Means of the main measures used in the two experiments.

<p>Counting rates are averaged across consecutive 6-second-long blocks. Error bars are standard errors.</p

DFA results per block for a representative trial.

<p>The x-component of the lines stands for the time coordinates of the analyzed block and the y-component is the scaling coefficient obtained for that particular block. The red lines in the middle are the ones that cover the perturbation section of the trial.</p

A schematic of two distinct model agent IDSs.

<p>The IDSs (delineated by the surrounding curves) are fluidly or softly assembled by virtue of rich interactions on multiple scales (double-sided arrows) among the components (black dots and hammer) are portrayed. They either span across (A) or do not (B) the tool (hammer). It is assumed that the black dots stand for bodily structures. Notice that interaction between the tool and the agent is present in both cases but in (B) it is impoverished, i.e. constrained to a single scale. Customarily, one studies such systems by collecting a time series locally from the behavior of a single point of observation (C), that is, from a single element. Next, if possible one establishes their character as an IDS by searching for power-law scaling of certain statistical quantities (D) as it was done, for example, in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0009433#pone.0009433-vanOrden1" target="_blank">[21]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0009433#pone.0009433-Holden1" target="_blank">[25]</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0009433#pone.0009433-vanOrden2" target="_blank">[26]</a>. The two fluctuation function plots representative of our data exemplify analysis of the behavior of the tool in (A) and (B) and were obtained using DFA which we applied instead of power spectrum analysis. The scaling coefficient reveals long-range correlations characteristic of noise in the hand-tool in normal mode (A) and approaches the uncorrelated white-noise level in (B).</p

The visual playground environment.

<p>A single frame (a) captured during the course of a trial is shown and visible inside it are the pen, the gray center, and blue and green dots for the target and pointer objects, respectively. Representative pointer and target object trajectories on the screen from three-second excerpts with a normally behaving (b) and impaired (c) mouse are portrayed.</p

SEM of collagen tubes.

<p>(A) The surface of the collagen tube. Scale bar = 20 µm. (B) The cross-sectional surface. Scale bar = 20 µm. (C) The longitudinal section surface. Scale bar = 20 µm. (D–F) The inner surface of tube wall at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after implantation shows that most of collagen tube is absorbed over time. Scale bar = 100 µm. (G) Tube wall thickness before implantation. Scale bar = 100 µm. (H−J) Tube wall thickness at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after implantation, showing that it biodegrades over time. Scale bar = 100 µm. (K) Quantitative analysis of the thickness of the tube wall. n = 5, *p<0.05.</p

Flow cytometry results. Rat-derived MSCs are positive for CD29 and CD90.

<p>Flow cytometry results. Rat-derived MSCs are positive for CD29 and CD90.</p

CDNF efficiently transfers and expresses CDNF <i>in</i><i>vitro</i> and <i>in</i><i>vivo</i>.

<p>(A) Western blot of CDNF protein 2 weeks after transduction. (B) Detection of CDNF in the distal sciatic nerve 4 weeks after injury. (C) Identified CDNF production in the distal sciatic nerve as a ratio of the target protein to β-actin.</p

Histological analyses.

<p>(A and C) Longitudinal sections of the regenerated nerve stained with S100 and NF200 antibodies 12 weeks after repair. The S100-positive site is stained brown in A. The NF200-positive site is stained brown in B. Scale bar = 25 µm. (B and D) Quantitative analyses of the S100- and NF200-positive areas in each group. (E) Transverse sections of the regenerated nerve labeled with NF200 antibody 12 weeks after repair. The NF200-positive site is stained brown. Scale bar = 25 µm. (F) Quantitative analysis of the NF200-positive area in transverse sections from each group. n = 5, *p<0.05, **p<0.01.</p

Evaluation of amyotrophy.

<p>(A and B) Masson’s collagen staining of sections of the transverse gastrocnemius muscle at 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. Scale bar = 50 µm (C) Quantitative analysis of the percentages of muscle fibers in each group. (D) Wet weight analysis of the gastrocnemius muscle at 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery. (E) Statistical analysis of the wet weight ratio of the gastrocnemius muscle. n = 5, *p<0.05, **p<0.01.</p

HRP tracing method showed motor neuron survival.

<p>(A) At 12 weeks after injury, 40-µm transverse sections of the lumbar spinal cord showing HRP-labeled neuron cell bodies. Scale bar = 500 µm. (B) HRP-labeled neuron cell bodies at 100×magnification. Scale bar = 200 µm. (C) Quantitative analysis of HRP-labeled neurons. n = 4, *p<0.05, **p<0.01.</p