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Fe(III) oxides were prepared as free nanoparticles and on DNA templates via the precipitation of Fe(III) salts with NaOH in the presence/absence of DNA. Through control of the pH and temperature, FeOOH and Fe2O3 were synthesised. The formation of templated materials FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA was confirmed using UV-Vis absorption and FTIR spectra. The direct optical gap of Fe2O3/DNA was estimated as 3.2 eV; the absorption by FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA at longer wavelengths is weaker, but consistent with indirect gaps near 2 eV. X-ray photoelectron spectra confirmed the presence of Fe(III) and DNA in the templated samples. Analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns of both templated and non-templated FeOOH and Fe2O3 demonstrated that the materials were the α-FeOOH and α-Fe2O3 polymorphs with crystallite diameters of the DNA-templated materials estimated as 7.6 nm and 6.8 nm. Transmission electron microscopy showed needle-like crystals of both FeOOH and Fe2O3, but the Fe2O3 contains some globular structures. In contrast, the morphology of FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA consists of needle-like crystallites of the respective oxides organised into complex dendritic structures with a length on the 10 μm scale formed by the DNA molecules. Finally, scanned conductance microscopy provided evidence for the conductivity of the FeOOH/DNA after alignment via molecular combing on an Si/SiO2 substrate. Fe2O3/DNA did not exhibit any detectable conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomineralization, the use of biological systems to produce inorganic materials, has recently become an attractive approach for the sustainable manufacturing of functional nanomaterials. Relying on proteins or other biomolecules, biomineralization occurs under ambient temperatures and pressures, which presents an easily scalable, economical, and environmentally friendly method for nanoparticle synthesis. Biomineralized nanocrystals are quickly approaching a quality applicable for catalytic and optoelectronic applications, replacing materials synthesized using expensive traditional routes. Here, we review the current state of development for producing functional nanocrystals using biomineralization and distill the wide variety of biosynthetic pathways into two main approaches: templating and catalysis. Throughout, we compare and contrast biomineralization and traditional syntheses, highlighting optimizations from traditional syntheses that can be implemented to improve biomineralized nanocrystal properties such as size and morphology, making them competitive with chemically synthesized state-of-the-art functional nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Templating is the first step in achieving a successful total hip arthroplasty. We hypothesize that native head size is highly correlated with implanted cup size. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to look for a correlation between sizes of the intra-operative measurement of the femoral head and the implanted cup. Methods: This is a monocentric observational study conducted from December 2018 till January 2023. All patients admitted for a primary total hip arthroplasty were included and retrospectively reviewed. Intra-operative femoral head measurement, radiographic femoral head diameter, templated (planned) cup size, and definitive implanted cup size were recorded. Results: The sample included 154 patients (85 female and 69 males) with a mean age of 66.2 ± 10.4 years. There were 157 THA cases; 82 on the right side and 75 on the left side. The native head size and acetate template on digital radiographs were the most significantly positively correlated with cup size (P < 0.0001) while the radiological head size was significantly negatively correlated with cup size (P = 0.009). The implanted cup was on average 2 ± 2 mm bigger than the native head size measured intra-operatively. Conclusion: The native femoral head diameter measured intra-operatively is a simple and reliable tool to help the surgeons choose the proper size of the acetabular cup, preventing complications during surgery hence optimizing results post operatively. This technique would contribute to a more ecofriendly orthopaedic reconstructive surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vascular system maintains cellular homeostasis by transporting oxygen, nutrients, and metabolic waste products. The vascular system is involved in a variety of fundamental physiological phenomena and is closely associated with human vascular diseases. Additionally, the stability of drugs in the vasculature affects their efficacy. Therefore, researchers have used vascular models to study vascular diseases, assess drug stability, and screen drugs. However, there are many shortcomings in the animal models and in vitro two-dimensional vascular models that have been extensively developed. In this paper, we specifically review the construction methods of in vitro vascular models and classify the specific methods into photolithography, soft lithography, self-assembly, template, 3D bioprinting, and laser degradation/cavitation. The first two are microfluidics-based methods and the last three are non-microfluidics-based methods. The vascular model construction methods reviewed in this paper overcome the shortcomings of traditional models—which cannot accurately reproduce the human vascular microenvironment—and can assist in the construction of in vitro 3D vascular models and tissue engineering vascularization. These models can be reused by perfusion devices, and the cells within the channels reside on biocompatible materials that are used to simulate the microenvironment and 3D cellular organization of the vasculature in vivo. In addition, these models are reproducible in shape and length, allowing experiments to be repeated, which is difficult to do with natural vessels. In vitro vascular models are widely used in research and drug screening for diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction, cancer, and other vascular abnormalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alternative anode materials with increased theoretical specific capacities are under scrutinity as a replacement to graphite in lithium‐ion batteries (LiBs). Silicon oxides offer increased capacities compared to graphite and do not suffer the same level of material expansion as pure Si. Consequently, they are an intermediate commercial anode material, on the pathway toward pure Si anodes. In this study, stable Silica/carbon (SiO2/C) nanofibers are successfully developed from tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) using poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The fibers show excellent stability after calcination, with silica evenly dispersed within the fibers exhibiting a surface area of 327 m2 g−1. This study demonstrates that the electrochemical performance of SiO2/C composite anodes is significantly