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Volitional respiratory manoeuvres such as sniffing and apnoea play a key role in the active olfactory exploration of the environment. Their impairment by neurodegenerative processes could thus impair olfactory abilities with the ensuing impact on quality of life. Functional brain imaging studies have identified brain networks engaged in sniffing and voluntary apnoea, comprising the primary motor and somatosensory cortices, the insula, the anterior cingulate cortex and the amygdala. The temporal organization and the oscillatory activities of these networks are not known. To elucidate these aspects, we recorded intracranial electroencephalograms in six patients during voluntary sniffs and short apnoeas (12 s). The preparation phase of both manoeuvres involved increased alpha and theta activity in the posterior insula, amygdala and temporal regions, with a specific preparatory activity in the parahippocampus for the short apnoeas and the hippocampus for sniff. Subsequently, it narrowed to the superior and median temporal areas, immediately after the manoeuvres. During short apnoeas, a particular dynamic was observed, consisting of a rapid decline in alpha and theta activity followed by a slow recovery and increase. Volitional respiratory manoeuvres involved in olfactory control involve corticolimbic structures in both a preparatory and executive manner. Further studies are needed to determine whether diseases altering deep brain structures can disrupt these mechanisms and if such disruption contributes to the corresponding olfactory deficits. KEY POINTS: Both sniff manoeuvres and short apnoeas are associated with oscillatory activity predominantly in low-frequency bands (alpha and theta). Preparation of sniff manoeuvres and short apnoeas involve activities in low-frequency bands in the posterior insula and temporal regions that extend to amygdala during the execution of both manoeuvres. During short apnoeas, activities in low-frequency bands initially decline before continuously increasing until the apnoeas end., (© 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Physiology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Physiological Society.)

The hybrid skin-topological effect (HSTE) has recently been proposed as a mechanism where topological edge states collapse into corner states under the influence of the non-Hermitian skin effect (NHSE). However, directly observing this effect is challenging due to the complex frequencies of eigenmodes. In this study, we experimentally observe HSTE corner states using synthetic complex frequency excitations in a transmission line network. We demonstrate that HSTE induces asymmetric transmission along a specific direction within the topological band gap. Besides HSTE, we identify corner states originating from non-chiral edge states, which are caused by the unbalanced effective onsite energy shifts at the boundaries of the network. Furthermore, our results suggest that whether the bulk interior is Hermitian or non-Hermitian is not a key factor for HSTE. Instead, the HSTE states can be realized and relocated simply by adjusting the non-Hermitian distribution at the boundaries. Our research has deepened the understanding of a range of issues regarding HSTE, paving the way for advancements in the design of non-Hermitian topological devices. Hybrid skin-topological effect (HSTE) is a new phenomenon involving the interplay between non-Hermitian skin effects and topological edge states. Here, the authors highlight the key role of boundary configurations and experimentally observe HSTE states using synthetic complex frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human brain is organized as a hierarchical global network. Functional connectivity research reveals that sensory cortices are connected to corresponding association cortices via a series of intermediate nodes linked by synchronous neural activity. These sensory pathways and relay stations converge onto central cortical hubs such as the default‐mode network (DMN). The DMN regions are believed to be critical for representing concepts and, hence, language acquisition and use. Although prior research has established that major senses are placed at a similar distance from the DMN—five to six connective steps—it is still unknown how the olfactory system functionally connects to the large‐scale cortical hubs of the human brain. In this study, we investigated the connective distance from olfactory seed areas to the DMN. The connective distance involves a series of three to four intermediate steps. Furthermore, we parcellated the olfactory cortical subregions and found evidence of two distinct olfactory pathways. One emerges from the anterior olfactory nucleus and olfactory tubercle; it involves early access to the orbitofrontal cortex, known for processing reward and multisensory signals. The other emerges from the frontal and temporal regions of the piriform cortex, involving the anterior insula, intermediate frontal sulcus, and parietal operculum. The results were confirmed in a replication cohort. Our results provide evidence that olfaction has unique early access to the central cortical networks via dual pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive care unit (ICU) strain, characterized by a discrepancy between perceived or actual intensive care resources and demand, significantly impacts patient outcomes and healthcare worker well-being. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated ICU strain, leading to increased mortality and extended hospital stays, affecting both critically ill patients with and without COVID-19. A systematic review identified 16 leading and lagging indicators of ICU capacity strain, including queuing, premature and after-hours ICU discharge, use of temporary space, length of stay, burnout, staffing and nurse-to-patient ratio, ICU census, acuity and turnover, standardized mortality ratio, readmissions, availability of critical supplies, ventilator use, and surgery cancellation. However, variability in operational definitions and limited evidence regarding the reliability, validity, usability, and feasibility limit the value of single indicators for informed strategic planning and policy guidance. Regional and national policies and programs are essential to enhance real-time monitoring for effective management of critical care resources, and they mitigate the impact of ICU strain, facilitating complex interhospital transfers to reduce strain and ensuring comprehensive strategies for enhancing ICU resilience. Proactive regional cooperation is advocated for policy formulation, knowledge exchange, and resource allocation to anticipate and mitigate ICU strain, ensuring equitable healthcare access during global health crises. The policy implications for future preparedness emphasize the importance of evidence-based triage and adaptable patient management strategies alongside ethical considerations