activate networks of neurons in the brain known as mirror neurons and mentalizing systems to induce recovery. The effectiveness of these techniques has, however, limited evidence at the moment. One possible explanation for this could be the nature of the protocols of these techniques, especially as regards to the intensity of practice. This article proposes ways the potentials of the mirror neurons and mentalizing systems can be harnessed to optimize recovery of severe impairment in motor function using mental practice and tasks observation. The article suggests, among other ways, protocols where tasks observation or mirror therapy are carried out first, and are then followed by mental practice, increasing the number of times the tasks are observed or mentalized, observation of significant others performing the tasks and mental practice of very familiar tasks.

Background Non-pharmacological interventions are widely used to treat fatigue in clients with specific diseases but the findings may not be applicable to older adults experiencing fatigue, which also relates to the physiological changes of ageing. Non-pharmacological interventions for fatigue alleviation in older adults have not been reviewed and meta-analysed. Objective To evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of non-pharmacological interventions on fatigue in community-dwelling older adults. Methods Randomised controlled trials published from 2008 to May 2018 were searched in CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, PubMed and Web of Science databases. The reference lists of the publications, forward citation and clinical trial registries were also reviewed. Relevant data were extracted and meta-analysis was conducted using Cochrane Review Manager 5.3. Results Eight studies, with a total of 1093 participants, were identified. Non-pharmacological interventions included mindfulness meditation, a behavioural lifestyle programme, muscle relaxation, pet insect-assisted therapy, yoga, Tai Chi and cognitive behavioural therapy. Non-pharmacological interventions elicited significant immediate positive effects on fatigue (SMD: −0.40, 95% CI −0.62 to −0.18), although there was no lasting effect. Both physical and cognitive/mental interventions effectively alleviated fatigue. Conclusion Non-pharmacological interventions appear to be effective in alleviating fatigue at immediate post-intervention in community-dwelling older adults. More studies with robust designs and adequate sample sizes are needed in the future.

Chronic pain is common in nursing home residents, who may have difficulty seeking out pain management strategies. Peer support model show promise as a strategy for managing chronic conditions. This was a clustered randomized controlled trial. A peer-led pain management program was provided for the experimental group. Pain situation, depression, quality of life, non-drug strategies used, and pain knowledge were measured. A total of 262 participants joined the study (146 were allocated as experimental group and 116 as control group). Before our intervention, the mean pain score reported was as high as 6.36 on a 10-point Likert Scale. The high intensity of their pain very much interfered with the daily activities of the participants. Pain interference was high and the participants had poor coping as indicated by the low pain self-efficacy. Depression and a low quality of life score was found. Upon completion of our PAP, there was a significant increase in pain self-efficacy, pain interference as well as quality of life for the participants in the experimental group and not in the control group, and this improvement sustained in 3-month follow up. The present study used a peer support models and proven to be effective in managing pain and pain related situations for nursing home residents with chronic pain. The peer volunteers involved in the pain management program taught relevant pain knowledge and pain management strategies to help our participants.Clinical Trial Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03823495, NCT03823495.

Interfacial spin current phenomena in multilayer hybrid structures consisting of heavy metal Pt and a ferrimagnetic insulator have recently drawn a great deal of attention. Here, we demonstrate the...

Integration of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) on ferromagnetic materials (FM) may yield fascinating physics and promise for electronics and spintronic applications. In this work, high-temperature anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in the TMD ZrTe

Tin-doped indium oxide (ITO)/Au/ITO sandwich structures with varying top and bottom ITO film thicknesses were deposited by magnetron sputtering. The effects of varying thickness of the two ITO films on the structural, electrical, and optical properties of the sandwich structures were investigated. X-ray diffraction spectra showed that by inserting an ultrathin Au film, the average grain size of the top ITO layer was significantly increased, but not for the bottom one. The optical properties of the sandwich structures were measured by transmittance measurement and spectroscopic ellipsometry. In the symmetric structure, where the top and the bottom ITO layers had the same thickness, we demonstrated that the crossover wavelength can be changed from the visible range (830 nm) to the near-infrared range (1490 nm) by increasing the top as well as bottom ITO thickness, corresponding to a plasmonic tuning ability of over 600 nm. The evaluation of this trilayer structure as a plasmonic device was asserted based on three quality factors. A comparison of the performance of this trilayer structure with conventional materials was also discussed.

Layered metal sulfides (MoS2, WS2, SnS2, and SnS) offer high potential as advanced anode materials in sodium ion batteries upon integration with highly-conductive graphene materials. However, in addition to being costly and time-consuming, existing strategies for synthesizing sulfides/graphene composites often involve complicated procedures. It is therefore essential to develop a simple yet scalable pathway to construct sulfide/graphene composites for practical applications. Here, we highlight a one-step, template-free, high-throughput “self-bubbling” method for producing MoS2/graphene composites, which is suitable for large-scale production of sulfide/graphene composites. The final product featured MoS2 nanoflakes distributed in three-dimensional macroporous monolithic graphene. Moreover, this unique MoS2/graphene composite achieved remarkable electrochemical performance when being applied to Na-ion battery anodes; namely, excellent cycling stability (474 mA h g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 after 100 cycles) and high rate capability (406 mA h g−1 at 0.25 A g−1 and 359 mA h g−1 at 0.5 A g−1). This self-bubbling approach should be applicable to delivering other graphene-based composites for emerging applications such as energy storage, catalysis, and sensing.

We investigated the tunability of the transport and magnetic properties in 7.5 nm La 0.7 Sr 0.3 MnO 3 (LSMO) epitaxial films in a field effect geometry with the ferroelectric copolymer P(VDF-TrFE) as the gate insulator. Two different switching behaviors were observed upon application of gate voltages with either high or low magnitudes. The application of single voltage pulses of alternating polarity with an amplitude high enough to switch the remanent polarization of the ferroelectric copolymer led to a 15% change of the resistance of the LSMO channel at temperature 300 K (but less than 1% change at 20 K). A minimal shift of the peak in the resistance-temperature plot was observed, implying that the Curie temperature T C of the manganite layer is not changed. Alternatively, the application of a chain of low voltage pulses was found to shift T C by more than 16 K, and a change of the channel resistance by a 45% was obtained. We attribute this effect to the field-assisted injection and removal of oxygen vacancies in the LSMO layer, which can occur across the thickness of the oxide film. By controlling the oxygen migration, the low-field switching route offers a simple method for modulating the electric and magnetic properties of manganite films.

Antidot nanostructures were fabricated on Ni films by a single-step anodization process of magnetron-sputtered Al/Ni/W trilayers. Coercivity and saturation magnetization of the Ni layer were tuned by controlling the anodization time. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the mechanism of the antidot formation process. The present study provides a simple and direct route for the fabrication of magnetic antidot nanostructures for device applications.

Objectives To examine (1) the intra-rater, interrater, and test-retest reliabilities of the timed Up and Go test with a motor task (TUGmotor) in terms of the number of steps taken in the test and completion time in a population with chronic stroke; (2) the relation between stroke-specific impairments and the number of steps taken in the test and the completion time; (3) the minimum detectable change in TUGmotor times; and (4) the cutoff time that best discriminates the performance of people with stroke from that of older adults without stroke. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University-based rehabilitation center. Participants A sample (N=65) of chronic stroke survivors (n=33) and healthy older adults (n=32). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures TUGmotor times and number of steps taken; Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the Lower Extremities score; handheld dynamometer measurements of hip abductor, knee flexor and extensor, and ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscle strength; 5-times sit-to-stand test time, Berg Balance Scale score; conventional timed Up and Go test time, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale and Community Integration Measure questionnaire scores. Results The TUGmotor completion times and number of steps demonstrated excellent intra-rater, interrater, and test-retest reliabilities. The TUGmotor times correlated significantly with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the Lower Extremities and Berg Balance Scale scores, with hip abductor, knee flexor, ankle dorsiflexor and plantar flexor strength on the paretic side, with 5-times sit-to-stand test times, and with times on the conventional timed Up and Go test. The minimum detectable change in TUGmotor time was 3.53 seconds in stroke survivors. A TUGmotor cutoff time of 13.49 seconds was found to best discriminate the performance of stroke survivors from that of older adults without stroke. Conclusions The TUGmotor is a reliable, valid, and easy-to-administer clinical tool for assessing advanced functional mobility after a stroke.

OBJECTIVES To investigate: (i) the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities of completion times and step counts on the Standardized Walking Obstacle Course test (SWOC); (ii) correlations between SWOC scores and stroke-specific impairments; (iii) the cut-off SWOC completion times and step counts for distinguishing differences in obstacle negotiation ability in people with chronic stroke and healthy older adults. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING University-based rehabilitation centre. SUBJECTS Twenty-nine people with stroke and 30 healthy older adults. METHODS SWOC completion times and step counts were measured under 3 conditions: (i) normal walking; (ii) walking with a tray; and (iii) walking with dark-glasses. The Fugl-Meyer Assessment of lower extremity, the Five-Times-Sit-to-Stand Test, the Berg Balance Scale, the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and the Community Integration Measure questionnaire, were also administered. RESULTS SWOC completion times and step counts showed very satisfactory to excellent reliabilities (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC = 0.851-0.993). TUG times correlated significantly with SWOC completion times and step counts under the 3 conditions (r = 0.586-0.815, p

L10-ordered FePt nanoparticles (NPs) with ultra-high coercivity were directly prepared from a new metallopolyyne using a one-step pyrolysis method. The chemical ordering, morphology and magnetic properties of the as-synthesized FePt NPs have been studied. Magnetic measurements show the coercivity of these FePt NPs is as high as 3.6 T. Comparison of NPs synthesized under the Ar and Ar/H2 atmospheres shows that the presence of H2 in the annealing environment influences the nucleation and promotes the growth of L10-FePt NPs. Application of this metallopolymer for bit-patterned media was also demonstrated using nanoimprint lithography.

With a similar electronic structure as that of platinum, molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) holds significant potential as a high performance catalyst across many chemical reactions. Empirically, the precise control of particle size, shape, and surface nature during synthesis largely determines the catalytic performance of nanoparticles, giving rise to the need of clarifying the underlying growth characteristics in the nucleation and growth of Mo2C. However, the high-temperature annealing involved during the growth of carbides makes it difficult to directly observe and understand the nucleation and growth processes. Here, we report on the use of advanced in situ transmission electron microscopy with atomic resolution to reveal a three-stage mechanism during the growth of Mo2C nanoparticles over a wide temperature range: initial nucleation via a mechanism consistent with spinodal decomposition, subsequent particle coalescence and monomer attachment, and final surface faceting to well-defined particles with minimum ...

Aim To determine the optimal combination of frequency and exposure time of a whole-body vibration (WBV) training program for improving muscle performance of older people with age-related muscle loss. Methods A total of 80 community-dwelling older adults with age-related muscle loss were randomly divided into four equal groups, namely, low-frequency long duration (20 Hz × 720 s), medium-frequency medium duration (40 Hz × 360 s), high-frequency short duration (60 Hz × 240 s) and control (no training) for 12-week WBV training and 12-week follow up. Assessments were carried out at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, mid-follow up, follow up for the cross-sectional area of the vastus medialis, isometric knee extension strength at 90°, and isokinetic knee extension at 60°/s and 180°/s. Results There was a significant time × group interaction effect in isokinetic knee extension at 180°/s. Significant time effects were found in all muscle strength outcome variables. Group differences in percentage change from baseline were significant between medium-frequency medium duration and control on isokinetic knee extension at 180°/s and 60°/s. No changes were found in the cross-sectional area of the vastus medialis. Conclusions With the total number of vibrations controlled, the combination of 40 Hz and 360 s of WBV exercise had the best outcome among all other combinations tested. The improvements in knee extension performance can be maintained for 12 weeks after cessation of WBV training. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1412–1420.

