2,796 research outputs found
Identification of linear and nonlinear sensory processing circuits from spiking neuron data
Inferring mathematical models of sensory processing systems directly from input-output observations, while making the fewest assumptions about the model equations and the types of measurements available, is still a major issue in computational neuroscience. This letter introduces two new approaches for identifying sensory circuit models consisting of linear and nonlinear filters in series with spiking neuron models, based only on the sampled analog input to the filter and the recorded spike train output of the spiking neuron. For an ideal integrate-and-fire neuron model, the first algorithm can identify the spiking neuron parameters as well as the structure and parameters of an arbitrary nonlinear filter connected to it. The second algorithm can identify the parameters of the more general leaky integrate-and-fire spiking neuron model, as well as the parameters of an arbitrary linear filter connected to it. Numerical studies involving simulated and real experimental recordings are used to demonstrate the applicability and evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms
An upgraded version of the Eta model
Upgrades implemented over a number of years in an open source version of the Eta Model, posted at the CPTEC web site http://etamodel.cptec.inpe.br/, are summarized and examples of benefits are shown. The version originates from the NCEP's Workstation Eta code posted on the NCEP web site http://www.emc.ncep.noaa.gov/mmb/wrkstn_eta, which differs from the NCEP's latest operational Eta by having the WRF-NMM nonhydrostatic option included. Most of the upgrades made resulted from attention paid to less than satisfactory performance noted in several Eta results, and identification of the reasons for the problem. Others came from simple expectation that including a feature that is physically justified but is missing in the code should help. The most notable of the upgrades are the introduction of the so-called sloping steps, or discretized shaved cells topography; piecewise-linear finite-volume vertical advection of dynamic variables; vapor and hydrometeor loading in the hydrostatic equation, and changes aimed at refining the convection schemes available in the Eta. Several other modifications have to do with the calculation of exchange coefficients, conservation in the vertical diffusion, and diagnostic calculation of 10-m winds. Several examples showing improved performance resulting from the dynamics changes are given. One includes a case of unrealistically low temperatures in several mountain basins generated by a centered vertical advection difference scheme's unphysical advection from below ground, removed by its replacement with a finite-volume scheme. Another is that of increased katabatic winds in the Terra Nova Bay Antarctica region. Successful forecast of the severe downslope zonda winds case in the lee of the highest peaks of the Andes is also shown, and some of the recent successful verification results of the use of the upgraded model are pointed out. The code is used at numerous places, and along with setup information it is available for outside users at the CPTEC Eta web site given above
Local density of states in superconductor-strong ferromagnet structures
We study the dependence of the local density of states (LDOS) on coordinates
for a superconductor-ferromagnet (S/F) bilayer and a S/F/S structure assuming
that the exchange energy h in the ferromagnet is sufficiently large: where is the elastic relaxation time. This limit cannot be
described by the Usadel equation and we solve the more general Eilenberger
equation. We demonstrate that, in the main approximation in the parameter , the proximity effect does not lead to a modification of the LDOS
in the S/F system and a non-trivial dependence on coordinates shows up in next
orders in In the S/F/S sandwich the correction to the LDOS is
nonzero in the main approximation and depends on the phase difference between
the superconductors. We also calculate the superconducting critical temperature
for the bilayered system and show that it does not depend on the
exchange energy of the ferromagnet in the limit of large h and a thick F layer.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure
Intraretinal Transplantation for Rod-Cell Replacement in Light-Damaged Retinas
Blindness from retinal disease is often the consequence of extensive damage to the photoreceptor cell population, while other cell types which form the neural retina are relatively spared. In this setting, transplantation of photoreceptor cells could offer hope for the restoration of some degree of visual function. We testd the feasibility of this approach by transplanting immature retinal cells into the eyes of adult rats affected by late stage phototoxic retinopathy, which are almost totally devoid of photoreceptor cells
Collapse of the N=28 shell closure in Si
The energies of the excited states in very neutron-rich Si and
P have been measured using in-beam -ray spectroscopy from the
fragmentation of secondary beams of S at 39 A.MeV. The low 2
energy of Si, 770(19) keV, together with the level schemes of
P provide evidence for the disappearance of the Z=14 and N=28
spherical shell closures, which is ascribed mainly to the action of
proton-neutron tensor forces. New shell model calculations indicate that
Si is best described as a well deformed oblate rotor.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. let
