Enhancement of Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation Outcomes of Post-Stroke Patients Using Movement-Related Cortical Potential

Post-stroke rehabilitation is essential for stroke survivors to help them regain independence and to improve their quality of life. Among various rehabilitation strategies, robot-assisted rehabilitation is an efficient method that is utilized more and more in clinical practice for motor recovery of post-stroke patients. However, excessive assistance from robotic devices during rehabilitation sessions can make patients perform motor training passively with minimal outcome. Towards the development of an efficient rehabilitation strategy, it is necessary to ensure the active participation of subjects during training sessions. This thesis uses the Electroencephalography (EEG) signal to extract the Movement-Related Cortical Potential (MRCP) pattern to be used as an indicator of the active engagement of stroke patients during rehabilitation training sessions. The MRCP pattern is also utilized in designing an adaptive rehabilitation training strategy that maximizes patients’ engagement. This project focuses on the hand motor recovery of post-stroke patients using the AMADEO rehabilitation device (Tyromotion GmbH, Austria). AMADEO is specifically developed for patients with fingers and hand motor deficits. The variations in brain activity are analyzed by extracting the MRCP pattern from the acquired EEG data during training sessions. Whereas, physical improvement in hand motor abilities is determined by two methods. One is clinical tests namely Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) and Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) which include FMA-wrist, FMA-hand, MAS-hand movements, and MAS-advanced hand movements’ tests. The other method is the measurement of hand-kinematic parameters using the AMADEO assessment tool which contains hand strength measurements during flexion (force-flexion), and extension (force-extension), and Hand Range of Movement (HROM)

Audiovisual Saliency Prediction in Uncategorized Video Sequences based on Audio-Video Correlation

Substantial research has been done in saliency modeling to develop intelligent machines that can perceive and interpret their surroundings. But existing models treat videos as merely image sequences excluding any audio information, unable to cope with inherently varying content. Based on the hypothesis that an audiovisual saliency model will be an improvement over traditional saliency models for natural uncategorized videos, this work aims to provide a generic audio/video saliency model augmenting a visual saliency map with an audio saliency map computed by synchronizing low-level audio and visual features. The proposed model was evaluated using different criteria against eye fixations data for a publicly available DIEM video dataset. The results show that the model outperformed two state-of-the-art visual saliency models.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, 4 table

Impact of transformational leadership on work performance, burnout and social loafing: a mediation model

The aim of this research was to study the effect of transformational leadership on employees’ work outcomes which include their work performances and working burnout, and their working behavior such as social loafing at workplace. Also, it studies the impact of intrinsic motivation as a mediator between transformational leadership and other stated variables. A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect data from 308 employees working in the telecommunication sector. To test the hypotheses, Model 4 of Process Hayes was used to test direct and mediating effects among transformational leadership and employees’ work outcomes and working behavior. The results showed that transformational leadership has a significant positive relationship with mediator intrinsic motivation. The results also concluded that work performance has positive significant relationship with transformational leadership. However, there is indirect and insignificant relationship of transformational leadership with working burnout and social loafing. Therefore, it can be stated that organizational leaders must have transformational attributes by getting informed of their employees well because transformational leader can inspire employees to achieve anticipated or significant outcomes. It gives employees self-confidence over specific jobs, as well as the power to make decisions once they have been trained

A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW ON THE IMPACT OF FACEBOOK USAGE ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Facebook has become an essential part of nearly every individual’s daily life. Though it is beneficial for students in terms of connectivity such as exchanging information, socialization, and other constructive activities, the literature shows that Facebook has become dangerously addictive, causing disruption in routinely activities and academic goals of students. The purpose of this review is to investigate the impact of Facebook usage on the academic performance of university students and how can these be assimilated in order to enhance students’ academic performance. Papers were retrieved from academic databases and Google from 2011 to 2017. All studies that were included appraised critically by using Mixed Method Appraisal Tool Appraisal tool. The results showed that both positive and negative impacts of using Facebook on the academic performance of university students. The conclusions propose that, despite the variance of findings, the overall outcome is negative when it comes to the use of Facebook in academic performance. Furthermore, it highlights the ways that how Facebook can help to enhance the academic performance of university students

Excision of a Chronic Inflammatory Mass Using Diode Lasers: A Case Report

Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as low level laser therapy (LLLT) or cold laser therapy uses light energy to elicit biological responses from the cell and help regulate cell function. From a clinical point of view PBM offers dental practitioners a non-invasive treatment modality that can be used as an adjunct to the traditional therapies or as a therapeutic tool on its own. This is a case of surgical excision of a fluctuant mass using a scalpel and diode laser 980nm wavelength

Frenectomy Using Diode Lasers: A Case Report

OBJECTIVES Lasers are used in almost every aspect of dentistry, be it surgeries, restorations, periodontal procedures, and even aesthetic dentistry. One certain area that requires extra emphasis and importance is the laser-assisted frenectomy. Frenectomy, as the name suggests, is the excision of frenum attachment to the underlying bone. Frenectomy is carried out in the mandible as well as the maxilla. This is a case of a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment who also required a frenectomy, and to minimize the postoperative pain and swelling, the procedure was carried out using a diode laser rather than the conventional surgical procedure

Gender Differences in Real-Home Sleep of Young and Older Couples

Objectives: To understand gender differences in sleep quality, architecture and duration of young healthy couples in comparison to older couples in their natural sleep environment. Design: Sleep was monitored in a naturalistic setting using a headband sleep monitoring device over a period of two weeks for young couples and home polysomnography for the older couples. Participants: Ten heterosexual young couples (male mean age: 28.2 1.0[SD] years /female mean age: 26.8 0.9 years) and 14 older couples (male mean age: 59.3+ 9.6 years/female mean age: 58.8+ 9.1 years). Measurements and results: In the young couples, total sleep time (395+66 vs. 367+54 min., p<0.05), sleep efficiency (97.0+3.0 vs. 91.1+7.9, p<0.001), and % REM (31.1+4.8 vs. 23.6+5.5, p<0.001) in males was higher than in females. In contrast, % light sleep (51.7+7.1 vs. 59.7+6.7, p<0.001) and number of arousals (2.9+1.9 vs. 5.3+1.9, p<0.001) were lower. These differences persisted after controlling for evening mood and various evening pre-sleep activities. In the older couples, there were no differences between genders. In addition, children in the household adversely impacted sleep. Conclusions: In couples recorded in the home, young males slept longer and had better sleep quality than young females. This difference appears to dissipate with age. In-home assessment of couples can aid in understanding of gender differences in sleep and how they are affected by age and social environment

Impressions and attitudes of adult residents of Karachi towards a possible public health insurance scheme

Objective: To gauge the general population\u27s knowledge and attitude towards a possible public health insurance scheme.Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from April to May 2015, and comprised permanent residents of the city. Convenience sampling was used. Data was collected via questionnaires. SPSS 22 was used for data analysis.Results: There were 340 participants in the study with an overall mean age of 32.9±12.4 years. Besides, 159(46.8%) participants were aware of the concept of medical insurance while the correct definition was identified by 160(50.5%) respondents. Overall, 256(75.3%) participants were willing to join a theoretical public health insurance scheme. Of all the respondents, 107(31.5%) had faced a catastrophic event in the past and consequently were more willing to join. Of those unsure or not willing to join, 33(37.9%) respondents identified lack of trust in government programmes as the main reason for their choice.CONCLUSIONS: A large majority of adults had a favourable attitude towards the implementation of a possible public health insurance scheme

Silene conoidea L.: A Review on its Systematic, Ethnobotany and Phytochemical profile

Silene conoidea L. is a weed commonly grown in subtropical and temperate zone of western Eurasia, and some part of Himalaya. S. conoidea is a small herb height from 20 to 40cm mostly grow as weed in different crops like wheat, barley, mustard, roquette and lentil pea. This is the first attempt to gather utmost information about the species distribution, taxonomy, ethno-medicines, phytochemical analysis, biological activity etc. of Silene conoidea. The present review aim was to collect fragmented information about the species in addition to explore its therapeutic importance in future research opportunities. A total of 100 research articles were reviewed using different sources like; Scopus, web of science, Science direct, google scholar and PubMed. The species are used as multipurpose in different biological activities against microbes, bacteria and as insecticidal. Silene is also important due to high contents of various chemicals compounds. Chemical extracts contain flavones, glycosides, saponins, sterols and glycosides. A research study shows that S. conoidea can be used as an indicator species of gold. Traditional therapeutic values of the species for treating respiratory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic and anticancer are needed to be validated through more research. Ethno-pharmacological and clinical trial research can be subjected for future studies