La directive européenne 2013/35/UE précise les exigences minimales pour la protection des travailleurs exposés aux champs électromagnétiques et définit les porteurs d’implants comme travailleurs à risques particuliers. Concernant les porteurs de défibrillateur automatique implantable (DAI) ou de stimulateur cardiaque (SC), l’exposition au champ électrique ou magnétique d’extrêmement basse fréquence crée des inductions à l'intérieur du corps humain pouvant générer une tension perturbatrice susceptible de causer le dysfonctionnement de l’implant. Le sujet de ce travail de thèse porte sur la compatibilité électromagnétique des implants cardiaques soumis à un champ électrique basses fréquences (50/60 Hz). Des simulations numériques ont été effectuées afin de concevoir un banc expérimental pour l’exposition de fantômes incluant des stimulateurs ou des défibrillateurs implantables. Une étude expérimentale a permis d’établir par provocation les seuils de champ électrique permettant d’éviter tout dysfonctionnement éventuel de l’implant. Dans la partie simulation numérique ; un modèle humain virtuel (fantôme numérique contenant un implant cardiaque) a été placé en position debout sous une exposition verticale à un champ électrique. La méthode des éléments finis a été utilisée pour définir les phénomènes induits au niveau de l’implant cardiaque avec une résolution de 2mm (logiciel CST®). Dans la partie expérimentale, un banc d'essai dimensionné pour permettre de générer un champ électrique pouvant atteindre 100 kV/m aux fréquences 50-60 Hz a été conçu, optimisé et réalisé afin d’analyser le comportement des implants cardiaques. Plusieurs configurations ont été étudiées. Sur 54 implants cardiaques actifs testés (43 stimulateurs et 11 défibrillateurs) à des niveaux de champs électriques très élevés (100 kV/m) générés par notre dispositif expérimental, aux fréquences de 50-60 Hz, aucune défaillance n’a été observée pour des niveaux d’exposition publics et pour la plupart des configurations (+99%) sauf pour six stimulateurs cardiaques dans le cas d’une configuration « pire cas » peu réaliste en clinique : mode unipolaire avec une sensibilité maximale et en détection auriculaire. Les implants configurés avec une sensibilité nominale en mode bipolaire résistent bien à des champs électriques dépassant les valeurs seuils telles que définies par 2013/UE/35. / The European Directive 2013/ 35 / EU specify minimum requirements for the protection of workers exposed to electromagnetic fields and define with implants as “workers at particular risk”. Regarding the implantable cardioverter defibrillator wearers (ICD) or pacemaker (PM), exposure to electric or magnetic field of extremely low frequency creates inductions inside the human body that generate interference voltage which may cause the dysfunction of the implant. This thesis investigates the electromagnetic compatibility of cardiac implants subjected to an electric field low frequency (50/60 Hz). Computational simulations are effectuated in order to design an experimental bench for the exposure of a phantom including pacemakers or implantable defibrillators. A provocative study is established to define the electric field thresholds for preventing any malfunction of the implant. In numerical simulations; a virtual human model (digital phantom containing a cardiac implant) was placed in an upright position in a vertical exposure to an electric field. The finite element method was used to define the inductions in the cardiac implant level with a resolution of 2 mm (CST® software). In the experimental part, a test bench designed to allow generating an electric field up to 100 kV / m at frequencies 50-60 Hz was constructed, optimized and employed to investigate the behavior of cardiac implants.Several configurations were studied. 54 active cardiac implants (43 pacemakers and 11 defibrillators) are submitted to very high electric field of 50-60 Hz (up to 100 kV / m) inside the experimental bench. No failure was observed for public exposure levels for most configurations (+ 99%) except for six pacemakers in the case of a configuration clinically almost inexistent: unipolar mode with maximum sensitivity and atrial sensing.The implants configured with a nominal sensitivity in bipolar mode are resistant to electric fields exceeding the low action levels (ALs), even for the most high ALs, as defined by 2013 / 35 / EU

O objetivo principal deste trabalho é o estudo de transistores MuGFETs de porta tripla de Corpo de canal tipo-n com e sem a aplicação da configuração DTMOS. Este estudo será realizado através de simulações numéricas tridimensionais e por caracterizações elétricas. A corrente de dreno, a transcondutância, a resistência, a tensão de limiar, a inclinação de sublimiar e a Redução da Barreira Induzida pelo Dreno (DIBL) serão analisadas em modo DTMOS e em configuração de polarização convencional. Importantes figuras de mérito para o desempenho analógico como transcondutância-sobre-corrente de dreno, a condutância de saída, a tensão Early e o ganho de tensão intrínseco serão estudados tanto experimentalmente como através de simulações numéricas tridimensionais para diferentes concentrações de dopantes no canal. Os resultados indicam que a configuração DTMOS apresenta as características elétricas superiores (4 e 10 %) e maior eficiência dos transistores. Além disso, os dispositivos DTMOS com alta concentração de dopantes no canal apresentaram um desempenho analógico muito melhor quando