Article
Ecology
Cristian L. Klunk, Marco A. Argenta, Alexandre Casadei-Ferreira, Marcio R. Pie
Summary: Food processing puts significant evolutionary pressures on the morphological evolution of animal appendages. The ant genus Pheidole shows a remarkable degree of morphological differentiation and task specialization among its workers. In this study, we use finite element analysis to investigate the effect of variation in head shape on stress patterns in Pheidole workers, and find evidence that head shapes of majors are optimized for dealing with stronger bites.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Rebecca W. Cook, Antonino Vazzana, Rita Sorrentino, Stefano Benazzi, Amanda L. Smith, David S. Strait, Justin A. Ledogar
Summary: The study explores the feeding biomechanics of Homo floresiensis and finds that they were able to produce bite forces with high mechanical efficiency, but may have been constrained by tensile jaw joint reaction forces during molar biting. The inferred feeding biomechanics of Homo floresiensis closely resemble those of modern humans, suggesting this pattern may have been present in the last common ancestor of Homo sapiens and H. floresiensis.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Anqi Xue, Zuming Mao, Xiaoyu Zhu, Qiang Yang, Peichen Wang, Zimu Mao, Mingze Du, Xu Ma, Dong Jiang, Yubo Fan, Feng Zhao
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical effects of horizontal meniscal tears and different resection strategies on a rabbit knee joint using finite element analysis. The results showed that the horizontal meniscal tears had little biomechanical impact on the rabbit knee joint, and some of the partial meniscectomy strategies also had minimal effect on joint stress. It is recommended to preserve the posterior root and the remaining peripheral edge of the meniscus during surgery for a horizontal meniscal tear.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yuchen Liu, Ming Fang, Ruifeng Zhao, Hengyan Liu, Min Tian, Sheng Zhong, Shizhu Bai
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of periodontal splints made from different materials on stress distributions in compromised periodontal tissues and cement layers. Using a computer simulation of mastication, it was found that the use of splints effectively distributed loads and reduced stress. Splinting materials with low elastic moduli reduced stress concentration at the connectors, but increased tensile stress in the cement layer.
Article
Polymer Science
Larissa Mendes Campaner, Marcos Paulo Motta Silveira, Guilherme Schmitt de Andrade, Alexandre Luiz Souto Borges, Marco Antonio Bottino, Amanda Maria de Oliveira Dal Piva, Roberto Lo Giudice, Pietro Ausiello, Joao Paulo Mendes Tribst
Summary: This study evaluated the biomechanical behavior of different interim restorative materials for posterior fixed partial dentures, with resin composite attenuating stress on the cement layer and acrylic resin attenuating stress on the connector region.
Review
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Wenqing Wei, Tianyuan Zhang, Zifang Huang, Junlin Yang
Summary: This article reviews the use of finite element analysis (FEA) in assisting brace treatment for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). It discusses the technical choices encountered during the construction of the finite element model (FEM) and explores the different fields and limitations of FEA. The article also collects observation items based on FEA and provides guidance and directions to improve brace treatment.
MEDICAL & BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING & COMPUTING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Fuhao Mo, Yuandong Li, Junjie Li, Shuangyuan Zhou, Zurong Yang
Summary: This study established a three-dimensional foot-ankle model and investigated its suitability for analyzing foot-ankle biomechanical responses. Two personalization methods were compared, using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and fast optical scan data, respectively, to analyze the dynamic gait responses. The results showed good correlation with subject-specific experimental results, indicating the effectiveness of the model in analyzing subject-specific foot deformation behavior during dynamic gait loading.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Luca Salvadori Ferre, Felipe Goncalves Di Nisio, Celso Junio Aguiar Mendonca, Ivan Moura Belo
Summary: This study presents a comparative finite element analysis of two different fixation methods for treating high-energy tibial plateau fractures, LC-DCP and LCP, and finds that osteosynthesis with LCP achieves better results with reduced independent motion of bone fragments at the fracture site, as predicted in literature.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ruofan Wang, Zenghui Wu
Summary: Finite element analysis (FEA) is a widely used tool that has contributed to a better understanding of the spine and its behavior, as well as assisting in the design and application of spinal interbody cages (ICs). FEA allows for thorough testing of new designs before manufacturing, examining biomechanical responses and spinal fusion processes that cannot easily be experimented upon in vivo. This paper reviews the recent progress of FEA in spinal ICs over the last six years and discusses its limitations and future advancements.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Francois Zot, Estelle Ben-Brahim, Mathieu Severyns, Yann Ledoux, Michel Mesnard, Laetitia Caille, Cecile Swennen, Simon Teyssedou, Abdollah-Yassine Moufid, Arnaud Germaneau, Tanguy Vendeuvre
Summary: Lumbar disc arthroplasty is a surgical procedure used to treat degenerative disc disease. This study compared the mechanical response of ball-and-socket and elastic prostheses using finite element models.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
DaiZhu Yuan, ZhanYu Wu, Long Yang, Qiang Zou, DaWei Hua, ZiHao Zou, Chuan Ye
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different core decompression drilling locations and diameters on mechanical stability using finite element analysis. It was found that femoral stiffness decreased with increasing drilling diameters, while maximum equivalent stress increased. A safe drilling parameter range suitable for most patients was proposed.
COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Yi-jun Zhang, Yan Guo, Xiao Long, Jing-yu Du, Tao Liu, Xiang-jin Lin
Summary: This study utilized a 3-Dimensional finite element foot model to investigate the role of soft tissue stress in flexible flatfoot, finding that the plantar fascia plays a crucial role in maintaining the medial longitudinal arch. The equivalent stress in the arch increases with plantar fascia attenuation, indicating its importance in arch support.
BIOMECHANICS AND MODELING IN MECHANOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sergio Giner, Jose F. Bartolome, Pablo Gomez-Cogolludo, Carlos Castellote, Guillermo Pradies
Summary: The mechanical behavior of zirconia abutments and monolithic all-ceramic restorations connected to titanium implants with different internal connection designs were evaluated in this study, showing that the internal conical connection of zirconia abutments had higher mechanical performance. Furthermore, the choice of materials for chairside CAD/CAM monolithic restorations had similar effects on mechanical fracture and fatigue resistance. Stress distribution was found to be influenced by the connection design within the implant/restoration complex.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Amin Joukar, Jwalant Mehta, Vijay K. Goel, David S. Marks
Summary: This study evaluated the mechanical effectiveness of tuning fork plate fixation system compared to dual iliac screw fixation through finite element analysis. The results showed that both fixation systems had similar motion reduction at spine levels, but the stress values were higher in the dual iliac screw constructs compared to the tuning fork plate fixation system. The factor of safety of the tuning fork plate device was 50% higher than the dual iliac screw fixation.
GLOBAL SPINE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biology
Jiantao Liu, Yanzheng Gao, Binbin Niu, Jintao Xiu, Hongbo Wang, Yanbiao Wang, Yin Yang
Summary: The novel double-hook clavicular plate shows significant reductions in stress on the bone and screws around the clavicle, as well as helping to alleviate peak stress on the acromion.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Fay Penrose, Philip Cox, Graham Kemp, Nathan Jeffery
ANATOMICAL RECORD-ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Jesse J. Hennekam, James W. F. Sadler, Fedor N. Golenishchev, Lyudmila Yu. Kryuchkova, Dmitry Korost, Olga Nanova, Philip G. Cox
Summary: By scanning and virtually reconstructing the crania and mandibles of two adult individuals of the desert dormouse Selevinia betpakdalaensis, this study provides a detailed description of its highly unusual cranial and mandibular morphology and compares it with previously described dormouse genera, revealing clear adaptations to a desert-like environment and hinting at an insectivorous diet and burrowing lifestyle.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip G. Cox, Chris G. Foulkes, Nigel C. Bennett
Article
Biology
Sarah Broyde, Matthew Dempsey, Linjie Wang, Philip G. Cox, Michael Fagan, Karl T. Bates
Summary: Biomechanical modelling is a useful tool for studying the evolution of functional performance in extinct animals, but reconstructions of soft tissue properties in current models face challenges. The qualitative and quantitative differences in reconstructions have a significant impact on predicting evolutionary patterns in macroevolutionary studies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Correction
Biology
Sarah Broyde, Matthew Dempsey, Linjie Wang, Philip G. Cox, Michael Fagan, Karl T. Bates
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Todd C. Pataky, Masahide Yagi, Noriaki Ichihashi, Philip G. Cox
Summary: This computational framework provides an automated, landmark-free hypothesis testing of 2D contour shapes, yielding quick results with rich morphological detail and probability values. However, the framework is sensitive to algorithm parameters and sensitivity analysis is recommended for robust statistical conclusions.
PEERJ COMPUTER SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Eloy Galvez-Lopez, Brandon Kilbourne, Philip G. Cox
Summary: European and American minks are similar in ecology, behavior, and morphology, but the American mink has shown better adaptation to human-altered environments, leading to outcompeting the European mink in introduced areas. Differences in cranial shape between the two species were found, with the American mink having a more adaptive morphology. Additionally, significant size-related sexual dimorphism exists within both species, with only the American mink showing significant sexual dimorphism in shape.
JOURNAL OF ANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Eloy Galvez-Lopez, Philip G. Cox
Summary: European and American minks are ecologically similar, but the latter is a more competitive predator. Differences in mandible shape and biomechanical parameters indicate that American minks are better equipped for preying on terrestrial vertebrates, while European minks may be better suited for fish capture or tougher prey. Additionally, larger individuals of each species tend to prey more on terrestrial vertebrates.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alice E. Maher, Gustavo Burin, Philip G. Cox, Thomas W. Maddox, Susannah C. R. Maidment, Natalie Cooper, Emma R. Schachner, Karl T. Bates
Summary: In this article, the authors examine the relationship between body size, shape, and segment proportions and ecology in 410 tetrapod models. They find that body proportions play a pivotal role in the ecological diversity of tetrapods, with variable allometric relationships and differential scaling in different-sized animals.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Amber P. Wood-Bailey, Philip G. Cox, Alana C. Sharp
Summary: This study analyzed the intracranial joint, facial tilting, and lateral fenestration of the maxilla wall in the context of leporid evolutionary history using Bayesian inference and ancestral state reconstruction. The results suggest that the last common ancestor of living leporids had some facial tilting and dorsal fenestration of the maxillary corpus, while the last common ancestor of all lagomorphs did not have these traits.
Article
Ecology
Jesse J. Hennekam, Victoria L. Herridge, Philip G. Cox
Summary: Insular gigantism refers to the phenomenon where small animals on islands become larger compared to their mainland relatives. Previous studies suggest that resource limitation may be a potential driver for this process. However, this research shows that dietary adaptations vary among different giant taxa on islands and can occur rapidly. Furthermore, the study suggests that insular giant niche varies among islands and over time, indicating that there is no universal ecological driver for insular gigantism in small mammals.
Article
Biology
Lucja Fostowicz-Frelik, Philip G. Cox, Qian Li
Summary: The Glires, including rodents and lagomorphs, are the most speciose group of placental mammals. There are different chewing movements in these lineages, with lagomorphs showing a mostly transversal power stroke and rodents showing a mostly proal power stroke. However, the ancestral condition for Glires remains unclear. This study investigates the mandibles of Chinese Palaeocene Glires and suggests an early diversification of mandible structure, with a mixture of duplicidentate and simplicidentate characters among the basal Glires and an early occurrence of a lagomorph-like morphotype.
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Philip G. G. Cox, Peter J. J. Watson
Summary: Feeding in red and grey squirrels was simulated using multi-body dynamics analysis (MDA) to determine the contribution of each jaw-closing muscle in bite force generation. The study found that bite force increased with wider jaw gapes, with the superficial and anterior deep masseter being the main contributors and the temporalis playing a minor role. The analysis also suggested that the temporalis is more important in jaw stabilization than bite force generation. This study demonstrates the usefulness of MDA in understanding squirrel feeding biomechanics, complementing in vivo experimentation.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Karl T. Bates, Linjie Wang, Matthew Dempsey, Sarah Broyde, Michael J. Fagan, Philip G. Cox
Summary: The study evaluated the accuracy of muscle area assessment techniques in estimating muscle proportions, force outputs and bone loading in a comparative macroevolutionary context, revealing poor performance with large errors in muscle properties and bone stress. The methods also fail to capture qualitative differences between rodent morphotypes, raising doubts on their validity for providing input data for biomechanical models applied in functional transitions and taxon-rich statistical models at a macroevolutionary scale. Future work is suggested to explore correlations between attachment area and muscle size within homologous muscles across multiple species for more accurate predictions in macroevolutionary and functional studies.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Jesse J. Hennekam, Roger B. J. Benson, Victoria L. Herridge, Nathan Jeffery, Enric Torres-Roig, Josep Antoni Alcover, Philip G. Cox
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2020)