bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ras associated with diabetes may play a role in fracture nonunion development in rats
Authors: Oda Takahiro , Niikura Takahiro , Fukui Tomoaki , Arakura Michio , Oe Keisuke , Mifune Yutaka , Hayashi Shinya , Matsumoto Tomoyuki , Matsushita Takehiko , Kuroda Ryosuke
Published: December 2019

Background

Rad is the prototypic member of a subfamily of Ras-related small G-proteins and is highly expressed in the skeletal muscle of patients with type II diabetes. Our previous microarray analysis suggested that Rad may mediate fracture nonunion development. Thus, the present study used rat experimental models to investigate and compare the gene and protein expression patterns of both Rad and Rem1, another RGK subfamily member, in nonunions and standard healing fractures.

Methods

Standard healing fractures and nonunions (produced via periosteal cauterization at the fracture site) were created in the femurs of 3-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. At post-fracture days 7, 14, 21, and 28, the fracture callus and fibrous tissue from the standard healing fractures and nonunions, respectively, were harvested and screened (via real-time PCR) for Rad and Rem1 expression. The immunolocalization of both encoded proteins was analyzed at post-fracture days 14 and 21. At the same time points, hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to identify the detailed tissue structures.

Results

Results of real-time PCR analysis showed that Rad expression increased significantly in the nonunions, compared to that in the standard healing fractures, at post-fracture days 14, 21, and 28. Conversely, immunohistochemical analysis revealed the immunolocalization of Rad to be similar to that of Rem1 in both fracture types at post-fracture days 14 and 21.

Conclusions

Rad may mediate nonunion development, and thus, may be a promising therapeutic target to treat these injuries.
The effect of low-intensity resistance training after heat stress on muscle size and strength of triceps brachii: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Nakamura Masatoshi , Yoshida Tomoichi , Kiyono Ryosuke , Sato Shigeru , Takahashi Nobushige
Published: December 2019

Background

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether there is a synergistic effect on muscular strength and hypertrophy when low-intensity resistance training is performed after heat stress.

Methods

Thirty healthy young male volunteers were randomly allocated to either the low-intensity resistance training with heat stress group or the control group. The control group performed low-intensity resistance training alone. In the low-intensity resistance training with heat stress group, a hot pack was applied to cover the muscle belly of the triceps brachii for 20 min before the training. The duration of the intervention was 6 weeks. In both groups, the training resistance was 30% of the one repetition maximum, applied in three sets with eight repetitions each and 60-s intervals. The one repetition maximum of elbow extension and muscle thickness of triceps brachii were measured before and after 6 weeks of low intensity resistance training.

Results

There was no significant change in the one-repetition maximum and muscle thickness in the control group, whereas there was a significant increase in the muscle strength and thickness in the low-intensity resistance training with heat stress group.

Conclusion

The combination of heat stress and low-intensity resistance training was an effective method for increasing muscle strength and volume.

Trial registration

University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000036167; March 11, 2019).
Comparison of radiological changes after single- position versus dual- position for lateral interbody fusion and pedicle screw fixation
Authors: Hiyama Akihiko , Katoh Hiroyuki , Sakai Daisuke , Sato Masato , Tanaka Masahiro , Watanabe Masahiko
Published: December 2019

Background

There have been few comparisons between dual positions, which require a position change, and a single position, which does not require position change, and it is not clear whether there is a difference in indirect decompression achieved by the two procedures. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare perioperative and radiographic outcomes following lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) in two cohorts of patients who underwent surgery in a single position or dual position.

Methods

This study involved 45 patients who underwent indirect decompression at 68 levels, with LLIF and percutaneous pedicle screw (PPS) fixation for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal canal stenosis. Patient demographics and perioperative data were compared between two groups: patients who remained in the lateral decubitus position for pedicle screw fixation (SP group) and those turned to the prone position (DP group).

Results

A total of 26 DP and 19 SP patients were analyzed. The operation time was approximately 31 min longer for the DP group (129.7 ± 36.0 min) than for the SP group (98.4 ± 41.3 min, P < 0.01). We also evaluated the pre- and postoperative image measurements, there was no significant difference for lumbar lordosis, segmental disc angle, slipping length, and disc height between the groups. The CSA of the dural sac (DP group, from 55.3 to 78.4 mm2; SP group, from 54.7 to 77.2 mm2) and central canal diameter (DP group, from 5.9 to 7.9 mm; SP group, from 5.6 to 7.7 mm) was significantly larger after surgery in both groups. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.684).

Conclusions

SP surgery could reduce the average surgery time by about 31 min. We found that the effect of indirect decompression by SP-PPS fixation following LLIF was considered to be a useful technique with no difference in dural sac enlargement or disc angle obtained compared with DP-PPS fixation.
Evaluation of new generation macrolides for the treatment and metaphylaxis of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in cattle experimentally infected with Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides
Authors: Muuka Geoffrey , Otina Beatrice , Wesonga Hezron , Bowa Benson , Gicheru Nimmo , Stuke Kristin , Poole E. Jane , Salt Jeremy , Colston Angie
Published: December 2019

Background

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) caused by Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides (Mmm) is an important disease of cattle that causes serious economic losses. With the known effectiveness of new generation macrolides, tulathromycin and gamithromycin were assessed in comparison with oxytetracycline as a positive control and saline as a negative control for effectiveness in inhibiting lung lesion development, promoting resolution, preventing spread and bacteriological clearance in susceptible local cattle breeds in two separate studies in Kenya and Zambia. Animals were monitored for clinical signs, sero-conversion as well as detailed post-mortem examination for CBPP lesions.

Results

Using the Hudson and Turner score for lesion type and size, tulathromycin protected 90%, gamithromycin 80%, and oxytetracycline 88% of treated animals in Kenya. In Zambia, all animals (100%) treated with macrolides were free of lung lesions, while oxytetracycline protected 77.5%. Using the mean adapted Hudson and Turner score, which includes clinical signs, post-mortem findings and serology, tulathromycin protected 82%, gamithromycin 56% and oxytetracycline 80% of the animals in Kenya whereas in Zambia, tulathromycin protected 98%, gamithromycin 94% and oxytetracycline 80%. The saline-treated groups had 93 and 92% lesions in Kenya and Zambia respectively, with Mmm recovered from 5/14 in Kenya and 10/13 animals in Zambia. Whereas the groups treated with macrolides were free from lesions in Zambia, in Kenya 5/15 tulathromycin-treated animals and 6/15 gamithromycin-treated animals showed lesions. Oxytetracycline-treated animals showed similarities with 3/14 and 4/15 showing lesions in Zambia and Kenya respectively and Mmm recovery from one animal in Kenya and six in Zambia. In both studies, lesion scores of saline-treated groups were significantly higher than those of the antibiotic treated groups (p < 0.001). In sentinel animals, CBPP lesions were detected and Mmm recovered from one and two animals mixed with the saline-treated groups in Kenya and Zambia respectively.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that tulathromycin, a mycoplasmacidal, can achieve metaphylactic protection of up to 80%, while non-recovery of Mmm from sentinels suggests macrolides effectiveness in preventing spread of Mmm. It is recommended that further studies are conducted to evaluate strategies comparing vaccination alone or combining vaccination and antibiotics to control or eradicate CBPP.
The urethral position may shift due to urethral catheter placement in the treatment planning for prostate radiation therapy
Authors: Dekura Yasuhiro , Nishioka Kentaro , Hashimoto Takayuki , Miyamoto Naoki , Suzuki Ryusuke , Yoshimura Takaaki , Matsumoto Ryuji , Osawa Takahiro , Abe Takashige , Ito Yoichi M. , Shinohara Nobuo , Shirato Hiroki , Shimizu Shinichi
Published: December 2019

Purpose

To determine the best method to contour the planning organ at risk volume (PRV) for the urethra, this study aimed to investigate the displacement of a Foley catheter in the urethra with a soft and thin guide-wire.

Methods

For each patient, the study used two sets of computed tomography (CT) images for radiation treatment planning (RT-CT): (1) set with a Foley urethral catheter (4.0 mm diameter) plus a guide-wire (0.46 mm diameter) in the first RT-CT and (2) set with a guide-wire alone in the second CT recorded 2 min after the first RT-CT. Using three fiducial markers in the prostate for image fusion, the displacement between the catheter and the guide-wire in the prostatic urethra was calculated. In 155 consecutive patients treated between 2011 and 2017, 5531 slices of RT-CT were evaluated.

Results

Assuming that ≥3.0 mm of difference between the catheter and the guide-wire position was a significant displacement, the urethra with the catheter was displaced significantly from the urethra with the guide-wire alone in > 20% of the RT-CT slices in 23.2% (36/155) of the patients. The number of patients who showed ≥3.0 mm anterior displacement with the catheter in ≥20% RT-CT slices was significantly larger at the superior segment (38/155) than at the middle (14/155) and inferior segments (18/155) of the prostatic urethra (p < 0.0167).

Conclusions

The urethral position with a Foley catheter is different from the urethral position with a thin and soft guide-wire in a significant proportion of the patients. This should be taken into account for the PRV of the urethra to ensure precise radiotherapy such as in urethra-sparing radiotherapy.
Is 18F-FDG PET/CT useful for diagnosing relapsing polychondritis with airway involvement and monitoring response to steroid-based therapy?
Authors: Zeng Yunxiang , Li Minfang , Chen Sheng , Lin Lin , Li Shiyue , He Jianxing , Wang Jinlin
Published: December 2019

Background

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) is a promising tool for diagnosing relapsing polychondritis (RP). However, its usefulness in assessing RP with airway involvement is unknown.

Objective

This study aimed to further evaluate and confirm the potency of 18F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosing RP with airway involvement and monitoring response to steroid-based therapy.

Methods

A total of 30 patients from a dedicated respiratory centre, diagnosed with RP in accordance with McAdam, Damiani or Levine criteria, were included in this study. All patients underwent baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT, and 10 patients underwent second scans after 2.5–15 months of steroid-based therapy. Visual scores (VS) and maximal standard uptake values (SUVmax) were analysed.

