Basic calculation proficiency and mathematics achievement in elementary school children

The relation between skill in simple addition and subtraction and more general math achievement in elementary school is well established but not understood. Both the intrinsic importance of skill in simple calculation for math and the influence of conceptual knowledge and cognitive factors (working memory, processing speed, oral language) on simple calculation and math are plausible. The authors investigated the development of basic calculation fluency and its relations to math achievement and other factors by tracking a group of 259 United Kingdom English children from second to third grade. In both grades the group did not retrieve the solutions to most problems, but their math achievement was typical. Improvement in basic calculation proficiency was partially predicted by conceptual knowledge and cognitive factors. These factors only partially mediated the relation between basic calculation and math achievement. The relation between reading and math was wholly mediated by number measures and cognitive factors

Development and deployment of an at-home strength and conditioning program to support a phase I trial in persons with chronic spinal cord injury

Study design Nonrandomized clinical trial (NCT02354625).Objectives As a part of a Phase I clinical trial to assess the safety of autologous human Schwann cells (ahSC) in personswith chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), participants engaged in a multimodal conditioning program pre- and post-ahSCtransplantation. The program included a home-based strength and endurance training program to prevent lack of fitness andposttransplantation detraining from confounding potential ahSC therapeutic effects. This paper describes development,deployment, outcomes, and challenges of the home-based training program.Setting University-based laboratory.Methods Development phase: two men with paraplegia completed an 8-week laboratory-based ‘test’ of the home-basedprogram. Deployment phase: the first four (two males, two females) participant cohort of the ahSC trial completed theprogram at home for 12 weeks pre and 20 weeks post ahSC transplant.Results Development phase: both participants improved their peak aerobic capacity (VO2peak) (≥17%), peak power output(POpeak) (≥8%), and time to exhaustion (TTE) (≥7%). Deployment phase: pretransplant training minimally increased fitness inthe two male participants (≥6% POpeak and ≥9% TTE). The two women had no POpeak changes and slight TTE changes (+2.6and −1.2%, respectively.) All four participants detrained during the posttransplant recovery period. After posttransplantretraining, all four participants increased TTE (4–24%), three increased VO2peak (≥11%), and two increased POpeak (≥7%).Conclusions Home-based strength and condition programs can be effective and successfully included in therapeutic SCItrials. However, development of these programs requires substantial content knowledge and experience

Manual Wheelchair Propulsion in Older Adults

Compared to individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI), propulsion by older adults is poorly defined. The goal of this project is to examine the impact of wheelchair, surface, and user characteristics on propulsion mechanics in older adults and individuals with SCI. All participants self-propelled over a series of surfaces at a self-selected velocity and kinetic data collection were provided by the SmartWheel. We described a standard clinical protocol (SCP) for objective assessment of manual wheelchair propulsion and defined reference values for individuals with SCI based this protocol (N=128). The SCP requires self-propulsion over tile, low pile carpet, and up an ADA ramp. In addition we provided a decision framework based on graphical reference data; guiding clinicians through an objective assessment of propulsion, identifying opportunities for intervention and follow-up. We then compared propulsion of individuals with paraplegia (IP, N=54) and older adults (OA, N=53). OA propelled slower than IP; used a greater push frequency and minimum Mz, shorter stroke length, and similar resultant force. When surface difficulty increased, the IP group responded with increased work. This may indicate a lack of capacity in OA to respond to increased resistance. For our cohort of older adults we defined the impact of surface type, wheelchair weight, and rear axle position (N=53). As surface difficulty or chair weight increased, velocity decreased. Controlling for velocity, push frequency, resultant and tangential force increased as surface difficulty increased; heavier chairs had decreased stroke length and increased resultant and tangential force; and posterior axle positions had increased velocity. Controlling for velocity, posterior axle positions had increased forces. Finally, we examined the impact of strength and gender. Body-weight normalized grip strength was collected. Stronger individuals propel faster than weaker individuals. On low pile carpet, both genders decreased velocity versus tile, but women decreased push frequency while men increased. Surface type has a substantial impact on propulsion velocity and force; magnifying any differences between users and wheelchair configurations. Wheelchair weight and axle position independently affect propulsion mechanics. Gender and strength appear to influence propulsion. Older adults are marginal self-propellers at best; powered mobility may be a more appropriate mobility solution

Are Nordic Saltmarshes Europe’s Way to ‘Live in Harmony with Nature’? Scientists Driven Future Scenarios via a Participatory Workshop

Saltmarshes have the ability to not only promote biodiversity, but to put nations on the path towards climate recovery and net-zero emissions through saltmarshes’ capability to take up carbon. As the European Union’s (EU) Green Deal sets out to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, innovative solutions will need to be identified, possibly even through better preserving century-old habitats such as saltmarshes. Based on the upcoming needs from the EU, in the Spring of 2021, a workshop was held with leading Nordic saltmarsh and blue carbon scientists using the transdisciplinary methods of Systems Thinking and Bayesian Belief Networks to identify solutions that can include saltmarshes in future policy. These joint methods elicited multiple future scenarios in which data were collected on perceived notions of the value of saltmarshes and how to better govern them to ensure their longevity. The models developed in this study include human perceptions and comprehensive quantitative scenarios through their ability to define paths forward in the form of comprehensive policy recommendations. We found through scenario analysis that a major belief among the stakeholders was numerous events of change such as ‘outreach, getting salt marshes on the political agenda and forming new narratives would help to increase saltmarsh area via conservation and restoration prioritization’ would have a positive impact of saltmarshes in Nordic countries.publishedVersio

Structures promoting research, training, and technology transfer in mobility: lessons learned from a visit to European centers

The purpose of this paper is to describe the education, research, technology transfer, and cooperative models that appear to have the greatest likelihood of successfully tackling the issue of technology to improve mobility. Ideally better models in each of these areas will lead to an increased number of researchers who are more productive. There will be increased international collaboration that will allow for better research with small and/or disadvantaged populations, and the research completed will lead to changes in clinical care that positively impact individuals with impair mobility

Preventing Isolated Perioperative Reintubation: Who is at highest risk?

Objectives: 1. We aim to characterize IPR nationally through a retrospective review of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program participant user file (NSQIP PUF). 2.Identify risk factors for IPR including analysis of procedure type and preoperative characteristics.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/patientsafetyposters/1041/thumbnail.jp

Natural fluorapatite dissolution kinetics and Mn2+ and Cr3+ metal removal from sulfate fluids at 35 °C

In light of the consequences of global warming and population growth, access to safe drinking water becomes an ever greater challenge, in particular in low to middle income countries in arid regions. Moreover, mining which may cause acid mine drainage and heavy metal contamination puts further pressure on management of limited water resources. Hence, the development of cost effective water treatment methods is critical. Here, using batch reactor experiments we investigate the kinetics and mechanisms behind divalent Mn and trivalent Cr removal from sulfate fluids using natural fluorapatite at 35 °C. The results show that the fluorapatite dissolution rate depends on fluid pH, and that dissolution is the dominant mechanism in fluids with pH below 4. Apatite can thus serve as remediation to neutralize acidic fluids. Fluid pH of 4–6 triggers a dissolution-precipitation mechanism, in some cases following upon a dissolution-only period, with the formation of a metal phosphate. In these experiments, Cr removal is two to ten times faster than Mn removal given similar solution pH. The results demonstrate that natural apatite represents a promising, cost effective material for use in passive remediation of mining-induced contamination of soils and groundwater in arid regions

Sociodemographic characteristics associated with physical activity barrier perception among manual wheelchair users

Individuals with disabilities are sub-optimally active and at increased risk for chronic diseases. Limited knowledge exists about how differences among wheelchair-dependent individuals may affect their perception of physical activity barriers. We examined whether the perception of physical activity barriers are associated with wheelchair user sociodemographic characteristics. Danish manual wheelchair users (MWCUs) (N = 181; 52.5% females, mean ± SD: age 48 ± 14 yrs) completed the ‘Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments’ (BPAQ-MI) online. The BPAQ-MI queries physical activity barriers in four domains (intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and community) and eight subdomains. Participant characteristics evaluated as potentially associated with physical activity barriers included age, sex, years in chair, body mass index (BMI), spinal cord injury (SCI) (if any), education, employment, and resident city size. Simple linear regression (step 1) and multiple regression models (step 2) were created to assess associations between MWCU characteristics and barriers. Multiple regression models revealed that MWCUs who were obese, who did not complete high school, or were unemployed rated physical activity barriers higher across several subdomains (all r2≤0.226, p<0.05). Resident city size was associated with safety subdomain barrier impact (r2=0.039, p<0.05). Sex, age, years in chair and SCI were not associated with any barrier domains (all p ≥ 0.064). Our results provide new evidence that MWCUs with BMI ≥30; who are not employed; or who only have completed high school, may need special consideration and resources to overcome distinct physical activity barriers. Behavioral strategies and interventions focusing on reducing physical activity barriers should be tailored to the individuals above