Repetitive Fracture Research Articles

Physical Therapy Strategies for Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) is known to affect about 1/15,000–20,000 individuals in the world [1]. OI is rare congenital disorder characterised by bone fragility. Mutation in collagen related genes results in deficiency of collagen, which forms the bone matrix. This can result in fractures, deformities of the spine, and effects on other organs. A child's perception of pain can be influenced by a variety of circumstances, including repetitive fractures, bone deformities, muscle atrophy, mobility issues, and psychological concerns. Based on clinical characteristics and the course of the disease, OI subtypes are categorised; types I, II, III, and IV. OI Type I is considered the mildest form of the condition, with normal growth patterns and a low incidence of fractures during the perinatal period. Type II OI is more severe and causes death during the prenatal period. In contrast, OI Type III is a more serious presentation of the disorder. People with type III OI have significant bone deformities, and have fractures often even after birth. The most clinically heterogeneous type of OI is Type IV, with members displaying mild to severe symptoms. OI is diagnosed by using ultrasonography, radiography, bone densitometry, and serum electrolytes(calcium and phosphorous). Bone and skin biopsy also helps in diagnosis by studying collagen tissue. Individual differences in treatment response and outcome are due to genetic complexity in each kind of OI. Medicinal treatment(bisphosphonates) is the most common approach used to manage pain but these treatments' primary drawbacks include their comparatively low efficacy, their lack of benefits, the emergence of treatment resistance in certain individuals, or their cytotoxic adverse effects. The multidisciplinary approach to manage OI involves occupational therapy, physical therapy, orthotics and by other health care professionals including orthopaedic surgeon, dieticians, and speech therapists. Ongoing studies have provide new avenues for the management of OI, including medical, rehabilitation, and surgical treatments. Physical therapy maximise mobility and independence while lowering the risk of fracture and bone loss. The physiotherapists play a crucial role by providing counselling to the parents of OI infants based on disease severity and help the children with OI reach adult independence and maintain optimal musculoskeletal health. Parents are advised to handle and position the baby safely, with the ultimate goal of enabling the child to gain mobility on their own, whether that means utilising a wheelchair in the future or walking aids. Observational studies have shown evidence that supervised exercise regimes can enhance physical capacity and muscle strength.

Dispersion and Damage of Carbon Nanotubes in Carbon Nanotube/7055Al Composites During High-Energy Ball Milling Process

High-energy ball milling (HEBM) combined with powder metallurgy route was used to fabricate carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced 7055Al composites. Two powder morphology evolution processes (HEBM-1 and HEBM-2) were designed to investigate the dispersion and damage of CNTs during HEBM process. HEBM-1 evolution process involved powder flattening, cold-welding and fracture, while HEBM-2 evolution process consisted of powder flattening and fracture. For HEBM-1, the repetitive fracture and cold-welding process was effective for dispersing CNTs. However, the powder flattening process in HEBM-2 was unsuccessful in dispersing CNTs due to two reasons: (1) the thickness of flaky Al powders exceeded the critical value, and (2) the clustered CNTs embedded in flaky Al powders could not be unravelled. Because of the broadening of D band and the appearance of a new defect-related D’ band, product of ID/IG and full width half maximum of D band, rather than ID/IG, was used to evaluate the actual damage of CNTs. It indicates that the damage of CNTs was severe in powder flattening and fracture stages, while the damage of CNTs was small in powder cold-welding stage.

Exploration and development of continental tight oil in China

Based on the investigation of tight oil exploration and development in North America, the successful cases of tight oil exploration and development in North America are summarized. The geological differences between continental tight oil in China and marine tight oil in North America is analyzed to explore the technical strategies for the industrial development of continental tight oil in China. The experiences of large-scale exploration and profitable development of tight oil in North America can be taken as references from the following 6 perspectives, namely exploring new profitable strata in mature exploration areas, strengthening the economic evaluation of sweet spots and focusing on the investment for high-profitability sweet spots, optimizing the producing of tight oil reserves by means of repetitive fracturing and 3D fracturing, optimizing drilling and completion technologies to reduce the cost, adopting commodity hedging to ensure the sustainable profit, and strengthening other resources exploration to improve the profit of whole project. In light of the high abundance of tight oil in China, we can draw on successful experience from North America, four suggestions are proposed in sight of the geological setting of China's lacustrine tight oil: (1) Evaluating the potential of tight oil resources and optimizing the strategic area for tight oil exploration; (2) selecting “sweet spot zone” and “sweet spot interval” accurately for precise and high efficient development; (3) adopting advanced tight oil fracturing technology to realize economic development; (4) innovating management system to promote the large-scale profitable development of tight oil.

