Lesion Size Location Dependency on Maximum Pressure in Osteochondral Defects: Experiments and Finite-Element Analysis.

Background: Osteochondral defects (OCDs) in the knee joint have significant clinical implications, particularly regarding contact pressures and pressure distribution. Understanding how these factors are influenced by defect size and location is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Purpose/hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of defect size and location on contact pressures and pressure distribution in the knee joint.

Experiences of Family Members With Visitation Prohibition for Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Visitation plays a number of positive roles for critically ill patients and their families. It reduces the physical and mental stress of intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their families and allows family members to participate in patient care. Visit prohibition during the COVID-19 pandemic has raised unprecedented challenges to patients, family members, and health care providers.

Self-Regulation of the Posterior-Frontal Brain Activity with Real-Time fMRI Neurofeedback to Influence Perceptual Discrimination.

The Global Neuronal Workspace (GNW) hypothesis states that the visual percept is available to conscious awareness only if recurrent long-distance interactions among distributed brain regions activate neural circuitry extending from the posterior areas to prefrontal regions above a certain excitation threshold. To directly test this hypothesis, we trained 14 human participants to increase blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signals with real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI)-based neurofeedback simultaneously in four specific regions of the occipital, temporal, insular and prefrontal parts of the brain. Specifically, we hypothesized that the up-regulation of the mean BOLD activity in the posterior-frontal brain regions lowers the perceptual threshold for visual stimuli, while down-regulation raises the threshold.

Anterior variable angle locking neutralisation plate superiority over traditional tension band wiring for treating transverse patella fractures.

Purpose: This paper investigates the biomechanical benefits of using hybrid constructs that combine cannulated screws with tension band wiring (TBW) cerclage compared to cannulated screws with anterior Variable Angle locking neutralisation plates (VA LNP). These enhancements can bear heavier loads and maintain the repaired patella's integrity, in contrast to traditional methods.

Method: Eighteen fresh-frozen human cadaver patellae were carefully fractured transversely at their midpoints using a saw.

Effects of various load magnitudes on ACL: an in vitro study using adolescent porcine stifle joints.

Introduction: The escalating incidence of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, particularly among adolescents, is a pressing concern. The study of ACL biomechanics in this demographic presents challenges due to the scarcity of cadaveric specimens. This research endeavors to validate the adolescent porcine stifle joint as a fitting model for ACL studies.

Non-Thermal Solar Wind Electron Velocity Distribution Function.

The quiet-time solar wind electrons feature non-thermal characteristics when viewed from the perspective of their velocity distribution functions. They typically have an appearance of being composed of a denser thermal "core" population plus a tenuous energetic "halo" population. At first, such a feature was empirically fitted with the kappa velocity space distribution function, but ever since the ground-breaking work by Tsallis, the space physics community has embraced the potential implication of the kappa distribution as reflecting the non-extensive nature of the space plasma.

Precision soft tissue balancing: grid-assisted pie-crusting in total knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: The varus and valgus knee deformities result from imbalance in tension between medial and lateral soft tissue compartments. These conditions need to be addressed during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, there is no consensus on optimal soft-tissue release techniques for correcting varus and valgus deformities during TKA.

Comparative study of locking neutralization plate construct versus tension band wiring with a cannulated screw for patella fractures: experimental and finite element analysis.

Transverse patella fractures, accounting for approximately 1% of Orthopedic injuries, pose intricate challenges due to their vital role in knee mechanics. This study aimed to compare the biomechanical performance of a construct, integrating cannulated screws and an anterior locking neutralization plate, with the conventional tension band wiring technique for treating these fractures. Experimental testing and Finite Element Analysis were employed to evaluate the constructs and gain profound insights into their mechanical behavior.

Statistical distribution of micro and macro pores in acrylic bone cement- effect of amount of antibiotic content.

Aseptic loosening due to mechanical failure of bone cement is considered to be a leading cause of revision of joint replacement systems. Detailed quantified information on the number, size and distribution pattern of pores can help to obtain a deeper understanding of the bone cement's fatigue behavior. The objective of this study was to provide statistical descriptions for the pore distribution characteristics of laboratory bone cement specimens with different amounts of antibiotic contents.

3D printed transtibial prosthetic sockets: A systematic review.

The prosthetic socket, which transfers load from the residual limb to the prosthesis, is an integral part of the prosthesis. 3D printing has emerged as a potentially viable alternative to traditional fabrication for producing sockets that effectively transfer loads. We conducted a systematic review to better understand the current state of this newer fabrication method, with a focus on the structural integrity of 3D printed sockets and factors that can affect the strength of 3D printed sockets when tested using ISO 10328 standards.

Influence of Porosity on Fracture Toughness and Fracture Behavior of Antibiotic-Loaded PMMA Bone Cement.

Aseptic loosening is the most common reason for the long-term revision of cemented arthroplasties with fracture of the cement being a postulated cause or contributing factor. In our previous studies we showed that adding an antibiotic to a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement led to detrimental effects on various mechanical properties of the cement such as bending strength, compressive strength and fracture toughness (KIC). This finding implied that the mechanical failure of antibiotic-loaded PMMA bone cement was influenced by its pore volume fraction.

