Genetic machine learning approach for data fusion applications in dense wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are being targeted for use in applications like security, resources monitoring and factory automation. However, the reduced available resources raise a lot of technical challenges. Self organization in WSN is a desirable characteristic that can be achieved by means of data fusion techniques when delivering reliable data to users. In this paper it is proposed a genetic machine learning algorithm (GMLA) approach that makes a trade-off between quality of information and communication efficiency. GMLA is based on genetic algorithms and it can adapt itself dynamically to environment modifications. The main target of the proposed approach is to achieve set(organization in a WSN application with data fusion. Simulations demonstrate that the proposed approach can optimize communication efficiency in a dense WSN

Quantification of (-) hydroxycitric acid in marketed extracts of Garcinia cambogia by high performance liquid chromatography

O extrato de Garcinia cambogia (GC), utilizado no tratamento da obesidade, é padronizado por quantificação de ácido hidroxicítrico (AHC) em sua forma salina (CaAHC). Assim, objetivou-se quantificar AHC em duas amostras comerciais de GC (A e B) com 50 % de AHC, de acordo com os laudos de origem. O rendimento extrativo por maceração foi 23,83 % (A) e 22,37 % (B). O teor do analito, quantificado por CLAE-DAD utilizando calibração com padrão de CaAHC, foi 36,09 % (A) e 41,57 % (B) sobre a fração hidrossolúvel e 8,82 % (A) e 9,70 % (B) sobre o extrato inicial. Na quantificação sobre a fração hidrossolúvel, os resultados encontram-se similares aos especificados pelos distribuidores. Entretanto, considerando o extrato inicial, os resultados encontram-se significativamente abaixo dos especificados. Visto que parte considerável do extrato não é solúvel em meio aquoso, dosear o analito apenas em relação à fração hidrossolúvel pode ser um viés para a adequação de doses deste fitoterápico.Garcinia cambogia extract, used in the treatment of obesity, is standardized by quantification of hydroxycitric acid (HCA) in its salt form (CaHCA). The aim of this study was to quantify HCA in two samples of marketed GC extracts (A and B) containing 50 % of HCA, as origins specifications. The maceration extraction yield was 23.83 % (A) and 22.37 % (B). The quantification, performed by HPLC-DAD using calibration with CaHCA standard, was 36.09 % (A) and 41.57 % (B) related to the water-soluble portion and 8.82 % (A) and 9.70 % (B), related to the initial extract. On the water-soluble portion quantification, results are similar to those specified by the distributors. However, considering the quantification over the initial extract, results are significantly below of the specified values. Observing that part of the extract is insoluble in water, to quantify the analyte considering only the water-soluble portion could lead to considerable error for the adequacy of dose of this phytotherapic.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI <18·5 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). For schoolaged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI <2 SD below the median of the WHO growth reference) and obesity (BMI >2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining underweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesit

VOA: Variable Offset Algorithm for the optimization of communication efficiency in wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we propose the VOA algorithm (Variable Offset Algorithm) to deal with the optimization of communication efficiency in dense WSN s with star topologies. The use of the VOA algorithm has been assessed by means of an experimental setup. The results highlight that the use of the VOA algorithm, implemented as a light middleware at the application layer, clearly enhances the communication efficiency in a WSN with star topology. © 2010 IEEE

Heparin Oligosaccharides Have Antiarrhythmic Effect by Accelerating the Sodium-Calcium Exchanger

Background: Blockage of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) is used to determine the role of NCX in arrhythmogenesis. Trisulfated heparin disaccharide (TD) and Low Molecular Weight Heparins (LMWHs) can directly interact with the NCX and accelerate its activity.Objective: In this work, we investigated the antiarrhythmic effect of heparin oligosaccharides related to the NCX activity.Methods: The effects of heparin oligosaccharides were tested on the NCX current (patch clamping) and intracellular calcium transient in rat cardiomyocytes. The effects of heparin oligosaccharides were further investigated in arrhythmia induced in isolated rat atria and rats in vivo.Results: The intracellular Ca2+ concentration decreases upon treatment with either enoxaparin or ardeparin. These drugs abolished arrhythmia induction in isolated atria. The NCX antagonist KB-R7943 abolished the enoxaparin or ardeparin antiarrhythmic effects in isolated atria. In the in vivo measurements, injection of TD 15 min both before coronary occlusion or immediately after reperfusion, significantly prevented the occurrence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias (ventricular arrhythmia and total AV block) and reduced the lethality rate. The patch clamping experiments showed that, mechanistically, TD increases the forward mode NCX current.Conclusion: Together, the data shows that heparin oligosaccharides may constitute a new class of antiarrhythmic drug that acts by accelerating the forward mode NCX under calcium overload

Mining Novel Candidate Imprinted Genes Using Genome-Wide Methylation Screening and Literature Review

Large-scale transcriptome and methylome data analyses obtained by high-throughput technologies have been enabling the identification of novel imprinted genes. We investigated genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in multiple human tissues, using a high-resolution microarray to uncover hemimethylated CpGs located in promoters overlapping CpG islands, aiming to identify novel candidate imprinted genes. Using our approach, we recovered ~30% of the known human imprinted genes, and a further 168 candidates were identified, 61 of which with at least three hemimethylated CpGs shared by more than two tissue types. Thirty-four of these candidate genes are members of the protocadherin cluster on 5q31.3; in mice, protocadherin genes have non-imprinted random monoallelic expression, which might also be the case in humans. Among the remaining 27 genes, ZNF331 was recently validated as an imprinted gene, and six of them have been reported as candidates, supporting our prediction. Five candidates (CCDC166, ARC, PLEC, TONSL, and VPS28) map to 8q24.3, and might constitute a novel imprinted cluster. Additionally, we performed a comprehensive compilation of known human and mice imprinted genes from literature and databases, and a comparison among high-throughput imprinting studies in humans. The screening for hemimethylated CpGs shared by multiple human tissues, together with the extensive review, appears to be a useful approach to reveal candidate imprinted genes