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Relative Involvement (relative + involvement)
Selected AbstractsTask-induced modulation of motor evoked potentials in upper-leg muscles during human gait: a TMS studyEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 11 2002Mireille Bonnard Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the relative involvement of the corticospinal (CS) pathway in voluntarily controlled walking compared to unconstrained walking. In the voluntarily controlled walking condition, subjects had to walk at the same speed as in unconstrained walking with a mechanical constraint, which is known to affect specifically the upper-leg muscles. The motor cortex was activated transcranially using a focal magnetic stimulation coil in order to elicit motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the rectus femoris (RF) and the biceps femoris (BF). The magnetic stimulation was delivered at the end of the swing (at 90% of the cycle duration), when the EMG backgrounds were similar in the two experimental conditions. For each subject in each condition, MEPs were measured for several stimulus intensities in order to establish the input/output (I/O) curve (MEPs amplitude plotted against stimulus strength). The results showed a significant increase in the MEPs amplitude of both the RF and BF in voluntarily controlled walking compared to unconstrained walking, which is the first evidence of cofacilitation of MEPs in antagonist upper-leg muscles during human gait. In conclusion, although a lot of studies have emphasized a privileged input of the corticospinal pathway to the distal lower-leg muscles, this study shows that, if a locomotory task requires fine control of the proximal upper-leg muscles, a selective facilitation of MEPs is observed in these muscles. [source] Revisiting Autonomic Dysfunction in End-Stage Renal Disease PatientsHEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL, Issue 3 2003Jocemir R. Lugon Background:,Autonomic dysfunction is frequent in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, but both the relative involvement of the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches and the role of antihypertensive drugs in this setting are still controversial. The present study addressed these issues employing a battery of standard noninvasive cardiovascular autonomic tests. Methods:,Sympathetic (S) function was evaluated by responses of both systolic blood pressure (BP) to passive tilting and diastolic BP to handgrip; parasympathetic (P) function, through the respiratory sinus arrhythmia test and the heart rate response to the 4-s unloaded exercise test. Additional tests influenced by both branches of the autonomic system (P + S) were accomplished by the assessment of heart rate response to the Valsalva maneuver, handgrip, and tilting. Results:,Studied subjects belonged to one of the three groups: ESRD patients not requiring BP medications (n = 11; 8 men, 3 women); ESRD patients receiving antihypertensive therapy (n = 36; 21 men, 15 women); and apparently healthy controls (n = 15; 10 men, 5 women). When the variables grouped according to the branch of the autonomic nervous system predominantly probed were analyzed, only the frequency of impaired sympathetic autonomic responses was higher in ESRD patients not receiving BP drugs compared to controls (55 vs. 23%, P = 0.040). In contrast, when ESRD patients receiving BP drugs were compared to controls, the differences became significant in S, P, and P + S tests (46 vs. 23%, P = 0.045; 22 vs. 3%, P = 0.020; and 34 vs. 13%, P = 0.010, respectively). With the criterion of more than one positive finding in any of the variables examined for diagnosing autonomic dysfunction, the prevalence of autonomic dysfunction was 20% in controls, 64% in ESRD patients not receiving BP drugs (P = 0.005 vs. controls), and 67% in ESRD patients receiving BP drugs (P = 0.043 vs. controls). Conclusions:,ESRD continues to be associated with a high prevalence of autonomic dysfunction. ESRD patients receiving BP drugs were found to have detectable impairment in the entire autonomic system in contrast to those not receiving BP drugs in whom inadequate responses were restricted to the sympathetic branch. [source] Who Decides in the Council of the European Union?*JCMS: JOURNAL OF COMMON MARKET STUDIES, Issue 3 2008FRANK M. HÄGE This study presents reliable cross-sectoral data on the relative involvement of working parties, senior committees and ministers in legislative decision-making of the Council of the European Union. In general, the results challenge the received wisdom that ministers are hardly involved in legislative decision-making. However, the findings also indicate that the involvement of different Council levels varies considerably across policy sectors. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for the debate about the democratic legitimacy of Council decision-making. [source] Reflectance spectra of Munsell standard chips and their appearanceCOLOR RESEARCH & APPLICATION, Issue 3 2008Tarow Indow Abstract In this article, we present the results of analysis by two different methods for representing information in reflectance spectra of Munsell standard chips that relates to their appearance. The spectrum of a chip j is denoted as rj, where , represents wavelength , from 430 to 660 nm with 1 nm intervals. The spectrum of light reflected from a chip j under D65 is rj, × e, where e, represents the spectral power distribution of D65 illumination. In one method, singular value decomposition is applied to a matrix of (rj, × e,). Combining results of this analysis with results of human assessment experiments, we obtain four curves ,0,(H) that represent principal hue components , in Munsell Hue, , = redness, yellowness, greenness, and blueness (Fig. 6). The other method is multiple regression of each (rj, × e,) to activities of three kinds of cones in the retina. From this analysis, we obtain three curves Bq(H) that represent relative involvements of q = L, M, S cone activities in determining the appearance of Munsell Hue (Fig. 10). Two sets of curves, ,0,(H), and Bq(H), are compared with predictions from a model of higher order color mechanism (Fig. 12) that has been proposed on the basis of experiments with light stimuli of wavelength ,. It is found that ,0,(H), and Bq(H) constructed from broadband spectra of Munsell chips are interpretable in terms of this model. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 33, 229,237, 2008 [source] Relatives in end-of-life care , part 1: a systematic review of the literature the five last years, January 1999,February 2004JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 9 2006Birgitta Andershed PhD Aim., To review systematically research conducted during the past five years focusing on the relatives' situation and needs in end-of-life care. Background and aim., That relatives make a large contribution in the care of the dying is well-known. In this situation, relatives often have to solve many new practical problems in the care as well as dealing with the sorrow of both themselves and the dying person. In recent years, palliative care has been developed in many countries and many new studies have been carried out. Methods., A systematic search of the literature was performed in the CINAHL and Medline databases. Of the 94 papers analysed, there were 59 qualitative and 35 quantitative studies with differing designs. The studies were carried out in 11 countries and were published in 34 different journals. Results., The results were categorized in two main themes with several subthemes: (1) being a close relative , the situation: (i) exposed position , new responsibility, (ii) balance between burden and capacity and (iii) positive values; (2) being a close relative , needs: (i) good patient care, (ii) being present, (iii) knowing and communicating and (iv) support from and trusting relationship with the professional. The relative's feelings of security and trust in the professional were found to be of great importance. Conclusion., More than twice as many studies had a descriptive/explorative design, which is of importance in the assessment of evidence. However, different studies complement one another and in summary, it can be said that analytic evidence is unequivocal: good patient care, communication, information and the attitude of the professional are of decisive importance regarding relatives' situation. These results are also in accord with earlier review studies. Relevance to clinical practice., Staff members have a great deal of responsibility for assuring that the patient feels as good as possible, facilitating relatives' involvement based on the family's wishes and limiting the stress and difficulties experienced by the family. The results showed that the relative's satisfaction could depend on the attitude of the professional as well as on good communication, good listening and good information. This can also be viewed as a prerequisite for the professional to get to know the family and to provide ,care in the light'. [source] | ||||||||||