Surgical Treatment of Brachial Plexus Injury

In recent years, brachial plexus injury has been attracting increasing attention, partly because of an increasing incidence arising out of higher survival rates for patients after polytrauma. Brachial plexus injury is one of the hardest and most mutilating injuries. Owing to advances in microsurgical techniques, we can achieve success in restoring motor function for these patients. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader with various microsurgical techniques, including nerve fascicle transfers and end-to-side neurorrhaphy (ETSN), which can be used for brachial plexus reconstruction based on personal experience with 1130 nerve reconstructions performed by the first author (PH) between 1993 and 2017. Another goal of brachial plexus surgery is the resolution of severe intractable pain which can develop in up to 20% of cases. Dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) thermocoagulation is a very effective method for treatment of severe neuropathic pain

Provenance affects the growth and mortality of teak (Tectona grandis L.f.) plantations cultivated in central Nicaragua

Teak has been planted extensively by smallholders in Central America within reforestation programmes and has become one of the most valuable timbers. The five-year growth and mortality of teak cultivated in a plantation in central Nicaragua, representing sites at the low limit of teak ecological valence, were evaluated. From 2006 to 2010, 72 pure teak stands were established, with 48.93 ha in total. For afforestation, planting stock from five provenances was used and planted at 1 m x 1 m spacing to stimulate the height growth and reduce broad crowns formed by self-pruning. In the pure teak stands, 144 permanent sample plots of 0.01 ha in size were established in 2011. From 2011 until 2015, the tree height and stem girth of all individuals in the studied sample plots were measured, and mortality based on the stand density was assessed. Significant differences between the provenances were observed. The highest growth was noted in the Local provenance originated from the studied area, whereas the Semilla provenance from Costa Rica, characterised by the lowest growth ability, was characterized by lower radial increment and mean tree height with high mortality.O

Comparison of LiDAR-based Models for True Leaf Area Index and Effective Leaf Area Index Estimation in Young Beech Forests

The leaf area index (LAI) is one of the most common leaf area and canopy structure quantifiers. Direct LAI measurement and determination of canopy characteristics in larger areas is unrealistic due to the large number of measurements required to create the distribution model. This study compares the regression models for the ALS-based calculation of LAI, where the effective leaf area index (eLAI) determined by optical methods and the LAI determined by the direct destructive method and developed by allometric equations were used as response variables. LiDAR metrics and the laser penetration index (LPI) were used as predictor variables. The regression models of LPI and eLAI dependency and the LiDAR metrics and eLAI dependency showed coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.75 and 0.92, respectively; the advantage of using LiDAR metrics for more accurate modelling is demonstrated. The model for true LAI estimation reached a R2of 0.88.O

Index listovej plochy a priestorová distribúcia asimilačného aparátu v poraste buku lesného (Fagus sylvatica L.)

One of the most important parameters determining penetration of the photosynthetically active radiation (FAR) through the forest canopy is the leaf area index (LAI). In this thesis we concerned with a comparison of direct and indirect approaches of determining LAI and the vertical distribution of LAI in the canopy. There have been used three optical methods, using the device LiCor LAI 2200 Plant Canopy Analyzer, LaiPen and hemispherical photography. Also, we used the method of estimation LAI using airborne laser scanning. There was created allometric relationship between leaf area and the perimeter of the sample trees. These trees were also destructively processed and based on those, there were created the diagrams of the vertical distribution of leaves in the crowns of these trees. The individual values of the measured leaf area index, were in amplitude from 3.69 m2.m-2 to 11.80 m2.m-2 and the indirect methods underestimated the direct approach in average of 28.46%

Porovnanie rôznych prístupov k stanoveniu indexu listovej plochy

Leaf area index (LAI) is one of the most important characteristics of forest stand affecting fundamentals of tree physiological processes, biomass production or mechanical stability. The aim of this thesis was to compare three different methods (gravimetrical, optical -- LAI 2000 plant canopy analyzer - and needle method) for estimation of LAI. Additionally, the seasonal development of LAI was measured using the LAI 2000 method. Research was conducted in three European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and one sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) stands. The age of forest stands was from 13 to 77 years. Seasonal development of LAI followed general pattern typical for broadleaf stands in central Europe, with fastest rate of leaf growth in the first month following budbreak. Maximal LAI was observed in mid-June and July and it was 4.52 -- 5.08 m2m-2 in beech and 4 m2m-2 in maple stand. LAI 2000 underestimated the gravimetrically measured LAI on average by 15.1 % in beech stands and by 5.8 % in maple stand (these differences were not statistically significant). Needle method underestimated gravimetrical LAI in beech on average by 22 % and in a maple stand by 40 % (this difference was significant in three out of four stands). Overall, gravimetrical method is most laborious but provides most accurate results. LAI 2000 slightly underestimates results (albeit not significantly in broadleaf species) but enables multiple measurements of LAI in the course of growing season. Needle method is inexpensive and easy to use but it significantly underestimates LAI. Its use for comparison of multiple species will always require calibration

Nektere podklady k navedeni nervovych vlaken k cilovym strukturam a jejich mozna klinicka aplikace v regeneraci nervu v slozite oblasti

Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi