Muscular function and functional mobility of faller and non-faller elderly women with osteoarthritis of the knee

Falls are a major concern in the elderly population with chronic joint disease. To compare muscular function and functional mobility among older women with knee osteoarthritis with and without a history of falls, 15 elderly women with a history of falls (74.20 ± 4.46 years) and 15 without a history of falls (71.73 ± 4.73 years) were studied. Muscular function, at the angular speed of 60, 120, and 180º/s, was evaluated using the Biodex Isokinetic Dynamometer. The sit-to-stand task was performed using the Balance Master System and the Timed Up and Go test was used to determine functional mobility. After collection of these data, the history of falls was investigated. A statistically significant difference was detected in the time taken to transfer the center of gravity during the sit-to-stand test (means ± SD; non-fallers: 0.35 ± 0.16 s; fallers: 0.55 ± 0.32 s; P = 0.049, Student t-test) and in the Timed Up and Go test (medians; non-fallers: 10.08 s; fallers: 11.59 s; P = 0.038, Mann-Whitney U-test). The results indicated that elderly osteoarthritic women with a history of falls presented altered functional mobility and needed more time to transfer the center of gravity in the sit-to-stand test. It is important to implement strategies to guarantee a better functional performance of elderly patients to reduce fall risks

Short-range interactions in a two-electron system: energy levels and magnetic properties

The problem of two electrons in a square billiard interacting via a finite-range repulsive Yukawa potential and subjected to a constant magnetic field is considered. We compute the energy spectrum for both singlet and triplet states, and for all symmetry classes, as a function of the strength and range of the interaction and of the magnetic field. We show that the short-range nature of the potential suppresses the formation of ``Wigner molecule'' states for the ground state, even in the strong interaction limit. The magnetic susceptibility $\chi(B)$ shows low-temperature paramagnetic peaks due to exchange induced singlet-triplet oscillations. The position, number and intensity of these peaks depend on the range and strength of the interaction. The contribution of the interaction to the susceptibility displays paramagnetic and diamagnetic phases as a function of $T$.Comment: 12 pages,6 figures; to appear in Phys. Rev.

Universal behavior of baryons and mesons' transverse momentum distributions in the framework of percolation of strings

In the framework of percolation of strings, we present predictions for the $R_{AA}$ and $R_{CP}$ for mesons and baryons and for $\bar{p}/\pi^{0}$ ratios at LHC energies.Comment: Presented at "Heavy Ion Collisions at the LHC: last call for predictions", Geneva Switzerland, May 14th-June 8t

Nariai, Bertotti-Robinson and anti-Nariai solutions in higher dimensions

We find all the higher dimensional solutions of the Einstein-Maxwell theory that are the topological product of two manifolds of constant curvature. These solutions include the higher dimensional Nariai, Bertotti-Robinson and anti-Nariai solutions, and the anti-de Sitter Bertotti-Robinson solutions with toroidal and hyperbolic topology (Plebanski-Hacyan solutions). We give explicit results for any dimension D>3. These solutions are generated from the appropriate extremal limits of the higher dimensional near-extreme black holes in a de Sitter, and anti-de Sitter backgrounds. Thus, we also find the mass and the charge parameters of the higher dimensional extreme black holes as a function of the radius of the degenerate horizon.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, RevTeX4. References added. Published versio

Improvement of Mechanical Properties with Non-Equimolar CrNbTaVW High Entropy Alloy

ABSTRACT: CrNbTaVWx with (x = 1 and 1.7) high entropy alloys have been devised for thermal barriers between the plasma-facing tungsten tiles and the copper-based heat sink in the first wall of fusion nuclear reactors. These novel materials were prepared by ball milling and consolidated by Upgrade Field Assisted Sintering Technology at 1873 K under an applied pressure of 90 MPa for 10 min. In this work, the structural and mechanical properties of these materials were evaluated. Consolidated samples presented a major phase with a bcc-type structure with lattice parameter value of 0.316 nm for CrNbTaVW and CrNbTaVW1.7 compositions. Moreover, observation of the microstructures evidences also two minor phases: Ta-Nb-Cr and Ta-V rich (in which carbon is detected). Despite the similarity in the structural properties of these two alloys, their mechanical properties are distinct. The flexural stress for the sample with higher amount of W (CrNbTaVW1.7) is higher by 50% in the 298-873 K range, with an increased strain to fracture, which can be associated with reduced brittleness caused by the additional W incorporation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fenótipo De Fragilidade: Influência De Cada Item Na Determinação Da Fragilidade Em Idosos Comunitários - Rede Fibra

The phenotype of frailty is used to assess frailty among the elderly by examining the following items: weight loss; exhaustion; low level of physical activity; weakness; and slow gait speed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of each item to determine the frailty syndrome among elderly Brazilians. The analysis was done using Multinomial Logistic Regression. The total sample of 5532 randomly selected elderly people in many cities in Brazil between December 2008 and September 2009 was assessed using the phenotype of frailty. The most frequent items were level of physical activity, followed by muscular weakness and slow gait speed. Items that were more likely to develop frailty, when positive, were slow gait speed (OR = 10.50, 95%CI 8.55 - 12.90, p <0.001) and muscular weakness (OR = 7.31, 95%CI 6,02 - 8,86, p <0.001). The final model with five items explained 99.6% of frailty in the sample. These results suggested that the level of physical activity, weakness and slow gait speed were the items that most influence the determination of frailty, however the application of all items of the phenotype of frailty is the best way to assess frailty. © 2016, Associacao Brasileira de Pos - Graduacao em Saude Coletiva. All rights reserved.21113483349

Efeitos da prática da natação adaptada sobre o perfil bioquímico e o estado de condicionamento físico de indivíduos com lesão medular

Introduction: The lack of physical exercises generated by immobilization of the lower limbs leads tochanges in body composition that are generally associated with the imbalance of metabolic rate coupledwith a sedentary status, which can result in obesity, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease.Therefore, the improvement of physical fitness can contribute to promoting health and quality of life forthese patients. As there is a very small number of research in this direction, our purpose was to investigate the effects of an adapted swimming program in protocol interval, for people with spinal cord injury,aiming to verify the improvement of your fitness and, consequently, some biochemical variables important for health. Methodology: The study included 17 subjects with spinal cord injury, sedentary, divided intotwo groups: 11 participants in the training group (TG) and 6 in control group (CG). TG was applied by aprotocol of interval training in swimming for eight consecutive weeks, three times a week. The protocolemployed a stroke of breaststroke in work periods of moderate to severe, and stroke in the backstroke,in periods of active recovery. The CG has not participated in any physical activity. Both groups werecollecting blood for biochemical analysis, before (evaluation) and after (revaluation) the swimming program. Results and Discussion: The concentrations of triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol showed no significant changes in assessment for reassessment in both groups. However the TG,the level of HDL-cholesterol were significant differences (p=0,0110), showing an improvement in posttraining, which did not occur in the CG. With respect to the state of fitness, the results revealed a significant difference in relation to time and distance covered in water when compared with the pre-training(p&lt;0,001), showing a great improvement in the ability to shift with the stroke of breaststroke and asignificant improvement in cardiorespiratory function. Conclusion: The swimming program interval used,with moderate to severe intensity, can even in a short period of time, promote positive changes in HDLcholesterol in individuals with spinal cord injury studied, and substantially improve your fitness.Introdução: A ausência de exercícios físicos gerada pela imobilização dos membros inferiores conduza mudanças na composição corporal que geralmente estão associadas com o desequilíbrio da taxametabólica que somados ao estado sedentário podem resultar em obesidade, diabetes mellitus edoenças cardiovasculares. Assim, a melhora do condicionamento físico pode contribuir para promoçãode saúde e qualidade de vida desses indivíduos. Como existe um número muito reduzido de pesquisasnesse sentido, nossa proposta foi investigar os efeitos de um programa de natação adaptada, emprotocolo intervalado, para pessoas com lesão medular, tendo como objetivo verificar a melhora do seucondicionamento físico e, conseqüentemente, de algumas variáveis bioquímicas importantes para asaúde. Metodologia: Participaram do estudo 17 indivíduos com lesão medular, sedentários, distribuí-dos em 2 grupos: 11 participantes do grupo treinamento (GT) e 6 do grupo controle (GC). No GT foiaplicado um protocolo de treinamento intervalado em natação, durante oito semanas consecutivas, 3vezes por semana. O protocolo empregou a braçada do nado peito, nos períodos de trabalho de intensidade moderada a intensa, e a braçada do nado costas, nos períodos de recuperação ativa. O GC nãoparticipou de nenhuma atividade física. Em ambos os grupos foi realizada a coleta de sangue para aanálise bioquímica, antes (avaliação) e após (reavaliação) o programa de natação. Resultados e Discussão: As concentrações de triglicerídeos, colesterol total e LDL-colesterol não apresentaram altera-ções significativas da avaliação para a reavaliação, em ambos os grupos. Entretanto no GT, na dosagem de HDL-colesterol foram observadas diferenças significativas (p=0,0110), evidenciando umamelhora na fase pós-treinamento, o que não ocorreu no GC. Com relação ao estado de condicionamento físico, os resultados revelaram uma diferença significativa em relação ao tempo e à distância percorrida na água quando comparados com a fase pré-treinamento (p&lt;0,001), demonstrando uma grande melhora na capacidade de deslocamento com a braçada do nado peito e uma melhora significativa dafunção cardiorrespiratória. Conclusão: O programa de natação intervalado empregado, com intensidade de moderada à intensa, pode, mesmo em curto período de tempo, promover alterações positivasnos valores de HDL-colesterol dos indivíduos com lesão medular estudados, além de melhorar substancialmente seu condicionamento físico

