Vibration

The objective was to explore if vibration superposed to tonic contraction induces plastic changes in the contra-and ipsilateral motor cortex. Healthy subjects (n = 12) abducted the right index finger with a force 5% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) against the lever of a torque motor while a 60 Hz vibration stimulus of 10 min was delivered. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) after single and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) were recorded from the first dorsal interosseous muscle of right and left hand pre, during, post and 30 min post-stimulation. The TMS assessments were employed with tonic contraction alone (TONIC) and with superposed vibrostimulation (VIBRO), each for the ipsi-and contralateral cortex separately. In the contralateral cortex: resting motor threshold (rMT) decreased, MEP amplitudes increased, short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) reduced and intracortical facilitation (ICF) increased post VIBRO, while no changes occurred post TONIC. In the ipsilateral cortex: rMT decreased, MEP amplitude increased and SICI reduced during TONIC, while no changes occurred post TONIC, during and post VIBRO. Vibration superposed to tonic contraction, induces lasting (30 min) plastic changes, whereas contraction alone caused no outlasting effects. Mainly intrinsic intracortical mechanisms are involved because spinal adaptation could be excluded (F-wave assessments). These findings have a therapeutic potential in the functional recovery of motor deficits with robot-aided devices.

The objective of the study was to determine if low intensity, high frequency vibration training impacted the musculoskeletal system in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, relative to healthy mice. Three-week old wildtype (n = 26) and mdx mice (n = 22) were randomized to non-vibrated or vibrated (45 Hz and 0.6 g, 15 min/d, 5 d/wk) groups. In vivo and ex vivo contractile function of the anterior crural and extensor digitorum longus muscles, respectively, were assessed following 8 wks of vibration. Mdx mice were injected 5 and 1 days prior to sacrifice with Calcein and Xylenol, respectively. Muscles were prepared for histological and triglyceride analyses and subcutaneous and visceral fat pads were excised and weighed. Tibial bones were dissected and analyzed by micro-computed tomography for trabecular morphometry at the metaphysis, and cortical geometry and density at the mid-diaphysis. Three-point bending tests were used to assess cortical bone mechanical properties and a subset of tibiae was processed for dynamic histomorphometry. Vibration training for 8 wks did not alter trabecular morphometry, dynamic histomorphometry, cortical geometry, or mechanical properties (P$ 0.34). Vibration did not alter any measure of muscle contractile function (P$0.12); however the preservation of muscle function and morphology in mdx mice indicates vibration is not deleterious to muscle lacking dystrophin. Vibrated mice had smaller subcutaneous fat pads (P = 0.03) and higher intramuscular triglyceride concentrations (P = 0.03). These data suggest that vibration training at 45 Hz and 0.6 g did not significantly impact the tibial bone and the surrounding musculature, but may influence fat distribution in mice.

This study compared the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) and a field-based re-warm-up during half-time (HT) on subsequent physical performance measures during a simulated soccer game. Ten semi-professional male soccer players performed 90-min fixed-intensity soccer simulations (SAFT 90 ), using a multi-directional course. During the HT period players either remained seated (CON), or performed intermittent agility exercise (IAE), or WBV. At regular intervals during SAFT 90 , vastus lateralis temperature (T m ) was recorded, and players also performed maximal countermovement jumps (CMJ), 10-m sprints, and knee flexion and extension contractions. At the start of the second half, sprint Scand J Med

This paper presents the results of ground vibration measurements carried out in Hisarcik Boron open pit mine located on the west side of central Anatolia near Kütahya province in Turkey. Within the scope of this study to predict peak particle velocity (PPV) level for this site, ground vibration components were measured for 304 shots during bench blasting. In blasting operations, ANFO (blasting agent), gelatin dynamite (priming), and delay electric detonators (firing) were used as explosives. Parameters of scaled distance (charge quantity per delay and the distance between the source and the station) were recorded carefully and the ground vibration components were measured for all blast events using two different types of vibration monitors (one White Mini-Seis and one Instantel Minimate Plus Model). The absolute distances between shot points and monitor stations were determined using GPS. The equation of square root scaled distance extensively used in the literature was taken into consideration for the prediction of PPV. Then, the data pairs of scaled distance and particle velocity obtained from the 565 event records were analyzed statistically. At the end of statistical evaluation of the data pairs, an empirical relation which gives 50% prediction line with a reasonable correlation coefficient was established between PPV and scaled distance.

The unsatisfactory results associated with conventional treatments for symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) demonstrate a need for research into alternative therapies. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of whole body vibration therapy (WBV) as a treatment for pain associated with DPN. Participants (n Z 8) with painful DPN received three treatment sessions per week for four weeks. Each session consisted of four bouts of 3 min of vibration (frequency 25 Hz, amplitude 5 mm). The primary outcome measures were changes in the visual analog pain scale (VAS) and changes in the neuropathic pain scale (NPS). WBV demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) acute pain reduction in the VAS, and a significant chronic reduction in both the VAS and NPS scales. No side-effects were observed during this study. WBV appears to be an effective, non-invasive treatment for pain associated with DPN.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are amongst the most common work-related problem in Europe. In forestry yards we find all the conditions which expose workers to MSD risks: hard environmental conditions (low temperatures, slippery and uneven ground), heavy works (manual handling of loads, back flexed and twisted) and dangerous tools and machineries such as chainsaws. The high manual work load can therefore cause MSDs amongst the loggers. This pathology risk increases with the component 'vibration' induced by chainsaws, tractors, skidders and other machineries. In this study we have considered two different logger groups working in public forestry yards and we have analyzed their MSD risk exposure, controlling both the posture of each worker and measuring the induced vibration on the handarm system and on the back. The OWAS (Ovako Working-posture Analysis System) technique has been used to evaluate the load MSD risk and the 2002/44/EC Vibration Directive has been used to detect the exposure to vibration. In the first loggers group, mechanical trees felling (using chainsaw) and manual deforestation were the performed tasks; in the second, the operations were mechanical trees felling and log stacking (using also a tractor). The work of eight loggers was analyzed, evaluating all risk types. The result was that both the OWAS index and the vibration indicators were quite high. But others risk parameters came out that are not included in the OWAS or in the 2002/44 EC directive methodology: for example, the work related neck and upper limb disorders, which may be detected using the OCRA procedure in the case of driving powerful forestry machines.

Objective: This study compared the obstetric outcome in women who had external cephalic version (ECV) for breech presentation after 36 weeks gestation with those who did not, to see whether ECV reduces breech deliveries and cesarean section rates with reduced complications. Method: External cephalic version was attempted in 200 women (study group) with the use of tocolysis and vibroacoustic stimulation. The control group (ECV not attempted) comprised of 278 women with breech presentation after 36 weeks. Result: The cesarean section rate was 14.0% in the successful version group compared with 55.2% in the unsuccessful version group. The overall cesarean section rate in the study group was 32.5%. In the control group of 278, the fetus remained in the breech presentation in labor in 269 women with a cesarean section rate of 51.4% which was not different from the unsuccessful version group (55.2%). Conclusion: This study supports the randomized trials conducted earlier in that ECV after 36 weeks gestation reduced the number of breech deliveries and cesarean sections (32.5% in the study group compared with 51.4% in the control group) (P > 0.00001).

The purpose of this study was to analyze, in an animal model, the histologic and biomechanical phenomena at the bone-implant interface of implants inserted with high torque (HT) as compared to low torque (LT) during the first 6 weeks of healing. Forty tapered-screw-form implants were placed in five hybrid sheep. The implant sites were placed in the mandible, using an extraoral approach; four were placed with HT (test: mean 110 Ncm) on one side and four were placed with LT (control: mean 10 Ncm) on the contralateral side. After 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks of healing, removal torque testing and resonance frequency analysis were performed and the animals were sacrificed for histologic examination. Implants from the HT group showed significantly higher bone apposition than implants from the LT group at all examined healing times. Similarly, removal torque was consistently higher for the HT as compared to the LT group. A significant loss of primary stability in the HT group was evident 7 day...

Current research in capsule endoscopy aims at endowing the capsules with some means of actively propelling themselves inside the gastrointestinal (GO tract, as opposed Advantages of these active capsules are the sipificant potential in the duration of the associated diagnostic procedures. as well as the oossihilitv to direct the line-of-sieht of the oh-hoard cameras towards interesting features of the GI tissue. One such means of active propulsion is by vibratory actuation, employing eccentric-mass micromotors, which is shown to reduce the friction of the capsule with the GI tract. The effect of vibrations on the quality of the acquired images is explored in the present study, which demonstrates that such vibrations do not affect adversely the diagnostic effectiveness of the endoscopic capsules. The parameters of vibratory actuation are evaluated as to the loss bf high-frequency information in the acquired images, due to the induced motion blur, and appropriate design guidelines for...

In this work, the vibrational spectral analysis was carried out using Raman and infrared spectroscopy in the range 100-4000 cm(-1) and 50-4000 cm(-1), respectively, for the title molecules. The molecular structure, fundamental vibrational frequencies and intensity of the vibrational bands are interpreted with the aid of structure optimizations and normal coordinate force field calculations based on Hartee Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) method and different basis sets combination. The complete vibrational assignments of wave numbers were made on the basis of potential energy distribution (PED). The scaled B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) results show the best agreement with the experimental values over the other methods. The effects due to the substitutions of methyl group and halogen bond were investigated. The results of the calculations were applied to simulated spectra of the title compounds, which show excellent agreement with observed spectra.

Strength training is recommended for children with cerebral palsy. However, it is difficult for moderately impaired children with cerebral palsy, who require crutches for ambulation, to participate in this type of training. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether whole-body vibration training is an effective method of strengthening in a moderately impaired child with cerebral palsy. [Subject and Methods] This report describes an 8-year-old Japanese boy with cerebral palsy, who was ambulatory with crutches. The subject participated in physical therapy twice a week for 5 weeks. Whole-body vibration training was selected to complement the standing practice. The patient's crutch-walking ability, gross motor function, and spasticity were evaluated. [Results] The number of steps and walking duration were reduced in a 5-m walk test with crutches and gross motor function was improved. Further, the spasticity was reduced. [Conclusion] Whole-body vibration training is an effective physical therapy intervention in moderately impaired children with cerebral palsy, who are unable to walk without crutches.

Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy has been applied to investigate surface structures of an amphiphilic surface-active block copolymer (SABC) film deposited on a CaF 2 substrate, in air and in water in situ. Developed as a surface-active component of an antifouling coating for marine applications, this amphiphilic triblock copolymer contains both hydrophobic fluorinated alkyl groups as well as hydrophilic ethoxy groups. It was found that surface structures of the copolymer film in air and in water cannot be probed directly using the SFG experimental geometry we adopted because SFG signals can be contributed from the polymer/air (or polymer/water) interface as well as the buried polymer/CaF 2 substrate interface. Using polymer films with varied thicknesses, structural information about the polymer surfaces in air and in water can be deduced from the detected SFG signals. With SFG, surface restructuring of this polymer has been observed in water, especially the methyl and methylene groups change orientations upon contact with water. However, the hydrophobic fluoroalkyl group was present on the surface in both air and water, and we believe that it was held near the surface in water by its neighboring ethoxy groups.

The role of proprioceptive integration impairments as the potential mechanism underlying Freezing of gait (FOG) in Parkinson&#39;s disease (PD) is still an open debate. The effects of muscle vibration (a well-known manipulation of proprioception) could provide the answer to the debate. The aim of this study was to determine whether proprioceptive manipulation, through muscle vibration, could reduce FOG severity. Sixteen PD patients who experience FOG were required to walk with small step lengths (15 cm). Cylindrical vibration devices were positioned on triceps surae tendon. Three vibration conditions were tested: No vibration (OFF), vibration on the less affected limb (LA), or on the more affected limb (MA). Additionally, we assessed the effects of applying vibration before and after FOG onset. The FOG duration and the foot used to take the next step were assessed. FOG significantly decreased only with vibration of LA in comparison to OFF, and when vibration was applied after FOG on...

A problem of reflection and transmission of obliquely incident plane transverse wave at a plane interface between two porous elastic half-spaces in welded contact is investigated. The theory developed by Cowin and Nunziato [S.C. Cowin, J.W. Nunziato, Linear elastic materials with voids, Journal of Elasticity 13 (1983) 125-147] has been used to write down the equations of motion and constitutive relations for the elastic medium with voids. Potential method is used to obtain the reflection and transmission coefficients. It is found that these coefficients are functions of angle of incident, elastic constants, void parameters and that of the frequency of the incident wave. Numerical computations have been performed for a particular model and the results obtained are depicted graphically. The results of Ciarletta and Sumbatyan [M. Ciarletta, M.A. Sumbatyan, Reflection of plane waves by the free boundary of a porous elastic half-space, Journal of Sound and Vibration 259 (2) (2003) 253-264] have been reduced as a special case of the present formulation. The expression for the partition of energy at the interface during transmission and reflection of waves have also been presented.

