Lymphatic Filariasis detection in microscopic images

In Africa, the propagation of parasites like the lymphatic filariasis is complicatingseriously the efforts of health professionals to cure certain diseases. Although there aremedicines capable to treat the lymphatic filariasis, this needs to be discovered firstly which isnot always an easy task having into account that in most countries affected by this disease it canonly be detected at night (nocturne). The lymphatic filariasis is then, a parasitical infectionwhich can originate changes or ruptures in the lymphatic system as well as an abnormal growthof certain areas of the body causing pain, incapacity and social stigma.Approximately 1.23 billion people in 58 countries from all over the world are threatenedby this disease which requires a preventive treatment to stop its propagation which makes iteven more important for the existence of a mechanism that is less costly and more agile in theanalysis of a blood smear to verify the existence of microfilariae (little worms that are producedby other adult worms while housed in the lymphatic system).The lymphatic filariasis is caused by an infection with nematodes ("roundworms") of theFilariodidea family in which three types are inserted: Wuchereria Bancroft, responsible for 90%of all cases; Brugia Malayi, responsible for almost every remaining; B.Timori also causing thedisease. All three have characteristics that can differentiate them which allow them to beidentified.The current identification process of the disease consists on the analysis of microfilariae ina blood smear with a blood sample through a microscope and its identification by the observer.Taking this into account, it is intended to develop image analysis and processingtechniques for the recognition and counting of the two principal types of filarial worms from athin blood smear, a smartphone and a portable microscope making the detection possiblewithout the need of a health professional and consequent automation of the process. To makethis possible an adapter smartphone-microscope can be used to obtain an image with themagnification of 40x3. The images can then be analyzed in a server or in the smartphone, if ithas enough processing for it. It is expected from this process that the need to resort to labs toprocess the blood smear gets fulfilled making the process more accessible and agile instead ofcostly and slow.For the detection of the parasites from the acquired images it is intended to implement,experiment and choose the more adequate operations. These comprise pre-processing operationswith the goal to enhance the acquired images and eliminate possible artifacts prevenient fromthe acquisition system. However, the principal operations should be those that allow theverification of existence or nonexistence, recognition and classification of the pretendedparasites. Processing and analysis techniques that are common in these processes are based inthe extraction of features (e.g. SIRF, SURF, and FLANN) template similarity, edge detectionand description of contours and recognition of statistical patterns.Once detected and recognized one or more parasites and its types should be defined andused a rule to declare the presence of the disease and its stage

