Effect of Prehabilitation in Form of Exercise and/or Education in Patients Undergoing Total Hip Arthroplasty on Postoperative Outcomes-A Systematic Review.

Background and Objectives: The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether prehabilitation before total hip arthroplasty, in the form of exercise therapy, education alone, or both together, improves postoperative outcomes, such as physical functioning, compared with no intervention. Materials and Methods: A systematic literature search was performed in the online databases PubMed, PEDro and Cochrane Library using the following search keywords: "prehabilitation", "preoperative care", and "total hip replacement". Results: A total of 400 potentially relevant studies were identified. After title, abstract and full-text screening, 14 studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. Patients who completed exercise-based prehabilitation before their operation showed significant postoperative improvements compared with no intervention in the following tests: six-minute walk test, Timed Up and Go test, chair-rise test, and stair climbing. For various other assessments, such as the widely used Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and Barthel Index, no significant differences in outcomes regarding exercise therapy were reported in the included studies. Education alone had no effect on postoperative outcomes. Conclusions: Prehabilitation in the form of a prehabilitation exercise therapy is an effective prehabilitation measure with regard to postoperative physical functioning, while prehabilitation in the form of education has no significant effects. No negative effects of prehabilitation on the outcomes examined were reported

Umwelteinflüsse auf Werkstoffe

The corrosion behavior of different metals commonly used in civil engineering and construction was investigated under outdoor exposure conditions. The exposure sites were chosen at locations of the Swiss National Air Pollution Monitoring Network (NABEL) in different regions of Switzerland, where the concentrations of different air pollutants and climate data are registered continuously. After different exposure times, a set of test specimens is taken back for gravimetric evaluation of material loss and chemical characterization of corrosion products and deposits. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were used to characterize corrosion products. Water soluble compounds on the metal surfaces have also been analyzed quantitatively. First results for the exposure period of six months are presented. They show large differences in corrosion rate and in the amount of corrosive species on the metal surfaces for the different test sites. In some cases a very good correlation to the specific pollution and climate conditions at the particular locations is possible

Wirkungen von Integrationsprogrammen in der Sozialhilfe

Wie wirken Integrationsprogramme in der Sozialhilfe? Und welche Faktoren spielen für die Wirkung eine Rolle? In einer Studie der Berner Fachhochschule wird diesen Fragen seit 2014 intensiv nachgegangen. Nun liegt ein validiertes Messinstrument vor, das die Wirkungen von Integrationsprogrammen sowie die Einflussfaktoren erfasst und zuverlässig misst

Effects of sodium butyrate on DNA content, glutathione S-transferase activities, cell morphology and growth characteristics of rat liver nonparenchymal epithelial cells in vitro

The effects of sodium butyrate, which has been shown to act as a differentiation promoting agent in several different tumor cell lines, were studied in a rat liver nonparenchymal epithelial cell line. Exposure of these cells to 3.75 mM butyrate resulted in an inhibition of cell proliferation and, at the same time, an increase in cell diameter (2- to 6-fold) and size of the nuclei (∼2-fold) after 3 days in culture. Binucleated cells arose, comprising ∼12% of the cells investigated, and the number of cells with an abnormal set of chromosomes was increased. Intercellular communication, measured by dye transfer of Lucifer Yellow, was unchanged. From the various xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme activities measured, only those of glutathione S-transferases were significantly altered (increases of 4- to 9-fold) by butyrate treatment. These increases were mainly due to the predominant rise in the π class isoenzyme which is a well-known tumour marker in rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Thus, our results cannot be interpreted as being either due to promotion of differentiation or due to transformation. The state and type of cell under study has to be considered and investigations of further differentiation parameters are needed to obtain a deeper insight into the biological activity and the underlying mechanisms of cell state modifying agents like butyrat

Development and validation of a pain behavior assessment in patients with chronic low back pain

Erworben im Rahmen der Schweizer Nationallizenzen (http://www.nationallizenzen.ch)Purpose: High levels of pain behavior adversely affect the success of multidisciplinary rehabilitation of patients with chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP). Functional capacity evaluation (FCE) assessment should detect high levels of pain behavior to prevent the inclusion of unsuitable patients to functional rehabilitation programs. The aim of this study was to develop a Pain Behavior Assessment (PBA) and to evaluate its construct validity. Methods: The PBA was developed by experts in the field and is literature-based. Inclusion criteria for participants of the validation study were: CNSLBP, age 20-60 years, referral for fitness-for-work evaluation. The PBA was applied by physiotherapists during FCE. Rasch analysis was performed to evaluate the construct validity of the PBA. Internal consistency was indicated by the person separation index (PSI), which corresponds to Cronbach's alpha. Results: 145 male (72.5 %) and 55 female patients were included. Rasch analysis removed 11 items due to misfit and redundancy, resulting in a final PBA of 41 items. Item mean fit residual was -0.33 (SD 1.06) and total item Chi square 100.39 (df = 82, p = 0.08). The PSI value was 0.83. DIF analysis for age and gender revealed no bias. Conclusions: The PBA is a valid assessment tool to describe pain behavior in CNSLBP patients. The high PSI-value justifies the use of the PBA in individuals. The PBA may help to screen patients for high levels of pain behavior

ALMA Characterises the Dust Temperature of z ~ 5.5 Star-Forming Galaxies

The infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of main-sequence galaxies in the early universe (z > 4) is currently unconstrained as infrared continuum observations are time consuming and not feasible for large samples. We present Atacama Large Millimetre Array (ALMA) Band 8 observations of four main-sequence galaxies at z ~ 5.5 to study their infrared SED shape in detail. Our continuum data (rest-frame 110$\rm \mu m$, close to the peak of infrared emission) allows us to constrain luminosity weighted dust temperatures and total infrared luminosities. With data at longer wavelengths, we measure for the first time the emissivity index at these redshifts to provide more robust estimates of molecular gas masses based on dust continuum. The Band 8 observations of three out of four galaxies can only be reconciled with optically thin emission redward of rest-frame 100$\rm \mu m$. The derived dust peak temperatures at z ~ 5.5 (38$\pm$8K) are elevated compared to average local galaxies, however, 5-10K below what would be predicted from an extrapolation of the trend at $z<4$. This behaviour can be explained by decreasing dust abundance (or density) towards high redshifts, which would cause the infrared SED at the peak to be more optically thin, making hot dust more visible to the external observer. From the 850$\rm \mu m$ dust continuum, we derive molecular gas masses between $10^{10}$ and $10^{11}\,{\rm M_{\odot}}$ and gas fractions (gas over total mass) of 30-80% (gas depletion times of 100-220Myrs). All in all, our results provide a first measured benchmark SED to interpret future millimetre observations of normal, main-sequence galaxies in the early Universe.Comment: 12 pages, 8 Figures, 3 Table, Submitted to MNRA

ALMA characterizes the dust temperature of z ∼ 5.5 star-forming galaxies

The infrared (IR) spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of main-sequence galaxies in the early Universe (z > 4) is currently unconstrained as IR continuum observations are time-consuming and not feasible for large samples. We present Atacama Large Millimetre Array Band 8 observations of four main-sequence galaxies at z ∼ 5.5 to study their IR SED shape in detail. Our continuum data (rest-frame 110 μm⁠, close to the peak of IR emission) allows us to constrain luminosity-weighted dust temperatures and total IR luminosities. With data at longer wavelengths, we measure for the first time the emissivity index at these redshifts to provide more robust estimates of molecular gas masses based on dust continuum. The Band 8 observations of three out of four galaxies can only be reconciled with optically thin emission redward of rest-frame 100μm⁠. The derived dust peak temperatures at z ∼ 5.5 (⁠30−43K⁠) are elevated compared to average local galaxies, however, ∼10K below what would be predicted from an extrapolation of the trend at z < 4. This behaviour can be explained by decreasing dust abundance (or density) towards high redshifts, which would cause the IR SED at the peak to be more optically thin, making hot dust more visible to the external observer. From the 850-μm dust continuum, we derive molecular gas masses between 10¹⁰ and 10¹¹M⊙ and gas fractions (gas over total mass) of 30−80 per cent (gas depletion times of 100−220 Myr⁠). All in all, our results provide a first measured benchmark SED to interpret future millimetre observations of normal, main-sequence galaxies in the early Universe

ALMA characterizes the dust temperature of z ∼ 5.5 star-forming galaxies

The infrared (IR) spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of main-sequence galaxies in the early Universe (z > 4) is currently unconstrained as IR continuum observations are time-consuming and not feasible for large samples. We present Atacama Large Millimetre Array Band 8 observations of four main-sequence galaxies at z ∼ 5.5 to study their IR SED shape in detail. Our continuum data (rest-frame 110 μm⁠, close to the peak of IR emission) allows us to constrain luminosity-weighted dust temperatures and total IR luminosities. With data at longer wavelengths, we measure for the first time the emissivity index at these redshifts to provide more robust estimates of molecular gas masses based on dust continuum. The Band 8 observations of three out of four galaxies can only be reconciled with optically thin emission redward of rest-frame 100μm⁠. The derived dust peak temperatures at z ∼ 5.5 (⁠30−43K⁠) are elevated compared to average local galaxies, however, ∼10K below what would be predicted from an extrapolation of the trend at z < 4. This behaviour can be explained by decreasing dust abundance (or density) towards high redshifts, which would cause the IR SED at the peak to be more optically thin, making hot dust more visible to the external observer. From the 850-μm dust continuum, we derive molecular gas masses between 10¹⁰ and 10¹¹M⊙ and gas fractions (gas over total mass) of 30−80 per cent (gas depletion times of 100−220 Myr⁠). All in all, our results provide a first measured benchmark SED to interpret future millimetre observations of normal, main-sequence galaxies in the early Universe

Focusing Cosmic Telescopes: Exploring Redshift z~5-6 Galaxies with the Bullet Cluster 1E0657-56

The gravitational potential of clusters of galaxies acts as a cosmic telescope allowing us to find and study galaxies at fainter limits than otherwise possible and thus probe closer to the epoch of formation of the first galaxies. We use the Bullet Cluster 1E0657-56 (z = 0.296) as a case study, because its high mass and merging configuration makes it one of the most efficient cosmic telescopes we know. We develop a new algorithm to reconstruct the gravitational potential of the Bullet Cluster, based on a non-uniform adaptive grid, combining strong and weak gravitational lensing data derived from deep HST/ACS F606W-F775W-F850LP and ground-based imaging. We exploit this improved mass map to study z~5-6 Lyman Break Galaxies (LBGs), which we detect as dropouts. One of the LBGs is multiply imaged, providing a geometric confirmation of its high redshift, and is used to further improve our mass model. We quantify the uncertainties in the magnification map reconstruction in the intrinsic source luminosity, and in the volume surveyed, and show that they are negligible compared to sample variance when determining the luminosity function of high-redshift galaxies. With shallower and comparable magnitude limits to HUDF and GOODS, the Bullet cluster observations, after correcting for magnification, probe deeper into the luminosity function of the high redshift galaxies than GOODS and only slightly shallower than HUDF. We conclude that accurately focused cosmic telescopes are the most efficient way to sample the bright end of the luminosity function of high redshift galaxies and - in case they are multiply imaged - confirm their redshifts.Comment: 12 pages, Accepted for publication in Ap