Fabrication of micro-structures for optically driven micromachines using two-photon photopolymerization of UV curing resins

Two-photon photopolymerization of UV curing resins is an attractive method for the fabrication of microscopic transparent objects with size in the tens of micrometers range. We have been using this method to produce three-dimensional structures for optical micromanipulation, in an optical system based on a femtosecond laser. By carefully adjusting the laser power and the exposure time we were able to create micro-objects with well-defined 3D features and with resolution below the diffraction limit of light. We discuss the performance and capabilities of a microfabrication system, with some examples of its products.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

Does inter-vertebral range of motion increase after spinal manipulation? A prospective cohort study.

Background: Spinal manipulation for nonspecific neck pain is thought to work in part by improving inter-vertebral range of motion (IV-RoM), but it is difficult to measure this or determine whether it is related to clinical outcomes. Objectives: This study undertook to determine whether cervical spine flexion and extension IV-RoM increases after a course of spinal manipulation, to explore relationships between any IV-RoM increases and clinical outcomes and to compare palpation with objective measurement in the detection of hypo-mobile segments. Method: Thirty patients with nonspecific neck pain and 30 healthy controls matched for age and gender received quantitative fluoroscopy (QF) screenings to measure flexion and extension IV-RoM (C1-C6) at baseline and 4-week follow-up between September 2012-13. Patients received up to 12 neck manipulations and completed NRS, NDI and Euroqol 5D-5L at baseline, plus PGIC and satisfaction questionnaires at follow-up. IV-RoM accuracy, repeatability and hypo-mobility cut-offs were determined. Minimal detectable changes (MDC) over 4 weeks were calculated from controls. Patients and control IV-RoMs were compared at baseline as well as changes in patients over 4 weeks. Correlations between outcomes and the number of manipulations received and the agreement (Kappa) between palpated and QF-detected of hypo-mobile segments were calculated. Results: QF had high accuracy (worst RMS error 0.5o) and repeatability (highest SEM 1.1o, lowest ICC 0.90) for IV-RoM measurement. Hypo-mobility cut offs ranged from 0.8o to 3.5o. No outcome was significantly correlated with increased IV-RoM above MDC and there was no significant difference between the number of hypo-mobile segments in patients and controls at baseline or significant increases in IV-RoMs in patients. However, there was a modest and significant correlation between the number of manipulations received and the number of levels and directions whose IV-RoM increased beyond MDC (Rho=0.39, p=0.043). There was also no agreement between palpation and QF in identifying hypo-mobile segments (Kappa 0.04-0.06). Conclusions: This study found no differences in cervical sagittal IV-RoM between patients with non-specific neck pain and matched controls. There was a modest dose-response relationship between the number of manipulations given and number of levels increasing IV-RoM - providing evidence that neck manipulation has a mechanical effect at segmental levels. However, patient-reported outcomes were not related to this

The Ursinus Weekly, November 19, 1917

Ursinus wins big game from F. & M. • Miss Detwiler entertains sophomores • College calendar • Rupert Brooke • Among the colleges • Literary societies • On the campus • Liberty bond endowment • John Kendrick Bangshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2539/thumbnail.jp

A Customer-Focused Approach to Improve Celebrity Endorser Effectiveness

The current study reveals that a customer-focused approach to choosing celebrity endorsers (based on consumer-endorser identification) is a more useful predictor of endorsement success than a product-focused approach (product-endorser fit) alone. Specifically, the findings suggest consumer-endorser identification offers a potentially more consistent criterion for predicting endorsement effectiveness than fit, which is contingent upon varying consumer perceptions of product-endorser match-up. Across two studies, one survey-based and one longitudinal experiment, increased identification with both male and female endorsers led to increases in endorsement success. Most importantly, the influence of identification is significant for both high and low fit pairings between an endorser and brand. Thus, consumers who identify strongly with an endorser are likely to respond favorably to the endorsement even when fit between the endorser and brand is poor. Moreover, identification with the endorser is found to be consistently linked to purchase intentions over multiple time points

The Ursinus Weekly, October 29, 1917

Hallowe\u27en programs in literary societies • Hallowe\u27en carnival tremendous success • Albright proves easy for Ursinus • Halloween and Walpurgis Night • Freshman class holds banquet • On the campus • College directoryhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2536/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, December 3, 1917

Lecture by John Kendrick Bangs • Ursinus 0, Muhlenberg 0: Rival teams battle to a scoreless tie in big Thanksgiving Day game • Ursinus receives substantial bequest • Engagement announced • Alan Seeger • College directory • Fall meeting of the Directors • College calendar • Notice: Schaff alumni • Letter from Camp Meade • On the campushttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/2541/thumbnail.jp

Assessment of motor functioning in the preschool period

The assessment of motor functioning in young children has become increasingly important in recent years with the acknowledgement that motor impairment is linked with cognitive, language, social and emotional difficulties. However, there is no one gold standard assessment tool to investigate motor ability in children. The aim of the current paper was to discuss the issues related to the assessment of motor ability in young pre-school children and to provide guidelines on the best approach for motor assessment. The paper discusses the maturational changes in brain development at the preschool level in relation to motor ability. Other issues include sex differences in motor ability at this young age, and evidence for this in relation to sociological versus biological influences. From the previous literature it is unclear what needs to be assessed in relation to motor functioning. Should the focus be underlying motor processes or movement skill assessment? Several key assessment tools are discussed that produce a general measure of motor performance followed by a description of tools that assess specific skills, such as fine and gross motor, ball and graphomotor skills. The paper concludes with recommendations on the best approach in assessing motor function in pre-school children