Charcot-Marie-Tooth

Background and Purpose: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy and affects both motor and sensory nerves. Clinical presentation is similar among all types and results in distal muscle atrophy and weakness, diminished sensation and proprioception, and balance and gait disturbances. Pes cavus is a prominent feature. Although gene therapy and neurotrophic growth factors show promise as treatment, physical therapy remains the most viable option at this time. The purpose of this case report is to determine the effect that physical therapy may have on both physical and psychological outcomes related to CMT. Case Description: Patient was a 51-year-old-female presenting to physical therapy with a diagnosis of CMT. She presented with lower extremity pain, muscle weakness and atrophy, diminished or absent sensation and proprioception, gait deviations, and increased difficulty navigating stairs. Her main goal was to remain an independent ambulator for as long as possible. Her pain was managed with gabapentin. She did not report any involvement with her upper extremities. Intervention: A resistance training program focusing on balance, stepping activities and lower extremity strength was initiated carried out as an outpatient and home exercise program. Massage and soft tissue work was applied to the legs and feet. Outcome: The patient was seen for 18 total visits. At discharge, her balance, tandem stance, lower extremity strength all improved. She reported feeling more confident with ambulation and was less anxious about the disease process. A referral to a podiatrist was given for custom orthotics. Discussion: Patient\u27s with CMT often report difficulty with mobility and ambulation, specific activity impairments, fatigue, and emotional distress. In spite of this, they are often not referred to or attend physical therapy as the perceived benefit is small

AUTOMATIC NETWORK TEST SCHEDULING AND EXECUTION BASED ON APPLICATION DETECTION

Techniques are described herein that provide a network and its management system with a deeper level of intelligence regarding the applications running on the network. This enables Information Technology (IT) administrators to understand which applications are on their networks and how those applications are performing

Vitrography to direct light rays from a camera flash

This disclosure describes techniques that isolate a flash module from a camera module and enable both to be housed underneath a single piece of transparent material such as glass. Using vitrography, small deformations are fabricated within the glass bulk surrounding the flash module. The boundary between the bulk and the vitrographed glass prevents light rays from traveling towards the camera module from the flash module. Compared to current techniques used to isolate the flash module from the camera module, the disclosed techniques reduce the cost and complexity of device assembly and produce better device performance and aesthetic

Spatial and seasonal abundance of sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) and silver seatrout (C. nothus) off the coast of Texas, determined with twenty years of data (1987–200

Sand seatrout (Cynoscion arenarius) and silver seatrout (C. nothus) are both found within the immediate offshore areas of the Gulf of Mexico, especially around Texas; however information is limited on how much distributional overlap really occurs between these species. In order to investigate spatial and seasonal differences between species, we analyzed twenty years of bay and offshore trawl data collected by biologists of the Coastal Fisheries Division, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Sand seatrout and silver seatrout were distributed differently among offshore sampling areas, and salinity and water depth appeared to correlate with their distribution. Additionally, within the northernmost sampling area of the gulf waters, water depth correlated significantly with the presence of silver seatrout, which were found at deeper depths than sand seatrout. There was also an overall significant decrease in silver seatrout abundance during the summer season, when temperatures were at their highest, and this decrease may have indicated a migration farther offshore. Sand seatrout abundance had an inverse relationship with salinity and water depth offshore. In addition, sand seatrout abundance was highest in bays with direct passes to the gulf and correlated with corresponding abundance in offshore areas. These data highlight the seasonal and spatial differences in abundance between sand and silver seatrout and relate these differences to the hydrological and geological features found along the Texas coastline

The Drier Dryer

With our product, The Drier Dryer, we aim to increase the efficiency of clothing dryers. This report contains an indepth look at the design approach we are taking to create our product. Our design utilizes a thermoelectric cooler combined with heat sinks and heat pipes to efficiently cool air to its dew point temperature and then reheat the air prior to sending it into a clothes dryer intake. Cooling the air to dew point temperature allows moisture to be removed from the air consequently decreasing the relative humidity. Throughout our design process we obtained simulation results providing a theoretical temperature the air needs to be cooled down to in order to remove moisture based on various design conditions. Our results showed that for conditions of 27 °C (80 °F) and 80% relative humidity, based on a design state of Hawaii, we require at least a 4 °C temperature difference across the cold side heat sink. Results from experimental testing in Santa Clara, CA on our two iterations of prototypes yielded a maximum temperature difference of approximately 2 °C. After applying our future plans to further idealize our prototype design as well as incorporating design conditions based on our simulation results, we aim to further increase our temperature difference allowing us to prove our theoretical results experimentally

Feasibility assessment of low cost stereo computer vision in clay target shooting coaching

Clay target shooting is a sport that has been slow to adopt new technology to help automate and improve coaching. Currently gun mounted cameras and shooting simulators are available but these are prohibitively expensive for most shooters. This project aims to determine if a lower cost alternative can be created to provide feedback to new shooters about the distance they missed the target using low cost stereo computer vision. Initially an investigation was undertaken into the use of web cameras and GoPro action cameras for suitability to create a stereo vision system to track the shooter aim and the target position. The focus of this assessment was the camera resolution, frame rate and ability to be synchronized. The assessment found that these consumer-grade cameras all have high resolutions but no ability to be synchronized. Of these cameras the GoPro cameras could record in high definition at much higher frame rates then the web cameras and therefore were selected for the field trials. Field trials to test the accuracy of the low cost stereo vision system were performed in three phases; 'static', 'dynamic' and 'vs coaches'. The static trials were designed to find a baseline accuracy where the effect of frame synchronization errors could be reduced. The dynamic trials were performed to test the system on moving targets and to try and compensate for the synchronization errors. Finally the system was trialed against the judgement of three experienced human judges to test its reliability against the current coaching method. Matlab scripts were written to process the stereo images that were recorded as part of the field trials. Using colour thresholding and a custom filter that was created as part of this project, markers on the gun and the clay target were able to be segmented from the background in the trials. Using these positions the real world coordinates were able to be calculated and the aim of the gun vs target location estimated. The outcome of the trials showed that low cost computer vision can have good accuracy in estimation of gun aim in a static scene. When movement was introduced to the trials the synchronization errors of the cameras resulted in large positional errors. The final outcome of the project determined that low cost stereo computer vision is far less reliable and accurate than human coaches and is not at this time feasible to be used in clay target coaching

Service-Learning Designation: a faculty handbook

Service-learning is a progressive and innovative pedagogy. It is both a creative and a diverse tool for teaching and learning. Service-learning is not merely community service and when structured correctly, service-learning will greatly impact student learning and enhance the typical classroom experience. It is also entirely up to the discretion of individual faculty members as to which pedagogies they will employ within their classroom. So why make the effort to formally designate your intentions to utilize service-learning