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We study the problem of obtaining lower bounds for polynomial calculus (PC) and polynomial calculus resolution (PCR) on proof degree, and hence by [Impagliazzo et al. '99] also on proof size. [Alekhnovich and Razborov'03] established that if the clause-variable incidence graph of a conjunctive normal form (CNF) formula F is a good enough expander, then proving that F is unsatisfiable requires high PC/PCR degree. We further develop their techniques to show that if one can "cluster" clauses and variables in a way that "respects the structure" of the formula in a certain sense, then it is sufficient that the incidence graph of this clustered version is an expander. We also show how a weaker structural condition is sufficient to obtain lower bounds on width for the resolution proof system, and give a unified treatment that highlights similarities and differences between resolution and polynomial calculus (PC) lower bounds. As a corollary of our main technical theorem, we prove that the functional pigeonhole principle (FPHP) formulas require high PC/PCR degree when restricted to constant-degree expander graphs. This answers an open question in [Razborov'02], and also implies that the standard CNF encoding of the FPHP formulas require exponential proof size in polynomial calculus resolution (PCR). Thus, while onto-FPHP formulas are easy for polynomial calculus, as shown in [Riis'93], both FPHP and onto-PHP formulas are hard even when restricted to bounded-degree expanders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the notion of a hedgehog in non-Euclidean geometry is introduced. More specifically, the case of 2-dimensional spaces of constant curvature is considered and, in particular, spherical hedgehogs are defined in elliptic geometry and two different notions of hedgehogs in hyperbolic geometry are studied, namely, g-hedgehogs and h-hedgehogs, which extend, respectively, the corresponding well-known notions of g-convex and h-convex curves. The construction of these curves by support functions is discussed and some relations and properties are derived. Moreover, an extended notion of a width is provided for non-Euclidean hedgehogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between preoperative cervical intervertebral foramen width and area and the persistence of postoperative pain in patients diagnosed with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR). Methods: Patients were divided into two groups, based on their pain relief at the 6-month postoperative follow-up: the pain relief group and the persistent pain group. We compared various parameters, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), duration of symptoms, preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, Neck Disability Index (NDI) score, postoperative ratio of disc space distraction, preoperative width of the intervertebral foramen (WIVF), and area of the intervertebral foramen (AIVF) between the two groups. Binomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the factors affecting pain relief. Results: Significant differences were observed in preoperative WIVF, AIVF, duration of symptoms, preoperative NDI scores, and the ratio of disc space distraction between the two groups (all P < 0.05). Regression models indicated that symptom duration, preoperative NDI score and ratio of disc space distraction were negatively associated with pain relief, whereas preoperative WIVF and AIVF were positively associated with pain relief. Conclusion: Preoperative WIVF and AIVF may be linked to persistent postoperative pain in patients with CSR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The piriform aperture (PA) is a midface structure that forms the anterior skeletal boundary of the nose. It is highly variant due to its physiological adaptations to the climate. Its variations are useful in forensic identification and reconstructive surgeries of the face. This study aimed at determining the PA’s dimensions and their accuracy in sex determination. Materials and Methods: The PA’s dimensions were retrospectively examined using 336 (199 males and 137 females) adult cranial computed tomography images in the database of the radiology unit of a university teaching hospital in Delta State, Nigeria, following institutional authorization. The aperture’s index was calculated as a ratio of height to width. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 23. The sexual dimorphism in the parameters was assessed using an independent t-test. Association among the continuous variables was analyzed by Pearson’s correlation test. P = 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The percentage accuracy for correct sex prediction was assessed using the discriminant function analysis. Results: A significant relationship between dimensions with sex was observed (P < 0.05). The width of the aperture was the best sex-discriminating parameter (70.2%). The overall accuracy for sex discrimination using the aperture’s dimensions was 75.0%. Conclusion: This study provides the standard ranges for the PA’s width and height, valuable for surgical planning. These dimensions were sexually dimorphic and demonstrated an acceptable overall accuracy of correct sex allocation (75%). Consequently, this aperture may be utilized as a supplementary tool in conjunction with other methods for sex determination within studied population.

