<p>Knowledge of the leftventricular (LV) pressure-volume relation, along withparameters derived from this relation, have led to newpossibilities for the characterisation of cardiac pumpfunction, in both experimental studies and clinicalsettings.</p><p>The pressure-volume diagram is apowerful tool for visualising LV performance, but in order tobe clinically useful it is necessary to make plots continuouslyand on-line. The conductance catheter technique offers thispossibility. The conductance catheter system has experiencedgrowing interest among cardiologists, physiologists, surgeons,and anaesthesiologists around the world as a powerful newresearch tool, but the invasiveness of this technique has beena limiting factor for most clinical applications. The catheterneeds to be thinner and softer in order to make this techniquemore suitable for human use.</p><p>This thesis reports of a newthin and soft conductance catheter for continuously and on-linemeasurements of LV pressure and volume.</p><p>One way to reduce both cathetersize and stiffness is to decrease the number of electrodes onthe catheter. Theoretical calculations shown in this thesisproves that it is possible to obtain the same performance witha single segment catheter as with a five-segment catheter. Thethin catheter has been tested and compared to a commercialfive-segment conductance catheter in animal studies.</p><p>We conclude that the thin singlesegment conductance catheter can measure left ventricularvolume and pessure. The regression coefficient between the twomethods is good independent of loading condition and duringbaseline conditions the catheters produce very similar volumecurves. During preload reduction the estimated volume reductionis different in the two systems.</p><p>Our thin catheter does notdisturb the heart's normal electrophysiology, neither by thecatheter current nor by any mechanical stimuli. The resultsdemonstrates that our thin, soft, single segment conductancecatheter has performance characteristics which warrant furtherdevelopment, with the goal to make the method available forhuman use.</p>

Research has documented a tendency among youth to have biased interpretations of ambiguous information. For example, anxious youth are more likely to interpret ambiguous situations as negative or threatening (e.g., Cannon & Weems, 2010). Similarly, when interpreting social cues, aggressive youth exhibit hostile attribution biases more often than non-aggressive youth in response to ambiguous situations (e.g., Crick & Dodge, 1996). Research suggests that youth with anxiety and aggression exhibit differential physiological reactivity in response to threat. However, research has yet to examine the linkages amongst physiological reactivity to ambiguous situations, anxiety, and aggression in adolescents. The current study had several interrelated aims. Youths’ physiological responding (i.e., heart rate and skin conductance) to a series of animated vignettes depicting ambiguous social situations was examined. Anxiety, aggression, and hostile attributional bias (HAB) were also tested as predictors of differential physiological responding to the vignettes, as well as the interrelations between anxiety and HAB and aggression and HAB. Eighty youth completed a physiological assessment in which they viewed a series of hypothetical situational vignettes while their heart rate and skin conductance were measured. Participants also completed questionnaires measuring symptoms of anxiety, aggression, and HAB. Results indicated that there was differential physiological responding to the vignettes such that participants’ heart rates showed a pattern of deceleration followed by acceleration across time. Physiological responses were predicted by HAB such that those with high HAB had higher heart rates and exhibited more pronounced deceleration and acceleration across time than those with low HAB. There was support for anxiety as a significant predictor of responses among those participants with higher levels of HAB such that heart rates remained elevated with very little deceleration across time, suggesting a pattern of physiological hyperarousal and blunted reactivity. However, aggression did not predict differential physiological responding to the ambiguous vignettes, nor did HAB moderate the association between aggression and physiological responding. These findings add to the literature by contributing to knowledge about physiological responding to ambiguous situations and associations between this link with anxiety, aggression, and HAB.

Filmes de Langmuir de fosfolipídios e ácidos graxos foram caracterizados através de medidas de pressão e potencial de superfície e condutância lateral. O objetivo principal foi o de se fazer um estudo crítico de artigos apresentados na literatura, os quais trazem interpretações errôneas para resultados do potencial de superfície, sugerem a heterogeneidade dos filmes, ou a inexistência do aumento da condutância devido a compressão de um filme de Langmuir. Comprovamos, inicialmente, a homogeneidade macroscópica dos filmes de ácidos graxos e fosfolipídios, medindo-se o potencial com a prova de Kelvin em três posições diferentes. Nenhuma alteração significativa foi registrada. O potencial e a pressão de superfície são nulos para grandes áreas por molécula, sendo que o potencial só se torna não nulo após um aumento abrupto, que ocorre a uma certa área critica. Estes resultados, juntamente com a ausência de histerese nas medidas de pressão e potencial de superfície nos ciclos de compressão-expansão, denotam a inexistência de agregados de dimensões macroscópicas. Eles contradizem, entretanto, a asserção de alguns pesquisadores na ultima conferencia de filmes Langmuir-Blodgett, de que a presença de domínios microscópicos nos filmes de Langmuir deveria afetar os resultados do potencial de superfície. Podemos concluir, portanto, que quaisquer irreprodutibilidades do potencial de superfície para grandes áreas por molécula devem ser atribuídas a impurezas do sistema de medidas, principalmente da subfase. As medidas de condutância foram realizadas diretamente, medindo-se a corrente entre dois eletrodos de platina parcialmente imersos na subfase. Para grandes áreas por molécula, a condutância medida é devido a condutividade de volume da água ultrapura, mas quando o filme e comprimido para áreas menores do que uma certa área critica (a mesma na qual e observado o aumento abrupto do potencial), a condutância sobe ate a pressão de superfície começar a subir, atingindo valores da ordem de 10-8s acima da condutância da subfase. Foram realizadas medidas para um fosfolipídio e um fosfato. Com isso, corroboramos os resultados de condutância, da mesma ordem de grandeza, obtidos em Bangor, no Reino Unido, ao mesmo tempo que são refutadas as observações feitas por grupos de pesquisa dos Estados Unidos e da Rússia. As possíveis causas para a não observação da condutância por esses últimos grupos podem ser o efeito do menisco - queda da área imersa dos eletrodos quando do aumento da pressão de superfície - que mascara o aumento da condutância, ou artefatos experimentais, tais como impurezas na subfase / Langmuir films from phospholipids and fatty acids were characterized using surface pressure, surface potential and lateral conductance measurements. The main aim of this project was to undertake a critical study of articles published in the literature which present erroneous interpretations for surface potential results, suggest non-homogeneity of Langmuir films, or rule out the possible increase in conductance upon the compression of a monolayer. First, we demonstrate that phospholipids and fatty acid mono layers are homogeneous at the macroscopic level, by measuring their surface potential with the Kelvin probe on three different positions. No significant difference was observed. The surface potential and surface pressure is zero for large areas per molecule, and the surface potential only becomes non-zero when an abrupt increase takes place at a given critical area. Together with the absence of hysteresis in the surface pressure and surface potential measurements in the compression-expansion cycles, these results indicate the absence of aggregates (or islands) of macroscopic dimensions. They contradict, however, the opinion of some authors at the last Conference on Langmuir-Blodgett Films, who took the view that the presence of micro domains on Langmuir monolayers should affect the surface potential measurements. We can conclude, therefore, that any non-reproducibility of surface potentials at large areas per molecule must be attributed to impurities in the system, especially in the sub-phase. The lateral conductance measurements were performed by measuring the current between two platinum electrodes, which were partially immersed into the sub-phase. For large areas per molecule, the conductance is due to the bulk conductivity of ultra pure water, but when the monolayer was compressed below a given critical area (the same in which a sharp increase in surface potential was observed), the conductance increases until the surface pressure starts to rise, reaching values of the order of 10-8s above the water conductance. Measurements were taken for one phospholipids and one phosphate. This corroborates the results published by the Bangor Group (UK), at the same time that observations made by an American Group and a Russian Group is contradicted. The possible causes for these groups being unable to observe the increase in conductance can be the meniscus effect caused by the decrease of the electrodes immersed area when the pressure rises - which overrun the conductance increase, and/or experimental artifacts, possibly caused by impurities in the sub-phase

Estômatos são poros responsáveis pela troca gasosa entre a folha e o meio externo. A partir da década de 80, experimentos revelaram um complexo padrão espaço temporal na abertura e fechamento dos estômatos. As experiências apontam para uma possível coordenação entre estômatos em algumas áreas da folha chamada de patches. Esse fenômeno é conhecido na literatura como patchy stomatal conductance. Frequentemente a coordenação dinâmica dos estômatos está associada à oscilações temporais na condutãncia estomática (média especial da abertura dos estômatos). Em 1997 Haefner, Buckley e Mott (HBM) publicaram uma análise numérica de um modelo dinâmico para explorar o comportamento complexo dos estômatos. O modelo é baseado em algumas características conhecidas dos estômatos e assume transporte hídrico em uma rede definida por uma geometria simples e bastante restritiva. De acordo com os autores, o modelo reproduz qualitativamente os dados experimentais. Recentemente, Ferraz e Prado mostraram que esse modelo não é capaz de reproduzir os resultados experimentais. Usando ingredientes do modelo sugerido por HBM, Ferraz e Prado sugeriram uma geometria realística de distribuição reservatórios hídricos. Embora essa configuração reproduza os patches, eles permanecem estáticos e nenhuma oscilação é observada. Sem explorar detalhes significativos, Ferraz e Prado afirmaram que a histerese na abertura estomatal poderia explicar vários aspectos dos resultados experimentais. No presente estudo comprovamos, através de uma abordagem computacional baseada em transdutores histeréticos, que a hipótese de histerese na abertura dos estômatos de fato reproduz qualitativamente os dados experimentais. Em nossa abordagem a histerese na abertura dos estômatos é emulada através de operadores chamados de histerons. A robustez da hipótese é testada usando diferentes tipos de histerons. Analisamos a correlação entre os estômatos na rede que simula a superfície da folha. Observamos que a correlação entre estômatos depende da geometria da veia. Uma análise detalhada dos parâmetros envolvidos revela uma dependência entre o período de oscilação na condutância estomática e o déficit de vapor d\'água entre a folha e o meio ambiente. Esta característica subjacente ao modelo pode inspirar novas experiências para testar a hipótese da histerese na abertura dos estômatos. / Stomata are pores on the surface of leaves responsible for controlling the exchange of gas between the plant and the environment. Experiments revealed a complex spatial-temporal pattern in the opening and closing mechanism of stomata. The main feature of the phenomenon is that stomata appear to be synchronized into clusters, known as patches. The dynamical coordination of stomata often involves oscillations in stomatal conductance. In 1997 Haefner, Buckley, and Mott (HBM) published a numerical analysis of a dynamic model to explore the complex behavior of stomata. The model is based on some known features of the stomata, and assumes that water diffuses within the leaves according to a simple geometric arrangement. According to the authors, the model reproduces qualitatively the experimental data. Recently, Ferraz and Prado showed that the computational approach of HBM is not able to reproduce the experimental results. Inspired by this model, Ferraz and Prado introduced a new geometric features that leads to static patches of stomata; however no oscillation was observed and the patches remained static. The authors suggested that hysteresis in stomatal aperture could explain several experimental aspects. We now report a further investigation of the changes suggested by Ferraz and Prado in the original model of HBM. The theoretical approach confirmed that hysteresis in the aperture mechanism of pores reproduces a variety of behaviors of stomatal conductance described in experiments. We explore the hysteresis feature through the formalism of hysteretic transducer. The robustness of the hysteretic assumption is tested by different kinds of hysteresis operators. We analyzed the correlation among stomata in the lattice. We observed that the correlation depends on the geometry of the veins. Finally, the analysis of the model reveals a dependence between the period of oscillation in the stomatal conductance time series and water vapor pressure deficits &#916;&#969; - an external parameter. Further experiments might explore this underlying feature of the model.

