scholarly journals Reduced Interhemispheric Coherence after Cerebellar Vermis Output Perturbation

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Laura Georgescu Margarint ◽  
Ioana Antoaneta Georgescu ◽  
Carmen-Denise-Mihaela Zahiu ◽  
Alexandru Răzvan Șteopoaie ◽  
Stefan-Alexandru Tirlea ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Cerebellar Vermis ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Neck Muscle ◽  
Compensatory Mechanism ◽  
Neural Pathways ◽  
Interhemispheric Coherence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Left And Right

Motor coordination and motor learning are well-known roles of the cerebellum. Recent evidence also supports the contribution of the cerebellum to the oscillatory activity of brain networks involved in a wide range of disorders. Kainate, a potent analog of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, can be used to induce dystonia, a neurological movement disorder syndrome consisting of sustained or repetitive involuntary muscle contractions, when applied on the surface of the cerebellum. This research aims to study the interhemispheric cortical communication between the primary motor cortices after repeated kainate application on cerebellar vermis for five consecutive days, in mice. We recorded left and right primary motor cortices electrocorticograms and neck muscle electromyograms, and quantified the motor behavior abnormalities. The results indicated a reduced coherence between left and right motor cortices in low-frequency bands. In addition, we observed a phenomenon of long-lasting adaptation with a modification of the baseline interhemispheric coherence. Our research provides evidence that the cerebellum can control the flow of information along the cerebello-thalamo-cortical neural pathways and can influence interhemispheric communication. This phenomenon could function as a compensatory mechanism for impaired regional networks.

scholarly journals Syllabification of the Divine Comedy

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Andrea Asperti ◽  
Stefano Dal Bianco
Keyword(s):  
Text Processing ◽  
Solution Space ◽  
Generative Models ◽  
Divine Comedy ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Divine Comedy ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Assisted Analysis

We provide a syllabification algorithm for the Divine Comedy using techniques from probabilistic and constraint programming. We particularly focus on the synalephe , addressed in terms of the "propensity" of a word to take part in a synalephe with adjacent words. We jointly provide an online vocabulary containing, for each word, information about its syllabification, the location of the tonic accent, and the aforementioned synalephe propensity, on the left and right sides. The algorithm is intrinsically nondeterministic, producing different possible syllabifications for each verse, with different likelihoods; metric constraints relative to accents on the 10th, 4th, and 6th syllables are used to further reduce the solution space. The most likely syllabification is hence returned as output. We believe that this work could be a major milestone for a lot of different investigations. From the point of view of digital humanities it opens new perspectives on computer-assisted analysis of digital sources, comprising automated detection of anomalous and problematic cases, metric clustering of verses and their categorization, or more foundational investigations addressing, e.g., the phonetic roles of consonants and vowels. From the point of view of text processing and deep learning, information about syllabification and the location of accents opens a wide range of exciting perspectives, from the possibility of automatic learning syllabification of words and verses to the improvement of generative models, aware of metric issues, and more respectful of the expected musicality.

scholarly journals Searching for Z′ bosons at the P2 experiment

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. Bhupal Dev ◽  
Werner Rodejohann ◽  
Xun-Jie Xu ◽  
Yongchao Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Parity Violation ◽  
Z Bosons ◽  
Gauge Coupling ◽  
New Physics ◽  
Polarized Electrons ◽  
Mixing Angles ◽  
Charge Assignment ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Discovery Potential ◽  
Left And Right

Abstract The P2 experiment aims at high-precision measurements of the parity-violating asymmetry in elastic electron-proton and electron-12C scatterings with longitudinally polarized electrons. We discuss here the sensitivity of P2 to new physics mediated by an additional neutral gauge boson Z′ of a new U(1)′ gauge symmetry. If the charge assignment of the U(1)′ is chiral, i.e., left- and right-handed fermions have different charges under U(1)′, additional parity-violation is induced directly. On the other hand, if the U(1)′ has a non-chiral charge assignment, additional parity-violation can be induced via mass or kinetic Z-Z′ mixing. By comparing the P2 sensitivity to existing constraints, we show that in both cases P2 has discovery potential over a wide range of Z′ mass. In particular, for chiral models, the P2 experiment can probe gauge couplings at the order of 10−5 when the Z′ boson is light, and heavy Z′ bosons up to 79 (90) TeV in the proton (12C) mode. For non-chiral models with mass mixing, the P2 experiment is sensitive to mass mixing angles smaller than roughly 10−4, depending on model details and gauge coupling magnitude.

