Engineering Commons^™

The Effects Of Critical Micelle Concentration And Environmental Factors On Oil Separation In Simulated Bilgewater Emulsions, Kelsey Rodriguez Doran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Improved bilgewater treatment is necessary because of technological challenges often faced when meeting existing ocean discharge criteria regulations. Since bilgewater is a waste mixture including hydraulic oils, cleaning agents, and seawater, the success of its management is largely attributed to understanding oil-in-water emulsion characterizations. However, the study of bilgewater emulsions is complex due to the multivariate nature of real-shipboard samples. The objective of this study is to develop the relationship between parameters commonly found in bilgewater and emulsion stability. This work is a continuation of a 3-year research project supported by the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). Previous …

Modeling Of Crash Risk For Realistic Artificial Data Generation: Application To Naturalistic Driving Study Data, Lauren Hoover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Most safety performance analysis employs cross-sectional and time-series datasets, posing an important challenge to safety performance and crash modification analysis. The traditional safety model analysis paradigm relying on observed data only allows relative comparisons between analysis methods and is unable to establish how well the methods mimic the true underlying crash generation process. Assumptions are made about the data, but whether the assumptions truly characterize the safety data generation in the real world remains unknown. To address this issue, this thesis proposes the generation of realistic artificial data (RAD). In developing a prototype RAD generator for crash data, we mimic …

Multi-Functional Fluorescence Microscopy Via Psf Engineering For High-Throughput Super-Resolution Imaging, Jinhan Ren

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Image-based single cell analysis is essential to study gene expression levels and subcellular functions with preserving the native spatial locations of biomolecules. However, its low throughput has prevented its wide use to fundamental biology and biomedical applications which require large cellular populations in a rapid and efficient fashion. Here, we report a 2.5D microcopy (2.5DM) that significantly improves the image acquisition rate while maintaining high-resolution and single molecule sensitivity. Unlike serial z-scanning in conventional approaches, volumetric information is simultaneously projected onto a 2D image plane in a single shot by engineering the fluorescence light using a novel phase pattern. The …

Combining Multivariate Statistical And Numerical Modeling For Coastal Hazards Analysis, Victor Malagon Santos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Increased population density along the world's coastlines is driven by the wide range of services provided by costal systems, such as transportation, fisheries, trade, and tourism. Despite offering fundamental services, coastal systems are exposed to a range of natural hazards such as riverine and/or coastal flooding, and erosion, thus robust risk analyses are needed to protect coastal ecosystems, infrastructure, and people dwelling in proximity to the shoreline. Numerical and multivariate statistical models have become crucial tools in coastal risk management to support robust risk analyses, and their combined use provides many benefits in the analysis of coastal hazards. This dissertation …

Nanoplasmonic Colorimetric Sensors For Detection Of Ammonia From Water And Urine, Zuriel Caribe

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Motivated by the need for inexpensive, simple, and portable devices for aqueous chemical analysis, we developed a nanoplasmonic colorimetric sensor capable of direct detection of wide range of chemicals. This novel sensor exploits the plasmonic resonance of metallic nanostructures with natural light to transduce changes in the chemical environment to changes in color, thus offering a simple route for real-time, in-situ, and low-cost analysis of aqueous chemical species. Due to its environmental and medical relevance, we chose aqueous ammonia to analyze and determine the efficacy and limit of detection of this sensing platform. For the metallic nanostructures we selected aluminium …

Investigating The Removal Of Total Trihalomethanes In Tray And Spray Aeration Processes At Two Central Florida Groundwater Treatment Facilities, Zachary Protas

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

An investigation has been completed that assessed the efficiency of tray and spray aeration processes on the removal of regulated total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) at two publicly owned potable groundwater treatment facilities located in Polk County, Florida: the Providence and Van Fleet water treatment plants (WTPs). Finished water from each of these facilities was fed to a pilot-plant that could be operated as either a tray, spray, or combined configuration. A series of four pilot aerator configurations were tested at each WTP. Test 1 evaluated the tray aerator operated in a recirculated multiple-pass mode. It was shown that three passes across …

