Neural oscillations track natural but not artificial fast speech: Novel insights from speech-brain coupling using MEG

Convincing evidence for synchronization of cortical oscillations to normal rate speech and artificially accelerated speech has been offered. However, the case of natural speech rate variations, which are ubiquitous in everyday life, has been largely overlooked. Here, we directly compared changes in the properties of cortico-acoustic coupling when speech naturally shifts from normal to fast rate and when it is artificially accelerated. Neuromagnetic brain signals of 24 normal-hearing adults were recorded with magnetoencephalography (MEG) while they listened to natural normal (∼6 syllables/s), natural fast (∼9 syllables/s) and time-compressed (∼9 syllables/s) sentences, as well as to envelope-matched amplitude-modulated noise. We estimated coherence between the envelope of the acoustic input and MEG source time-series in two frequency bands corresponding to the mean syllable rates of the normal and fast speech stimuli. We found that listening to natural speech at normal and fast rates was associated with coupling between speech signal envelope and neural oscillations in right auditory and (pre)motor cortices. This oscillatory alignment occurred within [5.7-7.7 Hz] for normal rate sentences and shifted up to [8-10 Hz] for naturally-produced fast speech, mirroring the increase in syllable rate between the two conditions. Unexpectedly, despite being generated at the same rate as naturally-produced fast speech, the time-compressed sentences did not lead to significant cortico-acoustic coupling at [8-10 Hz]. In addition, neural activity in articulatory cortex exhibited stronger tuning to natural fast rather than to artificially accelerated speech, reflecting enhanced mapping to articulatory features of natural speech. Finally, we observed no coupling when participants listened to amplitude-modulated noise, which suggests that envelope tracking does not only reflect passive acoustic tracking but is sensitive to linguistic information. Altogether, our findings provide new insights into the oscillatory brain signature underlying the perception of natural speech at different rates and highlight the importance of using naturally-produced speech when probing the dynamics of brain-to-speech coupling.

A Synthetic Cytokinin Improves Photosynthesis in Rice under Drought Stress by Modulating the Abundance of Proteins Related to Stomatal Conductance, Chlorophyll Contents, and Rubisco Activity

Drought susceptible rice cultivar PTT1 (Pathumthani1) was treated with drought (−72 kPa) and CPPU (N-2-(chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenyl urea) @ 5 mg/L at tillering and grain-filling stages. Plants were tested for the effect of synthetic cytokinin on the parameters influencing the process of photosynthesis. Exogenous spray of CPPU improved the stomatal conductance of rice leaves, which was severely reduced by drought. The abundance intensities of proteins, associated with the stomatal conductance (ZEP, NCED4, PYL9, PYL10, ABI5, SnRK4, Phot1, and Phot2), were also in agreement with the positive impact of CPPU on the stomatal conductance under drought stress. Among the photosynthetic pigments, Chl b contents were significantly reduced by drought stress, whereas CPPU treated plants retained the normal contents of Chl b under drought stress. Subsequently, we examined the abundance intensities of chlorophyll synthase and HCR proteins, implicated in the biosynthesis of chlorophyll pigments and the conversion of Chl b to Chl a, respectively. The results indicated a drought-mediated suppression of chlorophyll synthase. However, CPPU treated plants retained normal levels of chlorophyll synthase under drought stress. In addition, drought stress induced HCR proteins, which might be the cause for reduced Chl b contents in drought stressed plants. Further, CPPU treatment helped the plants sustain photosynthesis at a normal rate under drought stress, which was comparable with well-watered plants. The results were further confirmed by examining the abundance intensities of two key proteins, RAF1 and Rubisco activase, implicated in the assembly and activation of Rubisco, respectively. CPPU treatment reversed the drought mediated suppression of these proteins at both of the growth stages of rice under drought stress. Based on the results, it can be suggested that synthetic cytokinins help the plants sustain photosynthesis at a normal rate under drought stress by positively influencing the determinants of photosynthesis at a molecular level.

Some observations on endogeneity in the normal rate of capacity utilisation

As is well known, the closure of the canonical Neo-Kaleckian model is an endogenous rate of capacity utilisation. To allay concerns of Harrodian instability one response has been to endogenise the normal rate to effective demand pressures. Recent contributions have stressed microfoundations for an adjustment in the normal rate towards the actual rate. The new approach focuses on shiftwork and redefines capacity utilisation as the average workweek of capital. This paper examines whether the new concept of capacity utilisation can provide a firmer basis for endogeneity in the normal rate. It argues that the assumption of variability in the normal shift system cannot be generalised across manufacturing industries, while the potential relevance for non-manufacturing industries is unknown. Another concern is that long-run trends in the average workweek of capital and aggregate demand do not coincide. The paper also finds that the long-run trend in the US Federal Reserve's index of capacity utilisation for the manufacturing sector is not flat as frequently claimed. Instead, there is a downward trend from the mid 1960s, which matches the slowdown in aggregate demand.

Meniscal Root Tears and Extrusion Are Significantly Associated with the Development of Accelerated Knee Osteoarthritis: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Objective To identify joint structural risk factors, measured using quantitative compositional and semiquantitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scoring, associated with the development of accelerated knee osteoarthritis (AKOA) compared with a more normal rate of knee osteoarthritis (OA) development. Design From the Osteoarthritis Initiative we selected knees with no radiographic OA (Kellgren-Lawrence grade [KL] 0/1) that developed advanced-stage OA (KL 3/4; AKOA) within a 4-year timeframe and a comparison group with a more normal rate of OA development (KL 0/1 to KL 2 in 4 years). MRIs at the beginning of the 4-year timeframe were assessed for cartilage T2 values and structural abnormalities using a modified Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS). Associations of MRI findings with AKOA versus normal OA were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. Results A total of 106 AKOA and 168 subjects with normal OA development were included. Mean cartilage T2 values were not significantly associated with AKOA (odds ratio [OR] 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-1.36). Risk factors for AKOA development included higher meniscus maximum scores (OR 1.37; 95% CI 1.11-1.68), presence of meniscal extrusion (OR 6.30; 95% CI 2.57-15.49), presence of root tears (OR 4.64; 95% CI 1.61-13.34), and higher medial tibia cartilage lesion scores (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.19-3.24). Conclusions We identified meniscal damage, especially meniscal extrusion and meniscal root tears as risk factors for AKOA development. These findings contribute to identifying subjects at risk of AKOA at an early stage when preventative measures targeting modifiable risk factors such as meniscal repair surgery could still be effective.

SENSITIVITY OF PURE CULTURES OF BRADYRHIZOBIUM JAPONICUM TO FUNGICIDES

Objective. Conduct screening of a wide variety of transgenic mutagenesis strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum nodule bacteria by the sensitivity to Fever, Standak Top, Akanto Plus, Maxym XL, and Benorad fungicides, and obtain Tn5 mutants resistant to different normal rates of the above pesticides. Methods. Microbiological, statistical. Results. Under the conditions of laboratory experiments, Tn5 mutants of B. japonicum, resistant to the production and dual production normal rate of Fever, Standak Top, Akanto Plus, Maxym XL, and Benorad, were selected. It was shown that the active substances of the products with fungicidal activity Fever, Standak Top, Akanto Plus, Maxym XL do not have bactericidal effect on cell viability of the majority of Tn5 mutants obtained as a result of intergeneric conjugation between Escherichia coli S17-1 with different plasmid vectors and strains of B. japonicum 646 and 634b, and only in some cases reduce the intensity of their reproduction. It was established that Tn5 mutants of B. japonicum under study have different sensitivity to the influence of the normal rates of benomil-based Benorad recommended by the manufacturer and twice-increased. Nine Tn5 mutants were evaluated as low-sensitive to the production normal rate of Benorad, 11 were characterized by a higher sensitivity to fungicide, as evidenced by the zones of delayed growth of bacterial lawn around wells with the product over 15 mm. The influence of the double Benorad normal rate on transposon mutants was significantly stronger compared with other fungicides. Three Tn5 mutants, low-sensitive to the influence of the double rate of this product were selected, and delay of the reproduction of cells in these variants of the experiment was 14-15 mm around the wells. Conclusion. The use of bacterial fertilizers for soybeans based on Tn5 mutants of B. japonicum resistant to modern fungicides will help to reduce the consequences of chemical stress on the formation and functioning of symbiotic systems.

Tolerable ranges of variation in the rate of capacity utilisation and corridor instability: a reply to Florian Botte

This reply to Botte (2019, Estimating normal rates of capacity utilization and their tolerable ranges: a comment on Mark Setterfield, Cambridge Journal of Economics, forthcoming) responds to criticisms of the methods used to estimate the normal rate of capacity utilisation and a tolerable interval of variation in the actual rate of capacity utilisation around the normal rate in Setterfield (2019a, Long-run variation in capacity utilization in the presence of a fixed normal rate, Cambridge Journal of Economics, vol. 43, no. 2, 443–63). It concludes with some further reflections on the concept of corridor instability.

Estimating normal rates of capacity utilisation and their tolerable ranges: a comment on Mark Setterfield

Taking the potential instability of the Kaleckian model of growth as his starting point, M. Setterfield (‘Long-run variation in capacity utilisation in the presence of a fixed normal rate’, Cambridge Journal of Economics, 2018, doi:10.1093/cje/bey016) investigates, inter alia, the possibility of taming Harrodian instability. His investigation uses a range of tolerable values, rather than a unique value, for the normal rate of capacity utilisation. After illustrating his point theoretically, Setterfield then proposes empirical methods to estimate the normal capacity utilisation rate and the corresponding tolerance range. This paper suggests improved methods to estimate the normal rate of capacity utilisation and its tolerance range. The proposed alternative solutions offer better consistency with post-Keynesian behavioural theories, and the presented exploratory narrative based on these suggestions can partly explain the current stagnation.