bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resting EEG Periodic and Aperiodic Components Predict Cognitive Decline Over 10 Years
Authors: Finley Anna J. , Angus Douglas J. , Knight Erik , van Reekum Carien M. , Lachman Margie E. , Davidson Richard J. , Schaefer Stacey M. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractMeasures of intrinsic brain function at rest show promise as predictors of cognitive decline in humans, including EEG metrics such as individual alpha peak frequency (IAPF) and the aperiodic exponent, reflecting the strongest frequency of alpha oscillations and the relative balance of excitatory:inhibitory neural activity, respectively. Both IAPF and the aperiodic exponent decrease with age and have been associated with worse executive function and working memory. However, few studies have jointly examined their associations with cognitive function, and none have examined their association with longitudinal cognitive decline rather than cross-sectional impairment. In a preregistered secondary analysis of data from the longitudinal Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) study, we tested whether IAPF and aperiodic exponent measured at rest predict cognitive function (N= 235; age at EEG recordingM= 55.10, SD = 10.71) over 10 years. The IAPF and the aperiodic exponent interacted to predict decline in overall cognitive ability, even after controlling for age, sex, education, and lag between data collection timepoints. Post-hoc tests showed that “mismatched” IAPF and aperiodic exponents (e.g., higher exponent with lower IAPF) predicted greater cognitive decline compared to “matching” IAPF and aperiodic exponents (e.g., higher exponent with higher IAPF; lower IAPF with lower aperiodic exponent). These effects were largely driven by measures of executive function. Our findings provide the first evidence that IAPF and the aperiodic exponent are joint predictors of cognitive decline from midlife into old age and thus may offer a useful clinical tool for predicting cognitive risk in aging.Significance StatementMeasures of intrinsic brain function at rest assessed noninvasively from the scalp using electroencephalography (EEG) show promise as predictors of cognitive decline in humans. Using data from 235 participants from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) longitudinal study, we found two resting EEG markers (individual peak alpha frequency and aperiodic exponent) interacted to predict cognitive decline over a span of 10 years. Follow-up analyses revealed that “mismatched” markers (i.e., high in one and low in the other) predicted greater cognitive decline compared to “matching” markers. Because of the low cost and ease of collecting EEG data at rest, the current research provides evidence for possible scalable clinical applications for identifying individuals at risk for accelerated cognitive decline.
Learning generalizable visuomotor mappings for de novoskills
Authors: Velázquez-Vargas Carlos A. , Daw Nathaniel D. , Taylor Jordan A. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractA fundamental feature of the human brain is its capacity to learn novel motor skills. This capacity requires the formation of vastly different visuomotor mappings. In this work, we ask how these associations are formedde novo, hypothesizing that under specific training regimes generalizable mappings are more readily formed, while in others, local state-actions associations are favored. To test this, we studied learning in a simple navigation task where participants attempted to move a cursor between various start-target locations by pressing three keyboard keys. Importantly, the mapping between the keys and the direction of cursor movement was unknown to the participants. Experiments 1 and 2 show that participants who were trained to move between multiple start-target pairs had significantly greater generalization than participants trained to move between a single pair. Whereas Experiment 1 found significant generalization when start-targets were distal, Experiment 2 found similar generalization for proximal targets, which suggests that generalization differences are due to knowledge of the visuomotor mapping itself and not simply due to planning. To gain insight into the potential computational mechanisms underlying this capacity, we explored how a visuomotor mapping could be formed through a set of models that afforded construction of a generalizable mappings (model-based), local state-action associations (model-free), or a hybrid of both. Our modeling work suggested that without continued variability between start-target pairs during training, model-based processes eventually gave way to model-free processes. In Experiment 3, we sought to further test this shift in learning processes by exposing participants to initially high variability before settling into a condition of no variability over a long-period of training. We found that generalization performance remained intact after a prolonged period of no variability suggesting that the formation of visuomotor mappings might occur at an early stage of learning. Finally, in Experiment 4 we show that adding stochasticity in the mapping can also promote model-based learning of a visuomotor mapping, suggesting that the learning may unfold implicitly. Overall, these studies shed light on how humans could acquire visuomotor mappings in their lives through exposure to variability in their feedback.
