Dear Editor,Coma, the vegetative state （VS）, and the minimally- conscious state （MCS）, often collectively referred to as disorders of consciousness （DOCs）, typically occur after severe traumatic or non-traumatic...Dear Editor,Coma, the vegetative state （VS）, and the minimally- conscious state （MCS）, often collectively referred to as disorders of consciousness （DOCs）, typically occur after severe traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury [1]. The boundary between awareness and unawareness remains elusive, making it difficult to correctly distinguish MCS from VS patients. It is possible to employ noninvasive neuroimaging techniques, such as functional MRI （fMRI） [2] to assess residual cognitive processing as well as consciousness. However, the causal link between neural activity in specific brain areas and specific behavioral tasks is hard to dissect using fMRI [3]. Therefore, detecting residual cognitive function and consciousness in patients surviving severe brain injury remains extremely challenging.展开更多
This study utilized a neuronal compartment model and NEURON software to study the effects of external light stimulation on retinal photoreceptors and spike patterns of neurons in a retinal network Following light stim...This study utilized a neuronal compartment model and NEURON software to study the effects of external light stimulation on retinal photoreceptors and spike patterns of neurons in a retinal network Following light stimulation of different shapes and sizes, changes in the spike features of ganglion cells indicated that different shapes of light stimulation elicited different retinal responses. By manipulating the shape of light stimulation, we investigated the effects of the large number of electrical synapses existing between retinal neurons. Model simulation and analysis suggested that interplexiform cells play an important role in visual signal information processing in the retina, and the findings indicated that our constructed retinal network model was reliable and feasible. In addition, the simulation results demonstrated that ganglion cells exhibited a variety of spike patterns under different light stimulation sizes and different stimulation shapes, which reflect the functions of the retina in signal transmission and processing.展开更多
We study the effects of a laser beam from the laser diode operating at 980nm on the violet-excited ZnS：Cu and SrAl2O4：Eu phosphor powders. Two contrary phenomena, i.e., infrared-induced permanent quenching and short...We study the effects of a laser beam from the laser diode operating at 980nm on the violet-excited ZnS：Cu and SrAl2O4：Eu phosphor powders. Two contrary phenomena, i.e., infrared-induced permanent quenching and short-lived enhancement of phosphorescence, are observed. The defect levels play a significant role in both the processes. It is demonstrated that the phosphorescence induced by the violet beam can be controlled by another infrared beam. The turn-off and turn-on behaviour means that doping luminescent centres into host materials is a considerable way to design a new all-optical switch and may control the output of laser beams in the fibre lasers and optical communications.展开更多
Mechanical stimulations have been shown to regulate cellular mechanical properties. However, the stimulation patterns for effective regulation are as yet unclear. We investigated the effects of application of differin...Mechanical stimulations have been shown to regulate cellular mechanical properties. However, the stimulation patterns for effective regulation are as yet unclear. We investigated the effects of application of differing numbers of mechanical stimulation sets, each set consisting of 8% extension and compression to cells via deformation of cell culture elastic chamber, on cellular elasticity. Elasticity increased with only a single step-like stretch and with a single step-like stretch after 1 set of mechanical stimulation, whereas elasticity did not change with a single step-like stretch after 10 sets of mechanical stimulation. These results indicate that the increase in cellular elasticity with the single step-like stretch depends on the number of applied mechanical stimulations. Immunofluorescence staining showed that phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC), which regulates intracellular contractile force and cellular elasticity, accompanied cellular elasticity changes. These findings suggest that cellular elasticity changes under cyclic and step-like stretches are mediated by MRLC.展开更多
基金supported by the Guangdong Provincial Natural Science Foundation(2015A030313609)the Guangzhou Municipal Project for Science and Technology Foundation(201508020253)
文摘Dear Editor,Coma, the vegetative state （VS）, and the minimally- conscious state （MCS）, often collectively referred to as disorders of consciousness （DOCs）, typically occur after severe traumatic or non-traumatic brain injury [1]. The boundary between awareness and unawareness remains elusive, making it difficult to correctly distinguish MCS from VS patients. It is possible to employ noninvasive neuroimaging techniques, such as functional MRI （fMRI） [2] to assess residual cognitive processing as well as consciousness. However, the causal link between neural activity in specific brain areas and specific behavioral tasks is hard to dissect using fMRI [3]. Therefore, detecting residual cognitive function and consciousness in patients surviving severe brain injury remains extremely challenging.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 10872069
文摘This study utilized a neuronal compartment model and NEURON software to study the effects of external light stimulation on retinal photoreceptors and spike patterns of neurons in a retinal network Following light stimulation of different shapes and sizes, changes in the spike features of ganglion cells indicated that different shapes of light stimulation elicited different retinal responses. By manipulating the shape of light stimulation, we investigated the effects of the large number of electrical synapses existing between retinal neurons. Model simulation and analysis suggested that interplexiform cells play an important role in visual signal information processing in the retina, and the findings indicated that our constructed retinal network model was reliable and feasible. In addition, the simulation results demonstrated that ganglion cells exhibited a variety of spike patterns under different light stimulation sizes and different stimulation shapes, which reflect the functions of the retina in signal transmission and processing.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 60276035 and 60478041, and the Space Technology Foundation of China under Grant No 2002-HT-ZJDX-08.
文摘We study the effects of a laser beam from the laser diode operating at 980nm on the violet-excited ZnS：Cu and SrAl2O4：Eu phosphor powders. Two contrary phenomena, i.e., infrared-induced permanent quenching and short-lived enhancement of phosphorescence, are observed. The defect levels play a significant role in both the processes. It is demonstrated that the phosphorescence induced by the violet beam can be controlled by another infrared beam. The turn-off and turn-on behaviour means that doping luminescent centres into host materials is a considerable way to design a new all-optical switch and may control the output of laser beams in the fibre lasers and optical communications.
文摘Mechanical stimulations have been shown to regulate cellular mechanical properties. However, the stimulation patterns for effective regulation are as yet unclear. We investigated the effects of application of differing numbers of mechanical stimulation sets, each set consisting of 8% extension and compression to cells via deformation of cell culture elastic chamber, on cellular elasticity. Elasticity increased with only a single step-like stretch and with a single step-like stretch after 1 set of mechanical stimulation, whereas elasticity did not change with a single step-like stretch after 10 sets of mechanical stimulation. These results indicate that the increase in cellular elasticity with the single step-like stretch depends on the number of applied mechanical stimulations. Immunofluorescence staining showed that phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain (MRLC), which regulates intracellular contractile force and cellular elasticity, accompanied cellular elasticity changes. These findings suggest that cellular elasticity changes under cyclic and step-like stretches are mediated by MRLC.
