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- ItemPhysioSkin: Rapid Fabrication of Skin-Conformal Physiological Interfaces(New York,NY,United States : Association for Computing Machinery, 2020) Nittala, Aditya Shekhar; Khan, Arshad; Kruttwig, Klaus; Kraus, Tobias; Steimle, Jürgen; Bernhaupt, ReginaAdvances in rapid prototyping platforms have made physiological sensing accessible to a wide audience. However, off-the-shelf electrodes commonly used for capturing biosignals are typically thick, non-conformal and do not support customization. We present PhysioSkin, a rapid, do-it-yourself prototyping method for fabricating custom multi-modal physiological sensors, using commercial materials and a commodity desktop inkjet printer. It realizes ultrathin skin-conformal patches (~1μm) and interactive textiles that capture sEMG, EDA and ECG signals. It further supports fabricating devices with custom levels of thickness and stretchability. We present detailed fabrication explorations on multiple substrate materials, functional inks and skin adhesive materials. Informed from the literature, we also provide design recommendations for each of the modalities. Evaluation results show that the sensor patches achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio. Example applications demonstrate the functionality and versatility of our approach for prototyping a next generation of physiological devices that intimately couple with the human body.
- ItemLike a Second Skin: Understanding How Epidermal Devices Affect Human Tactile Perception(New York,NY,United States : Association for Computing Machinery, 2019) Nittala, Aditya Shekhar; Kruttwig, Klaus; Lee, Jaeyeon; Bennewitz, Roland; Arzt, Eduard; Steimle, Jürgen; Brewster, StephenThe emerging class of epidermal devices opens up new opportunities for skin-based sensing, computing, and interaction. Future design of these devices requires an understanding of how skin-worn devices affect the natural tactile perception. In this study, we approach this research challenge by proposing a novel classification system for epidermal devices based on flexural rigidity and by testing advanced adhesive materials, including tattoo paper and thin films of poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). We report on the results of three psychophysical experiments that investigated the effect of epidermal devices of different rigidity on passive and active tactile perception. We analyzed human tactile sensitivity thresholds, two-point discrimination thresholds, and roughness discrimination abilities on three different body locations (fingertip, hand, forearm). Generally, a correlation was found between device rigidity and tactile sensitivity thresholds as well as roughness discrimination ability. Surprisingly, thin epidermal devices based on PDMS with a hundred times the rigidity of commonly used tattoo paper resulted in comparable levels of tactile acuity. The material offers the benefit of increased robustness against wear and the option to re-use the device. Based on our findings, we derive design recommendations for epidermal devices that combine tactile perception with device robustness.
- ItemA Rotating Spiral Micromotor for Noninvasive Zygote Transfer(Hoboke, NJ : Wiley, 2020) Schwarz, Lukas; Karnaushenko, Dmitriy D.; Hebenstreit, Franziska; Naumann, Ronald; Schmidt, Oliver G.; Medina-Sánchez, MarianaEmbryo transfer (ET) is a decisive step in the in vitro fertilization process. In most cases, the embryo is transferred to the uterus after several days of in vitro culture. Although studies have identified the beneficial effects of ET on proper embryo development in the earlier stages, this strategy is compromised by the necessity to transfer early embryos (zygotes) back to the fallopian tube instead of the uterus, which requires a more invasive, laparoscopic procedure, termed zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT). Magnetic micromotors offer the possibility to mitigate such surgical interventions, as they have the potential to transport and deliver cellular cargo such as zygotes through the uterus and fallopian tube noninvasively, actuated by an externally applied rotating magnetic field. This study presents the capture, transport, and release of bovine and murine zygotes using two types of magnetic micropropellers, helix and spiral. Although helices represent an established micromotor architecture, spirals surpass them in terms of motion performance and with their ability to reliably capture and secure the cargo during both motion and transfer between different environments. Herein, this is demonstrated with murine oocytes/zygotes as the cargo; this is the first step toward the application of noninvasive, magnetic micromotor‐assisted ZIFT.