Osteogênese Imperfeita em cão jovem da raça pinscher

Background: Osteogenesis imperfecta is a severe genetic disease rarely described in veterinary medicine. This multisystemic condition is caused by a defect in the production and metabolization of collagen, which implicates in bone fragility. This disease has been described in cattle, sheep, domestic felines, mouse and dogs of different breeds, including collie, golden retriever, beagle, dachshund and chow chow. Animals affected by this condition present multiple fractures without previous occurrence of trauma. Therefore, this report aimed to describe a case of osteogenesis imperfecta type III in a miniature pinscher dog.Case: A 1-year-old male miniature pinscher dog, was admitted for clinical evaluation in Fortaleza, Brazil, with a history of spontaneous fractures without known causes. This animal was maintained indoors, fed on dry feed and presented recurrent events of claudication and pain. In the physical examination, the individual walked solely with the forelimbs, avoiding the use of the hind limbs and presented pain behavior. Bulging of the skull was observed laterally, which promoted a triangular appearance of head and face. Fontanelles were soft, and the eyes presented blueish sclera and corneal opacity. Teeth were small, translucid, fragile and deformed. Radiography images revealed bulging of the calvaria and persistent fontanelles with open cranial sutures. In addition, cranial convolutions were less clear, which was compatible with hydrocephalus. Dental roots were narrow, short and presented partial pulp obliteration. The radiographic contrast of the dentin was low with a reduction of periapical radiolucency. Bone radiopacity was low in the bones of the abdomen and pelvis, in addition to femur. Metaphysis of the right tibia was enlarged and angular. Multiple fractures were identified in the pelvis with the formation of opaque bony calluses and bone marrow sclerosis. Physiological parameters and blood test results were unaltered. After the diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta type III, treatment was performed with meloxicam 0.1 mg/kg, SID, VO) and tramadol (2 mg/kg, TID, VO) until pain was controlled. When the patient was stable, the treatment was halted until the next event of fractures followed by pain.Discussion: Type I collagen is considered the most abundant protein in connective tissue, accounting for 95% of the various types of collagen found in bone tissue. In osteogenesis imperfecta, there is a shortage in coding of type I collagen, which prevents this protein from exerting its structural functions properly. In addition, it is subjected to intra and extracellular degradation, affecting cell migration and differentiation and, concomitantly, cell-matrix interaction. Hence, these changes are considered the main pathophysiological factors of osteogenesis imperfecta. There is a wide range of phenotypic presentations in individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta. However, there is a pattern of fractures and features that aid clinically and radiologically in the characterization of the disease and form the basis for case identification and diagnosis. In this case, the diagnosis was concluded primarily considering significant clinical signs, such as: repetitive fractures, triangular face, bulging of the skull, bluish sclera and corneal opacity. Radiographic examinations were used to confirm the diagnosis and to aid in treating the fractures. Although the genetic test provides a better understanding of the disease, it was not performed in this case, as it is routinely unavailable in many treatment centers. In conclusion, we described a case of osteogenesis imperfecta in a miniature pinscher dog.

A clinical Study of Complete and Partial Denture Fracture at Four Hospitals in Iraq

Objective: To analyzes and determines the prevalence of type of denture fracture infour hospitals.Method: Data were collected from patients who attended prosthodontic clinics fordenture repairs at four hospitals. For each patient requiring of a fractured completeand partial denture, the variables were recorded: causes of denture fracture, thetype of fracture and the history of previous recurrent fractures.Results: Of 560 repaired denture 330 (59%) were complete dentures, 160 (30%) wereremovable partial denture, which were excluded from the study, and 70(10%) involved replacement of the teeth that had debonded from the denturebases. The ratio of upper to lower complete denture fractures was approximately2:1, most of the fractured dentures (65%) were those of males.Poor fit appeared to be the main cause of denture fracture 120 (20%), and poorocclusion was the second most common case recorded 50 (8%) .Midline fracturewas the most common type of fracture during the period of study 210(40%). Mostof fracture the fractured dentures 180 (32%) had previously been repaired once ormore.Conclusion: The total number of complete denture fractures was considerablyenhanced by repetitive fractures, which can be reduced by the application ofprosthetic principles in constructing and maintaining dentures particular during thelaboratory stages.Improvements in the processing techniques and the type of resin can reduce theincidence of denture fracture .Various polymers have been developed for use asdenture base resins to overcome some of the mechanical deficiencies ofpolymethylmethacrylate .

