<p>Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an established treatment for movement disorders that has been implanted in more than 40,000 patients worldwide. Despite the successes of DBS, its mechanisms of action are not well understood. Early descriptions of the mechanisms of DBS focused on whether DBS excited or inhibited neurons in the stimulated nucleus. However, changes in the <italic>patterns</italic> of neuronal activity, and not just changes in the rate of neuronal activity, play a major role in the pathology of movement disorders. Therefore, we hypothesized that the temporal pattern of stimulation might be an important factor in determining the effectiveness of DBS. The purpose of this dissertation was to use temporally <italic>irregular</italic> patterns of stimulation (non-regular interpulse intervals) to probe the mechanisms of thalamic DBS in suppressing tremor. The clinical tremor measurements reported in this dissertation represent the first tremor data published during stimulation with temporally <italic>irregular</italic> stimulus trains in human subjects. First, we tested the effects of paired-pulse DBS on tremor suppression in human subjects with essential tremor and on the responses of a computational model of thalamic neurons. DBS was more effective at reducing tremor when pulses were evenly spaced than when there were large differences between intrapair and interpair pulse intervals, suggesting that tremor suppression is dependent on the <italic>pattern</italic> of DBS and not just the average rate of stimulation. Increasing the difference between the intrapair and interpair intervals in the computational model rendered model neurons more likely to fire synchronous bursts. Second, we quantified the effects of the degree of regularity of temporally random stimulus trains in human subjects with tremor. We pioneered an innovative preparation to conduct these experiments--during surgery to replace the implantable pulse generator--which allowed us to establish a direct connection to implanted DBS leads under stable conditions. Stimulus trains were less effective at relieving tremor as the temporal spacing between stimulus pulses in DBS trains became more irregular. However, the reasons for the decreased efficacy of the temporally irregular stimulus trains was not clear. Third, we evaluated the contributions of `<italic>pauses</italic>,' `<italic>bursts</italic>,' and `<italic>irregularity, per se</italic>' to the inability of irregular stimulus trains to suppress tremor. Stimulus trains with <italic>pauses</italic> were significantly less effective at suppressing tremor than stimulus trains without <italic>pauses</italic>, while there were no significant changes in tremor suppression between trains with <italic>bursts</italic> and those without <italic>bursts</italic>, or between trains that were <italic>irregular</italic> and those that were <italic>periodic</italic>. We also developed a computer-based biophysical model of a thalamic network to simulate the response of thalamic neurons to the same temporal patterns of DBS. Trains that effectively suppressed tremor in human subjects also suppressed fluctuations in transmembrane potential at the frequency associated with burst-driven cerebellar inputs to the thalamus. Both clinical and computational findings indicate that DBS suppresses tremor by masking cerebellar burst-driven input to the thalamus.</p><p>The work in this dissertation bridges an important gap between the hypothesis that high-frequency DBS masks pathological activity in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit and the experimentally observed finding that DBS in the subthalamic area suppresses tremor more effectively than DBS in the Vim thalamus proper. We provided experimental and computational evidence that the mechanism of DBS is to mask the burst-driven cerebellar inputs to the thalamus. Hence, the most relevant neuronal targets for effective tremor suppression are the afferent cerebellar fibers that terminate in the thalamus.</p> / Dissertation

Satellite IP networks are characterized by high bit error rates, long propagation delays, low bandwidth feedback links, and persistent fades resulting from varying weather patterns. A new unicast transport protocol is designed to address all the above challenges. Two new algorithms, Jump Start and Quick Recovery, are presented to replace the traditional Slow Start algorithm and to recover rapidly from multiple segment losses within one window of data. The characteristics of satellite IP networks also distinguish satellite multicasting from multicasting in terrestrial wirelined networks. A reliable data multicast transport protocol, TCP-Peachtree, is proposed to solve the acknowledgment implosion and scalability problems in satellite IP networks. Developments in space technology are enabling the realization of deep space missions. The scientific data from these missions need to be delivered to the Earth successfully. To achieve this goal, the InterPlaNetary Internet is proposed as the Internet of the deep space planetary networks, which is characterized by extremely high propagation delays, high link errors, asymmetrical bandwidth, and blackouts. A reliable transport protocol, TP-Planet, is proposed for data traffic in the InterPlaNetary Internet. TP-Planet deploys rate-based additive-increase multiplicative-decrease (AIMD) congestion control and replaces the inefficient slow start algorithm with a novel Initial State algorithm that allows the capture of link resources in a very fast and controlled manner. A new congestion detection and control mechanism is developed and a Blackout State is incorporated into the protocol operation. Multimedia traffic is also one part of the aggregate traffic over InterPlaNetary Internet backbone links and it has additional requirements such as minimum bandwidth, smooth traffic, and error control. To address all the above challenges, RCP-Planet is proposed. RCP-Planet consists of two novel algorithms, i.e., Begin State and Operational State. The protocol is based on a novel rate probing mechanism and a new rate control scheme to update the media rate smoothly based on the observed rate for the probing sequence.

