Near Infrared Microsensor for Continuous In-vivo Intraocular and Intracranial Pressure Monitoring.

Pressure monitoring in the nervous system is widely used to evaluate therapeutic interventions in patients with severe pathological elevated pressure in the brain (such as traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and hydrocephalus) and in the eye (e.g. glaucoma). Monitoring the pressure has been shown to reduce the number of deaths in TBI patients by 20% and number of blindness in glaucoma patients by 50%. Continuous, long-term in-vivo pressure monitoring, therefore is a necessity for planning interventional treatment for the patients in the risk. The clinical method for monitoring the pressure is not changes in past 40 years. Non-invasive tonometer for glaucoma patients are inaccurate and cannot be used for continuous monitoring. Current invasive clinical pressure monitoring practices often employ a catheter that records the pressure surgically inserted in the brain or in the eye. These catheter-based systems have been successful so far in accurately monitoring pressure but they are not appropriate for long-term monitoring as: (i) the patient is continuously connected to the non-portable monitoring unit, and (ii) the long-term placement of the catheter significantly increases the risk of infection. Motivated by the need for frequent, long-term pressure monitoring and the lack of commercially available fully implantable microsensors, we developed a novel class of MEMS-based, pressure technology, termed ‘Near infrared Fluorescent-based Optomechanical (NiFO)’ pressure sensing technology. NiFO technology is based on a fully implantable, powerless, optical microsensor (the NiFO sensor) that converts physiological pressure into a two-wavelength optical signal in the near infrared (NI) spectrum. NiFO microsensors were microfabricated using silicon bulk micromachining and were shown to operate at a physiologically relevant pressure range (0-100mmHg). They have a maximum error of less than 15 % throughout their dynamic range and they are extremely photostable. We adapted the microsensor design to measure intracranial pressure (ICP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) and we demonstrated their in-vivo operation for over a month in sheep. We envision that the proposed NiFO sensing technology will inaugurate a new era in the development of implantable, electronic and power-free miniaturized devices that can be used in a variety of biomedical pressure monitoring applications.PHDBiomedical EngineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97943/1/mostafa_1.pd

Common Proteomic Technologies, Applications, and their Limitations

Proteomics refers to the analysis of expression, localization, functions, posttranslational modifications, and interactions of proteins expressed by a genome at a specific condition and at a specific time. Current proteomic tools allow large-scale, high-throughput analyses for the detection, identification, and functional investigation of proteome. In this review, we have focused on the proteomics methods: gel-based and gel-free techniques and discussed their applications and challenges in the field of proteomics.

Proteomic Analysis of the Effect of Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Fields (ELF-EMF) With Different Intensities in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Line

 Introduction: During the last 3 decades, human is exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) emitted by power lines and electronic devices. It is now well accepted that ELF-EMF are able to produce a variety of biological effects, although the molecular mechanism is unclear and controversial. Investigation of different intensities effects of 50 Hz ELF-EMF on cell morphology and protein expression is the aim of this study.Methods: SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line was exposed to 0.5 and 1 mT 50 Hz (ELF-EMF) for 3 hours. Proteomics techniques were used to determine the effects of these fields on protein expression. Bioinformatic and statistical analysis of proteomes were performed using Progensis SameSpots software.Results: Our results showed that exposure to ELF-EMF changes cell morphology and induces a dose-dependent decrease in the proliferation rate of the cells. The proteomic studies and bioinformatic analysis indicate that exposure to 50 Hz ELF-EMF leads to alteration of cell protein expression in both dose-dependent and intensity dependent manner, but the later is more pronounced.Conclusion: Our data suggests that increased intensity of ELF-EMF may be associated with more alteration in cell protein expression, as well as effect on cell morphology and proliferation

Microfluidic Chips for In Vivo Imaging of Cellular Responses to Neural Injury in Drosophila Larvae

With powerful genetics and a translucent cuticle, the Drosophila larva is an ideal model system for live imaging studies of neuronal cell biology and function. Here, we present an easy-to-use approach for high resolution live imaging in Drosophila using microfluidic chips. Two different designs allow for non-invasive and chemical-free immobilization of 3rd instar larvae over short (up to 1 hour) and long (up to 10 hours) time periods. We utilized these ‘larva chips’ to characterize several sub-cellular responses to axotomy which occur over a range of time scales in intact, unanaesthetized animals. These include waves of calcium which are induced within seconds of axotomy, and the intracellular transport of vesicles whose rate and flux within axons changes dramatically within 3 hours of axotomy. Axonal transport halts throughout the entire distal stump, but increases in the proximal stump. These responses precede the degeneration of the distal stump and regenerative sprouting of the proximal stump, which is initiated after a 7 hour period of dormancy and is associated with a dramatic increase in F-actin dynamics. In addition to allowing for the study of axonal regeneration in vivo, the larva chips can be utilized for a wide variety of in vivo imaging applications in Drosophila

Developing a new hydrogen liquefaction process through configuration modification and parameter optimization

A new concept for hydrogen liquefaction with a capacity of 300 tons per day is developed through the modification of an existing one. Pressure and temperature levels, mixed-refrigerant composition, and different configurations are explored to achieve a new concept with lower SEC and higher COP. Aspen HYSYS V9 is used to simulate the process. Exergy and energy analyses are employed for evaluating the process to capture the effect of changes. As different parameters of the liquefaction process are interlinked and depend on each other, optimization is done using a trial and error procedure. Modified-Benedict–Webb–Rubin and Peng-Robinson equations of state are utilized to simulate hydrogen and mixed refrigerant streams to increase the accuracy of the results, especially for the ortho-para conversion. Power consumption of the coolers is considered, and exergy destruction for all the components is calculated. It is found that ortho-para converters and separators could affect the total exergy destruction and efficiency of the process; however, their exergy efficiency is nearly 100%. The SEC of the new concept is 5.97 kWhr/kg, which shows an 18.8% improvement compared to the base concept. The COP and ε are improved by 14.4% and 15.5% too. The results show that the liquefaction section is responsible for 85% of the total SEC of the process, and it deserves to focus on this section for future studies

Corporate Governance, Investment in Research and Development and Company Performance: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach Based on Data from a Developing Country

The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of investment in research and development (R&D) in relationship between corporate governance and company performance in the Tehran Stock Exchange. In this regard, ownership concentration and debt ratio were used as the criteria for corporate governance. The statistical population included all companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange, 161 of which were selected as the statistical sample and investigated from 2004 until 2014. The statistical regression analysis of mixed data in the Baron and Kenny model (1986) and hierarchical regression analysis were employed to test the research hypotheses. The results indicated that corporate governance was a factor influencing company performance and R&D activities. The results also indicated that investment in R&D improved company performance. Furthermore, the research evidence showed a minor role for the R&D investment variable in mediating the relationship between corporate governance and company performance, and thus could not play a moderating role in this relationship. Keywords: Ownership Concentration, Debt Ratio, Company Performance, Investment in R&D JEL Classifications: C61, G30, M4

Numerical simulation of the flow field and heat transfer inside the channel with different dimensions of spindle obstacles in the presence of power-law non-Newtonian fluids

In this article, the analysis of the flow field and forced convection heat transfer of non-Newtonian fluids inside the channel with spindle-shaped obstacles is discussed. At first, after checking the governing equations and the boundary conditions of the problem, the grid independency has been evaluated. Then, the results of the present study have been validated for two cases of the Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids with previous similar works. The effects of various parameters such as the effect of the arrangement of spindle obstacles, the effect of the obstacles diameter and the effect of the obstacles length have been investigated. Also, the effect of different power indexes of non-Newtonian fluid and its effect on drag coefficient and Nusselt number have been investigated. By examining the results, it was found that for all the mentioned parameters, the staggered arrangement of the spindle obstacles had a higher heat transfer rate than the ordered arrangement. The results of this research revealed that with the increase in the diameter and length of the obstacles, the amount of heat transfer from the obstacles decreases. Also, by increasing the diameter of obstacles, the pressure and friction drag coefficients increases. Finally, by examining the behavior of the non-Newtonian fluid of the power-law model, it was found that with the increase of the power index, the Nusselt number decreased and for shear thinning non-Newtonian fluids (n<1) less friction and pressure drops were obtained

Designing and Validation of Consumers’ anxiety Management Pattern During the Economic Sanction on Iran

One of the most influential aspects of the economic embargo is the psychological dimension, which has negative effects on the economic structure of society. The aim of this study was to design and validate an anxiety management model in consumer behavior during the economic embargo on Iran. The approach of this research is deductive-inductive and from the perspective of the purpose of a fundamental research that has been mixed with the research method and based on empirical philosophy. The community of research participants in the model presentation section included theoretical experts (university professors) and experimental experts (executives and industry and business owners), 20 of whom were selected using purposive sampling in the ISM section. have became. The statistical population of the quantitative section including consumers of capital goods and samples in this section were estimated 384 people using Cochran's formula and were selected by Two-stage sampling method. Data collection tools were library studies and the use of a researcher-made questionnaire. In the qualitative part of the research, the meta-combined method has been used and the initial model has been designed with the ISM method and finally validated with the partial least squares method

A Radial Flow Microfluidic Device for Ultra‐High‐Throughput Affinity‐Based Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110045/1/smll201400719.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110045/2/smll201400719-sup-0001-S1.pd