Identifying fetal yawns based on temporal dynamics of mouth openings: A preterm neonate model using support vector machines (SVMs)

Fetal yawning is of interest because of its clinical, developmental and theoretical implications. However, the methodological challenges of identifying yawns from ultrasonographic scans have not been systematically addressed. We report two studies that examined the temporal dynamics of yawning in preterm neonates comparable in developmental level to fetuses observed in ultrasound studies (about 31 weeks PMA). In Study 1 we tested the reliability and construct validity of the only quantitative measure for identifying fetal yawns in the literature, by comparing its scores with a more detailed behavioral coding system (The System for Coding Perinatal Behavior, SCPB) adapted from the comprehensive, anatomically based Facial Action Coding System for Infants and Young Children (Baby FACS). The previously published measure yielded good reliability but poor specificity, resulting in over-representation of yawns. In Study 2 we developed and tested a new machine learning system based on support vector machines (SVM) for identifying yawns. The system displayed excellent specificity and sensitivity, proving it to be a reliable and valid tool for identifying yawns in fetuses and neonates. This achievement represents a first step towards a fully automated system for identifying yawns in the perinatal period.Fetal yawning is of interest because of its clinical, developmental and theoretical implications. However, the methodological challenges of identifying yawns from ultrasonographic scans have not been systematically addressed. We report two studies that examined the temporal dynamics of yawning in preterm neonates comparable in developmental level to fetuses observed in ultrasound studies (about 31 weeks PMA). In Study 1 we tested the reliability and construct validity of the only quantitative measure for identifying fetal yawns in the literature, by comparing its scores with a more detailed behavioral coding system (The System for Coding Perinatal Behavior, SCPB) adapted from the comprehensive, anatomically based Facial Action Coding System for Infants and Young Children (Baby FACS). The previously published measure yielded good reliability but poor specificity, resulting in over-representation of yawns. In Study 2 we developed and tested a new machine learning system based on support vector machines (SVM) for identifying yawns. The system displayed excellent specificity and sensitivity, proving it to be a reliable and valid tool for identifying yawns in fetuses and neonates. This achievement represents a first step towards a fully automated system for identifying yawns in the perinatal period

Validation of genomic breeding values for feed efficiency using field data: experience from UNIBO experimental herd

A strategy to maximize genetic gain in dairy farming is to identify genetically elite females through genomic testing. Indeed, direct genomic values (DGV) are early accessible at a cost-effective also in young stock and are subsequently blended to estimated breeding values (GEBV) once prediction of genetic merit is undertaken when phenotypes are available. These criteria can be used by farmers to rank females and service the best ones with (sexsorted) semen of elite bulls to achieve greater gain while simultaneously reducing the number of non-productive animals. Feed efficiency is nowadays the most popular issue for animal scientists working with ruminants. The purpose of the current research was to validate feed efficiency breeding values using real dry matter intake (DMI) data. For this purpose, we quantified the association between DGV/GEBV of predicted feed efficiency (PFE) and on-field feed intake data. Up to date, the total number of genotyped subjects at the UNIBO experimental herd is 279. Cows are routinely enrolled into experimental nutritional trials in which individual DMI (kg/d) information are collected on a daily basis. DGV/GEBV for PFE are calculated by ANAFIBJ within the national genetic and genomic evaluation; proofs are standardized to a mean of 100 and standard deviation of 5. Data were analysed with a linear mixed model, separately for primiparae and pluriparae, by adjusting the dependant variable DMI for the fixed effects of daily milk yield (linear covariate), PFE DGV/GEBV (two classes: <100 or ≥100), and days-post-calving (<120 or ≥120); random terms were cow nested within experimental trial and contemporary group (experimental trial-test date). Mean PFE was 99.50 (±1.48) while daily individual DMI averaged 23.48 (±3.44) and 26.91 (±3.14) kg/d for primiparae and pluriparae, respectively. The Pearson’s correlation coefficient between PFE and feed intake was −0.14, suggesting that cows with higher genetic merit have lower DMI. Differences between least squares means of the two PFE levels were −0.23 (±1.10; p > 0.05) and −0.26 (±0.75; p > 0.05) kg DMI/d in first- and later-parity cows, respectively. Although not significantly different, estimates indicated that, irrespective of systematic effects, cows with higher genetic merit for PFE have a lower individual daily intake compared to those with a lower genetic merit. Future efforts should be pursued to augment the sample size in order to increase the robustness of these estimates

