A Method to Detect Structural Damage Using High-Frequency Seismograms

A numerical study is performed to gain insight into applying a novel method to detect high-frequency dynamic failure in buildings. The method relies on prerecorded catalog of Green's functions for instrumented buildings. Structural failure during a seismic event is detected by screening continuous data for the presence of waveform similarities to each of the cataloged building responses. In the first part of this numerical study, an impulse-like force is applied to a beam column connection in a linear elastic steel frame. A time-reversed reciprocal method is used to demonstrate that the resulting simulated displacements can be used to determine the absolute time and location of the applied force. In the second part of the study, a steel frame's response to two loading cases, an impulse-like force and an opening crack tensile stress, is computed on a temporal scale of microseconds. Results indicate that the velocity waveform generated by a tensile crack can be approximated by the velocity waveform generated by an impulse-like force load applied at the proper location. These results support the idea of using a nondestructive impulse-like force (e.g. hammer blow) to characterize the building response to high-frequency dynamic failure (e.g. weld fracture)

Prime Focus Spectrograph - Subaru's future -

The Prime Focus Spectrograph (PFS) of the Subaru Measurement of Images and Redshifts (SuMIRe) project has been endorsed by Japanese community as one of the main future instruments of the Subaru 8.2-meter telescope at Mauna Kea, Hawaii. This optical/near-infrared multi-fiber spectrograph targets cosmology with galaxy surveys, Galactic archaeology, and studies of galaxy/AGN evolution. Taking advantage of Subaru's wide field of view, which is further extended with the recently completed Wide Field Corrector, PFS will enable us to carry out multi-fiber spectroscopy of 2400 targets within 1.3 degree diameter. A microlens is attached at each fiber entrance for F-ratio transformation into a larger one so that difficulties of spectrograph design are eased. Fibers are accurately placed onto target positions by positioners, each of which consists of two stages of piezo-electric rotary motors, through iterations by using back-illuminated fiber position measurements with a wide-field metrology camera. Fibers then carry light to a set of four identical fast-Schmidt spectrographs with three color arms each: the wavelength ranges from 0.38 {\mu}m to 1.3 {\mu}m will be simultaneously observed with an average resolving power of 3000. Before and during the era of extremely large telescopes, PFS will provide the unique capability of obtaining spectra of 2400 cosmological/astrophysical targets simultaneously with an 8-10 meter class telescope. The PFS collaboration, led by IPMU, consists of USP/LNA in Brazil, Caltech/JPL, Princeton, & JHU in USA, LAM in France, ASIAA in Taiwan, and NAOJ/Subaru.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figures, submitted to "Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy IV, Ian S. McLean, Suzanne K. Ramsay, Hideki Takami, Editors, Proc. SPIE 8446 (2012)

Structural connectivity–based segmentation of the thalamus and prediction of tremor improvement following thalamic deep brain stimulation of the ventral intermediate nucleus

Objectives: Traditional targeting methods for thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) performed to address tremor have predominantly relied on indirect atlas-based methods that focus on the ventral intermediate nucleus despite known variability in thalamic functional anatomy. Improvements in preoperative targeting may help maximize outcomes and reduce thalamic DBS–related complications. In this study, we evaluated the ability of thalamic parcellation with structural connectivity–based segmentation (SCBS) to predict tremor improvement following thalamic DBS. Methods: In this retrospective analysis of 40 patients with essential tremor, hard segmentation of the thalamus was performed by using probabilistic tractography to assess structural connectivity to 7 cortical targets. The volume of tissue activated (VTA) was modeled in each patient on the basis of the DBS settings. The volume of overlap between the VTA and the 7 thalamic segments was determined and correlated with changes in preoperative and postoperative Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale (TRS) scores by using multivariable linear regression models. Results: A significant association was observed between greater VTA in the supplementary motor area (SMA) and premotor cortex (PMC) thalamic segment and greater improvement in TRS score when considering both the raw change (P = .001) and percentage change (P = .011). In contrast, no association was observed between change in TRS score and VTA in the primary motor cortex thalamic segment (P ≥ .19). Conclusions: Our data suggest that greater VTA in the thalamic SMA/PMC segment during thalamic DBS was associated with significant improvement in TRS score in patients with tremor. These findings support the potential role of thalamic SCBS as an independent predictor of tremor improvement in patients who receive thalamic DBS. Keywords: Brain connectomics, Deep brain stimulation, Diffusion tensor imaging, Essential tremor, Ventral intermediate nucleus, Ventral thalamic nucle

Cleavage of Na+ channels by calpain increases persistent Na+ current and promotes spasticity after spinal cord injury

International audienceUpregulation of the persistent sodium current (INaP) in motoneurons contributes to spasticity following spinal cord injury (SCI). We investigated the mechanisms that regulate INaP and observed elevated expression of Nav1.6 channels in spinal lumbar motoneurons of adult rats with SCI. Furthermore, immunoblot revealed a proteolysis of Nav channels and biochemical assays identified calpain as the main proteolytic factor. Calpain-dependent cleavage of Nav channels following neonatal SCI was associated with an upregulation of INaP in motoneurons. Likewise, calpain-dependent cleavage of Nav1.6 channels expressed in HEK-293 cells caused elevation of INaP. Pharmacological inhibition of calpain by MDL28170 reduced the cleavage of Nav channels, INaP in motoneurons and spasticity in rats with SCI. Similarly, blockade of INaP by riluzole alleviated spasticity. This study demonstrates that Nav channel expression in lumbar motoneurons is altered after SCI and shows a tight relationship between the calpain-dependent proteolysis of Nav1.6 channels, the upregulation of INaP and spasticity