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Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons™

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2025

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Articles 511 - 540 of 591

Full-Text Articles in Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering

Mxenes In Biosensing: Enhancing Sensitivity And Flexibility - A Review Of Properties, Applications, And Future Directions, Ali Mohammad Amani, Lobat Tayebi, Ehsan Vafa, Alireza Jahanbin, Milad Abbasi, Ahmed Vaez, Hesam Kamyab, Lalitha Gnanasekaran, Shreeshivadasan Chelliapan Jan 2025

Mxenes In Biosensing: Enhancing Sensitivity And Flexibility - A Review Of Properties, Applications, And Future Directions, Ali Mohammad Amani, Lobat Tayebi, Ehsan Vafa, Alireza Jahanbin, Milad Abbasi, Ahmed Vaez, Hesam Kamyab, Lalitha Gnanasekaran, Shreeshivadasan Chelliapan

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

MXenes are a novel type of nanostructured material that has received a lot of attention for their potential applications in bioanalysis owing to their unique features. These materials, made from transition metal nitrides, carbides, or carbonitrides, have a number of advantages, including high hydrophilicity, a large surface area, strong metallic conductivity, superior ion transport capabilities, biocompatibility, and low diffusion barriers. Their surfaces are easily manipulated, making them more adaptable for a variety of applications, including biosensing. The outstanding properties of MXenes have attracted researchers of different fields, including renewable energy, fuel cells, supercapacitors, electronics, and catalysis. In the context of …


Incorporating Insulin Into Alginate-Chitosan 3d-Printed Scaffolds: A Comprehensive Study On Structure, Mechanics, And Biocompatibility For Cartilage Tissue Engineering, Afsaneh Jahani, Mohammad Sagdegh Nourbakhsh, Ali Moradi, Marzieh Mohammadi, Lobat Tayebi Jan 2025

Incorporating Insulin Into Alginate-Chitosan 3d-Printed Scaffolds: A Comprehensive Study On Structure, Mechanics, And Biocompatibility For Cartilage Tissue Engineering, Afsaneh Jahani, Mohammad Sagdegh Nourbakhsh, Ali Moradi, Marzieh Mohammadi, Lobat Tayebi

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Osteoarthritis is a leading cause of disability worldwide, challenging current treatments to limited cartilage self-healing capacity. Cartilage tissue engineering (CTE) integrates cells, scaffolds, and signaling molecules, with Insulin being utilized as a differentiation biomolecule due to cost-effectiveness, dose-dependent influence on chondrogenesis, suitable biological activity, and ability to activate relevant receptors. Yet, administering differentiation biomolecules through conventional scaffolds poses a persistent challenge. Alginate (Alg) is commonly employed in CTE for its biocompatibility, though it lacks sufficient mechanical properties. Chitosan (Cs), while enhancing scaffold mechanical properties, but does not independently provide optimal support for chondrogenesis. While Alg-Cs scaffolds have garnered attention, challenges …


Cellular Mechanisms Of Spinal Motoneuron Hypoexcitability Underlying Dynapenia In Aging, Ibrahim Abdul Halim Jan 2025

Cellular Mechanisms Of Spinal Motoneuron Hypoexcitability Underlying Dynapenia In Aging, Ibrahim Abdul Halim

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Age-related weakness remains poorly understood as the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. While synaptic input and muscular changes have been investigated with age, intrinsic motoneuron excitability alterations are often overlooked. This thesis provides the first direct assessment of intrinsic excitability and ion channel properties of spinal α-MNs from male and female mice across three ages: young, middle aged, and old. Our findings reveal a decline in intrinsic excitability of motoneurons with age in both sexes. Mechanistic analysis shows sex specific differences: female motoneurons exhibit increased dendritic size, hyperpolarized RMP, and SK channel overactivation, whereas males show only SK overactivation with age. …


An Improved Method To Protecting Skin Graft Dressings Following Surgery In Severe Burn Patients, Andrew Martin, Matt Flaker, Hailey Essinger Jan 2025

An Improved Method To Protecting Skin Graft Dressings Following Surgery In Severe Burn Patients, Andrew Martin, Matt Flaker, Hailey Essinger

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Severe burns, including deep second- and third-degree burns, affect over 450,000 people annually in the U.S., often requiring skin grafts for treatment. Recovery involves wearing wound dressings covered by bandage wraps for at least two weeks. While wraps are breathable, versatile, and simple, they can be painful to apply, especially for larger patients, and their compression varies based on the person applying them. This poses challenges when untrained caregivers are involved. Additionally, wraps often slip during physical therapy. Burn care units seek a new solution that matches current wraps in breathability and comfort but offers quicker application, controlled compression, and …


