Scaling, Mirror Symmetries and Musical Consonances Among the Distances of the Planets of the Solar System

Orbital systems are often self-organized and/or characterized by harmonic relations. Inspired by music theory, we rewrite the Geddes and King-Hele (QJRAS, 24, 10–13, 1983) equations for mirror symmetries among the distances of the planets of the Solar System in an elegant and compact form by using the 2/3rd power of the ratios of the semi-major axis lengths of two neighboring planets (eight pairs, including the belt of the asteroids). This metric suggests that the Solar System could be characterized by a scaling and mirror-like structure relative to the asteroid belt that relates together the terrestrial and Jovian planets. These relations are based on a 9/8 ratio multiplied by powers of 2, which correspond musically to the interval of the Pythagorean epogdoon (a Major Second) and its addition with one or more octaves. Extensions of the same model are discussed and found compatible also with the still hypothetical vulcanoid asteroids versus the transneptunian objects. The found relation also suggests that the planetary self-organization of our system could be generated by the 3:1 and 7:3 resonances of Jupiter, which are already known to have shaped the asteroid belt. The proposed model predicts the main Kirkwood asteroid gaps and the ratio among the planetary orbital parameters with a 99% accuracy, which is three times better than an alternative, recently proposed harmonic-resonance model for the Solar System. Furthermore, the ratios of neighboring planetary pairs correspond to four musical “consonances” having frequency ratios of 5/4 (Major Third), 4/3 (Perfect Fourth), 3/2 (Perfect Fifth) and 8/5 (Minor Sixth); the probability of obtaining this result randomly has a p < 0.001. Musical consonances are “pleasing” tones that harmoniously interrelate when sounded together, which suggests that the orbits of the planets of our Solar System could form some kind of gravitationally optimized and coordinated structure. Physical modeling indicates that energy non-conserving perturbations could drive a planetary system into a self-organized periodic state with characteristics vaguely similar of those found in our Solar System. However, our specific finding suggests that the planetary organization of our Solar System could be rather peculiar and based on more complex and unknown dynamical structures.

Variation of the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve identified within the tendon sheath of the flexor carpal radialis

Purpose: During volar plate fixation of distal radius fractures, we have encountered patients with an anomalous course of the palmar cutaneous branch (PCB) of the median nerve within the sheath of the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) tendon. The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency and location of variations of the PCB within the sheath of the FCR tendon.Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 83 patients who underwent volar locking plate fixations through a modified Henry approach for distal radius fractures from July 2018 to April 2020. When we encountered an anomalous PCB within the sheath of the FCR tendon, we documented the specific finding and location where the PCB entered the sheath of the FCR tendon.Results: There were nine patients (10.8%) who had an anomalous course of PCB penetrating the sheath of the FCR tendon. The average entering point of PCB into the sheath of the FCR tendon was 3.07 cm from the distal wrist crease (range, 2.5–3.6 cm).Conclusion: An anomalous course of the PCB entering the sheath of the FCR tendon was observed at a high frequency (10.8%). Care must be taken not to injure the PCB during a dissecting of the FCR sheath during a modified Henry approach for a distal radius fracture.

Hypoattenuating periportal halo on CT in a patient population can occur in presence of a variety of diseases

Many pathologies can occur in the periportal space and manifest as fluid accumulation, visible in Computed tomography (CT) images as a circumferential region of low attenuation around the intrahepatic portal vessels, called periportal halo (PPH). This finding is associated with different types of hepatic and extra-hepatic disease in humans and remains a non-specific sign of unknown significance in veterinary literature. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of PPH in a population of patients undergoing CT examination and to assess the presence of lesions related to hepatic and extra-hepatic disease in presence of PPH. CT studies including the cranial abdomen of dogs and cats performed over a 5-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The prevalence of PPH was 15% in dogs and 1% in cats. 143 animals were included and the halo was classified as mild, moderate and severe, respectively in 51%, 34% and 15% of animals. The halo distribution was generalized in 79 cases, localized along the second generation of portal branches in 63, and along the first generation only in one. Hepatic disease was present in 58/143 and extra-hepatic disease in 110/143 of the cases. Main cause of hepatic (36%) and extra-hepatic disease (68%) was neoplasia. Associations between halo grades and neoplasia revealed to be not statistically significant (p = 0.057). In 7% of animals the CT examination was otherwise unremarkable. PPH is a non-specific finding, occurring in presence of a variety of diseases in the examined patient population.

Don’t Forget That Chorea!

Background: Hemichorea-hemiballismus is a spectrum of involuntary, continuous non-patterned movement involving one side of the body. Possible causes of hemichorea-hemiballismus include haemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, neoplasm, systemic lupus erythematosus, NHH (non-ketotic hyperglycaemic hemichorea), Wilson’s disease, and thyrotoxicosis. Amongst the metabolic causes, chorea associated with NHH is noteworthy and is mainly reported in elderly Asian women. The pathophysiology of this syndrome remains controversial. It is likely that a combination of hyperglycaemia induced basal ganglia metabolic derangement and failure of cerebral blood flow autoregulation contribute to the syndrome.Case presentation: A 45-year-old Malay gentleman presented to our Emergency Department with right upper and lower limb weakness associated with hemichorea for 3-4 days. His initial blood glucose level was 22 mg/dl with normal serum ketone and bicarbonate levels. CT brain showed a hyperdensity in the left caudate nucleus and globus pallidus region. Subsequent brain MRI revealed an asymmetric T1 hyperintensity of the left putamen. This specific finding was compatible with hyperglycaemia-induced hemichorea-hemiballismus syndrome. The hemiballismus/hemichorea improved rapidly within the next day. Conclusions: This unusual clinical presentation is often accompanied by severe hyperglycaemia. Appropriate blood glycaemic control is important because it is reversible with correction of hyperglycaemia. Thus, prompt recognition and treatment is essential to avoid adverse outcomes.

Brain herniation on computed tomography is a poor predictor of whether patients with a devastating brain injury can be confirmed dead using neurological criteria

Background It is unclear if the presence of compartmental brain herniation on neuroimaging should be a prerequisite to the clinical confirmation of death using neurological criteria. The World Brain Death Project has posed this as a research question. Methods The final computed tomography of the head scans before death of 164 consecutive patients confirmed dead using neurological criteria and 41 patients with devastating brain injury who died following withdrawal of life sustaining treatment were assessed by a neuroradiologist to compare the incidence of herniation and other features of cerebral swelling. Results There was no difference in the incidence of herniation in patients confirmed dead using neurological criteria and those with devastating brain injury (79% vs 76%, OR 1.23 95%, CI 0.56–2.67). The sensitivity and specificity of brain herniation in patients confirmed dead using neurological criteria was 79% and 24%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value was 81% and 23%, respectively. The most sensitive computed tomography of the head findings for death using neurological criteria were diffuse sulcal effacement (93%) and basal cistern effacement (91%) and the most specific finding was loss of grey-white differentiation (80%). The only features with a significantly different incidence between the death using neurological criteria group and the devastating brain injury group were loss of grey-white differentiation (46 vs 20%, OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.55–8.17) and presence of contralateral ventricular dilatation (24 vs 44%, OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20–0.84). Conclusions Neuroimaging is essential in establishing the cause of death using neurological criteria. However, the presence of brain herniation or other signs of cerebral swelling are poor predictors of whether a patient will satisfy the clinical criteria for death using neurological criteria or not. The decision to test must remain a clinical one.

Adjustment or Inclusion?

With the increasing focus on the internationalization of higher education, universities are actively developing student mobility. This paper examines the challenges experienced by domestic and international students who adapt to a Russian English-medium instruction university. A mixed-method approach with interviews and surveys was utilized to specify, evaluate, and discuss the students’ internationalization experiences in these educational settings. The results indicated that both groups of students mentioned different aspects of language barriers, friendship networks, and university social life as the most critical areas for adjustment. Furthermore, social integration varied, internationals being more socially integrated than locals. The specific finding of the Russian educational landscape is that there are no differences between domestic and international students with regard to academic integration. All of this suggests institutions to adopt more student-oriented adaptation mechanisms, informed by the concept of inclusion in education; these implications are discussed.

Building characteristics associated with self-reported dry eyes and headaches of outpatient workers in hospital buildings

Building-related health symptoms are multifactorial, hence a comprehensive study is needed to identify associations of such symptoms with building aspects. Previous studies have identified certain building characteristics as risk factors for both dry eyes and headaches, which are among the most prevalent symptoms suffered by office workers. This study investigated associations of dry eyes and headaches with building characteristics in outpatient areas because these conditions may vary between office and hospital buildings. A survey was performed in six hospital buildings, which included administering a questionnaire to 556 outpatient workers and an inspection of the building locations, services and 127 outpatient rooms. Multivariate regression models were produced for dry eyes and headaches. Both models were adjusted for personal and work-related aspects. The prevalence of self-reported dry eyes and headaches in outpatient areas was related to building-related aspects that affect the indoor air quality and visual quality, and to room types. In general, this study is consistent with previous office studies. However, a specific finding of this study is the association of the most frequently used room types and the presence of a window to the corridor with dry eyes and headaches.

Hyperferritinemia—A Clinical Overview

Ferritin is one of the most frequently requested laboratory tests in primary and secondary care, and levels often deviate from reference ranges. Serving as an indirect marker for total body iron stores, low ferritin is highly specific for iron deficiency. Hyperferritinemia is, however, a non-specific finding, which is frequently overlooked in general practice. In routine medical practice, only 10% of cases are related to an iron overload, whilst the rest is seen as a result of acute phase reactions and reactive increases in ferritin due to underlying conditions. Differentiation of the presence or absence of an associated iron overload upon hyperferritinemia is essential, although often proves to be complex. In this review, we have performed a review of a selection of the literature based on the authors’ own experiences and assessments in accordance with international recommendations and guidelines. We address the biology, etiology, and epidemiology of hyperferritinemia. Finally, an algorithm for the diagnostic workup and management of hyperferritinemia is proposed, and general principles regarding the treatment of iron overload are discussed.

Secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in COVID-19: correlation of the autopsy findings of bone marrow haemophagocytosis with HScore

BackgroundSecondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) is characterised by a hyper activation of immune system that leads to multiorgan failure. It is suggested that excessive immune response in patients with COVID-19 could mimic this syndrome. Some COVID-19 autopsy studies have revealed the presence of haemophagocytosis images in bone marrow, raising the possibility, along with HScore parameters, of sHLH.AimOur objective is to ascertain the existence of sHLH in some patients with severe COVID-19.MethodsWe report the autopsy histological findings of 16 patients with COVID-19, focusing on the presence of haemophagocytosis in bone marrow, obtained from rib squeeze and integrating these findings with HScore parameters. CD68 immunohistochemical stains were used to highlight histiocytes and haemophagocytic cells. Clinical evolution and laboratory parameters of patients were collected from electronic clinical records.ResultsEleven patients (68.7%) displayed moderate histiocytic hyperplasia with haemophagocytosis (HHH) in bone marrow, three patients (18.7%) displayed severe HHH and the remainder were mild. All HScore parameters were collected in 10 patients (62.5%). Among the patients in which all parameters were evaluable, eight patients (80%) had an HScore >169. sHLH was not clinically suspected in any case.ConclusionsOur results support the recommendation of some authors to use the HScore in patients with severe COVID-19 in order to identify those who could benefit from immunosuppressive therapies. The presence of haemophagocytosis in bone marrow tissue, despite not being a specific finding, has proved to be a very useful tool in our study to identify these patients.

Indonesian theology students' foreign language reading anxiety and reading performance: A correlational study

This study investigated Theology students’ Foreign Language Reading Anxiety (FLRA) and the relationship between their FLRA and their reading achievement. A number of 63 Theology students participated in this quantitative study. A questionnaire developed by Saito et al. (1999) was used in obtaining the data for the study. The study was conducted to fill the void in the literature on the scarcity of empirical research on FLRA in the Indonesian English for Specific Purpose (ESP) context, especially among Theology students who were required to read a lot of English text and thus were very likely susceptible to experience reading anxiety. The study found that in general, the students experienced a medium level of FLRA. Low self-perceived reading competence and the unfamiliar topic of reading passages were reported to be attributed to higher FLRA levels whilst the formation of reading habits, reading exposure, and reading strategies were believed to reduce reading anxiety. This study further found a statistically significant negative correlation between the students’ FLRA and their reading achievement, albeit the strength being weak. This finding suggested that students’ FLRA could be a factor hampering learning. The present study’s specific finding on the possible positive impacts of reading strategies and the duration of reading exposure may indicate the urgency to incorporate these two aspects in the instructional design of English reading classes. Based on the findings, contributions, limitations, and suggested future studies were formulated.