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Obesity, recognized as a risk factor for nonunion, detrimentally impacts bone health, with significant physical and economic repercussions for affected individuals. Nevertheless, the precise pathomechanisms by which obesity impairs fracture healing remain insufficiently understood. Multiple studies have identified neutrophil granulocytes as key players in the systemic immune response, being the predominant immune cells in early fracture hematomas. This study identified a previously unreported critical period for neutrophil infiltration into the callus. In vivo experiments demonstrated that diet‐induced obesity (DIO) mice showed earlier neutrophil infiltration, along with increased formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), compared to control mice during the endochondral phase of fracture repair. Furthermore, Padi4 knockout was found to reduce NET formation and mitigate the fracture healing delays caused by high‐fat diets. Mechanistically, in vitro analyses revealed that NETs, by activating NLRP3 inflammasomes, inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and concurrently promoted M1‐like macrophage polarization. These findings establish a connection between NET formation during the endochondral phase and delayed fracture healing, suggesting that targeting NETs could serve as a promising therapeutic approach for addressing obesity‐induced delays in fracture recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Three‐point bending tests were performed on notched specimens extracted from cuboids of 316L stainless steel produced via material extrusion additive manufacturing. The cuboids were printed vertically and horizontally on the printing platform to account for the building orientation effect on the mechanical performance. For each orientation, three notch sizes were considered. Overall, the specimens printed with building direction parallel to the loading direction outperformed the others. A significant notch size effect was observed in these specimens since the sharpest notch provoked a decrease in the peak load reached by the specimens in comparison with larger notches. On the contrary, this effect was less relevant among the other specimens, which presented a conspicuous amount of residual porosity that contributed to the premature failure. Further investigations were carried out to correlate the building orientation to the density of the parts and, ultimately, to the investigated mechanical properties. The ASED and TCD criteria were also applied to assess their accuracy in the failure prediction of the tested specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study focuses on characterizing the microstructure and mechanical properties of AA2050‐T84 alloy produced in two different thicknesses, 20 and 130 mm. A comparative analysis between the two thicknesses aims to understand how the rolling operation for achieving thin plates influences the alloy's microstructure and overall mechanical performance. Microstructural analyses showed a highly anisotropic grain structure and preferred crystallographic orientation in the 20‐mm‐thick plate, causing anisotropic tensile properties. Also, a significant fatigue crack deviation was observed for the 20‐mm‐thick plate during fatigue crack growth tests due to its microstructure. This result was attributed to the microcrack formations perpendicular to the crack growth direction and slip bands at the intermediate ΔK, when the loading was parallel to the rolling direction. The findings from this study offer critical insights into how the rolling operation for achieving thin plates influences the microstructure and overall performance of the alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this paper, the low‐cycle fatigue fracture behavior and life prediction of Cr–Ni–Mo–V gun steel at room temperature and 600 °C are studied. The results indicated that at room temperature and 600 °C, the Cr–Ni–Mo–V gun steel exhibited obvious monotonic softening and cyclic softening. This behavior could be attributed to the formation of dislocation networks, dislocation walls, dynamic recovery, and dynamic recrystallization. As the temperature increased, the failure mode gradually shifted from mixed transgranular and intergranular fractures to intergranular fractures possibly owing to the reduced grain boundary strength and easy oxidation of the grain boundary at high temperatures. In addition, the fatigue life prediction model considering the influence of temperature is established by using the energy dissipation quadratic function, offering a practical method to improve the fatigue performance evaluation of Cr–Ni–Mo–V gun steel at various temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The insertion of finer Z‐pins is an effective method to reduce the microstructure damage and maintain the in‐plane performance of composite laminates. In this paper, an ultrasound guided insertion process is proposed to achieve the insertion of fine Z‐pins and the influence of Z‐pin material on the mechanical properties of Ø0.11 mm Z‐pin reinforced composite laminates is revealed based on experiments and simulations. For in‐plane mechanical properties, stainless steel Z‐pins help to reduce the loss of compression modulus and compression strength. For the interlaminar mechanical properties, stainless steel Z‐pins and carbon fiber Z‐pins exhibit bilinear and trilinear bridging laws respectively, resulting in the mode‐I maximum load and fracture toughness of carbon fiber Z‐pin reinforced composites being greater than that of stainless steel Z‐pin reinforced composites. By adjusting the insertion spacing, it is found that for unidirectional composite laminates reinforced by Ø0.11 mm carbon fiber Z‐pins with an insertion spacing of 2 mm, the compression strength reduction is only 3.39% while the mode‐I fracture toughness can be improved by 14.4 times in comparison with the unpinned specimens, achieving a better balance between in‐plane performance loss and interlaminar reinforcement effect. Highlights: The effect of Z‐pin material on fine Z‐pin reinforced composites is studied.The compression properties are simulated by the RVE model.The mode‐I fracture properties are simulated by the DCB unit strip model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study investigates the tensile behavior of SiC/SiC minicomposites, focusing on the efficacy of epoxy encapsulation in extracting the intrinsic fiber bundle response. Three minicomposite types were examined: two with Hi‐Nicalon Type‐S fibers and one with Tyranno ZMI fibers. Tensile tests were performed on minicomposites and fiber tows, both bare and epoxy‐encapsulated, whereas interface properties were measured via fiber push‐in tests. The results demonstrate that epoxy encapsulation partially mitigates non‐uniform loading in minicomposites with discontinuous matrices. Theoretical limits on fiber bundle strength, estimated using micromechanical models based on weakest‐link statistics and shear lag theory, are similar to measured encapsulated tow strengths when failure occurs within the elastic regime of the epoxy. In some cases, microstructural defects such as fiber–fiber contacts and debonded coatings play important roles in limiting composite strengths relative to theoretical values. Although encapsulation does not always directly improve properties, it provides useful context for evaluating composite performance and exposing microstructural limitations unaccounted for in idealized models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel poromechanical approach to analyze blast‐induced dynamic fracture in concrete considering gaseous kinetics. The objective is to establish a framework for examining the fracture mechanisms during demolition. The simulation employs finite element analysis, incorporating three‐dimensional non‐orthogonal multidirectional cracks induced by gas inflation, through which the gaseous media flows too. The study investigates the principles governing crack network development and the influence of pressurized gas using a multiphase scheme and verifies its findings experimentally. It was also emphasized that benchmark blast experimental data are essential for validating the model, for practical applications in the demolition and renovation of existing structural concrete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the biomechanical contributions of the nail and the plate individually to a complete nail‐plate construct in the setting of comminuted distal femur fractures. For this biomechanical study, comminuted extra‐articular distal femur fractures were created in 24 synthetic osteoporotic femur models. These were then split into three groups: the nail‐only group, the plate‐only group, and the nail‐plate group. After fixation, each specimen underwent sequential axial and torsional loading, and axial and torsional stiffness were calculated and compared. The addition of a nail to a plate‐only construct increased axial stiffness by 19.7% and torsional stiffness by 59.4%. The plate‐only group and nail‐plate group both demonstrated significantly greater axial and torsional stiffness than the nail‐only group at all levels of axial and torsional load. (p < 0.001) At 1000 and 2000 N of cyclic loading, the nail‐plate group demonstrated significantly greater axial stiffness than the plate‐only group (p ≤ 0.018). The nail‐plate group demonstrated greater torsional stiffness than the plate‐only groups at all levels of torsional loading (p < 0.001). In osteoporotic comminuted distal femur fracture models, most of the axial stiffness in a nail‐plate construct comes from the plate. While the combination of the two constructs is not fully additive, the plate contributes the majority of the axial and torsional stiffness in a nail‐plate construct. The supplementation of the plate with a nail primarily helps to increase resistance to rotational forces. Level of Evidence: III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fullerenes, as single crystals, present exceptional mechanical and physical properties due to their hollow spherical molecular structure consisting of carbon atoms connected by covalent bonds. The idea of linking these allotropes of carbon to create monolayer networks has now been accomplished experimentally. The question that remains to be answered is if these synthesized single‐layered nanosheets of fullerene present comparable properties with graphene monolayers. To answer this important question and to estimate the full tensile stress–strain behavior of quasi‐tetragonal as well as quasi‐hexagonal configurations of C60 planar networks, several Molecular Dynamics simulations are performed in this work by using a new REAXFF and the AIREBO‐M potential. Various mechanical properties, such as Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, ultimate tensile strength, ultimate tensile strain, and fracture energy at failure of C60 monolayers of several sizes, are computed and compared with the results reported in the literature. Furthermore, a comprehensive discussion is made regarding the significant influence of the adopted potential on the numerical predictions of the elastic mechanical and fracture behavior of the fullerene nanosheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Plasticity and fracture problems have always been hot topics in numerical methods. In this work, a universal implementation procedure for the elasto‐plastic constitutive model is developed in the four‐dimensional lattice spring model (4D‐LSM), in which the Jaumann stress rate is incorporated to exclude the influence of the rigid rotation in the particle stress, expanding the ability of 4D‐LSM to deal with large elastic deformation problems by its own to large plastic deformation problems. As an example, the Zienkiewicz–Pande (ZP) constitutive model is implemented. Several numerical examples are carried out to check the performance of the implemented model. Through a comparison with analytical solutions, available experimental data, and other numerical results, the stability of the developed plastic framework and the correctness of the stress calculation scheme are verified. Meanwhile, numerical results show that the developed code is capable of solving elasto‐plastic large deformation problems. With the advantage of 4D‐LSM in handling fracture problems, the ability of the embedded model to solve plastic fracture problems is verified with a simple maximum deformation failure criterion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two intra‐coronal preparation designs with varying extensions of cuspal coverage can perform differently regarding their fracture resistance against introral forces. Methods: Two materials (IPS e‐max CAD [EX], VITA ENAMIC [EN]), and two different preparation designs (EX‐D1), (EX‐D2), (EN‐D1), and (EN‐D2) were investigated to compare their fracture resistance. A total of 40 (n = 40) caries free human mandibular molars were used. All the prepared samples were scanned using CEREC Omnicam scanner and the preparations were checked by the software for any sharpness and undercuts before restoration designing and fabrication. All restorations were milled using Cerec MCXL 4.4 milling machine. Duo‐Link resin cement was used for cementation. After thermocycling and chewing simulation, all samples were loaded in the Universal testing machine in order to evaluate fracture resistance of all samples. Results: Fracture resistance testing revealed that e‐max CAD (2134 N) showed statistically significantly higher mean fracture resistance values than Vita Enamic (1728 N). On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference between mean fracture resistances between the two tested designs. Conclusions: Within the confines of this investigation, it can be said that although preparation design had no appreciable impact on fracture resistance, the CAD/CAM ceramic material utilized did. Clinical Significance: When restoring compound cavitties indirectly; a conservative defect oriented approach should be used. Glass Ceramic are prefered as restorative material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporotic fracture is a prevalent noncommunicable disease globally, causing significant mortality, morbidity, and disability. As the population ages, the healthcare and economic burden of osteoporotic fracture is expected to increase further. Due to its multifactorial features, the development of osteoporotic fracture involves a complex interplay of multiple risk factors, including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Helicobacter pylori, which infects approximately 43% of the world's population, has been associated with increased fracture risk due to hypochlorhydria from atrophic gastritis and systemic inflammation from elevated pro‐inflammatory cytokines. However, the potential impact of H. pylori infection and eradication on fracture risk remains contentious among various studies due to the study design and inadequate adjustment of confounding factors including baseline gastritis phenotype. In this review, we provided a comprehensive evaluation of the current evidence focusing on the underlying mechanisms and clinical evidence of the association between H. pylori infection and osteoporotic fracture. We also discussed the potential benefits of H. pylori eradication on fracture risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT This study investigates the fracture behavior of brittle solids with combined defects by prefabricating internal cracks in glass materials using three‐dimensional internal laser‐engraved crack (3D‐ILC) technology. The results of physical and numerical experiments indicate that under biaxial compression, cracks first appear on the surface of the cavity, followed by the propagation of the prefabricated cracks. During propagation, these two cracks attract each other, ultimately leading to crack coalescence. As the geometric distribution of the combined defects changes, the propagation direction of the prefabricated cracks deflects to varying degrees as is to be expected. The failure process of the specimens with combined defects was a mixed‐mode I–II–III fracture. This research provides experimental and theoretical references for the study of crack propagation in rock materials containing combined defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Background Objective Methods Results Conclusion Condylar fractures (CFs) are a common type of maxillofacial trauma, especially in adolescents. Conservative treatment of CF avoids the possible complications of surgical intervention, but prolongs the patient's suffering because of the requirement for extended intermaxillary fixation. Therefore, the development of a new strategy to accelerate the rate of fracture healing to shorten the period of conservative treatment is of great clinical importance.To investigate the potential of deferoxamine (DFO) in promoting the healing process of CF in adolescent mice.Thirty‐two 4‐week‐old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to four groups: vehicle + sham group, vehicle + CF group, DFO + sham group and DFO + CF group. After constructing the mandibular CF model, mandibular tissue samples were collected respectively at 1, 2 and 4 weeks postoperatively. Radiographic and histomorphometric analyses were employed to assess bone tissue healing and vascular formation.Deferoxamine was observed to promote the early bone healing of fracture, both radiologically and histomorphometrically. Furthermore, this enhancement of condylar neck fracture healing was attributed to the upregulation of the hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α) signalling pathway while facilitating the formation of type H vessels. In addition, DFO did not produce significant effects on the condylar neck between vehicle + sham and DFO + sham group.The application of the HIF‐1α inducer DFO can enhance type H vessels expansion thereby accelerating condylar neck fracture healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contact damage of glass is one of the most crucial issues for glass products. To develop strong and tough glass products and to compare damage resistance among glass compositions, a simple method for evaluating the mechanical response of glass during contact is required not only for glass mechanists but also for glass customers and suppliers. Although it is well known that the quasi‐static Vickers indentation test is one of the simplest and most useful methods to evaluate hardness and brittleness in glass, the indentation response of glass under the indenter at higher impact velocities remains to be quantitively understood because of the difficulty of measurement and limited experimental works. In this study, therefore, the dynamic indentation behavior of soda‐lime glass is evaluated by using a lab‐made free‐drop indentation set‐up with the coils for detecting electromotive forces (EMFs). The cono‐spherical indenter made of tungsten carbide attached with a neodymium magnet was employed to generate the EMFs when the indenter passed through the coils located near the glass sample. The impact load versus indentation depth curve during the impact within a few tens of microseconds was successfully obtained both for an elastic contact and for an inelastic contact. Under an elastic condition, where no residual indent nor any cracks were left on the glass surface after the test, it is confirmed that there is almost no hysteresis in the impact load versus indentation depth curve and that the curve can be reproduced by the Hertzian analytical solution. Under an inelastic condition, on the other hand, it is found that the hysteresis in the impact load versus indentation depth curve stems from inelastic phenomena, such as plastic deformation (shear flow and/or permanent densification) and cracking. These results suggest that the dynamic indentation technique based on electromagnetic induction phenomena is a useful and effective tool for evaluating the mechanical responses of glasses during the impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interlocking metasurfaces (ILMs) are arrays of autogenous latching unit cells patterned across a surface. These create structural joints similar to bioinspired suture joints but patterned over a 2D surface rather than a 1D seam. This enables ILMs to be an alternative to conventional joining technologies such as bolts, welds, and adhesives. However, compared to conventional joining methods, relatively little is known of the engineering considerations for designing structural ILMs. Herein, the interfacial toughness of an archetypal ILM is examined for the first time. Under the conditions studied here, the ILM is substantially tougher than the material from which it is made, in this case, exhibiting up to a 50% increase in interfacial crack initiation energy over the solid base material, a photocured 3D‐printed polymer. Through experimental tests using in‐situ digital image correlation along with complementary computational analyses, the mechanism of toughening in the ILM structure and the origins of toughness anisotropy are revealed. The increase in toughness is associated with cross‐cell interactions, that is, load‐sharing across unit cells, which give rise to a finite process zone length with different effective material properties. In this way, ILM toughening is analogous to crack blunting in ductile materials or fiber bridging in composites; yet here, the ILM is composed of a single‐phase base material and so the architected toughening is geometric in nature and hence amenable to future topological optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Landfills emissions, ranking as the third‐largest anthropogenic source of methane in the atmosphere, pose environmental challenges and threaten public health. The pivotal role of clay as a mitigating agent for methane emission within landfill cover systems cannot be overstated; however, our understanding of methane escape from fractured clay remains limited. This study aims to address the existing gaps by proposing a robust analytical model of methane transport in both fractures and clay matrix. Our investigation also includes a dimensionless analysis to govern the relative significance of diffusion and advection in methane emission from fractured clay, systematically reviewing factors such as the degree of water saturation (Sr) and fracture width. The methane concentration profiles in cracked clay demonstrated escalating sensitivity to Péclet (Pe) numbers, especially when advection dominates transport. Our findings also highlight the prevalence of preferential methane flow with increasing Sr in the clay matrix. The flux of methane emission from fractures at Sr = 0.8 was 130 times greater than that from intact clay. However, the study necessitates considering methane emission from clay matrix, particularly in dry clay conditions (Sr = 0.2 and 0.4). The accumulated methane emission flux from intact clay, more than that emitted from fractures by about 2.5 times at Sr = 0.2, was 1.3 × 10−5 g/m/s. The findings significantly advance the understanding of gas transport in fractured geomaterials, revealing the effect of water saturation and crack width on methane emissions from fractures. Overall, the outcomes emphasize the inclusion importance of methane emission from cracked clay in the design of gas barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quasi‐2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite (RPP) have surfaced as a promising candidate for light emitting diodes (LEDs) due to its outstanding optoelectronic properties. However, a reliable approach for patterning RPPs remains elusive due to the use of polar solvents in lithographic processes, which can damage the RPP. Here, a reliable and damage‐free dry micropatterning method of RPPs is reported, which also offers a cost/time advantage compared to conventional patterning methods. The sharp edges of high aspect ratio silicon micropillars are used to cut RPPs to a pre‐defined shape and then the cut RPPs are delaminated to obtain a patterned array of RPPs. The resultant patterned array exhibits no sign of degradation or discernable difference between adjacent pixels, achieving a ≈100% yield. The obtained array is utilized to fabricate a pixelated LED where a sharp electroluminescence (EL) spectrum peaking at 410 nm with full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum (FWHM) of 10 nm is observed. The pixelated devices demonstrate the potential to suppress EQE drops as the pixel size decreases, attributed to both the damage‐free micropatterning process and the defect tolerance of RPPs. Moreover, further improvements of the patterning method are demonstrated to avoid parasitic emission and suggest a promising strategy to fabricate pixel‐accessible micro‐LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary This case report describes a novel fixation technique of scapular neck fracture in a 2‐week‐old Arabian foal using two 3.5 mm tibial‐plateau‐levelling‐osteotomy (TPLO) locking plates originally designed for small animal orthopaedic surgery. The foal presented with a traumatic short oblique scapular neck fracture. Fracture fixation was performed under general anaesthesia using two anatomically pre‐shaped 3.5 mm TPLO locking plates; one on each side of the spine of the scapula. Fracture fixation was successful using two TPLO locking plates. Minimal soft tissue manipulation and identification of the suprascapular nerve allowed for relatively atraumatic application of the implants. The implants were left in place. Follow‐up evaluation 2 years after surgical intervention confirmed the horse to be sound with no clinical or gait abnormalities. Stabilisation of a short oblique scapular neck fracture in a 2‐week‐old foal with an anatomically pre‐shaped implant led to a good outcome in this case report. No complications were encountered during the recovery period. The use of an anatomically pre‐shaped locking plate intended for use on dogs, which is widely available in the veterinary industry, has proven to be a viable alternative for a scapular neck fracture fixation in this foal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusions Hip fracture (HF) has been described as the “last fracture of life” in the elderly, so the assessment of HF risk is extremely important. Currently, few studies have examined the relationship between imaging data from chest computed tomography (CT) and HF. This study demonstrated that pectoral muscle index (PMI) and vertebral body attenuation values could predict HF, aiming to opportunistically assess the risk of HF in patients without bone mineral density (BMD) based on chest CT for other diseases.In the retrospective study, 800 participants who had both BMD and chest CT were enrolled from January 2021 to January 2024. After exclusion, 472 patients were finally enrolled, divided into the healthy control (HC) group and the HF group. Clinical data were collected, and differences between the two groups were compared. A predictive model was constructed based on the PMI and CT value of the fourth thoracic vertebra (T4HU) by logistic regression analysis, and the predictive effect of the model was analyzed by using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Finally, the clinical utility of the model was analyzed using decision curve analysis (DCA) and clinical impact curves.Both PMI and T4HU were lower in the HF group than in the HC group (p < 0.05); low PMI and low T4HU were risk factors for HF. The predictive model incorporating PMI and T4HU on the basis of age and BMI had excellent diagnostic efficacy with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.865 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.830–0.894, p < 0.01), sensitivity and specificity of 0.820 and 0.754, respectively. The clinical utility of the model was validated using calibration curves and DCA. The AUC of the predictive model incorporating BMD based on age and BMI was 0.865 (95% CI: 0.831–0.895, p < 0.01), with sensitivity and specificity of 0.698 and 0.711, respectively. There was no significant difference in diagnostic efficacy between the two models (p = 0.967).PMI and T4HU are predictors of HF in patients. In the absence of dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), the risk of HF can be assessed by measuring the PMI and T4HU on chest CT examination due to other diseases, and further treatment can be provided in time to reduce the incidence of HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acromial stress fracture (ASF) is an uncommon but acknowledged complication of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). There is no standardised method to directly measure the bone mineral density of the acromion to allow a detailed analysis of the potential mechanism of ASF. The aim is to establish a reliable and reproducible technique for measurement of acromial density on computer tomography (CT). Methods: A retrospective review on CT scans obtained for three groups of patients: those planned for RTSA (n = 26); age and gender‐matched non‐operative (n = 26); and young non‐operative patients (n = 28) were performed. Standardised axial images of 1 mm thickness at 1 mm increments were created following horizontal straightening on the coronal and sagittal views. To assess inter‐rater reliability, two senior CT radiographers performed density measurements using standard region of interest (ROI) tool on the CTs with the ROI placed on the mid (ROI 1) and posterior (ROI 2) acromion. ROIs were selected as the most common locations for acromion fracture post RTSA. Measurements were repeated at least 6 weeks apart. Intra‐class coefficients (ICC) were used to determine intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability. Results: ICCs demonstrated good to high intra‐rater and inter‐rater reliability for both ROI 1 and ROI 2 across all three groups. The lower margin of 95% confidence intervals was more than 0 for all intra‐class coefficients. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a reliable method of measuring acromion density on CT. This method can be used to assess bone mineral density in the clinical setting and in future studies investigating ASF following RTSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Kidney transplant recipients are at high risk of fracture due to many factors such as nutritional status, hyperparathyroidism, acidosis and steroid administration. The current meta‐analysis aimed to comprehensively analyse the incidence and risk factors of fracture in kidney transplant recipients. Methods: A systematic search on Embase, Web of Science, PubMed and Cochrane Library until November 2023 was performed. RStudio software was used to analyse data. Results: Twenty‐eight eligible studies containing 310 530 kidney transplant recipients were included in the analysis. The pooled incidence of fracture was 10% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7%–13%) generally. When divided by regions, it was further observed that the pooled incidence of fracture was 13% (95% CI: 9%–17%) in Europe, 11% (95% CI: 6%–16%) in North America, 7% (95% CI: 3%–11%) in Asia. Regarding the risk factors, pooled analysis revealed that age of recipient (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.17–1.91), female sex (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.36–1.53), pretransplantation diabetes (HR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.58–1.97), pretransplantation fracture history (HR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.86–2.78), dialysis duration (HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01–1.17) and deceased donor (HR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.39) related to higher risk of fracture. The general quality of included studies was acceptable, and no publication bias existed except for the analysis between age of recipient and fracture incidence; further trim and fill method indicated age of recipient showed a correlation trend with the fracture incidence without the statistical significance. Conclusion: The pooled incidence of fracture reaches 10% in kidney transplant recipients, which relates to age of recipient, female sex, pretransplantation diabetes or fracture history, dialysis duration and decease donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This case series describes three cases of osseous cyst‐like lesions of the proximal phalanx (P1), which were associated with a complete fracture. The fractures and osseous cyst‐like lesions were analysed through radiographic and computed tomographic (CT) images for fracture configuration and prodromal factors, such as subchondral sclerosis and periosteal new bone formation. Internal stabilisation was performed in all cases through placing transcortical bone screws under CT guidance. In conclusion, the presence of osseous cyst‐like lesions in the proximal P1 as well as the addition of prodromal markers, such as localised periosteal new bone formation and subchondral bone sclerosis, suggest pathological subchondral bone with the potential to fracture and stabilisation should be prioritised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A geometry‐constraint‐based nonordinary state‐based peridynamic (GC‐NOSBPD) model is developed to investigate the fracture characteristics of flawed brittle disc specimens under compressive loading as well as its fracturing mechanism. The bond‐associated horizon (BAH) size is directly defined based on the kinematic constraint (KC). This proposed model can well mitigate the numerical oscillation. The failure criteria based on the bond‐associated stress state are utilized to simulate the fracture of materials. Two stress effects can offer an insight into the fracturing mechanism of flawed specimens. The failure modes of flawed specimens are controlled by the tensile failure, and the crack growth trajectories acquired by the present numerical model are equivalent to those obtained by the experimental observations. The effects of size and crack inclination angles on the fracture toughness of brittle materials are assessed. The GC‐NOSBPD model is competent for evaluating the fracture damage of flawed brittle materials and understanding its failure mechanism. HIGHLIGHTS: The geometry‐constraint‐based nonordinary state‐based peridynamics is developed.The numerical oscillation caused by zero‐energy mode is mitigated by this model.The bond‐associated horizon size can be defined based on the kinematic constraints.The fracturing behavior and mechanism of flawed disc specimens are investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Repair of sagittal proximal phalanx (P1) and parasagittal metacarpal/metatarsal III (MC/MTIII) fractures has evolved over recent decades from a procedure carried out solely under general anaesthesia, to one commonly performed under standing sedation. To date, standing fracture repair has not been evaluated for large cohorts. Objective s : To determine short‐term (survival to discharge) and long‐term (return to racing) outcomes of horses undergoing standing repair of MC/MTIII and P1 fractures, and to compare pre‐surgical and post‐surgical racing performance. Study design: Single‐centre retrospective cohort study. Methods: Retrospective clinical record review of 245 cases undergoing standing repair of MC/MTIII or P1 fractures, 1 January 2007–30 June 2021. Data on signalment, fracture configuration and complications were collected and full race records were retrieved from the Racing Post Database (www..racingpost.com). Chi‐squared and Mann–Whitney U tests were used to determine any difference in variables between horses that raced after surgery compared to those that did not. McNemar change and Wilcoxon signed‐rank tests were used to compare pre‐ and post‐surgical racing performance, p ≤ 0.05. Results: Ninety‐eight percent [95% confidence interval (CI): 96.2%–99.7%] of horses survived hospital discharge, and 75.1% (95% CI: 68.9%–81.4%) raced after surgery, a median of 241 days later. Horses that raced post‐surgery were significantly less likely to have suffered from complications during hospitalisation than those that did not race again [17.3% (95% CI: 11%–24%) vs. 36.5% (95% CI: 23%–50%), p = 0.005]. Comparing pre‐ and post‐operative racing performance, there was no significant difference in earnings per start [median £628.00, interquartile range (IQR) 115.90–1934.80 vs. £653.20, 51.00–1886.40, p = 0.7] or proportion of horses winning [51% (95% CI: 41%–61%) vs. 54% (95% CI: 44%–64%), p = 0.8] or being placed first–third [77% (95% CI: 68%–85%) vs. 71% (95% CI: 62%–80%, p = 0.5] in at least one race. Main limitations: Retrospective nature of study with reliance on clinical records and public databases, limiting data available for analysis. Conclusions: Standing fracture repair is a viable treatment option for MC/MTIII or P1 fractures that returns horses to the racetrack within an acceptable time frame and is capable of restoring pre‐surgical athletic ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a hybrid data‐driven and physics‐based simulation technique for seismic response evaluation of steel Buckling‐Restrained Braced Frames (BRBFs) considering brace fracture. Buckling‐Restrained Brace (BRB) fracture is represented by cumulative plastic deformation capacity. A dataset, consisting of 95 past BRB laboratory tests and 120 simulated BRB responses generated using the finite element method, is first developed. An Artificial Neural Network‐based (ANN) predictive model is then trained using the training dataset to estimate the cumulative plastic deformation of BRBs. The prediction capability of the ANN‐based predictive model is validated using the training dataset and an existing regression‐based predictive model. In the second part of the paper, an hybrid simulation technique combining the data‐driven model and physics‐based numerical modeling is presented to conduct the nonlinear time history analysis, followed by 1) validation against a full‐scale BRBF testing and 2) demonstration of the proposed simulation technique using a six‐story BRBF. The results confirm that the proposed predictive model can predict the BRB fracture with sufficient accuracy. Furthermore, the hybrid data‐driven physics‐based simulation technique can be used as a powerful tool for dynamic analysis of BRBFs considering BRB fracture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the impact of microstructure and residual stresses on the fracture behavior of as‐deposited thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Two distinct air plasma sprayed TBCs, Coating A (conventional lamellar porous) and Coating B (dense vertically cracked), were investigated. Coating A involved coarser but less dense powders as feedstock and a lower substrate temperature during deposition. Further, Coating A had ∼2.5$\sim 2.5$ times higher randomly oriented porosities, finer grains, lower hardness, and elastic stiffness. Strikingly, however, the fracture strength was higher for the porous as‐deposited Coating A. The answer to this apparent contradiction emerged from the intergranular residual stresses. These were measured using both X‐ray diffraction and high‐resolution‐electron backscattered diffraction. Coating B, deposited at a higher substrate temperature, had clear growth selection of (102)$({1\ 0\ 2})$ oriented grains. These also had more out‐of‐plane normal and shear residual stresses. The growth selection induced residual stresses appeared responsible for the decohesion of Coating B from the substrate and, correspondingly, lower fracture strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delayed fracture occurs when cracks grow subcritically prior to achieving KIC. Glass science research in this area has focused almost exclusively on non ion‐exchanged glasses. In this study, an ion‐exchange strengthened aluminosilicate glass was intentionally damaged to measure delayed fracture behavior. Damage was applied both pre and post ion‐exchange and the role of heat‐treatments was investigated. It was found that the delayed fracture likelihood was reduced for samples that were heat‐treated in an environment containing water vapor. An increase in the static fatigue limit was measured for increasing temperature and it was hypothesized that crack toughening takes place during the heat‐treatment due to a water‐assisted stress relaxation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the cleavage fracture anisotropy in tantalum carbides, namely, TaC, α‐Ta2C, and ζ‐Ta4C3 − x, using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Our investigation identifies the presence of multiple low‐energy cleavage planes indicating multiple potential pathways for crack propagation in these ceramics, even the low symmetry compounds. The anisotropy characteristics of cleavage fractures exhibited by α‐Ta2C and ζ‐Ta4C3 − x closely align with the intrinsic fracture anisotropy observed in TaC. Notably, there exist at least three pyramidal planes in ζ‐Ta4C3 − x whose cleavage energies are less than those of the carbon‐depleted basal planes, previously reported to have the lowest cleavage energy. The observed preference in experiments for cleavage along carbon‐depleted basal planes, exclusive of other identified low‐energy planes, points to factors beyond cleavage energy influencing cleavage plane preference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic‐on‐ceramic joints are notorious for their inherent brittleness, posing challenges for high‐performance applications. To address this, a novel approach is proposed to enhance the involvement of filler metals during fracture. This study investigates the controlled initiation and propagation of cracks in Al2O3–Al2O3 joints through a strategic combination of laser pre‐cracking, laser patterning, and laser active brazing techniques. By introducing pre‐cracking and African daisy‐like patterning, crack propagation dynamics are altered, with cracks initially confined within pre‐crack regions before navigating through pattern intrusions. Additionally, laser active brazing effectively managed titanium diffusion, optimizing interface strength control. Evaluation via SEVNB tests demonstrated a significant enhancement in fracture toughness, achieving maximal 25.6 ± 4.6 MPa·m0.5 compared to ≈3–5 MPa·m0.5 for alumina ribbons. This integrated approach offers precise control over fracture paths, thereby augmenting the performance of ceramic‐on‐ceramic joints, and holds promise for advancing their applications in demanding environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are at a high risk for falls and fractures. Although cholinesterase inhibitors reportedly are effective in suppressing the progression of cognitive symptoms in DLB patients, their effects on fracture risk remain unclarified. This study aimed to evaluate the association between donepezil use and hip fracture risk in older patients with DLB. Methods: Using the Japanese insurance claim database, we collected the data of patients aged ≥65 years with DLB from April 2012 to March 2019. After propensity score matching, we compared the fracture rate over 3 years between DLB patients receiving donepezil and those not receiving antidementia drugs. Results: Altogether, 24 022 239 individuals aged ≥65 years were newly registered from April 2012 to March 2016 and had verifiable information from 6 months before to 3 years after the registration. We identified 6634 pure‐DLB patients and analyzed the data of 1182 propensity score‐matched pairs. The characteristics, including age, sex, fracture history, osteoporosis, and bone mineral density test rate, of the two groups were well balanced by propensity score matching. The incidence rate of hip fracture was significantly lower in DLB patients receiving donepezil than in those not receiving antidementia drugs (0.60 vs. 1.44/100 person‐years, P < 0.001), whereas that of vertebral fractures was the same. Conclusions: Donepezil administration in Japanese people aged ≥65 years with DLB was significantly associated with a decreased risk of hip fracture. Donepezil may provide new benefits to DLB patients. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 782–788. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Objectives Study design Methods Results Main limitations Conclusion Short incomplete parasagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx are common injuries described in racehorses and also horses not used for racing. Computed tomographic (CT) features have been described in horses not used for racing, but not in a racehorse population.To describe CT features of short incomplete parasagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in a group of Thoroughbred racehorses.Retrospective observational study.CT images of 59 Thoroughbred racehorses diagnosed with 60 short incomplete parasagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx examined between January 2014 and February 2023 were reviewed retrospectively. Horse signalment and clinical features were retrieved from hospital records.50/60 fractures were dorsally biased unicortical fractures. Mean proximodistal fracture extension in forelimbs (13.6 mm ± 3.4) was less than in hindlimbs (17.4 mm ± 4.4) (p = 0.0019). There was no difference in fracture extension in the proximodistal direction according to age or gender. Fractures in 2‐year‐olds were shorter in dorsopalmar/−plantar direction (17.4 mm ± 6.3) than in 3‐year‐olds and older horses (21.7 mm ± 7.4) (p = 0.015). Periosteal new bone was present in 91.2% of fractures and endosteal new bone in 75%.Conclusions from this study can only confidently be applied to similar populations of racing Thoroughbred horses.Short incomplete parasagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx in Thoroughbred racehorses most commonly involve only the dorsal cortex and adjacent subchondral and cancellous bone. The distribution of fracture configurations differs from that described in horses not used for racing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the use of anti‐osteoporotic agents and refracture incidence in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF) following percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) and to evaluate the real‐world treatment of patients using denosumab following PVA. This study aims to provide spine surgeons with empirical insights derived from real‐world scenarios to enhance the management of bone health in OVCF patients. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was based on data from the MarketScan and Optum databases from the USA. Female patients aged 55–90 years who underwent PVA for OVCF between January 2013 and March 2020 were included and followed up from the day after surgery. Patients who received at least one dose of denosumab were included in the denosumab cohort and were further divided into the on‐treatment and off‐treatment groups according to whether they received a second dose of denosumab, with follow‐up beginning on the index day (225 days after the first denosumab dose). In this study, the off‐treatment group was considered as the control group. Refracture incidence after PVA, the proportion of patients using anti‐osteoporotic agents in the total study population, and refracture incidence after the index day in the denosumab cohort were analyzed. Results: A total of 13,451 and 21,420 patients from the MarketScan and Optum databases, respectively, were included. In the denosumab cohort, the cumulative incidence of clinical osteoporotic fractures within 3 years after the index day was significantly lower in the on‐treatment group than in the off‐treatment group (MarketScan database: 23.0% vs 39.0%, p = 0.002; Optum database: 28.2% vs 40.0%, p = 0.023). The cumulative incidence of clinical vertebral fractures was also lower in the on‐treatment group than in the off‐treatment group, with a significant difference in the MarketScan database (14.4% vs 25.5%, p = 0.002) and a numerical difference was found in the Optum database (20.2% vs 27.5%, p = 0.084).The proportion of patients using anti‐osteoporotic agents was low at 6 months postoperatively, with only approximately 7% using denosumab and 13%–15% taking oral bisphosphonates. Conclusion: Postmenopausal women have a high refracture rate and a low proportion of anti‐osteoporotic drug use after PVA. Continued denosumab treatment after PVA is associated with a lower risk of osteoporotic and clinical vertebral fractures. Therefore, denosumab may be a treatment option for patients with osteoporosis after PVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Materials and Methods Results Conclusions The objective of this long‐term retrospective study was to evaluate the fracture rate and the risk factors associated with the fracture of 3.3 mm narrow diameter implants (NDIs).A total of 524 records of patients rehabilitated with 3.3 mm NDIs between 1997 and 2015 were assessed. Data on patients, implants, and prostheses were collected, and descriptive analysis of the variables was performed. NDIs were separated into 2 groups: “fractured” and “non‐fractured”, and a multilevel logistic regression model was applied to identify the risk factors associated with NDI fracture.Eighty‐four patients were removed from the analysis for interrupting follow‐up or presenting failures other than fractures. Of the 440 patients included (64.66 ± 13.4 years), 272 were females (61.8%), and 168 males (38.2%), and mean follow‐up time was 129 ± 47.1 months. Of the 1428 NDIs, 15 (1.05%) in 9 patients (2.04%) fractured during the studied period. Ten fractures (66.66%) happened in 6 patients (66.66%) showing signs of parafunction. NDI with modified sandblasted, large grit, acid‐etched surface was the only implant variable to show a protective statistical significance (p = .0439).NDI fracture was a rare event in the studied sample. NDIs manufactured with modified sandblasted, large grit, acid‐etched surface may provide extra protection against NDI fracture. Patient‐specific factors and implant characteristics should be carefully considered to limit the risk of fracture of 3.3 mm NDIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater level tidal analysis is a powerful technique to monitor aquifer's permeability and hence its change over time. Earthquakes are known to affect aquifer's properties, in their vicinity through static stress changes but also further away through dynamic stresses. Most often changes are in the form of permeability increases, but sometimes decreases; the changes can be either permanent or transient. These observations are relatively well documented but the physical processes behind these changes are not well understood. By combining solid‐earth and barometric tidal groundwater level responses in a borehole in a coherent poroelastic theoretical framework, and a bi‐layer hydrogeological model, we recover a 15 years‐long time series evolution of aquifer transmissivity and shear modulus. This study showcases the full potential of the tidal analysis method, coupling pore pressure diffusion and rock deformation, at the frontier of hydrogeology and rock physics. This unprecedented measurement of permeability and shear modulus evolution by tidal analysis reveals, during interseismic period, high sensitivity of this shallow aquifer to effective stress, and thus to pore pressure. Thanks to additional finite element simulation of seismic wave propagation, we explore the different mechanisms affecting permeability and shear modulus in the studied fractured andesite aquifer. This study confirms the predominant role of seismic dynamic stresses, and more precisely of dynamic shear stresses, in the change of permeability following an earthquake. Plain Language Summary: Tidal oscillations of groundwater level, observable in boreholes all around the world, are information‐rich signals for hydrogeologist to infer the properties of surrounding aquifers, and how they evolve over time. Most importantly, it allows to monitor aquifer permeability and how it evolves under the influence of earthquakes, especially through static stresses changes or seismic wave propagation. Here we push the limits of what tidal analysis can reveal by also retrieving the shear modulus of the studied aquifer. This new observable, combined with the computation of regional earthquakes stresses, allows us to understand better how aquifer properties are modified by earthquakes. The analysis reveals first that dynamic shear stresses are the most probable cause of permeability changes, and second that the sensitivity of our fractured aquifer permeability to pore pressure is high. Key Points: The 15‐years' time series of permeability and shear modulus of the aquifer is deduced from the analysis of solid earth and barometric tidesCo‐seismic irreversible changes of fractured aquifer permeability are induced by earthquakes dynamic shear stressesInterseismic permeability variations of the aquifer are controlled by pore pressure, that is, the hydraulic head [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusions To determine ED clinician's current management for five common minor self‐limiting fractures (MSLF) and evaluate practice against evidence‐informed direct discharge pathway (DD) protocols.A survey was provided to doctors, nurse practitioners and advanced scope physiotherapists working in seven metropolitan, public health EDs in Perth, Australia. The relative odds of ED location (e.g. which facility) and clinician level factors (e.g. country of initial training, years of ED experience, profession) on recommending care completely consistent with evidence informed direct discharge pathway protocols were estimated.Two hundred sixty‐two clinicians completed the survey. There was variability in practice across all sites, with most reported care assessed at 60%–76% consistency with individual elements of DD care provision. Highest consistency was seen in lower limb immobilisation and DVT prophylaxis. Lowest consistency was seen in weight bearing advice, pain management and (boxer's) fracture reduction and immobilisation. There were very low levels of complete consistency, ranging from 9% (boxer's fracture) to 25% (radial head fracture). Two factors were associated with increased odds of completely consistent care: (i) clinician experience working in ED, with greater duration of practice associated with increased odds ratios (OR range, 1.6–3.3); and (ii) profession, where advanced scope physiotherapy was associated with increased odds ratios (OR range, 3.2–25.0).Survey results suggested system wide variation in ED fracture management practice and target areas for service improvement. Avenues for service improvement could include hospital wide agreed management plans for specific fractures and support for less experienced clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the healing status of a bone fracture is important to determine the clinical care a patient receives. Implantable devices can directly and continuously assess the healing status of fracture fixation constructs, while subject‐specific virtual biomechanical tests can noninvasively determine callus structural integrity at single time points. Despite their potential for objectification, both methods are not yet integrated into clinical practice with further evidence of their benefits required. This study correlated continuous data from an implantable sensor assessing healing status through implant load monitoring with computer tomography (CT) based longitudinal finite element (FE) simulations in a large animal model. Eight sheep were part of a previous preclinical study utilizing a tibial osteotomy model and equipped with such a sensor. Sensor signal was collected over several months, and CT scans were acquired at six interim time points. For each scan, two FE analyses were performed: a virtual torsional rigidity test of the bone and a model of the bone‐implant construct with the sensor. The longitudinal simulation results were compared to the sensor data at corresponding time points and a cohort‐specific empirical healing rule was employed. Healing status predicted by both in silico simulations correlated significantly with the sensor data at corresponding time points and correctly identified a delayed and a nonunion in the cohort. The methodology is readily translatable with the potential to be applied to further preclinical or clinical cohorts to find generalizable healing criteria. Virtual mechanical tests can objectively measure fracture healing progressing using longitudinal CT scans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current stretchable conductors, often composed of elastomeric composites infused with rigid conductive fillers, suffer from limited stretchability and durability, and declined conductivity with stretching. These limitations hinder their potential applications as essential components such as interconnects, sensors, and actuators in stretchable electronics and soft