Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Reliable In-Plane Velocity Measurements With Magnetic Resonance Velocity Imaging, Haosen Zhang, Sandra S. Halliburton, Andan K. Venkatachari, Randolph M. Setser, Richard D. White, George P. Chatzimavroudis

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a well-known diagnostic imaging modality. In addition to its high-quality imaging capabilities, hydrogen-based MR can also provide non-invasively the velocity of water-based fluids in all three spatial directions (through-plane and in-plane) in an image. Many previous studies showed that MR velocity imaging can accurately measure the through-plane velocity. The aim of this study was to evaluate how reliable are the in-plane velocity measurements in an image. The axial velocity of water in horizontal tubes (inner diameter: 14.7–26.2 mm) was measured with segmented (fast) and non-segmented (slow) k-space MR velocity …

Effect Of Low Molecular Weight Heparin On Fracture Healing In A Stabilized Rat Femur Fracture Model, David J. Hak, Rena L. Stewart, Scott J. Hazelwood

Biomedical Engineering

The purpose of this studywas to evaluate the effect of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on fracture healing in a standard stabilized rat femur fracture model. A closed, mid-diaphyseal transverse fracture was created in the right femur of Long-Evans rats after insertion of a 0.8-mm K-wire into the medullarycanal. Animals were randomized to receive either LMWH (70 units/kg dalteparin) oraninjection of normal saline daily for 2 weeks. Animals were sacrificed at 2, 3, and 6 weeks. Fracture healing was assessedbyradiographs, histology, and mechanical testing. There were no significant differences between the control and LMWH groups in the percentage of animalswith …

Controlled Surface-Associated Delivery Of Genes And Oligonucleotides, Tatiana Segura, Lonnie D. Shea, Angela K. Pannier, Zain Bengali, Jae-Hyung Jang, Peter Chung, Brian C. Anderson

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

A system and methods for controlled gene delivery comprising condensed nucleic acids complexed with polylinkers, wherein the complexes are covalently and/or noncovalently bound to the surface of a substrate capable of supporting cell adhesion. The gene delivery system achieves temporal and spatial control of nucleic acid delivery to a target cell or cells through control of complex density on the surface of the support substrate, and reversibility of the attachment of the polylinker to the support substrate. The system and method of the invention can be used to create spatial patterns of gene expression, and in tissue engineering, high throughput …

Updated Asabe Standard Manure Excretion Standard, Richard K. Koelsch

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

This newsletter introduces the new ASABE (American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers) Standard D384.2, Manure Production and Characteristics. This new standard provides an equation-based approach that integrates animal feeding program and performance into the final estimate of total solids, nitrogen, and phosphorus excretion for seven livestock and poultry species. This article reviews the opportunity this standard provides for improving accuracy of farm-specific nutrient management planning and introduces an educational opportunity for users to be introduced to new software for using the standard.

I propose to conduct one or more workshops on the standard and supporting software tool in June. …

Ultrasonically Set Glass Polyalkenoate Cements For Orthodontic Applications, D. A. Tanner, N. Rushe, Mark R. Towler

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

There is an accepted clinical requirement for a luting cement that can be command set upon satisfactory placement of an orthodontic appliance onto dentition. This work evaluates the suitability of ultrasound, imparted from a dental scaler, as a potential mechanism for achieving this. The net setting times and subsequent compressive strengths of a range of commercial and experimental glass polyalkenoate cements (GPCs) were evaluated, using modified ISO 9917 methods, when set both chemically and by ultrasound. The ultrasound was applied to the GPC through an orthodontic brace. It was possible to command set GPCs by the application of five to …

Optimisation Of The Composition Of An Acrylic Bone Cement: Application To Relative Amounts Of The Initiator And The Activator/Co-Initiator In Surgical Simplex®P, S. Madigan, M. R. Towler, G. Lewis

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In cemented arthroplasties, the two-part self-curing acrylic bone cement is currently the only material used for anchoring the total joint replacement to the contiguous bone. In virtually all commercially available formulations of this cement, the agents used for the initiation and activation/co-initiation of the radical polymerisation reaction are benzoyl peroxide (BPO) and N, N dimethyl-paratoluidine (DMPT), respectively. There are no reports in the open literature on the rationale for the amounts of these and other constituents in the formulations of the cement. Given the concerns that have been raised in the literature regarding the effect of residual DMPT on the …

