Next Issue
Volume 10, April
Previous Issue
Volume 10, February
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.2
4.6
Journals
Bioengineering
Volume 10
Issue 3
share announcement

Bioengineering, Volume 10, Issue 3 (March 2023) – 117 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is an essential clinical tool for the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. Deep learning (DL) has recently revolutionized the field through image reconstruction techniques that allow unprecedented data undersampling rates. These fast acquisitions have the potential to considerably impact the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease. We provide a comprehensive review of DL-based reconstruction methods for CMR and connect them to the relevant conventional reconstruction theory. Additionally, we review DL methods developed to address specific challenges of CMR data and detail advancements for various CMR imaging applications. Lastly, we discuss the pitfalls and the outlook of the field, focusing on the robustness, interpretability, and clinical deployment. View this paper
  • Issues are regarded as officially published after their release is announced to the table of contents alert mailing list.
  • You may sign up for e-mail alerts to receive table of contents of newly released issues.
  • PDF is the official format for papers published in both, html and pdf forms. To view the papers in pdf format, click on the "PDF Full-text" link, and use the free Adobe Reader to open them.
Order results
Result details
Section
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
17 pages, 2598 KiB  
Article
GSN-HVNET: A Lightweight, Multi-Task Deep Learning Framework for Nuclei Segmentation and Classification
by Tengfei Zhao, Chong Fu, Yunjia Tian, Wei Song and Chiu-Wing Sham
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 393; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030393 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1926
Abstract
Nuclei segmentation and classification are two basic and essential tasks in computer-aided diagnosis of digital pathology images, and those deep-learning-based methods have achieved significant success. Unfortunately, most of the existing studies accomplish the two tasks by splicing two related neural networks directly, resulting [...] Read more.
Nuclei segmentation and classification are two basic and essential tasks in computer-aided diagnosis of digital pathology images, and those deep-learning-based methods have achieved significant success. Unfortunately, most of the existing studies accomplish the two tasks by splicing two related neural networks directly, resulting in repetitive computation efforts and a redundant-and-large neural network. Thus, this paper proposes a lightweight deep learning framework (GSN-HVNET) with an encoder–decoder structure for simultaneous segmentation and classification of nuclei. The decoder consists of three branches outputting the semantic segmentation of nuclei, the horizontal and vertical (HV) distances of nuclei pixels to their mass centers, and the class of each nucleus, respectively. The instance segmentation results are obtained by combing the outputs of the first and second branches. To reduce the computational cost and improve the network stability under small batch sizes, we propose two newly designed blocks, Residual-Ghost-SN (RGS) and Dense-Ghost-SN (DGS). Furthermore, considering the practical usage in pathological diagnosis, we redefine the classification principle of the CoNSeP dataset. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms other state-of-the-art models in terms of segmentation and classification accuracy by a significant margin while maintaining high computational efficiency. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Application of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2238 KiB  
Article
A Single Active-Site Mutagenesis Confers Enhanced Activity and/or Changed Product Distribution to a Pentalenene Synthase from Streptomyces sp. PSKA01
by Hongshuang Liu, Senbiao Fang, Lin Zhao, Xiao Men and Haibo Zhang
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030392 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1719
Abstract
Pentalenene is a ternary cyclic sesquiterpene formed via the ionization and cyclization of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), which is catalyzed by pentalenene synthase (PentS). To better understand the cyclization reactions, it is necessary to identify more key sites and elucidate their roles in terms [...] Read more.
Pentalenene is a ternary cyclic sesquiterpene formed via the ionization and cyclization of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), which is catalyzed by pentalenene synthase (PentS). To better understand the cyclization reactions, it is necessary to identify more key sites and elucidate their roles in terms of catalytic activity and product specificity control. Previous studies primarily relied on the crystal structure of PentS to analyze and verify critical active sites in the active cavity, while this study started with the function of PentS and screened a novel key site through random mutagenesis. In this study, we constructed a pentalenene synthetic pathway in E. coli BL21(DE3) and generated PentS variants with random mutations to construct a mutant library. A mutant, PentS-13, with a varied product diversity, was obtained through shake-flask fermentation and product identification. After sequencing and the functional verification of the mutation sites, it was found that T182A, located in the G2 helix, was responsible for the phenotype of PentS-13. The site-saturation mutagenesis of T182 demonstrated that mutations at this site not only affected the solubility and activity of the enzyme but also affected the specificity of the product. The other products were generated through different routes and via different carbocation intermediates, indicating that the 182 active site is crucial for PentS to stabilize and guide the regioselectivity of carbocations. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that these mutations may induce changes in the shape and volume of the active cavity and disturb hydrophobic/polar interactions that were sufficient to reposition reactive intermediates for alternative reaction pathways. This article provides rational explanations for these findings, which may generally allow for the protein engineering of other terpene synthases to improve their catalytic efficiency or modify their specificities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioengineering and Synthetic Biology Approaches for High-Value Compounds)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 3122 KiB  
Article
Label-Free Saliva Test for Rapid Detection of Coronavirus Using Nanosensor-Enabled SERS
by Swarna Ganesh, Ashok Kumar Dhinakaran, Priyatha Premnath, Krishnan Venkatakrishnan and Bo Tan
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030391 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1773
Abstract
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the inadequacies of existing diagnostic techniques and the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic systems. Although molecular tests such as RT-PCR are the gold standard, they cannot be employed as point-of-care testing systems. Hence, a rapid, noninvasive [...] Read more.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the inadequacies of existing diagnostic techniques and the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic systems. Although molecular tests such as RT-PCR are the gold standard, they cannot be employed as point-of-care testing systems. Hence, a rapid, noninvasive diagnostic technique such as Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a promising analytical technique for rapid molecular or viral diagnosis. Here, we have designed a SERS- based test to rapidly diagnose SARS-CoV-2 from saliva. Physical methods synthesized the nanostructured sensor. It significantly increased the detection specificity and sensitivity by ~ten copies/mL of viral RNA (~femtomolar concentration of nucleic acids). Our technique combines the multiplexing capability of SERS with the sensitivity of novel nanostructures to detect whole virus particles and infection-associated antibodies. We have demonstrated the feasibility of the test with saliva samples from individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 with a specificity of 95%. The SERS—based test provides a promising breakthrough in detecting potential mutations that may come up with time while also preparing the world to deal with other pandemics in the future with rapid response and very accurate results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Nanotechnology Applications in Bioengineering)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4986 KiB  
Article
Bioinformatics Analysis, Expression Profiling, and Functional Characterization of Heat Shock Proteins in Wolfi-poria cocos
by Xin Hu, Xue Tang, Yumei Zhou, Bilal ahmad, Deli Zhang, Yue Zeng, Jingyi Wei, Liling Deng, Shijiang Chen and Yu Pan
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 390; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030390 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1474
Abstract
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play critical roles in regulating different mechanisms under high-temperature conditions. HSPs have been identified and well-studied in different plants. However, there is a lack of information about their genomic organization and roles in medicinal plants and fungi, especially in [...] Read more.
Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play critical roles in regulating different mechanisms under high-temperature conditions. HSPs have been identified and well-studied in different plants. However, there is a lack of information about their genomic organization and roles in medicinal plants and fungi, especially in Wolfi-poria cocos (W. cocos). We identified sixteen heat shock proteins (HSPs) in W. cocos and analyzed in terms of phylogenetic analysis, gene structure, motif distribution patterns, physiochemical properties, and expression comparison in different strains. Based on phylogenetic analysis, HSPs were divided into five subgroups (WcHSP100, WcHSP90, WcHSP70, WcHSP60, and WcsHSP). Subgroups WcHSP100s, WcHSP90s, WcHSP70s, WcHSP60, and WcsHSPs were further divided into 3, 2, 3, 1, and 6 subfamilies, respectively. Moreover, the expression profiling of all HSP genes in five strains of W. cocos under different temperature extremes revealed that expression of most HSPs were induced by high temperature. However, every subfamily showed different expression suggesting distinctive role in heat stress tolerance. WcHSP70-4, WcHSP90-1, and WcHSP100-1 showed the highest response to high temperature stress. Heterologous expression of WcHSP70-4, WcHSP90-1, and WcHSP100-1 genes in Escherichia coli enhanced survival rate of E. coli during heat stress. These findings suggest the role of W. cocos heat shock genes in the high temperature stress tolerance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Bioengineering and Omics for Improving Crop Productivity, Stress Tolerance, and Industrial Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1885 KiB  
Article
A Novel Fusion Protein System for the Production of Nanobodies and the SARS-CoV-2 Spike RBD in a Bacterial System
by Dóra Nagy-Fazekas, Pál Stráner, Péter Ecsédi, Nóra Taricska, Adina Borbély, László Nyitray and András Perczel
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030389 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2198
Abstract
Antibodies are key proteins of the immune system, and they are widely used for both research and theragnostic applications. Among them, camelid immunoglobulins (IgG) differ from the canonical human IgG molecules, as their light chains are completely missing; thus, they have only variable [...] Read more.
Antibodies are key proteins of the immune system, and they are widely used for both research and theragnostic applications. Among them, camelid immunoglobulins (IgG) differ from the canonical human IgG molecules, as their light chains are completely missing; thus, they have only variable domains on their heavy chains (VHHs). A single VHH domain, often called a nanobody, has favorable structural, biophysical, and functional features compared to canonical antibodies. Therefore, robust and efficient production protocols relying on recombinant technologies are in high demand. Here, by utilizing ecotin, an Escherichia coli protein, as a fusion partner, we present a bacterial expression system that allows an easy, fast, and cost-effective way to prepare nanobodies. Ecotin was used here as a periplasmic translocator and a passive refolding chaperone, which allowed us to reach high-yield production of nanobodies. We also present a new, easily applicable prokaryotic expression and purification method of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein for interaction assays. We demonstrate using ECD spectroscopy that the bacterially produced RBD is well-folded. The bacterially produced nanobody was shown to bind strongly to the recombinant RBD, with a Kd of 10 nM. The simple methods presented here could facilitate rapid interaction measurements in the event of the appearance of additional SARS-CoV-2 variants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biologically Active Recombinant Proteins)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 8736 KiB  
Article
Image Translation of Breast Ultrasound to Pseudo Anatomical Display by CycleGAN
by Lilach Barkat, Moti Freiman and Haim Azhari
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 388; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030388 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1977
Abstract
Ultrasound imaging is cost effective, radiation-free, portable, and implemented routinely in clinical procedures. Nonetheless, image quality is characterized by a granulated appearance, a poor SNR, and speckle noise. Specific for breast tumors, the margins are commonly blurred and indistinct. Thus, there is a [...] Read more.
Ultrasound imaging is cost effective, radiation-free, portable, and implemented routinely in clinical procedures. Nonetheless, image quality is characterized by a granulated appearance, a poor SNR, and speckle noise. Specific for breast tumors, the margins are commonly blurred and indistinct. Thus, there is a need for improving ultrasound image quality. We hypothesize that this can be achieved by translation into a more realistic display which mimics a pseudo anatomical cut through the tissue, using a cycle generative adversarial network (CycleGAN). In order to train CycleGAN for this translation, two datasets were used, “Breast Ultrasound Images” (BUSI) and a set of optical images of poultry breast tissues. The generated pseudo anatomical images provide improved visual discrimination of the lesions through clearer border definition and pronounced contrast. In order to evaluate the preservation of the anatomical features, the lesions in both datasets were segmented and compared. This comparison yielded median dice scores of 0.91 and 0.70; median center errors of 0.58% and 3.27%; and median area errors of 0.40% and 4.34% for the benign and malignancies, respectively. In conclusion, generated pseudo anatomical images provide a more intuitive display, enhance tissue anatomy, and preserve tumor geometry; and can potentially improve diagnoses and clinical outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Imaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

18 pages, 9241 KiB  
Article
Focused Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (FLIPUS) Mitigates Apoptosis of MLO-Y4 Osteocyte-like Cells
by Regina Puts, Aseel Khaffaf, Maria Shaka, Hui Zhang and Kay Raum
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 387; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030387 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1745
Abstract
Long cytoplasmic processes of osteocytes orchestrate bone activity by integration of biochemical and mechanical signals and regulate load-induced bone adaptation. Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) is a clinically used technique for fracture healing that delivers mechanical impulses to the damaged bone tissue in a [...] Read more.
