714 research outputs found

    Relationship Between Early Feeding and Communication Development in Infants: Birth To 12 Months

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    Introduction: Anecdotal reports suggest that infants experiencing early feeding difficulties may have delays in communication development. Methods: The first stage of the study involved the development of a theoretically based assessment protocol to test the hypothesis of linked or independent processes required for feeding and speech. The assessment protocol will be piloted on 10 full term and 10 preterm infants at birth, 4, 8 and 12 months post term age. Measures of inter-judge and intra-judge reliability will also be taken of the observation protocol. Observation of the infant\u27s language, speech, environment and maternal relationship will also be conducted to determine the nature and impact of environmental and social factors on feeding and/or speech and language development. Results: To be analysed. Conclusion: It is hypothesised that infants experiencing early feeding difficulties and delay will also experience later speech and language delay. Massey, S. J., Hird, K. M., & Simmer, K. (2004). Relationship between early feeding and communication development in infants: Birth to 12 months. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 39(2), 227-228. ISSN: 0277-2116 Abstract only available for downloa

    Estimation of the systematic error of precipitation and humidity in the MM5 model

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    To comprehensively diagnose model capabilities in simulating atmospheric flow including the relevant microphysical processes, the main prognostic fields of the MM5 model are compared with ERA40 reanalysis data. This approach allows to identify and compare meaningful features of model parameterization schemes and to quantify model errors. Various combinations of schemes for cumulus convection, planetary boundary layer (PBL), microphysics and radiative transfer are used in order to identify those combinations which produce the closest resemblance between model state and reanalysis. The spatial structure of systematic errors, both horizontal and vertical will be described and geographical regions and synoptic situations will be identified, which are associated with pronounced systematic model deviations. The study focused on precipitation and humidity fields as well as on the main thermodynamic atmospheric variables on a coarse resolution grid (about 80 km) over the North Atlantic - Europe region. Our results identify advantages and shortcomings of the various parameterization schemes. They also indicate that, in general, the combination of best schemes does not result in optimal simulations of a particular variable

    Composition of early life leukocyte populations in preterm infants with and without late-onset sepsis

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    Background Composition of leukocyte populations in the first month of life remains incompletely characterised, particularly in preterm infants who go on to develop late-onset sepsis (LOS). Aim To characterise and compare leukocyte populations in preterm infants with and without LOS during the first month of life. Study design Single-centre prospective observational cohort study. Participants Infants born <30 weeks gestational age (GA). Outcome measures Peripheral blood samples were collected at 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of life. Leukocyte populations were characterised using 5-fluorophore-6-marker flow cytometry. Absolute leukocyte counts and frequency of total CD45+ leukocytes of each population were adjusted for GA, birth weight z-scores, sex and total leukocyte count. Results Of 119 preterm infants enrolled, 43 (36%) had confirmed or clinical LOS, with a median onset at 13 days (range 6–26). Compared to infants without LOS, the adjusted counts and frequency of neutrophils, basophils and non-cytotoxic T lymphocytes were generally lower and immature granulocytes were higher over the first month of life in infants who developed LOS. Specific time point comparisons identified lower adjusted neutrophil counts on the first day of life in those infants who developed LOS more than a week later, compared to those without LOS, albeit levels were within the normal age-adjusted range. Non-cytotoxic T lymphocyte counts and/or frequencies were lower in infants following LOS on days 21 and 28 when compared to those who did not develop LOS. Conclusion Changes in non-cytotoxic T lymphocytes occurred following LOS suggesting sepsis-induced immune suppression
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