SSOP Three-Dimensional Reconstruction of Tibia and Fibula for Applications in Biomechanical Fracture Models

Context: Non-fatal injuries represent a public health issue. Among them, lower limb fractures have a large impact on the costs related to orthopedic treatments. In this work, a three-dimensional reconstruction of the tibia and fibula was performed for biomechanical applications with the purpose of defining the 3D reconstruction parameters that allow reducing patients’ radiation exposure and computational costs. Method: For the 3D reconstruction, a computerized tomography taken from a volunteer was used, as well as two software applications specialized in DICOM image reconstruction (Mimics Research and 3DSlicer). The number of images included in the volume was modified, and the results were compared. The quality of the reconstructed volumes was verified by comparing the reference volume reconstructed with the total number of images/slices vs. the modified volumes. The MeshLab software was used for this purpose. The analyzed parameters were the distance differences between the reference and the alternative models, as well as the qualitative curvature analysis. Results: The ANOVA results for the Max (maximum distance between meshes) response shows that software and slices are significant factors. However, the software-slices interaction did not have a significant influence. As for the RMS (root mean square) distance response, software, slices, and the software-slices interaction are not significant. For the Mean distance response, slices and the software-slices interaction are not significant. Nevertheless, software significantly influences the response. These results suggest a potential way to reduce the computational cost and the patient’s radiation exposure in future biomechanical and preoperatory analyses, since the same quality can be obtained by including fewer 2D images in the reconstruction. Conclusions: The reconstructed surfaces are smoother when Mimics is used, even though the same smoothness factor was employed in both software applications during the reconstruction. When 16 slices are used (retained every 16 images from the complete original model), the distance differences increased for both bones (tibia and fibula). For the RMS, reducing the number of slices and using either one of the two applications analyzed would not show any significant differences in the reconstruction, thus allowing the potential reduction of radiation exposure of the patient. Acknowledgements: The authors are grateful to Universidad Nacional de Colombia for funding the project “Estado de esfuerzos en un elemento de osteosíntesis en la consolidación de una fractura de miembro inferior”.

Currently Known Characteristics of Bat Species Represented in Hamburg in Respect of Wind Turbine Casualties

Bats are animals protected by the law, however many become wind turbine related casualties. To estimate the risk from wind turbines, a systematic literature research has been conducted. A total of 6 groups of bat characteristics have been chosen as relevant for the risk estimation: body dimensions, flight height, flight style and speed, foraging space and distance, response to light, and acoustical characteristics of bat calls. Their values have been presented in this paper for the 7 bat species that are represented in the wind park near Hamburg, Germany. Analyzing the values of the known bat characteristics, conclusions about the species with high collision risk possibility have been drawn. However, these conclusions have not always been supported by the statistics of carcass findings at wind parks across Germany, which raises questions, for instance about the degree of influence of certain characteristics above others, and indicates a need for further research.

Toward Rigorous Telecoupling Causal Attribution: A Systematic Review and Typology

Telecoupled flows of people, organisms, goods, information, and energy are expanding across the globe. Causes are integral components of the telecoupling framework, yet the rigor with which they have been identified and evaluated to date is unknown. We address this knowledge gap by systematically reviewing causal attribution in the telecoupling literature (n = 89 studies) and developing a standardized causal terminology and typology for consistent use in telecoupling research. Causes are defined based on six criteria: sector (e.g., environmental, economic), system of origin (i.e., sending, receiving, spillover), agent, distance, response time (i.e., time lapse between cause and effect), and direction (i.e., producing positive or negative effects). Using case studies from the telecoupling literature, we demonstrate the need to enhance the rigor of telecoupling causal attribution by combining qualitative and quantitative methods via process-tracing, counterfactual analysis, and related approaches. Rigorous qualitative-quantitative causal attribution is critical for accurately assessing the social-ecological causes and consequences of telecouplings and thereby identifying leverage points for informed management and governance of telecoupled systems.

PLANT DISTANCE RESPONSE TO GROWTH AND RESULTS OF BUNCIS NUT (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) PLANTS IN VARIOUS SOLID BIOSLURRY DOSAGE

This study aims at 1) to determine the interaction of planting spacing and bioslurry doses on the growth and yield of beans. 2) to determine the effect of planting distance on the growth and yield of beans. 3) to determine the effect of dense bioslurry doses on the growth and yield of beans. The research using Split Plot 2 factorial was repeated 3 times. The first factor is distance (J) which consists of 3 levels, namely: 20x50cm (J1), 20x60cm (J2), 20x70cm (J3). The second factor is a solid bioslurry dose (B) consisting of 3 levels: B1 = 500 kg. Ha-1, B2 = 600 kg. Ha-1, B3 = 700 kg. Ha-1. The results showed that there were interactions between plant spacing and bioslurry doses on the number of pods with the highest yield in J2B3 treatment, ie 59.33, pod weight by plant with the highest yield in J2B2 treatment, namely 390.27 gr / plant and pod weight by plot with the highest yield in J2B3 treatment, which is 5993.75 gr / plo

«22. juli.» Litterære konstruksjoner av et nasjonalt traume

Following the right wing fanatic Anders Behring Breivik’s terrorist attacks on Norway, July 22, 2011, we observe an instant need for literature. These literary responses may be grouped into four main stages. The first is dominated by a collective use of canonical lyrical texts, sung and performed at public ceremonies and funerals. In the second stage, professional authors write and publish newly written poems in newspapers and on the net addressing the grief and the acute call for words in this shocking situation. The third stage represents a short distance response, including the anthology

3D FE Modeling Simulation for Wear in Cold Rotary Forging of 20CrMnTi Alloy

Cold rotary forging is an advanced but complicated metal forming technology with continuous local plastic deformation. Investigating the wear is significant for effectively predicting the life of the dies and improving the workpiece surface quality. This paper is aimed to use the FE method to predict the wear response over the surfaces of the dies and the workpiece in cold rotary forging. For this purpose, a 3D elastic-plastic dynamic explicit FE model of cold rotary forging of 20CrMnTi alloy is developed using the FE software ABAQUS/Explicit and its validity is verified theoretically and analytically. Based on this valid 3D FE model, a systematic study has first been conducted, modeling and explaining the contact pressure and slip distance response. Then, the wear response that occurs at the surfaces of the dies and the workpiece is achieved. Finally, the effect of the process parameters, rotational speed n of the upper die, feed rate v of the lower die, outer/inner diameter of the ring workpiece, on the wear response is revealed. The results of this research help us better understand the complicated wear mechanisms in cold rotary forging. Moreover, the modeling methods proposed in this paper have the general significance to study the wear problems in other complicated metal forming processes.

Finite Element Modeling of Indenter-Sample Contact During Force Imaging of Filled Rubber by Atomic Force Microscopy

Finite element analysis (FEA) models were developed to study the interaction between atomic force microscope (AFM) tips and filled rubber compounds during nano-indentation. The filled systems were represented by simple models consisting of one or two discrete hard domains in a rubber matrix in order to study how such a hard domain at or near the location of an indentation measurement affected the force-distance response. Parameters studied included domain size and shape, lateral position and depth from the indentation location, effect of sample thickness, and the ability to measure modulus variation across “rubber-particle” interfaces. The analyses showed the degree to which the underlying and adjacent sample regions influenced the force-distance response at a given location. The results identified several limitations of force imaging as a characterization technique for filled systems and suggested a basis for the development of more complex FEA models.