International telemedicine consultations for neurodevelopmental disabilities

Background: A telemedicine program was developed between the Children\u27s National Medical Center (CNMC) in Washington, DC, and the Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A needs assessment and a curriculum of on-site training conferences were devised preparatory to an ongoing telemedicine consultation program for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities in the underserved eastern region of the UAE. Materials and Methods: Weekly telemedicine consultations are provided by a multidisciplinary faculty. Patients are presented in the UAE with their therapists and families. Real-time (video over Internet protocol; average connection, 768 kilobits/s) telemedicine conferences are held weekly following previews of medical records. A full consultation report follows each telemedicine session. Results: Between February 29, 2012 and June 26, 2013, 48 weekly 1-h live interactive telemedicine consultations were conducted on 48 patients (28 males, 20 females; age range, 8 months–22 years; median age, 5.4 years). The primary diagnoses were cerebral palsy, neurogenetic disorders, autism, neuromuscular disorders, congenital anomalies, global developmental delay, systemic disease, and epilepsy. Common comorbidities were cognitive impairment, communication disorders, and behavioral disorders. Specific recommendations included imaging and DNA studies, antiseizure management, spasticity management including botulinum toxin protocols, and specific therapy modalities including taping techniques, customized body vests, and speech/language and behavioral therapy. Improved outcomes reported were in clinician satisfaction, achievement of therapy goals for patients, and requests for ongoing sessions. Conclusions: Weekly telemedicine sessions coupled with triannual training conferences were successfully implemented in a clinical program dedicated to patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities by the Center for Neuroscience at CNMC and the UAE government. International consultations in neurodevelopmental disabilities utilizing telemedicine services offer a reliable and productive method for joint clinical programs

Wireless electrical–molecular quantum signalling for cancer cell apoptosis

Quantum biological tunnelling for electron transfer is involved incontrolling essential functions for life such as cellular respiration andhomoeostasis. Understanding and controlling the quantum effects inbiology has the potential to modulate biological functions. Here we mergewireless nano-electrochemical tools with cancer cells for control overelectron transfer to trigger cancer cell death. Gold bipolar nanoelectrodesfunctionalized with redox-active cytochrome c and a redox mediatorzinc porphyrin are developed as electric-field-stimulating bio-actuators,termed bio-nanoantennae. We show that a remote electrical input regulateselectron transport between these redox molecules, which results inquantum biological tunnelling for electron transfer to trigger apoptosisin patient-derived cancer cells in a selective manner. Transcriptomicsdata show that the electric-field-induced bio-nanoantenna targets thecancer cells in a unique manner, representing electrically induced controlof molecular signalling. The work shows the potential of quantum-basedmedical diagnostics and treatments.</p

Wireless electrical–molecular quantum signalling for cancer cell apoptosis

Quantum biological tunnelling for electron transfer is involved in controlling essential functions for life such as cellular respiration and homoeostasis. Understanding and controlling the quantum effects in biology has the potential to modulate biological functions. Here we merge wireless nano-electrochemical tools with cancer cells for control over electron transfer to trigger cancer cell death. Gold bipolar nanoelectrodes functionalized with redox-active cytochrome c and a redox mediator zinc porphyrin are developed as electric-field-stimulating bio-actuators, termed bio-nanoantennae. We show that a remote electrical input regulates electron transport between these redox molecules, which results in quantum biological tunnelling for electron transfer to trigger apoptosis in patient-derived cancer cells in a selective manner. Transcriptomics data show that the electric-field-induced bio-nanoantenna targets the cancer cells in a unique manner, representing electrically induced control of molecular signalling. The work shows the potential of quantum-based medical diagnostics and treatments

Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M&gt;70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0&lt;e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Topic and vocabulary use patterns of elderly men and women of two age cohorts

The general purpose of this project was to collect language samples from every day conversations of elderly men and women and to analyze these samples in terms of the words and topics used by normally functioning elderly men and women. The men and women (n = 20) who participated in the study were from two age cohorts (Younger Age: 60-74 yrs.; Older Age: 78-85 yrs.). Topics were analyzed according to established discourse analysis procedures, using a jury to review data and develop categories. Analysis for frequency and commonality of word use was completed using computer software to determine for each cohort, the list of different words which occurred with a frequency of.5 per 1000 words, to develop a composite list of these words and statistically assess if the frequency of use was significantly different or if a correlational relationship existed between its use by men and women. The results of the topic analysis indicate there is a trend toward differences between Older Age cohorts and Younger Age Cohorts and between Men and Women in their frequency of referencing, especially for particular categories e.g., Present vs. Past; Family vs. Friends, Household Routines vs. Facts/Network. The greatest differences appear to be between the Younger Women Cohort and the Older Men Cohort. There is no significant difference in the frequency of use for the composite 250 most frequently occurring words and a significant relationship exists for the use of Men and Women for word sets 25, 100, and 150. More unique words were used by Older Cohorts than Younger Cohorts, and by Men than Women with the Older Cohort Men using the most unique words