Feasibility randomised controlled trial comparing TRAK-ACL digital rehabilitation intervention plus treatment as usual versus treatment as usual for patients following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of trialling taxonomy for the rehabilitation of knee conditions-ACL (TRAK-ACL), a digital health intervention that provides health information, personalised exercise plans and remote clinical support combined with treatment as usual (TAU), for people following ACL reconstruction. Methods: The study design was a two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial (RCT). Eligible participants were English-speaking adults who had undergone ACL reconstruction within the last 12 weeks, had access to the internet and could provide informed consent. Recruitment took place at three sites in the UK. TRAK-ACL intervention was an interactive website informed by behaviour change technique combined with TAU. The comparator was TAU. Outcomes were: recruitment and retention; completeness of outcome measures at follow-up; fidelity of intervention delivery and engagement with the intervention. Individuals were randomised using a computer-generated random number sequence. Blinded assessors allocated groups and collected outcome measures. Results: Fifty-nine people were assessed for eligibility at two of the participating sites, and 51 were randomised; 26 were allocated to TRAK-ACL and 25 to TAU. Follow-up data were collected on 44 and 40 participants at 3 and 6 months, respectively. All outcome measures were completed fully at 6 months except the Client Service Receipt Inventory. Two patients in each arm did not receive the treatment they were randomised to. Engagement with TRAK-ACL intervention was a median of 5 logins (IQR 3-13 logins), over 18 weeks (SD 12.2 weeks). Conclusion: TRAK-ACL would be suitable for evaluation of effectiveness in a fully powered RCT

Spectroscopy and Imaging Performance of the Liquid Xenon Gamma-Ray Imaging Telescope (LXeGRIT)

LXeGRIT is a balloon-borne Compton telescope based on a liquid xenon time projection chamber (LXeTPC) for imaging cosmic \g-rays in the energy band of 0.2-20 MeV. The detector, with 400 cm$^2$ area and 7 cm drift gap, is filled with high purity LXe. Both ionization and scintillation light signals are detected to measure the energy deposits and the three spatial coordinates of individual \g -ray interactions within the sensitive volume. The TPC has been characterized with repeated measurements of its spectral and Compton imaging response to \g -rays from radioactive sources such as \na, \cs, \yt and Am-Be. The detector shows a linear response to \g -rays in the energy range 511 keV -4.4 MeV, with an energy resolution (FWHM) of \Delta E/E=8.8% \: \sqrt{1\MeV /E}. Compton imaging of \yt \g -ray events with two detected interactions is consistent with an angular resolution of $\sim$ 3 degrees (RMS) at 1.8 MeV.Comment: To appear in: Hard X-Ray, Gamma-Ray and Neutron Detector Physics XI, 2000; Proc. SPIE, vol. 4140; K.A. Flanagan & O.H. Siegmund, ed

Gamma-ray observations of the Crab Region using a coded-aperture telescope

The region of the Galactic anticenter, including the Crab Nebula, was observed during a balloon flight of the University of New Hampshire Directional Gamma-Ray Telescope employing the coded-aperture imaging technique to image celestial gamma-radiation between 160 keV and 9.3 MeV. The background systematics are treated with a simple and relatively straightforward correction procedure. The results demonstrate that the coded-aperture procedure is a viable approach for imaging not only point sources of radiation, but also extended sources of emission. The results for the Crab\u27s photon spectrum are consistent with a power-law spectrum. Upper limits on the flux levels of line emission at 405 keV and 1050 keV and on the flux from the X-ray binary source A0535 + 26 and diffuse Galactic emission from the anticenter region are derived

ASSESSING AND REDUCING SOYBEAN CROP LOSSES FROM DEER: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY, MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT

Damage from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has become a common complaint of soybean (Glycine max) producers in many areas of the Southeast. Both short- and long-term, single-field and community-wide solutions to this problem are needed. This paper describes a multi-agency, multi-state effort, involving agronomists, wildlife biologists, producers, and other landowners, to assess soybean losses from deer and to evaluate potential solutions. One phase of this work, which is supported by soybean producer checkoff funds, involves evaluating agronomic practices for reducing crop losses. These include drilled (rather than wide-row) plantings and use of insect-resistant or dense-pubescent cultivars (varieties) which may deter browsing, especially where deer pressure is light to moderate. Evaluations of these practices, in comparison with conventional ones, are being conducted in producer’s fields in SC, NC, and VA. The other phase of this work is a cooperative project involving Clemson University, the SC Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, soybean producers and’ other landowners in a 7500-acre tract in Hampton and Jasper Cos., SC. The deer population in this tract will be monitored and reduced over a 3-year period, and the resulting effects on soybean crop losses and herd quality will be assessed

