Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

A Theoretical Model Proposal: Personal Innovativeness and User Involvement as Antecedents of Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology

An emerging stream of work on technology acceptance and innovation diffusion complements a large body of literature that points to users' technology acceptance behavior. In this paper, we argue theoretically that technology acceptance should be integrated into diffusion of innovation theory, so both concepts should be explained at the same framework. On the other hand, acceptance behavior is explained many other constructs, such as user satisfaction, user involvement. Unlike the previous research, we propose an overall framework to explain acceptance behavior and system implementation success. Hence we use unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. After that we try to create a linkage with this theory and personal innovativeness and user involvement as antecedents by providing some propositions. We will test these propositions in a field research for future research

Autonomic Fall Detection System

Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing have produced major breakthroughs in information services and applications. Internet provided the required connections to countless devices or things that have led to a significant improvement in the quality of life. In addition, using wearable devices and smart sensors has facilitated the deployment of pervasive healthcare services that provided better healthcare, and reduced life threatening risks without affecting one's privacy. In this paper, we present an architectural approach for autonomic healthcare management system and show how to use this system for autonomic fall detection, where we leverage wearable technologies, IoT, and cloud computing

Fibromyalgia frequency and course in renal transplantation patients

AbstractBackground/Aims: Musculoskeletal complications such as fibromyalgia syndrome may occur following renal transplantation. However, frequency and the course of this condition have not been deeply assessed in this group of patients. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of fibromyalgia syndrome and identify the factors associated with its occurrence in patients who underwent renal transplantation for end-stage renal disease. Methods: The demographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were recorded. All patients were assessed in outpatient setting for the presence of fibromyalgia and classified into three groups in the following order: Group 1, normal patients; Group 2, possible fibromyalgia; Group 3, fibromyalgia syndrome. In addition, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire was administered.Results: A total of 128 patients who underwent renal transplantation were included. Three groups did not differ with regard to the age, marital status, smoking history, etiology of the renal failure and laboratory findings (p>0.05). However, female gender was more frequent among patients with fibromyalgia. Fatigue, sleep disturbance, irritable colon syndrome, depression and antidepressant use were also more common and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score was higher in patients with fibromyalgia. A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire score and antidepressant use as significant independent predictors of fibromyalgia syndrome and possible fibromyalgia.Conclusion: Fibromyalgia syndrome shows a tendency to occur more commonly in renal transplant patients than in normal population, where depression is accompanied by these conditions. Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire scoring system is a useful tool to assess the presence of fibromyalgia syndrome or possible fibromyalgia syndrome in this group of patients

Reversible Logic-Based Hexel Value Differencing—A Spatial Domain Steganography Method for Hexagonal Image Processing

The field of steganography has witnessed considerable advancements in square-pixel-based image processing (SIP). However, the application of steganography in Hexel (Hexagonal pixel)-based Image Processing (HIP) is still underexplored. This study introduces a pioneering spatial steganography method called the Reversible Logic-Based Hexel Value Differencing (RLBHVD) method in the HIP domain. Our approach draws inspiration from Pixel-Value-Differencing (PVD), a SIP fundamental spatial-domain (S-D) steganography method. Initially, the image is transformed into the HIP domain using the custom software infrastructure developed for this project. Due to the absence of commercial equipment capable of producing HIP-domain images, traditional digital imaging systems are employed with their sensor components, analog-to-digital conversion units, and square-pixel-based displays. Once the image is converted, it is partitioned into standardized heptads, each comprising seven hexels. Simultaneously, the secret message is segmented for embedding into the hexels within each heptad. Unlike SIP-domain PVD, which embeds segments into independent pixel pairs, our method performs iterative embedding within each heptad. Additionally, we leverage Feynman gates, a core element of reversible logic, to achieve retrieval of both the cover image and the secret message. Unlike PVD in SIP, our approach enables reversibility in the recovery process. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method, RLBHVD, outperforms its SIP counterpart, PVD, by achieving a low Mean Squared Error (MSE), high Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), and significant similarity between the stego-image and cover image histograms. These findings highlight the efficacy and superiority of our HIP-based steganography approach in comparison to existing SIP methods

Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches in Infantile Colic (IC): Results of a Survey Among Paediatricians in Turkey

Background and Objective: Due to limited knowledge on the etiopathogenesis of infantile colic (IC) and the insufficiency of data regarding current treatments, different approaches emerge in terms of diagnosis, and treatment modalities globally and also in Turkey. The objective of this study was to observe how infantile colic is diagnosed and treated by paediatricians in Turkey.Methods: An anonymous electronic questionnaire was used to collect the respondents' opinions. The study questionnaire was comprised of 4 different sections with 56 multiple-choice questions covering demographic features, diagnostic approach, treatment preferences and response to treatment.Results: A total of 375 paediatricians responded to the survey. Fifty three percent of the participants stated that they established the IC diagnosis based only on their clinical experience. Factors that most affected the decision to start treatment were identified as parent discomfort, decreased family quality of life, and crying duration (68, 66, and 54%, respectively). Application of soothing methods, probiotics, and simethicone were identified as the most frequently used treatment modalities (frequency ranking; 81, 76, and 50%, respectively). Of the participants, 98% stated that they used probiotic as supplements, on the other hand, 72% of the participants indicated that they used simethicone as the only medical treatment to treat IC. The question about the participants' observations regarding the response to probiotic treatment was answered by 71% of the participants with decreased crying duration, while easier stool/gas passage and resolved digestion problems were the other frequent observations (54 and 49%, respectively). The observations related to the response to simethicone treatment also included decreased crying duration in addition to decreased crying periods after feeding and easier gas/stool passage (67, 47, and 44%, respectively).Conclusions: Survey results revealed that the majority of the paediatricians used their clinical experience alone to establish the diagnosis of IC and preferred probiotic supplements and simethicone as the only medical treatment to treat IC and they observed clinical benefits from them. Insights generated by this study will be helpful to guide future efforts to improve the management of infantile colic by paediatricians

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection associated with severe lung involvement in a preterm neonate: a causal relationship?

We report a preterm neonate with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection associated with severe lung involvement progressing to early chronic lung disease (CLD) and death. The present case represents the earliest and the most severe lung involvement depending on recurrent maternal CMV infection reported in the literature. Neonatal mortality and progression to early CLD should be considered in the list of possible neonatal sequelae resulting from recurrent maternal CMV infection