Long cytoplasmic processes of osteocytes orchestrate bone activity by integration of biochemical and mechanical signals and regulate load-induced bone adaptation. Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) is a clinically used technique for fracture healing that delivers mechanical impulses to the damaged bone tissue in a non-invasive and non-ionizing manner. The mechanism of action of LIPUS is still controversially discussed in the scientific community. In this study, the effect of focused LIPUS (FLIPUS) on the survival of starved MLO-Y4 osteocytes was investigated in vitro. Osteocytes stimulated for 10 min with FLIPUS exhibited extended dendrites, which formed frequent connections to neighboring cells and spanned longer distances. The sonicated cells displayed thick actin bundles and experienced increase in expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) proteins, especially on their dendrites, and E11 glycoprotein, which is responsible for the elongation of cellular cytoplasmic processes. After stimulation, expression of cell growth and survival genes as well as genes related to cell–cell communication was augmented. In addition, cell viability was improved after the sonication, and a decrease in ATP release in the medium was observed. In summary, FLIPUS mitigated apoptosis of starved osteocytes, which is likely related to the formation of the extensive dendritic network that ensured cell survival. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Fracture Healing Research)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 2293 KiB  
Article
User Perceptions of ROTEM-Guided Haemostatic Resuscitation: A Mixed Qualitative–Quantitative Study
by Greta Gasciauskaite, Amos Malorgio, Clara Castellucci, Alexandra Budowski, Giovanna Schweiger, Michaela Kolbe, Bastian Grande, Christoph B. Noethiger, Donat R. Spahn, Tadzio R. Roche, David W. Tscholl and Samira Akbas
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030386 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1620
Abstract
Viscoelastic point-of-care haemostatic resuscitation methods, such as ROTEM or TEG, are crucial in deciding on time-efficient personalised coagulation interventions. International transfusion guidelines emphasise increased patient safety and reduced treatment costs. We analysed care providers’ perceptions of ROTEM to identify perceived strengths and areas [...] Read more.
Viscoelastic point-of-care haemostatic resuscitation methods, such as ROTEM or TEG, are crucial in deciding on time-efficient personalised coagulation interventions. International transfusion guidelines emphasise increased patient safety and reduced treatment costs. We analysed care providers’ perceptions of ROTEM to identify perceived strengths and areas for improvement. We conducted a single-centre, mixed qualitative–quantitative study consisting of interviews followed by an online survey. Using a template approach, we first identified themes in the responses given by care providers about ROTEM. Later, the participants rated six statements based on the identified themes on five-point Likert scales in an online questionnaire. Seventy-seven participants were interviewed, and 52 completed the online survey. By analysing user perceptions, we identified ten themes. The most common positive theme was “high accuracy”. The most common negative theme was “need for training”. In the online survey, 94% of participants agreed that monitoring the real-time ROTEM temograms helps to initiate targeted treatment more quickly and 81% agreed that recurrent ROTEM training would be beneficial. Anaesthesia care providers found ROTEM to be accurate and quickly available to support decision-making in dynamic and complex haemostatic situations. However, clinicians identified that interpreting ROTEM is a complex and cognitively demanding task that requires significant training needs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Regenerative Engineering)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 3312 KiB  
Article
Analytical Models of Intra- and Extratumoral Cell Interactions at Avascular Stage of Growth in the Presence of Targeted Chemotherapy
by Evgeniia Lavrenteva, Constantinos Theodoropoulos and Michael Binns
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 385; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030385 - 21 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1204
Abstract
In this study, we propose a set of nonlinear differential equations to model the dynamic growth of avascular stage tumors, considering nutrient supply from underlying tissue, innate immune response, contact inhibition of cell migration, and interactions with a chemotherapeutic agent. The model has [...] Read more.
In this study, we propose a set of nonlinear differential equations to model the dynamic growth of avascular stage tumors, considering nutrient supply from underlying tissue, innate immune response, contact inhibition of cell migration, and interactions with a chemotherapeutic agent. The model has been validated against available experimental data from the literature for tumor growth. We assume that the size of the modeled tumor is already detectable, and it represents all clinically observed existent cell populations; initial conditions are selected accordingly. Numerical results indicate that the tumor size and regression significantly depend on the strength of the host immune system. The effect of chemotherapy is investigated, not only within the malignancy, but also in terms of the responding immune cells and healthy tissue in the vicinity of a tumor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Role of Computational Methods for Living Systems at Different Scales)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 26196 KiB  
Article
Stiff Extracellular Matrix Promotes Invasive Behaviors of Trophoblast Cells
by Jialing Cao, Hangyu Li, Hongyan Tang, Xuenan Gu, Yan Wang, Dongshi Guan, Jing Du and Yubo Fan
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030384 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1761
Abstract
The effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness on embryonic trophoblast cells invasion during mammalian embryo implantation remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of ECM stiffness on various aspects of human trophoblast cell behaviors during cell–ECM interactions. The mechanical microenvironment [...] Read more.
The effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness on embryonic trophoblast cells invasion during mammalian embryo implantation remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of ECM stiffness on various aspects of human trophoblast cell behaviors during cell–ECM interactions. The mechanical microenvironment of the uterus was simulated by fabricating polyacrylamide (PA) hydrogels with different levels of stiffness. The human choriocarcinoma (JAR) cell lineage was used as the trophoblast model. We found that the spreading area of JAR cells, the formation of focal adhesions, and the polymerization of the F-actin cytoskeleton were all facilitated with increased ECM stiffness. Significantly, JAR cells also exhibited durotactic behavior on ECM with a gradient stiffness. Meanwhile, stiffness of the ECM affects the invasion of multicellular JAR spheroids. These results demonstrated that human trophoblast cells are mechanically sensitive, while the mechanical properties of the uterine microenvironment could play an important role in the implantation process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanics-Based Motion Analysis)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

25 pages, 8130 KiB  
Article
Histopathological Analysis for Detecting Lung and Colon Cancer Malignancies Using Hybrid Systems with Fused Features
by Mohammed Al-Jabbar, Mohammed Alshahrani, Ebrahim Mohammed Senan and Ibrahim Abdulrab Ahmed
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030383 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2042
Abstract
Lung and colon cancer are among humanity’s most common and deadly cancers. In 2020, there were 4.19 million people diagnosed with lung and colon cancer, and more than 2.7 million died worldwide. Some people develop lung and colon cancer simultaneously due to smoking [...] Read more.