This research primarily aims to investigate the implementation measures of the New Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 in Slovenia, focusing on preserving and restoring riparian zones along rivers. Agricultural landholders near watercourses are obligated by the Water Act with the GAEC 4 standard to establish riparian areas as protective strips, with precise widths of 15 meters for first-order watercourses, 5 meters for second-order watercourses, and 3 meters for drainage ditches exceeding 2 meters in width. These protective strips are limited to vegetation comprising grass, clovers, alfalfa, indigenous plants, shrubs, or trees, with strict prohibitions on organic and mineral fertilizer use and plant protection products. Slovenia has approximately 13 471 hectares of riparian land, mainly with intensive agricultural use. The most extensive cultivatable riparian areas along primary and secondary watercourses are predominantly found in Slovenia's northeastern and northwestern regions. The case study focuses on a farmer cultivating land in the riparian areas adjacent to the Sotla River. The Sotla River, located at Croatia's border, is classified as a first-order watercourse. For the case study, main crop yield reduction and land area loss in the New Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 were calculated. On protective strips, the analyzed farm, which cultivates 104 hectares of land, experienced a loss of 6.4 hectares, which accounts for 6.2% of cultivated land, and the total loss of income on first- and second-order areas in 2023 amounts to 7 448,0 €.

Potential prosthetic space refers to the three-dimensional space corresponding to the edentulous gap available for prosthetic restoration. Failure to accurately assess potential prosthetic space may result in the fabrication of aesthetically and structurally compromised prostheses, ultimately leading to patient dissatisfaction. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential prosthetic space parameters in partial edentulism. Material and methods: We examined 87 patients from Constanța County, between January 1 and August 31, 2024. The included patients had partial edentation on at least one of the dental arches. In each patient, both arches were preliminarily imprinted with alginate in standard trays and the intermaxillary relationships were also determined and recorded. The study models were mounted in the occlusal device and the parameters characterizing the potential prosthetic space were measured. Results: The age group most affected by partial edentulism is between 50-60 years old (39.08%). The present study revealed a higher prevalence of mandibular edentulism compared to maxillary edentulism. Kennedy Class III was identified as the most frequent pattern of partial edentulism across all age groups in both the maxillary and mandibular arches. The height of the prosthetic space was most affected by secondary shrunken due to abrasion or coronal destruction of the teeth bordering the edentulous gap (27.59%). Also, the amplitude of the potential prosthetic space was most frequently reduced by versions or corporal migrations of the teeth bordering the edentulous gap (49.43%), and the width of the potential prosthetic space was most frequently reduced by atrophy of the alveolar ridge (35.63%). Conclusion. Secondary tooth wear and destruction were the primary factors limiting the height of the potential prosthetic space. Tooth tipping and migration were the main causes of reduced amplitude of the potential prosthetic space. Alveolar ridge atrophy was the most significant factor affecting the width of the potential prosthetic space. These findings underscore the importance of accurate assessment of potential prosthetic space to ensure successful treatment outcomes.

The paper proposes an approach to lower bounds for the expectation of the maximum of a Gaussian process based on classical results from the geometry of convex bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf size is closely related to photosynthesis and greatly affects rice productivity. Therefore, the search for quantitative trait Locus (QTL) that regulates leaf size is important for improving productivity through rice breeding. The F9 recombinant inbred line (RIL) population from the cross between ‘Unbong 40’ (large leaves) and ‘Odae’ (ordinary size leaves) was grown in a test field, and the size traits of the flag leaves and 2nd leaves, along with stem and panicle length, were measured. Through QTL analysis of these traits, we detected 20 QTLs on chromosomes 1, 3, 6, 9, 11, and 12. In particular, the flag leaf length QTL qFLL3, the flag leaf area QTL qFLA3, the 2nd leaf length QTL q2LL3-2, and the 2nd leaf area QTL q2LA3 were clustered in the 149.0-161.6 cM region of chromosome 3, indicating that one QTL gene in this region may have pleiotropic effects that regulate the flag leaf length, flag leaf area, 2nd leaf length, and 2nd leaf area. In addition, the flag leaf width QTL qFLW9 and 2nd leaf width QTL q2LW9 were clustered in the 2.1-22.86 cM region on chromosome 9, which suggests that one QTL gene in this region may have pleiotropic effects that regulate both the flag leaf width and 2nd leaf width. These results serve as a valuable reference for breeding programs aiming to increase photosynthesis and yield by identifying QTLs for leaf size traits in Korean japonica rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) are interrelated conditions that exacerbate each other through mechanisms like fluid retention, neurohormonal activation, and