Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Response Surface Modelling And Multi-Objective Optimisation Of Asphalt Binder And Mixture Properties Modified With Reclaimed Automotive Lubricants And Waste Glass Bottle Powder, Nura Shehu Aliyu Yaro, Jacob Adedayo Adedeji, Luvuno Nkosinathi Jele, Nasir Khan, Aliyu Usman, Jacob Olumuyiwa Ikotun

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Large volumes of reclaimed automotive lubricant (RAL) and waste glass bottle powder (WGBP) are disposed of inappropriately, causing serious environmental concerns. Furthermore, the paradigm shift towards sustainability in the pavement industry has prompted academics to investigate alternatives to conventional materials. As a result, one possible approach is to use these waste products as alternative materials in the asphalt pavement sector. This study investigated the combined use of RAL and WGBP as complementary modifiers, extending beyond the conventional single-modifier approaches reported in previous studies. Thus, in this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was utilised to optimise and predict the synergistic effects …

A Solution For Safe Pivot Transfers In A Population With Limited Mobility, Elizabeth A. Mitchell, Sean R. Giamportone

Honors Theses

Sit-to-stand pivot transfers are one of the most frequently performed movements for

individuals with limited mobility. This movement is very often performed in long-term care

facilities and clinics. Despite the commonality, this transfer poses a significant risk of injury to

both the patient and caregiver; falls, musculoskeletal injuries, and the reduction of independence

can result from issues associated with these transfers. Existing assistive devices, Hoyer lifts and

sliding boards, present limitations with cost, size, storage, and usability; thus, caregivers rely on

the hands-on manual transfer that increases the risk of injury. The goal of our team was to

address these …

Cloud-Deployed Rna-Seq Analytics For Identifying Imaging And Therapeutic Targets In Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicities, Zhimu Wang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Chemotherapy has significantly improved cancer survival rates; however, many anticancer agents induce severe acute and chronic side effects that substantially reduce patient quality of life and limit therapeutic efficacy. Despite their clinical importance, the molecular mechanisms underlying chemotherapy-induced toxicities across different organs remain incompletely understood, in part due to the lack of integrated, scalable, and accessible analytical platforms capable of synthesizing large transcriptomic datasets across tissues and experimental models.

This thesis describes the development of a cloud-deployed RNA-seq analytics platform designed to identify candidate imaging biomarkers and therapeutic targets associated with chemotherapy induced toxicities. The platform integrates large-scale transcriptomic datasets …

Optimization Of Refolding, Purification, And Analytical Characterization Of Proinsulin(F25d) Soluble Antigen Array Immunotherapy, Abigail Richardson

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is characterized by autoreactive immune responses to insulin and its precursor, proinsulin. Soluble antigen arrays (SAgAs) displaying the metabolically inactive proinsulin variant, proinsulin(F25D), represent a promising antigen‑specific immunotherapy candidate for T1D. However, the production of these platforms is hindered by substantial practical challenges, including protein aggregation, inefficient refolding, and the lack of sensitive analytical tools to verify quality and dosage. This work establishes an integrated, scalable pipeline for the purification, conjugation, and quantification of a proinsulin(F25D) SAgA. First, we optimized the refolding of recombinant methionine-proinsulin(F25D) (M-PI(F25D)) from inclusion bodies using controlled buffer systems and created a …

Voltage-Sensor–Targeting Modulators Of Iks: Identifying Critical Functional Groups Of C28 Via Electrophysiology And Sar Modeling, Jiacheng Huang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

I_Ks (KCNQ1/KCNE1) channels are essential for cardiac repolarization, and their dysfunction contributes to arrhythmogenic disorders such as Long QT Syndrome type 1 (LQT1). Pharmacological activation of I_Ks has therefore emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy. C28, a recently identified voltage-sensor–targeting activator, has been shown to markedly shift KCNQ1/KCNE1 voltage dependence and enhance current amplitude, validating the voltage-sensing domain (VSD) as a druggable site. However, the structural determinants that underlie C28’s activity remain incompletely understood. In this study, we aimed to identify critical functional groups of C28 by screening a structurally diverse set of C28-like analogs and evaluating their …

Engineering Design And Analysis Using Creo® Cad, Cae, And Manufacturing Applications, Swapnil Moon

Open and Affordable Textbooks

This textbook presents a structured approach to computer-aided design using Creo, integrating CAD, CAE, and CAM workflows within a unified engineering framework. The material emphasizes parametric modeling, design intent, and feature-based modeling as foundations for creating robust and adaptable engineering models. Through progressively structured tutorials, students develop skills in part modeling, assemblies, engineering drawings, mechanism design, simulation, and manufacturing. The text incorporates real-world engineering components and workflows, including structural and thermal analysis, motion simulation, and toolpath generation, reflecting modern engineering practice. Designed for upper-division undergraduate and graduate students, this open educational resource supports hands-on learning and prepares students for industry-relevant …

