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The effects of the periodontal ligament on mandibular stiffness: a study combining finite element analysis and geometric morphometrics (2011)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., Fagan, M. J., & O'Higgins, P. (2011). The effects of the periodontal ligament on mandibular stiffness: a study combining finite element analysis and geometric morphometrics. Journal of biomechanics, 44(7), 1304-1312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.01.008

It is generally accepted that the periodontal ligament (PDL) plays a crucial role in transferring occlusal forces from the teeth to the alveolar bone. Studies using finite element analysis (FEA) have helped to better understand this role and show tha... Read More about The effects of the periodontal ligament on mandibular stiffness: a study combining finite element analysis and geometric morphometrics.

Why do humans have chins? Testing the mechanical significance of modern human symphyseal morphology with finite element analysis (2010)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., Liu, J., Fagan, M. J., & O'Higgins, P. (2011). Why do humans have chins? Testing the mechanical significance of modern human symphyseal morphology with finite element analysis. American journal of physical anthropology, 144(4), 593-606. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21447

The modern human mandibular symphysis differs from those of all other primates in being vertically orientated and possessing a chin, but the functional significance of this unique morphology is not well understood. Some hypotheses propose that it is... Read More about Why do humans have chins? Testing the mechanical significance of modern human symphyseal morphology with finite element analysis.

Combining geometric morphometrics and functional simulation: an emerging toolkit for virtual functional analyses (2010)
Journal Article
O'Higgins, P., Cobb, S. N., Fitton, L. C., Gröning, F., Phillips, R., Liu, J., & Fagan, M. J. (2011). Combining geometric morphometrics and functional simulation: an emerging toolkit for virtual functional analyses. Journal of anatomy, 218(1), 3-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2010.01301.x

The development of virtual methods for anatomical reconstruction and functional simulation of skeletal structures offers great promise in evolutionary and ontogenetic investigations of form-function relationships. Key developments reviewed here inclu... Read More about Combining geometric morphometrics and functional simulation: an emerging toolkit for virtual functional analyses.

Feedback control from the jaw joints during biting: An investigation of the reptile Sphenodon using multibody modelling (2010)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Jones, M. E. H., Evans, S., Evans, S. E., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2010). Feedback control from the jaw joints during biting: An investigation of the reptile Sphenodon using multibody modelling. Journal of biomechanics, 43(16), 3132-3137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.08.001

Sphenodon, a lizard-like reptile, is the only living representative of a group that was once widespread at the time of the dinosaurs. Unique jaw mechanics incorporate crushing and shearing motions to breakdown food, but during this process excessive... Read More about Feedback control from the jaw joints during biting: An investigation of the reptile Sphenodon using multibody modelling.

Comparison between in vivo and theoretical bite performance: Using multi-body modelling to predict muscle and bite forces in a reptile skull (2010)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Jones, M. E. H., Lappin, A. K., O'Higgins, P., Evans, S. E., & Fagan, M. J. (2010). Comparison between in vivo and theoretical bite performance: Using multi-body modelling to predict muscle and bite forces in a reptile skull. Journal of biomechanics, 43(14), 2804-2809. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2010.05.037

In biomechanical investigations, geometrically accurate computer models of anatomical structures can be created readily using computed-tomography scan images. However, representation of soft tissue structures is more challenging, relying on approxima... Read More about Comparison between in vivo and theoretical bite performance: Using multi-body modelling to predict muscle and bite forces in a reptile skull.

Visualising muscle anatomy using three-dimensional computer models - an example using the head and neck muscles of Sphenodon (2009)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Jones, M. E., Evans, S. E., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2009). Visualising muscle anatomy using three-dimensional computer models - an example using the head and neck muscles of Sphenodon. Palaeontologia electronica, 12(3), Article 12.3.7T

We demonstrate how the computer-based technique of multi-body dynamics analysis (MDA) can be used to create schematic, but informative three-dimensional (3D) representations of complex muscle anatomy. As an example we provide an overview of the head... Read More about Visualising muscle anatomy using three-dimensional computer models - an example using the head and neck muscles of Sphenodon.

A single-channel telemetric intramedullary nail for in vivo measurement of fracture healing (2009)
Journal Article
Wilson, D. J., Morgan, R. L., Hesselden, K. L., Dodd, J. R., Janna, S. W., & Fagan, M. J. (2009). A single-channel telemetric intramedullary nail for in vivo measurement of fracture healing. Journal of orthopaedic trauma, 23(10), 702-709. https://doi.org/10.1097/bot.0b013e3181b01c49

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a single-channel telemetric intramedullary nail that measures anterior-posterior bending strains and determine whether these forces decrease sigmoidally when normalized to the ground reaction forc... Read More about A single-channel telemetric intramedullary nail for in vivo measurement of fracture healing.

