Osteocyte Activity And Skeletal Muscle Relative Gene Expression Profiling After Short-Term Muscle Paralysis,
2021
CUNY City College
Osteocyte Activity And Skeletal Muscle Relative Gene Expression Profiling After Short-Term Muscle Paralysis, Michelle Gelbs
Dissertations and Theses
Mechanical loading is essential for maintaining bone tissue. Reduced mechanical loading has been shown to have a negative effect on bone, and can result in the development of disuse osteoporosis. Disuse models of muscle inactivity and immobilization, like the Botox model used in this study, result in changes in the bone microarchitecture, the mechanisms behind which are not fully understood. In a previous four-week Botox disuse study, skeletally mature 20- week-old rats experienced degradation of intracortical bone, increased vascular porosity, and decreased osteocyte lacunar density in the tibiae. The focus of this study was to explicate a potential source of …
Development Of An Injectable Methylcellulose Hydrogel System For Nucleus Pulposus Repair And Regeneration,
2021
CUNY City College
Development Of An Injectable Methylcellulose Hydrogel System For Nucleus Pulposus Repair And Regeneration, Nada A. Haq-Siddiqi
Dissertations and Theses
Low back pain is the most common cause of disability in the world and is often caused by degeneration or injury of the intervertebral disc (IVD). The IVD is a complex, fibrocartilaginous tissue that allows for the wide range of spinal mobility. Disc degeneration is a progressive condition believed to begin in the central, gelatinous nucleus pulposus (NP) region of the tissue, for which there are few preventative therapies. Current therapeutic strategies include pain management and exercise, or surgical intervention such as spinal fusion, none of which address the underlying cause of degeneration. With an increasingly aging population, the socioeconomic …
Development Of Light Actuated Chemical Delivery Platform On A 2-D Array Of Micropore Structure,
2021
CUNY City College
Development Of Light Actuated Chemical Delivery Platform On A 2-D Array Of Micropore Structure, Hojjat Rostami Azmand, Hojjat Rostami Azmand
Dissertations and Theses
Localized chemical delivery plays an essential role in the fundamental information transfers within biological systems. Thus, the ability to mimic the natural chemical signal modulation would provide significant contributions to understand the functional signaling pathway of biological cells and develop new prosthetic devices for neurological disorders. In this paper, we demonstrate a light-controlled hydrogel platform that can be used for localized chemical delivery in a high spatial resolution. By utilizing the photothermal behavior of graphene-hydrogel composites confined within micron-sized fluidic channels, patterned light illumination creates the parallel and independent actuation of chemical release in a group of fluidic ports. The …
Restoration Of Bone Material And Microstructural Properties After Long-Term Remodeling Suppression,
2021
CUNY City College
Restoration Of Bone Material And Microstructural Properties After Long-Term Remodeling Suppression, Abigail A. Coffman
Dissertations and Theses
Anti-resorptive drugs, principally bisphosphonates (BPs), are the mainstay of osteoporosis treatment. They work by inhibiting bone resorption/remodeling, thus preventing bone loss. However, long-term suppression of bone resorption adversely affects bone tissue mechanical properties, even while conserving bone mass. Lack of remodeling leads to accumulation of fatigue-induced microdamage, altered matrix mineralization and reduction in normal bone tissue heterogeneity, causing impaired strength and fracture toughness. The most severe consequence to patients, while rare, is Atypical Femur Fractures (i.e., complete fatigue fractures of the femoral shaft). To counteract the effects of long-term remodeling suppression, a temporary break in BP treatment (a "drug holiday) …
When The Brain Plays A Game: Neural Responses To Visual Dynamics During Naturalistic Visual Tasks,
2021
CUNY City College
When The Brain Plays A Game: Neural Responses To Visual Dynamics During Naturalistic Visual Tasks, Jason Ki
Dissertations and Theses
Many day-to-day tasks involve processing of complex visual information in a continuous stream. While much of our knowledge on visual processing has been established from reductionist approaches in lab-controlled settings, very little is known about the processing of complex dynamic stimuli experienced in everyday scenarios. Traditional investigations employ event-related paradigms that involve presentation of simple stimuli at select locations in visual space and discrete moments in time. In contrast, visual stimuli in real-life are highly dynamic, spatially-heterogeneous, and semantically rich. Moreover, traditional experiments impose unnatural task constraints (e.g., inhibited saccades), thus, it is unclear whether theories developed under the reductionist …
Development Of A Biaxial Testing System For Research Of Soft Tissue Biomechanics Using Laboratory Models,
2021
CUNY City College
Development Of A Biaxial Testing System For Research Of Soft Tissue Biomechanics Using Laboratory Models, Tariq Shameen
Dissertations and Theses
The rupture of the cap tissue layer of a fibroatheroma in human coronary vessels is considered the key event leading to the formation of a thrombus and myocardial infarction, resulting in more than half a million deaths in the US every year. In this study, we are interested in investigating the biomechanics of different elastomer materials that can be used as laboratory models to replicate coronary arteries’ ultimate tensile stress (0.2 - 2.08 MPa). To this end, we developed a biomechanical testing system that allows us to characterize the material properties of small samples with high accuracy and precision. We …
Understanding Forearm Muscle Coordination In Children,
2021
University of Central Florida
Understanding Forearm Muscle Coordination In Children, Miguel Gonzalez
Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023
A combination of surface electromyography (EMG) and pattern recognition algorithms have led to improvements in the functionality of upper limb prosthetics. This method of control relies on user's ability to repeatedly generate consistent muscle contractions. Research in EMG based control of prosthesis has mainly utilized adult subjects who have fully developed neuromuscular control. Little is known about children's ability to generate consistent EMG signals necessary to control artificial limbs with multiple degrees of freedom. To address this gap, two experiments were designed to validate and benchmark an experimental protocol that quantifies the ability to coordinate forearm muscle contractions in able-bodied …
Toward An Interactive, Patient-Specific, Vr-Based Obstetrics Simulator,
2021
Old Dominion University
Toward An Interactive, Patient-Specific, Vr-Based Obstetrics Simulator, Michel A. Audette, Marco Parente, Dulce Oliveira, Sreekanth Arikatla, Alfred Abuhamad, Rumit Singh Kakar, Mark Scerbo, Lucia Tabacu, John Conery, Christopher Macgowan, Renato Natal Jorge
Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications
This paper presents a nascent collaborative effort to achieve a Virtual Reality (VR)-based, real-time, haptics-driven patient-specific obstetrics simulator. The high-level architecture and preliminary results are presented here; the latter are based on offline birthing simulation developed by team in conjunction with open-source visualization tools. The cornerstones of this simulator will be high-fidelity generic offline birthing simulation, an anatomy-to-image nonrigid registration pipeline exploiting fetal MRI, the open-source interactive medical simulation toolkit IMSTK augmented by high-throughput deep learning-based soft tissue deformation, open-source musculoskeletal dynamics simulation platform SimTk for representing fetal motion. The initial emphasis will be on shoulder dystocia. The two main …
Assessing Heart Rate Using Consumer Technology Association Standards,
2021
Brigham Young University, Oahu
Assessing Heart Rate Using Consumer Technology Association Standards, Joel D. Reece, Jennifer A. Bunn, Minsoo Choi, James W. Navalta
Kinesiology and Nutrition Sciences Faculty Research
It is difficult for developers, researchers, and consumers to compare results among emerging wearable technology without using a uniform set of standards. This study evaluated the accuracy of commercially available wearable technology heart rate (HR) monitors using the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) standards. Participants (N = 23) simultaneously wore a Polar chest strap (criterion measure), Jabra Elite earbuds, Scosche Rhythm 24 armband, Apple Watch 4, and Garmin Forerunner 735 XT during sitting, activities of daily living, walking, jogging, running, and cycling, totaling 57 min of monitored activity. The Apple Watch mean bias was within ±1 bpm, and mean absolute percent …
Prediction Of Emg Activation Profiles From Gait Kinematics And Kinetics During Multiple Terrains,
2021
Marquette University
Prediction Of Emg Activation Profiles From Gait Kinematics And Kinetics During Multiple Terrains, Erika V. Zabre-Gonzalez, Diego Amieva-Alvarado, Scott A. Beardsley
Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications
Continuous myoelectric prediction of intended limb dynamics has the ability to provide transparent control of a prosthesis by the user. However, the impact on these models of adding a human user into the control loop is less clear. Here, the ability of a User Response Model (URM) to continuously predict EMG activity from gait kinematics and kinetics collected during three mobility tasks (level-ground walking, stair ascent, and stair descent) was examined. Multiple-input, multiple-output NARX-based URMs were developed with two outputs (ankle plantarflexor and dorsiflexor) and variable inputs (ankle kinetics, and shank and/or ankle kinematics). Accuracy in predicting the tibialis anterior …
Position-Scanning Peptide Libraries As Particle Immunogens For Improving Cd8+ T-Cell Responses,
2021
Northern Illinois University
Position-Scanning Peptide Libraries As Particle Immunogens For Improving Cd8+ T-Cell Responses, Michael C. Vega
Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship
Short peptides reflecting major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I (MHC-I) epitopes frequently lack sufficient immunogenicity to induce robust antigen (Ag)-specific CD8+ T cell responses. In the current work, it is demonstrated that position-scanning peptide libraries themselves can serve as improved immunogens, inducing Ag-specific CD8+ T cells with greater frequency and function than the wild-type epitope. The approach involves displaying the entire position-scanning library onto immunogenic nanoliposomes. Each library contains the MHC-I epitope with a single randomized position. When a recently identified MHC-I epitope in the glycoprotein gp70 envelope protein of murine leukemia virus (MuLV) is assessed, only one …
Identifying Alternate Resources And Adjusting Expectations For Senior Design Projects During The Covid-19 Pandemic Of 2020,
2021
Marquette University
Identifying Alternate Resources And Adjusting Expectations For Senior Design Projects During The Covid-19 Pandemic Of 2020, Jay R. Goldberg
Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic required capstone design course instructors to transition to online learning. Student project teams were denied access to resources needed to construct and test prototypes scheduled to be delivered to project sponsors and clients at the end of the semester. Face-to-face collaboration was replaced with virtual team meetings. At Marquette University, efforts to identify (1) barriers to completing projects, (2) potential alternate prototyping resources, (3) adjustments to expectations of teams, and (4) changes to course deliverable requirements were completed. The results of these activities, the thought process used to guide students through the search for …
Biomechanically Inspired Assistive Technology To Restore Movement Of The Upper Limbs After Stroke,
2021
West Virginia University
Biomechanically Inspired Assistive Technology To Restore Movement Of The Upper Limbs After Stroke, Ariel Thomas
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
A stroke often damages the neural structures responsible for movement. Stroke is a heterogeneous disease, affecting each survivor differently. There are common motor features of a stroke, but even these features vary across time as an individual proceeds through different stages of recovery. The different ways in which stroke motor impairment can present itself are often overlooked, but these differences are fundamental to the understanding of the disease and its recovery. When motor assessments are capable of acquiring information necessary to parse out a detailed profile of each stroke case, this will lead to an improved neuromechanical understanding of the …
Optimization Of Gelatin-Based Cellular Coating Of Msc For Myocardial Infarction Therapy,
2021
University of Kentucky
Optimization Of Gelatin-Based Cellular Coating Of Msc For Myocardial Infarction Therapy, Kara Amelle Davis
Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering
Cardiovascular disease remains the number one threat to American lives. During an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), blood flow is blocked and results in the formation of scar tissue. As the body’s immune system responds, inflammatory signaling causes an increase in both scar tissue size and the patient’s risk for further chronic heart failure. In order to reduce the risk of continued heart disease inflammatory signaling must be reduced. Stem cell therapies have the ability to alter the immune system’s pro-inflammatory signal. However, stem cell retention is limited due to blood flow shear. Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) based coatings have been shown …
Biom 3710: Physiological Systems And Modeling (Syllabus),
2021
University of Memphis
Biom 3710: Physiological Systems And Modeling (Syllabus), Aaryani Sajja
Biomedical Engineering Syllabi Archive
Course Description: Fundamentals of control theory and mathematical modeling and analysis as applied to physiological systems.
