Thesis (doctoral)--Ludwig Maximilians-Universität zu München, 1979.

No description available.

No description available.

To understand how speech is produced by individual human beings, it is fundamentally important to be able to determine exactly the three-dimensional shape of the vocal tract. The vocal tract is inaccessible so its exact form is difficult to determine with live subjects. There is a wide variety of methods that provide information on the vocal tract shape. The technique of Electropalatography (EPG) is cheap, relatively simple, non-invasive and highly informative. Using EPG on its own, it is possible to deduce information about the shape, movement and position of tongue-palate contact during continuous speech. However, data provided by EPG is in the form of a two-dimensional representation in which all absolute positional information is lost. This thesis describe the development of an enhanced Electropalatography (eEPG) system, which retains most of the advantages of EPG while overcoming some of the disadvantages by representing the three-dimensional (3D) shape of the palate. The eEPG system uses digitised palate shape data to display the tongue-palate contact pattern in 3D. The 3D palate shape is displayed on a Silicon Graphics workstation as a surface made up of polygons represented by a quadrilateral mesh. EPG contact patterns are superimposed onto the 3D palate shape by displaying the relevant polygons in a different colour. By using this system, differences in shape between individual palates, apparent on visual inspection of the actual palates, are also apparent in the image on screen. The contact patterns can be related more easily to articulatory features such as the alveolar ridge since the ridge is visible on the 3D display. Further, methods have been devised for computing absolute distances along paths lying on the palate surface. Combining this with calibrated palate shape data allows measurements accurate to 1 mm to be made between contact locations on the palate shape. These have been validated with manual measurements. The sampling rate for EPG is 100Hz and the data rate is equivalent to 62 bits per 10ms. In the past few years, some coding (parameterization) methods have been introduced to try to reduce the amount of data while retaining the important aspects. Feature coding methods are proposed here and several parameters are investigated, expressed in terms of both conventional measures such as row number, and in absolute measures of distance and area (i.e. mm and mm2). Features studied include location of constriction and degree of constriction. Finally, in order to reduce the amount of data while retaining the spatial information, composite frames that represent a series of EPG frames are computed. Measures of goodness of the composite frames that do and do not use 3D data are described. Some example are given in which fricative data has been processed by generating a composite frame for the entire fricative, and computing an area estimate for each row of the composite frame using the assumption of a flat tongue. This thesis demonstrates the current capability and inherent flexibility of the enhanced electropalatography system. In the future, the eEPG system can be extended to compute volume estimates again using a flat tongue model. By incorporating information on the tongue surface provided by other imaging methods such as ultrasound, more accurate area and volume estimates can be obtained.

nÃo hà / Previamente demonstrou-se que o Ãleo essencial de Ocimum micranthum (OEOM) e seu constituinte majoritÃrio, cinamato de metila (CM), tÃm aÃÃes miorrelaxante e antinflamatÃria em tecidos traqueais de ratos, e efeito antinociceptivo em camundongos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial antiespasmÃdico e anti-inflamatÃrio do CM no trato gastrintestinal de ratos submetidos a modelo de colite induzida por Ãcido acÃtico. OEOM inibiu contraÃÃes induzidas por carbamilcolina (CCh; 1 M) e KCl (60 mM) em tiras de fundo de estÃmago com CI50 de 91,9 g/mL e 46,8 g/mL, respectivamente, e reduziu significativamente o tÃnus basal e amplitudes de contraÃÃes espontÃneas de duodeno. CM, em conformaÃÃes isomÃricas (Z)- ou (E)-, tambÃm inibiu essas respostas induzidas por CCh e KCl em fundo, antro, duodeno e cÃlon, sem diferenÃas nos efeitos dos isÃmeros em cada segmento. CM comeÃa a inibir as contraÃÃes induzidas por CCh em concentraÃÃo mais baixa que KCl, contudo com potÃncia menor se comparado aos efeitos da atropina. (E)-CM inibe contraÃÃes dependentes dos estoques intracelulares de cÃlcio, e seu efeito inibitÃrio parece nÃo depender da aÃÃo da Ãxido nÃtrico sintase ou da abertura de canais de potÃssio. Analisadas em microscÃpio confocal, cÃlulas de cÃlon dissociadas a fresco tiveram nÃvel citossÃlico de cÃlcio reduzido para 60% do basal apÃs exposiÃÃo a (E)-CM (600M). Avaliando a pressÃo intragÃstrica in vivo, uma dose de (E)-CM 50 mg/kg nÃo afeta amplitude das contraÃÃes gÃstricas, mas se repetida apÃs 30 minutos, as diminui por atà 10 minutos. A induÃÃo de colite foi atravÃs de instilaÃÃo de Ãcido acÃtico a 5% via retal. O grupo sham recebeu instilaÃÃo apenas de salina, e os grupos tratados, alÃm da instilaÃÃo de Ãcido receberam (E)-CM 50 mg/kg/dia ou prednisolona 1 mg/kg/dia durante trÃs dias. A instilaÃÃo com Ãcido acÃtico induziu colite confirmada por alteraÃÃo macroscÃpica, leucocitose, aumento de interleucina-1 tecidual e dÃficit funcional de resposta dependente de canais para cÃlcio operados por voltagem. Esses parÃmetros foram revertidos pelos tratamentos com (E)-CM e prednisolona. Portanto, OEOM e CM apresentam aÃÃo antiespasmÃdica em trato gastrintestinal de ratos in vitro. O efeito do CM passa pela reduÃÃo dos nÃveis intracelulares basais de cÃlcio e independe da participaÃÃo da enzima Ãxido nÃtrico sintase e de canais de potÃssio. CM possui aÃÃo anti-inflamatÃria de magnitude comparÃvel à prednisolona. / It was previously shown that the essential oil of Ocimum micranthum (EOOM), and its major constituent, methyl cinnamate (MC), have myorelaxant action on tracheal smooth muscle, airway anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive on rodents. The present work aimed to evaluate the antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory potential of MC on gastrointestinal tissues from rats subjected to acetic acid-induced colitis model. EOOM inhibited carbamylcholine- (CCh; 1 M) and KCl-induced (60 mM) contractions in stomach fundus strips with IC50 of 91.9 g/mL and 46.8 g/mL, respectively. It significantly reduced the basal tonus as well as the spontaneous contractions in duodenum. The isomers (Z)- or (E)-MC also inhibited CCh and KCl contractions in fundus, antrum, duodenum and colon strips, without differences between the effects caused by the isomers in each segment. MC significantly inhibited CCh in lower concentration in comparison with KCl, but with decreased potency if compared to atropine. (E)-MC inhibited intracellular calcium stores-dependent contractions, and its effect seems not to involve the activity of the nitric oxide synthase or the opening of potassium channels. Analyzed by confocal microscopy, freshly dissociated colon cells showed reduced basal cytosolic calcium levels (60%) after (E)-MC (600 M) exposure. In vivo, a first dose of (E)-MC (50 mg/kg) did not affect gastric contractions, but following a second dosage (50 mg/kg) administered a half an hour later, it reduced gastric contractions for 10 minutes. Colitis was induced by rectal instillation of acetic acid 5%. Sham group received only saline in instillation, while treated groups, beyond acid instillation, received (E)-CM 50 mg/kg/day p.o. or prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day p.o. during three days. Acetic acid instillation induced colitis that was macroscopically confirmed, leukocytosis, increased interleucin-1β and functional response loss due to voltage operated calcium channel disorder. These parameters were recovered by (E)-MC or prednisolone. Therefore, EOOM and CM have in vitro antispasmodic effect on rat gastrointestinal tract. The effect of CM involves reduction of the intracellular levels of calcium being independent of the nitric oxide synthase and potassium channels. CM has anti-inflammatory action comparable to prednisolone in magnitude.

No description available.

The increasing rate of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) reinforces the need for additional resources to assist clinical staff with an individual's care and recovery. Pronation therapy involves physically rotating an individual from the posterior position to the prone position. Pronation therapy has successfully been used for individuals diagnosed with ARDS in Intensive Care Units for decades. However, manual pronation maneuvers by staff members poses risks for those who are critically ill and risk of physical injury to caregivers. Mechanical pronation beds have revolutionized the art of pronation therapy, minimizing risks, and decreasing possibility of kinking or pulling out life supporting lines. The methodology for this thesis included searching electronic database of research and clinical peer reviewed journals. Search terms included the keywords: Rotopron* OR "Rotoprone therapy" OR "rotation* bed" AND ARDS or "acute respiratory distress syndrome" OR "acute respiratory failure". Inclusion criteria included articles published in English between 2005– present. A table of evidence was being developed to summarize key points from each reviewed article. The articles were individually critiqued. Synthesis of the findings were discussed to identify consistent and inconsistent findings, along with gaps in the literature. Preliminary literature analysis suggests research is needed regarding standardization of mechanical pronation procedures along with staff education

No description available.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.

published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing