Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

A Single-Cell Atlas Of Bovine Skeletal Muscle Reveals Mechanisms Regulating Intramuscular Adipogenesis And Fibrogenesis, Leshan Wang, Peidong Gao, Chaoyang Li, Qianglin Liu, Zeyang Yao, Yuxia Li, Xujia Zhang, Jiangwen Sun, Constantine Simintiras, Matthew Welborn, Kenneth Mcmillin, Stephanie Oprescu, Shihuan Kuang, Xing Fu

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Background

Intramuscular fat (IMF) and intramuscular connective tissue (IMC) are often seen in human myopathies and are central to beef quality. The mechanisms regulating their accumulation remain poorly understood. Here, we explored the possibility of using beef cattle as a novel model for mechanistic studies of intramuscular adipogenesis and fibrogenesis.

Methods

Skeletal muscle single-cell RNAseq was performed on three cattle breeds, including Wagyu (high IMF), Brahman (abundant IMC but scarce IMF), and Wagyu/Brahman cross. Sophisticated bioinformatics analyses, including clustering analysis, gene set enrichment analyses, gene regulatory network construction, RNA velocity, pseudotime analysis, and cell-cell communication analysis, were performed to elucidate …

An Experimental Study On The Mechanical Properties And Chemical Composition Of Lcd 3d Printed Specimens, Sebastian Gomez

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Additive manufacturing technologies have been enhanced throughout the years yet have surprised the manufacturing industry due to their high-end surface finish and dimensional accuracy. Different experiments have been done to identify a specific phenomenon known in the vat-polymerization field. Distortion and dimensional inaccuracy tend to affect the overall properties of the process, either physical or chemical. This approach allows the understanding of how the physical properties have been affected and how to study the chemical properties to avoid this type of phenomenon. The chemical reaction between polymer and UV light has been studied and experimented with to the point that …

Synthesis And Processing Of Pcl And Irdye Nanoparticles For Application In Drug Release Mechanism, Michael Adeniyi

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

The objective of this study is to produce core-shell nanoparticles utilizing PCL and IRDye and investigate the nanoparticle release mechanism. Biodegradable polymer, Polycaprolactone (PCL), was electrosprayed separately with two types of IRDye, NHS and Dextran Texas red. The solution of PCL was formed by mixing PCL in a solution of 9.47ml Acetic Acid, 9.47ml Formic Acid, and 1.05ml Trifluoroethanol, following a ratio of 9:9:1. The two solutions of IRDye were prepared by mixing 2mg of the IRdye with 20ml of DMF at a rate of 0.1mg/ml.

The NHS IRDye was electrosprayed coaxially with PCL and the Dextran Texas red dye …

Design And Fabrication Of A Force-Displacement Control Mechanism For Bone-Surgical Tool Testing, Kenneth Nwagu

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This project focuses on the design and fabrication of an experimental setup for orthopedic-tool testing, tailored for a surgical instrumentation company. The multifaceted project encompasses a literature review, conceptual design, prototyping, and rigorous testing, resulting in a versatile control system capable of assessing various orthopedic tools, including bone drills, saws, burrs, and power handpieces.

Orthopedic surgical procedures (which include cutting and/or drilling into bone) often need to be performed on bones for faster recovery. The drilling and cutting process can cause an increase in temperature at the cutting site which can cause bone necrosis. The tools also need to be …

Development Of A Vr-Based System For Detecting Strabismus In Patients With Refractive Errors, Salisa Buapong

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Strabismus is an ophthalmic condition affecting approximately 2% to 5% of the global population, with a pediatric prevalence rate of about 2% to 4%. If left uncorrected and untreated for an extended period, it can lead to impairment of binocular vision and eventual vision loss. Thus, early detection and correction of ocular deviations are crucial in mitigating these risks. However, primary clinical tests, such as the Alternate Prism Cover Test (APCT) and the Hirschberg Test (HT), have several limitations. These include reliance on operator skills and experience, prolonged examination time, and an unbalanced range of prism diopters. Furthermore, previous studies …

Silk Fibroin-Platelet Rich Plasma Injectable Hydrogel With Controlled-Release Of Growth Factors For Knee Osteoarthritis, Suvinai Jiraboonsri

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

Currently, there is no treatment that can stop the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a promising therapy. However, significant challenges remain for the effective use of PRP in OA treatment, namely its burst-like release of growth factors and its short-acting time due to rapid synovial clearance. Silk fibroin is a safe biomaterial for drug delivery system. Therefore, in this study, Silk-Fibroin-Platelet-Rich Plasma injectable hydrogels with the ability to controllably release growth factors were developed and characterised. Two silk fibroin-platelet-rich-plasma (SF-PRP) hydrogel with silk fibroin concentrations of 1% w/v (1% SF-PRP) and 2% w/v (2% SF-PRP) were …

โครงเนื้อเยื่อกินได้ไร้ผลิตภัณฑ์จากสัตว์สำหรับเพาะเลี้ยงเนื้อเทียม : อัลจิเนต/อะกาโรส/คาร์บอกซีเมทิลเซลลูโลส, เกรียงไกร เจษฎางกูร

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

การเพาะเลี้ยงเนื้อสัตว์เป็นแนวทางในการลดทรัพยากรที่ใช้ในการผลิตเนื้อสัตว์แบบดั้งเดิม ซึ่งไม่ต้องฆ่าสัตว์และลดผลิตภัณฑ์ที่ไม่ต้องการ วิธีกระบวนการนี้ต้องการโครงเนื้อเยื่อ 3 มิติ เพื่อให้เซลล์สามารถยึดติดบนโครงสร้างและขึ้นรูปเป็นก้อนเนื้อได้ นอกจากนั้น วัสดุของโครงเนื้อเยื่อต้องไม่ทำจากสัตว์อีกด้วย วัตถุประสงค์ของการศึกษานี้เพื่อตรวจสอบสมบัติเชิงกล รีโอโลยี ความเข้ากันได้ทางชีวภาพ และการปรับปรุงพื้นผิวสำหรับการยึดเกาะของเซลล์ของไฮโดรเจล 2% w/v อัลจิเนต, 0.8% w/v อะกาโรส และ 1.5% w/v คาร์บอกซีเมทิลเซลลูโลส โครงสร้าง 3 มิติถูกพิมพ์ด้วยเงื่อนไขการพิมพ์ที่เหมาะสม การทดสอบทางรีโอโลยีและความสามารถการพิมพ์แสดงถึงไฮโดรเจลมีพฤติกรรมของของไหลที่ไม่ใช่แบบนิวโทเนียน ซึ่งเหมาะสำหรับวิธีการพิมพ์แบบอัดรีดสำหรับขึ้นรูปสามมิติ ผลการทดลองแสดงว่าไฮโดรเจลมีค่าความสามารถการพิมพ์สูงสำหรับระยะห่างระหว่างเส้นภายในโครงสร้างที่แตกต่างกัน การทดสอบรับแรงกดของชิ้นงานแสดงถึงเนื้อสัมผัสของไฮโดรเจลว่ามีความคล้ายคลึงกับความนุ่มของเนื้อหมูและเนื้อวัว ไฮโดรเจลมีอัตราการละลายต่ำในสภาวะการเพาะเลี้ยงเซลล์ การทดสอบความเป็นพิษต่อเซลล์บ่งชี้ว่าไฮโดรเจลไม่แสดงความเป็นพิษต่อเซลล์และไม่ส่งผลต่อการเพิ่มจำนวนเซลล์ ไฮโดรเจลต้องการการปรับเปลี่ยนพื้นผิวสำหรับการยึดเกาะของเซลล์เนื่องจากวัสดุไม่สนับสนุนการเจริญเติบโตและการยึดเกาะของเซลล์ ผลการทดลองแสดงว่าอัลจิเนตปรับปรุงเปปไทด์ RGD มีการยึดเกาะของเซลล์ต่ำกับทั้ง L929 และเซลล์ต้นกำเนิดกล้ามเนื้อหมู ในส่วนของการเคลือบสารละลาย Poly-L-ornithine แสดงผลลัพธ์การยึดเกาะของเซลล์ที่ดีกับ L929 แต่มีผลที่ไม่ดีสำหรับเซลล์ต้นกำเนิดกล้ามเนื้อหมู

