The Effectiveness of Lower-Limb Wearable Technology for Improving Activity and Participation in Adult Stroke Survivors: A Systematic Review

Background: With advances in technology, the adoption of wearable devices has become a viable adjunct in poststroke rehabilitation. Regaining ambulation is a top priority for an increasing number of stroke survivors. However, despite an increase in research exploring these devices for lower limb rehabilitation, little is known of the effectiveness. Objective: This review aims to assess the effectiveness of lower limb wearable technology for improving activity and participation in adult stroke survivors. Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of lower limb wearable technology for poststroke rehabilitation were included. Primary outcome measures were validated measures of activity and participation as defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Databases searched were MEDLINE, Web of Science (Core collection), CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the RCTs. Results: In the review, we included 11 RCTs with collectively 550 participants at baseline and 474 participants at final follow-up including control groups and participants post stroke. Participants' stroke type and severity varied. Only one study found significant between-group differences for systems functioning and activity. Across the included RCTs, the lowest number of participants was 12 and the highest was 151 with a mean of 49 participants. The lowest number of participants to drop out of an RCT was zero in two of the studies and 19 in one study. Significant between-group differences were found across three of the 11 included trials. Out of the activity and participation measures alone, P values ranged from P=.87 to P≤.001. Conclusions: This review has highlighted a number of reasons for insignificant findings in this area including low sample sizes, appropriateness of the RCT methodology for complex interventions, a lack of appropriate analysis of outcome data, and participant stroke severity

Supernova remnants: the X-ray perspective

Supernova remnants are beautiful astronomical objects that are also of high scientific interest, because they provide insights into supernova explosion mechanisms, and because they are the likely sources of Galactic cosmic rays. X-ray observations are an important means to study these objects.And in particular the advances made in X-ray imaging spectroscopy over the last two decades has greatly increased our knowledge about supernova remnants. It has made it possible to map the products of fresh nucleosynthesis, and resulted in the identification of regions near shock fronts that emit X-ray synchrotron radiation. In this text all the relevant aspects of X-ray emission from supernova remnants are reviewed and put into the context of supernova explosion properties and the physics and evolution of supernova remnants. The first half of this review has a more tutorial style and discusses the basics of supernova remnant physics and thermal and non-thermal X-ray emission. The second half offers a review of the recent advances.The topics addressed there are core collapse and thermonuclear supernova remnants, SN 1987A, mature supernova remnants, mixed-morphology remnants, including a discussion of the recent finding of overionization in some of them, and finally X-ray synchrotron radiation and its consequences for particle acceleration and magnetic fields.Comment: Published in Astronomy and Astrophysics Reviews. This version has 2 column-layout. 78 pages, 42 figures. This replaced version has some minor language edits and several references have been correcte

What is the level of evidence for the use of currently available technologies in facilitating the self-management of difficulties associated with ADHD in children and young people? A systematic review

A number of technologies to help self-manage Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children and young people (YP) have been developed. This review will assess the level of evidence for the use of such technologies. The review was undertaken in accordance with the general principles recommended in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis. 7545 studies were screened. Fourteen studies of technology that aim to manage difficulties associated with ADHD in children and YP were included. Primary outcome measures were measures that assessed difficulties related to ADHD. Databases searched were MEDLINE, Web of Science (Core collection), CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, ProQuest ASSIA, PsycINFO and Scopus. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed. This review highlights the potential for the use of technology in paediatric ADHD self-management. However, it also demonstrates that current research lacks robustness; using small sample sizes, non-validated outcome measures and little psychoeducation component. Future research is required to investigate the value of technology in supporting children and YP with ADHD and a focus psychoeducation is needed

Spectroscopic Discovery of the Broad-Lined Type Ic Supernova 2010bh Associated with the Low-Redshift GRB 100316D

We present the spectroscopic discovery of a broad-lined Type Ic supernova (SN 2010bh) associated with the nearby long-duration gamma-ray burst (GRB) 100316D. At z = 0.0593, this is the third-nearest GRB-SN. Nightly optical spectra obtained with the Magellan telescopes during the first week after explosion reveal the gradual emergence of very broad spectral features superposed on a blue continuum. The supernova features are typical of broad-lined SNe Ic and are generally consistent with previous supernovae associated with low-redshift GRBs. However, the inferred velocities of SN 2010bh at 21 days after explosion are a factor of ~2 times larger than those of the prototypical SN 1998bw at similar epochs, with v ~ 26,000 km/s, indicating a larger explosion energy or a different ejecta structure. A near-infrared spectrum taken 13.8 days after explosion shows no strong evidence for He I at 1.083 microns, implying that the progenitor was largely stripped of its helium envelope. The host galaxy is of low luminosity (M_R ~ -18.5 mag) and low metallicity (Z < 0.4 Z_solar), similar to the hosts of other low-redshift GRB-SNe

Assessing the Construct Validity and Reliability of School Health Records Using the 'Health Dialogue Questionnaire' in the Eleventh Grade

Background and aims: The aim for this study was to assess the construct validity and reliability of the Health Dialogue Questionnaire (HDQ (c)) for eleventh grade in school through comparison of the HDQ (c) with Paediatric Quality Of Life Inventory (PedsQL (TM)), Local monitoring of youth policy questionnaire (LUPP (R)), Health behaviour in Swedish school-aged children (HBSC (c)), Equal health (EH (c)) and The Swedish Survey Youth on Alcohol Consumption (SSYAC (c)). Methods: Cross-sectional samples of eleventh graders from the academic year 2009/2010 was used from the HDQ (c) (n = 2752), the HBSC (c) (n = 2090), the PedsQL (TM) (n = 666), the "LUPP (R)" questionnaires (n = 2400), EH (c) (n = 258), and SSYAC (c) (n = 1748) in the academic year 2009/2010. A comparison between HDQ (c) and the different proxies was done. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed as well as a Multitrait-Multimethod Matrix (MTMM), in order to evaluate the construct validity and reliability of HDQ (c). Results: An average disagreement between HDQ (c) and proxies with 10 percentages was found. Exploratory factor analysis of HDQ (c) on the 2009/2010 sample suggested a four factor solution (girls factor solution 65% of total variance explained, and in the boys' solution 59% of total variance explained). A second sample 2010/2011 of eleventh graders were used for the confirmatory solution. Almost perfectly similar four factor solutions with were found (girls 58% of total variance explained and boys 56% of the total variance explained). Using MTMM the reliability was generally high and HDQ (c) and showed agreeable validity. Discussion and conclusions: The HDQ (c) questionnaire is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring eleventh graders self-reported-health in school

Validade de conteúdo nos processos de construção e adaptação de instrumentos de medidas Content validity in the development and adaptation processes of measurement instruments

Este estudo teve por objetivo realizar uma revisão sobre validade de conteúdo, fase importante nos processos de construção e adaptação de instrumentos de medida. Foi realizada pesquisa bibliográfica definida como integrativa, por meio de pesquisa a bases de dados nacionais e internacionais. Iniciou-se a descrição das bases conceituais e os métodos de medidas usados em validade de conteúdo, com ênfase na área da saúde. Verificou-se que existem controvérsias na literatura sobre a terminologia e o conceito da validade de conteúdo. Foram descritos os procedimentos recomendados para realizar a validade de conteúdo durante os processos de construção e de adaptação de instrumentos, particularmente a avaliação por juízes, o que pode envolver procedimentos qualitativos e quantitativos. Descreveu-se número, seleção e qualificação desses juízes. Os diferentes métodos para quantificar o grau de concordância entre os especialistas foram analisados, principalmente o Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (IVC). Este estudo descreveu aspectos do processo de realização da validade de conteúdo, um dos procedimentos a serem considerados por pesquisadores e profissionais da área de saúde preocupados em utilizarem medidas e instrumentos confiáveis e apropriados para determinada população.<br>This study sought to conduct a review of content validity, which is an important phase of processes of construction and adaptation of measurement instruments. Research of comprehensive literature was conducted by means of a review of national and international databases. Initially, a description of the conceptual basis and the measurement methods used in content validity was made, with emphasis on its application in the healthcare area. It was seen that controversy exists in the literature on the terminology and concept of content validity. The recommended procedures used to check content validity during the construction and adaptation processes of instruments were described, especially the judges' assessment, which can involve qualitative and quantitative procedures. The number, selection and qualification of these judges were also described. The different methods used to quantify the level of agreement among the experts were verified, mainly the Content Validity Index (CVI). This study described aspects of the content validity process, one of the procedures to be considered by healthcare researchers and professionals who are interested in using reliable and appropriate measurements and instruments scales for given population groups