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Biomedical subjects

H Witte

Publications and source records attributed to H Witte.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

Primary structure of a gene-sized DNA encoding calmodulin from the hypotrichous ciliate Stylonychia lemnae.

We have isolated and characterized a gene-sized DNA encoding calmodulin (Clm) from macronuclear (MA) DNA of the hypotrichous ciliate, Stylonychia lemnae. The gene has 3500 copies per macronucleus. The length of the gene was deduced by agarose-gel electrophoresis of MA DNA and Southern blot analysis using a Clm cDNA probe from chicken. We then isolated the gene from a MA library. The overall length of the gene is 821 bp with a 450-bp intronless coding region. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of ciliate Clm has 149 aa and an M(r) of 16,819. Both ends of the cloned gene have the hypotrichous telomeric C4A4 repeat. The coding region is flanked by a 158-bp 5'-leader sequence and a 3'-trailer sequence of 213 bp. S1 analysis was used to locate the transcription start point (tsp) 49 bp upstream from the start codon. No common eukaryotic transcription signals were found upstream from the tsp. A second gene-sized DNA, detected by its cross-hybridization with the Clm DNA, predicts the existence of a second Ca(2+)-binding protein with only one Ca(2+)-binding site. It's function and biological significance is yet unknown.

Amino Acid Sequence

[Application of Fourier transformation as the basic algorithm for processing cardiorespiratory data of newborn infants].

The multiple possibilities for the application of Fast Fourier Transformation (FFT) in the cardiorespirography of neonates are shown as a summary of our own results. The basis is the power spectral analysis of instantaneous heart rate and respiratory movements, which can be complemented by a coherence analysis of both parameters. A model-aided method for quantification of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) as an additional application for power spectral and coherence analysis is discussed. The realization of Hilbert transformation by FFT makes possible the interval-related calculation of respiration rate. The necessity of this supplementation, as well as the resulting strategies of additional processing steps are emphasized. The results is a concept of signal processing which increases the efficiency of previously employed methods in computer-aided cardiorespirography.

Algorithms

Use of discrete Hilbert transformation for automatic spike mapping: a methodological investigation.

On the basis of discrete Hilbert transform (DHT) realised by fast Fourier transform (FFT), a new strategy for automatic spike mapping is introduced. The further computation of the EEG time series after DHT results in the time series of the momentary power and the momentary frequency. Both are used for the solution of the main requirements of automatic spike mapping. The spike-mapping concept introduced meets the requirements of efficient automatic spike detection and also has an insensitivity with regard to EMG interference and transient signal components, a frequent cause of false positive detections. Additionally, there are advantages if the momentary power of the spike is mapped instead of the spike potential. The use of momentary power makes a combination of power spectral mapping and spike-mapping strategies possible.

Algorithms

Using discrete Hilbert transformation for interval-related calculation of the respiration rate in neonates.

From the basis of the fast Fourier transformation (FFT), the discrete Hilbert transformation (DHT) is used to compute the instantaneous respiration rate in neonates. This interval-related computation of respiration rate must be combined with a concept of adaptive filtration of the respiratory movements. This strategy is performed by adaptive recursive estimations of mean values with different adaptation constants. Additionally, a frequency band limitation is carried out on the basis of the peak characteristic of the power spectrum (respiratory movements). By means of the adaptive estimation of the variance of respiratory movements, an amplitude-time window is calculated to choose between epochs with breaths and apnoea.

Algorithms

Experimental and clinical studies of neonatal eeg mapping--methodical prerequisites and data interpretation.

To investigate whether the sampling theorem was fulfilled up to now in experimental and clinical EEG-mapping of neonates and to determine the "smearing effect" of EEG transmission by the leading media up to the skin, EEG-maps from 5 slightly anaesthetized term newborn piglets and 8 healthy human newborns were calculated. A spatial sampling rate of 1-2 cycles per cm is necessary for a sufficient reproduction of surface EEG topology in newborn piglets showing activity maxima within motor projection zones. In human neonates, 8-channel mapping gave insufficient results, whereas state and EEG pattern related 16-channel maps provided sufficiently constant, but not complete pattern. Simultaneous maps from epidural and epiossal, and epiossal, and surface recordings in newborn piglets showed only small "smearing" effects. We conclude, the more topical interpretation chances exist, like in neonates with smaller "smearing" effects of transmission media, the more complete uptake of original data for mapping is necessary. Up to now, it is done seldomly.

Animals

[Quantification of artefacts in surface EMG by validating the lower frequency limit in clinico-physiologic studies].

The surface-EMG becomes more and more important because computer assisted analysing systems can be applied. The occurrence of artefacts makes it very difficult to compare several recorded EMG channels with each other. In this study a frequency related quantification of movement artefacts and ECG-related influences on the EMG is carried out to select a suitable lower cut-off frequency for surface-EMG investigations. In 764 monopolar surface-EMG-recordings of the neck and back muscles the solely artefact-caused part of EMG-segments was analysed and quantified by means of modelling methods.

Adult

Human body proportions explained on the basis of biomechanical principles.

On the basis of theoretical biomechanics and of experiments, we investigated the mechanical requirements to which the body of a bipedally walking primate is subject, and the possibilities to meet these requirements with a minimum amount of energy. The least energy-consuming adaptation is clearly a body shape favourable for the preferred locomotion. Some characteristics of human body shape, in particular its proportions, could be identified as advantageous for fulfilling obvious biological roles or mechanical necessities. The characteristic length and the extended position of human hindlimbs make walking faster without additional input of energy. Mass distribution on the hindlimbs reduces the energy necessary for accelerating the swing limb after liftoff and for decelerating the swing limb before the heelstrike. Length and mass distribution in the forelimb gives it a pendulum length comparable to that of the hindlimb, so that both extremities swing at the same frequency. This swinging of the forelimbs counters in part the movements exerted by the moved hindlimbs on the trunk. The elongate and slim shape of the trunk provides great mass moments of inertia and that means stability against being flexed ventrally and dorsally by the forward and rearward movements of the heavy and long hindlimbs. Shoulder breadth in combination with the shallow shape of the thorax yield higher mass moments of inertia against the rotation of the trunk about a vertical axis than a cylindrical trunk shape. Further elongation of the hindlimbs is limited by the energy necessary for acceleration and deceleration, as well as for lifting them during the swing phase. In addition, the reaction forces exerted by the hindlimbs would expose the trunk to undue excursions if the proportions trunk length/limb length or trunk mass/limb mass would decrease. The above-noted kinetic requirements are partly in line, partly in conflict with the requirements of statics.

Arm

[Methodologic studies in dynamic EMG mapping based on the Hilbert transformation].

On the basis of Discrete Hilbert Transformation spectral parameters for dynamic EMG analysis can be introduced. Within analysis intervals which are used in the same manner as in spectral analysis, the momentary power of EMG frequency bands can be computed as time series of the same interval duration. A close connection exists between momentary power and the current phenomenology of power spectral analysis because the momentary power of a defined frequency band can be seen as the exact dynamic equivalent of the corresponding mean power value deduced from the power spectrum. A multichannel EMG recording (greater than or equal to 16 channels) makes the representation of the topographical distribution of the spectral parameter by a coloured map possible. Additionally, the momentary power can be used to calculate map sequences. In this way, changes of EMG activity can be quantified by map sequences of an arbitrary time resolution. By calculation of momentary frequency via DHT an artefact detection scheme for ECG interference can be suggested. A completion of this methodology can be carried out by applications of adaptive filtration procedures. Using this concept of EMG processing, a new and common methodical basis of EMG power spectral analysis can be introduced.

Brain Mapping

Heart rate fluctuations in rabbits during different behavioural states.

Heart rate fluctuations (HRF) were investigated in 18 adult female rabbits (Weisses Grosssilber) in chronical experiments at rest, during motor activity, passive and active avoidance. Pharmacological blockades of the neurovegetative transmission were used to determine the characteristics of neurovegetative mediation during the behavioural states examined. Mean heart rate was always increased during vagal blockade and decreased during beta-adrenergic blockade. At rest the HRF in rabbits are mainly vagally mediated. Vagal blockade reduced the overall heart rate variability by more than 50%. Vagal blockade did not abolish respiratory heart rate fluctuations. If the mean respiratory frequency is greater than half of the mean heart rate frequently occurring in rabbits, the respiratory HRF are generated not synchronously with respiration but in a slower frequency range according to the physiologic effect of "cardiac aliasing". The movement related heart rate increase was absent if the movements were performed during combined beta adrenergic and vagal blockade. The heart rate reaction during passive avoidance was characterized by a heart rate deceleration abolished by vagal blockade. Respiratory HR were increased. Furthermore, the heart rate was returned to the previous mean level and the slow HRF not induced by respiration increased, mediated by beta adrenergic activation. Vagal blockade and beta adrenergic blockade diminished the heart rate acceleration and reduced the overall heart rate variability by more than 50% during active avoidance. Combined vagal and beta-adrenergic blockade fully abolished the heart rate acceleration effect during active avoidance. The ratio of the vagal to sympathetic reaction components differed in behavioural types.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists

[Adaptative procedures for pre-processing of evoked potentials].

The investigation of evoked potentials requires suitable consideration of physiological and pathophysiological characteristics of spontaneous and evoked electrical activity of the brain. For this purpose a preprocessing strategy based on adaptive recursive estimation of statistical parameters was developed. In this way, artifact handling, classification, filtering and further preprocessing of spontaneous EEG and evoked potentials can be improved.

Algorithms

High-frequency and low-frequency heart-rate fluctuation analysis in newborns--a review of possibilities and limitations.

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) has been traditionally defined as the high-frequency component of heart-rate fluctuations (HRF) synchronous with the respiratory movements (RM), i.e., the frequency of RSA corresponds to the respiration rate. It can be shown that at defined relations of mean heart and respiration rate some essential effects must be taken into consideration in studies using RSA parameters. The relevance of these effects is shown and a new strategy of RSA quantification demanded, at least in neonates. The diagnostic importance, physiological background and future application of the low-frequency components of the neonatal HRF are reviewed on the basis of our own results. Nonrespiratory cardiovascular HRF cannot always be detected in the neonate by power spectral analysis. Movement-related HRF have a potential diagnostic importance per se, but may also artefactually disturb the quantification of other HRF components. Long-term trends can be used to describe sleep-state related trends and their disturbances.

Arrhythmia, Sinus