Changes In Position Research Articles

Three-Dimensional Evaluation of Changes in Condylar Position After Orthognathic Surgery With Different Types of Jaw Deformities

BackgroundAssessing condyle position post orthognathic surgery is pivotal for optimizing surgical accuracy, sustaining postoperative stability, and ensuring predictable treatment outcomes. PurposeThe aim of this study was to analyze the changes of condyle position after orthognathic surgery with different types of jaw deformity and to analyze whether the changes of condyle position are different. Study design, setting, sampleA retrospective cohort study was designed and conducted, involving adults who underwent orthognathic surgery for jaw deformities at the affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nanchang University between 2019 and 2022. Patients with incomplete CT data were excluded. Predictor/exposure/independent variableThe primary predictor variable was time (pre-operative and post-operative) and types of jaw deformities (skeletal Class III, skeletal Class II, and mandibular deviation). Main outcome variable(s)The main outcome variables were the 3D linear and rotational positional changes of the condyle. CovariatesEvaluated covariates included sex and age. AnalysesMIMICS 20.0 software measured all data, and SPSS 22.0 software facilitated statistical analyses. Intra- and inter-group correlation analyses employed paired t-tests and independent t-tests, with statistical significance set at P < 0.05. ResultsThe study sample was composed of 32 subjects with a mean age of 22.43±1.6 and 9 were male. The analysis of changes of condylar position from virtual surgical planning to immediate postoperative period showed that the maximum condylar displacement was 1.74 mm and the maximum angular change was 3.92°. The analysis of changes in condylar position from the immediate postoperative period to 1-year postoperatively showed no statistically significant changes for the same type of jaw deformity. But patients with Class II malocclusion exhibited distinct condylar displacement and rotation patterns compared to those with Class III malocclusion and mandibular deformity. Conclusions and RelevanceThe application of virtual surgical planning in orthognathic surgery ensures a high degree of consistency in achieving the desired condylar position. Moreover, no significant change in condylar position was observed after orthognathic surgery for the same type of jaw deformity. However, patients with Class II deformities exhibited a higher susceptibility to rotational displacement of the condyles compared to those with other types of jaw deformities.

Comprehensive analysis of the equatorial ionization anomaly based on global ionospheric maps with a high spatiotemporal resolution

The Equatorial Ionization Anomaly (EIA), a manifestation of Ionospheric plasma irregularities, is closely linked to the equatorial fountain, influenced by solar activity and Earth’s geomagnetic field. While previous studies on EIA have predominantly focused on specific regional analyses using TEC data from GPS stations, revealing correlations between peaks, discrepancies with models, and temporal variations, there exists a gap in comprehensive global statistics, consideration of different solar activity years, and exploration of EIA characteristics across various local time scales. To address these, this study employs high spatiotemporal data from the Global Ionospheric Map (GIM) to comprehensively analyze EIA across different periods of the day during high solar activity in 2014 and low solar activity in 2020. The study delves into the subtle variations of EIA under different solar activity levels and seasonal conditions, focusing on changes in occurrence rate, intensity, and geomagnetic latitude positions concerning longitude, month, and local time. Our study reveals several findings: (1) EIA exhibited more frequent and intense trends during high solar activity years, with higher occurrence rates and intensity observed during the equinoxes; (2) EIA exhibits significant variations across different longitudes and local times, showing systematic patterns in its occurrence rates over time; (3) The crest-to-trough TEC Ratio (CTR) effectively characterizes nighttime EIA intensity, while the crest-to-trough TEC Difference (CTD) is suitable for representing daytime EIA intensity; (4) The temporal changes in EIA positions may be related to electric fields and wind patterns, while differences in longitudes are attributed to variations in the geomagnetic field.

“The impact of orthognathic surgery on articulation proficiency and speech intelligibility in skeletal Class III malocclusion: 18 months follow up”