Usability of many chemical substances with significant potential for biomedical applications is limited by their poor solubility in water or limited stability in the physiological environment. One of promising strategies for therapeutic targeted delivery of these types of substances into cells and tissues is their encapsulation inside polyelectrolyte microcapsules (Volodkin et al., 2004b, Sukhorukov et al., 1998b). Successful internalisation of microcapsules loaded with various macromolecules have been observed in several types of living cells (Javier et al., 2008, Kastl et al., 2013), however the mechanisms of the uptake of capsules by living cells are not yet fully understood. Detailed understanding of physico-chemical and mechanical interactions between capsules and living cells is required for specific targeting, effective delivery, and elimination of any potential toxic side effects. This has been largely limited by capabilities of available imaging techniques and lack of specific fluorescent markers for certain types of cellular uptake. The rate of internalisation of microcapsules was primarily studied at the level of cell population using conventional optical/fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry (Gao et al., 2016, Ai et al., 2005, Sun et al., 2015). These conventional fluorescence methods are known to be prone to overestimating the number of internalised capsules due to their limited capability to exclude capsules which were not fully internalised and remained attached to the cell surface (Javier et al., 2006). Experimental evidence with resolution high enough to resolve the fine membrane processes interacting with microcapsules has been limited to fixed samples imaged by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (Kastl et al., 2013) capturing randomly timed "snapshots" of what is likely to be highly dynamic and complex interaction. Physical force interactions between cellular membrane and capsules during the internalisation were suggested to cause buckling of capsules based on indirect evidence obtained using fluorescence microscopy in live cells 15 (Palankar et al., 2013) and separate measurements of capsule deformation under colloidal probe atomic force microscopy (AFM) outside of the cellular environment (Delcea et al., 2010, Dubreuil et al., 2003). However, our knowledge of the mechanical properties of the fine membrane structures directly involved in the internalisation process or how these structures form during the internalisation is very limited, if non-existent. Here we employ a different approach based on a high-resolution scanning probe technique called scanning ion conductance microscopy (SICM). SICM uses reduction in ionic current through the probe represented by an electrolyte-filled glass nanopipette immersed in saline solution to detect proximity of sample surface (Hansma et al., 1989, Korchev et al., 1997a). The technique has been previously used for high-resolution scanning of biological samples of complexity similar to what can be expected in case of microcapsules interacting with cells (Novak et al., 2014, Novak et al., 2009), and also for mapping mechanical properties at high resolution (Ossola et al., 2015, Rheinlaender and Schaffer, 2013). It has been proved to be able to visualise internalisation process of 200 nm carboxy-modified latex nanoparticles (Novak et al., 2014), however it is not clear whether it would be suitable for visualising internalisation of substantially larger, microscale-sized particles. The aim of this research was to visualize the live internalisation process of microcapsules entering cells by using SICM. The first two chapters of this thesis are introduction and literature review, which summarise the current state of the art. Chapter 3 states the aim and objectives of this study. Chapter 4 introduces the materials and methods we used in our research. Chapter 5, 6, 7 present the main findings of our research. Chapter 5 states the challenges we met in visualising the live internalisation of microcapsule as well as our solution for overcoming those challenges. At the end of that chapter, we describe the detailed procedure we used for recording the live internalisation of microcapsules. The results we got using this procedure are presented in chapter 6 and 7. In chapter 8, we discuss the results we found by comparing them to the results of previous research. In chapter 9, we summarise our study and give some suggestions on future work.

Dans le contexte de changement climatique, la compréhension des mécanismes régissant les pertes en eau de la vigne peut permettre d'adapter le matériel végétal pour maintenir la productivité de la vigne et la qualité du vin. L'adaptation à la sécheresse est un caractère complexe faisant intervenir des mécanismes physiologiques liés aux génotypes du greffon et du porte-greffe. Mais les effets du porte-greffe sur la régulation stomatique du greffon sont mal connus. La production par les racines de signaux chimiques tels que l'ABA et/ou hydraulique pourraient y contribuer. La réponse physiologique et moléculaire à la contrainte hydrique a été analysée sur de jeunes boutures pour 7 porte-greffes plus ou moins adaptés à la sécheresse et 2 cépages connus pour leur caractère iso ou anisohydrique. Puis 23 combinaisons greffon/porte-greffe issues de ces génotypes ont été étudiées. Une analyse métabolique sur l'accumulation de l'ABA et ses dérivés a été menée sur feuilles, racines et dans la sève xylémienne. Ces informations ont été couplées à des analyses transcriptomiques sur des gènes du métabolisme et de la signalisation de ABA, et codant des aquaporines de type PIP. L‘analyse conjointe des données physiologiques, métabolomiques et transcriptomiques ont permis d'identifier des composants moléculaires discriminant les porte-greffes selon leur fond génétique et leur adaptation à la sécheresse. Les réponses globales à la contrainte