Noninvasive Blood Flow and Oxygenation Measurements in Diseased Tissue

The research presented in this dissertation focused on the application of optical imaging techniques to establish blood flow and oxygen saturation as effective biomarkers for two disease cases, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Huntington’s Disease (HD). The BTBR mouse model of ASD was utilized to validate measurements of cerebral blood flow and oxygenation as biomarkers for autism. The R6/2 mouse model of juvenile HD was utilized to validate measurements of skeletal muscle blood flow following tetanic muscle contractions induced by electrical nerve stimulation. Next, a noncontact, camera-based system to measure blood flow and oxygen saturation maps was implemented to improve upon the previous HD mouse results by providing spatial heterogeneity in a wild-type mouse model. Finally, translational research was performed to validate a research design conducting concurrent grip strength force and skeletal muscle blood flow and oxygenation measurements in a healthy human population that will be used to establish HD biomarkers in humans in future clinical applications

Patents as Escalators

High technology companies commit time, effort, and resources to innovation. Over the course of a research and development project, an innovative company may face several sequential decisions regarding whether to continue to invest in the project and whether to commercialize the discoveries that have been made. Companies often seek patents early in the research and development process to receive the right to exclude others from practicing the invention. Given a current trend toward earlier and earlier patent filing, several scholars suggest that this strategy could leave many inventions underdeveloped; companies may treat patents like real options, deciding later where to place their resources to maximize their utility. This Article introduces the escalation of commitments, which is a behavioral phenomenon observed in decision making under uncertainty to the current trends in patent filing. The Article further discusses the ramifications of innovative companies\u27 escalating commitments to developing patented technology. Finally, the Article proposes that patents act to facilitate such commitment, in part because patents keep sunk costs relevant to the patent owner making decisions regarding further commitment. In this manner, patents may escalate the commercialization of patented technology

Development of CO2 capture method via polyurethane-amine sorbent in VSA

With increases in extreme weather and global temperatures, research is delving into CO2 capture to help reverse climate change. This project explored utilizing vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) for CO2 capture and release. VSA uses a sorbent, in this case amine sorbents, to capture CO­­2 from air and subsequently removes it via vacuum. Polyurethane (PU) foam was investigated as a potential matrix for amine sorbents to increase exposure of CO2 capturing amines to air by utilizing its porous structure. PU mixing studies were conducted to determine the feasibility of mixing PU foam with amines and coating foams with amine solutions by studying the effects they might have on the foam matrix structure. The amines tested include polyethylenimine (PEI), tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), and diethylenetriamine (DETA). The impact of modifying the amines via methods such as saturation with CO2 and poisoning with acids were explored with regard to their effect on PU foam structure and expansion. Many interactions between amines and PU caused the resulting foam to collapse, having little to no porous structure. However, a 6.5 wt% of 1:1 H2O and TEPA mixture added to PU was determined to provide better internal structure and solvent uptake than commercial closed cell foam. A CO2 capture vacuum unit was designed and constructed for VSA. FTIR analysis was conducted in-situ with the unit to observe CO2 adsorption and desorption. Observations verified the method of CO2 capture and measurement as an effective method. It also showed that some amine was pulled from the PU matrix in the vacuum, so future work will continue to improve amine retention. This project developed sorbent samples with analysis of amine-PU interaction effects, a CO2 unit for VSA, and a method for in-situ analysis of CO2 adsorption and desorption

Algebra Structures on Hom(C,L)

We consider the space of linear maps from a coassociative coalgebra C into a Lie algebra L. Unless C has a cocommutative coproduct, the usual symmetry properties of the induced bracket on Hom(C,L) fail to hold. We define the concept of twisted domain (TD) algebras in order to recover the symmetries and also construct a modified Chevalley-Eilenberg complex in order to define the cohomology of such algebras

Explaining the Relationship Between Resources and Student Achievement: A Methodological Comparison of Production Functions and Canonical Analysis

What is the relationship between inputs to education and student achievement? The elusive answer to this seemingly self-evident question has led some to characterize the question as the “holy grail” of school finance research for the past thirty years

A Canonical Analysis of Successful vs. Unsuccessful High Schools: Accommodating Multiple Sources of Achievement Data in School Leadership

What distinguishes successful schools from unsuccessful schools? This question has relevance for the practice of educational leadership as well as the preparation of leaders

“Live Sun Smart!” Testing the effectiveness of a sun safety program for middle schoolers

Background: Skin cancer is a well-recognized public health issue, and primary prevention is the most effective strategy for reducing skin cancer risk. The current recommendations are that behavioral counseling for sun safety measures is most beneficial and effective for children and adolescents and that targeting this population at primary and middle schools is the ideal intervention strategy to increase sun-protective behaviors and reduce UV exposure, sunburn incidence, and formation of new moles. Numerous studies on the effectiveness of school-based sun safety interventions among elementary and middle school students have shown an increase in sun safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors following the intervention. Objective: To conduct a pilot feasibility study of “Live Sun Smart!,” (LSS) a school-based, multicomponent, interactive sun safety presentation, at changing sun safety knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors among middle school students. Methods: A non-randomized, single-group pretest-posttest interventional pilot study of the LSS program among children enrolled in grade 6. Results: After exposure to LSS, participants were more likely to give correct answers to knowledge-based sun safety questions and to report negative attitudes toward tanning. Minimal and not significant changes were found in self-reported sun safety behaviors, though students did report an intention to change behaviors following the intervention. Participants were satisfied with the program and believed it increased their sun safety knowledge. Conclusion: Live Sun Smart! appears to be an effective school-based, multicomponent sun safety program for improving sun safety knowledge and attitudes toward tanning among middle school students in this initial test of it. The strengths and weaknesses of this pilot study have implications for future research

Brief Note: The Influence of the Menstrual Cycle on the Blood Flow Through Muscle During Isometric Exercise

Author Institution: Departments of Engineering and Physiology, Wright State Universit

Development of an analysis for the determination of coupled helicopter rotor/control system dynamic response. Part 1: Analysis and applications

A theoretical analysis is developed for a coupled helicopter rotor system to allow determination of the loads and dynamic response behavior of helicopter rotor systems in both steady-state forward flight and maneuvers. The effects of an anisotropically supported swashplate or gyroscope control system and a deformed free wake on the rotor system dynamic response behavior are included in the analysis