Transverse Plane Research Articles

Recent results on ultra-peripheral collisions with the ALICE experiment

Recent measurements of J/ψ photoproduction based on data from ultra-peripheral Pb–Pb and p–Pb collisions recorded by the ALICE experiment during Run 2 of the LHC are presented. Photoproduction, as a photon-induced process, is sensitive to the structure of hadrons, and the results are of great importance for a better understanding of how gluon saturation and nuclear shadowing function in high-energy quantum chromodynamics. The energy evolution of coherent J/ψ photoproduction has been measured, indicating a strong suppression of nuclear gluon densities at high energies. The energy dependence has also been measured for exclusive and dissociative J/ψ production off the proton. The average distribution of nuclear gluon matter in the transverse plane, along with its fluctuations, has been studied for the first time using measurements of the dependence of coherent and incoherent J/ψ photoproduction on the transferred momentum t. Lastly, the data from coherent photoproduction of J/ψ in Pb–Pb ultra-peripheral collisions have been found to be compatible with a transverse polarization.

Two-body densities as a framework for dynamical imaging and their connection to ultra-peripheral collisions

We present results on two-parton densities in coordinate space which capture a fuller dynamical picture of the proton’s internal structure, including information on the relative position between quarks and gluons in the transverse plane. The connection of such two-body densities to observables, proceeds in QCD, via the definition of double generalized parton distributions (DGPDs) that can be accessed in the production of two vector mesons, or two dimuon systems in ultraperipheral collisions (UPCs) through a double scattering process.

ASSESSMENT OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PARAMETERS IN HEALTHY FREE-RANGING GIANT ANTEATERS (MYRMECOPHAGA TRIDACTYLA).

The aim of this study was to conduct Doppler echocardiography on healthy free-ranging anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and to evaluate the relationship between echocardiographic parameters of diagnostic importance and animal body weight (BW). This work utilized 8 anesthetized adult animals and 4 manually restrained pups. The echocardiographic examinations were performed with the animal in left lateral recumbency. The echocardiographic scans were directed toward the parasternal window. Four cuts of the cardiac silhouette were conducted, two longitudinal and two transverse, to evaluate the systolic and diastolic cardiac parameters. This study recorded the following parameters: interventricular septum (IVS), left ventricular internal diameter (LVID), left ventricular posterior wall (LVPW), ejection fraction (EF), shortening fraction (SF), aortic valve diameter (AOD), and left atrial diameter (LAD). The BW data (kg) of each giant anteater were paired with their respective echocardiographic data. These data were analyzed using correlation and linear regression modeling to assess the extent of the associations between the variables and their reliability. The same associations were analyzed with canine data to compare and determine the possibility of extrapolating the findings between dogs and anteaters. The echocardiographic parameters obtained using M-mode ultrasound from the short-axis transverse sections were adjusted to the left parasternal window because of the difficulty in analyzing them in the right parasternal window. The correlations between the echocardiographic parameters and the BW were found to be reliable, indicating that they could potentially be used as a simulation model for anteaters when an adequate number of animals are included in the analysis. The verification of the echocardiographic values obtained in anteaters utilizing reference intervals for dogs demonstrated acceptable hit rates, although the statistical results were not satisfactory.

Turbulence kinetic energy dissipation rate estimated from a WindCube Doppler lidar and the LQ7 1.3 GHz radar wind profiler in the convective boundary layer

