Digital Commons Network^™

Bioresorbable Film For The Prevention Of Adhesion To The Anterior Spine After Anterolateral Discectomy, Lisa S. Klopp, Jeffrey M. Toth, William C. Welch, Sangeeta Rao, Joseph W. Tai, Kevin A. Thomas, Simon Turner

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background context

The development of scar tissue and adhesions postoperatively is a natural consequence of healing but can be associated with medical complications and render reoperation difficult. Many biocompatible products have been evaluated as barriers or deterrents to adhesions.

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of a bioresorbable polylactide film as a barrier to adhesion formation after anterolateral discectomy.

Study design

Experimental study.

Methods

Seven, skeletally mature female sheep underwent a retroperitoneal approach to the anterolateral lumbar spine. A discectomy was performed at two levels with an intervening unoperated disc site. One site was treated with a polylactide film barrier (Hydrosorb …

Inducing A Normal Phenotype In Breast Epithelial Cells Using A Three-Dimensional Basement Membrane Extract Culture System: A Study On The Reversion Of Cancer, Ross H. Booth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Experimentally, traditional developmental models and transgenic animals consistently underscore the importance of studying cell behavior in the correct tissue context. However, live animal experimentation is inherently complex, and systematic assessment of the effects of individual variables, such as cell shape and matrix compliance on cell behavior, is extremely difficult at best. Two-dimensional monolayer culture of key individual cell types has provided abundant, fundamental information on cell response, but cannot be used to show the normal phenotype of breast epithelial cells. Furthermore, their results often fail to translate into in vivo and clinical studies. It has been previously established that normal …

Comparison Of Data Collection And Methods For The Approximation Of Streambed Thermal Properties, Jonathan D. Bingham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

When approximating heat transfer through a streambed, an understanding of the thermal properties of the sediments is essential (e.g., thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, and density). Even though considerable research has been completed in this field, little has been done to establish appropriate standard data collection approaches or to compare modeling methods for approximating these properties. Three mixture models were selected for comparison against each other and against a bed conduction model (SEDMOD). Typical data collection approaches were implemented for use in the mixture models while numerous data collection approaches were employed for use within SEDMOD. Sediment samples were taken …

Stability Of Basin-Scale Internal Waves Within The South Arm Of The Great Salt Lake, Joshua David Soelberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The fluid circulation patterns, temperature distributions, and density gradients of the South Arm of the Great Salt Lake were modeled using the Estuary, Lake, and Coastal Ocean Model (ELCOM) from the Centre for Water Research at the University of Western Australia. The effort is part of a research study in conjunction with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the Utah Water Research Lab located at Utah State University. The model was simulated for several different cases of salinity gradients over different time periods, using temperature and wind data from 2006. The model is then used to identify factors which …

Measurement Of Air Pollutant Emissions From A Confined Poultry Facility, Olumuyiwa Omotola Ogunlaja

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Air emissions from animal feeding operations have become a growing concern. Much work has been done to study occupational exposures and the exhaust concentrations associated with animal facilities; however little information has been provided about air quality around the houses. Ammonia (NH₃ ), ethanol (EtOH), nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and particulate matter (PM _2.5 and PM₁₀) emissions were monitored in two different buildings for laying hens in northern Utah. Over the six-month sampling period, the observed average temperatures for the west and east fan banks of the high-rise building were 21.2±4 …

Vascular Injury After Whole Thoracic X-Ray Irradiation In The Rat, S. N. Ghosh, Q. Wu, M. Mäder, B. L. Fish, John E. Moulder, Elizabeth R. Jacobs, Meetha Medhora, Robert C. Molthen

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Purpose

To study vascular injury after whole thoracic irradiation with single sublethal doses of X-rays in the rat and to develop markers that might predict the severity of injury.

Methods and Materials

Rats that received 5- or 10-Gy thorax-only irradiation and age-matched controls were studied at 3 days, 2 weeks, and 1, 2, 5, and 12 months. Several pulmonary vascular parameters were evaluated, including hemodynamics, vessel density, total lung angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, and right ventricular hypertrophy.

