BOLD sensitivity to cortical activation induced by microstimulation: comparison to visual stimulation

Electrical microstimulation via intracortical electrodes is a widely used method for deducing functions of the brain. In this study, we compared the spatial extent and amplitude of BOLD responses evoked by intracortical electrical stimulation in primary visual cortex with BOLD activations evoked by visual stimulation. The experiments were performed in anesthetized rhesus monkeys. Visual stimulation yielded activities larger than predicted from the well-established visual magnification factor. However, electrical microstimulation yielded an even greater spread of the BOLD response. Our results confirm that the effects of electrical microstimulation extend beyond the brain region expected to be excited by direct current spread.     

Coupling of simultaneously acquired electrophysiological and haemodynamic responses during visual stimulation

We investigate the relationship between the temporal variation in the magnitude of occipital visual evoked potentials (VEPs) and of haemodynamic measures of brain activity obtained using both blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) and perfusion sensitive (ASL) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Volunteers underwent a continuous BOLD fMRI scan and/or a continuous perfusion-sensitive (gradient and spin echo readout) ASL scan, during which 30 second blocks of contrast reversing visual stimuli (at 4 Hz) were interleaved with 30 second blocks of rest (visual fixation). Electroencephalography (EEG) and fMRI were simultaneously recorded and following EEG artefact cleaning, VEPs were averaged across the whole stimulation block (120 reversals, VEP₁₂₀) and at a finer timescale (15 reversals, VEP₁₅). Both BOLD and ASL time-series were linearly modelled to establish: (1) the mean response to visual stimulation, (2) transient responses at the start and end of each stimulation block, (3) the linear decrease between blocks, (4) the nonlinear between-block variation (covariation with VEP₁₂₀), (5) the linear decrease within block and (6) the nonlinear variation within block (covariation with VEP₁₅).     

架空及埋地多导体线缆对HEMP辐照的瞬态响应

针对瞬态电磁场辐照多导体电缆问题,首先介绍了一种用于计算架空及埋地线缆瞬态响应的高效时域宏模型。该模型基于传输线理论,利用广义特征线法和SPICE求解器中集成的模拟行为建模库,在时域内实现建模过程中涉及的频率相关参数和卷积计算。该方法适用性广泛,可同时用于架空及埋地线缆的场线耦合建模仿真;与现有时域有限差分法相比,不需要对时间和空间进行离散,以及对频率相关参数进行矢量匹配或数值逆傅里叶变换,因此可简化建模步骤,提高建模及仿真计算的效率;该宏模型计算效率不受线缆长度限制,适用于研究多导体长距离线缆。其次,在时域和频域分别研究了高空电磁脉冲(HEMP)的环境及特点。最后,利用算例验证了所提宏模型计算架空及埋地线缆响应的有效性,并利用该方法分别研究了架空地线对三相输电线路瞬态响应的影响以及埋地电力电缆金属护套在端接线性及非线性保护器件时对HEMP的瞬态响应。结果表明,宏模型法可在时域内高效地计算入射场耦合架空输电线及埋地电力电缆的瞬态响应,特别是对于带有非线性器件的长多导体线缆。     

Transient combined radiation and conduction in a one-dimensional non-gray participating medium with anisotropic optical properties subjected to radiative flux at the boundaries

Transient combined heat transfer by radiation and conduction is investigated in non-gray participating media with anisotropic optical properties. The medium is irradiated by a time-dependent source. Different kinds of boundaries are considered: black, opaque, transparent and semi-transparent. The heat transfer equations are solved numerically in a one-dimensional configuration. Comparisons are made with test cases taken from the literature, and the results obtained demonstrate the accuracy of the present numerical model. The influence of transparent, semi-transparent and opaque boundaries on an insulating fibrous medium is also studied.