Academic literature on the topic 'MLI synchrone'

Abstract This paper presents an EEG study for coherence and phase synchrony in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects. MCI is characterized by cognitive decline, which is an early stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms such as memory loss and cognitive impairment. EEG coherence is a statistical measure of correlation between signals from electrodes spatially separated on the scalp. The magnitude of phase synchrony is expressed in the phase locking value (PLV), a statistical measure of neuronal connectivity in the human brain. Brain signals were recorded using an Emotiv Epoc 14-channel wireless EEG at a sampling frequency of 128 Hz. In this study, we used 22 elderly subjects consisted of 10 MCI subjects and 12 healthy subjects as control group. The coherence between each electrode pair was measured for all frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha and beta). In the MCI subjects, the value of coherence and phase synchrony was generally lower than in the healthy subjects especially in the beta frequency. A decline of intrahemisphere coherence in the MCI subjects occurred in the left temporo-parietal-occipital region. The pattern of decline in MCI coherence is associated with decreased cholinergic connectivity along the path that connects the temporal, occipital, and parietal areas of the brain to the frontal area of the brain. EEG coherence and phase synchrony are able to distinguish persons who suffer AD in the early stages from healthy elderly subjects.

Medical studies have shown that EEG of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients is “slower” (i.e., contains more low-frequency power) and is less complex compared to age-matched healthy subjects. The relation between those two phenomena has not yet been studied, and they are often silently assumed to be independent. In this paper, it is shown that both phenomena are strongly related. Strong correlation between slowing and loss of complexity is observed in two independent EEG datasets: (1) EEG of predementia patients (a.k.a. Mild Cognitive Impairment; MCI) and control subjects; (2) EEG of mild AD patients and control subjects. The two data sets are from different patients, different hospitals and obtained through different recording systems. The paper also investigates the potential of EEG slowing and loss of EEG complexity as indicators of AD onset. In particular, relative power and complexity measures are used as features to classify the MCI and MiAD patients versus age-matched control subjects. When combined with two synchrony measures (Granger causality and stochastic event synchrony), classification rates of 83% (MCI) and 98% (MiAD) are obtained. By including the compression ratios as features, slightly better classification rates are obtained than with relative power and synchrony measures alone.

Stochastic event synchrony is a technique to quantify the similarity of pairs of signals. First, events are extracted from the two given time series. Next, one tries to align events from one time series with events from the other. The better the alignment, the more similar the two time series are considered to be. In Part I, the companion letter in this issue, one-dimensional events are considered; this letter concerns multidimensional events. Although the basic idea is similar, the extension to multidimensional point processes involves a significantly more difficult combinatorial problem and therefore is nontrivial. Also in the multidimensional case, the problem of jointly computing the pairwise alignment and SES parameters is cast as a statistical inference problem. This problem is solved by coordinate descent, more specifically, by alternating the following two steps: (1) estimate the SES parameters from a given pairwise alignment; (2) with the resulting estimates, refine the pairwise alignment. The SES parameters are computed by maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation (step 1), in analogy to the one-dimensional case. The pairwise alignment (step 2) can no longer be obtained through dynamic programming, since the state space becomes too large. Instead it is determined by applying the max-product algorithm on a cyclic graphical model. In order to test the robustness and reliability of the SES method, it is first applied to surrogate data. Next, it is applied to detect anomalies in EEG synchrony of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. Numerical results suggest that SES is significantly more sensitive to perturbations in EEG synchrony than a large variety of classical synchrony measures.