Chronic warming and dry soils limit carbon uptake and growth despite a longer growing season in beech and oak
Authors: Didion-Gency Margaux , Vitasse Yann , Buchmann Nina , Gessler Arthur , Gisler Jonas , Schaub Marcus , Grossiord Charlotte 
Published: July 2023

AbstractProgressively warmer and drier conditions impact tree phenology and carbon cycling with large consequences for forest carbon balance. However, it remains unclear how individual impacts of warming and drier soils differ from their combined one and how species interactions modulate tree responses. Using mesocosms, we assessed the multi-year impact of continuous air warming and lower soil moisture acting alone or combined on phenology, leaf-level photosynthesis, non-structural carbohydrate concentrations, and aboveground growth of young European beech and Downy oak trees. We further tested how species interactions (monoculturesvs. mixtures) modulated these effects. Warming prolonged the growing season of both species but reduced growth for oak. In contrast, lower moisture did not impact phenology but reduced trees’ assimilation and growth for both species. Combined impacts of warming and drier soils did not differ from single ones. Performances of both species in the mixtures were enhanced compared to the monocultures under extreme conditions. Our work revealed that higher temperature and lower soil moisture have contrasting impacts on phenologyvs. leaf-level assimilation and growth, with the former being driven by temperature and the latter by moisture. Furthermore, we show a compensation of the negative impacts of extreme events by tree species interactions.
Alternative TSS use is widespread inCryptococcusfungi in response to environmental cues and regulated genome-wide by the transcription factor Tur1
Authors: Vi Dang Thi Tuong , Maufrais Corinne , Colin Jessie , Moyrand Frédérique , Mouyna Isabelle , Coppee Jean-Yves , Onyishi Chinaemerem U. , Lipecka Joanna , Guerrera Ida Chiara , May Robin C. , Janbon Guilhem 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAlternative transcription start site (TSS) usage regulation has been identified as a major means of gene expression regulation in metazoans. However, in fungi, its impact remains elusive as its study has thus far been restricted to model yeasts. Here, we first re-analysed TSS-seq data to define genuine TSS clusters in two species of pathogenicCryptococcus. We identified two types of TSS clusters associated with specific DNA sequence motifs. Our analysis also revealed that alternative TSS usage regulation in response to environmental cues is widespread inCryptococcus, altering gene expression and protein targeting. Importantly, we performed a forward genetic screen to identify a unique transcription factor (TF) named Tur1, which regulates alternative TSS (altTSS) usage genome-wide when cells switch from exponential phase to stationary phase. ChiP-Seq and DamID-Seq analyses suggest that at some loci the role of Tur1 might be direct. Tur1 has been previously shown to be essential for virulence inC. neoformans. We demonstrated here that atur1Δ mutant strain is more sensitive to superoxide stress and phagocytosed more efficiently by macrophages than the wild-type (WT) strain.
Metaplasticity of cortical glutamatergic LTP by diurnal intracellular chloride dynamics
Authors: Alfonsa Hannah , Vyazovskiy Vladyslav V. , Akerman Colin J. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractNeural plasticity varies depending on the time of day and preceding sleep-wake history. It is unclear however, how diurnal changes in cellular physiology modulate a neuron’s propensity to exhibit synaptic plasticity. Recently it has been shown that cortical pyramidal neurons exhibit diurnal changes in their transmembrane chloride gradients, which shift the equilibrium potential for GABAA receptors (EGABAA). Here we demonstrate that diurnal EGABAA affects membrane potential dynamics and glutamatergic long-term potentiation (LTP) elicited by high-frequency spiking activity in pyramidal neurons of mouse cortex. More depolarized EGABAA values associated with the active period facilitate LTP induction by promoting residual depolarization during synaptically-evoked spiking. Diurnal differences in LTP can be reversed by switching the EGABAA-dependent effects on membrane potential dynamics, either by direct current injection or pharmacologically altering EGABAA. These findings identify EGABAA as a metaplastic regulator of glutamatergic synaptic potentiation, which has implications for understanding synaptic plasticity during waking and sleep.
Age and Task Modulate Olfactory Sensitivity in the Florida Carpenter AntCamponotus floridanus
Authors: Ferguson S.T. , Bakis I. , Edwards N.D. , Zwiebel L.J. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAge-related changes in behavior and sensory perception have been observed in a wide variety of animal species. In ants and other eusocial insects, workers often progress through an ordered sequence of olfactory-driven behavioral tasks. Notably, these behaviors are plastic, and workers adapt and rapidly switch tasks in response to changing environmental conditions. In the Florida carpenter ant, smaller minors typically perform most of the work needed to maintain the colony while the larger majors are specialized for nest defense and rarely engage in these routine tasks. Here, we investigate the effects of age and task group on olfactory responses to a series of odorant blends in minor and major worker castes. Consistent with their respective roles within the colony, we observed significant age-associated shifts in the olfactory responses of minors as they transitioned between behavioral states, whereas the responses of majors remained consistently low regardless of age. Furthermore, we identified a unitary compound, 3-methylindole, which elicited significantly higher responses and behavioral aversion in minor nurses than in similarly aged foragers suggesting that this compound may play an important role in brood care. Taken together, our results suggest that age- and task-associated shifts in olfactory physiology may play a critical role in the social organization of ant colonies.Simple SummaryFlorida carpenter ants (Camponotus floridanus) live in colonies comprised of thousands of workers. The smallest workers, known as minors, engage in routine tasks such as nursing and foraging while the largest workers, known as majors, are thought to be soldiers specialized for defending the nest. How ant colonies allocate their workforce to address the dynamic and ever-changing needs of the colonies remains an open question in the field, but current evidence suggests that ant social behavior likely results from a combination of genetic/epigenetic, physiological, and systems-level processes. Here, we extend these studies by investigating the role of olfactory sensitivity in regulating ant behavior. Minor workers exhibited significant shifts in olfactory sensitivity and odor coding as they aged and switched tasks. The olfactory sensitivity of majors, however, remained relatively stable as they aged. From these studies, we also identified a single compound, 3-methylindole, which elicited significantly higher olfactory responses and aversive behavior in nurses compared to foragers, suggesting that this chemical may have a role in brood care. Overall, these studies support the hypothesis that changes in olfactory sensitivity play an important role in regulating social behavior in ants.