Results

By 1 month, the rats in the 10-Gy group had pulmonary vascular dropout, right ventricular hypertrophy, increased pulmonary vascular resistance, increased dry lung …

Automated Identification Of Tumor Microscopic Morphology Based On Macroscopically Measured Scatter Signatures, Pilar Beatriz Garcia-Allende, Venkataramanan Krishnaswamy, P Jack Hoopes, Kimberley S. Samkoe, Olga M. Conde, Brian W. Pogue

Dartmouth Scholarship

An automated algorithm and methodology is presented to identify tumor-tissue morphologies based on broadband scatter data measured by raster scan imaging of the samples. A quasi-confocal reflectance imaging system was used to directly measure the tissue scatter reflectance in situ, and the spectrum was used to identify the scattering power, amplitude, and total wavelength-integrated intensity. Pancreatic tumor and normal samples were characterized using the instrument, and subtle changes in the scatter signal were encountered within regions of each sample. Discrimination between normal versus tumor tissue was readily performed using a K-nearest neighbor classifier algorithm. A similar approach worked …

Dynamics Simulation And Malfunction Diagnosis Of Heavy Machinery Using Msc Adams, Dewen Kong, Jim M. Meagher, Xi Wu

Mechanical Engineering

No abstract provided.

A Video Manager, Nicholas Omann

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduate requirement for the BSU Honors Program.

Impedance Spectroscopy Of Zebrafish Sperm, Robert Egnatchik

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Vesicles In Poiseuille Flow, Gerrit Danker, Petia M. Vlahovska, Chaouqi Misbah

Dartmouth Scholarship

Blood microcirculation critically depends on the migration of red cells towards the flow centerline. We identify theoretically the ratio of the inner over the outer fluid viscosities λ as a key parameter. At low λ, the vesicle deforms into a tank-treading ellipsoid shape far away from the flow centerline. The migration is always towards the flow centerline, unlike drops. Above a critical λ, the vesicle tumbles or breaths and migration is suppressed. A surprising coexistence of two types of shapes at the centerline, a bulletlike and a parachutelike shape, is predicted.

Distributed Satellite Systems For Earth Observation And Surveillance, Robert J. Twiggs

Robert "Bob" Twiggs STEM Education Collection

A PowerPoint presentation created by Rainer Sandau titled "Distributed satellite systems for Earth observation and surveillance" from April 7, 2009.

Methods For Simultaneous Control Of Lignin Content And Composition, And Cellulose Content In Plants, Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Laigeng Li

Michigan Tech Patents

The present invention relates to a method of concurrently introducing multiple genes into plants and trees is provided. The method includes simultaneous transformation of plants with multiple genes from the phenylpropanoid pathways including 4CL, CAld5H, AldOMT, SAD and CAD genes and combinations thereof to produce various lines of transgenic plants displaying altered agronomic traits. The agronomic traits of the plants are regulated by the orientation of the specific genes and the selected gene combinations, which are incorporated into the plant genome.

Water For Life: A Journey To Nicaragua Exploring Sustainable Development, Edwin P. Maurer

Civil, Environmental and Sustainable Engineering

When I first arrived in the Peruvian Altiplano as a Maryknoll missioner 15 years ago, I was struck by the presence of a beautifully engineered system of irrigation canals extending through several communities. Engineers love to solve problems, and seeing progress like this in a very poor region of mostly subsistence farming was encouraging…until I learned that it had never delivered a drop of water, and probably never would. The design of the system had been done by outsiders unfamiliar with the intricacies of farming in the harsh, high-elevation climate, completely unaware of the unique form of land ownership. As …

Sustainable Portland: Implementation Series 2, New England Environmental Finance Center

Climate Change

The Portland Municipal Climate Change Working Group prepared a report in March 2008 that outlined several recommendations as a commitment by the City to address greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) produced during daily municipal operations. The Municipal Climate Action Plan was written in partnership with Clean Air – Cool Planet and Portland officials, and acknowledges under Recommendation #2 that an employee energy efficiency program would provide significant positive impact on the City’s reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Best practices from three cities show that focus on the greening of City Hall is critical in developing a program that promotes partnerships, community …

44th Conference On Senior Engineering Design, College Of Engineering And Applied Sciences

Senior Engineering Design Conference

The 44th Conference on Senior Engineering Design Projects was held on April 14, 2009 at the College of Engineering and applied Sciences on the Parkview Campus of Western Michigan University. The college sponsors the conference to showcase the work of its graduating seniors, who are required to complete a capstone project that puts into practice what they have learned. Many of the projects are sponsored by business and industry.

Nano-Formulation And Controlled Delivery Of Low Solubility Anticancer Drugs, Anshul Agarwal

Doctoral Dissertations

Optimal drug delivery and reduction of systemic adverse effects have been age old problems in chemotherapeutics in all types of human cancer. During chemotherapy, using water insoluble drugs like paclitaxel and tamoxifen, it has been realized that better formulations are needed for more specific and controlled drug delivery of these agents. In a novel approach to form high content stable nanocolloids of these drugs with controllable release rate, a sonicated layer-by-layer (LbL) polyelectrolyte coating technology is suggested. The desired features of pharmaceutical carriers for intravenous administration include their small size and biodegradability, good loading capacity for a given drug, high …

Recent Progress In Acoustic Travel-Time Tomography Of The Atmospheric Surface Layer, Vladimir E. Ostashev, Sergey N. Vecherin, D. Keith Wilson, Astrid Ziemann, George H. Goedecke

United States Army: Publications

Acoustic tomography of the atmospheric surface layer (ASL) is based on measurements of the travel times of sound propagation between sources and receivers which constitute a tomography array. Then, the temperature and wind velocity fields inside the tomographic volume or area are reconstructed using different inverse algorithms. Improved knowledge of these fields is important in many practical applications. Tomography has certain advantages in comparison with currently used instrumentation for measurement of the temperature and wind velocity. In this paper, a short historical overview of acoustic tomography of the atmosphere is presented. The main emphasis is on recent progress in acoustic …

Gold Nanorod-Mediated Photothermolysis Induces Apoptosis Of Macrophages Via Damage Of Mitochondria, Ling Tong, Ji-Xin Cheng

Other Nanotechnology Publications

Aims: Induction of apoptosis or necrosis in activated macrophages by gold nanorod-mediated photothermolysis is demonstrated and the mechanisms underlying the processes are investigated. Materials & methods: Gold nanorods were functionalized with cysteine-octaarginine peptides (R8-NRs). Uptake of R8-NRs by activated macrophages was monitored by two-photon luminescence imaging. The laser irradiation conditions were controlled to induce apoptosis or necrosis to R8-NR-internalized macrophages. Mitochondrial damage and reactive oxygen species overproduction during photothermolysis was investigated by confocal fluorescence microscopy and transmission-electron microscopy. Results: Activated macrophages efficiently uptake R8-NRs both in vitro and in live animals. Laser irradiation of internalized nanorods with controlled power density …

Ankle Load Modulates Hip Kinetics And Emg During Human Locomotion, Keith E. Gordon, Ming Wu, Jennifer H. Kahn, Yasin Y. Dhaher, Brian D. Schmit

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The purpose of this research was to examine the role of isolated ankle-foot load in regulating locomotor patterns in humans with and without spinal cord injury (SCI). We used a powered ankle-foot orthosis to unilaterally load the ankle and foot during robotically assisted airstepping. The load perturbation consisted of an applied dorsiflexion torque designed to stimulate physiological load sensors originating from the ankle plantar flexor muscles and pressure receptors on the sole of the foot. We hypothesized that 1) the response to load would be phase specific with enhanced ipsilateral extensor muscle activity and joint torque occurring when unilateral …

Cs 205: Computer Literacy And Office Automation, Ann Tirpack

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

No abstract provided.

Ceg 479/679-01: Computer Animation, Thomas Wischgoll

Computer Science & Engineering Syllabi

By the end of this quarter, you will have learnt techniques for designing various models and algorithms for animation of such models as well as theur rendering using OpenGL and CIC++.

