Movement generation is the complex result of the interaction between viscoelastic properties of muscle, inertial properties of the musculo-skeletal system and spatial trajectory planning. The Equilibrium Hypothesis (EP) may simplify the control of complex biomechanical model. It however do not solve a priori the problem of trajectory planning and on-line control of speech movements. The control...

A general hybrid geometric-physical method that is useful for animating characters with skin, clothing and a MPEG-4 compatible face is presented. This method uses an approximation to the underlying musculo-skeletal structure of the body and face to generate a distance field, used for collision detection purposes, and skin/clothing consisting of a particle-spring mesh. The results obtained deliv...

Cutaneous carcinomas of the cheek may involve the epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissues that overlie the superficial musculo-aponeurotic system (SMAS) (in fact skin cancer can involve even deeper structures of the face) [1, 2]. The cheek has bordering subunits that help dictate the primary goal in cheek reconstruction: avoidance of deformation of the surrounding structures. Surgeons must ...

The exquisite mechanical functionality and versatility of the human hand emerges from complex neuro-musculo-skeletal interactions that are not completely understood. I have found it useful to work within a theoretical/experimental paradigm that outlines the fundamental neuro-musculo-skeletal components and their interactions. In this integrative paradigm, the laws of mechanics, the specificatio...

Topical medicinal patches have been popular for the treatment of minor injuries like sprains and avulsions. Other inflammatory conditions like chronic musculo-tendinous pain and or fasciitis are also taken care of by local ointments or rubs. In the oriental communities, medicinal herbs frequently form the major components of the patches. In spite of the lack of scientific evidence of efficacy, ...