Identifying nitrogen sources in intensive livestock farming watershed with swine excreta treatment facility using dual ammonium (δN) and nitrate (δN) nitrogen isotope ratios axes.

We proposed a novel approach based on dual ammonium and nitrate nitrogen isotope ratios (δN and δN, respectively) axes to identify nitrogen sources in intensive livestock farming watersheds, especially those with swine excreta treatment facilities. The δN and δN values in water samples were measured monthly in 2016-2017. Soil and mineral fertilizers, sewage, sewage effluent, manure, and swine effluents were the five sources considered to identify nitrogen sources.

Family Members' Knowledge and Attitude Toward Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions for Patients in the Intensive Care Unit.

The decision to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment (LST) lies sometimes in the hands of intensive care unit patients' families. Since 2018, family members of dying patients in South Korea have had the legal right to make decisions for the patients. This study aimed to examine knowledge and attitude toward LST among the family members of patients under intensive care since the foundation of the new legislation.

Fabrication and Application of Levan-PVA Hydrogel for Effective Influenza Virus Capture.

To prevent the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms such as the influenza virus, efficient pathogen-capturing materials are required. Here, we report a new pathogen-capturing and recovery material using levan polysaccharide. We fabricated hydrogels by blending levan and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and by using glutaraldehyde as a cross-linking agent.

Mechanical, elution, and antibacterial properties of simplex bone cement loaded with vancomycin.

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most devastating failures in total joint replacement (TJR). Infections are becoming difficult to treat due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria. These bacteria produce biofilm on the implant surface, rendering many antibiotics ineffective by compromising drug diffusion and penetration into the infected area.

Association between Possibility of Purchasing Cigarettes and E-cigarette Experience among Korean Adolescent Smokers.

Background: To aim of this study was to examine the association between perceived possibility of purchasing cigarettes and e-cigarette experience among adolescents who currently smoke cigarettes.

Methods: Data were derived from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey; a total of 29,169 current smokers participated. The dependent variable was e-cigarette experience in the previous month.

Ultrafast photocarrier dynamics related to defect states of SiGe nanowires measured by optical pump-THz probe spectroscopy.

Slightly tapered SiGe nanowires (NWs) (x = 0.29-0.84) were synthesized via a vapor-liquid-solid procedure using Au as a catalyst.

Exploring Text and Icon Graph Interpretation in Students with Dyslexia: An Eye-tracking Study.

A growing body of research suggests that individuals with dyslexia struggle to use graphs efficiently. Given the persistence of orthographic processing deficits in dyslexia, this study tested whether graph interpretation deficits in dyslexia are directly related to difficulties processing the orthographic components of graphs (i.e.

Chemically Homogeneous and Thermally Robust NiPtSi Film Formed Under a Non-Equilibrium Melting/Quenching Condition.

To synthesize a thermally robust NiPtSi film suitable for ultrashallow junctions in advanced metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors, we used a continuous laser beam to carry out millisecond annealing (MSA) on a preformed Ni-rich silicide film at a local surface temperature above 1000 °C while heating the substrate to initiate a phase transition. The melting and quenching process by this unique high-temperature MSA process formed a NiPtSi film with homogeneous Pt distribution across the entire film thickness. After additional substantial thermal treatment up to 800 °C, the noble NiPtSi film maintained a low-resistive phase without agglomeration and even exhibited interface flattening with the underlying Si substrate.

Controlling the defects and transition layer in SiO films grown on 4H-SiC via direct plasma-assisted oxidation.

The structural stability and electrical performance of SiO grown on SiC via direct plasma-assisted oxidation were investigated. To investigate the changes in the electronic structure and electrical characteristics caused by the interfacial reaction between the SiO film (thickness ~5 nm) and SiC, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and electrical measurements were performed. The SiO films grown via direct plasma-assisted oxidation at room temperature for 300s exhibited significantly decreased concentrations of silicon oxycarbides (SiOC) in the transition layer compared to that of conventionally grown (i.

Nano-Nucleation Characteristic of Cu-Ag Alloy Directly Electrodeposited on W Diffusion Barrier for Microelectronic Device Interconnect.

Cu-Ag alloy interconnect is promising for ultra-large-scale integration (ULSI) microelectronic system of which device dimension keeps shrinking. In this study, seedless electrodeposition of Cu-Ag alloy directly on W diffusion barrier as interconnect technology is presented in respect of nano-nucleation control. Chemical equilibrium state of electrolyte was fundamentally investigated according to the pH of electrolyte because direct nano-nucleation of Cu-Ag alloy on W surface is challenging.

Antioxidant activity of levan coated cerium oxide nanoparticles.

Levan coated cerium oxide nanoparticles (LCNPs) with the enhanced antioxidant activity were successfully synthesized and characterized. Levan and their derivatives are attractive for biomedical applications attributable to their antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-tumor properties. LCNPs were synthesized using the one-pot and green synthesis system with levan.