Delaunay graph mapping based mesh deformation for simulation of a spanwise rigid and flexible flapping NACA0012 wing using DES with parallel implementation

A flapping NACA0012 wing with spanwise rigid and flexible configurations is simulated using the Delaunay graph mapping based mesh deformation technique. This mesh deformation scheme is quite efficient and gives a good alternate to the spring analogy due to its non-iterative nature and simple implementation. It is also well suited for the parallel implementation due to its preservation of the original mesh topology. The preliminary simulated case is spanwise rigid at Garrick frequency of 1.82 and Reynolds number 30,000, corresponding to the experimental data by Heathcote et. al [AIAA- 2006-2870]. The results obtained for this case are in a good agreement with the experimental data for the instantaneous thrust. The simulation also predicts the lag in flapping motion cycle and generated thrust due to the dynamic effects of the flapping cycle and a corresponding phase lag is depicted in the thrust during the flapping cycle. The detailed paper will also include the implementation and results of the spanwise flexible flapping NACA0012 wing

An overview of tissue engineering approaches for management of spinal cord injuries

Severe spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to devastating neurological deficits and disabilities, which necessitates spending a great deal of health budget for psychological and healthcare problems of these patients and their relatives. This justifies the cost of research into the new modalities for treatment of spinal cord injuries, even in developing countries. Apart from surgical management and nerve grafting, several other approaches have been adopted for management of this condition including pharmacologic and gene therapy, cell therapy, and use of different cell-free or cell-seeded bioscaffolds. In current paper, the recent developments for therapeutic delivery of stem and non-stem cells to the site of injury, and application of cell-free and cell-seeded natural and synthetic scaffolds have been reviewed

Translational considerations in injectable cell-based therapeutics for neurological applications: concepts, progress and challenges

Significant progress has been made during the past decade towards the clinical adoption of cell-based therapeutics. However, existing cell-delivery approaches have shown limited success, with numerous studies showing fewer than 5% of injected cells persisting at the site of injection within days of transplantation. Although consideration is being increasingly given to clinical trial design, little emphasis has been given to tools and protocols used to administer cells. The different behaviours of various cell types, dosing accuracy, precise delivery, and cell retention and viability post-injection are some of the obstacles facing clinical translation. For efficient injectable cell transplantation, accurate characterisation of cellular health post-injection and the development of standardised administration protocols are required. This review provides an overview of the challenges facing effective delivery of cell therapies, examines key studies that have been carried out to investigate injectable cell delivery, and outlines opportunities for translating these findings into more effective cell-therapy interventions