High Throughput Analysis of Liquid Droplet Impacts.

Experimental studies of liquid drop impacts on surfaces are often restricted in their scope due to the large range of possible experimental parameters such as material properties, impact conditions, and experimental configurations. Compounding this, drop impacts are often studied using data-rich high-speed photography, so that it is difficult to analyze many experiments in a detailed and timely manner. The purpose of this method is to enable efficient study of droplet impacts with high-speed photography by using a systematic approach. Equipment is aligned and calibrated to produce videos that can be accurately processed by a custom image processing code. Moreover, the file structure setup and workflow described here ensure efficiency and clear organization of data processing, which is carried out while the researcher is still in the lab. The image processing method extracts the digitized outline of the impacting droplet in each frame of the video, and processed data are stored for further analysis as required. The protocol assumes that a droplet is released vertically under gravity, and impact is recorded by a camera viewing from side-on with the drop illuminated using shadowgraphy. Many similar experiments involving image analysis of high-speed events could be addressed with minor adjustment to the protocol and equipment used.

Indirect costs associated with glioblastoma: Experience at one hospital. / Costes indirectos asociados al glioblastoma. Experiencia en un centro.

INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma is the most common primary brain tumour. Despite advances in treatment, its prognosis remains dismal, with a mean survival time of about 14 months. Many articles have addressed direct costs, those associated with the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Indirect costs, those associated with loss of productivity due to the disease, have seldom been described. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We conducted a retrospective study in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma at Hospital Universitario Donostia between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2013. We collected demographics, data regarding the treatment received, and survival times. We calculated the indirect costs with the human capital approach, adjusting the mean salaries of comparable individuals by sex and age and obtaining mortality data for the general population from the Spanish National Statistics Institute. Past salaries were updated to 2015 euros according to the annual inflation rate and we applied a discount of 3.5% compounded yearly to future salaries. RESULTS: We reviewed the records of 99 patients: 46 women (mean age 63.53) and 53 men (mean age 59.94); 29 patients underwent a biopsy and the remaining 70 underwent excisional surgery. Mean survival was 18.092 months for the whole series. The total indirect cost for the series was €11 080 762 (2015). Mean indirect cost per patient was €111 926 (2015). DISCUSSION: Although glioblastoma is a relatively uncommon type of tumour, accounting for only 4% of all cancers, its poor prognosis and potential sequelae generate disproportionately large morbidity and mortality rates which translate to high indirect costs. Clinicians should be aware of the societal impact of glioblastoma and indirect costs should be taken into account when cost effectiveness studies are performed to better illustrate the overall consequences of this disease.

Effects of plyometric training on explosive strength, acceleration capacity and kicking speed in young elite soccer players.

AIM: The main aim of this study was to determine the effects of a 10-week plyometric training program on explosive strength, acceleration capacity and kicking speed in young elite soccer players. METHODS: Twenty-two players participated in the study: control group (CG), (N.=11; 18.2 ± 0.9 years) and treatment group (TG) (N.=11; 18.4 ± 1.1 years). Both groups performed technical and tactical training exercises and matches together. However, the CG players followed the regular physical conditioning program, which was replaced by a plyometric program for TG. Plyometric training took place three days a week and included jumps over hurdles, horizontal jumps and lateral jumps over hurdles. Jumping ability, 10 m sprint and kicking speed were measured on five separate occasions. RESULTS: Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures reflected that the TG demonstrated significant increases (P<0.05) in jumping ability and acceleration capacity after six weeks of training and in kicking speed with dominant and non-dominant leg after eight and ten weeks respectively. On the other hand there were no significant changes in CG players throughout the study. CONCLUSION: The main findings revealed that a 10-week plyometric program may be an effective training stimulus to improve explosive strength compared to a more conventional physical training program. The improvements in explosive strength can be transferred to acceleration capacity and kicking speed but players need time to transfer these increases.

Manual nucleofragmentation and endothelial cell loss.

PURPOSE: To compare corneal endothelial cell loss with two cataract surgery techniques: manual nucleofragmentation performed with the Keener nucleus divider and planned extracapsular extraction. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology "Memorial Cristóbal Garrigosa," Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain. METHODS: Contact specular microscopy was performed before and 8 weeks after surgery in 51 patients who had been prospectively randomized into 2 groups: 26 patients had manual nucleofragmentation (NF) with the Keener divider and 25, planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). The analyzed parameters were preoperative and postoperative endothelial cell density and variations in cell size (polymegethism) and cell shape (pleomorphism). The results were compared and statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The mean percentage of endothelial cell loss in the NF group was 11.08% and in the ECCE group, 9.86%. This difference was not statistically significant. Postoperative variation in cell shape and size did not differ significantly between the two groups and was fairly constant. CONCLUSION: The percentage of endothelial cell loss that occurred with manual NF using the Keener nucleus divider was similar to the one that occurs with other cataract surgery techniques. The small variation detected in postoperative endothelial morphology suggests that this endothelial cell population is stable.

Ocular hypertension after cataract surgery: a comparison of three surgical techniques and two viscoelastics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and course of ocular hypertension after cataract surgery using two different viscoelastics and three different surgical techniques. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-six patients who had undergone extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), 22 who had undergone phacoemulsification (PHACO), and 16 who had undergone manual nucleofragmentation (MNF) were randomized to receive either a low-viscosity viscoelastic (LVV) or a high-viscosity viscoelastic (HVV) intraoperatively. Post-operative evaluation included anamnesis, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, and slit-lamp examination at 3, 6, 24, and 72 hours and 7 days. RESULTS: The incidence of increased IOP over baseline after cataract surgery was 74.3%. The study of both viscoelastics revealed a trend for higher IOP during the first 24 hours for patients who received HVV (P < .05). Greater differences were observed when comparing surgical techniques. Small-incision techniques showed higher mean postoperative IOPs, and more severe hypertensions (PHACO 5/22 [22.7%] and MNF 2/16 [12.5%] vs ECCE 3/36 [8.3%]) (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Ocular hypertension is a frequent postoperative complication. It is slightly more common when using HVV. Small-incision techniques show higher mean postoperative IOPs and more severe hypertensions.

Intraoperative complications of planned extracapsular cataract extraction versus manual nucleofragmentation.

PURPOSE: To compare the intraoperative complications of planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with those of manual nucleofragmentation. SETTING: Hospital de la Esperanza, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain. METHODS: This retrospective study comprised 567 eyes; 444 had planned ECCE and 123, manual nucleofragmentation through a scleral tunnel incision. RESULTS: No significant differences between techniques were found in terms of intraoperative complications (P < .05). Manual nucleofragmentation did not increase the risk of intraoperative complications (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Although phacoemulsification is the procedure of choice in many cases, manual nucleofragmentation is a safe and valid alternative that achieves the goals of small incision cataract surgery.