Yk-4-250 Mitigates Gastrointestinal Radiation Syndrome And Promotes Overall Survival Following Partial Body Radiation Injury,
2026
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Yk-4-250 Mitigates Gastrointestinal Radiation Syndrome And Promotes Overall Survival Following Partial Body Radiation Injury, Vidya P. Kumar, Yali Kong, Kan Wang, Asa R. Britton-Jenkins, Stanton Dulan, Landon L. Moore, Debra Saunders, Randal May, Rheal Towner, Sanchita P. Ghosh, Courtney W. Houchen, Milton L. Brown
Department of Biomedical and Translational Sciences Faculty Publications
Acute gastrointestinal radiation syndrome (GI-ARS) is a significant health threat following high-dose ionizing radiation (IR) exposure, leading to severe morbidity and mortality. The syndrome is characterized by gastrointestinal tissue damage caused by angiotensin II (Ang II) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in impaired GI function, systemic bacteremia, multi-organ failure, and eventual death. Dysregulation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) via Ang II exacerbates ROS production through activation of the Angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). This underscores the need for agents capable of both scavenging ROS and inhibiting AT1R activity. To address this, we developed YK-4-250, a Tempol-conjugated angiotensin receptor …
Monitoring Eye Movements To Assess The Impact Of Sensory Feedback On Cognitive Workload During Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Use,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Monitoring Eye Movements To Assess The Impact Of Sensory Feedback On Cognitive Workload During Myoelectric Prosthetic Hand Use, Naomi Tchoungang, Hailey Dirrigl, Justin Asbee
2026 Research Poster Competition
Modern prosthetic hands allow users to grasp and manipulate objects, but many users must constantly watch the device to complete even simple tasks. This heavy reliance on vision increases cognitive effort, slows movement, and makes prosthetic use feel less natural. An important question in prosthetics research is whether providing sensory feedback (enabling users to feel what the prosthetic hand is doing) can reduce this cognitive load and improve performance. In this study, sensory feedback refers to a system that provides clear tactile cues to the user upon contact between the prosthetic hand and an object, helping replace information normally felt …
Assessing Mesenchymal Stem Cell Phenotype After Heparan Sulfate Supplementation,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Assessing Mesenchymal Stem Cell Phenotype After Heparan Sulfate Supplementation, Isani Patel
2026 Research Poster Competition
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that damages the protective coating of nerves, often causing lasting neurological symptoms. Current treatments slow disease activity but rarely repair existing damage. In response to this, a novel treatment option has emerged: mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy. MSCs are cells found in different adult tissues like bone marrow, and they have the potential to release repair-supporting signals and moderate inflammation. Nevertheless, results in a clinical setting have been inconsistent due to variations in cell potency. As a potential strategy to enhance MSC therapeutic potential, the addition of heparan sulfate, a naturally occurring signaling molecule, …
Cardiovascular Monitoring For Maternal Health Using Wearable Devices,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Cardiovascular Monitoring For Maternal Health Using Wearable Devices, Daniela Alejandra Vasquez
2026 Research Poster Competition
Cardiovascular disease represents the leading cause of pregnancy-related mortality in the United States, accounting for over 30% of maternal deaths, with preeclampsia and hypertensive disorders contributing significantly to this burden. In Arkansas, maternal mortality rates reach 41.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. Current prenatal care relies on intermittent office-based blood pressure measurements conducted during 12-14 clinical visits, may not capture critical cardiovascular changes in a timely manner. Preeclampsia is characterized by new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation, affects 3-7% of pregnancies, and requires early detection to enable timely intervention. The limited accessibility of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in rural …
Uav-Based Sensor Integration For In-Situ Lake Water Quality Monitoring,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Uav-Based Sensor Integration For In-Situ Lake Water Quality Monitoring, Alec Campbell
2026 Research Poster Competition
Current water quality assessment methods rely heavily on manual sampling and laboratory analysis, which are time-consuming and difficult to perform in remote or hazardous environments. In surface water monitoring, spatial and temporal resolution is often constrained by labor, access, and logistical limitations of manual sampling programs. This research aims to develop a drone-based system for real-time, in situ lake water quality monitoring. To address these challenges, the project focuses on integrating multiple water quality sensors, including oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, and a multispectral spectrometer, into a compact, UAV-compatible design capable of collecting spatially referenced data. Methods: …
