15 research outputs found
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The Demystification of Non-formal Education: A Critique and Suggestions for a New Research Direction
The purpose of this paper is to initiate an inquiry into a currently fashionable educational phenomenon presently referred to as non-formal education. It is hoped that the paradigm resented will provide yet another interpretive perspective by which we can more fully understand the consequences of this educational phenomenon. It is a major contention of this paper that a more conceptually rigorous approach will enable us to understand better how non-formal education might contribute to or inhibit social change and development in societies undergoing rapid modernization
Cor triatriatum presenting as heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: a case report
Cor triatriatum is a rare congenital cardiac malformation and it usually refers to the left atrium. We report an unusual case of cor triatriatum in a 33 - year old woman presented with congestive heart failure caused by left ventricular systolic dysfunction
Similar Biomechanical Behavior in Gait Analysis between Ceramic-on-Ceramic and Ceramic-on-XLPE Total Hip Arthroplasties
In vitro measurements are widely used to implement gait kinematic and
kinetic parameters to predict THA wear rate. Clinical tests of materials
and designs are crucial to prove the accuracy and validate such
measurements. This research aimed to examine the effect of CoC and
CoXLPE kinematics and kinetics on wear during gait, the essential
functional activity of humans, by comparing in vivo data to in vitro
results. Our study hypothesis was that both implants would present the
same hip joint kinematics and kinetics during gait. In total, 127
unilateral primary cementless total hip arthroplasties were included in
the research. There were no statistically significant differences
observed at mean peak abduction, flexion, and extension moments and THA
kinematics between the two groups. THA gait kinematics and kinetics are
crucial biomechanical inputs associated with implant wear. In vitro
studies report less wear in CoC than CoXLPE when tested in a matched
gait kinematic protocol. Our findings confirm that both implants behave
identically in terms of kinematics in a clinical environment, thus
strengthening CoC advantage in in vitro results. Correlated to all other
significant factors that affect THA wear, it could address in a complete
prism the wear on CoC and CoXLPE
Similar Biomechanical Behavior in Gait Analysis between Ceramic-on-Ceramic and Ceramic-on-XLPE Total Hip Arthroplasties
In vitro measurements are widely used to implement gait kinematic and kinetic parameters to predict THA wear rate. Clinical tests of materials and designs are crucial to prove the accuracy and validate such measurements. This research aimed to examine the effect of CoC and CoXLPE kinematics and kinetics on wear during gait, the essential functional activity of humans, by comparing in vivo data to in vitro results. Our study hypothesis was that both implants would present the same hip joint kinematics and kinetics during gait. In total, 127 unilateral primary cementless total hip arthroplasties were included in the research. There were no statistically significant differences observed at mean peak abduction, flexion, and extension moments and THA kinematics between the two groups. THA gait kinematics and kinetics are crucial biomechanical inputs associated with implant wear. In vitro studies report less wear in CoC than CoXLPE when tested in a matched gait kinematic protocol. Our findings confirm that both implants behave identically in terms of kinematics in a clinical environment, thus strengthening CoC advantage in in vitro results. Correlated to all other significant factors that affect THA wear, it could address in a complete prism the wear on CoC and CoXLPE
BIOMECHANICAL ASSESSMENT OF WEAR IN CERAMIC ON CERAMIC AND CERAMIC ON XLPE THAs
Total Hip Arthroplasty (THA) is an effective treatment for severe hip
arthritis, with patients reporting high rates of satisfactory results
postoperatively. There are a variety of choices regarding THA implant
designs. Ceramic on Ceramic and Ceramic on Highly Cross-Linked
Polyethylene (XLPE) THAs are the materials of choice nowadays. The
purpose of this study is to review the effect of kinematics and kinetics
on wear (in vivo and in vitro testing) that affect wear in Ceramic on
Ceramic and Ceramic on XLPE total hip arthroplasties and identify
possible advantages amongst them. The study hypothesis was that THA
kinematics and/or kinetics, since they directly affect THA wear, could
provide data for possible advantages between the examined implant
designs. A systematic review of the literature identified no significant
evidence for biomechanical advantages between these two prostheses in
terms of wear. Further research is proposed with the use of gait
analysis systems combined with surface electromyography to further
investigate THA biomechanics at a laboratory set up. Wearable sensors
technology could also identify detailed biomechanical parameters in more
complex daily activities
Application of Wearable Sensors Technology for Lumbar Spine Kinematic Measurements during Daily Activities following Microdiscectomy Due to Severe Sciatica
Background: The recurrence rate of lumbar spine microdiscectomies (rLSMs) is estimated to be 5–15%. Lumbar spine flexion (LSF) of more than 10° is mentioned as the most harmful load to the intervertebral disc that could lead to recurrence during the first six postoperative weeks. The purpose of this study is to quantify LSFs, following LSM, at the period of six weeks postoperatively. Methods: LSFs were recorded during the daily activities of 69 subjects for 24 h twice per week, using Inertial Measurement Units (IMU). Results: The mean number of more than 10 degrees of LSFs per hour were: 41.3/h during the 1st postoperative week (P.W.) (29.9% healthy subjects-H.S.), 2nd P.W. 60.1/h (43.5% H.S.), 3rd P.W. 74.2/h (53.7% H.S.), 4th P.W. 82.9/h (60% H.S.), 5th P.W. 97.3/h (70.4% H.S.) and 6th P.W. 105.5/h (76.4% H.S.). Conclusions: LSFs constitute important risk factors for rLDH. Our study records the lumbar spine kinematic pattern of such patients for the first time during their daily activities. Patients’ data report less sagittal plane movements than healthy subjects. In vitro studies should be carried out, replicating our results to identify if such a kinematic pattern could cause rLDH. Furthermore, IMU biofeedback capabilities could protect patients from such harmful movements
Calmodulin mutations associated with recurrent cardiac arrest in infants.
Background-Life-threatening disorders of heart rhythm may arise during infancy and can result in the sudden and tragic death of a child. We performed exome sequencing on 2 unrelated infants presenting with recurrent cardiac arrest to discover a genetic cause. Methods and Results-We ascertained 2 unrelated infants (probands) with recurrent cardiac arrest and dramatically prolonged QTc interval who were both born to healthy parents. The 2 parent-child trios were investigated with the use of exome sequencing to search for de novo genetic variants. We then performed follow-up candidate gene screening on an independent cohort of 82 subjects with congenital long-QT syndrome without an identified genetic cause. Biochemical studies were performed to determine the functional consequences of mutations discovered in 2 genes encoding calmodulin. We discovered 3 heterozygous de novo mutations in either CALM1 or CALM2, 2 of the 3 human genes encoding calmodulin, in the 2 probands and in 2 additional subjects with recurrent cardiac arrest. All mutation carriers were infants who exhibited life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias combined variably with epilepsy and delayed neurodevelopment. Mutations altered residues in or adjacent to critical calcium binding loops in the calmodulin carboxyl-terminal domain. Recombinant mutant calmodulins exhibited several-fold reductions in calcium binding affinity. Conclusions-Human calmodulin mutations disrupt calcium ion binding to the protein and are associated with a life-threatening condition in early infancy. Defects in calmodulin function will disrupt important calcium signaling events in heart, affecting membrane ion channels, a plausible molecular mechanism for potentially deadly disturbances in heart rhythm during infancy