Lateral Space Research Articles

Effect of Low-Level Laser Therapy on Knee Range of Motion and Functional Abilities After Total Knee Arthroplasty.

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of combined low-level laser therapy (LLL) and rehabilitation in patients following recent total knee replacement (TKR). A double-blind randomized controlled study was conducted at the Orthopedic Department of Mansoura University Hospital. Forty-four patients were chosen from a total of 58 patients who met the inclusion criteria and were assigned randomly into control and experimental groups of equal size. Ultimately, 40 patients completed the study (20 from each group). Both groups participated in an intensive functional rehabilitation program, and the experimental group also received LLL therapy around the knee at the incisional line, the medial and lateral intra-articular space, above and below the patella, and at the popliteal fossa at low fluence (6 J/cm2, 650 nm continuous wave) and 60 s per point with a total dose of 48 J per session over 12 treatment sessions for six weeks. Knee range of motion (ROM) was measured with a digital goniometer, and functional abilities were assessed with the Arabic version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index. There were significant differences in all variables pre- and post-treatment within each group. Before treatment, there was no significant difference in any of the measured variables between the groups (P>0.05). After treatment, there were significant differences in knee flexion ROM and WOMAC index (P<0.05)but no significant difference in knee extension ROM between the groups (P>0.05). The addition of low-level laser therapy to a rehabilitation program post-TKR resulted in substantial enhancements in knee flexion range of motion and the WOMAC index.

Efficacy Of Single Drip Lateral Design For Two Plant Rows Of Grain Maize In Konya-Kadinhani-Kolukisa Province, Turkey

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of trickle irrigation on grain-corn production as well as soil wetting geometry under single drip lateral design for two plants rows at Konya-Kadınhanı-Kolukısa province of Turkey under farmer’s practices. The seasonal applied water varied from 416.78 to 441.98 mm in research farms. The grain yield was found between 14200 and 16750 kg/ha in those study farms. Irrigation Water Use Efficiency, IWUE, varied from 3.21 and 3.93 kg/m3. The both the lateral and vertical wetting front was around 50 cm under 140 cm lateral space. The field inspection clearly showed that it is impossible to obtain sufficient wetted soil volume by use of one trickle lateral design, 140 cm, for two plant rows so one drip lateral design,70 cm, for each crop row was strongly recommended for facilitating better wetted soil volume within plant rooting depth consequently increasing grain production. Maize plant is very sensitive to the water deficiency so water amount should be met enough in soil rooting environment during the whole plant growing cycles.

Cerebrospinal fluid flushing as a means of neuroprotection.

Central nervous system (CNS) injury or disease states are often difficult to treat due to the closed system of the dura mater/blood-brain barrier and the bony skull and vertebrae. The closed system results in at least partial containment of any pro-inflammatory molecules, pathogens, or toxic byproducts in the case of brain or spinal cord lesions, which can result in a destructive feedback loop. Cervical-approach access techniques (lateral C1-C2, suboccipital and lateral atlanto-occipital space punctures) are less-common methods of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling due to the relative ease and safety of lumbar spinal taps. However, with improved image-guidance, these cervical-level CSF access points are still useful when there are certain contraindications and difficulties when attempting to sample the CSF via the typical lumbar spinal approach. With the advent of microcatheters and minimally invasive techniques, combined with body fluid filtration technology, the question arises: could dual microcatheters be introduced for inflow and outflow of purified or artificial CSF to break the destructive feedback loop and thus diminish CNS damage?. We hypothesize that intrathecal spinal catheters could be placed in 2 positions (e.g., via a cervical route and the typical lumbar spinal route) to allow for both an input and output to more effectively filter or "flush" the CSF. This could have broad implications in the treatment of strokes, traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, infections, autoimmune diseases, and even malignancies within the CNS-in short, any disease with abnormalities detectable in the CSF.

A Novel SiC Trench MOSFET with Self-Aligned N-Type Ion Implantation Technique.

We propose a novel silicon carbide (SiC) self-aligned N-type ion implanted trench MOSFET (NITMOS) device. The maximum electric field in the gate oxide could be effectively reduced to below 3 MV/cm with the introduction of the P-epi layer below the trench. The P-epi layer is partially counter-doped by a self-aligned N-type ion implantation process, resulting in a relatively low specific on-resistance (Ron,sp). The lateral spacing between the trench sidewall and N-implanted region (Wsp) plays a crucial role in determining the performance of the SiC NITMOS device, which is comprehensively studied through the numerical simulation. With the Wsp increasing, the SiC NITMOS device demonstrates a better short-circuit capability owing to the reduced saturation current. The gate-to-drain capacitance (Cgd) and gate-to-drain charge (Qgd) are also investigated. It is observed that both Cgd and Qgd decrease as the Wsp increases, owing to the enhanced screen effect. Compared to the SiC double-trench MOSFET device, the optimal SiC NITMOS device exhibits a 79% reduction in Cgd, a 38% decrease in Qgd, and a 41% reduction in Qgd × Ron,sp. A higher switching speed and a lower switching loss can be achieved using the proposed structure.

Tailoring the Hybridization Density of DNA Biosensors through Tunable Surface Functionalization

AbstractDNA biosensors are promising candidates for the development of point‐of‐care diagnosis methods. They can be inserted in microfluidic platforms, are often non‐expensive, and can be produced for a variety of targeted analytes. However, their development faces several challenges, some of which arise from their surface design. Among the characteristics which affect the binding efficiency of DNA probes to their targeted genes, the packing density and lateral spacing of the probe sequences must be controlled to provide enough binding sites and avoid crowding effect. It has also been demonstrated that increasing the space between the probe and the substrate can enhance the sensitivity of the sensing surface. Herein, we describe a methodology to control the vertical distance between DNA probes and a glass support, and lateral spacing between the probes. Such functionalization strategy could help the development of sensing surface with high hybridization density, and therefore high sensitivity.

A Novel 2D/3D X-ray Microscopy Alignment and Inspection Solution for Thermocompression Bonding (TCB) in a Highly Integrated Flip Chip Fan-Out Wafer Level Package (FO-WLP)

As packaging drives to extend the capabilities of Moore’s Law via heterogenous integration, numerous bonding technologies have emerged as potential pathways, allowing for integration of both a variety of devices in the lateral space as well as vertical integration of chips via stacking. As vertical integration on interposer becomes more complex due to shrinking CDs and increasing die layers, alignment and shape control in the bonding process becomes critical. Thermocompression bonding (TCB) is particularly well-suited for larger die, where localized reflow allows a better control of chip gap height and tilt throughout the bonding process. TCB systems require both high accuracy and repeatability in all dimensions to provide a reliable system in package. While a 2D system can provide a plan view assessment of a single bond layer between two chips, it falls short in characterizing the critical z-dimension in a highly integrated chip stacking scenario. Therefore a robust solution is needed for both system alignment validation in the x,y plane as well as a capability to explore gap height and bump quality/buried issues in high aspect ratio TSV. This paper will explore an x-ray application of a stacked 15-layer die-to-interposer structure to qualitatively validate overall health of the TSV (bond, pad, fill) via a nondestructive volumetric method as well as quantitatively evaluate stacked die for via/ball/pad alignment to determine overall alignment shift during the bonding process. In the test vehicle for a flip chip FO-WLP process flow first presented by IMEC, a silicon (Si) bridge is utilized to connect the logic and through-package via dies with a bump pitch of 20µm for the logic die interconnect. This is done by carefully aligning the logic dies on the carrier and then placing the through-package dies aligned to the carrier and logic dies. In the final step, a high accuracy placement and stacking TCB tool attaches the Si bridge. To perform an accurate assessment for bump alignment and bond quality, an initial high-resolution 3D x-ray scan is performed on a 1.5mm3 region of interest with over 2,000 individual projections at a 1.4µm voxel resolution with a 4x objective, taking approximately two hours. The dataset is put through a deep-learning algorithm which generates an AI model. This model is then applied to a faster scan of 15 minutes with a 1.4µm voxel resolution for the same field of view (FOV) on a nearby array and the data is collected and processed. To verify alignment of the entire sample, data is collected on the tightest pitch (in this case 20µm) oriented in both the vertical (x) and horizontal (y) plane in the through-silicon via (TSV) region. The z-plane is analyzed and processed by computer vision algorithms, and individual interconnects are then quantified and sorted for solder height (z), width (x,y) and TSV misalignment (deviation from expected center, x1y1 → x2y2). To validate the model, a high-resolution uncorrected 20h scan and a 15min scan based on deep learning are collected for the same region of interest (ROI). The data is comparable. Furthermore, the global misalignment data between both datasets demonstrates similar misalignment propagating through the 15-layer stack.