inflammation. Red blood cell distribution width (RDW), a measure of red blood cell size variability, has emerged as a potential prognostic marker in HF. This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of RDW in HF patients, both with and without CKD, focusing on all-cause mortality and HF rehospitalizations. Methods: This observational retrospective study included 171 patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF in a tertiary university hospital in Greece. Patients were divided into two groups based on their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), as Group 1 (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and Group 2 (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). RDW was measured upon admission, and outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality and HF rehospitalizations over a median follow-up period of 6.1 months. Statistical analyses included Kaplan–Meier survival curves, whereas the discrimination traits of RDW were evaluated by constructing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and by calculating the area under the ROC curve (AUC). A p-value <0.05 was indicative of a statistically important result. Results: Patients in Group 1 (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) were older (80 (73–86) vs. 75 (62–83)) and manifested higher median RDW values (16.6 (15.0–18.8) vs. 15.6 (14.1–17.8)) and received less frequent (57.9% vs. 75%) mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) as compared to those in Group 2 (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2). RDW demonstrated better prognostic value in predicting combined mortality and rehospitalization outcomes in Group 2 patients (area under the curve: 0.70; 95% CI (0.62–0.80)) compared to those in Group 1 (area under the curve: 0.53; 95% CI (0.35–0.72)). No statistically significant differences (p = 0.579) were observed in survival between patients with high (≥15%) and low (<15%) RDW values in the overall population, though trends favored worse outcomes with elevated RDW. Similarly, no significant differences (p = 0.374) were observed in survival between patients with high (Group 2) and low (Group 1) eGFR values. Conclusions: RDW appears to be a meaningful prognostic biomarker for HF patients, particularly in those without CKD. Further multicenter studies are needed to validate its clinical utility and potential for guiding treatment in this high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We answer a question of Bardakov (Kourovka Notebook, Problem 19.8) which asks for the existence of a pair of natural numbers (c , m) with the property that every element in the free group on the two-element set { a , b } can be represented as a concatenation of c , or fewer, m -almost-palindromes in letters a ± 1 , b ± 1. Here, an m -almost-palindrome is a word which can be obtained from a palindrome by changing at most m letters. We show that no such pair (c , m) exists. In fact, we show that the analogous result holds for all non-abelian free groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with linear integer optimization. We develop a technique that can be applied to provide improved upper bounds for two important questions in linear integer optimization. Given an optimal vertex solution for the linear relaxation, how far away is the nearest optimal integer solution (if one exists; proximity bounds)? If a polyhedron contains no integer point, what is the smallest number of integer parallel hyperplanes defined by an integral, nonzero, normal vector that intersect the polyhedron (flatness bounds)? This paper presents a link between these two questions by refining a proof technique that has been recently introduced by the authors. A key technical lemma underlying our technique concerns the areas of certain convex polygons in the plane; if a polygon K⊆R2 satisfies τK⊆K° , where τ denotes 90° counterclockwise rotation and K° denotes the polar of K, then the area of K° is at least three. Funding: J. Paat was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [Grant RGPIN-2021-02475]. R. Weismantel was supported by the Einstein Stiftung Berlin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extrusion of viscous lava produces domes and spines, collapses of which pose a significant local hazard. Understanding extrusion processes and probabilistic hazard estimation require comprehensive datasets of geometric parameters. We introduce Morphology of Viscous Extrusions (MoVE), a collation of 323 observations of height and width from 80 extrusions at 46 volcanoes globally with compositions spanning basaltic through rhyolitic. Filtering this dataset for sample size, age, and time series overrepresentation reduces the composition range to basaltic-andesitic through dacitic, for which we do not identify a statistically significant effect of composition on extrusion geometry. Young (

In the article, in Libyan Jird (Meriones libycus Lichtenstein, 1842) populations (Jeyranchol and Aghdara), the results obtained belonging the dimensions of the external body and skull were investigated in a comparative manner. The materials used were collected in different years and different seasons. It was determined from the investigations conducted that there is no statistically reliable or true difference between the populations according to the body mass, body length, paw length and tail length of these animals. There is a real difference in the male individuals of the populations only due to the height of the ear from the exterior signs. There are reliable differences between the populations in signs as the total length of the skull, the width of the brain capsule, the length of the diastema and the length of the brain part from the cranial dimensions. There are no real differences between the condylobasal length of the skull, the length of the palate, the length of the upper tooth level, the length of the lower tooth level, the width of the cheekbone, the width of the skull, the length of the tympanic bone and the width of the tympanic bone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Let T be a compactly generated triangulated category. In this paper, the width and local homology dimension of an object X with respect to a homogeneous ideal a , width R (a , X) and hd (a , X) , respectively, are introduced. The local nature and some basic properties of width R (a , X) and hd (a , X) are provided. In addition, we give an upper bound and lower bound of width R (a , X) . What is more, we give the relationship between the local homology dimension hd (a , X) and the arithmetic rank of a and dim R . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study is on the development of bipolar plates for proton exchange membrane fuel cells. The warm hydroforming process using an aluminum alloy (AA7075) sheet material was examined. The channel profile (reagent channel width and die upper radius) and bipolar plate geometries (channel layouts-wise) are investigated using finite element (FE) simulations. The chosen aluminum alloy's mechanical and strain behaviors with regard to temperature and strain rate were characterized by initial experiments. The 2D models were created using finite element analysis to define the channel profile. The width of the reagent channel, the die upper radius, and the sheet thickness were all measured using a statistical method. Lastly, the suggested bipolar plate (BP) geometries were tested in 3D using a range of operating temperatures and oil pressures. Finding geometry that might sidestep crucial thinning zones and settings that would work for warm hydroforming were the two main objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the local convergence of critical Galton–Watson trees under various conditionings. We give a sufficient condition, which serves to cover all previous known results, for the convergence in distribution of a conditioned Galton–Watson tree to Kesten's tree. We also propose a new proof to give the limit in distribution of a critical Galton–Watson tree, with finite support, conditioned on having a large width. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a hyperplane H supporting a convex body C in the hyperbolic space H d , we define the width of C determined by H as the distance between H and a most distant ultraparallel hyperplane supporting C. The minimum width of C over all supporting H is called the thickness Δ (C) of C. A convex body R ⊂ H d is said to be reduced if Δ (Z) < Δ (R) for every convex body Z properly contained in R. We describe a class of reduced polygons in H 2 and present some properties of them. In particular, we estimate their diameters in terms of their thicknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the duplex stainless steel is machined using a wire-cut electrical discharge machining process to overcome the issues of poor finishing, lower dimensional accuracy, and rapid wear of cutting tools in conventional machining processes. The higher rate of material removal and superior finish on the machine surface is dependent on kerf loss, which is expressed as the mean kerf width assessed at certain locations. Nevertheless, this approach is typically not effective in explicating the intricacies of true kerf loss due to the random selection of distinctive points. This work proposes an area-based measuring approach to quantify the kerf loss by taking into account any imperfections on the kerf wall. At the pulse on time of 20 μs and current of 3 A, the machining appears not stable. The pulse on time, current, and voltage of 12 µs, 1 A, and 80 V proved suitable for obtaining excellent dimensional precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: There is growing interest in speckle tracking echocardiography‐derived strain as a measure of left ventricular function in neonates. However, knowledge gaps remain regarding the effect of image acquisition and processing parameters on circumferential strain measurements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of using different region of interest (ROI) widths on speckle tracking derived circumferential strain in healthy neonates. Methods: Thirty healthy‐term‐born neonates were examined with speckle‐tracking echocardiography in the short‐axis view. Circumferential strain values were acquired and compared using two different ROI widths. Furthermore, strain values in the different vendor‐defined wall layers were also compared. Results: Increasing ROI width led to a decrease in global circumferential strain (GCS) in the midwall and epicardial layers, the respective decreases in strain being ‐23.4 ±.6% to ‐22.0 ± 1.1%, p <.0001 and 18.5 ± 1.7% to ‐15.6 ± 2.0%, p <.0001. Segmental analyses were consistent with these results, apart from two segments in the midwall. There was no statistically significant effect on strain for the endocardial layer. A gradient was seen where strain increased from the epicardial to endocardial layers. Conclusion: Increasing ROI width led to a decrease in GCS in the midwall and epicardium. There is an increase in circumferential strain when moving from the epicardial toward the endocardial layer. Clinicians