Serum Calprotectin Levels in Dogs with Diarrhea

 Background: Diarrhea induced by infectious factors may lead to significant health problems in dogs. Canine parvovirus (CPV), canine coronavirus (CCV), canine distemper virus (CDV), Giardia spp., Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Salmonella spp. are the important infectious agents that may induce diarrhea in dogs. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of CPV, CCV, CDV, Giardia spp., E. coli, and Salmonella spp. infections on the change in serum calprotectin (Calp) concentration.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 30 dogs were enrolled in the study. The study dogs were divided into 3 groups. Healthy animals as confirmed by clinical examination and animals negative for the specified pathogens were placed in Group 1. Animals infected by one or more agents, including CPV, CCV, CDV, and Giardia spp., but negative for E. coli or Salmonella spp. were placed in Group 2. Finally, animals positive for E. coli or Salmonella spp. and infected or not infected by one or more agents, including CPV, CCV, CDV, and Giardia spp., were placed in Group 3. Stool samples and rectal and conjunctival swab samples were collected to investigate the etiologic agents that induced diarrhea. Blood samples were collected through vena cephalica antebrachii for hematological and biochemical examinations. The samples were obtained via routine clinical examinations at the Prof. Dr. Servet SEKİN outpatient clinic at Dicle University Veterinary Faculty. CPV, CCV, CDV, and Giardia spp. diagnoses were made based on immunochromatographic test kits. The bacteriological analysis of stool samples were used to diagnose E. coli and Salmonella spp. infection. Serum Calp concentrations were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The analysis of swab and stool samples by immunochromatographic rapid diagnosis kits and microbiological methods showed that 5 animals were infected with CPV, 10 with CCV, 6 with CDV, 3 with Giardia spp., 12 with E. coli, and 2 with none of the specified agents. Total leukocyte count (WBC), lymphocyte (Lym) (%), and granulocyte (Gra) (%) values were higher in the diarrheal dogs when compared with the control group.  In the biochemical examination of serum samples, TBIL and P levels were higher and Na levels were lower in Group 3 when compared to the control group (P = 0.025, 0.024, and 0.018, respectively). TP and Alb values were lower in Group 2 compared to Groups 1 and 3 (P = 0.001 and 0.019 for TP, P = 0.000 and 0.001 for Alb, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in CK levels between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.013). Serum Calp level was higher in the E. coli infected group (Group 3) compared to the other groups, no significant differences were noted between the groups (P > 0.05).Discussion: In conclusion, to the best of authors knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate serum Calp levels in dogs with diarrhea induced by viral, bacterial, and protozoan infections. The Calp level was higher in the sick dogs that were infected by at least one agent, including CPV, CCV, CDV, and Giardia spp., and were at the same time E. coli positive when compared with the control group and the group without E. coli infections. It was concluded that new studies could be useful to reveal the diagnostic importance of serum Calp concentration in dogs with diarrhea and that these results may contribute to future studies in this area.Keywords: calprotectin, diarrhea, dog, serum

Passive SAR Satellite System (PASSAT): airborne demonstrator and first results

This paper presents the development and execution of an airborne experimental campaign as part of the continuing investigation of a passive Synthetic Aperture Radar using digital television broadcasting stations as illuminators of opportunity, and micro-/nano-satellite receivers in Low Earth Orbit. For the flight experiments, a hardware demonstrator was developed that utilised two receiving antennas, allowing both cross-correlation and auto-correlation range compression schemes, and was mounted to an airborne platform to image stationary rural areas up to 50 km from the transmitter. This paper presents the first image results of these experiments as well as initial analysis of image formation aspects including, range compression scheme and effects on the image quality of the signal to noise on the reference channel