Performance assessment of an electrostatic filter-diverter stent cerebrovascular protection device. Is it possible not to use anticoagulants in atrial fibrilation elderly patients?

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Nearly two-thirds of strokes are produced by cardioembolisms, and half of cardioembolic strokes are triggered by Atrial Fibrillation (AF), the most common type of arrhythmia. A more recent cause of cardioembolisms is Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacements (TAVRs), which may onset post-procedural adverse events such as stroke and Silent Brain Infarcts (SBIs), for which no definitive treatment exists, and which will only get worse as TAVRs are implanted in younger and lower risk patients. It is well known that some specific characteristics of elderly patients may lower the safety and efficacy of anticoagulation therapy, making it a real urgency to find alternative therapies. We propose a device consisting of a strut structure placed at the base of the treated artery to model the potential risk of cerebral embolisms caused by dislodged debris of varying sizes. This work analyzes a design based on a patented medical device, intended to block cardioembolisms from entering the cerebrovascular system, with a particular focus on AF, and potentially TAVR patients. The study has been carried out in two stages. Both of them based on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) coupled with Lagrangian particle tracking method. The first stage of the work evaluates a variety of strut thicknesses and inter-strut spacings, contrasting with the device-free baseline geometry. The analysis is carried out by imposing flowrate waveforms characteristic of both healthy and AF patients. Boundary conditions are calibrated to reproduce physiological flowrates and pressures in a patient's aortic arch. In the second stage, the optimal geometric design from the first stage was employed, with the addition of lateral struts to prevent the filtration of particles and electronegatively charged strut surfaces, studying the effect of electrical forces on the clots if they are considered charged. Flowrate boundary conditions were used to emulate both healthy and AF conditions. Results from numerical simulations coming form the first stage indicate that the device blocks particles of sizes larger than the inter-strut spacing. It was found that lateral strut space had the highest impact on efficacy. Based on the results of the second stage, deploying the electronegatively charged device in all three aortic arch arteries, the number of particles entering these arteries was reduced on average by 62.6% and 51.2%, for the healthy and diseased models respectively, matching or surpassing current oral anticoagulant efficacy. In conclusion, the device demonstrated a two-fold mechanism for filtering emboli: while the smallest particles are deflected by electrostatic repulsion, avoiding microembolisms, which could lead to cognitive impairment, the largest ones are mechanically filtered since they cannot fit in between the struts, effectively blocking the full range of particle sizes analyzed in this study. The device presented in this manuscript offers an anticoagulant-free method to prevent stroke and SBIs, imperative given the growing population of AF and elderly patients.

Characterizing the rod pathway in cone-dominated thirteen-lined ground squirrels.

AII-amacrine cells (AIIs) are widely accepted as a critical element of scotopic pathways mediating night vision in the mammalian retina and have been well-characterized in rod-dominant mice, rabbits, and non-human primates. The rod pathway is characteristic of all mammalian eyes, however, the anatomic and physiologic role of AIIs and the rod pathways in cone dominant thirteen-lined ground squirrels (TLGS) is limited. Here, we employed both immunohistochemistry and electrophysiological approaches to investigate the morphology of AIIs and functional aspects of the rod pathway in TLGS. In all TLGS retinas examined, putative AIIs were calretinin-positive and exhibited connections to rod bipolar cells with decreased cell density and expanded arborization. Notably, AIIs retained connections with each other via gap junctions labeled with Connexin36. Comparisons between single photoreceptor recordings and full-field electroretinograms revealed scotopic ERG responses were mediated by both rods and cones. Thus, the components of the rod pathway are conserved in TLGS and rod signals traverse the retina in these cone-dominant animals. AIIs are sparsely populated, matching the diminished rod and rod bipolar cell populations compared to rod-dominant species. The infrequent distribution and lateral spacing of AII's indicate that they probably do not play a significant role in cone signaling pathways that encode information at a finer spatial scale. This contrasts with the mouse retina, where they significantly contribute to cone signaling pathways. Therefore, the AII's original function is likely that of a 'rod' amacrine cell, and its role in cone pathways in the mouse retina might be an adaptive feature stemming from its rod dominance.

Meniscal Allograft Transplantation Concomitant With Cartilage Repair for Symptomatic Lateral Meniscus-Deficient Knees With Over Two Years of Follow-up.

Background and objective The treatment for symptomatic meniscus-deficient knees with cartilage defects remains challenging on account of insufficient meniscal substitutes. One solution for this might involve combining meniscal allograft transplantation (MAT) and cartilage repair. In this study, we aimed to analyze the effectiveness and safety of MAT concomitant with cartilage repair for symptomatic lateral meniscus-deficient knees in a setting with limited availability of meniscal transplants in Japan. Methods Nine patientswho underwent MAT concomitant with osteochondral transplantation (five) and/or autologous chondrocyte implantations (seven) were followed up for at least two years (mean: 51.2 months, range: 24-84 months). Their demographic data and other characteristics were as follows - mean age: 51.7 years, range: 36-67 years; men/women: 4/5; cause: trauma/discoid meniscus: 8/1; cartilage defect size: mean: 6.7 cm2/knee, range: 1.0-11.3. The effectiveness and safety were evaluated clinically by using the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale(LKSS) and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) knee score, physical examination, X-rays, and MRI preoperatively and at one, 12, and 24 months after the implantation. Differences between the variables were analyzed using the Friedman test and Scheffe's multiple comparisons. Results The median LKSS and JOA scores significantly improved from 70 points (range: 21-80) and 35 (25-45) preoperatively to 86.5 (65-98) and 87.5 (80-95) at 24 months after surgery, respectively (p<0.001, p=0.0013). The range of motion (ROM), femorotibial angle, and the lateral joint space showed no significant changes. However, lateral meniscal extrusions (LMEs) increased by 3.0 mm (range: 0-6.3 mm) at one month postoperatively and remained unchanged until two years postoperatively. Treatment failure occurred in one case, which was revised by total knee arthroplasty (TKA) at 18 months postoperatively. Additional surgeries were needed in some cases: lateral meniscal tear (three cases), contracture (two cases), and patellar instability (one case). However, neither infection nor allergic reaction was observed in the blood exams. Conclusions Although MAT concomitant with cartilage repair showed good clinical outcomes, half of the cases needed additional surgeries. Based on our findings, this technique should be adopted only in select cases and performed bya handful of highly experienced surgeons.