Radiomics-Based Prediction Of Radiation-Induced Hypothyroidism In Nasopharyngeal Cancer Patients, Napat Ritlumlert

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

When planning radiation therapy, late-effect complications due to radiotherapy should be considered. One of the most common complications of head and neck radiotherapy is hypothyroidism. Although clinical and dosimetry data are usually used to assess the risk of hypothyroidism after radiation for nasopharyngeal cancer, the outcome is still unsatisfactory. Medical imaging can provide additional information and increase prediction accuracy. The aim of this study was to predict hypothyroidism in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer using CT radiomics combined with clinical and dosimetric data. The study included 220 participants who were diagnosed with hypothyroidism within 2 years after radiotherapy. Manual segmentation covered …

Using Paired-Agent Imaging To Track Changes In Head And Neck Cancers After Undergoing Photodynamic Therapy Treatment, Reeham M. Choudhury

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

Head and neck cancers affect thousands of people across the world, and photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been shown to have great potential to treat said cancers in a noninvasive manner. However, imaging head and neck cancers has been difficult, and molecular changes caused by PDT are not well-understood. Therefore, we propose the use of paired-agent imaging (PAI) to track changes in these cancers after after PDT treatment. For these studies, we primarily used benzoporphyrin derivative monoacid (BPD) for our photosensitizer, which is activated by a 690 nm laser. We first looked at changes in EGFR expression in vitro, and …

Mechanical Design Of A Microwave Imaging Device For Breast Cancer Detection In Mri Scanners, Grace M. Player

Dartmouth College Master’s Theses

This project seeks to develop an updated version of a microwave imaging device for use in conjunction with breast MRI, improving upon existing technology and developing novel concepts for the device. It posits three primary redesign targets for updating the previous system: resizing the system height, making the device more iteration- friendly, and improving the overall manufacturability of the device by replacing custom components with commercially available alternatives. All three of these redesign targets are met in the new design, V2.0. The height is reduced by reducing antenna travel and height, embedding some components, and shortening the tank wall, resulting …

Aortic Remodeling Kinetics In Response To Coarctation-Induced Mechanical Perturbations, Arash Ghorbannia, Mehdi Maadooliat, Ronald K. Woods, Said H. Audi, Brandon J. Tefft, Claudio Chiastra, El Sayed H. Ibrahim, John F. Ladisa Jr.

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA; constriction of the proximal descending thoracic aorta) is among the most common congenital cardiovascular defects. Coarctation-induced mechanical perturbations trigger a cycle of mechano-transduction events leading to irreversible precursors of hypertension including arterial thickening, stiffening, and vasoactive dysfunction in proximal conduit arteries. This study sought to identify kinetics of the stress-mediated compensatory response leading to these alterations using a preclinical rabbit model of CoA.

