Anorectal manometry in the assessment of anorectal function in Parkinson's disease: a comparison with chronic idiopathic constipation

We investigated the role of anorectal manometry in evaluating constipation and anorectal function in 15 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and compared results with those of 9 patients with idiopathic constipation (IC) and 8 control (C) subjects. Anal sphincter pressures on voluntary squeeze were lower in the PD patients. Sustained squeeze pressures (mm Hg C versus IC versus PD: 46.8 +/- 5.2 versus 31.2 +/- 3.6 versus 26.6 +/- 3.9; p < 0.05 PD versus C), squeeze duration (seconds: 53.6 +/- 2.5 versus 48.5 +/- 4.1 versus 33.6 +/- 9; p < 0.05 PD versus C) and squeeze index (area under the squeeze curve: 44.0 +/- 2.9 versus 34.5 +/- 3.3 versus 21.4 +/- 2.9; p < 0.001 PD versus C) were significantly lower in the PD group in comparison to the control group. In contrast, none of the parameters of anorectal manometry differed between controls and patients with idiopathic constipation. Some Parkinson's disease patients demonstrated an abnormal, hypercontractile response on testing of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex. Anal sphincter length, basal sphincter pressures, maximal squeeze pressures, extent of relaxation on rectoanal inhibitory reflex and threshold volume for rectal sensation were similar in the three groups. We conclude that an impaired squeeze response is a specific feature of anorectal function in Parkinson's disease. This may indicate direct involvement of the pelvic floor musculature by the parkinsonian disease process.     

Allgemeine Technologie der Lebensmittel, Vorratspflege

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Optimal path planning including forces at the gripper

In recent years, a topological method has been established by several authors for the evaluation of time-optimal trajectories for manipulators with tree-like structures and without forces at the gripper, i.e. for free trajectories. In the following, we extend this method to the case of an arbitrary force vector at the robot's hand, which corresponds to some path in contact with a surface. Optimizing the actuator torques in such a way might be seen as a first step to controlling trajectories with regard to position, orientation, and forces in the presence of elasticity. Results of the method confirm the basic ideas of the topological solution.     

Simulation and Optimization of Regular Motions of a Tube-Crawling Robot

The paper is devoted to issues associated with thetube-crawling robot designed at the Munich Technical University. Wefocus on the simulation of the robot dynamics and the optimization ofstructural parameters of the machine and characteristics of its gait.The mathematical model of the eight-legged tube-crawling robotperforming regular motions at a constant speed along a cylindrical tubeis described. On the basis of this model we investigate the influence ofthe machine design and gait parameters on the robot velocity and findtheir optimal values providing the maximal velocity under givenparametric and drive constraints. Numerical examples are presented anddiscussed.     

Microstructural Development of ZnO Pellets Doped with Different Vanadium Oxides (V2O5 and V2O3)

This work presents the effect of zinc oxide (ZnO) ceramics, doped with different percentages of vanadium trioxide (V₂O₃) and vanadium pentoxide (V₂O₅). Samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The addition of V₂O₃ or V₂O₅ produced changes in the composition and morphology of the pellets. In both cases, different zinc vanadates were detected as secondary phases: α-Zn₃(VO₄)₂ and Zn₄V₂O₉. Furthermore, when the vanadium concentration was equal to or higher than 3 wt%, the presence of filaments was detected on the surface of the pellets. These filaments were produced due to vanadium segregation. However, this effect was only observed at the surface of the pellets. On the bulk, the filaments were not observed. Instead, vanadium was found at the interfaces between the ZnO grains and at triple points, as it could be expected.     

A Survey of MPEG-1 Audio,Video and Semantic Analysis Techniques

Digital audio & video data have become an integral part of multimedia information systems. To reduce storage and bandwidth requirements, they are commonly stored in a compressed format, such as MPEG-1. Increasing amounts of MPEG encoded audio and video documents are available online and in proprietary collections. In order to effectively utilise them, we need tools and techniques to automatically analyse, segment, and classify MPEG video content. Several techniques have been developed both in the audio and visual domain to analyse videos. This paper presents a survey of audio and visual analysis techniques on MPEG-1 encoded media that are useful in supporting a variety of video applications. Although audio and visual feature analyses have been carried out extensively, they become useful to applications only when they convey a semantic meaning of the video content. Therefore, we also present a survey of works that provide semantic analysis on MPEG-1 encoded videos.     

Moralische Positionen, medizinethische Kenntnisse und Motivation im Laufe des Medizinstudiums �C Ergebnisse einer Querschnittsstudie an der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit?t M��nchen

Background Education in medical ethics should provide medical students with principles for their future medical practice and good decision making. The development of moral positions, medical?Cethical knowledge, and motivation of medical students of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit?t (LMU) Munich during the course of their medical education is being surveyed in a panel study. Methods A standardized questionnaire, recording medical?Cethical positions, knowledge, and motivation, was created for data collection. The first cross-sectional study was carried out during winter semester 2009/10 including students from the 1st, 3rd, and 8th semester and internship students (Praktisches Jahr). Results The majority of the respondents showed a minor level of knowledge of various topics regarding educational objectives of the subject GTE (??Geschichte, Theorie, Ethik der Medizin??, History, Theory, Ethics in Medicine). Most students in the 1st, 3rd, and 8th semester were not familiar with the legal basis for discontinuing of therapy as well as its practical implementation. Motivation changed during the course of medical education from the high motivation ??to help people?? at the beginning to the ??acquisition of knowledge?? and ??taking up a secure profession?? as motivational factors at the end of studies. Conclusion Although a high interest in medical?Cethical problems and education in medical ethics was expressed, many respondents did not show sustainable increase of their medical?Cethical knowledge during the course of medical education. The results pose the question to which extent different educational concepts could exert influence on the individual ethical development of medical students. An approach to this question remains subject to further scientific research.