[Design and performance study of bone trabecular scaffolds based on triply periodic minimal surface method].

Triply periodic minimal surface (TPMS) is widely used because it can be used to control the shape of porous scaffolds precisely by formula. In this paper, an I-wrapped package (I-WP) type porous scaffolds were constructed. The finite element method was used to study the relationship between the wall thickness and period, the morphology and mechanical properties of the scaffolds, as well as to study the compression and fluid properties. It was found that the porosity of I-WP type scaffolds with different wall thicknesses (0.1 ~ 0.2 mm) and periods (I-WP 1 ~ I-WP 5) ranged from 68.01% ~ 96.48%, and the equivalent elastic modulus ranged from 0.655 ~ 18.602 GPa; the stress distribution of the scaffolds tended to be uniform with the increase of periods and wall thicknesses; the equivalent elastic modulus of the I-WP type scaffolds was basically unchanged after the topology optimization, and the permeability was improved by 52.3%. In conclusion, for the I-WP type scaffolds, the period parameter can be adjusted first, then the wall thickness parameter can be controlled. Topology optimization can be combined to meet the design requirements. The I-WP scaffolds constructed in this paper have good mechanical properties and meet the requirements of repairing human bone tissue, which may provide a new choice for the design of artificial bone trabecular scaffolds.

The performance of gelling fibre wound dressings under clinically relevant robotic laboratory tests.

The effectiveness of wound dressing performance in exudate management is commonly gauged in simple, non-realistic laboratory setups, typically, where dressing specimens are submersed in vessels containing aqueous solutions, rather than by means of clinically relevant test configurations. Specifically, two key fluid-structure interaction concepts: sorptivity-the ability of wound dressings to transfer exudate, including viscous fluids, away from the wound bed by capillary action and durability-the capacity of dressings to maintain their structural integrity over time and particularly, at removal events, have not been properly addressed in existing test protocols. The present article reviews our recent published research concerning the development of clinically relevant testing methods for wound dressings, focussing on the clinical relevance of the tests as well as on the standardisation and automation of laboratory measurements of dressing performance. A second objective of this work was to compile the experimental results characterising the performance of gelling fibre dressings, which were acquired using advanced testing methods, to demonstrate differences across products that apparently belong to the same "gelling fibre" family but differ remarkably in materials, structure and composition and, thereby, in performance.

[Design of new gradient scaffolds based on triply periodic minimal surfaces and study on its mechanical, permeability and tissue differentiation characteristics].

In order to establish a bone scaffold with good biological properties, two kinds of new gradient triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) scaffolds, i.e., two-way linear gradient G scaffolds (L-G) and D, G fusion scaffold (N-G) were designed based on the gyroid (G) and diamond (D)-type TPMS in this study. The structural mechanical parameters of the two kinds of scaffolds were obtained through the compressive simulation. The flow property parameters were also obtained through the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation in this study, and the permeability of the two kinds of scaffolds were calculated by Darcy's law. The tissue differentiation areas of the two kinds of scaffolds were calculated based on the tissue differentiation theory. The results show that L-G scaffold has a better mechanical property than the N-G scaffold. However, N-G scaffold is better than the L-G scaffold in biological properties such as permeability and cartilage differentiation areas. The modeling processes of L-G and N-G scaffolds provide a new insight for the design of bone scaffold. The simulation in this study can also give reference for the prediction of osseointegration after the implantation of scaffold in the human body.

Current Stage of Marine Ceramic Grafts for 3D Bone Tissue Regeneration.

Bioceramic scaffolds are crucial in tissue engineering for bone regeneration. They usually provide hierarchical porosity, bioactivity, and mechanical support supplying osteoconductive properties and allowing for 3D cell culture. In the case of age-related diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, or other bone alterations as alveolar bone resorption or spinal fractures, functional tissue recovery usually requires the use of grafts. These bone grafts or bone void fillers are usually based on porous calcium phosphate grains which, once disposed into the bone defect, act as scaffolds by incorporating, to their own porosity, the intergranular one. Despite their routine use in traumatology and dental applications, specific graft requirements such as osteoinductivity or balanced dissolution rate are still not completely fulfilled. Marine origin bioceramics research opens the possibility to find new sources of bone grafts given the wide diversity of marine materials still largely unexplored. The interest in this field has also been urged by the limitations of synthetic or mammalian-derived grafts already in use and broadly investigated. The present review covers the current stage of major marine origin bioceramic grafts for bone tissue regeneration and their promising properties. Both products already available on the market and those in preclinical phases are included. To understand their clear contribution to the field, the main clinical requirements and the current available biological-derived ceramic grafts with their advantages and limitations have been collected.

Identification of locally available structural material as co-substrate for organic waste composting in Tamil Nadu, India.

Owing to the lack in structural strength while composting certain kinds of organic wastes, 11 co-substrates were tested that are generally locally available in rural areas of northern Tamil Nadu, India. In addition to the classical composting parameters such as carbon/nitrogen ratio, moisture content, dry matter and organic dry matter, a compression test was conducted to evaluate the structural strength and the suitability as bulking agent for composting processes. Additionally, with respect to the climatic conditions in India, the water holding capacity was also evaluated.

A longitudinal study of bone area, content, density, and strength development at the radius and tibia in children 4-12 years of age exposed to recreational gymnastics.

UNLABELLED: This study investigated the long-term relationship between the exposure to childhood recreational gymnastics and bone measures and bone strength parameters at the radius and tibia. It was observed that individuals exposed to recreational gymnastics had significantly greater total bone content and area at the distal radius. No differences were observed at the tibia. INTRODUCTION: This study investigated the relationship between exposure to early childhood recreational gymnastics with bone measures and bone strength development at the radius and tibia. METHODS: One hundred twenty seven children (59 male, 68 female) involved in either recreational gymnastics (gymnasts) or other recreational sports (non-gymnasts) between 4 and 6 years of age were recruited. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) scans of their distal and shaft sites of the forearm and leg were obtained over 3 years, covering the ages of 4-12 years at study completion. Multilevel random effects models were constructed to assess differences in the development of bone measures and bone strength measures between those exposed and not exposed to gymnastics while controlling for age, limb length, weight, physical activity, muscle area, sex, and hours of training. RESULTS: Once age, limb length, weight, muscle area, physical activity, sex, and hours of training effects were controlled, it was observed that individuals exposed to recreational gymnastics had significantly greater total bone area (18.0 ± 7.5 mm(2)) and total bone content (6.0 ± 3.0 mg/mm) at the distal radius (p < 0.05). This represents an 8-21 % benefit in ToA and 8-15 % benefit to ToC from 4 to 12 years of age. Exposure to recreational gymnastics had no significant effect on bone measures at the radius shaft or at the tibia (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to early life recreational gymnastics provides skeletal benefits to distal radius bone content and area. Thus, childhood recreational gymnastics exposure may be advantageous to bone development at the wrist.

Prediction of Extrusion Machine Stem Fatigue Life Using Structural and Fatigue Analysis.

In this study, the characteristics of the SKD61 material used for the stem of an extruder were analyzed through structural analysis, tensile testing, and fatigue testing. The extruder works by pushing a cylindrical billet into a die with a stem to reduce its cross-sectional area and increase its length, and it is currently used to extrude complex and diverse shapes of products in the field of plastic deformation processes. Finite element analysis was used to determine the maximum stress on the stem, which was found to be 1152 MPa, lower than the yield strength of 1325 MPa obtained from tensile testing. Fatigue testing was conducted using the stress-life (S-N) method, considering the characteristics of the stem, and statistical fatigue testing was employed to create an S-N curve. The predicted minimum fatigue life of the stem at room temperature was 424,998 cycles at the location with the highest stress, and the fatigue life decreased with increasing temperature. Overall, this study provides useful information for predicting the fatigue life of extruder stems and improving their durability.

