Effect of cascade overlap and C15 clusters on the damage evolution in Fe : An OKMC study

In order to investigate the long-term evolution of radiation-induced defects in the fission- and fusion-relevant material iron, we introduce cascade overlap effects into Object Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. In addition to cascade overlap, we study the effect of introducing discrete C15 Laves phase clusters into the simulations. By applying either, none, or both of these effects we identify how they influence the evolution of the system. We find that both cascade overlap and C15 clusters affect the evolution of the radiation damage in different ways and on different time scales. Cascade overlap is found to reduce the number of Frenkel pairs. On the other hand, the explicit consideration of C15 Laves phase clusters increases the accumulation of defects at low dose. The results are compared to Molecular Dynamics simulation results under similar conditions.Peer reviewe

Effects of Lateral Wedge Insole on Static and Dynamic Balance in Patients with Moderate Medial Knee Osteoarthritis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with diminished joint proprioception, balance deficits and increased risk of falls. Patients with medial knee osteoarthritis are at higher risk of balance deficits and falling due to the development of secondary varus deformity. Therefore, it is of great clinical importance to identify the treatment methods that could improve balance in knee OA. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Lateral Wedge Insole (LWI) on static and dynamic balance in patients with moderate medial knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Thirty patients with moderate medial knee OA participated in this semi-experimental interventional study. Patients were recruited from orthopedic and rheumatology clinics of the university. For each patient, the static and dynamic balance were assessed in two conditions including wearing shoes with flat insole and wearing shoes with lateral wedge insole, using a Prokin stabilometer. The balance variables were the anteroposterior and mediolateral velocity and standard deviation of the center of pressure (COP) displacement, and total stability indices. Patients performed two familiarization trials, then, three actual trials with at least 30 s interval for each test. FINDINGS: Wearing LWIs resulted in significant decreases in the anteroposterior (static:1.78mm/s, dynamic:6.63mm/s) and mediolateral velocity of COP (static:1.53mm/s, dynamic:5.58mm/s) in compression to wearing shoes with flat insole (p<0.001). The anteroposterior (static:1.04 mm, dynamic:1.57mm) and mediolateral SD of the COP (static:1.58mm, dynamic:2.02mm) were also decreased after using LWIs (p<0.007). Except for the anteroposterior stability index, other balance indices were also significantly improved (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that using a LWI improve static and dynamic balance in patients with moderate medial knee OA

Treatment of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in special populations : a summary of evidence

We aimed to assess and synthesize the information available in the literature regarding the treatment of American tegumentary leishmaniasis in special populations. We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, LILACS, SciELO, Scopus, Cochrane Library and mRCT databases to identify clinical trials and observational studies that assessed the pharmacological treatment of the following groups of patients: pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, the elderly, individuals with chronic diseases and individuals with suppressed immune systems. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. The available evidence suggests that the treatments of choice for each population or disease entity are as follows: nursing mothers and children (meglumine antimoniate or pentamidine), patients with renal disease (amphotericin B or miltefosine), patients with heart disease (amphotericin B, miltefosine or pentamidine), immunosuppressed patients (liposomal amphotericin), the elderly (meglumine antimoniate), pregnant women (amphotericin B) and patients with liver disease (no evidence available). The quality of evidence is low or very low for all groups. Accurate controlled studies are required to fill in the gaps in evidence for treatment in special populations. Post-marketing surveillance programs could also collect relevant information to guide treatment decision-making

Normalized Electromyography of Shoulder Muscles during Selected Functional Tasks of Upper Limb in Patients with Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Abstract: Background & Aims: Precise muscle activity pattern is required to maintain normal shoulder function and any alteration in muscle activity can result in movement impairment. The purpose of this study was to assess normalized electromyography (EMG) of shoulder muscles during selected functional tasks of upper limb in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome. Methods: Test group consisted of 15 subjects with shoulder impingement syndrome selected by nonprobability convenient sampling and control group consisted of 15 matched healthy subjects. In each group selected exercises including open kinetic chain with and without external load and closed kinetic chain with axial load were done and during each exercise surface EMG from selected muscle was recorded. Results: There was significant difference between the two groups in the activities of upper trapezius, infraspinatus and three regions of deltoid muscle (P2E showed minimum changes and tripod showed maximum changes in muscle activity domain. Conclusion: Decrease in activity domain of infraspinatus and trapezius muscles in patients with shoulder impingement syndrome causes impairment of shoulder function. D2E with causing minimum changes and Tripod with causing maximum changes in muscles activity domain are suggested respectively as the first and the last activity patterns in the treatment of these patients. Keywords: Shoulder joint, Shoulder impingement syndrome, Electromyography, Exercise, Biomechanic

Effect of cascade overlap and C15 clusters on the damage evolution in Fe : An OKMC study

In order to investigate the long-term evolution of radiation-induced defects in the fission- and fusion-relevant material iron, we introduce cascade overlap effects into Object Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. In addition to cascade overlap, we study the effect of introducing discrete C15 Laves phase clusters into the simulations. By applying either, none, or both of these effects we identify how they influence the evolution of the system. We find that both cascade overlap and C15 clusters affect the evolution of the radiation damage in different ways and on different time scales. Cascade overlap is found to reduce the number of Frenkel pairs. On the other hand, the explicit consideration of C15 Laves phase clusters increases the accumulation of defects at low dose. The results are compared to Molecular Dynamics simulation results under similar conditions.Peer reviewe

The effect of functional bracing on the arthrokinematics of anterior cruciate ligament injured knees during lunge exercise

Background: Functional knee braces are extensively used for partially and completely torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) patients and those who have undergone ACL graft reconstruction, in order to support the healing ACL, improve the joint's functional stability, and restore the normal joint kinematics. Research question: Does wearing braces alter the arthrokinematics of the ACL deficient knees during lung exercise? Methods: For ten male unilateral ACL deficient subjects, 3D knee models were reconstructed from CT images, acquired in rest position. Sagittal plane fluoroscopy was then performed throughout a complete cycle of lunge in braced and non-braced conditions. The 3D kinematics of the knees were obtained using a 2D-3D registration method in which six anatomical bony landmarks on the fluoroscopic images were matched with those on the 3D models. Results: No significant difference was found between the tibial anterior-posterior translations and abduction-adduction motions of the braced and non-braced knees. A significant decrease, however, was observed after bracing in the tibial internal rotation at 45° flexion during eccentric (non-braced: 5.9° (±6.7°) vs. braced: 2.4° (±7.0°); p = 0.045), and at 30° flexion during concentric (non-braced: 2.3° (±6.9°) vs. braced: �1.6° (±8.1°); p = 0.001) phases of the lunge cycle. Significance: The immediate effect of knee bracing is limited to controlling the tibial rotation of the ACL deficient individuals during the lunge exercise. Hence, care should be taken in prescribing the lunge exercise for rehabilitation of ACL injured patients with high anterior-posterior knee instability, even when wearing knee braces. © 2018 Elsevier B.V

The effect of functional bracing on the arthrokinematics of anterior cruciate ligament injured knees during lunge exercise

Background: Functional knee braces are extensively used for partially and completely torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) patients and those who have undergone ACL graft reconstruction, in order to support the healing ACL, improve the joint's functional stability, and restore the normal joint kinematics. Research question: Does wearing braces alter the arthrokinematics of the ACL deficient knees during lung exercise? Methods: For ten male unilateral ACL deficient subjects, 3D knee models were reconstructed from CT images, acquired in rest position. Sagittal plane fluoroscopy was then performed throughout a complete cycle of lunge in braced and non-braced conditions. The 3D kinematics of the knees were obtained using a 2D-3D registration method in which six anatomical bony landmarks on the fluoroscopic images were matched with those on the 3D models. Results: No significant difference was found between the tibial anterior-posterior translations and abduction-adduction motions of the braced and non-braced knees. A significant decrease, however, was observed after bracing in the tibial internal rotation at 45° flexion during eccentric (non-braced: 5.9° (±6.7°) vs. braced: 2.4° (±7.0°); p = 0.045), and at 30° flexion during concentric (non-braced: 2.3° (±6.9°) vs. braced: �1.6° (±8.1°); p = 0.001) phases of the lunge cycle. Significance: The immediate effect of knee bracing is limited to controlling the tibial rotation of the ACL deficient individuals during the lunge exercise. Hence, care should be taken in prescribing the lunge exercise for rehabilitation of ACL injured patients with high anterior-posterior knee instability, even when wearing knee braces. © 2018 Elsevier B.V

Nanoindentation of single crystalline Mo

| openaire: EC/H2020/857470/EU//NOMATENThe mechanical responses of single crystalline Body-Centered Cubic (BCC) metals, such as molybdenum (Mo), outperform other metals at high temperatures, so much so that they are considered as excellent candidates for applications under extreme conditions, such as the divertor of fusion reactors. The excellent thermomechanical stability of molybdenum at high temperatures (400–1000 oC) has also been detected through nanoindentation, pointing toward connections to emergent local dislocation mechanisms related to defect nucleation. In this work, we carry out a computational study of the effects of high temperature on the mechanical deformation properties of single crystalline Mo under nanoindentation. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of spherical nanoindentation are performed at two indenter tip diameters and crystalline sample orientations [100], [110], and [111], for the temperature range of 10–1000 K. We investigate how the increase of temperature influences the nanoindentation process, modifying dislocationdensities, mechanisms, atomic displacements and also, hardness, in agreement with reported experimental measurements. Our results suggest that the characteristic formation and high-temperature stability of [001] dislocation junctions in Mo during nanoindentation, in contrast to other BCC metals, may be the cause of the persistent thermomechanical stability of Mo.Peer reviewe