Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Hemispheric interactions'

Classical Stroop stimuli and newly developed face/word Stroop analog stimuli were used to investigate hemispheric interactions in Stroop interference effects (SEs) and corresponding event-related potentials (ERPs). Lateralized stimuli were presented unilaterally and bilaterally as congruent or incongruent color strip-word or face-word pairs (to invoke right hemisphere (RH) and left hemisphere (LH) specialization, respectively, in the latter case). The common finding for such tasks is that responses for the congruent condition are faster and more accurate than for the incongruent condition (i.e., the SE). A primary prediction is that the SE will be maximized when both the distractor and target components, or distractor alone, are presented to the specialized hemisphere (i.e., LH for words and RH for faces). A total of 88 right-handed University of North Texas students participated in one of four experiments. Participants manually responded to one component of the stimuli (i.e., color, face, or word), while ignoring the other. Behaviorally, participants showed a robust SE across all experiments, especially for the face/word task with word targets. Findings from the face/word Stroop analog tasks also indicated that SEs were produced by selective attention to either faces or words, implicating a role for top-down (controlled) processes. Hemispheric asymmetries were observed only for bilateral presentations of the face/word Stroop analog stimuli and did not differ for word versus face targets. The results suggest that the LH is less susceptible to interference from the RH than vice versa. Electrophysiologically, anterior N1 and P1, posterior P1 and N1, N2, and P3 components were identified. A SE was found for P3 amplitudes, but not latencies, across all four experiments such that the congruent condition generated greater amplitudes than the incongruent condition, suggesting that the P3 is an index of task difficulty. Surprisingly, SEs were also observed for the early ERP components, albeit embedded in higher order interactions. Taken together, the ERP evidence suggests that there is no single locus of the SE, and instead, the SE appears to be distributed over several stages of information processing.

The performance of most tasks requires some interaction between the cerebral hemispheres. Despite this fact, research has focused on demonstrating that each hemisphere is specialised for certain processes and has largely neglected this interaction. ¶ Recent research has recognised the need for a better understanding of how resources are shared between the cerebral hemispheres. While these studies have shed light on factors external to the participants being tested, such as the type of task and stimuli used, presentation times, and different measurement methods, they have neglected variables that differ between individuals. The studies reported here focused on factors internal to the participants. They include sex, age, handedness, functional lateralisation, practice, attention, and hemispheric activation, which vary between individuals or within individuals across time, and have been shown to influence the structure and morphology of the corpus callosum which is the main pathway for hemispheric interactions. ¶ This thesis examines the relationship of these variables to the efficiency of hemispheric interactions. ¶ A literature review of the factors affecting hemispheric interactions and interhemispheric transfer is presented in Chapter 1, and methodological issues relating to the measurement of these variables in Chapter 2. Based upon this research, two tasks, the Poffenberger paradigm and a letter-matching task, were selected to assess interhemispheric transfer time and hemispheric interactions, respectively, and to investigate the relationship between these two variables. ¶ Chapters 3 and 4 present the findings of the principal study, using a large sample of participants and regression analysis, which demonstrate that both faster interhemispheric transfer and more extreme left-handedness are associated with greater efficiency of hemispheric interaction. Surprisingly, other factors which were expected to influence hemispheric interactions (age, sex, functional lateralisation, and attention) did not have a significant effect on this variable. ¶ A strong practice effect found in the task used in Chapters 3 and 4 is analysed in Chapter 5. Contrary to previous findings, this practice effect seems not to be due to a shift from sequential, rule-based processing to memory-retrieval, but rather, is a more general practice effect consistent with progressively more efficient use of neural resources. ¶ Chapter 6 shows that individuals with dyslexia not only demonstrate an abnormally fast interhemispheric transfer, but also attentional deficits, due probably to decreased efficiency in hemispheric interactions. Because some clinical populations, such as individuals with dyslexia, have been shown to have hemispheric interaction deficits, the study of such clinical samples can provide valuable information about the relationship between hemispheric interactions and other individual variables. ¶ In Chapter 7 it is demonstrated that both latent and induced patterns of lateralised hemispheric activation affect hemispheric interactions. This suggests that assessment of hemispheric activation is important not only in this field, but probably also more generally in neuropsychological research. These findings highlight the need for a simple, inexpensive measure of hemispheric activation that can be applied routinely in cognitive experiments. ¶ Chapter 8 presents a new technique to measure lateralised brain activation in typical psychological experiments using functional tympanic membrane thermometry (fTMT). This measure relies on the measurement of ear membrane temperature as an index of hemispheric activation. The technique is simple and inexpensive, and is shown to be suitable for the assessment of hemispheric activation patterns during typical experiments. ¶ In conclusion, individual characteristics such as the efficiency of interhemispheric transfer, handedness, functional lateralisation, attention, and hemispheric activation are important factors to consider when researching hemispheric interactions in both normal and clinical populations. Furthermore, future research will benefit from this newly developed measure, fTMT, by allowing the systematic study of the effects of hemispheric activation in brain processes.

The observations made in brain-lesioned patients and the result of functional brain imaging studies converge to the hypothesis that the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is involved in calculation and number processing. However, if numerical disorders generally result from a left parietal lesion, the results of some brain imaging studies suggest that the right PPC could also play a role in number magnitude processing. In order to clarify this question, we used transcranial magnetic stimulation to induce a virtual lesion of the left or right PPC in healthy subjects while they performed number comparison. Our results show that the integrity of the left PPC is a necessary condition for the precise discrimination required during close number comparison; whereas the comparison of far numbers can be performed by either hemisphere as suggested by the fact that this task is affected only by the simultaneous virtual lesion of both hemispheres. In order to better identify which processes underlie the numerical competence of the PPC, we then studied the possible interactions between number processing and visuo-motor functions. Indeed, a meta-analysis performed on functional imaging data revealed that number processing depends on parietal regions, but also on certain premotor areas, which are very close to those involved in the control of finger movements. In a first series of experiments, we thus observed an excitability increase in motor circuits during the enumeration of dots presented on a computer screen. Given that the counting task was performed with both hands at rest, this increase was interpreted as reflecting the mental simulation of pointing movements or sequential finger rising as counting goes on. In a second series of experiments, we showed that information related to number magnitude could interfere with the aperture of the finger grip required to grasp an object. These results suggest that the conformation of the hand to object size shares, with the representation of numbers, common processes for magnitude estimate. In conclusion, our thesis supports the hypothesis that our numerical capacities rely, at least partially, on visuo-motor functions involving the PPC; this could explain why the numerical capacities of the left hemisphere, which is dominant for motor activities, are more precise. / Les observations réalisées chez les patients cérébrolésés ainsi que le résultat des études d'imagerie cérébrale fonctionnelle convergent vers l'hypothèse selon laquelle le cortex pariétal postérieur (CPP) est impliqué dans le traitement des nombres et le calcul. Cependant, si les troubles du calcul résultent le plus souvent d'une lésion pariétale gauche, les résultats de certaines études d'imagerie fonctionnelle suggèrent que le CPP droit pourrait également jouer un rôle dans le traitement de la magnitude des nombres. Afin de clarifier cette question, nous avons utilisé la stimulation magnétique transcrânienne pour induire une lésion virtuelle du CPP gauche ou droit chez des sujets sains réalisant une tâche de comparaison de nombres. Nos résultats montrent que l'intégrité du CPP gauche est une condition nécessaire à la discrimination précise requise lors de la comparaison de nombres proches; la comparaison de nombres éloignés peut, quant à elle, être réalisée par l'un ou l'autre hémisphère comme le suggère le fait que cette tâche n'est affectée que par lésion virtuelle simultanée des deux hémisphères. Afin de mieux appréhender les processus sur lesquels s'appuient les compétences numériques du CPP, nous avons ensuite étudié les interactions possibles entre le traitement des nombres et les fonctions visuo-motrices. En effet, une méta-analyse réalisée sur des données d'imagerie fonctionelle a révélé que le traitement des nombres dépend de régions pariétales, mais également de certaines aires prémotrices, proches de celles impliquées dans le contrôle des mouvements des doigts. Dans une première série d'expériences, nous avons ainsi observé une augmentation de l'excitabilité des circuits moteurs lors du comptage de points présentés sur l'écran d'un ordinateur. Etant donné que la tâche de comptage était réalisée avec les mains au repos, cette augmentation a été interprétée comme le reflet d'une simulation mentale de mouvements de pointage ou d'extension séquentielle des doigts pendant le comptage. Dans une deuxième série d'expériences, nous avons montré que l'information relative à la magnitude des nombres pouvait interférer avec l'ouverture de la pince bidigitale requise pour saisir un objet. Ces résultats suggèrent que la conformation de la main adaptée à la taille des objets partage, avec la représentation des nombres, des processus communs d'estimation de la magnitude. En conclusion, notre travail supporte l'hypothèse selon laquelle nos capacités numériques pourraient, en partie du moins, reposer sur des fonctions visuo-motrices impliquant le CPP ; ceci pourrait expliquer pourquoi les capacités numériques de l'hémisphère gauche, dominant pour les activités motrices, sont plus précises.

Während wir Konversationen führen, senden wir akustische Signale, die nicht nur den Inhalt des Gesprächs betreffen, sondern auch eine Fülle an Informationen über den Sprecher liefern. Traditionellerweise wurden Sprachverständnis und Sprechererkennung als zwei voneinander unabhängige Prozesse betrachtet. Neuere Untersuchungen zeigen jedoch eine Integration in der Verarbeitung von Sprach- und Sprecher-Information. In dieser Dissertation liefere ich weitere empirische Evidenz dafür, dass Prozesse des Sprachverstehens und der Sprechererkennung auf neuronaler und behavioraler Ebene miteinander interagieren. In Studie 1 präsentiere ich die Ergebnisse eines Experiments, das funktionelle Magnetresonanztomographie (fMRT) nutzte, um die neuronalen Grundlagen des Sprachverstehens unter wechselnden Sprecherbedingungen zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie deuten auf einen neuronalen Mechanismus hin, der funktionelle Interaktionen zwischen sprach- und sprecher-sensitiven Arealen der linken und rechten Hirnhälfte nutzt, um das korrekte Verstehen von Sprache im Kontext von Sprecherwechseln zu gewährleisten. Dieser Mechanismus impliziert, dass die Sprachverarbeitung, einschließlich des Erkennens von linguistischer Prosodie, vornehmlich von Arealen der linken Hemisphäre unterstützt wird. In Studie 2 präsentiere ich zwei fMRT-Experimente, die die hemisphärische Lateralisierung der Erkennung von linguistischer Prosodie im Vergleich zur Erkennung der Sprachmitteilung respektive der Sprecheridentität untersuchten. Die Ergebnisse zeigten eine deutliche Beteiligung von Arealen in der linken Hirnhälfte, wenn linguistische Prosodie mit Sprecheridentität verglichen wurde. Studie 3 untersuchte, unter welchen Bedingungen Hörer von vorheriger Bekanntheit mit einem Sprecher profitieren. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass Hörer akustische Sprecher-Information implizit während einer Sprach-Aufgabe lernen und dass sie diese Information nutzen, um ihr Sprachverständnis zu verbessern.
During natural conversation, we send rich acoustic signals that do not only determine the content of conversation but also provide a wealth of information about the person speaking. Traditionally, the question of how we understand speech has been studied separately from the question of how we recognize the person speaking either implicitly or explicitly assuming that speech and speaker recognition are two independent processes. Recent studies, however, suggest integration in the processing of speech and speaker information. In this thesis, I provide further empirical evidence that processes involved in the analysis of speech and speaker information interact on the neural and behavioral level. In Study 1, I present data from an experiment which used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate the neural basis for speech recognition under varying speaker conditions. The results of this study suggest a neural mechanism that exploits functional interactions between speech- and speaker-sensitive areas in left and right hemispheres to allow for robust speech recognition in the context of speaker variations. This mechanism assumes that speech recognition, including the recognition of linguistic prosody, predominantly involves areas in the left hemisphere. In Study 2, I present two fMRI experiments that investigated the hemispheric lateralization of linguistic prosody recognition in comparison to the recognition of the speech message and speaker identity, respectively. The results showed a clear left-lateralization when recognition of linguistic prosody was compared to speaker recognition. Study 3 investigated under which conditions listeners benefit from prior exposure to a speaker''s voice in speech recognition. The results suggest that listeners implicitly learn acoustic speaker information during a speech task and use such information to improve comprehension of speech in noise.

In this dissertation, a non-invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring technique is introduced by developing a head dynamic model. The technique is based on modal frequency testing and vibration responses analysis of the skull. To examine and verify this methodology, we conducted vibration tests on a hemispherical shell to stand as a surrogate for human cranium to measure the effect of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure on human skull dynamic response; we utilized a hammer-impact modal testing methodology on the simulated hemispherical shell to extract its dynamic response characteristics. To be able to examine the CSF-skull dynamics interactions, we measured the skull impulse responses using mechanical tensile tests at different strain rates. The modal analysis by finite elements eigenvalue analysis of the upper cranium skull model was conducted to find the material properties of the skull. Linear elastic, as well as, nonlinear hyperelastic material models were assumed for the skull to find its material parameters. In the simulation of the human head, the cranium was modeled as a closed clamped hemispherical aluminum shell under internal fluid pressure. The interactions of CSF with the simulated cranium were studied and the frequency responses were obtained at different interior pressures. A numerical procedure for dynamic analysis of the systems was developed to measure the modal frequencies of the setup. We examined the changes to the peaks of frequency response under different fluid pressure. The results of modal analyses demonstrate changes in the frequency of bending-wave vibration modes, while longitudinal-wave modes are nominally altered under variable pressure conditions. A single-degree of freedom vibrational model was also developed to fit to the data for the sensitive modes. Linear regression analysis of the results reveals that the dynamic model?s equivalent damping and stiffness parameters are sensitive to fluid pressure variations while the equivalent mass parameter is relatively unaffected. As a result of this study we conclude that variance in CSF pressure has a measurable effect on the dynamic characteristics of the cranium and vice-versa. A calibrating system to connect the dynamic changes of the head can stand as a non-invasive system for ICP changes.

Ce travail porte sur le développement de nouvelles méthodes de caractérisation in-situ basées sur les spectroscopies électroniques XPS et MM-EPES associées à des calculs théoriques obtenus grâce à des simulations Monte-Carlo afin de réaliser des études quantitatives fines et précises. La première partie de ce travail, a été consacrée à l’analyse quantitative de signaux XPS et MM-EPES. Pour cela, dans un premier temps, la fonction de correction de l’analyseur hémisphérique (HSA) qui est une combinaison de l’aire d’analyse (A) et de la transmission (T) a été déterminée en utilisant une nouvelle méthode basée sur des images élastiques. Pour la première fois, la dépendance de A en énergie cinétique des électrons a été mise en évidence. Avec l’utilisation de cette nouvelle fonction, une méthode de caractérisation in situ basée sur la modélisation théorique des signaux XPS et MM-EPES a été développée. Cette méthode a permis d’étudier le dépôt d’un film d’or sur un substrat de silicium oxydé et a montré une grande précision dans le cas de très faibles quantités de matière déposée (< 2 nm) alors que les techniques microscopiques classiques se sont révélées inefficaces. La deuxième partie a porté sur le développement d’une nouvelle technique d’imagerie in-situ appelé MM-EPEM qui consiste à scanner la surface par un faisceau d’électrons et de collecter les électrons rétrodiffusés élastiquement afin de construire une image en intensité de la surface. Les étapes d’obtention des images MM-EPEM et les procédures d’exploitation de ces dernières ont été décrites et optimisées. Ensuite, cette technique a été utilisée pour l’étude de l’état de surface de dépôts d’or sur différents substrats. Cette technique s’avère être non destructive et très sensible aux éléments présents à la surface. Et elle permet de déterminer la cartographie chimique et la nano-organisation de la surface
This thesis focuses on the development of new in-situ methods of characterization based on the electron spectroscopies (XPS and EPES) coupled with theoretical calculations obtained through Monte-Carlo simulations in order to perform very precise quantitative studies. The first part of this thesis was devoted to quantitative studies of XPS and MM-EPES measurements. Firstly, the correction function of a hemispherical analyzer (HSA) which is a combination of the analysis area (A) and the transmission (T) was determined using a new method based on the elastic images. For the first time, the dependence of A on the kinetic energy of electrons was highlighted. Using this function, an in-situ method based on the combination of XPS and MM-EPES modeling was setting up. This method was used to determine the organization of gold film deposed on oxidized silicon substrate. Measurements show that this method is able to determine surface parameters when the microscopy techniques do not give any information in the case of a small quantity of gold deposit (less than 2 nm). The second part of this work was directed towards developing a new generation of microscopy called MM-EPEM which is based on the detection of elastic electrons. The stages required to obtain these images are well described and optimized here. The MM-EPEM images processing was used to study gold growth on different substrates. This technique is a non-destructive method and allows the operator to construct chemical tomography and to determine the nano-organization of the surface

