deletions | additions       diff --git a/Here_we_describe_an_affordable__.tex b/Here_we_describe_an_affordable__.tex  index 17c80a0..38547ec 100644  --- a/Here_we_describe_an_affordable__.tex  +++ b/Here_we_describe_an_affordable__.tex 
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Here we describe an affordable and scalable method for automatically assaying pharyngeal pumping. Our method combines a previously described microfluidic device \cite{kopito2014durable}, low cost educational microscopes, and an image analysis pipeline implemented using widely available open source tools and libraries. libraries \cite{monika_scholz_2016_49982}.  The advantages of our approach include precise control of conditions such as the quality, uniformity, and concentration of available food, the possibility of prolonged measurement durations (hours, if required), unbiased automatic detection of pumping events, and the possibility to assay feeding conditions that change dynamically in a controlled manner. Manual scoring of pumping is arduous and limited to brief measurement periods. Automatic scoring of pumping on a high quality microscope is throughput-limited due to the cost of the imaging equipment. We found that lower quality imaging can be compensated for by rapid sampling and improved analysis without compromising the quality of the data. Using three microscopes we were able to assay up to 50 animals per day, i.e., 6 animals per objective, each for a full hour, at the approximate cost of $\$2,000$ (not including optional syringe pumps or other pressure sources). The setup can be further duplicated and the rate limiting step is the number of microfluidic devices that the researcher can load. The degree to which food availability can be dynamically controlled is dictated by the design of the microfluidic device used to restrict the motion of the animals and by the capabilities of the pressure source that is driving the fluid flow.