Sub-Millisecond Firing Synchrony of Closely Neighboring Pyramidal Neurons in Hippocampal CA1 of Rats During Delayed Non-Matching to Sample Task

Firing synchrony among neurons is thought to play functional roles in several brain regions. In theoretical analyses, firing synchrony among neurons within sub-millisecond precision is feasible to convey information. However, little is known about the occurrence and the functional significance of the sub-millisecond synchrony among closely neighboring neurons in the brain of behaving animals because of a technical issue: spikes simultaneously generated from closely neighboring neurons are overlapped in the extracellular space and are not easily separated. As described herein, using a unique spike sorting technique based on independent component analysis together with extracellular 12-channel multi-electrodes (dodecatrodes), we separated such overlapping spikes and investigated the firing synchrony among closely neighboring pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 of rats during a delayed non-matching to sample task. Results showed that closely neighboring pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 can co-fire with sub-millisecond precision. The synchrony generally co-occurred with the firing rate modulation in relation to both internal (retention and comparison) and external (stimulus input and motor output) events during the task. However, the synchrony occasionally occurred in relation to stimulus inputs even when rate modulation was clearly absent, suggesting that the synchrony is not simply accompanied with firing rate modulation and that the synchrony and the rate modulation might code similar information independently. We therefore conclude that the sub-millisecond firing synchrony in the hippocampus is an effective carrier for propagating information – as represented by the firing rate modulations – to downstream neurons

Model Checking with Program Slicing Based on Variable Dependence Graphs

In embedded control systems, the potential risks of software defects have been increasing because of software complexity which leads to, for example, timing related problems. These defects are rarely found by tests or simulations. To detect such defects, we propose a modeling method which can generate software models for model checking with a program slicing technique based on a variable dependence graph. We have applied the proposed method to one case in automotive control software and demonstrated the effectiveness of the method. Furthermore, we developed a software tool to automate model generation and achieved a 35% decrease in total verification time on model checking.Comment: In Proceedings FTSCS 2012, arXiv:1212.657

Volitional enhancement of firing synchrony and oscillation by neuronal operant conditioning: interaction with neurorehabilitation and brain-machine interface.

In this review, we focus on neuronal operant conditioning in which increments in neuronal activities are directly rewarded without behaviors. We discuss the potential of this approach to elucidate neuronal plasticity for enhancing specific brain functions and its interaction with the progress in neurorehabilitation and brain-machine interfaces. The key to-be-conditioned activities that this paper emphasizes are synchronous and oscillatory firings of multiple neurons that reflect activities of cell assemblies. First, we introduce certain well-known studies on neuronal operant conditioning in which conditioned enhancements of neuronal firing were reported in animals and humans. These studies demonstrated the feasibility of volitional control over neuronal activity. Second, we refer to the recent studies on operant conditioning of synchrony and oscillation of neuronal activities. In particular, we introduce a recent study showing volitional enhancement of oscillatory activity in monkey motor cortex and our study showing selective enhancement of firing synchrony of neighboring neurons in rat hippocampus. Third, we discuss the reasons for emphasizing firing synchrony and oscillation in neuronal operant conditioning, the main reason being that they reflect the activities of cell assemblies, which have been suggested to be basic neuronal codes representing information in the brain. Finally, we discuss the interaction of neuronal operant conditioning with neurorehabilitation and brain-machine interface (BMI). We argue that synchrony and oscillation of neuronal firing are the key activities required for developing both reliable neurorehabilitation and high-performance BMI. Further, we conclude that research of neuronal operant conditioning, neurorehabilitation, BMI, and system neuroscience will produce findings applicable to these interrelated fields, and neuronal synchrony and oscillation can be a common important bridge among all of them

Photoluminescence from silicon dioxide photonic crystal cavities with embedded silicon nanocrystals

One dimensional nanobeam photonic crystal cavities are fabricated in silicon dioxide with silicon nanocrystals. Quality factors of over 9 x 10^3 are found in experiment, matching theoretical predictions, with mode volumes of 1.5(lambda/n)^3 . Photoluminescence from the cavity modes is observed in the visible wavelength range 600-820 nm. Studies of the lossy characteristics of the cavities are conducted at varying temperatures and pump powers. Free carrier absorption effects are found to be significant at pump powers as low as a few hundred nanowatts.Comment: 13 pages 9 figure

Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1-x)4 Thin-Film Solar Cells Utilizing Simultaneous Reaction of a Metallic Precursor with Elemental Sulfur and Selenium Vapor Sources

A Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1-x)(4) (CZTSSe) solid alloy was prepared by reacting a metallic precursor with sulfur and selenium in a closed tube simultaneously. It was confirmed that the CZTSSe alloy could be synthesized over the whole compositional range and its lattice transformation was in good agreement with Vegard's law. The crystal grain size and electrical conductivity were enhanced when the selenium content was increased. In a CdS/CZTSSe heterojunction solar cell, the photovoltaic efficiency was improved due to the enhancement of the short-circuit current in accordance with the narrowing of the optical bandgap of the CZTSSe absorber. (c) 2012 The Japan Society of Applied PhysicsArticleAPPLIED PHYSICS EXPRESS. 5(8): 81201 (2012)journal articl

A Cadmium-Free Cu2ZnSnS4/ZnO Hetrojunction Solar Cell Prepared by Practicable Processes

A cadmium-free Cu2ZnSnS4/ZnO hetrojunction solar cell with conversion efficiency of 4.29% has been obtained. The Cu2ZnSnS4 absorber film was formed utilizing sulfurization of laminated metallic precursors, and the ZnO buffer layer was then deposited on it by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. In comparison with a conventional Cu2ZnSnS4/CdS hetrojunction solar cell, the open circuit voltage as well as the relative quantum efficiency at the short-wavelength regions was increased. The in-plane homogeneity of p-n junction was improved by depositing the ZnO layer on Cu2ZnSnS4 film via ultrasonic spray pyrolysis. (C) 2011 The Japan Society of Applied PhysicsArticleJAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS. 50(3): 032301 (2011)journal articl

Electrochemical characterization of a unique, "neutral" laccase from Flammulina velutipes

The flac1 gene consisted of 1488 bases encodes a novel laccase (Flac1) from Flammulina velutipes. The deduced amino acid sequence of Flac1 with 496 amino acids shows 58-64% homologies with other fungal laccases. The recombinant Flac1 (rFlac1) was heterologously expressed in Pichia pastoris, with sugars of approximately 4 kDa attached on the protein molecule, which has the calculated molecular mass of 53,532 Da. rFlac1 was shown to be a multi-copper oxidase from spectroscopies. The optimum pHs of rFlac1 for oxidations of 2,2\u27-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), p-phenylenediamine, and o-aminophenol, were 5.0, 5.0, and 6.0-6.5, respectively, showing higher pH values than those from many other fungal laccases. The slightly acidic or neutral optimum pH that is not strongly dependent on substrates is a unique property of rFlac1. Effective O2 reduction was realized by the direct electron transfer of rFlac1 at a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrode modified with fine carbon particles (Ketjen Black) in O2-saturated solution. The pHs showing the maximum ΔE°\u27 [= E°\u27(enzyme) - E°\u27(substrate)] coincided well with the optimum pHs shown by rFlac1 under steady-state conditions. The present electrochemical results of rFlac1 indicate that ΔE°\u27 is one of the primary factors to determine the activity of multi-copper oxidases. © 2012 The Society for Biotechnology, Japa

Information in small neuronal ensemble activity in the hippocampal CA1 during delayed non-matching to sample performance in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The matrix-like organization of the hippocampus, with its several inputs and outputs, has given rise to several theories related to hippocampal information processing. Single-cell electrophysiological studies and studies of lesions or genetically altered animals using recognition memory tasks such as delayed non-matching-to-sample (DNMS) tasks support the theories. However, a complete understanding of hippocampal function necessitates knowledge of the encoding of information by multiple neurons in a single trial. The role of neuronal ensembles in the hippocampal CA1 for a DNMS task was assessed quantitatively in this study using multi-neuronal recordings and an artificial neural network classifier as a decoder.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The activity of small neuronal ensembles (6-18 cells) over brief time intervals (2-50 ms) contains accurate information specifically related to the matching/non-matching of continuously presented stimuli (stimulus comparison). The accuracy of the combination of neurons pooled over all the ensembles was markedly lower than those of the ensembles over all examined time intervals.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results show that the spatiotemporal patterns of spiking activity among cells in the small neuronal ensemble contain much information that is specifically useful for the stimulus comparison. Small neuronal networks in the hippocampal CA1 might therefore act as a comparator during recognition memory tasks.</p