Back School Postural Education Program: Comparison of Two Types of Interventions in Improving Ergonomic Knowledge about Postures and Reducing Low Back Pain in Adolescents

This study aimed to compare the impact of two Back School Postural Education Programs on improving ergonomic knowledge of postures adopted at school and home, as well as on reducing low back pain (LPB) in adolescents. The sample was constituted by 153 students, aged 10–16 years, with 96 (62.7%) girls, divided into 2 intervention groups (GA, GB). Two tests (theoretical and practical) and LBP questionnaire were applied 1 week before and 1 year after the end of the program. In GA, three sessions were performed for each class separately, on theoretical and practical issues, lasting 45 min and at intervals of 1 week, and in GB, only one theoretical session (90 min) was given to all students. Statistically differences on GA were obtained between the values 1 week before and after 1 year of evaluation in both theoretical and practical tests (p ≤ 0.001). In GB, only the values of the practical test present a statistical difference (p ≤ 0.001). GA obtained higher values on both tests after 1 year of follow-up compared with GB (p ≤ 0.001). The number of students with LBP decreased on GA (p ≤ 0.001). The program with longer duration, higher weekly frequency, and more practical and individualized character promotes better effects.

Theoretical Study to Predict the Ability to Use Different Organic Substituents as Carrier Linkages for Diclofenac

The research includes unrestricted (UDFT) and (UPM3) quantum mechanical calculations for studying the reaction path of bonds rupture energies of (O-R) and (C-OAr) in twelve diclofenac derivatives containing different substituted organic groups. All the calculations were performed at the optimize geometries in vacuum phase by using Gaussian 09 program. Comparison was done between the studied diclofenac derivatives and the standard ionic diclofenac of sodium and potassium included geometrical structures, physical properties, total energies of the reactants and products, activation energies and transition states. The results showed that some substituted organic groups could be used to form good carrier bonds for the acidic drug diclofenac, while others were less efficient depending on the nature of the substituted carrier, and that there is a preference for carriers of the type (–R) over the carriers of the type (–Ar).

Improving performance of Python code using rewriting rules technique

Python is a popular programming language used in many areas, but its performance is significantly lower than many compiled languages. We propose an approach to increasing performance of Python code by transforming fragments of code to more efficient languages such as Cython and C++. We use high-level algebraic models and rewriting rules technique for semi-automated code transformation. Performance-critical fragments of code are transformed into a low-level syntax model using Python parser. Then this low-level model is further transformed into a high-level algebraic model that is language-independent and easier to work with. The transformation is automated using rewriting rules implemented in Termware system. We also improve the constructed high-level model by deducing additional information such as data types and constraints. From this enhanced high-level model of code we generate equivalent fragments of code using code generators for Cython and C++ languages. Cython code is seamlessly integrated with Python code, and for C++ code we generate a small utility file in Cython that also integrates this code with Python. This way, the bulk of program code can stay in Python and benefit from its facilities, but performance-critical fragments of code are transformed into more efficient equivalents, improving the performance of resulting program. Comparison of execution times between initial version of Python code, different versions of transformed code and using automatic tools such as Cython compiler and PyPy demonstrates the benefits of our approach – we have achieved performance gains of over 50x compared to the initial version written in Python, and over 2x compared to the best automatic tool we have tested.

Method Transfer Evaluation for Digital Derivative Spectrophotometry Through its Resolution Parameter Comparison of Different Computer Programs

The application assessment of different programs was performed with equivalence tests for method transfer pro second-order derivative spectrophotometry. The digital second-order derivative spectra were calculated on different instruments; GBC Scientific Equipment Cintra 20 (Cintral v.2.6 and Spectral v.1.70 software programs) and Thermo Scientific Evolution 300 (VISIONPro software) were analyzed using the amplitude A/B ratio (A = 2D265,263; B = 2D263,261). Amplitude A/B ratio is the resolution parameter for derivative spectrophotometry prescribed in European Pharmacopoeia. The obtained values for A/B ratio were either very similar or significantly different among programs: 0.669 (Cintral v.2.6), 0.549 (Spectral v.1.70), 0.556 (medium indirect VISIONPro), 0.557 (one-step Savitzky–Golay 7 VISIONPro), 0.689 (two-step Savitzky–Golay 7 VISIONPro). Method transfer was possible between Spectral v.1.70 and VISIONPro (medium indirect and one-step Savitzky–Golay 7), but the values obtained in Cintral v.2.6 were not comparable to the other programs. The absorbance data exported from both instruments were additionally calculated in OriginPro8 which provided almost the same mean A/B values (0.627 Cintral v.2.6; 0.624 VISIONPro), confirming that the two instruments recorded the same zero-order spectra. The calculation of resolution parameter could be used for verification of program comparison, which would enable transfer between sender and receiver laboratory. The accordance between program algorithms was confirmed when acceptable differences for values of resolution parameter (A/B ratios) were achieved.