Pasożyt i pasożytnictwo w wiktoriańskiej nauce i literaturze

Celem rozprawy Pasożyt i pasożytnictwo w wiktoriańskiej nauce i literaturze jest ukazanie, w jaki sposób nauka (rozumiana tu jako nauka biologiczna) i literatura (w rozumieniu prozy) okresu wiktoriańskiego wzajemnie na siebie wpływały. Te powiązania są analizowane na przykładzie pasożyta i pasożytnictwa, które to zjawiska rozpatrywane są na czterech płaszczyznach: biologicznej, ekologicznej, zwyczajowej i literackiej. Zawarte w rozprawie teksty literackie i naukowe traktowane są równorzędnie: jako fikcyjne i niefikcyjne opowieści (stories). Rozdział I ukazuje, jak zależności pomiędzy nauką a literaturą można interpretować za pomocą ekologicznych interakcji, od neutralizmu do mutualizmu, na przykładach dzieł kilku wiktoriańskich pisarzy (Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Karol Dickens, H. G. Wells) oraz naukowców (Karol Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace, George Lyell, Robert Chambers, E. Ray Lankester). Mutualizm jest tu wykorzystany do analizy analogii pomiędzy powieścią Miasteczko Middlemarch George Eliot a pismami G. H. Lewesa, w których pewne pojęcia używane przez jednego z autorów są pożyczane, adaptowane i zmieniane przez drugiego, by później pojawić się na nowo w twórczości pierwszego twórcy. Opierając się na idei mutualizmu naukowo-literackiego, Rozdział II ukazuje paradoksy związane z pasożytami, zaczynając od skomplikowanej etymologii samego słowa „pasożyt”. W pierwotnym greckim znaczeniu termin ten (parasitos) łączył w sobie znaczenia, które dziś pojawiają się na płaszczyźnie biologicznej, ekologicznej i zwyczajowej, co zaprezentowane jest w rozdziale na przykładach naukowych opisów różnych gatunków pasożytów oraz literackich postaci Chrześcijańskich Zwierząt Mięsożernych (Christian Carnivora) pojawiających się w Miasteczku Middlemarch, a także członków rodziny Dedlock i Harolda Skimpole’a z Samotni Karola Dickensa. Celem Rozdziałów III i IV jest zaprezentowanie dwóch historii pochodzenia pasożytów; jako wywodzących się z wnętrza ciała żywiciela oraz jako pochodzących z zewnątrz. W Rozdziale III ukazane są wczesne teorie europejskich naukowców (przede wszystkim teoria samorództwa) oraz popularne wierzenia ludzi spoza kręgów zachodnich, według których pasożyty generowane były wewnątrz swoich żywicieli i co za tym idzie, uznawane były albo za objawy braku wewnętrznej równowagi żywiciela, albo jako przyczyny tej nierównowagi. Koncepcji tej użyto w tym rozdziale do zinterpretowania dwóch powieści: miejska biedota z Dickensowskiej Samotni odczytana zostaje tu jako wytworzona z rozkładającej się materii londyńskich slumsów, natomiast panowie Bulstrode i Raffles z Miasteczka Middlemarch – jako przychodzący z zewnątrz obcy burzący równowagę lokalnej społeczności. Alternatywna teoria pochodzenia pasożytów jest tematem Rozdziału IV, który wprowadza pojęcie literatury infekcji – jako podgatunku literatury inwazji (invasion literature). Czerpiąc zarówno z bakteriologii jak i medycyny tropikalnej, literatura ta prezentuje wizje, w których wrażliwa tkanka imperium brytyjskiego zostaje zaatakowana przez zjadliwe, egzotyczne czynniki patogenne. Jako przykład literatury infekcji, której antagoniści interpretowani są jako nosiciel i patogen użyta jest tu powieść Znak czterech Arthura Conan Doyle’a. Innym przykładem literatury infekcji jest analizowana w Rozdziale V powieść Richarda Marsha Skarabeusz Izydy (The Beetle), która ukazuje atak pojedynczego, ale niezwykle wirulentnego, egipskiego najeźdźcy. Rozdział zawiera dwie opowieści o infekcji; jedną zgodną z dziewiętnastowiecznymi normami i stereotypami, i drugą kwestionującą te normy. W dalszej części rozdziału zawarte są przykłady na analogiczne zachowania, które przejawiają zarówno antagonista z powieści, jak i pasożyty obserwowane w naturze. Aby wyjaśnić te analogie, wprowadzono tu wywodzące się z nauk ewolucyjnych pojęcie konwergencji, tj. procesu, w którym odrębne gatunki biologiczne wykształcają analogiczne cechy funkcjonalne. Ostatni rozdział rozwija ideę konwergencji w literaturze i nauce na podstawie dwóch koncepcji wywodzących się z prozy wiktoriańskiej, które później odnajdują się w studiach parazytologicznych. Naukowa hipoteza Czerwonej Królowej odczytana jest jako nowa wersja idei, które pierwotnie znalazły się w Po drugiej stronie lustra Lewisa Carrolla, natomiast przykłady zawarte w teorii unikania pasożytów (Parasite Avoidance Theory) Valerie Curtis są odnajdywane w następujących wiktoriańskich powieściach: Samotni, Miasteczku Middlemarch, Znaku czterech i Skarabeuszu Izydy

Grain & Noise - Artists in Synthetic Biology Labs: Constructive Disturbances of Art in Science

The collaboration between scientists and artists in the form of Artist-in-Lab residencies may not only cause a productive disturbance for a day's work in the laboratory, but also reveal new ways of understanding. Research and science communication company Biofaction has brought together artists and synthetic biologists throughout Europe in a residence program that spans four truly cross-disciplinary collaborations. The contributors to this volume share their reflections of the dynamic frictions that occurred when their artistic and scientific worlds met. These stories, where chemistry labs, tobacco plants, genetically edited bacteria, and new-to-nature enzymes collide with music, photography, film, and visual arts, infuse the ongoing dialogue between art and sciences with grain, noise, and synergies

MEMS Technology for Biomedical Imaging Applications

Biomedical imaging is the key technique and process to create informative images of the human body or other organic structures for clinical purposes or medical science. Micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology has demonstrated enormous potential in biomedical imaging applications due to its outstanding advantages of, for instance, miniaturization, high speed, higher resolution, and convenience of batch fabrication. There are many advancements and breakthroughs developing in the academic community, and there are a few challenges raised accordingly upon the designs, structures, fabrication, integration, and applications of MEMS for all kinds of biomedical imaging. This Special Issue aims to collate and showcase research papers, short commutations, perspectives, and insightful review articles from esteemed colleagues that demonstrate: (1) original works on the topic of MEMS components or devices based on various kinds of mechanisms for biomedical imaging; and (2) new developments and potentials of applying MEMS technology of any kind in biomedical imaging. The objective of this special session is to provide insightful information regarding the technological advancements for the researchers in the community

