Deep Learning-Based Analysis of Efficiency and Surgical Timing for Patients with Cervical Insufficiency Using Transvaginal Ultrasound Images

Objective. This work aims to analyze the surgical timing and clinical efficacy of transvaginal cervical ring ligation based on the ultrasound image focus detection of patients with cervical insufficiency (CIC) under the ultrasound image theme generation model. Methods. 134 CIC patients who came to the hospital for ultrasound imaging diagnosis were collected. Observation group was treated with cervical cerclage (CC) and the pregnancy outcome was followed up. Control group was treated conservatively. Results. For patients in the control group, average gestational age was 21.12 ± 2.18 weeks, average cervical length (CL) was 15.54 ± 0.42 mm, and average uterine opening width was 3.06 ± 0.63 mm. In the observation group, average gestational age was 24.45 ± 4.12 weeks, average CL was 17.32 ± 4.09 mm, and average uterine opening width was 0.21 mm. There were significant differences between the two groups ( P < 0.05 ). There were also significant differences in the degree of uterine orifice dilation between the two groups ( P < 0.05 ). Pregnancy outcomes of the two groups were compared, and χ2 and P < 0.05 indicated significant differences. Conclusion. Convolution neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory model (LSTM) algorithm were used to classify patients' ultrasound images, which could effectively improve diagnosis and treatment efficiency. Surgical success rate, clinical outcomes, neonatal survival rate, and clinical effect of observation group were better than those of control group. Cervical ligation was best performed before 17 weeks of pregnancy in CIC.

The role of elastic bands (kinesiotapes) in complex therapy of patients with temporomandibular joint osteoarthrosis

Introduction. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthrosis is a chronic disease, characterized by dystrophic and degenerative changes in TMJ with aseptic inflammatory process. The prevelence of TMJ arthrosis in patients with a history of other TMJ disorders varies between 32-39 % of cases. Complex treatment of TMJ arthrosis includes pharmacotherapy, physiotherapy, exercise therapy for TMJ and massage of the masticatory muscles, manual therapy, prosthodontics, but these treatment methods are not always lead to a desired result.The aim of the study is to improve the traditional treament method of patients suffering from TMJ arthrosis by using elastic tapes (kinesiotapes).Materials and methods. 68 patients were examined at the «Galaxy» Beauty Institute Clinic (St. Petersburg) and FSBEI HE SamSMU MOH Russia (Samara). Comparison group of patients was prescribed pharmacotherapy, exercise therapy for TMJ and massage of masticatory muscles, while for the main group of patients the same therapy was enhanced by elastic bands. The effectiveness of therapy was evaluated using a visual-analog pain scale (VAS), mouth opening width and electromyography of the masticatory muscles.Results. Noticeable positive effect in the main group of patients was observed on the 21th day of treatment. By this time patients noticed significant decrease in pain intensity from 8,77±0,8 to 5,19±0,5 (Z1-4=-5,88; p1-4=0,0015) points as well as increase in mouth opening width from 21-23 to 33-35 mm. Similar changes in the comparison group of patients were achieved only by the beginning of fifth week of treatment (Z1-6=-5,58; p1-6=0,0015). The range of mouth opening width increased from 21-23 to 27-29 mm. Amplitude of masticatory muscles biopotentials in maximum intercuspation in patients of the main group almost approached to the normal results by the beginning of the fourth week. In patients of the comparison group the amplitude of masticatory muscles biopotentials remained reduced even by the end of observations (42 day of the study).Conclusion. Thus, the combination of elastic bands applications with conventional treatment methods of TMJ arthrosis greatly increases the effectiveness of therapy and allows to relief pain and normalize bioelectric activity of masticatory muscles in a relatively short time. Due to the simplicity of elastic bands application it is possible to teach patients the technique of self-applying bands and recommend to use them as a prevention of relapse of TMJ arthrosis.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF DEFORMABILITY AND FRACTURE RESISTANCE OF AIRFIELD SLABS ON MODELS

