Construction of artificial skin tissue with placode-like structures in well-defined patterns using dielectrophoresis

During embryonic development of animal skin tissue, the skin cells form regular patterns of high cell density (placodes) where hair or feathers will be formed. These placodes are thought to be formed by the aggregation of dermal cells into condensates. The aggregation process is thought to be controlled by a reaction-diffusion mechanism of activator and inhibitor molecules, and involve mechanical forces between cells and cells with the matrix. In this project, placode formation in chicken embryonic skin cells was used as a model system for the study of the mechanism by which the placodes are formed. Artificial aggregates of chicken embryonic skin cells were created by suspending them in a 300 mM low conductivity sorbitol solution and attracting them by positive dielectrophoresis to high field regions within microelectrode arrays by applying a 10 - 20 Vpk-pk 1 MHz signal across the microelectrodes. It was demonstrated that using this method aggregates can be produced in a large variety of patterns and that the distance between the aggregates and aggregate size and shape within the pattern can be controlled effectively. Custom-built image analysis tools were developed in LabVIEW to analyze the patterns formed. The formation of aggregates by dielectrophoresis was followed by an immobilization phase of the resulting patterns inside a gel matrix, forming an artificial skin. Nutrients and oxygen were supplied externally. Long-term incubation of the artificial skin shows that embryonic skin cells in the aggregates were viable and showed behavior similar to that of developing embryonic skin, including further aggregation of the cells and the formation of cell condensates. The domain size was shown to have an influence on the condensation process, with cells in small aggregates forming only one condensate near the centre of the aggregate, and several condensates in larger aggregates. Whilst the distribution of cell condensates within the aggregates in round large aggregates is predominantly random, some line formation could be observed in linear aggregations, indicating some self-organization may be occurring

Hydro-powered Aquaponics Farming System

Universiti Malaysia Pahang – Faculty of Industrial Sciences and Technology showcased one of Green Technologies in Farming System at an event organized by Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water at the worldclass venue KLCC Convention Centre (16-19 October 2014). The participation of UMP at the event was also as part of ‘Knowledge Transfer Program’ 2014 – 2016, funded by the Ministry of Education in Malaysia, administered in UMP by the ‘Industry Partnership and Community Relation Division (BJIM)’. The event was attended by not less than 50,000 participants from 15 countries including Europe, US and Australia. With the theme of “Creating Green Wealth”, IGEM2014 aims to help pushing the rapid adoption of green technology to deliver impact for sustainable economic growth as well as to address environmental and food security issues. “Hydro-powered aquaponics farming system”, could save companies hundreds of thousand of dollars from paying annual utility cost and the associated tax on issues related to environmental carbon foot-print. The researcher however is in process of seeking protection of the intellectual property arising from this project and therefore unable to fully disclose some of the confidential information in this paper except some general and related information only

Blended Student Learning Experience: Combining Virtual Learning Environment, 3D Design and Active Community Engagement within a Framework of Knowledge Transfer Program

In this era of digital information, teaching tools and learning resources have now become more widely available and accessible to both students and academics to use. This opens a possibility to create a blended and more engaging / stimulating learning experience for students to increase their understanding of a particular topics or concept given during the class. Some of the tools to achieve this objective are the use of free and easy to use ‘3D design’ to improve students spatial abilities - particularly for engineering and science students, as well as internet-based Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that students can use at their own pace. In addition, hands-on experience and an opportunity to verbally communicate the knowledge learned in the class to other people, such as the local community, would enhance student understanding and learning experience

Enhancing Knowledge Transfer Experience Through Computer-Aided Design, Virtual Learning Environment and Community Engagement

Knowledge Transfer Program for the construction and maintenance of integrated farming utilizing aquaponics system has been conducted between Universiti Malaysia Pahang, the local school community partner (Al-Irsyad Islamic School) and science school Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuantan. The knowledge transfer approach was a blending between the use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and active (hands-on) participation of the university students and community members to enhance the knowledge transfer experience. Teachers, school students and university final year industrial biotechnology students have participated in the program. The trainer used a free 3D design Google Sketch Up to enhance spatial (3D) understanding of the students in the essential components of the device and the working mechanism. The trained university students were also assessed using Moodle internet-based Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that has been actively used by academics in UMP. Subsequently, the final year university students applied the knowledge they have learned and trained during the weeks by engaging the local school students in the Knowledge Transfer Program activities (workshops). A total of fifty-six (56) university students have engaged and trained 98 secondary school students (47% female, 53% male) with age from 13 years old (26%) to above 16 yearsold (13%). It shows that 93% of the students agreed to have received new skills (basic aquaponics system construction) by this outdoor and hands-on Knowledge Transfer activities, conducted by the senior (university) students. The data also indicated that 82% of the students have an increased appreciation to science due to the application and peer-demonstration of the system. From the video recorded, the school students were able to construct aquaponics system in a team environment without receiving further assistance. This indicates that hands-on and teamwork constructions of a product or technology have significant impacts to the cognitive learning (understanding) in Knowledge Transfer activities

Quantitative Characterization of Individual Microdroplets using Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering Spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy is a highly sensitive optical technique capable of detecting multiple analytes rapidly and simultaneously. There is significant interest in SERRS detection in micro- and nanotechnologies, as it can be used to detect extremely low analyte concentrations in small volumes of fluids, particularly in microfluidic systems. There is also rapidly growing interest in the field of microdroplets, which promises to offer the analyst many potential advantages over existing technologies for both design and control of microfluidic assays. While there have been rapid advances in both fields in recent years, the literature on SERRS-based detection of individual microdroplets remains lacking. In this paper, we demonstrate the ability to quantitatively detect multiple variable analyte concentrations from within individual microdroplets in real time using SERRS spectroscopy. We also demonstrate the use of a programmable pump control algorithm to generate concentration gradients across a chain of droplets

Quantitative characterization of individual microdroplets using surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering spectroscopy

Surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) spectroscopy is a highly sensitive optical technique capable of detecting multiple analytes rapidly and simultaneously. There is significant interest in SERRS detection in micro- and nanotechnologies, as it can be used to detect extremely low analyte concentrations in small volumes of fluids, particularly in microfluidic systems. There is also rapidly growing interest in the field of microdroplets, which promises to offer the analyst many potential advantages over existing technologies for both design and control of microfluidic assays. While there have been rapid advances in both fields in recent years, the literature on SERRS-based detection of individual microdroplets remains lacking. In this paper, we demonstrate the ability to quantitatively detect multiple variable analyte concentrations from within individual microdroplets in real time using SERRS spectroscopy. We also demonstrate the use of a programmable pump control algorithm to generate concentration gradients across a chain of droplets