Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Spinal motion'
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Wong, Wai-ning Kris. "Lumbar spinal motion analysis." Click to view the E-thesis via HKUTO, 2006. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record/B36611773.
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Wong, Wai-ning Kris, and 黃偉寧. "Lumbar spinal motion analysis." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2006. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B36611773.
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Troke, Michael. "Three dimensional measurement of lumbar spinal motion." Thesis, University of Brighton, 2001. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.407676.
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Breloff, Scott. "Quantifying Segmental Spinal Motion during Activities of Daily Living." Thesis, University of Oregon, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1794/13233.
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Back pain is a very common musculoskeletal impairment in most Americans. Average annual occurrence of back pain is reported around 30% of the population and is the most common cause of activity limitation in people younger than 45 years old. Eighty percent of the back pain presents in the lumbar spine. Although this ailment is very prevalent in the American population, there is a lack of empirical evidence supporting the common clinical diagnosis and intervention back pain strategies. The frequency of back pain and the lack of treatment methods were the motivation for this investigation. It is important to better understand spine dynamics during ambulatory tasks of daily activities to identify possible biomechanical mechanisms underlying back pain.
Current biomechanical quantification methods for spine dynamics are either too invasive or not detailed enough to fully comprehend detailed spinal movement. Therefore, a non-invasive but detailed procedure to calculate spine dynamics was developed and tested. In this study, multi-segmented spine dynamics (kinematics and kinetics) were calculated during four activities of daily living (level walking (W), obstacle crossing (OC), stair ascent (SA) and stair descent (SD)).
Our findings suggested an in-vivo multi-segmented spine surface marker set is able to detect different and repeatable motion patterns during walking among various spinal segments. The sacrum to lower lumbar (SLL) joint had the largest range of motion (ROM) when compared to the other more superior joints (lower lumbar to upper lumbar and upper lumbar to lower thoracic). Furthermore, SA task demonstrated more flexion ROM than both W and SD tasks. In addition to task influence, joints at different spine levels also demonstrated different ROMs, where SLL had a greater ROM than upper lumbar to lower thoracic (ULLT) in the transverse plane. Age was found to not significantly affect the segmental spinal ROM or peak angles. The vertical segmental joint reaction forces were different between tasks, where SD yielded larger vertical reaction forces than W.
Overall, findings from this dissertation work were able to show that a multi-segment spine marker system could be an effective tool in determining different spinal dynamics during various activities of daily living.
This dissertation includes unpublished co-authored material.
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Stinton, Shaun Kevin. "DEVELOPMENT, VALIDATION, AND APPLICATION OF A NONINVASIVE SPINAL MOTION MEASUREMENT SYSTEM." UKnowledge, 2011. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/169.
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Spontaneous vertebral fractures are a large and growing health care problem. Biomechanical factors, specifically, abnormal posture or gait‐related spinal motion may interact with age‐weakened bone to induce altered spinal biomechanics that in turn increase the likelihood of vertebral body fracture. This research takes steps towards the goal of reducing the number of vertebral fractures in two phases: 1) Validation of a noninvasive spinal motion measurement system in cadaver torsos and 2) Application of the measurement system in human subjects.
The cadaver study compared vertebral motion at 4 levels (T7,T12,L3,L5) as measured by adhesive skin markers versus motion measured by bone pins implanted into the vertebrae. Cadaver torsos were tested in lateral‐bending, flexion and axialrotation. Mean differences in vertebral body angular motion between skin markers and bone pin markers were <0.5° around the anterior‐posterior and medial‐lateral axes and <0.9° around the superior‐inferior axis. This measurement method was able to accurately quantify vertebral body motion in cadaver torsos thus allowing for application to human subject testing.
X‐rays and 3D motion capture were employed to quantify spinal posture and motion parameters during gait in 12 older and 12 younger normal, females. Vertebral motion around 3 axes was measured at 4 levels (T7,T10,T12,L2) using noninvasive retroreflective markers during treadmill gait at 3 speeds (0.5,0.7,0.9m/s). The average angular motion of all gait cycles at each speed was determined for each level. The triplanar ranges of motion and variability of motion were compared as a function of age. Older subjects had 31.7% larger frontal Cobb angles and up to 30.9% and 33.5% smaller ranges of spinal motion in the frontal and sagittal planes. Variability of motion in the sagittal plane was up to 42.9% less in older subjects.
Decreased ranges of motion and variability of spinal motion observed in older subjects may imply that vertebral loading in these subjects may not be as uniformly distributed across the vertebrae as in younger subjects. Greater stresses may result from the abnormal motion, thus increasing fracture risk. Confirmation of this hypothesis requires a longitudinal study, but if verified, may lead to the development of inexpensive countermeasures to prevent fractures.
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Ha, Tshui Hung. "Measurement of lumbar spinal posture and motion using inertial sensors." Thesis, University of Brighton, 2010. https://research.brighton.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/5f9f5b5f-2560-4565-8db3-9b3510f6bb0f.
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Back pain is a common and costly disorder affecting 80% of the population, with 80-90% of the symptoms reported to have no pathological cause and it is suggested that this non-specific low back pain can be improved by the adoption of proper posture and body mechanics during normal daily life.
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Dodgen, Eric Ray. "Spinal Implant with Customized and Non-Linear Stiffness." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2011. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2699.
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There is a need for spinal implants that have nonlinear stiffness to provide stabilization if the spine loses stiffness through injury, degeneration, or surgery. There is also a need for spinal implants to be customizable for individual needs, and to be small enough to be unobtrusive once implanted. Past and ongoing work that defines the effects of degeneration on the torque rotation curve of a functional spinal unit (FSU) were used to produce a spinal implant which could meet these requirements. This thesis proposes contact-aided inserts to be used with the FlexSuRe™ spinal implant to create a nonlinear stiffness. Moreover, different inserts can be used to create customized behaviors. An analytical model is introduced for insert design, and the model is verified using a finite element model and tests of physical prototypes both on a tensile tester and cadaveric testing on an in-house spine tester. Testing showed the inserts are capable of creating a non-linear force-deflection curve and it was observed that the device provided increased stiffness to a spinal segment in flexion-extension and lateral-bending. This thesis further proposes that the FlexSuRe™ spinal implant can be reduced in size by joining LET joint geometries in series in a serpentine nature. An optimization procedure was performed on the new geometry and feasible designs were identified. Moreover, due to maintaining LET joint geometry, the contact-aided insert could be implemented in conjunction with this new device geometry.
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Newell, Robyn. "Are inversion, posture, motion and muscle effects important to spinal alignment?" Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/46573.
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Rollover accidents are dynamic and complex events in which head contacts with the vehicle interior can cause catastrophic neck injuries through head-first impact. Ex vivo cadaver tests are valuable for studying these mechanisms of head-first axial loading neck injuries; however, they lack a biofidelic representation of neuromuscular control, postural stability, and overall spine posture. Computational modeling can be used to evaluate changes in the risk of neck injury under the influence of muscle forces, yet the exact muscles and levels of forces that are involved leading up to a head-first impact are unknown. Knowing the state of the neck prior to impact is critical to improving cadaveric and computational models of neck injury.
Four human volunteer experiments were conducted to determine whether inversion, head position, muscle tensing, and dynamic motion influence the cervical spine alignment. These four studies included: (1) static inversion, (2) muscle tensing, (3) moment generation, (4) dynamic flexion/extension. For each experiment, cervical alignment was captured using fluoroscopy and muscle activity was captured using electromyography.
The inverted posture and muscle activations were found to be different than the upright relaxed posture and the differences depend on the position of the head (study 1). Actively tensing the neck muscles in a free unconstrained task (study 2) and in generating flexion and extension forces with head constraint (study 3) resulted in different cervical alignment compared to the initial resting spine. Not only do these neck muscle contractions induce postural changes, they also provide a substantial stiffening effect to the neck. Finally, dynamically arriving at the neutral position did not result in the same cervical alignment as static neutral and the alignment depended on the direction that neutral is approached from (full flexion or full extension).
These findings suggest that it may not be sufficient to replicate the upright resting posture in cadaveric and computational models of neck injury. Adopting in vivo postures and muscle activations, relevant to head-first impact, in the laboratory may help in replicating the spectrum of injuries observed in real life rollovers, an important step toward injury prevention.
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Short, Ken. "A finite model of the human vertebral centrum." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 1986. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.321232.
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De, Beer N., L. Christelis, and der Merwe A. F. Van. "Evaluating the relationship between external markers and internal vertebral kinematics in the cervical spine." Journal for New Generation Sciences, Vol 10, Issue 3: Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/11462/614.
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Published ArticleThe objective of this study was to examine the relationship between external markers typically used in external motion capturing devices and the true vertebral kinematics in the cervical spine. Twenty one healthy subjects were subjected to low dosage X-rays in five different positions, while radio opaque markers were attached to the skin at each vertebral level. Distance and angle parameters were constructed for vertebral prediction from skin surface markers. The causes of variation in these parameters were identified by investigating the correlations of these parameters with anthropometrical variables. Strong correlations of the parameters were observed in flexion, but in extension, especially full extension, the correlations were poor to insignificant. In neutral, half flexion, and full flexion it is possible to predict the vertebral position from surface markers by using the parameters and anthropometrical variables. In half extension this prediction is less accurate and in full extension alternative methods should be investigated for external motion capturing.
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Van, Herp Guy. "The validation and use of a three dimensional goniometry system to investigate lumbar motion in healthy subjects and low back pain patients undergoing manual mobilisation." Thesis, Open University, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.482112.
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Jersenius, Ylva, and Erika Möller. "A medical device for spinal motion restriction : Development of a device for safe and efficient patient handling." Thesis, Luleå tekniska universitet, Institutionen för ekonomi, teknik och samhälle, 2020. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-80042.
