The collaborative BRAIN Initiative (BRAIN Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) was launched according to the aims of BRAIN Activity Map (BAM) on April, 2, 2013, with the main goal of mapping the activity of every neuron and cell in the human BRAIN. The BRAIN Initiative will be led in a synergistic activity by prominent scientific foundations and institutes in U.S.A, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the private sector. The ultimate goal of this initiative is “to accelerate the development and application of innovative technologies to construct a dynamic picture of BRAIN function that integrates neuronal and circuit activity over time and space”. Undoubtedly, through the BRAIN Initiative we can understand how the interplay of fluctuating patterns of electrical and chemical activity flowing within neural circuits creates our unique cognitive and behavioral capabilities. This attempt of the initiative is to follow an interdisciplinary approach and the development and creation of novel neurotechnologies and neuroimaging tools. The outcome will be generation of big data and a huge cybernetic platform which might be transformative for better diagnostic and therapeutics for millions worldwide who suffer from BRAIN disorders. The BRAIN Initiative has been linked to the successful Apollo Space and Human Genome Project.

The Sensitivity of Quantitative electroencephalogram (BRAIN Mapping) was Compared with Transient ischemic Attack (TIA) and computerized tomography (C.T. Scan) Finding. Twenty Patients were tested with Quantitative EEG (BRAIN Mapping) within 24h from the onset of neurological symptoms where as CT Scan was performed within 24h from the onset of attack. EEG was recorded from 16 electrodes placed upon the Scale to the international 10-20 system. Spectral analysis was carried out for each channel. Absolute and Relative power were calculated for Delta - Theta -Alpha and Beta frequency bands and such data were successively represented in color coded maps. The results indicated that EEG mapping showed focal abnormality in delta band in 17 of 20 cases.      

Background and purpose: Preeclampsia is a serious condition in pregnancy. Previous studies have shown that NT-pro BNP level is higher in preeclamptic patients than that in pregnant women with normal blood pressure. Severity of preeclampsia is one of the critical factors in managing patients، so، this study aimed at investigating the relationship between the level of NT-pro BNP and severity of preeclampsia. Materials and methods: In this descriptive study، three groups of pregnant women with normal blood pressure (n= 29)، non-severe preeclampsia (n= 30)، and severe preeclampsia (n=31) were included. Diagnostic criteria and classification of preeclampsia were based on the guideline for hypertension in pregnancy by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists، 2013. The level of NT-pro BNP was measured by ELISA. Data analysis was done applying t-test، fisher test، Kruskal Wallis، and Mann Whitney. Results: The levels of NT-pro BNP were 40± 26، 55± 33، and 74± 37 pg/ml in pregnant women with normal blood pressure، non-severe preeclampsia، and severe preeclampsia، respectively. Significant differences were found between the cases with normal blood pressure and those with severe preeclampsia in the level of NT-pro BNP (P= 0. 003). Conclusion: The level of NT-pro BNP in preeclamptic women was higher than that of the pregnant women with normal blood pressure which was correlated with the severity of preeclampsia too. It seems that the level of NT-pro BNP could be used to differentiate severe preeclampsia from non-severe cases.

In this Paper, implementation of BRAIN emotional learning intelligent controller (BELBIC) for real word applications is described. Intelligent controllers with learning and adaptively are replacing with classical control methods in various fields of industry. Emotional controllers are members of the broad class of intelligent controllers that are inspired from the emotional learning in human and some animals. BELBIC that is based on computational model of Amygdale (center of emotional learning in the BRAIN) is explained in this paper. Single input-single output BELBIC has some parameters. A good behavior of control system achieves with fine tuning of these parameters. Good results in simulations are obtained for BELBIC applied to several linear and non-linear plants. However, some considerations are necessary when a controller is applied to a real world system. In this paper an applicable method for computer control of a real world system that is purposeful for educational environments in Iran is proposed. This method is applied to speed control of DC servo motor using BELBIC and a PID controller. The DC servo motor and interface hardware are modeled and the whole system is simulated in order to finely tune the parameters of the controller. Experimental results show excellent results for BELBIC in comparison to a classic controller and also show that the proposed method is satisfying for computer control purposes.

Background: Culture media are often essential for diagnosis of metabolism and antigenic properties of leishmania promastigotes and laboratory studies. Fetal calf serum (FCS) has long been used as a supplement in leishmania culture media. There are many technical problems in FCS processing such as sterilization (especially viral contamination removal) and high cost. In this study growth stimulating effects of BRAIN heart infusion broth (BHIB) on L. major promastigotes culture was assessed. The possibility of FCS replacement with BHIB as an appropriate supplement in single phase media and also as an enhancer for mass culture of L. major promastigotes in biphasic media was also evaluated.Methods: n this study, "RPMI 1640" and "agar and blood agar" were used as single-phase and biphasic medium, respectively. They were supplemented with different concentrations of BHIB for leishmania promastigotes culture. RPMI 1640 containing 10% FCS was used as control medium. Biphasic medium containing normal saline was used to culture parasite promastigotes. The numbers of proliferated promastigotes were determined at definite time intervals and the average numbers of promastigotes in each media were compared with the control medium.Findings: The average number of L. major promastigotes in presence of BHIB 10% in RPMI 1640 was 22.7 × 106 /ml which was significantly higher compared to the controls (P=0.012). The average numbers of L. major promastigotes in the presence of BHIB 4% in agar and blood agar media were 275 × 106 /ml and 367 × 106 /ml, respectively. These numbers were also significantly higher compared to the control medium (P=0.025).Conclusion: These results indicated that different concentrations of BHIB have a promoting effect on the proliferation of L. major promastigotes. Therefore, BHIB may be an appropriate substitute for FCS in single-phase media and biphasic media for mass culture.

Tumor detection and isolation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a significant consideration, but when done manually by people, it is very time consuming and may not be accurate. Also, the appearance of the tumor tissue varies from patient to patient, and there are similarities between the tumor and the natural tissue of the BRAIN. In this paper, we have tried to provide an automated method for diagnosing and displaying BRAIN tumors in MRI images. Images of patients with glioblastoma were used after applying pre-processing and removing areas that have no useful information (such as eyes, scalp, etc.). We used a bounding box algorithm, to create a projection for to determining the initial range of the tumor in the next step, an artificial bee colony algorithm, to determine an initial point of the tumor area and then the Grow cut algorithm for, the exact boundary of the tumor area. Our method is automatic and extensively independent of the operator. comparison between results of 12 patients in our method with other similar methods indicate a high accuracy of the proposed method (about 98%) in comparison s.