Thesis (M.A.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2004. / Vita. Bibliography: [91-92].

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-82).

L'imagerie médicale échographique présente plusieurs avantages comme son innocuité, sa facilité d'emploi, la diversité des organes concernés et le faible coût de ce mode d'imagerie. Cependant les images obtenues par échographique souffrent d'une résolution plutôt faible comparées à celle que l'on peut obtenir avec un appareil d'IRM ou en utilisant des rayons X. Le défi majeur de l'échographie médicale est donc de réussir à produire des images avec une résolution beaucoup plus fine, à fréquence nominale fixe.Des travaux ont été entrepris dans ce sens depuis longtemps. Plusieurs pistes ont été explorées. La majorité des travaux effectués jusqu'à présent a consisté à travailler sur l'échographe et particulièrement sur les sondes ultrasonores, avec principalement pour objectif d'augmenter la fréquence des ultrasons utilisés. Cette approche a conduit à l'existence de l'échographie haute résolution, avec cependant une limite importante qui est celle de la profondeur d'exploration.Une autre approche consiste à traiter numériquement des images échographiques classiques pour améliorer leur résolution. Cette méthode a plusieurs avantages, elle permet notamment de contourner la difficulté causée par la réduction de profondeur de champ liée à l'augmentation de la fréquence ultrasonore.Dans cette thèse, nous présentons une méthode permettant d'améliorer la résolution des images échographiques. Le travail de thèse à consister à adapter cette méthode à l'imagerie échographique et à proposer une estimation de la résolution théorique maximale atteinte par cette méthode en fonction de paramètres de l'image dont le SNR, et la largeur de bande de la PSF. Nous avons également proposé une méthode de superrésolution adaptée aux ultrasons. Par son apport sur l'amélioration théorique de la superrésolution et par l'adaptation au cas particulier de l'imagerie ultrasonore, ce travail de thèse ouvre des perspectives sur l'amélioration de la résolution des images échographiques par traitement du signal et de l'image. / Medical Imaging Ultrasound has several advantages such as its safety, ease of use, the diversity of organs that can be imaged and the low cost of this imaging mode. However, the images obtained by ultrasound suffer from relatively low resolution compared to others than can be obtain with an MRI or using X-rays. The major challenge of medical ultrasound is the ability to produce images with a resolution much finer, without modifying the nominal frequency.Work has been undertaken in this direction for some time. Several approaches have been explored. Most of the work done so far has been to work on the ultrasound acquiring device and particularly on ultrasonic probes, with main objective to increase the frequency of ultrasound used. This approach has led to the existence of high-resolution ultrasound, but with the reduction of the depth of exploration as an important limitation.Another approach is to treat numerically conventional ultrasound images to improve resolution. This method has several advantages, it allows to circumvent such difficulties caused by the reduction of depth of field due to the increase in the ultrasonic frequency.In this thesis, we present a method to improve the resolution of ultrasound images. The thesis to be to adapt this method to ultrasound imaging and to provide an estimate of the maximum theoretical resolution achieved by this method based on image parameters including SNR and the bandwidth of the PSF. We also proposed a method of superresolution suitable for ultrasound. By providing on improving theoretical superresolution and adaptation to the particular case of ultrasound, this thesis opens up on improving the resolution of ultrasound images by processing the signal and the image.

Submitted by DANIELA DE LIMA VIANA null (danielaviana28@gmail.com) on 2018-03-12T18:58:25Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese_Daniela_de_Lima_Viana.pdf: 1718435 bytes, checksum: fb23294ce65ac4d0c05140ed95a1d66d (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Neli Silvia Pereira null (nelisps@fcav.unesp.br) on 2018-03-13T13:15:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 viana_dl_dr_jabo.pdf: 1718435 bytes, checksum: fb23294ce65ac4d0c05140ed95a1d66d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-03-13T13:15:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 viana_dl_dr_jabo.pdf: 1718435 bytes, checksum: fb23294ce65ac4d0c05140ed95a1d66d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O cenário agrícola no Centro Oeste conta com os chamados sistemas de produção, nos quais os cultivos ocorrem de forma constante e sucessiva durante um mesmo ano agrícola. No entanto, isso tem propiciado problemas cada vez mais frequentes relacionados a alguns grupos de pragas, dentre eles os lepidópteros. Espécies como Chrysodeixis includens e o complexo de Spodoptera vem crescendo de importância, causando prejuízos, principalmente em culturas como a soja e o algodoeiro. Dentre os métodos mais utilizados para o controle de insetos-praga no Brasil, destaca-se o uso de OGM, a partir da inserção de genes da bactéria Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), com expressão de proteínas com ações inseticidas. Entretanto, um dos grandes problemas é a seleção de populações de pragas resistentes aos cultivos Bt devido ao uso contínuo e inadequado da tecnologia. Diante disso, os objetivos do presente estudo foram avaliar os efeitos de cultivares Bt de soja e algodoeiro, que expressam proteínas inseticidas Cry, sobre os aspectos biológicos de C. includens em laboratório, como também avaliar a dinâmica populacional e a infestação natural de lagartas de C. includens e de Spodoptera spp. em condições de campo, no estado do Mato Grosso. Para o estudo dos aspectos biológicos, utilizou-se lagartas neonatas que foram alimentadas com folhas das cultivares de soja e algodoeiro não Bt e Bt de diferentes tecnologias. Os experimentos de campo foram realizados em área experimental do IMAmt na safra 2016/2017, utilizando cultivares de soja e algodoeiro não Bt e Bt com expressão de diferentes proteínas Cry. As cultivares de soja Bt, que expressam a proteína Cry1Ac, afetam os parâmetros biológicos de C. includens, controlando de maneira eficiente, tanto em laboratório quanto em campo. Em relação às lagartas de Spodoptera spp. observou-se que as cultivares de soja Bt não controlam eficientemente esses lepidópteros. A cultivar de algodoeiro que expressa a proteína Cry1Ac, causa pouco efeito sobre as lagartas de C. includens, não apresentando controle satisfatório, tanto nos aspectos biológicos observados em laboratório quanto na infestação em campo, se comportando de forma similar à cultivar de algodoeiro não Bt. As cultivares de algodoeiro Bt piramidadas, Cry1Ac+Cry1F, Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab2 e Cry1Ab+Cry2Ae, apresentaram controle de C. includens, afetando a sobrevivência de lagartas pequenas em laboratório e campo. Por outro lado, a piramidação de cultivares por si só não é suficiente, por exemplo, para as lagartas de Spodoptera spp. Nos eventos de algodão Bt em campo, verificou-se que as cultivares que expressam as proteínas Cry1Ac e Cry1Ac+Cry1F, não suprimem suas infestações, enquanto que nas cultivares piramidadas que expressam Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab2 e Cry1Ab+Cry2Ae a supressão foi considerada eficiente. / The agricultural scenario in the brazilian midwest counts on the socalled production systems, in which crops occur constantly and successively during the same agricultural year. However, this has caused increasingly frequent problems related to some groups of pests, among them the Lepidoptera. Species such as Chrysodeixis includens and the Spodoptera complex have been increasing in importance, causing damage, especially in crops such as soybean and cotton. Among the most used methods for the control of insect pests in Brazil, the use of GMOs, from the insertion of genes of the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), with expression of proteins with insecticidal actions, stands out. However, one of the major problems is the selection of populations of pests resistant to Bt crops due to the continuous and inadequate use of the technology. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the effects of Bt cultivars of soybean and cotton, which express insecticidal Cry proteins, on the biological aspects of C. includens in the laboratory, as well as to evaluate the population dynamics and the natural infestation of caterpillars C. includens and Spodoptera spp. under field conditions, in the state of Mato Grosso. For the study of the biological aspects, we used caterpillars that were fed with leaves of the cultivars of soybean and non-Bt and Bt cotton of different technologies. Field experiments were carried out in the experimental area of the IMAmt in the 2016/2017 season, using soybean and cotton cultivars non-Bt and Bt with different Cry protein expression. Soybean Bt cultivars, which express the Cry1Ac protein, affect the biological parameters of C. includens, efficiently controlling both in the laboratory and in the field. In relation to the caterpillars of Spodoptera spp., it was observed that Bt soybean cultivars do not efficiently control these lepidoptera. The cotton cultivar that expresses the Cry1Ac protein causes little effect on the caterpillars of C. includens, not showing satisfactory control, both in the biological aspects observed in the laboratory and in the infestation in the field, behaving in a similar way to the cultivar of non-Bt cotton. Cotton Bt cultivars, Cry1Ac+Cry1F, Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab2 and Cry1Ab+Cry2Ae, showed control of C. includens, affecting the survival of small caterpillars in the laboratory and in the field. On the other hand, the pyramiding of cultivars alone is not sufficient, for example, for the caterpillars of Spodoptera spp. In the field cotton Bt events, it was found that cultivars expressing the Cry1Ac and Cry1Ac+Cry1F proteins do not suppress their infestations, whereas in pyrite cultivars expressing Cry1Ac+Cry2Ab2 and Cry1Ab+Cry2Ae suppression was considered efficient.

