Stroke-related Changes in Neuromuscular Fatigue of the Hip Flexors and Functional Implications

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare stroke-related changes in hip flexor neuromuscular fatigue of the paretic leg during a sustained isometric submaximal contraction with those of the nonparetic leg and controls and to correlate fatigue with clinical measures of function. Design: Hip torques were measured during a fatiguing hip flexion contraction at 20% of the hip flexion maximal voluntary contraction in the paretic and nonparetic legs of 13 people with chronic stroke and 10 age-matched controls. In addition, the participants with stroke performed a fatiguing contraction of the paretic leg at the absolute torque equivalent to 20% maximal voluntary contraction of the nonparetic leg and were tested for self-selected walking speed (10-m Walk Test) and balance (Berg). Results: When matching the nonparetic target torque, the paretic hip flexors had a shorter time to task failure compared with the nonparetic leg and controls (P \u3c 0.05). The time to failure of the paretic leg was inversely correlated with the reduction of hip flexion maximal voluntary contraction torque. Self-selected walking speed was correlated with declines in torque and steadiness. Berg-Balance scores were inversely correlated with the force fluctuation amplitude. Conclusions: Fatigue and precision of contraction are correlated with walking function and balance after stroke

New data on introduced and rare synanthropic spider species (Arachnida: Araneae) in Poland (II)

Over the last decades, a large number of introduced spider species (Araneae) has been noted in Europe. Some of these newcomers have been introduced incidentally. However, the others develop permanent populations, for example in greenhouses or botanical gardens, and become synanthropic species. Introduction and synanthropization of new spider species also occurs in Poland. New records presented herein extend the list of introduced arachnofauna by seven species: Aphantaulax trifasciata, Cheiracanthium furculatum, Cyrtophora citricola, Olios argelasius, Nurscia albomaculata, Phoneutria boliviensis and Triaeris stenaspis. In addition, new posts of rarely reported so far in Poland synanthropic spiders such as: Amaurobius ferox, A. similis, Cheiracanthium mildei, Hasarius adansoni, Holocnemus pluchei, Nesticella mogera, Psilochorus simoni, Pseudeuophrys lanigera, Scytodes thoracica and Uloborus plumipes are presented. The data complement the deployment of these species in Poland as well as indicate their potential expansion routes

Zelotes erebeus (Thorell, 1871) (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) in Poland and its distribution in Europe

Zelotes erebeus (Thorell, 1871) is a thermophilic species occurring in southern, western and central Europe. It was excluded from the checklist of Polish spiders because of synonymization issues. This paper corrects the published data and lists new localities in western and central Poland. The sites of Z. erebeus discovered near Swinoujscie, Czarnków and Torun, move northwards the northern range limit of this thermophilous species in Europe. Data on the distribution of this species in eastern Europe and the Caucasus are also corrected - these records relate to the closely related species Z. khostensis Kovblyuk & Ponomarev, 2008. Figures of female and male genitalia of Z. erebeus are presented

Taxonomic separateness of the subspecies of Noctua interjecta Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) inhabiting central Europe

This study focuses on morphological and genetic differences between two central European subspecies of the noctuid moth Noctua interjecta Hübner: N. interjecta interjecta Hübner, 1803 from Transcarpathia in Ukraine and N. interjecta caliginosa (Schawerda, 1919) from Poland. While the morphological differences between these taxa are fairly obvious, individuals from these two populations were found to differ also genetically, as indicated by the cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequences. The Transcarpathian population exhibits solely the NImizH3 haplotype, but the Polish one the relatively distant NImizH1 and NImizH2 haplotypes. A Neighbour-Joining tree and a network of haplotypes separated the two haplotypes found in Poland (N. i. caliginosa) from those derived from NImizH3 (N. i. interjecta). The divergence time for these two groups was estimated as 400–600 thousand years before present, coinciding with the maximum extent of the Pleistocene ice-sheet covering Europe

