Journal articles on the topic 'Grasp and functional use'
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Kithu, Mutindi C., Elizabeth J. Saccone, Sheila G. Crewther, Melvyn A. Goodale, and Philippe A. Chouinard. "A pantomiming priming study on the grasp and functional use actions of tools." Experimental Brain Research 237, no. 9 (June 15, 2019): 2155–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00221-019-05581-4.
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Drobnyk, Wendy, Karen Rocco, Sara Davidson, Susan Bruce, Fang Zhang, and Stephen B. Soumerai. "Sensory Integration and Functional Reaching in Children With Rett Syndrome/Rett-Related Disorders." Clinical Medicine Insights: Pediatrics 13 (January 2019): 117955651987195. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1179556519871952.
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Background: The loss of functional hand skills is a primary characteristic of Rett syndrome. Stereotypies, dyspraxia, and other sensory processing issues severely limit the individual’s ability to reach toward and sustain grasp on objects. This loss of functional reach and grasp severely limits their ability to participate in self-help, play, and school-related activities. We proposed that Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) treatment would improve sensory processing and motor planning, which would lay the sensory-motor groundwork for improving grasp of objects, an important first step in developing functional hand use. Objective: We examined effects of ASI treatment on rate of reaching and grasping for children with Rett syndrome/Rett-related disorders. Methods: We used an interrupted time series design to measure changes in outcome variables occurring after intervention initiation and cessation. We analyzed daily video observations during baseline, intervention, and post-intervention periods, over a span of 7 months. Results: During baseline, rate of grasping declined moderately. There was a 15% increase in grasping from the end of baseline to end of the post-intervention period. There was no significant change in rate of reaching. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary data showing very small improvements in hand grasp of children with Rett syndrome following ASI treatment; larger studies in diverse settings are needed to establish the effectiveness of this approach. This study shows that an interrupted time series research design provides a valid template for evaluating interventions for children with rare disorders.
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Shah, Maulik, Sweety Shah, and Vaibhavi Ved. "A Study to Evaluate Pencil Grip Type, Hand Functions - Dexterity & Grip Strength in Children Using Tech for 2 or More Hours a Day." International Journal of Health Sciences and Research 12, no. 3 (March 16, 2022): 274–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20220339.
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Background: These days, modern innovative technology plays a crucial part in our life. Touch screens has become the primary interaction method for smart phones due to their ability to combine input and output in a single interface. On the one hand, it has made our lives easier by allowing us to browse the internet, have essential conversations, and have a source of pleasure. Frequent use of technical devices without taking regular rest periods may result in cumulative trauma disorders to the neck, shoulders, hands and wrists. These disorders may occur because Smartphone, iPod etc. use typically requires thumb and finger interactions with the screen. Reports have shown that extended technology use accompanied by awkward wrist posture can lead to collective trauma disorders of the wrist joints, particularly when the wrist, hands, and fingers are overused. Repetitive static motion of the hands may also decrease blood supply and prevent nutrients from being delivered to muscles, thus leading to pain and muscle fatigue may result into poor hand function including reduced grip strength & poor dexterity. Children are attracted to smart phones because these devices can be used anywhere and contain games that are specifically matched to their ages. Numbers of studies have been done on Smartphone usage, hand writing performance & grip strength individually. However, the link between Smartphone addiction and grip strength and upper limb disability has been left unnoticed. Methodology: A cross sectional observational study was conducted to evaluate pencil grip type, hand dexterity & grip strength in children using technological devices for 2 or more hours a day dividing subjects into 2 groups. Group A: Children using technological devices for 2 or more hours a day. Group B: Children not using technological devices. Written consent was taken from the subjects and the subjects were made to understand the purpose of the study. Hand dexterity was evaluated using Functional Dexterity Test, Grip strength with hand held dynamometer & Pencil grip type was evaluated. Results: Data analysis was done using Graph Pad Prism 6. In Group A, Dynamic Tripod grasp was present in 19 subjects (61.29%) Five finger grasp in 0 subjects (0 %,), Thumb Wrap grasp in 1 subject (3.22%), Upright tripod grasp in 11 subject (35.48%).In Group B, Dynamic Tripod grasp was present in 26 subjects (83.87%) Five finger grasp in 0 subjects (0 %,), Thumb Wrap grasp in 1 subject (3.22%), Upright tripod grasp in 4 subjects (12.90%).The result showed significant difference for the functional dexterity test between Group A and Group B (t = 5.725 and p = 0.0001) & grip strength between Group A and Group B (t = 6.449 and p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Increased use of tech devices significantly affects Hand performance like Grip strength, Hand dexterity & Pencil grip pattern amongst children. Key words: Hand Dexterity, Grip Strength, Pencil Grip Type, Smart Phone Use, Functional Dexterity Test, Hand Writing Performance.
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Grafton, S. T., A. H. Fagg, and M. A. Arbib. "Dorsal Premotor Cortex and Conditional Movement Selection: A PET Functional Mapping Study." Journal of Neurophysiology 79, no. 2 (February 1, 1998): 1092–97. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.1998.79.2.1092.
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Grafton, S. T., A. H. Fagg, and M. A. Arbib. Dorsal premotor cortex and conditional movement selection: a PET functional mapping study. J. Neurophysiol. 79: 1092–1097, 1998. Positron emission tomography (PET) brain mapping was used to investigate whether or not human dorsal premotor cortex is involved in selecting motor acts based on arbitrary visual stimuli. Normal subjects performed four movement selection tasks. A manipulandum with three graspable stations was used. An imperative visual cue (LEDs illuminated in random order) indicated which station to grasp next with no instructional delay period. In a power task, a large aperture power grip was used for all trials, irrespective of the LED color. In a precision task, a pincer grasp of thumb and index finger was used. In a conditional task, the type of grasp (power or precision) was randomly determined by LED color. Comparison of the conditional selection task versus the average of the power and precision tasks revealed increased blood flow in left dorsal premotor cortex and superior parietal lobule. The average rate of producing the different grasp types and transport to the manipulandum stations was equivalent across this comparison, minimizing the contribution of movement attributes such as planning the individual movements (as distinct from planning associated with use of instructional stimuli), kinematics, or direction of target or limb movement. A comparison of all three movement tasks versus a rest task identified movement related activity involving a large area of central, precentral and postcentral cortex. In the region of the precentral sulcus movement related activity was located immediately caudal to the area activated during selection. The results establish a role for human dorsal premotor cortex and superior parietal cortex in selecting stimulus guided movements and suggest functional segregation within dorsal premotor cortex.
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Pierno, Andrea C., Cristina Becchio, Matthew B. Wall, Andrew T. Smith, Luca Turella, and Umberto Castiello. "When Gaze Turns into Grasp." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 18, no. 12 (December 2006): 2130–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2006.18.12.2130.
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Previous research has provided evidence for a neural system underlying the observation of another person's hand actions. Is the neural system involved in this capacity also important in inferring another person's motor intentions toward an object from their eye gaze? In real-life situations, humans use eye movements to catch and direct the attention of others, often without any accompanying hand movements or speech. In an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging study, subjects observed videos showing a human model either grasping a target object (grasping condition) or simply gazing (gaze condition) at the same object. These two conditions were contrasted with each other and against a control condition in which the human model was standing behind the object without performing any gazing or grasping action. The results revealed activations within the dorsal premotor cortex, the inferior frontal gyrus, the inferior parietal lobule, and the superior temporal sulcus in both “grasping” and “gaze” conditions. These findings suggest that signaling the presence of an object through gaze elicits in an observer a similar neural response to that elicited by the observation of a reach-to-grasp action performed on the same object.
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Malfatti, Giulia, and Luca Turella. "Neural encoding and functional interactions underlying pantomimed movements." Brain Structure and Function 226, no. 7 (July 10, 2021): 2321–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00429-021-02332-6.
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AbstractPantomimes are a unique movement category which can convey complex information about our intentions in the absence of any interaction with real objects. Indeed, we can pretend to use the same tool to perform different actions or to achieve the same goal adopting different tools. Nevertheless, how our brain implements pantomimed movements is still poorly understood. In our study, we explored the neural encoding and functional interactions underlying pantomimes adopting multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) and connectivity analysis of fMRI data. Participants performed pantomimed movements, either grasp-to-move or grasp-to-use, as if they were interacting with two different tools (scissors or axe). These tools share the possibility to achieve the same goal. We adopted MVPA to investigate two levels of representation during the planning and execution of pantomimes: (1) distinguishing different actions performed with the same tool, (2) representing the same final goal irrespective of the adopted tool. We described widespread encoding of action information within regions of the so-called “tool” network. Several nodes of the network—comprising regions within the ventral and the dorsal stream—also represented goal information. The spatial distribution of goal information changed from planning—comprising posterior regions (i.e. parietal and temporal)—to execution—including also anterior regions (i.e. premotor cortex). Moreover, connectivity analysis provided evidence for task-specific bidirectional coupling between the ventral stream and parieto-frontal motor networks. Overall, we showed that pantomimes were characterized by specific patterns of action and goal encoding and by task-dependent cortical interactions.
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Przybylski, Łukasz, and Gregory Króliczak. "Planning Functional Grasps of Simple Tools Invokes the Hand-independent Praxis Representation Network: An fMRI Study." Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 23, no. 2 (February 2017): 108–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s1355617716001120.