Deep Learning-Assisted Diagnostic System: Apices And Odontogenic Sinus Floor Level Analysis In Dental Panoramic Radiographs, Pei Yi Wu, Yuan-Jin Lin, Yu-Jen Chang, Sung-Tsun Wei, Chiung An Chen, Kuo-Chen Li, Wei-Chen Tu, Patricia Angela R. Abu Jan 2025

Deep Learning-Assisted Diagnostic System: Apices And Odontogenic Sinus Floor Level Analysis In Dental Panoramic Radiographs, Pei Yi Wu, Yuan-Jin Lin, Yu-Jen Chang, Sung-Tsun Wei, Chiung An Chen, Kuo-Chen Li, Wei-Chen Tu, Patricia Angela R. Abu

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

Odontogenic sinusitis is a type of sinusitis caused by apical lesions of teeth near the maxillary sinus floor. Its clinical symptoms are highly like other types of sinusitis, often leading to misdiagnosis as general sinusitis by dentists in the early stages. This misdiagnosis delays treatment and may be accompanied by toothache. Therefore, using artificial intelligence to assist dentists in accurately diagnosing odontogenic sinusitis is crucial. This study introduces an innovative odontogenic sinusitis image processing technique, which is fused with common contrast limited adaptive histogram equalization, Min-Max normalization, and the RGB mapping method. Moreover, this study combined various deep learning models …


Precision Medicine Assessment Of The Radiographic Defect Angle Of The Intrabony Defect In Periodontal Lesions By Deep Learning Of Bitewing Radiographs, Patricia Angela R. Abu, Yi Cheng Mao, Yuan Jin Lin, Chien Kai Chao, Yi He Lin, Bo Siang Wang, Chiung An Chen, Shih Lun Chen, Tsung Yi Chen, Kuo Chen Li Jan 2025

Precision Medicine Assessment Of The Radiographic Defect Angle Of The Intrabony Defect In Periodontal Lesions By Deep Learning Of Bitewing Radiographs, Patricia Angela R. Abu, Yi Cheng Mao, Yuan Jin Lin, Chien Kai Chao, Yi He Lin, Bo Siang Wang, Chiung An Chen, Shih Lun Chen, Tsung Yi Chen, Kuo Chen Li

Department of Information Systems & Computer Science Faculty Publications

In dental diagnosis, evaluating the severity of periodontal disease by analyzing the radiographic defect angle of the intrabony defect is essential for effective treatment planning. However, dentists often rely on clinical examinations and manual analysis, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Due to the high recurrence rate of periodontal disease after treatment, accurately evaluating the radiographic defect angle of the intrabony defect is vital for implementing targeted interventions, which can improve treatment outcomes and reduce recurrence. This study aims to streamline clinical practices and enhance patient care in managing periodontal disease by determining its severity based on the analysis of …


Enhanced Diagnostics And Surveillance Of Enteroviruses Including Serotypes Associated With Acute Flaccid Myelitis, Denise Lynette Kramer Jan 2025

Enhanced Diagnostics And Surveillance Of Enteroviruses Including Serotypes Associated With Acute Flaccid Myelitis, Denise Lynette Kramer

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Prior to 2014, Enterovirus D68 infections typically caused symptoms resembling the common cold. From 2014-2018, D68 was associated with an increase in acute flaccid myelitis. However, since 2020, neurological complications have all but disappeared. We selected 1076 respiratory specimens previously determined to be positive for rhinovirus or enterovirus from Department of Defense members and their beneficiaries collected globally from October 2018 through January 2024 and underwent sequencing. Of these specimens, 93.7% were identified as rhinoviruses, while 6.3% were enteroviruses, including 30 enterovirus D68. We utilized the Nextstrain bioinformatic pipeline to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship of these 30 D68 viruses. Twenty-two …


Vagus Nerve Stimulation Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment Caused By Hypoxia, Birendra Sharma Jan 2025

Vagus Nerve Stimulation Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment Caused By Hypoxia, Birendra Sharma

