A web based tool for storing and visualising data generated within a smart home.

There is a growing need to re-assess the current approaches available to researchers for storing and managing heterogeneous data generated within a smart home environment. In our current work we have developed the homeML Application; a web based tool to support researchers engaged in the area of smart home research as they perform experiments. Within this paper the homeML Application is presented which includes the fundamental components of the homeML Repository and the homeML Toolkit.

Effects of BMI and abdominal volume on the accuracy of step count obtained from a tri-axial accelerometer.

Accelerometers are widely accepted as practical wearable devices capable of measuring and assessing physical activity. These devices may, however, be subject to errors which could impact on their ability to acquire an accurate step count. A limited number of studies have examined the effects of body mass index (BMI) on the accuracy of accelerometers functioning as step counters.

Professional development of health informatics in Northern Ireland.

This paper addresses the assessment and verification of health informatics professional competencies. Postgraduate provision in Health Informatics was targeted at informatics professionals working full-time in the National Health Service, in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Many informatics health service positions do not require a formal informatics background, and as we strive for professionalism, a recognized qualification provides important underpinning.

A review of ECG storage formats.

Introduction: The interoperability of the Electrocardiogram (ECG) between heterogeneous systems has been facilitated by not one, but a number of predefined open storage formats. To improve the techniques currently used, it is important to define the similarities and the differences between these ECG storage formats.

Methods: This paper presents a review of 9 formats used to store the ECG.

A simulation tool for visualizing and studying the effects of electrode misplacement on the 12-lead electrocardiogram.

Introduction: Studies have shown that between 0.4% and 4% of all 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) are recorded using incorrect electrode positions. Electrode misplacement can cause a misdiagnosis either by concealing a pathology or, on the contrary, by emulating a pathology.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of monovalent Smac mimetics that bind to the BIR2 domain of the anti-apoptotic protein XIAP.

We report the systematic rational design and synthesis of new monovalent Smac mimetics that bind preferentially to the BIR2 domain of the anti-apoptotic protein XIAP. Characterization of compounds in vitro (including 9i; ML101) led to the determination of key structural requirements for BIR2 binding affinity. Compounds 9h and 9j sensitized TRAIL-resistant breast cancer cells to apoptotic cell death, highlighting the value of these probe compounds as tools to investigate the biology of XIAP.

Computer-based assessment of movement difficulties in Parkinson's disease.

The prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) is increasing due to an ageing population. It is an unpredictable disease which requires regular assessment and monitoring. Current techniques used to assess PD are subjective.

The coordination of T-cell function by serine/threonine kinases.

The function of T-lymphocytes during adaptive immune responses is directed by antigen receptors, costimulatory molecules, and cytokines. These extrinsic stimuli are coupled to a network of serine/threonine kinases that control the epigenetic, transcriptional, and metabolic programs that determine T-cell function. It is increasingly recognized that serine/threonine kinases, notably those that are controlled by lipid second messengers such as polyunsaturated diacylglycerols (DAG) and phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-trisphosphate (PIP(3)), are at the core of T-cell signal transduction.

Protein kinase B controls transcriptional programs that direct cytotoxic T cell fate but is dispensable for T cell metabolism.

In cytotoxic T cells (CTL), Akt, also known as protein kinase B, is activated by the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) and the cytokine interleukin 2 (IL-2). Akt can control cell metabolism in many cell types but whether this role is important for CTL function has not been determined. Here we have shown that Akt does not mediate IL-2- or TCR-induced cell metabolic responses; rather, this role is assumed by other Akt-related kinases.

Metabolism, migration and memory in cytotoxic T cells.

The transcriptional and metabolic programmes that control CD8(+) T cells are regulated by a diverse network of serine/threonine kinases. The view has been that the kinases AKT and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) control T cell metabolism. Here, we challenge this paradigm and discuss an alternative role for these kinases in CD8(+) T cells, namely to control cell migration.

Mining, knowledge and decision support.

Decision support systems (DSS) are software entities that assist the physician in the decision making process. They have found application in medicine due to the large amounts of data (e.g.

Home-based monitoring and assessment of Parkinson's disease.

As a clinically complex neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's disease (PD) requires regular assessment and close monitoring. In our current study, we have developed a home-based tool designed to monitor and assess peripheral motor symptoms. An evaluation of the tool was carried out over a period of ten weeks on ten people with idiopathic PD.

Widespread extrahippocampal NAA/(Cr+Cho) abnormalities in TLE with and without mesial temporal sclerosis.

MR spectroscopy has demonstrated extrahippocampal NAA/(Cr+Cho) reductions in medial temporal lobe epilepsy with (TLE-MTS) and without (TLE-no) mesial temporal sclerosis. Because of the limited brain coverage of those previous studies, it was, however, not possible to assess differences in the distribution and extent of these abnormalities between TLE-MTS and TLE-no. This study used a 3D whole brain echoplanar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) sequence to address the following questions: (1) Do TLE-MTS and TLE-no differ regarding severity and distribution of extrahippocampal NAA/(Cr+Cho) reductions? (2) Do extrahippocampal NAA/(Cr+Cho) reductions provide additional information for focus lateralization? Forty-three subjects (12 TLE-MTS, 13 TLE-no, 18 controls) were studied with 3D EPSI.

Novel HTS strategy identifies TRAIL-sensitizing compounds acting specifically through the caspase-8 apoptotic axis.

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) is potentially a very important therapeutic as it shows selectivity for inducing apoptosis in cancer cells whilst normal cells are refractory. TRAIL binding to its cognate receptors, Death Receptors-4 and -5, leads to recruitment of caspase-8 and classical activation of downstream effector caspases, leading to apoptosis. As with many drugs however, TRAIL's usefulness is limited by resistance, either innate or acquired.

Temporal differences in the dependency on phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 distinguish the development of invariant Valpha14 NKT cells and conventional T cells.

This study uses two independent genetic strategies to explore the requirement for phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK1) in the development of mature T cell populations from CD4/CD8 double-positive thymocytes. The data show that CD4/CD8 double-positive thymocytes that do not express PDK1 or express a catalytically inactive PDK1 mutant fail to produce mature invariant Vα14 NKT cells but can differentiate to conventional CD4, CD8, or regulatory T cell subsets in the thymus. The PDK1 requirement for Vα14 NKT cell development reflects that these cells require the PDK1 substrate protein kinase B to meet the metabolic demands for proliferative expansion in response to IL-15 or AgR stimulation.

Effects of electrode placement errors in the EASI-derived 12-lead electrocardiogram.

In this study, we assess the effects of electrode placement error on the EASI-derived 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). The study data set consisted of 744 body surface potential map (BSPM) recordings. The BSPMs, each of which was made up of 117 leads, were recorded from a mixture of healthy, myocardial infarction, and left ventricular hypertrophy subjects.

A Web-based tool for processing and visualizing body surface potential maps.

The body surface potential map (BSPM) is potentially more accurate for diagnosing cardiac pathologies when compared to the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG). However, a contributing factor to the lack of widespread adoption of the BSPM is the shortage of standard methods for its storage and visualization. Based on these observations, a BSPM storage format based on the eXtensible Markup Language has been developed within this study, alongside a Web-based BSPM viewer.

XML-BSPM: an XML format for storing Body Surface Potential Map recordings.

Background: The Body Surface Potential Map (BSPM) is an electrocardiographic method, for recording and displaying the electrical activity of the heart, from a spatial perspective. The BSPM has been deemed more accurate for assessing certain cardiac pathologies when compared to the 12-lead ECG. Nevertheless, the 12-lead ECG remains the most popular ECG acquisition method for non-invasively assessing the electrical activity of the heart.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase and the mammalian target of rapamycin pathways control T cell migration.

The established role for phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5) triphosphate (PI(3,4,5)P3) signaling pathways is to regulate cell metabolism. More recently it has emerged that PI(3,4,5)P3 signaling via mammalian target of rapamycin and Foxo transcription factors also controls lymphocyte trafficking by determining the repertoire of adhesion and chemokine receptors expressed by T lymphocytes. In quiescent T cells, nonphosphorylated active Foxos maintain expression of KLF2, a transcription factor that regulates expression of the chemokine receptors CCR7 and sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor, and the adhesion receptor CD62L that together control T-cell transmigration into secondary lymphoid tissues.

Culture enrichment assists the diagnosis of cattle botulism by a monoclonal antibody based sandwich ELISA.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) obtained from a mouse immunised with Clostridium botulinum type D toxoid were developed into a sandwich ELISA (sELISA) format that was able to detect type D toxin and types C and D toxin complexes. The sELISA was examined for its potential to replace the mouse bioassay as an alternative in vitro assay for the diagnosis of cattle botulism. Its application directly to intestinal samples collected from suspect cattle botulism cases and prepared for testing for the standard mouse bioassay showed poor correlation and sensitivity with the mouse bioassay results.

Sceptrin, a marine natural compound, inhibits cell motility in a variety of cancer cell lines.

Sceptrin, a natural compound produced by various marine sponges, was tested for its effect on cell motility. We report for the first time that sceptrin inhibits cell motility in several cancer cell lines. The compound shows no toxicity at concentrations that are double the amount of sceptrin required for maximal inhibitory effect.