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AbstractObjectives: Neuropsychological and neuroimaging evidence indicates that tool use knowledge and abilities are represented in the praxis representation network (PRN) of the left cerebral hemisphere. We investigated whether PRN would also underlie the planning of function-appropriate grasps of tools, even though such an assumption is inconsistent with some neuropsychological evidence for independent representations of tool grasping and skilled tool use. Methods: Twenty right-handed participants were tested in an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study wherein they planned functionally appropriate grasps of tools versus grasps of non-tools matched for size and/or complexity, and later executed the pantomimed grasps of these objects. The dominant right, and non-dominant left hands were used in two different sessions counterbalanced across participants. The tool and non-tool stimuli were presented at three different orientations, some requiring uncomfortable hand rotations for effective grips, with the difficulty matched for both hands. Results: Planning functional grasps of tools (vs. non-tools) was associated with significant asymmetrical increases of activity in the temporo/occipital-parieto-frontal networks. The greater involvement of the left hemisphere PRN was particularly evident when hand movement kinematics (including wrist rotations) for grasping tools and non-tools were matched. The networks engaged in the task for the dominant and non-dominant hand were virtually identical. The differences in neural activity for the two object categories disappeared during grasp execution. Conclusions: The greater hand-independent engagement of the left-hemisphere praxis representation network for planning functional grasps reveals a genuine effect of an early affordance/function-based visual processing of tools. (JINS, 2017, 23, 108–120)
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Barelli, Renato G., Valter F. Avelino, and Maria Claudia F. Castro. "STIMGRASP: A Home-Based Functional Electrical Stimulator for Grasp Restoration in Daily Activities." Sensors 23, no. 1 (December 20, 2022): 10. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s23010010.
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Thousands of people currently suffer from motor limitations caused by SCI and strokes, which impose personal and social challenges. These individuals may have a satisfactory recovery by applying functional electrical stimulation that enables the artificial restoration of grasping after a muscular conditioning period. This paper presents the STIMGRASP, a home-based functional electrical stimulator to be used as an assistive technology for users with tetraplegia or hemiplegia. The STIMGRASP is a microcontrolled stimulator with eight multiplexed and independent symmetric biphasic constant current output channels with USB and Bluetooth communication. The system generates pulses with frequency, width, and maximum amplitude set at 20 Hz, 300 µs/phase, and 40 mA (load of 1 kΩ), respectively. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery of 3100 mAh, allowing more than 10 h of continuous use. The development of this system focused on portability, usability, and wearability, resulting in portable hardware with user-friendly mobile app control and an orthosis with electrodes, allowing the user to carry out muscle activation sequences for four grasp modes to use for achieving daily activities.
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HOBBY, J., P. N. TAYLOR, and J. ESNOUF. "Restoration of Tetraplegic Hand Function by Use of the Neurocontrol Freehand System." Journal of Hand Surgery 26, no. 5 (October 2001): 459–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1054/jhsb.2001.0587.
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Nine tetraplegic patients with C5 or C6 level spinal cord lesions had the Freehand System, an eight channel Functional Electrical Stimulation device, implanted to allow of hand opening and grasp. This paper describes the surgical implementation of the system and the challenges encountered. Seven of the subjects are currently daily users of the device. One subject is unable to use the system due to disruption of bowel function when the system is used. A second subject suffered a lesion of the posterior interosseous nerve, but this was not thought to be related to system use. Additionally, one subject exhibited symptoms of autonomic dysreflexia, which were alleviated by reduction of the strength of the stimulus. Despite such problems, the Freehand system can significantly improve the functional ability of C5 and C6 lesion tetraplegics.
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Palomo-Carrión, Rocío, Rita-Pilar Romero-Galisteo, Elena Pinero-Pinto, Purificación López-Muñoz, Helena Romay-Barrero, and Francisco García-Muro San José. "Application of Low-Intensity Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy to Improve the Affected Upper Limb Functionality in Infantile Hemiplegia with Moderate Manual Ability: Case Series." Children 7, no. 9 (September 4, 2020): 127. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/children7090127.
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Objective: To assess the functionality of the affected upper limb in children diagnosed with hemiplegia aged between 4 and 8 years after applying low-intensity modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (mCIMT). Methods: Prospective case series study. A mCIMT protocol was applied for five weeks, with two hours of containment per day. The study variables were quality of movement of the upper limb, spontaneous use, participation of the affected upper limb in activities of daily living, dynamic joint position, grasp–release action, grasp strength, supination and extension elbow movements. Four measurements were performed, using the quality of upper extremity test (QUEST) scale, the Shriners Hospital for Children Upper Extremity Evaluation (SHUEE) Evaluation, a hand dynamometer and a goniometer. Results: The sample was composed of eight children with moderate manual ability. Statistically significant differences were detected in all the studied variables (p < 0.05) between the pre-treatment and post–treatment results (Week 0–Week 5), except for upper limb dressing, putting on splints and buttoning up. In the first week, the changes were statistically significant, except for protective extension, grasp strength, grasp–release and all functional variables (level of functionality and participation of the patient’s upper limbs) in the SHUEE Evaluation (p > 0.05). The greatest increase occurred in spontaneous use from Assessment 1 to Assessment 4 (p = 0.01), reaching 88.87% active participation in bimanual tasks. The quality of movement of the upper limb exhibited a significant value due to the increase in dissociated movements and grasp (p = 0.01). Conclusion: A low dose (50 h) of mCIMT increased the functionality of children diagnosed with congenital hemiplegia between 4 and 8 years of age with moderate manual ability.
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Riguidel, Michel. "Numerical Calculations to Grasp a Mathematical Issue Such as the Riemann Hypothesis." Information 11, no. 5 (April 26, 2020): 237. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/info11050237.
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This article presents the use of data processing to apprehend mathematical questions such as the Riemann Hypothesis (RH) by numerical calculation. Calculations are performed alongside graphs of the argument of the complex numbers ζ ( x + i y ) = a + i b and ξ ( x + i y ) = p + i q , in the critical strip. On the one hand, the two-dimensional surface angle tan − 1 ( b / a ) of the Riemann Zeta function ζ is related to the semi-angle of the fractional part of y 2 π ln ( y 2 π e ) and, on the other hand, the Ksi function ξ of the Riemann functional equation is analyzed with respect to the coordinates ( x , 1 − x ; y ) . The computation of the power series expansion of the ξ function with its symmetry analysis highlights the RH by the underlying ratio of Gamma functions inside the ξ formula. The ξ power series beside the angle of both surfaces of the ζ function enables to exhibit a Bézout identity a u + b v ≡ c between the components ( a , b ) of the ζ function, which illustrates the RH. The geometric transformations in complex space of the Zeta and Ksi functions, illustrated graphically, as well as series expansions, calculated by computer, make it possible to elucidate this mathematical problem numerically. A final theoretical outlook gives deeper insights on the functional equation’s mechanisms, by adopting a computer–scientific perspective.
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Bijelic, Goran, Ana Popovic-Bijelic, Nikola Jorgovanovic, Dubravka Bojanic, and Dejan Popovic. "E Actitrode: The new selective stimulation interface for functional movements in hemiplegics patients." Serbian Journal of Electrical Engineering 1, no. 3 (2004): 21–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.2298/sjee0403021b.
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We describe the new multi-contact electrode-array for surface electrical stimulation, and the corresponding interface device that allows on-line selection of the conductive fields during the application of the system. This new device has a specific value for therapeutic applications of electrical stimulation since it allows effective generation of desired functional movements. The user-friendly interface also allows patients at home to select the optimal electrode array; thereby, to receive therapies out of the clinical environment. The electrode was tested in three post-stroke hemiplegics patients. The pilot experiments showed that system works sufficiently good for control of fingers during grasp and release functions without the interference of the wrist movement. The use of electrode is also envisioned for many other applications (foot-drop fitness, shoulder subluxation, etc).
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Simon, Ann M., Kristi L. Turner, Laura A. Miller, Gregory A. Dumanian, Benjamin K. Potter, Mark D. Beachler, Levi J. Hargrove, and Todd A. Kuiken. "Myoelectric prosthesis hand grasp control following targeted muscle reinnervation in individuals with transradial amputation." PLOS ONE 18, no. 1 (January 26, 2023): e0280210. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280210.
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Background Despite the growing availability of multifunctional prosthetic hands, users’ control and overall functional abilities with these hands remain limited. The combination of pattern recognition control and targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) surgery, an innovative technique where amputated nerves are transferred to reinnervate new muscle targets in the residual limb, has been used to improve prosthesis control of individuals with more proximal upper limb amputations (i.e., shoulder disarticulation and transhumeral amputation). Objective The goal of this study was to determine if prosthesis hand grasp control improves following transradial TMR surgery. Methods Eight participants were trained to use a multi-articulating hand prosthesis under myoelectric pattern recognition control. All participated in home usage trials pre- and post-TMR surgery. Upper limb outcome measures were collected following each home trial. Results Three outcome measures (Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure, Jebsen-Taylor Hand Function Test, and Box and Blocks Test) improved 9–12 months post-TMR surgery compared with pre-surgery measures. The Assessment of Capacity for Myoelectric Control and Activities Measure for Upper Limb Amputees outcome measures had no difference pre- and post-surgery. An offline electromyography analysis showed a decrease in grip classification error post-TMR surgery compared to pre-TMR surgery. Additionally, a majority of subjects noted qualitative improvements in their residual limb and phantom limb sensations post-TMR. Conclusions The potential for TMR surgery to result in more repeatable muscle contractions, possibly due to the reduction in pain levels and/or changes to phantom limb sensations, may increase functional use of many of the clinically available dexterous prosthetic hands.
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Fischer, Jason, John G. Mikhael, Joshua B. Tenenbaum, and Nancy Kanwisher. "Functional neuroanatomy of intuitive physical inference." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113, no. 34 (August 8, 2016): E5072—E5081. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1610344113.
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To engage with the world—to understand the scene in front of us, plan actions, and predict what will happen next—we must have an intuitive grasp of the world’s physical structure and dynamics. How do the objects in front of us rest on and support each other, how much force would be required to move them, and how will they behave when they fall, roll, or collide? Despite the centrality of physical inferences in daily life, little is known about the brain mechanisms recruited to interpret the physical structure of a scene and predict how physical events will unfold. Here, in a series of fMRI experiments, we identified a set of cortical regions that are selectively engaged when people watch and predict the unfolding of physical events—a “physics engine” in the brain. These brain regions are selective to physical inferences relative to nonphysical but otherwise highly similar scenes and tasks. However, these regions are not exclusively engaged in physical inferences per se or, indeed, even in scene understanding; they overlap with the domain-general “multiple demand” system, especially the parts of that system involved in action planning and tool use, pointing to a close relationship between the cognitive and neural mechanisms involved in parsing the physical content of a scene and preparing an appropriate action.
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Kennedy, Gavin C., and Iain W. Wilson. "Plant functional genomics: opportunities in microarray databases and data mining." Functional Plant Biology 31, no. 4 (2004): 295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/fp03216.
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High-throughput gene expression profiling using microarrays has given plant biologists a powerful new technology to discover gene function and understand cellular processes. Bioinformatics has rapidly developed to deliver the tools necessary to interpret this gene expression data, but opportunities to further exploit the mass of data from hundreds of experiments are becoming dependent upon the use of sophisticated database repositories. Data mining of these resources will allow plant biologists to compare and link expression profiles and experimental factors to uncover functions and processes that would not normally be visible from analysing a small set of microarray experiments. This in-silico analysis will become critical when designing new experiments and interpreting new results. Consequently microarray databases and their ongoing development are now as important to plant functional genomics as the initial microarray data capture and analysis tools. In order for plant biologists to grasp these new opportunities, an appreciation of microarray database technology and future developments in biological data integration is required. The challenge for plant functional genomics is to embrace these new technologies lest the opportunities for significant discoveries be lost.
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Cole, K. J., and J. H. Abbs. "Kinematic and electromyographic responses to perturbation of a rapid grasp." Journal of Neurophysiology 57, no. 5 (May 1, 1987): 1498–510. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.1987.57.5.1498.
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Kinematic and electromyographic responses of the thumb and index finger to load-induced extension of the thumb during a rapid precision grasp of the thumb and finger were studied in four human subjects. Angular position of the index finger metacarpophalangeal (MP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints was recorded along with the linear position of the thumb tip (TH). Myoelectric activity was recorded from flexor pollicis longus, flexor digitorum superficialis, first dorsal interosseous, and extensor digitorum communis. Loads that extended the thumb were applied ranging from 125 ms prior to movement onset to movement onset. For loads applied earlier than 50 ms before movement onset, the amount of flexion of TH was reduced compared with control trials. Contact between the finger and thumb was attained nonetheless due to an altered trajectory of the fingertip that was generated by reduced flexion of PIP and increased flexion of MP. These finger responses appear to be functional in that contact of the finger pulp on the more distal pulp of the thumb was preserved. With loads delivered near onset of the grasp, there was increased PIP flexion, rather than reduced PIP flexion. These responses to later loads occurred despite greatly reduced magnitudes of TH flexion compared with loads delivered well before onset of the gasp movements. Thus reduced PIP flexion observed with early loads was not simply the result of finger biomechanics. The thumb flexor muscle increased activity 45-55 ms after onset of the load, whereas responses of the finger flexors began 65 ms after load onset. Response magnitudes decreased as loads were introduced nearer to movement onset. Measured reaction times of the finger muscles to thumb extension stimuli averaged 154 ms, which indicated that the responses of the finger muscles were not voluntary responses to the thumb extension. Afferent information generated by perturbation of the thumb during a grasp movement can influence the activity of intrinsic and extrinsic muscles to yield apparently functional compensations in the closing movements. However, temporal limitations exist that appear to offer greater constraints on the use of afferent signals for controlling rapid movements than for sustained grasp.
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Palomo-Carrión, Rocío, Cristina Lirio-Romero, Asunción Ferri-Morales, Patricia Jovellar-Isiegas, María-Dolores Cortés-Vega, and Helena Romay-Barrero. "Combined intensive therapies at home in spastic unilateral cerebral palsy with high bimanual functional performance. What do they offer? A comparative randomised clinical trial." Therapeutic Advances in Chronic Disease 12 (January 2021): 204062232110349. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/20406223211034996.
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Background: Children with unilateral spastic cerebral palsy (USCP) receive different treatments, including the application of modified constraint induced movement therapy (mCIMT) or bimanual intensive therapy (BIT) to increase affected upper limb functionality. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two protocols with different proportions and orders of mCIMT/BIT within combined intensive home-therapy in children with USCP (6–8 years old) with high bimanual functional performance, applied by the family. Methods: The protocols were performed on 20 children with an average age of 7.12 years [standard deviation (SD): 0.70], allocated to two different combined therapies. The protocols were designed by 100 h of dose for 10 weeks: 80 h of mCIMT followed by 20 h of BIT (mCIMT-B group) and 80 h of BIT followed by 20 h of mCIMT (BIT-mCI group). Bimanual functional performance was measured with Assisting Hand Assessment Scale (AHA) and the affected upper limb-use experience with Children’s Hand-use Experience Questionnaire (CHEQ). Parent satisfaction and expectations with therapy were measured using a specific questionnaire. There were five assessment timepoints (week 0, week 4, week 8, week 10 and week 34). Results: There were no statistically significant ( p > 0.05) inter- and intra-group changes in the bimanual functional performance of both groups. The affected upper limb-use experience obtained significant changes in BIT-mCI group, with statistically significant differences in the pairwise comparisons between week 0–10 and week 4–10 ( p = 0.028) for use of the affected hand and the use of the affected hand to grasp between week 4 and week 8 ( p = 0.028). Grasp efficacy and discomfort acquired statistically significant differences only in the BIT-mCI group for pairwise comparisons week 0–week 10/week 4–week 10 ( p = 0.035). Although task execution time compared with a typically developing child of the same age obtained statistically significant differences only in the group mCIMT-B for pairwise comparisons week 0–week 8 ( p = 0.03), week 0–week 10 ( p = 0.03), week 4–week 8 ( p = 0.04) and week 4–week 10 ( p = 0.03). Family satisfaction and expectations acquired an increase between week 0 and week 10 ( p ⩽ 0.02). Conclusion: Applying 80 h of BIT for 8 weeks in children with high bimanual functional performance USCP (6–8 years old), executed at home with family involvement would be sufficient to obtain improvements in affected upper limb-use experience, without the need to use combined protocols of 100 h. However, no statistically significant increase in bimanual functional performance would be obtained, with the basal situation of the child being a factor to consider for the execution of mCIMT and BIT. Registration number and name of trial registry: [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03465046]
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Jiang, Wen Wen, and Zhi Bin Xie. "Research of Design Method of Product Function Analysis and Combination." Applied Mechanics and Materials 201-202 (October 2012): 886–89. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.201-202.886.
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This paper adopts methods of longitudinal comparison, classification research, expand competition field to research for design method of product function analysis and combination based on user research. It found initiative combination of product function and technique could share technology platform and spare module organization to form different varieties of product in functional detail, market orientation, and functional emphasis, avoid to carrying out fierce competition with competitor in narrow market area. It is benefit for company pursuing different strategy. R&D team should maintain validity and direction of design, analysis, and manufacturing work. High efficient pursuing situation from competitor, sale situation from user market would increase urgency and psychological pressure of R&D team and manufacturer, thus improve efficiency of research and development. The results show that fundamental goal of R&d team carries on product function analysis is tightly grasp functional use essence of future products to allocate various of resources to achieve product function index, satisfy user demand by best way.
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Alturkistani, Raghad, Kavin A, Suresh Devasahayam, Raji Thomas, Esther L. Colombini, Carlos A. Cifuentes, Shervanthi Homer-Vanniasinkam, Helge A. Wurdemann, and Mehran Moazen. "Affordable passive 3D-printed prosthesis for persons with partial hand amputation." Prosthetics and Orthotics International 44, no. 2 (February 26, 2020): 92–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0309364620905220.
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Background and Aim: Partial hand amputations are common in developing countries and have a negative impact on patients and their families’ quality of life. The uniqueness of each partial hand amputation, coupled with the relatively high costs of prostheses, makes it challenging to provide suitable prosthetic solutions in developing countries. Current solutions often have long lead times and require a high level of expertise to produce. The aim of this study was to design and develop an affordable patient-specific partial hand prosthesis for developing countries. Technique: The prosthesis was designed for a patient with transmetacarpal amputation (i.e. three amputated fingers and partial palm). The final design was passive, controlled by the contralateral hand, and utilized the advanced flexibility properties of thermoplastic polyurethane in a glove-like design that costs approximately 20 USD to fabricate. Quantitative and qualitative tests were conducted to assess performance of the device after the patient used the final design. A qualitative assessment was performed to gather the patient’s feedback following a series of tests of grasp taxonomy. A quantitative assessment was performed through a grasp and lift test to measure the prosthesis’ maximum load capacity. Discussion: This study showed that the prosthesis enhanced the patient’s manual handling capabilities, mainly in the form of grasp stability. The prosthesis was light weight and could be donned and doffed by the patient independently. Limitations include the need to use the contralateral hand to achieve grasping and low grasp strength. Clinical relevance Persons with partial hand amputation in developing countries lack access to affordable functional prostheses, hindering their ability to participate in the community. 3D-printed prostheses can provide a low-cost solution that is adaptable to different amputation configurations.
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Sansone, Clementina, and Christophe Brunet. "Promises and Challenges of Microalgal Antioxidant Production." Antioxidants 8, no. 7 (June 27, 2019): 199. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antiox8070199.
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The exploration of natural antioxidants for nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals industries has recently increased. This communication aims to grasp the relevance of microalgae in the panorama of natural antioxidant molecules supply to industrial applications as alternatives and/or complements to those typically used from higher plants. Microalgal richness in antioxidant compounds and scavenging ability compared to higher plants is discussed in the context of microalgal biodiversity. We mainly focus on families of powerful antioxidant compounds that have been scarcely investigated in microalgae, such as phenolic compounds, sterols, or vitamins, discussing the promise and challenges of microalgae as providers of health benefits, for instance, through their use as functional food ingredients.
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Devyanin, S. N., I. I. Sapozhnikov, and V. A. Shmonin. "Analysis of design quality of tillage machines for agricultural engineering small-scale mechanization means of 0.2 tractive class." Traktory i sel hozmashiny 83, no. 8 (August 15, 2016): 44–47. http://dx.doi.org/10.17816/0321-4443-66231.
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Such operational parameters of small-scale mechanization means as grasp width and motion speed of a unit equally affect the machine performance and thereby determine its complex quality. The improvement of machine performance due to the extension of grasp width is reached by the use of three-, five-, six- and eight-furrow ploughs. This direction requires the constant increasing of traction force of power vehicles due to the increasing of engine power and trailing weight, which finally change the operational qualities of machine. Other direction of performance improvement is due to the increasing of operation speed; it is more complicated because when the speed increases, the traction resistance of working organs of tillage machines rises sharply, and the quality indicators of ploughed soil structure worsen. The transition to higher speeds of tillage requires a complex solution of such scientific and technical problem as development, creation and introduction of essentially new tillage machines for small-scale mechanization means. Special attention should be payed to a method for improvement of the engine power use by means of its transferring to working organs of the machine not through a hook but through a power shaft. Soil reaction to the active working organs is directed towards the power vehicle motion, therefore the trailing weight loses its functional necessity. It will allow to reduce the metal consumption of construction of small-scale mechanization means.
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Hayatbakhsh Abbasi, Mohammad Mahdi, Elham Jafari, Mohammadjavad Zahedi, Sodaif Darvish Moghaddam, Aboozar Taghizadeh, and Negin Kharazmi. "Differences in Duodenal Mast Cell and Eosinophil Counts Between Patients With Functional Dyspepsia and Healthy People." Middle East Journal of Digestive Diseases 13, no. 4 (September 13, 2021): 333–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.34172/mejdd.2021.243.
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BACKGROUND Functional dyspepsia is a common, troubling, and usually chronic disorder. Although the merit of using pathological assays has not been confirmed, medications affecting eosinophils may result in some improvements. Disseminated distribution of mast cells may also be an essential factor. Given the probable associations and lack of evidenced-based data, this study was conducted to comparatively investigate the number of eosinophils and mast cells in the duodenum in functional dyspepsia patients and healthy controls. METHODS In this case-control study, 150 consecutive subjects in Kerman, Iran, were enrolled in 2015 and 2016; the subjects consisted of 100 patients with functional dyspepsia and 50 asymptomatic healthy controls. Samples from the two groups were compared for the number of eosinophils, mast cells, and Helicobacter pylori presence by grasp biopsy. RESULTS The mean number of mast cells significantly differed between the groups (P = 0.001), but the eosinophil count was similar (p > 0.05). Female gender, no opioid use, and H. pylori may increase mast cell count (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Overall, the mast cell count was significantly different between people with functional dyspepsia and people without it, but the eosinophil count in the two groups was similar.
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Kim, D., H. Bahadur, S. Kim, J. Ali, G. Zhang, and G. P. Joshi. "THE EFFECT OF SNS USERS’ MOTIVATION ON INTERACTION AND PERFORMANCE." Advances in Mathematics: Scientific Journal 10, no. 2 (March 4, 2021): 1071–94. http://dx.doi.org/10.37418/amsj.10.2.35.
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This research examines that proposed social, emotional and functional motivations influence users to interact with other users on SNS, share various information, establish networks and improve communication with acquaintances. It allows users to easily grasp the structure of the content and provide a conveniently accessible and stable interface. Moreover, in the relationship between SNS user interaction and user performance, it was found that only user-to-system interaction has a significant impact on user performance. Such research results provide a theoretical background on how SNS users interact with motivation factors. These research findings provide other researchers with insights for future studies and can be critically utilized by practitioners to increase performance by considering SNS use motivation and users' interaction.
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Warren, Elizabeth, Jodie Miller, and Thomas J. Cooper. "<p>Exploring young students' functional thinking</p>." PNA. Revista de Investigación en Didáctica de la Matemática 7, no. 2 (January 1, 2013): 75–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.30827/pna.v7i2.6131.
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The Early Years Generalizing Project (EYGP) involves Australian years 1 to 4 (age 5 to 9) students and investigates how they grasp and express generalizations. This paper focuses on data collected from 6 Year 1 students in an exploratory study within a clinical interview setting that required students to identify function rules. Preliminary findings suggest that the use of gestures (both by students and interviewers), self-talk (by students), and concrete acting out, assisted students to reach generalizations and to begin to express these generalities. It also appears that as students became aware of the structure, their use of gestures and selftalk tended to decrease.Exploración del pensamiento funcional de estudiantes jóvenesEl Early Years Generalizing Project (EYGP) implica a estudiantes de primer a cuarto curso de la educación primaria australiana (de 5 a 9 años) e investiga cómo comprenden y expresan las generalizaciones. Este artículo se centra en los datos recogidos de 6 estudiantes de primer curso en un estudio exploratorio con entrevista clínica que requería que los estudiantes identificaran patrones funcionales. Los resultados preliminares sugieren que el uso de los gestos (de estudiantes y entrevistadores), las conversaciones con ellos mismos (de estudiantes), y las actuaciones concretas, ayudaron a los estudiantes a buscar generalizaciones y a comenzar a expresar estas generalidades. También parece que cuando los estudiantes tomaron conciencia de la estructura, el uso de gestos y de las conversaciones con ellos mismos tendió a disminuir.Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10481/22369Nº de citas en WOS (2017): 3 (Citas de 2º orden, 3)Nº de citas en SCOPUS (2017): 1 (Citas de 2º orden, 0)
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Calabro, Finnegan J., and Monica A. Perez. "Bilateral reach-to-grasp movement asymmetries after human spinal cord injury." Journal of Neurophysiology 115, no. 1 (January 1, 2016): 157–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00692.2015.
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Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) in humans typically damages both sides of the spinal cord, resulting in asymmetric functional impairments in the arms. Despite this well-accepted notion and the growing emphasis on the use of bimanual training strategies, how movement of one arm affects the motion of the contralateral arm after SCI remains unknown. Using kinematics and multichannel electromyographic (EMG) recordings we studied unilateral and bilateral reach-to-grasp movements to a small and a large cylinder in individuals with asymmetric arm impairments due to cervical SCI and age-matched control subjects. We found that the stronger arm of SCI subjects showed movement durations longer than control subjects during bilateral compared with unilateral trials. Specifically, movement duration was prolonged when opening and closing the hand when reaching for a large and a small object, respectively, accompanied by deficient activation of finger flexor and extensor muscles. In subjects with SCI interlimb coordination was reduced compared with control subjects, and individuals with lesser coordination between hands were those who showed prolonged times to open the hand. Although the weaker arm showed movement durations during bilateral compared with unilateral trials that were proportional to controls, the stronger arm was excessively delayed during bilateral reaching. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that during bilateral reach-to-grasp movements the more impaired arm has detrimental effects on hand opening and closing of the less impaired arm and that they are related, at least in part, to deficient control of EMG activity of hand muscles. We suggest that hand opening might provide a time to drive bimanual coordination adjustments after human SCI.
