Sill Height Research Articles

5-year Long-term Outcome of Unilateral Cleft Rhinoplasty in Patients with Secondary Nasal Deformity: Optimal Indication of Tajima Technique.

This study aimed to investigate the timing of and indications for the Tajima reverse U incision for correcting secondary unilateral cleft nasal deformities. Non-syndromic patients with secondary cleft lip and nasal deformity who received Tajima reverse-U incision rhinoplasty were grouped by age (4-13 years, n=56;13-18 years, n=22; >18 years, n=18) and severity of deformity (mild deformity, n=7; moderate deformity=22; severity deformity=67) during 5-year follow-up. Face-Q assessment, a rating scale, and nasal symmetry measurements were employed in this study. Ninety-six patients completed the FACE-Q assessment for the nose and nostril. The results showed higher satisfaction with nostril appearance 1-week after surgery (85.95±13.01) compared with pre-operation (79.72±11.89) and maintained 5-year follow-up (82.61±14.06). Significant differences were observed in five nasal parameters (nasal height ratio, one-fourth media part of nostril height ratio, nasal sill height ratio, columellar angle, and inner nostril height-to-width ratio (cleft)) for 1-week postoperatively and the corrected outcome of the Tajima technique was maintained 5 years after surgery in aged 4-13 years group. The same statistically significant changes were found in nasal sill height ratio in mild deformity group and nostril width ratio, one-fourth media part of nostril height ratio, columellar angle, and inner nostril height-to-width ratio (cleft) in moderate deformity group. The Tajima procedure was beneficial for preadolescent children and children with mild to moderate unilateral cleft nasal deformities.

Geometry Optimization of Industry Buildings for Energy-Driven Design Development in Bangladesh

Even though the manufacturing industry consumes roughly 54% of total available energy globally, little consideration has been devoted to optimizing energy in the early stages of industry design, particularly in densely populated cities. With the increased demand for green buildings, energy performance has a greater influence on design results. As a result, this paper provides an envelope optimization technique that can assist architects and computational designers in analyzing the environmental performance of various alternatives and developing optimal design solutions, especially for Bangladesh and the building of these regions. First, an existing industrial site in Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital was chosen as a case study, and a hypothetical industry building, as well as its surroundings, were parametrically developed. Then, for the optimization method, the design factors linked to the building envelopes were chosen. Finally, a Multi-objective Optimization (MOO) procedure was utilized for defining performance measures including daylighting, energy and comfort measures, UDI, EUI, and PPD. According to the MOO results, the UDI may be enhanced by 25.286% as compared to the least favorable scenario. Consequently, the EUI may decreased by 38.718 kWh/m2 while the PPD can be increased by 41.78%. The geometric configuration of East, West, North, and South played a significant role when designing the industrial building. According to the analysis, the geometric configuration of a South WWR of 50%, a West WWR of 30%, an East WWR of 70%, and a sill height of 0.75m is the most feasible option. A statistical analysis of design factors and performance measures demonstrated that the window-to-wall ratio, particularly on south walls, has the greatest impact on industrial building design in densely populated areas. The proposed approach is expected to be used by architects and municipal planners to develop design metrics based on simulation results.

Stratigraphic and paleoceanographic alternations within a Mediterranean semi-enclosed, syn-rift basin during Marine Isotope Stage 5: The Gulf of Corinth, Greece

The Gulf of Corinth represents an ideal setting for studying the impact of sea level changes and regional climate on a semi-enclosed, syn-rift basin. Here we investigate the stratigraphic and paleoceanographic variability recorded in the sedimentary succession of the basin over the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 period when global sea level and climatic conditions along the eastern Mediterranean exhibited pronounced fluctuations. We used sedimentological (granulometry, composition), micropaleontological (planktic and benthic foraminifera), and isotopic (stable δ18O, δ13C, and clumped isotope) proxies on core samples from site M0079A (IODP Expedition 381) combined with additional data from the expedition overview and records from the surrounding area. The sedimentary succession comprises an alternating pattern of a) bioturbated, biogenic-rich deposits associated with increased hemipelagic sedimentation with b) partly bedded, detrital-rich sediments attributed to intercalated sediment gravity flows within the hemipelagic background under low oxic sea-surface conditions, and c) aragonite-rich laminated deposits, indicating either transitional conditions between marine and isolated environment or a highly stratified seawater column and low oxygen seafloor conditions. We find that the Gulf of Corinth lay under marine conditions for nearly the entire MIS 5 period, while the Rion sill would have been possibly shallower, even 10 m, than the current depth. Nevertheless, water exchange was restricted during the MIS 5a – MIS 4 transition when the sea level fluctuated very close to the sill height. The hydrological conditions within the Gulf during most of the highstands MIS 5a, 5c, and 5e reflect higher oxygen levels and/or increased nutrient availability compared to the Holocene and present-day regime. The combined effects of Ionian Sea inflows and enhanced riverine runoff led to increased water column stratification and low oxygen, eutrophic seafloor conditions in the Gulf of Corinth during times of high precipitation in southern Europe and deposition of sapropels S3, S4, and S5 throughout the eastern Mediterranean. In contrast, during periods of widespread cold and arid conditions in the eastern Mediterranean, water column mixing was intense within the Gulf. Prevalent marine conditions are also proposed during the MIS 5b and 5d lowstands, yet associated with predominately bedded-detrital sediments in the Gulf. A complementary investigation in the adjoining Patras Gulf is suggested to fully comprehend the dynamics of climate and sea level changes in complex rift systems.

Water renewal and stratification modelling in small estuaries

Water renewal and flushing in small, intermittently open or closed estuaries is receiving increasing attention particularly in light of the climate change induced alterations in run-off, wave and sediment transport conditions along coasts. The challenges of predicting the stratification-circulation state and the balance between tidal or freshwater flushing in response to the mouth dynamics of small, wave-dominated estuaries is the focus of the paper. Such predictions are required for determining estuary freshwater requirements or establishing an estuary's capacity to maintain sound water quality under pollutant discharges. Advances in simulating changes in stratification-circulation over long time scales are limited. Instead attention has focused on generating indices of stratification or water quality state using heuristic methods. In this paper, systems dynamics modelling is applied to simulate the non-linear response of the estuary to changes in river and marine water fluxes. The estuary is modelled as a basin with a specified water volume to water level relationship, connected to the sea by a channel with variable sill height, but fixed width. The direction and magnitude of the flow through the mouth determines whether the sill height erodes or accretes and hence the mouth dynamics (see Slinger, 2017). The tidal flux through the mouth co-determines the volumetric exchange of salt, influencing both the stratification state of the estuary and the degree of tidal or freshwater flushing. This is also influenced by run-off. The resulting dynamic balance is captured in two bulk indices, the Estuarine Richardson number and the bulk densimetric Froude number. Using measured data from the Great Brak Estuary, South Africa, the model is calibrated. Model simulations demonstrate the importance of tidal flushing and concomitant mouth breaching for water renewal as freshwater flushing declines under scenarios of increased water abstraction. Although the estuary remains partially mixed, there is increased average salinity and a more uniform the water column. Water releases and mouth breaching bring about a more natural stratification-circulation state, but these effects are short-lived.

Multi-objective optimization for visual, thermal, and cooling energy performance of building envelope design in the composite climate of Jaipur (India)

Climate-responsive passive envelope features such as windows, louvers, and shading have significant impact on a building's energy and economic performance. This paper presents a multi-objective optimization (MOO) approach to enhance energy, visual and thermal performances of a building by considering a wide range of numerous design possibilities. A residential apartment building located in a semi-arid composite climate (Köppen climate classification: Bsh) of Jaipur, India is considered for the analysis. The multi-objective optimization approach involves three steps: firstly, developing a base simulation model using Rhinoceros software, and then performing multi-objective optimization by Octopus plugin, and finally applying multi-criteria decision-making to select the optimal values of thermal conductivity, window-to-wall ratio of south and west façades, solar heat gain coefficient, visual light transmittance, window sill height, louvers depth, distance between slits, slits angle, external shade depth, and shade (slits) count. The optimized results reported a six-fold Useful Daylight Illuminance (UDI) improvement, 72% cooling energy demand reduction, and 34% thermal comfort enhancement from the worst-case scenario. The presented approach can aid designers in selecting optimal envelope features during building design, refurbishment, and renovation or for green field development.

