bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurological Abnormalities in Chinese Schizophrenic Patients
Authors: Chan Raymond C. K. , Chen Eric Y. H.
Published: January 2014

Background: This study attempted to examine the prevalence and type of neurological signs in Chinese patients with schizophrenia.

Methods: A cross‐sectional design was adopted with the use of the Cambridge Neurological Inventory (CNI). The CNI is comprised of 7 subscales, including motor coordination, sensory integration, disinhibition, extrapyramidal signs, dyskinesia, catatonia, and pyramidal signs. The former 3 subscales were classified as soft signs, whereas the latter 4 subscales were classified as hard signs. A total of 250 Chinese schizophrenic patients and 90 normal controls were recruited.

Results: Patients exhibited significantly more signs than normal controls in all subscales but pyramidal signs (p < 0.00005).
Significant differences were also found in total soft signs, total hard signs as well as total neurological signs (p < 0.0005). The three subscales of soft signs showed a relatively better sensitivity and specificity as compared with the four subscales of hard signs. Improvement in sensitivity and specificity was demonstrated when the subscales were collapsed into total soft signs, total hard signs and total neurological signs. A cut‐off of 4 in total soft signs yields a sensitivity of 0.63 and specificity of 0.71; whereas a cut‐off of 1 in total hard signs yields a sensitivity of 0.78 and specificity of 0.89. A global cut‐off of 5 in total neurological signs results in a sensitivity of 0.81 and specificity of 0.73 for detecting schizophrenia versus normal.

Conclusions: High levels of neurological abnormality characterize schizophrenic patients. An extended assessment battery of CNI provides even better discrimination of patients from normal controls, and soft signs are more strongly associated with schizophrenia than are hard signs in the Chinese sample.
Dynamic Analysis of a Pendulum Dynamic Automatic Balancer
Authors: Sohn Jin-Seung , Lee Jin Woo , Cho Eun-Hyoung , Park No-Cheol , Park Young-Pil
Published: January 2014

The automatic dynamic balancer is a device to reduce the vibration from unbalanced mass of rotors. Instead of considering prevailing ball automatic dynamic balancer, pendulum automatic dynamic balancer is analyzed. For the analysis of dynamic stability and behavior, the nonlinear equations of motion for a system are derived with respect to polar coordinates by the Lagrange′s equations. The perturbation method is applied to investigate the dynamic behavior of the system around the equilibrium position. Based on the linearized equations, the dynamic stability of the system around the equilibrium positions is investigated by the eigenvalue analysis.

The stability analysis provides the design requirements for the pendulum automatic dynamic balancer to achieve a balancing of the system. The efficiency of ball automatic dynamic balancer, for reducing the total vibration of the system, is better than one of pendulum automatic balancer, if the rotating speed is above critical speed. However, pendulum automatic dynamic balancer can achieve balancing even if the rotating speed is below critical speed.

The time response analysis demonstrates the stability analysis from computing the radial displacement of the rotating system and the positions of pendulums. Furthermore, in order to confirm the theoretical analysis, various experiments are made on pendulum automatic dynamic balancer.
Characteristics and Reversibility of Dementia in Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Authors: Chaudhry Priyanka , Kharkar Siddharth , Heidler-Gary Jennifer , Hillis Argye E. , Newhart Melissa , Kleinman Jonathan T. , Davis Cameron , Rigamonti Daniele , Wang Paul , Irani David N. , Williams Michael A.
Published: January 2014

Studies of the cognitive outcome after shunt insertion for treatment of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus have reported widely mixed results. We prospectively studied performance of 60 patients with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus on a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests before and after shunt surgery to determine which cognitive functions improve with shunt insertion. We also administered a subset of cognitive tests before and after temporary controlled drainage of cerebrospinal fluid to determine if change on this brief subset of tests after drainage could predict which patients would show cognitive improvement three to six months after shunt insertion. There was a significant improvement in learning, retention, and delayed recall of verbal memory three to six months after surgery (using paired t‐tests). The majority (74%) of patients showed significant improvement (by at least one standard deviation) on at least one of the memory tests. Absence of improvement on verbal memory after temporary drainage of cerebrospinal fluid had a high negative predictive value for improvement on memory tests at 3–6 months after surgery (96%; p = 0.0005). Also, the magnitude of improvement from Baseline to Post‐Drainage on few specific tests of learning and recall significantly predicted the magnitude of improvement after shunt surgery on the same tests (r2 = 0.32–0.58; p = 0.04–0.001). Results indicate that testing before and after temporary drainage may be useful in predicting which patients are less likely to improve in memory with shunting.
An Efficient Modal Control Strategy for the Active Vibration Control of a Truss Structure
Authors: Carvalhal Ricardo , Júnior Vicente Lopes , Brennan Michael J.
Published: January 2014

