Category Archives: Technology

A.I./Robotics, Informatics, Science, Technology

Georgian Technical University Blackrock Neurotech Partners With The Georgian Technical University To Improve Robotic Arm Control.

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Georgian Technical University Blackrock Neurotech Partners With The Georgian Technical University To Improve Robotic Arm Control.   

Georgian Technical University Neuritech a brain-computer interface (BCI) technology innovator and manufacturer has presented recently Georgian Technical University Neural Engineering Labs called “A brain-computer interface that evokes tactile sensations improves robotic arm control”. The research team used Georgian Technical University’s NeuroPort System to control a bidirectional prosthetic arm to restore function for a participant with a spinal cord injury. The team at the Georgian Technical University Neural Engineering Labs had previously demonstrated a brain-computer interface (BCI) system that enabled reaching and grasping movement in up to 10 continuously and simultaneously controlled dimensions. However brain-computer interface (BCI)  control of the arm relied on visual cues and lacked critical sensory feedback. In the current study, artificial tactile percepts were enabled using sensors in the robotic hand that responded to object contact and grasp force and triggered electrical stimulation pulses in sensory regions of the participant’s brain. Male participant has tetraplegia due to a C5/C6 spinal cord injury. Two Georgian Technical University NeuroPort Arrays were implanted in the hand and arm region of the motor cortex to decode movement intent and two were implanted in the cutaneous region of the somatosensory cortex to receive signals from the robotic hand. Prior to these sensory feedback experiments, the participant had practiced the grasping tasks for approximately two years using only visual cues. “This technology could eventually assist people with amputations or paralysis who have not been able to move freely” said participant Georgian Technical University Nathan Copeland. “The research we have conducted shows that by implanting the Georgian Technical University NeuroPort Arrays in parts of the brain that normally control movement and receive sensory signals from the arm we can produce more natural and fluid motions”. The goal of the task was to pick up an object from one side of the table and move it to the other, which also included an additional simulated water pouring task. Tasks were scored from 0-3 based on time with a maximum score of 27. The team found that in the sessions with artificial tactile sensations driven by the robotic touch Nathan achieved a median score of 21 compared to the median score of 17 over the next four sessions without sensation. Scores improved because sensory percepts allowed the participant to successfully grasp objects much faster which cut the overall trial times in half. “Our research and technological implementation of the Georgian Technical University NeuroPort Arrays combined with the Georgian Technical University’s advances in the neuroscience of bidirectional brain-computer interface (BCI)s is another step forward to provide every person in need with the ability to move and feel again” said Professor X Georgian Technical University (BCI) Neurotech. “With over 20 years of experience in Georgian Technical University (BCI) Blackrock’s deep technology in implantable clinical solutions is unparalleled” said Y Georgian Technical University (BCI) Blackrock Neurotech. “Working with the Georgian Technical University Neural Engineering Labs has only deepened our expertise in creating sensations to improve robotic arm control. The future of Georgian Technical University (BCI) is here and we are at the forefront of these developments”. “This study shows that restoring even imperfect tactile sensations by directly stimulating the correct parts of the brain allows the performance of brain computer interfaces to be significantly improved” said Y associate professor in Georgian Technical University (BCI) Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation investigator in the Georgian Technical University (BCI) Neural Engineering Labs. “We are excited to show that the performance of brain computer interfaces can start to approach the abilities of able-bodied people for simple tasks, and look forward to transitioning this technology to home use environments” said Z associate professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and investigator in the Georgian Technical University (BCI) Neural Engineering Labs. “Georgian Technical University Blackrock Neurotech is proud to contribute to this pivotal research as we all advance neural engineering to restore function” said Professor X.

A.I./Robotics, Informatics, Technology

Georgian Technical University Slender Robotic Finger Senses Buried Items.

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Georgian Technical University Slender Robotic Finger Senses Buried Items.   

