Alignment Index Research Articles

Inlay, Onlay, Oval, or Round, Patellar Implant Choice Outcomes Do Not Confound: Commentary on an article by Monther A. Gharaibeh, MBBS, FJMA, et al.: "Does Choice of Patellar Implant in Total Knee Arthroplasty Matter? A Randomized Comparative Trial of 3 Commonly Used Designs".

Commentary Although the prevalence of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continues to grow, the overall outcomes remain good but still exhibit a subgroup of patients who are not entirely satisfied with their result1. Substantial difficulties in evaluating the differences between satisfied and unsatisfied patients are enhanced by the many choices and alternatives available to knee arthroplasty surgeons. A few notable examples include approach (medial parapatellar compared with other approaches), fixation (cemented, hybrid, or uncemented), posterior cruciate ligament status (cruciate-sacrificing compared with cruciate-sparing), and alignment (kinematic compared with mechanical). Included in the long list of alternatives is the choice of patellar implant type used by the surgeon. Many of us have either attended or participated in professional meetings or symposia in which faculty present their biased rationale for supporting their choice of patellar implant (or not resurfacing). Unfortunately, a paucity of strong evidence usually accompanies these conceivably strongly worded recommendations. Gharaibeh et al. should be congratulated for designing and completing a well-done prospective randomized trial assessing the differences between 3 patellar choices: inlay (IN), onlay round (OR), and onlay oval (OO), or anatomic. Historically, patellar instability and pain were common causes of revision TKA. Although infection has overtaken patellar sources of revision, patellar instability and pain remain among the top reasons for revision2. The percentage of unsatisfied patients who underwent TKA secondary to patellar causes is unknown, but patients who undergo revision TKA secondary to patellar sources of pain and instability are a defined subset of those patients undergoing revision TKA. Evidence-based recommendations with regard to patellar implant choices in TKA have been wanting, and Gharaibeh et al. designed a thoughtful and simple prospective trial to answer the question. Thankfully, the investigators randomized consecutive patients to the trial and measured both clinical and patient-reported outcomes. The Kujala score is likely not recognized by U.S. surgeons, but it is a validated method of assessing patellar pain, including in knee arthroplasty. The authors also included a robust set of radiographic measures, and these would have been strengthened by preoperative measurements as well. Their data would have been bolstered by preoperative alignment indices, as postoperative patellar malalignment and tracking can be attributed to overcorrection or undercorrection of underlying abnormalities. The authors also recorded whether a later facetectomy was performed during the procedure. They reported these findings based on their concern for lateral patellar bone compression syndrome. Not surprisingly, they found that a lateral facetectomy was required less frequently with the OO design patellar implants than the OR design patellar implants. Gharaibeh et al. correlated this finding with improved vascularity of the patella in the single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) Delayed 4 subset, but differences were not noted otherwise in the vascularity analysis. Although the findings are used to imply that the OO-design patellar implants may improve outcomes, this study was not necessarily powered to assess that over time. With regard to outcomes, the authors showed that, although differences in radiographic indices between implant types did achieve significance for the Caton-Deschamps index, the overall indices for all implants were acceptable. Although the overall radiographic indices skewed slightly in favor of the OO design, these differences did not result in improved patient-reported outcomes. The Kujala scores for all implant types showed improvement and no difference between types, and the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) showed minimal and likely clinically unimportant differences between implant types. In conclusion, this is the type of study that helps to advance the science of knee arthroplasty. Although some will take the minimal radiographic differences as evidence that the OO design is superior, the clinical findings, including a patellar-specific outcome, do not support that observation. As we struggle to identify, predict, and address the factors that contribute to unsatisfactory outcomes in knee arthroplasty, this study helps to eliminate patellar implant design as a factor in those poor outcomes.

The Curriculum–TIMSS Alignment for Grade 8 Science from 2007 to 2019: A Case of South Africa and Singapore

The present study explores the validity of inferences that may be drawn from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) learner achievement data by measuring the South African curriculum–TIMSS alignment for the Grade 8 science assessments from 2007 to 2019. The Singapore curriculum–TIMSS alignment indices are a fair benchmark for comparison, as Singapore is the best-performing country in the TIMSS. The research questions that guide the present study included the calculation and comparison of the South African curriculum–TIMSS and Singapore curriculum–TIMSS alignment indices. The study analysed 585 South African curriculum items, 659 Singapore curriculum items and 1025 TIMSS assessment items from 2007 to 2019. The present study employed four raters and achieved an inter-rater reliability coefficient of 0.85. The South African curriculum–TIMSS analysis achieved an average content alignment index of 0.34, and an average cognitive alignment index of 0.54. As a benchmark, the Singapore curriculum–TIMSS analysis achieved an average content alignment index of 0.36 and an average cognitive alignment index of 0.74. The literature reviewed supports acceptable content and cognitive alignment indices of 0.67 and 0.65, respectively. The present study concludes that valid inferences from learner performance in the TIMSS may not be drawn for the case of South Africa, and even for Singapore valid inferences are based on cognitive alignment only. However, South Africa’s continued participation in the TIMSS is encouraged as the literature supports many benefits associated with the TIMSS non-achievement data.

The development of a novel Orthodontic Alignment Index and its use to evaluate the effect of residual overjet on the stability of the alignment of the maxillary anterior dentition

BackgroundIt is thought that achieving a normal overjet may help to stabilise the alignment of the maxillary anterior dentition. Little’s Irregularity Index is limited in assessing discrete post-orthodontic changes, fails to account for reciprocal rotations and is not sensitive to dental changes in three planes. A more holistic tool for the assessment of post-treatment change is therefore required.AimTo compare the post-treatment stability of maxillary anterior dental alignment in subjects treated either to a Class I incisor relationship or an increased overjet (> 4 mm) following fixed appliance-based orthodontics using a novel measurement tool.Materials and methodsThe Orthodontic Alignment Index (OAI) was developed and validated using a panel of 63 raters. The new index accounts for a range of weighted features including contact point displacement, spacing, reciprocal rotations, inclination, angulation and vertical discrepancy. A retrospective cohort study was undertaken at the Institute of Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London. Recruitment took place over a 4-year period. All participants had removable retainers in the maxillary arch only. The stability of maxillary anterior teeth was assessed using Little’s Irregularity Index (LII) and the OAI. Subjects were recruited at least 12 months following completion of dual-arch fixed appliance-based treatment.ResultsEighty-two participants were included with a positive correlation observed between LII and OAI at the 12-month post-treatment review with a 1-mm increase in LII associated with a 2-point increase in the OAI (P < 0.001). Limited relapse was observed in both groups: normal overjet group (OAI = 1.28; LII = 0.52); residual overjet group (OAI = 0.88; LII = 0.47). Median regression analysis failed to identify a significant association between an increased overjet at debond and the alignment of the maxillary anterior segment when assessed with OAI (P = 0.389) and LII (P = 0.577). Furthermore, age, gender, extraction protocols and retention regime were not predictive of post-treatment change.ConclusionsUsing a novel index (OAI) and LII, there was limited post-treatment relapse in alignment of the maxillary anterior dentition over a 12-month period. Based on this retrospective evaluation, achieving a normal overjet at the end of treatment may have little bearing on the post-treatment stability of maxillary anterior alignment at 12 months.

Reliability of the Garden Alignment Index and Valgus Tilt Measurement for Nondisplaced Femoral Neck Fractures.

Anteroposterior (AP) alignment assessment for nondisplaced femoral neck fractures is important for determining the treatment strategy and predicting postoperative outcomes. AP alignment is generally measured using the Garden alignment index (GAI). However, its reliability remains unknown. We compared the reliability of GAI and a new AP alignment measurement (valgus tilt measurement [VTM]) using preoperative AP radiographs of nondisplaced femoral neck fractures. The study was designed as an intra- and inter-rater reliability analysis. The raters were four trauma surgeons who assessed 50 images twice. The main outcome was the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). To calculate intra- and inter-rater reliability, we used a mixed-effects model considering rater, patient, and time. The overall ICC (95% CI) of GAI and VTM for intra-rater reliability was 0.92 (0.89-0.94) and 0.86 (0.82-0.89), respectively. The overall ICC of GAI and VTM for inter-rater reliability was 0.92 (0.89-0.95), and 0.85 (0.81-0.88), respectively. The intra- and inter-rater reliability of GAI was higher in patients aged &lt;80 years than in patients aged ≥80 years. Our results showed that GAI is a more reliable measurement method than VTM, although both are reliable. Variations in patient age should be considered in GAI measurements.

