Somatosensation, circulation and stance balance in elderly dysvascular transtibial amputees

Objective: To establish the relationship between poor lower limb somatosensory and circulatory status with standing balance, falls history, age and mobility level in dysvascular transtibial amputees (TTAs). Design: Within-subjects evaluation of somatosensation, circulation and stance balance measures in dysvascular transtibial amputees. Setting: Physiotherapy department of a tertiary metropolitan hospital in Australia. Participants: Twenty-two community-dwelling unilateral dysvascular transtibial amputee volunteers, aged between 54 and 86 recruited from a metropolitan hospital outpatient amputee clinic. Main outcome measures: Lower limb vibration sense, light touch sensation and circulatory status were related to centre of pressure excursion during quiet stance, dynamic balance measures of forward and lateral reach distance, and demographic information such as falls history and mobility level. Results: Overall, poor somatosensory status was associated with poor stance balance. There was an association between poor vibration and circulation and increased centre of pressure excursion in quiet stance and reduced reach distance, whereas poor light touch was linked with even weight-bearing in quiet stance. Poor vibration sense was associated with a history of frequent falls. Conclusions: Compromised lower limb somatosensation and circulation was linked with poor balance and a history of frequent falls in the elderly dysvascular amputee population.

The AustLit Gateway and Scholarly Bibliography: A Specialist Implementation of the FRBR

This paper discusses how the AustLit: Australian Literature Gateway's interpretation, enhancement, and implementation of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions' Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR Final Report 1998) model is meeting the needs of Australian literature scholars for accurate bibliographic representation of the histories of literary texts. It also explores how the AustLit Gateway's underpinning research principles, which are based on the tradition of scholarly enumerative and descriptive bibliography, with enhancements from analytical bibliography and literary biography, have impacted upon our implementation of the FRBR model. The major enhancement or alteration to the model is the use of enhanced manifestations, which allow the full representation of all agents' contributions to be shown in a highly granular format by enabling creation events to be incorporated at all levels of the Work, Expression, and Manifestation nexus.

Kitchen and dining area, Lahz House, Spring Hill

View to new kitchen and dining area, as seen from sitting room. Winner of the Robin Dods Award RAIA Queensland Chapter 1990

North-East and North-West elevations of Ocean View Farmhouse model, Mount Mee

Cardboard the balsa model as seen from above.

Living room and seating alcove, Ocean View Farmhouse, Mt. Mee

As seen from steps of main deck.

Living room and seating alcove, Ocean View Farmhouse, Mt. Mee

As seen from main deck. Stone fireplace on right.

Living room and seating alcove, Ocean View Farmhouse, Mt. Mee

Leadlight window to living room with seating alcove beyond.

Living room and seating alcove beyond, Ocean View Farmhouse, Mt. Mee

As seen from main deck.

Living room and seating alcove, Ocean View Farmhouse, Mt. Mee

As seen from steps of main deck.