Crown architecture of Quercus robur L. in the reproductive period of ontogenesis in phytocoenoses of the northern forest-steppe in the Tula Region

The diversity of the habitus in reproductive individuals of Quercus robur L. in phytocoenoses of the northern forest-steppe within the Kulikovo Pole museum-reserve in the Tula Region was analysed. The individuals grow-ing in the ravine and upland closed and open forests as well as open-growth individuals and groups of individu-als in the forest outliers were researched. One-trunk, a few-trunk, coppice and clump life forms were detected. It was shown that the types of the habitus or architectural types (AT) in reproductive individuals resulted from those AT that were firstly described in the virginal ontogenetic state and in the beginning of the young reproduc-tive state in the mixed forest and broadleaved forest biomes. The quantitative and qualitative changes of the shoot systems were found out. The ways of the crown transformation are ten in number. They include acropetal mortality of the branches from the trunk, basipetal mortality of the shoot systems, decrease of the trunk branch-ing frequency, secondary crown formation, trunk deviation from the orthotropic growth direction, increase of the polyarchic plan of organization in trunk, trend of branch drooping, disarrangement in crown zoning, increase of the polyarchic plan of organization in branches, immediate reiteration. The most survived initial crown architec-ture is expressed in the open-growth individuals that grow on the slow slopes. The most common way of trans-formation is acropetal mortality of the branches from the trunk. Its intensity depends on the closeness of the stand. Besides light level, crown architecture in the reproductive period of ontogenesis is influenced by the indi-vidual’s position in relief, which affects the aerologic and hydrologic regimes of the phytocoenosis.

Forensic age assessment of the knee: proposal of a new classification system using two-dimensional ultrasound volumes and comparison to MRI

Objectives To assess epiphyseal growth plate closure of the knee for forensic age estimation using an ultrasound (US)-based method and to compare the findings with MRI. Methods Thirty-three healthy male individuals (age, 14.4–19.3 years) were prospectively evaluated for epiphyseal growth plate closure of the right knee by recordings of two-dimensional US volumes and a high-resolution T1-weighted MRI sequence. The degree of epiphyseal growth plate closure was rated independently by two readers for each method using a modality specific three-point scale that differentiates between an open physis (S1), a partially closed physis (S2), and a closed physis (S3). Results The inter-rater agreement was high for the US (Cohen’s kappa (CK): femur 95.2%, tibia 81.3%, fibula 86.3%) and the MRI method (CK: femur 70.2%, tibia 90.8%, fibula 79.8%). The degree of growth plate closure associated positively with advancing age. The US system showed a clearer separation of median ages with lower overlap than the MRI system. Open growth plates on minors (< S3 on femur and tibia) were identified by US with higher sensitivity (1.0 vs. 0.7) and slightly lower specificity (0.7 vs. 0.85) compared with MRI. The examination time was substantially shorter on US than on MRI (2.65 ± 0.91 min vs. 24.72 ± 2.72 min; p < 0.001). Conclusions The US method for evaluation of growth plate closure of the knee can reliably assign male individuals to different ossification stages and identifies minors with high accuracy. More studies with larger numbers are needed to further evaluate this method. Key Points • US is feasible to determine the degree of epiphyseal growth plate closure of the knee, shows a high degree of reliability, and is comparable to MRI. • US of the knee can detect open growth plates on male minors with high accuracy. • US of the knee may be used as a fast, non-invasive imaging tool for forensic age estimation to identify male minors.

PERKEMBANGAN INDIKATOR MAKRO EKONOMI KOTA BANDUNG KUARTA II-2019

Analysis of the development of macroeconomic indicators is commonly done as an evaluation material and economic management strategy in the future. There are 3 macroeconomic indicators that are commonly used at the regional level, namely the rate of inflation, economic growth and employment. This study aims to conduct an analysis of the three indicators at the Bandung City level. The research method used is descriptive and quantitative analysis. Descriptive analysis is based on the movement of data presented through graphs and tables. While quantitative analysis is more focused on calculating the inflation variable projections and correlation analysis between macroeconomic variables. Based on the results of descriptive analysis, it is known that the Bandung City inflation indicator was relatively maintained in the second quarter of 2019. Even though there is a moment of Eid, the inflation rate is still under control, and even tends to decrease in June 2019. However, the inflation rate is predicted to increase in the third quarter of 2019. Food commodity inflation is predicted to occur due to the peak of the dry season in August-September. On the indicator of the rate of economic growth, the most recent data for 2017 shows a decline in the growth rate, by 7.21%. The achievement of economic growth is also the lowest since 2011. On the employment indicator, there is an irrelevant relationship between the Economic Growth Rate (LPE) Labor Force Participation Rate (TPAK), and the Open Growth Rate

