Effects of Automotive Test Parameters on Dry Friction Fiber-Reinforced Clutch Facing Surface Microgeometry and Wear

Wear and surface microgeometry aspects of fiber-reinforced hybrid composite dry friction clutch facings are revealed in a novel way: after different, real life automotive tests during their lifetime. This study examines and reveals the tribological response of friction material surfaces to real life application conditions with two different facing diameters and in two directions. Along the increasing activation energy scale, wear values increased according to two different trends, sorting tests into two main groups, namely ‘clutch killer’ and ‘moderate’. Wear results also highlighted the influence of mileage and test conditions, with clutch killer tests also creating considerable wear-more than 0.1 mm-at inner diameters: 1% higher wear was generated by 90% higher mileage; another 1% increment could be caused by insufficient cooling time or test bench-specific conditions. Surface roughness values trends varied accordingly with exceptions revealing effects of facing size, friction diameter and directions and test conditions: small (S) facings produced significantly decreased Rmax roughness, while large (L) and medium (M) size facings had increased roughness values; Rmax results showed the highest deviations among roughness values in radial direction; tests run with trailer and among city conditions resulted in more than 2% thickness loss and a 40–50% roughness decrease.

Autism and inner speech: a computational model of language functions in autistic flexible behaviour

Experimental and computational studies propose that inner speech boosts categorisation skills and executive functions, making human behaviour more focused and flexible. In addition, many clinical studies highlight a relationship between poor inner-speech and an executive impairment in autism spectrum condition (ASC), but contrasting findings are reported. Here we investigate the latter issue through a previously implemented and validated computational model of the Wisconsin Cards Sorting Tests. In particular, the model was applied to detect the individual differences in cognitive flexibility and inner speech contribution in ASC and neurotypical participants. Our results suggest that the use of inner-speech increases along the life-span of neurotypical participants but is absent in ASC ones. Although we found more attentional failures in autistic children/teenagers and more perseverative behaviours in autistic young/older adults, only ASC children and ASC older adults exhibited a lower performance than matched control groups. Overall, our results corroborate the idea that the lower use of inner speech in ASC teenagers and young adults is compensated by alternative cognitive strategies (e.g., visual thinking), but it could represent a disadvantage for children (for the missing support of development) and older adults (for the missing compensation of cognitive decline). Moreover, the results suggest that cognitive-behavioural therapies should focus on developing inner speech skills in ASC children as this could provide cognitive support along their whole life span.

Impairment of Executive Functions Associated With Lower D-Serine Serum Levels in Patients With Schizophrenia

A core symptom that is frequently linked with dysregulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission in regard to schizophrenia is impairment or damage of executive functioning as a component of cognitive deficiency. The amino acid D-serine plays the role of an endogenous coagonist at the glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor glycine modulatory site. Considerably reduced serum levels of D-serine were found in patients suffering from schizophrenia compared with healthy control participants. An increase in D-serine led to augmented cognitive functionality in patients suffering from schizophrenia who were undergoing clinical trials and given the treatment of first- and second-generation antipsychotics. The study proposed the hypothesis that the D-serine blood serum levels may be linked with the extent of executive functionality in those suffering from the mental illness in question. For the purpose of examining executive function in such patients, the Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure, Trail Making, and Wisconsin Card Sorting tests were applied (n = 50). High-performance liquid chromatography was used to gauge the total serine and D-serine levels. The extent of damage was examined through neuropsychological tests and was found to be considerably linked to D-serine serum level and the D-serine/total serine ratio (p < 0.05) in the sample being considered. A lower average serum level of D-serine and lower D-serine/total serine ratio were observed in participants with the worst performance compared with those displaying the best performance—this was true when the patients were split into quartile groups based on their results (p < 0.05). The findings of modified D-serine serum levels and the D-serine/total serine ratio linked to the extent of damage in executive functioning indicate that serine metabolism that is coresponsible for NMDA receptor dysfunction has been changed.

North American Approaches-New York

This chapter provides an overview of the history of the development of neuropsychology in the New York City area. It contains sections on the major figures in the field, their academic and clinical settings, and a review of their major contributions. Many of the founders of neuropsychology lived and worked in New York City, including Hans-Lukas Teuber, Kurt Goldstein, Martin Scheerer, David Wechsler, Joseph Zubin, Leonard Diller, Yehuda Ben-Yishay, and Herbert Birch. The first neuropsychology research laboratory was founded at New York University by Hans-Lukas Teuber and the beginnings of several aspects of clinical neuropsychology began in New York City including the development of sorting tests, the use of intelligence tests in neuropsychological assessment, and scientific study of cognitive rehabilitation.

An Investigation of Executive Functioning, Attention and Working Memory in Compulsive Hoarding

Background: Compulsive Hoarding involves the acquisition of, and failure to discard, a large number of possessions that appear to be useless or of limited value, cluttered living spaces and significant distress or impairment in functioning (Frost and Hartl, 1996). The problem is multifaceted and appears best explained by a cognitive-behavioural framework. Aims: This study set out to test one aspect of Frost and Hartl's (1996) cognitive-behavioural model of compulsive hoarding by investigating theorized cognitive deficits in executive functioning, such as working memory and attention. Method: 24 participants with compulsive hoarding were tested on the Digit Span, Spatial Span and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Tests (WCST). Results: On the WCST, the hoarding group had a significantly higher number of perseveration errors (t = 1.67, p = .005) and significantly lower numbers of categories completed (t = −2.47, p = .001) than test norms. Only “failure to maintain set” was significantly correlated with hoarding severity (r = .435, p < .05). Conclusions: These findings lend support to the theory that people who compulsively hoard have executive dysfunction, which impacts on their ability to process information. Deficits relate to difficulties in forming effective strategies, inadequate feedback response, problems in concept formation, and impulsivity. Difficulties in sustained attention also appeared to be a factor in hoarding severity. These findings are important in directing more targeted clinical interventions.