Preparation and characterization of nitinol bone staples for cranio-maxillofacial surgery

The aim of this work was to form NiTi and TiNiCo body temperature activated and superelastic staples for clinical joining of mandible and face bone fractures. The alloys were obtained by VIM technique. Hot and cold processing was applied to obtain wires of required diameters. The martensitic transformation was studied by DSC, XRD, and TEM. The shape memory effects were measured by a bend and free recovery ASTM F2082-06 test. The superelasticity was recorded in the tension stress-strain and by the three-point bending cycles in an instrument equipped with a Hottinger force transducer and LVDT. Excellent superelastic behavior of TiNiCo wires was obtained after cold working and annealing at 400-500 C. The body temperature activated shape memory staples were applied for fixation of mandibular condyle fractures. In experiments on the skull models, fixation of the facial fractures by using shape memory and superelastic staples were compared. The superelastic staples were used in osteosynthesis of zygomatico-maxillo-orbital fractures

Archival data on wild food plants used in Poland in 1948

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 1948, Professor Józef Gajek initiated a detailed census of the wild edible plants used in Poland. The questionnaires were collected by correspondents of the Polish Folklore Society in 95 localities throughout Poland. A major part of these archival materials, including a substantial collection of herbarium specimens, had not undergone thorough analysis prior to this study, which presents a quantitative analysis of this archival set of data.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Herbarium specimens were identified and a database was created.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ninety-eight taxa identified to genus or species level, including 71 botanical species, identified using herbarium specimens, were found. On average only 11 edible plant species per locality were listed, the longest list included 39 species. No correlation between latitude and the number of edible species was found, whereas there was small but significant correlation with the longitude. Fruits were the most frequently collected part of plants. Most plants were primarily collected by women and children. Children both helped parents to collect wild fruits and also ate many species raw, which were not consumed by adults, but had often been eaten in the past. Eighteen of the taxa had not been reported in a recent comprehensive review of edible plants of Poland. <it>Stratiotes aloides</it>, used as a famine vegetable in the Łódź region, has never been reported as edible in any ethnobotanical literature.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results undermine the conclusions of a recent comprehensive review of edible plants of Poland, which stated that many more wild edible plants have been collected in the Carpathians than in lowland Poland. However such results were shown to be caused by the substantially larger number of ethnographic studies undertaken in the Carpathians. In fact, large numbers of edible plant species were collected in the mid-20^thcentury in a few regions, particularly along the eastern border, in the Carpathians and in communities originating from the expanded Soviet Union, which had been resettled to the north-west of Poland in 1945.</p

Wild vascular plants gathered for consumption in the Polish countryside: a review

BACKGROUND: This paper is an ethnobotanical review of wild edible plants gathered for consumption from the end of the 18(th )century to the present day, within the present borders of Poland. METHODS: 42 ethnographic and botanical sources documenting the culinary use of wild plants were analyzed. RESULTS: The use of 112 species (3.7% of the flora) has been recorded. Only half of them have been used since the 1960s. Three species: Cirsium rivulare, Euphorbia peplus and Scirpus sylvaticus have never before been reported as edible by ethnobotanical literature. The list of wild edible plants which are still commonly gathered includes only two green vegetables (Rumex acetosa leaves for soups and Oxalis acetosella as children's snack), 15 folk species of fruits and seeds (Crataegus spp., Corylus avellana, Fagus sylvatica, Fragaria vesca, Malus domestica, Prunus spinosa, Pyrus spp., Rosa canina, Rubus idaeus, Rubus sect. Rubus, Sambucus nigra, Vaccinium myrtillus, V. oxycoccos, V. uliginosum, V. vitis-idaea) and four taxa used for seasoning or as preservatives (Armoracia rusticana root and leaves, Carum carvi seeds, Juniperus communis pseudo-fruits and Quercus spp. leaves). The use of other species is either forgotten or very rare. In the past, several species were used for food in times of scarcity, most commonly Chenopodium album, Urtica dioica, U. urens, Elymus repens, Oxalis acetosella and Cirsium spp., but now the use of wild plants is mainly restricted to raw consumption or making juices, jams, wines and other preserves. The history of the gradual disappearance of the original barszcz, Heracleum sphondylium soup, from Polish cuisine has been researched in detail and two, previously unpublished, instances of its use in the 20(th )century have been found in the Carpathians. An increase in the culinary use of some wild plants due to media publications can be observed. CONCLUSION: Poland can be characterized as a country where the traditions of culinary use of wild plants became impoverished very early, compared to some parts of southern Europe. The present use of wild plants, even among the oldest generation, has been almost entirely restricted to fruits

Island, insularity, islandness. Reflections on ambiguity of terms

Wyspy są akceptowane jako laboratoria procesów przyrodniczych. Biolodzy umówili się, że małe, izolowane obiekty otoczone wodą to wyspy. W naukach społecznych brak jasnej definicji „wyspy” utrudnia wnioskowanie i uruchamia wyobraźnię. Czy wyspy istnieją? A może są źle zdefiniowane? A może źródłem „wyspy” nie jest wyspiarskość, czyli otoczenia przez wodę, lecz izolacja? Wówczas, jako „wyspy” można traktować także – oazy, kotliny, a może i łąki, polany śródleśne lub inne „wyspy w krajobrazie”. Takie interpretowanie pojęcia „wyspa” jest ryzykowne. Świat mógłby bowiem składać się tylko z wysp różnej wielkości. Lepiej więc rozróżnić pojęcia pochodne od słowa „wyspa”. Francuzi rozróżniają „insularité” od „insularisme”. Polacy – „wyspiarskość” i „wyspowość”. I wyspiarskość, i wyspowość to efekt istnienia bariery. Jeśli wyspa istnieje, to wyspiarskość jest jej cechą. Wyspowość to cecha „nie wyspy”, taka, która na wyspach jest powszechna i charakterystyczna, czyli wynikająca z izolacji.Islands are accepted as laboratories of natural processes. For the biologists islands are small and isolated – surrounded by waters. For social scientists lack of a clear definition of “island” makes it difficult to draw conclusions. Do islands exist? Or they are ill-defined? Or maybe the insularity means not to be surrounded by waters, but to be isolated? If so, “island” may be oasis, valleys, even meadows, forest clearings or other “islands in the landscape”. Such a wide interpretation of the term “island” seems risky. The world would be built nearly exclusively from islands of various sizes. It may seem reasonable to draw a distinction between the terms derivative to the “island”. As do the French: “insularité” and “insularisme”, or the Polish “wyspiarskość” and “wyspowość”. Both: insularity and “islandness” are a result of existing barrier. If an island exists, the insularity would be its distinctive feature. “Islandness” is not a feature of an island itself, but is a feature that results from isolation

Perspektywy rozwoju geoturystyki w kamieniołomie Gorce I

Subject and purpose of work: The purpose of the study is to present the perspectives of geotourism development in the porphyry quarry Gorce I, which is situated in the Wałbrzyskie mountains. Currently the exploitation of this quarry is suspended. Materials and methods: This work was written after studying the literature on this subject and conducting field research, during which terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was used, among others. The material gathered during field research was used, among other things, to create a 3D model of the Gorce I quarry. Results: The research and analyses conducted in the porphyry quarry Gorce I allowed for designating a geotourist trail where information boards were placed. Conclusions: The research conducted in the Gorce I quarry confirms the possibility of utilizing this excavation pit for geotourism purposes.Przedmiot i cel pracy: Celem pracy jest przedstawienie perspektyw rozwoju geoturystyki w kamieniołomie porfirów Gorce I, który położony jest w Górach Wałbrzyskich. Obecnie eksploatacja w nim jest wstrzymana. Materiały i metody: Praca została napisana dzięki studiom literatury przedmiotu oraz przeprowadzonym badaniom terenowym, podczas których wykorzystano między innymi naziemny skaning laserowy (TLS). Zgromadzony materiał podczas badań terenowych, posłużył, między innymi, do wykonania modelu 3D kamieniołomu Gorce I. Wyniki: Przeprowadzone badania i wykonane analizy w kamieniołomie porfirów Gorce I pozwoliły na wyznaczenie ścieżki geoturystycznej, na której zlokalizowano tablice informacyjne. Wnioski: Przeprowadzone badania w kamieniołomie Gorce I potwierdzają możliwość wykorzystania tego wyrobiska dla potrzeb geoturystyki

