SIX-MONTH FOLLOW-UP OF THE EFFECT OF A MAGNETIC FIELD ON CEREBRAL MOTOR DISORDERS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Introduction:- There is a consensus about the short-term efficacy, but not about the long-term effect of the low-frequency impulse magnetic field in early childhood cerebral motor disorders. There is no consensus about the statistical significance of the two-week and six-month dynamics of the kinesiology tests, cranial ultrasound, pathological and primitive reflexes. Objective:- To compare the short-term and long-term effect of the low-frequency impulse magnetic field versus placebo control and compare the statistical significance regarding the two-week and six-month dynamics of the kinesiology tests, cranial ultrasound, pathological and primitive reflexes. Material and Methods:- 29 children (age 8.10 ± 5.98 months) with cerebral motor disorders were followed for 6 months. They were divided into two groups - physiotherapeutic and control. The physiotherapy group (n = 14) received a once-daily low-frequency impulse magnetic field for two weeks at the start of the follow-up. The control group (n = 15) received a once-daily placebo magnetic therapy for two weeks at the start of the follow-up. Kinesiology tests, cranial ultrasound, pathological and primitive reflexes were recorded at the beginning of the follow-up, after two weeks, and after six months. Results:- At the beginning of the follow-up, there was no difference between the two groups regarding all parameters (P>0.05). Both groups showed better results after two weeks versus the start of the follow-up (P<0.05) and after six months versus after two weeks (P<0.05). The physiotherapy group showed better results versus the control group after the second week (P<0.05) and after the sixth month (P<0.05). The two-week and six-month dynamics of the kinesiology tests showed the highest significance (P<0.001), followed by primitive reflexes (P<0.04), followed by pathological reflexes (P<0.05), and finally - the cranial ultrasound (P>0.05), at comparable baseline parameters (P<0.05). Conclusion:- The low-frequency impulse magnetic field showed a significant short-term and long-term therapeutic effect that exceeded the corresponding placebo effects. The statistical significance at the second week and the sixth month of kinesiology tests was the highest, followed by primitive reflexes, and pathological reflexes. The cranial ultrasound did not show significant two-week and six-month dynamics. Despite the relatively stationary morphological changes, verified by cranial ultrasound, the developing nervous system in children aged 8.10 ± 5.98 months showed significant positive dynamics and plasticity for two weeks and six months, verified by kinesiology tests, primitive and pathological reflexes.

Estimating Digital Watermark Synchronization Signal Using Partial Pixel Least Squares

To read a digital watermark from printed images requires that the watermarking system read correctly after affine distortions. One way to recover from affine distortions is to add a synchronization signal in the Fourier frequency domain and use this synchronization signal to estimate the applied affine distortion. If the synchronization signal contains a collection of frequency impulses, then a least squares match of frequency impulse locations results in a reasonably accurate linear transform estimation. Nearest neighbor frequency impulse peak location estimation provides a good rough estimate for the linear transform, but a more accurate refinement of the least squares estimate is accomplished with partial pixel peak location estimates. In this paper we will show how to estimate peak locations to any desired accuracy using only the complex frequencies computed by the standard DFT. We will show that these improved peak location estimates result in a more accurate linear transform estimate. We conclude with an assessment of detector robustness that results from this improved linear transformation accuracy.

High frequency impulse ground penetrating radar application in assessment of interlayer connections

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) technique is commonly used in the nondestructive evaluation of pavement structures. In particular, this method is used to estimate thicknesses of pavement layers as well as it can be utilized in advanced studies of pavement structures. The device presented in this paper comprise the high frequency impulse antennas that allow for investigating the interlayer zones in terms of their electromagnetic properties (e.g. dielectric constant). In some cases these electromagnetic responses can be suitable in the assessment of layer bonding in the pavement structure. This paper discusses the assessment of the quality of asphalt pavement interlayer bonding with the use of high frequency GPR techniques. The preliminary laboratory measurements were performed using an impulse antenna in the zero-offset configuration combined with the large-scale models simulating an idealized horizontal delamination. These measurements allowed to estimate the antenna sensitivity to detect interlayer connection under dry and wet conditions. Analysis of collected results led to formulating practical conclusions regarding critical limitations of the measuring system and adequate methods of signal processing and interpretation. The field investigations consisted of the GPR measurements along selected road sections and collection of the core samples at the locations associated with the specific reflexes. Inspection of the cores provided some real insights into the structure of different delaminations associated with characteristic reflexes. Analysis showed the reflection properties are able to expresses some important features of the interlayer zone, such as delaminations, presence of alien material at the interface, insufficient compaction occurring at the base of layer, and water penetration.