Spin and spin-spin correlations in chargino pair production at future linear e+e- colliders

A possibility to measure the spin and spin-spin correlations of a chargino pair is investigated in the process electron positron -> chargino_1 anti-chargino_1 -> (neutralino_1 quark anti-quark) (neutralino_1 quark anti-quark) at future linear-collider energies. The total and the differential cross sections are calculated by the GRACE system which allows for the full spin correlation. Experimental sensitivity of the measurements are examined by assuming the limited detector resolution, the initial state radiation and the beam-beam effect (beamstrahlung). It is found that generally the spin-spin correlation can only be measured with a lower sensitivity than the chargino spin itself. The dependence of the correlation measurements on the relevant SUSY parameters can be seen for a light sneutrino case, but the situation becomes worse for a heavier sneutrino.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, 6 tables; added reference for section

Innovative Techniques to Enhance Musculoskeletal Surgery Outcomes

n.a. - Editoria

Revascularization Following the Lateral Sliding Flap Procedure

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141872/1/jper0352.pd

Pose and Velocity Estimation for Soccer Robots

This paper details the design and real-time implementation of a planar state estimator for soccer robots. A camera system, encoders, gyroscope and accelerometer are combined in a two-stage Kalman filter through a constant acceleration model. Inflating Noise Variance is employed to handle slip and ensure convergence in stationary periods. The approach oers substantial improvement w.r.t. the old pose estimator

Fibrin glue improves osteochondral scaffold fixation: study on the human cadaveric knee exposed to continuous passive motion

SummaryObjectiveTo evaluate stability and integrity of bi-layer and three-layer collagen-hydroxyapatite (C-HA) osteochondral scaffolds in a human cadaveric knee exposed to continuous passive motion (CPM) with and without loading and the role of added fibrin glue to improve the press-fit fixation of C-HA scaffolds.DesignOsteochondral lesions (2.0 × 1.5 cm) were chiseled out on both condyles and trochlea in eight human cadaveric knees. A total of 24 bi-layer (5 mm, four in each condyle) or three-layer C-HA scaffolds (8 mm, eight in the trochlea, four in each condyle) were first press-fit implanted and underwent testing with CPM, 90 cycles, 0°–90°. The second set of 24 scaffolds was implanted in cleaned lesions with the addition of fibrin glue. Two knees with fibrin glue fixation were additionally exposed to 15 kg loading, with 30 cycles of CPM, 0°–30°. Then, the knees were reopened and the scaffolds were evaluated using semi-quantitative Drobnic and modified Bekkers scores.ResultsAll but two scaffolds remained in the lesions site throughout CPM. Two implants failed: both were bi-layer osteochondral scaffolds, press-fit implanted at the lateral femoral condyle (LFC). A statistically significant difference was obtained between press-fit and fibrin glue implants with both Drobnic (2.9 ± 0.7 vs 4.3 ± 0.1, P < 0.0005) and Bekkers (3.3 ± 1.0 vs 5.0 ± 0.1, P < 0.0005) scores. Additional knee loading did not affect fibrin glue scaffold fixation or integrity.ConclusionThis cadaveric study showed fibrin glue notably improved bi-layer or three-layer C-HA scaffold press-fit fixation regardless of lesion location. It is therefore recommended that fibrin glue be used during surgery to improve early post-operative C-HA scaffold stability and integrity

The effects of a video intervention on posthospitalization pulmonary rehabilitation uptake

Rationale: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) after hospitalizations for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improves exercise capacity and health-related quality of life and reduces readmissions. However, posthospitalization PR uptake is low. To date, no trials of interventions to increase uptake have been conducted.Objectives: To study the effect of a codesigned education video as an adjunct to usual care on posthospitalization PR uptake.Methods: The present study was an assessor- and statistician-blinded randomized controlled trial with nested, qualitative interviews of participants in the intervention group. Participants hospitalized with COPD exacerbations were assigned 1:1 to receive either usual care (COPD discharge bundle including PR information leaflet) or usual care plus the codesigned education video delivered via a handheld tablet device at discharge. Randomization used minimization to balance age, sex, FEV1 % predicted, frailty, transport availability, and previous PR experience.Measurements and Main Results: The primary outcome was PR uptake within 28 days of hospital discharge. A total of 200 patients were recruited, and 196 were randomized (51% female, median FEV1% predicted, 36 [interquartile range, 27-48]). PR uptake was 41% and 34% in the usual care and intervention groups, respectively (P = 0.37), with no differences in secondary (PR referral and completion) or safety (readmissions and death) endpoints. A total of 6 of the 15 participants interviewed could not recall receiving the video.Conclusions: A codesigned education video delivered at hospital discharge did not improve posthospitalization PR uptake, referral, or completion

Platelet rich plasma from different preparations: effect on chondrocytes and synoviocytes of osteoarthritis patients

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Novel nano-composite multi-layered biomaterial for the treatment of multifocal degenerative cartilage lesions

We report on a 46-year-old athletic patient, previously treated with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, with large degenerative chondral lesions of the medial femoral condyle, trochlea and patella, which was successfully treated with a closing-wedge high tibial osteotomy and the implant of a newly developed biomimetic nanostructured osteochondral bioactive scaffold. After 1 year of follow-up the patient was pain-free, had full knee range of motion, and had returned to his pre-operation level of athletic activity. MRI evaluation at 6 months showed that the implant gave a hyaline-like signal as well as a good restoration of the articular surface, with minimal subchondral bone oedema. Subchondral oedema was almost non-visible at 12 months

Renal ammonia in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Renal ammonia in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Recent studies have suggested that defective medullary trapping of ammonia underlies the acidosis associated with renal failure and sets in motion maladaptive compensatory mechanisms that contribute to the progression of renal disease. Since a renal concentrating defect is an early functional abnormality in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), defective medullary trapping and urinary excretion of ammonia may also occur early and have important pathophysiological consequences. The urinary pH and excretions of ammonia, titratable acid, and bicarbonate, were measured during a 24-hour baseline period and following the administration of ammonium chloride (100 mg/kg body wt) in ADPKD patients with normal glomerular filtration rate and in age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects. The distal nephron hydrogen ion secretory capacity was assessed during a bicarbonate infusion. Ammonia, sodium, pH, C3dg, and C5b-9 were measured in cyst fluid samples. The excretion rates of ammonia during the 24-hour baseline period and following the administration of ammonium chloride were significantly lower, and the relationship of ammonia excretion to urinary pH was significantly shifted downward in ADPKD. No difference in the increment of urinary pCO2 (Δ pCO2) or the peripheral blood-urine pCO2 gradient (U-B pCO2) between ADPKD patients and control subjects was detected during a sodium bicarbonate infusion. Calculated concentrations of free-base ammonia in cyst fluid samples exceeded those calculated from reported concentrations of ammonia in renal venous blood of normal subjects. C3dg and C5b-9 were detected in some cyst fluids. The urinary excretion of ammonia is reduced in ADPKD patients with normal glomerular filtration rate. This reduction is not explained by a lower production of ammonia in the renal cortex or by a defect of proton secretion in the collecting ducts. It is likely due to an impaired renal concentrating mechanism and reduced trapping of ammonia in the renal medulla. It may contribute to the pathogenesis of nephrolithiasis and, more importantly, to the progression of the interstitial inflammation and cystic changes seen in ADPKD