Vehicle interior sound and vibration numerical estimation method based on engine radiated sound and mount vibration

A study was undertaken to develop a numerical estimation method for vehicle interior sound and vibration based on 5.4L V8 engine radiated sound and mount vibration and to quantify the contributions of vibroacoustic paths to vehicle interior sound and vibration. The modal analysis included acoustic and mechanical excitation of the frame and body assembly of a light truck. It was performed to estimate the sound and vibration transmission characteristics from the engine compartment to vehicle interior. The respective frequency response functions were then combined with frequency based source (engine radiated sound and forces transmitted through the mounts) data to estimate the response at the receivers. The response was characterized as the binaural sound pressure and driver\u27s seat track triaxial acceleration. The results were verified by actual vehicle interior sound and vibration measurements and subjective (jury) evaluations at relevant operating conditions. The subjective evaluations indicated that, despite similar overall levels measured, the differences in perceived sound may still exist and are due to differences in transfer path contribution to interior sound, as seen from interaural sound measurements (between left and right ear). The adverse changes in interior vibration comfort were related to the change in rate of change of acceleration known as jerk. The Z-direction acceleration of the seat was found to be sufficient in describing interior vibration; the directions of vibration were indiscernible by the jury in subjective evaluations. Although there were slight differences in transfer path contribution the effect of using a more production efficient cast iron crank engine compared to a more durable steel crank engine, both used in the study, is negligible in terms of interior sound and vibration as indicated in estimated, objective and subjective results.Dept. of Mechanical, Automotive, and Materials Engineering. Paper copy at Leddy Library: Theses & Major Papers - Basement, West Bldg. / Call Number: Thesis2005 .K65. Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 44-01, page: 0427. Thesis (M.A.Sc.)--University of Windsor (Canada), 2005

In Parkinson's disease STN stimulation enhances responsiveness of movement initiation speed to high reward value

Objective: The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is part of the motor, associative, and limbic cortico-striatal circuits through which it can influence a range of behaviours, with preclinical and clinical evidence suggesting that the STN is involved in motivational modulation of behaviour. In the present study, we investigated if in Parkinson’s disease (PD) motivational modulation of movement speed is altered by deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the STN (STN-DBS). / Methods: We studied the effect of monetary incentive on speed of movement initiation and execution in a computer-based simple reaction time task in 10 operated patients with Parkinson’s disease using a STN DBS ON/OFF design and also in 11 healthy participants. / Results: Prospect of reward improved speed of movement initiation in PD patients both with STN-DBS ON and OFF. However, only with STN-DBS ON, the patients showed greater speeding of initiation time with higher reward magnitude, suggesting enhanced responsivity to higher reward value. Also, on the rewarded trials, PD patients ON stimulation made more anticipation errors than on unrewarded trials, reflecting a propensity to impulsive responses triggered by prospect of reward by subthalamic stimulation. The motivational modulation of movement speed was preserved and enhanced in PD with STN-DBS. / Conclusion: Motivational modulation of movement speed in PD is maintained with STN-DBS, with STN stimulation having a further energizing effect on movement initiation in response to greater incentive value. Our results suggest that STN plays a role in integrating motivational influences into motor action, which may explain some previous reports of STN-DBS induced impulsivity with increased motivational salience of stimuli

The role of sensorimotor cortical plasticity in pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease and dystonia

This PhD thesis is a study of cortical electrophysiology in two basal ganglia disorders: Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dystonia. Two diseases were chosen as being representative of hypokinetic and hyperkinetic movement disorders, respectively. In addition, current treatments seem to be imperfect to control many aspects of both diseases, hence the interest in exploring potential new therapeutic targets. PD and dystonia are basal ganglia diseases, but there is growing body of evidence of impaired cortical function and particularly of abnormal sensorimotor cortical plasticity in both disorders. We however still lack knowledge about functional significance of these cortical changes. Are they maladaptive or compensatory or of little functional significance? Techniques of Transcranial Magnetic (TMS) were used to determine 1) if clinical asymmetry of early PD is reflected in hemispheric asymmetry of sensorimotor cortical plasticity and intracortical inhibition, and 2) how these electrophysiological measures change with disease progression. We found that the hemisphere contralateral to the less affected side had preserved intracortical inhibition and a larger response to the plasticity protocol, whereas on the more affected hemisphere these were reduced. We further demonstrated that the decline in asymmetry of these measures correlated with the reduction in asymmetry of clinical symptoms, suggesting these were compensatory changes. In dystonia patients, we investigated using TMS 1) if change of afferent input induced by botulinum toxin injections may change response to plasticity protocol in primary dystonia, and if 2) secondary and primary dystonia patients share the same pattern of electrophysiological abnormalities. We demonstrated that sensorimotor cortical plasticity in primary dystonia is not permanent abnormality but may be transitory reduced with botulinum injections treatment. Secondary dystonia patients, as opposed to primary dystonia patients did not have enhanced sensorimotor plasticity or impaired cerebellar function. We provide evidence that different types of dystonia do not necessarily have the same neuroanatomical substrates, which might have therapeutic implications

Penile Curvature Incidence in Hypospadias: Can It Be Determined?

The aim was to retrospectively determine the real incidence of congenital penile curvature in various forms of hypospadias, in order to indicate intraoperative assessment and correction of curvature. We analyzed 842 patients with hypospadias who underwent surgery from 2003 to 2010, classified into two groups. First group was intraoperatively checked for curvature as a routine procedure, while a curvature in the second group was assessed mostly in severe hypospadias. Results are analyzed using Fisher's and chi-square tests. In total, 238 cases (28.3%) of associated curvature were confirmed. Curvature was significantly more frequent in the first group, regarding hypospadias in general (P<0.01), as well as distal (P<0.05) and midshaft forms (P<0.01). Penile curvature is common figure in hypospadias, including distal types. Intraoperative testing for associated curvature should be considered as a routine procedure in hypospadias repair

Foliar nutrition in apple production

In order to create conditions conducive to sustainable fruit production, involving optimum utilization of all sources of plant nutrients with minimum environmental pollution, it is necessary to reorient agricultural producers to use those types of fertilization that are environmentally safe and appropriate which can also satisfy all fruit tree nutrient requirements. This gives particular importance to foliar nutrition as this model poses the lowest risk of soil and groundwater contamination with undesirable mineral elements. The objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of research papers dealing with the effect of foliar feeding on development parameters in apple trees in an attempt to obtain a more thorough insight into the advantages and disadvantages of this fertilization type and facilitate the potential use of this practice for apple producers.Keywords: Malus x domestica, foliar fertilization, nutrient, leave