Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Predicting Corrosion Damage In The Human Body Using Artificial Intelligence: In Vitro Progress And Future Applications Applications, Michael A. Kurtz, Ruoyu Yang, Mohan S. R. Elapolu, Audrey C. Wessinger, William Nelson, Kazzandra Alaniz, Rahul Rai, Jeremy L. Gilbert

Publications

Artificial intelligence (AI) is used in the clinic to improve patient care. While the successes illustrate the impact AI can have, few studies have led to improved clinical outcomes. A gap in translational studies, beginning at the basic science level, exists. In this review, we focus on how AI models implemented in non-orthopedic fields of corrosion science may apply to the study of orthopedic alloys. We first define and introduce fundamental AI concepts and models, as well as physiologically relevant corrosion damage modes. We then systematically review the corrosion/AI literature. Finally, we identify several AI models that may be Preprint …

A Review Of Solar Hybrid Photovoltaic-Thermal (Pv-T) Collectors And Systems, Todd Otanicar

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in hybrid PV-T collectors and the wider systems within which they can be implemented, and assess the worldwide energy and carbon mitigation potential of these systems. We cover both experimental and computational studies, identify opportunities for performance enhancement, pathways for collector innovation, and implications of their wider deployment at the solar-generation system level. First, we classify and review the main types of PV-T collectors, including air-based, liquid-based, dual air–water, heat-pipe, building integrated and concentrated PV-T collectors. This is followed by a presentation of performance enhancement opportunities and pathways for …

Mitochondrial Transfer From Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Increases Migration In Aggressive Breast Cancer, Kevin F. Gwolas, Sarah Libring, Emily Berestesky, Shayan Gholizadeh, Samantha C. Schwager, Andra R. Frost, Thomas R. Gaborski, Jian Zhang, Cynthia A. Reinhart-King

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have distinct roles within the tumor microenvironment, which can impact the mode and efficacy of tumor cell migration. CAFs are known to increase invasion of less-aggressive breast cancer cells through matrix remodeling and leader–follower dynamics. Here, we demonstrate that CAFs communicate with breast cancer cells through the formation of contact-dependent tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), which allow for the exchange of cargo between cell types. CAF mitochondria are an integral cargo component and are sufficient to increase the 3D migration of cancer cells. This cargo transfer results in an increase in mitochondrial ATP production in cancer cells, whereas it …

Characterization And Estimation Of Musculoskeletal Pain Using Machine Learning, Boluwatife Faremi

Master's Theses

Traditional scales utilized for recording pain are known to be highly subjective and biased due to inaccuracies in recollecting actual pain intensities. As a result, machine learning (ML) models that are trained using these scores as ground truth are reported to have low performance for objective pain classification because of the huge disparity between what was felt in moments of pain and the scores recorded afterward.

In the present study, two devices were designed for gathering real-time, continuous in-session subjective pain scores and the recording of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) altered endodermal (EDA) activity. 24 participants were recruited to …

A Dynamical Systems Approach To Characterizing Brain–Body Interactions During Movement: Challenges, Interpretations, And Recommendations, Derek C. Monroe, Nathaniel T. Berry, Peter C. Fino, Christopher K. Rhea

Rehabilitation Sciences Faculty Publications

Brain–body interactions (BBIs) have been the focus of intense scrutiny since the inception of the scientific method, playing a foundational role in the earliest debates over the philosophy of science. Contemporary investigations of BBIs to elucidate the neural principles of motor control have benefited from advances in neuroimaging, device engineering, and signal processing. However, these studies generally suffer from two major limitations. First, they rely on interpretations of ‘brain’ activity that are behavioral in nature, rather than neuroanatomical or biophysical. Second, they employ methodological approaches that are inconsistent with a dynamical systems approach to neuromotor control. These limitations represent a …

Mechanisms Of Theta Burst Transcranial Ultrasound Induced Plasticity In The Human Motor Cortex, Yazan Shamli Oghli, Talyta Grippe, Tarun Arora, Tasnuva Hoque, Ghazaleh Darmani, Robert Chen

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) is a novel non-invasive brain stimulation technique with high depth penetrance and spatial resolution. Theta-burst TUS (tbTUS) is a plasticity-inducing protocol which increases motor cortical excitability for up to 30 min following 80s of sonication. While this protocol may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of psychiatric and neurological disorders, the mechanisms of action of TUS remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted the first pharmacological study to examine the mechanisms of TUS in human primary motor cortex. By administering brain-active drugs with known mechanisms of action, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms of tbTUS.

