Changes In Length Research Articles

A CFD-DEM investigation into hydraulic transport and retardation response characteristics of drainage pipeline siltation using intelligent model

Siltation of drainage pipelines is a major disaster-causing factor in urban flooding. Owing to critical bed shear stress and the possibility of settlement at the bottom of pipes, there are significant nonlinear differences in the hydraulic transport and retardation response characteristics of siltation particles under different initial flow velocities, siltation degrees, and siltation lengths. Studies on siltation in drainage pipelines lack a comprehensive understanding of the intricate coupling dynamics between siltation particles and water flow, and the regularity governing the siltation transport behaviour under varying water flow conditions remains unclear. To solve these problems, this study constructs computational fluid dynamics and discrete element (CFD-DEM) coupling method and adaptive penalty model for pipeline deposition based on probabilistic settlement function, adaptive genetic algorithm, and bidirectional long short-term memory neural network (PSF-AGA-BLSTM). A three-dimensional transient hydraulic model of pipeline siltation was adopted to clarify the critical bed shear stress of the silt particles, after which an adaptive genetic algorithm with a probability settlement function as fitness was constructed to generate a numerous silt particle sample sets with settlement result labels. Adaptive genetic algorithms were combined with bidirectional long short-term memory neural networks to establish a spatiotemporal adaptive penalisation mechanism for pipeline silt particle transport. The simulation model based on PSF-AGA-BLSTM and CFD-DEM was analysed using simulation and scale tests and was found to have strong robustness and reliability. The results showed that the effects of siltation degree, flow rate, and siltation length on the transport of silt particles were all non-negligible; when the siltation degree exceeded 0.2, the siltation degree had a more significant effect on particle transport than siltation length and flow rate. The transport of silt particles occurred in two phases, rapid growth and steady growth under erosion by water flow. The rate of change in silt length accounted for up to 45% of the reason for silt nudging and silt spreading. The study clarified the hydraulic transport law of silt particles and analyzed the effect of different influencing factors. These efforts provide technical support for subsequent pipe cleaning and maintenance as well as flood prevention and mitigation.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Increases Facial Adipogenesis in a Swine Model via Modulation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Cilia.

Decreased medial cheek fat volume during aging leads to loss of a youthful facial shape. Increasing facial volume by methods such as adipose-derived stem cell (ASC) injection can produce facial rejuvenation. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) can increase adipogenesis in subcutaneous fat by modulating cilia on ASCs, which is accompanied by increased HSP70 and decreased NF-κB expression. Thus, we evaluated the effect of HIFU on increasing facial adipogenesis in swine (n = 2) via modulation of ASC cilia. Expression of CD166, an ASC marker, differed by subcutaneous adipose tissue location. CD166 expression in the zygomatic arch (ZA) was significantly higher than that in the subcutaneous adipose tissue in the mandible or lateral temporal areas. HIFU was applied only on the right side of the face, which was compared with the left side, where HIFU was not applied, as a control. HIFU produced a significant increase in HSP70 expression, decreased expression of NF-κB and a cilia disassembly factor (AURKA), and increased expression of a cilia increasing factor (ARL13B) and PPARG and CEBPA, which are the main regulators of adipogenesis. All of these changes were most prominent at the ZA. Facial adipose tissue thickness was also increased by HIFU. Adipose tissue volume, evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging, was increased by HIFU, most prominently in the ZA. In conclusion, HIFU increased ASC marker expression, accompanied by increased HSP70 and decreased NF-κB expression. Additionally, changes in cilia disassembly and length and expression of adipogenesis were observed. These results suggest that HIFU could be used to increase facial volume by modulating adipogenesis.

Adult telomere length is positively correlated with survival and lifetime reproductive success in a wild passerine.