influenced by the silica content. SiO2/C composites with ≈68 at% SiO2 achieve reversible capacities of 315.6 and 300.9 mAh g−1, after the 2nd, and 800th cycles, respectively, at a specific current of 100 mA g−1, with a remarkable capacity retention of 95.3%. In a second stage, lignin is added as a potential nanostructuring agent. The addition of lignin to the sample reduces the amount of silica without significantly impacting its performance and stability. Tailoring the composition of SiO2/C composite anodes enables stable capacity retention over the course of hundreds of cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the production of a metallic single-gyroid nanomaterial by using lipid-cubic-phase templating. Single-gyroid materials are chiral nanowire networks whose chirality potentially gives rise to optical metamaterial behavior, leading to considerable recent scientific interest. Until now, single-gyroid materials have been fabricated by using block copolymer templates, producing unit cell sizes down to 20 nm. Here, we present the use of a lipid-cubic-phase template with which we can produce single-gyroid structures with unit cell sizes of less than half that of the smallest reported previously. Single-gyroid platinum materials with controllable unit cell sizes between 8.4 and 9.5 ± 0.3 nm can be produced by using different lipid proportions in the template. Furthermore, the template self-assembles spontaneously; metal deposition is achieved in an aqueous solution through galvanic displacement on a stainless steel substrate at room temperature, and the template dissolves in ethanol after deposition. The process is therefore straightforward and synthetically attractive, avoiding the complex multistep routes and elevated temperatures associated with block copolymer templating routes to single-gyroid nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Templating is essential in hip arthroplasty preparation, facilitating implant size prediction and surgical rehearsal. It ensures the selection of suitable implants according to patient anatomy and disease, aiming to minimize post-operative complications. Various templating methods exist, including traditional acetate templating on both analog and digital images, alongside digital templating on digital images, which is categorized into 2D and 3D approaches. Despite the popularity of acetate templating on digital images, challenges such as the requirement for physical templates and result preservation persist. To address these limitations, digital templating with software like OrthoSize and Orthoview has been suggested, although not universally accessible. This technical note advocates for Microsoft PowerPoint as an effective alternative for 2D digital templating, highlighting its user-friendly features for image manipulation without needing specialized software. The described method involves scanning acetate templates, adjusting the images in PowerPoint 365 for size, position, and calibration on patient radiographs, and demonstrating reliability through preliminary assessments, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values indicating a high level of agreement for cup and stem size (ICC = 0.860, 0.841, respectively) but moderate for neck length (ICC = 0.592). We have introduced a method for performing 2D digital templating in the clinical field without the need for specialized software dedicated to digital templating. We believe this method significantly improves the accessibility to 2D digital templating, which was previously limited by the need for digital templating software. Additionally, it enables surgeons to easily establish arthroplasty plans and share them, overcoming the limitations of acetate templates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe(III) oxides were prepared as free nanoparticles and on DNA templates via the precipitation of Fe(III) salts with NaOH in the presence/absence of DNA. Through control of the pH and temperature, FeOOH and Fe2O3 were synthesised. The formation of templated materials FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA was confirmed using UV-Vis absorption and FTIR spectra. The direct optical gap of Fe2O3/DNA was estimated as 3.2 eV; the absorption by FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA at longer wavelengths is weaker, but consistent with indirect gaps near 2 eV. X-ray photoelectron spectra confirmed the presence of Fe(III) and DNA in the templated samples. Analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns of both templated and non-templated FeOOH and Fe2O3 demonstrated that the materials were the α-FeOOH and α-Fe2O3 polymorphs with crystallite diameters of the DNA-templated materials estimated as 7.6 nm and 6.8 nm. Transmission electron microscopy showed needle-like crystals of both FeOOH and Fe2O3, but the Fe2O3 contains some globular structures. In contrast, the morphology of FeOOH/DNA and Fe2O3/DNA consists of needle-like crystallites of the respective oxides organised into complex dendritic structures with a length on the 10 μm scale formed by the DNA molecules. Finally, scanned conductance microscopy provided evidence for the conductivity of the FeOOH/DNA after alignment via molecular combing on an Si/SiO2 substrate. Fe2O3/DNA did not exhibit any detectable conductivity.

The vascular system maintains cellular homeostasis by transporting oxygen, nutrients, and metabolic waste products. The vascular system is involved in a variety of fundamental physiological phenomena and is closely associated with human vascular diseases. Additionally, the stability of drugs in the vasculature affects their efficacy. Therefore, researchers have used vascular models to study vascular diseases, assess drug stability, and screen drugs. However, there are many shortcomings in the animal models and in vitro two-dimensional vascular models that have been extensively developed. In this paper, we specifically review the construction methods of in vitro vascular models and classify the specific methods into photolithography, soft lithography, self-assembly, template, 3D bioprinting, and laser degradation/cavitation. The first two are microfluidics-based methods and the last three are non-microfluidics-based methods. The vascular model construction methods reviewed in this paper overcome the shortcomings of traditional models—which cannot accurately reproduce the human vascular microenvironment—and can assist in the construction of in vitro 3D vascular models and tissue engineering vascularization. These models can be reused by perfusion devices, and the cells within the channels reside on biocompatible materials that are used to simulate the microenvironment and 3D cellular organization of the vasculature in vivo. In addition, these models are reproducible in shape and length, allowing experiments to be repeated, which is difficult to do with natural vessels. In vitro vascular models are widely used in research and drug screening for diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction, cancer, and other vascular abnormalities.

