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Invisible orthodontic treatment is an effective form of malocclusion treatment favored in recent years. The magnitude of its orthodontic force has a crucial impact on the outcome of the treatment and has gained a high level of clinical interest. However, there are very few explorations of in vivo measurements of orthodontic force, and existing studies are limited to a large number of couplings, which are inconvenient for clinical use. In this work, we developed a wireless flexible measurement system that allows quantitative measurement of the orthodontic force of an invisible aligner on a dental model. The system is wireless, tiny, flexible, fast responding, and has a range suitable for the range of orthodontic forces. We show the difference in the orthodontic force applied to different tooth positions and the difference in the orthodontic force applied to different positions of the same tooth. In addition, the system can evaluate the mechanical differences between aligners of different brands and materials as well as the deviation of fabrication results. This system provides a test tool and evaluation method for future real-time assessment of clinical orthodontic forces.

The author discusses the growth of bibliometric and scientometric studies in various fields of knowledge. The patterns of its development are similar to the flow of bibliographies that at one time led to the emergence of the bibliography of bibliographies. It is noted that similar features allow us to speak about the emergence of the bibliometrics of bibliometrics as a new area of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A mid‐infrared laser absorption tomography technique was developed to quantify the nonuniform thermochemical structures of flames stabilized on a natural gas‐fired cooker. Multispectral absorption spectroscopy coupled with Tikhonov‐regularized three‐point Abel inversion was used to resolve the spatially resolved temperature and species concentration. A tunable interband cascade laser (ICL) near 4.2 μm was used to access multiple CO2 absorption lines in the fundamental vibration band. Multiline Voigt fitting strategy was used to improve the fitting of the overlap absorption features. Comprehensive measurements at a different height above the cooker were performed and assembled to display the contour of temperature and CO2 concentrations, resolving the nonuniform thermochemical structure of the high‐temperature combustion field. The measurement uncertainty analysis for temperature and CO2 concentration was also discussed. The current technique is demonstrated to be capable of quantitatively distinguishing flame conditions under different fuel supply modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an essential part of urban public space, the basic framework of urban pattern, and the human landscape of the city and street space is of great significance to urban development. From the perspective of urban living safety, the demand for urban space for health has been considered in depth again. Therefore, with emerging new issues in the post-urbanization period such as the development of public health and slow traffic transportation, street space becomes disordered, and the health of street space has drawn great attention. This paper takes the old urban area of Daoli District of Harbin City as an example. The degree of spatial disorder of different streets in the old urban area of Daoli District of Harbin City is derived by using the off-site built environment audit method and mean square weight analysis and other technical methods with multi-source data such as Baidu map API. In this paper, the spatial health measurement of streets with different properties of land usage in the old urban area of Daoli District of Harbin City is classified, and the classification strategies are proposed based on the calculation results. Based on the theory of spatial disorder, a large-scale measurement of street space health provides insights and references for practical urban management in the future. In terms of theoretical research, this paper attempts to fill the gap in urban geospatial disorder research in China.

To compile intra-operative techniques, established imaging parameters, available equipment and software, and clinical applications of intraoperative ultrasound imaging (IOUSI) for spinal cord injury (SCI) and myelopathy. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for relevant articles. The articles were reviewed and selected by 2 independent researchers. After article selection, data were extracted and summarized into research domains. PRISMA systematic review process was followed. Of the 2477 articles screened, 16 articles met the inclusion criteria. In patients with SCI and myelopathy, common quantitative measurements obtained using IOUSI were noted: 1) ultrasound elastography, 2) midsagittal anteroposterior diameter, 3) transverse, 4) transverse diameter, 5) maximum spinal cord compression, and 6) compression ratioTo ensure adequate decompression and to look for residual compression, the lateral and the craniocaudal margins of the laminectomy site were inspected in both axial and sagittal planes. In instances where quantitative assessment was not possible, cord decompression and degree of residual compression were gauged by inspecting the interface between the ventral border of the spinal cord and any potentially compressive elements, and by searching for symmetric and rhythmic cerebrospinal fluid pulsations. Use of contrast-enhanced ultrasoundand molecular imaging are additional advances in objective assessments for SCI and myelopathy. This review outlines the potential of IOUSI in patients presenting with SCI and myelopathy. Moreover, by identifying potential for inter-operator variability in certain subjective measurements, we illustrate the need for further research to quantify and standardize those assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provincial economic development in the VUCA era (V: volatility; U: uncertainty; C: complexity; A: ambiguity) is