Effect of Chêneau style braces on vertebral wedging amongst individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis

Background: It is generally accepted that braces can stop curve progression but little evidence exists regarding structural improvement in the spine using spinal bracing. Our study aimed to investigate the possible structural improvements of vertebral wedging with high correction bracing.Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess whether spinal brace treatment may influence vertebral wedging in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).Method: We reviewed our database according to the following inclusion criteria: girls with a diagnosis of AIS, Risser 0–2, age 10–14 years with Cobb angles greater than 35°. Our study cohort consisted of 27 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria with an average brace wearing time of 16.6 h per day and Cobb angles between 36° and 79°. The target value for our study was the apical vertebra wedging, measured twice before brace treatment commenced and twice after the average follow-up period of 20.5 months of treatment.Results: The average apex wedging noted before brace wearing started was 9.8° (median: 9) and after a period of 20.5 months of brace wearing, it had reduced to an average of 5.8° (median: 4.9), (p 0.001). This would indicate a structural correction of 44%.Conclusions: Our study supports the hypothesis that spinal high correction braces improve the degree of vertebral wedging in skeletally immature girls with AIS.Clinical implications: Structural corrections of the apical vertebra seem possible when high correction asymmetric braces are used in the treatment of patients with AIS.

Research of dampher system damage physical processes of synchronous machines rotor

The physical processes in the damper system of the rotor with the appearance of a static eccentricity of the rotor for two types of salient-pole synchronous machines - a capsule hydrogenator SGK 538/160-70M with a capacity of 22 MW and a synchronous generator with a capacity of 500 kW were investigated by means of mathematical modeling. A field mathematical model has been developed that takes into account the combined action of three physical fields of different nature: electromagnetic, temperature and field of thermomechanical stresses, and makes it possible to evaluate the heating and three-dimensional distribution of thermomechanical stresses in the structural elements of the rotor damper system of a salient-pole synchronous machine. These physical processes cause gradual destruction of the structure of the rotor damper system. It is proved that the primary cause of degradation and damage of the damping system of the rotor of an open-pole synchronous machine is the uneven distribution of induced currents in the rods at the poles of the rotor, which occurs when the machine works asynchronously or with the appearance of rotor static eccentricity. The largest induced currents and heat occur in the rods located at the edges of the pole pieces, while the central rods at the pole are heated significantly less. This asymmetric heating of the damping system of the rotor leads to significant thermomechanical stresses in the elements of the damping system of the rotor, which significantly depend on the magnitude of the eccentricity and slippery of the rotor in asynchronous mode. The magnitude of the total thermomechanical stresses in the rods is influenced not only by axially directed forces but also by transverse forces in the end short-circuiting elements. At considerable slippery and eccentricities there are inadmissibly big breaking forces which break cores and face short-circuiting elements of a damping system of a rotor. According to the results of the analysis, the heating and thermomechanical stresses of the structural elements were determined and recommendations for its structural improvement were given.

Alleviation of Osteoarthritis-Induced Pain and Motor Deficits in Rats by a Novel Device for the Intramuscular Insertion of Cog Polydioxanone Filament

The importance of skeletal muscles in the development of osteoarthritis (OA) is known. However, in OA, strengthening the muscle is arduous process. This study investigated the effects of muscle enhancement and support therapy (MEST), a novel device for the intramuscular insertion of cog polydioxanone filament intended to hold and stimulate surrounding muscles, on OA-induced symptoms. In our results, the MEST attenuated OA-induced pain and mobility limitations, as evidenced by increases in withdrawal thresholds, rearing duration and travelled distance in an open cage, and fall latency from rotarod. It further restored atrophic rectus femoris muscle (RFM) in OA animals by increasing mass, decreasing nucleus density, and increasing the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers. Decreased collagen and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in OA animals were restored without affecting the interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in RFM. No evidence of structural improvement in the knee was observed via computed tomography after MEST. These results suggest that MEST in the quadriceps is effective for relieving pain and motor impairment in knee OA animals by restoring atrophic muscles, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for OA symptom management.

