Biomechanics and Biotransport Commons^™

Hands Free Fitted Shoe, Maddison Schutt, Nicole Rizkala, Elizabeth Scheatzle, Alexander Hershey, Austin Fowkes

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The ability to don and doff fitted shoes can be a challenge for many people including those diagnosed with diabetes, obesity, limb loss, pregnancy, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, surgical complications, and aging. Though these actions may seem trivial, the ability to independently put on shoes is necessary because it can significantly impact one’s capacity to complete everyday tasks, hold relationships, and maintain mental health. Current competitors in the market are excessively expensive, not completely hands-free, or not fully enclosed shoes, so a new design for an accessible and affordable hands-free fitted shoe could be of great benefit to the general population. …

Totally Tubulair - Adjustable Nasal Cannula, Megan Bruns, Emily Mcgrath, Angelina Marchio, Olivia Renkel

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Many individuals require short-term and long-term oxygen therapy. These users experience discomfort and problems with the standard nasal cannula that are compounded by issues with oxygen sources being heavy with limited supply and tubing getting tangled, kinked, or not providing enough mobility. The objective of this project was to address ergonomic issues with oxygen therapy devices to increase the ease of use for healthcare workers, patients, and families. By following the engineering design process, a prototype was developed for a nasal cannula with interchangeable prongs. The new design allows users to select a prong size that is more comfortable for …

Revision Total Hip Femoral Stem Micromotion And Statistical Shape Modeling Of The Knee, William Fugit

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The first purpose of this thesis was to compare the amount of micromotion seen in the femoral stem in a revision total hip arthroplasty between simple loading conditions and loading conditions derived from activities of daily living, through the use of experimental and computational methods. The amount of micromotion at the bone-implant interface was larger for activities of daily living, with ranges of 200μm more than the largest simple loading conditions. The second purpose of this thesis was to compare measurements of accuracy in a statistical shape model between individual bone and joint-level models, specifically for the knee. Using computational …

An Investigation Into The Plate Fixation For Periprosthetic Femoral Fractures, Xiang Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Periprosthetic femoral fractures are the third most reason for reoperation after the total hip arthroplasty with an incident rate of approximately 6%. The Vancouver type B periprosthetic femoral fractures account for over 70% of all cases, while the sub-type B1 fracture (when the total hip stem is stable) has remained a clinical challenge due to incidences of severe complications after the standard plate-screw fixation. To seek biomechanically sound fixations for the Vancouver type B1 fracture, this dissertation developed a combined modeling and testing framework to investigate the efficacy of fixation for a Vancouver type B1 fracture using different construct lengths …

Nano-, Encapsulated Manganese Oxide (Nemo) Particles For Mri Enhancement In Microfluidic Tumor Models, Kasey Alexis Freshwater

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Breast cancer is among the deadliest cancers in women, with approximately 2.3 million new cases and 685,000 deaths reported globally in 2020 alone. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is commonly used to diagnose, stage, and develop treatment plans for patients predisposed to breast cancer. However, current MRI-based screening of breast cancer has high false-positive rates up to 25%, leading to unnecessary invasive follow-up screening and testing. The gold-standard intravenous gadolinium (Gd)-based contrast agents (GBCAs) account for false-positive rates because they are always “ON”, providing a constant MRI signal that highlights both benign and malignant tumors. The work detailed in this thesis …

Multi-Task Neuromuscular Generalization And Changes Through The Lifespan, Hannah Delaney Carey

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Mobility in everyday life requires executing and shifting between a broad assortment of functional tasks and resisting disturbances that could cause falls. Though the importance of successfully performing a variety of functional tasks is recognized and incorporated in clinical assessments (e.g., the Timed-Up-and-Go Test, Berg Balance Scale), little is understood about the underlying neuromuscular control required, or how it changes with age. The neuromuscular control for functional tasks such as walking is typically studied in isolation, or with variations on the same task. Characterizing the coordination required to produce and shift between a wider variety of tasks and resist external …

Role Of The Nuclear Envelope In The Mechanoregulation Adipogenesis, Matthew H. Goelzer

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Mechanical signals are known regulators of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) fate, regulating their differentiation into osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and adipocytes. These relevant mechanical signals reach to nucleus through nuclear envelope proteins such as Lamin A/C and the Linker of the Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes. Within the context of bone, clinically relevant mutations of Lamin A/C and the LINC complexes have been shown to alter adipogenic and osteogenic MSC differentiation patterns, suggesting that that nucleo-cytoskeletal connectivity provided by nuclear envelope is important in regulating MSC fate. Using MSC adipogenesis as a model of MSC mechanical regulation, the goal of this work …

