Pressure sensor calibration for measuring stud-player impacts

In rugby union, laceration injuries can occur from players stamping on opponents in the ruck. To measure the stud-skin interaction during stamping movements, pressure sensors can be used. Pressure sensor calibration techniques have highlighted the need to perform calibrations using appropriate impact dynamics. A pilot study with seven rugby players informed the expected peak forces and loading rates of rugby stamps. Subsequently, a custom calibration procedure was developed, using a drop hammer and force platform to replicate the experimentally observed forces and loading rates. The conventional calibration of the pressure sensor system, supplied by the manufacturer, overestimated total force by 132%. The method described in this paper resulted in a mean error of 7.5%. This study describes a simple and effective calibration procedure for using pressure sensors when measuring the peak force from stud-player impacts. The method has potential to be used as an improved calibration protocol when the expected peak force range of the measured event is between 1800 and 3000 N. The calibrated pressure sensors will be used to obtain kinetic data from stamping events in the ruck in rugby union

Does Inclusion of Interactions Result in Higher Precision of Estimated Health State Values?

Background: Most preference-based instruments producing overall values for health states are devised on the simplifying assumption that the overall effect of distinct health-related quality of life domains (attributes) of the instrument equals the sum of the attributes. Nevertheless, health attributes are often inter-related and depend on each other. Objectives: To investigate whether inclusion of second-order interactions in the three-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) value function would result in better fit and lead to different health state values than a model with main effects only. Methods: Using an efficient design, 400 pairs of EQ-5D-3L health states were generated in a pairwise choice format. We analyzed responses of 4000 people from the general population using a conditional logit model, and we tested goodness of fit using pseudo R2, Akaike information criterion, differences in log-likelihood, and likelihood ratio. We compared accuracies of models’ predictions based on root mean square error and mean absolute error. Results: The interaction-effects model showed systematically lower values than the main-effects model. Inclusion of interactions resulted only in a slightly better model fit. Interactions comprising mobility and self-care were the most salient. Conclusions: For the EQ-5D-3L, a value function based on interactions produces systematically lower values than a main-effects model, meaning that the effect of two or more health problems combined is stronger than the sum of the individual main effects

Causation events of stud laceration injuries in rugby union

Laceration injuries in rugby union account for approximately 6% of all injuries sustained during match play. Commentators often cite the design of studded footwear as a causal factor in laceration injuries. In order to assess the laceration injury risk of different stud designs, there is a need to develop a testing protocol that is able to replicate the laceration injury event. This study used a questionnaire to identify the play scenarios that result in laceration injuries. The questionnaire was answered by 191 rugby players, of which 72% had experienced one or more stud injuries during their career which hindered them playing rugby. Half of the laceration injuries described by the respondents came from the ruck, and 27% from a tackle. When analysing free-text responses, a deliberate stamp was described in 35% of the responses and a tackle from behind was described in 14% of responses. These injury scenarios are considered to be the dominant cause of laceration injuries. In future work the identified injury scenarios will be replicated in simulated play and kinetic and kinematic measurements will be recorded. This will inform test parameters for future assessment of laceration injury risk of stud designs

Do contaminants compromise the use of recycled nutrients in organic agriculture? A review and synthesis of current knowledge on contaminant concentrations, fate in the environment and risk assessment

Use of nutrients recycled from societal waste streams in agriculture is part of the circular economy, and in line with organic farming principles. Nevertheless, diverse contaminants in waste streams create doubts among organic farmers about potential risks for soil health. Here, we gather the current knowledge on contaminant levels in waste streams and recycled nutrient sources, and discuss associated risks. For potentially toxic elements (PTEs), the input of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) from mineral feed supplements remains of concern, while concentrations of PTEs in many waste streams have decreased substantially in Europe. The same applies to organic contaminants, although new chemical groups such as flame retardants are of emerging concern and globally contamination levels differ strongly. Compared to inorganic fertilizers, application of organic fertilizers derived from human or animal feces is associated with an increased risk for environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance. The risk depends on the quality of the organic fertilizers, which varies between geographical regions, but farmland application of sewage sludge appears to be a safe practice as shown by some studies (e.g. from Sweden). Microplastic concentrations in agricultural soils show a wide spread and our understanding of its toxicity is limited, hampering a sound risk assessment. Methods for assessing public health risks for organic contaminants must include emerging contaminants and potential interactions of multiple compounds. Evidence from long-term field experiments suggests that soils may be more resilient and capable to degrade or stabilize pollutants than often assumed. In view of the need to source nutrients for expanding areas under organic farming, we discuss inputs originating from conventional farms vs. non-agricultural (i.e. societal) inputs. Closing nutrient cycles between agriculture and society is feasible in many cases, without being compromised by contaminants, and should be enhanced, aided by improved source control, waste treatment and sound risk assessments

Motivations for innovation in the built environment: new directions for research

Innovation in the built environment involves multiple actors with diverse motivations. Policy-makers find it difficult to promote changes that require cooperation from these numerous and dispersed actors and to align their sometimes divergent interests. Established research traditions on the economics and management of innovation pay only limited attention to stakeholder choices, engagement and motivation. This paper reviews the insights that emerge as research in these traditions comes into contact with work on innovation from sociological and political perspectives. It contributes by highlighting growing areas of research on user involvement in complex innovation, collective action, distributed innovation and transition management. To differing extents, these provide approaches to incorporate the motivations of different actors into theoretical understanding. These indicate new directions for research that promise to enrich understanding of innovation

Нарушение межличностных отношений супругов при отдаленных последствиях закрытой черепно−мозговой травмы у мужа

Методами психодиагностического исследования выявлены закономерности нарушения межличностной адаптации супругов при отдаленных последствиях военной закрытой черепно−мозговой травмы у мужа.The methods of psychodiagnosis were used to reveal the regularities of interpersonal adaptation disorders in spouses at long−term sequelae of military closed brain injury in the husband

Withdrawing biologics in non-systemic JIA:what matters to pediatric rheumatologists?

