The skin conductance response is involved in the preparation for and response to stimuli with emotional significance. The neural mechanisms responsible for the generation of the skin conductance response are not well understood despite the common use of this signal as an index of emotional response. Data from anatomical, lesion, and neuroimaging studies in humans suggest that the amygdala, a component of the brain circuit for emotion, plays a critical role in the generation of the skin conductance response. Here we employ a novel combination of existing techniques to understand the stimuli that elicit skin conductance responses in the monkey and the neural mechanisms in the amygdala that participate in its generation. We recorded skin conductance responses in monkeys trained to perform a passive image viewing task. This paradigm is a staple of human emotion research but to date has not been adapted to the monkey. In addition, skin conductance responses to these stimuli were recorded in conjunction with single unit responses from the amygdala. This study addresses the relationship between the activity of single neurons recorded from identified nuclei of the monkey amygdala and autonomic responses. Neurons in multiple nuclei of the amygdala showed reliable changes in neuronal discharge prior to the skin conductance response. These neurons were primarily in the dorsal nuclei of the amygdala, which confirms predictions made from anatomical and neuroimaging data. It is suggested that these changes in neuronal discharge may correspond to the generation of this autonomic component of the expression of emotion.

No description available.

Thesis (Au. D.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "May 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 49-53). Also available online.

Thesis (M. Aud.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 88-91).

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第13852号 / 工博第2956号 / 新制||工||1436(附属図書館) / 26068 / UT51-2008-C768 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科合成・生物化学専攻 / (主査)教授 今中 忠行, 教授 青山 安宏, 教授 森 泰生 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

No description available.

This research consists of full-scale cyclic shake table tests to investigate liquefied residual strength of #2/16 Monterey Sand. A simple shear testing apparatus was mounted to a full-scale one-dimensional shake table to mimic a confined layer of saturated sand subjected to strong ground motions. Testing was performed at the Parson’s Geotechnical and Earthquake Laboratory at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. T-bar penetrometer pullout tests were used to measure residual strength of the liquefied soil during cyclic testing. Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) was performed on the soil specimen throughout testing to relate the laboratory specimen to field index test data and to compare CPT results of the #2/16 Monterey sand before and after liquefaction. The generation and dissipation of excess pore pressures during cyclic motion are measured and discussed. The effects of liquefied soil on seismic ground motion are investigated. Measured residual strengths are compared to previous correlations comparing liquefied residual strength ratios and CPT tip resistance.

The controlled release of therapeutics has been one of the major challenges for scientists and engineers during the past three decades. To address this outstanding problem, the design and fabrication of stimuli-responsive materials are pursued to guarantee the controlled release of cargo at a specific time and with an accurate amount. Upon applying different stimuli such as light, magnetic field, heat, pH change, enzymes or redox, functional materials change their physicochemical properties through physical transformation or chemical reactions, allowing the release of payload agents on demand. This dissertation studied three stimuli-responsive membrane systems for controlled release from films of macro sizes to microcapsules of nano sizes. The first membrane system is a polymeric composite film which can decrease and sustain diffusion upon light irradiation. The photo-response of membranes is based on the photoreaction of cinnamic derivatives. The second one is composite membrane which can improve diffusion upon heating. The thermo-response of membranes comes from the volume phase transition ability of hydrogels. The third one is microcapsule which can release encapsulated agents upon light irradiation. The photo-response of capsules results from the photoreaction of nitrobenzyl derivatives. The study on these membrane systems reveals that stimuli-responsive release can be achieved by utilizing different functional materials on either macro or micro level. Based on the abundant family of smart materials, designing and fabricating stimuli-responsive systems shall lead to various advanced release processes on demand for biomedical applications.

The study examined (a) which single technique (cover letter sponsorship, personalization, anonymity, or appeal) is most effective in increasing response rates with mail questionnaires, and (b) which combination of these selected techniques is most effective in increasing such response rates. Questionnaires concerning faculty evaluation were sent to a national sample of professors. The present study found that identification of a university as the sponsor of the survey resulted in a significantly higher response rate than that obtained when the survey was sponsored by a private research institute. There was a significant increase in response rates when the cover letter was personalized, as opposed to an unpersonalized form letter. There were no significant differences in response rates attributable to (a) wether respondents were assured anonymity, and (b) the type of appeal used in the cover letter (personal or professional appeal). No significant interactions were found among any of the four techniques investigated. It was concluded from this study that judicious selection of the survey sponsor and use of cover letter personalization can improve the response rates of a mail questionnaire significantly, at least with the type of population and questionnaire significantly, at least with the type of population and questionnaire topic used in this study.