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A technique for the evaluation of geometrical synchronization between data signals based on optimal attractor reconstruction is demonstrated and validated using coupled chaotic logistic maps. The measure is then applied to estimate the degree of synchronization between human heart rate variability and Earth’s local geomagnetic activity. 1. Introduction Evaluation of synchronization between data signals is a broadly discussed concept among researchers since it can be applied in the analysis of a wide range of phenomena. Several examples include analysis of biomedical signals in health sciences and biological systems, investigation of coupled circuits or laser systems in electronics and optics [1-3]. In [4, 5] we proposed a technique capable of estimating the degree of geometrical synchronization via near-optimal chaotic attractor embedding. In this paper, the measure is demonstrated and validated using the example of two coupled chaotic logistic maps. The technique is then applied to assess the impact of Earth’s local magnetic field on individual’s biomedical parameters. 2. Estimation of geometrical synchronization between two time series Geometrical similarity between two time series can be estimated via the algorithms developed [...].

In this study research was carried out on 5 male adult BALB/c mouse with a weight of 18±5 g. The temperature was at 22±2 °C and animals were kept under the condition of 12 h of light and 12 h of darkness (light on at 08:00 am) and free access to water and standard diet. All 5 mice were affected by three different harmonic oscillations one time and after 24 hours 4 of them were affected by the same oscillations (Fig. 1) and one was placed separately for control. At the end of the experiment, after euthanasia using CO2 chamber blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. We noticed that ultrasound waves 20 MHz changed mice red blood cells structure and we found pathological forms of erythrocytes. Analysing morphological structure of erythrocytes were determined 46 abnormal red blood structure forms and atypical cells (30 codocytes, 8 stomatocytes and 8 acantocytes). Moreover, we determined that changed some normal behavior characteristics and increased grooming process.

Ultrasonic diagnostic methods are used to estimate the structural changes and to measure parameters of lesions of the human tissue. Nowadays, the special algorithms of medical data analysis are able to perform diagnosis and monitor the progress of treatment, efficiency of treatment methods, also to estimate the health status and to make prognosis of the diseases evolution. The aim of the presented research is to check the goodness of fit test for thicknesses of the skin tumours measured in two different ways (ultrasound examination and histological analysis) and to compare the compatibility of likely density of histological thicknesses distribution of the skin tumours and density of Normal distribution. As a result, the study has showed that thicknesses of the skin tumours measured by ultrasonic method are strongly similar to histological values, which means that the density of ultrasonic thicknesses distribution and density of Normal distribution are closely interconnected. Therefore, the obtained results show the sufficient level of reliability in the case of application of non-invasive ultrasonic thickness measurement comparing with reference invasive technique based on biopsy and histological thickness evaluation.

Vibroacoustic Therapy (VT) is a very distinct form of treatment. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of vibroacoustic therapy on low back pain management in adolescents. A total of 40 adolescents (13-18 years old) were randomly divided into two equal groups (exercise – control group, and exercise and vibroacoustic therapy – vibroacoustic group), and participated in a 3-week physiotherapy program for back pain management. The participants in both groups performed the same exercise program five times per week. The participants in the vibroacoustic group apart from exercise also received treatment on a special vibro chair set at 4‑8 Hz frequency for relaxation. Music was heard through the headphones. Standard tests (Oswestry disability index and the visual analogue pain scale) to assess low back pain were used before and after the intervention to monitor changes. The intensity of low back pain significantly decreased in both groups after the intervention ( < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between the groups in low back pain management in adolescents.

The aim of the research is to observe whether specific developmental disorder of motor function (SDDMF) in infancy affects 6-7 years old children’s balance and to find out does physiotherapy (PT) is beneficial for enhancing and maintaining this feature. The study involved 97 right-hand 6-7 years old children. Participants were divided into two groups: study and control group. In the study group, there were children who had SDDMF in infancy being 4-11 months old and participated in a PT program in infancy. Control group participants didn’t have SDDMF and PT in infancy. The balance was assessed using a computerized balance platform. The study group had 16 physiotherapy procedures. A data analysis showed significant differences of participants’ balance characteristics in frontal and sagittal planes: comparing study and control group results before PT in open eyes with feedback performance. There was a significant difference of balance between the study group before and after a PT with the control group when participants performed tasks with open eyes without a feedback. SDDMF in infancy affects 6-7 years old children’s balance and PT is beneficial for enhancing and maintaining these features for 6-7 years old children.

This article discusses a study performed with an aim to determine the usefulness of diffusion‑weighted MRI in pre-treatment assessment and evaluation of chemotherapy response of mediastinal lesions of malignant lymphoma by analysing signal intensity, accumulation of contrast agent and changes in values of ADC. Comparing the results of PET/CT and DW‑MRI was another goal of this study. We reviewed data of 21 patients that underwent treatment during years 2013-2014 at the Hospital of Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics and had DW‑MRI and PET/CT scans carried out. For all patients the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma in mediastinal lymph nodes was confirmed histological. Whether the lymphoma was in active state was determined by PET/CT or histological data. In MRI scans, signal intensity and ADC values were evaluated, while in PET/CT maximum and average standardized uptake values were assessed. Patients underwent chemotherapy and follow up scans were performed to evaluate response. In total, 25 PET/CT and 50 DW-MRI scans were analysed. We found statistically significant difference of values of ADC in active and inactive states of malignant lymphoma of mediastinal lymph nodes. In follow up tests, performed during 2 years after treatment, a tendency of decreasing ADC values over time was seen when chemotherapy was successful and no relapse was observed. Among the reviewed cases, DW-MRI had slightly worse specificity than PET/CT in differentiation of malignant and benign changes in lymph nodes.

This pilot study presents data on the application of two different physiotherapy techniques and the comparison of their effectiveness in patients with radiologically confirmed intervertebral disc herniation. At baseline and the end of the application of the studied physiotherapy techniques, the subjects, after being distributed into two groups, underwent testing in order to determine their trunk stabilizer muscle strength, pain intensity at rest and on exertion, and the level of disability. The physiotherapy program consisted of individually selected exercises. Subjects of the first group additionally underwent sling exercise therapy, and subjects of the second group – physiotherapy with feedback exercises. Both combinations – physiotherapy with feedback exercises and physiotherapy with sling exercise therapy – statistically significantly reduced functional disability and lower back pain at rest and on exertion. The physiotherapy program with feedback exercises was more efficient than the physiotherapy program with sling exercise therapy when correcting imbalance in trunk stabilizer muscle strength. The impact of both physiotherapy programs on trunk stabilizer muscle strength was similar. Both combinations – physiotherapy with feedback exercises and physiotherapy with sling exercise therapy – had an equal impact on the decrease in pain and functional disability.

In the current work, a new antibacterial bandage was proposed where diamond-like carbon with silver nanoparticle (DLC:Ag)-coated synthetic silk tissue was used as a building block. The DLC:Ag structure, the dimensions of nanoparticles, the silver concentration and the silver ion release were studied systematically employing scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy, respectively. Antimicrobial properties were investigated using microbiological tests (disk diffusion method and spread-plate technique). The DLC:Ag layer was stabilized on the surface of the bandage using a thin layer of medical grade gelatin and cellulose. Four different strains of Staphylococcus aureus extracted from humans’ and animals’ infected wounds were used. It is demonstrated that the efficiency of the Ag+ ion release to the aqueous media can be increased by further RF oxygen plasma etching of the nanocomposite. It was obtained that the best antibacterial properties were demonstrated by the plasma-processed DLC:Ag layer having a 3.12 at % Ag surface concentration with the dominating linear dimensions of nanoparticles being 23.7 nm. An extra protective layer made from cellulose and gelatin with agar contributed to the accumulation and efficient release of silver ions to the aqueous media, increasing bandage antimicrobial efficiency up to 50% as compared to the single DLC:Ag layer on textile.

Objectives of this study is to evaluate possibilities for early detection of udder’s diseases of Lithuanian Black and White cows and compare thermography and routine California mastitis test (CMT) results. Cows were examined in the negative and at positive ambient temperature. Infrared thermography (IRT) applied skin surface thermograms of teats in the area of Furstenberg’s rosette analyzed as posing evidence based signs of subclinical mastitis coincide with the CMT. It is shown, that subclinical inflammatory processes of cow’s mammary gland can be simply and successfully identified at an early stage of pathology development applying the thermal imaging method. IRT results measuring the skin surface temperature of teat sphincters of healthy dairy cows and cows with subclinical mastitis were completely similar to the CMT findings. Effectiveness of IRT does not depend from ambient conditions: inflammation can be easily detected both in positive and negative ambient temperatures. We confirm IRT being as alternative, noninvasive, high sensitive, rapid and portable method for subclinical various origins inflammatory processes of cow’s udder, which can be certified for practical subclinical mastitis screening and subsequent detection.

The sensitivity of human hearth’s rhythm to the fluctuations of Earth’s local magnetic field is analyzed in this paper. Data collected during the long-term project of heart‑rate variability (HRV) data from 17 female volunteers were used to correlate to measured fluctuations of Earth magnetic signals. Magnetic signals are collected utilizing the first global network of GPS time stamped detectors designed to continuously measure magnetic signals that occur in the same range as human physiological frequencies such as the brain and cardiovascular systems.