Explaining variation in individual fitness is a key goal in evolutionary biology. Recently, telomeres, repeating DNA sequences capping chromosome ends, have gained attention as a biomarker for body state, physiological costs, and senescence. Existing research has provided mixed evidence for whether telomere length correlates with fitness, including survival and reproductive output. Moreover, few studies have examined how the rate of change in telomere length correlates with fitness in wild populations. Here, we intensively monitored an insular population of house sparrows, and collected longitudinal telomere and life history data (16 years, 1225 individuals). We tested whether telomere length and its rate of change predict fitness measures, namely survival, lifespan and annual and lifetime reproductive effort and success. Telomere length positively predicted short-term survival, independent of age, but did not predict lifespan, suggesting either a diminishing telomere length-survival correlation with age or other extrinsic factors of mortality. The positive association of telomere length with survival translated into reproductive benefits, as birds with longer telomeres produced more genetic recruits, hatchlings and reared more fledglings over their lifetime. In contrast, there was no association between telomere dynamics and annual reproductive output, suggesting telomere dynamics might not reflect the costs of reproduction in this population, potentially masked by variation in individual quality. The rate of change of telomere length did not correlate with neither lifespan nor lifetime reproductive success. Our results provide further evidence that telomere length correlates with fitness, and contribute to our understanding of the selection on, and evolution of, telomere dynamics.

Dynamic Interferometry With Retrace Error Correction Using Fringe Projection For High-Gradient Fields

This paper introduces an innovative approach aimed at advancing the characterization of high-gradient flow fields through the integration of dynamic interferometry and fringe projection techniques. Traditional interferometry offers a precise tool sensitive to optical path changes, typically used to measure refractive index variations induced by factors such as density changes in fluid flow. Rays are usually considered as straight lines, and refraction can be neglected. However, in scenarios involving high-gradient fields, such as supersonic flow with shock waves, optical path changes due to ray bending become significant. In these high-gradient fields, the trajectory of the ray is altered, leading to longer optical paths (resulting in incorrect values) and geometric distortions of the image (resulting in inaccuracies in position). Although retrace error corrections using numerical models of refractive index distribution can mitigate some effects, complete compensation is often challenging. To address this, our proposed technique integrates fringe projection, which is highly sensitive to ray deflections caused by variations in the index of refraction within a transparent medium. The method involves projecting a precisely defined multiplexed cosine fringe pattern across the measured area. Modifications in the pattern indicate ray bending, providing data for interferometric corrections. Real-time interferometry is seamlessly combined with the fringe projection technique to compensate for optical path length changes and mitigate mapping errors induced by ray deflections. The dynamic nature of this combined approach enables the instantaneous capture of both interferometric and fringe-projection data, making it a suitable tool for real-time measurements. Experimental verification of the technique demonstrates its efficacy, with a comparative study against traditional interferometry showcasing a significant reduction in mapping errors.

Hinesol attenuates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis through the suppression of Src-mediated NF-κB and chemokine signaling pathway.

As a common inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) is featured with inflammation, oxidative damage, and the impairment of intestinal mucosal barrier, which bring threat to patients' quality of live. Hinesol, derived from Atractylodes lancea, is a unique sesquiterpenoid. Our study proposed to survey the effects and mechanism of hinesol in UC. UC mouse model was constructed using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was applied for RAW264.7 cells stimulation to construct cell inflammatory model. The changes of disease activity index (DAI), body weight, colon length, and intestinal pathology in mice were analyzed to estimate the severity of colitis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to check the changes of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated by corresponding reagent kit. The changes of phosphorylated (p)-NF-κB P65, and p-IκBα, ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, Src, XCL1, CCL2, and CXCL16 protein were examined using western blot. Flow cytometry and cell counting kit-8 assay were utilized for assessment of cell apoptosis and viability. We found that DSS reduced mice body weight, increased DAI, shorten colon length, and led to severe enteric mucosal injury, while hinesol improved the above symptoms induced by DSS. In DSS mice, hinesol raised the levels of ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, SOD, GSH-px, and CAT and decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-18, IL-1β, IL-6, MPO, and MDA. Additionally, in DSS mice and LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, hinesol inhibited the high expression of Src, XCL1, CCL2, CXCL16, p-NF-κB P65, and p-IκBα. The molecular docking showed that there was a good interaction between hinesol and Src. Moreover, in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, Src overexpression partially reversed the inhibition of hinesol on cell apoptosis, pro-inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress. In conclusion, hinesol alleviated DSS-induced colitis, which might have a bearing on the inhibition of Src-mediated NF-κB and chemokine signaling pathway.

Design and dynamic characterization of a phototunable optofluidic lens

Optofluidic devices that dynamically respond to light stimuli have the potential to impart modern adaptive optics with intrinsic optical logic without the need for external power sources or feedback control. While photo actuation is typically associated with low energy efficiency compared with alternative modes of actuation, fluid lenses can be tuned with minimal work by generating small differential pressures across the surface of the lens to drive a change in focal length. In this study, we developed a wide aperture (9.5 mm) photothermally actuated lens that leverages spatially and thermodynamically informed design principles developed for resistively heated thermo-pneumatically actuated lenses. Using experimentally validated models to describe the curvature of pressurized elastomer-bound interfaces, we demonstrated phototunable modulation of the focal length from 124 mm to 90 mm in real time using 233 mW of 405 nm light over 30 s of irradiation with an estimated 8.2 µJ of mechanical work (10−4% efficiency). The initial focal length recovered after 60 s in the dark over three consecutive cycles of actuation. Additionally, the photoactuated response is shown to correlate well with the light intensity.

Is there an immediate effect on pectoralis minor length after performing a prone scapular retraction exercise using typical sets and repetitions in pain-free participants?

IntroductionPectoralis Minor (PM) length shortening may contribute to faulty scapular.kinematics and result in shoulder pathology. Purposeof the Study: To evaluate if a prone scapular retraction exercise will demonstrate an immediate lengthening of the pectoralis minor (PM) in healthy participants. Methods50 healthy participants were measured to determine the length of their PM. The participants then performed three sets of 10 repetitions of a prone scapular retraction exercise. Next, the participants had their PM length measured again to see if there was an immediate change in PM length. ResultsPM length was not found to significantly lengthen immediately after the prone scapular retraction exercise. The mean PM length increased by 0.243 cm after the exercise but this was less than the MDC95 of 0.63 cm so the difference does not represent a real alteration in PM length. DiscussionThe hypothesis was that due to the theory of reciprocal inhibition, the PM would increase in length after the exercise. This study does not support this hypothesis. This study suggests that to improve PM length the PM needs to be subjected to more time at a lengthened position than what was afforded by our exercise. ConclusionThis study demonstrated that three sets of 10 repetitions of a prone scapular retraction exercise did not significantly change the PM length. If this exercise is being implemented to increase the PM length it should be used after a stretch of the PM.

Effectiveness of customized ortho-k lenses in controlling myopia in children

Background. The increasing prevalence of myopia in children highlights the need for effective treatments. Orthokeratology is a key approach to slow myopia progression, yet standard ortho-k lenses often fall short due to diverse corneal structures. Personalized ortho-lens designs are crucial for optimizing myopia control and maximizing the benefits of corneal refractive therapy.Aim: to evaluate the impact of custom ortho-k lens use on myopia control in children, specifically assessing changes in refraction and axial length during orthokeratology treatment.Materials and methods. In our study, 41 school-aged children underwent custom orthokeratology treatment with 81 ortho-k lenses. Utilizing a Medmont E300 for corneal topography and the OrthoTool for lens calculations, alongside Lenstar LS 900 for optical biometry, we assessed myopia progression and axial elongation. The subjects’ average age was 12.6 ± 2.4 years, with an average lens wear duration of 17.0 months (range 10.0 to 23.5 months). Initial mean myopia was –5.5 ± 2.0 D in both eyes.Results. During the study period, 87.8% of the participants (36 children) showed stabilization in refraction and axial length, indicating effective myopia control. However, 12.2% (5 children) experienced myopia progression at a rate of –0.5 diopters per year. Notably, all children undergoing orthokeratology treatment achieved high visual acuity (0.9–1.0). Complications were limited to 12.2% of the participants, who developed mild epitheliopathy (2 degrees) and/or Fleischner rings; no inflammatory complications were observed.Conclusions. Customized orthokeratology offers significant advantages over standard ortho-k lenses, tailoring treatment to individual corneal structures for more effective myopia control. The results advocate for further, long-term studies into customized orthokeratology and its role in managing myopia.

Perceptual Biases in the Interpretation of Non-Rigid Shape Transformations from Motion.