Effect of Parameters of Ditch Geometry on the Uniformity of Water Filling in Ship Lock Chambers

The design of ditch structures in ship locks has an important influence on reducing water flow energy, improving the uniformity of water filling in lock chambers, and reducing the force acting on mooring ships. Existing studies on the mechanisms of flow fields and mooring conditions under the influence of geometric structural changes in ditches are insufficient, and research is limited by the complexity of the problem. Based on OpenFOAM v8, a numerical simulation of the flow structure in a lock chamber was carried out. Taking into account the ditch width, ditch depth, and sill height of the side wall as the research variables, the influence of structural changes in four single ditches on the uniformity of water filling in the lock chamber is systematically discussed. The results show that under a complex boundary constraint, the flow is diffuse in the ditch and the lock chamber, and the filling of the lock chamber is not uniform. The uniformity of water filling is closely related to the arrangement of the ditch geometry. Through the comprehensive analysis of multiple factors, some parameter thresholds were obtained to provide theoretical guidance for ditch design. It is hoped that through improved design, allowing an increase in the uniformity of water filling, the lock chamber will reach a relatively optimal state.

Hydraulic characteristics of a sluice gate over a broad-crested weir

Vertical sluice gates are commonly used to control and measure flow in irrigation and drainage networks. To reduce their size and associated maintenance and operation costs, they are sometimes installed above broad-crested weirs. To explore the effects of the installation location of the sluice gate and the sill height on the hydrodynamic characteristics of the flow passing through the sluice-gated weir, six laboratory models were tested. The 427 and 449 data points included both free- and submerged-flow conditions, respectively. Analytical relationships were developed for the contraction, head-loss, and Henry's (1950) discharge coefficients. Based on the maximization of the discharge and contraction coefficients and the minimization of the head-loss coefficient, results suggest that a gate should be installed at a distance of L/2 (where L is the sill length) from the upstream end of the weir crest, and the height of 1.25Hd (where Hd is the water depth as referenced from the weir sill elevation) is the optimal height for the weir. By conducting experiments and constructing correlations for determining the contraction and head-loss coefficients under free flow conditions, the average values of these coefficients for the laboratory models were obtained as 0.664 and 0.133, respectively. Applying the average contraction and head-loss coefficients to the developed relationship for estimating the free and submerged discharge coefficients resulted in an error of 4% and 6%, respectively. WinGate alpha 0.2 software was used to estimate the experimental free and submerged discharge coefficient of the gated weir with an average error of 5.4% and 12.7%, respectively. It was done without any consideration of the cross-section shape of the weir or the location of the gate on the weir sill. In addition, an inspection of the submergence threshold of the gated weir showed an increase in the submergence threshold when the gate was moved further downstream from the upstream end of the sill.

Daylight performance analysis of a residential building in a tropical climate

The present study investigates the effects of visible light transmittance in glazing and window-to-wall ratios on the ground floor daylighting performance in a two-storey residential building in a warm-humid climate. The metrics used to optimize daylighting performance with minimal glare are useful daylight illuminance, annual sunlight exposure, and spatial daylight autonomy. The daylighting performance of a residential building is assessed by empirical method and Design-Builder simulation, focusing on overcast sky situations. The useful daylight illuminance is the primary metric for analysing the amount of daylight throughout the year. Annual sunlight exposure and spatial daylight autonomy complement useful daylight illuminance in evaluating the daylighting performance. A window-to-wall ratio of 16%, a visible light transmittance of 0.62, and a glare of 0.52 can meet the daylighting requirements and standards. A design change in the window position helps to obtain annual sunlight exposure within 10% while maintaining high daylighting performance. When installed in the upper position of the wall with a higher sill and lintel height, glazing with a window-to-wall ratio of 16% and a visible light transmittance of 0.62 functions well without creating glare. The significant findings benefit all stakeholders in improving daylighting strategies in tropical climates and satisfying building standards.

"Strategic Application of Anatomical Subunit Approximation Technique for Correction of Complete Unilateral Cleft lip".

To discuss advantages, disadvantages and strategical application of anatomical subunit approximation technique in complete unilateral cleft lip repair. Analysis of consecutive 28 cases. A single surgeon experience at a university hospital. Among 77 patients who underwent cleft lip repair between May 5, 2019 and June 30, 2021, 28 patients with complete unilateral cleft lip who received cheiloplasty by author's technique. Surgical outcomes were assessed by frontal view medical photographs obtained postoperatively at follow-up visits. The average length difference between cleft and noncleft sides was <10% for transverse lip length and philtral height. Nostril sill height demonstrated about twenty percent of difference with much variable results. Although the one sample t-test revealed that differences exist between the cleft and noncleft side, they were within an acceptable range. Understanding the strengths and limitations of anatomical subunit approximation technique enabled strategic application in complete unilateral cleft lip repair. Satisfactory outcomes were achieved not only regarding the scar placement but also regarding the symmetry of the lips and augmentation of nasal sill.

