Search Results (808)

Background and Objectives: Spinopelvic alignment may affect the outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA), with pelvic version influencing the risk of mechanical complications occurring after surgery. On the other hand, THA surgery itself may contribute to the modification of pelvis version. The sacro-femoro-pubic (SFP) angle is measured on anteroposterior (AP) radiographs of the pelvis in a supine position, and is used to estimate pelvic tilt (PT), representative of pelvic version, which requires lateral views of the sacrum for its calculation; however, these X rays are not routinely performed in the preoperative setting of hip surgery. This study aims to analyze how THA determines changes in the pelvic version of operated patients; the SFP angle will be used to assess pelvic version on standard AP radiographs. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 182 consecutive patients undergoing THA for unilateral primary degenerative hip osteoarthritis (HOA-study group, n = 104) or femoral neck fracture (FNF-control group, n = 78) at the author’s institution. The SFP angle was measured on AP pelvic radiographs of the non-replaced hip preoperatively, postoperatively, and at the last follow-up. PT values were derived from SFP angles. Pre- and postoperative PT and its variations ΔPT were assessed. Study groups were compared in terms of native and postoperative variations of pelvic version. Results: The average absolute value of ΔPT was 2.99° ± 3.07° in the HOA group and 3.57° ± 2.92° in FNF group. There was no significant overall difference in preoperative or postoperative PT values between groups. In both groups, THA surgery led to a certain improvement, still not significant, in pelvic orientation, with FNF patients presenting a greater tendency toward retroversion. No significant differences in complication rates were found comparing patients with different pelvic orientations. Conclusions: THA can lead to a “normalization” of pelvic version in a certain number of patients with preoperative anteversion or retroversion. Although statistically non-significant, this observation may have clinical implications for spinopelvic balance and could support prioritizing THA in patients with concurrent spinal disease. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to evaluate the long-term impact of THA on spinopelvic alignment. Full article

Background/Objectives: Growth prediction may be used by the clinical orthodontist in growing individuals for diagnostic purposes and for treatment planning. This process appraises chronological age and determines the degree of skeletal maturity to calculate residual growth. In developmental deviations, overlooking such diagnostic details might culminate in erroneous conclusions, unstable outcomes, recurrence, and treatment failure. The present review aims to systematically present and explain the available means for predicting growth in humans. Traditional, long-known, popular methods are discussed, and modern digital applications are described. Materials and methods: A search on PubMed and the gray literature up to May 2025 produced 69 eligible studies on future maxillofacial growth prediction without any orthodontic intervention. Results: Substantial variability exists in the studies on growth prediction. In young orthodontic patients, the study of the lateral cephalometric radiography and the subsequent calculation of planes and angles remain questionable for diagnosis and treatment planning. Skeletal age assessment is readily accomplished with X-rays of the cervical vertebrae and the hand–wrist region. Computer software is being implemented to improve the reliability of classic methodologies. Metal implants have been used in seminal growth studies. Biochemical methods and electromyography have been suggested for clinical prediction and for research purposes. Conclusions: In young patients, it would be of importance to reach conclusions on future growth with minimal distress to the individual and, also, reduced exposure to ionizing radiation. Nevertheless, the potential for comprehensive prediction is still largely lacking. It could be accomplished in the future by combining established methods with digital technology. Full article

It is widely acknowledged that there is a similarity between Wittgenstein’s later conception of language and a “religious point of view.” An equally well-received view is that there is an essential shift in Wittgenstein’s thought from early to later. However, what both of these contentions ignore is that there is also a similarity between his early philosophy and the “religious point of view”, the negligence of which has led to an exaggeration of the divergence between his early and later philosophy. This paper aims to show that Wittgenstein in fact conducted his early philosophical work from a “religious point of view” and continued to demonstrate such a view in his later writings. I will first identify some essential characteristics of the “religious point of view” in Wittgenstein’s early philosophy by focusing on the mystical. I will then illustrate how these characteristics continue and are developed further in his later thought. The findings of this paper are critical in two ways: on the one hand, they clarify a host of misunderstandings through a comparative investigation into Wittgenstein’s early and later thought; on the other, they provide a more comprehensive overview of Wittgenstein’s “religious point of view,” which will help to deepen our understanding of his philosophy. Full article

