Degree Of Curvature Research Articles

On enhancing mode-dependent failure strength under large deformation: The concept of anti-curvature in honeycomb lattices

Over the last decade, lattice-based artificial materials have demonstrated the possibility of tailoring multifunctional capabilities that are not achievable in traditional materials. While a large set of mechanical properties can be simultaneously modulated by adopting an appropriate network architecture in the conventional periodic lattices, the prospect of enhancing global specific stiffness and failure strength has become rather saturated lately due to intense investigation in this field. Thus there exists a strong rationale for innovative design at a more elementary level in order to break the conventional bounds of specific stiffness and failure strength that can be obtained only by lattice-level geometries. Here we propose a novel concept of anti-curvature in the design of lattice materials, which reveals a dramatic capability in terms of enhancing the elastic failure strength in the nonlinear regime while keeping the relative density unaltered. A semi-analytical bottom-up framework is developed for estimating the onset of failure in honeycomb lattices with the anti-curvature effect in cell walls considering geometric nonlinearity under large deformation. The physically insightful semi-analytical model captures nonlinearity in elastic failure strength of anti-curvature lattices as a function of the degree of curvature and applied stress together with conventional microstructural and intrinsic material properties.

Structure refinement of transmembrane domain of KCNE3 in proteoliposomes using EPR spectroscopy.

KCNE3 is an integral membrane protein that regulates the function of several voltage gated potassium ion channels. A recent solution NMR studies by Sanders lab suggested that the structure of KCNE3 contains a α-helical transmembrane domain with a moderate degree of curvature as an inherent property of the protein. However, detailed structural information of KCNE3 in a lipid bilayer is still not fully understood. In this study, we utilize advanced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique of double electron electron resonance (DEER) spectroscopy to investigate structural conformation of the transmembrane domain of KCNE3 in proteoliposomes. DEER is a rapidly growing structure biology technique to study structural conformational of membrane protein by measuring distances within the range of 20-80 Å between two spin labeled sites. The DEER distance measurements were obtained for several double spin-labeled sites on the transmembrane domain of KCNE3 in POPC/POPG lipid bilayers. The DEER distance data were used as distances restraints in Xplor-NIH program to refine the structural model of transmembrane domain of KCNE3. This study will provide a guidance to understand structural-functional relationship of transmembrane domain of KCNE3 in lipid bilayer environment.

Multiple courses of intralesional collagenase injections for Peyronie disease: a retrospective analysis

In the original clinical trials evaluating intralesional collagenase Clostridium histolyticum for Peyronie disease (PD), treatment protocols were limited to 8 injections. We sought to describe our single-center experience with the use of multiple rounds (>8 injections) of intralesional collagenase in patients with PD. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients with PD receiving intralesional collagenase injections at our institution from October 2015 through December 2020. Some patients who completed 1 round of treatment elected to undergo additional rounds (16 or 24 injections) based on persistent curvature and presence of penile plaque. Clinical improvement was defined as a 20% reduction in penile curvature from the start of a given round of treatment to the end of that round of treatment. We measured erect penile curvature before and after each round and collected demographics, medical and surgical history, curvature outcomes, and treatment-related adverse events. The primary outcome was the reduction in penile curvature after multiple rounds of treatment with intralesional collagenase injections in patients with PD. A total of 330 patients underwent intralesional collagenase injections for PD, of whom 229 completed at least 8 injections and underwent pre- and posttreatment erect penile goniometry. An overall 42.8% (98/229), 38.6% (22/57), and 12.5% (1/8) of patients achieved clinical improvement after 1 round of therapy (8 injections), 2 rounds (16 injections), and 3 rounds (24 injections), respectively. Mean degree and mean percentage improvement of penile curvature for the start and end of each round of treatment were 8.3° and 16.4% (after 1 round), 7.2° and 16.8% (after 2 rounds), and 3.3° and 8.1% (after 3 rounds). Bruising was the most common complication, with an incidence of at least 50% in each round. Knowledge of patient responses to multiple rounds of intralesional collagenase injections may help guide physicians in management and counseling of patients regarding PD treatment options. This is the first study to evaluate multiple rounds (>8 injections) of intralesional collagenase for PD. Limitations include retrospective analysis and smaller sample size among patients undergoing 3 rounds (24 injections). For patients who did not achieve clinical improvement after 1 round of treatment, an additional round may be beneficial. However, no real improvement was observed for patients undergoing a third round.

Shaping Ability of F6 SkyTaper®, Hyflex® EDM One File, and One Curve®: A Micro-computed Tomographic Evaluation in Curved Root Canals.

The present study aimed to compare the shaping ability of the F6 SkyTaper® (F6S), HyFlex® EDM OneFile (HEDM), and One Curve® (OC) nickel-titanium single-file instruments using micro-computed tomography. Fifty-two mesiobuccal roots of maxillary first molars, with a degree of curvature between 20° and 42°, were randomised into three experimental groups (n=15 per group): F6S, HEDM, and OC, and a non-instrumented control group (n=7). All specimens were scanned by micro-computed tomography before and after instrumentation. The following parameters were evaluated: preparation time, volume of dentine removed, cutting efficiency, unshaped surfaces, and canal transportation. Cutting efficiency was analysed using an ANOVA parametric test and Tukey's multiple comparison post hoc test. Other parameters were analysed using a non-parametric Kruskall-Wallis test followed by Dunn's multiple comparison post hoc test. No instrument separation occurred during instrumentation. No significant differences were found between the instrument groups with respect to all the parameters (p>0.05). All the instruments induced morphological changes in the root canal dentine (p<0.05) and tended to increase canal transportation toward the coronal portion of the root canals (p>0.05). All instruments were able to shape curved canals and preserve their original anatomy. Single-file endodontic procedures with these instruments can be used with comparable changes in the root canal shape with minimal transportation. (EEJ-2022-01-06).

Can mediastinum cause referred pain in idiopathic scoliosis?

Objective: In idiopathic scoliosis (IS), the mechanism of action of pain that occurs especially in the back and neck region with the increase in curvature is not known exactly. In the study, the relationship between these pains and the mediastinum was investigated. Materials and Methods: The study, which was planned retrospectively, included 25 individuals with IS (Lenke Type I) and 21 healthy individuals. Individuals with IS determined the regions where they felt the most pain on the body diagram. Lung and mediastinal volumes of the participants were measured in mm3 on computed tomography (CT) images. The ratios of the area occupied by the lung and mediastinum in the thoracic cavity were calculated in each group. Obtained data were evaluated using IBM SPSS 23.0 program and p&lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of baseline characteristics (p˃0.05). It was determined that individuals with IS felt the most pain in the 3rd, 4th and 5th cervical and 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th thoracic spinal nerve dermotomas regions. Compared to the control group, the area covered by the lung in the thoracic cavity decreased by 50% in the IS group, while the area covered by the mediastinum increased at the same rate (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: We think that the pain that occurs in the neck and shoulder region with the increase in the degree of curvature in individuals with IS with a major curvature in the thoracic region (Lenke Type I) is referred pain originating from the mediastinum.

Medical Treatment for Peyronie's Disease: Systematic Review and Network Bayesian Meta-Analysis.

To investigate the efficacy of medical treatment options for Peyronie's disease (PD) including oral drugs, intralesional treatment and mechanical treatment compared with placebo treatment using network meta-analysis (NMA). We searched the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of PD in PubMed, Cochrane library, and EMBASE up to October 2022. RCTs included medical treatment options: oral drugs, intralesional treatment and mechanical treatment. Studies reporting at least one of the outcome measures of interest including curvature degree, plaque size, and structured questionnaires (International Index of Erectile Function, IIEF) were included. Finally, 24 studies including 1,643 participants met our selection criteria for NMA. There was no statistically significant treatment compared to placebo of the curvature degree, plaque size, IIEF in Bayesian analysis. The SUCRA values of ranking probabilities for each treatment performance, which indicated that hyperthermia device ranked first in NMA. However, in frequentist analysis, 7 of mono treatments (coenzyme Q10 [CoQ10] 300 mg, hyperthermia device, interferon alpha 2b, pentoxifylline 400 mg, propionyl-L-carnitine 1 g, penile traction therapy [PTT], vitamin E 300 mg) and 2 of combination treatments ("PTT-extracorporeal shockwave treatment", "vitamin E 300 mg-propionyl-L-carnitine 1 g") were statistically significant for improvement of curvature degree, and 9 of mono treatments (CoQ10 300 mg, hyaluronic acid 16 mg, hyperthermia device, interferon alpha 2b, pentoxifylline 400 mg, propionyl-L-carnitine 1 g, verapamil 10 mg, vitamin E 300 mg, vitamin E 400 U) and 3 of combination treatments ("interferon alpha 2b-vitamin E 400 U", "verapamil 10 mg-antioxidants", "vitamin E 300 mg-propionyl-L-carnitine 1 g") were statistically significant in the improvement of plaque size. At present, there is no clinical treatment alternatives that have been demonstrated to be effective compared to placebo. Nonetheless, as the frequentist approach has shown that a number of agents are efficacious, further research is expected to develop more effective treatment options.

SPR Biosensor Based High-Throughput Screening of Low Molecular Weight Compounds for Interaction with Candida krusei CYP51

The opportunistic fungus Candida krusei is the causative agent of nosocomial infections characterized by high mortality and development of resistance to drugs of the azole class. Therefore, develjoment of non-azole antifungal agents against resistant fungal strains is extremly important. Lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase (CYP51) is a well-known antifungal target. The optical SPR biosensor is a universal tool for screening studies in search of new drug prototypes. This paper presents the methodological aspects of high-hroughput SPR based screening of a library of low molecular weight compounds of natural origin for their interaction with C. krusei CYP51. It has been shown that when performing high-throughput screening, a researcher should pay special attention to the degree of a sensorgram curvature in the association phase. The described approaches to the analysis of high throughput screening data can be useful for researchers working with SPR biosensors from various manufacturers.

Simulation study of membrane bending by protein crowding: a case study with the epsin N-terminal homology domain.

The mechanisms by which peripheral membrane proteins generate curvature is currently an active area of research. One of the proposed mechanisms is amphipathic insertion or the 'wedge' mechanism in which the protein shallowly inserts an amphipathic helix inside the membrane to drive the curvature. However, recent experimental studies have challenged the efficiency of the 'wedge' mechanism as it requires unusual protein densities. These studies proposed an alternative mechanism, namely 'protein-crowding', in which the lateral pressure generated by the random collisions among the membrane bound proteins drives the bending. In this study, we employ atomistic and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the effects of amphipathic insertion and protein crowding on the membrane surface. Considering epsin N-terminal homology (ENTH) domain as a model protein, we show that amphipathic insertion is not essential for membrane bending. Our results suggest that ENTH domains can aggregate on the membrane surface by employing another structured region (H3 helix). And this protein crowding decreases the cohesive energy of the lipid tails which causes a significant decrease in the membrane bending rigidity. The ENTH domain can generate a similar degree of membrane curvature irrespective of the activity of its H0 helix. Our results are consistent with the recent experimental results.

EFFECT OF PROGRESSION OF ADOLESCENT IDIOPATHIC SCOLIOSIS ON GAIT PARAMETERS

ABSTRACT Objectives: To evaluate the influence of the degree of severity of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) on the distribution of plantar load on the feet during gait. Material and Methods: 40 patients with AIS were evaluated and divided into severity groups: 13 with mild AIS; 13 with moderate AIS; and 14 with severe AIS. Cobb angles (degrees) were evaluated by radiography. Gait was assessed using the pressure platform at a frequency of 100 Hz. The adolescents walked on a 20-meter track, with their feet resting on the platform, totaling an average of 12 steps. The following were evaluated: contact area, peak pressure, and maximum force on the 4 regions of the feet: hindfoot (medial and lateral), midfoot, and forefoot. Results: Adolescents with moderate and severe AIS showed an increase in peak pressure and maximum force on the medial (p=0.014; p=0.045, respectively) and lateral (p=0.035; p=0.039, respectively) hindfoot and a reduction on the midfoot (p=0.024) when compared to mild AIS. The contact area showed no differences between groups. Conclusion: The moderate and severe degree of AIS severity promoted increased plantar load on the medial and lateral hindfoot (heel) during gait compared to adolescents with a mild degree of scoliotic curvature. In this way, gait training in the milder stages of disease severity can minimize the overload and the increase in force vectors on the spine, preventing the progression of severe scoliotic curvature. Level of Evidence II; Cross-sectional study.

Comparative characteristics between calyculin A-induced and thimerosal-induced hyperactivation of cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa.

This study aimed to characterize calyculin A (CL-A)-induced and thimerosal-induced hyperactivation of cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa. Hyperactivation was effectively induced by treating with 10 nM CL-A for 60 min in the presence of cyclic AMP analogs, extracellular Ca2+, and albumin or with 12.5 µM thimerosal briefly in the absence of these capacitation-supporting factors. Majority of the spermatozoa exhibiting CL-A-induced hyperactivation were characterized by the 3-dimensional helical movement with head rotation, higher degree of flagellar curvature, and faster beating of the flagella than those exhibiting thimerosal-induced hyperactivation of the 2-dimensional planar movement without head rotation. The CL-A-induced hyperactivation was linked to the activation of cAMP/protein phosphorylation-dependent signaling cascades and to the decreased activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3α (GSK-3α). In contrast, the thimerosal-induced hyperactivation was suppressed by pretreatment with CL-A and cyclic AMP analogs in the absence of CaCl2 to activate cAMP/protein phosphorylation-dependent signaling cascades. Additionally, the intracellular Ca2+ level in live sperm flagella was significantly higher in the CL-A-treated samples than in the thimerosal-treated samples. These results indicate that CL-A-induced hyperactivation of cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa is an extracellular Ca2+-dependent type with the 3-dimensional helical movement, which can be regulated not only by the activation of cAMP/protein phosphorylation-dependent signaling cascades, leading to a large enhancement of the intracellular Ca2+ level, but also by the reduction in GSK-3α activity. Considering the different characteristics of thimerosal-induced hyperactivation, our results suggest that the diversity of sperm hyperactivation arises from different combinations of flagellar bending and head rotation.

Lordosis in humans: women's accurate perceptions of men's context-dependent preferences

Semchenko and colleagues (in press) recently disentangled two evolutionary hypotheses and demonstrated that heterosexual men have mate preferences for both the morphological cue of women's lumbar curvature and the behavioral cue of back arching: Men are attracted to an intermediate degree of lumbar curvature in both short-term and long-term mating contexts, and, independent of this preference, are attracted to lordosis behavior in short-term, but not long-term, mating contexts. No research to date has investigated whether women are aware of these preferences. There are a priori reasons to expect this to be the case: An awareness of these preferences could functionally guide both appearance-enhancement and intrasexual competition strategies. Here, we tested whether women have accurate perceptions of men's preferences in the lumbar region. Across two studies (Ns = 177, 293), we found that women's perceptions align precisely with men's preferences: Women perceive men to be attracted to cues to lordosis behavior in short-term but not long-term contexts, and to be attracted to an intermediate angle of lumbar curvature independent of mating context. We hope these findings, which document previously unknown features of women's mating psychology, inspire investigations into how women might adaptively use their accurate perceptions of men's mate preferences.

A Curve Symbol on the Maxillary First (Third) Premolar (P3) in Hominins

The degree of curvature of the maxillary first premolars when viewed from the occlusal plane was examined. Curvature at the transition between the buccal and adjacent surfaces is a known characteristic of left-right differences. In general, the curvature characteristics of the teeth of modern humans are more acute in the mesial than in the distal. However, this characteristic appears reversed only in the maxillary first premolars. This study investigated when and how the maxillary first premolars reverse curvature emerged in human evolution. The results showed that the occurrence of reversal curvature in the maxillary first premolars was caused by the weakening of the buccal ridge and the shift of this ridge to the distal, as well as the development of the distobuccal area of tooth crown, which has occurred since the time of the present. The P3 curvature seen in modern humans is thought to be a fairly new trait acquired during human evolution.

Root Curvature in Non-Syndromic Oral Clefts: A Case-Control Study in a Brazilian Population.

This study assesses the degree of root curvature in patients with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate (NSCL/P). Retrospective. Case-control study. Root curvature was assessed in lower premolars and molars in 800 panoramic radiographs: 400 from patients with cleft and 400 from healthy control individuals. Root curvature was classified according to its angulation, as well as its apical, medial, or coronal localization. The frequency of mild curvature in the NSCL/P group compared to the control group was higher in premolars especially in the left second premolar in cleft palate (OR: 6.91; 95% CI: 3.23-14.77; P < .0001). The frequency of moderate curvature in molars was significantly higher in the cleft group, with the highest risk in the right first molar in the cleft lip group (OR: 2.74; 95% CI: 1.67-4.52; P < .0001). Inclination was more frequently observed in the apical third of the root in the group with cleft, whereas for the control group, the curvature was more frequent in the medial third. In patients with cleft, the OR of curvature in the apical third was significant in premolars (left lower second premolar: Cleft lip, OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.04-3.52; P = .03; right lower second premolar: Cleft lip, OR: 1.91, 95% CI: 1.04-3.50; P = .03, cleft lip and palate, OR: 1.75; 95% CI: 1.12-2.73; P = .01). The results of the current study indicate differences in root curvature in patients with non-syndromic cleft lip and/or palate, which should be considered during the dental treatment planning of patients.

Effect of anterior maxillary wall shape on ease of prelacrimal recess approach among Asians and Westerners.

Endoscopic sinus surgery has been widely used in the treatment of most maxillary diseases, although the inability to access lesions in the anterior and inferior maxillary sinus walls is a major disadvantage. In few cases, the prelacrimal recess (PLR) approach can be used, which secures an overall view within the maxillary sinus. The distance between the anterior maxillary wall and lacrimal duct is related to the ease of the PLR approach. First we measured the distance between the anterior maxillary wall and lacrimal duct using anatomical image analysis to classify the types and then evaluated whether anatomical factors were related to the results. Both sides of the sinuses were evaluated in 272 participants (544 sides). After marking a tangent line (line 1 [L1]) through the posterior surface of the anterior maxillary sinus wall and a parallel line (line 2 [L2]) to the anterior surface of the lacrimal duct, the vertical distance between L1 and L2 was measured. Vertical distances of < 3mm, 3-7mm, and > 7mm were classified as PLR approach types I, II, and III, respectively. In the axial plane image, line 3 (L3) (a horizontal line starting from the inner anterior maxillary sinus wall) was drawn and the angle with L1 (L1-L3A) was measured. The proportions of types I, II, and III were 23.2% (126), 55.0% (299), and 21.8% (119), respectively. The mean L1-L3As for types I, II, and III were 12.87 ± 4.92°, 11.20 ± 5.08°, and 10.40 ± 4.47°, respectively, showing a significant difference in mean values (p < 0.001). The L1-L3A and vertical distance between L1 and L2 showed a significant negative correlation (r = - 0.201, p < 0.001). We observed a correlation between the distance from the anterior maxillary wall to the lacrimal duct and L1-L3A. The L1-L3A indicates the degree of curvature of the anterior maxillary wall; therefore, the smaller the L1-L3A, the easier it may be to access the PLR.

The symptomatic burden of Peyronie's disease at presentation according to patient age: A critical analysis of the Peyronie's disease questionnaire (PDQ) domains.

Peyronie's disease (PD) has a huge impact on patients' physical and psychological wellbeing. To investigate whether patients' age has an impact on PD symptomatic burden at first presentation. Data from 129 consecutive heterosexual patients seeking first medical attention for PD at a single andrological tertiary-referral centre were collected. All patients completed the International Index for Erectile Function (IIEF) and the PD questionnaire (PDQ). Descriptive statistics were used to compare clinical features between younger (≤40years) and older (>40 years) patients. Multivariable linear model assessed the impact of age, the degree of penile curvature and their impact on PDQ (total scores and its domains), after adjusting for PD duration and IIEF-erectile function domain scores. Of 129, 24 (18.6%) patients were ≤40 years old. Young patients presented with a less severe curvature than older patients (median [interquartile ranges] 20° [15-36] vs. 50° [40-80]; p=0.04). However, younger age was associated with higher psychological and physical symptoms, PDQ-penile pain and PDQ-symptom bother scores (Coeff -0.11, -0.21 and -0.17, respectively) (all p<0.05). Moreover, the greater the degree of curvature, the higher the PDQ-psychological and physical symptoms and the PDQ-symptom bother scores (Coeff. 0.21 and 0.22, respectively; all p<0.05). Around one in five men seeking first medical help for PD is younger than 40 years at presentation in the real-life setting. PD-related distress varies according to patients' age, with younger men presenting with a greater risk of penile pain and symptom bother despite lower curvature.

