Epidemiological features of human brucellosis in central Iran, 2006-2011

Objectives: Brucellosis is still one of the most challenging issues for health and the economy in many developing countries such as Iran. This study investigated the epidemiological features of brucellosis in Isfahan province in central Iran. Study design: This retrospective descriptive study was planned to determine the epidemiological features of brucellosis in central Iran, as this is one of the most endemic areas in the country. Methods: Data collection was performed using epidemiological questionnaires from the private and public sectors over a 4-year period (2006-2009). Results: In total, 1996 cases of brucellosis were reported. The incidence of brucellosis decreased from 17.1/100,000 in 2006 to 8.2/100,000 in 2009. The male: female ratio was 2.1, and the disease was most common in individuals aged 15-20 years. Sixty-eight percent of cases were from rural areas, and the animal contact rate was 81% in rural cases and 61% in urban cases. Raw milk was the most commonly consumed dairy product, consumed by 37% of cases. Conclusions: Health-related interventions need to empower communities at risk, especially young men and adult women in the western districts of Isfahan province. Public health promotion is needed for control of risk factors in these areas. (C) 2012 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Head‐on collision of drops—A numerical investigation

The head‐on collision of equal sized drops is studied by full numerical simulations. The Navier–Stokes equations are solved for the fluid motion both inside and outside the drops using a front tracking/finite difference technique. The drops are accelerated toward each other by a body force that is turned off before the drops collide. When the drops collide, the fluid between them is pushed outward leaving a thin layer bounded by the drop surface. This layer gets progressively thinner as the drops continue to deform, and in several of our calculations we artificially remove this double layer at prescribed times, thus modeling rupture. If no rupture takes place, the drops always rebound, but if the film is ruptured the drops may coalesce permanently or coalesce temporarily and then split again. Although the numerically predicted boundaries between permanent and temporary coalescence are found to be consistent with experimental observations, the exact location of these boundaries in parameter space is found to depend on the time of rupture. © 1996 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71337/2/PHFLE6-8-1-29-1.pd

Head-on collision of drops: A numerical investigation

The head-on collision of equal sized drops is studied by full numerical simulations. The Navier-Stokes equations are solved for fluid motion both inside and outside the drops using a front tracking/finite difference technique. The drops are accelerated toward each other by a body force that is turned off before the drops collide. When the drops collide, the fluid between them is pushed outward leaving a thin later bounded by the drop surface. This layer gets progressively thinner as the drops continue to deform and in several of the calculations this double layer is artificially removed once it is thin enough, thus modeling rupture. If no rupture takes place, the drops always rebound, but if the film is ruptured the drops may coalesce permanently or coalesce temporarily and then split again

Fluid-structure interaction simulation of prosthetic aortic valves : comparison between immersed boundary and arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian techniques for the mesh representation

In recent years the role of FSI (fluid-structure interaction) simulations in the analysis of the fluid-mechanics of heart valves is becoming more and more important, being able to capture the interaction between the blood and both the surrounding biological tissues and the valve itself. When setting up an FSI simulation, several choices have to be made to select the most suitable approach for the case of interest: in particular, to simulate flexible leaflet cardiac valves, the type of discretization of the fluid domain is crucial, which can be described with an ALE (Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian) or an Eulerian formulation. The majority of the reported 3D heart valve FSI simulations are performed with the Eulerian formulation, allowing for large deformations of the domains without compromising the quality of the fluid grid. Nevertheless, it is known that the ALE-FSI approach guarantees more accurate results at the interface between the solid and the fluid. The goal of this paper is to describe the same aortic valve model in the two cases, comparing the performances of an ALE-based FSI solution and an Eulerian-based FSI approach. After a first simplified 2D case, the aortic geometry was considered in a full 3D set-up. The model was kept as similar as possible in the two settings, to better compare the simulations' outcomes. Although for the 2D case the differences were unsubstantial, in our experience the performance of a full 3D ALE-FSI simulation was significantly limited by the technical problems and requirements inherent to the ALE formulation, mainly related to the mesh motion and deformation of the fluid domain. As a secondary outcome of this work, it is important to point out that the choice of the solver also influenced the reliability of the final results

Predictors of blood product use in orthotopic liver transplantation using the piggyback hepatectomy technique

