OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to compare inter-fragmentary compression pressures after fixation of a simulated type II odontoid fracture with the headless compression Herbert screw and a half threaded cannulated lag screw. METHODS: We compared inter-fragmentary compression pressures between 40- and 45-mm long 4.5-mm Herbert screws (n=8 and n=9, respectively) and 40- and 45-mm long 4.0-mm cannulated lag screws (n=7 and n=10, respectively) after insertion into rigid polyurethane foam test blocks (Sawbones, Vashon, WA, USA). A washer load cell was placed between the two segments of test blocks to measure the compression force. Because the total length of each foam block was 42 mm, the 40-mm screws were embedded in the cancellous foam, while the 45-mm screws penetrated the denser cortical foam at the bottom. This enabled us to compare inter-fragmentary compression pressures as they are affected by the penetration of the apical dens tip by the screws. RESULTS: The mean compression pressures of the 40- and 45-mm long cannulated lag screws were 50.48±1.20 N and 53.88±1.02 N, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p=0.0551). The mean compression pressures of the 40-mm long Herbert screw was 52.82±2.17 N, and was not statistically significant compared with the 40-mm long cannulated lag screw (p=0.3679). However, 45-mm Herbert screw had significantly higher mean compression pressure (60.68±2.03 N) than both the 45-mm cannulated lag screw and the 40-mm Herbert screw (p=0.0049 and p=0.0246, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that inter-fragmentary compression pressures of the Herbert screw were significantly increased when the screw tip penetrated the opposite dens cortical foam. This can support the generally recommended surgical technique that, in order to facilitate maximal reduction of the fracture gap using anterior odontoid screws, it is essential to penetrate the apical dens tip with the screw.
Polyurethanes

No abstract available.
Polyurethanes* ; Transplants*

OBJECTIVE: Small orthodontic mini-implants are useful as anchorage. However they have some weaknesses such as loosening. This study was carried out to analyze the mechanical effects of the dual pitch and diameter on the insertion and removal torque of mini-implants. METHODS: The threads of mini-implants were mono and dual pitch. The diameters of mini-implants were 1.4 mm and 1.6 mm. Four groups were tested (mono 1.4 mm, mono 1.6 mm, dual 1.4 mm and dual 1.6 mm). All were inserted and removed on polyurethane foam with the torques being measured. RESULTS: The maximum torque of the dual pitch groups was higher than the mono pitch groups during removal but lower during insertion. The maximum torque of the 1.6 mm diameter groups was higher than the 1.4 mm diameter groups during insertion and removal. The dual pitch 1.4 mm group showed the lowest insertion torque but had similar or superior levels of removal torque to that of the mono pitch 1.6 mm group. CONCLUSIONS: The dual pitch especially showed a continuous high removal torque after the peak. Despite the small diameter, the dual pitch might improve the initial mechanical stability.
Polyurethanes ; Torque*

Orthodontic mini-implants, despite its usefulness as anchorage, have some limits such as loosening. Therefore, various shapes and lengths have been studied. The aim of this study is to analyze the shape and length of mini-implants mechanically. The shapes of mini-implants (1.6 mm, Dual Top, Jeil Medical Co., Seoul, Korea) were cylindrical and taper. The lengths of mini-implants were 6 mm and 8 mm. The tested groups were 5 groups (cylindrical 6 mm, cylindrical 8 mm, taper 6 mm, taper 8 mm and taper 8 mm modified whose thread is reduced from the middle to upper part). All were inserted and removed on the polyurethane foam with the torque measured. During insertion and removal, the taper shape needed higher torque than the cylindrical shape, and the 8 mm length than the 6 mm length (p < 0.001). The taper 6 mm group showed superior insertion torque (p < 0.001) and similar removal torque to the cylindrical 8 mm group. The taper 8 mm modified group with gradually reduced threads, showed continuous high removal torque after the peak. The initial mechanical stability can be provided by the tapered shape and also, affected by length and thread design.
Polyurethanes ; Seoul ; Torque

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy and precision of polyurethane (PUT) dental arch models fabricated using a three-dimensional (3D) subtractive rapid prototyping (RP) method with an intraoral scanning technique by comparing linear measurements obtained from PUT models and conventional plaster models. METHODS: Ten plaster models were duplicated using a selected standard master model and conventional impression, and 10 PUT models were duplicated using the 3D subtractive RP technique with an oral scanner. Six linear measurements were evaluated in terms of x, y, and z-axes using a non-contact white light scanner. Accuracy was assessed using mean differences between two measurements, and precision was examined using four quantitative methods and the Bland-Altman graphical method. Repeatability was evaluated in terms of intra-examiner variability, and reproducibility was assessed in terms of inter-examiner and inter-method variability. RESULTS: The mean difference between plaster models and PUT models ranged from 0.07 mm to 0.33 mm. Relative measurement errors ranged from 2.2% to 7.6% and intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.93 to 0.96, when comparing plaster models and PUT models. The Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy and precision of PUT dental models for evaluating the performance of oral scanner and subtractive RP technology was acceptable. Because of the recent improvements in block material and computerized numeric control milling machines, the subtractive RP method may be a good choice for dental arch models.
Dental Arch* ; Dental Models ; Polyurethanes*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different pilot-drilling methods on the biomechanical stability of self-tapping mini-implant systems at the time of placement in and removal from artificial bone blocks. METHODS: Two types of artificial bone blocks (2-mm and 4-mm, 102-pounds per cubic foot [102-PCF] polyurethane foam layered over 100-mm, 40-PCF polyurethane foam) were custom-fabricated. Eight mini-implants were placed using the conventional motor-driven pilot-drilling method and another 8 mini-implants were placed using a novel manual pilot-drilling method (using a manual drill) within each of the 2-mm and 4-mm layered blocks. The maximum torque values at insertion and removal of the mini-implants were measured, and the total energy was calculated. The data were statistically analyzed using linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The maximum insertion torque was similar regardless of block thickness or pilot-drilling method. Regardless of the pilot-drilling method, the maximum removal torque for the 4-mm block was statistically higher than that for the 2-mm block. For a given block, the total energy at both insertion and removal of the mini-implant for the manual pilot-drilling method were statistically higher than those for the motor-driven pilot-drilling method. Further, the total energies at removal for the 2-mm block was higher than that for the 4-mm block, but the energies at insertion were not influenced by the type of bone blocks. CONCLUSIONS: During the insertion and removal of mini-implants in artificial bone blocks, the effect of the manual pilot-drilling method on energy usage was similar to that of the conventional, motor-driven pilot-drilling method.
Foot ; Linear Models ; Polyurethanes ; Torque

