Snow Temperature During Cross-Country Skiing At Dynamic Thermography Image (Pilot Study)

Již staršími statickými metodami bylo prokázáno, že tření lyže ohřívá sníh. Vzniklá tenká vrstva vody umožňuje skluz lyže. Cílem naší studie bylo zjistit, zda i dynamická infračervená termografie je schopna registrovat rychlé změny teploty sněhu v jednom určitém bodě před a po projetí lyže. Monitorovali jsme sníh ve stopě po 12 jízdách rekreačního běžce na lyžích různými rychlostmi, bez i s mazáním lyží a s různým zatížením lyží. Měření infračerveného záření a výpočet teploty na povrchu sněhu bezprostředně před a po projetí lyžaře bylo provedeno termografickým systémem FLIR SC620 s vzorkovací frekvencí 30 Hz. Byly zjištěno významné zvýšení teploty sněhu po projetí lyžaře (o 0,2 až 1,7°C), lineární závislost zahřátí sněhu na rychlosti a zvýšení teploty po namazání lyže. Studie potvrdila schopnost dynamické infračervené termografie citlivě registrovat velmi rychlé teplotní změny sněhu v jednom bodě bezprostředně před a po (do 0,033 s) projetí běžce na lyžích. Otevírá se tak možnost dalšího studia rychlých termodynamických změn, které by přispělo k hlubšímu pochopení zákonitostí tření a skluzu v běžeckém lyžování.It is known that ski friction increases snow temperature. Therefore, it is hypothesised that melted snow facilitates the ski movement. The aim of this pilot study was to ascertain the capability of dynamic infrared thermography to register the quick thermal changes at determined points before and after ski movement. The study monitored the snow before, immediately after and after 12 runs of recreational cross-country skiing by dynamic infrared thermography FLIR SC620 with image frequency 30 Hz. The findings revealed a significant increase of snow temperature (by 0,2 to 1,7°C); linear dependence of snow warming on ski movement speed and temperature increases after ski waxing. The study confirmed the dynamic infrared thermography ability to register very quick changes at determined points of snow temperature before and after (less than 0,033 s) cross-country skier movement. A further study will be opened to research the thermodynamics and gain a more profound understanding of cross-country ski friction and gliding on snow

Snow Temperature Change During Cross-Country Skiing At Moving Thermography Images

Již před dvaceti lety bylo prokázáno, že tření lyže zvyšuje teplotu sněhu. Změna skupenství na vodu umožňuje skluz lyže. Cílem této studie bylo zjistit, zda dynamická infračervená termografie je schopna zachytit rychlé změny teploty sněhu určité plochy (ne pouze v jednom bodě) lyžařské stopy před a po projetí. Monitorovali jsme sníh ve stopě po 60 jízdách dvou běžců různé váhy (86 a 73 kg) na dvou typech lyží a mazání (pro klasický běh a bruslení) a třemi různými rychlostmi (3,04±0,180, 3,81±0,273 a 5,30±0,314 m.s-1). Měření infračerveného záření a výpočet teploty na povrchu sněhu bezprostředně před a po projetí lyžaře bylo provedeno termografickým systémem FLIR SC620 se vzorkovací frekvencí 30 Hz. Neparametrickým Wilcoxonovým testem pro srovnání párových hodnot bylo zjištěno významné zvýšení teploty sněhu po projetí lyží: u běžce A z -3,71 na -3,50 °C (p=0,000000) a u běžce B z -3,75 na -3,50 °C (p=0,000000). K návratu teploty k původním hodnotám dochází do 5 sekund po projetí. Byly prokázány rozdíly v zahřátí sněhu mezi běžci s různou hmotností a v případě použití různých typů lyží. Studie potvrdila schopnost dynamické infračervené termografie registrovat velmi rychlé teplotní změny sněhu v určité ploše bezprostředně před a po projetí běžců na lyžích. Plošná dynamická termografie by tak zřejmě mohla přispět k volbě správné strategie a mazání lyží při závodech. Je ovšem potřeba provést sérii ověřovacích studií.Twenty years ago, it was shown that friction increases the temperature of snow skis. Temperature changes permit the glide of the skis. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether dynamic infrared thermography is able to capture rapid changes in the temperature of snow in all areas (not just at one point), on the ski tracks before and after passing. The snow was monitored on the track after 60 races; two runners in various weights (86 and 73 kg) on two types of skis and lubrication (for classic and skating cross) and at three different speeds (3,04±0,180, 3,81±0,273 a 5,30±0,314 m.s-1). Measurements of infrared radiation and the calculation of snow surface temperature immediately before and after a passing skier was carried out thermo-graphic system FLIR SC620 with 30 Mhz. Nonparametric Wilcoxon test for paired comparison of values found significant increases in temperature after the snow cleared the skies: runner A from -3,71 to -3,50 °C (p=0,000000) and runner B from -3,75 na -3,50 °C (p=0,000000). The return to baseline temperature was within 5 seconds after passing. Differences were demonstrated in the temperature of snow between runners with different masses and the use of different types of skis. The study confirmed the ability of dynamic infrared thermography to register very rapid temperature changes of snow in an area immediately before and after cross-country skiers passed. Dimensional dynamic thermography would seem to contribute to the choice of the correct strategy and lubrication in ski racing. However, it is necessary to make a series of validation studies

Drought impact on the germination of selected energy grass species

Za účelem získání dostatečného množství fytomasy pro potřeby ekoenergetiky jsou dnes na orné půdě zakládány monokulturní porosty trav. V souvislosti s měnícím se klimatem a častějšími obdobími sucha je důležité hledat druhy a odrůdy, jež jsou schopny těmto stresovým podmínkám odolat. V článku jsou popsány výsledky vlivu sucha na klíčení semen čtyř vybraných travních druhů vhodných pro energetické využití. Zkoumanými druhy byly ovsík vyvýšený (Arrhenatherum elatius L.) – odrůda Median, srha laločnatá (Dactylis glomerata L.) – odrůda Padania, maďarská tráva Elymus elongatus – odrůda Szarvasi-1 a lesknice rákosovitá (Phalaris arundinacea L.) – odrůda Chrastava. Ačkoliv se druhy mezi sebou lišily v klíčivosti (p 0,05).In order to gain a sufficient amount of phytomass for the needs of eco-energetics, there are monocultural grasslands established on the arable land. In the context of the changing climate and more frequent periods of drought, it is important to look for grass species and varieties that are able to withstand these stress conditions. Influence of droughtness on germination of four selected energy grass species is decribed in paper. The investigated species were tall meadow oat (Arrhenatherum elatius L.) - the Median variety, orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) - the Padania variety, tall wheatgrass (Elymus elongatus) - the Szarvasi-1 variety and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) - the Chrastava variety. Although the species differed in the germinability (p 0.05)

Extrapancreatic insulin effect of glibenclamide

In eight patients with uncomplicated non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, serum insulin levels, serum C-peptide levels and blood glucose levels were measured before and after oral administration of glibenclamide 0.1 mg/kg body weight and a test meal, or after a test meal alone. The rise in serum insulin levels persisted longer after glibenclamide. The initial rise in serum insulin was of the same magnitude in both situations, as was the rise in serum C-peptide levels during the entire 5 h study. It is concluded that glibenclamide is able to maintain a more protonged increase in serum insulin levels by inhibiting the degradation of insulin in the vascular endothelial cells of the liver. The inhibition contributes to the blood glucose lowering effect of glibenclamide

LCA method - Tool for food production evaluation

Food is one of the basic human physiological needs which cannot be substitute in any way or by anything. Like every human activity, also the food production has impact on the environment. In particular, people from developed countries begin to be interested in the environmental impacts caused by satisfying their needs. For the environmentally friendly selection, they need to know about these impacts. One of the methodological tools providing such information is the Life Cycle Assessment - LCA. LCA is a method for assessment of product environmental impacts during its entire life cycle. The results can be used to identify hot spots during the cycle and thus, to define possibilities for improving product environmental profile, to inform key persons and to find the related marketing mark. In addition to other benefits, we can use the LCA to carry out comparative studies that means comparing alternative products that serve the same purpose. Food production is composed of an agricultural phase, a processing phase and a trade phase. In our studies within the SUKI - Sustainable Kitchen project, the aim was to compare approximately 20 kinds of most commonly used foods aiming to the public catering facilities in terms of GHG emission load. Alternatives were cultivation methods - organic/conventional in the agricultural phase, processed/unprocessed in the processing phase and imported/regional and storage/fresh in the trade phase. Project results confirm the general assumption about the less emission load of unprocessed, fresh and regional products. For example, production of one kilogram of chips produces 11 times more emissions than the production of one kilogram of raw potatoes. Storage of tomatoes in cooling boxes for 7 days causes up to 40% of total emissions. Remaining 60% go to agriculture and transport. Regarding the agricultural phase evaluation, we cannot clearly state that products from organic farming produce less emissions. Among 11 evaluated agricultural products, 8 organic products go better as compared to only 3 conventional ones. Regarding the total sum, the situation is more complicated. Among 22 evaluated foods, organic food goes better in 11 cases as well as the conventional food. This situation is mainly caused by a lack of processing capacity for organic products resulting into too long transport distances

Q methodology and a Delphi poll: a useful approach to researching a narrative approach to therapy

Q methodology and a Delphi poll combined qualitative and quantitative methods to explore definitions of White and Epston's (1990) narrative approach to therapy among a group of UK practitioners. A Delphi poll was used to generate statements about narrative therapy. The piloting of statements by the Delphi panel identified agreement about theoretical ideas underpinning narrative therapy and certain key practices. A wider group of practitioners ranked the statements in a Q sort and made qualitative comments about their sorting. Quantitative methods (principal components analysis) were used to extract eight accounts of narrative therapy, five of which are qualitatively analysed in this paper. Agreement and differences were identified across a range of issues, including the social construction of narratives, privileging a political stance or narrative techniques and the relationship with other therapies, specifically systemic psychotherapy. Q methodology, combined with the Delphi poll, was a unique and innovative feature of this study

Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes and their modes of interaction with DNA : is there a correlation between these interactions and the antitumor activity of the compounds?