Lung and colon cancer are among humanity’s most common and deadly cancers. In 2020, there were 4.19 million people diagnosed with lung and colon cancer, and more than 2.7 million died worldwide. Some people develop lung and colon cancer simultaneously due to smoking which causes lung cancer, leading to an abnormal diet, which also causes colon cancer. There are many techniques for diagnosing lung and colon cancer, most notably the biopsy technique and its analysis in laboratories. Due to the scarcity of health centers and medical staff, especially in developing countries. Moreover, manual diagnosis takes a long time and is subject to differing opinions of doctors. Thus, artificial intelligence techniques solve these challenges. In this study, three strategies were developed, each with two systems for early diagnosis of histological images of the LC25000 dataset. Histological images have been improved, and the contrast of affected areas has been increased. The GoogLeNet and VGG-19 models of all systems produced high dimensional features, so redundant and unnecessary features were removed to reduce high dimensionality and retain essential features by the PCA method. The first strategy for diagnosing the histological images of the LC25000 dataset by ANN uses crucial features of GoogLeNet and VGG-19 models separately. The second strategy uses ANN with the combined features of GoogLeNet and VGG-19. One system reduced dimensions and combined, while the other combined high features and then reduced high dimensions. The third strategy uses ANN with fusion features of CNN models (GoogLeNet and VGG-19) and handcrafted features. With the fusion features of VGG-19 and handcrafted features, the ANN reached a sensitivity of 99.85%, a precision of 100%, an accuracy of 99.64%, a specificity of 100%, and an AUC of 99.86%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence for Biomedical Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1960 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning Diffuse Optical Tomography Using Extreme Gradient Boosting and Genetic Programming
by Ami Hauptman, Ganesh M. Balasubramaniam and Shlomi Arnon
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030382 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1817
Abstract
Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a non-invasive method for detecting breast cancer; however, it struggles to produce high-quality images due to the complexity of scattered light and the limitations of traditional image reconstruction algorithms. These algorithms can be affected by boundary conditions and [...] Read more.
Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is a non-invasive method for detecting breast cancer; however, it struggles to produce high-quality images due to the complexity of scattered light and the limitations of traditional image reconstruction algorithms. These algorithms can be affected by boundary conditions and have a low imaging accuracy, a shallow imaging depth, a long computation time, and a high signal-to-noise ratio. However, machine learning can potentially improve the performance of DOT by being better equipped to solve inverse problems, perform regression, classify medical images, and reconstruct biomedical images. In this study, we utilized a machine learning model called “XGBoost” to detect tumors in inhomogeneous breasts and applied a post-processing technique based on genetic programming to improve accuracy. The proposed algorithm was tested using simulated DOT measurements from complex inhomogeneous breasts and evaluated using the cosine similarity metrics and root mean square error loss. The results showed that the use of XGBoost and genetic programming in DOT could lead to more accurate and non-invasive detection of tumors in inhomogeneous breasts compared to traditional methods, with the reconstructed breasts having an average cosine similarity of more than 0.97 ± 0.07 and average root mean square error of around 0.1270 ± 0.0031 compared to the ground truth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Artificial Intelligence in Advanced Medical Imaging)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1519 KiB  
Article
Effects of a Graphene Heating Device on Fatigue Recovery of Biceps Brachii
by Wenming Liu, Xiaohui Jiang, Zhiran Yu, Kai Pang, Jian Wang and Yuxin Peng
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030381 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2350
Abstract
Far-infrared (FIR) is considered to be an ideal method to promote fatigue recovery due to its high permeability and strong radiation. In this paper, we report a flexible and wearable graphene heating device to help fatigue recovery of human exercise by using its [...] Read more.
Far-infrared (FIR) is considered to be an ideal method to promote fatigue recovery due to its high permeability and strong radiation. In this paper, we report a flexible and wearable graphene heating device to help fatigue recovery of human exercise by using its high FIR divergence property. This study compares two different fatigue recovery methods, graphene far-infrared heating device hot application and natural recovery, over a 20 min recovery time among the male colleges’ exhaustion exercise. Experimental results show that the achieved graphene device holds excellent electro-thermal radiation conversion efficiency of 70% and normal total emissivity of 89%. Moreover, the graphene FIR therapy in our work is more energy-efficient, easy to use, and wearable than traditional fatigue recovery methods. Such an anti-fatigue strategy offers new opportunities for enlarging potential applications of graphene film in body science, athletic training recovery, and wearable devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical and Bioengineering Technology: Current Applications in Sports Monitoring and Health Care)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 4030 KiB  
Article
Vision–Language Model for Visual Question Answering in Medical Imagery
by Yakoub Bazi, Mohamad Mahmoud Al Rahhal, Laila Bashmal and Mansour Zuair
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 380; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030380 - 20 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4355
Abstract
In the clinical and healthcare domains, medical images play a critical role. A mature medical visual question answering system (VQA) can improve diagnosis by answering clinical questions presented with a medical image. Despite its enormous potential in the healthcare industry and services, this [...] Read more.
In the clinical and healthcare domains, medical images play a critical role. A mature medical visual question answering system (VQA) can improve diagnosis by answering clinical questions presented with a medical image. Despite its enormous potential in the healthcare industry and services, this technology is still in its infancy and is far from practical use. This paper introduces an approach based on a transformer encoder–decoder architecture. Specifically, we extract image features using the vision transformer (ViT) model, and we embed the question using a textual encoder transformer. Then, we concatenate the resulting visual and textual representations and feed them into a multi-modal decoder for generating the answer in an autoregressive way. In the experiments, we validate the proposed model on two VQA datasets for radiology images termed VQA-RAD and PathVQA. The model shows promising results compared to existing solutions. It yields closed and open accuracies of 84.99% and 72.97%, respectively, for VQA-RAD, and 83.86% and 62.37%, respectively, for PathVQA. Other metrics such as the BLUE score showing the alignment between the predicted and true answer sentences are also reported. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biosignal Processing)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2037 KiB  
Article
Nanoscale Chemical Surface Analyses of Recycled Powder for Direct Metal Powder Bed Fusion Ti-6Al-4V Root Analog Dental Implant: An X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Study
by Anastasia Matsko, Nader Shaker, Ana Carla B. C. J. Fernandes, Asmaa Haimeur and Rodrigo França
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030379 - 20 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1636
Abstract
Over the past couple of decades, additive manufacturing and the use of root-analogue-printed titanium dental implants have been developed. Not all powder particles are sintered into the final product during the additive manufacturing process. Reuse of the remaining powder could reduce the overall [...] Read more.