For successful nasal reconstruction using a forehead flap, three-dimensional (3D) nasal defects need to be translated into a two-dimensional (2D) forehead surface. For this study, a patient-specific 3D-printed forehead flap guide that could precisely translate a virtually simulated nasal shape into a 2D flap template was developed. The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a 3D-printed forehead flap guide for nasal reconstructions. The 3D nasal surface was scanned using a 3D camera, and a 'digital clay' process was performed to correct the nasal deformity. The 3D morphology was flattened into a 2D forehead flap guide. The guide was 3D-printed and used for the forehead flap design. Photographic records were used to conduct anthropometric and aesthetic evaluations. Between October 2016 and August 2020, forehead flaps were performed using the forehead flap guide (guide group) and traditional templating method (control group) in 16 and 15 patients, respectively. The alar shape was more symmetric in the guide group than in the control group, with smaller right-to-left differences in alar width (p = 0.01) and height (p = 0.05). Regarding aesthetic evaluations, nose contour (p = 0.02) and nasal symmetry (p = 0.033) were better in the guide group than in the control group. The mean operative time was significantly shorter (91.9 ± 10.7 min) in the guide group than in the control group (116.4 ± 13.6 min) (p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that a 3D-printed forehead flap surgical guide can be effectively used in nasal reconstruction to reduce operative time and improve aesthetic outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compartmentalization is crucial for the functioning of cells. Membranes enclose and protect the cell, regulate the transport of molecules entering and exiting the cell, and organize cellular machinery in subcompartments. In addition, membraneless condensates, or coacervates, offer dynamic compartments that act as biomolecular storage centers, organizational hubs, or reaction crucibles. Emerging evidence shows that phase‐separated membraneless bodies in the cell are involved in a wide range of functional interactions with cellular membranes, leading to transmembrane signaling, membrane remodeling, intracellular transport, and vesicle formation. Such functional and dynamic interplay between phase‐separated droplets and membranes also offers many potential benefits to artificial cells, as shown by recent studies involving coacervates and liposomes. Depending on the relative sizes and interaction strength between coacervates and membranes, coacervates can serve as artificial membraneless organelles inside liposomes, as templates for membrane assembly and hybrid artificial cell formation, as membrane remodelers for tubulation and possibly division, and finally, as cargo containers for transport and delivery of biomolecules across membranes by endocytosis or direct membrane crossing. Here, recent experimental examples of each of these functions are reviewed and the underlying physicochemical principles and possible future applications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this autoethnographic exploration, we engage in a dialogic investigation to examine how templating and crystallization shape rigor in qualitative research. The use of templates in qualitative research has been widely used as a means of enhancing rigor in organizational research design yet comes with caveats especially when wanting to push boundaries. With the interplay of templates and crystallization, the researcher is encouraged to apply iterative and reflexive modes. The aim here is to inspire and invite researchers to pursue the multiplicity offered by qualitative methodologies and expand the discipline through authentic, trustworthy, and credible approaches. To explore the development of rigor we reflect on five narrative vignettes to abductively review the interplay of templating and crystallization within our academic experiences. The autoethnographic lens provided the scope to engage in our discourse, and practices and to question our emerging insights in pursuit of informed understandings. Whilst the focus is limited, we bring an organizational research view that highlights some of the challenges of the discipline. Three themes that we term tenets - purpose, reflexivity, and transparency - were key in the interplay of templates and the appreciation of crystallization. We found that utilizing a template is a valuable starting point for structure or direction, but the researcher must move beyond to find purpose, extend knowledge, and advance thinking. Transparency is essential to evidence the rigor, authenticity, and transferability of findings. This autoethnographic exploration adds value to the body of qualitative research as we call for rigor especially when there is a tendency for overuse or misuse of templates. To be clear, crystallization is not about doing as you please, but fostering rigor to encourage new ways of sense-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study introduces a novel gas‐phase method for the synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs). The method is a two‐step templating approach by first forming silicon‐coated carbon structures in a hybrid microwave‐plasma/hot‐wall reactor followed by an annealing step to produce mesoporous silica with distinct nanostructure and porosity. Two different (sacrificial) carbonaceous templates have been prepared (plasma reactor) and coated (hot‐wall reactor), 2D few‐layer graphene (FLG) flakes and soot‐like fractal aggregates. Results show that the wall thickness of the porous silica structures can be adjusted by changing the concentration of the silicon precursor (monosilane). High monosilane concentrations, however, result in solid silica particles after annealing. Using soot‐like particle templates permitted to control of the shell thickness of the hollow porous particles, while the FLG template results in ultrathin silica sheets after heat treatment. The pore volume and specific surface area increase up to 263 m2 g−1 and 0.6 cm3 g−1, respectively, by the formation of hollow porous particles. An adsorption study on carbamazepine reveals up to ≈86% removal. The gas‐phase aerosol‐based template method presented here offers scalability and versatility, and it is capable of producing MSNs with a controlled structure and porosity by modifying the carbonaceous templates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The creation of complementary products via templating is a hallmark feature of nucleic acid replication. Outside of nucleic acid‐like molecules, the templated synthesis of a hetero‐complementary copy is still rare. Herein we describe one cycle of templated synthesis