Η λειτουργική διαφοροποίηση κατά το διαφραγματοκροταφικό άξονα του ιπποκάμπου αφορά και την επιληψία. Χρησιμοποιώντας το μοντέλο ελεύθερο μαγνησίου και δυναμικά πεδίου παρατηρήσαμε πως οι επιληπτόμορφες εκφορτίσεις παρατηρούνταν πιο συχνά, είχαν μεγαλύτερη συχνότητα, διάρκεια και ένταση στις κοιλιακές τομές. Ο ανταγωνιστής των NMDA υποδοχέων AP5 μείωσε τη διάρκεια μόνο στις κοιλιακές τομές. Η προσθήκη του NMDA προκάλεσε εμμένουσες επιληπτόμορφες εκφορτίσεις στο 51% των κοιλιακών και το 9% των ραχιαίων τομών. Προτείνουμε πως οι υποδοχείς NMDA συμμετέχουν στη μεγαλύτερη ευπάθεια του κοιλιακού ιπποκάμπου τόσο στην έκφραση όσο και στη μακρόχρονη διατήρηση των επιληπτόμορφων εκφορτίσεων. Για να μελετήσουμε την επιληπτογένεση με άρση του αδενοσινεργικού τόνου, χρησιμοποιήσαμε πρωτόκολλα εκλεκτικού ή μη αποκλεισμού των αδενοσινεργικών υποδοχέων σε συνθήκες ελεύθερες μαγνησίου και καταγράψαμε αυθόρμητα ή προκλητά δυναμικά πεδίου στη CA3 σε κοιλιακές και ραχιαίες τομές. O αποκλεισμός του Α1 προκάλεσε επιληπτογένεση στο 31,13% των ραχιαίων και στο 52,76% των κοιλιακών τομών (P<0,05). Ο σύγχρονος αποκλεισμός του NMDA υποδοχέα αύξησε τα ποσοστά επιληπτογένεσης και στους δυο πόλους (76,38% στις ραχιαίες τομές vs 80,68% στις κοιλιακές τομές). Αυτή η NMDA-ανεξάρτητη επιληπτογένεση μειώθηκε σημαντικά με την προσθήκη του ανταγωνιστή των Α2 υποδοχέων κυρίως στις ραχιαίες τομές. O αποκλεισμός του Α1 υποδοχέα σε συνθήκες αποκλεισμού των NMDA υποδοχέων προκάλεσε παρόμοια αύξηση της κλίσης του fEPSP στις ραχιαίες τομές και στις κοιλιακές τομές. Ο επιπλέον αποκλεισμός των Α2 υποδοχέων επανέφερε την κλίση του fEPSP στο αρχικό της μέγεθος μόνο στις ραχιαίες τομές. Ο σύγχρονος αποκλεισμός των Α1 και Α2 υποδοχέων προκάλεσε επιληπτογένεση πρακτικά μόνο στις κοιλιακές τομές. H επιληπτογένεση αυτή ήταν μερικώς NMDA-εξαρτώμενη. Επιπλέον ενώ ο αποκλεισμός του Α1 προκάλεσε αύξηση της επιφάνειας της καμπύλης του fEPSP σε συνθήκες ελεύθερες μαγνησίου μόνο στις ραχιαίες τομές (96,15%), ο σύγχρονος αποκλεισμός των Α1 και Α2 υποδοχέων προκάλεσε αύξηση κατά 196,62% στις ραχιαίες τομές και 105,26% στις κοιλιακές τομές. Συμπεραίνουμε πως ο εκλεκτικός ή μη αποκλεισμός των υποδοχέων της αδενοσίνης προκαλεί διαφορετικά είδη επιληπτογένεσης που οφείλονται στις διαφορετικές δράσεις των υποδοχέων της αδενοσίνης και την ικανότητα του κοιλιακού ιπποκάμπου για ΝMDA-εξαρτώμενη επιληπτογένεση Χρησιμοποιώντας δυναμικά πεδίου σε κοιλιακές τομές και δυο μοντέλα επιληπτογένεσης παρατηρήσαμε πως οι σχετιζόμενες με τις επιληπτόμορφες εκφορτίσεις υψίσυχνες ταλαντώσεις και η διεγερτική νευροδιαβίβαση συμμεταβάλονται κατά τη διάρκεια της επιληπτογένεσης Παθολογικές υψίσυχνες ταλαντώσεις παρατηρήθηκαν πάντα στην NMDA-εξαρτημένη αλλά όχι και την NMDA-ανεξάρτητη επιληπτογένεση. Η διάρκεια των υψίσυχνων ταλαντώσεων συσχετίστηκε με τη διάρκεια των μεσοκριτικών εκφορτίσεων μόνο μετά την επαγωγή της επιληπτογένεσης Χρησιμοποιώντας ερεθισμό 100Hz και αυξημένη συγκέντρωση καλίου επάγαμε LTP με ερεθισμό των παράπλευρων κλάδων στη CA3 σε συνθήκες αποκλεισμού των υποδοχέων NMDA. Ο νέος τύπος του NMDA-ανεξάρτητου αυτού LTP παρουσίασε αργή ανάπτυξη στο χρόνο, δε μετέβαλε τη διευκόλυνση με σύζευξη παλμών και δεν επαγόταν με ταυτόχρονο αποκλεισμό των ευαίσθητων στη νιφεδιπίνη διαύλων ασβεστίου. Το μέγεθος του LTP ήταν σημαντικά μεγαλύτερο στις ραχιαίες τομές σε σχέση με τις κοιλιακές. / Functional segregation along the dorso-ventral axis of the hippocampus refers to epilepsy too. Using the model of magnesium-free medium and field recordings, single epileptiform discharges displayed higher incidence, rate, duration and intensity in ventral compared with dorsal rat hippocampal slices. The NMDA receptor antagonist AP5 shortened the discharges in ventral slices only. At 5 and 10μΜ of NMDA application 51% of the ventral but only 9% of the dorsal slices displayed persistent epileptiform discharges. We propose that the NMDA receptors contribute to the higher susceptibility of the ventral hippocampus to expression and long-term maintenance of epileptiform discharges. To study epileptogenesis following withdrawal of adenosinergic tone we used models of selective or non-selective blockade of adenosine receptors in magnesium-free medium and we recorded spontaneous or evoked field potentials in CA3 in dorsal as well as ventral slices. Blockade of A1 resulted in epileptogenesis in 31,13% of dorsal and in 52,76% of ventral slices used (P<0,05). NMDAR blockade increased epileptogenesis scores in both poles (76,38% in dorsal slices vs 80,68% in ventral slices). This NMDAR-dependent epileptogenesis was significantly aborted by blockade of A2R more in dorsal slices. Blockade of A1R under conditions of NMDAR blockade resulted to a similar increase of fEPSP slope in dorsal and ventral slices. The additional blockade of A2R decreased fEPSP slope to its original value in dorsal slices only. Simultaneous blockade of A1 and A2 receptors induced epileptogenesis practically in ventral slices only. This epileptogenesis was partially NMDA-dependent. Futrhermore A1R blockade resulted to an increase of fEPSP area under conditions of magnesium-free medium in dorsal slices only, whereas simultaneous blockade of both A1 and A2 receptors to an increase by 196,62% in dorsal slices and by 105,26% in ventral slices. We conclude that the selective or not blockade of adenosine receptors induces different kinds of epileptogenesis and this can be attributed to the different actions of adenosine receptors and the capability of ventral hippocampus to support NMDA-dependent epileptogenesis Employing field recordings from ventral hippocampal slices and two models of epileptogenesis, we found that HFOs associated with epileptiform bursts and excitatory synaptic transmission were co-modulated during epileptogenesis Pathological HFOs>200Hz were unequivocally present in persistent bursts induced by NMDA receptor-dependent but not NMDA receptor-independent mechanisms. The duration of pathological HFOs associated with persistent bursts but not of HFOs associated with bursts before the establishment of epileptogenesis was linearly and strongly correlated with the duration of bursts. Using 100Hz trains and medium with a higher concentration of potassium cations we induced LTP by stimulating associational/commissural fibers in CA3 region under conditions of NMDA receptor blockade. This new type of NMDAR-independent LTP displayed slow kinetics, did not change paired pulse facilitation and was prevented by simultaneous blockade of nifedipine-sensitive calcium channels. The incidence as well as the amplitude of LTP was greater in dorsal slices compared to ventral ones.

De nombreuses applications industrielles mettent en évidence l'importance des propriétés de mouillage des surfaces métalliques que ce soit directement pour les propriétés d'écoulement de fluides sur ces surfaces ou indirectement pour leur lien avec les phénomènes d'adhésion. Les travaux de Wenzel (1936) et de Cassie -Baxter (1944) ont montré que cette mouillabilité dépendait à la fois de la tension superficielle du solide mais aussi de sa topographie de surface. Ainsi la maîtrise et l'optimisation de ces propriétés nécessitent le contrôle de ces deux aspects, à l'image de la feuille de lotus dont le caractère super-hydrophobe réside à la fois en la présence d'une cire hydrophobe et d'une rugosité multi-échelle. Ces observations sont à l'origine, cette dernière décennie, du développement des techniques de gravures chimiques pour réaliser des texturations superficielles de matériaux et contrôler leur mouillabilité. Afin de surmonter certaines limitations de ces techniques et privilégier un procédé par voie sèche, nous avons envisagé de structurer la surface d'alliages métalliques de titane, d'aluminium, et de différents aciers inoxydables, au moyen d'un traitement de surface par laser femtoseconde. L'analyse topographique de la surface des matériaux (profilométrie optique, AFM, MEB) en fonction des paramètres d'irradiation du laser comme la densité de puissance laser, le nombre d'impulsions et le décalage latéral du faisceau en configuration balayage, a montré l'efficacité de ce procédé pour générer des texturations multi-échelles. Les différentes morphologies de textures peuvent être associées à des transitions de régimes dans l'interaction laser - matière (ripples, spikes, ...). L'analyse chimique et structurale (DRX, XPS) des surfaces traitées a mis en évidence des modifications microstructurales dues aux effets thermiques du laser ainsi qu'une évolution de l'état chimique de la surface dont les effets sur la mouillabilité sont importants. L'hydrophobie des surfaces métalliques a été considérablement accentuée par le traitement laser. Ces résultats pourront être exploités pour différentes applications industrielles notamment comme moyen de contrôler l'état de surface des moules de plasturgie.

Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Thesis (M.A. (Research Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2010.

Alors que le rat apprend à chercher de multiples sources de nourriture ou d'eau, des processus d'apprentissage de séquences spatiales et de rejeu ont lieu dans l'hippocampe et le cortex préfrontal.Des études récentes (De Jong et al. 2011; Carr, Jadhav, and Frank 2011) mettent en évidence que la navigation spatiale dans l'hippocampe de rat implique le rejeu de l'activation de cellules de lieu durant les étant de sommeil et d'éveil en générant des petites sous séquences contigues d'activation de cellules de lieu cohérentes entre elles. Ces fragments sont observés en particulier lors d'évènements sharp wave ripple (SPWR).Les phénomènes de rejeu lors du sommeil dans le contexte de la consolidation de la mémoire à long terme ont beaucoup attiré l'attention. Ici nous nous focalisons sur le rôle du rejeu pendant l'état d'éveil.Nous formulons l'hypothèse que ces fragments peuvent être utilisés par le cortex préfrontal pour réaliser une tâche d'apprentissage spatial comprenant plusieurs buts.Nous proposons de développer un modèle intégré d'hippocampe et de cortex préfrontal capable de générer des séquences d'activation de cellules de lieu.Le travail collaboratif proposé prolonge les travaux existants sur un modèle de cognition spatiale pour des tâches orientés but plus simples (Barrera and Weitzenfeld 2008; Barrera et al. 2015) avec un nouveau modèle basé sur le rejeu pour la formation de mémoire dans l'hippocampe et l'apprentissage et génération de séquences spatiales par le cortex préfrontal.En contraste avec les travaux existants d'apprentissage de séquence qui repose sur des règles d'apprentissage sophistiquées, nous proposons d'utiliser un paradigme calculatoire appelé calcul par réservoir (Dominey 1995) dans lequel des groupes importants de neurones artificiels dont la connectivité est fixe traitent dynamiquement l'information au travers de réverbérations. Ce modèle calculatoire par réservoir consolide les fragments de séquence d'activations de cellule de lieu en une plus grande séquence qui pourra être rappelée elle-même par des fragments de séquence.Le travail proposé est supposé contribuer à une nouvelle compréhension du rôle du phénomène de rejeu dans l'acquisition de la mémoire dans une tâche complexe liée à l'apprentissage de séquence.Cette compréhension opérationnelle sera mise à profit et testée dans l'architecture cognitive incarnée d'un robot mobile selon l'approche animat (Wilson 1991) [etc...] / As rats learn to search for multiple sources of food or water in a complex environment, processes of spatial sequence learning and recall in the hippocampus (HC) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) are taking place. Recent studies (De Jong et al. 2011; Carr, Jadhav, and Frank 2011) show that spatial navigation in the rat hippocampus involves the replay of place-cell firing during awake and sleep states generating small contiguous subsequences of spatially related place-cell activations that we will call "snippets". These "snippets" occur primarily during sharp-wave-ripple (SPWR) events. Much attention has been paid to replay during sleep in the context of long-term memory consolidation. Here we focus on the role of replay during the awake state, as the animal is learning across multiple trials.We hypothesize that these "snippets" can be used by the PFC to achieve multi-goal spatial sequence learning.We propose to develop an integrated model of HC and PFC that is able to form place-cell activation sequences based on snippet replay. The proposed collaborative research will extend existing spatial cognition model for simpler goal-oriented tasks (Barrera and Weitzenfeld 2008; Barrera et al. 2015) with a new replay-driven model for memory formation in the hippocampus and spatial sequence learning and recall in PFC.In contrast to existing work on sequence learning that relies heavily on sophisticated learning algorithms and synaptic modification rules, we propose to use an alternative computational framework known as reservoir computing (Dominey 1995) in which large pools of prewired neural elements process information dynamically through reverberations. This reservoir computational model will consolidate snippets into larger place-cell activation sequences that may be later recalled by subsets of the original sequences.The proposed work is expected to generate a new understanding of the role of replay in memory acquisition in complex tasks such as sequence learning. That operational understanding will be leveraged and tested on a an embodied-cognitive real-time framework of a robot, related to the animat paradigm (Wilson 1991) [etc...]

With the rapid growth and use of wearable devices over the last decade, the advantages of using portable wearable devices are now been utilised for day to day activities. These wearable devices are designed to be flexible, low profile, light-weight and smoothly integrated into daily life. Wearable transmission lines are required to transport RF signals between various pieces of wearable communication equipment and to connect fabric based antennas to transmitters and receivers; the stitched transmission line is one of the hardware solutions developed to enhance the connectivity between these wearable devices. Textile manufacturing techniques that employ the use of sewing machines alongside conductive textile materials can be used to fabricate the stitched transmission line. In this thesis the feasibility of using a sewing machine in fabrication of a novel stitched transmission line for wearable devices using the idea of a braided coaxial cable have been examined. The sewing machine used is capable of a zig-zag stitch with approximate width and length within the range of 0-6 mm and 0-4mm respectively. The inner conductor and the tubular insulated layer of the stitched transmission lines were selected as RG 174, while the stitched shields were made up of copper wires and conductive threads from Light Stiches®. For shielding purpose, the structure is stitched onto a denim material with a conductive thread with the aid of a novel manufacturing technique using a standard hardware. The Scattering Parameters of the stitched transmission line were investigated with three different stitch angles 85°, 65° and 31° through simulation and experiments, with the results demonstrating that the stitched transmission line can work usefully and consistently from 0.04 to 4GHz. The extracted Scattering parameters indicated a decrease in DC loss with increased stitch angle and an increase in radiation loses, which tends to increase with increase in frequency. The proposed stitched transmission line makes a viable transmission line but a short stitch length is associated with larger losses through resistance. The DC losses observed are mainly influenced by the resistance of the conductive threads at lower frequencies while the radiation losses are influenced by the wider apertures related to the stitch angles and increase in frequency along the line. The performances of the stitched transmission line with different stitch patterns, when subjected to washing cycles and when bent through curved angles 90° and 180° were also investigated and results presented. Also, the sensitivity of the design to manufacturing tolerances was also considered. First the behaviour of the stitched transmission line with two different substrates Denim and Felt were investigated with the results indicating an insignificant increase in losses with the Denim material. Secondly, the sensitivity of the design with variations in cross section dimensions was investigated using numerical modelling techniques and the results showed that the impedance of the stitched transmission line increases when the cross sectional dimensions are decreased by 0.40mm and decreases when the cross sectional dimensions are increased by 0.40mm. Equally, repeatability of the stitched transmission line with three different stitch angles 85°, 65° and 31° were carried out. The results were seen to be consistent up to 2.5GHz, with slight deviations above that, which are mainly as a result of multiple reflections along the line resulting in loss ripples. The DC resistance of the stitched transmission line with three different stitch angles 85°, 65° and 31° corresponding to the number of stitches 60,90 and 162 were computed and a mathematical relationship was derived for computing the DC resistance of the stitch transmission line for any given number of stitches. The DC resistance computed results of 25.6Ω, 17.3Ω and 13.1Ω, for 31°, 65° and 85° stitch angles, indicated an increase in DC resistance of the stitch with decrease in stitch angle which gives rise to an increase in number of stitches. The transfer impedance of the stitched transmission line was also computed at low frequency (< 1GHz) to be ZT=(0.24+j1.09)Ω, with the result showing the effectiveness of the shield of the stitched transmission line at low frequency (< 1GHz).

No description available.

Dans le cadre de cette thèse, nous avons développé une technique expérimentale basée sur un traitement laser ultraviolet continu permettant la croissance de nanoparticules (NP) d’argent et/ou d’or dans des verres soda-lime préalablement dopés aux ions Ag+ et/ou Au3+. L’originalité de cette méthode réside dans la très forte photosensibilité du verre à la longueur d’onde utilisée (244 nm), par rapport aux résultats de la littérature. Dans les verres échangés à l’argent, des NP de grand diamètre (jusqu’à 250 nm) et très concentrées ont été obtenues et le mécanisme de leur formation a été explicité. Nous avons ensuite montré que les substrats ainsi fabriqués sont adaptés pour la détection d’espèces chimiques faiblement concentrées via l’effet de diffusion Raman exaltée de surface, en choisissant comme molécule test la rhodamine 6G, ce qui était le but initial de ce travail. Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés à la nanostructuration du verre par des NP d’argent : ainsi, des lignes de NP (de diamètre 80 nm), périodiquement espacées de 160 nm ont été obtenues pour des durées d’insolation « suffisamment longues ». Après avoir caractérisé expérimentalement ces arrangements périodiques de NP d’argent, nous avons montré un très bon accord entre nos résultats expérimentaux et la théorie classique des ripples (ou modèle de Sipe). Ce résultat est sans aucun doute le plus original de ce travail de thèse. D’autre part, nous avons montré que l’insolation laser à 244 nm permet la croissance de NP d’or de diamètre 50 nm dans les verres dopés Au3+ par poling thermique. Le codopage du verre avec des NP d’argent et d’or a également été obtenu / In this thesis, we have developed an experimental method based on the use of a continuous ultraviolet laser to process a soda-lime glass doped with either Ag+ or Au3+ ions for the growth of silver and/or gold nanoparticles (NP). The main advantage of method lies in the very high photosensitivity of the glass at the laser wavelength (244 nm), compared to the results of the literature. In silver-exchanged soda-lime glasses, highly concentrated silver NP of large diameter (up to 250 nm) have been obtained and their growth is fully elucidated. We have then shown that these substrates are well-suited to get efficient surface enhanced raman scattering effect with rhodamine 6G as test molecule, which was the first aim of this thesis. A third part is then dedicated to the growth of periodic nanostructures embedded with silver NP at the surface of the glass. Silver NP (of average diameter 80 nm) are aligned along lines periodically spaced by 160 nm. After experimental characterization of these periodic arrangements, we have demonstrated very good agreement between these experimental results and classical ripples theory (known as Sipe’s model in the literature).This result is undoubtedly the most original result of this manuscrit. We have then shown that laser exposure at 244 nm allows the growth of gold NP in soda-lime glass beforehand doped with Au3+ ions by thermal poling. Codoping of the glass containing with both silver and gold nanoparticles has also been achieved

During cognitive tasks, synchronicity of neural activity varies and is correlated with performance. However, there may be an upper limit to normal synchronised activity – specifically, epileptogenic activity is characterized byexcess spiking at high synchronicity. An epileptic seizure has a complicated course of events and I therefore focused on the synchronised activity preceding a seizure (fast ripples). These high frequency oscillations (200–1000 Hz) have been identified as possible signature markers of epileptogenic activity and may be involved in generating seizures. Moreover, a range of ionic currents have been suggested to be involved in distinct aspects of epileptogenesis. Based on pharmacological and genetic studies, potassium currents have been implicated, in particular the transient A–type potassium channel (KA). Our first objective was to investigate if KA could suppress synchronized input while minimally affecting desynchronised input. The second objective was to investigate if KA could suppress fast ripple activity. To study this I use a detailed compartmental model of a hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cell. The ion channels were described by Hodgkin–Huxley dynamics. The result showed that KA selectively could suppress highly synchronized input. I further used two models of fast ripple input and both models showed a strong reduction in the cellular spiking activity when KA was present. In an ongoing in vitro brain slice experiment our prediction from the simulations is being tested. Preliminary results show that the cellular response was reduced by 30 % for synchronised input, thus confirming our theoretical predictions. By suppressing fast ripples KA may prevent the highly synchronised spiking activity to spread and thereby preventing the seizure. Many antiepileptic drugs down regulate cell excitability by targeting sodium channels or GABA–receptors. These antiepileptic drugs affect the cell during normal brain activity thereby causing significant side effects. KA mainly suppresses the spiking activity when the cell is exposed to abnormally high synchronised input. An enhancement in the KA current might therefore be beneficial in reducing seizures while not affecting normal brain activity.

A growing interest for Cannabidiol (CBD), a component of Cannabis Sativa, has occurred over the past years. The medical potential of the component is yet to be better characterized, as its effects on sleep, and in particular memory, are to date not well understood or consistently characterized. This master thesis project focuses on analysing the effect of CBD on an anaesthesia-induced sleep-like state in rats, and its effects on the hippocampal sharp-wave-ripples, which have been shown to be associated with memory replay during sleep, and hence system consolidation. The hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, the two structures involved in memory consolidation, were recorded in 19 rats, split in two groups (CBD and vehicle). From these recordings, an automated sleep scorer using principal component analysis was developed to obtain the animals’ hypnograms, which were analysed to study sleep-like structure. From the recordings of the hippocampal pyramidal layer, and an additionnal layer deeper under it, respectively ripples and sharp waves were detected in all animals, and characterized for each group. We observed and demonstrated that CBD changes the sleep-like structure by shortening both REM and NREM bouts, resulting in an increase in transitions between both states. Additionally, we observed that, although ripples are not significantly different between both groups, sharp waves tend to be smaller among CBD animals. Lastly we noticed that both sharp wave and ripple activity, after increasing upon transition to NREM, decreases as the bout last. This finding suggests that vehicle animals, who have longer bouts and less transitions, would display less sharp wave and ripple activity, although we found no significant difference in the amount of both brain events. This paradox suggests that there is still more to characterize in order to understand if CBD enhances or not memory consolidation. In sum, CBD changes anaesthesia-induced sleep by shortening the duration of both NREM and REM bouts, resulting in an increase in transitions between both state. As for sleep events, sharp waves appeared shorter among CBD animals, although the same difference was not observed for ripples. Finally, sharp wave and ripple activity appear to peak upon transition from REM to NREM sleep, and decreases as the NREM bout lasts longer, however, no effect of CBD on this observation was highlighted.