Quadriceps tendon autograft is becoming increasingly popular in revision ACL reconstruction

© 2021, The Author(s). Purpose: To evaluate trends in revision anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R), with emphasis on intra-articular findings, grafts, and concurrent procedures. It was hypothesized that revision ACL-Rs over time show a trend toward increased complexity with increased use of autografts over allografts. Methods: This was a two-center retrospective study including patients undergoing revision ACL-R between 2010 and 2020. Demographic and surgical data including intra-articular findings and concurrent procedures were collected and compared for the time periods 2010–2014 and 2015–2020. All collected variables were compared between three pre-defined age groups (\u3c 20 years, 20–30 years, \u3e 30 years), right and left knees, and males and females. A time series analysis was performed to assess trends in revision ACL-R. Results: This study included 260 patients with a mean age of 26.2 ± 9.4 years at the time of the most recent revision ACL-R, representing the first, second, third, and fourth revision ACL-R for 214 (82%), 35 (14%), 10 (4%), and 1 (\u3c 1%) patients, respectively. Patients age \u3e 30 years showed a significantly longer mean time from primary ACL-R to most recent revision ACL-R (11.1 years), compared to patients age \u3c 20 years (2.2 years, p \u3c 0.001) and age 20–30 years (5.5 years, p \u3c 0.05). Quadriceps tendon autograft was used significantly more often in 2015–2020 compared to 2010–2014 (49% vs. 18%, p \u3c 0.001). A high rate of concurrently performed procedures including meniscal repairs (45%), lateral extra-articular tenodesis (LET; 31%), osteotomies (13%), and meniscal allograft transplantations (11%) was shown. Concurrent LET was associated with intact cartilage and severely abnormal preoperative knee laxity and showed a statistically significant and linear increase over time (p \u3c 0.05). Intact cartilage (41%, p \u3c 0.05), concurrent medial meniscal repairs (39%, p \u3c 0.05), and LET (35%, non-significant) were most frequently observed in patients aged \u3c 20 years. Conclusion: Quadriceps tendon autograft and concurrent LET are becoming increasingly popular in revision ACL-R. Intact cartilage and severely abnormal preoperative knee laxity represent indications for LET in revision ACL-R. The high rate of concurrent procedures observed demonstrates the high surgical demands of revision ACL-R. Level of evidence: Level III

The use of PSD analysis on BeiDou and GPS 10Hz dynamic data for change detection

This paper examines the use of GPS and BeiDou data to measure the movements of two oscillating platforms in a series of field experiments. Data were gathered from a variety of GNSS receivers at a rate of 10Hz, and processed in an on the fly manner, resulting in 3D coordinates at a 10Hz rate with the corresponding precise time. These data were then analysed using a Power Spectral Density (PSD) function to derive the frequency of the movements. The positional data were also compared by matching a 500 epoch section of the data from the start with 190 successive 500 epoch long sections in order to demonstrate whether the movement measured was constant throughout, or whether there were any changes. The results show that the correlation of the positional data over a 30,737 epoch period deviates between 99.8% to 76.7% correlation with RMS values of 89.2%, 87.9% and 77.5% in the Eastings, Northings and Vertical directions respectively when using GPS. The RMS of the Eastings and Northings remain the same when BeiDou is introduced, but the height component improves slightly to 78.9%. The frequency analysis of the same 500 epoch long sections is constantly measured at 0.1172Hz in all three positional components, illustrating less deviation when analysing the frequencies. The main conclusion is that analysis of the resulting PSD output from GNSS data gathered on an oscillating platform is more constant and precise than analysing the results of the coordinates alone. This suggests that such analysis would be well suited for a Structural Health Monitoring system. The introduction of BeiDou also improves the results slightly, even in its current incomplete constellation. The novelty of this work is the analysis of the movements in such a controlled environment, and the correlation approach of the resulting positional output as well as the frequency derivation from the positions using both GPS and BeiDou

Validation of performance of real-time kinematic PPP. A possible tool for deformation monitoring

Structural failures (bridge or building collapses) and geohazards (landslides, ground subsi- dence or earthquakes) are worldwide problems that often lead to significant economic and loss of life. Monitoring the deformation of both natural phenomena and man-made struc- tures is a major key to assessing structural dynamic responses. Actually, this monitoring process is under real-time demand for developing warning and alert systems. One of the most used techniques for real-time deformation monitoring is the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) real-time procedure, where the relative positioning approach, using a well-known reference station, has been applied. This study was conducted to evaluate the actual quality of the real-time kinematic Precise Point Positioning (PPP) GNSS solution for deformation monitoring, where it can be concluded that a promise tool is under development and should be taken into account on actual and near future real-time deformation monitoring studies and applications.This research was supported by the Spanish Science and Innovation Directorate project number AYA2010-18706 and the Generalitat Valenciana Geronimo Forteza research program with project number FPA/2014/056.Martín Furones, ÁE.; Anquela Julián, AB.; Dimas Pagés, A.; Cos-Gayón López, FJ. (2015). Validation of performance of real-time kinematic PPP. A possible tool for deformation monitoring. Measurement. 69:95-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2015.03.026S951086

Evaluation of High-Precision Sensors in Structural Monitoring

One of the most intricate branches of metrology involves the monitoring of displacements and deformations of natural and anthropogenic structures under environmental forces, such as tidal or tectonic phenomena, or ground water level changes. Technological progress has changed the measurement process, and steadily increasing accuracy requirements have led to the continued development of new measuring instruments. The adoption of an appropriate measurement strategy, with proper instruments suited for the characteristics of the observed structure and its environmental conditions, is of high priority in the planning of deformation monitoring processes. This paper describes the use of precise digital inclination sensors in continuous monitoring of structural deformations. The topic is treated from two viewpoints: (i) evaluation of the performance of inclination sensors by comparing them to static and continuous GPS observations in deformation monitoring and (ii) providing a strategy for analyzing the structural deformations. The movements of two case study objects, a tall building and a geodetic monument in Istanbul, were separately monitored using dual-axes micro-radian precision inclination sensors (inclinometers) and GPS. The time series of continuous deformation observations were analyzed using the Least Squares Spectral Analysis Technique (LSSA). Overall, the inclinometers showed good performance for continuous monitoring of structural displacements, even at the sub-millimeter level. Static GPS observations remained insufficient for resolving the deformations to the sub-centimeter level due to the errors that affect GPS signals. With the accuracy advantage of inclination sensors, their use with GPS provides more detailed investigation of deformation phenomena. Using inclinometers and GPS is helpful to be able to identify the components of structural responses to the natural forces as static, quasi-static, or resonant

Identification of dynamic displacements and modal frequencies of amedium-span suspension bridge using multimode GNSS processing

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) positioning technology has been employed in the dynamic monitoring of long-span bridges in the recent years. However, it has difficulties to meet the higher accuracy requirements of the dynamic monitoring of small or medium span bridges, due to the presence of measurement noise from multipath, cycle slips, ionosphere delay, orbital errors, etc. To verify the feasibility of using current GNSS technology to monitor these bridges, a series of monitoring experiments have been carried out on the Wilford suspension bridge in Nottingham (UK) with GNSS and a triaxial accelerometer. Three GNSS data processing modes, i.e. Real-Time Kinematic (RTK), network RTK and Post-Processing Kinematic (PPK), were considered. An innovative multimode adaptive filtering (MAF) that combining adaptive filter with Chebyshev highpass filter was used to identify the dynamic displacements of the bridge from the multimode GNSS data. To validate the GNSS results, the dynamic displacements were also computed from double integration of the accelerometer-measured accelerations. The differences of the displacements between the GNSS and accelerometer results were obtained. The standard deviation and the mean deviation of these differences are less than 1 mm, which is good enough for the monitoring purposes. The modal frequencies of the bridge can be accurately identified from GNSS measurements, and successfully validated by those from the accelerometer data. Using the multimode GNSS data and the proposed the MAF algorithm, with sub-millimeter level accuracy GNSS can be used to monitor the vibration response of small or medium span bridges as well as long-span bridges

Tobacco taxation policy in Slovenia in 2018

In 2012, Slovenia changed its structure of the cigarette excise tax by greatly increasing the specific excise rate, but decreasing the ad valorem excise rate. The reform was very beneficial for public health as it increased the price of the cheapest cigarettes disproportionately and thus decreased tobacco consumption within the country (by 20% in 2012-2014), and limited switching down to cheaper cigarettes outflow out of the country. However, the ad valorem excise decrease seems to be unreasonably high, and it was one of the causes that tobacco excise revenue did not increase in 2012-2015. Countries with mixed tobacco excise systems should be careful when changing their excise structure. While a large increase in the specific excise rate is the most beneficial change regarding health, ad valorem rates do not necessarily need to be reduced. Slovenia has a great opportunity to increase tobacco excise rates next year, which will be beneficial for both public health and governmental revenue. In 2018, we want to achieve the implementation of the Draft Law amending and supplementing the Law on tobacco excise duties. Article 1 of the Draft foresees an increase in the excise duty for cigarettes from €106 to €132 for 1000 pieces. This measure would significantly contribute to public health, and would nearly equalize tobacco prices in Slovenia and in other European Union Member States

Analysis of production cost comprehension on selected cases in Slovenia

Vsaka organizacija pri poslovanju porablja in obrablja prvine poslovnega procesa. Informacijam o vrednosti teh porab in obrab pravimo poslovni stroški. Za potrebe vrednotenja poslovnih učinkov moramo poslovne stroške ločiti na proizvajalne in neproizvajalne. Ta delitev je ključna, saj omogoča pravilno vrednotenje in izkazovanje posameznih računovodskih postavk (npr. zalog in odhodkov), kar posledično vpliva tudi na temeljne računovodske izkaze in preko izkaza poslovnega izida posredno tudi na davčno osnovo. Proizvajalne stroške pomensko definirajo tako Slovenski računovodski standardi kot Mednarodni standardi računovodskega poročanja. Oboji so med seboj vsebinsko harmonizirani, vendar pa Slovenski računovodski standardi proizvajalne stroške definirajo eksplicitno, česar v Mednarodnih standardih računovodskega poročanja ne bomo zasledili. V raziskavi smo se zato ukvarjali s problemom, koliko je dejansko poenoteno razumevanje proizvajalnih stroškov med slovenskimi računovodji. S pomočjo spletne anketne raziskave in analize pridobljenih podatkov smo ugotovili, da med slovenskimi računovodji v razumevanju proizvajalnih stroškov ni pomembnih razlik. Poleg tega smo ugotovili, da je v povprečju na vprašanja v anketi manj kot polovica anketiranih odgovorila s strokovno najbolje utemeljenim odgovorom, kar razkriva, da je pri razumevanju proizvajalnih stroškov med slovenskimi računovodji še prostor za izboljšave. Glede na te ugotovitve smo tudi predstavili tri možne načine izboljšanja razumevanja proizvajalnih stroškov, s katerimi bi lahko izboljšali ugotovljeno stanje.Every organization consumes and wears out elements of the business process. Information on the value of these uses and wears is called business costs. For the purpose of evaluating business effects, we need to separate business costs into production and non-production costs. This distinction is crucial as it allows for the correct valuation and recording of individual accounting items (e.g. inventories and expenses), which in turn affects the underlying financial statements and, indirectly through the profit and loss account, the tax base. Production costs are defined in terms of their meaning by both the Slovenian Accounting Standards and the International Financial Reporting Standards. Both are harmonised in substance, but the Slovenian Accounting Standards define production costs explicitly, which is not the case in the International Financial Reporting Standards. In this study, we have therefore addressed the problem of the extent to which the comprehension of production costs is actually harmonised among Slovenian accountants. Through an online survey and analysis of the data obtained, we found that there are no significant differences in the comprehension of production costs among Slovenian accountants. In addition, we found that on average less than half of the respondents answered the survey questions in a professionally best suited way, which proves that there still is room for improvement in comprehension of manufacturing costs among Slovenian accountants. In the light of these findings, we have also presented three possible ways to improve the comprehension of manufacturing costs that could improve the observed situation

A Microprocessor-Controlled Photodiode Array Measurement System for Analytical Spectrometers

497 p.Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1977.U of I OnlyRestricted to the U of I community idenfinitely during batch ingest of legacy ETD

High Frequency GNSS Measurements for Structural Monitoring Applications

4noDynamic deformation monitoring of structures such as long bridges, towers, and tall buildings, for the purpose of determining structural vibrations, is possible using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) (Lovse, J. W. et al., 1995). Starting from 1998, high frequency GNSS measurements have been performed at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Trieste, Italy, on special civil engineering structures: chimneys, bridges, wind-power towers simulators for the analysis of dynamic behavior and structural vibration monitoring. Using 10, 20 and 50 Hz GPS and GPS+GLONASS receivers, different tests have been performed using simulators built on purpose for the experiments and in real conditions on high structures. A report of the tests performed on a 100 m chimney in Trieste, Italy during strong wind conditions from 1998 to 2002 and using a simulator of elliptical movements for applications to wind-powers vibrations monitoring, in the framework of Italian COFIN98 Aerogen Project, in the years 2008 – 2010, are herein reported.reservedmixedCefalo, Raffaela; Manzoni, Giorgio; Noè, Salvatore; Sluga, TatianaCefalo, Raffaela; Manzoni, Giorgio; Noe', Salvatore; Sluga, Tatian