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Biomedical subjects

K C Parsons

Publications and source records attributed to K C Parsons.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Rehabilitation in spinal cord disorders. 1. Epidemiology, prevention, and system of care of spinal cord disorders.

This self-directed learning module highlights current concepts of the epidemiology, prevention, and systematic treatment of spinal cord disorders. It is part of the chapter on rehabilitation of spinal cord disorders for the Self-Directed Medical Knowledge Program Study Guide for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article contains information regarding the incidence, prevalence, and causes of spinal cord injury, methods of prevention, and the components of a comprehensive system of care for spinal cord injury.

Adolescent↗

Designing the user interface using rapid prototyping.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and improve the menu interface design of an existing expert system. The system provided expertise concerned with evaluating human response to environments and was implemented onto a computer with a simple tree menu system. Two laboratory based experiments were carried out in which alternative menu interface designs were developed rapidly and compared with the original design. User acceptance tests which incorporated objective and subjective measures were iteratively used to evaluate and improve the interface designs. The results of these experiments indicated that, for the particular system under study, a graphic based design which displayed 58 options divided into levels on a single screen was preferred by users over the original menu interface which displayed one menu at a time with seven options per screen. The final interface remains to be tested under field conditions.

Journal Article↗

Percutaneous radiofrequency foramenal rhizotomies.

Thirty quadriplegic and paraplegic patients with intractable spasticity underwent percutaneous radiofrequency foramenal rhizotomies. This produced improvement in 94% of the patients, with excellent results in 73%. The complication rate was 3%. The major disadvantage of the procedure was recurrent spasticity, which was dealt with by simple repetition of the procedure. Rehabilitative goals were facilitated; needless painful disability was avoided; a need for intense nursing was reduced; the prevention and treatment of decubitus ulcer formation was enhanced. The study suggests that this procedure is effective, inexpensive, and at low risk to the patient.

Aged↗

Anatomy of root canals. IV deciduous teeth.

The root canal systems of the deciduous teeth have been demonstrated by the epoxy resin injection technique. A major difference is noted between the simplicity of that seen in the incisors and the molars.

Child↗

Relationship between clothing ventilation and thermal insulation.

Air layers trapped within a clothing microenvironment contribute to the thermal insulation afforded by the ensemble. Any exchange of air between the external environment and these trapped air layers results in a change in the ensemble's thermal insulation and water vapor resistance characteristics. These effects are seldom taken into account when considering the effects of clothing on human heat balance, the thermal characteristics usually being restricted to intrinsic insulation and intrinsic evaporative resistance measurements on static manikins. Environmental assessments based on these measurements alone may therefore lead to under-(or over-) estimation of thermal stress of the worker. The aim of this study was to quantify the relationship between clothing ventilation and thermal insulation properties. A one-layer, air-impermeable ensemble and a three-layer, air-permeable ensemble were tested using an articulated, thermal manikin in a controlled climate chamber (ta = tr = 10 degrees C, PaH2O = 0.73 kPa). The manikin, which was designed for thermal insulation measurements, was also equipped with a system to determine clothing ventilation. Baseline measurements of clothing ventilation (VT) and thermal insulation (total clothing insulation: I(T)--measured, intrinsic insulation: Icl--calculated) were made of the clothing with the manikin standing stationary in still air conditions. Increased clothing ventilation was induced when the manikin "walked" (walking speeds of 0.37 m/sec and 0.77 m/sec) and by increasing the environmental air speed (Va = 1.0 m/sec). These increases in VT reduced Icl, this being ascribed to the increased heat transfer from the manikin skin surface to the cooler external environment due to the exchange of air between the clothing microenvironment and the external environment. Measured air exchanges were shown to have a potential heat exchange capacity of up to 17 and 161 W/m2 for the one- and three-layer ensembles, respectively, emphasizing the need to take clothing ventilation characteristics into consideration during thermal audits and thermal risk assessments.

Body Temperature Regulation↗