Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

The Age-Dependent Characterization Of The Er-Alpha Positive Breast Cancer Tumor Microenvironment, Katie Marie Hamel

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In disease states such as cancer, endocrine and paracrine signals from adipose tissue contribute to cancer progression and drug resistance. Young individuals diagnosed with estrogen receptor-alpha positive (ER-a+) breast cancer have an observed increase in resistance to endocrine therapies. This suggests that an alternative estrogen signaling pathway is active within these tumors. Despite this, the effects of stromal age on the endocrine response in breast cancer is not well known. Here, we review and highlight the involvement of the stromal age in both tumorigenesis and physiological wound healing. To identify specific differences between young and aged ER-a+ breast tumors, RNA …

Primer Payload System For Higher-Order Multiplex Lamp: Design And Development Of Unit Processes, Tochukwu Dubem Anyaduba

KGI Theses and Dissertations

Design and Development of Platforms for the Application of Loop-mediated Isothermal Nucleic Acid Amplification, LAMP, in the Diagnosis of Polymicrobial Diseases

Tochukwu Dubem Anyaduba, Travis Schlappi (PI)

For the past two decades, several isothermal nucleic acid amplification technologies have emerged. These are mostly in response to the need for robust molecular diagnostic tools amenable to point-of-care and limited-resource settings. Of these, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, LAMP, stands out as a highly specific and rapid alternative to the polymerase chain reaction, PCR. One of LAMP's significant characteristics involves using four essential and two loop (rate increasing) primers to recognize six to eight …

Enhancement Of Electrospun Nanofiber Properties Via Automated Track Post-Draw Processing, David Anthony Brennan

Theses and Dissertations

Electrospinning is an alternative manufacturing method, capable of producing fibers with nanoscale diameters from a wide range of different polymers in a process which is relatively simple and inexpensive in comparison to other forms of nanofiber production. This has made electrospinning the subject a great deal of research as a method of producing nanofibers for various high-performance applications. However, electrospun nanofiber tensile strength is weak in comparison to conventional fibers of the same material, preventing widespread use and marketization. This disparity in mechanical strength is attributed to poor polymer chain alignment in individual fibers, caused by the absence of a …

Bibliometric Survey On Image Processing Techniques Using Lattice Boltzmann Method For Cfd Simulations, Priyambada Praharaj Mrs, Chandrakant Sonawane Dr, Madhura Ingalhalikar Dr

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

This bibliometric analysis aims to understand how Lattice Boltzmann Method could be a potential solver in integrating computational fluid dynamics with image segmentation smoothly. Cardiovascular diseases have been a major health problem in our society and have been an interesting topic for researchers to focus on. Computational Fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation on well-segmented patient-specific images could help the clinicians in diagnosing many cardiovascular diseases in the initial stages itself thereby avoiding surgery. This paper focuses on how various methods have been used since 1988 and been successfully implemented in subsequent years. The bibliometric analysis is done from Scopus and the …

Hemodynamic Response To Device Titration In The Shunted Single Ventricle Circulation - A Patient Cohort Modeling Study, Chet Villa, Farha Zafar, Angela Lorts, Ethan Kung

Publications

Clinical outcomes of ventricular assist device (VAD) support for shunted single ventricle patients trail the larger population due in part to the challenges in optimizing VAD support and balancing systemic and pulmonary circulations. We sought to understand the response to VAD titration in the shunted circulation using a lumped-parameter network modeling six patient-specific clinical cases. Hemodynamic data from six patients (mean body surface area = 0.30 m²) with a systemic-to-pulmonary shunt was used to construct simulated cases of heart failure and hemodynamic response to increasing VAD flow from 5 to 10 L/min/m². With increasing VAD flow, …

Computational Bone Mechanics Modeling With Frequency Dependent Rheological Properties And Crosslinking, Timothy G. Moreno

Master's Theses

Bone is a largely bipartite viscoelastic composite. Its mechanical behavior is determined by strain rate and the relative proportions of its principal constituent elements, hydroxyapatite and collagen, but is also largely dictated by their geometry and topology. Collagen fibrils include many segments of tropocollagen in staggered, parallel sequences. The physical staggering of this tropocollagen allows for gaps known as hole-zones, which serve as nucleation points for apatite mineral. The distance between adjacent repeat units of tropocollagen is known as D-Spacing and can be measured by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). This D-Spacing can vary in length slightly within a bundle, but …

