Engineering Commons^™

Investigating The Relationship Between Hypoxia, Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, And The Optical Redox Ratio In Response To Radiation Therapy, Jesse D. Ivers, Nagavenkatasai Puvvada, Charles M. Quick, Narasimhan Rajaram

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Significance

Radiation resistance is a major contributor to cancer treatment failure and is likely driven by multiple pathways. Multivariate visualization that preserves the spatial co-localization of factors could aid in understanding mechanisms of resistance and identifying biomarkers of response.

Aim

We aim to investigate the spatial and temporal relationship between hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1α), and metabolism in response to radiation therapy in two cell lines of known radiation resistance and sensitivity.

Approach

Two-photon excited fluorescence and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy were used to quantify the optical redox ratio (ORR) and NAD(P)H fluorescent lifetime and bound fraction in frozen tumor …

Passive Mechanical Properties Of Cardiac And Arterial Tissue: A Paired Comparison Study In A Calf Model, Ola Alsaadi, Jieyang Zhang, Masod Sadipour, Ali N. Azadani

DU Undergraduate Research Journal Archive

Purpose: The mechanical behavior of heart tissue plays a crucial role in elucidating cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. Accurate measurement of the mechanical properties of cardiac and arterial tissues is indispensable for advancing computer simulations and developing medical devices. This study aimed to assess the passive mechanical properties of cardiac and arterial tissue in a calf model using a paired comparison method.

Methods: A planar biaxial stretching device was used to determine the mechanical characteristics of 84 square specimens obtained from 14 different anatomical regions. Cauchy stress-Green strain curves were constructed for each anatomical area, and a Fung-type constitutive …

Comparing Proliferation Rates And Collagen Production Of Cells Treated With Cuhars, Katie Elizabeth Mckenzie

Master's Theses

Cartilage is the padding in joints that protects the bones and aids in motion. Problems with the cartilage in the knee can be caused by mechanical damage or diseases like osteoarthritis. Chondrocytes make cartilage. The objective of this study is to determine the doubling time of chondrocytes per passage. I also want to determine the base amount of collagen-II created by chondrocytes as they age. I also want to determine how long it takes CuHARS to break down in different cell medias. Chondrocytes, human dermal fibroblasts, and CRL 2303 cells were grown and cultured for over a year. During that …

Impact Of Student Beliefs And Self-Efficacy On Performance In Higher Education Stem Courses, Lauren Nicole Fogg

Doctoral Dissertations

In engineering education, students often face feelings of inadequacy, leading to academic struggles and potential dropout. This dissertation investigates the impact of interactive course materials on students' confidence and self-efficacy in problem-solving, focusing on an Engineering Materials class at Louisiana Tech University. Over four quarters, involving seven sections and 218 students, a 13-question Likert scale survey was administered repeatedly, alongside demographic data and textbook usage surveys. The study aims to compare students’ attitudes and beliefs when not using a textbook versus when using an interactive web-native book. Hypotheses suggest that the interactive book will enhance problem-solving beliefs, confidence, and grades. …

Design And Development Of Contactless Capacitive Coupled Electrodes For Cardiovascular Signal Acquisition, Ramya Lakshmi Vs

Theses and Dissertations

In biosignal acquisition and physiological monitoring, developing advanced electrode technologies is crucial in enhancing signal quality, minimizing interference, and improving overall reliability. One such innovative approach is the utilization of capacitive-coupled electrodes, a cutting-edge solution that addresses some of the challenges associated with traditional electrodes in biosignal recording.

Capacitive-based sensors have become prominent in physiological signal measurement over the past decade. The electric field from the external affects both the human body and the electrode. The primary aim while designing the capacitive electrode is to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio. Hence, we introduce shielding and guarding techniques to improve the signal-to-noise …

Robust Ai-Driven Segmentation Of Glioblastoma T1c And Flair Mri Series And The Low Variability Of The Mrimath© Smart Manual Contouring Platform, Yassine Barhoumi, Abdul Hamid Fattah, Nidhal Carla Bouaynaya, Fanny Moron, Jinsuh Kim, Hassan M. Fathallah-Shaykh, Rouba A. Chahine, Houman Sotoudeh

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) continue to face a dire prognosis. Developing accurate and efficient contouring methods is crucial, as they can significantly advance both clinical practice and research. This study evaluates the AI models developed by MRIMath© for GBM T1c and fluid attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) images by comparing their contours to those of three neuro-radiologists using a smart manual contouring platform. The mean overall Sørensen–Dice Similarity Coefficient metric score (DSC) for the post-contrast T1 (T1c) AI was 95%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 93% to 96%, closely aligning with the radiologists’ scores. For true positive …

Structural Fiber Mesh Reinforcement Of A Polymeric Heart Valve: Improving Valve Durability And Leaflet Closure Effectiveness, Peter J. Choi, Hugo Zazueta, John A. Acevedo, Philip Park

Civil Engineering Faculty Publications

Objective: Bioprosthetic valves using either porcine or bovine pericardium have been widely used for transcatheter heart valve replacements. However, producing bioprosthetic valves is not a sustainable solution. Acquiring animal tissue is often not readily available and costly and requires time-consuming modifications. Moreover, its primary tissue failure requires reoperation after roughly 15 years. The suggested replacement of porcine and bovine leaflets with biocompatible polymers appears to be an attractive alternative to bioprosthetic valves. In this study, engineered fiber-reinforced polymers were developed, which are less degenerative and offer greater hemocompatibility in relation to mechanical valves.
Methods: Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer reduces calcification significantly …

Facilitation In Pattern Motion Perception Of Self-Operated Stimuli Explained By Adaptive Contrast Normalization, Fulvio Missoni, Francesca Peveri, Andrea Canessa, Giulia Sedda, Vittorio Sanguineti, Silvio P. Sabatini

MODVIS Workshop

Movement can affect the way we make sense of complex visual information. To investigate this issue, we designed an experiment to assess changes of plaid motion perception threshold after a period of sensorimotor contingency experience. We found that movement training facilitates combination of elementary motion cues into a global motion percept. No changes in perceptual thresholds are observed in a passive visual condition. A Bayesian model suggested a reduction, after training, of the cross-talk between two gratings with unbalanced contrasts in corresponding sensory channels. To test plausible neural mechanisms for active reduction of cross-talk in cortical representation of complex visual …

Modeling Synergistic Effects Of Integrin And Tgf-Beta Signaling In Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition, Prerak Thakkar

Biology and Medicine Through Mathematics Conference

No abstract provided.

Redesign Of Leg Assembly For Remote Walking Training Device To Improve Gait Kinematics, Jacob Anthony

Mechanical Engineering Theses

As modern medicine has improved, the average age of patients has increased. This has cause a growing number of patients to develop disabilities over time due to spinal cord injuries and stroke among other neurological ailments. This has led to an increased interest in developing robotic exoskeletons to help patients with neuromuscular rehabilitation. However, most exoskeletons do not accurately replicate the natural human gait kinematics due to a lack of degrees of freedom at the designed knee joint. In this thesis, the leg assembly for a robotic rehabilitation (RoboREHAB) device is redesigned to improve the gait kinematics and a reinforcement …

Regular Algorythms For Synthesis Of Optimal Control Systems For Dynamic Objects, Igamberdiyev Husan, Uktam Farkhodovich Mamirov, Xankeldiyeva Zebiniso

Technical science and innovation

The article presents algorithms for the synthesis of an optimal control system for dynamic objects. As a model, we consider a differential equation of a continuous one-dimensional system in the form of a state space, which has the properties of controllability and observability. The paper shows the need to use an observation device in order to assess how the properties of the controlled system change with the slightest change in the parameters of the control object, to assess the sensitivity of the system to these changes. When finding a solution to the equation formulated to find the parameters of the …

Data-Driven Insights Into Spatial Patterns And Disease Etiologies Of White Matter Hyperintensities, Sugandha Roy

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we have applied Orthogonal Projective Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (opNMF) to identify spatial patterns of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) within UK Biobank's imaging data. Our selection criteria excluded subjects with a history of neurological, mental, and specific cerebrovascular conditions, allowing us to focus on WMH patterns in a healthy aging population. We have interrogated the association of location-specific WMHs with a variety of demographic, clinical, and genetic factors. Our multivariable regression analysis evaluates the strength and nature of the associations between these factors and WMH distribution. The analysis integrates variables such as age, sex, smoking habits, medication usage …

Stimuli-Responsive Glycopolymeric Nanoparticles To Boost Tumor Immunogenicity Through Macrophage-Targeted Therapy, Oluwaseyi Shofolawe-Bakare

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a substantial role in sculpting the tumor microenvironment (TME) into an immunosuppressive bastion that undermines immune surveillance and enables tumor progression. They therefore represent a promising therapeutic target to make the TME more conducive for anti-tumor immunity and greatly improve treatment outcomes in cancers that are highly resistant to conventional forms of therapy. Several medications have been developed to modulate the activities of TAMs, showing tremendous potential, but these medications lack specificity for TAMs making their use susceptible to adverse side effects that could outweigh prospective benefits. Sophisticated delivery vehicles that can preferentially deliver these medications …

The Effects Of Additive Manufacturing On Canine Hind Limb Repairment Surgery, Annabel Keers

Honors Theses

The intention of this project is to explore some of the ways that additive manufacturing is affecting veterinary medicine. I will specifically be delving into canine hind limb repairment surgeries, such as cranial cruciate ligament reconstruction. 3D printed prototypes have been utilized in the human medical field for quite a while, and it has inspired such technology to expand into the world of veterinary medicine. Such emerging research is expected to take-off as the pet market grows in size and level of care for the health of our animals.

I took special interest in this field as I will be …

An Attention Lstm U-Net Model For Drosophila Melanogaster Heart Tube Segmentation, Xiangping Ouyang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Machine learning is commonly used in biomedical image analysis, as it allows automated image segmentation and identification that minimizes the need for tedious human involvement. Drosophila melanogaster is often used as a cardiac disease model, where optical coherence microscopy (OCM) is used to image and analyze its beating dynamics. As OCM often generates a large volume of images, automated image segmentation is necessary to quantify the heart beating efficiently. Our most recent heart segmentation model, FlyNet 2.0+, is a fully convolutional LSTM U-Net model. However, the performance of the model diminishes in the presence of artifacts, such as image reflection …

Development Of A Rapid Bacterial Quantification Method Based On Droplet Microfluidics, Shawn Bliss

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The capacity to identify bacteria quickly and accurately is critical for applications such as medical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, and food safety. For instance, sepsis diagnosis requires blood cultures that take as long as 1-5 days, preventing timely intervention and increasing mortality rate. Here, we propose the joint use of microfluidics and a machine learning algorithm for rapid bacterial cell capture and quantification. The combination of high-throughput droplet microfluidics and a support vector machine (SVM) enables analysis and quantification of bacterial samples within as short as 4 hours. We have performed successful encapsulation of pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli, …

Calcium Analysis Of Intercellular Communications Between Alpha Cells And Delta Cells Across The Pancreatic Islet, Shichao Gao

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The intricate communication between different cell types within pancreatic islets plays a crucial role in regulating glucose homeostasis. Among these cellular interactions, the interplay between α cells (responsible for glucagon secretion) and δ cells (secreting somatostatin) is particularly intriguing due to the inhibitory effects of somatostatin on glucagon release. Understanding the intercellular interactions between α and δ cells may provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the coordinated regulation of blood glucose levels. In this study, we employed a multi-modal approach combining confocal imaging, image analysis, and correlation network analysis to investigate the spatial relationships and potential functional connections between α …

Minimizing Patient Migration: Enhancing Safety And Comfort For Patients And Caregivers In Bedridden Care, Danielle Pasquini

Honors Theses

Biomedical engineering seniors at the University of Mississippi embark on a senior project aimed at addressing an unmet clinical need. Our team, consisting of Kelsie Hand, Christian Miller, and Danielle Pasquini, identified a prevalent issue of bedridden patients slipping down in bed, leading to increased repositioning by caregivers. This not only impacts patient comfort but also poses risks of complications such as pressure ulcers and caregiver injuries. In our efforts to tackle the issue of patient slippage among bedridden individuals, our team introduced a novel solution comprising a non-slip vest for patients and a corresponding non-slip sheet attachment. This integrated …