Subtalar Joint Definition In Biomechanical Models, Julia Noginova

Biomedical Engineering Theses & Dissertations

The effect of including a subtalar joint in a dynamic musculoskeletal model has not been fully explored or validated. The subtalar joint is often modeled as a one DOF hinge with the tri-planar axis defined as a combination of inclination and deviation angles measured from the ground and midline of the foot, respectively. The overall purposes of this dissertation were to explore how the inclusion of the subtalar joint and the definition of origin location and axis orientation affect the kinematics, joint kinetics, and muscle activations of the knee, ankle, and subtalar joint during dynamic tasks of walking and running …

Computational Simulation Of The Lung Doses Of Air-Borne Fine And Ultrafine Particles Inhaled By Humans At Industrial Workplaces, Mohammed Ali

Technology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This study correlates computational predictions with in-vivo experimental results of inhaled fine and ultrafine particulate matters (PMs) transport, dissemination, and deposition in the human respiratory airways. Epidemiological studies suggest that workplace exposure of anthropogenic pollutant PMs as a risk factor for increased susceptibility to acute broncho-pulmonary infections. However, investigations on detailed human inhalation and PM transport processes are restrictive from time, cost, and ethical perspectives. To overcome this problem, computational simulation of particle deposition based on the Multiple Path Particle Dosimetry (MPPD) model was employed. Here, the physical, mechanical, and electrical properties of PMs of carbon black and nanoparticles from …

A Comparative Study On Soil Stabilization Relevant To Transport Infrastructure Using Bagasse Ash And Stone Dust And Cost Effectiveness, Sudip Basack, Ghritartha Goswami, Hadi Khabbaz, Moses Karakouzian, Parinita Baruah, Niky Kalita

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Construction Faculty Research

Soft ground improvement to provide stable foundations for infrastructure is national priority for most countries. Weak soil may initiate instability to foundations reducing their lifespan, which necessitates the adoption of a suitable soil stabilization method. Amongst various soil stabilization techniques, using appropriate admixtures is quite popular. The present study aims to investigate the suitability of bagasse ash and stone dust as the admixtures for stabilizing soft clay, in terms of compaction and penetration characteristics. The studies were conducted by means of a series of laboratory experimentations with standard Proctor compaction and CBR tests. From the test results it was observed …

Collision Tracking And Brain Mapping, Carl Russell Iii

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Cfd Analysis Of Subcutaneous Deposition And Dispersion Of Insulin In Adipose Tissue, Ryan C. Lubbers

Masters Theses

Drug delivery is the most important factor of many therapies, but a lack of technology and research have led to a very generalized understanding of drug kinetics. Insulin pump therapy for the treatment of Type 1 Diabetes depends on precise delivery of the hormone into the adipose region between the dermis and underlying muscle. The kinetics of insulin within the adipose tissue environment is not well understood and varies greatly case to case. The use of computation fluid dynamics (CFD) models to study insulin kinetics in relation to influential factors will lead to a better understanding of the characteristics of …

A Single Cell Pair Mechanical Interrogation Platform To Study Cell–Cell Adhesion Mechanics, Amir Monemianesfahani

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Cell-cell adhesion complexes are macromolecular adhesive organelles that integrate cells into tissues. Perturbations of the cell-cell adhesion structure or relatedmechanotransduction pathways lead to pathological conditions such as skin and heart diseases, arthritis, and cancer. Mechanical stretching has been used to stimulate the mechanotransduction process originating from the cell-cell adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) complexes. The current techniques, however, have limitations on their ability to measure the cell-cell adhesion force directly and quantitatively. These methods use a monolayer of cells, which makes it impossible to quantify the forces within a single cell-cell adhesion complex. Other methods using single cells or cell …

Subclinical Atherosclerosis Quantified Through Cumulative Shear Measurement, Margaret Lynne Papka

Master's Theses

With the high mortality rate of cardiovascular disease, it is important to study the early signs. The early detection of cardiovascular disease can lead to saved lives. Currently the most prevalent detection methods are the Framingham Risk Score and the carotid intima media thickness, both of which are insufficient. The necessary tool for early detection requires a uniform quantification system. The stimulus leading to endothelial dysfunction, the most significant predictor of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE)—and subsequently subclinical atherosclerosis—is reduced shear stress. Increased surface relative roughness affects the flow profile transition from laminar to turbulent resulting in reduced shear …

