Aquatic Exercise Programs for Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go?

Aquatic exercise programs may be a beneficial form of therapy for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly for those with significant movement limitations where land-based physical activity is difficult. The most recently published systematic review (2005) on aquatic interventions in children with CP found supportive but insufficient evidence on its effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to review recently published literature since 2005 with a focus on aquatic exercise for children with CP. In total, six new studies were published with a main focus on aerobic aquatic interventions in higher functioning children and adolescents with CP. Swimming is one of the most frequently reported physical activities in children and adolescents with CP. Therefore, information on its safety and benefits is highly needed, for those with more severe CP in particular. Research design issues are discussed to help guide future research and practice

Can biofuel policies reduce uncertainty and increase agricultural yields through stimulating investments?

As history shows, the yield gap (the difference between actual and achievable yields) will not necessarily close automatically. Investments in agricultural technologies may be key. Price volatility is fundamental to investment. Price volatility has increased in agriculture in the past decade, leading to higher risks for potential investments. Some of these increased risks may be offset by the certainty offered by credible policies. The US experience indicates that ethanol policy may contribute to yield increases. Analysis suggests that corn use by ethanol plants in the USA may explain a significant part of the observed yield increase. A theoretical framework, centered on downside price-stabilization effects, is offered here, supported by some US, EU, and Hungarian empirical evidence. The research presented explores whether new ethanol plants resulting from effective biofuel policies could serve as a market mechanism to stimulate investments in farming technologies, triggering increased productivity. A survey of local stakeholders of an ethanol plant in Hungary, the only large-scale biofuel investment triggered in Europe by the EU’s flagship bioenergy policy (the Renewable Energy Directive) suggests that relevant investments may have been stimulated. Over half of the respondent farmers said that the presence of the ethanol plant had stimulated investments in productivity. It is proposed that ethanol or biofuel policies may be effective in closing the yield gap, in effect resulting in additional biomass production and advancing the bioeconomy. With effective cross-sectoral policies, more biomass for food, feed, bio-based materials and / or bioenergy purposes can be produced

Short-Range B-site Ordering in Inverse Spinel Ferrite NiFe2O4

The Raman spectra of single crystals of NiFe2O4 were studied in various scattering configurations in close comparison with the corresponding spectra of Ni0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 and Fe3O4. The number of experimentally observed Raman modes exceeds significantly that expected for a normal spinel structure and the polarization properties of most of the Raman lines provide evidence for a microscopic symmetry lower than that given by the Fd-3m space group. We argue that the experimental results can be explained by considering the short range 1:1 ordering of Ni2+ and Fe3+ at the B-sites of inverse spinel structure, most probably of tetragonal P4_122/P4_322 symmetry.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 6 table

Deterministic and controllable photonic scattering media via direct laser writing

Photonic scattering materials, such as biological tissue and white paper, are made of randomly positioned nanoscale inhomogeneities in refractive index that lead to multiple scattering of light. Typically these materials, both naturally-occurring or man-made, are formed through self assembly of the scattering inhomogeneities, which imposes challenges in tailoring the disorder and hence the optical properties. Here, We report on the nanofabrication of photonic scattering media using direct laser writing with deterministic design. These deterministic scattering media consist of submicron thick polymer nanorods that are randomly oriented within a cubic volume. We study the total transmission of light as a function of the number density of rods and of the sample thickness to extract the scattering and transport mean free paths using radiative transfer theory. Such photonic scattering media with deterministic and controllable properties are model systems for fundamental light scattering in particular with strong anisotropy and offer new applications in solid-state lighting and photovoltaics.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure

Electrostatic potential in a superconductor

The electrostatic potential in a superconductor is studied. To this end Bardeen's extension of the Ginzburg-Landau theory to low temperatures is used to derive three Ginzburg-Landau equations - the Maxwell equation for the vector potential, the Schroedinger equation for the wave function and the Poisson equation for the electrostatic potential. The electrostatic and the thermodynamic potential compensate each other to a great extent resulting into an effective potential acting on the superconducting condensate. For the Abrikosov vortex lattice in Niobium, numerical solutions are presented and the different contributions to the electrostatic potential and the related charge distribution are discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure

Failed theories of superconductivity

Almost half a century passed between the discovery of superconductivity by Kamerlingh Onnes and the theoretical explanation of the phenomenon by Bardeen, Cooper and Schrieffer. During the intervening years the brightest minds in theoretical physics tried and failed to develop a microscopic understanding of the effect. A summary of some of those unsuccessful attempts to understand superconductivity not only demonstrates the extraordinary achievement made by formulating the BCS theory, but also illustrates that mistakes are a natural and healthy part of the scientific discourse, and that inapplicable, even incorrect theories can turn out to be interesting and inspiring.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures (typos fixed), to appear in: Bardeen Cooper and Schrieffer: 50 YEARS, edited by Leon N Cooper and Dmitri Feldma

The push-through total femoral prosthesis offers a functional alternative to total femoral replacement:a case series

PURPOSE: Oncologic resections or complications of segmental femoral prostheses can result in severe bone loss of the femur for which a total femoral prosthesis (TFP) is required. This study assesses whether the loss of stability and function caused by the loss of muscle attachments can be improved by using a push-through total femoral endoprosthesis (PTTF), because it saves parts of the femur and its muscle attachments. METHODS: In this retrospective case series, ten patients aged 25-77 (mean 54) who received a PTTF between 2005 and 2014 were included for baseline, complications and survival analysis with a mean follow-up of 5.3 (1.1-9.6) years. Functional outcome was assessed in six patients using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score, WHO performance scale, Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), SF36, EQ-5D, NRS pain score, fatigue score and satisfaction score. RESULTS: The mean MSTS score was 64% (23-93%). Five patients had a WHO performance scale of 1, one patient of 3. Mean TESS was 69% (13-90%). SF36 was most notably limited by physical functioning (mean 48), vitality (68) and general health (67). NRS score was 1.9, 1.8 and 8.3 for pain, fatigue and satisfaction, respectively. There were four failures: two infections (one resulting in amputation and one in a minor revision) and two mechanical failures (which required one revision to a TFP and one minor revision). Patient survival was 100%, limb survival 90%, and prosthesis survival 80%. CONCLUSION: The push-through total femoral endoprosthesis allows preservation of muscle attachments and offers a good alternative to total femoral prostheses

Interaction between ionic lattices and superconducting condensates

The interaction of the ionic lattice with the superconducting condensate is treated in terms of the electrostatic force in superconductors. It is shown that this force is similar but not identical to the force suggested by the volume difference of the normal and superconducting states. The BCS theory shows larger deviations than the two-fluid model.Comment: 6 pages no figure

The concept of correlated density and its application

The correlated density appears in many physical systems ranging from dense interacting gases up to Fermi liquids which develop a coherent state at low temperatures, the superconductivity. One consequence of the correlated density is the Bernoulli potential in superconductors which compensates forces from dielectric currents. This Bernoulli potential allows to access material parameters. Though within the surface potential these contributions are largely canceled, the bulk measurements with NMR can access this potential. Recent experiments are explained and new ones suggested. The underlying quantum statistical theory in nonequilibrium is the nonlocal kinetic theory developed earlier.Comment: 14 pages, CMT30 proceeding