590 research outputs found
The brainstem reticular formation is a small-world, not scale-free, network
Recently, it has been demonstrated that several complex systems may have simple graph-theoretic characterizations as so-called ‘small-world’ and ‘scale-free’ networks. These networks have also been applied to the gross neural connectivity between primate cortical areas and the nervous system of Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we extend this work to a specific neural circuit of the vertebrate brain—the medial reticular formation (RF) of the brainstem—and, in doing so, we have made three key contributions. First, this work constitutes the first model (and quantitative review) of this important brain structure for over three decades. Second, we have developed the first graph-theoretic analysis of vertebrate brain connectivity at the neural network level. Third, we propose simple metrics to quantitatively assess the extent to which the networks studied are small-world or scale-free. We conclude that the medial RF is configured to create small-world (implying coherent rapid-processing capabilities), but not scale-free, type networks under assumptions which are amenable to quantitative measurement
Is there an integrative center in the vertebrate brain-stem? A robotic evaluation of a model of the reticular formation viewed as an action selection device
Neurobehavioral data from intact, decerebrate, and neonatal rats, suggests that the reticular formation provides
a brainstem substrate for action selection in the vertebrate central nervous system. In this article, Kilmer,
McCulloch and Blum’s (1969, 1997) landmark reticular formation model is described and re-evaluated, both in
simulation and, for the first time, as a mobile robot controller. Particular model configurations are found to
provide effective action selection mechanisms in a robot survival task using either simulated or physical robots.
The model’s competence is dependent on the organization of afferents from model sensory systems, and a genetic
algorithm search identified a class of afferent configurations which have long survival times. The results support
our proposal that the reticular formation evolved to provide effective arbitration between innate behaviors
and, with the forebrain basal ganglia, may constitute the integrative, ’centrencephalic’ core of vertebrate brain
architecture. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the Kilmer et al. model provides an alternative form of
robot controller to those usually considered in the adaptive behavior literature
A High-Resolution Study of the HI Content of Local Group Dwarf Irregular Galaxy WLM
Dwarf irregular galaxies are unique laboratories for studying the interaction
between stars and the interstellar medium in low mass environments. We present
the highest spatial resolution observations to date of the neutral hydrogen
content of the Local Group dwarf irregular galaxy WLM. We find that WLM's
neutral hydrogen distribution is typical for a galaxy of its type and size and
derive an HI mass of 6.3e7 Msun for WLM. In addition, we derive an HI extent
for WLM of 30 arcmin, which is much less than the 45 arcmin extent found by
Huchtmeier, Seiradakis, and Materne (1981). We show that the broken ring of
high column density neutral hydrogen surrounding the center of WLM is likely
the result of star formation propagating out from the center of the galaxy. The
young stars and Ha emission in this galaxy are mostly correlated with the high
column density neutral hydrogen. The gap in the central ring is the result of
star formation in that region using up, blowing out, or ionizing all of the
neutral hydrogen. Like many late-type galaxies, WLM's velocity field is
asymmetric with the approaching (northern) side appearing to be warped and a
steeper velocity gradient for the approaching side than for the receding side
in the inner region of the galaxy. We derive a dynamical mass for WLM of 2.16e9
Msun.Comment: 38 pages, 15 figures, 5 tables, accepted by AJ, high resolution
version at http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~kepley/kepley_wlm.p
On the criticality of inferred models
Advanced inference techniques allow one to reconstruct the pattern of
interaction from high dimensional data sets. We focus here on the statistical
properties of inferred models and argue that inference procedures are likely to
yield models which are close to a phase transition. On one side, we show that
the reparameterization invariant metrics in the space of probability
distributions of these models (the Fisher Information) is directly related to
the model's susceptibility. As a result, distinguishable models tend to
accumulate close to critical points, where the susceptibility diverges in
infinite systems. On the other, this region is the one where the estimate of
inferred parameters is most stable. In order to illustrate these points, we
discuss inference of interacting point processes with application to financial
data and show that sensible choices of observation time-scales naturally yield
models which are close to criticality.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, version to appear in JSTA
The Factory and The Beehive II. Activity and Rotation in Praesepe and the Hyades
Open clusters are collections of stars with a single, well-determined age,
and can be used to investigate the connections between angular-momentum
evolution and magnetic activity over a star's lifetime. We present the results
of a comparative study of the relationship between stellar rotation and
activity in two benchmark open clusters: Praesepe and the Hyades. As they have
the same age and roughly solar metallicity, these clusters serve as an ideal
laboratory for testing the agreement between theoretical and empirical
rotation-activity relations at 600 Myr. We have compiled a sample of
720 spectra --- more than half of which are new observations --- for 516
high-confidence members of Praesepe; we have also obtained 139 new spectra for
130 high-confidence Hyads. We have collected rotation periods () for
135 Praesepe members and 87 Hyads. To compare emission, an indicator
of chromospheric activity, as a function of color, mass, and Rossby number
, we first calculate an expanded set of values, with which we can
obtain the to bolometric luminosity ratio, ,
even when spectra are not flux-calibrated and/or stars lack reliable distances.
