Vagal contributions to fetal heart rate variability: an omics approach

Fetal heart rate variability (fHRV) is an important indicator of health and disease, yet its physiological origins, neural contributions in particular, are not well understood. We aimed to develop novel experimental and data analytical approaches to identify fHRV measures reflecting the vagus nerve contributions to fHRV. In near-term ovine fetuses, a comprehensive set of 46 fHRV measures was computed from fetal pre-cordial electrocardiogram recorded during surgery and 72 hours later without (n=24) and with intra-surgical bilateral cervical vagotomy (n=15). The fetal heart rate did not change due to vagotomy. We identify fHRV measures specific to the vagal modulation of fHRV: Multiscale time irreversibility asymmetry index (AsymI), Detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) alpha1, Kullback-Leibler permutation entropy (KLPE) and Scale dependent Lyapunov exponent slope (SDLE alpha). We provide a systematic delineation of vagal contributions to fHRV across signal-analytical domains which should be relevant for the emerging field of bioelectronic medicine and the deciphering of the vagus code. Our findings also have clinical significance for in utero monitoring of fetal health during surgery

An Analysis of the Tsr-LsrB Interaction During Autoinducer-2 Chemotaxis In Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli senses a variety of chemoeffectors. The Tsr chemoreceptor is known to mediate attractant response to serine. Previously, serine was the only attractant described for Tsr. Recent work suggests Tsr senses Autoinducer-2 as an attractant via a periplasmic binding protein. Autoinducer-2 is a general quorum sensing molecule recognized by Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. In E. coli it is bound to LsrB during AI-2 uptake. A testable model, based on the described interaction between MBP and the Tar chemoreceptor in E. coli, was generated. I first hypothesized that the shoulder regions of Tsr would associate with areas of both the amino and carboxyl domains of LsrB to elicit chemotaxis to AI-2. To test this, alanine-scanning mutations were generated in both Tsr and LsrB. Results suggest AI-2 is sensed through a direct interaction between Tsr and LsrB. I conclude residues Lys-147 and Glu-150 of Tsr and Asp-59, Asp-63 and Arg-252 of LsrB are critical for AI-2 chemotaxis. I investigated the relationship between LsrB expression and AI-2 chemotaxis. I hypothesized altering expression of LsrB relative to chromosomal level would affect AI-2 chemotaxis. This was tested by growing cells to late phase, increasing LsrB present, and by inducing plasmid-borne LsrB. The results suggest increasing the LsrB present decreases AI-2 chemotaxis, though a clear conclusion cannot be drawn. I also explored the effect making lsr deletions would have on LsrB expression and AI-2 chemotaxis. I conclude there is little effect on AI-2 chemotaxis in these mutants. Lastly, I hypothesized serine and AI-2 affect signaling to each other. This was tested by using Tsr variants deficient for serine chemotaxis to test AI-2 chemotaxis to establish that recognition of serine and AI-2 occurs independently at separate locations on Tsr. I introduced one ligand during log phase growth and tested chemotaxis response to the other ligand. Results indicate that serine and AI-2 bind at separate sites. However, AI-2 chemotaxis decreased when serine was present, though not vice versa. I conclude the response to serine is more robust since there are a limiting number of LsrB proteins present in the cell

From the Ashes: The Beginning of Morsifire

This project concerns the development of the Indie/Hip-Hop musical brand Morsifire through recorded material, live performance, and artistic branding. The project will see through the writing, recording, and mixing of an EP, live set creation using Ableton Live and full band, as well as visual branding. The goal is to fuse the genres of indie rock and hip-hop in with both recordings and live performance, as well as establish a strong digital footprint to propel Morsifire to the next stage of his career.https://remix.berklee.edu/graduate-studies-production-technology/1162/thumbnail.jp

The efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in comparison to low-level laser therapy for decreasing pain and symptom severity and increasing functional status in adult patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: To examine the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for decreasing pain and symptoms and increasing function in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) compared to low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Methods: Randomized controlled trials evaluating the results of ESWT on CTS and LLLT on CTS were investigated. Studies were analyzed to evaluate treatment effects on Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) for symptoms, BCTQ for function, and total BCTQ. Results: Ten ESWT studies and 12 LLLT studies were included. ESWT displayed a significant grand total effect size (ES) compared to LLLT for all 3 BCTQ values and an insignificant grand total ES trend toward LLLT over ESWT for VAS for pain, but there was severe heterogeneity present in all data. Conclusion: Meta-analysis results revealed that ESWT and LLLT may be effective at improving pain, symptoms, and function in patients with CTS, but that limitations involving study pairings and inconsistencies in dosing parameters cause vast heterogeneity that makes comparing the modality effects impossible. Study Design: A meta-analysis of RCTs assessing the effects of ESWT on improving pain, symptoms, and function in patients with CTS compared to LLLT

Review and classification of variability analysis techniques with clinical applications

Analysis of patterns of variation of time-series, termed variability analysis, represents a rapidly evolving discipline with increasing applications in different fields of science. In medicine and in particular critical care, efforts have focussed on evaluating the clinical utility of variability. However, the growth and complexity of techniques applicable to this field have made interpretation and understanding of variability more challenging. Our objective is to provide an updated review of variability analysis techniques suitable for clinical applications. We review more than 70 variability techniques, providing for each technique a brief description of the underlying theory and assumptions, together with a summary of clinical applications. We propose a revised classification for the domains of variability techniques, which include statistical, geometric, energetic, informational, and invariant. We discuss the process of calculation, often necessitating a mathematical transform of the time-series. Our aims are to summarize a broad literature, promote a shared vocabulary that would improve the exchange of ideas, and the analyses of the results between different studies. We conclude with challenges for the evolving science of variability analysis

An Analysis of the Tsr-LsrB Interaction During Autoinducer-2 Chemotaxis In Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli senses a variety of chemoeffectors. The Tsr chemoreceptor is known to mediate attractant response to serine. Previously, serine was the only attractant described for Tsr. Recent work suggests Tsr senses Autoinducer-2 as an attractant via a periplasmic binding protein. Autoinducer-2 is a general quorum sensing molecule recognized by Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. In E. coli it is bound to LsrB during AI-2 uptake. A testable model, based on the described interaction between MBP and the Tar chemoreceptor in E. coli, was generated. I first hypothesized that the shoulder regions of Tsr would associate with areas of both the amino and carboxyl domains of LsrB to elicit chemotaxis to AI-2. To test this, alanine-scanning mutations were generated in both Tsr and LsrB. Results suggest AI-2 is sensed through a direct interaction between Tsr and LsrB. I conclude residues Lys-147 and Glu-150 of Tsr and Asp-59, Asp-63 and Arg-252 of LsrB are critical for AI-2 chemotaxis. I investigated the relationship between LsrB expression and AI-2 chemotaxis. I hypothesized altering expression of LsrB relative to chromosomal level would affect AI-2 chemotaxis. This was tested by growing cells to late phase, increasing LsrB present, and by inducing plasmid-borne LsrB. The results suggest increasing the LsrB present decreases AI-2 chemotaxis, though a clear conclusion cannot be drawn. I also explored the effect making lsr deletions would have on LsrB expression and AI-2 chemotaxis. I conclude there is little effect on AI-2 chemotaxis in these mutants. Lastly, I hypothesized serine and AI-2 affect signaling to each other. This was tested by using Tsr variants deficient for serine chemotaxis to test AI-2 chemotaxis to establish that recognition of serine and AI-2 occurs independently at separate locations on Tsr. I introduced one ligand during log phase growth and tested chemotaxis response to the other ligand. Results indicate that serine and AI-2 bind at separate sites. However, AI-2 chemotaxis decreased when serine was present, though not vice versa. I conclude the response to serine is more robust since there are a limiting number of LsrB proteins present in the cell

Finite Element Analysis of Large Body Deformation Induced by a Catastrophic Near Impact Event

Finite element simulations of near impacts of terrestrial bodies are presented to investigate possible deformation behavior induced by a massive body during the creation week and/or Genesis Flood. Using the universal law of gravitation, a gravitationally loaded objected is subjected to the ‘pull’ of a near passing fly-by object, and the resulting surface deformations are studied. An Internal State Variable (ISV) pressure dependent plasticity model for silicate rocks (Cho et al., 2018) is used to model the deformation behavior and to capture the history effects involved during the complex surface loading/unloading found in a near impact event. The model is used to simulate the earth and a “fly-by” object interaction and is able to accurately reproduce the internal pressure profiles of the earth and fly-by object. In this context, the fly-by object can be the original Moon, a meteor, or another type of large object that has moved through space to interact with the Earth. Due to the wide range of features that can drive surface deformations during a near impact event, a Design Of Experiments (DOE) methodology was used to independently investigate the influences of five parameters (stationary body size, core material, core/mantle thickness ratio, passing object mass, and passing object distance) concerning surface deformation. The results indicate that the passing body distance, stationary body size, and core/mantle ratio are the most dominant influence parameters on surface deformation. Examination of the ISV parameters of the mantle during deformation shows a complex relationship between the hardening and recovery terms of the model and the resulting plastic strain and surface deformation induced from the near pass event. Surface rise from the near passage of a Moon sized object could be as high as 800 m, in turn causing large tsunamis and possibly causing the Earth’s crust to crack. For this first of its kind study, the conclusions provide understanding of the possible ranges of deformations observed from a near pass event and provides insights into possible catastrophic deformation mechanisms relevant to the young Earth paradigm