Investigating Effective Factors of Branding Strategies in E-Learning based Universities

This study examines the factors contributing to the development of branding strategies in e-learning based universities. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors contributing to the development of branding strategies in a virtual university in Tehran. In this paper, the factors wich affecting strategy (the first stage of the strategic management process) for e-learning based universities, based on the literature and the experience of many years of activity, in this type of Iranian universities, are collected and using professors’ perspectives we can provide scientific and practical strategies that help university to create a successful brand. The survey research strategy conducted for this study. This study is an applied descriptive survey research, Data collection is based on field Studies and questionnaire is used for collecting data. The results indicated that institutional /academic factors, external environmental factors, internal environmental factors and student perceptions factors, had positive and significant effects on development of branding strategies for e-learning based universities

Two-Aperture Microfluidic Probes as Flow Dipoles: Theory and Applications

A microfluidic probe (MFP) is a mobile channel-less microfluidic system under which a fluid is injected from an aperture into an open space, hydrodynamically confined by a surrounding fluid, and entirely re-aspirated into a second aperture. Various MFPs have been developed, and have been used for applications ranging from surface patterning of photoresists to local perfusion of organotypic tissue slices. However, the hydrodynamic and mass transfer properties of the flow under the MFP have not been analyzed, and the flow parameters are adjusted empirically. Here, we present an analytical model describing the key transport properties in MFP operation, including the dimensions of the hydrodynamic flow confinement (HFC) area, diffusion broadening, and shear stress as a function of: (i) probe geometry (ii) aspiration-to-injection flow rate ratio (iii) gap between MFP and substrate and (iv) reagent diffusivity. Analytical results and scaling laws were validated against numerical simulations and experimental results from published data. These results will be useful to guide future MFP design and operation, notably to control the MFP "brush stroke" while preserving shear-sensitive cells and tissues

Consumer electronics devices for DNA genotyping based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification and array hybridisation

[EN] Consumer electronic technologies offer practical performances to develop compact biosensing systems intended for the point-of-care testing of DNA biomarkers. Herein a discrimination method for detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms, based on isothermal amplification and on-chip hybridisation, was developed and integrated into user-friendly optical devices: e.g., USB digital microscope, flatbed scanner, smartphone and DVD drive. In order to adequately identify a single base change, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was employed, with high yields (8 orders) within 45 min. Subsequently, products were directly hybridised to the allele-specific probes attached to plastic chips in an array format. After colorimetric staining, four consumer electronic techniques were compared. Sensitive precise measurements were taken (high signal-to-noise ratios, 10-mu m image resolution, 99% scan-to-scan reproducibility). These features confirmed their potential as analytical tools, are a competitive alternative to fluorescence scanners, and incorporate additional advantages, such as user-friendly interface and connectivity for telemedicine needs. The analytical performances of the integrated platform (assay and reader) in the human samples were also excellent, with a low detection limit (100 genomic DNA copies), and reproducible (< 15%) and cheap assays (< 10 (sic)/test). The correct genotyping of a genetic biomarker (single-nucleotide polymorphism located in the GRIK4 gene) was achieved as the assigned genotypes agreed with those determined by using sequencing. The portability, favourable discriminating and read-out capabilities reveal that the implementation of mass-produced low-cost devices into minimal-specialised clinical laboratories is closer to becoming a reality.The authors acknowledge the financial support received from the Generalitat Valenciana, Spain (GVA-PROMETEOII/2014/040 Project and GRISOLIA/2014/024 Ph.D. grant) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Spain (MINECO CTQ2016-75749-R project) by U. E. FEDER funds. The authors also thank J. Carrascosa for supporting the DVD reader measurements.Tortajada-Genaro, LA.; Yamanaka, ES.; Maquieira Catala, A. (2019). Consumer electronics devices for DNA genotyping based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification and array hybridisation. Talanta. 198:424-431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2019.01.124S42443119

Advances in Microfluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip Technologies

Advances in molecular biology are enabling rapid and efficient analyses for effective intervention in domains such as biology research, infectious disease management, food safety, and biodefense. The emergence of microfluidics and nanotechnologies has enabled both new capabilities and instrument sizes practical for point-of-care. It has also introduced new functionality, enhanced sensitivity, and reduced the time and cost involved in conventional molecular diagnostic techniques. This chapter reviews the application of microfluidics for molecular diagnostics methods such as nucleic acid amplification, next-generation sequencing, high resolution melting analysis, cytogenetics, protein detection and analysis, and cell sorting. We also review microfluidic sample preparation platforms applied to molecular diagnostics and targeted to sample-in, answer-out capabilities

