Comparing Occupation-Based and Repetitive Task Practice Interventions for Optimal Stroke Recovery: A Pilot Randomized Trial

Aims: This pilot randomized comparative study investigated changes in motor performance and indices of neuroplasticity associated with occupation-based intervention and repetitive task practice in the recovery of occupational performance following stroke. Method: Sixteen participants received either occupation-based intervention or repetitive task practice for eight 55-minute sessions. Motor performance was measured by the Fugl Meyer Assessment (FMA), Stroke Impact Scale (SIS), the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and the Goal Attainment Scale (GAS). Indices of neuroplastic change were assessed by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Results: Both occupation-based intervention and repetitive task practice groups demonstrated significant changes on the FMA and the occupation-based group demonstrated significant changes on the GAS goals. Neurophysiological measures showed enlargement in TMS volume maps in the affected hemisphere for both groups. Conclusion: Occupation-based and repetitive task practice interventions can yield similar improvements in chronic stroke.     

Cue Consistency Associated with Physical Activity Automaticity and Behavior

Physical activity is partly regulated by automatic processes such as habits (ie, well-learned responses to cues), but it remains unclear what cues trigger these processes. This study examined the relations of physical activity automaticity and behavior with the consistency of people, activity, routine, location, time, and mood cues present upon initiation of physical activity behavior. Australian adults (N = 1,244, 627 female, M age = 55 years) reported their physical activity automaticity, behavior, and the degree of consistency of these cues each time they start a physical activity behavior. Multiple regression models, which accounted for gender and age, revealed that more consistent routine and mood cues were linked to more physical activity automaticity; whereas more consistent time and people cues were linked to more physical activity behavior. Interventions may more effectively translate into long-lasting physical activity habits if they draw people's attention to the salient cues of time, people, routine, and mood.     

Efficient Detection of Carbapenemase Activity in Enterobacteriaceae by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization?Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in Less Than 30 Minutes

The recognition of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) isolates is a major laboratory challenge, and their inappropriate or delayed detection may have negative impacts on patient management and on the implementation of infection control measures. We describe here a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization−time of flight (MALDI-TOF)-based method to detect carbapenemase activity in Enterobacteriaceae. After a 20-min incubation of the isolate with 0.5 mg/ml imipenem at 37°C, supernatants were analyzed by MALDI-TOF in order to identify peaks corresponding to imipenem (300 Da) and an imipenem metabolite (254 Da). A total of 223 strains, 77 CPE (OXA-48 variants, KPC, NDM, VIM, IMI, IMP, and NMC-A) and 146 non-CPE (cephalosporinases, extended-spectrum β-lactamases [ESBLs], and porin defects), were tested and used to calculate a ratio of imipenem hydrolysis: mass spectrometry [MS] ratio = metabolite/(imipenem + metabolite). An MS ratio cutoff was statistically determined to classify strains as carbapenemase producers (MS ratio of ≥0.82). We validated this method first by testing 30 of our 223 isolates (15 CPE and 15 non-CPE) 10 times to calculate an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC of 0.98), showing the excellent repeatability of the method. Second, 43 strains (25 CPE and 18 non-CPE) different from the 223 strains used to calculate the ratio cutoff were used as external controls and blind tested. They yielded sensitivity and specificity of 100%. The total cost per test is <0.10 U.S. dollars (USD). This easy-to-perform assay is time-saving, cost-efficient, and highly reliable and might be used in any routine laboratory, given the availability of mass spectrometry, to detect CPE.     

Methodology for evaluating the sustainability of products and processes: application to alternative substitution techniques of chromium VI

Faced with increasing regulatory and social pressures, the industrial world must offer safer and more environmentally services while maintaining economic competitiveness. Thus, the development of sustainable activities is essential, and new interactive approaches to evaluate them are needed. In this context, the purpose of this study is to develop a methodology to analyse and compare the sustainability of alternative designs and productions during the preliminary phase of a project considering several criteria based on environment, economy, health and safety risks, and obsolescence risks. This paper describes, on one hand, the proposed methodology used to evaluate each criterion separately and to obtain the final integrated score. On the other hand, it proposes the application of the methodology to the comparison of surface treatment processes used in aircraft industry, to illustrate and validate the approach. The case study is about the comparison of an electrochemical process for the treatment of aluminium against corrosion: chromic acid anodizing, and alternatives without chromium, tartaric sulphuric acid anodizing and boric sulphuric acid anodizing.