Automatic Reader Research Articles

The Impact of ICT in the Conduct of Elections in Nigeria

There is no gainsaying that technology has drastically reduced incidences of electoral malpractices such as: ballot stuffing, result sheet mutilation, manipulations, over voting, alteration of result sheets and hijacking of ballot boxes in the history of Nigeria elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has employed a number of innovative approaches to improve the management and conduct of elections in the country. As years pass by, INEC gets more sophisticated with its technologies in order to meet up with international standard. Therefore, this paper examines the impact of these technologies and the effect they have on election activities in Nigeria from 1999 general election to 2017. Results show that the introduction of these technologies: Electronic Voters Register(EVR), Automatic Fingerprints Identification System (AFIS) and Smart Card Reader (SCR) have reduced the incidence of multiple registration and multiple voting to the barest minimum while the development of e-collation support platform has drastically reduced incidence of result manipulation at collation centres. Hence, it is believed that the incorporation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigeria electoral process has reduced excessive electoral fraud to the barest minimum and foster credible elections.

Crystal Diagnostics Xpress S Kit for the Rapid Detection of Salmonella spp. in Selected Food Matrixes.

The Crystal Diagnostics (CDx) Xpress S Kit is a rapid-screening assay for Salmonella spp. in whole raw tomatoes, whole chicken carcasses, raw ground beef, raw beef trim, and whole liquid pasteurized eggs with citric acid when present at levels of 1 CFU/portion size. The Xpress S system comprises an automatic CDx Xpress Reader and a single-use CDx BioCassette that incorporates antibody-coupled microspheres and liquid crystal for the selective identification of the intended microbe. In internal evaluations, the CDx Xpress S Kit detected all 142 Salmonella strains tested, including non-enterica subspecies, and excluded all non-Salmonella species assayed. Method-developer studies, as well as a third-party evaluation, demonstrated that 15 h single-stage enrichment permits rapid detection equivalent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration reference methods. The results demonstrate that the CDx Xpress S Kit is one of the fastest, most sensitive, and most accurate methods for detecting Salmonella in food matrixes.

CE Standards of Interest: Wearables and Wireless TV [Standards

Recent emerging technologies related to the IEEE Consumer Electronics Society's fields of interest include wearables, smarthome devices, and 4K ultra-high-definition televisions (TVs) in addition to the Internet of Things (IoT), e.g., automatic meter readers and electric cars, among others equipped with sensor systems. These technologies are Internet enabled for reaching the masses. Advances have been accelerated and widely spread to realize the ubiquity of the IoT sooner rather than later.

A quasi-experimental evaluation using roadblocks and automatic license plate readers to reduce crime in Buffalo, NY

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of a hot spots policing strategy: using automated license plate readers at roadblocks.Methods: Different roadblock locations were chosen by the Buffalo Police Department every day over a two month period. We use propensity score matching to identify a set of control locations based on prior counts of crime and demographic factors before the intervention took place. We then evaluate the reductions in Part 1 crimes, calls for service, and traffic accidents at roadblock locations compared to control locations.Results: We find modest reductions in Part 1 violent crimes (10 over all roadblock locations and over the two months) using t-tests of mean differences. We find a 20% reduction in traffic accidents using fixed effects negative binomial regression models. Both results are sensitive to the model used though, and the fixed effects models predict increases in crimes due to the intervention.Conclusions: While the results are mixed, it provides some evidence that the intervention has potential to reduce crime. We suggest that the limited intervention at one time may be less effective than focusing on a location multiple times over an extended period.

A Novel Assay for Measuring Total Antioxidant Capacity in Whole Blood and Other Biological Samples

A new method for rapidly determining total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in a biological sample has been devised and evaluated. A surfactant present in the reagent causes the lysis of cells in the sample. Glutathione, ascorbic acid, protein thiols and other main reducing substances in the sample react with a specific redox chromogen (2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol) and produce a change in the color of the reagent, which is determined photometrically at 630 nm. This new method quantifies the overall capacity of the sample to reduce a redox chromogen and it requires the minimum volumes and time. The assay can be used on a wide variety of biological samples including whole blood, serum, plasma, tissue extracts and homogenates, food, wine, fruit juice and other beverages. Results are expressed in terms of mmol/L glutathione equivalents. TAC can be assayed manually, on automatic analyzers or micro-plate readers.

A Multitask Grocery Assist System for the Visually Impaired: Smart glasses, gloves, and shopping carts provide auditory and tactile feedback

According to the World Health Organization, "285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired worldwide" [1]. Several technologies such as automatic text readers, Braille note makers, and navigation assistance canes have been developed to assist the visually impaired. Concurrent advances in computer vision and hardware technologies provide opportunities for a visual-assistance system that can be used in multiple contexts. As part of the Visual Cortex on Silicon program, we have been developing interfaces, algorithms, and hardware platforms to assist the visually impaired with a focus on grocery shopping. This article describes the various features that we have incorporated into this visual-assistance system so that it can be used in multiple contexts.

Crystal Diagnostics Xpress™ LM Kit for the Rapid Detection of Listeria monocytogenes from Environmental Surfaces.

The Crystal Diagnostics (CDx) Xpress™ LM kit is used for rapid screening of low concentrations of Listeria monocytogenes on environmental surfaces such as stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic tile. In addition to the Xpress LM kit, the CDx Xpress System comprises an automatic Xpress Reader, a BioCassette™ that incorporates antibody-coupled microspheres, and liquid crystal for selective identification of the intended microbe. All 56 of the 56 tested L. monocytogenes strains evaluated were detected, and 50 of the 50 nontarget bacterial strains were excluded when the test was conducted under the described kit conditions. Shelf-life testing of the antibody-coated microspheres and other CDx consumables indicated that all materials were stable for a minimum of 6 months (ongoing), and lot-to-lot testing demonstrated no significant differences among lots. The internal and independent laboratory tests on stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic tile surfaces demonstrated that the method is equivalent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reference method, and there were no significant differences between the CDx Xpress LM kit presumptive and confirmed results for any of the matrixes. Overall, the CDx Xpress LM kit is one of the fastest to provide the sensitivity and specificity equivalent to the USDA reference method in screening low levels of L. monocytogenes surface contamination and, when combined with chromogenic culturing of presumptive positives, provides a streamlined confirmation process to rapidly and accurately differentiate L. monocytogenes from other microbes.

Occupational Exposure to Ionizing Radiation in Interventional Cardiology Practices in Bangladesh during 2010-2014

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess, analyze and discuss the occupational exposure to ionizing radiation in interventional cardiology practices in Bangladesh for the last 5-year periods.
 Method: Each year, about 100 workers working in interventional cardiology departments of big hospitals in Dhaka City were monitored using Harshaw Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs) for quarterly basis. The effective dose of the occupational workers were measured using Two Harshaw TLD Readers (one is manual TLD reader, model-4500, and another is automatic TLD reader, model 6600 plus).
 Finding: The average annual effective dose (about 80 % workers) in interventional cardiology practices were <2mSv in 2010-2014 and no monitored workers were found to have received an occupational exposure >50 mSv in a single year or >100 mSv in a 5 year period. The status and trends in occupational exposure demonstrate that radiation protection conditions at the majority of the workplace were adequate. Despite that, further optimization is necessary due to large variations observed in the maximum individual doses over the 5-year periods.

Evaluation of a new automated microscopy urine sediment analyser – sediMAX conTRUST®

This study evaluated the performance of the stand-alone sediMAX conTRUST (77Elektronika, Budapest, Hungary) analyser as an alternative to microscopic analysis of urine. The validation included a precision, carry-over, categorical correlation and diagnostic performance study with manual phase-contrast microscopy as reference method. A total of 260 routine urine samples were assessed. The within-run precision was much better at higher concentrations than at very low concentrations. The precision met our predefined limits for all the elements at the different concentrations, with the exception of the lowest RBC, the WBC, pathological casts and crystals count. There was no sample carry-over. The analyser showed good categorical agreement with manual microscopy for RBC and WBC counts, moderate agreement for yeast cells, crystals and squamous epithelial cells and bad agreement for non-squamous epithelial cells, bacteria and casts. Diagnostic performance was satisfying only for RBC, WBC and yeast cells. The number of false negative results was acceptable (≤4%) for all elements after connecting the sediMAX conTRUST with an automatic strip reader (AutionMAX) and after implementation of review rules. We conclude that the sediMAX conTRUST should be used as a screening tool in combination with an automatic strip reader, for the identification of normal samples. Therefore, adequate review rules should be defined. Manual microscopy is still required in ‘flagged’ pathological samples. Despite the poor analytical performance on pathological samples, the images on the screen can be used for interpretation without the microscope and can be stored as PDF-documents for archiving the results.

Drug resistance mediated by outer membrane porin F (OmpF) and its regulatory gene of micF in Shigella strains

Objective To investigate the mechanism of drug resistance mediated by micF gene and outer membrane porin F (OmpF) in Shigella strains. Methods Shigella strains were isolated from stool samples of patients who presented to the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University with acute diarrhea in 2015. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed to screen out the multidrug-resistant and non-multidrug-resistant strains. The ompF gene was amplified by PCR. The micF and ompF genes at transcriptional levels in the two groups of strains were detected by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Intracellular concentrations of ciprofloxacin in the two groups of Shigella strains were measured by automatic microplate reader. Results According to the result of antibiotic susceptibility test, 13 strains that were resistant to 3 or more than 3 antibiotics were classified into the multidrug-resistant group, while the other 8 strains that were sensitive to all antibiotics used in this study or only resistant to 1 or 2 antibiotic were classified into the non-multidrug-resistant group. All of the 21 Shigella strains carried the ompF gene. Compared with the non-multidrug-resistant strains, the multidrug-resistant strains showed higher expression of micF gene, but lower expression of ompF gene. The differences in micF and ompF genes between the two groups were statistically significant. The result of correlation analysis suggested that there was a negative correlation between micF and ompF genes (r=-0.244). The intracellular concentrations of ciprofloxacin in multidrug-resistant strains were lower than those in the non-multidrug-resistant strains (P<0.001). Conclusion The decreased expression of OmpF was one of the possible mechanisms of multidrug-resistance in Shigella strains. The micF gene was negatively related to the expression of OmpF. Moreover, the decreased intracellular concentrations of ciprofloxacin in multidrug-resistant strains might be related to the decreased expression of OmpF. Key words: Shigella; Antibiotic resistance; Outer membrane porin F; micF gene

Acute effect of lactic acid on tumor-endothelial cell metabolic coupling in the tumor microenvironment.

The present study aimed to systematically analyze alterations in the expression of mitochondrial-associated proteins in human bladder cancer T24 cells co-cultured with tumor-associated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and to investigate the characteristics of bladder cancer cell energy metabolism. The present study used the following techniques: A co-culture system of T24 cells and HUVECs was constructed using a microfluidic chip as a 3D co-culture system; the concentration of lactic acid in the medium of the cells was determined using an automatic microplate reader; a qualitative analysis of mitochondria-associated protein expression was performed by immunofluorescent staining; and a quantitative analysis of mitochondrial-associated protein expression was conducted using western blotting. The present results revealed that between the control groups (monoculture of T24 cells or HUVECs), the mitochondrial-associated protein fluorescence intensity was increased in the HUVECs compared with the T24 cells. The fluorescence intensity of mitochondrial-associated proteins in the HUVEC control group was increased compared with the HUVECs in the experimental co-culture group. In the T24 cells, the protein fluorescence intensity was increased in the experimental co-culture group compared with the control group. In addition, the expression of mitochondria-associated proteins was increased in HUVECs compared with T24 cells in the control groups, while T24 cells in the experimental co-culture group had an increased expression compared with HUVECs in the experimental group (P<0.05). For T24 cells, the expression of mitochondrial-associated proteins was increased in the experimental group compared with the control group, and contrasting results were observed for the HUVECs (P<0.05). Determination of lactic acid concentration demonstrated that lactic acid concentration was highest in the experimental co-culture group, followed by the T24 control group and the HUVEC control group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that energy metabolism of the bladder tumor cells does not parallel the 'Warburg effect', since even under sufficient oxygen conditions the tumor cells still undergo glycolysis. Additionally, bladder tumor cells have an efficient oxidative phosphorylation process, wherein tumor cells promote glycolysis in adjacent interstitial cells, thereby causing increased formation of nutritional precursors. These high-energy metabolites are transferred to adjacent tumor cells in a specified direction and enter the Krebs Cycle. Ultimately, oxidative phosphorylation increases, and sufficient ATP is produced.

Measurement of Rhodamine 123 in Three-Dimensional Organoids: A Novel Model for P-Glycoprotein Inhibitor Screening.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp), as the most important efflux transporter in intestines, plays the key role to determine the bioavailability of many drugs. The three-dimensional (3D) organoid model is suitable to imitate small intestinal epithelium. In this study, a rapid, sensitive and efficient method to measure rhodamine 123 (Rh123, P-gp substrate) in 3D organoids was developed to analyse P-gp-mediated drug transport. Ultrasonic cell disruptor was used to smash the organoid, and automatic microplate reader was used for detecting the concentration of Rh123 (λex /λem = 485/520 nm). Moreover, verapamil, quinidine and mitotane were used to make validation about this newly developed approach. All three P-gp inhibitors significantly inhibited the transport of Rh123 into 3D organoids. Therefore, the above-mentioned method could serve as a new model for P-gp inhibitor screening in a high-throughput way.

APPLICATION OF PTTL METHOD FOR DOSE REASSESSMENT IN EXTREMITY DOSIMETRY.

Wide and common applications of ionising radiation require continuous improvement of radiation safety and dosimetry methods. The thermoluminescent (TL) method is well known and very popular. Apart from its advantages, it also carries certain disadvantages. The erasure of the TL signal on detector readout and the resulting impossibility of post-readout dose reassessment is one of them. At the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN), a method for dose reassessment based on phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) has been developed. This method has been applied for dose reassessment to MTS-N (LiF:Mg, Ti) detectors used in individual whole-body dosemeters and adjusted to an automatic reader used in routine measurements. The next step was to extend and adapt this method for extremity dosemeters. With the use of the PTTL method, it is possible to reassess relatively high doses measured on individual whole-body and extremity dosemeters collected from our customers after routine use. The influence of PTTL background has greater impact in extremity dosemeters where it is only one and thinner MTS-N detector compared with four MTS-N detectors in whole-body dosemeters. The minimum dose was determined as 5 mSv for extremity dosimetry. Below 5 mSv, the impact of PTTL background is comparable to the signal, and the estimated uncertainty of reassessed dose is at the level of reassessed dose.

Rapid-lecture biological indicators’ monitoring of CEYE (SAPC) autoclaves of the School of Dentistry of the Technological University of Mexico (UNITEC)

Objective: To monitor autoclave effectiveness and conduct routine validation of sterilization cycles. Material and methods: An observational, cross-sectioned, qualitative and prospective study of three Sterilization and Packing Center autoclaves of the Technological University of Mexico of the School of Dentistry was conducted. The study included 96 surgical and non-surgical packs, and spanned the period from May 2012 to April 2015. Monthly assessments were conducted, according to Offi cial Mexican Norm stipulation number NOM-013-SSA2-1994, modifi cation 2006, using rapid lecture biological indicators (1292 3M Attest™). Sterilization efficiency was determined as biological annihilation elicited in these indicators. Effectiveness assessment was conducted after three hours with an automatic optic reader (3M Attest 290™). A positive witness was included in all readings. Results: Negative results were obtained in biological indicators readings used in autoclaves. A 100% effectiveness was achieved in sterilization processes of surgical and non surgical packs. All witnesses were positive. Conclusions: The effectiveness of Sterilization and Packing Center autoclaves of the Technological University of Mexico of the School of Dentistry was corroborated. The Norm established by the Mexican Health Ministry was complied with.

Principal component analysis and kinetic model adjustment to describe the community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) in the sediments of the river Minho estuary (Northern Portugal)

Principal component analysis and kinetic model adjustment to describe the community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) in the sediments of the river Minho estuary (Northern Portugal)

FFM Index, FM Index and PBF in Subjects with Normal, Overweight, and Obese BMI in Saudi Arabia Female Population

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Aims: &lt;/strong&gt;To assess Fat Free Mass Index, Fat Mass Index and Percent Body Fat in subjects with normal, overweight, and obese BMI and to examine if FFMI and FMI as compared to BMI have higher predictability in identification of high risk groups as defined by metabolic measurements among female college students and employees in Hail, Northern part of Saudi Arabia.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;Sample of 514 female college students and employees were enrolled and body composition was measured by using bioelectrical impendence technique. FFMI and FMI are calculated using the standard formula. Blood pressure (BP) and pulse were measured using automatic BP reader in a resting sitting position. Random blood glucose was tested using strip method (One touch, Simple).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;Around 11 percent of study subjects were underweight while 25 percent were overweight and another 22 percent were obese. Only 42 percent of study population had normal weight. Except for height there were significant differences for weight, BMI, FM, FFM and %BF across age groups. Weight, FM, FFM shows a linear trend till the age 40 yrs after which an inverse trend begins. BMI continues to show linear trend across all ages. Mean FFMI was around 14 kg/m2 (range 5th – 95th percentile: 12.5 – 17.8 kg/m2) and was modestly but significantly higher (P &amp;lt; 0.001) in the higher age group. Similarly, Mean FMI was 8.4 kg/m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; (range 5th – 95th percentile: 3.8 – 18.3 kg/m2) and significantly higher (P &amp;lt; 0.001) in the higher age group. In Regression models for SBP, BMI and %BF explain 18.7 % of variance; while for DBP, WC and %BF explain 11.2 % of variance. For blood glucose, it is FFMI, FMI and Visceral fat which explain maximum variance.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusion: &lt;/strong&gt;BMI alone cannot provide information about the respective contribution of FFM or fat mass to body weight. This study presents FFMI and BFMI values that correspond to low, normal, overweight, and obese BMIs. FFMI and BFMI provide information about body compartments, regardless of height.&lt;/p&gt;

Short-term forecasting of hourly water consumption by using automatic metering readers data

A completely data-driven, fully adaptive self-learning algorithm for water demand forecasting in the short-term and with hourly periodicity is proposed, according to the renewed interest generated by the availability of new technological solutions such as Automatic Metering Readers (AMR), a key enabler of the “Smart Water” paradigm. The approach is based on two sequential stages: at the first stage (time-series clustering) the daily water demand patterns (i.e., time-series of hourly data) are analysed to identify a limited set of typical behaviours. At the second stage Support Vector Machine regression is used to obtain one specific forecasting model (consisting of a regression model for each hour) for each cluster identified at the first stage. The approach has been validated on real data acquired by AMRs deployed on the Italian pilot site of ICeWater, computing the widely adopted error measure MAPE (Mean Absolute Percentage Error).

Estimation of Freeway Density Based on Combination of Data

This study compared the results from three freeway density estimation methods based on point detector data with the results obtained from the density estimation procedure of the Highway Capacity Manual 2010 (HCM 2010). The three methods were the cumulative volume–based method, the occupancy-based method, and the fundamental relationship–based method. The study also developed and tested a new method that integrated data from point traffic detectors and automatic vehicle identification readers to estimate the density of freeway segments for offline and real-time applications. The four density estimation methods were compared with each other and the HCM 2010 method by using two case studies based on simulation modeling and real-world data. Results showed that the density estimates based on the proposed segmentation method, cumulative volume method, and HCM 2010 method were generally closer to each other compared with the estimates based on the other two tested methods. The simulation case study showed that the density estimates from these three methods were also closer to density measurements obtained on the basis of vehicle trajectories from simulation. The two case study results indicate that the selection of the density estimation method affects mainly the level-of-service value during intermediate congested conditions.

PO271 THE PLASMA ADIPONECTIN LEVELS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH PREDIABETES

Background: Ginseng have been proposed to mediate antidiabetic effect. The active components of ginseng are thought to be ginsenoside and distributed in many parts of the ginseng plant. Rg3, one of the active ingredients of ginseng saponins, has been known about the effects on molecularmechanism related to diabetes including inhibition the palmitate-induced beta-cell apoptosis and enhancement the glucose uptake. Glucose variability could induce a higher degree of apoptosis and decreased the insulin secretory capacity in beta-cells. In the present study, we investigated whether Rg3 suppresses intermittent high glucose(IHG)induced beta-cell apoptosis and improved insulin secretion in INS-1 pancreatic beta-cells. Method: To perform Glucose Fluctuation and protection effect by ginsenoside Rg3, mediums were aspirated and new medium containing Glucose Fluctuation or/and Rg3 concentrations was added and incubated for 2days. Annexin V staining for apoptosis detection analyzed by FACsort. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay. The optical density was measured at 450 nm by automatic plate reader. Quantification of secreted insulin protein by ELISA was measured using Rat/mouse Insulin ELISA kit. BrdU staining was added in and quantification of secreted insulin proteins were analyzed by FACSort. Result: After 48hrs, INS-1 cell treated with alternative high glucose concentration(33mM glucose) and low glucose concentration(5mM) increased beta-cells apoptosis by 5.37 fold. But culturing with Rg3 1mM, 5mM,10mM, the percentages of apoptotic cells were reduced by dose dependently. Cell viability was reduced 63% by IHG. This toxic effect was also attenuated by culturing with Rg3. Additionally, when we added BrdU to culture medium and labeling of proliferating cells, cell proliferation was tended to be increased. And the ratio of quantification of secreted insulin protein/total protein was also tended to be increased with Rg3 dose dependently. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg3 suppresses intermittent high glucose-induced apoptosis and increases cell viability. Also it has tendancy to increase cell proliferation and the ratio of insulin secreting protein/total protein in INS-1 pancreatic beta-cells.

Application of phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) for dose re-assessment in routine dosimetry using MTS-N (LiF:Mg,Ti) thermoluminescent detectors

Erasure of the thermoluminescence (TL) signal on detector readout is considered to be a disadvantage of TL dosimetry, as post-readout dose reassessment is then impossible in principle. A method of dose reassessment based on phototransferred thermoluminescence (PTTL) has been developed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences (IFJ PAN) and applied to MTS-N (LiF:Mg,Ti) detectors. We demonstrate the possibility of applying PTTL for dose reassessment in MTS-N TL detectors routinely applied in the dosimetric service at IFJ PAN. Readings of TL detectors exposed to relatively high doses by the customers of our dosimetry service can now be reassessed using our automatic readers. A major obstacle in applying the PTTL method at lower exposures is the presence of residual dose accumulated in LiF:Mg,Ti detectors after many field exposure and readout cycles. Since most of the TL detectors in our service have been already used for a long time (e.g. for over 10 years in the case of some detector batches), we find that our PTTL method of dose reassessment is possible only in detectors which had received doses exceeding 5 mSv.