Jaspers

This paper introduces a method for measuring 3D tibiofemoral kinematics using a multi-channel A-mode ultrasound system under dynamic conditions. The proposed system consists of a multi-channel A-mode ultrasound system integrated with a conventional motion capture system (i.e., optical tracking system). This approach allows for the non-invasive and non-radiative quantification of the tibiofemoral joint's six degrees of freedom (DOF). We demonstrated the feasibility and accuracy of this method in the cadaveric experiment...

Limited research investigates early childhood education and care (ECEC) educators' involvement in promoting physical activity. The aim was to identify distinct profiles based on physical activity-related practices and psychosocial factors in ECEC educators and examine how they relate to the amount of time allocated to children's physical activity. A secondary analysis of educator-reported survey data from the Play Active study was undertaken. Educators ( n = 532) reported on four practices and four psychosocial subscales adapted from the Environment and Policy Evaluation and Observation relating to the provision of physical activity in childcare...

Acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) reconstruction using artificial ligaments is a common surgical treatment for Rockwood grade III or higher injuries. These techniques use bone tunnels in the clavicle and coracoid to insert the Tightrope implants. This multicenter retrospective study compares long term radiographic follow up of clavicular tunnel widening in two groups of patients with high-grade ACJ injury who underwent reconstruction using two different surgical techniques. The first group of 23 patients underwent an arthroscopic single clavicular tunnel ACJ reconstruction...

Osteochondral defects are deep joint surface lesions that affect the articular cartilage and the underlying subchondral bone. In the current study, a tissue engineering approach encompassing individual cells encapsulated in a biocompatible hydrogel is explored in vitro and in vivo . Cell-laden hydrogels containing either human periosteum-derived progenitor cells (PDCs) or human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived chondrocytes encapsulated in gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) were evaluated for their potential to regenerate the subchondral mineralized bone and the articular cartilage on the joint surface, respectively...

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is the third most common form of hereditary myopathy. Sixty per cent of the world's population lives in Asia, so a significant percentage of the world's FSHD participants is expected to live there. To date, most FSHD studies have involved individuals of European descent, yet small-scale studies of East-Asian populations suggest that the likelihood of developing FSHD may vary. Here, we present the first genetically confirmed FSHD cohort of Indian ancestry, which suggests a pathogenic FSHD1 allele size distribution intermediate between European and North-East Asian populations and more asymptomatic carriers of 4 unit and 5 unit FSHD1 alleles than observed in European populations...

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of systemic factors on macular vessel density in quantitative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) by sex. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 2018 adults were recruited in this study. Participants were excluded (n=964) due to missing data, eye-related problems, or low OCTA scan quality. Macular vessel densities were measured with OCTA using split-spectrum amplitude decorrelation angiography algorithm...

In times of person-centered care, it is all the more important to support patients in making good decisions about their care. One way to offer such support to patients is by way of Patient Decision Aids (PDAs). Ranging from patient brochures to web-based tools, PDAs explicitly state the decisions patients face, inform them about their medical options, help them to clarify and discuss their values, and ultimately make a decision. However, lingering discussions surround effectiveness research on PDAs. In this article, I focus on two subjective measures of decision quality that are widely used as outcome measures in effectiveness research on PDAs (i...

BACKGROUND: In Lesch-Nyhan disease (LND), early dopamine deficiency is thought to contribute to dystonia and self-injury, gradually developing over the first years of life. Previous attempts to restore dopamine levels in older patients have been unsuccessful. Based on the hypothesis that very early dopamine replacement can prevent full phenotypic development, we treated three patients with LND from infancy with levodopa. METHODS: Levodopa/carbidopa (4:1) was started at age 11 to 13 months, aiming at escalating to 5 to 6 mg/kg levodopa per day...

Burn pits are a method of open-air waste management that was common during military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other regions in Southwest Asia. Veterans returning from deployment have reported respiratory symptoms, potentially from exposure to burn pit smoke, yet comprehensive assessment of such exposure on pulmonary health is lacking. We have previously shown that exposure to condensates from burn pit smoke emissions causes inflammation and cytotoxicity in mice. In this study, we explored the effects of burn pit smoke condensates on human airway epithelial cells (HAECs) to understand their impact on cellular targets in the human lung...

Laves phases exhibit a plethora of different structures and a multitude of physical properties. Investigations in the ternary system Hf-V-Al led to the discovery of numerous members of the solid solution Hf(V1- x Al x )2 , which adopt the hexagonal MgZn2 type (C14) for medium to high amounts of Al ( x = 0.2-1) and the cubic MgCu2 type (C15) for small Al amounts ( x = 0.05-0.1). While all members exhibit Pauli-paramagnetic behavior due to the absence of localized magnetic moments, the V-rich cubic member Hf(V0...

