In order to improve the performance of a magnetically levitated (maglev) axial flow blood pump, three-dimensional (3-D) finite element analysis (FEA) was used to optimize the design of a hybrid magnetic bearing (HMB). Radial, axial, and current stiffness of multiple design variations of the HMB were calculated using a 3-D FEA package and verified by experimental results. As compared with the or...

OBJECTIVES To assess the accuracy of the indentation method for stiffness measurements and to estimate the Young's modulus of the vocal fold using this technique. STUDY DESIGN Basic science. METHODS Indentation tests were performed using a range of indenter diameters and indentation depths on single- and double-layer silicone rubber models with various cover-layer thicknesses with known geo...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the relative contribution of fibrosis-mediated and myofibril-mediated stiffness in rats with mild and severe right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. METHODS AND RESULTS By performing pulmonary artery banding of different diameters for 7 weeks, mild RV dysfunction (Ø=0.6 mm) and severe RV dysfunction (Ø=0.5 mm) were induced in rats. The relativ...

We consider the use of linear parameter-varying methods for the control of stiffness hysteresis in vibration isolation systems. We assume that the hysteresis model is known, and we describe it using a stiffness parameter that takes values in a compact convex set. The proposed parameter-dependent controller is continuously scheduled based on real-time measurements or estimates of the stiffness, ...

Accumulating evidence implicates the significance of the physical properties of the niche in influencing the behavior, growth and differentiation of stem cells. Among the physical properties, extracellular stiffness has been shown to have direct effects on fate determination in several cell types in vitro. However, little evidence exists concerning whether shifts in stiffness occur in vivo duri...

BACKGROUND Post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality following kidney transplantation, but the association between pre-diabetes (i.e. impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance) and CVD mortality remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the association between abnormal glucose regulation...

BACKGROUND Abnormalities of vascular function and accumulation of oxidative stress have been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dialysis modalities, peritoneal dialysis (PD) and haemodialysis (HD) may differentially impact on vascular function and oxidative stress. METHODS Patients undergoing living donor transplantation were studied for vascular stiffness using pulse wave velocity...