Restoration Of Shape Research Articles

Effect of lag screw and support plate through axillary approach for the treatment of Ideberg typeⅡscapular pelvis fracture

To analyze the effect of lag screw and support plate through axillary approach for the treatment of Ideberg typeⅡscapular pelvis fracture. From January 2016 to June 2021, 26 patients with Ideberg typeⅡglenoid fractures were treated with trans-axillary lag screw combined with supporting plate, including 15 males and 11 females. The age ranged from 21 to 75 years, with an average of (43.12±6.56) years old. The Constant-Murley Shoulder joint Scale and University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score were used to evaluate the function and clinical efficacy of shoulder joint. All patients were followed up, and the duration ranged from 19 to 42 months, with an average of (30.6±10.5) months. One year after surgery, the Constant-Murley score increased from preoperative 34.9±2.5(ranged, from 28 to 47) to 87.2±6.8(ranged, from 70 to 95). The UCLA score improved from preoperative 17.9±1.7(9 to 25) to 33.1±2.3(29 to 35). Seventeen patients got an excellent result, with 7 good, and 2 fair. None of the patients had infection, screw, and plate loosening, fracture, and other complications after surgery. Two patients had different degrees of Chronic pain in the shoulder during the follow-up period. The treatment of Ideberg typeⅡscapular glenoid fractures through axillary approach with lag screws and supporting steel plates has the advantages of convenient exposure, direct visual restoration of the normal anatomical shape of the scapular glenoid, selection of suitable positions for screw and steel plate placement, achieving better treatment results, and fewer complications. It is an effective and reliable surgical method.

Scaphoid fractures : Current diagnostic and treatment concepts

Scaphoid fractures are by far the most frequent fractures of the carpal bones of the hand and often lead to problematic healing processes if the diagnostics and treatment are inadequate. The main complication of ascaphoid fracture is pseudarthrosis, which leads to carpal collapse and degenerative arthritis of the wrist if left untreated. Early diagnosis and individualized differentiated treatment aim to achieve bony healing with restoration of the scaphoid shape and preservation of the function of the wrist. The anatomical and biomechanical characteristics of the scaphoid can impede bony healing after afracture and, in contrast to the diagnostics and treatment, cannot be influenced. Ahistory of trauma and typical clinical signs of ascaphoid fracture should lead to systematic imaging diagnostics with obligatory computed tomography. Only by determining the exact fracture morphology can an appropriate treatment concept be established. Conservative treatment should be restricted to stable fractures without relevant displacement. Fractures of the proximal scaphoid pole are considered unstable even if they are not displaced. Operative treatment is indicated for all unstable fractures. The favored surgical procedure is osteosynthesis with acannulated double-threaded screw, which can be used in aretrograde or antegrade manner and in aminimally invasive or open technique, depending on the fracture type. Surgical treatment results in earlier bony healing and quicker restoration of function but can be associated with ahigher complication rate. Posttraumatic osteoarthritis after healing in malalignment is usually asymptomatic.

One-step Glandular Reconstruction after Breast Implant Removal: Technical Refinements and Grafting of the Inferior Dermoglandular Flap.

The number of breast implant removal procedures are rising. Among the reasons why patients seek breast implant removal, the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA), also named breast implant illness, is increasingly common. ASIA is an entity that incorporates diverse autoimmune conditions induced by the exposure to various adjuvants, including silicone, and it is characterized by systemic symptoms reminiscent of autoimmune disorders. Implant removal has the most effective treatment for ASIA. We describe a technique for glandular cone reconstruction after complete capsulectomy and implant removal. It combines an inverted-T superomedial pedicled mastopexy with fat grafting of the breast quadrants and of the inferior dermoglandular flap in two patients affected by ASIA. Implant removal allowed symptom resolution in both patients at 10 and 12 months follow-up. Both patients were satisfied with the aesthetic outcome after implant removal in terms of breast softness, projection, and volume. Our technique is easy, reproducible, and allowed for restoration of breast contour, volume, and shape after implant removal. Although initially conceived in patients with ASIA, this technique can be used for patients seeking implant removal for any indication.

Технологія відновлення форми ротора гідрогенератора

The object of research in this article is the change in the rotor shape during the operation of hydraulic units. The subject of study in this article is the design and geometric state of the shape of a rotor with irregular geometry of hydraulic generators-engines. This study produced a three-dimensional mechanical calculation of the rotor segment for further use during strain gauge tests. Tasks: investigate the peculiarities of the rotor shape restoration technology; to describe the basic assumptions for the three-dimensional mechanical calculation of rotor deformations at the overspeed; and perform a three-dimensional calculation of rotor movements considering the main forces falling on the pole connection, which are obtained using classical methods. The methods used are: finite element method of mathematical modeling of the thermal stress state of nodes. The following results were obtained: a detailed description of the technological process of restoring the shape of the rotor using the hot wedging method is given. Three-dimensional models of the rotor segment were developed, and a three-dimensional mechanical calculation of this model was performed, as a result of which satisfactory values of the displacement of the rotor of the hydraulic generator at the overspeed were obtained, considering the recovery technology. To reconstruct the rotor rim, it is necessary to heat the rotor rim to a temperature difference between the rim and the frame of at least 60 °C. Next, the hot wedging of the rotor rim is performed with the driving of each of the driving wedges by the same amount, which ensures the creation of the necessary diametrical tension between the rim and the frame of the rotor and avoids the displacement of the rotor rim relative to the frame. The control of this process is performed using strain gauges. If necessary, it is necessary to cool the rotor rim until the temperatures of the rim and the frame of the rotor are equal. Conclusions. The scientific novelty consists of a combined approach to the evaluation of the deformation of the rotor rim after restoring its shape, which includes elements of analytical mechanical calculation and calculation in a three-dimensional setting. The presented technology for the rotor restoration process meets European requirements.

Copolymer Brush Particle Hybrid Materials with "Recall-and-Repair" Capability.

The effect of sequence structure on the self-healing and shape-memory properties of copolymer-tethered brush particle films was investigated and compared to linear copolymer analogs. Poly(n-butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate), P(BA-co-MMA), and linear and brush analogs with controlled gradient and statistical sequence were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The effect of sequence on self-healing in BA/MMA copolymer brush particle hybrids followed similar trends as for linear analogs. Most rapid restoration of mechanical properties was found for statistical copolymer sequence; an increase of the high Tg (MMA) component provided a path to raise the material's modulus while retaining self-heal ability. Creep testing revealed profound differences between linear and brush systems. While linear copolymers featured substantial viscous deformation when exposed to constant stress in the linear regime, brush analogs displayed minimal permanent deformation and featured shape restoration. The reduction of flow was interpreted to be a consequence of slow cooperative relaxation due to the complex microstructure of brush particle hybrids in which long-range motions are constrained through entanglements and slow-diffusing particle cores. The rubbery-like response imparts BA/MMA copolymer brush material systems concurrent "shape-memory" and "self-heal" capability. This ability to "recall-and-repair" could find application in the design of functional hybrid materials, for example, for soft robotics.

The Auxetic Friction Cell: Towards programming strain rate dependency and energy dissipation into mechanical metamaterials

This work presents a dissipative mechanism for additively manufactured mechanical metamaterials. Metamaterials are lattice structures which possess mechanical properties governed by the geometry of their unit cell. The mechanism adds strain rate sensitivity to the metamaterial, even when the base material used to fabricate the metamaterial does not exhibit an intrinsic strain rate sensitivity. This is achieved by incorporating a friction mechanism into the unit cell geometry. The timescale characteristic for the friction process is different from the timescale at which the unit cell is deformed. Mechanical coupling of both time-scales leads to an overall time-dependent effect. To demonstrate the behaviour, experiments were performed on specimens manufactured from either plastic or metal: Strain rates between 0.001 s−1 and 0.1 s−1 were investigated and a significantly enhanced strain rate dependency was found. Furthermore, the dissipative capability and the restoration of the cell shape upon load removal, is demonstrated.

Microscale investigation of the anisotropic swelling of cartilage tissue and cells in response to hypo-osmotic challenges.

Tissue swelling represents an early sign of osteoarthritis, reflecting osmolarity changes from iso- to hypo-osmotic in the diseased joints. Increased tissue hydration may drive cell swelling. The opposing cartilages in a joint may swell differently, thereby predisposing the more swollen cartilage and cells to mechanical injuries. However, our understanding of the tissue-cell interdependence in osmotically loaded joints is limited as tissue and cell swellings have been studied separately. Here, we measured tissue and cell responses of opposing patellar (PAT) and femoral groove (FG) cartilages in lapine knees exposed to an extreme hypo-osmotic challenge. We found that the tissue matrix and most cells swelled during the hypo-osmotic challenge, but to a different extent (tissue: <3%, cells: 11%-15%). Swelling-induced tissue strains were anisotropic, showing 2%-4% stretch and 1%-2% compression along the first and third principal directions, respectively. These strains were amplified by 5-8 times in the cells. Interestingly, the first principal strains of tissue and cells occurred in different directions (60-61° for tissue vs. 8-13° for cells), suggesting different mechanisms causing volume expansion in the tissue and the cells. Instead of the continuous swelling observed in the tissue matrix, >88% of cells underwent regulatory volume decrease to return to their pre-osmotic challenge volumes. Cell shapes changed in the early phase of swelling but stayed constant thereafter. Kinematic changes to tissue and cells were larger for PAT cartilage than for FG cartilage. We conclude that the swelling-induced deformation of tissue and cells isanisotropic. Cells actively restored volume independent of the surrounding tissues and seemed to prioritize volume restoration over shape restoration. Our findings shed light on tissue-cell interdependence in changing osmotic environments that is crucial for cell mechano-transduction in swollen/diseased tissues.

Partially overlapped grain shape restoration of the granular rock images

This paper introduces a novel method for restoring each grain's original shape from an image of a granular rock sample whose grains partially overlap with each other. Image-based grain shape restoration provides a promising way to understand the generation of the rock that involves sedimentary and diagenesis processes. The difficulties of this task are: 1) how to effectively identify the region of each grain that is partially overlapped with its neighbor grains; and 2) how to recover the overlapped part of a grain based on the residual part. To solve the first problem, a differential erosion strategy that combines concave-points-constraint and pore-skeleton-extension-erosion is proposed to overcome the under-partitioning issue that popularly occurs in the current erosion-dilation grain partitioning method. To address the second problem, closed B-spline interpolation is applied to recover the original shape of the grains based on the partially presented grain edges. The proposed method successfully processed some synthetic and real granular rock images and presented a competent ability to deal with the moderately compressed granular rock samples consisting of relatively high-roundness grains that each grain can be treated as a convex polygon.

A novel shape restoration algorithm for Ultra-fast morphology perception system based on multiplexing FBG array

Here, we demonstrate an FBG-array-based ultra-fast shape perception system where a novel shape restoration algorithm is proposed and a time-stretch technology is used to fast interrogate the wavelengths of FBGs. In the proposed algorithm, the curvatures on points are converted to the corresponding bending radius and direction, therefore reconstructed to curves and surfaces. On the premise of ensuring better restoration effect, our algorithm has shorter time and smaller amount of data, which is more conducive to instrumentation and practical implementation. The simulation results show that the reconstruction errors are better than 5% under typical conditions. The shape sensing system is applied to detect the shape of a wing under both static and dynamic conditions, with relative errors of 3.10% under twisted tension and 4.85% under uniform tension, which experimentally proves that the system can realize ultra-fast shape sensing with a sensing rate of more than 500 kHz.

Monitoring biodiversity loss in rapidly changing Afrotropical ecosystems: an emerging imperative for governance and research.

Africa is experiencing extensive biodiversity loss due to rapid changes in the environment, where natural resources constitute the main instrument for socioeconomic development and a mainstay source of livelihoods for an increasing population. Lack of data and information deficiency on biodiversity, but also budget constraints and insufficient financial and technical capacity, impede sound policy design and effective implementation of conservation and management measures. The problem is further exacerbated by the lack of harmonized indicators and databases to assess conservation needs and monitor biodiversity losses. We review challenges with biodiversity data (availability, quality, usability and database access) as a key limiting factor that impacts funding and governance. We also evaluate the drivers of both ecosystems change and biodiversity loss as a central piece of knowledge to develop and implement effective policies. While the continent focuses more on the latter, we argue that the two are complementary in shaping restoration and management solutions. We thus underscore the importance of establishing monitoring programmes focusing on biodiversity-ecosystem linkages in order to inform evidence-based decisions in ecosystem conservation and restoration in Africa. This article is part of the theme issue 'Detecting and attributing the causes of biodiversity change: needs, gaps and solutions'.

UV-B-induced modulation of constitutive heterochromatin content in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Sunlight regulates transcriptional programs and triggers the shaping of the genome throughout plant development. Among the different sunlight wavelengths that reach the surface of the Earth, UV-B (280-315nm) controls the expression of hundreds of genes for the photomorphogenic responses and also induces the formation of photodamage that interfere with genome integrity and transcriptional programs. The combination of cytogenetics and deep-learning-based analyses allowed determining the location of UV-B-induced photoproducts and quantifying the effects of UV-B irradiation on constitutive heterochromatin content in different Arabidopsis natural variants acclimated to various UV-B regimes. We identified that UV-B-induced photolesions are enriched within chromocenters. Furthermore, we uncovered that UV-B irradiation promotes constitutive heterochromatin dynamics that differs among the Arabidopsis ecotypes having divergent heterochromatin contents. Finally, we identified that the proper restoration of the chromocenter shape, upon DNA repair, relies on the UV-B photoreceptor, UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8). These findings shed the light on the effect of UV-B exposure and perception in the modulation of constitutive heterochromatin content in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Mechanical origin of shape memory performance for crosslinked epoxy networks

The mechanical principle of microstructural change governing the shape formation and restoration process of shape memory epoxy (SME) was analyzed on a subcontinuum scale. A series of processes to program and operate the microstructure of highly crosslinked networks across the phase transition temperature range was implemented in molecular dynamics simulations. This elucidated the mechanisms by which the chemical composition of resins and crosslinkers, the degree of orientation of each chain, and the topology of the entire network characterize the shape memory behavior of the system. The strategy for analyzing the mechanical behavior of molecules by classifying them into translation, rotation, and deformation based on the classical kinematic framework was particularly effective in clarifying the structure–property relationship. The results showed that, during the shape programming process, each molecular component of the SME was rearranged to different levels depending on its stiffness, forming local residual stresses. The principle leading to shape recovery as the subsequent thermal load removes residual stress and the resulting change in the mechanical anisotropy of the entire system were also successfully comprehended.

A Case Report of Zygomatic Fracture Reconstruction: Evaluation with Orbital Measurements and Models Registration

The repair and reconstruction of defects in the craniomaxillofacial region can be particularly challenging due to the complex anatomy, individuality of each defect, and sensitivity of the involved systems. This study aims to enhance the facial appearance and contribute to the reconstruction of the zygomatic arch. This was achieved through virtual planning of the surgery and assessment of clinical matching, including orbital measurements and registration of numerical models. A three-dimensional design of a young female case was generated on a skull model using Mimics® software, and the orbit was isolated using 3-Matic® to assess the reconstructive effect. 3D-printed implants were then surgically placed on the injured region, and Netfabb® software was used to make a virtual registration between the numerical models before and after the intervention. This allowed for the calculation of a deviation of 7 mm, equivalent to 86.23% of the shape restoration rate, to assess the success of the surgery. The computerized method enabled a precise design of the needed plates and analysis of the fixation places, resulting in a satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcome for the patient with minimal complications and good implant stability. Notably, a significant difference was observed in the orbital frontal area after 3 months of surgery (p &lt; 0.001). Within the limitations of the study, these results suggest that virtual planning and customized titanium implants can serve as useful tools in the management of complex zygomatic-orbital injuries.

Remotely sensed environmental data as ecological proxies for ground‐dwelling ant diversity along a subtropical forest succession gradient

Abstract Early naturalists such as Humboldt observed that changes in topography and anthropogenic disturbances influenced vegetation structure and the composition of animal communities. This holistic view of community assembly continues to shape conservation and restoration strategies in an era of landscape degradation and biodiversity loss. Today, remote sensing affords ecologists the tools for obtaining rapid and precise measures of topography, disturbance history and vegetation structure. Nonetheless, the capacity of such measures to predict the structure of diverse and functionally important insect communities has not been fully explored. We sampled ground‐dwelling ant assemblages with pitfall traps along a successional gradient (15 grasslands, 21 shrublands and 44 forests) in subtropical Asia, and measured the taxonomic (TD) and functional diversity (FD). We used airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and aerial photography—to measure topography, anthropogenic‐fire history and vegetation structure at each site. Using structural equation models, we tested the hypothesis that vegetation structure mediated the effects of topography and anthropogenic‐fire history on ant assemblage TD and FD, with stronger effects on the latter. We found that low elevation and anthropogenic‐fire history promoted ant TD, and by mediating vegetation structure, these factors further controlled ant FD. Specifically, assemblages of ant species occupying more similar niches—as indicated by their lower FD—were found in secondary forests that had more structurally homogeneous vegetation. These sites also had low insolation and high water moisture content, and were not recently burned as revealed by LiDAR‐derived metrics and aerial images. Furthermore, remotely sensed vegetation structures were closely associated with individual ant traits, such as body size and eye length, which reflect species' preferences for habitat structure. Synthesis. Our study uncovers the interactive effects of topography, disturbance history and vegetation structure in determining the TD and FD of ant assemblages in subtropical landscapes. Moreover, it demonstrates that remote sensed data can be leveraged to efficiently elucidate the complex effects of environmental change and disturbances on vegetation structure and consequently insect biodiversity, representing ecological proxies to refine ground investigation plans and support appropriate conservation and restoration measures for degraded landscapes.

Sequential restoration of Paradox Basin salt anticlines: Reconstruction of younger, eroded datums

Structural restoration is often accomplished by taking a folded, faulted stratigraphic horizon and transforming it back to its original, horizontal geometry. 2D sequential restoration uses a range of older to younger stratigraphic datums to reconstruct the geometric evolution of structural features through a history of multiple deformation events. For surface geology exposures, erosion may have eliminated some portions of younger horizons; these eroded gaps in stratigraphy can be mended using thickness trends to bridge the gaps. If a horizon has been fully exhumed, reconstruction of the missing stratigraphy can be inferred from burial history indicators in older, preserved units and from regional bridging from surrounding, less uplifted areas. In the Paradox Basin, late Cenozoic uplift of the Colorado Plateau has removed 1–2 km of Upper Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary stratigraphic units. Previous structural restorations have followed the structural evolution of the salt anticlines contained in the Paradox Basin from the late Paleozoic deposition of the salt-bearing Paradox Formation to end Jurassic deposition of the Morrison Formation. Yet, significant faulting and folding events continued through the Cretaceous and Tertiary. In order to capture the development of these structural features, this study reconstructs an inferred picture of the missing Upper Cretaceous and Lower Tertiary stratigraphy for Paleocene and mid-Eocene datums. Three Paradox Basin sections give an interpreted structural deformation of the salt anticlines for the Laramide event that affected much of the nearby Colorado Plateau and central Rocky Mountains. Restoration of unfaulted fold shapes show an early and very modest contractional shortening; interpreted Laramide fold amplification of the salt anticlines (∼100–150 m shortening per anticline) is followed by a later and more significant normal faulted extension (∼500 m extension per anticline). Both contraction and extension are detached from subjacent basement (= sub-Paradox) involvement. Location of basement shortening/stretching is beyond the extent of the interpreted sections and may lie within the structural features at the margins of the Paradox Basin.

Yttrium aluminum garnet-based filler resin composites used as clear aligner attachments.

The objective of this study was to develop a novel resin composite containing yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12, YAG) nanoparticles for clear aligner attachments. After the silanization of YAG, their Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses were performed. By conducting flexural and compressive strength measurements, the optimal YAG concentration was selected for the subsequent experiments. Next, Vickers microhardness values, fluidities, attachment volumes, conversion degrees, and volumetric shrinkages of the resin were determined. The obtained FT-IR and TG results revealed that γ-methacryloxypropy ltrimethoxysilane coupling agent was successfully grafted onto the surface of YAG, which enabled their use as inorganic fillers. Furthermore, adding 9 wt% YAG in the resin can increase Vickers hardness and fluidity, reduce polymerization shrinkage, and enhance the restoration of the clear aligner attachment shape on the premise of guarantee proper flexural and compressive strength of the resin, which can help control tooth movement and increase orthodontic efficiency.

Superelastic and Ultralight Aerogel Assembled from Hemp Microfibers

AbstractAerogels with both high elastic strain and fast shape recovery after compression have broad application potentials as thermal regulation, absorbents, and electrical devices. However, creating such aerogels from cellulosic materials requires complicated preparation processes. Herein, a simple strategy for scalable production of hemp microfibers using a top‐down method is reported, which can further be assembled into aerogels with interconnected porous structures via ice‐templating technique. With density as low as 2.1 mg cm−3, these aerogels demonstrate isotropic superelasticity, as exhibited by their fast shape restoration from over 80% compressive strain. Due to the high porosity (99.87%) and structural tortuosity, these aerogels show a low thermal conductivity of 0.0215 ± 0.0002 W m−1 K−1, suggesting their potential in thermal insulation application. Certain hydrophobic modification using silane derivative further endows these aerogels with reduced water affinity. Overall, the proposed strategy to prepare bio‐based microfibers using scalable technology, as well as the assembled aerogels, provides new insights into the design and fabrication of multifunctional bio‐based aerogels for value‐added applications.

Light-induced ordering of nanodomains in lithium tantalate as a result of multiple scanning by IR laser irradiation

The ordering of a light-induced structure of isolated circular ferroelectric nanodomains was discovered in lithium tantalate crystals under multiple scanning by infrared laser irradiation. The effect was considered as domain arising and growth under the action of alternating in sign pyroelectric field arising during sample heating and subsequent cooling. The circular domains appeared due to 1D to 2D shape transformation after the second scan and grew during subsequent scanning by merging with arising domains accompanied by shape restoration. The ordering of the domain pattern during multiple scanning characterized by an increase in the peak of the autocorrelation function was attributed to domain interaction. This mechanism was confirmed by computer simulation using the kinetic approach based on the analogy between the growth of domains and crystals. It was demonstrated that the quasi-regular pattern of one-size circular domains could be created by scanning with shift. The discovered domain ordering effect is similar to that in magnetic materials.

High-throughput instance segmentation and shape restoration of overlapping vegetable seeds based on sim2real method

The high-throughput measurement of morphological parameters for seeds is an essential procedure in vegetable phenotyping. This study drew on sim2real thought to design a novel image simulation method based on multi-feature randomization to synthesize simulated images and generate labels automatically. The Mask R-CNN model was optimized based on seed characteristics to improve the segmentation performance of small vegetable seeds. The optimized Mask R-CNN models trained on simulated datasets achieved superior segmentation performance on real-world datasets, and AP@[0.5:0.95] reached more than 0.85. Furthermore, the Mask R-CNN models had a satisfactory performance in the shape restoration of occluded seeds, and AP@[0.5:0.95] were 0.81, 0.79, and 0.80 for eggplant, tomato, and pepper seeds, respectively. The combination of sim2real and Mask R-CNN realized high-throughput instance segmentation and shape restoration of overlapping vegetable seeds, and it could be used as an alternative for vegetable seed phenotyping.

Production and characterisation of modularly deuterated UBE2D1–Ub conjugate by small angle neutron and X-ray scattering

This structural study exploits the possibility to use modular protein deuteration to facilitate the study of ubiquitin signalling, transfer, and modification. A protein conjugation reaction is used to combine protonated E2 enzyme with deuterated ubiquitin for small angle X-ray and neutron scattering with neutron contrast variation. The combined biomolecules stay as a monodisperse system during data collection in both protonated and deuterated buffers indicating long stability of the E2–Ub conjugate. With multiphase ab initio shape restoration and rigid body modelling, we reconstructed the shape of a E2–Ub-conjugated complex of UBE2D1 linked to ubiquitin via an isopeptide bond. Solution X-ray and neutron scattering data for this E2–Ub conjugate in the absence of E3 jointly indicate an ensemble of open and backbent states, with a preference for the latter in solution. The approach of combining protonated and labelled proteins can be used for solution studies to assess localization and movement of ubiquitin and could be widely applied to modular Ub systems in general.