Abstract. From 21 August to 15 September 2022, a WindCube v2 infrared coherent Doppler lidar (DL) supplied by EKO Instruments Co. (Japan) was deployed at the Shigaraki MU Observatory (Japan) near the LQ7 UHF (1.357 GHz) wind profiler in routine operation. Horizontal and vertical velocity measurements from the DL were reliably obtained in the [40–300] m height range with vertical and temporal resolutions of 20 m and 4 s, respectively. The LQ7 wind measurements are collected with range and temporal resolutions of 100 m and 59 s, respectively, and 10 min average profiles are calculated after data quality control. Reliable LQ7 Doppler data are collected from a height of 400 m. Despite the lack of overlap in the height range, we compared the turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rate ε in the daytime planetary boundary layer estimated by the two instruments. A method based on the calculation of the one-dimensional transverse line spectrum of the vertical velocity W from mean W time series (TS method) was applied to DL (εDL). The same method was also applied to 1 min LQ7 data (εLQ7TS​​​​​​​) to assess its performance with respect to DL despite the poorer time resolution. A more standard method based on the Doppler spectral width (DS) was also applied to LQ7 (εLQ7DS) from the 10 min average profiles. We tested recently proposed models of the form ε=σ3/L, where σ is half the spectral width corrected for non-turbulent effects, and L is assumed to be a constant or a fraction of the depth D of the convective boundary layer (CBL). The main results are the following: (1) For the deepest CBLs (max⁡(D)>∼1.0 km) that develop under high atmospheric pressure, the time–height cross-sections of εLQ7DS and εDL show very consistent patterns and do not show any substantial gaps in the transition region of 300–400 m when εLQ7DS is evaluated with L∼70 m, which is found to be about one-tenth of the average of the CBL depth (L∼0.1D). (2) Hourly mean εDL averaged over the [100–300] m height range is on average about twice the hourly mean εLQ7TS averaged over the [400–500] m height range when D>∼1.0 km. (3) Hourly mean εDL averaged over the [100–300] m height range and hourly mean εLQ7DS averaged over the [400–500] m height range with L∼0.1D are identical on average. Consistent with the fact that ε is expected to decrease slightly with height in the mixed layer, results (2) and (3) imply an uncertainty as to the exact value of the L/D ratio: ∼0.1D<L<∼0.2D. We have also studied in detail the case of a shallow (D<∼0.6 km) convective boundary layer that developed under low atmospheric pressure and cloudy conditions. Despite the fact that hourly mean εDL averaged over the [100–300] m height range and hourly mean εLQ7TS averaged over the [400–500] m height range show more significant discrepancies, maybe due to the different properties of the shallow convection, the time–height cross-sections of εDL and εLQ7DS show more consistent patterns and levels.

MAEST: accurately spatial domain detection in spatial transcriptomics with graph masked autoencoder.

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) technology provides gene expression profiles with spatial context, offering critical insights into cellular interactions and tissue architecture. A core task in ST is spatial domain identification, which involves detecting coherent regions with similar spatial expression patterns. However, existing methods often fail to fully exploit spatial information, leading to limited representational capacity and suboptimal clustering accuracy. Here, we introduce MAEST, a novel graph neural network model designed to address these limitations in ST data. MAEST leverages graph masked autoencoders to denoise and refine representations while incorporating graph contrastive learning to prevent feature collapse and enhance model robustness. By integrating one-hop and multi-hop representations, MAEST effectively captures both local and global spatial relationships, improving clustering precision. Extensive experiments across diverse datasets, including the human brain, mouse hippocampus, olfactory bulb, brain, and embryo, demonstrate that MAEST outperforms seven state-of-the-art methods in spatial domain identification. Furthermore, MAEST showcases its ability to integrate multi-slice data, identifying joint domains across horizontal tissue sections with high accuracy. These results highlight MAEST's versatility and effectiveness in unraveling the spatial organization of complex tissues. The source code of MAEST can be obtained at https://github.com/clearlove2333/MAEST.

Bone density comparison between the normal pedicle trajectory, cortical bone trajectory, and modified cortical bone trajectory using computed tomography: a cross-sectional study.

Cross-sectional study. To compare bone density by computed tomography Hounsfield unit (CTHU) between the original pedicle trajectory (OPT), cortical bone trajectory (CBT), and modified cortical bone trajectory (MCBT). The significant pullout strength in CBT is believed to be due to increased screw-cortical bone contact; however, it allows for shorter/less-diameter screw placement, and the fixation is limited to the posterior one-third of the vertebral body, compromising the screw anchorage in the anterior vertebra. Computed tomography transverse sections of the L1-L5 (1,000 vertebrae) of 200 patients were cut into three planes: (1) horizontal to the pedicle, representing the plane for OPT; (2) in the caudocranial plane in the sagittal plane and divergent in the transverse plane representing the CBT; and (3) the caudocranial plane in the sagittal plane and parallel in the transverse plane representing the MCBT. For each trajectory, the CTHU of four points, namely, posterior cortex, mid-pedicle, midbody, and anterior cortex, were compared within the area of screw insertion. The mean CTHUs of OPT, CBT, and MCBT were 354.2±70 HU, 529.9±75 HU, and 457.3±90 HU, respectively (p <0.01). The CTHU of the posterior cortex in MCBT was 65.6% higher than that in OPT and 14.9% lower than that in CBT. A comparable decline in CTHU with age was noted in CBT and MCBT (Pearson's r : -0.20 vs. -0.22; adjusted R 2: 0.040 vs. 0.047). However, a higher decline in CTHU with age was observed in OPT (Pearson's r =-0.38, adjusted R 2=0.14). MCBT has a significantly higher CTHU than OPT. The density in the posterior cortex in MCBT is comparable to that in the CBT trajectory. MCBT appears to be an alternative trajectory for lumbar spine fixation.

Ultra-high-speed non-interferometric quantitative phase and multi-plane imaging

The existing non-interferometric phase imaging methods are unable to retrieve quantitative phase up to microsecond temporal resolution due to the lack of a suitable parallel recording strategy. Therefore, we propose an ultra-high-speed non-interferometric method for phase and multi-plane imaging using partially coherent light sources. The method uses space division multiplexing to record two or more intensity images in parallel. Due to its ability to acquire images at desired distances, high-speed non-interferometric quantitative phase retrieval can be performed. Furthermore, due to its phase retrieval capability, numerical focusing can be achieved, allowing multiple axial plane images to be obtained from parallelly recorded images. The applicability of the proposed method is confirmed by imaging high-speed gas flow, where both the initial stage and the evolution of cavity formation can be visualized, as well as by imaging electric discharge, where the blocking of light by afterglow plasma can be observed. The developed imaging method can be applied to study phenomena with a wide range of speeds, from static to very fast, in various fields such as physics and life sciences, without the need for coherent light illumination.

Clinico-Radiological Correlation in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Evaluating the Efficacy of Shear Wave Elastography and Nerve Conduction Studies

Introduction: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent peripheral entrapment neuropathy caused by the compression of the median nerve at the wrist, leading to symptoms such as intermittent paraesthesia, pain, and muscle weakness. The condition is more common in women and individuals aged 45–60 years. Diagnosis typically involves clinical signs, electrodiagnostic studies, and imaging. Recent studies suggest shear wave elastography as a potential tool for assessing tissue stiffness and grading CTS severity. This study aims to investigate the clinico-radiological correlation in CTS patients using shear wave elastography and nerve conduction studies. Materials and Methods: This prospective analytical cross-sectional study enrolled 40 adult participants diagnosed with CTS at a tertiary care center in Coimbatore over a two-year period. Ethical clearance was obtained, and informed consent was secured from all participants. High-frequency ultrasonography and shear wave elastography were used to evaluate the median nerve's cross-sectional area, stiffness, and shear wave velocity. Data from ultrasonography and elastography were recorded alongside clinical and demographic details. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 27.0, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The study included 40 participants (23 females and 17 males). The mean crosssectional area of the median nerve was 0.12 sq.mm, with stiffness values of 120.62 kPa (axial plane) and 217.99 kPa (sagittal plane). A significant association was found between the cross-sectional area and nerve conduction study outcomes, with larger median nerve CSAs correlating with more severe impairment. But there was no significant association between nerve conduction and nerve stiffness. Conclusion: The study highlights the intricate relationship between demographic and clinical characteristics in determining nerve conduction study outcomes. Integration of nerve conduction studies with imaging techniques like ultrasound and elastography will provide a more comprehensive understanding about the nerve function, which improves the diagnosis and management of CTS.

