Todo ser humano apresenta oscilações posturais aleatórias durante a postura ereta quieta advindas de mecanismos centrais e periféricos. Um toque suave (LT do inglês light touch) de um dos dedos sobre uma superfície fixa ao solo resulta em uma pista sensorial adicional, que promove uma diminuição das oscilações posturais. Entretanto, há necessidade de se obter maiores conhecimentos sobre mecanismos associados ao LT, tanto no que tange a aspectos sensoriais quanto motores associados ao fenômeno. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avançar no entendimento sobre a influência do LT sobre o comportamento de múltiplas variáveis extraídas durante a postura ereta quieta. O primeiro capítulo investigou quantificadores de oscilações posturais com base em medidas como o centro de pressão (CP), centro de massa (CM) e ângulos segmentares e corporais durante experimentos com condições em superfície estável e instável, com olhos abertos e olhos fechados, comparando as condições com e sem LT. Adicionalmente, foi analisada a coerência espectral entre sinais de eletromiograma de diferentes músculos do corpo e os quantificadores acima elencados nas diferentes condições. Os resultados mostraram que o LT diminui o nível de ativação de alguns músculos, principalmente o músculo gastrocnêmico medial, importante na manutenção do controle postural. A variabilidade dos ângulos segmentares e corporais, conjuntamente com variáveis extraídas do CP e do CM diminuíram em condições com LT. Na análise de coerência o LT promoveu algumas alterações nos padrões de oscilação entre ângulos, CP, CM e sinais de eletromiograma, porém com poucas modificações na fase entre os sinais. Na análise de coerência intermuscular, comparando pares de músculos do lado direito e esquerdo do corpo, observou-se que para os membros inferiores a coerência ocorre geralmente na faixa de 0 a 1-2 Hz (em fase), podendo aumentar a faixa de frequência em situações mais instáveis (sem visão e superfície instável), em que o LT passa a influenciar de maneira mais significativa a coerência entre os sinais. O segundo capítulo deste estudo foi motivado por estudos que mostraram ser possível manipular as entradas sensoriais geradas pelo dedo durante o LT. O presente estudo investigou se a retirada de uma entrada sensorial proprioceptiva associada ao dedo é capaz de alterar a oscilação postural, possibilitando a separação e quantificação da contribuição sensorial cutânea da contribuição proprioceptiva dos músculos do terceiro dedo. O controle postural foi avaliado com os sujeitos de olhos fechados e sobre uma superfície instável. Os resultados indicaram que a retirada da informação sensorial proprioceptiva do dedo diminuiu a variabilidade e a velocidade do CP, indicando que a informação cutânea sem a adição de interferências proprioceptivas pode diminuir as oscilações posturais / Human subjects during upright stance show random postural oscillations which are controlled by the central nervous system. A light touch of an index finger (LT) on a surface fixed to the ground results in an additional sensory cue, which promotes a decrease in postural oscillations. However, there is a need to improve the knowledge about mechanisms associated with LT, both with respect to sensory and motor aspects associated with the phenomenon. This study aimed to further the understanding of the influence of LT on the behavior of multiple variables measured during upright stance. The first chapter analyzed variations of some quantifiers of postural sway based on the center of pressure (CP), center of mass (CM) and joint and body angles during experiments with different surface and vision conditions, with and without LT. In addition, the spectral coherence was analyzed between electromyogram signals from different muscles of the body and the previously listed sway quantifiers. The results showed that LT decreases the level of activation of some muscles, particularly the medial gastrocnemius, an important muscle for the maintenance of posture. Segmental and body angle variability and variables extracted from the CP and CM decreased in conditions with LT. In coherence analysis LT promoted some changes in patterns of oscillation between angles, CP, CM and EMGs, but with few modifications in the phase between the signals. The intermuscular coherence analysis (comparing the right and left muscles pairs of the body) showed that significant changes usually occured in the range of 0 to 1-2 Hz (in phase) for the lower limbs and may increase the frequency range in unstable situations (without vision and unstable surface). In