Medicine (St Vincent's) - Research Publications
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ItemElectrical Stimulation of Neural Tissue Modeled as a Cellular Composite: Point Source Electrode in an Isotropic Tissue(IEEE, 2014-01-01)Standard volume conductor models of neural electrical stimulation assume that the electrical properties of the tissue are well described by a conductivity that is smooth and homogeneous at a microscopic scale. However, neural tissue is composed of tightly packed cells whose membranes have markedly different electrical properties to either the intra- or extracellular space. Consequently, the electrical properties of tissue are highly heterogeneous at the microscopic scale: a fact not accounted for in standard volume conductor models. Here we apply a recently developed framework for volume conductor models that accounts for the cellular composition of tissue. We consider the case of a point source electrode in tissue comprised of neural fibers crossing each other equally in all directions. We derive the tissue admittivity (that replaces the standard tissue conductivity) from single cell properties, and then calculate the extracellular potential. Our findings indicate that the cellular composition of tissue affects the spatiotemporal profile of the extracellular potential. In particular, the full solution asymptotically approaches a near-field limit close to the electrode and a far-field limit far from the electrode. The near-field and far-field approximations are solutions to standard volume conductor models, but differ from each other by nearly an order or magnitude. Consequently the full solution is expected to provide a more accurate estimate of electrical potentials over the full range of electrode-neurite separations.
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ItemA Neural Mass Model of Spontaneous Burst Suppression and Epileptic Seizures(IEEE, 2013-01-01)The paper presents a neural mass model that is capable of simulating the transition to and from various forms of paroxysmal activity such as burst suppression and epileptic seizure-like waveforms. These events occur without changing parameters in the model. The model is based on existing neural mass models, with the addition of feedback of fast dynamics to create slowly time varying parameters, or slow states. The goal of this research is to establish a link between system properties that modulate neural activity and the fast changing dynamics, such as membrane potentials and firing rates that can be manipulated using electrical stimulation. Establishing this link is likely to be a necessary component of a closed-loop system for feedback control of pathological neural activity.
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ItemA circle criterion observer for estimating the unmeasured membrane potential of neuronal populations(IEEE, 2011-12-01)A circle criterion observer is designed for estimating the unmeasured membrane potential of neuronal populations using the electroencephalogram (EEG) from a class of parameterised models that replicates patterns seen on the EEG. Compared to existing similar designs, we provide a less conservative linear matrix inequality (LMI) condition that is shown to be fulfilled for the neural models we consider. The designed observer is robust towards disturbances in the input and measurement, as well as model uncertainty. We show that the observer can be designed for a model that reproduces alpha rhythms in the EEG as an illustrative example.
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ItemParameter and state estimation for a class of neural mass models(IEEE, 2012-01-01)We present an adaptive observer which asymptotically reconstructs the parameters and states of a model of interconnected cortical columns. Our study is motivated by the fact that the considered model is able to realistically reproduce patterns seen on (intracranial) electroencephalograms (EEG) by varying its parameters. Therefore, by estimating its parameters and states, we could gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying neurological phenomena such as seizures, which might lead to the prediction of the onsets of epileptic seizures. Simulations are performed to illustrate our results.
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ItemA nonlinear estimator for the activity of neuronal populations in the hippocampus(IFAC - International Federation of Automatic Control, 2011-01-01)We present an estimator design to reconstruct the mean membrane potential of individual neuronal populations from a single channel simulated electroencephalographic signal based on a model of the hippocampus. The robustness of the estimator against variations in the synaptic gains of the neuronal populations and disturbances in the input and measurement is studied. Our results are further illustrated in simulations.
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ItemAnalytic synchronization conditions for a network of Wilson and Cowan oscillators(IEEE, 2015)We investigate the problem of synchronization in a network of homogeneous Wilson-Cowan oscillators with diffusive coupling. Such networks can be used to model the behavior of populations of neurons in cortical tissue, referred to as neural mass models. A new approach is proposed to address local synchronization for these types of neural mass models. By exploiting the linearized model around a limit cycle, we analyze synchronization within a network for weak, intermediate, and strong coupling. We use two-time scale averaging and the Chetaev theorem to analytically check the absence or presence of synchronization in the network with weak coupling. We also utilize the Chetaev theorem to analytically prove synchronization death in a network with strong coupling. For intermediate coupling, we use a recently proposed numerical approach to prove synchronization in the network. Simulation results confirm and illustrate our results.