Balancing the immune response after solid organ transplantation (SOT) and vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA) remains an ongoing clinical challenge. While immunosuppressants can effectively reduce acute rejection rates following transplant surgery, some patients still experience recurrent acute rejection episodes, which in turn may progress to chronic rejection. Furthermore, these immunosuppressive regimens are associated with an increased risk of malignancies and metabolic disorders. Despite significant advancements in the field, these IS related side effects persist as clinical hurdles, emphasizing the need for innovative therapeutic strategies to improve transplant survival and longevity...

Meniscus allograft transplantation (MAT) is a surgical procedure reserved for (relatively) younger individuals who remain symptomatic after the resection of a voluminous part of the meniscus. Return to sports and certainly the level of sport post-MAT are highly variable. We present a unique case of a national judo champion who was able to compete at the highest level following MAT. Considerations regarding the rehabilitation and follow-up of this patient are provided, and the risk of rerupture is discussed...

The COVID-19 pandemic led to sustained surveillance efforts, which made unprecedented volumes and types of data available. In Belgium, these data were used to conduct a targeted and regular assessment of the epidemiological situation. In addition, management tools were developed, incorporating key indicators and thresholds, to define risk levels and offer guidance to policy makers. Categorizing risk into various levels provided a stable framework to monitor the COVID-19 epidemiological situation and allowed for clear communication to authorities...

Macrophages are pivotal innate immune cells which exhibit high phenotypic plasticity and can exist in different polarization states dependent on exposure to external stimuli. Numerous methods have been employed to simulate macrophage polarization states to test their function in vitro. However, limited research has explored whether these polarization methods yield comparable populations beyond key gene, cytokine, and cell surface marker expression. Here, we employ an unbiased comprehensive analysis using data organized through the all RNA-seq and ChIP-seq sample and signature search (ARCHS4) database, which compiles all RNAseq data deposited into the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA)...

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the optimal method for determining V̇O2max in competitive swimmers in terms of validity and test-retest reliability. DESIGN: Controlled experiment. METHODS: Twenty competitive swimmers performed four maximal incremental exercise tests: cycling, arm cranking, ergometer swimming, and tethered swimming. Gas analysis was conducted to estimate V̇O2max . Validity was assessed in terms of the amount of variance of the performance on a 1500-m time trial explained by the estimated V̇O2max ...

Machine learning (ML) provides a great opportunity for the construction of models with improved accuracy in classical molecular dynamics (MD). However, the accuracy of a ML trained model is limited by the quality and quantity of the training data. Generating large sets of accurate ab initio training data can require significant computational resources. Furthermore, inconsistent or incompatible data with different accuracies obtained using different methods may lead to biased or unreliable ML models that do not accurately represent the underlying physics...

Graphene is atomically thin, possesses excellent thermal conductivity, and is able to withstand high current densities, making it attractive for many nanoscale applications such as field-effect transistors, interconnects, and thermal management layers. Enabling integration of graphene into such devices requires nanostructuring, which can have a drastic impact on the self-heating properties, in particular at high current densities. Here, we use a combination of scanning thermal microscopy, finite element thermal analysis, and operando scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques to observe prototype graphene devices in operation and gain a deeper understanding of the role of geometry and interfaces during high current density operation...

BACKGROUND: The link between the histology of kidney transplant rejection, especially Antibody-mediated rejection, T cell-mediated rejection and Mixed rejection, and the types of infiltrating immune cells is currently not well charted. Cost and technical complexity of single cell analysis hinder large scale studies of the relationship between cell infiltrate profiles and histological heterogeneity. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the composition of nine intragraft immune cell types by using a validated kidney transplant-specific signature matrix for deconvolution of bulk transcriptomics in three different kidney transplant biopsy datasets (N=403, N=224, N=282)...

BACKGROUND: The relationship of serial NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) measurements with changes in cardiac features and outcomes in heart failure (HF) remains incompletely understood. We determined whether common clinical covariates impact these relationships. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 2 nationwide observational populations with HF, the relationship of serial NT-proBNP measurements with serial echocardiographic parameters and outcomes was analyzed, further stratified by HF with reduced versus preserved left ventricular ejection fraction, inpatient versus outpatient enrollment, age, obesity, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, and attainment of ≥50% guideline-recommended doses of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and β-blockers...

X-ray Free Electron Lasers (XFELs) allow the collection of high-quality serial femtosecond crystallography data. The next generation of megahertz superconducting FELs promises to drastically reduce data collection times, enabling the capture of more structures with higher signal-to-noise ratios and facilitating more complex experiments. Currently, gas dynamic virtual nozzles (GDVNs) stand as the sole delivery method capable of best utilizing the repetition rate of megahertz sources for crystallography. However, their substantial sample consumption renders their use impractical for many protein targets in serial crystallography experiments...