facing great challenges. Comprehensively measuring the provincial ecological niche and giving enhancement strategies are significant for the implementation of the Yellow River Strategy. By constructing the S–R–F (Status–Relationship–Function) provincial ecological niche measurement framework using the SEM model (the structural equation modeling), this paper calculated the provincial ecological niche of the Yellow River Basin from 2005 to 2019 using an ecological niche width model, an ecological niche overlap model and an ecological niche suitability model and gave improvement strategies through spatial positioning. Results: (1) The ecological niche breadth in the Yellow River Basin is uneven, showing a spatial pattern of "low in the upper reaches, high in the lower reaches". The ecological niche overlap changes from synchronous competition to hierarchical differentiation. The ecological niche suitability shows a transformation of "overall homogeneity but local variation". (2) Qinghai and Gansu belong to subspace I of ecological niches; the strategies of ecological niche specialization, potential ecological niche and ecological niche synergy are appropriate. Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Ningxia belong to subspace III; the strategies of ecological niche specialization, ecological niche separation, potential ecological niche and ecological niche synergy are suitable. Shandong belongs to subspace VI; the strategies of ecological niche generalization and ecological niche synergy are fitting. Henan, Sichuan and Shaanxi belong to subspace VIII; it is advisable to choose ecological niche generalization, ecological niche separation and ecological niche synergy strategies. The possible marginal contributions of this paper are: (1) applying the idea of fitting optimization to guide the construction of a provincial ecological status indicator system, applying the validation analysis in the SEM model to test the suitability and validity of a provincial ecological status indicator system and improving the scientificity and objectivity of the indicator system construction. (2) Correlating the measurement model with the connotation (state–relationship–function) of the provincial ecological niche, the perspective of ecological niche research and improving the theoretical support for the construction of a multidimensional measurement model. (3) Spatial positioning of provincial ecological niches to improve the relevance and effectiveness of strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to characterize the sheep population phenotypically in three zones in northeastern Algeria: Aures, Hodna and Ziban. A total of 160 female animals of 2 to 4 years of age were subject to 4 quantitative linear body measurements (body length BL, withers height WH, tail length TL and wool weight WW) and 9 qualitative physical traits (head length HL, ear orientation EO, horn presence H, neck length NL, wool extent WE, tail texture TT, eyes shape ES, head color HC and wool color WC). The results indicate that the sheep population in these areas belonged to the Ouled Djellel sheep breed with some abnormal phenotypes, which refers to uncontrolled crossbreeding. Body measurements show moderate variation coefficient values, with the highest value reported for WW (7.37%). However, despite the weak correlations found in this study, clear ones were revealed between WH and TL (0.30) and BL and WW (0.26). The Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering analysis sub-divided the sheep population into three classes, in which an overlap, according to body measurements, was remarked between Hodna and Ziban and between Aures and Ziban but not between Aures and Hodna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical Palpebral Fissure length and Eyebrow-Orbital length should increase, whereas Orbital-Upper Eyelid length should decrease if the soft tissue between the eyebrow and supraorbital region has been lifted upwards after rejuvenation procedures (Figures 3,4). C.-C.C. supervised the study design and revised the manuscript for critical revision. The size of the palpebral fissure can be determined by measuring the vertical distance between the superior and inferior borders of palpebral fissure when the eyes are at rest (Vertical Palpebral Fissure length). [Extracted from the article]

The study encompassed quantitative traits of the Shaka cattle reared in Shaka zone, Anderacha and Masha weredas of south western, Ethiopia. The study covered quantitative parameters which were taken from 240 cows and 120 bulls from randomly slected120 households. The means for the quantitative traits were compared using Duncan’s Multiple Range test, the values were considered significant at P < 0.05 and P < 0.01. The results of morphometrical measurements of bulls reared at Masha wereda had wider (P < 0.05) values for their pelvic width and the Chest Depth for the bulls aged ≥7 years was higher (P < 0.01). While the canon bone circumference was also wider when compared to the bulls reared at Anderacha wereda. Contrary the bulls aged ≤5 years and reared at Anderacha wereda had higher (P < 0.05) for Body Weight, Height at Withers and Chest Depth. Morphometrical measurement for cows ≤5 year age group and reared at Masha wereda have longer (P < 0.05) Neck Length and for cows ≥7 years have wider (P < 0.05) Hock Bone Circumference and Pelvic Width. Contrary the cows aged ≤5 years raised at Anderacha wereda has wider (P < 0.05) for Cannon Bone Circumference, and (P < 0.01) for Chest Girth, higher Body Weight, Rump Length, Ear Length, Neck Circumference and Chest Depth. Among the cows aged ≥7 years have longer (P < 0.01) face length and deeper (P < 0.05) Chest. There is a significant difference in the length index (LI2) and body ratio (BR) (P < 0.05) throughout the research locations, with Anderacha wereda having the higher result, and Masha wereda having the higher depth index (DI) and transverse pelvic index (TPI) (P < 0.05).The results of body indices of both sex indicate that, the cattle is suited for grazing in the forest areas and are of dual type.

