36 results
Search Results
2. A feasibility study of composites produced from telephone directory paper, plastics, and other adhesives
- Author
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Steiner, P [Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)]
- Published
- 2020
3. Effect of moisture content on the accuracy and economic feasibility of oil–paper insulation prediction model.
- Author
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Li, Chong, Wu, Kai, and Cheng, Chuanhui
- Subjects
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PREDICTION models , *LIFE cycle costing , *MOISTURE , *FORECASTING , *FEASIBILITY studies , *HEAVY oil - Abstract
The condition assessment of oil–paper insulation is a vital issue in transformer management. To investigate the effect of moisture content on the accuracy of the prediction model, accelerated ageing experiments were performed with different initial moisture content (IMC) in laboratory condition. Two types of multi-parameter lifetime prediction models, e.g. with and without consideration of IMC, were presented for comparison purpose. The authors found that a better accuracy for its prediction results could be achieved by establishing the prediction models with the consideration of IMC. Besides, models considering IMC have better economic feasibility than that without considering IMC(non-IMC) as its total cost is cheaper according to life cycle cost (LCC) calculations. In addition, failure probability based on the proposed prediction models was also calculated as a direct indicator for evaluating the oil–paper insulation status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
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4. Multivariate image analysis for the rapid detection of residues from packaging remnants in former foodstuff products (FFPs) – a feasibility study
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Alessandro Ulrici, Luciano Pinotti, Matteo Ottoboni, Marco Tretola, Rosalba Calvini, and A. Luciano
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Paper ,Multivariate statistics ,Natural resource economics ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Food Contamination ,Toxicology ,01 natural sciences ,Rapid detection ,colourgrams ,feed ,food safety ,Former foodstuffs ,multivariate image analysis (MIA) ,packaging remnants ,business.industry ,Circular economy ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Food Packaging ,0402 animal and dairy science ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,General Chemistry ,General Medicine ,Food safety ,040201 dairy & animal science ,0104 chemical sciences ,Multivariate Analysis ,Feasibility Studies ,Livestock ,business ,Nutritive Value ,Plastics ,Food Analysis ,Food Science - Abstract
From a circular economy perspective, feeding livestock with food leftovers or former foodstuff products (FFPs) could be an effective option aimed at exploiting food leftover resources and reducing food losses. FFPs are valuable energy sources, characterised by a beneficial starch/sugar content, and also fats. However, besides these nutritional aspects, safety is a key concern given that FFPs are generally derived from packaged food. Packaging materials, such as plastics and paper, are not accepted as a feed ingredient which means that residues should be rigorously avoided. A sensitive and objective detection method is thus essential for an accurate risk evaluation throughout the former food production chain. To this end, former food samples were collected in processing plants of two different European countries and subjected to multivariate analysis of red, green, and blue (RGB) microscopic images, in order to evaluate the possible application of this non-destructive technique for the rapid detection of residual particles from packaging materials. Multivariate Image Analysis (MIA) was performed on single images at the pixel level, which essentially consisted in an exploratory analysis of the image data by means of Principal Component Analysis, which highlighted the differences between packaging and foodstuff particles, based on their colour. The whole dataset of images was then analysed by means of a multivariate data dimensionality reduction method known as the colourgrams approach, which identified clusters of images sharing similar features and also highlighted outlier images due to the presence of packaging particles. The results obtained in this feasibility study demonstrated that MIA is a promising tool for a rapid automated method for detecting particles of packaging materials in FFPs.
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- 2020
5. Spatial frequency domain imager based on a compact multiaperture camera: testing and feasibility for noninvasive burn severity assessment
- Author
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Anthony J. Durkin, Jun Tanida, Adrien Ponticorvo, Rebecca A. Rowland, Keiichiro Kagawa, and Gordon T. Kennedy
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Paper ,Materials science ,genetic structures ,compound eye ,Multispectral image ,Biomedical Engineering ,Bioengineering ,Optical Physics ,Imaging phantom ,Phantoms ,law.invention ,Imaging ,Biomaterials ,Mice ,Optics ,Band-pass filter ,law ,Opthalmology and Optometry ,multispectral imaging ,Animals ,diffuse optics ,Skin ,CMOS sensor ,thin observational module by bound optics ,business.industry ,Phantoms, Imaging ,Optical Imaging ,Compound eye ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Rats ,Lens (optics) ,Wavelength ,burn wounds ,spatial frequency domain imaging ,Feasibility Studies ,Spatial frequency ,sense organs ,business ,Burns - Abstract
Significance: Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) is a wide-field imaging technique that provides quantitative maps of tissue optical properties. We describe a compact SFDI imager that employs a multispectral compound-eye camera. This design enables simultaneous image acquisition at multiple wavelengths. Such a device has potential for application for quantitative evaluation of superficial tissues by nonspecialists in low-resource settings. Aim: The aim of this work was to develop a compact SFDI imager for widefield imaging of in-vivo tissue optical properties and verify its ability to measure optical properties of tissue-simulating phantoms and in a preclinical model of burn wounds. Approach: This compound-eye imager was constructed using a CMOS sensor subdivided into multiple regions, each having a bandpass filter and objective lens. The ability of the instrument to image optical properties was compared with (1) a commercial SFDI imager and (2) a laboratory-based system. Initial validation of ability to accurately characterize optical properties was performed using a tissue-simulating optical phantom. It was then applied to an established murine model of thermal contact burn severity. In-vivo measurements of the optical properties of rat skin were performed before and after the application of burns. Histology was used to verify burn severity. Results: Measurements of the tissue-simulating phantom optical properties made using the compound-eye imager agree with measurements made using the two comparison SFDI devices. For the murine burn model, the burns showed a decrease in the reduced scattering coefficient at all measurement wavelengths compared with preburn measurements at the same locations. This is consistent with previously reported changes in scattering that occur in full-thickness burns. Conclusion: We demonstrate the potential for SFDI to be translated into compact form factor using a compound-eye camera that is capable of obtaining multiple wavelengths channels simultaneously.
- Published
- 2021
6. Development and validation of a 3D printed antiviral ventilator filter - a comparative study
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Mathew Francis, Barak Cohen, Esther Shaylor, Ruth Shaylor, and Solomon Dadia
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Paper ,Surgical Sponges ,Ventilator circuit ,3d printed ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Supply chain ,Polyurethanes ,Ultrafiltration ,Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ,Global Health ,Automotive engineering ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cartridge ,0302 clinical medicine ,Anesthesiology ,Humans ,Medicine ,RD78.3-87.3 ,Anesthesia ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Coloring Agents ,030223 otorhinolaryngology ,Pandemics ,Ventilator ,Ventilators, Mechanical ,Filter paper ,business.industry ,COVID-19 ,Reproducibility of Results ,Equipment Design ,3D printing ,Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine ,Filter (video) ,Printing, Three-Dimensional ,Viruses ,Feasibility Studies ,business ,Casing ,Research Article - Abstract
Background The current coronavirus infectious disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unexpected pressure on medical supplies, interrupting supply chains and increasing prices. The supply of antiviral filters which form an essential part of the ventilator circuit have been affected by these issues. Three-dimensional (3D) printing may provide a solution to some of these issues. Methods We designed and tested 3D printed heat and moisture exchange (HME) and antiviral casing. For each casing we tested two different filter materials derived from a sediment water filter cartridge or 1.5-μm glass fiber filter paper. A polyurethane sponge was used for the HME. Each design was tested for circuit leak, circuit compliance, peak inspiratory pressure and casing integrity using methylene blue dye. Results We designed, produced, and tested two different types of antiviral filters with six different internal configurations. Overall, we tested 10 modified filter designs and compared them with the original commercial filter. Except for the combination of 1.5-μm filter paper and 5 mm sponge peak inspiratory pressure and circuit compliance of the filters produced were within the operating limits of the ventilator. All In addition, all filters passed the dye test. Conclusions Our filter may be of particular importance to those working in low middle-income countries unable to compete with stronger economies. Our design relies on products available outside the healthcare supply chain, much of which can be purchased in grocery stores, hardware stores, or industrial and academic institutions. We hope that these HMEs and viral filters may be beneficial to clinicians who face critical supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Published
- 2021
7. Vegetal fiber paper matrix impregnated with silica gel for benzene removal
- Author
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Ruzhu Wang, X.N. Wu, Tianshu Ge, and Yanjun Dai
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Paper ,Environmental Engineering ,Materials science ,010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences ,Silica Gel ,010501 environmental sciences ,engineering.material ,01 natural sciences ,Matrix (chemical analysis) ,symbols.namesake ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Adsorption ,Coating ,Fiber ,Benzene ,Plant Proteins ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Pressure drop ,Air Pollutants ,Silica gel ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Langmuir adsorption model ,Building and Construction ,chemistry ,Chemical engineering ,Air Pollution, Indoor ,engineering ,symbols ,Feasibility Studies - Abstract
Removing benzene from indoor space plays an important role in indoor air purification. A novel filter with vegetal fiber paper (VFP) as matrix hosting silica gel is proposed in this paper for benzene removal. In order to investigate the feasibility and performance of this idea, firstly, three pieces of VFP samples impregnated with different amounts of silica gel are fabricated and their benzene adsorption quantities are tested. The results show that three times is recommended as the optimal number for impregnating. The VFP sample impregnated with silica gel after the third impregnating exhibits commendable coating stability and good benzene adsorption performance. Additionally, at low relative pressure (Pb /Ps ≤ 0.05), the experimental data of benzene adsorption isotherms fit well with the Langmuir model with R2 greater than 0.97. Then, two actual filters made of VFP impregnated with silica gel after the third impregnating were fabricated. It is found that the pressure drop of the actual filter is only 1200 Pa/m when the air velocity is 2 m/s. Besides, the one-pass efficiency of the filter can reach to 19.44%. It is expected that the silica gel coated on the filter can be modified to improve the purification performance of the filter.
- Published
- 2019
8. In situ terahertz monitoring of an ice ball formation during tissue cryosurgery: a feasibility test
- Author
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Larisa P. Safonova, Gleb M. Katyba, Arsenii A. Gavdush, Irina N. Dolganova, Arsen K. Zotov, and Nikita V. Chernomyrdin
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Paper ,Materials science ,Terahertz radiation ,tetrahertz pulsed spectroscopy ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Biomedical Engineering ,01 natural sciences ,Signal ,Cryosurgery ,010309 optics ,Biomaterials ,ice ball formation ,0103 physical sciences ,Freezing ,medicine ,Animals ,Special Series on Advances in Terahertz Biomedical Science and Applications ,Image resolution ,Spectrometer ,Ice ,terahertz biophotonics ,Cryoablation ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Terahertz spectroscopy and technology ,Biophotonics ,Cryotherapy ,cryoablation ,Feasibility Studies ,Cattle ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
Significance: Uncontrolled cryoablation of tissues is a strong reason limiting the wide application of cryosurgery and cryotherapy due to the certain risks of unpredicted damaging of healthy tissues. The existing guiding techniques are unable to be applied in situ or provide insufficient spatial resolution. Terahertz (THz) pulsed spectroscopy (TPS) based on sensitivity of THz time-domain signal to changes of tissue properties caused by freezing could form the basis of an instrument for observation of the ice ball formation. Aim: The ability of TPS for in situ monitoring of tissue freezing depth is studied experimentally. Approach: A THz pulsed spectrometer operated in reflection mode and equipped with a cooled sample holder and ex vivo samples of bovine visceral adipose tissue is applied. Signal spectrograms are used to analyze the changes of THz time-domain signals caused by the interface between frozen and unfrozen tissue parts. Results: Experimental observation of TPS signals reflected from freezing tissue demonstrates the feasibility of TPS to detect ice ball formation up to 657-μm depth. Conclusions: TPS could become the promising instrument for in situ control of cryoablation, enabling observation of the freezing front propagation, which could find applications in various fields of oncology, regenerative medicine, and THz biophotonics.
- Published
- 2020
9. Feasibility of combined optical coherence tomography and autofluorescence imaging for visualization of needle biopsy placement
- Author
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Anthony M. D. Lee, Geoffrey Hohert, Sylvia Lam, Renelle Myers, Stephen Lam, Pierre M. Lane, and Andrei Vertikov
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Paper ,Image-Guided Biopsy ,Swine ,Biomedical Engineering ,Lung biopsy ,autofluorescence ,01 natural sciences ,Imaging ,010309 optics ,Biomaterials ,Optical coherence tomography ,In vivo ,0103 physical sciences ,Biopsy ,medicine ,Animals ,biopsy ,optical coherence tomography ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Biopsy, Needle ,Optical Imaging ,animal study ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Stylet ,Autofluorescence ,Feasibility Studies ,business ,Nuclear medicine ,Tomography, Optical Coherence ,Preclinical imaging ,Ex vivo ,lung imaging - Abstract
Significance: Diagnosis of suspicious lung nodules requires precise collection of relevant biopsies for histopathological analysis. Using optical coherence tomography and autofluorescence imaging (OCT-AFI) to improve diagnostic yield in parts of the lung inaccessible to larger imaging methods may allow for reducing complications related to the alternative of computed tomography-guided biopsy. Aim: Feasibility of OCT-AFI combined with a commercially available lung biopsy needle was demonstrated for visualization of needle puncture sites in airways with diameters as small as 1.9 mm. Approach: A miniaturized OCT-AFI imaging stylet was developed to be inserted through an 18G biopsy needle. We present design considerations and procedure development for image-guided biopsy. Ex vivo and in vivo porcine studies were performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the procedure and the device. Results: OCT-AFI scans were obtained ex vivo and in vivo. Discrimination of pullback site is clear. Conclusions: Use of the device is shown to be feasible in vivo. Images obtained show the stylet is effective at providing structural information at the puncture site that can be used to assess the diagnostic potential of the sample prior to collection.
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- 2020
10. Feasibility and effectiveness of electronic vs. paper partograph on improving birth outcomes
- Author
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Sumon Kumar Das, Tahmina Begum, Jelle Stekelenburg, Monjur Rahman, Sadika Akhter, Tarun Kanti Ghosh, Dewan Md Emdadul Hoque, Aminur Rahman, Iqbal Anwar, Parveen Fatima, Fatema Ashraf, and Public Health Research (PHR)
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Maternal Health ,Social Sciences ,Logistic regression ,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ,Prolonged labour ,Cultural Anthropology ,Geographical Locations ,Labor and Delivery ,0302 clinical medicine ,Obstetrics and gynaecology ,Sociology ,Pregnancy ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Medicine ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Bangladesh ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,Multidisciplinary ,Cross-Over Studies ,Labor, Obstetric ,Obstetrics ,Pregnancy Outcome ,Gestational age ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,Institutional review board ,Hospitals ,Religion ,Obstetric Procedures ,Regression Analysis ,Female ,Research Article ,Adult ,Paper ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Asia ,Referral ,Science ,Surgical and Invasive Medical Procedures ,03 medical and health sciences ,Asphyxia ,Young Adult ,Signs and Symptoms ,Fetus ,Diagnostic Medicine ,Chi-square test ,Humans ,business.industry ,Cesarean Section ,medicine.disease ,Delivery, Obstetric ,Electronics, Medical ,Health Care ,Health Care Facilities ,Anthropology ,People and Places ,Birth ,Women's Health ,Feasibility Studies ,business - Abstract
BACKGROUND: The partograph has been endorsed by World Health Organization (WHO) since 1994 which presents an algorithm for assessing maternal and foetal conditions and labor progression. Monitoring labour with a partograph can reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes such as prolonged labor, emergency C-sections, birth asphyxia and stillbirths. However, partograph use is still very low, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs). In Bangladesh the reported partograph user rate varies from 1.4% to 33.0%. Recently, an electronic version of the partograph, with the provision of online data entry and user aid for emergency clinical support, has been tested successfully in different settings. With this proven evidence, we conducted and operations research to test the feasibility and effectiveness of implementing an e-partograph, for the first time, in 2 public hospitals in Bangladesh.METHODS: We followed a prospective crossover design. Two secondary level referral hospitals, Jessore and Kushtia District Hospital (DH) were the study sites. All pregnant women who delivered in the study hospitals were the study participants. All nurse-midwives working in the labor ward of study hospitals were trained on appropriate use of both types of partograph along with standard labour management guidelines. Collected quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS 23 statistical software. Discrete variables were expressed as percentages and presented as frequency distribution and cross tabulations. Chi square tests were employed to test the association between exposure and outcome variables. Potential confounding factors were adjusted using multivariate binary logistic regression methods. Ethical approval was obtained from the institutional review board of the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b).FINDINGS: In total 2918 deliveries were conducted at Jessore DH and 2312 at Kushtia DH during one-year study period. Of them, 1012 (506 in each facility) deliveries were monitored using partograph (paper or electronic). The trends of facility based C-section rates was downwards in both the hospitals; 43% to 37% in Jessore and from 36% to 25% in Kushtia Hospital. There was a significant reduction of prolonged labour with e-partograph use. In Kushtia DH, the prolonged labour rate was 42% during phase 1 with the paper version which came down to 29% during phase-2 with the e-partograph use. The similar result was observed in Jessore DH where the prolonged labour rate reduced to 7% with paper partograph from the reported 30% prolonged labour with e-partograph. The e-partograph user rate was higher than the paper partograph during both phases (phase 1: 3.31, CI: 2.04-5.38, p < .001 and in phase 2: 15.20 CI: 6.36-36.33, p < .001) after adjusting for maternal age, parity, gestational age, religion, mother's education, husband's education, and fetal sex.CONCLUSION: The partograph user rate has significantly improved with the e- partograph and was associated with an overall reduction in cesarean births. Use of the e-partograph was also associated with reduced rates of prolonged labour. This study has added to the growing body of evidence on the positive impact of e-partograph use. We recommend implementing e-partograph intervention at scale in both public and private hospitals in Bangladesh.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03509103.
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- 2019
11. Acceptability and satisfaction of project MOVE: A pragmatic feasibility trial aimed at increasing physical activity in female breast cancer survivors
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Kristin L. Campbell, Tanya Pullen, Joan L. Bottorff, Susan Ellard, Cristina M. Caperchione, Catherine M. Sabiston, Paul Sharp, Kayla Fitzpatrick, and Carolyn C. Gotay
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Gerontology ,Program evaluation ,Paper ,financial incentives ,health promotion ,Physical activity ,physical activity ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,Breast Neoplasms ,microgrants ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Breast cancer ,Financial incentives ,Cancer Survivors ,Survivorship curve ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,medicine ,cancer ,Humans ,Oncology & Carcinogenesis ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Program Development ,Exercise ,Aged ,Motivation ,Focus Groups ,Middle Aged ,Patient Acceptance of Health Care ,medicine.disease ,Focus group ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Health promotion ,Incentive ,Patient Satisfaction ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Papers ,oncology ,community‐based intervention ,Feasibility Studies ,Female ,women ,Psychology ,survivorship - Abstract
© 2018 The Authors. Psycho-Oncology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Objective: Despite the physical and psychological health benefits associated with physical activity (PA) for breast cancer (BC) survivors, up to 70% of female BC survivors are not meeting minimum recommended PA guidelines. The objective of this study was to evaluate acceptability and satisfaction with Project MOVE, an innovative approach to increase PA among BC survivors through the combination of microgrants and financial incentives. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used. Participants were BC survivors and support individuals with a mean age of 58.5 years. At 6-month follow-up, participants completed a program evaluation questionnaire (n = 72) and participated in focus groups (n = 52) to explore their experience with Project MOVE. Results: Participants reported that they were satisfied with Project MOVE (86.6%) and that the program was appropriate for BC survivors (96.3%). Four main themes emerged from focus groups: (1) acceptability and satisfaction of Project MOVE, detailing the value of the model in developing tailored group-base PA programs; (2) the importance of Project MOVE leaders, highlighting the value of a leader that was organized and a good communicator; (3) breaking down barriers with Project MOVE, describing how the program helped to address common BC related barriers; and (4) motivation to MOVE, outlining how the microgrants enabled survivors to be active, while the financial incentive motivated them to increase and maintain their PA. Conclusion: The findings provide support for the acceptability of Project MOVE as a strategy for increasing PA among BC survivors.
- Published
- 2018
12. Electricity generation from digitally printed cyanobacteria
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Marin Sawa, Andrea Fantuzzi, Paolo Bombelli, Christopher J. Howe, Klaus Hellgardt, Peter J. Nixon, Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), Howe, Christopher [0000-0002-6975-8640], and Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
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DEVICES ,Bioelectric Energy Sources ,Science ,Cyanobacteria ,Article ,ENERGY ,ALGAE ,Electricity ,BIOSENSOR ,Photosynthesis ,lcsh:Science ,Science & Technology ,Nanotubes, Carbon ,Synechocystis ,Equipment Design ,BIOELECTRICITY ,ARRAYS ,Multidisciplinary Sciences ,PAPER ,PATTERNS ,Science & Technology - Other Topics ,MICROBIAL FUEL-CELLS ,Feasibility Studies ,Printing ,lcsh:Q ,Biotechnology - Abstract
Microbial biophotovoltaic cells exploit the ability of cyanobacteria and microalgae to convert light energy into electrical current using water as the source of electrons. Such bioelectrochemical systems have a clear advantage over more conventional microbial fuel cells which require the input of organic carbon for microbial growth. However, innovative approaches are needed to address scale-up issues associated with the fabrication of the inorganic (electrodes) and biological (microbe) parts of the biophotovoltaic device. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using a simple commercial inkjet printer to fabricate a thin-film paper-based biophotovoltaic cell consisting of a layer of cyanobacterial cells on top of a carbon nanotube conducting surface. We show that these printed cyanobacteria are capable of generating a sustained electrical current both in the dark (as a ‘solar bio-battery’) and in response to light (as a ‘bio-solar-panel’) with potential applications in low-power devices., Cyanobacteria can be exploited to convert light energy into electrical current, however utilising them efficiently for power generation is a challenge. Here, the authors use a simple commercial inkjet printer to fabricate a thin-film paper-based biophotovoltaic cell capable of driving low-power devices.
- Published
- 2017
13. Wave intensity analysis in the internal carotid artery of hypertensive subjects using phase-contrast MR angiography and preliminary assessment of the effect of vessel morphology on wave dynamics
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Neumann, S, Sophocleous, F, Kobetic, M D, Hart, E C, Nightingale, A K, Parker, K H, Hamilton, M K, and Biglino, G
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Paper ,Male ,Focus on Analysis and Measurement of the Arterial Pulse Wave Waveform ,hypertension ,reservoir pressure ,statistical shape modelling ,blood pressure ,internal carotid artery ,Blood Pressure Determination ,Middle Aged ,Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ,cardiovascular system ,Feasibility Studies ,Humans ,Female ,wave intensity analysis ,Aorta ,Carotid Artery, Internal ,Magnetic Resonance Angiography - Abstract
Objective: Hypertension is associated with reduced cerebral blood flow, but it is not known how this impacts on wave dynamics or potentially relates to arterial morphology. Given the location of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and risks associated with invasive measurements, wave dynamics in this artery have not been extensively assessed in vivo. This study explores the feasibility of studying wave dynamics in the internal carotid artery non-invasively. Approach: Normotensive, uncontrolled and controlled hypertensive participants were recruited (daytime ambulatory blood pressure 135/85 mmHg, respectively; n = 38). Wave intensity, reservoir pressure and statistical shape analyses were performed on the right ICA and ascending aorta high-resolution phase-contrast magnetic resonance angiography data. Main results: Wave speed in the aorta was significantly lower in normotensive compared to hypertensive participants (6.7 ± 1.8 versus 11.2 ± 6.2 m s−1 for uncontrolled and 11.8 ± 4.6 m s−1 for controlled hypertensives, p = 0.02), whilst there were no differences in wave speed in the ICA. There were no significant differences between the groups for the wave intensity or reservoir pressure. Interestingly, a significant association between the anatomy of the ICA and wave energy (FCW and size, r2 = 0.12, p = 0.04) was found. Significance: This study shows it is feasible to study wave dynamics in the ICA non-invasively. Whilst changes in aortic wave speed confirmed an expected increase in arterial stiffness, this was not observed in the ICA. This might suggest a protective mechanism in the cerebral circulation, in conjunction with the effect of vessel tortuosity. Furthermore, it was observed that ICA shape correlated with wave energy but not wave speed.
- Published
- 2018
14. Risk assessment and technical feasibility of usage of paper mill sludge biochar-based exhausted adsorbent for geopolymeric brick formation
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Anil K. Saroha and Parmila Devi
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Paper ,Pentachlorophenol ,Absorption of water ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,Industrial Waste ,02 engineering and technology ,010501 environmental sciences ,Risk Assessment ,01 natural sciences ,Industrial waste ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Metals, Heavy ,Materials Testing ,Biochar ,Humans ,Sodium Hydroxide ,Environmental Chemistry ,Leachate ,Effluent ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,021110 strategic, defence & security studies ,Brick ,Waste management ,Construction Materials ,Temperature ,General Medicine ,Pollution ,Geopolymer ,chemistry ,Sodium hydroxide ,Charcoal ,Feasibility Studies ,Environmental science - Abstract
Risk assessment and technical feasibility of brick formation from exhausted paper mill sludge derived biochar obtained after its use as an adsorbent for the treatment of effluent containing pentachlorophenol was studied. The bricks were prepared by geopolymerization mechanism in presence of sodium hydroxide, and the extent of geopolymerization was determined on the basis of crystal structure, surface functionalities, and surface morphology of the bricks. The preparation parameters (sodium hydroxide dosage, initial water and calcium carbonate content and curing temperature) were optimized and the results were analyzed in terms of compressive strength, water absorption, and abrasion index. Risk assessment of heavy metals was performed to determine the contamination level and overall hazard index of the biochar-based geopolymer bricks. Hazard quotient and hazard index were calculated to assess the overall non-carcinogenic risk posed by selected heavy metals via ingestion and dermal contact. The leaching potential of heavy metal and pentachlorophenol from the biochar-based geopolymer bricks was also determined. The results showed that the biochar-based geopolymer bricks showed good mechanical properties and the concentration of heavy metals in the leachate falls within the permissible limits prescribed by Indian Standards for Industrial and Sewage Effluents Discharge (inland surface water).
