Lindsay Chatel (oral, LCC)
Biography
I am a 2nd year Science, Technology and Culture major pursuing both the
research option and the biomedical options within my major. I began research in the
Spring of 2007. I worked with Cindy Klestinec on a research project title The History of
Pain. I had a productive semester of research and Presented my work at the 2007 UROP
Spring Symposium where I received an award for best oral presentation from the Ivan
Allen College. I received this award again this year when I presented my current
research at the UROP Spring Symposium. My current research incorporates a threesemester long project titled Assistive Technology: The Application and Rhetoric of
Cochlear Implants. I completed my first semester of research for this project last Fall
under the advisement of Bruce Walker from the School of Psychology. I will now
continue this project under the advisement of Rebecca Burnett from the Literature,
Communication, and Culture Department. I will complete my current research project
with a senior thesis in 2009.
Abstract
Assistive Technology: The Utility and Rhetoric of Cochlear Implants
Modern medical advances have facilitated the development of new technologies
with applications in both education and rehabilitation. Assistive technologies receive
their name directly from their function, to aid those who will benefit by their use. For
the deaf or hard of hearing, assistive technologies include everything from assistive
learning devices and visual alert and signaling systems to hearing aids and cochlear
implants.
The goal of my research is to gain a better understanding of the utility and
controversy behind cochlear implants. Drawing on the controversy within the deaf
community and encouragement by hearing scientists, doctors, and educators this
project attempts to better define the utility of cochlear implants. Further, this project
explores the function of the human ear, the historical development of cochlear
implants, as well as medical advances in the field. Providing a unique look at this
assistive technology, my research also allows a both social and psychological analysis.
The classification of cochlear implants is further developed through
consideration of cultural influences and social changes. My research enables such
analysis through qualifying societal receptivity and objection, procedural success and
failure, and individual aid and hindrance. Furthermore, the utility of cochlear implants in
childhood development allows a specific study of speech recognition and development
to exemplify psychosocial adaptation. My research takes into account the various
societal views that exist as well as the culture that is created by cochlear implantation.
The knowledge hereby gained is then conveyed to inform parents who may be
considering implants for their children. Making desired knowledge more accessible, the
decision-making process will become easier and more gratifying. Interviews with
doctors, audiologists, speech therapists, speech pathologists, researchers and cochlear
implant companies facilitate this aspect of my research project. Along with interviews
and first-hand observation, reading material published about cochlear implants will
serve as the methodology for my research.
My research seeks the qualification of cochlear implantation as a useful
technology facing heated controversy. This research project aims to better define
cochlear implants as an assistive technology with consideration of their social,
psychological and technical components.
Leslie Chan (oral, BME)
Biography
I'm a second-year biomedical engineering student. I've worked in Dr.
Bellamkonda's for a little bit more than a year under the mentorship of Dr. Efstathios
Karathanasis. I am planning on going to graduate school to pursue my PhD in
biomedical engineering. I also plan on continuing research in drug-delivery. One day I
hope to run my own lab at a university.
Abstract
This project aims at developing the science and the technology to achieve
personalized cancer therapies using nanotechnology. Nanoscale therapeutic
interventions are increasingly important elements of cancer therapy. Nanoscale control
in fabricating nanoparticles allows for multifunctional carriers that can (i) carry large
“payloads” of therapeutic drugs or diagnostic imaging/contrast agents; (ii) modulate
pharmacokinetics and biodistribution when systemically administered to increase
accumulation in tumor site, and (iii) enable presentation of targeting ligands to increase
target tumor affinity and selectivity. This potential for multifunctionality in nanoscale
systems potentially enables personalized cancer therapy that facilitates diagnosing,
treating and monitoring the progress of treatment for each individual cancer.
In our lab, we are developing multifunctional 100nm liposomal agents with
prolonged blood circulation by encapsulating high amounts of contrast agents for
Computed Tomography and MRI. These nanoscale agents have produced remarkable
imaging/angiograms in rats and mice. Importantly, we visualized the intratumoral
extravascular distribution of the agent for 5 days in 2 rat tumor models: brain glioma
and breast cancer. Such visualization probes the tumor vasculature permeability to
nanoparticles and therefore provides valuable information for designing chemotherapy
protocols in a customized, patient-specific fashion.
Jeffrey Clement (poster, ME)
Biography
Jeffrey Clement is a 4th Year Mechanical Engineering Major. His research
interests lie in areas of system dynamics and controls. While at Tech, he has been a
member of the Marine Corps ROTC Program on campus. He will graduate in May and be
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps, on May 2nd. Upon
commissioning, he will report to The Basic School in Quantico, VA.
Abstract
The Effect of Robust Input Shapers on Bridge Crane Operator Performance
The purpose of the research was to observe the manner in which crane
operators drive an industrial bridge crane that is transporting a large, distributed
payload. The research also quantified the utility of a robust input shaper from the user’s
point of view. The learning curve for users of various experience levels was observed
over a series of trials. Two representative manipulating tasks were performed: an
obstacle avoidance task and a hoisting task. The performance criteria that were
measured or observed include the task completion time, operator effort, collisions,
payload oscillation, and number of buttons pressed. As expected, the average task
completion time for input shaped trials was shorter than for trials without input
shaping—for example, the average time for the obstacle avoidance task was reduce
from 59 seconds to 29 seconds by utilizing input shaping. Additionally, input shaping
reduced the number of collisions by over 85%. Less learning was displayed with input
shaping than without. The average trial time was nearly 50% less for the eighth trial
without input shaping compared with the first, whereas the average trial time with
shaping only went down about 20%.
Philippe Lacasse (poster, CHBE)
Biography
Philippe Lacasse is an undergraduate student studying Chemical and
Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Before working in Dr.
Ready's lab, Philippe taught robotics to middle school students through Lanier Technical
College. Philippe is currently in his first year in the lab, and working with growing carbon
nanotubes on various mediums. He is also working on carbon nanotube field emissions.
After graduation, Philippe plans to work as an applied research scientist.
Growth of Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on Carbon Fabric
When carbon fabric is functionalized with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, it
shows a variety of interesting characteristics, such as a 46% increase in fracture
toughness. The carbon fiber investigated in the research had been produced
commercially by the Milliken Corporation and treated with a sizing polymer to maintain
structural integrity. Previous research demonstrated favorable carbon nanotube growth
on similar carbon fabric without the sizing polymer, so it was suggested that the sizing
polymer inhibited the growth of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The purpose o the
project was to investigate methods to remove the sizing polymer and allow for the
fabric to be used as a substrate for nanotube growth. The procedure was designed to
remove the sizing from woven carbon fiber cloth using various wash methods. After
being scrubbed in a 1wt% alconox solution, the cloth was sonicated in deionized water,
on medium to high power, for thirty seconds. These steps were designed to remove as
much of the polymer as possible and then remove the alconox solution from the fabric.
The cloth samples were then exposed to an acetone bath to remove any residue. A
catalyst layer of five nines purity iron was then deposited through the thermal
evaporation technique and the chemical vapor deposition technique was used to
attempt to grow nanotubes. Examination of the processed cloth in the Hitachi S-800
scanning electron microscope demonstrated little appreciable carbon nanotube growth,
though suggested some superficial damage to the sizing polymer.
Ramya Parthasarathy & Roy Rusly (poster, BME)
Biography - Ramya:
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I’m a second year student, majoring in Biomedical Engineering.
I got involved in research when I was a freshman. I started out working in a
Cognitive Measurement laboratory in the Psychology department. I did this for
two semesters.
I am now working in a Cardio lab in the BME department. I’ve been working in
this lab for two years, and plan to also pursue a research option with my degree.
It has been a terrific experience working with a mentor. It has further excited me
about my major!
Biography - Roy:
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I am a senior Biomedical Engineering student, graduating this semester (Fall
2008). I joined cardiovascular fluid mechanics lab since last summer 2007. I started
working full-time in the lab during summer and continue to work part-time for every
other semester. After graduating, I plan to pursue a graduate degree in Mechanical
Engineering.
Abstract
Dynamics of Mildly Stenotic Bicuspid Aortic Valve
Congenitally bicuspid aortic valve (CBAV) is a common degenerative aortic valve
condition present in 1 to 2% of the general population. In this aortic valve disease, two
of the three aortic valve leaflets are fused from birth, resulting in a mild stenosis and
elevated stress on the aortic valve leaflets and the linings of the heart. BAV has been
linked to complications such as ascending aortic aneurysm and dissection, aortic root
dilation, aortic valve calcification, regurgitation and/or stenosis. However, whether flow
dynamics plays a significant role along with genetic factors in the development of the
diseases is still unclear. The findings could help determine whether fluid dynamics
affects the different pathological complications that arise in the BAV patients.
The objective of the study is to create a geometrically accurate bicuspid aortic valve and
then to obtain the flow visualization downstream of the valve using an optical method
called Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). The shear stress at the walls of the aorta can be
deduced from the velocity fields.
A normal porcine aortic valve was excised, mounted onto a ring, and placed into
a chamber from the left heart simulator loop. The normal valve was experimented first
as a control, and then modified to simulate the bicuspid model. Unusual flow
disturbances were found when comparing experimental results obtained from both
models (normal and stenotic). The flow across the BAV model is more skewed with
additional vortices present at different points throughout the cardiac cycle whereas the
flow across the normal aortic valve is more centralized, and symmetrical. Low oscillatory
shear at bottom wall is also observed in the BAV model, but not in the normal valve.
Since several studies have associated low oscillatory shear on blood vessel walls with
inflammation, the same conditions at the downstream of the aortic valve could have
correlation with the development of the known BAV related diseases in the ascending
aorta.