Open reduction and internal fixation of displaced head-split type humeral fractures and role of the rotator-interval approach

Background Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of humeral head split fractures is challenging because of high instability and limited visibility. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the extend of the approach through the rotator interval (RI) on the reduction quality and functional outcome. Methods 37 patients (mean age: 59 ± 16 years,16 female) treated by ORIF through a standard deltopectoral (DP) approach were evaluated. The follow-up period was at least two years. In 17 cases, the approach was extended through the RI. Evaluation was based on radiographs, Constant scores (CS) and DASH scores. Results In group DP, “anatomic” reduction was achieved in 9 cases (45%), “acceptable” in 5 cases (25%), and “malreduced” in 6 cases (30%). In group RI, “anatomic” reduction was seen in 12 cases (71%), “acceptable” in 5 cases (29%), and “malreduced” in none (p = 0.04). In the DP group, the CS was 60.2 ± 16.2 and the %CS was 63.9 ± 22.3, while in the RI group, the CS was 74.5 ± 17.4 and the %CS was 79.1 ± 24.1 (p = 0.07, p = 0.08). DASH score was 22.8 ± 19.5 in DP compared to RI: 25.2 ± 20.6 (p = 0.53). Conclusions The RI approach improves visualization as it enhances quality of fracture reduction, however functional outcomes may not differ significantly. Type of study and level of proof Retrospective, level III

Methodological aspects of scientific research of production and sales of agricultural products in dynamics

The high instability of the annual indicators of agricultural production is emphasized, in this regard, the analysis of production and sales of products in the industry has its own characteristics, which should be taken into account both for educational purposes and in production conditions. It is important to estimate annual changes in indicators for each crop using graphs based on trend equations. The paper proposes a method of research and comparison of indicators in the starting and final periods of the study. It is also proposed to carry out calculations of the average annual moving indicators, which allows to a certain extent to smooth out the annual extreme values. The article proposes a methodology for calculating the potential indicators of production and sales of products, on the basis of which the available reserves for their growth are estimated. The proposed analysis is supported by a graphical research method.

Interaction Effects of Level and Instability of Motivation on Learning Strategies: Introjected and Identified Regulation

This study examined the interaction effect of the level and instability of motivation on different learning strategies in university learning at the contextual level. Two motivation levels—introjected and identified regulation—and three types of learning strategies—metacognitive, writing-repetition, and deep-processing—were measured. Self-reported questionnaires were administered to students from two universities in Japan; data of 307 students were included in the analysis. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis on metacognitive and deep-processing strategies revealed an interaction effect of identified regulation and instability of motivation. The results of a simple slope analysis showed that identified regulation had no effect on metacognitive and deep-processing strategies during high instability of motivation. However, during low instability of motivation, higher identified regulation enabled greater use of metacognitive and deep-processing strategies. On the other hand, there was no an interaction effect of level and instability of motivation on writing-repetition strategies. These results revealed the significant role of the level and instability of motivation in the application of metacognitive and deep-processing strategies.

ENVIRONMENTAL FRAGILITY OF THE IRAÍ RIVER BASIN – WATER SUPPLY SOURCE FOR CURITIBA, PARANÁ

This research aimed to compare two methods of determining the environmental fragility of a vital source in the region of Curitiba, Paraná, the Iraí river basin. The determination of the environmental fragility was carried out based on the integration of geological, pedological, geomorphological characteristics and land use, using the emergent fragility and Natural Vulnerability to Soil Loss methods. Most of the Iraí River basin was classified as weak to intermediate environmental fragility by both methods. The methods showed equal fragility ratings in 74% of the basin area. The greatest fragilities were found in areas with recent sedimentation, soils with high instability, slopes higher than 12% and land use areas with low protective potential. The emergent fragility method highlighted the effect of land use, accentuating the fragility of the most vulnerable classes. In contrast, the Natural Vulnerability to Soil Loss method attenuated this land-use effect, softening the vulnerability. The fragility maps indicated that different results might be obtained, especially on the threshold between fragility classes and polygons where land-use makes the environment more vulnerable. Thus, the method selection for determining environmental fragility depends on the relevance necessary for land-use. The emergent fragility method is advantageous for showing the fragility in areas mainly occupied by classes of land use of high vulnerability.

An Improved Method for Automatic Identification and Assessment of Potential Geohazards Based on MT-InSAR Measurements

Multi-temporal Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (MT-InSAR) has been widely used for ground motion identification and monitoring over large-scale areas, due to its large spatial coverage and high accuracy. However, automatically locating and assessing the state of the ground motion from the massive Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measurements is not easy. Utilizing the spatial-temporal characteristics of surface deformation on the basis of the Small Baseline Subsets InSAR (SBAS-InSAR) measurements, this study develops an improved method to locate potential unstable or dangerous regions, using the spatial velocity gradation and the temporal evolution trend of surface displacements in large-scale areas. This method is applied to identify the potential geohazard areas in a mountainous region in northwest China (Lajia Town in Qinghai province) using 73 and 71 Sentinel-1 images from the ascending and descending orbits, respectively, and an urban area (Dongguan City in Guangdong province) in south China using 32 Sentinel-1 images from the ascending orbit. In the mountainous area, 23 regions with potential landslide hazards have been identified, most of which have high to very high instability levels. In addition, the instability is the highest at the center and decreases gradually outward. In the urban area, 221 potential hazards have been identified. The moderate to high instability level areas account for the largest proportion, and they are concentrated in the farmland irrigation areas, and construction areas. The experiment results show that the improved method can quickly identify and evaluate geohazards on a large scale. It can be used for disaster prevention and mitigation.

Evaluation of the Influence of a Hydrogel Containing AMPD on the Stability of Tetracycline Hydrochloride

Tetracyclines, as beneficial antimicrobial factors in both local and systemic therapy, are characterized by high instability. The aim of the study was the development of the influence of hydrogel formulation on the tetracycline hydrochloride (TC) level under varying storage conditions. The HPLC, XPRD as well as SEM and macroscopic observations were involved in the study. The TC concentration decreased within ca. two months from 9.37 µg/mL to 4.41 µg/mL in the case of the photoprotected TC solution stored at 23 °C, whereas the decrease in storage temperature did not improve the final level of TC. In the presence of AMPD, the TC level in aqueous solution decreased drastically to ca. 1 µg/mL. Application of a polyacrylic acid derivative enabled conservation of the TC level through the ca. two months. Thus, the use of alcoholamine in the preparation of the TC hydrogel may result in the development of a therapeutic product with a dual action against acne, including antimicrobial activity and saponification of free fatty acids deposited in the follicles.

Towards deeper understanding of multifaceted chemistry of magnesium alkylperoxides

Despite considerable progress in the multifaceted chemistry of non-redox-metal alkylperoxides, the knowledge about magnesium alkylperoxides is in its infancy and only started to gain momentum. Harnessing the well-defined dimeric magnesium tert-butylperoxide [(f5BDI)Mg(μ-η2:η1-OOtBu)]2 incorporating a fluorinated β-diketiminate ligand, herein, we demonstrate its transformation at ambient temperature to a spiro-type, tetranuclear magnesium alkylperoxide [(f5BDI)2Mg4(μ-OOtBu)6]. The latter compound was characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and its molecular structure can formally be considered as a homoleptic magnesium tert-butylperoxide [Mg(µ-OOtBu)2]2 terminated by two monomeric magnesium tert-butylperoxides. The formation of the tetranuclear magnesium alkylperoxide not only contradicts the notion of the high instability of magnesium alkylperoxides, but also highlights that there is much to be clarified with respect to the solution behaviour of these species. Finally, we probed the reactivity of the dimeric alkylperoxide in model oxygen transfer reactions like the commonly invoked metathesis reaction with the parent alkylmagnesium and the catalytic epoxidation of trans-chalcone with tert-butylhydroperoxide as an oxidant. The results showed that the investigated system is among the most active known catalysts for the epoxidation of enones.

The Changes in Antioxidant Activity of Selected Flavonoids and Caffeine Depending on the Dosage and Form of Thiamine

Phenolic compounds and thiamine may serve as therapies against oxidative stress-related neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is important to note that these components show high instability under changing conditions. The study’s aim was to determine the impact of the thiamine concentration (hydrochloride—TH and pyrophosphate—TP; in the range 0.02 to 20 mg/100 g on the indices of the chelating properties and reducing power, and free radicals scavenging indices of EGCG, EGC, ECG and caffeine added from 0.04 to 6.0 mg/100 g. Our research confirmed that higher concentrations of TH and TP can exhibit significant activity against the test antioxidant indices of all components. When above 5.0 mg/100 g of thiamine was used, the radical scavenging abilities of the compound decreased in the following order: EGCG > ECG > EGC > caffeine. The highest correlation was found for the concentration of thiamine pyrophosphate to 20.0 mg/100 g and EGCG. Knowledge of the impact of factors associated with the concentration of both EGCG, EGC, ECG or caffeine and thiamine on their activity could carry weight in regulating the quality supplemented foods, especially of nutrition support for people of all ages were oral, enteral tube feeding and parenteral nutrition).

Matching batterer typologies with their risk of recidivism: Boosting the applicability of typological research

In order to improve the applicability of criminal typologies, Spanish intimate partner violence against women offender subtypes (i.e., high instability/high antisociality, HiHa; low instability/high antisociality, LiHa, high instability/low antisociality, HiLa; low instability/low antisociality, LiLa) were matched with their police recidivism outcomes in a longitudinal study of 9,672 cases extracted from the VioGén System. Individuals with high antisociality features showed the highest recidivism (26.5% HiHa; 22.6% LiHa) and multi-recidivism rates (10.7% HiHa; 8.1% LiHa), and were more likely to be reported for new severe violent episodes against their victims (8.1% LiHa; 7.7% HiHa;) and to violate the protective orders imposed (28.8% HiHa; 28.1% LiHa). Following risk-need-responsivity principles, HiHa and LiHa offenders should be assigned higher intensity treatment programs than LiLa and HiLa individuals. Additionally, the risk posed by all offender subtypes decreased during the follow-up period; however, HiHa offenders presented with the highest risk over time and had a longer police monitoring. Considering this, law enforcement agencies should deploy the most intense police protection measures for victims of HiHa individuals. With regard to prison data, individuals with greater antisociality (HiHa and LiHa) and criminal versatility (generalist batterers) were the most represented in prison; therefore, it would be advisable to include therapeutic ingredients for common offenders in prison-based batterer intervention programs.

Growth and Instability in Production and Export of Almond in Afghanistan

The almond is native to Iran and surrounding countries as well as Asia. In 2017, world production of almonds was 2.2 million tones, with the United States providing 46% of the total. According to FAO Afghanistan is one of the 10 top producers of almonds. The study examined the growth and instability of area, production, export and consumption of almond in Afghanistan from 2000 to 2017. Exponential function fitted to estimate compound annual growth rates (CAGR) in area, production, export and consumption of almond, and Cuddy – Della Valle indices are used in the study. The compound growth rates for area, production and productivity of almonds in Afghanistan were 5.77 %, 7.37 % and 1.52 % respectively. Area under almond crop exhibited medium (19,52) instability, where production and productivity shown high (50.05 and 49.01) instability respectively, during this period. Almond consumption grew by 6.75 per cent and export grew with compound annual growth rate of 6.12 per cent from the year 2000 to 2017.Both export and consumption of almond registered high instability in this period.