Direction Errors Research Articles

A Hybrid 3D-2D Image Registration Framework for Pedicle Screw Trajectory Registration between Intraoperative X-ray Image and Preoperative CT Image.

Pedicle screw insertion is considered a complex surgery among Orthopaedics surgeons. Exclusively to prevent postoperative complications associated with pedicle screw insertion, various types of image intensity registration-based navigation systems have been developed. These systems are computation-intensive, have a small capture range and have local maxima issues. On the other hand, deep learning-based techniques lack registration generalizability and have data dependency. To overcome these limitations, a patient-specific hybrid 3D-2D registration principled framework was designed to map a pedicle screw trajectory between intraoperative X-ray image and preoperative CT image. An anatomical landmark-based 3D-2D Iterative Control Point (ICP) registration was performed to register a pedicular marker pose between the X-ray images and axial preoperative CT images. The registration framework was clinically validated by generating projection images possessing an optimal match with intraoperative X-ray images at the corresponding control point registration. The effectiveness of the registered trajectory was evaluated in terms of displacement and directional errors after reprojecting its position on 2D radiographic planes. The mean Euclidean distances for the Head and Tail end of the reprojected trajectory from the actual trajectory in the AP and lateral planes were shown to be 0.6–0.8 mm and 0.5–1.6 mm, respectively. Similarly, the corresponding mean directional errors were found to be and . The mean trajectory length difference between the actual and registered trajectory was shown to be 2.67 mm. The approximate time required in the intraoperative environment to axially map the marker position for a single vertebra was found to be 3 min. Utilizing the markerless registration techniques, the designed framework functions like a screw navigation tool, and assures the quality of surgery being performed by limiting the need of postoperative CT.

Planning and Executing Aiming Movements in Middle Childhood.

Harmonious voluntary movements require efficiency in their planning and execution. Throughout middle childhood structural changes in the central nervous and musculoskeletal systems influence these processes and resultant motor behavior. In this study, we evaluated the characteristics of the motor planning and executing of aiming movements directed at targets located in different positions in space in children aged 7, 9, and 11years. We divided 43 right-handed children, into three age groups and instructed them to perform aiming movements directed at targets using a stylus on a digital tablet. The children performed the movement with their dominant upper limbs from a starting point towards targets positioned ipsilaterally or contralaterally to this dominant limb. We analyzed temporal and spatial variables of motor performance. Younger (7-year-old) children made more errors in the initial movement direction and more frequently corrected their movements during task execution when compared to 9- and 11-year-old children who did not differ from each other. All age groups were similar in movement accuracy and precision. Movements toward contralateral targets were slower and more accurate than movements toward ipsilateral targets for all groups. These results show that performing aiming movements develop with the onset of middle childhood.

On line bisection: Validity and reliability of online measures of pseudoneglect

ABSTRACT This study assessed pseudoneglect using line bisection and perceptual landmark tasks in two matched online sessions. Line bisection bias was characterized by the traditional measure of Directional Bisection Error (DBE), and by Endpoint Weightings Bias (EWB), derived from an “endpoint weightings” analysis, made possible by the independent manipulation of left and right endpoints. EWB is proposed to index the relative attentional allocation to the two ends of the line. The expected leftward bias (pseudoneglect) was found, with larger effect sizes for EWB (d = −0.34 in both sessions) than for DBE (−0.22 in Session 1 and −0.14 in Session 2). Although EWB was slightly less reliable than DBE, it was more sensitive to pseudoneglect, and the endpoint weightings method has further advantages, including the option of an additional measure of non-lateralized attention. A substantial proportion of participants had difficulty following the instructions for the landmark task, which highlights the need for clear instructions and performance checks for this task. This study shows that line bisection can be used to measure pseudoneglect online, and provides grounds to suggest that the task should routinely include the independent manipulation of left and right endpoints, so that an endpoint weightings analysis can be performed.

Stress Component Decoupling Analysis Based on Large Numerical Aperture Objective Lens, an Impractical Approach.

