2003
Authors
Varejao, ASP; Cabrita, AM; Meek, MF; Bulas Cruz, J; Filipe, VM; Gabriel, RC; Ferreira, AJ; Geuna, S; Winter, DA;
Publication
MUSCLE & NERVE
Abstract
Peripheral nerve researchers frequently use the rat sciatic nerve crush model in order to test different therapeutic approaches. The purpose of this study was to determine the sequence of changes after an axonotmetic injury by means of a biomechanical model of the foot and ankle, and compare them with walking track analysis, over a fixed period of time. A kinematic analysis program was used to acquire ankle motion data for further analysis. Although repeated measures analysis of variance showed significant cumulative changes induced by the crush lesion for both ankle kinematic parameters and sciatic functional index, post-hoc multiple comparisons by the Student-Neuman-Keuls test revealed significant differences between week 0 and week 8 only for ankle kinematics. These results are of importance in showing the superiority of ankle kinematics in detecting small biomechanical deficits related to hyperexcitability of the plantarflexor muscles, in contrast with walking track analysis, which showed full motor functional recovery 8 weeks after the crush lesion.
2003
Authors
Varejao, ASP; Cabrita, AM; Geuna, S; Melo Pinto, P; Filipe, VM; Gramsbergen, A; Meek, MF;
Publication
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
Abstract
In experimental peripheral nerve studies, the rat sciatic nerve model is widely used to examine functional outcome following nerve injury and repair. A variety of evaluation methods exist in the literature, but an adequate selection continues to be a critical point for the researcher. Rats with sciatic nerve injury typically ambulate with an external rotation of the foot. A new functional assessment instrument, the toe out angle (TOA) is quantified using computerized gait analysis. We compared Sciatic Functional Index (SFI) with TOA parameter after peripheral nerve transection and entubulation repair. We found a good correlation between SFI and TOA measurements in terms of predicting functional recovery. Moreover, the TOA provides information on the biomechanical consequences of the external rotation of the foot in the stance phase of walking.
2003
Authors
Pencheva, T; Roeva, O; Bentes, I; Barroso, J;
Publication
CONCURRENT ENGINEERING: ADVANCED DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Abstract
In this paper wastewater treatment processes in fixed-bed bioreactor are examined. One possible way to acquire more precise description of such processes is their real consideration as objects with distributed parameters. In order to avoid the complexity of mathematical description of distributed parameters objects, some new methods have to be applied. In this paper a new approach for description of wastewater treatment processes, based on the apparatus of Generalized Nets and Intuitionistic Fuzzy Logic, is presented. As a result from applied techniques, different decisions could be made about the variation of the number of levels in biofilter and about optimal carrying out of the processes in the meaning of technological time and quality of outlet water.
2003
Authors
Roeva, O; Pencheva, T; Bentes, I; Barroso, J;
Publication
CONCURRENT ENGINEERING: ADVANCED DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Abstract
A new approach for modelling of Escherichia coli cultivation process, based on the apparatus of Generalized Nets, is presented in this paper. Generalized Nets provide the opportunity to describe the logic of the cultivation process modelling. Developed Generalized Net model gives a possibility to change the concentration of feeding solution in dependence of substrate concentration in the fermenter in order to prevent the inhibition effect. Moreover, proposed Generalized Nets model allows to control the concentration of dissolved oxygen at some desired value, changing the aeration rate in dependence on concentration of dissolved oxygen during the process. The opportunities, which obtained Generalized Net model gives for process optimization, affirm the apparatus of Generalized Nets as very efficient tool for modelling of fermentation processes.
2003
Authors
Todorova, L; Bentes, I; Barroso, J; Temelkov, A;
Publication
CONCURRENT ENGINEERING: ADVANCED DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Abstract
In the present article we model the treatment of mechanically ventilated patients with nosocomial pneumonia using a generalized net. The model can be used by clinicians for diagnosis and clinical and microbiological follow-up of nosocomial pneumonia, to the decision to change the ventilator regime, to begin weaning from mechanical ventilation, or to stop the weaning trials.
2003
Authors
Tavares, LV; Pereira, MJ; Coelho, JS;
Publication
TOWARDS THE KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY: E-COMMERCE, E-BUSINESS, AND E-GOVERNMENT
Abstract
The lack of dynamic double-side regulation models for E-Marketplaces is a main reason for their lack of success as advanced open trading places.In this paper, a new model - DYNEX - is developed to generate homogeneous markets of goods or services and to optimize for each homogeneous market the trading price and the negotiation process between buyers and sellers.
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