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Hypoxia disrupts brain function due to the high demand for oxygen, leading to significant cognitive impairments. While vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been shown to enhance cognition, its ability to counteract hypoxia-induced deficits remains unclear. In this study, male Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to sham, hypoxia, or VNS + hypoxia groups, with VNS delivered during hypoxia (8% oxygen) using biphasic pulses (100 μs, 30 Hz, 0.8 mA). Cognitive performance was evaluated using multiple behavioral paradigms, and hippocampal tissue was analyzed for neurotrophin expression through quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry. Among the behavioral measures, hypoxia specifically impaired performance on the passive avoidance …


The Role Of Trpm7 In Mouse Development And Immune Cell Function, Jananie Rockwood Jan 2025

The Role Of Trpm7 In Mouse Development And Immune Cell Function, Jananie Rockwood

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Transient receptor melastatin 7 (TRPM7) functions both as an ion channel and a protein kinase. TRPM7 has been implicated in Mg2+ homeostasis, embryogenesis, cardiac automaticity, and immunity. The purpose of this research was to deepen our understanding of TRPM7 channel and kinase functions. To this end, we used two transgenic mouse models: the TRPM7 gain-of-function (GOF) and TRPM7 kinase-dead (KD) mice to address the consequences of increased channel activity and kinase inactivation, respectively. Global deletion of TRPM7 or the kinase domain alone are embryonic lethal, therefore, we used the TRPM7 GOF mouse to investigate germline transmission. We examined embryo development …


Induced Reduction Of N-Glycosylation Leads To Heart Failure, Anthony M. Young Jan 2025

Induced Reduction Of N-Glycosylation Leads To Heart Failure, Anthony M. Young

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and contributes to the increasing global prevalence of heart failure (HF). N-glycosylation is a common co-/post-translational modification where branching oligosaccharides are bound to the extracellular domain of membrane proteins. This creates a diverse range of glycan structures and requires the coordination of hundreds of regulated genes. Inherited mutations in glycan synthesis frequently present with cardiomyopathies leading to HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Additionally, gene expression studies of HFrEF patients have shown altered expression of glycosylation-related genes, including alpha-1,3-mannosyl-glycoproten 2-beta-N acetlyglucosaminyltransferase (Mgat1). This gene encodes N-acetylglucosaminyl transferase 1 (GlcNAcT1) which is required …


The Impact Of Ahr And Hs1.2 Enhancer Genetic Variations On Igh Expression And Antibody Production In Human B Cells, Mili Santosh Bhakta-Yadav Jan 2025

The Impact Of Ahr And Hs1.2 Enhancer Genetic Variations On Igh Expression And Antibody Production In Human B Cells, Mili Santosh Bhakta-Yadav

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Antibody production is an essential component of the immune response against pathogens. The immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) gene codes for the heavy chain of antibodies. The IgH constant regions Cμ, Cδ, Cγ1-4, Cα1-2, and Cε encode the five major classes of antibodies, i.e., IgM, IgD, IgG1-4, IgA1-2, and IgE, respectively. The transcription of the IgH gene and class switch from IgM to other isotypes is regulated by two 3’ IgH regulatory regions (3’IgHRRs), each of which is a cluster of three enhancer regions (hs3, hs1.2 and hs4). The genetic variations in the hs1.2 enhancer have been identified; a ~53 bp …


Effects Of Invigorating And Relaxing Music On Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, And Heart Rate Variability, Matthew Joshua Faur Jan 2025

Effects Of Invigorating And Relaxing Music On Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, And Heart Rate Variability, Matthew Joshua Faur

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Heart-rate variability (HRV) has been documented to correlate with several health measures, including autonomic nervous system longevity and athletic performance (Zulfiqar, 2010). While increasing age does not affect heart rate, there is a steady decline in HRV, which is a biological marker of aging and the decline of autonomic nervous system function. Furthermore, men who exercise regularly tend to have increased HRV, suggesting a mitigation of the typical age-dependent loss of HRV (Kristal-Boneh et al., 1995). Previous studies have suggested that music may have a physiological effect (e.g., fluctuating vitals, emotional changes) on cardiovascular parameters. However, little is known about …


Measuring Achilles Tendon Stiffness And Kinetics In-Vivo, Chloe L. Pinkston Jan 2025

