Background: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) aims to improve patients' functioning in interstitial lung disease (ILD) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The impact of change in functional independence during PR on subsequent survival has not been established. We aimed to determine functional independence during PR and its association with survival over three years post-PR.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn recent years, the demand for orthopedic implants has surged due to increased life expectancy, necessitating the need for materials that better mimic the biomechanical properties of human bone. Traditional metal implants, despite their mechanical superiority and biocompatibility, often face challenges such as mismatched elastic modulus and ion release, leading to complications and implant failures. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), a semi-crystalline polymer with an aromatic backbone, presents a promising alternative due to its adjustable elastic modulus and compatibility with bone tissue.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Physiotherapists play a key role in the administration of supplemental oxygen during physical activity in pulmonary rehabilitation. However, supplemental oxygen requires a medical prescription making processes cumbersome for physiotherapists. This study aimed to implement and evaluate an advanced practice role for physiotherapists (APO) allowing them to prescribe oxygen during physical activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe interplay between thin film hydrodynamics and solidification produces formidably intricate geophysical structures, such as stalactites and icicles, whose shape is a testimony of their long growth. In simpler settings, liquid films can also produce regular patterns. When coated on the underside of a flat plate, these films are unstable and yield lattices of drops following the Rayleigh-Taylor instability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClimate projections for continental Europe indicate drier summers, increased annual precipitation, and less snowy winters, which are expected to cause shifts in species' distributions. Yet, most regions/countries currently lack comprehensive climate-driven biodiversity projections across taxonomic groups, challenging effective conservation efforts. To address this gap, our study evaluated the potential effects of climate change on the biodiversity of an alpine country of Europe, Switzerland.
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