Improvements in nanoscale zero-valent iron production by milling through the addition of alumina

A new milling procedure for a cost-effective production of nanoscale zero-valent iron for environmental remediation is presented. Conventional ball milling of iron in an organic solvent as Mono Ethylene Glycol produces flattened iron particles that are unlikely to break even after very long milling times. With the aim of breaking down these iron flakes, in this new procedure, further milling is carried out by adding an amount of fine alumina powder to the previously milled solution. As the amount of added alumina increases from 9 to 54 g l-1, a progressive decrease of the presence of flakes is observed. In the latter case, the appearance of the particles formed by fragments of former flakes is rather homogeneous, with most of the final nanoparticles having an equivalent diameter well below 1 µm and with an average particle size in solution of around 400 nm. An additional increase of alumina content results in a highly viscous solution showing worse particle size distribution. Milled particles, in the case of alumina concentrations of 54 g l-1, have a fairly large specific surface area and high Fe(0) content. These new particles show a very good Cr(VI) removal efficiency compared with other commercial products available. This good reactivity is related to the absence of an oxide layer, the large amount of superficial irregularities generated by the repetitive fracture process during milling and the presence of a fine nanostructure within the iron nanoparticles.

The effect of structural heterogeneity on the conformation and stability of Aβ–tau mixtures

Oligomeric and fibrillar amyloids, which cause neurodegenerative diseases, are typically formed through repetitive fracture and elongation processes involving single homogeneous amyloid monomers.

Repetitive fracturing during spine extrusion at Unzen volcano, Japan

Abstract. Rhythmic seismicity associated with spine extrusion is a well-documented phenomenon at a number of dome-forming volcanic systems. At Unzen volcano, Japan, a 4-year dome-forming eruption concluded with the emplacement of a spine from October 1994 to February 1995, offering a valuable opportunity to further investigate seismogenic processes at dome-forming volcanoes. Using continuous data recorded at a seismic station located close to the dome, this study explores trends in the seismic activity during the extrusion of the spine. We identify a total of 12 208 volcano-seismic events in the period between October 1994 and February 1995. Hourly event counts indicate cyclic activity with periods of ∼ 40 to ∼ 100 h, attributed to pulsatory ascent defined by strain localisation and faulting at the conduit margins. Waveform correlation revealed two strong clusters (a.k.a. multiplets, families) which are attributed to fracturing along the margins of the shallow, ascending spine. Further analysis indicates variable seismic velocities during the spine extrusion as well as migration of the cluster sources along the spine margins. Our interpretation of the results from seismic data analyses is supported by previously published field and experimental observations, suggesting that the spine was extruded along an inclined conduit with brittle and ductile deformation occurring along the margins. We infer that changes in stress conditions acting on the upper and lower spine margins led to deepening and shallowing of the faulting sources, respectively. We demonstrate that the combination of geophysical, field and experimental evidence can help improve physical models of shallow conduit processes.

Repetitive Nonunion Fracture of the Tibia and Fibula in a Soccer Player

Repetitive Nonunion Fracture of the Tibia and Fibula in a Soccer Player

Using fracture grouting to lift structures in clayey sand

An inclined seven-story reinforced concrete building was leveled by a fracture grouting technique with quick-setting grout on a differential thickness of a clayey sand layer. The permeability and strength of clayey sand were controlled by clay content, although sand was the primary component of the foundation soil. The elevations of the building columns at basement level were closely monitored to record both the heaved volume of mat foundation after grouting and the settled volume during pore pressure dissipation. During the stabilizing stage of grouting, the foundation soil was densified by the repetitive fracturing process, which resulted in the lateral movement of the foundation soil. When the grout is less able to push soil laterally than upwards, the building starts to lift, the so-called lifting stage of grouting. The grouting efficiency is influenced by soil type, soil stress history, and foundation pressure. A final grouting efficiency of 27% and a linear relationship between grout use and percentage of elevation were obtained when this building was successfully and permanently leveled.

