An information theoretical analysis of multi-terminal neuro-spike communication network in spinal cord

© 2018 Association for Computing Machinery. Communication theoretical understanding of healthy and diseased connections in the spinal cord motor system is crucial for realizing future information and communication technology (ICT) based diagnosis and treatment techniques for spinal cord injuries (SCI). A spinal cord motor nucleus associated with a particular muscle constitutes an ideal candidate for studying to have an understanding of SCI. Typical spinal cord motor nucleus system contains pool of lower motor neurons (MNs) controlling a muscle by integrating synaptic inputs from spinal interneurons (INs), upper motor neurons (DNs) and sensory neurons (SNs). In this study, we consider this system from ICT perspective. Our aim is to quantify the rate of information flow across a spinal cord motor nucleus. To this end, we model an equivalent single-hop multiterminal network, where multiple transmitting nodes representing heterogeneous population of DNs, INs and SNs send information to multiple receiving nodes corresponding to MNs. To identify the outputs at receiving nodes, we define corresponding neurospike communication channel and then find the bound on total rates across this network. Based on the network model, we analyze achievable rates for a particular motor nucleus system called Tibialis Anterior (TA) motor nucleus in the spinal cord numerically and simulate several spinal cord dysfunction scenarios. The numerical results reveal that decrease in the maximum total rates with the lower motor neuron injury causes weakness in the affected muscle

Tuning the reduction of graphene oxide nanoflakes differently affects neuronal networks in the zebrafish

The increasing engineering of biomedical devices and the design of drug-delivery platforms enriched by graphene-based components demand careful investigations of the impact of graphene-related materials (GRMs) on the nervous system. In addition, the enhanced diffusion of GRM-based products and technologies that might favor the dispersion in the environment of GRMs nanoparticles urgently requires the potential neurotoxicity of these compounds to be addressed. One of the challenges in providing definite evidence supporting the harmful or safe use of GRMs is addressing the variety of this family of materials, with GRMs differing for size and chemistry. Such a diversity impairs reaching a unique and predictive picture of the effects of GRMs on the nervous system. Here, by exploiting the thermal reduction of graphene oxide nanoflakes (GO) to generate materials with different oxygen/carbon ratios, we used a high-throughput analysis of early-stage zebrafish locomotor behavior to investigate if modifications of a specific GRM chemical property influenced how these nanomaterials affect vertebrate sensory-motor neurophysiology—exposing zebrafish to GO downregulated their swimming performance. Conversely, reduced GO (rGO) treatments boosted locomotor activity. We concluded that the tuning of single GRM chemical properties is sufficient to produce differential effects on nervous system physiology, likely interfering with different signaling pathways

Nanomaterial exposure, extracellular vesicle biogenesis and adverse cellular outcomes : a scoping review

The progressively increasing use of nanomaterials (NMs) has awakened issues related to nanosafety and its potential toxic effects on human health. Emerging studies suggest that NMs alter cell communication by reshaping and altering the secretion of extracellular vesicles (EVs), leading to dysfunction in recipient cells. However, there is limited understanding of how the physicochemical characteristics of NMs alter the EV content and their consequent physiological functions. Therefore, this review explored the relevance of EVs in the nanotoxicology field. The current state of the art on how EVs are modulated by NM exposure and the possible regulation and modulation of signaling pathways and physiological responses were assessed in detail. This review followed the manual for reviewers produced by The Joanna Brigs Institute for Scoping Reviews and the PRISMA extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation. The research question, "Do NMs modulate cellular responses mediated by EVs?" was analyzed following the PECO model (P (Population) = EVs, E (Exposure) = NMs, C (Comparator) = EVs without exposure to NMs, O (Outcome) = Cellular responses/change in EVs) to help methodologically assess the association between exposure and outcome. For each theme in the PECO acronym, keywords were defined, organized, and researched in PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases, up to 30 September 2021. In vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, and clinical studies that analyzed the effect of NMs on EV biogenesis, cargo, and cellular responses were included in the analysis. The methodological quality assessment was conducted using the ToxRTool, ARRIVE guideline, Newcastle Ottawa and the EV-TRACK platform. The search in the referred databases identified 2944 articles. After applying the eligibility criteria and two-step screening, 18 articles were included in the final review. We observed that depending on the concentration and physicochemical characteristics, specific NMs promote a significant increase in EV secretion as well as changes in their cargo, especially regarding the expression of proteins and miRNAs, which, in turn, were involved in biological processes that included cell communication, angiogenesis, and activation of the immune response, etc. Although further studies are necessary, this work suggests that molecular investigations on EVs induced by NM exposure may become a potential tool for toxicological studies since they are widely accessible biomarkers that may form a bridge between NM exposure and the cellular response and pathological outcome

Analysis of the Functionality of the Feed Chain in Olive Pitting, Slicing and Stuffing Machines by IoT, Computer Vision and Neural Network Diagnosis

Olive pitting, slicing and stuffing machines (DRR in Spanish) are characterized by the fact that their optimal functioning is based on appropriate adjustments. Traditional systems are not completely reliable because their minimum error rate is 1–2%, which can result in fruit loss, since the pitting process is not infallible, and food safety issues can arise. Such minimum errors are impossible to remove through mechanical adjustments. In order to achieve this objective, an innovative solution must be provided in order to remove errors at operating speed rates over 2500 olives/min. This work analyzes the appropriate placement of olives in the pockets of the feed chain by using the following items: (1) An IoT System to control the DRR machine and the data analysis. (2) A computer vision system with an external shot camera and a LED lighting system, which takes a picture of every pocket passing in front of the camera. (3) A chip with a neural network for classification that, once trained, classifies between four possible pocket cases: empty, normal, incorrectly de-stoned olives at any angles (also known as a “boat”), and an anomalous case (foreign elements such as leafs, small branches or stones, two olives or small parts of olives in the same pocket). The main objective of this paper is to illustrate how with the use of a system based on IoT and a physical chip (NeuroMem CM1K, General Vision Inc.) with neural networks for sorting purposes, it is possible to optimize the functionality of this type of machine by remotely analyzing the data obtained. The use of classifying hardware allows it to work at the nominal operating speed for these machines. This would be limited if other classifying techniques based on software were used

Biomaterial-mediated factor delivery for spinal cord injury treatment

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an injurious process that begins with immediate physical damage to the spinal cord and associated tissues during an acute traumatic event. However, the tissue damage expands in both intensity and volume in the subsequent subacute phase. At this stage, numerous events exacerbate the pathological condition, and therein lies the main cause of post-traumatic neural degeneration, which then ends with the chronic phase. In recent years, therapeutic interventions addressing different neurodegenerative mechanisms have been proposed, but have met with limited success when translated into clinical settings. The underlying reasons for this are that the pathogenesis of SCI is a continued multifactorial disease, and the treatment of only one factor is not sufficient to curb neural degeneration and resulting paralysis. Recent advances have led to the development of biomaterials aiming to promote in situ combinatorial strategies using drugs/biomolecules to achieve a maximized multitarget approach. This review provides an overview of single and combinatorial regenerative-factor-based treatments as well as potential delivery options to treat SCIs

Cyvers city: poetry and practice

El presente artículo justamente reflexiona en torno a la obra denominada Cyvers City, cuya intención por combinar la poïesis con la técnica, la ubica en los ámbitos de las profundas preguntas que se han hecho en la estética occidental desde la misma separación que los artistas realizaran de la producción artesanal. La vinculación con la ciencia que ha perseguido el arte desde el Renacimiento, encuentra en proyectos como Cyvers uno de los caminos, que propuestos desde la autora, propenden por transformar nuestra percepción e idea del mundo.Abstract: This article reflects on the work called Cyvers City whose intention to combine pioesis with technique, locates it in the area of deep questions that have been asked in the western aesthetics from the separation artists made of handcrafted production. The connection with science that art has been pursuing since the Renaissance finds in projects such as Cyvers one of the ways that, proposed from the author, tend for the transformation of our perception and idea of the world