GAIMS: a powerful gait analysis system satisfying the constraints of clinical routine

GAIM

Diagnosing multiple sclerosis with a gait measuring system, an analysis of the motor fatigue, and machine learning

GAIM

Motor Fatigue Measurement by Distance-Induced Slow Down of Walking Speed in Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Motor fatigue and ambulation impairment are prominent clinical features of people with multiple sclerosis (pMS). We hypothesized that a multimodal and comparative assessment of walking speed on short and long distance would allow a better delineation and quantification of gait fatigability in pMS. Objectives: To compare 4 walking paradigms: the timed 25-foot walk (T25FW), a corrected version of the T25FW with dynamic start (T25FW+), the timed 100-meter walk (T100MW) and the timed 500-meter walk (T500MW). Methods: Thirty controls and 81 pMS performed the 4 walking tests in a single study visit. Results: The 4 walking tests were performed with a slower WS in pMS compared to controls even in subgroups with minimal disability. The finishing speed of the last 100-meter of the T500MW was the slowest measurable WS whereas the T25FW+ provided the fastest measurable WS. The ratio between such slowest and fastest WS (Deceleration Index, DI) was significantly lower only in pMS with EDSS 4.0-6.0, a pyramidal or cerebellar functional system score reaching 3 or a maximum reported walking distance !4000m. Conclusion: The motor fatigue which triggers gait deceleration over a sustained effort in pMS can be measured by the WS ratio between performances on a very short distance and the finishing pace on a longer more demanding task. The absolute walking speed is abnormal early in MS whatever the distance of effort when patients are unaware of ambulation impairment. In contrast, the DI-measured ambulation fatigability appears to take place later in the disease course

Factors affecting paddy farmers to procure farm inputs in debt

The aim of this study deals with reasons that almost paddy farmers in Mekong River Delta have to procure farm inputs in debt. With 216 households interviewed by questionnaires in An Giang province and using regression model, the study has found that the lack of capital for rice production and the cost of farm inputs are key elements to impact positively on paddy farmers who procure inputs in debt. Furthermore, householder’s paddy growing experience, rice selling price, residential area, and value of the property affect negatively inputs procurement in debt of rice farmers. In addition, household size, farm size, and interest of purchase of inputs in debt influence positively on rice farmers when they purchase inputs on credit

Variation individuelle des paramètres de marche au long d'une distance de 500m chez des personnes atteintes de sclérose en plaques et chez des volontaires sains

Background: we previously demonstrated the usefulness of the Deceleration Index (DI, the ratio between the last 100m of the Timed 500-Meter Walk test –T500MW – and the walking speed - WS – of the Timed 25-Foot Walk Test with a propelled start – T25FW+) to evaluate motor fatigue over a long walking distance in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). We also recently designed and internally validated a new gait analysis tool for pwMS (GAIMS) that can measure other relevant gait characteristics than the sole WS, such as ataxia, asymmetry and perhaps spasticity. Aims: (i) To compare various gait characteristics between the last and the first 100m of the T500MW in a population of pwMS and healthy volunteers (HV), (ii) to compare the ratio between the last and the first 100m of the T500MW with the DI, and (iii) their relationship with the EDSS. Methods : Subjects were asked to perform the T25FW+ and the T500MW as part of a multimodal evaluation at the MS Clinic of the CHU of Liège. Their gait characteristics were measured using GAIMS. (i) Paired Student’s t-tests were performed on various gait characteristics extracted during the last and first 100m of the T500MW with .05 as a level of significance, (ii) Spearman correlation coefficient (ρ) was calculated (ii) between these ratio and (iii) subject’s EDSS. Results: Seventy-one pwMS and 129 were enrolled in our study. (i) Significant differences were observed for speed related gait characteristics between the last and first 100m of the T500MW, but also for gait characteristics related to ataxia and precision of foot placement. (ii) A moderate positive correlation was observed between the WS ratio of the last and first 100m of the T500MW and the DI. (iii) The correlation between the DI and the EDSS was weakly negative, while the one between the last and first 100m of the T500MW ratio and the EDSS was moderatly negative. Conclusion: (i) As previously demonstrated, we here confirm that alongside to WS, there are other gait features affected by locomotor fatigue over a long walking distance, (ii) the moderate positive correlation between the DI and the last/first 100m of the T500MW indicates that these measures are not the same and that next to a long distance walking test such as the T500MW, a short one such as the T25FW+ remains useful. (iii) The last/first 100m of the T500MW is better correlated to the EDSS and might be a better predictive tool of pwMS’ neurologic state than the DI

ANALYSIS OF THE POPULARITY OF VOCABULARY USED WHEN PERFORMING SPEAKING ACTIVITIES IN THE CLASS OF FIRST-YEAR ENGLISH LANGUAGE STUDENTS IN THE DIRECTION OF DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Vocabulary learning is extremely important when learning a foreign language. Fluency in a language depends on vocabulary and its use in specific situations. Speaking well is using vocabulary flexibly and speaking fluently. Researching the popularity of vocabulary is analyzing the prevalence of vocabulary used by linguistics students in communication from discourse analysis. This is a topic the research team is working on. This project will help the researchers learn about common vocabulary that students often use to communicate outside or in the classroom. Thereby understanding whether the vocabulary that students use is diverse, rich, and for the right purpose or not. This study will help students have a more comprehensive view of the ways to use words in communication. In addition, it also helps students improve their communication vocabulary, helps in exams and can be useful for later work. In this study, the research team will investigate the students' ability to use spoken vocabulary, i.e., frequency and extent of vocabulary usage.  Article visualizations

The compensatory reserve index predicts recurrent shock in patients with severe dengue

BACKGROUND: Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) is one of the major clinical phenotypes of severe dengue. It is defined by significant plasma leak, leading to intravascular volume depletion and eventually cardiovascular collapse. The compensatory reserve Index (CRI) is a new physiological parameter, derived from feature analysis of the pulse arterial waveform that tracks real-time changes in central volume. We investigated the utility of CRI to predict recurrent shock in severe dengue patients admitted to the ICU. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study in the pediatric and adult intensive care units at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Patients were monitored with hourly clinical parameters and vital signs, in addition to continuous recording of the arterial waveform using pulse oximetry. The waveform data was wirelessly transmitted to a laptop where it was synchronized with the patient's clinical data. RESULTS: One hundred three patients with suspected severe dengue were recruited to this study. Sixty-three patients had the minimum required dataset for analysis. Median age was 11 years (IQR 8-14 years). CRI had a negative correlation with heart rate and moderate negative association with blood pressure. CRI was found to predict recurrent shock within 12 h of being measured (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.54-3.26), P < 0.001). The median duration from CRI measurement to the first recurrent shock was 5.4 h (IQR 2.9-6.8). A CRI cutoff of 0.4 provided the best combination of sensitivity and specificity for predicting recurrent shock (0.66 [95% CI 0.47-0.85] and 0.86 [95% CI 0.80-0.92] respectively). CONCLUSION: CRI is a useful non-invasive method for monitoring intravascular volume status in patients with severe dengue

Chemical Constituents and Bacterial Activity of Essential Oils of Five Wax Apples (Syzygium samarangense) from Dong Thap Province, Vietnam

In the present study, essential oils from the leaves of five varieties of wax apple trees, (\u27An Phuoc\u27, \u27Hoa An\u27, \u27Hong Dao\u27, \u27Sua\u27, and \u27Xanh Duong\u27) collected in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam were isolated using hydrodistillation, and their constituents were for the first time identified via gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. A total of 74 compounds from essential oils were identified. These compounds were classified into four clusters by hierarchical clustering analysis. The main constituents of the essential oils isolated from the leaves of five varieties of wax apple trees were o-cymene, α-cubebene, epizonarene, β-gurjunene, and α-selinene. The antibacterial activity of the essential oils isolated from the leaves of five varieties of wax apples were evaluated for the first time. The results showed that the essential oils could inhibit the growth of four tested microorganisms: Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus