Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Hepatic Cell Mobilization For Protection Against Ischemic Myocardial Injury, Shu Q. Liu, John B. Troy, Chi Hao Luan, Roger J. Guillory Ii

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

The heart is capable of activating protective mechanisms in response to ischemic injury to support myocardial survival and performance. These mechanisms have been recognized primarily in the ischemic heart, involving paracrine signaling processes. Here, we report a distant cardioprotective mechanism involving hepatic cell mobilization to the ischemic myocardium in response to experimental myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (MI-R) injury. A parabiotic mouse model was generated by surgical skin-union of two mice and used to induce bilateral MI-R injury with unilateral hepatectomy, establishing concurrent gain- and loss-of-hepatic cell mobilization conditions. Hepatic cells, identified based on the cell-specific expression of enhanced YFP, were found in …

Effect Of Temperature On Abrasion Erosion In Particle Based Concentrating Solar Powerplants, Nipun Goel, Tessa Mei-Lin Fong, John P. Shingledecker, Andrew Russell, Michael W. Keller, Siamack A. Shirazi, Todd Otanicar

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

The use of solid particles as a heat transfer medium is being explored for concentrated solar power plants (CSP) to increase their efficiency by achieving operating temperature >700 °C. During operation, these hot particles are expected to move along the various components within the collector system, resulting in material degradation from a combination of high-temperature oxidation and erosion. In the present study, the performance of candidate materials was evaluated through a series of abrasion erosion experiments at room temperature as well as at 800 °C. Wear in metallic and refractory type materials was investigated using CarboBead® HSP 40/70 particles inside …

Poly(Lactic-Co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticle Delivery Of Notch Intracellular Domain Plasmid To Restore Notch Signaling, Victoria L. Messerschmidt

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Notch signaling is a highly conserved signaling system that is required for embryonic development and regeneration of organs. When the signal is lost, maldevelopment occurs and leads to a lethal state. Delivering exogenous genetic materials encoding Notch into cells can reestablish downstream signaling and rescue cellular functions. Here, we utilized the negatively charged and FDA approved polymer poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) to encapsulate Notch Intracellular Domain-containing plasmid in nanoparticles. We show that primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) readily uptake the nanoparticles with and without specific antibody targets. We demonstrated in vitro that our nanoparticles are nontoxic, stable over time, and …

Localized Treatment Of Malignant Melanoma Using A Modified Cellulose-Based Hydrogel Loaded With Temozolomide With Increased Safety Of Human Dermal Fibroblasts And The Mechanisms Behind The Effect, Joseph Wolf

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Melanoma pathophysiology is highly varied, and the initial cause of tumorigenesis is still unknown, but it is likely a combination of both epigenetic and genetic means. Further, melanoma tumors have one of the highest mutational burdens of all cancers and are largely composed of varied subpopulations within the same tumor. These two factors provide insight into why melanoma is so difficult to treat medicinally. Dacarbazine is the gold-standard of metastatic melanoma treatment, yet only has an overall response rate of 22% and no impact on survival. Temozolomide (TMZ), an analog of dacarbazine, is often viewed as a more ideal choice …

Evaluation Of A Personal Mobile Trainer System Designed For Facilitating Exercise Therapy For Traumatic Brain Injury Patients, Ahmad Fawzi G Turki

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

There are no effective pharmacological agents that can prevent or treat post-TBI cognitive deterioration. Previous research has shown that exercise can be an effective means of enhancing the patients condition with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, compliance with the prescribed exercise regimen has been low, as TBI patients often suffer from poor executive function and need assistance with complying with their prescribed exercise program. This study aims to design, build, and test a system based on a wearable exercise tracker to assist and encourage patients by facilitating doing the prescribed exercises at a place and time that is convenient …

Porcine Neonatal Heart Extracellular Matrix As A Regeneration Platform, Karla Perez

Bioengineering Dissertations - Archive

Each year, an estimated 620,000 Americans have new heart attack and suffer from myocardial infarction (MI) that results in massive heart cell death and decrease in heart function. Various therapeutic strategies, such as pharmacological treatments and reperfusion strategies, have greatly improved short-term MI survival. However, these strategies do not restore normal cardiac function due to the permanent loss of cardiomyocytes. As a promising strategy, cardiac cell therapy delivers repairing cells to damaged areas (scar tissues) to revitalize the infracted heart. However, a key challenge in cardiac cell therapy, i.e. the extremely low survival and engraftment rate of transplanted cells, must …

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 …

Interprofessional Inconsistencies In The Diagnosis Of Shoulder Instability: Survey Results Of Physicians And Rehabilitation Providers, Constantine P. Nicolozakes, Xinning Li, Timothy L. Uhl, Guido Marra, Nitin B. Jain, Eric J. Perreault, Amee L. Seitz

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Background: Clinicians of many specialties within sports medicine care for athletes with shoulder instability, but successful outcomes are inconsistent. Consistency across specialties in the diagnosis of shoulder instability is critical for care of the athlete, yet the extent of divergence in its diagnosis is unknown.

Hypothesis: Physicians differ from rehabilitation providers in which findings they deem clinically important to differentiate shoulder instability from impingement, and in how they diagnose athlete scenarios with atraumatic shoulder instability.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Physicians (orthopaedic surgeons, primary care sports medicine physicians) and rehabilitation providers (physical therapists, athletic trainers) were asked via an online …

In Vitro Osteogenic Performance Of Two Novel Strontium And Zinc-Containing Glass Polyalkenoate Cements, Daniella Marx, Alireza Rahimnejad Yazdi, Marcello Papini, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) are under investigation as potential bone adhesives, as they may provide an alternative to polymethylmethacrylate-based cements. GPCs containing strontium (Sr) and zinc (Zn) in place of aluminum (Al) are of particular interest because these ions are known stimulators of osteoprogenitor differentiation. GPCs have been manufactured from a novel bioactive glass (SiO2:0.48, ZnO:0.36, CaO:0.12, SrO:0.04) in the past, but, while such materials have been assessed for their influence on viability, their influence on osteogenic function has not been investigated until now. For this study, two GPCs were formulated from the same glass precursor evaluated in previous studies. …

Refinement And Automation Using Algorithmic Control Of Breathforce, A Respiratory Training System For Patients With Spinal Cord Injuries., Anna Goestenkors

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can lead to impaired respiratory and cardiovascular function and a general decrease in lung compliance. This can complicate breathing as well as impair the ability to sigh, cough, and clear secretions, leading to increased risk of respiratory infections. Respiratory training has been shown to combat these effects. BreathForce is under active development to create a user-centric inspiratory-expiratory device that is an affordable option for at-home training. This study reports on the refinement of valve design and automation incorporated into BreathForce to enhance and enforce clinical practices and processes as part of the respiratory training protocol used …

Development And Evaluation Of A Body Weight Support Treadmill For Use With Locomotor Training On Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury Patients., Winston T Rauch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI) are devastating regardless of the age of a patient. When the injury occurs in children five years old or younger, however, the impact is magnified due to the inevitable development of scoliosis (96%) and hip dysplasia (57%) (Schottler et al., 2012). To reduce occurrence of these complications and improve the quality of life for these patients, specialized activity-based therapies such as locomotor training (LT) are being increasingly used to improve overall trunk control and muscle activity in the lower extremities (Harkema et al., 2012; Howland et al., 2014). The aim of this therapy …

Conversion Of Multicellds Digital Snapshots To Isa-Tab Format., Corey P. Chitwood

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The MultiCellular Data Standard (MultiCellDS) is an interdisciplinary effort to create a data standard for sharing multicellular experimental, simulation, and clinical data. The ultimate goal of the overall project is to allow for data sharing that will lead to better analyses and simulations for multicellular biology and predictive medicine in association with the PhysiCell, a software that allows for simulations of large numbers of cells in 3D tissues. Digital cell lines are files that contain a standardized representation of a biological cell line and include phenotypic parameters as well as microenvironmental conditions for use in simulations. A Digital Cell Line …

Noninvasive Measurement Of Arterial Compliance With A Blood Pressure Cuff Using A Surrogate Arm Bench Top Model For Oscillometric Use, Shane Wilsey

Master's Theses

A surrogate arm model was created that is capable of being used for oscillometry. This model is capable of being used as a bench top model for blood pressure cuff devices. The arm consists of endplates and internal supports that are 3D printed with ABS, a silicone rubber outer sleeve, and interchangeable arteries made from two silicone rubber strips glued together at the edges. The interchangeable arteries have varying compliances that can be used as different inputs for oscillometric testing. A process was established to measure the artery compliances with a curve fit correlation of 0.95. However, testing revealed that …