these cases LT starts to affect more significantly the coherence between signals. The second chapter of this study was motivated by results from studies that have shown that it is possible to manipulate the sensory inputs generated by the finger during LT. This study investigated whether the withdrawal of a finger proprioceptive input affects postural sway, allowing an analysis of the effects of cutaneous sensory inputs of the third finger muscles. Postural control was evaluated with the subjects with the eyes closed and on an unstable surface. The results showed that removal of proprioceptive information from the finger flexor muscles decreased the variability and speed of the CP, indicating that cutaneous inputs without proprioceptive information may decrease postural sway

Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) is a serious sleep disordered affecting up to 24% of men and 9% of woman in the middle aged population. The current standard for the OSAHS diagnosis is Polysomnography (PSG), which refers to the continuous monitoring of multiple physiological variables over the course of a night. The main outcomes of the PSG test are the OSAHS severity measures, such as the Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI), Arousal Index, Latencies and other information to determine the macro sleep architecture (MSA), which is defined by Wake, Rapid-eye-movement (REM) and non-REM states of sleep. The MSA results are essential for computing the diagnostic measures reported in a PSG. The existing methods of the MSA analysis require the recording of 5-7 electrophysiological signals, including the Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electroculogram (EOG), and the Electromyogram (EMG). Sleep clinicians have to depend on the manual scoring of the overnight data records using the criteria given by Rechtschaffen and Kales (R&K, 1968). The manual analysis of MSA is tedious, subjective and suffers from inter- and intra-scorer variability. Additionally, the RDI and the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) parameters although used as the primary measures of the OSAHS severity, suffers from subjectivity, low reproducibility and a poor correlation with the symptoms of OSAHS. Sleep is essentially a neuropsychological phenomenon, and the EEG remains the best technique for the functional imaging of the brain during sleep. The EEG is the direct result of the neuronal activity of the brain. However, despite the potential, the wealth of information available in the EEG signal remains virtually untapped in current OSAHS diagnosis. Although the EEG is extensively used in traditional sleep analysis, its usage is mainly limited to staging sleep, based on the four-decade old R&K criteria. This thesis addresses these issues plaguing the PSG. We develop a novel, fully-automated algorithm (Higher-order Estimated Sleep States, HESS-algorithm) for the MSA analysis, which requires only one channel of the EEG data. We also develop an objective MSA analysis technique that uses a single, one-dimensional slice of the Bispectrum of the EEG, representing a nonlinear transformation of a system function that can be considered as the EEG generator. The agreement between the human and the proposed technology was found to be in the range of 70%-87%, which are similar to those, possible between expert human scorers. The ability of the HESS algorithm to compute the MSA parameters reliably and objectively will make a dramatic impact on the diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS and other sleep diseases, such as insomnia. The proposed technology uses low-computation-load Bispectrum techniques independent of R&K Criteria (1968) making real-time automated analysis a reality. In the thesis we also propose a new index (the IHSI) to characterise the severity of sleep apnea. The new index is based on the hemispherical asymmetry of the brain and is computed from the EEG coherence analysis. We achieved a significant (p=0.0001) accuracy of up to 91% in classifying patients into apneic and non-apneic group. Our statistical analysis results show that the IHSI carries potential for providing us with a reproducible measure to assist in diagnosing of OSAHS. With the proposed methods in this thesis it may be possible to develop the technology that will not only attempt to screen the OSAHS patients but will be able to provide OSAHS diagnosis with detailed sleep architecture via home based test. These technologies will simplify the instrumentation dramatically and will make possible to extend EEG/MSA analysis to portable systems as well.

Todo ser humano apresenta oscilações posturais aleatórias durante a postura ereta quieta advindas de mecanismos centrais e periféricos. Um toque suave (LT do inglês light touch) de um dos dedos sobre uma superfície fixa ao solo resulta em uma pista sensorial adicional, que promove uma diminuição das oscilações posturais. Entretanto, há necessidade de se obter maiores conhecimentos sobre mecanismos associados ao LT, tanto no que tange a aspectos sensoriais quanto motores associados ao fenômeno. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avançar no entendimento sobre a influência do LT sobre o comportamento de múltiplas variáveis extraídas durante a postura ereta quieta. O primeiro capítulo investigou quantificadores de oscilações posturais com base em medidas como o centro de pressão (CP), centro de massa (CM) e ângulos segmentares e corporais durante experimentos com condições em superfície estável e instável, com olhos abertos e olhos fechados, comparando as condições com e sem LT. Adicionalmente, foi analisada a coerência espectral entre sinais de eletromiograma de diferentes músculos do corpo e os quantificadores acima elencados nas diferentes condições. Os resultados mostraram que o LT diminui o nível de ativação de alguns músculos, principalmente o músculo gastrocnêmico medial, importante na manutenção do controle postural. A variabilidade dos ângulos segmentares e corporais, conjuntamente com variáveis extraídas do CP e do CM diminuíram em condições com LT. Na análise de coerência o LT promoveu algumas alterações nos padrões de oscilação entre ângulos, CP, CM e sinais de eletromiograma, porém com poucas modificações na fase entre os sinais. Na análise de coerência intermuscular, comparando pares de músculos do lado direito e esquerdo do corpo, observou-se que para os membros inferiores a coerência ocorre geralmente na faixa de 0 a 1-2 Hz (em fase), podendo aumentar a faixa de frequência em situações mais instáveis (sem visão e superfície instável), em que o LT passa a influenciar de maneira mais significativa a coerência entre os sinais. O segundo capítulo deste estudo foi motivado por estudos que mostraram ser possível manipular as entradas sensoriais geradas pelo dedo durante o LT. O presente estudo investigou se a retirada de uma entrada sensorial proprioceptiva associada ao dedo é capaz de alterar a oscilação postural, possibilitando a separação e quantificação da contribuição sensorial cutânea da contribuição proprioceptiva dos músculos do terceiro dedo. O controle postural foi avaliado com os sujeitos de olhos fechados e sobre uma superfície instável. Os resultados indicaram que a retirada da informação sensorial proprioceptiva do dedo diminuiu a variabilidade e a velocidade do CP, indicando que a informação cutânea sem a adição de interferências proprioceptivas pode diminuir as oscilações posturais / Human subjects during upright stance show random postural oscillations which are controlled by the central nervous system. A light touch of an index finger (LT) on a surface fixed to the ground results in an additional sensory cue, which promotes a decrease in postural oscillations. However, there is a need to improve the knowledge about mechanisms associated with LT, both with respect to sensory and motor aspects associated with the phenomenon. This study aimed to further the understanding of the influence of LT on the behavior of multiple variables measured during upright stance. The first chapter analyzed variations of some quantifiers of postural sway based on the center of pressure (CP), center of mass (CM) and joint and body angles during experiments with different surface and vision conditions, with and without LT. In addition, the spectral coherence was analyzed between electromyogram signals from different muscles of the body and the previously listed sway quantifiers. The results showed that LT decreases the level of activation of some muscles, particularly the medial gastrocnemius, an important muscle for the maintenance of posture. Segmental and body angle variability and variables extracted from the CP and CM decreased in conditions with LT. In coherence analysis LT promoted some changes in patterns of oscillation between angles, CP, CM and EMGs, but with few modifications in the phase between the signals. The intermuscular coherence analysis (comparing the right and left muscles pairs of the body) showed that significant changes usually occured in the range of 0 to 1-2 Hz (in phase) for the lower limbs and may increase the frequency range in unstable situations (without vision and unstable surface). In these cases LT starts to affect more significantly the coherence between signals. The second chapter of this study was motivated by results from studies that have shown that it is possible to manipulate the sensory inputs generated by the finger during LT. This study investigated whether the withdrawal of a finger proprioceptive input affects postural sway, allowing an analysis of the effects of cutaneous sensory inputs of the third finger muscles. Postural control was evaluated with the subjects with the eyes closed and on an unstable surface. The results showed that removal of proprioceptive information from the finger flexor muscles decreased the variability and speed of the CP, indicating that cutaneous inputs without proprioceptive information may decrease postural sway

Climate change and extreme weather events have impacted global forest ecosystems’ ability to sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide. In this study, the temporal and spatial dynamics of soil CO2 efflux or soil respiration (Rs) was measured in a temperate coniferous (TP74) and a deciduous forest (TPD) over a six-year period (2014 to 2019). Analysis of Rs trends showed a strong positive correlation with soil temperature (Ts) and soil moisture (SM) at TPD and TP74 causing large pulses of Rs. The average annual temperature sensitivity (Q10) was found to be 2.06 for TPD and 1.87 for TP74. Coherence analysis for both sites from 2017 to 2019 showed that in extreme weather events, TP74’s carbon pool was less stable than that of TPD. Dynamics of Rs at both forest sites was further analyzed using thirteen different Rs models (e.g. Ts only, SM only, Ts and SM models, neural network) to evaluate their performance in simulating observed patterns of soil CO2 effluxes. As compared to other models, the Gaussian – Gamma model consistently reproduced observed dynamics of Rs where on average 70% of variability in Rs was explained. This study showed that Ts and SM are key determinants of Rs in both forests. Models that incorporate the influence of SM on Rs and were able to better simulate Rs dynamics as compared to Ts only models. Results also suggest that coherence analysis can be utilized to understand temporal variations in Rs. The knowledge of environmental drivers of Rs can be used to determine the impact of climate change and extreme weather events on Rs and assist in developing ecosystem models. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The human jaw, like all other articulated body parts, exhibits small oscillatory movements during isometric holding tasks. These movements, known as physiological tremor, arise as a consequence of the interaction of various factors. One of these factors is reflex feedback from peripheral receptors. In the human jaw, receptors that innervate the periodontium are able to transduce minute changes in force. This thesis examines the contribution of these periodontal mechanoreceptors (PMRs) to the genesis of physiological tremor of the human jaw. By using frequency domain analysis of time series recorded during isometric biting tasks, the character of physiological jaw tremor can be revealed. Physiological jaw tremor was observed in force recorded from between the teeth as well as from electromyograms recorded from the principal muscles of mastication. These recordings have shown us that jaw physiological tremor consists of a frequency invariant component between 6 and 10Hz. This frequency remains unaltered under various load conditions where the mechanical resonance of the jaw would be expected to vary greatly (Chapter 2). Such findings indicate a ‘neurogenic’ origin for this tremor. A possible candidate for this neurogenic component of physiological tremor in the jaw is the reflex feedback arising from the PMRs. Using local anaesthetisation, it has been shown in this thesis, that by blocking outflow from the PMRs, the amplitude of neurogenic physiological jaw tremor can be reduced dramatically. This procedure caused a dramatic reduction in not only the mechanical recordings of tremor but also in the coupling between masseteric muscles bilaterally (Chapter 3) and between single motor units recorded from within a homonymous muscle (Chapter 4). The obvious mechanism by which periodontal mechanoreceptor anaesthetisation could reduce the amplitude of physiological tremor in the jaw would be by reducing the amplitude of the oscillatory input to the motoneurones driving the tremor. This interpretation remains controversial however as physiological tremor in the jaw can be observed at force levels above which the PMRs are supposedly saturated in their response. In light of this knowledge, the saturating characteristics of these receptors in terms of reflex output were examined. To do this, a novel stimulation paradigm was devised whereby the incisal teeth were mechanically stimulated with identical stimulus waveforms superimposed upon increasing tooth preloads. This necessitated the use of a frequency response method to quantify the reflexes. An optimal frequency for stimulation was identified and used to confirm that the hyperbolic saturating response of PMRs observed previously, translated to a similar phenomenon in masticatory reflexes (Chapter 5). These data reinforced the idea that physiological tremor in the jaw was not just a consequence of rhythmic reflex input from PMRs, as the dynamic reflex response uncoupled from the input as the receptor-mediated reflex response saturated. An alternative hypothesis was then developed that suggested the effect of PMR suppression in physiological tremor was via tonic rather than rhythmic effects on the masseteric motoneurone pool. By utilising a novel contraction strategy to manipulate the mean firing rate of the motor neuron pool at a given level of force production, data contained in Chapter 6 shows that population motor unit firing statistics influence the expression of physiological tremor, and such manipulations mimic, to an extent, the changes in firing statistics and tremor amplitude seen during anaesthetisation of the PMRs. This thesis therefore posits a mechanism whereby periodontal input influences the firing rate of motoneurones in such a way as to promote tremulous activity (Chapter 5). However, as this proposed mechanism did not explain the full extent of tremor suppression seen during PMR anaesthetisation it can therefore only be considered a contributing factor in a multifactor process. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1297555 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2007

The human jaw, like all other articulated body parts, exhibits small oscillatory movements during isometric holding tasks. These movements, known as physiological tremor, arise as a consequence of the interaction of various factors. One of these factors is reflex feedback from peripheral receptors. In the human jaw, receptors that innervate the periodontium are able to transduce minute changes in force. This thesis examines the contribution of these periodontal mechanoreceptors (PMRs) to the genesis of physiological tremor of the human jaw. By using frequency domain analysis of time series recorded during isometric biting tasks, the character of physiological jaw tremor can be revealed. Physiological jaw tremor was observed in force recorded from between the teeth as well as from electromyograms recorded from the principal muscles of mastication. These recordings have shown us that jaw physiological tremor consists of a frequency invariant component between 6 and 10Hz. This frequency remains unaltered under various load conditions where the mechanical resonance of the jaw would be expected to vary greatly (Chapter 2). Such findings indicate a ‘neurogenic’ origin for this tremor. A possible candidate for this neurogenic component of physiological tremor in the jaw is the reflex feedback arising from the PMRs. Using local anaesthetisation, it has been shown in this thesis, that by blocking outflow from the PMRs, the amplitude of neurogenic physiological jaw tremor can be reduced dramatically. This procedure caused a dramatic reduction in not only the mechanical recordings of tremor but also in the coupling between masseteric muscles bilaterally (Chapter 3) and between single motor units recorded from within a homonymous muscle (Chapter 4). The obvious mechanism by which periodontal mechanoreceptor anaesthetisation could reduce the amplitude of physiological tremor in the jaw would be by reducing the amplitude of the oscillatory input to the motoneurones driving the tremor. This interpretation remains controversial however as physiological tremor in the jaw can be observed at force levels above which the PMRs are supposedly saturated in their response. In light of this knowledge, the saturating characteristics of these receptors in terms of reflex output were examined. To do this, a novel stimulation paradigm was devised whereby the incisal teeth were mechanically stimulated with identical stimulus waveforms superimposed upon increasing tooth preloads. This necessitated the use of a frequency response method to quantify the reflexes. An optimal frequency for stimulation was identified and used to confirm that the hyperbolic saturating response of PMRs observed previously, translated to a similar phenomenon in masticatory reflexes (Chapter 5). These data reinforced the idea that physiological tremor in the jaw was not just a consequence of rhythmic reflex input from PMRs, as the dynamic reflex response uncoupled from the input as the receptor-mediated reflex response saturated. An alternative hypothesis was then developed that suggested the effect of PMR suppression in physiological tremor was via tonic rather than rhythmic effects on the masseteric motoneurone pool. By utilising a novel contraction strategy to manipulate the mean firing rate of the motor neuron pool at a given level of force production, data contained in Chapter 6 shows that population motor unit firing statistics influence the expression of physiological tremor, and such manipulations mimic, to an extent, the changes in firing statistics and tremor amplitude seen during anaesthetisation of the PMRs. This thesis therefore posits a mechanism whereby periodontal input influences the firing rate of motoneurones in such a way as to promote tremulous activity (Chapter 5). However, as this proposed mechanism did not explain the full extent of tremor suppression seen during PMR anaesthetisation it can therefore only be considered a contributing factor in a multifactor process. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1297555 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, 2007

This thesis by article contains three chapters. The first chapter provides an overview of recent developments in global refugee education policy to situate Refugee Education 2030, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ current international refugee education strategy, within global policy initiatives. It then reviews the literature on refugee education policy that informed the development of a methodology of vertical policy coherence analysis with Refugee Education 2030 to answer the research questions of the thesis. Finally, it addresses my researcher positionality and journey leading to the thesis. The second chapter contains the manuscript for an article. The purpose of the article is to analyze the vertical coherence of Canadian policy regimes towards the primary and secondary education of refugee children and youth with Refugee Education 2030. The article presents a theoretical framework for policy coherence analysis that combines policy coherence theory, policy attributes theory, and policy behaviour theory, as well as a tri-phasic methodology for vertical policy coherence analysis with an international framework designed to be adapted to different contexts to guide the development of country-specific education policies. The theoretical framework and methodology are applied to determine the categories of needs underpinning Enabling Activities of a Strategic Objective of Refugee Education 2030, to assess these needs as presented by refugee children and youth in Canada, and to analyze the coherence of Canadian education policy responses to these needs with Refugee Education 2030. The findings indicate that there are five categories of needs inherent in the Enabling Activities of the selected Strategic Objective, specifically access to education, accelerated education, language education, mental health and psychosocial support, and special education; that all of these categories of needs are present in refugee claimant and/or refugee children and youth in all of Canada’s educational jurisdictions; and that there are significant gaps in policy responses to these needs. Taken together, the findings permitted a discussion on priorities for the revision and development of refugee education policy across Canadian jurisdictions to ensure greater coherence with Refugee Education 2030. The third chapter summarizes the findings of the contextualized analysis of the vertical coherence of Canadian refugee education policy regimes with Refugee Education 2030. Additional findings that could not be incorporated in the article due to the manuscript submission guidelines Schutte iv of the intended journal of publication are then presented and discussed. The thesis concludes with reflections on my research journey.

Oil palm has flourished as an economically vital crop in Indonesia given its use in both food and non-food products (including biodiesel) for domestic and export markets. However, the expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia is controversial. While the crop generates fiscal earnings for the country, and regular income streams for farmers and companies, oil palm plantation expansion is claimed to cause deforestation, environmental degradation and biodiversity losses. At the same time, there is a national target to reduce GHG emissions from land use change and the production of palm oil. Climate change mitigation goals also include ambitious targets to blend biodiesel with fossil diesel in various economic sectors. This thesis looks at the palm oil agro-industry, from oil palm plantation to crude palm oil (CPO) production, and CPO based biodiesel production. It proposes a policy evaluation to verify policy implications in relation to the issue of land use allocation, and the poor profitability in palm oil biodiesel production. The overarching objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of prevailing policies used to promote the palm oil agro-industry for biodiesel production in Indonesia. The thesis is framed by policy research and ex-post policy evaluation. The focus is on the process of policy formulation and implementation, rather than outcome evaluation. Two specific analytical frameworks are used to answer the research questions while addressing the criteria of effectiveness in policy evaluation: (i) policy coherence analysis and (ii) life cycle cost analysis. Qualitative indicators are used to measure the coherence of biofuel policy with other sectoral policies (agriculture, climate and forestry) in relation to land allocation. Quantitative economic indicators are used to compare the costs and benefits of conventional palm oil biodiesel production with a biorefinery conceptual plant. There are valuable lessons to be learnt from this policy evaluation. The results indicate areas in which policy effectiveness can be improved. For land allocation, adjustments and improvements in policy formulation and implementation are crucial. Uncertainties when it comes to the allocation of land to meet multi sectoral policy goals are to be addressed by clarifying land use definitions and categories, which should be backed up by consistent land use definitions in various policy documents. The dual land classification presently applied should move towards a single land classification, linking actual landscape coverage and the legal status of the land. Policy information and guidance across sectoral policies should be compiled in a single database. Such a publicly available database would help enhance the efficiency of land allocation for multiple policy purposes. More importantly, the formulation of biodiesel policy has to engage various sectoral policies that compete for the same resources. The biorefinery conceptual plant allows the reduction of government subsidies, while also providing a pathway to enhance the use of renewable energy and reduce GHG emissions. Policies have been designed to enhance plant profits through the improved utilisation of biomass residues in the palm oil mill for energy generation and composting. However, the low implementation rate of policies indicates the need to improve the effectiveness of policy implementation, and therefore the need for better monitoring processes, and possibly more stringent consequences for non-compliance. / <p>QC 20180223</p>