Predicting muscle activation patterns from motion and anatomy: modelling the skull of Sphenodon (Diapsida: Rhynchocephalia) (2009)
Journal Article
Curtis, N., Jones, M. E., Evans, S. E., Shi, J., O'Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2010). Predicting muscle activation patterns from motion and anatomy: modelling the skull of Sphenodon (Diapsida: Rhynchocephalia). Journal of the Royal Society interface / the Royal Society, 7(42), 153-160. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2009.0139

The relationship between skull shape and the forces generated during feeding is currently under widespread scrutiny and increasingly involves the use of computer simulations such as finite element analysis. The computer models used to represent skull... Read More about Predicting muscle activation patterns from motion and anatomy: modelling the skull of Sphenodon (Diapsida: Rhynchocephalia).

Biomechanical assessment of evolutionary changes in the lepidosaurian skull (2009)
Journal Article
Moazen, M., Curtis, N., O'Higgins, P., Evans, S. E., & Fagan, M. J. (2009). Biomechanical assessment of evolutionary changes in the lepidosaurian skull. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 106(20), 8273-8277. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0813156106

The lepidosaurian skull has long been of interest to functional morphologists and evolutionary biologists. Patterns of bone loss and gain, particularly in relation to bars and fenestrae, have led to a variety of hypotheses concerning skull use and ki... Read More about Biomechanical assessment of evolutionary changes in the lepidosaurian skull.

Validating a voxel-based finite element model of a human mandible using digital speckle pattern interferometry (2009)
Journal Article
Gröning, F., Liu, J., Fagan, M. J., & O'Higgins, P. (2009). Validating a voxel-based finite element model of a human mandible using digital speckle pattern interferometry. Journal of biomechanics, 42(9), 1224-1229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2009.03.025

Finite element analysis is a powerful tool for predicting the mechanical behaviour of complex biological structures like bones, but to be confident in the results of an analysis, the model should be validated against experimental data. In such valida... Read More about Validating a voxel-based finite element model of a human mandible using digital speckle pattern interferometry.

γ-Secretase-dependent cleavage of amyloid precursor protein regulates osteoblast behavior (2009)
Journal Article
McLeod, J., Curtis, N., Lewis, H. D., Good, M. A., Fagan, M. J., & Genever, P. G. (2009). γ-Secretase-dependent cleavage of amyloid precursor protein regulates osteoblast behavior. FASEB Journal, 23(9), 2942-2955. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.08-121657

gamma-Secretase cleaves amyloid precursor protein (APP) to generate amyloid-beta (A beta) peptides, which aggregate in the brain in Alzheimer's disease (AD). gamma-Secretase also cleaves molecules that regulate osteoblast activity, such as Notch and... Read More about γ-Secretase-dependent cleavage of amyloid precursor protein regulates osteoblast behavior.

Assessment of the role of sutures in a lizard skull: a computer modelling study (2009)
Journal Article
Moazen, M., Curtis, N., O'Higgins, P., Jones, M. E., Evans, S. E., & Fagan, M. J. (2009). Assessment of the role of sutures in a lizard skull: a computer modelling study. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 276(1654), 39-46. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2008.0863

Sutures form an integral part of the functioning skull, but their role has long been debated among vertebrate morphologists and palaeontologists. Furthermore, the relationship between typical skull sutures, and those involved in cranial kinesis, is p... Read More about Assessment of the role of sutures in a lizard skull: a computer modelling study.

Combined finite element and multibody dynamics analysis of biting in aUromastyx hardwickiilizard skull (2008)
Journal Article
Moazen, M., Curtis, N., Evans, S. E., O’Higgins, P., & Fagan, M. J. (2008). Combined finite element and multibody dynamics analysis of biting in aUromastyx hardwickiilizard skull. Journal of anatomy, 213(5), 499-508. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.00980.x

Lizard skulls vary greatly in shape and construction, and radical changes in skull form during evolution have made this an intriguing subject of research. The mechanics of feeding have surely been affected by this change in skull form, but whether th... Read More about Combined finite element and multibody dynamics analysis of biting in aUromastyx hardwickiilizard skull.