Micro Raman spectroscopy is an effective method to quantitatively analyse the internal stress of semiconductor materials and structures. However, the decoupling analysis of the stress components for {100} monocrystalline silicon (c-Si) remains difficult. In the work outlined, physical and simulation experiments were combined to study the influence of the objective lens numerical aperture (NA) on the Raman stress characterization. The physical experiments and simulation experiments show that the spectral results obtained by using lenses with different NAs can accurately obtain the principal stress sum but cannot decouple the components of the in-plane stress. Even if the spectral resolution of the simulated experiment is ideal (The random errors of the polarization directions of less than ±1° and the systematic random errors of less than ±0.02 cm−1). The analysis based on the theoretical model demonstrates that the proportion of the principal stress sum in the Raman shift obtained in an actual experiment exceeded 98.7%, while the proportion of the principal stress difference part was almost negligible. This result made it difficult to identify the variable effects of different stress states from the experimental results. Further simulation experiments in this work verify that when the principal stress sum was identical, the differences in the Raman shifts caused by different stress states were much smaller than the resolution of the existing Raman microscope system, which was hardly possible to identify in the experimental results. It was proven that decoupling analysis of stress components using the large-NA objective lens lacked actual practicability.

Construction of Prediction Model of Radiotherapy Set-Up Errors in Patients with Lung Cancer.

Objective This study intends to construct an error distribution prediction model and analyze its parameters and analyzes the boundary size of CTV extension to PTV, so as to provide a reference for lung cancer patients to control clinical set-up errors and radiotherapy planning. Methods The prior SBRT set-up error data of 50 patients with lung cancer treated by medical linear accelerator were selected, the Gaussian mixture model was adopted to construct the error distribution prediction model, and the model parameters were solved, based on which the emission boundary from CTV to PTV was calculated. Results According to the analysis of the model parameters, the spatial distribution of set-up errors is mainly concentrated in the direction of four central points (μ1 ~ μ4), and the error is smaller in the Vrt direction (-0.991~2.808 mm) and Lat direction (-0.447~1.337 mm) and larger in the Lng direction (-1.065~4,463 mm). The possibility of offset of set-up errors in μ2 and μ3 direction (0.4440, 02198) is greater than that of μ1 and μ4 (0.1767, 0.1595). The standard deviation of set-up errors can reach 0.538 mm. The theoretical expansion boundary of CTV to PTV in Vrt, Lng, and Lat can be calculated as 1.7963 mm, 2.3749 mm, and 0.6066 mm. Conclusion The GMM Gaussian mixture model can quantitatively describe and predict the set-up errors distribution of lung cancer patients and can obtain the emission boundary of CTV to PTV, which provides a reference for radiotherapy set-up errors control and tumor planning target expansion of lung cancer patients without SBRT.

Optical and structural optimization of a large aperture solar parabolic trough collector

Concentrating solar power is well established renewable energy technology. It involves the same heat engine cycle as the conventional power plants, and the heat produced can be stored effectively. However, expensive mirrors and structural support systems required to maintain high precision in the shape of reflectors for better optical and thermal efficiencies are the challenges involved in making it competitive with other solar power technologies. In the present work, a methodology is proposed based on the finite element method and Monte-Carlo ray tracing to design and optimize a parabolic trough collector. The effect of geometric and optical parameters such as rim angle, the width of the collector, tracking errors, and slope errors are analyzed. The effect of tracking errors in the East-West direction and slope errors are substantial compared to the other non-random errors. Loss of 25% and 7.1% in optical efficiency occurs for tracking errors of 20 mrad and slope error of 3.2 mrad, respectively. Based on the structural and optical study, an optimization method and optimum configurations are proposed. Using the proposed methodology, heat flux maps at the receiver can also be obtained for the structural health monitoring of the receiver tube.

Optimal Rotational Angular Velocity Determination Method Based on Compound Rotary Semi-Strapdown Inertial Navigation System.

Single-axis rotation modulation (SRM) still accumulates errors in the roll axis direction, which leads to the navigation accuracy not meeting the requirements of guided missiles. Compound rotation modulation (CRM) superimposes one-dimensional rotation on the basis of SRM, so that the error of the projectile in the direction of the roll axis is also modulated. However, the error suppression effect of CRM is not only affected by the error of the IMU itself, but also related to the modulation angular velocity. In order to improve the accuracy of rotary semi-strapdown inertial navigation system (RSSINS), this paper proposes an optimal rotation angular velocity determination method. Firstly, the residual error in CRM scheme is analyzed; then, the relationship between the incomplete modulation error and the modulation angular velocity in CRM is discussed; finally, a method for determining the optimal modulation angular velocity is proposed (K-value method). The analysis of the results shows that the navigation accuracy of the guided projectile is effectively improved with the rotation scheme set at the modulation angular velocity determined by the K-value method.

Prolonged eye-hand decoupling deficits in young adults with a history of concussion from adolescence

ABSTRACT Previous studies reported that adolescents with a sport-related concussion history showed prolonged visuomotor deficits during an eye-hand decoupling task until around 1.5–2 years post-event. The present study expands this work, examining whether such deficits do or do not emerge when testing individuals in young adulthood, i.e. later post-event. Twenty-one non-athlete college students with sport-related concussion history from adolescence (CH; M = 21 yrs.; M = 46 months post-concussion, range 10–90 months) and twenty controls with no history of concussion (NoH; M = 21 yrs.) performed two touchscreen-based visuomotor tasks. It included a coupled task where eyes and hand moved in similar directions, and decoupled-task with eyes and hand going to different directions. Movement planning (e.g. reaction time, initial direction error) and execution (e.g. movement time, path length) related variables were analyzed in both groups and conditions. Movement execution measures were similar for both groups and conditions (all p > 0.05). However, movement planning was impaired in the CH participants in the eye-hand decoupling condition (p < 0.05). CH’s initial direction error was larger (i.e. worse spatial movement planning) than in the NoH group. Although movement execution deficits shown in earlier work in youth were not present in young adults, the present results suggest that a sport-related concussion sustained in adolescence can lead to prolonged deficits with spatial movement planning processes while performing eye-hand decoupling tasks about four years post-injury. Further research should investigate whether these deficits continue into adulthood and expand control on time since concussion and number of concussion metrics. Highlights Young adult college students with a history of a sport-related concussion from adolescence, tested about four years post-incident, showed spatial movement preparation deficits during an eye-hand decoupling visuomotor task. Eye-hand reversal decoupling errors also correlated with time since concussion in those with concussion history. These prolonged eye-hand decoupling deficits may emerge with ongoing time post-event, as comparable deficits were absent in previous work where youth were tested sooner post-injury. Our current findings point towards long-lasting performance impairments in young adult non-athletes after a sport-related concussion from adolescence.

Information-optimal local features automatically attract covert and overt attention

In fast vision, local spatial properties of the visual scene can automatically capture the observer’s attention. We used specific local features, predicted by a constrained maximum-entropy model to be optimal information-carriers, as candidate “salient features''. Previous studies showed that participants choose these optimal features as “more salient” if explicitly asked. Here, we investigated the implicit saliency of these optimal features in two attentional tasks. In a covert-attention experiment, we measured the luminance-contrast threshold for discriminating the orientation of a peripheral gabor. In a gaze-orienting experiment, we analyzed latency and direction of saccades towards a peripheral target. In both tasks, two brief peripheral cues, differing in saliency according to the model, preceded the target, presented on the same (valid trials) or the opposite side (invalid trials) of the optimal cue. Results showed reduced contrast thresholds, saccadic latencies, and direction errors in valid trials, and the opposite in invalid trials, compared to baseline values obtained with equally salient cues. Also, optimal features triggered more anticipatory saccades. Similar effects emerged in a luminance-control condition. Overall, in fast vision, optimal features automatically attract covert and overt attention, suggesting that saliency is determined by information maximization criteria coupled with computational limitations.

Increased Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Amplitude Impairs Inhibitory Control of Eye Movements in Parkinson's Disease

Background and ObjectivesBilateral subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) can have detrimental effects on eye movement inhibitory control. To investigate this detrimental effect of bilateral STN DBS, we examined the effects of manipulating STN DBS amplitude on inhibitory control during the antisaccade task. The prosaccade error rate during the antisaccade task, that is, directional errors, was indicative of impaired inhibitory control. We hypothesized that as stimulation amplitude increased, the prosaccade error rate would increase. Materials and MethodsTen participants with bilateral STN DBS completed the antisaccade task on six different stimulation amplitudes (including zero amplitude) after a 12-hour overnight withdrawal from antiparkinsonian medication. ResultsWe found that the prosaccade error rate increased as stimulation amplitude increased (p < 0.01). Additionally, prosaccade error rate increased as the modeled volume of tissue activated (VTA) and STN overlap decreased, but this relationship depended on stimulation amplitude (p = 0.04). ConclusionsOur findings suggest that higher stimulation amplitude settings can be modulatory for inhibitory control. Some individual variability in the effect of stimulation amplitude can be explained by active contact location and VTA-STN overlap. Higher stimulation amplitudes are more deleterious if the active contacts fall outside of the STN resulting in a smaller VTA-STN overlap. This is clinically significant as it can inform clinical optimization of STN DBS parameters. Further studies are needed to determine stimulation amplitude effects on other aspects of cognition and whether inhibitory control deficits on the antisaccade task result in a meaningful impact on the quality of life.

A PIV-Based Algorithm for Simultaneous Determination of Multiple Velocity Fields from Stratified Crossflows in Single Field of View

This study presents a new imaging-based algorithm for simultaneously determining multiple velocity fields from stratified crossflows optically captured in a single field of view. The concept implements an additional automatic peak finding scheme into the conventional particle image velocimetry (PIV) analysis procedure, identifying multiple prominent peak cross-correlation coefficients corresponding to the flows in various directions. To examine the validity, synthetic particle images generated by computer visions and image data acquired by PIV measurements are employed in the validation study. With both root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) in magnitude and direction being found to be temporally random, the validation results suggest that the performance of the new algorithm is ideal for steady or quasi-steady flows. This implies that the new algorithm may also work well for the flows repeatable with identical initial and boundary conditions. For transient flows, more valuable data can be obtained with the new algorithm, particularly in large-scale experiments or field measurements. Moreover, tests on synthetic images show that the RMSE in magnitude decays exponentially with increasing tracking particle density, and a density of 30% is found to be the lowest for the minimum RMSE in magnitude. Discussions on the error reduction, limitations of the new algorithm, suggestions for applications, and guidance on spurious vector removal are given as well.

A Simulation Method of Two-Dimensional Sea-Surface Current Field for Trajectory Crossing Spaceborne SAR

The trajectory-crossing method is an important and effective method for spaceborne SAR (synthetic aperture radar) to detect a two-dimensional current field. However, in practical applications, there are few spaceborne SAR data that meet the requirements of close acquisition time and overlapping trajectories, which makes it difficult to comprehensively analyze the impact of different systems and environmental parameters on current measurement results from real data processing. With the proposal of a SAR constellation plan in the future, the data resources will be constantly enriched, and the trajectory-crossing method will be widely used. It is, thus, necessary to lay some theoretical foundation at present. A two-dimensional sea-surface-current-field simulation method for trajectory crossing spaceborne SAR is proposed in this paper. Based on the principles of the trajectory-crossing method, the proposed method can realize the simulation of two-dimensional sea-surface-current field under given spaceborne SAR system and environmental parameters. In this paper, the simulation process of this method is given, and the simulation experiment is performed. Compared with the current measurement results of SAR data, the simulation experiment shows that the current velocity error is less than 0.03 m/s and the direction error is less than 10 degrees, which proves the reliability of the proposed simulation method. The proposed method lays a foundation for analyzing the influence of various parameters in the application of the trajectory-crossing method.

Rachis detection and three-dimensional localization of cut off point for vision-based banana robot

For the operation and visual positioning of a banana robot, it is important to accurately position the rachis and cut off point. However, the main factors that affect the three-dimensional (3D) positioning accuracy of the point of cutting off male flower clusters are the image detection algorithm and positioning errors in the depth direction. In this study, a new YOLOv5-B model was constructed using the InvolutionBottleneck module in the network structures of YOLOv5 and improving the loss function to improve the accuracy and speed of small target detection. Then, the contour of the rachis is segmented using an edge detection algorithm, and the optimal cut off point is obtained as a scalar. Finally, a robot experiment platform with stereo vision for cutting off male flower clusters of bananas is built to obtain the 3D space coordinates of the cutoff point of the rachis through visual inspection and analyze positioning errors in the depth direction. The experiments show that the overall mean average position (mAP) of the YOLOv5-B model for multi-target recognition of bananas is 93.2%, which is higher than that of the YOLOv5 and PP-YOLOv2 models. Among these, the small-target detection accuracy of the proposed model is better than that of the others. Additionally, the YOLOv5-B model shows excellent speed, with an average image processing time of only 0.009 s/piece. An accurate relation model for the geometric measurement between the depth camera and laser measurement was established, and positioning errors were analyzed. The median error (MEDE) of the depth coordinates was 8 mm and the median absolute deviation (MAD) was 2 mm. If the depth error is within the control range of the compensation, the requirements of rachis segmentation by robots can be met.

Interaction of hand orientations during familiarization of a goal-directed aiming task.

The purpose of the present study was to examine errors for an isometric goal-directed aiming task during familiarization at different hand orientation. Interaction between neutral and pronated hand orientations with and without directional feedback would provide insights into short-term adaptations and the nature of control. In this study, 30 healthy right-handed adults (age, 22.7±3.1years; weight, 69.4±16.6kg; height, 166.7±7.9cm) were randomly assigned to neutral or pronated hand orientation conditions. To assess familiarization, participants performed ten sets (16 targets/set) of goal-directed aiming task with continuous visual feedback towards targets symmetrically distributed about the origin. Following familiarization, participants then completed eight sets; four sets with and four sets without directional feedback, in an alternated order. For both hand orientations, directional errors were reduced in the first two sets (p<0.05), suggesting only three sets were required for familiarization. Additionally, the learning rate was also similar for both hand orientations. Following familiarization, aiming errors without feedback were significantly higher than with feedback while no change between sets was observed, regardless of hand orientation. Aiming errors were reduced in the early phase with and without visual feedback, however, in the late phase, errors were corrected when visual feedback was provided. It suggests that hand orientation does not affect familiarization, and mechanisms similar to rapid learning may be involved. It is probable that learning is consolidated during familiarization along with feedforward input to maintain performance. In addition, proprioceptive feedback plays a role in reducing errors early, while the online visual feedback plays a role in reducing errors later, independent of hand orientation.

An accurate and stable numerical method for option hedge parameters

We propose an unconditionally stable numerical algorithm, which uses the Feynman-Kac formula of the Black-Scholes equation to obtain accurate option prices and hedge parameters. We discretize the asset and time using uniform grid points. We approximate the option values by piecewise quadratic polynomials for each time step and integrate them analytically over the log-normal distribution. The piecewise quadratic approximation gives the third-order convergence in the asset direction, and the analytic integration reduces truncation error in the time direction. The estimation errors are propagated backward in time following the convection and diffusion characteristics of the Black-Scholes equation, which assures the unconditional stability of our method. The vectorized code implementation reduces the time complexity. The convergence test shows that our approach outperforms the Crank-Nicolson scheme of the finite difference method in both time and asset directions, and the stability test verifies that our method is stable as the Crank-Nicolson. Furthermore, we show that our algorithm reduces the price errors and hedge parameter errors by more than 50% from the benchmark.

Optimization of the NRCS Sampling at the Sea Wind Retrieval by the Airborne Rotating-Beam Scatterometer Mounted under Fuselage.

The optimization of normalized radar cross-section (NRCS) sampling by a scatterometer allows an increase in the accuracy of the wind retrieval over the water surface and a decrease in the time of the measurement. Here, we investigate the possibility of improving wind vector measurement with an airborne rotating-beam scatterometer mounted under the fuselage. For this purpose, we investigated NRCS sampling at various incidence angles, and the possibility of using NRCS samples obtained during simultaneous measurement at different incidence angles to perform wind retrieval. The proposed wind algorithms are based on a geophysical model function (GMF). Sea wind retrieval was carried out using Monte Carlo simulations with consideration of a single incidence angle or combinations of several incidence angles. The incidence angles of interest were 30°, 35°, 40°, 45°, 50°, 55°, and 60°. The simulation showed that the wind speed error decreased with an increase in the incidence angle, and the wind direction error tended to decrease with an increase in the incidence angle. The single incidence angle case is characterized by higher maximum wind retrieval errors but allows for a higher maximum altitude of the wind retrieval method’s applicability to be achieved. The use of several neighboring incidence angles allows a better wind vector retrieval accuracy to be achieved. The combinations of three and four incidence angles provided the lowest maximum wind speed and direction errors in the range of the incidence angles from 45° to 60° but, unfortunately, provide the lowest maximum altitude of applicability of the wind retrieval method. At the same time, the combination of two incidence angles is characterized by slightly higher maximum wind retrieval errors than in the cases of three and four incidence angles, but they are lower than in the case of the single incidence angle. Moreover, the two incidence angles’ combination is a simpler way to decrease the wind retrieval errors, especially for measurement near an incidence angle of 30°, providing nearly the highest maximum altitude of the wind retrieval method applicability. The results obtained can be used to enhance existing airborne radars and in the development of new remote sensing systems.

Interleaved Pro/Anti-saccade Behavior Across the Lifespan.

The capacity for inhibitory control is an important cognitive process that undergoes dynamic changes over the course of the lifespan. Robust characterization of this trajectory, considering age continuously and using flexible modeling techniques, is critical to advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms that differ in healthy aging and neurological disease. The interleaved pro/anti-saccade task (IPAST), in which pro- and anti-saccade trials are randomly interleaved within a block, provides a simple and sensitive means of assessing the neural circuitry underlying inhibitory control. We utilized IPAST data collected from a large cross-sectional cohort of normative participants (n = 604, 5–93 years of age), standardized pre-processing protocols, generalized additive modeling, and change point analysis to investigate the effect of age on saccade behavior and identify significant periods of change throughout the lifespan. Maturation of IPAST measures occurred throughout adolescence, while subsequent decline began as early as the mid-20s and continued into old age. Considering pro-saccade correct responses and anti-saccade direction errors made at express (short) and regular (long) latencies was crucial in differentiating developmental and aging processes. We additionally characterized the effect of age on voluntary override time, a novel measure describing the time at which voluntary processes begin to overcome automated processes on anti-saccade trials. Drawing on converging animal neurophysiology, human neuroimaging, and computational modeling literature, we propose potential frontal-parietal and frontal-striatal mechanisms that may mediate the behavioral changes revealed in our analysis. We liken the models presented here to “cognitive growth curves” which have important implications for improved detection of neurological disease states that emerge during vulnerable windows of developing and aging.

An Accurate and Stable Extrinsic Calibration for a Camera and a 1D Laser Range Finder

Due to low cost and ease of manufacture, the combined sensor consisted of a camera and a 1D laser range finder is commonly used in many engineering applications. Especially in aerospace field, this type of combined sensor is important to earth observation and deep space exploration. This article proposes a novel extrinsic calibration method to get the accurate and stable calibration results of camera-1D laser range finder combined sensor. Firstly, an accuracy criterion named with directional comprehensive criterion is proposed to solve the less constraint in traditional calibration methods, which can evaluate the inconsistencies in the 1D laser ranging direction and the mean reprojection error in the 2D image plane direction fully. Then, according to the proposed directional comprehensive criterion, a novel robust extrinsic calibration framework is presented, which removes the observation data with large errors automatically and utilizes a stability criterion as the termination condition. The simulation experiments and real data experiments reveal that the proposed method is effective, which is superior to the existing methods.

