Optimal upper extremity motor control and range of motion are necessary to achieve even the basic activities of daily living (ADL) function. Stroke, with resulting hemiparesis, can significantly and negatively impact an individual’s ADL function. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) self-care score can provide an assessment of what aspects and to what degree ADL functions are impaired. FIM self-care assessment can also track changes in ADL function during stroke recovery and rehabilitation. Recently, the sensor-acquired 3D motion analysis of stroke patients’ upper extremity has shown promise as a potential alternative to assess ADL function. This observational study evaluates whether the sensor-acquired upper extremity reachable workspace (RWS) measure correlates with clinician-evaluated FIM self-care score in stroke patients. Seventeen patients with stroke were enrolled in the study. FIM self-care, NeuroQoL upper extremity, and reachable workspace outcome measures (relative surface area, RSA) were collected upon rehabilitation hospital admission, at discharge, and at the 3-month visit. Pearson and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients as well as multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the relationships between FIM self-care, NeuroQoL, and reachable workspace RSAs. Moderately strong correlation between total reachable workspace RSA and total FIM self-care score at discharge and at 3 months were noted (r = 0.619, r = 0.661, p < 0.05), and similarly strong correlation was also noted with the upper extremity NeuroQoL total score (r = 0.690, r = 0.815, p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed a change in average bilateral total RSA of 0.1 unit from admission to the 3-month follow-up correlated with a respective change in the FIM self-care score of 2.011 points (95%CI: 0.663–3.360). Longitudinal improvement in ADL function during stroke rehabilitation and recovery process is correlated with improvement in reachable workspace.

Periocular inflammatory and infiltrative conditions are of particular importance given the proximity to the eye, thereby raising the risk for dry eyes, exposure keratopathy, eyelid malposition, blurry vision, eye pain, vision loss, double vision, and rarely, extension to the central nervous system. Diseases that affect the region include thyroid eye disease, rosacea, and eczema, as well as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, and vascular malformations. Clinical diagnosis and management of these diseases are oftentimes dependent on invasive, time-intensive, and costly procedures and testing, as well as immunotherapy, surgical resection, and periocular reconstruction. Non-invasive objective approaches to measuring local inflammation and infiltration are therefore needed to better quantify disease activity, progression, and treatment response.

Optimal upper extremity motor control and range of motion are necessary to achieve even the basic Activities of Daily Living (ADL) function. Stroke, with resulting hemiparesis, can significantly and negatively impact an individual’s ADL function. Functional Independence Measure (FIM) self-care score can provide assessment of what aspects and to what degree ADL functions are impaired. FIM self-care assessment can also track changes in ADL function during stroke recovery and rehabilitation. Recently, sensor-acquired 3D motion analysis of stroke patients’ upper extremity has shown promise as a potential alternative to assess ADL function. This observational study evaluates whether the sensor-acquired upper extremity reachable workspace (RWS) measure correlates with clinician-evaluated FIM self-care score in stroke patients. Seventeen patients with stroke were enrolled in the study. FIM self-care, NeuroQoL upper extremity, and reachable workspace outcome measures (relative surface area, RSA) were collected upon rehabilitation hospital admission, at discharge, and at 3-month visit. Pearson and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients as well as multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the relationships between FIM self-care, NeuroQoL, and reachable workspace RSAs. Moderately strong correlation between total reachable workspace RSA and total FIM self-care score at discharge and at 3-month were noted (r=0.619, r=0.661, p<0.05), and similarly strong correlation was also noted with the upper extremity NeuroQoL total score (r=0.690, r=0.815, p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed a change in bilateral total RSA of 0.1 unit from admission to 3-month follow up correlated with respective change in FIM self-care score of 2.011 points (95%CI: 0.663-3.360). Longitudinal improvement in ADL function during stroke rehabilitation and recovery process is correlated with improvement in reachable workspace.

Introduction Despite the importance of the transition to fatherhood as a critical life stage among young adult men, much remains unknown about the factors predictive of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) and how CVH is impacted as young men face new roles and responsibilities associated with fatherhood. Methods and analysis To address this gap, the Dad Bod Study is a prospective, longitudinal and observational study designed to examine how fatherhood affects young men’s CVH. A total of 125, first-time prospective fathers (men, 19–39 years) will be enrolled and followed over 1.5 years. Metrics of the American Heart Association’s ‘Life’s Essential 8’ as well as demographic, social and psychosocial factors will be collected at four time points (baseline (during the pregnant partner’s second trimester), 1-month post partum, 6 months post partum and 1 year post partum). The primary aims are to measure predictors of CVH among first-time fathers and describe longitudinal changes in CVH. A secondary aim is to identify the best practices for recruitment, retention and remote data collection in this population. Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the University of California, Irvine Institutional Review Board (IRB #4907, approved 1 May 2024). Participants will provide written consent. Study data will be disseminated in manuscripts submitted to peer-reviewed journals as well as in abstracts submitted to conferences and in the resulting posters and presentations. After study completion, anonymised data and material will be made publicly available.

Functional connectivity, the study of coordination between distinct brain regions, is a key focus in neuroscience. The Psychophysiological Interaction (PPI) model, commonly used to infer task-dependent functional connectivity, is limited by its susceptibility to confounding effects. We propose using partial correlations, instead of PPI regression coefficients, as they correct for confounding. We show how the PPI model can be used to estimate the precision matrix of a Gaussian Graphical Model (GGM), from which partial correlations are easily derived. We then propose a Bayesian extension to the PPI model that allows this measure of functional connectivity to vary over time. We enforce sparsity in the GGM precision matrix through scale-mixture shrinkage priors, mitigating overfitting. Additionally, we identify structural zeros in the precision matrix using a Bayesian multicomparison decision-theoretic framework. We demonstrate the efficacy of our model over the standard PPI model using simulated data and we further apply it to human fMRI data from a serial reaction time experiment. Our framework offers a more robust and dynamic approach to functional connectivity analysis.

SignificanceNoninvasive characterization of periocular skin optical properties is critical for understanding tissue alterations associated with thyroid eye disease and other orbital adnexal pathologies. Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) provides quantitative, in vivo assessment of tissue absorption and scattering, making it a promising tool for clinical evaluation of the periocular region. However, the complex curvature and height variations of orbital anatomy pose unique challenges that may affect measurement accuracy and reproducibility. This study evaluates the feasibility and repeatability of SFDI for periocular imaging in healthy subjects, establishing a foundation for future investigations of disease-related tissue changes.AimThe study aims to establish normative SFDI-derived optical properties of periocular skin in the absence of cutaneous disease.ApproachTwenty-five healthy participants were imaged using the Reflect RS™ SFDI system. Reduced scattering (μs′) and absorption (μa) coefficients were quantified for predefined regions of interest (ROI): inferior temporal, inferior nasal, and forehead (control). A subset of seven subjects underwent imaging in both frontal and lateral orientations to evaluate the effect of acquisition angle.ResultsNormative ranges for μs′ and μa across periocular and forehead ROIs are reported. Imaging angle did not significantly affect optical property estimates. Across the cohort, μa increased and μs′ decreased with higher Fitzpatrick scores, consistent with prior literature. We observed that laterality and ROI appear to be significant when measuring optical properties. In addition, μs′ suggests a potential stepwise decline with advancing age.ConclusionsThis study provides the first quantitative characterization of normal periocular skin using SFDI across diverse skin types. Measurements were robust to acquisition angle but varied with pigmentation, underscoring the need to account for Fitzpatrick scores in clinical applications. Establishing normative data is essential for future studies involving periocular disease.