ASSESSING AND REDUCING SOYBEAN CROP LOSSES FROM DEER: AN INTERDISCIPLINARY, MULTI-AGENCY EFFORT

Damage from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) has become a common complaint of soybean (Glycine max) producers in many areas of the Southeast. Both short- and long-term, single-field and community-wide solutions to this problem are needed. This paper describes a multi-agency, multi-state effort, involving agronomists, wildlife biologists, producers, and other landowners, to assess soybean losses from deer and to evaluate potential solutions. One phase of this work, which is supported by soybean producer checkoff funds, involves evaluating agronomic practices for reducing crop losses. These include drilled (rather than wide-row) plantings and use of insect-resistant or dense-pubescent cultivars (varieties) which may deter browsing, especially where deer pressure is light to moderate. Evaluations of these practices, in comparison with conventional ones, are being conducted in producer’s fields in SC, NC, and VA. The other phase of this work is a cooperative project involving Clemson University, the SC Wildlife and Marine Resources Department, soybean producers and’ other landowners in a 7500-acre tract in Hampton and Jasper Cos., SC. The deer population in this tract will be monitored and reduced over a 3-year period, and the resulting effects on soybean crop losses and herd quality will be assessed

Gamma-ray observations of Cygnus X-1 and Cygnus X-3 using a coded-aperture telescope

A balloon-borne coded-aperture telescope, measuring gamma-ray photons in the 160 keV to 9.3 MeV range, was used to observe the Cygnus region of the sky on October 1 and 2, 1984. In the 2-9.3-MeV band, evidence is found for a hard spectral component with a mean flux level at the top of the atmosphere of 7.4 + or - 2.5 x 10 to the -7th photons/sq cm per s per keV, inconsistent with the predictions of the inverse Compton models normally used to describe the X-ray emission. Both Cyg X-1 and Cyg X-3 could be observed simultaneously with the telescope. The results are used to establish 1-sigma upper flux limits on the spectral emission from Cyg X-3

On the Background Rate in the LXeGRIT Instrument during the 2000 Balloon Flight

LXeGRIT is the first prototype of a novel Compton telescope for MeV gamma-ray astrophysics based on a Liquid Xenon Time Projection Chamber (LXeTPC), sensitive in the energy band of 0.15-10 MeV. In this homogeneous, 3D position sensitive detector, gamma rays with at least two interactions in the sensitive volume of 2800 cm$^{3}$, are imaged as in a standard Compton telescope. Gamma-rays with a single interaction cannot be imaged and constitute a background which can be easily identified and rejected. Charged particles and localized beta-particles background is also easily suppressed based on the TPC localization capability with millimeter resolution. A measurement of the total gamma-ray background rate in near space conditions and the background rejection power of the LXeTPC was a primary goal of the LXeGRIT balloon flight program. We present here a preliminary analysis addressing this question, based on balloon flight data acquired during the Oct 4-5, 2000 LXeGRIT balloon flight from Ft. Sumner, NM. In this long duration (27 hr) balloon experiment, the LXeGRIT TPC was not surrounded by any gamma-ray or charged particle shield. Single site events and charged particles were mostly rejected on-line at the first and second trigger level. The remaining count rate of single-site \g-ray events, at an average atmospheric depth of 3.2 g cm$^{-2}$, is consistent with that expected from atmospheric and diffuse gamma-ray background, taking into account the instrument mass model and response.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, SPIE 2002 Proceedings, Conf. Vol. 4851 - 151; corrected reference

The use of innovative scaffolds in the development of corneal stroma-derived stem cell therapies for future corneal regeneration strategies [Abstract]

The use of innovative scaffolds in the development of corneal stroma-derived stem cell therapies for future corneal regeneration strategies [Abstract