25 research outputs found
Treadmill exercise activates subcortical neural networks and improves walking after a stroke
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Stroke often impairs gait thereby reducing mobility and fitness and promoting chronic disability. Gait is a complex sensorimotor function controlled by integrated cortical, subcortical, and spinal networks. The mechanisms of gait recovery after stroke are not well understood. This study examines the hypothesis that progressive task-repetitive treadmill exercise (T-EX) improves fitness and gait function in subjects with chronic hemiparetic stroke by inducing adaptations in the brain (plasticity).METHODS: A randomized controlled trial determined the effects of 6-month T-EX (n=37) versus comparable duration stretching (CON, n=34) on walking, aerobic fitness and in a subset (n=15/17) on brain activation measured by functional MRI.RESULTS: T-EX significantly improved treadmill-walking velocity by 51% and cardiovascular fitness by 18% (11% and -3% for CON, respectively; P<0.05). T-EX but not CON affected brain activation during paretic, but not during nonparetic limb movement, showing 72% increased activation in posterior cerebellar lobe and 18% in midbrain (P<0.005). Exercise-mediated improvements in walking velocity correlated with increased activation in cerebellum and midbrain.CONCLUSIONS: T-EX improves walking, fitness and recruits cerebellum-midbrain circuits, likely reflecting neural network plasticity. This neural recruitment is associated with better walking. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of T-EX rehabilitation in promoting gait recovery of stroke survivors with long-term mobility impairment and provide evidence of neuroplastic mechanisms that could lead to further refinements in these paradigms to improve functional outcomes
The effectiveness of neighborhood watch
Background: Neighborhood watch (also known as block watch, apartment watch, home watch and
community watch) grew out of a movement in the US during the late 1960s that promoted
greater involvement of citizens in the prevention of crime. Since then, interest in
neighborhood watch has grown considerably and recent estimates suggest that over a quarter
of the UK population and over forty per cent of the US population live in areas covered by
neighborhood watch schemes.
Objectives: The primary aim of this review is to assess the effectiveness of neighborhood watch in
reducing crime
Lean Manufacturing in Public Services: Prospects for Value Creation
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the utilization
of lean manufacturing systems in public service operations for poten-
tial added value. A case study of lean manufacturing implementation
at a UK city council was carried out using in-depth interviews with
key personnel coupled with documents collection. The Organizational
Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) was administered among front-line
employees. Results show that lean manufacturing systems could create
signi cant added value to the business and employees. A strong relation-
ship was demonstrated between the lean manufacturing implementation
and the a ective commitment level of employees. This paper is one of a
few studies that demonstrate the applicability of manufacturing systems
in other settings and that they can generate significant added value for
the service department and its employees