Probing command following in patients with disorders of consciousness using a brain-computer interface.

in Clinical Neurophysiology (2013), 124(1), 101-6

OBJECTIVE: To determine if brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) could serve as supportive tools for detecting consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness by detecting response to command and ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVE: To determine if brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) could serve as supportive tools for detecting consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness by detecting response to command and communication. METHODS: We tested a 4-choice auditory oddball EEG-BCI paradigm on 16 healthy subjects and 18 patients in a vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, in a minimally conscious state (MCS), and in locked-in syndrome (LIS). Subjects were exposed to 4 training trials and 10 -12 questions. RESULTS: Thirteen healthy subjects and one LIS patient were able to communicate using the BCI. Four of those did not present with a P3. One MCS patient showed command following with the BCI while no behavioral response could be detected at bedside. All other patients did not show any response to command and could not communicate with the BCI. CONCLUSION: The present study provides evidence that EEG based BCI can detect command following in patients with altered states of consciousness and functional communication in patients with locked-in syndrome. However, BCI approaches have to be simplified to increase sensitivity. SIGNIFICANCE: For some patients without any clinical sign of consciousness, a BCI might bear the potential to employ a "yes-no" spelling device offering the hope of functional interactive communication. [less ▲]

A unicellular mechanism to switch a network behavior from tonic activity to synchronous oscillations

Poster (2012, October 08)

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting the basal ganglia (BG), a set of small subcortical nervous system nuclei. The hallmark of the disease is a dopaminergic denervation of ... [more ▼]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting the basal ganglia (BG), a set of small subcortical nervous system nuclei. The hallmark of the disease is a dopaminergic denervation of the input stage of the BG, altering information patterns along movement-related ganglia-mediated pathways in the brain, inducing therefore movement disorders such as tremor at rest, bradykinesia, akinesia, and rigidity. It is still unclear how dopamine depletion causes those motor symptoms. Experimental studies have shown that abnormally synchronized oscillatory activities- rhythmic bursting activity at the neurocellular level and beta frequency band oscillations at the network level-emerge in PD at multiple levels of the BG-cortical loops and are correlated with motor symptoms. We propose a computational model of the BG using a novel unicellular mechanism to explain the induction of bursting activity and beta band oscillations in the network. We show how a single change in the dopaminergic level at the input stage of the BG can switch the model from its physiological state to the pathological state. This computational model also proposes a simple mechanism for high-frequency deep brain stimulations. [less ▲]

The nature of the high Galactic latitude O-star HD 93521: new results from X-ray and optical spectroscopy

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2012), 546

Context. Owing to its unusual location and its isolation, the nature of the high Galactic latitude O9.5 Vp object HD 93521 is still uncertain. <BR /> Aims: We have collected X-ray and optical observations ... [more ▼]

Context. Owing to its unusual location and its isolation, the nature of the high Galactic latitude O9.5 Vp object HD 93521 is still uncertain. <BR /> Aims: We have collected X-ray and optical observations to characterize the star and its surroundings. <BR /> Methods: X-ray images and spectra are analysed to search for traces of a recent star formation event around HD 93521 and to search for the signature of a possible compact companion. Optical echelle spectra are analysed with plane-parallel model atmosphere codes, assuming either a spherical star or a gravity darkened rotationally flattened star, to infer the effective temperature and surface gravity, and to derive the He, C, N and O abundances of HD 93521. <BR /> Results: The X-ray images reveal no traces of a population of young low-mass stars coeval with HD 93521. The X-ray spectrum of HD 93521 is consistent with a normal late O-type star although with subsolar metallicity. No trace of a compact companion is found in the X-ray data. In the optical spectrum, He and N are found to be overabundant, in line with the effect of rotational mixing in this very fast rotator, whilst C and O are subsolar. A critical comparison with the properties of subdwarf OB stars, indicates that, despite some apparent similarities, HD 93521 does not belong to this category. <BR /> Conclusions: Despite some ambiguities on the runaway status of the star, the most likely explanation is that HD 93521 is a Population I massive O-type star that was ejected from the Galactic plane either through dynamical interactions or a result of a supernova event in a binary system. Based on observations collected at the Observatoire de Haute Provence (France) and with XMM-Newton, an ESA science mission with instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA member states and the USA (NASA).Hα images are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via <A href="http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/546/A77">http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/546/A77</A> [less ▲]

Lettre d'information trimestrielle N°7 Projet Dacefi

E-print/Working paper (2012)

Proposition de Règlement europén régimes matrimoniaux : le choix de la loi applicable

Conference (2012, October)

In this presentation I review the provisions of the EU Draft Proposed Regulation on Matrimonial Property, focusing on the choice of law, in the light of the amendments suggested by the EP. Based on this ... [more ▼]

In this presentation I review the provisions of the EU Draft Proposed Regulation on Matrimonial Property, focusing on the choice of law, in the light of the amendments suggested by the EP. Based on this critical review, I offer some suggestions for amendment of the Draft Proposal. [less ▲]

In Ovo PET Imaging Of A Human Colorectal Carcinoma Model In Chicken Chorioallantoic Membrane

Poster (2012, October)