A spatial threshold for astrocyte calcium surge
Authors: Lines Justin , Baraibar Andres , Nanclares Carmen , Martín Eduardo D. , Aguilar Juan , Kofuji Paulo , Navarrete Marta , Araque Alfonso 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAstrocytes are active cells involved in brain function through the bidirectional communication with neurons, in which the astrocyte calcium signal plays a crucial role. Synaptically-evoked calcium increases can be localized to independent subcellular domains or expand to the entire cell, i.e., calcium surge. In turn, astrocytes may regulate individual synapses by calcium-dependent release of gliotransmitters. Because a single astrocyte may contact ∼100,000 synapses, the control of the intracellular calcium signal propagation may have relevant consequences on brain function by regulating the spatial range of astrocyte neuromodulation of synapses. Yet, the properties governing the spatial dynamics of the astrocyte calcium signal remains poorly defined. Imaging subcellular responses of cortical astrocytes to sensory stimulation in mice, we show that sensory-evoked astrocyte calcium responses originated and remained localized in domains of the astrocytic arborization, but eventually propagated to the entire cell if a spatial threshold of >23% of the arborization being activated was surpassed. Using transgenicIP3R2-/-mice, we found that type-2 IP3receptors were necessary for the generation of the astrocyte calcium surge. We finally show using in situ electrophysiological recordings that the spatial threshold of the astrocyte calcium signal consequently determined the gliotransmitter release. Present results reveal a fundamental property of astrocyte calcium physiology, i.e., a spatial threshold for the astrocyte intracellular calcium signal propagation, which depends on astrocyte intrinsic properties and governs the astrocyte integration of local synaptic activity and the subsequent neuromodulation.One-Sentence SummaryThere is a spatial threshold for the astrocyte intracellular calcium signal propagation that is determined by astrocyte intrinsic properties and controls gliotransmission.
A simple mechanism for epigenetic inheritance of silent chromatin
Authors: Yuan Andy H. , Moazed Danesh 
Published: July 2023

SummaryMechanisms enabling genetically identical cells to differentially regulate gene expression are complex and central to organismal development and evolution. While gene silencing pathways involving sequence-specific recruitment of histone-modifying enzymes are prevalent in nature, examples of sequence-independent heritable gene silencing are scarce. Studies ofSchizosaccharomyces pombeindicate that sequence-independent propagation of heterochromatin can occur but requires numerous multisubunit protein complexes and their various activities. Such complexity has precluded a coherent articulation of the minimal requirements for heritable gene silencing by conventional approaches. Here, we take an unconventional approach to defining these requirements by engineering sequence-independent silent chromatin inheritance inSaccharomyces cerevisiae. The memory-conferring mechanism is remarkably simple and requires only two proteins, one that recognizes histone H3 methylation and deacetylates histone H4, and another that recognizes unmodified H4 and catalyzes H3 methylation. These bilingual “read-write” proteins form an interdependent positive feedback loop capable of transmitting sequence-independent silent information over multiple generations.