Evaluation of Spatial Directional Guidance Using Cheek Haptic Stimulation in a Virtual Environment

Spatial cues play an important role in navigating people in both physical and virtual spaces. In spatial navigation, visual information with additional cues, such as haptic cues, enables effective guidance. Most haptic devices are applied to various body parts to make mechanical stimuli, while few devices stimulate a head despite the excellent sensitivity. This article presents Virtual Whiskers, a spatial directional guidance technique by cheek haptic stimulation using tiny robot arms attached to a Head-Mounted Display (HMD). The tip of the robotic arm has photo reflective sensors to detect the distance between the tip and the cheek surface. Using the robot arms, we stimulate a point on the cheek obtained by calculating an intersection between the cheek surface and the target direction. In the directional guidance experiment, we investigated how accurately participants identify the target direction provided by our guidance method. We evaluated an error between the actual target direction and the participant's pointed direction. The experimental result shows that our method achieves the average absolute directional error of 2.54° in the azimuthal plane and 6.54° in the elevation plane. We also conducted a spatial guidance experiment to evaluate task performance in a target search task. We compared the condition of visual information, visual and audio information, and visual information and cheek haptics for task completion time, System Usability Scale (SUS) score, NASA-TLX score. The averages of task completion time were M = 6.39 s, SD = 3.34 s, and M = 5.62 s, SD = 3.12 s, and M = 4.35 s, SD = 2.26 s, in visual-only condition, visual+audio condition, and visual+haptic condition, respectively. In terms of the SUS score, visual condition, visual+audio condition, and visual+haptic condition achieved M = 55.83, SD = 20.40, and M = 47.78, SD = 20.09, and M = 80.42, SD = 10.99, respectively. As for NASA-TLX score, visual condition, visual+audio condition, and visual+haptic condition resulted in M = 75.81, SD = 16.89, and M = 67.57, SD = 14.96, and M = 38.83, SD = 18.52, respectively. Statistical tests revealed significant differences in task completion time, SUS score, and NASA-TLX score between the visual and the visual+haptic condition and the visual+audio and the visual+haptic condition.

Bracket Transfer Accuracy with the Indirect Bonding Technique-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To investigate the bracket transfer accuracy of the indirect bonding technique (IDB). Methods: Systematic search of the literature was conducted in PubMed MEDLINE, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus through November 2021. Selection Criteria: In vivo and ex vivo studies investigating bracket transfer accuracy by comparing the planned and achieved bracket positions using the IDB technique were considered. Information concerning patients, samples, and applied methodology was collected. Measured mean transfer errors (MTE) for angular and linear directions were extracted. Risk of bias (RoB) in the studies was assessed using a tailored RoB tool. Meta-analysis of ex vivo studies was performed for overall linear and angular bracket transfer accuracy and for subgroup analyses by type of tray, tooth groups, jaw-related, side-related, and by assessment method. Results: A total of 16 studies met the eligibility criteria for this systematic review. The overall linear mean transfer errors (MTE) in mesiodistal, vertical and buccolingual direction were 0.08 mm (95% CI 0.05; 0.10), 0.09 mm (0.06; 0.11), 0.14 mm (0.10; 0.17), respectively. The overall angular mean transfer errors (MTE) regarding angulation, rotation, torque were 1.13° (0.75; 1.52), 0.93° (0.49; 1.37), and 1.11° (0.68; 1.53), respectively. Silicone trays showed the highest accuracy, followed by vacuum-formed trays and 3D printed trays. Subgroup analyses between tooth groups, right and left sides, and upper and lower jaw showed minor differences. Conclusions and implications: The overall accuracy of the indirect bonding technique can be considered clinically acceptable. Future studies should address the validation of the accuracy assessment methods used.