Fabric-mechanical property relationships of trabecular bone allografts are altered by supercritical CO2 treatment and gamma sterilization

Tissue grafts are implanted in orthopedic surgery every day. In order to minimize infection risk, bone allografts are often delipidated with supercritical CO2 and sterilized prior to implantation. This treatment may, however, impair the mechanical behavior of the bone graft tissue. The goal of this study was to determine clinically relevant mechanical properties of treated/sterilized human trabecular bone grafts, e.g. the apparent modulus, strength, and the ability to absorb energy during compaction. They were compared with results of identical experiments performed previously on untreated/fresh frozen human trabecular bone from the same anatomical site (Charlebois, 2008). We tested the hypothesis that the morphology–mechanical property relationships of treated cancellous allografts are similar to those of fresh untreated bone. The morphology of the allografts was determined by μCT. Subsequently, cylindrical samples were tested in unconfined and confined compression. To account for various morphologies, the experimental data was fitted to phenomenological mechanical models for elasticity, strength, and dissipated energy density based on bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and the fabric tensor determined by MIL. The treatment/sterilization process does not appear to influence bone graft stiffness. However, strength and energy dissipation of the bone grafts were found to be significantly reduced by 36% to 47% and 66% to 81%, respectively, for a broad range of volume fraction (0.14 < BV/TV < 0.39) and degree of anisotropy (1.24 < DA < 2.18). Since the latter properties are strongly dominated by BV/TV, the clinical consequences of this reduction can be compensated by using grafts with lower porosity. The data of this study suggests that an increase of 5–10% in BV/TV is sufficient to compensate for the reduced post-yield mechanical properties of treated/sterilized bone in monotonic compression. In applications where graft stiffness needs to be matched and strength is not a concern, treated allograft with the same BV/TV as an appropriate fresh bone graft may be used.

Computational and experimental methodology for site-matched investigations of the influence of mineral mass fraction and collagen orientation on the axial indentation modulus of lamellar bone

Relationships between mineralization, collagen orientation and indentation modulus were investigated in bone structural units from the mid-shaft of human femora using a site-matched design. Mineral mass fraction, collagen fibril angle and indentation moduli were measured in registered anatomical sites using backscattered electron imaging, polarized light microscopy and nano-indentation, respectively. Theoretical indentation moduli were calculated with a homogenization model from the quantified mineral densities and mean collagen fibril orientations. The average indentation moduli predicted based on local mineralization and collagen fibers arrangement were not significantly different from the average measured experimentally with nanoindentation (p=0.9). Surprisingly, no substantial correlation of the measured indentation moduli with tissue mineralization and/or collagen fiber arrangement was found. Nano-porosity, micro-damage, collagen cross-links, non-collagenous proteins or other parameters affect the indentation measurements. Additional testing/simulation methods need to be considered to properly understand the variability of indentation moduli, beyond the mineralization and collagen arrangement in bone structural units.

Comparison of Mixed and Kinematic Uniform Boundary Conditions in Homogenized Elasticity of Femoral Trabecular Bone Using Microfinite Element Analyses

Mechanical properties of human trabecular bone play an important role in age-related bone fragility and implant stability. Micro-finite element (microFE) analysis allows computing the apparent elastic properties of trabecular bone biopsies, but the results depend on the type of applied boundary conditions (BCs). In this study, 167 femoral trabecular cubic biopsies with a side length of 5.3 mm were analyzed using microFE analysis to compare their stiffness systematically with kinematic uniform boundary conditions (KUBCs) and periodicity-compatible mixed uniform boundary conditions (PMUBCs). The obtained elastic constants were then used in the volume fraction and fabric-based orthotropic Zysset-Curnier model to identify their respective model parameters. As expected, PMUBCs lead to more compliant apparent elastic properties than KUBCs, especially in shear. The differences in stiffness decreased with bone volume fraction and mean intercept length. Unlike KUBCs, PMUBCs were sensitive to heterogeneity of the biopsies. The Zysset-Curnier model predicted apparent elastic constants successfully in both cases with adjusted coefficients of determination of 0.986 for KUBCs and 0.975 for PMUBCs. The role of these boundary conditions in finite element analyses of whole bones and bone-implant systems will need to be investigated in future work.

Effects of Strand Geometry on Selected Properties of Long-Stand Structural Composite Lumber Made from Northeastern Hardwoods