No growth disturbance after trochleoplasty for recurrent patellar dislocation in adolescents with open growth plates

Aims and Objectives: Trochlear dysplasia is the most important risk factor to patellofemoral instability in adolescents, therefore trochleoplasty to reshape the trochlear groove is the treatment of choice in patients with severe trochlear dysplasia. However, in the presence of open growth plates there is a potential risk of injury of the distal femoral growth plate and subsequent growth disturbance. Therefore, most authors do not recommend trochleoplasty in skeletally immature patients. The effect of trochleoplasty on femoral growth when performed before closure of the distal femoral physis remains unclear. The hypothesis of the study was, that In patients with open growth plates and an expected growth of less than two years trochleoplasty does not cause growth disturbance of the distal femur. Materials and Methods: 18 consecutive adolescents (18 knees) with open physes and severe trochlear dysplasia underwent trochleoplasty. Pre- and postoperative radiographic examination included AP and lateral views to assess leg axis and patella alta. Preoperatively a radiograph of the left hand was performed to measure skeletal age. MRI was performed to evaluate trochlear dysplasia and tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance. Evaluation included pre- and postoperative physical examination with evaluation of leg length and leg axis, Kujala score, Activity Rating Scale (ARS) and Tegner activity score. Results: The average age at the time of operation was 12.6 y (range, 12.2 - 13.3) in girls and 14.5 y (14.0 - 15.4) in boys. The average follow-up after operation was 2.3 years after surgery (range, 2.0 - 3.0 years). At follow-up in all patients the growth plates of the knee were closed. Impairment of growth of the distal femur was neither found clinically nor radiographically. No recurrent dislocation occurred. The median Kujala score and median VAS showed significant improvement (p < 0.01). The activity level according to the Tegner activity score did not change statistically significant. Conclusion: In this study, trochleoplasty as a treatment for patellofemoral instability in patients with open physes and an expected growth of not more than two years showed good clinical results without redislocation and no growth disturbance. Therefore, in selected adolescent patients with severe trochlear dysplasia trochleoplasty can be safely performed up to two years before the projected end of growth.

MYCOLOGICAL DAMAGE OF MATERIALS IN THE INDOOR ENVIRONMENT AS A RISK FACTOR FOR THE HEALTH OF POLAR EXPLORERS

The article presents the results of mycological analysis of samples taken from open surfaces in residential and working areas of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI) station on the Bolshevik island of the Northern Land archipelago. 114 samples were studied during the expedition work from 2014 to 2016. In total, 47 species of micromycetes were detected in the course of the research. Most of the species (89%) were identified as Ascomycetes. Mucor group of fungi was composed 11% out of all the identified species. The genus Penicillium was the richest in species diversity (16 species). On the surface of materials in places of the increased moisture, there was an open growth of colonies of the Penicillium species. P. expansum was the dominant one, being noted during all the years of observations with the occurrence of about 60%. Among the frequently occurring species, there were P. brevicompactum, P. herqueri, P. purpurogenum and P. waksmanii, which were also noted during all the years of observation (the total occurrence exceeded 15%, although in some years it was much higher). Dark-colored fungus Cladosporium cladosporioides was also dominated species, which in some cases formed black mold on the surface of the materials. Among the potential pathogens, 41 species were registered. A comparison of the data obtained over the years indicates in 2016 the largest number of microfungi to be detected in the indoor environment of AARI station (35 species), whereas in 2014 and 2015 only 29 species of fungi were identified. The similarity of the identified groups of fungi over the years turned out to be quite high. Approximately 36% of microfungi (17 species) were observed annually, although their occurrence over the years varied significantly. Locally accumulation of micromycetes was noted in the indoor environment: household rooms, storage places, workrooms. In these cases, the microfungi colonized the colorful coating, synthetic materials, plywood. The formation of mycobiota in the studied areas is due to anthropogenic invasion of microfungi.