Results

In the initial scan, 83.3% (25/30) of patients were found to have FDG uptake in more than one cartilage. The median VS and SUVmax in the cartilages were 3 (range, 1–3) and 3.8 (range, 1.9–17.9), respectively. Positive rates for PET/CT-guided biopsy in nasal, auricular, and tracheal/bronchial cartilages were 100% (5/5), 88.9% (8/9), and 10.5% (2/19), respectively, but the positive biopsy rate in the auricular cartilage was 92.3% (12/13) even without PET/CT assessment. Based on biopsy-proven sites, the sensitivity of PET/CT was 55.6%, and the specificity was 5.3%. Compared with the baseline scan, the second scan showed much lower median VS (2 vs 3, respectively; p < 0.0001) and SUVmax (2.9 vs 3.8, respectively; p < 0.001). Of 10 patients who underwent second PET/CT, 8 had complete therapeutic response, while 2 had partial response.

Conclusion

18F-FDG PET/CT assists in identifying multiple cartilage involvement in RP, but it seems neither a sensitive nor specific modality in diagnosing RP with airway involvement. Moreover, PET/CT has limited utility in locating biopsy sites and monitoring therapeutic response to corticosteroids.
Gantenerumab reduces amyloid-β plaques in patients with prodromal to moderate Alzheimer’s disease: a PET substudy interim analysis
Authors: Klein Gregory , Delmar Paul , Voyle Nicola , Rehal Sunita , Hofmann Carsten , Abi-Saab Danielle , Andjelkovic Mirjana , Ristic Smiljana , Wang Guoqiao , Bateman Randall , Kerchner Geoffrey A. , Baudler Monika , Fontoura Paulo , Doody Rachelle
Published: December 2019

Background

We previously investigated low doses (105 or 225 mg) of gantenerumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds and removes aggregated amyloid-β by Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis, in the SCarlet RoAD (SR) and Marguerite RoAD (MR) phase 3 trials. Several lines of evidence suggested that higher doses may be necessary to achieve clinical efficacy. We therefore designed a positron emission tomography (PET) substudy to evaluate the effect of gantenerumab uptitrated to 1200 mg every 4 weeks on amyloid-β plaques as measured using florbetapir PET in patients with prodromal to moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods

A subset of patients enrolled in the SR and MR studies who subsequently entered the open-label extensions (OLEs) were included in this substudy. Patients were aged 50 to 90 years with a clinical diagnosis of probable prodromal to moderate AD and were included based on a visual read of the original screening scan in the double-blind phase. Patients were assigned to 1 of 5 titration schedules (ranging from 2 to 10 months) with a target gantenerumab dose of 1200 mg every 4 weeks. The main endpoint of this substudy was change in amyloid-β plaque burden from OLE baseline to week 52 and week 104, assessed using florbetapir PET. Florbetapir global cortical signal was calculated using a prespecified standard uptake value ratio method converted to the Centiloid scale.

Results

Sixty-seven of the 89 patients initially enrolled had ≥ 1 follow-up scan by August 15, 2018. Mean amyloid levels were reduced by 39 Centiloids by the first year and 59 Centiloids by year 2, a 3.5-times greater reduction than was seen after 2 years at 225 mg in SR. At years 1 and 2, 37% and 51% of patients, respectively, had amyloid-β plaque levels below the amyloid-β positivity threshold.

Conclusion

Results from this exploratory interim analysis of the PET substudy suggest that gantenerumab doses up to 1200 mg resulted in robust amyloid-β plaque removal at 2 years. PET amyloid levels were consistent with sparse-to-no neuritic amyloid-β plaques in 51% of patients after 2 years of therapy. Amyloid reductions were similar to those observed in other placebo-controlled studies that have suggested potential clinical benefit.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01224106 (SCarlet RoAD) and NCT02051608 (Marguerite RoAD).
ABCA7 polymorphisms correlate with memory impairment and default mode network in patients with APOEε4-associated Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Chang Ya-Ting , Hsu Shih-Wei , Huang Shu-Hua , Huang Chi-Wei , Chang Wen-Neng , Lien Chia-Yi , Lee Jun-Jun , Lee Chen-Chang , Chang Chiung-Chih
Published: December 2019

Background

Since both APOE and ABCA7 protein expression may independently reduce neuritic plaque burden and reorganize fibrillar amyloid burden-mediated disruption of functional connectivity in the default mode network, we aimed to investigate the effect of the APOE-ABCA7 interaction on default mode network in Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods

Two hundred and eighty-seven individuals with a diagnosis of typical Alzheimer’s disease were included in this study. Memory was characterized and compared between APOE-ε4+ carriers and APOE-ε4 non-carriers within ABCA7 rs3764650T allele homozygous carriers and ABCA7 rs3764650G allele carriers, respectively. Two-way analysis of variance was used to identify a significant interaction effect between APOE (APOE-ε4+ carriers versus APOE-ε4 non-carriers) and ABCA7 (ABCA7 rs3764650T allele homozygous versus ABCA7 rs3764650G allele carriers) on memory scores and functional connectivity in each default mode network subsystem.

Results

In ABCA7 rs3764650G allele carriers, APOE-ε4+ carriers had lower memory scores (t (159) = − 4.879; P < 0.001) compared to APOE-ε4 non-carriers, but APOE-ε4+ carriers and APOE-ε4 non-carriers did not have differences in memory (P > 0.05) within ABCA7 rs3764650T allele homozygous carriers. There was a significant APOE-ABCA7 interaction effect on the memory (F3, 283 = 4.755, P = 0.030). In the default mode network anchored by the entorhinal seed, the peak neural activity of the cluster that was significantly associated with APOE-ABCA7 interaction effects (P = 0.00002) was correlated with the memory (ρ = 0.129, P = 0.030).

Conclusions

Genetic-biological systems may impact disease presentation and therapy. Clarifying the effect of APOE-ABCA7 interactions on the default mode network and memory is critical to exploring the complex pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease and refining a potential therapy.
Signal enhancement for communication systems used by fire fighters
Authors: Brodersen Michael , Volmer Achim , Schmidt Gerhard
Published: December 2019

So-calledfull-face masksare essential for fire fighters to ensure respiratory protection in smoke diving incidents. While such masks are absolutely necessary for protection purposes on one hand, they impair the voice communication of fire fighters drastically on the other hand. For this reason communication systems should be used to amplify the speech and, therefore, to improve the communication quality. This paper gives an overview of communication enhancement techniques for masks based on digital signal processing. The presented communication system picks up the speech signal by a microphone in the mask, enhance it, and play back the amplified signal by loudspeakers located on the outside of such masks. Since breathing noise is also picked up by the microphone, it’s advantageous to recognize and suppress it – especially since breathing noise is very loud (usually much louder than the recorded voice). A voice activity detection distinguishes between side talkers, pause, breathing out, breathing in, and speech. It ensures that only speech components are played back. Due to the fact that the microphone is located close to the loudspeakers, the output signals are coupling back into the microphone and feedback may occur even at moderate gains. This can be reduced by feedback reduction (consisting of cancellation and suppression approaches). To enhance the functionality of the canceler a decorrelation stage can be applied to the enhanced signal before loudspeaker playback. As a consequence of all processing stages, the communication can be improved significantly, as the results of measurements of real-time mask systems show.
Prevalence of asymmetrical rupture in small earthquakes and its effect on the estimation of stress drop: a systematic investigation in inland Japan
Authors: Yoshida Keisuke
Published: December 2019

Stress drops of small earthquakes have been estimated under the assumption that the rupture propagates symmetrically within a circular fault. However, recent studies have observed directivity effects on seismic waves even for small earthquakes. In this study, rupture directivity was investigated systematically for small-to-moderate-sized earthquakes (M 3.5–5.5) that occurred beneath inland Japan from 2004 to April 2019. Apparent moment rate functions were determined for 1463 earthquakes, and their corner frequencies were inverted for their rupture parameters. The results indicate that most of the analyzed earthquakes (1217 of 1463) are characterized by significantly asymmetrical rupture propagation. The stress drops of the earthquakes estimated by considering asymmetrical rupture propagation were 16.8 MPa, which are almost twice the estimates based on the commonly used symmetrical rupture model. This shows the importance of recognizing the diversity of ruptures, even for small earthquakes, for extracting information about earthquake sources and the Earth’s structure. The prevailing rupture directivity can provide useful information on source parameters including the fault size, fault geometry, and rupture velocity of small earthquakes.
Deriving intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) curves using downscaled in situ rainfall assimilated with remote sensing data
Authors: Sun Yabin , Wendi Dadiyorto , Kim Dong Eon , Liong Shie-Yui
Published: December 2019

The rainfall intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) curves play an important role in water resources engineering and management. The applications of IDF curves range from assessing rainfall events, classifying climatic regimes, to deriving design storms and assisting in designing urban drainage systems, etc. The deriving procedure of IDF curves, however, requires long-term historical rainfall observations, whereas lack of fine-timescale rainfall records (e.g. sub-daily) often results in less reliable IDF curves. This paper presents the utilization of remote sensing sub-daily rainfall, i.e. Global Satellite Mapping of Precipitation (GSMaP), integrated with the Bartlett-Lewis rectangular pulses (BLRP) model, to disaggregate the daily in situ rainfall, which is then further used to derive more reliable IDF curves. Application of the proposed method in Singapore indicates that the disaggregated hourly rainfall, preserving both the hourly and daily statistic characteristics, produces IDF curves with significantly improved accuracy; on average over 70% of RMSE is reduced as compared to the IDF curves derived from daily rainfall observations.
Advanced 4-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography reconstruction by combining motion estimation, motion-compensated reconstruction, biomechanical modeling and deep learning
Authors: Zhang You , Huang Xiaokun , Wang Jing
Published: December 2019

