Intra- and Extra-articular Features of Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis in the Cat (Felis catus).

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis is an uncommon clinical entity in human and veterinary medicine. However, the condition is severely debilitating and is life-limiting if not treated. This study sought to characterize the intra- and extra-articular features of naturally occurring TMJ ankylosis in cats. TMJs from client-owned cats (n = 5) that underwent bilateral TMJ gap arthroplasty were examined and compared with TMJs from healthy, age-matched feline cadavers (n = 2) by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), micro-computed tomography (μCT) and histologically. Features of bilateral intra- and extra-articular ankylosis compounded by degenerative joint lesions were identified radiographically and histologically in all affected cats. Features of TMJ 'true' ankylosis included variable intracapsular fibro-osseous bridging, degeneration of the disc and the articular surfaces, narrowing of the joint space and flattening of the condylar process of the mandible. Extra-articular features of TMJ ankylosis included periarticular bone formation and fibro-osseous bridging between the mandible, zygomatic arch and coronoid process. In addition, subchondral bone loss or sclerosis, irregular and altered joint contours and irregularly increased density of the medullary bone characterized the degenerative changes of the osseous components of the TMJ. Complex radiological and histological features of both ankylosis and pseudoankylosis were identified that clinically manifested in complete inability to open the mouth

Characterization of the Temporomandibular Joint of Southern Sea Otters (Enhydra lutris nereis).

The structure-function relationship of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of southern sea otter has largely not been described. This study aims to describe the histological, biochemical, and biomechanical features of the TMJ disk in the southern sea otter. The TMJ disks from fresh cadaver heads of southern sea otter adult males (n = 8) and females (n = 8) acquired from strandings were examined. Following macroscopical evaluation, the TMJs were investigated for their histological, mechanical, and biochemical properties. We found that the sea otter TMJ disks are, in general, similar to other carnivores. Macroscopically, the TMJ disk was highly congruent, and the mandibular head was encased tightly by the mandibular fossa with a thin disk separating the joint into two compartments. Histologically, the articular surfaces were lined with dense fibrous connective tissue that gradually transitioned into one to two cell thick layer of hyaline-like cartilage. The disk fibers were aligned primarily in the rostrocaudal direction and had occasional lacuna with chondrocyte-like cells. The disk was composed primarily of collagen type 1. Biochemical analysis indicates sulfated glycosaminoglycan content lower than other mammals, but significantly higher in male sea otters than female sea otters. Finally, mechanical analysis demonstrated a disk that was not only stronger and stiffer in the rostrocaudal direction than the mediolateral direction but also significantly stronger and stiffer in females than males. We conclude that the congruent design of the TMJ, thin disk, biochemical content, and mechanical properties all reflect a structure-function relationship within the TMJ disk that is likely designed for the sea otter's hard diet and continuous food intake

Three–Dimensional Seismic Diffraction Imaging for Detecting Near-Surface Inhomogeneities

One of the problems encountered in a variety of near-surface investigations is detecting and mapping localized inhomogeneities. Typical examples of such inhomogeneous sources are cavities, caves and tunnels. Different methods for detecting shallow subsurface sources utilizing seismic waves diffracted by these sources were proposed by many researchers in the last three decades. Most of these methods suggest that every subsurface point is a possible location of a point diffractor. Imaging of the diffractors is based on a spatial summation of the diffracted wavefield along diffraction time surfaces (defined by source-receiver geometry) in 2D or 3D space. The summation is performed with a fixed velocity value estimated from velocity analysis of the diffraction data. In this study, we present a path integral summation approach, where for every subsurface point the wavefield is stacked together along all possible diffraction time surfaces having a common apex at a given time. The result of the imaging is a 3D volume in which prominent diffraction anomalies appear at spatial locations close to the imaged sources. This path integral summation approach has been successfully tested on synthetic data and further applied at several sites with known subsurface sources

Implementasi Algoritma C4.5 Untuk Menentukan Calon Debitur Dengan Mengukur Tingkat Risiko Kredit Pada Bank Bri Cabang Curup

Perbankan adalah salah satu sumber dana bagi masyarakat perorangan atau badan USAha untuk memenuhi kebutuhan konsumsinya seperti kebutuhan untuk membeli rumah, mobil atau motor ataupun untuk meningkatkan produksi USAhanya mengingat modal yang dimiliki Perusahaaan ataupun perorangan tidak cukup untuk mendukung peningkatan USAhanya. Risiko perkreditan yang terutama bagi bank adalah bahwa kredit menjadi macet dalam arti bank tidak lagi atau tidak teratur dalam menerima bunga dan angsuran pelunasan kredit. Hal tersebut sangat merugikan pihak bank karena tidak lagi menerima bunga. Algoritma C4.5 bisa digunakan untuk analisa yang dilakukan oleh analis kredit. Penerapan algoritma dalam aplikasi ini bertujuan untuk membuat suatu sistem pendukung keputusan yang dapat memberikan suatu alternatif keputusan bagi para pengambil keputusan dalam menentukan tingkat risiko pemberian kredit

Participation of the Algerian Family Members in the Decision Process of Purchasing Food Products

The study of the family has been the subject of several investigations for many years. Most of the research in this area has focused on the roles of family members in decision-making. In this case, this article proposes a quantitative study devoted to the family decision-making process for the purchase of food products. The purpose of this study is to emphasize the consideration of a family-based decision-making concept. The essential idea on which the hypotheses of the present research are based is to know the cognitive, affective, and conative attitudes of each family member, namely the father, the mother and the children. The results of this study should enable companies (agribusinesses, supermarkets, groceries, etc.) to develop an adequate positioning that can meet the needs of members of the family. Keywords:Family structure; Decision-making process; Food products; Algerian family