VHF/UHF Uplink Solutions for Remote Wireless Sensor Networks

The purpose of this thesis was to compare alternative wireless links for transfer of data from sink motes of remote wireless sensor networks to a central repository. A few different protocol stacks to be implemented in the WSN (Wireless Sensor Network) uplink gateway and along with them a few implementation environments based on open source software and low-power hardware were discussed. To facilitate measurements and experimental validation, some of the alternatives have been implemented. Experiments have been made using two of the amateur radio bands, the 144 MHz band (VHF) and the 433 MHz band (UHF). The parameters studied include throughput, range, power-requirements, portability and compatibility with standards. Using different protocol stacks, different bands and sometimes different hardware 5 solutions were designed, implemented, tested and experimented with. Namely these solutions are called Radiotftp, Radiotftp_process, Radiotunnel, Soundmodem and APRX in this thesis. After the implementation phase, there was an open-field experimentation to measure the aforementioned parameters. The tests were conducted in Riddarholmen, Stockholm of Sweden. These open-field experiments helped us obtain real-life measurements about power, throughput, stability etc. Experiments were conducted in a range of from a minimum of 2 meters to a maximum of 2.1 kilometers with some of the solutions. In the end, some of these solutions proved themselves to be viable for the purpose of data communications for remote wireless sensor networks. Radiotftp gave the best throughput in both bands where it proved itself to be difficult to develop further applications. Radiotftp_process removed the necessity for a Linux running gateway machine but it was unable to work with faster baud rates. Radiotunnel opened up the path for a range of network applications to use radio links, but it also proved that it was unstable. On the other hand Soundmodem and APRX which were based on standard and open-source software proved that they were stable but rather slow. It was proven that every approach to problem has its advantages and disadvantages from different aspects such as throughput, range, power-requirements, portability and compatibility

MIMO sensor array for short-range high-resolution automative sensing

The aim of this research is to investigate a novel Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) sensor system for automotive applications. Compared to traditional phased arrays, a MIMO array can achieve the same fine angular resolution, but with a drastically less amount of sensor elements. For example, a MIMO array of 10 elements can deliver the same resolution as a phased array of 25 elements. The other highlight of this technology is that it can operate at short ranges, which is physically impossible with a phased array. Therefore, a MIMO system can potentially provide very high angular resolutions at short ranges. These properties make such a system attractive for a number of automotive applications, including parking aids, short-range cruise control, speed-over-ground estimation, pedestrian detection etc. Research started with the verification of application of conventional MIMO techniques for radar context. MIMO techniques were tested with the existing RF equipment in laboratory environment. Beamforming capabilities were verified, range and angular resolutions were compared to equivalent phased arrays and multiple-target resolving capabilities were confirmed. Nearfield focusing algorithms for MIMO arrays were developed and verified via experiments in the anechoic chamber with the same equipment. A technology demonstrator based on ultrasonic equipment was built and then tested in an anechoic chamber and the findings were compared to computed performance parameters. Further performance optimisations via aperiodic MIMO configurations were explored via use of heuristic optimisation algorithms. An optimised configuration then was tested in anechoic chamber and its performance was confirmed in experimentally. Finally using radio equipment again, an initial study on MTI applications was done. Platform motion compensation methods were developed and tested in order to make up for vehicular motion and to compensate for its possible effects. Both stationary platforms and a moving platform was used to experimentally confirm the MTI capabilities on both in an indoor setup and an outdoor setup

PASSAT: Passive Bi Static SAR Constellation Progress and Trial Results

Persistent monitoring of large areas using spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is a challenging problem for various defence and civil applications. The PASSAT project was proposed and undertaken by the University of Birmingham, under the sponsorship of the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, to analyse the concept of a fully passive (receive only) spaceborne SAR system based on a constellation of CubeSats. By making use of terrestrial transmitters (e.g. Digital Video Broadcasting – Terrestrial (DVB-T) or similar transmitters of opportunity), the problem of having to carry a high power pulsed radar transmitter on the satellite is eliminated. Instead, the satellite only need carry a suitable receiver, antenna and signal storage facility. It is expected that such a system would provide imaging of populated areas with a potential resolution of ~2-3 m. In this paper, we describe progress towards the design of such a system, including the results of a series of ground-based and airborne trials which make use of DVB-T transmissions from the Sutton Coldfield transmitter. In the processed images, roads, wind turbines, electricity pylons, hedgerows and trees are all clearly identified