| Volume 27, Issue 4 | |
| A Physical Framework for Testing and Evaluating of a Mechatronic Shunting System | 181-192 |
| Abdelrahman Alkharabsheh, Lina Momani, Yousef Qawaqzeh, Amjad Alsakarneh | |
| doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000938 | |
| [ +/- how to cite ][ +/- abstract ][ full text ] | |
| Abdelrahman Alkharabsheh, Lina Momani, Yousef Qawaqzeh, Amjad Alsakarneh (2023) A Physical Framework for Testing and Evaluating of a Mechatronic Shunting System, Int J Bioautomation, 27 (4), 181-192, doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000938 | |
| Abstract: Shunt is a flexible tube called a catheter implanted inside the brain where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced. Existing treatments rely on passive implantable shunts with differential pressure valves. The authors defined, designed, and programmed an intelligent wireless hydrocephalus shunting system. The shunting system was designed, simulated, and tested to carry out many tasks such as regulating the mechatronic valve, collecting Injection Control Pressure (ICP) readings, analyzing these readings, responding to all emergency cases, and diagnosing the whole shunting system. Nowadays, many challenges face clinical trials for new medical devices. Clinical trials are complex and require following several rules and regulations to ensure compliance with different standards. Due to the difficulty of using medical trials, an urgent need for a physical framework for implementing a virtual model of intracranial pressure and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics in hydrocephalus mechatronic shunt testing. Such a physical framework will play a vital role in assessing the functioning of the whole mechatronic shunting system. A framework of a mechatronic shunting system (implanted and external) is illustrated and integrated with embedded management and diagnosis software. Such a framework will help assess, test, and evaluate the main functions of the proposed shunting system.
Keywords: Hydrocephalus, Mechatronics Shunt, Simulation, ICP sensor | |
| Semi-synthetic EEG Data for the Evaluation of Linear EEG Cleaning Methods | 193-214 |
| Wadda du Toit, Martin Venter, David Vandenheever | |
| doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000907 | |
| [ +/- how to cite ][ +/- abstract ][ full text ] | |
| Wadda du Toit, Martin Venter, David Vandenheever (2023) Semi-synthetic EEG Data for the Evaluation of Linear EEG Cleaning Methods, Int J Bioautomation, 27 (4), 193-214, doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000907 | |
| Abstract: Electroencephalography (EEG) data recordings can be contaminated by artefacts that reduce the quality and make analysis difficult, and therefore cleaning methods are essential for accurate analysis of EEG data. It is not yet well established how to measure performance based on measured contaminated data since there is no established benchmark for comparison. Here we use “clean” EEG data synthetically contaminated by electrocardiography (ECG), electrooculography (EOG) and electromyography (EMG). This introduces fewer assumptions to the comparison between various cleaning methods, providing a clear datum for comparison. Further contamination is controlled, adding artefacts individually and also as a combination of artefacts. The results show that signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the simulated artefacts was within the same ranges as found with measured artefacts from literature. Popular linear cleaning methods were evaluated on the dataset, showing similar results to those in the literature, further validating the usefulness and accuracy of the semi-synthetic dataset. The semi-synthetic dataset showed comparable characteristics to real measured EEG data and proved useful in the assessment of EEG cleaning methods. The cleaning methods showed varied results when performance was evaluated on individual artefacts.
Keywords: EEG, EOG, EMG, ECG, Artefacts, Simulation | |
| The Ecological Role of Probiotics in in vitro Culture for the Improvement of Health in the Poultry Industry | 215-226 |
| Olivier Ndaywel Nsenge, Bopatriciat Boluma Mangata, Dieudonné Musibono Eyul’anki, Emmanuel Biey Makaly | |
| doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000925 | |
| [ +/- how to cite ][ +/- abstract ][ full text ] | |
| Olivier Ndaywel Nsenge, Bopatriciat Boluma Mangata, Dieudonné Musibono Eyul’anki, Emmanuel Biey Makaly (2023) The Ecological Role of Probiotics in in vitro Culture for the Improvement of Health in the Poultry Industry, Int J Bioautomation, 27 (4), 215-226, doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000925 | |
| Abstract: The general objective of this work was to isolate from yoghourts cultured strains of lactobacilli with potential for use as probiotics in poultry farming. Three yoghourts were cultured to see the presence of lactobacilli in the Rogosa agar base culture medium. It was found that only one yoghourt (number 1) showed the growth of lactobacilli. This yoghourt was immediately selected for further cultivation. Afterwards, the Lactobacillus strains were isolated and fortified under CO2 and then inoculated into a solution of peptone water, which constituted inoculums to be administered to an experimental group of poultry. Another group served as controls. Pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli were also administered to both groups (experimental and control, each comprising five hens). The results showed significant weight gain from the experimental group (positive effect on immunity) and freedom from disease after an incubation period (inhibitory effect of the Lactobacillus strains on the Escherichia coli strains), whereas the control group showed less weight gain than the experimental group and development of colibacillosis after an incubation period. The positive effects of the Lactobacillus strains observed on the poultry of the experimental group proved the ecological role of these microorganisms in improving the health of the poultry by inhibiting the effects of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains. This suggests reassuring prospects for the reduction of antibiotic use in both human and animal care.
