Low Intensity Research Articles

Studying the influence of correction codes on coherent reception of M-PSK signals in the presence of noise and harmonic interference

Objectives. Signals with multiple phase shift keying (M-PSK) exhibiting good spectral and energy characteristics are successfully used in many information transmission systems. These include satellite communication systems, GPS, GLONASS, DVB/DVB-S2, and a set of IEEE 802.11 wireless communication standards. In radio communication channels, the useful signal is affected by various interferences in addition to noise. One of these is harmonic interference. As a result, high intensity harmonic interference practically destroys the reception of M-PSK signals. One of the important requirements for the quality of data transmission is the system error tolerance. There are different ways of improving the quality of information transmission. One of these is the use of corrective encoding technology. The aim of the paper is to assess the noise immunity of a coherent demodulator of M-PSK signals using Hamming codes (7,4) and (15,11), and convolutional encoding with Viterbi decoding algorithm (7,5) when receiving M-PSK signals under noise and harmonic interference in the communication channel.Methods. The methods of statistical radio engineering, optimal signal reception theory and computer simulation modeling were used.Results. Experimental dependencies of the bit error rate on the signal-to-noise ratio and on the intensity of harmonic interference of coherent reception of M-PSK signals in a channel with noise and harmonic interference were obtained using computer simulation modeling. This was done without using correction codes and with Hamming code (7.4) and (15.11) and convolutional encoding with Viterbi decoding algorithm (7,5).Conclusions. It is shown that the application of the correction codes effectively corrects errors in the presence of noise and harmonic interference with lower intensity. The correction is ineffective in the presence of high intensity interference. These results can provide important guidance in designing the reliable and energy efficient system.

Tinnitus and cardiovascular disease: the population-based Tromsø Study (2015–2016)

IntroductionPeople with tinnitus are likely to have other co-occurring disorders that should be considered when diagnosing and understanding tinnitus as a health problem. The association between tinnitus and cardiovascular health...

Crop Density and Sowing Timing Effect on Tan Spot Occurrence in Spring Wheat

Tan spot (Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) is presenting a persistent challenge to the plant health and yield of all wheat-growing regions. This research is focused on tan spot disease management in spring wheat when planted at three distinct times and with three different seeding rates without the use of fungicides. Across all years, higher seed rates (500 and 600 seeds per m2) generally resulted in lower tan spot intensity compared to the lower seed rate (400 seeds per m2). Significant differences in tan spot intensity were observed across seed rates at all sowing times. In 2021, the percentage of the AUDPC was significantly higher in the late sowing time (324.58%), with about a 2-fold difference compared with the early (167.48%) and optimal sowing time (191.80%). This suggests that delayed sowing significantly exacerbates disease occurrence. The combined effect of sowing time and year on the AUDPC was notably significant. The AUDPC of the tan spot in all seed rates was the highest in the late sowing time plots in comparison to the ideal and initial planting dates plots. Our results demonstrate how important seed rate and sowing timing are in determining the degree of tan spot in spring wheat. Growing crop methods may be improved by taking these elements into account to better control tan spots. More agricultural methods and environmental aspects should be investigated in future studies to create all-encompassing tan spot control plans.

Open-jet facility for bio-inspired micro-air-vehicle flight experiment at low speed and high turbulence intensity

Bio-inspired micro-air-vehicles (MAVs) usually operate in the atmospheric boundary layer at a low Reynolds number and complex wind conditions including large-scale turbulence, strong shear, and gusts. We develop an open jet facility (OJF) to meet the requirements of MAV flight experiments at very low speed and high turbulence intensity. Powered by a stage-driven fan, the OJF is capable of generating wind speeds covering 0.1 – 16.8 m/s, with a velocity ratio of 100:1. The contraction section of the OJF is designed using an adjoint-driven optimization method, resulting in a contraction ratio of 3:1 and a length-to-diameter ratio of 0.75. A modularized design of the jet nozzle can produce laminar or high-turbulence wind conditions. Flow field calibration results demonstrate that the OJF is capable of producing a high-quality baseline flow with steady airspeed as low as 0.1 m/s, uniform region around 80% of the cross-sectional test area, and turbulence intensity around 0.5%. Equipped with an optimized active grid (AG), the OJF can reproduce controllable, fully-developed turbulent wind conditions with the turbulence intensity up to 24%, energy spectrum satisfying the five-thirds power law, and the uniform region close to 70% of the cross-sectional area of the test section. The turbulence intensity, integral length scale, Kolmogorov length scale, and mean energy dissipation rate of the generated flow can be adjusted by varying the area of the triangular through-hole in the wings of the AG.

Bulk photovoltaic effect and high mobility in the polar 2D semiconductor SnP2Se6.

The growth of layered 2D compounds is a key ingredient in finding new phenomena in quantum materials, optoelectronics, and energy conversion. Here, we report SnP2Se6, a van der Waals chiral (R3 space group) semiconductor with an indirect bandgap of 1.36 to 1.41 electron volts. Exfoliated SnP2Se6 flakes are integrated into high-performance field-effect transistors with electron mobilities >100 cm2/Vs and on/off ratios >106 at room temperature. Upon excitation at a wavelength of 515.6 nanometer, SnP2Se6 phototransistors show high gain (>4 × 104) at low intensity (≈10-6 W/cm2) and fast photoresponse (< 5 microsecond) with concurrent gain of ≈52.9 at high intensity (≈56.6 mW/cm2) at a gate voltage of 60 V across 300-nm-thick SiO2 dielectric layer. The combination of high carrier mobility and the non-centrosymmetric crystal structure results in a strong intrinsic bulk photovoltaic effect; under local excitation at normal incidence at 532 nm, short circuit currents exceed 8 mA/cm2 at 20.6 W/cm2.

Exploring effects of light intensity on sustainability indicators in finishing pig production

With an ongoing transition towards the use of Light Emitting Diodes (LED), more knowledge is needed on which light settings optimise sustainability parameters in pig production. We studied effects of four light intensities on social, environmental and economic sustainability indicators, including ammonia emissions, space use, pen fouling, weight gain, carcass quality, perception of the stockkeeper, costs of the light system, and use of drinking water, electricity and medicines. Light treatments included a low (45 lux), medium (198 lux) and high (968 lux) uniform intensity, and a spatial gradient treatment ranging from 71 lux in the front to 330 lux in the back of each pen. The latter treatment aimed to improve space use of functional areas. A total of 448 growing-finishing pigs were studied on a commercial farm using two consecutive batches of four rooms containing eight pens with seven pigs. Light intensity influenced some aspects of space use and pen fouling. For example, the proportion of pigs lying in the resting area was higher in the high and medium light intensity treatment than in the low intensity and gradient treatment. Moreover, the high intensity treatment resulted in more fouling with faeces in the feeding area compared with the low intensity and the gradient treatment. Ammonia emissions were higher in the gradient than in the low intensity treatment (not measured in medium and high intensity treatment). Furthermore, light intensity did not affect weight gain, carcass quality, water use and medicine use. The stockkeeper was content to work in all light conditions, but slightly preferred the medium intensity due to optimal visibility. Concerning economic performance, the costs of the light system and electricity use increased in the following order: low intensity, gradient, medium intensity, high intensity. In conclusion, contrary to expectation the spatial gradient did not notably improve space use or reduce pen fouling, but rather increased ammonia emissions in comparison with uniform light. This is likely because the gradient could not be applied in an optimal way in the existing housing conditions. Among the other sustainability indicators, mainly electricity use and costs of the light system differed per treatment. These aspects can be improved by further optimising the number of light sources needed per pen to achieve the targeted intensities.

Comparison of Force, Neuromuscular, and Metabolic Responses During Sustained, Isometric Handgrip Holds to Failure Anchored to Low and High Perceptual Intensities in Men: An Exploratory Study.

