617 research outputs found
The impact of spike timing variability on the signal-encoding performance of neural spiking models
It remains unclear whether the variability of neuronal spike trains in vivo arises due to biological noise sources or represents highly precise encoding of temporally varying synaptic input signals. Determining the variability of spike timing can provide fundamental insights into the nature of strategies used in the brain to represent and transmit information in the form of discrete spike trains. In this study, we employ a signal estimation paradigm to determine how variability in spike timing affects encoding of random time-varying signals. We assess this for two types of spiking models: an integrate-and-fire model with random threshold and a more biophysically realistic stochastic ion channel model. Using the coding fraction and mutual information as information-theoretic measures, we quantify the efficacy of optimal linear decoding of random inputs from the model outputs and study the relationship between efficacy and variability in the output spike train. Our findings suggest that variability does not necessarily hinder signal decoding for the biophysically plausible encoders examined and that the functional role of spiking variability depends intimately on the nature of the encoder and the signal processing task; variability can either enhance or impede decoding performance
Taxonomy of Technological IT Outsourcing Risks: Support for Risk Identification and Quantification
The past decade has seen an increasing interest in IT outsourcing as it promises companies many economic benefits. In recent years, IT paradigms, such as Software-as-a-Service or Cloud Computing using third-party services, are increasingly adopted. Current studies show that IT security and data privacy are the dominant factors affecting the perceived risk of IT outsourcing. Therefore, we explicitly focus on determining the technological risks related to IT security and quality of service characteristics associated with IT outsourcing. We conducted an extensive literature review, and thoroughly document the process in order to reach high validity and reliability. 149 papers have been evaluated based on a review of the whole content and out of the finally relevant 68 papers, we extracted 757 risk items. Using a successive refinement approach, which involved reduction of similar items and iterative re-grouping, we establish a taxonomy with nine risk categories for the final 70 technological risk items. Moreover, we describe how the taxonomy can be used to support the first two phases of the IT risk management process: risk identification and quantification. Therefore, for each item, we give parameters relevant for using them in an existing mathematical risk quantification model
The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies in a constrained hydrodynamical simulation: morphological evolution
We study the two main constituent galaxies of a constrained simulation of the
Local Group as candidates for the Milky Way (MW) and Andromeda (M31). We focus
on the formation of the stellar discs and its relation to the formation of the
group as a rich system with two massive galaxies, and investigate the effects
of mergers and accretion as drivers of morphological transformations. We use a
state-of-the-art hydrodynamical code which includes star formation, feedback
and chemical enrichment to carry out our study. We run two simulations, where
we include or neglect the effects of radiation pressure from stars, to
investigate the impact of this process on the morphologies and star formation
rates of the simulated galaxies. We find that the simulated M31 and MW have
different formation histories, even though both inhabit, at z=0, the same
environment. These differences directly translate into and explain variations
in their star formation rates, in-situ fractions and final morphologies. The
M31 candidate has an active merger history, as a result of which its stellar
disc is unable to survive unaffected until the present time. In contrast, the
MW candidate has a smoother history with no major mergers at late times, and
forms a disc that grows steadily; at z=0 the simulated MW has an extended,
rotationally-supported disc which is dominant over the bulge. Our two feedback
implementations predict similar evolution of the galaxies and their discs,
although some variations are detected, the most important of which is the
formation time of the discs: in the model with weaker/stronger feedback the
discs form earlier/later. In summary, by comparing the formation histories of
the two galaxies, we conclude that the particular merger/accretion history of a
galaxy rather than its environment at the LG-scales is the main driver of the
formation and subsequent growth or destruction of galaxy discs.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in A&
The Effect of Environment on Milky Way-mass galaxies in a Constrained Simulation of the Local Group
In this letter we present, for the first time, a study of star formation
rate, gas fraction and galaxy morphology of a constrained simulation of the
Milky Way (MW) and Andromeda (M31) galaxies, compared to other MW-mass
galaxies. By combining with unconstrained simulations we cover a sufficient
volume to compare these galaxies environmental densities ranging from the field
to that of the Local Group (LG). This is particularly relevant as it has been
shown that, quite generally, galaxy properties depend intimately upon their
environment, most prominently when galaxies in clusters are compared to those
in the field. For galaxies in loose groups such as the LG, however,
environmental effects have been less clear. We consider the galaxy's
environmental density in spheres of 1200 kpc (comoving) and find that whilst
environment does not appear to directly affect morphology, there is a positive
trend with star formation rates. This enhancement in star formation occurs
systematically for galaxies in higher density environments, regardless whether
they are part of the LG or in filaments. Our simulations suggest that the
richer environment at Mpc-scales may help replenish the star-forming gas,
allowing higher specific star formation rates in galaxies such as the MW.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted to ApJ
Channel noise in excitable neuronal membranes
Stochastic fluctuations of voltage-gated ion channels generate current
and voltage noise in neuronal membranes. This noise may be a critical
determinant of the efficacy of information processing within neural
systems. Using Monte-Carlo simulations, we carry out a systematic investigation
of the relationship between channel kinetics and the resulting
membrane voltage noise using a stochastic Markov version of the
Mainen-Sejnowski model of dendritic excitability in cortical neurons.
