Artifact Rejection Methodology Enables Continuous, Noninvasive Measurement of Gastric Myoelectric Activity in Ambulatory Subjects.

The increasing prevalence of functional and motility gastrointestinal (GI) disorders is at odds with bottlenecks in their diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Lack of noninvasive approaches means that only specialized centers can perform objective assessment procedures. Abnormal GI muscular activity, which is coordinated by electrical slow-waves, may play a key role in symptoms. As such, the electrogastrogram (EGG), a noninvasive means to continuously monitor gastric electrical activity, can be used to inform diagnoses over broader populations. However, it is seldom used due to technical issues: inconsistent results from single-channel measurements and signal artifacts that make interpretation difficult and limit prolonged monitoring. Here, we overcome these limitations with a wearable multi-channel system and artifact removal signal processing methods. Our approach yields an increase of 0.56 in the mean correlation coefficient between EGG and the clinical "gold standard", gastric manometry, across 11 subjects (p < 0.001). We also demonstrate this system's usage for ambulatory monitoring, which reveals myoelectric dynamics in response to meals akin to gastric emptying patterns and circadian-related oscillations. Our approach is noninvasive, easy to administer, and has promise to widen the scope of populations with GI disorders for which clinicians can screen patients, diagnose disorders, and refine treatments objectively

A Structural and Genomic Investigation of Novel Bacteriophage Kromp

From the Washington University Office of Undergraduate Research Digest (WUURD), Vol. 13, 05-01-2018. Published by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Joy Zalis Kiefer, Director of Undergraduate Research and Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences; Lindsey Paunovich, Editor; Helen Human, Programs Manager and Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences Mentor(s): Kathy Hafer and Chris Schaffe

Genetic Parameters of Reproductive Traits in Sheep

Reproductive traits from 7642 ewes were recorded from 1975 to 1983. The ewes were of five breeds (Dorset (D), Finnsheep (F), Rambouillet (R), Suffolk (S) and Targhee (T)) and two composite lines [C1 (1/2F + 1/4R + 1/4D) and C2 (1/2F + 1/4S + 1/4T)]. Genetic parameters were estimated for six basic and seven composite traits. The basic traits were conception rate (CR), total number of lamb born (NLB), number of lambs born alive (NLBA), number of lambs alive at weaning (NLAW), litter mean weight per lamb born (LMWLB) and litter mean weight per lamb weaned (LMWLW). The composite traits were ratio of lambs surviving to weaning relative to NLB (LSW = NLAW/NLB), number of lambs born per ewe exposed (NLBEE = CR × NLB), number of lambs weaned per ewe exposed (NLWEE = CR × NLAW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB = NLB × LMWLB), total litter weight at weaning (TLWW = NLAW × LMWLW), total litter weight at birth per ewe exposed (TLWBEE = CR × NLB × LMWLB) and total litter weight at weaning per ewe exposed (TLWWEE = CR × NLAW × LMWLW). Year, age of ewe, breed of ewe, hormone treatment and season of breeding were used as fixed effects. Direct and maternal genetic effects, permanent environmental effects of ewe and mate of ewe were considered to be random effects. A derivative-free algorithm was used to obtain REML estimates of genetic and environmental parameters. Estimates of heritabilities for animal genetic and permanent environmental and maternal genetic effects were mainly small due to the typical high influence of environmental factors on reproductive traits and to non-normal distributions of traits. Mate of ewe effects were not important for any trait. Important genetic correlations were found between some traits. Some estimates of genetic correlations do not seem to have a biological explanation. Nevertheless, these estimates of genetic correlations among traits may provide a basis for deriving selection indexes for reproductive traits

Genetic Parameters of Reproductive Traits in Sheep

Reproductive traits from 7642 ewes were recorded from 1975 to 1983. The ewes were of five breeds (Dorset (D), Finnsheep (F), Rambouillet (R), Suffolk (S) and Targhee (T)) and two composite lines [C1 (1/2F + 1/4R + 1/4D) and C2 (1/2F + 1/4S + 1/4T)]. Genetic parameters were estimated for six basic and seven composite traits. The basic traits were conception rate (CR), total number of lamb born (NLB), number of lambs born alive (NLBA), number of lambs alive at weaning (NLAW), litter mean weight per lamb born (LMWLB) and litter mean weight per lamb weaned (LMWLW). The composite traits were ratio of lambs surviving to weaning relative to NLB (LSW = NLAW/NLB), number of lambs born per ewe exposed (NLBEE = CR × NLB), number of lambs weaned per ewe exposed (NLWEE = CR × NLAW), total litter weight at birth (TLWB = NLB × LMWLB), total litter weight at weaning (TLWW = NLAW × LMWLW), total litter weight at birth per ewe exposed (TLWBEE = CR × NLB × LMWLB) and total litter weight at weaning per ewe exposed (TLWWEE = CR × NLAW × LMWLW). Year, age of ewe, breed of ewe, hormone treatment and season of breeding were used as fixed effects. Direct and maternal genetic effects, permanent environmental effects of ewe and mate of ewe were considered to be random effects. A derivative-free algorithm was used to obtain REML estimates of genetic and environmental parameters. Estimates of heritabilities for animal genetic and permanent environmental and maternal genetic effects were mainly small due to the typical high influence of environmental factors on reproductive traits and to non-normal distributions of traits. Mate of ewe effects were not important for any trait. Important genetic correlations were found between some traits. Some estimates of genetic correlations do not seem to have a biological explanation. Nevertheless, these estimates of genetic correlations among traits may provide a basis for deriving selection indexes for reproductive traits

Multiple exciton generation in nano-crystals revisited: Consistent calculation of the yield based on pump-probe spectroscopy

Multiple exciton generation (MEG) is a process in which more than one exciton is generated upon the absorption of a high energy photon, typically higher than two times the band gap, in semiconductor nanocrystals. It can be observed experimentally using time resolved spectroscopy such as the transient absorption measurements. Quantification of the MEG yield is usu- ally done by assuming that the bi-exciton signal is twice the signal from a single exciton. Herein we show that this assumption is not always justified and may lead to significant errors in the estimated MEG yields. We develop a methodology to determine proper scaling factors to the signals from the transient absorption experiments. Using the methodology we find modest MEG yields in lead chalcogenide nanocrystals including the nanorods

A Saas-Based Approach in an E-Learning System

In the United States schools in the K12 School System, that provide education for primary, junior and senior high school students, are moving toward information systems to solve and automate some manual processes performed in these schools. With this movement, and the pressure on schools to use technology to improve student achievement, many schools are turning to learning management systems as a way to enhance student learning. Recent surveys show that K-12 online learning is a rapidly growing phenomenon. Also, many states in the United States, including Michigan, require an online experience for all graduates. Due to the rapid growth of cloud computing and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) there has been a shift towards web applications in some E-Business systems. Another shift is in the way software is being delivered to the end-user, namely using the Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model. System integration is part of the huge challenge facing K12 schools in small and large school districts. Not having an integrated system is causing schools many tribulations, such as inconsistent data, duplicate manual data entry, and extra time needed to manage user accounts, and non-productive time spent on technical support. In addition, the task of maintaining the individual systems is time consuming. Despite the potential advantages, these systems can bring challenges to schools’ existing architecture. This research paper focuses on a comprehensive and innovative solution based on a conceptual framework and utilizing Web 2.0 technologies. The aim with the research project was to design a conceptual architecture for next generation of education system (E-Education 2.0), based on open source and Web 2.0 technologies, and utilizing cloud computing. This proposed solution has involved an analysis of all the business and information technology systems in the K12 environment. The solution also addresses the concerns of stakeholders by utilizing an integrated enterprise architecture, and when implemented would result in a cost effective, adaptable and scalable E-learning System. Teachers will be able to integrate information technology based features into the curriculum. Furthermore, the proposed solution provides a clear roadmap of how to transition existing individual systems into one integrated system, based on SaaS and PaaS technologies. The introduction of E-learning management systems into the mainstream K12 schools is expected to solve some of the problems in this education sector, but poses challenges such as systems integration of existing architectures. While SaaS has been widely used and adopted in several countries, there are still barriers to entry in developing countries

Effects of hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress on the plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics of ketorolac in chicks

The aim was to determine the impact of oxidative stress (OS), induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), on the ketorolac plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics in the chicks. A significant decrease was observed in the total antioxidant status (TAS) measured on day 7th, 10th, and 14th of chicks age by 39, 29, and 41%, respectively compared to the control (H2O) group. By measuring the analgesic median effective dose (ED50), ketorolac’s analgesia amplified 16% in the stressed (H2O2) group. Ketorolac concentration in plasma was investigated at measured multiple times at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 24 hours after the administration (14 mg/kg, IM) to 110.38, 181.46, 66.24, 13.08, 10.11, and 4.12 µg/ml at the H2O group and significantly elevated in all times measured except 0.25 and 24 h after ketorolac administration by 24, 38, 54, 199, 93, and 59 % to be 136.45, 250.88, 102.03, 39.13, 19.55, and 6.55 µg/ml in the H2O2 group, respectively. The values of AUC0-∞, AUMC0-∞, Cmax, and Kel in the stressed chickens that were administered ketorolac were elevated by 59, 19, 38, and 43%, respectively, whereas other parameters like MRT, t1/2β, Vss, and Cl were reduced by 25, 30, 56, and 37% respectively compared to H2O group. The results showed that the H2O2-inducedOS amplified the analgesic action of ketorolac in a chick model, besides its modification of the plasma concentration and pharmacokinetics of ketorolac

A Formal Framework for Modeling Trust and Reputation in Collective Adaptive Systems

Trust and reputation models for distributed, collaborative systems have been studied and applied in several domains, in order to stimulate cooperation while preventing selfish and malicious behaviors. Nonetheless, such models have received less attention in the process of specifying and analyzing formally the functionalities of the systems mentioned above. The objective of this paper is to define a process algebraic framework for the modeling of systems that use (i) trust and reputation to govern the interactions among nodes, and (ii) communication models characterized by a high level of adaptiveness and flexibility. Hence, we propose a formalism for verifying, through model checking techniques, the robustness of these systems with respect to the typical attacks conducted against webs of trust.Comment: In Proceedings FORECAST 2016, arXiv:1607.0200