Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
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The dynamic properties of materials should be analyzed for the material selection and safety design of robots used in the army and other protective structural applications. Split Hopkinson pressure bars (SHPB) is a widely used system for measuring the dynamic behavior of materials between 102 and 104 s-1 strain rates. In order to obtain accurate dynamic parameters of materials, the influences of friction and inertia should be considered in the SHPB tests. ⋯ Rate-dependent visco-elasticity material specimen is the most sensitive material to friction and inertia effects among these three materials (rate-independent material, rate-dependent elastic-plastic material, and rate-dependent visco-elastic material). A theoretical analysis based on the conservation of energy is conducted to quantitatively analyze the relationship between the stress measured in the specimen and friction as well as inertia effects. Furthermore, the methods to reduce the influence of friction and inertia effects on the experimental results are further analyzed.
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The outbreak of COVID-19 has spread rapidly across the globe, greatly affecting how humans as a whole interact, work and go about their daily life. One of the key pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is being utilised to return to the norm is the face mask or respirator. In this review we aim to examine face masks and respirators, looking at the current materials in use and possible future innovations that will enhance their protection against SARS-CoV-2. ⋯ The feasibility of reusing these masks will be examined as well as a discussion on the modelling of mask use and the impact wearing them can have. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) models and its applications to minimise or prevent the spread of the virus using face masks and respirators is also addressed. It is concluded that a significant amount of research is required for the development of highly efficient, reusable, anti-viral and thermally regulated face masks and respirators.
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The Masquelet technique for the treatment of large bone defects is a two-stage procedure based on an induced membrane. We eliminate the first surgical step by using a decellularized dermal skin graft (Epiflex®) populated with bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMC), as a replacement for the induced membrane. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of this technology and provide evidence of equivalent bone healing in comparison to the induced membrane-technique. ⋯ No significant decrease of biomechanical properties was found. Vascularization of the defect could be enhanced by addition of BMC. Considering the dramatic reduction of a patient's burden by the reduced surgical stress and shortened time of treatment, this technique could have a great impact on clinical practice.
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The use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with biomodulatory effects on biological tissues, currently called photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), assists in healing and reduces inflammation. The application of biomaterials has emerged in bone reconstructive surgery, especially the use of bovine bone due to its biocompatibility. Due to the many benefits related to the use of PBMT and bovine bones, the aim of this research was to review the literature to verify the relationship between PBMT and the application of bovine bone in bone reconstruction surgeries. ⋯ However, the results disagreed with regard to the resorption of biomaterial particles. The only human study showed that PBMT with bovine bone was effective for periodontal regeneration. It was concluded that PBMT assists the process in bone reconstruction when associated with bovine bone, despite divergences between applied protocols.
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It is hypothesized that there is no statistically significant impact of drilling speed (DS) on the primary stability (PS) of narrow-diameter implants (NDIs) with varying thread designs placed in dense and soft simulated bone. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the impact of DS on the PS of NDIs with varying thread designs placed in dense and soft simulated bone. Two hundred and forty osteotomies for placement of various implant macro-designs were divided into three groups (80 implants per group): Group A (NobelActive, 3.0/11.5 mm); Group B (Astra OsseoSpeed-EV, 3.0/11 mm); and Group C (Eztetic-Zimmer, 3.1/11.5 mm) implants. ⋯ In Group C, ISQ was significantly higher for NDIs placed in dense bone at 800 PRM compared to 2000 RPM (P < 0.05). In Group A, ISQ values were significantly higher for NDIs inserted in soft bone at 2000 RPM as compared to those inserted at 800 RPM (P < 0.05). For NDIs, a lower drilling speed in dense artificial simulated bone and a higher drilling speed in soft artificial simulated bone is associated with high primary stability.