Does solar structure vary with solar magnetic activity?

We present evidence that solar structure changes with changes in solar activity. We find that the adiabatic index, Gamma_1, changes near the second helium ionization, i.e., at a depth of about 0.98 R_sun. We believe that this change is a result of the change in the effective equation of state caused by magnetic fields. Inversions should be able to detect the changes in Gamma_1 if mode sets with reliable and precise high-degree modes are available.Comment: To appear in ApJ Letter

Publishing protocols for trials of complex interventions before trial completion – potential pitfalls, solutions and the need for public debate

Background - Open Science is ‘the movement to make scientific research, data and dissemination accessible to all levels of an inquiring society’. In the spirit of the Open Science movement, advance publication of protocols for clinical trials is now being advocated by BioMed Central, BMJ Open and others. Simultaneously, participants are becoming increasingly active in their pursuit and sharing of trial- and health- related information. Whilst access to protocols alongside published trial findings has clear benefits, advance publication of trial protocols is potentially problematic for trials of complex behavioural interventions. In this article we explain, with examples, how this could lead to unblinding, ‘contamination’ between intervention and control groups and deliberate biasing of assessment outcomes by participants. We discuss potential solutions and demonstrate the need for public debate about how this issue is best managed. Conclusion - Triallists may still be underestimating participants’ interest in information. This needs to change: joint and open discussions with the public are needed to inform how we should proceed

Effect of parent-delivered action observation therapy on upper limb function in unilateral cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial

AIM:To determine whether home-based, parent-delivered therapy comprising action observation (AO) and repeated practice (RP) improves upper limb function more than RP alone in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (UCP).METHOD:Design: single-blinded parallel-group randomized controlled trial with 1:1 allocation comparing AO+RP (intervention) with RP alone (control). Randomization: computer-generated, with allocation concealment by opaque sequentially-numbered envelopes.SETTING: northern England, August 2011 to September 2013.PARTICIPANTS: 70 children with UCP; mean age 5.6 years (SD 2.1), 31 female.INTERVENTION: home-based activities were provided, tailored to interests and abilities.DURATION: 15 minutes/day, 5 days/week for 3 months.ASSESSMENTS: Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA; primary outcome measure), Melbourne Assessment 2 (MA2), and ABILHAND-Kids at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.RESULTS: Outcome data was available at 3 months for 28 children in the AO+RP group and 31 controls, and at 6 months for 26 and 28 children respectively. There were no between-group differences in AHA, MA2, or ABILHAND-Kids at 3 or 6 months versus baseline (all p>0.05). Combined-group improvements (p<0.001), observed in AHA and MA2 at 3 months, were maintained at 6 months. ABILHAND-Kids also showed improvement at 3 months (p=0.003), maintained at 6 months.INTERPRETATION: Parent-delivered RP (with or without AO) improves upper limb function and could supplement therapist input

Publishing protocols for trials of complex interventions before trial completion – potential pitfalls, solutions and the need for public debate

Background - Open Science is ‘the movement to make scientific research, data and dissemination accessible to all levels of an inquiring society’. In the spirit of the Open Science movement, advance publication of protocols for clinical trials is now being advocated by BioMed Central, BMJ Open and others. Simultaneously, participants are becoming increasingly active in their pursuit and sharing of trial- and health- related information. Whilst access to protocols alongside published trial findings has clear benefits, advance publication of trial protocols is potentially problematic for trials of complex behavioural interventions. In this article we explain, with examples, how this could lead to unblinding, ‘contamination’ between intervention and control groups and deliberate biasing of assessment outcomes by participants. We discuss potential solutions and demonstrate the need for public debate about how this issue is best managed. Conclusion - Triallists may still be underestimating participants’ interest in information. This needs to change: joint and open discussions with the public are needed to inform how we should proceed

How do parents frame their engagement experience in early intervention? A grounded theory study

PURPOSE: Parent and therapist engagement and partnership are critical in early intervention physiotherapy and occupational therapy for infants with cerebral palsy to improve outcomes. The main aim of this study was to understand how parents perceive their engagement experience in early intervention over time. METHODS: Grounded theory methodology was used. Twenty parents of diverse backgrounds participated in 22 interviews (including some repeated longitudinally) to reflect on their engagement experience within the context of early intervention community services provided in the UK NHS. RESULTS: The findings highlight how parents' perspectives of their engagement in EI change according to critical circumstances, including their preceding neonatal trauma, the at-risk CP label, firmer diagnosis of CP and their child's response to intervention. We theorise that this disrupted transition experience to parenthood becomes part of parental framing (or sense-making) of their engagement in EI. Overlapping frames of uncertainty, pursuit and transformation capture and explain nuances in parents' engagement patterns within EI over time. CONCLUSION: This theorising has implications for early intervention therapists in how they engage in the lives of families and partner with parents to support healthier parental transition, wellbeing and subsequent improved infant outcomes