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1

The Mobility Performance of the Elderly Before, During and After Crossing Over an Obstacle

100%

Uchiyama M., Demura S., Sugiura H.

Human Movement

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2012

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vol. 13

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issue 4

297-302

EN

Purpose. Tripping over objects is a major cause of fall-related injuries. The elderly feature decreased locomotor velocity with aging and delays in locomotion when encountering obstacles. Numerous studies have analyzed how the mobility performance of the elderly is affected when crossing over an obstacle. However, how is mobility performance affected when performing sequences of various locomotor movements (gait, changing direction, standing up and sitting down) that make up activities of daily living? To answer this question, this study investigated the changes in locomotor velocity when encountering an obstacle during various locomotor movements in both older adults and young adults by using the TUG, a representative mobility test. Methods. Thirty older adults who were judged to be able to walk independently by the Berg Balance Scale (BSS) (age: 70.0 ± 6.94 yrs; BB S: 54.7 ± 1.78 pts) and seventeen male young adults (age: 21.7 ± 2.37 yrs) participated in the “Timed Up & Go” (TUG) test with and without an obstacle. Using the TUG score (the total time required to complete the test), a rate of the total times (with an obstacle/ without an obstacle) was calculated to create an index of the decline in mobility performance by the obstacle. Results. The decline in the mobility performance of the elderly was significantly larger than the young adults for the following measurements: in the single stance phases just before and after an obstacle, the time needed to change direction 180 degrees, and for level walking after crossing over an obstacle. Conclusions. The elderly require a longer period of time for stepping over obstacles. Gait and the ability to change direction after encountering an obstacle was found to be slower when compared to the younger male population.

2

Meteoryt Pułtusk w wybranych zagranicznych kolekcjach

75%

Biała J., Jakubowski T.

Acta Societatis Metheoriticae Polonorum

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2019

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vol. 10

13-22

EN

On 31 January 1868, a bright fireball was observed over Poland and tens of thousands of meteorites fell northeast of the town of Pułtusk. Immediately after the fall, locals from Pułtusk went out to collect the meteorites estimated to number between 70,000 to 180,000 individual specimens. Pieces ranged from a single gram to 9 kg. The Zambrzycki family who were local land owners traded the largest mass of Pułtusk specimens to various international museums. Study shows information form institutions including Bonn, Berlin, London, Vienna, Paris, Smithsonian (Washington) and Stockholm. This paper documents the world’s biggest collections of Pułtusk specimens, and the provenance of specimens listing the original dealers, collectors and scientist who provided specimens to the various museum and institutional collections at the time.

3

Osteoporoza starcza

75%

Kuczera W., Pluskiewicz W.

Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis

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2012

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vol. 66

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issue 6

57-65

EN

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease. Clinical signs of the disease are bone fractures and complications arising therefrom. These fractures are preceded by a long-term, asymptomatic process of bone mass decline. The incidence of senile osteoporosis is continuously growing, which is associated with the increase in the proportion of elderly people in the society and the change of our lifestyles. The demographic situation of Europe creates a need for even greater concern of health issues associated with people over 65 years of age. As a result of aging, there are many physiological and pathophysiological changes, which deteriorate the functionality of systems responsible for coordination and balance. In that way, the number of falls, fractures and complications in the form of disability increases. The prevention of falls, multidirectional treatment and comprehensive rehabilitation are the basis to limit elderly disability and reduce associated state budget costs.

PL

Osteoporoza jest najczęściej występującą chorobą metaboliczną kości. Jej klinicznymi objawami są złamania kości i wynikające z nich powikłania. Złamania te poprzedzone są wieloletnim, bezobjawowym procesem spadku gęstości mineralnej kości. Liczba zachorowań na osteoporozę starczą stale rośnie, co związane jest ze wzrostem odsetka osób starszych w społeczeństwie oraz zmianą stylu życia. Sytuacja demograficzna Europy stwarza konieczność większego zainteresowania się problemami zdrowotnymi osób po 65. roku życia. Na skutek starzenia się organizmu dochodzi do wielu zmian fizjologicznych i patofizjologicznych, pogarszających funkcjonowanie układów odpowiedzialnych za koordynację i równowagę. Zwiększa to ryzyko upadków, złamań i powikłań w postaci niepełnosprawności. Zapobieganie upadkom, wielokierunkowe leczenie i kompleksowa rehabilitacja są podstawą ograniczenia niepełnosprawności osób w podeszłym wieku oraz obniżenia związanych z nią kosztów ponoszonych przez system opieki zdrowotnej.

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Przegląd najważniejszych prac dotyczących próby ustalenia daty spadku meteorytów oraz wieku kraterów Morasko

63%

Walesiak T.

