Engineering Commons^™

Point Of View: Artificial Intervertebral Disc Replacement Using Bioactive Three-Dimensional Fabric, Jeffrey M. Toth

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Evapotranspiration Using A Satellite-Based Surface Energy Balance With Standardized Ground Control, Ricardo Trezza

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study evaluated the potential of using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) as a means for estimating evapotranspiration (ET) for local and regional scales in Southern Idaho. The original SEBAL model was refined during this study to provide better estimation of ET in agricultural areas and to make more reliable estimates of ET from other surfaces as well, including mountainous terrain. The modified version of SEBAL used in this study, termed as SEBAL_ID (lD stands for Idaho) includes standardization of the two SEBAL "anchor" pixels, the use of a water balance …

Behavior Of Nano-Engineered Platelets In A Coronary Artery Stenosis Model, Hua Ai

Doctoral Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in North America. Cardiac infarction caused by thrombus plaque rupture can often lead to sudden death. Arterial stenosis caused by atherosclerosis is an important precursor leading to thrombus formation. Shear stress, abnormal lipid metabolism, and subendothelial layer exposure are the major contributors to arterial thrombus formation. Platelet activation by the above factors, followed by adhesion is the basic sequence in thrombus formation.

Platelets were encapsulated with nanofilm in order to reduce platelet activation and adhesion under high shear stress. Polyions, nanoparticles and immunoglobulins were assembled in nano-organized shells on fixed bovine platelets …

A Study Of Radiofrequency Effects On Gene Expression, Elizabeth A. Coln

Electrical & Computer Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Numerous studies have been completed over the past several years to look at the non-thermal effects of low-level radiofrequency exposure on biological systems. These studies were done to determine if exposure to radiofrequency fields are safe, or if they may lead to health problems or changes to any of the biological processes continually occurring within the human body. Responses measured include stress responses (I), gene expression (2), cell proliferation (3), cell morphology (4), and changes in DNA (5).

Dispersion is the most common model for explaining the electric behavior of biomaterials. It refers to the corresponding frequency domain concept of …

Biometrics And The Bottom Line For Aviation Security, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article attempts to identify the utility of biometric technology for variants of aviation security.

Thermal Analysis Of Fly Ashes Sourced From European Non-Blended Coals, Kenneth T. Stanton, Mark R. Towler, Patrick Mooney, Robert G. Hill, Xavier Querol

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fly ashes exist as a mixture of major amorphous phases and minor crystalline phases. For commercial applications, such as in concretes and for the production of zeolites, it would be desirable to be able to predict the reactivity of fly ashes. The amorphous phase dominates degradation behaviour, because glasses have a higher potential energy than the equivalent crystal structure and the variation of bond angles and distances in a glass make the bond breakage easier. Despite the large quantities of fly ash produced annually by coal-burning power plants, there have been very few studies investigating the microstructure and composition of …

Histologic Evaluation Of The Efficacy Of Rhbmp-2 Compared With Autograft Bone In Sheep Spinal Anterior Interbody Fusion, Harvinder Sandhu, Jeffrey M. Toth, Ashish Diwan, H. B. Seim Iii, Linda E.A. Kanim, J. Michael Kabo, A. Simon Turner

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Study Design. The sheep anterior lumbar spinal fusion model was used to study the efficacy of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)–collagen composite in comparison with autograft to enhance spinal interbody fusion. Comparisons were drawn from temporal radiographic and end-point biomechanical and histologic data.

Objective. To analyze histologically the ability of rhBMP-2 to achieve complete arthrodesis between vertebral bodies.

Summary of Background Data. Studies using rhBMP for enhancement of anterior interbody fusion have used numerous endpoints. However, systematic histologic evaluation of the fusion has not been conducted.

Methods. Twelve sheep underwent single-level anterior lumbar interbody fusion performed with a cylindrical …

Estimation Of Pulmonary Arterial Volume Changes In The Normal And Hypertensive Fawn-Hooded Rat From 3d Micro-Ct Data, Robert C. Molthen, Christian Wieholt, Steven Thomas Haworth, Christopher A. Dawson

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

In the study of pulmonary vascular remodeling, much can be learned from observing the morphological changes undergone in the pulmonary arteries of the rat lung when exposed to chronic hypoxia or other challenges which elicit a remodeling response. Remodeling effects include thickening of vessel walls, and loss of wall compliance. Morphometric data can be used to localize the hemodynamic and functional consequences. We developed a CT imaging method for measuring the pulmonary arterial tree over a range of pressures in rat lungs. X-ray micro-focal isotropic volumetric imaging of the arterial tree in the intact rat lung provides detailed information on …

A Biomechanical Comparison Of Three Sternotomy Closure Techniques, David J. Cohen, Lanny V. Griffin

Biomedical Engineering

Background. A biomechanical study of three sternotomy closuretechniques (figure-of-eight stainless-steel wires, PectofixDynamic Sternal Fixation [DSF] stainless-steel plates, and figure-of-eightstainless-steel cables) was conducted to compare strength andstiffness variables in three clinically relevant loading modes(anterior-posterior shear, longitudinal shear, and lateral distraction).

Methods. All tests were conducted on polyurethane foam sternalmodels that simulate the properties of cancellous bone. Eachmodel was divided longitudinally and reconstructed using oneof the sternotomy closure repair techniques. Tests were performedusing a materials testing system that applies a continuouslyincreasing amount of force in one direction to the model untilit catastrophically breaks. A total of six trials of each …

Long-Term Manure And Fertilizer Application Effects On Phosphorus And Nitrogen In Runoff, Bahman Eghball, John E. Gilley, David D. Baltensperger, J. M. Blumenthal

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Long–term manure and fertilizer applications to a soil can increase phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) transport in runoff. This study was conducted to determine P and N transport in runoff following long–term (since 1953) manure and fertilizer applications. Duplicate soil samples (32) were collected in 1998 from the top 0.1 m of selected plots of a long–term manure and fertilizer applications field experiment and later placed in 1 m² soil pans in the laboratory. Manure and fertilizer were mixed with 16 of the soil samples, while no treatment was applied to the other half (long–term residual effect). Simulated rainfall …

Establishing A Waste Management System For Imbaba Fever Hospital, Wafik H Matta

Archived Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Study Of The Trajectories Of Visually Guided Movement Of Unimanual And Bimanual Tasks, Deepthi Anand

Theses

Restitution of upper limb mobility following stroke is one of the major challenges facing clinicians in the country today. The complexity of performing skilled tasks with fine movements makes restitution of mobility all the more complex for rehabilitation specialists. Although several techniques have been evolved for, limited success with transfer of training from the clinical environment to functional performance clearly indicates a need for research and development in the area of upper extremity rehabilitation.

Bimanual coordination has recently surfaced as a novel and effective way to fast and lasting recovery. The success of bimanually coordinated training encourages a better understanding …

Thermochemistry Of Vinyl Alcohol And Vinyl Ether Radical And Kinetic Analysis Of Neopentyl Radical Reaction With Molecular Oxygen, Chol-Han Kim

Theses

Vinyl alcohols and ethers are important intermediates in low-temperature combustion processes, such as in the initial stages of combustion and in the atmospheric photochemical oxidation of hydrocarbons. Knowledge of the thermodynamic parameters for these species is central to understanding and predicting their reaction pathways, rate constants, and equilibrium constants. The rapid interconversion of conformers and the instability of vinyl alcohols and ethers lead to complexities in studies of these species.

In this work, enthalpy,ΔH°f 298, entropy, S°298, and heat capacities, Cp(T), are determined for vinyl alcohol and vinyl methyl ether and the radicals corresponding to loss of a H atom …

A Real Time Frequency Analysis Of The Electroencephalogram Using Labview, Rupal Patel

Theses

The use of the Electroencephalogram (EEG) for diagnosis of brain related diseases is becoming a popular technique in the clinical and research environment. To achieve accurate reading of EEG, signal representation and classification becomes extremely important. The goal of this project was to develop a basic software program for acquiring and online processing of the electrical activity recorded from the brain. A program was developed using the LabVIEW programming software by National Instruments. Basic hardware components recorded the EEG signal and a software component divided the data into delta, theta, alpha and beta bands in the frequency domain. Emphasis was …

An Infrared Device To Measure The Eyeblink For The Study Of Classical Conditioning, Alka Patel

Theses

The classically conditioned eyeblink response is studied by various groups to study neurological functions. This is a form of associative leaming that has many features to help diagnose and learn about neurological diseases. Electromyogram traditionally is used to detect eyeblinks for this experimentation in human. However, EMG can be expensive and difficult to use. It involves the utilization of electrodes and produces only an indirect measure of eyelid closure. The goal of the project was to develop an infrared device to detect eyeblinks and replace the EMG. The project involved two major components, a hardware and a software component. The …

Presented Antigen From Damaged Pancreatic Beta Cells Activates Autoreactive T Cells In Virus-Mediated Autoimmune Diabetes., Marc S. Horwitz, Alex Ilic, Cody Fine, Enrique Rodriguez, Nora Sarvetnick

