Institute for Biomedical Engineering

Ice nucleation by kaolinite: Morphology shapes the size dependence of ice nucleation active sites on dust particles

Mineral dusts are the most important type of ice-nucleating particles and play a key role in cloud formation and climate. Their activity is commonly assumed to scale with particle surface area, yet whether this assumption holds across particle sizes remains unverified. Here, we q...

Integrating hyporheic exchanges into salmonid spawning habitat models—A proof of concept focusing on Atlantic Salmon in Québec, Canada

Abstract Objective Most salmonids use pool–riffle transitions for spawning. The biological explanation appears to be associated with bedform-induced hyporheic exchanges. Despite this apparent link, spawning habitat models still rely on depth, velocity, and bed material grain size...

Determination of inter-individual differences in humeral head centre translations in subjects with healthy shoulders

Abstract The aims of this study were to (i) quantify glenohumeral (GH) joint translations in healthy shoulders, (ii) assess subject-specific variability in GH translations, (iii) determine whether bony joint geometry (glenoid height, width, retroversion, inclination, GH aspherici...

Autoinducer-2 functions as both a quorum-sensing and metabolic signal in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Bacteria integrate diverse environmental signals to coordinate behavior, yet the relationship between nutrient sensing and quorum sensing (QS) remains incompletely understood. Autoinducer-2 (AI-2) is unique among QS signals in that its production is tightly linked to cen...

Predicting subharmonic and superharmonic backbone curves in nonlinear mechanical systems

Abstract We show that conservative (or primary) backbone curves, defined as amplitude–frequency curves of conservative nonlinear normal modes, have a tight mathematical connection with all subharmonic and superharmonic (or secondary) backbone curves, defined as curves connecting...

Mechanism of crevice corrosion in historic riveted steel structures

Abstract Crevice corrosion is a localized form of corrosion, particularly common in riveted steel structures. While oxygen depletion and local acidification within crevices are well-established phenomenological features, the underlying reaction pathways and their spatial coupling...

The epigenome of the postnatal male germline: A double-edged sword between flexibility and stability

Abstract Epigenetic regulation is central to cell development and functions in multicellular organisms. In the male gonads of mice, it contributes to the control of spermatogenesis, the process of spermatozoa production by differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and s...

Lower-temperature bulk depolymerization of commercial polymethacrylates

Abstract Chemical recycling back to monomer represents an attractive methodology to tackle plastic waste. However, current reports focus on either thermally unstable ‘designer’ polymers or highly diluted solution depolymerizations. Here we report a simple, yet efficient, bulk mai...

Residual distribution predictive systems

Conformal predictive systems are sets of predictive distributions with theoretical out-of-sample calibration guarantees. The calibration guarantees are typically that the set contains a forecast distribution whose prediction intervals exhibit the correct marginal coverage at all...

Multi-objective computational design optimization of a Total Disc Replacement implant

Abstract While cervical arthroplasty using Total Disc Replacement (TDR) implants is an established treatment for persistent neck and arm pain, revision rates limit it from reaching its full potential. To address the underlying complications, we developed finite element simulation...

Tmem117, an oligodendrocyte-enriched regulator of NCX activity, links myelin homeostasis to counterregulation and metabolic health

Abstract The counterregulatory response (CRR) to hypoglycemia is a fundamental, evolutionarily conserved homeostatic mechanism orchestrated by the central nervous system (CNS) to ensure survival during glucose scarcity. In individuals with diabetes, this response is frequently im...

Using the Stressor-System-Resilience Resources-Outcomes (SSRO) scaffold to clarify the core components of resilience research in medicine

Abstract Modern medicine increasingly extends beyond treating disease to supporting individuals through recovery, adaptation, and long-term functioning, all central to the concept of resilience. Despite growing interest, resilience remains conceptually difficult to structure and...

Support effects and design rules for enhanced phosphotungstic acid catalyzed olefin oligomerization to sustainable aviation fuels

Reducing the environmental footprint of aviation fuels requires catalysts that convert renewable olefins to jet-fuel hydrocarbons (JF). In this context, supported phosphotungstic acid (PTA) emerged as a promising Brønsted acid catalyst for this transformation. The performance of...

Reduced Complexity Model Intercomparison Project phase 3: experimental protocol for coordinated constraining and evaluation of reduced-complexity models

Abstract. Reduced-Complexity Models (RCMs) are a critical tool for synthesising climate science knowledge and providing climate projections for a wide range of emissions scenarios. The Reduced-Complexity Model Intercomparison Project (RCMIP) provides a framework for the coordinat...

Accelerated carbonation of recycled concrete aggregates: Binding of CO2 and decalcification of calcium-silicate-hydrate

Recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) are a valuable resource for reuse as aggregates in concrete and asphalt. However, the porous mortar adhering to the original aggregates and microcracks both in the mortar and at the interfaces result in increased water absorption and reduced mec...

Toward continuous shrinkage measurement of poured earth: practical setup and underlying shrinking mechanisms

Abstract Continuous shrinkage measurement in earth-based materials remains technically challenging, particularly for high-water-content mixtures with low initial stiffness. In this study, a semi-cylindrical experimental setup, combined with digital image correlation (DIC) for mea...

Not just alignment: body shape influences adult spinal deformity biomechanics

Abstract Purpose Adult spinal deformity (ASD) alters sagittal alignment and trunk centre of mass location, increasing spinal loading. Current clinical assessment of ASD primarily focuses on alignment parameters disregarding patient’s body shape variability. This study aimed to ev...