Bilateral Ground Reaction Force Jumping Asymmetry And Performance, Keith Painter

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of asymmetry in performance research has increased in recent years with mixed results. Much of the performance research has focused on unilateral jumping activities attempting to show relationships to other performance variables. However, bilateral ground reaction forces (bGRF) from jumps are more frequently assessed in athlete monitoring programs and the asymmetry from those jumps could be a simple addition to data already being collected. Research into bGRF asymmetries is lacking and no studies have addressed longitudinal changes. Additionally, research into the relationship of asymmetries to performance have infrequently used athletes. For these reasons, this dissertation will focus on …

Kinematic Analysis Of Gait In An Underwater Treadmill Using Land-Based Vicon T 40s Motion Capture Cameras Arranged Externally, Shreyas L. Raghu, Ryan T. Conners, Chang-Kwon Kang, David B. Landrum, Paul N. Whitehead

PRC-Affiliated Research

Aquatic therapy for rehabilitation can be performed in a variety of environments, which can vary from a traditional swimming pool to a self-contained underwater treadmill. While kinematic analysis has been performed in large volume swimming pools using specific underwater motion capture systems, researchers may only have access to a land-based motion-capture system, which is not waterproof. Additionally, underwater motion capture systems may not fit within the confines of a smaller underwater treadmill. Thus, the purpose of this study was to design and analyze methodology to quantify lower limb kinematics during an aquatic treadmill session, using a land-based motion capture system. …

Kinematic Analysis Of Gait In An Underwater Treadmill Using Land-Based Vicon T 40s Motion Capture Cameras Arranged Externally, Shreyas L. Raghu, Ryan T. Conners, Chang-Kwon Kang, David B. Landrum, Paul N. Whitehead

PRC-Affiliated Research

Aquatic therapy for rehabilitation can be performed in a variety of environments, which can vary from a traditional swimming pool to a self-contained underwater treadmill. While kinematic analysis has been performed in large volume swimming pools using specific underwater motion capture systems, researchers may only have access to a land-based motion-capture system, which is not waterproof. Additionally, underwater motion capture systems may not fit within the confines of a smaller underwater treadmill. Thus, the purpose of this study was to design and analyze methodology to quantify lower limb kinematics during an aquatic treadmill session, using a land-based motion capture system. …

Traveling Wave Solutions For Two Species Competitive Chemotaxis Systems, T. B. Issa, R. B. Salako, W. Shen

Faculty Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activity

In this paper, we consider two species chemotaxis systems with Lotka–Volterra competition reaction terms. Under appropriate conditions on the parameters in such a system, we establish the existence of traveling wave solutions of the system connecting two spatially homogeneous equilibrium solutions with wave speed greater than some critical number c∗. We also show the non-existence of such traveling waves with speed less than some critical number c∗0 , which is independent of the chemotaxis. Moreover, under suitable hypotheses on the coefficients of the reaction terms, we obtain explicit range for the chemotaxis sensitivity coefficients ensuring c∗ = c∗0 , which …

Influence Of Extracellular Matrix Stiffness And Topography On Neuronal Cell Behavior And Neurite Outgrowth, Mohan Yasodharababu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The focus of regeneration therapy for traumatic brain injuries and Alzheimer's disease is on the promotion and growth of neuronal cells. In vitro research attempts to improve this by modifying the stiffness and topography of the extracellular matrix (ECM). However, the limitations of in vitro experiments make it difficult to control the individual factors influencing neuronal cell growth. A computational model can be used to decouple individual factors and study them individually to gain a better understanding of the mechanics between the neuronal cell and ECM, which will aid in the design of in vitro experimental studies.

This study develops …

Electrohydrodynamic Simulations Of Capsule Deformation Using A Dual Time-Stepping Lattice Boltzmann Scheme, Charles Leland Armstrong

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

Capsules are fluid-filled, elastic membranes that serve as a useful model for synthetic and biological membranes. One prominent application of capsules is their use in modeling the response of red blood cells to external forces. These models can be used to study the cell’s material properties and can also assist in the development of diagnostic equipment. In this work we develop a three dimensional model for numerical simulations of red blood cells under the combined influence of hydrodynamic and electrical forces. The red blood cell is modeled as a biconcave-shaped capsule suspended in an ambient fluid domain. Cell deformation occurs …