- ItemSemantic segmentation of non-linear multimodal images for disease grading of inflammatory bowel disease: A segnet-based application([Sétubal] : SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications Lda., 2019) Pradhan, Pranita; Meyer, Tobias; Vieth, Michael; Stallmach, Andreas; Waldner, Maximilian; Schmitt, Michael; Popp, Juergen; Bocklitz, Thomas; De Marsico, Maria; Sanniti di Baja, Gabriella; Fred, AnaNon-linear multimodal imaging, the combination of coherent anti-stokes Raman scattering (CARS), two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second harmonic generation (SHG), has shown its potential to assist the diagnosis of different inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). This label-free imaging technique can support the ‘gold-standard’ techniques such as colonoscopy and histopathology to ensure an IBD diagnosis in clinical environment. Moreover, non-linear multimodal imaging can measure biomolecular changes in different tissue regions such as crypt and mucosa region, which serve as a predictive marker for IBD severity. To achieve a real-time assessment of IBD severity, an automatic segmentation of the crypt and mucosa regions is needed. In this paper, we semantically segment the crypt and mucosa region using a deep neural network. We utilized the SegNet architecture (Badrinarayanan et al., 2015) and compared its results with a classical machine learning approach. Our trained SegNet mod el achieved an overall F1 score of 0.75. This model outperformed the classical machine learning approach for the segmentation of the crypt and mucosa region in our study.
- ItemPhotobiomodulation of lymphatic drainage and clearance: Perspective strategy for augmentation of meningeal lymphatic functions(Washington, DC : Optica, 2020) Semyachkina-Glushkovskaya, Oxana; Abdurashitov, Arkady; Dubrovsky, Alexander; Klimova, Maria; Agranovich, Ilana; Terskov, Andrey; Shirokov, Alexander; Vinnik, Valeria; Kuzmina, Anna; Lezhnev, Nikita; Blokhina, Inna; Shnitenkova, Anastassia; Tuchin, Valery; Rafailov, Edik; Kurths, JurgenThere is a hypothesis that augmentation of the drainage and clearing function of the meningeal lymphatic vessels (MLVs) might be a promising therapeutic target for preventing neurological diseases. Here we investigate mechanisms of photobiomodulation (PBM, 1267 nm) of lymphatic drainage and clearance. Our results obtained at optical coherence tomography (OCT) give strong evidence that low PBM doses (5 and 10 J/cm2) stimulate drainage function of the lymphatic vessels via vasodilation (OCT data on the mesenteric lymphatics) and stimulation of lymphatic clearance (OCT data on clearance of gold nanorods from the brain) that was supported by confocal imaging of clearance of FITC-dextran from the cortex via MLVs. We assume that PBM-mediated relaxation of the lymphatic vessels can be possible mechanisms underlying increasing the permeability of the lymphatic endothelium that allows molecules transported by the lymphatic vessels and explain PBM stimulation of lymphatic drainage and clearance. These findings open new strategies for the stimulation of MLVs functions and non-pharmacological therapy of brain diseases.
- ItemAutofluorescence guided welding of heart tissue by laser pulse bursts at 1550 nm(Washington, DC : Optica, 2020) Litvinova, Karina; Chernysheva, Maria; Stegemann, Berthold; Leyva, FranciscoWound healing and other surgical technologies traditionally solved by suturing and stapling have recently been enhanced by the application of laser tissue welding. The usage of high energy laser radiation to anastomose tissues eliminates a foreign body reaction, reduces scar formation, and allows for the creation of watertight closure. In the current work, we show that an ultrafast pulsed fibre laser beam with 183 µJ·cm−2 energy fluence at 1550 nm provides successful welding of dissected chicken heart walls with the tensile strength of 1.03±0.12 kg·cm−2 equal to that of native tissue. The welding process was monitored employing fluorescence spectroscopy that detects the biochemical composition of tissues. We believe that fluorescence spectroscopy guided laser tissue welding is a promising approach for decreasing wound healing times and the avoiding risks of postoperative complications.
