BackgroundTo compare the clinical outcomes between the use of a distal clavicular locking plate alone and the combined use of a plate and a coracoclavicular suture anchor in the treatment of Neer IIb distal clavicle fractures and to discuss the application procedure of suture anchors.MethodsThis is a retrospective study. Thirty-four patients with unilateral Neer IIb distal clavicle fractures who underwent open reduction and internal fixation with a distal clavicular locking plate only (16 patients) or with both a plate and a coracoclavicular suture anchor (18 patients) were evaluated. The main observation data included the Constant-Murley Shoulder Function Score (CMS), rate of postoperative complications, and union time.ResultsThe distal clavicular locking plate and coracoclavicular suture anchor combination group had better outcomes in the Constant-Murley score (94.6 ± 4.5 vs. 90.1 ± 9.5) (P < 0.05) and a shorter union time (13.9 ± 2.3 vs. 16.1 ± 3.0) (P < 0.05) than the locking plate only group did, and the rate of complications showed no significant difference, 16.7% vs. 31.2% (5/16) (P>0.05).ConclusionsBoth methods achieved good results in the treatment of Neer IIb distal clavicle fractures; however, the use of both locking plates and coracoclavicular suture anchors can provide more stability in the early stage after operation than can the use of locking plates alone, which can make the sped of union quicker and result in better clinical outcomes. For elderly patients with comminuted Neer IIb distal clavicle fractures, a locking plate combined with a suture anchor is recommended to provide more stability in the early stage after the operation.

Strengthening of glass sheets through the process of ion exchange have been widely used in thinner cover glass for smart phone. The compressive stress improves the ability of the glass surface to withstand damage from mechanical impact. However, the presence of the damage resistant layer makes conventional mechanical and laser cutting of the ion-exchanged glass difficult. Normally, the cutting process will lead to spontaneous glass sheet breakage or shattering. Even successful in some samples, the underlying central tension is exposed on the edge, and the mechanical strength and durability of this edge is degraded. The repair of edge cracks becomes an extremely important issue for the development of single glass based smart phone. The ion exchanged glass plates (Corning IOX-FS) with a thickness of 0.7 mm were selected as the substrate materials. After cutting ion exchanged glass by high penetration diamond scribing wheels, the edge of glass plates can be protected or strengthened with silica sol using roll coating process. It was observed that the strength could be improved achieving 210 % compared to the strength of uncoated glass sheets. The sol-gel coating could improve the strength of the glass mainly by the mechanisms of filling in edge flaws or blunting crack tips. The effects of silica sol and processing parameters of roll coating process on the cracks filling effects were investigated.

Dip coating is widely applied in industries for coating a solid substrate with a fluid because of its simplicity and applicability to substrates with different shapes. An experimental study was reported with dip coater on the film coating of solid plates by withdrawal from a tank filled with silicone oil fluids or polyacrylic acid (PAA) solutions with different rheological properties, the liquid film thickness deposited on the plate substrate was measured using capacitance method, and the evolution of free surface morphology was recorded with photographs. The purpose was to investigate the effects of plate substrate roughness, withdrawal speed, rest time, and fluid viscosity on the liquid film thickness and free surface morphology in detail. Results showed that the increases in coating fluid viscosity, withdrawal speed, and substrate roughness are beneficial to film thickening. The influence of rest time on liquid film thickness could be neglected when it was greater than 3 min. For silicone oil fluids, the free surface exhibited a depression, which gradually deepened, with the increasing in withdrawal speed and viscosities. By contrast, PAA solutions showed a bump on the free surface, exhibiting a curvature that increased with the increasing in withdrawal speed and concentrations.

Cement concrete of airport pavement can be crushed into aggregates for recycle using, and the performance and utilizations of the recycled aggregates were discussed and researched herein. Sieve analysis indicated that the concrete should be crushed many times till the percentage of critical size (31.5mm) can satisfy the gradation requirements. Due to loss of crystal water, the density and water absorption of recycled aggregates were different from the natural ones, so that an empirical corretion equation was addressed subsequently. When the recycled aggregates used in the stablized base, theres no avilable method could yield the optimum water content, therefore a series of compaction and compression tests were employed to set up a modified design method. The results indicated the shrinkage property of recycled aggregates were susceptible to the moisture, either the skeleton-dense material structure and limiting the fine aggregates content were possible ways to eliminate the sensitivity. 7-day unconfined compressive strength results proved the recycled aggregates were suitble for the base course of heavy duty highways and airfield in grade E/F as well.

Background: The p rosthetic trochlear design is important in postoperative patellofemoral kinematics and knee function. However, little research has been conducted on the differences in trochlear groove between native and prosthetic knees. We aimed to investigate the differences between Chinese native knees and prosthetic knees of five different femoral component designs using three-dimensional computerized quantification Of the entire trochlear length. Methods: Virtual total knee arthroplasty was performed using three-dimensional models of 42 healthy Chinese knees matched to the femoral components of five different prosthe tic systems by mechanical alignment . T he deepest points of the trochlear groove were marked in multiple cross sections for both the native and prosthetic knees . Taking the lower extremity mechanical axis as reference line, the differences in the mediolateral location of the trochlear groove were analyzed between the native and prosthetic knees. Results: From the proximal to the distal end, the native trochlear groove started from 0° cross section and extended laterally and then medially , with its turning point located at 69° cross section . T he prosthetic trochlear groove showed a similar medial orientation and extended more proximally, but varied in mediolateral location and the length extending to the intercondylar notch . Compared with the proximal portion of the native trochlear groove , the prosthetic knee s extended along a paradoxical orientation and started from a more proximal and lateral position to 3.2 mm in the 0° cross section , with maximal discrepancy. Distally, the prosthetic trochlear groove s were located significantly medial to 2.4 mm in the 69° cross section , with maximal discrepancy. Conclusion: The prosthetic trochlear design varie d among the different types and did not conform to the native knee in terms of shape, orientation, and location, which may cause soft tissue tension imbalance and abnormal patellofemoral biomechanics during knee flexion. This study may provide useful information for creating prosthetic trochlear design s that conform with the native knee anatomy to optimize patellofemoral biomechanics and reduce the risk of patellofemoral complications.