Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Reducing Error Rates In Intelligence, Surveillance, And Reconnaissance (Isr) Anomaly Detection Via Information Presentation Optimization, Donald Glen Church

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In the ISR domain, time-critical decision-making and dealing with multiple information feeds places high demands on the human. When designing aids and tools, the decision maker must be taken into account. This research looks toward designing a decision aid based the personality type of the operator. The BFI is used to determine the impact of personality and decision aid type (graphical vs. textual) on performance. Results show Openness and Agreeableness to be the strongest single factors for decision aid impact on performance. A model was also developed to show how the human takes the information and relates it to a …

Evaluating Warehouse Strategies For Two-Product Class Distribution Planning, Bradley R. Guthrie

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Distribution networks often manage products with varying life-cycles, where demand for some products is relatively stable throughout the year (basic products) and the demand for others is short-lived (fashion products). Beyond the coordination of inventory and transportation decisions, decisions at the warehouse must be considered as its resources are frequently shared by both product classes simultaneously. For this two-product class distribution planning problem, we focus on characterizing three real-world distribution strategies observed in industry and evaluating them based on total distribution cost and warehouse measures (e.g., workforce plan and workload variation) against a benchmark ILS-based heuristic. Experimental results suggest that …

Design Of A Low-Cost Wireless Nirs System With Embedded Linux And A Smartphone Interface, Diogo Da Silva Dias

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Wireless near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) systems can help to reduce movement artifacts, and distraction due cables. Utilizing Embedded Linux (EL) can reduce size, development time, cost of a project and allow portability. The goal of this project is to develop a low-cost wireless small-sized NIRS system using EL and a Smartphone as the interface. This was achieved using a BeagleBone Black (BBB) with a deployed custom EL that: (1) controls two sources, (2) receives data from photodetectors (PDs), (3) processes, stores and transmits data via Bluetooth to an Android Smartphone. This device was implemented in under US$150 and its dimension was …

Measuring Brain Activation Through Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Fmri) During Visual Task Learning, Mohd Saif Usmani

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to understand the brain activity associated with learning a visual task by utilizing the applications of functional magnetic resonance imaging in cognitive neuroscience. The study was performed using two visual tasks referred to as aircraft and control, respectively. We compared the brain activation of these two visual tasks to understand the learning process of the participants. Fifteen young adults, ten males and five females, ranging in age from 19 to 35 years, participated in a ten-week study. Eight participants dropped out either voluntarily or were excluded for different reasons. The data analysis was completed …

An Improved Adaptive Filtering Approach For Removing Artifact From The Electroencephalogram, Justin Ronald Estepp

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The biophysics of volume conduction that enable electrophysiological data acquisition also result in the mixing of data sources including possible, undesirable noise sources at the electrode interface. This work specifically focuses on improving the performance of the recursive least-squares (RLS) adaptive filtering method for removing eye movement artifact from the electroencephalogram. In biophysically-inspired simulated data, the RLS algorithm is verified to produce results that are inferior to extended infomax independent component analysis (ICA), the most widely used artifact correction approach in this problem space, due to its non-linear filter phase response and the presence of bidirectional contamination, or cross-talk, resultant …

Evaluation Of Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (Fnirs) For Assessment Of The Visual And Motor Cortices In Adults, Brenna Giacherio

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a relatively young technique in the field of medical imaging. As such, it has yet to be widely implemented for clinical use, despite its promising advantages. However, unlike fMRI-its much bulkier and costly counterpart-fNIRS has yet to be proven as a standalone imaging tool within a clinical setting, particularly that of ophthalmology or physical therapy.

Methods: Ten healthy young adults (23.8 ± 4.8 years) participated in the study. Activation of the visual cortex was achieved utilizing various reversing checkerboard stimuli across three data collection sessions for each participant. Further, activation of the motor cortex …

Segmentation And Analysis Of Mris Of Infants With Dysphagia, Irfaan A. Dar

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Neonates are at a rapid stage of development from birth throughout childhood. Impairments to certain cortical areas can result in long lasting neuro-cognitive dysfunctions. Disorders to the swallowing neural pathways can have detrimental effects throughout life course since methods to provide nutrition can be comprised. Dysphagia, or the inability to swallow, can be caused by a multitude of reasons, chiefly neurological, but the underlying disruptions to the neural pathways are not defined. In this study we investigated the growth of multiple cortical areas involved in the swallowing pathway and categorized feeding outcomes with neural growth. Results showed that infants that …

Finite Element Simulation Of Skull Fracture Evoked By Fall Injuries, Anthony Vicini

