Biological Engineering Commons^™

Application Of Microbial Fuel Cells For Leachate Bioremediation: The Effects Of Nutrient Nourishment, Umi Sholikah, Fidela Chosta, Tegar Palyus Fiqar, Eka Masrifatus Anifah, Riza Hudayarizka, Tadashi Hibino

Makara Journal of Science

Leachate contains a high organic content, which can cause environmental pollution. The organic content in leachate can be removed through bioremediation using microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems to remediate pollutants and generate bioelectricity. Organic matter is important to the MFC process as both a substrate and a nutrient source. This study investigated the effects of glucose and sodium phosphate buffer nourishment on BOD, COD, and TSS removal and bioelectricity generation. This study used leachate as a substrate and a graphite rod with a surface area of about 32.98 cm² as an electrode. The reactor uses plastic blocks with a …

Comprehensive Mechatronic Design Methodology For 6-Dof Stationary Lower Limb Rehabilitation Exoskeleton Robot With Safety-Integrated Control Architecture, Javlonbek Rakhmatillaev Mr., Nodirbek Kimsanboyev Mr., Umidjon Takabaev Mr., Zafar Juraev3 Dr.

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper presents the mechatronic design of a proposed six-degree-of-freedom (6-DOF) stationary lower limb rehabilitation exoskeleton (SLLRE) robot, developed through a comprehensive mechatronic design methodology that includes mechanical design, actuator and sensor selection, and the development of a control structure based on a safety-oriented control approach. The proposed 6-DOF SLLRE mechanical design introduces a comprehensive mechanical structure comprising bilateral hip, knee, and ankle joints, degrees of freedom, joint ranges of motion, human parameters for rehabilitation training, as well as the frames and structural elements of the proposed system. Furthermore, the selection of appropriate sensors, actuators, and control architecture for the …

Optimizing Beer Fermentation Through Intelligent Control, Azizbek Nodirbekovich Yusupbekov, Mirjalol Yusupov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper presents an intelligent control approach for optimizing the beer fermentation process using fuzzy logic and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems. By incorporating multivariable inputs—temperature error and pH deviation—the proposed system effectively handles the nonlinear dynamics and biological variability inherent in fermentation. Simulation results demonstrate improved control accuracy, responsiveness, and robustness compared to conventional methods, making the approach suitable for integration in modern brewery automation systems.

Harnessing Environmentally Healthy Approaches For Plastic Degradation: A Review And Future Perspectives, Marc Chojnacki

Beyond: Undergraduate Research Journal

In the face of escalating plastic pollution, innovative degradation strategies, such as enzymatic degradation, smokeless incineration technology, and biodegradable plastics, are gaining traction. This paper collates comprehensive research on these methods, assessing their environmental impact and operational feasibility. A special focus is placed on the role of technology and its capacity to spark advancements in these degradation strategies as well as to draw on specific research to understand the economic implications of these methods. At the core of this study is the exploration of potential new, inventive degradation methodologies. Through examining methods of green plastic degradation, the study aims to …

A Smart System For Detecting Anatomic And Histological Symptoms Of Diseased Agricultural Plants, Rustam Baratov, Himola Sunnatillayeva, Alimardon Mamatovich Mustafoqulov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This study describes a novel agricultural plant disease detecting smart system, capable of handling measured plant body parameters and images received by high resolution camera at the same time. The proposed plant disease detection method is based on evaluation of the signals received by measured and controlled plant body physical parameters like resistance, temperature and capacitance of the plant stem and image processing. An analogue plant model based on an electrical circuit with distributed parameters was developed. In addition, in the article the block diagram of the smart system for the early detection of plant diseases, the circuit diagram, its …

A Hybrid Ai-Based Framework For Real-Time Epileptic Seizure Detection In Intracranial Eeg Signals Using Brain-Computer Interfaces, Ahmed, M. Salaheldin Dr., Manal Abdel Wahed Prof., Neven Saleh

Future Engineering Journal

Epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder that can significantly impact an individual's quality of life. This study proposes a novel method for the detection and mitigation of epileptic seizures through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and a brain-computer interface (BCI) system. Statistical features were extracted from intracranial electroencephalography (IEEG) signals using a multi-resolution decomposition technique and used to train five classification algorithms: support vector machines (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN), Naïve Bayes (NB), artificial neural networks (ANN), and long short-term memory (LSTM). The model demonstrated strong performance, achieving classification accuracies of 98.28% (SVM), 93.88% (KNN), 95.73% (NB), 95.73% (ANN), and …

Fundus Retinal Images And Glaucoma Detection, Lama Alsabban, Malak Alnahdi, Nema Salem

Effat Undergraduate Research Journal

Abstract. Glaucoma is a severe eye disease that has no symptoms and, globally, it is the second cause of blindness. Glaucoma causes structural changes in the retina that make ophthalmologists detecting the disease in early stage and thus provide the suitable treatment. Fundus camera is an imaging technique that provides the fundus image showing the internal structure of retina. Our project provides an automated system for early detection of Glaucoma. The proposed system based MATLAB starts by acquiring the fundus image, followed by preprocessing stage, going through noise removal, enhancement, segmentation, feature extraction and ends up by the classification stage. …

Change Of Carbohydrate Concentration In Reactors From Spring To Fall 2022 After Refrigeration, Amanda Ventura

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Conserved Eukaryotic Gene Products In Novel Mycobacteriophage, Brandon Mar, Jade Coxon, Lily Esterline, Sydney Clifford, Gabriella Burke, Mallory Motz, Alaina Gartner, Kioni Bush, James Lin, Lizzie Adams, Sophia Palant

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Bacteriophage, a type of virus that infects bacteria, was discovered 100 years ago, initially isolated with a plaque assay in the 1940s. A mycobacteriophage is a subtype of bacteriophage that specifically infects mycobacteria. Since the introduction of DNA technologies and efforts to identify a plethora of bacteriophages, over 10,000 bacteriophages have been identified with 1,500 sequenced. Bacteriophage discovery has aided in genetic editing techniques, the development of synthetic biology tools, and disease treatment. However, to be able to expand on these capabilities, there is a need to identify more bacteriophages and sequence the genomes of these viruses, as they outnumber …

Jovial Family Farm Facilitates Intergenerational Learning Opportunities Through Urban Farming, Maera Williams

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

Maera Williams is a sophomore in Environmental and Ecological Engineering at Purdue University. She joined the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) Urban Farming team as a freshman and now serves as project manager of ten undergraduate students collaborating with Jovial Family Farm to design and develop three indoor hydroponics systems for a laboratory space on their property in Broad Ripple, IN. Jovial Family Farm is a nonprofit organization founded by Drs. Bobbie and Brian Jellison with the mission to provide senior citizens, their families, and their communities with meaningful engagement opportunities on an intergenerational scale through urban agricultural activities. …

Exploring Human Aging Proteins Based On Deep Autoencoders And K-Means Clustering, Sondos M. Hammad, Mohamed Talaat Saidahmed, Elsayed A. Sallam, Reda Elbasiony

Journal of Engineering Research

Aging significantly affects human health and the overall economy, yet understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms remains limited. Among all human genes, almost three hundred and five have been linked to human aging. While certain subsets of these genes or specific aging-related genes have been extensively studied. There has been a lack of comprehensive examination encompassing the entire set of aging-related genes. Here, the main objective is to overcome understanding based on an innovative approach that combines the capabilities of deep learning. Particularly using One-Dimensional Deep AutoEncoder (1D-DAE). Followed by the K-means clustering technique as a means of unsupervised learning. …

Consolidated Chamber Design And Protocol For Olfactory Conditioning Assay With Drosophila Melanogaster, Sasha Bronovitskiy, Andres Castillo, Michael Yan, Fang Ju Lin

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

The olfactory conditioning assay is widely used in Alzheimer’s disease research to quantify learning and memory in Drosophila melanogaster. The assay tests ability to recall an aversive conditioned stimulus of scent paired with electrical shock when presented a choice between shock-associated and unrelated scents. The T-maze, a commonly used apparatus for olfactory conditioning assays, employs an elevator mechanism to transfer live flies from the shock-delivering training chamber to the scent selection point. This elevator mechanism is known to cause fly casualty. T-mazes are not commercially available and often difficult to reproduce. Other existing variations of olfactory conditioning apparatuses use …

The Tin Man Needs A Heart: A Proposed Framework For The Regulation Of Bioprinted Organs, Linda Foit

Fordham Law Review

Each day, seventeen people die in the United States while waiting for an organ transplant. At least part of this need could be met by bioprinting, a technology that allows the on-demand production of custom-sized organs from a patient’s own cells. The field of bioprinting is progressing rapidly: the first bioprinted organs have already entered the clinic. Yet, developers of bioprinted organs face significant uncertainty as to how their potentially lifesaving products will be regulated—and by which government agency. Such regulatory uncertainty has the potential to decrease investment and stifle innovation in this promising technological field. This Note examines how …

Visualizing Bacteriophage Evolution Through Sequence And Structural Phylogeny Of Lysin A And Terminase Proteins: An Analysis Of Protein Structure Across Phage Clusters, Maansi Asthana, Alyssa Easton, Julia Mollenhauer, Sean Renwick, Anita Golpalrathnam

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Understanding how genes evolve and persist is a critical part of viral genomics. Bacteriophages can provide unique insight about viral evolution because of their abundance and largely unexplored history. Traditionally, phylogenetic trees have used DNA sequence comparison to visualize evolutionary paths between organisms. However, DNA sequence similarity does not reflect key alterations to protein structure and therefore how the protein performs its function. Phylogenetic trees based on predicted protein structure could provide an alternative lens through which to view evolutionary paths. From each of the 10 largest clusters included in the Actinobacteriophage Database, three mycobacteriophage genomes were selected. Lysin A …

Design Of A 3d Printed Bioreactor For Bone Cancer Research, Brooklyn K. Vanderwolde, Katelyn Hillson

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Bone cancer is an aggressive disease and has peak occurrence during physiological stimulation of growth and aging. Astronauts who undergo long-term space missions also acquire an increased risk of bone tissue degeneration and cancer. Few in-vitro models currently exist capable of reproducing the complex microenvironment of bone tissue to support multicellular activity in a three-dimensional structure. This limits the ability to understand disease progression and develop suitable treatment strategies. Therefore, developing a bone tissue model and an associated bioreactor is critical to understand the risks associated with cancer progression and improve treatment and preventions related to those risks. The goal …

"When The Enemy Drew Our Attention": Reconsidering Prior Restraint In The Context Of Dual Use Research Of Concern, Caine Caverly

William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal

Through 2016 and 2017, a team led by Canadian virologist David Evans, and funded by an American pharmaceutical company, attempted to synthesize the previously extinct horsepox virus. After just six months and an expenditure of $100,000, the research team was able to successfully construct the virus “using only commercially available information, technology and tools.” In January of 2018, the team went on to publish their information in an American-based journal, PLOS ONE.

The publication was controversial because it included a potential “blueprint” for the synthesis of a genetic strand in the same viral family as the highly lethal, albeit eradicated, …

Gender And Participation In An Engineering Problem-Based Learning Environment, Laura Hirshfield, Milo D. Koretsky

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

The use of problem-based learning (PBL) is gaining attention in the engineering classroom as a way to help students synthesize foundational knowledge and to better prepare students for practice. In this work, we study the discourse interactions between 27 student teams and two instructors in an engineering PBL environment to analyze how participation is distributed among team members, paying particular attention to the differences between male and female students. There were no statistically significant differences between the amount that male and female students spoke; however, stereotypical gender roles and traditional gendered behavior did manifest in the discussion. Also, regardless of …

Terahertz Imaging Platform To Characterize The Growth Of In-Vitro Breast Tumors, Scarlett-Marie Acklin

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

This study aimed at evaluating the ideal plating method and density for imaging with the terahertz (THz) spectrometer. In this study, different methods were used to grow in-vitro tumors using the 4T1 cell line. Here, attempts to grow breast tumors in-vitro were conducted. Results were produced in two environments, flat-bottomed plates and round-bottomed multiwell plates. The second method allowed for faster clumping and increased cell aggregation, producing tumors up to 7mm. Terahertz spectroscopy produced images that correlated well to photomicrographs taken of the in-vitro tumors. This methodology shows great promise for providing a reliable, parameter-controlled source of in-vitro breast tumors …

A Thousand Tiny Pieces: The Federal Circuit’S Fractured Myriad Ruling, Lessons To Be Learned, And The Way Forward, Jonathan R. K. Stroud

IP Theory

No abstract provided.

