Vertical Segments Research Articles

Open Reduction Internal Fixation of Mandibular Condylar Fractures: Factors Influencing Radiographic Anatomical Reduction

Mandible fractures occur frequently, accounting for approximately 70% of all facial fractures. Of those, fractures of the mandibular condyle account for 25-35%.1,2 Over several decades, there has been much controversy over the standard treatment method for condylar fractures, with increasing support for open reduction internal fixation (ORIF). The aim of this study is to determine negative and positive factors that may influence radiographic reduction outcomes after ORIF of mandibular condylar fractures.This retrospective study assessed the influence of several clinical factors on the quality of reduction. Records from patients treated with ORIF for condylar fractures between 2013 and 2021 at a single institution were reviewed. The predictor variables were condylar fracture level, type of fracture, amount and direction of displacement, vertical segment overlap, height of fracture, amount of soft-tissue envelope thickness, surgical approach, time to surgery, type of plate utilized, and surgeon experience. The primary outcome variable was the radiographic postoperative outcome of reduction and fixation as rated by 2 blinded observers in a 1-5 ordinal scale, with a score of 5 indicating adequate anatomical alignment of the posterior border of the mandibular-condylar border without displacement or deviation of the condylar process after ORIF.The data were analyzed statistically using ANOVA and Pearson's Correlation Coefficient tests using IBM SPSS Statistics to determine the significance between factors that may affect anatomical reduction and fixation of the mandibular condyle.The sample was composed of 21 subjects with 22 subcondylar fractures; 1 subject with bilateral subcondylar fractures was treated with ORIF with the majority being left subcondylar fractures (68%) with a concurrent fracture (86%). The study composed of nondisplaced (7), displaced (11), and dislocated (4) subcondylar fractures. The majority of subcondylar fractures treated with ORIF utilized 2 single miniplates (55%) via the retromandibular transparotid approach (90%). The mean adequacy of ORIF of subcondylar fracture score was 4.16 with the interclass correlation coefficient being 0.75, indicating good agreement between the 2 blinded observers. The plate utilized (P = .042), surgeon experience (P = .000), time to surgery (P =.000), and a concurrent mandible fracture (P = .000) were all shown to be significant in the adequacy of open reduction internal fixation of subcondylar fractures. A single plate along with a concurrent mandible fracture were shown to be negative factors influencing the ORIF of subcondylar fractures, whereas increased duration from the time of injury to ORIF was shown to be a positive factor.The management of condylar fractures is a subject of much debate and controversy within the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery. This study assessed multiple factors that may influence the objective radiographic outcome of ORIF of subcondylar fractures. Perhaps this study will further provide the oral and maxillofacial surgeon with an objective assessment based on radiographic interpretation for achieving anatomical reduction of the fractured condylar segment prior to taking the patient to the operative room.

The Ties that Bind: Agnosia, Neglect and Selective Attention to Visual Scale.

Historical and contemporary treatments of visual agnosia and neglect regard these disorders as largely unrelated. It is thought that damage to different neural processes leads directly to one or the other condition, yet apperceptive variants of agnosia and object-centered variants of neglect share remarkably similar deficits in the quality of conscious experience. Here we argue for a closer association between "apperceptive" variants of visual agnosia and "object-centered" variants of visual neglect. We introduce a theoretical framework for understanding these conditions based on "scale attention", which refers to selecting boundary and surface information at different levels of the structural hierarchy in the visual array. We review work on visual agnosia, the cortical structures and cortico-cortical pathways that underlie visual perception, visuospatial neglect and object-centered neglect, and attention to scale. We highlight direct and indirect pathways involved in these disorders and in attention to scale. The direct pathway involves the posterior vertical segments of the superior longitudinal fasciculus that are positioned to link the established dorsal and ventral attentional centers in the parietal cortex with structures in the inferior occipitotemporal cortex associated with visual apperceptive agnosia. The connections in the right hemisphere appear to be more important for visual conscious experience, whereas those in the left hemisphere appear to be more strongly associated with the planning and execution of visually guided grasps directed at multi-part objects such as tools. In the latter case, semantic and functional information must drive the selection of the appropriate hand posture and grasp points on the object. This view is supported by studies of grasping in patients with agnosia and in patients with neglect that show that the selection of grasp points when picking up a tool involves both scale attention and semantic contributions from inferotemporal cortex. The indirect pathways, which include the inferior fronto-occipital and horizontal components of the superior longitudinal fasciculi, involve the frontal lobe, working memory and the "multiple demands" network, which can shape the content of visual awareness through the maintenance of goal- and task-based abstractions and their influence on scale attention. Recent studies of human cortico-cortical pathways necessitate revisions to long-standing theoretical views on visual perception, visually guided action and their integrations. We highlight findings from a broad sample of seemingly disparate areas of research to support the proposal that attention to scale is necessary for typical conscious visual experience and for goal-directed actions that depend on functional and semantic information. Furthermore, we suggest that vertical pathways between the parietal and occipitotemporal cortex, along with indirect pathways that involve the premotor and prefrontal cortex, facilitate the operations of scale attention.

Pre-operative assessment of facial recess width in paediatric cochlear implant recipients: a radiological study.

AbstractBackgroundThe location of the vertical segment of the facial nerve varies greatly among patients undergoing otological surgery. Its position relative to the incus determines facial recess width, which has implications for ease of cochlear implantation.ObjectiveTo investigate the variation in facial nerve depth, relative to the incus, on pre-operative computed tomography in patients undergoing cochlear implantation.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted of paediatric patients undergoing cochlear implantation at a tertiary referral centre. Distance between the incus short process and facial nerve, in the transverse (medial-lateral) dimension, was measured at six imaging slices, ranging from 1.25 to 7.25 mm below the tip of the incus short process.ResultsFacial nerve depth relative to the incus short process demonstrated significant variability. Among all subjects and at all measurements taken inferior to the incus, the mean dimension between the facial nerve and the incus short process was 1.71 mm.ConclusionThis paper presents a rapid, repeatable technique to assess the depth of the facial nerve vertical segment on pre-operative computed tomography, as measured relative to the tip of the incus short process. This allows the surgeon to anticipate facial recess width and round window access during cochlear implantation.

Mode Harmonic Concept of Oleksandr Cherepnin’s Composer Creativity

The relevance of the topic is determined by the existing contradiction between the great importance of Olexandr Cherepnin’s compositional works, which are widely recognized in the modern cultural world and contain many innovative artistic and theoretical ideas, and the lack of proper coverage in the scientific literature. The analysis of the array of musicological literature devoted to the peculiarities of the musical culture of the XX century proves the fact that the artistic personality of O. Cherepnin and his life and creative path still generally remain beyond the attention of researchers.
 The purpose of the article is to reveal the meaningful and terminological features of the mode harmonic concept of O. Cherepnin’s compositional works.
 The methodology. The main methods applied in this study are systematic approach and methods of comparative and musicological (mainly mode harmonic) analysis.
 The results. O. Cherepnin’s musical language has overcome a long way before it was formed into a single mode harmonic concept. This mode harmonic concept of the artist’s works was first embodied in many of his works, and then was theoretically comprehended by him and given in the article “Basic Elements of My Musical Language” (1962). Therefore, from the beginning, the features of the composer’s mode harmonic language were formed under the influence of artistic necessity and were not subjected to theoretical conceptual principles. The mode harmonic concept of the artist, which became a generalization of his creative activity and artistic ideas, is based mainly on the theory of ambivalence of major and minor. At the same time, the composer does not use the major­minor as the mode basis for his works, basing (as the author himself and researchers of his work emphasize) primarily on the theory of modality.
 
 Cherepnin’s mode harmonic concept of musical language is based on a nine­stage scale, which is considered by the composer as universal and is found in most of his works. The most separate and independent components of the nine­stage scale are the three major­minor tetrachords and the two hexachords. The presence of different pitch positions of the scale allows to determine the tonal center at the level of separate fragments of the musical fabric of the work.
 
 The harmonic vertical (harmonic structure) of the majority of O. Cherepnin’s works is also formed on the basis of the vertical segments of the specified nine­stage scale. Such mode segments, which in separate works of the composer or their parts play the role of mode harmonic basis, are defined by us as “submodes” (my term — Ch. H.). The most common are tritone consonances, and each “submode” has its own chord that performs the function of the tonic one. The most important among them, according to the composer’s point of view, is a major­minor tetrachord, i.e. vertical four­tone chord. All these consonances are very diverse in their interval structure and intensity of sound. Five­ and six­tone chords are used by the artist much less due to their intense phonism and the need for at least an acoustic solution. Pentatone scales, which are constantly presented in an incomplete form (with the omission of one or two tones), and symmetrical modes are also widely used in O. Cherepnin’s works. Bright ethnic elements of the composer’s mode harmonic concept, which are widely used in his works, are the specific tritone consonances, called by O. Cherepnin as “Georgian trisounds”.
 The topicality of the study lies in the disclosure of one of the main conceptual foundations of the multifaceted musical language of O. Cherepnin — his mode harmonic component, which has not yet been sufficiently studied.
 The practical significance. The obtained results of the research allow to reveal the world importance of O. Cherepnin’s artistic figure and composer’s works, to highlight his innovative musical­theoretical ideas and to determine the special place of the artist in the constellation of contemporary composers who actively experimented with tonal­harmonic systems. The obtained conclusions generally expand the view on the nature and structure of mode harmonic thinking of composers of the XX century.

Mechanical support concept of the DEMO breeding blanket

• Description of blanket integration concept. • Stress calculation of breeding blanket segments. • Prediction of Breeding blanket deformation. • Identification of custom-machining concept and prediction of achievable tolerances. • Overview of the various integration issues associated with the design of in-vessel components. The DEMO tokamak architecture is based on large vertical breeding blanket (BB) segments that are accessed from a maintenance hall above the tokamak and are vertically replaced through large upper ports of the vacuum vessel (VV). The feasibility of the BB segments mechanical supports is a prerequisite of this vertical segment architecture. Their design directly impacts on the removal kinematics and the remote handling operations required for release and engagement. The supports must withstand large forces acting on the BB in particular due to electromagnetic (EM) loads. At the same time, they must ensure a sufficiently precise positioning of the BB first wall. Their design also takes into account the significant thermal expansion of the blanket segments that are operated at high temperature avoiding excessive support reaction forces. The BB support concept described in this article does not require fasteners or electrical straps to the VV and therefore much reduces the complexity of the BB remote replacement – a valuable characteristic that would make this concept a milestone in meeting one of the goals defined for the DEMO project: to develop a maintainable fusion power plant design [1] . Each blanket segment is individually supported by the VV without any physical contact to the other blankets or in-vessel components. It relies instead on vertical pre-compression inside the VV due to obstructed thermal expansion and radial pre-compression due to the ferromagnetic force acting on the BB material in the toroidal magnetic field. The verification process did not identify show stoppers. Nonetheless, a further evolution of the concept is required including design improvements to mitigate the high stress levels found in the inboard blankets during plasma disruptions. The fact that no excessively high support reaction forces or large BB deflections were found suggests though that the further development of the concept could be successful.

The influence of aspect ratio on the thermal performance of a cryogenic pulsating heat pipe

• Cryogenic pulsating heat pipes perform best with large vertical to horizontal ratio. • Aspect ratio dependence of thermal resistance is characterized for a helium PHP. • The major thermal resistance for a helium PHP occurs at the wall – fluid interface. • Method provided to reduce heat load and orientation sensitivity for a hydrogen PHP. Pulsating heat pipes (PHPs) are expected to serve as a significant design component for the thermal management of superconducting magnets and various cryogenic space applications, including cryogen storage tanks and low temperature detectors on telescopes. A growing body of data is accumulating regarding the performance of cryogenic PHPs, including operation with helium, hydrogen, neon, and nitrogen, and the notable dependence on their orientation with respect to gravity. However, in view of the expectation that the thermal path between a low temperature heat source and the corresponding cryocooler will involve a convoluted route including vertical, horizontal, and sloping segments, we have begun a systematic study regarding the influence of the vertical-to-horizontal aspect ratio of a PHP on its thermal performance. Although various studies available in the literature characterize the performance of completely vertical or completely horizontal PHPs, this study quantitatively displays the relative impact of the vertical and horizontal segments on the performance of a mixed orientation PHP. This systematic investigation is the first of its type to characterize the influence of the vertical-to-horizontal aspect ratio of a PHP on its thermal performance. Data gathered with both helium and hydrogen filled PHPs including five different aspect ratios confirm the expectation that vertically dominated geometries perform better than horizontally dominated geometries. Minimum thermal resistance values ranging from 1.5 K/W to 20 K/W for the 1-meter-long PHPs, with aspect ratios varying from 4:1 to 1:4, are reported as a function of heat load, fill ratio, and fluid type. Here the aspect ratio is defined by the length of the vertical adiabatic section divided by the length of the horizontal adiabatic section. The results with the hydrogen PHP demonstrate that a fill ratio of 70% significantly reduces the influence of orientation and heat load on the PHP’s thermal resistance. The combined results provide valuable guidance for their application as heat transfer components in superconducting magnets and various cryogenic space applications.

