Tag: Tomsk Polytechnic University

Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University have developed a nanosensor-based hardware and software complex for the measurement of cardiac micro potential energies without filtering and averaging out cardiac cycles in real time.

The device allows registering early abnormalities in the function of cardiac muscle cells, which otherwise can be recorded only during open-heart surgery or by inserting an electrode in a cardiac cavity through a vein. Such changes can lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Nowadays, there are no alternatives to the Tomsk device for a number of key characteristics in Russia and the world.

The research findings of four-year measurement of cardiac micropotential energies using this device and the participation of a volunteer are published in Measurement academic journal (IF: 3,364; Q1).

The heart permanently generates electrical signals. These electrical signals cause cardiac muscle contraction and help the heart to function as a pump. Based on the form and duration of these pulses, it is possible to assess the condition of the heart. The main method of detection of electrical pulses, that is used everywhere, is electrocardiography (ECG). Nevertheless, ECG modern devices detect already critical changes in the function of the myocardium, cardiac muscle.

“Therefore, there is much concern about the creation of devices for early detection of these disorders, when it is still possible to restore cell function using medication and without surgical intervention,” Diana Avdeeva, Head of the TPU Laboratory for Medical Engineering, a research supervisor of the project, explains.

“To implement this, it is required to record cardiac micro potential energies, electrical pulses emitted by separate cells. Here, there is a question of how to implement it noninvasive. Our research team have worked on this task for a long time, as a consequence, we jointly with the participation of our colleagues, doctors, have developed a hardware and software complex,” she continues.

“The core principles of its operation are similar to ECG, however, we changed sensors: we made nanosensors instead of conventional sensors and managed to measure signals of nanovoltage and micro voltage layers without filtering and averaging out in broadband. The use of nanosensors led to the necessity to apply original circuit solutions, write individual software, Ultimately, we gained a tremendous difference in sensitivity,” Diana adds.

The complex consists of a set of sensors, a tiny key device for recording incoming signals from sensors and software for data processing. The sensors are fixed on a human’s chest using a conventional conducting gel. The monitoring procedure takes about 20 minutes.

Conventional ECG machines operate on frequencies from 0,05 Hz to 150 Hz, while the device of the Tomsk scientists operates on frequencies to 10,000 Hz.

Silver chloride electrodes are usually used for recording ECG of high quality. Our sensors are also silver chloride electrodes, however, we used silver nanoparticles. There are up to 16 thin plates from porous ceramics in every our sensor, silver nanoparticles are placed in these pores. There are millions of particles in one sensor, where every particle is a silver chloride electrode capable to enhance an electric field of the heart. Silver and gold nanoparticles are capable to enhance an electromagnetic field: visible light by 10,000 folds and infrared radiation by 20 folds. We also refused to use filters for rejection network interference and noises, which are usually used in conventional ECG and significantly distort micropotentials,” Diana Avdeeva says.

The published article represents the monitoring data of one volunteer’s heart function. He took part in research for four years and was monitored every 7-10 days.

“At the beginning of our research, we recorded clear violations of activity of cardiac muscle cells. His attending physician recommended surgery, he gained an inserted stent at the Cardiology Research Institute. Then, he continued to take part in the research and the device recorded the further gradual restoration of cardiac function,” the scientist notes.

Previously, the project received sponsorship of the Technology Platform “Medicine of the Future” and the federal targeted program. The complex was created in partnership with experts of the Cardiology Research Institute of the Tomsk National Research Medical Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The industrial partner was the Scientific Production Association Ekran, a Moscow enterprise.

“A task to create a sensitive, tiny and affordable complex was set up, in order in a long run, outpatient clinics and patients at home could use it. Moreover, the developed methods and devices can be used not only in cardiology.

The fields of any electrophysiological research, such as electroencephalography, electromyography and so on are promising. Of course, before applying it to cardiology, we have to pass some essential stages. These are the collection of the required array of statistics, certification of the complex for medical use. All these stages require sponsorship, we are engaged in searching for partners and supporting programs,” Mikhail Yuzhakov, Engineer of the TPU Laboratory for Medical Engineering, a participant of the research team, says.

The TPU IRT-T Nuclear Research Reactor has extended an operation license for another 10 years.

“License acquisition from the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision (Rostechnadzor), a supervisory body, is always a very complicated process, especially when it refers to such a long-term period. We submitted the document set proving installation safety for approval in 2019. After that, the Federal Service for Environmental, Technological and Nuclear Supervision commissioned a formal safety assessment that was conducted by the expert organization. These works lasted about nine months. As a result, we received expert findings including all remarks and recommendations. Ultimately, we acquired a license,” Artem Naymushin, Head of the TPU Nuclear Research Reactor, says specifying that an operation license was initiated by the order of TPU Rector Andrey Yakovlev.

“We are deeply thankful to the entire team of the Reactor taking an active part in all the stages of license acquisition. At the moment, having acquired a license, we will keep improving our work.”

He adds that expert findings include a lot of aspects related to compliance with the requirements of physical protection, nuclear and radiation safety, staff and population protection, and others. Moreover, the Reactor staff prepares annual reports on the condition of the unique research installation for the supervisory body.

The TPU Nuclear Research Reactor is the one operating university reactor in Russia. The regular remanufacturing operations were completed within the Federal Targeted Program for Research and Development in the last year.

The project provided the renewal of the research complex and expansion of functional capabilities through the inclusion of the unique set of global user stations: an experimental automated complex for doping semiconductor materials, a multipurpose complex for irradiation of target samples on extracted neutron fluxes, a gamma-ray laser, an installation for research of interaction of nuclear materials with active gases, a digital spectrometric complex for positron annihilation spectroscopy, a complex for the production of industrial and medical isotopes, a complex for the production of radiopharmaceuticals.

The IRT-T Nuclear Research Reactor is aimed at research neutrons, neutron radiation, objects of the microcosm, conducting fundamental and applied research at the forefront of science. It helps to create new materials and technology in the energy industry, to develop promising medication and technology of nuclear medicine.

Scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University have discovered that fusible wheat bran combined with additives can be used as fuel. It could help to reduce greenhouse gases and the number of landfills, as well as to optimize the creation of mixtures for the efficient energy use of biomass. The research findings are published in the Fuel academic journal.

According to TPU scientists, various types of biomass, such as agricultural waste, have been increasingly used as fuel in recent years. They conducted a research where they examined wheat bran from one of the flour mills in the Siberian region of Russia.

The researchers discovered that bran is a fusible fuel. The mineral part of wheat bran is already sintered at a temperature above 675°С, which is much lower than the temperature in the boiler. During combustion, the biomass under investigation forms a glasslike deposit of slag ash, removing that it is possible to damage the heating surface. As a result, it will reduce the heat transfer, reliability of operation and boiler output.

According to scientists, wheat bran contains a lot of potassium. It strongly influences the melting point of the mass and the formation of a glasslike deposit. To investigate the mineral content of wheat bran in more detail, the wheat bran was divided into fractions of different densities by sedimentation (the settling of particles in a liquid or gas under the action of a gravitational field or centrifugal force). The scientists obtained four fractions, two of which form a crumbly mass when combusted.

“Having studied the mineral composition of the obtained fractions, we found that the key factor influencing the sintering of bran ash is the ratio of calcium to high potassium content. To confirm it, we conducted experiments by adding calcium carbonate to the bran, which resulted in crumbly and powderlike ash residue. It evidences that the combustion of this mixture results in the cleaning of heating surfaces without much difficulty,” Kanipa Ibraeva, Engineer of the TPU Butakov Research Centre, told Sputnik news agency.

There are several approaches to prevent the sintering of ash during biomass combustion, the researchers noted. They mainly include the addition of additives that can raise the melting temperature.

“To select an additive with active chemical composition and an economically attractive cost is quite difficult. We believe that combustion of fusible biomass with the addition of calcium carbonate will reduce operating costs,” Ibraeva commented.

Moreover, the experts claim that fuel from various types of biomass will allow reducing greenhouse gases from combustion, as well as will reduce the number of landfills and recycle industrial waste.

The research team is currently planning to conduct comprehensive research of the mineral part of the biomass and examine the effects of volatile ash compounds on accelerated corrosion of the metal surfaces of power plants.

The I International Conference “Scientific Initiative of International Students and Postgraduates” was held at Tomsk Polytechnic University. This year, the Conference is coincided with the 125th anniversary of TPU and supported by the Association of Leading Universities of Russia.

Denis Chaykovsky, Director of the TPU School of Core Engineering Education, Evgenia Sherina, Head of the TPU Division for Russian Language, Adu Yao Nikez, President of the Association of International Students addressed the participants with a welcoming speech. Lisa Soon, PhD, Senior Lecturer of the University of Queensland (Australia) gave the plenary presentation “Technology as an Enabler for Online and Offline Education”.

Over 280 international students from 65 countries signed up for participation in the Conference. The participants are citizens of 49 countries: Russia, Mongolia, China, Indonesia, Egypt, Italy, Poland, Columbia, Sudan and others,” Evgenia Sherina, Head of the TPU Division for the Russian Language, says.

The main feature of the Conference is that only international attendees, students, master’s degree students and postgraduates are taking part. Moreover, they are presenting their articles and reports in Russian discussing modern research topics, as well as problems of study at Russian universities.

Among the Conference participants, there are students studying at Tomsk Polytechnic University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, St Petersburg University, Far Eastern Federal University, Ural Federal University, Kazan National Research Technological University, RUDN University, Renmin University of China and Jilin University.

“The topics discussed at the Conference reflect the interests of young scientists on modern and fast-developing fields of science, including ecology, food industry, agriculture, 3D modelling and others. Furthermore, most of the reports are the description of fundamental research works, the results of which can both contribute to the further development of sciences and have practical application. Most of the reports are based on evaluation of results of graduation theses and dissertations,” the representatives of the TPU Division for Russian note.

The work of the Conference was arranged in sessions: Engineering Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, Natural Sciences (including Medical and Biological Sciences) and others.

Within the Conference, on April 29,  the All-Russian Round Table “Multicultural Digital Environment: Challenges, Risks and Prospects” was also held.

Tomsk Polytechnic University became the first Russian university to join the Rhisotope Project, an international innovative project. The title of the project consists of the two words “rhino” and “isotope”. The project aims to fight against the extermination of rhinos.

A unique research initiative gathered together participants from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (South Africa), the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (Australia), Colorado State University (the USA) and the Rosatom State Corporation, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Scientific Technological Center for Nuclear and Physical Research (Russia).

Within the project, it is supposed to label the animals using isotopic marks on rhino horns. The researchers expect that it will help to reduce the demand for rhino horns and will be useful for the detection of smuggling. The experts are certain that due to over 10,000 devices for detecting radiation set up in the border checkpoints, transportation of rhino horns will be nearly impossible.

“TPU represents the Russian academic community in this multinational and interdisciplinary project. It aims to implement one of the pioneering tasks on the peaceful use of nuclear and radiation technologies in different areas of human activity. TPU jointly with the Rosatom State Corporation has already implemented a number of such projects, for instance, on nuclear medicine, radioecology,” Vera Verkhoturova, Deputy Director of the TPU School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, Head of International Nuclear Education Programs, says.

“As our university possesses successful practical experience in the peaceful use of radiation technologies, we were invited to join this project.”

The first stage of the project has already started. There was injected 13C (carbon) and 15N (nitrogen), a trace amount of stable isotopes in the horns of two rhinos. During the next three months, the scientists and veterinarians will be watching how isotopes function inside of the horn.

During the second stage, the research committee, including all the project participants, must confirm based on the results of analyses that the isotope does not move inside the rhino body and not harm it. Then, using a supercomputer and 3D printer there will be conducted moderation that will help to determine an appropriate isotope and its amount. It is planned to inject a radioactive isotope into the rhino horn. Rosatom is intending to become a supplier of radioisotopes at the final stage.

“Stable isotopes bringing no harm to biological objects are used at the first stage. In fact, these are isotopes, which are used in nuclear medicine for treatment or diagnosis. The committee findings on the analysis results of the rhinos will help to understand what isotope must be injected to exclude even minimal negative consequences for an animal and the environment in general,” Vera explains.

“As TPU possesses experience of radioisotope used in nuclear medicine, we can select the required isotopes, produce and research them for this project at our Nuclear Research Reactor, simulate its impact on an animal organism, as well as calculate a radioisotope amount and determine an inject point in the order it will be maximally accumulated in the rhino horn,” Vera continues.

Ilya Rogachev, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Republic of South Africa and Ryan Collyer, Chief Executive Officer of the Rosatom Central and Southern Africa regional representative office took part in the ceremonial launch of the project.

“The year of 2021 is announced the Year of Science and Technology in Russia. Research projects, initiatives and innovative programs are paid a lot of attention. What can be more international and interosculant than science? The academic community must go beyond the borders, time zones and continents, if we want to save our common house and solve ecological problems. We are pleased that this project will enrich the list of successful initiatives of South Africa and Russia,” Ilya Rogachev said.

In his turn, Ryan Collyer added that the project participants believe that science and especially nuclear science will play a fundamental role not only in rhino protection but also in planet protection in general.

Tomsk Polytechnic University has become the first among Russian universities to own a robotic system from a domestic manufacturer Promobot. The system includes Promobot V.4, a service robot and Promobot Robox, a specialty of the manufacturer representing 10 educational systems. Promobot representatives note that it is the first procurement of this system in Russia.

The new robot and educational systems have already been delivered at the university. It is planned that the new robotic systems will be used at the TPU Division for Automation and Robotics already in the next study year.

“Promobot V.4 is a good example of a domestic robotic product that is successfully used in different countries. The new robot and building kits will be used in the educational process of students of all years of study depending on a task. Students, studying mechatronics, automation and metrology will use the robotic system,” Andrey Yakovlev, Acting Rector of TPU, says.

“They will practically learn robotics programming, sensors, aspects of using robots indoors and interaction of a robot with a human, as well as general concepts and principles related to complex technical systems.”

Promobot V.4 robot is a service robot of the company’s latest model aimed at operating in mass gathering places. The robot can do the functions of a shop assistant, administrator, guide or airport worker. Arrays of Promobot Robox include such robot components as an interface board, a distance sensor, a servomotor and software. All the components included in Promobot Robox are components of a real robot used in 40 countries and are not toy or virtual models. Students will complete laboratory works using them.

“It may seem obvious, but it is important to learn robotics using real robots. We offer students a unique case: a Russian robot, exact copies of that is currently operating all over the world from the USA to Australia. Any successful solution may come from a university laboratory to our developers and then can be used in a robot, for instance, in an American airport,” Oleg Kivokurtsev, Chief Business Development Officer, comments.

It must be added that the TPU Division for Automation and Robotics includes the Research Laboratory for Industrial Robotics, one of the largest laboratories in Russia equipped with KUKA manipulators.

Students of three TPU schools: the School of Computer Science and Robotics, the School of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and the School of Non-Destructive Testing are trained in this laboratory. Students of the TPU Division of Automation and Robotics also learn robotics and mechatronics using Festo Robotino, KUKA youBot and develop their own robots.

Young scientists of Tomsk Polytechnic University as a part of the team of Arctic researchers have studied pore waters in three areas of methane release on the surface. They first managed to define in details the composition of pore waters in the cold methane seeps of the Eastern Arctic seas. The research findings are published in the Water academic journal.

The research was based on the samples obtained during the Arctic expedition aboard the research vessel “Akademik Mstislav Keldysh” in 2019. The scientists and students from 12 scientific institutions, including Tomsk Polytechnic University, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Research Center of Biotechnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Vernadsky Institute of Geochemistry and Analytical Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and others took part in the expedition arranged by the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences jointly with the Ilichev Pacific Oceanological Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The TPU researchers completed a number of research tasks, including the study of conditions of sediments and pore waters. The pore waters are noteworthy due to their reflection of the composition of seawater and the composition of sediments. Researching the samples of pore waters from the point of view of geochemical, biochemical and hydrochemical data, it is possible to reconstruct processes occurring in the waters and sediments, as well as to forecast the development of the situation.

“During the expedition, we focused on the methane yield areas and the changes of hydrochemical properties in these areas. In total, there were six test cores and 42 samples of pore waters collected at depths of 22 to 68 m. The main focus was on the methane yield areas on the surface. Thuswise, three areas with their features were studied: the Lena River Delta, the continental margin of the Laptev Sea and the central part of the East Siberian Sea. In fact, we compared three cold methane seeps together. Moreover, the samples were collected in the sampling points in the immediate vicinity of methane release on the surface,” Yulia Moiseeva, Research Fellow of the TPU Division for Geology, one of the authors of the article, says.

To collect the samples, the scientists used special filters and vacuum test tubes to exclude oxygen and obtain valid results. A part of the analyses was conducted aboard. For instance, rapidly changing indicators, i.e. biogenous elements such as nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, ammonia and total alkalinity were researched. A more detailed study of the samples was continued in the TPU laboratories.

“Having come back from the expedition, we studied the macro-and microcomponent composition of pore waters that was conducted in the accredited TPU Research Laboratory for Hydrogeochemistry using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The data on 66 elements for every sample were obtained, it allowed us to define geochemical indicators of the presence of cold methane seep: in this context, what elements can be in higher or lower concentrations in comparison with background concentrations,” Darya Purgina, Research Fellow of the TPU Division for Geology, explains.

The scientists managed to define the regional features of the Eastern Arctic seas, including the features of the methane yield areas. For instance, the stations located in the East Siberian Sea are characterized by the high concentration of Mn, Al, Si, P, Fe, Cu, Ba in comparison with the stations in the Laptev Sea, where there was the high concentration of Li, B, V, Br, U and the low concentration of I, Mn.

In general, the concentration of V, Th, P, Al is increased in the methane yield areas, while the concentration of Co, Fe, Mn, U, Mo, Cu is decreased.

“Thus, we first defined a number of elements that can be used as indicators of methane yield. The research is still ongoing to confirm the results. The extended data have already been obtained on the results of the 2020 Arctic expedition. The materials are currently being processed, however, it is already possible to say that the part of the new data confirms the previously obtained results. Furthermore, the extended data will allow reconstructing processes more detailed, which occur in the methane yield areas. The uniqueness of the obtained data lies in the application of modern sampling methods, which allow minimizing failures, as well as obtaining a wide array of elements with high accuracy. The pore waters in the methane yield areas of the Eastern Arctic have not been studied so detailed and comprehensive yet,” the scientists sum up.

The research was conducted with the support of the TPU Competitiveness Enhancement Program.