The Human Meniscus Behaves as a Functionally Graded Fractional Porous Medium under Confined Compression Conditions
, Gioacchino Alotta 2, Gregorio Marchiori 3, Matteo Berni 4, Nicola F. Lopomo 5, Stefano Zaffagnini 6, Stéphane P. A. Bordas 1,7 and Olga Barrera 8,9,10,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The authors successfully describe in this manuscript that a fractional poroelastic model is well-suited to describe the flow within the meniscus
and identify its associated parameters.
The article is well written, well executed, and answers interesting questions related with the anomalous behaviour of the meniscal tissue. The article has some limitations, but they have been correctly identified by the authors, so this research could be a good stepping stone for future investigations.
I consider it would have an undeniable relevance for an interested reader, and that it really privides new scientific knowledge.
I just have some minor comments that may help to improve the manuscript before its publication:
Line 31 - "to to" - please correct
Line 40 - "In These" - please correct
Line 41 - "(rephrase)" - please correct
Line 73 - "was [word missing]" - please correct
Author Response
We thank reviewer#1 for the time dedicated to reviewing our paper and for the positive notes. In red below how we have addressed the comments together with the changes in the text.
Typos spotted have been corrected
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
No
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
We thank reviewer#2 for the time dedicated to reviewing our paper and for the positive notes. In red below how we have addressed the comments together with the changes in the text.
Typos spotted have been corrected
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
This study attempts to explore the human meniscus behavior of functionally gradient. This is a subject worth investigation and valuable for the readers. However, there are several points authors need to address.
- The title seems incomplete because it does not covers what is being investigated in this study. Functionally gradient and porosity behavior of meniscus and even other bones have been investigated by several other researchers and we can find out several figures and papers which address this subject. Therefore, the title need to be revised.
- Similarly, the abstract does not cover the summary of main conclusions of the study. Some quantitative results need to be included.
- Literature review is written well; however authors need to include information on porous lattice structures. Several articles are available on lattice cellular structures e.g. a recent review by Nazir etal A state-of-the-art review on types……..of cellular structures
- Figure 1d graph is confusing for the reader and need to make it more clear.
- Figure 3 graphs are also confusing since it shows step 2, 3, and two graphs show step five data. Where is step 4? Also Figure 3c and b graph curves are hidden behind the text.
- Generally table caption are written on top but Figure 6 shows a table with caption on the bottom. It is recommended to add table as a table not as a figure.
- Figure 4 is also a table but add as a figure.
- In conclusion it is mentioned that fluid flow is investigated in this study. It is recommended to clearly mention it in the title and also in abstract. Abstract need to revise majorly.
- Authors believe that this is first experimental study of meniscus. Did they simulate the case for validation. If yes, what are the results? Were they comparable with the experimental results?
- Several typos were found during reading and reviewing the present study.
Author Response
We thank reviewer#3 for the time dedicated to reviewing our paper and for the positive notes. In red below how we have addressed the comments together with the changes in the text.
Typos spotted have been corrected
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 3 Report
The authors have addressed all the comments appropriately. This article can be accepted.
