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Home » CUs begin recovery process even as Harvey continues
CUs begin recovery process even as Harvey continues
CUAid activated
Two people walk down a flooded section of Interstate 610 in floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey on Sunday, Aug. 27, in Houston. (Source: AP)
Southeastern Texas credit unions have begun the long process of recovery even Tropical Storm Harvey continues to batter the region.
The Cornerstone Credit Union League reported roughly 50 credit union closings--and numerous additional branch closings--in southeastern Texas as of late Monday morning.
"We're in fairly constant contact with our credit unions in the gulf area," said Jon Gorman, senior vice president of communications and outreach of the Cornerstone Credit Union League. "We're continually reassessing what is going on down there, and have a disaster response team in place and actively delivering support the credit unions affected by this disaster."
Gorman said travel is the one of the biggest issues for many credit union employees with regard to assessing Harvey's impact on credit union operations. "Anecdotally, we've heard employees can't get to their credit unions because of the flooding, or they can't get out of their neighborhoods because of the flooding."
Gorman said the league's charitable foundation, the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation, will take applications to assist credit union employees affected by the flooding.
The National Credit Union Foundation has activated the online disaster relief system CUAid.coop to raise money for credit union people in Texas affected by Tropical Storm Harvey. Credit union supporters in every state can make donations at cuaid.coop.
"With the devastating flooding caused by Harvey, our credit union brothers and sisters need our help," said Foundation Executive Director Gigi Hyland. "Everyone who supports CUAid is helping affected credit union people directly with critical needs, longer-term recovery needs, operational needs, and assisting credit union members."
As donations are posted through CUAid.coop, the National Credit Union Foundation will coordinate with the Cornerstone Credit Union Foundation in the disaster area to distribute money efficiently to affected credit union employees and volunteers. 100% of the donations through CUAid goes to credit union disaster relief.
In the event that all donations are not used for Hurricane Harvey relief, the National Credit Union Foundation will transfer any and all unused funds to its "General Disaster Relief fund" for future disaster relief efforts.
Scott Teel, vice president of marketing at Agility Recovery, said about 90 of its clients in Southeast Texas are on "alert" status. "We're just beginning the understand the scope of the impact," Teel said. "We do have some generators and other technology in the field. We're making preparations to begin mobile recovery operations as soon as we get a handle on the extent of the flooding."
Teel said Agility clients fit virtually all categories of need. "Some are telling us they are fine," Teel said. "Others are without power. Others are under several feet of water.
"It's a tale of two situations," Teel said. "Toward the west, it was a shorter, brief disaster. Places like Corpus Christi and Rockport, they have more physical damage from wind and debris, power outages and communications interruptions. Cell service is out in a lot of places.
"In the Houston area, it's still an ongoing event. The water is expected to continue to rise. At his point, we're in a bit of a wait-and-see stage before we begin to put personnel or equipment into that region. We're prestaging things so we can put them there quickly."
NCUA is also providing help to credit unions and their members in parts of Texas and Louisiana struck by Hurricane Harvey.
"We have been monitoring the situation constantly since last week, and NCUA staff are coordinating with other agencies and working continually to provide assistance to credit unions and their members," NCUA Board Chairman J. Mark McWatters said. "This has been a devastating storm affecting millions of people, and the effects will be felt for months or even years. The NCUA will be on the job as long as necessary."
NCUA said roughly 150 credit unions in Texas and 28 credit unions in Louisiana were affected by the storm.
President Donald J. Trump on Friday issued a disaster declaration for parts of Texas hit by the storm and a second declaration earlier today for parts of Louisiana where tornados and flooding could occur. Those declarations make federal assistance available. Under the NCUA's disaster assistance policy for those areas, the agency will, where necessary:
Encourage credit unions to make loans with special terms and reduced documentation to affected members;
Guarantee lines of credit for credit unions through the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund;
Make loans to meet the liquidity needs of member credit unions through the Central Liquidity Facility; and
Reschedule routine examinations of affected credit unions.
During natural disasters, the NCUA works with individual state league organizations and state regulators to ensure all federally insured credit unions know about the agency's available assistance. NCUA examiners will remain in close contact with the affected local credit unions to offer advice and assistance.
Credit unions and credit union members in Texas needing help may contact the NCUA's Region IV office in Austin at 512-342-5600 Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT. Credit unions and members in Louisiana needing help may contact the Region III office in Atlanta at 678-443-3000 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
When a disaster strikes, NCUA personnel operate under three priorities:
Ensure the safety of credit union staff;
Keep facilities and operations available to members; and
Provide material and technical assistance, as needed, to affected credit unions.
Federal credit unions may provide assistance to other credit unions and non-members in the affected areas under certain conditions:
They may provide services to members of other credit unions under their correspondent services authority;
They may provide emergency financial services for non-members, including check cashing, access to ATM networks, or other services to meet short-term emergency needs of individuals in the areas affected by the floods, under the authority to engage in charitable activities; and
If they provide services on a charitable basis, they may not impose charges for services that exceed their direct costs.
The NCUA's Office of Small Credit Union Initiatives can provide urgent needs grants of up to $7,500 to low-income credit unions that experience sudden costs to restore operations interrupted by the storm.
Credit union members with questions about their Share Insurance coverage may contact the NCUA's Consumer Assistance Center at 800-755-1030 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern.


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Preservation For Powell
Preservation For Powell – Sprinter Could Race Less In 2016 To Enhance Olympic Medal Chances
Published:Monday | October 26, 2015Leighton Levy
Ricardo Makyn
Asafa Powell
Asafa Powell could be looking to cut back on the number of races he competes in before the Olympic Games in Rio next summer as he aims for his first individual medal in the Olympic men's 100 metres.
At the International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in Beijing, China, in August, the 32-year-old sprinter was among the favourites to win a medal in the 100 metres but finished seventh in 10 seconds flat, the same time as his sixth-placed American rival, Tyson Gay, and French champion Jimmy Vicaut, who was eighth.
Powell had a season best of 9.81s going into Beijing, but suggested that his heavy racing schedule may have sapped his ageing legs for the final.
"I had a long year. I just have go back and analyse to see where I went wrong in the season. We ran 13 or 14 races before the World Championships, and that's probably something we shouldn't do," said Powell.
NO INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC MEDAL
The athlete, who won gold as a member of Jamaica's sprint relay team at the Olympic Games in 2008, has never won an individual Olympic medal. He has two bronze medals in the blue riband sprint at the World Championships in 2007 and 2009 to go along with the relay gold he won this summer.
Rio would be his fourth Olympic Games, having first represented Jamaica in Athens in 2004 when he was favoured to win but finished out of the medals in the race won by American Justin Gatlin.
Powell expressed gratitude for being able to represent Jamaica again and make another global 100-metre final.
"The greatest thing is that I went to the world championship and made the finals as one of the favourites," he said.
"I am still happy just to be in it. I have been doing this for years now, and I love it. Just to be out there smiling and hearing the crowd cheer you on, it's a great honour and privilege."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Corruption and Human Rights in the Northern Triangle
Camille Preel-Dumas
anti-corruption efforts
northern triangle
Inter-American Dialogue / Elizabeth Belair
On June 27, the Inter-American Dialogue partnered with the Due Process of Law Foundation (DPLF) and the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) to hold an expert discussion on "Corruption and Human Rights in the Northern Triangle." The discussion featured panelists Jordán Rodas Andrade, Human Rights Ombudsman in Guatemala; Sarah Chayes, Senior Fellow for the Democracy and Rule of Law Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; and Héctor Silva Ávalos, Investigator at Insight Crime and Co-director of Revista Factum. The conversation that followed gave insight as to how anti-corruption efforts in the Northern Triangle can benefit from the inclusion of human rights discourse and the work of international bodies, such as the CICIG in Guatemala and MACCIH in Honduras. The discussion was moderated by Adriana Beltrán, Director for Citizen Security at WOLA and Úrsula Indacochea, Senior Program Officer at DPLF.
"In Honduras we're seeing the military and police being used as the instrument of force to protect the network of corruption. " @Sarah_Chayes #NorthernTriangleCorruption pic.twitter.com/GcQ4TcalZ5
— The Inter-American Dialogue (@The_Dialogue) June 27, 2018
The panelists provided analysis of the different realities faced by Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador as well as the cross-border struggles they share in tackling corruption. Chayes emphasized that while the technicalities might be different with each country, corruption is never an isolated or nation-specific phenomenon. She compared her work in Honduras with her time in Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, and the US to conclude it became integrated networks made up of corrupt government officials, private sector moguls, and criminals are a global scourge. In Honduras, these cross-sector connections grant resilience and a broad spectrum of capabilities to the local kleptocratic network. Chayes was also quick to note that international communities have sometimes propped up local corruption networks, as seen by FinnFund's work in Honduras, and that international intervention can be harmful if foreign actors are not familiar with the environment and national particularities they will work in.
Meanwhile, Rodas Andrade emphasized the positive effects the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) and the CICIG have had against corruption in the country, which has benefited all branches of government in terms of mitigating corruption. That being said, he noted that the current Guatemalan government has deliberately tried to undermine the CICIG, making the IACHR's support of his office all the more important.
"The last three presidents in El Salvador have been accused of corruption. This is a systemic problem, not an isolated case." @HsilvAvalos #NorthernTriangleCorruption pic.twitter.com/TaIgGFQ5Dt
El Salvador's corruption is similarly systemic, said Silva Avalos, explaining how the government, police forces, and criminal groups collaborate to concentrate wealth in their inner circles. As their leaders spend public funds on their own personal ventures, the people of El Salvador aren't provided with adequate public services, making corruption a clear human rights violation. The Salvadorian government uses pandillas (criminal gangs) as scapegoats to distract the nation from its own incriminating actions. Silva Avalos also commended the work the CICIG has done in Guatemala, lauding its successful investigation of crimes that are notoriously difficult and dangerous to probe.
The panel concluded with a Q&A session where attendees asked about whether El Salvador could handle the issue on its own, or whether it also needed an external help. Silva Avalos responded by saying that El Salvador would benefit immensely from an external agency, given that there is presently little will from officials and citizens alike to seriously tackle corruption. When asked about the legalization of corruption, Chayes noted that in Honduras and the United States alike, the most important ability a kleptocratic network holds is the ability to grant itself impunity. By bending and repurposing laws to serve their specific aims, these networks hollow out the local mechanisms for justice. Once again, the weight of a well-informed international community combined with genuine work at the ground level can help restore respect for human rights in these countries.
Watch the full recording of this event here:


Gillespie, IL, population 3,145, is located in Illinois's Macoupin county, about 40.3 miles from St Louis and 47.4 miles from Springfield.
Through the 90's Gillespie's population has declined by about 6%. It is estimated that in the first 5 years of the past decade the population of Gillespie has declined by about 4%. Since 2005 Gillespie's population has declined by about 2%.


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We want to continually create and cultivate resources for the tech startup community. Anything that we know about or come across that may be beneficial for you and your startup we'll post right here. If you know of additional resources that could benefit the community please send them to info@findventures.org.
Time Sensitive Resources – Accelerators, Grants, Programs, Workshops
APPLY FOR WTIA'S FOUNDER COHORT PROGRAM – WTIA Founder Cohort program helps 30-35 venture-scale, seed-stage startups grow and scale over the course of 6 months. Learn how to fundraise, manage a Board, corporate governance, customer development and go-to-market strategies.
JETRO x TECHSTARS STARTUP CITY ACCLERATION PROGRAM – GLOBAL SCALE PITCH DAY – Wednesday, January 22nd at 4 PM PST. Held virtually on Zoom. The Pitch Day will consist of startups engaging in the verticals relating to educational technology, new styles of social media platforms, Web3 and blockchain development, environmental and agricultural carbon-dioxide solutions, and so on. Free to RSVP.
WTIA TACOMA STARTUP MIXER – Wednesday, January 11th at 4 PM – 6 PM PST. Join WTIA, TractionSpace, and Startup253 for a networking event for founders, investors, and other members of the startup community in Tacoma and the Puget Sound area!
Equitable Innovations Accelerator Handbook
Our goal is to help as many historically and systemically excluded tech startup founders as possible. This is the 2022 Equitable Innovations Accelerator Handbook (version 4 last updated May 2022) that we've compiled for the 2022 EIA cohort. We're providing it here as a resource for you to download and watch any of pre-recorded sessions.
FV EIA Handbook _ V4Download
Business Assistance Programs: Quick Reference Guide by Washington State Department of Commerce
Biz-Programs-Quick-Reference-Guide-1Download
MyStartup365.com
Online resources, how-to's, tutorials and interactive tools for current and prospective business owners.
11 courses to teach fundamentals to first timers through videos, workbooks, assignments and quizzes.
The Business Startup Playbook
A detailed guide on what it takes to start and own a business in Washington State.
SizeUp
A sophisticated planning and analysis tool to run endless business scenarios in an interactive, virtual environment.
Restart Academy
Videos, workbooks, assignments and resources targeted to business owners who must restart their businesses in wake of the pandemic.
ScaleUp – contact Liliane.eriksen@commerce.wa.gov
A hands-on series designed to help business owners strategically plan and identify new opportunities for growth.
Thrive! – Contact susan.nielson@commerce.wa.gov
An "economic gardening-style" program providing access to Edward Lowe Foundation experts, analytics and best practices that allow C-suite executives and business owners address internal and external issues impeding growth and expansion. In contrast to traditional business assistance, economic gardening focuses on strategic growth challenges, such as developing new markets, refining business models and gaining access to competitive intelligence.
Business Roundtables – Contact susan.nielson@commerce.wa.gov
Small business roundtables with C-suite executives to share best practices, discuss pressing issues, seek advice and serve as a networking and support platform.
Small Business Flex Fund – Contact keith.swenson@commerce.wa.gov
Flexible and affordable loans designed to help small businesses and non-profits reopen and rebuild. Provides historically underbanked segments of the business community with access to low-interest loans of up to $150,000.
Acquired – Learn the playbooks that built the world's greatest companies – and how you can apply them as a founder, operator, or investor.
Built in Seattle – Interviews with Seattle's top entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders. Hear how they think, how they operate, and how they're building in Seattle.
Geekwire Podcast – Covers the world of technology, startups and geek culture.
How to Create an Effective Pitch Deck
30 Legendary Startup Pitch Decks and What You Can Learn From Them
The 30 Best Startup Tools & Resources to Grow Your Business
The Dave Parker Blog – He has blog posts on everything from your startup's first board meeting, KPIs for Founders, meeting checklists, and more
Seattle Business Magazine
Templates & Misc
Hubspot Free Startup Resources – Toolkits and templates for elevator pitches, business plans, pitch decks, content calendars, and more.
Partner Resource Lists
WA State Pay Transparency: People Ops / HR Toolkit for Startups – Check out this toolkit created by Reverb. It's important to understand why the equal pay act was created and what problems the law aims to solve. This toolkit was created to help startups with exactly this.
New Tech NW Community Resource – Accelerators, Associations, Books, Coworking Spaces, Events, Financing, Incubators, Mental Health, Opportunities, Racial Justice, and more.
WTIA Membership – Access to resources that help you grow your business, including; exclusive industry events, access to content from thought leaders, tap into a community of like-minded executives with options for health insurance, 401(k), business insurance and more.
WTIA member discounts – an entrepreneur toolkit to help you save money on essentials.
UW CoMotion Labs Incubator – CoMotion Labs is a multi-industry incubator program hosting early-stage startups in three locations on the UW campus. From space to learning, mentoring, and networking, CoMotion Labs nurtures and enables success, without taking equity or IP.
Watch their Friday Fundamentals for Startups on YouTube
Corporate Tech Resources
Apple Entrepreneur Camp – With the goal of supporting founders and their organizations as they build the next generation of cutting-edge apps, and to form a global network that encourages the pipeline and longevity of underrepresented founders and developers in technology. The program includes cohorts for female, Black, and Hispanic/Latinx founders and developers from underrepresented communities. During these technology labs, you'll receive one-on-one code-level guidance on your app from Apple experts and engineers, as well as mentorship, inspiration, and insights from top Apple leaders. After the lab concludes, you'll get ongoing support and become part of a growing community of other exceptional alumni who can help you build your business.
AWS Startup Program – A broad range of programs and events brought to you by Amazon Web Services (AWS) to support startups as they launch, grow, and scale.
Google for Startups – Find products, resources, and programs for every stage of your startup journey – start, build, grow – by Google.
Microsoft for Startups – Designed to support all founders from idea to exit, Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub brings together the technology , guidance, and support you need to hit your next milestone.
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Fenwick Startup Resource Center – Features articles, videos, checklists, presentations and other tools to help you navigate current challenges and anticipate upcoming issues at every stage of growth, from formation to scaling to preparing for exit. Select the stage that suits your needs.
SCORE – List of Startup Resources ranging from government resources, legal information, small business magazines, startup business templates and tools.
Fourth Plain Forward – Partnering with the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber to offer free small business technical assistance for Fourth Plain business owners free of charge. Helping with marketing, financial literacy, permits, business plans, and any other areas.
GSBA Business Academy – An umbrella program for all of the ways that GSBA helps entrepreneurs build, expand, and improve their businesses
Tabor 100 – Association of entrepreneurs and business advocates who are committed to economic power, educational excellence and social equity for African Americans and the community at large. Tabor 100 has also launched the Black Business Equity Fund (BBEF).
Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Connecting, empowering, and celebrating the Latino community to the Tri-Cities and beyond.
Ventures – Provides access to business training, capital, coaching, and hands-on learning opportunities for entrepreneurs with limited resources and unlimited potential.
iFundWomen – For women who have big ideas. Get funding, get coaching, make connections.
Cartier Women's Initiative – an annual international entrepreneurship program that aims to drive change by empowering women impact entrepreneurs. Founded in 2006, the program is open to women-run and women-owned businesses from any country and sector that aim to have a strong and sustainable social and/or environmental impact.
Comcast Rise Program – Have the opportunity to receive marketing consultations, media placements, commercial creative production services, or technology services from Effectv and Comcast Business
Oakland Black Business Fund – a community oriented organization committed to building trust and distributing capital and technical assistance services to small businesses owned and operated by the Oakland Black community.
SoGal Black Founder Startup Grant Application – SoGal Foundation is the largest global platform for diverse entrepreneurs and investors with 50 chapters across 6 continents
Amber Grant – WomensNet founded the Amber Grant. One of the very first online organizations to give women-owned business grants, the Amber Grant was set up to honor the memory of Amber Wigdahl. She was a special young woman who died at just 19 years old, before realizing her business dreams. We've carried on that tradition by giving away a $10,000 Amber Grant every month to a woman entrepreneur… And by giving away an additional annual $25,000 Amber Grant to one of the preceding 12 monthly Amber Grant winners.
Visa She's Next Grant Program – Visa She's Next Black Women-Owned Business Grant Program. Visa is continuing to take action and remove the disproportionate barriers faced by Black women founders by offering $10,000 and a one-year IFW Annual Coaching Membership to 60 Black women-owned businesses across six (6) key cities in the U.S. through their latest grant program in partnership with IFundWomen. Grants & coaching resources were awarded to founders in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Miami, Chicago, Detroit, and Atlanta.
The Next Black Millionaire Fund – Celebrating 30 years of elevating and investing in Black entrepreneurship. Now Shea Moisture Fund wants to make three eligible business owners millionaires using their recipes for business success. Will this be you?
FedEx Small Business Grant Contest – Contest winners receive up to $50,000
Facebook/Meta – Apply for venture capital and startup programs. Fill out the application to be considered for managed support, education opportunities, and bespoke insights.
Essence + Pine-Sol Build Your Legacy – Black women entrepreneurs, ESSENCE® + Pine-Sol™ want to help you take your business to the next level. Black women are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs AND the most underfunded. ESSENCE® + Pine-Sol™ are partnering to offer a $100,000 Legacy Award to help champion Black women and the entrepreneurial spirit. To enter you must have a registered business (LLC, Inc, etc).
Google for Startups Initiative Black Founders Fund – Across the US, there are amazing Black startup founders who are building great companies yet are locked out of access to the funding that is critical to their success. The $5M Google for Startups Black Founders Fund provides non-dilutive cash awards to Black led startups that have participated in our programs or have been nominated by our partner community or a previous recipient. Selected founders receive up to $100,000 in capital along with Google Cloud credits, Google.org Ads grants, and hands-on support to help their startup grow.
GSBA Ready for Business Fund – Has your business experienced financial loss and hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, the Ready for Business Fund is here to help your business bounce back. A $2,500 cash grant will be awarded to selected small businesses. Additionally, awardees will receive wrap-around support services including GSBA membership, technical support, marketing, and consulting. This grant does not have to be repaid, and it can be used for any purpose to help the business recover from the economic crisis. The grant is open to any small business in Washington State established prior to March 2, 2020. Priority will be given to small businesses within the communities most impacted by COVID-19, including LGBTQ+, *BIPOC, and women-owned businesses, as well as businesses located in rural areas
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A strong, porous article useful as a bone substitute material. The article comprises a continuous strong framework structure having struts defining interstices which interconnect throughout the bulk volume, and may have ceramic or osteoconductive material occupying at least a portion of the same bulk volume as the framework structure. Either as a coating on the strong framework struts or between the framework struts and the ceramic or osteoconductive-osteoinductive materials is a resilient material which serves to distribute stresses within the article.
This application is a Divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 08/944,006 filed Oct. 1, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,296,667.
The present invention relates in general to bone substitute materials, and particularly to porous materials capable of supporting or encouraging bone ingrowth into its pores.
In the case of fracture or other injury to bone, proper bone healing and subsequent favorable bone remodeling is highly dependent on maintaining stability between bone fragments and, in the case of decalcified bone, on maintaining physiologic strain levels. External structural support can be gained using external braces, casts and the like. Internal structural support commonly is supplied by internal fixation devices such as bone plates, screws, intraredullar rods, etc., some of which may need to be surgically removed at a later time and all of which may prove to be burdensome and traumatic to a patient.
There is thus a need for a product that is a bone substitute product that is a bone graft material and that also provides structural support. This is especially so in the replacement or repair of long bones of the lower extremities and for use in spinal fusion techniques. Trauma, osteoporosis, severe osteo arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, joint replacement, and bone cancers may call for treatment involving the use of structural bone substitute materials. A successful bone graft requires an osteoconductive matrix providing a scaffold for bone ingrowth, osteoinductive factors providing chemical agents that induce bone regeneration and repair, osteogenic cells providing the basic building blocks for bone regeneration by their ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and structural integrity provided to the graft site suitable for the loads to be carried by the graft.
Current bone graft materials include autografts (the use of bone from the patient), allografts (the use of cadaver bone), and a variety of artificial or synthetic bone substitute materials. Autografts grafts are comprised of cancellous bone and/or cortical bone. Cancellous bone grafts provide virtually no structural integrity. Bone strength increases as the graft incorporates and new bone is laid down. For cortical bone, the graft initially provides some structural strength. However, as the graft is incorporated by the host bone, nonviable bone is removed by resorption significantly reducing the strength of the graft. The use of autograft bone may result in severe patient pain at the harvest site, and there is of course a limit to the amount of such bone that can be harvested from the patient. Allografts are similar to autografts in that they are comprised of cancellous and/or cortical bone with greater quantities and sizes being available. Sterilization techniques for allografts may compromise the structural and biochemical properties of the graft. The use of allograft bone bears at least some risk of transfer of disease and the risk that the graft may not be well incorporated.
For structural bone repair materials to be conveniently used, they must be capable of being formed into complex shapes that are designed to fit the contours of the repair site. An accurately contoured graft will enhance the integration of natural bone and provide better load carrying capability. Intimate, load carrying contact often is required between the natural bone and the bone substitute material to promote bone remodeling and regeneration leading to incorporation of the graft by host bone. Ideally, the strength and stiffness and resilience (that is, its response to load and rate of load) of the bone substitute material should be similar to those of natural bone.
A general overview of orthopedic implantable materials is given in Damien, Christopher J., and Parsons, Russell J., "Bone Graft and Bone Graft Substitutes: A Review of Current Technology and Applications," Journal of Applied Biomaterials. Vol. 2. pp. 187-208 (1991).
A variety of materials have been proposed for use as bone substitute materials, ranging to from shaped porous metal objects suitable for defect filling around knee and hip joint replacements on the one hand to shaped ceramic materials on the other. Ceramic materials by and large have been formed through a sintering process in which a powder of a ceramic material such as zirconia is compressed to a desired shape in a mold and is then heated to sintering temperatures. The porosity of the resulting material is commonly quite low. Materials employing calcium phosphates (for example: fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite, and tricalcium phosphate) can also be sintered in this manner, the calcium phosphate having the capacity for acting as a substrate for bone growth (osteoconductivity).
It has been suggested to mix ceramic powders such as zirconia and hydroxyapatite, or fluorapatite and spinel, and then compress the mixture in a mold and either sinter or hot isostatically press to produce a somewhat porous ceramic of zirconia having pores at least partially filled with hydroxyapatite. Reference is made to Tamari et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,957,509, and also Aksaci, D. et al., Porous Fluorapatite/spinel Osteoceramic for Bone Bridges, Ceramic Transactions, Vol. 48 p. 283 (1995). It has also been suggested to use ceramic articles having both high porosity and low porosity portions, and reference is made here to Hakamatsuka et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,791, Johansson, U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,440 and Borom, U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,559. See also Klawitter et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,525. The latter reference refers to the use of an Al2O3 slip that is foamed into a sponge, followed by firing.
By and large, metal or ceramic materials that have been proposed for bone substitutes have been of low porosity and have involved substantially dense metals and ceramics with semi-porous surfaces filled or coated with a calcium phosphate based material. The resulting structure has a dense metal or ceramic core and a surface which is a composite of the core material and a calcium phosphate, or a surface which is essentially a calcium phosphate. The bone substitute materials of this type commonly are heavy and dense, and often are significantly stiffer in structure than bone. Reference here is made to U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,306,673 (Hermansson et al.), 4,599,085 (Riess et al.), 4,626,392 (Kondo et al.), and 4,967,509 (Tamari et al.). Whereas natural bone, when stressed in compression, fails gradually (some components of the bone serving to distribute the load), bone substitute materials such as those described above commonly fail suddenly and catastrophically.
The present invention provides a strong composite article that is useful as a bone substitute material. The article comprises a supporting open skeleton or framework having interconnecting struts defining a plurality of interstices, the struts bearing a coating of a bioresorbable resilient material. Preferably, the article includes an osteoconductive material within the interstices and separated from the struts by the resilient material. The article may include materials that foster bone in-growth.
In one embodiment, the invention provides a strong article useful as a bone substitute material. The article comprises a continuous strong supportive framework having struts defining a plurality of interconnecting interstices throughout the bulk volume of the article, an osteoconductive material contained within the interstices, and a comparatively resilient interlayer which is bioresorbable and which is carried between and at least partially separates the supportive framework and the osteoconductive material. In response to physical stress imposed on the article, the interlayer serves to transmit and distribute loads within the article to including hydraulic stiffening of the struts, in a manner similar to the response of natural bone to applied stress. Failure of the article is not sudden and catastrophic but rather is gradual. In this embodiment, the invention may be thought of as providing a strong composite article that is useful as a bone substitute material, the article being comprised of a supporting open skeleton or framework in the corpus of which are osteoconductive materials that are incorporated by or surrounded by bioresorbable resilient materials. The article may include materials that foster bone in-growth.
The supportive framework preferably is of a ceramic material having struts defining a plurality of interconnecting interstices throughout the bulk volume of the article, and an osteoconductive composition carried by said supporting framework and exposed to-the interconnected openings. The osteoconductive composition occupies at least a portion of the same bulk volume as the framework component. Desirably, the supportive framework has void volumes that are in the range of 20% to 90% and preferably at least 50%. Further, the mean size of the openings of the supportive framework component desirably are at least 50 μm and preferably are in the range of 200 μm to 600 μm.
The polymeric material is a bioresorbable polymer which may be one or a combination of: collagen, poly-lactic acid, poly-glycolic acid, copolymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid, chitosan, chitin, gelatin, or any other resorbable polymer. This polymer material may be used alone, may be reinforced with a particulate or fibrous biocompatible material, and the composite may include a biological agent known to induce bone formation. This polymeric material will resorb as host bone grows into the interstices to replace it.
The osteoconductive composition, though it may also be a continuous interconnected body, is smaller in volume than the spaces in the framework interstices; thus there is a gap between it and the framework struts. This gap is filled with a bioresorbable resilient material so as to provide an energy absorbing interface that serves to provide load distribution and a hydraulic shock absorbing function. The osteoconductive composition may, instead, be added during a surgical procedure to the interstices of a supportive framework, the struts of which have been coated with a resilient material.
In a preferred embodiment, the supportive framework, the osteoconductive composition and the resilient, bioresorbable material each are continuous three dimensional structures that exhibit 3—3 connectivity and occupy at least a portion and preferably the entirety of the same bulk volume, each continuous structure having interconnected openings that interconnect with the openings of the other. Here, the resilient layer serves to transfer and distribute load from the supportive framework to the osteoconductive material, increasing the strength of the structure and tending to avoid brittle behavior under maximum material conditions. It is believed that the resulting article will transfer stress to the surrounding bone in a more physiologic way than does a dense ceramic or metal body. This stress transfer is important in stimulating bone growth and remodeling surrounding the graft, and avoiding "stress shielding," which is known to elicit an adverse bone remodeling response.
In yet another embodiment, the struts are comprised of a mixture or composite which contains the supportive material as well as osteoconductive material, the support material providing strength to the article and the osteoconductive material being carried at least partially on the surface of the interstices so as to be exposed to the interconnected openings to provide an osteoconductive environment favoring bone growth. The struts are coated with, or the interstices contain a bioresorbable, resilient material.
In a further embodiment, the supportive framework comprises struts that are coated with a bioresorbable resilient material to define interstices that open onto surfaces of the article and that can be filled with a calcium phosphate cement during a surgical procedure. In this embodiment, the calcium phosphate cement hardens within the interstices and the resilient material separating the supportive framework from the hardened calcium phosphate cement acts to cushion forces that are generated by exterior loads on the framework.
In yet another embodiment, the interstices of the strong framework are filled with a composite of a biocompatible, bioresorbable resilient material as a matrix containing particles of calcium phosphate or other osteoconductive material.
In yet a further embodiment, the invention comprises an open celled article of any of the several types described above and including a second substantially dense continuous material component attached to a surface of the bulk volume of the first material, the second component having a porosity not greater than 10% of its bulk volume. This substantially dense phase may be either a ceramic, a polymer, a metal, or a composite material.
FIG. 6 is a graph of load versus strain illustrating the gradual failure mode of an article of the invention.
FIG. 8 is a broken away view of a tibial tray prosthesis utilizing an embodiment of the invention.
In preparing articles of the invention, it is preferred to begin with the formation of a supportive, open framework having interstices in the size range of about 50 μm to about 1000 μm and preferably from about 200 μm to about 600 μm and having void volumes of at least about 30%, preferably at least about 50% and most preferably at least about 70%. The material of the framework may comprise any strong, hard, biologically-compatible material such as ceramic materials, metals and composites such as zirconia, zirconia/hydroxyapatite combinations, and zirconia toughened alumina. Preferably, the framework component is of a ceramic material, zirconia, alumina and calcium phosphates and combinations thereof being preferred.
In one preferred method, a slip of ceramic material is made by combining a ceramic powder such as zirconia with an organic binder and water to form a dispersion. The strut surfaces of an organic reticulated foam such as one of the various commercially available foams made of polyurethane, polyester, polyether, or the like are wetted and coated with the ceramic slip. The reticulated material may be immersed in the slip, and then removed and drained to remove excess slip. If desired, further excess slip can be removed by any of a variety of methods including passing the material between a pair of closely spaced rollers. By impacting the material with a jet of air, remaining slip that may fill the interstices by surface tension may be cleared. Varying the slip concentration, viscosity, and surface tension provides control over the amount of slip that is retained on the foam strut surfaces. Wetting agents and viscosity control agents also may be used for this purpose. A wide variety of reticulated, open cell materials can be employed, including natural and synthetic sponge materials and woven and non-woven materials, it being necessary in this embodiment only that the open cell material enables ceramic slip material to penetrate substantially fully through the openings in the structure.
Once the reticular struts are coated with slip, the slip solvent is removed by drying, accompanied desirably by mild heating, and the structure is then raised to sintering temperatures at which the ceramic particles at least partially sinter to form a rigid, light framework structure that mimics the configuration of the reticular struts. Before reaching sintering temperatures, the slip-treated sponge desirably is held at a temperature at which the organic material pyrolizes or bums away, leaving behind an incompletely sintered ceramic framework structure which then is raised to the appropriate sintering temperature.
Pyrolizing or oxidizing temperatures for most organics are in the range of about 200° C. to about 600° C. and sintering temperatures for most ceramics of relevance to this invention are in the range of about 1100° C. to about 1600° C. Zirconia and alumina or composites based on zirconia and alumina are the preferred ceramic materials for the structural elements unless the struts are also intended to be bioresorbable, in which case calcium phosphates can also be used. Examples of ceramic materials for the osteoconductive portion include calcium phosphates such as hydroxyapatite, fluorapatite, tricalcium phosphate and mixtures thereof, bioactive glasses, osteoconductive cements, and compositions containing calcium sulfate or calcium carbonate. A small, broken-away and highly magnified portion of the supporting framework is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 through 5 as 10, the framework having struts 12 defining open interstices 14 as shown in FIG. 1.
Metals which can be used to form the hard, strong, continuous framework component include titanium, stainless steels, cobalt/chrome alloys, tantalum, titanium-nickel alloys such as Nitinol and other superelastic metal alloys. Reference is made to Itin, et al., "Mechanical Properties and Shape Memory of Porous Nitinol," Materials Characterization  pp. 179-187 (1994); Bobyn, et al., "Bone Ingrowth Kinetics and Interface Mechanics of a Porous Tantalum Implant Material," Transactions of the 43rd Annual Meeting, Orthopaedic Research Society, p. 758, Feb. 9-13, 1997 San Francisco, Calif.; and to Pederson, et al., "Finite Element Characterization of a Porous Tantalum Material for Treatment of Avascular Necrosis," Transactions of the 43rd Annual Meeting, Orthopaedic Research Society, p. 598 Feb. 9-13, 1997. San Francisco, Calif., the teachings of all of which are incorporated by reference. Metals can be formed into hard, strong, continuous supportive frameworks by a variety of Aid manufacturing procedures including combustion synthesis, plating onto a "foam" substrate, chemical vapor deposition (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,861), lost mold techniques (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,616,841), foaming molten metal (see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,281,251, 3,816,952 and 3,790,365) and replication of reticulated polymeric foams with a slurry of metal powder as described for ceramic powders.
