Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Int J Cardiol 2020 Jul 4. Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Changhai Hospital, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Background: Interventional treatments of tricuspid regurgitation have been emerging as minimally invasive alternatives. Among those reported transcatheter tricuspid devices, the radial force between the device and native tricuspid annulus is the common principle to be employed for device immobilization. However, this immobilization mechanism may potentially lead to adverse consequences. Read More

J Endod 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87# Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan, China. Electronic address:

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of access cavities and tapers of canal preparations on fracture resistance of endodontically treated first molar by finite element method (FEM) and Weibull ananlysis.

Methods: Based on the micro-computed tomographic data of maxillary first molar, the models of endodontically treated teeth with conservative endodontic cavity (CEC), traditional endodontic cavity (TEC) and 4 tapers of canal preparations (0.02, 0. Read More

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020 Jul 1. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

Mechanical Science and Engineering Department, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801;

Understanding deformation mechanisms in silicon is critical for reliable design of miniaturized devices operating at high temperatures. Bulk silicon is brittle, but it becomes ductile at about 540 °C. It creeps (deforms plastically with time) at high temperatures (∼800 °C). Read More

Materials (Basel) 2020 Jun 29;13(13). Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Laboratory of Reinforced Concrete and Seismic Design of Structures, Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.Th.), 67100 Xanthi, Greece.

The use of fibers as mass reinforcement to delay cracking and to improve the strength and the post-cracking performance of reinforced concrete (RC) beams has been well documented. However, issues of common engineering practice about the beneficial effect of steel fibers to the seismic resistance of RC structural members in active earthquake zones have not yet been fully clarified. This study presents an experimental and a numerical approach to the aforementioned question. Read More

Int Orthop 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Nisa Hospital, Bahcelievler, 34196, Istanbul, Turkey.

Purpose: To compare the demographic, clinical, and laboratory features of metatarsal bone stress fractures encountered in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methods: This retrospective study was carried out in the orthopaedics and traumatology department of our tertiary care centre. Data were collected from the hospital records of a total of 81 women (average age 42. Read More

Ground Water 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

University of Auckland, Australia.

During the 1980's, hydrocarbons were logged in aquifers during drilling of conventional gas wells in the Woodada gasfield. The gasfield is located in the North Perth Basin in Western Australia. Using Fault Seal Analysis Technology, our goal was to test the hypothesis that faults in the Kockatea Shale that are currently being reactivated may be leak prone. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2020 Jul - Aug;59(4):664-672

Professor, Sports Innovation and Technology Centre (SITC), Institute of Human Centered Engineering (iHumEn), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor, Malaysia.

Osteoporosis and osteoarthritis are common pathological problems of the human bone tissue. There are some cases of pilon fractures associated with these 2 pathological conditions. In terms of treatment, for a normal and healthy bone with pilon fracture, the use of the Delta external fixator is a favorable option because it can allow early mobilization for patients and provide stability for the healing process. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2020 Jul - Aug;59(4):648-652

Professor, Department of Orthopedic Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing, China.

This study retrospectively evaluated patients with ankle fracture to compare the prognosis between patients who had primary repair of the superficial deltoid ligament and those who did not. A total of 71 patients with ankle fracture and fracture-dislocation combined with deltoid ligament injury were divided into 2 groups: repair of superficial layer group (33 cases) and nonrepair group (38 cases). For the repair group, patients first underwent open reduction and internal fixation of the lateral malleolus and received a stress test. Read More

Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Unit for Bone Metabolism Diseases and Diabetes & Lab of Endocrine and Metabolic Research, Milan. Italy.

Inadequate serum selenium levels may delay the growth and the physiological changes in bone metabolism. In humans, reduced serum selenium concentrations are associated with both increased bone turnover and reduced bone mineral density. Moreover, a reduced nutritional intake of selenium may lead to an increased risk of bone disease. Read More

PLoS One 2020 29;15(6):e0235366. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Ontario, Toronto, Canada.

Mechanical loading on bone tissue is an important physiological stimulus that plays a key role in bone growth, fracture repair, and treatment of bone diseases. Osteocytes (bone cells embedded in bone matrix) are well accepted as the sensor cells to mechanical loading and play a critical role in regulating the bone structure in response to mechanical loading. To understand the response of osteocytes to differential mechanical stimulation in physiologically relevant arrangements, there is a need for a platform which can locally stimulate bone cells with different levels of fluid shear stress. Read More

Biomed Mater Eng 2020 Jun 22. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.

Background: It is well known that there is a relationship between bone strength and the forces that are daily applied to the bone. However, bone is a highly heterogeneous material and it is still not clear how mechanical variables regulate the distribution of bone mass in a femur.

Methods: We studied the role of four mechanical variables, i. Read More

Eur J Radiol 2020 May 25;129:109046. Epub 2020 May 25.

Division of Experimental Imaging, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. Electronic address:

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of color-coded dual-energy CT virtual noncalcium (VNCa) reconstructions for the assessment of traumatic bone marrow edema in sacral insufficiency fracture (SIF).

Method: Data from 52 consecutive patients (28 women, 24 men; mean age, 61 ± 13 years; range, 49-94 years) who had undergone third-generation dual-source CT and 3-Tesla (T) MRI due to low back pain without adequate trauma were retrospectively evaluated. Five radiologists, blinded to MRI and clinical information, independently analyzed conventional grayscale dual-energy CT series for sacral fractures according to the Denis classification. Read More

Int J Prosthodont 2020 Jun 26. Epub 2020 Jun 26.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of different extents of misfit between a restoration and the supporting implant on veneer fractures in screw-retained implant-supported metal-ceramic fixed dental prostheses (FDPs).

Materials And Methods: A finite element analysis (FEA) model of a five-unit screw-retained metal-ceramic FDP supported by three implants was constructed, replicating a previous in vitro study. Eight different gap configurations at the single terminal implant, ranging from 0 to 150 μm, were tested. Read More

J Pathol Transl Med 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Konyang Unversity Hospital, Daejeon, Korea.

Of the drugs developed to prevent and treat osteoporosis, bisphosphonate has played a very important role in preventing osteoporotic fractures. However, case reports describing atypical femoral fractures in patients using long-term bisphosphonates have emerged. The majority of atypical femur fractures occurs in the lateral aspect of the subtrochanteric or femur diaphysis, which is explained by accumulation of tensile stress in these areas. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2020 Jun 23;13(12). Epub 2020 Jun 23.

School of Mechanical Engineering, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550000, China.

In this paper, the influence of burial depth of crack on stress measurement of laser cladding coating with the critical refracted longitudinal wave ( wave) was discussed based on the wave acoustoelastic effect. The regular rectangular slots with different depths that were used to simulate the burial crack in coating was based on the equivalent theory. The experimental system including an ultrasonic wave generator, digital oscilloscope (2. Read More

PLoS One 2020 25;15(6):e0235220. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Department of Traumatology, Hand-, Plastic-, and Reconstructive Surgery, Center of Surgery, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.

Background: Approximately 30,000 patients with blunt cardiac trauma are recorded each year in the United States. Blunt cardiac injuries after trauma are associated with a longer hospital stay and a poor overall outcome. Organ damage after trauma is linked to increased systemic release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and damage-associated molecular patterns. Read More

Jt Dis Relat Surg 2020 18;31(2):238-245. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Ortopedi ve Travmatoloji Anabilim Dalı, 17020 Çanakkale, Türkiye.

Objectives: This study aims to analyze and compare total deformations with tension band wiring (TBW), intramedullary screw (IS) and novel suture anchor (SA) fixation methods, and to investigate practicality of SA fixation in olecranon fractures using finite element analysis (FEA).

Materials And Methods: This finite element analysis study was conducted between May 2019 and October 2019. TBW, IS and SA fixation methods were compared in order to analyze fracture behavior in the ulna and humerus using FEA, which is among the mathematical methods of stress analysis. Read More

J Contemp Dent Pract 2020 Apr 1;21(4):383-389. Epub 2020 Apr 1.

Prosthetic Dental Sciences Department, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the influence of using dual-cure composite core materials for fiber post luting on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated maxillary central incisors.

Materials And Methods: Fifty sound and recently extracted maxillary central incisors were endodontically treated and distributed into five groups. In the control group, access cavities were restored with the composite resin. Read More

Polymers (Basel) 2020 Jun 22;12(6). Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Macromolecular Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, 1-1 Machikaneyama-cho, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.

High toughness with self-healing ability has become the ultimate goal in materials research. Herein, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) was linked via host-guest (HG) interactions to increase its mechanical properties and self-healing ability. TPU linked via HG interactions was prepared by the step-growth bulk polymerization of hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI), tetraethylene glycol (TEG), and HG interactions between permethylated amino βCD (PMeAmβCD) and adamantane amine (AdAm). Read More

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2020 Apr;66(4):430-436

. Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of the Yangtze River Shipping and Wuhan Brain Hospital, Wuhan 430010, China.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of cefazolin sodium pentahydrate combined with vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) in the treatment of open fracture complicated with soft tissue injury.

Methods: Sixty-three patients with open fracture complicated with soft tissue injury were divided into observation (n = 33) and control (n = 30) groups. After surgical reduction, fixation, and repair of the fractures, the control group was treated with VSD for 10 days, and the observation group was treated with cefazolin sodium pentahydrate based on VSD for 10 days. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Jun 21;17(12). Epub 2020 Jun 21.

Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan.

We aimed to determine the influence of osteoporosis and stress urinary incontinence in women. We hypothesized that women with osteoporosis had an increased risk of stress urinary incontinence. This retrospective study used data from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance database from 2005-2009. Read More

Phys Rev E 2020 May;101(5-1):052901

IATE, Université de Montpellier, INRA, CIRAD, Montpellier SupAgro, Montpellier, France.

We analyze stress distributions in a two-dimensional bidisperse cemented granular packing for a broad range of the values of particle-size ratio, the volumes of large and small particles, and the amount of cementing matrix. In such textured porous materials, the stress concentration, which controls the fracture and fragmentation of the material under tensile loading or in grinding processes, reflects not only the porosity but also the contact network of the particle phase and the resulting stress chains. By means of peridynamic simulations under tensile loading, we show how both the texture and stress distribution depend on size ratio, volume ratio, and the amount of the cementing matrix. Read More

Acta Biomater 2020 Jun 20. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100083, China; National Research Center for Rehabilitation Technical Aids, Beijing 100176, China. Electronic address:

The biodegradable metallic devices undergo stress/strain-induced corrosion when they are used for load-bearing applications. The stress/strain induced-corrosion behavior causes differences in corrosion rate, corrosion morphology, strain distribution and mechanical performance of the devices. One representative example is the biodegradable stent. Read More

Hua Xi Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi 2020 Jun;38(3):256-262

Dept. of Prosthodontics, School of Stomatology, Shandong University, Shandong Key Laboratory of Oral Tissue Regeneration, Shandong Engineering Laboratory for Dental Materials and Oral Tissue Regeneration, Jinan 250012, China.

Objective: This study aimed to develop novel self-adhesive resin cement with antibacterial and self-healing properties. Furthermore, the dentin bonding strength, mechanical properties, self-healing efficiency, and antibacterial property of the developed cement were measured.

Methods: Novel nano-antibacterial inorganic fillers that contain quaternary ammonium salts with long-chain alkyls were synthesized. Read More

Int Orthop 2020 Jun 22. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Zaloška 9, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Purpose: Leg-length changes at total hip arthroplasty (THA) may result from too proximal position of the femoral component, i.e. not being sunk deep enough into the femoral canal due to the size and shape of both medullary canal and implant. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2020 Jun 18;13(12). Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Department of Civil Engineering, KU Leuven, 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.

The intention of this paper is to clarify the mechanisms of mixed mode fracture and shear stress transfer in plain concrete. To capture these scarcely explored phenomena, a new mechanical formulation is proposed called the fictitious rough crack model (FRCM). The FRCM considers mode I deformations to control crack formation and residual tensile stress transfer, while mode II deformations are assumed to induce shear stress transfer along the crack surfaces and compressive normal stresses attributed to aggregate interlock. Read More

Nanomaterials (Basel) 2020 Jun 18;10(6). Epub 2020 Jun 18.

Department of Microelectronics, Delft University of Technology, Feldmannweg 17, 2628CT Delft, The Netherlands.

In this paper, the compressive stress of pristine and coated vertically-aligned (VA) multi-walled (MW) carbon nanotube (CNT) pillars were investigated using flat-punch nano-indentation. VA-MWCNT pillars of various diameters (30-150 µm) grown by low-pressure chemical vapor deposition on silicon wafer. A conformal brittle coating of niobium-titanium-nitride with high superconductivity temperature was deposited on the VA-MWCNT pillars using atomic layer deposition. Read More

Int J Cosmet Sci 2020 Jun 21. Epub 2020 Jun 21.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.

Objectives: Emulsifier molecules, with their amphiphilic character, are ubiquitous in moisturizing creams and primarily serve to disperse the water-insoluble molecules such as emollients, oils, lipids, and fats in water. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of emulsifier molecules on the barrier and biomechanical properties of human stratum corneum (SC), and to compare the efficacy of emulsifier molecules when used in a fully formulated moisturizing cream.

Methods: We employed methods based on thin film mechanics to measure the drying stress and intercellular cohesion in the SC. Read More

Hip Pelvis 2020 Jun 15;32(2):105-111. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea, St. Vincent Hospital, Suwon, Korea.

Femoral neck stress fractures are rare and when treating are difficult to achieve favorable outcomes. This study characterizes outcomes associated with the use of cephalomedullary nails for fixation of Pauwels type-3 vertical femoral neck undisplaced-incomplete insufficiency fractures. Four consecutive patients with a Pauwels type-3 vertical femoral neck tensile insufficiency fracture from 2016 to 2018 were reviewed. Read More

Shoulder Elbow 2020 Jun 25;12(3):212-223. Epub 2019 Sep 25.

Upper Limb Unit, Wrightington Hospital, UK.

The shape and size of the radial head is highly variable but correlates to the contralateral side. The radial head is a secondary stabilizer to valgus stress and provides lateral stability. The modified Mason-Hotchkiss classification is the most commonly used and describes three types, depending on the number of fragments and their displacement. Read More

Ceram Int 2020 Aug 25;46(12):19767-19784. Epub 2020 May 25.

Guangdong Institute of Material and Processing, Guangzhou, 510650, PR China.

Brazed monolayer diamond grinding wheels have advantages of a high abrasive bonding strength, high protrusion, and a large chip disposal space. However, it is difficult to prepare ordered and fine-grained brazed diamond grinding wheels. This study presents a new method for grain-arranged, brazed diamond grinding wheels with microtextures with similar performance to ordered and fine-grained brazed diamond grinding wheels. Read More

Int Orthop 2020 Jun 21. Epub 2020 Jun 21.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Saint Antoine Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France.

Purpose: The disadvantage of ORIF of proximal humerus fracture (PHF) by intrafocal distraction is that once the device is inserted, it cannot be removed. This study was designed to evaluate the tolerance of such a titanium alloy device at five years of minimal follow-up (FU) and secondarily to assess the relevance of the osteosynthesis of these fractures.

Method: Thirty-two patients operated for PHF and implanted with a titanium alloy device between 2009 and 2011 were reviewed: fifteen three-part fracture (3-PF) with mean age 65. Read More

Osteoporos Int 2020 Jun 20. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL, USA.

This is the first report describing three ipsilateral femoral stress fractures in a patient taking denosumab.

Introduction: Multiple reports of atypical femur fractures (AFF) in patients receiving denosumab have emerged recently. Denosumab is an anti-resorptive agent approved for treatment of osteoporosis. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2020 Jun 16;20(12). Epub 2020 Jun 16.

School of Computer Engineering and Information Technology, University of Ulsan, 93 Daehak-ro, Nam-gu, Ulsan 44610, Korea.

Acoustic emission (AE) has been used extensively for structural health monitoring based on the stress waves generated due to evolution of cracks in concrete structures. A major concern while using AE features is that each of them responds differently to the fractures in concrete structures. To tackle this problem, Mahalanobis-Taguchi system (MTS) is utilized, which fuses the AE feature space to provide comprehensive and reliable degradation indicator with a feature selection method to determine useful features. Read More

J Texture Stud 2020 Jun 18. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.

Studying rheological and sensory behaviors of cheese provides structural and texture-related information that could be useful for a better understanding of the complex wear behaviors of cheese and their relationships with cheese industrial and oral processing behaviors. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the relationships of rheological and sensory properties with cheese wear. Rheological tests including large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS), strain sweeps at different temperatures (5, 15, and 25°C), and large-strain compression at room temperature (22 ± 2°C) were conducted for cheeses with varying fat contents (40, 50, 52, and 54% FDM (fat-in-dry-matter) aged for different periods (15, 30, 45, and 60 day). Read More

Braz Dent J 2020 Mar-Apr;31(2):127-134

School of Dentistry, UNAERP - Universidade de Ribeirão, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to assess the internal and vertical marginal fit of metallic copings to abutments and the fracture strength of different narrow diameter dental implant/abutments, either submitted to thermomechanical cycling or not. Sixty-four implant/abutments (n=16) were divided into 4 groups according to diameter and abutment type: G3.5-UAC (morse taper implant Ø3. Read More

Soft Matter 2020 Jun 19. Epub 2020 Jun 19.

Field of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. and Global Station for Soft Matter, GI-CoRE, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.

Toughness of soft materials such as elastomers and gels depends on their ability to dissipate energy and to reduce stress concentration at the crack tip. The primary energy dissipation mechanism is viscoelasticity. Most analyses and models of fracture are based on linear viscoelastic theory (LVT) where strains are assumed to be small and the relaxation mechanisms are independent of stress or strain history. Read More

Acta Biomed 2020 May 30;91(4-S):238-240. Epub 2020 May 30.

Unit of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, "Prof Nobili" Private Hospital, Castiglione dei Pepoli, Bologna, Italy.

Introduction: osteochondrosis of ischiopubic synchondrosis (IPS)" also known as van Neck- Odelberg disease (VNOD), is a syndrome characterized by an atypical ossification pattern of the ischiopubic joint. Because of its non-unequivocal radiological features, which can mimic stress fracture, infection disease, neoplasm or post-traumatic osteolysis, these different diagnoses need to be rule out.

Case Presentation: We present an 8-year-old, obese, right limb dominant child that complained only slight groin pain and a limp on left side for more than 20 days. Read More

Eur J Intern Med 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Hematology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Modena, Italy; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Section of Hematology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.

Vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (VKAs) have been proven over 50 years to be highly effective and acceptably safe in many settings and are still used by millions of people worldwide. The main concern about the safety of VKAs regards the risk of bleeding, but there is accumulation evidence of their potentially negative effects beyond hemostasis. Indeed, VKAs impair the action of several Vitamin-K Dependent Proteins (VKDP), such as Bone Gla protein, Matrix Gla protein, Gas6 Protein, Periostin and Gla-Ric Protein, involved in bone and vascular metabolism, thus exerting a detrimental effect on bone and vascular health. Read More

J Sci Med Sport 2020 May 15. Epub 2020 May 15.

School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia. Electronic address:

Objectives: Cricket is a popular sport enjoyed worldwide. Injuries in cricket are not well understood at community level but are important to understand for prevention to ensure the game continues to be enjoyed safely. This systematic review was designed to assess the quality of data collection and reporting, and to summarise the injury data, in studies of community cricket players. Read More

AJR Am J Roentgenol 2020 Jun 17:1-10. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.

Nontraumatic subchondral fracture of the femoral head (FH) is often seen in elderly patients with osteoporosis and acetabular dysplasia. Although this injury can also occur in young people, even those without osteoporosis, it remains unclear who is at risk. We examined the acetabular structure and sites of subchondral fracture of the FH in young patients compared with those in middle-aged and older patients. Read More

Polymers (Basel) 2020 Jun 15;12(6). Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Deutsches Institut für Kautschuktechnologie e. V., Eupener Str. 33, D-30519 Hannover, Germany.

A micromechanical concept of filler-induced stress-softening and hysteresis is established that describes the complex quasi-static deformation behavior of filler reinforced rubbers upon repeated stretching with increasing amplitude. It is based on a non-affine tube model of rubber elasticity and a distinct deformation and fracture mechanics of filler clusters in the stress field of the rubber matrix. For the description of the clusters we refer to a three-dimensional generalization of the Kantor-Webman model of flexible chain aggregates with distinct bending-twisting and tension deformation of bonds. Read More

Oper Orthop Traumatol 2020 Jun 16. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Luzerner Kantonsspital, Luzern, Switzerland.

Objective: Technical description of minimally invasive double-plating of the distal femur.

Indications: Peri- and interprosthetic distal femur fractures with limited (periprosthetic) bone stock in geriatric patients. Re-operations (delayed and non-unions; infected non-unions) of the distal femur. Read More

ACS Omega 2020 Jun 27;5(22):13164-13175. Epub 2020 May 27.

Institute of Unconventional Oil and Gas, Northeast Petroleum University, Daqing 163318, China.

Shale brittleness is a key index that indicates the shale fracability, provides a basis for selecting wells and intervals to be fractured, and guarantees the good fracturing effect. The available models are not accurate in evaluating the shale brittleness when considering the confining pressure, and it is necessary to establish a new shale brittleness model under the geo-stress. In this study, the variation of elastic energy, fracture energy, and residual elastic energy in the whole process of rock compression and failure is analyzed based on the stress-strain curve in the experiments, and a shale brittleness index reflecting the energy evolution characteristics during rock failure under different confining pressures is established; a method of directly evaluating the shale brittleness with logging data by combining the rock mechanic experiment results with logging interpretation results is proposed. Read More

Toxicol Ind Health 2020 May 16;36(5):371-385. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Physiology, South Calcutta Girls' College, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

The main aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate work-related injuries (WRI) and the self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms among 742 railway track maintainers. The second aim of this study was to investigate the potential factors related to the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in track maintainers. This study also tried to do planning and implementing ergonomic intervention programs to improve track maintainer's health. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2020 Jun 13;13(12). Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Laboratory of Reinforced Concrete and Seismic Design of Structures, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace (D.U.Th.), 67100 Xanthi, Greece.

This paper investigates the ability of steel fibers to enhance the short-term behavior and flexural performance of realistic steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) structural members with steel reinforcing bars and stirrups using nonlinear 3D finite element (FE) analysis. Test results of 17 large-scale beam specimens tested under monotonic flexural four-point loading from the literature are used as an experimental database to validate the developed nonlinear 3D FE analysis and to study the contributions of steel fibers on the initial stiffness, strength, deformation capacity, cracking behavior, and residual stress. The examined SFRC beams include various ratios of longitudinal reinforcement (0. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2020 Jun 12;13(12). Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Department of Materials Test Engineering (WPT), TU Dortmund University, Baroper Str. 303, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany.

Forming processes influence the mechanical properties of manufactured workpieces in general and by means of forming-induced initial damage in particular. The effect of the latter on performance capability is the underlying research aspect for the investigations conducted. In order to address this aspect, fatigue tests under compressive, tensile and compressive-tensile loads were set-up with discrete block-by-block increased amplitudes and constant amplitudes, and performed up to fracture or distinct lifetimes. Read More

Materials (Basel) 2020 Jun 12;13(12). Epub 2020 Jun 12.

Center for Advanced Materials (CAM), Qatar University, P.O. Box 2713, Doha 00000, Qatar.

This paper experimentally studied the effect of polypropylene (PP) microfibers on thermal and post-heating mechanical behaviors of cementitious composites. Cement mortars with small dosage of polypropylene fibers were prepared, heated at various temperatures (150 °C, 200 °C, 450 °C, and 600 °C), and then tested. The investigated parameters include residual compressive and flexural strengths, elastic modulus, fracture energy, stress intensity factors, failure modes, microstructure (scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging), thermal conductivity, heat flow (differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test), mass loss (thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) test), and chemical composition (XRD analysis). Read More

Materials (Basel) 2020 Jun 11;13(11). Epub 2020 Jun 11.

High Strength Materials Group, National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), 1-2-1 Sengen, Tsukuba 305-0047, Ibaraki, Japan.

The welding of cemented carbide to tool steel is a challenging task, of scientific and industrial relevance, as it combines the high level of hardness of cemented carbide with the high level of fracture toughness of steel, while reducing the shaping cost and extending the application versatility, as its tribological, toughness, thermal and chemical properties can be optimally harmonised. The already existing joining technologies often impart either insufficient toughness or poor high-temperature strength to a joint to withstand the ever-increasing severe service condition demands. In this paper, a novel capacitor discharge welding (CDW) process is investigated for the case of a butt-joint between a tungsten carbide-cobalt (WC-Co) composite rod and an AISI M35 high-speed steel (HSS) rod. Read More