Melvillean Parasites

Melvillean Parasites addresses an aspect of Herman Melville’s authorship largely overlooked by previous scholars: the abundance of narrators and characters in his writings in search of food—an aim they typically pursue through sponging off the people they encounter. Deploying the conceptual figure of the parasite as its primary analytical tool, the book interprets how the dream of a free meal plays out and is given literary form in Typee (1846), “Bartleby, the Scrivener” (1853), “Jimmy Rose” (1855), and The Confidence-Man (1857). In so doing, Melvillean Parasites aims to explain how Melville’s engagement with ethico-political issues concerning nourishment, dependency upon others, hospitality, and responsibility toward strangers, evolved and changed over time. Compared to the tendency of dehumanizing the parasite found in many of his contemporaries, the book claims that what sets him apart, is his insight into the unavoidable parasitic tendencies of us all: Herman Melville—patron saint of the parasite. Melvillean Parasites is intended for scholars, students, and general readers with an interest in the concept of the parasite, as well as Herman Melville’s authorship, American literature, and 19th century studies in general. Anders M. Gullestad is Associate Professor at the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies at the University of Bergen

XIII International Congress in Animal Hygiene, June 17-21, 2007, Tartu, Estonia "Animal health, animal welfare and biosecurity" : proceedings. Volume 1

KonverentsikogumikOn behalf of both the Organising Committee and the Scientific Committee, I am pleased to welcome you in Tartu, Estonia, to participate at the XIII International Congress of the International Society for Animal Hygiene (ISAH). The ISAH (www.isah-soc.org) was founded in 1970 and has today members from 48 countries throughout the world. ISAH can be considered as a group of scientists contributing to efficient, sustainable animal farming with healthy animals, providing wholesome food in a sound environment. Veterinarians and non-veterinary academic scientists (animal science, agricultural economics, engineers, microbiologists, public health professionals, epidemiologists etc., etc) and respective professionals in animal husbandry, who work and/or do research and education in the field of animal hygiene, can apply for a membership of ISAH, and are most welcome to attend ISAH congresses. The first ISAH congress was held in Budapest in 1973. The last ISAH main congress took place in Warsaw, Poland in 2005 and the last in-between symposium in Saint-Malo, France in 2004. Starting from Warsaw congress in 2005, the ISAH, considering the need for a more flexible and frequent exchange of scientific and practical knowledge, organizes its congresses every second year. The present, XIII ISAH congress in Tartu, Estonia, in June 17–21, 2007 is organised under the device "Animal health, animal welfare and biosecurity”. The scientific programme, trying to follow the scope of the ISAH and receive the feedback from modern animal husbandry and food production, concentrates with more profoundness on the following subjects: interaction between the environment and health and welfare of individual animal and herds; managing animal health in large dairy units; ensuring animal welfare during transportation and slaughter; economical implications considering animals’ health; possibilities of precision livestock farming in maintaining good health and welfare of animals; measures for prevention the development and spread of diseases and pathogens in animals including those posing risk to human health (zoonoses); food safety relevant infections and contaminations such as residues in food derived from animals; influence of the animal production on the environment and public health. The Proceedings from the XIII ISAH Congress are herewith presented. The papers on lectures from invited speakers, oral and poster presentations from 11 parallel sessions are included in this excellent compilation. In general, the printed contribution to the ISAH-2007 congress illustrates clearly the broad scientific field of the ISAH and related to it activities. I hereby would like to express my most sincere gratitude in the address of ISAH-2007 organising and scientific committees. Special thanks go to Frens Conference Services for their excellent organizational and technical contribution and to AS Triip for their outstanding printing job of these proceedings. We also appreciate different companies and organisations for their considerable financial support which gave us the opportunity to keep the registration fees affordable. Finally, we thank all participants, contributors, chairpersons, organisational and technical assistants for your considerable efforts – you made the ISAH-2007 in Tartu real success. We wish you all interesting and pleasant congress and enjoyable stay in Tartu. A. Aland Editor Chairman of the ISAH-2007 Organising Committe

