Strain measurement at the knee ligament insertion sites

We describe the modification of an existing method of ligament strain measurement at the knee joint in detail. At ten fresh joint specimens we used that technique where strain gauges are attached to the ligamentous insertions and origins. We both improved the preparation of the attachment site and the application of the strain gauges. In a special apparatus the specimens were moved from 0degrees extension to 100degrees flexion while simulating muscle strength and axial force. Testing was performed at the posterior cruciate ligament with both intact and transsected anterior cruciate ligament. In contrast to other existing techniques it does not affect the motion of the joint or the integrity and the function of the ligaments. Unlike the original description of that method we could register a loading behaviour of the posterior cruciate ligament that is similar to those reported in the literature

Resummed Photon Spectra for WIMP Annihilation

We construct an effective field theory (EFT) description of the hard photon spectrum for heavy WIMP annihilation. This facilitates precision predictions relevant for line searches, and allows the incorporation of non-trivial energy resolution effects. Our framework combines techniques from non-relativistic EFTs and soft-collinear effective theory (SCET), as well as its multi-scale extensions that have been recently introduced for studying jet substructure. We find a number of interesting features, including the simultaneous presence of SCET$_{\text{I}}$ and SCET$_{\text{II}}$ modes, as well as collinear-soft modes at the electroweak scale. We derive a factorization formula that enables both the resummation of the leading large Sudakov double logarithms that appear in the perturbative spectrum, and the inclusion of Sommerfeld enhancement effects. Consistency of this factorization is demonstrated to leading logarithmic order through explicit calculation. Our final result contains both the exclusive and the inclusive limits, thereby providing a unifying description of these two previously-considered approximations. We estimate the impact on experimental sensitivity, focusing for concreteness on an SU(2)$_{W}$ triplet fermion dark matter - the pure wino - where the strongest constraints are due to a search for gamma-ray lines from the Galactic Center. We find numerically significant corrections compared to previous results, thereby highlighting the importance of accounting for the photon spectrum when interpreting data from current and future indirect detection experiments.Comment: 55+25 pages, 11+2 figures; v3, updated an expression in the appendix to make it applicable at higher order - no impact on the results in this wor

Zugkraftmessungen beim knöchernen Segmenttransport – in vivo Untersuchungen am Menschen

Bone transport applying the principle of distraction osteogenesis makes it possible to reconstruct long bone defects caused by trauma or resection of bone tumors. The method employing a central cable, developed in Munich, is especially suitable for such applications. The main bone fragments are stabilized by an external fixateur, and bone transport is effected with a single central cable fixed to the tip of the segment, and driven by an external, programmable motor. In 15 patients the tractive forces during the entire bone transport were measured with a strain gauge incorporated within the cable. On the basis of the force profiles characteristics normal bone transport (forces between 150 - 250 N) can be distinguished from a critical transport (forces > 250 N) with the risk of premature consolidation. There is some evidence that at a very high level of force, just before premature consolidation a very effective form of bone transport with good bone neoformation can be achieved. Transport systems employing a central cable allow this special form of distraction osteogenesis, since there is continuous force monitoring, and there is the option of employing the traction force as a control factor in a loop

Validity of a Local Positioning System during Outdoor and Indoor Conditions for Team Sports

This study aimed to compare the validity of a local positioning system (LPS) during outdoor and indoor conditions for team sports. The impact of different filtering techniques was also investigated. Five male team sport athletes (age: 27 ± 2 years; maximum oxygen uptake: 48.4 ± 5.1 mL/min/kg) performed 10 trials on a team sport-specific circuit on an artificial turf and in a sports hall. During the circuit, athletes wore two devices of a recent 20-Hz LPS. From the reported raw and differently filtered velocity data, distances covered during different walking, jogging, and sprinting sections within the circuit were computed for which the circuit was equipped with double-light timing gates as criterion measures. The validity was determined by comparing the known and measured distances via the relative typical error of estimate (TEE). The LPS validity for measuring distances covered was good to moderate during both environments (TEE: 0.9–7.1%), whereby the outdoor validity (TEE: 0.9–6.4%) was superior than indoor validity (TEE: 1.2–7.1%). During both environments, validity outcomes of an unknown manufacturer filter were superior (TEE: 0.9–6.2%) compared to those of a standard Butterworth filter (TEE: 0.9–6.4%) and to unprocessed raw data (TEE: 1.0–7.1%). Our findings show that the evaluated LPS can be considered as a good to moderately valid tracking technology to assess running-based movement patterns in team sports during outdoor and indoor conditions. However, outdoor was superior to indoor validity, and also impacted by the applied filtering technique. Our outcomes should be considered for practical purposes like match and training analyses in team sport environments

Zentrale Zugseilsysteme – vollautomatische, kontinuierliche Kallusdistraktion zur Behandlung langstreckiger Knochendefekte

Distraction osteogenesis involving bone transport enables the reconstruction of large bone defects. The main bone fragments are usually stablilised externally, an intermediate bone segment is separated and moved through the defect at a rate of about 1 mm/day. New high-quality bone is built up in the constantly enlarging osteotomy gap. A major problem associated with the method is the fact that the fixation pins are also moved over the same distance, and cut through the soft tissue, often resulting in painful pin tract infections and ugly scars. An automatic motorized bone transport system employing a single central cable now eliminates this problem. The system can be combined with any external fixateur, since the relevant implanted parts for bone transport are independent of the external stabilizer. The surgical procedure, which is easy on the patient, consists of bone segment separation, central cable fixation, and stabilisation of the main fragments, and requires the use of numerous special tools. The distraction itself results in significantly less soft tissue irritation and pain. Pin tract infections are rare, so that changeover to internal fixation after completion of bone transport carries little risk of infection. This article details the technical features of the stabilizing system and the transport and the control systems, and describes the clinical application in a patient

Banddehnungsmessung am Kniegelenk - Der Dehnungsmeßstreifen und seine Alternativen

Those techniques for measuring ligament tension at the knee joint that are most commonly cited and easiest to carry out are discussed, These include four techniques based on the use of strain gauges. Apart from the Omega transducer and the buckle transducer, there is also the tendon force transducer, and the application of strain gauges to the bony ligament insertion sites, Other indirect measuring methods considered are the mercury strain transducer and the Hall effect transducer. The parameter measured with all of these methods is fluctuating current or voltage, which is then correlated with ligament tension. Three direct measurements are also discussed: the separation distances of marked fibres of the ligaments, replacement of fibres by threads, and a load cell/bone plug construction. The measured value is equated with the effective change in ligament length

Supermodels for early LHC

We investigate what new physics signatures the LHC can discover in the 2009-2010 run, beyond the expected sensitivity of the Tevatron data by 2010. We construct "supermodels", for which the LHC sensitivity even with only 10 inverse picobarn is greater than that of the Tevatron with 10 inverse femtobarn. The simplest supermodels involve s-channel resonances in the quark-antiquark and especially in the quark-quark channels. We concentrate on easily visible final states with small standard model backgrounds, and find that there are simple searches, besides those for Z' states, which could discover new physics in early LHC data. Many of these are well-suited to test searches for "more conventional" models, often discussed for multi-inverse femtobarn data sets.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures; v2, references adde

A randomised phase I study of etrolizumab (rhuMAb β7) in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis.

ObjectiveEtrolizumab (rhuMAb β7, anti-β7, PRO145223) is a humanised monoclonal antibody targeting the β7 subunit of the heterodimeric integrins α4β7 and αEβ7, which are implicated in leucocyte migration and retention in ulcerative colitis (UC). This randomised phase I study evaluated the safety and pharmacology of etrolizumab in patients with moderate to severe UC.DesignIn the single ascending dose (SAD) stage, etrolizumab (0.3, 1.0, 3.0, 10 mg/kg intravenous, 3.0 mg/kg subcutaneous (SC) or placebo) was administered 4:1 (n=25) in each cohort. In the multiple dose (MD) stage, new patients received monthly etrolizumab (0.5 mg/kg SC (n=4), 1.5 mg/kg SC (n=5), 3.0 mg/kg SC (n=4), 4.0 mg/kg intravenous (n=5)) or placebo (n=5). The pharmacokinetics was studied and Mayo Clinic Score evaluated at baseline, day 29 (SAD), and days 43 and 71 (MD).ResultsIn the SAD stage, there were no dose limiting toxicities, infusion or injection site reactions. Two impaired wound healing serious adverse events occurred in two patients receiving etrolizumab. In the MD stage, there were no dose limiting toxicities, and no infusion or injection site reactions. Headache was the most common adverse event, occurring more often in etrolizumab patients. Antietrolizumab antibodies were detected in two subjects. The duration of β7 receptor full occupancy was dose related. A clinical response was observed in 12/18 patients, and clinical remission in 3/18 patients treated with etrolizumab in the MD stage, compared with 4/5 and 1/5 placebo patients, respectively.ConclusionEtrolizumab is well tolerated in moderate to severe UC. Further investigation is warranted