195,998 research outputs found
Patient-reported outcomes of intra-articular hyaluronic acid for osteoarthritis of the knee: a prospective and multicentric case series
No full textBackground: In the present study, patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) were treated with single intra-articular injection of a high molecular weight, non-cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA), highly concentrated (2%) and associated with sorbitol (4%). The aims of this study were to (1) evaluate clinical outcome after 6 months, (2) evaluate clinical outcomes after 12 months and (3) evaluate clinical outcomes according to OA grade. Hypothesis of the study was that a single intra-articular injection of this HA associated with sorbitol leads to a significant clinical improvement within 6 months in patients with early or moderate knee OA. Materials and methods: A total of 77 patients were enrolled in this prospective multicentric study. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score was recorded at baseline and at months 1, 3, 6 and 12 following the intra-articular injection. Moreover, a stratified analysis of all WOMAC items following the OA grade was performed for both groups of patients, one with low (grade I–II according to Kellgren–Lawrence classification) and another with moderate OA grade (grade III according to Kellgren–Lawrence) and the differences between groups were evaluated. Results: Seventy-three patients completed the 12 months follow-up. Pain, stiffness, functional limitation and total scores were significantly reduced at 1, 3 and 6 months (p < 0.05), but not at 12 months. Stratified analysis of all subscores according to OA grade showed that pain, functional limitation and total score decreased at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months (p < 0.05) in both groups. Stiffness was the only item that decreased significantly at 1, 3 and 6 months but not at 12 months in both groups. All subscore values were significantly lower in the group of patients with low OA grade compared to the one with moderate OA grade. No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: At 6 months after a single intra-articular injection of a high molecular weight, non-cross-linked HA associated with sorbitol, WOMAC scores decreased significantly. Clinical benefits were observed both in patients with low and in those with moderate OA grade, with better results in the first group
Variation of Hematochemical Profile and Vitamin E Status in Feral Giara Horses From Free Grazing in the Wild to Hay Feeding During Captivity
No full textWildlife protection and management are important priorities for landscape identity and biodiversity preservation. Feeding practices of fauna confined in facilities during temporary captivity are fundamental to support animal health and natural behavior. Appropriate provision of feedstuffs appears to be necessary to support the best practices in respect of animal species-specific natural diet. This investigation explored the variation of the metabolic profile by means of selected metabolite and respective circulating levels in a group feral Giara horses undergoing the change of the diet, moving from natural free grazing in the wild to temporary captivity. Six Giara horses (4 mares and 2 stallions; estimated age: 2.5–3 years; body weight: 163–170 kg) were captured to monitor the serological reaction to equine infectious anemia (EIA; screening at Coggins test). Animals were sheltered in a wildlife rescue center for a duration of 4 weeks, and all received the same hay-based diet (ad libitum). On 0 and 28 days of captivity, blood serum alpha-tocopherol (α-TOH) concentration was determined alongside selected metabolites (liver enzymes, total protein and fractions, cholesterol, triglycerides, and macrominerals and trace elements). Comparative feces quality and composition were also assessed. Both serum samples (0 vs. 28 days) displayed α-TOH levels below (<2 μg/mL) adequacy established for the domestic horse. Initial levels markedly (P = .020) decreased after the 4 weeks of captivity (Δ = −32.5%). Vitamin E status and ALT levels varied significantly, but serum protein fractions did not point to significant variations before and after captivity. All horses tested negative to EIA. Monitoring of vitamin E status of wild and feral herbivores may be recommendable in the context of adequate feeding practices during captivity to prevent potential deficiency or excessive depletion
Excreta quality and digestive function of singly versus couple caged Sardinian partridges (Alectoris barbara barbara Bonnaterre, 1790) as non-invasive indicators of birds’ coping ability to forced pairing