Keywords: Probiotics, Antibiotics, Poultry, Lactobacilli, Pathogenic strains, Escherichia coli | |
| Characterizing Morphometric and Nanomechanical Malignant Cell Features in a Rare Paediatric γδ T-acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Insights from a Single Case Study Using Atomic Force Microscopy | 227-238 |
| Konstantin Bachvarov, Velichka Strijkova, Borislava Antonova, Maya Jordanova, Yoan Dimitrov, Svetla Todinova | |
| doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000949 | |
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| Konstantin Bachvarov, Velichka Strijkova, Borislava Antonova, Maya Jordanova, Yoan Dimitrov, Svetla Todinova (2023) Characterizing Morphometric and Nanomechanical Malignant Cell Features in a Rare Paediatric γδ T-acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Insights from a Single Case Study Using Atomic Force Microscopy, Int J Bioautomation, 27 (4), 227-238, doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000949 | |
| Abstract: The most common cancer in paediatric age is acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) which accounts for nearly a quarter of all cases of paediatric cancer. ALL cases are classified as B-cell or T-cell precursor ALL, based on their immunophenotypical features. Patients with T-cell ALL (T-ALL) comprise 10–15% of all newly diagnosed cases and are more prevalent in boys and in older age compared to the overall incidence peak age of ALL. In this case report, we present the morphometric and nanomechanical features of T-lymphoblasts derived from an 11-month-old infant with a rare subtype of γδ T-ALL with aggressive biological behavior. To investigate these features, we employed atomic force microscopy (AFM) and compared the blast cell deviations found in their nanostructure and elasticity to those of normal lymphocytes from a healthy child. The malignant T-lymphoblasts exhibited reduced roughness and Young’s modulus values. This single case analysis demonstrates the potential of the AFM method to provide additional information regarding the characteristics of malignant cells and suggests its potential as a complementary approach for distinguishing neoplastic cells from normal cells. The application of AFM could potentially facilitate the introduction of in vitro tests to determine the efficacy of anti-leukemic treatments.
Keywords: Childhood T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Atomic force microscopy, T-lymphoblast, Cell morphology, Membrane roughness, Young’s modulus | |
| The Effects of Mountain Hiking on Physical Condition of Youth Basketball Players during the Preparatory Phase | 239-247 |
| Venzislav Jordanov, Simeon Ribagin | |
| doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000967 | |
| [ +/- how to cite ][ +/- abstract ][ full text ] | |
| Venzislav Jordanov, Simeon Ribagin (2023) The Effects of Mountain Hiking on Physical Condition of Youth Basketball Players during the Preparatory Phase, Int J Bioautomation, 27 (4), 239-247, doi: 10.7546/ijba.2023.27.4.000967 | |
| Abstract: In team sports, according to perform variety of motor skills, development of special abilities and overall physical fitness it is of great importance to optimize the training programs which involves progressive cycling of various aspects during a specific periods of time. Most coaches and athletes change the intensity, volume, and exercises in their workouts to improve performance. Little is known about the effects of mountain hiking on physical condition and preparation of youth basketball players and implementation of such activities in the training programs. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effects of a mountain hiking on the physical condition of youth basketball players during the preparatory phase and to compare the results with the results of a control group of players performing standard training sessions in the same training period.
Keywords: Mountain hiking, Basketball, Youth basketball players, Physical condition |
Sponsored by National Science Fund of Bulgaria, Grant No KP-06-NP4-25, 2023
© 2023, BAS, Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering