We solve for the effective actions on the Coulomb branches of a class of N = 2 supersymmetric theories by finding the complex structure of an M5 brane in an appropriate background hyperkahler geometry corresponding to the lift of two O6 orientifolds and four D6 branes to M theory. The resulting Seiberg-Witten curves are of finite genus, unlike other solutions proposed in the literature. The sim...

OBJECTIVES Joint immobilization has previously been shown to modulate corticospinal excitability. The present study investigated changes in the excitability of distinct fractions of the corticospinal pathway by means of conditioning the H-reflex with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the primary motor cortex (Hcond). This method allows assessment of transmission in fast (monosynaptic) ...

Objective To identify different contributions of motor and sensory variables for independent ambulation of patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI), and reveal the most significant contributors among the variables. Methods The retrospective study included 30 patients with incomplete SCI and lesions were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Motor and sensory scores were collected ...

Analysis of the sagittal balance of the spine includes the study of the spinal curves and of the pelvis in the sagittal plane. It therefore requires full-spine lateral radiographs. The sagittal balance of the spine was studied in forty-nine young adults. Strong correlations were observed between parameters related to the pelvis ("pelvic incidence angle", "sacral slope" and "pelvic tilting"), an...

Introduction Managing spinal deformities in young children is challenging, particularly early onset scoliosis (EOS). Surgical intervention is often required if EOS has been unresponsive to conservative treatment particularly with rapidly progressive curves. An emerging treatment option for EOS is fusionless scoliosis surgery. Similar to bracing, this surgical option potentially harnesses growth...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on spasticity in patients with spinal cord injury. METHODS The study included eleven subjects with spinal cord injuries (C4 to T5). The modified Ashworth scale and pendulum test, which is accomplished through the Pendular Test Device - PTD (equipment which has a quartz crystal transducer accelerometer and optic fiber fle...

Dynamic-susceptibility-contrast MR perfusion imaging is a widely used imaging tool for in vivo study of cerebral blood perfusion. However, visualization of different hemodynamic compartments is less investigated. In this work, independent component analysis, thresholding, and Bayesian estimation were used to concurrently segment different tissues, i.e., artery, gray matter, white matter, vein a...

Background X-rays are the gold standard evaluation in scoliosis, and this is considered true also for sagittal plane deformities. While it is very well known that posture can change scoliosis curves, this has never been verified for the sagittal plane. In the case of sagittal alignment, it is even more important because to see the spine, there is the need to move the arms from the resting physi...

The effectiveness of radiofrequency (RF) cordotomy of segmental motoneurone pools of the lumbosacral cord in reducing spasticity of decerebrate cats is evaluated. The need for a new form of therapy for clinical spasticity is based upon the limitations of contemporary methods, including surgical and pharmacological techniques. In man, spasticity of spinal origin may be treated effectively by int...

Idiopathic scoliosis was treated by an automated portable posture-training device that incorporated precise behavioral principles and enabled therapeutic training to be given in the patients' normal environment throughout the entire day. Twenty-one patient-years of training were completed with a group of 12 adolescent girls selected as being imminently likely to require a brace because of the w...