Midsagittal Research Articles

Analysis of the effect of maxillary transverse deficiencies on permanent maxillary first molar rotations using 3D digital models

AimThe aim of this study was to evaluate the permanent maxillary first molar rotation (PMMR) angles in cases of maxillary transverse skeletal deficiency (MTSD) and to compare them with a control group.Materials and methodsIn this study, which included a total of 88 patients (50 females, 38 males, with a mean age of 14.98 ± 2.14 years), consisting of 66 patients with MTSD and 22 patients in the control group, four groups were divided: Group 1 (MTSD without molar crossbite), Group 2 (MTSD with bilateral molar crossbite), Group 3 (MTSD with unilateral (right-sided) molar crossbite), and Group 4 (Control Group). Skeletal deficiencies were evaluated by measuring the interjugular, jugale right (JR), and jugale left (JL) distances on posteroanterior cephalograms (PACs), while occlusal relationships were assessed using 3-dimensional (3D) intraoral models. PMMR angles were measured using the 3D Slicer software on 3D intraoral models with the Ricketts Molar-Cusp Reference Line and the midsagittal reference plane. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsThe PMMR angles and JR and JL distances of Group 2 were significantly higher, while the interjugular distance was found to be the lowest (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the PMMR angles between the Control group and Group 1 (p > 0.05), while the JR and JL distances were significantly smaller in the Control group (p < 0.05). In Group 3, on the crossbite side, both the PMMR and the JR and JL distances were significantly higher than on the non-crossbite side (p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was found between PMMR angles and JR and JL distances (p < 0.05).ConclusionIt was concluded that (i) mesiopalatal PMMRs are observed in the MTSDs with molar crossbite, (ii) molars with normal molar occlusal relationships have normal PMMR angles even in the presence of MTSDs, and (iii) early detection of MTSD enables timely interventions, preventing treatment delays and improving occlusal outcomes, particularly in developing patients, thereby optimizing long-term orthodontic results.Clinical relevanceConsidering the differences in PMMR angles between MTSD patients with and without molar crossbite, these findings should be taken into account when designing expansion appliances to achieve molar derotation in these patients.

A phase 1 FIH study of novel oral SERD FWD1802 in patients with ER+/HER2- unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer with or without ESR1 mutations.

e13066 Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the number one cancer in women, and ER+/HER2- is the most prevalent subtype, accounting for about 2/3 of all BCs. Endocrine therapy (ET) inhibiting estrogen receptor (ER) activities has been critical in treating BC. FWD1802 is a novel oral SERD, which binds competitively to ER with higher affinity than fulvestrant. Preclinically FWD1802 exhibits significant anti-tumor activity in both wildtype and mutated ESR1 models in vitro and in vivo. Methods: This study (NCT06064812) assesses the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and clinical activity of monotherapy FWD1802 in 3 parts: part A dose escalation; part B expansion; part C in patients with mutated ESR1. A “3+3” design is used for part A. The primary objectives include determining dose limiting toxicities (DLTs), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), safety, tolerability, and the RP2D of FWD1802. FWD1802 is orally administered daily in a 28-day cycle. The study is ongoing. Here we report the preliminary data. Results: As of 1/6/2025, 47 patients were enrolled, receiving doses at 25mg (1), 50mg (10), 75mg (16), 150mg (10), 300mg (6) and 450mg (4) in part A (15), part B (26) and part C (6). Patients’ median age was 56.0 years, 83% ECOG 1, and experienced a median prior line of 2 (range, 1-7) in advanced setting, median 1 line of prior ET (range, 1-3), and chemotherapies ranging from 0 to 3. Sixty-eight percent of patients received prior CDK4/6 inhibitors, and 48.9% received prior fulvestrant. Visceral metastases were present in 89.4% patients at baseline, and 42.6% had liver metastasis. Ninety-six percent of patients experienced any TEAE. The most common TEAEs include sinus bradycardia (53.2%), ALT increased (29.8%), hypertriglyceridaemia (27.7%), AST increased (23.4%), anaemia (23.4%), hypercholesterolaemia (21.3%), QT prolongation(21.3%). Over 80% TEAEs were Grade 1. Zero Grade 4/5 TEAEs and 3 Grade 3 TEAEs were reported, 1 splenic artery aneurysm unrelated to treatment, 1 GGT increased and 1 hyponatraemia related to treatment. Zero patient had DLTs. No TEAE-related dose reduction or discontinuation was reported. Therefore, the MTD of FWD1802 was not reached. PK analyses showed that C max and AUC of FWD1802 increased as dose escalated, revealing a trend of linear PK. The geometric mean terminal half-life of different dose groups ranged from 46.8 to 72.9 hours. According to RECIST 1.1, thirty-four patients were evaluable, 5/34(14.7%) had partial responses (4 PRs yet to confirm); 14 patients had ESR1 mutations, and 4/14 (28.6%) had PRs (all yet to confirm). Conclusions: FWD1802 monotherapy was well tolerated with great safety and promising efficacy in a heavily treated population. Reponses were observed in patients carrying both wildtype and mutated ESR1, and better response observed in mESR1 patients. RP2D will be determined once data are collected on more patients. Clinical trial information: NCT06064812 .