machines. In this context, an innovative elastomeric composite that incorporates a 3D network of liquid metal (LM), offering exceptional stretchability, durability, and conductivity, is introduced. The mechanics model elucidates how the interconnected 3DLM architecture imparts softness and stretchability to the composites, allowing them to withstand tensile strains of up to 500% without rupture. The relatively low surface‐to‐volume ratio of the 3DLM network limits the reforming of the oxide layer during cyclic stretch, thereby contributing to low permanent strain and enhanced durability. Additionally, the 3D architecture facilitates crack blunting and stress delocalization, elevating fracture resistance, while simultaneously establishing continuous conductive pathways that result in high conductivity. Notably, the conductivity of the 3DLM composite increases with strain during substantial stretching, highlighting its strain‐enhanced conductivity. In comparison to other LM‐based composites featuring 0D LM droplets, the 3DLM composite stands out with superior properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Clinical Message: In LMICs, the nonoperative management of posterior elbow dislocation associated with radial head fracture is still a therapeutic option with favorable outcomes. Elbow dislocation associated with radial head fracture is a rare lesion. The occurrence of such a lesion requires high energy trauma. The restoration of joint and radial head fracture that allows early mobilization is the best guarantee of a good functional outcome. We report a case of posterior elbow dislocation associated with radial head fracture managed by closed reduction and 1 week cast immobilization in neutral prono‐supination and 90°flexion followed by early mobilization was performed favorable functional outcome was obtained after 12 weeks. We review the different pattern of elbow dislocation and question the need of open reduction and internal fixation for displaced radial head fractures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open‐cell aluminum foams are gaining importance for the design of lightweight structures and as electrodes in lithium‐ion batteries. AlSi7Mg0.3 foams are produced by a modified investment casting process. By tuning the mold temperature, a change from the usual nearly monocrystalline dendritic to a polycrystalline globular grain structure is achieved. Tension and compression tests on single struts and foam specimens, respectively, are combined with digital image correlation, scanning electron microscopy, and phase contrast‐enhanced microcomputed tomography in a synchrotron facility to correlate the mechanical properties and the failure mechanisms with the microstructure. The "globular" foams exhibit a lower strength and a less pronounced subsequent stress drop than the "dendritic" foams and the deformation mechanism changes from shear band‐dominated failure to a layer‐by‐layer collapse, because of the lower strength and higher ductility of the "globular" struts. The "dendritic" struts have a more homogeneous microstructure, while the "globular" struts often contain silicon agglomerates in their central region. Accordingly, the latter struts exhibit a higher degree of scatter for the fracture strain. Thus, the arrangement of the silicon particles and the eutectic determines the mechanical properties on the strut level and thereby the failure behavior on the foam level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteofibrous dysplasia (OFD) is a rare, benign, fibro‐osseous lesion that occurs most commonly in the tibia of children. Tibial involvement leads to bowing and predisposes to the development of a fracture which exhibit significantly delayed healing processes, leading to prolonged morbidity. We previously identified gain‐of‐function mutations in the MET gene as a cause for OFD. In our present study, we test the hypothesis that gain‐of‐function MET mutations impair bone repair due to reduced osteoblast differentiation. A heterozygous Met exon 15 skipping (MetΔ15‐HET) mouse was created to imitate the human OFD mutation. The mutation results in aberrant and dysregulation of MET‐related signaling determined by RNA‐seq in the murine osteoblasts extracted from the wide‐type and genetic mice. Although no gross skeletal defects were identified in the mice, fracture repair was delayed in MetΔ15‐HET mice, with decreased bone formation observed 2‐week postfracture. Our data are consistent with a novel role for MET‐mediated signaling regulating osteogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thinning of carbon fiber‐reinforced composites has been shown to enhance their strength and damage resistance. In this study, cross‐ply and quasi‐isotropic laminate tensile experiments are conducted using composites with ply thicknesses of 24, 55, 75, and 100 μm to investigate the relationship between the strength of laminates and ply thickness. By analyzing the acoustic emission amplitude and energy signals during the loading process of the specimens, the damage evolution of each ply thickness composite under two different stacking methods is studied, revealing the failure mechanisms of the materials. The results show that under both cross‐ply and quasi‐isotropic stacking methods, the ultra‐thin‐ply composites exhibited higher strength. The thickness of ply has a significant influence on the fracture mode of the quasi‐isotropic laminates and the mechanical properties of quasi‐isotropic laminates are more affected by ply thickness than those of cross‐ply laminates. Highlights: Quasi‐isotropic laminate strength is affected more by ply thickness than cross‐ply.Reduced ply thickness changes fracture mode in quasi‐isotropic laminates.Ultra‐thin‐ply composites exhibit flat fractures resulting in higher strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crack propagation in ceramic matrix composites is very difficult to observe and to quantify. To investigate crack formation in all‐oxide ceramic composites, single edge notched bending tests were performed including loading‐unloading cycles and online monitoring of surface deformation using digital image correlation. The crack length was calculated by the compliance method with the crack opening displacement determined optically using digital image correlation. Obtained crack length values were found to be too small considering the sample geometry. Secondly, surface strain monitoring was used to investigate the crack growth. Analysis of cyclic force‐crack opening displacement curves and the results from strain monitoring indicated no major crack growth for loads below maximum force but still a moderately decay of force after onset of cracking. Graphical analysis of the surfaces of broken samples showed crack flank lengths ranging from 3 to 6 mm. Due to highly individual crack deflection mechanisms throughout the thickness of the oxide ceramic composites, deviations between front and back of specimens are found. The results demonstrate the necessity to use individual crack length measurements of each specimen for quantitative fracture mechanical evaluation. Strain monitoring during testing was shown to be a valuable tool for online crack path investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In orthopedic trauma, identification of extremity trauma combined with vascular injury is challenging. Missed diagnosis may result in amputation or even death. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether physical examination combined with handheld vascular ultrasound Doppler examination could be an effective method of screening for peripheral vascular injury and to explore the characteristics of vascular injuries in orthopedic trauma patients. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients in the emergency department of orthopedic trauma in our hospital from January 2022 to October 2023. Physical examination combined with handheld vascular ultrasound Doppler examination was used as a screening method for suspected vascular injuries. Patients with suspected vascular injury would undergo further angiography and receive multidisciplinary treatment. Angiography was used as the gold standard for diagnosing vascular injuries. Patient demographics, mechanism of injury, location and type of injury, angiographic results, surgical notes, and early treatment outcome data were recorded. Results: A total of 55 cases (58 limb injuries) with suspected vascular injury were ultimately included. Angiography revealed that 53 cases (55 limbs, positive rate 94.8%) were considered to have confirmed vascular injuries. Forty‐three were male (81.1%) and 10 were female (18.9%), with mean age 44.1 ± 16.6 years. The main mechanism of injury was traffic accident (30, 56.7%). Most common site of vascular injuries was knee joint (30/55, 54.5%), and popliteal artery (23, 47.9%) was the most commonly injured blood vessel. After multidisciplinary collaborative treatment, overall patient mortality was 3.8% (2/53), and limb survival rate among surviving patients was 81.1% (43/53) in our study. Conclusion: In orthopedic trauma, "Hard signs" and "soft signs" combined with handheld vascular ultrasound Doppler examination were effective ways to screen for suspected vascular injuries. Most limbs had associated fractures or dislocations at the site of vascular injury. Collaboration of vascular surgery, microsurgery and orthopedic trauma may help improve patients' prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stenting has become popular to treat tracheal collapse in dogs, but complications might arise and negatively affect treatment outcome. Objectives: Determine the overall prevalence of complications of tracheal stenting in dogs. Methods: A bibliographic search was performed of publications from 2000 to 2020. Studies were assessed for quality of evidence and measured prevalence of the 8 most commonly reported complications after tracheal stenting in dogs (stent fracture, stent migration, relapsing collapse, granuloma formation, tracheobronchial infections, and early, late, and clinically relevant late cough). Random effects meta‐analyses were used to estimate pooled complications prevalence. Results: Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria. Cough (early: 99%; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 95%–100%, late: 75%; 95% CI: 63%–85%, and clinically relevant: 52%; 95% CI: 42%–61%), tracheobronchial infections (24%; 95% CI: 14%–35%), and granulomas (20%; 95% CI: 11%–30%) were common after tracheal stenting. Stent fractures (12%; 95% CI: 5%–20%), relapsing collapse (10%; 95% CI: 5%–15%), and stent migration (5%; 95% CI: 1%–9%) were less frequent. Significant heterogeneity among studies was identified for the estimated prevalence of stent fracture, granulomas, infections, and late cough. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Tracheal stenting in dogs is associated with a high risk of coughing and a moderate risk of tracheobronchial infections and granuloma formation. Because most complications will impact a dog's quality of life, owners must be informed that tracheal stenting is a second‐line procedure that does not necessarily alleviate the need for medical treatment and frequent follow‐up visits. Additional studies are warranted to identify the risk factors of these complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: An 8‐year‐old Warmblood cross mare was presented for further investigation of an acute‐onset lameness of the right hindlimb. Three weeks prior to presentation, the horse was found markedly lame at walk following a fall during exercise. The horse was initially managed with field rest, but the lameness persisted. A marked right hindlimb lameness at trot graded 5/10 was confirmed. Atrophy of the right gluteal musculature was evident, and palpation over the region of the right coxofemoral joint provoked a pain reaction. Nuclear scintigraphy revealed a diffuse area of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake in the right femoral head, neck and greater trochanter. Radiographs identified a complete, slightly displaced fracture of the base of the greater trochanter of the right femur. Ultrasound examination of the proximal femur demonstrated an irregularity of the caudolateral bone surface of the greater trochanter, extending along its attachment to the femur; this was consistent with the radiological findings. On re‐examination, after 9 months of stable rest, the horse was found to be sound when trotted in a straight line on the hard surface. Follow‐up two and a half years after the initial incident reported the horse to be nonlame and at its previous level of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research presents a comprehensive study focused on the design, implementation, and analysis of an innovative fiber Bragg grating (FBG) based foot pressure assessment system. FBG sensors strategically placed on the great toe, metatarsal 1, metatarsal 2, and heel provided distinct peak resonant wavelengths, strains, and pressures during experimental cycles. Participant 1 exhibited peak resonant wavelength of 1537.745 nm for great toe, 1537.792 nm for metatarsal 1, 1537.812 nm for metatarsal 2, and 1537.824 nm for heel. Participant 2 showcased distinct graphical representations with peak resonant wavelengths ranging from 1537.903 to 1537.917 nm. In a fracture patient condition, the FBG‐based system monitored weight‐bearing capacity, integrated with real‐time X‐ray imaging for dynamic insights of rehabilitation as distinct approach. The strains and pressures at each position exhibited notable variations along with the sensitivity of 1.31με obtained across all positions, underscoring the FBG‐based system's reliability in capturing subtle foot pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a particle‐based framework for simulating the behavior of elastoplastic materials and the formation of fractures, grounded in Peridynamic theory. Traditional approaches, such as the Finite Element Method (FEM) and Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH), to modeling elastic materials have primarily relied on discretization techniques and continuous constitutive model. However, accurately capturing fracture and crack development in elastoplastic materials poses significant challenges for these conventional models. Our approach integrates a Peridynamic‐based elastic model with a density constraint, enhancing stability and realism. We adopt the Von Mises yield criterion and a bond stretch criterion to simulate plastic deformation and fracture formation, respectively. The proposed method stabilizes the elastic model through a density‐based position constraint, while plasticity is modeled using the Von Mises yield criterion within the bond of particle paris. Fracturing and the generation of fine fragments are facilitated by the fracture criterion and the application of complementarity operations to the inter‐particle connections. Our experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of our framework in realistically depicting a wide range of material behaviors, including elasticity, plasticity, and fracturing, across various scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: One of the leading reasons that patients, particularly older persons, are brought to the orthopedic emergency room is a fracture at the end of the radius. In this study, a new traction method for distal radius fractures was compared with manual reduction. Methods: The census method was used in this clinical trial to study 45 patients (46 hands) who were referred to Hamedan Besat Hospital in 2021. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups. The manual reduction (pressure and traction by an assistant and a doctor) method was implemented in Group A, and the new traction procedure (pressure and traction by hardware or a device) was performed in Group B. The radiographic results of reduction in both groups were investigated and compared immediately and in the first and 6 weeks after surgery. Results: The following results were observed in the new and manual groups in the sixth week after surgery: average volar tilt: 4.19 ± 3.79 and 4.08 ± 3.88 (p = 0.926), radial angulation: 2.18 ± 1.27 and 2.21 ± 1.35 (p = 0.934), radial shortening: 10.52 ± 0.65 and 10.56 ± 0.68 (p = 0.828), radial inclination: 22.52 ± 2.46 and 22.71 ± 2.01 (p = 0.787), dorsal angulation: −5.89 ± 0.33 and 5.22 ± −1.91 (p = 1.00), ulnar variance: 1.66 ± 0.90 and 1.67 ± 0.81 (p = 0.958), and average pain score: 2.40 ± 0.68 and 2.47 ± 0.73 (p = 0.737). Conclusion: The new reduction procedure with hardware in patients with distal radius fractures showed the same effect as the traditional method based on pressure and traction by the assistant and doctor in terms of radiographic changes and pain score of the fracture site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoclay is considered to be one of the best fillers for reinforcement in structural polymer composites because of its low cost, easy availability, and ability to improve mechanical, thermal, corrosion resistance, barrier properties and nonflammability in corresponding nanocomposites. Pristine nanoclay is hydrophilic and therefore needs surface modification to make it compatible for uniform dispersion with polymer matrix. In the present work, montmorillonite nanoclay was protonated for generating more hydroxyl groups to facilitate silane functionalization and is reinforced to prepare epoxy nanocomposites with a varying content of 0.5 to 20 wt%. Studies are also conducted to investigate the effect of silanization of unprotonated nanoclay on epoxy nanocomposites. Interestingly, uniform highly exfoliated reduced‐size nanoclay platelets are obtained for functionalized protonated nanoclay. This behavior is attributed to the increase in the d‐spacing between the interlayers of the nanoclay during protonation and silanization. Tensile performances are found best with 0.5 wt% of silanized clay with an improvement of ~50%, ~84% and ~177% in strength, modulus and absorbed failure energy compared to neat epoxy. Although flexural and fracture performance are found highest with 2 wt% of silanized protonated clay with an improvement of ~57.5% in flexural strength and a remarkable ~241% and ~964% enhancement in fracture toughness and fracture energy compared to neat epoxy. The toughening mechanism investigation endorses the improvement in interfacial adhesion of the protonated silanized nanoclay that enhances the properties of the interfacial region, which significantly enhances the resistance for in‐panne crack propagation in epoxy nanocomposites. Highlights: Synthesized silanized and silanized protonated montmorillonite clay.Protonation facilitated silane moiety attachment onto nanoclay.Maximum improvement of flexural strength by ~57.5% for ESPrC2.KIC and GIC were highest showing ~1.74 MPam1/2 and ~830.28 J/m2 for ESPrC2.Enhanced interfacial adhesion due to SPrC with the epoxy matrix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]