Forces and moments delivered by a straight wire connecting two orthodontic brackets are statically indeterminate and cannot be estimated using the classical equations of static equilibrium. To identify the mechanics of such two-bracket systems, Burstone and Koenig used the principles of linear beam theory to estimate the resulting force systems. In the original publication, however, it remains unclear how the force systems were calculated because no reference or computational details on the underlying principles have been provided. Using the moment carry-over principle and the relative angulation of the brackets, a formula was derived to calculate the relative moments of the two brackets.Because of the moment equilibrium, the vertical forces that exist as a forcecouple on the two brackets can also be calculated. The accuracy of the proposed approach can be validated using previously published empirical data.

Rotator cuff tears continue to be at risk of retear or failure to heal after surgical repair, despite the use of various surgical techniques, which stimulate development of novel scaffolding strategies. They should be able to address the known causes of failure after the conventional rotator cuff repair: (1) failure to reproduce the normal tendon healing process, (2) resultant failure to reproduce four zones of the enthesis, and (3) failure to attain sufficient mechanical strength after repair. Nanofiber scaffolds are suited for this application because they can be engineered to mimic the ultrastructure and properties of the native rotator cuff tendon. Among various methods for tissue-engineered nanofibers, electrospinning has recently been highlighted in the rotator cuff field.Electrospinning can create fibrous and porous structures that resemble natural tendon’s extracellular matrix. Other advantages include the ability to create relatively large surface-to-volume ratios, the ability to control fiber size from the micro to the nano scale, and the flexibility of material choices. In this review, we will discuss the anatomical and mechanical features of the rotator cuff tendon, their potential impacts on improper healing after repair, and the current knowledge of the use of electrospinning for rotator cuff tissue engineering.