The hypothesis is tested that an open-canal hearing device, with a microphone in the ear canal, can be designed to provide amplification over a wide bandwidth and without acoustic feedback. In the design under consideration, a transducer consisting of a thin silicone platform with an embedded magnet is placed directly on the tympanic membrane. Sound picked up by a microphone in the ear canal, including sound-localization cues thought to be useful for speech perception in noisy environments, is processed and amplified, and then used to drive a coil near the tympanic-membrane transducer. The perception of sound results from the vibration of the transducer in response the electromagnetic field produced by the coil. Sixteen subjects (ranging from normal-hearing to moderately hearing-impaired) wore this transducer for up to a ten-month period, and were monitored for any adverse reactions. Three key functional characteristics were measured: 1) the maximum equivalent pressure output (MEPO) of the transducer; 2) the feedback gain margin (GM), which describes the maximum allowable gain before feedback occurs; and 3) the tympanic-membrane damping effect (D TM), which describes the change in hearing level due to placement of the transducer on the eardrum. Results indicate that the tympanic-membrane transducer remains in place and is well tolerated. The system can produce sufficient output to reach threshold for those with as much as 60 dBHL of hearing impairment for up to 8 kHz in 86% of the study population, and up to 11.2 kHz in 50% of the population. The feedback gain margin is on average 30 dB except at the ear canal resonance frequencies of 3 and 9 kHz, where the average was reduced to 12 dB and 23 dB respectively. The average value of D TM is close to 0 dB everywhere except in the 2-4 kHz range, where it peaks at 8 dB. A new alternative system that uses photonic energy to transmit both the signal and power to a photodiode and micro-actuator on an EarLens platform is also described.

h i g h l i g h t s We have studied the hydrated hydroxyl silicate mineral inesite. Of formula Ca 2 (Mn,Fe) 7 Si 10 O 28 (OH)Á5H 2 O. Using a combination of scanning electron microscopy with EDX and Raman and infrared spectroscopy. OH stretching vibrations are readily studied. The application of vibrational spectroscopy has enabled an assessment of the molecular structure of inesite.

Study design: Retrospective chart review. Objective: To identify factors in addition to level of injury (LOI) that may predict ejaculation by penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) in spinal cord injured males. Setting: Major urban medical school and teaching hospital. Materials and methods: Presence of a bulbocavernosus response (BCR) and a hip¯exor response (HR) before PVS (n=123 patients), and somatic responses during PVS (n=204 trials performed on a subset of 44 patients) were evaluated for their frequency of occurrence on trials with and without ejaculation. Results: Overall ejaculation success rates for cervical, T1 ± T6, and T7 ± T12 LOI were 71%, 73%, and 35%, respectively. Eighty per cent of patients who were positive for both BCR and HR ejaculated with PVS, while only 8% of patients who were negative for both BCR and HR ejaculated with PVS. For cervical injuries, BCR and HR were no more predictive of ejaculation by PVS than LOI alone. T1 ± T6 patients were more likely to ejaculate when at least one re¯ex was present. T7 ± T12 patients with no BCR were unlikely to ejaculate by PVS. Except for abdominal contractions, somatic responses were not present in the majority of PVS trials. When they were present, however, they occurred in a high percentage of ejaculation trials: withdrawal response (hip¯exion, knee¯exion and thigh adduction) (90%), piloerection (84%), extremity spasms (83%), thigh abduction (80%), and thigh adduction (72%). Conclusion: We recommend that patients with cervical injuries initially undergo PVS. Patients with T1 ± T6 LOI with at least one re¯ex present, and patients with T7 ± T12 LOI with both re¯exes, or only BCR present, may undergo PVS. Certain somatic/autonomic responses, when seen, may help in deciding whether to continue with a given trial, or give a repeat trial, of PVS. Sponsorship: The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and the State of Florida Speci®c Appropriations. Spinal Cord (2001) 39, 514 ± 519

In order to set up a non-invasive, reliable and reproducible model for investigating a-motoneuronal activity, we studied the electrophysiological features of a monosynaptic H-reflex in anaesthetised intact rats, anaesthetised and non-anaesthetised rats transected at Ž . the level of the obex. Electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve at the ankle elicited an H-reflex, an F-wave and a direct motor M response in the plantaris muscles of all preparations. The H-reflex and F-wave exhibited very similar latencies. The H-reflex had a low threshold and a constant latency. Its amplitude increased as a function of stimulus intensity to reach a maximum value but then decreased when the stimulus intensity was further increased. It could follow high rates of stimulation without any change in shape or latency. The F-wave had a lower amplitude which together with its latency varied from one stimulus to the next. It appeared with intensities of stimulation that elicited an almost maximal M-response and did not decrease when the stimulation was increased. It did not appear systematically from one stimulus to the next. The H-reflex, but neither the F-wave nor the direct motor M-response, was depressed both by vibratory stimuli applied on the Achilles' tendon and following nociceptive stimulation of the flexor reflex afferents. This model could be used for assessing any potential direct effect on motoneurones of a physiological or pharmacological conditioning procedure. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.

In this paper observations concerning some effects of vibrating structures on fluids are presented, followed by a tentative theoretical analysis. First, a brief description of a caterpillar-like structure is made. This structure is almost equivalent to an infinite beam which allows the choice of positions of the nodal lines of a vibrating mode. Displacement of liquid droplets using switching between two modes of this structure is then presented. This phenomenon is supposed to be induced by acoustic radiation pressure. Possible extensions of this principle are then discussed. After this, results are reported concerning deformations of thin liquid layers.

[corrected] We investigated which nerve pathways are necessary to achieve ejaculation using penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) in men with spinal cord injury (SCI). Eight men with SCI were selected based on the presence of a bulbocavernosus reflex (BCR) and consistent antegrade ejaculation with PVS. Level of injury was cervical (4), upper thoracic (4), and lower thoracic (1). Mean age was 30.4 years (range 22 to 38). Usual responses to PVS included autonomic dysreflexia (4), erection (4), and consistent somatic responses such as abdominal contractions (8). Local anesthesia of the dorsal penile nerves (penile block) was achieved using 1% plain lidocaine injection. Effective penile block was confirmed by loss of the BCR. Two PVS ejaculation trials were performed: one trial during the penile block and one trial when the penile block had worn off. In 4 subjects, the bladder contents were analyzed for retrograde ejaculation. With the penile block, ejaculation was inhibited in 100% of the subjects. None of the bladder washings demonstrated sperm, indicating absence of retrograde ejaculation. None of the subjects exhibited their usual erectile response, somatic responses, or signs of autonomic dysreflexia. After the penile block wore off, PVS induced ejaculation in all subjects. If subjects usually had erection, somatic responses, or signs of autonomic dysreflexia, these also returned. Our data suggest that ejaculatory response to PVS in SCI men requires the presence of intact dorsal penile nerves.

The coupling of flexible structures to incompressible fluids draws a lot of attention during the last decade. Many different solution schemes have been proposed. In this contribution, we concentrate on the strong coupling fluid-structure interaction by means of monolithic solution schemes. Therein, a Newton-Krylov method is applied to the monolithic set of nonlinear equations. Such schemes require good preconditioning to be efficient. We propose two preconditioners that apply algebraic multigrid techniques to the entire fluid-structure interaction system of equations. The first is based on a standard block Gauss-Seidel approach, where approximate inverses of the individual field blocks are based on a algebraic multigrid hierarchy tailored for the type of the underlying physical problem. The second is based on a monolithic coarsening scheme for the coupled system that makes use of prolongation and restriction projections constructed for the individual fields. The resulting nonsymmetric monolithic algebraic multigrid method therefore involves coupling of the fields on coarse approximations to the problem yielding significantly enhanced performance.

Sounds convey information about the materials composing an object. Stimuli were synthesized using a computer model of impacted plates that varied their material properties: viscoelastic and thermoelastic damping and wave velocity ͑related to elasticity and mass density͒. The range of damping properties represented a continuum between materials with predominant viscoelastic and thermoelastic damping ͑glass and aluminum, respectively͒. The perceptual structure of the sounds was inferred from multidimensional scaling of dissimilarity judgments and from their categorization as glass or aluminum. Dissimilarity ratings revealed dimensions that were closely related to mechanical properties: a wave-velocity-related dimension associated with pitch and a damping-related dimension associated with timbre and duration. When asked to categorize sounds, however, listeners ignored the cues related to wave velocity and focused on cues related to damping. In both dissimilarity-rating and identification experiments, the results were independent of the material of the mallet striking the plate ͑rubber or wood͒. Listeners thus appear to select acoustical information that is reliable for a given perceptual task. Because the frequency changes responsible for detecting changes in wave velocity can also be due to changes in geometry, they are not as reliable for material identification as are damping cues.

The objective of this study was to compare objective and subjective methods of collecting exposure time data for hand arm vibration (HAV) and whole-body vibration (WBV), and to evaluate the impact of inaccurate exposure times' on the calculation of the average vibration exposure over an 8 h working day A(8).

Objective: High ankle systolic blood pressure (SBP; Q175 mm Hg) is associated with arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity [PWV]) and cardiac events. This study aims to investigate the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training on ankle SBP and its associations with changes in PWV and aortic SBP in postmenopausal women.

Objectives: To assess audiological performance, satisfaction rate, and side effects of 100 patients who have been using the middle ear implant Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) for 5 to 8 yr when compared with data collected from 3 to 18 mo postsurgery.

We investigated the time-course changes in the elasticity index (EI) and the texture index (TI) 2 of pears (Pyrus communis L.), namely, 'La France' during the postharvest period. EI was 3 determined using a formula EI = f 2 2 ·m 2/3 , where f 2 is the pear sample's second resonance 4 frequency and m is the sample mass. A nondestructive vibrational method using a laser Doppler 5 vibrometer (LDV) was used for measuring the pear samples' second resonance frequency (f 2 ).

We address theoretically the linear stability of a variable aspect ratio, rectangular plate in an uniform and incompressible axial flow. The flutter modes are assumed to be two-dimensional but the potential flow is calculated in three dimensions. For different values of aspect ratio, two boundary conditions are studied: a clampedfree plate and a pinned-free plate. We assume that the fluid viscosity and the plate viscoelastic damping are negligible. In this limit, the flutter instability arises from a competition between the destabilising fluid pressure and the stabilising flexural rigidity of the plate. Using a Galerkin method and Fourier transforms, we are able to predict the flutter modes, their frequencies and growth rates. The critical flow velocity is calculated as a function of the mass ratio and the aspect ratio of the plate. A new result is demonstrated: a plate of finite span is more stable than a plate of infinite span.

A prospective multicenter trial O R I G I N A L A R T I C L E OBJECTIVE -Diabetic foot ulceration is a preventable long-term complication of diabetes. A multicenter prospective follow-up study was conducted to determine which risk factors in foot screening have a high association with the development of foot ulceration.

A dry skull added with damping material was used to investigate the vibratory pattern of bone conducted sound. Three orthogonal vibration responses of the cochleae were measured, by means of miniature accelerometers, in the frequency range 0.1-10 kHz. The exciter was attached to the temporal, parietal, and frontal bones, one at the time. In the transmission response to the ipsilateral cochlea, a profound low frequency antiresonance ͑attenuation͒ was found, verified psycho-acoustically, and shown to yield a distinct lateralization effect. It was also shown that, for the ipsilateral side, the direction of excitation coincides with that of maximum response. At the contralateral cochlea, no such dominating response direction was found for frequencies above the first skull resonance. An overall higher response level was achieved, for the total energy transmission in general and specifically for the direction of excitation, at the ipsilateral cochlea when the transducer was attached to the excitation point closest to the cochlea. The transranial attenuation was found to be frequency dependent, with values from Ϫ5 to 10 dB for the energy transmission and Ϫ30 to 40 dB for measurements in a single direction, with a tendency toward higher attenuation at the higher frequencies.

We tested the hypothesis that vibratory thresholds in the elderly are related to mobility. In all, 629 older persons without dementia underwent testing including 11 lower extremity performance measures and modified United Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), summarized as composite mobility and global parkinsonian signs. Vibratory thresholds were measured at the ankle and toes bilaterally using the graduated Rydel–Seiffer tuning fork. In linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, and education, vibratory threshold was associated with composite mobility (estimate, 0.047, SE = 0.011, P < 0.001) and global parkinsonian signs score (estimate, −0.252, SE = 0.126, P = 0.047). These findings were primarily due to the association of vibratory threshold with gait and balance components of composite mobility and parkinsonian gait. These results were unchanged when we controlled for body mass index, physical activity, cognition, depression, vascular risk factors, vascular disease burden, joint pain, and falls. Vibratory thresholds are associated with mobility, supporting the link between peripheral sensory nerve function and mobility in the elderly. Muscle Nerve, 2009

To study the effects of touch on auditory processing, we examined whether uninformative and irrelevant tactile stimuli presented together with task-relevant sounds can improve auditory detection (Experiment 1), and enhance perceived loudness (Experiment 2). We demonstrated that irrelevant tactile signals facilitate the detection of faint tones, and increase auditory intensity ratings. These crossmodal facilitation effects were found for synchronous when compared to asynchronous auditory-tactile stimulation, and were stronger for weaker than for louder sounds. They are interpreted in terms of a multisensory integration mechanism that increases the strength of auditory signals, and adheres to the rules of inverse effectiveness and temporal (but not spatial) co-occurrence. This integration might be mediated by auditory-tactile multisensory neurons in regions of auditory association cortex that are also involved in auditory detection and loudness discrimination. ava i l a b l e a t w w w. s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m w w w. e l s ev i e r. c o m / l o c a t e / b r a i n r e s

ENCoM is a coarse-grained normal mode analysis method recently introduced that unlike previous such methods is unique in that it accounts for the nature of amino acids. The inclusion of this layer of information was shown to improve conformational space sampling and apply for the first time a coarse-grained normal mode analysis method to predict the effect of single point mutations on protein dynamics and thermostability resulting from vibrational entropy changes. Here we present a web server that allows non-technical users to have access to ENCoM calculations to predict the effect of mutations on thermostability and dynamics as well as to generate geometrically realistic conformational ensembles. The server is accessible at: http://bcb.med.usherbrooke.ca/encom.

A methodology is presented for optimizing the suspension damping and stiffness parameters of nonlinear quarter-car models subjected to random road excitation. The investigation starts with car models involving passive damping with constant or dual-rate characteristics. Then, we also examine car models where the damping coefficient of the suspension is selected so that the resulting system approximates the performance of an active suspension system with sky-hook damping. For the models with semi-active or passive dual-rate dampers, the value of the equivalent suspension damping coefficient is a function of the relative velocity of the sprung mass with respect to the wheel subsystem. As a consequence, the resulting equations of motion are strongly nonlinear. For these models, appropriate methodologies are first employed for obtaining the second moment characteristics of motions resulting from roads with a random profile. This information is next utilized in the definition of a vehicle...

The radiation of tyre noise is computed with a mixed integral/ ray tracing approach called GRIM. It is simply an integral over the vibrating tyre, of the product of the known velocity by the full Green function which takes into account all the multiple reflections and diffraction between tyre, ground and car body. This Green function is calculated by means of a beam tracing program named ICARE, which can deal with curved surfaces and multiple diffraction. This approach makes the link between tyre models and certification points well outside the car.

Environmental concerns coupled with the depletion of fuel sources has led to research on ethanol, fuel cells, and even generating electricity from vibrations. Much of the research in these areas is stalling due to expensive or environmentally contaminating processes, however recent breakthroughs in materials and production has created a surge in research on waste heat energy harvesting devices. The thermoelectric generators (TEGs) used in waste heat energy harvesting are governed by the Thermoelectric, or Seebeck, effect, generating electricity from a temperature gradient. Some research to date has featured platforms such as heavy duty diesel trucks, model airplanes, and automobiles, attempting to either eliminate heavy batteries or the alternator. A motorcycle is another platform that possesses some very promising characteristics for waste heat energy harvesting, mainly because the exhaust pipes are exposed to significant amounts of air flow. A 1995 Kawasaki Ninja 250R was used for these trials. The module used in these experiments, the Melcor HT3-12-30, produced an average of 0.4694 W from an average temperature gradient of 48.73 • C. The mathematical model created from the Thermoelectric effect equation and the mean Seebeck coefficient displayed by the module produced an average error from the experimental data of 1.75%. Although the module proved insufficient to practically eliminate the alternator on a standard motorcycle, the temperature data gathered as well as the examination of a simple, yet accurate, model represent significant steps in the process of creating a TEG capable of doing so.

To examine the effects of a time saving leg-press training program with moderate vibration on strength parameters, pain, and functional outcomes of patients following total knee arthroplasty in comparison with functional physiotherapy. Randomized controlled trial. Outpatient Rehabilitation Department at a University Teaching Hospital. Patients (n=55) with primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were randomly allocated into two rehabilitation groups. Six weeks after TKA, participants either underwent isokinetic leg-press training combined with moderate vibration (LP, n=26) of 15 minutes duration per session, or functional physiotherapy (PT, n=29) of 30 minutes per session. Both groups received therapy twice a week for a period of 6 weeks. Participants were evaluated at baseline (6 weeks after TKA) and after the 6 weeks rehabilitation program. The main outcome measure was maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the involved leg. Secondary outcome measures were pain assessed with a visual...

Sodium acetate and sodium acetate-d 3 solutions in water and heavy water were studied using Raman spectroscopy over a wide concentration range and from low wavenumbers (40 cm À1) up to 4200 cm À1. In the terahertz region the broad breathing mode Na-O at 189 cm À1 was detected as well as a broad shoulder at 245 cm À1 of the restricted translation band of acetate-water. Fundamental modes of CH 3 CO 2 À (aq) and acetate-d 3 , CD 3 CO 2 À (aq), were assigned and discussed according to pseudo C s symmetry. The vibrational isotope effect of the CH 3 /CD 3 group was observed and the Teller-Redlich product rule confirmed the assignments. Additionally, band assignments of CH 3 CO 2 À and CD 3 CO 2 À in heavy water were reported and discussed. By changing from H 2 O to D 2 O, relatively strong H-bonding between the oxygen atoms of acetate causes a change in the vibrational energy levels of the dissolved acetate. The symmetric stretching mode of the CO 2 group for CH 3 CO 2 À in water and heavy water was obtained at 1413.5 cm À1 and 1418.6 cm À1 respectively and for CD 3 CO 2 À in water and heavy water, the symmetric stretch was obtained at 1407.5 cm À1 and 1412.4 cm À1 , respectively. Coupling of the intramolecular acetate bands is fairly extensive and therefore DFT calculations were carried out on discrete acetate-water (heavy water) clusters. The clusters with the general stoichiometry CH 3 CO 2 À $nH 2 O$mH 2 O (n ¼ 1-5, m ¼ 1) and n the number of first shell water molecules and m the second shell were considered and calculations at the B3LYP 6-311++G(3df,2pd) level were performed. The frequency calculations on CH 3 CO 2 À $5H 2 O and CD 3 CO 2 À $5H 2 O clusters supported the assignments of the fundamental modes. The geometrical parameters such as bond length and bond angles of acetate in solution state were obtained. The influence of acetate on the O-H stretching band of water was measured as a function of concentration in order to determine the influence of the methyl group on the structure of water. No enhancement of the water structure around the nonpolar methyl group could be detected nor the existence of dangling nO-H bonds at $3670 cm À1. In NaCF 3 CO 2 solutions, however, dangling nO-H bonds could be observed at $3670 cm À1 caused by the hydrophobic CF 3 group. Finally, the nature of the ion pairs formed between Na + and acetate were discussed in NaCH 3 CO 2 (aq) and in concentrated solutions no contact ion pairs could be detected.

In this paper, we present a new generation of active tactile modules (i.e., HEX-O-SKIN), which are developed in order to approach multimodal whole-body-touch sensation for humanoid robots. To better perform like humans, humanoid robots need the variety of different sensory modalities in order to interact with their environment. This calls for certain robustness and fault tolerance as well as an intelligent solution to connect the different sensory modalities to the robot. Each HEX-O-SKIN is a small hexagonal printed circuit board equipped with multiple discrete sensors for temperature, acceleration, and proximity. With these sensors, we emulate the human sense of temperature, vibration, and light touch. Off-the-shelf sensors were utilized to speed up our development cycle; however, in general, we can easily extend our design with new discrete sensors, thereby making it flexible for further exploration. A local controller on each HEX-O-SKIN preprocesses the sensor signals and actively routes data through a network of modules toward the closest PC connection. Local processing decreases the necessary network and high-level processing bandwidth, while a local analog-to-digital conversion and digital-data transfers are less sensitive to electromagnetic interference. With an active data-routing scheme, it is also possible to reroute the data around broken connections-yielding robustness throughout the global structure while minimizing wirings. To support our approach, multiple HEX-O-SKIN are embedded into a rapid-prototyped elastomer skin material and redundantly connected to neighboring modules by just four ports. The wiring complexity is shifted to each HEX-O-SKIN such that a power and data connection between two modules is reduced to four noncrossing wires. Thus, only a very simple robot-specific base frame is needed to support and wire the HEX-O-SKIN to a robot. The potential of our multimodal sensor modules is demonstrated experimentally on a robot platform.

Electrostatic interactions between negatively charged polymer surfaces and factor XII (FXII), a blood coagulation factor, were investigated by sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy, supplemented by several analytical techniques including attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), ζ-potential measurement, and chromogenic assay. A series of sulfonated polystyrenes (sPS) with different sulfonation levels were synthesized as model surfaces with different surface charge densities. SFG spectra collected from FXII adsorbed onto PS and sPS surfaces with different surface charge densities showed remarkable differences in spectral features and especially in spectral intensity. Chromogenic assay experi-ments showed that highly charged sPS surfaces induced FXII autoactivation. ATR-FTIR and QCM results indicated that adsorption amounts on the PS and sPS surfaces were similar even though the surface charge densities were different. No significant conformational change was observed from FXII adsorbed onto surfaces studied. Using theoretical calculations, the possible contribution from the third-order nonlinear optical effect induced by the surface electric field was evaluated, and it was found to be unable to yield the SFG signal enhancement observed. Therefore it was concluded that the adsorbed FXII orientation and ordering were the main reasons for the remarkable SFG amide I signal increase on sPS surfaces. These investigations indicate that negatively charged surfaces facilitate or induce FXII autoactivation on the molecular level by imposing specific orientation and ordering on the adsorbed protein molecules.