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Functional Range (functional + range)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	40%
Life Sciences	40%

Selected Abstracts

Proximal femoral resection for subluxation or dislocation of the hip in spastic quadriplegia

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 7 2003
Steve Ackerly MD
Management of a painful or contracted hip dislocation in individuals with severe spastic quadriplegia is difficult. Clinical and radiographic results of 12 proximal femoral resection-interposition operations performed in seven non-ambulatory persons (five males, two females; mean age 14 years, 8 months; age range 6 years 11 months to 19 years 8 months) with severe spasticity were reviewed to determine if pain relief and restoration of motion were maintained. At a mean follow-up of 7 years 7 months (median 9 years 6 months) all participants maintained a good sitting position and a functional range of motion with improved hygiene. Hip pain was improved in all participants compared with their preoperative status. Proximal femur migration occurred causing slight pain in one person. Heterotopic ossification was observed but was not clinically significant. Complications included traction pin loosening and infection and a late supracondylar femur fracture 3 months after the operation. Proximal femoral resection effectively decreased pain and restored hip motion in those with severe spastic quadriplegia leading to improved sitting and perineal care. [source]

A population-based model of the nonlinear dynamics of the thalamocortical feedback network displays intrinsic oscillations in the spindling (7,14 Hz) range

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 12 2005
Nada A. B. Yousif
Abstract The thalamocortical network is modelled using the Wilson,Cowan equations for neuronal population activity. We show that this population model with biologically derived parameters possesses intrinsic nonlinear oscillatory dynamics, and that the frequency of oscillation lies within the spindle range. Spindle oscillations are an early sleep oscillation characterized by high-frequency bursts of action potentials followed by a period of quiescence, at a frequency of 7,14 Hz. Spindles are generally regarded as being generated by intrathalamic circuitry, as decorticated thalamic slices and the isolated thalamic reticular nucleus exhibit spindles. However, the role of cortical feedback has been shown to regulate and synchronize the oscillation. Previous modelling studies have mainly used conductance-based models and hence the mechanism relied upon the inclusion of ionic currents, particularly the T-type calcium current. Here we demonstrate that spindle-frequency oscillatory activity can also arise from the nonlinear dynamics of the thalamocortical circuit, and we use bifurcation analysis to examine the robustness of this oscillation in terms of the functional range of the parameters used in the model. The results suggest that the thalamocortical circuit has intrinsic nonlinear population dynamics which are capable of providing robust support for oscillatory activity within the frequency range of spindle oscillations. [source]

Soil-Borne Wheat Mosaic Virus (SBWMV) 37 kDa Protein Rescues Cell-to-Cell and Long-Distance Movement of an Immobile Tobacco Mosaic Virus Mutant in Nicotiana benthamiana, a Non-Host of SBWMV

JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 1 2005
C. Zhang
Abstract To verify the role and examine the functional range of the 37 kDa putative movement protein (MP) of soil-borne wheat mosaic virus (SBWMV), the 37 kDa gene was inserted into an infectious tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-based expression vector (p30B), to generate p30BMP. The 30 kDa cell-to-cell MP gene of TMV was then inactivated (in p30BMP to give p30B,MP) by a frameshift mutation which removed 80 amino acids from its C-terminus. Systemic infection of Nicotiana benthamiana plants occurred following inoculation with in vitro transcripts of p30BMP or p30B,MP. Progeny viral RNAs from inoculated and systemically infected leaves were analysed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and ApaI digestion, and by sequencing. The 30 kDa TMV MP or its truncated form were detected, respectively, in Western blots of cell wall protein extracts from p30BMP-transcript or p30B,MP-transcript inoculated or systemically infected N. benthamiana leaves. High levels of SBWMV 37 kDa MP were detected in all cases. The results suggest that the 37 kDa protein of SBWMV, a monocotyledonous-infecting furovirus, can complement both cell-to-cell and long-distance movement functions in a defective heterologous virus (TMV) in N. benthamiana, a non-host of SBWMV. [source]

Free vascularized fibula grafting for reconstruction of the wrist following wide tumor excision

MICROSURGERY, Issue 2 2005
Keiichi Muramatsu M.D.
Free vascularized fibula transfer is an established method for reconstruction of the wrist following tumor resection. In cases of resection of the radial articular surface, three reconstructive options are possible: fibular head transfer along with the shaft to replace the radial joint surface, fixation of the fibula to the scaphoid and lunate, or a complete wrist fusion. Three patients with a tumor involving the distal end of the radius were treated with wide resection, and subsequent wrist reconstruction was performed, using the above-mentioned procedures. Although our experience included only a small number of patients, both radio-carpal hemiarthroplasty and fibulo-scapho-lunate fusion similarly provided successful wrist stability and functional range of motion in these cases. Even when the wrist was totally fused with the fibula, its function was still acceptable. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 25:101,106, 2005. [source]

Neural Network Adaptive Robust Control Of Siso Nonlinear Systems In A Normal Form

ASIAN JOURNAL OF CONTROL, Issue 2 2001
J.Q. Gong
ABSTRACT In this paper, performance oriented control laws are synthesized for a class of single-input-single-output (SISO) n -th order nonlinear systems in a normal form by integrating the neural networks (NNs) techniques and the adaptive robust control (ARC) design philosophy. All unknown but repeat-able nonlinear functions in the system are approximated by the outputs of NNs to achieve a better model compensation for an improved performance. While all NN weights are tuned on-line, discontinuous projections with fictitious bounds are used in the tuning law to achieve a controlled learning. Robust control terms are then constructed to attenuate model uncertainties for a guaranteed output tracking transient performance and a guaranteed final tracking accuracy. Furthermore, if the unknown nonlinear functions are in the functional ranges of the NNs and the ideal NN weights fall within the fictitious bounds, asymptotic output tracking is achieved to retain the perfect learning capability of NNs. The precision motion control of a linear motor drive system is used as a case study to illustrate the proposed NNARC strategy. [source]