Introduction Social and emotional functions play a key role in schizophrenia. Both positive symptoms, such as hallucinations and persecutory delusions, as well as negative symptoms such as social withdrawal, and flattened affect impact socioemotional function. These functions involve distributed brain networks. The ‘Disconnection Hypothesis’, a plausible unifying theory of schizophrenia, proposes connectivity within such networks as a core pathological feature of schizophrenia. Connectivity is also related to specific genetic risk factors. Therefore the present project addresses the hypothesis that individuals with schizophrenia might show disconnection within socio-emotional brain networks, and examines the effects of a functional polymorphism of the BDNF gene on connectivity within these networks. Methods Here I examined the brain activation and connectivity for implicit emotional reaction and social judgment in schizophrenia, as well as with variation in the val66met polymorphism of BDNF. Brain activation was examined with functional magnetic resonance imaging, and effective connectivity was estimated using psycho-physiological interactions, from the bilateral amygdala to the whole brain (using a facial image paradigm for explicit approachability judgement and implicit fear response respectively). Results Individuals with schizophrenia showed reduced activation in the right lingual gyrus, right superior temporal gyrus and left amygdala during fear processing, as well as reduced connectivity from the left amygdala to the right temporo-parietal junction and precuneus. During approachability judgments, patients overactivated the right inferior frontal gyrus and right precuneus and showed reduced connectivity from the bilateral amygdala to the right inferior frontal gyrus. Met allele carriers of the BDNF val66met polymorphism showed overactivation in the medial anterior cingulate cortex, and bilateral insula, as well as reduced connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex and hippocampus. For approachability judgment, met carriers overactivated the middle occipital gyrus, and showed reduced connectivity from the left amygdala to the right parahippocampal gyrus and medial frontal gyrus, as well as the left posterior cingulate gyrus, pre and post central gyrus, middle temporal gyrus and cerebellum. Conclusion In conclusion, connectivity between the amygdala and brain regions associated with a range of socially relevant functions were found to be reduced in both patients, and met allele carriers of the BDNF val66met SNP. Given the key role of the amygdala in affective processing this diffuse disconnection in networks for socio-emotional functions might mediate the aberrant emotional and social behavior seen in individuals with schizophrenia.

Create a place for learning Develop an interior system that addresses the under utilized spaces in existing higher education schools directed towards distance learning Design a place for one and a place for few, within a place for many Traditional classroom/school environments were developed around a specific program that addresses the needs of a teacher-class environment. Distance learning programs are introducing a new approach to higher education and require a new approach to learning environments. The goal of this project is to understand the development of the traditional classroom environment in order to assess the changes that need to be made in order to design a space that addresses the needs of a new learning environment. The study of the technical challenges, as well as the flow and circulation of distance learning classrooms will create a platform for change. Efficiency and effectiveness are the key ideas in developing this new program. Classrooms that are used for a variety of purposes need to be considered in a new way. By studying the daily functions of these new learning environments we will find ways to re-invent existing spaces that can adapt to the students, their needs, and the financial benefits for the administration that take advantage of the available resources.

Various topics on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analyses have been in study through the last 30 years. This work delineates the pathways required for resting-state functional connectivity analyses, which illuminates the correlations between different rat brain regions and can be presented in a functional connectivity matrix. The matrix is built based on the category nomenclature system of Swanson Rat Atlas 1998. From which a structural connectivity matrix is also built. This work developed the complete functional connectivity counterpart to the physical connections and explored the relationships between the functional and structural connectivity matrices. The functional connectivity matrices developed in this work map the entire rat brain. The results demonstrate that where structural connectivities exist, functional connectivities exist as well. The methodologies used to create the functional and structural analyses were completely independent.

This study developed new concepts and interpretative methods for mapping reservoir heterogeneity and connectivity of a fault controlled Wilcox clastic reservoir in Texas, USA. The application of high-resolution seismic enhancement in this study allows for better delineation of subsurface geologic features, detailed mapping of reservoir heterogeneities and more accurate identification of depositional, structural, and stratigraphic characteristics that control reservoir connectivity and fluid flow. Seismic enhancement in this study pertains to amplitude preserving neural network implementation of the Volterra integral equation of the first kind from a plane-wave solution of poro-viscoelasticity (Sun, et al., 2003). This enhancement amounts to an advanced spiked deconvolution of post-stack seismic data that broadened the dominant seismic frequency from 16Hz for the conventional seismic to 65Hz for the enhanced seismic. Bed resolution is improved from 175ft to 45ft and fault offset resolution is improved from 80ft to 20ft. High-resolution seismic interpretation was validated through synthetic seismograms, stratigraphic surface comparisons, and most importantly using a comprehensive model-based knowledge of regional tectonics and depositional environments. Stratigraphic features that were not resolvable in conventional seismic data can now be interpreted using the enhanced seismic data. An Upper Wilcox reservoir was identified as a transgressive sheet sand overlaying a progradational deltaic seismic facies. An Upper Middle Wilcox reservoir was identified as a probable lobate gravity flow, and a Middle Wilcox reservoir was identified as a transgressive sheet sand with over and underlying progradational deltaic seismic facies. Geobody extraction from seismic inversion volumes delineates reservoir compartments and flow units. Reservoir connectivity analysis performed on the Middle Wilcox reservoir determined the probable drainage area for a producing well by comparing estimates of compartmentalized hydrocarbon volumes with production information. The methodology developed could help extract connected geobodies defined by sand, porosity, permeability, and hydrocarbon indicators, to map in detail the internal structure of produced reservoir and to locate new development prospects. Enhanced seismic may thus enable us to find bypassed hydrocarbons and to provide better methods for improving recovery in the studied and other mature fields.

Connectivity is considered one of the fundamental aspects that influences the rate of mass movement in the landscape. The connectivity aspect has been acknowledged from various conceptual geomorphic frameworks. None of these provided a developmental methodology for studying the connectivity of geomorphic systems, especially at the scale of the fluvial system. The emphasis in this research is placed on defining variables of the geomorphic systems that influence the connectivity potential of these systems. The landscape gradient, which is extracted from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and the surface roughness, which is extracted from radar images, are used to analyze the connectivity potential of geomorphic systems in the landscape. Integration of these variables produces a connectivity potential index of the various geomorphic systems that compose the fluvial system. High values of the connectivity potential index indicate high potential of the geomorphic system to transport mass whereas the low values indicate low potential of the geomorphic system to transport mass in the landscape. Using the mean values of the connectivity potential index, the geomorphic systems in the landscape can be classified into geomorphic systems of low connectivity potential, geomorphic systems of intermediate connectivity potential and geomorphic systems of high connectivity potential. In addition to the determination of the relative connectivity potential of various geomorphic systems, the connectivity potential index is used to analyze the system-wide connectivity. The ratios between the connectivity potential index of the upstream geomorphic systems and the connectivity potential index of the downstream geomorphic systems define system-wide connectivity in the landscape. High ratios reflect the high potential of the upstream geomorphic systems to transport mass in the downstream direction. Low ratios indicate the influence of the downstream geomorphic systems in maximizing mass movement in the upstream geomorphic systems. The presence of high and low ratios suggests the presence of a high system-wide connectivity. As the ratio approaches unity, mass movement is minimized in the landscape indicating low system-wide connectivity. Applying the above approach to Estufa Canyon, Texas, illustrated that Estufa Canyon is a dynamic fluvial system with high system-wide connectivity.

Wireless sensor network consists of a large number of sensors, which are capable of sensing, communication and data processing. In wireless sensor network, predictable or unpredictable death of sensor nodes may cause coverage and connectivity problems of the original network. In order to compensate the loss of coverage and connectivity, we propose a region-based movement scheme that divides the neighboring sensors of the dead sensor into a number of regions. The neighboring sensors are moved to repair the regions respectively by using the least mobility distance, and their existing coverage and connectivity are not jeopardized. Our work has better performance of maintaining coverage and connectivity of the network. By the results, our work can decrease the average mobility distance and coverage deterioration substantially.

Like many cities in the western United States, Tucson, Arizona, was developed on a geometrically determined grid system, with streets aligned with a preset north-south/east-west alignment that paid little heed to the area's natural features and topography. Through necessity, certain watercourses were maintained to help deal with the occasional and sometimes severe flood waters that converge upon the area - however, these features were hidden within, or in some cases under, the urban matrix. This study seeks to examine how secondary watercourses can be partnered with other open space features to create a regional greenway system that connects desirable destinations throughout the city. Special focus is placed upon identification of public open spaces and amenities as destinations. Through the integration of destination-based design, greenway experiences become more rewarding and thus more valuable to the user, motivating preservation of these corridors which would ultimately benefit both the community and the natural environment.

This thesis research examined the implementation of the Ktunaxa Nation network and explored its ongoing use and development. The Ktunaxa Nation is comprised of four Aboriginal communities in south-eastern British Columbia, Canada. The Nation established internet infrastructure throughout the communities primarily to enable the dissemination of the Ktunaxa language of which there are only 24 speakers remaining. The purpose of this research was to examine the various uses of the Ktunaxa internet network related to land and language, at both a community and organizational level. Methods included Nvivo-based content analysis and restorying which enables a number of individual experiences to be refashioned into one comprehensive set of events. Final recommendations are provided.

This thesis research examined the implementation of the Ktunaxa Nation network and explored its ongoing use and development. The Ktunaxa Nation is comprised of four Aboriginal communities in south-eastern British Columbia, Canada. The Nation established internet infrastructure throughout the communities primarily to enable the dissemination of the Ktunaxa language of which there are only 24 speakers remaining. The purpose of this research was to examine the various uses of the Ktunaxa internet network related to land and language, at both a community and organizational level. Methods included Nvivo-based content analysis and restorying which enables a number of individual experiences to be refashioned into one comprehensive set of events. Final recommendations are provided.

Maturation of motor control, including movements that can be autonomously generated by spinal circuits, relies on the development of key inputs to spinal circuitry. In particular, the development of supraspinal, sensory and motor fibers come together to form organized spinal circuits capable of producing skilled movements that are volitionally controlled. Primitive reflexes such as the palmar grasp reflex (PGR) are known to disappear during development; presumably giving way to more volitional control of hand grasping. However, the underlying changes to the spinal circuitry responsible for this transition remain to be determined. dI3 INs, a class of dorsal spinal interneurons, have positioned themselves as key mediators of reflexive grasping in early development and grasping in adult mice. The first aim of the study focused on determining the developmental time point at which the PGR disappeared. Our studies demonstrated that the PGR was lost by the third week of development. The second aim of this study focused on identifying changes in sensory innervation, presynaptic inhibition and supraspinal excitation to dI3 INs that might account for the loss of this reflex. Our studies demonstrated that while sensory innervation remained constant during development, presynaptic inhibitory terminals onto sensory afferents were found to increase during development. In addition, we report that dI3 INs receive decreasing corticospinal (CST) input during development. While these developmental changes do not fully account for the disappearance of the PGR, they provide valuable insights into how a reflex centered on a particular population develops.