The osteoconductive and osteoinductive materials that are appropriate for use in the present invention are biologically acceptable and include such osteoconductive materials as collagen and the various forms of calcium phosphates including hydroxyapatite; tricalcium phosphate; and fluorapatite, and such osteoinductive substances as: bone morphogenetic proteins (e.g.. rhBMP-2); demineralized bone matrix; transforming growth factors (e.g.. TGF-β); osteoblast cells, and various other organic species known to induce bone formation. The osteoconductive and osteoinductive properties may be provided by bone marrow, blood plasma, or morselized bone of the patient, or commercially available materials. Osteoinductive materials such as BMP may be applied to articles of the invention, for example, by immersing the article in an aqueous solution of this material in a dilute suspension of type I collagen. Osteoinductive materials such as TGF-β may be applied to an article of the invention from a saline solution containing an effective concentration of TGF-β, or may be carried in the resilient material.
The continuous supporting framework having interconnecting interstices or openings may be considered to be the primary load bearing element, and the osteoconductive material commonly is weaker than the supporting framework. The supporting framework is preferably formed, as mentioned above, of a ceramic material such as zirconia. The framework structure is formed such that the interstices or openings themselves, on average, are wider than are the thicknesses of the struts which separate neighboring interstices. The load bearing framework is essentially completely continuous and self interconnected in three dimensions, and the void portion is also essentially completely continuous and self interconnected in three dimensions. These two three dimensionally interconnected parts are intercolated with one another. This can be referred to as a 3—3 connectivity structure where the first number refers to the number of dimensions in which the load bearing framework is connected, and the second number refers to the number of dimensions in which the void portion is connected. The concept of connectivity is explained at greater length in Newnham et al. "Connectivity and Piezoelectric-Pyroelectric Composites," Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 13 pp. 525-536 (1978), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. With the supporting framework described herein, the framework itself is given a 3 as it is connected in 3 dimensions, and the void portion is treated likewise. In contrast, partially sintered assemblages of powders invariably contain isolated pores or voids which are not connected to all other voids. A material with all isolated (that is, dead end) pores in a dense matrix would have 3-0 connectivity. A material having pores that pass completely through the matrix in one dimension would yield 3-1 connectivity, and a material having pores that interconnect two perpendicular faces but not the third would have 3-2 connectivity.
In the preferred embodiment, the voids of the framework include a three-dimensional continuous network of an osteoconductive material such as a calcium phosphate, and also a three dimensional, continuous network of a resilient, desirably bioabsorbable material between the struts of the framework and the osteoconductive material, this configuration providing 3—3 connectivity.
The opening sizes in the supportive framework preferably are at least about 50 μm and preferably are on the order of 200 μm to about 600 μm. It is preferred that there be substantially no pores or voids less than 50 μm. It should be understood that the openings in the supportive framework are of myriad irregular shapes. The interconnected openings or interstices through which biological ingrowth processes can take place define in three dimensions a labyrinth in which bone ingrowth and vascularization can occur; that is, the openings have many junctures with other openings to thus define tortuous pathways through the framework. In general, it is believed that in order to adequately support the growth of bone into the framework openings, the openings must be capable of accommodating the passage of tissue having transverse dimensions of at least about 50 μm. Conceptually, it is convenient to think of a 50 μm opening in materials of the invention as being capable of accommodating the passage through it of a "worm" having a round cross section and a transverse diameter of 50 μm. Put another way, a 50 μm opening should enable passage through it of a sphere having a 50 μm diameter. Although there is no completely satisfactory way known to us for measuring the opening sizes, it is possible to examine a scanning electron micrograph of a cross section of an article of the invention and viewing it as a planar projection of the structure, drawing several lines across the micrograph, measuring the openings that intersected by the lines, and using averaging and standard deviation techniques to permit the size of the openings to be assessed.
Zirconia and other ceramics, when used to form the supportive framework, are exceedingly hard and are far more rigid than is bone. Although it would be desirable to employ as the supportive framework a material having a modulus of elasticity nearer to that of bone, bone substitute materials of the invention employing rigid materials work well. It is believed that the ultimate union of bone with such articles during the healing process occurs over a large surface area and depth as the encroaching bone penetrates into the bioabsorbable resilient material and the osteoconductive portions of the article. The substantial bone/ceramic interface that results enables forces to be readily transmitted to and from the ceramic framework with significantly less stress concentration in comparison to structure resulting from a bone/ceramic union that occurs within a small area of surface-to-surface contact and with little or no penetration of bone into the article.
When the osteoconductive material utilized is a ceramic, e.g., a calcium phosphate, and the supportive framework is a ceramic such as zirconia, several methods may be employed in the manufacture of the article of the invention. The supportive zirconia framework structure can be fabricated as indicated above, by coating a slip of zirconia on the surface of the struts of a reticulated organic material such as a foam of polyurethane, polyester, polyether or the like, and subsequently raising the temperature of the coated foam to drive off slip solvent, to pyrolize or burn off the organic foam material, and finally to heat the ceramic to cause the ceramic particles to at least partially sinter.
Once the ceramic framework has cooled, its interstices may be filled with a calcium phosphate utilizing an organic binder, and the resulting product may be sintered a second time, thus forming an included network of osteoconductive material within the interstices of the ceramic framework. As the calcium phosphate material is heated, it shrinks so as to form an intervening space between the struts forming the ceramic framework and the included calcium phosphate network. To ensure that the calcium phosphate material pulls away cleanly from the framework as it shrinks, the framework may first be lightly coated with a release agent such as paraffin. FIG. 2 depicts within the interstices of the supporting framework 12 the shrunken calcium phosphate material 16 and the space or gap 18 between the struts of the supporting framework and the calcium phosphate network.
The space 18 is then filled with a resilient, preferably bioresorbable material as described above. In this configuration, the supportive framework is continuous from one surface to the other, the included osteoconductive network is continuous and interconnecting and is coextensive with the interstices of the supportive framework Further, in some embodiments, the intervening resilient material also is continuous and coextensive with the framework and osteoconductive network. FIG. 3 depicts schematically the resilient interlayer 20 formed between the framework and the calcium phosphate network.
As referred to earlier, we may utilize the continuous, strong framework described above, e.g., of sintered zirconia, and form within the interstices of the framework a somewhat smaller structure of a second ceramic material such as calcium phosphate. Before adding a slip or paste of the second ceramic material to the completely formed and sintered supportive framework, the strut surfaces may be coated with a material such as wax to prevent the second ceramic material from bonding to the struts and to isolate the second ceramic material from the supportive framework. Since ceramic materials such as calcium phosphate shrink when they are sintered, the second material will occupy a space somewhat smaller than the space defined by the surrounding interstices of the supporting framework. The resulting spaces between the struts defining the interstices of the supporting framework and the calcium phosphate may be filled with a resilient biologically acceptable material such as a copolymer of glycolic acid and L-lactic acid. The resulting article, then, has a continuous strong supportive framework having struts defining a plurality of interconnecting interstices, a second framework carried within the interstices of the first framework, and a resilient interlayer between and separating the frameworks. The interlayer, it is believed, at least partially isolates the second framework from the first and, due to its resilient nature (in comparison to the relatively rigid first and second frameworks), serves to distribute internal loads between the frameworks.
FIG. 6 illustrates a typical load-strain curve (curve A)resulting from compression testing of an article of the invention. The curve illustrates that the specimen did not fail catastrophically. Rather, the resilient interlayer enabled stresses within the specimen resulting from failure of portions of the framework to be distributed to other portions of the framework. Failure of the specimen was gradual, approximating the failure experienced when natural bone is similarly stressed. For purposes of comparison, curve B in FIG. 6 illustrates catastrophic failure of similar materials without resilient material present. The gradual failure mode is demonstrated also when struts are coated with resilient polymer, and there is no second framework.
Desirably, the supportive first framework is made of a strong material such as zirconia, and the second framework is of a material such as a calcium phosphate that provides osteoconductive properties, but where complete bioresorption is desired, the supportive first framework may also be a calcium phosphate composition.
When the framework component is of metal, the two-part system with interconnected pores can be formed in the same manner as when the framework component is of ceramic materials, that is, the osteoconductive material may be incorporated within the struts or may be formed within the interstices of the metal struts, or foamed within the interstices and sintered, followed by infusion of the resilient interface.
The "resilient" material referred to herein desirably is polymeric in nature and preferably is bioresorbable. By resilient, we refer to the ability of the material to be deformed when placed under stress without exhibiting brittle failure, the deformation tending to distribute stress within the article. The resilient material also serves to encase the struts during strut failure to provide residual compressive stiffness and to promote retention of physical integrity of the article. Preferably, the polymeric material is a bioresorbable polymer which may be one or a combination of: collagen, poly (lactic acid), poly (glycolic acid), copolymers of lactic acid and glycolic acid, chitin, chitosan, gelatin, or any other resorbable polymer. This polymer material may be used alone, may be reinforced with a particulate or fibrous biocompatible material, and may include one or more biological agents capable of inducing bone formation. Collagen and other polymeric materials may serve as suitable carriers of osteoinductive materials such as BMP and various bone growth proteins. Bioresorbable polymeric materials will resorb as host bone grows into the interstices to replace it.
In forming a framework that includes a coating, it may be desirable to heat the zirconia framework component to a temperature at which the liquid slip vehicle has substantially all been driven off and partial sintering has begun, this condition being referred to as a partially sintered stage. At this point, a hydroxyapatite slip or composite zirconia and hydroxyapatite slip may be applied, the slip solvent driven off with heat, and the zirconia and hydroxyapatite are raised to a sintering temperature and sintered together. The slip of calcium phosphate may have added to it viscosity control agents and a foaming agent such as hydrogen peroxide, or compressed gas. It may also have incorporated in it fibrous cellulosic materials. Upon introduction into the supportive zirconia framework structure of the hydroxyapatite slip, heating causes the slip to bubble and foam such that a number of smaller pores are formed in the calcium phosphate. Further heating will burn out the cellulosic materials, developing increased interconnectivity of the pores.
In another embodiment, the slip used to coat the polymeric reticulum and produce the ceramic reticulum contains fractions of both the supportive framework material (such as zirconia) and the osteoconductive material (such as calcium phosphate). The reticulated polymeric substrate is coated with slip and the excess is allowed to drain. Further excess slip is removed by passing the article through squeeze rollers or by impacting the article with compressed air. The resulting material is heated to drive off solvent, to pyrolyze the organic constituents, and to co-sinter the two components of the composite. In the zirconia-calcium phosphate system, the osteoconductive material (calcium phosphate) is preferably included in a range of 10 to 90 volume percent and preferably about 10 to 25 volume percent or 75 to 90 volume percent with respect to the total zirconia/calcium phosphate volume, sufficient osteoconductive material being used so as to provide an osteoconductive surface with respect to growing bone. Appropriate structures may use, for example, 25 volume percent of calcium phosphate and 75% of YSZ (yttria-stabilized zirconia). The reticulated article, that results has struts which are comprised of an intimate mixture of the two materials. The calcium phosphate may appear as very small islands on the surface of the zirconia strut. In any event, in this embodiment, the osteoconductive material remains exposed to the openings in the article so as to provide an osteoconductive effect with respect to encroaching bone. Of course, if desired, the supporting structure can be 100% osteoconductive material such as a calcium phosphate.
The bone substitute materials of the invention can be formed into the appropriate configurations for use as a bone substitute by several methods. In one preferred method, an organic material with open interstices such as a reticulated polyurethane foam is simply shaped to the desired configuration using ordinary cutting instruments such as scissors, scalpels, hot wire cutters and the like. The configured foam material is used in any of the foregoing methods to produce the article of the invention. In another method, an organic foam such as that referred to earlier is coated with a zirconia or other ceramic slip and is heated to drive off solvent and convert the ceramic to the "green" state, at which point it can be shaped into the desired configuration. In a further method, a bone substitute of the invention which has been fully sintered can be shaped by standard machining methods such as sawing and grinding, water jet or laser cutting, etc.
If the supporting framework of the article is of metal, it can be shaped through appropriate machining to the desired form before introducing an osteoconductive or osteoinductive material. It is contemplated that the pores of a metal material may be first filled with wax and the resulting structure frozen so that the wax supports the metal structure during machining, following which the wax is simply melted to enable the wax to escape. This procedure may have utility particularly when the metal framework component comprises a very thin walled- structure with large void openings, the struts of which, accordingly, can be unintentionally easily bent.
In a further embodiment, articles of the invention comprise a supporting framework with added resilient materials, the framework itself having relatively large openings and a high void volume and being attached, as by sintering to a second, denser structural element which may be of the same or different material but which has smaller openings and a smaller void volume. Preferably, this denser portion is substantially fully dense, that is, it has a void volume less than 10%. The denser portion may take the form a semitubular plate, a rod useful as a stem receivable in the intramedullary canal of a long bone for a total hip or knee replacement, or a plate useful as a tibial tray of a knee prosthesis, etc. The latter material may be formed in a thin layer relative to the first portion and the resulting structure mimics natural bone in that the second portion may be like cortical bone—the hard, dense, outer layer of a bone—whereas the first portion may be somewhat more open and porous and hence more closely resembles cancellous bone.
FIG. 7 shows a femoral hip stem prosthesis 30 made entirely of ceramic, the prosthesis having a dense stem portion 32, an angular neck 34 terminating in an articulating ball 36, and an angular shoulder portion 38. As shown in FIG. 7, the shoulder portion includes a thick layer 40 of an article of the invention having a framework with relatively large openings, carried by the denser portion 42 of the prosthesis. The coating 38 promotes bone ingrowth when the prosthesis has been implanted in the femur of a patent.
FIG. 8 depicts a tibial tray 50 having an upper plate 52 of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene having an articulating upper surface 54. The ultra high molecular weight polyethylene plate is supported by a plate 56 of the dense material of the invention, the plate 56 being integrally formed with a downwardly extending stem 58. The open framework material of the invention is shown in the form of a plate 60 which is received within a downwardly open recess 62 formed in the bottom of the plate 56, the framework 60 extending downwardly about the upper end of the stem, as shown at 64 in a relatively thick layer to promote bone ingrowth in this area.
The dense portion of this construct can be prepared by any of the common ceramic forming techniques such as slip casting, , tape casting, or coating and drying successive layers of slip onto a surface of a "foam" until a dense layer is formed. Dry pressing, injection molding and extrusion techniques may also be appropriate. The "green" dense portion is joined to the "green" low density portion through the use of a ceramic slip of substantially similar composition to the slip used in the formation of the low density portion or of a substantially similar composition to the slip used in the formation of the dense portion in the case of slip cast dense portion. "Green" here refers to the state of a ceramic article which has been formed and dried to a self-supporting structure but from which the organic constituents have not yet been removed. The dense portion may be alternatively comprised of a resorbable polymeric material, a resorbable ceramic material, or a resorbable composite material in addition to materials enumerated above.
The above description has centered upon completely formed bone substitute articles having a supporting, open framework, an osteoconductive material generally coextensive with and contained within the supporting framework, and a resilient, preferably bioresorbable polymer between the supporting framework and the osteoconductive material. If desired, the osteoconductive material need not be continuous within the interstices of the supporting framework. Here, the osteoconductive material may instead be particulate, as shown at 22 in FIG. 5, and may be carried by or embedded in the resilient material 20. In addition, the invention also relates to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 in which the interstices of the supportive framework as described above, the interstices of which are coated with a resilient, desirably bioresorbable material, the coated interstices 24 opening onto surfaces of the article. With this embodiment, the coated interstices may be filled with a calcium phosphate cement during a surgical procedure. The calcium phosphate cement hardens within the interstices and the resilient material separating the supportive framework from the hardened calcium phosphate cement acts to distribute forces that are generated by exterior loads on the framework. The supporting open framework may alternatively be coated with resilient material with the interstices not being filled.
Pieces of reticulated polyester-polyurethane foam 10-80 pores per inch (Stephenson and Lawyer) are immersed in the above slip and repeatedly compressed to remove air bubbles trapped inside. The foams are removed from the slip and the excess slip is allowed to drain. Further excess slip is removed by passing the foams between a pair of stainless steel squeeze rollers several times. Passages are also cleared by blowing air through them. The resulting pieces are allowed to dry at room temperature followed by drying at temperatures up to 100° C. in air. When the pieces appear dry, they are heated to pyrolyze and remove organics (binder, dispersant, surfactant, anti-foam agent, and reticulated polymer foam) and then are sintered at a temperature of about 1400° C. for one hour. The preferred thermal cycle for the above involves raising the temperature of the pieces at the rate of 2° C. per minute to 600° C., holding the temperature at 600° C. for two hours, and then raising the temperature at the rate of 5° C. per minute to 1400° C., with a one hour hold at this temperature. The furnace is then cooled to room temperature at a rate of about 10° C. per minute. The resulting product is a strong, light weight, porous zirconia framework or reticulum of zirconia having a void volume of about 76%.
The paste is injected into the interstices of the zirconia framework and allowed to dry at 60° C. in air. The article is then sintered in nitrogen to 1300° C. for 1 hour. The resulting product has two intertwined networks of zirconia and calcium phosphate with a space at their interface.
A gel of collagen, type I, is made by mixing 20 parts of 50 mM acetic acid with 1 part collagen and stir blending. To this is added an equal volume of 4% chitosan solution in dilute acetic acid. This mixture is forced under pressure into the space between the intertwined networks, and upon drying forms a collagen /chitosan resilient interlayer between these networks.
Example I is repeated except that the interface space is filled with a thin paste of a copolymer of glycolic acid and lactic acid (Alkermes "Medisorb" 85/15 PGA/PLLA) in ethyl acetate, mixed with an equal volume of collagen gel referred to in example I. The solvent is allowed to evaporate to form a resilient interlayer between these networks. Depending on the concentration of the solution, this process may be repeated to build the polymer interface.
The resulting article was subjected to compressive stress testing and provided a force-displacement curve shown as A in FIG. 6. Curve B in FIG. 6 illustrates the brittle failure of the same product without the addition of the resilient interlayer.
A zirconia framework is made as in Example I without the subsequent wax coating. The interstices are filled with a paste made of a suspension of Type 1 collagen in 50 mM acetic acid in a ratio of 1 part collagen to 20 parts acid in which calcium deficient hydroxyapatite crystals are grown (according to a process described by TenHuisen et al., J. Biomed. Materials Res. Vol. 29, pp. 803-810 (1995), which is incorporated herein by reference) from precursors tetracalcium phosphate (CA4(PO4)2O and monetite (CaHPO4), to provide an article similar to that illustrated in FIG. 5.
A zirconia/hydroxyapatite composite framework was made as in Example 1 with 25 volume percent hydroxyapatite without the subsequent wax coating. The struts were coated with the solution of a copolymer of glycolic acid and lactic acid(Alkermes "Medisorb 75/25 PLLA/PGA) to provide a coating approximately 15 mils in thickness.
The interstices of the article are injected with calcium phosphate cement paste such as made by a process (described by Constantz, et al. SCIENCE, Vol. 267 (1995), the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference), the paste comprising a mixture of monocalcium phosphate monohydrate, calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate in a sodium phosphate solution. The hardened paste provides a biomaterial suitable for implants that is now strengthened by the skeleton framework with its resilient interface.
A calcium phosphate framework was made by coating a reticulated polyester-polyurethane foam with a slip of calcium phosphate as described in Example I. The resulting pieces were dried at up to 100° C. in air. Following drying the pieces were heated to pyrolyze and remove organics and were sintered at a temperature of about 1300° C. in nitrogen for one hour. The resulting calcium phosphate framework was then coated with a solution of a copolymer of lactic acid and glycolic acid(Alkermes "Medisorb 75/25 PLLA/PGA) in methylene chloride. The solvent was removed by vacuum.
A supportive framework was made as in Example I but utilizing a slip of zirconia and hydroxyapatite. The struts were coated, and the interstices partially filled with a solution of a copolymer of glycolic acid and lactic acid in methylene chloride. Following coating, the solvent was removed by vacuum.
The "green" ceramic reticulum formed as in Example I before sintering was wetted with a slip containing zirconia of the same composition, binders and zirconia powders, and was adhered to a green zirconia ceramic of the same composition made by a conventional ceramic slip casting process by sintering, the latter material simulating curved cortical bone and the reticulum simulating attached cancellous bone. The struts of the reticular portion are then coated with a copolymer of glycolic acid and lactic acid as in example II.
While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described, it should be understood that various changes, adaptation and modification may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
contacting the framework with the bioresorbable polymer whereby said struts are encased with the bioresorbable polymer.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises a composite of zirconia and calcium phosphate.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises a ceramic.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises one or more of alumina and zirconia.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises a metal.
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises stainless steel.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the bioresorbable polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of collagen, chitosan, chitin, poly(glycolic acid), poly (lactic acid), a copolymer of glycolic and lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the bioresorbable polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of collagen, chitosan, chitin and mixtures thereof.
heating to a temperature sufficient to remove the reticulated foam and to sinter the framework.
10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of contacting the framework with the bioresorbable polymer further comprises coating the bioresorbable polymer on the struts of the framework.
11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of coating the bioresorbable polymer on the struts of the framework completely fills the interconnecting interstices.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the bioresorbable polymer includes a particulate osteoconductive material.
13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the interconnecting interstices have an opening ranging from 50 to 1000 μm.
14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the interconnecting interstices have an opening ranging from 200 to 600 μm.
providing a resilient interlayer between and at least partially separating said framework and said solid osteoconductive material.
the step of providing a resilient material comprises providing said resilient interlayer between and at least partially separating said first and second frameworks.
heating the osteoconductive material, whereby the osteoconductive material shrinks and forms an intervening space between the struts forming the first framework and the osteoconductive material second framework.
18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of providing the osteoconductive material further comprises coating the struts of the first framework with a release agent before filling the interstices with the osteoconductive material.
19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the release agent comprises a wax.
20. A method according to claim 15, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises a composite of zirconia and calcium phosphate.
21. A method according to claim 15, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises a ceramic.
22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises one or more of alumina and zirconia.
23. A method according to claim 15, wherein the bioresorbable polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of collagen, chistosan, chitin, poly(glycolic acid), poly (lactic acid), a copolymer of glycolic and lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
24. A method according to claim 15, wherein the interconnecting interstices have an opening ranging from 50 to 1000 μm.
25. A method according to claim 15, wherein the interconnecting interstices have an opening ranging from 200 to 600 μm.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises a composite of zirconia and calcium phosphate.
28. A method according to claim 26, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises a ceramic.
29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the sintered, load-bearing framework comprises one or more of alumina and zirconia.
30. A method according to claim 26, wherein the bioresorbable polymer comprises a polymer selected from the group consisting of collagen, chitosan, chitin, poly(glycolic acid), poly (lactic acid), a copolymer of glycolic and lactic acid and mixtures thereof.
31. A method according to claim 26, wherein the interconnecting interstices have an opening ranging from 50 to 1000 μm.
32. A method according to claim 26, wherein the interconnecting interstices have an opening ranging from 200 to 600 μm.
34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the sintered, load-bearing ceramic framework comprises one or more of alumina, zirconia and calcium phosphate.
35. A strong, porous article useful as a bone substitute material comprising a continuous strong supportive sintered, load-bearing ceramic framework having struts defining a plurality of interconnecting interstices having 3—3 connectivity.
36. An article according to claim 35, wherein the sintered, load-bearing ceramic framework comprises one or more of alumina, zirconia and calcium phosphate.
NL1016040C2 (en) * 2000-08-29 2002-03-01 Giles William Melsom Porous attachment material for cells, a process for the manufacture thereof, as well as applications.
CH711815A1 (en) 2015-11-27 2017-05-31 Lakeview Innovation Ltd Method and apparatus for the production of ceramic components.
CH711817A1 (en) 2015-11-27 2017-05-31 Lakeview Innovation Ltd Method and apparatus for the production of ceramic parts.
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Chaki T.K. et al., "Strengthening Behavior Of Hydroxyapatite-Silver Composite", Bioceramics: Materials And Applications, pp. 235-244.
Constantz, Brent R., et al., "Skeletal Repair By In Situ Formation Of The Mineral Phase Of Bone", Science, vol. 267dd: 1796-1799, (1995).
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Gao, T., et al., "Enhanced Healing Of Segmental Tibial Defects In Sheep By A Composite Bone Substitute Composed of Traicalcium Phosphate Cylinder, Bone . . . ", J. Bio. Mat. Res., vol. 32:505-512, (1996).
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Mattioli-Belmonte, et al., "Osteoinduction In The Presence Of Chitosan-Coated Porous Hydroxyapatite", J. Bio. Comp. Poly., vol. 10:249-257, (1995).
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Muller-Mai, C. et al., "Nanoapatite And Organoapatite Implants In Bone: Histology And Ultrastructure Of The Inerface", J. Bio. Mat. Res., vol. 29:9-18, (1995).
Suda, Akio, et al., "Biocompatibility Of Zirconia Dispersed Hydroxyaptite Ceramics", J. Jap. Orthop. Assoc., vol. 64:249-258.
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text:
Tealidium cingulatum is een zeeanemonensoort uit de familie Actinostolidae.

Tealidium cingulatum is voor het eerst wetenschappelijk beschreven door Hertwig in 1882.

Zeeanemonen

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


My question concerns Caesar II. Yep, way back! Is there any way to mod this game? I've never been able to win it, and I'd like to see what modding can do, but I don't know if it's even possible.
I'm not aware of any way to mod the game. It doesn't even have any built-in debug (cheat) codes. For money there was a external third party program called Caesar Bucks that would let you add money to your treasury if fixed amounts which you can download from my personal website. I didn't write the program so I can't answer any tech questions about it.
Thanks. It's not running correctly, though, it's missing something with a DLL tag, perhaps if I downloaded it directly from your site? It's missing "VBRUN300.DLL". Do you know who programmed it?
Not sure what it might need. C2 was back in the day when Win31 and DOS were running computers. Many of those files aren't available in later versions of Windows. You may be able to run C2 in DOSBOX, since it could run in either DOS or Windows 3.1.
My game runs alright in DOS mode, I just can't install that Caesar Bucks. Is it possible that the missing file was part of the C2 installation? If so I'll just re-install it.
It says the .exe file (or one of its components) is missing, so I'm thinking I'm missing part of the download maybe.
EDIT: I figured it out. I went to the Wikipedia page on the game and found a link to a fansite that said that Caesar Bucks works with Windows 3.1, and the Denarii Editor with later versions. Thanks!
Last edited by The Sage Nabooru on Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
The Sage Nabooru wrote: My game runs alright in DOS mode, I just can't install that Caesar Bucks. Is it possible that the missing file was part of the C2 installation? If so I'll just re-install it.
No, the exe file was all that there is to it. It must be relying on an old Win31 DLL file that is no longer available in later Windows versions.
CBC will be holding a C3 team contest, only the second ever such event to be held at CBC. The event will begin on 1st March 2008 with the preliminary "audition" mission. This short (4 years) mission will enable CBC to determine teams of approximately equal strength. The audition is expected to run for about 4 weeks, and the team contest itself will start around the second half of April. The audition is more or less a conventional standalone CBC contest, but each player's score in the audition will form part of the team score.
We are looking for players of all levels to compete. We are especially looking for expert players to lead our teams. Already one such expert has indicated he will participate, we are looking for at least 3 more. Not wanting to drop names here but you know who you are.
The experts get to share their skills in C3 with a team comprised of players of skill levels ranging from very good to most likely rank novice. Novice players get the rare opportunity to learn from an expert, and players in between get to improve their game skills and participate in an event you won't soon forget.
Team contests have become the highlight of the CBC calendar, and with good reason. Teams have their own private forum with which they can communicate among themselves. The spirit of teamwork in these events is something to experience. Many lasting friendships have been formed in CBC team contests.
The audition starts next weekend, the 1st March 2008. We hope to see you there.
"The Sage Nabooru" wrote: Thanks. It's not running correctly, though, it's missing something with a DLL tag, perhaps if I downloaded it directly from your site? It's missing "VBRUN300.DLL". Do you know who programmed it?
Last edited by Amenuk on Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
Caesar III Update 1.0.1.0 gone?
I just reinstalled Caesar III from my old 1998 disk which, if I remember correctly, requires the 1.0.1.0 patch. However, I am having great difficulty finding a working download for the patch -- almost all of the downloads across the internet try to connect me to some Sierra server which no longer exists due to Activision merging (I believe) with Sierra (or was it Vivendi Games?... can't remember right now :confused .
Either way, I can't find a good download.
Any chance someone can help me find a good download for the patch? Thank you in advance, I much appreciate any help .
The Sierra FTP servers and all the patches were taken down late last month. I managed to grab copies of the patches from those servers about a week before it happened.
You have to make sure you get the language version of the patch that matches the language version of your game. UK and US english are considered different versions.
What country did you buy your game in?
Thank you for your quick reply . My disc was bought in the U.S., and it says "ENGLISH" on the front, right above where it says "Windows 95/98". Therefore, I would assume that I need the US-English lanquage patch.
Send me a PM and give me your email address.
In case you don't know how, click on my name to the left and select "Send private message" from the list.
I've been trying to track down the 44.1kHz CD quality MP3s of the music in Caesar III that were online on caesar3.com in 1999. Does anybody have a copy?
You can grab about 1mb of each track on web archive and you can hear they're really good quality compared to the 22kHz ones in the game so it'd be really great to have them.
I was informed at Heavengames that this was the place to come and ask!
I don't remember if I ever downloaded them or not. If I did they are probably buried one of hundreds of old Iomega ZipDisk storage disks from a ZipDisk drive I no longer use.
However, just as an experiment, I took the WAV format game files and ran them through a audio converter here and saved them as 128kpbs, 2ch, 16bit, 44.1khz MP3 format files.
I then went to the archive site, played the partial tracks there and immediately played my covertered file of the same track. I couldn't tell any difference. I have a pretty good audio setup on my PC and I play music and make and manipulate audio and video files all the time.
What are you gonna do with the file if you find them?
You can't tell the difference? Hail.mp3 is strikingly improved when the percussion comes in compared to the original - not surprising considering percussion is where most of the frequencies above 11kHz are going to be that were lost in the 22kHz versions (since the sample rate represents double the audible rate, see nyquest's theorem). I too tried resampling the ingame wavs but I haven't been able to reach the clarity presented in the MP3s.
I too have a good audio setup, hence why the difference is a big deal for me!
As for what I'll do with them, just add them to my video game soundtracks collection. I thoroughly enjoy listening to the music in the game and it'd be nice to hear it de-fuzzified.


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text:
Q: VMWare: Unable to access web server running on guest OS (Oracle Enterprise Linux 6.5) from host (Windows 7) I am hosting a Oracle Linux 6.5 OS using VMWare on my windows 7 laptop. The VM is configured to use NAT networking configuration, and I am able to ping the guest OS successfully from my windows machine. Also, I am able to access internet from within my guest OS.
However, I am unable to access a web application running on port 8080 on a web server hosted within the guest OS using a browser in my host OS. The application is however accessible when accessed from a browser within the guest OS.
Some observations that may be of some use:
1. Neither my laptop, nor the VM have a static IP address.
2. I am able to ping my guest OS from host, and vice versa
3. Firewalls are disabled on both my laptop as well as the guest OS
Any help would be highly appreciated

A: The reason for the above issue could be mostly because of firewall settings/rules enabled in guest OS OEL. To check the rules you can type iptables -L -n at bash prompt which will display FILTER rules (CHAIN INPUT/OUTPUT/FORWARD).
Adding filters to allow the host to access guest http protocol would make things work. On the other hand, if this is for developmental purposes you can completely disable the firewall filter by saying
service iptables stop. Keep in mind that this is not a safe approach as it exposes your guest to the world without a firewall especially if you are using a bridged network connection.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home > Information Center > Generous Helping of Good > Chinese Associations Malaysia
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) is the national level organisation of the Chinese chambers of commerce in the country. It has 17 Constituent Members located separately in the 13 states of the nation. In fact ACCCIM is the earliest national level chamber of commerce to have a complete regional representation in the country.
The ACCCIM was founded in 1947 as a society under Malaya's Societies Act. Under the principle of freedom of association in Malaysia, the ACCCIM is established as an autonomous private sector organisation which currently represents more than 28,000 Malaysian Chinese companies, individuals and trade associations in particular, and the Chinese business community in general.
The ACCCIM's objectives as provided in the Constitution are as follows:
To promote liaison and cooperation among the various Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, trade and/ or industrial associations and/ or business corporations in Malaysia for the protection and advancement of the interests of their members in respect of commerce, industry, primary industries and other economic activities;
To study and formulate views, observations and recommendations of the Malaysian Chinese business community in respect of the nation's socio-economic development, so as to promote better understanding between the community and the Government and other public/ private sector organisations, and in furtherance of this objective, to contribute towards the development of national economy and promotion of national unity;
To collect, collate and disseminate information relating to commerce, industry and other economic sectors;
To liaise with other Chambers of Commerce or economic organisations, in particular to organise or participate in meetings relating to economic matters, trade missions, exhibitions and other activities relevant to the promotion of economic cooperation;
To promote social welfare activities as well as organise or sponsor manpower training programmes or seminars beneficial to the economic development of the nation;
To arbitrate in the matter of disputes between members of ACCCIM (with the consent of both parties);
To receive and/ or accept donations, gifts, grants, subsidies, securities listed in the stock exchange and any other instruments of value and to hold the same for investment and/or deal with the same; and
To perform any other services pertinent to the functions of ACCCIM.
The representative, consultative and service functions of the ACCCIM have been widely acknowledged. It maintains close rapport and consultation with the government and its agencies on a wide spectrum of subject affecting all sectors of the economy. As the ACCCIM is an organisation that brings together diversified interests of the business community (including wholesale and retail sector, foreign trade sector, industrial sector, services as well as the primary sector of the economy), it endeavours to reconcile divergent view-points and economic interests to the advantage of all.
As major decisions concerning the national economic policy and the like are dealt with at national level, the ACCCIM works in close co-operation with the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM), which is an apex organisation comprising five principal private sector bodies namely:
Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (MCCM)
The Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM)
Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI)
Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI)
Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM)
It is at the NCCIM level that the above private sector organisations endeavour to adopt a common position vis-a-vis government and its various ministries/ agencies on legislation and administrative issues affecting the business community as a whole.
The ACCCIM also seeks to collaborate internationally and maintains liaison with a number of chambers of commerce and other economic organisations overseas. The ACCCIM's involvement in ASEAN affairs is principally through the NCCIM which in turn, is affiliated to the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN-CCI).
Address: Lot 6.05 & Lot 6.06, 6th Floor, Menara KH
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia
Tel : 603-2145 2503 / 2145 2653|
Email : acccim@acccim.org.my
http://www.acccim.org.my
Updated: Aug'2010
Created: Aug'2010
Source: Information From ACCCIM
Reference: http://www.acccim.org.my
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