Azizi Miskon

Feasibility Studies of Vortex Flow Impact On the Proliferation of Algae in Hydrogen Production for Fuel Cell Applications

The instability of crude oil price in global market as well as the sensitivity towards green energy increases, more research works being carried out to find alternative energy replacing the depleting of fossil fuels. Photobiological hydrogen production system using algae is one of the promising alternative energy source. However, the yield of hydrogen utilizing the current photobioreactor (PBR) is still low for commercial application due to restricted light penetration into the deeper regions of the reactor. Therefore, this paper studies the feasibility of vortex flow impact utilizing magnetic stirring in hydrogen production for fuel cell applications. For comparison of results, a magnetic stirrer is placed under a PBR of algae to stir the algae to obtain an even distribution of sunlight to the algae while the controlled PBR of algae kept in static. The produced hydrogen level was measured using hydrogen sensor circuit and the data collected were communicated to laptop using Arduino Uno. The results showed more cell counts and hydrogen produced in the PBR under the influence of magnetic stirring compared to static PBR by an average of 8 percent in 4 days.

2-channel defence Transcutaneous Electrical Stem Stimulator (DTES)

During the battle war, the usage of analgesic is considered to be the fast solution for pain relief. However, frequent usage without the risk of health damage is impossible. Therefore we developed the Transcutaneous Electrical Stem Stimulator device (DTES) that can operate based on the pulse generator circuit used to generate electric current in pulse form and later to be delivered to the pain area. This device is equipped with a digital timer so that the duration of treatment can be set by the user. An electric current is passed through the skin in between electrodes to stimulate the nerve where the pain is located. The passing electric current will inhibit the delivering of pain message to arrive at the brain thus user will not feel any pain at the affected area. The stimulation also will increase the production of endorphin, a natural pain killer inside human body to overcome the sensation of pain. The measured frequency and pulse duration were 6.519 KHz and 153.4μs represented there were 6519 cycle in a single second. Since the estimated frequency and pulse duration were 6.667 KHz and 150 μs respectively, the differences were 0.148 KHz and 3.4μs or 2.2% and 2.3% which are considered small and acceptable. The stimulated current is relatively small thereby it will not cause harmful effects to the user.

A Preliminary Study on Magnetic Fields Effects on Stem Cell Differentiation

The objective of this paper is to provide the fundamental mathematical formula to predict the effect of magnetic fields (MF) on stem cell differentiation. The data were reviewed from journals related to the effects of magnetic fields on stem cell differentiation. These data were given a value for differentiation which is related to their MF strength with these conditions; MF strength that does not affect the stem cell differentiation given the value of zero, MF strength that results in stem cells death given the value of 1, and the MF strength that affects stem cells The differentiation given the value between 0.1 and 0.9. graph was plotted according to these data and the mathematical equation is designed from the graph. From this review, we suggest that the intensity of MF that can affect the stem cell differentiation is between 600μT and 9.4T in which the cell differentiation will not occur with intensity of less than 10μT and intensity of more than 12T will cause the death of stem cells. We also suggest that the limit of MF effects on stem cell differentiation lies between 10 μT and 600 μT, and the limit of MF strength that can lead to the death of stem cells lies between 9.4 T and 12 T. It can be concluded that the exposure of MF on stem cell differentiation depends not only on the MF intensity, but also on the period of exposure.

Application of stem cells in tissue engineering for defense medicine

The dynamic nature of modern warfare, including threats and injuries faced by soldiers, necessitates the development of countermeasures that address a wide variety of injuries. Tissue engineering has emerged as a field with the potential to provide contemporary solutions. In this review, discussions focus on the applications of stem cells in tissue engineering to address health risks frequently faced by combatants at war. Human development depends intimately on stem cells, the mysterious precursor to every kind of cell in the body that, with proper instruction, can grow and differentiate into any new tissue or organ. Recent reports have suggested the greater therapeutic effects of the anti-inflammatory, trophic, paracrine and immune-modulatory functions associated with these cells, which induce them to restore normal healing and tissue regeneration by modulating immune reactions, regulating inflammation, and suppressing fibrosis. Therefore, the use of stem cells holds significant promise for the treatment of many battlefield injuries and their complications. These applications include the treatment of injuries to the skin, sensory organs, nervous system tissues, the musculoskeletal system, circulatory/pulmonary tissues and genitals/testicles and of acute radiation syndrome and the development of novel biosensors. The new research developments in these areas suggest that solutions are being developed to reduce critical consequences of wounds and exposures suffered in warfare. Current military applications of stem cell-based therapies are already saving the lives of soldiers who would have died in previous conflicts. Injuries that would have resulted in deaths previously now result in wounds today; similarly, today’s permanent wounds may be reduced to tomorrow’s bad memories with further advances in stem cell-based therapies.

A database on the effect of magnetic fields on stem cells differentiation

The purpose of this work is to design a database software for storing the data taken from reviewed journals which is related to the effect of magnetic field (MF) on stem cells differentiation. The database facilitates in storing the data extracted from the journals. This without a doubt will help to minimize the time spent for collecting and organizing the data for future research reference. The software consists of two parts which are the Graphical User Interface (GUI) and database. The interface was designed using Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 software and the database was created using Microsoft SQL Express 2008 R2. The range of MF density that is already recorded in the database software is between 10μT to 16T. Every value of MF density recorded in the database software is also presented together with the influence of that MF density on stem cells differentiation. Besides, the source of stem cells used in the experiment and the differentiation results of those stem cells after exposed to MF are also noted in the database software. The result and analysis sections will enable the user to key in the important data regarding the experiment accomplished in the journals. As most of the researchers nowadays are working with the aid of computer, using the software database as an archive to store and organize the data from journals is expected to be very useful and convenient.

Piezoelectric Voltage Monitoring System Using Smartphone

This paper proposed to develop the voltage monitoring for piezoelectric system. The piezoelectric wireless monitoring system will enable voltage monitoring by utilizing a smartphone, piezoelectric sensor and Bluetooth to a device that installed with designated application. The Bluetooth system is the method used to connect the piezoelectric sensor and the smartphone. Thus, this research is aimed to monitor the voltage produced by the piezoelectric system wirelessly. The produced data can be monitored in real time as well as being extracted in excel data format for recording purpose. In the previous research, the piezoelectric were embedded in army boots for energy scavenging purpose to charge hand phone. Monitoring the voltage output utilizing multimeter not feasible at all, hence this research solves the challenges of monitoring the piezoelectric voltage output.

Temperature Recorder System

A temperature recorder system is based on the changes of the patients’ temperature over a fixed time that uses the advantages of a smartphone. This paper proposes a wirelessly controlled system to achieve reliability and mobility of the user. The wireless system was achieved by utilizing a smartphone, PIC Controller and Bluetooth to a device that’s been installed with the temperature sensors. This system can be used for medical purpose to monitor and record 24/7 of the patient’s temperature consistently which can systematically save manpower, time and lives.

Enhanced Proliferation Potential of Human Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through Suspension Induction and Electromagnetic Field Exposure

Among the challenges to develop effective therapies using mesenchymal stem cells is the feasibility of sustainably obtaining large number of mesenchymal stem cells meant for the treatments in a short period of time. So far, scientists put their best effort to find the best material for designing good scaffold and bioreactor to recapitulate proliferation in vitro. They are also designing chemical and mechanical cues as inducer. However, the expensive materials utilized to produce good scaffolds and lack of sound knowledge on influencing MSCs proliferation chemically and mechanically are among reasons that hinder effective MSCs proliferation in short period of time using electromagnetic fields. Therefore in this study, we investigate the potential impact of electromagnetic field on the proliferation potential of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) by suspension induction. The hUC-MSCs (1.0 × 104) at passage three seeded in 6 wells plate was then exposed 300-second electromagnetic field for a single cycle in the suspension and conventional monolayer method for 120 h. The results postulate that monolayer culture cells increased 1.39 fold in the treated group as compared to the control group. Meanwhile, the suspension culture numbers of cells were increased 2.41 fold in the treated group as compared to the control group. In conclusion, the hUC-MSCs cultured in both suspension and monolayer represented good viability but they displayed a distinct ability to proliferate in long-term cultures. These results demonstrated that the suspension induction followed by electromagnetic exposure is a promising method of hUCMSCs proliferation for large-scale expansion in a longer period.

Keynote speaker: An engineered microenvironment for manipulating cells in tissue regeneration: A way towards the development of bioartificial organs using mesenchymal stem cell

Stem cells are cells that exist in all organisms that have the ability to divide and give rise to more stem cells, or switch to become more specialized cells in human. Because of their self-renewal capacity and pluripotency, stem cells become driving force in functional tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. However, the number of stem cells can be isolated from the source are really limited. So far, many researchers have focused on material of scaffold, designing the chemical, mechanical cues as inducer, and designing bioreactor to enhance the stem cells proliferation. However, growth factors are widely used in this area and the cost is expensive. In this study, we investigated the effect of burst of high frequency of electromagnetic wave on the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) proliferation. The hUC-MSCs were obtained after full-term pregnancy delivered using our own method. The hUC-MSCs (1.0 × 105) at the fourth passage as seeded in the culture dish were then exposed 300 second to the 6.73 kHz waveform. As a result, the cell proliferation rate for the hUC-MSCs after 120 hours exposed to the 6.73kHz electromagnetic wave was 107% (p < 0.01) higher than control for suspension induction and 32% (p < 0.01) for monolayer induction. A simulation based on the mathematical model indicates that the exposed cells were not differentiated. The effect of burst of high frequency of electromagnetic wave on the hUC-MSCs cell cycle and surface markers will also be discussed.

5-Channel defence transcutaneous electrical stem stimulator (5-channel DTES)

Analgesic normally used as a fast solution for pain relief. However, the over usage of the drug may result in harmful side effect. In the previous work, an alternative method replacing the usage of the drug were proposed known as 2 Channel Transcutaneous Electrical Stem Stimulator (DTES). However, the current DTES unable to vary the output level according to the patients level of pain. Hence, this paper proposes a new Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) with multiple variable output by referring the range for Peripheral Nervous System. This new method able to produce variable output compared to the previous 2-Channel DTES system. Although the waveform and more than 15% errors were recorded in this 5-channel DTES, still this project can be considered to be successful as its able to prove the 5-channel DTES is feasible in producing multiple output coherent to the patients level of pain. Since the system found to be feasible, with the suggested modification, its believed the 5-channel DTES able to perform better.