Ultra Low Energy Communication Protocol for Implantable Wireless Body Sensor Networks

Abstract Title: Ultra Low Energy Communication Protocol for Implantable Wireless Body Sensor Networks. Fariborz Fereydouni_Forouzandeh, Ph.D. Concordia University, 2010 Medical science will soon start to benefit from wireless communication and implantable sensor technologies being developed for use in the human body. Such technologies have a potential to revolutionize the health-care industry by providing real-time patient monitoring capabilities to the health-care professionals. In this regard, implantable wireless body sensor networks (IWBSNs) have recently emerged as an important and growing area of research. The implantable sensors are required to be reliable and very small so that the body does not reject them. They must stay functional in the human body for years, and most importantly, they must not be a source of discomfort to the potential patients. The life time of their embedded batteries could vary from a few days to a few weeks using current hardware and software technologies. In order to make such devices suitable for implantation an order of magnitude reduction in energy use is required. Our research is motivated by this goal. In this thesis, we identify and analyze the sources of energy use in typical devices meant for Implantation in a human body. Our detailed mathematical analysis and computer simulations clearly demonstrate that improving the efficiency of communication protocols is the only realistic way of achieving this goal. Unfortunately, none of the existing low range low energy wireless communication protocols can be used in IWBSNs because of the small energy resources available in the implanted sensor nodes. We propose a new energy aware communication protocol which efficiently encodes data in time domain. It ensures accurate transmission of information. The encoding scheme does this by sending only a single signal from the sensor node to the base station. The protocol is called the Time Based Coded Data protocol or TBCD in short. For proper operation of this protocol reliable synchronization is required. Our proposed synchronization algorithm is energy efficient and stable under worst case conditions as compared to existing algorithms. A sensor node using existing state of the art technology that can only last for a few weeks can be made to last for few years using our proposed communication protocol and the synchronization algorithm

FPGA implementation of congestion control routers in high speed networks

Receiving large number of data packets at different baud rates and different sizes at gateways in high-speed network routers may lead to a congestion problem and force the gateway to drop some packets. Several algorithms have been developed to control this problem. Among them the Random Early Detection (RED) algorithm is the most commonly used in several existing routers. It has been recommend by IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) for next generation Internet gateways. In this thesis, a 10Gbps FPGA implementation of a modified version of the RED algorithm is proposed. This is achieved by enhancing the original RED algorithm in one hand, and by developing several hardware approximations of the arithmetic operations used in the algorithm in the other hand. The objective is to lower the risk of the global synchronization by reducing the number of packet drops and packet queuing time. The proposed algorithm and its implementation are validated through intensive VHDL simulations. Also, a comparison with the previous algorithm is conducted in order to show that our modified algorithm outperforms the original one in terms of packets drops

Factors Affecting the Supply of Agricultural Residues for Bioenergy Production (Case Study: Boroujerd City)

Due to the problems and limitations of using fossil energy sources, the use of biofuels in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, regional development, and security of energy supply, has received more attention. Therefore, considering the importance of the issue, in the present study, while determining the effective factors on the tendency of farmers to accept the supply of crop residues of wheat and barley products for bioenergy production, the economic value of residues of selected products in biogas and bioethanol energy production is estimated. Accordingly, using a survey approach and by completing a questionnaire by farmers in Boroujerd in 1399, data collection and research hypotheses were tested using the logit regression model. The results of the study indicate that the variables of collection cost (with a final effect of -0.097 and elasticity of -7.39%), non-agricultural income (with a final effect of -0.028 and elasticity of -6.37%), and use from residues (with a final effect of -0.014 and a tensile strength of -11.6%) have a negative effect on the supply of agricultural residues for bioenergy production. Meanwhile, education (with a final effect of 0.09 and elasticity of 4.4%) and farmer experience (with a final effect of 0.022 and elasticity of 17.32%) have a positive effect on the supply of agricultural residues for bioenergy production. According to the results of traction, farmers' experience and farmers' use of agricultural residues have the greatest effect on the supply of agricultural residues in bioenergy production. The results also show that the annual production potential of bioethanol from wheat and barley residues is equal to 63.96 million liters. So that if the same residues are used in biogas production, the annual biogas production potential is equal to 88.98 million cubic meters. Accordingly, the economic value of bioethanol and biogas energy production from wheat and barley residues in the study area has been calculated equal to 15349 and 430 billion rials, respectively. Therefore, based on the results, by planning for the principled management of agricultural residues and investing in the use of biomass as clean sources for bioenergy production, effective measures can be taken to reduce the dependence of the country's economy on fossil energy and provide the energy needs of people in remote areas

An Experimental Investigation of Ultraweak Photon Emission from Adult Murine Neural Stem Cells