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Prehospital emergency care is facing a paradigm shift. Spinal motion restriction (SMR) is a way to treat trauma patients with symptoms of spinal injury. It was earlier entitled as ‘routine SMR’, and included spine board and cervical collar. During the 2000s, it has been noted that there is a lack of scientific evidence that proves the benefits with ‘routine SMR’. This led an expert group to the development of the national guidelines, that were published in 2019. The national guidelines can be described as ‘selective SMR’, where the cervical collar and spine board is excluded. It means that the SMR shall be adapted to the patient and not the equipment. Furthermore, the patient should be involved as much as possible in the treatment. This master thesis has been conducted at the Luleå University of Technology (LTU), in collaboration with AB Germa. The objective was to enable paramedics (the users in this project) to provide trauma patients with safe and efficient SMR by improving the usability of available or future products for SMR. Therefore, the project aim was to deliver a conceptual suggestion with feedback from the users. Furthermore, a mapping with experienced problems was delivered, and a review of the available medical devices with recommendations on how the future product development of medical devices for SMR could head in a user-centred direction. The theoretical framework included both ergonomics, including anthropometry and anatomy, and semiotics to involve both the physical and cognitive aspects of good usability, as a complement to the contextual immersion to be able to develop a thought through conceptual suggestion. The contextual immersion involved contact with Sweden’s 21 regions, and 16 paramedics. Through visits, interviews, and observations information was gathered about available medical devices for SMR, and challenges that paramedics are facing with them where mapped. This was compiled in a user need specification, which formed the basis for the idea generation. The ideation resulted in over 200 ideas. Iterative feedback sessions together with the users generated five concepts, that by further feedback, and iterative work converged into one final concept. The project delivers a vest with vacuum technology that enables paramedics to perform safe and efficient SMR of trauma patients with various anatomy. The concept has the flexibility of a KED and the adaptability of a vacuum mattress. It enables ’selective SMR’ in confined spaces, and facilitates the patient to be more involved in the treatment. The project has generated insights about ’selective SMR’, and the meaning of it for future product development. Generally, we are moving towards medical devices for SMR that does not restrict movement as strictly as before. Many products in ambulance care have not been updated for a long time, and there is no doubt that there is a need for it.Inom prehospital akutsjukvård pågår just nu ett paradigmskifte. Spinal rörelsebegränsning (SRB) är ett sätt att vårda patienter som varit utsatta för trauma och som uppvisar symtom på spinal skada. Det benämndes till en början som ’rutinmässig SRB’ och inkluderade användning av spineboard och nackkrage. Under 2000-talet visade det sig finnas en avsaknad av vetenskapliga bevis som talade för fördelarna med ’rutinmässig SRB’, vilket ledde till att nackkrage och spineboard exkluderades. Det här föranledde en expertgrupp att ta fram nya nationella riktlinjer som publicerades 2019. De nationella riktlinjerna kan beskrivas som ’selektiv SRB’, vilket handlar om att SRB ska anpassas utifrån patientens tillstånd och inte efter utrustningen. Patienten ska även involveras så mycket som möjligt i omhändertagandet. Det här examensarbetet har utförts vid Luleå Tekniska Universitet (LTU), tillsammans med AB Germa. Syftet var att underlätta för ambulanssjukvårdare (användarna i det här projektet) att utföra säker och effektiv SRB på traumapatienter, genom att förbättra användbarheten hos befintliga eller framtida produkter för SRB. Målet var därför att leverera ett konceptuellt förslag med feedback från användarna. Utöver detta skulle en kartläggning av dagens utrustning och problem med dessa undersökas, med rekommendationer om hur den framtida utvecklingen kan gå mot en mer användarcentrerad riktning. För att få med de fysiska såväl som de kognitiva aspekterna av en god användbarhet så inkluderades både ergonomi, inkluderande antropometri och anatomi, samt semiotik i den teoretiska referensramen. Det här användes som ett komplement till den kontextuella undersökningen för att försäkra sig om att det framtagna konceptet var väl genomtänkt. Den kontextuella undersökningen inkluderade kontakt med Sveriges 21 regioner och 16 ambulanssjukvårdare. Genom besök, intervjuer och observationer samlades information om dagens utrustning för SRB, som utgjorde underlag för en kartläggning av de upplevda problemen. Allt sammanställdes som användarbehov i en lista. Det här kom att ligga till grund för den kommande idégenereingen, som resulterade i över 200 idéer. Iterativa feedbacksessioner tillsammans med användarna resulterade i fem koncept, som genom ännu mer feedback och iterativt arbete resulterade i ett slutgiltigt koncept. Projektet levererar en väst med vakuumteknologi som möjliggör för användarna att utföra säker och effektiv SRB på traumapatienter med varierande anatomi. Konceptet har smidigheten av en KED och följsamheten av en vakuummadrass. Den möjliggör ’selektiv SRB’ i trånga utrymmen och underlättar för patienten att vara deltagande i omhändertagandet. Projektet har också levererat insikter om vad ’selektiv SRB’ kan innebära för framtida produktutveckling. Det har visat sig att trenden går mot att utrustningen inte ska rörelsebegränsa lika mycket som den gjort tidigare. Många produkter inom ambulansen har inte uppdaterats på länge och det finns inga tvivel om att det finns ett behov för detta.
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Gilleard, Wendy. "A biomechanical investigation of the effects of pregnancy on spinal motion and rising to stand from a chair." Thesis, The University of Sydney, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/354.
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During pregnancy the female body must accommodate the enlarging gravid uterus and increased mass. Therefore the maternal musculoskeletal system is required to adapt in both morphology and functional workload. After childbirth there is a rapid change in both mass and dimensions, requiring further adaptations. The objectives of the study were to investigate seated and standing upper body posture, the kinematics of seated and standing trunk motion, and the three dimensional kinematics and kinetics during rising to stand from a chair, as pregnancy progressed and in the early post-birth period. Nine maternal subjects (aged 28 to 40 years) were tested at less than 16 weeks, 24 weeks, 30 weeks, 38 weeks gestation and at 8 weeks postbirth. The subjects, fitted with 37 retroreflective markers, were filmed during upright sitting, quiet standing, and four trials each of maximum seated and standing trunk forward flexion, side to side flexion and during maximum seated axial rotation. Three trials each of constrained and free rising to stand from a height adjustable stool and with each foot placed on a forceplate were also recorded. An eight-camera motion analysis system was used to record movements of the body segments and synchronised force plate variables in three dimensions. Motion of the ankle, knee and hip joints, pelvic, thoracic and head segments and the thoracolumbar and cervicothoracic spines and shoulder joints were investigated. Twelve nulliparous subjects (aged 21 to 35 years) were used as controls to provide standard descriptive data and to investigate the consistency of the selected biomechanical variables with repeated testing. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to investigate the possibility of linear and quadratic trends showing systematic changes within the maternal group, over the four test sessions during pregnancy for each variable. Two tailed Student t-tests were used to compare the maternal postbirth variable results with the control group. There was no significant effect of pregnancy on the upper body posture during upright sitting and quiet standing. Postbirth, the pelvic segment had a smaller anterior orientation and the thoracolumbar spine was less extended, indicating a flatter spinal curve. The maternal subjects were similar to the control subjects in early pregnancy and postbirth for trunk segment motions during seated and standing forward flexion and side to side flexion and seated axial rotation. Strategies, such as increasing the width of the base of support and reducing obstruction to movements from other body parts, were used in late pregnancy in attempts to minimise the effects of increased trunk mass and circumference. For seated and standing side to side flexion, the strategies were successful and no significant decreases in range of motion were seen. For seated and standing forward flexion and seated axial rotation, motion of the thoracic segment and the thoracolumbar spine were significantly reduced, although movement of the pelvis was less affected. In early pregnancy and postbirth the kinematics and kinetics of the lower limbs and upper body segment kinematics during constrained and free rising were generally similar to the control subjects. As pregnancy progressed there were increases in mass and dimensions of body segments. The effect of increased mass was seen in increased ground reaction forces and sagittal plane lower limb joint external moments. An increased base of support width was found in association with an increased lateral ground reaction force and ankle inversion moment from each foot, which would move the body centre of mass medially. There was little change in the three dimensional kinematics of the thoracolumbar and cervicothoracic spine, although the contribution of the upper body segments differed for each rise condition. There were also few significant changes in the displacement of the ankle, knee and hip, and the angular velocity of ankle and knee joints. The maternal subjects were thus able to flex the upper body forward, raise the body and maintain stability as pregnancy progressed, regardless of whether the rise to stand was performed in a natural manner or under constrained conditions. The overall results show that, contrary to expectations as pregnancy progressed, maternal subjects minimised propulsion rather than increasing it to overcome the increased mass and possibly limited trunk flexion. A fear of postural instability may have made the subjects more cautious and as they were able to adequately flex the trunk forward, propulsion was minimised in favour of maintaining upright terminal balance.
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Gilleard, Wendy. "A biomechanical investigation of the effects of pregnancy on spinal motion and rising to stand from a chair." University of Sydney. Physiotherapy, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/354.
