Mathematical Modeling of Thyroid Size and Hypothyroidism in Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis

This chapter is devoted to studying the physiology of the pituitary-thyroid axis and thyroid size in autoimmune thyroiditis via modeling. The pituitary-thyroid axis consists of a feed forward and backward loop in humans, which is responsible for maintaining the body’s metabolism. Under a disease situation, the dynamics of the axis becomes more complex and unique among patients. Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis disrupts the normal operation of the axis by slowly destroying the thyroid follicle cells through complex immune mechanisms. So, the size of thyroid and the axis operation are fully, partly, or totally not functional in this disease. Basically, the patient situation in the disease process is unique in describing the diffused goiter and/or a clinical symptom of hashitoxicosis, euthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism, or overt hypothyroidism. Using patient-specific modeling, we can predict the hidden dynamics of the natural history of autoimmune thyroiditis and test hypothesis on the operation of axis. In addition, we unfold case studies of three patients from the thyroid literature through the modeling viewpoint and describe their hidden dynamics

Acoustic power distribution techniques for wireless sensor networks

Recent advancements in wireless power transfer technologies can solve several residual problems concerning the maintenance of wireless sensor networks. Among these, air-based acoustic systems are still less exploited, with considerable potential for powering sensor nodes. This thesis aims to understand the significant parameters for acoustic power transfer in air, comprehend the losses, and quantify the limitations in terms of distance, alignment, frequency, and power transfer efficiency. This research outlines the basic concepts and equations overlooking sound wave propagation, system losses, and safety regulations to understand the prospects and limitations of acoustic power transfer. First, a theoretical model was established to define the diffraction and attenuation losses in the system. Different off-the-shelf transducers were experimentally investigated, showing that the FUS-40E transducer is most appropriate for this work. Subsequently, different load-matching techniques are analysed to identify the optimum method to deliver power. The analytical results were experimentally validated, and complex impedance matching increased the bandwidth from 1.5 to 4 and the power transfer efficiency from 0.02% to 0.43%. Subsequently, a detailed 3D profiling of the acoustic system in the far-field region was provided, analysing the receiver sensitivity to disturbances in separation distance, receiver orientation and alignment. The measured effects of misalignment between the transducers are provided as a design graph, correlating the output power as a function of separation distance, offset, loading methods and operating frequency. Finally, a two-stage wireless power network is designed, where energy packets are inductively delivered to a cluster of nodes by a recharge vehicle and later acoustically distributed to devices within the cluster. A novel dynamic recharge scheduling algorithm that combines weighted genetic clustering with nearest neighbour search is developed to jointly minimise vehicle travel distance and power transfer losses. The efficacy and performance of the algorithm are evaluated in simulation using experimentally derived traces that presented 90% throughput for large, dense networks.Open Acces

Mathematical Modeling and Dynamical Analysis of the Operation of the Hypothalamus - Pituitary - Thyroid (HPT) Axis in Autoimmune (Hashimoto\u27s) Thyroiditis

This thesis is a mathematical modeling study of the operation of the negative feedback control through the hypothalamus-pituitary- thyroid (HPT) axis in autoimmune (Hashimoto\u27s) thyroiditis. Negative feedback control through the HPT axis is a mechanism in which the high levels of thyroid hormone; free thyroxine (FT4) in the blood inhibits the secretion of the pituitary hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) into the blood. Similarly, the low levels of free thyroxine (FT4) sensed by the pituitary gland and then it secretes thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) into the blood. Autoimmune (Hashimoto\u27s) thyroiditis is a disease in which the immune system turns against the thyroid follicle cells and destroys them slowly for a long period of time. This in turn interrupts the operation of the negative feedback control, in fact, the HPT axis. The half-life of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) is one hour and seven days respectively in the blood. This implies that thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) changes in a faster time scale than free thyroxine (FT4) both in the healthy and diseased thyroid gland. Thus, the operation of negative feedback control is at least in two different time scales. The normal reference range for TSH and FT4 is used in this thesis are(0.4-2.5) mU/L and (7-18) pg/mL respectively. In thyroid clinics, in general, physicians see three different kinds of patients with autoimmune (Hashimoto\u27s) thyroiditis with or without goiter (enlarged thyroid gland). Patients with euthyroidism (normal FT4 and TSH levels).Patients with subclinical hypothyroidism (normal FT4 but TSH above normal levels).Patients with overt (clinical) hypothyroidism (low FT4 and TSH above normal levels).Usually patients with euthyroidism progress to subclinical hypothyroidism and then progress to overt hypothyroidism. This is a sequential event, but in some patients\u27 cases, it is not true. To describe the operation of the feedback control in autoimmune (Hashimoto\u27s) thyroiditis, we developed a mathematical model in this thesis involving four clinical (state) variables, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), anti-thyroid antibodies (TPOAb and TGAb), and the functional size of the thyroid gland (T). The first three variables are regularly measured in thyroid clinics to determine the function of negative feedback control and the status of the thyroid gland in autoimmune thyroiditis. The last variable is determined through relationships between the other three variables and is required for this work to accurately track the output of the gland. The problem of two different time scales is addressed using singularly perturbation theory. Also, the analysis of the mathematical model establishes stability and conditions under which the diseased state can be maintained the slow movement of the functioning of the negative feedback control toward the diseased state equilibrium. In this thesis, the purpose of modeling the operation of negative feedback control is to describe the natural history of autoimmune (Hashimoto\u27s) thyroiditis. This means to describe the natural course of euthyroidism, subclinical hypothyroidism or overt hypothyroidism for every patient with autoimmune thyroiditis. Although, we have used four variables in modeling the feedback control through the HPT axis, the end product depends on the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4). In addition, the clinical chart is developed based on the levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and time. To validate the model description, patient\u27s dataset are employed in chapter 5. For this thesis, the dataset is obtained from Sicilian adult population, Italy through our clinical collaborator