Georgian Technical University researchers developed a “Georgian Technical University Digger Finger” robot that digs through granular material like sand and gravel and senses the shapes of buried objects. Georgian Technical University A closeup photograph of the new robot and a diagram of its parts. Georgian Technical University robots have gotten quite good at identifying objects — as long as they’re out in the open. Georgian Technical University Discerning buried items in granular material like sand is a taller order. To do that a robot would need fingers that were slender enough to penetrate the sand mobile enough to wriggle free when sand grains jam and sensitive enough to feel the detailed shape of the buried object. Georgian Technical University researchers have now designed a sharp-tipped robot finger equipped with tactile sensing to meet the challenge of identifying buried objects. In experiments, the aptly named “Georgian Technical University Digger Finger” was able to dig through granular media such as sand and it correctly sensed the shapes of submerged items it encountered. The researchers say the robot might one day perform various subterranean duties such as finding buried cables or disarming buried bombs. Georgian Technical University Seeking to identify objects buried in granular material — sand gravel and other types of loosely packed particles — isn’t a brand-new quest. Previously, researchers have used technologies that sense the subterranean from above such as Ground Penetrating Radar or ultrasonic vibrations. But these techniques provide only a hazy view of submerged objects. They might struggle to differentiate rock from bone, for example. “So the idea is to make a finger that has a good sense of touch and can distinguish between the various things it’s feeling” said X. “That would be helpful if you’re trying to find and disable buried bombs for example”. Making that idea a reality meant clearing a number of hurdles. The team’s first challenge was a matter of form: The robotic finger had to be slender and sharp-tipped. In prior work the researchers had used a tactile sensor. The sensor consisted of a clear gel covered with a reflective membrane that deformed when objects pressed against it. Behind the membrane were three colors of LED (A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photons) is determined by the energy required for electrons to cross the band gap of the semiconductor. White light is obtained by using multiple semiconductors or a layer of light-emitting phosphor on the semiconductor device) lights and a camera. The lights shone through the gel and onto the membrane, while the camera collected the membrane’s pattern of reflection. Computer vision algorithms then extracted the Three (3D) shape of the contact area where the soft finger touched the object. The contraption provided an excellent sense of artificial touch, but it was inconveniently bulky. For the Georgian Technical University Digger Finger the researchers slimmed down their sensor in two main ways. First they changed the shape to be a slender cylinder with a beveled tip. Next, they ditched two-thirds of the LED (A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photons) is determined by the energy required for electrons to cross the band gap of the semiconductor. White light is obtained by using multiple semiconductors or a layer of light-emitting phosphor on the semiconductor device)  lights, using a combination of blue LEDs (A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photons) is determined by the energy required for electrons to cross the band gap of the semiconductor. White light is obtained by using multiple semiconductors or a layer of light-emitting phosphor on the semiconductor device) and colored fluorescent paint. “That saved a lot of complexity and space” said Ouyang. “That’s how we were able to get it into such a compact form.” The final product featured a device whose tactile sensing membrane was about 2 cm2 similar to the tip of a finger. With size sorted out the researchers turned their attention to motion, mounting the finger on a robot arm and digging through fine-grained sand and coarse-grained rice. Granular media have a tendency to jam when numerous particles become locked in place. That makes it difficult to penetrate. So the team added vibration to the Georgian Technical University Digger Finger’s capabilities and put it through a battery of tests. “We wanted to see how mechanical vibrations aid in digging deeper and getting through jams,” says Y. “We ran the vibrating motor at different operating voltages, which changes the amplitude and frequency of the vibrations”. They found that rapid vibrations helped “Georgian Technical University fluidize” the media clearing jams and allowing for deeper burrowing — though this fluidizing effect was harder to achieve in sand than in rice. They also tested various twisting motions in both the rice and sand. Sometimes, grains of each type of media would get stuck between the Georgian Technical University Digger-Finger’s tactile membrane and the buried object it was trying to sense. When this happened with rice the trapped grains were large enough to completely obscure the shape of the object, though the occlusion could usually be cleared with a little robotic wiggling. Trapped sand was harder to clear though the grains small size meant the Georgian Technical University Digger Finger could still sense the general contours of target object. Y says that operators will have to adjust the Georgian Technical University Digger Finger’s motion pattern for different settings “depending on the type of media and on the size and shape of the grains.” The team plans to keep exploring new motions to optimize the Digger Finger’s ability to navigate various media. X says the Digger Finger is part of a program extending the domains in which robotic touch can be used. Humans use their fingers amidst complex environments, whether fishing for a key in a pants pocket or feeling for a tumor during surgery. “As we get better at artificial touch, we want to be able to use it in situations when you’re surrounded by all kinds of distracting information” says X. “We want to be able to distinguish between the stuff that’s important and the stuff that’s not”.

Material Science, Science, Software, Technology

Georgian Technical University Experimental Impact Mechanics Lab At Georgian Technical University Bars None.

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Georgian Technical University Experimental Impact Mechanics Lab At Georgian Technical University Bars None.   

