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Mechanical Interactions (mechanical + interaction)
Selected AbstractsEffect of glenohumeral abduction angle on the mechanical interaction between the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons for the intact, partial-thickness torn, and repaired supraspinatus tendon conditionsJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 7 2010Nelly Andarawis-Puri Abstract Rotator cuff tears are difficult to manage because of the structural and mechanical inhomogeneity of the supraspinatus tendon. Previously, we showed that with the arm at the side, the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons mechanically interact such that conditions that increase supraspinatus tendon strain, such as load or full-thickness tears, also increase infraspinatus tendon strain. This suggests that the infraspinatus tendon may shield the supraspinatus tendon from further injury while becoming at increased risk of injury itself. In this study, the effect of glenohumeral abduction angle on the interaction between the two tendons was evaluated for supraspinatus tendon partial-thickness tears and two repair techniques. Principal strains were quantified in both tendons for 0°, 30°, and 60° of glenohumeral abduction. Results showed that interaction between the two tendons is interrupted by an increase in abduction angle for all supraspinatus tendon conditions evaluated. Infraspinatus tendon strain was lower at 30° and 60° than at 0° abduction angle. In conclusion, interaction between the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons is interrupted with increase in abduction angle. Additionally, 30° abduction should be further evaluated for management of rotator cuff tears and repairs as it is the angle at which both supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendon strain is decreased. © 2010 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 28:846,851, 2010 [source] Impact fracture toughness of polyethylene/polypropylene multilayersPOLYMER ENGINEERING & SCIENCE, Issue 9 2004Luisa Moreno In a number of applications, a brittle polymeric surface layer is deliberately molded onto a tough substrate for decorative or protective purposes. This can increase the susceptibility of the tough polymer to premature failure. Similar problems arise when a surface layer becomes embrittled by environmental effects. Choosing a surface material that has good mechanical properties without having this effect can be difficult. In this work the fracture resistances of two polyethylenes and an ethylene/propylene copolymer, and of symmetrical two-component multilayers of these polymers, were determined as a function of temperature, using instrumented impact tests. The law of mixtures accounts adequately for the fracture resistance of multilayer structures where there is no mechanical interaction between skin and core. However, it gave misleading results for a structure in which high skin modulus at low temperatures appeared to influence the fracture resistance of the core through a constraint effect. Polym. Eng. Sci. 44:1627,1635, 2004. © 2004 Society of Plastics Engineers. [source] Finite Element Modelling of Bioactive Contact in Bone-Implant InterfacePROCEEDINGS IN APPLIED MATHEMATICS & MECHANICS, Issue 1 2008André Lutz Finite element simulation for the prediction of bone remodelling caused by implants is a powerful method to improve or to rate implant designs even before they will be evaluated in clinical studies. But the bone,implant interaction is often modelled as ideal bonding in the interface. This approach is not suitable to describe the interrelation of both parts in a physiological manner. To correct these insufficiencies a 3D bioactive contact element has been developed. This contact element describes on the one hand the pure mechanical interaction and on the other hand the mechanical stimulated bone ingrowth in porous surfaces. The benefits of the use of the bioactive contact element regarding the standard method will be presented in this contribution. A comparison of both methods based on clinic results regarding a hip prosthesis with mixed surface textures will be shown. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Rho plays a central role in regulating local cell-matrix mechanical interactions in 3D cultureCYTOSKELETON, Issue 6 2007N. Lakshman Abstract The purpose of this study was to assess quantitatively the role of the small GTPase Rho on cell morphology, f-actin organization, and cell-induced matrix remodeling in 3D culture. Human corneal fibroblasts (HTK) were infected with adenoviruses that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) or GFP-N19Rho (dominant negative Rho). One day later cells were plated inside collagen matrices and allowed to spread for 24 h. Cells were fixed and stained for f-actin. Fluorescent (for f-actin) and reflected light (for collagen fibrils) images were acquired using confocal microscopy. Fourier transform analysis was used to assess local collagen fibril alignment, and changes in cell morphology and collagen density were measured using MetaMorph. The decrease in matrix height was used as an indicator of global matrix contraction. HTK and HTK-GFP cells induced significant global matrix contraction; this was inhibited by N19Rho. HTK and HTK-GFP fibroblasts generally had a bipolar morphology and occasional intracellular stress fibers. Collagen fibrils were compacted and aligned parallel to stress fibers and pseudopodia. In contrast, HTK-GFPN19 cells were elongated, and had a more cortical f-actin distribution. Numerous small extensions were also observed along the cell body. In addition, both local collagen fibril density and alignment were significantly reduced. Rho plays a key role in regulating both the morphology and mechanical behavior of corneal fibroblasts in 3D culture. Overall, the data suggest that Rho-kinase dependent cell contractility contributes to global and local matrix remodeling, whereas Rho dependent activation of mDia and/or other downstream effectors regulates the structure and number of cell processes. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Vinculin is proteolyzed by calpain during platelet aggregation: 95 kDa cleavage fragment associates with the platelet cytoskeletonCYTOSKELETON, Issue 4 2004Katherine Serrano Abstract The focal adhesion protein vinculin contributes to cell attachment and spreading through strengthening of mechanical interactions between cell cytoskeletal proteins and surface membrane glycoproteins. To investigate whether vinculin proteolysis plays a role in the influence vinculin exerts on the cytoskeleton, we studied the fate of vinculin in activated and aggregating platelets by Western blot analysis of the platelet lysate and the cytoskeletal fractions of differentially activated platelets. Vinculin was proteolyzed into at least three fragments (the major one being ,95 kDa) within 5 min of platelet activation with thrombin or calcium ionophore. The 95 kDa vinculin fragment shifted cellular compartments from the membrane skeletal fraction to the cortical cytoskeletal fraction of lysed platelets in a platelet aggregation-dependent manner. Vinculin cleavage was inhibited by calpeptin and E64d, indicating that the enzyme responsible for vinculin proteolysis is calpain. These calpain inhibitors also inhibited the translocation of full-length vinculin to the cytoskeleton. We conclude that cleavage of vinculin and association of vinculin cleavage fragment(s) with the platelet cytoskeleton is an activation response that may be important in the cytoskeletal remodeling of aggregating platelets. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 58:242,252, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Material stiffness, branching pattern and soil matric potential affect the pullout resistance of model root systemsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE, Issue 6 2007S. B. Mickovski Summary Understanding of the detailed mechanisms of how roots anchor in and reinforce soil is complicated by the variability and complexity of both materials. This study controlled material stiffness and architecture of root analogues, by using rubber and wood, and also employed real willow root segments, to investigate the effect on pullout resistance in wet and air-dry sand. The architecture of model roots included either no laterals (tap-root) or a single pair at two different locations (herringbone and dichotomous). During pullout tests, data on load and displacement were recorded. These studies were combined with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) image analysis of the model root-soil system at a transparent interface during pullout to increase understanding of mechanical interactions along the root. Model rubber roots with small stiffness had increasing pullout resistance as the branching and the depth of the lateral roots increased. Similarly, with the stiff wooden root models, the models with lateral roots embedded deeper showed greatest resistance. PIV showed that rubber model roots mobilized their interface shear strength progressively whilst rigid roots mobilized it equally and more rapidly over the whole root length. Soil water suction increased the pullout resistance of the roots by increasing the effective stress and soil strength. Separate pullout tests conducted on willow root samples embedded in sand showed similar behaviour to the rigid model roots. These tests also demonstrated the effect of the root curvature and rough interface on the maximum pullout resistance. [source] An analytical approach to evaluate the coefficients of thermal expansion of textile composite materialsPOLYMER COMPOSITES, Issue 5 2000Yasser Gowayed An analytical approach is developed to evaluate the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) of textile reinforced composites. At the micro level, a cylindrical composite model is employed to model the fiber/matrix thermal and mechanical interactions. The effects of voids and fiber coating on the thermal expansion coefficients of composites are considered at this level. The cylindrical model was then embedded in a macro hybrid finite element solutio structure to calculate the value of the CTE for textile composites. AS-4/epoxy balanced plain weave textile composites were manufactured. Five different fiber volume fractions were tested for CTE. Evaluatio of the thermal expansion coefficients using the current model was compared to experimental data for in-plane and out-of-plane directions. [source] | |||||||||||||