Engr 1010: Engineering Problem Solving (Syllabus),
2021
University of Memphis
Engr 1010: Engineering Problem Solving (Syllabus), Stephen Strain
Biomedical Engineering Syllabi Archive
Course Description: Introduction to the methods of engineering problem solving. Application of mathematical concepts to solve engineering problems.
A Mechanism Behind The Mechanotransduction Of Surface Characteristics In Osteoblasts,
2021
Virginia Commonwealth University
A Mechanism Behind The Mechanotransduction Of Surface Characteristics In Osteoblasts, Otto J. Juhl Iv
Theses and Dissertations
Biomaterials for use in bone regeneration and healing range from metal and metal alloy implants to hydrogel-based solutions. These materials can be optimized to increase bone healing and integration by improving the mechanical and biological properties. Regardless of the material itself, the cell-substrate interaction is key to the success of the biomaterial once implanted. Substrate surface characteristics such as roughness, wettability, and particle density are well-known contributors to a substrate’s overall osteogenic potential, and therefore the substrate's overall success. Unfortunately, it is still unknown how these substrate surface characteristics are transduced into intracellular signals by cells, preventing specific tailoring of …
Barcode Biosensors Based On Surface Plasmon Resonance,
2021
Northern Illinois University
Barcode Biosensors Based On Surface Plasmon Resonance, Sneha Ramesh
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Affordable and easy to use biological assays are the current need of the day owing to the rising cost of health care within the US and worldwide. The goal of this thesis is to develop a sensitive label-free biosensing scheme exploiting surface plasmon resonance (SPR) that yields the sensor output in an easy-to-read optical bio-barcode format for high through put and multiplexed medical diagnostics. Through this research, we would like to investigate if SPR phenomena can be achieved by fabricating SP supporting metallic structures over a nanoporous dielectric layer whose optical constants are progressively varied across the substrate in a …
Clinical Applications And Feasibility Of Proton Ct And Proton Radiography,
2021
Northern Illinois University
Clinical Applications And Feasibility Of Proton Ct And Proton Radiography, Christina Marie Sarosiek
Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations
Proton therapy is a form of radiation treatment for cancer that utilizes the Bragg peak to create conformal high dose regions around the tumor volume. However, the use of x-ray computed tomography (CT) and x-ray radiography for treatment planning and pre-treatment quality assurance procedures improves the achievable effectiveness of proton treatment plans (using proton CT) and the pretreatment verification (using proton radiography). Errors in the conversion from x-ray Hounsfield units (HU) to proton relative stopping powers (RSP) leads to errors in the predicted proton range. To account for the errors, 3.5% margins are included in the treatment plan. This means …
Studies On Protein Solubility,
2021
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Studies On Protein Solubility, Ke Li
Doctoral Dissertations
"Solubility is a critical factor of protein-based drugs during processing and patient administration. This study focused on two aspects of solubility: one was the poly (ethylene) glycol (PEG) precipitation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and another was crystallins aggregation that is associated with cataracts. Protein precipitation by PEG is a common technique for downstream processing. The effects of pH, ionic strength and the exclude volume effect on the protein precipitation by PEG were extensively studied, but the effects of glycosylation on protein precipitation by PEG has not been examined. Protein aggregation is not only a problem in downstream processing, but it …
