Augmenting forearm crutches with wireless sensors for lower limb rehabilitation

Forearm crutches are frequently used in the rehabilitation of an injury to the lower limb. The recovery rate is improved if the patient correctly applies a certain fraction of their body weight (specified by a clinician) through the axis of the crutch, referred to as partial weight bearing (PWB). Incorrect weight bearing has been shown to result in an extended recovery period or even cause further damage to the limb. There is currently no minimally invasive tool for long-term monitoring of a patient's PWB in a home environment. This paper describes the research and development of an instrumented forearm crutch that has been developed to wirelessly and autonomously monitor a patient's weight bearing over the full period of their recovery, including its potential use in a home environment. A pair of standard forearm crutches are augmented with low-cost off-the-shelf wireless sensor nodes and electronic components to provide indicative measurements of the applied weight, crutch tilt and hand position on the grip. Data are wirelessly transmitted between crutches and to a remote computer (where they are processed and visualized in LabVIEW), and the patient receives biofeedback by means of an audible signal when they put too much or too little weight through the crutch. The initial results obtained highlight the capability of the instrumented crutch to support physiotherapists and patients in monitoring usage

Major prospects for exploring canine vector borne diseases and novel intervention methods using 'omic technologies

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are of major socioeconomic importance worldwide. Although many studies have provided insights into CVBDs, there has been limited exploration of fundamental molecular aspects of most pathogens, their vectors, pathogen-host relationships and disease and drug resistance using advanced, 'omic technologies. The aim of the present article is to take a prospective view of the impact that next-generation, 'omics technologies could have, with an emphasis on describing the principles of transcriptomic/genomic sequencing as well as bioinformatic technologies and their implications in both fundamental and applied areas of CVBD research. Tackling key biological questions employing these technologies will provide a 'systems biology' context and could lead to radically new intervention and management strategies against CVBDs

Perceived father’s care protects adolescents from transitions to tobacco use at a highly vulnerable age: A short-term longitudinal study

Early experimentation with tobacco is predictive of nicotine dependence and long-term physical harm. The mean age of tobacco initiation is 15 years, signalling the need to examine key protective influences operating at this particularly vulnerable age. This study examined the unique prospective relationship between perceived father's care and smoking behaviour among mid-teens. High school students (n=112) at this critical age were assessed at two time points (6 months apart). At Time 1, measures of recent smoking (last month - present/absent), mother and father's care, sensation seeking, heavy episodic alcohol use (past month), and academic performance were administered. The Time 2 measures were recent smoking and heavy alcohol use (last month). The results were analysed using binary logistic regression of recent smoking at Time 2 (present/absent). The key finding of the study was that fathers care uniquely predicted recent smoking at Time 2 independent of recent smoking at Time 1 and other independent predictors. The results suggest that fathers have a significant role to play in protecting teenagers from tobacco use at a developmental stage where the risk of smoking uptake is high. The results point to the potential utility of tobacco and other drug prevention strategies that focus on building father-adolescent relationship quality before and during high-risk developmental stages