The Tierni Resistance Training System, Michael J. Hansen, Abigail M. Youngblood, Gabriel M. Johnson

Biomedical Engineering

The purpose of the Tierni Resistance Training System project was to design and construct functional workout apparel that has built-in resistance. For this product, the key customer requirements we set out to address were most importantly material comfort and functionality, followed by stylishness, lack of latex, safety for injured and uninjured users, and washer safety. To meet these customer requirements, we started by researching current resistance training technology, and used the findings as a springboard for our own design development. After initial brainstorming, engineering specifications were generated based on the customer requirements. These specifications revolved around the thermal insulation, pressure, …

Development Of An Internet Of Things (Iot) Enabled Novel Wireless Multi Sensor Network For Infield Crop Monitoring, Nipuna Chamara

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Multispectral imaging systems on satellite, aerial, and ground platforms are used commonly to monitor in-field crops in precision agriculture by farmers and researchers. Limited spatial and temporal resolution and weather dependence of the data collection are two main disadvantages of these methods. In-field sensor networks can continuously monitor environmental and plant physiological parameters by leveraging low-power computation and long-range communication technologies. We built and tested a novel sensor network equipped with soil moisture, multispectral and RGB imaging sensors in an experimental soybean field at Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center, NE, USA. 10 down-looking and 1 up-looking sensor node were …

Studying The Efficacy Of An Injectable 3-Dimensional Fibrin Extracellular Matrix To Characterize The Effects Of Antitumor Agents On Sw620 Cells In A Microfluidic Device, Thèo Anastos

Master's Theses

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States and there is currently a lot of research going into new antitumor agents to kill the cancer. One method for replicating the tumor response to a drug in vivo is by creating an in vitro drug testing model to replicate the in vivo condition. This research project was conducted to determine the efficacy of testing tumor cultures in a microfluidic device as a way to provide accurate drug responses in vitro instead of using in vivo subjects in clinical trials. A total of four experiments were conducted with …

Electro-Muscle-To-Muscle Transfer, Hailey Quinn Casino, Jake Keola Javier, Samuel Joseph Borda, Charlotte Amalie Anderson

Biomedical Engineering

The Electro Muscle to Muscle Transfer (EMMT) system will entail designing, manufacturing, and providing a wearable device that stimulates paralyzed muscles in the hand by sampling and amplifying muscles from the forearm. With further development, the system may be capable of using different muscle inputs other than the forearm muscles along with different stimulated muscle outputs other than the hand. The system functions as a rehabilitative device for spinal cord injuries, irreparable nerve loss and/or damage, and improper neuromuscular function. It is not for total treatment nor for curing of the disabilities listed above but to alleviate the side effects …

Development Of A Robust Methodology To Obtain And Assess Myogenic Precursor Cells For Their Use In Regenerative Therapies, Ricardo Lasa

Master's Theses

Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is characterized by buildup of atherosclerotic plaque in peripheral arteries that leads to an occlusion that can interrupt the supply of blood to the peripheral tissue, causing downstream tissue ischemia/hypoxia. PAOD is estimated to affect over 200 million patients worldwide. Current surgical revascularization treatments can be effective in about half of the patient population, leading to a significant number of patients with no treatment options beyond pharmacological intervention and lifestyle modification. The decrease in blood flow downstream of the occlusion leads to increased blood pressure gradient in the microvasculature, specifically in vessels that connect arterial …

Adaptive Laboratory Evolution Of Scenedesmus Obliquus For Increased Carbohydrate Content And Biomass Productivity, Nahel Ali

Master's Theses

The economics of microalgal bioproduct commercialization would benefit from increased accumulation of energy storage compounds, such as carbohydrates and lipids, and increased biomass productivity. This thesis explores two adaptive laboratory evolution strategies for improving Scenedesmus obliquus: single UV-mutagenesis and low light cultivation at a high dilution rate to produce cultigens with greater carbohydrate content and iterative UV-mutagenesis and selection under outdoor conditions in a raceway pond at a high dilution rate to increase biomass productivity.

