Implantable PEKK/tantalum microparticles composite with improved surface performances for regulating cell behaviors,promoting bone formation and osseointegration

Polyetherketoneketone(PEKK)exhibits admirable biocompatibility and mechanical performances but bioinert while tantalum(Ta)possesses excellent osteogenesis and osseointegration but high elastic modulus and density,and processing is too difficult and expensive.In the present study,combining of the advantages of both PEKK and Ta,implantable composites of PEKK/Ta were fabricated by blending PEKK with Ta microparticles of 20 v%(PT20)and 40 v%(PT40)content.In comparison with PT20 and PEKK,the surface hydrophilicity,surface energy,roughness and proteins adsorption as well as mechanical performances of PT40 significantly increased because of the higher Ta particles content in PEKK.Furthermore,PT40 exhibited the mechanical performances(e.g.,compressive strength and modulus of elasticity)close to the cortical bone of human.Compared with PT20 and PEKK,PT40 with higher Ta content remarkably enhanced the responses(including adhesion,proliferation and osteogenic differentiation)of MC3T3-E1 cells in vitro.Moreover,PT40 markedly improved bone formation as well as osseointegration in vivo.In short,incorporation of Ta microparticles into PEKK created implantable composites with improved surface performances,which played key roles in stimulating cell responses/bone formation as well as promoting osseointegration.PT40 might have great potential for bear-loading bone substitute.

Flight performance and wing morphology in the bat Carollia perspicillata:biophysical models and energetics

Studies on functional performance are important to understand the processes responsible for the evolution of diversity.Morphological trait variation within species influences the energetic cost of locomotion and impacts life history traits,with ecological and evolutionary consequences.This study examined wing morphology correlates of flight performance measured by energetic expenditure in the Seba’s short-tailed bat,Carollia perspicillata.In the flight experiments,nature caught bats(59 females,57 males)were allowed to fly for 3 min in a room.After each flight,thermographic images were taken to measure body temperature,and biophysical models were used to calculate sensible heat loss as a measure of energetic expenditure.Wing morphological traits were measured for each individual and associated with heat loss and power required to fly on performance surfaces.Wing morphological traits explained 7-10%of flight energetic cost,and morphologies with the best performance would save the energy equivalent to 9-30%of total daily requirements.The optimal performance areas within the C.perspicillata morphospace were consistent with predicted selection trends from the literature.A trade-off between demands for flight speed and maneuverability was observed.Wing loading and camber presented sexual dimorphism.These morphological differences are likely associated with more economical but less maneuverable flight in females,leading them to fly more often in open areas along the forest edge.Our findings demonstrate how small scale changes in wing morphology can affect life history strategies and fitness.

Investigation of HDD Ramp Unloading Processes with an Efficient Scheme

Ramp load/unload(L/UL)mechanisms are widely used to rest sliders in hard disk drives(HDDs).Loading/unloading a slider swiftly and smoothly is crucial in a HDD design.A novel,efficient simulation scheme is proposed to investigate the behaviors of a head disk interface(HDI)in ramp unloading processes.A dual scale model is enabled by decoupling the nano-meter scale change of an air bearing and the micro-or milli-meter scale deformation of a suspension.A modified Reynolds equation governing the air bearing was solved numerically.The slider design was characterized with performance functions.Three stages in an unloading process were analyzed with a lumped parameter suspension model.Key parameters for the model were estimated with a comprehensive finite element suspension model.Finally,simulation results are presented for a commercial HDI design.