scholarly journals An open-source, lockable mouse wheel for the accessible implementation of time- and distance-limited elective exercise

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261618
Author(s):  
Joseph J. Bivona ◽  
Matthew E. Poynter
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Wheel Running ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Voluntary Exercise ◽  
Treadmill Running ◽  
Entry Level ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
Exercise Equipment

Current methods of small animal exercise involve either voluntary (wheel running) or forced (treadmill running) protocols. Although commonly used, each have several drawbacks which cause hesitancy to adopt these methods. While mice will instinctively run on a wheel, the distance and time spent running can vary widely. Forced exercise, while controllable, puts animals in stressful environments in which they are confined and often shocked for “encouragement.” Additionally, both methods require expensive equipment and software, which limit these experiments to well-funded laboratories. To counter these issues, we developed a non-invasive mouse running device aimed to reduce handler-induced stress, provide time- and distance-based stopping conditions, and enable investigators with limited resources to easily produce and use the device. The Lockable Open-Source Training-Wheel (LOST-Wheel) was designed to be 3D printed on any standard entry-level printer and assembled using a few common tools for around 20 USD. It features an on-board screen and is capable of tracking distances, running time, and velocities of mice. The LOST-Wheel overcomes the largest drawback to voluntary exercise, which is the inability to control when and how long mice run, using a servo driven mechanism that locks and unlocks the running surface according to the protocol of the investigator. While the LOST-Wheel can be used without a computer connection, we designed an accompanying application to provide scientists with additional analyses. The LOST-Wheel Logger, an R-based application, displays milestones and plots on a user-friendly dashboard. Using the LOST-Wheel, we implemented a timed running experiment that showed distance-dependent decreases in serum myostatin as well as IL-6 gene upregulation in muscle. To make this device accessible, we are releasing the designs, application, and manual in an open-source format. The implementation of the LOST-Wheel and future iterations will improve upon existing murine exercise equipment and research.

scholarly journals OPAM, an Open source, 3D printed Low-cost Micro-Manipulator for Single Cell Manipulation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Xu ◽  
Zhuowei Du ◽  
Paul Hsi Liu ◽  
Yi Kou ◽  
Lin Chen
Keyword(s):  
Single Cell ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cell Manipulation ◽  
Stepper Motor ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Cell Capture ◽  
Entry Level ◽  
3D Printed

We introduce OPAM, an Open source, low-cost (under $150), 3D-Printed, stepper motor driven, Arduino based, single cell Micromanipulator (OPAM). Modification of a commercial stepper motor led to dramatically increased stability and maneuverability of the motor, based on which the micromanipulator was designed. All components of this micromanipulator can be 3D printed using an entry-level 3D printer and assembled with ease. With this single cell manipulator, successful targeted single cell capture and transfer was confirmed under the microscope, which showed great promise for single cell related experiments.

SIGN IN Welcome!Log into your account your username your password Forgot your password Privacy policy PASSWORD RECOVERY Recover your password your email Struktol Home New fast measuring method for process optimization of sucrose crystallization New fast measuring method for process optimization of sucrose crystallization

2020 ◽  
pp. 49-52
Author(s):  
Trine Aabo Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Process Optimization ◽  
Crystal Size ◽  
Measuring Method ◽  
Sieve Analysis ◽  
Image Analysis System ◽  
Line System ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Analysis System ◽  
User Friendly

A new fast measuring method for process optimization of sucrose crystallization using image analysis based on high quality images and algorithms is introduced. With the mobile, non-invasive at-line system all steps of the sucrose crystallization can be measured to determine the crystal size distribution. The image analysis system is easy to operate and is as well an efficient laboratory solution with user-friendly and customized software. In comparison to sieve analysis, image analyses performed with the ParticleTech Solution have been proven to be reliable.

MackDroid - An Android based Application to monitor devices

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Maaz Sirkhot ◽  
Ekta Sirwani ◽  
Aishwarya Kourani ◽  
Akshit Batheja ◽  
Kajal Jethanand Jewani
Keyword(s):  
Operating System ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Mobile Users ◽  
Android Application ◽  
Web Page ◽  
Technological World ◽  
Monitoring Service ◽  
User Friendly

In this technological world, smartphones can be considered as one of the most far-reaching inventions. It plays a vital role in connecting people socially. The number of mobile users using an Android based smartphone has increased rapidly since last few years resulting in organizations, cyber cell departments, government authorities feeling the need to monitor the activities on certain targeted devices in order to maintain proper functionality of their respective jobs. Also with the advent of smartphones, Android became one of the most popular and widely used Operating System. Its highlighting features are that it is user friendly, smartly designed, flexible, highly customizable and supports latest technologies like IoT. One of the features that makes it exclusive is that it is based on Linux and is Open Source for all the developers. This is the reason why our project Mackdroid is an Android based application that collects data from the remote device, stores it and displays on a PHP based web page. It is primarily a monitoring service that analyzes the contents and distributes it in various categories like Call Logs, Chats, Key logs, etc. Our project aims at developing an Android application that can be used to track, monitor, store and grab data from the device and store it on a server which can be accessed by the handler of the application.

scholarly journals Voluntary exercise and cardiac remodeling in a myocardial infarction model

Open Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 545-555
Author(s):  
Hamad Al Shahi ◽  
Tomoyasu Kadoguchi ◽  
Kazunori Shimada ◽  
Kosuke Fukao ◽  
Satoshi Matsushita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Myocardial Infarction ◽  
Cardiac Function ◽  
Cardiac Remodeling ◽  
Skeletal Muscles ◽  
Wheel Running ◽  
Voluntary Exercise ◽  
Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Factor Α ◽  
Necrosis Factor

AbstractWe investigated the effects of voluntary exercise after myocardial infarction (MI) on cardiac function, remodeling, and inflammation. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into the following four groups: sedentary + sham (Sed-Sh), sedentary + MI (Sed-MI), exercise + sham (Ex-Sh), and exercise + MI (Ex-MI). MI induction was performed by ligation of the left coronary artery. Exercise consisting of voluntary wheel running started after the operation and continued for 4 weeks. The Ex-MI mice had significantly increased cardiac function compared with the Sed-MI mice. The Ex-MI mice showed significantly reduced expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 in the infarcted area of the left ventricle compared with the Sed-MI mice. In the Ex-MI mice, the expression levels of fibrosis-related genes including collagen I and III were decreased compared to the Sed-MI mice, and the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, follistatin-like 1, fibroblast growth factor 21, and mitochondrial function-related genes were significantly elevated in skeletal muscle compared with the Sed mice. The plasma levels of IL-6 were also significantly elevated in the Ex-MI group compared with the Sed-MI groups. These findings suggest that voluntary exercise after MI may improve in cardiac remodeling associated with anti-inflammatory effects in the myocardium and myokine production in the skeletal muscles.

scholarly journals An Interactive WebGIS Framework for Coastal Erosion Risk Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 567
Author(s):  
Alessandra Capolupo ◽  
Cristina Monterisi ◽  
Alessandra Saponieri ◽  
Fabio Addona ◽  
Leonardo Damiani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
3D Visualization ◽  
Erosion Risk ◽  
Innovative Strategies ◽  
Web Mapping ◽  
Natural Processes ◽  
Multi Scale ◽  
Interactive Interface ◽  
Multi Temporal ◽  
User Friendly

The Italian coastline stretches over about 8350 km, with 3600 km of beaches, representing a significant resource for the country. Natural processes and anthropic interventions keep threatening its morphology, moulding its shape and triggering soil erosion phenomena. Thus, many scholars have been focusing their work on investigating and monitoring shoreline instability. Outcomes of such activities can be largely widespread and shared with expert and non-expert users through Web mapping. This paper describes the performances of a WebGIS prototype designed to disseminate the results of the Italian project Innovative Strategies for the Monitoring and Analysis of Erosion Risk, known as the STIMARE project. While aiming to include the entire national coastline, three study areas along the regional coasts of Puglia and Emilia Romagna have already been implemented as pilot cases. This WebGIS was generated using Free and Open-Source Software for Geographic information systems (FOSS4G). The platform was designed by combining Apache http server, Geoserver, as open-source server and PostgreSQL (with PostGIS extension) as database. Pure javascript libraries OpenLayers and Cesium were implemented to obtain a hybrid 2D and 3D visualization. A user-friendly interactive interface was programmed to help users visualize and download geospatial data in several formats (pdf, kml and shp), in accordance with the European INSPIRE directives, satisfying both multi-temporal and multi-scale perspectives.

scholarly journals Induction of Neural Plasticity Using a Low-Cost Open Source Brain-Computer Interface and a 3D-Printed Wrist Exoskeleton

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 572
Author(s):  
Mads Jochumsen ◽  
Taha Al Muhammadee Janjua ◽  
Juan Carlos Arceo ◽  
Jimmy Lauber ◽  
Emilie Simoneau Buessinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Neural Plasticity ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
True Positive Rate ◽  
Positive Rate ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
And Control ◽  
Bci System

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have been proven to be useful for stroke rehabilitation, but there are a number of factors that impede the use of this technology in rehabilitation clinics and in home-use, the major factors including the usability and costs of the BCI system. The aims of this study were to develop a cheap 3D-printed wrist exoskeleton that can be controlled by a cheap open source BCI (OpenViBE), and to determine if training with such a setup could induce neural plasticity. Eleven healthy volunteers imagined wrist extensions, which were detected from single-trial electroencephalography (EEG), and in response to this, the wrist exoskeleton replicated the intended movement. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited using transcranial magnetic stimulation were measured before, immediately after, and 30 min after BCI training with the exoskeleton. The BCI system had a true positive rate of 86 ± 12% with 1.20 ± 0.57 false detections per minute. Compared to the measurement before the BCI training, the MEPs increased by 35 ± 60% immediately after and 67 ± 60% 30 min after the BCI training. There was no association between the BCI performance and the induction of plasticity. In conclusion, it is possible to detect imaginary movements using an open-source BCI setup and control a cheap 3D-printed exoskeleton that when combined with the BCI can induce neural plasticity. These findings may promote the availability of BCI technology for rehabilitation clinics and home-use. However, the usability must be improved, and further tests are needed with stroke patients.

Small animal Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-1
Author(s):  
Bryn Tennant
Keyword(s):  
Gall Bladder ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Supplemental Oxygen ◽  
High Flow ◽  
Non Invasive

Summary: In the Small Animal Review, we summarise three papers published recently in other veterinary journals. This month includes a paper on creating antibiograms, pathogenesis of gall bladder mucocoeles and using non-invasive high-flow nasal catheters to provide supplemental oxygen in hypoxemic animals.

scholarly journals RoboEye, an Efficient, Reliable and Safe Semi-Autonomous Gaze Driven Wheelchair for Domestic Use

Technologies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Luca Maule ◽  
Alessandro Luchetti ◽  
Matteo Zanetti ◽  
Paolo Tomasin ◽  
Marco Pertile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Robotics ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Continuous Control ◽  
Eye Tracker ◽  
Motor Disability ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Severe Motor ◽  
Core Elements ◽  
Domestic Use ◽  
User Friendly

Any severe motor disability is a condition that limits the ability to interact with the environment, even the domestic one, caused by the loss of control over one’s mobility. This work presents RoboEYE, a power wheelchair designed to allow users to move easily and autonomously within their homes. To achieve this goal, an innovative, cost-effective and user-friendly control system was designed, in which a non-invasive eye tracker, a monitor, and a 3D camera represent some of the core elements. RoboEYE integrates functionalities from the mobile robotics field into a standard power wheelchair, with the main advantage of providing the user with two driving options and comfortable navigation. The most intuitive and direct modality foresees the continuous control of frontal and angular wheelchair velocities by gazing at different areas of the monitor. The second, semi-autonomous modality allows navigation toward a selected point in the environment by just pointing and activating the wished destination while the system autonomously plans and follows the trajectory that brings the wheelchair to that point. The purpose of this work was to develop the control structure and driving interface designs of the aforementioned driving modalities taking into account also uncertainties in gaze detection and other sources of uncertainty related to the components to ensure user safety. Furthermore, the driving modalities, in particular the semi-autonomous one, were modeled and qualified through numerical simulations and experimental verification by testing volunteers, who are regular users of standard electric wheelchairs, to verify the efficiency, reliability and safety of the proposed system for domestic use. RoboEYE resulted suitable for environments with narrow passages wider than 1 m, which is comparable with a standard domestic door and due to its properties with large commercialization potential.

Mechatronic Design of ARC Humanoid Robot Open Platform: First Fully 3D Printed Kid-Sized Robot

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (03) ◽  
pp. 2050010
Author(s):  
Saeed Saeedvand ◽  
Hadi S. Aghdasi ◽  
Jacky Baltes
Keyword(s):  
Humanoid Robot ◽  
Size Range ◽  
Robot Design ◽  
3D Printer ◽  
Wide Angle ◽  
Open Platform ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Wide Angle Camera ◽  
Computational Resources ◽  
User Friendly

Although there are several popular and capable humanoid robot designs available in the kid-size range, they lack some important characteristics: affordability, being user-friendly, using a wide-angle camera, sufficient computational resources for advanced AI algorithms, and mechanical robustness and stability are the most important ones. Recent advances in 3D printer technology enables researchers to move from model to physical implementation relatively easy. Therefore, we introduce a novel fully 3D printed open platform humanoid robot design named ARC. In this paper, we discuss the mechanical structure and software architecture. We show the capabilities of the ARC design in a series of experimental evaluations.

scholarly journals Parent-of-origin effects on voluntary exercise levels and body composition in mice

2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott A. Kelly ◽  
Derrick L. Nehrenberg ◽  
Kunjie Hua ◽  
Ryan R. Gordon ◽  
Theodore Garland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Body Fat ◽  
Wheel Running ◽  
Voluntary Exercise ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
In Utero Environment ◽  
Dependent Activity ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Parent Of Origin ◽  
Origin Effects

Despite the health-related benefits of exercise, many people do not engage in enough activity to realize the rewards, and little is known regarding the genetic or environmental components that account for this individual variation. We created and phenotyped a large G4 advanced intercross line originating from reciprocal crosses between mice with genetic propensity for increased voluntary exercise (HR line) and the inbred strain C57BL/6J. G4 females (compared to males) ran significantly more when provided access to a running wheel and were smaller with a greater percentage of body fat pre- and postwheel access. Change in body composition resulting from a 6-day exposure to wheels varied between the sexes with females generally regulating energy balance more precisely in the presence of exercise. We observed parent-of-origin effects on most voluntary wheel running and body composition traits, which accounted for 3–13% of the total phenotypic variance pooled across sexes. G4 individuals descended from progenitor (F0) crosses of HR♀ and C57BL/6J♂ ran greater distances, spent more time running, ran at higher maximum speeds/day, and had lower percent body fat and higher percent lean mass than mice descended from reciprocal progenitor crosses (C57BL/6J♀ × HR♂). For some traits, significant interactions between parent of origin and sex were observed. We discuss these results in the context of sex dependent activity and weight loss patterns, the contribution of parent-of-origin effects to predisposition for voluntary exercise, and the genetic (i.e., X-linked or mtDNA variations), epigenetic (i.e., genomic imprinting), and environmental (i.e., in utero environment or maternal care) phenomena potentially modulating these effects.

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