The effect of image fractal properties and its interaction with visual discomfort on gait kinematics

Exposure to images of urban environments affords higher cognitive processing demands than exposure to images of nature scenes; an effect potentially related to differences in low-level image statistics such as fractals. The aim of the current study was to investigate whether the fractal dimensions of an abstract scene affect cognitive processing demands, using gait kinematics as a measure of cognitive demand. Participants (n = 40) were asked to walk towards different types of synthetic images which were parametrically varied in their fractal dimensions. At the end of each walk, participants rated each image for its visual discomfort (n = 20) or for its likability (n = 20) as potential confounding factors. Fractal dimensions were predictors of walking speed. Moreover, the interaction between fractal dimensions and subjective visual discomfort but not liking predicted velocity. Overall, these data suggest that fractal dimensions indeed contribute to environmentally induced cognitive processing demands

THE NEED FOR CHALKING AND CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS APPLICATION ON THE ALBOTA ALBIC LUVISOL

A field experiment was carried out at SCDA Pitești, on an Albic Luvisol with a 25.0-25.2% clay content, with soy crop, Raluca TD variety. Seeds were treated with Bradyrhizobiumjaponicum, the density was 45-50 germinable grains/m2, and the distance between rows 50 cm. Fertilizers were applied during the vegetation cycle as follows: Dual 1 liter/ha, Décor 0,5 liters/ha, and Pulsar 1 liter/ha. The experimental design included 12 variants with the following chemical fertilizers doses: N0P0, N40P40, and N80P80. Agrocalcium (a product obtained by lime fine grinding, with a minimum 90% calcium carbonate content) and Doloflor (100% BIO fertilizer based on bitter spar with a minimum 50% calcium and magnesium oxide content) were used as chalking. Doloflor application as powder and granules in a 2.5 t/ha dose without N and P fertilization modified the soil reaction and pH registered values of 5.3-5.5, in the moderately acid reaction domain. Doloflor powder and granules in 2.5 t/ha dose together with N40P40 and N80P80 fertilizers doses determined very high mobile phosphorus content values (95-97 mg/kg). Mobile potassium contents in the analyzed variants are low ((100-125 mg/kg). Grain yield ranged from 1,483 to 2,053 kg/ha. The lowest yield resulted in the unfertilized and unlimed control. The highest values of grain yield were obtained when applying liming doses together with complex fertilizers

Application of the ERAS protocol in patients treated surgically due to severe obesity

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol includes appropriate preoperative preparation, proper surgery procedure and ensuring proper postoperative care. It is recommended that patients with obesity should be treated according to the ERAS protocol due to high risk of postoperative complications. Evaluate the implementation of an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol in patients operated on due to severe obesity. This analysis included 412 patients with morbid obesity (260 female/152 male, mean BMI 48.02 kg/m²) who had undergone laparoscopic bariatric surgery. Perioperative care was conducted according to the ERAS protocol. Examined factors included oral nutrition tolerance, time until mobilisation after surgery, requirement for opioids, length of hospitalisation, complications, and readmission rate. During the first 24 postoperative hours, oral administration of liquids was tolerated by 402 (97.57%) patients and 399 (96.8%) were fully mobile. In 107 (25.98%) patients it was necessary to administer opioids to relieve pain. The average time of hospitalisation was 2.92 days (range 1-12 days). Postoperative complications occurred in 7.29% of patients (mainly rhabdomyolysis). Four patients (0.97%) required readmission within 30 days of surgery. The introduction of the principles of the ERAS protocol allowed for reduced hospitalisation times without an increased rate of complications or readmissions

RETAINED SURGICAL SPONGE IN A DOG: CLINICAL ASPECTS AND SURGICAL APPROACH

Although retained surgical sponges are rarely reported, their clinical aspect can sometimes vary and therefore, the diagnosis can be challenging. An eight-year-old mixed breed dog was brought in for a skin lesion on the lateral abdominal wall that appeared nine weeks previously, which could not be treated even though both local and general therapy had been carried out. During antibiotic administration, the dog’s condition improved, but once the treatment was completed, the wound and secretions started to reappear. Diagnosis of a retained surgical gauze was based on history, clinical signs, radiological examination and confirmed by surgical exploration. This article aims to describe the clinical and surgical findings of this pathology, which appeared four years after the surgical procedure, in order to disseminate knowledge about the complications that may occur if negligence, disorganisation or lack of emergency protocols exists