Acta Societatis Metheoriticae Polonorum

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2021

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vol. 12

129-148

EN

One of criteria suggesting impact origin may be recognition of extraterrestrial matter inside or around suspected cavities. In case of Morasko some dating results throw doubt on link between craters and meteorites. Conclusion of some past research papers was that cavities were formed about 5 ka BP (e.g. palynological investigation, luminescence dating), while more or less facts testify fall in the Middle Ages (e.g. “young” charcoal pieces in crust of meteorites or shrapnel stuck in the roots of old tree). In this paper we perform comprehensive analysis of each result and check if there exists alternative explanation. During past palynological investigation, there were examined two craters. It was concluded that beginning of accumulation of sediments in smaller cavity started 5500–5000 BP. However, pollen spectrum for largest basin was different suggesting younger age. The problem is that according to bathymetric maps, samples could be collected from inner uplift (similar feature was observed inside Porzadzie and Jaszczulty, unconfirmed impact structures yet). If we compare profiles from craters with recent research (palynological study supported by radiocarbon dating) on sediments in Lake Strzeszynskie (6 km SW from Morasko) pollen spectrum seems to be similar more to results dated to <1000 BP. Especially percentage of non-arboreal pollen for both examined Morasko craters is much higher (5 times greater than it was for layer dated to 5 ka BP in Lake Strzeszynskie). Possibility of short disturbance (related to impact) cannot be excluded, but in such case any time of event should be taken into account. For small lakes (like those filling the craters) also local conditions could play important role. Analysis of luminescence dating may also discuss past conclusions. OSL method applied for samples taken from the thin layer of sand in the bottom of largest structure (under 3,9 m of organic sediments filling the crater) suggested age 5–10 ka BP for 24 aliquots. Same number of samples (24) revealed age 0–5 ka BP (13 samples with age <3 ka BP including several younger than 1 ka BP). Older dates can be explained by partial or even no zeroing, but last contact with light (zeroing signal) of sand grains (excavated from depth of almost 4 meters under organic matter) seems that might occur only during (or shortly after) the impact. It is difficult to find convincing arguments, which can undermine initial radiocarbon dating giving age <1 ka BP for 7 of 9 samples taken from the bottom layer of organic sediments from three Morasko craters. Same issue may exist with small charcoal pieces with age <2 ka BP (and several dated to ~700 BP) discovered deep in sinter-weathering crust of meteorites. Study of charcoal particles excluded their origin during post-sedimentary processes (like forest fire) unless meteorite fragments were laying directly on the surface for period between impact and wildfire (surviving whole time inhospitable climate conditions). There are two other possible explanations of charcoals. Either they were present at location as a result of past forest fire or they were produced during impact. However, similar small charcoal pieces were discovered around many craters (Kaali, Ilumetsa, Campo del Cielo, Whitecourt) and they were successfully used to estimate maximum age of those structures. During second stage of 14C dating the age obtained from three samples (taken few centimeters above the mineral bottom) was estimated ~5 ka BP. Looking for answer why these results are so different from previous once there may be mentioned at least two options. Lake sediments is difficult matter for radiocarbon dating and results may be hundreds or even thousands years older than real age. Second explanation may be that older matter (remnant of trees, paleosoil etc.), distributed around craters during impact, could be displaced by wind, rain, erosion and trapped in the bottom of cavities. The argument, which may be also against hypothesis of impact ~5 ka BP is meteorite shrapnel stuck in the roots of old tree. Result of expertise showed, that there exists mechanical damage in the wood and the only possible explanation is that meteorite has hit living tree. Maximum age, that this type of wood may preserve (inside building) is 1,8 ka while in natural environment not more than 500 years. Anyway some further examinations should be performed. The age obtained during AMS 14C dating of 2 samples from thin layer of paleosoil, discovered under overturned flap around largest Morasko crater, was ~5 ka BP. Observation that preserved layer of paleosoil is approximately 3 times thinner than thickness of modern soil may lead to conclusion that during impact top (younger) layer of organic sediments was removed and only older part “survived” in few locations close to the rim. The conclusion of the research was that dating provides maximum age of the impact (which does not exclude much younger impact <1 ka BP) so could be considered as right explanation of past discrepancies.

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2 Acta Societatis Metheoriticae Polonorum

1 Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis

1 Human Movement

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1 Biała J.

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1 Jakubowski T.

1 Kuczera W.

1 Pluskiewicz W.

1 Sugiura H.

1 Uchiyama M.

1 Walesiak T.

The Mobility Performance of the Elderly Before, During and After Crossing Over an Obstacle

Meteoryt Pułtusk w wybranych zagranicznych kolekcjach

Osteoporoza starcza

Przegląd najważniejszych prac dotyczących próby ustalenia daty spadku meteorytów oraz wieku kraterów Morasko