scholarly journals Brain Circuit for Cognitive Control Is Shared by Task and Language Switching

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 1752-1765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wouter De Baene ◽  
Wouter Duyck ◽  
Marcel Brass ◽  
Manuel Carreiras
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Task Requirements ◽  
Brain Circuit ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Switching Task ◽  
Functional Mechanisms ◽  
First Time ◽  
Multiple Languages

Controlling multiple languages during speech production is believed to rely on functional mechanisms that are (at least partly) shared with domain-general cognitive control in early, highly proficient bilinguals. Recent neuroimaging results have indeed suggested a certain degree of neural overlap between language control and nonverbal cognitive control in bilinguals. However, this evidence is only indirect. Direct evidence for neural overlap between language control and nonverbal cognitive control can only be provided if two prerequisites are met: Language control and nonverbal cognitive control should be compared within the same participants, and the task requirements of both conditions should be closely matched. To provide such direct evidence for the first time, we used fMRI to examine the overlap in brain activation between switch-specific activity in a linguistic switching task and a closely matched nonlinguistic switching task, within participants, in early, highly proficient Spanish–Basque bilinguals. The current findings provide direct evidence that, in these bilinguals, highly similar brain circuits are involved in language control and domain-general cognitive control.

scholarly journals Language distance modulates cognitive control in bilinguals

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Narges Radman ◽  
Lea Jost ◽  
Setareh Dorood ◽  
Christian Mancini ◽  
Jean-Marie Annoni
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Linguistic Distance ◽  
Eeg Data ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Switching Task ◽  
Naming Tasks ◽  
Control Regions

AbstractLinguistic processes in the bilingual brain are partially shared across languages, and the degree of neural overlap between the languages is influenced by several factors, including the age of acquisition, relative language proficiency, and immersion. There is limited evidence on the role of linguistic distance on the performance of the language control as well as domain-general cognitive control systems. The present study aims at exploring whether being bilingual in close and distant language pairs (CLP and DLP) influences language control and domain-general cognitive processes. We recruited two groups of DLP (Persian–English) and CLP (French–English) bilinguals. Subjects performed language nonswitching and switching picture-naming tasks and a nonlinguistic switching task while EEG data were recorded. Behaviorally, CLP bilinguals showed a lower cognitive cost than DLP bilinguals, reflected in faster reaction times both in language switching (compared to nonswitching) and nonlinguistic switching. ERPs showed differential involvement of cognitive control regions between the CLP and DLP groups during linguistic switching vs. nonswitching at 450 to 515 ms poststimulus presentation. Moreover, there was a difference between CLP and DLP groups from 40 to 150 ms in the nonlinguistic task. Our electrophysiological results confirm a stronger involvement of language control and domain-general cognitive control regions in CLP bilinguals.

scholarly journals Symmetries of bilingual language switch costs in conflicting versus non-conflicting contexts

2018 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 624-636 ◽  
Author(s):  
CONG LIU ◽  
LU JIAO ◽  
ZIYI WANG ◽  
MENGXING WANG ◽  
RUIMING WANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Inhibitory Control ◽  
Context Effects ◽  
Control Model ◽  
Language Switching ◽  
Switch Costs ◽  
Stroop Paradigm ◽  
Language Control ◽  
Switching Task ◽  
The Impact

Previous studies have demonstrated that language switching in bilinguals can be affected by a number of variables, including the processing context. Here, we used a modified language-switching task combined with a Stroop paradigm, which manipulated the context of the task, to examine the impact of processing context on switch costs. The results of both Experiment 1 and Experiment 2 showed that the switch costs and the level of asymmetry in the switch costs are larger in the conflicting context than in the non-conflicting context, suggesting that the processing context affects the switch costs. In addition, the results of Experiment 2 revealed that individual variances in cognitive control capacity also play a role in the overall magnitude of the switch costs. Critically, processing context effects can be modulated by individual variance in cognitive control capacities. The results of this study are discussed within the framework of classic models of bilingual language control (e.g., the inhibitory control model).