Lung Circulation Modeling: Status And Prospect, Anne V. Clough, Said H. Audi, Robert C. Molthen, Gary S. Krenz

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Mathematical modeling has been used to interpret anatomical and physiological data obtained from metabolic and hemodynamic studies aimed at investigating structure-function relationships in the vasculature of the lung, and how these relationships are affected by lung injury and disease. The indicator dilution method was used to study the activity of redox processes within the lung. A steady-state model of the data was constructed and used to show that pulmonary endothelial cells may play an important role in reducing redox active compounds and that those reduction rates can be altered with oxidative stress induced by exposure to high oxygen environments. In …

Least Squares Support Vector Machine Based Classification Of Abnormalities In Brain Mr Images, S. Thamarai Selvi, D. Selvathi, R. Ramkumar, Henry Selvaraj

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Research

The manual interpretation of MRI slices based on visual examination by radiologist/physician may lead to missing diagnosis when a large number of MRIs are analyzed. To avoid the human error, an automated intelligent classification system is proposed. This research paper proposes an intelligent classification technique to the problem of classifying four types of brain abnormalities viz. Metastases, Meningiomas, Gliomas, and Astrocytomas. The abnormalities are classified based on Two/Three/ Four class classification using statistical and textural features. In this work, classification techniques based on Least Squares Support Vector Machine (LS-SVM) using textural features computed from the MR images of patient are …

Influence Of Pulmonary Arterial Endothelial Cells On Quinone Redox Status: Effect Of Hyperoxia-Induced Nad(P)H:Quinone Oxidoreductase 1, Marilyn P. Merker, Said H. Audi, Robert D. Bongard, Brian J. Lindemer, Gary S. Krenz

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

The objective of this study was to examine the impact of chronic hyperoxic exposure (95% O₂ for 48 h) on intact bovine pulmonary arterial endothelial cell redox metabolism of 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone (duroquinone, DQ). DQ or durohydroquinone (DQH₂) was added to normoxic or hyperoxia-exposed cells in air-saturated medium, and the medium DQ concentrations were measured over 30 min. DQ disappeared from the medium when DQ was added and appeared in the medium when DQH₂ was added, such that after ∼15 min, a steady-state DQ concentration was approached that was ∼4.5 times lower for the hyperoxia-exposed than the normoxic …

Neural-Electronic Inhibition Simulated With A Neuron Model Implemented In Spice, Robert B. Szlavik, Abuhanif K. Bhuiyan, Anthony Carver, Frank Jenkins

Biomedical Engineering

There have been numerous studies presented in the literature related to the simulation of the interaction between biological neurons and electronic devices. A complicating factor associated with these simulations is the algebraic complexity involved in implementation. This complication has impeded simulation of more involved neural-electronic circuitry and consequently has limited potential advancements in the integration of biological neurons with synthetic electronics. In this paper, we describe a modification to a previously proposed SPICE based Hodgkin-Huxley neuron model that demonstrates more physiologically relevant electrical behavior. We utilize this SPICE based neuron model in conjunction with an external circuit that allows for …

Ischemia Reperfusion Dysfunction Changes Model-Estimated Kinetics Of Myofilament Interaction Due To Inotropic Drugs In Isolated Hearts, Samhita S. Rhodes, Amadou Ks Camara, Kristina M. Ropella, Said H. Audi, Matthias L. Riess, Paul S. Pagel, David F. Stowe

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Background

The phase-space relationship between simultaneously measured myoplasmic [Ca²⁺] and isovolumetric left ventricular pressure (LVP) in guinea pig intact hearts is altered by ischemic and inotropic interventions. Our objective was to mathematically model this phase-space relationship between [Ca²⁺] and LVP with a focus on the changes in cross-bridge kinetics and myofilament Ca²⁺ sensitivity responsible for alterations in Ca²⁺-contraction coupling due to inotropic drugs in the presence and absence of ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury.

