Biosensors & Bioelectronics

Simrad EK 500 Scientific 38-kHz and 120-kHz echo sounding system in the acoustics lab will be turned on during all scientific operations and should be monitored regularly for the presence of unusual acoustic signals or heavy fish sign. In the acoustic system, split beam processor is one of the acoustic devices that can help to echogram processing. The hardware required in the form of hardware, SIMRAD EK 500, and software, SIMRAD Echo EP 500. Processor 500 can be used for the calculation of the density of fish from fish or fish group. In echogram there are 12 scale color representing the image signal strength emitted by the object affected. Range Sa value on surface layer is -10 dB - (-4) dB, range Sv value on surface layer is 0 dB - (-89) dB, range Sa value on bottom layer is 15 dB - (-2) dB, range Sv value on bottom layer is -57 dB - (-74) dB. The total value Sa (dB) produces the extraction of data on surface layer using simple linear regression equation which produce y=0.0961x - 6.4388, R²=0.9159, with alpha value is 5, the results obtained shows the relationship between the value Sa obtained by looking at the percentage value that is 91%. In this paper the result there is a difference between the processing value Sa and Sv, where the value of Sv.

Child mortality is a factor that is associated with the well-being of a population and it is taken as an indicator of health development and socio economic status. A 2013 report on child mortality states that about three-quarters of all child deaths happened in two regions Africa (46%) and South-East Asia (28%). More than 50% of these deaths were clustered in only six countries: China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. Under-five mortality is higher in rural areas and among poorer and less educated communities (MDG 2013). The Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey data are used for the study. In this study we have attempted to find out the impact of socioeconomic, demographic, environmental, health related and nutritional factors in under- five mortality of child. In this attempt, we first analyzed our data using Kaplan-Meier non-parametric method of estimation of survival function and compared the survival time of different categories of region and other covariates that influence the child survival. Also we had used Cox proportional hazard model and Staratifed Cox proportional model to compare the hazard of under-five mortality of child for different covariates comparison to the reference categories and the potential covariates which influence under five mortality are found region, mothers’ education level, sex, mothers age at first birth, preceding birth interval, contraceptive use, breast feeding, place of delivery, Number of antenatal visits during pregnancy and father occupation are a vital factors for the deaths occurring under the age of five of child. The study recommends that Under-five mortality of child among regions is significant. This is an indication that the risk of U5CD varies from one region to another. Thus, in order to have a bearing on policy recommendations, future studies should focus on identifying risk factors of U5CD for each region of Ethiopia separately in high mortality area.

Minimally invasive surgeries provide lower morbidity and faster recovery compared to conventional surgeries. Since 1995, the cholecystectomy procedure shifted from conventional to minimally invasive by 80%. Despite its popularity and benefits, minimally invasive surgeries have major complications, including vessel and organ injury from difficulties in distinguishing between the two. Currently, a decision to distinguish between vessel and nonvessels is mainly based on surgeon’s experience and anatomical landmarks. Such methods can not only delay the operation time but also increase the number of medical errors due to subjectivity, especially for physicians-intraining. The purpose of this study is to introduce a sensor that can help distinguish blood vessels from non-blood vessel with a novel approach called “noninvasive impedance-based blood vessel detection”. This approach utilizes a cost-effective, constant current source and voltage sensor that can offer a quick and non-invasive way to distinguish blood vessels during minimally invasive surgeries. A unique characteristic of blood vessels is its pulsation. By capturing periodic dilation of the blood vessel, the validity of the blood vessel can be confirmed. Dilation of blood vessels not only changes flow resistance but also electrical resistance of blood vessel. By using a 50-100 uA current source with frequency from 1 kHz to 10 MHz, small change in electrical resistance can be captured by a voltage detector. The detected periodic signal is compared to a reference value. If the signal is higher than the reference value, then the CMOS-based digital counter is used to determine whether the pulse is periodic enough to be signaled as a blood vessel. Based on Ohm’s law, Poiseuille’s law, resistivity, and elasticity characteristics of blood vessel, minimal distention and changes in electrical resistance of the blood vessel based on pulse pressure can be analyzed. The minimum current needed to detect the change in resistance is mathematically deduced and compared with the measured results. Another potential benefit of this approach is its versatility. Impedance-based sensing can easily be integrated into current minimally invasive instruments to avoid the necessity of additional equipment.

Recent work has shown that the underlying assumptions of the Global Positioning System (GPS) are incompatible with a number of conclusions of conventional relativity theory, including Fitzgerald-Lorentz length contraction (FLC) and the supposed ambiguity in the relative rates of clocks in motion. The challenge is therefore to amend relativity theory so as to bring it into full consistency with the experience of the GPS methodology. This goal must be accomplished while at the same time avoiding conflict with other predictions of relativity theory that have received ample experimental confirmation over the years. It is shown that this can be achieved by eliminating an undeclared assumption in Einstein’s derivation of the Lorentz transformation (LT) and replacing it with the GPS axiom of the strict proportionality of clock rates in different rest frames. The standard relativistic velocity transformation still retains its validity thereby. However, the relationships between respective measured values of observers in relative motion for the same quantity are determined in the revised theory with the aid of a simple scaling procedure in each case.

Large firms, having a desire to achieve disruptive innovation, will need to rely on the inventive, innovative, and entrepreneurial spirit of the “hired” inventors they employ to do such work. This report traces the roots of the theories of motivation concerning the construct “inventor/innovator” from the time of the heroic individual inventor in the late 1800s until today, within the context of the evolution of the corporate R&D institution. Understanding the motivations and characteristics of the early “heroic” individual inventor as well as the evolving theory of appropriate R&D management strategy in large firms might chart a path to creating a better corporate environment for radical innovation (and better results). Characteristics observed over one hundred years ago align well with the current theories of the best way to enhance corporate employee creativity, leading to higher innovation rates, what Veblen called “the instinct of workmanship” parallels closely to what Amabile defines as “intrinsic motivation”.

The carbon paste electrode (CPE) was modified by electropolymerisation of alcian blue in 0.2 M phosphate buffer solution (PBS) of pH 7.4 by using cyclic voltammetric (CV) technique. The fabricated electrode was employed for the electrochemical analysis of catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ). The effect of scan rate suggests the adsorption controlled electrode process. A good analytical performance was observed in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, linearity and observed detection limits. The lower limit of detection of CC and HQ was found to be 0.104μM and 0.142μM by cyclic voltammetric technique. Because of the catalytic capability of the fabricated electrode the simultaneous separation was observed in a binary mixture containing CC and HQ.

There is a significant volume of healthcare data generated daily. The data are important and vital for decision making and delivering the best care for patients. Cloud computing is a cost effective method that facilitates real-time data collection, data storage and exchange between healthcare organizations. Cloud infrastructure is characterized with a high throughput and a high volume storage; two important factors for efficient data analysis of large patients’ population. Security and privacy are of the major concerns for using cloud-based healthcare services. Healthcare organization should have electronic medical records in order to use the cloud infrastructure. In order to cope with the rapid advancements in information technology and the utilization of cloud based services, efforts should be dedicated to move healthcare data form the traditional paper based to the electronic format. Then, regional legislation and policies should be enacted to regulate and control the usage of healthcare data.

Terahertz sub-surface imaging offers an effective solution for surface and 3D imaging because of minimal sample preparation requirements and its ability to “see” below the surface. Another important property is the ability to inspect on a layer-by layer basis via a non-contact route, non-destructive route. Terahertz 3D imager designed at Applied Research and Photonics (Harrisburg, PA) has been used to demonstrate reconstructive imaging with a resolution of less than a nanometer. Gridding with inverse distance to power equations has been described for 3D image formation. A continuous wave terahertz source derived from dendrimer dipole excitation has been used for reflection mode scanning in the three orthogonal directions. Both 2D and 3D images are generated for the analysis of silver iodide quantum dots’ size parameter. Layer by layer image analysis has been outlined. Graphical analysis was used for particle size and layer thickness determinations. The demonstrated results of quantum dot particle size checks well with those determined by TEM micrograph and powder X-ray diffraction analysis. The reported non-contact measurement system is expected to be useful for characterizing 2D and 3D naomaterials as well as for process development and/or quality inspection at the production line.

I would like to model and simulate 3D label free Nano Amperometric Biosensor for drug delivery and detection of cancerous cells. An Amperometric biosensor is one which has a biological element and a transducer. The analysis to whom the transduction to take place is referred to as analyte. The biological element I use in my work is enzyme, it can be even a living cell, DNA and proteins. Enzyme which I use in my work is Glucose Oxidase (GODx). The analyte primitively used in experimentation is hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and cancerous blood. The GODx reacts with H2O2 and releases out oxygen, the amount of oxygen is calibrated in terms of current in milli amperes, so the biological change is calibrated terms of electrical parameter and so it is called amperometric biosensor. But in actual practice, the process is reversible, we inhale oxygen and exhale CO2, but a biosensor releases Oxygen out and inhales the analyte decomposition. This process is called Direct Current Cyclic Voltammetry. A potentiometric biosensor calibrates the analytes in terms of potential or voltage.