Regularization of synchronized chaotic bursts

The onset of regular bursts in a group of irregularly bursting neurons with different individual properties is one of the most interesting dynamical properties found in neurobiological systems. In this paper we show how synchronization among chaotically bursting cells can lead to the onset of regular bursting. In order to clearly present the mechanism behind such regularization we model the individual dynamics of each cell with a simple two-dimensional map that produces chaotic bursting behavior similar to biological neurons.     

Neural mechanism for a cognitive timer

To examine a possible biological mechanism for a cognitive timer, the stochastic dynamics of a network of neurons possessing two stable states ("on" and "off" states) is studied. The fraction of on neurons existing at t = 0 remains large for an extended interval, and then abruptly falls. The distribution of the lengths of the interval is scale invariant in the following sense: The ratio (k root of (mu(k))/m, with m and mu(k) being the mean and the kth central moment, respectively, is invariant under scale transformations of m and mu(k). In the special case k = 2, this gives Weber's law, a hallmark of cognitive timing.     

Prediction of flow stress and textures of AZ31 magnesium alloy at elevated temperature

The viscoplastic behaviour of magnesium alloys at high temperatures leads to highly temperature-dependent mechanical properties. While at high strain rates a notable strain hardening response is observed, at low strain rates the material shows a smooth plastic response with negligible amount of hardening. This complicated behaviour is due to different deformation mechanisms that are active at different strain rate regimes, resulting in different strain rate sensitivity parameters. In this study we show, by utilizing both numerical simulations and experiments, that this behaviour can be predicted by a model that combines two deformation mechanisms, grain boundary sliding mechanism and dislocation glide mechanism. We discuss the importance of each deformation mechanism at different strain rate regimes based on the findings of modelling and experimental results for AZ3 magnesium alloy. By developing a model that includes the above-mentioned two deformation mechanism, the prediction of flow properties is expanded to a wide range of strain rate regimes compared to previous study. The obtained numerical findings for the stress–strain behaviour as well as texture evolution show good agreement with the experimental results.     

Study Under AC Stimulation on Excitement Properties of Weighted Small-World Biological Neural Networks with Side-Restrain Mechanism

In this paper,we propose a new model of weighted small-world biological neural networks based on biophysical Hodgkin-Huxley neurons with side-restrain mechanism.Then we study excitement properties of the model under alternating current (AC) stimulation.The study shows that the excitement properties in the networks are preferably consistent with the behavior properties of a brain nervous system under different AC stimuli,such as refractory period and the brain neural excitement response induced by different intensities of nolse and coupling.The results of the study have reference worthiness for the brain nerve electrophysiology and epistemological science.     

Application of the Catecholaminergic Neuron Electron Transport (CNET) Physical Substrate for Consciousness and Action Selection to Integrated Information Theory

A newly discovered physical mechanism involving incoherent electron tunneling in layers of the protein ferritin that are found in catecholaminergic neurons (catecholaminergic neuron electron transport or CNET) is hypothesized to support communication between neurons. Recent tests further confirm that these ferritin layers can also perform a switching function (in addition to providing an electron tunneling mechanism) that could be associated with action selection in those neurons, consistent with earlier predictions based on CNET. While further testing would be needed to confirm the hypothesis that CNET allows groups of neurons to communicate and act as a switch for selecting one of the neurons in the group to assist in reaching action potential, this paper explains how that hypothesized behavior would be consistent with Integrated Information Theory (IIT), one of a number of consciousness theories (CTs). While the sheer number of CTs suggest that any one of them alone is not sufficient to explain consciousness, this paper demonstrates that CNET can provide a physical substrate and action selection mechanism that is consistent with IIT and which can also be applied to other CTs, such as to conform them into a single explanation of consciousness.     

Stochastic resonance of a periodically driven neuron under non-Gaussian noise

We investigate the first-passage-time statistics of the integrate-fire neuron model driven by a sub-threshold harmonic signal superposed with a non-Gaussian noise. Here, we considered the noise as the result of a random multiplicative process displaced from the origin by an additive term. Such a mechanism generates a power-law distributed noise whose characteristic decay exponent can be finely tuned. We performed numerical simulations to analyze the influence of the noise non-Gaussian character on the stochastic resonance condition. We found that when the noise deviates from Gaussian statistics, the resonance condition occurs at weaker noise intensities, achieving a minimum at a finite value of the distribution function decay exponent. We discuss the possible relevance of this feature to the efficiency of the firing dynamics of biological neurons, as the present result indicates that neurons would require a lower noise level to detect a sub-threshold signal when its statistics departs from Gaussian.     

Structure and generation mechanism of the peroxy-radical defect in amorphous silica

We provide a new model of the peroxy-radical defect in amorphous silica on the basis of quantum-chemical calculations applied to clusters of atoms to model the defect. In this model, the 29Si hyperfine splittings of the peroxy radical arise from a single silicon, in agreement with the previous experimental findings. Furthermore, we show that the present model of the peroxy radical is consistent with the diffusion-limited anneal mechanism of the E'gamma center, although our model of the E'gamma center is different from the conventional charged oxygen vacancy model.     

First-order phase transition stimulated by an external electromagnetic field

The mechanism of the influence of an external electromagnetic field upon the temperature of the first-order phase transition in BaTiO₃ is discussed in the framework of the vibronic theory of ferroelectricity. The irradiation is shown to decrease the phase transition temperature. The results are in good agreement with the experimental findings.     

Chaos synchronization of coupled neurons with gap junctions

Based on the asymptotic stability theory of dynamical systems and matrix theory, a general criterion of synchronization stability of N coupled neurons with symmetric configurations is established in this Letter. Especially, three types of connection styles (that is, chain, ring and global connections) are considered. As an illustration, complete synchronization of four coupled identical chaotic Chay neurons is investigated. The maximal conditional Lyapunov exponent is calculated and used to determine complete synchronization. As a result, complete synchronization of four coupled identical chaotic Chay neurons can be achieved when the coupling strength is above a critical value, which is dependent on the specific connection style. Numerical simulation is in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.     

A biologically constrained learning mechanism in networks of formal neurons

A new learning mechanism is proposed for networks of formal neurons analogous to Ising spin systems; it brings such models substantially closer to biological data in three respects: first, the learning procedure is applied initially to a network with random connections (which may be similar to a spin-glass system), instead of starting from a system void of any knowledge (as in the Hopfield model); second, the resultant couplings are not symmetrical; third, patterns can be stored without changing the sign of the coupling coefficients. It is shown that the storage capacity of such networks is similar to that of the Hopfield network, and that it is not significantly affected by the restriction of keeping the couplings' signs constant throughout the learning phase. Although this approach does not claim to model the central nervous system, it provides new insight on a frontier area between statistical physics, artificial intelligence, and neurobiology.     

Synaptic plasticity modulates autonomous transitions between waking and sleep states: insights from a Morris-Lecar model

The transitions between waking and sleep states are characterized by considerable changes in neuronal firing. During waking, neurons fire tonically at irregular intervals and a desynchronized activity is observed at the electroencephalogram. This activity becomes synchronized with slow wave sleep onset when neurons start to oscillate between periods of firing (up-states) and periods of silence (down-states). Recently, it has been proposed that the connections between neurons undergo potentiation during waking, whereas they weaken during slow wave sleep. Here, we propose a dynamical model to describe basic features of the autonomous transitions between such states. We consider a network of coupled neurons in which the strength of the interactions is modulated by synaptic long term potentiation and depression, according to the spike time-dependent plasticity rule (STDP). The model shows that the enhancement of synaptic strength between neurons occurring in waking increases the propensity of the network to synchronize and, conversely, desynchronization appears when the strength of the connections become weaker. Both transitions appear spontaneously, but the transition from sleep to waking required a slight modification of the STDP rule with the introduction of a mechanism which becomes active during sleep and changes the proportion between potentiation and depression in accordance with biological data. At the neuron level, transitions from desynchronization to synchronization and vice versa can be described as a bifurcation between two different states, whose dynamical regime is modulated by synaptic strengths, thus suggesting that transition from a state to an another can be determined by quantitative differences between potentiation and depression.     

弱信号在Hodgkin-Huxley神经元单向耦合系统中的传输特性

研究了阈下信号在含噪声的Hodgkin-Huxley神经元单向耦合系统中的传输特性.结果表明,各单元中均存在随机共振现象,可见噪声有助于提高信号的检测和传输;另外,耦合实现了信号的传输,且随着耦合强度的增强信号的传输效率增加,在耦合强度达到某一程度时两神经元实现了有时延的一致放电;并且接收元的信噪比最优值处的噪声强度随着耦合强度的提高而减小,最终与驱动元的一致;另外在耦合强度过强时,接收元出现过耦合放电,但是最终会被不断增强的噪声抑制,此现象有助于解释神经元的自放电及神经系统的自调节.研究表明噪声和耦合在 关键词： Hodgkin-Huxley神经元模型 随机共振 噪声 单向耦合系统     

Unified Mie and fractal scattering by biological cells and subcellular structures

Angle-resolved light scattering spectroscopy of biological cells is investigated in the visible wavelength range. A unified Mie and fractal model is shown to provide an accurate global agreement with light scattering spectra from 1.1 degrees to 165 degrees scattering angles. It is found that light scattering in forward directions (<8 degrees ) is dominated by Mie scattering by the bare cell and nucleus, whereas light scattering at large angles (>20 degrees ) is determined by fractal scattering by subcellular structures. The findings are consistent with the results of experimental investigation of the contributions of different cellular components to light scattering by cells.     

A low-dimensional crystal growth model on an isotropic and quasi-free sustained substrate

A new crystal growth theoretical model is established for the low-dimensional nanocrystals on an isotropic and quasifree sustained substrate. The driven mechanism of the model is based on the competitive growth among the preferential growth directions of the crystals possessing anisotropic crystal structures, such as the hexagonal close-packed and wurtzite structures. The calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental findings in the growth process of the lowdimensional Zn nanocrystals on silicone oil surfaces. Our model shows a growth mechanism of various low-dimensional crystals on/in the isotropic substrates.     

癫痫大鼠海马神经元生化分子的同步辐射显微红外光谱成像研究

癫痫是影响所有年龄段的慢性脑功能障碍,主要特征为整个或局部脑区神经元异常同步化高频群集动作电位发放。利用神经毒素海人藻酸（KA）立体定位注射入大鼠海马,诱导大鼠产生癫痫持续状态,建立颞叶癫痫大鼠模型。应用同步辐射显微光谱和同步辐射显微光谱成像分析癫痫持续状态发作后24小时的颞叶癫痫大鼠海马角（CA）1区神经元生物化学分子的胞内浓度和分布是否改变。结果显示反映蛋白质二级结构的酰胺Ⅰ在1 655 cm-1的振动频率和属于脂类功能集团的2 800～3 000 cm-1振动频率,在正常对照大鼠海马CA1神经元胞体内呈高浓度分布,但在癫痫大鼠海马CA1神经元胞体,反映蛋白质二级内呈低浓度分布,并且以细胞核分布浓度最低,但在神经元胞体外围分布浓度相对较高。属于核酸集团的1 055～1 054 cm-1 PO₂反对称拉伸振动在正常和癫痫大鼠海马CA1神经元胞体内分布趋势没有差异,都在胞体内呈高浓度分布,尤其在细胞核分布浓度最高。对属于酰胺Ⅰ的吸收频率进行二级导数分析显示癫痫海马神经元的酰胺Ⅰ相对于正常对照多出1个1 653 cm-1附近的负峰。以上结果提示在发生癫痫持续发作后海马神经元生物化学分子的细胞分布会出现变化。     

Impact of cellular properties on red cell-red cell affinity in plasma-like suspensions

The reversible aggregation of human red blood cells (RBC) by proteins or polymers continues to be of biological and biophysical interest, yet the mechanistic details governing this process are still being explored. In this report an approach is described to compute the interaction energy between RBC by considering cellular properties as well as polymer properties. Cell-cell affinities were calculated as functions of glycocalyx thickness and glycocalyx volume concentration as well as bulk polymer concentration. Our theoretical predictions show that cell-cell affinities do not monotonically increase with polymer size and concentration, but rather demonstrate an optimum dextran molecular mass and concentration which depends on cellular properties of RBC. These results show qualitative agreement with recent experimental observations. In conclusion, our model not only confirms the concept of a depletion mechanism for RBC aggregation but also provides new insights which should help understanding how cellular properties control in vivo RBC interactions.     

聚焦超声波在层状生物媒质中的二次谐波声场的理论与实验研究

基于Khokhlov-Zabolotkaya-Kuznetsov(KZK)方程，在频域提出了聚焦超声波在层状生物媒质中传播的理论模型，该模型计及生物媒质的吸收、非线性和边界，同时考虑声源的衍射对声传播的影响.数值研究了聚焦超声波的基波和二次谐波在层状生物媒质中的声传播，并与实验结果相比较.研究结果表明，此方法可以有效地描述聚焦超声波在层状生物媒质中的二次谐波声场. 关键词： 聚焦超声波 层状生物媒质 二次谐波     

Gas body activation

A small body of gas which is stabilized against dissolution in a liquid by a supportive structure may oscillate in response to an ultrasonic field and this form of cavitation is termed gas body activation. Linear theory describes the response of gas-filled intercellular channels in plant tissue and of gas-filled micropores in thin sheets of plastic. Calculations from this theory yield good agreement with indirect observations of resonance frequencies and rough agreement with direct measures of aggregate response (transmission and reflection coefficients). Studies of gas body activation in biological systems should allow quantitative analysis of cavitation bioeffects for relatively low-intensity ultrasound applications.     

Nonresonance mechanisms of biological effects of coherent and incoherent light

Two mechanisms of the nonresonance action of light on biological systems are considered. The first of them is caused by gradient effects arising upon interaction of a biological system with spatially inhomogeneous radiation. The second mechanism is determined by light-induced dipole-dipole interactions between biological particles. The first mechanism is characteristic of coherent radiation. A speckle structure arising upon interaction of coherent light with a biological system gives rise to gradient forces, which depend on the intensity of the incident light and the properties of an object. It is shown that the action of the gradient forces on microparticles causes a selective increase in the kinetic energy of the particles. Due to random pulsations of speckles in living tissue, this effect is equivalent to an increase in the “partial” temperature of the particles, which depends on their size and properties. The second mechanism manifests itself both upon coherent and upon incoherent irradiation of a biological object. This mechanism is determined by interactions between oscillating dipole moments of neighboring particles (cells, organelles, biomolecules) induced by incident radiation. The second mechanism is shown to be observed for linearly polarized radiation only. For each mechanism, the forces acting on biological particles are calculated.