The performance of most tasks requires some interaction between the cerebral hemispheres. Despite this fact, research has focused on demonstrating that each hemisphere is specialised for certain processes and has largely neglected this interaction. ¶ Recent research has recognised the need for a better understanding of how resources are shared between the cerebral hemispheres. While these studies have shed light on factors external to the participants being tested, such as the type of task and stimuli used, presentation times, and different measurement methods, they have neglected variables that differ between individuals. The studies reported here focused on factors internal to the participants. They include sex, age, handedness, functional lateralisation, practice, attention, and hemispheric activation, which vary between individuals or within individuals across time, and have been shown to influence the structure and morphology of the corpus callosum which is the main pathway for hemispheric interactions. ¶ This thesis examines the relationship of these variables to the efficiency of hemispheric interactions. ¶ ...

La douleur est une expérience perceptive comportant de nombreuses dimensions. Ces dimensions de douleur sont inter-reliées et recrutent des réseaux neuronaux qui traitent les informations correspondantes. L’élucidation de l'architecture fonctionnelle qui supporte les différents aspects perceptifs de l'expérience est donc une étape fondamentale pour notre compréhension du rôle fonctionnel des différentes régions de la matrice cérébrale de la douleur dans les circuits corticaux qui sous tendent l'expérience subjective de la douleur. Parmi les diverses régions du cerveau impliquées dans le traitement de l'information nociceptive, le cortex somatosensoriel primaire et secondaire (S1 et S2) sont les principales régions généralement associées au traitement de l'aspect sensori-discriminatif de la douleur. Toutefois, l'organisation fonctionnelle dans ces régions somato-sensorielles n’est pas complètement claire et relativement peu d'études ont examiné directement l'intégration de l'information entre les régions somatiques sensorielles. Ainsi, plusieurs questions demeurent concernant la relation hiérarchique entre S1 et S2, ainsi que le rôle fonctionnel des connexions inter-hémisphériques des régions somatiques sensorielles homologues. De même, le traitement en série ou en parallèle au sein du système somatosensoriel constitue un autre élément de questionnement qui nécessite un examen plus approfondi. Le but de la présente étude était de tester un certain nombre d'hypothèses sur la causalité dans les interactions fonctionnelle entre S1 et S2, alors que les sujets recevaient des chocs électriques douloureux. Nous avons mis en place une méthode de modélisation de la connectivité, qui utilise une description de causalité de la dynamique du système, afin d'étudier les interactions entre les sites d'activation définie par un ensemble de données provenant d'une étude d'imagerie fonctionnelle. Notre paradigme est constitué de 3 session expérimentales en utilisant des chocs électriques à trois différents niveaux d’intensité, soit modérément douloureux (niveau 3), soit légèrement douloureux (niveau 2), soit complètement non douloureux (niveau 1). Par conséquent, notre paradigme nous a permis d'étudier comment l'intensité du stimulus est codé dans notre réseau d'intérêt, et comment la connectivité des différentes régions est modulée dans les conditions de stimulation différentes. Nos résultats sont en faveur du mode sériel de traitement de l’information somatosensorielle nociceptive avec un apport prédominant de la voie thalamocorticale vers S1 controlatérale au site de stimulation. Nos résultats impliquent que l'information se propage de S1 controlatéral à travers notre réseau d'intérêt composé des cortex S1 bilatéraux et S2. Notre analyse indique que la connexion S1→S2 est renforcée par la douleur, ce qui suggère que S2 est plus élevé dans la hiérarchie du traitement de la douleur que S1, conformément aux conclusions précédentes neurophysiologiques et de magnétoencéphalographie. Enfin, notre analyse fournit des preuves de l'entrée de l'information somatosensorielle dans l'hémisphère controlatéral au côté de stimulation, avec des connexions inter-hémisphériques responsable du transfert de l'information à l'hémisphère ipsilatéral.
