The development of the nervous system has so far, to a large extent, been considered in the context of biochemistry, molecular biology and genetics. However, there is growing evidence that many biological systems also integrate mechanical information when making decisions during differentiation, growth, proliferation, migration and general function. Based on recent findings, I hypothesize that ...

A variety of biochemical and biophysical cues have been investigated with the goal of promoting regenerative ability of peripheral nerves. Among those neurotrophic factors, topography, and electrical stimulation have been proposed to enhance nerve growth. This thesis explores optogenetic neural stimulation as a means to control neurite growth that promises greater cell-type specificity than com...

We investigate the control of the dynamics of a periodically kicked mechanical rotor in the presence of noise. It was recently shown that the system dynamics shows the characteristics of a complex multistable system. We demonstrate that it is possible to stabilize the system at a desired attracting state even in the presence of considerable noise level. As control strategy we use a recently dev...

to determine the optimum weed management method and plant population density on chickpea yield, a split plot experiment based on rcbd with four replications was carried out at the university of tehran research farm (located in karaj) during 2010-2011. the main factor consisted of nine treatments including: 1. trifluralin pre-plant, 2. pendimethalin pre-plant, 3. complete weeding, 4. imazethapyr...

Mechanical interaction of cells and their surroundings are prominent in mechanically active tissues such as cartilage. Chondrocytes regulate their growth, matrix synthesis, metabolism, and differentiation in response to mechanical loadings. Cells sense and respond to applied physical forces through mechanosensors such as integrin receptors. Herein, we examine the role of mechanical stimulation ...

In this paper we present a deenition of \connguration controllability" for mechanical systems whose Lagrangian is kinetic energy with respect to a Riemannian metric minus potential energy. A computable test for this new version of controllability is also derived. This condition involves a new object which we call the symmetric product. Of particular interest is a deenition of \equilibrium contr...

Pneumonia complicates the course of 50% of patients on mechanical ventilation, requiring three or more days of mechanical ventilation and potentially increasing the relative risk of mortality by 20-40%. The predominant potentially pathogenic micro-organisms are Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus (sensitive to methicillin in the previously healthy host), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (aero...

This paper presents the concept and architecture of a fatigue damage control system for mechanical structures. In contrast to the conventional cycle-based approach, fatigue damage is represented via non-linear differential equations with respect to time in the state-variable setting. This damage model is compatible with the dynamic model of the plant, i.e. the process under operation and contro...

We present a multilayer device which allows the control of Surface Plasmon (SP) propagation properties (propagation length and extension). A simple modification on an inner air gap thickness strongly affects SP propagation mode due to coupling with Parallel-Plate (PP) mode.