Bibliometric indicators and core journals in physical and rehabilitation medicine.

Background and objective: the concept of the "standing" of scientific journals (in terms of influence, prestige, popular ity, etc.) is multi-dimensional and cannot be captured adequately by a single indicator. The aim of this report is to compare and comment on different bibliometric indicators related to some leading journals in rehabilitation, in order to provide further insights regarding their practical usefulness for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Discussion: The commonly used Journal Impact Factor and the new SCImago Journal Rank indicator are measures of average "impact per paper". Other new measures show potentially useful complementarities with them and warrant further attention. For example, the Eigenfactor score represents a measure of total "citation impact" and seems sufficiently to express the "importance" of a journal. In fact, the information conveyed by the Eigenfactor score corresponds to a general consensus of journal status in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, as expressed by the European Consensus Committee on "International Rehabilitation Journals" and captured by a survey among European Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine researchers

Computational fluid dynamics study of crec riser simulator: mixing patterns

The CREC Riser Simulator Reactor is a novel mini-fluidized reactor. This novel device was invented by de Lasa 1. The applications of this unit has shown to be of great value to establish catalyst performance and kinetic models for a diversity of gas phase catalytic reactions. This has been the case, given that the CREC Riser Simulator is excellent with respect to particle and fluid mixing2. This study establishes using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics), the CREC Riser Simulator mixing flow patterns. CFD simulations were developed using the COMSOL Multiphysics® module. Fig.1a reports the geometric characteristics of the CREC Riser Simulator including the impeller, the basket containing the catalyst and the external baffles.The proposed CFD model was validated using experimental data obtained in a basket as shown in Fig.1a. For instance, for an impeller speed of 4000 rpm, the outer annulus experimental gas velocity2 was ~0.9 m/s and the simulated CFD gas velocity2 was ~1.3 m/s. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Kinetics of the pollutant photocatalytic conversion in a Photo-CREC-Air Reactor

This research reports the kinetic studies for acetone and acetaldehyde photoconversion in the gas phase utilizing a scaled-up Photo-CREC-Air unit with TiO2. The inclusion of intermediate species in the reaction network is required for the kinetic modeling of a wide range of oxygenate pollutant concentrations. The proposed ‘‘in parallel-series” reaction network encompasses a Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) kinetics including species adsorption and intrinsic reaction parameters. The estimated kinetic parameters provide a successful prediction of various measurable chemical species. It is shown that the proposed kinetic model can be simplified, under low initial model pollutant concentrations. This is critical to avoid model overparameterization. The proposed kinetic model while being restricted to two model pollutants (ace- tone and acetaldehyde) and one specific photoreactor (e.g. 55.1 L Photo-CREC-Air), provides a framework to establish the photodegradation kinetics of other organic species in air, for larger photoreactor scales

Recombinant monovalent llama-derived antibody fragments (VHH) to rotavirus VP6 protect neonatal gnotobiotic piglets against human rotavirus-induced diarrhea

Group A Rotavirus (RVA) is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in children. The aims of the present study were to determine the neutralizing activity of VP6-specific llama-derived single domain nanoantibodies (VHH nanoAbs) against different RVA strains in vitro and to evaluate the ability of G6P[1] VP6-specific llama-derived single domain nanoantibodies (VHH) to protect against human rotavirus in gnotobiotic (Gn) piglets experimentally inoculated with virulent Wa G1P[8] rotavirus. Supplementation of the daily milk diet with 3B2 VHH clone produced using a baculovirus vector expression system (final ELISA antibody -Ab- titer of 4096; virus neutralization -VN- titer of 256) for 9 days conferred full protection against rotavirus associated diarrhea and significantly reduced virus shedding. The administration of comparable levels of porcine IgG Abs only protected 4 out of 6 of the animals from human RVA diarrhea but significantly reduced virus shedding. In contrast, G6P[1]-VP6 rotavirus-specific IgY Abs purified from eggs of hyperimmunized hens failed to protect piglets against human RVA-induced diarrhea or virus shedding when administering similar quantities of Abs. The oral administration of VHH nanoAb neither interfered with the host's isotype profiles of the Ab secreting cell responses to rotavirus, nor induced detectable host Ab responses to the treatment in serum or intestinal contents. This study shows that the oral administration of rotavirus VP6-VHH nanoAb is a broadly reactive and effective treatment against rotavirus-induced diarrhea in neonatal pigs. Our findings highlight the potential value of a broad neutralizing VP6-specific VHH nanoAb as a treatment that can complement or be used as an alternative to the current strain-specific RVA vaccines. Nanobodies could also be scaled-up to develop pediatric medication or functional food like infant milk formulas that might help treat RVA diarrhea.Fil: Vega, Celina Guadalupe. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bok, Marina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Vlasova, Anastasia N.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Chattha, Kuldeep S.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Gómez Sebastián, Silvia. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Nuñez, Carmen. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Alvarado, Carmen. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Lasa, Rodrigo. Universidad Politécnica de Madrid; EspañaFil: Escribano, José M.. Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria. Departamento Mejora Genética y Biotecnología; EspañaFil: Garaicoechea, Lorena Laura. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Fernando. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Bok, Karin. National Institutes of Health; Estados UnidosFil: Wigdorovitz, Andrés. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Saif, Linda J.. Ohio State University; Estados UnidosFil: Parreño, Gladys Viviana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Animal assisted interventions in neurorehabilitation: a review of the most recent literature

Introduction: While conventional wisdom has always affirmed the value of animals in promoting human health and well-being, only recently has their therapeutic role in medicine become a topic for dedicated research. Animal assisted interventions (AAI) can be classified as animal-assisted activities, animal-assisted therapy, and service animal programmes. Objective: The aim of this review is to analyse original papers addressing AAI and neurological diseases and published in the most influential medical journals between 2001 and 2012, and discuss their findings in the light of what may be of interest in the field of neurology. Discussion: We selected a total of 23 articles on neurorehabilitation in cerebral palsy, pervasive developmental disorders, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke, and mental disorders. The main therapeutic results were improvement on the Gross Motor Function Classification Scale and in upper limb dexterity (cerebral palsy); improvement in social functioning and interaction; reductions in stress, anxiety, and loneliness (pervasive developmental disorders and mental disorders); and decreased spasticity with improved balance (multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke). Conclusion: These interventions, performed with highly specialised animals in very specific neurological populations, deliver an increasing body of scientific evidence suggesting that they are an effective complement to other existing therapies. In these diseases, further high-quality studies are warranted in order to define the most appropriate programmes for therapy. Resumen: Introducción: Aunque siempre se ha afirmado el valor de los animales en la promoción del bienestar y la salud del ser humano, solo recientemente su papel terapéutico en medicina se ha convertido en el foco de investigación especializada. Las intervenciones asistidas por animales pueden dividirse en actividades asistidas por animales, terapia asistida por animales y programas de animales de servicio. Objetivo: El objetivo de esta revisión es analizar las publicaciones realizadas entre 2001 y 2012 en las revistas médicas más importantes, relacionadas con el campo de la rehabilitación de las enfermedades neurológicas, y discutir estos hallazgos a la luz de lo que pueda ser de interés para la neurología. Discusión: Se seleccionaron un total de 23 artículos de intervenciones en el campo de la parálisis cerebral infantil, trastornos generalizados del desarrollo, esclerosis múltiple, lesión medular, accidente cerebrovascular y trastornos mentales. Los principales resultados terapéuticos fueron: mejoría en la Gross Motor Function y en el manejo del miembro superior (parálisis cerebral infantil); aumento de la socialización y el contacto con el medio ambiente, reducción del estrés y la ansiedad y sentimientos de soledad (trastornos generalizados del desarrollo y trastornos mentales); disminución de la espasticidad y mejoría del equilibrio (esclerosis múltiple, lesión medular, accidente cerebrovascular). Conclusiones: Estas intervenciones asistidas con un tipo de animales muy limitado utilizadas en grupos clínicos neurológicos muy específicos muestran cada vez más pruebas científicas, como método complementario a otras terapias ya existentes. En estas enfermedades, se necesitan más estudios de alta calidad metodológica que permitan definir los programas más apropiados para la aplicación terapéutica. Keywords: Animal assisted therapy, Service animals, Nervous system diseases, Palabras clave: Terapia asistida por animales, Animales de servicio, Enfermedades del sistema nervios

The feasibility of brief dog assisted therapy on university students stress levels: The PAwS study.

Background: Pet therapy is becoming increasingly popular and is used in a variety of ways from encouraging communication in older adults to improving wellbeing in those with serious mental illness. Increasingly Universities have been offering pet therapy to students in an effort to reduce stress. However, little evidence currently exists to support the effectiveness of reducing measurable stress levels after a standalone drop-in unstructured session. The University of Sheffield’s Counselling Service works in partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind to give students access to calm, well-trained animals for informal group stress relief. Aims: To assess the feasibility of implementing and evaluating unstructured group interventions with a Guide Dog in training within the university student population. Methods: One hundred and thirty-one students who attended pet therapy at the University Counselling Service were recruited on a voluntary basis to take part in the research. Stress, measured on the state trait anxiety inventory, and blood pressure were taken before and after a 15-min intervention. Results: All measures showed a statistically significant reduction immediately after the intervention. Conclusion: Short interactions with a Guide Dog in training appear to reduce stress in University students. A controlled study is required to investigate further

Dampak Implementasi Kebijakan Otonomi Daerah terhadap Peningkatan Kualitas Pelayanan Publik (suatu Studi pada Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil Kabupaten Halmahera Utara)