Predição De Classes De Solo Por Mineração De Dados Em área Da Bacia Sedimentar Do São Francisco

The objective of this work was to evaluate different strategies for the prediction of soil class distribution on digital soil maps of areas without reference data, in the sedimentary basin of San Francisco, in the north of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The strategies included: Taxonomic generalization, training by field observations, training set expansion, and the use of different data mining algorithms. Four matrices were developed, differentiated by the volume of data for machine learning and by soil taxonomic levels to be predicted. The performance of the machine learning algorithms-Random Forest, J48, and MLP-, associated with discretization, class balancing, variable selection, and expansion of the training set was evaluated. Class balancing, variable discretization by equal frequencies, and the Random Forest algorithm showed the best performances. The representativeness extension of field observations, that assumes a larger training area, brought no predictive gain. Soil taxonomic generalization to the suborder level reduces the fragmentation of mapped polygons and improves the accuracy of digital soil maps. When generated by training on in situ soil observations at the mapping area, digital soil maps are as accurate as those trained on preexistent maps.5191396140

Controlling Bovine Brucellosis In The State Of São Paulo, Brazil: Results After Ten Years Of A Vaccination Program

A cross- sectional study was carried out, between May and November 2011, to estimate the situation of the bovine brucellosis in São Paulo State, 10 years after the commencement of the vaccination of the heifers with the S19 strain. The State was divided into seven regions and in each of them, 300 farms with reproductive activity were randomly chosen and considered as primary sample units. A fixed number of cows was randomly selected and tested for antibodies against Brucella spp. A farm was considered infected if at least one female tested positive. In the selected farms, an epidemiological questionnaire was administered which focused on herd traits as well as husbandry and sanitary practices that could be associated with the risk of infection. The prevalence (percentile, [95% confidence interval]) of infected herds was 10.2% [8.8-11.8] for the State, and for the regions, it varied from 7.3% [4.7-11.2] to 12.3% [8.8-16.8], not showing significant difference between different regions. The apparent prevalence of positive farms in the State and regions remained similar to the prevalence observed 10 years before. The prevalence of positive animals was 2.4% [1.8-3.1] in the State and varied from 1.1% [0.6-2] to 3.5% [1.7-7.1] in the regions, not showing significant difference between regions. Again, there was no difference in the prevalence of positive animals after 10 years of the vaccination program. The risk factors (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval) associated with bovine brucellosis in the State included number of cows = 24 (3.08, 2.22-4.27) and the acquisition of breeding animals (1.33, 0.95-1.87). The São Paulo State should conduct systematic vaccination coverage of above 80% of the eligible heifers with the S19 strain vaccine annually. Moreover, the State should emphatically use RB51 strain vaccine in females above 8 months of age not vaccinated with S19 strain vaccine. An efficient animal health education program to orientate farmers to test replacement animals for brucellosis prior to introduction in their herds should also be implemented.3753505351