Response to reflected-force feedback to fingers in teleoperations

Reflected-force feedback is an important aspect of teleoperations. The objective is to determine the ability of the human operator to respond to that force. Telerobotics operation is simulated by computer control of a motor-driven device with capabilities for programmable force feedback and force measurement. A computer-controlled motor drive is developed that provides forces against the fingers as well as (angular) position control. A load cell moves in a circular arc as it is pushed by a finger and measures reaction forces on the finger. The force exerted by the finger on the load cell and the angular position are digitized and recorded as a function of time by the computer. Flexure forces of the index, long and ring fingers of the human hand in opposition to the motor driven load cell are investigated. Results of the following experiments are presented: (1) Exertion of maximum finger force as a function of angle; (2) Exertion of target finger force against a computer controlled force; and (3) Test of the ability to move to a target force against a force that is a function of position. Averaged over ten individuals, the maximum force that could be exerted by the index or long finger is about 50 Newtons, while that of the ring finger is about 40 Newtons. From the tests of the ability of a subject to exert a target force, it was concluded that reflected-force feedback can be achieved with the direct kinesthetic perception of force without the use of tactile or visual clues

Socio demographic profile of pediatric tuberculosis patients of north Gujarat region, India: a cross sectional study

Background: Tuberculosis continues to be one of the most important public health problems worldwide. It infects one third of the world’s population at any point of time. Children are especially vulnerable to the effects of tuberculosis, which is often difficult to diagnose and therefore difficult to treat effectively. Pediatric TB results from failure of TB control in adults. The objective of the study was to study socio demographic profile of pediatric tuberculosis patients.Methods: This cross sectional observational, descriptive epidemiological study was conducted at GMERS medical college and hospital Dharpur-Patan located in north Gujarat during January 2015 to June 2015. The study was conducted among all the 151 pediatric TB patients who were currently under treatment at selected Hospital. Parents of the patient were informed about the purpose of the study and their informed written consent was taken. By interviewing them on the basis of pre-designed and pre tested proforma, socio demographic information was collected. The collected data was analyzed using statistical package for social science (SPSS 17 Trial version).Results: Out of 151 pediatric patients 87 (57.6%) were male. Age range of the children was 1 to 14 years. In our study mean age of children was 8.41±2.86 years. 68 (45.0%) patients were adolescents. 127 (84.1%) patients were from rural area. 63 (41.7%) heads of the family of patients were illiterate. 116 (76.8%) of the patients lived in joint family. 89 (58.9%) patients had kuccha house. Overcrowding was present in 86.7% of the patients. Family history of TB was present in only 23.2 % of the patients. 76.8% of the patients belonged to social IV and V according to modified Prasad’s classification. 105 (69.5%) patients had extra pulmonary TB. Category-1 constituted 125 (82.7%) cases. 3 % patients had HIV infection.Conclusions: Apart from pharmacological treatment, poor housing condition and illiteracy of the parents of these patients need to be addressed.

A Method for 3-D Printing Patient-Specific Prosthetic Arms with High Accuracy Shape and Size

Limb amputation creates serious emotional and functional damage to the one who lost a limb. For some upper limb prosthesis users, comfort and appearance are among the desired features. The objective of this paper is to develop a streamlined methodology for prosthesis design by recreating the shape and size of an amputated arm with high accuracy through 3-D printing and silicone casting. To achieve this, the computer tomography (CT) images of the patient's affected and non-affected arms were scanned. Next, the geometry of the socket and the prosthetic arm were designed according the mirrored geometry of the non-affected arm through computer-aided design software. The support structure and the moulds were 3-D printed, and the prosthetic arm was casted with a silicone material. To validate the replication, the shape of the socket and prosthetic arm were quantitatively compared with respect to the source CT scan from the patient. The prosthetic arm was found to have high accuracy on the basis of the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC; 0.96), percent error (0.67%), and relative mean distance (0.34 mm, SD = 0.48 mm). Likewise, the socket achieved high accuracy based on those measures: DSC (0.95), percent error (2.97%), and relative mean distance (0.46 mm, SD = 1.70 mm) The liner, socket, and prosthetic arm were then shipped to the patient for fitting. The patient found the fit of the socket and the replication of the shape and the size of the prosthesis to be desirable. Overall, this paper demonstrates that CT imaging, computed-aided design, desktop 3-D printing, and silicone casting can achieve patient-specific cosmetic prosthetic arms with high accuracy. - 2013 IEEE.This work was supported by the NPRP Grant from the Qatar National Research Fund under Grant NPRP 7-673-2-251. The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.Scopu

Efficacy of misoprostol over Foley’s catheter as a cervical ripening agent: a comparative study

Background: Timely induction of labour could reduce maternal mortality and morbidity as well as assure a delivery of healthy baby. Objective of present study was to evaluate the efficacy of Misoprostol as a cervical ripening agent and its comparison with Foley’s catheter in terms of success rate, safety, side effects and patient compliance.Methods: A total of 250 pregnant women requiring induction of labor were recruited. Out of 250 cases, 150 were induced with 50 microgram Misoprostol and in 100 cases Foley catheter 18 F, was placed through the internal os of the cervix during September 2014 to August 2017 at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GMERS Medical College, Dharpur-Patan. Written and informed consent was taken from the patients. Outcome measures, such as change in Bishop's score, need of augmentation, induction delivery interval; complications like hyperstimulation, fever and meconium passage were compared between two groups. Statistical analysis was performed by Epi Info 7.Results: Age range of the patients was 21 to 35 years. 72.4 % of the patients were in 21-25 years age groups. 54.4% patients were multigravida. 59.2% patients had more than 37 weeks of pregnancy. 46.4% of the patients had premature rupture of membrane as indication of labour. The mean Bishop's score for induction was 3.21 in Misoprostol group. 81.3% patients in Misoprostol group and 88% of patients in Foley’s catheter group were delivered by vaginal delivery. 60 % patients delivered within 6 hours in Misoprostol group. (Misoprostol: 60%, Foley’s catheter: 9%, p<0.001) Incidence of thin meconium was 11.3% in Misoprostol group, 9 % in Foley’s catheter group. In Misoprostol group 3.3 women had fever after induction while it was 6% in Foley’s catheter group.Conclusions: The results of the present study confirm that vaginal misoprostol is more effective than Foleys catheter in pre-induction cervical ripening

Efficacy of misoprostol over dinoprostone gel as a cervical ripening agent: a comparative study

Background: Timely induction of labour could reduce maternal mortality and morbidity as well as assure a delivery of healthy baby. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Misoprostol as a cervical ripening agent and its comparison with Dinoprostone gel in terms of success rate, safety, side effects and patient compliance.Methods: A total of 250 pregnant women requiring induction of labor were recruited. Out of 250 cases, 150 were induced with 50 microgram Misoprostol and 100 cases with 0.5 mg intracervical Dinoprostone gel during September 2014 to August 2017 at the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, GMERS Medical College, Dharpur-Patan. Written and informed consent was taken from the patients. Outcome measures, such as change in Bishop's score, need of augmentation, induction delivery interval; complications like hyperstimulation, fever and meconium passage were compared between two groups. Statistical analysis was performed by Epi Info 7.Results: Age range of the patients was 21 to 35 years. 74.8% of the patients were in 21-25 years age groups. 50.4% patients were multigravida. 57.6% patients had more than 37 weeks of pregnancy. 50.4% of the patients had premature rupture of membrane as indication of labour. The mean Bishop's score for induction was 3.21 in Misoprostol group. 81.3% patients in Misoprostol group and 93% of patients in Dinoprostone group were delivered by vaginal delivery. 60% patients delivered within 6 hours in Misoprostol group. (Misoprostol: 60%, Dinoprostone: 27%, p<0.001). Incidence of thin meconium was 11.3% in Misoprostol group, 9% in Dinoprostone group. In Misoprostol group 3.3 women had fever after induction.Conclusions: Vaginal misoprostol is more efficacious in cervical ripening and for induction of labor than Dinoprostone

Evaluation of intravenous iron sucrose therapy for management of moderate to severe anaemia in pregnancy

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in pregnancy and major contributory factor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Objective of present study was to evaluate the response and effectof parenteral iron sucrose complex therapy in iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy.Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at GMERS Medical College, Dharpur-Patan over a period extending from September 2014 to August 2017. A total of 150 Antenatal women, between 26-32 weeks of pregnancy with hemoglobin between 5-9 gm% were selected for study by purposive sampling. They were given intravenous iron sucrose complex in a dose of 200 mg (2 ampules of 5 ml each) in 100 ml normal saline over a period of 15-20 minutes, on alternate day. Repeat CBC was done after a period of 6 weeks.Results: Age range of the patients was 20 to 34 years. Out of total 150 women, 72 women (48%) were in age group of 20-24 years. 64.6% women had 27-29 weeks of pregnancy. 58 (38.6%) women had <8 gm% of Hb before treatment and 108 (72%) women achieved Hb of 10 gm% after treatment. The mean haemoglobin raised from 7.9±0.92 gm% to 10.3±0.83 gm% (P<0.001) after six weeks of therapy. There was significant rise in MCV levels (from 67.7±5.1 fl to 78.9±6.4fl) (P<0.001). Major side effects or anaphylactic reactions were occurred in none of the women during study period. 93.3% of patients, treated for anemia were delivered at full term, either vaginally (67.3%) or by LSCS (26%). Most of the delivered babies (80%), had birth weight of more than 2.5 kgs.Conclusions: Parentral iron therapy was effective in increasing haemoglobin and other haematological parameters in pregnant women with moderate to severe anaemia

Proučavanje strukturnih svojstava nekih jednostavnih tekućih metala u različitim referentbim sustavima

In the present paper three reference systems: Percus-Yevick hard sphere (PYHS), one component plasma (OCP) and charged hard sphere (CHS) are employed to investigate the temperature-dependent structural properties of some simple liquid metals. The structure factor S(q), pair-distribution function g (r) and interatomic distance r1 of nearest neighbour atoms for Mg, Zn, Al, In, Tl and Pb are reported. Our own model potential is employed along with the local field correction due to Sarkar et al. (SS) to describe electron-ion interaction. It is seen that the CHS method alongwith the present form of model potential can explain more accurately the structural behaviour than PYHS and OCP methods.Za istraživanje temperaturno-ovisnih svojstava strukture nekih jednostavnih tekućih metala, primijenili smo tri referentna sustava: Percus–Yevickov tvrde kugle, jednokomponentne plazme i nabijenih kuglica. Izvješćujemo o strukturnom faktoru S(q), funkciji raspodjele parova g(r) i o međuatomskim razmacima r1 najbližih atoma u Mg, Zn, Al, In, Tl i Pb. Rabimo naš vlastiti modelski potencijal i popravku lokalnog polja prema Sarkaru i sur. za opis međudjelovanja elektron-ion. Nalazimo da metoda nabijene tvrde kuglice s primijenjenim modelskim potencijalom točnije opisuje strukturna svojstva nego druge dvije metode

Proučavanje strukturnih svojstava nekih jednostavnih tekućih metala u različitim referentbim sustavima

In the present paper three reference systems: Percus-Yevick hard sphere (PYHS), one component plasma (OCP) and charged hard sphere (CHS) are employed to investigate the temperature-dependent structural properties of some simple liquid metals. The structure factor S(q), pair-distribution function g (r) and interatomic distance r1 of nearest neighbour atoms for Mg, Zn, Al, In, Tl and Pb are reported. Our own model potential is employed along with the local field correction due to Sarkar et al. (SS) to describe electron-ion interaction. It is seen that the CHS method alongwith the present form of model potential can explain more accurately the structural behaviour than PYHS and OCP methods.Za istraživanje temperaturno-ovisnih svojstava strukture nekih jednostavnih tekućih metala, primijenili smo tri referentna sustava: Percus–Yevickov tvrde kugle, jednokomponentne plazme i nabijenih kuglica. Izvješćujemo o strukturnom faktoru S(q), funkciji raspodjele parova g(r) i o međuatomskim razmacima r1 najbližih atoma u Mg, Zn, Al, In, Tl i Pb. Rabimo naš vlastiti modelski potencijal i popravku lokalnog polja prema Sarkaru i sur. za opis međudjelovanja elektron-ion. Nalazimo da metoda nabijene tvrde kuglice s primijenjenim modelskim potencijalom točnije opisuje strukturna svojstva nego druge dvije metode

Impact of educational intervention regarding anaemia and its preventive measures among pregnant women: an interventional study

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in pregnancy and major contributory factor to maternal morbidity and mortality. Objective of present study was to assess knowledge of pregnant women regarding anaemia and its preventive measures before and after educational interventional training.Methods: The present study was an interventional study undertaken in purposively selected pregnant women attending the out patient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of GMERS Medical College, Gandhinagar During the month of October 2017. Total 100 pregnant women were included after written informed consent. Baseline knowledge of pregnant women regarding anaemia and its preventive measures was assessed by pre-designed, pre-tested and semi structured questionnaire. Single educational interventional training for 45 minutes was given to selected pregnant women. Post– intervention knowledge of pregnant women for the same was assessed after training. Thus, collected data was analyzed /using Epi info 7.Results: Baseline knowledge of the pregnant women regarding causes, signs and symptoms of anemia and dietary sources of iron was 21%, 23% and 40% respectively which was significantly increased to 64%, 66% and 72% respectively after the intervention. Baseline knowledge of the pregnant women regarding factors which inhibit and increase iron absorption was 25% and 4% respectively which was significantly increased to 55% and 41 % respectively after the intervention. Baseline knowledge of the pregnant women regarding treatment of anaemia was 30% which was significantly increased to 79 % after the intervention.Conclusions: There was significant improvement in the knowledge regarding anaemia and its preventive measures among pregnant women after our single educational session

PREDICTION OF FUNCTIONAL, STRUCTURAL AND STABILITY CHANGES IN PMM2 GENE ASSOCIATED WITH NEPHROTIC SYNDROME USING COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS

Objective: Nephrotic syndrome defines as a disorder with a group of symptoms like proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and edema. PMM2 encodes phosphomannosemutase protein enzyme involved in the synthesis of N-glycan. Methods: Different Insilico analysis tools: SIFT, PolyPhen, PROVEAN, SNPandGO, MetaSNP, PhDSNP, MutPred, I-Mutant, STRUM, PROCHECK-Ramachandran, COACH and ConSurf, were used to check the effect of nsSNP on protein structure and function. Results: The genetic polymorphism in the PMM2 gene was retrieved from NCBI ClinVar and UniProtKB. Total 20 SNPs were predicted most significant and responsible for disease-causing and decrease protein stability. Conclusion: This study helps to discover disease-causing deleterious SNPs with different computational tools and gives information about potent SNPs