Engineering Commons^™

Upper Extremity Joint Dynamics During Walker Assisted Gait: A Quantitative Approach Towards Rehabilitative Intervention, Katherine A. Konop, Kelly M.B. Strifling, Joseph Krzak, Adam Graf, Gerald F. Harris

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Many children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP) use anterior or posterior walkers to aid ambulation. Prolonged use may lead to upper extremity (UE) pathology later in life, including arthritis and joint contractures.

Purpose

This study analyzes the dynamics (kinematics and kinetics) of the shoulder (glenohumeral), elbow, and wrist joints during anterior and posterior walker use. It also examines the dynamic effects of adjusting handle height and grip rotation.

Methods

Ten children with CP underwent motion analysis with upper and lower extremity marker sets and six-degree-of-freedom instrumented walker handles, while using both anterior and posterior walkers. One child underwent …

Current Research And Clinical Applications In Human Motion Analysis, Ken N. Kuo, Gerald F. Harris

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Four Chip-Seq Analytical Algorithms Using Rice Endosperm H3k27 Trimethylation Profiling Data., Brandon M. Malone, Feng Tan, Susan M. Bridges, Zhaohua Peng

BCoE Publications

Chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with high throughput DNA Sequencing (ChIP-Seq) has emerged as a powerful tool for genome wide profiling of the binding sites of proteins associated with DNA such as histones and transcription factors. However, no peak calling program has gained consensus acceptance by the scientific community as the preferred tool for ChIP-Seq data analysis. Analyzing the large data sets generated by ChIP-Seq studies remains highly challenging for most molecular biology laboratories.Here we profile H3K27me3 enrichment sites in rice young endosperm using the ChIP-Seq approach and analyze the data using four peak calling algorithms (FindPeaks, PeakSeq, USeq, and MACS). Comparison …

Reducing Selection Bias In Case-Control Studies From Rare Disease Registries, J. Alexander Cole, John S. Taylor, Thomas N. Hangartner, Neal J. Weinreb, Pramod K. Mistry, Aneal Khan

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: In clinical research of rare diseases, where small patient numbers and disease heterogeneity limit study design options, registries are a valuable resource for demographic and outcome information. However, in contrast to prospective, randomized clinical trials, the observational design of registries is prone to introduce selection bias and negatively impact the validity of data analyses. The objective of the study was to demonstrate the utility of case-control matching and the risk-set method in order to control bias in data from a rare disease registry. Data from the International Collaborative Gaucher Group (ICGG) Gaucher Registry were used as an example.

Methods: …

Soft Tissue Cutting With Ultrasonic Mechanical Waveguides, Mark Wylie, Garrett Mcguinness, Graham Gavin

Conference Papers

The use of ultrasonic vibrations transmitted via small diameter wire waveguides represents a technology that has potential for minimally invasive procedures in surgery. This form of energy delivery results in distal tip mechanical vibrations with amplitudes of vibration of up to 50 μm and at frequencies between 20-50 kHz commonly reported. This energy can then be used by micro-cutting surgical tools and end effectors for a range of applications such as bone cutting, cement removal in joint revision surgery and soft tissue cutting. One particular application which has gained regulatory approval in recent years is in the area of cardiovascular …

Impact Isolation Of Training Shoes, Nicci Daly, Stephen Tiernan

Conference Papers

ABSTRACT The increase in popularity of physical activities from fun runs to competitive marathons has lead to a huge industry in sports footwear, which is now worth $20bn annually. There is a resultant increase in injuries, largely due to the repeated and prolonged nature of the impact forces experienced by the leg. Clinical data indicates that the knee is the most common site of running related injury, followed by the lower leg and foot. The complexity of the ankle structure means that injuries are acute and the success rates of replacements are very low. Therefore research in this area is …

Robust Cns Regeneration After Complete Spinal Cord Transection Using Aligned Poly-L-Lactic Acid Microfibers, Andres Hurtado, Jared M. Cregg, Han B. Wang, Dane F. Wendell, Martin Oudega, Ryan J. Gilbert, John W. Mcdonald

