Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Multifunctional Peptides To Improve Nucleic Acid Delivery For Ovarian Cancer Treatment, Kharimat Lora Alatise

All Dissertations

RNA interference (RNAi) therapies, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), offer a high-precision approach to reducing the expression of disease-promoting genes with minimal off-target effects. For aggressive diseases like ovarian cancer, RNAi therapy can serve as a robust treatment modality if delivered successfully. Over 70% of ovarian cancer patients are diagnosed in stages three and four, where the disease becomes more difficult to treat. High relapse rates and drug resistance in these stages demonstrate the need for novel strategies to sensitize tumors to chemotherapy, making siRNA a promising avenue for targeting resistance-associated oncogenes.

However, the delivery of siRNA remains a …

Investigating The Role Of Cd44 In Her2+ Breast Cancer Cells During Cancer Cell Redirection, Holly Caroline Jordan Campbell

All Dissertations

Despite a rise in survival rates of breast cancer patients due to advances in modern medicine, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Early detection and a more personalized treatment of breast cancer has slowly improved patient outcomes. Nevertheless, there are impediments to better patient outcomes due to the complexity of the disease physiology. Therefore, there is a demand for a comprehensive understanding of cancer development as well as a need to understand tumor progression for enhanced therapies for patients.

Previous in vivo …

Analysis Of An Outdoor Pilot-Scale Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactor For Power Optimization, Ash-Enhanced Productivity, And Nutrient Uptake, Peter F. Jeppesen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Outdoor testing of a rotating algae biofilm reactor (RABR) was performed to see how well it could remove nutrients from water and produce algae. By adjusting the operation settings, we found the lowest power needed to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. The lowest power values needed were 1.36 kWh per kilogram of nitrogen and 20.1 kWh per kilogram of phosphorus. The algae production rate reached a maximum of 7.09 grams per square meter per day. Detailed analysis showed that the reactor worked like a continuous flow system, and the performance was influenced by factors including light and temperature. The results also …

Engineered Microalgae Cultivations Systems: Conversion Of Wastewater Nutrients Into Biofuels And Bioplastics, Jacob Watkins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Dissolved Nitrogen and Phosphorus in wastewater can contribute to harmful algae blooms if released into the environment. One technology that can be used to recover dissolved nutrients from wastewater is the Rotating Algae Biofilm Reactor (RABR), which supports microalgae growth in an easily-harvested biofilm and produces nitrogenand phosphorus-rich biomass that can be used to produce slow-release fertilizers, biofuels, and compostable bioplastics. This thesis (1) examines the effects of several environmental factors on the biomass production rate and nutrient removal efficiency of RABRs treating municipal wastewater, (2) quantifies the composition and biofuel yields of microalgae biomass cultivated using a RABR at …

Mechanically Cost-Effective Approach For Bipedal Walking In Robots Using Instantaneous Collision Angle, Smit R. Patel

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Humans, as bipedal locomotors, are effective at reducing the mechanical cost of transport (CoTmech) by adopting movement strategies and gaits that minimize energy expenditure for a given distance. By using different gaits at different speeds, leveraging their long spring-like tendons and muscle elasticity which store and release energy during movement, humans reduce the mechanical effort required for locomotion. Current locomotion solutions offered in bipedal robots, based on legacy walking and running gait models, are not great at energy efficiency unless walking at very low speeds. Additionally, the control system of robots, designed to ensure stability and adaptability, requires substantial resources, …

Delineating Genetic Influences On Neurodegenerative Disorders And Infectious Diseases Through Advanced Computational Methods, Xiaowei Zhuang

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Genetics plays a critical role in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders and pathogen evolution in infectious diseases. For example, identifying genetic variants associated with a disease phenotype uncovers functional pathways that could lead to potential drug targets and therapeutic interventions. In addition, tracking the genetic evolution of pathogens enables early detection and warning of infectious disease outbreaks. In both applications, given the large amount of genetic data, advanced computational methods, including longitudinal and multivariate models, could significantly boost the statistical power and capture interrelationships among traits, environmental factors and genetic influences. This dissertation focuses on four applications of …

Precision And Efficacy Of Rna-Guided Dna Integration In High-Expressing Muscle Loci, Made Harumi Padmaswari, Gabrielle Bulliard, Shilpi Agrawal, Mary S. Jia, Sabin Khadgi, Kevin A. Murach, Christopher E. Nelson

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Gene replacement therapies primarily rely on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for transgene expression. However, episomal expression can decline over time due to vector loss or epigenetic silencing. CRISPR-based integration methods offer promise for long-term transgene insertion. While the development of transgene integration methods has made substantial progress, identifying optimal insertion loci remains challenging. Skeletal muscle is a promising tissue for gene replacement owing to low invasiveness of intramuscular injections, relative proportion of body mass, the multinucleated nature of muscle, and the potential for reduced adverse effects. Leveraging endogenous promoters in skeletal muscle, we evaluated two highly expressing loci using homology-independent …

Eigenbin Compression For Reducing Photon-Counting Ct Data Size, Taly Gilat Schmidt, Zhye Yin, Jingwu Yao, Jiahua Fan

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Photon-counting CT (PCCT) systems acquire multiple spectral measurements at high spatial resolution, providing numerous image quality benefits while also increasing the amount of data that must be transferred through the gantry slip ring.

Purpose

This study proposes a lossy method to compress photon-counting CT data using eigenvector analysis, with the goal of providing image quality sufficient for applications that require a rapid initial reconstruction, such as to confirm anatomical coverage, scan quality, and to support automated advanced applications. The eigenbin compression method was experimentally evaluated on a clinical silicon PCCT prototype system.

Methods

The proposed eigenbin method performs principal …

Sdf-1Α Mediates Primary Tumor Escape In Glioblastoma Through Activation Of Mesenchymal Transitions, Charles T. Froman-Glover

The Cardinal Edge

Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive primary brain tumor originating in glial cells, poses a significant challenge due to its rapid growth and invasive nature within healthy brain tissue.

Current treatments involve surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation. These treatments alone are not enough to cure this disease, and a better understanding of the mechanics of the tumor's micro-environment is imperative to furthering the field of cancer research. This research focuses on understanding the tumor microenvironment's impact, specifically investigating the role of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) mechanics on GBM aggressiveness. SDF-1 is known to facilitate disease progression by facilitating chemotaxis toward …

The Impact Of Cumulative And Acute Loading On Achilles Tendon Health, Performance, And Reported Pain In Collegiate Gymnasts, Julio Serrano Samayoa

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Gymnasts are at a high risk of Achilles tendon (AT) injuries due to intense loads during takeoffs and landings. To better understand better the relationship between impact loading and its effects on tendon adaptation and athletic performance, this study uses Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to track AT loading across a collegiate gymnastics season. This data were compared against physiological and athletic performance metrics, obtained through force plates and ultrasound imaging, to explore how mechanical load influences reported pain and athletic performance. Results varied, with cumulative impacts being correlated with improved jump height (Spearman 0.362, Pearson 0.348), while peak power and …

Applications Of Computer Vision In Biomechanics And Orthopaedics, William Stewart Burton Ii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Machine learning has emerged as a key technology for enabling advanced computer vision systems. These systems now permeate many industries, and have enhanced traditional processes through autonomous interpretation of visual data. In the field of orthopaedics, the increasing prevalence of imaging highlights a need for similar tools. In many cases, however, direct translation of available frameworks fails to resolve the complex problems currently facing this field. Stringent performance requirements, complex visual environments, data scarcity, and implications for patient safety represent domain-specific factors which pose unique challenges to proven techniques. Novel approaches are needed to realize the full benefits of visual …

Detection Of Methane Leaks By The Use Of Mid-Range Infrared Camera, Jared Rosario, Oscar Salcido

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Timely detection of methane leaks from natural gas infrastructure, like pipelines and valves, is essential for mitigating environmental and safety risks. This research focuses on using mid-wave infrared (MwIR) cameras on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to detect leaks. By leveraging machine learning, the study aims to develop an efficient, real-time methane inspection system that operates directly on embedded processors on UAS platforms.

This project employs the FLIR G300a OGI camera for remote gas inspection, utilizing video preprocessing and optical flow to mask gas plumes in footage. The YOLOv8 deep learning model is used to detect gas pixels and segment the …

Phagolysosomes Break Down The Membrane Of A Non-Apoptotic Corpse Independent Of Macroautophagy, Shruti Kolli, Cassidy J. Kline, Kimya M. Rad, Ann M. Wehman

Biological Sciences: Faculty Scholarship

Cell corpses must be cleared in an efficient manner to maintain tissue homeostasis and regulate immune responses. Ubiquitin-like Atg8/LC3 family proteins promote the degradation of membranes and internal cargo during both macroautophagy and corpse clearance, raising the question how macroautophagy contributes to corpse clearance. Studying the clearance of non-apoptotic dying polar bodies in Caenorhabditis elegans embryos, we show that the LC3 ortholog LGG-2 is enriched inside the polar body phagolysosome independent of autophagosome formation. We demonstrate that ATG-16.1 and ATG-16.2, which promote membrane association of lipidated Atg8/LC3 proteins, redundantly promote polar body membrane breakdown in phagolysosomes independent of their role …

Ptsd Increases Risk For Hypertension Development Through Pvn Activation And Vascular Dysfunction In Sprague Dawley Rats, Xinqian Chen, Xin Yan, Chunxiu Yu, Qing-Hui Chen, Lanrong Bi, Zhiying Shan

Michigan Tech Publications

This study investigates the impact of single prolonged stress (SPS), a model of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), on cardiovascular responses, hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) activity, and vascular function to elucidate the mechanisms linking traumatic stress to hypertension. Although SPS did not directly cause chronic hypertension in male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, it induced acute but transient increases in blood pressure and heart rate and significantly altered the expression of hypertension-associated genes, such as vasopressin, angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), and FOSL1 in the PVN. Notably, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) were predominantly elevated in the pre-autonomic regions of the …