comparados ao transistor de porta tripla de Corpo em modo de operação convencional. O ruído de baixa frequência (LF) é pela primeira vez experimentalmente analisado na região linear e saturação. A origem do ruído é analisada de maneira a compreender os mecanismos físicos envolvidos neste tipo de ruído. As medições mostraram que os espectros do sinal dos dispositivos de porta tripla de Corpo e DTMOS são compostos por flutuações referentes ao número de portadores devido ao ruído flicker e por ondas de ruído de geração e recombinação no dielétrico de porta que se torna maior com o aumento da tensão de porta. No entanto, o principal fato desta análise é que o dispositivo DTMOS apresentou praticamente a mesma magnitude do ruído LF na região linear e de saturação que o dispositivo de Corpo. A energia de 60 MeV na fluência de p/1012 cm-2 de radiações de prótons é também estudada experimentalmente em termos das características elétricas, desempenho do analógico e ruído LF nos dispositivos de porta tripla de Corpo e DTMOS. Os resultados indicam que combinado com as suas melhores características elétricas e um ótimo desempenho analógico do DTMOS, faz o transistor de porta tripla de Corpo um candidato muito competitivo para aplicações analógicas em ruído de baixa frequência antes e depois da irradiação. A vantagem da técnica DTMOS em transistores de porta tripla em ambientes onde os dispositivos têm de suportar alta radiação é devido à menor penetração do campo de dreno que reduz o efeito das cargas induzidas pelo óxido de isolação (STI). Finalmente, o transistor de Corpo de porta tripla de canal tipo-n é experimentalmente estudado como célula de memória, isto é, como 1T-DRAM (Memória de Acesso Aleatório Dinâmico com 1 transistor). Para escrever e ler 1 é utilizado um modo de programação que utiliza o efeito do transistor bipolar parasitário (BJT) enquanto a polarização direta da junção do corpo e do dreno é usada para escrever 0. As correntes de leitura e escrita aumentam com o aumento da tensão do corpo (VB) porque as cargas induzidas pelo efeito BJT é armazenada dentro da aleta. Quando o corpo do transistor está flutuante, o dispositivo retém mais cargas dentro da sua aleta. Além disso, transistor de Corpo pode ser utilizado como 1T-DRAM com eletrodo de porta e substrato flutuando. Neste caso, o dispositivo funciona como um biristor (sem porta). / The main goal of this work is to investigate the n-channel MuGFETs (triple-gate) Bulk transistors with and without the application of DTMOS operation. This work will be done through three-dimensional numerical simulation and by electrical characterizations. The drain current, transconductance, resistance, threshold voltage, subthreshold swing and Drain Induced Barrier Lowering (DIBL) will be analyzed in the DTMOS mode and the standard biasing configuration. Important figures of merit for the analog performance such as transconductance-over-drain current, output conductance, Early voltage and intrinsic voltage gain will be studied experimentally and through three-dimensional numerical simulations for different channel doping concentrations. The results indicate that the DTMOS configuration has superior electrical characteristics (4 e 10 %) and higher transistor efficiency. In addition, DTMOS devices with a high channel doping concentration exhibit much better analog performance compared to the normal operation mode. Low-Frequency (LF) noise is for the first time experimentally investigated in linear and saturation region. The origin of the noise will be analyzed in order to understand the physical mechanisms involved in this type of noise. Measurements showed that the signal spectra for Bulk and DTMOS are composed of number fluctuations related flicker noise with on top generation and recombination noise humps, which become more pronounced at higher gate voltage. However, the most important finding is the fact that DTMOS devices showed practically the same LF noise magnitude in linear and saturation region than standard Bulk device. Proton irradiation with energy of 60 MeV and fluence of p/1012 cm-2 is also experimentally studied in terms of electric characteristic, analog performance and the LF noise in Bulk and DTMOS triple gate devices. The results indicate that the combined of the better electrical characteristics and an excellent analog performance of DTMOS devices, makes it a very competitive candidate for low-noise RF analog applications before and after irradiation. The advantage of dynamic threshold voltage in triple gate transistors in environments where the devices have to withstand high-energy radiation is due to its lower drain electric field penetration that lowers the effect of the radiation-induced charges in the STI (shallow trench isolation) regions adjacent to the fin. Finally, the n-channel triple gate Bulk device is used for memory application, that is, 1T-DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory with 1 Transistor). Bipolar junction transistor (BJT) programming mode is used to write and read 1 while the forward biasing of the body-drain junction is used to write 0. The reading and writing current increases with increasing body bias (VB) because the load induced by the BJT effect is stored within the fin. When the body of the transistor is floating, the device retains more charge within its fin. In addition, transistor could also operate as 1T-DRAM with both gate and bulk contacts floating, which is similar to the biristor (gateless) behavior.

Este trabalho aborda as oscilações eletromecânicas de baixa frequência, relativas a modos interáreas, pouco amortecidos, avaliando o seu impacto no desempenho de redes elétricas multi-máquinas com o objetivo de elevar o amortecimento destes modos com equipamentos TCSC. Os locais apropriados para instalação destes equipamentos são escolhidos com a análise dos resíduos de funções de transferência e o ajuste de parâmetros, para o projeto coordenado de controladores, utiliza o método de imposição de polos. O sistema não linear de equações, obtido com a aplicação do método de imposição de polos, supondo coeficientes de amortecimento pré-estabelecidos, é resolvido utilizando-se o método de Newton Raphson. Adicionalmente, avalia-se a possibilidade do método auxiliar na análise de interações entre controladores e identificação de acoplamentos, por meio da análise dos termos que compõem as equações de imposição de polos. / This work deals with low frequency oscillations related to inter-area modes, evaluating their impact on the performance of multi-machine electrical networks with the aim to increase the damping of these modes using TCSC. The best places to install these devices are chosen with the analysis of the residues of transfer functions and the parameter fitting for coordinated application of stabilizers is performed with the pole placement method. The nonlinear system of equations, obtained with the pole placement method, assuming specified damping factors, is solved with the Newton-Raphson method. The method is also used in the analysis of control interaction among stabilizers through the evaluation of individual parcels of the pole placement equations, as an additional feature of the approach.

Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is an essential part in today’s society and there are more products around us that emit electromagnetic waves than ever before. To make sure that all these products function properly under all circumstances EMC testing is needed. One test that is conducted is radiated immunity testing. A susceptibility antenna is needed to perform immunity testing. This thesis aims to show that a tuneable antenna could be used for immunity testing in the frequency band 26-150 MHz and in the future replace the current antenna, which is not tuneable, used at SAAB Support and Services EMC in Östersund. A simulation program called EZNEC+ was used to simulate different antennas that were tested in the semi-anechoic chamber at SAAB. Two antenna types showed better efficiency and reached lower in frequency than SAAB’s current antenna. These antennas were a bowtie antenna and an x-shaped antenna, both extending in only two spacial directions instead of the normal three. Their drawback was a less uniform E-field at the lowest frequencies, where the E-field was much stronger to the sides compared to straight in front of the antenna. This results in a narrow lobe width, but if this drawback could be accepted or mitigated both antennas are possible replacements for the current antenna at SAAB and should be further investigated.

