Approximate Entropy of Spiking Series Reveals Different Dynamical States in Cortical Assemblies

Self-organized criticality theory proved that information transmission and computational performances of neural networks are optimal in critical state. By using recordings of the spontaneous activity originated by dissociated neuronal assemblies coupled to Micro-Electrode Arrays (MEAs), we tested this hypothesis using Approximate Entropy (ApEn) as a measure of complexity and information transfer. We analysed 60 min of electrophysiological activity of three neuronal cultures exhibiting either sub-critical, critical or super-critical behaviour. The firing patterns on each electrode was studied in terms of the inter-spike interval (ISI), whose complexity was quantified using ApEn. We assessed that in critical state the local complexity (measured in terms of ApEn) is larger than in sub- and super-critical conditions (mean ± std, ApEn about 0.93 ± 0.09, 0.66 ± 0.18, 0.49 ± 0.27, for the cultures in critical, sub-critical and super-critical state, respectively—differences statistically significant). Our estimations were stable when considering epochs as short as 5 min (pairwise cross- correlation of spatial distribution of mean ApEn of 94 ± 5%). These preliminary results indicate that ApEn has the potential of being a reliable and stable index to monitor local information transmission in a neuronal network during maturation. Thus, ApEn applied on ISI time series appears to be potentially useful to reflect the overall complex behaviour of the neural network, even monitoring a single specific location

Evidence that large vessels do affect near infrared spectroscopy

The influence of large vessels on near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurement is generally considered negligible. Aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that changes in the vessel size, by varying the amount of absorbed NIR light, could profoundly affect NIRS blood volume indexes. Changes in haemoglobin concentration (tHb) and in tissue haemoglobin index (THI) were monitored over the basilic vein (BV) and over the biceps muscle belly, in 11 subjects (7 M – 4 F; age 31 ± 8 year) with simultaneous ultrasound monitoring of BV size. The arm was subjected to venous occlusion, according to two pressure profiles: slow (from 0 to 60 mmHg in 135 s) and rapid (0 to 40 mmHg maintained for 30 s). Both tHb and THI detected a larger blood volume increase (1.7 to 4 fold; p < 0.01) and exhibited a faster increase and a greater convexity on the BV than on the muscle. In addition, NIRS signals from BV exhibited higher correlation with changes in BV size than from muscle (r = 0.91 vs 0.55, p < 0.001 for THI). A collection of individual relevant recordings is also included. These results challenge the long-standing belief that the NIRS measurement is unaffected by large vessels and support the concept that large veins may be a major determinant of blood volume changes in multiple experimental conditions

The Role of Subjective Temporality in Future-Oriented Mental Time Travel

In this chapter we examine the tendency to view future-oriented mental time travel as a unitary faculty that, despite task-driven surface variation, ultimately reduces to a common phenomenological state. We review evidence that FMTT is neither unitary nor beholden to episodic memory: Rather, it is varied both in its memorial underpinnings and experiential realization. We conclude that the phenomenological diversity characterizing FMTT is dependent not on the type of memory activated during task performance, but on the kind of subjective temporality associated with the memory in play

Well-Being in the Christian Tradition

This paper discusses well-being in the Christian tradition

Rechtsphilosophische Aufsätze

Photomechanical reprint of papers & review articles from 1974 to 1992 mostly in German, some in Swedish or Danish: AUFSÄTZE ‘Beiträge zu den Beziehungen zwischen Gustav Radbruch & Georg Lukács’ [1979] / ‘Die Entwicklung des rechtstheoretischen Denkens in der Ungarischen Räterepublik’ [1969] / ‘Die Kodifikation & ihr Verfall in der Entwicklungsgeschichte der bürgerlichen Demokratie’ [1978] / ‘Rationalitet och rättens objektifiering’ [1975] / ‘Utopi og Kodifikation’ [1976] / ‘Historisches Wesen & aktuelle Bedeutung der Kodifikation’ [1977] / ‘Rechtssetzung als Objektivationsprozesses’ [1979] / ‘Die ministerielle Begründung in rechtsphilosophischer Sicht’ [1977] / ‘Moderne Staatlichkeit & modernes formales Recht’ [1982] / ‘Leibniz & die Frage der rechtlichen Systembildung’ [1973] / ‘Der Systemcharacter des Rechts’ [1979] / ‘Die grundlegende Gesellschaftlichkeit der Rechtsanwendung’ [1978] / ‘Über die Rechtsanwendung (Ontologische Überlegungen)’ [1986] / ‘Recht & Rechtsverwirklichung (»Juristischer Weltbild«, Subsumption & Manipulation)’ [1979] / ‘Hans Kelsens Rechtsanwendungslehre (Entwicklung, Mehrdeutigkeiten, offene Probleme, Perspektiven)’ [1986] / ‘Geltung des Rechts – Wirksamkeit des Rechts’ [1978] / ‘Heterogeneität & Geltung des Rechts’ [1979] / ‘Hans Kelsens’ Reine Rechtslehre – gestern, heute, morgen’ [1988] / ‘Für die Selbständigkeit der Rechtspolitik’ [1985] / ‘Die Gewaltenteilung (Ideologie & Utopie im politischen Denken)’ [1984] / ‘Rechtskultur – Denkkultur’ [1988] // ZUSAMMENFASSUNGEN / REZENSIONEN [by & on the author

A Project to Context Decarbonization Analysis (PCDA) to Select the Best Energy Transition Solution Fit for Funding

An Energy Transition (ET) solutions screening has been performed in a near-Europe (EU) geography (Central Asia) to assess the sustainability of investment opportunities on green technologies in line with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria, EU climate ambition, market trends and Technology Readiness Level (TRL). Several configurations, namely a technological solution contextualized in its Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) perspective by the overall value chain, have been studied, analysed and compared through a Carbon Energy Environmental and Cost Model (CEE&C) in a Project to Context Decarbonization Analysis (PCDA). The outcome of this study allowed to select the best set of ET Solution fit for the Central Asia context and attractive for climate funding framework. 7 typical ET technologies with 3 to 6 different decarbonization scenarios for a total of 40+ configurations have been considered, ranked and tested against strategic stakeholders’ engagement criteria (industrial partner, state investments, feedstock provider, off-taker, financing institutions) and economic and financial criteria (project authorizations, feedstock guarantee, fiscal incentives, etc.). Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) considered for the ranking of configuration are Product Carbon Footprint (CTG), Greenhouse Gas (GHG) avoidance, Levelized Cost of Carbon (LCOC) by project Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) and LCOC by cost efficiency. Our proposed paper intends to show how the results of the CEE&C model with the LCOC in a PCDA study can support stakeholders and investors to implement their geographical decarbonization ambition and strategy

Apparato per la misurazione della velocità di un'onda pressoria propagantesi nel distretto venoso di un individuo e procedimento corrispondente

Management of the fluid therapy is a daily clinical issue and a debated subject on specialized scientific journals. The identification of non invasive indexes of volume status and/or of venous blood pressure, is of great interest for their potential support in the decision making about fluid administration. This novel device allows a non-invasive and operator-independent assessment of the velocity of a pulse wave travelling in a limb vein. The venous pulse wave velocity (vPWV) is directly related to the vessel stiffness that, in turn, is influenced by changes in blood volume and in venous blood pressure. The device is composed by 1) a pneumatic system (an inflatable cuff wrapped around the limb extremity), used to generate the pulse wave, and 2) a Doppler Ultrasound system, used to detect the propagation of the pulse wave at a more proximal site along the limb. Thanks to the interconnection between these two systems (most ultrasound devices grant this possibility) it is possible to estimate the pulse wave transit time directly on the screen and calculate the vPWV, after measuring the travelled distance (e.g., the limb length)