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Abstract: Introduction: Sarcopenia is a multifaceted condition affecting between 10 and 16% of the global population, and although multiple classification algorithms exist, no prevalence has been reported for a representative sample of the Slovenian population. Furthermore, multiple behavioural factors, such as malnutrition, physical inactivity, sedentary lifestyle and lower cognitive function, can contribute to the risk of sarcopenia. This study aims to: a) determine sarcopenia prevalence among Slovenian older adults according to different classification algorithms, b) compare the agreement among the algorithms and c) evaluate the relationship between proposed risk factors and sarcopenia. Methods: 654 participants (≥60 years, 30.4% males) have been classified into sarcopenia groups according to eight algorithms, and agreement (Fleiss K) between them was calculated. Additionally, age, sex, nutritional status, physical activity, sedentary levels and cognitive function were assessed as sarcopenia risk/protective factors. Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia according to EWGSOP2 was 4.1%, ranging from 2.1% to 15.3%, when classified by all eight algorithms. Overall agreement between algorithms was weak (K=.429; 95% CI .414 to .444) with 0.6% of participants classified as sarcopenic by all eight algorithms. Adequate nutrition and physical activity were identified as protective factors, while age, lower cognitive function and sedentary lifestyle were considered risk factors. Conclusion: Sarcopenia prevalence among the Slovenian general population was lower than in the global population. We can conclude that different sarcopenia algorithms lead to a different prevalence of sarcopenia. It is of great importance to be cautious when comparing prevalences among studies and to further validate the classification algorithms.
Keywords: sarcopenia, prevalence, epidemiology, classification algorithms, risk factors
Published in DiRROS: 03.03.2025; Views: 76; Downloads: 32
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Abstract: High speed surveys have become a key source of information to support condition assessment and management of pavement assets. These surveys can be applied network wide to obtain data on the surface condition and structural robustness of the pavement. The success of high speed surveys is demonstrated by the growth in the survey industry and the wide range of measurement equipment that has become available. However, these advances bring challenges to road administrations in determining the most appropriate survey to specify for their networks, in selecting the equipment, and in ensuring that the condition parameters delivered will be suitable to support asset management decisions. Although standards have been developed for some of the measurements provided by high speed systems, the focus tends to be highly technical, often not considering the wide ranging needs of routine network level implementation. The HiSPEQ project has the objective of developing guidance and advice to help road administrations to understand high speed road survey equipment, and to help them in specifying the survey requirements, quality regimes and processing procedures. The project has considered high speed survey data that can be used to assess pavement structural robustness. It has investigated the measurement of pavement shape, visual condition, deflection and structure. Via review of current specifications both within and outside the EU, and direct consultation with practitioners and administrations, the project has proposed a set of core requirements for high-speed surveys of pavement surface and structural condition. These requirements have been used to propose survey specification templates that road administrations could use when developing survey requirements for their own networks. Guidance has been developed to accompany the specifications, to assist road administrations understand the requirements and the implications of different levels of resolution and accuracy on the use of the data. The project has also proposed a set of quality assurance processes to consider when specifying condition surveys.
Keywords: high-speed surveys, profile, shape, deflection, quality assurance, accreditation
Published in DiRROS: 03.03.2025; Views: 66; Downloads: 33
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Abstract: Instrumentation is often used to monitor the performance of engineered infrastructure slopes. This paper looks at the current role of instrumentation and monitoring, including the reasons for monitoring infrastructure slopes, the instrumentation typically installed and parameters measured. The paper then investigates recent developments in technology and considers how these may change the way that monitoring is used in the future, and tries to summarize the barriers and challenges to greater use of instrumentation in slope engineering. The challenges relate to economics of instrumentation within a wider risk management system, a better understanding of the way in which slopes perform and/or lose performance, and the complexities of managing and making decisions from greater quantities of data.
Keywords: geotechnical monitoring, climate change, pore pressures, displacements
Published in DiRROS: 03.03.2025; Views: 64; Downloads: 30
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Abstract: Chitosan is a water-soluble polysaccharide with good adherence to negatively charged surfaces and reported antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Coating the surfaces of medical devices with chitosan is a promising strategy for harnessing these benefits. However, the surface properties of commercial polymers need to be altered to enable the bonding of thin chitosan films. In this study, the adhesion of chitosan onto plasma-treated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and the metabolic activity of urothelial cells on chitosan-coated medical-grade PVC used for the synthesis of urinary catheters were evaluated. To improve the adhesion of chitosan onto the PVC catheters, PVC samples were made “super-hydrophilic”. PVC substrates were briefly treated with a powerful hydrogen plasma and weakly ionised oxygen plasma afterglow to obtain a chlorine-free surface film, which was rich in oxygen functional groups, followed by incubation of the plasma-treated substrates in an aqueous solution of chitosan. Then, urothelial RT4 cells were seeded on the treated and untreated PVC substrates, and their metabolic activity, confluency, and cell morphology were examined. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to measure the nitrogen concentration, which corresponded to the chitosan concentration on the substrate. The results showed that the substrates were uniformly covered by a thin layer of chitosan only on plasma-treated surfaces and not on untreated surfaces. Moreover, the chitosan coating provided a stimulated environment for cell adhesion and growth. In conclusion, the chitosan-coated super-hydrophilic PVC substrate shows potential to improve the overall performance and safety of medical devices such as urinary catheters.
Keywords: medical-grade PVC, chitosan coating, urinary catheter, urothelial cells, cytotoxicity, adhesion, biocompatibility
Published in DiRROS: 28.02.2025; Views: 101; Downloads: 46
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Published in DiRROS: 28.02.2025; Views: 106; Downloads: 0
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