The research objective was to determine the impact of the implementation of the regionalautonomy policy towards improving the quality of public services in the Department of Population andCivil Registration Halmahera as Minister of State for Administrative Reform (MENPAN) No. 81/1993(Anonymous, 1993) confirms that the quality of service should be in accordance with joints as follows,simplicity, clarity and certainty, Procedures / Procedure for Public Services; Public Service requirements,both technical and Administrative; Giving Public Service; Security, Openness, Efficient, Economical,Justice Yang Evenly, and timeliness. To determine the indicator then, researchers used the method with amix of evaluative-descriptive quantitative-qualitative approach. The sample in this study consisted ofelements of employee / service personnel (n1) and the user community services (n2), each of 30 people.Given the nature of the sample is paired, then the fixed sample size of 30 people, where a sample ofemployees polled neighbor variable X, while samples of people asked their opinion of the variable Y.Based on the results of data analysis known that the hypothesis 1, which states that "Theimplementation of the regional autonomy policy impact / positive effect on improving the quality ofpublic services at the Department of Population and Civil North Halmahera District", has proven validityempirically convincingly through a simple regression analysis and predict moment correlation. As well asthe Public Services Quality Differences Between Before and After Implementation of regional autonomypolicy acceptable to convince the 99% confidence level. This means that the quality of public services atthe Department of Population and Civil Registration of North Halmahera district on the condition afterthe implementation of the regional autonomy policy is much higher than before implementation regionalautonomy policy. The results showed that the average quality of public services after the implementationof the regional autonomy policy gained an average of 56.4, or in the ideal scale test rank of 0.87, or 87%,while the condition of the quality of public services prior to the implementation of regional autonomypolicy, the average is only at 49 , 6 or the ideal measurements were obtained at 0.7631 or 76.31%, so thatthere is a difference, which is about 10.69%. It that an increase in the quality of public services after theimplementation of the regional autonomy policy, amounting to 10.69%.To improve the quality of public services that are known not optimal, it would require concertedeffort from local government districts, particularly in the Department of Population and Civil RegistrationHalmahera district North to improve human resource management and governance of public services soas to encourage the improvement of the quality of public services itself , And given the decentralizationpolicy gave the positive and significant impact on the quality of public services, local governments,particularly the Office of Population and recording of Civil North Halmahera need to deal with programsrelating to the increase in the dimensions of the regional autonomy policy, particularly the dimension ofrestructuring and revitalization organizational resources

TGF-1 biomarker level evaluation on fracture healing in a murine model with a bone defect after stromal vascular fraction application

Aim Bone defect is a challenge even for experienced orthopaedic surgeons and it is a significant cause of morbidity in patients and a source of high economic burden in health care. A severe bone defect is a condition whereby the bone tissue cannot undergo natural healing despite surgical stabilization and requires further surgical intervention. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) is a heterogeneous cell population derived from adipose tissue that results from minimal manipulation of the adipose tissue itself. TGF is essential in maintaining and expanding mesenchymal stem cells or progenitors of osteoblasts. Furthermore, TGF-β signalling also triggers osteoprogenitor cell proliferation, early differentiation, and maintenance of osteoblasts in the bone healing process. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of administering SVF on bone defects’ healing process assessed based on the TGF- β1. Methods This was an animal study involving twelve Wistar strain Rattus norvegicus. They were divided into three groups: negative group (normal rats), positive group (rats with bone defect without SVF application), and SVF group (rats with bone defect with SVF application). After 30 days, the rats were sacrificed, the TGF- β1 biomarker was evaluated (quantified using ELISA). Results TGF- β1 biomarker expressions were higher in the group with SVF application than in the group without SVF application. All comparisons of the SVF group and positive control group showed significant differences (p=0,000), respectively. Conclusion Giving SVF application could aid the healing process in a murine model with bone defect, marked by an increased level of TGF- β1

In vivo biodistribution of edelfosine-loaded lipid nanoparticles radiolabeled with Technetium-99 m: Comparison of administration routes in mice

Edelfosine (ET) is a potent antitumor agent but causes severe side effects that have limited its use in clinical practice. For this reason, nanoencapsulation in lipid nanoparticles (LNs) is advantageous as it protects from ET side-effects. Interestingly, previous studies showed the efficacy of LNs containing ET in various types of tumor. In this paper, biodistribution studies of nanoencapsulated ET, administered by three routes (oral, intravenous (IV) and intraperitoneal (IP)), were tested in order to select the optimal route of administration. To do this, ET-LNs were labeled with Technetium-99 m (99mTc) and administered by the oral, IV and IP route in mice. IV admin- istration of the radiolabeled LNs led to fast elimination from the blood circulation and increased accumulation in reticulo-endothelial (RES) organs, while their oral administration could not provide any evidence on their bio- distribution since large radiocomplexes were formed in the presence of gastrointestinal fluids. However, when the LNs were administered by the IP route they could access the systemic circulation and provided more constant blood ET-LN levels compared to the IV route. These findings suggest that the IP route can be used to sustain the level of drug in the blood and avoid accumulation in RES organs