Young children with disabilities, marginalised and voiceless: A case of Eswatini

Significantly, many people with disabilities are victims of classification over generalizations with the assumption that disability is equal to inability. This study focused on challenges faced by children with disabilities in accessing Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) services in Manzini Region of Eswatini. Anchored on the Critical Disability Theory which views disability as a cultural, historical, relative, social, and political phenomenon, the study assessed and analysed the disability issues on the accessibility to ECCD services for young children. Through interviews, data was collected from10 ECCD centres in Manzini which were purposively selected. Ten ECCD teachers, 5 principals, and 5 parents/caregivers participated in the study. The results revealed that failure by these children to access ECCD services in the community impacts negatively on their holistic development. Sadly, young children living with a disability in Eswatini face significant challenges, one of the reasons, just like most of our African countries, being that those who have some form of disability were bewitched or inflicted by some bad spirits. ECCD specialist educators highlighted the need for comprehensive training services that will help them cater to children with special needs. The study recommended for extensive awareness programmes to sensitize communities on the rights of the child, regardless of body, mental or sensory condition.

The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Core Stability Training on the Balance and Disability of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose: Physicians report balance disorders and fatigue as the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease. The present study compares the effect of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and core stability training on the balance and disability of patients with MS. Methods: This is a pre-test, post-test experiment study. The statistical population included all patients with MS who reffered to Rofaydeh Rehabilitation Hospital in Tehran City, Iran, in the winter of 2019. A total of 30 male and female patients aged 27-70 years were selected through available and purposive sampling methods and then randomly divided into experimental and control groups (each group 15 persons). The initial measurements of the participants’ kinetic variables of postural control were carried out by the posturography device, and afterward, Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was employed to measure disability. The participants’ training included core stability training for 8 weeks (30-40 min, 3 sessions per week) with 20 min online cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation, 2 sessions per week (The first and third sessions). Then, the research variables were measured again. Results: The results demonstrated the significant influence of cerebellar tDCS on the variables of postural control equilibrium in the second sensory condition (P<0.001), third sensory condition (P<0.001), fourth sensory condition (P<0.001), fifth sensory condition (P=0.034), and combine equilibrium (P<0.001). Besides, the cerebellar current stimulation enhanced the sensory performance of the experimental group in using the vestibular system input data (P<0.001) and vision (P<0.001), but it had no significant effect on the ability to use somatosensory input (P=0.203) and vision preference (P=0.343). This research also revealed that the cerebellar current stimulation decreased EDSS in MS patients (P=0.026). Conclusion: The cerebellar tDCS has a beneficial effect on balance, EDSS, and modified fatigue impact scale in MS patients. The study findings also indicate that the cerebellum, vestibular system, and visual system are related, and they have an impact on balance, and cerebellar stimulation can facilitate learning motor skills.

Valuing relationships: The impact of a sensory program on the interactions of adolescents with severe-to-profound intellectual disabilities

Background: People with severe-to-profound intellectual disabilities often lack meaningful interactions with others. Communication partners need to be skilled in identifying and responding to often-subtle behaviours. One method of facilitating interaction is the use of sensory-based stimuli. Method: This study measured the impact of sensory-based stimuli paired with behaviour chain interruptions for three participants in an alternating treatment design using a novel intervention, SensEngage. Measurements included behaviours previously identified as indicating person engagement, self-engagement, happiness as well as participants’ use of potential communicative acts (PCAs). Results: The results showed increased person engagement and happiness in the SensEngage condition compared to the non-sensory condition for all three participants. An increased use of PCAs and decrease in self-engagement were observed for two participants. Conclusions: SensEngage appears to positively impact person engagement, happiness, PCAs and self-engagement for people with severe-to-profound intellectual disabilities.

Fine Motor Precision Tasks: Sex Differences in Performance with and without Visual Guidance across Different Age Groups

Previous studies have reported certain sex differences in motor performance precision. The aim of the present study was to analyze sex differences in fine motor precision performance for both hands under different test conditions. Fine motor tasks were performed by 220 Spanish participants (ages: 12–95), tracing over the provided models – lines of 40 mm for both hands, two sensory conditions (PV—proprioceptive-visual; P—proprioceptive only) and three movement types (F—frontal, T—transversal, and S—sagittal). Differences in line length (the task focused on precision) were observed through MANOVA analysis for all test conditions, both sexes and different age groups. Sex differences in precision were observed in F and T movement types (statistically significance level and higher Cohens’ d were observed in condition with vision). No statistically significant differences were observed for both hands and sensory conditions in sagittal movement. Sex differences in fine motor precision were more frequently observed in the PV sensory condition in frontal movement and less in sagittal movement.

Research and Exploration on the Process of mangosteen Compound Effervescent Tablets

This article mainly studies a new type of compound effervescent tablet for hot pot soup base, which is made of mangosteen as the main material, adding mangosteen glycoside and kumquat to improve the taste, and adding starch slurry and PEG-6000 as a granulating agent. A single factor test was used to select the optimal level of each factor, the sensory score was used as the response value, and the response surface analysis method was used to optimize the formulation of the compound effervescent tablet, and the moisture absorption rate and sensory condition of the finished tablet after several days of placement were determined. The results showed that the optimized main formula of mangosteen compound effervescent tablets was: mangosteen powder 5.3%, kumquat powder 1.3%, mangosteen glycoside 1.3%, effervescent disintegrant 90.7%, of which citric acid: bicarbonate Sodium is 1.6:1. In this process, starch slurry and PEG-6000 are used as the granulation agent for the semi-dry tableting method. The composite effervescent tablet prepared after drying at 50°C for 3 hours is sweet and sour, rich in special aroma, short in foaming time, and has the lowest moisture absorption rate. The sensory score was 94.96 points.

Fine Motor Precision Tasks: Sex Differences in Performance with and without Visual Guidance across Different Age Groups

Previous studies have reported certain sex differences in motor performance precision. The aim of the present study was to analyse sex differences in fine motor precision performance for both hands in different tests conditions. 220 Spanish participants (ages: 12-95) performed fine motor tasks - tracing over the provided models &ndash; lines of 40 mm for both hands, two sensory conditions (PV &ndash; proprioceptive-visual; P &ndash; proprioceptive only) and three movement types (F &ndash; frontal, T &ndash; transversal and S - Sagittal). Differences in line length (the task focused on precision) were observed through MANOVA analysis for all test conditions, both sexes and different age groups. Sex differences in precision were observed in F and T movement types (statistically significance level and higher Cohens&rsquo; d was observed in condition with vision). No any statistically significant differences were observed in both hands and sensory conditions in sagittal type. Sex differences in fine motor precision were more frequently observed in the PV sensory condition in the frontal movement type and less in the sagittal one.

Balance Control Mechanisms Do Not Benefit From Successive Stimulation Of Different Sensory Systems

ABSTRACTIn humans, to reduce deviations from a perfect upright position, information from various sensory cues is combined and continuously weighted based on its reliability. Combining noisy sensory information to produce a coherent and accurate estimate of body sway is a central problem in human balance control. In this study, we first compared the ability of the sensorimotor control mechanisms to deal with altered ankle proprioception or vestibular information (i.e., the single sensory condition). Then, we evaluated whether successive stimulation of difference sensory systems (e.g., Achilles tendon vibration followed by electrical vestibular stimulation, or vice versa) produced a greater alteration of balance control (i.e., the mix sensory condition). Electrical vestibular stimulation (head turned ∼90°) and Achilles tendon vibration induced backward body sways. We calculated the root mean square value of the scalar distance between the center of pressure and the center of gravity as well as the time needed to regain balance (i.e., stabilization time). Furthermore, the peak ground reaction force along the anteroposterior axis, immediately following stimulation offset, was determined to compare the balance destabilization across the different conditions. In single conditions, during vestibular or Achilles tendon vibration, no difference in balance control was observed. When sensory information returned to normal, balance control was worse following Achilles tendon vibration. Compared to that of the single sensory condition, successive stimulation of different sensory systems (i.e., mix conditions) increased stabilization time. Overall, the present results reveal that single and successive sensory stimulation challenges the sensorimotor control mechanisms differently.

Autonomic nervous system assessment in people with HIV: A cross-sectional study

Background: People diagnosed with HIV may exhibit orthostatic hypotension (OH) as a result of the infection and of secondary effects of medications. Such impairments are attributed to autonomic nervous system (ANS) deficits. The purpose of this study was to assess OH during a balance sensory condition test (SCT) and evaluate the role of the cardiac autonomic system, regarding blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), during this balancing task. We hypothesized that BP and heart rate would rise with an increase in postural instability, thus revealing OH. Methods: Eight individuals diagnosed with HIV were recruited from a community health center in the area of San Juan, Puerto Rico. BP and HR were measured after 5 minutes of sitting, immediately after standing up and 1 minute after this, during the SCT. A t-test was used to assess the difference between BP in sitting, BP in standing, and BP while performing the SCT. HR was also evaluated the same way. Results: There was an increase of more than 10 mmHg in systolic BP (SBP) from sitting compared to standing while performing the SCT (p≤0.01). Likewise, HR and SBP standing versus standing during the SCT increased significantly (p≤0.01). Conclusion: The results of this study show that the ANS may be impaired in people with HIV.

Should It Be Told or Tasted? Impact of Sensory Versus Nonsensory Cues on the Categorization of Low-Alcohol Wines

We use the expectation-disconfirmation and categorization theories to study the effects of sensory versus nonsensory cues relative to a transformed attribute on categorization and typicality judgments relative to a new food product. In an experiment involving 51 participants and low-alcohol wines (new products), we show that categorization and typicality judgments differ according to sensory versus nonsensory cues. The new transformed product is categorized more often in its original category—wine—and perceived as more typical in the nonsensory compared to the sensory condition. (JEL Classifications: L66, M31)

One-Leg Standing Performance and Muscle Activity: Are There Limb Differences?

The purpose of this study was to compare static balance performance and muscle activity during one-leg standing on the dominant and nondominant leg under various sensory conditions with increased levels of task difficulty. Thirty healthy young adults (age: 23 ± 2 years) performed one-leg standing tests for 30 s under three sensory conditions (ie, eyes open/firm ground; eyes open/foam ground [elastic pad on top of the balance plate]; eyes closed/firm ground). Center of pressure displacements and activity of four lower leg muscles (ie, m. tibialis anterior [TA], m. soleus [SOL], m. gastrocnemius medialis [GAS], m. peroneus longus [PER]) were analyzed. An increase in sensory task difficulty resulted in deteriorated balance performance (P< .001, effect size [ES] = .57−2.54) and increased muscle activity (P< .001, ES = .50−1.11) for all but two muscles (ie, GAS, PER). However, regardless of the sensory condition, one-leg standing on the dominant as compared with the nondominant limb did not produce statistically significant differences in various balance (P> .05, ES = .06−.22) and electromyographic (P> .05, ES = .03−.13) measures. This indicates that the dominant and the nondominant leg can be used interchangeably during static one-leg balance testing in healthy young adults.