Vision-Based Assessment of Parkinsonism and Levodopa-Induced Dyskinesia with Deep Learning Pose Estimation

Objective: To apply deep learning pose estimation algorithms for vision-based assessment of parkinsonism and levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID). Methods: Nine participants with Parkinson's disease (PD) and LID completed a levodopa infusion protocol, where symptoms were assessed at regular intervals using the Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS) and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS). A state-of-the-art deep learning pose estimation method was used to extract movement trajectories from videos of PD assessments. Features of the movement trajectories were used to detect and estimate the severity of parkinsonism and LID using random forest. Communication and drinking tasks were used to assess LID, while leg agility and toe tapping tasks were used to assess parkinsonism. Feature sets from tasks were also combined to predict total UDysRS and UPDRS Part III scores. Results: For LID, the communication task yielded the best results for dyskinesia (severity estimation: r = 0.661, detection: AUC = 0.930). For parkinsonism, leg agility had better results for severity estimation (r = 0.618), while toe tapping was better for detection (AUC = 0.773). UDysRS and UPDRS Part III scores were predicted with r = 0.741 and 0.530, respectively. Conclusion: This paper presents the first application of deep learning for vision-based assessment of parkinsonism and LID and demonstrates promising performance for the future translation of deep learning to PD clinical practices. Significance: The proposed system provides insight into the potential of computer vision and deep learning for clinical application in PD.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure. Under revie

A method for isolating and culturing placental cells from failed early equine pregnancies

Early pregnancy loss occurs in 6–10% of equine pregnancies making it the main cause of reproductive wastage. Despite this, reasons for the losses are known in only 16% of cases. Lack of viable conceptus material has inhibited investigations of many potential genetic and pathological causes. We present a method for isolating and culturing placental cells from failed early equine pregnancies. Trophoblast cells from 18/30 (60%) failed equine pregnancies of gestational ages 14–65 days were successfully cultured in three different media, with the greatest growth achieved for cells cultured in AmnioChrome™ Plus. Genomic DNA of a suitable quality for molecular assays was also isolated from 29/30 of these cases. This method will enable future investigations determining pathologies causing EPL

Antipersistent Random Walk in a Two State Flashing Magnetic Potential

We reveal the subdiffusive dynamics of paramagnetic colloids subjected to a two state flashing potential generated by periodic modulation of a magnetic bubble lattice. The particles perform a random walklike motion with antipersistent nature, showing for certain field parameters a crossover from subdiffusive to an enhanced diffusive behavior. We elucidate the stationary nature (no aging) of the subdiffusive process and stress its similarity with the random walk on a random walk model

Multi-class determination of undesirables in aquaculture samples by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization: A novel approach for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

In this work, a method for the analysis of 24 PAHs in 19 different matrices, including fish tissues, feeds and feed ingredients, has been developed using gas chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source (GC-APCI-MS/MS). The method is based on a modification of the unbuffered QuEChERS method, using freezing as an additional clean-up step and applying a 20-fold dilution factor to the final extract. The procedure was also tested for 15 pesticides and 7 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in order to widen the scope of the method. The excellent sensitivity and selectivity provided by GC-APCI-MS/MS allowed the dilution of the sample extracts and quantification using calibration with standards in solvent for all the 19 matrices tested. The developed method was evaluated at 2, 5 and 50 ng·g-1 spiking levels. LOQs were 2 ng·g-1 for most compounds, and LODs ranged from 0.5 to 2 ng·g-1. Analysis of real-world samples revealed the presence of naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene and pyrene at concentration levels ranging from 4.8 to 187 ng·g-1. No PCBs, DDTs and pesticides were found in fillets from salmon and sea bream

Screening of Pesticides and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Feeds and Fish Tissues by Gas Chromatography Coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Using Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization

This paper reports a wide-scope screening for detection and identification of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in feeds and fish tissues. QuEChERS sample treatment was applied, using freezing as an additional cleanup. Analysis was carried out by gas chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (GC-(APCI) QTOF MS). The qualitative validation was performed for over 133 representative pesticides and 24 PAHs at 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg. Subsequent application of the screening method to aquaculture samples made it possible to detect several compounds from the target list, such as chlorpyrifos-methyl, pirimiphos-methyl, and ethoxyquin, among others. Light PAHs (≤4 rings) were found in both animal and vegetable samples. The reliable identification of the compounds was supported by accurate mass measurements and the presence of at least two representative m/z ions in the spectrum together with the retention time of the peak, in agreement with the reference standard. Additionally, the search was widened to include other pesticides for which standards were not available, thanks to the expected presence of the protonated molecule and/or molecular ion in the APCI spectra. This could allow the detection and tentative identification of other pesticides different from those included in the validated target list

Computational Number Theory in Relation with L-Functions

International audienceWe give a number of theoretical and practical methods related to the computation of L-functions, both in the local case (counting points on varieties over finite fields, involving in particular a detailed study of Gauss and Jacobi sums), and in the global case (for instance Dirichlet L-functions, involving in particular the study of inverse Mellin transforms); we also give a number of little-known but very useful numerical methods, usually but not always related to the computation of L-functions

Testing Hardy nonlocality proof with genuine energy-time entanglement

We show two experimental realizations of Hardy ladder test of quantum nonlocality using energy-time correlated photons, following the scheme proposed by A. Cabello \emph{et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. \textbf{102}, 040401 (2009)]. Unlike, previous energy-time Bell experiments, these tests require precise tailored nonmaximally entangled states. One of them is equivalent to the two-setting two-outcome Bell test requiring a minimum detection efficiency. The reported experiments are still affected by the locality and detection loopholes, but are free of the post-selection loophole of previous energy-time and time-bin Bell tests.Comment: 5 pages, revtex4, 6 figure

Screening of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in feeds and fish tissues by gas chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry using atmospheric pressure chemical ionization

This paper reports a wide-scope screening for detection and identification of pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in feeds and fish tissues. QuEChERS sample treatment was applied, using freezing as an additional cleanup. Analysis was carried out by gas chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (GC-(APCI) QTOF MS). The qualitative validation was performed for over 133 representative pesticides and 24 PAHs at 0.01 and 0.05 mg/kg. Subsequent application of the screening method to aquaculture samples made it possible to detect several compounds from the target list, such as chlorpyrifos-methyl, pirimiphos-methyl, and ethoxyquin, among others. Light PAHs (≤4 rings) were found in both animal and vegetable samples. The reliable identification of the compounds was supported by accurate mass measurements and the presence of at least two representative m/z ions in the spectrum together with the retention time of the peak, in agreement with the reference standard. Additionally, the search was widened to include other pesticides for which standards were not available, thanks to the expected presence of the protonated molecule and/or molecular ion in the APCI spectra. This could allow the detection and tentative identification of other pesticides different from those included in the validated target list. © 2014 American Chemical Society.This work has been (partly) funded under the EU Seventh Framework Programme by ARRAINA Project 288925: Advanced Research Initiatives for Nutrition and Aquaculture. The views expressed in this work are the sole responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission. This work has been developed within the framework of the Research Unit of Marine Ecotoxicology (IATS (CSIC)-IUPA (UJI)). We also acknowledge the financial support of Generalitat Valenciana (research group of excellence PROMETEO/2009/054; ISIC 2012/016).Peer Reviewe