Search

Objective: The primary purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal effects of sports-related concussion (SRC) on a multi-faceted assessment battery which included neuropsychological testing, symptom reporting, and enhanced brain function index (eBFI) among athletes with and without SRC. A secondary purpose was to explore longitudinal sex differences among these measures in athletes with and without SRC. Methods: A case-control, repeated-measures design was used for this study. A total of 186 athletes (concussed group:n= 87 controls:n= 99) participated in the study. A repeated-measures design was used in which each athlete was tested at four time points following an SRC: within 72 h of injury (Day 0; 2.0 ± 0.9 days following injury), 5 days following injury (Day 5; 5.0 ± 0.0), at return to play (RTP; 18.3 ± 13.8 days following injury), and within 45 days following RTP (RTP45; 66.2 ± 19.0 days following injury). All analyses were conducted separately using a 2 (Group: concussed, control) × 2 (Sex: male, female) × 4 (Time:Day 0, Day 5, RTP, RTP45) univariate multi-level model including the random intercept for each participant. A higher eBFI score indicates a better performance. Alpha level was set aprior at.05. This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (Objective Brain Function Assessment of mTBI/Concussion in College/high school Athletes NCT02477943, NCT02661633, CAS 13–25 NCT03963804). Results: Concussed athletes exhibited impaired eBFI within 72 h of SRC and at Day 5 compared to controls (p<.001). Analysis of eBFI scores between male and female athletes revealed a main effect of sex (p=.05), with female athletes exhibiting lower eBFI (33.9 ± 30.7) relative to male athletes (40.4 ± 33.0), however, it did not indicate interactions between sex, group, and time (p's ≥ 0.786). Conclusion: The eBFI appears to be a useful tool in determining concussed athletes during the acute stages of an SRC. However, this index may lack the sensitivity to detect sex-related differences between groups at various time points during recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monte Carlo simulations of nuclear instrumentation configurations generally need to be run in a full analog transport mode. Up to Version 9 of the Monte Carlo code TRIPOLI-4®, the transport between two consecutive neutron collisions is analog if no variance reduction technique is requested by the user, but the collision itself is sampled in a nonanalog way. This paper presents the first implementation of a full analog neutron transport mode in TRIPOLI-4. This option concerns only fixedsource simulations. Details on the modifications implemented in the code are provided: The analog sampling of neutron interactions and the particular cases of fission and scattering reactions with multiple outgoing neutrons are addressed. Preliminary verification tests are provided, and results from nonanalog and analog neutron transport in a simple configuration of a pressurized water reactor fuel assembly are compared. An example of application to the simulation of the NUCIFER detector is also provided. This experiment, located in Saclay, France, next to the OSIRIS experimental reactor, is dedicated to reactor antineutrino detection, addressing both nonproliferation considerations and fundamental physics concerns. Antineutrinos emitted by fission reactions in OSIRIS are detected through the inverse beta decay reaction, producing a positron and a neutron. An analog TRIPOLI-4 simulation allowed us to calculate the distribution of neutron capture times on gadolinium nuclei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has demonstrated its effectiveness in controlling metastases measuring less than 3 cm in several adult malignancies but not yet in osteosarcoma. We report our experience of RFA in the treatment of metastases in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with osteosarcoma. Procedure: Sixteen patients treated for osteosarcoma in French Society of Childhood Cancer centers had undergone an RFA procedure between 2006 and 2012. Results: Thirteen sessions were performed in 10 patients to treat 22 lung metastases. Seven patients were in complete remission at last follow up (range 19-51 months; median, 24 months after RFA). None had a recurrence at RFA sites. We report three cases each of hemoptysis and pneumothorax. Eight sessions were performed in seven patients to treat bone lesions. Procedure was intended as: curative for a small metastatic lesion ( n = 3, all in remission more than 3 years after); local control of small bone lesions in multi-metastatic diseases ( n = 3); analgesia ( n = 1). Complications included one first-degree burn, one fracture, and one soft tissue infection. Conclusions: RFA is feasible in AYA with osteosarcoma. It efficiently achieved local control of small peripheral lung metastases. Its role in the curative care of small secondary bone lesions remains to be confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Électricité de France nuclear park consists of 58 pressurized water nuclear reactors. To ensure their good performance and safety, ex-core neutron shielding studies are regularly performed. For example, neutron flux calculations in ex-core ionization chambers and pressure vessel neutron fluence studies are carried out. In the first case, ex-core ionization chambers are neutron detectors located in the reactor pit, around the reactor vessel. They are dedicated to reactor operation and core protection. Its the second case, the calculation of the fast fluence (for energy >1 MeV) in the pressure vessel is used to determine its fracture toughness and integrity. To improve the fluence computations, new efficient parametric methods are under development. For these two problems, Monte Carlo transport codes such as TRIPOLI-4® allow us to perform simulations its realistic complex three-dimensional geometries and to produce reference results. The aim of the present paper is to present together the theoretical background of our approach based on the continuous-energy Green's functions computation and storage to perform both vessel neutron fluence and excore chamber responses. The normalized source contribution or importance factor formalism using Green's functions computation is also described, with its associated statistical uncertainty calculation. Application examples to realistic nuclear plant configurations are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the history of viticulture in the terraced vineyards of south-western Germany and Valais, Switzerland from the 17th through mid 19th century. An overview of the design and construction of the terraced vineyards, including their degree of slope and their dry stone walls, is provided. The author provides a landscape analysis of the terraced vineyards in Valais and south-western Germany, including of the field work data collected. An overview of the efforts to preserve the historic terraced vineyards, including their vernacular architecture, is also provided.

For many migratory species, social interactions on migration are poorly known, particularly the extent to which brood siblings remain together, at least during their first post-fledging migration. This study tested the assumption that Black Stork siblings stay together during migration and is the first time that juveniles from the same brood of a Palearctic sub-Saharan migratory stork species have been tracked on migration. Four juveniles from the same brood were followed by satellite tracking, and each dispersed or migrated in a completely different direction to its siblings. The results thus refute the idea that Black Stork siblings remain together on their first migration, but to confirm these new findings, it is important to repeat the study using additional nests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A synthesis on the mechanical characteristics of unirradiated and irradiated fuel rod claddings was performed by the French Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) in order to have reference data for the assessment of the safety demonstrations in normal and accident conditions of transport required by the procedure of package licensing. Indeed, the transport conditions correspond to a range of cladding temperatures (200–550°C) which is only partly covered by the data acquired within the framework of the safety demonstration relative to the reactor normal operating conditions, especially beyond 400°C. This work concerned Zircaloy-4 cladding material (Zry-4) and M5TM. Data about mechanical properties (elastic and ductile properties, creep behaviour), oxidation (in reactor and under air during transport), hydrides and fracture toughness have been collected and synthesised. The laws presented in the document can be used to obtain orders of magnitude of oxide layer thickness, hydrogen content and creep deformation rate. The following phenomena which could influence the mechanical behaviour of the cladding were more particularly studied: oxidation which could become very important during transport in case of cladding temperatures of ∼500°C; creep for which only a few data ∼500°C are available and which depends in particular on the internal pressure of the rods, the cladding oxidation and the presence of the hydrides; and recrystallisation of Zry-4 at ∼500°C, which could have consequences on the mechanical properties of the cladding after cooling during the storage. For other topics of interest for the study of the mechanical behaviour of the cladding, such as the fracture toughness for example, it was identified that the data available is scarce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CABRI REP-Na program was performed in the sodium loop of the CABRI reactor by the French Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûtreté Nucléaire. The objective was to study the behavior of high-burnup U02 and mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel during a reactivity-initiated accident (RIA) and involved eight tests with U02 and four with MOX fuel. Failures of some U02 and MOX fuel rods at enthalpy levels ranging from 125 to 472 J/g (30 to 113 cal/g) demonstrated the need for further development of the present safety criteria pertaining to fuel behavior. Detailed interpretation of the test data led to identifying the deleterious influence of a high clad corrosion level with hydride concentrations on clad failure, the contribution of grain boundary gases on fission gas release, and potential clad loading, mainly in MOX fuel during the first phase of the transient without significant clad temperature increase. Questions still remain concerning the transient fission gas behavior and its impact on clad loading during the entire transient, the rod behavior with high clad temperature and internal pressure, and the postfailure phenomena (fuel ejection, fuel/coolant interaction with finely fragmented solid fuel). These issues will be addressed by the CABRI International Program tests under typical pressurized water reactor conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An assessment of the mechanical properties of the highly irradiated fuel claddings under high strain rate has been carried out in the framework of the PROMETRA program undertaken by the French Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûareté Nucléaire in collaboration with Electricité de France and Commissariat d l'Energie Atomique (CEA). Three types of tests, including burst tests, hoop and axial tensile tests, have been performed at CEA-Saclay hot laboratories to determine the cladding tensile properties to use in the SCANAIR code. The prototypicality of each test with regard to the reactivity-initiated accident loading conditions can be addressed and analyzed in terms of strain or stress ratio. The high-strain-rate ductile mechanical properties of irradiated ZIRLO and M5 alloys derived from the PROMETRA program and their comparison to the stress-relieved irradiated Zircaloy-4 are reported. Then, the clad brittle behavior, in particular for highly corroded or spalled Zircaloy-4 cladding, is investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Studies in Conservation is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We analyzed factors influencing the contamination rate of allografts and blood samples obtained from postmortem bone donors. 5,710 allografts were harvested, from 550 donors of which 3,164 (55%) were swab culture negative. Blood cultures were positive in 140 donors (26%). The risk of graft contamination increased with each extra team member (Odds Ratio 1.9). It was also higher with organisms of greater virulence in donors with a positive blood culture (OR 3.5). The risk of blood contamination increased per hour postmortem (OR 1.1) and the same increase was seen with organisms of high virulence. In donors with multiple trauma, the risk of blood contamination with organisms of high virulence was greater (OR 8.2), but smaller in donors with preceding organ procurement (OR 0.1). To minimize the bacterial load, donors should be obtained in operating rooms, using aseptic techniques with only a few personnel for procurement. The postmortem time should be kept to a minimum. The procurement cultures from donors with multiple trauma should be carefully interpreted. Blood cultures should be taken into account, since these can help to find contamination not detected by swab cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Book of Hours of Jean II Ie Meingre, Maréchal de Boucicaut, is an outstanding example of the advanced state of painting in France at the time of Jean de Berry. It is not surprising that so many art historians held it in such high regard in their studies on the painting of the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. Our research on the Boucicaut Hours aims at comparing the results of the experiments we carried out on the illuminations with colour recipes found in contemporary treatises, specifically the technical recipes in Jean Lebegue's Libri Colorum. Particular attention is paid to innovatory methods of painting, such as the consistent use of effects of light and shadow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the use of object as primary image in the 20th century American art. Architecture as object in the 20th century American art; Pop artist as the object of sculptures; When the photo-realist take the object as their subject; Goal of mistaking the painted image of a photograph; How the paintings stimulate photography.

This articles offers a brief overview of the meaning and development of traditional Flemish and French still life painting. It traces the origin of still life painting from the Middle Ages with its religious themes through the 16th century. A classification of Flemish still life painting based on subject, organization of objects and technique is presented together with the symbolism. The meaning of these symbolism are also discussed. French still life paintings of the 18th to the 19th century dealt more with the study of the object rather than the symbolism.

The article presents a study conducted in Nanterre, France that examined the impact of heart displacements which were components of traumatic rupture of thoracic aorta (TRA) mechanisms through revascularized human cadaveric specimens. It cites that three tests using three cadaveric thoraxes were conducted. Results have shown that downward heart displacement fails to produce the classical TRA.

The article presents a study that examined the use of aortic wall constitutive models for simulation of traumatic rupture of aorta. It cites that two isotropic material laws were used, namely the strain energy density function (SEDF) law for healthy and intermediate aortic tissues and a basic elastic law for aged aortic tissue. It indicates that the intermediate and aged thresholds should be more effective for bidirectional load of the aortic tissue.