Abstract In 1972, Taiwan¡¦s first squid jigging vessel ¡§YUNG CHUNG¡¨ succeeded in developing fishing ground at Sea of Japan. Since that time, Taiwanese squid jigging vessels keep succeeding in developing new Squid fishing grounds in New Zealand, North Pacific Ocean, and Southwest of the Atlantic Ocean. Because the squid catch continued to grow, Taiwan began to export squid products to China, Japan, South Korea, North America, and Europe. In volumes, the top three countries of catching squids are Taiwan, China and South Korea vessels at present. However, in reality, even the freezing ability and catching quality of Taiwanese jigging vessels are much better than the other two countries, the export price for Taiwanese catch are the lowest. The major factor is because the packaging weight has not been standardized. It reduces the purchase willingness and the selling price in the overseas markets for Taiwanese catches. Currently, Taiwan now has 105 squid jigging vessels, but each vessel process the catch in their own way. Therefore, it makes the crew difficult to follow the work procedures which influence the efficiency, and result in inconsistent of the packaging weight. This research we use ¡§Analytical Hierarchy Process¡¨. Through consulting with the experts and studying based from the historical documents, we try to establish the key factors on the construction and design of our questionnaire. We then collect the answers from the fishery companies in Taiwan and sea food processing factories in China, and then we confirm the results trough the statistical analysis. We hope through a dependable data and solid research, we can provide concrete recommendations to squid fishery companies, processing factories, and Fisheries Agency of the Government on benefits of packaging weight standardization. We then hope that the ultimate goal is to help raise the Taiwanese squid price in overseas markets.

In the present study we use Argo float data, in-situ shipboard ADCP data,IFREMER wind stress curl data, QuikSCAT wind data and AVISO sea level anomaly data from 2006 to 2010 to investigate hydrographical characteristics and surface and deep currents in the seas surrounding Taiwan. The studied areas consist of the followings: the cyclonic eddy off the northeastern Taiwan coast, flow structure of the Luzon Strait, anticyclonic eddies off the southwestern Taiwan coast and east of Kuroshio. Our results found that some Argo floats drifting northward with the Kuroshio were occasionally intruded to the continental shelf off the northeastern Taiwan at 25¢XN-26¢XN,122¢XE-123¢XE. Statistics indicate that this phenomenon occurs most frequently in winter, and float profiling data reveal a marked upwelling above 150m depth. Temperature drops within this area can reach 5.1¢J and 8¢J, respectively at 50m and 100m depths. A deep southward current with a maximum speed of 30 cms can be found to exist between northeastern Taiwan and Kuroshio. On the other hand, Surface flows have strong seasonal variations in the Luzon strait, i.e., toward the southeastern side of Taiwan in the summer and intrude into the South China Sea (SCS) in the fall and winter. Deep currents in the Luzon Strait, however, flow mostly into the SCS regardless of seasonality. Maximum speed of deep current can reach 6 cms . Mixed-layer depth in the northern SCS is approximately 50m in the spring and summer, and about 110m depth in winter. The third part of this thesis concerns with the anticyclonic circulation off the southwestern Taiwan coast. Float observations show that this circulation exists almost all year round in 2009. Surface currents have a maximum speed in early May, reaching 104 cms , and the wind stress curl attains a maximum negative value. It is conjectured that this anticyclonic eddy is generated primarily due to the restriction of local coast and topography, and the wind stress curl is the secondary mechanism. Surface current derived from Shipboard ADCP is also consistent with the float results. The diameter of this eddy is about 110 km. T-S characteristics of Kuroshio can be observed at 150-210m depth, indicating a close link between this eddy and the Kuroshio. Finally, anticyclonic warm eddies east of Kuroshio are also investigated from the float data. It is found that the eddy flow structure in this region is more obvious in depths than in surface. Temperature distribution below the depth of 200 m also confirms the warm core structure. At an event during which when one float incidentally travelling through a cold eddy and an adjacent warm eddy, the temperature difference can reach 4.5 ¢J at 160m depth. The warm eddies are found to be more stable and more frequently observed than the cold eddies in this region.