Effect Of Obesity On Knee Joint During Walking And Squatting, Simon Vasquez Iii

Theses and Dissertations

This paper analyzes the effect of obesity on the knee joints during squats. This was performed on 2 different subjects by having each squat 30 times at their decided comfortable depth to display some fatigue and effects on the knee joints. Using the VICON NEXUS and AMTI force plates equipment at The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley Biomechanics Lab, the center of pressure, knee flexion angles, velocity, and ground reaction forces were calculated. The subjects performed the exercises with and without additional weight using a body vest and kettlebell. The ground reaction forces showed a significant increase in …

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 …

Contributions Of Implicit And Explicit Memories To Sensorimotor Adaptation Of Movement Extent During Goal-Directed Reaching, Devon D. Lantagne, Leigh A. Mrotek, Rebecca Slick, Scott A. Beardsley, Danny G. Thomas, Robert A. Scheidt

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

We examined how implicit and explicit memories contribute to sensorimotor adaptation of movement extent during goal-directed reaching. Twenty subjects grasped the handle of a horizontal planar robot that rendered spring-like resistance to movement. Subjects made rapid “out-and-back” reaches to capture a remembered visual target at the point of maximal reach extent. The robot’s resistance changed unpredictably between reaches, inducing target capture errors that subjects attempted to correct from one trial to the next. Each subject performed over 400 goal-directed reaching trials. Some trials were performed without concurrent visual cursor feedback of hand motion. Some trials required self-assessment of performance between …

Development Of Quantitative Molecular Photoacoustic Imaging For Noninvasive Cancer Diagnostics, Cayla Zandbergen

Dissertations and Theses (Open Access)

Traditional diagnostic imaging provides clinicians with anatomical information that guides both diagnosis and treatment planning; however, once a tumor has progressed enough to be visible, it has often reached an advanced stage. Molecular imaging techniques allow for real-time visualization of chemical and biological processes via imaging of specific biomarkers, which can facilitate detection of malignancies before they become visible. One biomarker of interest is blood oxygen saturation (SO₂) due to its correlation with hypoxia, which is associated with increased tumor malignancy; some studies have also established SO₂ as an independent biomarker of disease progression. Additionally, because cancerous …

Intelligent System For Laparoscopic Surgery Suturing Skill Assessment, Mohammed Yasser Al-Gailani

Dissertations

In laparoscopic surgery, which is also referred to as minimally invasive surgery (MIS), surgeons carry out surgical procedures with the assistance of a video camera and several surgical instruments. Laparoscopic surgeons should possess excellent eye-hand coordination capabilities, strong cognitive knowledge, case and problem management, and manual dexterity skills. Such skills can be acquired through simulation using a basic, low-fidelity setup, such as the surgical box-trainer. General surgeons must pass a set of tests on a Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Trainer device.

One pivotal skill for a successful operation is developing a sense of the applied forces on the tissue …

Musculoskeletal Adaptation Of Young And Older Adults In Response To Environmental, Physical, And Cognitive Conditions, Amy E. Holcomb

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

Accidental falls present a large functional and financial burden among people aged 65 years and older. Falls, injuries associated with falls, and the fear of falling decrease quality of life, physical function, and independence for older adults. To prevent falls, improve stability, and protect joints from damage or injury, the typical response to "challenging" conditions include cautious gait, increase muscle co-contraction, and decreased range of motion. These compensatory strategies are more pronounced in the older adult population with apprehensive "cautious" gait at slower speeds, decreased knee flexion, and increased muscle activation around the knee and ankle. The underlying mechanisms and …

Methods Development, Design Analysis, And Testing Of Novel Centrifugal Devices For Mammalian Cell Culture Harvest, W. Aaron Dryden

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Thermo Fisher Scientific is developing a centrifugal device to be used in the biopharmaceutical industry. The novel technology was used to remove cells from cell cultures, which produce drugs and medical treatments. The harvest process of removing cells is the first step towards product purification and is an important unit operation for ensuring high product yield. Since the device is a novel technology, methods to test and evaluate the performance of the centrifuge needed to be developed.

Successful testing methods were developed in this work and were implemented on over 30 different centrifuge designs. Amongst these many designs, different operating …