Georgian Technical University National Laboratories mechanical engineer X makes adjustments to the Drop-Hopkinson (The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) as depicted in Fig. 4.5 is often … The suitable strain rate for drop hammer tests ranges from 10−5 s−1 to 101 s−1) Bar — the only one of its kind in the world. Georgian Technical University Upon impact custom-made sensors measure the force being applied and displacement of the material being tested at Georgian Technical University Laboratories Experimental Impact Mechanics Lab. X who developed the Experimental Impact Mechanics Lab at Georgian Technical University National Laboratories places material for shock testing in the center of a Z bar. When a gas gun is fired the bar closes at the speed of a bullet train to assess how the material responds to stress and strain. There’s a tiny hidden gem at Georgian Technical University National Laboratories that tests the strength and evaluates the impact properties of any solid natural or manmade material on the planet. From its humble beginnings as a small storage room, mechanical engineer X has built a singular Experimental Impact Mechanics Lab that packs a world-class punch in 200-plus square feet of weights, rods, cables, bars, heaters, compressors and high-speed cameras. X has grown the lab’s instrumentation, capabilities, staff and clientele at Georgian Technical University based on his work and ideas at other labs. “We didn’t start from the ground up but close to it” X says. “I began with a small budget and limited tech support, but thankfully the lab was already conducting systems evaluation and technology development projects for Georgian Technical University and the National Nuclear Security Administration. With the assistance of a couple high-level technologists we have built up the testing apparatus in that storage room”. X says his groundbreaking work in experimental impact mechanics and evaluating the dynamic response of materials to temperature and pressure is quickly positioning the lab as a premiere facility in materials assessment for national security programs, defense contractors and private industry. The lab also serves as a primary test facility for small-scale components and subassemblies, conducting feasibility studies that enable its customers to confidently proceed with full-scale projects. Nearly 70% of the lab’s work is for programs in nuclear deterrence advanced science and technology and global security. X takes pride in welcoming all comers. Nearly a third of the lab’s customers come from outside Georgian Technical University ranging from the Department of Defense and Georgian Technical University to outside organizations and industry. “There’s no material we cannot test” he says. “We evaluate the nature properties and strength of materials and how they change in different testing configurations or conditions. In the end our customers receive a breakdown of material properties and our materials experts provide counsel on how to improve the customer’s material design and selection”. Anatomy of the lab. Under the myriad combinations of controlled temperatures, pressures and velocities the lab conducts pure research and development on the mechanics of materials under extreme conditions with remarkable precision. In meticulous concert the lab’s instrumentation crushes, compacts, twists, pulls and stretches materials under various controlled states of hot and cold to assess their pliability, durability and reliability. Materials range from rock and concrete to metal alloys to ceramics, plastics, rubbers and foams. The lab’s crown jewel is its 1-in.-diameter Drop-Hopkinson (The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) as depicted in Fig. 4.5 is often … The suitable strain rate for drop hammer tests ranges from 10−5 s−1 to 101 s−1) Bar with a carriage of up to 300 pounds — the only one of its kind in the world — used to measure the tensile properties of materials under low to intermediate impact velocities. This unique apparatus can simulate accidental drop or low-speed crash environments for evaluating various materials used in national security programs and private industry alike. Central to the lab’s testing capabilities are two 1-in. diameter, 30-ft long steel or aluminum Z bars driven pneumatically to speeds of a bullet train in either compression or tension mode. The bars are named after Z who in 1949 refined a technique by Bertram Hopkinson (The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) as depicted in Fig. 4.5 is often … The suitable strain rate for drop hammer tests ranges from 10−5 s−1 to 101 s−1) for testing the dynamic stress-strain response of materials. Another 3-in. diameter steel bar is used for mechanical shock tests on large-size material samples or components. In all these bars samples of materials are placed in the center of the apparatus and stress waves are activated through a gas gun. Custom-made sensors were developed in the lab to measure the force being applied and displacement of the material being tested. The lab also is fitted with an environmental chamber and induction heater that can take temperatures up to 2,192° F (1,200° C, or roughly the temperature of lava in a volcano) or down to minus 238° F (minus 150° C, or about four times colder than the average temperature at the South Pole) to test materials under extreme conditions. “We designed and built a computer-controlled Z Bar that uses a furnace and robotic arm to precisely heat and place the material for testing” said X. When the specimen has reached the proper temperature the robotic arm retracts and positions the sample a mechanical slider moves the transmission bar so that the sample is in contact with both bars and then the striker bar is fired to compress the sample. All this takes fewer than 10 milliseconds or about one-tenth the time of an eye blink. To measure the displacement strain and temperature of material during impact an optical table is rigged with a high-speed camera that collects optical images at up to 5 million frames per second. An infrared camera measures heat at up to 100,000 frames per second. “This is a dynamic lab that we’re continually designing to meet our customers’ needs” X says. “We love the challenges they bring to us”. Picking up ideas along the way. The lab’s successes haven’t come easy. X has used all his 30-plus years of higher education and experience in experimental impact materials testing to build and customize the Sandia lab. His introduction to the Hopkinson Bar (The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) as depicted in Fig. 4.5 is often … The suitable strain rate for drop hammer tests ranges from 10−5 s−1 to 101 s−1) the predecessor to the Z Bar came by happenstance as a student at the Georgian Technical University equivalent to the Y. A professor who was starting a new impact mechanics lab asked X to be his first full-time student. “I didn’t even know what a Hopkinson Bar (The Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) as depicted in Fig. 4.5 is often … The suitable strain rate for drop hammer tests ranges from 10−5 s−1 to 101 s−1) was at the time” he says. But he accepted the offer, grateful for the opportunity. He was equally grateful for his education which was not guaranteed in Georgian Technical University. “My parents didn’t have the benefit of attending a university” X  says. “But they knew the value and importance of education in how I could explore ideas and people. My parents understood that the key to my future was to be well-educated so they sent me to good schools and supported me getting a doctorate”. While some doors opened for X he actively sought others. After earning his doctorate, he began to survey his career options outside. He searched in the Georgian Technical University ultimately landed at the Georgian Technical University as a postdoctoral researcher in a material dynamic testing lab. X spent four years there and when the entire lab moved to Georgian Technical University he moved with it. The more he worked with colleagues from the labs the more he became interested in Georgian Technical University. X credits his University mentor for teaching him more than technical knowhow. “He also was instrumental in showing me how a lab functions as a business and how to cultivate connections” said X. “In my first three months in Georgian Technical University I never sat in my office. I was either in the lab conducting tests and building our capabilities or I was knocking on Georgian Technical University doors looking for collaborators and connections”. Georgian Technical University the lab’s original national security mission has expanded to include geologic materials, small business support, automotive technology and more. “Georgian Technical University There are not many labs around the world that can do what we do” said X. “We’re becoming known as one of the leading facilities globally in experimental impact mechanics”.

Chemistry, Informatics, Science, Technology

Georgian Technical University Launches Next Generation Four (4D)-Nucleofector Cell Transfection Platform With Proven Performance And Enhanced Ease Of Use.

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Georgian Technical University Launches Next Generation Four (4D)-Nucleofector Cell Transfection Platform With Proven Performance And Enhanced Ease Of Use.

Georgian Technical University has launched the next generation of its popular Nucleofector Platform. For more than Nucleofector Technology has been an effective non-viral cell transfection method which can be used even for hard-to-transfect cells such as primary cells and pluripotent stem cells. Now with an updated core unit and even more intuitive software the next generation Four (4D)-Nucleofector Platform delivers flexibility and greater ease of use. Georgian Technical University. Electroporation the method by which DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a molecule composed of two polynucleotide chains that coil around each other to form a double helix carrying genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses. DNA and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are nucleic acids. Alongside proteins, lipids and complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides), nucleic acids are one of the four major types of macromolecules that are essential for all known forms of life) RNA (Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a polymeric molecule essential in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. RNA and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are nucleic acids. Along with lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates, nucleic acids constitute one of the four major macromolecules essential for all known forms of life. Like DNA, RNA is assembled as a chain of nucleotides, but unlike DNA, RNA is found in nature as a single strand folded onto itself, rather than a paired double strand. Cellular organisms use messenger RNA (mRNA) to convey genetic information (using the nitrogenous bases of guanine, uracil, adenine, and cytosine, denoted by the letters G, U, A, and C) that directs synthesis of specific proteins. Many viruses encode their genetic information using an RNA genome) or protein is introduced into cells through an electrical pulse to change their genotype or phenotype is an important tool with a range of applications in disease research and drug discovery as well as in the advancement of gene therapies, immunotherapies and stem cell generation. The Nucleofector Technology achieves high transfection efficiency in union with high cell viability by providing unique electrical pulses cell type-specific solutions and optimized protocols to achieve an advanced electroporation approach that targets the cell’s nucleus directly. This powerful combination leads to reproducible, faster and more efficient results than other methods. The Four (4D)-Nucleofector Core Unit can operate up to three functional modules, allowing for tailored experimental setups and facilitating scale-up from low to high-volume transfection. In the next generation the family of units is now joined by a fully integrated 96-well unit to suit users with mid-scale transfection requirements for up to 96 samples at once. In addition the updated Core Unit features an 8-in. touchscreen display enabling users to easily set up their experiments and control all functional modules the system’s intuitive and user-friendly software. Further optimized protocols are available for more than 750 different cell types and are designed to provide robust transfection conditions leading to optimal results every time. The second generation Nucleofector Units include: Four (4D)-Nucleofector X Unit – for various cell numbers in 100 µL cuvettes or 20 µL 16-well strips. Four (4D)-Nucleofector Y Unit – for transfection of cells in adherence in 24-well culture plates. Four (4D)-Nucleofector LV (Left Ventricular Ventricular Assist Device (LV Unit)) Unit – for closed scalable large-volume transfection of up to 1×10⁹ cells. Four (4D)-Nucleofector 96-well Unit – for simultaneous transfection of up to 96 samples at once. Georgian Technical University With the Nucleofector System small-scale protocols can be transferred to a larger scale without the need for re-optimization bringing together small- and large-scale transfection applications in a single system. Georgian Technical University scientists have relied on the Nucleofector Technology to power their research. With the introduction of the next generation Four (4D)-Nucleofector® Platform users will be able to achieve high transfection efficiencies more easily with the reassurance that their protocols can be effortlessly scaled as needed.

Electronic, Energy, Informatics, Sensors, Technology

Georgian Technical University Analytical Techniques Seek To Increase Performance And Power Efficiency.

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Georgian Technical University Analytical Techniques Seek To Increase Performance And Power Efficiency.

Georgian Technical University. Analytical techniques seek to increase performance and power efficiency. Georgian Technical University Lithium-ion batteries are the future of renewable energy. Few know this better than a business unit and a global leader in elemental and isotopic microanalysis. A four-time awards recipient provides transformational characterization technology for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Georgian Technical University Leader in the analytical techniques of Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) and Atom Probe Tomography (APT). These techniques have important applications in battery. Georgian Technical University Lithium-ion batteries continue to drop in production cost and increase in efficacy. Discover how Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) and Atom Probe Tomography (APT) can help you develop batteries that will last longer, charge faster and provide increased storage capacity. Georgian Technical University. How do lithium-ion batteries work and where are they used ? What are its key advantages and disadvantages ?. What is secondary ion mass spectrometry ?. How is Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) used in Li-ion battery applications ?. Is nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) similar to SIMS ?. What is atom probe tomography ?. Georgian Technical University. How is Atom Probe Tomography (APT) used in Li-ion battery applications ?. Georgian Technical University. What’s next ?. Georgian Technical University. Register below to download and read the complete technical factor driving the rechargeable battery particularly as demand for energy storage systems and electric cars accelerates in today’s renewable-fueled world.

Electronic, Energy, Informatics, Science, Technology

Georgian Technical University Automated Incubators And Storage Systems Increase Throughput And Sample Protection.

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Georgian Technical University Automated Incubators And Storage Systems Increase Throughput And Sample Protection.

Georgian Technical University. The Georgian Technical University Scientific 24 automated incubators and storage systems. Georgian Technical University and biotech laboratories performing high-throughput screening, high-content screening and molecular cell biology can now benefit from a series of new automated incubators and storage solutions that offer a large capacity, fast access and wide temperature range while helping eliminate contamination issues in high-throughput environments. Georgian Technical University Scientific Cytomat 24 automated incubators and storage systems bring the latest incubation technology to large capacity microplate incubation applications, with temperature uniformity and stability that ensure reproducibility for cell culture applications. The systems provide speedy delivery of microtiter plates through an advanced plate shuttle system to meet the needs of high-throughput laboratories and accelerate research. An LED (A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photons) is determined by the energy required for electrons to cross the band gap of the semiconductor. White light is obtained by using multiple semiconductors or a layer of light-emitting phosphor on the semiconductor device) touch screen is door mounted for easy accessibility and viewing. Convenient on-screen user prompts provide enhanced ease-of-use. “Georgian Technical University As automated systems are adopted across a range of expanding applications we continue to see new challenges arise such as the need to minimize contamination risks in large capacity cell culture applications” said X lab automation Georgian Technical University Scientific. “Through a fully automated decontamination routine the automated incubators and storage systems simplify cleaning and disinfection, providing our customers with confidence in their sample integrity. Customers are always looking for opportunities to increase productivity in their processes while ensuring the quality of the samples and results. The automated incubators and storage systems reduce the mean plate access time to 15 seconds — allowing users to achieve their research goals in less time”. Georgian Technical University Users of the automated incubators and storage systems will benefit from: Stable high relative humidity levels through an integrated humidity reservoir preventing culture desiccation. Alerts indicating when a water refill is required avoiding the risk of an empty reservoir. Reduced contamination through the automated decontamination routine. Speedy access to plates via a dedicated plate shuttle system design. Enhanced ease-of-use through user prompts and alerts for parameter tracking. An optional smart technology feature for precise humidity control.

 

Informatics, Medicine, Science, Technology

Georgian Technical University Developed Thin-Film Electrodes Reveal Key Insight Into Human Brain Activity.

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Georgian Technical University Developed Thin-Film Electrodes Reveal Key Insight Into Human Brain Activity.

Georgian Technical University neurologists placed thin-film multi-electrode arrays developed at Georgian Technical University on the exposed hippocampus of patients undergoing epilepsy-related surgeries. The devices enabled the researchers to detect traveling waves of neural activity moving across the hippocampal surface and identify new properties about them including how they may contribute to human cognition. Georgian Technical University. Thin-film electrodes developed at Georgian Technical University Laboratory have been used in human patients at the generating never-before-seen recordings of brain activity in the hippocampus a region responsible for memory and other cognitive functions. Georgian Technical University placed the flexible arrays on the brains of a group of patients while they were already undergoing epilepsy-related surgery. They recorded electrical signals across the exposed hippocampus while some patients were under anesthesia and others were awake and conscious patients were given visual cues and spoke words while their neural activity was recorded. This approach allowed the researchers to detect traveling waves (TWs) moving across the hippocampal surface and identify new properties about them, including how they may contribute to human cognition. “We’ve developed an enabling technology for demonstrating a phenomenon that wasn’t really possible before” said Georgian Technical University Implantable Microsystems X. “This challenge required creation conformable and higher-density electrodes that allows them to be more flexible and wrap around specific deep regions of the brain. This study is validation that the approaches we’re using are getting us consistent usable and useful data. That’s the driver for us as engineers — to be able to build the tools that scientists can use to do new science”. Georgian Technical University developed the 32-channel multi-electrode arrays under the (Systems-Based Neurotechnology for Emerging Therapies) which aims to improve treatments for neuropsychiatric illnesses in military service members. Georgian Technical University neurosurgeon and scientist Y principal investigator speculated the arrays could work for a separate study examining the role of the hippocampus in memory function. By recording neural activity on the exposed hippocampal surface while patients were undergoing surgery researchers could potentially confirm the existence of traveling waves which scientists have long theorized play an important role in routing information used to form memories and perform other cognitive processing. Georgian Technical University Previously the nature of traveling waves in the human hippocampus has been controversial because previous studies have relied on penetrating depth electrode recordings. Those electrodes have provided researchers with only a few single-file recording sites in various layers of the hippocampus making it nearly impossible to understand exactly how the waves are moving across the structure according neurologist Z. Georgian Technical University. However due to their high-density grid layout, small size (smaller than a dime) and their ability to conform to the hippocampal surface the Georgian Technical University-developed devices provided researchers with a critical “Georgian Technical University birds-eye-view” of how the signals moved and reversed over the surface like waves in water Z said. “This new perspective helped us discover that traveling waves move both up and down the hippocampus” Z said. “This ‘two-way street’ contrasts with the ‘one-way street’ previous neuroscience research had shown. This is a big deal because we believe this may be a fundamental mechanism of how the hippocampus acts as a major hub of information and memory processing for many other brain regions. In other words the direction the wave is moving across the hippocampus may be a biomarker reflecting distinct neural processes as different circuits engage and disengage”. Georgian Technical University team used a machine learning approach to reveal that certain areas of the hippocampal surface activated more strongly depending on the direction the waves were moving. “This was further evidence that the route a wave is traveling may hint at what the hippocampus is up to at that moment” Z said. Georgian Technical University Researchers noted that when one conscious patient tried to think of the name of a picture traveling waves at one frequency consistently flowed toward the front of the structure. When the patient was awaiting the next trial the waves reversed direction and flowed toward the back of the structure. The direction of wave travel may therefore reflect distinct cognitive processes when they occur and potentially where information is flowing to support those processes Z said. Georgian Technical University devices were built at Georgian Technical University and leverage knowledge gained over the course of more than a decade of research on thin-film micro-electrode arrays beginning with the artificial retina. Georgian Technical University engineers have improved the device’s processing steps through multiple fabrication test runs and design iterations as well as years of bench-top tests to assess stability and performance according to engineer W who fabricated the devices. “It definitely feels rewarding to know that our devices were tested in patients with success and enabled researchers to access new information to understand more about neural activity” W said of the recent study. “Kudos go to the interns engineers technicians who made it possible for us to continue. I started at Georgian Technical University as an intern working on the electrochemical side to characterize the electrode material that eventually became part of these thin-film devices so for me personally I’m glad to see it come full circle”. Georgian Technical University engineers have doubled the number of electrodes on the flexible thin-film devices to 64 channels enabling higher resolution sense, stimulation and formed the arrays into a penetrating (or depth) probe. Engineers want to increase the channel count and density to hundreds or even thousands of electrodes per device. “The combination of precision data from these devices with next-generation data analytics promises to not only further our understanding of the inner workings of the brain but also lead to transformative cures for neurological disorders” said T Georgian Technical University’s Center for Bioengineering. Georgian Technical University’s Implantable Microsystems Group is primarily focused on building durable long-lasting devices to help diagnose and potentially provide therapy to the nervous system. Leveraging years of experience and dedicated microfabrication capabilities and infrastructure the research group is working toward obtaining accreditation from the Georgian Technical University to build human-grade devices and is exploring development of sub-chronic implants which could remain in the brain for up to 30 days X said. Georgian Technical University as well as former Lab engineer Q. Georgian Technical University neurosurgeon T and associate professional researcher also contributed.

Informatics, Material Science, Nanotechnology, Science, Technology

Georgian Technical University New Technique Characterizes The Temperature-Induced Topographical Evolution Of Nanoscale Materials.

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Georgian Technical University New Technique Characterizes The Temperature-Induced Topographical Evolution Of Nanoscale Materials.