In this paper an efficient modal control strategy is described for the active vibration control of a truss structure. In this approach, a feedback force is applied to each mode to be controlled according to a weighting factor that is determined by assessing how much each mode is excited by the primary source. The strategy is effective provided that the primary source is at a fixed position on the structure, and that the source is stationary in the statistical sense. To test the effectiveness of the control strategy it is compared with an alternative, established approach namely, Independent Modal Space Control (IMSC). Numerical simulations show that with the new strategy it is possible to significantly reduce the control effort required, with a minimal reduction in control performance.
Dynamic Analysis of a Timoshenko Beam Subjected to Moving Concentrated Forces Using the Finite Element Method
Authors: Lou Ping , Dai Gong-lian , Zeng Qing-yuan
Published: January 2014

This paper presents finite element formulations for an elastic Timoshenko beam subjected to moving concentrated forces. The results obtained by the present method are compared with those obtained by the assumed mode method published in the existing literature to verify the correctness of the present method. The present method can analyze the dynamic response for a Timoshenko or Bernoulli‐Euler beam with various boundary conditions subjected to moving concentrated forces. Numerical results show that the present method is more effective than the discrete element technique published in the existing literature for investigating the dynamic problem of Timoshenko beam.
Dynamic Analysis of Horizontally Curved Thin‐Walled Box‐Girder Bridge due to Moving Vehicle
Authors: Nallasivam K. , Dutta Anjan , Talukdar Sudip
Published: January 2014

The impact on curved box‐girder bridges due to vehicle moving across rough bridge deck have been analyzed using bridge‐vehicle coupled dynamics. The bridge deck unevenness has been assumed to be a homogeneous random process in space specified by a PSD function. The analysis incorporates the effect of centrifugal forces due to vehicle moving on curved bridge. The curved box‐girder bridge has been numerically modeled using computationally efficient thin‐walled box‐beam finite elements which take into account the torsional warping, distortion and distortional warping, that are important features of thin‐walled box girders. Rigid vehicle with longitudinal and transverse input to the wheels giving rise to heave‐pitch‐roll degrees of freedom has been considered. The theoretical bridge model used in simulation study has been validated by a free vibration experiment using impact excitation. The impact factors for several response parameters such as bending moment, shear force, torsional moment, torsional bi‐moment, distortional moment, distortional bi‐moment and vertical deflections have been obtained for various bridge‐vehicle parameters. Both constant velocity and forward acceleration of the vehicle have been considered to examine impact factor. The results highlighted that the impact factors of a curved box girder bridge corresponding to torsion, distortion and their corresponding bimoments have been observed to be generally very high, while those of the other responses are also relatively higher than that of corresponding straight box girder bridge.
Modelling of Joint Crowd‐Structure System Using Equivalent Reduced‐DOF System
Authors: Sim Jackie , Blakeborough Anthony , Williams Martin
Published: January 2014

For human assembly structures in which the mass of the crowd is significant compared to that of the structure, it is necessary to model the passive crowd as a dynamic system added to the main structural system. Earlier work by the authors has analysed the frequency response of a joint crowd‐structure system in which the structure is treated as a single degree‐of‐freedom (SDOF) system and the seated and standing crowds are each modelled as a two degree‐of‐freedom (2DOF) system. It was found that the occupied structure has dynamic properties different to the empty structure. This paper investigates representing the joint crowd‐structure system as an equivalent reduced‐DOF system that would have the advantage of simplifying the analysis. The modal properties of the equivalent reduced‐DOF system, if known, can give a useful indication of how the passive crowd affects the modal properties of the occupied structure. Two equivalent reduced‐DOF systems are investigated – SDOF and 3DOF systems. The errors between the responses of the equivalent systems and the full model are calculated and presented in the paper. The results show that the full model exhibits the behaviour of a SDOF system for structures with natural frequencies less than 4 Hz (when empty), whereas for structures with natural frequencies above 4 Hz the equivalent 3DOF system gives a better fit to the full model.
Natural Frequncies of Coupled Blade‐Bending and Shaft‐Torsional Vibrations
Authors: Al-Bedoor B.O.
Published: January 2014

In this study, the coupled shaft‐torsional and blade‐bending natural frequencies are investigated using a reduced order mathematical model. The system‐coupled model is developed using the Lagrangian approach in conjunction with the assumed modes method to discretize the blade bending deflection. The model accounts for the blade stagger (setting) angle, the system rotating speed and its induced stiffening effect. The coupled equations of motion are linearized based on the small deformation theory for the blade bending and shaft torsional deformation to enable calculation of the system natural frequencies for various combinations of system parameters. The obtained coupled eignvalue system is ready for use as a reference for comparison for larger size finite element simulations and for the use as a fast check on natural frequencies for the coupled blade bending and shaft torsional vibrations in the design and diagnostics processes. Some results on the predicted natural frequencies are graphically presented and discussed pertinent to the coupling controlling factors and their effects. In addition, the predicted coupled natural frequencies are validated using the Finite Element Commercial Package (Pro‐Mechanica) where good agreements are found.
Passive Control of Flexible Structures by Confinement of Vibrations
Authors: Chtiba M. Ouled , Choura S. , El-Borgi S. , Nayfeh A.H.
Published: January 2014