Two cultigens were generated with the goal of increased carbohydrate content: K5 and K7. Both were mutagenized for 5 seconds and cultivated in 50-mL …

The Effect Of Focused Ultrasound On Altering The Diameter Class Of Nerve Fibers Contributing To A Compound Evoked Potential, Analyzed Using A Perturbative Decomposition Technique., Megan Wurden

Master's Theses

Peripheral neuropathies are disorders that involve the damage of peripheral nerve fibers, affecting the ability of different parts of the body to communicate. A differentiating factor in diagnosis between various clinical conditions can be which size class of nerve fibers are affected. A nerve conduction velocity test can be used to assess the viability of the nerve but is a single-parameter test and gives no information about the population characteristics of the remaining active fibers. A method developed and previously reported by Szlavik (2016) utilizes a mathematical perturbed decomposition to determine the normalized frequency of each size class of fiber …

Gyroscopic Human Balance Device, Randy Lam Hau, Spencer Ross, Yael Farkash

Biomedical Engineering

This project’s sponsor, Charlie Guitierrez, has decades of experience building assistive walking devices for the wheelchair bound population. During his work, he noticed that many of his clients retained some ability to balance themselves and so theorized that they would be able to walk independently if given some form of assistance. This assistance could potentially be in the form of a wearable gyroscope. Gyroscopes are commonly used to stabilize objects subjected to instability, such as bicycles, motorcycles, and ships. Thus, a wearable gyroscope would assist its user in maintaining overall stability by imparting reactive torques and forces if the user …

Hypoxic Incubation Chamber, Makenzie Jones, Andrea Skattenborg, Henry Elsner

Biomedical Engineering

In developing a model to test anti-tumor drugs, Dr. Christopher Heylman’s lab requires the ability to culture cells in a hypoxic environment. The purpose of this project was to make this possible. Funding for this project comes from the Biomedical Engineering Department, the Hannah-Forbes Fund, and Dr. Heylman’s lab. The chamber must be able to reach a user-defined oxygen concentration and hold that concentration for 48 hours while creating an environment conducive to cell culture. Importantly, the chamber must also be sterilizable and cleanable for repeated use. While several products exist to create hypoxic environments for cell culture, they are …

Conventional Immunomarkers Stain A Fraction Of Astrocytes In Vitro: A Comparison Of Rat Cortical And Spinal Cord Astrocytes In Naïve And Stimulated Cultures, Bailey Balouch, Jessica L. Funnell, Alexis M. Ziemba, Devan L. Puhl, Kathy Lin, Manoj K. Gottipati, Ryan J. Gilbert

Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Astrocytes are responsible for a wide variety of essential functions throughout the central nervous system. The protein markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST), glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1), glutamine synthetase (GS), 10-formyltetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase (ALDH1L1), and the transcription factor SOX9 are routinely used to label astrocytes in primary rodent cultures. However, GLAST, GLT-1, GS, and SOX9 are also produced by microglia and oligodendrocytes and GFAP, GLAST, GLT-1, and GS production levels are affected by astrocyte phenotypic changes associated with reactive astrogliosis. No group has performed a comprehensive immunocytochemical evaluation to quantify the percentage of cells labeled by these markers …

Biomechanical Analysis Of Distal Stent-Graft-Induced New Entry (Sine) Formation In Aortic Dissection Patients, Tan Wei Ting

Student Works (2020-2029)

Distal stent graft-induced new entry (dSINE) is a post-treatment complication with a mortality rate of 26.1-28.6% in patients with aortic dissection (AD). dSINE creates a new path for blood flow, leading to the formation of false lumen, aneurysmal expansion, and aortic rupture. These complications necessitate re-intervention in 30-60% patients. In this study, computational approach was used to investigate potential risk factors for dSINE in aortic dissection patients. Patient-specific simulations were performed based on post thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) computed tomography images acquired from six patients (3 dSINE and 3 non-dSINE) to analyse the correlation between anatomical characteristics and stress/strain …

Biomechanical Determinants Of Shuttlecock Speed In The Forehand Jumping Smash By Elite Male Malaysian Badminton Players, Yuvaraj Ramasamy

Student Works (2020-2029)

Badminton is the fastest racket sport in the world with smash speeds reaching over 111 m/s (400 kph). This study examined the forehand jump smash in badminton using synchronised force plates and full-body motion capture to quantify contributions to shuttlecock speed through correlations. Nineteen elite male Malaysian badminton players were recorded performing forehand jump smashes with the fastest, most accurate jump smash from each player analysed. The fastest smash by each participant was on average 97 m/s with a peak of 105 m/s. A correlational analysis revealed that a faster smash speed was characterised by a more internally rotated shoulder, …