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Following spinal cord injury, axons fail to regenerate without exogenous intervention. In this study we report that aligned microfiber-based grafts foster robust regeneration of vascularized CNS tissue. Film, random, and aligned microfiber-based conduits were grafted into a 3 mm thoracic rat spinal cord gap created by complete transection. Over the course of 4 weeks, microtopography presented by aligned or random poly- l-lactic acid microfibers facilitated infiltration of host tissue, and the initial 3 mm gap was closed by endogenous cell populations. This bulk tissue response was composed of regenerating axons accompanied by morphologically aligned astrocytes. Aligned fibers promoted long distance …

Spatial And Temporal Variation Of Rod Photoreceptor Reflectance In The Human Retina, Robert F. Cooper, Adam M. Dubis, Ashavini M. Pavaskar, Jungtae Rha, Alfredo Dubra, Joseph Carroll

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Using adaptive optics imaging tools to image the living retina, numerous investigators have reported temporal fluctuation in the reflectivity of individual cone photoreceptors. In addition, there is cone-to-cone (spatial) variation in reflectivity. As it has only recently become possible to image the complete rod photoreceptor mosaic in the living human retina, we sought to characterize the reflectivity of individual rods and compare their behavior to that of foveal/parafoveal cones. Across two subjects, we were able to successfully track the reflectance behavior of 1,690 rods and 1,980 cones over 12 hours. Rod and cone photoreceptors showed similar regional and temporal variability …

Computational Simulations For Aortic Coarctation: Representative Results From A Sampling Of Patients, John F. Ladisa, Alberto Figueroa, Irene E. Vignon-Clementel, Hyun Jin Kim, Nan Xiao, Laura M. Ellwein, Frandics P. Chan, Jeffrey A. Feinstein, Charles A. Taylor

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Treatments for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) can alleviate blood pressure (BP) gradients(D), but long-term morbidity still exists that can be explained by altered indices of hemodynamics and biomechanics. We introduce a technique to increase our understanding of these indices for CoA under resting and nonresting conditions, quantify their contribution to morbidity, and evaluate treatment options. Patient-specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were created from imaging and BP data for one normal and four CoA patients (moderate native CoA: D12 mmHg, severe native CoA: D25 mmHg and postoperative end-to-end and end-to-side patients: D0 mmHg). Simulations incorporated vessel deformation, downstream vascular …

Effects Of Wrist Tendon Vibration On Arm Tracking In People Poststroke, Megan O. Conrad, Robert A. Scheidt, Brian D. Schmit

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of wrist tendon vibration on a multijoint elbow/shoulder tracking task. We hypothesized that tendon vibration applied at the wrist musculature would improve upper arm tracking performance in chronic stroke survivors through increased, Ia-afferent feedback to the central nervous system (CNS). To test this hypothesis, 10 chronic stroke and 5 neurologically intact subjects grasped the handle of a planar robot as they tracked a target through a horizontal figure-8 pattern. A total of 36 trials were completed by each subject. During the middle trials, 70-Hz tendon vibration was applied at the …

Protective Effects Of Milk Phospholipids Against Uv Photodamage In Human Skin Equivalents, Zyra Achay

Master's Theses

The ultraviolet (UV) spectrum has been known to cause damage to skin in varying degrees. UVB radiation (290-320 nm) in particular, has been proven to be highly mutagenic and carcinogenic in many animal experiments compared to either UVA or UVC. The alarming rate of increase in skin cancer incidence has prompted many investigators to pursue other alternatives to sunscreens including changes in lifestyle habits and dietary consumption in order to boost our efforts in tackling this widespread disease. Previous studies employing confocal reflectance, MTT assay and histology suggest that milk phospholipids may possess protective properties against UVB-mediated damage but the …

Improved Manufacturing Methods Of Bovine Femur Samples For Ultrasonic Testing And Assessment Of Materials Through Contract Angle Measurement, Kevin Mathew Lopez Galang

Biomedical Engineering

At California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), the Biomedical Engineering department (BMED) requires its students to take the course listed as “BMED 420: Principles of Biomaterial Designs.” BMED 420 has a required laboratory section every week throughout the duration of the course that is meant to be a supplemental tool for learning. During the lab sections, students perform experiments and exercises that are currently being implemented in the industry. Despite accuracy of the methods and experiments relative to their use in the industry, there is always room for improvement. The objective of this project will illustrate …

Impaired Resistance Artery Reactivity Following Arteriogenesis, Michael (Mike) Machado

Biomedical Engineering

No abstract provided.

