Numerical simulation of neuronal spike patterns in a retinal network model

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.

Improved growth rate of anodized TiO2 nanotube arrays under reduced pressure field and light illumination

The one-dimensional titanium oxide(TiO_2) nanotubes(TONT) can be rationally fabricated in the fluoridecontaining electrolyte by electrochemical anodization. The high-speed growth of TONT for elongated nanotubes is highly desirable because the undesirable chemical etching will induce ‘‘nanograss" on the top of nanotubes and restrain the continued elongation of nanotubes. Herein, the external fields were employed to accelerate the growth of TONTs and obtain the elongated TONT arrays. A growth rate up to 18 lm/h was achieved under the presence of reduced pressure(0.07 MPa) and UV light(365 nm) stimulation. The generation of longer nanotube arrays could be attributed to the applied fields, which facilitate timely gas pumping out and induce chemical equilibrium shift forward. The TONT films obtained under different parameters were subsequently employed as anodes for photoelectrochemical(PEC) water splitting. The photocurrent(at 0 V vs Ag/Ag Cl) of TONT electrode obtained under external fields represented a 50% enhancement compared with the photoanode produced by the conventional method.