// This function is used to select dendritic sections (branches) to be used
// in the experiments. For each selected section, one synapse candidate is allocated 

objref vtmp,tmpo
objref tipl,cand_tipl
func choose_secs() {  local i, range_posn, copies, resolution, lo, hi

  tipl = $o1    // neuron part (list) from which to select sections  
  lo = $3       // lowest distance from soma for selected sections
  hi = $4       // highest distance from soma for selected sections
  actual_resolution = $5  // obsolete. Used only if more than one synapses are to be placed at a specific location
  desired_resolution = $6 // obsolete. Used only if more than one synapses are to be placed at a specific location
  section_count = 0       

   forsec tipl {
     for (range_posn) {
 
        vtmp=new Vector()
        vcreate2(vtmp,range_posn)
        dist=vector_distance(vRP,vAPEX,vtmp,adjustment,1)
//        print "The vertical distance for ", secname(), " is ", dist
        if ((dist > lo) && (dist < hi)) {
          section_count=section_count+1
//        copies = int( L / (actual_resolution/desired_resolution) ) non used in the present experiments
          copies = 1
//          printf("Adding %d copies of synapse candidate at %s(%g)\n", copies, secname(),range_posn)
          for i=1,copies {
             tmpo = new RangeRef(range_posn,0)
             $o2.append(tmpo)
          } 
        }
     }
   }
  return(section_count) 
}


// Same as the above function, with an additional restriction: sections selected
// are such that their middle (x=0.5) is within [lo high] microns from soma and 
// synapses are allocated only at x=0.5  ==> choosing branches

func choose_secs_branchwise() {  local i, range_posn, copies, resolution, lo, hi

  tipl=$o1      
  lo=$3
  hi=$4
  actual_resolution=$5  
  desired_resolution=$6
  section_count=0       

   forsec tipl {

        range_posn=0.5
        vtmp=new Vector()
        vcreate2(vtmp,range_posn)
        dist=vector_distance(vRP,vAPEX,vtmp,adjustment,1)
//        print "The vector distance for ", secname(), " is ", dist
        if ((dist > lo) && (dist < hi)) {
          section_count=section_count+1
          //      copies = int( L / (actual_resolution/desired_resolution) )
          copies = 1
//          printf("Adding %d copies of synapse candidate at %s(%g)\n", copies, secname(),range_posn)
          for i=1,copies {
             tmpo = new RangeRef(range_posn,0)
             $o2.append(tmpo)
          } 
     }
   }
  return(section_count) 
}