Instrumentation Capabilities at Biola

Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy is another industry workhorse in the chemical sciences. Like its UV-Visible counterpart, it is used for both qualitative and quantitative analysis, and is another common absorption spectroscopy tool. The wavelength range of our two instruments is from 600 cm-1 - 4000 cm-1, which excites vibrational motion in a variety of functional groups within our molecules of interest. IR spectroscopy features prominently in organic chemistry, because it is used to provide information about the functional groups that are present in our samples for chemical identification. Students will use this instrument in Organic Chemistry Lab, CHEM 311 and CHEM 312.

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a mass spectrometry technique for the purpose of elemental analysis. It features an inductively coupled plasma, which ionizes the sample. ICP-MS is commonly used for the identification and quantification of metals, and sometimes non-metals, in liquid samples, even at very low concentrations. The mass spectrometer gives the instrument the ability to distinguish between chemical isotopes. The ICP-MS is commonly used in water quality, food science, and the semiconductor industry. The instrument is part of Analytical Chemistry, CHEM 350, but can also be used in directed research projects.

High-Performance Liquid-Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) is an analytical tool that can be used to separate and identify chemical compounds within chemical mixtures. Typically, a liquid sample mixture is separated by passing the mixture through a chromatography column using a mixed aqueous-organic solvent. Compounds are separated based on their affinity for the stationary phase (on the chromatography column), with higher-affinity molecules showing up at later times on the chromatogram. The HPLC is equipped with two detectors: a photo-diode array detector (PDA, for UV spectroscopy), and quadrupole mass spectrometer (QDa). The HPLC-MS is found commonly in all chemical industries, including food sciences and pharmaceutical sciences. Students will use this technique in Organic Chemistry Lab (CHEM 311 and CHEM 312), as well as Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 350) and directed research.

Gas chromatography (GC) is an analytical tool that can be used to separate and identify chemical compounds within chemical mixtures. Typically, a liquid sample mixture (of volatile compounds) is separated by passing the mixture through a chromatography column using a carrier gas (typically N2 or He). The GC is equipped with a flame ionization detector (FID). The GC is found in all chemical industries, but has historically been very prominent in the oil and gas industry. Students will use this technique in Organic Chemistry Lab (CHEM 311 and CHEM 312), as well as Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 350) and directed research.

Nursing Anne is a manikin designed for scenario-based training in the care and management of a wide variety of in-hospital patients. Nursing Anne is an efficient, effective, flexible manikin for clinical training in women's health, obstetrics, post-partum, wound assessment and care and general patient assessment and care. Its head has anatomical landmarks, trachea and esophagus, along with simulated lungs and stomach allowing the practice of many procedures, including Nasogastric and Orogastric tubing, trachea care, and suctioning. These high-fidelity manikins also have the capability of exhibiting normal and abnormal heartbeats, breath, bowel sounds, and fetal heart tones for auscultation. Students will use these manikins in our Nursing Skills Lab throughout the program in every clinical course.

Nursing Kid is a representation of a six-year-old child. It is designed for skill and scenario-based training in the care and management of a variety of pediatric patients. Our students get ideal training of common and uncommon in-hospital pediatric patients including wound assessment and care, first aid, and child abuse training. Students will use these manikins in our Nursing Skills Labs, NURS 357.

Our Alaris IV pump modules are connected to tubes and bags of medicine or other fluids. The modules work together with the Point of Contact Unit to perform a variety of functions like continuously or intermittently delivers fluids, medications, blood and blood products to adult, pediatric or neonatal patients. Students will use the UV Pumps in our Nursing Skills Labs in all clinical courses throughout the program.

The Nursing Anne Simulator is a lifelike simulator that is used to demonstrate what Speech-Language Pathiologists (SLPs) would do with a patient in the medical setting, such as conducting an instrumental FEES exam (endoscopy). When powered on, the simulator breathes, blinks, imitates human-like movements, and also has pre-recorded live vocal sounds to better simulate a realistic patient. Professors first demonstrate how to conduct the specific simulation on the simulator and students will be given an opportunity to practice under supervision. Students will use this instrument for labs in CODS 432 Dysphagia and MSLP 537 Advanced Dysphagia.

Using the Nursing Anne Simulator, students will learn and practice how to use a flexible endoscope to assess swallowing and voice abilities. An endoscopy is a procedure done to visually examine what happens in your mouth and throat during swallowing and vocalizing. The endoscope is a long, flexible tube that has a tiny camera at the end to visualize the area for an etiology–it connects to a computer and video monitor for visualization. This exam is often recorded so that the SLP can watch it again later. Having an endoscopy done allows the SLPs to visualize if food goes into your airway instead of the patient’s stomach, what parts of the patient’s mouth and throat are not functioning properly, what kinds of foods are safest for the patient to swallow, and what positions or strategies can help the patient swallow better. It also allows the clinician to see how the vocal cords are functioning during speaking. Students will use this instrument for labs in CODS 432 Dysphagia, CODS 444 Voice Disorders, MSLP 537 Advanced Dysphagia, and MSLP 542 Advanced Voice Disorders

Voice SonaSpeech is a software that is used in therapy to measure the sound waves for voice, articulation, fluency and motor speech patients. This software presents real-time visual feedback displays, games and graphic rewards to motivate children in therapy, seven separate modules for assessment and treatment for communication disorders patients, and quantitative measurements to track client progress. After being given a detailed instruction on how to work this software, students may be asked to demonstrate its use on themselves or with a peer under supervision. Students will use this instrument in CODS 444 Voice Disorders and MSLP 542 Advanced Voice Disorders.

Audiometers are instruments that are used to test one’s ability to hear sounds. Using an audiometer, professors and students can perform a pure tone testing. For this test, earphones are attached to the audiometer and if properly trained, pure tones of a specific frequency and volume are delivered to one ear at a time. When the testing is done, it will either yield a pass or fail result. Under supervision and with guidance from our professors, students will be using an audiometer to test the hearing of peers and others to build up their clinical repertoire. Students will use this instrument for labs in CODS 425 Introduction to Audiology, CODS 424 Aural Rehabilitation, CODS 429 Clinical Practicum, CODS 441 Diagnostic Methods, MSLP 601 Diagnostic Team, and MSLP 547 Audiology and Aural Rehabilitation for SLPs.

The ultrasound instrument is used in therapy for clients with speech sound errors. Ultrasound biofeedback can provide these clients with additional knowledge about their tongue movement and placement when producing different sounds. This instrument has its own software that is accessed when connected to a computer. Real-time tongue movements can be viewed when the transducer is held underneath our chin. Students can use this instrument for labs in CODS 439 Speech Sound Disorders and MSLP 536 Advanced Speech Sound Disorders.

In our soundproof audiological suite is a clinical audiometer. Similar to our portable audiometers in the speech lab, professors and students can test a patient’s hearing. In addition to pure tone testing, this audiometer can help differentiate if hearing loss is happening in the outer ear or inner ear. Under supervision and with guidance from our professors, students will be using an audiometer to test the hearing of peers and patients. Students will use this instrument for labs and clinical practice in CODS 425 Introduction to Audiology, CODS 424 Aural Rehabilitation, CODS 429 Clinical Practicum, CODS 441 Diagnostic Methods, MSLP 601 Diagnostic Team, and MSLP 547 Audiology & Aural Rehabilitation for SLPs.

The NovoCyte Flow Cytometer is a high-performance benchtop flow cytometer that allows for complex cell analysis. Flow cytometry is a technology that provides rapid analysis of single cells in solution for multiple parameters (such as cell size, granularity, and fluorescence) by utilizing lasers as light sources to produce both scattered and fluorescent light signals that are read by detectors. This flow cytometer can detect many parameters with enhanced sensitivity and resolution and analyze samples in single tubes, multi-tube racks, or 24-, 48-, or 96-well plates. Students may use this instrument in the BIOS 450 Directed Research course.

The S3e Cell Sorter is a sophisticated automated cell sorter that is equipped with three lasers and four fluorescence detectors plus forward and side-scatter detectors that sorts cells fast while maintaining high sort purity, recovery and yield. In addition it is able to sort two different defined population of cells at the same time. This equipment is used in our molecular biology research.

The Olympus FLUOVIEW FV3000 confocal laser microscope features high-resolution optical imaging, depth sensitivity, and speed. The word confocal refers to an image collected from the focal plane only and laser scanning means that laser excitation was used to acquire the images. Whereas a conventional microscope allows you to see as far as the light can penetrate, confocal microscopes use a focused laser beam to scan small areas of the sample point-by-point to capture fine details. This powerful microscope allows us to see visual sections of the samples that can be constructed into a 3-D structure without having to physically section them, aiding the study of neurodevelopment in the zebrafish embryos (<1 mm) while they are undergoing development live. We are actively using this microscope in our BIOS 450 Directed Research course and primarily for undergraduate research to access dynamic cellular and molecular processes in live specimen, tissue sections, and in cell culture.

Cell culturing biosafety cabinets (BSCs) are used to create and maintain a clean work environment when working with tissues, cells, and other potentially infectious materials. Using BSCs protects not only the user, but also the materials and the environment. Air from the BSC passes through a high-efficiency particulate air filter before being exhausted to the environment, effectively trapping all known infectious agents (>99.97% of particles 0.3 µm in diameter). Students will use this equipment in directed research.

The Biola Organic Garden is a quarter-acre property on Biola’s main campus maintained by the Department of Biological Sciences. Ongoing projects include: seasonal vegetable beds, fruit tree and vineyard management, tilapia fish culture, aquaponic food production systems, chicken egg production and various composting systems. The garden is used as a part of several biology courses, and is also open to volunteers from all majors and departments. Biodiversity, sustainability and organic methods are emphasized.

The Ultimaker 3D Printers are used for rapid prototyping by students in Engineering Physics and Applied Physics majors. Students design 3D CAD models using software such as TinkerCAD, Fusion 360, SolidWorks, etc., and then import them and perform slicing with Ultimaker’s own software called Cura to prepare prints. The Ultimaker S3 3D Printers are dual extrusion machines that deliver massive performance in an efficiently small footprint. It is compatible with over 110 materials, including glass and carbon fiber composites. The S5 3D Printers allow bigger volume printing and are compatible with over 200 materials. Both models provide easy-to-use interfaces with touch screen and remote printing features.

Telescopes are an essential tool in astrophysics to gather light from stars, planets, galaxies, and nebulae for both qualitative study and quantitative analysis. The Lim telescope and dome are computer controlled, making observations reasonably routine. Although the light pollution in Los Angeles is significant, basic studies of stellar objects can be carried out using narrow-band light filters. The telescope is equipped with a Shelyak Instruments LISA spectroscope so we can analyze variable stars. Students may use these instruments in Astronomy, PHSC 110, directed research courses, and the Advanced Physics Lab, PHSC 480.

The NanoScience instrument is an atomic force microscope that uses interactions between a sharp tip with molecules on a surface to study surface structures at a nano-meter resolution. It has been used to study cell structures and is capable of working under both dry and wet conditions.

This NanoScience instrument uses quantum tunneling to study surface structures on conductors. Due to the sensitivity of the tunneling current to the potential barrier width, this microscope is capable of reading nanometer resolutions.