Methods: A prior growth and remodeling (G&R) framework was reformulated and fit to empirical measurements from CoA rabbits classified into one control and nine CoA groups of various severities …

Quantifying Fibronectin Mechanical Properties Using Antibody-Mediated Optical Tweezing (Amot), Caleb Dalton

Theses and Dissertations

Despite decades of investigations into fibronectin (FN) fibrillogenesis, fibril mechanics remain unclear. One of the most important roles for FN fibrils is in the arena of cellular mechanotransduction. Numerous studies have demonstrated that cells sense and respond to the mechanical properties of their surroundings; since FN fibrils are a major constituent of the ECM that links cells to their surroundings, mechanotransduction cannot be fully understood without understanding the mechanical properties of FN fibrils. In this proposal, a novel biomechanical assay is developed to probe isolated FN fibrils and quantify their response to specific loading conditions. This will be accomplished by …

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, …

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 …

Advanced Modeling And Innovative Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Coil Designs For The Treatment Of Neurological Disorders, Mohannad Tashli

Theses and Dissertations

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a safe, effective and non-invasive treatment for several mental and psychiatric disorders. TMS is an FDA approved treatment and is commonly applied to patients who do not respond to medications for the treatment of clinical depression, smoking cessation, obsessive-compulsive disorder and migraine. Recently, there has been an increase in the development of electromagnetic neuromodulation techniques targeted at enhancing the effectiveness of TMS devices for the treatment of mental diseases. In TMS stimulation, focality is an important factor which determines the specificity of the pulses induced in different brain tissues. The electromagnetic pulses must be confined …

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 …

Unveiling Similarities And Differences Between Cutaneous And Ocular Melanomas, Abdallah Badou, Nour El Imane Issam Salah, Mohamed Elbelhadji

Health Sciences

Melanomas are outstandingly aggressive cancers, still their incidence is increasing. They can occur in the skin as cutaneous melanoma or in the eye as ocular melanoma. Their pathogenesis is generally similar; however, the prognosis of ocular melanoma patients is still poor, due to its special genetic profile and tumor microenvironment. Here we review the similarities and differences between cutaneous and ocular melanoma, with a focus on their prognostic significance, their molecular signature, and their tumor microenvironment, in order to understand the strategies adopted to escape immune response. Gathering and understanding available knowledge of melanomas and their specificities may help to …

Full Body Harness Design Modifications And Evaluation: A Senior Design Project, Martin Mead, Jordan Von Seggern

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Full-body harness (FBH) is critical for the safe operation of industrial and recreational activities, from installing and maintaining infrastructure such as wind turbines to ziplining and mountaintop adventures. However, harness design remains in the proprietary information of companies with limited technical information available for improvements or readjustments to specialized applications. As the outcome of the Capstone project, the paper focuses on multiple technical aspects and the engineering processes for designing FBH for ziplining recreational users, from selecting and testing materials for operation in cold weather to improvements in design and manufacturing for user comfort. The project is guided by technical …

Differential Gene Expression Analysis Of Rodent Mammary Tissue Reveals Dysregulation Of Greb1 And An Age-Dependent Response To Spaceflight, Cleoma Arnold

Master's Projects

Life aboard spacecraft poses a danger to astronaut health, with hazards including microgravity, radiation, and enclosed spaces. Research into mitigating these health issues includes analysis of the transcriptome of rodents sent to the International Space Station. This project investigates the effects of spaceflight on the mammary tissue of female mice of two age groups, 10-12 and 32 weeks, in order to assess the impact of age and spaceflight on gene expression in a tissue relevant to female health. Analysis of the OSD-511 dataset from NASA’s Open Science Data Repository utilized a containerized implementation of their RNA-Seq pipeline on the San …

Modeling Of Transport In Anatomic Respiratory Airways: Applications In Targeted Drug Delivery And Airborne Pathogenic Transmissions, Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Akash

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This thesis aims to explore the potential of improving the efficacy of drugs for treatment of viral infections by targeting the nasopharynx, which is commonly the first site of infection for many viral pathogens. Currently, intranasal sprays are used, but the standard protocol (“Current Use” or CU) results in suboptimal drug deposition at the nasopharynx. To address this issue, an “Improved Use” or, IU protocol has been proposed, which involves pointing the spray bottle at a shallower angle and aiming slightly towards the cheeks. The IU delivery is also robust to perturbations in spray direction, which highlights the practical utility …