EMEMI: An interference-free mini-incubator with integrated electric and magnetic field exposure for real-time microscopic imaging of field effects.

Uninterrupted microscopic observation and real-time imaging of cell behavior during exposure to the stimulus, for example, electric and/or magnetic fields, especially for periods of several days, has been a challenge in experimental bioelectromagnetics due to a lack of proper gas/temperature conditions outside the incubator. Conventional mini-incubators might suffer from stray fields produced by heating elements. We report an in vitro electric and magnetic fields (EMF) exposure system embedded inside a novel under-the-microscope mini-CO2 -incubator with a unique design to avoid electromagnetic interference from the heating and circulation functions while ensuring the requisite temperature. A unique, reconfigurable array of electrodes and/or coils excited by calculated current distributions among array elements is designed to provide excellent field uniformity and controllable linear or circular polarization (even at very low frequencies) of the EMF within the cell culture. Using standard biochemical assays, long-term cell viability has been verified and compared with a conventional incubator. Cell orientation/migration in three-dimensional culture made of collagen-hydrogels has been successfully observed in vitro, in long-term, and in real-time under the influence of DC electric fields with the device.

Optimal currents for electrical stimulation of bone fracture repair: A computational analysis including variations in frequency, tissue properties, and fracture morphology.

Fracture healing happens naturally in most bone break cases. Occasionally prolongation of restoration period or non-union of the fracture may occur, where electrical stimulation has been shown to facilitate bone restoration by stimulating osteoblasts. Despite clinical use, a comprehensive computational model linking the applied currents to the stimulating field in the fracture has been missing. In this paper, we investigate the input current needed to stimulate osteoblasts in a fracture in the human forearm. Optimal current is computed for various fracture configurations, and sensitivity to frequency and inter/intrapersonal variance in dielectric properties are analyzed. Stimulation thresholds at the fracture site are based on detailed review of experimental studies. Our results show that for a 1 mm thick 30° fracture with a 15 Hz sinusoidal field, the input current amounts to a maximum of 3.77 µA. Minimum and maximum required current levels are plotted versus fracture parameters, all of which comply with the ICNIRP standard. Simulation results are supported by several experimental reports. Our model is useful for understanding the effects of various geometrical and electrical factors on clinical outcome, and serves as a theoretical aid in the design of more efficient systems. Bioelectromagnetics. 40:128-135, 2019. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.

Exploring the effects of climatic variables on monthly precipitation variation using a continuous wavelet-based multiscale entropy approach.

Understanding precipitation on a regional basis is an important component of water resources planning and management. The present study outlines a methodology based on continuous wavelet transform (CWT) and multiscale entropy (CWME), combined with self-organizing map (SOM) and k-means clustering techniques, to measure and analyze the complexity of precipitation. Historical monthly precipitation data from 1960 to 2010 at 31 rain gauges across Iran were preprocessed by CWT. The multi-resolution CWT approach segregated the major features of the original precipitation series by unfolding the structure of the time series which was often ambiguous. The entropy concept was then applied to components obtained from CWT to measure dispersion, uncertainty, disorder, and diversification of subcomponents. Based on different validity indices, k-means clustering captured homogenous areas more accurately, and additional analysis was performed based on the outcome of this approach. The 31 rain gauges in this study were clustered into 6 groups, each one having a unique CWME pattern across different time scales. The results of clustering showed that hydrologic similarity (multiscale variation of precipitation) was not based on geographic contiguity. According to the pattern of entropy across the scales, each cluster was assigned an entropy signature that provided an estimation of the entropy pattern of precipitation data in each cluster. Based on the pattern of mean CWME for each cluster, a characteristic signature was assigned, which provided an estimation of the CWME of a cluster across scales of 1-2, 3-8, and 9-13 months relative to other stations. The validity of the homogeneous clusters demonstrated the usefulness of the proposed approach to regionalize precipitation. Further analysis based on wavelet coherence (WTC) was performed by selecting central rain gauges in each cluster and analyzing against temperature, wind, Multivariate ENSO index (MEI), and East Atlantic (EA) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), indeces. The results revealed that all climatic features except NAO influenced precipitation in Iran during the 1960-2010 period.

AICRF: ancestry inference of admixed population with deep conditional random field.

Ancestry inference of admixed populations is an important issue in anthropology and studies of gene discovery, and characterization. Usually, local ancestor inference (LAI) methods use fixed-length windows to divide chromosomes into smaller blocks. The accuracy of LAI algorithms will decrease if a window with an inappropriate length is used to infer the ancestry of admixed individuals. In this study, we first present a heuristic function to determine a proper window length for LAI methods. This heuristic is based on the distance between the ancestral populations of admixed individuals. Then we introduce a method for ancestry inference of admixed population with deep conditional random field (AICRF). AICRF uses a conditional random field (CRF) parameterized by probable extreme learning machines (PELMs) trained on reference panels where PELM is a novel probabilistic ELM classifier. This method does not require many statistical or biological parameters. We evaluate the performance of AICRF in comparison with RFMix. Experimental results show that AICRF is more accurate than RFMix with increasing admixture times.

Association of pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory proteins with atherosclerosis index in obese male subjects.

OBJECTIVES: Investigation the association of pro-inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL- 10 expression, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), High-density lipoprotein (HDL), Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily A Member 1 (ABCA1) inflammatory proteins with atherosclerosis index (homocysteine) in normal-weight and obese male subjects. METHODS: 59 males including 30 obese (Body mass index (BMI) of ≥30 kg/m2) and 29 normal-weight (BMI of 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) were joined to this study. Plasma levels of IL-1ß and IL-10 (pg/mL), CRP (pg/mL), COX-2 (ng/mL), APOA1 (mg/dL), ABCA1 (ng/mL), HDL, Cholesterol, and Triglyceride (TG) (mg/dL), and homocysteine (µmol/L) was measured. Association of these biomarkers with homocysteine was determined. RESULTS: Obese subjects had higher serum levels of IL10, IL1ß, CRP, COX-2, TG, and cholesterol concentrations (all p<0.05 except IL-10 and cholesterol) and low levels of HDL, APOA1, and ABCA1 (non-significant differences) in comparison to normal-weight group. Homocysteine levels were high in obese men with no significant differences between the two groups. In obese subjects, homocysteine had a significant inverse correlation with APOA1, ABCA1, and HDL, and a strong and moderate positive correlation was found with CRP and TG levels, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: High level of homocysteine and its correlation with inflammation proteins and markers in obese subjects appear to be contributed with atherosclerosis development.

Persian Translation, Validation and Reliability of the Voice Handicap Index-Throat (VHI-T).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is to validate, and assess the reliability of the Persian version of Voice Handicap Index-Throat (VHI-Tp) as a self-reported questionnaire for patients with throat problems that could make the patients' estimation of the throat discomforts possible. It is a subscale to be used independently. STUDY DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. MATERIALS AND METHOD: During this study, the VHI-Tp was administered to120 patients with throat problems related to laryngeal discomfort (51 male and 69 female, age range: 30-60 years).The diagnosis of Voice disorder was performed by an ENT physician based on video-laryngoscopy evidences and medical examination. To assess the content validity, the questions were first given to 15 experts to comment on content applicability and relevance through a Likert scale. Eighty patients rated its importance to detect face validity. To evaluate the concurrent validity, the same 80 patients completed both the VHI-Tp as well as the Persian version of Voice Symptom Scale. The VHI-Tp total scores of the patients with diagnosed throat problem related to laryngeal discomfort and of the 40 healthy participants were compared to test the clinical validity (discriminant validity). Also, internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach α coefficient. The relative reliability was calculated by asking 40 of all patients out of the 80 participants, to complete the VHI-Tp twice, with a week of interval between the first and the second times. To detect the absolute reliability, Standard Error of Measurement and Smallest Detected Change were calculated. RESULTS: Discriminative validity differed significantly between patients and healthy participants. There was a significant correlation between the VHI-Tp and Voice Symptom Scale total scores (r = 0.6, P < 0.05). The internal consistency was confirmed (Cronbach α = 0.78). The test-retest reliability was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95).The Standard Error of Measurement and Smallest Detected Changes were acceptable (0.39 and 1.08), respectively. CONCLUSION: The Persian version of the VHI-T was demonstrated to be a valid and reliable self-rated questionnaire for use in Persian patients with throat problem related to laryngeal discomfort.