Design and validity of a badminton observation tool (BOT)

La metodología observacional permite analizar deportes en contexto y dinámicas habituales. El objetivo principal fue la construcción y validación de una herramienta observacional ad hoc para analizar el bádminton individual, que incluye la trayectoria de los desplazamientos como variable no analizada anteriormente. Constituida por 13 criterios y 47 categorías mutuamente excluyentes, fueron analizadas 287 acciones del Campeonato de Mundo de Bádminton 2015. Para la validación se utilizó el coeficiente Kappa de Cohen y la teoría de la generalizabilidad. Se han obtenido resultados, tanto para la herramienta como para cada uno de los criterios de forma individual, superiores a 0,98 estando por encima de 0,81 que propone la literatura como “casi perfecto”. El análisis de la generalizabilidad se realizó mediante un modelo de dos facetas (Categoría/Observador = C/O) y reveló que la fiabilidad era excelente (1,00). La herramienta diseñada es válida y fiable para el análisis de las conductas del bádminton individualObservational methodology allows analysing sports’ specific behaviour context. The main purpose of this manuscript was to develop and validate an ad hoc observational tool for badminton singles games, which includes lunges trajectories as a non-analysed variable till this study. For that reason, the observational tool consists of 13 criteria and 47 categories mutually exclusive. 287actions of the 2015 Badminton World Championship were analysed. With the aim to assess the tool’s validity Cohen’s Kappa and generalizability theory were used. The outcomes for complete observational tool and for each criterion exceed 0.98, being above 0.81 proposed by literature as “almost perfect”. Generalizability analysis was done by two sides model (Category/Observer = C/O) and showed an excellent reliability (1.00). It could be said that it is a reliable tool designed for recording and analyzing the behaviour of badminton singles playersEste trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la Generalitat Valenciana y su programa de becas ACIF 2016/121 para la contratación de personal investigador en formación y al apoyo del proyecto de la Universidad Católica de Valencia San Vicente Mártir: Estudios en el deporte de élite desde los Mixed Methods: técnicas de estudio de análisis comparativos [UCV2017/230/002

Avaliação Retrospetiva da Reconstrução Oncológica da Cabeça e Pescoço com 114 Retalhos Livres num Centro Oncológico Terciário Português

Introduction: The Portuguese experience in microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck after oncological surgery is scantly described. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the use of microvascular reconstruction after head and neck tumor resection in a Portuguese tertiary oncological centerMaterial and Methods: The authors retrospectively evaluated 114 microvascular free flap procedures performed for head and neck reconstruction after oncological resection in a department of Head and Neck Surgery of a Portuguese tertiary oncological center. Patients were operated on from January 2012 to May 2018. Data on patient demographic features, tumour characteristics, perioperative complications, postoperative aesthetic and functional results, survival time and time to recurrence were extracted. Results: Most tumours mandating microsurgical reconstruction were mucosal squamous cell carcinomas (85%) and were located in the oral region (95.6%). Around 45% of the patients had a T4a tumour and 30% a T2 tumour. Cervical metastases were present in 45.6% of the cases. The radial forearm flap and the fibular flap were the most commonly used microsurgical reconstructive options (58% and 41%, respectively). More than 80% of patients had no post-operative complications. Partial necrosis of the flap occurred in 6.1% of patients, while total flap necrosis occurred in 3.5% of cases. Aesthetic and functional results were considered at least satisfactory in all patients in which the flaps survived. Discussion: This study is by far the largest series of microsurgical head and neck reconstruction after oncological surgery reported by a single tertiary centre in Portugal. Survival and functional benefits are similar to those reported in other large oncological centres in the world. Conclusion: Microvascular reconstruction seems like a reliable treatment option in head and neck oncological surgery at our institution.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Land use intensity and cropping sequence effects on aggregate stability and C storage in a Vertisol and a Mollisol