4-Dimensional cone-beam computed tomography (4D-CBCT) offers several key advantages over conventional 3D-CBCT in moving target localization/delineation, structure de-blurring, target motion tracking, treatment dose accumulation and adaptive radiation therapy. However, the use of the 4D-CBCT in current radiation therapy practices has been limited, mostly due to its sub-optimal image quality from limited angular sampling of cone-beam projections. In this study, we summarized the recent developments of 4D-CBCT reconstruction techniques for image quality improvement, and introduced our developments of a new 4D-CBCT reconstruction technique which features simultaneous motion estimation and image reconstruction (SMEIR). Based on the original SMEIR scheme, biomechanical modeling-guided SMEIR (SMEIR-Bio) was introduced to further improve the reconstruction accuracy of fine details in lung 4D-CBCTs. To improve the efficiency of reconstruction, we recently developed a U-net-based deformation-vector-field (DVF) optimization technique to leverage a population-based deep learning scheme to improve the accuracy of intra-lung DVFs (SMEIR-Unet), without explicit biomechanical modeling. Details of each of the SMEIR, SMEIR-Bio and SMEIR-Unet techniques were included in this study, along with the corresponding results comparing the reconstruction accuracy in terms of CBCT images and the DVFs. We also discussed the application prospects of the SMEIR-type techniques in image-guided radiation therapy and adaptive radiation therapy, and presented potential schemes on future developments to achieve faster and more accurate 4D-CBCT imaging.
Trajectories of depressive symptoms and adult educational and employment outcomes
Authors: López-López José A. , Kwong Alex S. F. , Washbrook Elizabeth , Pearson Rebecca M. , Tilling Kate , Fazel Mina S. , Kidger Judi , Hammerton Gemma
Published: December 2019

Background

Depressive symptoms show different trajectories throughout childhood and adolescence that may have different consequences for adult outcomes.

Aims

To examine trajectories of childhood depressive symptoms and their association with education and employment outcomes in early adulthood.

Method

We estimated latent trajectory classes from participants with repeated measures of self-reported depressive symptoms between 11 and 24 years of age and examined their association with two distal outcomes: university degree and those not in employment, education or training at age 24.

Results

Our main analyses (n = 9399) yielded five heterogenous trajectories of depressive symptoms. The largest group found (70.5% of participants) had a stable trajectory of low depressive symptoms (stable–low). The other four groups had symptom profiles that reached full-threshold levels at different developmental stages and for different durations. We identified the following groups: childhood–limited (5.1% of participants) with full-threshold symptoms at ages 11–13; childhood–persistent (3.5%) with full-threshold symptoms at ages 13–24; adolescent onset (9.4%) with full-threshold symptoms at ages 17–19; and early-adult onset (11.6%) with full-threshold symptoms at ages 22–24. Relative to the majority ‘stable–low’ group, the other four groups all exhibited higher risks of one or both adult outcomes.

Conclusions

Accurate identification of depressive symptom trajectories requires data spanning the period from early adolescence to early adulthood. Consideration of changes in, as well as levels of, depressive symptoms could improve the targeting of preventative interventions in early-to-mid adolescence.
“Prevention is cure, Education is essential” – responsible implications of young people in educational and prophylactic actions against accidental cervical spinal cord injury and severe disabilities by diving in unverified waters
Authors: ANGHELESCU Aurelian , CONSTANTIN Elena , MIHAESCU Anca Sanda , ONOSE Gelu
Published: December 2019

Introduction: Encouraged by the favorable outcomes of previous mediatic national prophylactic campaigns, initiated and sustained by the medical team of Teaching Emergency Hospital "Bagdasar-Arseni" and National TV Channels (ProTv, TVR1) focused on the risk of severe disability after cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) by diving in unknown waters, we decided to continue increasing awareness education actions. The previous prophylactic campaigns were followed by a statistically significant reduction in the number of young patients admitted to hospital with quadriplegia after diving in unverified waters (26.8% in 2016 and 39% in 2017). Starting from the ISCoS paradigm "Prevention is cure", we have resumed the prophylactic educational actions addressed to healthcare professionals (students, residents, young doctors) in campaigns to prevent CSCI and accidental tetraplegia during summer sports. The objective of the study was to test medical, diving biomechanical level of knowledge and circumstances regarding risks associated with diving in unknown waters, among young kinetotherapy FMAM students (under the age of 35). The study has the Teaching Emergency Hospital “Bagdasar-Arseni” Ethics Committee's approval NO 17464/14.06.2019.
Materials and methods: The research was conducted using the questionnaire technique, containing 16 closed questions addressed to a number of 40 students from Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
Results: We observed that most of the young students act precociously: 67.5% swim in special designated places, 77.5% dive with their feet first, versus 22.5% plunge the head first. Students have a low level of knowledge about biomechanics of plunging and the impressive speeds reached during diving. More than two-thirds of them did not answer the question about the speed reached during diving from 1 m (7.5 m/s, equivalent to 27 km/h) (67.5% students), from 10 m platform (17.5 m/s, 63 km/h) (70% students) and diving from 30 m (25 m/s, 90 km/h) (67% students). Regarding the alcohol consumption before diving, 80% of them responded with "no", and only 5% responded with "occasional consumption". Eighteen students (45%) know the main risk of diving in unknown and shallow waters, and 20 students (50%) have responded incorrectly.
Conclusions: Young students - future therapists have a low level of knowledge about CSCI risk and the severe disabilities that can occur accidentally by diving. It is mandatory to continue the education prophylactic initiative sustained activity through mass media, started in 2016-2018.
Key words: traumatic spinal cord injury, tetraplegia, diving, plunging, unverified / unfamiliar water, summer sports,
Unedited pathological recurrent association of palmomental and rooting archaic reflexes in a young woman with severe traumatic brain lesions – case presentation and physiopathological considerations
Authors: ANGHELESCU Aurelian
Published: December 2019

Introduction. Archaic reflexes are present in infancy, disappear as the brain matures, but reappear in pathological conditions. Case report. A 29-years-old woman has suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. She was admitted to neurorehabilitation 6 months after neurosurgical interventions (ventriculoperitoneal shunt for traumatic hydrocephalus, emerged after decompressive craniectomy). Neurological examination revealed a minimal conscious state, spastic tetraparesis, trismus, central facial palsy, nystagmus, bilateral palm-chin reflex, and a “mitigated” variant of the rooting reflex. The left corneal, snout and glabellar reflexes were absent. Osteotendinous reflexes were brisk, Babinski sign was bilaterally present, palmar and plantar grasp reflexes were absent. The trismus has persisted and chewing remained severely disabled after botulinum toxin injected in the left temporalis muscle and bilaterally in the masseter. The patient was fed by percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube. Neurologic evolution remained stationary after two months of rehabilitative nursing. Discussion. The palmomental reflex described by Marinescu and Radovici, is elicited by scratching the thenar eminence of the palm, and consists of an ipsilateral twitch of the mentalis muscle. Baby rooting for milk is a primitive trigemino-facial reflex found in newborn infants. The lower lip is lowered, and the tongue is moved in the direction where the cheek near the corner of the mouth is brushed. The lockjaw has “mitigated” the classical pattern of clinical response. Repeated stimulation causes a unilateral mentalis muscle response, similar to the palm-chin reflex. The severe traumatic brain lesions have induced pathological reappearance of the palmomental and rooting archaic reflexes, in a unique, unedited pathological association.

Key words: palmomental reflex (Marinescu Radovici reflex); rooting reflex; archaic reflexes; botulinum toxin; traumatic brain injury; minimal conscious state,
Evaluating risk factors involved in the alteration of biomechanics in relation to knee osteoarthritis
Authors: TUDORACHI Nicoleta-Bianca , EVA Iuliana , MOSCALU Mihaela , AL- HIARY Rami , MORARU Aurelian-Corneliu , BARBIERU Bogdan , STANCIU Costin , CORCIOVA Calin , ARDELEANU Valeriu
Published: December 2019

The knee joint is very complex in terms of degrees of mobility and for normal biomechanics it is necessary for all the anatomical structures at this level to be within physiological limits. Problems can be caused by a number of risk factors such as age, sex, weight, or local risk factors such as patellar changes represented by patela alta or patella baja, which can lead to instability of the lower limb. Risk factors that may influence the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis have been evaluated. Changes in patellar position in relation to knee osteoarthritis were also studied. A group of 377 patients hospitalized for unilateral or bilateral knee pain with instability were included in the study. 239 of the 377 starting group presented knee osteoarthritis, constituting the study group. The risk factors analyzed were age, patient sex, BMI, weight status, anatomical changes in position of the patella (patella alta and patella baja), COBB angle and spine deviation. The results indicated that obesity, anatomical changes in the position of the patella, (patella alta), COBB angle and spine deviations represent significant risk factors in the onset of knee osteoarthritis.

Key words: risk factors, joint instability, knee osteoarthritis,
A survey exploring biomedical editors’ perceptions of editorial interventions to improve adherence to reporting guidelines
Authors: Blanco David , Hren Darko , Kirkham Jamie J. , Cobo Erik , Schroter Sara
Published: December 2019

Background: Improving the completeness of reporting of biomedical research is essential for improving its usability. For this reason, hundreds of reporting guidelines have been created in the last few decades but adherence to these remains suboptimal. This survey aims to inform future evaluations of interventions to improve adherence to reporting guidelines. In particular, it gathers editors’ perceptions of a range of interventions at various stages in the editorial process.  

Methods: We surveyed biomedical journal editors that were knowledgeable about this topic. The questionnaire included open and closed questions that explored (i) the current practice of their journals, (ii) their perceptions of the ease of implementation of different interventions and the potential effectiveness of these at improving adherence to reporting guidelines, (iii) the barriers and facilitators associated with these interventions, and (iv) suggestions for future interventions and incentives.

Results: Of the 99 editors invited, 24 (24%) completed the survey. Involving trained editors or administrative staff was deemed the potentially most effective intervention but, at the same time, it was considered moderately difficult to implement due to logistic and resource issues. Participants believed that checking adherence to guidelines goes beyond the role of peer reviewers and were concerned that the quality of peer review could be compromised. Reviewers are generally not expected to focus on reporting issues but on providing an expert view on the importance, novelty, and relevance of the manuscript. Journals incentivising adherence, and publishers and medical institutions encouraging journals to take action to boost adherence were two recurrent themes.

Conclusions: Implementing and evaluating editorial interventions to improve adherence to reporting guidelines is essential to improve the transparency of published research. This survey aims to cast light on the barriers and facilitators that can be expected when implementing diverse interventions, as well as on the potential impact of these interventions.
Methodological approaches to the organization of regional economy
Authors: Beilin Igor' , Homenko Vadim , Koh Igor'
Published: December 2019

The monograph is devoted to improving the tools of regional economic research on the examples of models of innovative projects of the petrochemical complex. The results of the work can be demanded by regional budget-forming enterprises, for example, the main representatives of the Kama innovative territorial production cluster of the Republic of Tatarstan "Innokam".
It is recommended for use in research work of undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of "Economics", "Management", "innovation", as well as postgraduate and doctoral studies in the scientific specialties "Economic theory", "Economics and management of the national economy", "Mathematical and instrumental methods of Economics".
CHANGE IN THE AGROPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LEACHED CHERNOZEM DEPENDING ON MINIMIZING THE BASIC SOIL TILLAGE
Authors: Ilyasov Mars , Suhanova Irina , Bikkinina Liliya , Sidorov Valentin
Published: December 2019

The possibility of minimizing the main tillage in crop rotation, the use of a fertilizer system in order to develop methods for increasing productivity and improving agrophysical characteristics on leached chernozem of the Republic of Tatarstan is investigated. The stationary field experience in crop rotation was laid in 2016 on a busy pair (vetch-oat mix), where various systems of primary tillage were studied: annual dump plowing - control option; dump plowing, planar loosening, longline plowing, chisel loosening - in subsequent years by surface peeling. The data obtained in field experiments indicate that, using various primary tillage and fertilizer systems, agrophysical properties can be regulated, and conditions can be created for the conservation and reproduction of soil fertility of leached chernozem. The organic and mineral fertilizer system contributed to an increase in the moisture content in the meter soil layer by 2.1-16.1 mm compared to the mineral fertilizer system. Studies have shown that the introduction of manure at a rate of 60 tons per hectare before rotation of the crop rotation in 2016 contributed to a decrease in bulk density in the 0-40 cm layer compared to the LSG to 0.04 g/cm3. The water permeability of the soil depended on the depth and system of tillage, its moisture content and the crop grown. The use of a tiered soil cultivation system contributed to an increase in wheat yields for both fertilizer backgrounds by 0.8 tons per hectare (OMSU) and 0.7 tons per hectare (MSU), respectively, in comparison with the control variant. Calculations showed that the use of longline plowing in combination with small-scale processing using the organic-mineral fertilizer system ensured a reduction in the cost of main products compared to traditional waste processing to 12%, a net income growth from 1 ha to 15% and a profitability level to 22% .
Teaching Through Television: Experimental Evidence on Entrepreneurship Education in Tanzania
Authors: Bjorvatn Kjetil , Cappelen Alexander W. , Sekei Linda Helgesson , Sørensen Erik Ø. , Tungodden Bertil
Published: December 2019

Can television be used to teach and foster entrepreneurship among youth in developing countries? We report from a randomized control field experiment of an edutainment show on entrepreneurship broadcasted over almost three months on national television in Tanzania. The field experiment involved more than 2,000 secondary school students, where the treatment group was incentivized to watch the edutainment show. We find some suggestive evidence of the edutainment show making the viewers more interested in entrepreneurship and business, particularly among females. However, our main finding is a negative effect: the edutainment show discouraged investment in schooling without convincingly replacing it with some other valuable activity. Administrative data show a strong negative treatment effect on school performance, and long-term survey data show that fewer treated students continue schooling, but we do not find much evidence of the edutainment show causing an increase in business ownership. The fact that an edutainment show for entrepreneurship caused the students to invest less in education carries a general lesson to the field experimental literature by showing the importance of taking a broad view of possible implications of a field intervention.

This paper was accepted by David Simchi-Levi, behavioral economics.
Older people with HIV
Authors: Peate Ian
Published: December 2019

The number of older people (those over 50 years) living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the UK has been rising and is set to rise further. With the introduction of antiretroviral therapy, HIV infection has become a controllable chronic disease with many HIV positive patients living longer.

This article provides the reader with an update, including epidemiology and HIV in the older adult. The epidemiology is discussed, along with an overview of HIV in the UK. Specific issues that the older adult may face that are associated with HIV are summarised.

The role of the healthcare assistant and assistant practitioner (HCA and AP) in providing care and support is outlined.
Defying hard-to-heal wounds with an early antibiofilm intervention strategy: ‘wound hygiene’
Authors: Murphy Christine , Atkin Leanne , Dissemond Joachim , Hurlow Jennifer , Tan Yih Kai , Apelqvist Jan , James Garth , Salles Nathalie , Wu Jun , Tachi Masahiro , Wolcott Randall
Published: December 2019

Biofilm has been implicated as a barrier to wound healing and it is widely accepted that the majority of wounds not following a normal healing trajectory contain biofilm. Therefore, strategies that inform and engage clinicians to reduce biofilm and optimise the wound tissue environment to enable wound progression are of interest to wound care providers. In March 2019, an advisory board was convened where experts considered the barriers and opportunities to drive a broader adoption of a biofilm-based approach to wound care. Poor clarity and articulation of wound terminology were identified as likely barriers to clinical adoption of rigorous and proactive microbial decontamination that is supportive of wound healing advancement. A transition to an intuitive term such as ‘wound hygiene’ was proposed to communicate a comprehensive wound decontamination plan with an associated message of expected habitual routine. ‘Wound hygiene’, is a relatable concept that supports meticulous wound practice that addresses barriers to wound healing, such as biofilm, while aligning with antimicrobial stewardship programmes.
Portable Electronic Nose for Discrimination of Indonesian Robusta Coffee Aroma with Varied Roasting Temperature Correlated with Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Arimurti Yesiana , Triyana Kuwat , Anggrahini Sri
Published: December 2019

The quality of coffee is strongly affected by its aroma, so that instrument for aroma testing is necessary especially for quality control. In this research, coffee aroma was tested using electronic nose and then correlated to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The green beans of robusta coffee (coffee canephora var.robusta) originated from Sumatra was used as a testing sample. The roasting temperature was varied to be 180 °C, 195 °C, and 210 °C, while the roasting time was set to be constant at 20 minutes. After the roasting process, the coffee beans were grounded using a coffee grinder. The feature of the response signal for each gas sensors of the electronic nose to ground coffee aroma, was extracted using two methods; i.e. gradient multiplied by signal peak and average value. The principle component analysis (PCA) was applied to discriminate the aroma of ground coffee with varied roasting temperature. The scoreplot of PCA analysis shows a clear discrimination of each coffee aroma, produced by different roasting temperature. From the GCMS analysis, it is clearly confirmed that more aromatic compounds detected when the roasting temperature increase. It is correlated with the discrimination result using electronic nose. The loading plot interpretation provides information that TGS822 and TGS826 are the most affecting sensors for discrimination of coffee aroma with varied roasting temperature. In the future, the electronic nose is potentially applied in coffee industry for quality control during process.
Avaliação da produtividade dos Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas do Extremo Sul da Bahia, 2016
Authors: De Pádua Cordeiro Souto Ântoni , Conceição Bastos Neto Bartolomeu , Macedo Cruz Pimenta Rodolfo , De Souza Santos Lília Paula
Published: December 2019

Objetivo: Avaliar o cumprimento de metas dos procedimentos realizados nos Centros de Especialidades Odontológicas (CEO) da região Extremo Sul da Bahia. Método: Estudo descritivo ecológico utilizando dados secundários oriundos do Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde, do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística e do Sistema de Informações Ambulatoriais do Sistema Único de Saúde do ano 2016. Para avaliação do desempenho utilizou-se o Indicador do Cumprimento Global de Metas. Foram levantados também variáveis de caracterização estrutural dos serviços e os índices socioeconômicos dos municípios. Resultados: Observou-se que das dez cidades avaliadas apenas uma obteve desempenho ótimo por ter cumprido a meta em todas especialidades, sendo esta a cidade de Eunápolis. As cidades de Alcobaça, Porto Seguro e Teixeira de Freitas foram classificadas com desempenho Regular por terem cumprido a meta em apenas duas especialidades. As cidades Itanhém, Medeiros Neto e Nova Viçosa cumpriram a meta apenas em uma especialidade, classificadas então com desempenho Ruim. As cidades Itamaraju, Itabela e Prado foram as que tiveram péssimo desempenho, pelo não cumprimento da meta em nenhuma especialidade. Conclusão: Os achadosobtidos demonstram que a maioria dos estabelecimentos tiveram dificuldades no cumprimento das metas.
A novel approach for producing low cost and highly efficient activated carbon for removing cationic dyes
Authors: Moughaoui Fatiha , Ouaket Amine , Laaraibi Asmae , Hamdouch Souad , Anbaoui Zoubida , Abourriche Abdelmjid , Berrada Mohammed
Published: December 2019

Chemical activation was used to prepare a low-cost activated carbon (AC) from an agricultural waste material: sugarcane bagasse. It was used as a green biosorbent for the removal of two cationic dyes from aqueous solutions (Methylene blue (MB) and Malachite Green (MG)). Central composite design (CCD) using response surface methodology (RSM) was applied in this work in order to run a limited number of experiments. The possibility of revealing the interaction of three selected factors: activation temperature, activation time, and chemical impregnation ratios at different levels for the process of preparing the AC were studied. Two-second order quadratic regression models for a yield of AC and capacity of adsorption were developed using JMP Software.The results of the process of optimization were carried out; it showed a good agreement between the predictive response of RSM model and the obtained experimental values with high correlation coefficients (R2) which indicates the efficacy of the model. The optimal activated carbon was obtained using 400Â°C activation temperature, 36 min activation time, and 2 impregnation ratio, resulting in 63.12 % of AC yield and 99.86 % for MB removal and 400Â°C activation temperature, 90 min activation time and 2 impregnation ratio, resulting in 45.69 % of AC yield and 99.75 % for MG removal. Moreover, the comparison between the experimental and the predicted values at optimum conditions was in good agreement with relatively small errors.This work showed the effectiveness and the performance of preparing activated carbon from sugarcane bagasse, and it recommended as an effective and green biosorbent for the removal of cationic dyes from aqueous solutions.