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Colorimetric assays are an important tool in point-of-care testing that offers several advantages to traditional testing methods such as rapid response times and inexpensive costs. A factor that currently limits the portability and accessibility of these assays are methods that can objectively determine the results of these assays. Current solutions

Colorimetric assays are an important tool in point-of-care testing that offers several advantages to traditional testing methods such as rapid response times and inexpensive costs. A factor that currently limits the portability and accessibility of these assays are methods that can objectively determine the results of these assays. Current solutions consist of creating a test reader that standardizes the conditions the strip is under before being measured in some way. However, this increases the cost and decreases the portability of these assays. The focus of this study is to create a machine learning algorithm that can objectively determine results of colorimetric assays under varying conditions. To ensure the flexibility of a model to several types of colorimetric assays, three models were trained on the same convolutional neural network with different datasets. The images these models are trained on consist of positive and negative images of ETG, fentanyl, and HPV Antibodies test strips taken under different lighting and background conditions. A fourth model is trained on an image set composed of all three strip types. The results from these models show it is able to predict positive and negative results to a high level of accuracy.

ContributorsFisher, Rachel (Author) / Blain Christen, Jennifer (Thesis director) / Anderson, Karen (Committee member) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2021-05
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Description
Misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (a-syn) has been strongly correlated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Reagents such as single chain antibody fragments (scFv) that can interact with specific aggregate forms of a-syn can be very useful to study how different aggregate forms affect cells. Here we utilize two

Misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (a-syn) has been strongly correlated with the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Reagents such as single chain antibody fragments (scFv) that can interact with specific aggregate forms of a-syn can be very useful to study how different aggregate forms affect cells. Here we utilize two scFvs, D5 and 10H, that recognize two distinct oligomeric forms of a-syn to characterize the presence of different a-syn aggregates in animal models of PD.
ContributorsAlam, Now Bahar (Author) / Sierks, Michael (Thesis director) / Pauken, Christine (Committee member) / Williams, Stephanie (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Department of Psychology (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor)
Created2013-05
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Description
In the medical industry, there have been promising advances in the increase of new types of healthcare to the public. As of 2015, there was a 98% Premarket Approval rate, a 38% increase since 2010. In addition, there were 41 new novel drugs approved for clinical usage in 2014 where

In the medical industry, there have been promising advances in the increase of new types of healthcare to the public. As of 2015, there was a 98% Premarket Approval rate, a 38% increase since 2010. In addition, there were 41 new novel drugs approved for clinical usage in 2014 where the average in the previous years from 2005-2013 was 25. However, the research process towards creating and delivering new healthcare to the public remains remarkably inefficient. It takes on average 15 years, over $900 million by one estimate, for a less than 12% success rate of discovering a novel drug for clinical usage. Medical devices do not fare much better. Between 2005-2009, there were over 700 recalls per year. In addition, it takes at minimum 3.25 years for a 510(k) exempt premarket approval. Plus, a time lag exists where it takes 17 years for only 14% of medical discoveries to be implemented clinically. Coupled with these inefficiencies, government funding for medical research has been decreasing since 2002 (2.5% of Gross Domestic Product) and is predicted to be 1.5% of Gross Domestic Product by 2019. Translational research, the conversion of bench-side discoveries to clinical usage for a simplistic definition, has been on the rise since the 1990s. This may be driving the increased premarket approvals and new novel drug approvals. At the very least, it is worth considering as translational research is directly related towards healthcare practices. In this paper, I propose to improve the outcomes of translational research in order to better deliver advancing healthcare to the public. I suggest Best Value Performance Information Procurement System (BV PIPS) should be adapted in the selection process of translational research projects to fund. BV PIPS has been shown to increase the efficiency and success rate of delivering projects and services. There has been over 17 years of research with $6.3 billion of projects and services delivered showing that BV PIPS has a 98% customer satisfaction, 90% minimized management effort, and utilizes 50% less manpower and effort. Using University of Michigan \u2014 Coulter Foundation Program's funding process as a baseline and standard in the current selection of translational research projects to fund, I offer changes to this process based on BV PIPS that may ameliorate it. As concepts implemented in this process are congruent with literature on successful translational research, it may suggest that this new model for selecting translational research projects to fund will reduce costs, increase efficiency, and increase success. This may then lead to more Premarket Approvals, more new novel drug approvals, quicker delivery time to the market, and lower recalls.
ContributorsDel Rosario, Joseph Paul (Author) / Kashiwagi, Dean (Thesis director) / Kashiwagi, Jacob (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a stimulating therapy currently used to treat the motor disabilities that occur as a result of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Previous literature has proven the DBS to be an effective treatment in the effects of PD but the mechanism to validating this phenomenon is poorly understood.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a stimulating therapy currently used to treat the motor disabilities that occur as a result of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Previous literature has proven the DBS to be an effective treatment in the effects of PD but the mechanism to validating this phenomenon is poorly understood. In this study, an evaluation of the DBS mechanism was analyzed in patients who received both contralateral and ipsilateral stimulation by the DBS electrode in relation to the recording microelectrode. I hypothesize that the data recorded from the neural tissue of the Parkinson’s patients will exhibit increased electromagnetic field (EMF) fall-off as spatial distance increases among the DBS lead and the microelectrode within the subthalamic nucleus (STN) as a result of the interaction between the EMF exuded by DBS and the neural tissue. Results depicted that EMF fall-off values increased with distance, observable upon comparing ipsilateral and contralateral patient data. The resulting analysis supported this phenomenon evidenced by the production of greater peak voltage amplitudes in ipsilateral patient stimulation with respect to time when compared to contralateral patient stimulation. The understanding of EMF strength and the associated trends among this data are vital to the progression and continued development of the DBS field relative to future research.
ContributorsKiraly, Alexis B (Author) / Greger, Bradley (Thesis director) / Muthuswamy, Jitendran (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2020-12
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Description
This thesis project discusses the transitions of the physician profession and their struggle to maintain autonomy throughout American History until approximately the 1980's. Included in the historical account of the physician profession, is the development of the American Hospital System and its origins working under the physician profession. As history

This thesis project discusses the transitions of the physician profession and their struggle to maintain autonomy throughout American History until approximately the 1980's. Included in the historical account of the physician profession, is the development of the American Hospital System and its origins working under the physician profession. As history progresses from 1760 on, what comes to light is a cyclical struggle for physicians to remain independent from the corporations, while using them to gain social and economic prestige. This work focuses on how the establishment of private practice in the United States has lead to the current system in place today, illustrating a long fight for control of the medical field that still rages on today. As physicians gained power and autonomy in the medical field during the 20th century, constant attempts of government intervention can be seen within the convoluted history of this professional field. The rise of corporate healthcare, that works in tandem with private physicians, was a critical period in forgotten American History that subsequently allowed physicians to increase their stranglehold on the medical service industry. The goal of this research was to establish a better understanding of American Medicine's history to better tackle the new problems we face today. As America transitions to a period of public health outcry, it is important to establish a somewhat linear rendition of a mostly untold history that directly impacts the lives of every citizen in this country. This work attempts to mend the broken pieces of that history to give light to how healthcare evolved into what it is today.
ContributorsParkhurst, Erik Lewis (Author) / Tyler, William (Thesis director) / Coursen, Jerry (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-12
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Description
As the complexity of healthcare continues to rise, the need for change in healthcare delivery is more prominent than ever. One strategy identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for responding to these increasing complexities is the use of interprofessional practice and education to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and

As the complexity of healthcare continues to rise, the need for change in healthcare delivery is more prominent than ever. One strategy identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for responding to these increasing complexities is the use of interprofessional practice and education to improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance the patient experience of care (Triple Aim). Interprofessional collaboration among diverse disciplines is evident on the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, integrating a wide variety of institutions and multiple health profession programs; and at the Student Health Outreach for Wellness (SHOW) free clinic, -- a successful tri-university, student-led, faculty mentored, and community-based model of interprofessional learning and care -- based in downtown Phoenix. This project conducted a comparative analysis of interprofessional components of 6 different clinical models in order to provide recommendations for best practice implementation. These models were chosen based on availability of research on interprofessionalism with their clinics. As a result, three recommendations were offered to the SHOW clinic for consideration in their efforts to improve both patient and educational outcomes. Each recommendation was intentionally formulated for its capacity to increase: interprofessionalism and collaboration between multiple disciplines pertaining to healthcare, among healthcare professionals to promote positive patient and educational outcomes. These recommendations include implementing an interprofessional education (IPE) course as a core component in an academic program's curriculum, offering faculty and professional development opportunities for faculty and mentors immersed in the interprofessional clinics, and utilization of simulation centers. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the impact these specific interventions, if adopted, on patient and educational outcomes.
ContributorsMousa, Mohammad (Co-author) / Mousa, Bakir (Co-author) / Johnson, Ross (Co-author) / Harrell, Liz (Thesis director) / Saewert, Karen (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / School of Life Sciences (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2017-05
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Description
Many developing countries do not have health care systems that can afford technological biomedical devices or supplies to make such devices operational. To fill this void, nonprofit organizations, like Project C.U.R.E., recondition retired biomedical instrumentation so they can send medical supplies to help these developing countries. One of the issues

Many developing countries do not have health care systems that can afford technological biomedical devices or supplies to make such devices operational. To fill this void, nonprofit organizations, like Project C.U.R.E., recondition retired biomedical instrumentation so they can send medical supplies to help these developing countries. One of the issues with this is that sometimes the devices are unusable because components or expendable supplies are not available (Bhadelia). This issue has also been shown in the Impact Evaluations that Project C.U.R.E. receives from the clinics that explain the reasons why certain devices are no longer in use. That need underlies the idea on which this honors thesis has come into being. The purpose of this honors project was to create packing lists for biomedical instruments that Project C.U.R.E. recycles. This packing list would decrease the likelihood of important items being forgotten when sending devices. If an extra fuse, battery, light bulb, cuff or transducer is the difference between a functional or a nonfunctional medical device, such a list would be of benefit to Project C.U.R.E and these developing countries. In order to make this packing list, manuals for each device were used to determine what supplies were required, what was necessary for cleaning, and what supplies were desirable but functionally optional. This list was then added into a database that could be easily navigated and could help when packing up boxes for a shipment. The database also makes adding and editing the packing list simple and easy so that as Project C.U.R.E. gets more donated devices the packing list can grow.
ContributorsGraft, Kelsey Anne (Author) / Coursen, Jerry (Thesis director) / Walters, Danielle (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2018-05
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Description
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder in the central nervous system that affects a host of daily activities and involves a variety of symptoms; these include tremors, slurred speech, and rigid muscles. It is the second most common movement disorder globally. In Stage 3 of Parkinson's, afflicted individuals begin to

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder in the central nervous system that affects a host of daily activities and involves a variety of symptoms; these include tremors, slurred speech, and rigid muscles. It is the second most common movement disorder globally. In Stage 3 of Parkinson's, afflicted individuals begin to develop an abnormal gait pattern known as freezing of gait (FoG), which is characterized by decreased step length, shuffling, and eventually complete loss of movement; they are unable to move, and often results in a fall. Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a diagnostic tool to measure electrical activity in the muscles to assess overall muscle function. Most conventional EMG systems, however, are bulky, tethered to a single location, expensive, and primarily used in a lab or clinical setting. This project explores an affordable, open-source, and portable platform called Open Brain-Computer Interface (OpenBCI). The purpose of the proposed device is to detect gait patterns by leveraging the surface electromyography (EMG) signals from the OpenBCI and to help a patient overcome an episode using haptic feedback mechanisms. Previously designed devices with similar intended purposes utilize accelerometry as a method of detection as well as audio and visual feedback mechanisms in their design.
ContributorsAnantuni, Lekha (Author) / McDaniel, Troy (Thesis director) / Tadayon, Arash (Committee member) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / School of Human Evolution and Social Change (Contributor) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
Created2016-05
Description

This thesis project focuses on the creation and assessment of the "Simple Stocks" app, a straightforward investment tool specifically developed for people who are new to investing and find it challenging to comprehend the complexities of the stock market. We identified a significant gap in the availability of easy-to-understand resources

This thesis project focuses on the creation and assessment of the "Simple Stocks" app, a straightforward investment tool specifically developed for people who are new to investing and find it challenging to comprehend the complexities of the stock market. We identified a significant gap in the availability of easy-to-understand resources and information for beginner investors, which led us to design an app that provides clear and simple data, professional advice from financial analysts, and an advanced machine learning feature to predict stock trends. The "Simple Stocks" app also incorporates a voting feature, allowing users to see what other investors think about specific stocks. This functionality not only helps users make informed decisions but also encourages a sense of community, as users can learn from each other's experiences and opinions. By creating a supportive environment, the app promotes a more approachable and enjoyable experience for those who are new to investing. Following the successful release of the "Simple Stocks'' app on the App Store, our current objectives include expanding the user base and looking into various ways to generate income. One possible approach is to collaborate with other companies and establish an advertising-based revenue model, which would benefit both parties by attracting more users and increasing profits.

ContributorsKaruppiah, Meena (Author) / Kancherla, Sohan (Co-author) / Biyani, Saloni (Co-author) / Byrne, Jared (Thesis director) / Lee, Christopher (Committee member) / Zock, Christopher (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor) / Dean, W.P. Carey School of Business (Contributor)
Created2023-05
Description

This honors thesis explores using machine learning technology to assist a patient's return to activity following a significant injury, specifically an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. The goal of the project was to determine if a machine learning model trained with ACL reconstruction (ACLR) applicable injury data would be able

This honors thesis explores using machine learning technology to assist a patient's return to activity following a significant injury, specifically an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. The goal of the project was to determine if a machine learning model trained with ACL reconstruction (ACLR) applicable injury data would be able to correctly predict which phase of return to sport a patient would be classified in when introduced to a new data set.

ContributorsBernstein, Daniel (Author) / Pizziconi, Vincent (Thesis director) / Glattke, Kaycee (Committee member) / Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor) / Harrington Bioengineering Program (Contributor)
Created2023-05