Computational Modeling Of Oxidative Stress: An Analysis Of Nad(P)H Effects On Nitric Oxide And Superoxide During Hypertension, Aaron Strobel

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

Nitric oxide (NO) is inactivated in the human body when exposed to superoxide (02-). This reaction forms peroxynitrite (ONOO). Superoxide is produced in the cardiac system by several mechanisms, including NAD(P)H oxidase. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) breaks down superoxide into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. This prevents superoxide from reacting with nitric oxide and allows normal function to take place. Superoxide and peroxynitrite are main contributors to vascular disease in the human body, in particular hypertension.

The Import Of Importing And Unnatural Acts: The Political Psychology Of Bioengineered Plants, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes political psychological aspects of opposition to the importing of bioengineered plants.

Microstructure Of Mica Glass-Ceramics And Interface Reactions Between Mica Glass-Ceramics And Bone, W. Holand, W. Gotz, G. Carl, W. Vogel

Cells and Materials

This review paper characterizes glass-ceramics containing mica as main crystal phase. The phase formation reactions in dependence of the chemical composition and the microstructure are shown. Microstructure of mica glass-ceramics has been studied by electron replica and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) techniques.

Mica glass-ceramics have previously been developed in Si02-B20rA120rMgO-F--base glasses. The material is machinable because of the precipitation of micas of fluorophlogopite-type. Also, a machinable glass-ceramic for dental applications was developed based on KMg2_5(Si40 10)F2-micas. We developed mica glass-ceramics in the Si02-Al20rMgO-NaiO-K20-F glass system. Phase formation within these glasses was observed by SEM. A double controlled nucleation and crystallization …

The Effect Of Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement Vibration On The Bone-Cement Interface, A. M. C. Thomas, D. J. W. Mcminn, M. Haddaway, I. W. Mccall

Cells and Materials

Low frequency vibration of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement reduces the viscosity of the cement by shear thinning. The effect of this low frequency vibration on the bone-cement interface was studied using microfocal radiography (MFR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Effects were studied in-vitro and in-vivo. In-vitro, samples of Palacos low viscosity PMMA were placed on blocks of Kiel bone and vibrated. MFR and SEM demonstrated an improvement in the appearance of the bone-cement interface. In-vivo, PMMA was injected into the upper tibia of the dog. An assessment of the effect of high and low pressure injection, and the effect of …

Ultrastructural Assessment Of Lesion Development In The Collared Rabbit Carotid Artery Model, J. E. Beesley, A. C. Honey, J. F. Martin

Cells and Materials

Cellular reactions associated with the formation of lesions generated in the carotid artery of rabbits fed either normal or high cholesterol diets by the placement of a flexible, silastic collar around the artery, were studied by electron microscopy.

Endothelial cells remained as a monolayer throughout lesion development. The endothelial cell surface in both experimental and sham operated carotids, 4 hours and 8 hours after the initiation of the experiments, were covered with platelets and leukocytes. Neutrophils were present until 7 days in the arteries from within the collar of animals maintained on a normal diet, but only to 1 day …

Applications Of Fourier Transform Infrared (Ft-Ir) Microscopy To The Study Of Mineralization In Bone And Cartilage, Adele L. Boskey, Nancy Pleshko, Stephen B. Doty, Richard Mendelsohn

Cells and Materials

Knowledge of the phase, composition, and crystallite size and perfection of the mineral in normal and abnormally calcified tissues provides insight into the mechanism by which this mineral was deposited. These data also can be used to develop rational therapies for pathological conditions characterized by abnormal mineral deposition. As illustrated in this review, coupling of an optical microscope with a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrophotometer permits the mapping at 20 μm spatial resolution of changes in mineral characteristics (content, particle size, composition) in the growth plate, in bone biopsies, in mineralizing cell culture systems, and in soft tissue calcifications. Based …

A Model For A Model: Pressure Jackets On Nude Mice With Implants Of Hypertrophic Scars, C. Ward Kischer, Jana Pindur

Cells and Materials

The hypertrophic scar, a consequence of deep surface injury, is peculiar to humankind. Subcutaneous implants of these tissues in nude mice provide a quasi - animal model for experimental use. An efficacious treatment to promote acceleration of maturation of the hypertrophic scar is controlled topical pressure produced by flexible dacron fabric wraps. Implants in the nude mouse provide a model for study of the effects of pressure. Preliminary results indicate that those implants in nude mice, responding favorably to pressure jackets, show changes consistent with those previously obtained in human studies. The collagen matrix shows reduced density and parallel layering …

Quantitative Scanning Electron Microscopy (Sem) To Study The Adhesion And Spreading Of Human Endothelial Cells To Surface-Modified Poly(Carbonate Urethane)S, C. James Kirkpatrick, Tillmann Otterbach, Dirk Anderheiden, Johannes Schiefer, Horst Richter, Hartwig Hartwig Hocker, Christian Mittermayer, Albert Dekker

Cells and Materials

The polymers currently in use as vascular prostheses are, in the native state, poor substrates for endothelial cell (EC) adhesion and growth. This has a negative effect on the success of pre-seeding regimes. One attempt to improve the polymer substrate is to covalently couple reactive molecules to the surface, which can be used as anchorage points for EC or serve as spacer molecule to couple biological signal molecules such as oligopeptides. We have used a digitized image analysis system coupled to a scanning electron microscope to study the adhesion and spreading of human venous EC to unmodified poly(carbonate urethane) (uPCU), …

Comparative Assessment Of The Cytotoxicity Of Various Substrates In Organ Culture And Cell Culture: A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study, J. L. Duval, R. Warocquier-Clerout, M. F. Sigot-Luizard

Cells and Materials

A comparative study of the behavior of chick embryo endothelial cells grown on various substrates was performed in order to establish the reliability and the limitation of both cell and organ culture methods. Following substrates were analyzed to compare these two different culture techniques: bovine serum albumin, pigskin gelatin and albumin + gelatin cross-linked by glutaraldehyde or carbodiimide, fibrin glue and negative control (Thermanox*). Parameters of cell growth and adhesion were calculated and compared with electron microscopic observations of cell morphology and of the extracellular matrix. Both culture methods provided complementary results and led to a similar classification of the …

Scanning Electron Microscopy Of The Bone Interface With Titanium, Titanium Alloy And Hydroxyapatite, R. D. Orr, J. D. De Bruijn, J. E. Davies

Cells and Materials

Screw implants of commercially pure titanium and titanium alloy together with rods of slip-cast dense hydroxyapatite were implanted transfemorally in young adult rats. The femora were harvested after fixation and freeze-fractured in liquid nitrogen to create two tissue fragments of each specimen. The first contained the implant while the second enabled examination of the tissue immediately adjacent to the implant. In all cases, the tissue abutting the implant was a cement line-like layer which separated the implant from the surrounding bone proper. Greater adherence of this interfacial tissue was demonstrated to hydroxyapatite samples compared with the titanium screws, while no …

Microstructural Changes In Retrieved Amalgam Restorations, Grayson W. Marshall Jr., D. D. Mccoy, John H. Kinney, Hugo Letzel, Sally J. Marshall

Cells and Materials

Many blended or dispersed phase high Cu amalgams show excellent clinical performance in long term clinical trials. However, little is known concerning the microstructural changes that occur during clinical use of these systems. This investigation sought to characterize some of the changes that occur in the Ag-Cu particles and their surrounding reaction zones based on a study by backscattered scanning electron microscopy (BSEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy and a new rnicroprobe technique called Colorad which assigns various colors to elements and element combinations and indicates changes in elemental concentration by changes in color value (brightness). Restorations were retrieved from clinical trials …