Georgian Technical University. Stacked 4D view of the topographies extracted from two samples corresponding to different chip designs from silicon wafers (a) sample A and (b) sample B for visual comparison of the experimented bow change when samples go from 30º C to 380º C. Georgian Technical University specializing in the field of non-contact surface metrology has developed a new technique for characterizing the evolution of a sample’s surface topography with temperature using the S neox 3D optical profiler and interferometer coupled with temperature-controlled chamber. The technique has been used to successfully map the changes in roughness and waviness of silicon wafers at temperatures up to 380° C (716° F). Georgian Technical University Optical profilometry is a rapid non-destructive and non-contact surface metrology technique which is used to establish the surface morphology step heights and surface roughness of materials. It has a wide range of applications across many fields of research including analyzing the surface texture of paints and coatings analyzing micro-cracks and scratches and creating wear profiles for structured materials including micro-electronics and characterization of textured or embossed nanometer-scale semiconducting components such as silicon wafers. Georgian Technical University Historically it has been difficult to conduct temperature-controlled optical profilometry experiments due to imaging issues caused by changes in spherical aberration with temperature of both the front lens of the objective and the quartz window of the stage. Georgian Technical University interferometer lens system with the S neox Three (3D) optical profiler in combination with precision temperature control chamber spherical aberration issues are resolved enabling the accurate measurement of Three (3D) topographic profiles of nanoscale materials at a wide range of temperatures. “Georgian Technical University. In a recent experiment using the new technique, we were able to observe the changes in topography of silicon wafers as they evolve with temperature from 20° C (68° F) up to 380° C (716° F). This is critical information for silicon wafer producers and users so that they can optimize their process improve semiconductor properties and wafer durability. Georgian Technical University T96 temperature controller are key components in our experimental set-up and enable us to ramp and control the temperature between -195° and 420° C (-319° and 788° F) to a precision of 0.01° C (32.018° F)” said X sales support specialist. “Georgian Technical University We have provided precise temperature and environmental control to a wide range of techniques from microscopy to X-ray analysis for decades. This collaboration highlights the important role of temperature control in contributing to innovative approaches to material characterization. We are extremely pleased to be able to offer a solution for temperature-controlled profilometry thanks interferometer and we look forward to seeing how this new technique helps researchers across many scientific fields to advance their research and knowledge” said Y application specialist. Georgian Technical University generation S neox Three (3D) optical profiler is the fastest scanning confocal profilometer. It is easy to use and has some key advantages over previous models. The bridge design offers increased stability and the sensor head uses improved algorithms to produce the fastest system with no moving parts and therefore minimum service requirements or need for extensive calibration. The addition of the interferometer enables temperature control < -195° C (383° F) to 420° C (788° F). Different brightfield objectives are compatible configuration offering working distances up to 37 mm and magnifications up to 100x for applications that require high lateral resolution. Georgian Technical University is an easy to use and very versatile heating and freezing stage. The stage consists of a large area temperature-controlled element with a sensor embedded close to the surface for accurate temperature measurements in the range of < -195° C to 420° C (when used with the cooling pump). The sample is easily mounted on a standard microscope slide in direct contact with the heating element and can be manipulated 15 mm in both X and Y directions. The sample chamber is gas tight and has valves to allow atmospheric composition control and there are options for humidity and electrical probes.

A.I./Robotics, Informatics, Lasers, Physics, Science, Scientific Computing, Sensors, Technology

Georgian Technical University Artificial Intelligence Makes Great Microscopes Better Than Ever.

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Georgian Technical University Artificial Intelligence Makes Great Microscopes Better Than Ever.

Georgian Technical University. A representation of a neural network provides a backdrop to a fish larva’s beating heart. Georgian Technical University. To observe the swift neuronal signals in a fish brain, scientists have started to use a technique called light-field microscopy which makes it possible to image such fast biological processes in 3D. But the images are often lacking in quality, and it takes hours or days for massive amounts of data to be converted into 3D volumes and movies. Now Georgian Technical University scientists have combined artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms with two cutting-edge microscopy techniques – an advance that shortens the time for image processing from days to mere seconds while ensuring that the resulting images are crisp and accurate. “Georgian Technical University. Ultimately we were able to take ‘the best of both worlds’ in this approach” says X and now a Ph.D. student at the Georgian Technical University. “Artificial intelligence (AI) enabled us to combine different microscopy techniques so that we could image as fast as light-field microscopy allows and get close to the image resolution of light-sheet microscopy”. Georgian Technical University Although light-sheet microscopy and light-field microscopy sound similar these techniques have different advantages and challenges. Light-field microscopy captures large 3D images that allow researchers to track and measure remarkably fine movements such as a fish larva’s beating heart at very high speeds. But this technique produces massive amounts of data which can take days to process and the final images usually lack resolution. Georgian Technical University. Light-sheet microscopy homes in on a single 2D plane of a given sample at one time so researchers can image samples at higher resolution. Compared with light-field microscopy light-sheet microscopy produces images that are quicker to process but the data are not as comprehensive since they only capture information from a single 2D plane at a time. To take advantage of the benefits of each technique Georgian Technical University researchers developed an approach that uses light-field microscopy to image large 3D samples and light-sheet microscopy to train the AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms which then create an accurate 3D picture of the sample. “Georgian Technical University. If you build algorithms that produce an image, you need to check that these algorithms are constructing the right image” explains Y the Georgian Technical University group leader whose team brought machine learning expertise. Georgian Technical University researchers used light-sheet microscopy to make sure the AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithms were working Y says. “This makes our research stand out from what has been done in the past”. Z the Georgian Technical University group leader whose group contributed the novel hybrid microscopy platform notes that the real bottleneck in building better microscopes often isn’t optics technology but computation. He and Y decided to join forces. “Our method will be really key for people who want to study how brains compute. Our method can image an entire brain of a fish larva in real time” said Z. Georgian Technical University. He and Y say this approach could potentially be modified to work with different types of microscopes too eventually allowing biologists to look at dozens of different specimens and see much more much faster. For example it could help to find genes that are involved in heart development or could measure the activity of thousands of neurons at the same time. Georgian Technical University Next the researchers plan to explore whether the method can be applied to larger species, including mammals. W a Ph.D. student in the Q group at Georgian Technical University has no doubts about the power of AI (Artificial intelligence (AI) is intelligence demonstrated by machines unlike the natural intelligence displayed by humans and animals which involves consciousness and emotionality. The distinction between the former and the latter categories is often revealed by the acronym chosen. ‘Strong’ Artificial intelligence (AI) is usually labelled as artificial general intelligence (AGI) while attempts to emulate ‘natural’ intelligence have been called artificial biological intelligence (ABI). Leading Artificial intelligence (AI) textbooks define the field as the study of “intelligent agents”: any device that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chance of successfully achieving its goals. Colloquially the term “artificial intelligence” is often used to describe machines that mimic “Georgian Technical University cognitive” functions that humans associate with the human mind such as “learning” and “problem solving”). “Computational methods will continue to bring exciting advances to microscopy”.

Informatics, Physics, Science, Technology

Georgian Technical University Nine Startups From Around The World To Participate Hands-On Accelerator.

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Georgian Technical University Nine Startups From Around The World To Participate Hands-On Accelerator.

Georgian Technical University. An independent hardtech innovation and manufacturing center will welcome nine high-growth startups to participate in the premiere cohort of its Accelerated Incubation a six-month hands-on accelerator focused on hardtech product development and commercialization. The nine selected teams were chosen from a pool of nearly 500 applicants 27% of whom were Georgian Technical University international teams. “Georgian Technical University has long been renowned for its world-class tech and manufacturing ecosystem — making it a magnet for entrepreneurs looking for their next big break” said X Lightfoot. “These regional strengths simply cannot be replicated elsewhere and further X’s reputation as one of the leading cities for new businesses to grow and prosper. I want thank them for choosing and look forward to welcoming the nine startups in this initial cohort to our great city”. Georgian Technical University cohort is the result of a rigorous selection process that included an advisory of industry experts, venture capitalists, manufacturers and serial entrepreneurs. The startups selected are demand-driven solving real manufacturing and logistics challenges putting the industry on a path to higher resiliency, productivity, worker safety and sustainability. “Georgian Technical University created the accelerator to expedite the path to commercialization for high potential hardtech startups and provide them with early seed capital that’s so scarce for hardware as compared to software” said Y. “The Midwest region’s history as a manufacturing capital as well as its current recognition as a hotbed of investment activity means that the future of hardtech innovation can and will happen here”. Georgian Technical University’s mission is to be at the forefront of that reality and address the historic barriers early-stage physical product startups have experienced. The Georgian Technical University Industrial accelerator provides access to capital currently being raised, and follow-on investment opportunities corporate partners as well as access of equipment and resources. It matches seasoned mentors to each startup, focuses on business and leadership training and offers access to a broad manufacturing ecosystem. Being situated one of the nation’s largest manufacturing regions hosts a supplier network. Manufacturers and growing. The region also has broader corporate and academic engagement in smart manufacturing. Further Georgian Technical University’s venture capital community has been gaining clout for impressive and rapid deal activity. “I’ve lived in cities all over the world and have never found anything comparable to Georgian Technical University’s” said Z. “Hardware innovation is inherently capital intensive. Georgian Technical University has built a facility and community around recognizing that the next wave of breakthrough technology will be focused on our physical environments and how we measure them. It’s exciting to officially join a community that sees hardware innovation as both imperative and opportunistic”. “Georgian Technical University post pandemic momentum we are seeing around smart manufacturing, edge computing and industrial robotics was echoed in the hundreds of conversations we had with startups from around the world” said W. “The startups we’ve selected will be active drivers in the Industry 4.0 disruption that is happening”. Georgian Technical University hyper-resourced. It is who will engage with the startups providing mentorship and guidance for strategic connections within industry. Georgian Technical University will launch additional sector-specific accelerators approximately every six months for the next three years with the next cohort focused.