Actin nanokinematics under the influence of DC electric fields

Molecular shuttles are nanometer-sized machines capable of transporting single molecules over small distances under user control. Actin-myosin system is a motor protein system, which naturally evolved within the cell for the nanoscale transport. The Acto-Myosin system is fuelled by ATP, converting chemical energy into linear motion. The gliding geometry movement of actin wherein the tails of the motors are adsorbed to the surface and the heads of the motors move the actin filaments across the surface can be exploited to achieve the directional control. The motion of actin in a specific direction and the surface of travel can be modified either through lithographic methods or imprinting techniques. The aim of this thesis is to estimate and quantize the motion of Actin filaments under electric force fields. The required electrical fields are simulated and the mobility of actin under the electric force field is estimated quantitatively. Experimental exploration of this motion was targeted. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Caring for the caregivers

This issue of eMedRef provides information to clinicians on aspects of caring for the caregivers of the elderly

Strides for Change: Incentivizing Hispanic Youth to Promote Exercise, Fitness and Wellbeing

The United Way of Western Connecticut\u27s 2014 annual report on Danbury\u27s Young Children found that Danbury\u27s children are facing many physical fitness challenges compared to the state of CT. A study looking at 4th graders in a physical fitness test finds that Danbury students consistently have a harder time passing the fitness test. Of the population studied, 42.5% were ethnically Hispanic.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/fmclerk/1045/thumbnail.jp

Complex Chromosomal Rearrangement Involving 15q11-q13 Interstitial Triplication in a Patient with a Severe Phenotype: A New Clinical Report

Currently under embargo until March 25, 2022

Self-Similar Graphs

For any graph $G$ on $n$ vertices and for any {\em symmetric} subgraph $J$ of $K_{n,n}$, we construct an infinite sequence of graphs based on the pair $(G,J)$. The First graph in the sequence is $G$, then at each stage replacing every vertex of the previous graph by a copy of $G$ and every edge of the previous graph by a copy of $J$ the new graph is constructed. We call these graphs {\em self-similar} graphs. We are interested in delineating those pairs $(G,J)$ for which the chromatic numbers of the graphs in the sequence are bounded. Here we have some partial results. When $G$ is a complete graph and $J$ is a special matching we show that every graph in the resulting sequence is an {\em expander} graph.Comment: 13 pages, 1 tabl

Can nonantidepressants help treat depression?

lithium, triiodothyronine (T3), and atypical antipsychotics are all effective adjuncts. Lithium (serum levels >0.5 mEq/L) can produce clinical improvement when added to ineffective antidepressant treatment (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Thyroid supplementation using T3 at doses no higher than 50 mcg per day also increases the effectiveness of antidepressant therapy (SOR: B, meta- analysis of RCT and cohort studies). Atypical antipsychotic agents are less effective adjuncts for patients with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (SOR: B, meta-analysis of RCT and cohort studies)

Complex chromosomal rearrangement involving 15q11-q13 interstitial triplication and duplication: A new case report of dysmorphic and neuropsychiatric features

Our patient is the first to encompass the full spectrum of reported features related to tetrasomy of the Prader–Willi Angelman Critical Region. She has a complex chromosomal rearrangement including an interstitial triplication reported in twelve cases till date and a rare interstitial duplication reported in only four cases till date

Analysis of surgical fixation of displaced proximal humerus fractures using PHILOS plate

Background: The treatment of displaced proximal humeral injuries still throws challenges in identifying variables to prognosticate the outcome and optimizing a good clinical result. This study attempts to analyze the functional outcome of surgery of such fractures with proximal humeral interlocking system (PHILOS) plate and evaluate variables which help in predicting the prognosis.Methods: This is a retrospective and prospective study of 30 patients with displaced proximal humerus fractures - 2 part, 3 part, 4 part and fracture dislocations according to Neer classification, surgically treated using PHILOS plate during 2011 and 2014. Evaluation of patients was done on follow-up by an independent observer for union by radiographs and functional assessment by Constant-Murley score and DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) score.Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.4 years (range 18-65). 83.3% of the patients were male. The mean follow-up was 18.9 months (4-36 months). The mean Constant-Murley score and the DASH score were 76 and 16 respectively at the last follow-up. Our analysis showed that the patient’s age, delay in surgery, and Neer’s classification influenced the prognosis of the fracture. Medial metaphyseal extension in the fracture or an intact medial neck showed a better outcome. Complications were seen in 5 patients. Avascular necrosis was seen in 3 patients.Conclusions: Osteosynthesis of displaced proximal humeral fractures with PHILOS plate provides a good outcome, with low complication rate. Patient’s age and the type of fracture based on Neer’s classification prognosticate the outcome.

Spatio-temporal Analyses For Prediction Of Traffic Flow, Speed And Occupancy On I-4

Traffic data prediction is a critical aspect of Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS). The utility of the traffic data is in providing information on the evolution of traffic process that can be passed on to the various users (commuters, Regional Traffic Management Centers (RTMCs), Department of Transportation (DoT), ... etc) for user-specific objectives. This information can be extracted from the data collected by various traffic sensors. Loop detectors collect traffic data in the form of flow, occupancy, and speed throughout the nation. Freeway traffic data from I-4 loop detectors has been collected and stored in a data warehouse called the Central Florida Data Warehouse (CFDW[trademark symbol]) by the University of Central Florida for the periods between 1993-1994 and 2000 - 2003. This data is raw, in the form of time stamped 30-second aggregated data collected from about 69 stations over a 36 mile stretch on I-4 from Lake Mary in the east to Disney-World in the west. This data has to be processed to extract information that can be disseminated to various users. Usually, most statistical procedures assume that each individual data point in the sample is independent of other data points. This is not true to traffic data as they are correlated across space and time. Therefore, the concept of time sequence and the layout of data collection devices in space, introduces autocorrelations in a single variable and cross correlations across multiple variables. Significant autocorrelations prove that past values of a variable can be used to predict future values of the same variable. Furthermore, significant cross-correlations between variables prove that past values of one variable can be used to predict future values of another variable. The traditional techniques in traffic prediction use univariate time series models that account for autocorrelations but not cross-correlations. These models have neglected the cross correlations between variables that are present in freeway traffic data, due to the way the data are collected. There is a need for statistical techniques that incorporate the effect of these multivariate cross-correlations to predict future values of traffic data. The emphasis in this dissertation is on the multivariate prediction of traffic variables. Unlike traditional statistical techniques that have relied on univariate models, this dissertation explored the cross-correlation between multivariate traffic variables and variables collected across adjoining spatial locations (such as loop detector stations). The analysis in this dissertation proved that there were significant cross correlations among different traffic variables collected across very close locations at different time scales. The nature of cross-correlations showed that there was feedback among the variables, and therefore past values can be used to predict future values. Multivariate time series analysis is appropriate for modeling the effect of different variables on each other. In the past, upstream data has been accounted for in time series analysis. However, these did not account for feedback effects. Vector Auto Regressive (VAR) models are more appropriate for such data. Although VAR models have been applied to forecast economic time series models, they have not been used to model freeway data. Vector Auto Regressive models were estimated for speeds and volumes at a sample of two locations, using 5-minute data. Different specifications were fit--estimation of speeds from surrounding speeds; estimation of volumes from surrounding volumes; estimation of speeds from volumes and occupancies from the same location; estimation of speeds from volumes from surrounding locations (and vice versa). These specifications were compared to univariate models for the respective variables at three levels of data aggregation (5-minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes) in this dissertation. For data aggregation levels of [less than]15 minutes, the VAR models outperform the univariate models. At data aggregation level of 15 minutes, VAR models did not outperform univariate models. Since VAR models were used for all traffic variables reported by the loop detectors, this made the application of VAR a true multivariate procedure for dynamic prediction of the multivariate traffic variables--flow, speed and occupancy. Also, VAR models are generally deemed more complex than univariate models due to the estimation of multiple covariance matrices. However, a VAR model for k variables must be compared to k univariate models and VAR models compare well with AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models. The added complexity helps model the effect of upstream and downstream variables on the future values of the response variable. This could be useful for ATMS situations, where the effect of traffic redistribution and redirection is not known beforehand with prediction models. The VAR models were tested against more traditional models and their performances were compared against each other under different traffic conditions. These models significantly enhance the understanding of the freeway traffic processes and phenomena as well as identifying potential knowledge relating to traffic prediction. Further refinements in the models can result in better improvements for forecasts under multiple conditions

Outcome of treatment of proximal tibial plateau fractures by minimally invasive percutaneous plating osteosynthesis technique

Background: Fractures of the proximal tibia are accompanied by a wide range of severity which may include stable undisplaced fractures with minimal soft tissue injury to highly comminuted unstable fractures, and severe soft tissue involvement. With the better understanding of fracture healing biology and biomechanics of fracture fixation and healing, the trend of treatment is towards biological fixation, which can be accomplished by Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Plating Osteosynthesis (MIPPO) technique.Methods: Demographic data of patients were recorded on admission and thorough history and clinical examination was done. The fractures were assessed for soft tissue injuries and followed by radiological assessment of fracture with schatzkers classification. The surgeries included anterolateral and anteromedial approaches for all patients with ‘inverted hockey stick incision’ and were treated with MIPPO. They were regularly followed up at 6-8 weeks interval till complete fracture union. A clinical and radiological evaluation was carried out using the modified Rasmussen clinical and radiological criteria.Results: Out of the 20 patients treated, most of them were males and belonged to the age group of 20-40 years (75%).  Unilateral fractures were more common than bilateral fractures and were of the type 4 and type 5 of Schatzkers classification which was usually associated with high velocity RTA. One patient each had infection, varus deformity and knee joint stiffness. 10 fractures gave excellent result, 7 fractures healed with good results. Only 2 of the patients showed fair results and 1 had poor result.  Conclusions: All the fractures treated with MIPPO technique was found to be rapidly healing by secondary fracture union and hence achieving strong bone union across the fracture site due to inherent benefits of less tissue damage and minimal disturbance of fracture site biology