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Abstract Objective.Invasive brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) have shown promise in restoring motor function to those paralyzed by neurological injuries. These systems also have the ability to restore sensation via cortical electrostimulation. Cortical stimulation produces strong artifacts that can obscure neural signals or saturate recording amplifiers. While front-end hardware techniques can alleviate this problem, residual artifacts generally persist and must be suppressed by back-end methods.Approach.We have developed a technique based on pre-whitening and null projection (PWNP) and tested its ability to suppress stimulation artifacts in electroencephalogram (EEG), electrocorticogram (ECoG) and microelectrode array (MEA) signals from five human subjects.Main results.In EEG signals contaminated by narrow-band stimulation artifacts, the PWNP method achieved average artifact suppression between 32 and 34 dB, as measured by an increase in signal-to-interference ratio. In ECoG and MEA signals contaminated by broadband stimulation artifacts, our method suppressed artifacts by 78%–80% and 85%, respectively, as measured by a reduction in interference index. When compared to independent component analysis, which is considered the state-of-the-art technique for artifact suppression, our method achieved superior results, while being significantly easier to implement.Significance.PWNP can potentially act as an efficient method of artifact suppression to enable simultaneous stimulation and recording in bi-directional BCIs to biomimetically restore motor function. 

Cortical stimulationviaelectrocorticography (ECoG) may be an effective method for inducing artificial sensation in bi-directional brain-computer interfaces (BD-BCIs). However, strong electrical artifacts caused by electrostimulation may significantly degrade or obscure neural information. A detailed understanding of stimulation artifact propagation through relevant tissues may improve existing artifact suppression techniques or inspire the development of novel artifact mitigation strategies. Our work thus seeks to comprehensively characterize and model the propagation of artifacts in subdural ECoG stimulation. To this end, we collected and analyzed data from eloquent cortex mapping procedures of four subjects with epilepsy who were implanted with subdural ECoG electrodes. From this data, we observed that artifacts exhibited phase-locking and ratcheting characteristics in the time domain across all subjects. In the frequency domain, stimulation caused broadband power increases, as well as power bursts at the fundamental stimulation frequency and its super-harmonics. The spatial distribution of artifacts followed the potential distribution of an electric dipole with a median goodness-of-fit ofR²= 0.80 across all subjects and stimulation channels. Artifacts as large as ±1,100 μV appeared anywhere from 4.43 to 38.34 mm from the stimulation channel. These temporal, spectral and spatial characteristics can be utilized to improve existing artifact suppression techniques, inspire new strategies for artifact mitigation, and aid in the development of novel cortical stimulation protocols. Taken together, these findings deepen our understanding of cortical electrostimulation and provide critical design specifications for future BD-BCI systems. 

Abstract Crawling insects, when starved, tend to have fewer head wavings and travel in straighter tracks in search of food. We used theDrosophila melanogasterlarva to investigate whether this flexibility in the insect’s navigation strategy arises during early olfactory processing and, if so, how. We demonstrate a critical role for Keystone-LN, an inhibitory local neuron in the antennal lobe, in implementing head-sweep behavior. Keystone-LN responds to odor stimuli, and its inhibitory output is required for a larva to successfully navigate attractive and aversive odor gradients. We show that insulin signaling in Keystone-LN likely mediates the starvation-dependent changes in head-sweep magnitude, shaping the larva’s odor-guided movement. Our findings demonstrate how flexibility in an insect’s navigation strategy can arise from context-dependent modulation of inhibitory neurons in an early sensory processing center. They raise new questions about modulating a circuit’s inhibitory output to implement changes in a goal-directed movement. 

Introduction Bi-directional brain-computer interfaces (BD-BCI) to restore movement and sensation must achieve concurrent operation of recording and decoding of motor commands from the brain and stimulating the brain with somatosensory feedback. Methods A custom programmable direct cortical stimulator (DCS) capable of eliciting artificial sensorimotor response was integrated into an embedded BCI system to form a safe, independent, wireless, and battery powered testbed to explore BD-BCI concepts at a low cost. The BD-BCI stimulator output was tested in phantom brain tissue by assessing its ability to deliver electrical stimulation equivalent to an FDA-approved commercial electrical cortical stimulator. Subsequently, the stimulator was tested in an epilepsy patient with subcortical electrocorticographic (ECoG) implants covering the sensorimotor cortex to assess its ability to elicit equivalent responses as the FDA-approved counterpart. Additional safety features (impedance monitoring, artifact mitigation, and passive and active charge balancing mechanisms) were also implemeneted and tested in phantom brain tissue. Finally, concurrent operation with interleaved stimulation and BCI decoding was tested in a phantom brain as a proof-of-concept operation of BD-BCI system. Results The benchtop prototype BD-BCI stimulator's basic output features (current amplitude, pulse frequency, pulse width, train duration) were validated by demonstrating the output-equivalency to an FDA-approved commercial cortical electrical stimulator ( R 2 > 0.99). Charge-neutral stimulation was demonstrated with pulse-width modulation-based correction algorithm preventing steady state voltage deviation. Artifact mitigation achieved a 64.5% peak voltage reduction. Highly accurate impedance monitoring was achieved with R 2 > 0.99 between measured and actual impedance, which in-turn enabled accurate charge density monitoring. An online BCI decoding accuracy of 93.2% between instructional cues and decoded states was achieved while delivering interleaved stimulation. The brain stimulation mapping via ECoG grids in an epilepsy patient showed that the two stimulators elicit equivalent responses. Significance This study demonstrates clinical validation of a fully-programmable electrical stimulator, integrated into an embedded BCI system. This low-cost BD-BCI system is safe and readily applicable as a testbed for BD-BCI research. In particular, it provides an all-inclusive hardware platform that approximates the limitations in a near-future implantable BD-BCI. This successful benchtop/human validation of the programmable electrical stimulator in a BD-BCI system is a critical milestone toward fully-implantable BD-BCI systems. 

Bi-directional brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) require simultaneous stimulation and recording to achieve closed-loop operation. It is therefore important that the interface be able to distinguish between neural signals of interest and stimulation artifacts. Current bi-directional BCIs address this problem by temporally multiplexing stimulation and recording. This approach, however, is suboptimal in many BCI applications. Alternative artifact mitigation methods can be devised by investigating the mechanics of artifact propagation. To characterize stimulation artifact behaviors, we collected and analyzed electrocorticography (ECoG) data from eloquent cortex mapping. Ratcheting and phase-locking of stimulation artifacts were observed, as well as dipole-like properties. Artifacts as large as ±1,100 μV appeared as far as 15-37 mm away from the stimulating channel when stimulating at 10 mA. Analysis also showed that the majority of the artifact power was concentrated at the stimulation pulse train frequency (50 Hz) and its super-harmonics (100, 150, 200 Hz). Lower frequencies (0-32 Hz) experienced minimal artifact contamination. These findings could inform the design of future bi-directional ECoG-based BCIs. 

Abstract The Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is a large-scale neutrino experiment with multiple physics goals including determining the neutrino mass hierarchy, the accurate measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters, the neutrino detection from supernovae, the Sun, and the Earth, etc. JUNO puts forward physically and technologically stringent requirements for its central detector (CD), including a large volume and target mass (20 kt liquid scintillator, LS), a high-energy resolution (3% at 1 MeV), a high light transmittance, the largest possible photomultiplier (PMT) coverage, the lowest possible radioactive background, etc. The CD design, using a spherical acrylic vessel with a diameter of 35.4 m to contain the LS and a stainless steel structure to support the acrylic vessel and PMTs, was chosen and optimized. The acrylic vessel and the stainless steel structure will be immersed in pure water to shield the radioactive background and bear great buoyancy. The challenging requirements of the acrylic sphere have been achieved, such as a low intrinsic radioactivity and high transmittance of the manufactured acrylic panels, the tensile and compressive acrylic node design with embedded stainless steel pad, and one-time polymerization for multiple bonding lines. Moreover, several technical challenges of the stainless steel structure have been solved: the production of low radioactivity stainless steel material, the deformation and precision control during production and assembly, and the usage of high-strength stainless steel rivet bolt and of high friction efficient linkage plate. Finally, the design of the ancillary equipment such as the LS filling, overflowing, and circulating system was done. 

Abstract We explore the decay of bound neutrons in the JUNO liquid scintillator detector into invisible particles (e.g.,$$n\rightarrow 3 \nu $$ $n\to 3\nu$or$$nn \rightarrow 2 \nu $$ $nn\to 2\nu$), which do not produce an observable signal. The invisible decay includes two decay modes:$$ n \rightarrow { inv} $$ $n\to \mathrm{inv}$and$$ nn \rightarrow { inv} $$ $nn\to \mathrm{inv}$. The invisible decays ofs-shell neutrons in$$^{12}\textrm{C}$$ $_{}^{12}\text{C}$will leave a highly excited residual nucleus. Subsequently, some de-excitation modes of the excited residual nuclei can produce a time- and space-correlated triple coincidence signal in the JUNO detector. Based on a full Monte Carlo simulation informed with the latest available data, we estimate all backgrounds, including inverse beta decay events of the reactor antineutrino$${\bar{\nu }}_e$$ ${\overline{\nu }}_e$, natural radioactivity, cosmogenic isotopes and neutral current interactions of atmospheric neutrinos. Pulse shape discrimination and multivariate analysis techniques are employed to further suppress backgrounds. With two years of exposure, JUNO is expected to give an order of magnitude improvement compared to the current best limits. After 10 years of data taking, the JUNO expected sensitivities at a 90% confidence level are$$\tau /B( n \rightarrow { inv} ) > 5.0 \times 10^{31} \, \textrm{years}$$ $\tau /B(n\to \mathrm{inv})>5.0\times {10}^{31}\text{years}$and$$\tau /B( nn \rightarrow { inv} ) > 1.4 \times 10^{32} \, \textrm{years}$$ $\tau /B(nn\to \mathrm{inv})>1.4\times {10}^{32}\text{years}$. 

Abstract The physics potential of detecting⁸B solar neutrinos will be exploited at the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO), in a model-independent manner by using three distinct channels of the charged current (CC), neutral current (NC), and elastic scattering (ES) interactions. Due to the largest-ever mass of¹³C nuclei in the liquid scintillator detectors and the expected low background level,⁸B solar neutrinos are observable in the CC and NC interactions on¹³C for the first time. By virtue of optimized event selections and muon veto strategies, backgrounds from the accidental coincidence, muon-induced isotopes, and external backgrounds can be greatly suppressed. Excellent signal-to-background ratios can be achieved in the CC, NC, and ES channels to guarantee the observation of the⁸B solar neutrinos. From the sensitivity studies performed in this work, we show that JUNO, with 10 yr of data, can reach the 1σprecision levels of 5%, 8%, and 20% for the⁸B neutrino flux, ${\sin }^2{\theta }_{12}$, and $\mathrm{\Delta }{m}_{21}^2$, respectively. Probing the details of both solar physics and neutrino physics would be unique and helpful. In addition, when combined with the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory measurement, the world's best precision of 3% is expected for the measurement of the⁸B neutrino flux.