Objective To introduce a novel Cobb protractor and assess its reliability and rapidity for measuring Cobb angle in scoliosis patients. Methods The novel Cobb protractor had two endplate markers. A measurement was perf...Objective To introduce a novel Cobb protractor and assess its reliability and rapidity for measuring Cobb angle in scoliosis patients. Methods The novel Cobb protractor had two endplate markers. A measurement was performed just to align the two markers to each endplate of the curve. The Cobb angle on the posteroanterior radiographs of 24 patients clinically diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was measured by three orthopedic surgeons with both standard Cobb method and the new technique, and the time of measurement was recorded. Intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs) were calculated to assess the reliability of the new method. Results The time for a measurement with the new tool was approximately 10 seconds less than the time that used to finish a measurement with the standard method(P<0.05). The overall mean Cobb angle for the major curve of the 24 patients was 47.8°. The mean overall intraobserver and interobserver ICC was 0.971 and 0.971 for the Cobb method group, while the overall intraobserver ICC and the interobserver was 0.985 and 0.979 for the new tool group. Conclusions The novel Cobb protractor could perform quick measurement and measure almost all forms of radiographs. The Cobb protractor might be an ideal instrument to measure the Cobb angle.展开更多
In architecture and urban design,solar energy plays an important role to save fossil energy and preserve environment.Passive or active use of this energy needs especial consideration in the preliminary stage of design...In architecture and urban design,solar energy plays an important role to save fossil energy and preserve environment.Passive or active use of this energy needs especial consideration in the preliminary stage of design to the probable shadows.This work will answer two questions:1) How is it possible to distinguish shadow need periods during a year in a specific climate-2) How is it possible to produce shadow in hot periods without being deprived of pleasant sunshine in cold periods-In this regard,it will introduce the usage process and opportunities of "shading mask" of Olgyay as an easy and useful graphical method in six steps.At the end,different ways of using this method in design will be discussed.Several research projects that have been done in past 30 years will support the argument as examples of this method.展开更多
文摘Objective To introduce a novel Cobb protractor and assess its reliability and rapidity for measuring Cobb angle in scoliosis patients. Methods The novel Cobb protractor had two endplate markers. A measurement was performed just to align the two markers to each endplate of the curve. The Cobb angle on the posteroanterior radiographs of 24 patients clinically diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was measured by three orthopedic surgeons with both standard Cobb method and the new technique, and the time of measurement was recorded. Intraclass correlation coefficients(ICCs) were calculated to assess the reliability of the new method. Results The time for a measurement with the new tool was approximately 10 seconds less than the time that used to finish a measurement with the standard method(P<0.05). The overall mean Cobb angle for the major curve of the 24 patients was 47.8°. The mean overall intraobserver and interobserver ICC was 0.971 and 0.971 for the Cobb method group, while the overall intraobserver ICC and the interobserver was 0.985 and 0.979 for the new tool group. Conclusions The novel Cobb protractor could perform quick measurement and measure almost all forms of radiographs. The Cobb protractor might be an ideal instrument to measure the Cobb angle.
文摘In architecture and urban design,solar energy plays an important role to save fossil energy and preserve environment.Passive or active use of this energy needs especial consideration in the preliminary stage of design to the probable shadows.This work will answer two questions:1) How is it possible to distinguish shadow need periods during a year in a specific climate-2) How is it possible to produce shadow in hot periods without being deprived of pleasant sunshine in cold periods-In this regard,it will introduce the usage process and opportunities of "shading mask" of Olgyay as an easy and useful graphical method in six steps.At the end,different ways of using this method in design will be discussed.Several research projects that have been done in past 30 years will support the argument as examples of this method.