Our simulations show that kinetic parameters which lead to an increase
in membrane excitability (increasing channel densities, decreasing temperature)
also lead to an increase in the magnitude of the sub-threshold
voltage noise. Noise also increases as the membrane is depolarized from
rest towards threshold. This suggests that channel fluctuations may interfere
with a neuron’s ability to function as an integrator of its synaptic
inputs and may limit the reliability and precision of neural information
processing
Variability and coding efficiency of noisy neural spike encoders
Encoding synaptic inputs as a train of action potentials is a fundamental function of nerve cells. Although spike trains recorded in vivo have been shown to be highly variable, it is unclear whether variability in spike timing represents faithful encoding of temporally varying synaptic inputs or noise inherent in the spike encoding mechanism. It has been reported that spike timing variability is more pronounced for constant, unvarying inputs than for inputs with rich temporal structure. This could have significant implications for the nature of neural coding, particularly if precise timing of spikes and temporal synchrony between neurons is used to represent information in the nervous system. To study the potential functional role of spike timing variability, we estimate the fraction of spike timing variability which conveys information about the input for two types of noisy spike encoders — an integrate and fire model with randomly chosen thresholds and a model of a patch of neuronal membrane containing stochastic Na+ and K+ channels obeying Hodgkin–Huxley kinetics. The quality of signal encoding is assessed by reconstructing the input stimuli from the output spike trains using optimal linear mean square estimation. A comparison of the estimation performance of noisy neuronal models of spike generation enables us to assess the impact of neuronal noise on the efficacy of neural coding. The results for both models suggest that spike timing variability reduces the ability of spike trains to encode rapid time-varying stimuli. Moreover, contrary to expectations based on earlier studies, we find that the noisy spike encoding models encode slowly varying stimuli more effectively than rapidly varying ones
First description of natural Echinococcus multilocularis infections in chinchilla ( Chinchilla laniger ) and Prevost's squirrel ( Callosciurus prevostii borneoensis )
This report describes for the first time the occurrence of alveolar echinococcosis in two exotic rodent species in Europe. A pet chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger) was euthanized due to a painful enlargement of the abdominal cavity, and a Prevost's squirrel (Callosciurus prevostii borneoensis) was found dead in the enclosure of a zoo. At necropsy, extended liver lesions consisting of small vesicles and cysts were observed in the livers of both animals. Histological examination revealed that these cysts were composed of an outer, homogenous, eosinophilic layer and an inner, cellular germinal layer. The cysts from both animals contained numerous protoscolices. The morphological diagnosis of Echinococcus multilocularis metacestode infections was confirmed by molecular mean
TAXONOMY OF TECHNOLOGICAL IT OUTSOURCING RISKS: SUPPORT FOR RISK IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION
The past decade has seen an increasing interest in IT outsourcing as it promises companies many economic benefits. In recent years, IT paradigms, such as Software-as-a-Service or Cloud Computing using third-party services, are increasingly adopted. Current studies show that IT security and data privacy are the dominant factors affecting the perceived risk of IT outsourcing. Therefore, we explicitly focus on determining the technological risks related to IT security and quality of service characteristics associated with IT outsourcing. We conducted an extensive literature review, and thoroughly document the process in order to reach high validity and reliability. 149 papers have been evaluated based on a review of the whole content and out of the finally relevant 68 papers, we extracted 757 risk items. Using a successive refinement approach, which involved reduction of similar items and iterative re-grouping, we establish a taxonomy with nine risk categories for the final 70 technological risk items. Moreover, we describe how the taxonomy can be used to support the first two phases of the IT risk management process: risk identification and quantification. Therefore, for each item, we give parameters relevant for using them in an existing mathematical risk quantification mode
Bedside ultrasound education in Canadian medical schools: A national survey
Background: This study was carried out to determine the extent and characteristics of bedside ultrasound teaching in medical schools across Canada.Methods: A cross-sectional, survey-based study was used to assess undergraduate bedside ultrasound education in the 17 accredited medical schools in Canada. The survey, consisting of 19 questions was pilot-tested, web-based, and completed over a period of seven months in 2014.Results:Â Approximately half of the 13 responding medical schools had integrated bedside ultrasound teaching into their undergraduate curriculum. The most common trends in undergraduate ultrasound teaching related to duration (1-5 hours/year in 50% of schools), format (practical and theoretical in 67% of schools), and logistics (1:4 instructor to student ratio in 67% of schools). The majority of responding vice-deans indicated that bedside ultrasound education should be integrated into the medical school curriculum (77%), and cited a lack of ultrasound machines and infrastructure as barriers to integration.Conclusions: This study documents the current characteristics of undergraduate ultrasound education in Canada
Coherence in Microchip Traps
We report the coherent manipulation of internal states of neutral atoms in a
magnetic microchip trap. Coherence lifetimes exceeding 1 s are observed with
atoms at distances of m from the microchip surface. The coherence
lifetime in the chip trap is independent of atom-surface distance within our
measurement accuracy, and agrees well with the results of similar measurements
in macroscopic magnetic traps. Due to the absence of surface-induced
decoherence, a miniaturized atomic clock with a relative stability in the
range can be realized. For applications in quantum information
processing, we propose to use microwave near-fields in the proximity of chip
wires to create potentials that depend on the internal state of the atoms.Comment: Revised version, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett., 4
pages, 4 figure
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