To Determine the Influence of the Complete Denture Prosthesis on Masticatory Muscle Activity in Elderly Patients: An in vivo Study

ABSTRACT Introduction Mastication is a highly coordinated neuromuscular function involving fast effective movements of the jaw and continuous modulation of force. In older subjects these mechanisms act with marked differences. They have a reduced capacity in various functions of stomatognathic system. Objectives To evaluate the elevator and depressor muscle activity with and without complete denture prosthesis. Materials and methods For the purpose of the study 12 patients between the age of 40 and 70 years were selected. Surface electrodes from the electromyographic unit were placed in the region of right and left anterior temporal muscles, Masseter muscle and depressor muscle at the region of anterior belly of digastric and the electromyographic activity was recorded. Results and discussion The obtained values were subjected to statistical analysis. A paired t- test was performed to determine the difference between the subjects with and without denture prosthesis. Conclusion The elevator muscles showed higher activity in subjects wearing the denture prosthesis when compared to those without denture prosthesis. No significant change in muscle activity was seen on maximal opening of the depressor muscle between the subjects with and without denture prosthesis.

Comparison of stiffness and interface pressure during rest and exercise among various arm sleeves

Objectives To compare the interface pressure during rest and exercise among various kinds of arm sleeves. Methods The interface pressure underneath nine different arm sleeves was measured during 10 maximal opening and closing movements of fingers using a pressure transducer (Air Pack Type Analyser) in 16 healthy volunteers. Furthermore, in order to evaluate the characteristics of each arm sleeve, the extensibility, stiffness and thickness were determined in vitro by several apparatuses. Results There was a significant correlation between stiffness and extensibility. The stiffness was significantly correlated with the pressure difference between muscle contraction and relaxation during exercise. The higher the value of stiffness, the greater the pressure amplitude during exercise. Conclusion Short-stretch arm sleeves characterized with a high level stiffness, including thick round- and flat-knitted arm sleeves, are more beneficial for the augmentation of muscle pumping than long-stretch arm sleeves, in the same way as short-stretch bandages or stockings applied to the leg.

Design of Key Parameters on Differential Velocity Vane Pump of Eccentric-Noncircular Gears

The parameters of impellers and the pump housing as key assembly to differential velocity vane pump of eccentric-noncircular gears has been designed in this paper. By researching vane spacing angles, vane numbers, vane angle and maximal opening angle on impellers, the results are gained that vane spacing angles are the periodic function of noncircular gear angular velocity, vane numbers is identical with centrodes vane numbers of noncircular gear. Assuring right and reliable working to the impellers, numbers, positions and opening angles of the matching holes of the pump housing are analyzed; defining that actual impeller vane angle must be less-than theoretical value, numbers of the matching holes must be vane numbers and opening angles of the matching holes must be less-than theoretical value, which provide the condition for concrete structure design for differential velocity vane pump of eccentric-noncircular gears.

Accuracy of Measurements on Digital Videostroboscopic Images of the Vocal Folds

Objectives: The reliability of objective measurements on digital laryngeal images was investigated. Methods: The magnitude of the error of measurement of surface areas by visually tracing the outline was determined for three different areas: the area of the lesion and, during vibration, the glottal area on maximal opening of the vocal folds and the glottal area on maximal closing of the vocal folds. Results: The errors in these areas were 10% to 30%. The results suggest that the error is mainly due to the uncertainty of the real outline of areas with a vague boundary. Correction for differences in magnification between two images (posttherapy and pretherapy) is of importance in about 25% to 65% of cases, depending on the area measured. Conclusions: Only when the magnification ratio is small (less than about ±10% from 1.0) may a correction not be necessary.

Effects of Voice Therapy as Objectively Evaluated by Digitized Laryngeal Stroboscopic Imaging

Objective measurements derived from digitized laryngeal stroboscopic images were used to demonstrate changes in vocal fold vibration and in the size of benign lesions after 3 months of voice therapy. Forty chronically dysphonic patients were studied. By means of a rigid stroboscope, pretreatment and posttreatment recordings were made of the vocal folds at rest and under stroboscopic light during phonation. From each recording, images of the positions at rest and during vibration at maximal opening and at maximal closure were digitized. The surface areas of any lesions and of the glottal gap were independently measured in the digitized images by 2 experienced laryngologists. Referential distances were determined in order to compensate for discrepancies in magnification in the various recordings. After 3 months of voice therapy, significant improvement in lesion size and degree of maximal closure during vibration could be demonstrated in about 50% of the patients. The degree of maximal opening did not prove to be a significant parameter.

COSMIC PHOTON AND POSITRON SPECTRA MEASUREMENTS MODELLING WITH THE AMS-02 DETECTOR AT ISS

The results of the MC feasibility study of the AMS-02 Detector cosmic-ray γ and e+ spectra measurement capabilities are presented. AMS will be able to provide accurate measurements of the above spectra in a broad energy range (up to hundreds of GeV) with energy resolution of a few percent and angular resolution of 0.01-1°. The acceptance of 0.05-0.15 m2sr has been estimated both for e+ and γ, with maximal opening angle being 20° to 45°. The systematic study of the background events has been done, the irreducible background to signal ratio below a few percent being obtained.