A New L-Shaped Open-Slot Antenna for Diversity Applications of Operated Frequency and Circular Polarization

ABSTRACT This paper presents a novel small differentially-fed open-slot antenna for diversity of the operated frequency and circular polarization. The proposed antenna structure, which consists of an L-shaped open slot and two bent feeding lines, provides two separate effective bandwidths. The proposed antenna achieves the operation bandwidths of a global positioning system (GPS) and satellite digital audio radio (SDAR) service system. To excite the even and odd modes for bandwidth enhancement, a rectangular patch was embedded in the vertical segment of the L-shaped open slot, thereby forming a coplanar-waveguide topology. An additional rectangular patch was placed above the open slot to increase the interport isolation performance between the two feeding ports. After optimization, the measurement results indicated that the final open-slot antenna provided −10-dB reflection coefficient (S11) bands from 1.29 to 1.70 GHz for the GPS operation and from 2.09 to 2.56 GHz for the SDAR application. Measured 3 dB axial-ratio bandwidths of the proposed structure were 410 MHz (28.5%) from 1.23 to 1.64 GHz and 430 MHz (18.4%) from 2.12 to 2.55 GHz for right- and left-hand circular polarization, respectively.

In-plane compression modulus and strength of Nomex honeycomb cores

The stress-strain response and deformation mechanism of a range of Nomex honeycomb cores tested under in-plane compression has been examined experimentally. The cores with a thin wall displayed extensive bending deformation of the cell walls inclined to the horizontal (loading is vertical) and failed in bending. The cores with thicker walls failed by a shear-type instability of the cells indicated by tilting of vertical cell wall segments. The failure strain decreased with increasing core density. The modulus and compressive strength of the core were compared to micromechanical predictions. Normalized modulus and strength values varied between the various cores. The average modulus and strength results allow backing out of the modulus and bending strength of the Nomex paper. The results were in reasonable agreement with published tensile test results and composite micromechanics.

Remarks on the regularity of quasislits

A quasislit is the image of a vertical line segment \([0, iy]\), \(y > 0\), under a quasiconformal homeomorphism of the upper half-plane fixing \(\infty\). Quasislits correspond precisely to curves generated by the Loewner equation with a driving function in the Lip-\(\frac{1}{2}\) class. It is known that a quasislit is contained in a cone depending only on its Loewner driving function Lip-\(\frac{1}{2}\) seminorm, \(\sigma\). In this note we use the Loewner equation to give quantitative estimates on the opening angle of this cone in the maximal range \(\sigma <4\). The estimate is shown to be sharp for small \(\sigma\). As consequences, we derive explicit Hölder exponents for \(\sigma < 4\) as well as estimates on winding rates. We also relate quantitatively the Lip-\(\frac{1}{2}\) seminorm with the quasiconformal dilatation and discuss the optimal regularity of quasislits achievable through reparametrization.

A rare case of aberrant facial nerve course in the mastoid segment

Facial nerve is the main motor supply to the part of facial skeleton system responsible for expressions. The reported rate of iatrogenic injury to the facial nerve in primary mastoid surgeries was 0.6% to 3.7%. Temporal bone is one of the most complex anatomical parts of human body. A variety of facial nerve courses has been described in literature. Normally, horizontal segment of the facial nerve traverses from geniculate ganglion to second genu which is usually situated medial and inferior to lateral semicircular canal. From here it passes posteriorly and laterally along the medial wall of the middle ear. Mastoid or vertical segment extends from the second genu to stylomastoid foramen deep to tympano-mastoid suture line from where the nerve exits out of the temporal bone. During our endoscopic dissection we encountered a grossly anomalous course of facial nerve in which after turning at second genu, the nerve curves posteriorly and lies in the floor of mastoid cavity and traverse’s its whole length of mastoid and instead of moving out of foramen it travels towards sinus plate and then takes another (3rd) turn to travel anteriorly towards the tip of mastoid from where it finally exits.

Gross and Micro-Anatomical Study of the Cavernous Segment of the Abducens Nerve and Its Relationships to Internal Carotid Plexus: Application to Skull Base Surgery.

The present study aims to provide detailed observations on the cavernous segment of the abducens nerve (AN), emphasizing anatomical variations and the relationships between the nerve and the internal carotid plexus. A total of 60 sides underwent gross-anatomical study. Five specimens of the AN were stained using Sihler’s method. An additional five specimens were subjected to histological examination. Four types of AN course were observed: a single nerve along its entire course, duplication of the nerve, division into separate rootlets at the point of contact with the cavernous part of the internal carotid artery (ICA), and early-branching before entering the orbit. Due to the relationships between the ICA and internal carotid plexus, the cavernous segment of the AN can be subdivided into a carotid portion located at the point of contact with the posterior vertical segment of the cavernous ICA and a prefissural portion. The carotid portion of the cavernous AN segment is a place of angulation, where the nerve always directly adheres to the ICA. The prefissural portion of the AN, in turn, is the primary site of fiber exchange between the internal carotid plexus and either the AN or the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus.

Foliar Stoichiometry is Marginally Sensitive to Soil Phosphorus Across a Lowland Tropical Rainforest

The distribution of nutrients, both vertically and horizontally in a forest, has long been theorized to influence primary productivity. Working at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, we gathered the most comprehensive foliar samples to date for a lowland tropical rainforest to measure horizontal and vertical trends in foliar nutrients. The mean traits of foliage from forest floor to top-of-canopy were determined at 45 plots placed across the landscape in a stratified random design. Area-basis foliar N and P for these vertically integrated columns varied by a factor of 3, while foliar N:P and mass-basis foliar N and P varied by a factor of 2. The variance in plot-level foliar N:P and P was best explained by total soil P, while variance in foliar N was best explained by soil pH (regression trees: r2 $$\ge $$ 0.20, p $$\le $$ 0.01). Other soil, topographic, and forest structure factors offered no additional explanatory power for variation of foliar nutrients from plot to plot. To explore vertical trends, we aggregated the data across the landscape into ~ 2 m vertical segments. We found that foliar N:P was unrelated to height in the canopy, and that area-basis foliar N and P increased with height in the canopy (linear regression: r2 = 0.82 and r2 = 0.65 respectively, p < 0.0001 for both). We compared these vertical trends to those of the eight other elements quantified in the leaves, and the only other element enriched with height was potassium (K). Vertical nutrient enrichment was driven by increases in leaf mass per area (LMA), not mass-basis concentrations. Altogether, these findings suggest that, even in diverse tropical rainforests, foliar chemistry may reflect environmental constraints.

Which can explain the pip-and-pop effect during a visual search: Multisensory integration or the oddball effect?

In a dynamic search task, participants were instructed to search for a visual target among various distractors. An auditory stimulus presented in synchrony with a color change of the visual target can improve the efficiency of the search, which is known as the pip-and-pop effect. Some researchers have suggested that the underlying mechanism of this effect is multisensory integration, while others have thought it is due to an oddball stimulation that attracts attention. Utilizing the eye movement technique, we conducted 3 experiments to investigate the pip-and-pop effect and its causes. In Experiment 1, we used a static search paradigm and controlled for the presence or absence of sound cues when the visual target was presented. It turned out that sound had no effect on a static search; that is, no pip-and-pop effect was found. In Experiment 2, we used a dynamic search paradigm in which the participants were instructed to search for vertical or horizontal line segments among various directional distractor segments and as the color of individual segments changed randomly during the stimulus presentation, with and without the sound cue. We found that the pip-and-pop effect was present. The irrelevant sound reduced the mean fixation number and expanded the mean saccade amplitude. In Experiment 3, we also used a dynamic search paradigm and controlled the frequency of synchronization between the sound and the target color change. There were 3 types of sound conditions: No-sound, 1-sound, and 2-sound. The results suggest that as the frequency of synchronization between the sound and the target color change increases (2-sound condition), the pip-and-pop effect also increases. Therefore, we propose that the pip-and-pop effect is more likely to result from the attention attracted by oddball stimuli than from the multisensory integration of synchronized auditory-visual stimuli. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

The Thickness of the facial Nerve Sheath Consistently Varies by Region in Its Intra-Tympanic Course on Cadaveric Study.

Iatrogenic removal of intra-temporal disease processes, such as cholesteatoma and keratosis obturans, can be challenging when the facial nerve (FN) is involved. Despite this concern about possible FN injury during these procedures, our clinical observation has been that the diseased growth can be cleaned quite easily from the vertical FN epineurium. Therefore, we designed a cadaveric protocol to measure thickness of the FN sheath (epineurium) in horizontal, second genu and vertical FN segments and to correlate these measurements with surgical management of FN disorders. Fifty non-fixated (wet) cadaveric temporal bones were dissected over 1 year's time. The intra-temporal FN sheath epineurium was harvested from the mid-horizontal, second genu, and mid-vertical segments. Using a digital micrometric technique, the thickness of each sample was measured. Data analysis was performed using student's two-tailed, dependent t-test. Epineurial nerve sheath thickness was the least in the horizontal segment (mean 0.9 mm, range 0.040-0.140 mm), greater at the second genu (mean 0.19 mm, range 0.010-0.280 mm), and greatest in the vertical segment (mean 0.29 mm, range 0.170-0.570 mm). These differences were statistically significant. In cases of cholesteatoma and keratosis obturans involving the vertical FN, the disease process can be separated from the FN sheath because of the sheath thickness in this region. Disease in the horizontal segment involves a thinner sheath and separating the disease process from the nerve is more difficult in this area.

Review on Seismic Behaviour of Diagrid Structure with Conventional Structure

The major forces that acts on any structure and which can be the cause of major disasters are earthquake and wind. Many researches all over the globe found that tall structures are more vulnerable to disasters as compared to smaller structures And are the major sources of social, environmental degradation after disaster. To minimize the effect of these major forces mentioned above we need to develop such techniques to make structures more resistant thereby minimizing the damage to the society and minimize environmental degradation. For any structure which is going to be constructed strength should be given outmost importance. Advances in development innovation, materials, underlying frameworks and insightful techniques for investigation and configuration worked with the development of tall structures. Underlying model of tall structures is represented by sidelong loads because of wind or quake. Parallel burden opposition of design is given by inside underlying framework or outside primary framework. Generally shear divider center, supported casing and their mix with outlines are inside framework, where parallel burden is opposed by midway found components. While outlined cylinder, supported cylinder underlying framework oppose parallel burdens by components gave on outskirts of design. It is vital that the chose underlying framework is to such an extent that the primary components are used adequately while fulfilling plan prerequisites. As of late diagrid underlying framework is embraced in tall structures because of its primary productivity and adaptability in building arranging. Contrasted with firmly dispersed vertical segments in outlined cylinder, diagrid structure comprises of slanted sections on the outside surface of building. Because of slanted segments sidelong loads are opposed by pivotal activity of the corner to corner contrasted with twisting of vertical segments in outlined cylinder structure. Diagrid structures for the most part don't need center since horizontal shear can be conveyed by the diagonals on the outskirts of building.

The Short-Term to Midterm Follow-Up of Patients with Hirayama Disease After Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

Surgical treatment is widely used to treat patients with Hirayama disease (HD). However, postoperative follow-up with abundant samples is still scarce. This study investigated short-term to midterm clinical outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) among patients with HD. We enrolled 115 patients with HD who had undergone ACDF. Radiographic parameters included cervical lordosis (CL), sagittal vertical axis, segment lordosis (SL), T1 slope (T1S), T1S minus CL, range of motion (ROM), upper/lower adjacent segment ROM, and upper adjacent SL. Electrophysiologic parameters included the maximal compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) of abductor digit minimi and abductor pollicis brevis, the latency of the ulnar nerve F reaction, and abnormal spontaneous action potentials. Clinical assessment included the selected brief-Michigan Hand Questionnaire and Odom scale. The average age was 19.5 ± 4.5 years. The mean follow-up time was 16.35 ± 9.21 months. CL, SL, and T1S increased, whereas sagittal vertical axis and ROM decreased at the final follow-up (P < 0.001). Upper adjacent SL, upper adjacent ROM, and lower adjacent ROM were stable after ACDF (P > 0.05). The maximal CMAPs of abductor digit minimi and the latency of the ulnar nerve F reaction improved bilaterally (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significance in the maximal CMAPs of abductor pollicis brevis (P > 0.05). Abnormal spontaneous action potentials reduced remarkably. The selected brief-Michigan Hand Questionnaire score increased after surgery (P < 0.001). The Odom scale showed a ratio of 79.1% (excellent and good ratio). This study showed favorable radiologic, electrophysiologic, and clinical outcomes after ACDF among patients with HD.