Real-Time Traffic Safety Evaluation In The Context Of Connected Vehicles And Mobile Sensing, Pei Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Recently, with the development of connected vehicles and mobile sensing technologies, vehicle-based data become much easier to obtain. However, only few studies have investigated the application of this kind of novel data to real-time traffic safety evaluation. This dissertation aims to conduct a series of real-time traffic safety studies by integrating all kinds of available vehicle-based data sources. First, this dissertation developed a deep learning model for identifying vehicle maneuvers using data from smartphone sensors (i.e., accelerometer and gyroscope). The proposed model was robust and suitable for real-time application as it required less processing of smartphone sensor data compared with …

Development Of Quantitative Intensity-Based Single-Molecule Assays, Benjamin Croop

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Fluorescence microscopy has emerged as a popular and powerful tool within biology research, owing to its exceptional signal contrast, specificity, and the versatility of the various microscope designs. Fluorescence microscopy has been used to study samples across orders of magnitude in physical scale ranging from tissues to cells, down to single-molecules, and as such has led to breakthroughs and new knowledge in a wide variety of research areas. In particular, single-molecule techniques are somewhat unique in their ability to study biomolecules in their native state, which enables the visualization of short-lived interactions and rare events which can be highly relevant …

Ground Movements And Nonlinear-Inelastic Response Of Buildings Induced By Excavations In Glacial Clay Deposits, A. Felipe Uribe-Henao

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The analysis of ground movements and nonlinear response of buildings induced by excavations in glacial clay deposits is conducted using finite element models built in PLAXIS2D and OpenSees. PLAXIS2D was used to simulate the performance of an urban cofferdam excavation braced with a concrete bracing system. Measured ground movements were compared with the computed response, and the influence of the temperature, installation, and curing effects on the concrete bracing is evaluated. Concrete time-dependent effects contributed to 32% of the maximum lateral wall movements. The numerical studies are expanded in a second finite element analysis to characterize the coupled fluid-solid response …

Actin Cytoskeleton Dynamics And Organization Modulated By Macromolecular Crowding, Cation Interaction, And Nanomaterials, Jinho Park

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The assembly of actin, the essential cytoskeleton protein, into filaments and bundles/networks is important in various cellular processes including cell movement and morphogenesis. Actin bundle formation occurs in crowded intracellular environments with the aid of actin-crosslinking proteins. The role of actin-crosslinking proteins such as fascin and a-actinin in bundle formation has been investigated, however, how intracellular environments affect actin crosslinker-induced bundle formation is unknown. In the first two parts of this dissertation, we explore the effects of macromolecular crowding and cation interactions on the organization and mechanics of actin crosslinker-induced bundles. To determine how changing environmental conditions modulate actin bundling, …

Modulation Of Actin Filament Severing And Mechanics By Gelsolin In Varying Ph Conditions, Claire Toland

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Actin is an essential cytoskeletal protein that plays a critical role in cell mechanics, structure and organization with the help of actin binding proteins (ABPs). Gelsolin is a calcium-dependent ABP that severs actin filaments and caps them at their barbed end, regulating cell motility and signaling through dynamic actin cytoskeleton remodeling. A recent study has indicated that low pH stabilizes the active conformations of gelsolin. Additionally, the binding of gelsolin to the barbed end of an actin filament induces a conformational change that propagates along the actin filament. However, it has not been well understood how the complex intracellular environments …

Impact Of Crowder Size On Actin Filament Assembly Kinetics, Bryan Demosthene

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Actin is an abundant and essential cytoskeletal protein that plays a central role in eukaryotic cell structure and motility. The intracellular environment where actin assembly occurs is crowded with various organelles, proteins, and macromolecules that limit the accessible volume for biomolecular reactions. Macromolecular crowding induces excluded volume effects influencing the activity of biological molecules as well as the shape and conformation of proteins. Crowding agents, such as polysaccharides or inert polymeric molecules, are used to mimic the conditions present in intracellular spaces and provide a better understanding of interactions inside the cell. Macromolecular crowding has been shown to affect actin …

Development Of Multi-Scale Characterization Techniques For Stress Corrosion Cracking Of Aerospace Alloys, Nicholas Reed

