A non-invasive, in vitro method of estimating mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) was developed. This information was obtained by establishing a relationship between the pneumatic right drive pressure (RDP) and PAP waveforms. The RDP-PAP relationship was formalized into a series of multiple-linear regression equations for TAH cardiac cycles of known fill volume (FV). Correlation of computed estimates of PAP to actual measurements showed that these equations were greater than 92% accurate within 1.84 mmHg. In addition, while the RDP-PAP relationships were wholly dependent on FV, it was shown that they are independent of the manner in which FV was obtained. This method proved useful over the clinical operating range of the pneumatic heart driver, as well as over the normal physiological range of PAP in the human. Effectiveness of this method in vivo needs to be demonstrated.

Global polar bear (Ursus maritimus) population numbers are expected to decline steadily over the next 50 years. A noninvasive genetic survey of polar bear numbers may be a useful addition to traditional aerial capture mark recapture (CMR) surveys undertaken throughout the Canadian polar bear population. We attempted a pilot study of noninvasive genetic survey techniques in M’Clintock Channel between May-June 2006-2009. Throughout the survey, we compared our values to the most recent (CMR) survey, conducted by Taylor et al. (2006) between March-June 1998-2000 where 133 cubs, sub-adults and adults were tagged. A total population size of 300 bears was estimated from this aerial CMR survey (Taylor et al. 2006). We found noninvasive sampling stations are sufficient for the capture of a large amount of data on individual bears in an area. Across 4 years, we collected a total of 300 hair samples, and found between 59 and 82 individual bears entered our sampling stations, depending on the stringency of our identification parameters. We estimated genotyping error from duplicated samples, and found this was low (range: 0%-6%), but large enough to not be ignored. There appeared to be a discrepancy between the capture ratio of male adult bears; the CMR survey (1998-2000) captured 25% male bears, while we estimated approximately 64% of our captured bears were male. We felt the most likely explanation of this result is that our traps have a sex bias. However, further research is required to confirm this hypothesis. On the whole, our methods are very important for the management of polar bears, but more research must be done before it can be fully implemented. / Thesis (Master, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2010-12-23 15:35:50.16

Intrakranijinio spaudimo matavimas yra svarbus apsprendžiant gydymo taktiką daugelio ligų, tokių kaip galvos smegenų traumos, subarachnoidinės kraujosruvos, smegenų insultai bei kitos. Šiuo metu pasaulyje nėra tikslaus bei patvirtinto klinikinei praktikai neinvazinio IKS matavimo metodo. Šio mokslinio tyrimo tikslas nustatyti neinvazinių ultragarsinių intrakranijinio spaudimo matavimo metodų klinikinę vertę. Tyrime atlikti IKS matavimai Lietuvos mokslininkų sukurtu neinvaziniu IKS absoliutinės vertės matavimo įrenginiu, leidžiančiu matuoti IKS mmHg. Toks prietaisas yra unikalus, neturintis analogų, o šia techniškai nauja versija mokslinis tyrimas atliktas pirmą kartą. Tyrime taip pat nagrinėti intrakraniospinalinių pulsinių bangų pokyčiai priklausomai nuo intrakranijinio slėgio kitimo keičiant kūno padėtį. Neinvaziniai IKS absoliučios vertės matavimai, Goslingo pulsacijos indeksai ir kiti kraujotakos parametrai vidurinėse smegenų arterijose (VSA), regos nervo dangalų diametrai bei intimos medijos storis bendrosiose miego arterijose (BMA) buvo palyginti su juosmeninės punkcijos metu išmatuotu smegenų skysčio spaudimu, atspindinčiu IKS. Tyrime nustatėme, kad didžiausią klinikinę vertę bei diagnostinį tikslumą padidėjusiam IKS matuoti parodė neinvazinis IKS absoliutinės vertės matavimo metodas, o Goslingo pulsacijos indeksų VSA, regos nervų dangalų diametrų ir intimos-medijos storio BMA matavimų ultragarsiniai metodai tyrimui atrinktiems pacientams buvo nepakankamai tikslūs. / Measurement of intracranial pressure (ICP) is clinically important in several neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracerebral hemorrhage, malignant stroke, idiopathic intracranial hypertension and other. No noninvasive ICP measurement method is clinically approved. In this clinical study we aimed to determine a clinical value of non-invasive ultrasound methods for ICP measurement. In this study we’ve used a unique noninvasive ICP measurement method allowing the measurement of ICP in absolute units- mmHg. This method was invented by Lithuanian scientists. Being technologically new device it was used for the first time in this study. In this study we have analyzed variation of intracraniospinal blood volumetric pulse waves associated with of body posture. Measurements of noninvasive ICP absolute value, Gosling pulsatility index in middle cerebral arteries, ocular nerve sheath diameters and intima-media thickness in common carotid arteries were compared with CSF pressure (reflecting ICP) measurements obtained during lumbar puncture. Noninvasive ICP absolute value measurement method showed best diagnostic accuracy and precision among all noninvasive methods compared in the study. Measurements of Gosling pulsatility index, ocular nerve sheath diameter and intima-media thickness didn’t show sufficient diagnostic accuracy for clinical practice among the patients included.