We propose a two‐step strategy for the design of passive controllers for the simultaneous confinement and suppression of vibrations (SCSV) in mechanical structures. Once the sensitive and insensitive elements of these structures are identified, the first design step synthesizes an active control law, which is referred to as the reference control law (RCL), for the SCSV. We show that the problem of SCSV can be formulated as an LQR‐optimal control problem through which the maximum amplitudes, associated with the control input and the displacements of the sensitive and insensitive parts, can be regulated. In the second design step, a transformation technique that yields an equivalent passive controller is used. Such a technique uses the square root of sum of squares method to approximate an equivalent passive controller while maximizing the effects of springs and dampers characterizing passive elements that are added to the original structure. The viability of the proposed control design is illustrated using a three‐DOF mechanical system subject to an excitation. It is assumed that all of the masses are sensitive to the excitation, and thus the vibratory energy must be confined in the added passive elements (insensitive parts). We show that the vibration amplitudes associated with the sensitive masses are attenuated at fast rate at the expense of slowing down the convergence of the passive elements to their steady states. It is also demonstrated that a combination of the RCL and the equivalent passive control strategy leads to similar structural performance.
Efficacy of Ziprasidone in Controlling Agitation during Post‐Traumatic Amnesia
Authors: Noé Enrique , Ferri Joan , Trénor Carlos , Chirivella Javier
Published: January 2014

Objectives: to provide our initial experience with ziprasidone in the management of behaviour problems of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) during the period of post‐traumatic amnesia (PTA). Patients: Five patients with a mean age of 26.8 ± 9.8 years who had suffered a severe TBI (Glasgow Coma Scale score < 8; length of coma: 16 ± 7.1 days; and length of PTA: 62.4 ± 14.8 days) were included in the study. Agitation was assessed by the Agitated Behaviour Scale (ABS) prior to the administration of ziprasidone, after two weeks of initiating treatment and at the moment of discontinuing ziprasidone. Results: ABS Total score decreased from 27.2 ± 3 to 18 ± 1.2 after two weeks of treatment. The same decrease was also noticed in each one of the subscales (dishinhibition, aggressiveness and lability). Mean dose of the drug was 52.8 ± 27.11 mg/day (range: 20–80 mg), with the highest dose ranging between 40 and 80 mg (64 ± 21.9 mg). Maximum period of administration of ziprasidone was 48.2 ± 14.8 days (range: 35–68 days). No clinical or electrocardiographic side effects were reported. Conclusion: This study shows the efficacy of ziprasidone in controlling agitation during the PTA period. Despite the small size of our sample, ziprasidone reduced symptoms of agitation quickly and with good tolerability, safety and no side effects.
Operational Modal Analysis for Estimating the Dynamic Properties of a Stadium Structure during a Football Game
Authors: Peeters Bart , Van der Auweraer Herman , Vanhollebeke Frederik , Guillaume Patrick
Published: January 2014

During a football game, the ambient vibrations at the roof of a football stadium were recorded. A very large data set consisting of 4 hours of data, sampled at 80 Hz, is available. By a data reduction procedure, the complete data set could be analysed at once in a very short time. The data set was also split in shorter segments corresponding to certain events before, during and after the game to investigate the influence of varying operational conditions on the dynamic properties.

As the structural vibrations were caused by unmeasurable wind and crowd excitation, Operational Modal Analysis has to be applied to find the dynamic characteristics of the structure. The new operational PolyMAX parameter estimation method is used and compared with Stochastic Subspace Identification. Stochastic Subspace Identification requires the correlations between the responses as primary data, whereas PolyMAX operates on spectra or half spectra (i.e. the Fourier transform of the positive time lags of the correlation functions). The main advantage of PolyMAX is that it yields extremely clear stabilisation diagrams, making an automation of the parameter identification process rather straightforward. This enables a continuous monitoring of the dynamic properties of a structure.
Persistent Autobiographical Amnesia: A Case Report
Authors: Repetto C. , Manenti R. , Sansone V. , Cotelli M. , Perani D. , Garibotto V. , Zanetti O. , Meola G. , Miniussi C.
Published: January 2014

We describe a 47‐year‐old man who referred to the Emergency Department for sudden global amnesia and left mild motor impairment in the setting of increased arterial blood pressure. The acute episode resolved within 24 hours. Despite general recovery and the apparent transitory nature of the event, a persistent selective impairment in recollecting events from some specific topics of his personal life became apparent. Complete neuropsychological tests one week after the acute onset and 2 months later demonstrated a clear retrograde memory deficit contrasting with the preservation of anterograde memory and learning abilities. One year later, the autobiographic memory deficit was unmodified, except for what had been re‐learnt. Brain MRI was normal while H20 brain PET scans demonstrated hypometabolism in the right globus pallidus and putamen after 2 weeks from onset, which was no longer present one year later. The absence of a clear pathomechanism underlying focal amnesia lead us to consider this case as an example of functional retrograde amnesia.
Effects of Decompressive Surgery on Prognosis and Cognitive Deficits in Herpes Simplex Encephalitis
Authors: Midi Ipek , Tuncer Nese , Midi Ahmet , Mollahasanoglu Aynur , Konya Deniz , Sav Aydın
Published: January 2014

Herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is a serious viral infection with a high rate of mortality. The most commonly seen complications are behavioral changes, seizures and memory deficits. We report the case of a 37‐year‐old man with HSE in the right temporal lobe and a severe midline shift who was treated with acyclovir. The patient underwent anterior temporal lobe resection. Although HSE can cause permanent cognitive deficits, in this case, early surgical intervention minimized any deficit, as determined by detailed neuropsychological examination. Surgical decompression is indicated as early as possible in severe cases. This case report emphasizes the effect of surgical decompression for HSE on cognitive function, which has rarely been mentioned before.
Psychic Tonus, Body Schema and the Parietal Lobes: A Multiple Lesion Case Analysis
Authors: Braun C. M. J. , Desjardins S. , Gaudelet S. , Guimond A.
Published: January 2014

The psychic tonus model (Braun and colleagues, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006) states that the left hemisphere is a “booster” of internal experience and behavior in general, and that the right hemisphere is a “dampener”. Twenty‐five patients with a “positive” extreme disturbance of body schema (somatoparaphrenia) and 37 patients with a “negative” disturbance of body schema (autotopagnosia or Gerstmann’s syndrome), all following a unilateral parietal lesion, were found in the literature and were analyzed to test predictions from Braun’s “psychic tonus” model. As expected, patients with a positive syndrome had a right hemisphere lesion significantly more frequently, and those with a negative syndrome had a left hemisphere lesion significantly more frequently. Thus the psychic tonus model of hemispheric specialization, previously supported with regard to psychomotor baseline, libido, talkativeness, memory, auditory and visual perceptual tonus, now incorporates the tonus of representation of the body (body schema) in the parietal lobes.
Perceived Behavioral Changes in Early Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Lima Fabiana Souza , Simioni Samanta , Bruggimann Laure , Ruffieux Christiane , Dudler Jean , Felley Christian , Michetti Pierre , Annoni Jean-Marie , Schluep Myriam
Published: January 2014

Acquired behavioral changes have essentially been described in advanced multiple sclerosis (MS). The present study was designed to determine whether behavioral modifications specifically related to the MS pathological process could be identified in the initial phase of the disease, as compared to control patients with chronic, relapsing and progressive inflammatory disorders not involving the central nervous system (CNS). Eighty‐eight early MS patients (Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤ 2.5) and 48 controls were tested. Perceived changes by informants in behavioral control, goal‐directed behavior, decision making, emotional expression, insight and interpersonal relationships were assessed using the Iowa Scale of Personality Change (ISPC). Executive behavioral disturbances were screened using the Dysexecutive Questionnaire (DEX). The mean change between the premorbid and postmorbid ISPC ratings was similar in the MS [12.2 (SD 15.6)] and in the control [11.5 (SD 15.1)] group. The perceived behavioral changes (PBCs) most frequently reported in both groups were lack of stamina, lability/moodiness, anxiety, vulnerability to stress and irritability. Pathological scores in the DEX were also similar in both groups. Correlations between PBCs and DEX scores were different in MS and control groups. MS patients with cognitive impairment had a marginally higher number of PBCs than control patients (p = 0.056) and a significantly higher DEXp score (p = 0.04). These results suggest that (1) PBCs occurring in early MS patients were not different from those induced by comparable chronic non‐CNS disorders, (2) qualitative differences in the relationship between behavioral symptoms and executive‐behavioral changes may exist between MS and control groups, and (3) behavioral symptoms seem associated with cognitive deficits in MS. We further plan to assess these observations longitudinally.
Multiple‐Input Multiple‐Output (MIMO) Linear Systems Extreme Inputs/Outputs
Authors: Smallwood David O.
Published: January 2014

A linear structure is excited at multiple points with a stationary normal random process. The response of the structure is measured at multiple outputs. If the autospectral densities of the inputs are specified, the phase relationships between the inputs are derived that will minimize or maximize the trace of the autospectral density matrix of the outputs. If the autospectral densities of the outputs are specified, the phase relationships between the outputs that will minimize or maximize the trace of the input autospectral density matrix are derived. It is shown that other phase relationships and ordinary coherence less than one will result in a trace intermediate between these extremes. Least favorable response and some classes of critical response are special cases of the development. It is shown that the derivation for stationary random waveforms can also be applied to nonstationary random, transients, and deterministic waveforms.
Modifications to the Method of Modal Strain Energy for Improved Estimates of Loss Factors for Damped Structures
Authors: Torvik Peter J. , Runyon Brian
Published: January 2014

