The new mathematical model based carotid intima-media thickness and mild cognitive impairment: comparison of manual and semi-automated measurement techniques

An alteration of the cognitive functions plays a crucial role in the quality of life in the elderly. New investigations notice that the thickness of carotid intima-media (CIMT) might help to identify patients with an increased risk of cognitive deterioration. Our aim of the study was to evaluate CIMT of the patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with static (manually) and dynamic (RF-QIMT) ultrasonographic equipments. Our results show that the CIMT was thicker measuring by semi-automated method, than manually and the differences were statistically significant. Our results show no correlation between the CIMT and scores of psychiatric tests, therefore more research is needed for improvement of carotid wall thickening changes in MCI patients

Absence of Bilateral Differences in Child Baseball Players with Throwing-related Pain

© Georg Thieme Verlag KGStuttgart · New York.The aim of this study was to assess whether side-to-side differences in morphology and function of the upper limbs in 11-12 year-old male baseball players with throwing-related pain (n=14) were more pronounced than that of age-matched healthy untrained subjects (n=16). Baseball players 1) had played baseball≥4.5 h·wk−1 for ≥ 4 years and (2) suffered from moderate-intensity (3-6 points on 10-point questionnaire scale) throwing-related pain in the shoulder or elbow in at least 2 training sessions within the past month. The range of motion (ROM), function and structure of the elbows and shoulders were assessed using goniometry, isokinetic dynamometry and ultrasonography. While the ROM and eccentric external peak torque of internal shoulder rotation were lower, the thickness of the supraspinatus tendon, the ulnar collateral ligament and articular cartilage of the humeral head were larger in baseball players than controls. There were, however, no significant side-to-side differences in any parameter in either group. In conclusion, it is unlikely that side-to-side differences in shoulder and upper limb structure and function contributed to the throwing-related pain in young baseball players, but low shoulder eccentric external peak torque and range of internal rotation may predispose to throwing-related pain

Early anterior knee pain in male adolescent basketball players is related to body height and abnormal knee morphology.

To compare knee torque, range of motion, quality of movement, and morphology in dominant and nondominant legs of male adolescent basketball players with and without anterior knee pain and untrained peers.Cross-sectional.Sports performance laboratory.Male basketball players aged 14-15 years with and without anterior knee pain and healthy untrained subjects (n = 88).Basketball players were allocated to a symptomatic or asymptomatic group based on self-reported anterior knee pain. Associations between pain and body mass, height, passive range of motion, muscle peak torque, coactivation, neuromuscular control, proprioception, and ultrasound observations were investigated.The prevalence of pain did not differ significantly between sides. Of 176 knees inspected, 44 were painful, and 26 of these exhibited abnormalities in ultrasonography. Symptomatic players were 5.0 and 6.9 cm taller than asymptomatic players and controls, respectively (P < 0.05). In athletes with knee pain, the odds ratios of morphological abnormalities and greater height were increased by 8.6 and 5.0 times (P < 0.001).Knee pain prevalence in adolescent basketball players was not related to differences between sides but was higher in tall players. Knee pain was accompanied by morphological abnormalities detected with ultrasound

Кристаллическая структура и магнитные характеристики твердых растворов Ni1–xCrxMnSb

The results of an experiment on studying the features of the crystal structure and magnetic studies of substitutional solid solutions of the Ni1–xCrxMnSb system (0 m х m 0.2) are presented. It was found that an increase in the concentration of chromium in solid solutions does not lead to significant changes in the size of the unit crystal cell. It was found that solid-phase quenching can be used to expand the limit of chromium solubility in Ni1–xCrxMnSb solid solutions. The temperature and field dependences of the specific magnetization of the synthesized compositions have been studied. It was found that the substitution of chromium for nickel in the NiMnSb compound leads to a decrease in the temperature of the “magnetic order – magnetic disorder” phase transformation with an increase in the concentration x from 0 to 20 mol.%. The values of specific magnetization and Curie temperature of hardened hard rasters are higher than those of slowly cooled ones. The results obtained contribute to the creation of a physical basis for the elemental base of spintronics.Представлены результаты эксперимента по изучению особенностей кристаллической структуры и магнитных исследований твердых растворов замещения системы Ni1–xCrxMnSb (0 m х m 0,2). Выявлено, что увеличение концентрации хрома в твердых растворах не приводит к значительным изменениям размеров элементарной кристаллической ячейки. Установлено, что с помощью твердофазной закалки удается расширить границу растворимости хрома в твердых растворах Ni1–xCrxMnSb. Изучены температурные и полевые зависимости удельной намагниченности синтезированных составов. Установлено, что замещение никеля хромом в соединении NiMnSb приводит к уменьшению температуры фазового превращения «магнитный порядок – магнитный беспорядок» при увеличении концентрации x от 0 до 20 мол.%. Величины удельной намагниченности и температуры Кюри закаленных твердых растров больше, чем в медленно охлажденных. Полученные результаты вносят вклад в создание физической основы для элементной базы спинтроники

Two different charge-separation pathways in photosystem II

Charge separation is an essential step in the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy in photosynthesis. To investigate this process, we performed transient absorption experiments at 77 K with various excitation conditions on the isolated Photosystem II reaction center preparations from spinach. The results have been analyzed by global and target analysis and demonstrate that at least two different excited states, (Ch