'Unlimited Potential' Seen in Biomedical Engineering

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Niren Murthy, an assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, develops new materials for the delivery of biotherapeutics. Image CREDIT: Georgia Tech Photo: Gary Meek

Editor's Note: ScienceLives is an occasional series that puts scientists under the microscope to find out what makes them tick. The series is a cooperation between the National Science Foundation and LiveScience.

Name: Niren Murthy
Age: 38
Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
Field of Study: Biomedical Engineering

Biomedical engineer Niren Murthy of the Georgia Institute of Technology helps design cutting-edge chemicals for the detection and treatment of diseases. In a study published late last year, Murthy and his colleagues revealed a new family of fluorescent chemical dyes called hydrocyanines that can be used as probes to detect and measure the presence of highly reactive metabolites of oxygen that are associated with a variety of inflammatory diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis.  The dyes could be used at an early stage of disease, improving hopes for treatment.  Read more here.  That study followed on the heels of another that presented a family of biodegradable polymers called polyketals, which could improve treatment for such inflammatory illnesses as acute lung injury, acute liver failure and inflammatory bowel disease by delivering drugs, proteins and snips of ribonucleic acid to disease locations in the body. More on that study is available here. Below, Murthy answers the ScienceLives 10 Questions. 

What inspired you to choose this field of study?  
It seemed to have unlimited potential.  It was very new.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received?  
Professor Rick Cornez at the University of Redlands advised me to switch my major from political science to biomedical engineering.

What was your first scientific experiment as a child? 
I don’t remember.

What is your favorite thing about being a scientist or researcher? 
Freedom to explore new ideas.

What is the most important characteristic a scientist must demonstrate in order to be an effective scientist? 
Creativity.

What are the societal benefits of your research?  
Improved healthcare.

Who has had the most influence on your thinking as a researcher? 
Impossible to limit it to one person.

What about your field or being a scientist do you think would surprise people the most? 
I don’t really know.

If you could only rescue one thing from your burning office or lab, what
would it be?  
Nothing, it is all available online and stored in my emails.

What music do you play most often in your lab or car? 
NPR

Sumber : http://www.livescience.com/9651-unlimited-potential-biomedical-engineering.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Livesciencecom+%28LiveScience.com+Science+Headline+Feed%29

Researchers turn an iPhone into an otoscope

September 28, 2012

Sponsored by Intercon 1

A pediatric medical device being developed at Georgia Tech (Atlanta, GA, USA) and Emory University (Atlanta, GA, USA) could make life easier for parents with children suffering from an ear infection.

The researchers' so-called Remotoscope is a clip-on attachment and software app that turns an iPhone into an otoscope, a medical device which is used by pediatricians to look into the ears to diagnose infection.

With Remotoscope, parents would be able to take a picture or video of their child’s eardrum using the iPhone and send the images digitally to a physician for diagnostic review.

Wilbur Lam, assistant professor in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, along with his colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, CA, USA)  is developing the device, and has plans to commercialize it.

Remotoscope's clip-on attachment uses the iPhone's camera and flash as the light source as well as a custom software app to provide magnification and record data to the phone. The iPhone’s data transmission capabilities send images and video to a doctor's inbox or to a patient's electronic medical record.

The device has the potential to save money for both families and healthcare systems, Lam says. Ear infections, or otitis media, affect 75 percent of children by age six, making it the most common diagnosis for preschoolers. They result in more than 15m office visits per year in the United States and thousands of prescriptions for antibiotics, which are sometimes not needed.

A clinical trial for the Remotoscope is currently under way to see if the device can obtain images of the same diagnostic quality as traditional otoscopes. The Food and Drug Administration, through the Atlanta Pediatric Device Consortium, is partially funding the trial.

More information on the Remotoscope can be found here.

Recent stories on the use of smartphones in imaging that you might also find of interest.

1. iPhone app helps farmers manage fruit pickers

A new iPhone app called BucketLoad aims to help farmers manage teams of individuals who hand-pick crops such as blueberries, strawberries and citrus fruit during the harvest season.

2. Software transforms iPhone into a 3-D scanner

A researcher from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Atlanta, GA, USA) has developed a software app that can transform the iPhone into a 3-D scanner.

3. iPhone camera app helps Australians select healthier foods

An Australian iPhone app has been launched to help shoppers make healthier food choices in the supermarket and reduce high levels of fat, salt, and sugar in their diets.

4. iPhone camera turned microscope diagnoses disease
A team of researchers from the University of California-Davis (Davis, CA, USA) has transformed an iPhone into a system that can perform detailed microscopy.

5. Smartphones measure radioactivity

Engineers at Image Insight (East Hartford, CT, USA) have developed a software app that uses the camera in an Android smart phone to measure radioactivity levels, allowing users to ensure their local environments are safe.

6. Mobile app helps track moles

A new free app developed at the University of Michigan Health System (Ann Arbor, MI, USA) allows users to photograph suspicious moles or other skin lesions which they can then share with a dermatologist to obtain a medical diagnosis.

7. Turn your iPhone into an IR camera

Engineer Andy Rawson decided to turn his iPhone into a thermal camera by developing custom-built hardware and software solution that would interface to it.

8. Your image could save a stream

Individuals across the world can monitor watersheds and report their conditions using an iPhone application called Creek Watch that has been developed by IBM Research.

-- Dave Wilson, Senior Editor, Vision Systems Design

Sumber : http://www.vision-systems.com/articles/2012/09/researchers-turn-an-iphone-into-an-otoscope.html

How Does Industrial Training Plays A Vital Role In A Student's Life?

Industrial training is significant as it helps a student to develop in his professional commandment. It is a kind of work experience which he gets before he starts his career. In the industrial training process a student gets a platform to build up the existing talents and learn to excel well by understanding the methodology of the industry. As a student he attains the potentials of how industry works. He gains the skill set so that it could be helpful in a commendable manner. In broader aspect it is the overall development provided to the students so that they can improvise their skills and talents to a larger extent and get good experience before they actually start their career.

One of the major benefits that a student derives from the industrial training is that during the training period they get to know about the various business operations and administrative procedures. In the training all the business maneuver are introduced to the student. They are given an opportunity to work with the leading industries. The benefits are:

• They get familiarized to the structure of the organization
• They get acquainted to the various business operations
• They gain the technical knowhow of the system
• Training helps to develop communication skills and the leadership qualities
• Training helps to build behavioral aspects that are required in an industry
• Training increases the capabilities of working individually and in team

With broader horizons a student turns into a professional by the end of the training period. By professional it is meant that a person build up an attitude within himself where his focus is largely on the development. He is trained to tackle any kind of problem that he faces in the development process. The curriculum is designed in such a manner that it supports in the enhancement of knowledge among the trainers.

Unearthing The Hidden Talent: During the entire industrial training period it is focuses to develop the skills of the person so that he can attain superior working skills and behavior. It teaches to work in the atmosphere where there is immense pressure and to achieve targets and goals that are given before the deadline. The levels of competencies are further polished so that the person shines out in delivering his abilities in an effectual manner. These are some of the significant attractions of the training program. The course is made productive in every sense and it is designed in such a way that it provides a platform to the aspiring students to fulfill their dreams.

It can be concluded that training is a valuable source of guidance bestowed to supplement the growth of students. Therefore on the part of the students it is vital that they choose the right training institute. Taking a little research would be helpful in attaining the goals. This can be done by looking at the various resources that are available online. You must check for the quality and ensure that you join the right place.

Sumber :
Read more: How Does Industrial Training Plays A Vital Role In A Student's Life? http://www.sooperarticles.com/education-articles/tutoring-articles/how-does-industrial-training-plays-vital-role-students-life-1145230.html#ixzz2HYIWp3eT

Should Students Be Paid for Good Grades?

By Laura Fitzpatrick Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009

Back in the day, a good report card earned you a parental pat on the back, but now it could be money in your pocket. Experiments with cash incentives for students have been catching on in public-school districts across the country, and so has the debate over whether they are a brilliant tool for hard-to-motivate students or bribery that will destroy any chance of fostering a love of learning. Either way, a rigorous new study — one of relatively few on such pay-for-performance programs — found that the programs get results: cash incentives help low-income students stay in school and get better grades. (See TIME's special report on paying for college.)

How industrial training plays a vital role in a student’s life

Industrial training plays a vital role in a student’s life for his professional development. Understanding of real life situations and pre-professional work experience is provided. Industrial training in Chandigarh provides a systematic introduction to the developing attitudes, talent and ways of industry. A student can easily understand how Human Resource Development works.

Students can gain some good experience of the industry and this in turn will widen their learning, career aspects and skills. The students will also be exposed to the real career world. They will be accustomed to the business operations, administrative functions and organizational structure. This is surely the right and the best time for gaining more experience and knowledge.  However, it can be said that the institutes and industries that promise to give the best learning prospects and training modules should be checked. Institutes that provide industrial training in Chandigarh play an important role.

Points to be noted while choosing the best institute for training:

• Students should make search on the internet about the institutes that give the best training to them
•  A survey about the past history of the institutes as well as the facilities provided by them should be done.
• Students must make sure that a dependable training material is provided by the institute.
• Fees should never be paid to the institute without going for a DEMO session.
• The institute should not be joined only because it charges lesser fees. 
  The quality should also be checked.
• It must be ensured if the faculty will stay with the institute till the end of the course.

Today almost all the professional and engineering programs in India include industrial training as an essential part of their curriculum. The main objective is the enhancement of knowledge of the students on various technologies. These technologies have become a very important part of their respective industries.  Industrial training is an essential strategy for exposing the students to real life situations of the industry and equipping them with all the necessary skills. A training related program or an industrial training program can be improved constantly through evaluations and formal reviews of the outcome.  An important element in engineering is an exposure to professional engineering practices that are sought by industrial training. This training has been looked upon as a potent that grooms the professional career of various fresh engineering graduates. This has become the common method to harvest skilled engineers. It is recommended to have a well structured industrial training program. However, this is not mandatory. In addition to this, there are other structured industrial projects as well.  They lie within the curriculum of engineering and are mainly required for strengthening the practical skills of students.

Thus, industrial training proves to be a brief stint that will let a graduate experience the field before he joins it. There are many opportunities found in industrial training in Chandigarh. Lastly, the student must carefully perform the choice as it is an important step of his career.

Article Source: http://training.ezinemark.com/how-industrial-training-plays-a-vital-role-in-a-students-life-7d33cfb9bc16.html

Mara Teroka Lebih Banyak Peluang Latihan Industri Di Jepun

HAMAMATSU (Jepun) – Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) sedang meneroka lebih banyak peluang latihan industri di Jepun kepada pelajar tajaannya di masa depan.

Perkara ini merupakan antara yang ditekankan dalam lawatan Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal selama lima hari ke negara matahari terbit itu yang berakhir Isnin.

Dalam pertemuan dengan Gabenor Wilayah Aichi, Hideaki Oomura serta Datuk Bandar Toyota Toshihiro Ota, soal peluang pendidikan dan pekerjaan kepada pelajar tajaan Mara telah dibincangkan selain soal jalinan ekonomi antara Malaysia dan Jepun.

Dalam lawatan itu Mohd Shafie turut mengadakan pertemuan dengan pemain industri pada satu majlis makan malam, yang antara lain bertujuan mengukuhkan lagi hubungan kerjasama antara MARA dengan pemain industri.

Ini sekaligus dilihat dapat membuka peluang baharu bagi MARA untuk menghantar lebih ramai pelajarnya melanjutkan pelajaran dan menjalani latihan perindustrian di Jepun.

– BERNAMA

sumber : http://www.suaragenerasibaru.com/?p=34857

To Pay Or Not To Pay

COMMENT: To pay or not to pay

THE Higher Education Ministry makes it compulsory for final-year undergraduates pursuing certain programmes to go for practical training. The aim is to expose students to the workplace before they embark on their careers.

Internship acts as an exchange of service (cheap or free labour) for experience between a student and an organisation.

Bancuh air, salin fotostat

Pelajar amali buat tugas remeh

KUALA LUMPUR: Persekutuan Majikan-Majikan Malaysia (MEF) mendedahkan ada pelajar universiti yang menjalani latihan praktikal diberi tugasan remeh, termasuk membuat salinan fotostat dan membancuh minuman untuk pegawai atasan. 

Pengarah Eksekutif MEF, Shamsuddin Bardan, berkata pihaknya juga menerima aduan daripada pelajar terbabit bahawa latihan yang dijalani kurang berkesan dalam membantu mereka membuat persediaan memasuki pasaran kerja. 

Khairun Nadzar

I asked one of my 'students' who is studying Usuluddin in Cairo ro clarify the hot issue. He gave this -(Petikan ceramah Professor Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas)

Question: The using of kalimah “Allah” by other people in this country?".

Answers by Prof. Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas:

Well I have been talking about this long time ago. I remember about this in ISTAC, when we first established ourselves (late 80’s and early 90’s), I think the Arcbishop of Penang was asking this question. And I have answered that.

And then we had a meeting with the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur and about all the representatives of Christianity, including the ministers, we had a meeting at ISTAC.

And I said, “Why you want to use the word ‘Allah’ for yourself?”

They said “we are going to pray in Bahasa Malaysia".

That’s the way they put it. So my answers to them, “Why you have to change praying into Bahasa Malaysia. You have been praying in English all the time. Why suddenly change into Bahasa Malaysia?”

Ok, so they said they want to change so that it is more patriotic. Then in that case I’m saying that “why don’t you use Tuhan while praying in Bahasa Malaysia? Because you are talking about God isn’t it?…God is not just a name…”Allah” is a name of this Being whom you called God… and in fact a Being whom even higher than what you called to be God”

And then I said, “ …and “Allah” is not from Bahasa Malaysia. It is not a national language. It belongs to the language of Muslim all over the world. Therefore your argument using this for the word “Allah” does not fit into your idea of God. Because “Allah” does not have a son, It is not one of three (Trinity), that is why out of respect to Allah we can’t allow you to use this.“

But when we Muslim, when we write in English we say God, or when we talk to people we say God but we mean “Allah”…but they cannot say when they speak about God it means “Allah” as they don’t mean it.

So in this particular respect, we have to be clear about this, not was-was (hesitate)...whomever responsible in our governing, they have to be clear about this and to explain to others.
We agree you want to use God, then use Tuhan as we also use that…but we understand in the Malay language that Tuhan is not a translation of Allah..that is why we say “tiada Tuhan melainkan Allah” not “tiada Tuhan melainkan Tuhan”. We don’t say “there is not God but God”..at least the ulama’ among the Muslim Malays, we understand what is the meaning of that (word “Allah”).

So “Allah” cannot be translated as no language has translated Allah. The Arabs themselves they only use that after Islam..although the word existed (before)..the Christians Arab they also did not use Allah (in theological, epistemological and ontological sense in the same manner as the Muslim)..if they say that it is just a language..they are talking about language..because they say “Allah” like the Muslim when they (melatah)…

So it appears they want to do that in order to confuse the Muslim into thinking that all is the same..that is why I say one of the problems about religion is the nature of God..about who Allah is..that is why in Arkanul Iman (The Pillars of Faith), the first thing is “amana billah”.

“Who is this Allah?” and that need to be explain at higher institution in a proper way.

So we have answer the question. It is not proper to allow them using this, since they asking us and there is no point bringing this to court since this is not a matter of court to decide it whether they have the freedom to use it or not. It is up to the Muslims.

But then if they used it and said “in Indonesia they have use it, why can’t we?”…but it is because of the Muslims..if Muslims don’t care they will go on and use it..and in Indonesia they are using not only that, other things they even call it “choir” as “selawat”. Choir is not a “selawat”, as “selawat” is for Prophet..it’s not singing hymn.

And they also talk about..in Indonesia they are also confuse..Muslims..that is why this thing happen. Sometimes the language when you come across English words like “Prophet of Doom” in Indonesia they said “Nabi celaka”. How can there be “Nabi celaka”? What is meant by the “Prophet of Doom” is…even the word Prophet in English does not mean “Nabi” only…it means “yang meramalkan malapetaka”..that what it means…so the “Prophet of Doom” means “yang meramalkan malapetaka”, not “Nabi celaka”.

They (the Muslims in Indonesia) seem not to bother about this. What we can say is that ultimately well they say “God is not Allah”...well if you want to use the word God, we are saying we also use the word God, we refer to Allah as we know and we are not saying that your God ultimately will not refer to Allah. You can’t run away from Allah. You can only escape Him and so in the Qur’an (surah An-Naas) says: “Qul aAAoothu birabbi annas, Maliki annas, Ilahi annas”. He (Allah) is saying “ I am the real Ilah (God) of naas (mankind)”, although mankind (non-Muslim) does not interpret it that way.

(The End)