Ende Mai 2020 wurden die Studierenden der Technischen Universität Graz im Rahmen einer studentischen Qualifizierungsarbeit zu guten Lehrerfahrungen in der der Notfall-Online-Lehre durch die CoViD-19-Pandemie im Sommersemester 2020 befragt. 137 Beispiele für gute Lehre von unterschiedlichen Teilnehmenden werden für den Beitrag ausgewertet. Die Analyse der Antworten zeigen, dass in einem Gros der Lehrveranstaltungen die als gelungen erlebt wurden, (auch) Videotechnik zum Einsatz kommt (90 %), bei mehr als der Hälfte (auch) Videos zur Verfügung gestellt werden und bei der Hälfte Live-, d. h. synchrone Veranstaltungen angeboten werden. Ein wesentliches Merkmal für gute Lehrbeispiele ist, dass Studierende etwas gelernt haben (77 % «trifft voll zu») und bei Beschreibungen der Lehrbeispiele erwähnen rund ein Drittel, dass die Umstellung der Lehrveranstaltung, die sie als gute Lehre erlebten, zügig erfolgte. Methodisch-didaktische Besonderheiten werden damit in der frühen Phase des Distance Learning eher selten (12 %) von den befragten Studierenden benannt.

Nowdays people tend to consume good healthy diets such as black rice. Black rice contain anthocyanin that acts as antioxidant. High demand of black rice in the market need to synchronize with high production that can be fulfil by fertilizer application. This research conducted to evaluated growth and yield of black rice ‘Cempo Ireng’ by cytokinin and manure application. Research was start in November 2015-Mei 2016 at Sangihe District. The treatment was arranged by dosage of manure 0, 5, 10, 15 ton ha-1 and incubated for two week. The results of this study showed that manure can affect the growth and yield of black rice.

Using 19 years of remotely sensed Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), we examined the effects of climatic variability on terrestrial vegetation of six protected areas along southwestern South America, from the semiarid edge of the Atacama desert to southern Patagonia (30°S–51°S). The relationship between satellite phenology and climate indices, namely MEI (Multivariate ENSO Index), PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation) and SAM (Southern Annular Mode) were established using statistical analyses for non-stationary patterns. The annual mode of phenological activity fluctuated in strength through time from the semiarid region to the border of southern Patagonia. Concomitantly, enhanced synchrony between EVI and climatic oscillations appeared over interannual cycles. Cross correlations revealed that variability in MEI was the lead predictor of EVI fluctuations over scales shorter than 4 months at lower latitudes and for the most poleward study site. The PDO was correlated with EVI over lags longer than 4 months at low latitude sites, while the SAM showed relationships with EVI only for sites located around 40°S. Our results indicate that the long-term phenological variability of the vegetation within protected areas along southwestern South America is controlled by processes linked to climate indices and that their influence varies latitudinally. Further studies over longer time scales will be needed to improve our understanding the impacts of climate change on vegetation condition and its effect over phenological variability.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve cognitive function. However, it is not clear how high-definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) regulates the cognitive function and its neural mechanism, especially in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). This study aimed to examine whether HD-tDCS can modulate cognitive function in individuals with MCI and to determine whether the potential variety is related to spontaneous brain activity changes recorded by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). Forty-three individuals with MCI were randomly assigned to receive either 10 HD-tDCS sessions or 10 sham sessions to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC). The fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) and the regional homogeneity (ReHo) was computed using rs-fMRI data from all participants. The results showed that the fALFF and ReHo values changed in multiple areas following HD-tDCS. Brain regions with significant decreases in fALFF values include the Insula R, Precuneus R, Thalamus L, and Parietal Sup R, while the Temporal Inf R, Fusiform L, Occipital Sup L, Calcarine R, and Angular R showed significantly increased in their fALFF values. The brain regions with significant increases in ReHo values include the Temporal Inf R, Putamen L, Frontal Mid L, Precentral R, Frontal Sup Medial L, Frontal Sup R, and Precentral L. We found that HD-tDCS can alter the intensity and synchrony of brain activity, and our results indicate that fALFF and ReHo analysis are sensitive indicators for the detection of HD-tDCS during spontaneous brain activity. Interestingly, HD-tDCS increases the ReHo values of multiple brain regions, which may be related to the underlying mechanism of its clinical effects, these may also be related to a potential compensation mechanism involving the mobilization of more regions to complete a function following a functional decline.

This paper describes the use of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) to synchronize nuclear progression during meiotic maturation in porcine oocytes, and also the time-dependence of nuclear maturation on exposure of the oocyte to cumulus cells. Prior to culture, the majority of oocytes were at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage (95–100%), but distributed from GVI to GVIV (GVI 56.1 ± 9.1%, GVII 15.3 ± 1.4%, GVIII 21.5 ± 7.1%, GVIV 7.1 ± 3.5%). During culture of cumulus-enclosed oocytes (COCs) from 12 h to 48 h in a conventional culture system, all meiotic stages were represented at any time point examined, with 63.6 ± 4.2% of oocytes maturing to metaphase II (MII). Cycloheximide blocked the progression of nuclear development in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment for 12 h with CHX at 1–25 μg mL–1 resulted in 95–100% oocytes being arrested and synchronized at GVII. With >5 μg mL–1 CHX, all oocytes were arrested before germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) (mostly at GVIII) by 24 h. A 12 h preincubation with 5 μg mL–1 CHX followed by 24 h of further culture without CHX resulted in >80% of oocytes maturing to MII. The profile of nuclear progression during maturation revealed discrete peaks of occurrence of different meiotic stages, with GVBD at 6–12 h, metaphase I (MI) at 10–18�h and anaphase I/telophase I at 16–20 h. After 12 h preincubation with 5 μg mL–1 CHX, denuded oocytes (DOs) matured to MI as COCs. However, DOs matured to MII as normal when denuded at MI. In conclusion, CHX not only efficiently blocks and synchronizes the meiotic progression of porcine oocytes at a specific GV stage, but it also effectively synchronizes subsequent meiotic progression to MII, resulting in discrete peaks of occurrence of different meiotic stages. Using this technique, the study showed that cumulus cells are essential for oocytes to mature from MI to MII but exposure to cumulus cells must occur before MI.

Les variateurs de vitesse electriques sont de plus en plus presents dans les domaines d'applications industrielles de fortes puissances comme la traction ferroviaire et la propulsion navale. L'objectif des travaux presentes dans ce memoire concerne la commande d'une structure innovante constituee d'une machine synchrone double etoile a rotor bobine alimentee par des onduleurs mli. Deux approches ont ete mises au point pour etudier ce variateur de vitesse. La premiere concerne le developpement d'un simulateur base sur des modeles qui tiennent compte des differentes interactions entre les entites physiques du systeme complet. La seconde approche concerne la mise au point d'un prototype experimentale de puissance reduite permettant de valider les modeles etablis et les lois de commande developpees. Pour la simulation, l'accent a ete mis sur l'elaboration d'une methodologie de modelisation globale des variateurs de vitesse comprenant plusieurs convertisseurs statiques d'une maniere generale, et de la machine synchrone alimentee par des onduleurs mli en particulier. Cette phase permet d'etudier les problemes specifiques a ce variateur de vitesse, comme le choix de l'angle de dephasage entre les deux etoiles et l'influence de l'inductance de fuite entre chaque etoile. La commande utilise le principe de regulation en cascade dissociant la regulation en courant de la regulation en vitesse. Differentes strategies de commande ont ete l'elaborees. Pour la regulation des courants deux techniques ont ete proposees, l'une basee sur une approche monovariable, l'autre basee sur une approche multivariable. Pour les strategies de commande deux types de fonctionnement ont ete testes, le fonctionnement a facteur de puissance unitaire et le fonctionnement a couple maximal.

Ce mémoire traite de la modélisation dynamique en vue de la simulation et de la commande vectorielle des machines synchrones double étoile à pôles saillants alimentées par des onduleurs MLI. Grâce aux approches de modélisation développées, le modèle initial fortement couplé de la machine est ramené à un ensemble de modèles diphasés équivalents découplés magnétiquement. Ces approches de modélisation sont étendues au fonctionnement en mode dégradé de l'ensemble onduleur-machine. Un banc d'essais logiciel est développé pour simuler le comportement dynamique et analyser les problèmes spécifiques de l'ensemble convertisseur-machine fonctionnant soit en mode normal soit en mode dégradé. Afin de minimiser les ondulations du couple et les pertes en mode dégradé, des stratégies de commande ont été élaborées. Un algorithme de commande généralisé est proposé pour le contrôle du couple dans les deux modes de fonctionnement. Les différentes études ont été validées sur un banc d'essais expérimental
This thesis presents the dynamic modelling in view of simulation and control of the double star salient poles synchronous machines supplied by PWM inverters. Based on the established modelling approaches, the initial machine's model, characterised by a strong coupling, is transformed on several magnetically decoupled equivalents models. These modelling approaches are extended to the functioning under fault condition of the electrical drive. Specific simulation software is developed in view to simulate and to analyse the dynamic behaviour of the inverters-machine set under balanced and unbalanced functioning. In order to minimise the torque ripples and the losses under fault condition, a control strategies are elaborated. A generalised control algorithm is proposed for the torque control in the two operating modes. The various studies were validated on an experimental prototype

Dans le contexte de l’exploitation des sources d’énergies renouvelables marines, la difficulté d’accès aux installations impose d’explorer des chaînes de conversion d’énergies tolérantes aux défauts. Ce travail de thèse concerne la modélisation dynamique et la commande d’une chaîne de conversion d’énergie innovante. La chaîne de conversion étudiée est constituée d'une génératrice synchrone pentaphasée à aimants permanents et à FEM non sinusoïdale produisant l’énergie pour le bus continu via un convertisseur AC/DC. Deux topologies de convertisseurs AC/DC sont investiguées : un redresseur MLI pentaphasé et un redresseur innovant de type VIENNA pentaphasé. L’optimisation du transfert d’énergie nécessite l’élaboration de stratégies de commande optimales exploitant tous les harmoniques de la FEM en mode normal ou en mode de défaut lié à l’ouverture d’une phase de la génératrice. Des algorithmes de commande spécifiques sont élaborés en fonction du mode de connexion du neutre et du point milieu du bus continu. Les profils spécifiques des références de courant imposées par les stratégies de commande requièrent des régulateurs robustes et à hautes performances dynamiques. Pour les boucles internes de courant, le régulateur fractionnaire PIα de type linéaire et un régulateur analogique particulier auto-oscillant de type non-linéaire sont exploités. Pour la boucle externe de tension, des stratégies de commande sont élaborées et des régulateurs sont synthétisés. Des bancs d’essais logiciels et expérimentaux sont réalisés et les résultats illustrent les fonctionnements et les performances des stratégies de commande élaborées pour différents scenarii avec les deux convertisseurs
In the context of exploitation of marine renewable energy sources, the access difficulties to the installations requires to explore fault-tolerant energy conversion systems. This Doctorate thesis deals with the dynamical modeling and control of an innovative energy conversion chain. The studied conversion chain consists of a non-sinusoidal EMF 5-phase permanent magnet synchronous generator which delivers the energy to the DC bus via an AC/DC converter. Two AC/DC topologies are investigated: a 5-phase PWM rectifier and a 5-phase VIENNA rectifier. The energy transfer optimization needs optimal control strategies using all the EMF harmonics in normal mode and in specific fault mode due to the opening of one phase of the generator. Specific control algorithms are developed based on the possible connection between the neutral of the machine and the midpoint of the DC bus. Particular profiles of the current references imposed by the control strategies require robust and high dynamic performance controllers. For the inner current loops, the linear PIα fractional controller and a specific non-linear phase-shift self-oscillating controller are synthesized. For the outer voltage loop, control strategies are developed and regulators are synthetized. Software and experiment test benches are built. Results illustrate the working and performances of the control strategies developed for different scenarii with both converters