Methods

We used a four state computational model to predict LVP using experimentally measured, averaged myoplasmic [Ca²⁺] transients …

Quantitative Object Reconstruction Using Abel Transform Tomography And Mixed Variable Optimization, Kevin R. O'Reilly

Theses and Dissertations

Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) are interested in quantitatively reconstructing an object using Abel transform x-ray tomography. Specifically, they obtain a radiograph by x-raying an object and attempt to quantitatively determine the number and types of materials and the thicknesses of each material layer. Their current methodologies either fail to provide a quantitative description of the object or are generally too slow to be useful in practice. As an alternative, the problem is modeled here as a mixed variable programming (MVP) problem, in which some variables are nonnumeric and for which no derivative information is available. The …

Biological System Impedance Identification Using Stochastic Estimation And Control, Enrique Mendezaceves

Theses and Dissertations

In an effort to find a less invasive way of testing for different cell abnormalities and finding more practical tests for different cellular mutations, this project makes use of a well-known technique called cellular impedance spectroscopy coupled with stochastic estimation. Impedance spectroscopy, the measurement of the complex resistance of a biological body, is not a new technology; it has been around for many years and has been used to make electrical representations of different biological systems. The problem with this procedure is that models cannot be used for system identification. Stochastic estimation can complement a model produced by analyzing the …

Short-Pulse Laser Propagation Through Tissue Medium For Tumor Detection, Gopalendu Pal, Kunal Mitra, Tuan Vo-Dinh

Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Faculty Publications

The objective of this paper is to perform a comprehensive experimental and numerical analysis of the short pulse laser interaction with tissue medium with the goal of tumor / cancer diagnostics. For short pulse laser source, the shape of output signal is a function of the optical properties of the medium and hence the scattered temporal optical signal helps in understanding of the medium characteristics. Initially experiments are performed on tissue phantoms imbedded with inhomogeneities in order to optimize the time-resolved optical detection scheme. Both the temporal and the spatial profiles of the scattered reflected and transmitted optical signals are …

Qt Variability Calculation Using A Template Matching Algorithm And Power Spectral Analysis, Theodore Sami Rizkalla

Theses

ECG interval measurement and variability analysis has proven to be a useful tool in investigating autonomic nervous system function. Traditionally, the R to R interval has been the thrust of research conducted in this field. QT variability is another topic on which little research has been done.

This thesis uses an algorithm proposed by Dr. Berger, published in 2003. The algorithm stretches the template in the time domain, and composes a sum-squared error function, which is minimized to find the scaling factor for that beat. These scaling factors are compiled into an array, and an interpolated signal is generated of …

Impact Of Missed Beats On Heart Rate Variability Using Time-Frequency Analysis, Kilbrom T. Hailu

Theses

ECG recordings, especially during an exercise stress test, are exposed to artifacts. The source of artifacts can be due to technical problems, biological events and errors in the automatic detection. As a result missed beats, extra beats and ectopic beats can occur. In this study analysis of missed beats is performed using time-frequency analysis. Some of the patient's data had missed beats.

Fourier spectral analysis was first applied to the missed beats during the resting state. The impact of missed beats using Fourier spectral analysis is significant, especially, when the missed beats are in a row. The Fourier spectral analysis …

Medical Equipment Planning And Construction Of A Interventional Neuroradiology Suite, Furqan Elahi

Theses

New York-Presbyterian Hospital is one of the most comprehensive university hospitals in the world, with leading specialists in every field of medicine. It is composed of two renowned medical centers, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. The hospital's strategic planning group identified the need to expand the Interventional Neuroradiology service that the hospital provides. This brought upon the need to form a committee to plan the construction of an Interventional Neuroradiology. The problem statement of this thesis is to prepare a best practices guideline from a clinical engineering perspective on constructing the three …

Non-Invasive Monitoring Of Bone Health Using Ultrasound, Nashit Jahan Meem

Theses

Bone fractures are estimated to afflict everyone at least once in his/her lifetime. Monitoring this becomes crucial especially when it comes to athletes in order for them to safely resume their regular activities as soon as possible. Technologies currently employed are either very expensive or use harmful radiation.

Ultrasound can monitor bone fractures in a non-invasive manner, as discussed in United States Patent # 5143069. Three transducers are mounted over the test specimen. A pulse generator excites the transmitting receiver. The second receiver is mounted next to the transmitter and acts as a reference receiver that displays the response across …

Direct Application Of The Least Action Principle To Solve (Human) Movement Dynamics Without Using Differential Equations Of Motion, Amitha Kumar

Theses

This thesis explores the numerical feasibility of solving motion 2-point boundary value problems (BVPs) by direct numerical minimization of the action without using the equations of motion (EOM) as an intermediate step. The proposed direct least action (DLA) approach using the downhill simplex method (DSM) is applied to both the single and double pendulum systems as beginning test problems. The solutions so obtained are compared to numerical solutions of the corresponding Lagrange BOM solved using a first order Euler algorithm for the same mechanical problems. The output path obtained by both of the methods essentially superimpose on each other.

Future …

Cutting Rate Effect On Temperature During Cortical Bone Sawing, Hamid Khalili Parsa, Ger Reilly, Brendan Mccormack

Conference Papers

When bone is cut the occurrence of thermal damage to the bone is of major concern to the surgeon. If the temperature exceeds 44°C for longer than 1 min, bone repair is impaired (Eriksson et al, 1984) and necrosis may occur. Repeated use of cutting blades may reduce the cutting efficiency (Wevers et al, 1987; Toksvig-Larsen et al, 1992). Wevers et al also found that there is a greater force required to cut cortical bone using a blunt saw compared to new one.

Indentation Fracture Of Bovine Cortical Bone: Acoustic Emission Technique, Ashkan Safari, Ger Reilly, Brendan Mccormack

Conference Papers

Indentation cutting may result in microcracking and main crack growth which was previously reported. In this study, we recorded the AE signals produced by cracking processes during cutting on cortical bone, measuring the cutting force and correlating between load-displacement curves and AE activities.

Vegetative Treatment Systems For Management Of Open Lot Runoff: Review Of Literature, Richard K. Koelsch, Jeffrey C. Lorimer, Kyle R. Mankin

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Runoff from open lot livestock systems (beef and dairy) defined as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) must be controlled by systems designed and managed to prevent the release of manure-contaminated runoff for storms equal to or less than a 25-yr, 24-h design storm. This performance standard has been attained for open lot systems with some combination of clean water diversion, settling basins, runoff collection ponds, and irrigation systems (baseline system).

An alternative approach is to rely on overland flow and infiltration into cropland with perennial forage or grasses for treatment of open lot runoff. Such vegetative systems have been researched …

Predictions On Preserving Bone Mass In Knee Arthroplasty With Bisphosphonates, Jeffry S. Nyman, Juan J. Rodrigo, Scott J. Hazelwood, Oscar C. Yeh, R. Bruce Martin

Biomedical Engineering

Using a computational model of bone adaptation, we investigated the long-term ability of bisphosphonates to minimize proximal bone loss that is associated with stress shielding in the tibia after long-stemmed total knee arthroplasty (TKA). When invoking bisphosphonate effects, the remodeling activity was suppressed, and the resorption size was reduced. Compared with the untreated simulation, bisphosphonate slowed the rate of bone loss after TKA (42% reduction in bone loss at 1 year). Activating the drug 3 months before the surgery reversed bone loss associated with the reduction in such activities as walking, but it did not provide any substantial benefit in …

Osteon Interfacial Strength And Histomorphometry Of Equine Cortical Bone, Robert F. Bigley, Lanny V. Griffin, Lisa Christensen, Ryan Vandenbosch

Biomedical Engineering

The interfacial strength of secondary osteons from the diaphysis of the Thoroughbred equine third metacarpal was evaluated using the fiber pushout test. The pushout was performed on 300–500 mm sections of 4x4x15mm bone blocks machined from four anatomic regions of the cortex. Pushout strength was evaluated from proximal to distal location within the diaphysis on four osteon types classified under polarized light on adjacent histologic sections from each block. The shear strength of the interfaces were estimated from shear lag theory. Differences were found in the interfacial strength of osteons based on appearance under polarized light with bright field having …

Implantable Drug Delivery System With In-Plane Micropump, Amit A. Mhatre

Bioengineering Theses - Archive

A MEMS based Implantable Drug Delivery System (IDDS) is discussed. The heart of the system is an in-plane MEMS micropump enables us to make a compact, inexpensive system. A conceptual IDDS design is proposed. This design consists of an implantable unit which houses the micropump, electronic and power circuitry. This implantable unit is connected to a subcutaneous port via a silicone catheter. The subcutaneous port acts as a refillable reservoir. This leads to a reduction in unit volume and makes the system customizable. The IDDS pumps drug into surrounding tissue with the help of a MEMS-based micropump. The force generated …

An Unsupervised Fluoroscopic Analysis Of Knee Joint Kinematics, Charles Scott, Elisa H. Barney Smith

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Knowledge of the three dimensional positions of bones at a joint as a function of time is required to accurately model joint kinematics. 3-D bone geometry data from a static computer tomography (CT) images can be combined with time sequence information from 2-D video fluoroscopy images to produce 3-D position data over time. The process involves creating virtual X-rays from the CT image through digitally reconstructed radiograph (DRR) projections. Historically, the process of matching the 3-D and 2-D data has required human interaction. We have eliminated the need for manual initialization using a Monte Carlo technique with a variable search …

Controlled Braking Scheme For A Wheeled Walking Aid, Eugene Coyle, Aidan O'Dwyer, Eileen Young, Kevin Sullivan, A. Toner

Conference papers

A wheeled walking aid with an embedded controlled braking system is described. The frame of the prototype is based on combining features of standard available wheeled walking aids. A braking scheme has been designed using hydraulic disc brakes to facilitate accurate and sensitive controlled stopping of the walker by the user, and if called upon, by automatic action. Braking force is modulated via a linear actuating stepping motor. A microcontroller is used for control of both stepper movement and for supervisory control. An encoder is used to supervise walker movement in terms of time, distance and speed.

Variable Upper And Lower Crop Water Stress Index Baselines For Corn And Soybean, J. O. Payero, Suat Irmak

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Upper and lower crop water stress index (CWSI) baselines adaptable to different environments and times of day are needed to facilitate irrigation scheduling with infrared thermometers. The objective of this study was to develop dynamic upper and lower CWSI baselines for corn and soybean. Ten-minute averages of canopy temperatures from corn and soybean plots at four levels of soil water depletion were measured at North Platte, Nebraska, during the 2004 growing season. Other variables such as solar radiation (R_s), air temperature (T_a), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (u), and plant canopy height (h) were …

Use Of Time Domain Reflectometry For Continuous Monitoring Of Nitrate-Nitrogen In Soil And Water, J. O. Payero, David D. Tarkalson, Suat Irmak

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Nitrate-Nitrogen (NO₃-N) losses to ground and surface water are an environmental and agronomic concern in modern crop production systems in the Central Great Plains. Monitoring techniques for nitrogen use in agricultural production are needed to increase crop yield, optimize nitrogen use, and reduce NO₃-N leaching. Time domain reflectometry (TDR) could potentially be calibrated to continuously measure NO₃-N in soil and water. The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate the effect of different factors affecting the response of the bulk electrical conductivity (ECb) sensed by TDR, (2) compare the sensitivity and differences between …

Land Application Of Manure For Beneficial Reuse, L. M. Risse, M. L. Cabrera, A. J. Franzluebbers, J. W. Gaskin, John E. Gilley, R. Killorn, D. E. Radcliffe, W. E. Tollner, H. Zhang

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

The concentration of animal production systems has increased efficiency and improved overall economic return for animal producers. This concentration, along with the advent of commercial fertilizers, has led to a change in the way animal producers view manure. Manure, once valued as a resource by farmers, is now treated as a waste. Air and water quality concerns that arise primarily from the under-utilization or inefficient use of manure contribute to these changing views. However, when properly used, manure is a resource and should be regulated as such. In the United States, the USDA/EPA Unified National Strategy for Animal Feeding Operations …