Pain is a perceptual experience comprising many dimensions. These pain dimensions interrelate with each other and recruit neuronal networks that process the corresponding information. Elucidating the functional architecture that supports different perceptual aspects of the experience is thus, a fundamental step to our understanding of the functional role of different regions in the cerebral pain matrix that are involved in the cortical circuitry underlying the subjective experience of pain. Among various brain regions involved in the processing of nociceptive information, primary and secondary somatosensory cortices (S1 and S2) are the main areas generally associated with the processing of sensory-discriminative aspect of pain. However the functional organization in these somatosensory areas is not completely clear and relatively few studies have directly examined the integration of information among somatic sensory regions. Thus, several questions remain regarding the hierarchical relationship between S1 and S2, as well as the functional role of the inter-hemispheric connections of the homologous somatic sensory areas. Likewise, the question of serial or parallel processing within the somatosensory system is another questionable issue that requires further investigation. The purpose of the present study was to test a number of causal hypotheses regarding the functional interactions between S1 and S2, while subjects were receiving painful electric shocks. We implemented a connectivity modeling approach, which utilizes a causal description of system dynamics, in order to study the interactions among activation sites defined by a data set derived from a functional imaging study. Our paradigm consists of 3 experimental scans using electric shock stimuli, with the stimulus intensity changing from moderately painful (level 3), to slightly painful (level 2), and to completely non-painful (level 1) during the final scan. Therefore our paradigm allowed us to investigate how stimulus intensity is encoded within our network of interest, and how the connectivity of the different regions is modulated across the different stimulus conditions. Our result is in favor of serial mode of somatosensory processing with thalamocortical input to S1 contralateral to stimulation site. Thus our results implicates that pain information is propogated from S1 contralateral through our network of interest comprising of bilateral S1 and S2. Our analysis indicates that S1→S2 connection is modulated by pain, which suggests that S2 is higher on the hierarchy of pain processing than S1, in accordance with previous neurophysiological and MEG findings. Lastly, our analysis provides evidence for the entrance of somatosensory information into the hemisphere contralateral to the stimulation side, with inter-hemispheric connections responsible for the transfer of information to the ipsilateral hemisphere.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1990.
Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 138-150).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1995.
Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 63-65).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 2004.
Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-93).

碩士
國立中興大學
機械工程學系所
104
The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) can cause meninges inflammation and neuroinflammation, thus leading to lethality. Hence, complete understanding of JEV pathogenesis can benefit the development vaccines to reduce the risk of infection. The capsid protein of JEV affects its ability of infect ion and replication. In this study, we investigated the pathogenesis of JEV by mutating the protein coat at specific locations (D67 and N154). A extremely sensitive nanostructured biosensor that was built by depositing a gold thin film on the barrier layer surface of an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) as the electrode was developed for detecting the weak binding between the mutated protein coat and receptors. Receptors CLEC5A and DC-SIGN were attached to different electrodes, respectively, as the probes using the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) method. After immobilizing JEVs with mutated protein coat on the probes, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was than implemented for analyzing the binding locations of JEV on different receptors. Experimental results illustrate that the wild-type JEV was able to bind to both DC-SIGN and CLEC5A, with a stronger binding affinity to the former. The non-N-linked glycosylated protein coat at the 154th amino acid displayed a lower binding capacity to CLEC5A than the modified version (N-linked glycosylated). The observation indicates that the 154th amino acid on the JEV protein coat heavily influences the JEV-CLEC5A bindings. Keyword : Japanese encephalitis virus ; Anodic aluminum oxide ; Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ; DC-SIGN ; CLEC5A