Most existing research on the perception of 3D shape from motion has focused on rigidly moving objects. However, many natural objects deform non-rigidly, leading to image motion with no rigid interpretation. We investigated potential biases underlying the perception of non-rigid shape interpretations from motion. We presented observers with stimuli that were consistent with two qualitatively different interpretations. Observers were shown a two-part 3D object with the smaller part changing in length dynamically as the whole object rotated back and forth. In two experiments, we studied the misperception (i.e., perceptual reinterpretation) of the non-rigid length change to a part. In Experiment 1, observers misperceived this length change as a part orientation change (i.e., the smaller part was seen as articulating with respect to the larger part). In Experiment 2, the stimuli were similar, except the silhouette of the part was visible in the image. Here, the non-rigid length change was reinterpreted as a rigidly attached part with an "illusory" non-orthogonal horizontal angle relative to the larger part. We developed a model that incorporated this perceptual reinterpretation and could predict observer data. We propose that the visual system may be biased towards part-wise rigid interpretations of non-rigid motion, likely due to the ecological significance of movements of humans and other animals, which are generally constrained to move approximately part-wise rigidly. That is, not all non-rigid deformations are created equal: the visual systems' prior expectations may bias the system to interpret motion in terms of biologically plausible shape transformations.

Changes in Organic Acid Composition, Proton Efflux and Root Length in Rice Genotypes Differing in Grain Zinc Accumulation Efficiency

Changes in Organic Acid Composition, Proton Efflux and Root Length in Rice Genotypes Differing in Grain Zinc Accumulation Efficiency

0.01% Atropine Eye Drops in Children With Myopia and Intermittent Exotropia

Exotropia and myopia are commonly coexistent. However, evidence is limited regarding atropine interventions for myopia control in children with myopia and intermittent exotropia (IXT). To evaluate the efficacy and safety of 0.01% atropine eye drops on myopia progression, exotropia conditions, and binocular vision in individuals with myopia and IXT. This placebo-controlled, double-masked, randomized clinical trial was conducted from December 2020 to September 2023. Children aged 6 to 12 years with basic-type IXT and myopia of -0.50 to -6.00 diopters (D) after cycloplegic refraction in both eyes were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to 0.01% atropine or placebo eye drops administered in both eyes once at night for 12 months. The primary outcome was change in cycloplegic spherical equivalent from baseline at 1 year. Secondary outcomes included change in axial length (AL), accommodative amplitude (AA), exotropia conditions, and binocular vision at 1 year. Among 323 screened participants, 300 children (mean [SD] age, 9.1 [1.6] years; 152 male [50.7%]) were included in this study. A total of 200 children (66.7%) were in the atropine group, and 100 (33.3%) were in the placebo group. At 1 year, the 0.01% atropine group had slower spherical equivalent progression (-0.51 D vs -0.75 D; difference = 0.24 D; 95% CI, 0.11-0.37 D; P < .001) and AL elongation (0.31 mm vs 0.42 mm; difference = -0.11 mm; 95% CI, -0.17 to -0.06 mm; P < .001) than the placebo group. The mean AA change was -3.06 D vs 0.12 D (difference = -3.18 D; 95% CI, -3.92 to -2.44 D; P < .001) in the atropine and placebo groups, respectively. The 0.01% atropine group had a decrease in near magnitude of exodeviation whereas the placebo group had an increase (-1.25 prism diopters [PD] vs 0.74 PD; difference = -1.99 PD; 95% CI, -3.79 to -0.19 PD; P = .03). In the atropine vs placebo group, respectively, the incidence of study drug-related photophobia was 6.0% (12 of 200 participants) vs 8.0% (8 of 100 participants; difference = -2.0%; 95% CI, -9.4% to 3.7%; P = .51) and for blurred near vision was 6.0% (12 of 200 participants) vs 7.0% (7 of 100 participants) (difference = -1.0%; 95% CI, -8.2% to 4.5%; P = .74). The findings of this randomized clinical trial support use of 0.01% atropine eye drops, although compromising AA to some extent, for slowing myopia progression without interfering with exotropia conditions or binocular vision in children with myopia and IXT. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2000039827.

1103 Gait Analysis Using Wearables and AI in Predicting Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Systematic Review

Abstract Introduction Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affects over 230 million people globally. The trajectory of this disease process can culminate in major amputation. These patients demonstrate statistically significant changes in gait including changes in stride length, plantarflexion and other spatiotemporal parameters. Aim To determine if alterations in gait parameters can be detected and measured accurately by wearables and AI in PAD patients and if these measurements are predictive of PAD progression. Method A systematic review was performed in line with PRISMA guidelines. MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus were used for database searches. A combination of medical subject headings (MeSH) regarding ‘PAD’, ‘gait’, ‘kinetics’, ‘biomechanics’, ‘ambulation’, ‘artificial intelligence’, ‘sensors’ and ‘smartphone data’ were employed in the primary search string. Screening, full text reviews and data extraction was conducted by 2 reviewers using Covidence. Bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results 4719 studies were identified. 3873 were screened after de-duplication. 5 studies were included in the final review. The main methods of gait measurements included smartphones (iPhone and Samsung Galaxy), wearable sensors and motion sensor technology. Gait initiation parameters were sensitive in detecting gait impairment. iPhone pedometer demonstrated accuracy measuring steps comparable to reference Actigraph but was inaccurate measuring distance. Machine learning models including Random Forest algorithms and extreme gradient boosting, detected PAD patients with 89% and 92% accuracy respectively. Conclusions Wearables and AI algorithms can detect gait changes and differentiate PAD from non-PAD gait. All studies showed detective capability, however none demonstrated predictability of PAD. Limitations include accuracy and validation of measurement methods.

939 A Comparison of the Short-Term Outcomes Following Robotic-Assisted and Computer-Navigated Total Knee Replacements

Abstract Aim Total knee replacements (TKR) remain as one of the most effective procedures for restoring quality of life. Computer-navigated TKR (CN-TKR) have been consistently used for the last two decades whereas robotic-assisted TKR (RA-TKR) have been recently introduced into practice. The primary outcome of this study was to compare the early outcomes following RA-TKR and CN-TKR. Method This retrospective, single-centre, cohort study identified all the patients who underwent a TKR in the Golden Jubilee National Hospital by a single primary hip and knee replacement surgeon between 12th January 2021 and 22nd April 2022. Results were analysed for statistical significance. Results 111 patients underwent a TKR between January 2021 and April 2022. 26 patients underwent a RA-TKR using Stryker’s MAKO SmartRobotics and 85 patients underwent CN-TKR using B. Braun’s OrthoPilot®. Patients who had an RA-TKR were younger, with the average being 64 compared to 69. They also had a greater ROM pre-operatively, with an additional 9 degrees of movement on average. However, post-operatively there was no difference in ROM. There was no change in the mean length of stay (LOS), operation length, blood loss, Oxford score, EQ5-D score, and Forgotten Joint Score. At the 6-week follow-up, 96% of RA-TKR patients were either satisfied or very satisfied compared to 91% of CN-TKR patients. Conclusions This study found no significant difference in short-term clinical outcomes between RA-TKR and CN-TKR. However, a small sample size and a relatively short time frame in which data was collected limits this study to some extent and further research is recommended.

Absolute heat sources as a method to check the accuracy of temperature prediction in underground structures within cryolithozone

The appearance of the penis is often an important aspect for men, and dissatisfaction with it distorts the perception of their body and makes them seek surgical help.The approach to this problem should be based on the objective needs of patients, assessed after analysis of their requests, anamnesis, emotional background and anatomical features. A non-systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed and Scopus to search for papers on penile aesthetic surgery published in the last 15 years.The main parameters evaluated were changes in penile length and girth, and postoperative complications.

Changes in the Objective Vision Quality of Adolescents in a Mesopic Visual Environment After Wearing Orthokeratology Lenses: A Prospective Study.

This study aimed to investigate changes in objective vision quality in mesopic environments in teenagers with myopia after wearing orthokeratology (OK) lenses. This prospective clinical study included 45 patients (80 eyes) who received OK lenses at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University from March 2021 to September 2021. An Optical Path Difference-Scan III refractive power/corneal analyzer was used to determine the corneal topographic parameters (corneal e, corneal Q, surface asymmetry index (SAI), and surface regularity index (SRI)), higher-order aberrations (HOAs), axial length (AL) change, lens decentration, induced astigmatism, target power, and Strehl ratio (SR) in a mesopic visual environment after wearing OK lenses for 6 months. In addition, corneal morphological parameters, HOAs, and SR were analyzed in a mesopic visual environment. Finally, we investigated the correlations among corneal morphology, HOAs, AL change, lens decentration, induced astigmatism, and SR. The SAI value was significantly higher ( P <0.01), and the corneal e was significantly lower ( P <0.01), in a mesopic visual environment after wearing OK lenses for 1 week than baseline. A significant increase was observed in total HOAs and spherical aberrations, compared with before the OK lenses were worn ( P <0.01). In addition, SR in the mesopic visual environment decreased significantly after wearing the lenses ( P <0.01). No significant differences were observed ( P >0.05) among the 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up findings. After 6 months, AL and lens decentration did not differ significantly compared with before ( P >0.05), whereas induced astigmatism significantly increased ( P <0.05). Negative correlations were observed between corneal Q, SAI, SRI, HOAs, induced astigmatism, and SR, and positive correlations were found between corneal e, AL change, lens decentration, and SR, after wearing OK lenses. • Wearing orthokeratology lenses significantly altered corneal morphology and HOAs in myopic teenagers within 1 week. • The changes that we observed in the eyes of adolescents with myopia after wearing orthokeratology lenses decreased vision quality in mesopic environments. • Strehl ratio is significantly correlated with multiple parameters, including HOAs, AL change, and lens decentration. In teenagers with myopia wearing OK lenses, significant changes in vision quality and corneal morphology were observed, leading to increased aberrations and affecting optical imaging quality. Furthermore, SR is significantly correlated with multiple parameters, including HOAs, AL change, and lens decentration. This study is registered with the United States Clinical Trials Registry under registration number NCT04929119.

Safety and efficacy of PCSK9 inhibitor (evolocumab) in patients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome and non-culprit artery critical lesions: a randomised controlled trial protocol (SPECIAL study)

IntroductionPatients with non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS) and concomitant multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) are considered patients with extremely high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), and current guidelines specify...

Gait analysis of patients undergoing knee endoprosthesis: functional differences between tibia and femur resections.

With the improvement in survival of patients undergoing knee reconstructive surgeries, the functional parameter became widely studied heading optimize and minimize motor sequelae. In patients undergoing knee endoprosthesis, proximal tibial or distal femoral resections affect the functioning of the knee extensor mechanism, with possible repercussions on gait. Seventeen patients were selected, divided into two groups, undergoing distal femoral or proximal tibial resection, and gait analysis examination was performed. Changes in gait velocity, cadence, step length, and alterations in the support and balance phase were observed. No major statistically significant differences were found in the kinetic and kinematic parameters between the operated groups. The study corroborates that although tibial resections have a higher theoretical risk of compromising the extensor mechanism, such data were not observed in the analyzed sample.

Error analysis and correction strategy for measuring oriented silicon steel by SST method

AbstractTo accurately determine the relationship between magnetic polarisation and magnetic field strength in oriented silicon steel, the magnetic properties, such as power loss, were measured under different magnetisation conditions. This facilitates for the precise selection of iron core materials for distribution transformers. The deviation rate of measurement results for different magnetisation conditions in oriented silicon steel with varying thicknesses was analysed using the SST method. Additionally, the finite element simulation of MagNet was employed to further investigate this relationship. The causes of measurement errors in oriented silicon steel by the SST method are thoroughly studied, with a focus on 0.18 mm oriented silicon steel as an example. It is found that the main reason for the measurement error is the deviation between the actual effective magnetic path length and the conventional effective magnetic path length, which is caused by the uneven distribution of magnetic polarisation in oriented silicon steel. The main reason for the difference of magnetisation conditions is the change in the actual effective magnetic path length, which is mainly affected by changes in permeability. Combined with the magnetic field distribution inside the oriented silicon steel, the distribution coefficient of magnetic polarisation can be calculated, the actual effective magnetic path length under each condition can be calculated, and then the measurement results of the SST method can be modified. This research is expected to significantly contribute to the practical applications of oriented silicon steel in engineering.

Catalytic Water Electrolysis by Co-Cu-W Mixed Metal Oxides: Insights from X-ray Absorption Spectroelectrochemistry.