The objective of this study is to measure T2* relaxation time in the triangular fibrocartilage (TFC) disc in asymptomatic volunteers and evaluate its variation with factors such as age, hand dominance, sex, and ulnar variance, using a dedicated MRI sequence. The MRI protocol included anatomical sequences as well as a 3D ultra-short echo time (UTE)-T2* mapping sequence. A linear regression model was used to assess the potential influence of age, sex, and hand dominance on T2* values measured in the TFC disc and to evaluate the correlation between T2* values and ulnar variance. T2* relaxation time was positively correlated with age. The higher T2* relaxation times may reflect early degeneration of the fibrocartilage microstructure, which is associated with both biomechanical factors and the aging process. However, T2* was not significantly influenced by sex or hand dominance, nor was it correlated with ulnar variance (this later being limited by the fact that none of our subject had positive ulnar variance). In conclusion, UTE-T2* is a promising MRI technique showing positive correlation with age in the TFC of healthy subjects. These findings are a first step to establish normative T2* values and will help interpreting deviations observed in patient with suspected pathology in future studies. Full article

Focusing on the legend of Phaedra and Hippolytus as developed in Euripides and Seneca and especially in Racine’s Phèdre and taking into account as well its further development in works by Camillo Boito, Luchino Visconti, and Yukio Mishima, I make the following arguments: (1) Contrary to many theologians and philosophers of love, a pathological form of love that issues in murder and suicide should not be regarded as unworthy of serious attention. Racine’s tragedy provides a catharsis for universal experiences of unrequited love and jealousy, a major human phenomenon. (2) Contrary to Paul Valéry, Phèdre’s love cannot be called merely animal, since the analytical insight she develops into her morbid passion carries tremendous moral force and lies at the origin of the European psychological novel, as launched by Madame de La Fayette a year later. (3) Contrary to François Mauriac, even if she is a heroine of desire or concupiscence rather than of “true love” (in contrast to the relatively innocent affections of Hippolyte and Aricie), the incredible beauty of her language resists such an easy categorization. (4) Study of concrete presentations of “love” in literature confirms that the meaning and use of this word is marked by an irreducible pluralism. Philosophical and theological analysis of love has to come to terms with this. (5) The role of a work of art, in crystallizing archetypical emotions and situations in a way that carries authority, is to provide the middle ground between the abstractions of philosophy on the one hand and the uncontrollable diversity of the empirical on the other. Even psychologies or sociologies of love, which claim to be close to the concrete data, need to be anchored in and corrected by the special concrete vision that only great literature can bring. Full article

The advent of mixed reality (MR) systems has revolutionized human–computer interactions by seamlessly integrating virtual elements with the real world. Devices like the HoloLens 2 (HL2) enable intuitive, hands-free interactions through advanced hand-tracking technology, making them valuable in fields such as education, healthcare, engineering, and training simulations. However, despite the growing adoption of MR, there is a noticeable lack of comprehensive comparisons between the hand-tracking accuracy of the HL2 and high-precision benchmarks like motion capture systems. Such evaluations are essential to assess the reliability of MR interactions, identify potential tracking limitations, and improve the overall precision of hand-based input in immersive applications. This study aims to assess the accuracy of HL2 in tracking hand position and measuring kinematic hand parameters, including joint angles and lateral pinch span (distance between thumb and index fingertips), using its tracking data. To achieve this, the Vicon motion capture system (VM) was used as a gold-standard reference. Three tasks were designed: (1) finger tracing of a 2D pattern in 3D space, (2) grasping various common objects, and (3) lateral pinching of objects with varying sizes. Task 1 tests fingertip tracking, Task 2 evaluates joint angle accuracy, and Task 3 examines the accuracy of pinch span measurement. In all tasks, HL2 and VM simultaneously recorded hand positions and movements. The data captured in Task 1 were analyzed to evaluate HL2’s hand-tracking capabilities against VM. Finger rotation angles from Task 2 and lateral pinch span from Task 3 were then used to assess HL2’s accuracy compared to VM. The results indicate that the HL2 exhibits millimeter-level errors compared to Vicon’s tracking system in Task 1, spanning in a range from 2 mm to 4 mm, suggesting that HL2’s hand-tracking system demonstrates good accuracy. Additionally, the reconstructed grasping positions in Task 2 from both systems show a strong correlation and an average error of 5°, while in Task 3, the accuracy of the HL2 is comparable to that of VM, improving performance as the object thickness increases. Full article

This study aims to explore the associations between menstrual health, lifestyle behaviors, biological traits, and coping strategies among female students at a Vietnamese medical university. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 884 female students across five academic majors. Data on demographics, menstrual patterns, biological characteristics, lifestyle behaviors, and coping mechanisms were collected. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, correlation, and logistic regression to identify significant predictors of self-reported menstrual changes post university admission. Of the 884 participants, 49.8% reported menstrual changes after entering university. Among the lifestyle-related factors, increased daily electronic use (mean = 5.83 h) and later bedtimes (mean = 23:58) were associated with menstrual change (p < 0.01). Older age and higher academic year emerged as significant predictors of menstrual changes (p < 0.001). Additionally, students with blood groups A and B exhibited a higher risk compared to those with group O (p < 0.05), and Rh-positive status was also significantly associated with menstrual changes (p = 0.05). In terms of knowledge and coping practices, students who had premenstrual syndrome awareness since school were significantly less likely to report menstrual changes (p = 0.003). Although use of pain relief, particularly painkillers, correlated with higher reported pain severity, it was not directly linked to menstrual change. On the other hand, clinic consultations were positively associated with menstrual changes (p = 0.003), while students who relied on their mothers as counselors exhibited a protective association (p = 0.001). Menstrual health in university-aged women is influenced by a complex interplay of lifestyle behaviors, biological traits, and menstrual knowledge. Early education and structured coping support may serve as protective factors. The findings call for targeted menstrual health programs in university settings. Full article

Introduction: Successful root canal therapy relies on thorough cleaning and disinfection to eliminate microorganisms and residual pulp tissue. Advanced irrigation activation techniques, including Sonic, Ultrasonic, and Diode Laser activation, have improved cleaning efficacy, bacterial reduction, smear layer removal, and irrigant hydrodynamics. On the other hand, these irrigation activation techniques may lead to a temperature rise that may risk the surrounding periodontal tissue. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the temperature rise during different irrigation activation techniques at various time intervals and evaluate the efficacy of these techniques in removing biofilm-mimicking hydrogel BMH of a simulated root canal system in 3D-printed tooth models. Methods: Ten extracted human mandibular premolars, prepared to size 40/0.04 taper, and a hundred 3D-printed resin premolars with simulated main (0.25 mm) and lateral canals (0.15 mm at 3, 7, 11 mm from apex) were used; 50 of them were filled with biofilm-mimicking hydrogel (BMH). Five irrigation activation techniques were evaluated: Diode Laser, Ultrasonic, Sonic, XP-Finisher, and Control (n = 10). Temperature rises were measured on the extracted premolars after 30 and 60 s of activation using a thermographic camera in a controlled environment (23 ± 2 °C). Irrigant penetration, with and without BMH, was assessed in 3D-printed premolars using a 2.5% sodium hypochlorite-contrast medium mixture, visualized with a CMOS radiographic sensor. Penetration was scored (main canal: 3 points; lateral canals: 0–2 points) and analyzed with non-parametric tests. Results: Diode Laser activation technique resulted in the highest temperature rise on the external root surface, followed by the Ultrasonic, with no statistically significant difference observed among the remaining groups. In terms of efficacy, Ultrasonic and Sonic activation achieved significantly greater irrigant penetration in samples without BMH, and greater BMH removal in samples with BMH, compared to Diode Laser, XP-Finisher, and Control groups. Conclusions: In this in vitro study, Diode Laser caused the highest temperature rise, followed by Ultrasonic, with significant increases from 30 to 60 s. Temperature rise did not significantly affect penetration or BMH removal. Ultrasonic and Sonic irrigation techniques achieved the highest depth of penetration (without BMH) and biofilm-mimicking Hydrogel removal (with BMH) compared to Diode Laser, XP-Finisher, and Control. Full article

Background/Objectives: Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) has gained popularity as an effective technique for indirect decompression through ligamentotaxis. Despite the perceived importance of using appropriately sized cages for achieving optimal decompression, comprehensive reports on cage size and its impact on indirect decompression are limited. This study aimed to assess the ligamentotaxis effect by measuring the “backward bulging” length in pre- and postoperative MRIs and examining its correlation with cage size and subsidence. Methods: T2 images of 270 patients with lumbar herniated disc and/or lumbar spondylolisthesis (June 2022 to March 2025) were analyzed for 530 intervertebral spaces. Data on gender, age, length of hospital stay, preoperative and postoperative lumbar JOA scores, and the level of the disease were collected. Measurements included backward bulging length, intervertebral height, and cage subsidence. Statistical analysis was performed using StatMate. Surgical procedures involved oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) to minimize impact on the iliopsoas and lumbar plexus. Trial cages starting from 8 mm were sequentially inserted, with confirmation through lateral fluoroscopy. Posterior fixation was performed using percutaneous pedicle screws. Results: Analysis of 530 intervertebral spaces revealed that 70% could accommodate a cage 3 mm or larger than the preoperative intervertebral height. Significant backward bulging shortening (3 mm or more) occurred in 339 spaces, predominantly with larger cages. Only 8.8% of cases (14/159) with a large backward bulging shortening had an intervertebral height extension of 3 mm or less. On the other hand, a large reduction in backward bulging was observed in 91.3% of cases (339/371) with an intervertebral height extension of 3 mm or more. Postoperative cage subsidence was observed in 9.2% (49/530) of all intervertebral spaces and 8.6% (32/371) in spaces where a cage larger than 3 mm was used. There was no statistically significant difference between these two groups. Conclusions: To achieve a sufficient ligamentotaxis effect, it is necessary to select a cage size that allows for an intervertebral height increase of at least 3 mm compared to the preoperative measurement. Full article

The systematics and phylogeny of the most speciose genus (Leopardus) of the felidae have historically been contentious and problematic. These issues have been compounded with the recent advancement of genetic techniques that make it possible to detect events such as incomplete lineage sorting (ILS), punctual historical ancestral introgression (PHAI), and repetitive introgression or recent hybridization (RI-RH). Each of these events have noteworthily affected the Leopardus genus. One Leopardus taxon (Leopardus tigrinus, herein called tigrina) has been especially complex from a phylogenetic point of view. In the last decade, one new species has been reported (L. guttulus) and two other new species likely exist within the tigrinas (L. emiliae and L. pardinoides). However, the most surprising find was the discovery of a new and not previously reported tigrina, the Nariño cat, from the southern Andean region of Colombia (2023). Later that same year, a new paper criticized the discovery. In response to that criticism, herein, we provide new molecular genetics results of the Nariño cat as well as new insights into the molecular phylogeny of the tigrinas inside the Leopardus genus: (1) In this new work, we analyzed the mtND5 gene of Nariño cat samples collected over four years (2001, 2007, 2017, 2023) as well as analyzed mitogenomes of Nariño cat samples collected in three different years (2001, 2017, 2023). The temporal Nariño cat samples (2001, 2007, 2017, 2023) refer to samples taken from a single specimen across different years. Based on these analyses, data from 2001 and 2007 represent the most reliable information. In contrast, samples from 2017 and 2023 may be contaminated with DNA from the Pampas cat and tigrina, respectively. (2) On the other hand, based on sequencing the mtND5 gene of 164 specimens of Leopardus, northern Andean and Central American tigrinas (37 specimens) are divided into at least six different groups (without counting the Nariño cat). Based on our analysis of sequenced mitogenomes of 102 specimens (including 34 northern Andean and Central American tigrinas) of the Leopardus genus, there are at least eight different groups of tigrinas (without counting the Nariño cat). Henceforth, there are strong datasets which support the existence of multiple lineages within the presumed “a priori” northern Andean tigrina and thus much of the genetic diversity of this wild cat has gone unnoticed. There are a series of potential taxa that have gone unnoticed due to a lack of sampling of this polyphyletic Andean feline. Full article

Recently, it has been shown that, under the action of the lateral van der Waals (vdW) force due to a perfectly conducting corrugated plane, a neutral anisotropic polarizable particle in vacuum can be attracted not only to the nearest corrugation peak but also to a valley or an intermediate point between a peak and a valley, with such behaviors called peak, valley, and intermediate regimes, respectively. In the present paper, we discuss how the curvature of the corrugated surface affects the occurrence of the mentioned regimes. For this, we calculate the vdW interaction between a polarizable particle and a grounded conducting corrugated cylinder. We consider the corrugations along the azimuthal ($\varphi$-direction) angle or along the cylinder axis (z-direction). We show that when the corrugation occurs in the z-direction, the curvature has a small effect on the occurrence of the valley regime. On the other hand, it inhibits the intermediate regimes up to a certain particle–surface distance above which it amplifies the occurrence of this regime. When the corrugation occurs in the $\varphi$-direction, we show that the curvature inhibits both the valley and intermediate regimes. Full article

Background/Objectives: A large percentage of schoolchildren are children with overweight or obese, and weight gain over time increases the risk of poor health later in life. Motor coordination may be a protective factor, enabling young people to participate in healthy physical activities. However, it is unknown when the relationship between motor coordination and weight first emerges, nor whether it is evident across the body mass index (BMI) spectrum. The aim of this study was to explore what happens with coordination skills [i.e., locomotor coordination (LC), visuomotor coordination (VC), foot object control coordination (FOCC), hand object control coordination (HOCC), global motor coordination (GMC)] applying the 3JS battery, according to age (6 to 11 years) and BMI (normal weight, overweight or obesity) in a sample of 688 Primary Education participants (8.71 ± 1.66 years; 48.8% boys) from Galicia (Spain). Methods: To analyze the differences in the variables of the 3JS battery between age (6–11 years) and BMI (normal weight vs. overweight vs. obesity), they were evaluated using a multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), introducing the sex category (boy-girl) as a covariate to avoid possible confounding factors. Results: After the application of the 3JS Battery, statistically significant differences were observed depending on age [LC (p < 0.001); VC (p < 0.001); FOCC (p < 0.001); HOCC (p < 0.001); GMC (p < 0.001)] and BMI [LC (p < 0.001); VC (p = 0.008); HOCC (p < 0.001); GMC (p < 0.001)]. No statistically significant differences were found in the interactions between age and BMI (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Locomotor coordination increases progressively with age, both globally and in each of the manifestations, and this is greater the older the schoolchildren are. Schoolchildren with normal weight compared to schoolchildren with overweight or obesity have better global motor coordination, locomotor coordination, global control of objects, and control with the hand. Full article