Dans un contexte de sélection sexuelle, les systèmes de communication permettant l’attraction et la stimulation du partenaire sexuel et la compétition entre individus du même sexe sont indispensables. Ceci est particulièrement vrai chez les espèces à système d’appariement polygyne de type lek, où les mâles rassemblés dans l’espace sont en compétition pour l’accès aux femelles. Chez notre sujet d’étude, l’outarde houbara nord-africaine les males réalisent des parades incluant des démonstrations visuelles et des vocalisations appelées booms, sur des sites espacés les uns des autres par des distances importantes dans un système qualifié de lek explosé. Notre objectif était d’étudier les systèmes de codage-décodage des informations exprimées durant la parade des mâles chez cette espèce. Nous avons démontré l’existence d’un codage de l’identité individuelle porté par des paramètres visuels et des paramètres acoustiques des vocalisations. Des associations significatives entre des paramètres des booms et des caractéristiques physiques et comportementales des mâles susceptibles de refléter leur qualité, ont également été mises en évidence. Ainsi, les mâles qui produisent les booms les plus graves avaient les masses les plus importantes et paradaient le plus intensément. Lorsque des interactions agonistiques étaient simulées expérimentalement en diffusant des leurres acoustiques, les mâles avaient des réponses comportementales différentes en fonction de la fréquence des booms diffusés. Ainsi le niveau fréquentiel des booms des autres mâles est effectivement perçu et décodé par les individus en compétition. Par ailleurs, plusieurs paramètres des booms sont génétiquement déterminés et héritables, et pourraient porter une information sur l’apparentement entre individus.Certains paramètres sont également liés à la consanguinité des individus. Nous avons montré également que les booms sont particulièrement bien adaptés à la communication à grande distance. En effet, les booms sont de très basse fréquence, se propagent à des distances supérieures à 640 m, et les paramètres supportant le codage-décodage de l’information sont résistants à la propagation et produits de manière redondante. Enfin, les signaux acoustiques et des signaux visuels et semblent agir en synergie (multimodalité) ce qui pourraient améliorer l’efficacité de la communication à grande distance. Ainsi notre étude a démontré que des informations complexes sont transmises durant la parade des mâles au travers de signaux acoustiques et visuels au sein d’un réseau de communication à grande distance. / Résumé en anglais ;In a context of sexual selection, the communication between individuals is essential to optimize both intra-sexual (competition between male) and inter-sexual (mate choice) processes. This is particularly true in species with lek mating systems, where both processes reach their full expression. The North African Houbara bustard, Chlamydotis undulata undulata, is a lekking bird where courting males aggregate in a so called ‘exploded-lek’, i.e. where aggregation is detectable only when mapped over a large area. During the breeding season, males perform a conspicuous and spectacular courtship including visual and acoustic (booms) signals. Our aim was to decipher the coding-decoding systems of the courtship in this species. We found that males can be individually discriminated on the basis of visual and acoustic parameters. The booms produced during the courtship are also related to males’ characteristics susceptible to reflect their quality. Individuals who produced the lowest frequency booms were those with the greatest weights and performed the highest intensity courtships. Playback experiment shows that the frequency content of the booms was perceived and decoded by males during agonistic interaction, leading to significantly different behavioural responses according to the frequency of the signals played back. Furthermore, several acoustic parameters of the booms are significantly heritable through genetic transmission and these parameters are also related to the level of inbreeding. Finally, we showed that the booms and the acoustic parameters supporting information are particularly well adapted to the transmission of information at long range as required in a long distance communication network constituted by an exploded lek. First, booms are of very low-frequency and propagate up to 640 m. Second, coding-decoding of information relies on sequentially redundant and propagation-resistant features. Third, acoustic signals are combined with visual signalling (multimodality) which may improve the long distance transmission of the information. This study brought evidence that complex information is conveyed by visual and acoustic signals during the courtship of males within a long distance network.

Este trabalho aborda as oscilações eletromecânicas de baixa frequência, relativas a modos interáreas, pouco amortecidos, avaliando o seu impacto no desempenho de redes elétricas multi-máquinas com o objetivo de elevar o amortecimento destes modos com equipamentos TCSC. Os locais apropriados para instalação destes equipamentos são escolhidos com a análise dos resíduos de funções de transferência e o ajuste de parâmetros, para o projeto coordenado de controladores, utiliza o método de imposição de polos. O sistema não linear de equações, obtido com a aplicação do método de imposição de polos, supondo coeficientes de amortecimento pré-estabelecidos, é resolvido utilizando-se o método de Newton Raphson. Adicionalmente, avalia-se a possibilidade do método auxiliar na análise de interações entre controladores e identificação de acoplamentos, por meio da análise dos termos que compõem as equações de imposição de polos. / This work deals with low frequency oscillations related to inter-area modes, evaluating their impact on the performance of multi-machine electrical networks with the aim to increase the damping of these modes using TCSC. The best places to install these devices are chosen with the analysis of the residues of transfer functions and the parameter fitting for coordinated application of stabilizers is performed with the pole placement method. The nonlinear system of equations, obtained with the pole placement method, assuming specified damping factors, is solved with the Newton-Raphson method. The method is also used in the analysis of control interaction among stabilizers through the evaluation of individual parcels of the pole placement equations, as an additional feature of the approach.

Die Modulation von Distorsionsprodukt-Otoemissionen (DPOAE) durch Töne tiefer Frequenz ist ein Methode, mit der die Auswirkung von Verlagerungen der kochleären Trennwand auf die Funktion des kochleären Verstärkers untersucht werden kann. Damit bietet sie einen neuen objektiven Ansatz zur Diagnostik unterschiedlicher kochleärer Hörstörungen sowie zur Untersuchung physiologischer Mechanismen der Kochlea. Durch einen tieffrequenten Ton (f = 32,8 Hz) werden die DPOAE in Abhängigkeit von dessen Phase periodisch verändert. Die Ausprägung der Modulation hängt von den Parametern des Tieftons und der Primärtöne (mit den Frequenzen f1 und f2) ab. Bei zwölf normalhörenden Probanden wird der Einfluß des Tieftonpegels, der Primärtonpegel und der Primärtonfrequenzen auf die Modulation der DPOAE mit der Frequenz 2f1-f2 untersucht. Die Ergebnisse dieser Methode werden mit denen der subjektiven Phasenaudiometrie bei diesen Probanden verglichen. Mit den Primärtonfrequenzen f1 = 2,5 und f2 = 3 kHz steigt die mittlere Modulationstiefe der DPOAE mit zunehmendem Tieftonpegel sowie mit abnehmenden Primärtonpegeln nichtlinear. Mit hohem Tieftonpegel (L = 115 dB SPL) und geringen Primärtonpegeln (bis zu L1 = 50 und L2 = 30 dB HL) sind DPOAE-Pegelverläufe mit zwei Minima und zwei Maxima pro Tieftonperiode zu beobachten. Die Pegelminima liegen kurz nach der maximalen Druck- bzw. Sogphase des Tieftons vor dem Trommelfell, entsprechend der maximalen Auslenkung der kochleären Trennwand in Richtung Scala vestibuli bzw. Scala tympani. Sie zeigen eine mittlere Latenz von 4 ms gegenüber den Verdeckungsmaxima der subjektiven Mithörschwelle im Phasenaudiogramm, die wahrscheinlich durch die Summe der Antwortzeit der aktiven kochleären Prozesse und der Laufzeit der DPOAE-Signale retrograd aus der Kochlea zur Meßsonde im äußeren Gehörgang zustande kommt. Mit geringeren Tieftonpegeln (L = 110 dB SPL) bzw. höheren Primärtonpegeln (ab L1 = 55 und L2 = 40 dB HL) sowie höheren Primärtonfrequenzen (f1 = 4, f2 = 4,8 kHz) sind nur noch jeweils ein DPOAE-Pegelminimum und -maximum pro Tieftonperiode zu beobachten. Mit den Primärtonfrequenzen f1 = 5 und f2 = 6 kHz zeigt sich keine Modulation der DPOAE mehr. Die Ergebnisse werden unter Verwendung einer Boltzmannfunktion zweiter Ordnung als Annäherung an die mechano-elektrische Transferfunktion äußerer Haarzellen simuliert. Bei einigen Probanden werden außerdem die Modulation der DPOAE mit der Frequenz 3f1-2f2 durch den tieffrequenten Ton sowie der Einfluß spontaner otoakustischer Emissionen (SOAE) auf die Messung tieftonmodulierter DPOAE untersucht. / Low-frequency modulation of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) is a method which allows to investigate the effect of the displacement of the cochlear partition on the function of the active cochlear process. It offers a new objective approach to diagnose different sensory hearing disorders as well as to investigate physiological cochlear mechanisms. The DPOAE are modulated by a low-frequency tone (with the frequency f = 32,8 Hz), depending on its phase. The extent of this modulation depends on the acoustic parameters of the suppressing low-frequency tone and the stimulating primary tones (f1 and f2). In twelve normal hearing subjects the influence of the low-frequency tone level, the levels and the frequencies of the primary tones on the modulation of the DPOAE with the frequency 2f1-f2 are investigated. In these subjects, the phase-dependent masked subjective threshold is also registered. The results of both methods are compared. With the primary tone frequencies f1 = 2,5 and f2 = 3 kHz the mean value of the DPOAE modulation depth presents a nonlinear growth with increasing low-frequency tone level and decreasing primary tone levels, respectively. With high low-frequency tone level (L = 115 dB SPL) and low primary tone levels (up to L1 = 55 and L2 = 40 dB HL), the time course of the DPOAE level shows two minima and two maxima within one period of the low-frequency tone. The minimal DPOAE levels are registered shortly after the phases of maximal condensation and rarefaction of the low-frequency tone in front of the eardrum, respectively, corresponding to the largest displacement of the cochlear partition towards the scala tympani and the scala vestibuli. The time course of the DPOAE level shows a mean latency of 4 ms with regard to the masking patterns of the phase-dependent masked threshold, due to the response time of the active cochlear process and the retrograde travelling time of the DPOAE. With lower low-frequency tone levels (L1 = 110 dB SPL), higher primary tone levels (from L1 = 55, L2 = 40 dB HL), and higher primary tone frequencies (f1 = 4, f2 = 4,8 kHz), respectively, the DPOAE level presents only one maximum and one minimum per period of the low-frequency tone. With the primary frequencies f1 = 5 and f2 = 6 kHz no modulation of the DPOAE is registered. The results are simulated using a second-order Boltzmann function as an approximation of the mechano-electric transfer function of the outer hair cells. Additionally, in some subjects the low-frequency modulation of the DPOAE with the frequency 3f1-2f2 and the influence of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAE) on the registration of low-frequency modulated DPOAE are investigated.

<p>The present study examines the effects of immersion education on the English of two groups of advanced Swedish learners at upper secondary school. In immersion education, or CLIL, subject content is taught through a second language as a means of enhancing target language competence. In this study, language proficiency was measured in terms of the ratio of low frequency vocabulary (LFV) and the ratio of motivated tense shift (MTSh) in the learners’ free written production in English. An additional aim was to see whether the results were related to the students’ motivation as reported in a questionnaire.</p><p>This longitudinal study was based on three sets of narratives, written by 86 students, half of them enrolled at the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) where English is the medium of instruction, and the other half at national programmes (NP), where English is studied as a foreign language. At the outset, the IB and NP groups had similar results on a general diagnostic test, which was the basis for the formation of three subgroups: I, II and III, with above average, average and below average scores respectively. Mean LFV and MTSh ratios as well as different kinds of motivation were compared, both overall and in the subgroups.</p><p>The IB students overall, and those in subgroup III in particular, showed the best results. As to the overall results, the IB students used significantly higher mean ratios of LFV and MTSh than the NP students in the final set of compositions. There were also a number of motivational factors that were stronger in the IB students.</p><p>As to the subgroups, the most interesting results were found in subgroups I and III. While the IB students in subgroup I had high mean ratios already in the first composition, and retained them over time, their use of MTSh tended to grow subtler. The NP students had lower mean results initially, and while their mean MTSh ratio increased and ended up on a level similar to that of the IB students, their mean LFV ratio remained low.</p><p>In subgroup III the results of the IB and NP students diverged over time. While the IB students progressed as reflected in their mean LFV and MTSh ratios, the NP students tended to regress. The difference in mean LFV ratios was statistically significant. The IB students were also better motivated than their NP peers. In all, this study suggests that immersion education has positive target language effects, especially on less proficient but motivated students.</p>

No description available.

The nervous system is made up of specialized cells which receive and respond to environmental stimuli. Intercellular communication in the nervous system is achieved predominantly through chemical synaptic transmission. Within the chemical synapse, the actin cytoskeleton plays a major role in regulating synaptic activities, although the extent and clarity in our understanding of these processes is still limited. Using the genetically pliable model, Drosophila melanogaster, this thesis begins to unravel contributions of actin binding proteins to synaptic development and physiology at the larval neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Two actin binding proteins, Moesin and Nonmuscle Myosin II (NMMII) were selected for study based on previous studies implicating them in synaptic development. Combining genetics, fluorescent imaging and electrophysiological recordings this thesis unveils previously unidentified functions for Moesin and NMMII in morphology and physiology of the Drosophila NMJ. Moesin was found to help restrain synaptic growth but did not affect synaptic physiology. By correlating morphological and electrophysiological measurements in Moesin mutants, it was determined that physiology and morphology can be independently regulated at the NMJ. NMMII was used to investigate a role for actin binding proteins in physiology at the Drosophila NMJ. By using the fluorescent imaging technique, FRAP, this becomes the first research to implicate NMMII in unstimulated synaptic vesicle mobility. FRAP indicated that vesicle mobility was highly dependent on the expression level of NMMII. Electrophysiological analysis of NMMII indicated distinct mechanisms for spontaneous and evoked vesicle release. NMMII expression exhibited a positive correlation with basal synaptic transmission and was important in mobilizing vesicles for synaptic potentiation. In addition, NMMII was found to be involved in a high frequency dependent low frequency depression. This work begins to identify how vesicles traverse within boutons and suggests differential mechanisms of synaptic release, both of which are partially dependent of NMMII expression. Studying Moesin and NMMII have revealed a complex interplay between the actin cytoskeleton and synaptic function and together this research furthers our understanding of how the actin cytoskeleton regulates synaptic activity.