Articles tagged with Biomechanics
Comprehensive exploration of living organisms, biological systems, and life processes across all scales from molecules to ecosystems. Encompasses cutting-edge research in biology, genetics, molecular biology, ecology, biochemistry, microbiology, botany, zoology, evolutionary biology, genomics, and biotechnology. Investigates cellular mechanisms, organism development, genetic inheritance, biodiversity conservation, metabolic processes, protein synthesis, DNA sequencing, CRISPR gene editing, stem cell research, and the fundamental principles governing all forms of life on Earth.
Comprehensive medical research, clinical studies, and healthcare sciences focused on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Encompasses clinical medicine, public health, pharmacology, epidemiology, medical specialties, disease mechanisms, therapeutic interventions, healthcare innovation, precision medicine, telemedicine, medical devices, drug development, clinical trials, patient care, mental health, nutrition science, health policy, and the application of medical science to improve human health, wellbeing, and quality of life across diverse populations.
Comprehensive investigation of human society, behavior, relationships, and social structures through systematic research and analysis. Encompasses psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, linguistics, education, demography, communications, and social research methodologies. Examines human cognition, social interactions, cultural phenomena, economic systems, political institutions, language and communication, educational processes, population dynamics, and the complex social, cultural, economic, and political forces shaping human societies, communities, and civilizations throughout history and across the contemporary world.
Fundamental study of the non-living natural world, matter, energy, and physical phenomena governing the universe. Encompasses physics, chemistry, earth sciences, atmospheric sciences, oceanography, materials science, and the investigation of physical laws, chemical reactions, geological processes, climate systems, and planetary dynamics. Explores everything from subatomic particles and quantum mechanics to planetary systems and cosmic phenomena, including energy transformations, molecular interactions, elemental properties, weather patterns, tectonic activity, and the fundamental forces and principles underlying the physical nature of reality.
Practical application of scientific knowledge and engineering principles to solve real-world problems and develop innovative technologies. Encompasses all engineering disciplines, technology development, computer science, artificial intelligence, environmental sciences, agriculture, materials applications, energy systems, and industrial innovation. Bridges theoretical research with tangible solutions for infrastructure, manufacturing, computing, communications, transportation, construction, sustainable development, and emerging technologies that advance human capabilities, improve quality of life, and address societal challenges through scientific innovation and technological progress.
Study of the practice, culture, infrastructure, and social dimensions of science itself. Addresses how science is conducted, organized, communicated, and integrated into society. Encompasses research funding mechanisms, scientific publishing systems, peer review processes, academic ethics, science policy, research institutions, scientific collaboration networks, science education, career development, research programs, scientific methods, science communication, and the sociology of scientific discovery. Examines the human, institutional, and cultural aspects of scientific enterprise, knowledge production, and the translation of research into societal benefit.
Comprehensive study of the universe beyond Earth, encompassing celestial objects, cosmic phenomena, and space exploration. Includes astronomy, astrophysics, planetary science, cosmology, space physics, astrobiology, and space technology. Investigates stars, galaxies, planets, moons, asteroids, comets, black holes, nebulae, exoplanets, dark matter, dark energy, cosmic microwave background, stellar evolution, planetary formation, space weather, solar system dynamics, the search for extraterrestrial life, and humanity's efforts to explore, understand, and unlock the mysteries of the cosmos through observation, theory, and space missions.
Comprehensive examination of tools, techniques, methodologies, and approaches used across scientific disciplines to conduct research, collect data, and analyze results. Encompasses experimental procedures, analytical methods, measurement techniques, instrumentation, imaging technologies, spectroscopic methods, laboratory protocols, observational studies, statistical analysis, computational methods, data visualization, quality control, and methodological innovations. Addresses the practical techniques and theoretical frameworks enabling scientists to investigate phenomena, test hypotheses, gather evidence, ensure reproducibility, and generate reliable knowledge through systematic, rigorous investigation across all areas of scientific inquiry.
Study of abstract structures, patterns, quantities, relationships, and logical reasoning through pure and applied mathematical disciplines. Encompasses algebra, calculus, geometry, topology, number theory, analysis, discrete mathematics, mathematical logic, set theory, probability, statistics, and computational mathematics. Investigates mathematical structures, theorems, proofs, algorithms, functions, equations, and the rigorous logical frameworks underlying quantitative reasoning. Provides the foundational language and tools for all scientific fields, enabling precise description of natural phenomena, modeling of complex systems, and the development of technologies across physics, engineering, computer science, economics, and all quantitative sciences.
