Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1978.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1978.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1988.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1981.

The Master’s thesis describes electromyographic methods and it is focused on one of them - myofeedback. There are described principle, realization and application of myofeedback in this thesis. There is explained positive influence of using therapeutic games in therapeutic process. The diploma thesis deals with a realization and description of MFB-Amos apllication which allows to upgrade an electromyograph by myofeedback enabling of using the therapeutic games. Application allows measure of EMG signal and consecutive analysis, and offers three therapeutic games.

Master of Science / Animal Sciences and Industry / John M. Gonzalez / Pigs fed ractopamine-HCl (RAC) are more prone to fatigue and exhaustion when improperly handled. Wireless electromyography (EMG) can be used to directly measure median power frequency (MdPF) and root mean square (RMS) as indicators of action potential conduction velocity and muscle fiber recruitment, respectively. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of RAC on exhaustion, EMG measures, and muscle fiber type characteristics when barrows were subjected to increased levels of activity. Thirty-four barrows were assigned to one of two treatments: a commercial finishing diet containing 0 mg/kg (CON) RAC or a diet formulated to meet the requirements of finishing barrows fed 10 mg/kg RAC (RAC+) for 35 d. After 32 d of feeding, barrows were walked around a circular track at 0.79 m/s until subjective exhausted was reached. Time, distance, and speed were measured. Wireless surface EMG sensors were affixed to the Deltoideus (DT), Triceps brachii lateral head (TLH), Tensor fasciae latae (TFL), and Semitendinosus (ST) muscles. After harvest, samples of each muscle were collected for fiber type, succinate dehydrogenase, and capillary density analysis. Speed was not different (P = 0.82) between treatments, but RAC+ barrows reached subjective exhaustion quicker and covered less distance than CON barrows (P < 0.01). The end-point MdPF was not affected by the RAC diet. The RAC diet did not change end-point RMS values in the DT or TLH; however, the RAC+ barrows tended to have decreased ST and increased TFL end-point RMS values (P < 0.07). The percentage of type I fibers tended to be greater (P = 0.07) in RAC+ barrows, but the RAC diet tended to increase (P = 0.07) size of type I fibers and increase (P = 0.03) the size of type IIA fibers. Succinate dehydrogenase was not different between treatments. The RAC+ barrows had more (P = 0.03) capillaries per fiber than CON barrows. A diet containing RAC contributes to increased onset of subjective exhaustion, possibly due to rapid loss of active muscle fibers and chronic loss of oxidative muscle fibers with no change in muscle metabolism.

Research supports varied patterns of emotion-modulated startle (EMS) reactivity among depressed individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine whether these varied patterns can be explained by depression, empathic tendencies, and emotional stimuli. The EMS paradigm is a well-validated measure of emotion-modulated reactivity in which the magnitude of startle reflexes in reaction to acoustic stimuli are recorded while participants view pleasant, neutral, and negative images (Lang, Bradley, & Cuthbert, 1990). Young adults (N = 120; Mage = 19.54, SD = 1.41; 75% female) completed self-report rating scales of depression symptoms and cognitive and affective empathic tendencies and the EMS paradigm. Individuals with low depression, regardless of their cognitive (hp2 = .44 and .47) and affective empathic tendencies (hp2 = .49 and .36), and individuals with high depression and high cognitive and affective empathic tendencies (hp2 = .23, .46, respectively) exhibited the typical linear EMS reactivity pattern of increasing startle reflex magnitude from pleasant to neutral to unpleasant images. In contrast, individuals with high depression along with low cognitive and affective empathic tendencies exhibited blunted EMS reactivity patterns (hp2 = .000, .04, respectively). These findings indicate blunted EMS reactivity patterns only in depressed individuals who have low cognitive and affective empathic tendencies and are likely disengaged from emotional stimuli, thus suggesting variability among depressed individuals in motivational states that prime or inhibit the startle reflex.

Soft material-enabled electronics can demonstrate extreme mechanical flexibility and stretchability. Such compliant, comfortable electronics allow continuous, long-term measurement of biopotentials on the skin. Manufacturing of the stretchable electronic devices is enabled by the recent development combining materials transfer printing and microfabrication. However, the existing method using inorganic materials and multi-layered polymers requires long material preparation time and expensive processing cost due to the requirement of microfabrication tools and complicated transfer printing steps. Here, this study develops a new fabrication method of soft electronics via a micro-replica-molding technique, which allows fast production, multiple use, and low cost by avoiding microfabrication and multiple transfer printing. The core materials, carbon nanomaterials integrated with soft elastomers, further reduces the entire production cost, compared to costly metals such as gold and silver, while offering mechanical compliance. Collectively, skin-wearable electrodes, designed by optimized materials and fabrication method enable a high-fidelity measurement of non-invasive electromyograms on the skin for advanced human-machine interface, targeting prosthesis.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016. / Background The electromyographic response post-spinal manipulation may support the elucidation of the underlying neurophysiological mechanism of spinal manipulation on motor activity as well as on arthrogenic muscle inhibition. The literature shows conflicting evidence regarding the excitatory or inhibitory nature of the reflexive electromyographic response and the excitability of the homonymous motor neuron pool post-spinal manipulation. The current study investigated whether the electromyographic response post-spinal manipulation is affected by a facilitated golgi tendon organ Ib inhibitory di-synaptic spinal reflex as part of the convergent input on the homonymous motor neuron pool excitability. Objectives The objectives of this placebo-controlled, single-blinded, repeated measures design were: 1) to determine electrical activity and muscle force of the biceps brachii muscle immediately before and after an Activator Adjusting II Instrument placebo spinal manipulation, 2) to determine electrical activity and muscle force of the biceps brachii muscle immediately before and after a C5/C6 spinal manipulation, 3) to compare the electrical activity and muscle force of the biceps brachii muscle between the control and intervention groups pre- and post-test. Method Each participant performed three sets of modified stretching of the biceps brachii muscle with two minute rest intervals between each set in a single appointment, of which at a standardized fourth second during each set an intervention was applied to the ipsilateral C5/C6 segment. The first intervention (AAI 1) entailed the application of an Activator II Adjustment Instrument placebo spinal manipulation; the second intervention (AAI 2) entailed the application of an Activator II Adjustment Instrument placebo spinal manipulation; and the third intervention (SMT) entailed the application of spinal manipulation. One-second electromyography (EMG) segments were taken during the force plateau of each set; the EMG signal was processed through Root Mean Square (RMS) analysis and the muscle force data were obtained by using the Biopac - MP 150 Data Acquisition system and AcqKnowledge analysis software. Results The objective data analysis revealed a noteworthy scientific finding of a medical anomalous inverse relationship between the muscle force and EMG RMS immediately post-spinal manipulation. The immediate post-SMT intervention revealed an increase in the biceps brachii muscle force by 4.76 % and a decrease in the biceps EMG RMS by 9.03 % with a summation of percentage difference between the muscle force and EMG RMS of 13.79 %. The immediate post-placebo AAI 1 intervention showed a decrease in the biceps EMG RMS by 1.86 % and a decrease in the biceps brachii muscle force by 0.85 % with a summation of percentage difference between the muscle force and EMG RMS of 1.01 %. The immediate post-placebo AAI 2 intervention showed a decrease in the biceps EMG RMS by 0.05 % and a decrease in the biceps brachii muscle force by 1.97 % with a summation of percentage difference between the muscle force and EMG RMS of 1.92 %. Conclusion Further research is warranted to add statistical significance to the inverse relationship between muscle force and EMG RMS observed immediately post-spinal manipulation. This knowledge obtained, may have clinical relevance for rehabilitation practitioners and physical therapists by providing evidence based support for the suggestion that optimal management of patients with muscle weakness suspected to be of arthrogenic nature could include the application of spinal manipulation to the segmentally innervated facet joints before traditional strength training is initiated. / M