910 research outputs found
Aquatic Exercise Programs for Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go?
Aquatic exercise programs may be a beneficial form of therapy for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP), particularly for those with significant movement limitations where land-based physical activity is difficult. The most recently published systematic review (2005) on aquatic interventions in children with CP found supportive but insufficient evidence on its effectiveness. The aim of this paper is to review recently published literature since 2005 with a focus on aquatic exercise for children with CP. In total, six new studies were published with a main focus on aerobic aquatic interventions in higher functioning children and adolescents with CP. Swimming is one of the most frequently reported physical activities in children and adolescents with CP. Therefore, information on its safety and benefits is highly needed, for those with more severe CP in particular. Research design issues are discussed to help guide future research and practice
Can biofuel policies reduce uncertainty and increase agricultural yields through stimulating investments?
As history shows, the yield gap (the difference between actual and achievable yields) will not
necessarily close automatically. Investments in agricultural technologies may be key. Price volatility
is fundamental to investment. Price volatility has increased in agriculture in the past decade, leading
to higher risks for potential investments. Some of these increased risks may be offset by the certainty
offered by credible policies. The US experience indicates that ethanol policy may contribute to yield
increases. Analysis suggests that corn use by ethanol plants in the USA may explain a significant part of
the observed yield increase. A theoretical framework, centered on downside price-stabilization effects,
is offered here, supported by some US, EU, and Hungarian empirical evidence. The research presented
explores whether new ethanol plants resulting from effective biofuel policies could serve as a market
mechanism to stimulate investments in farming technologies, triggering increased productivity. A survey
of local stakeholders of an ethanol plant in Hungary, the only large-scale biofuel investment triggered in
Europe by the EU’s flagship bioenergy policy (the Renewable Energy Directive) suggests that relevant
investments may have been stimulated. Over half of the respondent farmers said that the presence
of the ethanol plant had stimulated investments in productivity. It is proposed that ethanol or biofuel
policies may be effective in closing the yield gap, in effect resulting in additional biomass production
and advancing the bioeconomy. With effective cross-sectoral policies, more biomass for food, feed,
bio-based materials and / or bioenergy purposes can be produced
Short-Range B-site Ordering in Inverse Spinel Ferrite NiFe2O4
The Raman spectra of single crystals of NiFe2O4 were studied in various
scattering configurations in close comparison with the corresponding spectra of
Ni0.7Zn0.3Fe2O4 and Fe3O4. The number of experimentally observed Raman modes
exceeds significantly that expected for a normal spinel structure and the
polarization properties of most of the Raman lines provide evidence for a
microscopic symmetry lower than that given by the Fd-3m space group. We argue
that the experimental results can be explained by considering the short range
1:1 ordering of Ni2+ and Fe3+ at the B-sites of inverse spinel structure, most
probably of tetragonal P4_122/P4_322 symmetry.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, 6 table
Deterministic and controllable photonic scattering media via direct laser writing
Photonic scattering materials, such as biological tissue and white paper, are
made of randomly positioned nanoscale inhomogeneities in refractive index that
lead to multiple scattering of light. Typically these materials, both
naturally-occurring or man-made, are formed through self assembly of the
scattering inhomogeneities, which imposes challenges in tailoring the disorder
and hence the optical properties. Here, We report on the nanofabrication of
photonic scattering media using direct laser writing with deterministic design.
These deterministic scattering media consist of submicron thick polymer
nanorods that are randomly oriented within a cubic volume. We study the total
transmission of light as a function of the number density of rods and of the
sample thickness to extract the scattering and transport mean free paths using
radiative transfer theory. Such photonic scattering media with deterministic
and controllable properties are model systems for fundamental light scattering
in particular with strong anisotropy and offer new applications in solid-state
lighting and photovoltaics.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figure
Electrostatic potential in a superconductor
The electrostatic potential in a superconductor is studied. To this end
Bardeen's extension of the Ginzburg-Landau theory to low temperatures is used
to derive three Ginzburg-Landau equations - the Maxwell equation for the vector
potential, the Schroedinger equation for the wave function and the Poisson
equation for the electrostatic potential. The electrostatic and the
thermodynamic potential compensate each other to a great extent resulting into
an effective potential acting on the superconducting condensate. For the
Abrikosov vortex lattice in Niobium, numerical solutions are presented and the
different contributions to the electrostatic potential and the related charge
distribution are discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure
Failed theories of superconductivity
Almost half a century passed between the discovery of superconductivity by
Kamerlingh Onnes and the theoretical explanation of the phenomenon by Bardeen,
Cooper and Schrieffer. During the intervening years the brightest minds in
theoretical physics tried and failed to develop a microscopic understanding of
the effect. A summary of some of those unsuccessful attempts to understand
superconductivity not only demonstrates the extraordinary achievement made by
formulating the BCS theory, but also illustrates that mistakes are a natural
and healthy part of the scientific discourse, and that inapplicable, even
incorrect theories can turn out to be interesting and inspiring.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures (typos fixed), to appear in: Bardeen Cooper and
Schrieffer: 50 YEARS, edited by Leon N Cooper and Dmitri Feldma
The push-through total femoral prosthesis offers a functional alternative to total femoral replacement:a case series
PURPOSE: Oncologic resections or complications of segmental femoral prostheses can result in severe bone loss of the femur for which a total femoral prosthesis (TFP) is required. This study assesses whether the loss of stability and function caused by the loss of muscle attachments can be improved by using a push-through total femoral endoprosthesis (PTTF), because it saves parts of the femur and its muscle attachments. METHODS: In this retrospective case series, ten patients aged 25-77 (mean 54) who received a PTTF between 2005 and 2014 were included for baseline, complications and survival analysis with a mean follow-up of 5.3 (1.1-9.6) years. Functional outcome was assessed in six patients using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score, WHO performance scale, Toronto Extremity Salvage Score (TESS), SF36, EQ-5D, NRS pain score, fatigue score and satisfaction score. RESULTS: The mean MSTS score was 64% (23-93%). Five patients had a WHO performance scale of 1, one patient of 3. Mean TESS was 69% (13-90%). SF36 was most notably limited by physical functioning (mean 48), vitality (68) and general health (67). NRS score was 1.9, 1.8 and 8.3 for pain, fatigue and satisfaction, respectively. There were four failures: two infections (one resulting in amputation and one in a minor revision) and two mechanical failures (which required one revision to a TFP and one minor revision). Patient survival was 100%, limb survival 90%, and prosthesis survival 80%. CONCLUSION: The push-through total femoral endoprosthesis allows preservation of muscle attachments and offers a good alternative to total femoral prostheses
Interaction between ionic lattices and superconducting condensates
The interaction of the ionic lattice with the superconducting condensate is
treated in terms of the electrostatic force in superconductors. It is shown
that this force is similar but not identical to the force suggested by the
volume difference of the normal and superconducting states. The BCS theory
shows larger deviations than the two-fluid model.Comment: 6 pages no figure
The concept of correlated density and its application
The correlated density appears in many physical systems ranging from dense
interacting gases up to Fermi liquids which develop a coherent state at low
temperatures, the superconductivity. One consequence of the correlated density
is the Bernoulli potential in superconductors which compensates forces from
dielectric currents. This Bernoulli potential allows to access material
parameters. Though within the surface potential these contributions are largely
canceled, the bulk measurements with NMR can access this potential. Recent
experiments are explained and new ones suggested. The underlying quantum
statistical theory in nonequilibrium is the nonlocal kinetic theory developed
earlier.Comment: 14 pages, CMT30 proceeding
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