A Domain-Adversarial Multi-Graph Convolutional Network for Unsupervised Domain Adaptation Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis

The transfer learning method, based on unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA), has been broadly utilized in research on fault diagnosis under variable working conditions with certain results. However, traditional UDA methods pay more attention to extracting information for the class labels and domain labels of data, ignoring the influence of data structure information on the extracted features. Therefore, we propose a domain-adversarial multi-graph convolutional network (DAMGCN) for UDA. A multi-graph convolutional network (MGCN), integrating three graph convolutional layers (multi-receptive field graph convolutional (MRFConv) layer, local extreme value convolutional (LEConv) layer, and graph attention convolutional (GATConv) layer) was used to mine data structure information. The domain discriminators and classifiers were utilized to model domain labels and class labels, respectively, and align the data structure differences through the correlation alignment (CORAL) index. The classification and feature extraction ability of the DAMGCN was significantly enhanced compared with other UDA algorithms by two example validation results, which can effectively achieve rolling bearing cross-domain fault diagnosis.

Investigating the Alignment of the Linguistics and Literature Final Examination Questions with Relevant Learning Objectives at University Level

The purpose of this research is to investigate the alignment of the final examination questions of two EFL courses, viz. Linguistics and Literature with relevant learning objectives at university level. Both courses final exam questions and relevant learning objectives are analyzed for alignment using a slightly modified version of Porter’s model of alignment (2002). The linguistics course showed an alignment index of (0.50) and for the Literature course, the alignment index was (0.49). Both values were significantly lower than the hypothetical mean (0.839) and (0.884) for the two respective courses at the significance level of (0.05). In relation to the comparison of emphasis whether on exam questions or learning objectives, the low-order cognitive skills, viz. (remember, understand and apply) were over-emphasized than the high-order skills, viz. (analyze, evaluate and create). Building on that, recommendations are forwarded to EFL university teachers in terms of paying more attention to the learning objectives of the course they teach when designing final exam questions. Moreover, teachers should also make a balance by emphasizing the cognitive skills included within both learning objectives and examination questions. Key words: alignment, learning objectives, examination questions, assessment, EFL.

Quantifying chaos using Lagrangian descriptors.

We present and validate simple and efficient methods to estimate the chaoticity of orbits in low-dimensional conservative dynamical systems, namely, autonomous Hamiltonian systems and area-preserving symplectic maps, from computations of Lagrangian descriptors (LDs) on short time scales. Two quantities are proposed for determining the chaotic or regular nature of orbits in a system's phase space, which are based on the values of the LDs of these orbits and of nearby ones: The difference and ratio of neighboring orbits' LDs. Using as generic test models the prototypical two degree of freedom Hénon-Heiles system and the two-dimensional standard map, we find that these indicators are able to correctly characterize the chaotic or regular nature of orbits to better than 90% agreement with results obtained by implementing the Smaller Alignment Index (SALI) method, which is a well-established chaos detection technique. Further investigating the performance of the two introduced quantities, we discuss the effects of the total integration time and of the spacing between the used neighboring orbits on the accuracy of the methods, finding that even typical short time, coarse-grid LD computations are sufficient to provide reliable quantification of the systems' chaotic component, using less CPU time than the SALI. In addition to quantifying chaos, the introduced indicators have the ability to reveal details about the systems' local and global chaotic phase space structure. Our findings clearly suggest that LDs can also be used to quantify and investigate chaos in continuous and discrete low-dimensional conservative dynamical systems.

Chaotic simulation for nanofluidic particles

The analysis of ferro-nanofluidic flow is carried out for magnetic and temperature variability. Indicators such as Small Alignment Index (SALI), Fast Lyapunov Indicator (FLI) and Dynamic Lyapunov Indicator (DLI) compute regular as well as chaotic motions. LCEs & Bifurcations also carried out for Ha as well as Ra variations. Entropy quantifies probability of haphazardness in the dynamism. It is observed that for case of rectangular cavity this chaotic state begins through Ra = 26.2 indicating that at extremely high temperatures this rectangular cavity becomes randomized proving that whenever these blood vessels have non-uniform deposition even if there is regular flow, patient has a better chance at survival as randomness happens and due to non-uniformity of deposition there exist narrow in between passages that provide stable blood- flow.