Computational Simulations Demonstrate Altered Wall Shear Stress In Aortic Coarctation Patients Previously Treated By Resection With End-To-End Anastomosis, John F. Ladisa, Ronak Jashwant Dholakia, Alberto Figueroa, Irene E. Vignon-Clementel, Frandics P. Chan, Margaret M. Samyn, Joseph Richard Cava, Charles A. Taylor, Jeffrey A. Feinstein

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background.  Atherosclerotic plaque in the descending thoracic aorta (dAo) is related to altered wall shear stress (WSS) for normal patients. Resection with end-to-end anastomosis (RWEA) is the gold standard for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) repair, but may lead to altered WSS indices that contribute to morbidity.

Methods.  Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were created from imaging and blood pressure data for control subjects and age- and gender-matched CoA patients treated by RWEA (four males, two females, 15 ± 8 years). CFD analysis incorporated downstream vascular resistance and compliance to generate blood flow velocity, time-averaged WSS (TAWSS), and oscillatory shear …

The Impact Of Dynamic And Passive Standing On Bone Mineral Density And Appositional Growth In Immobilized Children, Megan Diane Damcott

Dissertations

The first discovery of the potential role that mechanical loading has on determining the strength of bone occurred in 1892. However, for almost a century after this discovery, the specific mechanisms influenced by mechanical loading remained locked in a mysterious 'black box'. Then in the 1960s, the 'black box' was opened and continued work has now unlocked the basic mechanisms involved in mechanical loading and whole-bone strength. This increased knowledge has spurred clinicians and researchers to investigate the impact of weight-bearing interventions on individuals with an increased risk of osteoporosis. The most common weight-bearing clinical intervention used in non-ambulant populations …

Use Of Fluorescent Micropsheres To Measure Coronary Flow Reserve In Rat Animal Model, Riddhi Harsh Shah

Theses

Heart attacks result from reduced or blocked blood flow through major coronary arteries, resulting in permanent damage to heart muscle. Coronary blood flow (CBF) is thus important to measure in experimental animal models of heart disease. A standard method to measure CBF uses tracer microspheres (Ø = 15 µm) injected into the left ventricle that flow through coronary arteries but cannot pass through capillaries and so become trapped in heart muscle. Previously, radioactive or colored microspheres have quantified the number of tracers trapped in the muscle. Fluorescent microspheres offer a more recent and more sensitive measurement mode. However, fluorescent microspheres …

Influence Of Rear Wheel Tire Type On Wheelchair Propulsion Biomechanics, Mathew Yarossi

Theses

The objective of this study was to determine how rear wheel tire type affects wheelchair propulsion mechanics. Four persons with paraplegia and four persons with tetraplegia propelled their own wheelchairs on a roller system at self-selected speed using five different pairs of tires. Upper limb and trunk kinematics, perceived exertion, stroke pattern and the temporal characteristics of propulsion were measured. When using pneumatic (air filled) tires, with lower rolling resistance, participants had lower push frequency (p < .05), higher self selected speed (p < .05), less perceived exertion, less shoulder internal rotation, and a longer push stroke than when using solid, high rolling resistance tires. As rolling resistance increased, participants experienced negative changes in propulsion characteristic that contradicted current clinical practice guidelines for upper limb preservation following spinal cord injury. In addition, kinematics with solid, high rolling resistance tires were similar to those described during uphill or over carpet propulsion. In order to avoid unnecessary strain on the upper limbs and unwanted changes in propulsion biomechanics, wheelchair users, clinicians, and researchers should consider the use of lower rolling resistance, pneumatic rear tires.

Left Ventricular Assist Devices: Engineering Design Considerations, Marwan A. Simaan, Eduardo Divo, George Faragallah, Yu Wang

Publications

Patients with end-stage congestive heart failure awaiting heart transplantation often wait long periods of time (300 days or more on the average) before a suitable donor heart becomes available. The medical community has placed increased emphasis on the use of Left Ventricular Assist Devices or LVADs that can substitute for, or enhance, the function of the natural heart while the patient is waiting for the heart transplant (Poirier, 1997; Frazier & Myers, 1999). Essentially, a rotary LVAD is a pump that operates continuously directing blood from the left ventricle into the aorta by avoiding the aortic valve. Generally speaking, the …

An Objective Assessment Of Fetal Neurological Maturation Based On The Co-Variation Of Brain And Heart Rate Patterns, Srinivasan Vairavan

Theses and Dissertations

An in-utero neurological assessment would aid clinicians in an early detection of fetal neurological distress. However, accessing the fetal brain signal has remained a major challenge. With the advent of Superconducting Quantum Interference Device (SQUID) technology, magnetoencephalogram (MEG), is now an established technique for recording human brain activity. This technique is non-invasive and records the magnetic fields corresponding to electric currents generated by the neurons in the brain. Based on MEG technology, a first-of-a-kind device, named SARA (SQUID Array for Reproductive Assessment), was specifically designed and installed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, …

Automation Of Orthodontic Wire Tester For Performing Three Point Bending Tests, Adithya Venkatesan

Master's Theses

Abstract

Understanding the biomechanical factors in orthodontics is important in order to improve the overall effectiveness of actual clinical treatment. An accurate method to study the threedimensional (3D) force systems and the resulting movements of teeth during orthodontic treatment is needed along with the understanding of the material properties of any orthodontic wire. Until recently, most of the orthodontic biomechanics literature was limited to twodimensional experimental studies. Recent advances in threedimensional computer modeling have also been developed but have been limited to the manual control of tooth movement. Overall, there is very little published evidence in the literature on the …

Effect Of Prostaglandin E2 On Mechanical Stresses Applied By Mc3t3-E1 Osteoblast-Like Cells On A Soft Hydrogel Substrate, Abhijit Deb Roy

Master's Theses

Osteoblasts are sensitive to mechanical stimuli and release Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) when exposed to a fluid shear stress. The exact mechanism by which these cells sense mechanical stress is not well established. A study of the stresses applied by the osteoblasts, under the influence of PGE2, on a hydrogel provided information regarding intercellular-communication via changes in the substrate surface pattern.

A digital image correlation program was developed using the Levenberg-Marquardt optimization algorithm to analyze images and compare the deformations between pairs of images. Comparisons of images before and after the addition of PE2 to the media showed differences in the …

Glucose Biosensor Using Electrospun Mn2o3-Ag Nanofibers, Shan Huang

Master's Theses

The highly porous Mn₂O₃-Ag nanofibers were fabricated by a facile two-step procedure (electrospinning and calcination) and then employed as the immobilization matrix for glucose oxidase (GOD) to construct an amperometric glucose biosensor. A notable enhancement of direct electron transfer between GOD and the electrode is observed at the Mn₂O₃-Ag-GOD modified electrode with a fast electron transfer rate constant. The biosensor also shows fast response to glucose, high sensitivity (40.60 μA×mM^-1×cm^-2), low detection limit (1.73 µM at S/N=3), low K_m,app value and excellent selectivity. These results indicate that …

Ros-Drill Automation: Visual Feedback Control And Rotational Motion Tracking, Jhon F. Diaz

Master's Theses

ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) has attracted research interest from both biological and engineering groups. The technology is constantly evolving to perform this procedure with precision and speed. One such development is the contribution of this thesis. We focus on a relatively recent procedure called Ros-Drill^© (rotationally oscillating drill), of which the early versions have already been effectively utilized for the mice. In the first part, we present a procedure to automate a critical part of the operation: initiation of the rotational oscillation, Visual feedback is used to track the pipette tip. Predetermined species-specific penetration depth is successfully utilized …

Mutant Alcohol Dehydrogenase Leads To Improved Ethanol Tolerance In Clostridium Thermocellum, Steven D. Brown, Adam M. Guss, Tatiana V. Karpinets, Jerry M. Parks

Dartmouth Scholarship

Clostridium thermocellum is a thermophilic, obligately anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium that is a candidate microorganism for converting cellulosic biomass into ethanol through consolidated bioprocessing. Ethanol intolerance is an important metric in terms of process economics, and tolerance has often been described as a complex and likely multigenic trait for which complex gene interactions come into play. Here, we resequence the genome of an ethanol-tolerant mutant, show that the tolerant phenotype is primarily due to a mutated bifunctional acetaldehyde-CoA/alcohol dehydrogenase gene (adhE), hypothesize based on structural analysis that cofactor specificity may be affected, and confirm this hypothesis using enzyme assays. …

Methods Of Using Black Bear Parathyroid Hormone, Seth W. Donahue

Michigan Tech Patents

Black bear parathyroid hormone (PTH) and functional fragments thereof are provided. Also provided are methods of using black bear PTH and functional fragments for increasing cAMP in a bone-forming cell; reducing apoptosis in a boneforming cell; decreasing the ratio of expression levels of Bax protein to Bcl-2 protein in a bone-forming cell; increasing the expression level of one or more of a bone matrix protein, a transcriptional activator, or a transcriptional regulator in a bone-forming cell; enhancing bone mineral density, increasing bone mass, decreasing bone loss, or reducing the incidence of bone fractures, or any combination thereof, in a subject; …

Automated Polysomnographic Assessment For Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder, Joseph W. Burns, Ronald D. Chervin

Michigan Tech Patents

Methods and systems for diagnosing or assessing rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Muscle tone or activity variance during rapid eye movement (REM) and nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep intervals of a polysom- nogram are compared. A threshold based on the NREM data is used to identify a subj ect-specific threshold for abnormality in the REM variance. A metric that includes the percentage of REM variance exceeding the threshold relates to RBD.

Carotid Plaque Regression Following 6-Month Statin Therapy Assessed By 3t Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance: Comparison With Ultrasound Intima Media Thickness, Raymond Q. Migrino, Mark Bowers, Leanne Harmann, Robert W. Prost, John F. Ladisa

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows volumetric carotid plaque measurement that has advantage over 2-dimensional ultrasound (US) intima-media thickness (IMT) in evaluating treatment response. We tested the hypothesis that 6-month statin treatment in patients with carotid plaque will lead to plaque regression when measured by 3 Tesla CMR but not by IMT.

Methods

Twenty-six subjects (67 ± 2 years, 7 females) with known carotid plaque (> 1.1 mm) and coronary or cerebrovascular atherosclerotic disease underwent 3T CMR (T1, T2, proton density and time of flight sequences) and US at baseline and following 6 months of statin therapy (6 had initiation, …

Forward Osmosis Bag: Ground Testing The Prospect Of Using Alternative Water Sources For Drinking Water, Michaela Marie Brant, Ariella Yendler, Mona Hammoudeh, Michael T. Flynn

STAR Program Research Presentations

On the STS-135 Space Shuttle mission, to be launched July 8, 2011, a forward osmosis bag (FOB) study will be conducted. At NASA Ames this summer, the ground truth testing is being conducted for results comparisons. The FOB technology is derived from a commercial product, the X-Pack water filter. Forward osmosis operates by utilizing an established concentration gradient across a semi-permeable membrane to move water molecules from one side of the membrane to the other. This concept is exploited to harvest drinking water from grey water sources such as urine, sea water, or vehicle water. In this experiment, potassium chloride …

Sol-Gel Derived Silver-Incorporated Titania Thin Films On Glass: Bactericidal And Photocatalytic Activity, Betul Akkopru Akgun, Anthony W. Wren, Caner Durucan, Mark R. Towler, Nathan P. Mellott

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and silver-containing TiO₂ (Ag-TiO₂) thin films were prepared on silica pre-coated float glass substrates by a sol-gel spin coating method. The bactericidal activity of the films was determined against Staphylococcus epidermidis under natural and ultraviolet (UV) illumination by four complementary methods; (1) the disk diffusion assay, (2) UV-induced bactericidal test, (3) qualitative Ag ion release in bacteria inoculated agar media and (4) surface topographical examination by laserscan profilometry. Photocatalytic activity of the films was measured through the degradation of stearic acid under UV, solar and visible light conditions. The chemical state and …

Clinical Risk Factors For Osteoporosis In Ireland And The Uk: A Comparison Of Frax And Qfracturescores, N. M. Cummins, E. K. Poku, Mark R. Towler, O. M. O'Driscoll, S. H. Ralston

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Recently two algorithms have become available to estimate the 10-year probability of fracture in patients suspected to have osteoporosis on the basis of clinical risk factors: the FRAX algorithm and QFractureScores algorithm (QFracture). The aim of this study was to compare the performance of these algorithms in a study of fracture patients and controls recruited from six centers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. A total of 246 postmenopausal women aged 50-85 years who had recently suffered a low-trauma fracture were enrolled and their characteristics were compared with 338 female controls who had never suffered a fracture. Femoral bone mineral …