Utilization Behavior Research Articles

Managing environmental dependency syndrome in a person with an acquired brain injury: a simple strategy evaluated using an ABABA design (Gestión del síndrome de dependencia ambiental un paciente con daño cerebral adquirido: una estrategia simple evaluada mediante un diseño ABABA)

ABSTRACT This paper begins with a discussion about environmental dependency syndrome (EDS) and utilization behaviour (UB). Are there differences between the two or are they synonymous terms? Following a description of the two conditions, the case of KI, a 57-year-old man, with both UB and EDS is presented. An easy and inexpensive treatment strategy to reduce his inappropriate responses and increase his attention to rehabilitation is described, and data are provided in the form of an ABABA design to demonstrate the effectiveness of this treatment. The simple therapeutic strategy is advocated for people who use objects in the environment inappropriately.

Distributed Energy Conserving Scheme for Residential WSN based on Behaviour of Utilization (BoU)

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is a composition of tiny self-operated devices that communicate with other devices in an ad-hoc fashion. WSNs find its application in real-time appliances due to its cost effectiveness and ease of deployment nature. Energy preserving in these networks while extending its support for real-time appliances is vital so as to preserve the operating hours of the system. To perform an energy efficient operation of WSN devices integrated with real-time appliances, a mutually cooperative and monitoring model is preferred. Depending on the Behavior of Utilization (BoU), energy allocated for each appliance can be shared in a distributed manner with the other appliances to cope-up with the energy constraints and improve prolonged operation. With forehand information about the operating device and its nature towards energy requirement, the energy allocation can be decided over a multi-state operative function to make a decision. The decision making follows Markov-Chain Model (MM) to make decisions between the operation states of an appliance. The outcome of the decision model will result in admitted operation time and energy conservation of an appliance.

Utilization behavior: what is known and what has to be known?

Since the first description by Lhermitte (1983), the utilization behavior (UB) still represents an enigma for behavioral neurology and neuropsychology. Recent findings shed some light on new frameworks for interpreting this interesting phenomenon. Functional neuroanatomical basis is still unclear, although recent advances in neuroimaging techniques have contributed to a better understanding of the syndrome. An important and promising step is given by shifting researcher's attention from frontoparietal to intrafrontal mechanisms. From a cognitive standpoint, three models have been proposed. However, a comprehensive account for the UB neurobehavioral complexity is still lacking. Aims of this paper are to briefly review the reported cases of utilization behavior (UB) and to describe the putative neurological mechanisms underlying UB. Furthermore, the cognitive models proposed to interpret UB will be summarized. For clinical purposes, features suitable for distinguishing UB from other neurobehavioral symptoms will be briefly described.

Environmental dependency behaviours in frontotemporal dementia: have we been underrating them?

Environmental dependency (ED) behaviours, such as imitation behaviour (IB) and incidental utilization behaviour (UB), are considered pathognomonic of a frontal lesion and can play a unique role in diagnosing behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, with only few focused observations of ED behaviour reported in earlier studies, their roles in the diagnosis of bvFTD have so far remained supportive. In this observational study, conducted in the cognitive clinic of a tertiary-care hospital, we explored the hypotheses that a focused and systematic search could uncover more ED behaviours in patients with bvFTD, and that the presence of ED behaviours such as incidental UB and IB should allow us to cleanly differentiate bvFTD from AD. Forty-one bvFTD patients and 75 probable AD patients, all diagnosed using accepted criteria, were seen by a neurologist and a neuropsychologist. Information regarding ED behaviour was obtained from the caregiver's history, observations for spontaneous behaviour and induction of the behaviour in the clinic. All ED behaviours were significantly more frequent in bvFTD compared with AD. UB (78%; 66% incidental) and IB (59%) occurred exclusively in bvFTD. Multi-pronged and focused clinical assessment contributed to the high frequency of ED behaviours. Nearly two-thirds of bvFTD patients, but none with AD, showed three or more ED behaviours. We concluded that ED behaviours are more common in bvFTD than is currently recognized. UB, IB or three ED behaviours, if present, could clearly differentiate bvFTD from AD. A focused search should consistently uncover ED behaviours in bvFTD patients.