Journal Articles: Regenerative Medicine

The induction of autoimmunity by viruses has been attributed to numerous mechanisms. In mice, coxsackievirus B4 (CB4) induces insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) resembling the final step of disease progression in humans. The immune response following the viral insult clearly precipitates IDDM. However, the molecular pathway between viral infection and the subsequent activation of T cells specific for islet antigen has not been elucidated. These T cells could become activated through exposure to sequestered antigens released by damaged beta cells, or they could have responded to factors secreted by the inflammatory response itself. To distinguish between these possibilities, we treated mice …

Managing Runoff Following Manure Application, John E. Gilley, L. Mark Risse, Bahman Eghball

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Rainfall patterns, soil factors, topography, climate, and land use may all influence runoff. To minimize environmental concerns, excessive runoff should be avoided on areas where manure has been applied. Management practices used to control runoff include contouring, strip cropping, conservation tillage, terraces, and buffer strips. In some cases, secondary containment systems, sedimentation basins, or ponds may be necessary to collect runoff. More than one runoff-control practice may be necessary for protection in areas with high runoff potential. Soil properties, including infiltration, may be improved by manure application. The method, rate and timing of manure application should be considered to reduce …

Effect Of Exposure Time On The Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior Of Aircraft Skin Material, Kathryn Lemasters, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

The objective of this research project is to identify the effects of service exposure on aircraft materials. The senior author participated in the KC-135 Corrosion Prevention Program conducted by the University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Data from this research program was analyzed to compare the fatigue crack growth rates of aged aircraft materials with those of virgin materials. 2024-T3(clad) Middle Tension (M(T)) specimens were machined from the fuselage and upper wing skins of a retired aircraft. Fatigue crack growth rate (da/dN) and mode 1 stress intensity factor range (Δ K) plots were generated for both sets of data. The …

An Approach To Sequence Dna Without Tagging, Sanjun Niu, Ravi F. Saraf

Ravi Saraf Publications

Microarray technology is playing an increasingly important role in biology and medicine and its application to genomics for gene expression analysis has already reached the market with a variety of commercially available instruments. In these combinatorial analysis methods, known probe single-strand DNA (ssDNA) “primers” are attached in clusters of typically 100 μm × 100 μm pixels. Each pixel of the array has a slightly different sequence. On exposure to “unknown” target ssDNA, the pixels with the right complementary probe ssDNA sequence convert to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) by a hybridization reaction. To transduct the conversion of the pixel to dsDNA, the …

Creep-Fatigue Life Prediction Of Low Alloy Steels, James Toland, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

The creep-fatigue behavior of Cr-Mo steels has been examined from published data. The published data were compiled in an earlier effort and used in this paper to develop a multivariate best-fit equation to predict the low cycle fatigue life. The fatigue test temperatures were representative of temperatures experienced in nuclear power plants, which varied from room temperature to 600°C. Within this temperature range, depending upon the test parameters used, creep and fatigue processes interact and failure occurs in the lowcycle fatigue regime.

Level Set Segmentation Of Mr Images For Extraction Of Femur Bone And Tissues, Christina Shanti Nayagam

Student Works (2000-2009)

This research explores a potentially useful segmentation algorithm, known as the level set method. It is suitable for images obtained from the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRJ) modality, despite the fact that MR images have low contrast between bone and tissue. The level set method is a numerical technique designed to track the evolution of an interface. The fast marching version of the method is implemented for two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) segmentation in this research. Femur segmentation is the main thrust of this thesis, however brain and heart images are also presented. Pre-processing steps are first performed for the 2-0 …

Modelling Of The Glass Phase In Fly Ashes Using Network Connectivity Theory, Mark R. Towler, Kenneth T. Stanton, Patrick Mooney, Robert G. Hill, Natalia Moreno, Xavier Querol

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The amorphous phase of fly ash dominates degradation behaviour because glass has a higher potential energy than the equivalent crystal structure and the variation of bond angles and distances in a glass make the bond breakage easier. It would be advantageous to predict the presence and subsequent degradability of glass on the basis of the solid-state chemistry of the fly ash. To this end, and inorganic polymer model was applied to a selection of European fly ashes to determine the value known as cross-link density (CLD). A cross-link density value of less than two implies that the material is amorphous …

A Window-Based Software For Fatigue Crack Growth Data Reduction, B. Keeton, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

The objective of this research is to develop a Windows-based program to present the fatigue crack growth rate and mode I stress intensity factor range data. Microsoft Visual Basic was used to write the code. The program developed in this study calls out the input data in terms of crack length (α) and the number of cycles (Ν). Secant and seven point polynomial distribution was used to fit the data. The installation procedure for the program was copied onto a disk to install the program. Future work is needed to further modify the a-N data and therefore to present da/dN-ΔΚ …