Characterisation of Oxide Coatings Produced on Aluminum Alloys by MAO and Chemical Methods

The study compared the properties of oxide coatings formed on aluminium alloys produced by: MAO (micro – arc oxidation), and the chemical method (oxidation in acid). Morphology, microstructure and of the coatings was analysed with a scanning electron microscope SEM. Corrosion resistance were tested in potentiometer – dynamic. The layers produced by MAO significantly improved corrosion resistance. Coatings produced after 3 minutes of oxidation had better corrosion resistance than the coatings after 5 minutes of oxidation. The layers produced by chemical method didn’t improve corrosion resistance of aluminium alloy

Modeling of bone shavings used as bone graft in mandibular reconstruction

Celem pracy była próba zamodelowania wiórów kostnych stosowanych jako przeszczepy w rekonstrukcji żuchwy. Przeprowadzono analizy wytrzymałościowe metodą elementów skończonych MES modeli zrekonstruowanej żuchwy przy obciążeniu na zęby przednie oraz boczne siłą sumaryczną równą 100N. Przypadki analizowane były ze względu na udział objętościowy wiórów kostnych w przeszczepie oraz wielkość elementu użytego do symulacji. Praca stanowi pierwszy etap badań mających na celu opracowanie sposobu modelowania zrostu i odtworzenia układu żuchwa-przeszczep z użyciem różnych materiałów rekonstrukcyjnych.The aim of this study was to model the bone shavings which are used as grafts for reconstruction of the mandible. FEA finite element analyses were provided using models reconstructed mandible with a load on the teeth front and side force equal to the total 100N. Cases were analyzed due to the volume fraction of the graft bone shavings and the size of the element used for analysis. Work is an introduction to further research aimed at improving knowledge and understanding of the process of healing the graft

Computer assessment of correctness of mandiblar bones fracture slit integration based on pantomographic radiograms

The method of objective assessment of the correctness mandible bones fracture slit was proposed in the research. At present, treatment results are evaluated by comparing pantomographic pictures made before and after integration. It is not an objective method; the estimation of the integration correctness coefficient is not possible, either. The use of computer processing enables introducing the relative mandible faction dislocation coefficient. Thanks to this, measurable determination of bone faction reposition correctness on pantomograms made after osteosynthesis is possible

Mandibular reconstruction : biomechanical strength analysis (FEM) based on a retrospective clinical analysis of selected patients

Restoration of mandible discontinuity defects continues as a challenge for maxillofacial surgeons. Despite the development of algorithms for reconstruction plates fixation and autogenous grafting techniques, complications are still encountered including screw loosening, bone resorption or delayed/incomplete union. The aim of the study was to analyze the possibility of obtaining bone union in the aspect of biomechanical conditions of two mandible reconstructions using an autogenous iliac crest bone graft stabilized with a reconstruction plate, and to attempt to predict patient outcomes based on strength parameters obtained by the finite element analysis. The authors of the present paper were trying to determine to what extent the reconstruction model and changes occurring in hard tissues of the bone and autogenous graft (simulated by changes in material properties) might help predict individual patient courses. The effort of reconstruction plates was defined using the values of the von Mises stress (σHMH) while the effort of bones was determined based on the values of strain intensity εint. The results of the above mentioned simulations are presented in the form of bar graphs and strain/stress distribution maps. Our strength analyses indicate that uncomplicated healing of grafts fixed with reconstruction plates requires that the initial loading of the stomatognatic system should not result in strain intensity exceeding 20–40 [×10–4]. This range of strain intensity evokes an increase in the mineral phase. The state of nonunion between the mandibular bone and the graft might result from prolonged periods of insufficient loading of the mandible during treatment