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During pregnancy the female body must accommodate the enlarging gravid uterus and increased mass. Therefore the maternal musculoskeletal system is required to adapt in both morphology and functional workload. After childbirth there is a rapid change in both mass and dimensions, requiring further adaptations. The objectives of the study were to investigate seated and standing upper body posture, the kinematics of seated and standing trunk motion, and the three dimensional kinematics and kinetics during rising to stand from a chair, as pregnancy progressed and in the early post-birth period. Nine maternal subjects (aged 28 to 40 years) were tested at less than 16 weeks, 24 weeks, 30 weeks, 38 weeks gestation and at 8 weeks postbirth. The subjects, fitted with 37 retroreflective markers, were filmed during upright sitting, quiet standing, and four trials each of maximum seated and standing trunk forward flexion, side to side flexion and during maximum seated axial rotation. Three trials each of constrained and free rising to stand from a height adjustable stool and with each foot placed on a forceplate were also recorded. An eight-camera motion analysis system was used to record movements of the body segments and synchronised force plate variables in three dimensions. Motion of the ankle, knee and hip joints, pelvic, thoracic and head segments and the thoracolumbar and cervicothoracic spines and shoulder joints were investigated. Twelve nulliparous subjects (aged 21 to 35 years) were used as controls to provide standard descriptive data and to investigate the consistency of the selected biomechanical variables with repeated testing. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to investigate the possibility of linear and quadratic trends showing systematic changes within the maternal group, over the four test sessions during pregnancy for each variable. Two tailed Student t-tests were used to compare the maternal postbirth variable results with the control group. There was no significant effect of pregnancy on the upper body posture during upright sitting and quiet standing. Postbirth, the pelvic segment had a smaller anterior orientation and the thoracolumbar spine was less extended, indicating a flatter spinal curve. The maternal subjects were similar to the control subjects in early pregnancy and postbirth for trunk segment motions during seated and standing forward flexion and side to side flexion and seated axial rotation. Strategies, such as increasing the width of the base of support and reducing obstruction to movements from other body parts, were used in late pregnancy in attempts to minimise the effects of increased trunk mass and circumference. For seated and standing side to side flexion, the strategies were successful and no significant decreases in range of motion were seen. For seated and standing forward flexion and seated axial rotation, motion of the thoracic segment and the thoracolumbar spine were significantly reduced, although movement of the pelvis was less affected. In early pregnancy and postbirth the kinematics and kinetics of the lower limbs and upper body segment kinematics during constrained and free rising were generally similar to the control subjects. As pregnancy progressed there were increases in mass and dimensions of body segments. The effect of increased mass was seen in increased ground reaction forces and sagittal plane lower limb joint external moments. An increased base of support width was found in association with an increased lateral ground reaction force and ankle inversion moment from each foot, which would move the body centre of mass medially. There was little change in the three dimensional kinematics of the thoracolumbar and cervicothoracic spine, although the contribution of the upper body segments differed for each rise condition. There were also few significant changes in the displacement of the ankle, knee and hip, and the angular velocity of ankle and knee joints. The maternal subjects were thus able to flex the upper body forward, raise the body and maintain stability as pregnancy progressed, regardless of whether the rise to stand was performed in a natural manner or under constrained conditions. The overall results show that, contrary to expectations as pregnancy progressed, maternal subjects minimised propulsion rather than increasing it to overcome the increased mass and possibly limited trunk flexion. A fear of postural instability may have made the subjects more cautious and as they were able to adequately flex the trunk forward, propulsion was minimised in favour of maintaining upright terminal balance.
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Kumar, Bharathwaj. "Determination of Biomechanical Properties and Mechanobiological Behavior of a Spinal Motion Segment with Scoliosis Treatment Using Finite Element Analysis." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1303843363.
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Iyengar, Prahallad Lakshminarasimhan. "Quantification of the abdominal aortic wall motion in persons with spinal cord injury to understand abdominal aortic aneurysm pathogenesis /." May be available electronically:, 2008. http://proquest.umi.com/login?COPT=REJTPTU1MTUmSU5UPTAmVkVSPTI=&clientId=12498.
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Berki, Visar. "In Vitro Cadaveric Biomechanical Study on Spinal Deformity Correction." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1374507715.
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Alsup, Jeremy S. "Mimicking the Mechanical Behavior of Advancing Disc Degeneration Through Needle Injections." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2013. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/3569.
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Objective - To investigate the effects of injected protease solution on the mechanical advancement of disc degeneration, and to establish test protocol for future pre-clinical validation of spinal arthroplasty devices. The hypothesis that injection of a protease into a cadaveric lumbar disc will mimic advanced degeneration mechanics was the subject of this study. Summary of Background Information - Spinal disc degeneration is a universal condition that progresses in adults due to aging, disease, or injury. Stages of disc degeneration have been categorized in cadaver specimens, with each degeneration level exhibiting characteristic changes in flexibility parameters. Spinal disc tissue can be compromised through introduction of proteolytic enzymes into the collagenous fibers of the annulus fibrosus. Methods - 18 motion segments from 8 human lumbar spines were subjected to flexibility testing. Each specimen was either injected with 0.600 mL of trypsin solution in the annulus fibrosus, 0.600 mL of phosphate-buffed saline, or a fluid-less needle-stick. Motion testing followed with rotations applied in all three major spinal motions. Test sections were transected mid-disc after testing to characterize initial degeneration severity, and acquired motion data was analyzed to show flexibility traits over time. Results - Trypsin, saline, and control injections all caused changes in motion from pre-injection baselines. Saline injections were slightly more effective at mimicking the mechanics of higher grades of degeneration with more fidelity than trypsin injections. All motion parameters were altered by the study treatments, with hysteresis and neutral zone parameters experiencing changes similar to that seen in natural degeneration with greater fidelity. Lateral Bending motion showed the greatest magnitude response to injections, with Flexion-Extension tests showing the smallest change. Discussion - Unexpectedly, fluid-less control injections caused changes to hysteresis and neutral zone parameters, suggesting an alteration to viscoelastic properties due to simple needle puncture. Fluid injections (Trypsin and Saline) caused an immediate transient post-injection change to biomechanics that dissipated over time, except in Axial Rotation. Saline injections provided the highest fidelity in mimicking the motion of more advanced stages of degeneration.
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IBRAHIMY, ALAADDIN. "Computational Methodology to Estimate Resistance to Cerebrospinal Fluid Motion in the Spinal Canal for Chiari Patients with Specific and Nonspecific Symptoms." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1574449883152461.
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Tudor, Sarah Marie. "The Development of an Adaptive Driving Simulator." Scholar Commons, 2015. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5597.
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The ability to drive a car is an important skill for individuals with a spinal cord injury to maintain a high quality of life, particularly their freedom and independence. However, driving with a physical disability often requires the installation of an adaptive driving system to control steering, gas, and braking. The two main types of adaptive driving controls are mechanical and electrical, also known as drive by wire (DBW). DBW controls work by converting electric signals to mechanical actuators. Driving simulators are useful tools for adaptive driving systems because they allow users to test different control devices, to practice driving without the dangers of being on the road, and can be used as a safe way to evaluate disabled drivers. This study focused on the development of a dynamic driving simulator using DBW controls because many studies focus on mechanical controls and not DBW controls and often use static simulators.
The simulator was developed using the Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN) virtual reality system. The CAREN system (Motek Medical, Amsterdam, Netherlands) includes a six degree of freedom (DOF) motion base, an optical motion capture system, a sound system, and a 180-degree projection screen. The two DBW controls, a lever device to control the gas and brake and a small wheel device to control steering, sent an electric signal to a Phidget microcontroller board, which interfaced with the CAREN system. Several different driving scenarios were created and imported into CAREN's D-Flow software. A program was developed in D-Flow to control the scene and motion of the platform appropriately based on the DBW controls via the Phidget. The CAREN system dynamically controlled the motion platform based on the user's input. For example, if the user applied the brake suddenly, the user felt a deceleration from the motion platform moving backwards. Human testing was performed and through the use of a survey, feedback about the system was obtained. Changes were made to the simulator using the feedback obtained and further testing showed that those changes improved the simulator. The driving simulator showed the capability to provide dynamic feedback and, therefore, may be more realistic and beneficial than current static adaptive driving simulators. The dynamic adaptive driving simulator developed may improve driving training and performance of persons with spinal cord injuries. Future work will include more human testing. The dynamic feedback provided through the system's moving platform and virtual camera movement will be optimized in order to perform similarly to a real car. Testing will also be completed with and without the dynamics from the moving platform to see how this type of feedback affects the user's driving ability in the virtual environment.
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Branney, Jonathan. "An observational study of changes in cervical inter-vertebral motion and the relationship with patient-reported outcomes in patients undergoing spinal manipulative therapy for neck pain." Thesis, Bournemouth University, 2014. http://eprints.bournemouth.ac.uk/22039/.
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Spinal manipulation is a commonly sought therapy for neck pain. The present work examined sagittal plane cervical inter-vertebral kinematics in patients and healthy volunteers to explore whether motion is different in patients with neck pain, if manipulation is associated with changing cervical kinematics, and if changes are related to patient-reported outcomes. A standardised quantitative fluoroscopy (QF) image acquisition protocol for the cervical spine was developed and tested. A model of a cervical segment with a rigidly fitted digital inclinometer was rotated in the sagittal plane whilst being fluoroscopically imaged and QF results were compared for accuracy to that of the inclinometer. QF imaging sequences from ten subjects were analysed twice, six weeks apart, to assess repeatability. Finally, 30 patients and 30 age/gender-matched healthy volunteers had two cervical spine QF assessments four weeks apart. Only patients received spinal manipulation and completed patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). Kinematic variables of interest included IV-RoM, segmental hypo-mobility, paradoxical motion, instantaneous axis of rotation (IAR) location, and laxity/attainment rate. The acquisition protocol allowed for imaging sequences to be achieved in a manner acceptable to participants. QF was found to be accurate to 0.5° for rotational range of motion. Intra- and inter-observer repeatability studies revealed substantial agreement and reliability for the QF measurement of C1 to C6 rotational motion (largest standard error of measurement (SEM) = 1.14°, lowest intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.895) but not for IAR location (largest SEM = 7.66mm, lowest ICC = -0.080). Agreement and reliability were moderate-substantial for laxity/attainment rate (largest SEM = 0.04, lowest ICC = 0.70). There were no significant differences at baseline between patients and healthy volunteers in IV-RoM, or in the number of hypo-mobile, paradoxical or lax motion segments. Spinal manipulation was weakly associated with IV-RoM increases above the minimum detectable change calculated from healthy volunteers, in a dose response manner (Rho = 0.39 (95% CI: 0.014 to 0.663) p = 0.04). While the majority (87%) of patients reported clinically significant reductions in pain and disability, changes in IV-RoM were not correlated with any of the PROMs measured.
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Puentedura, Emilio J. "Development of a Clinical Prediction Rule to Identify Patients with Neck Pain likely to benefit from Cervical Spine Manipulation and a Range of Motion Exercise." Thesis, NSUWorks, 2011. https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_pt_stuetd/8.
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Background: Patients with primary reports of neck pain often present with impairments of mobility, proprioception and motor control within the cervical spine, and these impairments can negatively impact patient outcomes. Cervical spine manipulation (CSM), which involves the use of thrust techniques, has been shown to be effective for some patients presenting with a primary report of neck pain. It would be useful for clinicians to have a decision making tool, such as a clinical prediction rule (CPR), that could accurately identify that subgroup of patients that would respond dramatically to CSM. The purpose of this project was to develop that CPR. Research Design and Methods: A prospective, cohort study of consecutive patients referred to physical therapy with a primary complaint of neck pain. Eligible patients who consented to participate completed a series of self-report measures, and then received a detailed standardized history and physical examination consisting of a variety of factors commonly used to assess patients with neck pain. Regardless of the results of the clinical examination, all patients received a standardized treatment regimen consisting of CSM and exercise. Depending on response to treatment, patients were treated for one to two treatment sessions over approximately 1 week. At the end of their participation in the study, patients were classified as having experienced a successful outcome or not based on a well-accepted patient-reported reference standard of success, the Global Rating of Change Scale. Analysis: Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated for all potential predictor variables. Univariate techniques and step-wise logistic regression were used to determine the most parsimonious set of variables for prediction of treatment success. Variables retained in the regression model were used to develop a multivariate CPR to identify patients with neck pain likely to benefit from CSM. Results: Eighty-two patients were included in data analysis of which 32 (39%) had achieved a successful outcome. A CPR with 4 variables (symptom duration < 38 days, positive expectation that manipulation will help, difference in cervical rotation range of motion to either side ¡Ý 10 degrees, and pain with spring (PA) testing of the middle cervical spine) was identified. If 3 of the 4 variables (+LR 13.5) were present the chance of experiencing a successful outcome improved from 39% to 90%. Discussion: The CPR should improve decision-making for patients with neck pain by providing the ability to a priori identify patients with neck pain who are likely to benefit from CSM and exercise. However, this is only the first step in the process of developing and testing a CPR as future studies will be necessary to validate the results and should also include long-term follow-up and a comparison group to further examine the predictive value of the variables identified in the CPR.
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Peolsson, Annelie. "Functional analysis of the cervical spine : reliability, reference data and outcome after anterior cervical decompression and fusion /." Linköping, 2002. http://www.bibl.liu.se/liupubl/disp/disp2002/med738s.pdf.
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Zirbel, Shannon Alisa. "Characterization of the Mechanical Response of the Lumbar Spine." BYU ScholarsArchive, 2011. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2783.
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The primary objective of this research is to associate lumbar segmental mechanical response with intervertebral disc degeneration under physiologic testing conditions. Because no mathematical model exists for lumbar spine segmental rotations, a portion of this thesis evaluates potential methods for curve fitting the torque-rotation curves. The Dual Inflection Point (DIP) Boltzmann equation was developed during the course of this research and is presented here as a method for fitting spinal motion data wherein a physical meaning can be assigned to each of the model coefficients. This model can tell us more about the effects of degeneration, testing conditions, and other factors that are expressed in the change in spinal motion. Previous studies have investigated the relationship between the degeneration grade and flexibility of the intervertebral disc, but were completed without the presence of a compressive follower load. This study builds on past work by performing the testing under a compressive follower load. Segmental stiffness, range of motion (ROM), hysteresis area, and normalized hysteresis (hysteresis area/ROM) were evaluated and the effect of degeneration, segment level, temperature, and follower load were analyzed. Twenty-one functional spinal units (FSUs) were tested in the three primary modes of loading at both body temperature and room temperature in a near 100% humidity environment. A compressive follower load of 440 N was applied to simulate physiologic conditions. Fifteen of the twenty-one segments were also tested without the follower load to determine the effects of the load on segmental biomechanics. The grade of degeneration for each segment was determined using the Thompson scale and the torque-rotation curves were fit with the DIP-Boltzmann sigmoid curve.The effect of degeneration was statistically significant (α = 0.05) for stiffness, ROM, and hysteresis area in axial rotation (AR) and lateral bending (LB); it was also statistically significant for ROM and normalized hystersis in flexion-extension (FE). The lumbosacral joint (L5-S1) was significantly stiffer in AR and LB; the decrease in ROM and hysteresis area in AR and LB were also statistically significant for the lumbosacral joint compared to L1-L2 and L3-L4. Temperature had a significant effect on stiffness and hysteresis area in AR and on hysteresis area in LB. The follower load increased stiffness in all three modes of loading, but was significant only in AR and LB; it also reduced ROM and increased normalized hysteresis in all three modes of loading.
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Langford, Nancy Jane. "The Relationship of the Sit and Reach Test to Criterion Measures of Hamstring and Back Flexibility in Adult Males and Females." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1987. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc501137/.
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The purpose of this study was to examine the criterion-related validity of the sit and reach test as a measure of hamstring and low back flexibility in adult males and females. Subjects were 52 males and 52 females, 20 to 45 years of age. Hamstring flexibility was measured using a goniometer. Spinal flexibility was measured using a tape measure and an inclinometer. The sit and reach test was performed according to the AAHPERD Health Related Fitness Test Manual. Data were analyzed using correlations and appropriate descriptive statistics. Conclusions of the investigation were: 1) in adult males 20 to 45, the sit and reach test is a valid measure of hamstring flexibility but has questionable validity as a measure of low back flexibility, 2) in adult females 20 to 45, the sit and reach test is a moderately valid measure of hamstring flexibility and is not a valid measure of low back flexibility.
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Croft, Emily C. "Alterations in Active and Passive Behavior of Lower Back Tissues Following Six Sessions of High Velocity Low Amplitude Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Healthy Participants." UKnowledge, 2016. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cbme_etds/37.
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Non-specific low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem affecting a substantial portion of the population. The current treatments offered for non-specific LBP are oftentimes unsuccessful because the acting mechanism(s) of most treatment options are unknown. Obtaining a better understanding about the acting mechanism behind existing treatment options is, therefore, essential for the improvement of non-specific LBP treatment and management. The objective of this study was to gain a more comprehensive understanding about the acting mechanism of high velocity low amplitude spinal manipulative therapy, specifically the impact that high velocity low amplitude spinal manipulative therapy may have on the active and passive spinal musculoskeletal stabilizing subsystems along with the resultant spinal stability for healthy participants. A pre-post intervention study design completed by six healthy participants was used to quantify changes in the above noted aspects of spinal stability using a series of tests performed both before and after six sessions of high velocity low amplitude spinal manipulative therapy. The tests included seated balancing tests, lower back range of motion tests, and stress relaxation test. The six sessions of high velocity low amplitude spinal manipulative therapy did not significantly affect any of the test measurements among our healthy participant group.
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Parepalli, Bharath K. "Biomechanical Evaluation of Posterior Dynamic Stabilization Systems in Lumbar Spine." Connect to full text in OhioLINK ETD Center, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=toledo1262205380.
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Thesis (M.S.)--University of Toledo, 2009.Typescript. "Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering." "A thesis entitled"--at head of title. Bibliography: leaves 92-98.
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Salomoni, Sofia. "Correlazione tra autonomia e controllo del tronco in persone con paraplegia completa: dalla fase acuta al follow-up di 18 mesi. Uno studio prospettico longitudinale monocentrico." Bachelor's thesis, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, 2020. http://amslaurea.unibo.it/21938/.
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Contesto: l’efficacia dell’intervento fisioterapico dipende in parte dall’uso di scale di valutazione valide ed affidabili che possano documentare i cambiamenti e i risultati clinicamente rilevanti.
Disegno di studio: studio prospettico longitudinale monocentrico.
Obiettivo: valutazione della correlazione tra controllo del tronco (TLC e TCTSCI) e grado di autonomia (SCIM III).
Soggetti dello studio: 39 soggetti di entrambi i sessi e diversa età con diagnosi di paraplegia completa motoria.
Materiali e metodi: la classificazione neurologica della lesione spinale e del livello di completezza lesionale è avvenuta mediante la Classificazione ASIA e scala AIS. Per valutare il livello di autonomia raggiunta è stata utilizzata la parte sulla mobilità della scala SCIM, mentre per la valutazione funzionale del controllo del tronco sono state utilizzate la Thoracic-Lumbar Control Scale (TCL) e il Trunk Control Test for Spinal Cord Injury (TCTSCI). Le misurazioni sono avvenute dalla fase acuta (T0) al follow up di 18 mesi post dimissione (T3).
Risultati: dall’analisi statistica risulta che i pazienti migliorano le proprie autonomie sia nel corso della degenza che dopo la dimissione; nella maggior parte dei casi però, a miglioramento della scala SCIM III non corrisponde un miglioramento nelle attività rappresentate dagli item delle scale di controllo del tronco.
Conclusioni: le scale di valutazione del tronco utilizzate nella pratica clinica si sono dimostrate utili per la valutazione acuta ma non sono risultate sensibili ad alcun miglioramento nel controllo del tronco nel follow-up per le persone con paraplegia completa. Per questo si è cominciato a pensare alla possibilità di introdurre l’utilizzo di sensori inerziali indossabili come valida alternativa in grado di fornire risultati più validi ed oggettivi.