The Placerias quarry is a dicynodont-dominated bonebed in Upper Triassic Chinle Group strata near St. Johns in east-central Arizona, USA. Though long identified as being in strata of the lower Chinle Group, recently published numerical ages apparently indicate a stratigraphically much higher (younger) position in the Chinle section for the Placerias quarry. Nevertheless, recent analysis of outcrop and subsurface (hydrologic) data in the vicinity of the Placerias quarry confirms its stratigraphic position very low in the Chinle Group section, close to the base of the Bluewater Creek Formation. A regional Upper Triassic lithostratigraphy has been established across east-central Arizona and west-central New Mexico by nearly a century of stratigraphic studies and geologic mapping by diverse workers, and is supported by biostratigraphy; in this lithostratigraphy the Placerias quarry is near the Chinle Group base. However, U/Pb ages on zircons from Upper Triassic strata in eastern Arizona/western New Mexico have been used to reorganize this lithostratigraphy to indicate intertonguing and dramatic lithofacies changes over relatively short lateral distances. But, if the well-established lithostratigraphy is followed, the U/Pb ages are problematic, particularly where younger ages (such as at the Placerias quarry) are stratigraphically below older ages. A handful of numerical ages should not be used to over-rule well-established understanding of lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy, unless the lithostratigraphy and biostratigraphy need to be modified based on stratigraphic data. Numerical ages need to be used judiciously and evaluated critically with regard to established lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and other age constraints. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive dosimetric characterization and commissioning of a grid-type collimator manufactured via 3D printing using PLA-W composite filament, following an international protocol for small-field dosimetry. PLA doped with high concentrations of tungsten (>90% w/w) enables the fabrication of miniaturized collimators (<1 cm) with complex geometries, suitable for non-conventional radiotherapy applications. However, accurate assessment of spatial dose modulation is challenged by penumbra overlap between closely spaced beamlets, limiting the application of conventional instrumentation and protocols. To address this, absolute and relative dose distributions were evaluated for various radiation field configurations (number of beamlets) in both lateral and depth directions. Measurements were performed according to the IAEA TRS-483 protocol, using micro-ionization chambers and diode detectors. Additionally, long-term stability assessments were carried out to evaluate both the structural integrity and modulation performance of the printed grid over time. Point dose measurements using the same detectors were repeated after one year, and 2D surface dose distributions measured with EBT3 films were compared to SRS MapCHECK measurements two years later. The generated radiation field size of the central beamlet (FWHM) differed by less than 0.2% (15.8 mm) from the physical projection size (15.6 mm) and the lateral transmission due simultaneous beamlets resulted in FWHM variations of less than 3.8%, confirming manufacturing precision and collimator capability. Output factor measurements increased with the number of beamlets, from 0.75 for a single beamlet to 0.82 for the full beamlets configuration. No significant changes were observed in the depth of maximum dose across the different beamlets configurations (1.20 ± 0.20 cm). On the other hand, the long-term evaluations show no relevant changes in the FWHM or VPR, confirming the performance and reliability of the system. These results support the clinical feasibility and lasting performance stability of in-house manufactured grid collimators using PLA-W filaments and accessible 3D printing technology. Full article

In the central Mesa Verde region, rock art occurs on canyon walls and on boulders that are frequently associated with other archaeological remains. Moreover, rock art, together with architecture and pottery, is actually a primary source of archaeological information about the presence of various cultures in the area. It includes paintings and petroglyphs of Ancestral Pueblo farming communities, images and inscriptions made by post-contact Ute and possibly Diné (Navajo) people as well as historical inscriptions of the early Euro-Americans in this area. This paper presents the results of archaeological investigations at four large rock art sites from Sandstone Canyon, southwestern Colorado, within the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument (CANM). Methods of rock art recording included advanced digital photography, photogrammetry, terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), hand tracing, and consultations with members of indigenous societies and rock art scholars. Geophysics and sondage excavations were conducted at one site revealed important information about archaeology, environment, and geology of the area. Analysis of rock art and other material evidence aims to help reconstruct and understand the mechanisms and nature of cultural changes, migrations, and human–environmental interactions and later cross-cultural contacts between indigenous peoples and Anglo-American ranchers and settlers in southwestern Colorado and the US Southwest. Full article