Neurons like other living cells may have ultraweak photon emission (UPE) during neuronal activity. This study is aimed to evaluate UPE from neural stem cells (NSC) during their serial passaging and differentiation. We also investigate whether the addition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) or enhancement of UPE (by AgNPs or mirror) affect the differentiation of NSC. In our method, neural stem and progenitor cells of subventricular zone (SVZ) are isolated and expanded using the neurosphere assay. The obtained dissociated cells allocated and cultivated into three groups: groups: I: cell (control), II: cell + mirror, and III: cell + AgNPs. After seven days, the primary neurospheres were counted and their mean number was obtained. Serial passages continuous up to sixth passages in the control group. Differentiation capacity of the resulting neurospheres were evaluated in vitro by immunocytochemistry techniques. Measurement of UPE was carried out by photomultiplier tube (PMT) in the following steps: at the end of primary culture, six serial cell passages of the control group, before and after of the differentiation for 5 minutes. The results show that neither mirror nor AgNPs affect on the neurosphere number. The UPE of the NSC in the sixth subculturing passage was significantly higher than in the primary passage (P < 0.05). AgNPs significantly increased the UPE of the NSC compared to the control group before and after the differentiation (P < 0.05). Also, the treatment with AgNPs increased 44% neuronal differentiation of the harvested NSCs. UPE of NSC after the differentiation was significantly lower than that before the differentiation in each groups, which is in appropriate to the cell numbers (P < 0.0001). The mirror did not significantly increase UPE, neither before nor after the differentiation of NSC. As a conclusion, NSC have UPE-properties and the intensity is increased by serial passaging that are significant in the sixth passage. The AgNPs increases the UPE intensity of NSC that pushes more differentiation of NSC to the neurons. The mirror was not effective in enhancement of UPE. As a result, UPE measurement may be suitable for assessing and studying the effects of nanoparticles in living cells and neurons.This work was supported by grant No. 94-01-01-10157 from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. This article was a part of the thesis written by Esmaeil Fereydoni, MSc. student of Anatomy

Studies examining the efficacy of therapeutically enhanced human mast cells as a cancer immunotherapy

The emergence of cancer immunotherapies utilizing adoptive cell transfer (ACT) continues to be one of the most promising strategies for cancer treatment. Mast cells (MCs), ubiquitous tissue cells most commonly associated with Type I hypersensitivity, bind immunoglobin E (IgE) with high affinity, produce anti-cancer agents such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-?) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and populate practically all tumor microenvironments. Yet, the role of MCs in cancer pathologies remains controversial as direct evidence for anti-tumor or pro-tumor effects are lacking. Here we initially present an improved method for obtaining a large number of human MCs from adipose tissue. The proposed method has several advantages over current methods and can serve as a new source of human MCs for more realistic studies on the biology of this cell type in humans. Then, we found that HER2/neu tumor-specific IgE-sensitized MCs bound, penetrated, and killed HER2/neu-positive tumor masses in vitro. Further in solid tumor human breast cancer (BC) xenograft mouse models, infusion of HER2/neu IgE-sensitized human adipose-derived mast cells (ADMC) co-localized to BC cells, decreased tumor burden, and prolonged overall survival without signs of toxicity. These studies suggest MCs can be polarized from Type I hypersensitivity-mediating cells to tumor-attacking cells and may provide further options for cancer therapeutics for which tumor targeted IgEs are available. [This abstract may have been edited to remove characters that will not display in this system. Please see the PDF for the full abstract.]]]> 2021 Cancer $x Immunotherapy Tumors$x Immunological aspects Mast cells $x Immunology English http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/Fereydouni_uncg_0154D_13412.pdf oai:libres.uncg.edu/37049 2022-01-31T16:51:48Z UNCG An application of fixed vs. growth mindset to music performance Gray, Kirsten J. NC DOCKS at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro <![CDATA[This document applies the concept of a fixed vs. growth mindset to music performance in order to promote awareness among classical musicians. As first outlined by Carol S. Dweck, a person with a fixed mindset holds the beliefs that their qualities and abilities are innate and unchangeable. In contrast, a person with a growth mindset believes that one can cultivate their abilities and qualities through effort, strategy, and help from others. This document consists of a review of psychological studies and reflects on how musicians with fixed vs. growth mindsets might respond to internal dialogue, external feedback, and personal setbacks

Harnessing the Anti-Tumor Mediators in Mast Cells as a New Strategy for Adoptive Cell Transfer for Cancer

The emergence of cancer immunotherapies utilizing adoptive cell transfer (ACT) continues to be one of the most promising strategies for cancer treatment. Mast cells (MCs) which occur throughout vascularized tissues, are most commonly associated with Type I hypersensitivity, bind immunoglobin E (IgE) with high affinity, produce anti-cancer mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and generally populate the tumor microenvironments. Yet, the role of MCs in cancer pathologies remains controversial with evidence for both anti-tumor and pro-tumor effects. Here, we review the studies examining the role of MCs in multiple forms of cancer, provide an alternative, MC-based hypothesis underlying the mechanism of therapeutic tumor IgE efficacy in clinical trials, and propose a novel strategy for using tumor-targeted, IgE-sensitized MCs as a platform for developing new cellular cancer immunotherapies. This autologous MC cancer immunotherapy could have several advantages over current cell-based cancer immunotherapies and provide new mechanistic strategies for cancer therapeutics alone or in combination with current approaches

Association of rs1042522 SNP with Clinicopathologic Factors of Breast Cancer Patients in the Markazi Province of Iran

BACKGROUND: The nucleotide changes in different genetic loci increased the incidence risk of breast cancer. AIM: The aim of present study was to investigate genotype distribution at codon 72 of the TP53 gene (rs1042522) in breast cancer patients to achieve a potential diagnostic marker related to some demographic feathers. METHODS: In our case-control study, blood samples were collected from a total of 34 patients harboured breast cancer. DNA was extracted, and nested-PCR was performed. Products were digested with AccII and subsequently were sequenced. Results were compared with samples characteristics. RESULTS: The PCR results indicated the correct implementation of extraction and amplification protocol. The genotypic distribution at codon 72 of TP53 in control group was 20%, 62.4% and 16.6% for Arg (wildtype), Arg/Pro (heterozygous) and Pro (homozygous variant) respectively. Also, this distribution in the patient group was 23.52% homozygous, 50% heterozygous, and 26.47% another homozygous variant (Adjusted odds ratio: 1.12 and 95%CI = 0.57 to 2.2, P = 0.03). The absence of Arg at codon 72 of TP53 is relevant with age higher than 40 years and metastasis to other organs. CONCLUSION: Polymorphism at codon 72 of TP53 was associated with high-grades of breast cancer risk and different responses to chemotherapy treatment. It is recommended genotype distribution of codon 72 of TP53 before chemotherapy

Effects of Common Fig ( Ficus carica

Formaldehyde (FA) is the leading cause of cellular injury and oxidative damage in testis that is one of the main infertility causes. There has been an increasing evidence of herbal remedies use in male infertility treatment. This assay examines the role of Ficus carica (Fc) leaf extracts in sperm parameters and testis of mice intoxicated with FA. Twenty-five adult male mice were randomly divided into control; sham; FA-treated (10 mg/kg twice per day); Fc-treated (200 mg/kg); and FA + Fc-treated groups. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were analyzed for viability, count, and motility. Testes were weighed and gonadosomatic index (GSI) was calculated. Also, histoarchitecture of seminiferous tubules was assessed in the Haematoxylin and Eosin stained paraffin sections. The findings showed that FA significantly decreased GSI and increased percentage of immotile sperm compared with control group. Disorganized and vacuolated seminiferous epithelium, spermatogenic arrest, and lumen filled with immature germ cells were also observed in the testes. However, Fc leaf extracts improved sperm count, nonprogressive motility of spermatozoa, and GSI in FA-treated testes. Moreover, seminiferous tubule with spermatogenic arrest was rarely seen, indicating that Fc has the positive effects on testis and epididymal sperm parameters exposed with FA

Human Tumor Targeted Cytotoxic Mast Cells for Cancer Immunotherapy

The diversity of autologous cells being used and investigated for cancer therapy continues to increase. Mast cells (MCs) are tissue cells that contain a unique set of anti-cancer mediators and are found in and around tumors. We sought to exploit the anti-tumor mediators in MC granules to selectively target them to tumor cells using tumor specific immunoglobin E (IgE) and controllably trigger release of anti-tumor mediators upon tumor cell engagement. We used a human HER2/neu-specific IgE to arm human MCs through the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI). The ability of MCs to bind to and induce apoptosis of HER2/neu-positive cancer cells in vitro and in vivo was assessed. The interactions between MCs and cancer cells were investigated in real time using confocal microscopy. The mechanism of action using cytotoxic MCs was examined using gene array profiling. Genetically manipulating autologous MC to assess the effects of MC-specific mediators have on apoptosis of tumor cells was developed using siRNA. We found that HER2/neu tumor-specific IgE-sensitized MCs bound, penetrated, and killed HER2/neu-positive tumor masses in vitro. Tunneling nanotubes formed between MCs and tumor cells are described that parallel tumor cell apoptosis. In solid tumor, human breast cancer (BC) xenograft mouse models, infusion of HER2/neu IgE-sensitized human MCs co-localized to BC cells, decreased tumor burden, and prolonged overall survival without indications of toxicity. Gene microarray of tumor cells suggests a dependence on TNF and TGFβ signaling pathways leading to apoptosis. Knocking down MC-released tryptase did not affect apoptosis of cancer cells. These studies suggest MCs can be polarized from Type I hypersensitivity-mediating cells to cytotoxic cells that selectively target tumor cells and specifically triggered to release anti-tumor mediators. A strategy to investigate which MC mediators are responsible for the observed tumor killing is described so that rational decisions can be made in the future when selecting which mediators to target for deletion or those that could further polarize them to cytotoxic MC by adding other known anti-tumor agents. Using autologous human MC may provide further options for cancer therapeutics that offers a unique anti-cancer mechanism of action using tumor targeted IgE’s