The trend of globalization makes the political, economic, educational, culture and creative develop very fast. It also because of the vitality of the network information pushes the global continuously. So society produces an idea of " think globally, act locally ". Base on this research background, Bill McKibben (2005) brings up an idea of Deep Economy. It means Continues forever the development in local place. The reference shows the relations among country, market and civil society in globalization. The cultural and creative industries development stimulates city competitiveness. Professor Kiyoshi Miyazakithinks that the integrated community construction must include people, cultural, place, production and view. These conditions makes local develop appreciation. How is the real aspects for Deep Economy? In this study, it uses the Delphi expert questionnaire method (Delphi) to investigate this problem. It is invited industry, government and school tripartite expertsto conduct interviews and questionnaires. These factorsare discussed in the two-stage indicators convergence results by score of experts. After aggregating data, it cansanalysis to construct the five principal components by exploratory factor analysis.These data shows that Deep Economy should have five faces which are "Local Empowerment", "Identity Participation","Knowledge Learning","Cultural Connotation" and ¡§Creative Economy". This study has well proposals for the future development for Deep Economy. Keywords¡G Deep Economy¡BGlobalization¡BCulture and Creative¡BDelphi¡BExploratory Factor Analysis

The Carrizo-Wilcox aquifer is a valuable groundwater resource, situated in a semi-arid landscape of Southwest Texas, where over-use by dependent farming practices has lowered aquifer levels. In semi-arid regions, rates of groundwater recharge are predominantly low due to high potential evapotranspiration rates; however, least understood is the role that vegetation plays in soil-plant-water dynamics. Vegetation management potentially plays a major role in countering the loss to recharge because evapotranspiration (ET) varies with vegetation type and cover. The conversion from shrubland to grassland likely reduces rooting depths and total plant cover. Subsequently, deep drainage (percolation below the root zone) will likely increase and lead to groundwater recharge, at least temporarily. The primary aims of the study were to identify those biotic and abiotic factors facilitating deep drainage and to examine differences in recharge for the years following clearing of natural shrub vegetation. Soil chloride was examined to estimate long-term recharge rates, since its concentration in the soil is influenced by the movement of water. Short-term soil moisture trends were also monitored for any water movement deep in the soil profile in response to individual rain events. Rooting depths decreased following removal of vegetation; yet root biomass unexpectedly increased due to successful grass establishment during the first five years after treatment. Soil properties did not vary between treatments, indicating that the majority of chloride differences seen were a consequence of vegetation change. Peak and total soil chloride concentrations were expected to decrease and occur deeper in the soil profile 15-30 years following the clearing of woody vegetation. Total chloride decreased by up to 65% after 30 years and resulted in an estimated 14.9 mm/yr more recharge compared to adjacent untreated controls. Evidence in this study suggest that much of this chloride is leached during the first five years following treatment and that more leaching occurs in especially wet periods. During the wet 2007 growing season, soil moisture below the root zone increased by up to 17% after vegetation clearing. The results of this study indicate that hydrologic changes following brush removal were evident in this system and are likely to positively influence groundwater recharge in the long-term.

The present study is focused on evaluating higher actinides beyond uranium that are capable of supporting power and propulsion requirements in robotic deep space and interstellar exploration. The central technology in this thesis is based on utilizing advanced actinides for direct fission fragment energy conversion coupled with magnetic collimation. Critical fission configurations are explored which are based on fission fragment energy conversion utilizing a nano-scale layer of the metastable isotope 242mAm coated on carbon fibers. A 3-D computational model of the reactor core is developed and neutron properties are presented. Fission neutron yield, exceptionally high thermal fission cross sections, high fission fragment kinetic energy and relatively low radiological emission properties are identified as promising features of 242mAm as a fission fragment source. The isotopes 249Cf and 251Cf are found to be promising candidates for future studies. Conceptual system integration, deep space mission applicability and recommendations for future experimental development are introduced.

The thesis includes two aspects. The first part includes designs and optical study of electro-absorption modulator structures. Three structures are designed near 1.5

When first-line service providers are confronted with customers, they are usually demanded by the organization to display certain emotion to meet organization¡¦s service standard, such work condition is known as emotional labor. The purpose of present study was to explore the relationship between emotional management methods (i.e. surface acting and deep acting), the antecedents-personality (i.e. extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, openness to experiences, and neuroticism) and the consequences-burnout (i.e. emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished accomplishment) of emotional labors. To be specific, the study examined the relationships between personalities with two ways of acting and burnout, and also tends to explore what sort of relationship exists between two ways of acting and burnout. To test these hypotheses, self-report data were collected from 186 cosmetics saleswomen through questionnaires. The results suggested that extraversion; agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness to experiences had significant negative correlation with surface acting but had positive correlation with deep acting, and neuroticism had significant positive correlation with surface but negative correlation with deep acting; surface acting had significant positive correlation with three dimensions of burnout, while deep acting had significant negative correlation with three dimensions of burnout; the results also suggested that emotional management methods had moderating effect on the relationship of personalities and burnout. Implications for future research and service work were also discussed at the end.

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