Aim. The objective of this study was to use in vivo PET/CT imaging as a validation tool for a novel human colorectal carcinoma model being developed in chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). For this ... [more ▼]

Aim. The objective of this study was to use in vivo PET/CT imaging as a validation tool for a novel human colorectal carcinoma model being developed in chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). For this initial pilot study a cell line modeling colon cancer was selected and imaged using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). <br />Materials and methods. A window was made in the shell of fertilized chicken eggs and 3x106 SW1222 human colorectal carcinoma cells were implanted at day 10 post-fertilization. On day 17 the shell window was enlarged to allow direct injection of FDG (12.2 ± 4.5 MBq/egg) into a CAM blood vessel. During injection the egg was warmed on a heating pad. A mixture of ketamine/medetomidine (50 :1 mg/ml, 0.2 ml/egg) was injected into the albumin in some eggs to assess the effect of anesthesia. After FDG injection the egg was returned to the incubator for a 45 min uptake period before imaging. Imaging was performed on a Siemens Focus 120 microPET with structural CT on a General Electric eXplore CT120. A Minerve cell system allowed reproducible positioning between modalities. PET data was acquired in list mode before histogramming into a single 10 min frame for reconstruction using a 3D maximum a posteriori (MAP) method with all corrections except scatter. A standard 100 µm (theoretical) image resolution protocol (70 kV, 50 mA, 32 ms, 220 views) was used to obtain structural CT data. Image coregistration was performed in PMOD version 3.3. In a separate egg, the influence of added contrast on the CT data was investigated by adding iodinated contrast agent (Iobitridol 35 mgI/ml) to the albumin. <br />Results. FDG uptake was clear in chick and tumor, with notably high uptake at the major joints. Tumors were identified by localization of FDG uptake on the surface of the CAM. A lack of soft tissue contrast between tumor, CAM and albumin made precise structural identification of the tumor difficult. Anesthesia was crucial to image quality in both PET and CT. CT contrast between the soft tissues of the chick and surrounding albumin/structures was improved by addition of contrast agent. <br />Conclusion. For the first time we demonstrate successful imaging of FDG uptake in a human colorectal carcinoma chicken CAM model in ovo. Methods to improve structural data are under investigation and will be used in further studies. With such improvement, this model could be of great value to PET oncology imaging. [less ▲]

Habiter l'espace rural

in A+ : Revue d'architecture (2012), 237

Une implantation judicieuse au cœur du village, le respect du relief et le dialogue avec le bâti local sont autant de gages d’une relation paysagère et urbanistique réussie, tout en contribuant à une ... [more ▼]

Une implantation judicieuse au cœur du village, le respect du relief et le dialogue avec le bâti local sont autant de gages d’une relation paysagère et urbanistique réussie, tout en contribuant à une bonne intégration sociale. Outre la qualité spatiale des logements eux-mêmes, le soin porté à leurs interactions avec le village et les espaces collectifs démontre que l’architecture peut également soutenir le développement de relations harmonieuses et solidaires. [less ▲]

Caractérisation de la dynamique d'occupation du sol de la ville de Kisangani (R.D. Congo) et sa périphérie entre 2002 et 2010

Master's dissertation (2012)

L’évolution démographique des pays du sud sans cesse croissante et les nombreux changements qu’elle provoque sont à la source d’un grand nombre de questions d’étude. Ce sont en particulier les changements ... [more ▼]

L’évolution démographique des pays du sud sans cesse croissante et les nombreux changements qu’elle provoque sont à la source d’un grand nombre de questions d’étude. Ce sont en particulier les changements d’occupation du sol résultant de l’extension d’une ville du sud qui nous ont intéressés dans ce travail de fin d’études, dont l’objectif était de quantifier l’urbanisation et la déforestation à Kisangani (R. D. Congo) entre 2002 et 2010. Des cartes d’occupation du sol ont été réalisées sur la base de deux images SPOT 5 et grâce à une sortie terrain en mars-avril 2012. Les classifications ont été effectuées sur base de l’approche orientée-objet et les méthodes non supervisée et supervisée ont été comparées. Les résultats montrent une meilleure précision des classifications supervisées (K = 0,42 et K = 0,71) par rapport aux classifications non supervisées (K = 0,32 et K = 0,53). Un taux d’extension urbaine de 16 % et une déforestation de 7 % ont pu être mis en évidence suite aux classifications supervisées. Le calcul d’indices de structure spatiale du paysage a permis de segmenter le gradient urbain-périurbain-rural-forêt associé à Kisangani que ce soit en classification non supervisée ou supervisée. Les milieux périurbain et rural sont ainsi caractérisés par une hétérogénéité forte, contrairement aux milieux forestier et urbain qui sont caractérisés par une homogénéité du milieu. La supériorité de la méthode supervisée sur la méthode non supervisée a été démontrée dans la caractérisation de plusieurs aspects de l’étude. [less ▲]

Genetics and genomics of energy balance measured in milk using mid-infrared spectroscopy

Poster (2012, August)

answer to a question from the general reporter in session B2, question 1.6

Conference (2012, August)

Technology to forecast up to 2 days ahead the ampacity of power lines is now mature owing to european project TWENTIES