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ItemState and parameter estimation of nonlinear systems: a multi-observer approach(IEEE, 2014-01-01)We present a multi-observer approach for the parameter and state estimation of continuous-time nonlinear systems. For nominal parameter values in the known parameter set, state observers are designed with a robustness property. At any time instant, one observer is selected by a given criterion to provide its state estimate and its corresponding nominal parameter value. Provided that a persistency of excitation condition holds, we guarantee the convergence of state and parameter estimates up to a given margin of error which can be reduced by increasing the number of observers. The potential computational burden of the scheme is eased by introducing a dynamic parameter re-sampling technique, where the nominal parameter values are iteratively updated using a zoom-in procedure on the parameter set. We illustrate the efficacy of the algorithm on a model of neural dynamics.
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ItemSlow-Fast Duffing Neural Mass Model(IEEE, 2019)Epileptic seizures may be initiated by random neuronal fluctuations and/or by pathological slow regulatory dynamics of ion currents. This paper presents extensions to the Jansen and Rit neural mass model (JRNMM) to replicate paroxysmal transitions in intracranial electroencephalogram (iEEG) recordings. First, the Duffing NMM (DNMM) is introduced to emulate stochastic generators of seizures. The DNMM is constructed by applying perturbations to linear models of synaptic transmission in each neural population of the JRNMM. Then, the slow-fast DNMM is introduced by considering slow dynamics (relative to membrane potential and firing rate) of some internal parameters of the DNMM to replicate pathological evolution of ion currents. Through simulation, it is illustrated that the slow-fast DNMM exhibits transitions to and from seizures with etiologies that are linked either to random input fluctuations or pathological evolution of slow states. Estimation and optimization of a log likelihood function (LLF) using a continuous-discrete unscented Kalman filter (CD-UKF) and a genetic algorithm (GA) are performed to capture dynamics of iEEG data with paroxysmal transitions.
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ItemFirst update of the International Xenotransplantation Association consensus statement on conditions for undertaking clinical trials of porcine islet products in type 1 diabetes--Executive summary.(Wiley, 2016-01)The International Xenotransplantation Association has updated its original "Consensus Statement on Conditions for Undertaking Clinical Trials of Porcine Islet Products in Type 1 Diabetes," which was published in Xenotransplantation in 2009. This update is timely and important in light of scientific progress and changes in the regulatory framework pertinent to islet xenotransplantation. Except for the chapter on "informed consent," which has remained relevant in its 2009 version, all other chapters included in the initial consensus statement have been revised for inclusion in this update. These chapters will not provide complete revisions of the original chapters; rather, they restate the key points made in 2009, emphasize new and under-appreciated topics not fully addressed in 2009, suggest relevant revisions, and communicate opinions that complement the consensus opinion. Chapter 1 provides an update on national regulatory frameworks addressing xenotransplantation. Chapter 2 a, previously Chapter 2, suggests several important revisions regarding the generation of suitable source pigs from the perspective of the prevention of xenozoonoses. The newly added Chapter 2b discusses conditions for the use of genetically modified source pigs in clinical islet xenotransplantation. Chapter 3 reviews porcine islet product manufacturing and release testing. Chapter 4 revisits the critically important topic of preclinical efficacy and safety data required to justify a clinical trial. The main achievements in the field of transmission of all porcine microorganisms, the rationale for more proportionate recipient monitoring, and response plans are reviewed in Chapter 5. Patient selection criteria and circumstances where trials of islet xenotransplantation would be both medically and ethically justified are examined in Chapter 6 in the context of recent advances in available and emerging alternative therapies for serious and potentially life-threatening complications of diabetes. It is hoped that this first update of the International Xenotransplantation Association porcine islet transplant consensus statement will assist the islet xenotransplant scientific community, sponsors, regulators, and other stakeholders actively involved in the clinical translation of islet xenotransplantation.
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ItemProceedings of the Ninth World Congress for Hair Research (2015).(Elsevier BV, 2017)