scholarly journals Embryonic Stage of Congenital Zika Virus Infection Determines Fetal and Postnatal Outcomes in Mice

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1807
Author(s):  
Eri Nakayama ◽  
Yasuhiro Kawai ◽  
Satoshi Taniguchi ◽  
Jessamine E. Hazlewood ◽  
Ken-ichi Shibasaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zika Virus ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Neonatal Death ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Fetal Loss ◽  
Congenital Infection ◽  
Sensory Function ◽  
Zikv Infection ◽  
Wide Range

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy causes a wide spectrum of congenital abnormalities and postnatal developmental sequelae such as fetal loss, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), microcephaly, or motor and neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we investigated whether a mouse pregnancy model recapitulated a wide range of symptoms after congenital ZIKV infection, and whether the embryonic age of congenital infection changed the fetal or postnatal outcomes. Infection with ZIKV strain PRVABC59 from embryonic day 6.5 (E6.5) to E8.5, corresponding to the mid-first trimester in humans, caused fetal death, fetal resorption, or severe IUGR, whereas infection from E9.5 to E14.5, corresponding to the late-first to second trimester in humans, caused stillbirth, neonatal death, microcephaly, and postnatal growth deficiency. Furthermore, 4-week-old offspring born to dams infected at E12.5 showed abnormalities in neuropsychiatric state, motor behavior, autonomic function, or reflex and sensory function. Thus, our model recapitulated the multiple symptoms seen in human cases, and the embryonic age of congenital infection was one of the determinant factors of offspring outcomes in mice. Furthermore, maternal neutralizing antibodies protected the offspring from neonatal death after congenital infection at E9.5, suggesting that neonatal death in our model could serve as criteria for screening of vaccine candidates.

scholarly journals Effects of transverse relationships between maxillary arch, mouth, and face on smile esthetics

2015 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ke Zhang ◽  
Lan Huang ◽  
Lin Yang ◽  
Li Xu ◽  
Chaoran Xue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Young Female ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Facial Region ◽  
Face Width ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Smile Esthetics ◽  
Maxillary Arch ◽  
The Ideal

ABSTRACTObjective: To identify the ideal ratios between the widths of the maxillary arch, mouth, and face, respectively, and to determine the range of acceptable esthetic variations based on these ideal ratios.Materials and Methods: A photograph of a young female with a harmonious smile was selected and digitally altered to produce two sets of images. The first image showed an altered intercanine width, while the second one showed an altered oral fissure breadth. These alterations were independently rated by judges, including 23 orthodontists and 30 undergraduates. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare the scores given by male and female judges and those given by professional and nonprofessional judges.Results: The following ideal transverse ratios were determined: intercanine width/oral fissure breadth, 0.638; oral fissure breadth/interparopia width: the distance between left and right paropia, 0.617; and intercanine width/face width at the level of the labial commissures, 0.300. A range of −10% to +10% was proposed as the thresholds of esthetic smile evaluations. It was shown that gender of the raters had no effect on the rating of photographs, nor were there any statistically significant differences between the professional and nonprofessional judges’ ratings.Conclusions: Balanced transverse relationships in the facial region are important for smile esthetics, and there is a wide range of esthetically acceptable variations in the transverse relationships between the maxillary arch, mouth, and face.

P174. Effects of left and right brain damage on anticipatory motor behavior during grasping and lifting with the ipsilesional hand

2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (8) ◽  
pp. e162
Author(s):  
J. Hermsdörfer ◽  
M. Bienkiewicz ◽  
N. Rohrbach ◽  
G. Buckingham
Keyword(s):  
Brain Damage ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Right Brain ◽  
Left And Right

Beat-by-beat modulation of AV conduction. I. Heart rate and respiratory influences

1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (6) ◽  
pp. H1126-H1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Warner ◽  
J. M. Loeb
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Oscillatory Activity ◽  
Conduction Time ◽  
Atrial Pacing ◽  
Sinus Arrhythmia ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Av Conduction ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cyclic Changes

We examined the integration of heart rate and neural influences at the atrioventricular (AV) node in conscious dogs. Animals were anesthetized and, under sterile conditions, instrumented to chronically record atrial and ventricular electrograms and blood pressure. In the conscious state, electrocardiogram (ECG), respiration, blood pressure, and electrograms were recorded on a beat-by-beat basis, and heart rate and AV interval were plotted graphically as a function of time. Resting animals exhibited both respiratory sinus arrhythmia and marked oscillations in AV conduction time associated with respiration. During inspiration AV interval was shortened, and during expiration AV interval was prolonged. To obviate the effect of cyclic changes in heart rate, atrial pacing was used to increase heart rate over a wide range both abruptly and linearly. Regardless of the pattern of heart rate change, AV interval oscillated at the respiratory frequency at pacing rates 10-100 beats/min above control. Higher levels of atrial pacing resulted in AV conduction patterns that were correlated with changes in blood pressure. Thus in the conscious dog variations in AV conduction time occur on a beat-by-beat basis in conjunction with respiration; oscillatory activity of AV conduction is not dependent on simultaneous changes in heart rate; and during atrial pacing, autonomic neural activity associated with respiration and blood pressure appears to dynamically modulate AV conduction with respiratory effects predominating at low heart rates and blood pressure effects at high heart rates.

Tilt responses of neurons in the caudal descending nucleus of the decerebrate cat: influence of the caudal cerebellar vermis and of neck receptors

1996 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 1242-1249 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. J. Wilson ◽  
H. Ikegami ◽  
R. H. Schor ◽  
D. B. Thomson
Keyword(s):  
Head Rotation ◽  
Muscle Spindles ◽  
Vestibular Nuclei ◽  
Vestibular Stimulation ◽  
Cerebellar Vermis ◽  
Neck Muscle ◽  
Vestibular Input ◽  
Decerebrate Cat ◽  
Neck Rotation ◽  
Vertical Semicircular Canal

1. In decerebrate cats with intact cerebellums, we studied the responses of neurons in the caudal areas of the vestibular nuclei to natural vestibular stimulation in vertical planes and to neck rotation. The activity of most neurons was recorded in the caudal half of the descending nucleus. 2. One goal of our experiments was to compare the dynamic and spatial properties of responses to sinusoidal vestibular stimulation with those seen in previous experiments in which the caudal cerebellar vermis, including the nodulus and uvula, was removed. This part of the cerebellum receives vestibular input and projects to the caudal areas of the vestibular nuclei, suggesting that it could influence responses to stimulation of the labyrinth. 3. As in our previous experiments, most neurons could be classified as receiving predominant input either from the otoliths or from one vertical semicircular canal. When mean gain and phase and response vector orientations were compared, there were no obvious differences between the behavior of neurons in the partially decerebellate preparation and the one with the cerebellum intact, demonstrating that in the decerebrate cat the nodulus and uvula have little or no influence on the processing of vertical vestibular input in this region of the vestibular nuclei. 4. Only 23 of 74 (31%) of neurons tested responded to neck rotation. This contrasts with the much larger fractions that respond to this stimulus in Deiters' nucleus and in the rostral descending nucleus. We also recorded from neurons near the vestibular nuclei, mainly in the external cuneate nucleus. All of them (9 of 9) responded to neck rotation. 5. Responses to neck rotation also differed in their dynamics from those found more rostrally in the vestibular nuclei. Dynamics of more rostral neurons resemble those of neck muscle spindles, as do those of external cuneate neurons. The dynamics of caudal vestibular neurons, on the other hand, have a steeper gain slope and more advanced phases than do those of neurons in the more rostral vestibular nuclei. This suggests the possibility of involvement of additional receptors in the production of these responses. 6. In the more rostral vestibular nuclei, responses to vestibular and neck rotation are most often antagonistic, so that head rotation results in little or no response. This is not the case in the caudal areas of the vestibular nuclei, where less than half the neurons tested displayed antagonistic behavior. Further experiments are required to put the neck projection to the caudal vestibular nuclei in a functional context.