The results of experimental studies of deformability and crack resistance of models of aerodrome slabs made of reinforced concrete and steel-fiber concrete, made on the basis of serial slab PAG-18 taking into account the scale factor, are presented. Two series of slabs were tested - two models of reinforced concrete and two models with one-percent dispersed reinforcement. The load was applied in steps, the instrument readings were recorded twice at each step and the crack opening width was measured starting from the moment of the first crack formation. Dial gauges, deflectometer and microscope MPB-3 were used as measuring instruments. In accordance with the normative documents acting in Ukraine, one of two possible loading schemes was considered - with the loading by the concentrated force applied in the span part of a plate which had a hinged support along its short sides. Plate models were tested on a specially made stand. Each load step ended with a five-minute dwell time, at the beginning and the end of which readings were taken on the measuring instruments. The deformations at the same levels were measured with dial gauges. The process of crack formation was observed with a Brinell tube in the places of the greatest crack opening. Breaking load for fiber concrete slab was 1.52 times higher than for reinforced concrete slab, and the moment of cracking initiation was 1.22 times higher. The process of cracking in the fiber concrete slab begins at higher loads than in the reinforced concrete slab. The initial crack opening width of the slabs is almost the same, and the final crack opening width of all the cracks in the fiber concrete slab is significantly lower than in the reinforced concrete slab. The deformations in steel-fiber concrete slabs when the load is applied in the span, both for compressed and stretched fibers, are higher than in reinforced concrete slabs. The experimental studies indicate that dispersed reinforcement of airfield slabs with steel fiber leads to their higher crack resistance.

Model of normal cracks level formation and opening in stretched reinforced concrete elements

The article highlights the most important studies results of the mechanism of normalcracks formation and opening in stretched reinforced concrete elements during their deformation. Acritical analysis of the existing methods and ways for calculating normal cracks level formation andopening, in which the reinforcement to concrete adhesion is taken into account directly or indirectly,is carried out. The main advantages and disadvantages of each of these methods are indicated. It hasbeen experimentally confirmed that the crack formation process is generally leveled. The mainfeatures and patterns of cracking in stretched reinforced concrete elements and structures arerevealed. The main characteristics of the prototypes are given, according to the test results of whichit was established that in practical calculations of the reinforced concrete elements crack resistance,it is usually possible to restrict oneself to two levels of normal cracking. For the indicated crackinglevels, the corresponding load level, step and crack opening width are established. The expediencyof using in practical calculations the nonlinear function of the reinforcement with concrete averageadhesion stresses is also substantiated. Based on the studies results carried out, the existing methodsfor calculating the normal cracks formation and opening in reinforced concrete elements andstructures were evaluated from the standpoint of local disadvantage of the reinforcement to concreteadhesion.General and simplified methods for calculating normal cracks level formation and opening inreinforced concrete elements have been developed. In them, the direct integration of the expressionfor the concrete and reinforcement mutual displacements is proposed to be replaced not by thenumerical integration of the indicated expression, but by the successive accumulation of the indicateddisplacements. Corresponding statistical comparisons of the calculations results by these methodswith experimental data are carried out. The effectiveness of the developed methods for calculatingnormal cracks level formation and opening by comparing them with existing methods is estimated.

STUDY ON FILLING PERFORMANCE OF HOLE FERTILIZATION DEVICE AND OPTIMIZATION OF CAVITY

Hole fertilization is an effective method to improve the utilization rate of chemical fertilizer. In order to improve the accuracy and stability of the amount of fertilizer discharging for the hole fertilization device, this paper proposed the method of rotary filling by notched disk, designed a hole fertilization device with notched disk, and completed the structure design of the device and cavity. Through the dynamic analysis of fertilizer particles in the process of fertilizer filling, this study found that the interface span of fertilizer cavity, the rotational speed of fertilizer disk, and the amount of fertilizer applied in each hole are the main factors affecting the performance of filling. Then, this study carried out the three-factor quadratic orthogonal rotation combination simulation test to optimize the structure of the cavity. The test used the discrete element method with interface span of fertilizer cavity, the rotational speed of fertilizer disk, and the amount of fertilizer applied in each hole as test factors and the accuracy and variation coefficient of filling amount as evaluation indexes. Results showed that the optimal performance was obtained when the cross section span of the cavity was 13.58°, the opening width was 29.56 mm, and the depth was 22.08 mm. The field validation showed that the average accuracy of filling amount per hole was 97.67%, and the average variation coefficient was 1.90%. The performance of fertilizer discharge satisfied the design requirements, and agreed with the law of the simulation results. The research results could provide a theoretical basis for the design of hole fertilization device and the improvement of filling performance.

