Low-grade spondylolisthesis: is transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion superior to posterolateral fusion

Background: Spondylolisthesis is anterior translation of the cephalad vertebra relative to the adjacent caudal segment. Both posterolateral fusion (PLF) and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) and have shown high fusion rates with good clinical outcomes. But it is not clear which treatment leads to better outcomes, as limited studies have been done to compare PLF and TLIF in low grade spondylolisthesis. Our objective is to determine whether PLF or TLIF was associated with better clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with low grade spondylolisthesis.Methods: Fourty patients were enrolled and assigned into PLF (n=20) or TLIF (n=20) group. The outcome measures were: clinical outcomes as assessed with a visual analogue scale and the modified Oswestry disability index, the fusion rate based on radiographs.Results: The improvement of visual analog score (VAS) of low back pain was greater in TLIF than in PLF (89.6% versus 88.7%, p=0.79). The improvement of VAS of leg pain was greater in TLIF than in PLF (96.5% versus 94.8%; p=0.27). The improvement of Oswestry disability index (ODI) was greater in TLIF than in PLF (71.7% vs 69.8%, p=0.32). The fusion rate was 85% in TLIF and 75% in PLF (p=0.43).  Overall outcome was excellent in 80% in TLIF compared to 65% in PLF (p=0.29).Conclusions: Fusion rates are higher in TLIF and average functional outcomes (VAS and ODI) were better in TLIF compared to PLF.  Larger and longer studies may provide a significant outcome. Based on our results and literature review, we conclude that TLIF is superior to PLF

Functional outcomes after modified Sauve-Kapandji arthrodesis for distal radioulnar joint dysfunction

Background: The distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) dysfunction manifests as pain, weakness and reduced range of motion. There are various treatments for DRUJ dysfunction. Modified Sauvé-Kapandji procedure involves arthrodesis of the distal radioulnar joint combined with the creation of a pseudarthrosis of the distal ulna to maintain forearm pronation and supination, and stabilization of proximal ulnar stump. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of modified Sauve-Kapandji procedure for patients with DRUJ dysfunction.Methods: Fourteen patients with DRUJ dysfunction were treated by modified Sauve-Kapandji procedure and followed up for 2 years post-operatively. Functional assessment was evaluated according to modified mayo wrist score (MMWS) system and severity of pain by visual analog scale. Posteroanterior and lateral radiographs were used to assess fusion.Results: There was a significant improvement in VAS of wrist pain (p<0.001) and MMWS (p<0.001) at 2 years follow up. Excellent outcome was reported in 64.3% (n=9) patients. Radiographic fusion was seen in all 14 cases.Conclusions: The modified Sauve-Kapandji procedure for DRUJ dysfunction is a safe and effective procedure with excellent radiological fusion and significant improvement in functional outcomes.

PRACTICAL MEASUREMENT OF WATER QUALITY BY USING IOT TECHNOLOGY

In nowadays global, Internet of Things (IoT) and Remote Sensing (RS) strategies are being utilized in unique areas of research for tracking, collecting and reading statistics from foreign places. Drinking water is a totally valuable commodity for all humans as ingesting water utilities face hundreds of latest demanding conditions in actual-time operation. These annoying conditions originate due to limited water resources, developing population, getting older infrastructure, and plenty of others. Consequently, there may be a want for higher methodologies to expose the water splendid. In order to make certain the cozy deliver of eating water the super wishes to be monitored in actual-time. In this paper, we intend to provide the format and development of a low-charge tool for actual tracking of water first rate in IoT surroundings. The parameters along with temperature, PH, turbidity, go with the flow sensor of the water may be measured. The measured values from the sensors can be processed thru the middle controller. The ARM 7 version may be used as a relevant controller. Finally, the sensor information may also appear on the net the use of WI-FI machine

MAC Layer Misbehavior Effectiveness and Collective Aggressive Reaction Approach

Abstract-Current wireless MAC protocols are designed to provide an equal share of throughput to all nodes in the network. However, the presence of misbehaving nodes (selfish nodes which deviate from standard protocol behavior in order to get higher bandwidth) poses severe threats to the fairness aspects of MAC protocols. In this paper, we investigate various types of MAC layer misbehaviors, and evaluate their effectiveness in terms of their impact on important performance aspects including throughput, and fairness to other users. We observe that the effects of misbehavior are prominent only when the network traffic is sufficiently large and the extent of misbehavior is reasonably aggressive. In addition, we find that performance gains achieved using misbehavior exhibit diminishing returns with respect to its aggressiveness, for all types of misbehaviors considered. We identify crucial common characteristics among such misbehaviors, and employ our learning to design an effective measure to react towards such misbehaviors. Employing two of the most effective misbehaviors, we study the effect of collective aggressiveness of non-selfish nodes as a possible strategy to react towards selfish misbehavior. Particularly, we demonstrate that a collective aggressive reaction approach is able to ensure fairness in the network, however at the expense of overall network throughput degradation

Outcome of posterior lumbar interbody fusion in low-grade spondylolisthesis

Background: Spondylolisthesis is the slippage of all or part of one vertebra in relationship to a caudal vertebra, most commonly occurring in the lumbar spine. Fusion is the recommended treatment of choice. Posterior stabilization with posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) is an established procedure with good outcomes. To study functional and radiological outcomes of PLIF in grade 1 and 2 lumbar spondylolisthesis.Methods: This is a prospective study in 30 patients who underwent PLIF and followed up for one year. Functional outcomes were measured in terms of visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Modified Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and the fusion was assessed on plain radiographs. Results: There was a significant improvement in VAS of low back pain (90.71%, p<0.001) and VAS of radiating (82.52%; p<0.001). The ODI scores were significantly improved (63.65%, p<0.001) at 1 year follow up. The fusion rate was 70%, and 56.66% patients reported excellent outcomes.Conclusions: Based on functional outcomes and the fusion rates of PLIF, we conclude that PLIF is a recommended and excellent surgical option in the management of low grade lumbar spondylolisthesis

Diphyllobothriasis in a nine-year-old child in India: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>genus belongs to the <it>Diphyllobothridea </it>order of tapeworms. <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>spp., which is commonly known as fish tapeworm, is generally transmitted in humans, but also in other species, such as bears, dogs, cats, foxes, and other terrestrial carnivores. Although worldwide in distribution, the original heartland of <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>spp. spreads across Scandinavia, northern Russia, and western Serbia. We report a rare case that occurred in India.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A nine-year-old south Indian girl was brought to the casualty at the Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences with complaints of vomiting and loose stools that had started three days earlier. The vomit did not have a foul smell and contained no blood or mucus, but it did contain undigested food particles. The patient described a history of recurrent abdominal pain. She was a non-vegetarian and said she had a history of eating fish.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The incidence of <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>spp. infection is infrequent in India. Since this is only the fourth reported case in India, and since the previously reported cases also involved observed pediatric patients, we emphasize the need for clinical microbiologists and pediatricians to suspect fish tapeworm infection and recommend epidemiological study of <it>Diphyllobothrium </it>spp. infection.</p

Wave data prediction with optimized machine learning and deep learning techniques

Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships are in the development stage and they play an important role in the upcoming future. Present generation ships are semi-autonomous and controlled by the ship crew. The performance of the ship is predicted using the data collected from the ship with the help of machine learning and deep learning methods. Path planning for an autonomous ship is necessary for estimating the best possible route with minimum travel time and it depends on the weather. However, even during the navigation, there will be changes in weather and it should be predicted in order to reroute the ship. The weather information such as wave height, wave period, seawater temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, etc., is collected by ship external sensors, weather stations, buoys, and satellites. This paper investigates the ensemble machine learning approaches and seasonality approach for wave data prediction. The historical meteorological data are collected from six stations near Puerto Rico offshore and Hawaii offshore. We explore ensemble machine learning techniques on the data collected. The collected data are divided into training and testing data and apply machine learning models to predict the test data. The hyperparameter optimization is performed to find the best parameters before fitting on train data, this is essential to find the best results. Multivariate analysis is performed with all the methods and errors are computed to find the best models.N

A STUDY ON AUTOMATIC PVC PIPE CUTTING

In the process of production of any components from steel bar stock, the preliminary process is that of cutting-of bar stock to length according to the finished size requirement of work piece. This process is normally done by an power hacksaw machine.The sequence of operation is as follows:1.Feed bar stock to stopper that is set according to length of work piece to becut.2.Clamp the bar stock.3.Feed the cutter blade to cut the requiredlength.4.Retract thecutter.5.De-clamp the work piec

Sustainability aspects in the warm forming of tailor welded blanks

Tailor welded blank (TWB) technology has been used in the manufacture of automobile body-in-white components since a long time. These components consist of different materials/thicknesses. Researchers and manufacturers involved with production of warm formed TWB components failed to address the sustainable issues related to warm forming. Rather they concentrated more on reducing the weld line movement (WLM). The WLM if not arrested shall lead to fracture, due to wrinkles, produced during forming. In this paper, the sustainability aspects involved in the warm forming of TWB were discussed with respect to energy and material savings. The results show a reduction of about 50% punch load in a hydraulic press during deep drawing under warm forming conditions. This paper addresses the questions related to the implications of thickness ratio on the weld line movement and further shows how material savings of nearly 33% has been obtained. It also discusses about the carbon emissions during manufacturing of raw materials and the recycling benefits of stainless steel, so as to minimize emissions at the production stage itself during raw materials production