Measuring Achilles Tendon Stiffness And Kinetics In-Vivo, Chloe L. Pinkston

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study aims to measure the gastrocnemii Achilles subtendon passive stiffness and energy storage during walking. Stiffness was first determined using a noninvasive method that combines ultrasound, motion capture, musculoskeletal modeling, and a force transducer. Eight healthy participants were tested using this method to obtain the passive force-displacement relationship of the Achilles tendon at two different knee angles to calculate stiffness of the gastrocnemii subtendon. A gait analysis session was then performed using ultrasound, motion capture, and an instrumented treadmill at self-selected slow, normal, and fast walking speeds, using stiffness to calculate the subtendon’s force and energy storage. Gastrocnemii Achilles …


Synthesis And Characterization Of Multifunctional Cerium Oxide Containing Nanoparticles For Biomedical Applications, Ishaan Patel Jan 2025

Synthesis And Characterization Of Multifunctional Cerium Oxide Containing Nanoparticles For Biomedical Applications, Ishaan Patel

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study presents the synthesis and comprehensive characterization of a novel core-shell nanoparticle composed of a maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) core and a europium-doped cerium oxide (EuCNP) shell, developed for potential use in cancer theranostics. Using a co-precipitation method, Fe2O3–EuCNP core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized and compared against control samples of CNPs, EuCNPs, and Fe2O3. A variety of characterization techniques, including UV-Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, XPS, DLS, TGA, and DSC confirmed the successful synthesis of core-shell architecture and europium doping. Moreover, Fe2O3–EuCNPs demonstrating strong colloidal …


Pharmacological Or Genetic Inhibition Of Ltcc Promotes Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Through Inhibition Of Calcineurin Activity, Lynn A. C. Devilée, Abou Bakr M. Salama, Jessica M. Miller, Janice D. Reid, Qinghui Ou, Nourhan M. Baraka, Kamal Abou Farraj, Madiha Jamal, Yibing Nong, Todd K. Rosengart, Douglas A. Andres, Jonathan Satin, Tamer M. A. Mohamed, James E. Hudson, Riham R. E. Abouleisa Jan 2025

Pharmacological Or Genetic Inhibition Of Ltcc Promotes Cardiomyocyte Proliferation Through Inhibition Of Calcineurin Activity, Lynn A. C. Devilée, Abou Bakr M. Salama, Jessica M. Miller, Janice D. Reid, Qinghui Ou, Nourhan M. Baraka, Kamal Abou Farraj, Madiha Jamal, Yibing Nong, Todd K. Rosengart, Douglas A. Andres, Jonathan Satin, Tamer M. A. Mohamed, James E. Hudson, Riham R. E. Abouleisa

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Cardiomyocytes (CMs) lost during ischemic cardiac injury cannot be replaced due to their limited proliferative capacity. Calcium is an important signal transducer that regulates key cellular processes, but its role in regulating CM proliferation is incompletely understood. Here we show a robust pathway for new calcium signaling-based cardiac regenerative strategies. A drug screen targeting proteins involved in CM calcium cycling in human embryonic stem cell-derived cardiac organoids (hCOs) revealed that only the inhibition of L-Type Calcium Channel (LTCC) induced the CM cell cycle. Furthermore, overexpression of Ras-related associated with Diabetes (RRAD), an endogenous inhibitor of LTCC, induced CM cell cycle …


Functional Assessment Of Migration And Adhesion To Quantify Cancer Cell Aggression, Lauren E. Mehanna, James D. Boyd, Chloe G. Walker, Adrianna R. Osborne, Martha E. Grady, Brad J. Berron Jan 2025

Functional Assessment Of Migration And Adhesion To Quantify Cancer Cell Aggression, Lauren E. Mehanna, James D. Boyd, Chloe G. Walker, Adrianna R. Osborne, Martha E. Grady, Brad J. Berron

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

During epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), cancer cells lose their cell–cell adhesion junctions as they become more metastatic, altering cell motility and focal adhesion disassembly associated with increased detachment from the primary tumor and a migratory response into nearby tissue and vasculature. Current in vitro strategies characterizing a cell’s metastatic potential heavily favor quantifying the presence of cell adhesion biomarkers through biochemical analysis; however, mechanical cues such as adhesion and motility directly relate to cell metastatic potential without needing to first identify a cell specific biomarker for a particular type of cancer. This paper presents a comprehensive comparison of two functional metrics …


Microscopic Analysis Of Temperature Effects On Surface Colonization And Biofilm Morphology Of Salmonella Enterica, Zachariah Vice, You Zhou, Sapna Chitlapilly Dass, Rong Wang Jan 2025

Microscopic Analysis Of Temperature Effects On Surface Colonization And Biofilm Morphology Of Salmonella Enterica, Zachariah Vice, You Zhou, Sapna Chitlapilly Dass, Rong Wang

Nebraska Center for Biotechnology: Faculty and Staff Publications

Salmonella enterica represents a diverse group of pathogens commonly associated with food contamination including red meat. Even though pre- and post-harvest cleaning and sanitization procedures are widely implemented at meat processing plants to mitigate the hazard, S. enterica cells may escape the process by colonizing, on contact, surfaces in the form of a biofilm that functions as an aggregated microbial community to facilitate mutual protection, antimicrobial resistance, proliferation and dissemination. Biofilm development is a complex process that can be affected by a variety of factors including environmental temperature. We developed methods using scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy with a …


Form And Function In Mobulids: A Comparative Analysis Of Filter Morphology With Bioinspiration Applications, J. B. Teeple, S. R. Kahane-Rapport, K. E. Cohen, L. Hamann, J. A. Strother, E. W. M. Paig-Tran Jan 2025

Form And Function In Mobulids: A Comparative Analysis Of Filter Morphology With Bioinspiration Applications, J. B. Teeple, S. R. Kahane-Rapport, K. E. Cohen, L. Hamann, J. A. Strother, E. W. M. Paig-Tran

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

Mobulas (manta and devil rays) are large-scale ram filter feeders that separate planktonic food particles from large volumes of water with minimal clogging. This contrasts with most human-made filters that can suffer from problematic clogging requiring additional mechanisms for clearing blocked surfaces and maintaining performance. Prior studies have shown that mobulas employ a unique mechanism referred to as ricochet separation to filter feed, whereby captive vortices in filter pores cause particles to bounce off the filter surfaces and away from the filter pores. This mechanism enables the filtration of particles smaller than the pore size and reduced clogging. However, few …


Decoding Tattoo And Permanent Makeup Pigments: Linking Physicochemical Properties To Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, And Elimination Profiles Using Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (Qsar)-Based New Approach Methodologies (Nams), Girija Bansod, Ajay Vikram Singh, Preeti Bhardwaj, Tulika Rai, Sweta Vijay Nakhale, Amruta Shelar, Rajendra Patil, Peter Laux, Andreas Luch, Christopher J. Osgood, Michael W. Stacey Jan 2025

Decoding Tattoo And Permanent Makeup Pigments: Linking Physicochemical Properties To Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, And Elimination Profiles Using Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship (Qsar)-Based New Approach Methodologies (Nams), Girija Bansod, Ajay Vikram Singh, Preeti Bhardwaj, Tulika Rai, Sweta Vijay Nakhale, Amruta Shelar, Rajendra Patil, Peter Laux, Andreas Luch, Christopher J. Osgood, Michael W. Stacey

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

The safety and quality of tattoo and permanent makeup (PMU) pigments are subject to increased scrutiny due to their potential to cause adverse effects like anaphylaxis, photoallergic responses, and long-term toxicity. These undesirable reactions governed by their chemical structure possess varied physicochemical properties and absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination (ADME) characteristics. These properties control the pigment behavior during application, stability, and interaction with human tissue. The correlation between these physicochemical characteristics and ADME parameters of tattoo/PMU pigments remain under-explored despite the current advances in toxicology. Our study aims to address and bridge the gap by leveraging open-access QSAR computational toxicology …


Finite Element Simulation Of Interstitial–Lymphatic Fluid Flow And Nanodrug Transport In A Solid Tumor: An Intratumoral Injection Approach, Gobinda Debnath, Buddakkagari Vasu, Rama Subba Reddy Gorla Jan 2025

Finite Element Simulation Of Interstitial–Lymphatic Fluid Flow And Nanodrug Transport In A Solid Tumor: An Intratumoral Injection Approach, Gobinda Debnath, Buddakkagari Vasu, Rama Subba Reddy Gorla

Faculty Publications

Objective: This study presents a mathematical model and finite element simulations to investigate interstitial fluid flow and nanodrug transport in a solid tumor, incorporating transvascular exchange, convection–diffusion–reaction dynamics, and intratumoral injection mechanisms. Impact Statement: Optimizing nanodrug distribution remains a critical challenge in cancer therapy. The proposed model advances nanomedicine by enhancing the mechanistic understanding of nanodrug transport in a solid tumor. Introduction: Cancer, a global threat, often manifests as solid tumors driven by uncontrolled cell growth. The heterogeneous microenvironment, lymphatic drainage, nano-bio interactions, and elevated interstitial fluid pressure (IFP) hinder effective nanodrug delivery. Nanoparticle (NP)-based drug delivery systems offer a …


