In this paper we measure the two-body relaxation time from the angular deflection of test particles launched in a rigid configuration of field particles. We find that centrally concentrated configurations have relaxation times that can be shorter than those of the corresponding homogeneous distributions by an order of magnitude or more. For homogeneous distributions we confirm that the relaxati...

It is largely unknown how the properties of the somatosensory system relate to the properties of naturally occurring whisker deflections. Here, we analyse representations of simulated neurons that have optimally sparse activity in response to recorded reflections of a rat whisker from surfaces of everyday objects. These representations predict a number of interesting properties of neurons in th...

Layer 5 (L5) pyramidal neurones constitute a major sub- and intracortical output of the somatosensory cortex. This layer 5 is segregated into layers 5A and 5B which receive and distribute relatively independent afferent and efferent pathways. We performed in vivo whole-cell recordings from L5 neurones of the somatosensory (barrel) cortex of urethane-anaesthetized rats (aged 27-31 days). By deli...

This paper discusses the use of Distance based optimal designs in the design of experiments (DOE) and artificial neural networks (ANN) in optimizing the stacking sequence for simply supported laminated composite plate under uniformly distributed load (UDL) for minimizing the deflections and stresses. A number of finite element analyses have been carried out using Distance-based optimal design, ...

Cells of Oxytricha fallax possessing cytotactically inherited supernumerary dorsal bristle rows can redevelop those dorsal supernumerary rows after cystment, even though supernumerary ventral cortical structures are permanently lost through cystment. Previous work has demonstrated: (1) that cystement involves a complete dedifferentiation of all ciliary structures-all cilia, basal bodies, microt...

The Tachytrechus alatus species group is revised. The species group is defined within the genus Tachytrechus on the basis of possession of a strong basiventral bristle on the fore femur and very reduced pulvilli on the midand hindlegs of both sexes. Males also possess a strongly reduced vertical bristle, and a cluster of 2–3 strong bristles on both the fore femur and mid coxa. The T. alatus spe...

The bristle worm Platynereis dumerilii displays many interesting biological characteristics. These include its reproductive timing, which is synchronized to the moon phase, its regenerative capacity that is hormonally controlled, and a slow rate of evolution, which permits analyses of ancestral genes and cell types. As a marine annelid, Platynereis is also representative of the marine ecosystem...