Jiao Shi^∗, Kun Cai^∗, Qing H. Qin^†,‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.4, pp. 235-248, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.235

Abstract Simulation of the mass distribution in a human proximal femur is important to provide a reasonable therapy scheme for a patient with osteoporosis. An algorithm is developed for prediction of optimal mass distribution in a human proximal femur under a given loading environment. In this algorithm, the bone material is assumed to be bi-modulus, i.e., the tension modulus is not identical to the compression modulus in the same direction. With this bi-modulus bone material, a topology optimization method, i.e., modified SIMP approach, is employed to determine the optimal mass distribution in a proximal femur. The effects of the difference between… More >

M. Moatamedi^∗, M. Souli^†, E. Al-Bahkali^‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.4, pp. 221-234, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.221

Abstract This paper describes the capabilities of fluid structure interaction based multi-physics numerical modelling in solving problems related to vascular biomechanics. In this research work, the onset of a pressure pulse was simulated at the entrance of a three dimensional straight segment of the blood vessel like circular tube and the resulting dynamic response in the form of a propagating pulse wave through the wall was analysed and compared. Good agreement was found between the numerical results and the theoretical description of an idealized artery. Work has also been done on implementing the material constitutive models specific for vascular applications. More >

F. S. Tabatabaei^∗, M. Jazayeri^†, P. Ghahari^‡, N. Haghighipour^§

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 209-220, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.209

Abstract During orthodontic treatments, applied mechanical forces create strain and result in tooth movement through the alveolar bone. This response to mechanical strain is a fundamental biological reaction. The present study evaluated the effect of equiaxial strain within the range of orthodontic forces on the osteogenic differentiation of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). Following isolation and culture of hDPSCs, 3rd passage cells were transferred on a silicone membrane covered with collagen. Cell adhesion to the membrane was evaluated under scanning electron microscope (SEM). Cells were divided into three groups: the first group was placed in a conventional culture medium, transferred… More >

R. Allena^*,†

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 185-208, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.185

Abstract Confined migration is a crucial phenomenon during embryogenesis, immune response and cancer. Here, a two-dimensional finite element model of a HeLa cell migrating across constricted–curved micro-channels is proposed. The cell is modelled as a continuum with embedded cytoplasm and nucleus, which are described by standard Maxwell viscoelastic models. The decomposition of the deformation gradient is employed to define the cyclic active strains of protrusion and contraction, which are synchronized with the adhesion forces between the cell and the substrate. The micro-channels are represented by two rigid walls and exert an additional viscous force on the cell boundaries. Five configurations have… More >

S.F. Moreira^∗, J. Belinha^{∗,† ,‡}, L.M.J.S. Dinis^∗,†, R.M. Natal Jorge^∗,†

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.3, pp. 151-184, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.151

Abstract In this work the maxillary central incisor is numerically analysed with an advance discretization technique – Natural Neighbour Radial Point Interpolation Method (NNRPIM). The NNRPIM permits to organically determine the nodal connectivity, which is essential to construct the interpolation functions. The NNRPIM procedure, based uniquely in the computational nodal mesh discretizing the problem domain, allows to obtain autonomously the required integration mesh, permitting to numerically integrate the differential equations ruling the studied physical phenomenon. A numerical analysis of a tooth structure using a meshless method is presented for the first time. A two-dimensional model of the maxillary central incisor, based… More >

Zheng-qi Liu^∗, Ying Liu^∗,†, Tian-tian Liu^∗, Qing-shan Yang^‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 129-149, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.129

Abstract In this paper, the hemodynamic characteristics of blood flow and stress distribution in a layered and stenotic aorta are investigated. By introducing symmetrical and unsymmetrical stenosis, the influence of stenosis morphology and stenotic ratio on the coupled dynamic responses of aorta is clarified. In the analysis, the in-vivo pulsatile waveforms and fully fluid–structure interaction (FSI) between the layered elastic aorta and the blood are considered. The results show that the fluid domain is abnormal in the stenotic aorta, and the whirlpool forms at the obstructed and downstream unobstructed regions. The maximum wall shear stresses appear at the throat of the… More >

Chetan D. Kuthe^∗, R.V. Uddanwadiker^†, Alankar Ramteke^‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 113-128, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.113

Abstract Biomechanical researches are essential to develop new techniques to improve the clinical relevance. Skeletal muscle generates the force which results in the motion of human body, so it is essential to study the mechanical and structural properties of skeletal muscle. Many researchers have carried out mechanical study of skeletal muscle with in-vivo testing. This work aims to examine anisotropic mechanical behavior of skeletal muscle with in vitro test (tensile test). It is important to understand the mechanical and structural behavior of skeletal muscle when it is subjected to external loading; the research aims to determine the structural properties of skeletal… More >

Umadevi. B, Dinesh P.A., Indira R., Vinay. C.V

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.2, pp. 101-111, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.101

Abstract The mass transfer in an eccentric annular region through diffusion by taking blood as a Newtonian fluid with the investigation of oxygen transfer and drug transport to the tissue cells in an eccentric catheterized artery is studied. The region bounded by eccentric circles in x-y plane is mapped conformally to concentric circles in \(\xi -\eta\) plane using a conformal mapping \(z = \lambda /1 - \zeta\). The resulting governing equations are analytically solved by using transformation for the concentration. Numerical computations are carried out to understand the simultaneous~effects of absorption parameter and eccentricity on the flow. ~The observation through the… More >

L. L. Xiao^∗, S. Chen^∗,†, C. S. Lin^∗, Y. Liu^‡

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 67-85, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.067

Abstract The motion and deformation of a single red blood cell flowing through a microvessel stenosis was investigated employing dissipative particle dynamics (DPD) method. The numerical model considers plasma, cytoplasm, the RBC membrane and the microvessel walls, in which a three dimensional coarse-grained spring network model of RBC’s membrane was used to simulate the deformation of the RBC. The suspending plasma was modelled as an incompressible Newtonian fluid and the vessel walls were regarded as rigid body. The body force exerted on the free DPD particles was used to drive the flow. A modified bounce-back boundary condition was enforced on the… More >

Hassan P. Modarres^∗, Mohammad R. K. Mofrad^†

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.11, No.1, pp. 39-65, 2014, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2014.011.039

Abstract Focal adhesions are the immediate sites of the cell’s adhesive interaction with the extracellular matrix and as such play a key role in mechanosensing and mechanotransduction at the edge of the cell interface with its surrounding microenvironment. A multitude of proteins orchestrate this mechanochemical communication process between the cell and its outside world. Filamin is a member of focal adhesion protein machinery that also plays a key role in regulating and bundling the acting filament network. A brief review is presented here on filamin and its important protein partners with the aim to shed light on the role of filamin’s… More >