Characterization Of Nanoplastic-Induced Exacerbation Of Asthmatic Pathophysiology In A Murine In Vivo Model, Keith Li Jan 2025

Characterization Of Nanoplastic-Induced Exacerbation Of Asthmatic Pathophysiology In A Murine In Vivo Model, Keith Li

Theses and Dissertations

As global plastic production increases, so does the environmental and biological presence of nanoplastics (NPs), raising growing concerns about their potential impact on human health. These particles have been detected in various organs, including the lungs, yet their role in respiratory inflammation remains largely unexplored. Emerging evidence suggests that NP exposure may influence immune responses in the lungs, particularly in individuals with preexisting conditions such as asthma. However, the specific ways in which these particles interact with allergen driven inflammation are still unclear.

In this study, a murine model of allergic airway inflammation was used to investigate how surface modified …


Intervertebral Lateral Bending Moment Differences In The Lumbar Spine Of Baseball Pitchers Across Throwing Velocities, Justin Humenay Jan 2025

Intervertebral Lateral Bending Moment Differences In The Lumbar Spine Of Baseball Pitchers Across Throwing Velocities, Justin Humenay

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction Baseball pitching imposes substantial mechanical demands on the lumbar spine, a crucial link in the kinetic chain responsible for transferring energy from the lower body to the upper extremity. While increased pitch velocity is associated with greater trunk forces the specific intervertebral loading patterns during high-velocity pitching remain unclear. This study investigates differences in lateral bending moments across lumbar spinal segments between collegiate pitchers throwing at high versus low velocities.

Methods Twenty right-handed collegiate pitchers were divided into two groups: high-velocity (n = 10, 90.3 ± 1.6 mph) and low-velocity (n = 10, 81.6 ± 1.1 mph). Motion capture …


Development Of A Mediation Model Of Pain Cognition In Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Daniel M. Sop Jan 2025

Development Of A Mediation Model Of Pain Cognition In Adult Patients With Sickle Cell Disease, Daniel M. Sop

Theses and Dissertations

Pain is a hallmark of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD), a genetic hemoglobinopathy characterized by chronic hemolytic anemia, vaso-occlusion, and organ damage. While acute vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) have been extensively studied, the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and its interplay with brain function remain unclear. This dissertation investigates the relationships between cerebral blood flow (CBF), fluid cognition, and pain sensitivity in adults with SCD, utilizing advanced imaging techniques and validated assessment tools.

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were employed to measure CBF and brain activity, respectively. Pain sensitivity was assessed using the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), and …


The Bacteriostatic, Regenerative, And Immunomodulatory Properties Of Extracellular Matrix Particles For Lung Injury, Keera P. Rhoads Jan 2025

The Bacteriostatic, Regenerative, And Immunomodulatory Properties Of Extracellular Matrix Particles For Lung Injury, Keera P. Rhoads

Theses and Dissertations

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a prevalent, life-threatening lung condition, affecting nearly 200,000 Americans annually, with a 40% international mortality rate. There is no cure for ARDS, and current pharmacological treatments have limited effectiveness. Symptoms can be mitigated with mechanical ventilation, though this often leads to ventilator-induced lung injuries (VILI) and puts critically ill patients at risk of infections, including ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). A promising therapeutic is the extracellular matrix (ECM), a complex network of structural proteins and bioactive molecules that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and prevent fibrosis. We aim to utilize the regenerative and immunomodulatory …


Rehabilitation In Stroke-Related Flexor Synergy, Shawn J. Dirocco Jan 2025

Rehabilitation In Stroke-Related Flexor Synergy, Shawn J. Dirocco

Theses and Dissertations

Upper extremity abnormal flexor synergy caused by stroke can impair individuals by coupling upper extremity muscles with deltoid activation. Previous studies have shown that reduction in deltoid loading can decrease flexor synergy. Robotic rehabilitation has the ability to allow for reduced deltoid loading while assisting or constraining joints along the arm to increase rehabilitation outcomes. The effects of higher degree of freedom low impedance robotics needs to be tested to learn how various parameters affect flexor synergy in comparison to end point robotics. During the first experiment, we tested 16 chronic stroke patients with flexor synergy problems in 3 tasks. …