Design Of Air-Entrained Concrete For Airport Pavements Through Local Aggregate Utilization: Performance Optimization And Economic Analysis, Li Wentao, Rizwan Qadir, Arslan Mushtaq, Hilal Khan, Kamran Jillani

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

Airport pavement construction in developing countries faces critical challenges balancing international performance standards with economic constraints, while limited research exists on optimizing air-entrained concrete mixes using locally sourced materials for cost-effective solutions. This study investigated the development of economical air-entrained concrete mix designs for airport pavements utilizing Pakistani aggregates and systematic cement content optimization. Comprehensive experimental evaluation included material characterization through petrographic analysis, alkali-aggregate reactivity assessment via accelerated mortar bar testing, and mechanical property development across cement contents from 360-450 kg/m3. Air entrainment was achieved through controlled admixture dosing while maintaining target slump of 50mm. Results demonstrated that locally sourced …

Equipping Biomedical Engineering Students With Clinical Needs Identification Skills: Insights From A Clinical Immersion Course, Lauren E. Edmunds

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

A major goal of biomedical engineering is the development of novel and innovative medical technology that advances and improves healthcare outcomes. An essential component of medical device design is identifying the clinical needs of patients and healthcare providers and applying engineering solutions to meet these needs. Our biomedical engineering department has developed a clinical and industry immersion course, which exposes students to the environment in which physicians and patients practice and engages students in this needs identification process. This study evaluates the impact of clinical immersion on undergraduate biomedical engineering students' confidence and perceived ability to identify and define unmet …

Strengthening Kidney Dialysis One Membrane At A Time: Enhancing Tempo-Oxidized Nanocellulose And Ionic Liquid Membrane Strength Through The Variation Of Cosolvents, Bailey M. Butler

Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Chronic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys lose the ability to effectively filter the blood, which causes waste build up. End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is the most severe case of kidney disease and requires either dialysis or a kidney transplant. Hemodialysis, the most common form of dialysis, is an extremely time-intensive and physically burdensome process that is currently limited by membrane performance. The polysulfone (PSf) membranes that are widely used for dialysis today have many limitations, including fouling, toxin rejection, and essential protein loss. Recently, new membranes made from TEMPO-Oxidized nanocellulose dissolved in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIM-Ac) have shown promising characteristics, …

Effects Of A Passive Assistive Hamstring Device On Overground Running Kinematics And Hamstring Activation., Quinn Castner

All Theses

Hamstring strain injuries are among the most common and recurring injuries in sports, occurring most often during the terminal swing phase of gait. Despite progress in rehabilitation, the incidence of injury has only increased, suggesting a need for a novel intervention. We designed a passive, assistive, wearable device with two specific criteria in mind: to offload the hamstrings during running, and do so without hindering normal kinematic patterns. The device consists of an adjustable elastic band anchored proximally at the waist and distally just above the ankle joint center. It stretches and shortens with the hamstrings, providing passive hip extension …

Modeling Structural Support To Facilitate Novel Treatments Of Degenerative Disc Disease, Jose Luis Calderon

Poster Presentations

Over 600 million people worldwide suffered from low back pain in 2020, with projections for 2050 being over 800 million [1]. Annual costs associated with low back pain total over 450 billion dollars in the US alone [2]. This research serves as a proof-of-concept for the use of structural supports to facilitate intervertebral disc healing. This treatment would involve the implementation of these supports along with existing injection treatments to promote regeneration. In both models, along with the combined model, the ability for these supports to alleviate intervertebral disc height loss is shown. This indicates that these supports would serve …

Development Of Low-Cost Triaxial Force Sensor For Measurement Of Human-Exoskeleton Interaction Forces, Hamdan Khan Sarvathullah

All Theses

Contemporary research suggests that shear force is a major contributor to discomfort and pressure injury. However, the variation of shear forces during human-exoskeleton interaction dynamics is a highly unexplored field. The high cost of commercial triaxial force sensors may be a major factor in the notable lack of research in this field. Therefore, in this paper, we present a low-cost, 3D-printed triaxial force sensor designed specifically to measure the triaxial interaction forces between an exoskeleton and its user. The triaxial force sensor uses Carbon-Black/Silicone Rubber (CB/SR) strings to measure shear forces, whereas the normal force is measured with a Force …

Fluorescence-Based Quantification Of Hepatic Ldl Uptake And Donor Hepatocyte Engraftment Using Atto 700–Labeled Ldl, Victor Agustin Cortes Flores

All Theses

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an inherited disorder characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) that increases the risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. In severe FH, including low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), hepatic LDL clearance is profoundly impaired and many lipid lowering treatment strategies have limited effectiveness. Current advances in ex vivo CRISPR–Cas9 hepatocyte gene editing in vivo and ex vivo approaches for treatment of FH are under development.

However, a central barrier to translation is the ability to quantitatively measure the percentage of healthy gen edited hepatocytes in the liver while simultaneously assessing functional hepatic LDL handling. This thesis establishes …

Central Pattern Generator Test Bench Report, Stephanie Wing-Yee Lee, Dustin Wong, Joseph Hernandez

Electrical Engineering

The project presents the design, fabrication, and implementation of a PCB test bench that interfaces with a custom VLSI chip designed to emulate the neural activity of a Central Pattern Generator (CPG). The test bench provides a precise and reliable platform for supporting signal operations and validating neuromorphic functionality. The design integrates both analog and digital circuitry to provide stable biasing, signal routing, and measurement access for chip characterization. The incorporation of op-amp buffers and adjustable potentiometers enables precise voltage tuning, resulting in controlled neuron-like behavior within the custom IC. The two-layer PCB supports modular interfacing with standard laboratory instruments …

Developing Warning Signage For Harmful Algal Blooms At Lake Fayetteville, Abigail R. Evans

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The presence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) poses many risk factors for human health, and once microcystin concentration has reached a certain level, that water source will be closed for the duration of the bloom. Agencies tend to use static signage with limited information to inform the public about the current status of the water, but a sign similar to the one used by the National Fire Danger Rating System can allow for constant updates detailing specific risk levels for the public. Using previously reported data on Lake Fayetteville, thresholds for risk factors that are easily measurable were determined. The …

Monitoring Streambank Morphology Using Iphone Lidar Technology, Lily C. Stitt

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

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 changes in stream geometry are useful for infrastructure design, water quality assessment, water resource management, and stream restoration, among other applications. Traditional stream surveying methods contain numerous cost limitations that inhibit affordable and accessible stream surveying needed for evaluating stream geometry with high accuracy and larger spatial scales (>100s of ). In recent years, several advancements have been made in the use of Light Detection and Ranging …

Spectral Characterization Of Colorectal Cancer Using Excitation-Scanning Hyperspectral Imaging, Natalie Hadad

Honors Theses

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers worldwide, with a lifetime risk of approximately one in twenty-three for men and one in twenty-five for women. Although early detection significantly improves survival, current diagnostic approaches such as tissue biopsy are invasive, reliant on subjective interpretation, have extended turnaround times, and risk missing flat or depressed lesions that are more difficult to detect than raised polyps. These limitations highlight the need for objective, minimally invasive technologies capable of detecting early tissue changes. This study investigates excitation-scanning hyperspectral imaging (Ex-HSI) as a label-free optical approach for identifying colorectal cancer–associated …

A New Electroencephalography Electrode Design For Curly And Kinky Hair Types, Elena Butler

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Medical discrimination and implicit bias are present in both societal systems and into the design and validation of medical devices. Traditional electroencephalography (EEG) systems often fail to provide reliable physiological recordings on curly and kinky hair types (3B–4C), associated typically with Black American and others of African descent. EEG on these hair types often results in high electrode-scalp impedance, poor signal quality, and participant discomfort. Consequently, such technical biases contribute to the underrepresentation of these populations in neuroscience research and clinical diagnostics, while simultaneously limiting equitable access to EEG-based medical care.

To address this gap, a novel conductive electrode attachment …

Beyond Local Pathology: Exploring The Role Of Gut Microbiota In Chronic Low Back Pain Using An Integrated Behavioral And Microbiological Approach, Adan L. Redwine

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Chronic low back pain (LBP) affects millions worldwide, often originating from intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. While the gut microbiome modulates musculoskeletal pain, prior studies of the gut-disc axis have focused entirely on structural changes. This leaves a critical gap: does the microbiome influence the experience of discogenic pain? To answer this, an integrated approach using longitudinal gut microbiome profiling, machine learning-based behavioral phenotyping, and structural disc assessments in a rat model of discogenic LBP was utilized.

Female Sprague Dawley rats underwent one of four conditions: sham surgery, IVD injury, antibiotic-mediated microbiome depletion + IVD injury, or IVD injury + treatment …

Preclinical Animal Modeling To Investigate Redox-Mediated Molecular Dysfunction In Traumatic Brain Injury, Brandon Z. Mcdonald

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Impacts associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) induce a multitude of neurological morbidities mediated by a spread of biochemical dysfunction. Redox stress is a significant contributor to TBI pathophysiology and several redox stress markers have substantial evidence to support their role in diagnosing preclinical and clinical TBI. However, there is a critical need to verify their translational utility through correlations with behavioral, imaging, and molecular modalities. In chapter two, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of an antioxidant treatment (NPC3) using a controlled cortical impact (CCI) mouse model of TBI. NPC3 alleviated glial expression and reactivity while influencing the expression of …