Near-infrared spectroscopy has proven to be one of the most promising techniques for the development of a noninvasive blood glucose monitoring system for diabetic patients. In this work, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) transmission measurements of the combination band region (4000 - 5000 cm-1) were analyzed for samples containing glucose (analyte) in a matrix of bovine serum albumin and triacetin (models for proteins and fats), all spanning physiological levels relevant for a diabetic patient. The first part of the study investigated the required spectral point-spacing for accurate detection of glucose. This was studied by systematically truncating interferograms before Fourier transforming them to single-beam spectra. A set of training data (70 samples) was collected for multivariate calibration using partial least-squares (PLS) and an external prediction set was used to verify the success of modeling glucose quantitatively. It was found that a relatively large point-spacing (16 cm-1) was successful for prediction of glucose, meaning that a shorter interferogram could be collected. The second part of the study involved collecting interferograms such that the spectral resolution was 16 cm-1, and investigating methods to extend the usefulness of calibration models for long-term data collection. Near-infrared spectroscopy often suffers from weak signals that are overwhelmed by significant instrumental drift, meaning that calibration models tend to be unsuccessful for data collected several days or months outside the calibration. For updating the calibration models, a set of 50 backgrounds containing only matrix constituents without analyte was collected on each analysis day, and used to update the original calibration model so that instrumental drift features were incorporated into the model. Background updating was found to be successful in single-beam format, producing a background-augmented (BA) PLS model that significantly improved single-beam data analysis. The standard error of prediction using the original model (PLS) and the updated model (BA-PLS) were 13.4 and 0.79 mM glucose, respectively, for a prediction set taken 176 days outside of the calibration. The matrix data also allowed for studies in background selection methods for absorbance computations as well as adaptive digital filtering that was guided by the background data.

No description available.

This study was an historical garment study that investigated the similarities and differences between variables for thread characteristics, such as thread configuration, degree of twist, direction of twist, color, and color match grades of sewing thread used in assembling American women's dresses and suits during the time period between 1880 and 1909. Items were selected using a convenience sampling from the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, in Washington, DC, and The Valentine Museum in Richmond, Virginia. A total of 417 observations were collected from 39 garments. Noninvasive procedures were used to examine late nineteenth and early twentieth century garments and record sewing thread characteristics from multiple designated locations. Research objectives of the study included: 1) documentation of thread characteristics for machine-sewn seams, 2) documentation of thread characteristics for handsewn seams or stitchings, and 3) documentation of dominant thread characteristics by five year periods. Frequency distributions and frequency distribution tables were completed. The results of this study revealed widespread use of one basic type of sewing thread for the total sample during the time period 1880-1909. Characteristics of threads used in handsewn and machine-sewn seams or stitchings were 3/2-cord thread with high degree of twist and S direction of twist. It appeared that aesthetic concerns for color differences and matching contrasts of thread with the fashion fabric did not always coincide with use of threads with high strength. Data analyses revealed recurring patterns. Results found for year to year observations were consistent with results found within the five year group increments. Dominant thread characteristics found within the group observations for chain stitch thread characteristics were also present in the lockstitch group observations and machine-sewn group observations. Patterns noted in observations for handsewn seams or stitchings were also similar to those found in machine-sewn seams. Noninvasive methods were used for collection of data during the study. Methods used included naked-eye visual observations and hand-held microscope observations for recording seam, stitch, and thread characteristics. / Master of Science

published_or_final_version / abstract / Medicine / Master / Master of Philosophy

The ability to measure glucose transcutaneously and noninvasively is an exciting prospect. Such a procedure will offer a painless way of glucose self-monitoring improving the lives of people with diabetes by lowering the barriers to optimal glycemic control. The noninvasive measurements involve collecting near-infrared spectra (4000–5000 cm-1; 2.0–2.5 µm) of skin with two optical fibers in a transmission geometry. Previous results indicate that repositioning of the fiber optic interface adversely affects both precision and accuracy of such measurements. Slight movements of the interface increase prediction errors more than 2.5–fold when performed with a stationary rat model. In this dissertation, the chemical heterogeneity of skin tissue is explored as a possible cause for the sensitivity of the measurement to the position of the optical interface. Rat and human skin tissues are mapped by using combination near infrared spectra the to provide distributions of the major components of skin: water, collagen type I protein, fat, keratin protein, and two scattering terms of constant and slope. On the basis of the measured heterogeneity, sets of rat and human skin spectra are simulated to investigate the impact of repositioning the fiber-optic interface. Glucose predictions are analyzed for each location of the interface for a series of partial least squares (PLS) calibration vectors established for different locations on the skin. Significant increases in the measurement errors are observed for the situation where the PLS calibration models are generated from spectra associated with one location of the interface while subsequent measurements are performed at slightly locations of the skin matrix. These increases in prediction errors match the 2.5–fold increase observed in vivo. The impact of replacing the spectrum of bovine fat with spectra of native fat for both rat and human skin samples is established. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the spectral residuals reveals that the magnitude of the spectral residuals and the effects of tissue fat content on the quality of the linear regression were decreased. The key implication of the research detailed in this dissertation is that chemical heterogeneity of skin tissue must be considered in multivariate models intended for noninvasive glucose measurements.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on January 5, 2010. Major professor: Lily Laiho, Ph.D. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Engineering." "December 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-83). Also available on microfiche.

Several tests are available for evaluation of respiratory disorders but most of them are invasive and associated with some risk or patient discomfort. Examples include bronchoscopy (bronchoalveolar lavage, BAL) [1], venopuncture [2] and sputum induction [3]. Noninvasive sampling of nongaseous substances contained in expired air, collected as exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been used to detect inflammatory markers and by-products including nitric oxide and arachidonic acid metabolites and proteins [4]. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein that has been implicated in neurogenic airway inflammation and this pilot study aimed to develop a non-invasive approach for evaluation of allergic airway inflammatory disease by measuring and comparing levels of NGF in the induced sputum and EBC of ten (10) asthmatics and ten (10) non-asthmatics.Though twenty (20) subjects were sampled, an unexpected event due to a defective NGF kit inadvertently resulted in an unsuccessful analysis of fifteen (15) sets of specimen (6 non-asthmatics and 9 asthmatics), limiting the study.This study is significant because occupational lung diseases are the number one work-related illness in the United States and occupational asthma is the most common form [9]. Toluene diisocyanate (TDI) is the commonest cause of occupational asthma and workers exposed to TDI vapor may develop inflammatory conditions including asthma, rhinitis and nasal irritation [7].Results: NGF was detected and measured only in sputum, with a mean NGF level of 210 (210-210, range 0) in asthmatics and 164 (7-280, range 273) in non-asthmatics. Nonetheless, we failed to reject the null hypothesis (number 3).Conclusion: This limited study did not have adequate power (power 11%) due to the small sample size and thus lacks internal validity. Further studies are needed using a larger sample size.