Asymmetrical lower extremity loading early after ACL reconstruction is a significant predictor of asymmetrical loading at the time of return to sport

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine whether asymmetrical lower limb loading early after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (1 mo) can predict asymmetrical lower limb loading at the time of return to sport (6 mos) and whether other early predictors as knee joint range of motion or maximal isometric strength affect this relationship. DESIGN: Ground reaction forces were measured during a sit-to-stand task 1 mo after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and a vertical countermovement jump 6 mos after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in 58 athletes. Other early postoperative measurements were knee joint range of motion (2 wks, 1 mo, and 2 mos after surgery) and maximal isometric strength of the knee extensor and flexor muscles (2 mos after surgery). Linear regression models were developed using side-to-side limb symmetry index (LSI) of countermovement jump as the dependent variable. RESULTS: LSI of sit-to-stand task 1 mo after surgery was a significant independent predictor of LSI of countermovement jump 6 mos after surgery. After accounting for deficits in knee joint range of motion and LSI of maximal isometric strength (ΔR² = 0.35, P < 0.01), LSI of sit-to-stand task predicted LSI of countermovement jump (ΔR² = 0.14 P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Asymmetrical lower extremity loading 1 mo after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is an early predictor of asymmetrical lower extremity loading 6 mos after surgery

Comparison between different rotary mowing systems: Testing a new method to calculate turfgrass mowing quality

Poor quality in turfgrass mowing is highlighted by the shredded leaf tips with necrotic tissues that give an unsightly brownish colour to the turf and may also lead to turf disease. Mowing quality is also typically assessed by visual rating, thus the score depends on the person doing the assessment. To make the evaluation of mowing quality not subjective, an innovative method was developed. The aim of the trial was to examine the effects of different mowing systems and two different nitrogen rates (100 and 200 kg ha−1 ) on two turfgrass species in order to test the new mowing quality calculation. Three different mowing systems were used: a battery-powered rotary mower set at 3000 rpm and 5000 rpm respectively and a gasoline-powered rotary mower set at full throttle. The battery-powered mower at low blade rpm produced a poorer mowing quality and turf quality than the gasoline-powered mower and battery-powered mower at high rpm, which produced a similar mowing quality and turf quality. Leaf tip damage level values showed a significant correlation with the results of the visual mowing quality assessment. Lower leaf tip damage level values (slightly above 1) corresponded to higher visual mowing quality scores (around 8)

Platelet Rich Plasma stimulates human hair growth in vitro

Several factors are involved in hair growth and cycling (Buffoli et al., 2013). Platelet concentrates have a new important role in regenerative medicine and thus in dermatology, oral, plastic and orthopaedic surgery and hair growth (Franco et al., 2012). In this study we evaluated in vitro the effects of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), an autologous platelet preparation, on hair growth. In particular, we compared four different culture media (Philpott et al., 1990): 1-William’s E culture medium with supplemented factors; 2-William’s E culture medium with supplemented factors and Platelet Rich Plasma; 3-William’s E culture medium without supplemented factors; 4-William’s E culture medium without supplemented factors but with PRP. Hair shaft elongation was measured at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours: digitally fixed images of slices were analyzed using an image analyzer considering as measurable portion the shaft part between the bulb upper border and the top of the hair end. The values obtained were used to calculate the percentage of elongation for each time. Growth in hair cultured with William’s E medium with supplemented factors and PRP resulted higher with respect to the other media. Moreover, these results suggest that PRP stimulates human hair growth in vitro

Energy use in the EU food sector: State of play and opportunities for improvement

The amount of energy necessary to cultivate, process, pack and bring the food to European citizens tables accounts for the 17 % of the EU's gross energy consumption, equivalent to about 26 % of the EU's final energy consumption in 2013. Challenges and solutions for decreasing energy consumption and increasing the use of renewable energy in the European food sector are presented and discussed.JRC.F.7-Renewables and Energy Efficienc

Association between convalescent plasma treatment and mortality in COVID-19: a collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Funder: laura and john arnold foundationBACKGROUND: Convalescent plasma has been widely used to treat COVID-19 and is under investigation in numerous randomized clinical trials, but results are publicly available only for a small number of trials. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of convalescent plasma treatment compared to placebo or no treatment and all-cause mortality in patients with COVID-19, using data from all available randomized clinical trials, including unpublished and ongoing trials (Open Science Framework, https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/GEHFX ). METHODS: In this collaborative systematic review and meta-analysis, clinical trial registries (ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform), the Cochrane COVID-19 register, the LOVE database, and PubMed were searched until April 8, 2021. Investigators of trials registered by March 1, 2021, without published results were contacted via email. Eligible were ongoing, discontinued and completed randomized clinical trials that compared convalescent plasma with placebo or no treatment in COVID-19 patients, regardless of setting or treatment schedule. Aggregated mortality data were extracted from publications or provided by investigators of unpublished trials and combined using the Hartung-Knapp-Sidik-Jonkman random effects model. We investigated the contribution of unpublished trials to the overall evidence. RESULTS: A total of 16,477 patients were included in 33 trials (20 unpublished with 3190 patients, 13 published with 13,287 patients). 32 trials enrolled only hospitalized patients (including 3 with only intensive care unit patients). Risk of bias was low for 29/33 trials. Of 8495 patients who received convalescent plasma, 1997 died (23%), and of 7982 control patients, 1952 died (24%). The combined risk ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.97 (95% confidence interval: 0.92; 1.02) with between-study heterogeneity not beyond chance (I2 = 0%). The RECOVERY trial had 69.8% and the unpublished evidence 25.3% of the weight in the meta-analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Convalescent plasma treatment of patients with COVID-19 did not reduce all-cause mortality. These results provide strong evidence that convalescent plasma treatment for patients with COVID-19 should not be used outside of randomized trials. Evidence synthesis from collaborations among trial investigators can inform both evidence generation and evidence application in patient care

Effetto di diverse regolazioni di un rasaerba elettrico rotativo sulla qualità del tappeto erboso

Poco è stato fatto a livello sperimentale riguardo il taglio rotativo e la velocità di rotazione delle lame sulla qualità di taglio del tappeto e sui consumi energetici. Da qui l’idea di testare il rasaerba Pellenc Rasion su 2 delle più usate cv: Festuca a. e Cynodon per determinare l’effetto di differenti velocità di rotazione delle lame e confrontare il taglio con un rasaerba professionale con motore endotermico Honda. Le prove sono state fatte nel 2016 e 2017. I parametri valutati sono: la qualità soggettiva complessiva del tappeto erboso e del taglio; la valutazione della quantità dei residui e i consumi. La Rasion è stata valutata su 6 modalità. La combinazione migliore è quella fornita della velocità di rotazione più elevata e la velocità di avanzamento più bassa. L’energia richiesta diminuisce all’aumentare della velocità di avanzamento ed aumenta all’aumentare della velocità di rotazione. Si sono visti gli effetti di diversi sistemi di falciatura a 2 dosi di azoto, con Rasion impostato a diverse rpm e con Honda. Il rasaerba a batteria a basso rpm ha qualità più scadenti rispetto al benzina ed all’elettrico ad alto numero di giri. I dati soggettivi sono utilizzati per un confronto con un nuovo metodo per la stima oggettiva della qualità del taglio. Il modello a benzina ha un fabbisogno di energia primaria molto più elevato, indipendentemente dalle varietà coltivate. Inoltre, il consumo di energia di Rasion varia in base al tasso di crescita di entrambe le specie

DPValid collection

The DPValid dataset is composed of (anonymized) raw and processed data, including surface electromyography (sEMG) and dynamometry data collected during a maximum voluntary isometric contraction test (MVIC) on 20 healthy adults (HA), 10 females and 10 males. The dataset further includes the 3D reconstructions of the major muscles of the thigh (n = 13 per side), segmented on full lower limb magnetic resonance images

The effects of climate change on livestock production systems: the cases of mycotoxins in animal feed and animal heat stress

Climate change (CC) will have important effects on the productivity and quality of crops and livestock production systems. This contribution addresses two specific and likely impacts of CC on livestock production systems: the contamination of livestock feed by mycotoxins and animal health under heat stress (HS) conditions. Regarding the former, mycotoxins - secondary metabolites, harmful to both human health and food security, produced by filamentous fungi. Harmful consequences are either direct, through the consumption of contaminated food, or indirect, through the intake of milk and other products obtained from livestock fed with contaminated feeds, which also affects animal health and wellbeing. Another effect of CC relates to animal HS, which occurs when the body temperature is higher than the optimal range specified for the normal activity. Heat-stressed animals change their metabolism and physiology in response to weather conditions. This contribution discusses these two key issues based on literature and presents the experimental tests that are being conducted in the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment of the University of Pisa in order to assess the effects of different farming systems on mycotoxins levels in Zea mais L. and the wellness of animals under HS conditions

Activation of Neck and Low-Back Muscles Is Reduced with the Use of a Neck Balance System Together with a Lumbar Support in Urban Drivers

<div><p>Driving is associated with high activation of low-back and neck muscles due to the sitting position and perturbations imposed by the vehicle. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of a neck balance system together with a lumbar support on the activation of low-back and neck muscles during driving. Twelve healthy male subjects (age 32±6.71 years) were asked to drive in two conditions: 1) with devices; 2) without devices. During vehicle accelerations and decelerations root mean square (RMS) of surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from the erector spinae, semispinalis capitis and sternocleidomastoid muscles and expressed as a percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The pitch of the head was obtained by means of an inertial sensor placed on the subjects’ head. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the level of perceived comfort. RMS of the low back muscles was lower with than without devices during both acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle (1.40±0.93% vs 29 2.32±1.90% and 1.88±1.45% vs 2.91±2.33%, respectively), while RMS of neck extensor muscles was reduced only during acceleration (5.18±1.96% vs 5.91±2.16%). There were no differences between the two conditions in RMS of neck flexor muscles, the pitch of the head and the VAS score. The use of these two ergonomic devices is therefore effective in reducing the activation of low-back and neck muscles during driving with no changes in the level of perceived comfort, which is likely due to rebalancing weight on the neck and giving a neutral position to lumbar segments.</p></div

Subject positioning during the driving trials while wearing both ergonomic devices.

<p>Subject positioning during the driving trials while wearing both ergonomic devices.</p