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KALIKI, RAHUL R., RAHMAN DAVOODI, and GERALD E. LOEB. "PREDICTION OF ELBOW TRAJECTORY FROM SHOULDER ANGLES USING NEURAL NETWORKS." International Journal of Computational Intelligence and Applications 07, no. 03 (September 2008): 333–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s1469026808002296.
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Patients with transhumeral amputations and C5/C6 quadriplegia may be able to use voluntary shoulder motion as command signals for powered prostheses and functional electrical stimulation, respectively. Spatiotemporal synergies exist between the shoulder and elbow joints for goal-oriented reaching movements as performed by able-bodied subjects. We are using a multi-layer perceptron neural network to discover and embody these synergies. Such a network could be used as a high-level controller that could predict the desired distal arm joint kinematics from the voluntary movements of the shoulder joint of an able-bodied subject. We evaluated this for a task that involved reaching to 16 targets in a horizontal plane. After reaching reasonable offline prediction accuracy for our neural networks, we then deployed the best network to make real-time predictions of the elbow angles and examined its performance on both inter- and intra-subject trials. Finally, we extended the model to utilize the five degrees-of-freedom at the shoulder to control the five degrees-of-freedom required for a prosthetic arm and hand to reach and grasp variously oriented objects in the extrapersonal workspace. Such a system, although very simple, was readily controllable for a reach and grasp task presented to the subject in a virtual reality environment.
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Frey, Scott H., Marc Hansen, and Noah Marchal. "Grasping with the Press of a Button: Grasp-selective Responses in the Human Anterior Intraparietal Sulcus Depend on Nonarbitrary Causal Relationships between Hand Movements and End-effector Actions." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 27, no. 6 (June 2015): 1146–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_00766.
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Evidence implicates ventral parieto-premotor cortices in representing the goal of grasping independent of the movements or effectors involved [Umilta, M. A., Escola, L., Intskirveli, I., Grammont, F., Rochat, M., Caruana, F., et al. When pliers become fingers in the monkey motor system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A., 105, 2209–2213, 2008; Tunik, E., Frey, S. H., & Grafton, S. T. Virtual lesions of the anterior intraparietal area disrupt goal-dependent on-line adjustments of grasp. Nature Neuroscience, 8, 505–511, 2005]. Modern technologies that enable arbitrary causal relationships between hand movements and tool actions provide a strong test of this hypothesis. We capitalized on this unique opportunity by recording activity with fMRI during tasks in which healthy adults performed goal-directed reach and grasp actions manually or by depressing buttons to initiate these same behaviors in a remotely located robotic arm (arbitrary causal relationship). As shown previously [Binkofski, F., Dohle, C., Posse, S., Stephan, K. M., Hefter, H., Seitz, R. J., et al. Human anterior intraparietal area subserves prehension: A combined lesion and functional MRI activation study. Neurology, 50, 1253–1259, 1998], we detected greater activity in the vicinity of the anterior intraparietal sulcus (aIPS) during manual grasp versus reach. In contrast to prior studies involving tools controlled by nonarbitrarily related hand movements [Gallivan, J. P., McLean, D. A., Valyear, K. F., & Culham, J. C. Decoding the neural mechanisms of human tool use. Elife, 2, e00425, 2013; Jacobs, S., Danielmeier, C., & Frey, S. H. Human anterior intraparietal and ventral premotor cortices support representations of grasping with the hand or a novel tool. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 22, 2594–2608, 2010], however, responses within the aIPS and premotor cortex exhibited no evidence of selectivity for grasp when participants employed the robot. Instead, these regions showed comparable increases in activity during both the reach and grasp conditions. Despite equivalent sensorimotor demands, the right cerebellar hemisphere displayed greater activity when participants initiated the robot's actions versus when they pressed a button known to be nonfunctional and watched the very same actions undertaken autonomously. This supports the hypothesis that the cerebellum predicts the forthcoming sensory consequences of volitional actions [Blakemore, S. J., Frith, C. D., & Wolpert, D. M. The cerebellum is involved in predicting the sensory consequences of action. NeuroReport, 12, 1879–1884, 2001]. We conclude that grasp-selective responses in the human aIPS and premotor cortex depend on the existence of nonarbitrary causal relationships between hand movements and end-effector actions.
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Li, Si Hui. "Interior Design Function of Computer-Aided Systems." Applied Mechanics and Materials 716-717 (December 2014): 557–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.716-717.557.
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China Academy of Building Research developed CASD software is a set of current Chinese interior decoration works more advanced computer-aided systems. The charge in the development of software design process has been integrated with the design, the overall process architecture is very reasonable, with a clear overall advantage. Various functional modules specific division CASD system also worked closely, and also give full consideration to the reality of decorative construction collision problems. The built-in modeling means rich and practical introduction "decorative base," an important technical means to grasp the construction more convenient interface. All this fully shows that a system design is quite intelligent, humane, is a computer-aided system is ideal for interior design, it is worth promoting the use of interior design.
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Biggar, Stuart James, Wei Yao, Lizhen Wang, and Yubo Fan. "User-Centric Feedback for the Development and Review of a Unique Robotic Glove Prototype to Be Used in Therapy." Journal of Healthcare Engineering 2017 (2017): 1–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2017/3896089.
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Disability can be a great impediment to daily living in later life and is often the result of illness or trauma. Modern thoughts on treatment are orientated towards the use of robotics; however, these are often designed without consultation with the user. This paper used a 5-point questionnaire to ask former therapy patients what they felt needed further improvements from potential robotics and what features of such a system were the most important. Significant emphasis was placed on helping them to grasp (M = 4.63) as well as having a functional use. They also desired a system with clearly distinguished (M = 4.22) and easy to operate controls (M = 4.44) whilst allowing them some freedom to move around independently (M = 4.44). This provided the rationale for a prototype dual-layered vacuum glove that was sampled by healthcare staff to provide feedback that forms the basis for future improvements.
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Kane, Nuala B., Alex Ruck Keene, Gareth S. Owen, and Scott Y. H. Kim. "Applying decision-making capacity criteria in practice: A content analysis of court judgments." PLOS ONE 16, no. 2 (February 5, 2021): e0246521. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246521.
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Background/Objectives Many jurisdictions use a functional model of capacity with similar legal criteria, but there is a lack of agreed understanding as to how to apply these criteria in practice. We aimed to develop a typology of capacity rationales to describe court practice in making capacity determinations and to guide professionals approaching capacity assessments. Methods We analysed all published cases from courts in England and Wales [Court of Protection (CoP) judgments, or Court of Appeal cases from the CoP] containing rationales for incapacity or intact capacity(n = 131). Qualitative content analysis was used to develop a typology of capacity rationales or abilities. Relationships between the typology and legal criteria for capacity [Mental Capacity Act (MCA)] and diagnoses were analysed. Results The typology had nine categories (reliability: kappa = 0.63): 1) to grasp information or concepts, 2) to imagine/ abstract, 3) to remember, 4) to appreciate, 5) to value/ care, 6) to think through the decision non-impulsively, 7) to reason, 8) to give coherent reasons, and 9) to express a stable preference. Rationales most frequently linked to MCA criterion ‘understand’ were ability to grasp information or concepts (43%) or to appreciate (42%), and to MCA criterion ‘use or weigh’ were abilities to appreciate (45%) or to reason (32%). Appreciation was the most frequently cited rationale across all diagnoses. Judges often used rationales without linking them specifically to any MCA criteria (42%). Conclusions A new typology of rationales could bridge the gap between legal criteria for decision-making capacity and phenomena encountered in practice, increase reliability and transparency of assessments, and provide targets for decision-making support.
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Millar, Robin. "School students' understanding of key ideas about radioactivity and ionizing radiation." Public Understanding of Science 3, no. 1 (January 1994): 53–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0963-6625/3/1/004.
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This paper looks in detail at the understanding of school students in the UK of fundamental ideas about radioactivity and ionizing radiation. An adequate grasp of basic ideas in this area of science would be widely seen as an essential element of functional `scientific literacy'. A written diagnostic test was developed and administered to a representative sample of 16 year old students ( n = 144). Analysis of their responses corroborates the results of previous research in indicating the widespread use of an undifferentiated conception of radioactive material/radiation and suggests that many students may hold a conception of the process of absorption of radiation (including ionizing radiation) which is significantly different from the accepted science view. This may have important consequences for their reception and interpretation of media reports and other public information about phenomena involving radioactivity and radiation.
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Koleva, Ivet B. "Robotic Neurorehabilitation in Neuro-COVID with Presentation of Clinical Cases." Clinical Studies and Medical Case Reports 9, no. 3 (December 26, 2022): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.24966/csmc-8801/1000143.
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Ultimately, contemporary Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) were introduced in the rehabilitation practice. We use Exoskeletons, virtual reality, robotic rehabilitation with Locomat (Hocoma system for balance and gait training) and ThyroMotion system (for grasp training). Our purpose was to emphasize the impact of robotic rehabilitation in the process of recovery of patients with neurological complications of COVID-19, as follows: cerebral vascular accidents, spinal ischemic stroke, relapses of multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, development of rare diseases (as cerebellar ataxia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis /motor neuron disease), etc. We present typical and rare clinical cases (consequences and complications of COVID-19), treated by robotic neurorehabilitation. Our results demonstrated positive effects of ICT-application on the neuroplasticity, functional recovery and quality of life of neurological patients. We consider introduction of robotics as necessary tool in the process of neurorehabilitation.
