Exploring the Landscape of Standards and Guidelines in AgeTech Design and Development: Scoping Review and Thematic Analysis.

Background: AgeTech (technology for older people) offers digital solutions for older adults supporting aging in place, including digital health, assistive technology, Internet of Things, medical devices, robotics, wearables, and sensors. This study underscores the critical role of standards and guidelines in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of these technologies for the health of older adults. As the aging demographic expands, the focus on robust standards becomes vital, reflecting a collective commitment to improving the overall quality of life for older individuals through thoughtful and secure technology integration.

Temporal prediction abilities are mediated by motor effector and rhythmic expertise.

Motor synchronization is a critical part of musical performance and listening. Recently, motor control research has described how movements that contain more available degrees of freedom are more accurately timed. Previously, we demonstrated that stick tapping improves perception in a timing detection task, where percussionists greatly outperformed non-percussionists only when tapping along.

Neuro-developmental outcome of a large cohort of growth discordant twins.

Unlabelled: Our aims were to study the effect of birthweight growth discordance (≥20%) on neuro-developmental outcome of monochorionic and dichorionic twins and to compare the relative effects of foetal growth discordance and prematurity on cognitive outcome. We performed a cross-sectional multicentre prospective follow-up study from a cohort of 948 twin pregnancies. One hundred nineteen birthweight-discordant twin pairs were examined (24 monochorionic pairs) and were matched for gestational age at delivery with 111 concordant control pairs.

The nutritional status and energy and protein intakes of MOW clients and the need for further targeted strategies to enhance intakes.

There is a paucity of literature about the nutritional status and energy and protein intakes of Meals on Wheels (MOW) clients. The current study aimed to determine the nutritional status and the adequacy of energy and protein intakes of MOW clients. Forty-two clients were recruited from two MOW services in the Illawarra region of Australia for assessment of their nutritional status, using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA(®)).

Trained to keep a beat: movement-related enhancements to timing perception in percussionists and non-percussionists.

Many studies demonstrate that musicians exhibit superior timing abilities compared to nonmusicians. Here, we investigated how specific musical expertise can mediate the relationship between movement and timing perception. In the present study, a group of highly trained percussionists (n = 33) and a group of non-percussionists (n = 33) were tested on their ability to detect temporal deviations of a tone presented after an isochronous sequence.

Beat-induced fluctuations in auditory cortical beta-band activity: using EEG to measure age-related changes.

People readily extract regularity in rhythmic auditory patterns, enabling prediction of the onset of the next beat. Recent magnetoencephalography (MEG) research suggests that such prediction is reflected by the entrainment of oscillatory networks in the brain to the tempo of the sequence. In particular, induced beta-band oscillatory activity from auditory cortex decreases after each beat onset and rebounds prior to the onset of the next beat across tempi in a predictive manner.

The influence of maternal body mass index on fetal weight estimation in twin pregnancy.

Objective: Sonographic estimated fetal weight (EFW) is important in the management of high-risk pregnancies. The possibility that increased maternal body mass index (BMI) adversely affects EFW assessments in twin pregnancies is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of maternal BMI on the accuracy of EFW assessments in twin gestations prospectively recruited for the ESPRiT (Evaluation of Sonographic Predictors of Restricted growth in Twins) study.

"Moving to the beat" improves timing perception.

Here, we demonstrate that "moving to the beat" can improve the perception of timing, providing an intriguing explanation as to why we often move when listening to music. In the first experiment, participants heard a series of isochronous beats and identified whether the timing of a final tone after a short silence was consistent with the timing of the preceding sequence. On half of the trials, participants tapped along with the beat, and on half of the trials, they listened without moving.

Prediction of outcome in twin pregnancy with first and early second trimester ultrasound.

Objective: To establish if first or second trimester biometry is a useful adjunct in the prediction of adverse perinatal outcome in twin pregnancy.

Methods: A consecutive cohort of 1028 twin pregnancies was enrolled for the Evaluation of Sonographic Predictors of Restricted growth in Twins (ESPRiT) study, a prospective study conducted at eight academic centers. Outcome data was recorded for 1001 twin pairs that completed the study.

Endothelial progenitor cells in mothers of low-birthweight infants: a link between defective placental vascularization and increased cardiovascular risk?

Context: Offspring birthweight is inversely associated with future maternal cardiovascular mortality, a relationship that has yet to be fully elucidated. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are thought to play a key role in vasculogenesis, and EPC numbers reflect cardiovascular risk.

Objective: Our objective was to ascertain whether EPC number or function was reduced in mothers of low-birthweight infants.

Placental pathology, birthweight discordance, and growth restriction in twin pregnancy: results of the ESPRiT Study.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the association between placental histological abnormalities and birthweight discordance and growth restriction in twin pregnancies.

Study Design: We performed a multicenter, prospective study of twin pregnancies. Placentas were examined for evidence of infarction, retroplacental hemorrhage, chorangioma, subchorial fibrin, or abnormal villus maturation.

Additional feeding assistance improves the energy and protein intakes of hospitalised elderly patients. A health services evaluation.

Malnutrition is a serious issue that is prevalent in elderly hospitalised patients. Traditionally the role of feeding was designated to the nurse; however competing tasks mean that additional support for feeding assistance is needed. A program that utilises volunteers during weekday lunchtimes to assist, feed and socialise with patients at a Sydney hospital began during 2005.

Optimum timing for planned delivery of uncomplicated monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies.

Objective: To determine the optimum timing for planned delivery of uncomplicated monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancies.

Methods: Unselected twin pregnancies were recruited for this prospective cohort study (N=1,028), which was conducted in eight tertiary referral perinatal centers in Ireland. Perinatal mortality and a composite measure of perinatal morbidity (respiratory distress, necrotizing enterocolitis, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, periventricular leukomalacia, or sepsis) were compared between uncomplicated twins that underwent planned preterm delivery compared with monochorionic twins that continued in utero beyond 34 weeks of gestation, and dichorionic twins who continued beyond 36 weeks.

Placental cord insertion and birthweight discordance in twin pregnancies: results of the national prospective ESPRiT Study.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of noncentral placental cord insertion on birthweight discordance in twins.

Study Design: We performed a multicenter, prospective trial of twin pregnancies. Placental cord insertion was documented as central, marginal, or velamentous according to a defined protocol.

Prediction of safe and successful vaginal twin birth.

Objective: The objective of the study was to establish predictors of vaginal twin birth and evaluate perinatal morbidity according to mode of delivery.

Study Design: One thousand twenty-eight twin pregnancies were prospectively recruited. For this prespecified secondary analysis, obstetric characteristics and a composite of adverse perinatal outcome were compared according to the success or failure of a trial of labor and further compared with those undergoing elective cesarean delivery.

Definition of intertwin birth weight discordance.

Objective: To establish the level of birth weight discordance at which perinatal morbidity increases in monochorionic and dichorionic twin pregnancy.

Methods: This prospective multicenter cohort study included 1,028 unselected twin pairs recruited over a 2-year period. Participants underwent two weekly ultrasonographic surveillance from 24 weeks of gestation with surveillance of monochorionic twins two-weekly from 16 weeks.

Alpha glutathione S-transferase: a potential marker of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the intestine after cardiac surgery?

Background: The aim of the study was to assess the utility of alpha glutathione S-transferase (alphaGST) as a potential marker of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in children after cardiac surgery.

Methods: Twenty-six patients undergoing cardiac surgery were enrolled in this longitudinal experimental study. Blood samples were drawn for analysis at specified time points during surgery and analyzed for alphaGST levels.