Monitoring of individual bacteria using electro-photonic traps

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) describes the ability of bacteria to become immune to antimicrobial treatments. Current testing for AMR is based on culturing methods that are very slow because they assess the average response of billions of bacteria. In principle, if tests were available that could assess the response of individual bacteria, they could be much faster. Here, we propose an electro-photonic approach for the analysis and the monitoring of susceptibility at the single-bacterium level. Our method employs optical tweezers based on photonic crystal cavities for the trapping of individual bacteria. While the bacteria are trapped, antibiotics can be added to the medium and the corresponding changes in the optical properties and motility of the bacteria be monitored via changes of the resonance wavelength and transmission. Furthermore, the proposed assay is able to monitor the impedance of the medium surrounding the bacterium, which allows us to record changes in metabolic rate in response to the antibiotic challenge. For example, our simulations predict a variation in measurable electrical current of up to 40% between dead and live bacteria. The proposed platform is the first, to our knowledge, that allows the parallel study of both the optical and the electrical response of individual bacteria to antibiotic challenge. Our platform opens up new lines of enquiry for monitoring the response of bacteria and it could lead the way towards the dissemination of a new generation of antibiogram study, which is relevant for the development of a point-of-care AMR diagnostics

Gold nanoparticle-based colorimetric platform technology as rapid and efficient bacterial pathogens detection method from various sources

Rapid, sensitive, and reliable bacterial pathogens detection is a chief requirement. The gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have numerous applications such as in the detection of biomolecules for their high surface to volume ratio and unique optical property facilitating development of highly efficient AuNPs-based bio-sensing tools. Although various molecular detection methods, such as PCR, real-time PCR, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification are sensitive and convenient, these techniques need elaborate work and require special skills to increase their specificity. Smartly fabricated gold nanoparticle (GNPs) play a role as probes for selective detection of pathogens. The AuNPs-based colorimetric methods have become applicable for rapid, simple, reliable and high-efficient, sensitive, inexpensive, and easy detection of the DNA, RNA, and protein biomolecules. Colorimetric detection using AuNPs has been used for rapid and high precision and multiplex detection of a large number and of bacterial pathogens. AuNPs act in functionalized and unfunctionalized ways. AuNPs-based colorimetric methods have incredible advantages compared with many other bacterial detection methods. In spite of many molecular techniques, AuNPs-based colorimetric methods do not require additional devices, fabrication cost, signal processing and interpretation complexities, and costly and complex instruments. This simple and rapid method is suitable, especially in low-income areas and for large number of samples analysis. In this review, applications of AuNPs and AuNPs-based colorimetric methods for bacterial pathogens detection have been overviewe

Do biomedical engineers dream of graphene sheets?

During the past few years, graphene has outstandingly emerged as a key nanomaterial for boosting the performance of commercial, industrial and scientific related technologies. The popularity of this novel nanomaterial in biomedical engineering is due to its excellent biological, electronic, optical and thermal properties that, as a whole, surpasses the features of commonly used biomaterials and consequently open a wide range of applications so far within the reach of science fiction. In this minireview, the potential of graphene and its based materials in the expanding biomedical field is highlighted with focus on groundbreaking diagnostic, monitoring and therapeutic strategies. Some of the major challenges related to the synthesis and safety of graphene-based materials are also briefly discussed because of their critical importance in bringing this class of carbon materials closer to the clinic.publishe

”Här är vi alla som familj” : En kvalitativ studie om (ny)kristna iraniers integration inom religiösa gemenskaper och missionsföreningar

AbstractThere are only a few studies in Sweden concerning migrants who have converted from Islam to Christianity through Swedish churches and the integration of those converts into Swedish society. The present study therefore concerns the integration of converts and new Christians through congregations and religious community. The main purpose of the thesis is to gain a deeper understanding of how new Christians experience the process of integrating through community, and whether the religious/social community is helpful in promoting and facilitating the integration of new Christians into Swedish society.The study was conducted in two Persian churches and nonprofits, EFS Missionary Association, in the Stockholm region which offers a number of different religious and social activities for Christian Iranians. The study is based on an ethnographic methodological approach: interviews with four church pastors and leaders, participant observation and informal conversations. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Pierre Bourdieu – field, habitus and capital - the study analyzes how migration affects the individual, and how religious and social communities can compensate for the consequences of migration,destabilisations of networks, habitus or the embodied preferences. It also analyzes, to some extent, how these communities enrich converts’ lives with what they are missing due to theirmigrant experience.The work of integration by missionary groups aims to help immigrants become integrated into Swedish society. But that means, at first, a person becoming a part of the Christian family or being folded into the body of believers [the local church body] and building relationships within the fellowship of the church. This means a person assimilates religious by conversion, and being a part of the community as the way to unity and integration. The study shows how church staff and pastors engage in promoting integration and the employment of converts, and how they go about helping in this way. This happens, for instance, through Bible studies, church classes, counselling, social and cultural gatherings, and help with work.The study shows that missionaries and churches serve to integrate converts largely through religious and social communities, where converts are taken into the fellowship and led to an internal network. This network makes them more inclined to engage outside the church context. Religious and social community is also a place where a new Christian develops social and cultural competencies for future interactions and relationships within Swedish society. In addition, the study analyzes the convert's opportunities and challenges in this process, where the Swedish language, fears, anxiety, lack of motivation, and socializing across ethnic boundaries are considered significant challenges. A side effect of these challenges is disintegration or expanding differences and repulsion.

”Här är vi alla som familj” : En kvalitativ studie om (ny)kristna iraniers integration inom religiösa gemenskaper och missionsföreningar

AbstractThere are only a few studies in Sweden concerning migrants who have converted from Islam to Christianity through Swedish churches and the integration of those converts into Swedish society. The present study therefore concerns the integration of converts and new Christians through congregations and religious community. The main purpose of the thesis is to gain a deeper understanding of how new Christians experience the process of integrating through community, and whether the religious/social community is helpful in promoting and facilitating the integration of new Christians into Swedish society.The study was conducted in two Persian churches and nonprofits, EFS Missionary Association, in the Stockholm region which offers a number of different religious and social activities for Christian Iranians. The study is based on an ethnographic methodological approach: interviews with four church pastors and leaders, participant observation and informal conversations. Drawing on the theoretical perspectives of Pierre Bourdieu – field, habitus and capital - the study analyzes how migration affects the individual, and how religious and social communities can compensate for the consequences of migration,destabilisations of networks, habitus or the embodied preferences. It also analyzes, to some extent, how these communities enrich converts’ lives with what they are missing due to theirmigrant experience.The work of integration by missionary groups aims to help immigrants become integrated into Swedish society. But that means, at first, a person becoming a part of the Christian family or being folded into the body of believers [the local church body] and building relationships within the fellowship of the church. This means a person assimilates religious by conversion, and being a part of the community as the way to unity and integration. The study shows how church staff and pastors engage in promoting integration and the employment of converts, and how they go about helping in this way. This happens, for instance, through Bible studies, church classes, counselling, social and cultural gatherings, and help with work.The study shows that missionaries and churches serve to integrate converts largely through religious and social communities, where converts are taken into the fellowship and led to an internal network. This network makes them more inclined to engage outside the church context. Religious and social community is also a place where a new Christian develops social and cultural competencies for future interactions and relationships within Swedish society. In addition, the study analyzes the convert's opportunities and challenges in this process, where the Swedish language, fears, anxiety, lack of motivation, and socializing across ethnic boundaries are considered significant challenges. A side effect of these challenges is disintegration or expanding differences and repulsion.