The method of Modal Strain Energy (MSE) enables predictions of modal loss factors for vibrating systems from finite element analyses without evaluation of a complex‐valued frequency response or a complex‐valued frequency. While the method is simple, some error results; especially if the dissipative material has the high loss factor characteristic of materials added to increase system damping. Several methods for reducing this error through modifications to MSE have been suggested. In this work, the exact loss factor for a simple mechanical system is found. The method of Modal Strain Energy (MSE) is then used to find the loss factor for that prototype system and errors are evaluated in terms of system parameters. Comparisons are also made to predictions with several modifications to MSE. A modification due to Rongong is found to provide significant improvement. The use of this modification together with MSE is shown to lead to lower and upper bounds for the system loss factor. As the prototype system is shown to be mechanically equivalent to constrained layer damping configurations, the findings are applicable to the analysis and design of optimized sandwich beams, plates, and damping tapes. Results are given for beams and plates with constrained layer treatments.
Intransigent Vowel‐Consonant Position in Korean Dysgraphia: Evidence of Spatial‐Constructive Representation
Authors: Kim HyangHee , Na Duk L. , Park Eun Sook
Published: January 2014

Dysgraphia due to a focal brain lesion can be characterized by substitution, transposition, deletion and/or addition errors of graphemes or strokes. However, those linguistic errors can be language‐specific because the writing system of a given language may influence error patterns. We investigated a Korean stroke patient, a 57‐year‐old English teacher with dysgraphia both in Korean Han‐geul (한글) and in English alphabet writings. The results of an experimental testing revealed transposition errors between a consonant and a vowel only in English but not in Korean writings. This austerity of vowel‐consonant position may be attributed to a unique Korean writing system of a spatially well‐formed syllabic configuration or block with consonant(s) and a vowel. In light of a neuropsychological model of writing, which depicts a multi‐level spelling and writing process, we suggest a spatial‐constructional component of internal orthographic representations in Korean writing. This Korean graphemic configuration feature may be resistant to a focal, left cerebral damage, and thus, we also discuss our results in terms of cerebral lateralization of the writing processes.
Image Processing for Capturing Motions of Crowd and Its Application to Pedestrian‐Induced Lateral Vibration of a Footbridge
Authors: Yoshida Junji , Fujino Yozo , Sugiyama Toshiyuki
Published: January 2014

An image processing technique to capture motions of crowds is proposed and it is applied to understanding pedestrian‐induced lateral vibration in a footbridge. Firstly, an outline of recording sequential images of vibration in the bridge is described and, then an image processing for human‐head recognition from a single image of crowd is developed. In this method, conventional template matching techniques with human‐head templates are extended by employing some selected templates, an updated search‐algorithm and a classifier for clustering. Consequently, more than 50% of human‐heads could be identified by the proposed method. Then, motions of detected human‐heads, together with the bridge response, are tracked. Finally, interaction between the motions of pedestrians and the vibration of the bridge is discussed, with the emphasis on synchronization between the responses of the pedestrians and the bridge.
The Effects of a Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program of Alzheimer’s Disease in a Hospital Setting
Authors: Raggi Alberto , Iannaccone Sandro , Marcone Alessandra , Ginex Valeria , Ortelli Paola , Nonis Alessandro , Cristina Giusti Maria , Cappa Stefano F.
Published: January 2014

Introduction. The evidence for the clinical effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation in patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is debated. Therefore it is important to collect more evidence about the outcome of non‐pharmacological therapy of dementia. Material and Methods. We report data concerning the rehabilitation of 50 patients with probable AD admitted during a 17‐month period in a specialized unit. Participants were affected by dementia ranging from mild to severe. The patients were treated with the Reality Orientation Therapy (ROT), integrated, when needed, with individualised cognitive approaches. The results concern: the cognitive status, evaluated by means of the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the functional status,
evaluated with the Activity of Daily Living (ADL) scale, the assessment of psychological and behavioural disorders measured with the Neuropsychiatry Inventory (NPI). The cognitive, functional, and psychopathological assessments were administered at admission and discharge. Results. The mean MMSE scores at admission and discharge were respectively 16.06 and 17.54 (Wilcoxon Ranks Test: p = 0.005). Mean ADL scores were 4.86 at admission and 5.02 at discharge (p = 0.011). Mean NPI scores were respectively 21.46 and 12.26 (p = < 0.001). Conclusions. This survey of the 17‐month experience suggests that a comprehensive treatment program may have beneficial effects on cognitive, functional, and in particular neuropsychiatric outcomes. The results should be verified with a randomised clinical trial.
Comparison of Motor Activity and Sleep in Patients with Complex Partial Seizures on Levetiracetam Treatment and a Group of Healthy Subjects
Authors: Yilmaz Hikmet
Published: January 2014

Purpose: Levetiracetam‐treated patients commonly report daytime drowsiness, fatique, asthenia and decreasing of motor activity. However the origin of these reported side effects are still debated, we aimed to clarify effect of levetiracetam on sleep. Therefore this prospective study was conducted to evaluate the effects of levetiracetam on motor activity, amount and continuity of sleep and napping.