Acquiring, archiving, analyzing and exchanging seismic data in real time at the Seismological Research Center of the OG S in Italy: an updated view

The Centro di Ricerche Sismologiche (CRS, Seismological Research Center) of the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS, Italian National Institute for Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics) in Udine (Italy) after the strong earthquake (magnitude M=6.4) occurred in 1976 in the Italian Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, started to operate the North-east Italy (NI) seismic network: it currently consists of 11 very sensitive broad band and 22 more simple short period seismic stations, all telemetered to and acquired in real time at the OGS-CRS data center in Udine. Real time data exchange agreements in place with other Italian, Slovenian, Austrian and Swiss seismological institutes lead to a total number of 90 seismic stations acquired in real time, which makes the OGS the reference institute for seismic monitoring of Northeastern Italy. Since 2002 OGS-CRS is using the Antelope software suite as the main tool for collecting, analyzing, archiving and exchanging seismic data in the framework of the EU Interreg IIIA project “ Trans-national seismological networks in the South-Eastern Alps”. SeisComP is also used as a real time data exchange server tool. At OGS-CRS we then adapted existing programs and created new ones like: a customized web-accessible server to manually relocate earthquakes, a script for automatic moment tensor determination, scripts for web publishing of earthquake parametric data, waveforms, state of health parameters and shaking maps, noise characterization by means of automatic spectra analysis, plus scripts for mail/SMS/fax alerting. A new OGS-CRS real time web site has also been recently designed and made operative in the framework of the Italian P C-INGV S3 P roject

Acquiring, archiving, analyzing and exchanging seismic data in real time at the Seismological Research Center of the OGS in Italy

The Centro di Ricerche Sismologiche (CRS, Seismological Research Center) of the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS, Italian National Institute for Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics) in Udine (Italy) after the strong earthquake (magnitude M=6.4) occurred in 1976 in the Italian Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, started to operate the North-east Italy (NI) seismic network: it currently consists of 11 very sensitive broad band and 23 more simple short period seismic stations, all telemetered to and acquired in real time at the OGS-CRS data center in Udine. Real time data exchange agreements in place with other Italian, Slovenian, Austrian and Swiss seismological institutes lead to a total number of 89 seismic stations acquired in real time, which makes the OGS the reference institute for seismic monitoring of Northeastern Italy. Since 2002 OGS-CRS is using the Antelope software suite as the main tool for collecting, analyzing, archiving and exchanging seismic data in the framework of the EU Interreg IIIA project “Trans-national seismological networks in the South-Eastern Alps”. SeisComP is also used as a real time data exchange server tool. At OGS-CRS we then adapted existing programs and created new ones like: a customized web-accessible server to manually relocate earthquakes, a script for automatic moment tensor determination, scripts for web publishing of earthquake parametric data, waveforms, state of health parameters and shaking maps, noise characterization by means of automatic spectra analysis, plus scripts for email/SMS/fax alerting. A new OGS-CRS real time web site has also been recently designed and made operative in the framework of the DPC-INGV S3 Project

Assembling patchy plasmonic nanoparticles with aggregation-dependent antibacterial activity

We realise an antibacterial nanomaterial based on the self-limited assembly of patchy plasmonic colloids, obtained by adsorption of lysozyme to gold nanoparticles. The possibility of selecting the size of the assemblies within several hundred nanometres allows for tuning their optical response in a wide range of frequencies from visible to near infrared. We also demonstrate an aggregation-dependent modulation of the catalytic activity, which results in an enhancement of the antibacterial performances for assemblies of the proper size. The gained overall control on structure, optical properties and biological activity of such nanomaterial paves the way for the development of novel antibacterial nanozymes with promising applications in treating multi drug resistant bacteria