- ItemInhibition of cardiac CaMKII to cure heart failure: step by step towards translation?(Heidelberg : Springer, 2016) Cuello, Friederike; Lorenz, Kristina[no abstract available]
- ItemA Data-Driven Approach for Analyzing Healthcare Services Extracted from Clinical Records(Piscataway, NJ : IEEE, 2020) Scurti, Manuel; Menasalvas-Ruiz, Ernestina; Vidal, Maria-Esther; Torrente, Maria; Vogiatzis, Dimitrios; Paliouras, George; Provencio, Mariano; Rodríguez-González, Alejandro; Seco de Herrera, Alba García; Rodríguez González, Alejandro; Santosh, K.C.; Temesgen, Zelalem; Soda, PaoloCancer remains one of the major public health challenges worldwide. After cardiovascular diseases, cancer is one of the first causes of death and morbidity in Europe, with more than 4 million new cases and 1.9 million deaths per year. The suboptimal management of cancer patients during treatment and subsequent follows up are major obstacles in achieving better outcomes of the patients and especially regarding cost and quality of life In this paper, we present an initial data-driven approach to analyze the resources and services that are used more frequently by lung-cancer patients with the aim of identifying where the care process can be improved by paying a special attention on services before diagnosis to being able to identify possible lung-cancer patients before they are diagnosed and by reducing the length of stay in the hospital. Our approach has been built by analyzing the clinical notes of those oncological patients to extract this information and their relationships with other variables of the patient. Although the approach shown in this manuscript is very preliminary, it shows that quite interesting outcomes can be derived from further analysis. © 2020 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. Permission from IEEE must be obtained for all other uses, in any current or future media, including reprinting/republishing this material for advertising or promotional purposes, creating new collective works, for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or reuse of any copyrighted component of this work in other works.
- ItemHow Much Physical Guidance is Needed to Orient Growing Axons in 3D Hydrogels?(Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2020) Rose, Jonas C.; Gehlen, David B.; Omidinia-Anarkoli, Abdolrahman; Fölster, Maaike; Haraszti, Tamás; Jaekel, Esther E.; De Laporte, LauraDirecting cells is essential to organize multi-cellular organisms that are built up from subunits executing specific tasks. This guidance requires a precisely controlled symphony of biochemical, mechanical, and structural signals. While many guiding mechanisms focus on 2D structural patterns or 3D biochemical gradients, injectable material platforms that elucidate how cellular processes are triggered by defined 3D physical guiding cues are still lacking but crucial for the repair of soft tissues. Herein, a recently developed anisotropic injectable hybrid hydrogel (Anisogel) contains rod-shaped microgels that orient in situ by a magnetic field and has propelled studying 3D cell guidance. Here, the Anisogel is used to investigate the dependence of axonal guidance on microgel dimensions, aspect ratio, and distance. While large microgels result in high material anisotropy, they significantly reduce neurite outgrowth and thus the guidance efficiency. Narrow and long microgels enable strong axonal guidance with maximal outgrowth including cell sensing over distances of tens of micrometers in 3D. Moreover, nerve cells decide to orient inside the Anisogel within the first three days, followed by strengthening of the alignment, which goes along with oriented fibronectin deposition. These findings demonstrate the potential of the Anisogel to tune structural and mechanical parameters for specific applications. © 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley-VCH GmbH
- ItemBioinspired Liposomes for Oral Delivery of Colistin to Combat Intracellular Infections by Salmonella enterica(Weinheim : Wiley-VCH, 2019) Menina, S.; Eisenbeis, J.; Kamal, M.A.M.; Koch, M.; Bischoff, M.; Gordon, S.; Loretz, B.; Lehr, C.-M.Bacterial invasion into eukaryotic cells and the establishment of intracellular infection has proven to be an effective means of resisting antibiotic action, as anti-infective agents commonly exhibit a poor permeability across the host cell membrane. Encapsulation of anti-infectives into nanoscaled delivery systems, such as liposomes, is shown to result in an enhancement of intracellular delivery. The aim of the current work is, therefore, to formulate colistin, a poorly permeable anti-infective, into liposomes suitable for oral delivery, and to functionalize these carriers with a bacteria-derived invasive moiety to enhance their intracellular delivery. Different combinations of phospholipids and cholesterol are explored to optimize liposomal drug encapsulation and stability in biorelevant media. These liposomes are then surface-functionalized with extracellular adherence protein (Eap), derived from Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment of HEp-2 and Caco-2 cells infected with Salmonella enterica using colistin-containing, Eap-functionalized liposomes resulted in a significant reduction of intracellular bacteria, in comparison to treatment with nonfunctionalized liposomes as well as colistin alone. This indicates that such bio-invasive carriers are able to facilitate intracellular delivery of colistin, as necessary for intracellular anti-infective activity. The developed Eap-functionalized liposomes, therefore, present a promising strategy for improving the therapy of intracellular infections. © 2019 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim