Master of Science

thesisManual Material Handing (MMH) is a common activity for many workers in the workplace. Back compressive force has been described as a leading factor causing back injuries and musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) associated with lifting. To prevent such injuries, mechanical Lift Assist Devices (LAD) have been developed. To improve device usability and allow more interaction with human body movements, a significant step has been taken towards developing an automatic feedback control system for a hybrid lift assist device. The control system is highly responsive which would likely result in a reduction of required erector spine muscle force during lifting tasks. The control system is based on multiple input and multiple output (MIMO).This design was chosen to control the outputs of Torque (τ) and Speed (ω) generated from a DC motor from the inputs: hip angle, torso angle and HD (Horizontal Distance from L5/S1 to center of load derived from the Force and Center of Pressure (COP) using Flexi Force Sensors in the shoe insole). All the inputs were derived and compared with parameters of human body movement recorded using Vicon Nexus and 8 Bonita cameras. The Utah Back Compressive model was used to estimate the desired torque required by the LAD. The motor is controlled to generate the amount of torque to lift the load and to assist the body to a specified percent assist (0-100%). The design of the control system was achieved using a proper controller and DC motor with a closed loop feedback system. The control system produces reliable and robust performance for a variety of sagittal plane lifting techniques. This was accomplished by deriving the system input parameters from measurable device features and fine tuning the controller and selected DC motor model. These results indicate that a hybrid lifting assist device is feasible and can be programmed to provide variable assistance during lifting tasks

KINETICS AND MECHANISMS OF CRYSTAL GROWTH INHIBITION OF INDOMETHACIN BY MODEL PRECIPITATION INHIBITORS

Supersaturating Drug Delivery Systems (SDDS) could enhance oral bioavailability of poorly water soluble drugs (PWSD). Precipitation inhibitors (PIs) in SDDS could maintain supersaturation by inhibiting nucleation, crystal growth, or both. The mechanisms by which these effects are realized are generally unknown. The goal of this dissertation was to explore the mechanisms underpinning the effects of model PIs including hydroxypropyl β-cyclodextrins (HP-β-CD), hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) on the crystal growth of indomethacin, a model PWSD. At high degrees of supersaturation (S), the crystal growth kinetics of indomethacin was bulk diffusion-controlled, which was attributed to a high energy form deposited on the seed crystals. At lower S, indomethacin growth kinetics was surface integration-controlled. The effect of HP-β-CD at high S was successfully modeled using the reactive diffusion layer theory. The superior effects of PVP and HPMC as compared to HP-β-CD at high S were attributed to a change in the rate limiting step from bulk diffusion to surface integration largely due to prevention of the high energy form formation. The effects of PIs at low S were attributed to significant retardation of the surface integration rate, a phenomenon that may reflect the adsorption of PIs onto the growing surface. PVP was selected to further understand the relationship between adsorption and crystal growth inhibition. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm model fit the adsorption isotherms of PVP and N-vinylpyrrolidone well. The affinity and extent of adsorption of PVP were significantly higher than those of N-vinylpyrrolidone, which was attributed to cooperative interactions between PVP and indomethacin. The extent of PVP adsorption on a weight-basis was greater for higher molecular weight PVP but less on a molar-basis indicating an increased percentage of loops and tails for higher molecular weight PVPs. PVP significantly inhibited indomethacin crystal growth at high S as compared to N-vinylpyrrolidone, which was attributed to a change in the growth mechanism resulting in a change in the rate limiting step from bulk diffusion to surface integration. Higher molecular weight PVPs were better inhibitors than lower molecular weight PVPs, which was attributed to a greater crystal growth barrier provided by a thicker adsorption layer

Unusual presentation: fracture neck femur in 18 months old child

An 18 months old child was brought to the emergency department with alleged history of trauma due to hit by two wheeler and sustained injury over right hip. Child was not able to move the right lower limb. Physical examination of child revealed contusion over right hip region and injury over perineal region. There was no active vaginal bleeding. Rest of the systemic examination was normal. Routine blood was normal. On X-ray of pelvis with both hip showed fracture of neck femur on right side without any pelvic injury. Patient was treated with hip spica cast and complete bed rest for 1 month. After 1 month of the treatment, on follow-up the patient was able to weight bear and fractured was united on X-ray

Evaluation of the Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Cassia Occidentalis Leaves in Neutrophil Adhesion Test in Rats

Evaluation of the effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Cassia occidentalis leaves in neutrophil adhesion test in Rats. The effect of oral administration of hydroalcoholic extract of Cassia occidentalis leaves on neutrophil has been studied and is compared with control group on rats. The differential leukocyte count (DLC) was performed by fixing the blood smears and staining with leucofine and percent neutrophils in each sample was determined. After the initial counts, blood samples were incubated with 80 mg/ml of nylon fibers for 10 min at 37ºC. Supplementation with hydroalcoholic extract of Cassia occidentalis leaves significantly decreased neutrophil adhesion. The results indicate that the leaf of Cassia occidentalis is endowed with protected neutrophil adhesion. These effects could conclude that Cassia occidentalis has an antiasthmatic property. Keywords: Cassia occidentalis, Neutrophil adhesion, analysis of varianc

Energy Conservation and Energy Saving Techniques apply on a Small Scale Cold Storage through Energy Audit

ABSTRACT Energy is now a costly and scare commodity in everywhere. S

Orthopaedic aspect of anatomy and radiology of proximal femur

Femoral pathology is common in relation to the orthopedic. There is complex anatomy of the proximal femur and hip joint. So, its knowledge regarding anatomy and radiological correlation is necessary to the well-known fact for the orthopedics for the routine day to day practice. This review article briefly illustrates important anatomical and radiological aspect of the proximal femur

Pantoea: A Versatile bacterial Candidate of Agricultural Importance

Genus Pantoea is a diverse group of the family Enterobacteriaceae which inhabit various ecological niches. Various species of Pantoea are found associated with a diverse host range that include plants, animals, insects and humans. Besides this Pantoea spp. has been widely distributed in nature including water, soil, dairy products, meat and fish. It is commonly associated with plants as epiphyte or pathogen. Pantoea was first recognized as a genus about 25 years ago, but since then, approximately 20 species with a wide range of characteristics have been discovered. Identification of plant-pathogenic Pantoea species is difficult, due to the high degree of phenotypic similarity between species of this genus and related Enterobacteriaceae. Pantoea species are typically characterized based on colony morphology, physiological and biochemical tests, and in some cases, fatty acid analysis or quinone composition. These have a wide range of plant hosts where they live as nonpathogenic endophytes as well as epiphytes that colonize the leaves, stems and roots. In this perspective, some Pantoea strains can be beneficial to the plant host by providing growth promoting substances such as the plant-growth hormone indole-acetic acid (IAA), phosphate solubilization or nitrogen fixation. Number of Pantoea species are also involved in bioremediation of various pesticides and organic chemical compounds. This indicates the potential to degrade some recalcitrant and xenobiotic compounds. Some Pantoea strains also provide effective protection to plants against various bacterial and fungal diseases and post-harvest fruit rots. On the other hand, some of the species are recognized as a human pathogen and has led to controversy as limited documented cases of P. agglomerans bacteremia and infections have been reported. Most of the cases reported among immunocompromised patients or the pediatric population. Thus, Pantoea is a multifaceted bacterium that plays a significant role in agriculture as a plant growth promoter by producing hormone like IAA, inorganic pollutant degradation by producing potent enzymes and also protects some plants against pathogens by producing antibacterial and antifungal compounds. In some cases, these also cause diseases in human beings. Therefore, this genus is very important for studies. In this review, the industrial, agricultural as well as ecological significance of the genus Pantoea is emphasized

Evolutionary conservation of regulated longevity assurance mechanisms

Short abstract: A multi-level cross-species comparative analysis of gene-expression changes accompanying increased longevity in mutant nematodes, fruit flies and mice with reduced insulin/IGF-1 signaling revealed candidate conserved mechanisms

Changes in gene expression in space and time orchestrate environmentally mediated shaping of root architecture

Shaping of root architecture is a quintessential developmental response that involves the concerted action of many different cell types, is highly dynamic and underpins root plasticity. To determine to what extent the environmental regulation of lateral root development is a product of cell type preferential activities, we tracked transcriptomic responses to two different treatments that both change root development in Arabidopsis thaliana, at an unprecedented level of temporal detail. We found that individual transcripts are expressed with a very high degree of temporal and spatial specificity, yet biological processes are commonly regulated, in a mechanism we term response nonredundancy. Using causative gene network inference to compare the genes regulated in different cell types and during responses to nitrogen and a biotic interaction we found that common transcriptional modules often regulate the same gene families, but control different individual members of these families, specific to response and cell type. This reinforces that the activity of a gene cannot be defined simply as molecular function; rather, it is a consequence of spatial location, expression timing and environmental responsiveness

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors 2017 includes a comprehensive assessment of incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 354 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. Previous GBD studies have shown how the decline of mortality rates from 1990 to 2016 has led to an increase in life expectancy, an ageing global population, and an expansion of the non-fatal burden of disease and injury. These studies have also shown how a substantial portion of the world's population experiences non-fatal health loss with considerable heterogeneity among different causes, locations, ages, and sexes. Ongoing objectives of the GBD study include increasing the level of estimation detail, improving analytical strategies, and increasing the amount of high-quality data. METHODS: We estimated incidence and prevalence for 354 diseases and injuries and 3484 sequelae. We used an updated and extensive body of literature studies, survey data, surveillance data, inpatient admission records, outpatient visit records, and health insurance claims, and additionally used results from cause of death models to inform estimates using a total of 68 781 data sources. Newly available clinical data from India, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Nepal, China, Brazil, Norway, and Italy were incorporated, as well as updated claims data from the USA and new claims data from Taiwan (province of China) and Singapore. We used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, as the main method of estimation, ensuring consistency between rates of incidence, prevalence, remission, and cause of death for each condition. YLDs were estimated as the product of a prevalence estimate and a disability weight for health states of each mutually exclusive sequela, adjusted for comorbidity. We updated the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary development indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and total fertility rate. Additionally, we calculated differences between male and female YLDs to identify divergent trends across sexes. GBD 2017 complies with the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting