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A novel memory-based posture planning (MBPP) model, which plans reach postures that avoid obstructions, is presented. The simulations have shown that the MBPP model is capable of rapidly and robustly planning reach postures for various scenarios.

Aim: Normal pressure glaucoma (NPG) patients exhibit prolonged retinal arteriovenous passage times in fluorescein angiography and colour Doppler imaging suggests increased resistance downstream from the central retinal and posterior ciliary [...]

In this paper, a model will be presented of a HOLEC made commercial available vacuum interrupter. This model can be used to determine the breaking capacity under various current switching conditions. It will be shown how the model is derived from switching tests in a synthetic test circuit. The measured data consist mainly of short-circuit currents, arc voltages, TRV's, and arcing times from which other important information like, e.g., the critical arc energy and the amount of transferred electric charge can be determined. The calculated results obtained by the theoretical model and the measured data will be shown in various graphs. Furthermore, derating curves of this type of vacuum interrupter and a comparison between different types of electrode configurations will be presented. Index Terms - Axial magnetic field, dc component, derating curve, horse shoe electrodes, switching, vacuum interrupter.

A study of mechanism of muscular effort perception in the shoulder for a series of task showed that effort perception is affected by other factors like posture and task goals.

The effects of back disability status on endurance time and perceived discomfort during trunk flexion were determined. Few previous studies evaluated postural endurance time in terms of trunk flexion angle.

The goal of this study was to quantify localised muscle fatigue resulting from low mean levels of exertion in younger (< 40 years) and older (>50 years) adults. Fatigue, elicited in the finger flexor muscles by intermittent (10% mean maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)) and sustained (8% MVC) handgrip exercises, was quantified by a muscle twitch force response before, immediately after and during 3 h following exercise. Despite greater mean loads, recovery time was shorter following intermittent than sustained contractions, which suggests that recovery from fatigue is more sensitive to rest within the work cycle than mean work. The more pronounced effects for younger than older individuals following the sustained exertion indicate that changes in muscle fibre type composition might predispose older individuals to be more resistant to fatigue resulting from sustained contractions of low level. Performing hand exertion tasks requiring low mean force levels contributes to similar long-lasting fatigue effects regardless of gender and age. Intermittent periods of complete rest reduce muscle fatigue. Since fatigue was not perceived during recovery from the tested sustained and intermittent contractions, subjective evaluations may not be a reliable indicator of localised muscle fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the sensitivity of the Elderly Mobility Scale (EMS) to detect improvements in mobility after physiotherapy in comparison with the Barthel Index (BI) and Functional Ambulation Category (FAC) in routine clinical day hospital practice. Subjects: Eighty-three patients who completed a course of physiotherapy were studied. Methods: Each was assessed by an independent physiotherapist before and after a programme of physiotherapy, using the EMS, BI and FAC. Results: The mean age was 79 years (SD 7.7). Fifty-three out of 83 (64%) patients were female and 92% were community dwelling. The median number of physiotherapy sessions undergone by each patient was 9 (range 3–51). All three scales detected an improvement in mobility with physiotherapy (p < 0.001). However, using the EMS, 68 out of 82 (83%) patients had a detectable improvement in mobility compared with only 34 out of 80 (42%) using the BI and 28 out of 81 (35%) using the FAC. Using a matched-pairs comparison, the EMS was significantly more likely to detect an improvement in mobility following physiotherapy within the study group than the BI (p < 0.001) or the FAC (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Although all three scales detected improvements in mobility, the EMS detected mobility improvements in a significantly greater number of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether systematic progressive high-intensity quadriceps training increases leg extensor power and reduces disability in patients rehabilitating after proximal femoral fracture. Design: Open parallel group randomized controlled trial comparing the addition of six weeks quadriceps training (40 patients) with standard physiotherapy alone (40 patients). The training group exercised twice weekly, with six sets of 12 repetitions of knee extension (both legs), progressing up to 80% of their one-repetition maximum. Setting: Orthogeriatric unit, and community follow-up. Subjects: Eighty patients rehabilitating after proximal femoral fracture. Main outcome measures: Measurements of leg extensor power (Nottingham Power Rig), functional mobility (elderly mobility score), disability (Barthel Index) and quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile) were made at baseline, after six weeks (at the end of the intervention) and at 16 weeks. Results: Leg extensor power increased significantly in the quadriceps training group (fractured leg mean improvement at six weeks 157% (standard error 16), nonfractured leg 80% (12)) compared with the control group (63% (11) and 26% (8) respectively, unpaired Student’s t-test p = 0.007 and p = 0.01 for between-group comparisons). Significant benefits were maintained at 16 weeks. Quadriceps training resulted in a greater increase in elderly mobility scale score compared with standard rehabilitation (between-group difference of 2.5 (95% CI 1.1,3.8) at week 6 and 1.9 (0.4,3.4) at week 16). Barthel score increased significantly from week 0 to 6 in the quadriceps training group compared with controls (Mann–Whitney U-test p = 0.05). Patients in the quadriceps training group scored significantly better in the energy subscore of the Nottingham Health Profile at the end of follow-up (Mann–Whitney U-test p = 0.0185). Conclusions: Progressive high-intensity quadriceps training in elderly proximal femoral fracture patients increased leg extensor power and reduced disability. This was accompanied by an increase in energy as measured by the Nottingham Health Profile. This intervention may provide a simple practical way of improving outcome in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]