The strong LpL^p-closure of vector fields with finitely many integer singularities on B3B^3

This paper is aimed to investigate the strong $L^p$-closure $L_{\mathbb{Z}}^p(B)$ of the vector fields on the open unit ball $B\subset\mathbb{R}^3$ that are smooth up to finitely many integer point singularities. First, such strong closure is characterized for arbitrary $p\in[1,+\infty)$. Secondly, it is shown what happens if the integrability order $p$ is large enough (namely, if $p\ge 3/2$). Eventually, a decomposition theorem for elements in $L_{\mathbb{Z}}^1(B)$ is given, conveying information about the possibility of connecting the singular set of such vector fields by an integer $1$-current on $B$ with finite mass

Associations between preschool attendance and developmental impairments in pre-school children in a six-year retrospective survey

BACKGROUND: Many school-aged children suffer physical and mental impairments which can adversely affect their development and result in significant morbidity. A high proportion of children in western countries attend pre-school, and it is likely that the preschool environment influences the prevalence and severity of these impairments. Currently there is insufficient data available on the prevalence of these impairments and their causal associations. The influence that location of a pre-school and the duration of preschool attendance have on the prevalence of these impairments is not known. METHODS: In a retrospective survey spanning six years (1997–2002) we reviewed the records of 6,230 preschool children who had undergone routine school entry assessments. These children had been assessed utilising a modified manual of the "Bavarian Model" for school entry examinations. This model outlines specific criteria for impairments of motor, cognitive, behavioural and psychosocial functioning. Prevalence rates for physical and behavioural impairments were based on the results of these assessments. The relationship between the prevalence of impairments and the duration of preschool attendance and the location of the preschool attended was estimated utilizing logistic regression models. RESULTS: We found that 20.7% of children met the criteria for at least one type of impairment. Highest prevalence rates (11.5%) were seen for speech impairments and lowest (3.5%) for arithmetic impairments. Boys were disproportionately over represented, with 25.5% meeting the criteria for impairment, compared to 13.0% for girls. Children who had attended preschool for less than one year demonstrated higher rates of impairment (up to 19.1% for difficulties with memory, concentration or perseverance) compared to those who had attended for a longer duration (up to 11.6% for difficulties with pronouncation). Children attending preschool in an urban location had slightly elevated rates of impairment (up to 12.7%), compared to their rural counterparts (up to 11.1%). CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that there are high prevalence rates for physical and mental impairments among preschool children. Furthermore, children without preschool experience are a risk group for struggling with educational successes. The associations between the duration of preschool attendance and location of preschool attended and rates of impairment need replication and further exploration. Larger prospective studies are needed to examine if these relationships are causal and may therefore lend themselves to specific intervention strategies

Individual development of preschool children - prevalences and determinants of delays in Germany: a cross-sectional study in Southern Bavaria

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2431/12/188 Extent: 9p.Background: Even minor abnormalities of early child development may have dramatic long term consequences. Accurate prevalence rates for a range of developmental impairments have been difficult to establish. Since related studies have used different methodological approaches, direct comparisons of the prevalence of developmental delays are difficult. The understanding of the key factors affecting child development, especially in preschool aged children remains limited. We used data from school entry examinations in Bavaria to measure the prevalence of developmental impairments in pre-school children beginning primary school in 1997–2009. Methods: The developmental impairments of all school beginners in the district of Dingolfing- Landau, Bavaria were assessed using modified “Bavarian School Entry Model” examination from 1997 to 2009 (N=13,182). The children were assessed for motor, cognitive, language and psychosocial impairments using a standardised medical protocol. Prevalence rates of impairments in twelve domains of development were estimated. Using uni- and multivariable logistic regression models, association between selected factors and development delays were assessed. Results: The highest prevalence existed for impairments of pronunciation (13.8%) followed by fine motor impairments (12.2%), and impairments of memory and concentration (11.3%) and the lowest for impairments of rhythm of speech (3.1%). Younger children displayed more developmental delays. Male gender was strongly associated with all developmental impairments (highest risk for fine motor impairments = OR 3.22, 95% confidence interval 2.86-3.63). Preschool children with siblings (vs. children without any siblings) were at higher risk of having impairments in pronunciation (OR 1.31, 1.14-1.50). The influence of the non-German nationality was strong, with a maximum risk increase for the subareas of grammar and psychosocial development. Although children with non-German nationality had a reduced risk of disorders for the rhythm of speech and pronunciation, in all other 10 subareas their risk was increased. Conclusions: In preschool children, most common were delays of pronunciation, memory and concentration. Age effects suggest that delays can spontaneously resolve, but providing support at school entry might be helpful. Boys and migrant children appear at high risk of developmental problems, which may warrant tailored intervention strategies.Heribert L Stich, Bernhard Th Baune, Riccardo N Caniato, Rafael T Mikolajczyk and Alexander Kräme

The strong Lp-closure of vector fields with finitely many integer singularities on B3

This paper is aimed to investigate the strong Lp-closure LZp(B) of the vector fields on the open unit ball B⊂R3 that are smooth up to finitely many integer point singularities. First, such strong closure is characterized for arbitrary p∈[1,+∞). Secondly, it is shown what happens if the integrability order p is large enough (namely, if p⩾3/2). Eventually, a decomposition theorem for elements in LZ1(B) is given, conveying information about the possibility of connecting the singular set of such vector fields by a mass-minimizing, integer 1-current on B with finite mass.ISSN:0022-1236ISSN:1096-078

The unique tangent cone property for weakly holomorphic maps into projective algebraic varieties

ISSN:0012-7094ISSN:1547-739

Time trends and determinants of multiple development delays in Bavarian preschool children: a retrospective analysis from 1997 to 2010

Stich HL, Caniato R, Krämer A, Baune B. Time trends and determinants of multiple development delays in Bavarian preschool children: a retrospective analysis from 1997 to 2010. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. 2017;62(3):415-425.The aim of this study was to identify the time trends of multiple developmental delays and to determine the strength of selected factors influencing preschool child's development. We reviewed the records of 13,876 preschoolers in a district of Lower Bavaria to determine prevalence and time trends of combined developmental delays from 1997 to 2010. The effect of age, sex and nationality on development was estimated by using regression models. The largest increase was in the area of psychosocial development (1997:3.8 % versus 2010:13.8 %), followed by twofold combined delays in motor (2.6 versus 14.4 % in 2009) and twofold delays (1.3 versus 6.2 %) in cognition. Youngest children (4.26-5.49 years) had the highest risk for twofold delays in motor (4.78; 95 % CI 3.30-6.92), whereas strongest protection was observed for girls (0.28; 95 % CI 0.22-0.36) for threefold delays in motor and for a German nationality (0.30; 95 % CI 0.20-0.43) for fourfold delays in cognition. According to this study, multiple disabilities in development were increasing in preschool children. These children can be considered as a risk group who therefore require measures in Public Health

Influence of kindergarten on numbers of multiple delays in preschoolers: an analysis over 14 consecutive years

Stich HL, Caniato R, Krämer A, Baune B. Influence of kindergarten on numbers of multiple delays in preschoolers: an analysis over 14 consecutive years. International Journal of Public Health. 2016;62(5):613-621