Objective To examine whether selection of the nonparetic or paretic leg as the weight-bearing leg in item 13 (standing unsupported one foot in front) and item 14 (standing on one leg) of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) influences the item scores, and thus the total score. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University-based rehabilitation laboratory. Participants Community-dwelling people (N=63, aged ≥50y) with chronic stroke. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure BBS. Results The 4 BBS total scores ranged from 48.4 to 50.7. The total score was significantly lower when a participant was asked to step forward with the nonparetic leg in item 13, and stand on the paretic leg in item 14. Fewer participants received a maximum score with the BBS 1 formulation than the others. In addition, the correlations with walking speed and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale scores were greatest with the BBS 1 score. Conclusions Our findings suggest that BBS 1 was the most challenging formulation for our participants; this might serve to minimize the ceiling effect of the BBS. These findings provide a rationale for amending the BBS administration guidelines with the BBS 1 formulation.

Objectives. To evaluate the effects of Ving Tsun (VT) martial art training on the upper extremity muscle strength and eye-hand coordination of middle-aged and older adults.Methods. This study used a nonequivalent pretest-posttest control group design. Forty-two community-dwelling healthy adults participated in the study; 24 (mean age ± SD =68.5±6.7years) underwent VT training for 4 weeks (a supervised VT session twice a week, plus daily home practice), and 18 (mean age ± SD =72.0±6.7years) received no VT training and acted as controls. Shoulder and elbow isometric muscle strength and eye-hand coordination were evaluated using the Lafayette Manual Muscle Test System and a computerized finger-pointing test, respectively.Results. Elbow extensor peak force increased by 13.9% (P=0.007) in the VT group and the time to reach peak force decreased (9.9%) differentially in the VT group compared to the control group (P=0.033). For the eye-hand coordination assessment outcomes, reaction time increased by 2.9% in the VT group and decreased by 5.3% in the control group (P=0.002).Conclusions. Four weeks of VT training could improve elbow extensor isometric peak force and the time to reach peak force but not eye-hand coordination in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults.

Bit-patterned media (BPM) with a precise stoichiometry ratio of Fe and Pt atoms are promising for future high areal density magnetic recording. Here, we report a new FePt-containing metallopolymer P as the single-source precursor for the synthesis of magnetic metal alloy nanoparticles. This polymer was synthesized from a random copolymer poly(styrene-4-ethynylstyrene) PES-PS and the bimetallic precursor TPy-FePt ([Pt(4′-ferrocenyl-(N^N^N))Cl]Cl) by the CuI-catalyzed dehydrohalogenation. After pyrolysis of P, the stoichiometry of Fe and Pt atoms in the synthesized nanoparticles is nearly close to 1 : 1, which is more precise than that by using TPy-FePt as the precursor. Also, polymer P is more suitable for patterning by high-throughput nanoimprint lithography (NIL) compared to TPy-FePt. Ferromagnetic nanolines, potentially useful for fabricating bit-patterned magnetic recording media, were successfully obtained from P and fully characterized.

We performed anomalous Hall effect (AHE) measurements in Pt/Tm3Fe5O12 (Pt/TmIG) bilayers grown on (1 1 0) and (1 1 1)-oriented Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG) substrates (Pt/110TmIG and Pt/111TmIG). Qualitative differences were observed in the two sets of samples: at low magnetic fields only Pt/111TmIG displays square AHE loop, while Pt/110TmIG exhibits non-hysteretic AHE behavior. Systematic temperature-dependent AHE measurements in Pt/111TmIG showed double switching events of AHE loops below 30 K, which was attributed to the larger moment of Tm3+ sublattice at low temperatures and was consistent with earlier theoretical calculations [A. Lehmann-Szweykowska et al., Phys. Rev. B 37, 459 (1988)]. Our results confirmed the strong coupling of Tm3+ magnetic moment with the lattice and the crucial role of the interfacial structure, suggesting a way to detect rare earth moment switching in iron garnets by electrical measurements.

Antiferromagnets have shown great potential for replacing ferromagnets in spintronics applications in recent years. In this work, antiferromagnetic La0.35Sr0.65MnO3 (AFM-LSMO) thin films were grown on ultrathin ferromagnetic La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (FM-LSMO) layer over a wide temperature range. The different AFM-LSMO growth temperatures introduced variation of strain states in the AFM-LSMO layer, changing the AFM-LSMO magnetic properties. Considering the thermally activated switching model of antiferromagnetic grains, the behaviour of AFM-LSMO growth temperature-dependent exchange bias effect are explained. This work demonstrates the modulation of exchange bias effect through the control of AFM-LSMO growth conditions, suggesting possibility to control and probe oxide antiferromagnets via exchange bias coupling.

The nucleation of crystals from ubiquitous solid-state reactions impacts a wide range of natural and synthetic processes and is fundamental to physical and chemical synthesis. However, the microscopic organization mechanism of amorphous precursors to nanoscale clusters of ordered atoms (nucleus) in an all-solid environment is inaccessible by common experimental probes. Here, by using in situ transmission electron microscopy in combination with theoretical simulations, we show in the reactive formation of a metal carbide that nucleation actually occurs via a two-step mechanism, in which a spinodal-structured amorphous intermediate reorganizes from an amorphous precursor and precedes the emergence of a crystalline nucleus, rather than direct one-step nucleation from classical consideration. We further isolated a series of sophisticated dynamics during formation and development of the nucleus in real-space and interpreted them by thermodynamic favorability. We anticipate that such an indirect organization mechanism which contains a metastable intermedium among the free energy gap between precursors and nanocrystals has its chance in underlying most solid-state crystallizations, whereas the as-established experimental method represents a step forward in exploring fundamentals in chemical reaction, material engineering, etc.

Background Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ( TENS ) has been used to augment the efficacy of task‐oriented training ( TOT ) after stroke. Bilateral intervention approaches have also been shown to be effective in augmenting motor function after stroke. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of bilateral TENS combined with TOT versus unilateral TENS combined with TOT in improving lower‐limb motor function in subjects with chronic stroke. Methods and Results Eighty subjects were randomly assigned to bilateral TENS + TOT or to unilateral TENS + TOT and underwent 20 sessions of training over a 10‐week period. The outcome measures included the maximal strength of the lower‐limb muscles and the results of the Lower Extremity Motor Coordination Test, Berg Balance Scale, Step Test, and Timed Up and Go test. Each participant was assessed at baseline, after 10 and 20 sessions of training and 3 months after the cessation of training. The subjects in the bilateral TENS + TOT group showed greater improvement in paretic ankle dorsiflexion strength (β=1.32; P =0.032) and in the completion time for the Timed Up and Go test (β=−1.54; P =0.004) than those in the unilateral TENS + TOT group. However, there were no significant between‐group differences for other outcome measures. Conclusions The application of bilateral TENS over the common peroneal nerve combined with TOT was superior to the application of unilateral TENS combined with TOT in improving paretic ankle dorsiflexion strength after 10 sessions of training and in improving the completion time for the Timed Up and Go test after 20 sessions of training. Clinical Trial Registration URL : http://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT 02152813.

Background. Turning is ubiquitous in activities of daily living. For people with hemiplegia, persistent impairments in strength, balance, and coordination will affect their ability to turn safely. Consequently, turning retraining should be addressed in rehabilitation programs. To measure turning for these individuals, a reliable clinical tool is required. Objective. To investigate (i) the intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability of the timed 180° turn test; (ii) the correlation of the timed 180° turn test with other measures of stroke-specific impairments; and (iii) the cut-off time that best discriminates individuals with hemiplegia from chronic stroke and healthy older adults. Methods. 33 individuals with hemiplegia due to chronic stroke and 32 healthy elderly individuals participated in this cross-sectional study. The timed 180° turn test was administered along with other measures of stroke-specific impairment. Results. The timed 180° turn test demonstrated excellent intrarater, interrater, and test-retest reliability in individuals with hemiplegia from chronic stroke. The timed 180° turn test (times) significantly correlated with the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Lower Extremities (FMA-LE), affected ankle plantar flexion strength, the 5-Times-Sit-To-Stand test, the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. Conclusion. The timed 180° turn test is a reliable clinical tool to assess the turning ability of subjects with hemiplegia from chronic stroke.

sp–d exchange interaction was used to narrow the room-temperature band gap of zinc oxide films prepared by sol–gel method. Zinc oxide was doped with manganese ions by adding manganese chloride to the precursor and post-annealing in hydrogen. Films with different concentrations of manganese were prepared. Exchange interaction was established between the manganese ions in the lattice by introducing oxygen vacancies. The magnetic moment was found to increase with the concentration of manganese. For low concentrations of manganese, the band gap of the doped semiconductor was found to be wider than that of undoped ZnO films, in agreement with Vegard’s law. High concentrations of dopant resulted in a narrowing of the band gap. We ascribe the narrowing of the band gap to conduction band-edge Zeeman shifting. 12 at.% Mn was successfully substituted in ZnO films deposited by sol–gel method. Exchange interaction was established between the Mn ions through the mediation of oxygen vacancies. A narrowing of the band gap of ZnO was achieved by Zeeman shifting of the bottom of the conduction band.

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Ving Tsun (VT) Chinese martial art training on radial bone strength, upper- and lower-limb muscular strength, shoulder joint mobility, balance performance, and self-efficacy in elderly participants. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve seniors voluntarily joined the VT training group, and twenty-seven seniors voluntarily joined the control group. The VT group received VT training for three months, while the control group received no training. The bone strength of the distal radius was assessed using an ultrasound bone sonometer. Muscular strength in the limbs was evaluated using a Jamar handgrip dynamometer and the five times sit-to-stand test. Shoulder joint mobility was examined using a goniometer. Balance performance and self-efficacy were evaluated using the Berg Balance Scale and the Chinese version of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, respectively. [Results] The results revealed a nonsignificant group-by-time interaction effect, group effect, and time effect for all outcome variables. However, general trends of maintenance or improvement in all outcome parameters were observed to a greater extent in the VT group than in the control group. [Conclusion] VT training might be a potential fall-prevention exercise that can be used to maintain general physique, balance, and confidence in the elderly population. A further randomized controlled trial is needed to confirm this postulation.

Objective: To evaluate (1) the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) at improving lower extremity motor recovery in stroke survivors and (2) the optimal stimulation parameters for TENS. Review methods: A systematic search was conducted for studies published up to October 2017 using eight electronic databases (CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, MEDLINE, PEDro, PubMed and Web of Science). Randomized controlled trials that evaluated the effectiveness of the application of TENS at improving lower extremity motor recovery in stroke survivors were assessed for inclusion. Outcomes of interest included plantar flexor spasticity, muscle strength, walking capacity and balance. Results: In all, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria which involved 439 stroke survivors. The meta-analysis showed that TENS improved walking capacity, as measured by either gait speed or the Timed Up and Go Test (Hedges’ g = 0.392; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.178 to 0.606) compared to the placebo or no-treatment control groups. TENS also reduced paretic plantar flexor spasticity, as measured using the Modified Ashworth Scale and Composite Spasticity Scale (Hedges’ g = –0.884; 95% CI = –1.140 to −0.625). The effect of TENS on walking capacity in studies involving 60 minutes per sessions was significant (Hedges’ g = 0.468; 95% CI = 0.201–0.734) but not in study with shorter sessions (20 or 30 minutes) (Hedges’ g = 0.254; 95% CI = –0.106–0.614). Conclusion: The results support the use of repeated applications of TENS as an adjunct therapy for improving walking capacity and reducing spasticity in stroke survivors.

Here, an approach for synthesizing large-area and high-quality MoS2 flakes was developed. In addition, we made up the MoS2 photoelectric detector and studied the photocurrent response of the detector. We firstly used the ceramic pieces to control MoO3 evaporation for obtaining large-area MoS2. Our CVD reaction is hydrogen free, very simple operation, high repetition rate and cost saving. The obtained MoS2 flakes exhibited large-area with lengths up to 400–500 micrometers. Through analyzing optical microscopy(OM), Raman and atomic force microscopy(AFM), we confirm the MoS2 thin film is bilayer. And the photoelectric characteristic experiment shows that the photoelectric detector has sensitive photoelectric response with the fine stability.

Objective: To determine whether frequency and exposure time to whole body vibration influenced its effects on physical performance in seniors with sarcopenia. Design: Randomized controlled trial Setting: A university sports training laboratory. Subjects: Eighty community dwelling seniors with sarcopenia were recruited. Interventions: Participants were randomly divided into 4 groups, namely, low-frequency (LG: 20Hz x 720s), medium-frequency (MG: 40Hz x 360s), high-frequency (HG: 60Hz x 240s) and control (CG: no extra training) for 12 weeks of whole body vibration training and 12 weeks of follow-up. Main measures: Assessments were done at baseline, mid-intervention, post-intervention, mid-follow-up, and final follow-up for five-repetition sit-to-stand, 10-meter walking test with self-preferred speed and timed-up-and-go test. Results: There was significant time × group interaction effect in timed-up-and-go test (F12, 304 = 3.333, effect size = 0.116, p < 0.001). Between-group differences in percentage change from baseline were significant between medium-frequency group and control group on all outcome variables after 12-week whole body vibration training (Five-repetition sit-to-stand test: 10.46 ± 2.28 (–16.12%), p = 0.008; 10-meter walking test: 1.05 ± 0.16 (11.18%), p = 0.04; Timed-up-and-go test: 11.32 ± 1.72 (–15.08%), p = 0.001). Conclusion: With the total number of vibrations controlled, the combination of 40Hz and 360s of whole body vibration has the best outcome on physical performance of people with sarcopenia.

(1) To investigate the intrarater, interrater and test-retest reliabilities of the Groningen Meander Walking Test in people with stroke; (2) to compare the performance of the Groningen Meander Walking Test between people with stroke and healthy older adults; (3) to quantify any correlations between the Groningen Meander Walking Test and other stroke-specific impairment measurements; and (4) to determine the cut off time that best discriminates between 30 people with stroke and 30 age-matched healthy elderly.Using a cross-sectional design, the Groningen Meander Walking Test was administered along with the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment for the lower extremities, measurement of lower limb muscle strength, Berg's Balance Scale, comfortable walking speed, Timed up and Go test and Community Integration Measure-Cantonese version.The Groningen Meander Walking Test completion times showed excellent intrarater, interrater and test-retest reliabilities (ICC = 0.984-1.00). Our study also showed that stroke subjects took three times longer (28.8 s) than the healthy subjects (9.0 s) in completion times. Both Groningen Meander Walking Test completion times and overstep scores significantly correlated with comfortable walking speed and Timed up and Go test. The cut off time for people with stroke was 11.98 seconds (sensitivity = 0.967; specificity = 1.0) to discriminate against healthy elderly.The Groningen Meander Walking Test is a highly reliable and valid tool for quantifying the advanced walking abilities of people with stroke. Implications for Rehabilitation The Groningen Meander Walking Test completion times demonstrated excellent intrarater, interrater and test-retest reliabilities. The Groningen Meander Walking Test completion times correlates well with Berg Balance Scale scores, comfortable walking and Timed Up and Go test times. The Groningen Meander Walking Test overstep scores correlates significantly to its completion times, Fugl-Myer Assessment-Lower Extremity scores, comfortable walking speed and Timed Up and Go test times. A cut off time of 11.98s best for Groningen Meander Walking Test completion times discriminates people with stroke from healthy elderly with sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 100%. The Groningen Meander Walking Test is highly reliable and easy to administer in assessing advanced walking abilities in people with stroke.

