Radiofrequency-based treatment in therapy-related clinical practice – a narrative review. Part I : acute conditions

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Physical Therapy Reviews on 24 June 2015, available online at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1179/1743288X15Y.0000000016Background: Radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RFEMF or simply RF)-based electrophysical agents (EPAs) have been employed in therapy-related clinical practice for several decades. They are used to reduce pain and inflammation and enhance tissue healing. Although these agents have generally become less popular in contemporary therapy practice, surveys have shown that some of these modalities are still reasonably widely used. Objective: To review the evidence for the use of non-invasive low frequency RFs (30 kHz–30 MHz) in therapy-related clinical practice. Major findings: All peer reviewed therapy-related clinical studies published in English and concerning low frequency RF were sought. Identified literature was divided into acute and chronic segments based on their clinical area and analysed to assess the volume and scope of current evidence. The studies on acute conditions were reviewed in detail for this paper. One hundred twenty clinical studies were identified, of which 30 related to acute conditions. The majority of studies employed Pulsed Shortwave Therapy (PSWT). Twenty-two studies out of 30 were related to conditions of pain and inflammation, seven to tissue healing and one to acute pneumothorax. No studies were identified on frequencies other than shortwave. Conclusions: Evidence for and against RF-based therapy is available. There is reasonable evidence in support of PSWT to alleviate postoperative pain and promote postoperative wound healing. Evidence for other acute conditions is sparse and conflicting. A general lack of research emphasis in the non-shortwave RF band is evident, with studies on acute conditions almost non-existent. Further and wider research in this area is warranted.Peer reviewe

Efficient computation and long range optimization applications using a two-characteristic Markov-type manpower flow model

In [1] the author has compared and contrasted Markov and longitudinal manpower flow models. The Markov model requires relatively little data and has been widely analyzed (see [2] and [3]). The longitudinal model incorporates more realistic personnel flows, but requires extensive data which is not always available. In [4] Hayne and Marshall analyze a two-characteristic Markov model which can be viewed as a hybrid of the Markov and longitudinal models. The purpose of this paper is to show how efficient computational methods can be used with the two-characteristic model by exploiting the special structure of its underlying matrix. These methods make possible the efficient use of this basic flow model in optimization models similar to those described in Chapter 5 of [3]. (Author)NAhttp://archive.org/details/efficientcomputa52marsNAN

Beach ridge systems: archives for Holocene coastal events?

Holocene coastal evolution has been extensively studied by workers from various earth science disciplines, particularly sedimentologists and geomorphologists. Some of these studies have focused on the history of regional sea-level changes in various ocean basins and the mechanisms – such as eustasy, glacio-isostasy, sediment compaction, neotectonics and climatic forces – involved in such changes. Although beach ridges have been used to identify steps in coastal evolution, only in a few cases have beach ridge systems been investigated with respect to event histories (for example, cyclones and tsunamis). Beach ridge systems, however, belong to the most promising geo-archives for the study of climate change and sea-level variations over the Holocene, as well as for deciphering event histories. This paper presents examples of some studies in this field, in relation to a global overview of beach ridge systems and their morphological characteristics