Extraction of Protein-Bound ATP and ADP from Human Platelets in Plasma

1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (02) ◽  
pp. 286-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Beurling-Harbury ◽  
Pehr B Harbury
Keyword(s):  
Specific Activity ◽  
Platelet Rich Plasma ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Luciferase Assay ◽  
First Time ◽  
Plasma Extraction

SummaryActin is the major ATP and ADP binding protein in platelets, 0.9–1.3 nmol/108 cells, 50–70% in the unpolymerized state. The goal of these experiments was to develop a method for extracting all protein-bound ATP and ADP from undisturbed platelets in plasma. Extraction of actin-bound ADP is routine while extraction of actin-bound ATP from platelets in buffer has been unsuccessful. Prior to extraction the platelets were exposed to 14-C adenine, to label the metabolic and actin pools of ATP and ADP. The specific activity was determined from the actin-bound ADP in the 43% ethanol precipitate. Sequential ethanol and perchlorate extractions of platelet rich plasma, and the derived supernatants and precipitates were performed. ATP concentrations were determined with the luciferase assay, and radioactive nucleotides separated by TLC. A total of 1.18 nmol/108 cells of protein-bound ATP and ADP was recovered, 52% ATP (0.61 nmol). The recovery of protein-bound ADP was increased from 0.3 to 0.57 nmol/108 cells. This approach for the first time successfully recovered protein bound ATP and ADP from platelets in a concentration expected for actin.

scholarly journals Isolation and characterization of a new cold-active protease from psychrotrophic bacteria of Western Himalayan glacial soil

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saleem Farooq ◽  
Ruqeya Nazir ◽  
Shabir Ahmad Ganai ◽  
Bashir Ahmad Ganai
Keyword(s):  
Specific Activity ◽  
Temperature Range ◽  
Psychrotrophic Bacteria ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Cold Active ◽  
Active Protease ◽  
Quantitative Screening ◽  
First Time ◽  
Low K

AbstractAs an approach to the exploration of cold-active enzymes, in this study, we isolated a cold-active protease produced by psychrotrophic bacteria from glacial soils of Thajwas Glacier, Himalayas. The isolated strain BO1, identified as Bacillus pumilus, grew well within a temperature range of 4–30 °C. After its qualitative and quantitative screening, the cold-active protease (Apr-BO1) was purified. The Apr-BO1 had a molecular mass of 38 kDa and showed maximum (37.02 U/mg) specific activity at 20 °C, with casein as substrate. It was stable and active between the temperature range of 5–35 °C and pH 6.0–12.0, with an optimum temperature of 20 °C at pH 9.0. The Apr-BO1 had low Km value of 1.0 mg/ml and Vmax 10.0 µmol/ml/min. Moreover, it displayed better tolerance to organic solvents, surfactants, metal ions and reducing agents than most alkaline proteases. The results exhibited that it effectively removed the stains even in a cold wash and could be considered a decent detergent additive. Furthermore, through protein modelling, the structure of this protease was generated from template, subtilisin E of Bacillus subtilis (PDB ID: 3WHI), and different methods checked its quality. For the first time, this study reported the protein sequence for psychrotrophic Apr-BO1 and brought forth its novelty among other cold-active proteases.

scholarly journals A novel role for WAVE1 in controlling actin network growth rate and architecture

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meredith O. Sweeney ◽  
Agnieszka Collins ◽  
Shae B. Padrick ◽  
Bruce L. Goode
Keyword(s):  
Actin Filament ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Actin Network ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Network Growth ◽  
Assembly Kinetics ◽  
Filament Networks ◽  
First Time

Branched actin filament networks in cells are assembled through the combined activities of Arp2/3 complex and different WASP/WAVE proteins. Here we used TIRF and electron microscopy to directly compare for the first time the assembly kinetics and architectures of actin filament networks produced by Arp2/3 complex and dimerized VCA regions of WAVE1, WAVE2, or N-WASP. WAVE1 produced strikingly different networks from WAVE2 or N-WASP, which comprised unexpectedly short filaments. Further analysis showed that the WAVE1-specific activity stemmed from an inhibitory effect on filament elongation both in the presence and absence of Arp2/3 complex, which was observed even at low stoichiometries of WAVE1 to actin monomers, precluding an effect from monomer sequestration. Using a series of VCA chimeras, we mapped the elongation inhibitory effects of WAVE1 to its WH2 (“V”) domain. Further, mutating a single conserved lysine residue potently disrupted WAVE1's inhibitory effects. Taken together, our results show that WAVE1 has unique activities independent of Arp2/3 complex that can govern both the growth rates and architectures of actin filament networks. Such activities may underlie previously observed differences between the cellular functions of WAVE1 and WAVE2.

scholarly journals Characterization of a Robust and pH-Stable Tannase from Mangrove-Derived Yeast Rhodosporidium diobovatum Q95

Marine Drugs ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 546
Author(s):  
Jie Pan ◽  
Ni-Na Wang ◽  
Xue-Jing Yin ◽  
Xiao-Ling Liang ◽  
Zhi-Peng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Gallic Acid ◽  
Tannic Acid ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Maximum Activity ◽  
Sds Page ◽  
Rhodosporidium Diobovatum ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi ◽  
Ph Range ◽  
First Time

Tannase plays a crucial role in many fields, such as the pharmaceutical industry, beverage processing, and brewing. Although many tannases derived from bacteria and fungi have been thoroughly studied, those with good pH stabilities are still less reported. In this work, a mangrove-derived yeast strain Rhodosporidium diobovatum Q95, capable of efficiently degrading tannin, was screened to induce tannase, which exhibited an activity of up to 26.4 U/mL after 48 h cultivation in the presence of 15 g/L tannic acid. The tannase coding gene TANRD was cloned and expressed in Yarrowia lipolytica. The activity of recombinant tannase (named TanRd) was as high as 27.3 U/mL. TanRd was purified by chromatography and analysed by SDS-PAGE, showing a molecular weight of 75.1 kDa. The specific activity of TanRd towards tannic acid was 676.4 U/mg. Its highest activity was obtained at 40 °C, with more than 70% of the activity observed at 25–60 °C. Furthermore, it possessed at least 60% of the activity in a broad pH range of 2.5–6.5. Notably, TanRd was excellently stable at a pH range from 3.0 to 8.0; over 65% of its maximum activity remained after incubation. Besides, the broad substrate specificity of TanRd to esters of gallic acid has attracted wide attention. In view of the above, tannase resources were developed from mangrove-derived yeasts for the first time in this study. This tannase can become a promising material in tannin biodegradation and gallic acid production.

scholarly journals Multi-static spatial and angular studies of polar mesospheric summer echoes combining MAARSY and KAIRA

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge L. Chau ◽  
Derek McKay ◽  
Juha P. Vierinen ◽  
Cesar La Hoz ◽  
Thomas Ulich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Middle Atmosphere ◽  
Lower Sensitivity ◽  
Wind Fields ◽  
Receiver Array ◽  
Schmidt Numbers ◽  
Summer Echoes ◽  
Imaging Receiver ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
First Time

Abstract. Polar mesospheric summer echoes (PMSEs) have been long associated with Noctilucent clouds (NLCs). For large ice particles sizes and relatively high ice densities, PMSE and NLCs have been shown to be highly correlated at 3-m Bragg wavelengths and are known to be good tracers of the atmospheric wind dynamics. Combining the Middle Atmosphere ALOMAR Radar System (MAARSY) and the Kilpisjärvi Atmospheric Imaging Receiver Array (KAIRA), i.e., monostatic and bistatic observations, we show for the first time direct evidence of limited-volume PMSE structures drifting more than 90 km almost unchanged. These structures are shown to have widths of 5–15 km and are separated by 20–60 kms, consistent with structures due to atmospheric waves previously observed in NLCs from the ground and from space. Given the lower sensitivity of KAIRA, the observed features are attributed to echoes from regions with high Schmidt numbers that provide a large radar cross-section. The bistatic geometry allows us to determine an upper value for the angular sensitivity of PMSE echoes at meter scales. We find no evidence for strong aspect sensitivity for PMSE echoes, which is consistent with recent observations using radar imaging approaches. Our results indicate that multi-static all-sky interferometric radar observations of PMSE could be a powerful tool for studying mesospheric wind-fields within large geographic areas.

scholarly journals Does Extreme Language Control Training Improve Cognitive Control? A Comparison of Professional Interpreters, L2 Teachers and Monolinguals

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lize Van der Linden ◽  
Eowyn Van de Putte ◽  
Evy Woumans ◽  
Wouter Duyck ◽  
Arnaud Szmalec
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Language Control

The neurobiology of simultaneous interpreting: Where extreme language control and cognitive control intersect

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 740-751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Hervais-Adelman ◽  
Laura Babcock
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Cognitive Task ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Integrative Model ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Self Monitoring ◽  
Simultaneous Interpreting ◽  
Concurrent Execution ◽  
Complex Cognitive Task ◽  
Language Control

Simultaneous interpreting is a complex cognitive task that requires the concurrent execution of multiple processes: listening, comprehension, conversion of a message from one language to another, speech production, and self-monitoring. This requires the deployment of an array of linguistic and cognitive control mechanisms that must coordinate the various brain systems implicated in handling these tasks. How the brain handles this challenge remains an open question, and recent brain imaging investigations have begun to complement the theories based on behavioural data. fMRI studies have shown that simultaneous interpreting engages a network of brain regions encompassing those implicated in speech perception and production, language switching, self-monitoring, and selection. Structural imaging studies have been carried out that also indicate modifications to a similar set of structures. In the present paper, we review the extant data and propose an integrative model of simultaneous interpreting that piggybacks on existing theories of multilingual language control.

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