SEBT AND YBT DYNAMIC BALANCE TESTS

A fundamental role in movement control is given by proprioceptive information from a multitude of mechanoreceptors that are integrated and processed by the human brain. Understanding proprioception and the test method, such as the threshold for detecting passive movement and reproducing joint position, are used to assess proprioception. The origin of the methods, test apparatus and procedures or protocols used in each approach are compared and discussed. Instability of a lower limb joint is a risk factor for these areas. Therefore, the development of proprioception can play an important role in injury prevention. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) is a dynamic postural control task that has gained notoriety in clinical and research settings, it is able to provide objective measures to differentiate deficiencies and improve dynamic postural control related to lower limb joint injuries. The clinical application of the SEBT led to the development of the Y Balance Test (YBT), both SEBT and YBT involve similar movements that are deemed to measure and challenge dynamic balance. Received 2022 May 25; Revised 2022 June 23; Accepted 2022 June 28; Available online 2022 June 30; Available print 2022 August 30. REZUMAT. Testele de echilibrare dinamică SEBT și YBT. Un rol fundamental în controlul mișcării este dat de informațiile proprioceptive de la o multitudine de mecanoreceptori care sunt integrați și procesați de creierul uman. Înțelegerea propriocepției și a metodei de testare, cum ar fi pragul de detectare a mișcării pasive și de reproducere a poziției articulare, sunt utilizate pentru a evalua propriocepția. Se compară și se discută originea metodelor, a aparatelor de testare și a procedurilor sau protocoalelor utilizate în fiecare abordare. Instabilitatea unei articulații inferioare a membrelor este un factor de risc pentru aceste zone. Prin urmare, dezvoltarea propriocepției poate juca un rol important în prevenirea leziunilor. Testul de echilibru al excursiei Stelare (SEBT) este o sarcină dinamică de control postural care a câștigat notorietate în setările clinice și de cercetare, este capabil să ofere măsuri obiective pentru a diferenția deficiențele și pentru a îmbunătăți controlul dinamic postural legat de leziunile articulare ale membrelor inferioare. Aplicarea clinică a SEBT a condus la dezvoltarea testului de echilibru Y (YBT), atât SEBT, cât și YBT implică mișcări similare care se consideră că măsoară și provoacă echilibrul dinamic. Cuvinte-cheie: propriocepție, Testul de echilibru Stea, Testul de echilibru

SPRAINED KNEE PROPHYLAXY USING THE STAR EXCURSION BALANCE TEST (SEBT)

Introduction. To control the movement, the brain must process proprioceptive information provided by mechanoreceptors. The role of proprioception in daily activities, physical exercises, were presented, using the SEBT technique and the proprioceptive mechanisms that represent the base of dynamic postural control. Objective. The aim was to highlight the effects of proprioceptive training on lower limb balance in subjects with lower limb injuries but also in healthy subjects, and to evaluate the effectiveness of proprioceptive programs based on postural instability to reduce knee sprains by developing proprioceptive control. These findings indicate the improvement of proprioceptive control which may be a key factor in reducing knee sprain. Methods. The research was performed on 30 subjects, male and female, employees of the Ministry of National Defense, distributed in two experimental groups: G1 and G2. Results. SEBT has become a dynamic test used in clinical trials and research. The results of the research showed validity for SEBT. Conclusions. Knee sprain is a trauma that occurs frequently among athletes. Like athletes, the Ministry of National Defense employees represent a population at high risk of injury or recurrence.   REZUMAT. Profilaxia entorsei de genunchi utilizând testul SEBT. Introducere. Pentru a controla mișcarea, creierul trebuie să proceseze informații proprioceptive, furnizate de mecanoreceptori. Rolul propriocepției în activitățile zilnice, exercițiile fizice, au fost prezentate utilizând tehnica SEBT și mecanismul proprioceptiv, care reprezintă baza controlului postural dinamic. Obiectiv. Obiectivul a fost de a evidenția efectele antrenamentului proprioceptiv asupra echilibrului membrelor inferioare la subiecți cu leziuni ale membrelor inferioare, dar și la subiecți sănătoși, și de a evalua eficacitatea programelor proprioceptive, bazate pe instabilitate posturală, pentru a reduce entorsele de genunchi prin dezvoltarea controlului proprioceptiv. Aceste descoperiri indică îmbunătățirea controlului proprioceptiv, care poate fi un factor cheie în reducerea entorsei genunchiului. Metode. Cercetarea a fost efectuată pe 30 de subiecți, bărbați și femei, angajați ai Ministerului Apărării Naționale, repartizați în două grupuri experimentale: G1 și G2. Rezultate. SEBT a devenit un test dinamic utilizat în studiile clinice și în cercetare. Rezultatele cercetării au demonstrat validitatea pentru SEBT. Concluzii. Entorsa genunchiului este o traumă care apare frecvent în rândul sportivilor. Asemenea sportivilor, angajații Ministerului Apărării Naționale reprezintă o populație cu risc crescut de accidentare sau recidivă. Cuvinte cheie: entorsa genunchiului, control postural, control neuromuscular, test de echilibru dinamic. Received: 2022 March 04; Revised: 2022 April 15; Accepted: 2022 April 15; Available online: 2022 May 5; Available print: 2022 May 30

Enhancing the Performance of a Simulated WWTP: Comparative Analysis of Control Strategies for the BSM2 Model

This study aimed to improve the performance of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) simulated with Benchmark Model No. 2 (BSM2). To achieve this objective, three control strategies were implemented and tested. The first control strategy aimed to maintain the concentration of nitrate and nitrite nitrogen (SNO) by controlling the external carbon flowrate (strategy A1), and the second control strategy aimed to maintain the ammonia and ammonium nitrogen (SNH) at a desired level with the use of a cascade controller (strategy A2). The third strategy was applied to control the total suspended solids (TSS) (strategy A3). Combinations of these strategies were considered (B1, B2, and B3 strategies), as well as the use of all three together (strategy C1). The control strategies presented in this paper were compared to the default control strategy of BSM2 to validate and identify the one that provided the best performance. The results revealed that the B1 strategy was the most environmentally friendly, while C1 obtained the highest overall performance. Several Monte Carlo simulations were performed for the validated control strategies, to identify the optimal setpoint values. For the C1 strategy, a second method of optimization regarding polynomial interpolation was considered. The applied optimization methods provided the optimal reference values for the PI (proportional integral) controllers

Gender specific differences in peripheral artery disease and their impact on cardiovascular rehabilitation -the experience of a Romanian Rehabilitation Hospital

Introduction. As the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) is increasing in developing countries, so are the healthcare and socio-economic costs it brings about. This particular form of atherosclerotic disease is very much age-dependent, and along with the increase in life-expectancy, the lasts decades have seen a sharp rise in PAD prevalence in women. Knowledge regarding gender-specific aspects of the disease are scarce. This has a negative effect on overall outcomes of female PAD patients. Aim. This research aimed to identify gender peculiarities of PAD and evaluate their impact on cardiovascular rehabilitation. Material and methods. This was a retrospective observational study of 104 PAD patients (73 men and 31 women) admitted in 2016 to the Cardiology department of the Rehabilitation Hospital Cluj-Napoca. Demographic, clinical and biological parameters were recorded, as well as the treatment/rehabilitation regimens prescribed. The subjects were divided into to groups according to gender. Statistical analysis was done using the student t-test for unequal variances, hi-square test and the stepwise method for multivariate analysis. Results. The female group had a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (45% vs 33%, p=ns), but men were more likely smokers (74% vs 51%- p=0.017). Women had higher median total cholesterol values (p=0.006) and lower HDL-cholesterol levels (p=0.033). More than half of the female patients were already experiencing symptoms of critical limb ischemia on admission (57%), while intermittent claudication was predominant with men (66%). Multivariate analysis identified identified female gender (p=0.028) and ABI (p<0.0001) as sole independent predictors for the severity of the disease. Revascularization using percutaneous techniques was the preferred option for women (35% vs 27%), while surgery was performed more often in men (38% vs 29%)- p=ns. Home-based exercise training was indicated on discharge for more than half of the male group while only 30% of women had physical rehabilitation as a first line of treatment. Discussion. Our research offered similar findings to older studies regarding the gender-specific profile of PAD women, showing they are less exposed to smoking but more likely to experience metabolic disorders. Women had higher rates of critical limb ischemia on admission, suggesting a more advanced disease. Because of a more stable disease in men, this category benefited to a greater extent from exercise training compared to women. Conclusion. Peripheral artery disease has specific gender-related differences that in women have an important impact on both diagnosis and management, impeding rehabilitation and full social reintegration

AN ANTHROPOLOGICAL-MULTIDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS OF THE CINERARY REMAINS DISCOVERED AT OCNIȚA - BURIDAVA PARS EST IN TOTO ET TOTUM EST IN PARTE

The archaeological research from 2016-2021 allowed us to identify in Buridava some types of archaeological structures that can also be found in other sites belonging to the classic Geto-Dacian era and which largely correspond to the discoveries of Dumitru Berciu from 1961-1992.The discoveries were made on terrace VIII, the last one on the western side of the bushy hills of Cosota. Looking back and benefiting today from multiple sources of analysis (LIDAR, aerial photography, etc.) we are convinced that all eight terraces and the Acropolis served starting from the last quarter of the 1st century BC and throughout the 1st century BC as a necropolis/sacred area. Our study is based on the analysis of the archaeological context; forensic anthropological analysis; serological analysis; X-ray microtomography (µXCT) and 3D reconstruction; SEM and EDS analyses; X-ray analysis, EDXRF spectrometry;The bones analysed are of human nature, a fact that is supported by their morphology, as well as by the serological and physical examinations that were carried out. There are a few exceptions where, due to the extremely small dimensions, further clarifications could not be made. The analyses focused on 1457 cremated fragments and various component parts of the bones of the human skeleton were identified.</p

Improving the Treatment Outcome of Naso-Orbito-Ethmoido-Maxillary Fractures Using Virtual Three-Dimensional Anthropometric Data

Background: Naso-orbito-ethmoido-maxillary (NOEM) fractures are usually the result of a high or moderate intensity impact to the upper midface. These types of fractures are difficult to treat and are frequently misdiagnosed. Craniometric analysis can be of real aid in the treatment of NOEM complex fractures by establishing midfacial proportions. Aim: This study aims to establish the distances between selected anthropometric points and midfacial proportions found in the adult Caucasian population and to determine if any differences exist between genders. Methodology: Measurements between anthropometric points, nasion (N), dacryon (D), infraorbital foramen (IOF), frontomalare orbitale (FMO), rhinion (Rhi) and porion (Po), were made on 3D models obtained using patients&rsquo; CT exams. Results: Significant differences were found between genders for the orbital dimensions represented by N&ndash;FMO (p = 0.000), N&ndash;IOF (p = 0.000), Rhi&ndash;FMO (p = 0.000), Rhi&ndash;IOF (p = 0.000), nose bridge width N&ndash;D (p = 0.001), Rhi&ndash;D (p = 0.016), D&ndash;D (p = 0.038) and the projection of the nose evaluated by Rhi&ndash;Po (p = 0.000), N&ndash;Po (p = 0.000), while a t-test showed that there are no significant differences between males and females for the N&ndash;Rhi (p = 0.254). Conclusions: The values of these measurements can be utilized during skeletal reconstruction after NOEM fractures, especially for bilateral comminuted fractures where no points of comparison are available

Air quality changes in NE Romania during the first Covid 19 pandemic wave

This study analyzes for the first time uniformly and causally the level of pollution and air quality for the NE-Romania Region, one of the poorest region in the European Union. Knowing the level of pollution and air quality in this region, which can be taken as a benchmark due to its positional and economic-geographical attributes, responds to current scientific and practical needs. The study uses an hourly database (for five pollutants and five climate elements), from 2009 to 2020, from 19 air quality monitoring stations in northeastern Romania. Pollutant levels were statistically and graphically/cartographically modeled for the entire 2009–2020 interval on the distributive-spatial and regime, temporal component. Inter-station differences and similarities were analyzed causally. Taking advantage of the emergency measures between March 16 and May 14, 2020, we observed the impact of the event on the regional air quality in northeastern Romania. During the emergency period, the metropolitan area of Suceava (with over 100,000 inhabitants) was quarantined, which allowed us to analyze the impact of the quarantine period on the local air quality. We found that, in this region, air quality falls into class I (for NO2, SO2 and CO), II for O3 and III for PM10. During the lockdown periods NO2 and SO2 decreased for the entire region by 8.6 and 14.3%, respectively, and in Suceava by 13.9 and 40.1%, respectively. The causes of the reduction were anthropogenic in nature

PEG-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles for Modulation of Microbial Biofilms on Voice Prosthesis

This study reports the fabrication of nanostructured coatings based on magnetite, polyethyleneglycol, and biologically active molecule (polymyxin B-PM) for producing biofilm-resistant surfaces (voice prosthesis). Magnetite nanoparticles (MNPs) have been synthesized and functionalized using a co-precipitation method and were further deposited into thin coatings using the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) technique. The obtained nanoparticles and coatings were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis with differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction (TEM-SAED), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and infrared microscopy (IRM). Their antibiofilm activity was tested against relevant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains. The Fe3O4@PEG/PM surface of modified voice prosthesis sections reduced the number of CFU/mL up to four orders of magnitude in the case of S. aureus biofilm. A more significant inhibitory effect is noticed in the case of P. aeruginosa up to five folds. These results highlight the importance of new Fe3O4@PEG/PM in the biomedical field

Impact of Three-Dimensional Strain on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events after Acute Myocardial Infarction Managed by Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention—A Pilot Study

Background: Three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) allows simultaneous assessment of multidirectional components of strain. However, there are few data on its usefulness to predict prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The objective of our pilot study was to evaluate the prognostic value of four different 3D-STE parameters (global longitudinal strain (GLS-3D), global circumferential strain (GCS-3D), global radial strain (GRS-3D), and global area strain (GAS)) in AMI, after successful revascularization by primary PCI. Methods: We enrolled 94 AMI patients (66 ± 13 years, 56% men) who underwent coronary angiography. All patients had been 3D-STE assessed and followed-up for 1 year for the occurrence of MACE. Results: A total of 25 MACE were recorded over follow-up. Cut-off values of −17% for GAS (HR = 3.1, 95% CI: 1.39–6.92, p = 0.005), −12% for GCS-3D (HR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.36–6.8, p = 0.006), −10% for GLS-3D (HR = 3.04, 95% CI: 1.36–6.78, p = 0.006), and 25% for GRS-3D (HR = 2.89, 95% CI: 1.29–6.46, p = 0.009) showed moderate accuracy in MACE prediction. Multivariate regression showed that GAS (HR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.03–1.16), GLS-3D (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.26), and GCS-3D (HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.23) remained independent predictors of MACE (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.01–1.14 for GAS, and HR = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.01–1.2 for GCS-3D). However, post hoc power analysis indicated adequate sample size (power of 80%) only for GAS and GCS-3D for the ROC curve analysis and for GAS, GCS-3D, and GRS-3D for the log-rank test. Conclusion: Patients with AMI might benefit from early risk stratification with the aid of 3D-STE measurements, particularly GAS and GCS-3D, but larger studies are necessary to determine the optimal cut-off values to predict MACE