We postulate that NanoBone(s) has osteoconductive and biomimetic properties and is integrated into the host's physiological bone turnover at a very early stage.

Abstract. The distribution of the unipotent modules (in nondefining prime characteristic) of the finite unitary groups into Harish-Chandra series is investigated. We formulate a series of conjectures relating this distribution with the crystal graph of an integrable module for a certain quantum group. Evidence for our conjectures is presented, as well as proofs for some of their consequences for the crystal graphs involved. In the course of our work we also generalize Harish-Chandra theory for some of the finite classical groups, and we introduce their Harish-Chandra branching graphs.

We make explicit a triple crystal structure on higher level Fock spaces, by investigating at the combinatorial level the actions of two affine quantum groups and of a Heisenberg algebra. To this end, we first determine a new indexation of the basis elements that makes the two quantum group crystals commute. Then, we define a so-called Heisenberg crystal, commuting with the other two. This gives new information about the representation theory of cyclotomic rational Cherednik algebras, relying on some recent results of Shan and Vasserot and of Losev. In particular, we give an explicit labelling of their finite-dimensional simple modules.

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During the last decades, a range of excellent and promising strategies in Bone Tissue Engineering have been developed. However, the remaining major problem is the lack of vascularization. In this study, extrinsic and intrinsic vascularization strategies were combined for acceleration of vascularization. For optimal biomechanical stability of the defect site and simplifying future transition into clinical application, a primary stable and approved nanostructured bone substitute in clinically relevant size was used. An arteriovenous (AV) loop was microsurgically created in sheep and implanted, together with the bone substitute, in either perforated titanium chambers (intrinsic/extrinsic) for different time intervals of up to 18 weeks or isolated Teflon(®) chambers (intrinsic) for 18 weeks. Over time, magnetic resonance imaging and micro-computed tomography (CT) analyses illustrate the dense vascularization arising from the AV loop. The bone substitute was completely interspersed with newly formed tissue after 12 weeks of intrinsic/extrinsic vascularization and after 18 weeks of intrinsic/extrinsic and intrinsic vascularization. Successful matrix change from an inorganic to an organic scaffold could be demonstrated in vascularized areas with scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Using the intrinsic vascularization method only, the degradation of the scaffold and osteoclastic activity was significantly lower after 18 weeks, compared with 12 and 18 weeks in the combined intrinsic-extrinsic model. Immunohistochemical staining revealed an increase in bone tissue formation over time, without a difference between intrinsic/extrinsic and intrinsic vascularization after 18 weeks. This study presents the combination of extrinsic and intrinsic vascularization strategies for the generation of an axially vascularized bone substitute in clinically relevant size using a large animal model. The additional extrinsic vascularization promotes tissue ingrowth and remodeling processes of the bone substitute. Extrinsic vessels contribute to faster vascularization and finally anastomose with intrinsic vasculature, allowing microvascular transplantation of the bone substitute after a shorter prevascularization time than using the intrinsic method only. It can be reasonably assumed that the usage of perforated chambers can significantly reduce the time until transplantation of bone constructs. Finally, this study paves the way for further preclinical testing for proof of the concept as a basis for early clinical applicability.

One of the major challenges in the application of bone substitutes is adequate vascularization and biocompatibility of the implant. Thus, the temporal course of neovascularization and the microvascular inflammatory response of implants of NanoBone (fully synthetic nanocrystalline bone grafting material) were studied in vivo by using the mouse dorsal skinfold chamber model. Angiogenesis, microhemodynamics, and leukocyte-endothelial cell interaction were analyzed repetitively after implantation in the center and in the border zone of the implant up to 15 days. Both NanoBone granules and plates exhibited high biocompatibility comparable to that of cancellous bone, as indicated by a lack of venular leukocyte activation after implantation. In both synthetic NanoBone groups, signs of angiogenesis could be observed even at day 5 after implantation, whereas granules showed higher functional vessel density compared with NanoBone plates. The angiogenic response of the cancellous bone was markedly accelerated in the center of the implant tissue. Histologically, implant tissue showed an ingrowth of vascularized fibrous tissue into the material combined with an increased number of foreign-body giant cells. In conclusion, NanoBone, particularly in granular form, showed high biocompatibility and high angiogenic response, thus improving the healing of bone defects. Our results underline that, beside the composition and nanostructure, the macrostructure is also of importance for the incorporation of the biomaterial by the host tissue.

For integers e, ℓ ≥ 2, the level ℓ Fock space has an sl ∞ -crystal structure arising from the action of a Heisenberg algebra, intertwining the sl e -crystal. The vertices of these crystals are charged ℓ-partitions. We give the combinatorial rule for computing the arrows anywhere in the sl ∞crystal. This allows us to pinpoint the location of any charged ℓ-partition. As an application, we compute the support of the spherical representation of a cyclotomic rational Cherednik algebra, and in particular, the set of parameters such that it is finite-dimensional. We also give an easy abacus characterization of all finite-dimensional representations of type B Cherednik algebras.(T.G.) Lehrstuhl

We explain how the action of the Heisenberg algebra on the space of q-deformed wedges yields the Heisenberg crystal structure on charged multipartitions, by using the boson-fermion correspondence and looking at the action of the Schur functions at q = 0. In addition, we give the explicit formula for computing this crystal in full generality.