Short-term outcomes of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty with nonaugmented glenoid component for Walch B2 and B3 glenoid morphology.

Short-term outcomes of anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty with nonaugmented glenoid component for Walch B2 and B3 glenoid morphology.

Tratuzumab deruxtecan: A real-world study in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer in China.

e13095 Background: Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) is a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that has demonstrated improved survival in patients with metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low breast cancer in clinical trials. In 2022, the FDA has approved T-DXd for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic breast cancer (mBC). However, real-world evidence regarding the efficacy of T-DXd remains limited. Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical and demographic data from HER2-low mBC patients who were treated with T-DXd across various treatment lines between November 2021 and November 2024 at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Real-world progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Treatment response was assessed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria. Results: A total of 128 patients with mBC received T-DXd during the study period. All patients were Chinese females, with a median age of 55.92 years (range: 33 to 81) and a median metastases number of 2 (range: 1 to 7). Among these, 10 (7.81%) had HER2-0 mBC (i.e., triple-negative), and 118 (92.19%) had HER2-low mBC, including 79 (61.72%) with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and 39 (33.05%) with hormone receptor-negative (HR-) status. The median number of treatment lines prior to T-DXd in HER2-low mBC patients was 3 (range: 2 to 5), with the median pre-treatment line being 4 in HR+ patients and 3 in HR- patients. In HER2-low mBC patients, the median PFS was 10.4 months (95% CI: 7.397 to 13.403) after initiating T-DXd. For HR+ and HR- HER2-low patients, the median PFS was 8.47 and 11 months, respectively. Additionally, 80.53% of HER2-low patients received no more than 4 lines of treatment prior to T-DXd, and their median PFS was significantly higher compared to those who received at least 5 treatment lines (13.27 vs. 7.20 months, p &lt; 0.05). Furthermore, among HR+ HER2-low patients, the proportion of progressive disease (PD) patients with brain metastases was significantly higher than that of those without brain metastases (54.55% vs. 14.71%, p &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: Our research evaluates the real-world efficacy of DS8201 treatment in HER2-low mBC patients within the Chinese population. Earlier administration of T-DXd is recommended to improve survival outcomes in HER2- low mBC patients. The prolonged PFS observed in HR- HER2-low patients, compared to HR+ patients, may be attributed to the earlier initiation of DS8201 in triple-negative patients. Further investigation with a larger cohort and prospective analysis of HER2-low mBC patients is needed. Characteristics of the HER2-low patients at baseline. Characteristic HER2-low Patients Median age (range) - yr 55.92 (33-81) Female sex - no. (%) 118 (100%) HER2-low status - no. (%) IHC 1+ 65 (55.08%) IHC 2+ and ISH-negative 53 (44.92%) HR-positive - no. (%) 39 (33.05%) HR-negative - no. (%) 79 (66.95%)