Spin Coating Multilayer Polymer Films To Improve The Consistency And Longevity Of Interval Drug Release, Katherine Nevils

Honors Theses

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is a clinical diagnosis for patients suffering from major depressive disorder (MDD). An inadequate response to the dosage or duration of antidepressant medication can lead to the diagnosis of TRD. This diagnosis is common in up to 50% of patients with MDD following treatment. Microdosing of classical psychedelics such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) has been shown to have positive cognitive and therapeutic effects on patients with TRD. However, issues of patient compliance to the complex regimen and abuse/diversion of the schedule I controlled substances remain unresolved. The goal of this project is to create an implantable, …

Creating A Collapsible Sling Lift Capable Of Transporting Patients Between Various Locations, Macey Jewell Ross, Cameron Delaney Hillman, Lydia Noel Miller

Honors Theses

As Senior Biomedical Engineering students at the University of Mississippi, we, Lainey Hillman, Lydia Miller, and Macey Ross, are required to complete a final senior capstone for our department. This project aims to provide a solution to a current unmet clinical need in the healthcare industry, thus our team sought to improve the lack of transportability of sling lifts. The current sling lifts on the market display numerous issues: heavy, bulky, use confined to certain areas, and use specific for only one type of transportation. To combat these problems, we designed a sling lift that was lightweight, collapsible, safe, and …

Variable Design Stent To Prevent Stent Failure In Areas Of High Mobility In Peripheral Artery Disease Patients, Emmie Stevens, Brennan Toepfer, Lexi Graves

Honors Theses

As senior biomedical engineering students at the University of Mississippi, we were tasked with a senior project to find an unmet clinical need in the healthcare industry and design a way to solve it. Our team, consisting of Hannah Dunn, Lexi Graves, Emmie Stevens, and Brennan Toepfer, decided to improve upon current stents to create a stent more suited to treating Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), especially in high-impact areas, such as the back of the knee joint. Stents placed in the back of the knee have a high level of stent failure due to the high movement of the knee …

Creating A Collapsible Sling Lift Capable Of Transporting Patients Between Various Locations, Cameron Delaney Hillman, Macey Jewell Ross, Lydia Noel Miller

Honors Theses

As Senior Biomedical Engineering students at the University of Mississippi, we, Lainey Hillman, Lydia Miller, and Macey Ross, are required to complete a final senior capstone for our department. This project aims to provide a solution to a current unmet clinical need in the healthcare industry, thus our team sought to improve the lack of transportability of sling lifts. The current sling lifts on the market display numerous issues: heavy, bulky, use confined to certain areas, and use specific for only one type of transportation. To combat these problems, we designed a sling lift that was lightweight, collapsible, safe, and …

Self-Balancing Robot Leg, Ben Bolen

Student Research Symposium

Research in the Agile and Adaptive Robotics Lab involves the creation of biomimetic robots. To this end, we developed a self-balancing robot leg actuated with braided pneumatic actuators (BPAs)—a type of pneumatic artificial muscle. These BPAs, akin to human muscles, exhibit properties such as high strength-to-weight ratio and tunable passive stiffness. An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) was placed on top of the tibia for feedback and the tibia and foot were connected with a hinge joint. The orientation of the ankle joint was controlled with an Arduino microcontroller sending commands to the proportional pressure valves supplying the BPAs. Leg balance …

Structured Light Radial-View Endoscope Imaging Development For Evaluation Of Human Tissue, Xiyan Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

In this thesis, we improved an existing structured light methodology to more accurately estimate tissue optical properties imaged in a single snapshot. The developed approach is a major enhancement of the traditional three-phase spatial frequency domain imaging system: It greatly simplifies the operational procedure while also maintaining high accuracy in optical property measurements .

Leveraging this improved approach, we have developed a low-cost, compact, and radial-view endoscope prototype. This prototype combines affordability with high functionality and a user-friendly design. To assess the performance and reliability of our endoscope, we conducted comprehensive evaluations involving tissue-mimicking phantoms, as well as ex vivo …

Evaluating Neuroimaging Modalities In The A/T/N Framework: Single And Combined Fdg-Pet And T1-Weighted Mri For Alzheimer’S Diagnosis, Peiwang Liu

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

With the escalating prevalence of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the need for early and precise diagnostic techniques is rising. This study delves into the comparative efficacy of Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) and T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in diagnosing AD, where the integration of multimodal models is becoming a trend. Leveraging data from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), we employed linear Support Vector Machines (SVM) to assess the diagnostic potential of these modalities, both individually and in combination, within the AD continuum. Our analysis, under the A/T/N framework's 'N' category, reveals that FDG-PET consistently outperforms T1w-MRI across …

Integrating Implantable Bci Devices Within Bci2000 Using A Unified Framework And Toolchain For In-Vivo Research, Dhruva Mehta

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

The field of neurotechnology research has a bright and promising future as more devices are created. However, there are still many gaps in the field as the potential for neuromodulation grows. Devices such as the Micro-Leads StimZ system and the Ripple Grapevine/Summit system help bridge that gap by allowing for a broader variety of closed-loop neuromodulation experiments to be implemented thanks to their portability and versatility. Despite these devices being on the market, however, there needs to be a method to collaborate and interact with them across multiple research institutions. BCI2000 helps to address that by creating a standardized working …

Potential Impact Of Proposed Medical Device On Hospital Acquired Anemia, Sam Menzie

Masters Theses

Evacuated tubes are the industry standard for drawing blood and have improved phlebotomist and patient safety as well as paved the way for laboratory automation. Current practices using evacuated tubes do not allow caregivers to control the volume of blood drawn, leading to blood waste in hospital settings. This overdrawing of blood has led to the prevalence of iatrogenic anemia, or hospital acquired anemia (HAA). HAA represents a significant risk to patients, leading to increased adverse conditions, and a higher consumption of hospital resources. This study seeks to model the efficacy of a potential new medical device. The proposed device …

Development Of Protocol To Evaluate The Effectiveness Of The Labor Assist Device, Samantha M. Spurr

Masters Theses

The Labor Assist Device (LAD) was designed to reduce the muscle fatigue experienced by women during childbirth to decrease the number of unnecessary cesarean deliveries and injuries to nurses. The purpose of this thesis is to develop a protocol for a future study to assess the effectiveness of the LAD at reducing muscle fatigue. While multiple parameters were investigated in this pilot study, the major parameter needed to develop the future protocol is the muscle fatigue rate in women contracting their muscles to simulate pushing during labor. The muscle fatigue rates are estimated in this study using a surface electromyography …

Design And Application Of Phase-Separating Peptides In Cytosolic Drug Delivery, Huihao Wang

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

This research investigates the design and application of phase-separating peptides for direct cytosolic drug delivery. Novel peptides (GHGXY)4, with variable amino acids, were synthesized using microwave-assisted chemistry to enhance phase separation and membrane fusion. In vitro experiments utilizing advanced imaging techniques demonstrated the peptides' capability to form coacervates and facilitate direct cargo, DNA, mRNA, and protein, delivery into the cytosol, bypassing traditional cellular barriers. The study also explores the role of inhibitor Bafilomycin and NH4Cl in phase-separating peptides functionality, offering significant insights into their delivery mechanisms. This research underscores the potential of phase-separating peptides in improving therapeutic delivery strategies.

Studying The Production Of Nanocelluloses, Shohzodbek Abduvahobovich Rashidov, Elmurod Abduqodirovich Egamberdiev, Sadritdin Maxamatdinovich Turabdjanov

Technical science and innovation

Nanoscience is a broad field that includes nanophysics and nanochemistry. Nanotechnologies are aimed at obtaining nanoparticles with new properties and creating materials and devices based on them. This is one of the modern trends in the development of science in the 21st century.

Based on the study of information about nano-sized materials, the mechanisms of their production and changes in their properties, we will consider the technology for producing nanocellulose from organic substances, i.e. from cellulose. The article describes a technology that examines devices for producing nanocellulose and the principles of their operation, as well as a combined method of …