Recent advances in coding theory for near error-free communications

Channel and source coding theories are discussed. The following subject areas are covered: large constraint length convolutional codes (the Galileo code); decoder design (the big Viterbi decoder); Voyager's and Galileo's data compression scheme; current research in data compression for images; neural networks for soft decoding; neural networks for source decoding; finite-state codes; and fractals for data compression

Motor Developmental Delay in 7500 Iranian Infants: Prevalence and Risk Factors

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and the most common risk factors of motor developmental delay in infants.Materials & MethodsFollowing ethical approval, a study was carried out on the prevalence and risk factors of infants with motor developmental delay. The first stage was conducted through a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of motor developmental delay on 7500 infants and the second stage was an analytic case - control survey to identify the most common risk factors on 140 infants, aged one month to three years with motor developmental delay. Data was collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Parents Evaluation of Developmental Status questionnaire, the Denver Developmental Screening Test II, a neurological assessment form, and the movement and tone assessment form.ResultsThe prevalence of motor developmental delay in 7500 infants was 18.7/1000. The most common risk factors in infants with motor developmental delay were prematurity (25.6%), low birth weight (19.2%), neonatal seizures (7.5%), hyaline membrane disease (6.7%), systemic infections of mothers during pregnancy (5.9%), severe neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (5%) in sequence. Motor developmental delay was significantly correlated with consanguinity of parents (p=0.001), prematurity (p=0.046), abnormal head circumference at birth (p=0.038), and low birth weight (p=0.026).ConclusionThe prevalence of motor developmental delay appears to be high and further studies should focus on different preventive strategies, controlling the most common risk factors and emphasizing on early detection and treatment of high risk infants.

Assessment of the Saccular Function in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy

Our investigation was designed to assess the saccular function of the vestibular system upon postural control dysfunction amongst children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) using recording of cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs), as well as to compare such findings with those in healthy subjects. Sixty two children (aged 7-12 years) were enrolled and assigned into two groups. There were 31 cases of spastic CP with the functional levels of I or II according to the Gross Motor Function Classification System in the patient group and 31 aged-matched healthy children as controls. The examined parameters were the latencies of the P₁₃ and N₂₃ waves, P₁₃–N₂₃ peak-to-peak amplitude, amplitude asymmetry ratio (AAR) and the cVEMP threshold. The cVEMP responses were recorded in 93.5 % of cases in the CP group and in all healthy subjects. Only 51.6% of the CP-group cases were within the normal AAR spectrum range. There were significant differences between the two groups with regard to the N₂₃ wave latency (P < 0.001), P₁₃–N₂₃ wave amplitude (P < 0.001) and cVEMP threshold (P<0.05). The significant difference in the cVEMP measured values between the CP cases and healthy controls may be attributed to a motor development delay and deficits in the vestibulo-collic reflex pathway. Our findings suggest that cVEMP recording may be considered an auxiliary tool for the assessment of the vestibular system in children with spastic CP. Such a test is expected to help more adequate planning for interventions.Метою нашого дослідження були оцінка сакулярної функції вестибулярної системи при постуральній дисфункції у дітей, що страждають на дитячий церебральний параліч (ЦП), з використанням відведення шийних вестибулярних викликаних міогенних потенціалів (cVEMP) та порівняння відповідних результатів із такими у здорових обстежених дітей. 62 дитини (вік сім–12 років) були розділені на дві групи (31 дитина зі спастичною формою ЦП при функціональних рівнях I та II відповідно до системи класифікації загальних моторних функцій та 31 здорова дитина відповідного віку, що складали групу контролю). Визначали наступні параметри: латентні періоди хвиль P₁₃ та N₂₃, амплітуди цих хвиль, амплітуду від піку до піку коливань P₁₃–N₂₃, коефіцієнт асиметрії хвиль (AAR) та поріг cVEMP. Істотні cVEMP були зареєстровані в 93.5 % випадків групи ЦП та в усіх здорових дітей. Тільки у 51.6 % дітей групи ЦП значення AAR відповідали нормальному діапазону цього індексу. Середні величини латентного періоду N₂₃-хвилі, міжпікової амплітуди P₁₃–N₂₃ і порогу виникнення cVEMP у групах ЦП і контролю вірогідно розрізнялися (P < 0.001, Р < 0.001 та P < 0.05 відповідно). Істотна відмінність виміряних параметрів cVEMP у групах ЦП та здорових дітей може бути пов’язана із затримкою моторного розвитку та дефектністю вестибуло-двогорбикового рефлексу. Наші дані свідчать про те, що відведення cVEMP може бути цінним допоміжним прийомом при функціональній оцінці вестибулярної системи у дітей зі спастичним ЦП. Вірогідно, даний тест може допомогти адекватніше планувати відповідні реабілітаційні заходи

Gradients versus Cycling in Genetic Selection Models

We review the hierarchy of (continuous time) selection models starting with the classical Fisher's viability selection model, and its generalizations when allowing mutations, recombination, sex-dependent viabilities, fertility selection and different mortality rates. We analyse the question in which way Fisher's "Fundamental Theorem of Natural Selection" and Kimura's Maximum Principle can be extended to these more general situations. It turns out that in many cases this is principally impossible since the dynamics becomes cycling or even chaotic

Working in the Public Interest Law Conference

The two-day conference included a variety of panel discussions and roundtables on such topics as: civil liberties; race and the criminal justice system; decriminalizing mental illness; funding public defender systems; the media\u27s role in the law; immigration; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered youth in state sponsored institutions; environmental justice; and women\u27s reproductive rights