Researchers used advanced microscopy and computational modeling to discover why herpesvirus infection changes nuclear structures and biomechanical forces. The study found that DNA viruses infect cells and take over the host cell nucleus, leading to dramatic structural modifications and a softening of the nucleus.
Researchers identified two fundamental coordination patterns in underwater dolphin kick, accounting for over 99% of movement across performance levels. Faster swimmers exhibited greater shoulder extension and increased lower trunk movement, enabling reduced water resistance and improved propulsion.
A new theory of proprioception challenges traditional understanding by incorporating frontier bionic evidence. The proposed framework reconceptualizes proprioception as a dynamic augmentable interface, enabling functional movement and potentially improving rehabilitation outcomes in sports injuries and neurological diseases. Researcher...
Researchers discovered that certain bacteria wrap their rotating flagella around their cell bodies to form a screw thread, allowing them to propel forward through narrow passages. This mechanism enables bacteria to navigate complex environments and even infect host insects.
A Korea University study successfully mimics heart mechanics in organoids using three-dimensional magnetic torque, enhancing cardiac differentiation, maturation, and vascularization. This breakthrough could improve drug safety testing by providing more accurate human-relevant models for cardiotoxicity screening.
A recent study using Drosophila as a model organism reveals the involvement of linear ubiquitination in T-tubule biogenesis. The findings highlight LUBEL's role in triggering Amph-mediated T-tubule formation, which promotes membrane tubulation and curvature through self-ubiquitination and positive feedback loops.
A study of 198 male rugby players found that injuries caused by indirect contact had a high incidence and burden, while tackle direction was associated with injury severity. The insights gained can guide targeted prevention programs for knee injuries in rugby.
A study published in eLife reveals how kangaroos increase their hopping speeds without incurring an associated energetic cost. By adjusting their posture, kangaroos reduce tendon stress and energy storage, allowing them to maintain the same amount of net work at the ankle, regardless of speed.
Researchers used CRISPR technologies to discover previously unannotated DNA stretches in the 'dark genome', which control cell response to mechanical properties of their environment. This work could lead to new therapeutic targets for illnesses involving changes to tissue mechanics, including fibrosis and cancer.
Researchers discovered that SIRT3 deficiency intensifies eustachian tube dysfunction in mice, leading to thicker mucus, weakened cilia, and impaired tube opening. SIRT3 plays a protective role in maintaining mucociliary transport capacity and pressure-regulation mechanisms.
Researchers introduce a new method to measure middle ear transfer function more accurately, eliminating inner ear impedance effects and capturing complex stapes motion. This approach provides a reliable framework for future middle ear implant research and improves the understanding of human hearing mechanisms.
Researchers used computer simulations to understand how protein dynamin forms small vesicles within cells. Dynamin loosens at a certain stage to generate the force needed to narrow the surrounding membrane tube, providing insights for artificial nano-device design.
Researchers used engineering simulations to test the anatomy of a 250-million-year-old mammal and found that it likely had an eardrum large enough to hear airborne sound effectively. The study's findings challenge previous hypotheses on how early mammals heard, providing new insights into their evolution.
Researchers at UT San Antonio have discovered the molecular mechanisms generating electrical oscillations in microtubules, a frequency similar to that observed during brain activity. This discovery could lead to therapies preventing or reversing memory loss and improving neuroplasticity.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute develop a novel lab-on-a-chip system using intelligent hydrogel structures to simulate spatially and temporally controlled mechanical perturbations of biological polymer networks. The system applies precise pressure forces to cellular microenvironments, enabling research into biomechanical interaction...
Researchers found that children's paintings share similarities with Pollock's work, featuring smaller fine-scale patterns and simpler trajectories. Adults' paintings, on the other hand, had higher paint densities and more complex fractal patterns.
A new study has discovered that cancer cells use different strategies to move through tight tissue gaps, with fibrosarcoma cells being more flexible and deformable. This flexibility allows them to squeeze through narrow gaps more efficiently, but does not affect the direction of their movement.
The University of Oxford has launched the Nature's Intelligence Studio, a programme that translates principles from biological systems into technologies supporting sustainable innovation. The studio aims to align conservation and industrial decarbonisation through bio-inspired solutions.
Researchers discovered that woodpeckers brace their head, neck, abdomen, and tail muscles to hold their bodies rigid while pounding on wood. The birds synchronize their breathing with each impact, like ace tennis stars grunting noisily to stabilize core muscles.
Researchers find that malaria parasites use a chemical reaction powered by hydrogen peroxide decomposition to make their iron crystals spin. This motion may be crucial for the parasite's survival, helping it to eliminate excess toxic chemicals and efficiently store essential heme.
Researchers studied snake strikes using high-speed cameras, revealing distinct biting styles among viper, elapid and colubrid species. Viper fangs embed quickly, while elapids bite repeatedly, with colubrids sweeping their jaws to deliver maximum venom.
A recent study from Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences uses wearable sensor technology and machine learning to estimate ground-reaction forces in runners. This data can provide insights into performance and injury, enabling the development of devices that deliver real-time feedback to users.
Researchers used computational engineering techniques to simulate weight and gravitational stress on sauropod femurs. They found that two South American genera, Uberabatitan and Neuquensaurus, could generally remain standing for extended periods, allowing them to feed on high branches and defend against predators. The simulations sugge...
Scientists have replicated the neural circuitry that allows zebrafish to react to visual stimuli and maintain their position in flowing water. The research, published in Science Robotics, used simulations and robots to study embodiment, or how the body affects perception, in larval zebrafish.
Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University discovered that marine green algae possess a unique pigment called siphonein, which helps quench triplet states and protect photosynthesis from excessive light. This finding opens the door to developing bio-inspired solar technologies with built-in protective mechanisms.
Engineers at the University of Pittsburgh have created a soft material with a nerve net that mimics how simple living systems coordinate motion. The material responds to chemical reactions, producing mechanical movement without electronics or motors.
A recent study published in Integrative and Comparative Biology found that bonnethead sharks' skin undergoes significant changes as they mature, with younger sharks having fewer ridges on their denticles. These changes likely improve swimming performance and protect the skin from predators or injuries.
A study finds that women runners prioritize comfort, injury prevention, and performance when choosing running shoes, highlighting a need for sex- and gender-specific designs that accommodate female foot morphology across the lifespan. The researchers recommend moving beyond scaling down men's shoes to fit women's feet.
A new study published in PLOS One found that running with a stroller reduces vertical loading metrics by up to 17%, potentially decreasing injury risk. However, torsional loading metrics increased significantly, posing a potential trade-off.
Researchers discovered that proprioceptive nerve cells for sensing leg motion are deactivated during active movement in fruit flies. This selective suppression may enable the insect to quickly respond to sudden external events. The study advances basic scientific knowledge of sensory feedback and its application to clinical treatments
Researchers found that magnetic fields can regulate iron metabolism to improve Monascus pigment synthesis and reduce citrinin production. This approach may enhance the safety of fermented food products.
Researchers developed a fully automated finite element analysis pipeline to transform spine diagnostics and personalized treatment planning. The new approach enables rapid, patient-specific simulations that support preoperative planning, spinal implant optimization, and early detection of degenerative spine conditions.
A new study by Anneke van Heteren found that early bears like the Auvergne bear were likely typical omnivores, not insect-eaters as previously thought. The research used 3D jaw analyses and geometric morphometrics to compare jaw biomechanics with different diets.
Researchers found that shutting down a signaling pathway in fibroblasts restored heart functioning in lab models. The study suggests that targeting fibroblasts may be essential to treat dilated cardiomyopathy, a leading cause of heart failure.
A new study by Florida Atlantic University reveals that every arm is capable of performing all action types, with front arms mainly used for exploration and back arms supporting movement. Octopuses demonstrated remarkable flexibility, showcasing complex motor control.
A research team from Nara Institute of Science and Technology developed a dynamic microfluidic channel that adjusts to particle size, increasing impedance flow cytometry's sensitivity and accuracy. The platform also leverages clogging as a strategy to optimize performance.
Researchers developed an innovative model explaining how elongated amphibious animals, like eels, coordinate movement in water and on land. The study reveals sensory feedback as the key to maintaining locomotor performance.
A team of researchers has developed a mathematical model that integrates sensory feedback to enable eel-like robots to swim and crawl on land. The study shows how multisensory feedback enables eels to adapt their movement patterns after spinal cord injury, providing insights into the evolutionary transition of vertebrates from water to...
University of Iowa researchers have created an underwater hydrofoil with a coiled spire design that reduces drag and creates more lift, enabling it to move with ease in any underwater environment. The technology mimics the skin, muscles, and tissue of an octopus, allowing for increased portability and maneuverability.
Cells on the intestinal surface are replaced every few days due to pulling forces that determine which cells are weakest and need to leave. Weakened cells are removed from the intestine due to disrupted tug-of-war behavior, leading to inflammation and disease.
Researchers have discovered that soft gels and lotions retain residual stress from the mixing process, affecting their behavior over time. The study reveals that common products like hair gel and shaving cream hold onto these stresses for longer periods than previously assumed.
Researchers developed a validated finite element model to simulate middle-ear mechanics, revealing a clear cutoff point for fluid buildup beyond which hearing quality rapidly deteriorates. This insight offers clinicians a new way to assess and stage middle-ear fluid buildup.
A team of researchers has developed a robot with self-morphing, wing-like feet that mimic the agile movements of water striders. The insect-scale robot enhances surface maneuverability and can execute sharp turns in just 50 milliseconds, rivaling the rapid aerial maneuvers of flying flies.
A UCLA team has uncovered new details about the muscle controlling blinking, offering a pathway toward developing blink-assisting prostheses. The orbicularis oculi muscle contracts in complex patterns that vary by action and move the eyelid in more than just a simple up-and-down motion.
In scalding hot water, bacteria use a unique 'reverse-flow dance' to move upstream, sensing water flow direction. This behavior is common among heat-loving bacterial species with elongated shapes.
A new analysis of 18 species of carnivorous dinosaurs reveals that not all giant predators had strong bites, but instead specialized in different feeding styles. This study demonstrates the diversity of feeding strategies among giant carnivores, challenging the assumption that one 'best' skull design existed for being a predatory giant.
Researchers identify packing density as key factor affecting membrane elasticity, offering new insights into homeostasis and cellular behavior. This discovery has significant implications for drug delivery applications and the development of lifelike artificial cells.
Researchers from the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences studied the biological effects of permanent magnetic fields and found that their distribution in space plays a critical role in healing. The study's detailed field maps offer practical guidance for optimizing magnet use in medicine and magnetobiology.
Researchers analyzed 180-degree directional changes in soccer ball-trapping to identify key factors influencing performance. Advanced players executed trapping actions with greater accuracy, absorbing momentum more effectively and rotating their bodies towards intended movement directions.
Researchers have engineered a novel enzyme, PET2-21M, to enhance the biodegradation of bottle-grade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics. This breakthrough offers a sustainable and efficient alternative to conventional recycling processes, achieving significant improvements in catalytic activity and substrate efficiency.
Bioengineers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a computational model called BrainFlow that simulates cerebrospinal fluid flow in the presence of shunt implants, providing insight into optimal shunt design and placement for hydrocephalus patients.
A new study reveals that fish hovering in place consumes roughly twice the energy of resting, challenging the scientific community's long-held assumption. By analyzing fin movements and body shape, researchers found species with greater separation between their centers of mass and buoyancy use more energy when hovering.
Researchers at OIST introduce a mouse motion capture method using marker-based approach to track high-quality data on complex movements. The method avoids pitfalls associated with smaller animals, enabling detailed studies of neuroscientific and physiological foundations of mouse movement.
Northern Arizona University researchers have developed an open-source robotic exoskeleton framework, OpenExo, which provides comprehensive instructions for building single- or multi-joint exoskeletons. The system helps overcome challenges in developing biomechanically beneficial and technologically advanced exoskeletons.
Researchers found that intercellular flow plays a major role in tissue response to deformation, affecting organs' adaptability to conditions like aging and cancer. The study's findings could inform the design of artificial tissues and organs.
A study by the CSIC-UMH Institute of Neurosciences uncovers how flies' flight stabilizers, the halteres, take shape. The structure is stabilized by a sophisticated cellular system that connects its two surfaces through an internal framework.
Researchers analyzed video clips of bumblebee visits to lousewort flowers, revealing a unique
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a method to create artificial blood vessels using ultrashort laser pulses, enabling the creation of mini organ models with precise control and reproducibility. The technology has been successfully applied to liver tissue models, resulting in improved metabolic activity and adequate nutrient supply.
A team of scientists at Stanford University has created an early testing method to identify individuals at risk of taking a life-threatening fall. By analyzing walking patterns and balance issues over time, the researchers can provide clinicians with valuable insights to intervene before falls occur.
Research highlights the challenges of assessing inter-limb asymmetries, emphasizing the importance of task specificity, data quality, temporal trends, and context. A decision-making framework guides practitioners in interpreting asymmetries effectively.