Recapitulation of primary nailing in open diaphyseal fractures of tibia

Tibia fractures are the commonest long bone fracture, most commonly resulting from high velocity injury. We investigated whether primary nailing in open tibia fractures were producing satisfactory outcomes and we compared the outcomes in terms of fracture union and rates of infection. We identified 202 citations related to our searches from our key words, out of which 89 were original articles, which were eligible and others were case reports and review articles. We found 4 from these references which had the parallel inclusion criteria and were reviewed. All 4 studies had almost similar time period for the fracture union. Infection rates in this study were directly related to the severity of the grade of injury, which were commonly experienced in grade III injuries. In conclusion, our analysis had no significant difference in postoperative healing duration, implant failure rates, postoperative infection and secondary operation rates in primary nailing for open tibia fractures.

Shell-Isolated Nanoparticle-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and Its Applications in Electrochemistry

壳层隔绝纳米粒子增强拉曼光谱（SHINERS）的发明突破了表面增强拉曼散射光谱（SERS）在形貌普适性以及基底普适性的问题，受到了人们的极大的关注。在过去的几年间，SHINERS技术已被广泛应用于各个领域，特别是在电化学领域的应用尤为突出。本报告主要辑录在过去的两年中（2014-2016）我们关于SHINERS技术的研究工作。首先本文清晰的介绍了SHINERS技术的发展过程，从最初的常规拉曼光谱到后来的SERS以及针尖增强拉曼散射光谱（TERS），进而到最新的SHINERS技术的出现，并对其中与各项技术相关的基本概念、原理进行了详细介绍。在进行SHINERS试验的时候，SHINs（[email protected] nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SHINERS) attracted significant attention by eliminating the material and morphology generality problems of SERS. For the past few years, SHINERS has been extensively employed in many fields such as electrochemistry, food science, and material science. This report compiles our research works in the past two years (2014-2016). First, I clearly...学位：博士后院系专业：化学化工学院_物理化学学号：201417004

A Patient-Specific Treatment Model for Graves’ Hyperthyroidism

Background: Graves’ is disease an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland caused by circulating anti-thyroid receptor antibodies (TRAb) in the serum. TRAb mimics the action of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and stimulates the thyroid hormone receptor (TSHR), which results in hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland) and goiter. Methimazole (MMI) is used for hyperthyroidism treatment for patients with Graves’ disease. Methods: We have developed a model using a system of ordinary differential equations for hyperthyroidism treatment with MMI. The model has four state variables, namely concentration of MMI (in mg/L), concentration of free thyroxine - FT4 (in pg/mL), and concentration of TRAb (in U/mL) and the functional size of the thyroid gland (in mL) with thirteen parameters. With a treatment parameter, we simulate the time-course of patients’ progression from hyperthyroidism to euthyroidism (normal condition). We validated the model predictions with data from four patients. Results: When there is no MMI treatment, there is a unique asymptotically stable hyperthyroid state. After the initiation of MMI treatment, the hyperthyroid state moves towards subclinical hyperthyroidism and then euthyroidism. Conclusion: We can use the model to describe or test and predict patient treatment schedules. More specifically, we can fit the model to individual patients’ data including loading and maintenance doses and describe the mechanism, hyperthyroidism → euthyroidism. The model can be used to predict when to discontinue the treatment based on FT4 levels within the physiological range, which in turn help maintain the remittance of euthyroidism and avoid relapses of hyperthyroidism. Basically, the model can guide with decision-making on oral intake of MMI based on FT4 levels

Distributed Analytics Framework for Integrating Brownfield Systems to Establish Intelligent Manufacturing Architecture

Intelligent manufacturing otherwise called as smart manufacturing concentrates upon optimising production and processes by making full use of data available. It is regarded as a new manufacturing model where the entire product life cycle can be simplified using various smart sensors, data-driven decision-making models, visualisation, intelligent devices, and data analytics. In the Industry 4.0 era, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) architecture platform is required to streamline and secure data transfer between machines, factories, etc. When certain manufacturing industry is equipped with this platform, an intelligent manufacturing model can be achieved. In today’s factories, most machines are brownfield systems and are not connected to any IoT platforms. Thus they cannot provide data or visibility into their performance, health, and optimal maintenance schedules, which would have improved their operational value. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by demonstrating how brownfield equipment can be IIoT enabled and how data analytics can be performed at the edge as well as cloud using two simple use cases involving industrial robot on the abrasive finishing process. The focus of this paper is on how a scalable data analytics architecture can be built for brownfield machines at the edge as well as the cloud

A Robust Tool for Monitoring and Synchronizing Smart Grid through Adaptive Comb Filter

The power system signals are often polluted with harmonics and noise as a result of nonlinear load. This non stationary signal has to be monitored carefuly before it propagates as a grid problem.This article describes the design of adaptive comb filter, extraction of amplitude, frequency and phase with respect to time for monitoring purpose and extraction of harmonic components for suppressing the contamination present in the signal for synchronization with smart grid. The adaptive comb filter algorithm is a synchronizing tool implemented in Matlab/Simulink environment.The response of the filter is compared with enhanced phased locked loop to describe the characteristics of adaptive comb filter.The algorithm tracks the transient (dynamic) and steady state behaviour of the signal effectively, efficiently and accurately