IntroductionOrthognathic surgery results in the positional change of the maxilla and mandible that may affect speech. The present study evaluated the effect of combined maxillary advancement and mandibular setback surgery on articulation proficiency and speech intelligibility in patients with non-syndromic skeletal Class III malocclusion. MethodsIn this prospective study, twenty-five patients with skeletal class III malocclusion and consecutively treated with Lefort-1 maxillary advancement and mandibular setback (BSSO) orthognathic surgery were included in this study. The speech sample was recorded with a digital audio tape recorder one day before surgery and at 3, 6, 9, 12 and 18 months after surgery. Three qualified and experienced speech and language pathologists evaluated articulation errors and intelligibility of speech samples. Repeated One-way analysis of variance was used to compare articulation proficiency and speech intelligibility at different time intervals. ResultsThe substitution, omission, distortion and addition errors showed no significant changes at 3 months and 6 months. The total articulation errors decreased to zero at 9 months and no significant increase was observed till 18 months (P < 0.05). Speech intelligibility showed statistically non-significant improvement at any time interval. Cephalometric skeletal parameters SNA and N ḻ A°. were significantly correlated with addition and total articulation errors at 18 months follow up. ConclusionsThe ortho-surgical treatment improves speech (decreases. articulation errors) in most of the patients usually 6–9 months post-surgery. Speech intelligibility is not affected by bimaxillary orthognathic surgery in skeletal class III patients. The articulation errors were correlated to changes in position of maxilla.

Behavioral measures of psychotic disorders: Using automatic facial coding to detect nonverbal expressions in video

Emotional deficits in psychosis are prevalent and difficult to treat. In particular, much remains unknown about facial expression abnormalities, and a key reason is that expressions are very labor-intensive to code. Automatic facial coding (AFC) can remove this barrier. The current study sought to both provide evidence for the utility of AFC in psychosis for research purposes and to provide evidence that AFC are valid measures of clinical constructs. Changes of facial expressions and head position of participants—39 with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder (SZ), 46 with other psychotic disorders (OP), and 108 never psychotic individuals (NP)—were assessed via FaceReader, a commercially available automated facial expression analysis software, using video recorded during a clinical interview. We first examined the behavioral measures of the psychotic disorder groups and tested if they can discriminate between the groups. Next, we evaluated links of behavioral measures with clinical symptoms, controlling for group membership. We found the SZ group was characterized by significantly less variation in neutral expressions, happy expressions, arousal, and head movements compared to NP. These measures discriminated SZ from NP well (AUC = 0.79, sensitivity = 0.79, specificity = 0.67) but discriminated SZ from OP less well (AUC = 0.66, sensitivity = 0.77, specificity = 0.46). We also found significant correlations between clinician-rated symptoms and most behavioral measures (particularly happy expressions, arousal, and head movements). Taken together, these results suggest that AFC can provide useful behavioral measures of psychosis, which could improve research on non-verbal expressions in psychosis and, ultimately, enhance treatment.

Comparison of transverse dimensional and incisor changes between wide and narrow orthodontic archwires: a randomized controlled trial.

To clinically compare the effects of broader archwires to standard archwires, using conventional brackets in both cases, on the transverse and incisor changes in maxillary and mandibular arches during leveling and alignment. Fifty-two patients presenting with crowding were allocated into two groups; one group received the broad Damon archwires while the other received standard 3M OrthoForm III Ovoid archwires. All participants were treated with conventional brackets using similar archwire sequences (0.014, 0.018, 0.016 × 0.022/0.016 × 0.025, 0.019 × 0.025 NiTi/CuNiTi archwires). Digital casts were obtained from alginate impressions before treatment (T0) and six weeks after inserting 0.019 × 0.025 NiTi archwires (T1). Pretreatment (T0) and post-alignment (T1) lateral cephalograms were obtained for each patient. The primary outcomes were the changes in the transverse arch dimensions and incisor inclination. The secondary outcomes were the horizontal and vertical linear changes in incisor position. Complete data were collected for 47 patients. There was a significant increase in arch width during treatment within each group, except for upper inter-molar width in 3M group (P = 0.071). Damon wire induced a statistically significant increase in maxillary inter-second premolar width (P = 0.042), and mandibular inter-first premolar (P = 0.043), inter-second premolar (P = 0.008) and inter-molar widths (P = 0.033) compared to 3M group. The increase in incisor proclination and the linear change in incisor position were significant within each group, with less mandibular incisor proclination (P = 0.004) and horizontal advancement (P = 0.038) in the Damon group. Damon archwires created a comparatively greater increase in the maxillary inter-second premolar width and the mandibular inter-first premolar, inter-second premolar, and inter-molar widths, and less proclination and horizontal advancement in mandibular incisors. The study provides invaluable evidence that using broad archwires with self-ligating brackets is the reason behind any greater expansion observed in this system rather than the unique mechanical and biological features exerted by the self-ligating system. Our results suggest that Damon archwire might be a better alternative compared to the narrower standard archwires that are usually used with conventional brackets, especially in the mandibular arch, in cases where mild to moderate crowding is planned to be resolved with a non-extraction approach. However, as arch expansion in the absence of posterior crossbites raises the question of long-term stability, the reported advantage of the use of wide wires should be interpreted with caution and should be considered in the retention phase, bearing in mind that achieving a good post-treatment occlusion is important for enhancing post-treatment stability.

