Contribution of the plantar fascia and long plantar ligaments to the stability of the longitudinal arch of the foot.

The contribution of the Plantar Fascia (PF) and Long Plantar Ligament (LPL), two ligaments extending from the hindfoot to the forefoot, to arch stability has been studied in the past using in vivo, in vitro, and in silico methodologies. In silico studies were based on one single model obtained from one single subject and did not account for the known inter-subject morphological and biomechanical variations. In the present study, we developed computational dynamic models of nine different legs obtained from nine different individuals to evaluate the role of the LPL and PF in arch support, accounting for biological differences between subjects.

Breeding new seedless table grapevines for a more sustainable viticulture in Mediterranean climate.

The growing demand for sustainable and environmentally friendly viticulture is leading to a multiplication of breeding programs aimed at obtaining vines that are resistant to powdery mildew (PM) and downy mildew (DM), the two most damaging vine diseases. In Puglia, the most important Italian region for the production of table grapes, an extensive crossing program was launched in 2015 with 113 crosses, including elite table varieties, seedless varieties, and resistant varieties. The main seedling production parameters were measured for each cross.

Biomechanical Comparison of Fixation of Metacarpal Shaft Fractures With Intramedullary Threaded Nail and Dorsal Plate.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of metacarpal long oblique and transverse shaft fractures stabilized by threaded intramedullary nails and dorsal plates and screws.

Methods: Transverse and oblique midshaft osteotomies were created in 28 paired left and right metacarpal bones from four fresh frozen cadavers. Each matched pair was fixed with one 4.

Definitions and Measurements of Hindfoot Alignment and Their Biomechanical and Clinical Implications.

This article presents a critical review of the past and the current state of the art in defining and measuring hindfoot, ankle, and subtalar alignment. It describes the transition occurring at present from two-dimensional to three-dimensional (3D) alignment measurements, which accompany the emergence of new, functional, high-resolution imaging modalities such as the weight-bearing cone-beam computerized tomography (CT) imaging. To ease and enhance the transition and acceptability of 3D alignment measurements, new acceptable standards for different clinical application are highly desirable.

Fine Mapping and Candidate Gene Analysis of , a Wild Emmer-Derived Powdery Mildew Resistance Locus in Durum Wheat.

Powdery mildew (PM) is an economically important foliar disease of cultivated cereals worldwide. The cultivation of disease-resistant varieties is considered the most efficient, sustainable and economical strategy for disease management. The objectives of the current study were to fine map the chromosomal region harboring the wild emmer PM resistance locus and to identify candidate genes by exploiting the improved tetraploid wheat genomic resources.