The development of prescription methods and evaluation of biomechanical performance of bespoke orthoses has been a source of research for the last 40 years. What started as anecdotal and experience–led knowledge has evolved into a more quantifiable paradigm utilising state of the art technologies commonly found in other high-precision industries. The manufacturing challenges associated with such customised products have been driven by the requirement to produce small (often one-off) batches, bespoke for the end user. The introduction of precise scanning equipment and CAD/CAM systems to the podiatry community is enabling the accurate and repeatable manufacture of orthoses that were previously predominantly hand crafted and shaped. Although these traditional production methods are still in use today, the advantages that scanning and CAD/CAM provide mean they are rapidly being adopted. Today, CNC machining and additive manufacture provide state of the art manufacturing methods for bespoke insoles prescribed and modelled in a CAD environment. However, the limitations of both these manufacturing methods relate to the materials that can be processed, which becomes problematic when manufacturing soft or semi-rigid orthoses. Hence an opportunity exists to develop a new and innovative method for processing foamed polymer materials that are typically vacuum formed today. This research explores the prescription and analysis methods attributed to insole design for sporting applications using specific sports shoes. The insole designs encompass material selection to deliver a product that provides control and function whilst also providing a degree of impact attenuation, recognising the dynamic and high-impact nature of the sportsspecific movements. Consideration is also given to the types of activities that function with the device. This research analyses characteristic plantar pressures experienced whilst undertaking sports-specific movements to aid in the prescription of bespoke insoles for the chosen sport. A design methodology encompassing state of the art scanning technologies and anthropometric measurements provides a repeatable and accurate means to produce the required geometry for a bespoke sport and symptom-specific insole. The research also presents the concept of cryogenic machining, a novel manufacturing method for the CNC machining of foamed polymers. The materials are cooled with the use of a liquid cryogen to below their glass transition temperature at which point relative motion at a molecular level is significantly reduced, providing a rigid and machineable form. This, along with a bespoke cryogenic facility encompassing a vertical 3 axis CNC machining centre, a pressurised liquid nitrogen dewar connected to a bespoke-designed fixture by a vacuum jacketed pipe, enables the dual-sided machining of an amorphous material, something which is not possible with conventional processes. The major contributions of this work are the design methodology to prescribe a sport and symptom-specific insole using state of the art scanning and CAM methods, the design and manufacture of a fixture to facilitate the dual-sided machining of a customised insole and the subsequent testing of the designs in a laboratory environment. In addition the research utilises motion analysis, force plate data and pressure measurement to explore the effects of the insoles on the kinetics, kinematics and peak plantar pressures at discrete anatomical regions during sport-specific manoeuvres.

There is debate about how fossil hominin pedal morphology relates to terrestrial habits. Were early hominins adapted to a bipedal lifestyle with a significant arboreal component, or were they more dedicated to a terrestrial lifestyle? The proximal articular surfaces of the metatarsals (MT) are examined in Gorilla, Pan, Hylobates, and habitually shod and unshod Homo using three-dimensional morphometrics. The results for MT 1 show three trends. OH 8 (Homo habilis) is indistinguishable from humans, specimens SKX 5017 and SK 1813 (Paranthropus robustus) are apelike, and all other fossil 1st metatarsals are intermediate in shape between humans and apes. The MT 2 and MT 3 analyses show that humans have a narrower surface that is expanded in the plantar aspect relative to apes. These features increase joint stability for the human longitudinal arch. The MT 2 fossils for Stw 573d (Little Foot) and OH 8 are humanlike. The MT 2 specimen of SKX 247 (possibly Paranthropus) is apelike, while all other MT 2 fossils are intermediate between humans and apes. In the MT 3 analysis, Stw 387, Stw 496, Stw 388, and OH 8 metatarsals are humanlike in shape, while Stw 435 and Stw 477 are intermediate between humans and apes. The MT 3 surface of Hylobates is markedly convex, suggesting that the midfoot break in gibbons extends to include this joint in addition to the MT 4 and MT 5 tarsometatarsal joints. The results of the MT 4 analysis show a highly convex surface in apes, with Hylobates extending further to the dorsal aspect of this metatarsal, with a greater range of motion at the midfoot break compared to the African apes. The MT 4 specimens of OH 8 and Stw 628 show greater morphological affiliation with humans. The MT 5 analysis shows that Pan and Hylobates have a medio-laterally extended and concave articular surface that is convex in the dorso-plantar plane. The two human groups are narrower and flatter in the medio-lateral plane, with a little dorso-plantar convexity. There is overlap in shape patterns between groups in the MT 5 analysis. Greatest similarity is between humans and Gorilla. The MT 5 fossil specimens tend to show closer affiliation to humans and Gorilla.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2009. / Principal faculty advisor: Kurt T. Manal, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Includes bibliographical references.

Infection of animal cells with picornaviruses results in the accumulation of replication associated membrane bound vesicles and a cessation in the trafficking of integral membrane and secreted proteins. At present little is known about the role of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) non-structural proteins in infection, or on trafficking events in cells. In this study we utilise state-of-the-art bioimaging technology and fluorescent protein chimeras to ascertain the effects of expressing FMDV non-structural proteins 2B, 2C, 2BC, 3A and 3AB on cellular organelles, and on the trafficking of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG). The expression of protein 2C in cells resulted in a membrane bound reticular distribution that appeared to form novel structures juxtaposing the cell nucleus. In 2C positive cells these novel structures co-distributed with the ER markers ERp60 and DsRedER. The formation of GFP-2C positive structures was visualised in live cells using wide-field microscopy showing structures forming from the peripheral reticular distribution and migrating towards the nucleus. The putative role of microtubules in the formation and movement of these structures was suggested when cells were incubated in the presence of nocodazole. The possible role of protein 2C in FMDV infection is discussed. The formation of 2C novel structures however had no effect on the trafficking of VSVG from the ER to the plasma membrane. Neither did the expression of 2B (which formed similar juxtanuclear structures to 2C), 3A or 3AB. The presence however of 2BC, the precursor of 2B and 2C in infected cells, had the effect of blocking VSVG in the ER by an unknown mechanism. FMDV hasbeen shown previously to down regulate the surface expression of MHC class I on the surface of infected cells (Sanz-Parra et al., 1998), and the results of this study implicate protein 2BC in the inhibitory effects of FMDV infection

African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) play an important role in the maintenance of the SAT types of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in southern Africa. These long-term carriers mostly become sub-clinically infected, maintaining the disease and posing a threat to other susceptible wildlife and domestic species. During an unrelated bovine tuberculosis experiment using captive buffalo in the Kruger National Park (KNP), an outbreak of SAT-1 occurred and was further investigated. The clinical signs were recorded and all animals demonstrated significant weight loss and lymphopenia that lasted 100 days. In addition, the mean cell volume and mean cell haemoglobin values were significantly higher than before the outbreak started. Virus was isolated from several buffalo over a period of 167 days post infection and the molecular clock estimated to be 3 × 10−5 nucleotide substitutions per site per day. Seven amino acid changes occurred of which four occurred in hypervariable regions previously described for SAT-1. The genetic relationship of the outbreak virus was compared to buffalo viruses previously obtained from the KNP but the phylogeny was largely unresolved, therefore the relationship of this outbreak strain to others isolated from the KNP remains unclear.

No description available.

Artifacts caused by regional anesthesia can influence image interpretation of ultrasound and nuclear scintigraphy. Perineural and intrasynovial anesthesia is commonly performed prior to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); and the effects on MR images, if any, is unknown. The objectives of this prospective, randomized, blinded experiment were to determine if perineural and intrasynovial anesthesia of structures in the equine foot cause iatrogenic changes detectable with MRI. A baseline MRI of both front feet was performed on 15 horses 2 to 6 days prior to mepivacaine injection adjacent to the lateral and medial palmar digital nerves (PDN), and into the podotrochlear bursa (PB), digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS), and distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) of one randomly assigned forelimb. MRI was repeated at 24 and 72 hours post-injection; then qualitative and quantitative assessments of MRI findings were performed. The results of this study showed MRI findings associated with the PDN, PB and DIPJ at 24 and 72 hours after mepivacaine injection did not alter significantly from those at baseline. Compared to baseline, a significant increase in synovial fluid volume of the DFTS was detected with MRI at 24 and 72 hours post-injection. Therefore, perineural anesthesia of the PDN and intrasynovial anesthesia of the PB or DIPJ did not interfere with the interpretation of MRI examinations performed at 24 or 72 hours after injection. However, intrasynovial anesthesia of the DFTS caused an iatrogenic increase in synovial fluid, which was detectable on MRI for at least 72 hours. Although a definite time frame for resolution of DFTS distension was not determined, we recommend waiting greater than 3 days between intrasynovial anesthesia of the DFTS and evaluation with MRI. / Equine Guelph