Walking speed is a measure of gait performance after a stroke and a predictor of community ambulatory competence. Although gait decrements during a cognitive or motor task after stroke are well-documented, the differential effects of motor and cognitive tasks on the comfortable and maximum walking speeds of individuals with chronic stroke have not been investigated. This study aimed to compare the effects of cognitive and motor tasks on the comfortable and maximum walking speeds of individuals with chronic stroke. This is a cross-sectional study. Thirty community-dwelling chronic stroke individuals were included. Time taken to complete the 10-meter Walk Test under various conditions, including walking alone, walking while completing a cognitive task, and walking while completing a motor task, was recorded, with each condition performed at comfortable as well as maximum walking speeds. Accuracy in performing the cognitive tasks was also assessed. The cognitive and motor tasks caused decrements in both comfortable and maximum walking speeds (P ≤ 0.001). The cognitive task had a greater influence than the motor task on maximum walking speed (P

Survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) often sustain cardiovascular complications after conventional cancer treatments. Tai Chi (TC) Qigong training may be a viable way to improve peripheral circulatory status and aerobic capacity in this population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 6-month TC Qigong training program on blood flow velocities and resistance, palmar skin temperature, and functional aerobic capacity in survivors of NPC.Twenty-five and 27 survivors of NPC volunteered to join the intervention group (mean age, 55.4 ± 7.5 years) and control group (mean age, 58.7 ± 9.5 years), respectively. The intervention group underwent a TC Qigong training program-the modified 18 Forms TC Internal Qigong-for 6 months, while the control group received no training. Peripheral arterial blood flow velocities and resistance, palmar skin temperature, and functional aerobic capacity were measured by a Doppler ultrasound machine, an infrared thermometer, and six-minute walk test, respectively. All outcomes were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention (3-month), post-intervention (6-month), and follow-up (12-month) periods.The TC Qigong group had higher diastolic blood flow velocity (p = 0.010), lower arterial blood flow resistance (p = 0.009), and higher palmar skin temperature (p = 0.004) than the control group after TC Qigong training. However, only the diastolic blood flow velocity was higher in the TC Qigong group than in the control group during the no-training follow-up period (p = 0.032). Additionally, an improvement in functional aerobic capacity was found in the intervention group after TC Qigong training (p 0.008) but not in the control group over time (p 0.008).TC Qigong training may improve peripheral circulatory status and functional aerobic capacity among people treated for NPC. However, this is only a pilot study and future definitive trials are needed to confirm the results.TC Qigong may have enormous potential as a rehabilitation intervention for survivors of NPC to improve arterial hemodynamics and functional aerobic capacity.

Background. Impaired trunk motor control is common after stroke. Combining transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with task-related trunk training (TRTT) has been shown to enhance the recovery of lower limb motor function. Objective. This study investigated whether combining TENS with TRTT would enhance trunk control after stroke. Methods. Thirty-seven subjects with stroke were recruited into a randomized controlled clinical trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to any one of the three 6-week home-based training groups: (1) TENS + TRTT, (2) placebo TENS + TRTT, or (3) control without active training. The outcome measures included isometric peak trunk flexion torque and extension torque; forward seated and lateral seated reaching distance to the affected and unaffected side; and Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) scores. All outcome measures were assessed at baseline, after 3 and 6 weeks of training, and 4 weeks after training ended at follow-up. Results. Both the TENS + TRTT and the placebo-TENS + TRTT groups had significantly greater improvements in isometric peak trunk flexion torque and extension torque, lateral seated reaching distance to affected and unaffected side, and TIS score than the control group after 3 weeks of training. The TENS + TRTT group had significantly greater and earlier improvement in its mean TIS score than the other 2 groups. Conclusions. Home-based TRTT is effective for improving trunk muscle strength, sitting functional reach and trunk motor control after stroke in subjects without somatosensory deficits. The addition of TENS to the trunk augments the effectiveness of the exercise in terms of TIS scores within the first 3 weeks of training.

This study compared the sensory organization and standing balance of adolescent tennis players, taekwondo (TKD) practitioners, and healthy control participants. Sixty participants including 12 tennis players, 21 TKD practitioners, and 27 healthy control participants were tested. All of the participants underwent the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and the Unilateral Stance Test (UST) on a Smart Equitest system. Results revealed that tennis players had higher SOT visual ratios than the control participants (p = .005), and TKD practitioners swayed more slowly in the UST than the control participants (p = .039). No differences (p > .05) were found in the composite score, somatosensory ratio, or vestibular ratio between the groups. Tennis players swayed less when they relied more on visual input to maintain balance, whereas TKD practitioners were more stable when standing on one leg. Parents may consider these sports as recreational activities for their children to develop specific balance abilities.

[Purpose] To explore the changes in heart-rate variability (HRV) of survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) before, during, and after a Tai Chi (TC) Qigong exercise. [Subjects and Methods] Eleven survivors of NPC participated voluntarily in the study. The heart rate of each participant was measured continuously for 1 minute before the TC Qigong intervention, during the 5-minute TC Qigong intervention, and for 1 minute after the intervention, using a Polar heart-rate monitor. Spectral HRV was expressed in terms of normalised low frequency (LF) power, normalised high frequency (HF) power, and the low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) power ratio. [Results] Both the LF-power and the HF-power components had significant time effects. However, the time effect of the LF/HF power ratio was not significant. Post hoc contrast analysis revealed a significant decrease in LF power and a concomitant increase in HF power during the 4th minute and 5th minute of the TC Qigong exercise. [Conclusion] Five minutes of TC Qigong exercise was found to improve HRV by increasing HF power and decreasing LF power, but these effects were transient. TC Qigong might be an appropriate exercise for improving the ANS function and psychological and cardiac health of survivors of NPC.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate eye-hand coordination in stroke survivors while sitting and standing and its relationship with sensorimotor performance. DESIGN This was a cross-sectional study conducted at university-based rehabilitation center. Fifteen stroke survivors performed a fast finger-pointing task toward a visual target moving at 10 cm/sec from the contralateral side toward the moving arm in sitting and standing positions. Reaction time, movement time, and pointing accuracy were measured. Anteroposterior, medial-lateral, and total sway were also measured during the standing trials. Several sensorimotor impairments were also measured to correlate with the eye-hand coordination performance. RESULTS A significantly shorter reaction time was found in the nonparetic than the paretic side when standing, but not when sitting. The movement time of the paretic side was significantly faster when standing when compared with sitting. Fast pointing with the paretic arm significantly increased the total sway path and anteroposterior displacement while standing compared with pointing with the nonparetic arm. Movement time of the paretic arm was negatively correlated with handgrip strength and the strength of the elbow flexors and wrist extensors. CONCLUSIONS The movement time of eye-hand coordination of stroke survivors was affected by postural stability. Correlations were found between pointing performance and several sensorimotor impairments.