Purpose: To analyze the quantitative parameters acquired by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with autoimmune posterior uveitis.Methods: OCTA images of 65 eyes affected with uveitis and 65 normal control (NC) eyes were obtained. The central macular thickness (CMT), retinal thicknesses, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, foveal density 300 μm (FD300), and vascular density (VD) were compared among acute uveitic eyes, chronic uveitic eyes, and NC eyes. VDs were evaluated in the choriocapillaris, outer retina, optic disk, whole and parafovea superficial capillary plexus (SCP), and whole and parafovea deep capillary plexus (DCP). Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and quantitative parameters from OCTA.Results: Compared with NC eyes, the CMT and retinal thicknesses were increased significantly in eyes with uveitis (p < 0.05, respectively). No significant difference was observed in the FAZ area. FD300, VDs in the optic disk, SCP, and DCP both in whole image and parafovea, choriocapillaris were significantly decreased in uveitis eyes (p < 0.05, respectively) compared with NC eyes, only the acute group had decreased VD of the outer retina and choriocapillaris compared with the NC group (p < 0.05). Moreover, quantitative parameters of OCTA showed a significant correlation with LogMAR BCVA in the patients with uveitis. Whole VD DCP was the best predictive factor for BCVA in the patients with uveitis.Conclusion: Quantitative measurement by OCTA is a promising strategy for objective assessment of autoimmune posterior uveitis.

A new automated algorithm for accurate and reliable decision-making in the discrimination of normal and cancerous colon mucosa is proposed. Quantitative texture features such as entropy, angular second moment, contrast, inverse angular moment, correlation, homogeneity, were extracted from the co-occurrence matrix whilst other features are based on morphology such as Euler number, convex area, nuclear contour index, elongation, shape factor (BE) and fractal dimension. 46 samples from different patients consisting of 22 normal microscopic specimens and 24 adenocarcinoma images (512×512×3) were analyzed. Extracted features from both dimensions were able to identify abnormalities (P < 0.0001) between colon tissue types. A parametric approach using a linear discrimination method was implemented for the classification stage. Combining texture and morphological features shows that a ratio of 98.3 % and 97.7 % is obtained for the sensitivity and specificity, respectively. Only one case from each class was wrongly misclassified. The proposed algorithm achieves a very significant result with an overall accuracy of 98 % for the identification of colon microscopic images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is a high-resolution ultrasound technique, which allows noninvasive, in vivo imaging of the ocular anterior segment structures. Purpose: This video gives a description of the identification of the iridocorneal angle structures in the cross-sectional view in a radial scan through a typical ciliary process and a guide toward measuring the angle parameters. Synopsis: UBM provides two-dimensional, grayscale images of the iridocorneal angle. The real-time image is displayed on a video monitor and can be recorded for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The angle parameters can be measured by in-built calipers in the machine software and manipulated by the examiner. Highlights: This video demonstrates UBM caliper positions as displayed on the monitor and marked by the examiner for the measurement of various anterior segment parameters of the eye. Video link: https://youtu.be/WTXMupYoyww.