that creates homomeric macrocyclic peptides guided by linear instructing strands. This strategy utilizes hydrazone formation to pre‐organize peptide oligomeric monomers along the template on a solid support resin, and microwave‐assisted peptide synthesis to couple monomers and cyclize the strands. With a flexible templating strand, we can alter the size of the complementary macrocycle products by increasing the length and number of the binding peptide oligomers, showing the potential to precisely tune the size of macrocyclic products. For the smaller macrocyclic peptides, the products can be released via hydrolysis and characterized by ESI‐MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, nanofiber-surrounded urchin-like SiO2 nanospheres (SiO2–NUs) were synthesized using the template method and effectively reinforced clean fracturing fluids comprising cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and sodium salicylate. The SiO2–NUs particle size and morphology were measured using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering. The composition of SiO2–NUs was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. After the introduction of SiO2–NUs to the clean fracturing fluids, the rheological properties, salinity resistance, and dynamic filtration loss were all substantially improved. The viscosity increased from 10,781 to 22,991 mPa·s, which was more than 2 times higher. This enhancement was due to the ultrahigh specific surface area of SiO2–NUs and the formation of micelle–nanoparticle junctions. Finally, the interaction between SiO2–NUs and wormlike micelles was elucidated, and a mechanism was proposed for SiO2–NUs enhancing wormlike micelles. The results of this study should broaden the application scope of nanomaterials in the fracturing fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leg-length discrepancy (LLD) presents a significant management challenge to orthopedic surgeons and remains a leading cause of patient dissatisfaction and litigation after total hip arthroplasty (THA). Over or under-lengthening of the operative extremity has been shown to have inferior outcomes, such as dislocation, exacerbation of back pain and sciatica, and general dissatisfaction postoperatively. The management of LLD in the setting of THA is multifactorial, and must be taken into consideration in the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative settings. In our review, we aim to summarize the best available practices and techniques for minimizing LLD through each of these phases of care. Pre-operatively, we provide an overview of the appropriate radiographic studies to be obtained and their interpretation, as well as considerations to be made when templating. Intra-operatively, we discuss several techniques for the assessment of limb length in real time, and post-operatively, we discuss both operative and non-operative management of LLD. By providing a summary of the best available practices and strategies for mitigating the impact of a perceived LLD in the setting of THA, we hope to maximize the potential for an excellent surgical and clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inaccurately scaled radiographs for total hip arthroplasty (THA) templating are a source of error not recognizable to the surgeon and may lead to inaccurate reconstruction and thus revision surgery or litigation. Planning based on computed tomography (CT) scans is more accurate but associated with higher radiation exposure. The aim of this study was (1) to retrospectively assess the scaling deviation of pelvic radiographs; (2) to prospectively assess the feasibility and the radiation dose of THA templating on radiograph-like images reconstructed from a tin-filtered ultra-low-dose CT dataset. Methods: 120 consecutive patients were retrospectively analyzed to assess the magnification error of our current THA templates. 27 consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled and a radiographic work-up in the supine position including a new tin-filtered ultra-low-dose CT scan protocol was obtained. THA was templated on both images. Radiation dose was calculated. Results: Scaling deviations between preoperative radiographs and CT of ≥ 5% were seen in 25% of the 120 retrospectively analyzed patients. Between the two templates trochanter tip distance differed significantly (Δ2.4 mm, 0–7 mm, p = 0.035)), predicted femoral shaft size/cup size was the same in 45%/41%. The radiation dose of the CT (0.58 mSv, range 0.53–0.64) was remarkably low. Conclusion: Scaling deviations of pelvic radiographs for templating THA may lead to planning errors of ≥ 3 mm in 25% and ≥ 6 mm in 2% of the patients. 2-D templating on radiograph-like images based on tin-filtered ultra-low-dose CT eliminates this source of error without increased radiation dose. Level of evidence: Retrospective and prospective comparative study, Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Templating is essential in hip arthroplasty preparation, facilitating implant size prediction and surgical rehearsal. It ensures the selection of suitable implants according to patient anatomy and disease, aiming to minimize post-operative complications. Various templating methods exist, including traditional acetate templating on both analog and digital images, alongside digital templating on digital images, which is categorized into 2D and 3D approaches. Despite the popularity of acetate templating on digital images, challenges such as the requirement for physical templates and result preservation persist. To address these limitations, digital templating with software like OrthoSize and Orthoview has been suggested, although not universally accessible. This technical note advocates for Microsoft PowerPoint as an effective alternative for 2D digital templating, highlighting its user-friendly features for image manipulation without needing specialized software. The described method involves scanning acetate templates, adjusting the images in PowerPoint 365 for size, position, and calibration on patient radiographs, and demonstrating reliability through preliminary assessments, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values indicating a high level of agreement for cup and stem size (ICC = 0.860, 0.841, respectively) but moderate for neck length (ICC = 0.592). We have introduced a method for performing 2D digital templating in the clinical field without the need for specialized software dedicated to digital templating. We believe this method significantly improves the accessibility to 2D digital templating, which was previously limited by the need for digital templating software. Additionally, it enables surgeons to easily establish arthroplasty plans and share them, overcoming the limitations of acetate templates.