Improving the seismic monitoring of North-eastern Italy: the state of the art of the North-eastern Italy (NI) Seismic Network run by OGS

The Centro di Ricerche Sismologiche (CRS, Seismological Research Center) of the Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale (OGS, Italian National Institute for Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics) in Udine (Italy) after the strong earthquake of magnitude Mw=6.4 occurred in 1976 in the Italian Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, started to operate the North-eastern Italy (NI) Seismic Network: it currently consists of 12 very sensitive broad band and 21 simpler short period seismic stations, all telemetered to and acquired in real time at the OGS-CRS data center in Udine. Real time data exchange agreements in place with other Italian, Slovenian, Austrian and Swiss seismological institutes lead to a total number of 93 seismic stations acquired in real time, which makes the OGS the reference institute for seismic monitoring of North-eastern Italy. Since 2002 OGS-CRS is using the Antelope software suite on a SUN SPARC cluster as the main tool for collecting, analyzing, archiving and exchanging seismic data, initially in the framework of the EU Interreg IIIA project “Trans-national seismological networks in the South-Eastern Alps”. SeisComP is also used as a real time data exchange server tool. In order to improve the seismological monitoring of the North-eastern Italy area, at OGS-CRS we tuned existing programs and created ad hoc ones like: a customized web server named PickServer to manually relocate earthquakes, a script for automatic moment tensor determination, scripts for web publishing of earthquake parametric data, waveforms, state of health parameters and shaking maps, noise characterization by means of automatic spectra analysis, and last but not least scripts for email/SMS/fax alerting. A new OGS-CRS real time seismological website (http://rts.crs.inogs.it/) has also been operative since more than one year in the framework of the Italian DPC-INGV S3 Project: the website shows classic earthquake locations parametric data plus shakemap and moment tensor information; recently also daily PSD quality check of seismic stations plots have been added. At OGS-CRS we also spent a considerable amount of efforts in improving the long-period performances of broadband seismic stations, either by carrying out full re-installations and/or applying thermal insulations to the seismometers: the example of the new PRED broad band seismic station installation in the cave tunnel of Cave del Predil using a Quanterra Q330HR high resolution digitizer and a Sterckeisen STS-2 broadband seismometer will be illustrated. Efforts have been put also in strengthening the reliability of data links, exploring the use of redundant satellite/radio/GPRS links

In Vivo Investigation of (2-Hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin-Based Formulation of Spironolactone in Aqueous Solution for Paediatric Use

Spironolactone (SPL), a potent anti-aldosterone steroidal drug used to treat several diseases in paediatric patients (e.g., hypertension, primary aldosteronism, Bartter’s syndrome, and congestive heart failure), is not available in child-friendly dosage forms, and spironolactone liquids have been reported to be unpalatable. Aiming to enhance SPL solubility in aqueous solution and overcome palatability, herein, the effects of (2-hydroxypropyl)-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CyD) were thoroughly investigated on solubilisation in water and on masking the unpleasant taste of SPL in vivo. Although the complexation of SPL with HP-β-CyD was demonstrated through phase solubility studies, Job’s plot, NMR and computational docking studies, our in vivo tests did not show significant effects on taste aversion. Our findings, on the one hand, suggest that the formation of an inclusion complex of SPL with HP-β-CyD itself is not necessarily a good indicator for an acceptable degree of palatability, whereas, on the other hand, they constitute the basis for investigating other cyclodextrin-based formulations of the poorly water-soluble steroidal drug, including solid dosage forms, such as spray-dried powders and orodispersible tablets

Diazoxide maintains human myocyte volume homeostasis during stress

BACKGROUND: Exposure to hypothermic hyperkalemic cardioplegia, hyposmotic stress, or metabolic inhibition results in significant animal myocyte swelling (6% to10%) and subsequent reduced contractility (10% to 20%). Both are eliminated by the adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel opener diazoxide (DZX). The relationship between swelling and reduced contractility suggests that the structural change may represent one mechanism of postoperative myocardial stunning. This study evaluated human myocyte volume during stress to investigate if similar phenomena exist in human myocytes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Human atrial myocytes isolated from tissue obtained during cardiac surgery were perfused with Tyrode's physiological solution (20 minutes, 37°C), test solution (20 minutes), and Tyrode's (37°C, 20 minutes). Test solutions (n=6 to 12 myocytes each) included Tyrode's (37°C or 9°C), Tyrode's+DZX (9°C), hyperkalemic cardioplegia (9°C)±DZX, cardioplegia+DZX+HMR 1098 (sarcolemmal adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor, 9°C), cardioplegia+DZX+5-hydroxydeconoate (mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor, 9°C), mild hyposmotic solution±DZX, metabolic inhibition±DZX, and metabolic inhibition+DZX+5-hydroxydeconoate. Myocyte volume was recorded every 5 minutes. Exposure to hypothermic hyperkalemic cardioplegia, hyposmotic stress, or metabolic inhibition resulted in significant human myocyte swelling (8%, 7%, and 6%, respectively; all P<0.05 vs control). In all groups, the swelling was eliminated or lessened by DZX. The addition of channel inhibitors did not significantly alter results. CONCLUSIONS: DZX maintains human myocyte volume homeostasis during stress via an unknown mechanism. DZX may prove to be clinically useful following the elucidation of its specific mechanism of action. (J Am Heart Assoc. 2012;1:jah3-e000778 doi: 10.1161/JAHA.112.000778.

Productive Performance and Meat Characteristics of Kids Fed a Red Orange and Lemon Extract

This study evaluates the animal performance and meat characteristics of 60 Saanen suckling kids daily fed a red orange and lemon extract (RLE), rich in anthocyanins. In our methodology, after colostrum administration, animals are randomly assigned to two treatments: Treatment group (Group RLE; n = 30) that received RLE (90 mg/kg live body weight) as oral food additive, and a control group (Group CON; n = 30) that received a standard diet. Animals are slaughtered after 40 days. The RLE administration did not influence daily weight gain, carcass measurements, or incidences (expressed as a percentage) of different anatomical regions on the whole carcass weight. On the contrary, RLE supplementation significantly improved the oxidative profile of the meat seven days after slaughtering, as demonstrated by the reduced levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; p &lt; 0.01) and hydroperoxides (p &lt; 0.01) in Group RLE compared to Group CON. A significant influence of RLE administration is observed on day 7 for yellowness (p &lt; 0.01). There are also lower saturated and higher monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids concentration in Group RLE meat (p &lt; 0.01), which also shows lower atherogenic and thrombogenic indexes (p &lt; 0.01) compared to Group CON. The study demonstrates that the supplementation of a diet with RLE rich in anthocyanins is effective to improve the meat quality

Differential activity and clinical utility of latanoprost in glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Background: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the hypotensive efficacy and tolerability of latanoprost when used as monotherapy and as polytherapy associated with antiglaucomatous medication proven to be ineffective in keeping intraocular pressure under control. Methods: Three hundred and thirty-seven patients (672 eyes) affected by primary open-angle glaucoma and intraocular hypertension were recruited over a period of 10 years from the Glaucoma Centre, Department of Ophthalmological Sciences, University of Rome "Sapienza", and treated, subject to informed consent, with latanoprost 0.005% alone or in combination with other ocular hypotensive drugs. The patients were followed during this period at regular intervals, with determination of visual field, fundus oculi, visual acuity, and eventual onset of local and systemic side effects. Results: Latanoprost used as monotherapy and as polytherapy renders possible optimal and durable control of intraocular pressure in the form of one antiglaucomatous drug because it can substitute for one or more drugs and obtain the same hypotensive effect. Conclusion: Latanoprost can be described as the ideal hypotensive drug, not only because of its ideal compliance profile (only one daily dose in the evening), excellent hypotensive effect, and, above all, few systemic side effects. © 2012 Pacella et al, publisher and licensee Dove Medical Press Ltd