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

This study presents novel predictive equations for von Mises stresses and deflection of bones in the frontal and lateral regions of the skull. The equations were developed based on results of a finite element model developed here. The model was validated for frontal and lateral loading conditions with input values mimetic to fall scenarios. Using neural network processing of the information derived from the model achieved R2 values of 0.9990 for both the stress and deflection. Based on the outcome of the fall victims, a threshold von Mises stress of 40.9 to 46.6 MPa was found to indicate skull fracture …

Utility Of A Volume-Regulated Drive System For Direct Mechanical Ventricular Actuation, Benjamin A. Schmitt

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Direct Mechanical Ventricular Actuation (DMVA) is a non-blood contacting cardiac assist device that augments ventricular function. The purpose of this study was to determine if a volume-regulated "hand pump" drive system and a pressure-regulated "switch tank" drive system provide equivalent levels of cardiac support. Canine (n=2) and swine (n=4) were instrumented for hemodynamic monitoring and intravascular echocardiography. DMVA support was assessed during both severe heart failure and fibrillation. Pump function was evaluated using hemodynamic measures to calculate stroke work. Myocardial function was assessed using echocardiographic speckle tracking to quantify strain rate. Results were compared between groups using paired t-tests. There …

An Investigation Of Thermal Imaging To Detect Physiological Indicators Of Stress In Humans, Carl Brady Cross

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Real-time, stand-off sensing of humans to detect emotional state would be valuable in many defense, security and medical scenarios. Using a multimodal sensor platform that incorporates high-resolution visible-wavelength and mid-wave infrared cameras and a millimeter-wave (mmW) radar system, the detection of physiological indicators of psychological stress is tested through laboratory experiments. Our approach focuses on thermal imaging to measure temperature patterns in distinct facial regions representative of underlying hemodynamic patterns. Experiments were designed to: 1) determine the ability of thermal imaging to detect high levels of psychological stress and assess responses to physical versus psychological stressors; 2) evaluate the fidelity …

Investigation Of The Utility Of Center Frequency In Electroencephalographic Classification Of Cognitive Workload Transitions, Jones Melissa

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Successful classification of human cognitive workload is a vital component in identifying and avoiding potential performance deficits resulting from operator work overload. Previous research suggests that electroencephalogram (EEG) derived features, including center frequency, provide a robust signal which may be used to obtain highly accurate workload classification. The purpose of this work is to investigate evidence of physiological hysteresis and determine if center frequency improves a classifier's ability to correctly identify workload level. Results confirmed that including spectral data creates the most robust feature sets, while center frequency across all bands is equally reliable for classifying workload in the case …

Mobile Computing For Trauma And Surgical Care Continuous Education, Muhammad Y. Alamoud

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In medical domain, mobile computing has proven to be convenient, effective, and productive. With varying screen sizes, there is a challenge to present the right information in the right format such that medical practitioners can access information quickly. In this thesis, we discuss how mobile computing can be used as a way of continuous education for medical practitioners in the field of trauma and surgical care, and provide design guidelines on how to effectively present information on different mobile form factors. The focus is on three screen sizes- 4.7, 7 and 10.1 in., and three interaction methods - dropdown, slide, …

Optimization Of Wsu Total Ankle Replacement Systems, Bradley Jay Elliott

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Total ankle arthroplasty (TAR) is performed in order to reduce the pain and loss of ambulation in patients with various forms of arthritis and trauma. Although replacement devices fail by a number of mechanisms, wear in the polyethylene liner constitutes one of the dominating failure modes. This leads to instability and loosening of the implant. Mechanisms that contribute to wear in the liners are high contact and subsurface stresses that break down the material over time. Therefore, it is important to understand the gait that generates these stresses. Methods to characterize and decrease wear in Ohio TARs have been performed …

Application Of The Human-Machine Interaction Model To Multiple Attribute Task Battery (Matb): Task Component Interaction And The Strategy Paradigm, Craig M. Walters

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The Multiple-Attribute Task Battery (MATB) is composed of four simultaneously running components to which a human operator responds. A prior report has quantified information content as a machine input baud rate using the Hick-Hyman and Fitt's Laws for three of the four components and defines a strategy function. This report covers methods to quantify information content of the fourth component, creating a single metric which describes overall task complexity and evaluates human performance and strategy. Six MATB task-scenarios (combinations of two, three, or all four MATB components) each at two input baud rates are evaluated. Subjects were also provided with …

System Optimization And Patient Translational Motion Correction For Reduction Of Artifacts In A Fan-Beam Ct Scanner, Zachary Gordon Lee Wise

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

In computed tomography (CT) systems, many different artifacts may be present in the reconstructed image. These artifacts can greatly reduce image quality. For our laboratory prototype CT system, a fan-beam/cone-beam focal high-resolution computed tomography (fHRCT) scanner, the major artifacts that affect image quality are distortions due to errors in the reconstruction algorithm's geometric parameters, ring artifacts caused by uncalibrated detectors, cupping and streaking created by beam hardening, and patient-based motion artifacts. Optimization of the system was required to reduce the effects of the first three artifact types, and an algorithm for correction of translational motion was developed for the last. …