Melvillean Parasites

Melvillean Parasites addresses an aspect of Herman Melville’s authorship largely overlooked by previous scholars: the abundance of narrators and characters in his writings in search of food—an aim they typically pursue through sponging off the people they encounter. Deploying the conceptual figure of the parasite as its primary analytical tool, the book interprets how the dream of a free meal plays out and is given literary form in Typee (1846), “Bartleby, the Scrivener” (1853), “Jimmy Rose” (1855), and The Confidence-Man (1857). In so doing, Melvillean Parasites aims to explain how Melville’s engagement with ethico-political issues concerning nourishment, dependency upon others, hospitality, and responsibility toward strangers, evolved and changed over time. Compared to the tendency of dehumanizing the parasite found in many of his contemporaries, the book claims that what sets him apart, is his insight into the unavoidable parasitic tendencies of us all: Herman Melville—patron saint of the parasite. Melvillean Parasites is intended for scholars, students, and general readers with an interest in the concept of the parasite, as well as Herman Melville’s authorship, American literature, and 19th century studies in general. Anders M. Gullestad is Associate Professor at the Department of Linguistic, Literary and Aesthetic Studies at the University of Bergen

The development of novel biomarker techniques for the early detection of colorectal anastomotic breakdown

Anastomotic leak (AL) following colorectal surgery leads to significant morbidity, mortality and poorer oncological outcomes. Diagnosis of AL is frequently delayed as current methods of detection are not 100% sensitive or specific. Recent work has illustrated that local biomarkers from the perianastomotic environment may have the ability to detect AL early. A literature review undertaken as part of this project identified lactate and pH as the most promising biomarkers. Advances in biosensor technology means that the development of a degradable or removal biosensor for AL represents an exciting possibility. With the ultimate aim of developing such a sensor, this study aimed to determine the stability of lactate and pH in peritoneal fluid, further assess their usefulness as biomarkers of AL and other complications after surgery and compare their performance to that of commonly used blood biomarkers in detecting AL and other complications following colorectal surgery. Peritoneal fluid lactate was found to be stable over 24 hours, except if the fluid had a high WCC. For pH, clinically significant changes were detected after 1 hour. As there were no ALs in the study it was not possible to determine the usefulness of lactate and pH in relation to this complication. Although the difference was not statistically significant, pH generally rose over the first 3 days post-operatively in patients making an uncomplicated recovery. Lactate did not appear to be useful in predicting post-operative complications but it was thought that this was related to the method by which lactate was measured and that further study of lactate was merited. Blood biomarkers were superior to perianastomotic lactate and pH at predicting post-operative complications but they lacked specificity and significant differences were only apparent at 5 days following surgery. Overall, the work has contributed to our understanding of the stability of lactate and pH in peritoneal fluid, highlighted trends in pH in post-operative patients that merit further investigation and has illustrated the limitations of blood biomarkers. In addition, it has provided insight into how further studies in the area should be conducted and which questions need to be addressed next in order to pursue the eventual aim of developing a biosensor for the early detection of AL

FLOSSTV Free, Libre, Open Source Software (FLOSS) within participatory 'TV hacking' Media and Arts Practices

This research operates in the context of a European political discourse, where the main concern is counter­cultural approaches to non­ mandatory collaboration and contractual agreements. FLOSSTV (Free, Libre, Open Source Software TV) covers a broad range of practices, from television via documentary up to media arts productions. This thesis documents the endeavour to formulate a policy for FLOSS culture. FLOSSTV studies the impact of new intellectual property legislation on media production, as well as conceptions and applications of collective authorship and alternative licensing schemes. FLOSSTV sets out to explore methods that can facilitate media and arts practitioners wishing to engage in collaborative media productions. The thesis sets out to investigate the theories and histories of collaborative media and arts productions in order to set the ground for an exploration of the tools, technologies and aesthetics of such collaborations. The FLOSSTV thesis proposes a set of contracts and policies that allow for such collaborations to develop. It is through practice that this research explores FLOSS culture, including its methods, licensing schemes and technologies. In order to focus the research within the field of FLOSSTV I initiated the practice ­based Deptford.TV pilot project as the central research experiment for the FLOSSTV thesis. DVD ONE contains a series of films produced collaboratively for Deptford.TV that express the characteristics and contractual arrangements of FLOSS culture. Deptford.TV is an online audiovisual database primarily collecting media assets around the Deptford area, in South­East London, UK. Deptford.TV functions as an open, collaborative platform that allows artists, film­makers, researchers and participants of the local workshops in and around Deptford, and also beyond Deptford, to store, share, re­edit and redistribute their footage and projects. The open and collaborative nature of the Deptford.TV project demonstrates a form of shared media practice in two ways: audiences become producers by submitting their own footage, and the database enables the contributors to interact with each other. Through my practice­lead research project Deptford.TV I argue that, by supporting collaborative methods and practices, FLOSS (Free, Libre, Open Source Software) can empower media and arts practitioners to collaborate in production and distribution processes of media and arts practices