Kwak, M, Succi, PJ, Benitez, B, Mitchinson, C, Samaan, MA, Abel, MG, and Bergstrom, HC. Comparison of force, neuromuscular, and metabolic responses during sustained, isometric handgrip holds to failure anchored to low and high perceptual intensities in men: An exploratory study. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): e405-e416, 2024-This study examined the responses of force alterations, relative to critical force (CF), neuromuscular parameters, and muscle oxygenation (SmO2) for isometric handgrip holds to failure (HTF) anchored to ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) of 3 and 7. Twelve men completed pre-maximal voluntary isometric contractions (pre-MVIC), submaximal HTF at 4 percentages of pre-MVIC, HTF at RPE = 3 and 7, and post-MVIC. Mechanomyograpic (MMG) signals and SmO2 were recorded during the RPE HTF. Analyses included paired-samples t-tests and repeated-measures ANOVAs at an alpha level of p ≤ 0.05. Time to task failure was not different between RPE 3 (478.7 ± 196.6 s) and RPE 7 (495.8 ± 173.8 s). Performance fatigability (PF) and MMG amplitude (AMP) were greater for RPE 7 (PF: 37.9 ± 12.9%; MMG AMP: 15.7 ± 7.4% MVIC) than RPE 3 (PF: 30.0 ± 14.5%; MMG AMP: 10.2 ± 6.5% MVIC), but MMG mean power frequency (MPF) was greater for RPE 3 (146.2 ± 31.1% MVIC) than RPE 7 (128.8 ± 23.0% MVIC). There were RPE-dependent decreases in force (p ≤ 0.01) across 3 discernable phases during the HTF. There were decreases in MMG AMP across time for both RPEs, but there were no significant changes in MMG MPF or SmO2. There were overall similar motor unit control strategies and local metabolic demand between RPEs. The majority of the HTF performed below CF at RPE 3 and 7 indicated CF did not reflect the highest sustainable force. When prescribing isometric exercise anchored to RPE, practitioners should be aware of the magnitude of force loss and relative intensity of the task to be sure desired training loads are met.

Study on the value of MRI in locating the internal OS of the cervix and influencing factors

The position of the internal os of the cervix reported in the literature was inconsistent on MRI images. Additionally, the practical impactful data influencing the internal os located by MRI is limited. We aimed to confirm the position of the internal os of the cervix on MRI images, and the influencing factors locating the the internal os by MRI. A single-center retrospective study was conducted. Data from 175 patients who underwent total hysterectomy for stage I endometrial cancer were collected. The internal os of the cervix is positioned as the starting point for measuring the length of the cervix on MRI images. On dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), the section formed by the enhancement difference between the uterus and cervix, and on T2-weighted imaging(T2WI), the section formed by the physiological curvature of the uterus and the low signal intensity of the cervical stroma were used as starting points. The results showed no statistically significant difference compared with the removed uterus specimens (p = 0.208, p = 0.571, p = 0.804). A history of cesarean section(p < 0.001), irregular vaginal bleeding for more than three months(p < 0.001), cervical adenomyosis(p = 0.043), and premenopause(p = 0.001) were not conducive to locating the internal os of the cervix by MRI. Our findings provide valuable information and confirm the position of the internal os of the cervix on MRI images, and the several important infuencing factors. We hope that some patients will benefit from our study.

Binding Energies and Vibrational Spectral Features of S n Species on Amorphous Water-ice Mantles: A Quantum Mechanical Study

In the denser and colder regions of the interstellar medium (ISM), gas-phase sulfur is depleted by 2 or 3 orders of magnitude with respect to its cosmic abundance. Thus, which species are the main carriers of sulfur is an open question. Recent studies have proposed S n species as potential sulfur reservoirs. Among the various sulfur allotropes, the most stable one is the S8 ring, detected in the asteroid Ryugu and Orgueil meteorite. Shorter species, namely S3 and S4, have been found in the comet 67P/C-G, but their presence in the ISM remains elusive. In this study, we compute the binding energies (BEs) of S n (n = 1–8) species on an amorphous water-ice surface model and analyze their infrared (IR) and Raman spectral features to provide data for their identification in the ISM. Our computations reveal that these species exhibit lower BEs than previously assumed and that their spectral features experience minimal shifts when adsorbed on water ice, because of the weak and nonspecific S n –ice interactions. Furthermore, these species display very low IR band intensities and, therefore, very accurate instruments operating in the mid-IR range are required for detecting the presence of these species in dense interstellar environments.

Effects of different light exposures on human ultra-weak photon emission: Preliminary findings for a pioneering control tool in cosmetics

Currently, the cosmetic industry is developing several treatments based on the use of lights with different wavelengths for anti-ageing strategies and facial rejuvenation. Some lights have been proven to be beneficial for our skincare, but their actual effects require an in-depth analysis.Ultra-weak photon emission (UPE) is a spontaneous, low intensity emission from all living systems produced as a consequence of metabolic reactions (e.g., oxidative metabolism, cell division, photosynthesis, or carcinogenesis). However, it can also be induced by several factors, such as light exposure, wounds, thermal shock, and other stress elements. Thus, measuring human biophotonic emission can open new horizons to explore the real benefits of light therapies, particularly regarding the direct relationship between light exposure and free radicals, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are the main cause of UPE.In this study, the ultra-weak photon emission from a sample of ten human beings after exposure to different lights was studied using red and green lights (artificially produced by an RGB LED lamp) and natural light (directly received from the sun), aiming to assess the UPE changes when directly focusing these types of lights on the skin. Hence, this technique could be proposed as a pioneering control tool in cosmetics, principally with phototherapies.Our preliminary results showed that the UPE response after light stimulation differed when a person was exposed to artificial lights compared to sunlight. Besides, there were relevant variations between women and men that should be deeply examined in further investigations by increasing the number of participating subjects in this experience. Furthermore, it was serendipitously discovered that the presence of certain unusual elements in our body, such as using hyaluronic acid fillers and having white hair (natural or dyed), could change the UPE intensity of our skin.

Synergistic effect of CaCO3 particles and porous carbon towards the removal of Zn2+ ions in aqueous solutions

This work describes the preparation of an adsorbent containing CaCO3 particles dispersed in activated carbon and its use for the removal of Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The combination of the large porosity of the activated carbon support with the easy ion exchange occurring at the surface of the carbonate particles led to the achievement of fast adsorption kinetics and excellent ion removal capacity for the composite adsorbent. The material was synthesized by wet impregnation of the porous carbon support with an aqueous solution of Ca(NO3)2, followed by evaporation of the solvent with subsequent heat treatment in an inert atmosphere. X-ray diffraction results demonstrated the presence of CaCO3 crystals in the material, but with broad and low intensity diffraction peaks, corresponding to an average crystallite size of 20 nm; solid-state 13C NMR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of this phase by means of the identification of the signal relative to the 13C nuclei of the CO32- group at ∼170 ppm. The carbon-based adsorbent containing the CaCO3 particles showed excellent ability to remove Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions, with essentially all ions removed after 30 min of contact time. In addition, the kinetic analysis data were properly fitted using the pseudo-second order model, pointing to the occurrence of chemisorption as the rate limiting of the process. The equilibrium adsorption isotherms were correctly described by the Langmuir model, indicating that the adsorption takes place with the formation of a monolayer on the adsorbent surface. The results evidenced a synergistic effect of the porous carbon and the CaCO3 particles regarding the Zn2+ ions removal, with a fast adsorption kinetics at the initial stage of adsorption attributed to the high availability of the dispersed CaCO3 particles on the carbon surface.

Phase space reconstruction technique for beam optimization in the Low Energy High Intensity Proton Accelerator (LEHIPA)

The Low Energy High Intensity Proton Accelerator (LEHIPA) has been commissioned to the design energy of 20 MeV at BARC, India. The low energy beam transport (LEBT) channel of LEHIPA consists of two solenoids and drift spaces for matching the 50 keV proton beam from the ECR ion source (ECR-IS) to the RFQ. The ion beam extracted from the ECR-IS also contains molecular species like H2 + and H3 +. Proton fraction in the beam is found to degrade slowly with time due to surface contamination of the plasma chamber and this reduction in proton beam current has implications for longitudinal and transverse beam dynamics. Hence, it becomes important to characterise the beam at different proton fraction levels to understand the end-to-end beam dynamics of LEHIPA. Computed Tomography (CT) technique has been used for the beam phase-space reconstruction in LEHIPA, using a Python program, incorporating the feature of filtering secondary species from the beam profiles measured using slit scanners in the LEBT. Simultaneous Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (SART) is used in the reconstruction since it is identified to be a better technique for a limited number of projections. The reconstruction program is benchmarked with the TraceWin beam dynamics code and implemented on the measured beam profiles to recreate the phase space distribution at the beginning of LEBT. Further, the tomographic reconstruction method is compared with the solenoid scan method and the rms emittance values are found to be in good agreement. The measured tomographic phase space distribution has then been used as TraceWin input for LEHIPA end-end beam dynamics simulations and the LEHIPA beam line parameters are re-optimized for minimum beam emittance growth. This paper presents the simulations of CT technique, benchmarking simulations with TraceWin, phase space reconstruction with measured beam profiles and beam dynamics studies of LEHIPA using the reconstructed beam distributions.

Impact of surface ultraviolet radiation intensity on hospital admissions for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke: A large-scale database study using distributed lag nonlinear analysis, 2015-2022, in Harbin, China

ObjectivesOur aim is to evaluate the impact of surface ultraviolet radiation intensity on hospital admissions for stroke and to compare the correlation and differences among different subtypes of strokes. Materials and methodsWe collected daily data on surface ultraviolet radiation intensity, temperature, air pollution, and hospital admissions for stroke in Harbin from 2015 to 2022. Using a distributed lag non-linear model, we determined the correlation between daily surface ultraviolet radiation intensity and the stroke admission rate. Relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and attributable fractions (AF) with 95% CI were calculated based on stroke subtypes, gender, and age groups. ResultsA total of 132,952 hospitalized stroke cases (including hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes) were included in the study. We assessed the non-linear effects of ultraviolet intensity on hospitalized patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Compared to the maximum morbidity benchmark ultraviolet intensity (19.2 × 10^5 for ischemic stroke and 20.25 for hemorrhagic stroke), over the 0-10 day lag period, the RR for extreme low radiation (1st percentile) was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.77, 0.96), and the RR for extreme high radiation (99th percentile) was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.77, 0.96). In summary, -4.842% (95% CI: -7.721%, -2.167%) and -1.668% (95% CI: -3.061%, -0.33%) of ischemic strokes were attributed to extreme low radiation intensity with a lag of 0 to 10 days and extreme high radiation intensity with a lag of 0 to 5 days, respectively. The reduction in stroke hospitalization rates due to low or high ultraviolet intensity was more pronounced in females and younger individuals compared to males and older individuals. None of the mentioned ultraviolet intensity intensities and lag days had a statistically significant impact on hemorrhagic stroke. ConclusionsOur study fundamentally suggests that both lower and higher levels of surface ultraviolet radiation intensity in Harbin, China, contribute to a reduced incidence of ischemic stroke, with this effect lasting approximately 10 days. This finding holds significant potential for public health and clinical relevance.

Age and dose dependent changes to the bone and bone marrow microenvironment after cytotoxic conditioning with busulfan

Preparative regimens before Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) damage the bone marrow (BM) microenvironment, potentially leading to secondary morbidity and even mortality. The precise effects of cytotoxic preconditioning on bone and BM remodeling, regeneration, and subsequent hematopoietic recovery over time remain unclear. Moreover, the influence of recipient age and cytotoxic dose have not been fully described. In this study, we longitudinally investigated bone and BM remodeling after busulfan treatment with low intensity (LI) and high intensity (HI) regimens as a function of animal age. As expected, higher donor chimerism was observed in young mice in both LI and HI regimens compared to adult mice. Noticeably in adult mice, significant engraftment was only observed in the HI group. The integrity of the blood-bone marrow barrier in calvarial BM blood vessels was lost after busulfan treatment in the young mice and remained altered even 6 weeks after HCT. In adult mice, the severity of vascular leakage appeared to be dose-dependent, being more pronounced in HI compared to LI recipients. Interestingly, no noticeable change in blood flow velocity was observed following busulfan treatment. Ex vivo imaging of the long bones revealed a reduction in the frequency and an increase in the diameter and density of the blood vessels shortly after treatment, a phenomenon that largely recovered in young mice but persisted in older mice after 6 weeks. Furthermore, analysis of bone remodeling indicated a significant alteration in bone turnover at 6 weeks compared to earlier timepoints in both young and adult mice. Overall, our results reveal new aspects of bone and BM remodeling, as well as hematopoietic recovery, which is dependent on the cytotoxic dose and recipient age.

Light Stress Elicits Soilborne Disease Suppression Mediated by Root-secreted Flavonoids in Panax notoginseng

Abstract Developing disease-suppressive soils is an effective approach for managing soilborne diseases, which can be achieved through crop metabolism and root secretion modification that recruit beneficial soil microbiota. Many factors, such as light, can elicit and modify plant metabolomic activities, resulting in disease suppression. To investigate the impact of light, Panax notoginseng was planted in a greenhouse and forest, conditioned with three levels of light intensities, including the optimal (15% light transmittance of full light), suboptimal low (5% light transmittance of full light) and suboptimal high (30% light transmittance of full light) intensities. The rhizosphere microbiota of P. notoginseng and root rot disease caused by soilborne pathogen Ilyonectria destructans, and the mechanism was elucidated. Results showed that suboptimal light conditions alleviated root rot disease of P. notoginseng by enriching beneficial microbiota in the rhizosphere. Both low and high light stresses enhanced the secondary metabolism profile in favor of plant defense, particularly the flavonoid pathway. Notably, high light stress demonstrates a robust ability to promoted flavonoid metabolism and secretion, resulting in the enrichment of more beneficial microorganisms that suppressed the soilborne pathogen I. destructans. These findings highlight the potential for adjusting canopy light intensities to improve soil health and promote sustainable agriculture.

Prospects for cordycepin biosynthesis in microbial cell factories

Cordycepin, an adenosine analog, exhibits diverse bioactivities and holds significant potential for applications in healthcare and agriculture. Fungi of the genus Cordyceps, such as Cordyceps militaris, can naturally produce cordycepin. Current sources of cordycepin primarily involve extraction from fruiting bodies or isolation from liquid fermentation using C. militaris, presenting challenges such as low production intensity, complex separation and purification systems, and high production costs, limiting industrial feasibility. Recent advancements have witnessed the utilization of various fungal chassis cells to successfully engineer heterologous biosynthetic platforms for cordycepin, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and unconventional yeasts, offering advantages of high yield, short fermentation cycles, and a broad substrate spectrum. This mini review summarizes the biosynthetic pathways of cordycepin and focused on the comparison of the characteristics, advantages, current performance and prospects for the microbial cell factories, analyzing potential targets for metabolic pathway modification and giving strategies in both genetic engineering and process engineering to enhance production intensity. The mini review particularly emphasizes the crucial role of chassis cell stress tolerance to the toxic product in determining cordycepin yield and highlights the urgent need for high-throughput screening methods for high-yield strains.

Ultrafast reverse saturable absorption and all-optical computing with boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) chromophore derivatives

Ultrafast reverse saturable absorption (RSA) in chromophore-based borondipyrro-methenes (BODIPYs) derivatives, 1,7-Diphenyl-3,5-bis(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)-boron-diuoride-azadipyrromethene (ZL-61) and 1,7-Diphenyl-3,5-bis(4-(1,2,2-triphenyl-vinyl)phenyl)-boron-diuoride azadipyrromethene (ZL-22), has been theoretically analyzed with femtosecond (fs) laser pulses at 800 nm and 850 nm. The results are in good agreement with the reported experimental results. The effect of input pulse intensity, pulse width, nonlinear absorption (NLA) coefficients, sample thickness and laser pulse shaping on transmittance has been studied and optimized for high contrast and low-power operation. All-optical fs NOT and the universal NOR and NAND Boolean logic gates have been designed with ZL-61 and ZL-22. The logic gates with top-hat input pulse profile have a sharp switch ON/OFF time compared to the Gaussian input laser profile. Ultrafast operation at relatively low pump intensities opens up exciting prospects for the applicability of BODIPY derivatives for ultrafast low-power all-optical computing and information processing.

Effectiveness of biobehavioral therapeutic education in chronic low back pain intensity and disability: a systematic review

Background: Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a prevalent musculoskeletal issue that could lead to significant disability. CLBP involves persistent pain and psychological factors contributing to its complexity. Therapeutic education combining cognitive-behavioral approaches may aid in managing CLBP. Objectives: This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of therapeutic education based on a biobehavioral approach in modifying beliefs and promoting active coping strategies in CLBP patients. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, EBSCO host, and Google Scholar for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies from March 27 to April 16, 2022, with an update on June 15, 2024. Inclusion criteria focused on adults with CLBP undergoing therapeutic education aimed at behavioral modification. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale, and risk of bias was evaluated using RoB 2.0. Results: Out of 532 studies, four met the inclusion criteria. The interventions combined therapeutic education with therapeutic exercise or conventional physical therapy. Pain intensity and disability were the main outcomes measured. One study found significant improvements in pain and disability, while others showed trends towards improvement without statistical significance. The quality of evidence was very low. Conclusion: Combining therapeutic education with active coping strategies and other therapies may reduce pain intensity and disability in CLBP patients. However, the evidence quality is very low, highlighting the need for further research.

It's about the long game, not epic workouts: Unpacking HIIT for endurance athletes.

HIIT prescriptions manipulate intensity, duration, and recovery variables in multiple combinations. Researchers often compare different HIIT variable combinations and treat HIIT prescription as a "maximization problem," seeking to identify the prescription(s) that induce the largest acute VO2/HR/RPE response. However, studies connecting the magnitude of specific acute HIIT response variables like work time >90% of VO2max and resulting cellular signalling and/or translation to protein upregulation and performance enhancement are lacking. This is also not how successful endurance athletes train. First, HIIT training cannot be seen in isolation. Successful endurance athletes perform most of their training volume below the first lactate turn point (<LT1), with "threshold training" and HIIT as integrated parts of a synergistic combination of training intensities and durations. Second, molecular signalling research reveals multiple, "overlapping" signalling pathways driving peripheral adaptations, with those pathways most sensitive to work intensity showing substantial feedback inhibition. This makes current training content and longer-term training history critical modulators of HIIT adaptive responses. Third, long term maximization of endurance capacity extends over years. Successful endurance athletes balance low intensity and high intensity, low systemic stress, and high systemic stress training sessions over time. The endurance training process is therefore an "optimization problem." Effective HIIT sessions generate both cellular signal and systemic stress that each individual athlete responds to and recovers from over weeks, months, and even years of training. It's not "epic" HIIT sessions but effective integration of intensity, duration, and frequency of all training stimuli over time that drives endurance performance success.

Study of Multimodality Imaging Features of Brown Tumor or Osteitis Fibrosa Cystica

Introduction Brown tumor, also known as osteitis fibrosa cystica, is a rare but significant manifestation of hyperparathyroidism characterized by focal bone lesions resulting from excessive osteoclastic activity. Despite its rarity, Brown tumor poses diagnostic challenges due to its varied clinical presentations and radiographic features, often mimicking other bone lesions such as giant cell tumors or metastatic disease. Material and Methods In this study, we present a retrospective analysis of 6 cases of Brown tumor diagnosed and managed at our institution over a 12 months period from April 2022 to April 2023. Our objectives are to delineate the diverse clinical manifestations of Brown tumor, discuss diagnostic modalities utilized, treatment strategies employed, and evaluate patient outcomes. Results Five out of our six patients were females. Also 5 out of our 6 patients were under the age of 25. 2 patients presented to us with multiple lytic lesions and other 4 patients had solitary lesions. 1 patient out of 6 presented to us with pathological fracture. Only 2 out of the 6 patients had a positive sestamibi scan but Ultrasonography (USG) of the neck and MRI of the neck showed the presence of parathyroid adenoma in all the cases. Preoperative average of VAS score in this patients was 67 which was decreased to as low as 24. We performed paired t-tests on the blood investigation values and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores for all patients. The results were statistically significant, with values returning to normal three months post-surgery. Conclusion When radiographic evidence of a lytic lesion and hypercalcemia are present, Brown tumor should always be considered in the differential diagnosis. Brown tumor has a distinctive imaging appearance, with solid components displaying intermediate to low intensity on T1- and T2-weighted images, while the cystic components appear hyperintense on T2-weighted images and exhibit fluid-fluid levels. MRI of the neck corroborates the ultrasound findings and detects parathyroid adenomas as hyperintense nodes on T2-weighted images. Parathyroidectomy yields excellent results, enabling conservative management of lytic lesions.