A doença de Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) caracteriza-se por comprometimento dos nervos periféricos de predomínio distal, tendo curso clínico variável. Observa-se quadro de evolução lenta de atrofia e fraqueza distal em membros inferiores, seguidos por diminuição da sensibilidade. Os reflexos estão em geral abolidos, mas podem estar exaltados e acompanhados de sinal de Babinski. É frequente o encontro de atrofia do terço distal das pernas, de pes cavos e de deformidades em artelhos. A doença de CMT pode ser classificada, com o auxílio da eletroneuromiografia, em desmielinizante (CMT1) ou axonal (CMT2). A CMT1 possui velocidade de condução motora do nervo mediano < 38 m/s e a CMT2 > 38m/s. A CMT1 é de herança autossômica dominante, e a CMT2 pode ser de herança dominante ou recessiva. A CMT2 é geneticamente heterogênea e conhecem-se até o momento 13 loci associados a essa condição, com nove genes identificados. O objetivo deste estudo é investigar do ponto de vista clínico, neurofisiológico e genético uma família com muitos portadores de CMT2. A família multigeneracional que apresenta CMT2 é procedente de Tobias Barreto, SE. Foi feita avaliação neurológica de 50 indivíduos e eletroneuromiografia em 22 pacientes. Com dados da avaliação clínica e eletroneuromiográfica foi aplicado o escore que avalia a gravidade da doença, o CMTNS. Para o estudo genético, foram coletadas 42 amostras de sangue de indivíduos afetados e de familiares não afetados. Entre os 50 indivíduos avaliados, 30 tinham sinais clínicos de neuropatia sensitivo-motora de predomínio distal. Paresia dos músculos distais foram os sinais clínicos mais precoces. Redução da sensibilidade superficial e profunda foi detectada nos segmentos distais. O sinal de Babinski estava presente em 14 indivíduos. A eletroneuromiografia demonstrou alterações compatíveis com polineuropatia axonal sensitiva e motora. O estudo genético demonstrou que, nesta família, CMT2 não está ligada a nenhum dos loci já conhecidos para esta condição, más o lócus do gene responsável não foi identificado até o momento. Em conclusão, as características clínicas e neurofisiológicas dessa família não diferem significativamente das observadas em outras formas de CMT, exceto pela alta prevalência de sinal de Babinski, e nossos resultados indicam a existência de um novo locus para CMT2 / Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is characterized by predominantly distal peripheral neuropathy with variable clinical course. Initial presentation is of a slowly progressive distal atrophy and weakness in lower limbs, followed by sensory compromise. Reflexes are usually abolished, but might be brisk and accompanied by Babinski sign. It is frequent to find distal atrophy of lower limbs, pes cavus and toe deformities. Electromyography can recognize two patterns of CMT: demyelinating (CMT1), which has a conduction median nerve velocity < 38 m/s and axonal (CMT2), with velocity > 38m/s. CMT1 is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, and CMT2 might be transmitted as an autosomal dominant or recessive. CMT is genetically heterogeneous, and, up to now, 13 loci have been recognized and nine genes identified. The aim of this study was to conduct an investigation of clinical, genetics and neurophysiological investigation of a multigenerational family with several individuals with CMT2 and to characterize phenotype, neurophysiological pattern and genetic basis of this condition. Fifty individuals were clinically evaluated and nerve conduction velocity studies and distal muscular activity in lower limbs using concentric needle were performed in 22 patients. A blood sample was collect from 42 individuals, in order to perform linkage analysis. Thirty, among the 50 evaluated individuals, had clinical signs of predominantely distal sensory motor neuropathy. Distal muscle paresis was an early clinical sign. Reduction of superficial and deep sensory was detected distally. Babinski sign was present in 14 affected individuals. Neurophysiological study was characteristic of axonal sensory-motor neuropathy. Linkage analysis demonstrated that in this family, CMT2 was not linked to any already known loci for this condition, but the responsible gene locus was not identified so far. In conclusion, clinical and neurophysiological characteristics of this family did not differ substantially from other forms of CMT, except by the high prevalence of Babinski sign. Our study also suggests the presence of a new locus for CMT2

