Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Burst potential'

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMP) are short latency electromyograms (EMG) evoked by high-level acoustic stimuli and recorded from surface electrodes over the tonically contracted sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle and are presumed to originate in the saccule. The present experiments examined the effects of click and tone-burst level and stimulus frequency on the latency, amplitude, and threshold of the VEMP in subjects with normal hearing sensitivity and no history of vestibular disease. VEMPs were recorded in all subjects using 100 dB nHL click stimuli. Most subjects had VEMPs present at 500, 750, and 1000 Hz, and few subjects had VEMPs present at 2000 Hz. The response amplitude of the VEMP increased with click and tone-burst level, whereas VEMP latency was not influenced by the stimulus level. The largest tone-burst-evoked VEMPs and lowest thresholds were obtained at 500 and 750 Hz. VEMP latency was independent of stimulus frequency when tone-burst duration was held constant.

Introdução: A captação e o estudo de respostas cerebrais evocadas por um estímulo sonoro vem permitindo a investigação objetiva do processamento da informação auditiva e uma melhor compreensão da via auditiva central. A utilidade deste método diagnóstico tem sido cada vez mais valorizada pelos audiologistas, no entanto sua aplicação clínica corrente requer a realização de uma quantidade mais expressiva de estudos, especialmente na literatura nacional, para um conhecimento mais profundo deste método, sobretudo quanto a normatizações, critérios de identificação das ondas e interferências de variáveis como idade, sexo e parâmetros utilizados na aquisição. Os Potenciais Evocados Auditivos de Média Latência são compostos por uma seqüência de ondas com latências em torno de 10 a 80ms, com origem neurogênica múltipla (projeções tálamo-corticais e córtex auditivo, colículo inferior e formação reticular em menor escala). O presente estudo tem como objetivo pesquisar os componentes dos PEAMLs, numa população de crianças saudáveis, estudando a latência e amplitude das ondas, a fim de conhecer as características dos PEAMLs para esta faixa etária. Metodologia: Participaram do estudo 32 crianças de ambos os sexos com idade entre 10 e 13 anos, otologicamente normais e sem histórias neurológicas. A análise estatística incluiu a realização da estatística descritiva (média e desvio-padrão) e análise da variância pelo teste F. Os PEAMLs foram pesquisados utilizando como estímulo tone-burst, nas intensidades de 50, 60 e 70 dBNA. Resultados e conclusão: Os valores médios de latência dos componentes foram Na=20,79ms, Pa=35,34ms, Nb=43,27ms e Pb=53,36ms. Para a amplitude Na-Pa os valores médios obtidos no estudo variaram entre 0,2 e 1,9mV (M=1,0mV). As formas de onda Na-Pa constituíram os componentes mais consistentes e mais facilmente identificáveis. Pode-se concluir que a amplitude aumenta e a latência diminui com o aumento da intensidade sonora. Na intensidade de 50dBNA as latências obtidas são significativamente maiores que as intensidades de 60 e 70 dBNA para a onda Na. A partir de 60dBNA os valores se estabilizam e não há mudanças significativas na latência ou morfologia da onda. Nas comparações inter e intra-individual foram observadas latências mais longas e amplitudes menores para o lado E (A1/Cz). Numa análise posterior dos dados segundo queixa de dificuldade escolar não foram observadas diferenças ao nível de significância para os componentes Na, Pa, Nb e Pb para os grupos de crianças com e sem queixa de dificuldades escolares. Nestas crianças foram observadas anormalidades na morfologia das ondas, as quais não foram atribuídas exclusivamente à queixa de dificuldade escolar, já que poderia haver também interferência da idade do sujeito avaliado e do neuro-desenvolvimento do Sistema Nervoso Auditivo Central. O presente estudo possibilitou um melhor conhecimento das características dos PEAMLs, o que contribuirá para a aplicação mais segura da técnica. Porém, outros estudos ainda se fazem necessários, principalmente na literatura nacional, a fim de estabelecer padrões normativos para o uso na rotina clínica.
Introduction: The record and study of corticals responses evoked by auditory stimulus has allowed the objective investigation from process of auditory information and a better understanding of central auditory path. The utility of the procedure has been valued by audiologists, nevertheless her clinical aplication current demand the a execution a sum more significative of the study, especially in nationals researchs, to knowledge profoundest this procedure, over all as for normative studys, waves?s identification criterion and interference of the variables with age, gender and parameters used in records. The PEAMLs are composed of a waves?s sequence with latency are around 10 a 80ms, with multiple neurogenic origen (thalamus corticais projections and auditory cortex, coliculus inferior and reticular formation in small scale). The present study objetive examined the components dos PEAMLs, in healthy childrens, researching the waves?s latency and amplitude, to know the PEAML in this band of age. Methods: make part of study 32 childrens in both genders between the ages of 10 e 13, normal hearing without neurological desorders. The statistical analises involved the descrition statistical (mean and standard deviation) and variance analises by test F. The PEAMLs are investigated with tone-burst stimuli in 50, 60 e 70 dBNA. Results and conclusions: the means values of the components are Na=20,79ms, Pa=35,34ms, Nb=43,27ms e Pb=53,36ms. To the amplitude Na-Pa the means values obtained in the study varies between 0,2 and 1,9mV (M=1,0mV). The waveforms are more consistents e more easyly identifiable. We are able to conclude that the amplitude increase and latency decrease with growth of intensity of sound. In 50dBNA the latency are significative higher that 60 and 70 dBNA to wave Na. From 60dBNA the values are stabilize and there is no significatives changes in the latency ou morphology of wave. In the comparisions inter e inta-hemisferical were observed latencys lengthest and amplitudes higher to side left (A1/Cz). In a posterior analises in conformity to complaint of hardness scholar were observeds diferrences no significants to the components Na, Pa, Nb e Pb in the childrens groups with and without complaint of hardness scholar. Anormalities in the morphology of waves were viewed in this childrens wich weren´t atribute to complaint of hardness scholar exclusively once there was interference of the patient?s age and the neural development of Central Auditory System Nervous. The present study made possible a better knowledge of PEAMLs and will contribute to securest aplication this procedure. But, another studys still are requisite, essentialy in the researchs national to established normatives standard to utily in the clinical practice.