Lipid Production From Microalgae As A Promising Candidate For Biodiesel Production, Arief Widjaja

Makara Journal of Technology

Recently, several strains of microalgae have been studied as they contain high lipid content capable to be converted to biodiesel. Fresh water microalgae Chlorella vulgaris studied in this research was one of the proof as it contained high triacyl glyceride which made it a potential candidate for biodiesel production. Factors responsible for good growing of microalgae such as CO2 and nitrogen concentration were investigated. It was found that total lipid content was increased after exposing to media with not enough nitrogen concentration. However, under this nitrogen depletion media, the growth rate was very slow leading to lower lipid productivity. The …

Auditory Coding Based Speech Enhancement, Yao Ren, Michael T. Johnson

Dr. Dolittle Project: A Framework for Classification and Understanding of Animal Vocalizations

This paper demonstrates a speech enhancement system based on an efficient auditory coding approach, coding of time-relative structure using spikes. The spike coding method can more compactly represent the non-stationary characteristics of speech signals than the Fourier transform or wavelet transform. Enhancement is accomplished through the use of MMSE thresholding on the spike code. Experimental results show that compared with the spectral domain logSTSA filter, both the subjective spectrogram evaluation and objective SSNR improvement for the proposed approach is better in suppressing noise in high noise situations, with fewer musical artifacts.P

Optimal Distributed Microphone Phase Estimation, Marek B. Trawicki, Michael T. Johnson

Dr. Dolittle Project: A Framework for Classification and Understanding of Animal Vocalizations

This paper presents a minimum mean-square error spectral phase estimator for speech enhancement in the distributed multiple microphone scenario. The estimator uses Gaussian models for both the speech and noise priors under the assumption of a diffuse incoherent noise field representing ambient noise in a widely dispersed microphone configuration. Experiments demonstrate significant benefits of using the optimal multichannel phase estimator as compared to the noisy phase of a reference channel.

Environmental Remediation Full-Scale Implementation: Back To Simple Microbial Massive Culture Approaches, Agung Dhamar Syakti, Mohamad Yani

Makara Journal of Technology

Using bioaugmentation and biostimulation approach for contaminated soil bioremediation were investigated and implemented on field scale. We combine those approaches by culturing massively the petrophilic indigenous microorganisms from chronically contaminated soil enriched by mixed manure. Through these methods, bioremediation performance revealed promising results in removing the petroleum hydrocarbons comparatively using metabolite by product such as biosurfactant, specific enzymes and other extra-cellular product which are considered as a difficult task and will impact on cost increase.

The In Vitro Characterization Of Chitosan-Plga Nanoparticle/Plasmid Dna Complexes, Hali Bordelon

Honors Capstones

No abstract provided.

Simultaneous Nitrification And Denitrification Of Wastewater Using A Silicone Membrane Aerated Bioreactor, Kirk Hjelte Waltz

Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the use of a single reactor to biologically treat wastewater by simultaneously oxidizing ammonia, and reducing nitrate and nitrite. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) places strict discharge restrictions on these compounds due to their inherent toxicity to humans, wildlife, and ecosystems. The use of a simultaneous system can assist the conventional wastewater treatment technology that requires separate systems, by creating a system that needs less time and smaller size to reach effluent requirements. To conduct this research, a bench-scale membrane aerated biofilm reactor was built using silicone tubing for aeration. Batch and …

System Architecture For An Intelligent Implantable Bio-Telemetry Device, Karthik Kumar Nattamai Kumaresan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Biotelemetry has long been used for environmental and life science research to study animal populations and behavior. The use of implantable bio-telemetric techniques makes it possible to record and study physiological variables during long-term experiments with a minimum disturbance to the animal. Fully implantable telemetric techniques greatly reduce the risk of infection associated with leads and catheters protruding from the skin. In this research the design and implementation of a completely programmable bio-implantable digital system which can measure two physiological signals extended over a period of time is considered. The proposed system consists of a standalone implantable transmitter unit and …

Finite Element Model Of A Tennis Racket, Sayali Shashikant Kapatkar

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

An explicit finite-element (FE) model of a tennis racket and string was produced in NASTRAN/PATRAN. MSC/NASTRAN is a general-purpose FEA program capable of solving a wide variety of engineering problems such as linear static analysis, static analysis with geometric and material with nonlinearities, transient analysis with geometric and material nonlinearities. A finite element racket model was used to study the engineering characteristics that affect the "sweet spot" of a te1mis racket. A similar model was simulated by creating a tennis racket, a tennis ball and a string-bed, and it was validated against MADYMO (Mathematical Dynamic Model) data.

The MADYMO validation …