DOCSLIB.ORG

A Finite Element Approach to Study Skeletal Muscle Tissue

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
A Finite Element Approach to Study Skeletal Muscle Tissue A Finite Element Approach to Study Skeletal Muscle Tissue Aron Teklemariam A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the Manchester Metropolitan University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. 2016 i Abstract This dissertation investigates force generation in muscle using a finite element (FE) approach to model electrical activity and mechanical force production within skeletal muscle. The work proposes new FE models design/formulations to answer specific research questions related to skeletal muscle properties. The focus is on two specific determinants of skeletal muscle force: the activation and the connective tissue. A FE model was created and designed to study the impact of the dielectric and geometric (pennation) properties of the muscle tissues on the electric activation signal detected on the skin surface by bipolar electrodes (surface electromyography, sEMG). The model shows that when considering parallel muscle fibres the tissue, attenuated mainly frequencies in the physiological range (92-542 Hz). This study revealed a strong impact of the muscle fibres pennation angle, on the detected signal (low pass filtering effect); suggesting that the low pass filtering behaviour observed in experimental data is due to the geometry (curvature or pennation) rather than the dielectric properties. The model informed recommendations for sEMG experimental protocol to increase the inter- electrodes distance when measuring sEMG of pennated muscles. A micromechanical model of the muscle tissue was created to explore the influence of the connective tissue properties (endomysium) on the total muscle force production. The constitutive model was used to study the mechanical consequence of clustering of fibres due to the remodelling of the motor units, which occurs with ageing. An FE model with a bundle of 19 fibres was designed and simulated activating 21% and 37% of the fibres in a distributed and clustered pattern. Results showed for both activation levels that the pattern of the strain distribution changed with an increased deformation toward the centre of the bundle. This could lead to excessive unbalanced stresses if higher deformations are involved. The micromechanical model can be used to study muscle force determinants at a fascicle level. It showed the importance of the fibre distribution during the muscle activation and the consequences of age related alterations on force production. i Declaration No portion of the work referred in this thesis has been submitted in support of an application for another degree or qualification at this, or any other university, or institute of learning. Date: Signed: ii Acknowledgement “ Glory to God, because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth.” I’d like to thank first of all, my supervisors team Dr. Glen Cooper, Dr. Emma Hodson- Tole, Prof. Neil Reeves, Dr. Nicholas Costen and recently Dr. Kirstie Andrew for giving me the opportunity to start a research/teaching career with this PhD. I thank my DoS of studies Dr. Glen Cooper for his support and encouragement, and for pushing me to develop a critical mind. A warm thank you to Dr. Emma Hodson-Tole for her pastoral support and her will to make us part of a disciplinary research team. I have tried my best to consider all your advices to become a mature researcher. Many thanks to my supervisors Neil Reeves, Nicholas Costen and Kirstie Andrew for always being available, and for giving me advices whenever it was needed. I am thankful to my office mates/friends/colleagues Canras, the sisters Elisa and Elisabetta, Andres, Ramzan, Simon, Dean, James, Mike, Gary, Prabhav, Khattab, Hassan, Fayad and Daniel. They made this journey enjoyable and full of meaning. Specifically I am very grateful to Canras, Elisa and Elisabetta for their support and caring. I wish them the best for their career and future families. This PhD was not just research, but also teaching which I have loved a lot. I am therefore very grateful to Dr. Hong Li and Dr. Sravanthi Shashikumar for giving me the opportunity to teach. I could not have had better mentors and examples. I think our department was blessed by the presence of staff that care about the research students. I was surprised and glad to see the dedication of our Head of Department Ms. iii Margaret Fowler and the Head of School Dr. Georgina Harris to provide support to us, research students. Finally yet importantly, I’d like to mention my family. My parents Teklemariam, Mehret and my sister Ruth. They taught me not to follow and believe the world but to have faith in God and the gift He gave us. If my PhD is meaningful, it is because of the relationships I have built and the people I have worked with. I hope to work with them again, and I wish them all to find their ways. iv Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. i Acknowledgement ........................................................................................................... iii List of Figures .................................................................................................................... x List of Tables ................................................................................................................... xiii List of Abbreviations ...................................................................................................... xiv Publications based on this work .................................................................................... xvi Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1 Muscle Anatomy & Modelling Fundamentals. .......................................................... 4 1.1 Skeletal Muscle Anatomy and Modelling Fundamentals ................................... 5 1.1.1 The Musculo-tendon Unit ........................................................................... 6 1.1.2 Motor Units and Activation ....................................................................... 10 1.2 Age-Related Changes in Muscle Tissue ............................................................ 12 1.3 Skeletal Muscle Modelling ............................................................................... 17 1.3.1 Hill-based Rheological Models .................................................................. 18 1.3.2 Rheological Hill-based Models .................................................................. 21 1.3.3 Neural Drive .............................................................................................. 24 1.3.4 Limitations of Classic Models and and Introduction to Finite Element Models 26 2 Literature Review:Mathematical Models of Skeletal Muscle ................................. 28 v 2.1 sEMG Models .................................................................................................... 29 2.1.1 sEMG ......................................................................................................... 29 2.1.2 EMG Modelling .......................................................................................... 32 2.1.3 Identified Research Question and Related Thesis Objectives .................. 46 2.2 Muscle Biomechanical Models ......................................................................... 48 2.2.1 Constitutive Mechanical Models .............................................................. 49 2.2.2 Identified Research Question and Related Thesis Objectives .................. 58 3 A FE Design Study of the Diele-ctric and Geometric Properties of the Muscle ...... 60 3.1 Overview ........................................................................................................... 61 3.2 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 62 3.3 Method ............................................................................................................. 67 3.3.1 FE Model ................................................................................................... 67 3.3.2 Input Data.................................................................................................. 72 3.3.3 Signal Processing ....................................................................................... 75 3.4 Results .............................................................................................................. 77 3.4.1 Properties of the iEMG Source Signal ....................................................... 77 3.4.2 Influence of inter-electrode distance & orientation ................................. 78 3.4.3 Influence of Fibre Pennation Angle ........................................................... 80 3.5 Discussion ......................................................................................................... 83 3.5.1 Orientation and IED ................................................................................... 83 vi 3.5.2 Pennation angle ........................................................................................ 84 3.6 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 86 3.7 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................ 88 4 . Modelling the Connective Tissue Properties of the Muscle .................................. 89 4.1 Function and Properties of Skeletal Muscle Connective
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Muscle Tissue
    10 Muscle Tissue PowerPoint® Lecture Presentations prepared by Jason LaPres Lone Star College—North Harris © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 10-1 An Introduction to Muscle Tissue • Learning Outcomes • 10-1 Specify the functions of skeletal muscle tissue. • 10-2 Describe the organization of muscle at the tissue level. • 10-3 Explain the characteristics of skeletal muscle fibers, and identify the structural components of a sarcomere. • 10-4 Identify the components of the neuromuscular junction, and summarize the events involved in the neural control of skeletal muscle contraction and relaxation. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 10-1 An Introduction to Muscle Tissue • Learning Outcomes • 10-5 Describe the mechanism responsible for tension production in a muscle fiber, and compare the different types of muscle contraction. • 10-6 Describe the mechanisms by which muscle fibers obtain the energy to power contractions. • 10-7 Relate the types of muscle fibers to muscle performance, and distinguish between aerobic and anaerobic endurance. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 10-1 An Introduction to Muscle Tissue • Learning Outcomes • 10-8 Identify the structural and functional differences between skeletal muscle fibers and cardiac muscle cells. • 10-9 Identify the structural and functional differences between skeletal muscle fibers and smooth muscle cells, and discuss the roles of smooth muscle tissue in systems throughout the body. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. An Introduction to Muscle Tissue • Muscle Tissue • A primary tissue type, divided into: • Skeletal muscle tissue • Cardiac muscle tissue • Smooth muscle tissue © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc. 10-1 Functions of Skeletal Muscle Tissue • Skeletal Muscles • Are attached to the skeletal system • Allow us to move • The muscular system • Includes only skeletal muscles © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Single-Cell Analysis Uncovers Fibroblast Heterogeneity
    ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17740-1 OPEN Single-cell analysis uncovers fibroblast heterogeneity and criteria for fibroblast and mural cell identification and discrimination ✉ Lars Muhl 1,2 , Guillem Genové 1,2, Stefanos Leptidis 1,2, Jianping Liu 1,2, Liqun He3,4, Giuseppe Mocci1,2, Ying Sun4, Sonja Gustafsson1,2, Byambajav Buyandelger1,2, Indira V. Chivukula1,2, Åsa Segerstolpe1,2,5, Elisabeth Raschperger1,2, Emil M. Hansson1,2, Johan L. M. Björkegren 1,2,6, Xiao-Rong Peng7, ✉ Michael Vanlandewijck1,2,4, Urban Lendahl1,8 & Christer Betsholtz 1,2,4 1234567890():,; Many important cell types in adult vertebrates have a mesenchymal origin, including fibro- blasts and vascular mural cells. Although their biological importance is undisputed, the level of mesenchymal cell heterogeneity within and between organs, while appreciated, has not been analyzed in detail. Here, we compare single-cell transcriptional profiles of fibroblasts and vascular mural cells across four murine muscular organs: heart, skeletal muscle, intestine and bladder. We reveal gene expression signatures that demarcate fibroblasts from mural cells and provide molecular signatures for cell subtype identification. We observe striking inter- and intra-organ heterogeneity amongst the fibroblasts, primarily reflecting differences in the expression of extracellular matrix components. Fibroblast subtypes localize to discrete anatomical positions offering novel predictions about physiological function(s) and regulatory signaling circuits. Our data shed new light on the diversity of poorly defined classes of cells and provide a foundation for improved understanding of their roles in physiological and pathological processes. 1 Karolinska Institutet/AstraZeneca Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre, Blickagången 6, SE-14157 Huddinge, Sweden.
    [Show full text]
  • Emphasizing Task-Specific Hypertrophy to Enhance Sequential Strength and Power Performance
    Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology Review Emphasizing Task-Specific Hypertrophy to Enhance Sequential Strength and Power Performance S. Kyle Travis 1,* , Ai Ishida 1 , Christopher B. Taber 2 , Andrew C. Fry 3 and Michael H. Stone 1 1 Center of Excellence for Sport Science and Coach Education, Department of Sport, Exercise, Recreation, and Kinesiology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37604, USA; [email protected] (A.I.); [email protected] (M.H.S.) 2 Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Science, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield, CT 06825, USA; [email protected] 3 Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory, Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66046, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 20 August 2020; Accepted: 21 October 2020; Published: 27 October 2020 Abstract: While strength is indeed a skill, most discussions have primarily considered structural adaptations rather than ultrastructural augmentation to improve performance. Altering the structural component of the muscle is often the aim of hypertrophic training, yet not all hypertrophy is equal; such alterations are dependent upon how the muscle adapts to the training stimuli and overall training stress. When comparing bodybuilders to strength and power athletes such as powerlifters, weightlifters, and throwers, while muscle size may be similar, the ability to produce force and power is often inequivalent. Thus, performance differences go beyond structural changes and may be due to the muscle’s ultrastructural constituents and training induced adaptations. Relative to potentiating strength and power performances, eliciting specific ultrastructural changes should be a variable of interest during hypertrophic training phases.
    [Show full text]
  • A Smooth Sustained Muscle Cell Contraction
    A Smooth Sustained Muscle Cell Contraction ConsecratedhitchilyIf lapidific and or libellously, planar and numeric Chanderjit how Stephen historic usually isbureaucratizing Jon?nidificating Solute his or some brimful,spectrometry samfoos Walter disembowelledso never vendibly! demobilized retiredly any orsonatina! keel The strongest muscle contractions are normally achieved by A increasing stimulus above. Smooth skeletal cardiac both cardiac and skeletal both cardiac and smooth. Asm cells are made is that it a cell? Skeletal muscles only pull in waste direction For customer reason is always note in pairs When one muscle in each pair contracts to stay a joint for other its breach then contracts and pulls in the opposite quarter to straighten the locker out again. Chapter 14 Muscle Contraction Michael D Mann PhD. The initial transient phase is followed by a sustained contraction. A sarcomere is Athe wavy lines on core cell trail seen get a microscope. Which type of muscle works automatically? When a muscle is to illicit a three load isotonic conditions after stimulation starts. Smooth Muscle storage is accomplished by sustained contractions of ring-like bands of increase muscle called sphincters. When shivering produces random skeletal muscle contractions to generate heat. Smooth muscle than is associated with numerous organs and tissue. The smooth muscles are one as linings of the gastrointestinal tract that. Smooth muscle cells can remain pregnant a rash of contraction for long periods. Within myocytes caused by the organization of myofibrils to become constant tension. Tetanus continued sustained smooth contraction due its rapid stimulation wave summation. Layers of more muscle may act together miss one unit to guide simultaneous.
    [Show full text]
  • Skeletal Muscle Tissue and Muscle Organization
    Chapter 9 The Muscular System Skeletal Muscle Tissue and Muscle Organization Lecture Presentation by Steven Bassett Southeast Community College © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. Introduction • Humans rely on muscles for: • Many of our physiological processes • Virtually all our dynamic interactions with the environment • Skeletal muscles consist of: • Elongated cells called fibers (muscle fibers) • These fibers contract along their longitudinal axis © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. Introduction • There are three types of muscle tissue • Skeletal muscle • Pulls on skeletal bones • Voluntary contraction • Cardiac muscle • Pushes blood through arteries and veins • Rhythmic contractions • Smooth muscle • Pushes fluids and solids along the digestive tract, for example • Involuntary contraction © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. Introduction • Muscle tissues share four basic properties • Excitability • The ability to respond to stimuli • Contractility • The ability to shorten and exert a pull or tension • Extensibility • The ability to continue to contract over a range of resting lengths • Elasticity • The ability to rebound toward its original length © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. Functions of Skeletal Muscles • Skeletal muscles perform the following functions: • Produce skeletal movement • Pull on tendons to move the bones • Maintain posture and body position • Stabilize the joints to aid in posture • Support soft tissue • Support the weight of the visceral organs © 2015 Pearson Education, Inc. Functions of Skeletal Muscles • Skeletal muscles perform
    [Show full text]
  • Muscle Structural Assembly and Functional Consequences Marco Narici1,*, Martino Franchi1 and Constantinos Maganaris2
    © 2016. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd | Journal of Experimental Biology (2016) 219, 276-284 doi:10.1242/jeb.128017 REVIEW Muscle structural assembly and functional consequences Marco Narici1,*, Martino Franchi1 and Constantinos Maganaris2 ABSTRACT appointed Professor of Surgery and Anatomy at the University The relationship between muscle structure and function has been a of Padua. Just 6 years after his appointment at Padua University, matter of investigation since the Renaissance period. Extensive use Vesalius published his treatise De Humani Corporis Fabrica of anatomical dissections and the introduction of the scientific method (1543) in seven books (Libri Septem) (Fig. 1A). In his treatise, enabled early scholars to lay the foundations of muscle physiology Vesalius gives a highly detailed description of each muscle of and biomechanics. Progression of knowledge in these disciplines led the human body, through a series of artistic illustrations of ‘ ’ ’ to the current understanding that muscle architecture, together with muscle men (Fig. 1B), attributed to Titian s pupil Jan Stephen ’ muscle fibre contractile properties, has a major influence on muscle van Calcar. Vesalius drawings and descriptions provided mechanical properties. Recently, advances in laser diffraction, optical accurate anatomical details of muscle insertions, position and microendoscopy and ultrasonography have enabled in vivo actions but not of the arrangement of muscle fibres because the investigations into the behaviour of human muscle fascicles and technique he used of engraving on woodblocks followed by printing sarcomeres with varying joint angle and muscle contraction intensity. probably did not enable him to achieve sufficient accuracy to With these technologies it has become possible to identify the length illustrate muscle fibres.
    [Show full text]
  • An Important Regulator of Muscle Cell Fusion Francesco Girardi
    TGFbeta signalling pathway in muscle regeneration : an important regulator of muscle cell fusion Francesco Girardi To cite this version: Francesco Girardi. TGFbeta signalling pathway in muscle regeneration : an important regulator of muscle cell fusion. Cellular Biology. Sorbonne Université, 2019. English. NNT : 2019SORUS114. tel-02944744 HAL Id: tel-02944744 https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-02944744 Submitted on 21 Sep 2020 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Sorbonne Université Ecole doctorale Complexité du Vivant Centre of Research in Myology Signaling Pathways & Striated Muscles TGFβ signalling pathway in muscle regeneration: an important regulator of muscle cell fusion Par Francesco GIRARDI Thèse de doctorat en Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire Dirigée par Fabien LE GRAND Présentée et soutenue publiquement le 19 septembre 2019 Devant un jury composé de : Président : Pr. Claire Fournier-Thibault Rapporteurs : Dr. Pierre-Yves Rescan Dr. Jerome Feige Examinateurs : Dr. Glenda Comai Dr. Philippos Mourikis Directeur de thèse : Dr. Fabien Le Grand TABLE OF CONTENTS SUMMARY I RÉSUMÉ II LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS III INTRODUCTION 1 I. Skeletal Muscle 1 1. Embryonic Myogenesis 2 1.1. Skeletal muscle formation 2 1.2. Molecular regulators of embryonic myogenesis 4 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Quantitative Model for Predicting Lymph Formation and Muscle Compressibility in Skeletal Muscle During Contraction and Stretch
    Quantitative model for predicting lymph formation and muscle compressibility in skeletal muscle during contraction and stretch Laura Causey, Stephen C. Cowin, and Sheldon Weinbaum1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, The City College of New York, New York, NY 10031 Contributed by Sheldon Weinbaum, April 20, 2012 (sent for review March 2, 2012) Skeletal muscle is widely perceived as nearly incompressible despite perimysial compartments. It is the purpose of this paper to develop the fact that blood and lymphatic vessels within the endomysial and a theoretical framework and simplified anatomical model for perimysial spaces undergo significant changes in diameter and performing just such an analysis. length during stretch and contraction. These fluid shifts between Perhaps the most extensive experimental investigation of the fascicle and interstitial compartments have proved extremely diffi- volume changes mentioned above is attributable to Mazzoni et al. cult to measure. In this paper, we propose a theoretical framework (5) who studied entire cross-sections of the rat spinotrapezius based on a space-filling hexagonal fascicle array to provide pre- muscle, a muscle comparable to a portion of the trapezius muscle in humans. These investigators made detailed measurements of dictions of the displacement of blood and lymph into and out of the fi muscle’s endomysium and perimysium during stretch and contrac- the cross-sectional area of individual muscle bers, the thickness tion. We also use this model to quantify the distribution of blood and of the interstitial (perimysial) space between fascicles, and the initial lymphatic (IL) vessels within a fascicle and its perimysial space cross-sectional area of the ILs in planes transverse to the primary using data for the rat spinotrapezius muscle.
    [Show full text]
  • Muscle Spindle Modeling - a Tutorial
    Faculty of Electrical Engineering Mechatronics Engineering Muscle Spindle Modeling - A Tutorial Professor: Dr. Mehdi Delrobaei Student Name: Sadaf Yari January-2019 Muscle Spindle Every day we move around endlessly, walking, exercising, etc. We perform these tasks without thinking about it. In fact, for the human body to make the simplest motion, such as lifting an arm, requires the human brain to perform a dozen calculations and control many complex procedures. Some muscles have to contract while others to expand. The final goal is reached through careful control of the muscles via feedback which provides the brain with information on the current situation of the different parts of the body. One such feedback mechanism is proprioception which contains information on the current location of body parts and the situation they are in. This is made possible by sensors, called proprioceptors, located in the muscles. Examples of proprioceptors include the muscle spindle and the Golgi tendon organ. The former provides length information of the muscle and the latter detects changes in the muscle stretch. Such information is useful for the brain when attempting to control the motion of the body parts. In this tutorial we will focus on the muscle spindle. First, a detailed anatomical and physiological description of the muscle spindle’s structure and function is given. In this part it is explained where exactly the muscle spindle is located and what it does. Then, a mathematical model, which is currently accepted generally, is discussed. What is muscle spindle? Muscles are the organs that cause movement in our body. Each motion in the body, wether volunatry or not, is caused by the contraction or release of a muscle.
    [Show full text]
  • Classification of Muscle Cells
    Topics • Smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscle tissues Lecture 9a • Structure and function of skeletal muscle cells. Muscle structure • Sarcomeres structure and contraction • Actin-myosin interaction and sliding filament theory Muscle Similarities Classification of Muscle Cells • Muscle types: skeletal, cardiac, smooth • Striated (muscle cells with a banded • Skeletal and smooth muscle cells are elongated appearance) or nonstriated (not banded) and are called muscle fibers • Muscle cells can have a single nucleus or • Muscle contraction depends on two kinds of be multinucleate myofilaments – actin and myosin • Muscle cells can be controlled voluntarily • Muscle terminology is similar –Sarcolemma– muscle plasma membrane (consciously) or involuntarily (automatically) – Sarcoplasm – cytoplasm of a muscle cell – Prefixes – myo, mys, and sarco all refer to muscle Skeletal Muscle Cardiac Muscle Cells • Striated, “voluntary”, and multinucleated • Occurs only in the heart • Cells can be very long • Is striated, not voluntary, uni- or bi- nucleate • Contracts at a fairly steady rate set by the heart’s • Contracts rapidly but tires easily pacemaker cells • Is extremely adaptable and can exert forces • Cells are called cardiac myocytes ranging from a fraction of an ounce to over 70 • Form branching networks connected at intercalated disks pounds • Neural controls allow the heart to respond to changes in • Satellite cells: Like a muscle “stem cell,” can bodily needs divide to become new skeletal muscle cells (adult skeletal muscle cells do not divide).
    [Show full text]
  • Muscle Injury and the Role of Myosatellite Cells in Muscle Healing and Regeneration
    Muscle Injury and the Role of Myosatellite Cells in Muscle Healing and Regeneration Sarah Cooper Melissa Volk* Arcadia University and BA in Biology Glenside, PA Arcadia University 2012 [email protected] [email protected] Abstract: Following trauma and injury to muscle tissue, myosatellite cells, the primary stem cells in skeletal muscle tissue, are mobilized to facilitate muscle healing and regeneration. The future may hold promise for the use of satellite cells in the treatment of muscle injuries and muscle diseases such as muscular dystrophy. It can happen without warning. You may be exercising strains are associated with activities requiring jumping with a little too much weight, running without your usual and sprinting and are most likely to affect muscles that warm-up, doing exercises for which you lack proper span two joints such as gastrocnemius, rectus femoris training, or just straining to get a stuck window to go up and semitendinosus. Lacerations, which occur when on a lovely spring day when suddenly you are doubled muscles are cut, are not common sports related muscle over with the pain of a torn muscle, wishing you had injuries and are usually associated with accidents been more mindful of your regular exercise routine and (Järvinen 2005). proper safety precautions. Muscle and bone both have the ability to repair them- Skeletal muscle is a composite of two primary materi- selves but they accomplish this repair by different als, muscle fibers and connective tissue. Muscle fibers means. Bone heals by deposition of new tissue that are responsible for the contractility of muscles and is identical to the tissue that existed prior to the injury.
    [Show full text]
  • 2015 AACA Annual Meeting Program
    June 9 – 12, 2015 | Henderson, Nevada President’s Report June 9-12, 2015 Green Valley Ranch Resort & Casino Henderson, NV Another year has quickly passed and I have been asked to summarize achievements/threats to the Association for our meeting program booklet. Much of this will be recanted in my introductory message on the opening day of the meeting in Henderson. As President, I am representing Council in recognizing the work of those individuals not already recognized in our standing committee reports that you will find in this program. One of our most active ad hoc committees has been the one looking into creating an endowment for the association through member and vendor sponsorships. Our past president, Anne Agur, has chaired this committee and deserves accolades for having the committee work hard and produce the materials you have either already seen, or will be introduced to in Henderson. The format was based on that used by many clinical organizations. It allows support at many different levels, the financial income from which is being invested for student awards and travel stipends. Our ambitious 5 year goal is $100,000. I hope that you will join me in thinking seriously about supporting this initiative - at whichever level you feel comfortable with. Every dollar goes to the endowment. In October, Council ratified the creation of our new standing committee - Brand Promotion and Outreach. This committee was formed by fusing the two ad hoc committees struck by Anne Agur when she was President. Last year our new branding was highly visible in Orlando and we want to use this momentum to continue raising the profile of the Association at many different types of events within and outside North America.
    [Show full text]