No full textThe Sardinian partridge is a monogamous wild bird species of least concern according to IUCN list at present, though formerly accounted among threatened species for decades. The creation of couples is crucial in captivity, because forced pairing in cages can lead to poor welfare of birds, specially of females. This study investigated the impact of single versus couple caging of Sardinian partridges during non-laying period based on the collection and interpretation of indirect and non-invasive parameters (feed intake; space availability; excreta quality; and nutrient utilization). A total of 24 couples of breeding partridges were enrolled for two consequent phases of a same investigation (lasting 15 days each). During phase 1, all couples were fed ad libitum with a pelleted complete diet (DM, 905 g kg−1 of diet; CP, 160 g kg−1; and EE, 25 g kg−1). In phase 2, each male from 12 out of 24 couples was moved to an identical cage close to that where the female remained alone, to keep visual contact. The rest of couples continued to be kept like in phase 1. During phases 1 and 2, feed intake and excreta outputs were recorded daily. Pooled excreta of the last 3 days from couples and single birds were assessed for pH and DM, CP and ash content. Nutrient digestibility was calculated. No significant differences were noted between single versus couple caging regarding body weight (438 vs. 422 g respectively) or nutrient digestibility. However, singly housed males reduced daily feed intakes and females increased daily feed intake per g−1 BW (0.041 vs. 0.052 g, respectively, p < 0.001). Our results suggest that singly caged partridges from permanent couples can improve the access to feed and reduce competition during the non-mating season
Dr. Duane M. Jackson, Morehouse College, July 2011
No full textThis video is a conversation with Dr. Duane M. Jackson. Dr. Jackson talks about his paper, "Recall and the Serial Position Effect: The Role of Primacy and Recency on Accounting Students' Performance." Jackie Daniel, AUC Woodruff Library, is the interviewer
"Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States" By M. Carey.
No full text"Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States: containing bried sketches of the moral and political character of those states.
By M. Carey, member of the American philosophical, and of the American Antiquarian Society, and author of The Olive Branch, Cindiciae Hibernicae, essays on banking, on political economy, and on internal improvement.
To which are now added the English editor's comments on the subject; together with Important Advice to Emigrants, and Cautions Against Impositions Practiced in the Outports
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
No full textWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
Dr. Glendon Swarthout
No full textHosted by Roger M. Busfield, MSU Assistant Professor of Speech and Theater, Meet the Author is designed to introduce a general audience to a contemporary author and their work through in-depth interviews. This episode features a conversation between Dr. Glendon Swarthout, prolific author and English professor at MSU, and assistant professors Sam S. Baskett and Theodore B. Strandness
Simulation of thermal plant optimization and hydraulic aspects of thermal distribution loops for large campuses
No full textFollowing an introduction, the author describes Texas A&M University and its utilities system. After that, the author presents how to construct simulation models for chilled water and heating hot water distribution systems. The simulation model was used in a $2.3 million Ross Street chilled water pipe replacement project at Texas A&M University. A second project conducted at the University of Texas at San Antonio was used as an example to demonstrate how to identify and design an optimal distribution system by using a simulation model. The author found that the minor losses of these closed loop thermal distribution systems are significantly higher than potable water distribution systems. In the second part of the report, the author presents the latest development of software called the Plant Optimization Program, which can simulate cogeneration plant operation, estimate its operation cost and provide optimized operation suggestions. The author also developed detailed simulation models for a gas turbine and heat recovery steam generator and identified significant potential savings. Finally, the author also used a steam turbine as an example to present a multi-regression method on constructing simulation models by using basic statistics and optimization algorithms. This report presents a survey of the author??s working experience at the Energy Systems Laboratory (ESL) at Texas A&M University during the period of January 2002 through March 2004. The purpose of the above work was to allow the author to become familiar with the practice of engineering. The result is that the author knows how to complete a project from start to finish and understands how both technical and nontechnical aspects of a project need to be considered in order to ensure a quality deliverable and bring a project to successful completion. This report concludes that the objectives of the internship were successfully accomplished and that the requirements for the degree of Degree of Engineering have been satisfied
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