Microfluidic capillary systems for microarraying and diagnostic applications

Microfluidic capillary systems are devices, in which the liquid is driven and controlled only by surface tension (capillarity) forces. These devices are self powered and self regulated, as the energy required to drive and control the liquid is structurally and chemically encoded in the microscale conduits. The objective of this thesis is to develop materials and propose novel architectures to expand the functionalities of these systems in the context of microarray spotting and diagnostic applications. Silicon and steel pins are popularly used for microarray spotting; however, these pins are expensive, and in the case of silicon, brittle, and can damage the substrate during the printing process. To solve these issues, we optimize the design and propose a new fabrication process to make miniaturized quill pins out of a negative tone epoxy based photoresist, SU-8. These pins are inexpensive, easy to fabricate and robust, and may be used as disposable pins for spotting microarrays. For global health applications, microfluidic systems need to be very low cost, which is difficult to achieve with microfabricated systems. Here, we present cotton yarns as a new material for making ultra low cost microfluidic devices, which can transport minute amount of liquids by capillarity. We study the flow properties of yarn and demonstrate using knots for splitting, mixing and merging of fluid streams. We also show that the knot topology can be used to control the mixing ratio between two inlets and two outlets. Finally, we build a serial dilutor by iterative combining of mixing and splitting of fluids using a knotted web, and analyze the fluid distribution using network analysis concepts developed for electrical circuit analysis, and compare the theoretical and experimental results.One of the major challenges in capillary systems is to make circuits which can perform complex fluidic operations. To enhance the capabilities of these systems, we introduce novel architectures of capillary pumps for precisely pumping liquids and metering samples as well as valves for switching between liquids and timing the reactions. We then combine these elements with other capillary elements, which had already been developed such as flow resistors and capillary retention valves, to build a capillary circuit that following sample addition, autonomously delivers a defined sequence of multiple chemicals according to a preprogrammed and predetermined flow rate and time. We illustrate that as in electronics, complex capillary circuits may be built by combining simple capillary elements. We define such circuits as "capillarics". As a proof of concept we use such a circuit for measuring the concentration of C reactive protein down to 100 ng/mL in 5 mins. Last, we summarize our findings, and propose some of the future works that offer exciting prospects for the future research.Les systèmes capillaires microfluidiques sont des dispositifs dans lesquels un liquide est conduit et contrôlé uniquement par des forces de tension superficielle (capillarité). Ces appareils sont autoalimentés et autorégulés, car l'énergie requise pour conduire et contrôler le liquide est structurellement et chimiquement encodée dans les microconduits. L'objectif de cette thèse est de développer des matériaux et de proposer de nouvelles architectures dans le but d'élargir les fonctionnalités de ces systèmes dans le contexte de repérage de micromatrices et dans des applications de diagnostic.Les broches de silicium et d'acier sont utilisées fréquemment dans les micromatrices; cependant, ces broches en silicium sont dispendieuses et fragiles, et peuvent endommager le substrat durant le processus d'impression. Pour résoudre ces problèmes, nous avons optimisé la conception et proposons un nouveau procédé permettant de fabriquer des broches miniaturisées à partir de résine photosensible négative de type époxyde SU-8. Ces broches sont peu coûteuses, faciles à fabriquer, robustes, et peuvent être utilisées comme broches jetable pour le repérage de micromatrices.Afin d'être utilisés dans des applications de santé à l'échelle globale, les systèmes microfluidiques doivent être peu coûteux, ce qui est difficile à réaliser pour les systèmes élaborés par des techniques de microfabrication. Ici, nous présentons le fils de coton comme un nouveau matériau dans la fabrication d'appareils microfluidiques à très faible coût qui peuvent transporter d'infimes quantités de liquide par capillarité. Nous étudions et démontrons ici les propriétés rhéologiques du fil en utilisant des nœuds pour la division, le mélange, et la fusion de flux de liquides. Nous démontrons également que la topologie du nœud peut être utilisée pour contrôler le rapport de mélange entre deux entrées et deux sorties. Finalement, nous fabriquons un dilueur en série par combinaison itérative de mélange et division de fluides en utilisant une toile nouée, et analysons la distribution des liquides à l'aide de concepts d'analyse de réseau développés pour l'analyse de circuits électriques, et comparons les résultats théoriques et expérimentaux. L'un des défis majeurs dans les systèmes capillaires est de faire des circuits pouvant performer des opérations fluidiques complexes. Pour améliorer la capacité de ces systèmes, nous introduisons de nouvelles architectures de pompes capillaires pour le pompage de liquides et la mesure d'échantillons plus précis, ainsi que des valves pour la commutation des liquides et la mesure du temps de réaction. Nous combinons ensuite ces éléments à d'autres éléments capillaires qui ont déjà été développés, tels que les résistances au flux et les valves de rétention capillaire, pour construire un circuit capillaire qui, après l'addition de l'échantillon, délivre de façon autonome une séquence définie de multiples produits chimiques selon un débit et un temps préprogrammés et prédéfinis. Nous illustrons que tout comme ce que l'on observe dans les circuits électriques, des circuits capillaires complexes peuvent être bâtis en combinant de simples éléments capillaires. Nous définissons ces circuits en tant que « capillarics ». Nous avons utilisé un tel circuit pour mesurer la concentration de la protéine C réactive jusqu'à 100ng/ml en cinq minutes en tant que preuve de principe.Finalement, nous résumons nos découvertes, et proposons quelques-uns des travaux futurs qui offrent des perspectives excitantes pour la recherche future