Research Trends and Methodological Approaches of the Impacts of Windstorms on Forests in Tropical, Subtropical, and Temperate Zones: Where Are We Now and How Should Research Move Forward?

Windstorm is one of the destructive natural disturbances, but the scale-link extent to which recurrent windstorms influenced forests ecosystems is poorly understood in a changing climate across regions. We reviewed the synergistic impacts of windstorms on forests and assessed research trends and methodological approaches from peer-reviewed articles published from 2000 to 2020 in tropical (TRF), subtropical (SUF), and temperate (TEF) forests/zones, based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Overall, the majority of the reviewed studies were conducted in TRF (i.e., 40%), intermediate in SUF (i.e., 34%), and the lowest in TEF (i.e., 26%). Among the four levels of biological organization, the species-population and community-ecosystem levels had the highest number of study cases, while the molecular-cellular-individual and landscape levels had the lowest study cases in all forest types. Most of the articles reviewed dealt largely on tree mortality/survival and regeneration/succession for TRF, tree mortality/survival and species composition/richness/diversity for SUF, and stem density, gap dynamics, and regeneration/succession for TEF. However, research on the effects of windstorms on mycorrhizal symbioses, population genetics, and physiological adaptation, element fluxes via litterfall, litter decomposition, belowground processes, biological invasion, and tree health are less common in all forest types. Further, most of the studies were conducted in permanent plots but these studies mostly used observational design, while controlled studies are obviously limited. Consequently, more observational and controlled studies are needed on the topic reviewed, particularly studies at the molecular-cellular-individual and landscape levels, to help inform forest management decision-making about developing sustainable and resilient forests amid climate change.

Caracterización cinemática, electromiográfica y mediante ecodoppler del retorno venoso durante la marcha humana normal / Kinematic, electromyographic and Doppler ultrasound characteristics of venous return during the normal human gait

Objetivos: La marcha es la forma de desplazamiento del ser humano. La interrelación fisiológica entre el sistema muscular y vascular ha sido poco estudiada. Conocemos la importancia de la bomba soleogemelar sobre el sistema venoso durante la marcha, por lo que proponemos un método de estudio de la hemodinámica venosa durante la marcha, un estudio que trata de correlacionar los hallazgos hemodinámicos con la secuencia de contracción y relajación muscular durante la marcha. Material y métodos: Realizamos un estudio descriptivo prospectivo sobre un total de 50 adultos sanos en el Laboratorio de Análisis del Movimiento del Hospital Universitario Infantil Niño Jesús de Madrid. El sistema de captura del movimiento fue el SMART-D de BTS Bioengineering, formado por 8 cámaras optoeléctricas y un software para reconstrucción en 3 D. Se realizó EMG de superficie (EMGs) (Free EMG 300 de BTS Bioengineering) de los músculos gastrocnemio medial y lateral, y de los músculos tibial anterior y posterior. Los sujetos caminaron sobre una cinta sin fin BH (modelo Marathon) y se realizó ecodoppler venoso poplíteo (Nemio MX Toshiba) durante la marcha. Resultados: Se estudió a 29 varones (58%) y a 21 (42%) mujeres, con una media de edad de 32 años. Se realizó el análisis y correlación del estudio de la marcha con la EMGs y el ecodoppler venoso y se obtuvo una onda positiva en el ecodoppler que se correlaciona con la contracción excéntrica del músculo gastrocnemio medial, que estabiliza la rodilla; una segunda onda de presión negativa como consecuencia del cierre valvular y relajación muscular y una tercera onda de presión positiva correlacionada con la contracción concéntrica del músculo gastrocnemio medial durante la flexión plantar y de la rodilla durante la fase de despegue de la marcha. Conclusiones: Describimos un método de análisis de la bomba muscular gemelar en relación con la hemodinámica venosa y el efecto fisiológico de la bomba muscular sobre el sistema venoso profundo

Objectives: The gait is the pattern of movement of the human being. The physiological interrelation between the muscular and vascular system has not been sufficiently studied. The importance of the soleus-calf muscle pump on the venous system during walking is known; therefore a method is proposed in order to study venous haemodynamics during walking. The aim of the study is to correlate the haemodynamic findings with the muscle contraction and relaxation sequence during walking. Material and methods: A prospective descriptive study was conducted on a total of 50 healthy adults in the Movement Analysis Laboratory of the Niño Jesús Children's University Hospital in Madrid. The movement capture system was the SMART-D of BTS-Bioengineering, consisting of 8 optoelectronic cameras and software for 3 D reconstruction. A surface electromyography (EMGs) was performed, using a Free EMG 300 (BTS Bioengineering) of the medial and lateral gastrocnemius muscle and the anterior and posterior muscle. The subjects walked on a treadmill (BH Marathon) and a popliteal venous Doppler ultrasound (Nemio MX Toshiba) was performed whilst walking. Results: The study included a total of 50 participants, with a mean age of 32 years, and 29 (58%) men and 21 (42%) women. The analysis and correlation of the study was performed, with the EMGs and the venous Doppler ultrasound, with a positive wave being obtained with the Doppler ultrasound that correlated with the eccentric contraction of medial gastrocnemius muscle, stabilising the knee. There was a second wave of negative pressure as a consequence of valvular closure and muscle relaxation. A third wave of positive pressure was then recorded that correlated with the concentric contraction of the medial gastrocnemius muscle during plantar and knee flexion during the take-off phase of the gait. Conclusions: The haemodynamic evaluation of the venous system by non-invasive tests can provide an objective basis for the diagnosis, evolution, and prognosis of patients with chronic venous insufficiency

Locomotor training through a novel robotic platform for gait rehabilitation in pediatric population: short report.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a disorder of posture and movement due to a defect in the immature brain. The use of robotic devices as alternative treatment to improve the gait function in patients with CP has increased. Nevertheless, current gait trainers are focused on controlling complete joint trajectories, avoiding postural control and the adaptation of the therapy to a specific patient. This paper presents the applicability of a new robotic platform called CPWalker in children with spastic diplegia. FINDINGS: CPWalker consists of a smart walker with body weight and autonomous locomotion support and an exoskeleton for joint motion support. Likewise, CPWalker enables strategies to improve postural control during walking. The integrated robotic platform provides means for testing novel gait rehabilitation therapies in subjects with CP and similar motor disorders. Patient-tailored therapies were programmed in the device for its evaluation in three children with spastic diplegia for 5 weeks. After ten sessions of personalized training with CPWalker, the children improved the mean velocity (51.94 ± 41.97 %), cadence (29.19 ± 33.36 %) and step length (26.49 ± 19.58 %) in each leg. Post-3D gait assessments provided kinematic outcomes closer to normal values than Pre-3D assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The results show the potential of the novel robotic platform to serve as a rehabilitation tool. The autonomous locomotion and impedance control enhanced the children's participation during therapies. Moreover, participants' postural control was substantially improved, which indicates the usefulness of the approach based on promoting the patient's trunk control while the locomotion therapy is executed. Although results are promising, further studies with bigger sample size are required.

Exact solution of the isovector neutron-proton pairing Hamiltonian.

The complete exact solution of the T = 1 neutron-proton pairing Hamiltonian is presented in the context of the SO(5) Richardson-Gaudin model with nondegenerate single-particle levels and including isospin symmetry-breaking terms. The power of the method is illustrated with a numerical calculation for for 64Ge for a pf + g9/2 model space which is out of reach of modern shell-model codes.

Effectiveness of municipal waste compost and its humic fraction in suppressing Pythium ultimum.

The effect of addition of a municipal solid waste (MSW) compost and its water-soluble and humic fraction to suppress the effect of Pythium ultimum on pea plants was studied and compared with that of a chemical pesticide (metalaxyl). The biotic and abiotic characteristics of compost involved in the biocontrol effects of these materials were also evaluated. The addition into soil of whole composts and their humic fractions reduced the effect of the pathogen on pea plants, significantly reducing the number of root lesions and Pythium populations and avoiding reductions of plant growth. The greatest pathogen suppression was achieved with the chemical pesticide. However, it also caused a significant decrease in the number of nontarget bacteria and fungi and on beneficial soil microorganisms such as Trichoderma and Pseudomonas. Addition of organic amendments increased population size of nontarget and specific biocontrol microorganisms. The humic fraction showed similar results to compost. All this suggests that metalaxyl has a nonspecific effect, producing adverse effects on aspects of soil quality. This was avoided if the chemical pesticide was reduced and replaced by organic amendments such as an MSW compost or its humic fraction.

Intradural neurenteric cyst: review and discussion.

The authors describe a 5-year-old boy with a spinal neurenteric cyst without associated vertebral or other congenital malformation, causing compression of the spinal cord at C 6-7 level. He was twice treated surgically with good recovery. The pertinent literature is reviewed with reference to 43 similar reported cases.