Early Intervention Including an Active Motor Component in Preterms with Varying Risks for Neuromotor Delay: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

Previous reviews demonstrated stronger benefits of early interventions on cognition compared to motor outcome in preterm-born infants. Potentially, motor development needs more targeted interventions, including at least an active motor component. However, there is no overview focusing on such interventions in preterm-born infants, despite the increased risk for neuromotor delays.

Development of Movement and Postural Patterns in Full-Term Infants Who Are at Low Risk in Belgium, India, Norway, and the United States.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the influences on motor development in infants who are at low risk from Belgium, India, Norway, and the United States using the General Movement Assessment at 10-16 weeks postterm age.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of prospectively enrolled full-term infants at low risk (n = 186). Certified General Movement Assessment observers rated the fidgety movements, quality of the movement patterns, age-adequacy of the movement repertoire, postural patterns, movement character, and overall Motor Optimality Score-Revised (MOS-R).

Frequency-Dependent Squeezed Vacuum Source for the Advanced Virgo Gravitational-Wave Detector.

In this Letter, we present the design and performance of the frequency-dependent squeezed vacuum source that will be used for the broadband quantum noise reduction of the Advanced Virgo Plus gravitational-wave detector in the upcoming observation run. The frequency-dependent squeezed field is generated by a phase rotation of a frequency-independent squeezed state through a 285 m long, high-finesse, near-detuned optical resonator. With about 8.

The Impact of Intraventricular Hemorrhage and Periventricular Leukomalacia on Mortality and Neurodevelopmental Outcome in Very Preterm and Very Low Birthweight Infants: A Prospective Population-based Cohort Study.

Objective: To survey the incidence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) by gestational age and to report the impact on mortality and neurodevelopmental outcome in very preterm/very low birthweight infants.

Study Design: This was a population-based cohort study of 1927 very preterm/very low birthweight infants born in 2014-2016 and admitted to Flemish neonatal intensive care units. Infants underwent standard follow-up assessment until 2 years corrected age with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development and neurological assessments.

Intensive Therapy of the Lower Limbs and the Trunk in Children with Bilateral Spastic Cerebral Palsy: Comparing a Qualitative Functional and a Functional Approach.

Few studies have examined the effect of intensive therapy on gross motor function and trunk control in children with cerebral palsy (CP). This study evaluated the effects of an intensive burst of therapy on the lower limbs and trunk by comparing qualitative functional and functional approaches. This study was designed as a quasi-randomized, controlled, and evaluator-blinded trial.

Normalizing Flows as an Avenue to Studying Overlapping Gravitational Wave Signals.

Because of its speed after training, machine learning is often envisaged as a solution to a manifold of the issues faced in gravitational-wave astronomy. Demonstrations have been given for various applications in gravitational-wave data analysis. In this Letter, we focus on a challenging problem faced by third-generation detectors: parameter inference for overlapping signals.

Reliability of 3D freehand ultrasound to assess lower limb muscles in children with spastic cerebral palsy and typical development.

This study investigated the reliability of 3-dimensional freehand ultrasound (3DfUS) to quantify the size (muscle volume [MV] and anatomical cross-sectional area [aCSA]), length (muscle length [ML], tendon length [TL], and muscle tendon unit length [MTUL]), and echo-intensity (EI, whole muscle and 50% aCSA), of lower limb muscles in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) and typical development (TD). In total, 13 children with SCP (median age 14.3 (7.

Associations between muscle morphology and spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy.

Introduction: Due to the heterogeneous clinical presentation of spastic cerebral palsy (SCP), which makes spasticity treatment challenging, more insight into the complex interaction between spasticity and altered muscle morphology is warranted.

Aims: We studied associations between spasticity and muscle morphology and compared muscle morphology between commonly observed spasticity patterns (i.e.

A comprehensive normative reference database of muscle morphology in typically developing children aged 3-18 years-a cross-sectional ultrasound study.

During childhood, muscle growth is stimulated by a gradual increase in bone length and body mass, as well as by other factors, such as physical activity, nutrition, metabolic, hormonal, and genetic factors. Muscle characteristics, such as muscle volume, anatomical cross-sectional area, and muscle belly length, need to continuously adapt to meet the daily functional demands. Pediatric neurological and neuromuscular disorders, like cerebral palsy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, are characterized by impaired muscle growth, which requires treatment and close follow-up.

The Short-Term Impact of Botulinum Neurotoxin-A on Muscle Morphology and Gait in Children with Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

Children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP) are often treated with intramuscular Botulinum Neurotoxin type-A (BoNT-A). Recent studies demonstrated BoNT-A-induced muscle atrophy and variable effects on gait pathology. This group-matched controlled study in children with SCP compared changes in muscle morphology 8-10 weeks post-BoNT-A treatment ( = 25, median age 6.

Progressive resistance training for children with cerebral palsy: A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects on muscle strength and morphology.

Children with spastic cerebral palsy often present with muscle weakness, resulting from neural impairments and muscular alterations. While progressive resistance training (PRT) improves muscle weakness, the effects on muscle morphology remain inconclusive. This investigation evaluated the effects of a PRT program on lower limb muscle strength, morphology and gross motor function.

Development and Validation of a Deep Learning Method to Predict Cerebral Palsy From Spontaneous Movements in Infants at High Risk.

Importance: Early identification of cerebral palsy (CP) is important for early intervention, yet expert-based assessments do not permit widespread use, and conventional machine learning alternatives lack validity.

Objective: To develop and assess the external validity of a novel deep learning-based method to predict CP based on videos of infants' spontaneous movements at 9 to 18 weeks' corrected age.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prognostic study of a deep learning-based method to predict CP at a corrected age of 12 to 89 months involved 557 infants with a high risk of perinatal brain injury who were enrolled in previous studies conducted at 13 hospitals in Belgium, India, Norway, and the US between September 10, 2001, and October 25, 2018.

Incontinence training in children with cerebral palsy: A prospective controlled trial.

Introduction: Urinary incontinence is the most frequently observed lower urinary tract symptom in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Being continent can positively influence quality of life of the child and the social environment.

Objective: To investigate the effectiveness of incontinence training with urotherapy in children with CP.

Constraining neutron-star matter with microscopic and macroscopic collisions.

Interpreting high-energy, astrophysical phenomena, such as supernova explosions or neutron-star collisions, requires a robust understanding of matter at supranuclear densities. However, our knowledge about dense matter explored in the cores of neutron stars remains limited. Fortunately, dense matter is not probed only in astrophysical observations, but also in terrestrial heavy-ion collision experiments.

Reliability of Isokinetic Strength Assessments of Knee and Hip Using the Biodex System 4 Dynamometer and Associations With Functional Strength in Healthy Children.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the reliability of concentric isokinetic strength assessments (knee and hip) using the Biodex System 4 in healthy children and assess the association with functional strength tests (sit-to-stand [STS], lateral-step-up [LSU]).

Methods: 19 children (6-12 years) were included. Knee and hip flexion and extension, and hip abduction and adduction were tested at 60 and 90°/s.

The Contribution of Decreased Muscle Size to Muscle Weakness in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy.

Muscle weakness is a common clinical symptom in children with spastic cerebral palsy (SCP). It is caused by impaired neural ability and altered intrinsic capacity of the muscles. To define the contribution of decreased muscle size to muscle weakness, two cohorts were recruited in this cross-sectional investigation: 53 children with SCP [median age, 8.

Constraints on Cosmic Strings Using Data from the Third Advanced LIGO-Virgo Observing Run.

We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection.

Reliability of Processing 3-D Freehand Ultrasound Data to Define Muscle Volume and Echo-intensity in Pediatric Lower Limb Muscles with Typical Development or with Spasticity.

This investigation assessed the processer reliability of estimating muscle volume and echo-intensity of the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and semitendinosus. The muscles of 10 typically developing children (8.15 [1.

In-Motion-App for remote General Movement Assessment: a multi-site observational study.

Objectives: To determine whether videos taken by parents of their infants' spontaneous movements were in accordance with required standards in the In-Motion-App, and whether the videos could be remotely scored by a trained General Movement Assessment (GMA) observer. Additionally, to assess the feasibility of using home-based video recordings for automated tracking of spontaneous movements, and to examine parents' perceptions and experiences of taking videos in their homes.

Design: The study was a multi-centre prospective observational study.

Reliability of functional tests of the lower limbs and core stability in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Background: Muscle weakness in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) can affect daily life activities, even more if functional capabilities are poor. Also, core stability plays an important role in distal force generation.

Aim: The main purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability of functional tests of the lower limbs and the core stability in children and adolescents with bilateral spastic CP with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels II and III.

Quantum Backaction on kg-Scale Mirrors: Observation of Radiation Pressure Noise in the Advanced Virgo Detector.

The quantum radiation pressure and the quantum shot noise in laser-interferometric gravitational wave detectors constitute a macroscopic manifestation of the Heisenberg inequality. If quantum shot noise can be easily observed, the observation of quantum radiation pressure noise has been elusive, so far, due to the technical noise competing with quantum effects. Here, we discuss the evidence of quantum radiation pressure noise in the Advanced Virgo gravitational wave detector.

Motor outcome after perinatal stroke and early prediction of unilateral spastic cerebral palsy.

Background: Unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) occurs in 30%-68% of infants with perinatal stroke. Early detection of USCP is essential for referring infants to early intervention. The aims of this study were to report motor outcomes after perinatal stroke, and to determine the predictive value of the General Movements Assessment (GMA) and Hand Assessment for Infants (HAI) for detection of USCP.