- Published
- 2016
15. Design, fabrication, and feasibility analysis of a colorimetric detection system with a smartphone for self-monitoring blood glucose
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Yen-Yu Chen, Hung-Chih Wang, Tung-Meng Tsai, Chieh-Hsiao Chen, and Fuh-Yu Chang
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Blood Glucose ,Paper ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Biomedical Engineering ,smartphone ,01 natural sciences ,010309 optics ,Biomaterials ,Optical sensing ,Diabetes mellitus ,0103 physical sciences ,medicine ,Diabetes Mellitus ,Humans ,Statistical analysis ,Computer Simulation ,Blood Glucose Measurement ,diabetes ,business.industry ,Insulin ,Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring ,Glucose detection ,Reproducibility of Results ,Equipment Design ,medicine.disease ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,colorimetric blood strip ,Sensing ,Self-monitoring ,Feasibility Studies ,Regression Analysis ,Colorimetry ,business ,Biomedical engineering - Abstract
Maintaining appropriate insulin levels is very important for diabetes patients. Effective monitoring of blood glucose can aid in maintaining the body’s insulin level, and thus reduce disease severities, secondary complications, and related mortalities. However, existing blood glucose measurement devices are inconvenient to carry and involve complex procedures, reducing the willingness of diabetes patients to regularly measure blood glucose. We aim to provide a rapid, convenient, and portable meter for diabetes patients. We introduce an integrated blood glucose detection device (IBGDD) that has no electronic component and uses the optical sensing module of a smartphone to inspect colorimetric blood strips. To demonstrate accuracy conformance of the developed device to the ISO 15197:2013 standard for blood glucose measurement, 20 diabetes mellitus patients used the IBGDD with smartphones to measure their blood glucose level. The measurement results revealed an accuracy of 100%, completely satisfying the requirements of the ISO 15197:2013 standard. Overall, our specially designed IBGDD with a smartphone could achieve high accuracy and convenient usage for the measurement of blood glucose concentration. Furthermore, the device is highly portable and simple to operate. This contributes toward achieving self-monitoring of blood glucose by diabetes patients and improved mobile health in the future.
- Published
- 2018
16. Toward adaptive radiotherapy for lung patients: feasibility study on deforming planning CT to CBCT to assess the impact of anatomical changes on dosimetry
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Cole, A J, Veiga, C, Johnson, U, D’Souza, D, Lalli, N K, and McClelland, J R
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Paper ,Male ,Lung Neoplasms ,Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ,cone beam CT ,Radiotherapy Dosage ,Spiral Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ,Middle Aged ,lung cancer ,adaptive radiotherapy ,Feasibility Studies ,Humans ,Female ,Radiotherapy, Conformal ,deformable image registration ,Algorithms - Abstract
Changes in lung architecture during a course of radiotherapy can alter the planned dose distribution to the extent that it becomes clinically unacceptable. This study aims to validate a quantitative method of determining whether a replan is required during the course of conformal radiotherapy. The proposed method uses deformable image registration (DIR) to flexibly map planning CT (pCT) data to the anatomy of online CBCT images. The resulting deformed CT (dCT) images are used as a basis for assessing the effect of anatomical change on dose distributions. The study used retrospective data from a sample of seven replanned lung patients. The settings of an in-house, open-source DIR algorithm were first optimised for CT-to-CBCT registrations of the anatomy of the thorax. Using these optimised parameters, each patient’s pCT was deformed to the CBCT acquired immediately before the replan. Registration accuracy was rigorously validated both geometrically and dosimetrically to confirm that the dCTs could reliably be used to inform replan decisions. A retrospective evaluation of the changes in dose delivered over time was then carried out for a single patient to demonstrate the clinical application of the proposed method. The geometric analysis showed good agreement between deformed structures and those same structures manually outlined on the CBCT images. Results were consistently better than those achieved with rigid-only registration. In the dosimetric analysis, dose distributions derived from the dCTs were found to match closely to the ‘gold standard’ replan CT (rCT) distributions across dose volume histogram and absolute dose difference measures. The retrospective analysis of serial CBCTs of a single patient produced reliable quantitative assessment of the dose delivery. Had the proposed method been available at the time of treatment, it would have enabled a more objective replan decision. DIR is a valuable clinical tool for dose recalculation in adaptive radiotherapy protocols for lung cancer patients.
- Published
- 2018
17. A comparison of smartphone and paper data-collection tools in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study in Gezira state, Sudan
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Peter Burney, R Robinson, Kevin Mortimer, S. Bertel Squire, Asma Elsony, Rachael Thomson, Rana Ahmed, Rasmus Malmborg, Kodgule, Rahul, and Wellcome Trust
- Subjects
Male ,Rural Population ,Questionnaires ,Pulmonology ,020205 medical informatics ,Electronic data capture ,Physiology ,lcsh:Medicine ,Social Sciences ,Pilot Projects ,02 engineering and technology ,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ,ELECTRONIC DATA CAPTURE ,Medical Records ,Sudan ,Geographical Locations ,Random Allocation ,Habits ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cohen's kappa ,Sociology ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Smoking Habits ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Coughing ,0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering ,Electronic Health Records ,Public and Occupational Health ,030212 general & internal medicine ,lcsh:Science ,Medical History Taking ,Observer Variation ,education.field_of_study ,wa_30 ,Schools ,Multidisciplinary ,Data Collection ,Smoking ,wa_900 ,Information quality ,Middle Aged ,Socioeconomic Aspects of Health ,Obstructive lung disease ,Multidisciplinary Sciences ,Open data ,Research Design ,Science & Technology - Other Topics ,Engineering and Technology ,Female ,Smartphone ,Symptom Assessment ,wf_600 ,Research Article ,Adult ,Paper ,wa_950 ,Adolescent ,General Science & Technology ,Population ,Equipment ,Research and Analysis Methods ,Sampling Studies ,Education ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,Signs and Symptoms ,Diagnostic Medicine ,Environmental health ,MD Multidisciplinary ,medicine ,Humans ,Lung Diseases, Obstructive ,education ,c941fbbd ,Aged ,Communication Equipment ,Behavior ,Science & Technology ,Survey Research ,Data collection ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,Biology and Life Sciences ,medicine.disease ,Health Care ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Dyspnea ,Data quality ,People and Places ,Africa ,Feasibility Studies ,lcsh:Q ,Forms and Records Control ,Cell Phones ,Physiological Processes ,business - Abstract
Introduction \ud Data collection using paper-based questionnaires can be time consuming and return errors affect data accuracy, completeness, and information quality in health surveys. We compared smartphone and paper-based data collection systems in the Burden of Obstructive Lung Disease (BOLD) study in rural Sudan. \ud Methods \ud This exploratory pilot study was designed to run in parallel with the cross-sectional household survey. The Open Data Kit was used to programme questionnaires in Arabic into smartphones. We included 100 study participants (83% women; median age = 41.5 ± 16.4 years) from the BOLD study from 3 rural villages in East-Gezira and Kamleen localities of Gezira state, Sudan. Questionnaire data were collected using smartphone and paper-based technologies simultaneously. We used Kappa statistics and inter-rater class coefficient to test agreement between the two methods. Results Symptoms reported included cough (24%), phlegm (15%), wheezing (17%), and shortness of breath (18%). One in five were or had been cigarette smokers. The two data collection methods varied between perfect to slight agreement across the 204 variables evaluated (Kappa varied between 1.00 and 0.02 and inter-rater coefficient between 1.00 and -0.12). Errors were most commonly seen with paper questionnaires (83% of errors seen) vs smartphones (17% of errors seen) administered questionnaires with questions with complex skip-patterns being a major source of errors in paper questionnaires. Automated checks and validations in smartphone-administered questionnaires avoided skip-pattern related errors. Incomplete and inconsistent records were more likely seen on paper questionnaires. \ud Conclusion \ud Compared to paper-based data collection, smartphone technology worked well for data collection in the study, which was conducted in a challenging rural environment in Sudan. This approach provided timely, quality data with fewer errors and inconsistencies compared to paper-based data collection. We recommend this method for future BOLD studies and other population-based studies in similar settings.
- Published
- 2018
18. Bioconversion of paper mill sludge to bioethanol in the presence of accelerants or hydrogen peroxide pretreatment
- Author
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Eric L. Singsaas, Raghu N. Gurram, Shona M. Duncan, Malek Alkasrawi, Nicholas Joshua Lecher, and Mohammad Al-Shannag
- Subjects
Paper ,Environmental Engineering ,Accelerant ,Bioconversion ,Industrial Waste ,Bioengineering ,Cellulase ,Calcium Carbonate ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Hydrolysis ,Yeasts ,Enzymatic hydrolysis ,Cellulose ,Hydrogen peroxide ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Ethanol ,Sewage ,biology ,Waste management ,Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment ,food and beverages ,Hydrogen Peroxide ,General Medicine ,Pulp and paper industry ,chemistry ,Biofuels ,biology.protein ,Feasibility Studies ,Fermentation - Abstract
In this study we investigated the technical feasibility of convert paper mill sludge into fuel ethanol. This involved the removal of mineral fillers by using either chemical pretreatment or mechanical fractionation to determine their effects on cellulose hydrolysis and fermentation to ethanol. In addition, we studied the effect of cationic polyelectrolyte (as accelerant) addition and hydrogen peroxide pretreatment on enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation. We present results showing that removing the fillers content (ash and calcium carbonate) from the paper mill sludge increases the enzymatic hydrolysis performance dramatically with higher cellulose conversion at faster rates. The addition of accelerant and hydrogen peroxide pretreatment further improved the hydrolysis yields by 16% and 25% (g glucose / g cellulose), respectively with the de-ashed sludge. The fermentation process of produced sugars achieved up to 95% of the maximum theoretical ethanol yield and higher ethanol productivities within 9h of fermentation.
- Published
- 2015
19. Characterization and Feasibility Assessment of Recycled Paper Mill Sludges for Land Application in Relation to the Environment
- Author
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Rosazlin Abdullah, Che Fauziah Ishak, Rosenani Abu Bakar, and Wan Rasidah Kadir
- Subjects
Paper ,concentration ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,Amendment ,lcsh:Medicine ,Industrial Waste ,chemistry.chemical_element ,engineering.material ,Article ,Industrial waste ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,13C-NMR spectrum ,nutrients ,Cation-exchange capacity ,Recycling ,Cellulose ,Fertilizers ,heavy metals ,Moisture ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,Malaysia ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,Paper mill ,land application ,chemistry ,soil properties ,Environmental chemistry ,engineering ,Feasibility Studies ,Environmental science ,Environmental Pollutants ,FTIR spectrum ,Fertilizer ,business ,Carbon - Abstract
The disposal of industrial paper mill sludge waste is a big issue and has a great importance all over the world. A study was conducted to determine the chemical properties of recycled paper mill sludge (RPMS) and assess its possibilities for land application. RPMS samples were collected from six different paper mills in Malaysia and analyzed for physical and chemical properties, heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, (13)C-NMR spectra and for the presence of dioxins/furans. The RPMS was dewatered, sticky with a strong odour, an average moisture of 65.08%, pH 7.09, cation exchange capacity (CEC) 14.43 cmol (+) kg(-1), N 1.45, P 0.18, K 0.12, Ca 0.82, Mg 0.73, Na 0.76 and Al, 1.38%. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals levels were below the standard Class 2 limits. The dioxin and furan were in below the standard concentration of Class 1. The most prominent peak in the (13)C-NMR spectra of RPMS was centered at 31 ppm, proving the presence of methylene (-CH2) groups in long aliphatic chains, with lipids and proteins. The signal at 89 ppm and highly shielded shoulder at 83 ppm were due to presence of cellulose carbon C-4, and the peak at 63 and 65 ppm was due to the cellulose carbon spectrum. The RPMS therefore contains significant amount of nutrients with safe levels of heavy metals and PAHs for environment and can be used as a fertilizer and soil amendment for land application.
- Published
- 2015
20. Association score testing for rare variants and binary traits in family data with shared controls
- Author
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Ellen M. Wijsman and Mohamad Saad
- Subjects
Paper ,Male ,Linkage disequilibrium ,0206 medical engineering ,Quantitative Trait Loci ,Context (language use) ,02 engineering and technology ,Computational biology ,Biology ,Bioinformatics ,Generalized linear mixed model ,Linkage Disequilibrium ,03 medical and health sciences ,Gene Frequency ,Missing heritability problem ,Humans ,Computer Simulation ,Association (psychology) ,Molecular Biology ,Allele frequency ,030304 developmental biology ,Genetic association ,0303 health sciences ,Models, Genetic ,Computational Biology ,Genetic Variation ,High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing ,Sequence Analysis, DNA ,Pedigree ,Case-Control Studies ,Trait ,Linear Models ,Feasibility Studies ,Female ,020602 bioinformatics ,Information Systems ,Genome-Wide Association Study - Abstract
Genome-wide association studies have been an important approach used to localize trait loci, with primary focus on common variants. The multiple rare variant-common disease hypothesis may explain the missing heritability remaining after accounting for identified common variants. Advances of sequencing technologies with their decreasing costs, coupled with methodological advances in the context of association studies in large samples, now make the study of rare variants at a genome-wide scale feasible. The resurgence of family-based association designs because of their advantage in studying rare variants has also stimulated more methods development, mainly based on linear mixed models (LMMs). Other tests such as score tests can have advantages over the LMMs, but to date have mainly been proposed for single-marker association tests. In this article, we extend several score tests (χcorrected2, WQLS, and SKAT) to the multiple variant association framework. We evaluate and compare their statistical performances relative with the LMM. Moreover, we show that three tests can be cast as the difference between marker allele frequencies (AFs) estimated in each of the group of affected and unaffected subjects. We show that these tests are flexible, as they can be based on related, unrelated or both related and unrelated subjects. They also make feasible an increasingly common design that only sequences a subset of affected subjects (related or unrelated) and uses for comparison publicly available AFs estimated in a group of healthy subjects. Finally, we show the great impact of linkage disequilibrium on the performance of all these tests.
- Published
- 2017
21. A new pan-European Train-the-Trainer programme for bioinformatics: pilot results on feasibility, utility and sustainability of learning
- Author
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Sarah L. Morgan, Allegra Via, Teresa K. Attwood, Pedro Fernandes, Gabriella Rustici, Maria Victoria Schneider, Rochelle E Tractenberg, and Patricia M. Palagi
- Subjects
Paper ,Train-the-Trainer ,Train-the-Trainers ,Biomedical Research ,Education, Continuing ,Computer science ,Process (engineering) ,0206 medical engineering ,Pilot Projects ,02 engineering and technology ,Certification ,Bioinformatics ,Biological Science Disciplines ,Train the trainer ,03 medical and health sciences ,Pan european ,ComputingMilieux_COMPUTERSANDEDUCATION ,Humans ,Molecular Biology ,Data Curation ,Pilot study ,030304 developmental biology ,Life Scientists ,ELIXIR-GOBLET training ,0303 health sciences ,4. Education ,pilot study ,Computational Biology ,decision-making ,degrees of freedom analysis ,Incentive ,Sustainability ,Feasibility Studies ,Curriculum ,Effective teaching ,020602 bioinformatics ,Decision-making ,Information Systems - Abstract
Demand for training life scientists in bioinformatics methods, tools and resources and computational approaches is urgent and growing. To meet this demand, new trainers must be prepared with effective teaching practices for delivering short hands-on training sessions—a specific type of education that is not typically part of professional preparation of life scientists in many countries. A new Train-the-Trainer (TtT) programme was created by adapting existing models, using input from experienced trainers and experts in bioinformatics, and from educational and cognitive sciences. This programme was piloted across Europe from May 2016 to January 2017. Preparation included drafting the training materials, organizing sessions to pilot them and studying this paradigm for its potential to support the development and delivery of future bioinformatics training by participants. Seven pilot TtT sessions were carried out, and this manuscript describes the results of the pilot year. Lessons learned include (i) support is required for logistics, so that new instructors can focus on their teaching; (ii) institutions must provide incentives to include training opportunities for those who want/need to become new or better instructors; (iii) formal evaluation of the TtT materials is now a priority; (iv) a strategy is needed to recruit, train and certify new instructor trainers (faculty); and (v) future evaluations must assess utility. Additionally, defining a flexible but rigorous and reliable process of TtT ‘certification’ may incentivize participants and will be considered in future.
- Published
- 2017
22. A dye-assisted paper-based point-of-care assay for fast and reliable blood grouping
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Xiang Yang, Yuanfeng Zhu, Yong-Jun Yang, Yurui Zou, Yang Luo, Lingyun Zou, Ke Yang, Yang Zhou, Yanyao Ye, Chao Qi, Hong Zhang, and Xiaopei Qiu
- Subjects
Paper ,Point-of-Care Systems ,02 engineering and technology ,Biology ,01 natural sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,ABO blood group system ,Humans ,Coloring Agents ,Whole blood ,Point of care ,Reproducibility ,Bromocresol green ,Chromatography ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Reproducibility of Results ,General Medicine ,Paper based ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Molecular biology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Specific antibody ,Blood grouping ,Blood Grouping and Crossmatching ,chemistry ,Spectrophotometry ,Feasibility Studies ,Fluorescein ,Indicators and Reagents ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Fast and simultaneous forward and reverse blood grouping has long remained elusive. Forward blood grouping detects antigens on red blood cells, whereas reverse grouping identifies specific antibodies present in plasma. We developed a paper-based assay using immobilized antibodies and bromocresol green dye for rapid and reliable blood grouping, where dye-assisted color changes corresponding to distinct blood components provide a visual readout. ABO antigens and five major Rhesus antigens could be detected within 30 s, and simultaneous forward and reverse ABO blood grouping using small volumes (100 μl) of whole blood was achieved within 2 min through on-chip plasma separation without centrifugation. A machine-learning method was developed to classify the spectral plots corresponding to dye-based color changes, which enabled reproducible automatic grouping. Using optimized operating parameters, the dye-assisted paper assay exhibited comparable accuracy and reproducibility to the classical gel-card assays in grouping 3550 human blood samples. When translated to the assembly line and low-cost manufacturing, the proposed approach may be developed into a cost-effective and robust universal blood-grouping platform.
- Published
- 2017
23. Theoretical and experimental characterization of emission and transmission spectra of Cerenkov radiation generated by 177Lu in tissue
- Author
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Eugenio Torres-García, Miguel A. Camacho-López, Gerardo J. Ramírez-Nava, Keila Isaac-Olivé, N. Jiménez-Mancilla, and Héctor Mendoza-Nava
- Subjects
Paper ,Biomedical Engineering ,Mice, Nude ,Lutetium ,01 natural sciences ,Imaging ,010309 optics ,Biomaterials ,Nuclear physics ,Mice ,Optical imaging ,Cerenkov radiation ,Cell Line, Tumor ,0103 physical sciences ,emission and light transmission in tissue ,Animals ,Humans ,preclinical studies ,177Lu-radiopharmaceuticals ,Radioisotopes ,Physics ,Electromagnetic Radiation ,Optical Imaging ,Neoplasms, Experimental ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Beta Particles ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Tissue optics ,Feasibility Studies ,Radiopharmaceuticals - Abstract
Cerenkov radiation (CR) is the emission of UV-vis light generated by the de-excitation of the molecules in the medium, after being polarized by an excited particle traveling faster than the speed of light. When β particles travel through tissue with energies greater than 219 keV, CR occurs. Tissues possess a spectral optical window of 600 to 1100 nm. The CR within this range can be useful for quantitative preclinical studies using optical imaging and for the in-vivo evaluation of Lu177-radiopharmaceuticals (β-particle emitters). The objective of our research was to determine the experimental emission light spectrum of Lu177-CR and evaluate its transmission properties in tissue as well as the feasibility to applying CR imaging in the preclinical studies of Lu177-radiopharmaceuticals. The theoretical and experimental characterizations of the emission and transmission spectra of Lu177-CR in tissue, in the vis-NIR region (350 to 900 nm), were performed using Monte Carlo simulation and UV-vis spectroscopy. Mice Lu177-CR images were acquired using a charge-coupled detector camera and were quantitatively analyzed. The results demonstrated good agreement between the theoretical and the experimental Lu177-CR emission spectra. Preclinical CR imaging demonstrated that the biokinetics of Lu177-radiopharmaceuticals in the main organs of mice can be acquired.
- Published
- 2019
24. Multi-spectral laser speckle contrast images using a wavelength-swept laser
- Author
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Seung Won Jun, Gyeong Hun Kim, Hansol Jang, Jeong-Won Kim, and Chang-Seok Kim
- Subjects
Paper ,Materials science ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Multispectral image ,Biomedical Engineering ,multi-spectral imaging ,Field of view ,01 natural sciences ,Imaging ,law.invention ,Fingers ,010309 optics ,Biomaterials ,Speckle pattern ,Optics ,Signal-to-noise ratio ,Ischemia ,law ,0103 physical sciences ,Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ,Humans ,Contrast (vision) ,media_common ,laser speckle imaging ,Phantoms, Imaging ,business.industry ,Lasers ,Optical Imaging ,Hemodynamics ,Laser Speckle Imaging ,Laser ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,Oxygen ,Wavelength ,Oxyhemoglobins ,Feasibility Studies ,wavelength-swept laser ,business - Abstract
A multi-spectral laser speckle contrast imaging (MS-LSCI) system is proposed using only a single wavelength-swept laser, which provides both highly coherent and multi-spectral outputs to simultaneously generate laser speckle contrast images and multi-spectral images, respectively. Using a laser light swept from 770 to 821 nm at a repetition rate of 5 Hz and a CCD camera of 335 fps, 67 multi-spectral frame images are acquired in 0.76 nm wavebands over 51 nm spectral range. The spectral sub-windowing method of single wavelength-swept laser source is used to solve the lack of spectral information from a few individual light sources, which is a limitation of conventional MS-LSCI systems. In addition to the speckle flow index from the LSCI frames, the multi-spectrally encoded images can generate additional images of spectral absorbance. To further examine the performance of the MS-LSCI system, an in vivo cuff-induced ischemia experiment was conducted to show the real-time imaging of hemodynamic and blood oxygen saturation changes simultaneously over the entire 2.5 cm×4.5 cm field of view.
- Published
- 2019
25. Thulium fiber laser ablation of kidney stones using an automated, vibrating fiber
- Author
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David A. Gonzalez, Nathaniel M. Fried, and Layton A. Hall
- Subjects
Paper ,Materials science ,Optical fiber ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Biomedical Engineering ,lithotripsy ,Models, Biological ,Vibration ,ablation ,01 natural sciences ,law.invention ,010309 optics ,Biomaterials ,Kidney Calculi ,Optical coherence tomography ,law ,Fiber laser ,0103 physical sciences ,medicine ,Miniaturization ,Humans ,Composite material ,vibrating fiber tip ,Laser ablation ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Equipment Design ,Lithotripsy, Laser ,Ablation ,Laser ,thulium ,Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics ,laser ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,urinary stones ,dusting ,Feasibility Studies ,Therapeutic - Abstract
Our preliminary study investigates an automated, vibrating fiber optic tip for dusting of kidney stones during thulium fiber laser (TFL) lithotripsy. A (0.75-mm diameter and 5-mm length) magnetic bead was attached to the fiber jacket, centered 2 cm from distal fiber tip. A solenoid was placed parallel to the fiber with a 0.5-mm gap between solenoid and magnetic bead on fiber. The solenoid was used to create a magnetic force on the bead, inducing fiber vibration. Calibration tests for fiber motion in both air and water were performed. The ablation crater characteristics (surface area, volume, depth, and major/minor axis) of uric acid stones were measured using optical coherence tomography, after delivery of 1500 TFL pulses at 1908 nm, 33 mJ, 500 μs, and up to 300 Hz, through 50-, 100-, and 150-μm-core fibers. The resonant frequency was dependent on fiber diameter and rigidity, with a cutoff pivot point for optimum vibration amplitude at 4 cm. Maximum fiber displacement is about 1 mm in water and 4 mm in air. For 50-, 100-, and 150-μm-core fibers, ablated surface area averaged 1.7, 1.7, and 2.8 times greater with vibrating fiber than fixed fiber, respectively. For these fibers, ablation volume averaged 1.1, 1.5, and 1.1 times greater with vibrating fiber than fixed fiber, given a fixed energy per pulse, respectively. Our preliminary study demonstrates the functionality of an automated, vibrating fiber system for stone “dusting,” with significantly larger surface area but similar ablation volumes as a fixed fiber. Future studies will focus on optimization of fiber parameters (especially displacement) and miniaturization of system components to facilitate integration into ureteroscopes.
- Published
- 2019
26. Filter paper–based insulin-like growth factor assay
- Author
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Gui-Shuang Ying, Carrie Coleman, David Stokes, Anne K. Jensen, Gil Binenbaum, Ivy Fenton Kuhn, and Jiayan Huang
- Subjects
Paper ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Intraclass correlation ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ,Gestational Age ,Fingers ,Insulin-like growth factor ,medicine ,Humans ,Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ,Retinopathy of Prematurity ,Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ,Blood Specimen Collection ,Chromatography ,Filter paper ,business.industry ,Infant ,Reproducibility of Results ,Retinopathy of prematurity ,medicine.disease ,Healthy Volunteers ,Sample stability ,Ophthalmology ,Filter (video) ,Child, Preschool ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Feasibility Studies ,business ,Blood Chemical Analysis ,Infant, Premature - Abstract
This study assessed validity, reliability, and feasibility of a filter paper blood spot insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) assay for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) research. Blood samples were collected from 45 healthy children. Half of each sample was spun to obtain serum; half was applied to filter cards and stored for varying times and at different temperatures. IGF-1 assays were performed using a commercially available kit. Intraclass correlation between blood spot and serum IGF-1 values was high (0.97) for validity, and the mean differences were low for test-retest reliability. Time (up to 25 days) and temperature (4° C to 37° C) had no significant effect on sample stability. Feasibility was further assessed in a second cohort study of 74 premature infants being screened for ROP. A total of 817 filter card samples were successfully collected and transported to a central lab, where IGF-1 assays were successfully performed.
- Published
- 2015
27. Rapid screening for ricin toxin on letter papers using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy
- Author
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Chengying Zhao, Lili He, Tian Guifang, and Jinkai Zheng
- Subjects
Paper ,Silver ,Surface Properties ,Analytical chemistry ,Metal Nanoparticles ,02 engineering and technology ,Ricin ,Spectrum Analysis, Raman ,01 natural sciences ,Analytical Chemistry ,Beverages ,symbols.namesake ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Screening method ,Sample preparation ,Chromatography ,010401 analytical chemistry ,Extraction (chemistry) ,Reproducibility of Results ,Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Ricin toxin ,chemistry ,symbols ,Feasibility Studies ,0210 nano-technology ,Raman spectroscopy - Abstract
Ricin has been involved in historic and recent biothreat events. Here we developed a rapid screening method for ricin laced papers using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SRES). Three sample preparation methods and two SERS substrates were evaluated and optimized for their performance on three types of letter papers. The best approach was the use of non-destructive extraction coupled with silver dendrites, which can detect ricin B chain surrogate as low as 0.044 μg in less than 10 min from paper. The extraction efficiency for the hydrophobic letters was the highest (90%) compared to the other two types of letters. We also demonstrated the great capacity of this method to discriminate ricin B from common beverage residues on letter papers, and the feasibility of using a handheld Raman device for rapid and on-site screening.
- Published
- 2016
28. Interactive dose shaping part 2: proof of concept study for six prostate patients
- Author
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Cornelis, Ph Kamerling, Peter, Ziegenhein, Florian, Sterzing, and Uwe, Oelfke
- Subjects
Male ,Paper ,Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ,interactive treatment planning ,treatment planning software ,graphical user interface ,Feasibility Studies ,Humans ,Prostatic Neoplasms ,Radiotherapy Dosage ,Middle Aged ,radiation therapy ,Software - Abstract
Recently we introduced interactive dose shaping (IDS) as a new IMRT planning strategy. This planning concept is based on a hierarchical sequence of local dose modification and recovery operations. The purpose of this work is to provide a feasibility study for the IDS planning strategy based on a small set of six prostate patients. The IDS planning paradigm aims to perform interactive local dose adaptations of an IMRT plan without compromising already established valuable dose features in real-time. Various IDS tools were developed in our in-house treatment planning software Dynaplan and were utilized to create IMRT treatment plans for six patients with an adeno-carcinoma of the prostate. The sequenced IDS treatment plans were compared to conventionally optimized clinically approved plans (9 beams, co-planar). For each patient, several IDS plans were created, with different trade-offs between organ sparing and target coverage. The reference dose distributions were imported into Dynaplan. For each patient, the IDS treatment plan with a similar or better trade-off between target coverage and OAR sparing was selected for plan evaluation, guided by a physician. For this initial study we were able to generate treatment plans for prostate geometries in 15–45 min. Individual local dose adaptations could be performed in less than one second. The average differences compared to the reference plans were for the mean dose: 0.0 Gy (boost) and 1.2 Gy (PTV), for \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{upgreek} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} }{}${{D}_{98\%}}:-1.1$ \end{document}D98%:−1.1 Gy and for \documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{upgreek} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document} }{}${{D}_{2\%}}:1.1$ \end{document}D2%:1.1 Gy (both target volumes). The dose-volume quality indicators were well below the Quantec constraints. However, we also observed limitations of our currently implemented approach. Most prominent was an increase of the non-tumor integral dose by 16.4% on average, demonstrating that further developments of our planning strategy are required.
- Published
- 2016
29. Dosimetric feasibility of using tungsten-based functional paper for flexible chest wall protectors in intraoperative electron radiotherapy for breast cancer
- Author
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Shinji Naganawa, Yoshikazu Miyake, Y. Ishihara, Takayoshi Nakaya, Takashi Mukoyama, Kuniyasu Okudaira, Takeshi Kamomae, Mariko Kawamura, Yoshiyuki Itoh, and Hajime Monzen
- Subjects
Organs at Risk ,Paper ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Monte Carlo method ,Normal tissue ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Breast Neoplasms ,Electrons ,Electron ,Radiation ,Tungsten ,030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging ,03 medical and health sciences ,Radiation Protection ,0302 clinical medicine ,Breast cancer ,medicine ,Humans ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,Radiometry ,Thoracic Wall ,Intraoperative Care ,Radiological and Ultrasound Technology ,Phantoms, Imaging ,business.industry ,Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ,Partial Breast Irradiation ,Radiotherapy Dosage ,medicine.disease ,Radiation therapy ,chemistry ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Feasibility Studies ,Female ,Radiology ,Nuclear medicine ,business ,Monte Carlo Method - Abstract
Intraoperative electron radiotherapy (IOERT), which is an accelerated partial breast irradiation method, has been used for early-stage breast cancer treatment. In IOERT, a protective disk is inserted behind the target volume to minimize the dose received by normal tissues. However, to use such a disk, the surgical incision must be larger than the field size because the disk is manufactured from stiff and unyielding materials. In this study, the applicability of newly developed tungsten-based functional paper (TFP) was assessed as an alternative to the existing protective disk. The radiation-shielding performance of the TFP was verified through experimental measurements and Monte Carlo simulations. Percentage depth dose curves and lateral dose profiles with and without TFPs were measured and simulated on a dedicated IOERT accelerator. The number of piled-up TFPs was changed from 1 to 40. In the experimental measurements, the relative doses at the exit plane of the TFPs for 9 MeV were 42.7%, 9.2%, 0.2%, and 0.1% with 10, 20, 30, and 40 TFPs, respectively, whereas those for 12 MeV were 63.6%, 27.1%, 8.6%, and 0.2% with 10, 20, 30, and 40 TFPs, respectively. Slight dose enhancements caused by backscatter radiation from the TFPs were observed at the entrance plane of the TFPs at both beam energies. The results of the Monte Carlo simulation indicated the same tendency as the experimental measurements. Based on the experimental and simulated results, the radiation-shielding performances of 30 TFPs for 9 MeV and 40 TFPs for 12 MeV were confirmed to be acceptable and close to those of the existing protective disk. The findings of this study suggest the feasibility of using TFPs as flexible chest wall protectors in IOERT for breast cancer treatment., ファイル公開日: 2019/01/01
- Published
- 2017
30. Far infrared-assisted encapsulation of filter paper strips in poly(methyl methacrylate) for proteolysis
- Author
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Qiwen, Chen, Huimin, Bao, Luyan, Zhang, and Gang, Chen
- Subjects
Paper ,Bioreactors ,Infrared Rays ,Proteolysis ,Feasibility Studies ,Humans ,Polymethyl Methacrylate ,Trypsin ,Blood Proteins ,Microfluidic Analytical Techniques ,Enzymes, Immobilized - Abstract
Filter paper strips were enclosed between two poly(methyl methacrylate) plates to fabricate paper-packed channel microchips under pressure in the presence of far infrared irradiation. After the enclosed paper strip was oxidized by periodate, trypsin was covalently immobilized in them to fabricate microfluidic proteolysis bioreactor. The feasibility and performance of the unique bioreactor were demonstrated by digesting BSA and lysozyme. The results were comparable to those of conventional in-solution proteolysis while the digestion time was significantly reduced to ∼18 s. The suitability of the microfluidic paper-based bioreactors to complex proteins was demonstrated by digesting human serum.
- Published
- 2015
31. Carbon nanotubes buckypapers for potential transdermal drug delivery
- Author
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Alex Schwengber, D. Zilli, Ana Lea Cukierman, Pablo Ricardo Bonelli, and Héctor Juan Prado
- Subjects
Drug ,Paper ,Materials science ,CIENCIAS MÉDICAS Y DE LA SALUD ,Chemical structure ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Ciencias de la Salud ,Bioengineering ,Nanotechnology ,Buckypaper ,Carbon nanotube ,INGENIERÍAS Y TECNOLOGÍAS ,BUCKYPAPERS ,Administration, Cutaneous ,FLURBIPROFEN ,CARBON NANOTUBES ,law.invention ,Biomaterials ,Diffusion ,Nanopores ,Differential scanning calorimetry ,Nanocapsules ,law ,Materials Testing ,Particle Size ,media_common ,Transdermal ,Nanotecnología ,Nanotubes, Carbon ,Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ,TRANSDERMAL DRUG DELIVERY ,Nano-materiales ,Amorphous solid ,CLONIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE ,Otras Ciencias de la Salud ,Absorption, Physicochemical ,Flurbiprofen ,Mechanics of Materials ,Delayed-Action Preparations ,Surface modification ,Feasibility Studies ,Fullerenes - Abstract
Drug loaded buckypapers based on different types of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were prepared and characterized in order to evaluate their potentialities for the design of novel transdermal drug delivery systems. Lab-synthesized CNTs as well as commercial samples were employed. Clonidine hydrochloride was used as model drug, and the influence of composition of the drug loaded buckypapers and processing variables on in vitro release profiles was investigated. To examine the influence of the drug nature the evaluation was further extended to buckypapers prepared with flurbiprofen and one type of CNTs, their selection being based on the results obtained with the former drug. Scanning electronic microscopy images indicated that the model drugs were finely dispersed on the CNTs. Differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction pointed to an amorphous state of both drugs in the buckypapers. A higher degree of CNT-drug superficial interactions resulted in a slower release of the drug. These interactions were in turn affected by the type of CNTs employed (single wall or multiwall CNTs), their functionalization with hydroxyl or carboxyl groups, the chemical structure of the drug, and the CNT:drug mass ratio. Furthermore, the application of a second layer of drug free CNTs on the loaded buckypaper, led to decelerate the drug release and to reduce the burst effect. Fil: Schwengber, Alex. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Programa de Investigación y Desarrollo de Fuentes Alternativas de Materias Primas y Energía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Prado, Héctor Juan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Programa de Investigación y Desarrollo de Fuentes Alternativas de Materias Primas y Energía; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Zilli, Dario Adrian. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Programa de Investigación y Desarrollo de Fuentes Alternativas de Materias Primas y Energía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Bonelli, Pablo Ricardo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Programa de Investigación y Desarrollo de Fuentes Alternativas de Materias Primas y Energía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Cukierman, Ana Lea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Programa de Investigación y Desarrollo de Fuentes Alternativas de Materias Primas y Energía; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
- Published
- 2015
32. A simple approach for ultrasensitive detection of bisphenols by multiplexed surface-enhanced Raman scattering
- Author
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Pierre-Yves Sacre, Elodie Dumont, C. De Bleye, Ph. Hubert, Eric Ziemons, Pierre-François Chavez, Lauranne Netchacovitch, and Cédric Hubert
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Paper ,endocrine system ,Bisphenol A ,Silver ,Surface Properties ,Metal Nanoparticles ,Context (language use) ,Nanotechnology ,Endocrine Disruptors ,Spectrum Analysis, Raman ,Biochemistry ,Silver nanoparticle ,Analytical Chemistry ,symbols.namesake ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Tap water ,Phenols ,Limit of Detection ,Environmental Chemistry ,Molecule ,Humans ,Benzhydryl Compounds ,Spectroscopy ,Detection limit ,urogenital system ,Chemistry ,Drinking Water ,Thermal paper ,Combinatorial chemistry ,symbols ,Feasibility Studies ,hormones, hormone substitutes, and hormone antagonists ,Raman scattering ,Water Pollutants, Chemical - Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is well known for its use in plastic manufacture and thermal paper production despite its risk of health toxicity as an endocrine disruptor in humans. Since the publication of new legislation regarding the use of BPA, manufacturers have begun to replace BPA with other phenolic molecules such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol B (BPB), but there are no guarantees regarding the health safety of these compounds at this time. In this context, a very simple, cheap and fast surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) method was developed for the sensitive detection of these molecules in spiked tap water solutions. Silver nanoparticles were used as SERS substrates. An original strategy was employed to circumvent the issue of the affinity of bisphenols for metallic surfaces and the silver nanoparticles surface was functionalized using pyridine in order to improve again the sensitivity of the detection. Semi-quantitative detections were performed in tap water solutions at a concentrations range from 0.25 to 20 μg L(-1) for BPA and BPB and from 5 to 100 μg L(-1) for BPF. Moreover, a feasibility study for performing a multiplex-SERS detection of these molecules was also performed before successfully implementing the developed SERS method on real samples.