METHODS: Fourteen …

Neurocomputing And Interfacing Digital Tasting System: Research, Design, And Evaluation, Amira J. Zaylaa, Ahmad El Hajj

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

The continuous evolution in computing and interfacing has been extended to develop multi-sensory experiences in many domains such as neurological, auditory, vision, and haptic domains. So far, only a few remarkable system approaches have been approved to be serving the taste sensation digitally. Although taste sensation is linked to the brain, there is a lack of optimal neurocomputing digital taste sensation systems. Our study provides a new neurocomputing method to digitally stimulate the sense of taste by electrical stimulation on the human tongue. We aim to link chemical stimulation and electrical stimulation in order to design an electronic interface for …

Exploring The Use Of Virtual Reality In Designing And Prototyping Medical Devices, Evan Marsh

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

A degree in engineering is highly sought after in the United States. Despite the grueling coursework and sacrifices involved in earning an engineering degree, the rewards after college are numerous. However, the engineering field is vast, and the degree obtained is not always the profession followed in industry. A lot of what we learn in the college of engineering is very broad and surface-level. It is worth noting that only about 10% of what engineering students learn in school is applicable in the workplace, but they wish they had learned a lot more about that 10%.

Characterization And Implementation Of An All-In-One Heating, Impedance, And Pulsing Device For Molecular Delivery Applications, Alex Otten

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cancer impacts millions of Americans every year, with an estimated 1.9 million new cases and 600,000 deaths predicted to occur in 2023 [1]. Medical professionals and scientists have developed several techniques and procedures to combat this disease including gene therapies, surgeries, and chemotherapies. Several of these techniques incorporate the use of pulsed electric fields to deliver molecular material to treat, or directly destroy, the cells of the tumor. These pulsed electric field techniques are known as gene electrotransfer, electrochemotherapy, and irreversible electroporation. All three techniques utilize different electrical parameters to achieve their target tumor reduction or expression goals. Efforts to …

Mass Spectrometry Of The White Adipose Metabolome In A Hibernating Mammal Reveals Seasonal Changes In Alternate Fuels And Carnitine Derivatives, Frazer I. Heinis, Sophie Alvarez, Matthew T. Andrews

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Mammalian hibernators undergo substantial changes in metabolic function throughout the seasonal hibernation cycle. We report here the polar metabolomic profile of white adipose tissue isolated from active and hibernating thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus). Polar compounds in white adipose tissue were extracted from five groups representing different timepoints throughout the seasonal activity-torpor cycle and analyzed using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in both the positive and negative ion modes. A total of 224 compounds out of 660 features detected after curation were annotated. Unsupervised clustering using principal component analysis revealed discrete clusters representing the different seasonal timepoints throughout hibernation. One-way …

System-Characterized Artificial Intelligence Approaches For Cardiac Cellular Systems And Molecular Signature Analysis, Ziqian Wu

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

The dissertation presents a significant advancement in the field of cardiac cellular systems and molecular signature systems by employing machine learning and generative artificial intelligence techniques. These methodologies are systematically characterized and applied to address critical challenges in these domains. A novel computational model is developed, which combines machine learning tools and multi-physics models. The main objective of this model is to accurately predict complex cellular dynamics, taking into account the intricate interactions within the cardiac cellular system. Furthermore, a comprehensive framework based on generative adversarial networks (GANs) is proposed. This framework is designed to generate synthetic data that faithfully …

Creation Of A Hyperplane Device For Horizontal Cellular Migration Assays, Nicholas M. Bittner, Nelofar Nargis, Ghoulem Ifrene, Brent Jeffrey Voels, Colin K. Combs

Biomedical Sciences Posters and Presentations

Cell culture studies routinely seek to monitor cell migration in response to chemoattractant stimuli. Common assays of cell migration employ well inserts and vertical cell migration assessment. This approach does not allow real-time monitoring of cell behavior. To address this need, we sought to develop a horizontal culture platform conducive to time course cell assessment changes in migration, morphology, phenotype etc. Modification of a commercial chamber slide allowed us to quantify cell migration in response to a 20% serum gradient. Based upon this finding, we designed and fabricated a prototype chamber slide for high replicate, real time assessment of cell …

Conventional Platinum Metal Implants Provoke Restenosis Responses In Atherogenic But Not Healthy Arteries, Lea M. Morath, Roger J. Guillory Ii, Alexander A. Oliver, Shu Q. Liu, Martin L. Bocks, Galit Katarivas Levy, Jaroslaw Drelich, Jeremy Goldman

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Platinum-containing stents are commonly used in humans with hypercholesterolemia, whereas preclinical stent evaluation has commonly been performed in healthy animal models, providing inadequate information about stent performance under hypercholesterolemic conditions. In this investigation, we used an ApoE−/− mouse model to test the impact of hypercholesterolemia on neointima formation on platinum-containing implants. We implanted 125 μm diameter platinum wires into the abdominal aortas of ApoE−/− and ApoE+/+ mice for 6 months, followed by histological and immunofluorescence examination of neointimal size and composition. It was found that ApoE−/− mice developed neointimas with four times larger area and ten times greater thickness than …