Dwell Sensitivity Behavior And Modeling, E. Pyburn, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

Since engineering materials are exposed to dwell-times in service, it is important to understand the effects of dwell times on the fatigue life. The mechanisms controlling deformation and failure under dwell conditions are in terms of metallographic damage namely; transgranular fracture, intergranular fracture, mixed intergranular transgranular fracture modes, surface striated damage, creep damage and oxidation. These mechanisms are very difficult to include in a quantitative model to predict the dwell sensitivity behavior of high temperature materials. Published creep-fatigue data were compiled from various sources for a number of materials such as copper alloys (NARloy-Z, AMZ1RC), steel alloys (9Cr-lMo), and nickel …

Statistical Modeling Of Fatigue Crack Growth, Ignacio Guerra, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

The objective of this research is to fit normal and lognormal distributions to fatigue crack growth rate (da/dN) data and present the data in terms of cumulative frequency distribution (f (x)) and a variant of da/dN and mode I stress intensity factor range (ΔΚ), z. The probability density functions (F(da/dN)) were also plotted for the data. The data was compiled from open literature, conducted on a hot section turbine disk material Inconel 718 under a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) project, through the Advisory Group on Aerospace Research and Development (AGARD). Incomel 718 was tested at 650°C utilizing various specimen …

Life Prediction Of Stainless Steels Used In Nuclear Reactors, Jonathan Clark, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

Effects of dwell times and temperature on creep-fatigue behavior of stainless steels have been examined from published data. The temperatures of these materials varied from 430°C to 816°C. Within this temperature range creep and fatigue processes interact and failure occurs in the low-cycle regime. A least square best fit equation was developed from the compiled data fitting all the data points. The variables were temperature, strain rate, dwell time and strain range and were used with and without transformation functions to derive the equation. Statistical analysis was performed showing a very high coefficient of correlation value for the life prediction …

Failure Modes Of Biomedical Implants, Andrew Gratton, Bert Buford, Tarun Goswami, Dana Gaddykurten, Larry Suva

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

The metallic biomaterials are very well known among various biomaterials. Stainless steel was used successfully as an implant material in the surgical field, then Vitallium, cobalt based alloys were used as implant materials. Titanium is the newest metallic biomaterial among three main metallic biomaterials, stainless steels, Co-based alloys and titanium alloys. These materials are used for the instrumentation replacing failed hard tissue, for example, artificial hip joints, artificial knee joints, bone plates, dental implants and in similar applications. Biocompatibility characteristics of titanium alloys make it the preferred choice for such applications, additional factors being light weight, excellent mechanical properties, corrosion …

Ultrafast Flow Quantification With Segmented K-Space Magnetic Resonance Phase Velocity Mapping, Haosen Zhang, Sandra S. Halliburton, James R. Moore, Orlando P. Simonetti, Paulo R. Schvartzman, Richard D. White, George P. Chatzimavroudis

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Magnetic resonance (MR) phase-velocity mapping (PVM) is routinely being used clinically to measure blood flow velocity. Conventional nonsegmented PVM is accurate but relatively slow (3–5 min per measurement). Ultrafast k-space segmented PVM offers much shorter acquisitions (on the order of seconds instead of minutes). The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of segmented PVM in quantifying flow from through-plane velocity measurements. Experiments were performed using four straight tubes (inner diameter of 5.6–26.2 mm), under a variety of steady (1.7–200 ml/s) and pulsatile (6–90 ml/cycle) flow conditions. Two different segmented PVM schemes were …

Circulatory Adjuncts: Newer Methods Of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Charles F. Babbs

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Current standard CPR only provides about one fifth of normal forward blood flow and only about one quarter of the blood flow that is theoretically possible with advanced external techniques. Two such techniques are now approved as optional alternatives in resuscitation guidelines. This chapter reviews modern understanding of the physiology of blood flow during CPR and practical aspects of utilizing more advanced resuscitation methods. When properly performed these methods produce statistically significant increases in survival.

Optimum Compression To Ventilation Ratios In Cpr Under Realistic, Practical Conditions: A Physiological And Mathematical Analysis, Charles F. Babbs, Karl B. Kern

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Objective: To develop and evaluate a practical formula for the optimum ratio of compressions to ventilations in CPR. The optimum value of a parameter is that for which a desired result is maximized. Here the desired result is assumed to be either oxygen delivery to peripheral tissues or a combination of oxygen delivery and waste product removal. Method: Equations describing oxygen delivery and blood flow during CPR as functions of the number of compressions and the number of ventilations delivered over time were developed from principles of classical physiology. These equations were solved explicitly in terms of the compression/ventilation ratio …