Diffusion-Based Generation of Neural Activity from Disentangled Latent Codes.

Recent advances in recording technology have allowed neuroscientists to monitor activity from thousands of neurons simultaneously. Latent variable models are increasingly valuable for distilling these recordings into compact and interpretable representations. Here we propose a new approach to neural data analysis that leverages advances in conditional generative modeling to enable the unsupervised inference of disentangled behavioral variables from recorded neural activity.

Task-driven neural network models predict neural dynamics of proprioception.

Proprioception tells the brain the state of the body based on distributed sensory neurons. Yet, the principles that govern proprioceptive processing are poorly understood. Here, we employ a task-driven modeling approach to investigate the neural code of proprioceptive neurons in cuneate nucleus (CN) and somatosensory cortex area 2 (S1).

Expressive dynamics models with nonlinear injective readouts enable reliable recovery of latent features from neural activity.

The advent of large-scale neural recordings has enabled new approaches that aim to discover the computational mechanisms of neural circuits by understanding the rules that govern how their state evolves over time. While these cannot be directly measured, they can typically be approximated by low-dimensional models in a latent space. How these models represent the mapping from latent space to neural space can affect the interpretability of the latent representation.

Expressive architectures enhance interpretability of dynamics-based neural population models.

Artificial neural networks that can recover latent dynamics from recorded neural activity may provide a powerful avenue for identifying and interpreting the dynamical motifs underlying biological computation. Given that neural variance alone does not uniquely determine a latent dynamical system, interpretable architectures should prioritize accurate and low-dimensional latent dynamics. In this work, we evaluated the performance of sequential autoencoders (SAEs) in recovering latent chaotic attractors from simulated neural datasets.

Encoding of limb state by single neurons in the cuneate nucleus of awake monkeys.

The cuneate nucleus (CN) is among the first sites along the neuraxis where proprioceptive signals can be integrated, transformed, and modulated. The objective of the study was to characterize the proprioceptive representations in CN. To this end, we recorded from single CN neurons in three monkeys during active reaching and passive limb perturbation.

Cuneate nucleus: The somatosensory gateway to the brain.

Much remains unknown about the transformation of proprioceptive afferent input from the periphery to the cortex. Until recently, the only recordings from neurons in the cuneate nucleus (CN) were from anesthetized animals. We are beginning to learn more about how the sense of proprioception is transformed as it propagates centrally.

Grow well/Crecer bien: a protocol for research on infant feeding practices in low-income families.

Background: The prevalence of obesity among children remains high. Given obesity's significant lifelong consequences, there is great interest in preventing obesity early in life. There is a need to better understand the relation of common infant feeding styles and practices to obesity in infants using longitudinal study designs.

Modern Machine Learning as a Benchmark for Fitting Neural Responses.

Neuroscience has long focused on finding encoding models that effectively ask "what predicts neural spiking?" and generalized linear models (GLMs) are a typical approach. It is often unknown how much of explainable neural activity is captured, or missed, when fitting a model. Here we compared the predictive performance of simple models to three leading machine learning methods: feedforward neural networks, gradient boosted trees (using XGBoost), and stacked ensembles that combine the predictions of several methods.

Methodological considerations for a chronic neural interface with the cuneate nucleus of macaques.

While the response properties of neurons in the somatosensory nerves and anterior parietal cortex have been extensively studied, little is known about the encoding of tactile and proprioceptive information in the cuneate nucleus (CN) or external cuneate nucleus (ECN), the first recipients of upper limb somatosensory afferent signals. The major challenge in characterizing neural coding in CN/ECN has been to record from these tiny, difficult-to-access brain stem structures. Most previous investigations of CN response properties have been carried out in decerebrate or anesthetized animals, thereby eliminating the well-documented top-down signals from cortex, which likely exert a strong influence on CN responses.

Data on blueberry peroxidase kinetic characterization and stability towards thermal and high pressure processing.

The data presented in this article are related to a research article entitled 'Thermal and high pressure inactivation kinetics of blueberry peroxidase' (Terefe et al., 2017) [1]. In this article, we report original data on the activity of partially purified blueberry peroxidase at different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and phenlylenediamine as substrates and the effects of thermal and high pressure processing on the activity of the enzyme.

Thermal and high pressure inactivation kinetics of blueberry peroxidase.

This study for the first time investigated the stability and inactivation kinetics of blueberry peroxidase in model systems (McIlvaine buffer, pH=3.6, the typical pH of blueberry juice) during thermal (40-80°C) and combined high pressure-thermal processing (0.1-690MPa, 30-90°C).

Hip and ankle responses for reactive balance emerge from varying priorities to reduce effort and kinematic excursion: A simulation study.

