Aims Various radiological parameters are used to evaluate a flatfoot deformity and their measurements may differ. The aims of this study were to answer the following questions: 1) Which of the 11 ...parameters have the best inter- and intraobserver reliability in a standardized radiological setting? 2) Are pre- and postoperative assessments equally reliable? 3) What are the identifiable sources of variation? Patients and Methods Measurements of the 11 parameters were recorded on anteroposterior and lateral weight-bearing radiographs of 38 feet before and after surgery for flatfoot, by three observers with different experience in foot surgery (A, ten years; B, three years; C, third-year orthopaedic resident). The inter- and intraobserver reliability was calculated. Results Preoperative interobserver reliability was high for four, moderate for five, and low for two parameters. Postoperative interobserver reliability was high for four, moderate for five, and low for two parameters. Intraobserver reliability was excellent for all parameters preoperatively as recorded by observer A (PB) and B (MP), and for eight parameters as recorded by observer C (SR). Intraobserver reliability was excellent for ten parameters postoperatively as recorded by observer A and B, and for eight parameters as recorded by observer C. Conclusion The following parameters can be recommended. For preoperative and postoperative evaluation of flatfoot: anteroposterior, talonavicular coverage angle; lateral, talometatarsal I angle, calcaneal pitch angle, and cuneiform-medial height (high interobserver reliability); and anteroposterior, talometatarsal II angle; lateral, talocalcaneal angle,tibiocalcaneal angle (moderate interobserver reliability). For more experienced observers, we also recommend the anteroposterior talometatarsal I angle (moderate reliability). The inter- and intraobserver reliability for most parameters were similar pre- and postoperatively. The experience of the observer and the definition and ability to measure the parameters themselves were sources of variation. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2018;100-B:596-602.
A supermassive black hole, obscured by cosmic dust, powers the nearby active galaxy NGC 1068. Neutrinos, which rarely interact with matter, could provide information on the galaxy’s active core. We ...searched for neutrino emission from astrophysical objects using data recorded with the IceCube neutrino detector between 2011 and 2020. The positions of 110 known gamma-ray sources were individually searched for neutrino detections above atmospheric and cosmic backgrounds. We found that NGC 1068 has an excess of
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neutrinos at tera–electron volt energies, with a global significance of 4.2σ, which we interpret as associated with the active galaxy. The flux of high-energy neutrinos that we measured from NGC 1068 is more than an order of magnitude higher than the upper limit on emissions of tera–electron volt gamma rays from this source.
Nearby active galaxy emits neutrinos
Observations have shown a diffuse background of high-energy neutrinos, which is known to be of extragalactic origin. However, it has been difficult to identify individual sources that contribute to this background. The IceCube Collaboration reanalyzed the arrival directions of astrophysical neutrinos and then searched for point sources (see the Perspective by Murase). They identified evidence for neutrino emission from NGC 1068 (also known as Messier 77), a nearby active galaxy. Its properties are quite different from TXS 0506+056, which was found to be a neutrino source in 2018, leading the investigators to suggest that there might be more than one population contributing to the neutrino background. —KTS
The arrival directions of astrophysical neutrinos indicate point source neutrino emission from NGC 1068.
This paper presents a new configuration of a main traction converter with a medium-frequency transformer (MFT) using matrix converters intended for locomotives and particularly for suburban units ...supplied by a 25-kV/50-Hz and/or 15-kV/16.7-Hz ac electrification system. Single-phase matrix converters are employed in the primary medium-voltage converter which is directly connected to the ac trolley line. The output of the primary ac/ac converter supplies the primary side of the MFT. The proposed MFT-based topology of the traction converter replaces the bulky main line transformer found on board railway vehicles. Particularly in countries with a catenary of 15 kV/16.7 Hz, very low catenary frequency results in huge and heavy traction transformers. The developed topology is a power electronics solution that considerably reduces weight and losses in a traction propulsion system. The proposed converter configuration with cascaded matrix converters on the primary side of the MFT presents a new research direction in the field of traction converters with MFTs. This paper describes in detail the proposed power circuit and the control of the traction converter. The behavior of the traction converter configuration has been analyzed using simulations and experimental tests carried out on a developed low-voltage laboratory prototype of a traction converter with a rated power of 4 kVA. Based on extensive simulation and experimental study, this paper reviews the benefits, drawbacks, and constraints of the developed traction converter configuration.
This paper presents the results of two test programmes in which quadrangular mild steel plates are subjected to pressure loads created by exploding charges ranging from 100 to 26,288
kg. The charge ...consists of different ordnances stacked in different configurations, namely compacted and widespread in a carpet-like form. The effects of the charge configurations on the response of the square mild steel plates are investigated. Simple analytical evaluations of the pressures and impulses are used for the purpose of comparison with the experiments. The correlation shows satisfactory agreement, despite the imperfect terrain and different complex explosive loading arrangement.
The sources of the majority of the high-energy astrophysical neutrinos observed with the IceCube neutrino telescope at the South Pole are unknown. So far, only a flaring gamma-ray blazar was ...compellingly associated with the emission of high-energy neutrinos. However, several studies suggest that the neutrino emission from the gamma-ray blazar population only accounts for a small fraction of the total astrophysical neutrino flux. In this work we probe the production of high-energy neutrinos in the cores of active galactic nuclei (AGN), induced by accelerated cosmic rays in the accretion disk region. We present a likelihood analysis based on eight years of IceCube data, searching for a cumulative neutrino signal from three AGN samples created for this work. The neutrino emission is assumed to be proportional to the accretion disk luminosity estimated from the soft x-ray flux. Next to the observed soft x-ray flux, the objects for the three samples have been selected based on their radio emission and infrared color properties. For the largest sample in this search, an excess of high-energy neutrino events with respect to an isotropic background of atmospheric and astrophysical neutrinos is found, corresponding to a post-trial significance of 2.60σ. If interpreted as a genuine signal with the assumptions of a proportionality of x-ray and neutrino fluxes and a model for the subthreshold flux distribution, then this observation implies that at 100 TeV, 27%–100% of the observed neutrinos arise from particle acceleration in the core of AGN at 1σ confidence interval.
This paper presents research motivated by industrial demand for special traction drive topology devoted to minimization of traction transformer weight against topology with classical 50Hz traction ...transformer. The special traction drive topology for AC power systems consists of input high voltage trolley converter (single phase matrix converter) -middle frequency transformer - output converter - traction motor has been described. The main attention has been given tothe control algorithm of the traction topology (inserting of NULL vector of matrix converter and Two-value control ofsecondary active rectifier).
This paper presents research motivated by industrial demand for special traction drive topology devoted to minimization of traction transformer weight of traction vehicles. The main attention has ...been given to the special traction drive topology for AC power systems: input high voltage trolley converter (single phase) - middle frequency transformer (single phase) - output converter (single phase voltage-source active rectifier + three phase voltage-source inverter) - traction motor. This configuration can minimize traction transformer weight against topology with classical 50Hz traction transformer. Several variants of innovative topologies of the traction vehicles fulfil the weight reduce requirements have been presented.
This paper deals with low-frequency analysis of the phase current taken by frequency converters from a power distribution network. Problems concerning with characteristic harmonic currents are ...relatively well-known. Therefore the main emphasis of this work is focused on the investigation of factors which influence arising of non-characteristic and interharmonic current components