Malgré les améliorations de topologies des convertisseurs DC/AC, l'onduleur à deux niveaux reste le "gold standard" dans l'industrie ceci pour de multiples raisons : simplicité, fiabilité, etc. Dans le cadre de cette thèse entre Centrale Nantes et Renault, de nouvelles commandes d'onduleur ont été développées afin d'améliorer les performances sans modifier la topologie du convertisseur. Pour cela, deux approches basées sur des commandes hors-ligne synchrones ont été proposées. Premièrement, celles qui relaxent la contrainte de symétrie angulaire entre phases, usuellement imposée au convertisseur. Deuxièmement, celles qui sont à porteuse triangulaire consistant à injecter une séquence homopolaire de fréquence triple dans la modulante. La conséquence de cette approche est une généralisation de l’injection d'harmonique classique de rang trois. Un calcul aux limites a permis de montrer l'existence d'une méthodologie facilement implantable, qui prend la forme d'une injection d’une dent de scie. Les deux approches revisitent les stratégies de commande par modulation de largeur d'impulsion (MLI) de la littérature grâce à des considérations simples à base de relaxation et d'extension de propriétés existantes. L'ensemble de ces stratégies améliorent significativement le taux de distorsion harmonique des tensions ou courants fournis par l'onduleur pour des fréquences de commutations synchrones faibles. Ces observations ont été réalisées en simulation et validées sur un banc expérimental de faible puissance
Despite improvements in DC/AC converter topologies, the two-level inverter remains the "gold standard" in the industry for many reasons: simplicity, reliability, etc. In this thesis between Ecole Centrale and Renault, new inverter controls have been developed to improve the performance without modifying the converter topology. For this purpose, two approaches based on synchronous off-line controls have been proposed. Firstly, an angular symmetry relaxation between phases usually imposed on the converter. Secondly triangular carrier based strategies, meaning injecting a triple frequency homopolar sequence into the modulating signal. The consequence of this approach has given rise to a generalization of the classical third harmonic injection. A calculation extension has shown the existence of an easily implementable methodology, which takes the form of a sawtooth injection. Both approaches revisit the pulse width modulation (PWM) control strategies of the literature with simple considerations based on relaxation and extension of existing properties. The advantage of all these strategies is that they improve significantly the harmonic distortion rate of the voltages or currents supplied by the inverter for low synchronous switching frequencies. These observations have been done in simulation and validated on a low power experimental bench

Ce travail de recherche s'intéresse à la commande sans capteur mécanique du moteur synchrone à aimants permanents (MSAP) à pôles saillants, particulièrement en basse vitesse, avec détection de la position initiale du rotor. Après une présentation des techniques et approches qui ont initié nos travaux, en terme d'estimation de la vitesse et/ou de la position, nous avons choisi celles qui présentent plus d'intérêt de point de vue stabilité, robustesse, précision et simplicité d'implémentation. La première approche est basée sur le Système Adaptatif avec Modèle de Référence (MRAS). Quant à la deuxième, elle est réalisée autour d'un observateur non-linéaire pour l'estimation de la position et de la vitesse du MSAP à pôles saillants. Les deux techniques d'observation de la vitesse sont associées à une commande par orientation du flux rotorique avec la technique MLI vectorielle. Pour détecter la position initiale du rotor, nous avons utilisé une nouvelle approche qui permet d'estimer cette position avec une incertitude de 5° mécanique. Cette nouvelle approche est basée sur l'application de signaux tests aux bornes des phases statoriques du MSAP. Des résultats de simulation et expérimentaux sont présentés tout au long de ces travaux pour valider les études théoriques de la commande vectorielle sans capteur mécanique du MSAP. Enfin, nous avons étudié et analysé les performances de la commande tolérante aux défauts sans capteur mécanique du MSAP en présence de défaillances de types transistors à l'état-off. Les résultats expérimentaux obtenus avec les deux approches d'estimation de la vitesse en utilisant l'observateur MRAS et un observateur non linéaire ont permis d'améliorer la fiabilité du système de manière à rendre possible la commande vectorielle sans capteur mécanique en mode dégradé (alimentation avec deux bras de l'onduleur). En effet, les résultats de la commande sans capteur mécanique de la MSAP en mode dégradé montrent que l'observateur non linéaire est le mieux adapté pour ce type de fonctionnement car il présente de faible ondulation du couple et de vitesse. A l'aide d'un banc d'essais que nous avons développé au laboratoire LSIS-pôle Ecole Centrale de Marseille (ECM), nous avons pu valider expérimentalement les différentes approches proposées dans ce travail de recherche. Les résultats obtenus montrent l'efficacité des techniques mises en œuvre pour la commande vectorielle sans capteur mécanique du MSAP à pôle saillant en termes de robustesse, stabilité, précision et rapidité.

Cette thèse de doctorat s'inscrit dans un projet pour le développement du transport ferroviaire piloté par la société ALSTOM Transport. Il répond aux prévisions de quadruplement des déplacements interurbains et régionaux en France à l'horizon 2020 en respectant les contraintes environnementales très sévères, dont les normes restrictives du niveau de bruit émis par les trains. Une réduction importante du bruit émis par le moteur est donc nécessaire. Notre mission dans ce projet a été de développer un outil capable de prédire le bruit d'origine électromagnétique produit par les moteurs synchrones à aimants permanents, équipés d'un bobinage distribué ou concentré, et alimentés par des tensions MLI. Pour cela, un modèle multi-physique a été développé.Un couplage numérique - analytique a été mis en place pour calculer les forces magnétiques dans l'entrefer. La perméance globale d'entrefer et les inductances synchrones sont ainsi calculées grâce à des simulations éléments finis en statique, et très rapides. Un niveau de précision et de rapidité de résolution inégalé est obtenu pour le calcul des forces magnétiques. L'alimentation MLI, la perméabilité des clavettes, la saillance du rotor et l'asymétrie des dents du stator sont pris en compte. La rapidité de l'outil permet un couplage avec un superviseur d'optimisation. Deux prototypes ont été dimensionnés et fabriqués dans le but de valider le modèle multi-physique
This thesis is part of a project for the development of rail transportation piloted by ALSTOM TRANSPORT. It meets the forecasts of fourfold increase of the interurban and regional travels in France before 2020, by respecting very severe environmental requirements, among which the restrictive standards of noise level emitted by trains. An important reduction of the noise radiated by motors is required. Our mission in this project was to develop a tool capable of predicting the electromagnetic noise produced by permanent magnet synchronous motors equipped with distributed or concentrated windings, and fed by a PWM converter. For that purpose, a multi-physics model was developed.A numerical - analytical coupling was set up to calculate the airgap magnetic pressures. Global airgap permeance and synchronous inductances are thus calculated thanks to statics finite element simulations. An unequalled level of precision and speed of resolution is obtained for the computation of airgap magnetic pressures. The PWM supply, the wedge permeability, the rotor shape and the asymmetry of stator teeth are taken into account. The quickness of the resolution allows coupling our tool with an optimization supervisor. Two prototypes were designed and built in order to validate the multi-physics model

Abstract We describe a simulation environment that enables the development and testing of control policies for off-road mobility of autonomous agents. The environment is demonstrated in conjunction with the design and assessment of a reinforcement learning policy that uses sensor fusion and inter-agent communication to enable the movement of mixed convoys of human-driven and autonomous vehicles. Policies are learned on rigid terrain and are subsequently shown to transfer successfully to hard (silt-like) and soft (snow-like) deformable terrains. The enabling simulation environment is developed from the high fidelity, physics-based simulation engine Chrono. Five Chrono modules are employed herein: Chrono::Engine, Chrono::Vehicle, PyChrono, SynChrono and Chrono::Sensor. Vehicle’s are modeled using Chrono::Engine and Chrono::Vehicle and deployed on deformable terrain within the training/testing environment. Utilizing the Python interface to the C++ Chrono API called PyChrono and OpenAI Gym’s supporting infrastructure, training is conducted in a GymChrono learning environment. The GymChrono-generated policy is subsequently deployed for testing in SynChrono, a scalable, cluster-deployable multi-agent testing infrastructure built on MPI. SynChrono facilitates inter-agent communication and maintains time and space coherence between agents. A sensor modeling tool, Chrono::Sensor, supplies sensing data that is used to inform agents during the learning and inference processes. The software stack and the Chrono simulator are both open source. Relevant movies: [1].

Both the genes and cDNA sequences encoding the b-subunits of black carp LH and FSH were isolated, cloned and sequenced. Sequence analysis of the bcFSHb and LHb5'flanking regions revealed that the promoter region of both genes contains canonical TATA sequences, 30 bp and 17 bp upstream of the transcription start site of FSHb and LHb genes, respectively. In addition, they include several sequences of cis-acting motifs, required for inducible and tissue-specific transcriptional regulation: the gonadotropin-specific element (GSE), GnRH responsive element (GRE), half sites of estrogen and androgen response elements, cAMP response element, and AP1. Several methods have been employed by the Israeli team to purify the recombinant b subunits (EtOH precipitation, gel filtration and lentil lectin). While the final objective to produce pure recombinantGtH subunits has not yet been achieved, we have covered much ground towards this goal. The black carp ovary showed a gradual increase in both mass and oocyte diameter. First postvitellogenic oocytes were found in 5 yr old fish. At this age, the testes already contained spermatozoa. The circulating LH levels increased from 0.5 ng/ml in 4 yr old fish to >5ng/ml in 5 yr old fish. In vivo challenge experiments in black carp showed the initial LH response of the pituitary to GnRH in 4 yr old fish. The response was further augmented in 5 yr old fish. The increase in estradiol level in response to gonadotropic stimulation was first noted in 4 yr old fish but this response was much stronger in the following year. In vivo experiments on the FSHb and LHb mRNA levels in response to GnRH were carried out on common carp as a model for synchronom spawning cyprinids. These experiments showed the prevalence of FSHP in maturing fish while LHP mRNA was prevalent in mature fish, especially in females. The gonadal fat-pad was found to originate from the retroperitoneal mesoderm and not from the genital ridge, thus differing from that reported in certain amphibians This tissue possibly serves as the major source of sex steroids in the immature black carp. However, such a function is taken over by the developing gonads in 4 yr old fish. In the striped bass, we described the ontogeny of the neuro-endocrine parameters along the brain-pituitary-gonadal axis during the first four years of life, throughout gonadal development and the onset of puberty. We also described the responsiveness of the reproductive axis to long-term hormonal manipulations at various stages of gonadal development. Most males reached complete sexual maturity during the first year of life. Puberty was initiated during the third year of life in most females, but this first reproductive cycle did not lead to the acquisition of full sexual maturity. This finding indicates that more than one reproductive cycle may be required before adulthood is reached. Out of the three native GnRHs present in striped bass, only sbGnRH and cGnRH II increased concomitantly with the progress of gonadal development and the onset of puberty. This finding, together with data on GtH synthesis and release, suggests that while sbGnRH and cGnRH II may be involved in the regulation of puberty in striped bass, these neuropeptides are not limiting factors to the onset of puberty. Plasma LH levels remained low in all fish, suggesting that LH plays only a minor role in early gonadal development. This hypothesis was further supported by the finding that experimentally elevated plasma LH levels did not result in the induction of complete ovarian and testicular development. The acquisition of complete puberty in 4 yr old females was associated with a rise in the mRNA levels of all GtH subunit genes, including a 218-fold increase in the mRNA levels of bFSH. mRNA levels of the a and PLH subunits increased only 11- and 8-fold, respectively. Although data on plasma FSH levels are unavailable, the dramatic increase in bFSH mRNA suggests a pivotal role for this hormone in regulating the onset and completion of puberty in striped bass. The hormonal regulation of the onset of puberty and of GtH synthesis and release was studied by chronic administration of testosterone (T) and/or an analog of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (G). Sustained administration of T+G increased the mRNA levels of the PLH subunit to the values characteristic of sexually mature fish, and also increased the plasma levels of LH. However, these changes did not result in the acceleration of sexual maturation. The mRNA levels of the bFSH subunit were slightly stimulated, but remained about 1/10 of the values characteristic of sexually mature fish. It is concluded that the stimulation of FSH gene expression and release does not lead to the acceleration of sexual maturity, and that the failure to sufficiently stimulate the bFSH subunit gene expression may underlie the inability of the treatments to advance sexual maturity. Consequently, FSH is suggested to be the key hormone to the initiation and completion of puberty in striped bass. Future efforts to induce precocious puberty in striped bass should focus on understanding the regulation of FSH synthesis and release and on developing technologies to induce these processes. Definite formulation of hormonal manipulation to advance puberty in the striped bass and the black carp seems to be premature at this stage. However, the project has already yielded a great number of experimental tools of DNA technology, slow-release systems and endocrine information on the process of puberty. These systems and certain protocols have been already utilized successfully to advance maturation in other fish (e.g. grey mullet) and will form a base for further study on fish puberty.