Multimodal Imaging Of Protein-Based Biomaterials For Delivering Chemo-Agent Cargo For Glioblastoma Treatment In A Murine Model, Orin Mishkit Jan 2025

Multimodal Imaging Of Protein-Based Biomaterials For Delivering Chemo-Agent Cargo For Glioblastoma Treatment In A Murine Model, Orin Mishkit

Dissertations and Theses

Protein-based self-assembling biomaterials, known as Thermo-Responsive Assembled Proteins (TRAP), present meaningful potential as drug delivery carriers. These materials enable the controlled, slow release of poorly soluble chemotherapeutic agents, such as doxorubicin (Dox), while potentially reducing systemic off-target effects. In collaboration with multiple NYU labs, this study evaluated the efficacy of two TRAP variants—TRAP and F-TRAP—as drug delivery carriers in a xenograft mouse model of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

The primary objective was to compare the effectiveness of TRAP-loaded Dox (TRAP-DOX) to free Dox in achieving tumor extravasation and accumulation, facilitating sustained drug release. We hypothesized that the leaky vasculature of GBM …


Adaptation Of The Biodent For Spherical Microindentation To Determine Elastic Modulus In Small Rodent Bones, Mixame E. Jerome Jan 2025

Adaptation Of The Biodent For Spherical Microindentation To Determine Elastic Modulus In Small Rodent Bones, Mixame E. Jerome

Dissertations and Theses

Mechanical and material properties of bone are essential for understanding both normal skeletal function and the progression of bone-related diseases. Microindentation has become a widely used method for evaluating tissue mechanical properties of bone, as it samples the contributions of microarchitecture and composition. Microindentation using a standard pointed tip inherently introduces both elastic and plastic deformation into the material. In contrast, indentation with a spherical tip can be operated entirely in the elastic range, providing for a non-damaging test that has significant advantages over sharp indentation techniques. Moreover, a key advantage of using spherical indentation lies in its operation under …


Explorations Of Dna-Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Interactions To Develop Multiplexed Molecularly Specific Biosensors For Inflammation, Amelia K. Ryan Jan 2025

Explorations Of Dna-Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Interactions To Develop Multiplexed Molecularly Specific Biosensors For Inflammation, Amelia K. Ryan

Dissertations and Theses

Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) are central regulators of immune signaling and key biomarkers of disease, yet existing assays for their detection remain slow, invasive, and lack multiplexing ability. This dissertation advances the development of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) optical nanosensors capable of real-time, multiplexed, and molecularly specific cytokine detection through innovative use of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) interfaces.

First, an IL-6-specific DNA aptamer was employed as both a dispersing agent and recognition probe for SWCNT fluorescence sensing. Sequence modifications, including anchor domains, truncations, and thermally induced refolding, were systematically tested to optimize sensitivity and selectivity. The …


Advancing Electrical Stimulation: Full-Head Mri Segmentation For Abnormal Brain Anatomy With Tdcs, Andrew Birnbaum Jan 2025

Advancing Electrical Stimulation: Full-Head Mri Segmentation For Abnormal Brain Anatomy With Tdcs, Andrew Birnbaum

Dissertations and Theses

Evaluating the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is essential for guiding its integration into therapeutic and performance-enhancement applications. In our laboratory, we investigate the efficacy of tDCS across multiple experimental models, including both animal and human studies. I have contributed significantly to the execution and analysis of these experiments, which include studies in rats and healthy human participants aimed at evaluating whether electrical stimulation of the motor cortex can enhance motor learning. These studies assess improvements in fine motor performance resulting from tDCS. In stroke patients, I contribute to our investigation of tDCS as a rehabilitative intervention, particularly …


Wearable Disposable Elecetrotherapy, Mohamad Fallahrad Jan 2025

Wearable Disposable Elecetrotherapy, Mohamad Fallahrad

Dissertations and Theses

Non-invasive electrotherapies offer promising treatments for a wide range of conditions such as pain, headaches, depression, addiction, cognitive decline, wound healing, and drug delivery. However, patient compliance remains low due to the high initial cost, cumbersomeness and inconvenience of existing technology compared to pharmaceuticals. Current electrotherapy devices are often bulky and require users to connect disposable electrodes, initiate programs, and manage charging cycles, which hinders widespread adoption.

We address these challenges by designing and validating a novel electrotherapy platform that is single-use, disposable, low-cost, and wearable. Activated automatically upon skin contact, the device delivers a preset dose of controlled electrical …