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The performance and properties of Titanium (Ti) and its alloys can be fully exploited for biomedical applications such as orthopedic and dental implants, when porous structures are used. Such Ti structures can matched the bone mechanical properties, providing a solution to the stress-shielding effect problem and facilitating implant biointegration. Powder metallurgy (PM) combined with space holder (SH) technology is an appealing process to produce porous implants. This article briefly discusses the suitability of the PM with SH technology to produce porous structures from the perspectives of both design and manufacture for the production of medical devices.

Under the keyword 5G, the future network infrastructure targets to removal of limitations to current networks by addressing the challenges in managing, controlling and orchestrating a fully softwarized network and services running on the infrastructure. The use cases motivating 5G are so diverse and challenging that 5G networks must be customizable for a very broad range of individual scenarios. The Project SliceNet, part of the European 5G infrastructure PPP, is set to implement end-to-end multi-domain network slicing that provides a management plane for slices, as well as facilitating vertical business added value, coupled with optimized Quality of Experience (QoE) for the end users. This paper analyses the requirements derived from a set of use cases from different vertical industries including: Smart Grid Self-Healing, e-Health Smart/Connected Ambulance and Smart City, which collectively guide the development of the SliceNet architecture meeting the relevant Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for these use cases.

Network slicing is a concept recently introduced in 5G networks. The EU 5G PPP SliceNet project focuses on network slicing and addresses the associated challenges in managing, controlling and orchestrating services for customers in the vertical industry sectors. It maximizes the potential of 5G networks by leveraging advanced software networking and cognitive network management. This poster presents the goals, initial achievements and expected innovations of the project.

Bone spacers are exclusively used for replacing the tissue after trauma and/or diseases. Ceramic materials bring positive opportunities to enhance greater osteointegration and performance of implants, yet processing of porous geometries can be challenging. Additive Manufacturing (AM) opens opportunities to grade porosity levels in a part, however, its productivity may be low due to its batch processing approach. The paper studies the biological responses yielded by hydroxyapatite with &beta, TCP (tricalcium phosphate) ceramic porous bone spacers manufactured by robocasting 2-layer meshes that are rolled in green and sintered. The implants are assessed in vitro and in vivo for their compatibility. Human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells attached, proliferated and differentiated on the bone spacers produced. Cells on the spacers presented alkaline phosphatase staining, confirming osteogenic differentiation. They also expressed bone-specific COL1A1, BGAP, BSP, and SPP1 genes. The fold change of these genes ranged between 8 to 16 folds compared to controls. When implanted into the subcutaneous tissue of rabbits, they triggered collagen fibre formation and mild fibroblastic proliferation. In conclusion, rolled AM-meshes bone spacers stimulated bone formation in vitro and were biocompatible in vivo. This technology may give the advantage to custom produce spacers at high production rates if industrially upscaled.

Two differently sized microspheres were sintered at 1300° C and 1400° C from 2 to 8 h in stoneware, alumina, yttria and zirconia moulds. Selecting the appropriate material to be used as a mould remains a critical issue given titanium's high reactivity at elevated temperatures. Optimum mechanical properties were obtained when sintering the smallest microspheres in yttria-coated moulds. Stiffness of the samples was lower than 40% of that of the bulk solid material, which comes closer to that of human cortical bone. Open and interconnected porosity was observed in all the specimens. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., The translation of this paper was funded by the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the Universitat Jaume I.