Inherent Bias in ROSA® Zimmer Biomet Pre-Op Planning Using 2D to 3D X-Atlas® Coronal Knee Axis Measurement

Background: Robotic assistance is considered capable of improving precision and outcomes of total knee replacement. We assessed the inherent biases, pre-procedural planning accuracy using 2D to 3D X-Atlas®, and final knee axis outcomes of the ROSA® Knee System (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA). Methods: A total of 55 patients who underwent robotic-assisted knee replacement using ROSA® Knee System (Zimmer Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA) at a single center were included. Pre-procedural measurements performed by ROSA were compared to those performed by senior consultants. Component sizes predicted by ROSA® were compared to those implanted. A final axis measurement was taken during the procedure. Results: Femur components were exactly matched in (83.64%) cases, accurately matched in a further 8 (14.55%), and inaccurately matched for only 1 (1.82%). Tibial component sizes were exactly matched by the planning for 39 (70.91%), accurately for 12 (21.82%), and inaccurately for 4 (7.27%). ANOVA did not show statistically significant differences between the predicted and implanted femur (p = 0.96) nor the tibia components (p = 0.27). We show that ROSA® pre-procedural planning has a statistically significant bias (p = 0.001), with a deviation of 0.83 degrees into varus, when assessing the knee axis in the coronal plane, compared to senior consultant measurements. The average of the final coronal knee axis was 0.37 degrees in varus (SD = 2.49). Conclusions: ROSA® accurately predicts implanted component sizes. Despite the small and statistically significant varus bias in initial knee axis assessment, the system results lay within the ±3° of neutral knee axis, which is the widely accepted knee replacement standard.

Dynamic Response Characteristics of Drivers’ Visual Search Behavior to Road Horizontal Curve Radius: Latest Simulation Experimental Results

Road horizontal curves, which significantly influence drivers’ visual search behavior and are closely linked to traffic safety, also constitute a crucial factor in sustainable road traffic development. This paper uses simulation driving experiments to explore the dynamic response characteristics of 27 typical subject drivers’ visual search behavior regarding road horizontal curve radius. Results show that in a monotonous, open road environment, the driver’s visual search is biased towards the inside of the curve; as the radius increases, the 85th percentile value of the longitudinal visual search length gradually increases, the 85th percentile value of the horizontal search angle gradually decreases, the 85th percentile value of vehicle speed gradually increases, and the dispersion and bias of the gaze points gradually decrease. The search length, horizontal angle, and speed approach the level of straight road sections (380 m, 10° and 115 km/h, respectively). When R ≥ 1200 m, a driver’s dynamic visual search range reaches a stable distribution state that is the same as that of a straight road. A dynamic visual search range distribution model for drivers on straight and horizontal curved road sections is constructed. Based on psychological knowledge such as attention resource theory and eye–mind theory, a human factor engineering explanation was provided for drivers’ attention distribution and speed selection mechanism on road horizontal curve sections. The research results can provide theoretical references for the optimization design of road traffic, decision support to improve the driver training system, and a theoretical basis for determining the visual search characteristics of human drivers in autonomous driving technology, thereby promoting the safe and sustainable development of road traffic.

MMI Couplers and the Talbot Effect, Symmetries and Golden Ratio

The Talbot effect concerns the periodic self-imaging along an optical axis of a free-space optical field that is periodic in an initial transverse plane. It may be modeled by a shift-invariant linear system, fully characterized by the convolution of its impulse response. Self-imaging at integer and fractional Talbot distances of point sources on a regular grid in free space may then be represented by a transmission matrix that is circulant, symmetric, and persymmetric. The free-space Talbot effect may be mapped to the Talbot effect in a multimode waveguide by imposing the anti-symmetry of the mirror-like sidewalls created by the tight confinement of light within a high-index contrast multimode waveguide. The position of the anti-symmetry axis controls the distribution of discrete lattice points in a unit cell. For different distributions, interesting features such as conditional flexibility in the placement of access ports without altering amplitude and phase relationships, omitting ports without power penalty, closed form uneven splitting ratios, and offset access ports can be derived from the MMI coupler. As a specific example, a simple 2×2 MMI coupler is shown to provide a power-splitting ratio related to the golden ratio φ. The structure is amenable to planar photonic integration on any high-index contrast platform. The predictions of the theory are confirmed by simulation and verified by experimental measurements on a golden ratio MMI coupler fabricated using an SOI process.

Opportunistic screening of osteoporosis using CT urography: comparison of diagnostic performance between contrast phases.

Opportunistic screening of osteoporosis using computed tomography (CT) should be optimized according to CT protocols. However, to date, no study has evaluated the different contrast phases of CT urography in osteoporosis screening. To compare the diagnostic performance of different contrast phases of CT urography in opportunistic screening of osteoporosis. In this single-center retrospective study, 210 consecutive patients (181 men, 29 women; mean age = 72.0 ± 9.5 years) who underwent both CT urography and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) within 3 months in July to December 2020 were included. The attenuation value was measured at the center of the L1 vertebral body in the axial plane of the precontrast, corticomedullary, and excretory phases. The mean and standard deviation (SD) of attenuation values were calculated. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) in differentiating osteoporosis versus osteopenia/normal was measured in each phase, and non-parametric comparisons between precontrast and the other phases were performed. According to DXA results, 90, 90, and 30 patients were classified into the normal, osteopenia, and osteoporosis groups, respectively. The mean ± SD of attenuation values in the precontrast, corticomedullary, and excretory phases were 114.9 ± 47.8, 132.8 ± 49.3, and 126.2 ± 47.2 HU, respectively. A significant difference was observed between AUCs measured in the precontrast (0.804, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.717-0.890) and corticomedullary phases (0.760, 95% CI = 0.661-0.860) (P = 0.003) and those between the precontrast and excretory phases (0.774, 95% CI = 0.678-0.869) (P = 0.005). The precontrast phase outperformed the other phases in the opportunistic screening of osteoporosis using CT urography.

Well-to-Ground Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) for Fracture Monitoring in Shale Gas Reservoirs: Application to the Wulalike Formation

Advancing deep-seated geological exploration represents a strategic scientific and technological imperative. Reservoir modification through hydraulic fracturing constitutes an indispensable component of deep oil and gas development, where precise fracture monitoring and evaluation in deep gas reservoirs serve as critical technical safeguards for technological innovation. To address the need for real-time monitoring of fracture length and width in the horizontal well Z2 of Wulalike Formation in Yanchuan Basin, this study employs Well-to-Ground Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) technology. By leveraging the electrochemical property contrasts between pre- and post-fracturing fluids in target zones, we integrate control volume method-based resistivity forward modeling with nonlinear least squares inversion algorithms to analyze subsurface electrical field variations within a 1000-meter radius around the 4000-meter depth level in the horizontal section of Z2 well. Field implementation demonstrates that Well-to-Ground ERT provides an effective methodology for real-time fracture monitoring in deep horizontal shale gas wells with centimeter-scale resolution.

Diaphragm ultrasound as a tool to study respiratory function in dogs: a validation study correlating sonographic findings with oesophageal pressure and spirometry during mechanical ventilation and spontaneous breathing.

Diaphragm ultrasound as a tool to study respiratory function in dogs: a validation study correlating sonographic findings with oesophageal pressure and spirometry during mechanical ventilation and spontaneous breathing.

