In this thesis we developed a new mechanics model of the primary cilium and analyzed its bending behavior. The primary cilium that extends from the cell surface can detect the mechanical signals of the surrounding environment. Moreover, through its deflection and bending angle, the primary cilium can communicate with the cell regarding the extracellular. Scientists have shown that dysfunction of primary cilia can lead to many diseases as cilia are believed to play an important role in transmitting signals in cells. A good model of primary cilium can aid in the understanding of the mechanism of its bending movement. Furthermore, a good model is important for determining how the primary cilium contributes to convert mechanical signals into biochemical ones. Previous models have ignored the basal body and transition fiber that are located at the base of the primary cilium. However, it is clear that the elastic basal body and transition fibers should have a significant effect on the deformation of the whole structure. Aiming to address this issue, we established a model with a rotational spring representing the confinement induced by the basal body and transition fibers. Specially, we developed two governing equations for two different conditions, namely uniformly distributed load and spatially varying load. In addition, this model is valid for situations where the deflection is large. To obtain the results the shooting and Newton-Raphson methods are used to solve the governing equations numerically. Then, we compared the numerical results with experimental data to test the validity of the model. Comparison between our model predictions and experimental data showed that the governing equation for spatially varying load described the bending behavior of the primary cilium very well under various realistic conditions, including cases where the flow field is not uniform both spatially and temporally fluid flow with variable velocity. / published_or_final_version / Mechanical Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

Thesis supervisor: Charles Yeaman. Includes bibliographic references (p. 94-100).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1981. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-161).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 44-47).

Thesis (M.S.)--Rochester Institute of Technology, 2009. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 132-134).

No description available.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Physics, 1956. / Typewritten copy. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 141-144).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Adula (Botula) falcata Gould (Soot-Ryen, 1955) lives commonly as a byssally attached rock borer in soft mudstone reefs at Bolinas and Moss Beach, California (Figure 1). Keen (1963) reports that Adula falcata has been collected from the intertidal to a depth of ten fathoms. Its distribution is from Coos Bay, Oregon, to Cape San Lucas, Lower California (Hertlein and Strong, 1946), and collection data indicate a range as far south as Peru (Soot-Ryen, 1955). While is possesses the protective advantage of living cryptically, Adula falcata is subjected to an environmental stress not faced by epifaunal mytillids; namely, it must function within a burrow into which sediment material is being continuously deposited from both particle laden water passing over its burrow entrance and the mudstone byproducts of its own mechanical boring. The following is a comparative study on the ciliary mechanisms of feeding, digestion, and sediment removal in Adula falcata. Sediment removal could hardly be considered separately from feeding and digestion, as it is during these latter two processes that sediment is resolved from potential food material and extruded from the burrow. Aside from publications of a purely taxonomic nature, the sole direct references to Adula falcata have been in Lloyd’s (1897) observations on lamellibranch rock boring and Yonge’s (1955) comprehensive work on the adaptation and evolution of the boring habit in the Family Mytilidae. It was, in fact, Yonge’s observations on the role of Figure 1. A lateral view of the burrow of Adula falcata. The mudstone burrow has been cracked open to expose the left side of the enclosed bivalve. This byssally attached mussel had withdrawn from the head of the excavation and had extended its siphonal process for feeding. Other noteworthy features include the furry incrustation on the posterodorsal triangle of the valve and a partially eroded umbone.