Use Of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators In High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion, Soumya Malhotra, Khavir Sharieff

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Title: Use of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators in High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion Authors: Soumya Malhotra, BA., MS1 & Khavir Sharieff, DO, MBA2 1Class of 2027, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL 2Assistant Professor of Surgery, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tampa Bay, FLNova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the advantages of EBGSs following high-risk spinal fusions. Background: Pseudarthrosis is a condition where bones fail to fuse after an injury or surgery. It causes significant …

Collapse Of Pre-Covid-19 Differences In Performance In Online Vs. In-Person College Science Classes, And Continued Decline In Student Learning, Gregg R. Davidson, Hong Xiao, Kristin Davidson

Faculty and Student Publications

Abstract: Studies comparing student outcomes for online vs. in-person classes have reported mixed results, though with a majority finding that lower-performing students, on average, fare worse in online classes, attributed to the lack of built-in structure provided by in-person instruction. The online/in-person outcome disparity was normative for non-major geology classes at the University of Mississippi prior to COVID-19, but the difference disappeared in the years after 2020. Previously distinct trendlines of GPA-based predictions of earned-grade for online and in-person classes merged. Of particular concern, outcomes for in-person classes declined to match pre-COVID-19 online expectations, with lower-GPA students disproportionally impacted. Objective …

The Impact Of Hearing Aid User Speech On Environment Classification And Own Voice Listener Preferences, Robert Andrew Budinsky Iii

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hearing aids (HA) have improved over the past few decades with advanced signal processing, such as environment classification and background noise reduction, but are still limited by challenges related to when the user is speaking. These challenges include the potential interference a HA user’s voice has on device environment classification and the potential influence a HA has on own voice (OV) sound quality. However, the effects of OV on HA environment classification and signal processing are not well established, nor are the desired HA program settings regarding OV listening preferences. In this study, a combination of electroacoustic and behavioral methods …

Single-Molecule Profiling Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances By Cyclodextrin Mediated Host-Guest Interactions Within A Biological Nanopore, Xiaojun Wei, Aditya Choudhary, Leon Y. Wang, Lixing Yang, Mark J. Uline, Mario Tagliazucchi, Qian Wang, Dmitry Bedrov, Chang Liu

Faculty Publications

Biological nanopores are increasingly used in molecular sensing due to their single-molecule sensitivity. The detection of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) like perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid is critical due to their environmental prevalence and toxicity. Here, we investigate selective interactions between PFAS and four cyclodextrin (CD) variants (α-, β-, γ-, and 2-hydroxypropyl-γ-CD) within an α-hemolysin nanopore. We demonstrate that PFAS molecules can be electrochemically sensed by interacting with a γ-CD in a nanopore. Using HP-γ-CDs with increased steric resistance, we can identify homologs of the perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid and the perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid families and detect common PFAS …

Antibacterial And Wound Healing Stimulant Nanofibrous Dressing Consisting Of Soluplus And Soy Protein Isolate Loaded With Mupirocin., Maryam Jahani, Azadeh Asefnejad, Mastafa H Al-Musawi, Ahmed A Mohammed, Basma Talib Al-Sudani, Maha Hameed Al-Bahrani, Nada A Kadhim, Mina Shahriari-Khalaji, Hamideh Valizadeh, Fariborz Sharifianjazi, Morteza Mehrjoo, Ketevan Tavamaishvili, Mohamadreza Tavakoli

Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences Departmental Research

Severe cutaneous injuries may not heal spontaneously and may necessitate the use of supplementary therapeutic methods. Electrospun nanofibers possess high porosity and specific surface area, which provide the necessary microenvironment for wound healing. Here in, the nanofibers of Soluplus-soy protein isolate (Sol-SPI) containing mupirocin (Mp) were fabricated via electrospinning for wound treatment. The fabricated nanofibers exhibited water absorption capacities of about 300.83 ± 29.72% and water vapor permeability values of about 821.8 ± 49.12 g/m2 day. The Sol/SPI/Mp nanofibers showed an in vitro degradability of 33.73 ± 3.55% after 5 days. The ultimate tensile strength, elastic modulus, and elongation of …

Hypoxic Incubator: Improving Robustness/Reliability And Demonstrating Physiological Efficacy, Damon Dennis Tan

Master's Theses

The Microphysiological Systems Laboratory aims to develop colorectal cancer tumor models under a hypoxic environment to assess model response to pharmaceutical compounds in vitro. To perform relevant studies, researchers have attempted to use different hypoxic inducing strategies such as a nitrogen pod and hypoxic incubator to recreate in vivo physiological responses to hypoxia. However, studies would be interrupted due to incubator functionality failure. To ensure successful and physiologically relevant studies, I improved and verified the robustness and reliability of a hypoxic incubator previously designed and manufactured in the lab. Through the testing and iterating design processes, I engineered and implemented …