Neuron types (e.g., pyramidal cells) within one area of the brain are often considered homogeneous, despite variability in their biophysical properties. Here we review literature demonstrating variability in the electrical activity of CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells (PCs), including responses to somatic current injection, synaptic stimulation, and spontaneous network-related activity. In addition, we describe how responses of CA1 PCs vary with development, experience, and aging, and some of the underlying ionic currents responsible. Finally, we suggest directions that may be the most impactful in expanding this knowledge, including the use of text and data mining to systematically study cellular heterogeneity in more depth; dynamical systems theory to understand and potentially classify neuron firing patterns; and mathematical modeling to study the interaction between cellular properties and network output. Our goals are to provide a synthesis of the literature for experimentalists studying CA1 PCs, to give theorists an idea of the rich diversity of behaviors models may need to reproduce to accurately represent these cells, and to provide suggestions for future research.

Le couplage étroit entre l'activité neuronale et l'augmentation du flux sanguin, appelé couplage neurovasculaire (CNV), est essentiel aux fonctions cérébrales. Ce processus est à la base de l'imagerie médicale cérébrale non invasive utilisée pour déterminer l'activité neuronale chez l'individu sain ou malade. Cependant, les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires du CNV restent encore débattus. La compréhension de ce processus permettra non seulement une interprétation plus fine des signaux d'imagerie cérébrale mais également un meilleur diagnostic des maladies neurologiques.De nombreux messagers vasoactifs sont impliqués dans le CNV du cortex cérébral. Les prostanoïdes, notamment libérés lors de l'activation des récepteurs NMDA, sont impliqués dans l'augmentation du flux sanguin cérébral. Cependant, l'origine cellulaire, moléculaire, la nature ainsi que les cibles de ces messagers lipidiques restent incertaines.La prostaglandine E2 (PGE2) et la prostacycline (PGI2), produits par les cyclo-oxygénases de type 1 ou 2 (COX-1 ou COX-2) et des enzymes terminales, sont les deux principaux prostanoïdes vasodilatateurs du cortex cérébral. Ce travail a montré que les vasodilatations induites par le NMDA dépendent de la COX-2 et nécessitent également l'activation des récepteurs EP2 et EP4 de la PGE2 et IP de la PGI2et que les neurones pyramidaux sont les principales cellules du cortex cérébral équipées pour la biosynthèse de la PGE2 et de la PGI2.L'ensemble de ces travaux démontre que les neurones pyramidaux jouent donc un rôle clé dans le CNV cortical via la libération de la PGE2. Produite par la COX-2, la PGE2 agit sur les récepteurs EP2 et EP4 et induit des vasodilatations. / The tight coupling between neuronal activity and cerebral blood flow, known as neurovascular coupling (NVC), is essential for brain functions. It is also the physiological basis of cerebral imaging, widely used to map neuronal activity in health and disease. Despite this importance, its cellular and molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. A better understanding of NVC will not only permit an accurate interpretation of cerebral imaging but also a better diagnosis of neurological diseases. In the cerebral cortex, numerous messengers are involved in NVC. Prostanoids, released during NMDA receptors activation, play a key role in NVC. However, the cellular and molecular origins, as well as the nature and the targets of this lipid messengers remain elusive. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostacyclin (PGI2), produced by the rate limiting cyclo-oxygenases 1 or 2 (COX-1 or COX-2) and specific terminal enzymes, are the main cortical vasodilatory prostanoid. This work shows that NMDA-induced vasodilations are COX-2 dependent and require the activation of EP2 and EP4 receptors of PGE2 and IP receptors of PGI2. Furthermore, pyramidal cells are the main cell type equipped for the biosynthesis of PGE2 and PGI2 derived from COX-2 activity. In summary, these observations demonstrate that pyramidal cells play a key role in NVC by releasing PGE2 produced via COX-2 and acting on the vasodilatory EP2 and EP4 receptors.

The sigma-1 receptor (sig-1R) is a unique endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone protein that interacts with a variety of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, which are components of an intricate system that regulates neuronal functioning. While there is an extensive body of knowledge pertaining to the sig-1R, many questions remain. The first question this thesis addresses is how the sig-1R modulates the functioning of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Using a heterologous expression system, I provide evidence that the mechanism of modulation is likely not a direct interaction between sig-1R and NMDAR and that this is not affected by the presence or absence of the membrane-associated guanylate kinases (MAGUK) protein PSD-95. The next question addressed investigates the impact of sig-1R absence on the synaptic physiology and action potential firing of CA1 pyramidal neurons. It was found that there is not a significant difference in these parameters, suggesting a non-essential role of the sig- 1R under normal physiological conditions. The third topic covered in my studies explores the sig-1R KO mouse in the Aβ25-35 infusion model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Preliminary results suggest that there is a dysfunction in the action potential characteristics and after- hyperpolarization characteristics of challenged sig-1R KO mice. Overall my results provide the groundwork for future experiments that will lead to a better understanding of the sig-1R and its role in cellular and synaptic physiology.

The Pyramidal Reaction Wheel Platform, or PRWP, is used to simulate three-axis controls in a torque free space-like environment. The primary purpose of the system will be to evaluate the effects of conjoining sensors to maximize pointing accuracy. Furthermore, the system will incorporate a star tracker in conjunction with a Simulated Star Field (SSF) to better estimate the PRWP orientation. For the sake of this document, however, the goal is to implement a gyroscope, wheel rate sensors, and a make-shift accelerometer—to the PRWP—and integrate a controls algorithm such that three-axis controls are achieved for the PRWP. Three sensors were either better integrated into the system or added altogether. Tachometers were created as a form of hardware circuitry to measure each wheel rate with an accuracy of approximately 2.5 Hz (nearly 15 radians per second). The TAC board circuitry converted each motors encoder output into a speed by use of a frequency to voltage converter. Additionally, although three gyroscopes had been implemented previously, the system was better incorporated into the model such that it was directly transformed via a ROBOSTIX ADC converter before being relayed to SIMULINK via a Bluetooth link. The MEMS gyroscopes allowed for very accurate rate measurements—with a minimum resolution of approximately 0.25 radians per second. Finally, a makeshift accelerometer was incorporated into the system for the purpose of system identification. The accelerometer was incorporated into the system by utilizing a discrete time derivative of the gyroscope readings. However, thankfully a system of two accelerometers can be later utilized to achieve an accuracy of approximately 6 degrees per second-second in the x-axis and 2-3 degrees per second-second in the y- and z-axes. A controls test was performed where the starting location was qo=[0, 0, sqrt(2)/2, sqrt(2)/2] and the target location was qc=[0, 0, 0, 1]. At 80 seconds, the pointing accuracy was 70 degrees around the target and the system was unable to settle during the 80 second trial. The inaccuracy was because of the low frequency of operation of the system—1 Hz. Additionally, the platform reacts slowly to sensor readings and commands. The coupling of these issues causes the pointing accuracy to high. Furthermore, through experimental testing, the maximum wheel rate was found to be approximately 6400 RPM at a duty cycle of 50% at an 8000Hz PWM application due to the Pololu MD01B design limitations: low voltage range (up to 16V), low limit current limiter (5A), and high susceptibility to overheating for large currents.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(理学) / 甲第20946号 / 理博第4398号 / 新制||理||1632(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院理学研究科化学専攻 / (主査)教授 大須賀 篤弘, 教授 依光 英樹, 教授 丸岡 啓二 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Science / Kyoto University / DGAM