June 2023 Mechanical Engineering Blog
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June 15, 2023
A.I. Brain Fluid Measuring Tech May Give Valuable Insight on Neurological Disorders
A.I. Brain Fluid Measuring Tech May Give Valuable Insight on Neurological Disorders
Changes in brain fluid flow are linked to traumatic brain injuries, Alzheimer’s, and small vessel disease. Knowing this fact a cross functional team developed a cutting edge A.I. based technology to measure fluid flow in the Brain. The team included mechanical engineers, neuroscientists, and computer scientists, all from the University of Rochester. Together they developed the first ever AI velocimetry measurement techniques that can measure brain fluid flow with great accuracy. The brain's fluid flow is an incredibly complex system in which the perivascular spaces among the brain's blood vessels transport a fluidlike substance throughout the brain that helps clear waste. The flow of these cerebral fluids are linked to various neurological conditions, however, measurement of their flow in a live state was not possible before the introduction of these novel techniques. Using animal model measurements and a new AI technique that integrates 2D data from past experiments with physics informed neural networks, the researchers were able to inject small particles into perivascular spaces and obtain a high resolution live feed of their 3D flow and movement. Learn more here.
June 30, 2023
Innovative Hydrogel is Able to Harvest Water From Air
Innovative Hydrogel is Able to Harvest Water From Air
A team of engineers at MIT developed a superabsorbent hydrogel material that is able to harvest water by absorbing moisture from air. This new material is an incredible discovery and could represent a real solution to droughts everywhere. The material is designed to swell up as it absorbs water vapor and it can collect moisture even in dry conditions of 30 percent relative humidity. The material is able to collect vapor without leaking, however, this raises an important question, how exactly is this possible? Hydrogels are known to be highly moisture absorbent, and they are even used in disposable diapers and other products because of their absorbent properties, but this does not explain everything. It turns out that the hydrogel developed at MIT is actually infused with lithium chloride a salt which supercharges the hydrogel's' moisture absorbing properties. A mechanical engineer on the team mentioned that the material is cost-effective and high performance, which raises it potential for several applications aside from water harvesting such as optimizing air conditioning. The hydrogel can apparently also be produced on a large scale. Learn more here.
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