Subsampling effects in neuronal avalanche distributions recorded in vivo

Background  

Many systems in nature are characterized by complex behaviour where large cascades of events, or avalanches, unpredictably alternate with periods of little activity. Snow avalanches are an example. Often the size distribution f(s) of a system's avalanches follows a power law, and the branching parameter sigma, the average number of events triggered by a single preceding event, is unity. A power law for f(s), and sigma = 1, are hallmark features of self-organized critical (SOC) systems, and both have been found for neuronal activity in vitro. Therefore, and since SOC systems and neuronal activity both show large variability, long-term stability and memory capabilities, SOC has been proposed to govern neuronal dynamics in vivo. Testing this hypothesis is difficult because neuronal activity is spatially or temporally subsampled, while theories of SOC systems assume full sampling. To close this gap, we investigated how subsampling affects f(s) and sigma by imposing subsampling on three different SOC models. We then compared f(s) and sigma of the subsampled models with those of multielectrode local field potential (LFP) activity recorded in three macaque monkeys performing a short term memory task.     

Über einen zusammenhang zwischen gewissen linearen differential- und differenzengleichungen

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Vibrational energy transfer from chemically activated 1,4-cyclohexadiene

The thermal isomerization of cis, anti, cis-tricyclo[3.1.0.0^2,4] hexane was used to produce highly vibrationally excited 1,4-cyclohexadiene. The competition between unimolecular decomposition of the energized diene (to benzene and hydrogen) and collisional stabilization was studied using the parent compound, SF₆, CO₂, N₂, and He as quenching gases. Quenching efficiencies decreased in the order given above. By applying RRKM theory to the isomerization and decomposition reactions, it was possible to calculate the step size in a stepladder model of the deactivation of cyclohexadiene. The step sizes 〈ΔE〉 deduced (at 528 K and in units of kJ/mol) were: parent compound and SF₆, 7; CO₂, 5; N₂, 4; He, 2. The study confirmed the utility of this unimolecular chemical activation system for energy transfer studies.     

Kinetic and equilibrium study of gas-phase interconversions of 1,3,6-cyclooctatriene, 1,3,5-cyclooctatriene and bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4-diene

The gas-phase equilibrium and rate constants for the isomerizations of 1,3,6-cyclooctatriene (136COT) to 1,3,5-cyclooctatriene (135COT) [reaction (1)] and bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4-diene (BCO) to 135COT [reaction (-2)] have been measured between 390 and 490 K and between 330 and 475 K, respectively. The rate constant of reaction (1) obeys the Arrhenius equation The corresponding equilibrium constant is given by the van′t Hoff equation The strain energy of the 136COT ring is calculated to be 31.7 kJ/mol, based on the known value of 37.2 kJ/mol for 135COT, and ΔH(298 K) for gaseous 136COT is 196.3 kJ/mol. The rate constant of reaction (-2) obeys the Arrhenius equation The equilibrium constant for 135COT ? BCO fits the van′t Hoff equation The strain energy of the BCO skeleton is calculated to be 108.3 kJ/mol, and ΔH(298 K) for gaseous BCO is 183.3 kJ/mol.     

Oxygen and water-vapor diffusion through biaxially oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate)

The gas barrier properties of a wide range of biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate films have been investigated. The permeability and diffusion coefficients for oxygen and water vapor transmissions were determined for films prepared by both simultaneous and sequential biaxial stretching. The effect of annealing was also studied and a comparison made with previous results for uniaxially oriented films. It was found that the permeability correlated well with the density of the sample, but that the dependence on the gauche/trans conformer ratio shown for uniaxial material was not so clear. A good empirical correlation was also obtained between permeability and a proposed measure of molecular orientation obtained from refractive index measurements. A more detailed interpretation, based on infrared measurements of orientation, showed that there is a systematic reduction in permeability as the planes of the terephthalate residues become parallel to the film surface.     

Direct and sensitized photolysis of bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4-diene in the gas phase

The direct photolysis of bicyclo[4.2.0]octa-2,4-diene in the gas phase at 280–300 nm produces mainly 1,3,5-cyclooctatriene and benzene plus ethylene. The yield of the former product is enhanced by added gases, and it is proposed that it is formed in a vibrationally excited state which can revert to bicyclooctadiene unless the excess energy is removed in collisions. Computer modelling of the direct photolysis yielded quantitative agreement with the experimental results, but only when large, arbitrary adjustments were made to the calculated rate constants for the interconversion of cyclooctratriene and bicyclooctadiene. The Hg(6³P₁) sensitized reaction of bicyclooctadiene produces mainly benzene plus ethylene, a process which is also enhanced by added gases.     

A study of LaCoO3 by UV photoelectron spectroscopy

He(II) photoelectron spectra of LaCoO₃ and La_0.7Sr_0.3CoO₃ have been recorded. Spectra of LaCoO₃ were recorded at various temperatures in the range 77 K ? T ? 873 K and changes in the spectra were observed corresponding to the variation of the Co spin state in the lattice.     

Free-electron behaviour of carriers in antimony-doped tin(IV) oxide: A study by electron spectroscopy

Conduction electrons introduced by doping 3% antimony into tin(IV) oxide have been shown by photoelectron spectroscopy to occupy a band whose density of states profile approximates well to that predicted by free-electron theory. The surface plasmon excitation associated with the carriers gives rise to a feature of 0.55 eV in high resolution electron energy loss spectra.