Special Scale Research Articles

Pressure Ulcers in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Spinal Cord Injury

Background: Pressure injury is the most common preventable secondary complication of spinal cord injury and may lead to serious. Aims of the study: To determine the prevalence, grade, number and most common sites of pressure ulcer in people with spinal cord injury. Patients and Method: This study carried out at Ibn Alkuff Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, during the period from 1st of November 2017 to the 1st of July 2018. A total sample of 100 patients was included in this descriptive cross-sectional study. Pressure ulcer was diagnosed by physical examination and graded according to the classification system for pressure ulcer by the European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (EPUAP). Special scale was included in this study to assess spinal cord injury impairment (American spinal injury association scale (ASIA). Results: Forty patients were having a pressure ulcer. This study showed these pressure ulcers more frequent in ASIA score (A) followed by (B) and (C). The results showed no statistically significant association between age, gender, duration of spinal cord injury and causes of spinal cord injury in determining the presence of pressure ulcer (p=0.089, p=0.57, p=0.214 and p=0.57 respectively). Conclusions: Pressure ulcers are one of common secondary complication that occurs in 40% of Iraqi patients with spinal cord injury with more frequency in ASIA scale A and B spinal cord injury especially in sacral area and most of the patients presented with one ulcer only.

Three-State Majority-vote Model on Scale-Free Networks and the Unitary Relation for Critical Exponents

We investigate the three-state majority-vote model for opinion dynamics on scale-free and regular networks. In this model, an individual selects an opinion equal to the opinion of the majority of its neighbors with probability 1 − q, and different to it with probability q. The parameter q is called the noise parameter of the model. We build a network of interactions where z neighbors are selected by each added site in the system, a preferential attachment network with degree distribution k−λ, where λ = 3 for a large number of nodes N. In this work, z is called the growth parameter. Using finite-size scaling analysis, we obtain that the critical exponents beta /bar{nu } and gamma /bar{nu } associated with the magnetization and the susceptibility, respectively. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we calculate the critical noise parameter qc as a function of z for the scale-free networks and obtain the phase diagram of the model. We find that the critical exponents add up to unity when using a special volumetric scaling, regardless of the dimension of the network of interactions. We verify this result by obtaining the critical noise and the critical exponents for the two and three-state majority-vote model on cubic lattice networks.

Features of microscopic and macroscopic analysis of 35HGSL steel

Foundry steels are widely used in modern engineering today. But it is foundry steels that have the greatest number of defects, which can be detected by macro-and microanalysis. In addition, with the help of these studies, you can get an idea about the General structure of the metal and the presence of certain specific defects in it – stone-like and naphthalene fractures. Using microanalysis methods, it is also possible to evaluate the properties of multiphase alloys and cast iron, for which there are special scales that classify graphite and phosphide eutectic by shape and quantity. The article describes the features of conducting these studies using optical microscopy.

Impact of exotic macroalga on shorebirds varies with foraging specialization and spatial scale.

Exotic species may increase or decrease native biodiversity. However, effects of exotic species are often mixed; and indirect pathways and compensatory changes can mask effects. Context-specific assessments of the indirect impacts of exotic species are also needed across multiple spatial scales. Agarophyton vermiculophyllum (previously Gracilaria vermiculophylla), an exotic, invasive macroalga, has established throughout the western hemisphere with reported positive or neutral impacts on biodiversity. Shorebirds are an important group for conservation in areas invaded by A. vermiculophyllum. We assess the impacts of this invader on shorebirds by measuring behavior and habitat selection at spatial scales ranging from algal patches to the entire study region. Birds were considered either flexible-foragers that used diverse foraging techniques, or specialized-foragers that employed fewer, more specialized foraging techniques. Responses were scale dependent, with patterns varying between spatial scales, and between behavior and habitat selection. However, a general pattern of habitat selection emerged wherein flexible-foraging shorebirds preferred A. vermiculophyllum habitat, and for specialized-foragers, habitat selection of A. vermiculophyllum was mixed. Meanwhile, flexible-foraging birds tended to neutrally use or avoid uninvaded habitat, and specialized-foraging birds mostly preferred uninvaded habitat. Shorebird behavioral response was less clear; with flexible-foragers spending less time on bare sediment than expected, the only significant response. Shorebird response to A. vermiculophyllum differed by foraging mode; likely because flexible, opportunistic species more readily use invaded habitat. Increases in A. vermiculophyllum could result in functional homogenization if the bare habitat preferred by specialized-foragers is reduced too greatly. We hypothesize the effect of scale is driven by differences among tidal flats. Thus, tidal flat properties such as sediment grain size and microtopography would determine whether foraging from A. vermiculophyllum was optimal for a shorebird. Specialization and spatial scale are important when assessing the biodiversity conservation impacts of invasive A. vermiculophyllum.

