The development of bi-directionally coupled self-organizing neurovascular networks captures orientation-selective neural and hemodynamic cortical responses

The network of neurons in the brain is considered the primary substrate of information processing. Despite growing evidence on the possible role of cerebral blood flow in information processing, the cerebrovascular network is generally viewed as an irrigation system that ensures a timely supply of oxygen, glucose, and nutrients to the neural tissue. However, a recent study has shown that cerebral microvessels, like neurons, also exhibit tuned responses to sensory stimuli. Tuned neural responses to sensory stimuli are certainly enhanced with experience-dependent Hebbian plasticity and other forms of learning. Hence it is possible that the densely interconnected microvascular network might also be subject to some form of plasticity or competitive learning rules during early postnatal development such that its fine-scale structure becomes optimized for metabolic delivery to a given neural micro-architecture. To explore the possibility of adaptive lateral interactions and tuned responses in cerebral microvessels, we modeled the cortical neurovascular network by interconnecting two laterally connected self-organizing networks (Laterally Interconnected Synergetically Self-Organizing Map - LISSOM). The afferent and lateral connections of the LISSOM were defined by trainable weights. By varying the topology of lateral connectivity in the vascular network layer, we observed that the partial correspondence of feature selectivity between neural and hemodynamic responses could be explained by lateral coupling across local blood vessels such that the central domain receives an excitatory drive of more blood flow and a more distal surrounding region where blood flow is reduced. Critically, our simulations suggest a new role for feedback from the vascular to the neural network because the radius of vascular perfusion seems to determine whether the cortical neural map develops into a clustered and columnar vs. salt-and-pepper organization.

Directional microwave coupled-line couplers with high lateral coupling level

Classic сoupled-line couplers with a high lateral coupling level by type of directivity are counterdirectional. Restrictions on their synthesis are imposed by the gap between transmission lines, which must be extremely small (tens of microns), the difference in the phase velocities of even and odd modes, which must be compensated and others. This makes it difficult of manufacturing couplers. Described in technical literature сoupled-line couplers with a high lateral coupling level with changed types of directivity are either quite bulky or have small dimensions due to the use of discrete inductors and capacitances, which complicates the technological process with surface mounting when implementing the final device. In this article we propose a compact сoupledline coupler with a high lateral coupling level, which implements power transfer to a single port (0 dB, crossover). The coupler topology uses periodic loops that are located between сoupled-line. The equivalent circuit of the coupled lines was calculated and analyzed for a single periodic stub. This allowed us to determine the necessary parameters and dimensions of the topology. The device is narrow-band (3 GHz ± 5 %), transmission coefficient minus 0.44 dB at the center frequency of 3 GHz, isolation for isolated ports is not less than 35 dB. The proposed compact coupler with a coupling level of 0 dB suits building distribution circuits in which it is necessary to exclude the intersection of transmission lines. The information on the synthesis of the 3 dB co-directional microwave coupler on coupled strip lines with lateral electromagnetic coupling is given. The coupler is characterized by a high isolation level with an isolated port, not less than 40 dB. The imbalance of the amplitudes between the working (through and connected) and the input port is minus (3.4 ± 0.8) dB.

A coupled 1-D/2-D model for simulating river sediment transport and bed evolution

The paper details the method to couple a 1-D hydro-sedimentary model to a 2-D hydro-sedimentary model in order to represent the hydrodynamics and morphological processes during a flood event along a river. Tested on two field cases, the coupled model is stable even in the case of generalized overflow over the riverbanks or of levee breaching. For lateral coupling, the coupled model allows saving computational time compared to a full 2-D model and to provide valuable results concerning the flooding features as well as the evolution of the bed topography. However, despite a similar simplified representation of the sediment features in the 1-D and 2-D models, some discrepancies appear in the case of upstream/downstream coupling along a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction because the assumption of homogeneous velocity and concentration is not valid for estimating sediment transport. Further research is necessary to be able to define a suitable distribution of the sediments on the 1-D side of the boundary between the two models.

The Study on Nonlinear Model of Pantograph-catenary Coupling system for Straddle-type Monorail

Based on the Lagrange equation, the linear and nonlinear dynamic models of straddle monorail pantograph considering the lateral vibration of bogie are derived. On this basis, the lateral coupling dynamic model of pantograph-catenary is established. Newmark method is used to solve the pantograph-catenary coupling dynamic model. In order to evaluate the applicability of the two models，this paper analyzed the contact force response of two model with different speeds. The reasearch show that when the speed is below 40 km/h, the contact forces of nonlinear model and linear model can reflects the lateral excitation of the finger plate. When the speed exceeds 40 km/h, only the nonlinear model can reflect the lateral excitation of finger palte, the nonlinear pantograph-catenary coupling dynamics model is more suitable to the straddle-type monorail pantograph-catenary coupling research.

Study on Dynamic Monitoring of Wire Rope Tension Based on the Particle Damping Sensor

Real-time monitoring of wire rope tension is of great significance to the safe operation of mine hoist. Due to the longitudinal and lateral coupling vibration of wire ropes during the operation of hoist, there are high frequency components in measured tension signals of wire ropes, which cannot effectively characterize the actual lifting load. To overcome this problem, a particle damping sensor with a vibration dissipation function is designed in this paper. Multilayered steel balls are placed into the cylindrical cavity of the sensor. Damping vibration and energy dissipation will occur when the sensor is subjected to external excitation. Then, to obtain the optimal sensor characteristics, relevant parameters of the particles and the spoke structure are simulated. Finally, the sensor based on the optimized parameters is manufactured and tested in a coal mine. Compared with the general pressure sensor, the particle damping sensor can effectively eliminate the influence of wire ropes vibration on tension measurement and achieve accurate measurement results.

3D numerical modelling of the Wilson cycle: structural inheritance of alternating subduction polarity

Alternating subduction polarity along suture zones has been documented in several orogenic systems. Yet the mechanisms leading to this geometric inversion and the subsequent interplay between the contra-dipping slabs have been little studied. To explore such mechanisms, 3D numerical modelling of the Wilson cycle was conducted from continental rifting, breakup and oceanic spreading to convergence and self-consistent subduction initiation. In the resulting models, near-ridge subduction initiating with the formation of contra-dipping slab segments is an intrinsically 3D process controlled by earlier convergence-induced ridge swelling. The width of the slab segments is delimited by transform faults inherited from the rifting and ocean floor spreading stages. The models show that the number of contra-dipping slab segments depends mainly on the size of the oceanic basin, the asymmetry of the ridge and variations in kinematic inversion from divergence to convergence. Convergence velocity has been identified as a second-order parameter. The geometry of the linking zone between contra-dipping slab segments varies between two end-members governed by the lateral coupling between the adjacent slab segments: (1) coupled slabs generate wide, arcuate linking zones holding two-sided subduction; and (2) decoupled slabs generate narrow transform fault zones against which one-sided, contra-dipping slabs abut.