Prevention of tau accumulation through inhibition of hnRNP R-dependent axonalMaptmRNA localization
Authors: Zare Abdolhossein , Salehi Saeede , Briese Michael , Sendtner Michael 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDeposition of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau in the brain is a pathological hallmark and closely correlates with onset and course of Alzheimeŕs disease. While tau reduction is being pursued as therapeutic strategy, prolonged lowering of total tau might lead to adverse effects, necessitating the development of more targeted approaches. We report that the RNA-binding protein hnRNP R facilitates the axonal localization of theMaptmRNA encoding tau. Depletion of hnRNP R reduces tau in axons but not neuronal cell bodies. Brains of Alzheimer’s disease mice deficient for hnRNP R contain less tau tangles and amyloid-β plaques. Neurons treated with blocking antisense oligonucleotides to mask hnRNP R binding sites ofMaptmRNA show reduced axonal tau levels, similar to hnRNP R-deficient neurons. Lowering of tau levels selectively in axons, a major subcellular site of tangle formation and spreading, thus represents a novel therapeutic perspective for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
An integrated single-cell RNA-seq atlas of the mouse hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus links transcriptional and functional types
Authors: Berkhout J.B. , Poormoghadam D. , Yi C. , Kalsbeek A. , Meijer O.C. , Mahfouz A. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) is a highly complex brain region that is crucial for homeostatic regulation through neuroendocrine signalling, outflow of the autonomic nervous system, and projections to other brain areas. The past years, single-cell datasets of the hypothalamus have contributed immensely to the current understanding of the diverse hypothalamic cellular composition. While the PVN has been adequately classified functionally, its molecular classification is currently still insufficient.To address this, we created a detailed atlas of PVN transcriptional cell types by integrating various PVN single-cell datasets into a recently published hypothalamus single-cell transcriptome atlas. Furthermore, we functionally profiled transcriptional cell types, based on relevant literature, existing retrograde tracing data and existing single-cell data of a PVN-projection target region.In our PVN atlas dataset, we identify the well-known different neuropeptide types, each composed of multiple novel subtypes. We identifyAvp-Tac1, Avp-Th, Oxt-Foxp1, Crh-Nr3c1andTrh-Nfibas the most important neuroendocrine subtypes based on markers described in literature. To characterize the pre-autonomic functional population, we integrated a single-cell retrograde tracing study of spinally-projecting pre-autonomic neurons into our PVN atlas. We identify these (pre-sympathetic) neurons to co-cluster with theAdarb2+clusters in our dataset. Finally, we identify expression of receptors forCrh, Oxt, Penk, Sst, andTrhin the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, a key region that pre-parasympathetic PVN neurons project to.Concluding, our study present a detailed overview of the transcriptional cell types of the murine PVN, and provides a first attempt to resolve functionality for the identified populations.
Evidence of an optimal error rate for motor skill learning
Authors: Al-Fawakhiri Naser , Kayani Sarosh , McDougle Samuel D. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractWhen acquiring a motor skill, learners must practice the skill at a difficulty that is challenging but still manageable in order to gradually improve their performance. In other words, during training the learner must experience success as well as failure. Does there exist an optimal proportion of successes and failures to promote the fastest improvements in skill? Here, we build on a recent theoretical framework for optimal machine learning, extending it to the learning of motor skills. We then designed a custom task whose difficulty dynamically changed along with subjects’ performance, constraining the error rate during training. In a large behavioral dataset, we observe evidence that learning is greatest at around a ∼30% error rate, matching our theoretical predictions.Author SummaryPracticing a motor skill involves successfully performing intended movements and learning from mistakes. Is there an optimal proportion of mistakes during training that leads to fast and efficient skill learning? Inspired by recent theoretical work on principles of machine learning, we mathematically derive an “optimal error rate” for a simple motor skill and then experimentally validate our predictions. We find both theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting that ∼30% is the optimal error rate for motor learning, which has practical implications both for rehabilitation and for sports coaching and training.
Barrier identification, analysis and solutions of blockchain adoption in construction: a fuzzy DEMATEL and TOE integrated method
Authors: Wu Haitao , Zhong Wenyan , Zhong Botao , Li Heng , Guo Jiadong , Mehmood Imran 
Published: July 2023

PurposeBlockchain has the potential to facilitate a paradigm shift in the construction industry toward effectiveness, transparency and collaboration. However, there is currently a paucity of empirical evidence from real-world construction projects. This study aims to systematically review blockchain adoption barriers, investigate critical ones and propose corresponding solutions.Design/methodology/approachAn integrated method was adopted in this research based on the technology–organization–environment (TOE) theory and fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) approach. Blockchain adoption barriers were first presented using the TOE framework. Then, key barriers were identified based on the importance and causality analysis in the fuzzy DEMATEL. Several suggestions were proposed to facilitate blockchain diffusion from the standpoints of the government, the industry and construction organizations.FindingsThe results highlighted seven key barriers. Specifically, the construction industry is more concerned with environmental barriers, such as policy uncertainties (E2) and technology maturity (E3), while most technical barriers are causal factors, such as “interoperability (T4)” and “smart contracts' security (T2)”.Practical implicationsThis study contributes to a better understanding of the problem associated with blockchain implementation and provides policymakers with recommendations.Originality/valueIdentified TOE barriers lay the groundwork for theoretical observations to comprehend the blockchain adoption problem. This research also applied the fuzzy method to blockchain adoption barrier analysis, which can reduce the uncertainty and subjectivity in expert evaluations with a small sample.