Automatic diagnosis of early pregnancy fetal nasal bone development based on complex mid-sagittal section ultrasound imaging

Automatic diagnosis of early pregnancy fetal nasal bone development based on complex mid-sagittal section ultrasound imaging

Survival analysis of pyrotinib in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: A multicenter real-world study.

e13007 Background: In previous clinical trials, pyrotinib has shown good antitumor activity and manageable toxicity in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2)-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC). However, the real-world data on pyrotinib remains limited. In this study, we reported the real-world data on the overall survival (OS) of pyrotinib in HER2-positive MBC for the first time. Methods: This multicenter retrospective study involved 337 HER2-positive MBC patients treated with pyrotinib between October 2016 and October 2024. We updated the analysis of the efficacy and safety of pyrotinib in HER2-positive MBC, including progression-free survival (PFS), OS, objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), clinical benefit rate (CBR), and adverse events. Results: As of the data cutoff date of 31 December 2024, the median follow-up duration was 42.0 months (range, 2.0-92.7 months). The median line of treatment was the second, with 19.6% of patients receiving first-line therapy, 54.9% receiving second-line therapy, and 25.5% receiving third-line or above therapy. The overall median PFS was 14.7 (95%CI, 12.6-15.8) months . By treatment line, the median PFS was 21.4 months (95% CI, 10.4–32.3 months) for first-line therapy, 14.6 months (95% CI, 12.0–17.2 months) for second-line therapy, and 10.9 months (95% CI, 8.0–13.7 months) for third-line or above therapy. At the data cutoff, the OS data remained immature. The 3-year OS rate was 58.7% overall, with rates of 69.7%, 64.8%, and 41.8% for first-line, second-line, and third-line or above therapies, respectively. The ORR was 41.5% (95CI%, 35.8%-47.3%), the DCR was 91.2% (95CI%, 87.3%-94.6%), and the CBR was 80.0% (95CI%, 75.4%-84.6%). The most frequent grade 3 or 4 adverse events were diarrhea (21.3%), neutropenia (8.6%), leukopenia (7.9%), hand-foot syndrome (2.5%) and nausea (2.1%). No treatment-related deaths were reported. Conclusions: The updated analysis demonstrated that pyrotinib could be a good treatment option in HER2-positive MBC with acceptable toxicity in the real world. Survival is still under assessment with longer follow-up.

Single-nucleus and spatial signatures of the brainstem in normal brain and mild traumatic brain injury in male mice

The mammalian brainstem is particularly vulnerable to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), which is associated with prolonged autonomic dysfunction and coma. The spatial cellular connections within the brainstem or the mechanisms underlying its response to injury have been underestimated. Here, we performed single-nucleus RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptome sequencing in both normal and mTBI brainstems in male mice, revealing thirty-five neuron and non-neuron clusters. Typically, we identified subtypes of neurons that co-release multiple neurotransmitters, especially in the sagittal midline of the brainstem. Spatially adjacent neurons sharing similar gene expression patterns. The brainstem’s response to mTBI has two features: (1) Oligodendrocytes around the fourth ventricle exhibit widespread disconnection at 1-h post-injury, and (2) Injury-related noradrenergic neurons, particularly in their interaction with neurons located in theIRt and the Sol. These findings provides a reference for further integrative investigations of cellular and circuit functions of brainstem.

Assessment of the association between C2 vertebral morphology and facial asymmetry using CBCT and panoramic radiography

PurposeTo investigate the relationship between the morphology of the Axis (C2 vertebra) and facial asymmetry using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and panoramic radiographs.Materials and methodsA retrospective evaluation was performed on CBCT and panoramic radiographs of 50 patients (aged 18–45 years) selected from university archives. Axis vertebral morphology was assessed on CBCT using angular and perpendicular measurements of the dens and transverse processes. Facial asymmetry was evaluated on panoramic radiographs by measuring bilateral distances and angles from the condylion to the midsagittal plane. Pearson’s correlation and Chi-square tests were used to analyze associations. Sample size was calculated based on a priori power analysis.ResultsModerate but statistically significant correlations were identified between specific vertebral and facial asymmetry parameters. A negative correlation was observed between the right Axis angle and the right Co-ANSMe perpendicular distance (r = − 0.31, p = 0.026), while the left Axis perpendicular distance showed a positive correlation with both right (r = 0.36, p = 0.009) and left (r = 0.33, p = 0.018) Co-ANSMe perpendicular distances. Additionally, combined measurements of Axis and Co-ANSMe distances demonstrated a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.31, p = 0.028). No other statistically significant correlations were found.ConclusionsMorphological differences in the Axis vertebra appear moderately associated with transverse facial asymmetry. These findings may offer additional reference points for radiographic assessment. Further studies with larger samples are recommended to confirm these observations.

Automated landmark-based mid-sagittal plane: reliability for 3-dimensional mandibular asymmetry assessment on head CT scans

ObjectiveThe determination of the mid-sagittal plane (MSP) on three-dimensional (3D) head imaging is key to the assessment of facial asymmetry. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of an automated landmark-based MSP to quantify mandibular asymmetry on head computed tomography (CT) scans.Materials and methodsA dataset of 368 CT scans, including orthognathic surgery patients, was automatically annotated with 3D cephalometric landmarks via a previously published deep learning-based method. Five of these landmarks were used to automatically construct an MSP orthogonal to the Frankfurt horizontal plane. The reliability of automatic MSP construction was compared with the reliability of manual MSP construction based on 6 manual localizations by 3 experienced operators on 19 randomly selected CT scans. The mandibular asymmetry of the 368 CT scans with respect to the MSP was calculated and compared with clinical expert judgment.ResultsThe construction of the MSP was found to be highly reliable, both manually and automatically. The manual reproducibility 95% limit of agreement was less than 1 mm for -y translation and less than 1.1° for -x and -z rotation, and the automatic measurement lied within the confidence interval of the manual method. The automatic MSP construction was shown to be clinically relevant, with the mandibular asymmetry measures being consistent with the expertly assessed levels of asymmetry.ConclusionThe proposed automatic landmark-based MSP construction was found to be as reliable as manual construction and clinically relevant in assessing the mandibular asymmetry of 368 head CT scans.Clinical relevanceOnce implemented in a clinical software, fully automated landmark-based MSP construction could be clinically used to assess mandibular asymmetry on head CT scans.

A concise gradient tensor model in quantitatively describing the anisotropic properties of lumbar trabecular bone.

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of image gradient methods for quantifying directional heterogeneity in lumbar trabecular bone. A total of 326 male patients' lumbar CT images were collected and grouped by age (20-39 years, 40-59 years, and ≥ 60 years). The tangential gradient calculation was performed on the mid-sagittal plane of the L4 vertebra, and the ratio of the longitudinal to transverse gradient (ratio_σ) was computed to construct a gradient tensor model. Statistical analysis was conducted to assess the differences in ratio_σ among the groups. Individuals with the same bone mineral density were selected to construct finite element models to validate the value of different tensor models for fracture risk assessment. Our study results indicate that there is significant directional heterogeneity in the lumbar trabecular core across all age groups, which becomes more pronounced with advancing age, as evidenced by the gradual increase in ratio_σ values (1.44±0.29 for 20-39 years group, 1.86±0.19 for 40-59 years group, and 2.10±0.33 for ≥ 60 years group). Finite element analysis results at the same bone mineral density show that the high tensor group has a higher proportion of fracture risk elements compared to the low tensor group. The trabecular core shows marked directional heterogeneity with age-dependent variations. Using directional gradient decomposition, we developed gradient tensor models to quantify direction-specific remodeling states in bone microstructures. This tensor-based approach also enables fracture risk assessment at comparable bone mineral density levels.

Hounsfield unit measurements to predict odontoid fracture union in elderly patients: post-hoc subgroup analysis from an international prospective comparative study.

Hounsfield unit measurements to predict odontoid fracture union in elderly patients: post-hoc subgroup analysis from an international prospective comparative study.

Imaging-assisted intra-operative approach to torsional alignment in paediatric femoral shaft fractures treated with hip spica.