Simulation and Test of a MEMS Arming Device for a Fuze.

To solve the structural strength problem of a MEMS arming device for a fuze, a kind of arming device applied to a certain type of 40 mm grenade is designed. This paper introduces the working principle of the arming device; simulates the shear pin, rotary pin and locking mechanism in the device; designs a variety of different test tools for test verification; and further increases the explosion reliability and arming safety tests. The results show that the arming device improves the structural strength and can meet the action requirements of a certain type of 40 mm grenade for safety release, as well as the application requirements of explosion reliability and arming safety.

Structural Strength Analyses for Low Brass Filler Biomaterial with Anti-Trauma Effects in Articular Cartilage Scaffold Design.

The existing harder biomaterial does not protect the tissue cells with blunt-force trauma effects, making it a poor choice for the articular cartilage scaffold design. Despite the traditional mechanical strengths, this study aims to discover alternative structural strengths for the scaffold supports. The metallic filler polymer reinforced method was used to fabricate the test specimen, either low brass (Cu80Zn20) or titanium dioxide filler, with composition weight percentages (wt.%) of 0, 2, 5, 15, and 30 in polyester urethane adhesive. The specimens were investigated for tensile, flexural, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests. The tensile and flexural test results increased with wt.%, but there were higher values for low brass filler specimens. The tensile strength curves were extended to discover an additional tensile strength occurring before 83% wt.%. The higher flexural stress was because of the Cu solvent and Zn solute substituting each other randomly. The FESEM micrograph showed a cubo-octahedron shaped structure that was similar to the AuCu3 structure class. The XRD pattern showed two prominent peaks of 2θ of 42.6° (110) and 49.7° (200) with d-spacings of 1.138 Å and 1.010 Å, respectively, that indicated the typical face-centred cubic superlattice structure with Cu and Zn atoms. Compared to the copper, zinc, and cart brass, the low brass indicated these superlattice structures had ordered-disordered transitional states. As a result, this additional strength was created by the superlattice structure and ordered-disordered transitional states. This innovative strength has the potential to develop into an anti-trauma biomaterial for osteoarthritic patients.

The Effect of High Protein Powder Structure on Hydration, Glass Transition, Water Sorption, and Thermomechanical Properties.

Poor solubility of high protein milk powders can be an issue during the production of nutritional formulations, as well as for end-users. One possible way to improve powder solubility is through the creation of vacuoles and pores in the particle structure using high pressure gas injection during spray drying. The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in particle morphology effect physical properties, such as hydration, water sorption, structural strength, glass transition temperature, and α-relaxation temperatures. Four milk protein concentrate powders (MPC, 80%, w/w, protein) were produced, i.e., regular (R) and agglomerated (A) without nitrogen injection and regular (RN) and agglomerated (AN) with nitrogen injection. Electron microscopy confirmed that nitrogen injection increased powder particles' sphericity and created fractured structures with pores in both regular and agglomerated systems. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) showed that nitrogen injection enhanced the moisture uptake and solubility properties of RN and AN as compared with non-nitrogen-injected powders (R and A). In particular, at the final swelling at over 100% relative humidity (RH), R, A, AN, and RN powders showed an increase in particle size of 25, 20, 40, and 97% respectively. The injection of nitrogen gas (NI) did not influence calorimetric glass transition temperature (Tg), which could be expected as there was no change to the powder composition, however, the agglomeration of powders did effect Tg. Interestingly, the creation of porous powder particles by NI did alter the α-relaxation temperatures (up to ~16 °C difference between R and AN powders at 44% RH) and the structural strength (up to ~11 °C difference between R and AN powders at 44% RH). The results of this study provide an in-depth understanding of the changes in the morphology and physical-mechanical properties of nitrogen gas-injected MPC powders.

Water sorption and hydration in spray-dried milk protein powders: Selected physicochemical properties.

Low and high protein dairy powders are prone to caking and sticking and can also be highly insoluble; with powder storage conditions an important factor responsible for such issues. The aim of this study focused on the bulk and surface properties of anhydrous and humidified spray-dried milk protein concentrate (MPC) powders (protein content ~40, 50, 60, 70 or 80%, w/w). Water sorption isotherms, polarized light and scanning electron micrographs showed crystallized lactose in low protein powders at high water activities. High protein systems demonstrated increased bulk diffusion coefficients compared to low protein systems. Glass transition temperatures, α-relaxation temperatures and structural strength significantly decreased with water uptake. CLSM measurements showed that humidified systems have slower real time water diffusion compared to anhydrous systems. Overall, the rate of water diffusion was higher for low protein powders but high protein powders absorbed higher levels of water under high humidity conditions.

Single-Implant Treatment.

The replacement of one tooth using one implant involves a set of unique criteria for long-term success. Successful therapy should be based on long-term function and health of the adjacent tissues. Sections of this article examine these critical criteria that when working together can result in successful long-term tooth replacement.

Comportamiento Mecánico de un Premolar Humano Sano Sometido a Fuerzas Funcionales y Disfuncionales en un MEF / Mechanical Behavior of a Healthy Human Premolar Subjected to Functional and Dysfunctional Forces in a FEM

El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el comportamiento mecánico de la estructura dental sana de un primer premolar inferior humano sometido a fuerzas funcionales y disfuncionales en diferentes direcciones. Se buscó comprender, bajo las variables contempladas, las zonas de concentración de esfuerzos que conllevan al daño estructural de sus constituyentes y tejidos adyacentes. Se realizó el modelo 3D de la reconstrucción de un archivo TAC de un primer premolar inferior, que incluyó esmalte, dentina, ligamento periodontal y hueso alveolar considerando tres variables: dirección, magnitud y área de la fuerza aplicada. La dirección fue dirigida en tres vectores (vertical, tangencial y horizontal) bajo cuatro magnitudes, una funcional de 35 N y tres disfuncionales de 170, 310 y 445 N, aplicadas sobre un área de la cara oclusal y/o vestibular del premolar que involucró tres contactos estabilizadores (A, B y C) y dos paradores de cierre. Los resultados obtenidos explican el fenómeno de combinar tres vectores, cuatro magnitudes y un área de aplicación de la fuerza, donde los valores de esfuerzo efectivo equivalente Von Mises muestran valores máximos a partir de los 60 MPa. Los valores de tensión máximos se localizan, bajo la carga horizontal a 170 N y en el proceso masticatorio en la zona cervical, cuando la fuerza pasa del 60 %. Sobre la base de los hallazgos de este estudio, se puede concluir que la reacción de los tejidos a fuerzas funcionales y disfuncionales varía de acuerdo con la magnitud, dirección y área de aplicación de la fuerza. Los valores de tensión resultan ser más altos bajo la aplicación de fuerzas disfuncionales tanto en magnitud como en dirección, produciendo esfuerzos tensiles significativos para la estructura dental y periodontal cervical, mientras que, bajo las cargas funcionales aplicadas en cualquier dirección, no se generan esfuerzos lesivos. Esto supone el reconocimiento del poder de detrimento estructural del diente y periodonto frente al bruxismo céntrico y excéntrico.