Do (and say) as I say: Linguistic adaptation in human-computer dialogs
© Theodora Koulouri, Stanislao Lauria, and Robert D. Macredie. This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.There is strong research evidence showing that people naturally align to each otherâs vocabulary, sentence structure, and acoustic features in dialog, yet little is known about how the alignment mechanism operates in the interaction between users and computer systems let alone how it may be exploited to improve the efficiency of the interaction. This article provides an account of lexical alignment in humanâcomputer dialogs, based on empirical data collected in a simulated humanâcomputer interaction scenario. The results indicate that alignment is present, resulting in the gradual reduction and stabilization of the vocabulary-in-use, and that it is also reciprocal. Further, the results suggest that when system and user errors occur, the development of alignment is temporarily disrupted and users tend to introduce novel words to the dialog. The results also indicate that alignment in humanâcomputer interaction may have a strong strategic component and is used as a resource to compensate for less optimal (visually impoverished) interaction conditions. Moreover, lower alignment is associated with less successful interaction, as measured by user perceptions. The article distills the results of the study into design recommendations for humanâcomputer dialog systems and uses them to outline a model of dialog management that supports and exploits alignment through mechanisms for in-use adaptation of the systemâs grammar and lexicon
HATS-17b: A Transiting Compact Warm Jupiter in a 16.3 Days Circular Orbit
We report the discovery of HATS-17b, the first transiting warm Jupiter of the
HATSouth network. HATS-17b transits its bright (V=12.4) G-type
(M=1.131 0.030 M,
R=1.091 R) metal-rich ([Fe/H]=+0.3 dex)
host star in a circular orbit with a period of P=16.2546 days. HATS-17b has a
very compact radius of 0.777 0.056 R given its Jupiter-like mass of
1.338 0.065 M. Up to 50% of the mass of HATS-17b may be composed of
heavy elements in order to explain its high density with current models of
planetary structure. HATS-17b is the longest period transiting planet
discovered to date by a ground-based photometric survey, and is one of the
brightest transiting warm Jupiter systems known. The brightness of HATS-17b
will allow detailed follow-up observations to characterize the orbital geometry
of the system and the atmosphere of the planet.Comment: 12 page, 8 figures, submitted to A
Patterns within Patterns within the Smart Living Experience
Modern technology is increasingly being employed to create a âsmartâ living experience. These âsmartâ technology entities are producing copious of amounts data, which in turn rely on increased storage, distribution and computation capacity to manage the data. Depending on the scenario, the diversity of piecemeal solutions almost reflects the diversity of problems they address. But some solutions can be reapplied. In the field of computing, design patterns can provide a general, reusable solution to commonly recurring problems within a given context through software design. This work seeks to determine the core elements of a technology-independent design pattern format and an open software framework can be developed to capture, share and redeploy existing successful and reusable strategies for commonly encountered smart environment use cases. Applying in areas such as assistive technology, energy management and environmental monitoring. The underpinning notion of this paper is to introduce âhow, where and whyâ a rule set based in âdesign patternâ format could contribute to describe a general âunderstandingâ of given cases in the smart environment domain, as well as allow different processes to collaborate with each other
Cu2Se and Cu Nanocrystals as Local Sources of Copper in Thermally Activated in Situ Cation Exchange
Among the different synthesis approaches to colloidal nanocrystals, a
recently developed toolkit is represented by cation exchange reactions, where the
use of template nanocrystals gives access to materials that would be hardly
attainable via direct synthesis. Besides, postsynthetic treatments, such as thermally
activated solid-state reactions, represent a further flourishing route to promote
finely controlled cation exchange. Here, we report that, upon in situ heating in a
transmission electron microscope, Cu2Se or Cu nanocrystals deposited on an
amorphous solid substrate undergo partial loss of Cu atoms, which are then
engaged in local cation exchange reactions with Cu âacceptorâ phases represented
by rod- and wire-shaped CdSe nanocrystals. This thermal treatment slowly
transforms the initial CdSe nanocrystals into Cu2âxSe nanocrystals, through the
complete sublimation of Cd and the partial sublimation of Se atoms. Both Cu
âdonorâ and âacceptorâ particles were not always in direct contact with each other;
hence, the gradual transfer of Cu species from Cu2Se or metallic Cu to CdSe
nanocrystals was mediated by the substrate and depended on the distance between the donor and acceptor nanostructures.
Differently from what happens in the comparably faster cation exchange reactions performed in liquid solution, this study
shows that slow cation exchange reactions can be performed at the solid state and helps to shed light on the intermediate
steps involved in such reactions
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