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Corrosion presents an inherent challenge in the safe and effective use of metallic aerospace structures for extended periods of time. Progress in the fundamental understanding of corrosion initiation and propagation under stress requires a multi-scale approach that leverages experiments to develop predictive models. Although there exists a large amount of research results tracking the corrosive processes of anodic dissolution and hydrogen embrittlement, the amount of available data and modeling of the micro-scale initiation of corrosion is sparse. This work leverages a suite of characterization techniques to systematically analyze an aerospace grade aluminum alloy AA7075-T6, providing important multi-scale data for correlation …

Energy-Aware Real-Time Scheduling On Heterogeneous And Homogeneous Platforms In The Era Of Parallel Computing, Ashik Ahmed Bhuiyan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Multi-core processors increasingly appear as an enabling platform for embedded systems, e.g., mobile phones, tablets, computerized numerical controls, etc. The parallel task model, where a task can execute on multiple cores simultaneously, can efficiently exploit the multi-core platform's computational ability. Many computation-intensive systems (e.g., self-driving cars) that demand stringent timing requirements often evolve in the form of parallel tasks. Several real-time embedded system applications demand predictable timing behavior and satisfy other system constraints, such as energy consumption. Motivated by the facts mentioned above, this thesis studies the approach to integrating the dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) policy with real-time …

Inventions Of Scientists, Engineers And Specialists From Different Countries In The Area Of Nanotechnologies. Part Iii, L. A. Ivanov, L. D. Xu, E. S. Bokova, A. V. Demenev, V. A. Ivanov

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction. Advanced technologies impress people’s imagination demonstrating the latest achievements (materials, methods, systems, technologies, devices etc.) that dramatically change the world. This, first of all, concerns nanotechnological inventions designed by scientists, engineers and specialists from different countries.

Main part. The article provides an abstract review of patents. The results of creative activity of scientists, engineers and specialists, including inventions in the field of nanotechnology and nanomaterials, being implemented, allow achieving a significant effect in construction, housing and community services, and related sectors of the economy. For example, the invention «Composite material with oriented carbon nanotubes» refers to the area of …

The Impact Of Unequal Processing Time Variability On Reliable And Unreliable Merging Line Performance, Rodrigo Romero-Silva, Sabry Shaaban, Erika Marsillac, Zouhair Laaarraf

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Research on merging lines is expanding as their use grows significantly in the contexts of remanufacturing, reverse logistics and developing economies. This article is the first to study the behavior of unpaced, reliable, and unreliable merging assembly lines that are deliberately unbalanced with respect to their coefficients of variation (CV). Conducting a series of simulation runs with varying line lengths, buffer storage capacities and unbalanced CV patterns delivers intriguing results. For both reliable and unreliable lines, the best pattern for generating higher throughput is found to be a balanced configuration (equal CVs along both parallel lines), except for unreliable lines …

Inventions Of Scientists, Engineers And Specialists From Different Countries In The Area Of Nanotechnologies. Part Iv, Leonid A. Ivanov, Li Da Xu, Zhanna V. Pisarenko, Cahn T. Nguyen, Svetlana R. Muminova

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction. Advanced technologies impress people's imagination demonstrating the latest achievements (materials, methods, systems, technologies, devices etc.) that dramatically change the world. This, first of all, concerns nanotechnological inventions designed by scientists, engineers and specialists from different countries. Main part. The paper briefly reviews inventions made by scientists, engineers and specialists from different countries: Russia, USA, China, Belarus, Great Britain, Vietnam, Denmark, the Kyrgyz Republic. The application of the results of scientists', engineers' and specialists' investigations, including inventions in the area of nanotechnology and nanomaterials allow achieving significant efficiency in construction, house and communal service, related sectors of economy. For example, …

Generic Design Methodology For Smart Manufacturing Systems From A Practical Perspective, Part I—Digital Triad Concept And Its Application As A System Reference Model, Zhuming Bi, Wen-Jun Zhang, Chong Wu, Chaomin Luo, Lida Xu

Information Technology & Decision Sciences Faculty Publications

Rapidly developed information technologies (IT) have continuously empowered manufacturing systems and accelerated the evolution of manufacturing system paradigms, and smart manufacturing (SM) has become one of the most promising paradigms. The study of SM has attracted a great deal of attention for researchers in academia and practitioners in industry. However, an obvious fact is that people with different backgrounds have different expectations for SM, and this has led to high diversity, ambiguity, and inconsistency in terms of definitions, reference models, performance matrices, and system design methodologies. It has been found that the state of the art SM research is limited …