Lisfranc injuries affect at least 1 out of every 55,000 people each year. Although they are rare foot injuries, their effects can be devastating. 20-40% of Lisfranc injuries are missed upon first presentation. This increases the number of poor outcomes, resulting in a disproportionate number of malpractice lawsuits and compensation claims. The Kingston Brace was designed to support an injured foot during a CT scan with the goal of providing the diagnosing physician with the best diagnostic information possible. A prototype was designed and built to support a variety of foot orientations in order to determine which orientation is optimal for Lisfranc joint CT scanning. Three fresh frozen cadaver feet were put through several experiments with the Brace. The 2D diagnostic quality of CT scans taken using the Kingston Brace was compared against that of CT scans using the existing protocol. The Kingston Brace allows for a greater visualization of the injured Lisfranc joint than the existing CT protocol. Lisfranc joint spreading was used as a measure of potential pain in injured patients. The joint spreading was minimal, suggesting that injured patients would not feel as much additional pain during imaging. Also, the adoption of the Kingston Brace resulted in no change in the morphological parameters resulting from more advanced 3D analysis. The experimentally determined optimal Kingston Brace orientation was found to be 9◦ of plantarflexion and 13◦ of eversion. These orientations can be incorporated into the next generation of Kingston Brace design. / Thesis (Master, Mechanical and Materials Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2009-07-06 15:01:57.866

No description available.

Walking is the most common form of mobility in humans. For lower limb mobility impairments, a common treatment is to prescribe an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) or brace, which is a passive device designed to resist undesired ankle-foot motion. Recent advances in actuator technology have led to the development of active AFOs (AAFOs). However, these devices are generally too bulky for everyday use and are limited to applications such as gait training for rehabilitation. The aim of this research was to investigate the feasibility of developing a novel Active Ankle-Foot Stabilizer (AAFS). The design criteria were mainly based on the strengths and limitations of existing AFOs. The sagittal plane functional requirements were determined using simulated gait data for elderly individuals and drop foot patients; however, it is intended that the device would be suitable for a wider range of disabilities including ankle sprains. A model of the foot was introduced to modify the moment of a deficient ankle where young healthy adult kinematics and kinetics were assumed. A moment deficit analysis was performed for different gait periods resulting in an AAFS model with two components: a linear rotational spring to modify the ankle joint rotational stiffness, and a torque source. The frontal plane functional requirements for the AAFS were modeled as a linear rotational spring which responded to particular gait events. A novel Variable Rotational Stiffness Actuator (VSRA) AFO was also investigated. It consisted of an actuated spring medial and lateral to the ankle to control sagittal plane ankle stiffness and a passive leafspring posterior to the ankle to control frontal plane ankle stiffness. Due to high forces and profile limitations, a spring and rotation actuator that satisfied the design criteria could not be developed, resulting in an infeasible design. Considering the high forces and moments required by the AAFS, a pneumatic approach was adopted. A novel Airbeam AFO, which consisted of a shank cuff and a foot plate to which airbeams were attached proximally and distally to the ankle, was examined. The joint rotational stiffness of the ankle would be controlled by the inflation of these individual cylindrical airbeams. To satisfy the functional requirements, the airbeam diameters and pressures were too large to meet the design criteria and were unrealistic for a portable device. Finally, a Pneumatic Sock AFO, which proved to best satisfy the functional requirements within the design criteria, was examined. The design consisted of an inner sock worn on the ankle, surrounded by anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral bladders which inflate against outer fabric shells. Although promising, the Pneumatic Sock AFO requires further investigation in regards to manufacturing and behaviour characterization before a functional prototype can be developed. Mechanical test methods to characterize the behaviour of the Pneumatic Sock AFO in the sagittal and frontal planes were developed including the control components required, the configuration of a test rig, and test procedures.