Tomatoes are widely produced and consumed due to their nutritional content and versatility. However, the tomato is a soft fruit liable to damage and flavour deterioration. Hence, the main challenge for the tomato producing industry is to prevent the high loss incurred during harvest, handling and transportation of the crops. The objective of this study was to investigate the overall nutritional implication of controlled storage of tomatoes using ozone on the ripening process and the basic nutritional components of tomatoes. This investigation was also designed to focus on the effect of different ozone doses on the basic components and properties (carotenoids, ascorbic acid, total antioxidant activity and soluble sugars content) of the quality and dynamic maturity of tomatoes. Green tomatoes (Rio Grande) were treated in glass chambers with ozone enriched air [(air + 2, 7 and 21 mg O3/g tomato) and control (air only)] under humidity and temperature of 90-95% and 14-17 oC respectively. Tomatoes were sampled after 14 days of ozone treatment in the storage chamber and analyzed for different quality parameters (appearance, weight loss, Total Soluble Solids (TSS), titratable acidity, total ascorbic acid and carotene) of the ripening. The variety Elegance tomatoes were selected and the fruits were graded by colour and subjected to treatment with ozone (in doses 0 (clean air), 0.25, 0.50, and1.00 mg O3/g tomatoes) during storage for 6 days under the same humidity and temperature conditions. The fruits were analysed for carotenoids, ascorbic acid content, total antioxidant activity and soluble sugars.Analysis of the fruits clearly showed that ozone significantly delayed the development of colour on the surface, particularly in the low doses, and caused black spots on the surface of the tomatoes, particularly in higher ozone doses. Ozone did not affect the ascorbic acid and titratable acidity content. However ozone did reduce the Total Soluble Solids (TSS) by about 10% at the lowest ozone dose. A high inhibition of accumulation of carotenoids, particularly at low dose, of the tomatoes (Rio Grande) was also observed. Tomatoes (Elegance) under ozone treatments contained higher ß-carotene than those under the control treatment and lycopene content increased during storage in the red stage of tomato fruits. Ascorbic acid (AsA), dehydroascorbic acid (DHA) and the total of AsA and DHA concentrations, and ratios of redox (ASA/ (ASA + DHA) and DHA/AsA in pericarp and pulp of tomatoes tissue, did not show clear differences between the different treatments. The concentrations of the glucose and fructose increased in the tomatoes which were subjected to ozone treatments. Results from this study show that controlled atmosphere storage of tomatoes using ozone is a viable technique which warrants further study. / Libyan government

Background: Historically the identification of ACL injuries upon initial presentation is low and considerable diagnostic delays have been reported. However, specific evidence on the individual elements of, and factors which influence delay, is lacking. Aims: The overarching aim was to provide a comprehensive picture of delay to diagnosis and specialist consultation, including factors which influence delay. An additional aim was to determine whether the approach to examining acute knee injuries varied as a consequence of varying patient presentation or experience of the assessing clinician. Methods: Study 1: Cross -sectional survey. Study 2: Non-participant direct observation methodology. Results: Data from 194 patients were analysed in the survey. Only 15.5% of patients were given a correct diagnosis of ACL rupture at the initial consultation. Median delay to diagnosis was 67.5 days (IQR= 15 to 178 days) and specialist consultation 108 days (IQR= 38 to 292 days). The factors most influential on delay were whether a follow-up appointment was arranged after attending A&E, whether the site of attendance operated an acute knee clinic and whether MRI was performed. The direct observation study showed wide variation in approach to injury assessment. Specialist clinicians performed the most comprehensive examination. A&E clinicians were more likely to assess for bony, neurovascular and gross tendon injuries as opposed to ligamentous or meniscal injury. Conclusions: The diagnostic rate of ACL injury at initial presentation remains low. Considerable delays to diagnosis and specialist consultation are apparent following ACL injury, the majority of which is attributable to health system delay.

Flow diversion (FD) is a novel endovascular technique based on the profound alteration of cerebrovascular hemodynamics, which emerged as a promising minimally invasive therapy for intracranial aneurysms. However, delayed post-procedural stroke remains an unexplained concern. A consistent follow-up-regimen has not yet been defined, but is required urgently to clarify the underlying cause of delayed ischemia. In the last two years, 223 patients were treated with six different FD devices in our center. We identified subacute, FD-induced segmental vasospasm (SV) in 36 patients as a yet unknown, delayed-type reaction potentially compromising brain perfusion to a critical level. Furthermore, 86% of all patients revealed significant SV approximately four weeks after treatment. In addition, 56% had SV with 25% stenosis, and 80% had additional neointimal hyperplasia. Only 13% exhibited SV-related high-grade stenosis. One of those suffered stroke due to prolonged SV, requiring neurocritical care and repeated intra-arterial (i.a.) biochemical angioplasty for seven days to prevent territorial infarction. Five patients suffered newly manifested, transient hemicrania accompanying a compensatorily increased ipsilateral leptomeningeal perfusion. One treated vessel obliterated permanently. Hence, FD-induced SV is a frequent vascular reaction after FD treatment, potentially causing symptomatic ischemia or even stroke, approximately one month post procedure. A specifically early follow-up-strategy must be applied to identify patients at risk for ischemia, requiring intensified monitoring and potentially anti-vasospastic treatment.

While female mimicry and lower status signaling hypotheses of delayed plumage maturation have received much discussion in the literature, the experimental tests of these hypotheses have been infrequent. Those experimental tests often use a simulated intruder method with artificial model intruders rather than using live conspecific birds as intruders. Subadult male painted buntings (Passerina ciris) possess delayed plumage maturation where they appear visually identical to adult females during their first potential breeding season, while adult males are strikingly different in plumage coloration. Here I test the behavioral responses in a territorial population of painted buntings that exhibits extreme delayed plumage maturation using a simulated territorial intrusion experiment to measure territorial male behavioral response when presented with live caged intruders of both subadult and adult males. Territorial adult males were significantly more likely to initiate an attack and continue to attack caged adult male intruders than compared to caged subadult male intruders. This result supports both the female mimicry and status signaling hypotheses, and does not support the cryptic hypothesis. Additionally, in anecdotal observations, territorial males occasionally performed mating display behaviors to caged subadult male intruders. These results further suggest that territorial male painted buntings may identify subadult males as potential mates, supporting the female mimicry hypothesis for subadult males in this species. To what degree subadult males may benefit from DPM deserves further study.

Syftet med uppsatsen är att problematisera tillämpningen av 2 § PreskL vid fördröjda skador. Enligt gällande rätt löper preskriptionsfristen från tidpunkten för den skadegörande handlingen. Risken finns därför att anspråk på ersättning för fördröjda skador preskriberas innan skadan realiserats. I övriga Norden och Europa har problematiken hanterats genom att låta preskriptionsfristen löpa från tidpunkten för den skadelidandes kännedom om skadan. Av särskilt intresse är att Europadomstolen uttalat att tillämpningen av en preskriptionsreglering som inte beaktar skadelidandes kännedom om sitt anspråk kan utgöra en överträdelse av artikel 6.1 EKMR. Dessutom kan väsentliga skillnader i preskriptionsregleringen mellan Sverige och andra länder påverka utfallet vid gränsöverskridande tvister. Det finns därmed skäl att överväga införande av en preskriptionsreglering som, i större utsträckning än 2 § PreskL, ger möjlighet att beakta skadelidandes intresse vid fördröjda skador.

The purpose of this study was to determine which MT techniques current licensed massage therapists practicing sports massage are using to treat delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) by conducting an anonymous online survey of practicing sports massage therapists. The secondary purpose was to determine if previous sports massage research protocols match current practices in sports massage to treat DOMS. There were 85 anonymous respondents ranging in age from 24 to 74 years with a mean age of 44.5 years. Participants included 55 female (65.5%) and 29 male (34.5%) therapists. Professional experience ranged from 4 years or less to more than 20 years, and the majority reported having training specific to sports massage. Previous research methods have placed an overwhelming emphasis on effleurage and petrissage in the treatment protocols to test the effects of massage on DOMS. However, practicing therapists rely on many more techniques and modalities when giving sports massage treatments for DOMS. On a scale of 1 to 5 respondents rated the importance of effleurage strokes in their sports massage treatment at 3.3, petrissage strokes averaged 3.4, friction 3.3, and tapotement ranked slightly lower with a weighted average of 2.1. Sixty six percent of respondents reported that they use stretching techniques often or always. Myofascial release techniques are used sometimes or often for 65% of the respondents, but fewer utilize manual lymphatic drainage in their sports massage. Additional techniques besides those mentioned in the survey are used by 64% of the respondents.

In Canada, patients who occupy hospital beds but do not require that intensity of care are called Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients. ALC has numerous negative implications on patient health and the health care system. Early identification of patients who are at risk of becoming ALC could help decision-makers better manage the situation and alleviate this problem. This thesis evaluates the use of various ML algorithms in predicting ALC at two different time points in the patient’s trajectory. Moreover, it identifies the most important predictors of ALC in each time point and provides insights on how adding more information, at the expense of time for decision-making, would improve the predictive accuracy. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

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