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PubMed2002

Efficient dynamic focus control for three-dimensional imaging using two-dimensional arrays.

Dynamic receive focusing in ultrasonic array imaging involves extensive real-time computations and data communication. Particularly for three-dimensional imaging, using fully sampled, two-dimensional arrays, implementation of dynamic focusing can be extremely complicated because of the large channel count. In this paper, an efficient dynamic focus control scheme for a delay-and-sum-based beamformer is proposed. The scheme simplifies dynamic focus control by exploiting the range-dependent characteristics of the focusing delay. Specifically, the overall delay is divided into a range-independent steering term and a range-dependent focusing term. Because the focusing term is inversely proportional to range, approximation can be made to simplify dynamic focus control significantly at the price of minimal degradation in focusing quality at shallow depths. In addition, the aperture growth controlled by a constant f/number can also be utilized to devise a non-uniform quantization scheme for the focusing delay values. Efficacy of the proposed scheme is demonstrated using simulated beam plots of a fully sampled, two-dimensional array. Design procedures are also described in detail in this paper. One design example shows that, with the proposed dynamic focus control scheme, a 4096-element array only requires 227 independent controllers for the range-dependent focusing term. Moreover, only 28 non-uniform quantization levels are required to achieve the same focusing quality as that of a conventional scheme with 784 uniform quantization levels. The beam plots of a fully sampled array show that sidelobes are slightly increased below the -30 dB level for imaging depths less than 3 cm. At greater depths, there is no observable degradation.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Dynamic mechanical response of elastic spherical inclusions to impulsive acoustic radiation force excitation.

Acoustic radiation force impulse imaging has been used clinically to study the dynamic response of lesions relative to their background material to focused, impulsive acoustic radiation force excitations through the generation of dynamic displacement field images. Dynamic displacement data are typically displayed as a set of parametric images, including displacement immediately after excitation, maximum displacement, time to peak displacement, and recovery time from peak displacement. To date, however, no definitive trends have been established between these parametric images and the tissues' mechanical properties. This work demonstrates that displacement magnitude, time to peak displacement, and recovery time are all inversely related to the Young's modulus in homogeneous elastic media. Experimentally, pulse repetition frequency during displacement tracking limits stiffness resolution using the time to peak displacement parameter. The excitation pulse duration also impacts the time to peak parameter, with longer pulses reducing the inertial effects present during impulsive excitations. Material density affects tissue dynamics, but is not expected to play a significant role in biological tissues. The presence of an elastic spherical inclusion in the imaged medium significantly alters the tissue dynamics in response to impulsive, focused acoustic radiation force excitations. Times to peak displacement for excitations within and outside an elastic inclusion are still indicative of local material stiffness; however, recovery times are altered due to the reflection and transmission of shear waves at the inclusion boundaries. These shear wave interactions cause stiffer inclusions to appear to be displaced longer than the more compliant background material. The magnitude of shear waves reflected at elastic lesion boundaries is dependent on the stiffness contrast between the inclusion and the background material, and the stiffness and size of the inclusion dictate when shear wave reflections within the lesion will interfere with one another. Jitter and bias associated with the ultrasonic displacement tracking also impact the estimation of a tissue's dynamic response to acoustic radiation force excitation.

Acoustics↗

PubMed2001

Enzyme specificity under dynamic control II: Principal component analysis of alpha-lytic protease using global and local solvent boundary conditions.

The contributions of conformational dynamics to substrate specificity have been examined by the application of principal component analysis to molecular dynamics trajectories of alpha-lytic protease. The wild-type alpha-lytic protease is highly specific for substrates with small hydrophobic side chains at the specificity pocket, while the Met190-->Ala binding pocket mutant has a much broader specificity, actively hydrolyzing substrates ranging from Ala to Phe. Based on a combination of multiconformation analysis of cryo-X-ray crystallographic data, solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and normal mode calculations, we had hypothesized that the large alteration in specificity of the mutant enzyme is mainly attributable to changes in the dynamic movement of the two walls of the specificity pocket. To test this hypothesis, we performed a principal component analysis using 1-nanosecond molecular dynamics simulations using either a global or local solvent boundary condition. The results of this analysis strongly support our hypothesis and verify the results previously obtained by in vacuo normal mode analysis. We found that the walls of the wild-type substrate binding pocket move in tandem with one another, causing the pocket size to remain fixed so that only small substrates are recognized. In contrast, the M190A mutant shows uncoupled movement of the binding pocket walls, allowing the pocket to sample both smaller and larger sizes, which appears to be the cause of the observed broad specificity. The results suggest that the protein dynamics of alpha-lytic protease may play a significant role in defining the patterns of substrate specificity. As shown here, concerted local movements within proteins can be efficiently analyzed through a combination of principal component analysis and molecular dynamics trajectories using a local solvent boundary condition to reduce computational time and matrix size.

Amino Acid Substitution↗

PubMed2003

Epilepsies as dynamical diseases of brain systems: basic models of the transition between normal and epileptic activity.

PURPOSE: The occurrence of abnormal dynamics in a physiological system can become manifest as a sudden qualitative change in the behavior of characteristic physiologic variables. We assume that this is what happens in the brain with regard to epilepsy. We consider that neuronal networks involved in epilepsy possess multistable dynamics (i.e., they may display several dynamic states). To illustrate this concept, we may assume, for simplicity, that at least two states are possible: an interictal one characterized by a normal, apparently random, steady-state of ongoing activity, and another one that is characterized by the paroxysmal occurrence of a synchronous oscillations (seizure). METHODS: By using the terminology of the mathematics of nonlinear systems, we can say that such a bistable system has two attractors, to which the trajectories describing the system's output converge, depending on initial conditions and on the system's parameters. In phase-space, the basins of attraction corresponding to the two states are separated by what is called a "separatrix." We propose, schematically, that the transition between the normal ongoing and the seizure activity can take place according to three basic models: Model I: In certain epileptic brains (e.g., in absence seizures of idiopathic primary generalized epilepsies), the distance between "normal steady-state" and "paroxysmal" attractors is very small in contrast to that of a normal brain (possibly due to genetic and/or developmental factors). In the former, discrete random fluctuations of some variables can be sufficient for the occurrence of a transition to the paroxysmal state. In this case, such seizures are not predictable. Model II and model III: In other kinds of epileptic brains (e.g., limbic cortex epilepsies), the distance between "normal steady-state" and "paroxysmal" attractors is, in general, rather large, such that random fluctuations, of themselves, are commonly not capable of triggering a seizure. However, in these brains, neuronal networks have abnormal features characterized by unstable parameters that are very vulnerable to the influence of endogenous (model II) and/or exogenous (model III) factors. In these cases, these critical parameters may gradually change with time, in such a way that the attractor can deform either gradually or suddenly, with the consequence that the distance between the basin of attraction of the normal state and the separatrix tends to zero. This can lead, eventually, to a transition to a seizure. RESULTS: The changes of the system's dynamics preceding a seizure in these models either may be detectable in the EEG and thus the route to the seizure may be predictable, or may be unobservable by using only measurements of the dynamical state. It is thinkable, however, that in some cases, changes in the excitability state of the underlying networks may be uncovered by using appropriate stimuli configurations before changes in the dynamics of the ongoing EEG activity are evident. A typical example of model III that we discuss here is photosensitive epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: We present an overview of these basic models, based on neurophysiologic recordings combined with signal analysis and on simulations performed by using computational models of neuronal networks. We pay especial attention to recent model studies and to novel experimental results obtained while analyzing EEG features preceding limbic seizures and during intermittent photic stimulation that precedes the transition to paroxysmal epileptic activity.

Brain↗

PubMed1990

Family dynamics during pregnancy.

Pregnancy as a transition in family life is perceived as a crisis by many families. Sociodemographic characteristics of families during pregnancy can serve as important sources of information to nurses in drawing out family strengths and providing assistance during this crisis. Family dynamics were measured in 160 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Half were in their first pregnancy and half were in their second pregnancy. The research question addressed the relationship between family dynamics and several sociodemographic characteristics. Statistically significant relationships were found between the sociodemographic variables of marital and social status, and several dimensions of family dynamics. Families in which couples were married and who enjoyed a higher social status had more positive family dynamics in the dimensions of individuation, stability, flexibility, mutuality and communication. Race, maternal age and parity were not related to level of family dynamics. Strengths in families who have more positive dynamics may be explained by availability of resources, their expertise in using the system, societal approval of marriage and internal family support from the husband. It is essential for nursing care to include systematic family assessment, socialization in effectively using the health care system and individualized family guidance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Dynamic modeling of Listeria monocytogenes growth in pasteurized milk.

AIMS: The development and validation of a dynamic model for predicting Listeria monocytogenes growth in pasteurized milk stored at both static and dynamic temperature conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: Growth of inoculated L. monocytogenes in a commercial pasteurized whole milk product was monitored at various isothermal conditions from 1.5 to 16 degrees C. The kinetic parameters of the pathogen were modelled as a function of temperature using a square root type model, which was further validated using data from 92 published growth curves from eight different milk products. Compared to four published models for L. monocytogenes growth, the model developed in this study performed better, with a per cent discrepancy and bias of 49.1 and -1.01%, respectively. The performance of the model in predicting growth at dynamic temperature conditions was evaluated at four different fluctuating temperature scenarios with periodic temperature changes from -2 to 16 degrees C. The prediction of growth at dynamic storage temperature was based on the square root model in conjunction with the differential equations of the Baranyi and Roberts model, which were numerically integrated with respect to time. The per cent relative errors between the observed and the predicted growth of L. monocytogenes were less than 10% for all temperature scenarios tested. CONCLUSIONS: Available models from experiments conducted in laboratory media may result in significant overestimation of L. monocytogenes growth in pasteurized milk because they do not take into account factors such as milk composition (e.g. natural antimicrobial compounds present in milk) and the interactions of the pathogen with the natural microflora. The product-targeted model developed in the present study showed a high performance in predicting growth of L. monocytogenes in pasteurized milk under both static and dynamic temperature conditions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Temperature fluctuations often occur during the transportation and storage of pasteurized milk. A high performance, dynamic model for the growth of L. monocytogenes can be a useful tool for effective management and optimization of product safety and can lead to more realistic estimations of pasteurized-milk related safety risks.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Development of carotid chemoreceptor dynamic and steady-state sensitivity to CO2 in the newborn lamb.

1. The maturation of carotid chemoreceptor steady-state and dynamic responses to CO2 in newborn lambs was measured. In total, sixteen fibres (13 lambs) were studied at 3-4 days, nineteen fibres (13 lambs) at 5-9 days and twenty-one fibres (17 lambs) at 10-24 days after birth. 2. Steady-state CO2 sensitivity was measured over a range of arterial CO2 pressures (Pa,CO2) at four levels of arterial O2 pressure (Pa,O2): hyperoxia (Hyp), 115-150 mmHg; normoxia (Nx), 90-105 mmHg; moderate hypoxia (ModHx), 40-60 mmHg; and severe hypoxia (SvHx), 20-35 mmHg. 3. Steady-state CO2 sensitivity was present at all ages, and a significant effect of age (P < 0.001) and Pa,O2 (P < 0.025) (ANOVA) was observed. Older lambs were unable to sustain an increase in chemoreceptor discharge during SvHx as CO2 was increased. 4. Dynamic CO2 sensitivity was measured by producing alternations in end-tidal CO2 levels (etCO2) (alternation amplitude, 1.23 +/- 0.07% (mean +/- S.E.M.); etCO2, 7.56 +/- 0.15%) over 2-8 s at two Pa,O2 levels only: 80-100 (Nx) and 40-60 mmHg (ModHx). Peak and trough values of the oscillation in chemoreceptor discharge were plotted against maximum and minimum etCO2 for the control and CO2-loaded breaths. Dynamic CO2 sensitivity was calculated as the slope between these points. 5. Dynamic CO2 sensitivity was greater than steady-state sensitivity in Nx (P < 0.05) and ModHx (P < 0.01, Student's paired t test). Unlike steady-state CO2 sensitivity, there was no significant effect of age or Pa,O2 on dynamic sensitivity (P > 0.39 and P > 0.68, respectively, ANOVA). 6. Our results show that the neonatal lamb possesses a carotid body steady-state CO2 sensitivity within a few days of birth, an age when hypoxia sensitivity is low. This CO2 sensitivity increases with age, perhaps due to the increasing interaction between CO2 and O2. Dynamic sensitivity of the carotid body to CO2 is mature at birth and does not increase with age, as predicted if the response of the carotid body to rapid changes in CO2 is independent of the sensitivity to the partial pressure of O2 (PO2).

Aging↗

PubMed1994

Family dynamics and infant temperament in Danish families.