Movement Quality: A Novel Biomarker Based on Principles of Neuroscience

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (12) ◽  
pp. 1067-1077
Author(s):  
Stanislaw Solnik ◽  
Mariusz P. Furmanek ◽  
Daniele Piscitelli
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Uncontrolled Manifold ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Single Individual ◽  
Motor Tasks ◽  
Movement Quality ◽  
Wide Range

A major problem in neurorehabilitation is the lack of objective outcomes to measure movement quality. Movement quality features, such as coordination and stability, are essential for everyday motor actions. These features allow reacting to continuously changing environment or to resist external perturbations. Neurological disorders affect movement quality, leading to functionally impaired movements. Recent findings suggest that the central nervous system organizes motor elements (eg, muscles, joints, fingers) into task-specific ensembles to stabilize motor tasks performance. A method to quantify this feature has been previously developed based on the uncontrolled manifold (UCM) hypothesis. UCM quantifies movement quality in a spatial-temporal domain using intertrial analysis of covariation between motor elements. In this point-of-view article, we first describe major obstacles (eg, the need for group analysis) that interfere with UCM application in clinical settings. Then, we propose a process of quantifying movement quality for a single individual with a novel use of bootstrapping simulations and UCM analysis. Finally, we reanalyze previously published data from individuals with neurological disorders performing a wide range of motor tasks, that is, multi-digit pressing and postural balance tasks. Our method allows one to assess motor quality impairments in a single individual and to detect clinically important motor behavior changes. Our solution may be incorporated into a clinical setting to assess sensorimotor impairments, evaluate the effects of specific neurological treatments, or track movement quality recovery over time. We also recommended the proposed solution to be used jointly with a typical statistical analysis of UCM parameters in cohort studies.

Development of the testis and epididymis of the Clun Forest ram

1971 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 433-441 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Colyer
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Subsequent Phase ◽  
Dimensional Growth ◽  
Left And Right ◽  
Ram Lambs

SUMMARYObservations were made on the development of the testes and epididymides of thirty-two Clun Forest ram lambs. There were no significant differences between the weights and volumes of the left and right testes and epididymides.The rate of increase in testicular and epididymal weights was linear up to a body weight of 46 lb (20·9 kg) followed subsequently by a significantly greater rate of increase at higher body weights. Similar patterns of growth occurred in relation to age, although at a given age there was a wide range of testicular and epididymal weights. There was a close relationship between the development of the testis and the epididymis at body weights greater than 46 lb (20·9 kg).There were two distinct phases in the dimensional growth of the testis. Increases in testicular length and breadth proceeded at much the same rate at testis weights of below 20 g. During the subsequent phase testicular length increased at a significantly greater rate than testis breadth.

Impaired Motor Function in Mice With Cell-Specific Knockout of Sodium Channel Scn8a (NaV1.6) in Cerebellar Purkinje Neurons and Granule Cells

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 785-793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen I. Levin ◽  
Zayd M. Khaliq ◽  
Teresa K. Aman ◽  
Tina M. Grieco ◽  
Jennifer A. Kearney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Purkinje Cell ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Motor Dysfunction ◽  
Purkinje Neurons ◽  
Na Channel ◽  
Α Subunit ◽  
Firing Rates

The Scn8a gene encodes the voltage-gated Na channel α subunit NaV1.6, which is widely expressed throughout the nervous system. Global null mutations that eliminate Scn8a in all cells result in severe motor dysfunction and premature death, precluding analysis of the physiological role of NaV1.6 in different neuronal types. To test the effect of cerebellar NaV1.6 on motor coordination in mice, we used the Cre-lox system to eliminate Scn8a expression exclusively in Purkinje neurons (Purkinje KO) and/or granule neurons (granule KO). Whereas granule KO mice had only minor behavioral defects, adult Purkinje KO mice exhibited ataxia, tremor, and impaired coordination. These disorders were exacerbated in double mutants lacking Scn8a in both Purkinje and granule cells (double KO). In Purkinje cells isolated from adult Purkinje KO and double KO but not granule KO mice, the ratio of resurgent-to-transient tetrodotoxin- (TTX)-sensitive Na current amplitudes decreased from ∼15 to ∼5%. In cerebellar slices, Purkinje cell spontaneous and maximal firing rates were reduced 10-fold and twofold relative to control in Purkinje KO and double KO but not granule KO mice. Additionally, short-term plasticity of high-frequency parallel fiber EPSCs was altered relative to control in Purkinje KO and double KO but not granule KO mice. These data suggest that the specialized kinetics of Purkinje Na channels depend directly on Scn8a expression. The loss of these channels leads to a decrease in Purkinje cell firing rates as well as a modification of the synaptic properties of afferent parallel fibers, with the ultimate consequence of disrupting motor behavior.

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