Standard larval Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) rearing systems can be described as either static or continuous flow. While rearing oyster larvae in static cultures can be a low-cost and simple method, static systems require significant husbandry effort, floorspace and can produce highly variable results due to environmental variance among cultures....
At a time when environmental conditions are rapidly changing, understanding how thermal extremes impact wildlife is imperative to fully understanding the consequences of climate change in natural ecosystems. While many organisms are currently impacted by rapidly warming and more erratic environmental conditions, identifying and investigating model species whose life histories...
Back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide, entailing a significant socioeconomic impact. A primary source of back pain can be attributed to intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration allowing nerve ingrowth, facet joint arthritis, disc bulging, and osteophyte formations that press on nearby nerve roots or the spinal cord. While...
Successful cryopreservation of bone marrow in situ within vertebral bodies offers an opportunity for quick and convenient storage of a significant quantity of bone marrow stem cells, including hematopoietic- and mesenchymal-type stem cells. However, cryopreservation of more complex large tissues and organs, such as the vertebral body (VB), remains problematic....
This project determined how the presence of environmental biofilms on sand, granular activated carbon and biochar affected the sorption capacity and desorption quantity of copper, zinc, nutrients and organic carbon from stormwater. These contaminants have harmful and toxic environmental impacts on aquatic life, can lead to eutrophication of surface waters,...
Even with advanced medical technology, there is still an unmet need for organs to reduce the transplant waiting list and to advance organ-related research. Cryopreservation through vitrification is one possible solution to increase organ availability. A major challenge with cryopreservation of organs is the toxicity of the cryoprotectants (CPAs) that...
Successful cryopreservation of all biological specimens would have an untold positive impact on medicine and scientific research. However, cryopreservation of the most complex biological specimens, such as tissues and organs, remains elusive. Vitrification, or ice-free cryopreservation, is promising for cryopreservation of complex specimens. The biggest challenge, though, is the toxicity...
Microscale-based technology has potential applications in the medical field. The development of a new microscale medical device requires experimentation and testing. This can be done by creating a breadboard device that can perform the functionalities the final device should be able to do. This breadboard device can also be used...
Experimental evolution is a tool that allows us to measure changes in populations over time in controlled, novel environments. Microbial evolution experiments use cryopreservation – storage at -80°C in glycerol media – to archive experimental populations. Research with Escherichia coli suggests that cryopreservation conditions can affect cell viability and that...
There is a significant need for technological advancement in blood processing. New technologies in rapid processing of frozen blood products could significantly improve management of the blood supply chain in the United States by enabling on-demand use of frozen blood products that can be stored for 10 years instead of...