Self-reported knee symptoms assessed by KOOS questionnaire in downhill runners (skyrunners)

Background: The knee is the weight-bearing joint most commonly associated with sports injuries, and therefore is most at risk of developing degenerative changes, including osteoarthritis. Skyrunners can be considered to be at risk of developing symptoms of post-traumatic osteoarthritis due to downhill running. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the health of the knee joints of a large group of these athletes via a specific self-report questionnaire. Methods: This study was carried out by asking the participants of seven official Skyraces (22.4±3.1 km length; 1596±393 m elevation) to fill out a questionnaire. Information regarding age, sex, downhill elevation (m) during training and competitions over the last month, and history of previous knee injury was also collected before the participants filled out the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), which is a reliable and validated instrument designed to assess patients' opinions about their knees and associated problems that can result in post-traumatic osteoarthritis. Athletes were divided into six age groups (from 17 to 70 years) and 12 groups based on the downhill gradient they had covered over the last month (from 1,000 to 40,000 m). Results: Six hundred twenty-one questionnaires were collected from 45% of the participants in the seven races. Multivariate analysis revealed that self-reported KOOS scores were unrelated to age, sex and monthly downhill gradient. Only 74 (12%) of the participants reported previous knee injuries. Significant differences in the five subscales of the KOOS were found between skyrunners with and without previous knee injuries (P<0.01). Conclusions: In the studied population, regular training for downhill running and participation in Skyraces could not be considered risk factors for subjective knee symptoms. Skyrunners with selfreported histories of knee injuries scored worse on all five subscales of the KOO

Superconductor to resistive state switching by multiple fluctuation events in NbTiN nanostrips

We report on measurements of the switching current distributions on two-dimensional superconducting NbTiN strips that are 5 nm thick and 80 nm wide. We observe that the width of the switching current distributions has a non-monotonous temperature dependence, where it is constant at the lowest temperatures up to about 1.5 K, after which it increases with temperature until 2.2 K. Above 2.5 K any increase in temperature decreases the distribution width which at 4.0 K is smaller than half the width observed at 0.3 K. By using a careful analysis of the higher order moments of the switching distribution, we show that this temperature dependence is caused by switching due to multiple fluctuations. We also find that the onset of switching by multiple events causes the current dependence of the switching rate to develop a characteristic deviation from a pure exponential increase, that becomes more pronounced at higher temperatures, due to the inclusion of higher order terms

Investigation of dark count rate in NbRe microstrips for single photon detection

Superconducting microstrip single photon detectors (SMSPDs) received great interest since they are expected to combine the excellent performance of superconducting nanostrip single photon detectors with the possibility to cover large active areas using low-cost fabrication techniques. In this work, we fabricated SMSPDs based on NbRe to investigate the role of vortices in the dark counts events in this innovative material and in devices with micrometer size. We realized devices with different layouts, namely single microstrips and pairs of parallel microstrips. The energy barriers related to the motion of single vortices or vortex-antivortex pairs, responsible of detection events, have been determined and compared with the ones of similar devices based on different materials, such as MoSi, WSi and NbN. The analysis confirms the high potential of NbRe for the realization of superconducting single photon detectors with large areas

Investigation of Superconducting Molybdenum Silicide Nanostrips and Microstrips for Single Photon Detectors

Superconducting nanostrip single photon detectors have emerged as the highest performing single-photon detectors; however, the possibility to use superconducting microstrip as single photon detectors is very appealing both to use them as larger areas detectors and for an easier technology in the manufacturing. The aim of this work is to test the photoresponse in liquid helium dewar of 9&nbsp;nm thick MoSi covered with a very thin (2&nbsp;nm) layer of Al, in two different configurations: nanomeanders and microstrips. We demonstrate that MoSi/Al microstrips can work as photodetectors also at T = 4.2&nbsp;K. We also compare the dark count rate of the microstrip and the nanowire, confirming the lower noise for the microstrips also at 4.2&nbsp;K

1959: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

UNTO ALL THE WORLD” Being the Abilene Christian College Annual Bible Lectures 1959 Price: $3.00 Published by FIRM FOUNDATION PUBLISHING HOUSE Box 77 Austin, Texa

Waiting times for diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents referred to Italian ADHD centers must be reduced

BACKGROUND: To investigate timely access to and the time needed to complete the diagnostic path of children and adolescents with suspected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the 18 Italian Lombardy Region ADHD reference centers. METHODS: Data of children and adolescents enrolled in the Regional ADHD disease-oriented Registry for suspected ADHD who requested their first visit in 2013-2017 were analyzed. RESULTS: The sample comprised 2262 children and adolescents aged 5-17\u2009years who accessed the ADHD centers for diagnostic classification and management. The median waiting time was of 177\u2009days (range 66-375) from the request for the initial appointment to the completion of the diagnostic path, with a three - fold difference between centers. In addition to the center, the strongest significant predictors of long waiting times were age comorbidities, the severity of the disorder, and having already completed some diagnostic procedures provided by the common standard path. CONCLUSIONS: To guarantee an equal standard of care in ADHD centers for all children and adolescents there is a pressing need to reduce the times to complete the diagnostic path. It is the task of both policymakers and each center to optimize the quality of the service and of the care delivered

Italian regional health service costs for diagnosis and 1-year treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents

The main aim of this study was to estimate the costs associated with diagnostic assessment and 1-year therapy in children and adolescents enrolled in 18 ADHD reference centres. Data concerning 1887 children and adolescents from the mandatory ADHD registry database during the 2012-2014 period were analysed. The overall diagnostic and treatment costs per patient amounts to \u20ac574 and \u20ac830, respectively. The ADHD centre, the school as sender, and the time to diagnosis constitute cost drivers. Non-pharmacological therapy resulted as being more expensive for patients concomitantly treated with drugs (\u20ac929) compared to those treated with psychological interventions alone (\u20ac590; p=0.006). This study gives the first and reliable estimate of the costs associated with both diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in Italy. Although costs associated with mental disorders are difficult to estimate, continuing efforts are need to define costs and resources to guarantee appropriate care, also for ADHD