Assessment of Soil Water Dynamics and Yield Response of Broccoli Under Subsurface Drip Irrigation in the Semi-Arid Region of India

ABSTRACT A field experiment was conducted to investigate the optimum lateral spacing and irrigation frequency of a subsurface drip irrigation system for broccoli crop grown in the semi-arid region of Haryana (India). The effects on soil water dynamics, growth parameters (i.e. plant height, leaf length, no. of leaves/plant, curd weight and curd diameter), irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE), fertilize use efficiency (FUE) and yield response of broccoli were assessed under two lateral spacings (45 cm and 60 cm) and four irrigation frequencies (daily, and after one, two & three days) in the years of 2019–20 and 2020–21. The results show that soil moisture content was higher near the dripper, and it decreased with increasing radial distance from the drippers. Further, the moisture content was high at 45 cm lateral spacing as compared to 60 cm lateral spacing. The effects of selected treatments on growth and yield parameters were found significant and maximum broccoli yield (147. 41 q ha−1) was found at 45 cm lateral spacing with alternate days of irrigation. The highest IWUE and FUE of 9.93 kg/m3 and 30.68 kg/kg, respectively, were also found at alternate days irrigation with 45 cm lateral spacing. It may be concluded from the present study that alternate days irrigation with 45 cm lateral spacing is the best choice to obtain the maximum yield of broccoli grown in winter season in the semi-arid region of India.

Aerodynamic optimization of mixed platoon Ahmed body vehicles based on response surface method

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the optimal average drag coefficient of the Ahmed body for mixed platoon driving under crosswind and no crosswind conditions using the response surface optimization method. This study has extraordinary implications for the planning of future intelligent transportation.Design/methodology/approachFirst, the single vehicle and vehicle platoon models are validated. Second, the configuration with the lowest average drag coefficient under the two conditions is obtained by response surface optimization. At the same time, the aerodynamic characteristics of the mixed platoon driving under different conditions are also analyzed.FindingsThe configuration with the lowest average drag coefficient under no crosswind conditions is 0.3 L for longitudinal spacing and 0.8 W for lateral spacing, with an average drag coefficient of 0.1931. The configuration with the lowest average drag coefficient under crosswind conditions is 10° for yaw angle, 0.25 L for longitudinal spacing, and 0.8 W for lateral spacing, with an average drag coefficient of 0.2251. Compared to the single vehicle, the average drag coefficients for the two conditions are reduced by 25.1% and 41.3%, respectively.Originality/valueThis paper investigates the lowest average drag coefficient for mixed platoon driving under no crosswind and crosswind conditions using a response surface optimization method. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results of single vehicle and vehicle platoon are compared and verified with the experimental results to ensure the reliability of this study. The research results provide theoretical reference and guidance for the planning of intelligent transportation.

Effect of wind speed on distribution uniformity and uniformity coefficient of sprinkler irrigation system in Western Haryana

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of wind speed (0-4 km/h, 4-8 km/h and 8-12 km/h) with lateral spacing (6 m × 9 m) on distribution uniformity of sprinkler irrigation system at the field of the village Luhana located in Western Haryana, India, during 2019-20. The basic principle used in this experiment was using the catch-cans to estimate applied water depth over the field under varying wind conditions. The distribution uniformity of the sprinkler irrigation system was determined using a low-pressure portable rotating sprinkler system. The results shows that for spacing 6 m × 9 m was used, the average distribution uniformity was highest (75.42%) at a range of wind speed 0-4 km/h followed by at ranges of wind speed 4-8 km/h and 8-12 km/h, the average distribution uniformity was 75% and 74.16% respectively and similarly the average uniformity coefficient was highest (86.33%) at a range of wind speed 0-4 km/h followed by at ranges of wind speed 4-8 km/h and 8-12 km/h, the average distribution uniformity was 84.04% and 82.05% respectively. At wind speed range 0-4 km/h, variation of uniform water distribution was less prominent. But it was observed that a range of wind speed 8-12 km/h, significant deviation from the uniformity distribution of water was observed.