The relevant change in land use due mainly to the rapid expansion of soybean cropping towards areas traditionally occupied for livestock purposes or with native grasslands of South America may have negative consequences on soil organic carbon (SOC) storage and aggregate stability, although the effect may be different between soils with contrasting aggregation agents. The aim of our work was to assess the impact of the land use, measured as the intensification and/or frequency of a given crop, on SOC storage and aggregate stability in two soils differing in their main agents of aggregation. The study was conducted in a Mollisol and a Vertisol of Argentina. Eleven cropped fields (agricultural and crop-pasture rotation) under no-tillage and one uncropped situation (pristine native grassland) were selected in each soil type. The fraction of annual time with plant cover (as a measure of the intensification in the land use) and the frequency of a given crop in the cropping sequence over a 6-year period were calculated. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from each soil at 0-5, 5-15 and 15-30 cm depths. The SOC stocks in equivalent soil mass were calculated using the native grassland as the baseline system. Aggregate stability was evaluated using a method that involved three pretreatments: fast wetting, stirring after prewetting and slow wetting. The intensification improved the aggregate stability in the Mollisol, whereas a low impact of land use on aggregate stability was recorded in the Vertisol. Overall, both the intensification sequence index and the soybean cropping frequency were the best indexes to evaluate the impact of land use on aggregate stability and SOC storage, mainly in the Mollisol. The stirring after prewetting pretreatment was mainly associated with SOC concentration in the Mollisol, appearing as a method with high potential capacity to discriminate land use in the Mollisol, in which the SOC is the main aggregation agent. In contrast, the slow wetting pretreatment was more appropriate to evaluate the impact of land use in the Vertisol. The approach used to evaluate the land use, which included agricultural lands, crop-pasture rotation and native grasslands, evaluated through indexes of occupation with plant cover, was more suitable for the Mollisol than for the Vertisol. This reveals that the evaluation of land use through several indexes should be based on the soil typeFil: Novelli, Leonardo Esteban. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Entre Ríos. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Caviglia, Octavio Pedro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Entre Ríos. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Wilson, M. G.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Entre Ríos. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Casal, M. C.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Entre Ríos. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Paraná; Argentin

A 63-Year-Old Woman Presenting with a Synovial Sarcoma of the Hand: a Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Synovial sarcoma is a high-grade, soft-tissue sarcoma that most frequently is located in the vicinity of joints, tendons or bursae, although it can also be found in extra-articular locations. Most patients with synovial sarcoma of the hand are young and have a poor prognosis, as these tumors are locally aggressive and are associated with a relatively high metastasis rate. According to the literature, local recurrence and/or metastatic disease is found in nearly 80% of patients. Current therapy comprises surgery, systemic and limb perfusion chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, the 5-year survival rate is estimated to be only around 27% to 55%. Moreover, most authors agree that synovial sarcoma is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed malignancies of soft tissues because of their slow growing pattern, benign radiographic appearance, ability to change size, and the fact that they may elicit pain similar to that caused by common trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe an unusual case of a large synovial sarcoma of the hand in a 63-year-old Caucasian woman followed for 12 years by a multidisciplinary team. In addition, a literature review of the most pertinent aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of these patients is presented. CONCLUSION: Awareness of this rare tumor by anyone dealing with hand pathology can hasten diagnosis, and this, in turn, can potentially increase survival. Therefore, a high index of suspicion for this disease should be kept in mind, particularly when evaluating young people, as they are the most commonly affected group

A novel reputation system for mobile app stores using blockchain

With thousands of mobile applications submitted to online application stores, the mobile application market has experienced significant growth. This growth is accompanied by an increase in malware presence. A possible solution would be to leverage those reports across all mobile ecosystems, creating a shared reputation system.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Meretoja's Syndrome: Lattice Corneal Dystrophy, Gelsolin Type

Lattice corneal dystrophy gelsolin type was first described in 1969 by Jouko Meretoja, a Finnish ophthalmologist. It is caused by an autosomal dominant mutation in gelsolin gene resulting in unstable protein fragments and amyloid deposition in various organs. The age of onset is usually after the third decade of life and typical diagnostic triad includes progressive bilateral facial paralysis, loose skin, and lattice corneal dystrophy. We report a case of a 53-year-old female patient referred to our Department of Ophthalmology by severe dry eye and incomplete eyelid closure. She had severe bilateral facial paresis, significant orbicularis, and perioral sagging as well as hypoesthesia of extremities and was diagnosed with Meretoja's syndrome at the age of 50, confirmed by the presence of gelsolin mutation. At our observation she had bilateral diminished tear film break-up time and Schirmer test, diffuse keratitis, corneal opacification, and neovascularization in the left eye. She was treated with preservative-free lubricants and topical cyclosporine, associated with nocturnal complete occlusion of both eyes, and underwent placement of lacrimal punctal plugs. Ocular symptoms are the first to appear and our role as ophthalmologists is essential for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of ocular alterations in these patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Validation of a high performance liquid chromatographic method for quantitative determination of boldine in fluid extract of boldo

A simple and specific method was validated for quantification of boldine in fluid extract of boldo (Peumus boldus Mol.) using high-performance liquid chromatography. A reversed-phase C18 , Phenomenex® (150 x 4.6 mm, 4 µm) column was employed. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile (78:22, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The column was maintained at 30 °C and the boldine peak detection was performed at a wavelength of 281 nm. The parameters used in the validation process were: linearity, specificity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection, limit of quantification and robustness. The validated method was selective and linear (r≥0.9991) for boldine concentration considering 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0 and 25.0 micro;g/mL. The recovery ranged from 90.93 % to 96.24 % and the limit of quantification was 2.41 micro;g/mL. The precision determined was reported as RSD (1.73 %). The method can be successfully applied to measure boldine concentrations in Boldo extract and be included in routine analysis of quality control.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Validation of a high performance liquid chromatographic method for quantitative determination of boldine in fluid extract of boldo

A simple and specific method was validated for quantification of boldine in fluid extract of boldo (Peumus boldus Mol.) using high-performance liquid chromatography. A reversed-phase C18 , Phenomenex® (150 x 4.6 mm, 4 µm) column was employed. The mobile phase consisted of 0.1 % trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile (78:22, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL/min. The column was maintained at 30 °C and the boldine peak detection was performed at a wavelength of 281 nm. The parameters used in the validation process were: linearity, specificity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection, limit of quantification and robustness. The validated method was selective and linear (r≥0.9991) for boldine concentration considering 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0 and 25.0 micro;g/mL. The recovery ranged from 90.93 % to 96.24 % and the limit of quantification was 2.41 micro;g/mL. The precision determined was reported as RSD (1.73 %). The method can be successfully applied to measure boldine concentrations in Boldo extract and be included in routine analysis of quality control.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Mutations at the asp locus of Drosophila lead to multiple free centrosomes in syncytial embryos, but restrict centrosome duplication in larval neuroblasts

Mutations at abnormal spindle result in abnormally long and wavy microtubules in the meiotic spindles of males. Some of these spindles have a single pole and take the form of unopposed hemi-spindles. Unfertilised eggs produced by homozygous asp females may have either no nuclei, or a small number of large nuclei, consistent with there also being an effect upon female meiosis. Such eggs also display free centrosomes and independent arrays of microtubules. Embryos that have this phenotype are also present among the progeny of fertilised homozygous asp females, together with embryos that undergo varying degrees of aberrant morphogenesis, developing a variety of abnormal cuticle patterns. This latter category shows asynchronous mitoses prior to cellularisation, and has abnormal arrays of spindle microtubules. Such embryos can develop large areas that are either devoid of or have a reduced number of nuclei, in which there are centrosomes that have dissociated from the mitotic spindles. Neuroblasts in the brains of homozygous asp larvae display a high mitotic index, and have condensed chromosomes aligned as if blocked at metaphase. Immunostaining reveals that many cells contain a single centrosome connected to the metaphase chromosomes by microtubules in a hemi-spindle-like structure