Center for Biomedical Research  This center supports state-of-the-art research facilities for biomedical research, promotes and publicizes biomedical research, and aggressively encourages and supports initiatives for support of biomedical research. The center sponsors research presentations and colloquia, provides funds to support pilot research projects, and identifies novel funding. In addition, the center assists with the development and submission of proposals for external funding of major multi-investigator equipment, (b) provides and maintains readily accessible multi-user equipment facilities, and (c) facilitates access to specialized facilities and services. In addition to supporting and promoting collaborations among its members, the center facilitates interactions between members and other institutions, including pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, and promotes access to biomedical research equipment within the center. |
Applied Chemical and Morphological Analysis Laboratory  The Applied Chemical and Morphological Analyses Laboratory (ACMAL) is a university facility that houses an extensive array of electron microanalytical and x-ray instruments. Electron beam instrumentation includes two scanning electron microscopes (SEM), a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (TEM) and a focused ion beam milling system (FIB). X-ray equipment includes a sequential x-ray fluorescence spectrometer and five x-ray diffractometers. |
Integrated Photonics and Materials Integration Laboratory The equipment in the laboratory serves the fabrication, testing and analysis of photonic and piezoelectric structures, materials and film-based devices. Research in integrated photonics centers on the use of magneto-optic and electro-optic materials. Recent work has centered on the development and fabrication of magnetic photonic crystals. A second thrust involves the development and fabrication of optical and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based on novel highly efficient piezoelectric films.
Tools consist of an rf magnetron sputtering system for the fabrication of magneto-optic films; an electron-beam writing system housed in a JEOL 6400 SEM and a Hitachi Focused Ion Beam (FIB) System for nano-patterning of photonic structures, both housed in the Applied Chemical and Morphological Analysis Laboratory; a metal evaporator for the deposition of electrodes; a micro-manipulator; a prism-coupler for the study of refractive indices and film thickness; an optical testing laboratory for the analysis of waveguide devices that includes HP and Ando infrared tunable laser sources. |
µMRI Techniques for Detection and Investigation of Articular Cartilage This research program is generally designed to use high resolution MRI and other microscopic imaging techniques to study a number of important engineering, biological and biomedical problems. More specifically, the research is focused on detecting cartilage degradation, an early event in osteoarthritis using µMRI. The techniques developed are capable of a transverse resolution of 14 microns across the full depth of the cartilage tissue layer. This microscopic resolution allows examination of tissue properties in individual histological zones in cartilage non-invasively and non-destructively. |
Spin Wave Spectrum in Micro-sized Arrays of Magnetic Wires and Dots This program of research emerged from an investigation of the linear and nonlinear dynamics of magnetic excitation in magnetic films, multilayers and finite-size samples—spin waves, solitons and parametric instabilities. The program is designed to yield applications of linear and nonlinear spin waves to microwave signal processing as well as data relevant to a variety of problems including bright and dark spin envelope solitons in magnetic films. |
Exact Diagonalization Methods for Understanding Nanostructures, Spin Chains, High-Tc Cuprates, Ladders and Frustrated Spin Systems This research program, oriented toward understanding strongly correlated condensed matter, involves apply numerical techniques to probe and understand the properties of strongly correlated electronic systems. The research is focused on Exact Diagonalization methods as a tool for understanding nano structures, High-Tc cuprates, ladders, spin chains and frustrated spin systems. |
Optimization of the Conductivity and Transparency of ITO Thin Films This research program is broadly defined as a study of the electrical, optical, chemical and structural characteristics of Indium-Tin-Oxide (ITO) deposited on Glass and Polymer substrates. Indium Tin Oxide is a transparent, conducting material with a variety of applications in display devices, photovoltaic devices and heat reflecting mirrors. Basic understanding of the material properties from energy band structure calculations, deposition parameters are the key tasks in this research effort. The sheet resistances, optical transmittances and microstructures are determined using four-point probe, spectrophotometer, x-ray diffractometer and transmission electron microscope. |
Environment-induced Embrittlement of Intermetallic Alloys Several intermetallics are extremely susceptible to embrittlement by water vapor; among these are the iron aluminides, alloys which otherwise have considerable promise as structural materials because of their low density, high resistance to corrosion and oxidation, and low cost. It is suspected that for these materials hydrogen embrittlement results from the reaction of the alloy surface with water vapor. This program of research incorporates measurements of fracture toughness and sub-critical crack growth under controlled chemical and electrochemical conditions to gain information about the kinetics of embrittlement. Structural characterization includes transmission electron microscopy. |
Computer Simulation of Dislocation-based Study of Materials Deformation, Strengthening and Failure Dislocation studies play an important role in understanding deformation, strengthening, and failure mechanisms of materials. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) has been commonly used in these studies. Improved computer simulation methods, recently developed in a program of research, have enhanced our ability to identify dislocations quantitatively. For example, comparison of a TEM image of a `superlattice' dislocation in a deformed Al67Mn8Ti25 alloy, compared favorably with the computer-simulated image of the dislocation formed by using only pertinent material constants, geometrical data, and imaging conditions. |
Structural Roles of Water in Bone Observed by Solid-State NMR  Vibrational spectroscopy is used to solve problems dealing with molecular structure. Nearly any type of sample can be analyzed by Raman spectroscopy because of the flexibility of using a focused laser beam as the light source. The current focus is on apatite, a form of calcium phosphate, which is the major constituent of bone and is also found as a natural mineral in rocks. The lab creates apatite substituted with ions typically found in bone in order to support Raman analysis of bone tissue. A silane hydrolysis process also is being explored, to develop a Raman detection method and study the kinetics of the process. The materials studied are diverse and have also included proteins containing the heme group (hemoglobin and cytochrome oxidase), inorganic glasses (germanium diselenide doped with metals) and polymers (azoazromatic polyethers). Modern computational modeling of molecular structure and conformation augments experimental studies. |
Electronic structure and transport properties of thermoelectric materials This work is focused on computational condensed matter physics and materials science, in particular the electronic structure problem in semiconductors and complex materials. Computers are used as powerful microscopes to investigate the quantum properties that technology exploits to build new solid state devices. Solar cells, lasers and IR-detectors use semiconductor materials that are created ad hoc to optimize functions like light emission and detection. The research is aimed at optimizing the interesting properties of these materials by performing both semi-empirical and first principles calculations. |
Examining Biomass Substrates in Ethanol Production as Source of Alternative Fuel Bio-fuel ethanol as an alternative fuel is gaining interests for environmental and economical reasons. To reach ethanol goals needed in the United States, it will be essential to take advantage of various biomass substrates for ethanol production (e.g. agricultural and industrial waste products). Recent work includes study of the growth inhibitor, furfural, which induces cellular stress signals in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Using various fluorescent indicators and transmission electron microscopy techniques, it was determined that furfural causes an increase in reactive oxygen species accumulation, cellular membrane damage (vacuole and mitochondrial membranes), chromatin damage, and cytoskeletal damage in wild-type S. cerevisiae. Whether or not overexpressing any of the previously identified genes will reduce oxidative damage is being investigated. |
NMR Spectrometer  With support from the Chemistry Research Instrumentation and Facilities: Departmental Multi-User Instrumentation (CRIF:MU) Program, the Department of Chemistry at Eastern Michigan University has acquired a 400 MHz nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) Spectrometer. This instrument permits the initiation of projects not possible currently and will lead to greater interaction of faculty in Chemistry with those in the College of Technology and Biology. Research projects to benefit from the NMR spectrometer include studies on nitrogen-phosphorus flame retardants, natural product synthesis, nitrogen heterocycle synthesis, and organic and heterocycle synthesis. This instrument helps attract research-oriented faculty and improve the learning experience for graduate and undergraduate student researchers. The formal teaching program will be immediately and positively affected in a senior laboratory class on synthesis. |
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