hydrique sont mieux coordonnées au sein d‘un même tissu qu‘entre racines et feuilles. A l‘échelle de la plante greffée, une prépondérance du signal hydraulique est probable. Certains gènes répondent spécifiquement aux interactions greffon/porte-greffe. / In the context of climate change, understanding the mechanisms governing the water loss of the vine is necessary to adapt the plant material to maintain the productivity of the vine and wine quality. The adaptation to drought is a complex trait involving physiological mechanisms related to scion and rootstock genotypes. But the effects of the rootstock on stomatal regulation graft are still unknown. Production by roots of chemical signals such as ABA and / or hydraulic ones be involved. Molecular and physiological responses to water stress were analyzed on young cuttings for 7 rootstocks more or less adapted to drought and 2 varieties known for their iso or anisohydric behaviour. Then 23 combinations scion / rootstock from these genotypes were investigated. Metabolic analyses for ABA and its derivatives was conducted in leaves, roots and in the xylem sap. The information was integrated with transcriptomic analyzes for genes involved in ABA metabolism and signaling, and encoding PIP aquaporins. Joint analyses of physiological data, metabolomic and transcriptomic allow the identification of the molecular components discriminating rootstocks according to their genetic background and their adaptation to drought. Global responses to water stress are better coordinated within the same tissue between roots and leaves. At the scale of the grafted plant, a preponderance of the hydraulic signal is likely. Some genes specifically respond to the scion / rootstock interactions.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2014-08-06T12:19:22Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) udson cabral.pdf: 2045459 bytes, checksum: 0c5126468995368f097978ee97cb41f5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-06T12:19:22Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) udson cabral.pdf: 2045459 bytes, checksum: 0c5126468995368f097978ee97cb41f5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / We investigate core-shell nanowires of diluted magnetic semiconductors (DMS) with remote n-type modulation doping. The incorporation of Mn2 ions acting as spin 5/2 impurities in the core region of the wire gives rise to a strong s-d exchange coupling between electrons in the wire and those of the d levels of the Mn2 ions. Applying an external magnetic eld along the axis of the wire, within the mean eld approximation, the s-d exchange generates a spin-dependent core potential. A gate voltage is applied radially to wire, to obtain some control over the density of the wire. Electronic strucutre of the wire was calculated within the e?ective mass approximation, in both approximations Hartree and spin density functional theory. We calculated the conductance of wire using the Landauer-B?uttiker formulation in the linear response regime, which generally results in a total conductance with well-de ned plateaus in GT = 2; 6; 10G0 (G0 = e2=h is the quanta of conductance), which occurred because in the system investigated the rst level is twofold degenerated (spin degenerescence) and the others are fourfold degenerated (spin degenerescence and orbital angular momentum). In the absence of a magnetic eld we observe that when we take into account the e?ects of exchange and correlation, the states with eigenvalues of Lz nonzero will be polarized while those with l = 0 isn't polarized. This unpolarized level with eigenvalue of Lz null suggests that, perhaps, the 0.7 anomaly (the emergence of two plateau at G = 0:7G0 and the other in G = G0) quantum wires on existing geometry of split-gate is related to the geometry of the wire. The results for total energy show that there are a competition between the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states. / Investigamos nano fios de semicondutores magnéticos dilu??dos (DMSs - Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors) do tipo caroço-casca com dopagem remota tipo-n. A incorporação dos íons de Mn+2, que atuam como impurezas de spin 5/2 no caroço do fi o, faz surgir um forte acoplamento de trocas dentre os eletrons do fio e aqueles dos níveis d do íon Mn+2. Com a aplicação de um campo magnético externo ao longo do eixo do fi o, na aproximação de campo médio, a interação de troca s-d gera um potencial dependente do spin na região do caroço do fi o. Um potencial de gate é aplicado radialmente ao nanofi o, para obtermos um certo controle sobre a densidade eletrônica do fi o. Calculamos a estrutura eletrônica do nanofi o de DMSs usando o modelo da massa efetiva, tanto na aproximação de Hartree quanto na teoria do funcional da densidade dependente de spin (SDFT - Spin Density Functional Theory). Calculamos a condutância do nano fio usando a formulação de Landauer-B?uttiker no regime de resposta linear, o que de modo geral, resultou numa condutância total com platôs bem de finidos em GT = 2; 6; 10G0 (G0 = e2=h ?e o quanta de condutância), o que ocorreu porque no sistema investigado a primeira subbanda ?e duplamente degenerada (degenerescência de spin) e as outras duas são quadruplamente degenerada (degenerescência de spin e de momento angular orbital). Na ausência de um campo magnético observamos que ao levarmos em conta os efeitos de troca e correlação, os estados que possuem autovalor de Lz diferente de zero se polarizam enquanto que os que possuem l = 0 não se polarizam. Essa não-polarização do nível com autovalor de Lz nulo sugere que, talvez, a anomalia 0,7 (o surgimento de dois platôs um em G = 0; 7G0 e outro em G = G0) existente em os quânticos com geometria de split-gate esteja relacionada com a geometria do o. Os resultados obtidos para a energia total mostram que há uma competição entre os estados ferromagnético e paramagnéticos.

CONTEXT: Nitric Oxide (NO) is an endothelial-derived vasoactive molecule that causes an increase in blood flow and oxygen delivery to tissue. A reduction in NO bioavailability has been found to occur in adults over the age of 60 and can be reversed pharmacologically by improving NO synthase (NOS) activity. Reversing these age-related changes with alternative interventions, such as aerobic exercise, has shown some promising results. OBJECTIVE: To quantify blood NO-bioavailability (as measured by blood nitrite levels) in a population of aerobically trained elderly men and compare these data to a group of age-matched, inactive individuals. In addition, we measured the cutaneous vasodilator response to local skin heating as a bioassay for NO-mediated cutaneous dilation. SETTING: BYU Human Performance Research Center (HPRC). PARTICIPANTS: 16 healthy elderly men (age = 66 ± 7.07 years) were divided into two groups based on physical fitness levels and estimated VO2max in ml O2•kg-1•min-1 (Trained = 39.1 ± 1.21, Untrained = 29.0 ± 2.70). INTERVENTIONS: A blood sample was collected and analyzed for NO. A microdialysis study was performed and dialysate was collected at 32°C and at 42°C. During the heating process, skin blood flow (skin vasomotor activity) was monitored and reported as cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Whole blood nitrite concentrations, pre- and post-heat nitrite concentrations, and CVCmax were compared between trained and untrained groups. RESULTS: Whole blood nitrite concentration was similar in trained subjects and untrained subjects averaging 25.77 ± 6.75 and 21.43 ± 7.20 µM, respectively (F1,13 = 0.19; P = 0.6671]. Local skin heating had no impact on the concentration of nitrite in dialysate samples ([NOx]dialysate F1,26 = 0.01; P = 0.7567). In addition, the plateau in % CVCmax following 30 minutes of local heating was similar for trained and untrained subjects averaging 67.7 ± 5.8 and 68.0 ± 6.2 % CVCmax, respectively (F1,13 = 0.00; P = 0.9673). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that age-mediated reductions in whole blood NO-bioavailability and decrements in NO-mediated cutaneous vasodilation during local heating were similar in aerobically fit and sedentary adults 60 years old or older. We conclude that a commitment to aerobic fitness was unable to overcome the age-related dysfunction of the NOS system.

The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast within and between participant performance on three different measures of listening effort: a dual-task paradigm, pupillometry, and skin conductance; participants also subjectively rated the difficulty of their experience. A repeated measures design was used to address the reliability and validity of each measure. 20 participants were recruited and attended two sessions; the second occurred a minimum of one week after the first. Participants listened to sentences presented in stationary noise at four different signal-to-noise ratios: quiet, 0, -3, and -5 dB SNR. The variables of interest were: change in peak-to-peak pupil diameter, change in reaction time from baseline, skin conductance response amplitude, and skin conductance response quantity. The results indicated that as SNR decreased, speech perception performance decreased and subjective listening effort increased. Participants accurately and consistently rated the more difficult conditions as requiring more listening effort. The change in reaction time from baseline, peak-to-peak pupil diameter, and skin conductance response quantity increased as SNR decreased; skin conductance response amplitude did not vary as task difficulty increased, but skin conductance response amplitude was larger for incorrect responses than it was for correct responses. There was a significant practice effect observed for the reaction time data. The dual-task paradigm and pupillometry measures had the greatest reliability and validity. This study demonstrated that listening effort can successfully be quantified both subjectively and objectively by using a variety of tasks. Future studies may be able to use these measures to further assess listening effort in the clinic and in the real-world.

<p>This study is an attempt to conceptually replicate a study by Ramakers, Stevens and Morris (2005) using a measure of electrodermal activity skin conductance (EDA) to evaluate the possibility of telepathy occurring between biologically and/or emotionally related senders and receivers. Ten negatively valenced and highly arousing target pictures were mixed with 10 blank control pictures in 10 blocks, with one of each kind in each block. The order of presentation of the target and control pictures within the block was determined randomly by a computer program. The series of 20 pictures were shown for the sender on a computer screen. Relaxation for the receiver was facilitated by soft music. It was hypothesized that there would be significantly more variance in the receiver EDA when the sender was exposed to negative arousing pictures, than to blank pictures. The results failed to show a significant difference in EDA variance between negative arousing and blank pictures, and did thus not support the telepathy hypothesis. It was recommended that future replications allocate more time for relaxation for the receiver.</p>