Design and Implementation of Vital Signs Simulator for Patient Monitor

This study focuses on the design and implementation of vital signs simulator for patient monitors. A patient monitor has three major monitoring systems, including pulse oximeter, electrocardiogram (ECG) and Non-Invasive Blood Pressure Monitor. Medical equipment should be calibrated on a frequency basis, but simulations of vital signs are some of the ways to calibrate the reading of a patient monitor. The study included a prototype that can simulate the oxygen saturation and pulse rate for pulse oximeter, ECG pulse rate and waveform (normal and arrhythmias) and systolic and diastolic pressure and pulse rate for Non-Invasive Blood pressure monitor. Arduino microcontroller served as the main processing unit of the simulator of vital signs

Human biomonitoring of t-2 toxin, t-2 toxin-3-glucoside and their metabolites in urine through high-resolution mass spectrometry

The metabolic profile of T-2 toxin (T-2) and its modified form T-2-3-glucoside (T-2-3-Glc) remain unexplored in human samples. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of T-2, T-2-3-Glc and their respective major metabolites in human urine samples (n = 300) collected in South Italy through an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to Q-Orbitrap-HRMS methodology. T-2 was quantified in 21% of samples at a mean concentration of 1.34 ng/mg Crea (range: 0.22–6.54 ng/mg Crea). Almost all the major T-2 metabolites previously characterized in vitro were tentatively found, remarking the occurrence of 3′-OH-T-2 (99.7%), T-2 triol (56%) and HT-2 (30%). Regarding T-2-3-Glc, a low prevalence of the parent mycotoxin (1%) and its metabolites were observed, with HT-2-3-Glc (17%) being the most prevalent compound, although hydroxylated products were also detected. Attending to the large number of testing positive for T-2 or its metabolites, this study found a frequent exposure in Italian population

Evaluation of Fat-free Mass Characteristics at Different Adiposity Levels: Impact of Weight Status Stratification Method

The method used to stratify weight status when evaluating fat-free mass (FFM) characteristics has primarily been based upon body mass index (BMI) and not body fat percent (BF%). As a result, it is unknown whether deviations in FFM characteristics are similar when stratifying weight status based upon BMI or BF%. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate FFM characteristics at different adiposity levels when stratifying weight status via BMI and BF%. Methods: 150 adults (50% males) participated in this study. 3-compartment (3C) model body composition was based upon body density (Db) via air displacement plethysmography (ADP) and total body water via bioimpedance analysis. FFM density (DFFM), residual (RFFM), and hydration (HFFM)were evaluated in all subjects. The Db obtained from a stand-alone assessment of ADP (2C-Db) and 3C model (3C-Db)were also compared between groups. Subjects were stratified based upon weight status (BMI and BF%). First, subjects were divided into a normal weight (NW-BMI), overweight (OW-BMI) or obese (OB-BMI) group, which were based upon BMI values of 18.5-24.99 kg/m2 (n=50), 25.0-29.99 kg/m2 (n=50), and ³ 30.0 kg/m2 (n=50), respectively. Next, subjects were divided into groups based upon BF% where normal weight BF% values (NW-BF%) for males and females were \u3c 25 and 35% (n=81), respectively, and obese BF% values (OB-BF%) were ³25 and 35% (n=69), respectively. Results: The DFFM ranged from 1.096 – 1.097 g/cm3 for all groups in both weight status stratification methods (all p \u3e 0.05). HFFM and RFFM were similar for all comparisons and ranged from 73.99 – 74.33% and 25.67 – 26.01%, respectively, for BMI groups and 74.02 – 74.26% and 25.74 – 25.98%, respectively, for BF% groups (all p \u3e 0.05). In contrast, the 3C-Db (1.050, 1.036, and 1.013 g/cm3) and 2C-Db (1.051, 1.036, and 1.014 g/cm3) were statistically significant for all comparisons between NW-BMI, OW-BMI, and OB-BMI respectively (all p \u3c 0.05). Furthermore, 3C-Db (1.051 and 1.011 g/cm3) and 2C-Db (1.052 and 1.012 g/cm3) were significantly different when comparing NW-BF% and OB-BF% (both p \u3c 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Previous research has reported the FFM characteristics when stratifying weight status via BMI classification. As a result, it was unknown whether deviations in FFM characteristics existed when stratifying by BF%. Uniquely, the current study findings revealed that FFM characteristics are similar between groups regardless of the weight status stratification method (BMI or BF%)

Identification and expression pattern of a new carotenoid cleavage dioxygenase gene member from Bixa orellana

Carotenoid cleavage dioxygenases (CCDs) are a class of enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a broad diversity of secondary metabolites known as apocarotenoids. In plants, CCDs are part of a genetic family with members which cleave specific double bonds of carotenoid molecules. CCDs are involved in the production of diverse and important metabolites such as vitamin A and abscisic acid (ABA). Bixa orellana L. is the main source of the natural pigment annatto or bixin, an apocarotenoid accumulated in large quantities in its seeds. Bixin biosynthesis has been studied and the involvement of a CCD has been confirmed in vitro. However, the CCD genes involved in the biosynthesis of the wide variety of apocarotenoids found in this plant have not been well documented. In this study, a new CCD1 gene member (BoCCD1) was identified and its expression was charaterized in different plant tissues of B. orellana plantlets and adult plants. The BoCCD1 sequence showed high homology with plant CCD1s involved mainly in the cleavage of carotenoids in several sites to generate multiple apocarotenoid products. Here, the expression profiles of the BoCCD1 gene were analysed and discussed in relation to total carotenoids and other important apocarotenoids such as bixin

