Exercises using a touchscreen tablet application improved functional ability more than an exercise program prescribed on paper in people after surgical carpal tunnel release: a randomised trial

Question: In people who have undergone surgical carpal tunnel release, do sensorimotor-based exercises performed on the touchscreen of a tablet device improve outcomes more than a conventional home exercise program prescribed on paper? Design: Randomised, parallel-group trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants: Fifty participants within 10 days of surgical carpal tunnel release. Intervention: Each participant was prescribed a 4-week home exercise program. Participants in the experimental group received the ReHand tablet application, which administered and monitored exercises via the touchscreen. The control group was prescribed a home exercise program on paper, as is usual practice in the public hospital system. Outcome measures: The primary outcome was functional ability of the hand, reported using the shortened form of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. Secondary outcomes were grip strength, pain intensity measured on a 10-cm visual analogue scale, and dexterity measured with the Nine-Hole Peg Test. Outcomes were measured by a blinded assessor at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention period. Results: At Week 4, functional ability improved significantly more in the experimental group than the control group (MD –21, 95% CI –33 to –9) on the QuickDASH score (0 to 100). Although the mean estimates of effect on the secondary outcome also all favoured the experimental group, none reached statistical significance: grip strength (MD 5.6 kg, 95% CI –0.5 to 11.7), pain (MD –1.4 cm, 95% CI –2.9 to 0.1), and dexterity (MD –1.3 seconds, 95% CI –3.7 to 1.1). Conclusion: Use of the ReHand tablet application for early rehabilitation after carpal tunnel release is more effective in the recovery of functional ability than a conventional home exercise program. It remains unclear whether there are any benefits in grip strength, pain or dexterity. Trial registration: ACTRN12618001887268

On the relativistic origin of the kink effect in the chain of Pb isotopes

We investigate the origin of the kink effect (KE) in the relativistic mean field theory by transforming the single-particle Dirac equation into a Schrodinger-like equation. It is found that relativistic self-consistent effects as well as contributions from the rho meson determine the actual structure of the KE. However, the spin-orbit force generated by the rho meson has no significant influence on the KE.Comment: 11 pages, RevTeX, 3 postscript figs., Phys. Lett.

Lentes de contacto esclerales de uso terapéutico en problemas de superficie ocular (PROSE): revisión narrativa

Las lentes de reemplazo protésico del ecosistema de la superficie ocular (PROSE) son ampliamente utilizadas para mejorar la función visual y la calidad de vida de pacientes que padecen patologías corneales complejas. Se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica de estudios que evalúan el uso de las lentes PROSE y se valoró su efectividad en el tratamiento de enfermedades de superficie ocular o córneas irregulares. Se encontró una mejora significativa generalizada de la agudeza visual y función visual después del uso de PROSE en la mayoría de los participantes de los estudios. Así, se demuestra la efectividad de los dispositivos PROSE para el manejo de problemas de superficie ocular y de irregularidades corneales. Sin embargo, a día de hoy no existen estudios comparativos que demuestren la mayor efectividad de este dispositivo frente a otros métodos más convencionales para el manejo de algunas de estas condiciones

Contribución para la caracterización bioclimática del Norte de Portugal. La transición florística atlántico-mediterránea.

