Background Altered muscle-tendon properties in clubfoot patients could play a role in the occurrence of a relapse and negatively affect physical functioning. However, there is a lack of literature about muscle-tendon properties of clubfoot relapse patients. Research question The aim of this study was to determine whether the muscle architecture of the medial gastrocnemius and the morphology of the Achilles tendon differ between typically developing children (TDC) and clubfoot patients with and without a relapse clubfoot and to determine the relationships between morphological and functional gait outcomes. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in clubfoot patients treated according to the Ponseti method and TDC aged 4–8 years. A division between clubfoot patients with and without a relapse was made. Fifteen clubfoot patients, 10 clubfoot relapse patients and 19 TDC were included in the study. Morphologic properties of the medial head of the Gastrocnemius muscle and Achilles tendon were assessed by ultrasonography. Functional gait outcomes were assessed using three-dimensional gait analysis. Mean group differences were analysed with ANOVA and non-parametric alternatives. Relationships between functional and morphologic parameters were determined for all clubfoot patients together and for TDC with Spearman’s rank correlation. Results Morphological and functional gait parameters did not differ between clubfoot patients with and without a relapse, with exception of lower maximal dorsiflexor moment in clubfoot relapse patients. Compared to TDC, clubfoot and relapse patients did show lower functional gait outcomes, as well as shorter and more pennate muscles with a longer Achilles tendon. In all clubfoot patients, this longer relative tendon was related to higher ankle power and plantarflexor moment. Significance In clubfoot and relapse patients, abnormalities in morphology did not always relate to worse functional gait outcomes. Understanding these relationships in all clubfoot patients may improve the knowledge about clubfoot and aid future treatment planning.
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BACKGROUND & AIMS: Sufficient protein intake is of great importance in hemodialysis (HD) patients, especially for maintaining muscle mass. Daily protein needs are generally estimated using bodyweight (BW), in which individual differences in body composition are not accounted for. As body protein mass is best represented by fat free mass (FFM), there is a rationale to apply FFM instead of BW. The agreement between both estimations is unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to compare protein needs based on either FFM or BW in HD patients.METHODS: Protein needs were estimated in 115 HD patients by three different equations; FFM, BW and BW adjusted for low or high BMI. FFM was measured by multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy and considered the reference method. Estimations of FFM x 1.5 g/kg and FFM x 1.9 g/kg were compared with (adjusted)BW x 1.2 and x 1.5, respectively. Differences were assessed with repeated measures ANOVA and Bland-Altman plots.RESULTS: Mean protein needs estimated by (adjusted)BW were higher compared to those based on FFM, across all BMI categories (P < 0.01) and most explicitly in obese patients. In females with BMI >30, protein needs were 69 ± 17.4 g/day higher based on BW and 45 ± 9.3 g/day higher based on BMI adjusted BW, compared to FFM. In males with BMI >30, protein needs were 51 ± 20.4 g/day and 23 ± 20.9 g/day higher compared to FFM, respectively.CONCLUSIONS: Our data show large differences and possible overestimations of protein needs when comparing BW to FFM. We emphasize the importance of more research and discussion on this topic.
In this study, we compared the impact of audio-, video-, and text-chat interaction on target language use during online learner-learner interaction and on learner affect amongst adolescent learners of German as a foreign language. Repeated measures and ANOVA analyses revealed a high percentage of target language output in all conditions for all four tasks, especially in text- chat. Audio-chatters produced the most output and used the most meaning negotiation, compensation strategies, self-repair and other-repair strategies. Learners in all conditions gained in enjoyment, willingness to communicate and self-efficacy. Anxiety reduced for text-chatters. Task effects partly determined the quantity of L2 output, while condition effects determined meaning-oriented and form-focused processing.
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Many lithographically created optical components, such as photonic crystals, require the creation of periodically repeated structures [1]. The optical properties depend critically on the consistency of the shape and periodicity of the repeated structure. At the same time, the structure and its period may be similar to, or substantially below that of the optical diffraction limit, making inspection with optical microscopy difficult. Inspection tools must be able to scan an entire wafer (300 mm diameter), and identify wafers that fail to meet specifications rapidly. However, high resolution, and high throughput are often difficult to achieve simultaneously, and a compromise must be made. TeraNova is developing an optical inspection tool that can rapidly image features on wafers. Their product relies on (a) knowledge of what the features should be, and (b) a detailed and accurate model of light diffraction from the wafer surface. This combination allows deviations from features to be identified by modifying the model of the surface features until the calculated diffraction pattern matches the observed pattern. This form of microscopy—known as Fourier microscopy—has the potential to be very rapid and highly accurate. However, the solver, which calculates the wafer features from the diffraction pattern, must be very rapid and precise. To achieve this, a hardware solver will be implemented. The hardware solver must be combined with mechatronic tracking of the absolute wafer position, requiring the automatic identification of fiduciary markers. Finally, the problem of computer obsolescence in instrumentation (resulting in security weaknesses) will also be addressed by combining the digital hardware and software into a system-on-a-chip (SoC) to provide a powerful, yet secure operating environment for the microscope software.
Het belang van het opdoen van waardevolle burgerschapservaringen voor jongeren wordt breed gedragen. Burgerschap van jongeren is een maatschappelijk speerpunt, wat zich het meest zichtbaar vertaalt naar aandacht voor burgerschap binnen het formele onderwijs. Maar burgerschapservaringen kunnen zowel op school als buiten school worden opgedaan. In Nederland tekent zich een burgerschapskansenkloof af, waarbij kinderen en jongeren uit wijken met bewoners met een gemiddeld lage sociaaleconomische status minder mogelijkheden ervaren om hun burgerschap te (be)oefenen dan leeftijdgenoten uit wijken met bewoners met een gemiddeld hoge sociaaleconomische status. Beleidsmakers en buurtprofessionals erkennen het belang van jeugdparticipatie, als een waardevolle burgerschapservaring, maar geven aan beperkt zicht te hebben op concrete methoden om dat vorm te geven. Ook geven zij aan jongeren selectief te bereiken, waarbij vooral jongeren uit wijken met bewoners met een gemiddeld hoge sociaaleconomische status profiteren van het aanbod. In dit project richten we ons dus op jonge burgers (10-14 jaar) uit wijken met bewoners met een gemiddeld lagere sociaaleconomische status en onderzoeken we de impact van het ontwerpprogramma ‘Ontwerpen voor de buurt’. Dit programma is ontwikkeld door Stichting TerraNova – Democratisch Design. De deelnemers worden in dit programma opgeleid tot social designers en worden gestimuleerd om hun eigen dromen voor de buurt om te zetten in concrete plannen die zij voorleggen aan beleidsmakers. In het onderzoek volgen we drie trajecten van het programma op verschillende plekken in Nederland. We richten ons daarbij in het bijzonder op de impact die de trajecten hebben op het vertrouwen van de deelnemers in hun vermogens als burgers, hun civic self-efficacy. Daarnaast onderzoeken we in de lokale context de behoeften van buurtprofessionals bij het ontwikkelen en ondersteunen van jeugdparticipatie. Zo biedt dit project belangrijke inzichten om waardevolle burgerschapservaringen voor jonge burgers in hun buurt mogelijk te maken.