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- 2015
33. Separation of opiate isomers using electrospray ionization and paper spray coupled to high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry
- Author
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Michael W. Belford and Nicholas E. Manicke
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Paper ,Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization ,Ion-mobility spectrometry ,Electrospray ionization ,Analytical chemistry ,Atmospheric-pressure chemical ionization ,Mass spectrometry ,Forensic Toxicology ,Structural Biology ,Tandem Mass Spectrometry ,Hydromorphone ,Direct electron ionization liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry interface ,Spectroscopy ,Ambient ionization ,Aerosols ,Desorption electrospray ionization ,Chromatography ,Morphine ,Chemistry ,Codeine ,Extractive electrospray ionization ,Electrochemical Techniques ,Analgesics, Opioid ,Substance Abuse Detection ,Chemistry, Clinical ,Solvents ,Feasibility Studies - Abstract
One limitation in the growing field of ambient or direct analysis methods is reduced selectivity caused by the elimination of chromatographic separations prior to mass spectrometric analysis. We explored the use of high-field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), an ambient pressure ion mobility technique, to separate the closely related opiate isomers of morphine, hydromorphone, and norcodeine. These isomers cannot be distinguished by tandem mass spectrometry. Separation prior to MS analysis is, therefore, required to distinguish these compounds, which are important in clinical chemistry and toxicology. FAIMS was coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, and ionization was performed using either a pneumatically assisted heated electrospray ionization source (H-ESI) or paper spray, a direct analysis method that has been applied to the direct analysis of dried blood spots and other complex samples. We found that FAIMS was capable of separating the three opiate structural isomers using both H-ESI and paper spray as the ionization source.
- Published
- 2015
34. Internet-based guided self-help for parents of children on cancer treatment : A randomized controlled trial
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Martin Cernvall, Gustaf Ljungman, Per Carlbring, Lisa Ljungman, and Louise von Essen
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Paper ,Adult ,Male ,Parents ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Adolescent ,Experimental and Cognitive Psychology ,Pediatrics ,law.invention ,Self-help ,Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ,Randomized controlled trial ,Internet based ,law ,Intervention (counseling) ,Neoplasms ,medicine ,cancer ,Humans ,Self report ,Child ,Internet ,business.industry ,Pediatrik ,Middle Aged ,posttraumatic stress ,Cancer treatment ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Posttraumatic stress ,Child, Preschool ,Therapy, Computer-Assisted ,Papers ,oncology ,randomized controlled trial ,Physical therapy ,Feasibility Studies ,The Internet ,Female ,Self Report ,business ,internet‐based intervention ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Objective The aim of the study was to investigate the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of an Internet‐based guided self‐help intervention for posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and related symptoms in parents of children on cancer treatment. Methods Parents of children on cancer treatment, who fulfilled the modified symptom criteria on the PTSD Checklist, were randomly allocated to the intervention or to a wait‐list control condition. The intervention group accessed a 10‐week guided self‐help program via the Internet based on principles from cognitve behavior therapy. The primary outcome PTSS and the secondary outcomes depression and anxiety were assessed by self‐report preintervention and postintervention. Results Seven hundred forty‐seven parents were approached and informed about the study, 92 were assessed for eligibility, and 58 were included and randomized to the intervention (n = 31) or wait list (n = 27). Eightteen participants completed the intervention. Intention‐to‐treat analyses indicated a significant effect of the intervention on PTSS with a large between‐group effect size at postassessment (Cohen's d = 0.88). The intervention group reported reductions in PTSS with a large within‐group effect size (d = 1.62) compared with a minimal reduction in the wait‐list group (d = 0.09). There was a significant intervention effect on depression and anxiety and reductions in the intervention group with large within‐group effect sizes (d = 0.85–1.09). Conclusions Findings indicate a low enrollment rate and considerable attrition but also that Internet‐based guided self‐help shows promise for parents of children on cancer treatment who report a high level of PTSS and would like to take part in an Internet‐based intervention. © 2015 The Authors. Psycho‐Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Published
- 2015
35. Pregnant Women’s Views on the Feasibility and Acceptability of Web-Based Mental Health E-Screening Versus Paper-Based Screening: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- Author
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Kingston, Dawn, Austin, Marie-Paule, Veldhuyzen van Zanten, Sander, Harvalik, Paula, Giallo, Rebecca, McDonald, Sarah D, MacQueen, Glenda, Vermeyden, Lydia, Lasiuk, Gerri, Sword, Wendy, and Biringer, Anne
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Adult ,Paper ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Health Informatics ,Prenatal care ,Anxiety ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Randomized controlled trial ,Pregnancy ,law ,computers ,medicine ,Humans ,Mass Screening ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Mass screening ,Mini-international neuropsychiatric interview ,Original Paper ,Internet ,030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine ,Depression ,business.industry ,screening ,Odds ratio ,Patient Acceptance of Health Care ,Mental health ,Telemedicine ,3. Good health ,Pregnancy Complications ,Mental Health ,Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale ,Physical therapy ,Feasibility Studies ,Female ,prenatal care ,business ,Psychosocial - Abstract
Background: Major international guidelines recommend mental health screening during the perinatal period. However, substantial barriers to screening have been reported by pregnant and postpartum women and perinatal care providers. E-screening offers benefits that may address implementation challenges. Objective: The primary objective of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of Web-based mental health e-screening compared with paper-based screening among pregnant women. A secondary objective was to identify factors associated with women’s preferences for e-screening and disclosure of mental health concerns. Methods: Pregnant women recruited from community and hospital-based antenatal clinics and hospital-based prenatal classes were computer-randomized to a fully automated Web-based e-screening intervention group or a paper-based control group. Women were eligible if they spoke or read English, were willing to be randomized to e-screening, and were willing to participate in a follow-up diagnostic interview. The intervention group completed the Antenatal Psychosocial Health Assessment and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale on a tablet computer, while controls completed them on paper. All women completed self-report baseline questions and were telephoned 1 week after randomization by a blinded research assistant for a MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Renker and Tonkin’s tool of feasibility and acceptability of computerized screening was used to assess the feasibility and acceptability of e-screening compared with paper-based screening. Intention-to-treat analysis was used. To identify factors associated with preference for e-screening and disclosure, variables associated with each outcome at P
- Published
- 2017
36. Application of acid-modified Imperata cylindrica powder for latent fingerprint development
- Author
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Ling Wei Low, Tjoon Tow Teng, Wei Zeng Low, Z. A. Aziz, Bee Ee Khoo, and Ahmad Fahmi Lim Abdullah
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Paper ,Materials science ,Chromatography ,Mineralogy ,Sulfuric Acids ,Poaceae ,Latent fingerprint ,Pathology and Forensic Medicine ,Feasibility Studies ,Humans ,Dermatoglyphics ,Powders ,Plastics ,Software - Abstract
A novel powdering material that utilizes acid-modified Imperata cylindrica (IC) powder for the development of fingermarks was studied. Experiments were carried out to determine the suitability, adherence quality and sensitivity of the acid-modified IC powder. Fingermarks of different constituents (eccrine, sebaceous and natural fingermarks) on different types of surfaces were used. Acid-modified IC powder was also used to develop fingermarks of different ages as well as aged fingermarks recovered from the water. From the visual inspection, acid-modified IC powder was able to interact with different fingermark constituents and produced distinct ridge details on the examined surfaces. It was also able to develop aged fingermarks and fingermarks that were submerged in water. A statistical comparison was made against the Sirchie® Hi-Fi black powder in terms of the powders' sensitivity and quality of the developed natural fingermarks. The image quality was analyzed using MITRE's Image Quality of Fingerprint (IQF) software. From the experiments, acid-modified IC powder has the potential as a fingermark development powder, although natural fingermarks developed by Sirchie® black powder showed better quality and sensitivity based on the results of the statistical comparison.
- Published
- 2014
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