Adaptive metabolic responses in a thermostabilized environment: Transgenerational trade-off implications from tropical tilapia.

Relatively warm environments caused by global warming enhance the productivity of aquaculture activities in tropical/subtropical regions; however, the intermittent cold stress (ICS) caused by negative Arctic Oscillation can still result in major economic losses. In contrast to endotherms, ectothermic fishes experience ambient temperature as an abiotic factor that is central to performance and survival. Therefore, the occurrence of extreme temperatures caused by climate change has ignited a surge of scientific interest from ecologists, economists and physiologists.

Pendulum test in chronic hemiplegic stroke population: additional ambulatory information beyond spasticity.

Spasticity measured by manual tests, such as modified Ashworth scale (MAS), may not sufficiently reflect mobility function in stroke survivors. This study aims to identify additional ambulatory information provided by the pendulum test. Clinical assessments including Brünnstrom recovery stage, manual muscle test, MAS, Tinetti test (TT), Timed up and go test, 10-m walk test (10-MWT), and Barthel index were applied to 40 ambulant chronic stroke patients.

Association between socioeconomic status and cerebral palsy.

Background: The present study investigated the annual prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) among children aged <7 years in Taiwan and the association between socioeconomic status and CP prevalence.

Methods: Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for the 2002-2008 period were used in this population-based study. Severe and total CP were defined according to catastrophic illness certificate and medical claim records, respectively.

Relevance of nerve conduction velocity in the assessment of balance performance in older adults with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose This study investigated the relationship between peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and balance performance in older adults with diabetes. Methods Twenty older adults with diabetes were recruited to evaluate the NCV of their lower limbs and balance performance. The balance assessments comprised the timed up and go (TUG) test, Berg balance scale (BBS), unipedal stance test (UST), multidirectional reach test (MDRT), maximum step length (MSL) test and quiet standing with eyes open and closed.