The Influence of Spatial and Temporal Scales on Fisheries Modeling—An Example of Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis in the Nansha Islands, South China Sea

The choice of spatial and temporal scales affects the performance of fisheries models and is particularly important in exploring the relationship between resource abundance and the marine environment. Traditional fishery models are constructed at a particular scale, and the results of the study hold only at that scale. Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis is one of the main target species of large-scale light falling-net fishing in the Nansha Islands in the South China Sea. We used the S. oualaniensis fishery in the Nansha Islands as an example to compare the performance of fisheries models for 12 spatial and temporal settings and to explore the relationship between the abundance of S. oualaniensis and the marine environment in the Nansha Islands under the optimal spatial and temporal settings. The results show that the spatial and temporal scale chosen in the construction of the fishery model is not as fine as possible in generalized additive models (GAMs) for abundance index-catch per unit effort (AI-CPUE)-based scenarios, and 0.5° with the season was the best spatial and temporal setting; meanwhile, in GAMs for AI-effort-based scenarios, 0.1° with the month was the best spatial and temporal setting. The distribution of S. oualaniensis resources in the Nansha Islands was characterized by significant seasonal variation, and the monthly center of gravity had a significant negative correlation with the Niño 3.4 index and the PDO index, with correlation coefficients of 100 and 1000, respectively. It is hypothesized that Pacific Decadal Oscillation and ENSO events affect the marine environment in the South China Sea by influencing the strength of the Kuroshio force and the degree of Kuroshio curvature, which in turn affects the distribution of S. oualaniensis in the Nansha Islands. The results help us to understand the influence of spatial and temporal scales on fisheries models and the environmental factors affecting the distribution of S. oualaniensis resources in the Nansha Islands. Thus, they provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development of S. oualaniensis fisheries in this region.

Innovative and automated method for vortex identification

Context.As a universally accepted definition of a vortex has not yet been established, the community lacks an unambiguous and rigorous method for identifying vortices in fluid flows. Such a method would be useful for conducting robust statistical studies on vortices in highly dynamical and turbulent systems such as the solar atmosphere.Aims.We aim to develop an innovative and robust automated methodology for the identification of vortices based on local and global characteristics of the flow, while avoiding the use of a threshold that could potentially prevent the detection of weak vortices in the process.Methods.We present a new method that combines the rigor of mathematical criteria with the global perspective of morphological techniques. The core of the method consists of an estimation of the center of rotation for every point of the flow that presents some degree of curvature in its neighborhood. For this purpose, we employed the Rortex criterion and combined it with morphological considerations of the velocity field. We then identified coherent vortical structures based on clusters of estimated centers of rotation.Results.We demonstrate that the Rortex is a more reliable criterion than the swirling strength and the vorticity for the extraction of physical information from vortical flows, because it measures the rigid-body rotational part of the flow alone and is not biased by the presence of pure or intrinsic shears. We show that the method performs well in the context of a simplistic test case composed of two Lamb-Oseen vortices. We combined the proposed method with a state-of-the-art clustering algorithm to build an automated vortex identification algorithm. The algorithm was applied to an artificial flow composed of multiple Lamb–Oseen vortices, with a random noisy background, and to the turbulent flow of a simulated magneto-hydrodynamical Orszag-Tang vortex test. The results demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of the method.Conclusions.The present automated vortex identification method can be considered a new tool for the detection and study of vortices in dynamical and turbulent (magneto)hydrodynamical flows. By applying the implemented algorithm to numerical simulations and observational data, as well as comparing it to existing detection methods, we seek to successively improve the reliability of the detections and, ultimately, our knowledge on swirling motions in the solar, stellar, and planetary atmospheres.

Investigating tidal river dynamics in a longitudinally varying channel geometry

Examining the flow dynamics in a tidal river, particularly downstream, is of great importance to consider the substantial interaction between river runoff and tidal waves. Previous studies have investigated flow dynamics in tidal rivers mainly concentrated on the lateral structure of the estuarine dynamics, with limited consideration of the impact of geometrical variation of the tidal channel, which has an enormous effect along the longitudinal direction. The aim of this study is to offer a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of a tidal river with longitudinally varying channel geometry. To accomplish the aforementioned aims, this study provides a spatiotemporal analysis of water current and density for a fortnight period of a mesotidal estuarine channel that encompasses both curved and straight channels in the streamwise direction. Moreover, a quantitative analysis of the governing mechanisms for estuarine dynamics was performed to determine the alteration of driving mechanisms due to channel geometry variation. The longitudinal velocity profile indicates the existence of tidal asymmetry where the ebb currents are dominant over flood currents. The asymmetry, which is induced by the interaction between the channel curvature and density gradient, is observed to be more enhanced in the curved channel than in the straight channel. Moreover, the across-channel bathymetry difference between the curved and straight channels leads to different patterns of lateral flow in those channels. Additionally, the longitudinal and lateral velocities averaged for the spring/neap tides reveal that the channel with a higher curvature degree has greater residual circulation. On the other hand, the periodically varying density distribution denotes the existence of tidal straining, which is slightly modified by the variation in geometry. The notable findings of this study are as follows: (i) the variability in channel geometries introduces different responses of tidal straining and tidal stirring; (ii) the river effect (river-induced shear) in the curved channel substantially increases significantly compared to the straight channel over a certain threshold of river runoff. We believe that the findings of this study deepen our understanding of tidal river dynamics in a longitudinally varying channel geometry.

Effects of Display Layout on Spatial Memory for Immersive Environments

In immersive environments, positioning data visualisations around the user in a wraparound layout has been advocated as advantageous over flat arrangements more typical of traditional screens. However, other than limiting the distance users must walk, there is no clear design rationale behind this common practice, and little research on the impact of wraparound layouts on visualisation tasks. The ability to remember the spatial location of elements of visualisations within the display space is crucial to support visual analytical tasks, especially those that require users to shift their focus or perform comparisons. This ability is influenced by the user's spatial memory but how spatial memory is affected by different display layouts remains unclear. In this paper, we perform two user studies to evaluate the effects of three layouts with varying degrees of curvature around the user (flat-wall, semicircular-wraparound, and circular-wraparound) on a visuo-spatial memory task in a virtual environment. The results show that participants are able to recall spatial patterns with greater accuracy and report more positive subjective ratings using flat than circular-wraparound layouts. While we didn't find any significant performance differences between the flat and semicircular-wraparound layouts, participants overwhelmingly preferred the semicircular-wraparound layout suggesting it is a good compromise between the two extremes of display curvature.

A classification of specific movement skills and patterns during sprinting in English Premier League soccer.

The aim of this study was to quantify and contextualize sprinting actions (≥ 7.0 m/s) of English Premier League (EPL) soccer match-play with respect to the movement skills and patterns employed. Video footage (3.2.6, Premier League DVMS, ChyronHego) and raw video-based locomotor coordinates of 901 sprint efforts from 10 matches of an EPL soccer team (2017-2018), were evaluated using the Football Sprint Movement Classification System pertaining to transition, initiation, and actualisation of sprint movement skills and patterns. The results from a one-way ANOVA or independent t-test revealed that, generally, most sprinting actions begun from a linear initiation position compared to lateral or rear (63%, d = 5.0-5.3, p &lt; 0.01), without a change of direction (COD) (48%, d = 4.9-5.6, p &lt; 0.01) compared to lateral, front-back, back-front, and from forward travelling (linear and diagonal) transition movements (68%, d = 2.1-5.7, p &lt; 0.01) compared to lateral or rear. Additionally, most sprints were initiated with a rolling acceleration (66%, d = 3.2, p &lt; 0.01) compared to explosive acceleration, often performed with a degree of curvature (86%, d = 7.2, p &lt; 0.01) compared to linear, with torso rotation (62%, d = 2.7, p &lt; 0.01) compared to no rotation, and typically end with an action such as duelling with an opponent or involvement with the ball (49%). Additionally, the sprint movement characteristics proportions slightly differed across playing positions. Overall, this study confirms that sprints during EPL soccer matches are initiated from and performed with a variety of different movement skills and patterns in relation to different sport-specific outcomes. This data can be used to assist in the development of more effective physical preparation programmes, inform position-specific contextualized sprinting drills to achieve better specificity and potential transfer of training, while also informing speed testing protocols.