This study employed spectral analyses for acoustic measures of sustained vowel productions from a group of 20 adolescents and young adults with Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) and compared findings with a group of 20 age-equivalent and gender-matched normal control participants. State-of-the art spectral analyses from the Analysis of Dysphonia in Speech and Voice (ADSV) program, developed for various voice disorders from Kay Elemetrics, were applied to initial 2 second sustained vowel segments of the vowels /a/, /i/, and /o/. Spectral analyses included averages and standard deviations of Cepstral Peak Prominence (CPP), Cepstral Peak Prominence Standard Deviation (CPP SD), Low/High Spectral Ratio (L/H Ratio), Low/High Spectral Ratio Standard Deviation (L/H Ratio SD), Cepstral/Spectral Index of Dysphonia (CSID), and Mean Cepstral Peak Prominence Fundamental Frequency (Mean CPP F0). Statistical analyses revealed significant differences between the spectral analyses of voice characteristics of individuals with FA and those of normal controls for all measures except for CPP SD. The aim of these analyses was to determine spectral differences evident in vowel productions of individuals with FA using new cepstral-derived measures that characterize the phonatory instability and dis-coordination present in this disorder. Such research may not only help develop early non-invasive indicators of ataxia and track disease progression, but also serve to stimulate research into alleviating the symptoms of this devastating disease.

Submitted by Biblioteca de Pós-Graduação em Geoquímica BGQ (bgq@ndc.uff.br) on 2017-09-27T14:22:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertac...pdf: 4004750 bytes, checksum: c28f16763d698bcdf286109327f4a3a0 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-27T14:22:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertac...pdf: 4004750 bytes, checksum: c28f16763d698bcdf286109327f4a3a0 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Universidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Química. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geoquímica, Niterói, RJ / A porção equatorial Oeste do Atlântico Sul é uma região-chave para o estudo das variabilidades climáticas, já que esta área é a principal saída de calor e sal para as altas latitudes do hemisfério norte através da Corrente Norte do Brasil. Esta transferência inter-hemisférica é um dos fatores cruciais para o funcionamento da circulação termohalina no oceano Atlântico, conhecida como Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Baseado nisto, o objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar uma reconstrução da temperatura da superfície do mar (TSM) ao longo dos últimos 40.000 anos, em um intervalo que engloba o Ultimo Máximo Glacial (UMG) e o Holoceno. Para isto, foram empregados três testemunho sedimentares recuperados na margem Nordeste do Brasil. Dois destes testemunhos (MC 17/2 e MC 11/1) tiveram sua cronologia combinada, para juntos formarem um registro único do Holoceno. O terceiro testemunho (MC 10/3) enfoca o UMG e a fase de degelo até o início do Holoceno. Como proxies para a reconstrução paleoceanográfica da TSM foram empregados o isótopo estável de oxigênio (δ18Oc) do foraminífero planctônico Globigerinoides ruber (branco 250 – 300 μm), a Técnica do Análogo Moderno (TAM) e a análise faunística da assembleia de foraminíferos planctônicos na fração 150 μm. Os resultados para o UMG mostram a existência de dois cenários distintos que se separam em 21 k anos AP. Antes desta data condições mais frias na ordem de 2 ºC existiram na região, como ficou evidenciado pelos valores mais positivos do δ18Oc, pelas menores TSM reconstruídas pela TAM e pela maior abundância de foraminíferos planctônicos relacionados a produtividade e profundidade, como Globigerina glutinata, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, Globorotalia truncatulinoides (dextral e sinistral) e Globorotalia inflata. Após 21 k anos AP uma forte transição ocorre no δ18Oc e na abundância absoluta de foraminíferos planctônicos, indicando a entrada de condições mais quentes na região, principalmente durante o evento Heinrich 1 (H1) e o Younger Dryas (YD). Este intervalo, que inclui a fase de degelo e parte do Holoceno é marcado pela redução das espécies relacionada a produtividade e profundidade