Objective: To better define prelemniscal radiations (Raprl) as a target for the control of tremor and rigidity in Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: A total of 36 deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrodes were stereotactically implanted in Raprl contralateral to the extremities to be treated. Effects on symptoms were evaluated using UPDRS-III before and after DBS, and significance was determined using the Wilcoxon test. The location of DBS contacts in cases with optimum versus suboptimum results was evaluated using Student's t test and percentage improvement correlated through a bivariable Pearson test. The power and percentage of spike components for microelectrode recordings were statistically compared between the target point and structures located above and below. Results: Raprl-DBS improved tremor and rigidity (p < 0.01). The potency of microelectrode recordings indicated that the target was formed by fibers. There was no correlation between demographic characteristics and clinical outcome, and there were no significant differences in stereotactic placement between cases with optimum and suboptimum results. Tremor and rigidity were selectively improved in cases with suboptimum results. Conclusion: Raprl-DBS is an effective treatment for the motor symptoms of PD. Selective improvement of symptoms suggests that the target has different fiber components related to either tremor or rigidity, and variations in improvement between cases may derive from individual variations of the location of these fibers.
Building energy codes are essential tools for achieving energy efficiency in buildings. However, the full energy savings potential of these codes can only be realized if buildings are constructed in compliance with them. Therefore, evaluating building energy code compliance is crucial in bridging the gap between the energy efficiency requirements set by energy codes and the actualized energy savings achieved. An energy code compliance evaluation serves as a mechanism to assess construction practices, evaluate the effectiveness of code enforcement, identify gaps in compliance, and guide strategies for improvement through training and education. Conducting code compliance evaluation activities involves field studies that require careful design and significant resources. Historically, more emphasis has been placed on developing and adopting building energy codes, while efforts to evaluate compliance have been relatively limited and lacking consistent approaches. The passage of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which mandated that states create plans for achieving 90% compliance within eight years, stimulated the need for an energy code compliance evaluation. As a result, federal, state, and local governments, and utilities have invested in the development of methodologies and tools for code compliance evaluation studies. This paper reviews the code compliance evaluation studies conducted in the United States over the past three decades. It describes and compares the methodologies and metrics used to assess building energy code compliance, summarizes the general elements and steps involved in the evaluation process, and discusses common issues in these studies. Over time, code compliance evaluation methodologies have evolved from isolated development within individual states, regions, and utilities, to widely accepted protocols applicable across different states and local jurisdictions. There has been a transition in compliance metrics, shifting from historical compliance rates to energy-consumption-oriented approaches.
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