To investigate (1) the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities of the Figure-of-Eight Walk (F8W) test times; (2) its correlation with other stroke-specific impairments; and (3) the cut-off scores best discriminating patients with stroke from the healthy elderly.Cross-sectional study.University-based rehabilitation centre.A convenience sample of 64 subjects: 35 subjects with chronic stroke and 29 healthy elderly.F8W test times, Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment for the lower extremities (FMA-LE), hand-held dynamometer measurements of bilateral hip abductor and knee extensor isometric muscle strength, Five times Sit to Stand Test (FTSTST) times, 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) times, Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) scores.Excellent intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities (intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) range 0.944-0.999) of F8W test times were found. The F8W test times were also found to be significantly associated with FMA-LE, BBS, FTSTST, TUG scores and 10MWT. No significant correlation was found between F8W test times and either leg strength or ABC results. A F8W test time of 8.2 s was found to be the most representative for discriminating between healthy elderly and stroke subjects, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89.7%.The F8W test time is a reliable measurement tool, which is able to differentiate the patients with stroke and healthy elderly subjects and correlated well with stroke-specific impairments and walking tests. The F8W is a reliable measurement tool for assessing the advanced walking performance of subjects with chronic stroke. Implication for Rehabilitation The F8W test times have excellent intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities in patients with chronic stroke. The F8W test times were also found to be significantly associated with FMA-LE, BBS, FTSTST, TUG scores and 10MWT. A F8W test time of 8.2 s was found to be the most representative for discriminating between healthy elderly and stroke subjects, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 89.7%. The F8W test time is a reliable and valid measure in assessing the advanced walking skill in patients with stroke.

Aims This paper examines: the intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the Five-Times-Sit-To-Stand (FTSTS) test administered by experienced and inexperienced assessors; and the correlation of FTSTS test times with lower limb muscle strength and balance performance in healthy older and young people. Method The cross-sectional study investigated reliability using test batteries including: FTSTS times; hand-held dynamometer measurements of hip flexor, knee flexor and extensor, and ankle dorsiflexor and plantarflexor muscle strength; Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores; and dynamic posturography measurements of the limits of stability (LOS). A convenience sample of 12 healthy older and 12 younger participants was recruited in the local university-based rehabilitation centre. Results The FTSTS test showed excellent intra-rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) range: 0.914–0.933) and moderate intra-rater reliability (ICC range: 0.644–0.879) in healthy older and young subject groups respectively. Inter-rater reliability between assessors yielded an ICC of 0.990. Test-retest reliability (ICC range: 0.988–0.995) was excellent. FTSTS times were not significantly associated with the older subjects' lower limb muscle strength, BBS scores or LOS results. Conclusion The FTSTS has good intra-rater, inter-rater and test-retest reliability. There is no significant correlation of FTSTS times with lower limb muscle strength or balance performance in healthy older people. The FTSTS test is a reliable measurement tool whether used by experienced or inexperienced assessors. A future study with a larger sample size is required for establishing the validity of FTSTS test times in the older population.

Objective: To determine the relationships between affected ankle dorsiflexion strength, other ankle muscle strength measurements, plantarflexor spasticity, and Timed “Up & Go” (TUG) times in people with spastic hemiplegia after stroke. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: A university-based rehabilitation centre. Participants: Seventy-three subjects with spastic hemiplegia. Main outcome measures: Functional mobility was assessed using TUG times. Plantarflexor spasticity was measured using the Composite Spasticity Scale. Affected and unaffected ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion strength were recorded using a load-cell mounted on a foot support with the knee bent at 50o and subjects in supine lying. Results: TUG times demonstrated strong negative correlation with affected ankle dorsiflexion strength (r = –0.67, p ≤ 0.001) and weak negative correlations with other ankle muscle strength measurements (r = –0.28 to –0.31, p ≤ 0.05), but no significant correlation with plantarflexor spasticity. A linear regression model showed that affected ankle dorsiflexion strength was independently associated with TUG times and accounted for 27.5% of the variance. The whole model explained 47.5% of the variance in TUG times. Conclusion: Affected ankle dorsiflexion strength is a crucial component in determining the TUG performance, which is thought to reflect functional mobility in subjects with spastic hemiplegia.

Background: This study examined the efficacy of whole-body vibration (WBV) training for improving muscle size, strength and physical performance in the community dwelling individuals with sarcopenia. Methods: Forty community dwelling individuals with sarcopenia were recruited and randomly assigned into either the whole-body vibration (WBV) group (frequency: 40Hz; peak-to-peak amplitude: 4 mm) or the control group with no intervention. The WBV training involved 3 exercise sessions per week over 12 weeks. All outcome measurements were done at pre-, mid- (18 sessions) and post-intervention (36 sessions). Assessments included ultrasound cross-sectional area (CSA) measurement of vastus medialis (VM), isometric and isokinetic knee extension, timed-up-and-go test (TUG), five-repetition sit-to-stand test (5STS), and 10-meter walk test (10MWT). Results: After the training program, the WBV group showed significant within-group improvements in isometric and isokinetic knee extension, TUG, 5STS and 10MWT (p

[Purpose] To investigate the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of the sitting-rising test (SRT), the correlations of sitting-rising test scores with measures of strength, balance, community integration and quality of life, as well as the cut-off score which best discriminates people with chronic stroke from healthy older adults were investigated. [Subjects and Methods] Subjects with chronic stroke (n=30) and healthy older adults (n=30) were recruited. The study had a cross-sectional design, and was carried out in a university rehabilitation laboratory. Sitting-rising test performance was scored on two occasions. Other measurements included ankle dorsiflexor and plantarflexor strength, the Fugl-Meyer assessment, the Berg Balance Scale, the timed up and go test, the five times sit-to-stand test, the limits of stability test, and measures of quality of health and community integration. [Results] Sitting-rising test scores demonstrated good to excellent inter-rater and test-retest reliabilities (ICC=0.679 to 0.967). Sitting-rising test scores correlated significantly with ankle strength, but not with other test results. The sitting-rising test showed good sensitivity and specificity. A cut-off score of 7.8 best distinguished healthy older adults from stroke subjects. [Conclusions] The sitting-rising test is a reliable and sensitive test for assessing the quality of sitting and rising movements. Further studies with a larger sample are required to investigate the test's validity.

This cross-sectional and exploratory study aimed to compare motor performance and electroencephalographic (EEG) attention levels in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and those with typical development, and determine the relationship between motor performance and the rea

Ng SS, Hui-Chan CW. Contribution of ankle dorsiflexor strength to walking endurance in people with spastic hemiplegia after stroke. Objectives (1) To determine the relationships of ankle dorsiflexor strength, ankle plantarflexor strength, and spasticity of the ankle plantarflexors with walking endurance; (2) to determine whether affected ankle dorsiflexor strength makes an independent contribution to walking endurance; and (3) to quantify its relative contribution to the walking endurance of people with spastic hemiplegia after stroke. Design A cross-sectional study. Setting University-based rehabilitation center. Participants Subjects (N=62) with spastic hemiplegia. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Walking endurance was measured by the distance covered in the six-minute walk test (6MWT). Ankle dorsiflexor and plantarflexor strength were measured using a load-cell mounted on a custom-built foot support. Plantarflexor spasticity was measured using the Composite Spasticity Scale. Results The six-minute walk distances showed stronger positive correlation with affected dorsiflexor strength ( r =.793, P ≤.000) when compared with affected plantarflexor strength ( r =.349, P =.005). Results of the regression model showed that after adjusting for basic demographic and stroke-related impairments, affected ankle dorsiflexor strength remained independently associated with six-minute walk distance, accounting for 48.8% of the variance. Conclusions This is the first study, to our knowledge, to document the importance of ankle dorsiflexor strength as an independent determinant of walking endurance in stroke survivors with spastic plantarflexors. Our findings suggest that stroke rehabilitation programs aiming to improve walking endurance should include strengthening exercises for the ankle dorsiflexors.

This article represents the deliberations that took place at the June 2011 meeting of the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) during a panel that was convened to discuss ‘Evidence-based Exercise Prescription: Raising the Standard of Delivery’. The panel consisted of five physical therapists and one exercise physiologist. After introductory remarks by the panel chair, each of the other participants was given the opportunity to do an opening presentation. Several questions (Should physical therapists be exercise experts? Are physical therapists truly the exercise experts they should be? Has physical therapist education prepared them to be exercise experts?) were then posed to the panelists for their response. After those responses, the floor was opened up to the audience for response and input. A verbatim transcript of the proceedings enabled audience participation to be reflected.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of walkway length (5, 8 or 10 m) on measurements of comfortable and maximum walking speed. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: University-based rehabilitation centre. Subjects: Patients (n = 25) with chronic stroke. Methods: Timed walking with different walkway lengths (5, 8 and 10 m) walkways were recorded using a stop-watch. Results: No significant effect of walkway length was found on either the comfortable or maximum walking speed in subjects with chronic stroke. For all walkway lengths, comfortable speed was significantly different from maximum speed (p < 0.001). Conclusion: There is no significant effect of walkway length (5, 8 and 10 m) on either comfortable or maximum walking speed. Different walkway lengths can yield consistent results in measuring gait speed clinically. A 5-m walkway with standardized 2-m acceleration and deceleration distances is recommended as it occupies the least space and imposes less stress on subjects.

We report a nonlithographic fabrication method to grow uniform and large-scale crystalline silicon (Si) nanodot (c-SiNDs) arrays on single-layer graphene by an ultrathin anodic porous alumina template and Ni-induced Si crystallization technique. The lateral height of the template can be as thin as 160 nm and the crystallization of Si can be achieved at a low temperature of 400 °C. The effects of c-SiNDs on graphene were studied by Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, the c-SiNDs/graphene based field effect transistors were demonstrated.

To examine (1) the effect of different walkway distances, and (2) turning directions on the six-minute walk test (6MWT) in subjects with stroke.A cross-sectional study.University-based rehabilitation center.Subjects (N=26) with chronic stroke.Not applicable.Total distance covered and number of turns in the 6MWT with different walkway lengths (10-, 20-, and 30-m walkway distances) and turning directions (turning to affected side and unaffected side); rate of perceived exertion (RPE) using Borg Scale, and heart rate (HR) using handheld pulse oximeter recorded before and immediately after the test.The distance covered and the number of turns in the 6MWT were significantly different between different walkway lengths (P.05), with the longest distance covered and lowest number of turns in the 30-m walkway distance. For all walkway lengths, turning to the affected or unaffected side did not result in significant differences in the distance covered and the number of turns in the 6MWT. Significant increases were found between the pretest and posttest for the HR and RPE (P.05) in all testing conditions. There was no significant effect of walkway distance and turning direction on the change in HR and RPE between the 6 conditions of the 6MWT.Different walkway distances have a significant effect on the distance covered in the 6MWT, whereas turning direction did not significantly affect the distance covered in the 6MWT.