Improvements for Vision-based Navigation of Small, Fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Investigating alternative navigation approaches for use when GPS signals are unavailable is an active area of research across the globe. In this paper we focus on the navigation of small, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that employ vision-based approaches combined with other measurements as a replacement for GPS. We demonstrate with flight test data that vehicle attitude information, derived from cheap, MEMS-based IMUs is sufficient to improve two different types of vision processing algorithms. Secondly, we show analytically and with flight test data that range measurements to one other vehicle with global pose is sufficient to constrain the global drift of a visual inertial odometry-based navigation solution. Further, we demonstrate that such ranging information is not needed at a fast rate; that bounding can occur using data as infrequent as 0.01Hz

Long-term Risk Assessment for Medical Application of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

Despite increasing knowledge gained based on multidisciplinary research, plasma medicine still raises various questions regarding specific effects as well as potential risks. With regard to significant statements about in vivo applicability that cannot be prognosticated exclusively based on in vitro data, there is still a deficit of clinical data. This study included a clinical follow-up of five probands who had participated five years previously in a study on the influence of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) on the wound healing of CO2 laser-induced skin lesions. The follow-up included a complex imaging diagnostic involving dermatoscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Hyperspectral analysis showed no relevant microcirculatory differences between plasma-treated and non-plasma-treated areas. In summary of all the findings, no malignant changes, inflammatory reactions or pathological changes in cell architecture could be detected in the plasma-treated areas. These unique in vivo long-term data contribute to a further increase in knowledge about important safety aspects in regenerative plasma medicine. However, to confirm these findings and secure indication-specific dose recommendations, further clinical studies are required. © 2020 by the authors

Long-Term Risk Assessment for Medical Application of Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma

Despite increasing knowledge gained based on multidisciplinary research, plasma medicine still raises various questions regarding specific effects as well as potential risks. With regard to significant statements about in vivo applicability that cannot be prognosticated exclusively based on in vitro data, there is still a deficit of clinical data. This study included a clinical follow-up of five probands who had participated five years previously in a study on the influence of cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) on the wound healing of CO2 laser-induced skin lesions. The follow-up included a complex imaging diagnostic involving dermatoscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI). Hyperspectral analysis showed no relevant microcirculatory differences between plasma-treated and non-plasma-treated areas. In summary of all the findings, no malignant changes, inflammatory reactions or pathological changes in cell architecture could be detected in the plasma-treated areas. These unique in vivo long-term data contribute to a further increase in knowledge about important safety aspects in regenerative plasma medicine. However, to confirm these findings and secure indication-specific dose recommendations, further clinical studies are required. © 2020 by the authors

Endoscopic drainage of orbital abscesses aided with intraoperative sonography

Background and purpose Accurate localization and adequate visualization of the superiorly or inferiorly located subperiosteal orbital abscesses or intraorbital abscess is difficult with transnasal endoscopic approach. Sonography is a well-known and effective tool for evaluation of orbital pathologies but no paper documenting intraoperative application of this method in orbital abscess surgery has been published to date. Material and methods We present a series of 12 patients in whom orbital abscesses were drained endoscopically with an aid of neuronavigation and intraoperative ultrasonography. The abscesses were localized subperiosteally in the medial (n=6), superior (n=2) or inferior (n=1) part of the orbit whereas in 3 patients the abscess was localized in the intraconal space. Results According to intraoperative sonographic imaging complete drainage of the abscess was achieved in 11 out of 12 patients and no complications occurred. Intraoperative sonography helped to limit opening of the orbital wall in the medial subperiosteal abscesses, enabled check-up for completeness of drainage of the far extending pouches in the superior and inferior subperiosteal abscesses and enabled visualization of the tip of surgical instrument when reaching deeply located intraorbital abscesses. Conclusions Intraoperative ultrasonography facilitates the endoscopic management of orbital abscesses, especially those which are difficult to reach due to subperiosteal location in the superior and inferior parts of the orbit, or abscesses localized intraorbitally