Long-term reoperation rates following spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis in nonambulatory patients with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: To describe the incidence of reoperation and factors contributing to surgical revision within a minimum of 10 years after spinal fusion for scoliosis in patients with nonambulatory cerebral palsy (CP).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive nonambulatory patients with CP who underwent primary spinal fusion at a single specialty care center with a minimum of 10 years from their index surgery (surgery dates 2001-2011). Causes of reoperation were classified as implant failure/pseudoarthrosis, surgical site infection (SSI), proximal junctional kyphosis, prominent/symptomatic implants, and implant removal.

Synthesis, Structural Characterization, and Phosphorescence Properties of Trigonal Zn(II) Carbene Complexes.

The sterically demanding -heterocyclic carbene ITr (,'-bis(triphenylmethyl)imidazolylidene) was employed for the preparation of novel trigonal zinc(II) complexes of the type [ZnX(ITr)] [X = Cl (), Br (), and I ()], for which the low coordination mode was confirmed in both solution and solid state. Because of the atypical coordination geometry, the reactivity of was studied in detail using partial or exhaustive halide exchange and halide abstraction reactions to access [ZnLCl(ITr)] [L = carbazolate (), 3,6-di--butyl-carbazolate (), phenoxazine (), and phenothiazine ()], [Zn(bdt)(ITr)] (bdt = benzene-1,2-dithiolate) (), and cationic [Zn(μ-X)(ITr)][B(CF)] [X = Cl (), Br (), and I ()], all of which were isolated and structurally characterized. Importantly, for all complexes , the trigonal coordination environment of the Zn ion is maintained, demonstrating a highly stabilizing effect due to the steric demand of the ITr ligand, which protects the metal center from further ligand association.

Towards Fast Circularly Polarized Luminescence in 2-Coordinate Chiral Mechanochromic Copper(I) Carbene Complexes.

A series of chiral mechanochromic copper(I) cAAC (cAAC=cyclic (alkyl)(amino)carbene) complexes with a variety of amide ligands have been studied with regard to their photophysical and chiroptical properties to elucidate structure-property relationships for the design of efficient triplet exciton emitters exhibiting circularly polarized luminescence. Depending on the environment, which determines the excited state energies, either thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) from LLCT states or phosphorescence from LLCT/LC states occurs. However, neither chiral moieties at the carbene nor at the carbazolate ligands provide detectable luminescence dissymmetries g .

Synthesis and Photophysical Studies of Copper(I) CAAC Half-Sandwich Complexes as a Highly Modifiable Class of Emitters.

Cyclopentadienyls are well-known strong donor ligands and have been successfully employed in catalysis as they tolerate a variety of substituents to adjust their steric and electronic properties. Although such highly modifiable ligands are of great interest for luminescence and photocatalytic applications, studies of Cp-containing photoactive transition-metal complexes are quite rare. In this work, we present a structural, electrochemical, and first elaborated photophysical investigation of a series of copper(I) half-sandwich complexes bearing cyclic alkyl(amino)carbenes (CAACs) as chromophore ligands and compare them with [Cu(Cp)(IDipp)] and [Cu(Cp*)(IDipp)] bearing a traditional -heterocyclic carbene.

Understanding the self in relation to others: Infants spontaneously map another's face to their own at 16-26 months.

The current study probed whether infants understand themselves in relation to others. Infants aged 16-26 months (n = 102) saw their parent wearing a sticker on their forehead or cheek, depending on experimental condition, placed unwitnessed by the child. Infants then received a sticker themselves, and their spontaneous behavior was coded.

Assessing tap water awareness: The development of an empirically-based framework.

Despite the often emphasized importance of water awareness, and notwithstanding the fact that calls for increasing public awareness are becoming commonplace, most studies do not define the concept, let alone operationalise it into measurable units. This is, however, essential to measure and evaluate efforts related to water awareness such as public campaigns, customer communication and behavioural interventions. To address this gap, we conceptualise, operationalise and assess tap water awareness, hereby differentiating between cognitive awareness (head), affectional awareness (heart), and behavioural awareness (hands).

Eat, sleep, repeat - endocrine regulation of behavioural circadian rhythms.

The adaptation of organisms to a rhythmic environment is mediated by an internal timing system termed the circadian clock. In mammals, molecular clocks are found in all tissues and organs. This circadian clock network regulates the release of many hormones, which in turn influence some of the most vital behavioural functions.

What Happens to Our Neuromuscular Patients in Adulthood: Pathway to Independence and Maximal Function.

Background: Children with neuromuscular disorders regularly seek care from pediatric orthopaedic surgeons. These conditions can have a significant impact on the growth and development of children and their function and well-being as adults. Questions exist about the long-term outcomes of musculoskeletal interventions performed during childhood.

[Distal femur replacement in extensive defects of the distal femur in revision arthroplasty].

Objective: Use of distal femur replacement implants in advanced bone defects after multiple bone-damaging revision surgery on the knee joint.

Indications: Advanced femoral bone defects (AORI IIb and III defects) in revision arthroplasty of the knee joint.

Contraindications: Persistent or current joint infection, general infection, defect and/or nonreconstructable insufficient extensor apparatus.

