Development of a New Integrated System for Vital Sign Monitoring in Small Animals.

Monitoring the vital signs of mice is an essential practice during imaging procedures to avoid populational losses and improve image quality. For this purpose, a system based on a set of devices (piezoelectric sensor, optical module and thermistor) able to detect the heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature and arterial blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) in mice anesthetized with sevoflurane was implemented. Results were validated by comparison with the reported literature on similar anesthetics.

Single Low Dose of Cocaine-Structural Brain Injury Without Metabolic and Behavioral Changes.

Chronic cocaine use has been shown to lead to neurotoxicity in rodents and humans, being associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, recreational use, which may lead to addictive behavior, is often neglected. This occurs, in part, due to the belief that exposure to low doses of cocaine comes with no brain damage risk.

Introducing LUDI: a research network on play for children with disabilities.

This paper presents LUDI, an interdisciplinary network of research centred on the topic of play for children with disabilities. The primary aim of the network is to ensure the theme is given the widest recognition as an independent field of research and intervention. Currently, the network comprises over 80 researchers and practitioners from 27 European countries.

Effects of Wheat Naturally Contaminated with Fusarium Mycotoxins on Growth Performance and Selected Health Indices of Red Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. mossambicus).

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to examine effects of wheat naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins (deoxynivalenol, DON 41 mg·kg(-1)) on growth performance and selected health indices of red tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. mossambicus; initial weight = 4.3 g/fish).

Quality management in European screening laboratories in blood establishments: A view of current approaches and trends.

The screening laboratory has a critical role in the post-transfusion safety. The success of its targets and efficiency depends on the management system used. Even though the European Union directive 2002/98/EC requires a quality management system in blood establishments, its requirements for screening laboratories are generic.

The role of uncertainty regarding the results of screening immunoassays in blood establishments.

The risk of uncertain results in infectious agents' tests is recognized in blood establishments, being particularly evident during the blood donor selection. The current risk-based approaches require risk assessment and "risk-based thinking". Accordingly, the blood establishment should consider the effect of uncertainty in all the technical decisions taken in a screening laboratory.

Scheme for the selection of measurement uncertainty models in blood establishments' screening immunoassays.

Blood establishments routinely perform screening immunoassays to assess safety of the blood components. As with any other screening test, results have an inherent uncertainty. In blood establishments the major concern is the chance of false negatives, due to its possible impact on patients' health.

Evaluation of the measurement uncertainty in screening immunoassays in blood establishments: computation of diagnostic accuracy models.

The European Union regulation for blood establishments does not require the evaluation of measurement uncertainty in virology screening tests, which is required by ISO 15189 guideline following GUM principles. GUM modular approaches have been discussed by medical laboratory researchers but no consensus has been achieved regarding practical application. Meanwhile, the application of empirical approaches fulfilling GUM principles has gained support.

Analytical model for calculating indeterminate results interval of screening tests, the effect on seroconversion window period: a brief evaluation of the impact of uncertain results on the blood establishment budget.

The evaluation of measurement uncertainty is not required by the European Union regulation or blood establishments’ laboratory tests. However, it is required for tests accredited by ISO 15189. Also, the forthcoming ISO 9001 edition requires “risk based thinking” with risk described as “the effect of uncertainty on an expected result”.

Effect of dietary incorporation of a multi-strain probiotic on growth performance and health status in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

Dietary supplementation with a multi-strain probiotic containing Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus reuteri has been examined for its effects on growth performance, intestinal microbiota, non-specific immune response and antioxidant status of rainbow trout. Three groups of sub-adult trout were stocked into experimental tanks. A commercial diet was used as control, while the other two groups received diets supplemented with the multi-strain probiotic at levels of 1 and 5 g kg(-1) diet.

Using virtual robot-mediated play activities to assess cognitive skills.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility of using virtual robot-mediated play activities to assess cognitive skills.

Method: Children with and without disabilities utilized both a physical robot and a matching virtual robot to perform the same play activities. The activities were designed such that successfully performing them is an indication of understanding of the underlying cognitive skills.

The role of assisted manipulation in cognitive development.

Objective: Motor experience plays a central role in cognitive development. Assistive technologies can thus provide augmentative manipulation for children with motor disabilities. This paper explores the use of robots to this end.

Evaluation of telephone triage and advice services: a systematic review on methods, metrics and results.

Unlabelled: Telephone triage and advice services (TTAS) have been increasingly used to assess patients' symptoms, provide information and refer patients to appropriate levels of care (attempting to pursue efficiency and quality of care gains while ensuring safety). However, previous reviews have pointed out for the need for adequately evaluating TTAS.

Aims: To review TTAS evaluation studies, compile methodologies and metrics used and compare results.