Our values cover a broader range of stellar masses and colors (roughly
equivalent to spectral types from K0 to M9), and exhibit better agreement
between independent calculations, than existing values. We find no difference
between the two clusters in their equivalent width or
distributions, and therefore take the merged
and data to be representative of 600-Myr-old stars. Our analysis
shows that activity in these stars is saturated for
. Above that value activity declines as a
power-law with slope , before dropping off rapidly
at ...Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, Accepted by Ap
PRIVATE SAVINGS IN TRANSITION ECONOMIES: ARE THERE TERMS OF TRADE SHOCKS?
The paper examines the impact of terms of trade shocks on private savings in the transition economies after accounting for the effect of other determinants. Economic agents in the transition economies are subject to tight credit constraints which are more pronounced during bad state of nature. Thus, adverse shocks to commodity prices in the world market can force them to reduce savings by a larger amount than they would otherwise have. Empirical analysis using a dynamic panel model and data from twenty one transition economies confirm that most of the determinants of savings identified in the literature also apply to the transition economies. Favorable movements in both the permanent and transitory components of the terms of trade have a significant positive impact on private savings with transitory movements having a larger impact than the permanent component. This reflects the lack of access to foreign borrowing that many of the transition economies have faced during the last decade. Although the impact of terms of trade shocks are found to be asymmetric, the magnitude of the impact appears to be small. The results are robust for alternative estimators, determinants, and country groupings.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/39958/3/wp572.pd
Non-parametric kernel estimation for symmetric Hawkes processes. Application to high frequency financial data
We define a numerical method that provides a non-parametric estimation of the
kernel shape in symmetric multivariate Hawkes processes. This method relies on
second order statistical properties of Hawkes processes that relate the
covariance matrix of the process to the kernel matrix. The square root of the
correlation function is computed using a minimal phase recovering method. We
illustrate our method on some examples and provide an empirical study of the
estimation errors. Within this framework, we analyze high frequency financial
price data modeled as 1D or 2D Hawkes processes. We find slowly decaying
(power-law) kernel shapes suggesting a long memory nature of self-excitation
phenomena at the microstructure level of price dynamics.Comment: 6 figure
Weighted needle pinprick sensory thresholds: a simple test of sensory function in diabetic peripheral neuropathy
A simple device is described, consisting of 12 weighted 23 gauge disposable needles (0.2 to 5.2 g), for testing sensation in busy diabetic clinics. The pinprick sensory threshold (PPT) is the lightest weighted needle which consistently elicits a sharp sensation. The subjects were 48 healthy controls (hospital staff), 44 diabetic patients without neuropathic symptoms, and 35 diabetic patients with chronic painful neuropathy. In the controls, the mean PPT from the right hand and foot obtained on two test occasions a week apart did not differ significantly. In diabetic patients without symptomatic neuropathy, the mean PPT in the right hand and right foot were significantly higher than in the controls. The diabetic patients with painful neuropathy had clearly increased mean PPT in the right hand and foot compared with controls. Marstock thermal limen in diabetic patients with painful neuropathy correlated significantly with PPT determinations. PPT and thermal thresholds probably give comparable information on small fibre dysfunction in diabetic patients with symptomatic neuropathy. Compared with thermal threshold determinations however, the weighted needle apparatus is inexpensive, simple, and rapid to use
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