A Deep Learning Model for Three-Dimensional Determination of Whole Thoracic Vertebral Bone Mineral Density from Noncontrast Chest CT: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background Recent studies have investigated how deep learning (DL) algorithms applied to CT using two-dimensional (2D) segmentation (sagittal or axial planes) can calculate bone mineral density (BMD) and predict osteoporosis-related outcomes. Purpose To determine whether TotalSegmentator, an nnU-net algorithm, can measure three-dimensional (3D) vertebral body BMD across consistently imaged thoracic levels (T1-T10) at any conventional, noncontrast chest CT examination. Materials and Methods This study is a secondary analysis of a multicenter (n = 6) prospective cohort, the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Participants underwent noncontrast chest CT with (n = 296) and without (n = 2660) a phantom. In 594 participants, manual segmentation for T1-T10 vertebrae was performed on axial and sagittal planes. TotalSegmentator provided 3D vertebral body segmentation of T1-T10 levels with further postprocessing to remove cortical bone. Two-dimensional axial and sagittal DL-derived algorithms were developed and compared with 3D model performance. Dice and intersection-over-union scores were calculated. Vertebral BMD-derived data, integrated with the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool with no BMD (FRAXnb), were used to predict incident vertebral fractures (VFx) in participants from the follow-up MESA Examination 6 (n = 1304). Results This study included 2956 participants (1546 [52%] female; age, 69 years ± 9 [SD]), with longitudinal data obtained approximately 6.2 years later in a subset of 1304 participants. DL-derived 3D segmentations were correlated with manual axial (Dice score, 0.93; 95% CI: 0.92, 0.95) and sagittal (Dice score, 0.91; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.93) segmentations. DL-derived 2D axial and sagittal BMD measurements had higher uncertainty compared with DL-derived 3D BMD measurements (average SDs, 2D axial and 2D sagittal vs 3D BMD: 65 mg/cm3 and 59 mg/cm3 vs 41 mg/cm3, respectively; both P < .001). Three-dimensional vertebral BMD with FRAXnb demonstrated better performance in predicting incident VFx (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], 0.82) compared with FRAXnb alone (AUC, 0.66; P = .03). Conclusion A multilevel DL algorithm for measuring 3D whole thoracic vertebral BMD using conventional chest CT determined distinct BMD patterns from whole thoracic vertebrae and provided incremental value in predicting VFx. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00005487 © RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Steiger in this issue.

Regional mechanical properties of spinal cord gray and white matter in transverse section.

Regional mechanical properties of spinal cord gray and white matter in transverse section.

Efficacy of Bilateral Transverse Abdominis Plane Block and Ilioinguinal Iliohypogastric Nerve Block for Post Lower Segment Caesarean Section Pain Relief: A Randomised Clinical Study

Introduction: Insufficient pain management postcaesarean section causes maternal distress, which impacts mother-infant bonding and breastfeeding. Improving postoperative analgesia not only enhances patient satisfaction but also shortens hospital stay, reduces pulmonary complications, supports early mobilisation and decreases the risk of thromboembolism. Aim: To compare the efficacy of bilateral Transverse Abdominis Plane block (TAP) and Ilioinguinal Iliohypogastric block (II-IH) for postcaesarean section pain relief. Materials and Methods: A randomised clinical study was conducted at Dhiraj Hospital, Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India, on 60 pregnant women, aged between 18 to 45 years, who were posted for elective Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS). They were randomised into Group T (n=30) for TAP block or Group I (n=30) for II-IH block. Both groups received 20 mL of 0.25% bupivacaine on both sides. Patients were assessed for Visual Analogue Score (VAS), pulse rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. The duration of analgesia, total analgesic consumption and complications were also noted. Rescue analgesia was administered if VAS was &gt;3, in the form of 75 mg i.v. diclofenac. Data were analysed using the sample t-test and repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. A p-value of &lt;0.05 was considered significant. Results: Both groups were comparable in terms of demographic data (age, weight, height, Body Mass Index (BMI)) with a p-value of &gt;0.05. The VAS score was not statistically significant for 24 hours postoperatively between the two groups with p&gt;0.05 at each time point. The mean duration of analgesia was 606±35.24 minutes in Group T and 702±40.86 minutes in Group I, which was statistically significant (p-value=0.04). Total i.v. diclofenac consumption was 105±62.07 and 75±45.49 in Groups T and I, respectively, which was statistically significant (p-value=0.014). Pulse rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation were comparable in both groups with no significant difference at any time point. No complications were encountered in either group. Conclusion: Both TAP block and II-IH block are safe and provide analgesia to parturients postoperatively. However, the II-IH block provides a longer duration of analgesia and reduces the postoperative intravenous analgesic requirement compared to the TAP block.

Quantification of Internal Disc Strain Under Dynamic Loading Via High-Frequency Ultrasound.

Measurement of internal intervertebral disc strain is paramount for understanding the underlying mechanisms of injury and validating computational models. Although advancements in noninvasive imaging and image processing have made it possible to quantify strain, they often rely on visual markers that alter tissue mechanics and are limited to static testing that is not reflective of physiologic loading conditions. The purpose of this study was to integrate high-frequency ultrasound and texture correlation to quantify disc strain during dynamic loading. We acquired ultrasound images of the posterior side of bovine discs in the transverse plane throughout 0-0.5 mm of assigned axial compression at 0.3-0.5 Hz. Internal Green-Lagrangian strains were quantified across time using direct deformation estimation (DDE), a texture correlation method. Median principal strain at maximal compression was 0.038±0.011 for E1 and -0.042±0.012 for E2. Strain distributions were heterogeneous throughout the discs, with higher strains noted near the disc endplates. This methodological report shows that high-frequency ultrasound can be a valuable tool for quantification of disc strain under dynamic loading conditions. Further work will be needed to determine if diseased or damaged discs reveal similar strain patterns, opening the possibility of clinical use in patients with disc disease.

Fatigue-induced modifications to trunk and lower-limb coordination mode during drop vertical jump and sidestep cutting tasks in female handball athletes.

Fatigue-induced modifications to trunk and lower-limb coordination mode during drop vertical jump and sidestep cutting tasks in female handball athletes.

Relationship Between Coronal Plane Alignment of the Knee Phenotypes and Distal Femoral Rotation

Background: The coronal plane alignment of the knee (CPAK) classification categorises nine phenotypes based on constitutional limb alignment and joint line obliquity and can be used in healthy and arthritic knees. In total knee arthroplasty surgery, some morphological variables in planes other than the coronal plane are particularly interesting. One example is the distal femoral rotation. Our study aimed to search for relationships between phenotypes based on CPAK classification and distal femoral rotation. Methods: Data from 622 cases in 535 osteoarthritic patients who underwent primary total knee arthroplasty were retrospectively analysed. Computed tomography imaging was employed to ascertain the mechanical lateral distal femoral angle, the mechanical medial proximal tibial angle, and the distal femoral rotation (quantified using the condylar twist angle). Results: The variables were perfectly uncorrelated according to the regression equations, with a Coefficient of Determination of 0.0608 for the condylar twist angle. Upon visualising the condylar twist angle function using a contour map or surface curves with low interpolation, it became evident that the data did not follow any discernible pattern. Employing ANOVA, we found some statistically significant differences between the distributions of the CPAK groups for the condylar twist angle (F = 5.81; p &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Our study found no relevant relationships between coronal plane alignment, according to the CPAK classification, and the distal femoral rotation in the sample population studied. Perhaps the stratification of the CPAK groups (i.e., a purely arithmetical aspect) hides possible relationships between the coronal and the axial planes.