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Biomedical subjects

Elaine Martin

Publications and source records attributed to Elaine Martin.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Fermentation process tracking through enhanced spectral calibration modeling.

The FDA process analytical technology (PAT) initiative will materialize in a significant increase in the number of installations of spectroscopic instrumentation. However, to attain the greatest benefit from the data generated, there is a need for calibration procedures that extract the maximum information content. For example, in fermentation processes, the interpretation of the resulting spectra is challenging as a consequence of the large number of wavelengths recorded, the underlying correlation structure that is evident between the wavelengths and the impact of the measurement environment. Approaches to the development of calibration models have been based on the application of partial least squares (PLS) either to the full spectral signature or to a subset of wavelengths. This paper presents a new approach to calibration modeling that combines a wavelength selection procedure, spectral window selection (SWS), where windows of wavelengths are automatically selected which are subsequently used as the basis of the calibration model. However, due to the non-uniqueness of the windows selected when the algorithm is executed repeatedly, multiple models are constructed and these are then combined using stacking thereby increasing the robustness of the final calibration model. The methodology is applied to data generated during the monitoring of broth concentrations in an industrial fermentation process from on-line near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectrometers. It is shown that the proposed calibration modeling procedure outperforms traditional calibration procedures, as well as enabling the identification of the critical regions of the spectra with regard to the fermentation process.

Calibration↗

Extracting chemical information from spectral data with multiplicative light scattering effects by optical path-length estimation and correction.

When analyzing complex mixtures that exhibit sample-to-sample variability using spectroscopic instrumentation, the variation in the optical path length, resulting from the physical variations inherent within the individual samples, will result in significant multiplicative light scattering perturbations. Although a number of algorithms have been proposed to address the effect of multiplicative light scattering, each has associated with it a number of underlying assumptions, which necessitates additional information relating to the spectra being attained. This information is difficult to obtain in practice and frequently is not available. Thus, with a view to removing the need for the attainment of additional information, a new algorithm, optical path-length estimation and correction (OPLEC), is proposed. The methodology is applied to two near-infrared transmittance spectral data sets (powder mixture data and wheat kernel data), and the results are compared with the extended multiplicative signal correction (EMSC) and extended inverted signal correction (EISC) algorithms. Within the study, it is concluded that the EMSC algorithm cannot be applied to the wheat kernel data set due to core information for the implementation of the algorithm not being available, while the analysis of the powder mixture data using EISC resulted in incorrect conclusions being drawn and hence a calibration model whose performance was unacceptable. In contrast, OPLEC was observed to effectively mitigate the detrimental effects of physical light scattering and significantly improve the prediction accuracy of the calibration models for the two spectral data sets investigated without any additional information pertaining to the calibration samples being required.

Algorithms↗

Enhancing the signal-to-noise ratio of X-ray diffraction profiles by smoothed principal component analysis.

X-ray diffraction is one of the most widely applied methodologies for the in situ analysis of kinetic processes involving crystalline solids. However, due to its relatively high detection limit, it has only limited application in the context of crystallizations from liquids. Methods that can improve the detection limit of X-ray diffraction are therefore highly desirable. Signal processing approaches such as Savitzky-Golay, maximum likelihood, stochastic resonance, and wavelet transforms have been used previously to preprocess X-ray diffraction data. Since all these methods only utilize the frequency information contained in the single X-ray diffraction profile being processed to discriminate between the signals and the noise, they may not successfully identify very weak but important peaks especially when these weak signals are masked by severe noise. Smoothed principal component analysis (SPCA), which takes advantage of both the frequency information and the common variation within a set of profiles, is proposed as a methodology for the preprocessing of the X-ray diffraction data. Two X-ray diffraction data sets are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The first was obtained from mannitol-methanol suspensions, and the second data set was generated from slurries of L-glutamic acid (GA) in methanol. The results showed that SPCA can significantly improve the signal-to-noise ratio and hence lower the detection limits (approximately 0.389% g/mL for mannitol-methanol suspensions and 0.4 wt % for beta-form GA in GA-methanol slurries comprising mixtures of both alpha- and beta-forms of GA) thereby providing an important contribution to crystallization process performance monitoring.

Crystallization↗

Correction of temperature-induced spectral variations by loading space standardization.

With a view to maintaining the validity of multivariate calibration models for chemical processes affected by temperature fluctuations, loading space standardization (LSS) is proposed. Through the application of LSS, multivariate calibration models built at temperatures other than those of the test samples can provide predictions with an accuracy comparable to the results obtained at a constant temperature. Compared with other methods, designed for the same purpose, such as continuous piecewise direct standardization, LSS has the advantages of straightforward implementation and good performance. The methodology was applied to shortwave NIR spectral data sets measured at different temperatures. The results showed that LSS can effectively remove the influence of temperature variations on the spectra and maintain the predictive abilities of the multivariate calibration models.

Journal Article↗

Improving information access for public health professionals.

Fundamental to our protection against biological weapons and the detection of disease outbreaks is the need to strengthen our surveillance systems. Improved electronic communications between local, state, and federal public health agencies provide a way for health officials to share information on unusual disease outbreaks and provide important health alert information. This article describes a model of a partnership between a regional medical library of the National Library of Medicine, a school of public health, and federally qualified community health centers. This project upgraded technology and provided public health professional training on Internet information and resources for local public health agencies.

Bioterrorism↗