During ontogeny, the nasal septum exerts a morphogenetic influence on the surrounding facial skeleton. While the influence of the septum is well established in long snouted animal models, its role in human facial growth is less clear. If the septum is a facial growth center in humans, we would predict that deviated septal growth would be associated with facial skeletal asymmetries. Using computed tomographic (CT) scans of n 5 55 adult subjects, the purpose of this study was to test whether there is a correlation between septal deviation and facial asymmetries using three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometric techniques. We calculated deviation as a percentage of septal volume relative to the volume of a modeled non-deviated septum. We then recorded skeletal landmarks representing the nasal, palatal, and lateral facial regions. Landmark data were superimposed using Procrustes analysis. First, we examined the correlation between nasal septal deviation and the overall magnitude of asymmetry. Next, we assessed whether there was a relationship between nasal septal deviation and more localized aspects of asymmetry using multivariate regression analysis. Our results indicate that while there was no correlation between septal deviation and the overall magnitude of asymmetry, septal deviation was associated with asymmetry primarily in the nasal floor and the palatal region. Septal deviation was unassociated with asymmetries in the lateral facial skeleton. Though we did not test the causal relationship between nasal septal deviation and facial asymmetry, our results suggest that the nasal septum may have an influence on patterns of adult facial form. Anat Rec, 299:295-306, 2016. V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Key words: ontogeny; geometric morphometrics; facial skeletonCraniofacial and occlusal asymmetries are commonly observed in populations and can result from a number of causative factors. These include the early loss of primary teeth, loss of permanent teeth, genetic or congenital malformations (e.g., hemifacial microsomia, unilateral clefts, etc.), environmental factors (e.g., habits and trauma), and functional deviations (Bishara et al., 1994;Burstone, 1998

The classical work of bird-like objects of Reynolds simulates polarized motion of groups of oriented particles, bird-like objects, or simply boids. To do this, three steering vectors are introduced. Cohesion is the tendency of boids to stay in the center of the flock, alignment smoothes their velocities to similar values, and separation helps them to avoid mutual collisions. If no impetus is introduced the boids wander somewhat randomly so an external leading force is necessary for the correct flock behavior. As can be observed during the bird flocking in the fall, birds sometimes move in a way that is not captured by the above described framework. Some of the birds, typically the ones on the edge of the flock, suddenly shoot-off. The flock then pursues this leader. In the original work by Reynolds the cohesion and separation are two complementary steers. We introduce a complementary force to the alignment that we call the change of leadership. This steer defines the chance of the boid to become a leader and try to escape. The leadership is derived from the boid position and the flock eccentricity. If a boid is on the front edge of the flock it has a higher chance to escape. Escaping from the flock is simulated as a sequence of velocity increases that are added to the current velocity of the boid. The entire system is easy to implement, is efficient, and runs simulations of hundreds of boids on a standard computer at 30 frames per second. Our system is aimed to real-time simulations and has the potential to be used in games, crowd simulations, etc.

A 24-hour urinalysis alone does not accurately predict stone type. However, it may be used in conjunction with other variables to predict stone composition.

ObjectivesTo examine the differences in 24-h urine composition between nephrolithiasis patients with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) in a large cohort of stone-formers and to examine differences in stone composition between patients with and without DM. Patients and MethodsA retrospective review of 1117 patients with nephrolithiasis and a 24-h urine analysis was completed. Univariable analysis of 24-h urine profiles and multivariable linear regression models were performed, comparing patients with and without DM. A subanalysis of patients with stone analysis data available was performed, comparing the stone composition of patients with and without DM. ResultsOf the 1117 patients who comprised the study population, 181 (16%) had DM and 936 (84%) did not have DM at the time of urine analysis. Univariable analysis showed significantly higher total urine volume, citrate, uric acid (UA), sodium, potassium, sulphate, oxalate, chloride, and supersaturation (SS) of UA in individuals with DM (all P < 0.05). However, patients with DM had significantly lower SS of calcium phosphate and pH (all P < 0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that patients with DM had significantly lower urinary pH and SS of calcium phosphate, but significantly greater citrate, UA, sulphate, oxalate, chloride, SSUA, SS of calcium oxalate, and volume than patients without DM (all P < 0.05). Patients with DM had a significantly greater proportion of UA in their stones than patients without DM (50.2% vs 13.5%, P < 0.001). ConclusionsDM was associated with multiple differences on 24-h urine analysis compared with those without DM, including significantly higher UA and oxalate, and lower pH. Control of urinary UA and pH, as well as limiting intake of dietary oxalate may reduce stone formation in patients with DM.

Our results demonstrate that a quantifiable temporal gradation of heterogeneity exists and the heterogeneity index can be used as an objective parameter to determine the viability of a torsed testicle. By developing the technology to measure the heterogeneity index in real time, we could potentially identify which patients with testicular torsion have a nonviable testicle and, thus, would not require immediate surgical exploration.