Monitoring the ex-vivo expansion of human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells in xeno-free microcarrier-based reactor systems by MIR spectroscopy

Human mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have received considerable attention in the field of cell-based therapies due to their high differentiation potential and ability to modulate immune responses. However, since these cells can only be isolated in very low quantities, successful realization of these therapies requires MSCs ex-vivo expansion to achieve relevant cell doses. The metabolic activity is one of the parameters often monitored during MSCs cultivation by using expensive multi-analytical methods, some of them time-consuming. The present work evaluates the use of mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy, through rapid and economic high-throughput analyses associated to multivariate data analysis, to monitor three different MSCs cultivation runs conducted in spinner flasks, under xeno-free culture conditions, which differ in the type of microcarriers used and the culture feeding strategy applied. After evaluating diverse spectral preprocessing techniques, the optimized partial least square (PLS) regression models based on the MIR spectra to estimate the glucose, lactate and ammonia concentrations yielded high coefficients of determination (R2 ≥ 0.98, ≥0.98, and ≥0.94, respectively) and low prediction errors (RMSECV ≤ 4.7%, ≤4.4% and ≤5.7%, respectively). Besides PLS models valid for specific expansion protocols, a robust model simultaneously valid for the three processes was also built for predicting glucose, lactate and ammonia, yielding a R2 of 0.95, 0.97 and 0.86, and a RMSECV of 0.33, 0.57, and 0.09 mM, respectively. Therefore, MIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis represents a promising tool for both optimization and control of MSCs expansion processes.

Real-Time Simulation of energy Management in a Domestic Consumer

Recent and future changes in power systems, mainly in the smart grid operation context, are related to a high complexity of power networks operation. This leads to more complex communications and to higher network elements monitoring and control levels, both from network’s and consumers’ standpoint. The present work focuses on a real scenario of the LASIE laboratory, located at the Polytechnic of Porto. Laboratory systems are managed by the SCADA House Intelligent Management (SHIM), already developed by the authors based on a SCADA system. The SHIM capacities have been recently improved by including real-time simulation from Opal RT. This makes possible the integration of Matlab®/Simulink® real-time simulation models. The main goal of the present paper is to compare the advantages of the resulting improved system, while managing the energy consumption of a domestic consumer.

ANTI M. leprae IgM ANTIBODY DETERMINATION BY ULTRAMICROIMMUNOENZYMATIC (UMELISA HANSEN) FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND MONITORING LEPROSY

The relationship between the IgM antibody response, antigenic load as well as the clinical improvement after chemotherapy was studied in order to obtain useful data for the early diagnosis and monitoring leprosy. A level of 82% (94/115) agreement was obtained between IgM UMELISA HANSEN and slitskin smear examination. Discrepant results were observed in 16 patients who showed positive IgM response despite negative by the skin smear examination. In these patients, the IgM response was seen to be associated to the early signal for bacilli recurrence in the skin. In one of these patients the presence of bacilli was demonstrated in the skin, two months after IgM antibodies being detected by UMELISA HANSEN. Also in one of the treated patients positive by both diagnostic techniques, a remarkable decrease in the IgM antibody levels was seen, correlating with a significant clinical improvement. Moreover it was found a direct relationship between the IgM antibody response and bacterial antigenic load, regardless the time elapsed in the disease's evolution.

Multifunctional Biosensor Based on Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance for Monitoring Small Molecule–Protein Interaction

We report an optical sensor based on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) to study small-molecule protein interaction combining high sensitivity refractive index sensing for quantitative binding information and subsequent conformation-sensitive plasmon-activated circular dichroism spectroscopy. The interaction of α-amylase and a small-size molecule (PGG, pentagalloyl glucose) was log concentration-dependent from 0.5 to 154 μM. In situ tests were additionally successfully applied to the analysis of real wine samples. These studies demonstrate that LSPR sensors to monitor small molecule–protein interactions in real time and in situ, which is a great advance within technological platforms for drug discovery.

A Novel Runtime Monitoring Architecture

Poster presented in 28th GI/ITG International Conference on Architecture of Computing Systems (ARCS 2015). 25 to 28, Mar, 2015, Poster Session. Porto, Portugal.

Monitoring for a decidable fragment of MTLD

The 15th International Conference on Runtime Verification (RV'15). 22-25 September. Vienna, Austria.

Comparison of serology, antigenemia assay and the polymerase chain reaction for monitoring active cytomegalovirus infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients

Forty-six allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients were monitored for the presence of CMV antibodies, CMV-DNA and CMV antigens after transplantation. Immunoenzymatic serological tests were used to detect IgM and the increase in CMV IgG antibodies (increase IgG), a nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) was used to detect CMV-DNA, and an antigenemia assay (AGM) was used to detect CMV antigens. The presence of CMV-IgM and/or CMV-increase IgG antibodies was detected in 12/46 (26.1%) patients, with a median time between HSCT and the detection of positive serology of 81.5 days. A positive AGM was detected in 24/46 (52.2%) patients, with a median time between HSCT and antigen detection of 62 days. Two or more consecutive positive N-PCR results were detected in 32/46 (69.5%) patients, with a median time between HSCT and the first positive PCR of 50.5 days. These results confirmed that AGM and mainly PCR are superior to serology for the early diagnosis of CMV infection. Six patients had CMV-IgM and/or CMV-increase IgG with a negative AGM (five cases) or N-PCR assay (one case). In five of these cases the serological markers were detected during the first 100 days after HSCT, the period of highest risk. These findings support the idea that serology may be useful for monitoring CMV infections in HSCT patients, especially when PCR is unavailable.

Myoelectric Signal Monitoring System

The Electromyography (EMG) is an important tool for gait analyzes and disorders diagnoses. Traditional methods involve equipment that can disturb the analyses, being gradually substituted by different approaches, like wearable and wireless systems. The cable replacement for autonomous systems demands for technologies capable of meeting the power constraints. This work presents the development of an EMG and kinematic data capture wireless module, designed taking into account power consumption issues. This module captures and converts the analog myoeletric signal to digital, synchronously with the capture of kinetic information. Both data are time multiplexed and sent to a PC via Bluetooth link. The work carried out comprised the development of the hardware, the firmware and a graphical interface running in an external PC. The hardware was developed using the PIC18F14K22, a low power family of microcontrollers. The link was established via Bluetooth, a protocol designed for low power communication. An application was also developed to recover and trace the signal to a Graphic User Interface (GUI), coordinating the message exchange with the firmware. Results were obtained which allowed validating the conceived system in static and with the subject performing short movements. Although it was not possible to perform the tests within more dynamic movements, it is shown that it is possible to capture, transmit and display the captured data as expected. Some suggestions to improve the system performance also were made.

A real-time quantitative assay for hepatitis B DNA virus (HBV) developed to detect all HBV genotypes

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Besides genotype, quantitative analysis of HBV infection is extensively used for monitoring disease progression and treatment. Affordable viral load monitoring is desirable in resource-limited settings and it has been already shown to be useful in developing countries for other viruses such as Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV. In this paper, we describe the validation of a real-time PCR assay for HBV DNA quantification with TaqMan chemistry and MGB probes. Primers and probes were designed using an alignment of sequences from all HBV genotypes in order to equally amplify all of them. The assay is internally controlled and was standardized with an international HBV panel. Its efficacy was evaluated comparing the results with two other methods: Versant HBV DNA Assay 3.0 (bDNA, Siemens, NY, USA) and another real-time PCR from a reference laboratory. Intra-assay and inter-assay reproducibilities were determined and the mean of CV values obtained were 0.12 and 0.09, respectively. The assay was validated with a broad dynamic range and is efficient for amplifying all HBV genotypes, providing a good option to quantify HBV DNA as a routine procedure, with a cheap and reliable protocol.

Spatio-Temporal data modeling in response to deforestation monitoring (a case study of small region in Riau Province, Indonesia)

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Fat Mass Index Performs Best in Monitoring Management of Obesity in Prepubertal Children

An early and accurate recognition of success in treating obesity may increase the compliance of obese children and their families to intervention programs. This observational, prospective study aimed to evaluate the ability and the time to detect a significant reduction of adiposity estimated by body mass index (BMI), percentage of fat mass (%FM), and fat mass index (FMI) during weight management in prepubertal obese children.

Real-time labview assessment on adsorption systems

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Química e Bioquímica

Hole cleaning performance monitoring during the drilling of directional wells

During drilling operation, cuttings are produced downhole and must be removed to avoid issues which can lead to Non Productive Time (NPT). Most of stuck pipe and then Bottom-Hole Assembly (BHA) lost events are hole cleaned related. There are many parameters which help determine hole cleaning conditions, but a proper selection of the key parameters will facilitate monitoring hole cleaning conditions and interventions. The aim of Hole Cleaning Monitoring is to keep track of borehole conditions including hole cleaning efficiency and wellbore stability issues during drilling operations. Adequate hole cleaning is the one of the main concerns in the underbalanced drilling operations especially for directional and horizontal wells. This dissertation addresses some hole cleaning fundamentals which will act as the basis for recommendation practice during drilling operations. Understand how parameters such as Flowrate, Rotation per Minute (RPM), Rate of Penetration (ROP) and Mud Weight are useful to improve the hole cleaning performance and how Equivalent Circulate Density (ECD), Torque & Drag (T&D) and Cuttings Volumes coming from downhole help to indicate how clean and stable the well is. For case study, hole cleaning performance or cuttings volume removal monitoring, will be based on real-time measurements of the cuttings volume removal from downhole at certain time, taking into account Flowrate, RPM, ROP and Drilling fluid or Mud properties, and then will be plotted and compared to the volume being drilled expected. ECD monitoring will dictate hole stability conditions and T&D and Cuttings Volume coming from downhole monitoring will dictate how clean the well is. T&D Modeling Software provide theoretical calculated T&D trends which will be plotted and compared to the real-time measurements. It will use the measured hookloads to perform a back-calculation of friction factors along the wellbore.

Electrohysterogram signal component cataloging with spectral and time-frequency methods

The Electrohysterogram (EHG) is a new instrument for pregnancy monitoring. It measures the uterine muscle electrical signal, which is closely related with uterine contractions. The EHG is described as a viable alternative and a more precise instrument than the currently most widely used method for the description of uterine contractions: the external tocogram. The EHG has also been indicated as a promising tool in the assessment of preterm delivery risk. This work intends to contribute towards the EHG characterization through the inventory of its components which are: • Contractions; • Labor contractions; • Alvarez waves; • Fetal movements; • Long Duration Low Frequency Waves; The instruments used for cataloging were: Spectral Analysis, parametric and non-parametric, energy estimators, time-frequency methods and the tocogram annotated by expert physicians. The EHG and respective tocograms were obtained from the Icelandic 16-electrode Electrohysterogram Database. 288 components were classified. There is not a component database of this type available for consultation. The spectral analysis module and power estimation was added to Uterine Explorer, an EHG analysis software developed in FCT-UNL. The importance of this component database is related to the need to improve the understanding of the EHG which is a relatively complex signal, as well as contributing towards the detection of preterm birth. Preterm birth accounts for 10% of all births and is one of the most relevant obstetric conditions. Despite the technological and scientific advances in perinatal medicine, in developed countries, prematurity is the major cause of neonatal death. Although various risk factors such as previous preterm births, infection, uterine malformations, multiple gestation and short uterine cervix in second trimester, have been associated with this condition, its etiology remains unknown [1][2][3].

A new credit monitoring framework for agents' networks

The purpose of this work is to develop a practicable approach for Telecom firms to manage the credit risk exposition to their commercial agents’ network. Particularly it will try to approach the problem of credit concession to clients’ from a corporation perspective and explore the particular scenario of agents that are part of the commercial chain of the corporation and therefore are not end-users. The agents’ network that served as a model for the presented study is composed by companies that, at the same time, are both clients and suppliers of the Telecommunication Company. In that sense the credit exposition analysis must took into consideration all financial fluxes, both inbound and outbound. The current strain on the Financial Sector in Portugal, and other peripheral European economies, combined with the high leverage situation of most companies, generates an environment prone to credit default risk. Due to these circumstances managing credit risk exposure is becoming increasingly a critical function for every company Financial Department. The approach designed in the current study combined two traditional risk monitoring tools: credit risk scoring and credit limitation policies. The objective was to design a new credit monitoring framework that is more flexible, uses both external and internal relationship history to assess risk and takes into consideration commercial objectives inside the agents’ network. Although not explored at length, the blueprint of a Credit Governance model was created for implementing the new credit monitoring framework inside the telecom firm. The Telecom Company that served as a model for the present work decided to implement the new Credit Monitoring framework after this was presented to its Executive Commission.