SUMMARY: The purpose of this study was to analyze the mechanical behavior of the healthy dental structure of a human mandibular first premolar subjected to functional and dysfunctional forces in different directions. It was sought to understand, under the contemplated variables, the areas of stress concentration that lead to structural damage of its constituents and adjacent tissues. The 3D model of the reconstruction of a CT file of a lower first premolar was made, which included enamel, dentin, periodontal ligament and alveolar bone considering three variables: direction, magnitude and area of the applied force. The direction was directed in three vectors (vertical, tangential and horizontal) under four magnitudes, one functional of 35 N and three dysfunctional of 170, 310 and 445 N, applied to an area of the occlusal and/or buccal face of the premolar that involved three stabilizing contacts (A, B and C) and two closing stops. The results obtained explain the phenomenon of combining three vectors, four magnitudes and an area of force application, where the values of effective equivalent Von Mises stress show maximum values from 60 MPa. The maximum tension values are located under the horizontal load at 170 N and in the masticatory process in the cervical area, when the force exceeds 60%. Based on the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the reaction of tissues to functional and dysfunctional forces varies according to the magnitude, direction, and area of application of the force. The stress values turn out to be higher under the application of dysfunctional forces both in magnitude and in direction, producing significant tensile stresses for the dental and cervical periodontal structure, while under functional loads applied in any direction, no damaging stresses are generated. This supposes the recognition of the power of structural detriment of the tooth and periodontium against centric and eccentric bruxism.

Structural strength of cancellous specimens from bovine femur under cyclic compression.

The incidence of osteoporotic fractures was estimated as nine million worldwide in 2000, with particular occurrence at the proximity of joints rich in cancellous bone. Although most of these fractures spontaneously heal, some fractures progressively collapse during the early post-fracture period. Prediction of bone fragility during progressive collapse following initial fracture is clinically important. However, the mechanism of collapse, especially the gradual loss of the height in the cancellous bone region, is not clearly proved. The strength of cancellous bone after yield stress is difficult to predict since structural and mechanical strength cannot be determined a priori. The purpose of this study was to identify whether the baseline structure and volume of cancellous bone contributed to the change in cancellous bone strength under cyclic loading. A total of fifteen cubic cancellous bone specimens were obtained from two 2-year-old bovines and divided into three groups by collection regions: femoral head, neck, and proximal metaphysis. Structural indices of each 5-mm cubic specimen were determined using micro-computed tomography. Specimens were then subjected to five cycles of uniaxial compressive loading at 0.05 mm/min with initial 20 N loading, 0.3 mm displacement, and then unloading to 0.2 mm with 0.1 mm displacement for five successive cycles. Elastic modulus and yield stress of cancellous bone decreased exponentially during five loading cycles. The decrease ratio of yield stress from baseline to fifth cycle was strongly correlated with bone volume fraction (BV/TV, r = 0.96, p < 0.01) and structural model index (SMI, r = - 0.81, p < 0.01). The decrease ratio of elastic modulus from baseline to fifth cycle was also correlated with BV/TV (r = 0.80, p < 0.01) and SMI (r = - 0.78, p < 0.01). These data indicate that structural deterioration of cancellous bone is associated with bone strength after yield stress. This study suggests that baseline cancellous bone structure estimated from adjacent non-fractured bone contributes to the cancellous bone strength during collapse.

Design of new gradient scaffolds based on triply periodic minimal surfaces and study on its mechanical, permeability and tissue differentiation characteristics / 生物医学工程学杂志

In order to establish a bone scaffold with good biological properties, two kinds of new gradient triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS) scaffolds, i.e., two-way linear gradient G scaffolds (L-G) and D, G fusion scaffold (N-G) were designed based on the gyroid (G) and diamond (D)-type TPMS in this study. The structural mechanical parameters of the two kinds of scaffolds were obtained through the compressive simulation. The flow property parameters were also obtained through the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation in this study, and the permeability of the two kinds of scaffolds were calculated by Darcy's law. The tissue differentiation areas of the two kinds of scaffolds were calculated based on the tissue differentiation theory. The results show that L-G scaffold has a better mechanical property than the N-G scaffold. However, N-G scaffold is better than the L-G scaffold in biological properties such as permeability and cartilage differentiation areas. The modeling processes of L-G and N-G scaffolds provide a new insight for the design of bone scaffold. The simulation in this study can also give reference for the prediction of osseointegration after the implantation of scaffold in the human body.

The effects of bazedoxifene on bone structural strength evaluated by hip structure analysis.

Bazedoxifene (BZA) is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that has been shown to prevent and treat postmenopausal osteoporosis. Hip structure analysis (HSA) can be used to extract bone structural properties related to strength from hip bone mineral density (BMD) scans. This exploratory analysis used HSA to evaluate changes in hip structural geometry in postmenopausal women enrolled in a phase 3 osteoporosis treatment study who were treated with BZA 20mg or placebo for 2 years. This analysis cohort included women at increased fracture risk based on known skeletal risk factors (n = 521); 1 or more moderate or severe fractures or 2 or more mild vertebral fractures and/or femoral neck BMD T-score ≤ -3.0 at baseline combined with additional women from the overall study population (n = 475); a subgroup analysis included just those women at increased fracture risk. HSA was applied to duplicate hip dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans acquired at screening and 24 months. Percent change from baseline was evaluated using an analysis of covariance for BMD and geometric parameters including section modulus (SM), cross-sectional area (CSA), outer diameter (OD), and buckling ratio (BR). In all regions, BZA was associated with increased BMD and improvements in hip structural geometry. In the narrow neck, BZA 20mg significantly increased SM, CSA, OD, and BMD compared with placebo (P < 0.05 for all). In the intertrochanter region, BZA 20mg significantly increased CSA and BMD and decreased BR compared with placebo (P < 0.05 for all). Other than BMD (P < 0.05), effects of BZA 20mg at the shaft did not reach statistical significance. Similar trends toward improvement in structural geometry with BZA 20mg were observed in all three regions of the hip for the subgroup of women at increased fracture risk. Overall, BZA was associated with geometry-related improvements in bone strength with regard to resistance to bending and compressive forces and to local buckling. These improvements were evident at common fracture locations such as the femoral neck and intertrochanter regions, and are consistent with the significant treatment effect reported for BZA on nonvertebral fractures in higher-risk postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Structural strength development at the proximal femur in 4- to 10-year-old precompetitive gymnasts: a 4-year longitudinal hip structural analysis study.

Gymnastics, a high-impact weight-bearing physical activity, has been shown to be highly osteogenic. Previously in this cohort, bone mass development (bone mineral content accrual [BMC]) was shown to be positively associated with low-level (recreational) gymnastics exposure (1 to 2 hours per week); however, BMC is only one single component of bone strength. Bone strength is influenced not only by bone mineralization but also bone geometry, bone architecture, and the imposing loads on the bone. The aim of this study was to investigate whether low-level gymnastics training influenced the estimated structural geometry development at the proximal femur. A total of 165 children (92 gymnasts and 73 non-gymnasts) between the ages of 4 and 6 years were recruited into this study and assessed annually for 4 years. During the 4 years, 64 gymnasts withdrew from the sport and were reclassified as ex-gymnasts. A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) image of each child's hip was obtained. Values of cross-sectional area (CSA), section modulus (Z), and cortical thickness (CT) at the narrow neck (NN), intertrochanter (IT), and shaft (S) were estimated using the hip structural analysis (HSA) program. Multilevel random-effects models were constructed and used to develop bone structural strength development trajectories (estimate ± SEE). Once the confounders of body size and lifestyle were controlled, it was found that gymnasts had 6% greater NN CSA than non-gymnasts controls (0.09 ± 0.03 cm(2) , p < 0.05), 7% greater NN Z (0.04 ± 0.01 cm(3) , p < 0.05), 5% greater IT CSA (0.11 ± 0.04 cm(3) , p < 0.05), 6% greater IT Z (0.07 ± 0.03 cm(3) , p < 0.05), and 3% greater S CSA (0.06 ± 0.03 cm(3) , p < 0.05). These results suggest that early exposure to low-level gymnastics participation confers benefits related to geometric and bone architecture properties during childhood and, if maintained, may improve bone health in adolescence and adulthood.