Enhancing Prosthetic Hand Training Through A Virtual Reality–Based Framework Integrated With The Coapt Control System.,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Enhancing Prosthetic Hand Training Through A Virtual Reality–Based Framework Integrated With The Coapt Control System., Iruoghene Ojoh
2026 Research Poster Competition
Enhancing Prosthetic Hand Training Through a Virtual Reality–Based Framework Integrated with the Coapt Control System. Ojoh, I.1,2, Shell, A.1, Asbee, J.1, Aguilar, D.1 ,Abbas, J.1,2, 1Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR; 2Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR Introduction: Advances in upper-limb prosthetic hardware have greatly improved strength, durability, and mechanical performance; however, achieving intuitive control of EMG-based myoelectric prosthetic hands remains a significant challenge for individuals with trans-radial amputations. These devices rely on electromyography (EMG) signals generated by residual forearm muscles, which require consistent and well-coordinated muscle activation. Many users experience difficulty …
Testing The Effects Of Mechanical Stimulation On Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cultures,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Testing The Effects Of Mechanical Stimulation On Mesenchymal Stem Cell Cultures, Ella Collis
2026 Research Poster Competition
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a promising treatment option for a variety of diseases due to their ability to migrate to far-off sites, modulate inflammatory immune responses, secrete factors that aid in tissue healing, and their capacity to become several cell types. These cells can be found and isolated from various body tissues including bone marrow and adipose tissue, even so the number of cells obtained from these tissues is minimal compared to the amounts needed for their transplantation in cell therapy treatments. Therefore, their culture in plastic dishes is required to increase the number of cells and obtain the …
Monitoring Streambank Morphology Using Iphone Lidar Technology,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Monitoring Streambank Morphology Using Iphone Lidar Technology, Lily C. Stitt
2026 Research Poster Competition
Monitoring stream morphology is crucial for maintaining the health and safety of fluvial environments, particularly as these naturally dynamic systems are shifted out of equilibrium due to climate and land-use change. Quantifying these changes in stream geometry is useful for infrastructure design, water quality assessment, water resource management, and stream restoration, among other applications. Traditional stream surveying methods contain limitations that inhibit affordable and accessible stream surveying needed for evaluating fluvial systems with high accuracy and large data samples. In recent years, several advancements have been made in the use of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology as an alternative …
Developing A Cpp-Conjugated Cas9 Library For Efficient Non-Viral Delivery To The Dmd Gene,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Developing A Cpp-Conjugated Cas9 Library For Efficient Non-Viral Delivery To The Dmd Gene, Amie Donathan
2026 Research Poster Competition
Duchenne muscular dystrophy, or DMD, is a genetic neuromuscular disorder caused by the mutation of the DMD gene, resulting in alterations in the functionality or production of dystrophin, a protein essential to maintain muscle fiber integrity and strength. This mutation leads to progressive muscle degeneration, causing motor loss, cardiopulmonary failure, and ultimately, premature death. Gene therapies using CRISPR aim to replace the mutated gene to provide long-term correction. Although this has promise, CRISPR-based therapies use a viral vector to deliver, which presents notable challenges, such as immune problems and liver toxicity. A non-viral delivery method is a viable approach, but …
Synthesis And Characterization Of Glass-Ceramic Nanoparticles And Nanobubbles For Integration Into Bone Regenerative Biomaterials,
2026
University of Central Florida
Synthesis And Characterization Of Glass-Ceramic Nanoparticles And Nanobubbles For Integration Into Bone Regenerative Biomaterials, Sun Latt
Honors Undergraduate Theses
Osteoporosis affects over 200 million individuals worldwide and is characterized by an imbalance between osteoclastic bone resorption and osteoblastic bone formation, leading to fragility fractures that significantly diminish quality of life. Current clinical bone cements, such as poly(methyl methacrylate), are limited by poor osseointegration, toxic monomers, and an inability to address the underlying pathophysiology of osteoporosis. This work presents the synthesis, characterization, and systematic in vitro evaluation of a sol-gel-derived, magnesium-incorporated glass-ceramic (GC) nanoparticle within the CaO-MgO-SiO2 system for incorporation into a novel hydrogel bone cement and bioresorbable magnesium implants. XRD confirmed a biphasic amorphous-crystalline diopside composition, and TEM …
Dielectrophoretic Biomarkers For Cancer Detection And Cell Analysis: Integrating Microfluidics And Ai,
2026
West Virginia University
Dielectrophoretic Biomarkers For Cancer Detection And Cell Analysis: Integrating Microfluidics And Ai, Raphael Olumide Oladokun
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) carries a five-year survival rate of 13%, driven largely by late-stage diagnosis and the absence of sensitive noninvasive screening tools. Current diagnostic methods lack the sensitivity to detect disease-associated systemic changes at early and precancerous stages, representing a critical clinical gap. This dissertation addresses the central hypothesis that PDAC and its pathological subtypes induce measurable, disease-associated electrophysiological changes in circulating PBMCs that can serve as correlative liquid-biopsy biomarkers. To test this hypothesis, this work asks: can dielectrophoresis (DEP), impedance and zeta potential analysis with AI-assisted classification distinguish benign pancreatic conditions (non-malignant control), precancerous lesions (primarily IPMNs), …
Assessing Mobility And Upper Extremity Function Beyond Laboratory Settings In Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury Using Inertial Measurement Units,
2026
West Virginia University
Assessing Mobility And Upper Extremity Function Beyond Laboratory Settings In Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury Using Inertial Measurement Units, Kathylee Pinnock Branford
Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)
Manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI) face chronic, repetitive shoulder demands that far exceed those of able-bodied daily life, placing them at high risk for rotator cuff pathology and long-term upper extremity dysfunction. Despite this burden, existing research has relied predominantly on brief laboratory assessments that capture only a narrow part of real-world mechanical demands, leaving critical gaps in the identification of true injury risk factors. This dissertation developed and applied inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based methods and novel algorithms to characterize arm use, mobility, and environmental context during a full week of free living behavior in 25 manual …
The Effects Of Membrane Structure And Filtration Conditions On Virus Filtration,
2026
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
The Effects Of Membrane Structure And Filtration Conditions On Virus Filtration, Wenbo Xu, Xianghong Qian, Hironobu Shirataki, Daniel Strauss, Sumith R. Wickramasinghe
Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations
Virus filtration is used for validation of virus clearance in the manufacture of monoclonal antibodies. Requirements for this size exclusion process include 10,000-fold reduction of virus particles and at least 95 % recovery of the monoclonal antibody in the permeate. The size difference between the rejected parvovirus particles, 25 nm, and monoclonal antibody, 10-12 nm, is about two. Membranes are designed with pore sizes around the average size of the parvovirus. Given the polydispersity in membrane pore size and virus particles, filter performance is dependent on membrane properties, feed and operating conditions. Compromised performance usually occurs due to product related …
De Novo Protein Binding To Zinc Oxide Through Biomineralization Pathways,
2026
Virginia Commonwealth University
De Novo Protein Binding To Zinc Oxide Through Biomineralization Pathways, Jean-Mark A. Francis
Theses and Dissertations
De novo proteins are structurally distinct from proteins found in nature and thus capable of having their amino acid sequence modified to accomplish tasks such as increasing protein-nanoparticle binding without unfolding or decomposing. Zinc Oxide nanoparticles are functionally distinct from their bulk counterparts and are widely used as semiconductors in a variety of fields such as medicine and agriculture. With demand for these nanoparticles increasing, environmentally sustainable methods of Zinc Oxide nanoparticle synthesis are being investigated as an eco-friendly alternative to currently utilized but environmentally hazardous chemical and physical techniques. This research investigates the binding characteristics between Zinc Oxide nanoparticles …
Development Of An Adhesive Emulsion Hydrogel For Soft Tissue Reconstruction,
2026
CUNY City College
Development Of An Adhesive Emulsion Hydrogel For Soft Tissue Reconstruction, David J. Alpert
Dissertations and Theses
Soft tissue filling materials are most commonly associated with various aesthetic, cosmetic procedures, primarily using lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid to fill wrinkles and give facial features a more youthful appearance. These natural materials are biocompatible but degrade over time while more persistent synthetic fillers may provoke a chronic inflammatory response. Migration from the injection site is also a key factor as this may not only render the implant non- functional but necessitate further procedures for removal of the foreign material. Such concerns are more pronounced for soft tissue reconstruction procedures (e.g., to treat congenital defects or traumatic injuries), which require …
Regulation Of Tgf-Β1–Induced Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition By Integrin Inhibition,
2026
Virginia Commonwealth University
Regulation Of Tgf-Β1–Induced Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition By Integrin Inhibition, Wesam Elhawabri
Theses and Dissertations
Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical process underlying cancer progression, fibrosis, and tissue remodeling, characterized by coordinated changes in cell morphology, nuclear structure, and extracellular matrix (ECM) organization. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) is a primary inducer of EMT; however, the extent to which integrin-mediated signaling and ECM remodeling regulate these structural changes remains incompletely understood. In this study, we quantitatively investigated EMT-associated remodeling in A549 lung carcinoma cells and MCF10A epithelial cells following TGF-β1 stimulation. Cells were cultured on ECM-coated substrates and treated with TGF-β1 in the presence or absence of integrin-targeting inhibitors (ATN-161, 28-G11, and STX-100). Im …
Empirical Dynamical Modeling Of Cortico-Hippocampal Information Transfer During Memory Encoding,
2026
Virginia Commonwealth University
Empirical Dynamical Modeling Of Cortico-Hippocampal Information Transfer During Memory Encoding, Sam Y. Cole
Theses and Dissertations
Understanding how brain dynamics support successful memory formation remains a central challenge in neuroscience. This dissertation applies tools from empirical dynamical systems theory to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying episodic encoding, with a focus on cortico-hippocampal interactions. Using stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) data recorded during a delayed free recall of word lists task, this work reveals nonlinear, state-dependent shifts in directed information flow between cortex and hippocampus that distinguish successful from unsuccessful encoding. To further characterize these dynamics, state-space trajectories are reconstructed using time-delay embedding and recurrence-based methods, and features derived from these trajectories are used to classify memory outcomes. By integrating …
Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields For Extracellular Vesicle Engineering: From Electro-Exocytosis To Cargo Modulation,
2026
Old Dominion University
Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields For Extracellular Vesicle Engineering: From Electro-Exocytosis To Cargo Modulation, Art Neal, Teresa Graham, Mohamadmahdi Samandari, Arash Ghorbannia, Anca Dobrian, Stephen J. Beebe, Ruben M. L. Colunga-Biancatelli
Bioelectrics Publications
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), including small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) and medium/large extracellular vesicles (MVs), have emerged as promising therapeutic vectors and diagnostic biomarkers across various branches of biomedicine. However, the clinical translation of EV-based technologies remains constrained by persistent challenges in manufacturing: insufficient yield from primary cell sources, limited control over cargo composition, and the absence of scalable, standardized production platforms. Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) represent an emerging biophysical approach that can address several of these limitations. Unlike conventional electroporation, which targets the plasma membrane using microsecond-to-millisecond pulses, nsPEF delivers ultrashort (1–300 ns), high-amplitude (10–300 kV/cm) pulses that penetrate intracellularly …
Beyond The Square Pulse: Waveform Shape, Eeg Correlates, And The Pursuit Of Natural Sensation In Tens,
2026
University of Central Florida
Beyond The Square Pulse: Waveform Shape, Eeg Correlates, And The Pursuit Of Natural Sensation In Tens, Jason Whitson
Honors Undergraduate Theses
This study investigates the relationship between electrical stimulus characteristics of shape and charge on evoked sensations and electroencephalogram (EEG) data during multi-waveform transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) of the median nerve. Neuromodulation methods have traditionally had little control over the location and quality of their associated evoked sensation (e.g., electric, vibration, touch). This experiment utilized five unique stimulus waveforms during TENS stimulation. EEG data were collected concurrently to provide an introductory objective measure of the neural responses underlying these sensory changes. Eleven participants completed three tasks (thresholding, super-threshold stimulation, two-alternative forced choice) using a two-electrode TENS approach. Stimulus waveforms were …
A Chicken Model For Non-Invasive Diagnosis Of Infant Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip (Ddh) Using Acoustic Transmission Measurements,
2026
University of Central Florida
A Chicken Model For Non-Invasive Diagnosis Of Infant Developmental Dysplasia Of The Hip (Ddh) Using Acoustic Transmission Measurements, Aliza Shah
Honors Undergraduate Theses
Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a condition characterized by abnormal development and stability of the hip joint. In a healthy infant, the femoral head (ball) fits securely within the acetabulum (socket of the pelvis), allowing for proper joint function. In DDH, the relationship is disrupted, ranging from mild acetabular dysplasia to partial (subluxation) or complete dislocation of the femoral head. This condition represents a range of structural abnormalities that develop during early growth. The integrity of the hip joint is essential for physical mobility, and disruption of this structure can lead to significant functional impairment. DDH may result …