Design of Grating Al2O3 Passivation Structure Optimized for High-Efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells

In this paper, we propose an optimized structure of thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells with a grating aluminum oxide (Al2O3) passivation layer (GAPL) providing nano-sized contact openings in order to improve power conversion efficiency using optoelectrical simulations. Al2O3 is used as a rear surface passivation material to reduce carrier recombination and improve reflectivity at a rear surface for high efficiency in thin CIGS solar cells. To realize high efficiency for thin CIGS solar cells, the optimized structure was designed by manipulating two structural factors: the contact opening width (COW) and the pitch of the GAPL. Compared with an unpassivated thin CIGS solar cell, the efficiency was improved up to 20.38% when the pitch of the GAPL was 7.5–12.5 μm. Furthermore, the efficiency was improved as the COW of the GAPL was decreased. The maximum efficiency value occurred when the COW was 100 nm because of the effective carrier recombination inhibition and high reflectivity of the Al2O3 insulator passivation with local contacts. These results indicate that the designed structure has optimized structural points for high-efficiency thin CIGS solar cells. Therefore, the photovoltaic (PV) generator and sensor designers can achieve the higher performance of photosensitive thin CIGS solar cells by considering these results.

Clinical and Instrumental TMJ Evaluation in Children and Adolescents with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Case—Control Study

To investigate temporomandibular joint (TMJ) involvement signs such as muscle pain, the ratio of masseter and temporal muscle activity, mouth opening width and jaw deviation during mouth opening in children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a group of 32 subjects with JIA and a control group of 32 healthy subjects were evaluated. Data were collected clinically by muscle palpation (masseters, anterior temporalis and sternocleidomastoids) and instrumental analysis (electromyography and kinesiography). Higher pain was registered in the masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscles on both sides and in the right anterior temporalis in the JIA group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Electromyography showed no statistically significant difference in the frequency of the pathological ratio of masseter and temporal muscle activity (MM/TA < 1) both in the JIA group and in the control group. Kinesiography showed a statistically significant difference in mouth opening width and jaw deviation during mouth opening between the groups (p < 0.05): JIA subjects showed lower mouth opening values and wider deviation on mouth opening; 29 out of 32 JIA subjects showed jaw deviation towards the right side. JIA affects the TMJ, causing myalgia in the head and neck muscles, a reduction in mouth opening width and an increase in jaw deviation during mouth opening.

Investigation into the Thermal Behavior and Loadability Characteristic of a YASA-AFPM Generator via an Improved 3-D Coupled Electromagnetic-Thermal Approach

The objective of this paper is to investigate the thermal behaviour and loadability characteristic of a yokeless and segmented armature axial-flux permanent-magnet (YASA-AFPM) generator, which uses an improved 3-D coupled electromagnetic-thermal approach. Firstly, a 1-kW YASA-AFPM generator is modelled and analysed by using the proposed approach; the transient and steady-state temperatures of different parts of the generator are determined. To improve the modelling accuracy, the information is exchanged between the thermal and electromagnetic models at each step of the co-simulation, considering both the accurate calculation of losses and the impacts of temperature rise on the temperature-dependent characteristics of the materials. Then, by using the proposed approach, the impact of the slot opening width and the turn number of stator segments on the generator loadability are investigated. After that, the experimental tests are performed. The results reveal the effectiveness and accuracy of the approach to predict the machine loadability and thermal behavior.

The effect of shadow conditions on stomatal characters of several plants used in landscape design

The present study aims to determine the changes in stomatal characters of several plants depending on the shadow conditions. Within this scope, the leaf samples were collected from Platanus orientalis, Cercis siliquastrum, Eonymus japonica, Cotoneaster franchettii, and Buxus sempervirens species grown in open spaces. Scales images of leaf samples were taken using Scanning Electron Microscope and measurements were performed on these images in order to determine the micro-morphological characteristics such as stoma length (µm), stoma width (µm), pore opening length (µm), and pore opening width (µm) in the statistical analyses. The changes of these characteristics depending on the species, individuals, and shadow conditions were determined. The results showed that the differences in stomatal characteristics were statistically significant only between the individuals, whereas the effects of light and individual were statistically non-significant.