Dreamtemp: A Platform For Sleep Monitoring And Improvement, Michelle Lim, Kyle Pedersen, Will Cockrum

Interdisciplinary Design Senior Theses

With 70 million Americans suffering from chronic sleep disorders and only 7500 board-certified sleep physicians, a clear logistical problem exists that technological solutions may be able to address. The proliferation of IoT devices in homes and on our person presents a unique opportunity to improve sleep quality by leveraging the data they produce, and the control they provide to us over our everyday lives. DreamTemp is a platform for sleep monitoring and improvement that aims to improve an individual’s quality of sleep by dynamically adjusting the room temperature based on the user’s sleep cycle using a smart wearable and thermostat. …

Protocol To Develop A Synthetic Biology Toolkit For The Non-Model Bacterium R. Palustris, Mark Kathol, Cheryl Immethun, Rajib Saha

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: Faculty Publications

Numerous biology tools are developed to work for model organisms, which, however, do not work effectively in non-model organisms. Here, we present a protocol for developing a synthetic biology toolkit for Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009, a non-model bacterium with unique metabolic properties. We describe steps for introducing and characterizing biological devices in nonmodel bacteria, such as the utilization of fluorescence markers and RT-qPCR. This protocol may also be applicable for other non-model organisms. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Immethun et al..¹

Rhea Breast Pump: Implementation Of Biomimicry Technology, Harper Daniels, Leanne James, Laini Reynolds, Courtney Rowe, Julia Yaklich

Interdisciplinary Design Senior Theses

Rhea Breast Pump is an innovative breast pump that implements biomimicry informed technology for a more efficient and comfortable breastfeeding experience. Our design implements a tongue actuator in conjunction with vacuum to mimic the suckling motion of a baby’s mouth, a heating element for pain alleviation, and a soft flange to maximize comfort. The development of this device is motivated by the goal of empowering women, specifically nursing mothers, to maintain their independence and individuality while raising a family. Our team, consisting of all female engineers, strongly believes in and supports the notion that women can and should have the …

Chemical And Polymer Characterization Of The Potential Modes Of Degradation Of An Injectable Nucleus Pulposus Replacement Device, Antonio G. Abbondandolo

Theses and Dissertations

HYDRAFIL™ is a poly(vinyl alcohol)/poly(ethylene glycol)-based hydrogel nucleus pulposus replacement device that is injected in situ and has demonstrated efficacy in lowering the prevalence and pain associated with back. In this work, we developed a method to analyze HYDRAFIL™ polymer composition using (TGA) and characterized intermolecular bonding interactions within the hydrogel through (FTIR). To function as a permanent implant for nucleus pulposus replacement, HYDRAFIL™ must be stable when exposed to a multitude of degradation pathways, namely, thermal, chemical, and mechanical. We subjected HYDRAFIL™ to accelerated thermal and chemical degradation pathways and described compositional, physical and chemical property changes using a …

Screening Of Microorganism Mutations Using Microbial Fuel Cell Activity, Grant Gini, Joshua Chansky

Bioengineering Senior Theses

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are a rapidly growing field of interest with potential for clean energy production, effluent/waste capture and purification. Drawbacks associated with MFCs is the short duration of the peak current, discouraging integration into emerging nanogrids, as well as the operational cost associated with the infrastructure, offsetting the net cost of power generation. With the objective of quantifying the success of genetic mutations using the MFC to address the above-mentioned problem-solving opportunities, the following specific aims were formulated in this study: 1) To measure current as a metric for growth/catalytic activity for microencapsulated microorganisms, and, 2) To optimize …

Intraoperative Quantification Of Bone Perfusion In Lower Extremity Injury Surgery, Xinyue Han

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the most common surgical categories. In particular, lower extremity injuries sustained from trauma can be complex and life-threatening injuries that are addressed through orthopaedic trauma surgery. Timely evaluation and surgical debridement following lower extremity injury is essential, because devitalized bones and tissues will result in high surgical site infection rates. However, the current clinical judgment of what constitutes “devitalized tissue” is subjective and dependent on surgeon experience, so it is necessary to develop imaging techniques for guiding surgical debridement, in order to control infection rates and to improve patient outcome.

In this thesis work, computational …

Artificial Scaffold And Neural Stem Cell For Neural Regeneration In Rats With Spinal Cord Injury, Krishna Deo Sharma

Student Theses and Dissertations

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that often leads to permanent loss of sensory and motor function. Unfortunately, current treatments only manage symptoms and do not provide a complete cure. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of 3D printed scaffolds and nanomaterials (gold nanorods substrate, nanocellulose-lysine, and TEMPO cellulose) in supporting the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) in vitro. We found that these materials were biocompatible, non-toxic, and able to promote the growth and differentiation of NSCs. Additionally, the unique mechanical properties of these nanomaterials make them a promising candidate for use in neuroregeneration …