•A very sensitive and energy-saving breath sensor powered by 2.2 V.•A radio sensor module built using SoC.•The use of BLE advertising mode for breath monitoring.•Small dimensions of a complete sensor ...module (2.5 × 2.5 cm).•The use of a pseudobinary signal simplifies the construction of the system.
The paper presents a system for monitoring respiratory frequency and strength using a BLE transmitter in non-connectable advertising mode and a variable impedance sensor operating in a relaxation oscillator circuit. The presented solution is characterized by low energy consumption. Both the measurement system and teletransmission system operate at 2.2 V power supply. By using a micropower operational amplifier, the analogue part of the system consumes 240–300 μW. Unipolar power supply and configuration of the relaxation oscillator enable to create a pseudobinary signal with the frequency f < 10 kHz. The relaxation oscillator is connected to the microcontroller binary input without having to convert the signal. By using a System On Chip (SoC) with CPU ARM Cortex to control the radio and perform measurements of the pseudobinary signal, the design was simplified and its dimensions were reduced. The operation of the analogue part of the system was compared with a commercial sensor. In addition, the ability of the system to reproduce the breath cycle signal on the BLE side was verified. Differences between the duration of individual cycles turned out to be statistically insignificant, both in the case of normal (p = 0.6889) and fast (p = 0.3226) breathing.
Fracton models provide examples of novel gapped quantum phases of matter that host intrinsically immobile excitations and therefore lie beyond the conventional notion of topological order. Here, we ...calculate optimal error thresholds for quantum error correcting codes based on fracton models. By mapping the error-correction process for bit-flip and phase-flip noises into novel statistical models with Ising variables and random multibody couplings, we obtain models that exhibit an unconventional subsystem symmetry instead of a more usual global symmetry. We perform large-scale parallel tempering Monte Carlo simulations to obtain disorder-temperature phase diagrams, which are then used to predict optimal error thresholds for the corresponding fracton code. Remarkably, we found that the X-cube fracton code displays a minimum error threshold (7.5%) that is much higher than 3D topological codes such as the toric code (3.3%), or the color code (1.9%). This result, together with the predicted absence of glass order at the Nishimori line, shows great potential for fracton phases to be used as quantum memory platforms.
The gut microbiome has been shown to regulate the development and functions of the enteric and central nervous systems. Its involvement in the regulation of behavior has attracted particular ...attention because of its potential translational importance in clinical disorders, however little is known about the pathways involved. We previously have demonstrated that administration of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (JB-1) to healthy male BALB/c mice, promotes consistent changes in GABA-A and -B receptor sub-types in specific brain regions, accompanied by reductions in anxiety and depression-related behaviors. In the present study, using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), we quantitatively assessed two clinically validated biomarkers of brain activity and function, glutamate+glutamine (Glx) and total N-acetyl aspartate+N-acetyl aspartyl glutamic acid (tNAA), as well as GABA, the chief brain inhibitory neurotransmitter. Mice received 1×109 cfu of JB-1 per day for 4weeks and were subjected to MRS weekly and again 4weeks after cessation of treatment to ascertain temporal changes in these neurometabolites. Baseline concentrations for Glx, tNAA and GABA were equal to 10.4±0.3mM, 8.7±0.1mM, and 1.2±0.1mM, respectively. Delayed increases were first seen for Glx (~10%) and NAA (~37%) at 2weeks which persisted only to the end of treatment. However, Glx was still elevated 4weeks after treatment had ceased. Significantly elevated GABA (~25%) was only seen at 4weeks. These results suggest specific metabolic pathways in our pursuit of mechanisms of action of psychoactive bacteria. They also offer through application of standard clinical neurodiagnostic techniques, translational opportunities to assess biomarkers accompanying behavioral changes induced by alterations in the gut microbiome.
•We have shown for the first time that the concentrations of certain metabolites increase in the brain following oral treatment with L. rhamnosus and do so with distinct kinetics.•Both tNAA and Glx increased relatively early after the start of L. rhamnosus die, while GABA was only elevated at four weeks.•These results suggest beneficial bacteria may alter brain function and offer translational approaches into the clinical setting.
► Covering the sensor with an antiseptic greatly increases its sensitivity to breath. ► A significant increase in capacitance, 0.5nF/% RH, with relative humidity over 75%. ► The sensor was tested ...within the frequency range of several to 240 breaths per min. ► Low production costs enable to treat the sensor as a disposable product.
Human breath monitoring provides a lot of information about the condition of the body. Respiratory rate which is beyond the norm can be a symptom of a serious disease and an indication for hospitalization. This article presents a sensor which enables monitoring of respiratory rate owing to the change of coupling between input and output electrodes caused by the micro-condensation of vapour particles on the sensor surface in the process of exhaling air. The amplitude of a supplying signal (DC or AC in the range of low frequencies) determines the maximum amplitude of the output signal. The micro-condensation sensor (MCBS) was made in PCB technology and its surface was covered with an available antiseptic which increases MCBS sensitivity to breathing to a great extent. With relative humidity exceeding 75%, the change of the sensor capacitance amounts to 0.5nF/%RH.The sensor was tested within the frequency range of several to 240 breaths per minute. Such a wide range of frequencies was chosen in order to determine the sensor sensitivity and the speed of its operation in widely different circumstances.
BackgroundWhile sutureless, cryopreserved amniotic membrane (cAM) has been shown to significantly improve signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED), no studies have assessed the association of cAM ...treatment duration to the differential response in clinical outcomes. MethodsA multi-center, retrospective study was conducted on patients with moderate-to-severe DED who were treated with self-retained cAM (Prokera® Slim) for 2 to 7 days. The primary outcome measure was DEWS severity score assessed at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Secondary outcome measures included ocular discomfort, visual symptoms, corneal staining, and visual acuity. ResultsA total of 89 eyes (77 patients) with moderate-to-severe DED (DEWS severity 3.24 ± 0.56) received treatment with self-retained cAM for 2 days (n = 10), 3 days (n = 15), 4 days (n = 12), 5 days (n = 19), 6 days (n = 6), or 7 days (n = 27). DEWS scores significantly improved at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months for all treatment duration groups, with no significant difference observed between groups at any timepoint. In addition to an improvement in DEWS severity scores, those receiving cAM treatment for 2 days demonstrated a significant improvement in corneal staining, visual symptoms, and ocular discomfort at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. ConclusionThis retrospective study suggests that a single placement of self-retained cAM for 2 days can significantly improve signs and symptoms of DED with a lasting benefit observed for up to 3 months.
Solid-state 13C NMR experiments and quantum chemical Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations of acetone adsorption were used to study the location of protons in anhydrous 12-tungstophosphoric ...acid (HPW), the mobility of the isolated and hydrated acidic protons, and the acid strength heterogeneity of the anhydrous hydroxyl groups. This study presents the first direct NMR experimental evidence that there are two types of isolated protons with different acid strengths in the anhydrous Keggin HPW. Rotational Echo DOuble Resonance (REDOR) NMR experiments combined with quantum chemical DFT calculations demonstrated that acidic protons in anhydrous HPW are localized on both bridging (Oc) and terminal (Od) atoms of the Keggin unit. The CP/MAS NMR experiments revealed that the isolated acidic protons are immobile, but hydrated acidic protons are highly mobile at room temperature. The isotropic chemical shift of the adsorbed acetone suggested that the acid strength of the H(H2O) n + species in partially hydrated HPW is comparable to that of a zeolite, while the acidity of an isolated proton is much stronger than that of a zeolite. Isolated protons on the bridging oxygen atoms of anhydrous HPW are nearly superacidic.
To evaluate the efficacy of cryopreserved amniotic membrane (CAM) in reducing signs and symptoms of dry eye disease (DED) in a large patient population.
A retrospective chart review at 10 clinical ...sites was done of patients with refractory DED who received CAM and completed at least 3 months of follow-up. Data collected were demographics; medical history including previous and current ocular treatment, diagnosis, clinical presentations, comorbidity, duration and frequency of treatment with CAM; and concomitant medications. The primary outcome was the change in dry eye workshop (DEWS) score after treatment.
A total of 97 eyes of 84 patients exhibited severe dry eye despite maximal medical treatments including topical artificial tears, cyclosporine-A, serum, antibiotics, and steroids. Patients manifested with superficial punctate keratitis (86%), filamentary keratitis (13%), exposure keratitis (19%), neurotrophic keratitis (2%), and corneal epithelial defect (7%). After CAM treatment for 5.4±2.8 days, 74 (88%) patients demonstrated an improved ocular surface along with a notable reduction of the severity as the overall DEWS score was significantly reduced from 3.25±0.5 at baseline to 1.44±0.6 at 1 week, 1.45±0.6 at 1 month, and 1.47±0.6 at 3 months (
<0.001). Ten eyes (10%) required repeated treatment to complete healing. Apart from discomfort during CAM placement, there were no adverse events.
Placement of CAM is promising to enhance the recovery of ocular surface health and reduce signs and symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe DED.
We highlight the progress, current status, and open challenges of QCD-driven physics, in theory and in experiment. We discuss how the strong interaction is intimately connected to a broad sweep of ...physical problems, in settings ranging from astrophysics and cosmology to strongly coupled, complex systems in particle and condensed-matter physics, as well as to searches for physics beyond the Standard Model. We also discuss how success in describing the strong interaction impacts other fields, and, in turn, how such subjects can impact studies of the strong interaction. In the course of the work we offer a perspective on the many research streams which flow into and out of QCD, as well as a vision for future developments.
Monolayer metal oxide coatings on metal oxide supports have the possibility of tuning the surface chemical properties of the coated systems. However, the (meta)stability of these structures makes ...experimental discovery challenging. A computational approach can help to determine properties that make a coating/substrate system stable and evaluate the stability of a variety of combinations. Herein, we use density functional theory (DFT) to study the stability of monolayer transitional metal oxides over different facets of anatase, brookite, and rutile phase of TiO2. We find that coatings that have a stable polymorph matching that of the support, as well as substrates with higher surface energies, are more likely to form monolayer-coated systems. DFT calculations recommend a number of coating/TiO2 surface facet combinations that may be stable. Despite these predictive observations, we did not find a significant correlation between monolayer stability and a single atomic, surface, or structural property of the coating/support metal/metal oxide and coating oxide monolayer stability. More complex predictive relationships need future study.
Background Once-daily, oral ETC-1002 reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and has beneficial effects on other cardiometabolic risk factors but has not been examined in statin ...intolerant patients. Objectives To study the efficacy and safety of ETC-1002 (a novel LDL-C–lowering agent) in patients with hypercholesterolemia and a history of statin intolerance. Methods Patients intolerant to at least 1 statin were entered into this multicenter, double-blind, 8-week trial. Participants were required to have a history of muscle complaints that developed during statin treatment and resolved within 4 weeks of statin discontinuation. Patients (n = 56) were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to ETC-1002 60 mg daily or placebo. The ETC-1002 dose was increased at 2-week intervals to 120 mg, 180 mg, and 240 mg. The primary end point was the percentage change from baseline to week 8 in calculated LDL-C. Results ETC-1002 reduced LDL-C 28.7% more than placebo (95% confidence interval, −35.4 to −22.1; P < .0001). ETC-1002 significantly reduced non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not change with ETC-1002 treatment. Sixty-two percent of patients receiving ETC-1002 and none in the placebo group achieved the 2004 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III LDL-C goal ( P < .0001). Muscle-related adverse events occurred with similar frequency in the placebo and ETC-1002 treatment groups, causing no discontinuations in ETC-1002–treated patients. Conclusions ETC-1002 appears to be effective at reducing LDL-C and was well tolerated in patients with statin-associated muscle complaints. Longer and larger studies are required to confirm the absence of muscle side effects.
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