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Annual and Scientific Meeting Virtual Meeting of the Irish Gerontological Society 70 Years of Change 1951 2021 18th November 2021
No full textAnnual and Scientific Meeting Virtual Meeting of the Irish Gerontological Society 70 Years of Change 1951 2021 18th November 2021
No full textVector fuzzy c-spherical shells (VFCSS) over non-crisp numbers for satellite imaging
No full textThe conventional fuzzy c-spherical shells (FCSS) clustering model is extended to cluster
shells involving non-crisp numbers, in this paper. This is achieved by a vectorized representation of distance, between two non-crisp numbers like the crisp numbers case. Using the proposed clustering method, named vector fuzzy c-spherical shells (VFCSS), all crisp and non-crisp numbers can be clustered by the FCSS algorithm in a unique structure. Therefore, we can implement FCSS clustering over various types of numbers in a unique structure with only a few alterations in the details used in implementing each case. The relations of VFCSS applied to crisp and non-crisp (containing symbolic-interval, LR-type, TFN-type and TAN-type fuzzy) numbers are presented in this paper. Finally, simulation results are reported for VFCSS applied to synthetic LR-type fuzzy numbers; where the application of the proposed method in real life and in geomorphology science is illustrated by extracting the radii of circular agricultural fields using remotely sensed images and the results show better performance and lower cost computational complexity of the proposed method in comparison to conventional FCSS
Characterisation and fundamental insight into the formation of new solid state, multicomponent systems of propranolol.
No full textThe physiochemical properties of acidic or basic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can be optimised by forming salts with different counterions. The aim of this work was to synthesise a novel salt of propranolol (PRO) using sebacic acid (SEBA) as the counterion and to gain mechanistic understanding of not only the salt formation, but also its eutectic phase formation with SEBA. Thermal analysis showed a solid-state reaction occurring between PRO and SEBA leading to the formation of dipropranolol sebacate (DPS) melting at app. 170 °C and the eutectic composed of DPS and SEBA melting at app. 103 °C, comprising 0.33 mol fraction of PRO as determined by the Tammann plot. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the identity of the new multicomponent phases of PRO. DPS can be conveniently obtained by heat-induced crystallisation, grinding and conventional solvent crystallisation. Detailed analysis by FTIR revealed H-bond interactions between DPS and SEBA at the inter-phase in the eutectic. Bravais, Friedel, Donnay and Harker crystal morphology coupled with full interaction maps analysis allowed to understand further the nature of interactions which led to formation of the eutectic phase. This work contributes to furthering research on multicomponent pharmaceutical systems to harness their full potential
Metabolic phenotyping of the human microbiome
No full textThe human microbiome has been identified as having a key role in health
and numerous diseases. Trillions of microbial cells and viral particles
comprise the microbiome, each representing modifiable working elements
of an intricate bioactive ecosystem. The significance of the human
microbiome as it relates to human biology has progressed through
culture-dependent (for example, media-based methods) and, more
recently, molecular (for example, genetic sequencing and metabolomic
analysis) techniques. The latter have become increasingly popular and
evolved from being used for taxonomic identification of microbiota to
elucidation of functional capacity (sequencing) and metabolic activity
(metabolomics). This review summarises key elements of the human
microbiome and its metabolic capabilities within the context of health and
disease
Characterization of the renal cortical transcriptome following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in experimental diabetic kidney disease
No full textIntroduction Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) reduces albuminuria and the long-term incidence of end-stage renal disease in patients with obesity and diabetes. Preclinical modeling in experimental diabetic kidney disease demonstrates that improvements in glomerular structure likely underpin these findings. Research design and methods In adult male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, we profiled the effect of RYGB on weight and metabolic control as well biochemical, structural and ultrastructural indices of diabetic renal injury. Furthermore, we sequenced the renal cortical transcriptome in these rats and used bioinformatic pathway analyses to characterize the transcriptional alterations governing the renal reparative response to RYGB. Results In parallel with improvements in weight and metabolic control, RYGB reduced albuminuria, glomerulomegaly, podocyte stress and podocyte foot process effacement. Pathway analysis of RYGB-induced transcriptomic changes in the renal cortex highlighted correction of disease-associated alterations in fibrosis, inflammation and biological oxidation pathways. RYGB reversed disease-associated changes in the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily genes that strongly correlated with improvements in structural measures of glomerulopathy. Conclusions Improved glomerular structure in ZDF rats following RYGB is underpinned by pathway level changes, including interruption of the TGF-β-driven early profibrotic programme. Our data provide an important layer of experimental support for clinical evidence demonstrating that RYGB arrests renal damage in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes.Health Research BoardHealth Service ExecutiveScience Foundation IrelandWellcome TrustSwedish Research Counci
Comparison of nitrous acid detection using open-path incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy and extractive long-path absorption photometry
No full textAn instrument based on 20 m open-path incoherent broadband cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy (IBBCEAS) was established at the Jülich SAPHIR chamber in Spring 2011. The setup was optimized for the detection of HONO and NO2 in the near UV region 352–386 nm, utilizing a bright hot-spot Xe-arc lamp and a UV-enhanced CCD detector. A 2σ detection limit of 26 pptv for HONO and 76 pptv for NO2 was achieved for an integration time of 1 min. Methacrolein has also been detected at mixing ratios below 5 ppbv. The IBBCEAS instrument’s performance for HONO and NO2 detection was compared to that of extractive wet techniques, long-path absorption photometry (LOPAP) and chemiluminescence spectrometry (CLS) NOx detection, respectively
Magnetic tracking using a modular C++ environment for image-guided interventions
No full textMagnetic tracking enables instrument tracking for image-guided interventions when no line of sight is available. This paper describes the first steps towards a more cost-effective, modular, and adaptable approach that builds upon prior work in open hardware architectures for magnetic tracking in image-guided interventions. An exemplary C++ framework is implemented and demonstrated with the open-hardware Anser EMT system. System performance in speed, accuracy, and precision of the C++ implementation is analysed. Static positioning accuracy and precision are calculated within the Region of Interest (ROI) and an average position error of 1.0 (Formula presented.) 0.1 mm is demonstrated. Results show an indicative increase in the update rate using the C++ framework and substantially lower memory requirements, compared to the previously optimised Python and Matlab solvers. These preliminary results provide the basis for future development which will integrate the C++ framework in a 3D Slicer module, greatly extending the adaptability of the platform for customisation in advanced image-guided procedures
Safety and efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists in children and adolescents with obesity: A meta-analysis
No full textTo determine the weight, body mass index (BMI), cardiometabolic, and gastrointestinal effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists in children with obesity. Study design: Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Scopus databases from 01/01/1994-01/01/2021 for randomized control trials examining the weight, BMI, cardiometabolic, or gastrointestinal effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists in children and adolescents with obesity. Data were extracted by 2 independent surveyors and a random effects model was applied to meta-analyze generic inverse variance outcomes. Primary outcomes were related to weight and cardiometabolic profile, and secondary outcomes of interest were gastrointestinal-related treatment-emergent adverse events. Results: Nine studies involving 574 participants were identified, of which 3 involved exenatide and 6 involved liraglutide. GLP-1 receptor agonists use caused a modest reduction in body weight (mean difference [MD] -1.50 [-2.50,-0.50] kg, I2 64%), BMI (MD -1.24 [-1.71,-0.77] kg/m2, I2 0%), and BMI z score (MD -0.14 [-0.23,-0.06], I2 43%). Glycemic control was improved in children with proven insulin resistance (glycated hemoglobin A1c MD -1.05 [-1.93,-0.18] %, I2 76%). Although no lipid profile improvements were noted, a modest decrease in systolic blood pressure was detected (MD -2.30 [-4.11,-0.49] mm Hg; I2 0%). Finally, analysis of gastrointestinal-related treatment-emergent adverse events revealed an increased risk of nausea (risk ratio 2.11 [1.44, 3.09]; I2 0%), without significant increases in other gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicates that GLP-1 receptor agonists are safe and effective in modestly reducing weight, BMI, glycated hemoglobin A1c, and systolic blood pressure in children and adolescents with obesity in a clinical setting, albeit with increased rates of nausea
Use of self-assembled monolayers for the sequential and independent immobilisation of enzymes
No full textThe precise spatial control of the immobilisation of enzymes is
necessary for the sequential localisation of an enzymatic
cascade. In this contribution, the sequential immobilisation of
alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), formaldehyde dehydrogenase
(FLDH) and formate dehydrogenase (FoDH) on self-assembled
monolayer modified electrodes has been demonstrated. A
range of thiols were screened and optimal enzymatic activity
was obtained with thiols bearing -OH, a positively charged
heterocyclic aromatic ring and -COOH for the immobilisation of
ADH, FLDH and FoDH, respectively. Scanning of the applied
potential was utilised to separately modify individual electrodes
with the appropriate thiol and enzyme to deliver a three-enzyme system with catalytically active enzyme. Immobilised
ADH, FLDH and FoDH retained 46, 32 and 76% of initial activity,
respectively, on storage in aqueous solution at 4°C for a period
of two weeks