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Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons™
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Articles 1 - 30 of 284
Full-Text Articles in Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering
Modeling Synergistic Effects Of Integrin And Tgf-Beta Signaling In Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition, Prerak Thakkar
Modeling Synergistic Effects Of Integrin And Tgf-Beta Signaling In Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition, Prerak Thakkar
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Modeling Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition In A 3d Multicellular Model Of Tgf-Β1 Signaling, Kristin Kim, Chris Lemmon
Modeling Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition In A 3d Multicellular Model Of Tgf-Β1 Signaling, Kristin Kim, Chris Lemmon
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Characterization And Decoding Of Speech Activity From Intracranial Signals, Pedram Zanganeh Soroush
Characterization And Decoding Of Speech Activity From Intracranial Signals, Pedram Zanganeh Soroush
Theses and Dissertations
Speech is the first and foremost means of human communication. Millions of people worldwide suffer from severe speech disorders due to neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brain stem stroke, and severe paralysis. A speech neuroprosthesis that decodes speech directly from neural signals could dramatically improve life for these individuals. Recent studies have demonstrated that it is possible to decode and synthesize various aspects of acoustic speech directly from intracranial measurements of electrophysiological brain activity. For those who have completely lost the ability to speak, the objective is to synthesize acoustic speech directly from brain activity during imagined …
The Wound Healing And Antibacterial Properties Of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Extracellular Matrix Nanoparticles, Emily N. Wandling
The Wound Healing And Antibacterial Properties Of Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Extracellular Matrix Nanoparticles, Emily N. Wandling
Theses and Dissertations
Treatments for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are still unavailable and the prevalence of the disease has only increased due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Mechanical ventilation regiments are still utilized to support declining lung function, but they also contribute to lung damage and increase the risk of bacterial infection. The anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative abilities of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have shown to be a promising therapy for ARDS. We propose to utilize the regenerative effects of MSC secretome and the extracellular matrix (ECM) into a nanoparticle. Our mouse MSC (MMSC) ECM nanoparticles were characterized using size, zeta-potential, and mass spectrometry …
Computational Modeling Of Temporal Eeg Responses To Cyclic Binary Visual Stimulus Patterns, Connor M. Delaney
Computational Modeling Of Temporal Eeg Responses To Cyclic Binary Visual Stimulus Patterns, Connor M. Delaney
Theses and Dissertations
The human visual system serves as the basis for many modern computer vision and machine learning approaches. While detailed biophysical models of certain aspects of the visual system exist, little work has been done to develop an end-to-end model from the visual stimulus to the signals generated at the visual cortex measured via the scalp electroencephalogram (EEG). The creation of such a model would not only provide a better understanding of the visual processing pathways but would also facilitate the design and evaluation of more robust visual stimuli for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). A novel experiment was designed and conducted where …
Patient-Specific Analysis Of Aortic Hemodynamics And Wall Shear Stresses In Patients Undergoing Pediatric Bariatric Surgery Using 2d Phase-Contrast Mri, Oluwaferanmi S. Akande, Joao Soares, Nathan Hargan, Dr. Uyen Truong, Haeung Kang, David Lanning
Patient-Specific Analysis Of Aortic Hemodynamics And Wall Shear Stresses In Patients Undergoing Pediatric Bariatric Surgery Using 2d Phase-Contrast Mri, Oluwaferanmi S. Akande, Joao Soares, Nathan Hargan, Dr. Uyen Truong, Haeung Kang, David Lanning
Undergraduate Research Posters
Patient-Specific Analysis of Aortic Hemodynamics and Wall Shear Stresses in Patients Undergoing Pediatric Bariatric Surgery using 2D Phase-Contrast MRI
Feranmi Akande1 Nathan Hargan2 Haesung Kang3 David Lanning3 Uyen Truong4 João S. Soares1
1 Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
2 Department of Mechanical & Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
3 Department of Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University
Introduction: Severe obesity among today’s youth is a rising epidemic within the United States. Emerging research has linked childhood obesity with shortened life expectancy and early …
Finite Element Analysis Of 3d-Printed Pcl Scaffolds, Ireolu K. Orenuga, Joao Soares, Phillip D. Glass, Daeha Joung Ph.D.
Finite Element Analysis Of 3d-Printed Pcl Scaffolds, Ireolu K. Orenuga, Joao Soares, Phillip D. Glass, Daeha Joung Ph.D.
Undergraduate Research Posters
Finite Element Analysis of 3D-printed PCL Scaffolds for Synergizing Cellular Micro-Environment and Mechanical Stimuli to Enhance Engineered Tissue Growth in Vitro
Ireolu Orenuga,1 Phillip Glass,2 Daeha Joung,2 Joao S. Soares1
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
- Department of Physics, College of Humanities & Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University
Introduction: Tissue engineering aims to create viable and functional engineered tissues via biodegradable scaffolds and autologous cells. Scaffolds play an essential part in organizing the architecture of developing tissues and aid in the proper function of implants acutely by serving as mechanical support and long-term by …
Investigating Tgf-Β1 And Fibronectin Signaling In Low Oxygen Environments, Caitlin E. Williams
Investigating Tgf-Β1 And Fibronectin Signaling In Low Oxygen Environments, Caitlin E. Williams
Theses and Dissertations
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women, second to lung cancer. It’s one of the most well-known cancers, with almost 300,000 new cases estimated to be diagnosed in 2023. Breast cancer often begins in ductal epithelial cells, and these cells will typically undergo a cellular transformation process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in early stages. Breast cancer becomes deadly when it reaches a metastatic stage. As a part of the metastatic process, transformed cells will conduct remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) to allow for migration of an otherwise non-migratory cell type.
As dense tumors form, …
Optimal Design Of Bacterial Carpets For Fluid Pumping, Minghao W. Rostami, Weifan Liu, Amy Buchmann, Eva Strawbridge, Longhua Zhao
Optimal Design Of Bacterial Carpets For Fluid Pumping, Minghao W. Rostami, Weifan Liu, Amy Buchmann, Eva Strawbridge, Longhua Zhao
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Study Of Cardiovascular Dynamics During Graded Head-Up Tilt Test In The Young With Syncope Tendency, Martin A. Miranda Sr
Study Of Cardiovascular Dynamics During Graded Head-Up Tilt Test In The Young With Syncope Tendency, Martin A. Miranda Sr
Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference
No abstract provided.
Improving The Early Detection Of Cardiovascular Toxicity Secondary To Radiotherapy For Lung Cancer Via Patient-Specific Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Alireza Omidi
Theses and Dissertations
Purpose: To assess the cardiopulmonary-induced dose variation on the left ventricle (LV) and evaluate the spatiotemporal evolution of cardiac/aortic function following radiotherapy (RT).
Methods: 8 lung cancer patients who were scheduled to receive RT were recruited for this study. Each patient underwent one 4D-CT at baseline. MRI scans including cine GRE, T1/T2, LGE, and 4D-flow were acquired at baseline, 3-months and 6-months post-RT to evaluate the cardiac/aortic function. Finally, image registration was used to assess the cardiopulmonary-induced dose variation on the LV.
Results: Mean RT-dose was minimum during inspiration and systole (at expiration). No significant differences were found in the …
Evaluation Of Cell-Matrix Interactions In K14+ Leader Cells On Caf-Modulated Matrix, Trey P. Redman, Jessanne Y. Lichtenberg, Priscilla Y. Hwang
Evaluation Of Cell-Matrix Interactions In K14+ Leader Cells On Caf-Modulated Matrix, Trey P. Redman, Jessanne Y. Lichtenberg, Priscilla Y. Hwang
Summer REU Program
No abstract provided.
Modeling Of Patient-Specific Periaortic Mechanics And Pulmonary Artery Hemodynamics Based On Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequences., Johane H. Bracamonte
Modeling Of Patient-Specific Periaortic Mechanics And Pulmonary Artery Hemodynamics Based On Phase-Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequences., Johane H. Bracamonte
Theses and Dissertations
Inverse modeling in cardiovascular medicine is a collection of methodologies that can provide non-invasive patient-specific estimations of clinical risk factors using medical imaging as inputs. Its incorporation into clinical practice has the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment planning with low associated risks and costs.
Herein, three different phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) modalities were implemented as input data, displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE MRI) applied, and time-resolved velocity encoding phase-contrast MRI, in 1D and 3D, applied to pulmonary artery (PA) hemodynamics.
A model to account for the effect of periaortic interactions due to static and dynamic structures …
Universal Design In Bci: Deep Learning Approaches For Adaptive Speech Brain-Computer Interfaces, Srdjan Lesaja
Universal Design In Bci: Deep Learning Approaches For Adaptive Speech Brain-Computer Interfaces, Srdjan Lesaja
Theses and Dissertations
In the last two decades, there have been many breakthrough advancements in non-invasive and invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. However, the majority of BCI model designs still follow a paradigm whereby neural signals are preprocessed and task-related features extracted using static, and generally customized, data-independent designs. Such BCI designs commonly optimize narrow task performance over generalizability, adaptability, and robustness, which is not well suited to meeting individual user needs. If one day BCIs are to be capable of decoding our higher-order cognitive commands and conceptual maps, their designs will need to be adaptive architectures that will evolve and grow in …
Innovative Techniques Of Neuromodulation And Neuromodeling Based On Focal Non-Invasive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation For Neurological Disorders, Ivan C. Carmona-Tortolero
Innovative Techniques Of Neuromodulation And Neuromodeling Based On Focal Non-Invasive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation For Neurological Disorders, Ivan C. Carmona-Tortolero
Theses and Dissertations
This dissertation aims to develop alternative technology that improves the current range of application of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), on a scale that would permit defining specific non-invasive treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. This is accomplished through three specific objectives. 1) The design of a neurostimulation system that increases the focality in TMS to regions of narrow target areas and variable depths in the brain cortex. 2) The assessment of the feasibility of novel high-frequency neuromodulation techniques that would allow increasing the focality in deeper areas beyond the cortical surface. 3) The development of a computational model …
Effect Of Viscoelasticity On Cellular Morphology And Activity, Thomas J. Petet Jr
Effect Of Viscoelasticity On Cellular Morphology And Activity, Thomas J. Petet Jr
Theses and Dissertations
It has been well established that there is a link between substrate stiffness and cellular activities such as proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Less characterized is the link between the time-dependent viscosity of a substrate with those cellular activities. To explore this, PDMS substrates were created with predictably tunable stiffness and viscosity parameters. A simulated model was also developed in parallel to explore the potential effects of viscosity in a computationally predictive way. It was found that the inclusion of viscosity caused a major paradigm shift to a non-zero substrate equilibrium that was sensitive to increases in the substrate stiffness. Finally, …
A Highly Conductive, Flexible, And 3d-Printable Carbon Nanotube-Elastomer Ink For Additive Bio-Manufacturing, Andy Shar, Phillip Glass, Daeha Joung Ph.D.
A Highly Conductive, Flexible, And 3d-Printable Carbon Nanotube-Elastomer Ink For Additive Bio-Manufacturing, Andy Shar, Phillip Glass, Daeha Joung Ph.D.
Undergraduate Research Posters
The synthesis of a highly conductive, flexible, 3D-printable, and biocompatible ink has been of great interest in the field of bio-based additive manufacturing. Various applications include ultra-sensitive, microscale tactile sensors, patient-customizable scaffolds for cardiac and nerve tissue regeneration, and flexible electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes. Here, a novel elastomeric carbon nanocomposite is presented consisting of amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT-NH2) homogenously dispersed in a one-part room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicone matrix. The use of acetone as a swelling solvent aids in electrical percolation through the elastomer matrix. CNT-NH2 ratios can be tuned to fit various needs; higher tensile strength is favored …
Theta Burst Brain Stimulation In Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Patients: Investigating Neural Mechanisms, Bhushan Thakkar
Theta Burst Brain Stimulation In Painful Diabetic Neuropathy Patients: Investigating Neural Mechanisms, Bhushan Thakkar
Theses and Dissertations
Chronic pain (CP) is a significant contributor to disability and disease burden globally. In 2019, approximately 50.2 million adults (20.4% of the US population) experienced chronic pain, contributing to $560-635 billion in direct medical costs. In addition, the worldwide prevalence of diabetes mellitus has reached epidemic proportions and is set to increase to 629 million by 2045. Almost 50% of patients with diabetes present with diabetic neuropathy (DN), and one in five patients with diabetes presents with painful DN (pDN) which is the most common cause of neuropathic pain (NP) in the US. Symptomatic treatment is the mainstay of management …
Dna Condensation State Regulates Nuclear Lamina Strain And Cellular Adaptation To Physiological Forces, Brooke E. Danielsson
Dna Condensation State Regulates Nuclear Lamina Strain And Cellular Adaptation To Physiological Forces, Brooke E. Danielsson
Theses and Dissertations
The nucleus is the largest and stiffest organelle and is exposed to mechanical forces transmitted through the cytoskeleton from outside the cell, as well as from forces generation within the cell. In recent years, the nucleus has been proposed to act as a cellular mechanosensor, with changes to nuclear shape and architecture playing an important role in how the cell responds to physiological forces. Aberrant forms of the nuclear envelope protein lamin A/C, as well as epigenetic modifications to chromatin, has been shown to modify nuclear stiffness and viscosity, therefore effecting nuclear mechanics and mechanotransduction. Altered nuclear mechanics is associated …
Therapeutic Approaches For Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Franck J. Kamga Gninzeko
Therapeutic Approaches For Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Franck J. Kamga Gninzeko
Theses and Dissertations
Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is characterized by shortness of breath and low oxygen levels. RDS affects the neonatal and adult populations. In the neonatal population, RDS can be classified as NRDS (Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome), while in adults, it is known as ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome). This dissertation examines a therapeutic approach to NRDS and a mechanistic approach to ARDS with in vivo and in vitro models of lung injury. NRDS is characterized by a deficiency or lack of surfactant. Surfactant is an essential compound composed of phospholipids and proteins to prevent the lungs from collapsing. There are several …
Exploring Cell Differentiation Vs. Localization In Engineered Ligament-To-Bone Entheses, Saagar N. Sheth, Michael E. Brown, Jennifer L. Puetzer
Exploring Cell Differentiation Vs. Localization In Engineered Ligament-To-Bone Entheses, Saagar N. Sheth, Michael E. Brown, Jennifer L. Puetzer
Undergraduate Research Posters
The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) connects to bone via structurally complex insertions known as entheses that translate load from elastic ligament and stiff bone via gradients in organization, composition, and cell phenotype [1]. These gradients are not recreated in graft repair or engineered replacements, yielding limited repair options and high failure rates [2]. Previously, we developed a culture system that uses a tensile-compressive interface to guide ligament fibroblasts to develop early postnatal-like entheses by 6 weeks [3]; however, cells used were isolated from the entirety of the neonatal bovine ACL from bone to bone and likely contained multiple cell phenotypes …
Novel Microfabricated Systems To Elucidate The Role Of Anisotropic Stiffness In The Tumor Microenvironment, Jiten Narang
Novel Microfabricated Systems To Elucidate The Role Of Anisotropic Stiffness In The Tumor Microenvironment, Jiten Narang
Theses and Dissertations
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in women and late stage (metastatic) cancers have abysmal survival rates compared to early stage regional cases (27% vs 86%). As a tumor grows, the surrounding extracellular matrix (ECM) is reorganized into a dense, collagen rich matrix. The new matrix of aligned collagen fibers provides unique mechanical cues such as anisotropic stiffness and contact guidance. Matrix turnover also constricts local vasculature and restricts delivery of key nutrients and signaling molecules to malignant cells to outside the tumor creating a chemotactic gradient from outside to inside. In this work, we developed a novel …
Towards The Systematic Evaluation Of Variable Modes Of Mechanical Conditioning On The Compositional, Microstructural And Mechanical Properties Of Engineered Tissue Vascular Grafts., Sarah Saunders
Theses and Dissertations
Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) remains one of the most common cardiac surgical procedures performed worldwide, frequently involving multiple bypasses, and commonly employing the patient’s internal mammary artery, radial artery, or saphenous vein. CABG is often not possible because native vessels were already employed in previous interventions or are diseased themselves. Synthetic vascular grafts are currently integral tools of vascular surgery and have had relative success in large-caliber applications providing substantial benefit to aortic or iliac grafting; however, small diameter (< 6 mm) arterial grafts have not yet translated into clinical effectiveness due to thrombosis and anastomotic intimal hyperplasia. ETVGs present an exciting potential alternative in vascular grafting by offering a blood vessel substitute that could exhibit all the functional characteristics of native vasculature. In addition to relieving supply limitations associated with coronary artery bypass surgery ETVGs are especially ideal for pediatric patients with congenital heart disease who require grafts that grow as they do, eliminating the need for reoccurring invasive surgeries.
Though the role of biomechanics in regulating cellular behavior promoting non-thrombogenicity, vasoactivity, and ECM synthesis and maintenance is well …
Quantitative Assessment Of Intra- And Inter-Modality Deformable Image Registration Of The Heart, Left Ventricle, And Thoracic Aorta On Longitudinal 4d-Ct And Mr Images, Alireza Omidi, Elisabeth Weiss, John S. Wilson, Mihaela Rosu-Bubulac
Quantitative Assessment Of Intra- And Inter-Modality Deformable Image Registration Of The Heart, Left Ventricle, And Thoracic Aorta On Longitudinal 4d-Ct And Mr Images, Alireza Omidi, Elisabeth Weiss, John S. Wilson, Mihaela Rosu-Bubulac
Biomedical Engineering Publications
Purpose
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based investigations into radiotherapy (RT)-induced cardiotoxicity require reliable registrations of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to planning computed tomography (CT) for correlation to regional dose. In this study, the accuracy of intra- and inter-modality deformable image registration (DIR) of longitudinal four-dimensional CT (4D-CT) and MR images were evaluated for heart, left ventricle (LV), and thoracic aorta (TA).
Methods and materials
Non-cardiac-gated 4D-CT and T1 volumetric interpolated breath-hold examination (T1-VIBE) MRI datasets from five lung cancer patients were obtained at two breathing phases (inspiration/expiration) and two time points (before treatment and 5 weeks after initiating RT). Heart, LV, …
Applied Machine Learning In Extrusion-Based Bioprinting, Shuyu Tian
Applied Machine Learning In Extrusion-Based Bioprinting, Shuyu Tian
Theses and Dissertations
Optimization of extrusion-based bioprinting (EBB) parameters have been systematically conducted through experimentation. However, the process is time and resource-intensive and not easily translatable across different laboratories. A machine learning (ML) approach to EBB parameter optimization can accelerate this process for laboratories across the field through training using data collected from published literature. In this work, regression-based and classification-based ML models were investigated for their abilities to predict printing outcomes of cell viability and filament diameter for cell-containing alginate and gelatin composite hydrogels. Regression-based models were investigated for their ability to predict suitable extrusion pressure given desired cell viability when keeping …
Effect Of Stimulus Waveform On Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Metrics In Proximal And Distal Arm Muscles, Christopher Lynch
Effect Of Stimulus Waveform On Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Metrics In Proximal And Distal Arm Muscles, Christopher Lynch
Theses and Dissertations
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of common transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) waveforms (monophasic and biphasic) on resting motor threshold (RMT), active motor threshold (AMT), and motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitudes in the biceps and first dorsal interosseous (FDI) because waveforms may affect motor targets differently. Additionally, we determined the test-retest reliability of TMS metrics for each stimulation type and muscle.
