Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering Commons^™

Enhancing Algae Biofilm Quantity And Value Through Controlled Light Intensity For Treatment Of Municipal Anaerobic Digestor Effluent, Joshua D. Wintch, Ronald C. Sims

Biological Engineering Student Research

Rotating algae biofilm reactors (RABRs) have been shown to remove nutrients from wastewater and to cultivate algae for bioproducts. Another key variable in RABR technology for cultivating microalgae biomass is light intensity. The goal of this study was to address a gap in the design and operation of algae biofilm reactors by analyzing the effects of light intensity on biomass quality and quantity, chemical precipitation of phosphorus, and phosphorus uptake into biomass. This study utilized a triplicate laboratory-scale experiment with PAR intensities from 10 to 2000 µmol m⁻²·s⁻¹. Municipal wastewater anaerobic digester effluent (ADE) was utilized …

Deciphering The Rules Of Odor-Driven Learning In The Fruit Fly Olfactory System, Cole B. Hanan

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Odorant identity is encoded by patterns of activity across olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) and their corresponding glomeruli in the antennal lobe (AL). An odorant's valence can be modified by experience, allowing animals to associate previously neutral odors with appetitive or aversive outcomes. However, some odors appear resistant to such reassignment, and the factors determining whether an odor can acquire learned valence and whether that association generalizes to chemically related odors remain poorly understood. This thesis uses Drosophila melanogaster to address this question using a fully automated proboscis extension reflex (PER) conditioning assay. Odorants are presented via a computer-controlled olfactometer, reward …

A Functional Ultrasound Imaging (Fusi) Pipeline For Investigating Brain-Wide Hemodynamics During Torpor-Like Hypothermia, Owen J. Culver

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Torpor is a regulated state of reduced metabolic demand that enables animals to conserve energy under unfavorable environmental conditions. The controlled induction of a similar state, termed synthetic torpor, has potential applications in ischemic protection, organ preservation, cancer treatment, radiation protection, and long-term spaceflight. Although neuronal populations within the preoptic hypothalamus have been shown to initiate hypothermic and hypometabolic states, the distributed cerebral hemodynamic dynamics accompanying their induction and maintenance remain poorly understood. In this thesis, we developed an accessible functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI) acquisition and analysis pipeline and applied it to investigate cerebral hemodynamics during chemogenetic activation of the …

Designing And Evolving The Life Support System For Spacex Starship: Toward Closed-Loop Sustainability For Mars Missions, Frányerson R. López Ochoa

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The development of a robust Life Support System (LSS) is essential for enabling long-duration human spaceflight beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO), particularly for missions to Mars. SpaceX Starship represents a next-generation spacecraft designed to support such missions; however, its Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) remains under active development. This work evaluates the current status of Starship’s LSS by analyzing publicly available data, NASA Human Landing System requirements, and heritage systems such as the International Space Station (ISS) ECLSS and Crew Dragon.

Environmental Ethics Of Plastics And Microplastics Manufacturing: Balancing Industrial Production And Ecological Responsibility, Arindam Gupta

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

The global production of plastics has increased dramatically over the past several decades, providing substantial economic and societal benefits while simultaneously generating complex environmental and ethical challenges. A growing body of research has identified microplastics—plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters—as persistent pollutants that accumulate in aquatic ecosystems, soil systems, and the atmosphere. These particles originate both from the degradation of larger plastic products and from direct industrial production processes used in plastics manufacturing. The ethical implications of plastics and microplastics production raise important questions about environmental responsibility, regulatory oversight, and the balance between economic development and ecological sustainability. This project …

A Myoelectric Prosthesis Utilizing A Convolutional Neural Network And Signal Processing, Hope Lea, Katherine Clark, Francis Genco, Carolyn Ascha Richardson, Tobiah Rosser

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

A Myoelectric Prosthesis Utilizing A Convolutional Neural Network and Signal Processing   Commercially available myoelectric prostheses for transradial amputees utilize electromyography (EMG) sensors to observe electrical signals from superficial muscle contractions and control robotic fingers, yet often have flaws regarding adaptability and dexterity. These devices require users to learn awkward muscle patterns, as the EMG placement and gesture recognition does not consider how humans would normally think about moving their hand. Additionally, the number of available gestures is more limited, as the devices are threshold-based and do not sample enough muscles. This work seeks to address these issues by creating a …

Mri-Based Estimation Of The Hip Joint Center In Infants Using Two Sphere-Fitting Methods, Victoria Melendez

