Non‐invasive recordings of fetal electrocardiogram during pregnancy using electric potential sensors

In this letter, we report the early detection of fetal cardiac electrical activity recorded from the maternal abdomen non-invasively. We developed a portable and non-invasive, prototype based on electric potential sensing technology to monitor both: the mother and fetal heart activity during pregnancy. In this proof of principle demonstration, we show the suitability of our technology to monitor the fetal heart development starting at week twenty, when the fetus heart is approximately one-tenth the size of an adult’s heart. The study was conducted for ten weeks to demonstrate how the maturation of the fetus leads to a change on the heart rate dynamics as it approaches birth. Importantly, electrocardiogram information is presented without any post processing given that our device eliminates the requirement of signal conditioning algorithms such as having to un-mix both, the maternal and fetal cardiac waveforms. The provided ECG trace allows extracting the heart rate and other heart activity parameters useful for further diagnostics. Finally, our device does not require any gels to be applied so movement induced potential is eliminated. This technology has the potential to be used for determining possible heart related congenital disorders during pregnancy

Análisis socioeconómico y nivel de bienestar de las localidades del Valle de Tlacolula, Oaxaca 2000 y 2010

Se analizan las condiciones socioeconómicas con base en 570 municipios del Estado de Oaxaca y de manera específica se compara el nivel de bienestar de los municipios que integran el piso de Valle del Distrito de Tlacolula, Oaxaca. En promedio la población de este valle presentó en el 2010, 74% de pobreza -por encima de la estatal- es decir, el ingreso per cápita de la población está por debajo de la línea de bienestar económico y presenta al menos tres carencias sociales que agravan de forma considerable sus condiciones de vida. Las fuentes de información secundaria fueron el índice de marginación e índice de intensidad migratoria de CONAPO de los periodos 2000 y 2010, además para conocer las condiciones socioeconómicas se agregaron otros indicadores del INEGI 2000 y 2010, los cuales no están incluidos en el índice de marginación que son: porcentaje de población con derechohabiencia a servicios de salud, porcentaje de población que labora en los sectores económicos y porcentaje de viviendas que disponen de aparatos electrodomésticos modernos; se siguió rigurosamente el procedimiento que implica la técnica estadística de análisis factorial con la aplicación del método de componentes rotados para la construcción del índice y la estratificación óptima de Dalenius & Hodges, el cual permitió determinar y conocer mejor el grado de bienestar e ingresos de las localidades del Valle de Tlacolula

A novel non-invasive biosensor based on electric field detection for cardio-electrophysiology in zebrafish embryos

In this paper we report a novel biosensor based on electric field detection for recording cardiac electrical activity in zebrafish embryos. Using Sussex patented Electric Potential Sensing technology, a portable, non-invasive and cost-effective platform is developed to monitor in vivo electrocardiogram activity from the zebrafish heart. Cardiac activity signals were successfully detected from living zebrafish embryos starting at 3 days-post-fertilizatio

Comprehensive study of Leon-Queretaro area

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Quantification of aortic valvuloplasty catheter size using a metrology system based on brightfield microscopy

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) has been employed [1] as a simple and low-cost treatment method for patients with severe aortic stenosis, for symptom palliation in patients considered inoperable, for aortic valve replacement and to select the proper transcatheter heart valve (THV) size. During THV implantation choosing the correct balloon size is paramount for minimizing the risks of coronary occlusion, annular damage or THV embolization. Current methods for selecting the proper balloon dimensions are based on transesophageal echocardiography and computed tomography requiring trained staff for image interpretation, expensive equipment and high doses of patient radiation exposure. Alternative methods propose the use of BAV to determine the correct THV size before its implantation [2]. The strategy is based on determining the BAV aortic anulus using a sterile caliper. Any slight pressure to the balloon may compromise the measurement accuracy. In this paper, we present a non-contact metrology system for BAV measurement based on bright field microscopy (BFM). The balloons under test (MedTek-22 and TrueDilation-22) were clamped vertically, employing a tension spring to restrict movement and ensure perpendicularity to the microscope optical axis. The BFM is based on an Olympus PLN 4X WD~18.5mm, NA 0.1, a tube lens (f~180mm) and a FL3-U3- 13S2M-CS camera mounted on top of a custom-made linear stage having a coarse resolution of ~ 3.3µm. Balloon expansion was performed using a Boston scientific Encore 26 inflation device. The balloons are made up of an outer shell with an internal catheter tube (Ø~2mm). By focusing the microscope on the internal tube, then moving the linear stage to refocus on the balloon outer wall, the inner tube to outer wall dimension (see figure inset) can be accurately measured using the linear stage digital readout. The balloon was inflated up to six times recording the pressure and radius at each stage of inflation (twice the amount required for THV). Our non-contact method preserves the catheter sterile conditions and allows the accurate measurement of the BAV anulus showing: a) repeatability of the achieved balloon radius within all the inflation rounds, b) accurate measurements with a standard error of ±200 µm c) and a variation of 1.38 ±0.0387 mm from the manufacturer data. Knowing the exact balloon dimensions is crucial for avoiding the adverse consequences of THV oversizing. Our method may potentially improve the safety and efficacy of THV implantation

