神经放电加周期分岔中由随机自共振引起一类新节律

当改变实验性神经起步点细胞外[Ca^2 ]时,放电节律表现出从周期1节律转换为周期4节律的加周期分岔序列。其中,周期n节律转换为周期n 1节律的过程中(n=1,2,3)存在一种新的具有交替特征的节律,该新节律为周期n簇与周期n 1簇放电的交替,并且周期n 1簇的时间间隔序列呈现出整数倍特征。确定性神经放电理论模型(chay模型)只能模拟周期n节律直接到周期n 1节律的加周期分岔序列;而随机chay模型可以模拟实验中的加周期分岔过程和新节律。进一步,新节律被确认是经随机自共振机制产生的。这不仅解释了实验现象,也将随机自共振的产生区间从以前认识到的Hopf分岔点附近扩大到加周期分岔点附近,同时扩大了噪声在神经放电和神经编码中起重要作用的参数区间。     

实验性神经起步点产生的整数倍簇放电节律

随机Hindmarsh-Rose模型中产生簇（bursting)放电节律是神经放电中存在随机自共振的一个重要理论证据,但是,该簇放电节律在实验中一直没有被发现。在实验性神经起步点细胞外[Ca^2 ]([Ca^2 ]o)低于周期1节律的[Ca^2 ]o时,发现了一种簇放电节律。其簇簇间期（inter-burst intervals,IBIs)呈现出与随机自共振引起的整数倍峰放电（interger multiple spiking)节律的峰峰间期类似的整数倍特征。随机Hindmarsh-Rose模型中产生的簇（bursting)放电节律也表现出类似的特征。结果验证了随机自共振簇放电的存在性,揭示该簇放电节律的统计特征。此外,该簇放电节律的参数区间以及其与整数倍峰放电节律的区别被揭示,簇放电节律的[Ca^2 ]o低于峰放电律的[Ca^2 ]o。     

神经放电节律加周期分岔序列中的簇放电到峰放电的转迁

含快慢子系统的神经元数学模型仿真预期,神经放电节律经历加周期分岔序列,可以进一步表现激变,并通过逆倍周期分岔级联进入周期1峰放电。实验调节胞外钙离子浓度,观察到从周期1簇放电开始的带有随机节律的加周期分岔到簇内有多个峰的簇放电,再经激变转迁到峰放电节律的分岔序列,提供了这种分岔序列模式实验证据。实验所见之激变表现为簇放电节律的休止期消失,放电节律变为混沌峰放电和周期峰放电。作者利用随机Chay模型更加逼真地仿真再现了实验所见的分岔序列。该实验结果验证了以前的确定性数学模型的理论预期,并利用随机理论模型仿真了其在现实神经系统的表现;揭示了一类完整的神经放电节律的转换规律。     

由三态跃迁机制产生的两种神经放电节律

在实验性神经起步点自发放电中,发现了两种三态跃迁节律,其特征为静息、周期n及周期n+1(n=1,2)簇放电随机交替出现。应用随机Chay模型数值仿真,分别得到了与实验模型中相似的两种三态跃迁节律,这两种节律都是在两个紧邻的分岔点附近,由噪声驱动而产生的。理论分析提示,当神经元系统接近从静息经分岔到放电的临界状态,且从静息到周期n的分岔点,与从周期n到周期n+1的分岔点非常接近时,在噪声的作用下,系统运动会在静息、周期n和周期n+1三种状态之间随机跃迁,从而形成了这种三态跃迁节律。基于这种三态跃迁放电的随机共振,还有待进一步深入研究。     

周期激励下 FitzHugh-Nagumo模型的两种多峰分布放电节律

文章揭示了外界周期脉冲激励下神经元系统产生的随机整数倍和混沌多峰放电节律的关系.随机节律统计直方图呈多峰分布、峰值指数衰减、不可预报且复杂度接近1;混沌节律统计直方图呈不同的多峰分布,峰值非指数衰减、有一定的可预报性且复杂度小于1.混沌节律在激励脉冲周期小于系统内在周期且刺激强度较大时产生,参数范围较小;而随机节律在激励脉冲周期大于系统内在周期且脉冲刺激强度小时,可与随机因素共同作用而产生,产生的参数范围较大.上述结果揭示了两类节律的动力学特性,为区分两类节律提供了实用指标.     

损伤神经元自发放电的整数倍节律及其动力学机制

实验采用大鼠背根节慢性压迫动物模型,记录术后３～１０天背根节的自发放电,在１５６根纤维中观察到１７根（１１％）出现的动作电位峰峰间期以某一基础间期的整数倍出现的时间节律形式,其回归映射图为晶格状点阵结构。同时观察到Ｎａ＾＋通道特异阻剂ＴＴＸ和Ｋ＾＋通道阻断剂４－ＡＰ能对整数倍放电节律产生影响。结果表明,看似不规则的整倍数放电时间序列是有着内在的结构和规律性的, 膜上通道和环境的状态决定。建立针对本     

NMDA与非NMDA受体激动剂对新生大鼠延髓脑片呼吸节律性放电的作用

目的：探讨N－甲基－D－天门冬氨酸（NMDA）和非NMDA类受体在基本呼吸节律发生和调节中的可能作用。方法：以改良的Kerb's液灌流新生SD大鼠离体延髓脑片,记录片与之相连的舌下神经的呼吸节律性放电活动（respiratory rhythmical discharge activity,RRDA),在灌流中给予兴奋性氨式酸类递质及相应的拮抗剂,观察其对RRDA的影响。结果：使用非NMDA受体激动剂海人酸（KA）后,可见呼吸周期及呼吸时间有所延长,NMDA受体激动剂NMDA对呼吸活动则没有明显影响;相应的拮抗剂6－氰基－7－硝基喹恶啉土卫四（DNAX）和2－氨基酸戊酸（AP5）均可使放电频率和积分幅值明显降低,吸气时间显著缩短,但DNQX同时可致呼吸周期和呼气时间明显缩短。结论：在哺乳动物基本呼吸节律的产生和调节中,NMDA类受体主要对呼吸活动的强度产生调节作用;而非NMDA类受体不仅可以影响呼吸的强度,同时对呼吸的频率也发挥调节作用。     

青蛙光敏感松果体神经节细胞自发放电的昼夜节律变化

为了研究青蛙松果体的昼夜节律,本实验采用细胞外连续记录,研究了松果体内对光产生抑制反应的光敏神经节细胞放电的昼夜节律变化.结果表明(1)所有表现自发放电的细胞,其放电频率介于1-6Hz之间,脉冲发放特征有规则、不规则(或波动)和阵发等方式;(2)无论在持续黑暗(DD)、持续光照(LL)或在模拟自然光照周期(L-D-L)任何一种条件下所进行的昼夜连续记录都显示:有些细胞在白天放电频率低,在夜间放电增强;而另一些细胞则在整个记录过程中,其脉冲频率基本上保持不变.当用与昼夜光照颠倒的周期(D-L-D)作实验时,所有被检测的细胞都反映出夜间的放电活性受到了不同程度的抑制.     

周期激励下FHN模型的两种多峰分布放电节律

文章揭示了外界周期脉冲激励下神经元系统产生的随机整数倍和混沌多峰放电节律的关系.随机节律统计直方图呈多峰分布、峰值指数衰减、不可预报且复杂度接近1;混沌节律统计直方图呈不同的多峰分布,峰值非指数衰减、有一定的可预报性且复杂度小于1.混沌节律在激励脉冲周期小于系统内在周期且刺激强度较大时产生,参数范围较小;而随机节律在激励脉冲周期大于系统内在周期且脉冲刺激强度小时,可与随机因素共同作用而产生,产生的参数范围较大.上述结果揭示了两类节律的动力学特性,为区分两类节律提供了实用指标.     

神经起步点自发放电节律及节律转化的分岔规律

在神经起步点的实验中观察到了复杂多样的神经放电([Ca^2 ]o)节律模式,如周期簇放电、周期峰放电、混沌簇放电、混沌峰放电以及随机放电节律等。随着细胞外钙离子浓度的降低,神经放电节律从周期l簇放电,经过复杂的分岔过程(包括经倍周期分岔到混沌簇放电、混沌簇放电经激变到混沌峰放电、以及混沌峰放电经逆倍周期分岔到周期峰放电)转化为周期l峰放电。在神经放电理论模型——Chay模型中,调节与实验相关的参数(Ca^2 平衡电位),可以获得与实验相似的神经放电节律和节律转换规律。这表明复杂的神经放电节律之间存在着一定的分岔规律,它们是理解神经元信息编码的基础。     

Flow intermittency alters longitudinal patterns of invertebrate diversity and assemblage composition in an arid‐land stream network

1. Temporary streams comprise a large proportion of the total length of most stream networks, and the great majority of arid‐land stream networks, so it is important to understand their contribution to biotic diversity at both local and landscape scales. 2. In late winter 2010, we sampled invertebrate assemblages in 12 reaches of a large arid‐land stream network (including perennial and intermittent headwaters, intermittent middle reaches and perennial rivers) in south‐east Arizona, U.S.A. Intermittent reaches had then been flowing for c. 60 days, following a dry period of more than 450 days. We sampled a subset of the perennial study reaches three more times between 2009 and 2011. Since intermittent reaches were dry during these additional sampling periods, we used assemblage data from two other intermittent streams in the study network (sampled in 2004–05 and 2010) to explore interannual variability in intermittent stream assemblage composition. 3. Invertebrate richness was lowest in intermittent reaches, despite their often being connected to species‐rich perennial reaches. The assemblages of these intermittent reaches were not simply a subset of the species in perennial streams, but rather were dominated by a suite of stoneflies, blackflies and midges with adaptations to intermittency (e.g. egg and/or larval diapause). On average, 86% of individuals in these samples were specialists or exclusive to intermittent streams. Predators were 7–14 times more abundant in perennial than in intermittent reaches. 4. Despite being separated by long distances (12–25 km) and having very different physical characteristics, the assemblages of perennial headwaters and rivers were more similar to one another than to intervening intermittent reaches, emphasising the prime importance of local hydrology in this system. 5. The duration and recurrence intervals of dry periods, and the relative importance of dispersal from perennial refuges, probably influence the magnitude of biological differences between neighbouring perennial and temporary streams. Although perennial headwaters supported the highest diversity of invertebrates, intermittent reaches supported a number of unique or locally rare species and as such contribute to regional species diversity and should be included in conservation planning.     

Patterns of intermittent ventilation and responses to perfusing gas mixtures in quiescent Blaberus craniifer

ABSTRACT. Patterns of intermittent ventilation were recorded by means of long electromyogram wires from quiescent Blaberus craniifer (Burmeister) buried in vermiculite. While buried, cockroaches were subjected to perfusion with various mixtures of CO₂ in air and of oxygen in nitrogen. Quiescent cockroaches in air ventilated for mean periods of 138 s in cycles of 720s duration, but much variability occurred within and between cockroaches. Mild hypercapnia or hypoxia shortened the overall cycle time while more severe treatment caused the cycle to be replaced by continual pumping. Intermittent ventilation persisted in decapitated insects but the threshold of the response to hypoxia or hypercapnia was elevated. Prevailing gas tensions normally determine the frequency and duration of each phase.     

Augmentation of axial dispersion by intermittent oscillatory flow.

The efficiency of axial gas dispersion during ventilation with high-frequency oscillation (HFO) is improved by manipulating the oscillatory flow waveform such that intermittent oscillatory flow occurs. We therefore measured the velocity profiles and effective axial gas diffusivity during intermittent oscillatory flow in a straight tube to verify the intermittency augmentation effect on axial gas transfer. The effective diffusivity was dependent on the flow patterns and significantly increased with an increase in the duration of the stationary phase. It was also found that the ratio of effective diffusivity to molecular diffusivity is two times greater than that in sinusoidal oscillatory flow. Moreover, turbulence during deceleration or at the beginning of the stationary phase further augments axial dispersion, with the effective diffusivity being over three times as large, thereby proving that the use of intermittent oscillatory flow effectively augments axial dispersion for ventilation with HFO.     

Bacterial community dynamics in the hyporheic zone of an intermittent stream

The dynamics of in situ bacterial communities in the hyporheic zone of an intermittent stream were described in high spatiotemporal detail. We assessed community dynamics in stream sediments and interstitial pore water over a two-year period using terminal-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Here, we show that sediments remained saturated despite months of drought and limited hydrologic connectivity. The intermittency of stream surface water affected interstitial pore water communities more than hyporheic sediment communities. Seasonal changes in bacterial community composition was significantly associated with water intermittency, phosphate concentrations, temperature, nitrate and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. During periods of low- to no-surface water, communities changed from being rich in operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in isolated surface pools, to a few OTUs overall, including an overall decline in both common and rare taxa. Individual OTUs were compared between porewater and sediments. A total of 19% of identified OTUs existed in both porewater and sediment samples, suggesting that bacteria use hyporheic sediments as a type of refuge from dessication, transported through hydrologically connected pore spaces. Stream intermittency impacted bacterial diversity on rapid timescales (that is, within days), below-ground and in the hyporheic zone. Owing to the coupling of intermittent streams to the surrounding watershed, we stress the importance of understanding connectivity at the pore scale, consequences for below-ground and above-ground biodiversity and nutrient processing, and across both short- and long-time periods (that is, days to months to years).     

Response of antioxidant enzymes to intermittent and continuous hyperbaric oxygen

Rats and guinea pigs were exposed to O2 at 2.8 ATA (HBO) delivered either continuously or intermittently (repeated cycles of 10 min of 100% O2 followed by 2.5 min of air). The O2 time required to produce convulsions and death was increased significantly in both species by intermittency. To determine whether changes in brain and lung superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) correlated with the observed tolerance, enzyme activities were measured after short or long HBO exposures. For each exposure duration, one group received continuous and one intermittent HBO; O2 times were matched. HBO had marked effects on these enzymes: lung SOD increased (guinea pigs 47%, rats 88%) and CAT and GSHPx activities decreased (33%) in brain and lung. No differences were seen in lung GSHPx or brain CAT in rats or brain SOD in either species. In guinea pigs, but less so in rats, the observed changes in activity were usually modulated by intermittency. Increases in hematocrit, organ protein, and lung DNA, which may also reflect ongoing oxidative damage, were also slowed with intermittency in guinea pigs. Intermittency benefited both species by postponing gross symptoms of toxicity, but its modulation of changes in enzyme activities and other biochemical variables was more pronounced in guinea pigs than in rats, suggesting that there are additional mechanisms for tolerance.     

