BOLD sensitivity to cortical activation induced by microstimulation: comparison to visual stimulation

Electrical microstimulation via intracortical electrodes is a widely used method for deducing functions of the brain. In this study, we compared the spatial extent and amplitude of BOLD responses evoked by intracortical electrical stimulation in primary visual cortex with BOLD activations evoked by visual stimulation. The experiments were performed in anesthetized rhesus monkeys. Visual stimulation yielded activities larger than predicted from the well-established visual magnification factor. However, electrical microstimulation yielded an even greater spread of the BOLD response. Our results confirm that the effects of electrical microstimulation extend beyond the brain region expected to be excited by direct current spread.     

Twisted Poincaré Duality for some Quadratic Poisson Algebras

We exhibit a Poisson module restoring a twisted Poincaré duality between Poisson homology and cohomology for the polynomial algebra endowed with Poisson bracket arising from a uniparametrised quantum affine space. This Poisson module is obtained as the semiclassical limit of the dualising bimodule for Hochschild homology of the corresponding quantum affine space. As a corollary we compute the Poisson cohomology of R, and so retrieve a result obtained by direct methods (so completely different from ours) by Monnier. This research of the first author was supported by a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship within the 6th European Community Framework Programme. The second author was supported by EPSRC Grant EP/D034167/1.     

Rota–Baxter Algebras and New Combinatorial Identities

The word problem for an arbitrary associative Rota–Baxter algebra is solved. This leads to a noncommutative generalization of the classical Spitzer identities. Links to other combinatorial aspects are indicated.      

First-principles study of fundamental properties and electronic structure of alloys

We have performed first-principles calculations using full-potential augmented-plane-wave method to investigate the fundamental properties of the Cd_1–xZn_xTe alloys. The composition dependence of the lattice constant and the bulk modulus have been estimated from total energy calculations. By means of the analytical fitting the band structures in the vicinity of the Brillouin center a complete set of effective electron- and hole-masses have also been derived. In order to further understand the effects of the chemical bonding on the above macroscopic properties we then studied the relaxation behaviors and the changes of the electronic states upon alloying for x=0.25 system. The results presented here yield a general understanding of the fundamental properties for the Cd_1–xZn_xTe crystals studies.     

The effect of macroscopic polarization on intrinsic and extrinsic thermal conductivities of AlN

The effect of macroscopic polarization on thermal conductivity of bulk wurtzite AlN has been theoretically investigated. Our results show that macroscopic polarization modifies the phonon group velocity, Debye frequency and Debye temperature of the AlN. Using revised phonon velocity and Debye temperature, various phonon scattering rates and combined scattering rate are calculated as functions of the phonon frequency at room temperature. The intrinsic and extrinsic thermal conductivities of AlN have been estimated using these modified parameters. The theoretical analysis shows that up to a certain temperature the polarization effect acts as negative effect and reduces the intrinsic and extrinsic thermal conductivities. However, after this temperature both thermal conductivities are significantly enhanced. High phonon velocity and Debye temperature are the reason of this enhancement which happens due to the polarization effect. The revised thermal conductivities at room temperature are found to be increased by more than 20% in AlN due to macroscopic polarization phenomenon. The method we have developed can be taken into account during the simulation of heat transport in optoelectronic nitride devices to minimize the self heating processes.     

Biembedding Steiner Triple Systems in Surfaces Using the Bose Construction

A uniform framework is presented for biembedding Steiner triple systems obtained from the Bose construction using a cyclic group of odd order, in both orientable and nonorientable surfaces. Within this framework, in the nonorientable case, a formula is given for the number of isomorphism classes and the particular biembedding of Ducrocq and Sterboul (preprint 18pp., 1978) is identified. In the orientable case, it is shown that the biembedding of Grannell et al. (J Combin Des 6 ( 7 ), 325–336) is, up to isomorphism, the unique biembedding of its type. Automorphism groups of the biembeddings are also given.     

Relaxation dynamics and fragility during liquid–glass transitions of poly(propylene glycol)s

The acoustic and thermal properties of the liquid–glass transitions of propylene glycol and its oligomers, poly (propylene glycol)s, were studied by temperature modulated DSC and Brillouin scattering. The fragility indices were determined from Angell plots using the observed modulation frequency dependence of the complex heat capacity. The variation in the glass transition temperatures is discussed on the basis of the free volume theory. The relaxation time of the structural relaxation obeys the Vogel–Fulcher law, and its high frequency end is in good agreement with the result of the dielectric measurement in the literature. The correlation between the observed thermal expansion coefficients and the glass transition temperature is discussed based on the free volume theory. The sound velocity and attenuation were accurately determined as a function of the temperature by Brillouin scattering by combination with the refractive index measurement. The relaxation dynamics were discussed by considering the relaxation from segmental motions. All of these physical properties were discussed based on the third-order anharmonicity and the Grüneisen parameter.     

Low temperature synthesis and luminescence investigations of YAG:Ce,Eu nanocomposite powder for warm white light-emitting diode

The preparation of the cerium and europium co-doped YAG materials as well as the study for their synthesis and emitting mechanism of the energy transfer between Ce³⁺ and Eu³⁺ were investigated in the present study. YAG:Ce³⁺, Eu³⁺ powders were synthesized using a high-energy ball milling method in different sintering temperature and atmosphere: air and H₂/N₂. The effects of the synthesis procedure on the crystallinity, morphology, structure, and luminescence spectra were examined by X-ray diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The europium co-doped YAG:Ce³⁺ phosphors is improved the chromaticity coordinates.     

Selective etching of ZnTe in HF:H2O2:H2O solution: Interpretation of extended defect‐related etch figures

HF:H₂O₂:H₂O solution (40%wt.HF: 30wt.%H₂O₂: H₂O, 3:2:1 by volume) was used to reveal extended defects (line, face and volume defects) in bulk ZnTe crystals grown from Te solution. The etch patterns were analyzed based on their size, shape and distribution. The etch figures, both in the shape of pits and hillocks with high resolution, show forms controlled by the symmetries of the respective faces were produced. Two different sizes of pits were observed, the larger‐size pits correspond to dislocations penetrating the surface, however, the smaller‐size texture pits are produced on the defect‐free region, which serve as standard pits on respect faces. The face defects, such as grain boundaries, sub‐grain boundaries, dislocation walls, twins and stacking faults, can be all displayed clearly. Another essential feature of the etchant is that, it can effectively dissolve Te‐rich phase (Te inclusion/precipitates), which makes it promising to reveal the shape of this volume defect.