Advancements in data analysis and visualisation techniques to support multiple single-subject analyses: an assessment of movement coordination and coordination variability.

Vector coding is a data analysis technique that quantifies inter-segmental coordination and coordination variability of human movement. The usual reporting of vector coding time-series data can be difficult to interpret when multiple trials are superimposed on the same figure. This study describes and presents novel data visualisations for displaying data from vector coding that supports multiple single- subject analyses. The dataset used in this study describes the lumbar-pelvis coordination in the transverse plane during a gait cycle. The data visualisation techniques presented in this study consists of the use of colour and data bars to map and profile coordination pattern and coordination variability data. The use of colour mapping provides the option to classify commonalities and differences in patterns of coordination between segment couplings and between individuals across a big dataset. Data bars display segmental dominancy data that can provide an intuitive summary on coupling angle distribution over time. The data visualisation in this study may provide further insight on how people with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis perform goal-orientated movements following an intervention, which would support clinical management strategies.

The effect of tuning ankle foot orthoses-footwear combinations on gait kinematics of children with cerebral palsy: A case series.

STUDY DESIGN: Case series. BACKGROUND: AFOs are a commonly prescribed medical device given to children with cerebral palsy (CP) in an attempt to improve their gait. The current literature is equivocal on the effects AFOs have on the gait of children with CP. The vast majority of AFOs issued are not subject to AFO-FC tuning. There are emerging studies investigating the effects tuning AFO-FCs has on the gait of children with CP. However, the research is limited, and there is a lack of quantitative data. OBJECTIVE: To compare the kinematics of tuned versus non-tuned gait in children with CP. METHODS: Gait analysis assessment of five children aged between 7-11 years with a diagnosis of CP (one hemiplegic and four diplegic participants, two female, three male, with a Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) of 2) at a Gait Analysis Laboratory. RESULTS: In comparison to barefoot and non-tuned gait, walking with a tuned AFO-FC produced improvements in several key gait parameters. Including hip flexion and extension, posterior pelvic tilt and knee extension. Results also indicated that the type of gait pattern demonstrated by the participant affected the outcomes of tuning. CONCLUSIONS: Tuning the AFO-FC of children with CP has the potential to improve hip function, pelvic function, knee extension in stance phase and knee flexion during swing phase and that a non-tuned AFO-FC can potentially decrease hip function, posterior pelvic tilt and increase knee extension. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Whilst AFO-FC tuning has been recommended for routine clinical practice, there still remains a paucity of research on the kinematic effects of using a tuned AFO-FC compared to a non-tuned. This paper provides a comparison of kinematics on children with CP, during barefoot, non-tuned and tuned AFO-FC walking with a view to inform clinical practice.

Use of the Grindcare® device in the management of nocturnal bruxism: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Bruxism may be described as a diurnal or nocturnal parafunction, characterised by clenching, bracing, gnashing or grinding of the teeth and jaws. The aim of the management of bruxism should be to control or reduce the level of activity where possible. A variety of treatment strategies have been employed to achieve this including hypnosis, occlusal equilibration, splint therapy, physiotherapy and acupuncture. A more recent approach is the use of biofeedback. METHOD: Nineteen consecutive patients were recruited from the temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) clinic at Manchester Dental Hospital, all of whom were known bruxists. They were supplied with the Grindcare® device (Medotech) and instructed to wear it every night over the five-week observation period. By monitoring electromyographic (EMG) muscle activity, the device is able to emit low-voltage electrical impulses as it senses a clenching or grinding episode, bringing about muscle relaxation. RESULTS: Eleven of the nineteen patients (58%) reported a major reduction in the occurrence of headaches and discomfort of the masticatory muscles on waking. Female and younger subjects responded more favourably than male and older subjects respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of biofeedback could reduce the level of parafunctional activity and bring about meaningful symptomatic improvement. No adverse effects occurred throughout the study period.

The effect of leg length discrepancy on pelvis and spine kinematics during gait.

There are assumptions that leg length discrepancy (LLD) may cause low back pain by creating pelvis obliquity and lumbar scoliosis. Although individuals with LLD develop compensatory movements in the lower limbs and pelvis during walking, few investigations have attempted to identify kinematic variables of the upper body. This study aims to gain an understanding of how simulated LLD influences three-dimensional motion of the pelvis and spine. Seven male participants were required to walk barefoot at a preferred speed. Three LLD conditions (1, 2, and 3cm) were simulated using modified pieces of high density EVA attached to the right foot. An optoelectronic motion analysis system was used to record kinematic data of the pelvis and spine (lumbar, lower and upper thoracic segments) for each condition. Differences in range of motion and patterns of movement for the pelvis and lumbar spine were minimal between barefoot and LLD conditions. These observations could be attributed to various kinematic compensatory strategies within the lower limbs which require further in-depth investigation.

Validation of a multi-segment spinal model for kinematic analysis and a comparison of different data processing techniques.

Optoelectronic motion capture technology is a useful tool in the quantitative dynamic assessment of the spine. In a clinical setting this may help gain a further understanding of underlining musculoskeletal pathology. It is therefore important that accurate measurements are made to allow data to be comparable across various investigations. This report outlines a new multi-segment spinal model and its validation. A mechanical model consisting of an upper thoracic (UT), lower thoracic and lumbar segment was developed allowing for range of motion assessment. An electrogoniometer and torsiometer were attached to the model to provide a control measurement. The UT segment was chosen for analysis and static trials were collected at angles ranging from 2-45°. Kinematic data was captured using an optoelectronic motion capture system. Software computed angles corresponded well with the control measure. While highlighting the differences in the estimation of angles between software platforms, this study emphasizes the need for the clear description and understanding of the kinematic model used.

Potential for detection and discrimination between mycotoxigenic and non-toxigenic spoilage moulds using volatile production patterns: a review.

There has been interest in the development of techniques for the rapid early detection of mycotoxigenic moulds in the food production chain. The development of sensor arrays that respond to the presence of different volatiles produced by such moulds has been examined as a potential method for the development of such detection systems. Commercial devices based on such sensor arrays, so-called 'electronic noses', have been examined extensively for the potential application of determining the presence of mycotoxigenic moulds in food raw materials. There is also interest in using the qualitative volatile production patterns to discriminate between non-mycotoxigenic and mycotoxigenic strains of specific mycotoxigenic species, e.g. Fusarium section Liseola, Penicillium verrucosum and Aspergillus section Nigri. This paper reviews the technology and available evidence that the non-destructive analysis of the headspace of samples of food raw materials or the discrimination between strains (mycotoxigenic and non-mycotoxigenic) can be determined using volatile fingerprints.

Environmental fate of roxarsone in poultry litter. Part II. Mobility of arsenic in soils amended with poultry litter.

Poultry litter often contains arsenic as a result of organo-arsenical feed additives. When the poultry litter is applied to agricultural fields, the arsenic is released to the environment and may result in increased arsenic in surface and groundwater and increased uptake by plants. The release of arsenic from poultry litter, litter-amended soils, and soils without litter amendment was examined by extraction with water and strong acids (HCI and HNO3). The extracts were analyzed for As, C, P, Cu, Zn, and Fe. Copper, zinc, and iron are also poultry feed additives. Soils with a known history of litter application and controlled application rate of arsenic-containing poultry litter were obtained from the University of Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station. Soils from fields with long-term application of poultry litter were obtained from a tilled field on the Delmarva Peninsula (MD) and an untilled Oklahoma pasture. Samples from an adjacent forest or nearby pasture that had no history of litter application were used as controls. Depth profiles were sampled for the Oklahoma pasture soils. Analysis of the poultry litter showed that 75% of the arsenic was readily soluble in water. Extraction of soils shows that weakly bound arsenic mobilized by water correlates positively with C, P, Cu, and Zn in amended fields and appears to come primarily from the litter. Strongly bound arsenic correlates positively with Fe in amended fields and suggests sorption or coprecipitation of As and Fe in the soil column.

Reclamation of acid waters using sewage sludge.

An exhausted sand quarry which had filled with acid water (pH 3) from the oxidation of pyrite was treated with calcium hydroxide to neutralize the water (pH 8), and sewage sludge to prevent further ingress of acid. The water remained neutral for 2 years, an appreciable quantity of base being generated by the reduction of sulphate to sulphide in the anoxic sediment formed by the sewage sludge. After this time the water reverted to acid conditions, chiefly because the lake was too shallow to retain the sewage sludge over a sufficiently large area of its bed. Incubation experiments showed that the sewage sludge had a large capacity for sulphate reduction, which was equally efficient in acid or neutral waters and that the areal rate of consumption was sufficiently fast to neutralize all incoming acid, if at least 50% of the lake bed was covered with sludge. Throughout the course of the field investigations there was no foul smell and the lake was quickly colonized by phytoplankton, macrophytes and insects. Although nutrients associated with the sewage sludge stimulated photosynthesis and so caused the generation of additional organic matter, they were exhausted within two years. To ensure permanent reclamation, phosphate fertilizer could be added once the initial supply has been consumed. Neutralization removed trace metals from the system, presumably due to formation of insoluble oxyhydroxide and carbonates. The solubility of aluminium was apparently controlled by a basic aluminium sulphate (jurbanite).

Evaluating group work with the chronic mentally ill.

An attitudinal survey was completed by 29 patients (mostly chronic schizophrenics) in order to measure the preference and rank of 21 activity groups comprising the weekly schedule of a partial-hospitalization day program. Using a scale from 1.0 to 5.0, each group's popularity is scored by patients and by staff. Patient variables of age, sex, education, and residential status are discussed in relation to each group's popularity. The paper interprets the reason and dynamics of each group's preferential score and rank. Program evaluation is achieved from analysis of patient and staff response. Guidelines are offered for changing group activity schedules.

The use of medroxyprogesterone acetate for relief of climacteric symptoms.

Climacteric symptoms in the menopausal woman are perplexing to the physician. Recent literature concerning the relationship of estrogen to carcinogenesis has caused many women to discontinue this medication; thus, there is a need for an alternative therapy for the relief of these symptoms. The drug medroxyprogesterone acetate (Depo-Provera) was assessed in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study involving 48 subjects. Only one of the placebo-treated patients claimed any relief from climacteric symptoms while only two of the patients who received the study drug noted little or no relief (P < 0.0001). Relief from climacteric symptoms began at 4 to 7 days after entry into the study and extended for 8 to 20 weeks. The only side effects were withdrawal bleeding and a slight, transient weight gain. Depo-Provera appears to be a reliable substitute for estrogen in the treatment of climacteric symptoms. Further investigations with this medication seem indicated.

Infectious complications in bone marrow transplant patients.

In 11 patients receiving transplants of allogeneic bone marrow, the graft was successful in six. Nine patients developed infections, and six died-five of septicaemia and one of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Fifty individual infections occurred. Predisposing factors included severe underlying diseases, long-term exposure to resistant hospital organisms, heavy immunosuppressive therapy, and graft-versus-host disease. Gram-negative bacilli and Candida albicans were the most common causative organisms. In every instance of septicaemia identical organisms were isolated from blood cultures and simultaneously obtained stool cultures. Infection with exogenous organisms often occurred in patients occupying conventional isolation rooms. Isolation of one patient for 45 days in a laminar air flow room prevented infection with exogenous organisms.