Lower-limb exoskeletons have the potential to enhance rehabilitation [1], assist in walking with gait impairments [2], reduce the metabolic cost of normal [3] and load-bearing walking [4], improve stability [5] and probe interesting questions about human locomotion [6]. The ankle produces larger peak torques and performs more positive work than either the hip or the knee during locomotion [7], ...

First metatarsocuneiform arthrodesis is one of the surgical interventions to correct hallux valgus, especially those with hypermobile first ray. There is lacking of biomechanical investigations to assess this operation. The objective of this study was to explore the functional restoration and the risk of non-union after the surgery via finite element analysis. A three-dimensional foot model was...

Decreased push-off power by the prosthetic foot and inadequate roll-over shape of the foot have been shown to increase the energy dissipated during the step-to-step transition in human walking. The aim of this study was to determine whether energy storage and return (ESAR) feet are able to reduce the mechanical energy dissipated during the step-to-step transition. Fifteen males with a unilatera...

ABSTRACT An analytical model of a pandemic, initiated by a single focus and spreading over a continent, is developed using foci as the smallest units of disease and fields as the smallest units of host. A few generalizing assumptions lead to a parameter-sparse model that may answer general questions on pandemics in a qualitative manner. For pandemic spread of disease during one season, a 'withi...

Most of the energy needed for ambulation is generated during the double support phase of walking. Knee flexion during push-off is crucial to maintain the walking velocity. Since users of an above-knee prosthesis have to stabilize the knee with the hip muscles, and regular knee mechanisms are not stable during flexion, this may cost a large effort. This paper deals with experimental findings of ...

To gain a better understanding of push-off mechanics in speed skating, forward simulations were performed with a model comprising four body segments and six muscles. We started with a simulated maximum height one-legged jump, obtained by optimization of muscle stimulation time histories. The simulated jump was very similar to one-legged jumps produced by a human, indicating that the model was r...

A new novel test method, associated analysis, and experimental procedures are developed to investigate the toughness of the facesheet-to-core interface of a sandwich material at cryogenic temperatures. The test method is designed to simulate the failure mode associated with facesheet debonding from high levels of gas pressure in the sandwich core. The effects of specimen orientation are conside...

With the prevalent use of smartphones and the emergence of the fourth generation of mobile telecommunications technology (4G), an increasing number of employees use their smartphones with cellular data for non-work related purposes during working hours. Compared to traditional cyberloafing, smartphone with cellular data provides a more convenient and private access to the Internet without any r...

Introduction Geriatric patients and their relative fragility with respect to younger patients represent a surgical dilemma for the general surgeon. This has led surgeons to adopt "tailored" techniques and strategies to treat them. The rapid increase of this aged population has given the clinician the chance to push forward the knowledge on this subset of patients and challenge previous concepts...