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Abstract Articular cartilage is a thin layer of a solid matrix swollen by fluid, and it protects joints from damage via poroviscoelastic damping. Our previous experimental and simulation studies showed that cartilage-like poroviscoelastic damping could widen the range of damping methods in a low-frequency range (<100 Hz). Thus, the current study aimed to realize cartilage-like damping capacity by single- and two-indenter–foam poroviscoelastic dampers in a low-frequency range. Multiple single-indenter–foam dampers were designed by combining foam sheets with different pore diameters and indenters with different radii. Their damping capacity was investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis in a frequency range of 0.5–100 Hz. Single-indenter–foam dampers delivered peak damping frequencies that depended on the foam’s pore diameter and characteristic diffusion length (contact radii). Those dampers maximize the damping capacity at the desired frequency (narrowband performance). A mechanical model combined with simple scaling laws was shown to relate poroelasticity to the peak damping frequencies reasonably well. Finally, combinations of single-indenter–foam dampers were optimized to obtain a two-indenter–foam damper that delivered nearly rate-independent damping capacity within 0.5–100 Hz (broadband performance). These findings suggested that cartilage-like poroviscoelastic dampers can be an effective mean of passive damping for narrowband and broadband applications. 

Abstract Devising an approach to deterministically position organisms can impact various fields such as bioimaging, cybernetics, cryopreservation, and organism‐integrated devices. This requires continuously assessing the locations of randomly distributed organisms to collect and transfer them to target spaces without harm. Here, an aspiration‐assisted adaptive printing system is developed that tracks, harvests, and relocates living and moving organisms on target spaces via a pick‐and‐place mechanism that continuously adapts to updated visual and spatial information about the organisms and target spaces. These adaptive printing strategies successfully positioned a single static organism, multiple organisms in droplets, and a single moving organism on target spaces. Their capabilities are exemplified by printing vitrification‐ready organisms in cryoprotectant droplets, sorting live organisms from dead ones, positioning organisms on curved surfaces, organizing organism‐powered displays, and integrating organisms with materials and devices in customizable shapes. These printing strategies can ultimately lead to autonomous biomanufacturing methods to evaluate and assemble organisms for a variety of single and multi‐organism‐based applications. 

Abstract Articular cartilage is a multiphasic, anisotropic, and heterogeneous material. Although cartilage possesses excellent mechanical and biological properties, it can undergo mechanical damage, resulting in osteoarthritis. Thus, it is important to understand the microscale failure behavior of cartilage in both basic science and clinical contexts. Determining cartilage failure behavior and mechanisms provides insight for improving treatment strategies to delay osteoarthritis initiation or progression and can also enhance the value of cartilage as bioinspiration for material fabrication. To investigate microscale failure behavior, we developed a protocol to initiate fractures by applying a microindentation technique using a well‐defined tip geometry that creates localized cracks across a range of loading rates. The protocol includes extracting the tissue from the joint, preparing samples, and microfracture. Various aspects of the experiment, such as loading profile and solvent, can be adjusted to mimic physiological or pathological conditions and thereby further clarify phenomena underlying articular cartilage failure. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Harvesting and dissection of the joint surfaces Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of samples for microindentation and fatigue testing Basic Protocol 3: Microfracture using microindentation Basic Protocol 4: Crack propagation under cyclic loading