Over the past couple of decades, additive manufacturing and the use of root-analogue-printed titanium dental implants have been developed. Not all powder particles are sintered into the final product during the additive manufacturing process. Reuse of the remaining powder could reduce the overall implant manufacturing cost. However, Ti-6Al-4V powder particles are affected by heat, mechanical factors, and oxidization during the powder bed fusion manufacturing process. Degradation of the powder may harm the final surface composition and decrease the biocompatibility and survival of the implant. The uncertainty of the recycled powder properties prevents implant fabrication facilities from reusing the powder. This study investigates the chemical composition of controlled, clean, and recycled titanium alloy powder and root-analogue implants (RAI) manufactured from these powders at three different depths. The change in titanium’s quantity, oxidization state, and chemical composition in powder and RAI implants have been demonstrated and analyzed. While not identical, the surface chemical composition of the recycled powder implant and the implant manufactured from unused powder are similar. The results also indicate the presence of TiO2 on all surfaces. Many studies confirmed that titanium dioxide on the implant’s surface correlates with better osteointegration, reduced bacterial infection, and increased corrosion resistance. Considering economic and environmental aspects, surface chemical composition comparison of clean and reused powder is crucial for the future manufacturing of cost-effective and biocompatible implants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 9115 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Graphite, Graphene, and Hydrophilic-Treated Graphene Electrodes to Improve Power Generation and Wastewater Treatment in Microbial Fuel Cells
by Fátima Borja-Maldonado and Miguel Ángel López Zavala
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030378 - 19 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1507
Abstract
In this study, graphite, graphene, and hydrophilic-treated graphene electrodes were evaluated in a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (DC-MFC). Free-oxygen conditions were promoted in anodic and cathodic chambers. Hydrochloric acid at 0.1 M and pH 1.1 was used as a catholyte, in addition to [...] Read more.
In this study, graphite, graphene, and hydrophilic-treated graphene electrodes were evaluated in a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (DC-MFC). Free-oxygen conditions were promoted in anodic and cathodic chambers. Hydrochloric acid at 0.1 M and pH 1.1 was used as a catholyte, in addition to deionized water in the cathodic chamber. Domestic wastewater was used as a substrate, and a DuPontTM Nafion 117 membrane was used as a proton exchange membrane. The maximum power density of 32.07 mW·m−2 was obtained using hydrophilic-treated graphene electrodes and hydrochloric acid as catholyte. This power density was 1.4-fold and 32-fold greater than that of graphene (22.15 mW·m−2) and graphite (1.02 mW·m−2), respectively, under the same operational conditions. In addition, the maximum organic matter removal efficiencies of 69.8% and 75.5% were obtained using hydrophilic-treated graphene electrodes, for hydrochloric acid catholyte and deionized water, respectively. Therefore, the results suggest that the use of hydrophilic-treated graphene functioning as electrodes in DC-MFCs, and hydrochloric acid as a catholyte, favored power density when domestic wastewater is degraded. This opens up new possibilities for improving DC-MFC performance through the selection of suitable new electrode materials and catholytes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advancements in Methods and Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 1654 KiB  
Article
Swept-Source OCT Mid-Peripheral Retinal Irregularity in Retinal Detachment and Posterior Vitreous Detachment Eyes
by Stewart R. Lake, Murk J. Bottema, Tyra Lange, Keryn A. Williams and Karen J. Reynolds
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030377 - 19 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1420
Abstract
Irregularities in retinal shape have been shown to correlate with axial length, a major risk factor for retinal detachment. To further investigate this association, a comparison was performed of the swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS OCT) peripheral retinal shape of eyes that had [...] Read more.
Irregularities in retinal shape have been shown to correlate with axial length, a major risk factor for retinal detachment. To further investigate this association, a comparison was performed of the swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS OCT) peripheral retinal shape of eyes that had either a posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) or vitrectomy for retinal detachment. The objective was to identify a biomarker that can be tested as a predictor for retinal detachment. Eyes with a PVD (N = 88), treated retinal detachment (N = 67), or retinal tear (N = 53) were recruited between July 2020 and January 2022 from hospital retinal clinics in South Australia. The mid-peripheral retina was imaged in four quadrants with SS OCT. The features explored were patient age, eye axial length, and retinal shape irregularity quantified in the frequency domain. A discriminant analysis classifier to identify retinal detachment eyes was trained with two-thirds and tested with one-third of the sample. Retinal detachment eyes had greater irregularity than PVD eyes. A classifier trained using shape features from the superior and temporal retina had a specificity of 84% and a sensitivity of 48%. Models incorporating axial length were less successful, suggesting peripheral retinal irregularity is a better biomarker for retinal detachment than axial length. Mid-peripheral retinal irregularity can identify eyes that have experienced a retinal detachment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical Applications of Optical Coherence Tomography)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 1941 KiB  
Article
Exploratory Study on Chemosensory Event-Related Potentials in Long COVID-19 and Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Common Pathway?
by Sara Invitto, Paolo Boscolo-Rizzo, Francesco Fantin, Domenico Marco Bonifati, Cosimo de Filippis, Enzo Emanuelli, Daniele Frezza, Federico Giopato, Marcella Caggiula, Andrea Schito, Vincenzo Ciccarese and Giacomo Spinato
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 376; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030376 - 19 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1876
Abstract
People affected by the Long COVID-19 (LC) syndrome often show clinical manifestations that are similar to those observed in patients with mild cognitive impairments (MCI), such as olfactory dysfunction (OD), brain fog, and cognitive and attentional diseases. This study aimed to investigate the [...] Read more.
People affected by the Long COVID-19 (LC) syndrome often show clinical manifestations that are similar to those observed in patients with mild cognitive impairments (MCI), such as olfactory dysfunction (OD), brain fog, and cognitive and attentional diseases. This study aimed to investigate the chemosensory-evoked related potentials (CSERP) in LC and MCI to understand if there is a common pathway for the similarity of symptoms associated with these disorders. Eighteen LC patients (mean age 53; s.d. = 7), 12 patients diagnosed with MCI (mean age 67; s.d. = 6), and 10 healthy control subjects (mean age 66; s.d. = 5, 7) were recruited for this exploratory study. All of them performed a chemosensory event-related potentials (CSERP) task with the administration of trigeminal stimulations (e.g., the odorants cinnamaldehyde and eucalyptus). Study results highlighted that MCI and LC showed reduced N1 amplitude, particularly in the left frontoparietal network, involved in working memory and attentional deficits, and a reduction of P3 latency in LC. This study lays the foundations for evaluating aspects of LC as a process that could trigger long-term functional alterations, and CSERPs could be considered valid biomarkers for assessing the progress of OD and an indicator of other impairments (e.g., attentional and cognitive impairments), as they occur in MCI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biosignal Processing)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 7607 KiB  
Article
The Significant Potential of Simonkolleite Powder for Deep Wound Healing under a Moist Environment: In Vivo Histological Evaluation Using a Rat Model
by Osamu Yamamoto, Miki Nagashima, Yoshimi Nakata and Etsuro Udagawa
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030375 - 19 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2644
Abstract
In the present work, simonkolleite powder consisting of Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O composition was proposed as a new candidate material for the healing of deep wounds in a moist environment. The powder was synthesized using a solution process [...] Read more.
In the present work, simonkolleite powder consisting of Zn5(OH)8Cl2·H2O composition was proposed as a new candidate material for the healing of deep wounds in a moist environment. The powder was synthesized using a solution process and evaluated for wound-healing effects in rats. The pH value of physiological saline at 37 °C using the simonkolleite powder was 7.27, which was the optimal pH value for keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation (range: 7.2–8.3). The amount of Zn2+ ions sustainably released from simonkolleite powder into physiological saline was 404 mmol/L below cytotoxic ion concentrations (<500 mmol/L), and the rhombohedral simonkolleite was accordingly converted to monoclinic Zn5(OH)10·2H2O. To evaluate the wound-healing effect of simonkolleite powder, the powder was applied to a full-thickness surgical wound reaching the subcutaneous tissue in the rat’s abdomen. The histological analysis of the skin tissues collected after 1, 2, and 4 weeks found that angiogenesis, collagen deposition, and maturation were notedly accelerated due to the Zn2+ ions released from simonkolleite powder. The simonkolleite regenerated collagen close to autologous skin tissue after 4 weeks. The hair follicles, one of the skin appendages, were observed on the regenerative skin in the simonkolleite group at 4 weeks but not in the control group. Therefore, simonkolleite was hypothesized to stimulate the early regeneration of skin tissue in a moist environment, compared with commercial wound dressing material. These results suggested that simonkolleite could offer great potential as new wound dressing material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomaterials and Their Application to Wound Healing and Tissue Engineering)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 7320 KiB  
Article
Chinese Digital Arm (CDA): A High-Precision Digital Arm for Electrical Stimulation Simulation
by Shuang Zhang, Jiujiang Wang, Yuanyu Yu, Lin Wu and Tao Zhang
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 374; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030374 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1258
Abstract
To effectively analyze the diffusion and accumulation of signals on the surface and inside the human body under electrical stimulation, we used the gray threshold of the Chinese Digital Human image dataset to segment an arm image and reconstruct the tissue to obtain [...] Read more.
To effectively analyze the diffusion and accumulation of signals on the surface and inside the human body under electrical stimulation, we used the gray threshold of the Chinese Digital Human image dataset to segment an arm image and reconstruct the tissue to obtain its three-dimensional cloud point dataset. Finally, a semirefined digital arm entity model with the geometric characteristics of the actual human arm tissue was constructed using reverse engineering technology. Further input of the current signal stimulation under tDCS and tACS with additional analysis of the signal diffusion in the transient mode via model calculation revealed that DC electrical stimulation is likely to cause high-voltage burns. The effective depth achieved using the AC stimulation signal is considerable, and provides reference for the electrical stimulation selection. Simultaneously, in the digital arm model, the signal diffusion and tissue damage inside the arm can be analyzed by changing the field, which provides a theoretical basis for the experimental study of the human body. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Biosignal Processing)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1420 KiB  
Article
Ankle Joint Angle Influences Relative Torque Fluctuation during Isometric Plantar Flexion
by Fandi Shi, William Zev Rymer and Jongsang Son
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 373; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030373 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1542
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of changes in muscle length on the torque fluctuations and on related oscillations in muscle activity during voluntary isometric contractions of ankle plantar flexor muscles. Eleven healthy individuals were asked to perform voluntary [...] Read more.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of changes in muscle length on the torque fluctuations and on related oscillations in muscle activity during voluntary isometric contractions of ankle plantar flexor muscles. Eleven healthy individuals were asked to perform voluntary isometric contractions of ankle muscles at five different contraction intensities from 10% to 70% of maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and at three different muscle lengths, implemented by changing the ankle joint angle (plantar flexion of 26°-shorter muscle length; plantar flexion of 10°-neutral muscle length; dorsiflexion of 3°-longer muscle length). Surface electromyogram (EMG) signals were recorded from the skin surface over the triceps surae muscles, and rectified-and-smoothed EMG (rsEMG) were estimated to assess the oscillations in muscle activity. The absolute torque fluctuations (quantified by the standard deviation) were significantly higher during moderate-to-high contractions at the longer muscle length. Absolute torque fluctuations were found to be a linear function of torque output regardless of muscle length. In contrast, the relative torque fluctuations (quantified by the coefficient of variation) were higher at the shorter muscle length. However, both absolute and relative oscillations in muscle activities remained relatively consistent at different ankle joint angles for all plantar flexors. These findings suggest that the torque steadiness may be affected by not only muscle activities, but also by muscle length-dependent mechanical properties. This study provides more insights that muscle mechanics should be considered when explaining the steadiness in force output. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

48 pages, 4845 KiB  
Review
Connectivity Analysis in EEG Data: A Tutorial Review of the State of the Art and Emerging Trends
by Giovanni Chiarion, Laura Sparacino, Yuri Antonacci, Luca Faes and Luca Mesin
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030372 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6323
Abstract
Understanding how different areas of the human brain communicate with each other is a crucial issue in neuroscience. The concepts of structural, functional and effective connectivity have been widely exploited to describe the human connectome, consisting of brain networks, their structural connections and [...] Read more.
Understanding how different areas of the human brain communicate with each other is a crucial issue in neuroscience. The concepts of structural, functional and effective connectivity have been widely exploited to describe the human connectome, consisting of brain networks, their structural connections and functional interactions. Despite high-spatial-resolution imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) being widely used to map this complex network of multiple interactions, electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings claim high temporal resolution and are thus perfectly suitable to describe either spatially distributed and temporally dynamic patterns of neural activation and connectivity. In this work, we provide a technical account and a categorization of the most-used data-driven approaches to assess brain-functional connectivity, intended as the study of the statistical dependencies between the recorded EEG signals. Different pairwise and multivariate, as well as directed and non-directed connectivity metrics are discussed with a pros–cons approach, in the time, frequency, and information-theoretic domains. The establishment of conceptual and mathematical relationships between metrics from these three frameworks, and the discussion of novel methodological approaches, will allow the reader to go deep into the problem of inferring functional connectivity in complex networks. Furthermore, emerging trends for the description of extended forms of connectivity (e.g., high-order interactions) are also discussed, along with graph-theory tools exploring the topological properties of the network of connections provided by the proposed metrics. Applications to EEG data are reviewed. In addition, the importance of source localization, and the impacts of signal acquisition and pre-processing techniques (e.g., filtering, source localization, and artifact rejection) on the connectivity estimates are recognized and discussed. By going through this review, the reader could delve deeply into the entire process of EEG pre-processing and analysis for the study of brain functional connectivity and learning, thereby exploiting novel methodologies and approaches to the problem of inferring connectivity within complex networks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Featured Papers in Computer Methods in Biomedicine)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 978 KiB  
Review
Photobiomodulation Therapy and Pulp-Regenerative Endodontics: A Narrative Review
by Jiawen Yong, Sabine Gröger, Zuping Wu, Sabine Ruf, Yuer Ye and Xiaoyan Chen
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030371 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3068
Abstract
Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) were used to recover the dental pulp’s vitality in order to avoid the undesirable outcomes of conventional endodontic treatment and to promote dentinal formation, especially for immature permanent teeth. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) exhibits photobiological and photochemical effects for improving [...] Read more.
Regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) were used to recover the dental pulp’s vitality in order to avoid the undesirable outcomes of conventional endodontic treatment and to promote dentinal formation, especially for immature permanent teeth. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) exhibits photobiological and photochemical effects for improving the root canal’s environmental conditions by compensating for oxidative stress and increasing the blood supply to implanted stem cells and improving their survival. Basic research has revealed that PBMT can modulate human dental pulp stem cells’ (hDPSCs) differentiation, proliferation, and activity, and subsequent tissue activation. However, many unclear points still remain regarding the mechanisms of action induced by PBMT in REPs. Therefore, in this review, we present the applications of laser and PBMT irradiation to the procedures of REPs and in endodontics. In addition, the effects of PBMT on the regenerative processes of hDPSCs are reviewed from biochemical and cytological perspectives on the basis of the available literature. Furthermore, we consider the feasibility of treatment in which PBMT irradiation is applied to stem cells, including dental pulp stem cells, and we discuss research that has reported on its effect. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Laser Therapy in Oral Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 1714 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Antibody Quantification with Hyperspectral Imaging in a Large Field of View for Clinical Applications
by Martina De Landro, Lorenzo Cinelli, Nicola Marchese, Giulia Spano, Manuel Barberio, Cindy Vincent, Jacques Marescaux, Didier Mutter, Michel De Mathelin, Sylvain Gioux, Eric Felli, Paola Saccomandi and Michele Diana
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 370; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030370 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1439
Abstract
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a non-invasive, contrast-free optical-based tool that has recently been applied in medical and basic research fields. The opportunity to use HSI to identify exogenous tumor markers in a large field of view (LFOV) could increase precision in oncological diagnosis [...] Read more.
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a non-invasive, contrast-free optical-based tool that has recently been applied in medical and basic research fields. The opportunity to use HSI to identify exogenous tumor markers in a large field of view (LFOV) could increase precision in oncological diagnosis and surgical treatment. In this study, the anti-high mobility group B1 (HMGB1) labeled with Alexa fluorophore (647 nm) was used as the target molecule. This is the proof-of-concept of HSI’s ability to quantify antibodies via an in vitro setting. A first test was performed to understand whether the relative absorbance provided by the HSI camera was dependent on volume at a 1:1 concentration. A serial dilution of 1:1, 10, 100, 1000, and 10,000 with phosphatase-buffered saline (PBS) was then used to test the sensitivity of the camera at the minimum and maximum volumes. For the analysis, images at 640 nm were extracted from the hypercubes according to peak signals matching the specificities of the antibody manufacturer. The results showed a positive correlation between relative absorbance and volume (r = 0.9709, p = 0.0013). The correlation between concentration and relative absorbance at min (1 µL) and max (20 µL) volume showed r = 0.9925, p < 0.0001, and r = 0.9992, p < 0.0001, respectively. These results demonstrate the HSI potential in quantifying HMGB1, hence deserving further studies in ex vivo and in vivo settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Hyperspectral Imaging in Health and Disease)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2654 KiB  
Article
Limiting the Use of Electromyography and Ground Reaction Force Data Changes the Magnitude and Ranking of Modelled Anterior Cruciate Ligament Forces
by Azadeh Nasseri, Riad Akhundov, Adam L. Bryant, David G. Lloyd and David J. Saxby
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030369 - 17 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1519
Abstract
Neuromusculoskeletal models often require three-dimensional (3D) body motions, ground reaction forces (GRF), and electromyography (EMG) as input data. Acquiring these data in real-world settings is challenging, with barriers such as the cost of instruments, setup time, and operator skills to correctly acquire and [...] Read more.
Neuromusculoskeletal models often require three-dimensional (3D) body motions, ground reaction forces (GRF), and electromyography (EMG) as input data. Acquiring these data in real-world settings is challenging, with barriers such as the cost of instruments, setup time, and operator skills to correctly acquire and interpret data. This study investigated the consequences of limiting EMG and GRF data on modelled anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) forces during a drop–land–jump task in late-/post-pubertal females. We compared ACL forces generated by a reference model (i.e., EMG-informed neural mode combined with 3D GRF) to those generated by an EMG-informed with only vertical GRF, static optimisation with 3D GRF, and static optimisation with only vertical GRF. Results indicated ACL force magnitude during landing (when ACL injury typically occurs) was significantly overestimated if only vertical GRF were used for either EMG-informed or static optimisation neural modes. If 3D GRF were used in combination with static optimisation, ACL force was marginally overestimated compared to the reference model. None of the alternative models maintained rank order of ACL loading magnitudes generated by the reference model. Finally, we observed substantial variability across the study sample in response to limiting EMG and GRF data, indicating need for methods incorporating subject-specific measures of muscle activation patterns and external loading when modelling ACL loading during dynamic motor tasks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomedical and Bioengineering Technology: Current Applications in Sports Monitoring and Health Care)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 5434 KiB  
Article
Integrated Thermofluid Lumped Parameter Model for Analyzing Hemodynamics in Human Fatigue State
by Xiaoling Ding, Ying He, Youqiang Chen, Yueping Wang and Lili Long
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030368 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1348
Abstract
It is well known that driving while fatigued is dangerous and can lead to serious traffic accidents. However, there is a lack of studies on the mechanism of fatigue. This paper sought to infer changes in the cardiovascular system through hand and head [...] Read more.