Plastics are widely used in daily life. Due to poor management and disposal, about 80% of plastic wastes were buried in landfills and eventually became land and ocean waste, causing serious environmental pollution. Recycling plastics is a desirable approach, but not applicable for most of the plastic waste. Microbial degradation offers an environmentally friendly way to degrade the plastic wastes, and this review summarizes the potential microbes, enzymes, and the underpinning mechanisms for degrading six most commonly used plastics including polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polystyrene and polyurethane. The challenges and future perspectives on microbial degradation of plastics were proposed.
Biodegradation, Environmental ; Plastics ; Polyurethanes ; Recycling

Biodegradation of polyurethane (PUR) pollutants by microorganisms has received widespread attention currently. Identification of microorganisms capable of efficiently degrading PUR plastics is a key point. In this study, a strain P10 capable of degrading PUR was isolated from the plastic wastes, and identified as a bacterium belonging to the genus of Brevibacillus based on colony morphology and 16S rDNA phylogenetic analysis. Brevibacillus sp. P10 was capable of degrading 71.4% of waterborne polyurethane (Impranil DLN) after 6 days growth in MSM medium with DLN as a sole carbon source. In addition, strain P10 can use commercial PUR foam as the sole carbon source for growth. Brevibacillus sp. P10 can degrade 50 mg PUR foam after 6 days growth in MSM medium supplemented with 5% (V/V) LB after optimization of degradation conditions. This indicates that Brevibacillus sp. P10 has potential to be used in biodegradation of PUR waste.
Bacteria ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Phylogeny ; Polyurethanes

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of coating material in RF coil, which is one of main parts in MRI machine, on the Q-factor and SNR(signal-to-noise ratio) in MR images. MATERIALS AND METHODS: RF coils with inner diameter of 1.7 mm were made by using copper wires coated with polyester, polyurethane, polyimide, polyamideimide, and polyester-imide, and by using copper wires in which coating materials had been removed. Q-factors of the RF coils were measured by network analyzer, and SNR values in the spin-echo MR images obtained by 600 MHz (14.1 T, Bruker DMX600) micro-imaging system for the coated and uncoated cases. RESULTS: The measured SNRs were almost same for the RF coils with coat-removed copper wires, however SNRs and Q-factors were different for the coated cases depending on the coating material. They were maximized in the polyurethane-coated case in which the SNR was >30% greater than polyester-coated case. CONCLUSION: We made solenoid-type RF coils which were easily used for MR micro-imaging in Bruker MRI probe. There was a significant coating-material dependence in the measured Q values and SNRs for the home-made RF coils. The study demonstrated that the choice of coating material of RF coil may be a critical factor in the MRI sensitivity based on SNR value.
Copper ; Polyesters ; Polyurethanes ; Signal-To-Noise Ratio

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the passivity of implant superstructures by assessing the strain development around the internal tapered connection implants with strain gauges. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A polyurethane resin block in which two implants were embedded served as a measurement model. Two groups of implant restorations utilized cement-retained design and internal surface of the first group was adjusted until premature contact between the restoration and the abutment completely disappeared. In the second group, only nodules detectable to the naked eye were removed. The third group employed screw-retained design and specimens were generated by computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing system (n=10). Four strain gauges were fixed on the measurement model mesially and distally to the implants. The strains developed in each strain gauge were recorded during fixation of specimens. To compare the difference among groups, repeated measures 2-factor analysis was performed at a level of significance of alpha=.05. RESULTS: The absolute strain values were measured to analyze the magnitude of strain. The mean absolute strain value ranged from 29.53 to 412.94 microm/m at the different strain gauge locations. According to the result of overall comparison, the cement-retained prosthesis groups exhibited significant difference. No significant difference was detected between milled screw-retained prostheses group and cement-retained prosthesis groups. CONCLUSION: Within the limitations of the study, it was concluded that the cement-retained designs do not always exhibit lower levels of stress than screw-retained designs. The internal adjustment of a cement-retained implant restoration is essential to achieve passive fit.
Eye ; Polyurethanes ; Prostheses and Implants ; Sprains and Strains