Asymmetric Structures of a Squall-Line MCS over Taiwan with Significant Hydraulic Jumps

On 19 April 2019, a mature squall-line mesoscale convective system (MCS) with the characteristics of a leading convective line and trailing stratiform landed on Taiwan, resulting in strong gust wind and heavy rainfall. This squall-line MCS became asymmetric after landfall on Taiwan. Two sets of idealized numerical simulations (mountain heights and low-level vertical wind shear) using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model were conducted to examine the impacts of realistic Taiwan topography on a squall-line MCS. Results showed numerous similarities between the idealized simulations and real-case observations. The low-level Froude number which considered the terrain height (Fmt) was calculated to examine the blocking effect of the Taiwan terrain, and the cold pool (determined by − 1.5 K isotherm) was found to be completely blocked by the 500-m height contour. The northeast-southwest orientation of the Snow Mountain Range (SMR), and the north–south orientation of the Central Mountain Range (CMR) led to the upwind side asymmetry. On the other hand, the lee-side asymmetry was associated with different intensities and occurrence locations of the hydraulic jump between the SMR and southern CMR, and the cold-pool Froude number (Fcp) indicated the flow-regime transition from subcritical to supercritical.

Different Drop Heights in Bilateral Asymmetry and Interjoint Coordination during Repetitive Drop-Jumps

The difference of drop heights will affect the biomechanics of lower extremities during drop-jump (DJ) landing. Therefore, this study explored the effects of drop heights and training volumes on interjoint coordination and the side-to-side asymmetry of the lower extremities during landing. Twenty males were randomly assigned to perform 200 DJs (DJs200) from 30, 40 and 50 cm (drop-jump height (DJH) 30, DJH40 and DJH50) platform. One-way ANOVA repeated measure, using MATLAB software, was used to compare the differences of interjoint coordination, side-to-side asymmetry of ground contact time (GCT) and the maximum impact in vertical ground-reaction forces peak (I-vGRFpeak) in the 1st, 50th, 100th, 150th and 200th jumps (DJ1, DJs50, DJs100, DJs150 and DJs200). To examine whether significant differences exist, the least significant difference’s (LSD) method was used for post-hoc comparison. The mean absolute relative phase (MARP) and deviation phase (DP) of hip–knee were lower than DJH50 at DJH30 and DJH40, while side-to-side asymmetry of GCT and I-vGRFpeak were greater than DJH30 and DJH40 at DJH50 within DJs200 (all p <0.05). However, there was no significant difference in MARP and DP of hip–ankle and knee–ankle. Therefore, training at DJH30 may effectively improve jumping performance and reduce musculoskeletal injury risk.

Effects of shoe weight on landing impact and side-to-side asymmetry

Shoes of different weights affect proprioception. Drop jump (DJ) tasks are often used to explore the risks and mechanisms of lower limb injuries. Leg dominance mainly refers to differences between the dominant and nondominant legs. Eight males and eight females participated in this study. The weights of the shoes in this investigation were 255 g, 335 g, and 415 g, and the heights of the DJ were 30 cm, 40 cm, and 50 cm. The side-to-side asymmetry of the time of contact initiation for the 30DJ was greater than that of the 40DJ and 50DJ, and the asymmetry for shoes weighing 415 g and 355 g was greater than that for shoes weighing 255 g. When the drop height increased, the side-to-side asymmetry of the peak ground reaction force (PGRF). also increased. The ground contact time increased as the drop height increased to 50DJ. Higher drop heights caused greater side-to-side asymmetry of the PGRF. Heavier shoes caused the peak ground reaction force time (PGRFT) in the nondominant leg to appear earlier, reduced the jump height and affected the performance. Heavier shoes caused greater side-to-side asymmetry at the initial ground contact and at the ground contact time, affecting training effectiveness.

Orbital volume, ophthalmic sequelae and severity in unilateral coronal synostosis

Purpose Unilateral coronal synostosis (UCS) results in an asymmetrical skull, including shallow and asymmetrical orbits, associated with reduced orbital volume and high prevalences of ophthalmic sequelae. Aim is to link orbital volumes in patients with UCS to severity according to UCSQ (Utrecht Cranial Shape Quantifier) and presence of ophthalmic sequelae. Methods We included preoperative patients with UCS (≤ 18 months). Orbital volume was measured on CT scans by manual segmentation (Mimics software (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium)), and severity of UCS was determined by UCSQ. Orbital volume of affected side was compared to unaffected side using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Orbital volume ratio was calculated (affected/unaffected volume) and compared to the category of UCSQ by Kruskal-Wallis test. Opthalmic sequelae were noted. Results We included 19 patients (mean age 7 months). Orbital volume on affected side was significantly lower (p = 0.001), mean orbital volume ratio was 0.93 (SD 0.03). No significant differences in group means of orbital volume ratio between different levels of severity of UCSQ were found (Kruskal-Wallis H (2) = 0.873; p > 0.05). Ophthalmic sequelae were found in 3 patients; one had adduction impairment and strabismus (mild UCS), one had astigmatism (moderate UCS), and one had abduction impairment (on both ipsi- and contralateral side) and vertical strabismus (severe UCS). Conclusion No association between orbital volume ratio and severity of UCS was found. Side-to-side asymmetry in orbital volume was noted. No association between either preoperative orbital volume ratio or severity of UCS and the presence of preoperative ophthalmic sequelae was found.