It is well known that driving while fatigued is dangerous and can lead to serious traffic accidents. However, there is a lack of studies on the mechanism of fatigue. This paper sought to infer changes in the cardiovascular system through hand and head skin temperature peripheral factors via an integrated lumped parameter model. A multi-layer inner structure with variable blood perfusion was used to construct a full-body thermal model. The cardiovascular system model provided blood perfusion using lumped parameters. The peripheral resistance and heart rate in the cardiovascular system model were adjusted to match the experimental temperatures of the head and hands obtained from induced fatigue experiments. The simulation results showed that the heart rate and blood pressure decreased, and the peripheral skin resistance of the hands and head increased after fatigue. A decrease in heart rate and an increase in peripheral resistance affect the magnitude of blood flow to the periphery of the body, leading to a decrease in skin temperature during fatigue. The present integrated model elucidates a key effect of human fatigue on the cardiovascular system, which is expected to help improve the accuracy of fatigue monitoring systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multiscale Thermal Engineering for Biomedical Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2559 KiB  
Article
Modeling Gas Plasma-Tissue Interactions in 3D Collagen-Based Hydrogel Cancer Cell Cultures
by Lea Miebach, Marten Hagge and Sander Bekeschus
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030367 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1538
Abstract
Gas plasma jet technology was recently identified as a potential adjuvant in the fight against cancer. Here, the partial ionization of gas yields the local formation of an exceptional variety of highly reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species, which are considered the [...] Read more.
Gas plasma jet technology was recently identified as a potential adjuvant in the fight against cancer. Here, the partial ionization of gas yields the local formation of an exceptional variety of highly reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen (RNS) species, which are considered the main actors of plasma-induced antitumor effects. Yet, fundamental knowledge in preclinical plasma research relies on the predominant use of two-dimensional cell culture systems, despite causing significant shifts in redox chemistries that largely limit translational relevance. So far, the intricacy of studying complex plasma–tissue interactions causes substantial knowledge gaps concerning the key mechanisms and therapeutical limitations of plasma treatment in a living organism. Identifying physiologically relevant yet simplified tissue models is vital to address such questions. In our study, a side-by-side comparison of conventional and pre-established hydrogel models emphasized this discrepancy, revealing a marked difference in plasma-induced toxicity related to species distribution dynamics. Chemically embedded, fluorescent reporters were further used to characterize reactive species’ fingerprints in hydrogels compared to liquids. In addition, a thirteen cell-line screening outlined the widespread applicability of the approach while indicating the need to optimize growth conditions dependent on the cell line investigated. Overall, our study presents important implications for the implementation of clinically relevant tissue culture models in preclinical plasma medicine in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydrogels for Biomedical Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 8652 KiB  
Article
Hemodynamic Evaluation of a Centrifugal Left Atrial Decompression Pump for Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
by Navideh Abbasnezhad, Mathieu Specklin, Farid Bakir, Pascal Leprince and Pichoy Danial
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 366; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030366 - 17 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1985
Abstract
This article discusses a new continuous flow mini pump that has been developed to improve symptoms and prognosis in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), for which there are currently no established treatments. The pump is designed to discharge a [...] Read more.
This article discusses a new continuous flow mini pump that has been developed to improve symptoms and prognosis in patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), for which there are currently no established treatments. The pump is designed to discharge a reduced percentage of blood volume from the left atrium to the subclavian artery, clamped at the bifurcation with the aortic arch. The overall specifications, design parameters, and hemodynamics of this new device are discussed, along with data from in vitro circulation loop tests and numerical simulations. The article also compares the results for two configurations of the pump with respect to key indicators of hemocompatibility used in blood pump development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Computational Modeling of Blood Contacting Devices: Updates and Future Directions)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 8642 KiB  
Article
Strontium Ranelate Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis through NF-κB-Pathway-Dependent Autophagy
by Dongle Wu, Xuan Sun, Yiwei Zhao, Yuanbo Liu, Ziqi Gan, Zhen Zhang, Xin Chen and Yang Cao
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030365 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1713
Abstract
Strontium ranelate (SR) is a pharmaceutical agent used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and fragility fracture. However, little attention has been paid to the effect of SR on alveolar bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement and its underlying mechanism. Here, we [...] Read more.
Strontium ranelate (SR) is a pharmaceutical agent used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and fragility fracture. However, little attention has been paid to the effect of SR on alveolar bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement and its underlying mechanism. Here, we investigated the influence of SR on orthodontic tooth movement and tooth resorption in Sprague–Dawley rats and the relationship between the nuclear factor–kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, autophagy, and osteoclastogenesis after the administration of SR in vitro and in vivo. In this study, it was found that SR reduced the expression of autophagy-related proteins at the pressure side of the first molars during orthodontic tooth movement. Similarly, the expression of these autophagy-related proteins and the size and number of autophagosomes were downregulated by SR in vitro. The results also showed that SR reduced the number of osteoclasts and suppressed orthodontic tooth movement and root resorption in rats, which could be partially restored using rapamycin, an autophagy inducer. Autophagy was attenuated after pre-osteoclasts were treated with Bay 11-7082, an NF-κB pathway inhibitor, while SR reduced the expression of the proteins central to the NF-κB pathway. Collectively, this study revealed that SR might suppress osteoclastogenesis through NF-κB-pathway-dependent autophagy, resulting in the inhibition of orthodontic tooth movement and root resorption in rats, which might offer a new insight into the treatment of malocclusion and bone metabolic diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Oral Health: The Impact of Technology and Digital Advances as a New Frontier)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 9068 KiB  
Article
Federated End-to-End Unrolled Models for Magnetic Resonance Image Reconstruction
by Brett R. Levac, Marius Arvinte and Jonathan I. Tamir
Bioengineering 2023, 10(3), 364; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10030364 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2036
Abstract
Image reconstruction is the process of recovering an image from raw, under-sampled signal measurements, and is a critical step in diagnostic medical imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Recently, data-driven methods have led to improved image quality in MRI reconstruction using a [...] Read more.
Image reconstruction is the process of recovering an image from raw, under-sampled signal measurements, and is a critical step in diagnostic medical imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Recently, data-driven methods have led to improved image quality in MRI reconstruction using a limited number of measurements, but these methods typically rely on the existence of a large, centralized database of fully sampled scans for training. In this work, we investigate federated learning for MRI reconstruction using end-to-end unrolled deep learning models as a means of training global models across multiple clients (data sites), while keeping individual scans local. We empirically identify a low-data regime across a large number of heterogeneous scans, where a small number of training samples per client are available and non-collaborative models lead to performance drops. In this regime, we investigate the performance of adaptive federated optimization algorithms as a function of client data distribution and communication budget. Experimental results show that adaptive optimization algorithms are well suited for the federated learning of unrolled models, even in a limited-data regime (50 slices per data site), and that client-sided personalization can improve reconstruction quality for clients that did not participate in training. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue AI in MRI: Frontiers and Applications)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-117
Previous Issue
Next Issue
Back to TopTop