2006 — 2010 |
Chiao, Jung-Chih [⬀] Jung, Sungyong Peng, Yuan (co-PI) [⬀] Peng, Yuan (co-PI) [⬀] |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
Integrative Sensor and Stimulator Implant System @ University of Texas At Arlington
This proposal focuses on the development of an integrative system consisting of miniature wireless neuronal signal sensor and stimulator implants to provide accurate recording of neural activities and investigate the inhibitory effects of pain signals through neurostimulation. A neurostimulation implant delivers low electrical currents to the nervous tissues that affect the kinetics of ion transport across a neural membrane and produce electrical suppression of pain signals. However, the lack of an integrative recorder and stimulator system prevents us from physiologically documenting the pain activities in freely moving objects. This work involves integrating advances from four multidisciplinary areas of research: (1) flexible microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices, (2) telemetry circuitry and wireless communication, (3) signal processing, (4) neuroscience and neurobiology.
Intellectual Merits: Technological advances are the development of miniature implants on flexible substrates with wireless communication capability for an integrative system. Using the integrative sensor and stimulator system as an enabling tool, scientific investigation will be carried out to establish the knowledge of neuronal signals, propagation models, inhibitory mechanisms and their relationship to external stimuli, parameter databases for bioelectrical models and optimization algorithms in pain management.
Broader Impacts: The impacts of chronic pain relief will not only improve individuals life quality but also the family relationship and national economics. The database will benefit the basic understanding in neuroscience. The technologies developed will be useful for medical implants and data acquisition techniques in biology applications. This cooperative project between the Electrical Engineering and Psychology integrates the research efforts with education and outreach objectives. Graduate and undergraduate students will be working together in the same laboratories, and by hands-on experiences, they will be trained with integrated multidisciplinary knowledge. Three North Texas high-school education programs in disadvantaged communities are in place to provide high-school teachers and students involvement in the research works.
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2013 — 2016 |
Cho, Sang-Yeon Choi, Hyeok [⬀] Jung, Sungyong Park, Jung-Min |
N/AActivity Code Description: No activity code was retrieved: click on the grant title for more information |
In Situ Sensing System For the Selective and Sensitive Detection of Biological Toxins in Habs @ University of Texas At Arlington
The increasing frequency of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in marine and freshwater environments worldwide is a significant public health and environmental science concern because of the potential release of biological toxins -- in particular, microcystins (MCs) produced from cyanobacterial HABs. Current monitoring methods employing on-site sampling followed by in-lab analysis of HAB toxins (direct micro-observation) are neither sustainable nor practical to meet the vast spatial and temporal measuring need. Alternatively, remote sensing approaches based on identifying standard color products from satellite images (indirect macro-observation) are useful for monitoring general algal bloom activities. However, such color products are neither specific to HABs nor necessarily indicative of toxin release. As a result, it is important to determine the toxic/non-toxic nature of algal blooms and even identify the species of HAB toxins in a more effective, sustainable, and responsive manner. In our efforts to find a complementary approach to the two different observing methods, the overall goal of this proposed study is to real-time monitor the level of MCs in situ using an innovative wireless sensor network.
In this project, researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington, New Mexico State University, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute will explore: (1) novel approaches to monitor toxin release during HAB activities, (2) innovative ideas to qualify and quantify various MCs at trace levels, and (3) integrated ways to realize the sensor network suitable for field applications. The proposed sensing system will utilize a surface-customized optical antenna to assay MCs selectively and sensitively. The antenna, consisting of arrays of resonant nanostructures with various transducer layers specific to multiple MCs, detects specific bindings of MCs to the transducer layers by analyzing the spectral characteristics of the subwavelength surface plasmon. A wireless sensing network to communicate assay data and operation command between sensing nodes and remote authorities will be developed. Most of the components necessary for executing the sensing protocol, including array chip, optical sensor, photo-detector array, and circuitries, are incorporated into a chip-size single substrate for system automation.
Broader Impacts: Results of this project are expected to have significant impacts on the design and development of sensor networks and on scientific studies in the area of in situ environmental monitoring. The in situ real-time monitoring approach benefits immediate decision-making and timely response, which are crucial elements for establishing an early warning system as an environmental infrastructure. Educational impacts include students training by participating in the project, research integration with curricula, and hands-on research experience using the in situ sensor network testbed. Software tools and simulators developed during this project will be made available via the internet to research and education communities. Team members will take advantage of the existing organizations and programs in the participating universities to recruit and mentor students from underrepresented groups.
JOINT FUNDING BY NSF AND NIEHS: The original proposal on which this project is based (R01 ES021951-01) was submitted to the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH/NIEHS) in response to Funding Opportunity Announcement RFA-ES-11-013 , "Oceans, Great Lakes and Human Health (R01)", an opportunity jointly sponsored by NSF. This project is cooperatively funded through separate awards from NSF and NIEHS.
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