Safety And Operations Of Urban Arterials Incorporating The Context Classification System, Nada Mahmoud

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Urban arterials connect multiple areas in the city and encourage non-motorist activities. Hence, the safety and operations on urban arterials is vital as they improve the mobility of daily commuters and road users. This research aims to facilitate traffic operations on urban arterials by proposing multiple mythological approaches to estimate and predict turning movement counts at signalized intersections using traffic data from adjacent intersections. Further, it aims to improve the safety by developing crash prediction models, identifying the hotspots for multiple crash types, and indicating the factors contributing to operating speed as well as non-motorist crashes. The analyses included tuning, …

Laser-Microdrop Interactions In Nanoparticle Deposition On Solid Substrates, Tianyi Li

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

Nanoparticle suspensions are utilized for depositing thin films on solid substrates by a process called nano electrospray laser deposition. In this research, three deposition methods, contact liquid line laser printing, nano-electrospray laser sintering and evaporative optical Marangoni convection are investigated experimentally and analytically. Thin silver lines are printed on indium tin oxide-coated silicon substrates by dispensing silver nanoparticle suspension with a micropipe of inner diameter 51µm and subsequently sintering the nanoparticles with a CO2 laser beam of Bessel intensity profile. The deposited silver lines of 65µm width and 1µm height have good resistivity which can be used to manufacture silver …

การเพิ่มประสิทธิภาพการจัดการพลาสติกรีไซเคิลโดยใช้ระบบ Gis กรณีศึกษา: ชุมชนในจังหวัดระยอง, ชยานนท์ เทียนธนานุรักษ์

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

งานวิจัยนี้มีวัตถุประสงค์เพื่อศึกษาการจัดการขยะบรรจุภัณฑ์พลาสติกระดับชุมชนในพื้นที่จังหวัดระยองและสร้างแบบจำลองการแลกเปลี่ยนข้อมูลการรับซื้อขายขยะพลาสติกโดยใช้ระบบสารสนเทศทางภูมิศาสตร์ (Geographic information system; GIS) เพื่อช่วยในการจัดการขยะพลาสติกอย่างมีประสิทธิภาพและหมุนเวียนกลับมาใช้ประโยชน์สูงสุดตามหลักเศรษฐกิจหมุนเวียน ด้วยวิธีการสำรวจและรวบรวมข้อมูลชนิด ปริมาณขยะพลาสติกและที่ตั้งร้านรับซื้อในพื้นที่กรณีศึกษา 3 แห่ง ได้แก่ เทศบาลนครระยอง หมู่4 เทศบาลทับมา และชุมชนบ้านเอื้ออาทรวังหว้า ผลการวิจัยพบว่าการจัดการขยะพลาสติกในชุมชนกรณีศึกษาทั้ง 3 แห่งยังขาดความเชื่อมโยงในการจัดการขยะพลาสติกของผู้มีส่วนได้เสียตลอดห่วงโซ่คุณค่า และยังไม่ทราบช่องทางติดต่อการซื้อขายหรือตำแหน่งที่ตั้งของร้านรับซื้อหรือโรงงาน ดังนั้นงานวิจัยนี้ช่วยให้ทราบถึงพิกัดร้านรับซื้อขยะพลาสติกประเภทต่าง ๆ ในชุมชนกรณีศึกษาโดยใช้ระบบ GIS และเสนอแบบจำลองการแลกเปลี่ยนข้อมูลการรับซื้อขายขยะพลาสติกในจังหวัดระยอง ซึ่งพบว่าปัจจุบันเส้นทางการขนส่งขยะพลาสติกของชุมชนกรณีศึกษาทั้ง 3 แห่ง ของเทศบาลนครระยอง ชุมชนหมู่4 เทศบาลทับมาและชุมชนบ้านเอื้ออาทรวังหว้าจากธนาคารขยะไปยังร้านรับซื้อขวด/ถุงพลาสติก และส่งต่อไปโรงงานรีไซเคิลมีระยะทางขนส่งเท่ากับ 430.55 , 286.91 และ 458.51 กิโลเมตร ตามลำดับ จึงนำเสนอทางเลือกการเปลี่ยนร้านรับซื้อขวด/ถุงพลาสติก และโรงงานรีไซเคิล พบว่าสามารถลดระยะทางขนส่งลงเท่ากับ 165.58, 149.65 และ 348.81 กิโลเมตร ตามลำดับ คิดเป็นร้อยละ 61.54, 47.84 และ 23.93 ตามลำดับ สามารถลดการปล่อยก๊าซเรือนกระจกลงร้อยละ 92.94 , 83.85 และ 77.35 ตามลำดับ ดังนั้นหากสามารถเปลี่ยนมาใช้เส้นทางการขนส่งที่เสนอแนะได้จะสามารถช่วยลดการใช้เชื้อเพลิงและการปล่อยก๊าซเรือนกระจกสู่ชั้นบรรยากาศได้

A Comparison Of Artificial Neural Networks And The Statistical Methods In Predicting Mba Student’S Academic Performance, Ojoung Kwon, Harry Hui Xia, Serin Zhang

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

MBA has become one of the most popular and vital professional degrees internationally. The MBA program admission process’s essential task is to choose the best analysis tools to accurately predict applicants’ academic performance potential based on the evaluation criteria in making admission decisions. Prior research finds that the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and undergraduate grade point average (UGPA) are common predictors of MBA academic performance indicated by graduate grade point average (GGPA). Using a sample of 250 MBA students enrolled in a state university with AACSB accreditation from Fall 2010 to Fall 2017, we test and compare the effectiveness …

An Integrated View Of Knowledge Management Enablers, Components, And Benefits: Comprehensive Literature Review, Shuaibu Hassan Usman, Jigish Zaveri, Aminu Hamza

Journal of International Technology and Information Management

The key to success in the 21^st century, knowledge-based economy, will be the effective and efficient management of knowledge. Knowledge Management (KM) has a direct impact on organizational success. KM in a knowledge-based economy entails growth, value, and improving living standards through knowledge creation, storage, and dissemination. This study aims to integrate KM enablers, components, and benefits into a single view through a comprehensive literature search. The integrative view of these three factors would facilitate the understanding of KM initiatives within organizations. This paper performs a comprehensive literature review to explain the KM enablers, components, and benefits. From the …

2-Ns Electrostimulation Of Ca2+ Influx Into Chromaffin Cells: Rapid Modulation By Field Reversal, Josette Zaklit, Gale L. Craviso, Normand Leblanc, P. Thomas Vernier, Esin B. Sözer

Bioelectrics Publications

Cellular effects of nanosecond pulsed electric field exposures can be attenuated by an electric field reversal, a phenomenon called bipolar pulse cancellation. Our investigations of this phenomenon in neuroendocrine adrenal chromaffin cells show that a single 2 ns, 16 MV/m unipolar pulse elicited a rapid, transient rise in intracellular Ca²⁺ levels due to Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-gated calcium channels. The response was eliminated by a 2 ns bipolar pulse with positive and negative phases of equal duration and amplitude, and fully restored (unipolar-equivalent response) when the delay between each phase of the bipolar pulse was 30 ns. Longer …

The Antitumor Effects Of Plasma-Activated Saline On Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Cells In Vitro And In Vivo Demonstrate Its Feasibility As A Potential Therapeutic Approach, Hao Zhang, Jishen Zhang, Bo Guo, Hailan Chen, Dehui Xu, Michael G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

Muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) is a fast-growing and aggressive malignant tumor in urinary system. Since chemotherapy and immunotherapy are only useable with a few MIBC patients, the clinical treatment of MIBC still faces challenges. Here, we examined the feasibility of plasma-activated saline (PAS) as a fledgling therapeutic strategy for MIBC treatment. Our data showed that plasma irradiation could generate a variety of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in saline. In vivo tests revealed that pericarcinomatous tissue injection with PAS was effective at preventing subcutaneous bladder tumor growth, with no side effects to the visceral organs after …

Fluid Model Of Plasma-Liquid Interaction: The Effect Of Interfacial Boundary Conditions And Henry's Law Constants, Yifan Liu, Dingxin Liu, Jishen Zhang, Bowen Sun, Santu Luo, Hao Zhang, Li Guo, Mingzhe Rong, Michael G. Kong

Bioelectrics Publications

Plasma–liquid interaction is a critical area of plasma science, mainly because much remains unknown about the physicochemical processes occurring at the plasma–liquid interface. Besides a lot of experimental studies toward the interaction, a few fluid models have also been reported in recent years. However, the interfacial boundary conditions in the models are different and the Henry's law constants therein are uncertain; hence, the accuracy and robustness of the simulation results are doubtable. In view of this, three 1D fluid models are developed for the interaction between a plasma jet and deionized water, each of which has a unique interfacial boundary …

Comprehensive Collagen Crosslinking Comparison Of Microfluidic Wet-Extruded Microfibers For Bioactive Surgical Suture Development, Amrita Dasgupta, Nardos Sori, Stella Petrova, Yas Maghdouri-White, Nick Thayer, Nathan Kemper, Seth Polk, Delaney Leathers, Kelly Coughenour, Jake Dascoli, Riya Palikonda, Connor Donahue, Anna A. Bulysheva, Michael P. Francis

Bioelectrics Publications

Collagen microfiber-based constructs have garnered considerable attention for ligament, tendon, and other soft tissue repairs, yet with limited clinical translation due to strength, biocompatibility, scalable manufacturing, and other challenges. Crosslinking collagen fibers improves mechanical properties; however, questions remain regarding optimal crosslinking chemistries, biocompatibility, biodegradation, long-term stability, and potential for biotextile assemble at scale, limiting their clinical usefulness. Here, we assessed over 50 different crosslinking chemistries on microfluidic wet-extruded collagen microfibers made with clinically relevant collagen to optimize collagen fibers as a biotextile yarn for suture or other medical device manufacture. The endogenous collagen crosslinker, glyoxal, provides extraordinary fiber ultimate tensile …

Cardioporation Enhances Myocardial Gene Expression In Rat Heart, Carly Boye, Sezgi Arpag, Nina Burcus, Cathryn Lundberg, Scott Declemente, Richard Heller, Michael Francis, Anna Bulysheva

Bioelectrics Publications

Damage from myocardial infarction (MI) and subsequent heart failure are serious public health concerns. Current clinical treatments and therapies to treat MI damage largely do not address the regeneration of cardiomyocytes. In a previous study, we established that it is possible to promote regeneration of cardiac muscle with vascular endothelial growth factor B gene delivery directly to the ischemic myocardium. In the current study we aim to optimize cardioporation parameters to increase expression efficiency by varying electrode configuration, applied voltage, pulse length, and plasmid vector size. By using a surface monopolar electrode, optimized pulsing conditions and reducing vector size, we …

The Hsp90 Inhibitor, Auy-922, Protects And Repairs Human Lung Microvascular Endothelial Cells From Hydrochloric Acid-Induced Endothelial Barrier Dysfunction, Ruben M.L. Colunga Biancatelli, Pavel Solopov, Betsy Gregory, John D. Catravas

Bioelectrics Publications

Exposure to hydrochloric acid (HCl) leads acutely to asthma-like symptoms, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), including compromised alveolo-capillary barrier, and respiratory failure. To better understand the direct effects of HCl on pulmonary endothelial function, we studied the characteristics of HCl-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction in primary cultures of human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVEC), defined the involved molecular pathways, and tested the potentially beneficial effects of Heat Shock Protein 90 (HSP90) inhibitors. HCl impaired barrier function in a time- and concentration-dependent manner and was associated with activation of Protein Kinase B (AKT), Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) and myosin light …

Moderate Heat-Assisted Gene Electrotransfer As A Potential Delivery Approach For Protein Replacement Therapy Through The Skin, Chelsea Edelblute, Cathryn Mangiamele, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Gene-based approaches for protein replacement therapies have the potential to reduce the number of administrations. Our previous work demonstrated that expression could be enhanced and/or the applied voltage reduced by preheating the tissue prior to pulse administration. In the current study, we utilized our 16-pin multi-electrode array (MEA) and incorporated nine optical fibers, connected to an infrared laser, between each set of four electrodes to heat the tissue to 43 °C. For proof of principle, a guinea pig model was used to test delivery of reporter genes. We observed that when the skin was preheated, it was possible to achieve …