956 research outputs found

    The FAST-AIMS Clinical Mass Spectrometry Analysis System

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    Within clinical proteomics, mass spectrometry analysis of biological samples is emerging as an important high-throughput technology, capable of producing powerful diagnostic and prognostic models and identifying important disease biomarkers. As interest in this area grows, and the number of such proteomics datasets continues to increase, the need has developed for efficient, comprehensive, reproducible methods of mass spectrometry data analysis by both experts and nonexperts. We have designed and implemented a stand-alone software system, FAST-AIMS, which seeks to meet this need through automation of data preprocessing, feature selection, classification model generation, and performance estimation. FAST-AIMS is an efficient and user-friendly stand-alone software for predictive analysis of mass spectrometry data. The present resource review paper will describe the features and use of the FAST-AIMS system. The system is freely available for download for noncommercial use

    Method and System for Identification of Metabolites Using Mass Spectra

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    A method and system is provided for mass spectrometry for identification of a specific elemental formula for an unknown compound which includes but is not limited to a metabolite. The method includes calculating a natural abundance probability (NAP) of a given isotopologue for isotopes of non-labelling elements of an unknown compound. Molecular fragments for a subset of isotopes identified using the NAP are created and sorted into a requisite cache data structure to be subsequently searched. Peaks from raw spectrum data from mass spectrometry for an unknown compound. Sample-specific peaks of the unknown com- pound from various spectral artifacts in ultra-high resolution Fourier transform mass spectra are separated. A set of possible isotope-resolved molecular formula (IMF) are created by iteratively searching the molecular fragment caches and combining with additional isotopes and then statistically filtering the results based on NAP and mass-to-charge (m/2) matching probabilities. An unknown compound is identified and its corresponding elemental molecular formula (EMF) from statistically-significant caches of isotopologues with compatible IMFs

    Controlled Ecological Life Support System. First Principal Investigators Meeting

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    Control problems in autonomous life support systems, CELSS candidate species, maximum grain yield, plant growth, waste management, air pollution, and mineral separation are discussed

    Southwest Research Institute assistance to NASA in biomedical areas of the technology

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    Significant applications of aerospace technology were achieved. These applications include: a miniaturized, noninvasive system to telemeter electrocardiographic signals of heart transplant patients during their recuperative period as graded situations are introduced; and economical vital signs monitor for use in nursing homes and rehabilitation hospitals to indicate the onset of respiratory arrest; an implantable telemetry system to indicate the onset of the rejection phenomenon in animals undergoing cardiac transplants; an exceptionally accurate current proportional temperature controller for pollution studies; an automatic, atraumatic blood pressure measurement device; materials for protecting burned areas in contact with joint bender splints; a detector to signal the passage of animals by a given point during ecology studies; and special cushioning for use with below-knee amputees to protect the integrity of the skin at the stump/prosthesis interface

    Challenges in the Analysis of Mass-Throughput Data: A Technical Commentary from the Statistical Machine Learning Perspective

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    Sound data analysis is critical to the success of modern molecular medicine research that involves collection and interpretation of mass-throughput data. The novel nature and high-dimensionality in such datasets pose a series of nontrivial data analysis problems. This technical commentary discusses the problems of over-fitting, error estimation, curse of dimensionality, causal versus predictive modeling, integration of heterogeneous types of data, and lack of standard protocols for data analysis. We attempt to shed light on the nature and causes of these problems and to outline viable methodological approaches to overcome them

    Instrument technology for remote-surface exploration, prospecting and assaying, part 2

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    The capability to specify new instrument/mechanism technology needs, for effective remote surface exploration, prospecting and assaying (EPA), requires first, an understanding of the functions or major elements of such a task, and second an understanding of the scientific instruments and support mechanisms that may be involved. An analog or task model was developed from which the various functions, operational procedures, scientific instruments, and support mechanisms for an automated mission could be derived. The task model led to the definition of nine major functions or categories of discrete operational elements that may have to be accomplished on a mission of this type. Each major function may stand alone as an element of an EPA mission, but more probably a major function will require the support of other functions, so they are inter-related

    APPLICATION OF SINGLE BOARD COMPUTERS AND SENSORS TO AUTOMATE ANALYTICAL METHODS AND MINIATURIZE THE ANALYTICAL DEVICES

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    In this dissertation, a low cost liquid delivery system and an automated titration system have been developed using a Raspberry Pi single board computer, 3D printing, and commercial-off-the-shelf components. In addition, an on-line single point internal calibration method has been developed for haloacetic acid rapid-response (HAA-RR) system, a commercial analyzer for analysis of nine haloacetic acids (HAA9) in drinking water.The low cost liquid delivery system, the EZ-AutoPipet, was developed to deliver microliter volumes accurately and reproducibly. The EZ-AutoPipet produced excellent results regardless of analyst experience and performed better than traditional and commercial dosing devices at lower volumes. Several validation studies have been performed to establish the accuracy and precision of liquid delivery. The hardness and alkalinity titrations were performed using the EZ-AutoPipet to verify the feasibility of using it as automated buret.The automated titration system was adapted from the EZ-AutoPipet and further developed into the EZ-AutoTitrator. It is a semi-automated system capable of performing potentiometric (pH-based) and spectrochemical titrations, pH and temperature measurements. The standard titration methods for alkalinity (pH titration) and total hardness (spectrochemical titration) have been adapted to the EZ-AutoTitrator. The alkalinity and hardness methods were validated and tested at two different water treatment plants. The EZ-AutoTitrator had good accuracy and precision for both titration methods. The preliminary testing of iodometric titration for determination of free available chlorine (FAC) in bleach samples has been performed.An on-line single point internal calibration for the HAA-RR system was developed and tested. The internal calibration addressed issues with external calibration by injecting the internal standard (2-Bromobutanoic acid) and haloacetic acid sample sequentially using a ten-port injection valve and two vial autosampler. The HAA-RR system was completely automated and can analyze the drinking water samples for a week without operator interaction. This work eliminated the errors associated with sample preparation and manual addition of the internal standard. The robustness studies showed that the internal calibration compensates for changes in response due to changes in system

    The 1973 NASA payload model: Space opportunities 1973 - 1991

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    The tables of schedules and descriptions which portray the 1973 NASA Payload Model are presented. The schedules cover all NASA programs and the anticipated requirements of the user community, not including the Department of Defense, for the 1973 to 1991 period. The descriptions give an indication of what the payload is expected to accomplish, its characteristics, and where it is going. The payload flight schedules shown for each of the discipline areas indicate the time frame in which individual payloads will be launched, serviced, or retrieved. These do not necessarily constitute shuttle flights, however, since more than one payload can be flown on a single shuttle flight depending on size, weight, orbital destination, and the suitability of combining them. The weight, dimension, and destination data represent approximations of the payload characteristics as estimated by the Program Offices. Payload codes are provided for easy correlation between the schedules and descriptions of the Payload Model and subsequent documentation which may reference this model

    Laboratory Directed Research and Development FY-10 Annual Report

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