Effects of Different Forms of Extrinsic Feedback on the Accuracy of Force Production and to Differentiate this Force in the Simple Cyclic Movements of the Upper and Lower Limb

Background: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of force production by the limbs and to identify the ability to differentiate this force during a progressively increasing value, in response to different types of extrinsic feedback. Material and methods: The study involved nineteen healthy and physically active boys and girls aged 12.82±0.34 years, body height 157.05±9.02 cm, and body mass 44.89±7.89 kg. The tasks were to perform a series of right and left upper limb pulls and pushes with increasing force using the levers of the kinesthesiometer and a series of lower limb presses on the pedal of the kinesthesiometer. The tasks were completed in three feedback conditions: no feedback, sound feedback, verbal feedback, and the retention test was used. To assess the level of accuracy of force production, the novel index of force production accuracy (FPAIndex) was used. Results: The outcomes expressing the value of FPAIndex on the point scale indicated that the highest level of kinesthetic differentiation was observed when no feedback was provided (1.17 points), and the lowest kinesthetic differentiation was recorded when verbal feedback was provided (3.33 points). However, they were devoid of statistical value. The repeated-measures analysis of variance ANOVA with the Tukey post-hoc test (HSD) indicated a significant lowest (p=0.0402) level of accuracy of FPA (x̄ 36.12±18.29 [N]) only for the act of left lower limb press (LL PRESS) in the retention test, while no feedback was provided to the subjects. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that verbal and sound extrinsic feedback did not affect the accuracy of force production by the upper and lower limbs and the ability to differentiate this force in simple movements among children.

Research on Underwater Directional Swimming Skills of Divers

The article presents the results of research on the application of a physical exercise programme to improve the underwater orientation of military divers. The research was carried out on a group of 120 soldiers, some of whom (the study group) underwent additional training for 3 months. During the underwater straight-line swimming test in poor visibility conditions, the test group achieved statistically significantly better results than the control group. The test consisted in measuring the angle of deviation of the diver’s route from the given straight line.

Selected Risks of the Decompression Process, Part II: Analysis of Selected Types of Risk

The safe transition from a higher pressure atmosphere to a lower pressure atmosphere is accomplished by planning the decompression process, typically through changes in pressure and/or composition of the breathing mix in a function of time. However, the decompression process is affected by a much greater number of inherent factors than changes in pressure and composition of the breathing mix. Their values should be kept within certain ranges, however, there are circumstances when it is not possible to maintain control over them. In this situation, they become elements of the residual risk of the decompression process. The safety of decompression should be ensured, inter alia, by analysing the residual risk for each execution of the decompression process.

Keeping Track of Scientific Dives in Countries with Incipient Diving Programmes: The Scidive Record Forms

Pre-dive checks and dive logs are fundamental documentation for any diving operation and must be incorporated as mandatory ‘good operating practices’ in scientific diving (SD) projects. Data included in dive logs may vary in detail, however, there is basic information to provide based on global standards. Differently to several developed countries in Europe, North America and Australasia, there are countries with incipient, sometimes non-regulated, SD programmes. In this article the importance of documentation in SD is highlighted and record forms are provided as templates, including versions both in English and Spanish. The Diving Supervisor (DS) is the designated person to fill the ‘Daily SciDive Log’ and ‘SCUBA & surface-supplied LogSheet’ (Table 1, 2 and 3, respectively), whilst every diver is responsible for filing their own ‘SciDiver’s Digital LogBook’ (Table 4). General and specific considerations for all tables are described throughout the text. This effort was done to facilitate systematic data management and start developing the bases towards solid national/regional standards on scientific diving operations, particularly for those countries with incipient (scientific) diving programmes.

Quality and Quantity Assessment of Groundwaters in the Vicinity of Kutno with Respect to Potability. Part I

The study presents the characteristics of drinking water sources and subsequently performs an analysis of the deviations from the norm in terms of ions of iron, manganese, ammonia, sodium, chlorides as well as other factors affecting the quality of drinking water in the years 2015 - 2017 occurring in individual water intake points in the Kutno district.