Symptomatic complex partial status epilepticus manifesting as utilization behavior of a mobile phone

Utilization behavior (UB) consists of reaching out and using objects in the environment in an automatic manner and out of context. This behavior has been correlated to frontal lobe dysfunction, especially of the right hemisphere. We describe a 60-year-old woman, affected by a glioblastoma located in the right frontal region, who presented with intermittent UB of the mobile phone as the main clinical manifestation of partial complex status epilepticus. Video/EEG studies showed a striking correlation between mobile phone utilization and ictal epileptic activity. Clinical and EEG findings were markedly reduced after the introduction of antiepileptic drugs. This case study suggests that UB may be added to the symptoms described for partial seizures originating from frontal areas.

Evidence of utilization behavior in children with ADHD

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether inappropriate/excessive motor activity seen in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) could be characterized as Utilization Behavior (UB). Given evidence that the neuropathology of ADHD may involve frontal-striatal systems, we investigated the possibility that children with ADHD may demonstrate "utilization behavior." Utilization Behavior (UB) is a neurobehavioral syndrome documented in individuals with damage or dysfunction in the frontal areas of the brain; patients exhibiting UB are often described as reaching out and utilizing objects in the environment in an automatic and inappropriate manner. The sample consisted of two group of children; children with ADHD (n = 32) and control children (n = 31). Children were assessed individually in a testing room where various objects, selected to elicit UB, were present. They completed cognitive tests and also were allowed to engage in an unsupervised activity. Testing sessions were videotaped and instances of physical activity (i.e., upper limb motor activity and utilization of objects) were counted by two raters. Results indicated high levels of object utilization in approximately one-half of the children with ADHD, whereas almost no such behavior was observed in controls. This behavior did not appear to be a result of generally heightened activity levels or due to instruction set, but differed according to object familiarity and object visibility. Levels of UB were statistically associated with the severity of hyperactivity, as reported by parents, of children with ADHD. This study suggests that inappropriate/excessive motor activity may, at least in part, be characterized as UB in some children with ADHD.

An example of lack of frontal inhibition: the 'utilization behaviour'

The focus of this report is utilization behaviour (UB) conceived as part of the Environmental Dependency Syndrome following frontal damage. An historical sketch is provided on the many conceptualizations of the frontal lobe functions relevant to the understanding of UB. The detailed study of the neuropsychological picture presented by a patient (PG) with massive herpetic damage is then outlined. Emphasis is put on PG's prominent UB as well as on her several dissociations between impaired (as expected) and spared (non expected) cognitive abilities. Such dissociations are discussed with reference to the historical conceptualizations outlined above. The question is raised of whether a great inter-subjects variability of the topo-functional arrangements in the healthy frontal lobes could be the main cause of the variability of symptoms observed in patients with frontal lesions. Copyright 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers

Human autonomy and the frontal lobes. Part I: Imitation and utilization behavior: a neuropsychological study of 75 patients.

A type of pathological behavior, imitation behavior (IB), is newly described. In this behavior patients imitate the examiner's gestures, although not instructed to do so. Patients explain that they thought they had to imitate the examiner. IB is the first stage of utilization behavior (UB). Neuropsychological examination of 40 patients with IB, of 35 with UB, and of 50 disease controls demonstrates the existence of a frontal syndrome and two determining features of such behavior: dependence on (1) the social and (2) the physical environments. Loss of intellectual control was also required for the occurrence of such behavior. UB and/or IB were present in 96% of the 29 patients with focal lesions of the frontal lobes. Computed tomographic scans in 26 of these patients showed involvement of the inferior half of the anterior part of one or both frontal lobes. IB and UB are interpreted as release of parietal lobe activities, resulting from impairment of frontal lobe inhibition.

An Analysis of Interfirm Cooperation: Theory and Evidence from Electric Power Pools

This paper develops and tests a model for analyzing the extent to which an individual utility participates in a power pool. It incorporates the benefits and costs of pool membership in a profit-maximization model of an individual utility. The study finds that coordination reflects the benefits and costs, the degree to which other utilities are committed to the pool, and the utility's behavior toward other utilities. The results show that large firms are reluctant to pool with small firms and the US pools tend to be loosely coordinated. Policy implications are that regulatory commissions can be instrumental in coordination efforts and that interstate cooperation among regulatory authorities is needed to encourage pooling and obtain regional solutions to regional problems. It is also important to reduce the transactional costs of pooling wherever possible. 37 references, 3 figures, 1 table.