A persistent circhoral ultradian rhythm is identified in human core temperature

There have been inconclusive reports of intermittent rhythmic fluctuations in human core temperature, with the fluctuations having a period of about an hour. However, there has been no definitive demonstration of the phenomenon. This is likely due to the intermittency and seeming instability of the events. They have been assumed to be secondary rather than autonomous phenomena, putatively arising from the oscillation between rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. In this study, we report identification of a clear, persistent circhoral ultradian rhythm in core temperature with a period for this study sample of 64 ± 8 minutes. It appeared simultaneously with an intact circadian core temperature rhythm, persisted despite complex perturbations in core temperature brought about by the sequelae of 40h of sleep deprivation, and could not be attributed to sleep stage alternation or other endogenous or exogenous factors. Analysis of power spectra using the maximum entropy spectral analysis (MESA) method, which can uncover hidden rhythmicities, demonstrated that the apparent intermittency of the rhythm is due to periodic interference of this rhythm by other rhythmic events. The persistence of this oscillation suggests that, in this system as in the endocrine system, circhoral regulation is an integral component of thermoregulatory control. Identifying the source and functional role of this novel rhythm warrants further work.     

Taxonomic and functional homogenisation of macroinvertebrate communities in recently intermittent Alpine watercourses

1. Mountain streams in southwestern European Alps are currently shifting from perennial to intermittent flow due to the combined effects of climate change and local anthropogenic pressures. Given that flow intermittency is a recently documented phenomenon in the Alps, only scattered studies have investigated functional and taxonomical diversity of benthic invertebrate communities in recently intermittent Alpine streams.
2. We used a hierarchical sampling design to investigate patterns in taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic invertebrate communities in 13 recently intermittent Alpine streams in north-west Italy. in April 2017, we sampled benthic communities in two reaches of each stream with different hydrological conditions: a control reach, with permanent flow; and an intermittent reach, which recently experienced non-flow periods in summer.
3. We tested for the response of taxonomic richness at multiple spatial scales by partitioning total diversity into the average richness of local communities and the richness due to variation among local communities both within and among reaches. By partitioning total diversity (γ) into its local (α) and turnover (β) components we showed a decrease in local and regional species richness both within and among reaches, whereas variation among communities was significantly lower in intermittent reaches at the reach scale only.
4. The analysis of multidimensional trait space of macroinvertebrate communities in reaches with different hydrological conditions revealed a significant reduction of functional diversity, dispersion, and evenness in intermittent reaches. There was trait overdispersion in intermittent reaches, as these hosted both typical Alpine taxa and organisms adapted to flow intermittency. In particular, we observed the replacement of taxa with aquatic respiration and those preferring medium- to fast-flowing oligotrophic waters by taxa adapted to lentic habitats, air breathing and with larval dormancy phases.
5. These results indicate that recent flow intermittency has caused drastic changes in benthic invertebrate communities in Alpine streams. Our work highlights the importance of integrating taxonomic and functional diversity to thoroughly assess the impacts of flow intermittency.

     

Analysis of Nod-factor-induced calcium signaling in root hairs of symbiotically defective mutants of Lotus japonicus

Nodulation (Nod)-factor signaling molecules are essential for rhizobia to initiate the nitrogen-fixing symbiotic interaction with legumes. Using a dual dye ratiometric calcium imaging technique, we have shown that 10 nM Nod factor added to roots of Lotus japonicus seedlings induces an intracellular calcium increase (calcium flux) that precedes oscillations in intracellular calcium (calcium spiking). The calcium flux was not observed with 1 or 0.1 nM Nod factor, which did induce calcium spiking. The calcium flux was variable in timing of initiation and duration and was observed in approximately half of the root hairs examined. Representatives from 11 complementation groups of symbiotically defective mutants were analyzed for the calcium flux. Mutants from four groups (sym6, ccamk, sym35, and nin) which retained calcium spiking all showed a normal calcium flux. Two classes of mutants (nfr1 and nfr5) lacked both calcium influx and calcium spiking, whereas five classes of mutants (symRK, castor, pollux, nup133, and sym24) defective for calcium spiking retained a calcium flux. There was no correlation between calcium spiking and induction of root hair deformation by Nod factor. We propose that increased bacterial numbers within infection foci in root hairs leads to accumulation of Nod factor to sufficient levels to activate the calcium flux, and this may drive infection thread growth.