Variation in the Content of Different Forms of Mercury in River Catchments of the Southern Baltic Sea – Case Study

Mercury (Hg) is recognised as a global environmental pollutant. Despite numerous studies being conducted around the world, the transformation of mercury in natural environments is still not fully understood. In addition, increasing droughts and heavy rains are currently observed to contribute to changes in the circulation of Hg. The purpose of this study was to recognise the influence of extreme meteorological and hydrological conditions on the inflow of various forms of mercury to the coastal zone of the Bay of Puck. The studies were carried out at estuarial stations of four rivers belonging to the southern Baltic Sea catchment: Reda, Zagorska Struga, Gizdepka and Płutnica. The results showed that meteorological and hydrological parameters affect mercury speciation in river catchments, which translates into inflow of labile mercury to the southern Baltic Sea.

Cerebral Gas Embolism in the Course of Mildly Symptomatic Pulmonary Barotrauma in a Scuba Diver

The paper presents a case of pulmonary barotrauma in a scuba diver. Swallowing water and respiratory arrest during the ascent caused the trauma. Symptoms from the respiratory system (including the Behnke’s symptom) appeared several minutes after the completion of the dive and were not severe. However, symptoms from the peripheral nervous system, which appeared later, increased rapidly until the seizure episode and loss of consciousness. Hyperbaric treatment was applied in a decompression chamber on board the ship from which the dive was conducted. The treatment resulted in complete remission of symptoms without any consequences.

Pulmonary Barotrauma During Hypoxia in a Diver While Underwater

The article describes a diver performing a dive at small depths in a dry suit, breathing from a single-stage apparatus placed on his back. As a result of training deficiencies, the diver began breathing from inside the suit, which led to hypoxia and subsequent uncontrolled ascent. Upon returning to the surface, the diver developed neurological symptoms based on which a diagnosis of pulmonary barotrauma was made. The diver was successfully treated with therapeutic recompression-decompression.

Diver Poisoning with Contaminated Compresses Air

The paper describes the case of a military diver who suffered from a complicated poisoning caused by hydrocarbons contained in his breathing air. The hydrocarbons came from a malfunctioning compressor which was used to fill the diving cylinders; the compressor sucked in the exhaust gases of its own motor. Exhaust gas poisoning was further complicated by hypoxia and hypercapnia as the diver spat out the mouthpiece and started to breathe from inside the suit. This resulted in a loss of consciousness. The diver was extracted to the surface and was given oxygen to breathe. The course of treatment was successful. On the same day, symptoms of exhaust gas poisoning occurred in several divers using cylinders filled with the same compressor.

Epidemiology of Basal Cell Carcinoma – Observations of One Department

Introduction. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin cancer. It is one of the so-called nonmelanoma skin cancers, the incidence of which has increased rapidly worldwide in recent years. Unfortunately, the National Cancer Registry in Poland does not classify basal cell skin cancer separately. Therefore, the precise data on the incidence in the population remain unknown. Work objective. Retrospective analysis of the incidence of basal cell carcinoma in NZOZ Med-Laser in Lublin in the years 2005 – 2015 depending on gender, age group, place of residence (urban-rural) and clinical form of the disease. Material and methodology. The data of NZOZ Med-Laser from the years 2005 - 2015 were used in the study. The data concern all patients with histopathologically diagnosed basal cell carcinoma, who during the period covered by the study were consulted either as outpatients or hospitalised in an institution providing dermatological services under contract with the National Health Fund (NFZ). Patients were divided into several groups depending on gender, age and place of residence. All groups were compared quantitatively and the results are shown in the figures below. Results. The data collected indicate that between 2005 and 2015 a total of 922 patients with basal cell carcinoma received dermatological treatment. Over the years, there has been a clear increase in the number of patients with basal cell carcinoma. The disease occurred mainly in people over 59 years of age, with the majority of women living in cities. The most common locations of the cancer are nose, cheeks, forehead and temporal area. Histopathologically, solidum, superficiale, exulceratum and pseudoadenoides were the most frequently diagnosed forms. Conclusions. Basal cell carcinoma of the skin is frequent in our society. Its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Therefore, action should be taken to create consistent international registries to gather reliable epidemiological data that would show the scale of the problem, which we are dealing with almost all over the world.