Evaluation Of Interpolation And Registration Techniques In Magnetic Resonance Image For Orthogonal Plane Super Resolution Reconstruction, Amir Pasha Mahmoudzadeh

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Super resolution reconstruction (SRR) combines several perspectives of an image (typically low resolution) in order to reconstruct a more complete and comprehensive (higher resolution) image. The aim is to use this concept on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, for which the standard is to scan in several-plane orientation in a 2D fashion. As a result, clinical MRI, functional MRI (FMRI), diffusion weighted imaging (DWI)/diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and MR angiography (MRA) tend to have high in- plane resolution but low resolution in the slice-select direction. By combining the 2 scans of the orthogonal plane, new 3D images can be reconstructed. …

Predicting Vigilance Performance Under Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Nathaniel Reese Bridges

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

A brain stimulation technology called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may potentially mitigate the vigilance decrement. To practically use such technology, however, a model is necessary that indicates vigilance performance, both when stimulation is being applied and not applied. To address this issue, the author developed models capable of predicting vigilance performance in real and control stimulation conditions using previous tDCS-study data. The "all possible combinations" regression method produced over 200 models, later screened to 10. The model with the best average %error (11.49 ± 0.10) used left hemispheric cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFVL) as its sole input term-accounting for …

Influence Of Design Parameters On Cup-Stem Orientations For Impingement Free Range Of Motion In Hip Implants, Dishita Prakashbhai Patel

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this investigation is to determine the optimum positions of the prosthesis in total hip arthroplasty that produce least amount of impingement. Theoretical ranges of six basic hip motions were determined under walking, stumbling, internal rotation at 90 flexion and external rotation at 0 extension with 15 abduction, using mathematical models and validated for impingement using finite element analysis. A generalized approach, where impingement does not occur, was developed in this study to understand influence of design parameters such as head-neck ratio, neck-shaft angle, oscillation angle, and stem offset on cup-stem orientations such as cup inclination, cup anteversion, …

A Probabilistic Assessment Of Vertebral Cortical Bone Fracture Of Intraosteonal Structures, Isaac Graham Mabe

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cortical bone is a porous structure. The presence of these pores creates the possibility of a local overstressed area that has the likelihood of premature failure. Some failure modes of the vertebral endplates, for example subsidence which occurs at rates as high as 77 percent, can be better predicted with further understanding of failure mechanisms and the ability to predict those mechanisms. A probabilistic assessment of the pore size and its contribution to the fracture toughness has not been investigated in the cortical shell of the vertebral endplates. This research develops a probabilistic model that has the ability to determine …

Anthropometric Analysis Of The Cervical Spine, Susan Hueston

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

An understanding of the dimensional anatomy of the cervical spine is necessary in order to help diagnose disease, deformity, injury, and device development. Previous investigation has been completed utilizing cadavers, X-rays and other imaging techniques. This research utilized computer tomography images from the trauma registry at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio to complete an anthropometric study of the cervical spine. Linear mathematical models were developed to investigate the relationships present in the dimensional anatomy of the cervical spine. New measurements were completed on subjects of both Caucasian and African American descent and of both genders. An approximation of the …

Investigation Of Variability In Cognitive State Assessment Based On Electroencephalogram-Derived Features, Samantha Lokelani Crossen

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

To implement adaptive aiding in modern aviation systems there is a need for accurate and reliable classification of cognitive workload. Using electroencephalogram (EEG)-derived features, it has been reported that an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) can achieve 95% or higher classification accuracy on the same day for an individual operator, but only 70% or less on a different day. To gain a further insight into this discrepancy, data from a previous study was utilized to study the classification variability. The EEG-derived features were first calculated by spectral power estimation. The variability was then analyzed by performing cognitive workload classification in which …

Selective Automatic Image Feature Detection, Aijing Wang

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

To allow automatic assessment of computed tomography (CT) images of long bones, the identification of the location of regions of interest is important. The distance between the distal and proximal styloids may act as reference points for bone length; however, the locations of the distal and proximal growth plates represent further important reference features. The current methods to locate these feature positions are manual. In this project, we attempt to find these feature positions automatically.

A CT data set was split into two subsets, a development set, and a validation set. We first extracted basic information from the stack and …

A Validation Of A Prototype Dry Electrode System For Electroencephalography, Jason Monnin

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Current physiologically-driven operator cognitive state assessment technology relies primarily on electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. Traditionally, gel-based electrodes have been used; however, the application of gel-based electrodes on the scalp requires expertise and a considerable amount of preparation time. Additionally, discomfort can occur from the abrasion of the scalp during preparation, and the electrolyte will also begin to dry out over extended periods of time. These drawbacks have hindered the transition of operator state assessment technology into an operational environment. QUASAR, Inc., (San Diego, CA) has developed a prototype dry electrode system for electroencephalography that requires minimal preparation. A comparison of the …

Semi-Automated Dental Cast Analysis Software, Mathew Thomas

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Dental casts have been used extensively to study almost all aspects of the human dentition. These aspects varied from the study of tooth form and morphology, inheritance and genetics, growth and development, occlusion, arch alignment and crowding to mathematical determination of dental arch form.

The aim of this project was to develop a tool to semi-automate the measurement of dental casts that would be precise, accurate and efficient. Measurements include tooth widths, arch lengths and widths, angle of rotation and crown area for each tooth.

The task was divided into two different parts: first, the development of semi-automatic software to …

Cervical Spine Biomechanical Behavior And Injury, Mbulelo T. Makola

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

A finite element model of the cervical spine including the C2 through C7 levels was developed in order to study the behavior of the cervical spine region. The model was validated in flexion extension, bending, and rotational load scenarios. The model was found to represent the biomechanical behavior of the cervical spine. The validated cervical spine finite element model was used to study spinal injury and disease processes. The model provided qualitative estimates of load carrying and stress distribution as well as range of motion.

Population Fit Threshold: Fully Automated Signal Map Generation For Baseline Correction In Nmr-Based Metabolomics, Daniel C. Homer

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Baseline correction of NMR-based metabolomic spectra is a key step in data processing to elucidate biomarkers of diseased and toxic states. Automated baseline correction methods often use human-selected parameters. Presented is a method for automated baseline correction using parameters selected from and without manipulation of the spectrum. The focus is on generating an accurate signal map based on the differentiating characteristics of baseline noise and signal. The presented method of signal map generation and baseline correction was developed and tested on 13C and 1H NMR spectra. The spectra were as simple as chemical standards containing less than 25 signal peaks …

Radio Frequency Controlled Stimulation Of Intracellular Gold Or Silver Nanoparticle Conjugates For Use As Potential Sensors Or Modulators Of Biological Function, Richard Craig Murdock

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this investigation was to further explore the ability of a radio frequency (RF) signal to interact with metal nanoparticles (NPs) for the purposes of remote stimulation or control of cellular processes. Gold and silver NPs have shown the ability to be heated by electromagnetic frequencies, especially for the purpose of deactivating abnormal cells. However, the heating of the NPs in these previous studies was constant and uncontrolled. For this study, our hypothesis was by investigating the RF heating characteristics of NPs and its impact on surface functionalizations, a remotely stimulated control mechanism can be developed at the …

Characterization And Improvement Of A Cone-Beam Ct Scanner For Quantitative Imaging, Jimish Dilip Joshi

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Computed tomography (CT) has various applications in different fields. In our case, the cone-beam CT scanner is used in the industrial field for qualitative and quantitative assessment of Procter and Gamble products. The Flash CT scanner, on which we do our research, has a microfocus x-ray tube, a detector size of 30 cm x 40 cm and a rotating stage for the object to be imaged. The x-ray tube can be operated up to 225 kV. Non-linearities in the response of the detector, scatter and beam hardening may cause false interpretations of the image values. To allow appropriate assessment of …

Finding Cadaveric Human Head Masses And Center Of Gravity: A Comparison Of Direct Measurement To 3d Ing, Grant Corwin Roush

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Mass properties of the human head are critical elements in developing neck injury threshold criteria in acceleration and impact environments. In order to accurately simulate the dynamics of the head in impact and acceleration environments, valid mass properties data for the human head must exist.

The purpose of this study was two-fold: First, to directly measure and generate a useful data set of human head mass properties and anthropometry, and second, compare the results from the direct measurement to measurements obtained using computed tomographic (CT) analyses of the human head. Four cadaveric human heads, all male, were measured.

For the …

Computer-Based Skeletal Age Assessment Using Hand/Wrist Radiographs In Children 8-18 Years Old, Zhihong Ni

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Children's skeletons mature at different rates, and they can be affected by a variety of factors including disease, hormone imbalance or genetics. The assessment of skeletal maturity is a frequently performed procedure that allows the detection of hormonal, growth or genetic disorders. Several methods have been developed to estimate skeletal maturity. Most methods evaluate hand/wrist radiographs using indicators such as the ratios of various bone widths, the onset of the ossification of epiphysis and epiphyseal-diaphyseal fusion. Among those methods, the FELS method differs from others in the application of different grades to each indicator and the provision of a confidence …