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Accurate estimation of the hip joint center (HJC) is critical for biomechanical modeling and clinical assessment. Common methods include predictive methods (e.g., regression equations) and functional methods such as sphere-fitting. In infants, femoral head-based methods are often limited due to incomplete ossification of the anatomy and poor visualization in computed tomography (CT) images. This study evaluates an alternative approach using MRI-based sphere fitting of the ossified acetabular rim, comparing its accuracy to traditional femoral head-based methods. MRI scans of three male infants (ages 10.7- 12.7 months) were used to manually place landmarks on the ossified acetabulum and the cartilaginous boundary …

Apical-Out Lung Organoids: A Platform For Spaceflight And Cf Research, Valeria Jimenez, Ally Schwennesen

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

A genetic condition known as cystic fibrosis (CF) is brought on by mutations in the CFTR gene, which results in chronic lung inflammation and impaired chloride ion transport. CF bronchial epithelial cells enable direct comparison of disease pathology, while normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells offer an essential model for researching airway physiology. Realistic modeling of respiratory tissue and its reaction to environmental stressors like microgravity is made possible by the creation of 3D lung organoids from these cells. In this project, we developed apical-out organoids, which expose the apical surface of epithelial cells to the external environment. These organoids …

Assessing Non-Thermal Plasma In Cutaneous Regeneration, Arden Rodriguez, Meliah Martin, Graeme Grainger, Arineh Shahbazi

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Chronic and acute wounds remain a significant clinical challenge, particularly in austere and resource-limited environments where access to advanced care is restricted. Non-Thermal Plasma (NTP) has emerged as a promising, non-invasive modality with reported antimicrobial and regenerative properties; however, its mechanisms of action and effects on human skin tissue require further characterization. The scope of this project is to engineer and utilize a 3D human skin epithelial model to evaluate the effects of NTP on wound healing. We will first build a 3D epithelial tissue model that will simulate human skin, followed by modeling and evaluation of wound pathology and …

Restoration And Instrumentation Of A Cantilever Beam Model Using Strain Gauge Measurement, Ana Paula Guevara

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This project aims to restore and modernize an instructional cantilever beam model with a C‑shaped cross‑section used in Aerospace Structures courses, addressing the need for updated, hands‑on teaching tools that connect theoretical stress–strain concepts to real experimental data. The existing model, previously limited to qualitative demonstrations, is being rehabilitated and instrumented with a bonded strain gauge capable of detecting resistance changes under applied bending loads. These signals are processed through an Arduino‑based data acquisition system, which converts electrical resistance into strain values and displays them in real time on an LCD interface. The project’s objectives are to return the beam …

Interactive Effects Of Tissue Temperature And Hydration State On Tendon Mechanical Properties Using A Chicken Drumstick Model, Makayla Maso, Kiara Maso, Mikayla Hulvey

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

This study focused on the effects of temperature and hydration on tendon extensibility. Four experimental groups were tested using chicken leg tendons tested ex vivo: cold and dehydrated, cold and hydrated, warm and dehydrated, and warm and hydrated. Each treatment group was pulled with an increasing load and measured. It was hypothesized that the warm and hydrated test group would extend the furthest. This was based on studies citing increased bodily flexibility with increasing body temperature as well as stiffness at lower temperatures. Combining temperature and hydration state allowed for not only individual effects of variables to be tested but …

Simulating Pacemakers And Heartbeat Recovery Through Mathematical Modeling, Thomas Estrada, Jayla Edwards

Discovery Day - Daytona Beach

Title: Simulating Pacemakers and Heartbeat Recovery Through Mathematical Modeling   This study utilizes the Fitzhugh-Nagumo model to simulate cardiac electrical activity and the regulatory role of pacemakers through ordinary differential equations (ODEs). By defining the rate of change for membrane voltage, 𝑑𝑣/dt, and a recovery variable, 𝑑𝑤/dt, the model captures the heart's excitability and resting states. Central to the analysis is the stimulus current parameter, which represents the "kick" provided by a pacemaker to correct flatline conditions or weak heartbeats. Using Euler’s method for numerical integration, the research compares unstable cardiac rhythms against corrected periodic oscillations. Additionally, the project implements vector …

Single Fluorogens And Orientation-Localization Microscopy For Quantifying Chemical And Biomolecular Dynamics At The Nanoscale, Yiyang Chen, Yuanxin Qiu, Matthew D. Lew

Electrical & Systems Engineering Publications and Presentations

Many chemical systems look uniform only because ensemble measurements average over their most interesting molecules. Electron-transfer rates vary across electrode surfaces; lipid membranes contain nanodomains with distinct packing and fluidity; peptide aggregates exhibit local polymorphism; and biomolecular condensates contain transient networks of interactions that are blurred in ensemble images. A central challenge in chemical imaging is not simply to see smaller structures, but to measure chemical variables such as polarity, redox potential, and molecular confinement at the single-molecule level. In this Account, we describe how fluorogens, molecules whose brightness, blinking, spectral shifts, orientation, rotational mobility, and motion are directly shaped …

Isolation, Identification, And Enzymatic Screening Of Fungi From Utah Dryland Soils For Industrial And Waste Valorization Applications, Jessica Lorena Silva Cuero

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Agricultural waste accumulation presents environmental challenges but also opportunities for biological valorization into value-added products. Fungi are particularly well-suited for this purpose due to their capacity to produce extracellular enzymes involved in the degradation of complex organic substrates. Dryland ecosystems represent a promising source for bioprospecting microbes capable of producing such enzymes. Drylands harbor a high diversity of extremophilic microorganisms that can withstand harsh conditions, extreme heat, UV, and low nutrients using unique adaptations. This suggests that these microbes are resilient and capable of surviving under varying conditions and still produce enzymes for biotransformation. The objective of this study was …

Multidimensional Determinants Of Gait, Balance, And Softball Performance In Female Youth: Biomechanics, Resource Access, And Psychosocial Factors, Allie G. Mcauliffe

Master's Theses

Movement quality is a fundamental indicator of healthy childhood development and supports physical, emotional, psychosocial, and cognitive well-being. Movement quality is influenced by multiple biomechanical, environmental, and psychosocial factors, yet the relationships among them remain poorly understood in underrepresented populations such as female youth, particularly in softball. Previous studies have largely examined biomechanics, resource access, and psychosocial experience independently, and few have investigated how these factors interact in female youth softball players. To address this gap, this study compared gait and balance characteristics between softball (N = 34) and non-softball (N = 7) female youth, examined associations between resource access, …

Computational And Ai Tools For Understanding Telomere-Associated Cancer Mechanisms, Eleni Adam

Computer Science Theses & Dissertations

Telomeres are the protective caps of the human chromosomes and are critical for genome stability. Dysfunctional telomeres caused by their erosion with age and cell proliferation as well as by defects in their maintenance is a major early event leading to genome changes and cancer. Subtelomeres possess the critical role of regulating adjacent telomeres. Due to their complex repeat structure and high variance from one person to another, these areas have not been analyzed in detail. We present a set of computational and machine learning tools to aid in the understanding of subtelomere structure and its rearrangements in cancer.

Initially, …

Cadmium Biosorption By Fusarium Venenatum And Its Application In Functional Permeable Materials For Metal Removal, Bradley Lawson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Heavy metals are pollutants of increasing concern as continued industrialization and urbanization have escalated the discharge of these toxins into aquatic environments. Cadmium (Cd) is a metal of particular concern due to its acute toxicity and high mobility in aquatic ecosystems. Given these characteristics Cd poses significant health risks to both humans and aquatic ecosystems. The continued development of sustainable, low-cost remediation technology is imperative to manage metal pollution.

This research explores the use of fungal-based remediation systems to remove Cd from contaminated water. Living biomass of the filamentous fungus Fusarium venenatum was evaluated as a biosorbent material for Cd …

Time-Frequency Analysis Of Arterial Pulse Signals Of Cardiovascular Disease Patients Measured By A Microfluidic-Based Tactile Sensor, Md Mahfuzur Rahman

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation presents a single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) based time–frequency analysis framework that can simultaneously extract a comprehensive set of cardiovascular autonomic indices from arterial pulse wave recordings obtained at rest and post-exercise, supporting non-invasive monitoring of autonomic recovery during cardiac rehabilitation. The framework rests on three technical contributions.

First, an SDOF analytical model of motion artefacts quantifies two physically distinct distortion mechanisms: additive baseline drift and Time-Varying System Parameter (TVSP) generated distortion of the Tissue-Contact-Sensor (TCS) stack. Baseline drift is slowly varying and removable by filtering; TVSP distortion rides on all harmonics of the true pulse signal and cannot be removed …

Evaluation Of Ostomy Pouching Change Practices Among Hospital-Based And Community-Based Nurses, Hannah Gerlach

All Theses

An estimated 725,000 to 1 million Americans are living with an ostomy and depend on ostomy pouching systems as part of their daily care. Effective ostomy management requires regular pouch changes and consistent skin care to prevent peristomal skin complications. Many individuals living with an ostomy face long-term challenges in managing their ostomy care, which can negatively affect their health-related quality of life. There is a need to understand how professional experience across different care environments, such as hospital-based and community-based settings, influences ostomy nursing care practices.

This study evaluates how nurses working in hospital-based settings and community-based settings perform …

A Surface-Bound Detection Architecture For Label-Free Evanescent-Wave Sensing Of Cobalt In Complex Fluids, Jeremiah W. Carpenter

All Dissertations

Cobalt exposure is a clinical concern in orthopedic implant surveillance, where cobalt-chromium wear debris can release ions detectable in blood and urine, and an environmental concern in mining-affected and industrial water systems. Reference laboratory methods, including inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, provide sensitive quantification but require centralized instrumentation, trained personnel, and controlled sample handling, which limits their availability for routine screening in decentralized clinical and environmental contexts. This dissertation develops a surface-bound detection architecture for label-free evanescent-wave sensing of cobalt in complex fluids. The architecture rests on a physical necessity argument grounded in interfacial optics: at physiologically and environmentally relevant …

Laponite Nanosilicate As A Platform For Antigen–Adjuvant Co-Delivery In Vaccination, Haoyu Qi

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Nanosilicates are two-dimensional, charged nanomaterials with tunable surface chemistry that enable electrostatic interactions with proteins and nucleic acids. These properties make Laponite nanosilicate a promising platform for vaccine delivery, where coordinated antigen–adjuvant presentation and lymph node delivery are important for shaping immune responses. This thesis investigated nanosilicates as scaffolds for lysozyme-based antigen delivery and co-delivery with CpG.

The preparation method reduced the apparent size of the NS–Lys–CpG complex at pH 10, although neutralization to pH 7 promoted larger aggregate formation. In vivo IVIS imaging after footpad injection showed persistent Cy7-associated fluorescence at the injection site for up to three weeks …

Lipid Peroxidation And Neurodegeneration In Niemann-Pick Type C Disease, Andrew J. Tolan

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

This thesis investigated the role of lipid peroxidation in Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, a rare lysosomal storage disorder characterized by significant neurodegeneration, with a focus on its relationship to cholesterol accumulation and regional brain susceptibility to neurodegeneration. I hypothesized that cholesterol accumulation could lead to lipid peroxidation through non-enzymatic processes, independent of cell death or inflammation. In vitro experiments demonstrated higher levels of cholesterol accumulation and lipid peroxidation in NPC cells. Transcriptomic analysis of NPC mouse brains revealed significant upregulation of lipid peroxidation-related pathways in the more susceptible cerebellum compared to the cerebral cortex. Lipidomic analysis revealed higher baseline …

Mapping And Modeling Threat-Evoked Brain States After Early Life Adversity, Taylor W. Uselman

Biomedical Sciences ETDs

Early life adversity (ELA) increases lifelong neuropsychiatric vulnerability. Yet how ELA reorganizes brain-wide activity and circuit coordination across later experience remains unclear. This dissertation tests the hypothesis that ELA alters adult brain-wide activity and responses to threat through disrupted coordination among neural systems that regulate emotional experience, including prefrontal-limbic and monoaminergic systems. Longitudinal manganese-enhanced MRI of adult mice exposed to standard or fragmented early care, combined with computational processing and statistical modeling, quantified brain states before, during, and long after innate predator threat. These studies established that acute threat evokes large-scale, distributed brain activity that evolves over time. ELA potentiates …

Straw As A Potential Vegetable Fibre Insulative Infill In Framed Constructions - Material Testing\Tnotereftnote1, Patrick Daly

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The construction sector faces increasing pressure to reduce embodied carbon and adopt circular material strategies, with bio-based materials offering a promising pathway. Straw-based insulation, particularly in loose-fill form, has gained traction in Europe, where several products have achieved certification under EAD 040138-01-1201. This study investigates the potential of Irish-processed straw chip as a bio-based insulative infill for framed construction by evaluating its material properties and thermal conductivity–density performance relative to European ETA-certified reference products. A programme of laboratory testing was undertaken on commercially available Irish straw samples, including material characterisation (moisture content, particle morphology, and dust content) and thermal conductivity …

Development And Characterization Of Mycelium-Based Biocomposites From Ganoderma Lucidum Using Spent Yerba Mate And Residual Sunflower Oil For Sustainable Insulation In Construction, Paula V. Alfieri, Guadalupe Canosa

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

The construction industry urgently requires sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based insulation materials such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) and mineral wool. Mycelium-based biocomposites offer a promising solution by valorizing agricultural waste while delivering competitive thermal and acoustic performance. In this study, developed and characterized biocomposites using Ganoderma lucidum mycelium combined with spent yerba mate and residual sunflower oil (70 g/30 mL), both commonly generated as waste in Argentine institutions. Two formulations were evaluated: high density (HD: 280 ± 5 kg/m³) and low density (LD: 185 ± 5 kg/m³). Samples were cultivated for 90 days at 28 °C and 65% relative humidity and …

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment Of Hemp Walls In Residential Construction In Morocco, Hicham Kaddouri, Rachida Elbarghmi, Firyal Latrache, Marwane Hammouti, Abderrahim Abidouche, Ismael Driouch

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study analyzes the energy and environmental performance of hemp-based wall solutions applied to Moroccan residential buildings by combining dynamic thermal simulation and life cycle assessment (LCA). A reference building is assessed under four representative Moroccan climates (Al Hoceima, Oujda, Marrakech, and Ouarzazate), comparing a conventional wall retrofitted with hemp plaster and a wall incorporating hemp concrete. The results show that hemp concrete significantly reduces annual heating and cooling energy demands by 20–24% depending on the climate, with heating needs decreasing by up to 40% and cooling needs by approximately 15%, particularly in hot and arid regions. The LCA reveals …

Dual-Waste Integration For Geotechnical Improvement: Silica Fume And Eggshell Ash In Kaolin Soil Stabilization, Ng Jun Shen, Muzamir Hasan, Siti Sarah Eliyun, Md. Ikramul Hoque, Mohamad Afiq Jazrin Mohamad Sidek

Journal of Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies

This study reveals the potential substitution of silica fume and eggshell ash in the technique of soil stabilization, varying across distinct proportions in the modification of geotechnical parameters. The untreated kaolinitic soil which has low soil bearing capacity in nature is frequently reflected in its mechanical instability, for instance, soil settlement and extreme compressibility. By associating the industrial and agricultural material, it is potentially to resolve the above-mentioned issues with explicit designs. A number of laboratory approaches have been implemented in the assessment of basic geotechnical properties, including grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, proctor properties, and shear strength …

Research On Development Strategy Of China’S High-End Medical Device Industry, Liu Zhihong, Hui Zhu, Wei Wu, Jiani Li, Yingke Xu, Jianxin Zhang

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

High-end medical device industry serves as a critical technological foundation for modern healthcare systems and represents an important indicator of a country’s innovation capacity, advanced manufacturing capability, and industrial governance effectiveness. Amid intensifying global technological competition, upgrading healthcare demands, reshaping regulatory regimes and restructuring global supply chains, promoting the high-quality development of the high-end medical device industry has become essential for enhancing indigenous innovation capacity and ensuring industrial security. This study examines international experiences from the United States, Germany, Japan, and other countries in innovation ecosystem development, regulatory review optimization, market payment incentives, participation in international rules, and governance of …

Engineering Fsh-Cer T Cells To Enhance Response To Epithelial Ovarian Cancer, Nolan J. Beatty

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ovarian cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality, with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) being the most common subtype. Despite advances in treatment, the 5-year survival rate for late-stage EOC remains low due to factors such as tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). This study investigates the therapeutic potential of chimeric endocrine receptor (CER) T cells engineered to express follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in a syngeneic mouse model of EOC expressing follicle stimulating hormone receptor (ID8-FSHR). We compared two different co-stimulatory domains—CD28ζ and 4-1BBζ—in FSH-CER T cells and found that FSH-CD28ζ CER T cells exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity, proliferation, …

Upar-Guided Dendrimer Gel Nanoparticles Reprogram Inflammation To Stabilize Atherosclerotic Plaques, Hsin Yin Chuang, Huari Kou, Yue-Wern Huang, Hu Yang

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Atherosclerosis is characterized by lipid deposition, chronic inflammation, and apoptosis within the arterial wall, leading to plaque progression and instability. Current lipid-lowering therapies fail to fully address residual cardiovascular risk driven by local inflammation and cell death. Here, we report the development of uPA-functionalized, rapamycin-encapsulated dendrimer nanoparticles (G5PM-uPA/RA) that preferentially accumulate in urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR)-enriched atherosclerotic plaque, including macrophage- and apoptosis-rich lesion microenvironments. G5PM-uPA/RA was constructed by cross-linking reaction-enabled flash nanoprecipitation in a custom-made multi-inlet vortex mixer, followed by thiol-maleimide conjugation of uPA for uPAR-guided targeting. The nanoparticles demonstrated uniform morphology, favorable stability, and efficient rapamycin loading. In …