Modeling the Dispersal of Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae in Delaware Bay

The interactions of circulation and growth processes in determining the horizontal distribution of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae in the Delaware Bay estuary were investigated with a coupled circulation-individual-based larvae model that used environmental conditions from the spawning seasons (mid-June to mid-September) of 1984, 1985, 1986, 2000, and 2001. Particles, representing oyster larvae, were released at five-day intervals from areas in Delaware Bay that correspond to natural oyster reefs. The simulated larval development time was used to estimate potential larval success, determined by the percent of larvae that successfully reached settlement size (330 µm) within the planktonic larval duration of 30 days. Success rates for simulated larvae released in the upper estuary were less than half of those released in the lower estuary because of the reduction in growth rate from exposure to low salinity. Simulated larval success rates were further reduced during periods of increased river discharge, which produced low salinity conditions. The simulated transport patterns showed a down-estuary drift of oyster larvae during the spawning season, which is consistent with the observed reduction in settlement and recruitment rates in the upper estuary. The simulated transport pathways patterns showed that larvae originating in the middle and lower regions of the estuary had low rates of dispersion and high rates of self-settlement. Larvae released in the upper reaches of the estuary had limited contributions to the Delaware Bay oyster population, in part because of the lower overall simulated larval success in the low salinity regions. The simulated transport patterns suggested that the upper bay exports rather than receives larvae, which has implications for the establishment of genetic traits

Temperate facultative cleaner wrasses selectively remove ectoparasites from their client-fish in the Azores

Cleaner fishes are key contributors to the health of fish communities. However, much of the information in the literature refers to tropical systems, while fewer studies have examined the activity of cleaner fish inhabiting temperate ecosystems. Facultative cleaner fish are assumed to clean only during their juvenile phase, and have a broader diet than obligatory cleaner fish. Here, we focused on 2 facultative cleaner fish species, Coris julis and Thalassoma pavo, that live along the temperate coasts of the Azorean island of São Miguel. We found that these species focused their cleaning activities on relatively few species of clients, which supports the general idea that facultative cleaner fishes in temperate waters are less dependent on cleaning interactions than obligatory cleaner fishes in tropical waters. Both cleaner species were found to give more bites per host when inspecting larger clients, likely because the latter typically host more parasites. We found that C. julis consumed a greater diversity of food items, which included gnathiid larvae and fewer caligid copepods, compared to T. pavo where no ectoparasites were found. All cleaner fish that we collected after observations of cleaning had eaten gnathiid isopod larvae but not caligid copepods, even though caligid copepods were the most abundant ectoparasite found on the body of 7 selected fish species (including both client and non-client species), suggesting that both species selectively feed on gnathiid isopods. This study is the first to demonstrate that temperate facultative cleaner fish species actively and selectively inspect and remove ectoparasites from their client-fish species.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, grant PTDC/MAR/105276/2008. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) COMPETE - Operational Competitiveness Programme. FCT - Foundation for Science and Techno - project PEst-C/MAR/LA0015/2011.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Circulation and Behavior Controls on Dispersal of Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) Larvae in Delaware Bay

The degree of genetic connectivity among populations in a metapopulation has direct consequences for species evolution, development of disease resistance, and capacity of a metapopulation to adapt to climate change. This study used a metapopulation model that integrates population dynamics, dispersal, and genetics within an individual-based model framework to examine the mechanisms and dynamics of genetic connectivity within a metapopulation. The model was parameterized to simulate four populations of oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from Delaware Bay on the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. Differences among the four populations include a strong spatial gradient in mortality, a spatial gradient in growth rates, and uneven population abundances. Simulations demonstrated a large difference in the magnitude of neutral allele transfer with changes in population abundance and mortality (on average between 14 and 25% depending on source population), whereas changes in larval dispersal were not effective in altering genetic connectivity (on average between 1 and 8%). Simulations also demonstrated large temporal changes in metapopulation genetic connectivity including shifts in genetic sources and sinks occurring between two regimes, the 1970s and 2000s. Although larval dispersal in a sessile marine population is the mechanism for gene transfer among populations, these simulations demonstrate the importance of local dynamics and characteristics of the adult component of the populations in the flow of neutral alleles within a metapopulation. In particular, differential adult mortality rates among populations exert a controlling influence on dispersal of alleles, an outcome of latent consequence for management of marine populations

Elective Modernism and the Politics of (Bio) Ethical Expertise

In this essay I consider whether the political perspective of third wave science studies – ‘elective modernism’ – offers a suitable framework for understanding the policy-making contributions that (bio)ethical experts might make. The question arises as a consequence of the fact that I have taken inspiration from the third wave in order to develop an account of (bio)ethical expertise. I offer a précis of this work and a brief summary of elective modernism before considering their relation. The view I set out suggests that elective modernism is a political philosophy and that although its use in relation to the use of scientific expertise in political and policy-making process has implications for the role of (bio)ethical expertise it does not, in the final analysis, provide an account that is appropriate for this latter form of specialist expertise. Nevertheless, it is an informative perspective, and one that can help us make sense of the political uses of (bio)ethical expertise