Imaging-assisted intra-operative approach to torsional alignment in paediatric femoral shaft fractures treated with hip spica.

Visual course of anatomical landmarks around the internal inguinal ring as a guide for horizon adjustment in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

During laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, the inferior epigastric vessels (IEVs), vas deferens, and spermatic vessels are often used as landmarks for horizon adjustment during camera navigation. The present study investigated the visual angle of landmarks around the internal inguinal ring using recorded video clips. The angle of the IEVs, vas deferens, spermatic vessels, and the degree of lateral tilt of the scope were measured using a video clip. The angle of the median line of the vas deferens and spermatic vessels (MVS) was also calculated. Between 2018 and 2022, 70 inguinal hernia lesions underwent robot-assisted inguinal hernia repair. Under adjustment according to lateral tilt of the scope, the mean angles of the IEVs and MVS were 14.1° laterally (SD = 15.9°) and -1.5° medially (SD = 15.8°), respectively. The IEVs and MVS do not always adopt an absolutely vertical course, and some structures run obliquely. The angles of the IEVs and MVS should, therefore, be confirmed at the beginning of the operation to guide horizon adjustment.

Artificial Intelligence to Determine Correct Midsagittal Plane in Dynamic Transperineal Ultrasound.

To create and validate a machine learning(ML) model that allows for identifying the correct capture of the midsagittal plane in a dynamic ultrasound study, as well as establishing its concordance with a senior explorer and a junior explorer. Observational and prospective study with 90 patients without pelvic floor pathology. Each patient was given an ultrasound video where the midsagittal plane of the pelvic floor was recorded at rest and during the Valsalva maneuver. A segmentation model was used that was trained on a previously published article, generating the segmentations of the 90 new videos to create the model. The algorithm selected to build the model in this project was XGBoost(Gradient Boosting). To obtain a tabular dataset on which to train the model, feature engineering was carried out on the raw segmentation data. The concordance of the model, of a junior examiner and a senior examiner, with the expert examiner was studied using the kappa index. The first 60 videos were used to train the model and the last 30 videos were reserved for the test set. The model presented a kappa index 0.930(p < 0.001) with very good agreement for detection of the correct midsagittal plane. The junior explorer presented a very good agreement (kappa index = 0.930(p < 0.001)). The senior explorer presented a kappa index 0.789(p < 0.001) (good agreement) for detection of the correct midsagittal plane. We have developed a model that allows determining the correct midsagittal plane captured through dynamic transperineal ultrasound with a level of agreement comparable to or greater than that of a junior or senior examiner, using expert examiner assessment as the gold standard.

Automated snow cover detection on mountain glaciers using spaceborne imagery and machine learning

Abstract. Tracking the extent of seasonal snow on glaciers over time is critical for assessing glacier vulnerability and the response of glacierized watersheds to climate change. Existing snow cover products do not reliably distinguish seasonal snow from glacier ice and firn, preventing their use for glacier snow cover detection. Despite previous efforts to classify glacier surface facies using machine learning on local scales, currently there is no published comparison of machine learning models for classifying glacier snow cover across different satellite image products. We present an automated snow detection workflow for mountain glaciers using supervised machine-learning-based image classifiers and Landsat 8 and 9, Sentinel-2, and PlanetScope satellite imagery. We develop the image classifiers by testing numerous machine learning algorithms with training and validation data from the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glacier Project glaciers. The workflow produces daily to twice monthly time series of several glacier mass balance and snowmelt indicators (snow-covered area, accumulation area ratio, and seasonal snow line) from 2013 to present. Workflow performance is assessed by comparing automatically classified images and snow lines to manual interpretations at each glacier site. The image classifiers exhibit overall accuracies of 92 %–98 %, κ scores of 84 %–96 %, and F scores of 93 %–98 % for all image products. The median difference between automatically and manually delineated median snow line altitudes is −31 m (IQR of −73 to 0 m) across all image products. The Sentinel-2 classifier (support vector machine) produces the most accurate glacier mass balance and snowmelt indicators and distinguishes snow from ice and firn the most reliably. Although they are less accurate, the Landsat- and PlanetScope-derived estimates greatly enhance the temporal coverage of observations. The transient accumulation area ratio produces the least noisy time series, making it the most reliable indicator for characterizing seasonal snow trends. The temporally detailed accumulation area ratio time series reveal that the timing of minimum snow cover conditions varies by up to a month between Arctic (63° N) and midlatitude (48° N) sites, underscoring the potential for bias when estimating glacier minimum snow cover conditions from a single late-summer image. Widespread application of our automated snow detection workflow has the potential to improve regional assessments of glacier mass balance, land ice representations within Earth system models, water resources, and the impacts of climate change on snow cover across broad spatial scales.

In Vivo Dose–Response Effect of 300 nm UV Radiation on the Ocular Lens Epithelial Cells Count

Purpose To assess how varying doses of ultraviolet radiation affect the distribution of lens epithelial cells. Methods Forty Sprague Dawley rats were exposed unilaterally to ultraviolet radiation-300 nm at doses of 1, 3, 6, and 8 kJ/m2. One week after exposure, lenses from both the exposed and the unexposed contralateral eyes were collected for analysis. A midsagittal section from each lens was stained with 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and examined using fluorescence microscopy to evaluate lens epithelial cell distribution. Results The difference in lens epithelial cell density between exposed and non-exposed eyes at doses of 1, 3, 6, and 8 kJ/m2 was measured as 95% confidence interval values of −0.1 ± 2.1, 0.1 ± 3.0, −4.1 ± 1.4, and −2.9 ± 2.7 cell·μm−1·10−2, respectively. Data were analyzed using a linear model with the initial density difference set to zero. The slope of the dose–response relationship was estimated as 95% confidence interval −0.4 ± 0.1 cell·μm·kJ−1·1010. Conclusion Exposure to ultraviolet radiation-300 nm reduces lens epithelial cell density. The linear model provides a quantitative understanding of the relationship between ultraviolet radiation dose and cell density.

Elite Cross-Country Skiers Who Report Low Back Pain Have More Disk Degeneration Than Their Nonsymptomatic Peers

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and disk degeneration (DD) and the relationship of DD with LBP among elite cross-country skiers. Design: A cross-sectional study of elite cross-country skiers. Setting: Study participants were recruited during autumn 2022 among elite cross-country skiers and collegiate skiers who were selected to national teams' training groups. Participants: The original study group consisted of 44 skiers (16 national team skiers and 28 sports academy skiers). Interventions: The study protocol included a 1.5T lumbar spine MRI, a clinical examination, and an interview with questions about general health and training as well as selected patient-reported outcomes. The morphology of intervertebral disks from T12/L1 to L5/S1 on sagittal T2-weighted midline images was visually assessed using the Pfirrmann classification with a grade 3 or higher considered degenerated in this age group. Main Outcome Measures: Cross-sectional occurrence of DD on MRI and self-reported LBP. Results: Low back pain was reported by 33 (75%) skiers. Half of the skiers had at least 1 disk of ≥grade 3 in the Pfirrmann classification. At least 1 disk grade ≥3 in the Pfirrmann classification was found in 61% (20 of 33) of skiers with LBP and 18% (2 of 11) of skiers without LBP (P = 0.034). Conclusions: The most important findings in our study were the high prevalence of self-reported LBP and a statistically significant difference in the occurrence of at least 1 degenerated disk in the Pfirrmann classification between skiers who reported LBP compared with those who did not.

