Latent Heat Fluxes over Complex Terrain from Airborne Water Vapour and Wind Lidars

Tropospheric profiles of water vapour and wind were measured with a differential absorption lidar (DIAL) and a heterodyne detection Doppler wind lidar collo-cated onboard the DLR Falcon research aircraft in the past two years. The DIAL is a newly developed four-wavelength system operating on three water vapour absorption lines of different strengths, one offline wavelength at 935 nm (each 50 Hz, 40 mJ), and 532 and 1064 nm for aerosol profiling. It is designed as an airborne demonstrator for a possible future space-borne water vapour lidar mission. It operated success-fully during the Convective and Orographically-induced Precipitation Study (COPS) in July 2007 over the Black Forest Mountains in southern Germany, and during the Norwegian THORPEX-IPY field experiment in March 2008 over the European North Sea. For the study of summertime convection initiation over complex terrain and the development of Polar Lows in the North Sea both campaigns included latent heat flux missions where both airborne lidars were pointed nadir-viewing. Using eddy-correlation of the remotely-sensed wind and water vapour fluctuations, a repre-sentative flux profile can be obtained from a single over-flight of the area under investigation. The lidars’ spatial resolution is ~200 m which resolves the domi-nant circulation and flux patterns in a convective boundary layer. This novel instrumentation allows ob-taining profiles of the latent heat flux beneath the air-craft from one single over-flight of any area of interest

Target detection methods in the rauvi project

Peer Reviewe

3-D-Analyse von posttraumatischen Tibiaschaftfehlstellungen und deren Korrektur anhand der gesunden Gegenseite

OBJECTIVE: Three-dimensional (3D) analysis and implementation with patient-specific cutting and repositioning blocks enables correction of complex tibial malunions. Correction can be planned using the contralateral side or a statistical model. Patient-specific 3D-printed cutting guide blocks enable a precise osteotomy and reduction guide blocks help to achieve anatomical reduction. Depending on the type and extent of correction, fibula osteotomy may need to be considered to achieve the desired reduction. CONTRAINDICATIONS: a) Poor soft tissue (flap surgery, adherent skin in field of operation); b) infection; c) peripheral artery disease (stage III and IV classified according to Fontaine, critical transcutaneous oxygen partial pressure, TcPO$_{2}$); d) general contraindication to surgery. SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: Before surgery, a 3D model of both lower legs is created based on computed tomography (CT) scans. Analysis of the deformity based on the contralateral side in a 3D computer model (CASPA) and planning of the osteotomy. If the contralateral side also has a deformity, a statistical model can be used. Printing of patient-specific guides made of nylon (PA2200) for the osteotomy and reduction. Surgery is performed in supine position, antibiotic prophylaxis, thigh tourniquet, which is used as needed. Ventrolateral approach to the tibia. Attachment of the patient-specific osteotomy guide, performance of the osteotomy. Reduction using the guide. Fibula osteotomy through a lateral approach is performed if the reduction of the tibia is hindered by the fibula. This can be performed freehand or with patient-specific guides. Wound closure. POSTOPERATIVE MANAGEMENT: Compartment monitoring. Passive mobilization of the ankle in the cast as soon as the wound healing has progressed. Partial weightbearing in a lower leg cast for at least 6-12 weeks, depending on the routinely performed radiographic assessment 6 weeks postoperatively. Thromboprophylaxis with low molecular weight heparin until cast removal. RESULTS: Patient-specific correction of malunions are generally good. This could be confirmed for distal tibial corrections. For tibial shaft deformities, the final results are still pending. Preliminary results, however, show good feasibility with a pseudarthrosis rate of 10% without postoperative infection

Acute gallbladder perforation with gallstones spillage in a cirrhotic patient

Gallbladder perforation is a rare complication of cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. The high morbidity and mortality rates associated with this condition are due to delays in diagnosis and treatment since signs and symptoms of perforation do not differ significantly from those of uncomplicated cholecystitis. We report on a patient who was affected by Child-Pugh A alcoholic liver cirrhosis and who developed an acute gallbladder perforation with spillage of stones into the peritoneal cavity and give a review of the current literature

Improvements in flexibility depending on stretching duration

International Journal of Exercise Science 16(4): 83-94, 2023. To improve flexibility, stretching is most commonly used and in training interventions duration-dependent effects are hypothesized. However, there are strong limitations in used stretching protocols in most studies, particularly regarding documentation of intensity and performed procedure. Thus, aim of this study was to compare different stretching durations on flexibility in the plantar flexors and to exclude potential biases. Eighty subjects were divided into four groups performing daily stretching training of 10min (IG10), 30min (IG30) and 1h (IG60) and one control group (CG). Flexibility was measured in bended and extended knee joint. Stretching was performed with a calf muscle stretching orthosis to ensure long-lasting stretching training. Data were analysed with a two-way ANOVA for repeated measures on two variables. Two-way ANOVA showed significant effects for time (ƞ² = 0.557-0.72, p \u3c 0.001) and significant interaction effects for time x group (ƞ² = 0.39-0.47, p \u3c 0.001). Flexibility in the knee to wall stretch improved with 9.89-14.46% d = 0.97-1.49 and 6.07-16.39% with d = 0.38-1.27 when measured via the goniometer of the orthosis. All stretching times led to significant increases in flexibility in both tests. While there were no significant differences measured via the knee to wall stretch between the groups, the range of motion measurement via the goniometer of the orthosis showed significantly higher improvements in flexibility depending on stretching duration with the highest increase in both tests with 60 minutes of stretch per day

Talocalcaneal Ligament Reconstruction Kinematic Simulation for Progressive Collapsing Foot Deformity

BACKGROUND In progressive collapsing foot deformity (PCFD), an internal and plantar rotation of the talus relative to the calcaneus may result in painful peritalar subluxation. Medial soft tissue procedures (eg, spring ligament repair) aim to correct the talar position via the navicular bone if bony correction alone is not sufficient. The effect of the medial soft tissue reconstruction on the talar reposition remains unclear. We hypothesized that a subtalar talocalcaneal ligament reconstruction might be favorable in PCFD to correct talar internal malposition directly. This pilot study aims to evaluate the anatomical feasibility and kinematic behavior of a subtalar ligament reconstruction in PCFD. METHODS Three-dimensional surface model from 10 healthy ankles were produced. A total of 1089 different potential ligament courses were evaluated in a standardized manner. A motion of inversion/eversion and talar internal/external in relation to the calcaneus were simulated and the ligament strain, expressed as a positive length variation, for each ligament was analyzed. The optimal combination for the ligament reconstruction with increased length in internal rotation of the talus, isometric kinematic behavior in inversion/eversion, and extraarticular insertion on talus and calcaneus was selected. RESULTS A laterodistal orientation of the talar insertion point in respect to the subtalar joint axis and laterodistal deviation of the calcaneal insertion point presents the highest ligament lengthening in internal talar rotation (+0.56 mm [3.8% of total length]) and presented a near-isometric performance in inversion/eversion (+0.01 to -0.01 mm [0.1% of total length]). CONCLUSION This kinematic model shows that a ligament reconstruction in the subtalar space presents a pattern of length variation that may stabilize the internal talar rotation without impeding the physiological subtalar motion. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study investigates the optimal location, feasibility, and kinematic behavior of a ligament reconstruction that could help stabilize peritalar subluxation in progressive collapsing foot deformity. UNLABELLED [Formula: see text]

Isometric points in lateral ankle ligament reconstruction: A three-dimensional kinematic study

BACKGROUND To optimize the biomechanical outcomes in lateral ankle ligament reconstruction, avoid stiffness or residual laxity, aiming for an isometric reconstruction of the anterior lateral talofibular ligament (ATFL) and the calcaneofibular ligament (CFL) is mandatory. However, the localization of the optimal ligament insertion remains challenging to assess intraoperatively. METHOD Three-dimensional (3D) surface models from 10 healthy ankles were generated. 30 insertion points of the CFL were defined on the lateral side of the calcaneus each 10% of its total length in the dorsal-to-ventral and proximal-to-distal plane. 6 insertion points were defined at the ventral ridge of fibula from the malleolar tip and 5 insertions were defined along the lateral talar process. The ligament length variation of ATFL and CFL was assessed after a simulation of the flexion/extension around a simulated tibiotalar axis and inversion/eversion around a simulated subtalar axis in 36 different positions. RESULTS The isometric point of CFL on the calcaneus is located at about 60% along the dorsal-to-ventral and between 60% and 70% along the proximal-to-distal plane. From maximal extension to flexion, these points present respectively a length variation of - 0.8 to - 1.1 mm (p = 0.46) and - 1.1 to - 0.8 mm (p = 0.56). A fibular insertion at 5 mm proximal to the malleolar tip present a length variation ranging from - 0.1-1 mm (p < 0.001) for ATFL and from - 0.7-0.5 mm (p < 0.001) for CFL. A talar insertion point of the ATFL located 5 mm proximal to the subtalar joint present the lowest variation, ranging from - 1.1-0.7 mm (p < 0.001), however an insertion at 20- or 25-mm present isometry (+0.1 to +0.9 mm p = 0.1, and +0.4 to +0.4 mm p = 1 respectively) if the fibular insertion is located at 5 mm proximal to the malleolar tip. CONCLUSION This study provides anatomical references which are reproducible in daily practice. These insertion points allow to achieve a stable reconstruction while maintaining a tension-free mobilization of the ankle

A Phase-field Approximation of the Perimeter under a Connectedness Constraint

We develop a phase-field approximation of the relaxation of the perimeter functional in the plane under a connectedness constraint based on the classical Modica-Mortola functional and a diffuse quantitative version of path-connectedness. We prove convergence of the approximating energies and present numerical results and applications to image segmentation