Energy-recurrence breakdown and chaos in disordered Fermi–Pasta–Ulam–Tsingou lattices

In this paper, we consider the classic Fermi–Pasta–Ulam–Tsingou system as a model of interacting particles connected by harmonic springs with a quadratic nonlinear term (first system) and a set of second-order ordinary differential equations with variability (second system) that resembles Hamilton’s equations of motion of the Fermi–Pasta–Ulam–Tsingou system. In the absence of variability, the second system becomes Hamilton’s equations of motion of the Fermi–Pasta–Ulam–Tsingou system (first system). Variability is introduced to Hamilton’s equations of motion of the Fermi–Pasta–Ulam–Tsingou system to take into account inherent variations (for example, due to manufacturing processes), giving rise to heterogeneity in its parameters. We demonstrate that a percentage of variability smaller than a threshold can break the well-known energy recurrence phenomenon and induce localization in the energy normal-mode space. However, percentage of variability larger than the threshold may make the trajectories of the second system blow up in finite time. Using a multiple-scale expansion, we derive analytically a two normal-mode approximation that explains the mechanism for energy localization and blow up in the second system. We also investigate the chaotic behavior of the two systems as the percentage of variability is increased, utilizing the maximum Lyapunov exponent and Smaller Alignment Index. Our analysis shows that when there is almost energy localization in the second system, it is more probable to observe chaos, as the number of particles increases.

Topology Optimization-Based Localized Bone Microstructure Reconstruction for Image Resolution Enhancement: Accuracy and Efficiency.

Topology optimization is currently the only way to provide bone microstructure information by enhancing a 600 μm low-resolution image into a 50 μm high-resolution image. Particularly, the recently proposed localized reconstruction method for the region of interest has received much attention because it has a high possibility to overcome inefficiency such as iterative large-scale problems of the conventional reconstruction. Despite the great potential, the localized method should be thoroughly validated for clinical application. This study aims to quantitatively validate the topology optimization-based localized bone microstructure reconstruction method in terms of accuracy and efficiency by comparing the conventional method. For this purpose, this study re-constructed bone microstructure for three regions of interest in the proximal femur by localized and conventional methods, respectively. In the comparison, the dramatically reduced total progress time by at least 88.2% (20.1 h) as well as computational resources by more than 95.9% (54.0 gigabytes) were found. Moreover, very high reconstruction accuracy in the trabecular alignment (up to 99.6%) and morphometric indices (up to 2.71%) was also found. These results indicated that the localized method could reconstruct bone microstructure, much more effectively preserving the originality of the conventional method.

Assessment of fore-, mid-, and rear-foot alignment and their association with knee symptoms and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Hallux valgus, flatfoot, and rearfoot eversion are well-known major complications of knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, there is no consensus on the association between these foot malalignments and knee symptoms or function. Thus, this study aimed to examine the association between foot alignment and knee symptoms or function in patients with knee OA. Female patients aged ≥ 50years with symptomatic knee OA participated in this study. Knee symptoms and function were assessed using the Knee Society Scoring System (KSS). Hallux valgus, navicular/foot ratio, and leg heel alignment were used as the forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot alignment indices, respectively. The navicular/foot ratio was defined as the ratio of the navicular height to the total foot length. We performed multiple linear regression analysis to examine the associations between foot alignment and knee symptoms or function. Seventy-eight participants participated our study. KSS symptom score was significantly associated with navicular/foot ratio (regression coefficient [β], -0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], -109.2 to -20.5; P = 0.005), knee extensor strength (β, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.09; P = 0.004), and age (β, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.32; P = 0.036). KSS function score was not associated with foot alignments but with knee extensor strength (β, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.33; P = 0.001) and body mass index (β, -0.35; 95% CI, -2.82 to -0.66; P = 0.002). Knee symptoms were significantly associated with midfoot alignment in patients with medial knee OA. This suggests that lower navicular height in patients with medial knee OA may relate with the alleviation of knee symptoms. Key Points • In patients with medial knee OA, midfoot alignment was significantly associated with knee symptoms in patients with medial knee OA; however, knee function was not associated with foot alignment. • Lower navicular height in patients with medial knee OA may relate with the alleviation of knee symptoms.

Testing beat perception without sensory cues to the beat: the Beat-Drop Alignment Test (BDAT)

Beat perception can serve as a window into internal time-keeping mechanisms, auditory–motor interactions, and aspects of cognition. One aspect of beat perception is the covert continuation of an internal pulse. Of the several popular tests of beat perception, none provide a satisfying test of this faculty of covert continuation. The current study proposes a new beat-perception test focused on covert pulse continuation: The Beat-Drop Alignment Test (BDAT). In this test, participants must identify the beat in musical excerpts and then judge whether a single probe falls on or off the beat. The probe occurs during a short break in the rhythmic components of the music when no rhythmic events are present, forcing participants to judge beat alignment relative to an internal pulse maintained in the absence of local acoustic timing cues. Here, we present two large (N > 100) tests of the BDAT. In the first, we explore the effect of test item parameters (e.g., probe displacement) on performance. In the second, we correlate scores on an adaptive version of the BDAT with the computerized adaptive Beat Alignment Test (CA-BAT) scores and indices of musical experience. Musical experience indices outperform CA-BAT score as a predictor of BDAT score, suggesting that the BDAT measures a distinct aspect of beat perception that is more experience-dependent and may draw on cognitive resources such as working memory and musical imagery differently than the BAT. The BDAT may prove useful in future behavioral and neural research on beat perception, and all stimuli and code are freely available for download.