Oxidation Chemistry Of Catechol Utilized In Designing Stimuli-Responsive Adhesives And Antipathogenic Biomaterials, Rattapol Pinnataip, Bruce Lee

Michigan Tech Publications, Part 1

Mussel foot proteins (Mfps) contain a large amount of the catecholic amino acid, DOPA, allowing the marine organism to anchor themselves onto various surfaces in a turbulent and wet environment. Modification of polymers with catechol imparts these materials with a strong, wet adhesive property. The oxidation chemistry and oxidation state of catechol are critical to the design of synthetic adhesives and biomaterials. In this Mini-Review, the effect of catechol oxidation state on adhesion, oxidation-mediated catechol cross-linking, and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during catechol oxidation are reviewed. Finally, the tuning of catechol oxidation state in designing stimuli-responsive adhesives …

An Investigation Of Cross-Links On Crystallization And Degradation In A Novel, Photocross-Linkable Poly (Lactic Acid) System, Nicholas Baksh

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Polymeric molecular structure consists of repeating units bonded together. Mechanicalproperties can be altered without affecting chemical makeup by altering the number of these units. Small molecules can be introduced and/or polymers can be modified to form bonds between molecular chains. Cross-linking, as this is called, also introduces mechanical variation with minimal effects on chemical composition. Lastly, polymer chains reorient themselves in response to intermolecular forces. This temperature dependent response is known as crystallization. Although chemistry is unaltered, mechanical properties can depend highly on the percent of the sample that is crystallized.

Cross-linking is known to enhance the mechanical properties of …

A Bisphosphonate With A Low Hydroxyapatite Binding Affinity Prevents Bone Loss In Mice After Ovariectomy And Reverses Rapidly With Treatment Cessation, Abigail A. Coffman, Jelena Basta-Pljakic, Rosa M. Guerra, Frank H. Ebetino, Mark W. Lundy, Robert J. Majeska, Mitchell B. Schaffler

Publications and Research

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a mainstay of osteoporosis treatment; however, concerns about bone health based on oversuppression of remodeling remain. Long-term bone remodeling suppression adversely affects bone material properties with microdamage accumulation and reduced fracture toughness in animals and increases in matrix mineralization and atypical femur fractures in patients. Although a “drug holiday” from BPs to restore remodeling and improve bone quality seems reasonable, clinical BPs have long functional half-lives because of their high hydroxyapatite (HAP) binding affinities. This places a practical limit on the reversibility and effectiveness of a drug holiday. BPs with low HAP affinity and strong osteoclast inhibition …

Establishing A Mechanistic Link Between Disturbed Flow And Aneurysm Formation In A 3d Cerebral Bifurcation Model, Nesrine Bouhrira

Theses and Dissertations

The effect of disturbed flow profiles on the endothelium have been studied extensively in systemic vasculature, but less is known about the response of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to these flow regimes. Here we investigate the effect of steady and pulsatile disturbed flow on the integrity of the BBB using a three-dimensional, perfusable bifurcation model consisting of a co-culture of endothelial cells with mural and glial cells. Experimental flow patterns predicted by computational fluid dynamics mimic in vivo flow regimes, specifically the presence of a recirculation zone immediately downstream of the bifurcation reveal periodic changes in the instantaneous shear stress …

Deep Learning-Based Breast Cancer Detection And Classification Using Histopathology Images, Ghulam Murtaza

Student Works (2020-2029)

Cancer disease is drastically increasing worldwide over the past few years. Among all types of cancers in women, breast cancer (BrC) is the main cause of abnormal deaths. For a confident diagnosis of BrC, histopathology (Hp) images are usually suggested by the doctors. BrC detection is a diagnostic test for benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) breast tumors (BrT). Once the BrT is diagnosed, then it needs to be classified for subtypes of benign and malignant to start specific treatment. Several studies developed BrC detection and classification models using Hp images. However, the existing models required high computational resources, long training …

Managing Vibration Training Safety By Using Knee Flexion Angle And Rating Perceived Exertion, Long-Ren Chuang, Wen-Wen Yang, Po-Ling Chang, Vincent Chiun-Fan Chen, Chiang Liu, Tzyy-Yuang Shiang

Engineering Science Faculty Publications

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is commonly applied in exercise and rehabilitation and its safety issues have been a major concern. Vibration measured using accelerometers can be used to further analyze the vibration transmissibility. Optimal bending angles and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) evaluations have not been sufficiently explored to mitigate the adverse effect. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate the effect of various knee flexion angles on the transmissibility to the head and knee, the RPE during WBV exposure, and the link between the transmissibility to the head and the RPE. Sixteen participants randomly performed static squats with …

Cyclic Damage Accumulation In The Femoral Constructs Made With Cephalomedullary Nails, Farah Hamandi, Alyssa Whitney, Mark H. Stouffer, Michael J. Prayson, Jorn Rittweger, Tarun Goswami

Biomedical, Industrial & Human Factors Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of peri-prosthetic fracture of constructs made with cephalomedullary (CM) long and short nails. The nails were made with titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) and stainless steel (SS 316L). Methods: Biomechanical evaluation of CM nail constructs was carried out with regard to post-primary healing to determine the risk of peri-implant/peri-prosthetic fractures. Therefore, this research comprised of, non-fractured, twenty-eight pairs of cadaveric femora that were randomized and implanted with four types of fixation CM nails resulting in four groups. These constructs were cyclically tested in bi-axial mode for up to 30,000 cycles. All …

Preparation Of Nanoemulsion Using Lipase-Synthesized Glucose Monooleate Through Low Energy Technique, Muhammad Fakhrurazi Ahmad Fadzil

Student Works (2020-2029)

In this study, glucose monooleate (GluO) was synthesized and compared to its counterpart i.e. Tween-80 (Tw-80) and Span-80 (Sp-80) to investigate the influence of the different hydrophilic head structure of the surfactants on emulsification property. Utilizing sugar molecules like glucose as the hydrophilic head group of surfactants is of interest as it has a high potential to be used as a targeted delivery agent. The main objective of this study is to investigate the capability of lipase synthesized GluO in the formation of O/W nanoemulsion in four different types of vegetable oils that are sunflower oil, olive oil, palm oil, …

Deciphering And Engineering An Unprecedented Fungal Biosynthetic Pathway For Expanded Chemical Diversity In Flavonoids, Jixun Zhan

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Principles For Determining The Motion Of Blood Through Arteries, Sylvio R. Bistafa

Euleriana

Translation of Principia pro motu sanguinis per arterias determinando (E855). This work of 1775 by L. Euler is considered to be the first mathematical treatment of circulatory physiology and hemodynamics.

Novel Guidewire Design And Coating For Continuous Delivery Of Adenosine During Interventional Procedures., Mervyn B Forman, Erik Brewer, Zachary R Brown, Elizabeth V Menshikova, Anthony M. Lowman, Edwin K Jackson

Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering Departmental Research

Background: The "no-reflow phenomenon" compromises percutaneous coronary intervention outcomes. There is an unmet need for a device that prevents no-reflow phenomenon. Our goal was to develop a guidewire platform comprising a nondisruptive hydrophilic coating that allows continuous delivery of adenosine throughout a percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods and Results: We developed a guidewire with spaced coils to increase surface area for drug loading. Guidewires were plasma treated to attach hydroxyl groups to metal surfaces, and a methoxy-polyethylene glycol-silanol primer layer was covalently linked to hydroxyl groups. Using polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, and polyvinyl acetate, a drug layer containing jet-milled adenosine was …

Kinematic And Kinetic Changes After Total Hip Arthroplasty During Sit-To-Stand Transfers: Systematic Review, Junsig Wang, Safeer F. Siddicky, Michael P. Dohm, C. Lowry Barnes, Erin M. Mannen

Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a common and effective surgical procedure that allows patients with hip osteoarthritis to restore functional ability and relieve pain. Sit-to-stand transfers are common demanding tasks during activities of daily living and are performed more than 50 times per day. The purpose of this systematic review is to obtain a comprehensive understanding of biomechanical changes during sit-to-stand transfers after THA.

Methods: Relevant articles were selected through MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science. Articles were included if they met the following inclusion criteria: 1) participants underwent total hip arthroplasty without restriction on the arthroplasty design, …