Mixed metal oxides (MMOs) are a promising class of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Despite their importance for sustainable energy schemes, our understanding of relevant reaction pathways, catalytically active sites, and synergistic effects is rather limited. Here, we applied synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) to explore the evolution of the amorphous Co-Cu-W MMO electrocatalyst, shown previously to be an efficient bifunctional OER and HER catalyst for water splitting. Ex situ XAS measurements provided structural environments and the oxidation state of the metals involved, revealing Co2+ (octahedral), Cu+/2+ (tetrahedral/square-planar), and W6+ (octahedral) centers. Operando XAS investigations, including X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS), elucidated the dynamic structural transformations of Co, Cu, and W metal centers during the OER and HER. The experimental results indicate that Co3+ and Cu0 are the active catalytic sites involved in the OER and HER, respectively, while Cu2+ and W6+ play crucial roles as structure stabilizers, suggesting strong synergistic interactions within the Co-Cu-W MMO system. These results, combined with the Tafel slope analysis, revealed that the bottleneck intermediate during the OER is Co3+ hydroperoxide, whose formation is accompanied by changes in the Cu-O bond lengths, pointing to a possible synergistic effect between Co and Cu ions. Our study reveals important structural effects taking place during MMO-driven OER/HER electrocatalysis and provides essential experimental insights into the complex catalytic mechanism of emerging noble-metal-free MMO electrocatalysts for full water splitting.

Paper 32: Leg Length Changes Following Distal Femoral Osteotomy: Validation of a Predictive Tool and Comparison of Lateral Opening Wedge and Medial Closing Wedge Techniques

Objectives: A DFO can be performed via two techniques: a lateral opening wedge (LOW) osteotomy and a medial closing wedge (MCW) osteotomy. Small case series have looked at how leg length is affected by a lateral opening wedge DFO, however, there is a lack of research comparing these leg length changes to medial closing DFO. Additionally, no studies have presented a model for predicting the leg length changes that will occur following DFO of either technique. Given that limb length differences can lead to accelerated osteoarthritis, back pain, hip pain, and other issues, being able to predict which technique can help prevent this pathology without a secondary procedure would be an important finding. Finally, the medial closing wedge osteotomy can allow for immediate weight-bearing while the lateral opening wedge does not and typically has associated cost with bone grafting. Therefore, we designed this study to validate a tool designed to predict leg length changes after distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) and compare changes following medial closing wedge (MCW) and lateral opening wedge (LOW) techniques. Methods: A collaborative retrospective review was performed of patients from Rush and Mayo Clinic databases who received a DFO and had full-length standing radiographs both pre-and postoperatively. For each preoperative radiograph, the region on the medial (for LOW) or lateral (for MCW) distal femur cortex that would be the “hinge point” during DFO was identified. The distances from the center of the femoral head to the hinge point (“A”), from the hinge point to the center of the tibial plafond (“B”), and the resultant angle at the hinge point (“α”) were measured (Figure 1). Figure 2 demonstrates the equation used to plot a graph of the predicted leg length changes corresponding to the change in α angle produced by DFO. Final leg length was calculated on postoperative radiographs, and the difference between predicted and true leg length changes was compared using paired Wilcoxon signed rank exact tests. Results: 10 MCW and 10 LOW patients were included. For both LOW (n=10) and MCW (n=10) osteotomies, the predicted leg length change was equivalent to the true change measured on postoperative radiographs (LOW P=0.16; MCW P=0.85). LOW DFO’s had 5.10 ± 2.77 mm (range: 1.45-10.87 mm) of leg lengthening, compared to 2.61 ± 1.25 mm (range: 0.50-4.56 mm) of leg shortening (p&lt;0.001) for MCW (Figure 3). On average, there was 0.85 mm of lengthening (range 0.5-1.3 mm) for every 1° of mechanical axis correction with LOW DFO, compared to 0.45 mm of shortening (range: 0.1-1.4 mm) per 1° of MCW correction. Conclusions: This study presents a tool to accurately and reliably predict the leg length changes seen after both medial closing and lateral opening wedge DFO’s. Knowing what leg length changes to expect with each DFO technique is a useful tool that surgeons can utilize during surgical planning. Preoperative radiographic imaging can be used to predict leg length change following DFO with high reliability and accuracy. Surgeons can expect approximately 0.85mm of lengthening per 1° of DFO correction when performing LOW, compared to 0.45mm of shortening per 1° correction for MCW osteotomies.