Inferring entire spiking activity from local field potentials

Extracellular recordings are typically analysed by separating them into two distinct signals: local field potentials (LFPs) and spikes. Previous studies have shown that spikes, in the form of single-unit activity (SUA) or multiunit activity (MUA), can be inferred solely from LFPs with moderately good accuracy. SUA and MUA are typically extracted via threshold-based technique which may not be reliable when the recordings exhibit a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Another type of spiking activity, referred to as entire spiking activity (ESA), can be extracted by a threshold-less, fast, and automated technique and has led to better performance in several tasks. However, its relationship with the LFPs has not been investigated. In this study, we aim to address this issue by inferring ESA from LFPs intracortically recorded from the motor cortex area of three monkeys performing different tasks. Results from long-term recording sessions and across subjects revealed that ESA can be inferred from LFPs with good accuracy. On average, the inference performance of ESA was consistently and significantly higher than those of SUA and MUA. In addition, local motor potential (LMP) was found to be the most predictive feature. The overall results indicate that LFPs contain substantial information about spiking activity, particularly ESA. This could be useful for understanding LFP-spike relationship and for the development of LFP-based BMIs.

Algerian turmoil threatens the local motor industry

Subject Auto manufacturing and corruption. Significance The government on August 25 appointed judicial administrators to manage three major companies whose chief executives were detained as part of a wide-ranging anti-corruption drive, including the Tahkout Manufacturing Company, which produces cars. Local auto manufacturing -- a flagship industry under ousted President Abdelaziz Bouteflika -- has been badly affected by the anti-corruption campaign, with some companies struggling to pay staff and import parts. It is also threatened by concurrent new regulations introduced by the government. Impacts In the longer term, a re-evaluation of the programme of state support for the industry could threaten all manufacturers. Projects underway to build new Nissan and Peugeot plants by 2020 may be delayed or cancelled. Damage to the industry poses particular risks to the economy of the north-west, where most factories are located. Foreign firms in other sectors will be reluctant to invest in Algeria, fearing that local partners could be caught up in criminal cases.

Emergence of Directional Actomyosin Flows from Active Matter Vibrations

Cortical actomyosin flows play pivotal roles in cell motility, cell division and animal morphogenesis. According to many model systems, myosin motor induced local contractions are key for generating cortical flows. However, the original mechanism how large-scale directed flows emerge from local motor activity in an apparently isotropic cortex is unknown. We reconstituted and confined minimal actomyosin cortices to the interfaces of emulsion droplets. The presence of ATP leads to myosin-induced cortical contractions that self-organize into directed flow-like actomyosin motions. By combining our experiments with theory, we found that the large-scale directional motion of actomyosin clusters emerges from individual asymmetric cluster vibrations, caused by intrinsic non-isotropic ATP consumption, in conjunction with spherical confinement. By tracking individual actomyosin clusters, we identified fingerprints of vibrational states as the basis of directed motions. These vibrations may represent a generic key driver of directed actomyosin flows under spatial confinement in vitro and in living systems.

IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF AUTO-FILLING STATIONS REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN: FACTS AND FORECASTS

This article describes the existing problems experienced by local motor fuel stations and discusses the possible ways of these problems elimination. The studies were carried out and based on these studies results a set of actions and measures were developed aimed at improvement of fuel supply and increase of the country fuel stations operation effectiveness.

Neuronal Control of Drosophila Walking Direction

Most land animals normally walk forward but switch to backward walking upon sensing an obstacle or danger in the path ahead. A change in walking direction is likely to be triggered by descending “command” neurons from the brain that act upon local motor circuits to alter the timing of leg muscle activation. Here we identify descending neurons for backward walking in Drosophila—the MDN neurons. MDN activity is required for flies to walk backward when they encounter an impassable barrier and is sufficient to trigger backward walking under conditions in which flies would otherwise walk forward. We also identify ascending neurons, MAN, that promote persistent backward walking, possibly by inhibiting forward walking. These findings provide an initial glimpse into the circuits and logic that control walking direction in Drosophila.

Characterization of excitatory and inhibitory motor neurons to the human gastric clasp and sling fibers

The aim of this study was to determine the morphology and position of the excitatory and inhibitory motor neurons to the human gastric sling and clasp fibers. Motor neurons were identified by retrograde staining with 1,1′-didodecyl 3,3,3′,3′-indocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI), and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) or nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunoreactivity was then determined in these motor neurons. In the sling preparations, 46% of the DiI-stained cells were aboral motor neurons, 43% were local motor neurons, and only 10% were descending motor neurons. Overall, 58% were immunoreactive for ChAT, and 36% for NOS (P = 0.042). Sixty-two percent of local, and 66% of aboral DiI-stained motor neurons were immunoreactive for ChAT. In the clasp preparations, 52% of the DiI-stained cells were descending motor neurons, 45% were local motor neurons, and only 3% were aboral neurons. Overall, 31% were immunoreactive for ChAT and 65% for NOS (P = 0.039). Eighty-five percent of the DiI-stained descending motor neurons were immunoreactive for NOS. All of the cells that were labeled adequately had a single axon and a number of filamentous or flattened lobular dendrites, and fitted into the broad category of Dogiel type I neurons. In conclusion, the majority of the motor neurons to the sling fibers were ChAT-positive excitatory neurons from the myenteric plexus of the stomach and the local region, and to the clasp were predominantly NOS-positive inhibitory neurons from the esophagus.