Neurons can respond to input by firing isolated action potentials or spikes. Sequences of spikes have been linked to the encoding of neuron input. However, many neurons also fire bursts; mechanistically distinct responses consisting of brief high-frequency spike firing. Bursts form separate response symbols but historically have not been thought to encode input. However, recent experimental evidence suggests that bursts can encode input in parallel with tonic spikes. The recognition of bursts as distinct encoding symbols raises important questions; these form the basic aims of this thesis: (1) What inputs do bursts encode? (2) Does burst structure provide extra information about different inputs. (3) Is burst coding robust against the presence of noise; an inherent property of all neural systems? (4) What mechanisms are responsible for burst input encoding? (5) How does burst coding manifest in in-vivo neurons. To answer these questions, bursting is studied using a combination of neuron models and in-vivo hippocampal neuron recordings. Models ranged from neuron-specific cell models to models belonging to three fundamentally different burst dynamic classes (unspecific to any neural region). These classes are defined using concepts from non-linear system theory. Together, analysing these model types with in-vivo recordings provides a specific and general analysis of burst encoding. For neuron-specific and unspecific models, a number of model types expressing different levels of biological realism are analysed. For the study of thalamic encoding, two models containing either a single simplified burst-generating current or multiple currents are used. For models simulating three burst dynamic classes, three further models of different biological complexity are used. The bursts generated by models and real neurons were analysed by assessing the input they encode using methods such as information theory, and reverse correlation. Modelled bursts were also analysed for their resilience to simulated neural noise. In all cases, inputs evoking bursts and tonic spikes were distinct. The structure of burst-evoking input depended on burst dynamic class rather than the biological complexity of models. Different n-spike bursts encoded different inputs that, if read by downstream cells, could discriminate complex input structure. In the thalamus, this n-spike burst code explains informative responses that were not due to tonic spikes. In-vivo hippocampal neurons and a pyramidal cell model both use the n-spike code to mark different LFP features. This n-spike burst may therefore be a general feature of bursting relevant to both model and in-vivo neurons. Bursts can also encode input corrupted by neural noise, often outperforming the encoding of single spikes. Both burst timing and internal structure are informative even when driven by strongly noise-corrupted input. Also, bursts induce input-dependent spike correlations that remain informative despite strong added noise. As a result, bursts endow their constituent spikes with extra information that would be lost if tonic spikes were considered the only informative responses.

Bilder av potentiella hot upptäcks snabbt och leder till en snabbare reaktionstid än bilder av icke-potentiella hot. Potentiella hot stjäl också fokus och kognitiva resurser, med en långsammare reaktionstid som följd. Rädsla, som kan mätas genom startlereflexen, leder till antingen ökad handlingsberedskap (snabbare reaktionstid) eller kognitiv distraktion (långsammare reaktionstid). Fem försöksdeltagare fick reagera på en visuell probe som lades ovanpå djurbilder, både potentiella hot och icke-potentiella hot i ett kombinerat reaktionstids- och startleprobeexperiment, där ljudstötar utdelades i hörlurar. Startlereaktion, hjärtfrekvens och reaktionstid mättes, varefter korrelationskoefficienter räknades ut. Resultatet visade på en svag negativ korrelation mellan reaktionstid och startlepotentiering på gruppnivå, men inga signifikanta samband påvisades på individnivå. Resultatet på gruppnivå kan bero på att de individuella resultaten tenderar samlas i kluster och därför skapar ett skensamband. Även en positiv korrelation mellan hjärtfrekvensförändring och startlereaktion påvisades, men ingen korrelation mellan hjärtfrekvens och reaktionstid.

Pictures of fear relevant animals are detected fast and lead to shorter reaction time, compared to pictures of fear irrelevant animals. Fear relevant animals also capture attention and steals focus, which leads to slower reaction time. Fear leads to either preparedness for action (faster reaction time) or cognitive distraction (slower reaction time). In a combined startle probe and reaction time experiment, five participants were requested to react to a visual probe, superimposed on pictures of animals, both relevant and irrelevant to fear. Startle probes were given as noise bursts in headphones. Startle reaction, heart rate and reaction time were measured. A negative correlation between reaction time and startle potentiation was found on group level, whereas no significant correlations were found on the individual level. However, the individual results tend to gather in clusters, which might give a significant result on group level even if there is none.

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Introdução: A necessidade da realização de diagnóstico audiológico nas primeiras semanas ou meses de vida aumentou com a consolidação dos programas de triagem auditiva neonatal. As emissões otoacústicas (EOA) e o potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico (PEATE) com estímulo clique são amplamente utilizados. Para que a intervenção precoce tenha sucesso, informações precisas quanto ao tipo, grau e configuração da perda auditiva tornam-se necessárias. A realização do PEATE com o estímulo tone burst (TB) e da pesquisa da resposta auditiva de estado estável (RAEE) vêm se mostrando de grande valia, já que tais testes fornecem informações específicas por freqüência, permitindo uma avaliação audiológica mais detalhada. Objetivo: Analisar a aplicabilidade clínica do PEATE TB e da RAEE em 2 kHz, em lactentes nascidos a termo e pré-termo. Método: A casuística foi composta por 17 lactentes pré-termo e 19 lactentes a termo, de ambos os gêneros. O estudo foi realizado na UNIFESP e os lactentes, em sono natural, foram submetidos ao PEATE TB e à RAEE na freqüência de 2000 Hz, utilizando-se o equipamento Smart EP da Intelligent Hearing Systems. Resultados: A comparação entre as respostas da orelha direita e esquerda não apresentou diferenças estatisticamente significantes, permitindo considerar a amostra como um todo. A comparação das respostas dos lactentes pré-termo e a termo não apresentou diferenças estatisticamente significantes, com exceção do tempo de duração da RAEE. As latências médias da onda V no PEATE TB foram de 7,9 ms a 80 dBnNA, 8,9 ms a 60 dBnNA, 9,9 ms a 40 dBnNA e 10,8 ms a 30 dBnNA. A resposta eletrofisiológica mínima obtida com o PEATE TB foi de 32,4 dBnNA (52,4 dBNPS), em média. A RAEE mínima obtida foi de 13,8 dBNA (26,4 dBNPS), em média. A duração média do PEATE TB foi de 21,1 min e da RAEE de 22 min. Conclusões: O PEATE TB e a RAEE têm aplicabilidade clínica na freqüência de 2 kHz em lactentes, não havendo diferenças entre indivíduos a termo e pré-termo.
Introduction: Audiological diagnosis in the first weeks or months of life has increased with the consolidation of newborn hearing screening programs. Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) with click stimuli are widely used for this purpose. For a successful early intervention, accurate information about type, degree, and configuration of hearing loss are necessary. ABR with tone burst stimuli (TB ABR) and auditory steady-state response (ASSR) exams have been of great value, since these tests provide specific frequency information, resulting in a more detailed hearing evaluation. Objective: Analyze the clinical applicability of TB ABR and ASSR at 2 kHz, in full-term and premature infants. Method: The study was conducted at UNIFESP. Subjects were consisted of 17 premature infants and 19 full-term infants, male and female. In natural sleep, they have undergone TB ABR and ASSR exams (Smart EP - Intelligent Hearing Systems), at 2000 Hz. Results: Right and left ears responses showed no statistically significant differences, therefore they were considered as a whole. Wave V mean latencies in TB ABR were 7.9 ms to 80 dBnHL, 8.9 ms to 60 dBnHL, 9.9 ms to 40 dBnHL and 10.8 ms to 30 dBnHL. Electrophysiological minimum response obtained with TB ABR was 32.4 dBnHL (52.4 dBSPL), on average. ASSR minimum response was 13.8 dBHL (26.4 dBSPL), on average. TB ABR and ASSR exams lasted 21.1 min and 22 min, respectively. Premature and full-term infants responses showed no statistically significant differences, except for ASSR duration. Conclusions: Both TB ABR and ASSR have clinical applicability at 2 kHz in infants, with no differences between premature and full-term individuals.
TEDE
BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2007.
Committee Chair: Potter, Steve; Committee Member: Butera, Robert; Committee Member: DeWeerth, Stephen; Committee Member: Schumacher, Eric; Committee Member: Wenner, Pete.

Abstract Several anaesthetics are able to induce a burst-suppression (B-S) pattern in the electroencephalogram (EEG) during deep levels of anaesthesia. A burst-suppression pattern consists of alternating high amplitude bursts and periods of suppressed background activity. All monitors measuring the adequacy of anaesthesia recognize the EEG B-S as one criterion. A better understanding of EEG burst-suppression is important in understanding the mechanisms of anaesthesia. The aim of the study was to acquire a more comprehensive understanding of the function of neural pathways during deep anaesthesia. The thesis is comprised of four prospective clinical studies with EEG recordings from 64 patients, and of one experimental study of a porcine model of epilepsy with EEG registrations together with BOLD fMRI during isoflurane anaesthesia (II). In study I, somatosensory cortical evoked responses to median nerve stimulation were studied under sevoflurane anaesthesia at EEG B-S levels. In study III, The EEGs of three Parkinson`s patients were observed to describe the characteristics of B-S during propofol anaesthesia using scalp electrodes and depth electrodes in the subthalamic nucleus. In study IV, EEG topography was observed in 20 healthy children under anaesthesia mask induction with sevoflurane. Twenty male patients were randomized to either controlled hyperventilation or spontaneous breathing groups for anaesthesia mask induction with sevoflurane in study V. EEG alterations in relation to haemodynamic responses were examined in studies IV and V. Somatosensory information reached the cortex even during deep anaesthesia at EEG burst-suppression level. Further processing of these impulses in the cortex was suppressed. The EEG slow wave oscillations were synchronous over the entire cerebral cortex, while spindles and sharp waves were produced by the sensorimotor cortex. The development of focal epileptic activity could be detected as a BOLD signal increase, which preceded the EEG spike activity. The epileptogenic property of sevoflurane used at high concentrations especially during hyperventilation but also during spontaneous breathing together with heart rate increase, was confirmed in healthy children and male. Spike- and polyspike waveforms concentrated in a multifocal manner frontocentrally
Tiivistelmä Useat anestesia-aineet pystyvät aiheuttamaan aivosähkökäyrän (EEG) purskevaimentuman syvän anestesian aikana. Purskevaimentuma koostuu EEG:n suuriamplitudisten purskeiden sekä vaimentuneen taustatoiminnan vaihtelusta. Kaikkien anestesian syvyyttä mittaavien valvontalaitteiden toiminta perustuu osaltaan EEG:n purskevaimentuman tunnistamiseen. Tämän ilmiön parempi tunteminen on tärkeää anestesiamekanismien ymmärtämiseksi. Tutkimuksen päämääränä oli saada kattavampi käsitys hermoratojen toiminnasta syvässä anestesiassa. Väitöskirjatyö koostuu neljästä prospektiivisesta yhteensä 64 potilaan EEG-rekisteröinnit sisältävästä tutkimuksesta sekä yhdestä kokeellisen epilepsiatutkimuksen koe-eläintyöstä, jossa porsailla käytettiin isofluraanianestesiassa sekä EEG-rekisteröintejä sekä että magneettikuvantamista (fMRI) samanaikaisesti (II). Ensimmäisessä osatyössä tutkittiin keskihermon stimulaation aiheuttamia somatosensorisia herätepotentiaaleja aivokuorella EEG:n purskevaimentumatasolla sevofluraanianestesian aikana. Kolmannessa osatyössä selvitettiin propofolianestesian aiheuttamaa EEG:n purskevaimentumaa kolmelta Parkinsonin tautia sairastavalta potilaalta käyttäen sekä pintaelektrodien että subtalamisen aivotumakkeen syväelektrodien rekisteröintejä. Neljännessä osatyössä tutkittiin EEG:n topografiaa 20:llä terveeellä lapsella indusoimalla anestesia sevofluraanilla. Kaksikymmentä miespotilasta nukutettiin sevofluraanilla ja heidät satunnaistettiin joko kontrolloidun hyperventilaation tai spontaanin hengityksen ryhmiin osatyössä V. EEG-muutoksia sekä niiden yhteyttä verenkiertovasteisiin selviteltiin molemmissa osatöissä IV ja V. Omasta kehosta tuleviin tuntoärsykkeisiin liittyvä somatosensorinen informaatio saavutti aivokuoren myös syvässä EEG:n purskevaimentumatasoisessa anestesiassa. Impulssien jatkokäsittely aivokuorella oli kuitenkin estynyt. EEG:n hidasaaltotoiminta oli synkronista koko aivokuoren alueella, sen sijaan unisukkulat ja terävät aallot paikantuivat sensorimotoriselle aivokuorelle. Paikallisen epileptisen toiminnan kehittyminen oli mahdollista havaita jo ennen piikikkäiden EEG:n aaltomuotojen ilmaantumista edeltävänä BOLD-ilmiöön liittyvänä aivoverenkierron lisääntymisenä. Sevofluraanin epileptogeenisyys varmistui erityisesti hyperventilaation, mutta myös spontaanin hengityksen yhteydessä ja näihin liittyi sykkeen nousu sekä terveillä lapsilla että miehillä. Piikkejä ja monipiikkejä käsittävien aaltomuotojen keskittymistä esiintyi otsalohkon keskialueilla

A utilização do mascaramento contralateral durante a pesquisa do potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico é uma temática bastante discutida, visto a inexistência de um consenso na literatura acerca de sua necessidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a necessidade do uso do mascaramento contralateral no potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico com estímulo tone burst apresentado com fone de inserção 3A e propor a aplicabilidade do ruído mascarador white noise na perda auditiva sensorioneural unilateral de graus severo ou profundo. Foram avaliados 15 indivíduos, de ambos os sexos, com o diagnóstico audiológico prévio de perda auditiva sensorioneural unilateral de graus severo ou profundo, com idades entre 2 a 40 anos. Para tanto, foi pesquisada a resposta neural definida pela presença da onda V na orelha com perda auditiva, nas frequências de 500, 1000, 2000 e 4000 Hz. Nos casos em que houve o registro, a pesquisa foi repetida com mascaramento white noise na orelha contralateral. Os registros foram analisados por dois juízes experientes em eletrofisiologia, a fim de verificar a concordância entre as análises. O Coeficiente Kappa (1,00) apresentou força de concordância quase perfeita e o de Correlação Intraclasse (1,00) foi excelente, entre as duas avaliadoras, em todas as análises. Como resultado, foi observada a audição cruzada, ao menos uma vez, em todas as frequências analisadas. Os níveis de mascaramento contralateral mínimos necessários para eliminar a participação da orelha não testada variaram de 10 a 20 dBnNA acima do limiar eletrofisiológico da orelha sem perda auditiva. Não foi possível realizar a análise para a frequência de 500 Hz devido à presença de artefato e ruído elétricos. Conclui-se que o uso do mascaramento contralateral no potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico com estímulo tone burst apresentado com fone de inserção 3A é necessário nas frequências de 1000, 2000 e 4000 Hz em indivíduos com perda auditiva sensorioneural unilateral de graus severo ou profundo, nas intensidades de 15, 20 e 10 dB acima dos limiares eletrofisiológicos, respectivamente.
The use of contralateral masking on the investigation of auditory brainstem response is a topic widely discussed, however there is no consensus in literature about its necessity. The aim of this study was to verify the need of using masking in auditory brainstem response with tone burst stimulus presented with 3A insert earphones and to propose the applicability of white noise masking in severe or profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Fifteen individuals of both genders with previous audiological diagnosis of severe or profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss, aged between 2 to 40 years, were evaluated. For this, the neural response, which is defined by the presence of the V wave in the ear with hearing loss, was investigated in frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz. In cases where there was a record, the search was repeated using white noise masking in the contralateral ear. The records were analyzed by two judges experienced in electrophysiology, in order to verify the concordance between the analyses. The Kappa coefficient (1.00) had almost perfect agreement strength and the Intraclass Correlation (1.00) was excellent between the two evaluators in all analyses. As a result, cross-audition was observed at least once in all analyzed frequencies. The minimum contralateral masking levels required to eliminate the untested ear involvement varied from 10 to 20 dBnNA above the electrophysiological threshold of the ear without hearing loss. It was not possible to perform the analysis for the frequency of 500 Hz due to the presence of electrical artifact and noise. It is concluded that the use of contralateral masking in the auditory brainstem response with tone burst stimulus presented with 3A insert earphone is necessary in frequencies of 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz in individuals with severe or profound unilateral sensorineural hearing loss in intensities of 15, 20 and 10 dB above the electrophysiological thresholds, respectively.

While signatures of attention can be observed in widespread areas within and outside of cortex, the control of attention is thought to be regulated by higher cognitive brain areas, such as the prefrontal cortex. In their recent study on mice Kim et al. could show that successful allocation of attention is characterized by increased spiking of a specific type of inhibitory interneurons, the parvalbumin neurons, and higher oscillatory activity in the gamma band in the local prefrontal network. It was recently demonstrated that encoding of working memory in prefrontal areas is linked to bursts of gamma oscillations, a discontinuous network process characterized by short periods of intense power in the gamma band. The relationship between attention and working memory is unclear, and it is possible that these two cognitive processes share encoding principles. To address this gap, the electrophysiological data collected in the Carlén Lab have been analyzed with advanced spatio-temporal approaches. In particular, we have analyzed bursting gamma activity in medial prefrontal cortex during attentional processing and investigated the similarities to gamma bursting observed during working memory. Gamma-band bursts during attention were reliably detected with several methods. We have characterized several features of the bursts, including the occurrence, duration and amplitude. The neuronal firing rates during and outside of bursts have also been computed. We investigated the correlation between different criteria characterizing the gamma burst and successful vs failed allocation of attention. Control data were generated to discuss the obtained results. The aim of the study was to explore the hypothesis that the medial prefrontal cortex encodes attention trough gamma bursts, which could reveal some similarities and differences in coding of central cognitive processes. No clear difference was found in the characterization between successful and failed allocation of attention. In addition, results were very similar in control set and original data. No underlying mechanism could be identified from this analysis. Therefore, as the bursts occurring in the gamma band in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) were not discriminative with respect to the different tested conditions, they do not seem to encode information related to attention.
Även fast flera olika hjärnområdens aktivitet kan korreleras med uppmärksamhet, anses kontrollen av uppmärksamhet regleras av högre kognitiva hjärnområden, såsom främre hjärnbarken. I en nyligen publicerad artikel studerade Kim et al. hjärnaktiviteten hos möss och kunde visa att en framgångsrik uppmärksamhet kännetecknas av en ökad aktivitet av en specifik typ av inhiberande nervceller, parvalbumin celler, och högre oscillerande aktivitet i gammafrekvens i främre hjärnbarkens lokala nätverk. Det har nyligen visats att kodning av arbetsminne i främre hjärnbarken är kopplat till utbrott av gamma-oscillationer, en diskontinuerlig nätverksprocess som kännetecknas av korta perioder av intensiva oscillationer av det lokala nätverket i gammafrekvens . Relationen mellan uppmärksamhet och arbetsminne är oklar, och det är möjligt att dessa två kognitiva processer delar kodningsprinciper. För att minska detta gap av kunskap har den elektrofysiologiska datan som samlats in i Carlén Lab analyserats med avancerade spatio-temporala tillvägagångssätt. I synnerhet har vi analyserat utbrott i gammaaktivitet i främre hjärnbarken under uppmärksamhet och undersökt likheterna med gamma- utbrott observerade under arbetsminne. Gamma-bandutbrott under uppmärksamhet påvisades på ett tillförlitligt sätt med flera metoder. Vi har karaktäriserat flera funktioner hos utbrotten, inklusive förekomsten, varaktigheten och amplituden. De enskilda cellernas aktivitet undersöktes även under och utanför utprotten av gamma-oscillationer. Vi undersökte sambandet mellan de olika kriterier som karakteriserar gamma-utbrott under framgångsrik mot misslyckad allokering av uppmärksamhet. Kontrolldata genererades för att diskutera de erhållna resultaten. Syftet med studien var att utforska hypotesen att den främre hjärnbarken kodar uppmärksamhet genom gamma-utbrott, vilket kan avslöja vissa likheter och skillnader i kodning av centrala kognitiva processer. Ingen klar skillnad hittades i karaktäriseringen mellan framgångsrik och misslyckad allokering av uppmärksamhet. Dessutom var resultaten mycket likartade i kontrolluppsättningen och den ursprungliga datan. Ingen underliggande mekanism kunde identifieras ur denna analys. Eftersom de utbrott som uppstod i gamma-bandet i främre hjärnbarken inte var unika med hänsyn till de olika testade förhållandena, tycks de därför inte koda information relaterad till uppmärksamhet.

Cantonnée à la physique mathématique depuis des décennies, la gravitation quantique entre désormais dans le giron de la science expérimentale. Suivant cette mouvance nous considérons dans cette thèse trois cadres d’application de la gravitation quantique à boucles (LQG) : le système Univers, les trous noirs et les astroparticules. Le troisième n’est qu’esquissé tandis que les deux premiers sont présentés plus en détails.Le secteur cosmologique étant l’un des domaines les plus prometteurs pour tester et contraindre des théories de gravité quantique, le développement de différents modèles tentant d’appliquer les idées de la LQG à l’Univers primordial ne s’est pas fait attendre. Les travaux que nous présentons portent sur la phénoménologie associée à ces modèles; tant dans le secteur homogène (où nous nous focalisons notamment sur la durée de la phase d’inflation), que dans le secteur inhomogène (nous étudions ce coup-ci le devenir des spectres de puissance primordiaux). Ces études combinées nous permettent alors de préciser dans quelle mesure des effets de gravité quantique (à boucles) peuvent être observés dans les anisotropies du fond diffus cosmologique.D’autre part les trous noirs, non contents de faire partie des objets les plus étranges et les plus fascinants de l’Univers, constituent également des sondes privilégiées pour tester des théories de gravitation. Nous développons la phénoménologie associée à différents traitements des trous noirs en gravitation quantique à boucles. Celle-ci intervient sur une grande variété de fronts : de l’évaporation de Hawking aux ondes gravitationnelles, en passant par la matière noire. C’est sans nul doute un domaine riche et vaste.Finalement, l’existence d’une échelle de longueur minimale, prédite par la majorité des théories de gravité quantique, suggère une généralisation du principe d’incertitude de Heisenberg. Partant de ce constat nous présentons également dans ce manuscrit une méthodologie permettant de calculer une nouvelle relation de dispersion de la lumière à partir du principe d’incertitude généralisé le plus couramment répandu
After decades of being confined to mathematical physics, quantum gravity now enters the field of experimental science. Following this trend, we consider throughout this thesis three implementation frameworks of Loop Quantum Gravity (LQG): the Universe as a system, black holes and astroparticles. The last one is only outlined while the first two are presented in more detail.Since the cosmological sector is one of the most promising areas for testing and constraining quantum gravity theories, it was not long before the development of different models attempting to apply the ideas of the LQG to the primordial Universe. The work we present deals with the phenomenology associated with these models; both in the homogeneous sector (where we focus particularly on the duration of the inflation phase), as in the inhomogeneous sector (where this time, we study the fate of the primordial power spectra). These combined studies then allow us to specify to what extent effects of (loop) quantum gravity can be observed in the anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background.On the other hand black holes, not content to be among the strangest and most fascinating objects of the Universe, are also prominent probes to test the theories of gravitation. We develop the phenomenology associated with different treatments of black holes in the loop quantum gravity framework, which intervenes on multiple levels: from the evaporation of Hawking to gravitational waves, including dark matter. This is undoubtedly a rich and vast area.Finally, the existence of a minimal length scale, predicted by the majority of quantum gravity theories, suggests a generalization of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle. On the basis of this observation, we also present in this manuscript a methodology to derive a new relation dispersion of light from the most widely used generalized uncertainty principle

碩士
中原大學
土木工程研究所
86
Rock-burst is a drastic failure phenomenon that always occurs in underground excavations, especially for those with great depth. Because the rock fragments fly from the excavation walls due to the rapid release of energy, rock-burst endangers the construction facility and personnel on the site. In Taiwan, more proposed tunnels will pass through the high mountain regions (like Central Mtn.), and it is inevitable to encounter the severe rock-burst problems. In the field, the intact rock mass before failure may be regarded as continuous, however, when it starts to crack and produces flying rock fragments due to excavation unloading, a discontinuous behavior prevails. The Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) developed by Dr. Shi will be used to study such a problem in this thesis. The initial program of DDA combined with the Artificial Joint Concept (AJC) which first cuts a continuous domain into sub-blocks by artificial joints and then re-glue them together by assigning T0, coh., fric., is adopted to simulate the progressive fracturing of a rock mass under external loading. In the numerical study of uni-axial compression test by strain-controlled loading on one specimen composed of intact rock and another with one inclined discontinuity, the DDA results are well compatible with the theoretical solution. Additionally, in the study for the specimens cut by a certain pattern of artificial joints, it is found that the strain loading rate, the strength (friction angle and cohesion) and inclination of artificial joints affects the stress-strain relationship computed by DDA, to some extent. In the study of machine stiffness effect, DDA yields the results comparable to that defined by the traditional theory, i.e., when machine stiffness is greater than the post-peak stiffness of rock specimen, a complete stress-strain curve can be obtained; otherwise the rock specimen suddenly breaks near the peak strength. It is a great challenge in engineering practice to precisely predict the rock-burst behavior in tunnels. The DDA combined with AJC is still used in the thesis to provide a means to conduct such a task, in which a normalized kinetic energy index (E*) is defined to quantify the fracturing rate of a rock mass, and further to represent a potential index of rock- burst. The simulation results indicate that the time-history curves of E* and the survival number of cemented contacts could be adopted to point-out the initiation time of rock-burst and energy release level. Moreover, in the such a system reveals its lower potential of rock-burst. The method- ology to predict the rock-burst potential proposed in the thesis is actually on its premature stage, and it is suggested in the near future to perform more parametric study, to modify computation algorithms and include field data for enhancing its capability.

Rock burst is a violent failure of rock in deep underground conditions, which often has severe consequences. Nevertheless, its underlying mechanism is not well understood, let alone being accurately predicted. Existing research studies do indicate the significance of strain energy storage in rock, but questions like, what material properties control strain energy characteristics? How to determine and link it with bursting? How to utilize such a framework further to unveil rock-bursting? Have always been at the center and thus formed our motivational base as well. This research presents a systematic approach to combine theoretical, experimental, and numerical developments towards a size-dependent energy-based rockburst criterion. Along this line, this research develops a new indirect tensile testing methodology named as ‘AUSBIT’ to control the dynamics due to excess strain energy storage in disc cracking under diametric compression. It allows capturing ‘Snap-Back’ behavior and determining inherent fracture, elastic, strength (tensile), and brittleness properties, all from one simple experiment. The devised methodology is patented in Australia as an Innovation Patent. A theoretical framework delineating the snap-back magnitude, which can be considered as a simple bursting indicator, is also developed. Advanced instrumentations such as Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Acoustic Emission (AE) techniques are utilized to explore the benefits of controlled diametrical cracking and obtain further details on failure mechanism and its evolutions. This thesis also develops a hybrid numerical modeling approach based on Discrete and Finite Element Methods (3DEC, by Itasca). It incorporates a new cohesive contact model with elastoplastic-damage coupling. Laboratory experiments, including uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and conventional Brazilian disc (BD) test, are conducted with DIC and AE applications to calibrate, validate and demonstrate the competency of the developed numerical modeling approach. At last, this research develops a size-dependent energy-based rockburst criterion linking strength, fracture energies, and specimen size effect with stress state due to changes in boundary conditions. It results in the proposal of a bursting index (₽) to quantify the bursting scale. Experimental data of Bluestone rock obtained from AUSBIT and UCS tests are utilized to illustrate the capability of the proposed theoretical framework. Virtual strain-burst experiments are conducted using the developed numerical modeling approach for verification purposes. This research also provides the links between the conclusions and results from the proposed theoretical framework with the evaluation of in-situ bursting potential in rock masses around underground openings.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Civil, Environmental and Mining Engineering, 2020

碩士
國立台北護理學院
聽語障礙科學研究所
96
Background: Vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) is becoming one of the clinical tools to evaluate auditory and vestibular function. VEMP can be recorded from sternocleidomastoid muscle by auditory stimulation with various stimuli. The aim of this study is to compare VEMP responses evoked by short tone burst (STB) with those evoked by click stimuli in healthy individuals, to treat about those of influential factors, to compare with other studies. Those would be allowing for further consideration in clinical applications. Methods: Twenty-two healthy volunteers (11 males, 11 females), age ranged from 17 to 30 years were enrolled in first step study, eight subjects (4 males, 4 females) among volunteers participated in second step. Subjects lay down in supine position, were instructed to elevate heads unsupported. VEMPs were recorded from 500 Hz STB and click by monaural stimuli-unilateral recording and sequential method. In first step, STB prior to click, further in second step, click prior to STB. The latency p13, latency n23, p13-n23 amplitude and VEMP asymmetry ratio (VAR) were obtained for further analysis. Results: The STB VEMPs and click VEMPs presented in all subjects and revealed no significant difference between left and right side. The latencies p13, n23 of STB VEMP were longer and the amplitudes were greater than click VEMP in first and second step testing (p < 0.05, paired samples t test), as well. The VAR showed no difference between two stimuli. The latencies p13, n23 and VAR of click VEMP revealed no significant difference between first and second step testing. Latency n23 of STB VEMP in second step was longer than first step testing (p < 0.05, paired samples t test). The latencies p13, n23 and VAR of STB VEMP revealed no significant difference from other studies. However, the latency n23 of click VEMP revealed significant difference from one of other studies (p < 0.05, meta-analysis). The STB VEMP and click VEMP showed no difference between genders. Furthermore, STB VEMP and click VEMP revealed no difference between tempanogram Type As and Type A. Conclusion: The latency p13 and VAR were stable in STB VEMP and click VEMP. VEMP responses were significant difference between STB and click. The latencies p13, n23 and VAR of STB VEMP revealed no significant difference between others and our studies. STB VEMP and click VEMP revealed no difference between tempanogram Type As and Type A. For clinical application, 500 Hz STB was superior to click, because the latency n23 of click VEMP was significant difference among several labs. Norms of different stimuli should be established for clinical interpretation.

博士
國立臺灣大學
醫學工程學研究所
100
Similar to the cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test, which has been widely applied in clinical practice during the past decade, the recently developed ocular VEMP (oVEMP) test has been studied extensively and used to explore vestibular disorders. Both cVEMP and oVEMP tests have been used to investigate otolithic organs and their central vestibular pathways, including the ipsilateral descending sacculo-collic reflex and a crossed ascending vestibulo-ocular reflex. First of all, this study compared the oVEMPs that are elicited in response to monaural and separately, simultaneous binaural air-conducted sound (ACS) stimulations. Twenty healthy volunteers without any previous ear disorders were enrolled in this study. Each subject underwent oVEMP testing using monaural ACS stimulation (Mon-oVEMP) with different stimulus intensities. On another day, the same volunteers underwent oVEMP testing using simultaneous binaural ACS stimulation (Bin-oVEMP). With 95 dB nHL 500Hz short tone-burst ACS stimulation, the biphasic nI–pI waveforms were recorded with maximal amplitudes from the electrodes located below the eyes contralateral to the side of acoustic stimulation while the subject was gazing upward. Significant correlations were identified between Mon-oVEMPs and Bin-oVEMPs with respect to threshold, latencies and amplitude. However, no significant difference existed between Mon-oVEMPs and Bin-oVEMPs in terms of the response rate, threshold, latency or amplitude. The Bin-oVEMP test yields the same information as the Mon-oVEMP test, but the duration of recording in the former is shorter than the latter. The Bin-oVEMP test may be a more convenient screening tool for evaluating the crossed vestibulo-ocular reflex. Subsequently, the aim of this study was to determine whether bone-conducted vibration (BCV) or ACS is the optimal mode for eliciting both oVEMPs and cVEMPs. Twelve healthy volunteers, five patients with unilateral chronic otitis media, and 10 patients with unilateral Meniere disease underwent oVEMP and cVEMP tests using ACS and BCV stimulation modes in a random order. In healthy controls, BCV mode at Fz had a significantly higher response rate and larger nI-pI amplitude of oVEMPs than that of the ACS mode. In cVEMPs, a significantly higher response rate was noted in BCV mode at inion, when compared with ACS mode. However, no significant difference was noted in the p13-n23 amplitude between these two modes. In five chronic otitis media ears, absence of oVEMPs and cVEMPs in ACS mode and presence of oVEMPs and cVEMPs in BCV mode were shown. In 10 patients with Meniere disease, BCV mode elicited higher response rates of oVEMPs and cVEMPs in the pathological ears than ACS mode did. Using BCV mode, Fz and inion may be the optimal sites for eliciting oVEMPs and cVEMPs, respectively. Thus, BCV mode can be substituted for ACS mode to elicit oVEMPs and cVEMPs in the future, especially in “mass detection.” In contrast, ACS mode provides an essential clinical merit of site selectivity. Additionally, this study compared cVEMPs and oVEMPs between ACS and BCV modes to determine whether these two stimulation modes activate the same population of primary vestibular afferents. Fifteen healthy subjects underwent cVEMP and oVEMP tests using ACS stimuli at 105dB nHL and BCV stimuli at 128 dB force level (FL). The characteristic parameters of cVEMPs and oVEMPs were compared between ACS and BCV modes. The mean p13 and n23 latencies of ACS-cVEMPs were significantly longer than those of BCV-cVEMPs. Likewise, the mean nI and pI latencies for ACS-oVEMPs were also significantly longer than those for BCV-oVEMPs. There was no significant difference in the mean amplitude of cVEMPs between the ACS and BCV modes. However, comparing the oVEMP amplitude, a relationship: (Amplitude of BCV-oVEMP) = 2.3 x (Amplitude of ACS-oVEMP) was demonstrated. In short, the population of primary vestibular afferents activated by ACS and BCV stimuli is similar for cVEMPs. In contrast with oVEMPs, BCV mode activates more number of primary vestibular afferents than ACS mode does. Finally, this study combined BCV stimulation with triaxial accelerometry to correlate the acceleration magnitudes of BCV stimuli with oVEMP test results. Fourteen healthy volunteers underwent oVEMP test using BCV stimuli with simultaneous monitoring the triaxial acceleration. All subjects exhibited clear oVEMPs in response to BCV stimuli from a vibrator. The lowest acceleration magnitudes for eliciting oVEMPs along the x-, y- and z-axes were 0.05 ± 0.01 g, 0.16 ± 0.08 g, and 0.04 ± 0.01 g, respectively, exhibiting significantly higher acceleration magnitude along the y-axis than those along the x- and z-axes. In addition, significantly positive correlations were noted between the acceleration magnitude along each axis and the oVEMP amplitude. Therefore, increasing acceleration magnitude may have more synchronization of firing of vestibular afferents, resulting in more synchronized evoked potentials and greater oVEMP amplitude.

Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es die Wirksamkeit einer Behandlung mit Transkranieller Magnetstimulation bei depressiven Patienten zu untersuchen. Der Behandlungserfolg wurde mit depressionsspezfischen Fragebögen, der Testleistung in einer kognitiven Aufgabe und ereigniskorrelierten Potentialen im EEG objektiviert. Es konnte nicht abschließend geklärt werden, ob die Theta-Burst-Stimulation in der Therapie depressiver Patienten geeignet ist. Es fanden sich allerdings Hinweise darauf, dass die präfrontal applizierte Behandlung Veränderungen in den frontal generierten ereigniskorrelierten Potentialen bewirkte
Transcranial magnetic stimulation was frequently used in treatment of depressive patients. We used a special paradigm called theta burst stiumlation to treat therapy resistant depressive patients for 2 weeks. Effectiveness was measured by questionaires, results in a cognitive task and event related potentials in EEG. Results show that there was a change in event related potentials in frontal brain areas. Clear evidence for an improvement of depressive symptoms could not be shown

Klimawandelmodelle sagen für Deutschland sowohl höhere Jahresdurchschnittstemperaturen als auch eine Abnahme von Niederschlägen in den Sommermonaten voraus. Mögliche Konsequenzen für Bäume sind eine verlängerte Vegetationsperiode, ein erhöhtes Spätfrostrisiko und mehr Trockenstress während des Sommers. Diese veränderten Umweltbedingungen könnten zu Veränderungen der Konkurrenzverhältnisse zwischen Baumarten führen. Die Rotbuche (Fagus sylvatica L.) ist eine der wichtigsten Laubbaumarten Mitteleuropas. Daher ist das genetische Anpassungspotential dieser Baumart an den Klimawandel von großem Interesse. In dieser Studie wurden sowohl die neutrale als auch die adaptive genetische Variation der Buche untersucht. Dafür wurde ein Translokationsexperiment mit Nachkommen von Buchenpopulationen, die unter verschiedenen Umweltbedingungen in Norddeutschland wachsen, etabliert. Wiederholte Aufnahmen wichtiger phänotypischer Merkmale (Höhe, Austrieb, Trockenstresssensitivität, Sterblichkeit) zeigten signifikante Unterschiede zwischen den Populationen. Interessanterweise zeigten Populationen mit einer größeren geographischen Distanz teilweise ähnlichere Phänotypen als benachbarte Populationen. Die neutrale genetische Variation der untersuchten Sämlingspopulationen wurde anhand neun verschiedener Mikrosatellitenmarker analysiert. Zwischen den analysierten Buchenpopulationen wurde nur eine geringe genetische Differenzierung ermittelt. Die genetische Diversität war hoch und statistisch nicht signifikant unterschiedlich von den Altbeständen, aus denen sie stammten. Die hohe genetische Diversität ist eine gute Basis für Adaption, allerdings könnte sie wahrscheinlich nur eine kurzfristige Anpassung an den Klimawandel ermöglichen. Daher ist es wichtig, Einblicke in die genetische Basis von klimawandelrelevanten Merkmalen zu gewinnen. Deshalb wurden in dieser Studie Kandidatengene für das Austriebsverhalten untersucht. Bei der Analyse von Fragmenten von zehn verschiedenen Kandidatengenen wurden 20 Indels und 116 SNPs identifiziert. Insgesamt wurden 46 SNPs erfolgreich zur Genotypisierung von über 1.400 Individuen, die aufgrund ihres Austriebsverhaltens ausgewählt wurden, verwendet. Assoziationsanalysen wurden durchgeführt, um potentiell adaptive SNP-Marker zu identifizieren. Diese ergaben unter einem „generalisierten linearen Modell“ 23 signifikant mit dem Austrieb assoziierte SNPs. Ein zusätzlich verwendetes „gemischtes lineares Modell“ ergab nahezu gleiche Ergebnisse. Die phänotypische Variation, die durch signifikant mit dem Austrieb assoziierte SNPs erklärt wird, war niedrig (R2 < 2,2), aber in Übereinstimmung mit anderen Studien mit Waldbaumarten. Zusätzlich zu den Assoziationsanalysen wurden auch FST-Outlier-Analysen durchgeführt. Diese ergaben sieben verschiedene SNPs, die potentiell unter ausgleichender oder gerichteter Selektion stehen. Insgesamt wurden vier potentiell adaptive SNPs gleichzeitig durch Assoziations- und Outlier-Analysen identifiziert. Diese könnten die höchste Wahrscheinlichkeit aufweisen, an der Ausprägung des Austriebsverhaltens beteiligt zu sein. Allerdings sind viele potentiell adaptive SNPs, die in dieser Studie identifiziert wurden, nicht-kodierend oder synonym und somit nicht die kausativen SNPs, sondern eher gelinkt mit ihnen. Allerdings wurde in dieser Studie ein geringes Kopplungsungleichgewicht (linkage disequilibrium) gefunden. Somit könnten die kausativen SNPs in naher Umgebung liegen. Die in dieser Studie identifizierten potentiell adaptiven SNPs sollten in weiteren Studien mit zusätzlichen Populationen bestätigt werden.

Work described in this thesis contains the results of the study on subjecting carpet and foam to different burning tests and the evaluation, by gas chromatography/ mass spectrometry (GC/MS), of the burnt residues for the purpose of identifying compounds which may potentially interfere with the identification of petrol in arson investigation.