Professor Ahmed Al-Jumaily

Marie Curie International Incoming Fellow; Laboratory of Hemodynamics and Cardiovascular Technology, EPFL; Director, Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

11:00 am, June 20th, 2013 (Thursday)

Phillips Hall 736

Abstract:

Arterial diseases are major contributing factors to death and disability worldwide. Catheter angiography is widely used for diagnosing patients who suffer from these diseases. Apart from the various risk factors and side effects associated with such a technique, there are high costs involved. Non-invasive techniques such as MRI and ultrasound are expensive and require lengthy procedures. This presentation highlights some engineering initiatives on developing safe and non-invasive relatively inexpensive diagnostic tools. The simulation of various diseases using computational fluid dynamics and tracing the acoustic information carried by the propagation and reflection of arterial pulse waves in the systemic arteries will form the basis for this new technology. Statistical analyses on clinical data are used to validate the models as well as to correlate the peripheral load parameters with patient’s age and height.

Biographical Sketch:

Ahmed M. Al-Jumaily is currently a Professor of Biomechanical Engineering and the Director of the Institute of Biomedical Technologies at the Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand (NZ). He holds a PhD and M.Sc. from the Ohio State University, USA and a B.Sc. from the University of Baghdad. He is a Fellow member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineering (ASME), and a member of 11 more international professional societies. He is the Editor of the ASME monograph series-Biomedical and Nanomedical Technologies, Editor in Chief of the Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology and has been on the editorial and refereeing boards for several international journals. He has published more than 270 papers in international journals and conference proceedings including two ASME books on Vibration and Acoustics in Biomedical Applications and a third one on CPAP devices. He has supervised more than 90 postgraduate students in biomedical applications, vibrations, biomechanics, and electroactive polymers. During his academic career he has forged strong alliances between academia and industries; in particular in the medical devices area, which has resulted in many successful grants and contracts with companies and research organizations. Al-Jumaily’s current research focuses on biomedical applications with particular interest in the application of vibration and acoustics to airways constriction therapies and artery non-invasive diagnostics.

Heather N. Hayenga, Ph.D.

University of Maryland, Department of Bioengineering; Texas A&M University, Department of Biomedical Engineering

3pm, April 30th, 2013 (Tuesday)

Phillips Hall 736

Abstract:

Atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases are still the primary cause of death in the world. Strategies to better treat lesions that are vulnerable to rupture will come with a better understanding of the composition, mechanics, and mechanobiological factors involved in lesions. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM) to measure point-wise the axial compressive stiffness of healthy aortas (from C57 mice) and atherosclerotic plaques (from ApoE-/- mice) revealed that compared to healthy aortas plaques were more compliant (1.5 kPa compared to 18 kPa), largely lipid laden, and they exhibited a nearly homogeneous linear elastic behavior over the small AFM indentations. Although the lipid load of the plaque is compliant the fibrous plaque cap is often stiff. To determine how sub-endothelial stiffness affects monocyte transmigration into the arterial wall an in-vitro model of the human aortic endothelium and phase contrast microscopy was used. We discovered as the sub-endothelial substrate stiffens more monocytes transmigrate through the endothelium. Together these results indicate mechanical changes occur in the arterial wall due to atherosclerosis and these mechanical changes can exacerbate lesion progression. In the case of hypertension, there are also significant changes in composition, geometry, structure and mechanical properties of arteries. To capture the intricacies of such changes, there is a pressing need for inclusive models that can describe and predict both the mechanics and the biology. To computationally predict both salient mechanical changes and biochemical phenomena occurring during the progression of hypertension of a representative mouse abdominal aorta we coupled a well-established 2D constrained mixture model (CMM) with an agent based model (ABM). A sustained increase in pressure of 30% predicts an increase in collagen deposition, smooth muscle cell proliferation, growth factors, proteases, and overall thickness in a time-dependent manner while maintaining constant the inner radius. This multi-scale model, modified according to patient-specific ultrasonic data, holds potential to capture and predict the instability of atherosclerotic plaques.

Biographical Sketch:

Heather Hayenga is currently working at University of Maryland as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Bioengineering. Previously, Heather received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from University of California, Davis in June of 2006 and her Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University in May of 2011. Her primary interests are in vascular biomechanics and mechanobiology, with particular interest in understanding and mathematically modeling atherosclerotic disease progression.

Dr. Kaiming Ye

Biomedical Engineering Program, National Science Foundation

10:00am, April 23rd, 2013 (Tuesday)

Phillips Hall 736

Abstract:

Biographical Sketch:

Dr. Kaiming Ye is Program Director of Biomedical Engineering Program at the National Science Foundation (NSF). He manages neuroscience and cell biomechanics research funding programs at NSF. His research background includes stem cell engineering, regenerative medicine, imaging and vaccine development. He is also a certified Program Evaluator for Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) for Biomedical Engineering. He has chaired and co-chaired a number of international conferences and has been invited to deliver keynote/plenary speech in numerous international and national conferences.

Jonathan A. Zimmerman

Mechanics of Materials Department, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, CA

1pm, April 22nd, 2013 (Monday)

Phillips Hall 736

Abstract:

Continuum theory can be used to analyze and predict the mechanics of materials and structures. However, the question arises whether traditional continuum mechanics analysis methods remain valid when applied to nanostructures. In particular, concern exists in applying fracture mechanics concepts such as the J-integral, the driving force for crack propagation and defect motion, to atomic-scale analysis. It is not obvious that estimation of this metric from atomic quantities retains the validity established at the macroscopic scale, and past efforts to investigate this have been far from conclusive. Here, I present a methodology of using a material-frame, kernel-based estimator of continuum fields of atomic data in order to quantify the J-integral for bodies containing cracks and dislocations. I will show that this method, at zero and finite temperatures, has the properties of: consistency between the energy, stress and deformation fields; path independence of the contour integrals of the Eshelby stress; and excellent correlation with linear elastic fracture mechanics theory for appropriately constructed simulations. I will briefly discuss pertinent issues to performing this type of analysis, including the choice of an appropriate reference configuration and reference energy, and use of the quasi-harmonic free energy as an approximation of Helmholtz free energy required by the Eshelby stress in isothermal conditions. Finally, I’ll use canonical examples to demonstrate that the proposed method is a direct and rational approach for estimating the configurational forces on atomic defects.

Biographical Sketch:

Jonathan Zimmerman is a Principal Member of Technical Staff with the Mechanics of Materials Department at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California. He obtained his Ph.D. from Stanford University in Mechanical Engineering in 1999, after attending the State University of New York at Binghamton where earned a B.A. in Physics and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. Jonathan's research interests include solid mechanics, material model development, atomistic simulation, fracture mechanics, dislocation and defect mechanisms, and multi-scale modeling methods. His current research is focused on the use of atomistic simulation to gain fundamental understanding on the deformation of crystalline solid materials, and the development of methods that convert atomic-scale quantities into information useful in the construction of continuum models used in engineering analysis.

Koushil Sreenath, Postdoctoral Researcher

GRASP Lab, University of Pennsylvania

3:00 pm, April 16th, 2013 (Tuesday)

Phillips Hall 736

Abstract:

Biological systems are able to move with great elegance, agility, efficiency, speed and robustness in a wide range of environment. Endowing machines with similar capabilities requires designing controllers that can address the challenges of high-degree-of-freedom, high-degree-of-underactuation, nonlinear and hybrid dynamics, with the constraints of available actuators, sensors and processor. In this talk, I will present the design of control policies for achieving dynamic legged locomotion. In particular, I will discuss a nonlinear controller design that preserves the natural compliant dynamics of the system as part of the closed-loop, resulting in stable, efficient, robust walking, and stable, fast running on MABEL, a planar bipedal robot weighing 65 Kg and 1m tall at the hips.

Biographical Sketch:

Koushil Sreenath is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics Department at The University of Pennsylvania. He obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and M.S. in Mathematics from The University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 2011. His research interests are in modeling, feedback design, and experiments in legged and aerial robots. His work on the bipedal robot MABEL was featured on The Discovery Channel, CNN, ESPN, FOX and CBS. His work on dynamic aerial grasping was featured on IEEE Spectrum, New Scientist, Huffington Post, and several other online media networks. His work on adaptive sampling with mobile sensor networks was published as a book.

Jamie Paik

Assistant Professor and a member of Swiss NCCR Robotics Group

3:00 pm, April 9th, 2013 (Tuesday)

Phillips Hall 736

Abstract:

Today, the mobility and manipulation capabilities of robots are tightly coupled to the hardware of the system. Since robot architectures are fixed and difficult to modify, both physical and functional capabilities of each robot are limited by its physical architecture. Robotic Origamis (Robogamis) are an innovation in the development processes for creating robots: we approach fabricating robots in a 2D process instead of traditional 3D parts with lengthy assembly time. The main Robogami challenge lies in novel actuators, fabrications and designs that conform to the distinctive shapes of robot. Unconventional “robot” materials that embed joints, sensing, actuation, computation, and connectors need to be developed to fabricate the Robogamis. New planning and control algorithms are needed to enable the self-assembly of a 3D robot with specified functionality from a 2D structure. The functional robot requires structural integrity and strength to achieve the task. In this talk, I will address the specific challenges involved with the building of Robogamis and Reconfigurable Robotics Lab’s research goal to provide robust solutions to meet the technological and integration challenges needed to demonstrate a capable, fully functional, end-to-end Robogami system that starts with specifications and delivers a functional robot.

Biographical Sketch:

Jamie Paik is an Assistant Professor and a member of Swiss NCCR robotics group. She is founder of the Reconfigurable Robotics Laboratory at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), which leverages expertise in multi-material fabrication and smart material actuation. She received her PhD in Seoul National University on designing humanoid arm and a hand. During her Postdoctoral positions in ISIR (Institut des Systems Intelligents et de Robotic) in Universitat Pierre Marie Curie, Paris VI, she developed laparoscopic tools that are internationally patented. At Harvard University’s Microrobotics Laboratory, she started developing unconventional robots that push the physical limits of material and mechanisms. Her latest research effort is in self-morphing Robogami (robotic orgami) that transforms its planar shape to 2D or 3D by folding in predefined patterns and sequences, just like the paper art, origami.

Andy Dorsett

Wolfram Research, Inc.

2:00pm, April 8th, 2013 (Monday)

Phillips Hall 736

Abstract:

During this free seminar, we will explore Mathematica’s use for a wide variety of practical and theoretical applications across a variety of disciplines. Attendees will not only see new features in Mathematica 9, but will also receive examples of this functionality to begin using immediately. No Mathematica experience is required, and students are encouraged to attend. To find out more, please contact Andy Dorsett at andy_dorsett@wolfram.com or 1-800-965-3726 ext. 5592 This talk illustrates capabilities in Mathematica 9 that are directly applicable for use in teaching and research on campus. Topics of these technical talks include: * Free-form linguistic input - for computing and plotting in Mathematica from Day 1 * 2D and 3D plotting with interactive graphics * Dynamic module creation * Symbolic interface construction * Interactivity with CDF and ready-to-use classroom examples * Programming and parallel computing tools * NEW modeling tool for multi-domain modeling in a component-based structure using the Modelica language (Wolfram SystemModeler) * Examples for all engineering disciplines

Biographical Sketch:

Andy Dorsett Academic Key Account Manager Wolfram Research, Inc. Andy Dorsett has been with Wolfram Research for almost 5 years. In that time, he has had the privilege of working with Mathematica schools in 24 states to help veteran users and new users make the most of Mathematica for teaching and research. Prior to Andy's time at Wolfram, he spent 8 years as a high school math teacher, department chair, athletic and academic coach, and adjunct professor.

Pinhas Ben-Tzvi and Jeanette Littmarck

9:30am, April 4th, 2013 (Thursday)

Phillips Hall 736

Abstract:

On April 4th, COMSOL will give a free multiphysics modeling workshop at George Washington University. The motto of this workshop is "learn-by-doing". The goal is to teach you the skills needed to model problems in COMSOL Multiphysics Version 4.3b. All attendees will receive a two week evaluation of the software. Feel free to bring your laptops. Who should attend? Anyone interested in simulating and optimizing engineering phenomena based on PDEs, such as structural mechanics, heat transfer, electromagnetics, fluid flows, etc. Applications of the software are found in virtually every area of science and engineering. ------------------------ Date: Thursday, April 4th Location: George Washington University Phillips Hall, 7th Floor Conference Room #736 801 22ND Street NW Washington, DC 20052 Please choose a session which is most convenient to you as both workshops are identical. AM Session: 9:30am - 11:00am Intro and Live Demo 11:00am - 12:30pm Hands-on Session PM Session: 1:30pm - 3:00pm Intro and Live Demo 3:00pm - 4:30pm Hands-on Session Event details and registration: http://comsol.com/c/mhf ------------------------ Seating is limited, so registration in advance is recommended. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact Jeanette Littmarck by email at jeanette@comsol.com or phone at 781-273-3322.

Biographical Sketch: