In-utero Diagnosis of Double Encephalocele - Imaging Features and Review of Literature

Encephalocele is protrusion of brain parenchyma through a defect in the cranium. It is classified into various types based on the defect location: sincipital (fronto-ethmoidal), basal (trans-sphenoidal, spheno-ethmoidal, trans-ethmoidal, and spheno-orbital), occipital and parietal. Double encephaloceles are very rare with only a handful of cases reported in the literature and most of these cases involved either occipital or sub-occipital region. All, except one, cases of double encephaloceles were diagnosed postnatally. We present a case of double encephalocele with parietal and occipital components diagnosed in utero. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of double encephalocele involving the parietal and occipital skull bones diagnosed in-utero.

Universal Application of Load Board (L/B) and Socket with Direct Current Tester (DCT) for Various Packages

We develop a new workflow with O/S tester (Direct Current Tester, DCT) to detect quickly the defect location of failure packages, which can be used in the semiconductor industry for E-FA (Electrical Failure Analysis) fault localization for short, leakage, and open defects. This paper introduces the capability and presents two case studies identifying the defect location of solder balls where DCT with defect mapping function is useful as a non-destructive analysis technique. In this paper, the new methodology and application of DCT on open and short defects in various packages with different sizes have been presented. The experimental results of the design testing program and an intender tooling were verified for the accuracy of the defect mapping function in determining the pin location to defect.

Predictors of the surgical outcome of propeller perforator flap reconstruction, focusing on the effective safe distance between the perforator and the wound edge

Background Soft tissue defects in the distal third of the leg and malleolus are difficult to cover and often require free tissue transfer, even for small-sized defects. Propeller flaps were designed as an alternative to free tissue transfer, but are reportedly associated with high complication rates. The aim of our study was to assess our institutional experience with the propeller flap technique and to predict its outcome in lower-limb reconstruction. Methods All patients who had undergone propeller flap reconstruction of a distal leg defect between 2013 and 2018 were included. Demographic, clinical, and follow-up data were analyzed. Results Complications occurred in 17 of 82 propeller flaps (20.7%), comprising 11 cases of partial necrosis and six of total necrosis. There were no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index smoking, diabetes mellitus, and soft tissue defect sites between the groups of patients with versus without flap necrosis (p > 0.05). In univariate analysis, there were also no significant differences between these two groups in the length and width of the fascial pedicle, and the ratio of the flap length to the flap width (p > 0.05). Interestingly, there were significant differences between the two groups in the distance between the flap perforator, the shortest distance from the perforator to the defect location, and the rotation angle of the flap (p < 0.05). In multivariable logistic regression analysis with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), the shortest distance from the perforator to the defect location was a significant risk factor for flap complications (p = 0.000; OR = 0.806). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that when the shortest distance from the flap to the wound was less than 3.5 cm, the necrosis rate of the flap was markedly increased (AUC = 76.1); this suggests that the effective safe flap–wound distance was 3.5 cm. Conclusions Propeller flaps are a reliable option for reconstruction in carefully selected patients with traumatic defects of the lower limb and malleolus. We found that the effective safe distance was 3.5 cm from the flap to the wound.

A Study on The Effect Of Defect Location On Stress In Bending Pipe

In this study, the stress that generated when the first or second root of a corrugated pipe is defective is analyzed. The model is analyzed using F.E.M. code. The boundary conditions of deflection or torsion on the opposite side of the defect in the corrugated pipe are changed. The effect of the defect is evaluated using the change of the stress magnitude and the stress concentration factor(K) according to those conditions. As a result of comparing the stress magnitude, K around the flaw at the secondary root is larger than K around the flaw at the first root. Based on the position of the defect, the stress difference in the 1st root increases depending on the boundary condition of bending deflection. However, when the 2nd root is defective, the stress magnitude is similar in both cases regardless of the bending deflection. The magnitude of the stress generated in the corrugated pipe is the highest when the second root is defective. And the stress magnitude is the lowest when there is no defect. In the absence of defects, the stress gradually increases after the stress reaches the minimum value as the amount of deformation increases. However, if there is a defect, stress continues to increase, and when it passes through the plastic zone, the stress gradually increases.