A systematic review on the effectiveness of physical and rehabilitation interventions for chronic non-specific low back pain

Low back pain (LBP) is a common and disabling disorder in western society. The management of LBP comprises a range of different intervention strategies including surgery, drug therapy, and non-medical interventions. The objective of the present study is to determine the effectiveness of physical and rehabilitation interventions (i.e. exercise therapy, back school, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), low level laser therapy, education, massage, behavioural treatment, traction, multidisciplinary treatment, lumbar supports, and heat/cold therapy) for chronic LBP. The primary search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and PEDro up to 22 December 2008. Existing Cochrane reviews for the individual interventions were screened for studies fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The search strategy outlined by the Cochrane Back Review Groups (CBRG) was followed. The following were included for selection criteria: (1) randomized controlled trials, (2) adult (≥18 years) population with chronic (≥12 weeks) non-specific LBP, and (3) evaluation of at least one of the main clinically relevant outcome measures (pain, functional status, perceived recovery, or return to work). Two reviewers independently selected studies and extracted data on study characteristics, risk of bias, and outcomes at short, intermediate, and long-term follow-up. The GRADE approach was used to determine the quality of evidence. In total 83 randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria: exercise therapy (n = 37), back school (n = 5), TENS (n = 6), low level laser therapy (n = 3), behavioural treatment (n = 21), patient education (n = 1), traction (n = 1), and multidisciplinary treatment (n = 6). Compared to usual care, exercise therapy improved post-treatment pain intensity and disability, and long-term function. Behavioural treatment was found to be effective in reducing pain intensity at short-term follow-up compared to no treatment/waiting list controls. Finally, multidisciplinary treatment was found to reduce pain intensity and disability at short-term follow-up compared to no treatment/waiting list controls. Overall, the level of evidence was low. Evidence from randomized controlled trials demonstrates that there is low quality evidence for the effectiveness of exercise therapy compared to usual care, there is low evidence for the effectiveness of behavioural therapy compared to no treatment and there is moderate evidence for the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary treatment compared to no treatment and other active treatments at reducing pain at short-term in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Based on the heterogeneity of the populations, interventions, and comparison groups, we conclude that there are insufficient data to draw firm conclusion on the clinical effect of back schools, low-level laser therapy, patient education, massage, traction, superficial heat/cold, and lumbar supports for chronic LBP

FUSION OF TLS AND UAV PHOTOGRAMMETRY DATA FOR POST-EARTHQUAKE 3D MODELING OF A CULTURAL HERITAGE CHURCH

Abstract. Nowadays, the necessity of heritage documentation is essential for monitoring, maintenance, and understanding needed for conservation. The survey phase has been considerably improved using cutting-edge technologies such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS). Both of these technologies have been applied in heritage documentation individually or combined. Heritage documentation in a post-natural disaster is a situation that requires rapid data acquisition on a hazardous field. On 12th of June 2017 an earthquake (Mw = 6.3), south of Lesvos island, Greece occurred, which was devastating for the Vrisa village destroying, among many other buildings the main church. The Greek State decided from the first moment to restore the whole village, which was proclaimed as a “traditional settlement” since 2002, in its original place starting from the church and the school due to the symbolic meaning that those have to a local community. For this purpose, a 3D model of the church was requested by the authorities for damage assessment. In this paper TLS and UAV photogrammetry has been used in an integrated design to rapidly facilitate the acquisition of the whole church, eliminating all possible occlusions. The TLS was exploited for the acquisition of the facades while the UAV was used for the acquisition of the roof. The recent improvement of the post-processing algorithms provided the ability to implement the fusion of TLS and UAV models and deliver an accurate 3D model of the whole church the same day that the survey was conducted. </jats:p

Landraces versus commercial common bean cultivars under organic growing conditions: A comparative study based on agronomic performance and physicochemical traits

This study targeted to assess the yield components and physicochemical traits of eight common bean landraces versus four commercial cultivars widely grown in Greece. The genotypes were cultivated for two growing seasons under organic growing conditions and a preponderance [better agronomic characteristics; number of pods per plant, seed weight, biomass and enhanced physicochemical properties; protein and fat content (%)] of landraces over commercial cultivars was found. It was also observed that organic environment of experimentation allowed for better differentiation of the examined genetic material but displayed a negative impact on the commercial cultivars. These results were obtained by determining the genetic parameters (GCV, H) and orthogonal contrasts between different (landraces versus commercial cultivars) groups according both to growth type and origin. High detectable genetic variation in agronomic performance and physicochemical traits among the examined dry bean cultivars was found. Three high yield landraces of enhanced physicochemical properties (% protein and fat content) were identified as promising material for eventual production of ecotypes endowed with high adaptation to organic cropping system

Genetic diversity among common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Greek landraces and commercial cultivars: nutritional components, RAPD and morphological markers

