On The Closed Geodesics Problem

In this paper we review some important results on the closed geodesics problem for compact Riemannian manifolds, as the Gromoll-Mayer Theorem, and discuss some extension of those results to the case of Finsler and semi Rimannian manifolds

Effects on mobility training and de-adaptations in subjects with Spinal Cord Injury due to a Wearable Robot: A preliminary report

open7noopenSale, Patrizio; Russo, Emanuele Francesco; Russo, Michele; Masiero, Stefano; Piccione, Francesco; Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore; Filoni, SerenaSale, Patrizio; Russo, Emanuele Francesco; Russo, Michele; Masiero, Stefano; Piccione, Francesco; Calabrò, Rocco Salvatore; Filoni, Seren

Energetski kronometabolizam u novozelandskog bijelog kunića.

The temporal organization of some physiological parameters in rabbits by evaluating the circatrigintan rhythms of some haematochemical and haematological parameters, and of rectal temperature, in New Zealand white rabbits was studied. For 30 days before the study the animals all followed the same pattern of daily activity with the natural photoperiod for that season, and were fed on hay ad libitum. Subsequently, the same animals followed another pattern of daily activity for a further 30-day period with a natural photoperiod and were fed on commercial pellets. At the end of each experimental period, blood samples were taken and rectal temperature was measured every 5 days for 30 days. Spectrophotometry in UV was used to calculate the concentration in each sample of: glucose, NEFA, triglycerides, total cholesterol, total proteins, uric acid, urea, albumin, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium. The following values were measured on samples rendered unclottable: haematocrit, haemoglobin, RBC, MCV, WBC and VES. A periodic statistical model was used to elaborate the data, on average values of the two sets of samples. Intra-group variance was not significant. Glucose, triglycerides, RBC, Hb, PCV and rectal temperature showed a circatrigintan rhythm in both the experimental periods, but with different acrophases; creatinine, magnesium and phosphorus showed periodicity only when the subjects were fed on hay, while total proteins, urea, albumin and calcium were periodic only when they were fed with commercial pellets. The results obtained showed that the type of ration synchronizes the circatrigintan rhythm of some haematochemical and haematological parameters in the rabbit.Istražena je pojavnost određenih fizioloških osobina na osnovi prosudbe mjesečnog ritma nekih biokemijskih i hematoloških pokazatelja i rektalne temperature u novozelandskog bijelog kunića. Trideset dana su životinje bile držane pod jednakim uvjetima trajanja prirodne svjetlosti i hranjene sijenom ad libitum. U drugom tridesetdnevnom razdoblju držane su pod drugim načinom dnevnih aktivnosti s prirodnim trajanjem dnevne svjetlosti te hranjene komercijalnom peletiranom hranom. Na kraju svakog pokusnog razdoblja uzimani su uzorci krvi i mjerena temperatura svakog petog dana u tijeku 30 dana. UV-spektrofotometrijom određena je u svakom uzetom uzorku koncentracija glukoze, NEFA, triglicerida, ukupnog kolesterola, ukupnih bjelančevina, mokraćne kiseline, mokraćevine, albumina, kreatinina, kalcija, fosfora i magnezija. Određivan je hematokrit, hemoglobin, broj eritrocita, leukocita i VES. Podaci su obrađeni periodičkim statističkim modelom na razini prosječnih vrijednosti dvije skupine uzoraka. Varijanca između skupina nije bila značajna. Vrijednosti glukoze, triglicerida, hemoglobina, PVC te broj eritrocita i vrijednost rektalne temperature pokazivale su tridesetdnevni ritam u oba pokusna razdoblja, ali s različitim najvišim fazama. Vrijednosti kreatinina, magnezija i fosfora pokazivale su periodičnost samo kad su životinje bile hranjene sijenom dok su vrijednosti ukupnih bjelančevina, mokraćevine, albumina i kalcija pokazivale periodičnost kad su životinje bile hranjene peletiranom komercijalnom hranom. Dobiveni rezultati su pokazali da vrst obroka usklađuje tridesetdnevni ritam određenih biokemijskih i hematoloških pokazatelja u kunića

Daily Rhythmicity of Glycemia in Four Species of Domestic Animals under Various Feeding Regimes

Daily rhythmicity of physiological processes has been described for numerous variables in numerous species. A major source of this rhythmicity is a circadian pacemaker located in the mammalian hypothalamus, but very little is known about how the pacemaker generates the multiplicity of bodily rhythms. Research on rats has shown that the rhythm of blood glucose concentration is not a mere consequence of the rhythm of food ingestion, but is rather generated directly by the pacemaker. In this study, we investigated the rhythm of blood glucose concentration in four different species of domestic animals under four different feeding regimes. Our results suggest that, as in rats, the rhythm of blood glucose concentration is not a mere consequence of the rhythm of food ingestion in sheep and cattle. In dogs and horses, however, the rhythmicity of blood glucose concentration seems to be contingent on the presence of a feeding regime

Magnetoencephalography in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a non-invasive neurophysiological technique used to study the cerebral cortex. Currently, MEG is mainly used clinically to localize epileptic foci and eloquent brain areas in order to avoid damage during neurosurgery. MEG might, however, also be of help in monitoring stroke recovery and rehabilitation. This review focuses on experimental use of MEG in neurorehabilitation. MEG has been employed to detect early modifications in neuroplasticity and connectivity, but there is insufficient evidence as to whether these methods are sensitive enough to be used as a clinical diagnostic test. MEG has also been exploited to derive the relationship between brain activity and movement kinematics for a motor-based brain-computer interface. In the current body of experimental research, MEG appears to be a powerful tool in neurorehabilitation, but it is necessary to produce new data to confirm its clinical utility

Utjecaj kratkotrajne vježbe na koncentraciju serumskog leptina u konja.

Leptin is a protein hormone produced predominantly by adipocytes. The influence of physical exercise on serum leptin levels was not studied in the horse. The aim of our research is to evaluate, in this species, the variations of leptin and glucose concentration during show jumping. Moreover, blood lactate concentration was determined in order to evaluate the intensity of the effort. Eight Sella Italiana horses were used for this study. The test consisted of six jumping trials at different heights (between 100 and 140 cm). Blood samples were collected through jugular venipuncture on the following experimental conditions: at rest, immediately after the trial, 30 min after the trial and 24 h after the trial. Blood lactate concentration was immediately analyzed with a field meter (Accusport Boehringer Mannheim, Monza, Italy). Glucose concentration was determined by the enzymatic colorimetric method GOD-PAP, while serum leptin concentration was quantified by using ELISA kits. From analysis of obtained results, applying repeated measures ANOVA, P value for lactate was P<0.0001, with a F(7,21)= 34.35 and for glucose was P<0.0003, with a F(7, 21)= 8.706, while no statistical significance was observed for serum leptin concentration. Obtained results showed that short duration exercise, as show jumping, does not affect serum leptin levels.Leptin je hormon koji uglavnom proizvode adipociti. Utjecaj tjelesne vježbe na razinu serumskog leptina u konja dosada nije istražen. U ovom istraživanju cilj je bio utvrditi razlike u koncentraciji leptina i glukoze u tijeku preskakanja prepona. Osim toga, određivana je i koncentracija laktata u krvi radi procjene jačine opterećenja. U istraživanje je bilo uključeno 8 talijanskih Sella konja. Vježba je uključivala 6 preskakivanja različitih visina (između 100 i 140 cm). Uzorci krvi uzeti su iz jugularne vene u sljedećim vremenskim razmacima: u tijeku odmora, neposredno nakon vježbe, 30 min nakon vježbe i 24 sata nakon vježbe. Koncentracija laktata u krvi utvrđena je terenskim instrumentom (Accusport Boehringer Mannheim, Monza, Italy), koncentracija glukoze pomoću enzimske kolorimetrijske metode GOD-PAP, a koncentracija serumskog leptina pomoću ELISA kitova. Primjenom analize ponovljenih mjerenja ANOVA, utvrđene su statistički značajne vrijednosti za laktat F(7,21) = 34.35 (P<0.0001) i za glukozu F(7,21) = 8.706 (P<0.0003). Razlike u vrijednostima za koncentraciju serumskog leptina nisu bile statistički značajne. Polučeni rezultati pokazuju da kratkotrajna vježba, poput preskakanja prepona ne utječe na koncentraciju serumskog leptina

Physiological differences between twin and single-born lambs and kids during the first month of life

Abstract. The effects of time after birth and of twinning on rectal temperature (RT), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and body weight (BW) values were evaluated in five singleton Comisana lambs (three males and two females), five singleton Maltese Kids (three males and two females), four couples of twin Comisana lambs (four males and four females) and four couples of twin Maltese kids (four males and four females) during the first month of life. For all kids and lambs, RT, HR, RR and BW were recorded after 1 and 24 h from birth and every 2 days until the 30th day of life. The application of two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a statistically significant effect of time (P  0.05) on all studied parameters was found in lambs, whereas statistically significant differences in BW, RT and HR values (P < 0.01) were found between twin and singleton kids throughout the first month of life. The results obtained in this study make a contribution to the knowledge of homeostatic, cardiorespiratory and thermoregulatory adaptations occurring in singleton lambs and kids and in twin lambs and kids during the first 30 days of life. Our findings indicate that the BW, RT, HR and RR values, whose homeostasis is still evolving in newborn, should be interpreted dynamically as a function of the period of postnatal adaptation and also of twinning

Laparoscopic Myomectomy for Very Large Myomas Using an Isobaric (Gasless) Technique

Laparoscopic myomectomy using pneumoperitoneum for large myomas (> or = 8 cm) is hindered by several factors, such as the increased operative time, the risk of perioperative bleeding, and the risk of conversion to laparotomy. With the introduction of isobaric laparoscopy using abdominal wall lifting, this procedure can be performed using conventional surgical instruments introduced through small abdominal incisions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, reproducibility, and safety of isobaric laparoscopic myomectomy for very large myomas > or = 10 cm using a subcutaneous abdominal wall-lifting device