Vibrational spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool to elucidate the structure and conformation of biological samples, including lipids and liposomes or nanovesicles. In this study, three different vibrational spectroscopic techniques namely near-infrared (NIR), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopies have been employed for the comprehensive investigation of various physiochemical properties of newly developed self-forming synthetic PEGylated lipids, trademarked as QuSomes. In contrast to conventional phospholipids, these new kind of lipids spontaneously formed liposomes or nanovesicles upon hydration, without the supply of external activation energy.

In addition, this work is focused on the study of thermotropic phase behaviors and associated changes in the conformational order/disorder of such lipids and nanovesicles in suspensions. For this purpose, variable-temperature sample holders have been designed and employed to acquire the temperature-dependence infrared and Raman spectra of these lipids and nanovesicles. Especially, phase transition temperature profiles have been deduced by either monitoring the shifts in peak positions or plotting vibrational peak intensity ratios in the C-H stretching region as a function of temperature.

Furthermore, several spectral indicators have been deduced and correlated with aspects of molecular structure as well as intramolecular motion and intermolecular interactions. Finally, to supplement our observations, a thermodynamic approach known as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) has been applied and revealed a good agreement with the infrared and Raman spectroscopic results.

Members and Major:

• Alison Pyne – Finance
• Stuart Greenfield – Economics and Management
• Tim Stutzman – Chemical Engineering
• Andrew Strolin – Communications and MBA
• Justin Culver – Chemical Engineering
• Umber Javed = Chemical Engineering
  
  

Biography:

Northern Nevada Nanotubes (N3) has developed a process that significantly reduces the production cost of nanotubes, while maintaining the quality and advantages of the final product. This process was the result of a strong partnership formed between the University of Nevada, Reno, and NASA. Both organizations have focused on the production of nanotubes due to their applications in the construction, chemical, mechanical, and electrical fields.

Established by six students from the University of Nevada, Reno, Northern Nevada Nanotubes has a diverse and strong background. N3 is led by a former Marine Corps Sergeant with a dual degree in business management and economics. Supported by a financial analyst, N3 can analyze, re-act, and succeed in the growing market and economic conditions, while staying focused on our core competencies. Business world knowledge and understanding is brought to the table through an experienced marketing director. To ensure high quality at a lower cost, the three chemical engineers that developed the process round out N3’s management cadre.

Presentation Topic:

Northern Nevada Nanotubes is competing in the Donald W. Reynolds Tri-State Cup for college entrepreneurs. N3’s presentation will cover the mission of the company, what a nanotube is, the process that has been developed, the competitive advantage of the company, the marketing strategy, and the projected financials.

Company - About Eye-Com™

Eye-Com Corporation (ECC) is the leading innovator in wearable eye-tracking technology. Our flagship product — the Eye-Com™ (EC) is an evolving eye monitoring technology used to identify and respond to oculometric signs which will potentially save lives and provide a new tool for countless products and applications.

The Eye-Com™ suite of products can dramatically improve driver and pilot safety as well as intuitively connect users to simulators, remote-controlled devices, robotics, games, toys as well as future consumer, military, and medical advanced applications yet to be determined.  

Technologies

Eye-Com Corporation is the world leader in providing a core technology centered around eye-tracking, data acquisition and analysis.  It is this rather broad set of competencies that allows us to provide a suite of products that can be applied to a great many industries and applications and we are working toward changing the world with our wearable, wireless and ergonomic eye-tracking platform and companion software.  We offer the EC6 & Future EC7 systems as our tethered and wireless tracking hardware. Through the Eye-See™ software, we can collect, analyze and output complex sets of data acquired through monocular or binocular endo and exo cameras as well as our head-tracking module.

Medical/Healthcare

Eye-Com™ technology can integrate with communication, mobility, household, multimedia and physiological devices; providing greater control for patients and real time diagnostics for health care providers: 

Both the Eye-Com™ EC6 or EC7 provide hands-free control for electric wheelchairs users, as well the ability to integrate into common household appliances,  communication and multimedia devices.  The Eye-Com™ system is ergonomic, compact and easy to use!
Individuals with varying degrees of physical abilities can now more easily control the movement of their wheelchair, access the internet, and communicate using the Eye-Com™.
Health care providers will enjoy the ability to wirelessly gather diagnostic oculometrics in real time and through the EC6 and EC7's recording capabilities, capture vital patient data between office visits, correcting errors in diagnoses.

Dr. William C. Torch, Founder, CEO and Chairman

Board Certified in Neurology with Special Qualification in Child Neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Dr. Torch is currently the medical director of the Neurodevelopmental and Neurodiagnostic Center in Reno, Nevada, and former clinical director of the Northern Nevada Muscular Dystrophy Association. As a child and adult sleep specialist, he is also the founder and medical director of the AASM-accredited Washoe Sleep Disorders Centers.

As a neurologist and sleep specialist at the two Centers, Dr. Torch over the last 30+ years has treated thousands of patients with brain, spinal cord, neuromuscular, neuro-psychiatric and sleep disorders that afflict newborns, children and adults of all ages.
 
In 1970 he received both a Master of Science Degree in Neurochemistry, as well as his M.D. Degree with Distinction in Research from the University of Rochester, School of Medicine. From l970 through l979, he trained first as a pediatrician and child psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then as a child and adult neurologist at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York.
 
In 1972 he served two years as a Lt. Commander in the USPHS as a neurochemist and Research Associate in the Lab of Cerebral Metabolism at the NIH in Bethesda, Md. In l979 as Northern Nevada's first Child Neurologist, he joined the faculty of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. Dr. Torch was Northern Nevada’s first child neurologist and Director of Pediatric Neurology.
 
Dr. Torch has published and presented many articles in his field of Child and Adult Neurology including "We the Children—a Children’s Bill of Rights" and “An American Declaration of Children’s Rights”. He is a member of the American Child Neurology Society, the American Academy of Neurology and American College of Legal Medicine. He is also a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
He has also served as a member of the Aerospace Medical Association as well as a participant of the Nevada NASA Space Consortium and as an advisor on two U.S Army Oculometric and Systems Integration tea teams, a reviewer for the Journal, Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, and as a panel member of The NIH Center for Scientific Review.

November 19, 2009 "Advanced Medical Thermal Imaging" will be presented by Martin Stivers III along with his partner from Therma Diagnostics Ltd., Dr. Christopher J. Hussar, D.O. Medical thermal imaging is the use of highly sensitive infrared cameras in a temperature controlled environment to produce images of the human body without x-rays, pain or contact with a patient's skin.  Also known as digital infrared thermal imaging, this technology is used to measure temperature on the surface of the human body. A computer allows for capture, digitization and storage of the images. A medical specialist evaluates these images and generates a report which can be provided to the patient and the physician. Images will be archived for future comparison. Bio - Martin E. Stivers II Co-owner and co-founder of Therma Diagnostics, Ltd® along with his partner Dr, Christopher J. Hussar, D.O.  Certified in Thermography from the Certified Professional Thermography Association and from the Law Enforcement Thermographer's Association.  Founder of the Institute for Thermographic Studies. A certification and training company for medical and clinical thermal imaging. Using the ThermaDiagnostics System™ Martin is a majority partner in Thermal Imaging Consultants, LLC along with his daughter, granddaughter and Janis Agnew as shareholders.  A working medical imaging clinic in Sparks NV.  Martin has worked with law enforcement groups from across the country on the use of thermal imaging for forensic, officer safety and suspect apprehension.  Martin is a Post Certified Instructor for California Sheriff’s departments search & rescue units (SAR) in advanced technologies and optical devices for air and ground use.  Martin has trained with the SWAT units of Washoe County, Sparks Reno and UNR in IR assistance of terrorist apprehension in a hostile acts.  Martin has trained the police departments of Indio, CA and Pittsburg, CA 2004 Martin worked with and trained 200 combined law enforcement offices from a 5 state region in the plains states and with 12 federal agencies including the FBI, Federal Task Force on Gangs, Federal Task Force on Auto-Theft, Secret Service, ATF and DEA, U.S. Forestry Enforcement Agents, Parks Services Enforcement Agents and US. Military Police units in South Dakota, for the annual “Sturgis Bike Rally”, Sturgis, South Dakota.  Martin is a former (part-time) instructor for Western Nevada College (1991- 1997). Martin spends his free time as a volunteer for the CASA program with the Second Judicial Court, Washoe County Sheriff’s, Sheriff’s Mobile Axillary Response Team, Homeland Security Council, CERT and as a Sparks Police Department Citizen Volunteer.  Martin has lived in Sparks since 1986. http://www.thermadiagnostics.com/