Detection and tracking of mesoscale eddies in the Mediterranean Sea: A comparison between the Sea Level Anomaly and the Absolute Dynamic Topography fields

Mediterranean Sea eddies are often generated in fixed geographical locations linked to either bathymetric fluctuations, coastline changes, instabilities around islands, or orographic wind forcing. Because of that, the mean circulation exhibits features with the same special scales as the mesoscale field. We provide here a first comparison of eddies detected and tracked using two altimetry products, the Sea Level Anomaly (SLA) and the Absolute Dynamic Topography (ADT), from 2000 to 2015. We showed that more individual eddies and trajectories are detected in the SLA data than in the ADT, having larger radius but lower Eddy Kinetic Energy. The spatial distribution of the mesoscale activity is different between the two data sets: the ADT-detected eddies closely follow the Mean Dynamic Topography (MDT) patterns which include the mean eddy generation sites whereas the SLA-detected eddies show more spatial homogeneity. The larger eddies are generally well detected in both the ADT or the SLA fields, but the numerous smaller and coastal eddies detected in the SLA fields have a tendency to mismatch the ADT detected eddies. Only 20–30% of eddies are detected exclusively in the SLA or the ADT product (i.e. have no collocation in the other field), whereas to 65–80% of the eddies are detected both in the SLA and the ADT fields. The Ierapetra Eddy is a typical example of the limitation of the SLA-detected eddies, as this orographically controlled feature is present in the MDT and thus leads to an artificial cyclonic eddy in the SLA field that shifts around its most frequent position. This study recommends the use of ADT fields for the detection of mesoscale structures in the Mediterranean Sea where the mean circulation and these mesoscale features have the same spatial scale and intensity, and similarly for any other ocean regions where the MDT contains mesoscale patterns. Yet the ADT fields depend on the accuracy of the MDT, and the altimeter-based SLA fields may be preferable in specific locations where the MDT is not reliable.

A COMPARISON OF THE MARX ACTIVITY RATING SCALE AND THE HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY PEDIATRIC FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY BRIEF SCALE