Contribución para la caracterización bioclimática del norte de Portugal. La transición florística atlántico-mediterránea. Este trabajo se incluye en la serie de trabajos ya iniciados por Crespí et al. (2001), con el objetivo de contribuir al conocimiento bioclimático del Norte de Portugal, a través de la información florística presente. En este sentido, y para proceder a una posible cartografia de las áreas biogeográficas naturales desde una perspectiva termopluviométrica, son ahora introducidos 39 nuevos táxones para la relación ya existente. Los táxones analizados en esta aportación son: Anthemis triumfetti f. flosculosa, Arnica montana subsp. atlantica, Aster aragonensis, Carduus bourgeanus, Carduus carpetanus, Carduus platypus subsp. platypus, Carduus platypus var. granatensis, Carduus pycnocephalus, Centaurea cyanus, Centaurea geresensi, Centaurea herminii subsp. herminii, Centaurea langeana, Centaurea rivularis, Centaurea triumfetti subsp. lingulata, Leucanthemopsis pallida subsp.flaveola, Leucanthemopsis pallida subsp. pulverulenta, Leuzea rhaponticoides, Phalacrocarpum hoffmannseggii, Santolina rosmarinifolia, Santolina semidentata, Arbutus unedo, Cistus ladanifer, Cistus laurifolius, Cistus populifolius, Cistus psilosepalus, Cistus salvifolius, Erica arborea, Erica australis, Erica ciliaris, Erica cinerea, Erica lusitanica, Erica scoparia, Erica tetralix, Erica umbellata, Halimium lasianthum subsp alyssoides, Halimium lasianthum subsp lasianthum, Halimium ocymoides, Halimium umbellatum subsp umbellatum, Halimium umbellatum subsp. viscosum. De modo a poder alcanzar los objetivos propuestos, se procede a la aplicación de una rutina programática multivariada, basada en un sistema de información geográfico (SIG), a partir del cual cada uno de los táxones estudiados es georeferenciado sobre cartografía ambiental (confeccionada y publicada por el Instituto para a Conservação da Natureza, del Ministerio del Ambiente portugués), comparándola después con las caracterizaciones fitoclimáticas de Franco (1994) y de Costa et al. (1998). Los resultados obtenidos confirman no sólo un acusado efecto gradual de transición entre el área de influencia bioclimática atlántica y la mediterránea, como además la existencia de una tendencia de comportamiento fitoclimático intermedio, no considerada hasta el momento en las caracterizaciones bioclimáticas ya publicadas.Approach on the climatic characterization for Northern of Portugal. The atlanticmediterranean floristic transition. Thirty-nine specific and infraspecific taxa with different occurrences in the continental portuguese area are referred in the present work. In the light of these behaviours, the climatic and geomorphological variability of the North of Portugal has been important environmental factors to explain the floristic diversity in this part of the country. In this case, the taxa analysed are: Anthemis triumfetti f. flosculosa, Arnica montana subsp. atlantica, Aster aragonensis, Carduus bourgeanus, Carduus carpetanus, Carduus platypus subsp. platypus, Carduus platypus var.granatensis, Carduus pycnocephalus, Centaurea cyanus, Centaurea geresensi, Centaurea herminii subsp. herminii, Centaurea langeana, Centaurea rivularis, Centaurea triumfetti subsp. lingulata, Leucanthemopsis pallida subsp. flaveola, Leucanthemopsis pallida subsp. pulverulenta, Leuzea rhaponticoides, Phalacrocarpum hoffmannseggii, Santolina rosmarinifolia, Santolina semidentata, Arbutus unedo, Cistus ladanifer, Cistus laurifolius, Cistus populifolius, Cistus psilosepalus, Cistus salvifolius, Erica arborea, Erica australis, Erica ciliaris, Erica cinerea, Erica lusitanica, Erica scoparia, Erica tetralix, Erica umbellata, Halimium lasianthum subsp alyssoides, Halimium lasianthum subsp lasianthum, Halimium ocymoides, Halimium umbellatum subsp umbellatum, Halimium umbellatum subsp. viscosum. Because of the appropriate management of the floristic richness, a multivariate statistic routine is applied on a Geographical Informatic System (GIS) the chorological, geomorphological and climatic characterization for each one are described in this paper. The geological substrate and the altitudinal classes are focused for the geomorphological approach, as well as two biogeographic classifications are used to correlate the occurrence of the taxa and their bioclimatic preferences. In the light of this analytical scheme, every taxa is geo-referenced upon an environmental cartography (elaborated by the Instituto para a Conservação da Natureza), compared with the Franco´s (1994) and Costa´s et al. (1998) phytoclimatic characterizations. The results obtained are pointing out the floristic progressive differentiation between the atlantic bioclimatic influence and the mediterranean one, as well as the existence of an intermediate bioclimatic tendency which had never been considered so far

Competition of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin ordering in nuclear matter

In the framework of a Fermi liquid theory it is considered the possibility of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phase transitions in symmetric nuclear matter with Skyrme effective interaction. The zero temperature dependence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic spin polarization parameters as functions of density is found for SkM$^*$, SGII effective forces. It is shown that in the density domain, where both type of solutions of self--consistent equations exist, ferromagnetic spin state is more preferable than antiferromagnetic one.Comment: 9p., 3 figure

Contribución al conocimiento de la diversidad específica del género Medicago L. para el norte de Portugal

La intrincada orografía del norte de Portugal proporciona la posibilidad de desarrollar una alta diversidad específica, y además la de distribuir esta diversidad de acuerdo con la variabilidad ambiental existente. El presente trabajo expone el ejemplo de las especies del género Medicago, detectándose un total de 13 especies: M. arabica, M. doliata, M. intertexta, M. littoralis, M. lupulina, M. marina, M. minima, M orbicularis, M. polymorpha, M. rigidula, M. sativa, M. italica y M. truncatula, de entre las cuales se observa como M. doliata, M. intertexta, M. littoralis, M. marina, M. orbicularis, M. rigidula, M. italica y M. truncatula presentan una distribución aparentemente limitada por las condiciones topográficas y climáticas envolventes. Para demostrar este comportamiento se desarrolla no sólo un análisis taxonómico de reconocimiento de la diversidad específica presente, sino que además se establece una correlación entre la distribución de estos taxones y la variabilidad climática y altitudinal

Instabilities of infinite matter with effective Skyrme-type interactions

The stability of the equation of state predicted by Skyrme-type interactions is examined. We consider simultaneously symmetric nuclear matter and pure neutron matter. The stability is defined by the inequalities that the Landau parameters must satisfy simultaneously. A systematic study is carried out to define interaction parameter domains where the inequalities are fulfilled. It is found that there is always a critical density $\rho_{cr}$ beyond which the system becomes unstable. The results indicate in which parameter regions one can find effective forces to describe correctly finite nuclei and give at the same time a stable equation of state up to densities of 3-4 times the saturation density of symmetric nuclear matter.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.

Contribución para la caracterización florístico-ambiental del Norte de Portugal

En el presente trabajo se hace mención a diferentes taxones específicos e infraespecíficos con distribuciones diversas en el territorio portugués continental. En este sentido, la intensa variabilidad geomorfológica y la intrincada bioclimatología del Norte de Portugal constituyen, ambos, factores ambientales decisivos para comprender el comportamiento florístico de esta parte del país. Los taxones analizados en esta aportación son: Teucrium salviastrum Trigonella polyceratia subsp. amandiana, Ononis viscosa subsp. breviflora var. breviflora, Ononis viscosa subsp. pedroi, Digitalis amandiana, Myosotis welwistchii y Myosotis secunda. De modo a poder contribuir eficientemente en la gestión de la riqueza florística, se procede a la aplicación de una rutina programática multivariada, basada en un sistema de información geográfico (SIG), a partir del cual cada uno de los taxones estudiados es georeferenciado sobre cartografía ambiental (confeccionada y publicada por el Instituto para a Conservação da Naturaza, del Ministerio del Ambiente portugués). Los resultados obtenidos confirman el efecto gradual de transición entre el área de influencia bioclimática atlántica y la mediterránea, ambas determinantes para comprender el comportamiento florístico del Norte de Portugal.Several specific and infraspecific taxa with different occurrences in the continental portuguese area are referred in the present work. In the light of these behaviours, the climatic and geomorphological variability of the North of Portugal has been important environmental factors to explain the floristic diversity in this part of the country. In this case, the taxa analysed are Teucrium salviastrum Trigonella polyceratia subsp. amandiana, Ononis viscosa subsp. breviflora var. breviflora, Ononis viscosa subsp. pedroi, Digitalis amandiana, Myosotis welwistchii and Myosotis secunda. Because of the appropriate management of the floristic richness, a multivariate statistic routine is applied on a Geographical Informatic System (GIS) the chorological, geomorphological and climatic characterization for each one are described in this paper. The geological substrate and the altitudinal classes are focused for the geomorphological approach, as well as two biogeographic classifications are used to correlate the occurrence of the taxa and their bioclimatic preferences. In the light of this analytical scheme, every taxa is geo-referenced upon an environmental cartography (elaborated by the Instituto para a Conservação da Naturaza). The results obtained are pointing out the floristic progressive differentiation between the atlantic bioclimatic influence and the mediterranean one, both bioclimatic influences decisive to understand the floristic behaviour of the North of Portugal

Description of nuclear systems within the relativistic Hartree-Fock method with zero range self-interactions of the scalar field

An exact method is suggested to treat the nonlinear self-interactions (NLSI) in the relativistic Hartree-Fock (RHF) approach for nuclear systems. We consider here the NLSI constructed from the relativistic scalar nucleon densities and including products of six and eight fermion fields. This type of NLSI corresponds to the zero range limit of the standard cubic and quartic self-interactions of the scalar field. The method to treat the NLSI uses the Fierz transformation, which enables one to express the exchange (Fock) components in terms of the direct (Hartree) ones. The method is applied to nuclear matter and finite nuclei. It is shown that, in the RHF formalism, the NLSI, which are explicitly isovector-independent, generate scalar, vector and tensor nucleon self-energies strongly density-dependent. This strong isovector structure of the self-energies is due to the exchange terms of the RHF method. Calculations are carried out with a parametrization containing five free parameters. The model allows a description of both types of systems compatible with experimental data.Comment: 23 pages, 14 figures (v2: major quantitative changes