Numerical study for the computation of critical submergence for side circular intake under uniform flow

This paper discusses a numerical model study for the simulation of flow characteristics and critical submergence for a laterally placed horizontal circular bottom intake under uniform flow. The proposed model simulates the free surface using the volume of fluid model to check the vortex formation at critical submergence. A new combined approach using phase volume fraction and swirl strength-based vortex identification mechanism is used to compute the critical submergence. The swirl strength-based vortex identification mechanism can show the vortex tube in approach flow with swirl generated at the free surface due to the axial flow withdrawal through side bottom intake at critical submergence. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model results were validated using experimental data, which showed a maximum error of less than ±10% in the prediction of the critical submergence. The effect of significant parameters like intake and approach flow Froude number and sill height of intake on the critical submergence is discussed. The results of this study help practitioners to adopt CFD-based numerical modelling for the design of water intakes instead of entirely relying on physical model studies, which require more finance and time.

Impact of Window Design on Dynamic Daylight Performance in an Office Building in Iran

Window design affects the building's appearance. Besides, it has a significant impact on daylight performance and the visual comfort of interior spaces. Therefore, choosing the shape and position of windows can be a challenge for architects. This research aims to investigate the impact of window design on dynamic daylight performance to enhance visual comfort. The research examines five common window shapes that are located in two different positions on the southern-facing side. The most common dynamic daylight metrics of LEED v4.1 were used to investigate the spatial daylight autonomy (sDA), and annual sunlight exposure (ASE). Furthermore, useful daylight illuminance (UDI) was considered a complementary approach to assess useful daylight levels. The metrics are examined in three cities including Mashhad, Isfahan, and Bandar Abbas, which are located in the northeast, center, and south of Iran, respectively. Thirty simulations in each city are conducted by Grasshopper Graphical editor as a parametric interface and its plugins, ladybug, and honeybee for dynamic daylight analysis. The results emphasize that window design has a significant impact on dynamic daylight performance. The square window meets the LEED needs in three cities by achieving maximum sDA and minimum ASE by up to 68.8% and 20% in both positions, respectively. Moreover, the centrally positioned square window presents the lowest ASE level of 14.4% among other cases. However, the windows in a higher position, especially horizontal windows obtain the highest values of sDA, UDI, and ASE by up to 77%, 59%, and 30%, respectively. Therefore, the ASE rates deteriorate by increasing the sill height and head height of windows. This paper can provide window design recommendations based on the comparison of dynamic daylight metrics for five common window shapes.

Hydrodynamic Variability of an Intermittently Closed Estuary over Interannual, Seasonal, Fortnightly, and Tidal Timescales

AbstractSmall low-inflow intermittently closed estuaries are common in Mediterranean climates worldwide; however, despite their important contributions to ecosystem services and coastal resilience, their dynamics have been less well studied relative to classical (i.e., deeper, persistent freshwater inflow) estuaries. It is known that infragravity wave propagation into these estuaries can induce strong currents and that closures lead to stagnating flows and declining water quality; however, how the estuarine circulation (tidal and subtidal) dynamically drives and responds to these conditions remains largely unknown. Here we analyze over 4 years of hydrodynamic observations in Los Peñasquitos Lagoon, a low-inflow, intermittently closed estuary in Southern California, to examine wave propagation into the estuary, sill accretion, and the estuarine circulation response over tidal, fortnightly, seasonal, and interannual time scales, providing an unprecedented view as to how these systems respond to changing forcing. Wave observations near the estuary inlet show that wave energy inside the inlet, which contributes to sill accretion, is dependent on water level relative to the sill height and has a tidal variation due to wave-current interactions. Tidal phase averages of conditions during open, pre-closure, spring, neap, and closed conditions highlight the large dynamic range that these estuaries experience. During open, low sill conditions, circulation and stratification are consistent with stratification-induced periodic straining and subtidal exchange varies with the fortnightly cycle as observed in many classical estuaries. However, as the sill grows, tidal circulation weakens and becomes strongly sheared and the subtidal exchange no longer scales with a classical theoretical pressure-friction balance.

Numerical Experiments Applying Simple Kriging to Intermittent and Log-Normal Data

This study evaluates the effect of considering data intermittency and log-normality in applications of simple Kriging. Several sets of synthetic data, both intermittent and log-normal, were prepared for this purpose, and then four different Kriging applications were repeated with these synthetic data under different assumptions of data intermittency and log-normality. The effects of these assumptions on the simple Kriging applications were evaluated and compared with each other. As a result, it was found that the derived correlation length of a variogram becomes longer when considering both data intermittency and log-normality, and the sill height becomes smaller when data intermittency is high. The data field generated by simple Kriging was also closer to the original data when considering both data intermittency and log-normality. In the application to rain rate data, the effect of considering data intermittency was confirmed. However, the effect of considering data log-normality was found to be vague. The general assumption of log-normality in relation to the rain rate data seems not to be so valid, at least not for the rain rate data considered in this study.

Parametric optimization procedure for efficient window design of educational buildings in the Pearl River Delta of China

Abstract Windows are responsible for the largest amount of energy loss related to building envelope. Past studies on the energy consumption of windows have mainly focused on residential and commercial buildings, while few studies have explored the energy consumption of windows in educational buildings. The sizes and locations of classroom windows affect not only the building energy consumption but also the indoor environment quality, which is an issue that needs to be balanced. This paper takes a classroom in Guangzhou as the object. Under the premise of meeting the lighting standards of the classroom, two parameters—window height and sill height —were simulated in different corridors of north–south and east–west classrooms to analyse the impact of their changes on the indoor environment as well as energy consumption based on the parametric platform Grasshopper and its plug-ins Ladybug and Honeybee. The energy consumption of a number of fenestration combinations on both sides of the classroom was optimized automatically by genetic algorithm, and the sizes and positions of windows that benefitted energy savings were obtained. In the best case ~16.6% of energy consumed in a whole year can be saved compared with the worst case. This conclusion can provide a quick decision-making process for the design of window shapes for the purpose of energy savings in the early design stage of educational buildings in the Pearl River Delta such that energy savings can be quickly and clearly guaranteed in the subsequent window configuration.

Optimum Characteristics of Windows in an Office Building in Isfahan for Save Energy and Preserve Visual Comfort

Nowadays, the use of renewable energies has increased due to the energy crisis and subsequent environmental issues. The window design significantly affects energy consumption and natural light absorption regarding preventing visual discomfort and improving indoor quality with effective external features. Hence, it should be carefully selected from the early stages of design. Thus, the present study investigated the optimal design of windows considering four components of the window-to-wall ratio (WWR), window shape, and positioning on each façade by separately considering the sill height of the window for a general office. The objective was to provide visual comfort and save energy. Applying constraints to the data set can yield an optimization method concerning the variables and their relationship as well as optimal solutions based on the stated goals. Therefore, the desired groups can be accepted as optimal solutions for improving the efficiency of the building. According to the results, the WWR of 30% with the square and horizontal shapes in the upper and central positions were optimal solutions for each window orientation, which had better performance in the north-facing WWR of 40%. Furthermore, several best design solutions were presented in each orientation in terms of energy consumption, daylighting, and visual comfort in the indoor environment. This method also allows the designer to visualize all the data while finding the clients’ desired option by improving the energy efficiency between the variables and choosing the appropriate solution.

Experimental study and modeling of hydraulic jump for a suddenly expanding stilling basin using different hybrid algorithms

Abstract Hydraulic jump is a highly important phenomenon for dissipation of energy. This event, which involves flow regime change, can occur in many different types of stilling basins. In this study, hydraulic jump characteristics such as relative jump length and sequent depth ratio occurring in a suddenly expanding stilling basin were estimated using hybrid extreme learning machine (ELM). To hybridize ELM, imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA), firefly algorithm (FA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) metaheuristic algorithms were implemented. In addition, six different models were established to determine effective dimensionless (relative) input variables. A new data set was constructed by adding the data obtained from the experimental study in the present research to the data obtained from the literature. The performance of each model was evaluated using k-fold cross-validation. Results showed that ICA hybridization slightly outperformed FA and PSO methods. Considering relative input parameters, Froude number (Fr), expansion ratio (B) and relative sill height (S), effective input combinations were Fr–B–S and Fr–B for the prediction of the sequent depth ratio (Y) and relative hydraulic jump length (Lj/h1), respectively.

Geometric Constraints on Glacial Fjord–Shelf Exchange

AbstractThe oceanic connections between tidewater glaciers and continental shelf waters are modulated and controlled by geometrically complex fjords. These fjords exhibit both overturning circulations and horizontal recirculations, driven by a combination of water mass transformation at the head of the fjord, variability on the continental shelf, and atmospheric forcing. However, it remains unclear which geometric and forcing parameters are the most important in exerting control on the overturning and horizontal recirculation. To address this, idealized numerical simulations are conducted using an isopycnal model of a fjord connected to a continental shelf, which is representative of regions in Greenland and the West Antarctic Peninsula. A range of sensitivity experiments demonstrate that sill height, wind direction/strength, subglacial discharge strength, and depth of offshore warm water are of first-order importance to the overturning circulation, while fjord width is also of leading importance to the horizontal recirculation. Dynamical predictions are developed and tested for the overturning circulation of the entire shelf-to-glacier-face domain, subdivided into three regions: the continental shelf extending from the open ocean to the fjord mouth, the sill overflow at the fjord mouth, and the plume-driven water mass transformation at the fjord head. A vorticity budget is also developed to predict the strength of the horizontal recirculation, which provides a scaling in terms of the overturning and bottom friction. Based on these theories, we may predict glacial melt rates that take into account overturning and recirculation, which may be used to refine estimates of ocean-driven melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets.

Influência do peitoril de janelas na luz natural e visão de céu em enfermarias

A configuração das janelas pode influenciar na luminosidade do ambiente e na comunicação visual de pacientes com o meio exterior. Para o bom aproveitamento dos benefícios da janela em ambientes hospitalares é importante verificar a contribuição da altura do peitoril. Esta pesquisa investiga a influência do peitoril no desempenho luminoso e na visão de céu em enfermarias hospitalares na cidade de Maceió, Alagoas. O objeto empírico compreende seis enfermarias femininas com mesmo desenho de janelas, mas com posição vertical e orientação distintas. Foi feita uma análise comparativa entre duas posições verticais da janela: alta e baixa, por meio de simulação computacional usando o software TropLux. Os resultados mostram que nos espaços analisados há ocorrência de desconforto devido ao excesso de luz natural, especialmente de luz direta do céu e do sol, causando ofuscamento. A falta de protetores solares nas aberturas faz com que haja grande quantidade de luz dentro do ambiente hospitalar, que é menos expressiva nas enfermarias que têm janelas voltadas para o vazio interno da edificação.

Morphological Classification of Nostrils and the Role of Sill Augmentation.

Nostril sill asymmetry is one of the most challenging problems in rhinoplasty. Some studies have been performed regarding nostril shape; however, no studies have been conducted on nostril shape in the Persian population. Additionally, the shape of the nostril in frontal view has rarely been evaluated. This study has two aims. The first is to evaluate nostril shape in Persian patientswho were candidates for primary rhinoplasty in basal and frontal views. The second is to assess augmentation silloplasty in patients with different sill heights to resolve nostril asymmetry. This research was performed in two phases. The first phase was a cross-sectional study carried out on the deidentified photographs of 122 patients nominated for rhinoplasty surgery at the facial plastic clinic of a tertiary university hospital. The second phase of the research was an interventional study without a control group consisting of 22 patients. The subjects were categorized as Phase 1. Next, an attempt was made to symmetrize nostril heights by sill augmentation surgery. One year after silloplasty surgical outcome was evaluated by measuring the differences in sill heights. In the first phase, classification was performed of the nostril shapes of the patients using two views: frontal and basal. Morphologic study has revealed that there are two types of nostrils in the frontal view and three types in the basal view. In the second phase of this research, augmentation silloplasty was employed for the correction of asymmetric sill heights between the right and left sides. The results show that the height differences in the two sills decreased by 44.26% one year after surgery compared to before surgery (CI: 95%, range - 20.59 to - 67.93), which is statistically significant (p = 0.0002) CONCLUSIONS: Classification of nasal base and nostrils relying on visual inspection is still an important tool for clinical evaluation and communication among physicians. This classification is also crucial in selecting the proper method for correcting nasal base asymmetry. Augmentation silloplasty can help surgeons correct nostril asymmetry due to sill height discrepancy. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Effect of distance above-ground on fungal colonization of blackgum and red oak ties during air-seasoning

ABSTRACT The effects of distance above ground on fungal colonization during air-seasoning were evaluated over time on blackgum (Nyssa spp.) and red oak (Quercus spp. Section Lobatae) ties 150, 200, and 300 mm from the ground by culturing increment cores removed from three locations on each of 200 ties over the seasoning period. Fungi were present in many ties at the start of seasoning. Fungal isolations steadily increased with time, but there were no significant differences in frequency for ties seasoned at different sill heights for either timber species. The results indicate that lowering the sill height had no noticeable effect on the rates of fungal colonization of the timber species tested.