Hypophosphatasia may lead to bone fragility: don’t miss it

Hypophosphatasia is an inheritable disorder characterised by defective bone mineralisation due to the impaired activity of tissue-non-specific alkaline phosphatase (AP). Clinical presentation ranges from stillbirth without mineralised bone to pathological fractures in late adulthood. During childhood, the main manifestations include rickets, growth delay and dental problems. Fractures and bone pain usually characterise the adult form. A 9-year-old girl was referred for repetitive fractures after minimal trauma. She had normal growth, normal sclerae, no rickets and minimal dental abnormalities. Her sister had also presented fractures. The proband, her sister and mother had low total and bone-specific AP levels and E435K mutation in exon 12 of the liver/bone/kidney AP gene. Low AP levels must lead to genetic analysis. Bone fragility and repetitive fractures may be symptoms of hypophosphatasia in childhood, which must not be neglected. Associated factors such as vitamin D or calcium deficiency must be prevented. In conclusion, hypophosphatasia must not be forgotten as an aetiological factor of repetitive fractures or bone pain in children and AP activity should be checked accurately.

Tube Formation in Reverse Silica Gardens

The flow injection of sodium silicate solution into a large reservoir of lighter cupric sulfate solution creates single, downward growing precipitation tubes. These hollow structures have diameters in the range of 0.8−2.4 mm and can grow several centimeters in length. Four distinct growth regimes are observed, and their stability in terms of flow rate and cupric sulfate concentration is investigated. Three of these growth regimes resemble behavior reported earlier for the injection of cupric sulfate into silicate solution. However the “reverse” conditions studied here reveal one distinctly different regime in which tube growth is limited by repetitive fracturing. The lengths of the broken-off tube segments and the times between subsequent break-off events can be described by log−normal distributions.

New brittle bone disorder: Report of a family with six affected individuals

We report on a family in which four females and two males in three generations had a previously undescribed brittle bone disorder that was dominantly transmitted through a maternal line. The cardinal manifestations of the disorder comprised dolichocephaly with frontal bossing, hypoplasia of the midface, postpubertal prognathism, micromelic short stature, coarse trabeculae of the entire skeleton, and bone fragility of variable degrees. Mild spondylar modification and iliac hypoplasia were other hallmarks that were recognized in childhood. The proband, a 19-year-old male, was most severely affected with multiple wormian bones in the calvaria, repetitive fractures, intractable bowing of the legs and forearms, and pseudofractures of the long bones with metaphyseal narrowing. His male cousin was next severely affected with angular deformity restricted to the forearm. The four females were much less affected without angular deformity. The mode of inheritance was thus consistent with either an autosomal dominant trait with sex-influence or an X-linked semidominant trait. Histological bone examination in the proband showed atrophy and fibrous degeneration of the lamellar trabeculae and disorganized chondro-osseous junction, which implied that the disorder involved both intramembranous and enchondral ossifications.

Investigation into the fractal scaling of the structure and strength of soil aggregates

The hierarchical nature of soil structure is examined by measuring the physical properties of a range of aggregate sizes obtained using repetitive fracture. Fractals are used to assess the change with aggregate size of the specific volume, the proportion of pre‐existing cracks which link to form the aggregate failure surface, and the aggregate failure stress. The pore size distribution, evaluated using mercury porosimetry and the application of the box counting algorithm to thin sections and thick sections, is also used to obtain a fractal dimension, D. Our results show that D depends upon the measurement approach for mass fractal scaling. This finding may limit the application of fractals to predict the scaling behaviour of soil physical properties.

Approximate calculation of specific fracture energies for grinding

Equations are developed which relate the strain energy required to fracture single spheres to the repetitive fracture processes occurring in industrial mills as expressed by the mass-rate equations for simulation of mill behavior. A logical problem exists in applying the equations because the specific grinding energy can become infinity if the variation of specific rates of breakage with particle size is extrapolated to very fine sizes. This problem is overcome by operating the mill simulation in closed circuit with ideal classification at high circulating loads to remove fine material from the mill charge. This is illustrated by using the closed analytical solution resulting from a simple approximate solution to the grinding equation. Using literature values for fracture energy of quartz obtained from compression tests, as a function of particle size, the approximate calculation indicates the specific fracture energy to be between one to two orders of magnitude less than the actual grinding energy.

Distribution of fragment size in repetitive fracture of brittle solids

The theory of Gilvarry for the distribution of fragment size in single fracture of a brittle solid is extended to the case of repetitive fracture. Results agree with empirical relations for the effect of a mill. Astrophysical applications are noted.