Background: Preoperative planning is important for successful total hip arthroplasty (THA) and has been historically performed using acetate templates. Digital software templating has been adopted for evaluating implant size, position, and alignment. Commercial software can be expensive, but free programs exist. Detroit Bone Setter (detroitbonesetter.com, Detroit, MI) is a freely available templating program, but hasn’t been validated. Our study reports this program’s accuracy for templating THA. Methods: Sixty-five patients undergoing THA between 2017 and 2022 at 2 hospitals were included. All cases were templated by the senior author or orthopaedic trauma fellow prospectively or retrospectively in a blinded fashion. Direct anterior or posterior approaches were used based on attending surgeon’s preference. A student's t-test was used to compare means of templated vs actual implant sizes of femoral and acetabular components. Results: There was no significant difference between implanted (mean [M] = 6.4, standard deviation [SD] = 2.0) and templated femoral component sizes (M = 5.7, SD = 2.1). There was a significant difference between implanted (M = 57.0, SD = 3.9) and templated acetabular component sizes (M = 53.4, SD = 3.0). Bland-Altman testing demonstrated femoral components with positive measurement bias of 0.62, indicating slight overestimation of implant size. Acetabular component size was overestimated with positive measurement bias of 3.6 mm. Conclusions: Detroit Bone Setter is advantageous as it is freely available and supports most major company implants. It accurately templated femoral component size but consistently overestimated acetabular component size by 3.6 mm. Further studies are needed prior to recommending its routine use for templating THA when other validated methods exist. It could be used with caution when no other methods are available.

Background: Implant manufacturers typically offer several sizes of a humeral stem for shoulder arthroplasty so that time zero fixation can be achieved with the optimal size. Stem size can be templated preoperatively but is definitively determined intraoperatively. The purpose of this study was to determine if preoperatively acquired parameters, including patient demographics and imaging, could be used to reliably predict intraoperative humeral stem size. Methods: A cohort of 290 patients that underwent shoulder arthroplasty (116 anatomic and 174 reverse) was analyzed to create a regression formula to predict intraoperative stem size. The initial cohort was separated into train and test groups (randomly selected 80% and 20%, respectively). Patient demographics, anatomical measurements, and statistical shape model parameters determined from a preoperative shoulder arthroplasty planning software program were used for multilinear regression. The implant used for all cases was a short-stemmed metaphyseal-fit prosthesis. Results: Metaphyseal bone density, humeral statistical shape model parameters, and humeral intramedullary canal diameter were identified as highly predictive of intraoperative final humeral prosthesis size. On the train group, a coefficient of determination R2 of 0.63 was obtained for the multilinear regression equation combining these parameters. When analyzing the cohort for the prediction of stem size in the test group, 95% were within plus or minus one size of that used during surgery. Conclusion: Preoperative criteria such as humeral geometry and proximal humeral bone density can be combined in a single multilinear equation to predict intraoperative humeral stem size within one size variation. Embedding the surgeon’s decision-making process into an automated algorithm potentially allows this process to be applied across the surgical community. Predicting intraoperative decisions such as humeral stem size also has potential implications for the management of implant stocks for both manufacturers and health-care facilities.

AimsTraditionally, total hip arthroplasty (THA) templating has been performed on anteroposterior (AP) pelvis radiographs. Recently, additional AP hip radiographs have been recommended for accurate measurement of the femoral offset (FO). To verify this claim, this study aimed to establish quantitative data of the measurement error of the FO in relation to leg position and X-ray source position using a newly developed geometric model and clinical data.MethodsWe analyzed the FOs measured on AP hip and pelvis radiographs in a prospective consecutive series of 55 patients undergoing unilateral primary THA for hip osteoarthritis. To determine sample size, a power analysis was performed. Patients’ position and X-ray beam setting followed a standardized protocol to achieve reproducible projections. All images were calibrated with the KingMark calibration system. In addition, a geometric model was created to evaluate both the effects of leg position (rotation and abduction/adduction) and the effects of X-ray source position on FO measurement.ResultsThe mean FOs measured on AP hip and pelvis radiographs were 38.0 mm (SD 6.4) and 36.6 mm (SD 6.3) (p < 0.001), respectively. Radiological view had a smaller effect on FO measurement than inaccurate leg positioning. The model showed a non-linear relationship between projected FO and femoral neck orientation; at 30° external neck rotation (with reference to the detector plane), a true FO of 40 mm was underestimated by up to 20% (7.8 mm). With a neutral to mild external neck rotation (≤ 15°), the underestimation was less than 7% (2.7 mm). The effect of abduction and adduction was negligible.ConclusionFor routine THA templating, an AP pelvis radiograph remains the gold standard. Only patients with femoral neck malrotation > 15° on the AP pelvis view, e.g. due to external rotation contracture, should receive further imaging. Options include an additional AP hip view with elevation of the entire affected hip to align the femoral neck more parallel to the detector, or a CT scan in more severe cases.Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2022;3(10):795–803.

Preoperative determination of implant size for total knee arthroplasty surgery has numerous clinical and logistical benefits. Currently, surgeons use X-ray-based templating to estimate implant size, but this method has low accuracy. Our study aims to improve accuracy by developing a machine learning approach that predicts the required implant size based on a 3D femoral bone mesh, the key factor in determining the correct implant size. A linear regression framework imposing group sparsity on the 3D bone mesh vertex coordinates was proposed based on a dataset of 446 MRI scans. The group sparse regression method was further regularized based on the connectivity of the bone mesh to enforce neighbouring vertices to have similar importance to the model. Our hypergraph regularized group lasso had an accuracy of 70.1% in predicting femoral implant size while the initial implant size prediction provided by the instrumentation manufacturer to the surgeon has an accuracy of 23.1%. Furthermore, our method was capable of predicting the implant size up to one size smaller or larger with an accuracy of 99.1%, thereby surpassing other state-of-the-art methods. The hypergraph regularized group lasso was able to obtain a significantly higher accuracy compared to the implant size prediction provided by the instrumentation manufacturer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent developments in embedded electronics require the development of micro sources of energy. In this paper, the fabrication of an on-chip interdigitated all-solid-state supercapacitor, using porous gold electrodes and a PVA/KOH quasisolid electrolyte, is demonstrated. The fabrication of the interdigitated porous gold electrode is performed using an original bottom-up approach. A templating method is used for porosity, using a wet chemistry process followed by microfabrication techniques. This paper reports the first example of an all-gold electrode micro-supercapacitor. The supercapacitor exhibits a specific capacitance equal to 0.28 mF·cm−2 and a specific energy of 0.14 mJ·cm−2. The capacitance value remains stable up to more than 8000 cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Pre-operative templating for total hip replacement (THR) surgery leads to more accurate implant sizing and positioning. This study aimed to compare the KingMark™ dual-marker system for magnification calibration to the current gold standard single-marker system in accuracy of predicting implant size and restoration of leg length post-operatively. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who had primary THR surgery from 2013 to 2019 by a single surgeon. Patients were in two cohorts whose operations were completed at separate healthcare facilities. Patients in the first cohort had pre-operative templating using the KingMark system; patients in the second cohort had templating using a single-marker. For all patients, pre-operative radiographs were reviewed; predicted implants noted; and leg length discrepancies calculated. These were compared to post-operative data. We then tested the null hypothesis that there was no difference between the templating methods for prediction accuracy of implant size and achieving restoration of leg length. Results: A total of 121 patients were included in the KingMark cohort, and 104 were included in the single-marker cohort. In the KingMark cohort, 83.5% of patients had implantation of a cup within one size of that predicted, compared to 71.2% of the single-marker cohort. This superiority was statistically significant. There was a greater proportion of exact cup size predictions in the KingMark cohort, but this was not statistically significant. We did not find any significant difference between the cohorts for stem size, or stem placement, or reduction of leg length discrepancy. Conclusion: We have demonstrated statistically significant superiority of the KingMark over a single-marker templating system for predicting cup size in primary THR surgery. For post-operative restoration of leg length, our study did not show any advantage of KingMark templating compared to single-marker templating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In pharmaceutical applications, the porous particles of organic compounds can improve the efficiency of drug delivery, for example into the pulmonary system. We report on the successful preparation of macroporous spherical granules of mannitol using a spray-drying process using polystyrene (PS) beads of ~340 nm diameter as a sacrificial templating agent. An FDA-approved solvent (ethyl acetate) was used to dissolve the PS beads. A combination of infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry analysis proved the efficiency of the etching process, provided that enough PS beads were exposed at the granule surface and formed an interconnected network. Using a lab-scale spray dryer and a constant concentration of PS beads, we observed similar granule sizes (~1–3 microns) and different porosity distributions for the mannitol/PS mass ratio ranging from 10:1 to 1:2. When transferred to a pilot-scale spray dryer, the 1:1 mannitol/PS composition resulted in different distributions of granule size and porosity depending on the atomization configuration (two-fluid or rotary nozzle). In all cases, the presence of PS beads in the spray-drying feedstock was found to favor the formation of the α mannitol polymorph and to lead to a small decrease in the mannitol decomposition temperature when heating in an inert atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of industrial chemical processes—from production of organic and inorganic compounds to air and water treatment—rely on heterogeneous catalysts. The performance of these catalysts has improved over the past several decades; in parallel, many innovations have been presented in publications, demonstrating increasingly higher efficiency and selectivity. One common challenge to adopting novel materials in real-world applications is the need to develop robust and cost-effective synthetic procedures for their formation at scale. Herein, we focus on the scalable production of a promising new class of materials—raspberry-colloid-templated (RCT) catalysts—that have demonstrated exceptional thermal stability and high catalytic activity. The unique synthetic approach used for the fabrication of RCT catalysts enables great compositional flexibility, making these materials relevant to a wide range of applications. Through a series of studies, we identified stable formulations of RCT materials that can be utilized in the common industrial technique of spray drying. Using this approach, we demonstrate the production of highly porous Pt/Al2O3 microparticles with high catalytic activity toward complete oxidation of toluene as a model reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation, characterization, and correction of glenoid deformity are an important part of performing anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). Three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) planning has been shown to improve implant position, but the impact on clinical outcomes is less clear. The purpose of the current study is to compare clinical outcomes of TSA performed with 3D CT preoperative planning with matched controls performed without CT-based planning. Utilizing a multicenter shoulder arthroplasty registry, patients who underwent a TSA with 2-year clinical follow-up were retrospectively identified. These patients were divided into two cohorts based on technique for glenoid guide pin placement based on surgeon preference: 1) those who utilized 3D preoperative templating with or without patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) and 2) a control group of TSAs performed without 3D CT preoperative planning. The two groups were matched 1:1 based on age, sex, and baseline American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score. Patient-reported outcomes and active range of motion (ROM) obtained at 2 years postoperatively were assessed and compared between the two cohorts. A subgroup analysis was also performed comparing outcomes in patients with 3D CT preoperative planning with and without PSI. Data collection was performed on 84 study patients with 3D CT preoperative planning (51 with PSI and 33 without) and 84 matched control patients without CT-based planning (168 patients in total). Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. Improvement from baseline for the ASES score (study group: 45.4, controls: 39.0, P =.029) and external rotation at 90° of abduction (study group: 42° vs. 29°, P =.009) was significantly greater in the CT-based planning group than that in matched controls. There were no other significant differences in improvement in outcomes or ROM between the two groups. Within the 3D CT cohort, there were no significant differences in patient-reported outcomes or ROM between TSAs performed with or without PSI. A significantly greater percentage of patients with 3D CT planning achieved a patient acceptable symptomatic state than controls (89% vs. 75%, P =.016). TSAs performed with 3D CT preoperative glenoid planning with or without utilization of PSI were associated with statistically significantly greater improvement from baseline in ASES scores and external rotation at 90° of abduction than TSA performed without 3D CT planning. The clinical significance of this finding is unclear, as the differences failed to meet a clinically significant threshold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The influence of the surgical process on implant loosening and periprosthetic fractures (PPF) as major complications in uncemented total hip arthroplasty (THA) has rarely been studied because of the difficulty in quantification. Meanwhile, registry analyses have clearly shown a decrease in complications with increasing experience. The goal of this study was to determine the extent of variability in THA stem implantation between highly experienced surgeons with respect to implant size, position, press-fit, contact area, primary stability, and the effect of using a powered impaction tool. Methods: Primary hip stems were implanted in 16 cadaveric femur pairs by three experienced surgeons using manual and powered impaction. Quantitative CTs were taken before and after each process step, and stem tilt, canal-fill-ratio, press-fit, and contact determined. Eleven femur pairs were additionally tested for primary stability under cyclic loading conditions. Results: Manual impactions led to higher variations in press-fit and contact area between the surgeons than powered impactions. Stem tilt and implant sizing varied between surgeons but not between impaction methods. Larger stems exhibited less micromotion than smaller stems. Conclusions: Larger implants may increase PPF risk, while smaller implants reduce primary stability. The reduced variation for powered impactions indicates that appropriate measures may promote a more standardized process. The variations between these experienced surgeons may represent an acceptable range for this specific stem design. Variability in the implantation process warrants further investigations since certain deviations, for example, a stem tilt toward varus, might increase bone stresses and PPF risk.

Abstract Background Templating is a preoperative planning procedure that improves the efficiency of the surgical process and reduces postoperative complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA) by improving the precision of prediction of prosthetic implant size. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the preoperative cup and stem size digital 2D templating of THA with mediCAD® software and find the factors that influence the accuracy, such as indication for surgery, patients’ demographics, implant brand, and the assessors’ grade of education. Methods We retrospectively retrieved 420 patient template images of all patients who underwent THA between March 2018 and March 2021. Templating of all included images was processed using mediCAD® software a day before surgery by a newcomer physician to hip arthroplasty course (PGY-2 orthopedic resident or hip surgery fellow). Preoperative templating cup and stem sizes were compared with the actual inserted implant sizes. Result After excluding ineligible patients, this study included 391 patients, 193 (49.4%) males and 198 (50.6%) females with a mean age of 43.3 ± 14.9. The average cup sizes predicted before and after surgery were 52.12 ± 14.28 and 52.21 ± 15.05 respectively, and the mean delta cup size (before and after surgery) was 2.79 ± 2.94. The delta stem size before and after surgery has a mean value of 1.53 ± 1.49. The acetabular cup components, measured within ± 0, ± 1, and ± 2 sizes, were 28.9%, 63.9%, 83.1% accurate, respectively. The femoral stem design component measured within ± 0, ± 1, and ± 2 sizes were 27.2%, 61.0%, 78.6% accurate, respectively. Wagner Cone® stem brand, DDH patients, and females showed significantly higher accuracy of stem size templating. Revision THA has the lowest accuracy in terms of cup size templating. The compression of accuracy rate between resident and fellow revealed no significant differences. Also, no significant difference was detected between the accuracy of templating performed in the first months with the second months of the arthroplasty course period. Conclusion Our study showed that under mentioned condition, templating using mediCAD® has acceptable accuracy in predicting the sizes of femoral and acetabular components in THA patients. Digital software like mediCAD® remains favorable because of the short learning curve, user-friendly features, and low-cost maintenance, leading to level-up patient care and THA efficacy. Further studies are necessary for clarifying the role of the assessor’s experience and expertise in THA preoperative templating. Level of evidence Level III (retrospective observational study).

Abstract Background Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the most successful orthopaedic surgery of the past century. The current study aimed to compare the accuracy of digital planning using 2D versus 3D templating. Materials and methods Ninety-five THAs in 90 patients were included in the current study. Pre- and post-operative X-rays (in two planes) and low-dose rotation computed tomography scans from hip to foot were performed. Paired t-test and regression analyses were conducted to compare 2D and 3D templating accuracy of the definitive implant. Results Cup size planned both with 2D (p

Background: The purpose of this study was to develop novel three-dimensional (3D) measures of bone density from computed tomography (CT) scans and to compare them with validated two-dimensional (2D) radiographic assessments of bone density. Patient demographic data were also analyzed to see if there were any predictors of bone density (age, sex, etiology). Methods: The study group consisted of 290 consecutive patients undergoing primary shoulder arthroplasty surgery (total anatomic, reverse, and hemiarthroplasty). All underwent preoperative CT imaging. Three 3D CT measurements (metaphysis cancellous, metaphysis cortical, and proximal diaphysis) were developed and automated into software. The developed 3D measurements were compared with validated 2D measures (Tingart and Gianotti Index). Patient demographic data were correlated with these measurements. The difference between the size of the final sounder and of the final stem was calculated as Delta. Results: There was moderately strong correlation between Tingart and Gianotti measures (0.674, P

A bandwidth tunable filter and a multi‐pitch filter based on twist structure liquid crystals (LCs) were proposed. The LC filters can be fabricated by multiple templating and refilling process, which shows large bandwidth and good extensibility. The bandwidth of the twist structure LC filter can be tuned from 111 nm to 244 nm with central wavelength shift of 16 nm. Furthermore, the bandwidth can be broadened to a great extent theoretically by the simple fabrication process. Three‐pitch twist structure LC filter was obtained, and the pitch number can be increased by utilizing multiple templating technique. The fabricated tunable twist structure LC filters show a potential application in optical communication device and spectral systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Accurate templating is an integral part of pre-operative planning for total hip arthroplasty (THA). Templating of cementless implant accuracy has been average. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of Dorr femoral classification on the accuracy of pre-operative digital templating. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective study of cementless THA pre-operative planning using one implant design. A total of 210 primary THA were reviewed. A total of 102 cementless THAs matched the exclusion and inclusion criteria, using one implant combination, were analyzed by an orthopaedic resident and a fellowship trained arthroplasty surgeon. Each x-ray was evaluated and assigned a femoral Dorr classification. Accuracy of templating was determined by comparing the templated size with the actual implant size both for the femoral and acetabular components. Result: Out of the 102 cases, exact templating size was achieved in 35.3% for the acetabulum, 25.5% for the femur, and only in 9.8% for both components. Reasonable templating, ± one of the actual size, was achieved in 78.4% for the acetabulum, 74.5% for the femur, and 60.8% for both components. Use of Dorr femoral type classification did not result in better templating accuracy. Conclusion: Pre-operative hip cementless templating using digital x-rays with double marker method do not improve accuracy compared to other methods available for templating. Accounting for bone quality using the Dorr femoral classification did not improve accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structure of (1,2,3-trimethylpyridnium)2Cu5Br12 provides the second reported example of a fully halogenated, linear, quasi-planar, bibridged pentacopper(II) oligomer. The oligomers are aggregated into crosshatched layers that defy traditional notions and notations for quasi-planar oligomer stacking. The regularly arranged voids in the layers are occupied by inversion-related organic cation pairs similar to eggs in an egg-tray. The cross-hatched layer structure arises from a particular stacking of mixed organic cation/pentacopper oligomer sheets. The sheets consist of oligomers placed in a herringbone arrangement separated by zipper-like ribbons of organic cations in a structural motif similar to that found in other 1,2,3- or 1,2,6-trimethylpyridinium halidocuprate(II) structures. Alternative stacking of the sheets leads, on the other hand, to a conventional stacking pattern that conforms to traditional stacking descriptions. Interpretation of these structures in terms of the stacking of mixed cation/anion sheets, as is often performed for ABX3 systems, provides a complementary method for understanding these structures as well as providing a means to describe systems that are not easily described by traditional stacking notation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop a novel machine learning algorithm capable of predicting TKA implant sizes using a large, multicenter database.Methods: A consecutive series of primary TKA patients from two independent large academic and three community medical centers between 2012 and 2020 was identified. The primary outcomes were final tibial and femoral implant sizes obtained from an automated inventory system. Five machine learning algorithms were trained using six routinely collected preoperative features (age, sex, height, weight, and body mass index). Algorithms were validated on an independent set of patients and evaluated through accuracy, mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean-squared error (RMSE).Results: A total of 11,777 patients were included. The support vector machine (SVM) algorithm had the best performance for femoral component size(MAE = 0.73, RMSE = 1.06) with accuracies of 42.2%, 88.3%, and 97.6% for predicting exact size, ± one size, and ± two sizes, respectively. The elastic-net penalized linear regression (ENPLR) algorithm had the best performance for tibial component size (MAE 0.70, RMSE = 1.03) with accuracies of 43.8%, 90.0%, and 97.7% for predicting exact size, ± one size, and ± two sizes, respectively.Conclusion: Machine learning algorithms demonstrated good-to-excellent accuracy for predicting within one size of the final tibial and femoral components used for TKA. Patient height and sex were the most important factors for predicting femoral and tibial component size, respectively. External validation of these algorithms is imperative prior to use in clinical settings.Level Of Evidence: Case-control, III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]