New indexes for myofibril linearity in muscle image analysis.

The endeavor to evaluate the linearity of myofibrillar structures and their potential deviation from a straight line is a fascinating problem in muscle tissue image analysis. In this Letter, we suggest two different strategies for solving the same challenge. The first strategy is based on an alignment index, which could be derived by comparing the sum of the lengths of the individual sarcomeres with the distance between the "head" of the first and the "tail" of the last sarcomere. The second strategy relies on circular statistics, which takes a cue from an already suggested method. Our proposed methods are alternatives: the former has the advantage of simplicity; the latter is certainly more elegant and gives greater substance to statistical analysis, but in contrast, it also has greater computational complexity.

The intraoperative gap differences due to joint distraction force differences in total knee arthroplasty are affected by preoperative lower limb alignment and body mass index

BackgroundSoft tissue balance is important for a good clinical result in total knee arthroplasty. Nevertheless, the appropriate evaluation of the intraoperative gap has not been established. We investigated the relationship between physical characteristics and gap differences due to distraction force, in order to determine whether intraoperative adjustment of the distraction force can be considered based on the physical characteristics of the patient. MethodsA total of 115 varus knees in which primary total knee arthroplasty was performed were retrospectively evaluated. The component gaps were measured under 60 and 80 N. The gap difference under 60 and 80 N was calculated. We performed a linear regression analysis to determine the correlation between the gap differences and patient parameters. FindingsEach gap was significantly larger under 80 N than under 60 N. The component gap difference is larger in the lateral compartment than in the medial compartment at each knee flexion angle. The gap difference negatively correlated with preoperative hip–knee–ankle angle at a knee flexion of 0° and 120° (r = −0.21, −0.19; p = 0.02, 0.05) and positively correlated with BMI in the lateral compartment at a knee flexion of 90° (r = 0.31, p < 0.001). InterpretationThe difference in the intraoperative gap due to the joint distraction force was affected by the preoperative HKA axis angle and the body mass index in the lateral compartment. Surgeons should consider the effect of preoperative limb alignment and body mass index in interpreting intraoperative gap measurement.

Chaos classification in forced fermionic instanton solutions by the Generalized Alignment Index (GALI) and the largest Lyapunov exponent

Instantons play an important role in particle physics and cosmology. Fermion-like instanton solutions are obtained in the two-dimensional Thirring model via Heisenberg ansatz. In this study, chaotic behavior of the fermion-like instanton solutions with an external periodic force is investigated. The chaotic behavior is analyzed by performing a comparative numerical study of the time evolution of the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE) and the Generalized Alignment Index of order 2 (GALI2) method. Diagram of the LLE and GALI2 time (TG) (the time TG needed for the GALI2 to become <10−12) of the system of two nonlinear ordinary differential equations corresponding the forced fermion like instanton solutions with respect to varying the parameters at different time units are plotted comparatively. Moreover, color plots of the LLEs and GALI2 time (TG) of the system in the phase space are analyzed with different initial conditions for different parameters. As a result of these analyzes, the fermionic instanton solutions with an external periodic force are regular, chaotic and weakly chaotic states for some parameters and initial conditions. In addition, using diagram and color plot of the GALI2 time (TG), which is considered as an indicator of the system's chaoticity strength, by adjusting the needed time for the GALI2 to become <10−12 can be an alternative method to the diagram and color plot of the LLE of system with respect to varying the parameters.

Alignment between biology curriculum standards and five textbook editions: a content analysis

ABSTRACT This study investigates the alignment between curriculum standards and textbooks, based on a standards-based science education context. The analysis sample includes the High School Biology Curriculum Standards and five editions of biology textbooks in China. Porter's alignment model is used to construct a two-dimensional (content areas and cognitive levels) matrix of curriculum standards and textbooks to calculate alignment indices and marginal discrepancies between the two dimensions. The results show that 1) alignment between curriculum standards and textbooks has not been achieved; 2) textbooks are highly consistent and statistically significant, but independent of curriculum standards; 3) the distribution of curriculum standards and textbooks across various core concepts and cognitive levels is unbalanced; 4) both curriculum standards and textbooks overemphasise the cognitive levels of remembering and understanding, while minimally representing the applying, analysing, evaluating, and creating levels. This study examines the development of curriculum alignment in the context of current worldwide standards-based science education reforms and provides a framework for alignment research based on content analysis.

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion without plate (ACDFWP) versus anterior cervical disc arthroplasty (ACDA) for cervical spondylosis: A meta-analysis and literature review.

This meta-analysis compared the clinical outcomes between two alternative surgeries for patients with cervical spondylosis, namely anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) without plate (ACDFWP) vs. anterior cervical disc arthroplasty (ACDA). We searched databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, and Web of Science (firstly available-2019). A standard meta-analysis was performed with the included studies. A Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used for the evaluation of the study quality of nonrandomized-controlled trials (nRCTs), while a Risk of Bias (RoB) battery was used for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Eight studies involving 640 patients were included. No significant difference was found in the indices of Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, Visual Analog Score (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, operative time, blood loss, Swallowing Quality of Life Score (SWAL-QL), and complications. Cervical alignment was significantly better in the ACDFWP than in ACDA (mean difference (MD) = -0.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) [-1.11, -0.23], P = 0.003, I 2 = 20%). Although the alternative ACDFWP was slightly superior in terms of the index of cervical alignment, the limited research on this subject present insufficient evidence. Further well-designed studies are warranted in the future.

WE7.11 Robotic-assisted versus conventional total knee arthroplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract Aim To compare robotic-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and conventional TKA on both long-term and short-term follow-up. Methods For conducting this study, we searched four electronic databases. The outcomes were pooled as mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR), and 95% confidence interval. We used RevMan for performing the analysis. Results We included nine studies. The data showed a significant favoring of robotic-assisted TKA than the conventional one in mechanical alignment, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and femoral coronal outliers (MD= -1.10, 95% CI [-1.51, -0.69], p&amp;lt;0.00001), (MD= -1.19, 95% CI [-2.35, -0.03], p=0.04), and (RR= 0.49, 95% CI [0.30, 0.80], p=0.004) respectively. On the other hand, the conventional TKA was better in range of motion-flexion (long-term) than the robotic-assisted one (MD= -3.02, 95% CI [-3.68, -2.37], p&amp;lt;0.00001). However, there were no significant differences between them in knee society score-knee score, knee society score-function score, change in hospital for special surgery, and change in range of motion-extension (MD= -0.36, 95% CI [-2.43, 1.70], p=0.73), (MD= -0.34, 95% CI [-2.36, 1.68], p=0.74), (MD=0.78, 95% CI [-0.84, 2.40], p=0.34), and (MD=0.16, 95% [-1.32, 1.64], p=0.83) respectively. Conclusion Robotic-assisted TKA had better outcomes than conventional TKA regarding mechanical alignment and WOMAC. However, the conventional approach showed a better range of motion-flexion in the long term. More data is needed for the long-term outcomes.

Detecting Order and Chaos by the mLE, SALI and GALI Methods in Three-Dimensional Nonlinear Yang–Mills System

The main objective of this study is to explore the nonlinear dynamics and chaos detecting in the three-dimensional (3D) generalized Hamiltonian Yang–Mills system as coupled quartic oscillators. We investigate its Liouvillian integrability. The integrable system is obtained and its associated first integral of motion is explicitly given. Also, a variety of nonlinear phenomena could be expressed using various numerical analysis, such as the construction of the system’s Poincaré Surface of Section (PSS), the maximum Lyapunov exponent (mLE), and the modern numerical methods like the Smaller (SALI) and the Generalized (GALI) Alignment Indexes. In this context, a series of numerical simulations are appropriate in order to explore ordered and chaotic motions of the system both in two (2D) and three dimensions, and one can observe chaos–order–chaos transition of the system when any parameters on which the system depends vary. Finally, several numerical schemes are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness and rapidity of these proposed methods for distinguishing chaos and order states of the system.

The K-mer File Format: a standardized and compact disk representation of sets of k-mers.

SummaryBioinformatics applications increasingly rely on ad hoc disk storage of k-mer sets, e.g. for de Bruijn graphs or alignment indexes. Here, we introduce the K-mer File Format as a general lossless framework for storing and manipulating k-mer sets, realizing space savings of 3–5× compared to other formats, and bringing interoperability across tools.Availability and implementationFormat specification, C++/Rust API, tools: https://github.com/Kmer-File-Format/.Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.