Individuals with impaired finger function are commonly prescribed a wrist-driven orthosis which utilizes wrist movement to open and close the fingers. However, if the individual has weak wrist extensors and flexors in addition to weak fingers, this device becomes obsolete. While multiple prosthetic devices are available to amputees, options for orthotic devices are limited. The purpose of this research is to adapt elements of successful upper limb prostheses into an open-source orthosis made with 3D printed and off the shelf materials for an individual with unilaterally impaired hand and wrist function. We continue to draw inspiration from body-powered prostheses, where the motion of other joints, such as rotation of the elbow, is used to control artificial hand motion. Gaining hand motion through the use of this device will allow users to perform daily tasks independently and with improved performance. We first created a series of prototypes to identify task specific designs. An optimal design will utilize elbow or shoulder movement to operate a low-profile hook positioned under the palm while also stabilizing the wrist and fingers which are flaccid. Input from practitioners aided in optimizing the design and process. In order to augment design acceptance, our research included user testing and feedback. Once a design was finalized, we resized the device to fit our participant. The participant then went through a series of hand functional tests which compared their ability to complete an assortment of tasks, such as lifting and moving small blocks, with and without the device. These results as well as user feedback assisted in further improvements to the overall design of the device. After completing our design, the orthosis was made open-source to make it both accessible and low-cost, while allowing users and makers to further improve upon the device.

Enzymatic pathways comprising multi-step biochemical reactions in biological cells constitute a key part of life. Biomimetic reconstruction of these metabolic pathways holds tremendous promise for developing sustainably powered devices. In biological cells, enzymatic components are kept in strict compartments or in serial networks. To mimic this complex hierarchical assembly of enzymes found in nature, a common approach is immobilizing these enzymes on the surface of porous substrates i.e., anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane. However, one common limitation has been immobilization of multiple enzymes with a single type surface chemistry. As a result, these approaches have failed to provide enough capability to control spatial localizations of enzymes on AAO surfaces. Solid-binding peptides (SBPs) offer a novel solution to circumvent these problems with their exquisite recognition and long range solid-coverage properties. The ease of genetic conjugation of these short peptides with large proteins makes them an ideal candidate in utilization as molecular linkers in designing new multi-enzymatic devices. In this study, the utilization of a gold binding peptide (AuBP) as a molecular linker in combination with histidine-tag to immobilize Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and Formate Dehydrogenase (FDH) enzymes on AAO based flow bioreactor was demonstrated. The efficacy of the described approach was tested by monitoring the sequential lactate and formate break down by LDH and FDH enzymes spectrophotometrically. The overall sequential catalytic conversion with greater than 90% yield was observed. Furthermore, the surface selectivity of the SBP conjugated enzymes were tested by visualizing their localization on Ni-NTA patterned gold surface using fluorescence microscopy. Cumulatively, this study highlights the utility of solid binding peptides as a molecular linker for addressable immobilization of multiple enzymes in the AAO based devices.

Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly prescribed to improve gait in individuals with cerebral palsy to stabilize gait. AFOs have also shown additional benefits in reducing the metabolic cost of walking, preventing bone deformities, and providing support during gait. The advent of the affordable 3D-printer has provided a new tool in the manufacturing of AFOs which may be able to overcome many limitations of current production methods. The purpose of this study is to improve the manufacturability and functionality of AFOs by improving AFO design and manufacturing techniques. Validation testing through the use of material testing, and multiple subject gait experiments verified the study’s results. The subjects’ lower leg was scanned with a portable 3D scanner and using this scan the AFO was form fitted to the unique shape of the subject’s foot. Parametric and non-parametric computer aided design tools were used to design the AFOs. Using a fused deposition modeling 3D printer the AFOs were fabricated using polylactide (PLA) filament. In order to adjust the stiffness of the AFO, elastic polymer bands were fabricated with polyurethane. Since a single elastic polymer band only allows for one specific AFO stiffness, multiple of elastic polymer bands might be need to be used to control the wide range of AFO stiffness. To solve this issue, the AFO was designed to have a support structure that allows for the moment arm of the elastic polymer bands to be changed, thereby adjusting to a wide range of AFO stiffness with minimum number of elastic polymer bands. Designing an open-source, 3D-printed AFO that helps rehabilitate the user could allow for low-cost, easily accessible rehabilitation devices to be common place.

Affordable 3D-printing technology may improve fabrication and accessibility of orthoses for individuals with impaired movement. The goal of my research is to leverage 3D-printing to improve the design of wrist-driven orthoses (WDOs) for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Specifically, I have sought to improve comfort, aesthetics, and ease-of-use of WDOs while reducing fabrication time and increasing customizability using 3D-printing. WDOs are used by individuals who can move their wrist but have little to no mobility in their fingers. Through wrist flexion and extension, this device assists in opening and closing the hand. Unfortunately, current WDOs are laborious to fabricate, uncomfortable, and have poor aesthetics. The potential of 3D-printing for orthosis fabrication was evaluated with a group of orthotists. I modeled the 3D-printed WDO using computer-aided design software and asked orthotists to assemble and rate the device and provide feedback. The average assembly time decreased from 12+ hours for traditional metal WDOs to 1.5 hours and the device received average scores of 6.6, 6.6, and 7.6 on a scale of 1-10 (1 = poor, 10 = great) for function, aesthetics, and comfort, respectively. Based upon the orthotists’ feedback, I implemented design improvements and created a fatigue tester to ensure the device’s safety for extended use. The next round of testing focused on getting feedback from individuals who have had an SCI. The device enabled participants to achieve a three-jaw chuck grasp, which they could not achieve without it, improved performance in functional tasks, and was lighter than traditional devices. The device received average scores of 6.8, 6.5, and 8 for function, aesthetics, and comfort, respectively. Participants’ feedback was used to further improve the design. Upon finalizing the device design, fabrication method, and assembly manual, editable CAD models of the WDO design will be released for open-source development and use.

3 million Americans and 65 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with epilepsy. In two-thirds of these patients, the causes of epilepsy, and therefore the therapeutic targets, are unknown. Recently, de novo mutations in the EEF1A2 gene, which encodes for a protein translation regulator, were found in several individuals with pediatric epilepsy and intellectual disability. In order to study how a mutation in this gene causes the neurological defects, we generated mutant eef1a2 zebrafish using the CRISPR/Cas9 method. Zebrafish models to study diseases have gained momentum due to their genetic similarity to humans, large amount of offspring in each generation, easy genetic manipulation and amenability to large-scale drug screens. Our initial in situ hybridization studies showed that eef1a2 has a limited expression pattern in the developing zebrafish that includes neurons involved in movement and escape behavior. To understand whether the mutation causes observable behavioral dysfunction or seizures, we tracked wild type (WT) zebrafish and heterozygous and homozygous mutants in various behavioral assays and genotyped tracked fish using Sanger sequencing. We are expecting that the mutants to have defect in movement and escape response. In a future study, the electrophysiology of the forebrain will be recorded to determine whether eef1a2 mutants reveal abnormal electrical discharge characteristic of a seizure. These studies with the zebrafish model will provide more insight about the EEF1A2 protein and its neurological function, and may lead to a better understanding of epilepsy etiology and the design of targeted therapeutic approaches.

Our research project was to design, construct, and launch a high powered rocket with the intention of pushing its velocity significantly past the speed of sound while simultaneously collecting data from which to interpret the max achieved acceleration, velocity, and altitude. The rocket's body has a three inch inner diameter made to fit the 3-inch motor casing without any extra room. This minimum diameter design reduced its weight so that less force was required to achieve higher acceleration, and it provided a smaller cross sectional area than a traditional rocket, thereby reducing the amount of drag force impeding its acceleration. Atypical of most high powered rocket designs, our rocket features a metal tipped nose cone to provide resistance to the heat caused by friction when breaking the sound barrier. At the speeds achieved, unmodified rocket fins will vibrate at extreme rates due to turbulent flow. In order to combat this destructive effect the fins were reinforced with carbon fiber to significantly stiffen them and reduce any resonant effects during flight. The payload consists of a StratoLogger SL100 Altimeter to keep track of the maximum altitude and velocities of our flights as well triggering two separate parachute deployments, achieving a safe landing while also minimizing drift time due to winds at altitude. It is our hope that our research rocket will push the boundaries of velocity and altitude achieved by a junior college rocket team as well as provide insight into ways to optimize our rocket designs to maximize future results.

Europa is one of Jupiter’s moons which is covered in ice. Further research on Europa is needed to determine if the moon can sustain life. One of the barriers that has affected our understanding of the moon is the large velocity requirements to land on Europa, which make a soft landing on the surface too costly. To overcome this problem, research has being performed on penetrator technology that can withstand a hypervelocity impact. The initial system involves the study of the performance of a two-stage penetrator. The first stage would break the ice, making way for the second stage. The second stage of the penetrator would encounter weaker ice and therefore have a higher probability of surviving the impact. The electronics would be located in the second stage. Projectiles have been tested on impact qualities and post-impact properties. Further experimentation has been performed with various designs and materials that have varying densities. Density is expected to play an important role in the depth of penetration and the resulting deceleration forces on the system. Penetrators made of Lexan have been used along with wood as impact material. Seven inches of penetration has been achieved when fired at speeds close to 1 km/s. Smaller scale testing, at lower speeds, has been performed on larger Lexan projectiles fired into ice resulted in approximately 1.5 in. of penetration. Projectiles made of aluminum have been tested and fired into a bucket of ice. The ice was kept at -20° C, which is still significantly warmer that the surface conditions of the moon. Once the penetrators are optimized for these temperature conditions, additional testing would involve liquid nitrogen to cool the ice to colder temperatures. The penetrator system could lead to the discovery of new life, future missions to Europa and possible habitation or resource extraction.

Studies suggest that Europa contains elements required to support life beneath its icy crust, but further data collection is required for verification. One of the largest issues in performing such a research expedition is the demanding cost of soft-landing an instrument on its surface to retrieve the data. To address this issue, research is currently being conducted for a new method involving a two-stage penetrator probe which would allow the hard-landing of the probe into the moon’s surface. The initial stage penetrator would weaken the ice and create a debris plume which would allow the second stage probe to decelerate and enter the surface intact. To optimize the system and further study its potential, the impact is being simulated in the ANSYS finite element analysis software. In working parallel with experimental data obtained from impact testing, the geometry and parameters within ANSYS were modeled to create a FEA explicit dynamics simulation of the impact. The analysis models the ice as concrete due to material properties of ice being difficult to obtain, and local mesh refinement methods were utilized to improve computational time. The focus of the simulation is to determine the optimal model in which the first stage penetrator has significant impact in the acceleration profile of the second stage probe. The impact pattern, the amount of material carved out, and the acceleration profile of the probe will be analyzed to relate the efficiency of various penetrator geometries at various speeds. Impacts involving the two stage system with various penetrator geometries show significant reductions in the acceleration profile of the probe. Future research will rely on refining the simulation parameters to derive a more accurate model of the impact.

Dynamically modeling insect wings helps engineers understand the principles of flapping-wing MAVs (Micro-Aerial Vehicle). Due to its insect size and low visibility, flapping-wing MAVs are broadly used in surveillance missions, remote observation of hazardous environment and even artificial pollination. Although several MAVs have been successfully developed so far, there still exists a large space for engineers to optimize the design, such as reducing the weight, energy consumption and cost. Based on the biological evidence that the wing deformation is mainly caused by inertial-elastic forces rather than aerodynamic loads, we developed an inertial elastic deformable hawk moth’s fore-wing model. Using this model, we determined the instantaneous power consumption of the flapping wing by adding the time derivatives of kinetic and potential energies together. The model revealed that significant power is required to compensate for the wing elasticity. We are trying to apply this model to various insects’ wings with various length scales to compare their structural properties and look for universal trend of the change of instantaneous power output. We hypothesize the model can predict the power requirement more accurately at smaller length scale wings, because inertial force tends to dominate aerodynamic force in smaller flying insects.

Tooth discoloration is a common aesthetic concern for many individuals, and in response the dental profession and public expend considerable amounts of time and money to improve the appearance of stained teeth. Although many treatments are available to attempt whitening discolored teeth, these methods are typically expensive or cause more harm to the oral health of the individual due to the use of harsh chemicals, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, which often results in tooth hypersensitivity. The peptide-enabled aqueous whitening approach restores the color of teeth by forming a mineral layer on the tooth enamel and consequently masking the underlying discoloration, offering a suitable alternative to conventional bleaching methods. In this approach, peptides direct Ca²⁺ and PO₄^3- ions to form a new mineralized layer on the tooth surface. The aim of this study is to develop a suitable vehicle to deliver remineralization components to an oral environment, promoting enamel remineralization and built-in tooth whitening. With this aim, lozenges composed of varying concentrations of peptide, Ca2⁺, PO₄^3- and other inactive ingredients were manufactured using a hydraulic compression machine, and a suitable formulation was selected based on disintegration times optimized in artificial saliva. The whitening lozenge was then applied to human teeth samples under conditions mimicking the oral environment. Structural and optical properties of the resulting mineral layer were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and a chromameter, respectively. Our results demonstrate that surface discoloration has been successfully masked using whitening lozenges in vitro and, therefore, the color of the teeth was aesthetically improved. The technology developed in this study offers a simple oral hygiene product that acts biogenically in water and results in an additive treatment. The whitening lozenge is expected to considerably impact the dental and cosmetic industry as an over-the-counter product.

At the Snohomish River estuary, seafloor sediment composition correlates with river discharge. With an increase in river discharge mixing of sediments occurs and the heavy metal particles become suspended in the water column. With a decrease in river discharge sediment concentrations deposit on the sea floor. Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA) students, including ourselves, collected the data used in this investigation on monthly research cruises throughout 2015. We hypothesized that in 2015, higher levels of Snohomish River discharge would lead to lower concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment. River discharge data from the Snohomish River was collected three days prior to the date of sediment collection. Arsenic, copper, and lead concentrations were sampled from three sites in Possession Sound: Mount Baker Terminal (MBT), a buoy southwest of the jetty, and the delta. The results showed that heavy metal concentration decreased with increasing river discharge, with the exception of one site. At MBT, south of the Snohomish River, all of the heavy metal concentrations declined with the increase of river discharge. A rise in river discharge of 1,980 to 25,400ft^3/sec caused a decrease in arsenic from 4.84 to 2.49mg/kg, copper from 15.2 to 8.53, and lead from 7.17 to 2.81mg/kg. The site at the river delta followed the same trend, with a range in river discharge of 1,980 to 10,400ft^3/sec correlating with a decrease in arsenic from 9.34 to 6.06mg/kg, copper from 20.5 to 13.4mg/kg, and lead from 5.94 to 3.04mg/kg. The exception was Buoy, located to the southwest of the jetty. With an increase in river discharge from 3,910 to 29,300ft^3/sec, arsenic rose from 5.74 to 7.14mg/kg, copper from 15.4 to 21.5mg/kg, and lead from 4.31 to 5.78mg/kg. Heavy metal concentrations have been found to be harmful to marine organisms in high concentrations. Thus for further research we will be collecting data on heavy metal concentrations found in local plankton populations, in order to find a correlation between the two.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare, and often aggressive skin cancer with a disease-associated mortality of approximately 40%. About 1,500 cases of MCC are diagnosed annually, and the incidence is increasing. Following surgery, post-operative radiation therapy (PORT) is usually recommended to minimize local recurrences. However, it is unclear whether patients with low-risk Stage IA MCC arising on the limbs and trunk should also receive PORT. We retrospectively identified 80 low-risk patients from our database who met all of the following criteria: 1) primary tumor ≤2cm in diameter, 2) microscopically negative margins on surgical excision, 3) no microscopic evidence of nodal metastasis in the sentinel lymph node biopsy, and 4) absence of immunosuppression. Of these 80 patients, 20 patients were treated with surgery alone and 60 received surgery and PORT. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of demographics (age, sex, race), location of primary tumor, margin status, depth, or lympho-vascular spread. However, patients treated with PORT tended to have larger primary tumors (p=0.009). The median long-term follow up time was similar for both groups, and was > 4 years. We defined a local recurrence (LR) as a recurrence within 2 cm of the primary tumor operative bed, and Fisher’s exact (2 tailed) was used. There was no statistically significant difference in LR between patients treated with surgery alone versus surgery + PORT (p=0.25). One patient (5%), who had surgery alone, had a LR. There were no LRs among those who had PORT. There was also no statistical difference in regional nodal metastases (p=1), distant metastases (p=0.33), MCC specific survival (p=0.06), and overall survival (p=0.06) between the two groups of patients. In conclusion, PORT was not associated with a reduced risk of local recurrence in low-risk, Stage IA, MCC arising on the limbs and trunk.

The principal technological problem of the renewable energy industry is how to supply energy at its rate of demand and at a marginal cost less than that of present energy storage systems. One of the greatest challenges of this problem is the necessity of storing a portion of total produced energy such that it can be used when the instantaneous rate of energy demand differs from the limits of its instantaneous rate of production to balance out the demand and supply for energy. Our research focuses on the storage problem of current Under Water Compressed Air Energy Storage (UW-CAES) systems; in particular on decreasing the costs and environmental impact of air storage by performing electrolysis in a deep-sea electrolyzer to capitalize on the extreme energy densities already-available at depth and increase the energy density of each storage vessel/balloon by storing both hydrogen and oxygen. We demonstrate a method that increases the efficiency of energy storage by performing electrolysis using the high pressures available at depth, thereby eliminating the use of costly compressors and create a condition for the apparatus to be as close to a thermo neutral state.

Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has revolutionized the way we navigate our world, yet there remain many practical geolocalization problems for which the technology is not directly useful, such as in urban environments and scientific field work where GPS satellite L.O.S. (line-of-sight) obstructions are ubiquitous. Motivated by our collaborations with the LEAF School of Anthropology, our work is focused on providing technological solutions for cm-scale GPS-like geolocalization; particularly for researchers doing field work in prohibitive and complicated field topologies through the use of field-configurable ad-hoc geolocalization subnetworks. We present our work on and our methods to utilize time-of-flight measurements from GPS-enabled acoustic and radio frequency sources placed at the boundaries of the field of interest to determine the geographical coordinates of any number of locations within that field.

People with leg amputations who use prosthetic feet during community ambulation encounter frequent environmental barriers. Uneven ground, such as grassy fields or sidewalks in disrepair, cause excessive forces at the interface between the artificial leg and the residual limb because of torques from the ground acting on the foot. These forces can cause pain, skin breakdown, and falls. Impulsive forces may be reduced by a prosthetic foot allowing medial-lateral rotation of the foot relative to the leg. This study compared the kinetic and kinematic outcomes of an investigational prosthetic (IP) foot to the participant’s usual prostheses. Eight study participants completed a single leg balance test and 5 walking conditions with their prescribed prosthetic (UF) and with the IP foot. The participants walked lengthwise along 10% and 15% side slopes and across domes (Botts’ dots) placed on flat ground. A 3-D motion capture system tracked 36 reflective dots which were placed on key landmarks so that joint angles and spatiotemporal metrics could be computed. One participant’s data was excluded from the ankle joint outcomes. Participants reported reduced forces at the residual limb-prosthesis interface. Preliminary results indicated that the UF and IP foot perform similarly in sagittal plane motion. The IP foot increased the ankle medial-lateral rotation for 5 out of 6 participants. Future research will include comparing a participant’s UF to the IP foot in community trials while collecting activity monitoring, GPS, and logbook data.