Efficacy and cost-effectiveness of Stem Cell injections for symptomatic relief and strUctural improvement in people with Tibiofemoral knee OsteoaRthritis: protocol for a randomised placebo-controlled trial (the SCUlpTOR trial)

IntroductionKnee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a highly prevalent disabling joint disease. Intra-articular stem cell therapy is increasingly being used for treating KOA with little high-quality evidence to support its use. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells (Cymerus MSCs) for treating symptomatic tibiofemoral KOA and improving knee structure over 24 months.Methods and analysisThe Stem Cell injections for symptomatic relief and strUctural improvement in people with Tibiofemoral knee OsteoaRthritis study is a phase III, multi-centre, parallel, superiority, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, which will be conducted in Sydney and Hobart, Australia. 440 participants (220 per arm) aged over 40 years with painful KOA and mild to moderate structural change on X-ray (Kellgren and Lawrence grade 2 or 3) with medial minimum joint space width between 1 and 4 mm in the study knee will be recruited from the community and randomly allocated to receive either intra-articular MSCs or saline at baseline, week 3 and week 52. The coprimary outcomes will be the proportion of participants achieving patient-acceptable symptom state for knee pain at 24 months and quantitative central medial femorotibial compartment cartilage thickness change from baseline to 24 months. Main secondary outcomes include change in knee pain, Patient Global Assessment, physical function, quality of life and other structural changes. Additional data for cost-effectiveness analysis will also be recorded. Adverse events will be monitored throughout the study. The primary analysis will be conducted using modified intention-to-treat.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been approved by The University of Sydney (USYD) Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) #: 2020/119 and The University of Tasmania (UTAS) HREC #: H0021868. All participants will be required to provide informed consent. Dissemination will occur through conferences, social media, and scientific publications.Trial registration numbersAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620000870954); U1111-1234-4897.

Process-Induced Modifications on Quality Attributes of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) Flour

Cassava flour (CF) is a suitable representative and one of the easiest shelf-stable food products of the edible portion of the highly perishable cassava root (Manihot esculenta Crantz). The quality and type of CF are dependent on processing variables. Broadly categorized into fermented and unfermented CF, unfermented CF is white, odorless, and bland, while fermented CF has a sour flavor accompanied by its characteristic odor. The use of fermented CF as a composite is limited because of their off-odors. Modifications in CF processing have given rise to prefixes such as: modified, unmodified, gelatinized, fortified, native, roasted, malted, wet, and dry. Consumed alone, mostly in reconstituted dough form with soups, CF may also serve as a composite in the processing of various flour-based food products. Fermenting with microorganisms such as Rhizopus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae results in a significant increase in the protein content and a decrease in the cyanide content of CF. However, there are concerns regarding its safety for consumption. Pre-gelatinized CF has potential for the textural and structural improvement of bakery products. The average particle size of the CF also influences its functional properties and, subsequently, the quality of its products. Cassava flour is best stored at ambient temperature. Standardizing the processing of CF is a challenge because it is mostly processed in artisanal units. Furthermore, each variety of the root best suits a particular application. Therefore, understanding the influence of processing variables on the characteristics of CF may improve the utilization of CF locally and globally.

Influence of Composition and Technological Factors on Variatropic Efficiency and Constructive Quality Coefficients of Lightweight Vibro-Centrifuged Concrete with Alkalized Mixing Water

Alkalization technology and its application to obtain high-performance concrete compositions is an urgent scientific problem that opens opportunities for improving building structures. The article is devoted to the new technology of manufacturing reinforced concrete structures with low energy consumption, resource, and labor intensity based on the improved variatropic configuration of vibro-centrifuged concrete using activated water with high pH. The synergistic effect of the joint use of the proposed novel solutions has been theoretically and experimentally proved. Thus, growth in physical and mechanical characteristics of up to 15–20% was obtained, the structure and its operational ability were improved (the effectiveness of structural improvement, expressed as a percentage, reached values over 70%, concerning control samples). A positive effect on the properties of vibro-centrifuged concrete over the entire thickness of the annular section has been revealed. A method for controlling the integral characteristics of concrete has been obtained. The possibility of regulating the variatropic structure and controlling the differential characteristics of vibro-centrifuged concrete has been established. An assessment of the constructive quality and variatropic efficiency of vibro-centrifuged concrete was carried out, and new calculated dependencies were proposed, expressed in the form of relative coefficients.

Recent Patents on Ball Bearing

Background: Ball bearings are widely used in industry. They are core components of mechanical equipment. The research on the structural improvement of ball bearings is beneficial to enhancing the performance of bearing. Comparing with traditional structure, novel ball bearing has brought a lot of advantages and solved many problems in the working. Objective: The study aims to report the latest research on the structure of ball bearings and provides a reference for scholars and engineers. Methods: This paper reviews various representative patents related to ball bearings in principal aspects, such as lubrication, sealing, temperature, vibration, noise, and intelligence. Results : Through retracing the characteristics of different types of ball bearings, the main existing problems in the current situation are summarized and analyzed. The future development of patents on the structure of ball bearing is discussed. Conclusion: The structural improvement of ball bearing is conducive to the development of bearing technology. Ball bearings with characteristics of simple structure, intelligence and integration will have a good prospect in the future.