e pelo aumento das espécies de águas quentes e superficiais. O retorno da espécie Globorotalia menardii em 21 k anos AP pode indicar a reativação do transporte de águas quentes do Oceano Índico para o Atlântico Sul realizado pela Corrente das Agulhas durante a fase de degelo. Os dados apresentados aqui demonstram que o Atlântico equatorial Oeste responde a entrada de água doce no Atlântico Norte e ao transporte de águas quentes via Corrente das Agulhas, e que o balanço destes dois fatores foi crucial para o retorno da AMOC no fim do UMG. Os resultados para o Holoceno mostraram que a região vem sofrendo um aumento progressivo da TSM da ordem de 1 ºC principalmente após o Holoceno médio, onde alterações nos padrões orbitais podem ter modificado a distribuição da energia solar no planeta. Análises espectrais sobre os dados mostram uma série de periodicidade quase cíclicas centradas em 4.1 – 3.8 kyr, 1.5 – 1.0 kyr, ~ 700 yr, 570 – 560 yr, ~ 390 yr, ~350 yr e ~ 330 yr e podem refletir a ação de forçantes climáticas externa (variabilidade solar) e internas (sistema oceano-atmosfera) transmitidas pela circulação termohalina globalmente. / The western equatorial Atlantic is a key region for the study of climate variability, as this area is the main source of heat and salt toward high latitudes of northern Atlantic through the North Brazil Current. This interhemispheric transfer is one of the crucial factors for the thermohaline circulation in the Atlantic Ocean, known as Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Based on this, the aim of this work is to show a reconstruction of sea surface temperature (SST) over the last 40,000 years, into a range that comprises the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and Holocene. For this, we used three sedimentary records recovered in Northeast Brazilian margin. Two of these records (MC 17/2 e MC 11/1) were combined to generate a single record of Holocene. The last record comprises the LGM until the early Holocene. As proxies for the reconstruction of SST were employed the oxygen stable isotope (δ18Oc) of planktonic foraminifera Globigerinoides ruber (white 250 – 300 μm), the Modern Analogue Technique (MAT) and the assemblage of planktonic foraminifera in the size-fraction of 150 μm. The results for the LGM showed the existence of two different scenarios that were separated at 21 kyr BP. The heavier oxygen values recorded prior to 21 kyr BP demonstrated that the Last Glacial Maximum was up to 2ºC colder than Holocene. After 21 kyr BP, a strong shift to lighter values indicated the onset of warmer conditions during deglacial, especially during Heinrich event 1 and the Younger Dryas. The planktonic foraminifera assemblage as species related to productive or deep waters confirmed the conditions indicated by the oxygen composition; i.e., Globigerinita glutinata, Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, Globorotalia truncatulinoides (left and right coiling) and Globorotalia inflata were more abundant prior to 21 kyr BP. With the increase in the sea surface temperature after 21 kyr BP, the abundance of these species was reduced, particularly for G. glutinata and G. inflata, and the abundance of species found in warmer waters increased, especially for Globigerinella siphonifera. The species Globorotalia menardii, which was absent in the Last Glacial Maximum, reappeared after 21 kyr BP, which may have been a response to the Agulhas Leakage that released warmer waters into the South Atlantic at the beginning of deglacial. The data presented here indicate that the western equatorial Atlantic responded to the meltwater pulse at high latitudes of the northern Atlantic and to warm waters from the Indian Ocean. The balance between these two factors was crucial to the development of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation at the end of the LGM. The results of Holocene showed that the region has suffered a gradual increase in SST of around 1 ºC, mainly after the mid-Holocene, where changes orbital patterns may have changed the distribution of solar energy on the planet. Spectral analyzes on the data demonstrated a series of periodicities centered at 4.1 – 3.8 kyr, 1.5 – 1.0 kyr, ~ 700 yr, 570 – 560 yr, ~ 390 yr, ~350 yr e ~ 330 yr and can be related of climate forcing transmitted globally by the thermohaline circulation.

No description available.

Les îles tropicales sont soumises à un ennuagement hétérogène et changeant rapidement. Par ailleurs, elles ont une ressource solaire importante mais significativement variable d’un jour à l’autre. Dans le sud-ouest de l’océan indien (SWIO), La Réunion fait partie de ces îles tropicales ayant un potentiel solaire colossal mais fortement intermittent. Dans cette étude, nous proposons une nouvelle approche de prévision déterministe des cartes journalières rayonnement solaire (SSR), basée sur quatre modèles de régression linéaire : une régression linéaire multiple (MLR), une régression en composantes principales (PCR), une régression des moindres carrés (PLSR) et une régression pas à pas (stepwise--SR). Ces quatre régressions sont appliquées sur les données satellites SARAH-E (CM SAF) à 5km de résolution entre 2007 et 2016, en vue d’en effectuer la prévision. Pour obtenir de meilleures performances, nous proposons d'inclure les paramètres multi-fractale (H,C_1 et α) comme nouveaux paramètres prédictifs. Ceux-ci sont obtenus à partir de l'analyse de l'intermittence du SSR basée sur la méthode d’analyse d’ordre spectral arbitraire de Hilbert. Cette analyse qui est une extension de la transformation d’Hilbert Huang (HHT) est utilisée afin d’estimer l’exposant d’échelle ξ(q). On effectue la combinaison d’une décomposition en mode empirique et de l’analyse spectrale de Hilbert (EMD + HSA). Dans une première étape, l’analyse multi-fractale est appliquée sur une mesure du SSR d'une seconde échelle à partir d'un pyranomètre SPN1 à Moufia en 2016. La moyenne infra journalière, journalière et saisonnière de la structure multi-fractale a été dérivée, et la loi d’échelle d’exposants ξ(q) a été analysée. Dans une seconde partie, l’analyse de l’intermittence est effectuée sur les mesures du SSR, d'une période d’une minute, à partir le réseau de SPN1 contenant 11 stations en 2014. Les modèles spatiaux pour toutes les stations avec les paramètres multi-fractales H,C_1 et α sont mis en évidence. La variabilité de la largeur du spectre de singularité est considérée pour étudier l'intermittence spatiale et la multi-fractalité dans l'échelle quotidienne et l'échelle saisonnière. Sur la base de ces analyses d'intermittence faites sur les mesures de plusieurs stations, les paramètres multi-fractaux universels (H,C_1 et α) pourraient être choisis comme de nouveaux prédicteurs afin d’indiquer les propriétés multi-fractales du SSR. / Due to the heterogeneous and rapidly-changing cloudiness, tropical islands, such as Reunion Island in the South-west Indian Ocean (SWIO), have significant solar resource that is highly variable from day-to-day. In this study, we propose a new approach for deterministic prediction of daily surface solar radiation (SSR) maps based on four linear regression models: multiple linear regression (MLR), principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares regression (PLSR), and stepwise regression (SR), that we have applied on the SARAH-E@5km satellite data (CM SAF) for the period during 2007-2016. To improve the accuracy of prediction, the multifractal parameters (H,C_1 and α) are proposed to include as new predictors in the predictive model. These parameters are obtained from the analysis of SSR intermittency based on arbitrary order Hilbert spectral analysis. This analysis is the extension of Hilbert Huang Transform (HHT) and it is used to estimate the generalized scaling exponent ξ(q). It is the combination of the Empirical Mode Decomposition and Hilbert spectral analysis (EMD+HSA). In a first step, the multifractal analysis is applied onto one-second SSR measurements form a SPN1 pyranometer in Moufia in 2016. The mean sub-daily, daily and seasonal daily multifractal patterns are derived, and the scaling exponent ξ(q) is analyzed. In a second step, the intermittency study is conducted on one-minute SSR measurements from a SPN1 network with 11 stations in 2014. The spatial patterns for all the stations with the multifractal parameters H,C_1 and α are shown. The variability of singularity spectrum width is considered to study the spatial intermittency at the daily and seasonal scale. Based on this intermittency analysis from measurements at several stations, the universal multifractal parameters (H,C_1 and α) could be taken as new predictors for indicating the multifractal properties of SSR.