Although standing balance is important in many daily activities, there has been little effort in developing detailed musculoskeletal models and simulations of balance control compared to other whole-body motor activities. Our objective was to develop a musculoskeletal model of human balance that can be used to predict movement patterns in reactive balance control. Similar to prior studies using torque-driven models, we investigated how movement patterns during a reactive balance response are affected by high-level task goals (e.

Australian milk fat--Seasonal and regional variation of melting properties.

The solid fat content and dropping point of milk fat obtained over 2 yr and from 19 bulk milk production sites across Australia were characterized. Solid fat content at 5 °C and 20 °C, respectively, ranged between 49.9 and 66.

Blueberry polyphenol oxidase: Characterization and the kinetics of thermal and high pressure activation and inactivation.

Partially purified blueberry polyphenol oxidase (PPO) in Mcllvaine buffer (pH=3.6, typical pH of blueberry juice) was subjected to processing at isothermal-isobaric conditions at temperatures from 30 to 80 °C and pressure from 0.1 to 700 MPa.

Quality-related enzymes in plant-based products: effects of novel food processing technologies part 2: pulsed electric field processing.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) processing is an effective technique for the preservation of pumpable food products as it inactivates vegetative microbial cells at ambient to moderate temperature without significantly affecting the nutritional and sensorial quality of the product. However, conflicting views are expressed about the effect of PEF on enzymes. In this review, which is part 2 of a series of reviews dealing with the effectiveness of novel food preservation technologies for controlling enzymes, the scientific literature over the last decade on the effect of PEF on plant enzymes is critically reviewed to shed more light on the issue.

Quality-related enzymes in fruit and vegetable products: effects of novel food processing technologies, part 1: high-pressure processing.

The activity of endogenous deteriorative enzymes together with microbial growth (with associated enzymatic activity) and/or other non-enzymatic (usually oxidative) reactions considerably shorten the shelf life of fruits and vegetable products. Thermal processing is commonly used by the food industry for enzyme and microbial inactivation and is generally effective in this regard. However, thermal processing may cause undesirable changes in product's sensory as well as nutritional attributes.

Quality-related enzymes in plant-based products: effects of novel food-processing technologies part 3: ultrasonic processing.

High-power ultrasound is a versatile technology which can potentially be used in many food processing applications including food preservation. This is part 2 of a series of review articles dealing with the effectiveness of nonthermal food processing technologies in food preservation focusing on their effect on enzymes. Typically, ultrasound treatment alone does not efficiently cause microbial or enzyme inactivation sufficient for food preservation.

The stability of almond β-glucosidase during combined high pressure-thermal processing: a kinetic study.

The thermal and the combined high pressure-thermal inactivation kinetics of almond β-glucosidase (β-D-glucoside glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.

Modified water solubility of milk protein concentrate powders through the application of static high pressure treatment.

The effects of high pressure (HP) treatment (100-400 MPa at 10-60 °C) on the solubility of milk protein concentrate (MPC) powders were tested. The solubility, measured at 20 °C, of fresh MPC powders made with no HP treatment was 66%. It decreased by 10% when stored for 6 weeks at ambient temperature (~20 °C) and continued to decrease to less than 50% of its initial solubility after 12 months of storage.

Randomized controlled study of home-based treadmill training for ambulatory children with spina bifida.

Background: Many ambulatory children with spina bifida (SB) decline in their walking despite stable or even improved motor function.

Objective: The authors evaluated the effects of a home-based treadmill training program on both ambulatory function and aerobic fitness.

Methods: This randomized clinical trial of 34 ambulatory children with SB allocated 18 to supervised treadmill training for 12 weeks at home and 14 to usual care.

Combined pH and high hydrostatic pressure effects on Lactococcus starter cultures and Candida spoilage yeasts in a fermented milk test system during cold storage.

The combined effects of high pressure processing (HPP) and pH on the glycolytic and proteolytic activities of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, a commonly used cheese starter culture and the outgrowth of spoilage yeasts of Candida species were investigated in a fermented milk test system. To prepare the test system, L.

Pressure and temperature effects on degradation kinetics and storage stability of total anthocyanins in blueberry juice.

The degradation kinetics of total anthocyanins in blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) juice were studied during thermal processing by treatment at selected temperatures (60-121 °C) and combined high pressure-temperature processing (100-700 MPa, 40-121 °C). Anthocyanin stability was also studied for several of these treatments during storage at 4, 25, and 40 °C. Both pressure and temperature increased d, the degradation rate of total anthocyanins in blueberry juice, meaning that at constant temperature, anthocyanins were more rapidly degraded with increasing pressure.

Pressure-temperature phase diagrams of maize starches with different amylose contents.

The amylose/amylopectin ratio in starch granules has a distinct impact on the physicochemical properties of starches. In this study the effects of high pressure and temperature combinations on the gelatinization of four maize starches with different amylose contents were investigated in an excess of water (90% w/w). Microscopy was used to determine the loss of birefringence in starch granules.