Various interaction modes between a group of six ruthenium polypyridyl complexes and DNA have been studied using a number of spectroscopic techniques. Five mononuclear species were selected with formula [Ru(tpy) L1L2](2-n)?, and one closely related dinuclear cation of formula [{Ru(apy)(tpy)}2{l-H2N(CH2)6NH2}]4?. The ligand tpy is 2,20:60,200-terpyridine and the ligand L1 is a bidentate ligand, namely, apy (2,20-azobispyridine), 2-phenylazopyridine, or 2-phenylpyridinylmethylene amine. The ligand L2 is a labile monodentate ligand, being Cl-, H2O, or CH3CN. All six species containing a labile L2 were found to be able to coordinate to the DNA model base 9-ethylguanine by 1H NMR and mass spectrometry. The dinuclear cationic species, which has no positions available for coordination to a DNA base, was studied for comparison purposes. The interactions between a selection of four representative complexes and calf-thymus DNA were studied by circular and linear dichroism. To explore a possible relation between DNA-binding ability and toxicity, all compounds were screened for anticancer activity in a variety of cancer cell lines, showing in some cases an activity which is comparable to that of cisplatin. Comparison of the details of the compound structures, their DNA binding, and their toxicity allows the exploration of structure–activity relationships that might be used to guide optimization of the activity of agents of this class of compounds

Trauma history and depression predict incomplete adherence to antiretroviral therapies in a low income country.

As antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV becomes increasingly available in low and middle income countries (LMICs), understanding reasons for lack of adherence is critical to stemming the tide of infections and improving health. Understanding the effect of psychosocial experiences and mental health symptomatology on ART adherence can help maximize the benefit of expanded ART programs by indicating types of services, which could be offered in combination with HIV care. The Coping with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania (CHAT) study is a longitudinal cohort study in the Kilimanjaro Region that included randomly selected HIV-infected (HIV+) participants from two local hospital-based HIV clinics and four free-standing voluntary HIV counselling and testing sites. Baseline data were collected in 2008 and 2009; this paper used data from 36 month follow-up interviews (N = 468). Regression analyses were used to predict factors associated with incomplete self-reported adherence to ART. INCOMPLETE ART ADHERENCE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE LIKELY TO BE REPORTED AMONGST PARTICIPANTS WHO EXPERIENCED A GREATER NUMBER OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMATIC EVENTS: sexual abuse prior to puberty and the death in childhood of an immediate family member not from suicide or homicide were significantly more likely in the non-adherent group and other negative childhood events trended toward being more likely. Those with incomplete adherence had higher depressive symptom severity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In multivariable analyses, childhood trauma, depression, and financial sacrifice remained associated with incomplete adherence.\ud This is the first study to examine the effect of childhood trauma, depression and PTSD on HIV medication adherence in a low income country facing a significant burden of HIV. Allocating spending on HIV/AIDS toward integrating mental health services with HIV care is essential to the creation of systems that enhance medication adherence and maximize the potential of expanded antiretroviral access to improve health and reduce new infections

Designing an automated clinical decision support system to match clinical practice guidelines for opioid therapy for chronic pain

Abstract Background Opioid prescribing for chronic pain is common and controversial, but recommended clinical practices are followed inconsistently in many clinical settings. Strategies for increasing adherence to clinical practice guideline recommendations are needed to increase effectiveness and reduce negative consequences of opioid prescribing in chronic pain patients. Methods Here we describe the process and outcomes of a project to operationalize the 2003 VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Opioid Therapy for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain into a computerized decision support system (DSS) to encourage good opioid prescribing practices during primary care visits. We based the DSS on the existing ATHENA-DSS. We used an iterative process of design, testing, and revision of the DSS by a diverse team including guideline authors, medical informatics experts, clinical content experts, and end-users to convert the written clinical practice guideline into a computable algorithm to generate patient-specific recommendations for care based upon existing information in the electronic medical record (EMR), and a set of clinical tools. Results The iterative revision process identified numerous and varied problems with the initially designed system despite diverse expert participation in the design process. The process of operationalizing the guideline identified areas in which the guideline was vague, left decisions to clinical judgment, or required clarification of detail to insure safe clinical implementation. The revisions led to workable solutions to problems, defined the limits of the DSS and its utility in clinical practice, improved integration into clinical workflow, and improved the clarity and accuracy of system recommendations and tools. Conclusions Use of this iterative process led to development of a multifunctional DSS that met the approval of the clinical practice guideline authors, content experts, and clinicians involved in testing. The process and experiences described provide a model for development of other DSSs that translate written guidelines into actionable, real-time clinical recommendations.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78267/1/1748-5908-5-26.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78267/2/1748-5908-5-26.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78267/3/1748-5908-5-26-S3.TIFFhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78267/4/1748-5908-5-26-S2.TIFFhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78267/5/1748-5908-5-26-S1.TIFFPeer Reviewe