Abstract Objective Approximately one third of children with JIA receive biologic therapy, but evidence on biologic therapy withdrawal is lacking. This study aims to increase our understanding of whether and when pediatric rheumatologists postpone a decision to withdraw biologic therapy in children with clinically inactive non-systemic JIA. Methods A survey containing questions about background characteristics, treatment patterns, minimum treatment time with biologic therapy, and 16 different patient vignettes, was distributed among 83 pediatric rheumatologists in Canada and the Netherlands. For each vignette, respondents were asked whether they would withdraw biologic therapy at their minimum treatment time, and if not, how long they would continue biologic therapy. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, logistic and interval regression analysis. Results Thirty-three pediatric rheumatologists completed the survey (40% response rate). Pediatric rheumatologists are most likely to postpone the decision to withdraw biologic therapy when the child and/or parents express a preference for continuation (OR 6.3; p < 0.001), in case of a flare in the current treatment period (OR 3.9; p = 0.001), and in case of uveitis in the current treatment period (OR 3.9; p < 0.001). On average, biologic therapy withdrawal is initiated 6.7 months later when the child or parent prefer to continue treatment. Conclusion Patient’s and parents' preferences were the strongest driver of a decision to postpone biologic therapy withdrawal in children with clinically inactive non-systemic JIA and prolongs treatment duration. These findings highlight the potential benefit of a tool to support pediatric rheumatologists, patients and parents in decision making, and can help inform its design

Forensic exploration of the mechanical properties of basalt grains in earthenware

The overall goal of this project is to contribute to reconstruct the innovation mechanisms and development of ceramic production using forensic engineering techniques. Instead of optimizing materials as a driver in modern engineering, here we wish to use these methodologies, but aim to solve questions on advancement in the past fabrication process – and thus ultimately understand the key issues of a less or (un)successful design and subsequent improvement. This paper wishes to address the advantages and constraints regarding to use of basalt in ceramic matrices. By utilizing a standardized set of different test bars comprising different amounts of basalt fired at both 800°C and 1000°C, it can be concluded basalt tempered ceramics have a higher fracture toughness when compared to quartz enriched materials. It is there plausible to identify basalt as a good temper material for (ancient) earthenwares in terms of thermal (shock) activitie

Ferric carboxymaltose versus ferrous fumarate in anemic children with inflammatory bowel disease:the POPEYE randomized controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intravenous (IV) or oral iron suppletion is superior in improving physical fitness in anemic children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a clinical trial at 11 centers. Children aged 8 to 18 with IBD and anemia (defined as hemoglobin (Hb) z-score &lt; -2) were randomly assigned to a single IV dose of ferric carboxymaltose or 12 weeks of oral ferrous fumarate. Primary endpoint was the change in 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) from baseline, expressed as z-score. Secondary outcome was a change in Hb z-score from baseline.RESULTS: We randomized 64 patients (33 IV iron; 31 oral iron) and followed them for 6 months. One month after the start of iron therapy, the 6MWD z-score of patients in the IV group had increased by 0.71 compared with -0.11 in the oral group (P=0.01). At 3- and 6-months follow-up, no significant differences in 6MWD z-scores were observed. Hb z-scores gradually increased in both groups and the rate of increase was not different between groups at 1, 3 and 6 months after initiation of iron therapy (overall P=0.97).CONCLUSION: In this trial involving anemic children with IBD, a single dose of IV ferric carboxymaltose was superior to oral ferrous fumarate with respect to quick improvement of physical fitness. At 3 and 6 months after initiation of therapy, no differences were discovered between oral or IV therapy. The increase of Hb over time was comparable in both treatment groups.TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR4487 [Netherlands Trial Registry].</p

Single tube liquid biopsy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

The need for a liquid biopsy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients is rapidly increasing. We studied the relation between overall survival (OS) and the presence of four cancer biomarkers from a single blood draw in advanced NSCLC patients: EpCAM(high) circulating tumor cells (CTC), EpCAM(low) CTC, tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (tdEV) and cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA). EpCAM(high) CTC were detected with CellSearch, tdEV in the CellSearch images and EpCAM(low) CTC with filtration after CellSearch. ctDNA was isolated from plasma and mutations present in the primary tumor were tracked with deep sequencing methods. In 97 patients, 21% had >= 2 EpCAM(high) CTC, 15% had >= 2 EpCAM(low) CTC, 27% had >= 18 tdEV and 19% had ctDNA with >= 10% mutant allele frequency. Either one of these four biomarkers could be detected in 45% of the patients and all biomarkers were present in 2%. In 11 out of 16 patients (69%) mutations were detected in the ctDNA. Two or more unfavorable biomarkers were associated with poor OS. The presence of EpCAM(high) CTC and elevated levels of tdEV and ctDNA was associated with a poor OS; however, the presence of EpCAM(low) CTC was not. This single tube approach enables simultaneous analysis of multiple biomarkers to explore their potential as a liquid biopsy