Description of Aphelenchoides paratenuis n. sp. (Tylenchina: Aphelenchoididae) found in white ash (Fraxinus sp.) wood from the USA

Summary Aphelenchoides paratenuis n. sp. found in white ash (Fraxinus sp.) wood from the USA is characterised by the male body length 767.6 (594-848) μm and female length 824.1 (669-956) μm, slim body shape (a = 48.5 (41.5-53.5) and 48.0 (41.9-56.8) for males and females, respectively). The lateral field has three lines, and the slender stylet is 9-12 μm long with small basal swellings. The excretory pore is located at the level of the nerve ring. The hemizonid is obscure. The vagina is not sclerotised but with conspicuous sclerotised pieces encircling it, and the vulva has slightly protruding lips and lacks a flap. The PUS is well developed and comprises ca 33.0 (29.1-38.2)% of the vulva to anus distance. Spicules rose-thorn-shaped, strongly curved at two-thirds from dorsal limb, 17.1 (15.0-19.4) μm long in curved median line, condylus rounded and high, rostrum rounded and short; the dorsal limb is 22.9 (19.2-28.9) μm long, with slightly ventrally bent distal end. The spicules’ sheath-like structure is absent. The male tail bears three pairs (2 + 2 + 2) of caudal papillae. The tail of both sexes is sub-cylindrical and the terminus bears a bluntly pointed mucron with tiny nodular protuberances. The new species belongs to the Group 2 category of Aphelenchoides species sensu Shahina and defined as A2-B1-C1-D1-E2-F2 according to the categorisation codes of OEPP/EPPO. The new species is close to A. tenuis and A. yixingensis. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of partial 18S, ITS, and 28S D2-D3 of rDNA confirmed its status as a new species.

Comparative evaluation of marginal and internal fit of endocrowns with lithium disilicate, biocompatible high-performance polymer, and monolithic ceramic materials using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing technology

Abstract Aims: To compare marginal and internal fit of lithium disilicate (LDS), Biocompatible High-Performance Polymer (BIO-HPP), and monolithic zirconia ceramic endocrowns fabricated using computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology. Materials and Methods: Thirty human extracted mandibular 1st molars were selected. Working length was established and biomechanical preparation was carried out to size 25%–4% using NeoEndo rotary files in the crown down technique. Intermittent irrigation was performed after each instrument by 5.25% sodium hypochlorite followed by irrigation with 17% Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid to remove the smear layer. Final rinse was done with normal saline, and the canals were dried before obturation with a single cone gutta-percha technique and then randomly distributed into three-groups according to type of material used for fabrication. Group 1-LDS, Group 2-BIO-HPP, and Group 3-monolithic zirconia ceramic. Preparation of the samples was done for endocrowns, impression recorded with digital scanner followed by fabrication by CAD/CAM technique. Samples were sectioned in the midsagittal plane and evaluated under a stereomicroscope. Results: Bio-HPP biomaterial showed the highest marginal gap discrepancy followed by monolithic zirconia ceramic material and then LDS material in the descending order. Internal gap was highest in Monolithic Zirconia Ceramic material followed by Bio-HPP and LDS. LDS material exhibited minimal discrepancies in both the parameters (marginal and internal gap). Conclusion: Taking into account the limitations of this study, it is evident that the choice of Bio-HPP for endocrowns can be taken up in future after further clinical trials and long-term follow-up studies.

Speed-dependent directivity patterns of road-traffic vehicles.

Vehicle exterior noise is composed of speed-dependent contributions from tire/road interaction, powertrain, and aeroacoustic noise, each contributing to overall sound emission by characteristic directivity patterns. This work focuses on identifying the spatial and speed-dependent directivity patterns of a broad range of road-traffic vehicles (including electric, hybrid, and combustion-powered vehicles) by utilizing time-variant wave backpropagation on microphone array signals. The derived directivity patterns are compared to the analytical Harmonoise model and further analyzed for their spectral properties in third-octave bands, as well as their speed-dependent sound power. Besides drivetrain technology, the results highlight the crucial influence of driving conditions, particularly the engine's rotational speed (related to the engaged gear), on the directivity patterns. Being more symmetric in the median plane, asymmetric and more directional patterns are observed in the sagittal plane. At the same speed, the sound power level of individual cars varies in a range between 10 and up to 20 dBSWL, converging at higher speeds. The results are published in an accompanying open-access database containing directivity patterns and sound power in the speed range between 10 and 120 km/h, using standardized Spatially Oriented Format for Acoustics and OpenDAFF data formats for noise mapping and auralization applications.