Consequences of large interindividual variability for human brain atlases: converging macroscopical imaging and microscopical neuroanatomy

In human brain imaging studies, it is common practice to use the Talairach stereotaxic reference system for signifying the convergence of brain function and structure. In nearly all neuroimaging reports, the studied cortical areas are specified further with a Brodmann Area (BA) number. This specification is based upon macroscopic extrapolation from Brodmann’s projection maps into the Talairach atlas rather than upon a real microscopic cytoarchitectonic study. In this review we argue that such a specification of Brodmann area(s) via the Talairach atlas is not appropriate. Cytoarchitectonic studies reviewed in this paper show large interindividual differences in 3-D location of primary sensory cortical areas (visual cortex) as well as heteromodal associational areas (prefrontal cortical areas), even after correction for differences in brain size and shape. Thus, the simple use of Brodmann cortical areas derived from the Talairach atlas can lead to erroneous results in the specification of pertinent BA. This in turn can further lead to wrong hypotheses on brain system(s) involved in normal functions or in specific brain disorders. In addition, we will briefly discuss the different ‘Brodmann’ nomenclatures which are in use for the cerebral cortex.     

Use of multivariate statistical methods to identify immunochemical cross‐reactants

Quantitative competition immunoassays with appropriate combinations of antibodies give consistent dose‐response patterns which may be used to identify and estimate amounts of cross‐reacting compounds. Previously reported methods of analyzing cross‐reaction patterns include multiple regression, principal components analysis and minimum estimates of variance (MEV). Four other techniques which are preferable in theory have been surveyed: discriminant analysis (DA), maximum likelihood estimates (MLE), classification and regression trees (CART), and computational neural networks (NN). MLE and simple back‐propagation neural networks can estimate the concentration, as well as the identity, of individual compounds. These four methods worked well with unfitted, unscaled data from monoclonal assays of triazines, phenylureas and avermectins. Immunoassays must be properly designed to provide adequate data for pattern recognition. Cross‐reactivity pattern analysis will make multi‐analyte, multi‐antibody immunoassays feasible for many applications in toxicology and hazard assessment.     

Unique demographic situation in the United Arab Emirates

A method which optimizes on global properties of sample recordings is proposed for the definition of and the discrimination between electroencephalogram (EEG) classes. The sample was drawn from students at the University of Heidelberg from 1974 to 1978 and consists of 15 healthy index cases clinically ascertained as belonging to the low voltage EEG group. In addition, the three clinically defined groups: diffuse β (18 index cases), borderline α (12 index cases) and monomorphous α (18 index cases) have been included in the study, as well as the first degree relatives of the index cases, thus providing a clinical classification into four groups. The proposed method provides an automatic and reliable classification algorithm using discriminant and cluster analysis. The relation between such an automatized classification and clinical classification schemes is investigated. In particular, the inheritance of the low voltage, EEG, the question on sex differences and the question of a simple Mendelian mechanism had been examined. The method of random splittings had been applied for discriminant and cluster analysis. Our findings can be summarized as follows: (1) except for the monomorphous α EEG group, the clinical classification shows rather marginal separation (discriminating performance 60% to 75%), while a new and more reliable grouping scheme improves the discriminating performance up to 87% to 91%. The latter scheme leads to the concept of personal channel pattern (PCP) and was compared to the clinical classification scheme by means of contingency tables; (2) only a weak correlation between the clinically and PCP-based groups could be found (Cramér Index: 0.27). Accordingly, we continued to investigate the extent to which the proposed EEG classification scheme can nevertheless explain the genetic mechanisms apparently involved in the low voltage EEG. We thus considered the role of sex differences manifest in our proposed new grouping scheme; (3) males occurred more frequently in the new group 3 and females more frequently in the new group 1. In this regard, a much better correlation of the new groups between mothers and children than between fathers and children was observed; and (4) with help of our new PCP scheme, we have been able to reproduce a simple two gene Mendelian scheme to explain inheritance of the clinical low voltage EEG group. In this PCP-based scheme, the low voltage property does not occur when dominance of a certain gene (called gene A) is absent. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Selecting relevant electrode positions for classification tasks based on the electro-encephalogram

The aim is to describe a general approach to determining important electrode positions when measured electro-encephalogram signals are used for classification. The approach is exemplified in the frame of the brain-computer interface, which crucially depends on the classification of different brain states. To classify two brain states, e.g. planning of movement of right and left index fingers, three different approaches are compared: classification using a physiologically motivated set of four electrodes, a set determined by principal component analysis and electrodes determined by spatial pattern analysis. Spatial pattern analysis enhances the classification rate significantly from 61.3±1.8% (with four electrodes) to 71.8±1.4%, whereas the classification rate using principal component analysis is significantly lower (65.2±1.4%). Most of the 61 electrodes used have no influence on the classification rate, so that, in future experiments, the setup can be simplified drastically to six to eight electrodes without loss of information.     

An improved technique for monitoring the drinking behavior of mice

A set of calibrated lickometers provides continuous, quantitative monitoring of fluid consumption. It has been used in our laboratory at four levels of temporal resolution: 24 hr, 1 hr, 6 min, and for counting of individual licks. Convenient features are mounting of the licking tube-bottle assembly on the cage top (which permits the use of disposable plastic cages with litter) and automated collection of data with microcomputers.     

长骨内开口效应对其力学性能影响的理论模型研究

建立一个股骨中段的外侧皮质带有矩形开口的力学模型,采用有限元方法,计算骨开口区的尺寸改变时,股骨的扭转刚度和应力分布的变化。结果表明:骨开口长度为骨外径的1倍时(1OD),对股骨扭转刚度和剪应力分布的影响较小;开口长度从2OD增至4OD时扭转刚度急剧减小,而且剪应力的最大值位于开口区中心。本结论对临床骨科的手术治疗方法和骨开口尺寸的控制提供了重要的理论依据。     

Influence of perinatal malnutrition on adult physiological and behavioral reactivity in rats

A series of experiments examined the behavioral and pituitary-adrenal response to novelty of perinatally malnourished rats tested as adults after nutritional rehabilitation begun at weaning. Neither the behavioral measures of ambulation, rearing and defecation, nor the plasma corticosterone response to a brief exposure to an open field differentiated the previously malnourished subjects from controls. Similar to controls, previously malnourished subjects were also capable of displaying a graded corticoid elevation to environments increasingly different from the home cage. However, exploratory behavior, as measured by head-dip frequency and duration in the hole-board, was reduced in the previously malnourished rats. Although latency and amount of fluid consumed in a novel environment did not differ, previously malnourished rats were unable to use the cues associated with a consummatory behavior to modulate the pituitary-adrenal response to novelty. Thus, perinatal malnutrition does not influence either the behavioral or physiological activational response to novel stimulation but appears to alter the ability of the animal to use a consummatory behavior to modulate this response.