Transition to parenthood involves the fine balance of family dynamics which both affect, and are affected by, the infant's temperament. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in family dynamics over the transition to parenthood and the relationship of family dynamics to infant temperament. A sample of 99 families in Odense, Denmark, completed the Family Dynamics Measure in the third trimester of pregnancy and again when the infant was 8-9 months old. At this second time, the mothers also completed the Revised Infant Temperament Questionnaire. Overall we found small changes, although always in a negative direction, in family dynamics over this transition. The largest change was an increase in perceived role conflict reported by both mothers and fathers. Mothers reported more role conflict than fathers. Positive family dynamics were related to infant rhythmicity.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Dynamic beat-to-beat QT-RR relationship during physiotherapy effort in elderly patients without primary heart disease.

The ECGs from 18 patients hospitalized in a rehabilitation setting, following surgery for hip fracture, were examined to characterize the dynamic behavior of uncorrected QT interval in relation to changing RR interval during physiotherapy effort. ECG waveforms were analyzed to extract beat-to-beat QT and RR intervals using a computerized ECG Analyzer (CEA-1100). The method of defining the QT and RR intervals is based on performing multiple cross-correlations that enable rejection of artifacts from the analysis. The relationship between the RR and QT intervals was found using the following general formula QTi = cRRi-1b. Linear regression was performed on the logarithms of QT and RR measurements obtained to estimate the constant (a = log c) and the slope (b) values, reflecting the dynamic change of QT during physiotherapy effort. Having these two values, the dynamic QT extrapolated to a heart period of 1 second (QTcd) was calculated. The results were compared to the conventional corrected static QT according to the Bazzet formula (QTcs). The mean values of constants (a = log c) and slopes (b) over all patients were found to be 1.61 +/- 0.23 and 0.33 +/- 0.08, respectively, giving a QT (ms) heart-period (ms) dynamic relation of QTi = 41 x RR(i-1)0.33. The correlation between the dynamic QT and the static QT intervals was not significant. The mean values of the QTcd and QTcs intervals were significantly different (392 +/- 25 ms vs 434 +/- 28 ms; P < 0.0001). This dynamic measurement method of QT intervals may provide additional information on normal and abnormal cardiac repolarization in health and disease, helping in the diagnosis of cardiac disorders and arrhythmia risk.

Aged↗

PubMed2000

High uniformity of left and right ventricular repolarization dynamics induced by an abrupt decrease in pacing cycle length in a dog is not affected by left ventricular ischemia.

INTRODUCTION: After an abrupt increase in heart rate, action potential duration (APD) will shorten. To assess the effect of ischemia on APD shortening dynamics, we compared right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) APD shortening induced by an abrupt decrease in pacing cycle length (PCL) during control and LV ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: In eight anesthetized AV block dogs, endocardial LV and RV APD were determined simultaneously after an abrupt PCL decrease from 800 to 350 msec. Measurements were repeated during left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion. During control, LV and RV APD shortened 97 +/- 27 and 71 +/- 14 msec, respectively (P < 0.05). Shortening was pronounced in a short initial phase and gradual in the longer secondary phase. Linear regression analysis revealed very high uniformity of LV and RV APD shortening dynamics (r2 = 0.96 +/- 0.01). During repeated LAD occlusion, ischemia induced a gradual LV APD shortening from 314 +/- 25 msec to a new steady-state value of 251 +/- 23 msec, whereas RV APD remained stable at 289 +/- 28 msec. The additional PCL decrease resulted in LV and RV APD shortening of 72 +/- 8 and 68 +/- 15 msec, respectively, with the same high uniformity of shortening dynamics as seen during control (r2 = 0.94 +/- 0.03). CONCLUSION: There is a pronounced difference in APD shortening dynamics induced by an abrupt decrease in PCL compared with ischemia. LV shortening dynamics induced by a decrease in PCL are not affected by LV ischemia, preserving a high interventricular uniformity of repolarization dynamics.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed2006

Impact of dynamic airflow on human thermal response.

UNLABELLED: Airflow fluctuation is an important factor affecting indoor thermal environments and human thermal response. In this study, dynamic airflows with different fluctuation characteristics were generated by a dynamic air supply terminal. The influence of three different kinds of airflows, constant airflow, simulated natural airflow and sinusoidal airflow, on thermal comfort was studied. Subjective experiments indicated that a dynamic airflow can cause a stronger cold sensation, and that air movement with 1/f fluctuations similar to natural wind is more acceptable than other dynamic airflows in warm environments. Moreover, the impact of draughts in dynamic airflows on human thermal response is different in neutral-warm (30 degrees C) and cool-neutral (26 degrees C) thermal environments. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: By means of a dynamic air supply terminal it is possible to generate artificial airflows that simulate natural wind indoors. This kind of airflow with higher velocity is more comfortable and causes less draught sensation than the constant airflows supplied by conventional fans. While the cooling effect of this airflow is utilized in the built environment, the design temperature of air-conditioning system can be increased and the amount of energy consumption can be reduced dramatically.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Training of yeast cell dynamics.

In both industrial fermenters and in their natural habitats, microorganisms often experience an inhomogeneous and fluctuating environment. In this paper we mimicked one aspect of this nonideal behaviour by imposing a low and oscillating extracellular glucose concentration on nonoscillating suspensions of yeast cells. The extracellular dynamics changed the intracellular dynamics--which was monitored through NADH fluorescence--from steady to equally dynamic; the latter followed the extracellular dynamics at the frequency of glucose pulsing. Interestingly, the amplitude of the oscillation of the NADH fluorescence increased with time. This increase in amplitude was sensitive to inhibition of protein synthesis, and was due to a change in the cells rather than in the medium; the cell population was 'trained' to respond to the extracellular dynamics. To examine the mechanism behind this 'training', we subjected the cells to a low and constant extracellular glucose concentration. Seventy-five minutes of adaptation to a low and constant glucose concentration induced the same increase of the amplitude of the forced NADH oscillations as did the train of glucose pulses. Furthermore, 75 min of adaptation to a low (oscillating or continuous) glucose concentration decreased the K(M) of the glucose transporter from 26 mm to 3.5 mm. When subsequently the apparent K(M) was increased by addition of maltose, the amplitude of the forced oscillations dropped to its original value. This demonstrated that the increased affinity of glucose transport was essential for the training of the cells' dynamics.

Fluorescence↗

PubMed2006

A modelling approach to quantify dynamic crosstalk between the pheromone and the starvation pathway in baker's yeast.

Cells must be able to process multiple information in parallel and, moreover, they must also be able to combine this information in order to trigger the appropriate response. This is achieved by wiring signalling pathways such that they can interact with each other, a phenomenon often called crosstalk. In this study, we employ mathematical modelling techniques to analyse dynamic mechanisms and measures of crosstalk. We present a dynamic mathematical model that compiles current knowledge about the wiring of the pheromone pathway and the filamentous growth pathway in yeast. We consider the main dynamic features and the interconnections between the two pathways in order to study dynamic crosstalk between these two pathways in haploid cells. We introduce two new measures of dynamic crosstalk, the intrinsic specificity and the extrinsic specificity. These two measures incorporate the combined signal of several stimuli being present simultaneously and seem to be more stable than previous measures. When both pathways are responsive and stimulated, the model predicts that (a) the filamentous growth pathway amplifies the response of the pheromone pathway, and (b) the pheromone pathway inhibits the response of filamentous growth pathway in terms of mitogen activated protein kinase activity and transcriptional activity, respectively. Among several mechanisms we identified leakage of activated Ste11 as the most influential source of crosstalk. Moreover, we propose new experiments and predict their outcomes in order to test hypotheses about the mechanisms of crosstalk between the two pathways. Studying signals that are transmitted in parallel gives us new insights about how pathways and signals interact in a dynamical way, e.g., whether they amplify, inhibit, delay or accelerate each other.

Monte Carlo Method↗

PubMedDate not supplied

System dynamics modeling of transboundary systems: the bear river basin model.

System dynamics is a computer-aided approach to evaluating the interrelationships of different components and activities within complex systems. Recently, system dynamics models have been developed in areas such as policy design, biological and medical modeling, energy and the environmental analysis, and in various other areas in the natural and social sciences. The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, a multipurpose national laboratory managed by the Department of Energy, has developed a system dynamics model in order to evaluate its utility for modeling large complex hydrological systems. We modeled the Bear River basin, a transboundary basin that includes portions of Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming. We found that system dynamics modeling is very useful for integrating surface water and ground water data and for simulating the interactions between these sources within a given basin. In addition, we also found that system dynamics modeling is useful for integrating complex hydrologic data with other information (e.g., policy, regulatory, and management criteria) to produce a decision support system. Such decision support systems can allow managers and stakeholders to better visualize the key hydrologic elements and management constraints in the basin, which enables them to better understand the system via the simulation of multiple "what-if" scenarios. Although system dynamics models can be developed to conduct traditional hydraulic/hydrologic surface water or ground water modeling, we believe that their strength lies in their ability to quickly evaluate trends and cause-effect relationships in large-scale hydrological systems, for integrating disparate data, for incorporating output from traditional hydraulic/hydrologic models, and for integration of interdisciplinary data, information, and criteria to support better management decisions.

Computer Simulation↗

PubMed1995

Characterization of sports by the VO2 dynamics of athletes in response to sinusoidal work load.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the specificity of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and the dynamic response of oxygen uptake (VO2) to sinusoidal work load in distance runners and in American-football players. Sinusoidal work load during ergometer cycling was carried from 30 W to 60% to VO2max (60% VO2max) for a 2 min period. VO2 was measured by the breath-by-breath method. The subjects were 10 distance runners (DRs), 10 American-football players (AFPs), and 11 untrained men (UTM). Mean VO2max was 64.4 mL kg-1 min-1 in the DRs, 53.1 mL kg-1 min-1 in the AFPs and 47.3 mL kg-1 min-1 in the UTM. The fundamental amplitudes of the VO2 response, normalized by dividing by steady state VO2 at 60% VO2max, were similar in the AFPs (20.3%) and the UTM (19.5%), and both were significantly less than in the DRs (25.5%). Phase shift to work load expressed in degrees was similar in the AFPs (87.7 degrees) and UTM (88.0 degrees), but significantly greater than in the DRs (80.4 degrees). HR dynamics in all three groups were similar to a dynamic VO2 response. These findings suggest that development of the dynamic VO2 response and higher VO2max is achieved in the DRs. They also suggest that despite the higher VO2max in the AFPs there is no improvement in the dynamic VO2 response. The results of the present study demonstrate that athletes participating in different sports have characteristic dynamic VO2 responses during cycling exercise.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Dynamic exercise attenuates spontaneous baroreceptor reflex sensitivity in conscious rats.

In humans, it has been reported that dynamic exercise attenuates spontaneous baroreceptor reflex sensitivity (sBRS), which is an index of the gain of the baroreceptor-cardiac reflex. We demonstrated previously that endogenously produced NO from endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) within the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS), the central terminal site of baroreceptor afferents, depressed sBRS. In this study, we investigated whether eNOS activity within the NTS plays any role in down-modulating the sBRS during dynamic exercise. In conscious Wistar rats arterial pressure and heart rate (HR) were monitored continuously and chronically using radiotelemetry before and during wheel cage running at 6 m min(-1) for 10 min. sBRS was determined by a time-series method. During dynamic exercise systolic blood pressure (SBP) and HR were significantly increased (SBP: 138 +/- 2 vs. 125 +/- 2 mmHg, P < 0.001; HR: 447 +/- 6 vs. 362 +/- 8 beats min(-1), P < 0.001) while sBRS was significantly decreased (0.53 +/- 0.03 vs. 1.08 +/- 0.08 ms mmHg(-1), P < 0.001). In sino-aortic denervated rats the change in SBP in response to dynamic exercise was significantly larger than that in baroreceptor-intact rats (denervated: 21.6 +/- 2.5 mmHg; intact: 12.0 +/- 2.8 mmHg, P < 0.05). In contrast, denervation made no difference to the change in HR. Although disabling eNOS activity in the NTS by adenoviral-directed expression of a dominant negative mutant form of eNOS increased resting sBRS (1.48 +/- 0.20 vs. 1.09 +/- 0.15 ms mmHg(-1), P < 0.05), the absolute level reached during dynamic exercise was identical to control. These results demonstrate that during dynamic exercise (i) the sBRS decreases around the operating point of the baroreceptor-cardiac reflex function curve in normotensive rats, (ii) the baroreceptor reflex operates to limit the rise in arterial pressure, and (iii) the attenuation of sBRS is not mediated by changes in eNOS activity within the NTS.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed1975

Cinematographic analysis of contractile events produced in intrafusal muscle fibres by stimulation of static and dynamic fusimotor axons.

1. Muscle spindles with an intact blood supply and uninterrupted connexions with ventral and dorsal spinal roots (Bessou & Pagés, 1967, 1972) have been prepared in cat's tenuissimus muscles with the aim of cinephotographically recording intrafusal movements induced by the stimulation of single static or dynamic gamma axons; the time cours of these movements and the morphological kind of activated intrafusal muscle fibres have been established. 2. Displacements of spindle guiding marks in the equatorial region elicited by stimulating single static gamma axons are 4-20 times greater in amplitude than the ones elicited by stimulating dynamic gamma axons at the same frequency. 3. The dynamic gamma axons induced a contraction only in nuclear bag fibres which, in addition, never received any static gamma innervation. The static gamma axons evoked contractions either in nuclear bag fibres alone, or in nuclear chain fibres alone, or in both types of intrafusal fibres. Two thirds of static gamma axons supplied nuclear bag fibres. For various reasons, one half only of static gamma axons innervating nuclear bag fibres could be shown to simultaneously innervate nuclear chain fibres. Consequently, about one third of static gamma axons supplied both nuclear bag fibres and nuclear chain fibres, but it is highly probable that this latter figure is an underestimate. One third of static gamma axons produced contraction in nuclear chain fibres only. In this work, the distribution of fusimotor axons has been established in only one muscle spindle of the cluster of muscle spindles that each fusimotor axon is generally innervating. 4. Generally speaking, a static gamma axon elicits contraction of several intrafusal fibres whereas a dynamic gamma axon innervates only one intrafusal fibre and frequently only one pole of the fibre. 5. One third of static gamma axons evoked contractions in nuclear chain fibres that seemed to involve the whole pole. The other static gamma axons and all dynamic gamma axons produced, in the intrafusal fibres that they supplied, one or several foci of localized contractions. 6. The nuclear chain fibres contract and relax faster than nuclear bag fibres. The contractions of nuclear bag fibres supplied by static gamma axons are stronger and faster than those of nuclear bag fibres innervated by dynamic gamma axons. Nearly all nuclear bag fibres innervated by static gamma axons, like the nuclear chain fibres, show transient contractions at each pulse of a stimulation at low frequency (2-20/sec). 7. The results are discussed taking into account the available anatomical and physiological data on the muscle spindle. Their consequences with regard to intrafusal working are briefly considered.

Animals↗

PubMed1987

The dynamics of the cat retinal X cell centre.

1. The dynamics of the centre mechanism of individual cat X retinal ganglion cells is investigated. The visual stimuli consist of temporal contrast modulation of stationary patterns. In order to study the response of the centre mechanism, patterns were either sine gratings of high spatial frequency or small circular spots positioned over the receptive-field centre. 2. Responses to contrast reversal are approximately linear. However, as the modulation depth of the stimulus increases, responses become more transient. Ganglion cell responses show this phenomenon at moderate contrasts (e.g. 0.1), which do not elicit discharges that approach the maximum firing rate of the ganglion cell. 3. A sequence of dynamical models are constructed from responses elicited by sum-of-sinusoids modulation of the spatial pattern. The first model is strictly linear. It consists of a series of low-pass filters and a single high-pass filter. The linear model predicts the approximate shape of the step response, but does not account for the change in shape of the response as a function of modulation depth. 4. The second model, a quasi-linear model, allows the 'linear' dynamics to vary slowly with a neural measure of contrast. The main effect of high contrast is a shorter time constant in the high-pass filter. This model accounts qualitatively for the increased transience of the response, but fails to predict the magnitude of the effect at higher modulation depths. 5. In the third model, the transfer characteristics of the centre response adjust rapidly as contrast changes. This intrinsically non-linear model provides excellent agreement with observed response to steps and more complex modulation patterns. 6. The non-linearity necessitated by a voltage-to-spikes transduction is analysed quantitatively. In most ganglion cells, a simple truncation at 0 impulses/s (and no saturation) explains the changes in apparent gain and mean firing rate that occur as modulation depth is increased. A non-linear voltage-to-spike transduction per se cannot account for the observed effect of contrast on dynamics. 7. The parameters of the dynamical model are measured for a population of twenty-seven X ganglion cells (nineteen on-centre and eight off-centre). The low-pass stage and the strength of the high-pass stage are relatively uniform across the population. The over-all gain and the dynamics of the high-pass stage vary substantially across the population, but show no consistent dependence on the on-off distinction or on retinal location. Some implications of this variability for retinal function are discussed.

Action Potentials↗