Methods: Various tests were performed on twenty two patients treated with levetiracetam (10 monotherapy, 12 add‐on therapy) at least three days before the initiation of treatment, and consecutively for five to eight days at the third week of treatment. These tests included sleep logs, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Modified Maintenance of Wakefulness Test and actimetric measurements. In order to evaluate the sleep behavior of these patients the following sleep parameters were estimated: bedtime, wake‐up time, sleep‐onset time, sleep‐offset time, sleep latency, total sleep time, wake time after sleep onset, fragmentation index, total activity score, nap episodes, total nap duration and sleep efficiency. Twenty members of staff from our hospital (Doctor, nurse, secretary, civil servant etc.) were evaluated as control subjects in the study.

Results: After three‐week treatment with levetiracetam (in particular with add‐on therapy), Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores, napping episodes and total nap durations increased and sleep latencies decreased. While durations of Modified Maintenance of Wakefulness Test and total activity scores decreased. However the total sleep time and the sleep efficiency did not show any difference from the pre‐treatment values.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that levetiracetam leads to drowsiness by decreasing the daily motor activity and increasing the naps; however this agent does not have any major effects on total sleep time and sleep efficiency during night. Actimetric analyses give information about continuity of sleep and sleep/wake states however does not give satisfactory information about
architecture of sleep. In order to determine the effects of levetiracetam on the sleep architecture we need similiar protocol studies by full night polysomnography.
Movements Execution in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Camarda Rosolino , Camarda Cecilia , Monastero Roberto , Grimaldi Silvia , Camarda Lawrence K. C. , Pipia Carmela , Caltagirone Carlo , Gangitano Massimo
Published: January 2014

We evaluated the relationship between motor and neuropsychological deficits in subjects affected by amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) and early Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Kinematics of goal‐directed movement of aMCI and AD subjects were compared to those of age‐matched control subjects. AD showed a slowing down of motor performance compared to aMCI and controls. No relationships were found between motor and cognitive performances in both AD and aMCI. Our results suggest that the different motor behaviour between AD and aMCI cannot be related to memory deficits, probably reflecting the initial degeneration of parietal‐frontal circuits for movement planning. The onset of motor dysfunction in early AD could represent the transition from aMCI to AD.
Effect of Tapering on Natural Frequencies of Rotating Beams
Authors: Bazoune A.
Published: January 2014

The problem of free vibration of a rotating tapered beam is investigated by developing explicit expressions for the mass, elastic and centrifugal stiffness matrices in terms of the taper ratios. This investigation takes into account the effect of tapering in two planes, the effect of hub radius as well as the stiffening effect of rotation. The equations of motion are derived; the associated generalized eigenvalue problem is defined in conjunction with a suitable Lagrangian form and solved for a wide range of parameter changes. The effect of tapering on the natural frequencies of the beam is examined with all parameter changes present. Results are compared with those available in literature and are found to be in excellent agreement.
Activation of Brain Attention Systems in Individuals with Symptoms of ADHD
Authors: Rodriguez P. Dennis , Baylis Gordon C.
Published: January 2014

Previous research investigating attention and impulse control in individuals with Attention‐Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has largely ignored the symptomatic differences among the three subtypes of ADHD: ADHD‐Inattentive Type, ADHD‐Hyperactive/Impulsive Type, and ADHD‐Combined Type. The present study examined attention and impulse control by focusing on these subtypes. Based on their self‐reported symptoms of ADHD, participants belonged to one of four groups: ADHD‐Inattentive, ADHD‐Hyperactive/Impulsive, ADHD‐Combined, and control. Cortical activity was recorded from participants during performance of a Go/NoGo task. The event‐related potentials (ERP) measured at frontal and posterior sites discriminated between the control group and participants with symptoms of ADHD. The control group consistently exhibited a higher P3 amplitude than all the ADHD groups. The main difference occurred at the frontal site, indicating that individuals with ADHD symptoms have deficits in the anterior attentional system, which mediates signal detection. Behavioral measures of signal sensitivity revealed that the ADHD‐Inattentive and the ADHD‐Hyperactive/Impulsive groups had more difficulty with the attention‐demanding Go/NoGo respond‐to‐target task, while behavioral measures of response bias indicated that the ADHD‐Hyperactive/Impulsive and the ADHD‐Combined groups responded more liberally in the inhibition‐demanding Go/NoGo suppress‐to‐target task.
Recognition of Facial Expressions of Different Emotional Intensities in Patients with Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration
Authors: Kessels Roy P. C. , Gerritsen Lotte , Montagne Barbara , Ackl Nibal , Diehl Janine , Danek Adrian
Published: January 2014

Behavioural problems are a key feature of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Also, FTLD patients show impairments in emotion processing. Specifically, the perception of negative emotional facial expressions is affected. Generally, however, negative emotional expressions are regarded as more difficult to recognize than positive ones, which thus may have been a confounding factor in previous studies. Also, ceiling effects are often present on emotion recognition tasks using full‐blown emotional facial expressions. In the present study with FTLD patients, we examined the perception of sadness, anger, fear, happiness, surprise and disgust at different emotional intensities on morphed facial expressions to take task difficulty into account. Results showed that our FTLD patients were specifically impaired at the recognition of the emotion anger. Also, the patients performed worse than the controls on recognition of surprise, but performed at control levels on disgust, happiness, sadness and fear. These findings corroborate and extend previous results showing deficits in emotion perception in FTLD.
Measurement and Analysis of Horizontal Vibration Response of Pile Foundations
Authors: Boominathan A. , Ayothiraman R.
Published: January 2014