Background:The Marx Activity Rating Scale (MARS) and the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS) are both validated activity scales. While the MARS examines greatest physical activity level within the last year, the HSS Pedi-FABS assesses the greatest level of physical activity within the last month.Purpose:To determine whether the different time frames used in MARS and HSS Pedi-FABS affect scores on common items in both scales, and if so, to determine whether age or injury status affect this difference.Methods:The MARS and 4 analogous items on the HSS Pedi-FABS were administered sequentially in random order to patients being evaluated at two sports surgeons’ clinic for knee injuries in addition to their healthy companions in order to enroll an uninjured comparison group. Responses to each question were scored from 0-4 for a maximum overall score of 16. Participant demographics were also recorded. Paired and independent sample t-tests were used to determine mean differences between the two scales and between healthy and injured adults and children, respectively.Results:The final cohort included 88 participants of which 47% were children (ages 10-17) and 51% had a knee injury. All participants except for healthy adults scored significantly lower on the HSS Pedi-FABS than the MARS (p < 0.05, Table 1). On the HSS Pedi-FABS activity scale, healthy participants scored significantly higher than injured participants (p<0.01), but there were no significant differences based on age, Figure 1A. Conversely, on the MARS scale, children scored higher than adults (p≤0.001), but there were no significant differences based on injury, Figure 1B.Conclusion:Physical activity level is significantly different when evaluated by either MARS or its analogue portion of HSS Pedi-FABS. Because the only difference between the scales is the timeframe, the lower scores on the Pedi-FABS than the MARS are likely due to seasonal changes in activity which are not captured in the MARS. Because the Pedi-FABS analyzes a shorter window, it is more likely to capture acute changes in physical activity due to a recent injury than the MARS scale while the MARS scale is better suited for examining general physical activity unaffected by seasonality. Understating the differences between these scales can guide clinicians in using them appropriately when evaluating patient activity level.Tables:Table 1.Mean differences between the MARS and HSS Pedi-FABS scales based on adult vs. child and healthy vs. injured status.nMARSHSS Pedi-FABSDifferenceMean ± SDMean ± SDMean ± SDp-valueHealthyChild2212.5 ± 3.89.7 ± 5.02.7 ± 3.80.003Adult216.8 ± 4.47.0 ± 4.80.1 ± 1.30.614InjuredChild1912.4 ± 5.03.1 ± 4.59.3 ± 8.1<0.001Adult266.4 ± 5.63.2 ± 4.43.2 ± 6.70.024SD = Standard deviationFigures:Figure 1.Significant differences between injured and healthy adults and children on the A) HSS Pedi-FABS scale and B) MARS scale.

GIS approaches to creating maps based on vegetation indices for forest management

The article considers the main approaches to providing information support for improving forest management on the territory, taking into account the most up-to-date experience, modern approaches and implementing sustainable forestry management based on the data of remote sensing and geoinformational modelling. To identify the state of vegetation in the area under analysis, the authors of the article propose to introduce the definition of a normalized differential vegetation index. A characteristic feature of vegetation and its state is spectral reflectivity, which is characterized by substantial differences in reflecting radiation from different wavelengths. To obtain the necessary MODIS packages, we used the LAADS DAAC service supported by NASA. The data of this service are freely accessible, convenient for the user, and they are taken from a large number of satellites and their spectra. The optimal option for solving the tasks of compiling NDVI maps is using the geographic information system QGIS. Among the main advantages of this GIS we can consider user-friendliness and its multi-platform basis. For proper visualization of the NDVI map, a special discrete scale of values is used, the purpose of which is to differentiate between organic and non-organic nature, as well as determine the density of vegetation. The introduction of the proposed technology will significantly increase the mobility and effectiveness of forest management.

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN INJURY AND SPORTS SPECIALIZATION AMONG FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

Background:Volleyball participation has increased and unlike other team sports, its popularity among high school girls continues to grow. With its rise in popularity, the number of girls playing club volleyball outside of school has also grown. Sports specialization in youth athletes, or year-round intensive training in a single sport at the exclusion of others has become a concern. Overuse injuries are common among female volleyball players and specialization may be one factor that puts girls at risk of injury.Hypothesis/ Purpose:Evaluate the level of sports specialization among female high school volleyball players and examine its association with injury history.Design:Retrospective cohort study.Methods:Female students in grades 9-12 at 78 high schools who were committed to trying out for their high school volleyball team were recruited to participate in this study prior to the 2018 fall high school season. Athletes completed baseline assessments of sport related injuries within the previous 12 months. The athletes were asked to report their participation in interscholastic and club volleyball, including training volume and self-reported specialization. Finally, specialization of the athletes was determined using Jayanthi’s 3-point specialization scale. Athletes who had an injury that kept them out of the first day of tryouts were excluded. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed.Results:2216 female high school volleyball players completed baseline evaluations (Age=15.6 ± 1.1 years old, BMI= 22.5± 3.5 kgs/m2) of whom 1588 identified volleyball as their primary sport (72%). Both moderately and highly specialized volleyball athletes were about twice as likely to report a musculoskeletal injury in the previous 12 months (Moderate: OR=1.84, 95%CI=1.29-2.62; High: OR=2.30, 95%CI=1.64-3.24). Similarly, those who played club volleyball were two times more likely to report a musculoskeletal injury in the past year (OR=2.00, 95%CI=1.48-2.71). Multisport athletes were also more likely to report a previous musculoskeletal injury (OR=1.69, 85%CI=1.24-2.32). Highly specialized volleyball players were more likely to participate in club volleyball (p<0.001), summer camps (p<0.001), and participate in both club and summer camps in the same year (p<0.001).Conclusions:High school girls’ volleyball players who are highly specialized were more likely to report a musculoskeletal injury in the past 12 months. Similarly, those who played club volleyball were more likely to report an injury in the past year. While sports specialization seems to be associated with increased risk of injury, it may be at least partially related to increased training volume.

SPORT SPECIALIZATION AND COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP BELIEFS AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENT AMONG HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PARENTS

BACKGROUND:Youth athletes are increasingly encouraged to specialize in a single sport and participate on club teams year-round to be offered a college scholarship. For collegiate baseball, only 11.7 scholarships are available for a 35-player team. Presently, the beliefs of parents of baseball athletes towards sport specialization are unknown along with whether they have an accurate understanding of college baseball scholarship availability.PURPOSE:To describe the beliefs of parents of high school baseball players regarding sport specialization and college scholarships. A secondary purpose was to compare child baseball participation characteristics by parent median household income (MHI) categories.METHODS:During the 2019 spring baseball season, 155 parents (female N=82 (52.9%), age: 49.45.5 years) of high school baseball players from six San Diego county high schools completed an anonymous questionnaire concerning parent and child demographics, child baseball participation information (e.g., club baseball team participation), money spent on their child’s baseball participation, sport specialization status, and parent beliefs regarding sport specialization and college scholarships. Sport specialization status was determined using a validated 3-point specialization scale. Parent MHI was estimated using residence zip code and categorized into MHI tertiles (low, middle, high).RESULTS:Seventy-three parents (47.7%) classified their children as highly specialized and 110 parents (71.0%) reported their child played club baseball in addition to their high school team. Parents reported spending a median of $3000 [$1500-6000] on their child’s baseball participation during the previous year. Only 44 parents (28.4%) reported being concerned about sport specialization. Most parents (69.9%) believed that specialization would increase their child’s chances of making a college team. Parents underestimated the number of college baseball scholarships available per team (median [IQR]: 5 [0-5]), but 55 parents (35.9%) believed it was “somewhat” or “very likely” their child would receive a college baseball scholarship. Compared to low MHI parents, high MHI parents were more likely to classify their child as highly specialized (65.8% vs. 31.7%, p=0.02), and have a child participating in club baseball (82.1% vs. 58.3%, p=0.02).CONCLUSIONS:Parents who reported a greater financial investment in their child’s baseball participation believed it would improve their child’s sport performance to play college baseball. Despite having a realistic understanding of the limited college scholarships available, parents were optimistic that their child would receive a baseball scholarship. The current year-round, highly specialized environment of youth sports in the United States may favor families with more financial resources.

Translation and Validation of the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale for French Paediatric Populations.

Purpose: Physical activity level is a prognostic variable for patients with injuries. Self-report questionnaires exist to obtain these measures; however, they are not accessible to all populations because of language barriers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to translate and validate the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS) for francophones. Method: We translated the HSS Pedi-FABS using the forward-reverse translation approach and validated it among bilingual adults and an expert panel before administering it to a paediatric population. A repeated-measures crossover design was used: forty-three middle school students, aged 13.1 (SD 0.75) years, were randomly administered either the English or the French questionnaire. Two days later, all participants completed the other version. The translated questionnaire was assessed for its convergent validity (Spearman's r correlation coefficients [rs ]), internal consistency (Cronbach's α), and reliability (standard error of measurement [SEM]). Results: All assessments had a significance level of p<0.001 with an excellent Spearman's r correlation coefficient between the participants' total scores on the translated questionnaires (rs =0.911). The overall scores for the questionnaire and the individual items of the questionnaire revealed excellent internal consistency (α=0.868) and reliability (SEM=0.334). Conclusions: The validated and reliable translated questionnaire can be used by researchers and clinicians to assess physical activity levels in French paediatric populations.

Attitudes of students towards peers with special educational needs in mainstream Portuguese schools

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence the attitudes of students towards peers identified as having special educational needs (SEN) in Portuguese mainstream schools. Data were collected from a sample of 1093 students from 5th to 9th grade across Madeira Autonomous Region. Data collection instruments included the Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes Towards Children with Special Needs Scale and a brief questionnaire covering sociodemographic and proximity information and knowledge about special needs. The results of multivariate analysis indicate more favourable attitudes in girls, younger participants and those with lower educational levels. Additionally, proximity, contact and knowledge related to special educational needs appear to be determinants of positive attitudes. The discussion of inclusion in schools and gender appear to be the factors most associated with students’ attitudes towards peers with special educational needs in mainstream education. Implications and further studies are presented.

Common peroneal nerve ‘pre-release’ in total knee arthroplasty for severe valgus deformities

BackgroundCommon peroneal nerve (CPN) palsy is a devastating complication that follows total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there are only a few studies on concrete measures for protecting the CPN in patients. This study aimed to put forward the CPN 'pre-release' method to protect the nerve. MethodsA prospective study was conducted on 30 patients (34 knees) with severe valgus knees who underwent CPN pre-release. This was a two-incision approach, and required a separate dissection of about three centimeters from the TKA operation. Clinical measurements including pre- and postoperative motor and sensory nerve function of CPN, radiological evaluation, complications, and the revised data were analyzed and compared. ResultsThe average preoperative femorotibial angle was 31.3 ± 8.0°. All patients had completely normal motor (grade 5) and sensory nerve function of CPN postoperatively, and there was no transient or late-onset CPN palsy. Patients had a routine rehabilitation with full weight bearing after recovery from anesthesia, including the knees with unconstrained extension/flexion motion. During the last follow-up visit, the visual analog scale, Knee Society Score, Hospital for Special Surgery knee-rating scale, and range of motion were 2.06 ± 1.13, 92.18 ± 5.57, 90.18 ± 3.70, and 115.59 ± 7.76°, respectively. There were no revisions for instability and recurrent valgus deformities during follow-up. Also, the femorotibial angle, hip–knee–ankle angle, condylar–hip angle, and plateau–ankle angle were 4.9 ± 2.0°, 179.09 ± 3.21°, 89.97 ± 2.41°, and 90.53 ± 1.26°, respectively. ConclusionsThe CPN pre-release for severe valgus knees is an effective method for nerve protection, achieving an adequate and safe release of lateral soft tissue, and providing immediate and early functional rehabilitation with decreasing constrained implant.

Intact Nuclear Families: Associations between Parental Styles and School Children’s Behavior

Abstract Regardless of family configurations, few studies address the concomitant assessment of mothers and fathers regarding their children’s behaviors and parenting practices. The objective was to compare and correlate the assessment of biological mothers and fathers of intact nuclear families on their parental practices and behavioral problems of their school-aged children. Fourth-two intact nuclear families answered to the following instruments: General Questionnaire, Parenting Style Inventory, Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and Raven Progressive Matrices Test - Special Scale. The quantitative analysis showed that mothers and fathers presented similar assessments regarding the behavior of their children, though mothers reported more positive practices than fathers. Negative parenting styles were positively correlated with child behavioral problems. These findings contribute to the planning of preventive strategies and interventions directed to families.

Activity Measures in Pediatric Athletes: A Comparison of the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale and Tegner Activity Level Scale

Background: In young athletes, patient-reported activity level is frequently used to determine return to the same level of sport after treatment. Purpose: To evaluate the validity and score distributions of the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS) compared with the Tegner Activity Level Scale (Tegner) in pediatric athletes. Study Design: Cohort study (Diagnosis); Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A retrospective review of 517 consecutive youth athletes who came to a sports medicine specialty clinic for a knee evaluation was performed. Patients completed the HSS Pedi-FABS, Tegner, and a sports participation survey before evaluation. Scores were compared with reported hours, days, and weeks of participation in sports as well as level of competition. Floor or ceiling effects were identified, and finally, the means and distributions of scores in the 8 most common primary sports were analyzed. Results: A total of 398 participants (54.0% female) with an average age of 14.5 years (range, 10.0-18.8 years) were included in the study. The HSS Pedi-FABS demonstrated correlations with hours per week (r = 0.302; P < .001), days per week (r = 0.278; P < .001), and weeks per year (r = 0.136; P = .014) playing a primary sport. The Tegner only demonstrated a correlation with days per week (r = 0.211; P = .001). Additionally, club/select-level athletes scored higher than junior high/high school–level athletes on the HSS Pedi-FABS (23.8 vs 21.0; P = .004), but no difference was observed with the Tegner. No floor or ceiling effect was observed for the HSS Pedi-FABS, but a ceiling effect was present for the Tegner (32.8%). The HSS Pedi-FABS demonstrated a varied score distribution between the 8 most common primary sports (P < .001), with soccer players scoring the highest, on average (23.5). Conclusion: The HSS Pedi-FABS, compared with the Tegner, demonstrated more correlations with an athlete’s participation in sport with no floor or ceiling effect and had a wide distribution of scores even among same-sport athletes. The HSS Pedi-FABS may be a more valuable activity measure than the Tegner in pediatric athletes.

Time interval affects physical activity scores: a comparison of the Marx Activity Rating Scale and the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale

The Marx Activity Rating Scale (Marx Scale) is a commonly used activity-related patient-reported outcome which evaluates the highest activity level within the last year, whereas the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale (HSS Pedi-FABS) assesses highest activity level within the last month. This study aims to determine whether the different timeframes used for the common items of Marx Scale and HSS Pedi-FABS affect scores, and if so, to determine whether age or injury status affect this difference. The Marx Scale and four analogous items on the HSS Pedi-FABS were administered in random order to patients being evaluated for knee injuries and in addition to healthy controls to enroll an uninjured comparison group. Responses to each question were scored from 0 to 4 for a maximum overall score of 16. Paired and independent-sample t tests were used to determine mean differences between groups. The final cohort included 88 participants of which 47% were children (ages 10-17) and 51% had a knee injury. All participants except for healthy adults scored significantly lower on the HSS Pedi-FABS than the Marx Scale (p < 0.05). On the HSS Pedi-FABS activity scale, healthy participants scored significantly higher than injured participants (p < 0.01), but there were no significant differences based on age. Conversely, on the Marx Scale, children scored higher than adults (p ≤ 0.001), but there were no significant differences based on injury. Physical activity level differs when evaluated with the Marx Scale or the analogue part of HSS Pedi-FABS with timeframe being the only difference between the two. The lower scores on the HSS Pedi-FABS are likely due to seasonal changes in activity which do not affect the Marx Scale. HSS Pedi-FABS analyzes a shorter window and it is more likely to capture changes in physical activity due to a recent injury than the Marx Scale which is better suited for assessing general physical activity level unaffected by seasonality or recent injury. Understating the differences between these physical activity scales can better guide clinicians when using them and interpreting scores. II.

The Italian cross-cultural adaptations of the paediatric International Knee Documentation Committee Score and the Hospital for Special Surgery Paediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale are reliable instruments in paediatric population.

The aim of the present study was to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and assess the psychometric properties of the Pedi-IKDC and Pedi-FABS scores in the Italian paediatric population with various knee pathologies. In accordance with the Paediatric Anterior Cruciate Ligament Monitoring Initiative (PAMI) research protocol, the original English versions of the questionnaires were translated into Italian. All patients aged 8-16 and scheduled for knee surgery were considered eligible in the study. An open-source platform was implemented to collect responses to the surveys which included general patient information, the questionnaires Pedi-IKDC, and Pedi-FABS. Two surveys were sent under stable clinical conditions before surgery (Q1 and Q2); a third survey was sent 3-4months after surgery (Q3). The following properties were calculated: reliability, internal consistency, criterion validity, responsiveness, and floor/ceiling effects. Eighty-nine patients completed Q1, 81 patients completed Q2, and 49 patients completed Q3. Both questionnaires demonstrated acceptable properties. Pedi-IKDC: standard error of measurement (SEM) = 4.4, smallest detectable change (SDC) = 12.3, interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.96, Cronbach alpha (α) = 0.92, moderate-to-low correlation to Pedi-FABS, effect size (ES) = 0.79, standardized response mean (SRM) = 0.86, floor = 0%, ceiling = 22%. Pedi-FABS: SEM = 2.1, SDC = 5.8, ICC = 0.94, Cronback alpha (α) = 0.93, moderate-to-low correlation to Pedi-IKDK, ES = 0.60, SRM = 0.51, floor = 19%, ceiling = 0%. The Italian version of Pedi-IKDC and Pedi-FABS is valuable tools for patient assessment, by demonstrating good psychometric properties. In clinical setting, these questionnaires can be used to properly evaluate outcomes in Italian pediatric patients with knee pathologies. II.

Trajectories of physical performance in nursing home residents with dementia

BackgroundIn nursing homes (NH) the prevalence of dementia ranges from 50 to 84% and most residents have extensive physical-performance impairments. However, from time of admission, development of physical performance in NH residents with dementia remains unexplored.AimsTo explore the overall trend in physical performance, associated characteristics, and groups following distinct trajectories from time of admission, in NH residents with dementia.MethodsWe followed newly admitted NH residents diagnosed with dementia (N = 583) from 47 NHs across Norway for 3 years. Individual assessments were conducted biannually, and main outcome measure was the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Facility-level characteristics included unit size, staff-to-resident ratio, and quality of the physical environment (Special Care Unit Environmental Quality Scale, SCUEQS).ResultsFrom time of admission, NH residents with dementia showed a significant overall decline in physical performance. Further, we identified three distinct trajectory groups with significantly different baseline physical-performance status (“good,” “moderate,” and “poor”), differences between groups maintained and all declined across time. Younger age, good general medical health, less-severe dementia, and less musculoskeletal pain were associated with both an average higher overall trend and better baseline group-belonging. Additionally, less apathy and more psychosis were associated with a higher overall trend, and agitation was associated with poorer baseline group-belonging.ConclusionsTo prevent excessive decline in physical performance in this population, NH clinicians should focus efforts specifically on assessment of physical performance at admission and on identification and management of musculoskeletal pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Morphology and phylogenetic analysis of two new species of deep-seagolden gorgonians (Cnidaria: Octocorallia: Chrysogorgiidae) fromseamounts in the Western Pacific Ocean.

Two new species of deep-sea chrysogorgiid gorgonians are described from the tropical Western Pacific: Iridogorgia densispicula n. sp. from an unnamed seamount in the Caroline Plate with water depth of 1204 m and Iridogorgia squarrosa n. sp. from an unnamed seamount near the Mariana Trench with water depth of 1458 m. Iridogorgia densispicula n. sp. has a slender stem with bud-like polyps, dense sclerites in polyps and branches, spindle-like scales in polyp bases, and long rods in tentacles. Iridogorgia squarrosa n. sp. has a brown to nearly black axis, large polyps with eight obvious columns, elongated scales in the back of tentacles, and special scales at base of polyps with many sculptures. By the combination of these features, the two new species differ distinctly from each other and all other congeners. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that I. densispicula n. sp. is sister to all other Iridogorgia Verrill, 1883, while I. squarrosa n. sp. showed close relationship with I. splendens Watling, 2007.

Prevalence and Impact of Chronic Ankle Instability in Adolescent Athletes.

Background:The prevalence and impact of chronic ankle instability (CAI) in adolescent athletes are unknown. To better develop and justify prevention strategies of lateral ankle sprains and CAI, it is important to understand the origin and associated long-term impact of CAI within populations other than adults.Purpose/Hypothesis:The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and impact of CAI on ankle function, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and physical activity in adolescent athletes. The hypothesis was that the presence of CAI will be commonly reported among adolescent athletes and that participants with CAI will have lower self-reported ankle function, HRQoL, and physical activity when compared with participants without CAI.Study Design:Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:A cohort of 1002 healthy (able to fully participate) adolescent athletes (50.4% female; mean age, 15.6 ± 1.6 years) across 8 club sport facilities and high schools completed paper-and-pencil surveys to establish the presence of CAI (Identification of Functional Ankle Instability [IdFAI]) and estimate perceived ankle function (Foot and Ankle Ability Measure [FAAM]–Activities of Daily Living and FAAM-Sport), HRQoL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 [PedsQL]), and physical activity (Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale [HSS Pedi-FABS]).Results:The overall prevalence of CAI was 20.0%. Participants with unilateral CAI reported significantly lower (P < .001) ankle function (FAAM-Sport: 87.0 ± 14.8) and HRQoL (total PedsQL: 89.8 ± 9.8) than participants who did not have CAI (FAAM-Sport: 97.7 ± 6.0; total PedsQL: 93.5 ± 9.1). Physical activity was not different between participants with and without CAI.Conclusion:The prevalence of CAI was high among adolescent athletes. The presence of CAI negatively affected ankle function and HRQoL in adolescent athletes. Given the high prevalence and negative impact of CAI in an adolescent population, strategies to prevent ankle injuries and maintain physical activity are needed to alleviate future long-term consequences associated with developing CAI. These strategies should be implemented as soon as sport participation begins, as it appears that the origin of CAI may occur before adulthood.

МЕТОДОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ ОСНОВЫ МЕТРОЛОГИИ ЗНАНИЙ ДЛЯ ИНТЕЛЛЕКТУАЛИЗАЦИИ ИЗМЕРЕНИЙ

The functioning of modern information systems takes place in conditions of considerable uncertainty and heterogeneity of information flows, which makes it difficult to process such information: solutions are inaccurate, unstable, unfounded and not interpreted, which has been repeatedly noted in the scientific literature. This article suggests one of the methodological ways to eliminate these difficulties based on the application of the regularizing Bayesian approach (RBA) and Bayesian intelligent measurements (BIM). Information processing, both in the form of data and in the form of knowledge, is performed in BIM systems on special scales, scales with dynamic constraints that ensure the integration of numerical and linguistic information based on a modified Bayesian decision inference rule. Traceability of measurement solutions is ensured by introducing a parallel branch of metrological support for information processing. The semantic components of conjugate scales of the SDC type implement the interpretability (explainability) of measurements. The introduction of metrological justification of knowledge in technologies based on RBA provides a significant increase in the efficiency of information processing, both in artificial intelligence systems that traditionally work with knowledge, and in measurement systems for the intellectualization of measurements by ensuring the stability, interpretability and required quality of the resulting solutions. In addition, it is the metrological support of information technologies that will allow for the reliable integration of artificial intelligence and measurement technologies, which is an urgent need of modern information systems.