Proposal for a National Blueprint Framework to Monitor Progress on Water-Related Sustainable Development Goals in Europe.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underpinned by 169 targets presents national governments with huge challenges for implementation. We developed a proposal for a National Blueprint Framework (NBF) with 24 water-related indicators, centered on SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation for all), each with a specific target. We applied the NBF to 28 EU Member States (EU-28) and conclude that: (1) The current SDG 6 indicators are useful for monitoring progress toward water-related targets but their usefulness can be improved by focusing more on their practical implementation.

Replication-Competent Lentivirus Analysis of Vector-Transduced T Cell Products Used in Cancer Immunotherapy Clinical Trials.

Lentiviral vectors are being used in a growing number of clinical applications, including T cell immunotherapy for cancer. As this new technology moves forward, a safety concern is the inadvertent recombination and subsequent development of a replication-competent lentivirus (RCL) during the manufacture of the vector material. To assess this risk, regulators have required screening of T cell products infused into patients for RCL.

Enhancing domestic water conservation behaviour: A review of empirical studies on influencing tactics.

The world faces imminent drought-related challenges that, from a tap-water supply perspective, require increasingly expensive infrastructure enhancement and energy expansion to maintain sufficient service levels. This paper argues that enhancing domestic water conservation provides a promising alternative or necessary addition to reduce costs and to stimulate pro-environmental behaviour. Although the number of field experiments on how people's behaviour can be changed with respect to their daily water consumption is growing, to date, most studies in this field have focussed either on explanatory socio-economic factors (e.

Overcoming the Challenges of Water, Waste and Climate Change in Asian Cities.

Unprecedented challenges in urban management of water, waste and climate change-amplified by urbanisation and economic growth-are growing in Asia. In this circumstance, cities need to be aware of threats and opportunities to improve their capacity in addressing these challenges. This paper identifies priorities, barriers and enablers of these capacities.

The Energy & Raw Materials Factory: Role and Potential Contribution to the Circular Economy of the Netherlands.

Water is an abundant resource worldwide, but fresh and clean water is scarce in many areas of the world. Increases in water consumption and climate change will affect global water security even further in the near future. With increasing numbers of people living in metropolitan areas, water, energy, and materials need to be used carefully, reused and renewed.

The City Blueprint Approach: Urban Water Management and Governance in Cities in the U.S.

In this paper, we assess the challenges of water, waste and climate change in six cities across the U.S.: New York City, Boston, Milwaukee, Phoenix, Portland and Los Angeles.

Factors influencing recurrent admissions among children with disabilities in a specialty children's hospital.

Purpose: To describe recurrent admissions in a cohort of complex chronic patients at a specialty children's hospital, identify factors that contribute to multiple admissions, and test the hypothesis that risk factors predict patterns of readmissions within specified time intervals.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of patients admitted to a specialty children's hospital during calendar year 2006 followed through 2011. Administrative and medical record abstracted data were analyzed by the total number of recurrent admissions and by readmissions with 7, 30 and 90 days at any point during the five year study period.

Neuropathic-like pain features and cross-sectional associations in rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Increasing evidence indicates that features suggestive of neuropathic pain may also be present in patients with common rheumatic conditions. The objective of this study was to examine neuropathic-like pain symptoms and associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: We used the painDETECT screening tool to identify possible or likely neuropathic pain in 159 outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Results and complications after spinal fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis in cerebral palsy and static encephalopathy using luque galveston instrumentation: experience in 93 patients.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the results of spine fusion for neuromuscular scoliosis in cerebral palsy and static encephalopathy, using Luque-Galveston technique, with emphasis on the early and late complications, especially those increasing the hospital stay or requiring additional surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: There are numerous studies in the literature on the treatment of neuromuscular scoliosis using Luque-Galveston instrumentation analyzing the results and complications.

Replication-competent lentivirus analysis of clinical grade vector products.

Lentiviral vectors are now in clinical trials for a variety of inherited and acquired disorders. A challenge for moving any viral vector into the clinic is the ability to screen the vector product for the presence of replication-competent virus. Assay development for replication-competent lentivirus (RCL) is particularly challenging because recombination of vector packaging plasmids and cellular DNA leading to RCL has not been reported with the current viral vector systems.

Scoliosis in cerebral palsy.

Spinal deformity is a common musculoskeletal problem for individuals with cerebral palsy. Severe scoliosis may impair physical function and may be a source of pain. Spine braces and carefully constructed seating arrangements may moderate the behavior of these deformities but do not seem capable of stopping progression, which often continues in adulthood.

Product-enhanced reverse transcriptase assay for replication-competent retrovirus and lentivirus detection.

The product-enhanced reverse transcriptase (PERT) assay has been used to detect reverse transcriptase (RT) activity associated with retroviruses. Although the PERT assay has been proposed as a method for detection of replication-competent retrovirus (RCR) and lentivirus (RCL), it has not been rigorously compared with existing methods for RCR and RCL detection. We have assessed the PERT assay for detection of RCL and RCR that may contaminate lentiviral and retroviral vectors and compared it with published methods for RCL (p24gag ELISA/gag PCR) and RCR (S+/L-) detection.

A nondimensional normalization scheme for oxygen utilization data.

The total oxygen required for gait (gross utilization) is a widely used indicator of locomotor efficiency. The standard scheme of mass normalization (dividing gross utilization by mass) is intended to eliminate confounding effects that arise from variations in age and size. Despite its prevalence, mass normalization has been shown to be inadequate, as the normalized quantity retains a marked dependence on clinically relevant factors.