Development of a thin-film porous-microelectrode array (p-mea) for electrical stimulation of engineered cardiac tissue.

Electrical stimulation has been increasingly used by research groups to enhance and increase maturation of cells in an engineered cardiac tissue (ECT). Current methods are based on using off-the-shelf wires or electrodes to deliver a stimulus voltage to the in-vitro tissue in culture medium. A major issue with this approach is the generation of byproducts in the medium due to the voltage levels required, which are typically in the range of 5V-10V. No solution currently exists that can accomplish electrical stimulation of cells in an ECT at a low voltage level. Therefore, in this study a novel, porous, thinfilm, microelectrode array (PMEA) device is proposed. The primary advantage of this device is the ability to successfully function at a very low voltage thus minimizing any undesirable oxidative byproducts in the culture environment or cell injury. This was achieved by designing and fabricating a thin device capable of being embedded in the ECT to deliver voltage. The P-MEA device is essentially a thin-film cable i.e. a conducting wire encapsulated with an insulating material; in this case thin-film gold electrodes sandwiched between two layers of insulating polyimide. Major features of the P-MEA include overall dimensions of 10mm width and 82mm length, four arms to allow movement of the individual sensor pads within ECTs, each embedded electrode arm incorporates eight 100μm x 200μm rectangular pores surrounding a 950μm x 340μm exposed electrode, large pads on either side of the porous embedded sensor to function as return electrodes, suture holes to aid in-vivo suturing and stabilization and eight electrode connector pads. Average thickness of the device was 16μm, with an average electrode film thickness of 0.4μm. Electrode resistance ranged from 69.45Ω to 78.52Ω. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was performed on the P-MEA electrodes and it confirmed that the P-MEA successfully operates in the 0.01V to 1.0V range with favorable charge transfer characteristics. Proof of principle experiments confirmed the ability of the PMEA to effectively embed within the ECT and electrically stimulate it during chronic, in-vitro culture. Histology imaging shows that the embedding of the device has no adverse effects on the ECT and the cardiomyocytes are aligned within the tissue. Experiments are ongoing to evaluate the role of electrical stimulation on the maturation and function of ECTs which are made of stem cells and other sources. In summary, this device is capable of safe low-voltage electrical stimulation of engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs); it has been designed, fabricated, and its ability to function as a low-voltage stimulus device has been validated using electrochemical tests and in-vitro culture experiments. The design and fabrication of the device went through three major iterations. A final manufacturing process was refined and successfully transferred to the UofL MNTC staff for subsequent manufacturing

PENGEMBANGAN DESAIN PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS DESIGN THINKING PADA MATA PELAJARAN MOTION GRAPHIC DI SMAS HELLOMOTION

Keberagaman karakteristik yang terdapat di kelas Motion Graphic SMAS HelloMotion menuntut desain pembelajaran yang dapat mempersiapkan peserta didik dalam menghadapi era VUCA dan society 5.0 serta tantangan dunia nyata. Pembelajaran berbasis pemecahan masalah menjadi salah satu cara yang diprediksi menjadi solusi pembelajaran masa kini. Design Thinking terbukti mampu untuk melibatkan penggunanya dalam metode pemecahan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengembangkan desain pembelajaran Motion Graphic berbasis Design Thinking bagi siswa kelas XI di SMAS HelloMotion. Melalui pelibatan Design Thinking dalam pembelajaran dengan aktivitas desain yang berulang di setiap materi pembelajaran Motion Graphic. Penelitian pengembangan ini menggunakan model pengembangan instruksional Design Thingking versi d.school yang terdiri dari lima tahapan pengembangan dengan integrasi beberapa tahapan model pengembangan model Dick & Carey. Uji kelayakan produk desain pembelajaran dilakukan melalui uji ahli desain pembelajaran, ahli materi motion graphic dan ahli design thinking, uji one-to-one kepada guru selaku desainer pembelajaran serta uji small group. Uji efektivitas dilakukan dengan melakukan uji lapangan terhadap 22 siswa di kelas Motion Graphic dengan temuan penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan Design Thinking mempunyai potensi yang signifikan untuk meningkatkan pengalaman siswa dengan relevansi pembelajaran Motion Graphic di dunia nyata. Meskipun ditemukan beberapa keterbatasan terkait alokasi waktu penelitian dan kebutuhan tim yang mendukung, penelitian ini menunjukan kontribusi pada pengembangan wawasan tentang penerapan Design Thinking dalam konteks desain pembelajaran khususnya pembelajaran Motion Graphic. ABSTRACT The diversity of characteristics contained in the SMAS HelloMotion Motion Graphic class demands a learning design that can prepare students to face the VUCA era and society 5.0 as well as real world challenges. Problem-solving-based learning is one way that is predicted to be a solution for today's learning. Design Thinking is proven to be able to involve users in solving methods. The aim of this research is to develop a Motion Graphic learning design based on Design Thinking for class XI students at SMAS HelloMotion. Through the involvement of Design Thinking in learning with repeated design activities in each Motion Graphic learning material. This development research uses the d.school version of the Design Thinking instructional development model which consists of five development stages with the integration of several stages of the Dick & Carey model development model. The feasibility test for learning design products is carried out through testing by learning design experts, motion graphic material experts and design thinking experts, one-to-one tests on teachers as learning designers and small group tests. The effectiveness test was carried out by conducting field tests on 22 students in the Motion Graphic class with research findings showing that the use of Design Thinking has significant potential to improve students' experiences with the relevance of Motion Graphic learning in the real world. Although several limitations were found regarding the allocation of research time and the need for a supporting team, this research shows a contribution to the development of insight into the application of Design Thinking in the context of learning design, especially Motion Graphic learning

Quantitative Characterization of Complex Coacervate Dispersions

Polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) coacervate dispersions are a versatile platform for the realization of aqueous colloidal encapsulants and bioreactors. The membraneless microdroplets comprising these dispersions form by liquid-liquid phase separation and introduce a distinct and unstable water-water interface with external aqueous environments, eventually leading to their coalescence and resulting in macro phase separation. This is a well-known phenomenon, that can be explained by conventional theories such as Voorn-Oberbeek (VO) model. Previously, we have shown that comb polyelectrolytes (cPEs) stabilize the coacervate microdroplets against coalescence, enabling the formulation of stable coacervate microemulsions. Stabilized PEC microdroplets possess unique properties like higher salt resistance, an expanded two-phase region, stable compartmentalization over longer periods of time, and higher stability under diverse conditions like (temperature, pH, ionic strength). However, predictions of phase separation and phase composition are a major challenge upon addition of cPEs in PEC systems. In this study, we have rigorously studied one widely used PE system constructed of poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) as a polycation and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) as a polyanion, while negatively charged MasterGlenium 7500 served as a cPE. This fundamental study aims to quantify phase composition using a series of thermogravimetric analysis. Along with rheology and high throughput turbidimetry measurements proving robustness of this stabilization strategy. Resorting to recent microfluidics advancements, a strategy to form monodisperse microdroplets is also discussed here. Overall, the results presented here will provide crucial information enabling a wide range of applications such as tailoring protocells and microreactors

Pengaruh Pemberian Reward dan Punishment Terhadap Kinerja Karyawan Restoran Teak Tree

This research aims to determine the effect of reward and punishment on the performance of Teak Tree Restaurant employees. This type of research is explanatory research with a quantitative approach. Data was obtained through distributing questionnaires using saturated sampling techniques to 39 employees. The data obtained was analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression. The results of this research show that rewards partially influence the performance of Teak Tree Restaurant employees, punishment does not influence the performance of Teak Tree Restaurant employees, and simultaneously reward and punishment influence the performance of Teak Tree Restaurant employees. The magnitude of the influence between reward and punishment variables on employee performance is 42.7%, while the remaining 57.3% is influenced by other variables outside the research.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh reward dan punishment terhadap kinerja karyawan Restoran Teak Tree. Jenis penelitian ini adalah explanatory research dengan pendekatan kuantitatif. Data diperoleh melalui penyebaran kuesioner dengan menggunakan teknik sampling jenuh terhadap 39 karyawan. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis menggunakan Regresi Linear Berganda. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa secara parsial reward berpengaruh terhadap kinerja karyawan Restoran Teak Tree, punishment tidak berpengaruh terhadap kinerja karyawan Restoran Teak Tree, serta secara simultan reward dan punishment berpengaruh terhadap kinerja karyawan Restoran Teak Tree. Besarnya pengaruh antara variabel reward dan punishment terhadap kinerja karyawan yaitu 42,7% sedangkan sisanya 57,3% dipengaruhi oleh variabel lain di luar penelitian

IMPLEMENTASI NON-CONTACT HANDWASH STATION PORTABLE DENGAN PEMANTAUAN MELALUI FIREBASE

Indonesia merupakan negara dengan jumlah penduduk terbanyak nomor 4 (empat) di dunia. Menurut Pew Research Center pada tahun 2019, Indonesia menjadi urutan ke-4 dengan jumlah populasi penduduk terbanyak di dunia dengan jumlah populasi sebanyak 274 juta jiwa. Berdasarkan data Riskesdas tahun 2018, kebiasaan perilaku mencuci tangan yang baik dan benar masyarakat Indonesia menunjukan angka 49,8% dari jumlah populasi di Indonesia. Data tersebut menunjukan mayoritas penduduk di Indonesia masih kurang memahami dalam pengetahuan terkait bagaimana cara cuci tangan yang baik dan benar sesuai anjuran dari World Health Organization (WHO). Pada era sekarang di tahun 2020 mengharuskan masyarakat diseluruh dunia untuk mulai membiasakan diri dengan selalu mencuci tangan pada saat akan melakukan kegiatan ataupun setelah melakukan kegiatan. Sehingga diperlukan edukasi secara menyeluruh dengan media yang lebih menarik serta modern dalam era digitalisasi seperti saat ini salah satu contohnya ialah penggunaan teknologi mikrokontroler untuk sistem kontrol yang dapat menjalankan pompa alat cuci tangan otomatis. jadi pada pembuatan alat ini menggunakan teknologi mikrokontroler untuk sistem kontrol yang dapat menjalankan pompa alat cuci tangan otomatis lalu akan mengirimkan data volume air dan sabun yang telah terpakai menuju firebase dan akan ditampilkan di website.Indonesia is a country with the most population number 4 (four) in the world. According to the Pew Research Center in 2019, Indonesia was ranked 4th with the largest population in the world with a total population of 274 million people. Based on Riskesdas data in 2018, the habit of good and correct hand washing behavior of Indonesian people shows 49.8% of the total population in Indonesia. These data show that the majority of the population in Indonesia still lacks knowledge regarding how to wash hands properly and correctly according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO). The current era in 2020 requires people around the world to start getting used to always washing their hands when going to do activities or after doing activities. So that a thorough education is needed with more interesting and modern media in this era of digitalization, one example is the use of microcontroller technology for a control system that can run an automatic hand washing pump. so in making this tool using microcontroller technology for a control system that can run an automatic hand washing pump and then it will send data on the volume of water and soap that has been used to firebase and will be displayed on the website

A rare case of patient with severe thrombocytopenia associated with sarcoidosis: a case study

Thrombocytopenia is a problem causing drop in platelet counts through different mechanisms. Patients typically present with petechiae to systemic bleeding, which are indications of a low platelet count. A smaller percentage of drop may be asymptomatic. The major mechanisms include increased sequestration in the spleen, underproduction from the bone marrow, and peripheral destruction. Many etiological factors can cause this. Sarcoidosis is one of the most uncommon etiologies. A careful diagnosis is required because, if the condition is not treated, it can be fatal. Steroid therapy and platelet transfusions remain the mainstay of treatment. Here, we describe a patient who presented with signs and symptoms of severe thrombocytopenia, which further led to the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. An adult male presented to the emergency department with a rash that deteriorated throughout the day. Based on complaints and laboratory testing, severe thrombocytopenia was noted. After a detailed examination and history-taking, he was found to have sarcoidosis. In association with drug administration and sarcoidosis, this could have caused severe thrombocytopenia. Written consent was taken from the patient mentioned in the study. The study was approved by the hospital and institutional ethics committee. Thrombocytopenia is a disorder where platelet counts drop below 150×109/l due to many different mechanisms. Among different etiological factors, sarcoidosis is the rarest and may present with very severe thrombocytopenia and lead to fatal complications. Such patients require close monitoring and treatment. Corticosteroids and platelet transfusions can be used as treatments. In the presented case, the patient was successfully treated, and on subsequent follow-up, the patient’s condition improved. Manifestations of severe thrombocytopenia can be present even before the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Further, the history of amoxicillin administration due to infection could have triggered the appearance of thrombocytopenia. Confirmation of sarcoidosis was made via biopsy. Multiple etiological factors that resulted in diagnostic ambiguity in our patient's presentation include the diagnosis of sarcoidosis, a history of infection, amoxicillin, and mild splenomegaly. The patient's treatment and recovery may indicate that corticosteroids, in conjunction with platelet transfusions, are beneficial. This is a novel case report of the presentation of severe thrombocytopenia, which was present even before the diagnosis of sarcoidosis

A Multicenter Retrospective Survey regarding Diabetic Ketoacidosis Management in Italian Children with Type 1 Diabetes