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Valyear, Kenneth F., and Jody C. Culham. "Observing Learned Object-specific Functional Grasps Preferentially Activates the Ventral Stream." Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience 22, no. 5 (May 2010): 970–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1162/jocn.2009.21256.
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In one popular account of the human visual system, two streams are distinguished, a ventral stream specialized for perception and a dorsal stream specialized for action. The skillful use of familiar tools, however, is likely to involve the cooperation of both streams. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we scanned individuals while they viewed short movies of familiar tools being grasped in ways that were either consistent or inconsistent with how tools are typically grasped during use. Typical-for-use actions were predicted to preferentially activate parietal areas important for tool use. Instead, our results revealed several areas within the ventral stream, as well as the left posterior middle temporal gyrus, as preferentially active for our typical-for-use actions. We believe these findings reflect sensitivity to learned semantic associations and suggest a special role for these areas in representing object-specific actions. We hypothesize that during actual tool use a complex interplay between the two streams must take place, with ventral stream areas providing critical input as to how an object should be engaged in accordance with stored semantic knowledge.
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Yeves-Lite, Alba, Juan Carlos Zuil-Escobar, Carmen Martínez-Cepa, Helena Romay-Barrero, Asunción Ferri-Morales, and Rocío Palomo-Carrión. "Conventional and Virtual Reality Mirror Therapies in Upper Obstetric Brachial Palsy: A Randomized Pilot Study." Journal of Clinical Medicine 9, no. 9 (September 19, 2020): 3021. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm9093021.
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The abilities of children diagnosed with Obstetric Brachial Palsy (OBP) are limited by brachial plexus injuries. Thus, their participation in the community is hindered, which involves a lower quality of life due to worse performance in activities of daily living as a consequence of the functional limitations of the affected upper limb. Conventional Mirror Therapy (Conventional MT) and Virtual Therapy improve the affected upper limb functionality. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of Conventional MT and Virtual Reality MT on the spontaneous use of the affected upper limb and quality of life of children with upper Obstetric Brachial Palsy between 6 and 12 years of age. A randomized pilot study was performed. Twelve children were randomly assigned to perform Conventional Mirror Therapy or Virtual Reality Mirror Therapy for four weeks. Ten children completed the treatment. Two assessments (pre/post-intervention) were carried out to assess the spontaneous use of the affected upper limb and the quality of life using the Children’s Hand-use Experience Questionnaire (CHEQ) and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Generic Core Scales (PedsQL TM 4.0), respectively. There was a statistically significant increment in spontaneous use, observed in independent tasks (p = 0.02) and in the use of the affected hand with grasp (p = 0.04), measured with the CHEQ, for the Virtual Reality MT group. There were no statistically significant changes (p > 0.05) for the Conventional MT group in the spontaneous use of the affected upper limb. Regarding the quality of life, statistically significant changes were obtained in the Physical and Health activity categories of the parents’ questionnaire (p = 0.03) and in the total score of the children’s questionnaire (p = 0.04) in the Virtual Reality MT group, measured using the PedsQL TM 4.0. Statistically significant changes were not obtained for the quality of life in the Conventional MT group. This study suggests that, compared to Conventional MT, Virtual Reality MT would be a home-based therapeutic complement to increase independent bimanual tasks using grasp in the affected upper limb and improve the quality of life of children diagnosed with upper OBP in the age range of 6–12 years.
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Ehrsson, H. Henrik, Anders Fagergren, Gustav O. Ehrsson, and Hans Forssberg. "Holding an Object: Neural Activity Associated With Fingertip Force Adjustments to External Perturbations." Journal of Neurophysiology 97, no. 2 (February 2007): 1342–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.01253.2005.
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When you hold an object, a sudden unexpected perturbation can threaten the stability of your grasp. In such situations grasp stability is maintained by fast reflexive-like grip-force responses triggered by the somatosensory feedback. Here we use functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural mechanisms involved in the grip-force responses associated with unexpected increases (loading) and decreases (unloading) in the load force. Healthy right-handed subjects held an instrumented object (of mass 200 g) between the tips of right index finger and thumb. At some time during an interval of 8 to 45 s the weight of the object was suddenly increased or decreased by 90 g. We analyzed the transient increases in the fMRI signal that corresponded precisely in time to these grip-force responses. Activity in the left primary motor cortex was associated with the loading response, but not with unloading, suggesting that sensorimotor processing in this area mediates the sensory-triggered reflexive increase in grip force during loading. Both the loading and the unloading events activated the cingulate motor area and the medial cerebellum. We suggest that these regions could participate in the updating of the sensorimotor representations of the fingertip forces. Finally, the supplementary somatosensory area located on the medial wall of the parietal lobe showed an increase in activity only during unloading, indicating that this area is involved in the sensorimotor processing generating the unloading response. Taken together, our findings suggest different central mechanisms for the grip-force responses during loading and unloading.
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Niemiec, Allison, Yareli Lopez Hernandez, Ejlal Bin Mulayh, Rachel Logue, and Susan Brown. "Feasibility of Using a Commercial Board Game to Assess Upper Extremity Function in Older Adults." Innovation in Aging 5, Supplement_1 (December 1, 2021): 1034. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igab046.3699.
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Abstract Upper extremity function, particularly the hand, declines with aging and is predictive of executive ability and independence. Standard assessments typically focus on strength partly due to a lack of easily administered functional tasks requiring multi-joint coordination and precision grasp. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of using an inexpensive board game to assess upper extremity function in older adults. Six healthy older adults (77 +/- 5.1 years) completed reaching tasks using the Connect4® game that requires grasping and placing small discs into a vertical board. Tasks included different hand configurations (unilateral, bilateral), and two dual-task conditions (serial subtraction by 7s and placing colored discs to match specific color patterns). The time to complete each task was recorded. For comparison purposes, participants completed a standardized pegboard test (Purdue Pegboard) using one or both hands. Connect4 results were similar to age-normative findings reported for the Purdue Pegboard. Dominant versus non-dominant hand performance did not differ while bilateral coordination tasks were slower than unilateral tasks for both the Purdue Pegboard (p<0.05) and Connect4 (p<0.01). Pegboard and Connect4 times were moderately to strongly correlated for all hand configurations. Dual-task conditions using Connect4 led to longer completion times (p<0.05). Preliminary results support the use of Connect4 as a functional upper extremity assessment tool for older adults. It is inexpensive, engaging, easy to use, and allows for cognitive-motor assessment using dual-task protocols, a critical factor in maintaining functional independence in older individuals. Further research will include a formal validation study across a wider age range.
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Saklad, Stephen R. "Graphic representation of pharmacology: Development of an alternative model." Mental Health Clinician 7, no. 5 (September 1, 2017): 201–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.9740/mhc.2017.09.201.
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Abstract Introduction: Providing clinicians with an easy to grasp and understandable representation of pharmacology is important to allow optimal clinical decisions to be made. Two of the most clinically relevant dimensions are receptor binding affinity and functional activity. The binding affinity for an agonist is described by the dissociation constant (KA), and an antagonist by the inhibition constant (Ki). Functionally, medications can act as superagonists, agonists, partial agonists, antagonists, partial inverse agonists, or inverse agonists at several receptor sites, transporters, or ion channels. Comprehending the differences between agents is complicated by the number and types of binding sites. Methods: Binding and functional data are obtained from primary literature, product labels, human cloned receptor binding, and other sources. Binding affinities are converted into ratios relative to the putative primary receptor for that category of agent. Antipsychotic binding is referenced to dopamine type 2 long (D2L) receptor binding. Binding affinity ratios (BARs) generate a 6-spoked diagram, with D2L as the hub. The most avidly bound sites are the spokes, and the disk diameter represents the BAR. Where functional data are available, they are shown as a pie chart shading the binding site's disk. Results: Binding and function diagrams are shown for the antipsychotics where binding data are available and are compared to previous methods of pharmacologic comparisons of antipsychotics. Discussion: Use of graphic models of psychotropic pharmacology improves clinician comprehension and may serve as an aid to improve rational therapeutics and patient outcomes.
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Ehrsson, H. Henrik, Anders Fagergren, Roland S. Johansson, and Hans Forssberg. "Evidence for the Involvement of the Posterior Parietal Cortex in Coordination of Fingertip Forces for Grasp Stability in Manipulation." Journal of Neurophysiology 90, no. 5 (November 2003): 2978–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/jn.00958.2002.
