An Implantable Glucose Sensor Comprised of Optical Assays and a Self-Cleaning Hydrogel Membrane

An implantable continuous glucose monitor (iCGM) is necessary for diabetic patients to keep their glucose levels within a safe range. To build a more accessible iCGM with a longer lifetime and cheaper cost, we propose to fabricate an iCGM comprised of an optical glucose sensing assay and a “self-cleaning” hydrogel membrane. Previously, “self-cleaning” hydrogels exhibited exceptionally thin fibrous capsules and rapid healing in biocompatibility studies in vivo. Thus, they are expected to inhibit foreign body responses after implantation, leading to iCGMSs with extended lifetime and higher accuracy. In this study, two cost-effective optical sensing assays were incorporated into the hydrogel membranes. The encapsulation ability of the “self-cleaning” membrane was evaluated, specifically toward small molecules (hydrodynamic radius (Dh) <5nm). The preliminary functionality of the glucose sensors comprised of the hydrogel membranes and optical assays, were also assessed. By successfully encapsulating the optical sensing assay, an iCGM was able to be fabricated as small as a 2 mm x 5 mm cylindrical rod (diameter x length)

Use of LOWTRAN-Derived Atmospheric Parameters in Synthetic Image Generation Models

The Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing laboratory\u27s Image Generation model, DIRSIG, combines computer aided design (CAD), ray tracing techniques, radiometric principles, and thermodynamic models to create synthetic imagery. The model emphasizes rigorous radiometric solutions that account for spectral reflectance effects, angular emissivities, atmospheric transmission and upwelled and downwelled sky radiance. This paper describes enhancements to the radiometric portion of the code that permits inclusion of variations with azimuth of downwelling sky radiance, solution of the radiometric propagation models using specific radiosonde data including adjustments for the time of day, and the incorporation of background effects from objects adjacent to the target. Simulated scenes are presented that show how these enhancements produce imagery that more closely match observed phenomena. In particular, the importance of properly modeled sky radiance is shown both for low altitude oblique imagery where the sky is directly observed and for near nadir imagery where reflected sky radiance is important

Validation of Contrast and Phenomenology in the Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing (DIRS) Lab\u27s Image Generation (DIRSIG) Model

Comparison of the components and the overall fidelity of infrared synthetic image generation models with truth data and imagery is a crucial part of determining model validity and identifying areas in which improvements can be made. The Rochester Institute of Technology\u27s Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing Image Generation Model, DIRSIG, was validated in the midwave infrared (MWIR) and longwave infrared (LWIR) regions using measured meteorological, material, and radiometric data. Error propagation techniques clearly defmed areas where improvements to the model could be made (e.g. inclusion of clouds). An overall comparison of truth and synthetic images yields RMS errors of as low as 1.8°C for actual temperature, and 5°C (LWIR) and 6°C (MWIR) for apparent temperatures. Analysis of rank order correlation statistic shows a very high correlation between brightness rank for object in the truth and DIRSIG images for most times of day

An Implantable Glucose Sensor Comprised of Optical Assays and a Self-Cleaning Hydrogel Membrane

An implantable continuous glucose monitor (iCGM) is necessary for diabetic patients to keep their glucose levels within a safe range. To build a more accessible iCGM with a longer lifetime and cheaper cost, we propose to fabricate an iCGM comprised of an optical glucose sensing assay and a “self-cleaning” hydrogel membrane. Previously, “self-cleaning” hydrogels exhibited exceptionally thin fibrous capsules and rapid healing in biocompatibility studies in vivo. Thus, they are expected to inhibit foreign body responses after implantation, leading to iCGMSs with extended lifetime and higher accuracy. In this study, two cost-effective optical sensing assays were incorporated into the hydrogel membranes. The encapsulation ability of the “self-cleaning” membrane was evaluated, specifically toward small molecules (hydrodynamic radius (Dh) <5nm). The preliminary functionality of the glucose sensors comprised of the hydrogel membranes and optical assays, were also assessed. By successfully encapsulating the optical sensing assay, an iCGM was able to be fabricated as small as a 2 mm x 5 mm cylindrical rod (diameter x length)

Economic Analysis and Utilization of Sustainable Row Strips

Cedar Valley Innovation - owned by Mr. Bob Recker seeks to find a sustainable way to utilize increased sunlight of skipped rows to establish cover or companion crops. This system has been used previously as well in drought prone areas in Nebraska to maximize what little rainfall occurs. Wide acceptance and use by farmers is a concern. Increased management and changes to their current their current practices would be difficult for some operations

Distributed Neural Representations of Conditioned Threat in the Human Brain

Detecting and responding to threat engages several neural nodes including the amygdala, hippocampus, insular cortex, and medial prefrontal cortices. Recent propositions call for the integration of more distributed neural nodes that process sensory and cognitive facets related to threat. Integrative, sensitive, and reproducible distributed neural decoders for the detection and response to threat and safety have yet to be established. We combine functional MRI data across varying threat conditioning and negative affect paradigms from 1465 participants with multivariate pattern analysis to investigate distributed neural representations of threat and safety. The trained decoders sensitively and specifically distinguish between threat and safety cues across multiple datasets. We further show that many neural nodes dynamically shift representations between threat and safety. Our results establish reproducible decoders that integrate neural circuits, merging the well-characterized \u27threat circuit\u27 with sensory and cognitive nodes, discriminating threat from safety regardless of experimental designs or data acquisition parameters

Coding sequences of sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase regulatory peptides and expression of calcium regulatory genes in recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis

Background: Sarcolipin (SLN), myoregulin (MRLN), and dwarf open reading frame (DWORF) are transmembrane regulators of the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium transporting ATPase (SERCA) that we hypothesized played a role in recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER). Objectives: Compare coding sequences of SLN, MRLN, DWORF across species and between RER and control horses. Compare expression of muscle Ca2+ regulatory genes between RER and control horses. Animals: Twenty Thoroughbreds (TB), 5 Standardbreds (STD), 6 Quarter Horses (QH) with RER and 39 breed-matched controls. Methods: Sanger sequencing of SERCA regulatory genes with comparison of amino acid (AA) sequences among control, RER horses, human, mouse, and rabbit reference genomes. In RER and control gluteal muscle, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction of SERCA regulatory peptides, the calcium release channel (RYR1), and its accessory proteins calsequestrin (CASQ1), and calstabin (FKBP1A). Results: The SLN gene was the highest expressed horse SERCA regulatory gene with a uniquely truncated AA sequence (29 versus 31) versus other species. Coding sequences of SLN, MRLN, and DWORF were identical in RER and control horses. A sex-by-phenotype effect occurred with lower CASQ1 expression in RER males versus control males (P \u3c .001) and RER females (P = .05) and higher FKBP1A (P = .01) expression in RER males versus control males. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The SLN gene encodes a uniquely truncated peptide in the horse versus other species. Variants in the coding sequence of SLN, MLRN, or DWORF were not associated with RER. Males with RER have differential gene expression that could reflect adaptations to stabilize RYR1

The Alveolate Perkinsus marinus: Biological Insights from EST Gene Discovery

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Perkinsus marinus</it>, a protozoan parasite of the eastern oyster <it>Crassostrea virginica</it>, has devastated natural and farmed oyster populations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. It is classified as a member of the Perkinsozoa, a recently established phylum considered close to the ancestor of ciliates, dinoflagellates, and apicomplexans, and a key taxon for understanding unique adaptations (<it>e.g</it>. parasitism) within the Alveolata. Despite intense parasite pressure, no disease-resistant oysters have been identified and no effective therapies have been developed to date.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>To gain insight into the biological basis of the parasite's virulence and pathogenesis mechanisms, and to identify genes encoding potential targets for intervention, we generated >31,000 5' expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived from four trophozoite libraries generated from two <it>P. marinus </it>strains. Trimming and clustering of the sequence tags yielded 7,863 unique sequences, some of which carry a spliced leader. Similarity searches revealed that 55% of these had hits in protein sequence databases, of which 1,729 had their best hit with proteins from the chromalveolates (E-value ≤ 1e-5). Some sequences are similar to those proven to be targets for effective intervention in other protozoan parasites, and include not only proteases, antioxidant enzymes, and heat shock proteins, but also those associated with relict plastids, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase and methyl erythrithol phosphate pathway components, and those involved in glycan assembly, protein folding/secretion, and parasite-host interactions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our transcriptome analysis of <it>P. marinus</it>, the first for any member of the Perkinsozoa, contributes new insight into its biology and taxonomic position. It provides a very informative, albeit preliminary, glimpse into the expression of genes encoding functionally relevant proteins as potential targets for chemotherapy, and evidence for the presence of a relict plastid. Further, although <it>P. marinus </it>sequences display significant similarity to those from both apicomplexans and dinoflagellates, the presence of trans-spliced transcripts confirms the previously established affinities with the latter. The EST analysis reported herein, together with the recently completed sequence of the <it>P. marinus </it>genome and the development of transfection methodology, should result in improved intervention strategies against dermo disease.</p

Association between body mass index and response to duloxetine for aromatase inhibitor‐associated musculoskeletal symptoms in SWOG S1202

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149517/1/cncr32024.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/149517/2/cncr32024_am.pd