Chondrogen™ Injection for Knee Osteoarthritis using Stem Cells from Wharton's Jelly

Knee osteoarthritis constitutes a prominent source of pain and functional impairment, with its prevalence showing a consistent yearly increase. Current therapeutic strategies primarily revolve around addressing symptoms and, in severe cases, resorting to prosthetic joint replacement, yet they fail to target the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms driving degeneration. In this context, there is a growing interest in investigating mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy as a potential remedy for osteoarthritis. Among the various MSC types under scrutiny, using Wharton's Jelly-derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJ-MSCs) has garnered relatively scant attention. The present study represents a Phase I clinical trial of an open-label, single-arm design within this context. Its principal aim is to assess the safety and efficacy of administering mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton's Jelly via intra-articular injection for patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis. Throughout six months, this investigation discerned a statistically significant overall improvement in clinical presentation relative to baseline. This improvement manifested as reduced analgesic consumption, diminished Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores (19.5 to 18.7 mm, p = .00), and augmented functional assessment scores, including the IKDC Score (enhanced from 62.2 to 100, p = .00), KOOS Symptoms and Stiffness subscales (elevated from 76.8% to 10.6%, p = .00), as well as KOOS Pain subscale (upgraded from 74.4% to 10.1%, p = .00). The study encouragingly reported no significant adverse effects during the observation period. However, upon radiographic evaluation, no significant alterations were observed in terms of deformity angle (p = 0.957) or medial (p = 0.871) and lateral (p = 0.520) compartment joint space widths. To further elucidate the comparative efficacy of this treatment, it is prudent to contemplate a randomised controlled trial comparing it against the conventional hyaluronic acid regimen, thereby contributing to an enriched understanding of its therapeutic potential.

Potential Use of Subsurface Drip Irrigation Systems in Landscape Irrigation under Full and Limited Irrigation Conditions

Water is an essential component of life in the world. In addition to being crucial to keeping plants alive, water is also used in various areas, such as landscape irrigation, decorative pools, and ponds. The use of water more efficiently is getting more and more important day by day because of the increasing demands of different sectors. In cities with limited water resources, such as Konya, water should be used even more efficiently to reduce irrigation water quantities and prevent water losses. The potential use of the sub-surface drip irrigation method in the irrigation of green areas in Selçuklu district of Konya province was investigated, and the sub-surface drip irrigation method was compared with the fixed sprinkler irrigation method (pop-up) in terms of irrigation parameters (amount of irrigation water applied, plant water consumption) and plant characteristics (germination, plant height, number of mows, mowing weight, root depth). In the present experiments, 18 different sub-surface drip irrigation treatments (100, 80, and 60% irrigations + 40, 60, and 80 cm lateral spacings + 10 and 15 cm lateral depths) and three different sprinkler irrigation treatments (100, 80, and 60% irrigations) were used. Present findings revealed that sub-surface drip irrigation systems were suitable for irrigation of green areas, and this system was more advantageous for municipalities in terms of water savings, irrigation labor, and maintenance. For sub-surface drip irrigation systems, S1 (supply 100% of evaporation from Class-A pan + 40 cm lateral spacing + 10 cm lateral depth) treatments were found to be the best system arrangement for landscape irrigations in Selçuklu district in Konya province.

Restorative dentistry clinical decision-making for hypodontia: peg and missing lateral incisor teeth

Peg-shaped and missing lateral incisor teeth are common features for patients affected by hypodontia. While improvements in dental appearance may be a strong motivating factor for these patients, providing dental treatment to improve the clinical condition and achieve an acceptable and stable outcome can be complex and lengthy.For patients affected by hypodontia, discussion and consideration of various approaches to their individual treatment are best achieved in a multidisciplinary team environment. This allows debate of options and joint agreement between at least orthodontic and restorative dentistry specialist colleagues, based largely on clinical factors, towards a treatment plan that is acceptable to the patient. As most patients with this lateral incisor form of hypodontia are initially treated as teenagers and young adults, there is also an understanding that treatment outcomes will have lifelong maintenance and resource implications to consider.This paper identifies and discusses the key clinical features that influence the treatment planning process for a patient with either missing or peg lateral incisor teeth. These will often involve consideration of whether to open or close the lateral incisor spaces and whether to restore or replace a peg lateral incisor tooth. The process should be patient-centred, evidence-based, and aim to minimise the lifelong treatment burden, retaining options for future maintenance and retreatment.

The prevalence of temporomandibular disorder and temporomandibular morphology among diverse chronotype profiles

ABSTRACT This study investigates the influence of chronotype on the prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) and the morphology of temporomandibular joint (TMJ). According to the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire-Self-Assessment, the participants were divided into morning group (n = 30), intermediate group (n = 83), and evening group (n = 30). Thirty participants were randomly selected from the intermediate group for subsequent examination and measurements. The morphology of TMJs was investigated using questionnaire and clinical examination form in Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder. Meanwhile, the morphological results of TMJs were measured from cone-beam computed tomography images. The prevalence rate of TMD in the morning group (23%) was significantly lower than that in the intermediate group (56.7%), while there was no difference between the evening (53.4%) and intermediate groups. As to morphological measurements, there was no significant difference among three groups in mediolateral width of condylar process, anteroposterior width of condylar process, radius of condyle, medial joint space, lateral joint space, condylar stress angle, horizontal condylar inclination, width of glenoid fossa, depth of glenoid fossa, and posterior joint space, while there was a significant difference in horizontal condylar angle (p = 0.00490), articular eminence inclination (p < .0001), anterior joint space (p = 0.0163), and superior joint space (p = 0.0004). The morphology of TMJ in the morning group was better than that in the evening and intermediate groups. An association was found between TMD prevalence, temporomandibular morphology, and chronotype.

Diagnostic efficacy of quantitative ultrasonography for anterior disc displacement of the temporomandibular joint.

Ultrasonography has been applied as an alternative method in the assessment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pathology including anterior disc displacement (ADD). However, a concrete screening or diagnostic method which is feasible in clinical practice has not yet been established. The study aimed to establish a quantitative ultrasonographic method and determine its diagnostic efficacy for ADD of the TMJ. A total of 75 joints were allocated to either the normal disc position (NDP) group or the ADD group using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the reference standard. Longitudinal scans of the lateral articular compartment were obtained by a 14-MHz L-shaped linear array transducer. The width of the lateral joint space (LJS), the upper lateral joint space (ULJS), and the lower lateral joint space (LLJS), as well as the position of the lateral articular disc edge (ADE), were investigated by stepwise logistic regression analysis to identify significant indicators of ADD and to build a diagnostic model. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic accuracy were computed at the optimal cut-off value. MRI detected 25 joints in the NDP group and 50 joints in the ADD group. Correlation analysis indicated that all 4 variables were associated with ADD. With the best performance of the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.939, LJS and ULJS were identified as predictors of ADD and subsequently adopted to build a diagnostic model by stepwise logistic regression. The optimal cut-off value of the 2-variable regression model for diagnosing ADD was 0.800, with a sensitivity of 82%, specificity of 96%, PPV of 97.6%, NPV of 72.7%, and an accuracy of 86.7%. The quantitative ultrasonographic diagnostic method showed promising diagnostic efficacy. It has the potential to be used for ADD screening in future clinical practice.

Lateral Joint Distraction through Distal Fibula Lengthening Osteotomy for Lateral Compartment Ankle Osteoarthritis

Category: Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: Lateral compartment ankle OA, commonly due to trauma such as ankle fracture, is not very rare. However there’s no definite established surgical treatment option. In this study, we suggest distal fibula lengthening osteotomy for lateral joint distraction as one of treatment surgical option. We have experienced favorable clinical outcome for 3 cases of post-traumatic lateral compartment ankle OA with joint space narrowing treated with distal fibula distraction osteotomy. We report the case series with the surgical technique and the clinical- radiological outcome. Methods: From April 2016 to August 2021, three ankles which underwent distal fibula distraction osteotomy were included in this study. All three ankles had a history of OR/IF due to fractures in the ankle joint and were diagnosed with lateral compartment OA. We defined lateral compartment OA when clinical symptoms and radiologic findings were consistent. Clinically, the point of pain was characterized as the lateral compartment of the ankle joint, not the syndesmosis or peri fibular area. Radiologically, joint space narrowing is showed in X-ray, and CT arthrography or MRI confirmed cartilage denudation of the lateral compartment. Results: 1) Clinical outcomes Case 1: The AOFAS score improved from 69 preoperatively to 93 postoperatively, and the Pain vas score improved from 7 to 0. According to patient’s subjective expression, daily activity became 'Boxing available' from 'Hard to run'. Case 2: The AOFAS score improved from 73 preoperatively to 91 postoperatively, and the Pain vas score improved from 5 to 0. According to patient’s subjective expression, daily activity became 'No pain on daily activity' from 'Hard to walk'. 2) Radiologic outcomes Lateral joint space, talocrural angle, talar tilt angle and tibia axis-talar dome angle were all changed close to the contralateral ankle index after surgery. Conclusion: Painful ankle OA localized to the lateral compartment in young age is uncommon and there is no definite surgical method. Distal fibula distraction osteotomy is reasonable surgical method that does not burden patients and surgeon. In our study, distal fibula distraction osteotomy showed favorable clinical-radiological outcomes. So, we recommend this method for painful lateral compartment OA in young ages.

Aerodynamic drag characteristics of skaters in speed skating team pursuit formation

This study focused on the effects of longitudinal and lateral spacing on the aerodynamic drag characteristics of the whole team and each member in speed skating team pursuit competition (SSTPC). To further understand the effect of formation spacing on the aerodynamic drag distribution on the skater body surface, a combination of experiments and numerical simulations was performed. Three identical mannequins were used to conduct wind tunnel tests and the results were compared with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results obtained using a 3D digital model of the mannequin. The results showed that, as the longitudinal spacing decreased, greater drag reduction was gained by the whole team and three members (leading, middle, and last). When the longitudinal spacing was 1.05 L (L refers to body length), the whole team and the three members had drag reduction of 31.5%, 10.1%, 42.1%, and 42.3%, respectively. After each 0.1 L increase in longitudinal spacing, the whole team and the leading, middle, and last skaters lost 2.0%, 1.8%, 2.3%, and 1.8% of their drag reduction, respectively. When the leading skater moved laterally to 0.2 W (W refers to body width), the whole team and the last skater achieved an additional drag reduction of 0.7% and 4.2%, respectively. The CFD simulation results further revealed that the body surface drag distribution trend of the leading skater was similar to that of the isolated skater, with the largest proportion of drag being located on the calves. The drag on the torsos, thighs and calves of the middle and last skaters was significantly smaller than that on the corresponding parts of the isolated skater, and its proportion was comparable.

Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Rigid Pile Composite Foundations on Slab Culverts

For culverts installed in soft soil, the rigid composite pile foundation is used for soil treatment, and the stresses around the culverts are complicated. Centrifuge experiments and numerical simulations are conducted to investigate the vertical earth pressures and soil settlement over a slab culvert under high backfill in soft soil, and the foundations are treated with rigid composite piles. The influences of lateral pile length and pile spacing on the earth pressures at the top of the culvert are analysed, and they have significant effects on the vertical earth pressure coefficients. It also indicates a strong correlation between the backfill height and the vertical earth pressure coefficients. For a high-backfill culvert, there is a uniform settlement surface where the settlement of the interior and exterior soil prisms is at the same level. According to the experiments, the height of the uniform settlement surface and the vertical earth pressures decrease with increasing the lateral pile length and pile spacing. Numerical simulations were conducted using finite element software Midas GTS to evaluate the performance of the experiments. Further, recommendations for selecting an appropriate pile composite foundation for slab culvert in soft soil are provided.