We conducted a retrospective survey in pediatric centers belonging to the Italian Society for Pediatric Diabetology and Endocrinology. The following data were collected for all new-onset diabetes patients aged 0-18 years: DKA (pH < 7.30), severe DKA (pH < 7.1), DKA in preschool children, DKA treatment according to ISPAD protocol, type of rehydrating solution used, bicarbonates use, and amount of insulin infused. Records (n = 2453) of children with newly diagnosed diabetes were collected from 68/77 centers (87%), 39 of which are tertiary referral centers, the majority of whom (n = 1536, 89.4%) were diagnosed in the tertiary referral centers. DKA was observed in 38.5% and severe DKA in 10.3%. Considering preschool children, DKA was observed in 72%, and severe DKA in 16.7%. Cerebral edema following DKA treatment was observed in 5 (0.5%). DKA treatment according to ISPAD guidelines was adopted in 68% of the centers. In the first 2 hours, rehydration was started with normal saline in all centers, but with different amount. Bicarbonate was quite never been used. Insulin was infused starting from third hour at the rate of 0.05-0.1 U/kg/h in 72% of centers. Despite prevention campaign, DKA is still observed in Italian children at onset, with significant variability in DKA treatment, underlying the need to share guidelines among centers

RangerEye: Autonomous Wildfire Detection and Patrol Drone

Wildfires present a growing threat to ecosystems and infrastructure. RangerEye is an autonomous wildfire monitoring system to patrol fire-prone areas, detect heat anomalies using onboard thermal imaging, and transmit alerts in real time. The system operates independently, utilizing a drone capable of both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and conventional flight, with a self-charging ground station

Increase in newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and serological evidence of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection: Is there a connection?

Several studies have investigated the correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic and the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in children, reporting an increased incidence of T1D and severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This study aimed to investigate the infection by SARS-CoV-2 in children with newly-diagnosed T1D to explore a possible link between SARS-CoV-2 infection, T1D and DKA. Thirty-nine children with a T1D new onset between October 15, 2020, and April 15, 2021, were enrolled. SARS-CoV-2 infection was investigated through a polymerase chain reaction on the nasal swab, dosage of specific antibodies, and an anamnestic question form. Nine (23%) of them had antibodies directed toward SARS-CoV-2, and five (12%) had a history of recent SARS-CoV-2 infection in themselves or in their family. No molecular swabs were positive. Compared to the general pediatric population, the overall incidence of COVID-19 was 5.6 times higher in the T1D patients' group (p < 0.00001). Referring only to the cases in the metropolitan area, we find a net increase in the incidence of T1D compared to the 5 years preceding our study, by 50% compared to the same months in 2016/2017 and 2017/2018, by 69% compared to 2018/2019 and by 77% compared to 2019/2020. The same trend was observed regarding DKA cases. The attributable risk of the pandemic cohort compared to the previous year is 44%. The abnormal disproportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection between children with T1D and the pediatric reference population, with a ratio of 5.6, appears to support the causative role of SARS-CoV-2 in triggering the immune response underlying diabetes, as often described for other viral infections. The difficulty accessing care services during the pandemic, with a consequent diagnosis delay, does not justify the increase in observed T1D cases, which could to be directly linked to the pandemic. The acceleration of the immune process provoked by SARS-CoV-2 may play a suggestive role in the development of T1D with DKA. Multicenter studies are needed to deepen and fully understand the pathophysiological link between SARS-CoV-2 and the onset of T1D in children

Delineation uncertainties of tumour volumes on MRI of head and neck cancer patients

Background: During the last decade, radiotherapy using MR Linac has gone from research to clinical implementation for different cancer locations. For head and neck cancer (HNC), target delineation based only on MR images is not yet standard, and the utilisation of MRI instead of PET/CT in radiotherapy planning is not well established. We aimed to analyse the inter-observer variation (IOV) in delineating GTV (gross tumour volume) on MR images only for patients with HNC. Material/methods: 32 HNC patients from two independent departments were included. Four clinical oncologists from Denmark and four radiation oncologists from Australia had independently contoured primary tumour GTVs (GTV-T) and nodal GTVs (GTV-N) on T2-weighted MR images obtained at the time of treatment planning. Observers were provided with sets of images, delineation guidelines and patient synopsis. Simultaneous truth and performance level estimation (STAPLE) reference volumes were generated for each structure using all observer contours. The IOV was assessed using the DICE Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and mean absolute surface distance (MASD). Results: 32 GTV-Ts and 68 GTV-Ns were contoured per observer. The median MASD for GTV-Ts and GTV-Ns across all patients was 0.17 cm (range 0.08–0.39 cm) and 0.07 cm (range 0.04–0.33 cm), respectively. Median DSC relative to a STAPLE volume for GTV-Ts and GTV-Ns across all patients were 0.73 and 0.76, respectively. A significant correlation was seen between median DSCs and median volumes of GTV-Ts (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.76, p < 0.001) and of GTV-Ns (Spearman correlation coefficient 0.55, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Contouring GTVs in patients with HNC on MRI showed that the median IOV for GTV-T and GTV-N was below 2 mm, based on observes from two separate radiation departments. However, there are still specific regions in tumours that are difficult to resolve as either malignant tissue or oedema that potentially could be improved by further training in MR-only delineation