3,813 research outputs found

    An arrhythmia classification algorithm using a dedicated wavelet adapted to different subjects

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Numerous studies have been conducted regarding a heartbeat classification algorithm over the past several decades. However, many algorithms have also been studied to acquire robust performance, as biosignals have a large amount of variation among individuals. Various methods have been proposed to reduce the differences coming from personal characteristics, but these expand the differences caused by arrhythmia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this paper, an arrhythmia classification algorithm using a dedicated wavelet adapted to individual subjects is proposed. We reduced the performance variation using dedicated wavelets, as in the ECG morphologies of the subjects. The proposed algorithm utilizes morphological filtering and a continuous wavelet transform with a dedicated wavelet. A principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis were utilized to compress the morphological data transformed by the dedicated wavelets. An extreme learning machine was used as a classifier in the proposed algorithm.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A performance evaluation was conducted with the MIT-BIH arrhythmia database. The results showed a high sensitivity of 97.51%, specificity of 85.07%, accuracy of 97.94%, and a positive predictive value of 97.26%.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The proposed algorithm achieves better accuracy than other state-of-the-art algorithms with no intrasubject between the training and evaluation datasets. And it significantly reduces the amount of intervention needed by physicians.</p

    IRT5 Probiotics Changes Immune Modulatory Protein Expression in the Extraorbital Lacrimal Glands of an Autoimmune Dry Eye Mouse Model

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    PURPOSE. While the association between the gut microbiome and the immune system has been studied in autoimmune disorders, little is known about ocular disease. Previously we reported that IRT5, a mixture of five probiotic strains, could suppress autoimmune dry eye. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which IRT5 performs its immunomodulatory function in a mouse model of autoimmune dry eye. METHODS. NOD.B10.H2b mice were used as an autoimmune dry eye model. Either IRT5 or PBS was gavaged orally for 3 weeks, with or without 5 days of antibiotic pretreatment. The effects on clinical features, extraorbital lacrimal gland and spleen proteins, and fecal microbiota were analyzed. RESULTS. The ocular staining score was lower, and tear secretion was higher, in the IRT5-treated groups than in the PBS-treated groups. After IRT5 treatment, the downregulated lacrimal gland proteins were enriched in the biological processes of defense response and immune system process. The relative abundances of 33 operational taxonomic units were higher, and 53 were lower, in the feces of the IRT5-treated groups than in those of the PBS-treated groups. IRT5 administration without antibiotic pretreatment also showed immunomodulatory functions with increases in the Lactobacillus helveticus group and Lactobacillus hamsteri. Additional proteomic assays revealed a decrease of proteins related to antigen-presenting processes in the CD11b(+) and CD11c(+) cells of spleen in the IRT5-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS. Changes in the gut microbiome after IRT5 treatment improved clinical manifestations in the autoimmune dry eye model via the downregulation of antigen-presenting processes in immune networks.11Ysciescopu

    Control Method Of Circulating Refrigerant Amount For Heat Pump System

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    A heat pump system requires proper refrigerant charge amount. Once refrigerant is charged into a heat pump system, its charge amount is fixed. For this reason, prediction of optimal refrigerant charge amount is very important in order to yield best performance. Too low charge amount degrades capacity of heat pump. On the other hand, excessive charge amount decreases coefficient of performance (COP). The optimal value of refrigerant charge amount highly depends on secondary fluid temperature conditions. Consequently, fixed charge amount of refrigerant in heat pump shows the best performance only at certain temperature condition. Several ideas have revealed to change charge amount of the heat pump system. One is to have an additional reservoir to store or release refrigerant which is attached to a heat pump system. This method may seem simple but to measure exact amount of refrigerant in reservoir, additional pressure transducer, temperature measurement device, level sensor and other apparatus are required that increase the cost of heat pump. Another idea is to have reservoir between condenser outlet and expansion device. Rajapaksha and Suen (2004) showed that existence of reservoir at this point helps improve capacity while reducing the system COP. In this study, a new method for refrigerant charge amount control technique is presented. It has very simple control logic and requires only a few additional cost factors; several valves and additional tubes are only required. This method is based on different refrigerant phase distribution at each point of inlet and outlet of components in heat pump system. In a simple cycle heat pump system, refrigerant at condenser outlet (before expansion device) is in a subcooled liquid state at high pressure, while refrigerant is in a superheated vapor state at evaporator outlet (before compressor inlet) at low pressure. This technique regulates refrigerant charge by holding some volume of refrigerant in the connecting tube of considerable volume installed between the condenser outlet and the evaporator outlet. Using several solenoid valves (on/off) desired amount of refrigerant can be stored into a volume provided by a connecting tube. This connected volume is referred as ‘stagnation volume’ (Vstag). When one of this installed valve is closed and the rest of the valves are open, certain amount of refrigerant is stored in the stagnation volume (Vstag) while operating heat pump system. If closed valve is adjacent to condenser outlet, charge amount to the heat pump system increases while the charge is reduced when the valve adjacent to evaporator outlet is closed. This method is numerically verified and there are very little variation of COP. Therefore, heat pump can be operated at optimized circulating amount of refrigerant in spite of the secondary fluid temperature variation during heating or cooling operation

    PROVIDING REFERENCE CLIENT PERSPECTIVE FOR ENHANCED RADIO FREQUENCY AND ASSURANCE FUNCTION

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    Techniques are described through which a sensor can provide a client Radio Frequency (RF) perspective to a wireless infrastructure. This enables establishing ultimate close-loop telemetry data for root cause analysis on Wi-Fi® problems through an assurance engine. Exchange methods and enhanced measurement reports provide a client perspective of the ever-changing RF conditions autonomously or on-demand basis to the wireless infrastructure

    Study on Personal Characteristics and Emotional Affordances through User Activity Analysis

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    Design methodology should address psychological and cognitive aspects based on human emotion and feeling as well as physical and functional aspects based on product structure. Donald Norman introduced perceived affordances as characteristics in the appearance of an object that gives clues for its proper operations. We conducted a case study in a public space - building lobby - used by many general people. User activities and behaviors were analyzed in several specific tasks given to twenty participants with similar cultural background in the lobby of a building they have never been to before. Then we identified affordances and building structure elements, called affordance features, critically related to those affordances. While performing the tasks in the same building lobby, user activities can be classified into several different groups for each task based on affordance features involved in their activities. These user activity differences are then compared with their personal cognitive characteristics derived from their perception and judgment preferences using intuitive and factual perception orientation and objective and subjective decision making inclination respectively. For user of less common activities for some tasks, personal cognitive characteristics have been identified. This study could help in affordance-based design so that alternative affordance features are designed considering diverse user cognitive characteristics

    Papillary Adenocarcinoma

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    Gastric papillary adenocarcinoma is one of the histological variants of gastric cancer that shows more aggressive clinicopathological behavior compared to tubular adenocarcinoma. Previous studies have reported higher lymphovascular and submucosal invasion rates for papillary adenocarcionoma than those of tubular adenocarcinoma. However, the current guidelines categorize papillary adenocarcinoma and tubular adenocarcinoma together as differentiated-type tumor and have recommended the same endoscopic submucosal dissection criteria. Thus, concerns have been raised regarding the appropriateness of the current policy. To validate the current guidelines, the lymph node metastasis rate from surgical specimen studies as well as the long-term outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for papillary adenocarcinomas need to be taken into consideration. In this review, I aimed to review the current understanding of the clinical and pathological features of papillary adenocarcinoma. In addition, I aimed to generate an integrated view regarding the outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection and surgery for papillary adenocarcinoma in order to evaluate the appropriateness of the current guidelines

    Mixture of Polyphenols and Anthocyanins from Vaccinium uliginosum L.

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    Vaccinium uliginosum L. (VU) possesses various biological properties, such as antioxidant and protective effects against VU-induced skin photoaging. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of oral administration of a mixture of polyphenols and anthocyanins derived from VU on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene- (DNCB-) induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in NC/Nga mice. We assessed anti-AD effects in NC/Nga murine model for a period of 9 weeks. Oral administration of the mixture significantly alleviated the AD-like skin symptoms and clinical signs including ear thickness and scratching behaviors. Orally administrated mixture reduced the level of IgE and IgG1, whereas it increased the level of IgG2a in a dose-dependent manner. The calculated IgG1/IgG2a ratio for each mouse revealed that the mixture derived from VU also significantly reduced the Th2/Th1 ratio, IL-4 and IL-13 (as Th2 cytokines), IFN-γ, and IL-12 (as a Th1 cytokine) in spleens. In addition, it significantly decreased gene expression, such as IL-4, IL-5, CCR3, eotaxin-1, IL- 12, IFN-γ, MCP-1, and IL-17, in AD-like lesions and suppressed Th17. Histological analyses revealed that the epidermis thickness and number of inflammatory cells were significantly reduced. In conclusion, oral administration of the mixture in the DNCB-induced AD is confirmed to improve AD disease in mice

    2,4-Bis(2-methoxy­phenyl)-3-aza­bicyclo­[3.3.1]nonan-9-one

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    In the title compound, C22H25NO3, the mol­ecule has a pseudo-mirror plane. The structure is a positional isomer of 2,4-bis(4-methoxy­phenyl)-3-aza­bicyclo­[3.3.1]nonan-9-one [Cox, McCabe, Milne & Sim (1985 ▶). J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. pp. 626–628]. The 3-aza­bicyclo­[3.3.1]nonan-9-one moiety adopts a double chair conformation with equatorial orientations of both 2-methoxy­phenyl substituents on either side of the secondary amino group. The benzene rings are oriented at an angle of 33.86 (4)° with respect to each other and the meth­oxy groups point towards the carbonyl group. The crystal structure is stabilized by intermolecular N—H⋯π inter­actions
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