The genetic diversity among the main local landraces and commercial cultivars of Phaseolus vulgaris L. cultivated in Greece, was estimated by studying the morphological, agronomical and physicochemical traits along with molecular data analysis using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD markers). Cluster analysis was conducted on similarity estimates using the UPGMA algorithm. Application of cluster analysis resulted in a dendrogram representing the genetic relationship among landraces and main bean cultivars grown in Greece. A wide genetic variation was observed among collected local bean landraces in morphological characteristics such as seed color, seed size and growth habit. According to agronomic performance, significant differences were found in number and weight of pods per plant. Variation in protein and fat content among landraces and commercial cultivars was also detected. Moreover, in some landraces like Kastoria and Byzitsa M/M extremely high values for protein content (28.6% and 27.0% respectively) were recorded. Such values were greater than the average protein content previously recorded for other cultivars of this species. Genetic similarity estimated from molecular analysis with RAPDs, seemed not to be related with the seed morphological characteristics and agronomic performance. Only qualitative parameters like growth habit and occasionally geographical origin of landraces were positively correlated with the molecular classification. Local bean landraces were classified in three subgroups whereas the commercial cultivars formed another separate group underlining the narrow genetic base of cultivars

Research on the physiological disorders and fruit quality of Cardinal peach

This study was carried out on 'Cardinal' peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch) between 2003 and 2005 in Bornova, in Izmir, Turkey to study the effects of irrigation, gibberellic acid (GA(3)) and nitrogen (urea) on the physiological disorders split or shattered pit, double fruit and fruit quality. Irrigation treatments that were tested included 100% (no water stress) and 20% (water stress) replenishment of water depleted from the 100% replenishment treatment at 60 cm soil profile at 10-day intervals. GA(3) and nitrogen (urea) were applied to trees during the flower bud differentiation period at doses of 100 mg L-1 and 900 mg L-1, respectively. Irrigation, nitrogen and gibberellic acid exerted a significant influence on fruit disorders and quality of peach cv. 'Cardinal'. Although the rate of double fruit was increased by water stress, GA(3) and nitrogen application decreased it. Irrigation (100%) during the final swell phase of fruit development accelerated the occurrence of split and shattered pit. Application of nitrogen and gibberellic acid or both to the trees with no water stress resulted in the lowest number of fruits with physiological disorders. Fruit quality characteristics, except for titratable acidity, were not significantly altered by the treatments

Adubação nitrogenada e potássica na produtividade da ameixeira 'Reubennel', na região de Araucária - PR Nitrogen and potassium fertilization on yield of plum at Araucaria County Parana Brazil

A adubação é um dos fatores que podem influenciar na produção e na qualidade dos frutos, contudo existem poucas pesquisas nessa área em frutíferas no sul do Brasil para auxiliar no momento da sua recomendação. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de doses de adubação nitrogenada e potássica para a produtividade da ameixeira (Prunus salicina), cv. 'Reubennel'. O experimento foi instalado em um pomar comercial com cinco anos, no município de Araucária-PR. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso, distribuídos em parcelas subsubdivididas, com três repetições. Na parcela, foi aplicado o potássio (55 e 110 kg de K2O ha-1 ano-1), e na subparcela o nitrogênio (40; 80; 120; 160 e 200 kg de N ha-1 ano-1), durante três anos. O fator ano foi analisado como subsubparcela. Foram avaliados a produção, o número de frutos antes do raleio e durante a colheita, e a massa e calibre dos frutos. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram alto potencial produtivo do pomar, com uma produção média de 38,7 t ha-1 ano-1, nos três anos avaliados. Contudo não foram observadas diferenças nos tratamentos e na interação entre eles para nenhuma das características avaliadas, podendo estar associado às características químicas e físicas do solo e ao efeito do manejo (poda e raleio). O fator ano apresentou diferença significativa para a produção, calibre e número de frutos. Independentemente dos tratamentos, a produtividade da ameixeira foi direta e inversamente proporcional ao número e tamanho dos frutos, respectivamente. As menores doses de nitrogênio e de potássio foram suficientes para obter altas produtividades durante três anos.<br>Fertilization is one of the factors that can influence in the yield and quality of the fruits, however, there are few researches in that area fruit in the south of Brazil in order to guide the moment of its recommendation. The research aim was to evaluate nitrogen and potassium fertilization in the plum yield (Prunus salicina), cv. 'Reubennel'. The experiment was established in a five years old commercial orchard in Araucaria County Parana. The experiment design was a split-plot in a randomized complete block with three replications. Main plot treatments were potassium rates (55 and 110 kg of K2O ha-1 ano-1), and subplot treatments were the nitrogen rates (40, 80, 120, 160 and 200 kg of N ha-1 ano-1), that were applied during three years. The year factor was analyzed as split-split plot. The analyzed variables were yield, fruit number before the thinning and during harvesting, and fruit weight and caliber. The result indicated a high productive potential of the orchard used, with a mean yield of 38.7 tons ha-1 ano-1 in the three years evaluated. However, there was no difference in the treatments or interaction effects of the treatments on any evaluated parameters which could be associated to the chemical and physics characteristics of the soil and plant management (trims and thinning). Year factor influenced yield, caliber, and fruit number. Regardless of the treatments Plum yield was direct and inverse related with fruit number and fruit size, respectively. Low N and K rates were able to obtain high yield during three years