Code in Space: Out of This World Programming Opportunity for Students

This initiative was conceived to empower students to contribute to the advancement of satellite communication technology while also preparing future professionals to operate the next generation of communication satellite

Long Period Gratings in Random Hole Optical Fibers for Refractive Index Sensing

We have demonstrated the fabrication of long period gratings in random hole optical fibers. The long period gratings are fabricated by a point-by-point technique using a CO2 laser. The gratings with a periodicity of 450 μm are fabricated and a maximum coupling efficiency of −9.81 dB has been achieved. Sensing of different refractive indices in the surrounding mediums is demonstrated by applying standard liquids with refractive indices from 1.400 to 1.440 to the long period grating

Locating Sensors for Detecting Source-to-Target Patterns of Special Nuclear Material Smuggling: A Spatial Information Theoretic Approach

In this paper, a spatial information-theoretic model is proposed to locate sensors for detecting source-to-target patterns of special nuclear material (SNM) smuggling. In order to ship the nuclear materials from a source location with SNM production to a target city, the smugglers must employ global and domestic logistics systems. This paper focuses on locating a limited set of fixed and mobile radiation sensors in a transportation network, with the intent to maximize the expected information gain and minimize the estimation error for the subsequent nuclear material detection stage. A Kalman filtering-based framework is adapted to assist the decision-maker in quantifying the network-wide information gain and SNM flow estimation accuracy

Relationship between Gait Parameters and Postural Stability in Early and Late Parkinson's Disease and Visual Feedback-Based Balance Training Effects

BACKGROUND: Gait disorders or postural instability has been done before. However, lack of reviews has addressed the relation between gait and postural stability in Parkinson's disease (PD).AIM: The aim was to evaluate the relation between gait parameters and postural stability in early and late stages of PD.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The forty-one idiopathic PD patients were divided into two groups into a group (A) considered as early PD and group (B) considered as late ambulant PD. They were evaluated for postural stability by computerised dynamic posturography (CDP) device and gait analysis using an 8 m-camera Vicon 612 data capturing system set.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement of composite equilibrium score, the composite latency of motor response, walking speed and cadence after treatment as compared to before training (p < 0.05) in early PD. However, in the late PD, there was a non-significant change of previous parameters after treatment as compared to before training (p > 0.05).There was a significant correlation between UPDRS motor part score, walking speed and composite equilibrium score after training in early PD (p > 0.05).CONCLUSIONS: Both gait analysis and CDP are important quantitative assessment tools of gait and posture instability

Ultrasonographic Enthesopathy and Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, the correlation between ultrasonographic enthesopathy and severity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been done before. However, the correlation between ultrasonography of enthesopathy and the Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) have not been done.AIM: To compare the results of ultrasonographic enthesopathy of foot and PASDAS in PsA.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 65 PsA patients were involved and divided into two groups. The first group of 35 active PsA and the second group of 30 ages and sex matched inactive PsA as a control group were recruited in this study. Both groups were evaluated by examination, radiological findings and ultrasonography.RESULTS: Of 70 entheses in 35 active PsA patients, the most entheseal abnormalities were tender plantar fascia (18.5%), tender Achilles tendon (37.8%). PASDAS was a direct highly significant correlated with plantar fascia and Achilles tendon thickness in in active PsA (r = 0.823 and r = 0.796, p < 0.001 respectively).CONCLUSION: Musculoskeletal US is an accurate and low-cost method for assessment of enthesopathy with significant correlation to disease activities in psoriatic arthritis

Gait and Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) Aspects in Early Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) - A Case Report

BACKGROUND: Posture and gait instability may cause of morbidity in individuals with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively measure balance control by using computerized dynamic posturography (CDP) and to assess gait analysis in early PSP.CASE REPORT: She was evaluated for Berge balance scale, Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and postural stability using CDP device in early PSP with still able to walk or stand unassisted. Also, Gait analysis was conducted using an 8 M-camera Vicon 612 data capturing system set. Berge balance scale improved from 41/56 to 48/56. The score of FIM improved from 71/126 points to 95/126 points in early PSP. In CDP analysis, there was a decrease of composite equilibrium score (38 %). There was an increase of composite equilibrium score (59%) after three months of treatment. In gait analysis, there was no difference of gait parameters after three months of treatment in early PSP.CONCLUSIONS: Both CDP and gait analysis are important quantitative tools in the assessment of posture and gait instability as well as allow for early disclosure of the failure of the postural control system in early PSP

Soft Tissue Pathology Detected By Ultrasound Seem To Be Risk Factors for Painful Flare in Osteoarthritic Knee

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, the importance of US findings, pain (brief pain inventory (BPI)) and disability in osteoarthritic knee (OA) pain patients remain uncertain. AIM: The objectives are to evaluate the correlation of US findings, pain (brief pain inventory (BPI)) and disability in OA pain patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty - three patients with OA knee were divided into two groups. The first group was OA as symptomatic knee group and the second group was an asymptomatic control group. The maximum sagittal height of synovial fluid in 12 scans at 0, 30, 60 and 90 degrees flexion knee in 3 major recesses were measured. RESULTS: There were a significant positive correlation between BPI Pain severity index, or BPI function interference index and a maximum height of effusion at 30-degree flexion angle in a supra-patellar recess in painful symptomatic knees. But, there was a significant negative correlation between BPI Pain severity index, and BPI function interference index and cartilage thickness in painful symptomatic knees. CONCLUSION: The increase of maximum height of synovial effusion at different angles of knee and decrease of cartilage thickness associated with pain and disability in OA pain patients and are being predictors for pain severity and disability in OA pain patients

Fiber Loop Ringdown — a Time-Domain Sensing Technique for Multi-Function Fiber Optic Sensor Platforms: Current Status and Design Perspectives

Fiber loop ringdown (FLRD) utilizes an inexpensive telecommunications light source, a photodiode, and a section of single-mode fiber to form a uniform fiber optic sensor platform for sensing various quantities, such as pressure, temperature, strain, refractive index, chemical species, biological cells, and small volume of fluids. In FLRD, optical losses of a light pulse in a fiber loop induced by changes in a quantity are measured by the light decay time constants. FLRD measures time to detect a quantity; thus, FLRD is referred to as a time-domain sensing technique. FLRD sensors have near real-time response, multi-pass enhanced high-sensitivity, and relatively low cost (i.e., without using an optical spectral analyzer). During the last eight years since the introduction of the original form of fiber ringdown spectroscopy, there has been increasing interest in the FLRD technique in fiber optic sensor developments, and new application potential is being explored. This paper first discusses the challenging issues in development of multi-function, fiber optic sensors or sensor networks using current fiber optic sensor sensing schemes, and then gives a review on current fiber optic sensor development using FLRD technique. Finally, design perspectives on new generation, multi-function, fiber optic sensor platforms using FLRD technique are particularly presented