Which items of the modified Barthel Index can predict functional independence at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation? a secondary analysis retrospective cohort study

The modified Barthel Index (mBI) is a well-established patient-centered outcome measure commonly administrated in rehabilitation settings to evaluate the functional status of patients at admission and discharge. This study aimed to detect which mBI items collected on admission can predict the total mBI at discharge from first inpatient rehabilitation in large cohorts of orthopedic (n = 1864) and neurological (n = 1684) patients. Demographic and clinical data (time since the acute event 11.8 ± 17.2 days) at patients' admission and mBI at discharge were collected. Univariate and multiple binary logistic regressions were performed to study the associations between independent and dependent variables for each cohort separately. In neurological patients, the shorter time between the acute event and rehabilitation admission, shorter length of stay, and being independent with feeding, personal hygiene, bladder, and transfers were independently associated with higher total mBI at discharge (R2 = 0.636). In orthopedic patients, age, the shorter time between the acute event and rehabilitation admission, shorter length of stay, and being independent with personal hygiene, dressing, and bladder were independently associated with higher total mBI at discharge (R2 = 0.622). Our results showed that different activities in neurological (i.e. feeding, personal hygiene, bladder, and transfer) and orthopedic sample (i.e. personal hygiene, dressing, and bladder) are positively associated with better function (measured by mBI) at the discharge. Clinicians have to take into account these predictors of functionality when they plan an appropriate rehabilitation treatment

Neutron emission in Ni-H systems

In this paper evidence is reported for neutron emission during energy production in Ni-H systems at about 700 kelvin. Neutrons were detected directly by He3 counters and indirectly by gold activation

Barriers to sEMG assessment during overground robot-assisted gait training in subacute stroke patients

Background: The limitation to the use of ElectroMyoGraphy (sEMG) in rehabilitation services is in contrast with its potential diagnostic capacity for rational planning and monitoring of the rehabilitation treatments, especially the overground Robot-Assisted Gait Training (o-RAGT). Objective: To assess the barriers to the implementation of a sEMG-based assessment protocol in a clinical context for evaluating the effects of o-RAGT in subacute stroke patients. Methods: Anobservationalstudywasconductedinarehabilitationhospital.Theprimary outcome was the success rate of the implementation of the sEMG-based assessment. The number of dropouts and the motivations have been registered. A detailed report on difficulties in implementing the sEMG protocol has been edited for each patient. The educational level and the working status of the staff have been registered.Each member of staff completed a brief survey indicating their level of knowledge of sEMG, using a five-point Likert scale. Results: The sEMG protocol was carried out by a multidisciplinary team composed of Physical Therapists (PTs) and Biomedical Engineers (BEs). Indeed, the educational level andtheexpertiseofthemembersofstaffinfluencedthefulfillmentoftheimplementation of the study.ThePTsinvolved in the study did not receive any for maleducationonsEMG during their course of study. The low success rate (22.7%) of the protocol was caused by several factors which could be grouped in: patient-related barriers; cultural barriers; technical barriers; and administrative barriers. Conclusions: Since a series of barriers limited the use of sEMG in the clinical rehabilitative environment, concrete actions are needed for disseminating sEMG in rehabilitation services. The sEMG assessment should be included in health systems regulations and specific education should be part of the rehabilitation professionals’ curriculum. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03395717

Dielectric Effects in FeO x-Coated Au Nanoparticles Boost the Magnetoplasmonic Response: Implications for Active Plasmonic Devices

Plasmon resonance modulation with an external magnetic field (magnetoplasmonics) represents a promising route for the improvement of the sensitivity of plasmon-based refractometric sensing. To this purpose, an accurate material choice is needed to realize hybrid nanostructures with an improved magnetoplasmonic response. In this work, we prepared core@shell nanostructures made of an 8 nm Au core surrounded by an ultrathin iron oxide shell (≤1 nm). The presence of the iron oxide shell was found to significantly enhance the magneto-optical response of the noble metal in the localized surface plasmon region, compared with uncoated Au nanoparticles. With the support of an analytical model, we ascribed the origin of the enhancement to the shell-induced increase in the dielectric permittivity around the Au core. The experiment points out the importance of the spectral position of the plasmonic resonance in determining the magnitude of the magnetoplasmonic response. Moreover, the analytical model proposed here represents a powerful predictive tool for the quantification of the magnetoplasmonic effect based on resonance position engineering, which has significant implications for the design of active magnetoplasmonic devices

Direct detection of spin polarization in photoinduced charge transfer through a chiral bridge

It is well assessed that the charge transport through a chiral potential barrier can result in spin-polarized charges. The possibility of driving this process through visible photons holds tremendous potential for several aspects of quantum information science, e.g., the optical control and readout of qubits. In this context, the direct observation of this phenomenon via spin-sensitive spectroscopies is of utmost importance to establish future guidelines to control photo-driven spin selectivity in chiral structures. Here, we provide direct proof that time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) can be used to detect long-lived spin polarization generated by photoinduced charge transfer through a chiral bridge. We propose a system comprising CdSe quantum dots (QDs), as a donor, and C60, as an acceptor, covalently linked through a saturated oligopeptide helical bridge (χ) with a rigid structure of ∼10 Å. Time-resolved EPR spectroscopy shows that the charge transfer in our system results in a C60 radical anion, whose spin polarization maximum is observed at longer times with respect to that of the photogenerated C60 triplet state. Notably, the theoretical modelling of the EPR spectra reveals that the observed features may be compatible with chirality-induced spin selectivity, but the electronic features of the QD do not allow the unambiguous identification of the CISS effect. Nevertheless, we identify which parameters need optimization for unambiguous detection and quantification of the phenomenon. This work lays the basis for the optical generation and direct manipulation of spin polarization induced by chirality

Vulnerability of the groundwater resources in the Pistoia plain (Tuscany, Italy): a preliminary investigation using the herbicide 2,4-D

none5A model of herbicide transport in the unsaturated zone, based upon direct measurements of the properties of soils and the resultant profiles of the unsaturated zone in three different areas of the Pistoia plain are presented.noneBeretta G.P.; Fumagalli L.; Gabbani G.; Gargini A.; Pranzini G.Beretta, G. P.; Fumagalli, L.; Gabbani, G.; Gargini, Alessandro; Pranzini, G

Modellizzazione del flusso-trasporto di fitofarmaci nella zona non satura: il caso della pianura pistoiese

La memoria tratta della valutazione di vulnerabilità specifica all'inquinamento della prima falda da prodotti fitosanitari usati per l'attività vivaistica della pianura Pistoiese. La metodologia accoppia un modello analitico unidimensionale di flusso e trasporto attraverso l'insaturo alla capacità diluitiva dell'acquifero espressa dalla distribuzione della trasmissività idraulic