[ES] Las arritmias cardíacas son un problema importante para los sistemas de salud en el mundo desarrollado debido a su alta incidencia y prevalencia a medida que la población envejece. La fibrilación auricular (FA) y la fibrilación ventricular (FV) se encuentran entre las arritmias más complejas observadas en la práctica clínica. Las consecuencias clínicas de tales alteraciones arrítmicas incluyen el desarrollo de eventos cardioembólicos complejos en la FA, y repercusiones dramáticas debido a procesos fibrilatorios sostenidos que amenazan la vida infringiendo daño neurológico tras paro cardíaco por FV, y que pueden provocar la muerte súbita cardíaca (MSC). Sin embargo, a pesar de los avances tecnológicos de las últimas décadas, sus mecanismos intrínsecos se comprenden de forma incompleta y, hasta la fecha, las estrategias terapéuticas carecen de una base mecanicista suficiente y poseen bajas tasas de éxito. Entre los mecanismos implicados en la inducción y perpetuación de arritmias cardíacas, como la FA, se cree que las dinámicas de las fuentes focales y reentrantes de alta frecuencia, en sus diferentes modalidades, son las fuentes primarias que mantienen la arritmia. Sin embargo, se sabe poco sobre los atractores, así como, de la dinámica espacio-temporal de tales fuentes fibrilatorias primarias, específicamente, las fuentes focales o rotacionales dominantes que mantienen la arritmia. Por ello, se ha desarrollado una plataforma computacional, para comprender los factores (activos, pasivos y estructurales) determinantes, y moduladores de dicha dinámica. Esto ha permitido establecer un marco para comprender la compleja dinámica de los rotores con énfasis en sus propiedades deterministas para desarrollar herramientas basadas en los mecanismos para ayuda diagnóstica y terapéutica. Comprender los procesos fibrilatorios es clave para desarrollar marcadores y herramientas fisiológica- y clínicamente relevantes para la ayuda de diagnóstico temprano. Específicamente, las propiedades espectrales y de tiempo-frecuencia de los procesos fibrilatorios han demostrado resaltar el comportamiento determinista principal de los mecanismos intrínsecos subyacentes a las arritmias y el impacto de tales eventos arrítmicos. Esto es especialmente relevante para determinar el pronóstico temprano de los supervivientes comatosos después de un paro cardíaco debido a fibrilación ventricular (FV). Las técnicas de mapeo electrofisiológico, el mapeo eléctrico y óptico cardíaco, han demostrado ser recursos muy valiosos para dar forma a nuevas hipótesis y desarrollar nuevos enfoques mecanicistas y estrategias terapéuticas mejoradas. Esta tecnología permite además el trabajo multidisciplinar entre clínicos y bioingenieros, para el desarrollo y validación de dispositivos y metodologías para identificar biomarcadores multi-dominio que permitan rastrear con precisión la dinámica de las arritmias identificando fuentes dominantes y atractores con alta precisión para ser dianas de estrategias terapeúticas innovadoras. Es por ello que uno de los objetivos fundamentales ha sido la implantación y validación de nuevos sistemas de mapeo en distintas configuraciones que sirvan de plataforma de desarrollo de nuevas estrategias terapeúticas. Aunque el mapeo panorámico es el método principal y más completo para rastrear simultáneamente biomarcadores electrofisiológicos, su adopción por la comunidad científica es limitada principalmente debido al coste elevado de la tecnología. Aprovechando los avances tecnológicos recientes, nos hemos enfocado en desarrollar, y validar, sistemas de mapeo óptico de alta resolución para registro panorámico cardíaco, utilizando modelos clínicamente relevantes para la investigación básica y la bioingeniería. / [CAT] Les arítmies cardíaques són un problema important per als sistemes de salut del món desenvolupat a causa de la seva alta incidència i prevalença a mesura que la població envelleix. La fibril·lació auricular (FA) i la fibril·lació ventricular (FV), es troben entre les arítmies més complexes observades a la pràctica clínica. Les conseqüències clíniques d'aquests trastorns arítmics inclouen el desenvolupament d'esdeveniments cardioembòlics complexos en FA i repercussions dramàtiques a causa de processos fibril·latoris sostinguts que posen en perill la vida amb danys neurològics posteriors a la FV, que condueixen a una aturada cardíaca i a la mort cardíaca sobtada (SCD). Tanmateix, malgrat els avanços tecnològics de les darreres dècades, els seus mecanismes intrínsecs s'entenen de forma incompleta i, fins a la data, les estratègies terapèutiques no tenen una base mecanicista suficient i tenen baixes taxes d'èxit. La majoria dels avenços en el desenvolupament de biomarcadors òptims i noves estratègies terapèutiques en aquest camp provenen de tècniques valuoses en la investigació de mecanismes d'arítmia. Entre els mecanismes implicats en la inducció i perpetuació de les arítmies cardíaques, es creu que les fonts primàries subjacents a l'arítmia són les fonts focals reingressants d'alta freqüència dinàmica i AF, en les seves diferents modalitats. Tot i això, se sap poc sobre els atractors i la dinàmica espaciotemporal d'aquestes fonts primàries fibril·ladores, específicament les fonts rotacionals o focals dominants que mantenen l'arítmia. Per tant, s'ha desenvolupat una plataforma computacional per entendre determinants actius, passius, estructurals i moduladors d'aquestes dinàmiques. Això va permetre establir un marc per entendre la complexa dinàmica multidomini dels rotors amb ènfasi en les seves propietats deterministes per desenvolupar enfocaments mecanicistes per a l'ajuda i la teràpia diagnòstiques. La comprensió dels processos fibril·latoris és clau per desenvolupar puntuacions i eines rellevants fisiològicament i clínicament per ajudar al diagnòstic precoç. Concretament, les propietats espectrals i de temps-freqüència dels processos fibril·latoris han demostrat destacar un comportament determinista important dels mecanismes intrínsecs subjacents a les arítmies i l'impacte d'aquests esdeveniments arítmics. Mitjançant coneixements previs, processament de senyals, tècniques d'aprenentatge automàtic i anàlisi de dades, es va desenvolupar una puntuació de risc mecanicista a la aturada cardíaca per FV. Les tècniques de cartografia òptica cardíaca i electrofisiològica han demostrat ser recursos inestimables per donar forma a noves hipòtesis i desenvolupar nous enfocaments mecanicistes i estratègies terapèutiques. Aquesta tecnologia ha permès durant molts anys provar noves estratègies terapèutiques farmacològiques o ablatives i desenvolupar mètodes multidominis per fer un seguiment precís de la dinàmica d'arrímies que identifica fonts i atractors dominants. Tot i que el mapatge panoràmic és el mètode principal per al seguiment simultani de paràmetres electrofisiològics, la seva adopció per part de la comunitat multidisciplinària d'investigació cardiovascular està limitada principalment pel cost de la tecnologia. Aprofitant els avenços tecnològics recents, ens centrem en el desenvolupament i la validació de sistemes de mapes òptics de baix cost per a imatges panoràmiques mitjançant models clínicament rellevants per a la investigació bàsica i la bioenginyeria. / [EN] Cardiac arrhythmias are a major problem for health systems in the developed world due to their high incidence and prevalence as the population ages. Atrial fibrillation (AF) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), are amongst the most complex arrhythmias seen in the clinical practice. Clinical consequences of such arrhythmic disturbances include developing complex cardio-embolic events in AF, and dramatic repercussions due to sustained life-threatening fibrillatory processes with subsequent neurological damage under VF, leading to cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, despite the technological advances in the last decades, their intrinsic mechanisms are incompletely understood, and, to date, therapeutic strategies lack of sufficient mechanistic basis and have low success rates. Most of the progress for developing optimal biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies in this field has come from valuable techniques in the research of arrhythmia mechanisms. Amongst the mechanisms involved in the induction and perpetuation of cardiac arrhythmias such AF, dynamic high-frequency re-entrant and focal sources, in its different modalities, are thought to be the primary sources underlying the arrhythmia. However, little is known about the attractors and spatiotemporal dynamics of such fibrillatory primary sources, specifically dominant rotational or focal sources maintaining the arrhythmia. Therefore, a computational platform for understanding active, passive and structural determinants, and modulators of such dynamics was developed. This allowed stablishing a framework for understanding the complex multidomain dynamics of rotors with enphasis in their deterministic properties to develop mechanistic approaches for diagnostic aid and therapy. Understanding fibrillatory processes is key to develop physiologically and clinically relevant scores and tools for early diagnostic aid. Specifically, spectral and time-frequency properties of fibrillatory processes have shown to highlight major deterministic behaviour of intrinsic mechanisms underlying the arrhythmias and the impact of such arrhythmic events. Using prior knowledge, signal processing, machine learning techniques and data analytics, we aimed at developing a reliable mechanistic risk-score for comatose survivors of cardiac arrest due to VF. Cardiac optical mapping and electrophysiological mapping techniques have shown to be unvaluable resources to shape new hypotheses and develop novel mechanistic approaches and therapeutic strategies. This technology has allowed for many years testing new pharmacological or ablative therapeutic strategies, and developing multidomain methods to accurately track arrhymia dynamics identigying dominant sources and attractors. Even though, panoramic mapping is the primary method for simultaneously tracking electrophysiological parameters, its adoption by the multidisciplinary cardiovascular research community is limited mainly due to the cost of the technology. Taking advantage of recent technological advances, we focus on developing and validating low-cost optical mapping systems for panoramic imaging using clinically relevant models for basic research and bioengineering. / Calvo Saiz, CJ. (2022). Novel Cardiac Mapping Approaches and Multimodal Techniques to Unravel Multidomain Dynamics of Complex Arrhythmias Towards a Framework for Translational Mechanistic-Based Therapeutic Strategies [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/182329 / TESIS