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Gonzalez, Blohm Sabrina Alejandra. "Biomechanical Testing on Cadaveric Spines for Different Treatments that Affect Lumbar Stability." Scholar Commons, 2012. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4052.
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Stenosis is one of the most common causes for spinal surgery. Laminectomy decompression and fusion are surgical procedures prescribed for this condition. The intention of this work was to investigate the effects of a laminectomy decompression, followed by fusion, on a lumbar functional spinal unit (FSU) through in vitro dynamic (±8Nm at 0.125Hz) and quasi-static (±7.5Nm at 0.1Hz) biomechanical tests, for flexion, extension, bending and rotation motions.
Six FSUs where disarticulated from four human cadaveric lumbar spines (63 ± 12 years) and were tested under the following sequence: (1) intact, (2) laminectomy decompression, and (3) Pedicle Screw System (PSS), using a load-displacement controlled system. Dynamic neutral zone (NZ), dynamic neutral zone stiffness (NZS) and the range of motion (ROM) were the parameters evaluated.
Since only 6 FSUs from different spinal levels were used, any effect related to the spinal level could not be evaluated. This limitation enforced to consider normalized data (with respect to intact) as an alternative analysis, but large standard deviations after transforming the data forced us to contemplate this "a pilot study".
Dynamic testing revealed that there were no significant differences in the neutral zone magnitude for any motion after a laminectomy decompression, while its magnitude for flexion-extension was significantly affected by PSS treatment (p<0.004). The change in dynamic NZ (normalized data) was significantly different (p<0.03) after both treatments for flexion-extension motion. The reduction in stiffness (normalized data) for extension after a laminectomy, and the increase in stiffness (normalized data) for flexion and extension after PSS treatment, were both significant (p<0.03 and p<0.05, respectively). The ROM were not statistically significant for the three treatments, but normalized data showed significant differences (p<0.05) for all motions, except for right bending after laminectomy and right rotation after PSS.
Non-normalized data from quasi-static testing didn't show any statistically significant difference between the treatments for any motion. Normalized data suggested significant differences for the change in ROM for all motions at multiple load conditions, especially for flexion and extension.
This pilot study suggests there may be a considerable effect of a laminectomy on the stability of a lumbar FSU. Dynamic data suggested the changes in neutral zone stiffness triggered by a laminectomy procedure may be significant for extension. PSS treatment increased segment's NZ stiffness by more than double. The changes in ROM from quasi-static loading caused by a laminectomy decompression may be significant as well, especially for flexion (20%) and extension (greater than 10%).
It is suggested that further studies involving spine biomechanics should consider and report, but not be limited to the following variables: exposure time of the specimen to room temperature, preservation and testing conditions, ligaments and joints conditions, testing protocol, and loading history.
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Rogers, Jason Alan. "Cyclopean motion aftereffects using spiral patterns : dissociation between local and global processing." Online access for everyone, 2007. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Thesis/Spring2007/j_rogers_042007.pdf.
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Millan, Mario. "L'effet de la manipulation vertébrale sur la douleur provoquée expérimentalement." Phd thesis, Université Paris Sud - Paris XI, 2014. http://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-00973229.
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La manipulation vertébrale (MV) est l'une des options dans le traitement des douleurs d'origine neuromusculosquelettique. Ses indications ont été identifiées à partir de l'expérience des professionnels qui l'utilisent, ainsi que des études épidémiologiques autour de ses résultats cliniques. Cependant, son mécanisme d'action précis demeure à ce jour inexpliqué.La littérature scientifique sur ce sujet est incomplète, éparse et confuse. Certains auteurs et professionnels proposent des hypothèses des mécanismes d'action neurobiologiques et d'autres biomécaniques. De plus, l'étude de la douleur rend la situation difficile en raison de la complexité des situations cliniques et des traitements associés dont les patients bénéficient. C'est la raison pour laquelle l'objectif de cette thèse est d'étudier si la MV a un effet sur la douleur provoquée de manière expérimentale. Si tel est le cas, il importe de savoir s'il est systémique ou locorégional et dans cette dernière hypothèse, si ce résultat est le produit d'une action directe de la MV sur la douleur ou secondaire à une amélioration du mouvement. N'ayant pas trouvé d'étude englobant la problématique mixte des effets de la MV sur la douleur et le mouvement, nous avons procédé à deux revues systématiques et critiques de la littérature scientifique ; l'une a porté sur son effet sur la douleur et l'autre sur l'amplitude du mouvement des segments vertébraux. Dans la première, nous avons rassemblé 22 articles décrivant 43 essais cliniques montrant un effet hypoalgésique de la MV au niveau locorégional, mais les résultats diffèrent selon la manière dont la douleur a été provoquée. Nous n'avons pas pu tirer de conclusion sur l'action systémique de la MV du fait de la qualité des articles sur ce sujet. Quant à la revue de la littérature réalisée sur l'effet de la MV sur l'amplitude du mouvement, l'étude de 15 articles ne nous a pas permis de prouver l'efficacité de cette technique pour augmenter l'amplitude des mouvements segmentaires, malgré des limitations à prendre en considération, notamment le fait que ces études ont été réalisées sur des volontaires sains et non sur des patients avec une mobilité réduite. A partir de là, nous concluons que l'effet de la MV sur la douleur est plutôt direct, et défendons la thèse que l'hypoalgésie induite par la MV permet l'amélioration et la récupération de la fonction de mouvement, et non l'inverse.Cependant, même si nous répondons à nos questions de recherche, ces réponses demeurent partielles et le sujet reste à approfondir. Nos deux revues indiquent qu'il reste à clarifier : les mécanismes exacts des effets de la MV sur la douleur, la durée des effets, les rapports "dose/effet", l'identification des techniques les plus efficaces, ou encore, sur le ciblage plus fin des patients à traiter. Il en est de même en ce qui concerne l'étude de l'effet de la MV sur l'amplitude du mouvement, où il manque notamment des études réalisées sur des patients et des personnes présentant des mouvements limités. Des améliorations sont également à prévoir dans la coordination des chercheurs les rassemblant autour d'une politique de recherche partagée sur le long/moyen terme, et à partir d'un consensus méthodologique, particulièrement en termes de suivi des essais, d'unités de mesures, de précision des critères de qualité des essais, de promotion de méta-analyses, etc. Au total, si la MV semble avoir un effet direct sur la douleur, il n'en demeure pas moins que la connaissance détaillée de ses mécanismes et des modalités d'application dans la pratique clinique reste à approfondir, ce qui pourrait devenir un véritable enjeu pour la communauté des chercheurs, des enseignants et des cliniciens.
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Tsoi, Man. "Persistence of planar spiral waves under domain truncation near the core." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1148486634.
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Jamalian, Arash. "A new method for characterizing spindle radial error motion : a two-dimensional point of view." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/23754.
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This thesis presents a new two dimensional (2D) method based on complex Fourier series to characterize spindle radial error motions. One subtlety of spindle metrology is that the radial motion measurements have an undesired component caused by the ball installation eccentricity. The current standard methods cannot distinguish between this undesired component and fundamental radial error motion of spindle. The new 2D method identifies what fundamental radial error motion is and how it can be distinguished from the test ball installation eccentricity.
Current standard methods give the consequence of radial error motion in two classes of spindle applications, but not the radial error motion itself. By identifying the fundamental radial error motion, the 2D method can not only determine the axis of rotation radial error motion, but also the consequence of error motion in all classes of spindle applications, including a new class of applications with two radial sensitive directions.
Experiments are carried out on two types of spindles to confirm that fundamental radial error motion not only exists but it can have a magnitude higher than any other error motion component. The 2D method is used to find the actual radial error motion of the spindles as well as the consequence of error motion in applications. Possible physical causes of the fundamental error motion are also discussed and experiments are carried out to identify their actual effect on the spindles under test.
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Randriamampandry, Toky Herimandimby. "Correcting the rotation curve of spiral galaxies for the non-circular motions induced by a bar." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25430.
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The mass distribution of disk galaxies is usually determined through the use of rotation curves. This determination relies on two key assumptions; that the gas moves on circular orbits and that this motion traces the underlying gravitational potential. In the case of barred spiral galaxies the first assumption is false as the bar induces non-circular streaming motions in the gas. Therefore, the rotation curves of barred galaxies need to be corrected for the non-circular motions before being used for mass model analysis. In this dissertation, we use numerical simulations to quantify and correct for the non-circular flows induced by a bar. The aim is to investigate and quantify the effect of the bar properties on the amplitude of the non-circular motions. This is done by comparing the observational data such as rotation curves and bar properties with the kinematics and bar properties obtained from mocked galaxies. In chapter III, we examine the performance of ROTCUR and DISKFIT for deriving rotation curves from velocity maps of barred spiral galaxies using mock observations. Our results confirm that ROTCUR under-/overestimates measured rotation curves if the bar is aligned with one of the symmetry axes. The DISKFIT algorithm, which is specifically designed for barred galaxies only works for galaxies of intermediate bar orientations. In chapter IV, we quantify the magnitude of the non-circular flows and constraint the range of bar orientation angles where DiskFit fails by using Tree-SPH simulations from the GalMer database by Chilingarian et al . (2010 ). We found that the rotation curve obtained from ROTCUR was 40% smaller/larger than the expected velocities calculated from the gravitational potential when the bar is aligned with the major/minor axis. For the DISKFIT analysis, we found that DiskFit produces unrealistic values for all the models when the bar is within ten degrees of the symmetry axes. New hydrodynamic simulations of three disc galaxies (NGC 1300 , NGC 1530 and NGC 3621 ) are presented in chapter IV. Our objective is to create more realistic simulated galaxies that replicate the bar properties and velocity elds of the galaxies of our sample. The initial conditions for our simulations are determined through a Bayesian analysis of the azimuthally averaged rotation curve, the stellar surface brightness, and the gas surface density. The parameters posterior distribution functions (PDFs) combine with the disc stability parameters PDFs are used as criterion to select the model parameters. The velocities of the gas particles are transformed into velocity maps and compared with the observed galaxies. We are able to reproduce the bar properties and kinematics of the three galaxies in our sample. These findings imply that a tailored simulation is an effective way of investigating non-circular flows in disc galaxies especially when the bar orientation is close to the minor or major kinematical axis of the galaxy.
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Handzic, Ismet. "Design and Testing of a Motion Controlled Gait Enhancing Mobile Shoe (GEMS) for Rehabilitation." Scholar Commons, 2011. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/3141.
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Persons suffering central nervous system damage, such as a stroke, coma patients, or individuals that have suffered damage to the spinal cord, brainstem, cerebellum, and motor cortex, sometimes develop an asymmetric walking pattern where one leg does not fully swing backward. This uneven gait hinders these individuals in properly and efficiently moving through everyday life.
Previous research in humans and various animals has introduced a split belt treadmill to analyze possible rehabilitation, which can recreate a correct gait pattern by altering the speed of each track. Gait adaptation was achieved by having the split belt treadmill move each leg at a different velocity relative to the ground and thus forcing a symmetric gait. Test subjects‟ gait would adapt to the speeds and a normal gait pattern could be conditioned while on the split belt treadmill. However, after short trials, individuals were unable to neurologically store these feed-forward walking patterns once walking over ground. Also, test subjects would have difficulty adapting their learned walking gait over different walking environments.
The gait enhancing mobile shoe (GEMS) makes it possible to adjust an asymmetric walking gait so that both legs move at a relatively symmetric speed over ground. It alters the wearers walking gait by forcing each foot backwards during the stance phase, operating solely by mechanical motion, transferring the wearer‟s downward force into a horizontal backwards motion. Recreating the split belt treadmill effect over ground by using the GEMS will potentially enable me to test the long term effects of a corrected gait, which is impossible using a split belt treadmill.
A previous prototype of the GEMS [1] successfully generated a split belt treadmill walking pattern, but had various drawbacks, such as variable motion from step to step. My new design of this rehabilitation shoe promises to alter the user‟s gait as a split belt treadmill does, and to be mechanically stable operating without any external power sources.
I designed and constructed a new motion controlled gait enhancing mobile shoe that improves the previous version‟s drawbacks. While mimicking the asymmetric gait motion experienced on a split-belt treadmill, this version of the GEMS has motion that is continuous, smooth, and regulated with on-board electronics. An interesting aspect of this new design is the Archimedean spiral wheel shape that redirects the wearer‟s downward force into a horizontal backward motion. The design is passive and does not utilize any motors and actuators. Its motion is only regulated by a small magnetic pthesis brake. Initial tests show the shoe operates as desired, but further experimentation is needed to evaluate the long-term after-effects.
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Пестунов, В. М., В. В. Свяцький, Л. П. Свяцька, V. Pestunov, V. Sviatskyi, and L. Sviatska. "Імітація силового навантаження на шпиндель." Thesis, Publishing House „Education and science” s.r.o, 2009. http://dspace.kntu.kr.ua/jspui/handle/123456789/6514.
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Розглянуто пристрій для імітації силового навантаження на шпиндель, що виникають при його обертовому і поступальному рухах. The device for simulating a power load on a spindle, which arise at its rotary and translational motions is considered.
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Gerving, Corey Scott. "Dynamics of a spin-1 BEC in the regime of a quantum inverted pendulum." Diss., Georgia Institute of Technology, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1853/47651.
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The primary study of this thesis is the experimental realization of the non-equilibrium dynamics of a quantum inverted pendulum as examined in the collective spin dynamics of a spin-1 Bose-Einstein condensate. In order to compare experimental results with the simulation past the low depletion limit, current simulation techniques needed to be extended to model atomic loss. These extensions show that traditional measurements of the system evolution (e.g. measuring the mean and standard deviation of the evolving quantity) were insufficient in capturing the quantum nature of the evolution. It became necessary to look at higher order moments and cumulants of the distributions in order to capture the quantum fluctuations. Extending the implications of the loss model further, it is possible that the system evolves in a way previously unpredicted. Spin-mixing from a hyperbolic fixed point in the phase space and low noise atom counting form the core of the experiment to measure the evolution of the distributions of the spin populations. The evolution of the system is also compared to its classical analogue, the momentum-shortened inverted pendulum.
The other experimental study in this thesis is mapping the mean-field phase space. The mean-field phase space consists of different energy contours that are divided into both phase-winding trajectories and closed orbits. These two regions are divided by a separatrix whose orbit has infinite period. Coherent states can be created fairly accurately within the phase space and allowed to evolve freely. The nature of their subsequent evolution provides the shape of the phase space orbit at that initial condition. From this analysis a prediction of the nature of the entire phase space is possible.
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Antri, Myriam. "Contrôle sérotoninergique de la locomotion : étude de la restauration de la fonction chez le rat paraplégique et des propriétés intrinsèques des motoneurones spinaux." Paris 6, 2004. http://www.theses.fr/2004PA066002.
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Martinez, Lozada Francisco Mauricio. "The effects of L4/5 fusion on the adjacent segments in the lumbar spine." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2016. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/the-effects-of-l45-fusion-on-the-adjacent-segments-in-the-lumbar-spine(1b88de80-7c39-4646-860d-7312ca21d947).html.
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Lumbar intervertebral disc disorder is a spinal condition that affects the normal function of the intervertebral discs mainly due to the natural aging process. This condition can manifest itself in pain and limited motion in the legs, amongst others. Posterolateral Fusion (PLF) and Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF) are two of the most used surgical procedures for treating lumbar intervertebral disc disease. Although these procedures are commonly used and performed successfully the impact in terms of the stresses developed in the posterior implants employed and in the spinal components adjacent to the surgical site has not been exhaustively investigated. In addition, the consequences of the procedure on the reduction of the Range of Motion of the lumbar spine is not clearly understood. The objective of this research is to investigate the effect of one-level spinal fusion of lumbar segment L4-L5 on the stresses and the range of motion at the remaining, adjacent lumbar levels. Four 3 dimensional finite element models of a lumbosacral spine were created from Computer Tomography data (CT scan). The models were used to investigate four surgical scenarios, including the use of 0o and 4o interbody cages, in addition to the un-instrumented spine for flexion, extension, torsion and lateral bending motions. The predictions obtained from the models enabled the mechanical behaviour of the lumbar spine following fusion surgery using 0 o and 4o cages to be investigated and compared. In addition, a clinical study was performed to quantify the reduction in the range of motion for subjects who had undergone L4/5 posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery. The clinical results were compared to those of subjects who had not undergone surgery and to the range of motion predictions from the computational model. The results from this research demonstrate that the insertion of posterior instrumentation does not have an impact on the spinal structures above the L3/4 intervertebral disc. However, the pedicle screws and the insertion of the interbody cages causes stress levels in the area adjacent to the surgical site to rise which could promote accelerated degeneration of the discs. Additionally, this study demonstrates how the pedicle screws are affected by the surgical spinal fusion techniques. Furthermore, the investigation demonstrates how posterior lumbar interbody fusion causes the range of motion of patients that had undergone this surgery to decrease. The results from the comparison of the behaviour of the use of 0º and 4º interbody cages in L4-5 posterolateral fusion demonstrates that the stress levels in the adjacent vertebrae, intervertebral discs and pedicle screw fixation system increase when 4º are used cages than when 0º cages were employed. The results from the in-vitro study show a decrease in the range of motion of the subjects who had undergone L4/5 posterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery when compared with the subjects with no low back pain history. This indicates that the PLIF surgery combined with the normal disc degeneration is subjected to higher stresses than the healthy spine.
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Slavíček, Josef. "Měření vřeten obráběcích strojů pomocí bezkontaktních snímačů." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta strojního inženýrství, 2013. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-230490.
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The goal of this work is to propose a suitable methodology for measuring and evaluating the geometric precision of spindle rotation. Identification and classification of errors while moving spindle. Part of this work should be also a program in LabVIEW that evaluate the errors in the motion of the spindle. Practical functionality of the proposed measurement system should be tested at selected MCV754 QUICK machines, lathes SV 18 and milling machine FNG 32. For processing of the results should be used basic statistical procedures. This thesis includes research in the field of machine tool spindles and different ways of measuring spindle motion deviations from the ideal path. There is also included the effect of sensors to measuring spindle running accuracy and identification of suitable sensors applicable for this application. There is a proposal of measurement of selected machinery, and defines all the components required for measurements that were used during spindle running precision measurement. Part of this work is a basic description of the program developed for evaluating errors in the motion of the spindle.
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Потічко, Анатолій Сергійович, and Anatoliy Potichko. "Комп’ютерне дослідження динамічних характеристик елементів приводу головного руху радіально-свердлильного верстату." Master's thesis, Тернопіль, 2018. http://elartu.tntu.edu.ua/handle/lib/23961.
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Потічко А.С.; "Комп'ютерне дослідження динамічних характеристик
елементів приводу головного руху радіально-свердлильного верстату". 133 –
Галузеве машинобудування; Тернопільський національний технічний
університет імені Івана Пулюя; м. Тернопіль, 2018 р.Potichko A.S.; "Computer-aided research of dynamic characteristics of main motion drive elements of radial-drilling machine". 133 - industrial engineering; Ternopil Ivan Pul'uj National Technical University; Ternopil, 2018.
У дипломній роботі розглянуті питання, які пов'язані з аналізом технологічного процесу механічної обробки деталі, дослідженням комплексу формотворних рухів та розробкою компонувальних схем верстата для їх повного або часткового забезпечення. Реалізовано проектний розрахунок та розробку окремих вузлів верстата. Запропоновано модернізувати коробку швидкостей радіально-свердлильного верстата шляхом видалення перших трьох валів для регулювання швидкостей і заміни асинхронного двигуна на високомоментний двигун постійного струму. У процесі комп'ютерного моделювання нами також враховано, що зменшення кількості кінематичних пар, які одночасно беруть участь у передачі крутного моменту спрятиме зменшенню вібрацій на траверсі через усунення джерела вимушених коливань. За результатами проведених комп'ютерних досліджень засобами 3D моделювання та аналітичних розрахунків підтверджено доцільність вкорочення кінематичного ланцюга приводу головного руху, що також приведе до зменшення моменту інерції приводу головного руху для таких типів верстатів в цілому.
Thesis includes issues related to the analysis of the process of machining parts, research complex movements shaping and developing the machine layout schemes for their full or partial support. Implemented project calculation and design of individual units of the machine. It is proposed to upgrade the gear box speed of the radial-drilling machine by removing the first three shafts for speed control and replacing the asynchronous motor with a high-speed DC motor. In the process of computer modeling, we also take into account that reducing the number of kinematic pairs that simultaneously participate in the transmission of torque will constrain the reduction of vibrations on the traverse through the removal of the source of forced oscillations. According to the results of computer research conducted by means of 3D modeling and analytical calculations, the expediency of shortening the kinematic chain of the main motion drive has been confirmed, which will also lead to a decrease in the moment of inertia of the main drive for such types of machine tools in general.
Вступ; Аналітичний розділ; Оптимізація схем формоутворення на проектованому верстаті і оптимізація його компонувальної схеми; Вибір та обґрунтування вихідних даних на розробку верстатного обладнання; Технологічний розрахунок; Проектування конструкції верстатного обладнання; Науково-дослiдний роздiл; Спеціальний розділ, обґрунтування економічної ефективності прийнятих рішень; Охорона праці та безпека в надзвичайних ситуаціях; Екологія; Висновки
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Kokkalis, Efstratios. "Fluid dynamic assessments of spiral flow induced by vascular grafts." Thesis, University of Dundee, 2014. https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/5b96492f-983f-4baa-8e48-20da6939e65c.
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Peripheral vascular grafts are used for the treatment of peripheral arterial disease and arteriovenous grafts for vascular access in end stage renal disease. The development of neo-intimal hyperplasia and thrombosis in the distal anastomosis remains the main reason for occlusion in that region. The local haemodynamics produced by a graft in the host vessel is believed to significantly affect endothelial function. Single spiral flow is a normal feature in medium and large sized vessels and it is induced by the anatomical structure and physiological function of the cardiovascular system. Grafts designed to generate a single spiral flow in the distal anastomosis have been introduced in clinical practice and are known as spiral grafts. In this work, spiral peripheral vascular and arteriovenous grafts were compared with conventional grafts using ultrasound and computational methods to identify their haemodynamic differences. Vascular-graft flow phantoms were developed to house the grafts in different surgical configurations. Mimicking components, with appropriate acoustic properties, were chosen to minimise ultrasound beam refraction and distortion. A dual-beam two-dimensional vector Doppler technique was developed to visualise and quantify vortical structures downstream of each graft outflow in the cross-flow direction. Vorticity mapping and measurements of circulation were acquired based on the vector Doppler data. The flow within the vascular-graft models was simulated with computed tomography based image-guided modelling for further understanding of secondary flow motions and comparison with the experimental results. The computational assessments provided a three-dimensional velocity field in the lumen of the models allowing a range of fluid dynamic parameters to be predicted. Single- or double-spiral flow patterns consisting of a dominant and a smaller vortex were detected in the outflow of the spiral grafts. A double- triple- or tetra-spiral flow pattern was found in the outflow of the conventional graft, depending on model configuration and Reynolds number. These multiple-spiral patterns were associated with increased flow stagnation, separation and instability, which are known to be detrimental for endothelial behaviour. Increased in-plane mixing and wall shear stress, which are considered atheroprotective in normal vessels, were found in the outflow of the spiral devices. The results from the experimental approach were in agreement with those from the computational approach. This study applied ultrasound and computational methods to vascular-graft phantoms in order to characterise the flow field induced by spiral and conventional peripheral vascular and arteriovenous grafts. The results suggest that spiral grafts are associated with advanced local haemodynamics that may protect endothelial function and thereby may prevent their outflow anastomosis from neo-intimal hyperplasia and thrombosis. Consequently this work supports the hypothesis that spiral grafts may decrease outflow stenosis and hence improve patency rates in patients.
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Sedlák, Pavel. "Konstrukce multifunkčního obráběcího centra." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta strojního inženýrství, 2011. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-229854.
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This master thesis deals with the construction of multi-functional machining centre. The theoretical part describes the history of lathes, trends in production of lathes and individual machine parts. The practical part is the structural design of the spindle with positioning in the C axis, the second spindle (including drive in Z axis) and the turret (including drive in the X and Z axis). A 3-D model of the entire lathe assembly modeled in Autodesk Inventor 2010 is also included.
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Tatíček, Jiří. "Návrh vřeteníku odhrotovacího stroje." Master's thesis, Vysoké učení technické v Brně. Fakulta strojního inženýrství, 2015. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-232058.
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The aim of this thesis is design of deburring machine, focusing on the headstock, capable of aligning the front side and chamfering at the round bars. At the beginning is a short research design nodes, used in the construction of machine tools. As part of the work was done and the measurement of cutting forces to determine the load while standing. Work also includes a series of calculations to justify the use of selected components. The outcome of the work is also a 3D model.
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Pugieux, Céline. "Meiotic spindle assembly on chromatin micropatterns : investigating the roles of Augmin, Kinesin-10 and Kinesin-4." Thesis, Strasbourg, 2014. http://www.theses.fr/2014STRAJ011.
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La division cellulaire est essentielle pour la survie de chaque être vivant. Au cours de ce processus, les chromosomes de la cellule en division sont transmis aux deux cellules filles. La répartition des chromosomes est orchestrée par une structure cellulaire transitoire appelée fuseau mitotique (ou fuseau méiotique dans les cellules reproductrices). Le fuseau est composé de microtubules, de nombreuses protéines et de moteurs moléculaires, qui interagissent de manière complexe et précise aboutissant à l’organisation d’une structure bipolaire dynamique. Comme certains mécanismes moléculaires restent mal compris, nous avons choisi d'aborder la question de l'assemblage du fuseau méiotique dans des extraits d'oeufs de grenouille. Xenopus laevis est un organisme modèle car il est proche, d’un aspect phylogénétique, de l'homme, et il est particulièrement adapté à l’étude de la division cellulaire. Nous avons également utilisé une méthode in vitro (appelée spindle array ou puce à fuseaux) qui a été développée au sein du groupe de recherche auparavant, et qui offre certains avantages par rapport aux approches existantes. Une puce à fuseaux est composée de billes recouvertes de chromatine immobilisées selon des micro-motifs géométriques obtenus selon une technique d’impression par microcontact. L'assemblage des fuseaux méiotiques a été visualisé par microscopie confocale à fluorescence. Grâce à ces outils, nous avons, lors d’un premier projet, abordé le rôle de l’Augmin dans l'assemblage des fuseaux. L’Augmin est un complexe protéique récemment identifié grâce à son hypothétique rôle dans la nucléation de microtubules à partir de microtubules existants. Après déplétion de l’Augmin, nous avons constaté que la nucléation des microtubules était réduite et que les fuseaux avaient une morphologie anormale. De plus, ces derniers qui étaient essentiellement multipolaires sont progressivement devenus bipolaires grâce à une voie de nucléation des microtubules, découverte lors de notre étude, émanant des pôles acentrosomaux et qui est indépendante de l’Augmin. Nos résultats révèlent que l’Augmin est essentiel pour l’assemblage et la bipolarité du fuseau acentrosomal. Au cours d’un second projet, nous avons étudié les fonctions des chromokinésines kinésine-4 (Xklp1) et kinésine-10 (Xkid) dans l'assemblage des fuseaux et leurs mouvements. Xkid participe à la force d’éjection polaire nécessaire à la congression des chromosomes alors que Xklp1 contribue principalement à la régulation de la dynamique des microtubules. En étudiant l'assemblage de fuseaux dans des extraits après déplétion de Xkid, Xklp1 ou les deux, nous avons démontré que Xkid limite la dynamique des mouvements longitudinaux des fuseaux, contribue à la mise en place de la bipolarité et régule la longueur des fuseaux. Nous avons également quantifié la cinétique de nucléation des microtubules et confirmé le rôle de Xklp1 dans la régulation de la dynamique des microtubules. L’ensemble de nos travaux contribuent à une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes d’assemblage du fuseau méiotique et confirme la pertinence de notre méthode pour l'étude de sa morphogenèseCell division is essential for the survival of every living organism. During this process, the chromosomes of the dividing cell are transmitted to the two daughter cells. The partition of the chromosomes is orchestrated by a transient sub-cellular structure called the mitotic spindle (or meiotic spindle in gamete cells). The spindle is composed of microtubules, numerous proteins and molecular motors, which interact in an intricate and yet precise manner leading to a highly dynamic and complexstructure. As some molecular mechanisms remain elusive, we have chosen to address the question of meiotic spindle assembly in Xenopus egg extracts. Xenopus laevis is a model system that is evolutionary close to human, and suitable for cell division studies. We have combined this with an in vitro assay - spindle array - which we developed prior to this work, and which provides advantages over existing approaches. A spindle array is composed of chromatin-coated beads that are immobilized according to geometrical patterns obtained by microcontact printing. The assembly of meiotic spindles wasvisualized by time-lapse fluorescence confocal microscopy. Using these tools, we first addressed the role of augmin in the assembly of meiotic spindles. Augmin is a recently identified protein complex that has been hypothesized to induce microtubule nucleation from the side of preexisting microtubules. By depleting augmin, we found that microtubule nucleationwas reduced and that spindles were morphologically impaired. Spindles were predominantly multipolar but finally reached bipolarity as a result of a newly uncovered augmin-independent microtubule nucleation pathway from acentrosomal poles. Our results thus reveal that augmin is essential for the proper establishment of the microtubule scaffolding and the bipolarity ofacentrosomal spindles. Secondly, we investigated the functions of the chromokinesins kinesin-4 (Xklp1) and kinesin-10 (Xkid)in acentrosomal spindle architecture and motions. Xkid plays a major role in the polar ejection forces leading chromosome movements during congression while the main function of XKlp1 is to regulate microtubule dynamics. We studied spindle assembly in depleted extracts and we report that Xkid limits the dynamics of spindle longitudinal movements, contributes to spindle bipolarity and affects spindle length while XKlp1 controls the spindle microtubule mass. Altogether these findings contribute to a better understanding of meiotic spindle assembly and confirm the pertinence of our method to study spindle morphogenesis
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Araujo, Luis Gustavo de Jesus. "Uma Abordagem em Espiral para Disciplinas Iniciais de Programa??o na Educa??o Profissional em Inform?tica." Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, 2018. http://tede2.uefs.br:8080/handle/tede/696.
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Teaching programming is a great challenge in every educational stage and in several institutions of the world, being a general problem in the area of computing education. In the Brazilian Informatics vocational high school programs, historical issues of the Professional Education System in Brazil make this problem even harder. With these issues in mind, we proposed and evaluated a teaching approach based on spiral learning associated with programming environments for novices and contexts relevant to students, aiming to improve motivation and learning in programming courses. Three case studies were carried out: one in Midlle School, and two in vocational high school programs in Informatics in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. The case studies were split into three contextualized blocks, where programming content was learned through a context, using appropriate tools. Contexts such as games, geometric figures and images were used, as well as Scratch, JES and PPlay tools. Given the qualitative and quantitative nature of this research, we used sur- veys, interviews, observations, evaluations and logbooks to obtain the data. Results on motivation are described in terms of the ARCS model (Attention, Relevance, Confidence and Satisfaction), and the results on learning are described from student exams and qualitative data. Results point to high levels of motivation during the whole approach and to the influence in student motivation of either maintaining or changing context and tools used in each block. Regarding learning, results demonstrate that the approach has enhanced learning of some concepts. One noti- ces that Scratch helped in understanding Functions, Select and Repeart Structures, and that the use of the Python language led to better understanding of Variables and Relational Operators. About object-oriented programming concepts, students showed ease with Classes, Constructors, Objects and Variables. This study also reveals the mutual influence between student motivation and learning. The results, materials, research design and the courses presented in this work may contribute to the design of other vocational courses and to the research on teaching and learning programming.
O ensino de programa??o ? um grande desafio em todas as modalidades de ensino e em v?rias institui??es de diversos pa?ses, configurando-se como um problema geral na ?rea de Computa??o. Nos cursos t?cnicos em inform?tica brasileiros, somam-se os problemas hist?ricos da Educa??o Profissional no Brasil. Diante destes problemas, buscou-se a motiva??o e o aprendizado em disciplinas de programa??o, atrav?s de uma abordagem se ensino em espiral e contextualizada. Foram realizados tr?s estudos de caso: um, no ensino Fundamental, e dois, em cursos t?cnicos de Inform?tica, no munic?pio de Feira de Santana, Bahia. Os estudos de caso foram divididos em tr?s blocos contextualizados, onde estudavam-se conte?dos de programa??o atrav?s de um contexto, usando ferramentas apropriadas. Foram utilizados contextos como Jogos, Figuras geom?tricas e Imagens, assim como as ferramentas Scratch, JES e PPlay. Tendo em vista o car?ter qualitativo e quantitativo da pesquisa, utilizamos question?rios, entrevistas, observa??es, avalia??es e di?rios de bordo para obten??o dos dados. Os resultados sobre motiva??o s?o descritos em termos do modelo ARCS (Aten??o, Relev?ncia, Confian?a e Satisfa??o), enquanto que os resultados sobre aprendizagem s?o descritos a partir das avalia??es e dos dados qualitativos. Os resultados apontam para altos ?ndices de motiva??o, durante toda a abordagem e para a influ?ncia direta da manuten??o ou mudan?a do contexto e das ferramentas, utilizadas nos blocos, na motiva??o dos estudantes. Quanto `a aprendizagem, os resultados demonstram que a abordagem potencializou a aprendizagem de alguns conceitos. Percebe-se que o Scratch auxiliou na compreens?o de Fun??o, Estruturas de Repeti??o e Sele??o e que o uso da linguagem Python possibilitou uma maior compreens?o sobre Vari?veis e sobre Operadores Relacionais. Quanto ? orienta??o a objetos, os estudantes apresentaram facilidades em Classes, Construtores e Objetos. Este estudo revela ainda, rela??es de influ?ncia entre a motiva??o dos estudantes e a aprendizagem. Espera-se que os resultados, os materiais e o design da pesquisa e das disciplinas, aqui apresentados, possam contribuir para a concep??o de disciplinas de programa??o em outros cursos t?cnicos e para a investiga??o sobre o ensino-aprendizagem de programa??o.
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Hsu, Sheng-Jhe, and 徐聖哲. "iSpine: A Motion-Sensing Edutainment System for Improving Children’s Spinal Health." Thesis, 2013. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/11963557253076447110.
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碩士國立臺灣大學
資訊網路與多媒體研究所
101
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person’s spine is abnormally curved. It could lead to permanent nerve damage, unprovoked pain, and deformed appearances, and afflicts up to 12% of the population according to recent studies. While early spinal health education is especially important for children and adolescents and their developing bones and habits, current education primarily relies on textbooks and has limited student motivation and engagement. We present iSpine, a Kinect-based edutainment system co-designed with children and domain experts for improving spinal health through motion-based therapeutic exercises and educational content. Our system incorporates a reward system and a pet-based storyline to motivate users and was conducted over a 4-week field study with 7 children. Results showed that children had: 1) significantly improved their asymmetry in range of motion (ROM) – an important indicator for diagnosing scoliosis – from 19◦ to 7◦, 2) significantly improved their scores on spinal health concepts from 78% to 94%, 3) strongly favored iSpine to the current spinal health curriculum, and 4) showed strong interest in using iSpine daily.
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Figley, Chase. "Improved Methods for Motion-Compensating and Event-Related Spinal Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1974/5984.
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Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has become a widely used technique for non-invasive brain mapping, and methods have now evolved to allow fMRI of the spinal cord (spinal fMRI) as well. With the goal of improving spinal fMRI, the studies presented herein have investigated potential sources of noise that might limit its sensitivity and reliability. For example, multiple studies had previously suggested that the majority of structured physiological noise, such as spinal cord motion and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow, appeared to be synchronous with cardiac pulsations. Therefore, we measured cardiac-related spinal cord motion at various levels along the cord, finding that peak anterior-posterior spinal cord displacements often exceeded 0.5 mm throughout the cervical and upper-thoracic regions. On the other hand, we found that cord motion throughout the lower-thoracic, lumbar and sacral levels was consistently small. Based on these findings, we concluded that cord motion is likely to be a significant source of error in spinal fMRI throughout superior, but not inferior, cord regions.
Since all motion measurements were acquired at 24 phases of the cardiac cycle, this also allowed us to determine, and subsequently model, the main components of cardiac-related spinal cord motion. By then including these terms in a general linear model (GLM) analysis and reanalyzing 100 previously acquired cervical spinal fMRI datasets, we showed that the sensitivity and specificity were improved by 15-20 % and 5-6 %, respectively, over previous spinal fMRI methods. To push the limits of these improvements, we then carried out the first event-related spinal fMRI study, consistently observing spinal cord responses to 1 s applications of 22 °C thermal stimulation. By measuring these responses at many different phases, we were also able, for the first time, to characterize the impulse response function of SEEP (signal enhancement by extravascular water protons) contrast in the human cervical spinal cord.Thesis (Ph.D, Neuroscience Studies) -- Queen's University, 2010-08-23 13:35:36.534
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Hong, Guo-En, and 洪國恩. "The Study of Fracture and Failure in the Spinal Motion Segments by Experiments." Thesis, 2007. http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/82615038705546925158.
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碩士中興大學
機械工程學系所
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Fracture and failure in the spinal motion segments are studied in this research by experiments. The aim of this study is to discuss the problem of the spinal injuries and the formation processes by the simulation experiments and to investigate the difference between adjacent vertebral bodies after vertebroplasty. In the experiments, we enter the subject in light of vertebral compression fracture and use swinish vertebras as samples. Compression experiments are divided into two stages, single vertebras and three vertebras. In order to simulate the situation of fracture and failure, several chips were cut in the vertebral body. Inside the vertebral body, the different volume of bone cement were injected into the vertebral body to compare with the relatively fit bone cement infusion quantity after experiments. The results showed that vertebroplasty is an effective method in increasing biomechanical strength of vertebral body. According to our experiments, the volume of 4ml~6ml of bone cement can make a near recover in single vertebral body. In the part of three motion segments, infusion of 4ml~5ml of PMMA per specimen provide sufficient strength. Although the volume of bone cement is depend on the fracture and failure in the vertebral body, the result suggest that injecting lower bone cement into the vertebral body during the vertebroplasty.
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Singla, Manu. "Kinetic analysis of manual wheelchair propulsion under different environmental conditions between experienced and new manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury." Master's thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10048/735.
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Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Alberta, 2009.A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science - Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on October 23, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.