Structural composite lumber (SCL) products often possess significantly higher design values than the top grades of solid lumber, making it a popular choice for both residential and commercial applications. The enhanced mechanical properties of SCL are mainly due to defect randomization and densification of the wood fiber, both largely functions of the size, shape and composition (species) of the wood element. Traditionally, SCL manufacturers have used thin, rectangular elements produced from either moderate density softwoods or low density hardwoods. Higher density hardwood species have been avoided, as they require higher pressures to adequately densify and consolidate the wood furnish. These higher pressures can lead to increased manufacturing costs, damage to the wood fiber and/or a product that is too dense, making it heavy and unreceptive to common mechanical fastening techniques. In the northeastern United States high density, diffuse-porous hardwoods (such as maple, beech and birch) are abundant. Use of these species as primary furnish for a SCL product may allow for a competitive advantage in terms of resource cost against products that rely on veneer grade logs. Proximity to this abundant and relatively inexpensive resource may facilitate entry of SCL production facilities in the northeastern United States, where currently none exist. However, modifications to current strand sizes, geometries or production techniques will likely be required to allow for use of these species. A new SCL product concept has been invented allowing for use of these high density hardwoods. The product, referred to as long-strand structural composite lumber (LSSCL), uses strands of significantly larger cross sectional areas and volumes than existing SCL products. In spite of the large strand size, satisfactory consolidation is achieved without excessive densification of the wood fiber through use of a symmetrical strand geometric cross-section. LSSCL density is similar to that of existing SCL products, but is due mainly to the inherent density of the species, rather than through densification. An experiment was designed and conducted producing LSSCL from both large (7/16”) and small (1/4”) strands, of both square and triangular geometric cross sections. Testing results indicate that the large, triangular strands produce LSSCL beams with projected design values of: Modulus of elasticity (MOEapp) – 1,750,000 psi; Allowable bending stress (Fb) – 2750 psi; Allowable shear stress (Fv) – 260 psi. Several modifications are recommended which may lead to improvement of these values, likely allowing for competition against existing SCL products.

Sea ice physics from the southern Weddell Sea

During the German Antarctic Expedition 1979/80, the sea ice conditions in the Weddell Sea were studied along the ice shelf between Cape Fiske (root of the Antarctlc Peninsula) and Atka Bay. Most intensively was the sea ice investigated in an area about 100 km northwest of Berkner Island, where a suitable site for the German station was found. In addition to the drift conditions, ice thickness as weIl as temperature and salinity of the ice were measured and the mechanical properties established. Several ice cores were taken back to Germany, where the compressive strength was measured in respect to strain rate, salinity, depth and temperature.

Restauración de incisivo inferior fracturado mediante procedimientos de invasión mínima : reporte de un caso clínico

La odontología está inmersa en un nuevo paradigma: no se puede pensar en ninguna técnica restauradora sin que participen fenómenos de adhesión. El desarrollo de pernos de fibra de vidrio, sumado a los procedimientos de restauraciones adhesivas puede utilizarse como uno de los tantos recursos de la odontología de invasión mínima. Los pernos de fibra de vidrio ofrecen varias ventajas: comportamiento anisótropo, módulo de elasticidad bajo, buena resistencia mecánica, el lecho que aloja al perno de fibra requiere de una mínima preparación y se cementan con cementos adhesivos con carga, permitiendo de esta manera obtener una superficie homogénea que se interpone entre el perno de fibra y los tejidos dentales, conectándolo a los tejidos del conducto y sustituyendo mecánicamente la dentina. El caso clínico que se reporta se presentó para su resolución en la Clínica Integrada III F. O. UNCuyo durante el año lectivo 2009. El paciente presentaba una fractura amelodentinaria desde hacía cuatro años, con compromiso de la vitalidad y un proceso periapical. Durante los procedimientos endodónticos se realizó una perforación de la pared del conducto que se selló mediante la colocación de hidróxido de calcio y la obturación del mismo con conos de gutapercha. Se efectuó el seguimiento clínico y radiográfico del caso en donde se constató la reparación del proceso apical y luego se procedió a la restauración del elemento dentario con resinas compuestas con la ayuda de un poste de fibra de vidrio cementado con cemento resinoso. Dadas las características del tratamiento endodóntico realizado, se decidió dejar más porción del cono de gutapercha a pesar de lo aconsejado por numerosos autores, ya que de esta manera se aseguró el sellado de la perforación radicular para evitar de esta manera la nanofiltración hacia el interior del elemento dentario.

Mechanical behavior of ODP Hole 137-504B basalts

Core samples of basalt collected from Hole 504B during Leg 137 were investigated regarding their mechanical behavior. The rock samples were measured for hardness, compression strength, and modulus of elasticity. Abrasion loss of weight and Shore sclerometer methods were used for determining hardness. Static and dynamic methods were used for calculating modulus of elasticity. Test results were compared with shipboard measurements of ultrasonic velocity and dry-bulk density. Test results were interpreted statistically to provide data not only on mechanical behavior changes of the rock but also on the precision of the methods used.

Mechanical properties and comparisons of dynamic and static Young's moduli at DSDP Holes 69-504B, 70-504B and 83-504B

From laboratory tests under simulated downhole conditions we tentatively conclude that the higher the triaxial-compressive strength, the lower the drilling rate of basalts from DSDP Hole 504B. Because strength is roughly proportional to Young's modulus of elasticity, which is related in turn to seismic-wave velocities, one may be able to estimate drilling rates from routine shipboard measurements. However, further research is needed to verify that P-wave velocity is a generally useful predictor of relative drilling rate.