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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Single Cell Biophysics: Applications In Cardiomyocyte Mechanobiology And Stem Cell Mechanotransduction, Benjamin Edward Reese Dec 2014

Single Cell Biophysics: Applications In Cardiomyocyte Mechanobiology And Stem Cell Mechanotransduction, Benjamin Edward Reese

Doctoral Dissertations

While a great deal of work has been done to analyze cardiac dynamics and mechanics at the organ and tissue levels, there remains much less data regarding these metrics at the single cell level. Additionally, as fields such as regenerative medicine and tissue engineering are beginning to demonstrate greater therapeutic potential, the study and influence of stem cell mechanics on differentiation has become a major area of interest. For these reasons, along with the continued advancement of molecular techniques and assays, there is a growing need to develop functional assays that can integrate and bridge the findings from multiple length …


Development Of A Silicon Nanowire Mask Using Scanning Probe Microscopy, Ross Gregoriev Aug 2014

Development Of A Silicon Nanowire Mask Using Scanning Probe Microscopy, Ross Gregoriev

Master's Theses

Scanning probe microscopy techniques were used to investigate the desorption of hydrogen passivated silicon to form SiO2 etch masks The application of the etch masks were planned on being used to manufacture silicon nanowires. Low concentration hydrofluoric acid was used to passivate the surface. The surface was selectively depassivated by SPM techniques. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to create the masks. The STM system used was found to desorb hydrogen from the surface faster than the STM could image and was considered incapable in the configuration investigated. This led to the use of atomic …


Improved Efficiency Organic Photovoltaic Cells Through Morphology Control And Process Modification, Qi Wu Aug 2014

Improved Efficiency Organic Photovoltaic Cells Through Morphology Control And Process Modification, Qi Wu

Dissertations

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells have drawn great attention due to the potential to produce flexible, light weight, affordable solar cells using polymer organic photovoltaic materials; however, the current power conversion efficiency achieved for these systems is too low for widespread implementation of the technology. Morphology and phase separation are key factors determining the performance of organic photovoltaic cells. Precise control of the size and distribution of the phase-separated photoactive domains is necessary for optimum photon-electron conversion. Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanostructered chemicals have the potential to provide enhanced control of morphology, crystallinity, and phase dispersion in polymeric blend systems. In …


Design, Implementation, And Test Of A Micro Force Displacement System, Evan Derek Cate Jun 2014

Design, Implementation, And Test Of A Micro Force Displacement System, Evan Derek Cate

Master's Theses

The design and implementation of a micro-force displacement system was completed to test the force-displacement characteristics of square silicon diaphragms with side lengths of 4mm, 5mm, and 7mm with a thickness of 10um. The system utilizes a World Precision Instruments Fort 10g force transducer attached to a World Precession Instruments TBM4M amplifier. A Keithley 2400 source meter provided data acquisition of the force component of the system. A micro prober tip was utilized as the testing probe attached to the force transducer with a tip radius of 5um. The displacement of samples was measured using a Newport M433 linear stage …


Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Spider Silk Films Made From Organic And Water-Based Dopes, Chauncey Lewis Tucker May 2014

Mechanical And Physical Properties Of Spider Silk Films Made From Organic And Water-Based Dopes, Chauncey Lewis Tucker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Spider silk has become a popular material due to its exceptional mechanical and biocompatibility properties. The project team has developed methods of producing and improving the properties of synthetic spider silk films. Other groups have been able to produce similar films having less than impressive mechanical properties using a toxic solvent. The spider silk team here at Utah State University has developed a new way of processing these films to more than triple their mechanical properties and has created a novel form of spider silk films produced from a water-based liquid, making it less expensive, more environmentally friendly, and more …


Expanding Applications Of The Nano Intravital Device As A Platform For Exploring Tumor Microenvironments, Michael Padgen Jan 2014

Expanding Applications Of The Nano Intravital Device As A Platform For Exploring Tumor Microenvironments, Michael Padgen

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

The tumor microenvironment has been demonstrated to be a key determinant in the progression of cancer. Unfortunately, the mechanisms behind the different microenvironments (cytokine gradients, hypoxia, hypoglycemia, etc) have not been fully elucidated. Identifying these mechanisms can lead to targeted, individualized therapy to prevent metastasis. The Nano Intravital Device (NANIVID) is a microfabricated, implantable device designed to initiate specific microenvironments in vivo so that the time course of the effects can be observed. With both spatial and temporal control over the induced environments, the affected regions of the tumor can be compared to the rest of the tumor. The NANIVID …


Characterization Of Hybrid Electronic Materials Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Madhavi Divakar Rajathadripura Jan 2014

Characterization Of Hybrid Electronic Materials Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Madhavi Divakar Rajathadripura

LSU Master's Theses

Miniaturization in the electronics industry has been driven by advancements in material science. Recently, Hybrid Electronic Materials (HEMs) have been postulated to have unique material properties that can be used within the semiconductor industry. As such, the main focus of this research is to characterize the relevant properties of HEMs using atomic force microscopy (AFM), conductive probe atomic force microscopy (CP-AFM), and Raman spectroscopy techniques. Emphasis is placed on characterizing [R6G][TPB] GUMBOS which are a Group of Uniform Materials Based on Organic Salts. GUMBOS exhibit properties such as fluorescence and magnetic susceptibility, both of which may be important with respect …