Background: Ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) is a high-resolution ultrasound technique, which allows noninvasive, in vivo imaging of the ocular anterior segment structures. Purpose: This video gives a description of the identification of the iridocorneal angle structures in the cross-sectional view in a radial scan through a typical ciliary process and a guide toward measuring the angle parameters. Synopsis: UBM provides two-dimensional, grayscale images of the iridocorneal angle. The real-time image is displayed on a video monitor and can be recorded for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The angle parameters can be measured by in-built calipers in the machine software and manipulated by the examiner. Highlights: This video demonstrates UBM caliper positions as displayed on the monitor and marked by the examiner for the measurement of various anterior segment parameters of the eye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanol is considered to be one of promising alternative fuels. For direct-injection (DI) methanol-gasoline fueled engines, the injection of fuels into the cylinder and the subsequent evaporation and mixing processes are of great significance. So far, quantitative measurements of fuel concentrations of both liquid and vapor phases in the evaporating spray of multi-component fuels are still difficult. In this study, a novel approach based on the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is developed to quantitatively measure the fuel concentrations and evaporation ratio in DI methanol-gasoline blend sprays in a constant volume vessel. Three atomic lines of H656, N746 and O777 are employed to quantify the concentrations of methanol and n-hexane. The calibrations between two peak intensity ratios and corresponding atom number ratios are established for four kinds of blend fuels (M0, M15, M50, M100). The results show a good consistency of calibration curves for different fuels, suggesting that LIBS is independent of molecular species and capable of measurements of multi-component fuels. For the measurements of evaporation ratio, the LIBS and high-speed droplet microphotography were simultaneously conducted in the droplet flow environment to determine the intensity of C2 band and liquid fuel concentration, respectively. The high fuel-specific correlations are confirmed. The estimated measurement uncertainties of total fuel concentration are <6%, and the measurement uncertainties of evaporation ratio are reduced with the increase of the radial distance. Finally, the component concentration and evaporation ratio in sprays of methanol-n-hexane are quantitatively measured, and then the evaporation processes as well as mixing characteristics of different blend sprays are compared and analyzed. The results are valuable for building the relevant numerical models and developing the combustion systems of engines fueled with methanol-gasoline blend fuels. [Display omitted] • A new method based on LIBS is proposed to measure fuel component concentrations. • The uncertainties of total fuel concentration are estimated to be within 6%. • Calibrations between liquid concentrations and C2/base are highly fuel-specific. • Blending fractions in both M15 and M50 sprays show a non-uniformed distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study encompassed quantitative traits of the Shaka cattle reared in Shaka zone, Anderacha and Masha weredas of south western, Ethiopia. The study covered quantitative parameters which were taken from 240 cows and 120 bulls from randomly slected120 households. The means for the quantitative traits were compared using Duncan's Multiple Range test, the values were considered significant at P < 0.05 and P < 0.01. The results of morphometrical measurements of bulls reared at Masha wereda had wider (P < 0.05) values for their pelvic width and the Chest Depth for the bulls aged ≥7 years was higher (P < 0.01). While the canon bone circumference was also wider when compared to the bulls reared at Anderacha wereda. Contrary the bulls aged ≤5 years and reared at Anderacha wereda had higher (P < 0.05) for Body Weight, Height at Withers and Chest Depth. Morphometrical measurement for cows ≤5 year age group and reared at Masha wereda have longer (P < 0.05) Neck Length and for cows ≥7 years have wider (P < 0.05) Hock Bone Circumference and Pelvic Width. Contrary the cows aged ≤5 years raised at Anderacha wereda has wider (P < 0.05) for Cannon Bone Circumference, and (P < 0.01) for Chest Girth, higher Body Weight, Rump Length, Ear Length, Neck Circumference and Chest Depth. Among the cows aged ≥7 years have longer (P < 0.01) face length and deeper (P < 0.05) Chest. There is a significant difference in the length index (LI2) and body ratio (BR) (P < 0.05) throughout the research locations, with Anderacha wereda having the higher result, and Masha wereda having the higher depth index (DI) and transverse pelvic index (TPI) (P < 0.05).The results of body indices of both sex indicate that, the cattle is suited for grazing in the forest areas and are of dual type., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Purpose: To analyze the quantitative parameters acquired by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with autoimmune posterior uveitis. Methods: OCTA images of 65 eyes affected with uveitis and 65 normal control (NC) eyes were obtained. The central macular thickness (CMT), retinal thicknesses, foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, foveal density 300 μm (FD300), and vascular density (VD) were compared among acute uveitic eyes, chronic uveitic eyes, and NC eyes. VDs were evaluated in the choriocapillaris, outer retina, optic disk, whole and parafovea superficial capillary plexus (SCP), and whole and parafovea deep capillary plexus (DCP). Correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between LogMAR best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and quantitative parameters from OCTA. Results: Compared with NC eyes, the CMT and retinal thicknesses were increased significantly in eyes with uveitis ( p < 0.05, respectively). No significant difference was observed in the FAZ area. FD300, VDs in the optic disk, SCP, and DCP both in whole image and parafovea, choriocapillaris were significantly decreased in uveitis eyes ( p < 0.05, respectively) compared with NC eyes, only the acute group had decreased VD of the outer retina and choriocapillaris compared with the NC group ( p < 0.05). Moreover, quantitative parameters of OCTA showed a significant correlation with LogMAR BCVA in the patients with uveitis. Whole VD DCP was the best predictive factor for BCVA in the patients with uveitis. Conclusion: Quantitative measurement by OCTA is a promising strategy for objective assessment of autoimmune posterior uveitis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Shen, Kong, Chen, Liu, Teng, Wu, Wang, Wu, Su and Feng.)