wishing to implement circumferential strain into their practice should consider ROI width variation as a potential confounder in their measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mustansiriya Medical Journal (MMJ) is the property of Wolters Kluwer India Pvt Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of China Fiber Inspection / Zhongguo Xian-Jian is the property of China Fiber Inspection and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sharp inequalities between the best approximations of functions analytic in the unit disk are obtained using algebraic polynomials and the moduli of continuity of higher-order derivatives in the Bergman space Based on these inequalities, the exact values of some known -widths of classes of functions analytic in the unit disk are calculated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The micro-channel fabrication in carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite through electrical discharge machining (EDM) process followed by the comprehensive study of dimensional deviation in the conceived micro-channels are presented in this work. The factors namely, voltage (V), tool rotational speed (TRS), and feed rate (FR) were considered for assessing their impact on channel width deviation (CWD). In addition to the variance analysis,, two potential metaheuristic optimizers, the Butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA) and the Spotted Hyena optimization algorithm (SHO) were used to identify the optimal operating parameters of the aforementioned process. The BOA revealed that the optimal process variables were FR = 5.99 µm/s, V = 150 volt, and TRS = 577.08 rpm for a CWD = 74.96 µm. In contrary, SHO revealed that FR = 5.99 µm/s, V = 150 volt, TRS = 542.96 rpm, and CWD = 74.53 µm were the corresponding optimal values. Overcuts were observed in the fabricated micro-channels and a detailed illustration of the mechanism of overcut formation was provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid marbles (LMs) are liquid droplets in gaseous phase, which are generally millimeter size, coated by solid particles. In this study, how wide and high LMs can be fabricated is investigated. Polyhedral LMs are fabricated using polymer plates with millimeter to meter sizes as a stabilizer and water as an inner liquid. Rectangular LMs with widths exceeding 1 m, the largest width ever reported, can be successfully fabricated. The height of the LMs is found to be subject to restriction by the hydrostatic pressure and cubic LMs with heights of up to 5 mm, which is the maximum height limit for LMs stabilized with nano/micrometer‐sized particles, are fabricated. Reduction of the hydrostatic pressure by changing the LM shape from cube to pyramid and introduction of particle‐stabilized bubble into the LM enabled the increase of height of the LM up to 9.8 mm, the highest height ever reported. Investigation using non‐aqueous liquids as an inner liquid confirmed that the longer the capillary length, the higher the maximum possible height of LMs. Finally, the polyhedral LMs are demonstrated to function as a microreactor for silver mirror reaction and chemical oxidative polymerization, resulting in the formation of Janus polymer plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For every hyperplane H supporting a convex body C in the hyperbolic space H d we define the width of C determined by H as the distance between H and a most distant ultraparallel hyperplane supporting C. We define bodies of constant width in H d in the standard way as bodies whose all widths are equal. We show that every body of constant width is strictly convex. The minimum width of C over all supporting H is called the thickness Δ (C) of C. A convex body R ⊂ H d is said to be reduced if Δ (Z) < Δ (R) for every convex body Z properly contained in R. We show that regular tetrahedra in H 3 are not reduced. Similarly as in the Euclidean and spherical spaces, we introduce complete bodies and bodies of constant diameter also in H d . We show that every body of constant width δ is a body of constant diameter δ and a complete body of diameter δ . Moreover, the two last conditions are equivalent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Construction Technology is the property of Railway Construction Technology Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Given a grid of cells, each of which is assigned a numerical value quantifying its suitability for a certain use, one problem in geographic information science concerns the selection of a region, i.e. a connected set of cells, with a specified size that maximizes the sum of all their values. This task can be cast as a combinatorial optimization problem called the maximum value region problem, and exact and heuristic methods exist for its solution. While those solutions are guaranteed to be feasible (if not optimal), they may not be desirable for practical use if they contain too narrow segments (down to the width of a single cell). In this paper, we present a new variation of the maximum value region problem—the maximum value wide region problem—that requires a region to be at least as wide as a specified width. We offer a heuristic method for its solution which models a region as a set of neighborhoods and test its performance through computational experiments. Results demonstrate that the method generates good feasible solutions in terms of connectedness, size, width, and value, but requires more computing time than methods for maximum value regions without minimum width requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research on the cause of lateral patellar dislocation (LPD) has focused on trochlear morphologic parameters, joint alignment, and patellofemoral soft tissue forces. A paucity of information is available regarding how patellar morphologic parameters influence the risk for LPD. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose was to assess whether patellar morphology is a risk factor for recurrent LPD. It was hypothesized that (1) patients with recurrent LPD would have decreased patellar width and volume and (2) patellar morphologic parameters would accurately discriminate patients with recurrent LPD from controls. Study Design: Cohort study (diagnosis); Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 21 adults with recurrent LPD (age, 29.7 ± 11.1 years; height, 170.8 ± 9.9 cm; weight, 76.1 ± 17.5 kg; 57% female) were compared with 21 sex- and height-matched controls (age, 27.2 ± 6.7 years; height, 172.0 ± 10.6 cm; weight, 71.1 ± 12.8 kg; 57% female). Three-dimensional axial fat-saturated magnetic resonance imaging scans were used to measure patellar medial, lateral, and total width; patellar volume; patellar medial and lateral facet length; the Wiberg index; and previously validated knee joint alignment and femoral shape measurements (eg, tibial tuberosity to trochlear groove distance, trochlear dysplasia). Results: The LPD group demonstrated reduced medial patellar width (Δ = −3.6 mm; P <.001) and medial facet length (Δ = −3.7 mm; P <.001) but no change in lateral width or facet length. This resulted in decreased total patellar width (Δ = −3.2 mm; P =.009), decreased patellar volume (Δ = −0.3 cm3; P =.025), and an increased Wiberg index (Δ = 0.05; P <.001). No significant differences were found for all other patellar shape measures between cohorts. Medial patellar width was the strongest single discriminator (83.3% accuracy) for recurrent LPD. Combining medial patellar width, patellofemoral tilt, and trochlear groove length increased the discrimination to 92.9%. Conclusion: The medial patellar width was significantly smaller in patients with recurrent LPD and was the single most accurate discriminator for recurrent LPD, even compared with traditional trochlear shape and joint alignment measures (eg, trochlear dysplasia, patella alta). Therefore, medial patellar morphology should be assessed in patients with LPD as a risk factor for recurrence and a potential means to improve treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding the yarn cross-section parameters of woven fabric is essential to assess various fabric specifications and re-engineer it for specific end-use. This research focuses to assess the height, width, and other parameters of the elliptical yarn cross-section of woven fabrics through the new methodology. The earlier studies stated that the up and down interlacement of the yarn influences the parameters of the elliptical yarn cross-section. Hence this research studies the Elliptical Cross-Section of the yarn through the orthogonal fabric. Because in orthogonal fabric, the weft series stay straight. The samples of orthogonal weaves are produced using different counts of weft yarns. The thicknesses of orthogonal fabrics are estimated. The method of calculating the height of yarn from the thickness of the orthogonal fabric is evolved. The height of different counts of weft yarns used in weaving the orthogonal fabrics is calculated. From the height of the yarn, the width of the yarn is calculated. The height and width of the yarn are compared with the diameter. The comparison shows that the cross- section of the yarn remains elliptical in the fabric. The equations for calculating the flattening and bulging percentages are derived. It is observed that these two percentages are equal. It shows that when the yarn cross-section becomes elliptical in the fabric, the amount of flattening makes the yarn get bulge to the same amount in its width. The constant of height and constant of width are also derived. These constants are equated with the constants of diameter. The study also derived the equation to calculate the height and width of the elliptical cross-section of the given yarn count using the constants. The height, width, and diameter of different yarn counts are compared. The increase/decrease in flattening percentage between the coarser-finer yarns, single-2 ply yarns, and single-folded yarns are examined. The interpretation of the results gives practical proof for many theoretical concepts. The study also evolved the method of calculating the unknown parameters of the given yarn from the known parameters of another yarn, by weaving the orthogonal fabric using both the yarns. It is suggested that the height and width of yarn assessed from the thickness are used to assess the other specifications viz. crimp percentage, cover percentage, and GSM of the fabrics. From all these specifications, the performance of multi-layer orthogonal structures can be ascertained to produce stack reinforced composite industrial preforms with desired tensile stiffness, thickness and strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diffusion of trace elements in mining wastelands has attracted widespread attention in recent years. Vegetation restoration is an effective measure for controlling the surface migration of trace elements. However, there is no field evidence of the effective riparian zone width in mining wastelands. Three widths (5 m, 7.5 m, and 10 m) of Rhododendron simsii/Lolium perenne L. riparian zones were constructed in lead–zinc mining wastelands to investigate the loss of soil, cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). Asbestos tiles were used to cut off connections between adjacent plots to avoid hydrological interference. Plastic pipes and containers were used to collect runoff water. Results showed that more than 90% of trace elements were lost in sediment during low coverage and heavy rainfall periods. Compared with the 5 m riparian zone, the total trace element loss was reduced by 69–85% during the whole observation period in the 10 m riparian zone and by 86–99% during heavy rain periods in the 10 m riparian zone, which was due to reduction in runoff and concentrations of sediment and trace elements in the 10 m riparian zone. Indirect negative effects of riparian zone width on trace element loss through runoff and sediment concentration were found. These results indicated that the wide riparian zone promoted water infiltration, filtered soil particles, and reduced soil erosion and trace element loss. Riparian zones can be used as environmental management measures after mining areas are closed to reduce the spread of environmental risks in mining wastelands, although the long-term effects remain to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anthropometry is of immense importance in human identification and plays a major role in medico legal investigation of demise. Lateral cephalogram provides architectural, morphological details of skull and multiple points for comparison also presents various anatomical landmarks. The study aimed to evaluate morphometric analysis of Maxillary sinus & Sella turcicaparameters in gender determination & age estimation. Methodology: The study included 300 digital Lateral cephalograms of age range 10-40 years divided in to 3 groups & 50 males and 50 females in each age group. Linear measurement was performed for Maxillary Sinus Height, Width and Index & Sella turcica (ST) Length, Depth and Diameter. Results indicated that all the study parameters were found to be statistically significant in determination of age except Sella turcica depth. Maxillary sinus parameters & Sella turcica diameter, length showed significant corelation between age group Group-1 and Group-II. Maxillary sinus width, height& Sella turcica length was found to be statistically significant in determination of gender. Discriminant equation of MS width had highest accuracy of 63.7% in determination of gender. Conclusion: Lateral Cephalogram can be used to determine age and gender using linear measurements of maxillary sinus and Sella turcica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Toachieveanoptimalaestheticinthemaxillaryanteriorteeth,theratioofwidthtolengthoftheseteethisveryimportant.OneofthepracticalproportionsformeasuringthedimensionsoftheseteethistheGoldenStandard.ThisstudyaimstoevaluatetheprevalenceofGoldenStandardinthemaxillaryanteriorteethandexaminesymmetryonbothsidesanditsrelationshipwithgender.Materials&Methods:Thiscross-sectional(descriptiveandanalytical)studywasdoneonKurdistanmedicalstudentsin2019-2020,100gypsumcastswerepreparedfromthemaxillaofstudents.Eachcast’sphotographwastakenunderstandardconditions.ThewidthandlengthofeachtoothweremeasuredwithAdobePhotoshopCS6softwareandcomparedwiththerange%75-%85.Thedatawasanalyzedbyt-testaccordingtothesideandgender.Inthisstudy,pvalue=0.05wasconsideredsignificant.Results:Thewidth-to-lengthratioofmaxillaryanteriorteethwasintherangeof0.82to0.91inmenand0.84to0.9inwomen.Inthecomparisonoftherightandleftsides,themostasymmetrywasrelatedtothecaninesofmen,andthelowestasymmetrywasrelatedtothecentralincisorandcanineofwomen.Nosignificantdifferenceduetosexwasdetected,excepttheleftcanine(pvalue=0.01),whichwassignificantlyhigherinwomenthanmen.Conclusion:DuetothelowprevalenceofGoldenStandard,insteadoffocusingonafixednumericalratio,theharmonyofanteriorteethdimensionswithotherfacialandjawratiosshouldbeacriterionfordeterminingdimensionsoftheseteeth.

Alberta’s boreal forest is extensively dissected by different energy sector activities, especially the creation of linear features such as seismic lines, pipelines, and transmission lines. Linear features vary substantially from one another in terms of time since disturbance, vegetation recovery, and levels of human use. Linear feature width has great potential to influence songbirds but is not currently incorporated into provincial-scale bird models used for regulatory decision making. We conducted passive acoustic bird surveys for three types of soft linear features ( n = 156): seismic lines (width: 4–8 m) and pipelines and transmission lines (width: 15 to ~100 m) in upland deciduous and mixedwood forests. We assessed responses of individual bird species and changes in species richness using generalized linear models and evaluated community composition and structure with non-metric multidimensional scaling. Wider linear features (e.g., pipelines and/or transmission lines) had higher species richness compared to areas with narrow linear features, such as seismic lines. Species composition on wider linear features was dominated by early seral species and species that prefer shrubby vegetation and open habitats relative to narrow features. Species have a range of different threshold responses, such that the abundance of some species increases or decreases beyond certain threshold widths. We concluded that linear feature width is an important driver in shaping songbird communities, and highlight the importance of considering width in understanding and managing the impacts of energy sector linear features on boreal songbirds.

Abstract Liquid marbles (LMs) are liquid droplets in gaseous phase, which are generally millimeter size, coated by solid particles. In this study, how wide and high LMs can be fabricated is investigated. Polyhedral LMs are fabricated using polymer plates with millimeter to meter sizes as a stabilizer and water as an inner liquid. Rectangular LMs with widths exceeding 1 m, the largest width ever reported, can be successfully fabricated. The height of the LMs is found to be subject to restriction by the hydrostatic pressure and cubic LMs with heights of up to 5 mm, which is the maximum height limit for LMs stabilized with nano/micrometer‐sized particles, are fabricated. Reduction of the hydrostatic pressure by changing the LM shape from cube to pyramid and introduction of particle‐stabilized bubble into the LM enabled the increase of height of the LM up to 9.8 mm, the highest height ever reported. Investigation using non‐aqueous liquids as an inner liquid confirmed that the longer the capillary length, the higher the maximum possible height of LMs. Finally, the polyhedral LMs are demonstrated to function as a microreactor for silver mirror reaction and chemical oxidative polymerization, resulting in the formation of Janus polymer plates.

Burden is one of the major influencing blast design parameters which should be optimised for the extraction of narrow vein ore bodies. Numerical simulation-based approach has been used for the optimisation of burden in this paper. Different models were prepared under varying parametric conditions including width of the vein, blasthole diameter and burden. The RHT concrete constitutive model was used for the analysis of damage contour. The volume of the excavated rock along the free face (EV) was quantified from the model output in all the scenario. The study showed that EV initially increases with the increase in burden for a particular width of vein. Furthermore, EV starts decreasing after a point termed as pivot point. The value of burden at this pivot point was considered as optimal in this study. The best fit curve between EV and burden for three blasthole diameter and seven different width of vein were plotted. In all instances, the outputs of the model followed the second-degree polynomial equation. The study also suggests that the optimum burden reduces with the increase in the width of the vein. It has also been found that the optimum burden follows power trend with the increase in width of the ore body irrespective of blasthole diameter. Based on the optimum burden obtained from the output of simulation along with different blasthole diameter and width of the ore body, an empirical relationship has been established. The developed empirical relationship has a good agreement with the experimental trial data. Highlights: Numerical simulation technique has been used in this paper for the optimisation of burden while extraction of narrow vein stopes. The study suggest that the relation of volume of the excavated rock along the free face and burden is second-degree polynomial in nature. It has been found that the optimum burden for narrow vein is higher as compared to wider width ore body. Study also suggest that optimum burden follows power trend with the increase in width of ore body. The influence of width of the ore body in the selection of burden vanishes after certain width of ore body as per the observation of model output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Mango, a climacteric fruit, faces significant losses in the supply chain due to damages, resulting in a substantial waste of approximately 30% of the production. Among widely marketed varieties, the 'Palmer' cultivar stands out due to its flavor and coloration. The efficiency in the transportation and storage of these fruits is intricately linked to various attributes, especially their physical characteristics. In this context, the present study conducted a biometric evaluation of 145 'Palmer' mangoes harvested in Coxim, Mato Grosso do Sul. Parameters such as weight, length, width, and thickness of the fruits were analyzed using a semi-analytical balance and caliper. The results revealed that the mangoes produced in Coxim weigh around 396 g, with a length of 13 cm, width of 8 cm, and thickness of 7.5 cm. These measurements are smaller than the commercially marketed fruits of the same variety but larger than those of the Espada, Rosa, and Van Dyke varieties. Additionally, all analyzed variables showed a positive correlation, indicating that as one variable increases, the others also increase. This underscores the importance of special care in handling fruits throughout the supply chain, given their density of 0.534 g/cm² and extensive contact area. These findings emphasize the pressing need for improvements in packaging, transportation, and storage processes to reduce losses and waste, thereby contributing to a more efficient and sustainable management in the mango supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined two groups of Bulgarian Rhodopean Cattle with differing genotypes, focusing on their hoof horn qualities and analyzing the effects of both internal and external factors on these traits. Employing a blend of visual, metric, anatomical, and topographical techniques, the research measured various aspects of the cows' hooves, including length, width, overall width, height, and the angle of the hooves on both the front and back legs. These measurements were taken during periods when the cows were housed in barns and while grazing in pastures. The study also calculated the hoof's weight-bearing surface in square centimeters and the ratio of the cow's live weight per unit area of this weight-bearing surface. Results indicated that for both genotypes, cows grazing in pastures had a higher weight-bearing area relative to their live weight. The research highlights the importance of cow mobility for their health, productivity, and longevity. A key finding is that the even growth of the hoof horn, which is crucial for the animal's well-being, depends on how the body weight is distributed across the limbs. Additionally, variations in hoof growth throughout different seasons were noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]