Effects of synaptic noise and filtering on the frequency response of spiking neurons

Noise can have a significant impact on the response dynamics of a nonlinear system. For neurons, the primary source of noise comes from background synaptic input activity. If this is approximated as white noise, the amplitude of the modulation of the firing rate in response to an input current oscillating at frequency omega decreases as 1/square root[omega] and lags the input by 45 degrees in phase. However, if filtering due to realistic synaptic dynamics is included, the firing rate is modulated by a finite amount even in the limit omega-->infinity and the phase lag is eliminated. Thus, through its effect on noise inputs, realistic synaptic dynamics can ensure unlagged neuronal responses to high-frequency inputs.     

Electrospray-assisted modification of proteins: a radical probe of protein structure

A new approach is described to probe the structure of proteins through their reactivity with oxygen-containing radicals. Radical-induced oxidative modification of proteins is achieved within an electrospray ion source using oxygen as a reactive nebulizer gas at high needle voltages. This method facilitates the rapid oxidation of proteins as the molecules emerge from the electrospray needle tip. Electrospray mass spectra of both ubiquitin and lysozyme reveal that over 50% of the protein can be modified under these conditions. The radical-induced oxidative modification of amino acid side chains is correlated with their solvent accessibility to obtain information on a protein's higher-order structure. The oxidation sites in hen lysozyme have been identified by proteolysis of the condensed protein solution and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Oxidation of tryptophan at positions 62 and 123 occurs exclusively over all other tryptophan residues, consistent with the relative solvent accessibilities of the residue side chains based on the NMR structure of the protein. Radical-induced oxidative modification of cysteine (Cys), methionine (Met), tryptophan (Trp), phenylalanine (Phe), tyrosine (Tyr), proline (Pro), histidine (His), and leucine (Leu) residues is also reported, providing sufficient reactive markers to span a protein sequence. This facile oxidation process could be applied to investigate the molecular mechanism by which reactive oxygen species interact with a particular protein domain as a means to investigate the onset of certain diseases.     

Synthesis of a Ferrolite: A Zeolitic All‐Iron Framework

Crystals of the first sodalite‐type zeolite containing an all‐iron framework, a ferrolite, Ba₈(Fe₁₂O₂₄)Na_y(OH)₆?x H₂O, were synthesized using the hydroflux method in nearly quantitative yield. Ba₈(Fe₁₂O₂₄)Na_y(OH)₆?x H₂O crystallizes in the cubic space group with a=10.0476(1) Å. Slightly distorted FeO₄ tetrahedra are linked to form Fe₄O₄ and Fe₆O₆ rings, which in turn yield channels and internal cavities that are characteristic of the sodalite structure. Barium, sodium, and hydroxide ions and water molecules are found in the channels and provide charge balance. Magnetic measurements indicate that the ferrolite exhibits magnetic order up to at least 700 K, with the field‐cooled and zero‐field‐cooled curves diverging. Analysis of the ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectra revealed two spectral components that have equal spectral areas, indicating the presence of two subsets of iron centers in the structure. Dehydrated versions of the ferrolite were also prepared by heating the sample.     

Directed flow of lambda hyperons in (2-6 )A GeV Au+Au collisions

Directed flow measurements for Lambda hyperons are presented and compared to those for protons produced in the same Au+Au collisions (2A, 4A, and 6A GeV; b<5-6 fm). The measurements indicate that Lambda hyperons flow consistently in the same direction but with smaller magnitudes. A strong positive flow [for Lambdas] has been predicted in calculations which include the influence of the Lambda-nucleon potential. The experimental flow ratio Lambda/p is in qualitative agreement with expectations (approximately 2/3) from the quark counting rule at 2A GeV but is found to decrease with increasing beam energy.     

Relaxation and imaging of lithium in vivo

It has recently been demonstrated that NMR imaging can be used to record the distribution of lithium. We now report on the parameters pertinent to this imaging. Specifically, the relaxation of Li in aqueous solution, in agarose gel, and in vivo has been investigated. In the latter case, both the longitudinal and transverse relaxations were biexponential, consistent with the behavior expected for a spin 3/2 quadrupole relaxed nucleus. The overall relaxation rate was quite slow in vivo with T'1 = 3.5 sec and T'1 = 6.6 sec.     

Sideward flow in Au+Au collisions between 2A and 8A GeV

Using the large acceptance Time Projection Chamber of experiment E895 at Brookhaven, measurements of collective sideward flow in Au+Au collisions at beam energies of 2A, 4A, 6A, and 8A GeV are presented in the form of in-plane transverse momentum and the first Fourier coefficient of azimuthal anisotropy v(1). These measurements indicate a smooth variation of sideward flow as a function of beam energy. The data are compared with four nuclear transport models which have an orientation towards this energy range. All four exhibit some qualitative trends similar to those found in the data, although none show a consistent pattern of agreement within experimental uncertainties.     

Luminescent lifetimes near multiple interfaces: A quantitative comparison of theory and experiment

Results are presented for the classical theory of an emitting dipole located between two parallel mirrors. The calculated lifetime variations are in quantitative agreement with experiment for the silver/dielectric/Eu³⁺/air system.     

Numerical solution of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations in a moving coordinate system. Simulation of nerve impulse transmission over long distances

The theory required for the solution of the Hodgkin-Huxley equations for the transmission of the nerve impulse in a moving coordinate system are presented. Using this theory, simulations of the transmission of the nerve impulse over large distances (e.g., 1 m) may be carried out rapidly and accurately. The above theory may be applied to other diffusion problems by appropriate modification to the problem concerned.     

Synthesis and properties of a new polydiacetylene: Poly[1,6-di(N-carbazolyl)-2,4-hexadiyne]

The solid-state synthesis and properties are reported for a new polydiacetylene: poly[1,6-di(N-carbazolyl)-2,4-hexadiyne]. The monomer crystals polymerize quantitatively with γ irradiation or thermal annealing. An Autocatalytic effect is observed in both γ-ray polymerization and thermal polymerization and is attributed to an increase in chain propagation length at about 5% conversion. The activation energy for thermal polymerization is about 25 kcal/mole, independent of the degree of conversion to polymer. The exceptional thermal stability of the polymer crystals allowed a thermomechanical analysis over a large temperature range, ?50 to 300°C. With increasing temperature, the polymer contracts in the chain direction linearly with temperature over the entire range, yielding a thermal expansion coefficient of (?2.32 ± 0.02) × 10^?5°C^?1. Photoconductivity action spectra are reported for the polymer crystals. The energies for the photoconductivity onset (ca. 2.3 eV) and for the lowest energy optical transition (1.89 eV) are the lowest reported for the polydiacetylenes. The photoconduction onset is blue-shifted with respect to optical absorption—a result which is consistent with the excitonic assignment for the lowest energy optical transition in the polydiacetylenes.