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has historically been associated with massive blood loss and hemodynamic instability related to the coexistence of varices, coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, and portal hypertension. Piggyback hepatectomy (PGB) is a technique increasingly utilized in OLT to avoid veno-venous bypass and vena cava clamping. This study evaluated the factors associated with blood loss and blood product requirement in PGB. This study is a retrospective review of the anesthesia preoperative and operative notes and computerized lab values for all adult cadaveric liver transplants over a 42-month period. These data were combined with the liver transplant database for analysis. Approximately 98% of the transplants were performed using a standard piggyback approach with no use of veno-venous bypass. Data were included for all 526 transplants performed during this time period. Estimated blood loss (EBL) was 1000 cc. Median transfusion requirement was 3 units packed red blood cells, 7 units fresh frozen plasma, and 6 units platelets. Multivariate linear regression demonstrated that predictors of EBL were age, MELD score, preoperative hemoglobin, initial fibrinogen, initial central venous pressure, and total anesthesia time. Predictors of PRBC useage were age, MELD score, preoperative hemoglobin, initial fibrinogen, and anesthesia time. Postoperatively increased transfusion requirement was associated with increased length of hospital stay and lower 90-day and 1-year graft and patient survivals. These results demonstrate that PGB can be safely accomplished in nearly all liver transplant patients without venovenous bypass or vena cava clamping and with less warm ischemia, which may ultimately be associated with less perioperative morbidity and improved outcomes

Kinematic analysis of asymmetry after strength training session in paralympic powerlifters

Background: Para Powerlifting (PP) is the bench press with a single contest exercise. The rules require symmetry in lifting, but the natural tendency among humans is for asymmetry. Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of speed, load intensity, and fatigue of a training session on symmetry, and analyze asymmetries of average speeds between the limbs after a training session. Methods: Twelve male PP athletes (age 28.58 ± 5.50 years, experience 4.53 ± 1.27 years, body mass 79.25 ± 18.82 kg, 1RM 150.42 ± 42.07 kg, 1RM/BM 1.94 ± 0.46), had their bench press lifts recorded and downloaded into the Kinovea software. Measures of central tendency, mean ± standard deviation (SD) and the Shapiro–Wilk test were performed. Results: There was a difference in repetition 2, in the dominant limb, between the moment before and after, however, our hypothesis that at higher intensities and in the concentric phase of the exercise it would cause velocity asymmetry between the limbs was not confirmed. Conclusion: It is important to observe the absolute data and carefully evaluate the statistical differences since asymmetries are observed in different sports and are not determinant in sports performance; thus, being acceptable up to a certain level and unfavorable when it exceeds this level, which is individual and intimate to the sports activity

Match Movement Profiles Differences in Spanish Soccer Competitive Leagues According to Opposition’s Team Ranking: A Comparison Study

Background: This study analyzed the differences in match movement profiles according to opponent quality (i.e., match balance) in the professional Spanish soccer leagues over four consecutive seasons (from 2015/2016 to 2018/2019). Methods: The ChyronHego® system was used to record competition movement data from all matches played in the First (Liga Santander; n = 1520) and Second Spanish Division (Liga Smartbank; n = 1848). The total distance (TD) and high-intensity running distance (TD > 21 km∙h−1) covered with and without ball possession (TDWP and TDWOP, respectively) were analyzed using a Linear Mixed Model, considering the opponent quality contextual variable. Results: Results showed that teams covered a significantly greater TD when played against the lowest quality teams in L1 (p 21 km∙h−1 when playing against the highest quality teams in both L1 and L2 (p 21 km⋅h−1 (p < 0.05) Conclusions: The present study indicates that match movement profiles depend on contextually related variables

Evaluation of the Training Session in Elite Paralympic Powerlifting Athletes Based on Biomechanical and Thermal Indicators

Background: Paralympic powerlifting (PP) is performed on a bench press, aiming to lift as much weight as possible in a single repetition. Purpose: To evaluate thermal asymmetry and dynamic force parameters with 45 and 80% 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) in PP athletes. Methods: Twelve elite PP male athletes were evaluated before and after a training session regarding skin temperature (thermography) and dynamic force indicators (Average Propulsive Velocity-MPV, Maximum Velocity-VMax, and Power). The training consisted of five series of five repetitions (5 × 5) with 80% 1 RM. The force indicators and dynamics before and after (45% 1 RM) were evaluated in series “1” and “5” with 80% 1 RM. Results: The temperature did not present asymmetry, and there were differences between the moment before and after. In MPV, Vmax, and Power, with 45% 1 RM, there were differences both in asymmetry and in moments (p &lt; 0.005). With 80% 1 RM, asymmetry was observed, but no differences between moments (p &lt; 0.005). Conclusion: No thermal asymmetry was observed. There were reductions in MVP and VMax at 45 and 80% 1 RM but without significant differences between time points (before and after). However, there was asymmetry in the moments before and after within a safety standard, where Paralympic powerlifting was safe in terms of asymmetries