Methods: Ten individuals participated in two sessions of single-pulse TMS delivered to the motor cortex perpendicular to the central sulcus. MEPs were normalized to the maximum EMG signal during contraction and were recorded at …
Estimating Affective States In Virtual Reality Environments Using The Electroencephalogram, Meghan R. Kumar
Estimating Affective States In Virtual Reality Environments Using The Electroencephalogram, Meghan R. Kumar
Theses and Dissertations
Recent interest in high-performance virtual reality (VR) headsets has motivated research efforts to increase the user's sense of immersion via feedback of physiological measures. This work presents the use of electroencephalographic (EEG) measurements during observation of immersive VR videos to estimate the user's affective state. The EEG of 30 participants were recorded as each passively viewed a series of one minute immersive VR video clips and subjectively rated their level of valence, arousal, dominance, and liking. Correlates between EEG spectral bands and the subjective ratings were analyzed to identify statistically significant frequencies and electrode locations across participants. Model feasibility and …
Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation: Application To Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation And Computational Modeling, Neil Mittal
Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation: Application To Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation And Computational Modeling, Neil Mittal
Theses and Dissertations
Loss of motor function from spinal cord injuries (SCI) results in loss of independence. Rehabilitation efforts are targeted to enhance the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs), but outcomes from physical therapy alone are often insufficient. Neuromodulation techniques that induce neuroplasticity may push the limits on recovery. Neuromodulation by intermittent theta burst transcranial magnetic stimulation (iTBS) induces neuroplasticity by increasing corticomotor excitability, though this has most frequently been studied with motor targets and on individuals not in need of rehabilitation. Increased corticomotor excitability is associated with motor learning. The response to iTBS, however, is highly variable and unpredictable, …
Evaluating Neuromuscular Function Of The Biceps Brachii After Spinal Cord Injury: Assessment Of Voluntary Activation And Motor Evoked Potential Input-Output Curves Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Thibault Roumengous
Theses and Dissertations
Activation of upper limb muscles is important for independent living after cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) that results in tetraplegia. An emerging, non-invasive approach to address post-SCI muscle weakness is modulation of the nervous system. A long-term goal is to develop neuromodulation techniques to reinnervate (i.e. resupply nerve to) muscle fiber and thereby increase muscle function in individuals with tetraplegia. Towards this goal, developing monitoring techniques to quantify neuromuscular function is needed to better direct neurorehabilitation. Assessment of voluntary activation (VA) is a promising approach because the location of the stimulus can be applied cortically using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) …
Improving Patient-Specific Assessments Of Regional Aortic Mechanics Via Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Early Applications In Patients At Elevated Risk For Thoracic Aortopathy, Patrick A. Jones
Theses and Dissertations
Unstable aortic aneurysms and dissections are serious cardiovascular conditions associated with high mortality. The current gold standards for assessment of stability, however, rely on simple geometric measurements, like cross-sectional area or increased diameter between follow-up scans, and fail to incorporate information about underlying aortic mechanics. Displacement encoding with stimulated echoes (DENSE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used previously to determine heterogeneous circumferential strain patterns in the aortas of healthy volunteers. Here, I introduce technical improvements to DENSE aortic analysis and early pilot application in patients at higher risk for the development of aortopathies. Modifications to the DENSE aortic postprocessing …