Measuring consumer grade face masks degradation upon sterilization using bright field microscopy

No description supplie

Automated carotid endarterectomy surgery using a low cost remodelled industrial robotic arm

No description supplie

Characterization of magnetically triggerable millirobots for on demand drug delivery using a brightfield microscopy metrology system

No description supplie

Analysis of the origin and training of the labor dedicated to the post-harvest process of banana in Tecomán, Cerro de Ortega, Colima, Mexico

Objective: Analyze and identify the place of origin, skills and working conditions of the workforce dedicated to working in the banana cutting and packaging process in the town of Cerro de Ortega, Tecomán Colima. Design / Methodology / Approach: A field checklist was designed and applied to 32% of the local crews and a survey directed to the members of the crews, surveying 21.3% of the total population. Results: Information was obtained to carry out the analysis of origin and the current situation of workforce dedicated to the post-harvest process of plantain in the study area. Limitations of the study: An important limitation for the investigation was the insecurity during the field work, which was present derived from the organized crime settled in the area. Findings / Conclusions: The most specialized workers in the area who are dedicated to the activities of cutting and packing bananas are not native to the municipality of Tecomán, much less the state of Colima, they belong to the states of Chiapas and Michoacán.Objective: To analyze and identify the place of origin, skills and working conditions of the laborers dedicated to the banana cutting and packaging process in the town of Cerro de Ortega, Tecomán, Colima. Design / Methodology / Approach: A field checklist was designed and applied to 32% of the local crews and a survey directed to the members of the crews, surveying 21.3% of the total population. Results: Information was obtained to carry out the analysis of origin and the current situation of laborers dedicated to the post-harvest process of banana in the study area. Limitations of the study: An important limitation for the research was insecurity during the field surveys, which was present derived from the organized crime settled in the area. Findings / Conclusions: The most specialized workers in the area who are dedicated to the activities of cutting and packing bananas are not native people from the municipality of Tecomán, nor from the state of Colima. They belong to the states of Chiapas and Michoacan

Population differentiation and historical demography of the threatened snowy plover Charadrius nivosus (Cassin, 1858)

Delineating conservation units is a complex and often controversial process that is particularly challenging for highly vagile species. Here, we reassess population genetic structure and identify those populations of highest conservation value in the threatened snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus, Cassin, 1858), a partial migrant shorebird endemic to the Americas. We use four categories of genetic data—mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), microsatellites, Z-linked and autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)—to: (1) assess subspecies delineation and examine population structure (2) compare the sensitivity of the different types of genetic data to detect spatial genetic patterns, and (3) reconstruct demographic history of the populations analysed. Delineation of two traditionally recognised subspecies was broadly supported by all data. In addition, microsatellite and SNPs but not mtDNA supported the recognition of Caribbean snowy plovers (C. n. tenuirostris) and Floridian populations (eastern C. n. nivosus) as distinct genetic lineage and deme, respectively. Low migration rates estimated from autosomal SNPs (m < 0.03) reflect a general paucity of exchange between genetic lineages. In contrast, we detected strong unidirectional migration (m = 0.26) from the western into the eastern nivosus deme. Within western nivosus, we found no genetic differentiation between coastal Pacific and inland populations. The correlation between geographic and genetic distances was weak but significant for all genetic data sets. All demes showed signatures of bottlenecks occurring during the past 1000 years. We conclude that at least four snowy plover conservation units are warranted: in addition to subspecies nivosus and occidentalis, a third unit comprises the Caribbean tenuirostris lineage and a fourth unit the distinct eastern nivosus deme