Nasal profile changes after LeFort I osteotomy (maxillary advancement) with and without ANS reduction in class III skeletal patients: a study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

BackgroundDentofacial malformation is a common condition that affects a significant portion of the population, resulting in functional and aesthetic defects. Orthognathic surgeries, such as LeFort I osteotomy, are performed to correct these abnormalities. However, the impact of these surgeries on nasal profile changes remains unclear. Additionally, the role of anterior nasal spine (ANS) reduction in maxillary advancement surgeries of 3–5 mm range is yet to be determined. This study aims to investigate the effect of ANS reduction on soft tissue profile changes following LeFort I osteotomy with a maxillary advancement range of 3–5 mm in class III skeletal patients. The hypothesis is that the changes in nasolabial angle and upper lip length will not significantly differ between patients who undergo LeFort I osteotomy with and without ANS reduction.Method and designThis study is designed as a randomized controlled trial. A total of 26 class III skeletal patients with maxillofacial abnormalities will be recruited from the maxillofacial clinic of Bu-Ali and Farahikhtegan Hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Patients meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to two groups: one group will undergo LeFort I osteotomy with ANS reduction, and the other group will undergo LeFort I osteotomy without ANS reduction. The soft tissue profile changes, specifically the nasolabial angle and upper lip length, will be evaluated and compared between the two groups.DiscussionAchieving facial harmony through orthognathic surgery requires careful planning and consideration of the impact on surrounding soft tissue. The primary objective is to predict and plan for the effects on the nasolabial region. LeFort I osteotomy is a common procedure used to correct dentofacial deformities, particularly in class III patients. Maxillary advancement during this surgery can lead to changes in nasal tip position, width, and rotation, potentially due to repositioning of the anterior nasal spine and soft tissue dissection. In this study, soft tissue changes will be assessed in non-growing class III patients using cephalometric radiographs. The impact of reducing the anterior nasal spine (ANS) on nasal profile changes will be investigated for maxillary advancements of 3–5 mm. Objective measurements and patient-reported outcomes will be evaluated to gain insights into the aesthetic outcomes of orthognathic surgery. The findings will provide valuable guidance for treatment decisions and alternative options based on expected nasal profile changes.Trial registrationThis project was registered at The Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (Identifier No. IRCT20210928052625N1, Website: https://www.irct.ir/trial/59171) and Open Science Framework (OSF) (Registration https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/X3HD4). 2021-06-09.

Hemodynamic changes in the prone position according to fluid loading after anaesthesia induction in patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery: a randomized, assessor-blind, prospective study

Introduction A change from the supine to prone position causes hemodynamic alterations. We aimed to evaluate the effect of fluid preloading in the supine position, the subsequent hemodynamic changes in the prone position and postoperative outcomes. Patients and methods This prospective, assessor-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted between March and June 2023. Adults scheduled for elective orthopaedic lumbar surgery under general anaesthesia were enrolled. In total, 80 participants were randomly assigned to fluid maintenance (M) or loading (L) groups. Both groups were administered intravenous fluid at a rate of 2 ml/kg/h until surgical incision; Group L was loaded with an additional 5 ml/kg intravenous fluid for 10 min after anaesthesia induction. The primary outcome was incidence of hypotension before surgical incision. Secondary outcomes included differences in the mean blood pressure (mBP), heart rate, pleth variability index (PVi), stroke volume variation (SVV), pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume index and cardiac index before surgical incision between the two groups. Additionally, postoperative complications until postoperative day 2 and postoperative hospital length of stay were investigated. Results Hypotension was prevalent in Group M before surgical incision and could be predicted by a baseline PVi >16. The mBP was significantly higher in Group L immediately after fluid loading. The PVi, SVV and PPV were lower in Group L after fluid loading, with continued differences at 2–3 time points for SVV and PPV. Other outcomes did not differ between the two groups. Conclusion Fluid loading after inducing general anaesthesia could reduce the occurrence of hypotension until surgical incision in patients scheduled for surgery in the prone position. Additionally, hypotension could be predicted in patients with a baseline PVi >16. Therefore, intravenous fluid loading is strongly recommended in patients with high baseline PVi to prevent hypotension after anaesthesia induction and in the prone position. Trial number KCT0008294 (date of registration: 16 March 2023)

Characteristics and analysis of static strain response on typical asphalt pavement using fiber Bragg grating sensing technology

To study the real internal strain response of asphalt pavement and provide crucial data for optimizing pavement design. By burying the fiber grating sensors on site, the strain tests of four asphalt pavement structures under different working conditions were carried out, and the results showed that the static strain time curve is viscoelastic and conforms well to the Bugers model, and the fitting coefficient of determination is 0.98. The strain response of the asphalt surface courses of the four pavement structures under static load shows a double hump variation with the transverse position, with peaks occurring directly beneath the wheel load center. The transverse strain fluctuated between tension and compression, mirroring changes in the lateral position. While longitudinal strains, always tensile, were symmetrically aligned with the centerline of the longitudinal sensors, this pattern differed notably from that of the transverse sensors. In the base layers, the strain profile typically presented a single peak, located at the wheel gap, underscoring a critical area of stress concentration. Numerically, the peak strain of asphalt surface course is larger than that of base course. The most unfavorable loading position of the base course occurs at the wheel gap of the lower base course. The most adverse loading position of the surface course appears at the wheel load at the bottom of the upper or middle course. The research results can provide data support for improving the design method of asphalt pavement.

Mapping Thyroid Changes in Size and Position During Enlargement in Adult Mice With Hyperthyroidism.

The thyroid in Graves' disease undergoes a considerable divergence in size and position from the normal anatomy. However, knowledge of the pathological anatomy related to the change, which is required before planned surgical or local intervention, or diagnosis, is neglected. To investigate Graves' disease, we established a model of mice that successfully mimicked all the signs presented in the clinic. Under a long-term immunization (35 weeks), the animals displayed large heterogeneity in thyroid size, such as the cases of natural occurrence. These thyroids in the model were sized into various phases and registered. A blend of the registered thyroids and the thyroid and tracheal cartilage landmarks led to the production of site-dependent incidence graphs of thyroid in the front view and on the section for each phase. The merger of the incidence graphs of all the phases resulted in thyroid phase-dependent topography. The depicted graphs illustrate the fine localization of the thyroid in various sizes and their dynamic changes during enlargement, which may facilitate currently used fine-needle aspiration biopsy and ultrasonography-guided biopsy techniques. Familiarity with this knowledge might avoid misclassifying an abnormality as normal, or vice versa, and be helpful for imaging diagnosis and local surgery therapy in Graves' disease.

Influence on the temporomandibular joint induced by mandibular malpositioning caused by vertical dimension elevation and occlusal loss in adult rats: An imaging, histological and immunohistochemical study.

Mandibular malpositioning may result in an abnormal concentration of stresses within the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in adult rats, which may further lead to a series of pathological changes, such as articular cartilage wear, subchondral bone sclerosis and osteophyte formation. However, the pathological and adaptive changes in condylar cartilage caused by different stress distributions are still controversial. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of sagittal changes in mandibular position on condylar cartilage by changing the occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) in adult rats. Fifteen-week-old female rats were divided into three groups: control (CON), increased OVD (iOVD) and loss of occlusion (LO) groups. An occlusal plate and tooth extraction were used to establish the animal model. TMJ samples of the experimental and CON groups were observed and investigated by bone morphological, histomorphological and immunohistochemical staining analyses at 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Weight curves were plotted. Micro-computed tomography showed that, compared with the CON group, cartilage destruction followed by repair occurred in both experimental groups, which was similar to the trend observed in haematoxylin-eosin staining. All experimental results for the iOVD group showed an approximately similar time trend. Compared with the iOVD group, the toluidine blue and immunohistochemical staining results in the LO group showed no obvious change trend over time. Compared with occlusal loss, an increase in OVD caused faster and more severe damage to condylar cartilage, and subchondral bone repair occurred later.

Oil price volatility and changes in corporate debt: An empirical study in the Indian landscape

Changes in crude oil prices affect corporate debt position. This study investigates the association between changes in debt and crude oil price volatility in nonfinancial, BG, and SA firms in India. We use financial variables, crude oil prices, and macroeconomics data from 2004 to 2020 for 16,452 firm-years and this study employs unbalanced panel data and utilizes different empirical methodologies, including the generalised method of moments (GMM) estimator, to test the stated hypotheses. The results reveal that the debt position and the crude oil price volatility significantly have different effects on business group (BG) and stand-alone (SA) firms. Crude oil price volatility is positively related to changes in the debt position. The effects of the financial variables also significantly differ for the BG and SA firms. Finally, firms change their debt position in the positive or negative direction based on the fluctuations in crude oil prices. Policy implications have also been provided.

Evaluation of intra-articular injection of injectable platelet-rich fibrin, anterior repositioning splint and arthrocentesis in treatment of temporomandibular joint internal derangement

The current research paper was designed to assess the impact of an intra-articular injection of injectable platelet-rich fibrin (I-PRF) following arthrocentesis and the use of an anterior repositioning splint (ARS) as a proposed treatment approach for addressing symptomatic internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This study comprised thirty patients who presented with bilateral disc displacement without reduction. The patients were evenly distributed into two groups: Group I underwent treatment involving ARS and arthrocentesis alone, while Group II underwent treatment with ARS, arthrocentesis, and the injection of I-PRF. Clinical assessment of all patients was done postoperatively in the following intervals; first week, first month, third month, and six months for maximum mouth opening (MMO), right and left lateral excursion, and pain score. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment for all joints was done at the sixth month postoperatively. Both groups demonstrated improvement in MMO, lateral excursion, and pain. Significant statistical differences were observed in the mean values of MMO and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), favouring the I-PRF group. MRI postoperatively showed no significant changes in disk position or morphology at the end of the sixth month. Administering an intra-articular I-PRF injection subsequent to arthrocentesis demonstrates effectiveness as a treatment approach for alleviating the signs and symptoms associated with internal derangement of the TMJ.

The Analysis of The Functional Status of Female Soldiers In The Conditions of The Legal Regime of The Martial State

This article presents the results of a study on the cardiorespiratory system of 30 female soldiers during a period of legal regime of martial state. It is important to note that all investigated cardiovascular parameters, determined by median, were within age norms. Our findings from hypoxic tests demonstrated that the functional capacity of the respiratory system of female military personnel was within age norms as well. The results also confirm that this category has the ability to effectively operate in hypoxic conditions, which is a crucial aspect for professional performance. Analysis of orthostatic test results indicates a significant variability in the body’s reactions to body position changes, with a median value of 5.0 bpm, a minimum of 0.0 bpm, and a maximum of 56.0 bpm. This means that female soldiers have different levels of adaptation. However, it is worth noting the stability of the cardiovascular system’s response to orthostatic stress, with minimal changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 5 mmHg, indicating cardiovascular stability during orthostatic activity. In the vast majority of female military personnel (60.0%), hemodynamic reactions to changes in body position indicate a high level of adaptive capacity of the cardiovascular system. The results of the study of the functional state of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems in female military personnel indicate compliance with the majority of physiological norms; however, isolated cases are observed where the detected values may indicate certain abnormalities, particularly arterial hypertension. The results of respiratory tests indicate a normal response of the female military personnel's bodies to hypoxia conditions, which is important for fulfilling their service duties.

ALFABETIZAÇÃO E LETRAMENTO: REPRESENTAÇÕES DE PROFESSORAS DO SEMIÁRIDO BAIANO PÓS-PNAIC

In the last decade, that is, between 2012 and 2022, literacy teachers in the Semiarid Zone of the State of Bahia joined the Program Literacy at the Right Age (PNAIC in Portuguese), in which the theoretical foundations of alphabetization and literacy practice have been accessed. hroughout this period, little is known about the images that remained of these foundations in teachers' narratives about their classroom practices. This study, therefore, based on the studies of intertextuality referenced by textually oriented discourse analysis (ADTO) (FAIRCLOUGH, 2001) and based on the theory of social representations (JODELET, 2001; ABRIC, 2016) aims to describe the new discursive anchors and the transformations of the concepts of alphabetization and literacy in the narratives of a group of literacy teachers trained by the PNAIC program. From these analyzes, changes in positions and knowledge will be revealed, in addition to highlighting the relevance of this type of study for the monitoring of future continuing education projects in Brazil.

Late Holocene changes in the water table at an alkaline fen in Central Latvia: Their impacts on CaCO3 deposition at the fen and relation to the hydroclimate patterns of the Eastern Baltic Region

Sediments of CaCO3-precipitating alkaline fens, comprising biotic and abiotic indicators of water table changes, are among the most reliable archives for obtaining palaeohydrological data. The study uses a semiquantitative method based on a combination of selected indicators (plant macrofossils, mollusc shells, degree of peat decomposition) to estimate the relative changes in the water table position at Lustūžkalns alkaline fen, Latvia, Eastern Baltic Region. The study also aims to determine the time frames of CaCO3 deposition at the fen using loss on ignition and carbon and oxygen stable isotope records. The chronology of the three sediment sequences studied is based on the AMS radiocarbon dating of terrestrial plant macrofossils. Although the reconstructed water table positions revealed differences between the cores, the major shift from the low water tables persisting since ca. 5000 cal yr BP to the prevailing high water stands at ca. 3000 cal yr BP was common to all the sequences. The major shift observed is consistent with a change from low to high water tables in peatlands in Latvia and at numerous fens and bogs across the Eastern Baltic Region, Fennoscandia and NW Europe. Concurrent with the increase in the water tables was the onset of CaCO3 precipitation on the Lustūžkalns fen surface, which began at ca. 3000 cal yr BP and accelerated from ca. 2500 cal yr BP. The Late Holocene CaCO3 precipitation at Lustūžkalns can be attributed to the change from warm and dry conditions during the Holocene Thermal Maximum (HTM) to cooler but humid during the Late Holocene. In contrast, in Central and Western Europe, the main period of freshwater carbonate precipitation occurred during the warm and humid HTM.

Cross-sectional and retrospective study regarding the changes in the spatial position of the hyoid bone and upper airways before and after orthodontic therapy in developing patients with normocclusion

ABSTRACT Objective The objective was to study the effect of orthodontic therapy regarding the position of the hyoid bone and upper airways in nighty-one 6–21 year-old Caucasian patients with normoclussion. Methods Nineteen variables were analyzed by teleradiography. The differences were analyzed with the ANOVA test of repeated measures with an intra-group factor for two occasions. Results The statistical analysis revealed a greater influence on the variables Hy-MP (12.3 vs 14.2), Hps-C3 (25.2 vs 28.1), Hpi-C3 (28.8 vs 35.5), H°-C3 (14.4 vs 12.7), Hps-Rg (36.0 vs 42.7), Hpi-Rg (34.1 vs 39.7), USP (16.2 vs 20.2), MPP (12.9 vs 14.8), C3P (10.6 vs 12.8), PNS-Ba (43.5 vs 66.5), PtV-Ad (12.0 vs 17.1) and PtM-Ba (33.9 vs 35.9), and Ad2-SO (24.16 vs 20.87). Discussion Significant differences were observed between most of the airway and hyoid bone variables before and after orthodontic treatment in our Spanish pediatric population, especially in the nasopharynx.

Modified Starch from Mango Pickling Industry Waste: Comparison of Physical and Chemical Modification

AbstractThis study focuses on extracting, modifying, and characterizing mango kernel starch (MKS) from raw pickling mango waste. Two physical and two chemical techniques: heat‐moisture treatment (HMT), ultrasound (US), sodium tri‐metaphosphate (STMP), and octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) are employed for modification. HMT and STMP reduce swelling power and solubility due to structural changes, while US and OSA treatments enhance these properties by disrupting intermolecular bonds and weakening hydrogen bonds within the starch granules. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra demonstrate changes in absorption peaks, intensities, and positions in the modified starches, confirming successful structural alterations. X‐ray diffraction patterns indicate A‐type and C‐type patterns for native and modified starches, revealing alterations in crystallinity driven by modification techniques. Water binding capacity (WBC) generally increased in modified starches compared to native starch. Changes in amylose content and pasting properties are observed. Modified starches display higher thermal stability. Furthermore, starch retrogradation is affected by these modifications, with STMP and OSA modification treatments slowing it down, HMT and US treatments promoting it. Results demonstrate that native and modified MKS can be versatile ingredients for various industries. Chemically modified MKS excelled in crystallinity and hindered retrogradation, making it beneficial for edible coatings and baked goods. Physically modified MKS demonstrated accelerated retrogradation and suited for extruded snacks.

Balloon drift estimation and improved position estimates for radiosondes

Abstract. When comparing model output with historical radiosonde observations, it is usually assumed that a radiosonde has risen exactly above its starting point and has not been displaced by wind. This changed only relatively recently with the availability of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers aboard radiosondes in the late 1990s, but even then the balloon trajectory data were often not transmitted, although this information was the basis for estimating the wind in the first place. Depending on the conditions and time of year, radiosondes can sometimes drift a few hundred kilometres, particularly at the middle latitudes during the winter months. The position errors can lead to non-negligible representation errors when the corresponding observations are assimilated. This paper presents a methodology to compute changes in the balloon position during its vertical ascent, using only limited information, such as the vertical profile of wind contained in the historical observation reports. The sensitivity of the method to various parameters is investigated, such as the vertical resolution of the input data, the assumption about the vertical ascent speed of the balloon, and the departure of the surface of Earth from a sphere. The paper considers modern GNSS sonde data reports for validation, for which the full trajectory of the balloon is available, alongside the reported wind. Evaluation is also conducted by comparison with ERA5 and by conducting low-resolution data assimilation experiments. Overall, the results indicate that the trajectory of the radiosondes can be accurately reconstructed from original data of varying vertical resolutions and that the more accurate balloon position reduces representation errors and, in some cases, systematic errors.

Comparison of treatment effects between clear aligners and fixed appliances in patients treated with miniscrew-assisted molar distalization.

The biomechanics in achieving molar distalization may differ between fixed appliances and clear aligners in the control of tooth movement. The objective of this study was to compare the treatment effects between clear aligners (CA) and fixed appliances (FA) in patients treated with miniscrew-assisted molar distalization. The sample consisted of 46 subjects with mild-to-moderate crowding. A total of 22 patients treated with clear aligners (age, 25.66 ± 6.11 years old) and 24 patients treated with fixed appliances (age, 24.04 ± 4.95 years old) for miniscrew-assisted molar distalization were included in this study. The dental and skeletal changes were evaluated by the pre- and post-treatment lateral cephalograms. Significant changes were found with the vertical variables SN-OP angle (2.24 ± 3.22°, P < .05) and SN-MP angle (0.73 ± 1.15°, P < .05) for the FA group when compared with the CA group (SN-OP angle 0.41 ± 2.26° and SN-MP angle -0.21 ± 1.38°, P > .05). Both treatment groups achieved a 2-3mm. molar distalization with significant intrusion of the upper molars. The CA group showed significantly less distal tipping of molars (U6^PP angle -2.29 ± 3.29° and L6^MP angle -2.92 ± 2.49°, P < .05) compared to the FA group (-5.24 ± 4.28° and -5.53 ± 5.03°, P < .05). In addition, significant retraction and lingual inclination of the upper and lower incisors were found in both groups. The changes of tooth position were evaluated by 2D lateral cephalograms, not 3D measurements. Compared to fixed appliances, clear aligners seemed to have better control of vertical dimension and distal tipping of molars in patients treated with miniscrew-assisted molar distalization.

Nonlinear dynamic modeling and analysis of the fluid-transporting cracked pipe using the hybrid semi-analytical and finite element method

The fatigue cracks may develop in the pipe systems due to long-term cyclic loading, which may cause catastrophic accidents. The finite element method (FEM) is usually adopted to simulate the stress singularity and breathing effect, resulting in expensive computational costs. Therefore, in this paper, an efficient hybrid semi-analytical and finite element (SA-FE) method is proposed to study the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of the fluid-transporting cracked pipe (FTCP) considering the breathing effect. Furthermore, the crack sensitivity parameters are obtained through bending-bending and bending-axial vibration analysis. For the SA-FE method, the semi-analytical method (SAM) and FEM are separately used to construct the dynamic models of the non-cracked and cracked regions, and the connection at the interface is performed by constraint equations. Subsequently, the validity of the modeling method is substantiated through both FEM and experimental tests. Finally, the effects of crack and fluid parameters on the dynamic characteristics of the FTCP are analyzed. The results indicate that changes in crack positions may trigger different-order mode switching, and continuous switching may occur between higher-order modes. In addition, the bending-bending and bending-axial coupling responses can effectively detect crack failures of the FTCP with varying levels of damage. The proposed model can offer valuable insights for fault diagnosis and health monitoring of FTCP.