Summary V

Starts with a query. Since "extrafibrillar mineralization:--the mineral coating outside the fibril on the skin affects strength, can we somehow affect the quantity of these mineral rings around the fibril? Rhetorical Q at present.

But, Planck launched right in with measurements that permit some extrapolation.

bone is max 52% mineral salts. (The rest of bone is organic material and water.) If there is a "max" does this answer the Q above?

But, 70% of the minerals lie within the fibrils. Its the extrafibrillars that increase the strength!

Adjacent fibrils with tiny nano spacing between them--1 to 2 nm--tend to glue together or bridge together by bone glue or HA crystals. Extrafibrillar mineralization first thickens on the outside of the fibril then grows into rings. With the growth of rings, by Planck, the fibril grows considerably stiffer (stronger) in directions perpendicular to its axis. These rings are important. And, due to the geometric shape of the rings, the fibril, as rings grow around it, also maintains flexibility.

The geometric patterns (see illustrations in the posts) fill prior spaces with stronger extrafibrillar rings. AND--by certain mathematical machinations the Planck scientists figure out that growth of mineral platelets outside the fibrils corresponds exactly to the growth inside the fibril. Outside and in the minerals grow at the same rate. And so, when we get increased strength due to extrafibrillar growth, we're at the same time also increasing strength on the inside of each fibril!

With this knowledge they determine there are measurable differences in strength as the newborn baby fibril sans HA Platelets goes through its full process of mineralization as it ages. The important concept--indeed there are strength differences! An 8Belles fibril compared to an TC winner Assault fibril, perhaps!

Strength increases geometrically as mineralization, inside and out, increases. Planck concludes by determining the same measurement process can be done for fibril arrays, and indeed there are also strength differences resulting from the manner of alignment of fibril arrays, eg. parallel, cross linked, or random disorganization that you might get in a couch potato bone. The post of 1/31 shows images verifying the patterns theorized by Planck.

That brings me to end of January where the processes that we must consider in a "minimum frequency of speed work necessary for FR" equation are summarized:

rearrangement of materials and patterns
temporary increases in bone glue proteins
temporary compaction of the mineral lattice that will rebound over time unless reinforced by subsequent speed work

mineralization

Training

As the training posts have noted, the weather this year has reached the stage were it overcomes even our dam the torpedos effort that began with the 1/23 post. 3/20,3/21 and 3/22 all off due to 6 inches of snow fall. 50 degrees today. The pasture is a lake.