Ultra-low-power Physical Activity Classifier for Wearables: From Generic MCUs to ASICs.

In the era of Internet of Things (IoT), an increasing amount of sensors is being integrated into intelligent wearable devices. These sensors have the potential to produce a large quantity of physiological data streams to be analyzed in order to produce meaningful and actionable information. An important part of this processing is usually located in the device itself and takes the form of embedded algorithms which are executed into the onboard microcontroller (MCU).

Quality control of rigid endoscopes: a comparative study between ScopeControl® and surgeons' evaluation.

Background: In central sterile services departments (CSSD), the functionality of rigid endoscopes, which are complex and fragile reusable devices, is usually controlled visually and is considered a complex and subjective task. ScopeControl® was developed to provide an automated quality control of rigid endoscopes by measuring the value of six parameters: viewing angle (VA), field of view (FV), color correctness (CC), light transmission (LT), fibers transmission (FT), and focus (FC). The aim of the present study was to assess the ability of ScopeControl® to pre-emptively identify endoscope defects before the surgeon considers them as defective.

Change in Expression of 5-HT6 Receptor at Different Stages of Alzheimer's Disease: A Postmortem Study with the PET Radiopharmaceutical [18F]2FNQ1P.

Background: The 5-HT6 receptor is one of the most recently identified serotonin receptors in the central nervous system. Because of its role in memory and cognitive process, this receptor might be implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and associated disorders.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the binding of [18F]2FNQ1P, a new specific radiotracer of 5-HT6 receptors, and to quantify 5-HT6 receptor density in caudate nucleus in a population of patients with different AD stages.

Preclinical validation of [F]2FNQ1P as a specific PET radiotracer of 5-HT receptors in rat, pig, non-human primate and human brain tissue.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to perform in-vitro and in-vivo radiopharmacological characterizations of [F]2FNQ1P, a new PET radiotracer of 5-HT receptors, in rat, pig, non-human primate and human tissues. The 5-HT receptor is one of the more recently identified serotonin receptors in central nervous system and, because of its role in memory and cognitive processes, is considered as a promising therapeutic target.

Methods: In-vitro autoradiography and saturation binding assays were performed in postmortem brain tissues from rat, pig, non-human primate and human caudate nucleus, completed by serum stability assessment in all species and cerebral radiometabolite and biodistribution studies in rat.

Serotonin 5-HT Receptor Biased Agonists Induce Different Cerebral Metabolic Responses: A [F]-Fluorodesoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Study in Conscious and Anesthetized Rats.

Serotonin 5-HT receptors constitute an attractive therapeutic target for various psychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders. These receptors are expressed in multiple brain regions on different neuronal populations and can be coupled with distinct G-protein subtypes; such functional diversity complicates the use of 5-HT ligands in several pathologies where it would be desirable to stimulate the receptors in a precise region. Therefore, using "biased agonists" able to target specifically certain subpopulations of 5-HT receptors would enable achievement of better therapeutic benefit.

Fractionated elution of 99Mo/99mTc generators using calibrated vials.

Fractionated elution consists in collecting the fractions of an eluate with the highest radioactive concentration. It may be useful to meet the requirements of a subset of clinical radiopharmacy procedures. This study aims to describe and evaluate straightforward procedures allowing to readily perform fractionated elution on dry and wet columns Mo/Tc generators by using calibrated vials.