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Grasp stability during object manipulation is achieved by the grip forces applied normal to the grasped surfaces increasing and decreasing in phase with increases and decreases of destabilizing load forces applied tangential to the grasped surfaces. This force coordination requires that the CNS anticipates the grip forces that match the requirements imposed by the self-generated load forces. Here, we use functional MRI (fMRI) to study neural correlates of the grip-load force coordination in a grip-load force task in which six healthy humans attempted to lift an immovable test object held between the tips of the right index finger and thumb. The recorded brain activity was compared with the brain activity obtained in two control tasks in which the same pair of digits generated forces with similar time courses and magnitudes; i.e., a grip force task where the subjects only pinched the object and did not apply load forces, and a load force task, in which the subjects applied vertical forces to the object without generating grip forces. Thus neither the load force task nor the grip force task involved coordinated grip-load forces, but together they involved the same grip force and load force output. We found that the grip-load force task was specifically associated with activation of a section of the right intraparietal cortex, which is the first evidence for involvement of the posterior parietal cortex in the sensorimotor control of coordinated grip and load forces in manipulation. We suggest that this area might represents a node in the network of cortical and subcortical regions that implement anticipatory control of fingertip forces for grasp stability.
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DeLuca, Stephanie C., Karen Echols, Sharon Landesman Ramey, and Edward Taub. "Pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy for a Young Child With Cerebral Palsy: Two Episodes of Care." Physical Therapy 83, no. 11 (November 1, 2003): 1003–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ptj/83.11.1003.
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Abstract Background and Purpose. This case report describes the use of “Pediatric Constraint-Induced Therapy (Pediatric CI Therapy)” given on 2 separate occasions for a young child with quadriparetic cerebral palsy. Case Description. The child was 15 months of age at the beginning of the first episode of care. She had previously received weekly physical therapy and occupational therapy for 11 months, but she had no functional use of her right upper extremity (UE), independently or in an assistive manner. She scored from 5 to 7 months below her chronological age on developmental assessments in gross motor, fine motor, and self-help skills. Intervention. Pediatric CI Therapy involved placement of a full-arm, bivalved cast on the child's less affected UE while providing 3 weeks of intensive intervention (6 hours a day) for the child's more affected UE (intervention 1). Therapy included activities that were goal oriented but broken down into progressively more challenging step-by-step tasks. Pediatric CI Therapy was administered again 5 months later to promote UE skills and independence (intervention 2). Outcomes. The child developed new behaviors throughout both interventions. During intervention 1, the child developed independent reach, grasp, release, weight bearing (positioned prone on elbows) of both UEs, gestures, self-feeding, sitting, and increased interactive play using both UEs. During intervention 2, she had increased independence and improved quality of UE movement, as supported by blinded clinical evaluations and parent ratings.
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Nikolajeva, Marija. "What is an image schema? Looking for an answer in Latvian and Mandarin Chinese." Valoda: nozīme un forma / Language: Meaning and Form 11 (2020): 142–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.22364/vnf.11.09.
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Image schema is one of the key notions in the discussions of the semantics of spatial adpositions. The diversity of related topics and the abundance of literature on these conceptual primitives makes the concept image schema difficult to grasp. The aim of this article is to clarify this notion by explicating on some important aspects of the schematization and representation of spatial scenes using the CONTAINMENT schema as an example. The article also demonstrates that the cross-linguistic comparison of an image schema is an effective method employed to better understand the universal cognitive processes underlying language use. The article contains a comparison of the spatial functional units that express the CONTAINMENT schema in Latvian and Mandarin Chinese, a discussion of the blurriness of the boundary between the concepts containment and support and their relation to the concept location. The relationship between image schemas and semantic frames, the factors that influence schematization and the phenomenon of parallel usage of locative units are discussed too. Image schema transformations are characterized as the mechanism of extending the meanings of spatial phrases.
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Gretsch, Kendall F., Henry D. Lather, Kranti V. Peddada, Corey R. Deeken, Lindley B. Wall, and Charles A. Goldfarb. "Development of novel 3D-printed robotic prosthetic for transradial amputees." Prosthetics and Orthotics International 40, no. 3 (May 2015): 400–403. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0309364615579317.
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Background and aim: Upper extremity myoelectric prostheses are expensive. The Robohand demonstrated that three-dimensional printing reduces the cost of a prosthetic extremity. The goal of this project was to develop a novel, inexpensive three-dimensional printed prosthesis to address limitations of the Robohand. Technique: The prosthesis was designed for patients with transradial limb amputation. It is shoulder-controlled and externally powered with an anthropomorphic terminal device. The user can open and close all five fingers, and move the thumb independently. The estimated cost is US$300. Discussion: After testing on a patient with a traumatic transradial amputation, several advantages were noted. The independent thumb movement facilitated object grasp, the device weighed less than most externally powered prostheses, and the size was easily scalable. Limitations of the new prosthetic include low grip strength and decreased durability compared to passive prosthetics. Clinical relevance Most children with a transradial congenital or traumatic amputation do not use a prosthetic. A three-dimensional printed shoulder-controlled robotic prosthesis provides a cost effective, easily sized and highly functional option which has been previously unavailable.
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NG, BEOY KUI. "STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ANALOGIES FROM SUN TZU'S "THE ART OF WAR"." Journal of Enterprising Culture 05, no. 03 (September 1997): 309–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/s0218495897000181.
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The paper attempts to draw some of the analogies from Sun Tzu's The art of War for the purpose of formulating and implementing strategic management by an entrepreneur. It is important for an entrepreneur to have vision and strategic intent for his company and this has the same analogy of "dau" in Sun Tzu's military treatise. Sun Tzu also set out five critical success factors for comparative assessment. Incidentally, the five factors are very relevant for the entrepreneur not only for his company's strategic control but also for strategic assessment in business competition. In addition, Sun Tzu also mentioned the importance of building up "strategic advantage" which is equivalent to competitive advantage mentioned in strategic management literature. For strategic positioning, Sun Tzu used "zheng" and "qi" and these two positionings can be varied in accordance with changing circumstances. The concepts have practical importance in formulating functional-level, business-level, global-level and corporate-level strategies. On strategic implementation, Sun Tzu emphasized appropriate organizational structure for strategic fit and the intelligent use of information to grasp opportunities to achieve final victory.
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Gansel, Christina. "RISK AND FEAR COMMUNICATION IN THE CORONA PANDEMIC: MULTIMODAL COMMUNICATION AND ITS PERSUASIVE FUNCTION." German Philology at the St Petersburg State University 12 (2022): 304–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.21638/spbu33.2022.116.
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The subject of this article is the fear-related communication in German journalistic media indexed by the COVID pandemic since 2020. Fear communication is considered in the article as a resonance amplifier that can be processed by all functional systems of society, but can only be processed by an individual as an emotion in consciousness. The article does not examine the evocation of fear in an individual, but seeks to grasp theoretically how fear is communicated. The symbolically generalized medium of journalistic media and the coding of communication related to it play a special role. Fear-related communication is based on information selection and the constant differentiation between information and non-information in the journalistic media. It is used purposefully to form opinions and to help legitimize political decisions. Findings on linguistic strategies of fear-related communication are elaborated and substantiated with examples. The strategies include the use of neologisms in certain meanings, degradations of meaning, the choice of photos in text-image interaction as well as metaphors
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Geed, Shashwati, Peter S. Lum, Michelle L. Harris-Love, Jessica Barth, Peter E. Turkeltaub, and Alexander W. Dromerick. "2326." Journal of Clinical and Translational Science 1, S1 (September 2017): 62. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/cts.2017.222.
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OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Upper-extremity (UE) impairment affects 88% of stroke survivors due to dysfunctional shoulder-hand coordination. Patients may be able to grasp with the arm at rest, but unable to grasp in a functional context (eg, from a high shelf) because shoulder use elicits involuntary hand muscle activity. Further, much rehabilitation research is directed at unsuccessful stroke recovery (patients with persistent UE impairment) but very little towards patients who show successful clinical recovery (such as those with mild UE impairment) even though these patients have attained the desired rehabilitation outcome. We examined the neurophysiological trajectory of successful compared to unsuccessful post-stroke recovery in the context of functional UE movements to clearly identify what factors are necessary for successful recovery of functional UE movements after stroke. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We studied 3 populations: (1) mildly-impaired patients, early (at <17 d, 30 d, 90 d, and 180 d) after stroke as a model of successful post-stroke recovery, (2) moderately-impaired, chronic patients (>6-months post stroke) with persistent hand function impairment, as a model of incomplete post-stroke recovery (unsuccessful recovery), and (3) Healthy age-range matched controls. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in all 3 groups at the given time points to measure corticomotor excitability (motor evoked potentials, recruitment curve), corticomotor inhibition (short-interval intracortical inhibition, long-interval intracortical inhibition), and intracortical facilitation of hand muscles with the shoulder positioned in different degrees of flexion or abduction (these shoulder positions are known to elicit involuntary, undesired hand muscle activation, which leads to UE dysfunction and impairment in individuals with stroke). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Data collection are in process and will be presented. Preliminary data from controls shows that corticomotor excitability of selected hand muscles is affected by changes in shoulder position. Preliminary findings in controls are consistent with clinical findings in stroke that certain shoulder positions elicit involuntary and undesired hand muscle activation, leading to UE dysfunction and disability. Findings from the stroke groups will be presented. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: We hypothesize that this centrally-facilitated coupling between shoulder and hand muscles is disrupted after stroke, which may play a central role in the inability of patients to perform functional UE movements. By comparing the TMS metrics in mildly-impaired Versus moderately-impaired chronic patients, we will be able to identify the longitudinal change in neurophysiology underlying shoulder-hand coordination that is associated with successful or unsuccessful clinical recovery of UE function after stroke. Thus, these findings will help us distinguish between the neurophysiology underlying successful from unsuccessful UE recovery leading to more mechanism-based interventions for UE dysfunction post stroke in the future.
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Biondini, Mario E., Jack E. Norland, and Carolyn E. Grygiel. "Plant Richness-Biomass Relationships in Restored Northern Great Plains Grasslands (USA)." International Journal of Ecology 2011 (2011): 1–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/856869.
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We investigated plant richness-biomass relationships in tall grass (Field 1, 12 years) and mixed grass (Field 2, 5 years) restoration experiments located in the northern Great Plains grasslands (USA). They were organized as randomized factorial experiments with fertilization rates (N or P) and number of species as factors. Results were as follows: (1) above ground biomass (AGB) increased and year-to-year variability declined with plant species and functional form richness. (2) AGB was higher when the species had various combinations: (a) high relative growth rates, root density, root surface area, N or P uptake rates, and N use efficiency; (b) low root-to-shoot ratio and root plasticity. (3) Biomass stability was positively related to high root surface area in Field 1 and N use efficiency and P uptake rates in Field 2. (4) Invasion of nonseeded species declined with plant species and functional form richness.
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Ferraro, Stefano, Toon Van de Maele, Pietro Mazzaglia, Tim Verbelen, and Bart Dhoedt. "Computational Optimization of Image-Based Reinforcement Learning for Robotics." Sensors 22, no. 19 (September 28, 2022): 7382. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/s22197382.
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The robotics field has been deeply influenced by the advent of deep learning. In recent years, this trend has been characterized by the adoption of large, pretrained models for robotic use cases, which are not compatible with the computational hardware available in robotic systems. Moreover, such large, computationally intensive models impede the low-latency execution which is required for many closed-loop control systems. In this work, we propose different strategies for improving the computational efficiency of the deep-learning models adopted in reinforcement-learning (RL) scenarios. As a use-case project, we consider an image-based RL method on the synergy between push-and-grasp actions. As a first optimization step, we reduce the model architecture in complexity, by decreasing the number of layers and by altering the architecture structure. Second, we consider downscaling the input resolution to reduce the computational load. Finally, we perform weight quantization, where we compare post-training quantization and quantized-aware training. We benchmark the improvements introduced in each optimization by running a standard testing routine. We show that the optimization strategies introduced can improve the computational efficiency by around 300 times, while also slightly improving the functional performance of the system. In addition, we demonstrate closed-loop control behaviour on a real-world robot, while processing everything on a Jetson Xavier NX edge device.
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Rubino, Francesco, Ciara Carberry, Sinéad M Waters, David Kenny, Matthew S. McCabe, and Christopher J. Creevey. "Divergent functional isoforms drive niche specialisation for nutrient acquisition and use in rumen microbiome." ISME Journal 11, no. 4 (January 13, 2017): 932–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.172.
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Abstract Many microbes in complex competitive environments share genes for acquiring and utilising nutrients, questioning whether niche specialisation exists and if so, how it is maintained. We investigated the genomic signatures of niche specialisation in the rumen microbiome, a highly competitive, anaerobic environment, with limited nutrient availability determined by the biomass consumed by the host. We generated individual metagenomic libraries from 14 cows fed an ad libitum diet of grass silage and calculated functional isoform diversity for each microbial gene identified. The animal replicates were used to calculate confidence intervals to test for differences in diversity of functional isoforms between microbes that may drive niche specialisation. We identified 153 genes with significant differences in functional isoform diversity between the two most abundant bacterial genera in the rumen (Prevotella and Clostridium). We found Prevotella possesses a more diverse range of isoforms capable of degrading hemicellulose, whereas Clostridium for cellulose. Furthermore, significant differences were observed in key metabolic processes indicating that isoform diversity plays an important role in maintaining their niche specialisation. The methods presented represent a novel approach for untangling complex interactions between microorganisms in natural environments and have resulted in an expanded catalogue of gene targets central to rumen cellulosic biomass degradation.
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Astuti, Anik Juli Dwi, Sofie Annys, Mekete Dessie, Jan Nyssen, and Stefaan Dondeyne. "To What Extent Is Hydrologic Connectivity Taken into Account in Catchment Studies in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia? A Review." Land 11, no. 12 (November 30, 2022): 2165. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/land11122165.
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Knowledge of hydrologic connectivity is important to grasp the hydrological response at a basin scale, particularly as changes in connectivity can have a negative effect on the environment. In the context of a changing climate, being able to predict how changes in connectivity will affect runoff and sediment transport is particularly relevant for land-use planning. Many studies on hydrology, geomorphology and climatology have been conducted in the Lake Tana Basin in Ethiopia, which is undergoing rapid development and significant environmental changes. This systematic literature review aims at assessing to what extent the hydrologic connectivity has been taken into account in such research, and to identify research gaps relevant to land and water management. On the Web of Science and Scopus databases, 135 scientific articles covering those topics were identified. Aspects of hydrologic connectivity were mostly implicitly taken into account based on process-based, statistical and descriptive models. Amongst the drivers of changing connectivity, the climate was covered by a large majority of publications (64%). Components of structural hydrologic connectivity were accounted for by considering geomorphology (54%) and soils (47%), and to a lesser extent, hydrography (16%) and geology (12%). Components of functional connectivity were covered by looking at surface water fluxes (61%), sediment fluxes (18%) and subsurface water fluxes (13%). While numerous studies of the Lake Tana Basin accounted for the hydrologic connectivity implicitly, these related predominantly to functional components. The structural components are given less attention, while in the context of a changing climate, better insights into their influence on the hydrologic seem most relevant. Better knowledge of the static aspect of connectivity is particularly important for targeting appropriate soil and water conservation strategies. Being able to explicitly assess the ‘structural connectivity’ is therefore of direct relevance for land management and land-use policy.
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Kumar, Krishan. "Nutraceutical Potential and Processing Aspects of Oyster Mushrooms (PleurotusSpecies)." Current Nutrition & Food Science 16, no. 1 (January 13, 2020): 3–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1573401314666181015111724.
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Background:Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus species) have gained considerable attention of food technologist and nutritionist for their nutraceutical properties. Oyster mushrooms are considered as functional foods due to their richness in functional food ingredients. In recent times, consumption of these mushrooms has increased considerably due to their numerous health benefits. These are potential sources of bioactive components, which are sufficient enough for prevention and treatment of various lifestyle diseases. There are about 200 different species in the genus Pleurotus and these are commonly referred to as “oyster mushrooms”.Objective:The study aimed to grasp a collective information on nutraceutical and processing aspects of highly perishable but nutritious oyster mushroomResults:Pleurotus ostreatus is the most commonly consumed species all over the world due to its superior flavor, taste and nutraceutical properties. It acts as a source of natural antioxidants which might be beneficial for human health in preventing or reducing oxidative damage. Nutritionally, these species are rich sources of proteins, dietary fibres, β-glucan, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C and minerals. They contain higher proportions of certain amino acids such as methionine, cystine and aspartic acid than other edible mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms have been reported to possess hypocholesterolemic, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-carcinogenic, hepatoprotective, anti-viral activities and act as natural resources of immunotherapy activities. The use of these mushrooms can overcome the deficiency of protein in the developing countries where there is unavailability or unacceptability of good quality proteins from animal sources because of religious restrictions.Conclusion:Because of the occurrence of abundant nutritional ingredients and other bioactive components in P. ostreatus, they have a great scope as a potential source for the development of functional or specialty foods for value addition of deficient foods so as to alleviate the nutritional deficiency diseases from society.
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Fitriyah, Ima, Fitriatul Masitoh, and Utami Widiati. "Classroom-based language assessment literacy and professional development need between novice and experienced EFL teachers." Indonesian Journal of Applied Linguistics 12, no. 1 (May 31, 2022): 124–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.17509/ijal.v12i1.46539.
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Classroom-based language assessment (CBLA) in the Indonesian context has become more significant since the shift of the assessment model from summative based assessment (Ujian Nasional or the final exam) to formative-based assessment (Asesmen Kompetensi Minimum (AKM); therefore, teachers need to develop their classroom-based language assessment literacy (CBLAL). The model places a greater emphasis on students' learning outcomes in class rather than final test scores. This study aims to examine the CBLAL level of experienced and novice EFL teachers, their perceptions of CBLAL, and their needs for CBLAL training. Quantitative and qualitative data were used in conjunction with a case study research design. The CBLAL questionnaire, adopted from Lan and Fan's work (2019), collected quantitative data from 55 EFL teachers. Meanwhile, the qualitative data were collected from four of them (novice and experienced) in the interview sessions. The CBLAL levels of 55 teachers are between functional and procedural-conceptual literacy levels. Both experienced (ETs) and novice teachers (NTs) could grasp fundamental principles in language assessment and can use them in the classroom. Although the ETs have higher levels, there is no significant difference in CBLAL levels between ETs and NTs. The study also revealed that the teachers' understandings of technical skills and language pedagogy were among the highest compared to their knowledge of theories and principles on language assessments. However, they indicated that still require professional development (PD) in CBLAL, despite their functional and procedural-conceptual literacy. The current study has pedagogical implications for both ETs and NTs. They should actively participate in various professional development activities, focusing on classroom evaluation.