Hypertrophy of Lumbopelvic Muscles in Inactive Women: A 36-Week Pilates Study

Background: The use of Pilates in various fields of sport sciences and rehabilitation is increasing; however, little is known about the muscle adaptations induced by this training method. Hypothesis: A standardized Pilates training program for beginners (9 months; 2 sessions of 55 minutes per week) will increase the muscle volume and reduce potential side-to-side asymmetries of the quadratus lumborum, iliopsoas, piriformis, and gluteus muscles (gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus). Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Method: A total of 12 inactive, healthy women (35.7 ± 5.4 years) without previous experience in Pilates were randomly selected to participate in a supervised Pilates program (36 weeks, twice weekly). Muscle volume (cm3) was determined using magnetic resonance imaging at the beginning and end of the intervention program. Side-to-side asymmetry was calculated as [(left – right volume) × 100/right volume]. Results: Small, nonsignificant ( P > 0.05) differences in the volume of the quadratus lumborum, iliopsoas, piriformis, and gluteus muscles were observed between pre– and post–Pilates program timepoints. Before and after Pilates, side-to-side asymmetry was less than 6% and nonsignificant in all muscles analyzed. Conclusion: Modern Pilates performed twice weekly for 9 months did not elicit substantial changes in the volume and degree of asymmetry of the selected lumbopelvic muscles in inactive women. Clinical Relevance: The benefits of Pilates in rehabilitation or training are likely elicited by neuromuscular rather than morphological adaptations. Pilates has no significant impact on muscle volume and does not alter side-to-side ratios in muscle volume (degree of asymmetry) of the lumbopelvic muscles.

Proximal Femoral Asymmetry in Japanese Patients before Total Hip Arthroplasty

Templating is an important and established step in the preoperative planning process of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in order to select the size and position of the implant. In severely arthritic cases, the unaffected contralateral side is sometimes used as a reference to reconstruct morphological parameters of the planned implantation (ipsilateral) side, for example the femoral offset, the leg length or the antetorsion. Recent studies have shown that a significant side-to-side asymmetry of important proximal femoral parameters already exists in healthy subjects questioning the validity of the contralateral side as a reference. However, if preoperative asymmetry is larger than asymmetry in healthy subjects, preoperative planning can still make use of the contralateral side to target a postoperative result within the range of physiological asymmetry. Therefore, the specific objective of this study was to quantify the preoperative side-to-side asymmetry of five important morphological parameters of the proximal femur. Significant side-to- side differences between the ipsilateral side and the contralateral side were detected for the antetorsion, the offset, the neck length and the femoral length. The antetorsion is significantly higher for the ipsilateral side whereas offset, neck length and femoral length are significantly smaller. Mean and maximum difference in antetorsion is almost twice as high for the THA patients in comparison to healthy subjects. The same trend can be observed for the femoral length, less pronounced also for the caput-collum-diaphyseal angle. The comparison of proximal femoral side-to-side differences for subjects before THA and healthy subjects leads to the conclusion that contralateral templating can be a reasonable basis for THA planning of severely arthritic hips if the contralateral side shows no signs of osteoarthritis or developmental dysplasia.

The Source and the Course of the Articular Branches to the T4-T8 Zygapophysial Joints

Objective To define the source and the course of the articular branches to the midthoracic zygapophysial (“z”) joints. Design Cadaveric dissection. Setting The Gross Anatomy Laboratory of the Duke University School of Medicine. Subjects Ten human cadaveric thoraces. Methods Gross and stereoscopic dissection of dorsal rami T4-T8 was performed bilaterally on 10 adult embalmed cadavers. The medial and lateral branches were traced to their origins from the dorsal rami, and the course of the articular nerves was documented through digital photography. Radio-opaque wire (20 gauge) was applied to the nerves. Fluoroscopic images were obtained to delineate their radiographic course with respect to osseous landmarks. Results Forty-eight inferior articular branches were identified. Three (6.3%) originated from the medial branch and 44 (91.7%) from the dorsal ramus. One was indeterminate. Fifty-one superior articular branches were identified. Eight (15.7%) originated from the medial branch and 43 (84.3%) from the dorsal ramus. In 12% of cases (6/50), there was side-to-side asymmetry in the origins of the articular branches. Nerves were commonly suspended in the intertransverse space. The articular branches contacted an osseous structure in only 39% of cases. As previously reported, a “descending branch” was not identified in any specimen. Conclusions Articular branches to the T4-T8 z-joints have substantial inter- and intraspecimen variability of origin. They typically arise from the dorsal ramus rather than the medial branch and frequently do not contact any osseous structure to allow percutaneous needle placement.