Structural characteristics and storage control function of the Shun I fault zone in the Shunbei region, Tarim Basin

The Shunbei region, situated in the Tarim Basin, exhibits exploration potential. Previous exploration experience suggests that the Shun I strike-slip fault zone plays an important role in reservoir formation and hydrocarbon accumulation. In this study, based on the interpretation of three-dimensional seismic data, the structural characteristics of the Shun I strike-slip fault zone were identified. This study revealed that the Shun I strike-slip fault zone is characterized by vertical stratification, plane segmentation, multiple evolution staging, and heterogeneity of storage control. Influenced by tectonic activities during five periods, namely the early Caledonian, middle Caledonian, late Caledonian-early Hercynian, late Hercynian, and Indosinian-Himalayan periods, the Shun I strike-slip fault zone mainly developed high-angle strike-slip faults and en echelon normal faults during the Paleozoic. The Mesozoic–Cenozoic developed primarily small-scale extensional faults without spatial coupling with underlying strike-slip faults. The Shun I strike-slip fault zone consists of both hydrocarbon migration pathways and hydrocarbon traps. High-quality reservoirs generally develop along faults. Fractures in the damage zone of the Shun I fault control the formation of reservoir space. The Shun I strike-slip fault zone exhibits distinct segmentation characteristics. The Shun I strike-slip fault zone can be divided into nine segments of three types: vertical, pull-apart, and push-up. The discontinuity along the strike of the Shun I strike-slip fault zone partially controls the heterogeneity of the reservoir distribution, thus affecting reservoir connectivity. The nature of different segments of the strike-slip fault zone controls the scale and quality of reservoir development and restricts the formation of oil and gas reservoirs. Three types of oil control models were established for the Shun I strike-slip fault zone. Our findings indicate that the central main fault plane of the vertical segment pattern is the richest in hydrocarbons. Oil and gas accumulation along the fault plane of the flower structure in the pull-apart or push-up segments.

Collision detection algorithm for MIRADAS

Mid-resolution Infrared Astronomical Spectrograph (MIRADAS) is a near-infrared multi-object echelle spectrograph for Gran Telescopio de Canarias. It selects targets from a 5-arc min field of view using up to 12 deployable probe arms with pick-off mirror optics. The focal plane where the probe arms move has a diameter around 250 mm. The specific geometry of the probe arms requires an optimized collision detection algorithm for the determination of the target assignment and the trajectories determination. We present the general polygonal chain intersection algorithm, which is used to detect the possible collisions and avoid them. It is a generalization of the Polygonal Chain Intersection algortihm, allowing to work with vertical segments, providing a solution for the intersection of any class of polygons. Its use has reduced the time required to detect the collisions between 3 and 4 times compared with a naive solution when used in MIRADAS.

Transformations of the Domain-Wall Fine Structure in the Course of Magnetization Change Processes in Co(0001) Film

The domain structures in the Co(0001) film with a thickness of 200 nm containing Bloch lines are studied in this work using the 3D micromagnetic modeling method. It is shown that Bloch lines include Bloch points in the cases when the domain walls are vortex-like. The transformation processes of domain structures containing Bloch lines are considered in the course of the film magnetization to saturation and subsequent decrease in the magnetic field to the zero value (for the fields lying either in the film plane or along the normal to the film). The configurations of magnetization in Bloch lines are analyzed. It is demonstrated that Bloch lines with both vertical and horizontal segments arise upon the application of magnetic field forming some angle with the film plane.

DEMO double null architectural study

DEMO is a key part of the EU fusion roadmap, and the programme reaches the end of the pre-conceptual phase with a gate review in 2020. As part of the work to complete this phase, eight Key Design Integration Issues (KDII’s) have been identified as critical to the programme. Two of these KDII’s identified a requirement for a more detailed architectural study. Within KDII#3 (advanced divertor configurations) a double null configuration has been developed; in parallel KDII#4 (vertical segment architecture) identified a need to evaluate a split breeding blanket architecture. These two requirements were combined into a single study that assesses the in-vessel architecture for a double null DEMO featuring split breeding blankets.This paper presents the configurations developed and an evaluation of their feasibility with respect to integration of key in-vessel components (breeding blankets, divertors), port hardware (service pipes, shielding, vacuum pumping), and maintenance strategy. Furthermore, wider considerations such as the impact of the port orientation on the building architecture are also included. Finally, this paper will identify the risks and further work required to advance the double null configuration.