Pile foundations are frequently used in very loose and weak deposits, in particular soft marine clays deposits to support various industrial structures, power plants, petrochemical complexes, compressor stations and residential multi‐storeyed buildings. Under these circumstances, piles are predominantly subjected to horizontal dynamic loads and the pile response to horizontal vibration is very critical due to its low stiffness. Though many analytical methods have been developed to estimate the horizontal vibration response, but they are not well validated with the experimental studies. This paper presents the results of horizontal vibration tests carried out on model aluminium single piles embedded in a simulated Elastic Half Space filled with clay. The influence of various soil and pile parameters such as pile length, modulus of clay, magnitude of dynamic load and frequency of excitation on the horizontal vibration response of single piles was examined. Measurement of various response quantities, such as the load transferred to the pile, pile head displacement and the strain variation along the pile length were done using a Data Acquisition System. It is found that the pile length, modulus of clay and dynamic load, significantly influences the natural frequency and peak amplitude of the soil‐pile system. The maximum bending moment occurs at the fundamental frequency of the soil‐pile system. The maximum bending moment of long piles is about 2 to 4 times higher than that of short piles and it increases drastically with the increase in the shear modulus of clay for both short and long piles. The active or effective pile length is found to be increasing under dynamic load and empirical equations are proposed to estimate the active pile length under dynamic loads.
Formulation of Equations of Motion for a Simply Supported Bridge under a Moving Railway Freight Vehicle
Authors: Lou Ping , Zeng Qing-yuan
Published: January 2014

Based on energy approach, the equations of motion in matrix form for the railway freight vehicle‐bridge interaction system are derived, in which the dynamic contact forces between vehicle and bridge are considered as internal forces. The freight vehicle is modelled as a multi‐rigid‐body system, which comprises one car body, two bogie frames and four wheelsets. The bogie frame is linked with the car body through spring‐dashpot suspension systems, and the bogie frame is rigidly linked with wheelsets. The bridge deck, together with railway track resting on bridge, is modelled as a simply supported Bernoulli‐Euler beam and its deflection is described by superimposing modes. The direct time integration method is applied to obtain the dynamic response of the vehicle‐bridge interaction system at each time step. A computer program has been developed for analyzing this system. The correctness of the proposed procedure is confirmed by one numerical example. The effect of different beam mode numbers and various surface irregularities of beam on the dynamic responses of the vehicle‐bridge interaction system are investigated.
Parietal Dysgraphia: Characterization of Abnormal Writing Stroke Sequences, Character Formation and Character Recall
Authors: Sakurai Yasuhisa , Onuma Yoshinobu , Nakazawa Gaku , Ugawa Yoshikazu , Momose Toshimitsu , Tsuji Shoji , Mannen Toru
Published: January 2014

Objective: To characterize various dysgraphic symptoms in parietal agraphia.

Method: We examined the writing impairments of four dysgraphia patients from parietal lobe lesions using a special writing test with 100 character kanji (Japanese morphograms) and their kana (Japanese phonetic writing) transcriptions, and related the test performance to a lesion site.

Results: Patients 1 and 2 had postcentral gyrus lesions and showed character distortion and tactile agnosia, with patient 1 also having limb apraxia. Patients 3 and 4 had superior parietal lobule lesions and features characteristic of apraxic agraphia (grapheme deformity and a writing stroke sequence disorder) and character imagery deficits (impaired character recall). Agraphia with impaired character recall and abnormal grapheme formation were more pronounced in patient 4, in whom the lesion extended to the inferior parietal, superior occipital and precuneus gyri.

Conclusion: The present findings and a review of the literature suggest that: (i) a postcentral gyrus lesion can yield graphemic distortion (somesthetic dysgraphia), (ii) abnormal grapheme formation and impaired character recall are associated with lesions surrounding the intraparietal sulcus, the symptom being more severe with the involvement of the inferior parietal, superior occipital and precuneus gyri, (iii) disordered writing stroke sequences are caused by a damaged anterior intraparietal area.
Neuropsychological Rehabilitation in Mild and Moderate Alzheimer’s Disease Patients
Authors: Ávila Renata , Carvalho Isabel A. M. , Bottino Cássio M.C. , Miotto Eliane C.
Published: January 2014

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of a neuropsychological rehabilitation (NR) program on patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Methods: The sample was composed of 16 elderly outpatients who participated in an open trial with rivastigmine (6 to 12 mg/day) for 4 months and were randomized to 3 different groups: 1. group NR (N = 5), 2. individualized NR (N = 6) and 3. NR at home under supervision of a relative or caregiver (N = 5). All 3 groups fulfilled the same NR protocol consisting of a once a week session. Just before and after the 22 week period of rehabilitation, all patients were evaluated using psychiatric and functional scales, and neuropsychological tests by interviewers that did not participate in the cognitive training.

Results: The intervention did not produce any statistically significant change, but small gains were observed on some cognition tests, activities of daily living (ADL), and psychiatric symptoms in groups 1 and 2.

Conclusion: Group NR is recommended for reducing psychiatric symptoms, and individualized NR for improving ADL. NR at home either has no associated benefits, or the training sessions were not appropriately conducted by the caregiver. However, additional research with larger samples is necessary to confirm these observations.
Eigenfunction Convergence of the Rayleigh‐Ritz‐Meirovitch Method and the FEM
Authors: Morales C.A. , Goncalves R.
Published: January 2014

Eigenfunction convergence characteristics of the finite element method and the Rayleigh‐Ritz method with quasicomparison functions (RRMM) are compared. The RRMM has previously proved to be superior in comparing eigenvalue convergence characteristics. The importance of studying natural mode convergence is associated to the fact that the general response of a structure is a linear combination of these characteristic functions; in other words, accurate structural response attainment demands accurate structural modes in the analysis. It is shown that in this case the RRMM also produces superior results. A refined definition of quasicomparison functions is advanced.
Neuropsychological Findings of Extrapontine Myelinolysis without Central Pontine Myelinolysis
Authors: Seok Jung Im , Lee Dong Kuck , Kang Min Gu , Park Jae Han
Published: January 2014

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) and extrapontine myelinolysis (EPM) are well recognized syndromes related to the rapid correction of hyponatremia, which are reported to show brain stem signs and various movement disorders. Cognitive dysfunction and neuropsychological findings, however, have seldom been reported. Cognitive manifestations in osmotic myelinolysis may have been underestimated due to the prominent brain stem symptoms and movement disorders. We report a case of EPM without CPM and describe the neuropsychological findings of EPM. The absence of CPM in this case made it possible to test neuropsychological function in the acute stage.

Neuropsychological testing showed severe impairment of attention, verbal and visual memory, visuospatial function, and
frontal/executive function. Language and language‐related functions were normal except naming.
Visual Hypo and Hypergnosia as Exemplars of Poles of Psychic Tonus in the Occipital Lobes: Multiple Case Analyses
Authors: Braun Claude M. J. , Guimond Anik
Published: January 2014

The “psychic tonus” model or PTM [1] of hemispheric specialization states that the left hemisphere is a psychic and behavioral activator and that the right hemisphere is an inhibitor. The PTM predicts that the tonus of visual representation ought to manifest hemispheric specialization in the occipital lobes. Specifically PTM predicts that pathological positive visual tonus (visual hallucination) ought to be associated more frequently with right occipital lesions. PTM also predicts that pathological negative visual tonus (loss of visual imagery) ought to result more often from left occipital lesions. We reviewed 78 cases of post lesion hallucination and 12 cases of post lesion loss of evocation of images, all following a unilateral lesion. Analyses of these relevant previously published cases support the predictions. In accordance with previously published demonstrations of hemispheric specialization for auditory tonus in the temporal lobes and for somesthetic tonus in the parietal lobes, the present findings extend the psychic tonus model of hemispheric specialization to vision in the occipital lobes.
Satellite Attitude Control System Simulator
Authors: Conti G.T. , Souza L.C.G.
Published: January 2014

Future space missions will involve satellites with great autonomy and stringent pointing precision, requiring of the Attitude Control Systems (ACS) with better performance than before, which is function of the control algorithms implemented on board computers. The difficulties for developing experimental ACS test is to obtain zero gravity and torque free conditions similar to the SCA operate in space. However, prototypes for control algorithms experimental verification are fundamental for space mission success. This paper presents the parameters estimation such as inertia matrix and position of mass centre of a Satellite Attitude Control System Simulator (SACSS), using algorithms based on least square regression and least square recursive methods. Simulations have shown that both methods have estimated the system parameters with small error. However, the least square recursive methods have performance more adequate for the SACSS objectives. The SACSS platform model will be used to do experimental verification of fundamental aspects of the satellite attitude dynamics and design of different attitude control algorithm.
Dynamic Instability of Pile‐Supported Structures in Liquefiable Soils during Earthquakes
Authors: Adhikari S. , Bhattacharya S.
Published: January 2014

Piles are long slender columns installed deep into the ground to support heavy structures such as oil platforms, bridges, and tall buildings where the ground is not strong enough to support the structure on its own. In seismic prone zones, in the areas of soft soils (loose to medium dense soil which liquefies like a quick sand) piles are routinely used to support structures (buildings/ bridges). The pile and the building vibrate, and often collapse, in liquefiable soils during major earthquakes. In this paper an experimental and analytical approach is taken to characterize this vibration. The emphasis has been given to the dynamic instability of piled foundations in liquefied soil. The first natural frequency of a piled‐structure vibrating in liquefiable soil is obtained from centrifuge tests. The experimental system is modelled using a fixed‐free Euler‐Bernoulli beam resting against an elastic support with axial load and tip mass with rotary inertia. Natural frequencies obtained from the analytical method are compared with experimental results. It was observed that the effective natural frequency of the system can reduce significantly during an earthquake.