in resource allocation and the role of behavioral economic insights in optimizing resource utilization and collaborative healthcare practices. This multifaceted approach for addressing ICU strain comprehensively and effectively during a pandemic would promote health equity and enhance healthcare system resilience under both routine operations and crisis conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a long time, it was presumed that continuum bands could be readily encompassed by open-boundary spectra, irrespective of the system's modest dimensions. However, our findings reveal a nuanced picture: under open-boundary conditions, the proliferation of complex eigenvalues progresses in a sluggish, oscillating manner as the system expands. Consequently, even in larger systems, the overlap between continuum bands and open-boundary eigenvalues becomes elusive, with the surprising twist that the count of these complex eigenvalues may actually diminish with increasing system size. This counterintuitive trend underscores that the pursuit of an ideal, infinite-sized system scenario does not necessarily align with enlarging the system size. Notably, despite the inherent non-Hermiticity of our system, the eigenstates distribute themselves in a manner reminiscent of Bloch waves. These discoveries hold potential significance for both theoretical explorations and experimental realizations of non-Hermitian systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brainstem has long been recognized as the major respiratory control center, but it has become increasingly appreciated that areas upstream of the brainstem modulate respiration and airway defensive behaviors. This review aims to define the role of the amygdala, a key temporal brain region essential for limbic function, in respiration and airway defenses. We summarize literature describing roles for the amygdala in control of respiration, swallow, cough, airway smooth muscle contraction, and mucus secretion. We emphasize the need to understand how the amygdala regulates these functions both at a local scale and network scale and identify knowledge gaps for current and future investigations. Lastly, we highlight literature suggesting that amygdala dysfunction may contribute to respiratory dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Ictal arrhythmia is a rare condition that causes arrhythmic manifestations induced by epileptic seizures, including asystole or bradycardia. Ictal asystole (IA) is a very rare condition found in patients undergoing video-encephalography (EEG) monitoring. It is often related to temporal lobe epilepsy and can cause syncope, which can lead to injury or even death. Case Presentation. Two patients with epilepsy showed symptoms of syncope. Both patients underwent 4-day ambulatory EEG tests and were diagnosed with IA. Following the tests, the patients were implanted with a permanent pacemaker, and one of them underwent a temporal lobectomy. As a result of these procedures, the patients experienced a reduction in episodes of symptomatic syncope. Conclusion. Patients with ictal asystole and symptomatic ictal bradycardia are at increased risk of falls due to seizures. Although there are no specific guidelines for managing this condition, antiseizure medications, epilepsy surgery, and cardiac pacemaker implantation have been effective treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Area tempestas, a functionally defined region in the anterior piriform cortex, was identified as a crucial ictogenic trigger zone in the rat brain in the 1980s. However, whether the primate piriform cortex can trigger seizures remains unknown. Here, in a nonhuman primate model, we aimed to localize a similar trigger zone in the piriform cortex and, subsequently, evaluated the ability of focal inhibition of the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNpr) to suppress the evoked seizures., Methods: Focal microinjection of the γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA A ) antagonist bicuculline methiodide into the piriform cortex was performed, in macaque monkeys, on a within-subject basis to map the ictogenic regions within this area. Glutamate antagonists were used to characterize the local circuit pharmacology. Focal inhibition of the substantia nigra by infusion of the GABA A agonist muscimol suppressed seizures evoked from piriform cortex., Results: We documented a well-defined region highly susceptible to bicuculline-induced seizures in the piriform cortex, just posterior to the junction of the frontal and temporal lobes, indicating that a functional homolog to the rodent area tempestas is present in the primate brain. Focal infusion of glutamate receptor antagonists into the area tempestas revealed that α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor-mediated, but not N-methyl-D-aspartate-mediated, neurotransmission was necessary for the expression of seizures. Pharmacological inhibition of the SNpr robustly suppressed area tempestas-evoked seizures., Significance: Together, these data point to the area tempestas as a potent ictogenic zone in the primate brain and underscore the antiseizure effects of inhibition of the SNpr. Building on decades of studies in rodents, our present findings emphasize the relevance of these targets to the primate brain and provide further rationale for exploring these targets for clinical use., (© 2024 International League Against Epilepsy.)

The work is devoted to the study of neurodegenerative changes in the ultrastructural organization of hippocampal CA1 in adult rats that have suffered prenatal hyperhomocysteinemia (pHHC). Electron microscopy in the neural networks of the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus in adult rats with pHHC, in contrast to control animals, revealed signs of pathological changes: degeneration of pyramidal neurons and destruction of the myelin sheath of axons, as well as destruction of the axial cylinders of basal and apical dendrites directed from a pyramidal layer of neurons in the direction of tractus temporammonic or Schaffer collaterals, respectively. In control animals, on the distal branches of dendrites in the layers of the stratum oriens and stratum radiatum, using the Golgi method, a dense network of varicose dendritic extensions was identified, providing an increase in the area of synaptic contacts. In rats that have undergone pHHC, significant destructive changes are found in these dendritic varicosities: destruction of mitochondrial cristae and the appearance of dilated cisterns. In adult rats with pHHC, it completely eliminates the preference for the smell of valerian, which is normally a physiologically significant stimulus, which indicates a negative effect of pHHC on the functioning of the olfactory analyzer, the activity of which is closely connected with the hippocampus. The obtained facts indicate the detrimental effect of homocysteine on the structure and interneuronal connections in the nervous tissue of the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus, as a morphological substrate for the integration of stimuli entering it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamical response of a quantum spin liquid upon injecting a hole is a pertinent open question. In experiments, the hole spectral function, measured momentum-resolved in angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) or locally in scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), can be used to identify spin liquid materials. In this study, we employ tensor network methods to simulate the time evolution of a single hole doped into the Kitaev spin-liquid ground state. Focusing on the gapped spin liquid phase, we reveal two fundamentally different scenarios. For ferromagnetic spin couplings, the spin liquid is highly susceptible to hole doping: a Nagaoka ferromagnet forms dynamically around the doped hole, even at weak coupling. By contrast, in the case of antiferromagnetic spin couplings, the hole spectrum demonstrates an intricate interplay between charge, spin, and flux degrees of freedom, best described by a parton mean-field ansatz of fractionalized holons and spinons. Moreover, we find a good agreement of our numerical results to the analytically solvable case of slow holes. Our results demonstrate that dynamical hole spectral functions provide rich information on the structure of fractionalized quantum spin liquids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Brand equity plays a crucial role in a brand's commercial success; however, research on the brain regions associated with brand equity has had mixed results. This study aimed to investigate key brain regions associated with the decision-making of branded and unbranded foods using quantitative neuroimaging meta-analysis and machine learning. Methods: Quantitative neuroimaging meta-analysis was performed using the activation likelihood method. Activation of the ventral medial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) overlapped between branded and unbranded foods. The lingual and parahippocampal gyri (PHG) were activated in the case of branded foods, whereas no brain regions were characteristically activated in response to unbranded foods. We proposed a novel predictive method based on the reported foci data, referencing the multi-voxel pattern analysis (MVPA) results. This approach is referred to as the multi-coordinate pattern analysis (MCPA). We conducted the MCPA, adopting the sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) to detect unique brain regions associated with branded and unbranded foods based on coordinate data. The sPLS-DA is an extended PLS method that enables the processing of categorical data as outcome variables. Results: We found that the lingual gyrus is a distinct brain region in branded foods. Thus, the VMPFC might be a core brain region in food categories in consumer behavior, regardless of whether they are branded foods. Moreover, the connection between the PHG and lingual gyrus might be a unique neural mechanism in branded foods. Discussion: As this mechanism engages in imaging the feature-self based on emotionally subjective contextual associative memories, brand managers should create future-oriented relevancies between brands and consumers to build valuable brands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is mounting evidence for the health benefits of aromatic scents for the older people with dementia. However, existing research has focused on indoor aromatherapy using essential oils. It is necessary to explore the health benefits of smellscapes in the outdoor environment for older people with dementia. Aims and Objectives: This scoping review aims to examine existing evidence for smellscape as a healing factor in institutional garden for older people with dementia, try to bridge the knowledge gaps between outdoor sensory garden scents and aromatherapy to develop green care techniques that incorporate outdoor activities. Methods: Seven databases (Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science) were searched with English language articles published between 1990 and 2022. The PRISMA‐ScR Checklist was used. Results: Out of 1013 articles, 11 meet the inclusion criteria. The comprehensive health outcomes include five aspects: mental health; physical health; reduced agitation behaviour; improved cognitive function; and well‐being. These aspects are part of the rehabilitation model comprising the person (older people with dementia), environment (garden smellscapes) and outdoor activities (active or passive interventions or a combination). Conclusions: The smellscape, as a healing factor in the garden, not only benefits from evidence on indoor aromatherapy but also creates a sensory environment for older people with dementia by compensating for functional impairment, activity support and environmental creation, thereby promoting enhanced health and well‐being. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The research on the healing effects of smellscapes presented in this review offers a novel environmental intervention technique for transferring evidence on essential oils to outdoor sensory gardens. This green care technique is suggested to assist in the creation of healing environments and interventions for people with dementia who cannot be cured. No Patient or Public Contribution: This scoping review did not directly involve patient or public contributions to the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a devastating yet overlooked complication of epilepsy. The rare and complex nature of SUDEP makes it challenging to study. No prediction or prevention of SUDEP is currently available in a clinical setting. In the past decade, significant advances have been made in our knowledge of the pathophysiologic cascades that lead to SUDEP. In particular, studies of brain, heart, and respiratory functions in both human patients at the epilepsy monitoring unit and animal models during fatal seizures provide critical information to integrate computational tools for SUDEP prediction. The rapid advances in automated seizure detection and prediction algorithms provide a fundamental framework for their adaption in predicting SUDEP. If a SUDEP can be predicted, then there will be a potential for medical intervention to be administered, either by their caregivers or via an implanted device automatically delivering electrical stimulation or medication, and finally save lives from fatal seizures. This article presents recent developments of SUDEP studies focusing on the pathophysiologic basis of SUDEP and computational implications of machine learning techniques that can be adapted and extended for SUDEP prediction. This article also discusses some novel ideas for SUDEP prediction and rescue including principal component analysis and closed-loop intervention., (© 2022 Bin Gu and Hojjat Adeli, published by De Gruyter, Berlin/Boston.)

In recent years, several studies have shown a respiratory drive of the local field potential (LFP) in numerous brain areas so that the respiratory rhythm could be considered as a master clock promoting communication between distant brain locations. However, outside of the olfactory system, it remains unknown whether the respiratory rhythm could shape membrane potential (MP) oscillations. To fill this gap, we co-recorded MP and LFP activities in different nonolfactory brain areas, medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), primary somatosensory cortex (S1), primary visual cortex (V1), and hippocampus (HPC), in urethane-anesthetized rats. Using respiratory cycle-by-cycle analysis, we observed that respiration could modulate both MP and spiking discharges in all recorded areas during episodes that we called respiration-related oscillations (RRo). Further quantifications revealed that RRo episodes were transient in most neurons (5 consecutive respiratory cycles in average). RRo development in MP was largely correlated with the presence of respiratory modulation in the LFP. By showing that the respiratory rhythm influenced brain activities deep to the MP of nonolfactory neurons, our data support the idea that respiratory rhythm could mediate long-range communication between brain areas. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we evidenced strong respiratory-driven oscillations of neuronal membrane potential and spiking discharge in various nonolfactory areas of the mammal brain. These oscillations were found in the medial prefrontal cortex, primary somatosensory cortex, primary visual cortex, and hippocampus. These findings support the idea that respiratory rhythm could be used as a common clock to set the dynamics of large-scale neuronal networks on the same slow rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a leading cause of death for patients with epilepsy; however, the pathophysiology remains unclear. Focal‐to‐bilateral tonic–clonic seizures (FBTCS) are a major risk factor, and centrally‐mediated respiratory depression may increase the risk further. Here, we determined the volume and microstructure of the amygdala, a key structure that can trigger apnea in people with focal epilepsy, stratified by the presence or absence of FBTCS, ictal central apnea (ICA), and post‐convulsive central apnea (PCCA). Methods: Seventy‐three patients with focal impaired awareness seizures without FBTC seizures (FBTCneg group) and 30 with FBTCS (FBTCpos group) recorded during video electroencephalography (VEEG) with respiratory monitoring were recruited prospectively during presurgical investigations. We acquired high‐resolution T1‐weighted anatomic and multi‐shell diffusion images, and computed neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics in all patients with epilepsy and 69 healthy controls. Amygdala volumetric and microstructure alterations were compared between three groups: healthy subjects, FBTCneg and FBTCpos groups. The FBTCpos group was further subdivided by the presence of ICA and PCCA, verified by VEEG. Results: Bilateral amygdala volumes were significantly increased in the FBTCpos cohort compared to healthy controls and the FBTCneg group. Patients with recorded PCCA had the highest increase in bilateral amygdala volume of the FBTCpos cohort. Amygdala neurite density index (NDI) values were decreased significantly in both the FBTCneg and FBTCpos groups relative to healthy controls, with values in the FBTCpos group being the lowest of the two. The presence of PCCA was associated with significantly lower NDI values vs the non‐apnea FBTCpos group (p = 0.004). Significance: Individuals with FBTCpos and PCCA show significantly increased amygdala volumes and disrupted architecture bilaterally, with greater changes on the left side. The structural alterations reflected by NODDI and volume differences may be associated with inappropriate cardiorespiratory patterns mediated by the amygdala, particularly after FBTCS. Determination of amygdala volumetric and architectural changes may assist identification of individuals at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smell loss has caught public attention during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Research on olfactory function in health and disease gains new momentum. Smell deficits have long been recognized as an early clinical sign associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. Here we review research on the associations between olfactory deficits and neuropathological conditions, focusing on recent progress in four areas: (1) human clinical studies of the correlations between smell deficits and neuropsychiatric disorders; (2) development of olfactory mucosa-derived tissue and cell models for studying the molecular pathologic mechanisms; (3) recent findings in brain imaging studies of structural and functional connectivity changes in olfactory pathways in neuropsychiatric disorders; and (4) application of preclinical animal models to validate and extend the findings from human subjects. Together, these studies have provided strong evidence of the link between the olfactory system and neuropsychiatric disorders, highlighting the relevance of deepening our understanding of the role of the olfactory system in pathophysiological processes. Following the lead of studies reviewed here, future research in this field may open the door to the early detection of neuropsychiatric disorders, personalized treatment approaches, and potential therapeutic interventions through nasal administration techniques, such as nasal brush or nasal spray. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports and discusses the typological characteristics and chemical composition of 93 Roman glass fragments discovered in the Roman fort and baths from Mălăieşti, Prahova County, Romania, dated to AD 102–118. The elemental analysis was performed by simultaneous external particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) and particle-induced gamma-ray emission (PIGE) at the AGLAE accelerator from the basement of the Louvre Palace, Paris, France. This study is part of a larger project, targeting the understanding of the daily life in a military fort at the fringes of the Roman world. The compositional data on glass finds allowed for discussions on the raw materials, the provenance, and the manufacturing techniques. The archaeometric investigations of these Roman glass items pointed to a rich palette of chemical types of glass, offering circumstantial indicators on the connections of this rather remote site with the rest of the empire during the early second century AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We aimed to identify corticothalamic areas and electrical stimulation paradigms that optimally enhance breathing. Methods: Twenty‐nine patients with medically intractable epilepsy were prospectively recruited in an epilepsy monitoring unit while undergoing stereoelectroencephalographic evaluation. Direct electrical stimulation in cortical and thalamic regions was carried out using low (<1 Hz) and high (≥10 Hz) frequencies, and low (<5 mA) and high (≥5 mA) current intensities, with pulse width of.1 ms. Electrocardiography, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), end‐tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), oronasal airflow, and abdominal and thoracic plethysmography were monitored continuously during stimulations. Airflow signal was used to estimate breathing rate, tidal volume, and minute ventilation (MV) changes during stimulation, compared to baseline. Results: Electrical stimulation increased MV in the amygdala, anterior cingulate, anterior insula, temporal pole, and thalamus, with an average increase in MV of 20.8% ± 28.9% (range = 0.2%–165.6%) in 19 patients. MV changes were associated with SpO2 and ETCO2 changes (p <.001). Effects on respiration were parameter and site dependent. Within amygdala, low‐frequency stimulation of the medial region produced 78.49% greater MV change (p <.001) compared to high‐frequency stimulation. Longer stimulation produced greater MV changes (an increase of 4.47% in MV for every additional 10 s, p =.04). Significance: Stimulation of amygdala, anterior cingulate gyrus, anterior insula, temporal pole, and thalamus, using certain stimulation paradigms, enhances respiration. Among tested paradigms, low‐frequency, low‐intensity, long‐duration stimulation of the medial amygdala is the most effective breathing enhancement stimulation strategy. Such approaches may pave the way for the future development of neuromodulatory techniques that aid rescue from seizure‐related apnea, potentially as a targeted sudden unexpected death in epilepsy prevention method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial studies of human amygdala function have revealed its importance in processing emotional experience, autonomic regulation, and sensory information; however, the neural substrates and circuitry subserving functions have not been directly mapped at the level of the subnuclei in humans. We provide a useful overview of amygdala functional characterization by using direct electrical stimulation to various amygdala regions in 48 patients with drug-resistant epilepsy undergoing stereoelectroencephalography recordings. This stimulation extends beyond the anticipated emotional, neurovegetative, olfactory, and somatosensory responses to include visual, auditory, and vestibular sensations, which may be explained by the functional connectivity with cortical and subcortical regions due to evoked amygdala-cortical potentials. Among the physiological symptom categories for each subnucleus, the most frequently evoked neurovegetative symptoms were distributed in almost every subnucleus. Laterobasal subnuclei are mainly associated with emotional responses, somatosensory responses, and vestibular sensations. Superficial subnuclei are mainly associated with emotional responses and olfactory and visual hallucinations. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the functional architecture of the human amygdala at the subnuclei level and as a mechanistic basis for the clinical practice of amygdala stimulation in treating patients with neuropsychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In mammals, the ventral respiratory column (VRC) plays a pivotal role in integrating neurochemically diverse inputs from brainstem and forebrain regions to generate respiratory motor patterns. VRC microinjection of the neuropeptide galanin has been reported to dampen carbon dioxide (CO 2 )-mediated chemoreflex responses. Additionally, we previously demonstrated that galaninergic neurons in the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) are implicated in the adaptive response to hypercapnic stimuli, suggesting a link between RTN neuroplasticity and increased neuronal drive to the VRC. VRC neurons express galanin receptor 1, suggesting potential regulatory action by galanin, however, the precise galaninergic chemoreceptor-VRC circuitry remains to be determined. This study aimed to identify sources of galaninergic input to the VRC that contribute to central respiratory chemoreception. We employed a combination of retrograde neuronal tracing, in situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry to investigate VRC-projecting neurons that synthesise galanin mRNA. In an additional series of experiments, we used acute hypercapnia exposure (10% CO 2 , 1 h) and c-Fos immunohistochemistry to ascertain which galaninergic nuclei projecting to the VRC are activated. Our findings reveal that a total of 30 brain nuclei and 51 subnuclei project to the VRC, with 12 of these containing galaninergic neurons, including the RTN. Among these galaninergic populations, only a subset of the RTN neurons (approximately 55%) exhibited activation in response to acute hypercapnia. Our findings highlight that the RTN is the likely source of galaninergic transmission to the VRC in response to hypercapnic stimuli., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Voluntary breath-holding (BH) triggers responses from central neural control and respiratory centers in order to restore breathing. Such responses can be observed using functional MRI (fMRI). Objectives: We used this paradigm in healthy volunteers with the view to develop a biomarker that could be used to investigate disorders of the central control of breathing at the individual patient level. Method: In 21 healthy human subjects (mean age±SD, 32.8 ± 9.9 years old), fMRI was used to determine, at both the individual and group levels, the physiological neural response to expiratory and inspiratory voluntary apneas, within respiratory control centers in the brain and brainstem. Results: Group analysis showed that expiratory BH, but not inspiratory BH, triggered activation of the pontine respiratory group and raphe nuclei at the group level, with a significant relationship between the levels of activation and drop in SpO2. Using predefined ROIs, expiratory BH, and to a lesser extent, inspiratory BH were associated with activation of most respiratory centers. The right ventrolateral nucleus of the thalamus, right pre-Bötzinger complex, right VRG, right nucleus ambiguus, and left Kölliker-Fuse-parabrachial complex were only activated during inspiratory BH. Individual analysis identified activations of cortical/subcortical and brainstem structures related to respiratory control in 19 out of 21 subjects. Conclusion: Our study shows that BH paradigm allows to reliably trigger fMRI response from brainstem and cortical areas involved in respiratory control at the individual level, suggesting that it might serve as a clinically relevant biomarker to investigate conditions associated with an altered central control of respiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is a major cause of death in people with epilepsy (PWE). Postictal apnea leading to cardiac arrest is the most common sequence of terminal events in witnessed cases of SUDEP, and postconvulsive central apnea has been proposed as a potential biomarker of SUDEP susceptibility. Research in SUDEP animal models has led to the serotonin and adenosine hypotheses of SUDEP. These neurotransmitters influence respiration, seizures, and lethality in animal models of SUDEP, and are implicated in human SUDEP cases. Adenosine released during seizures is proposed to be an important seizure termination mechanism. However, adenosine also depresses respiration, and this effect is mediated, in part, by inhibition of neuronal activity in subcortical structures that modulate respiration, including the periaqueductal gray (PAG). Drugs that enhance the action of adenosine increase postictal death in SUDEP models. Serotonin is also released during seizures, but enhances respiration in response to an elevated carbon dioxide level, which often occurs postictally. This effect of serotonin can potentially compensate, in part, for the adenosine‐mediated respiratory depression, acting to facilitate autoresuscitation and other restorative respiratory response mechanisms. A number of drugs that enhance the action of serotonin prevent postictal death in several SUDEP models and reduce postictal respiratory depression in PWE. This effect of serotonergic drugs may be mediated, in part, by actions on brainstem sites that modulate respiration, including the PAG. Enhanced activity in the PAG increases respiration in response to hypoxia and other exigent conditions and can be activated by electrical stimulation. Thus, we propose the unifying hypothesis that seizure‐induced adenosine release leads to respiratory depression. This can be reversed by serotonergic action on autoresuscitation and other restorative respiratory responses acting, in part, via the PAG. Therefore, we hypothesize that serotonergic or direct activation of this brainstem site may be a useful approach for SUDEP prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a possible body signal influencing brain dynamics, respiration is fundamental for perception, cognition, and emotion. The olfactory system has recently acquired its credentials by proving to be crucial in the transmission of respiratory influence on the brain via the sensitivity to nasal airflow of its receptor cells. Here, we present recent findings evidencing respiration-related activities in the brain. Then, we review the data explaining the fact that breathing is (i) nasal and (ii) being slow and deep is crucial in its ability to stimulate the olfactory system and consequently influence the brain. In conclusion, we propose a possible scenario explaining how this optimal respiratory regime can promote changes in brain dynamics of an olfacto-limbic-respiratory circuit, providing a possibility to induce calm and relaxation by coordinating breathing regime and brain state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the neural basis of lower- and higher-order olfactory functions such as odor memory, compared with other sensory systems. The aim of this study was to explore neural networks and correlates associated with 3 functions: passive smelling (PS), odor encoding (OE), and in particular odor recognition memory (ORM). Twenty-six healthy participants were examined using functional magnetic resonance imaging conducted across 3 sessions, one for each function. Independent component analysis revealed a difference between sessions where a distinct ORM component incorporating hippocampus and posterior cingulate showed delayed triggering dissociated from odor stimulation and recognition. By contrasting Hit for ORM (target odors correctly recognized as old) and a combination of PS and detected odors from OE, we found significantly lower activations in amygdala, piriform cortex, insula, thalamus, and the inferior parietal lobule. Region of interest analysis including anterior insula, posterior cingulate gyrus, dentate gyrus, left middle frontal gyrus, amygdala, and piriform cortex demonstrated that Hit were associated with lower activations compared with other memory responses. In summary, our findings suggest that successful recognition of familiar odors (odor familiarity) is associated with neural suppression in the abovementioned regions of interest. Additionally, network including the hippocampus and posterior cingulate is engaged in a postrecognition process. This process may be related to incidental encoding of less familiar and more novel odors (odor novelty) and should be subject for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt is made to study the quantum criticality in non-Hermitian system with topological characterization. We use the zero mode solutions to characterize the topological phases and, criticality and also to construct the phase diagram. The Hermitian counterpart of the model Hamiltonian possess quite a few interesting features such as Majorana zero modes (MZMs) at criticality, unique topological phase transition on the critical line and hence these unique features are of an interest to study in the non-Hermitian case also. We observe a unique behavior of critical lines in presence of non-Hermiticity. We study the topological phase transitions in the non-Hermitian case using parametric curves which also reveal the gap closing point through exceptional points. We study bulk and edge properties of the system where at the edge, the stability dependence behavior of MZMs at criticality is studied and at the bulk we study the effect of non-Hermiticity on the topological phases by investigating the behavior of the critical lines. The study of non-Hermiticity on the critical lines revels the rate of receding of the topological phases with respect to the increase in the value of non-Hermiticity. This work gives a new perspective on topological quantum criticality in non-Hermitian quantum system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While breathing is a vital, involuntary physiological function, the mode of respiration, particularly nasal breathing, exerts a profound influence on brain activity and cognitive processes. This review synthesizes existing research on the interactions between nasal respiration and the entrainment of oscillations across brain regions involved in cognition. The rhythmic activation of olfactory sensory neurons during nasal respiration is linked to oscillations in widespread brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and parietal cortex, as well as the piriform cortex. The phase-locking of neural oscillations to the respiratory cycle, through nasal breathing, enhances brain inter-regional communication and is associated with cognitive abilities like memory. Understanding the nasal breathing impact on brain networks offers opportunities to explore novel methods for targeting the olfactory pathway as a means to enhance emotional and cognitive functions., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

Brain activity may manifest itself as oscillations which are repetitive rhythms of neuronal firing. These local field potentials can be measured via intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG). This review focuses on iEEG used to map human brain structures involved in olfaction. After presenting the methodology of the review, a summary of the brain structures involved in olfaction is given, followed by a review of the literature on human olfactory oscillations in different contexts. A single case is provided as an illustration of the olfactory oscillations. Overall, the timing and sequence of oscillations found in the different structures of the olfactory system seem to play an important role for olfactory perception., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Neuroscience Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Prone positioning may improve oxygenation in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and was widely adopted in COVID-19 patients. However, the magnitude and timing of its peak oxygenation effect remain uncertain with the optimum dosage unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the magnitude of the peak effect of prone positioning on the PaO 2 :FiO 2 ratio during prone and secondly, the time to peak oxygenation., Methods: Multi-centre, observational study of invasively ventilated adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 treated with prone positioning. Baseline characteristics, prone positioning and patient outcome data were collected. All arterial blood gas (ABG) data during supine, prone and after return to supine position were analysed. The magnitude of peak PaO 2 :FiO 2 ratio effect and time to peak PaO 2 :FIO 2 ratio effect was measured., Results: We studied 220 patients (mean age 54 years) and 548 prone episodes. Prone positioning was applied for a mean (±SD) 3 (±2) times and 16 (±3) hours per episode. Pre-proning PaO 2 :FIO 2 ratio was 137 (±49) for all prone episodes. During the first episode. the mean PaO 2 :FIO 2 ratio increased from 125 to a peak of 196 (p < .001). Peak effect was achieved during the first episode, after 9 (±5) hours in prone position and maintained until return to supine position., Conclusions: In ventilated adults with COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, peak PaO 2 :FIO 2 ratio effect occurred during the first prone positioning episode and after 9 h. Subsequent episodes also improved oxygenation but with diminished effect on PaO 2 :FIO 2 ratio. This information can help guide the number and duration of prone positioning episodes., (© 2023 The Authors. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.)

Focal seizures originating from the temporal lobe are commonly associated with peri‐ictal hypoxemia (PIH). During the course of temporal lobe seizures, epileptic discharges often not only spread within various parts of the temporal lobe but also possibly insula and frontal lobe. The link between spatial propagation of the seizure discharges and PIH is still unclear. The present study investigates the involvement of several brain structures including medial temporal structures, temporal pole, anterior insula, and frontal cortex in the occurrence of PIH. Using quantitative indices obtained during SEEG (stereoencephalography) recordings in 38 patients, we evaluated the epileptogenicity, the spatial propagation, and functional connectivity between those structures during seizures leading to PIH. Multivariate statistical analyses of SEEG quantitative indices showed that temporal lobe seizures leading to PIH are characterized by a strong involvement of amygdala and anterior insula during seizure propagation and a more widespread involvement of medial temporal lobe structures, lateral temporal lobe, temporal pole, and anterior cingulate at the end of the seizures. On the contrary, seizure‐onset zone was not associated with PIH occurrence. During seizure propagation, anterior insula, temporal pole, and temporal lateral neocortex activities were correlated with intensity of PIH. Lastly, PIH occurrence was also related to a widespread increase of synchrony between those structures. Those results suggest that PIH occurrence during temporal lobe seizures may be related to the activation of a widespread network of cortical structures, among which amygdala and anterior insula are key nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about the aromatic sensorial integrative interventions for chronic pain management. It mentions that pain as described as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage. It discusses several different kinds of pain including emotional pain; physical pain; and mental pain.

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of death among patients with refractory epilepsy. While the exact etiology of SUDEP is unknown, mounting evidence implicates respiratory dysfunction as a precipitating factor in cases of seizure-induced death. Dysregulation of breathing can occur in epilepsy patients during and after seizures as well as interictally, with many epilepsy patients exhibiting sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The majority of SUDEP cases occur during the night, with the victim found prone in or near a bed. As breathing is modulated in both a time-of-day and sleep state-dependent manner, it is relevant to examine the added burden of nocturnal seizures on respiratory function. This review explores the current state of understanding of the relationship between respiratory function, sleep state and time of day, and epilepsy. We highlight sleep as a particularly vulnerable period for individuals with epilepsy and press that this topic warrants further investigation in order to develop therapeutic interventions to mitigate the risk of SUDEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) accounts for 20% of mortality in those with recurrent seizures. While risk factors, monitoring systems, and standard practices are in place, the pathophysiology of SUDEP is still not well understood. Better knowledge of SUDEP and its potential mechanisms of action is crucial to reducing risk in this patient population and developing potential treatment options. Clinical studies and animal models of SUDEP suggest that diminished post-ictal respiratory control may be the dominant mechanism contributing to mortality. Recently, it was demonstrated that the depletion of the neuropeptide galanin in the amygdala occurs in human SUDEP. The amygdala plays a key role in the central integration of respiratory signaling; the depletion of galanin may represent a critical change that predisposes individuals to SUDEP. Materials and methods: To evaluate the impact of enhancing galaninergic signaling to potentially protect against SUDEP, we studied seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) following central (intracerebroventricular, intraamygdala) and systemic (intraperitoneal, subcutaneous) administration of galanin analogs. Seizure naïve and seizure experienced (fully kindled) mice were tested. Results: Central and systemically administered galanin analogs protect against S-IRA in naïve C57Bl/6J mice. Differential efficacy between receptor subtypeselective analogs varied based on the route of administration. Sub-chronic systemic administration at doses that reduced 6 Hz seizures also protected against S-IRA. Acute treatment benefits also extended to fully kindled mice experiencing tonic extension. Significance: These data demonstrate that galanin analogs may be protective against post-ictal respiratory collapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sorghum bicolor is one of the most important crops worldwide with the potential to provide resilience when other economic staples might fail against the continuous environmental changes. Many physiological, developmental and tolerance traits in plants are either controlled or influenced by lectins; carbohydrate binding proteins. Hence, we aimed at providing a comprehensive in silico account on sorghum's lectins and study their possible implication on various desired agronomical traits. Results: We have searched sorghum's genome from grain and sweet types for lectins putative genes that encode proteins with domains capable of differentially binding carbohydrate moieties and trigger various physiological responses. Of the 12 known plant lectin families, 8 were identified regarding their domain architectures, evolutionary relationships, physiochemical characteristics, and gene expansion mechanisms, and they were thoroughly addressed. Variations between grain and sweet sorghum lectin homologs in term of the presence/absence of certain other joint domains like dirigent and nucleotide-binding adaptor shared by APAF-1, R-proteins, and CED-4 (NB-ARC) indicate a possible neofunctionalization. Lectin sequences were found to be preferentially overrepresented in certain quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to various traits under several subcategories such as cold, drought, salinity, panicle/grain composition, and leaf morphology. The co-localization and distribution of lectins among multiple QTLs provide insights into the pleiotropic effects that could be played by one lectin gene in numerous traits. Conclusion: Our study offers a first-time inclusive details on sorghum lectins and their possible role in conferring tolerance against abiotic stresses and other economically important traits that can be informative for future functional analysis and breeding studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Increased understanding of the role of cortical structures in respiratory control may help the understanding of seizure‐induced respiratory dysfunction that leads to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). The aim of this study was to characterize respiratory responses to electrical stimulation (ES), including inhibition and enhancement of respiration. Methods: We prospectively recruited 19 consecutive patients with intractable epilepsy undergoing stereotactic electroencephalography (EEG) evaluation from June 2015 to June 2018. Inclusion criteria were patients ≥18 years in whom ES was indicated for clinical mapping of ictal onset or eloquent cortex as part of the presurgical evaluation. ES was carried out at 50 Hz, 0.2 msec, and 1–10 mA current intensity. Common brain regions sampled across all patients were amygdala (AMY), hippocampus (HG), anterior cingulate gyrus (CING), orbitofrontal cortex (OrbF), temporal neocortex (TNC), temporal pole (TP), and entorhinal cortex (ERC). Seven hundred fifty‐five stimulations were conducted. Quantitative analysis of breathing signal, that is, changes in breathing rate (BR), depth (TV), and minute ventilation (MV), was carried out during ES using the BreathMetrics breathing waveform analysis toolbox. Electrocardiography, arterial oxygen saturation, end‐tidal and transcutaneous carbon dioxide, nasal airflow, and abdominal and thoracic plethysmography were monitored continuously during stimulations. Results: Electrical stimulation of TP and CING (at lower current strengths <3 mA) increased TV and MV. At >7‐10 mA, CING decreased TV and MV. On the other hand, decreased TV and MV occurred with stimulation of mesial temporal structures such as AMY and HG. Breathing changes were dependent on stimulation intensity. Lateral temporal, entorhinal, and orbitofrontal cortices did not affect breathing either way. Significance: These findings suggest that breathing responses other than apnea can be induced by ES. Identification of two regions—the temporal pole and anterior cingulate gyrus—for enhancement of breathing may be important in paving the way to future development of strategies for prevention of SUDEP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional connectivity approaches have long been used in cognitive neuroscience to establish pathways of communication between and among brain regions. However, the use of these analyses to better understand how the brain processes chemosensory information remains nascent. In this review, we conduct a literature search of all functional connectivity papers of olfaction, gustation, and chemesthesis, with 103 articles discovered in total. These publications largely use approaches of seed-based functional connectivity and psychophysiological interactions, as well as effective connectivity approaches such as Granger Causality, Dynamic Causal Modeling, and Structural Equation Modeling. Regardless of modality, studies largely focus on elucidating neural correlates of stimulus qualities such as identity, pleasantness, and intensity, with task-based paradigms most frequently implemented. We call for further "model free" or data-driven approaches in predictive modeling to craft brain-behavior relationships that are free from a priori hypotheses and not solely based on potentially irreproducible literature. Moreover, we note a relative dearth of resting-state literature, which could be used to better understand chemosensory networks with less influence from motion artifacts induced via gustatory or olfactory paradigms. Finally, we note a lack of genomics data, which could clarify individual and heritable differences in chemosensory perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, multisensory integration of visual and olfactory stimuli has extensively been explored resulting in the identification of responsible brain areas. As the experimental designs of previous research often include alternating presentations of unimodal and bimodal stimuli, the conditions cannot be regarded as completely independent. This could lead to effects of an expected but surprisingly missing sensory modality. In our experiment, we used a common functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study design with alternating strong unimodal and bimodal olfactory‐visual food stimuli, in addition to a slight overhang of the bimodal stimuli in an effort to examine the effects of removing a visual or olfactory congruent stimulus for older people (41–83 years). Our results suggest that the processing of olfactory and visual stimuli stays intact over a wide age‐range and that the utilization of strong stimuli does not lead to superadditive multisensory integration in accordance with the principle of inverse effectiveness. However, our results demonstrate that the removal of a stimulus modality leads to an activation of additional brain areas. For example, when the visual stimulus modality is missing, the right posterior superior temporal gyrus shows higher activation, whereas the removal of the olfactory stimulus modality leads to higher activation in the amygdala/hippocampus and the postcentral gyrus. These brain areas are related to attention, memory, and the search of the missing stimulus. Consequently, careful attention must be paid to the design of a valid, multimodal sensory experiment while also controlling for cognitive expectancy effects that might confound multimodal results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the leading cause of death in refractory epilepsy patients. Accumulating evidence from recent human studies and animal models suggests that seizure-related respiratory arrest may be important for initiating cardiorespiratory arrest and death. Prior evidence suggests that apnea onset can coincide with seizure spread to the amygdala and that stimulation of the amygdala can reliably induce apneas in epilepsy patients, potentially implicating amygdalar regions in seizure-related respiratory arrest and subsequent postictal hypoventilation and cardiorespiratory death. This study aimed to determine if an extended amygdalar structure, the dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST), is involved in seizure-induced respiratory arrest (S-IRA) and death using DBA/1 mice, a mouse strain which has audiogenic seizures (AGS) and a high incidence of postictal respiratory arrest and death. The presence of S-IRA significantly increased c-Fos expression in the dBNST of DBA/1 mice. Furthermore, disruption of synaptic output from the dBNST via viral-induced tetanus neurotoxin (TeNT) significantly improved survival following S-IRA in DBA/1 mice without affecting baseline breathing or hypercapnic (HCVR) and hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR). This disruption in the dBNST resulted in changes to the balance of excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) synaptic events in the downstream brainstem regions of the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBN) and the periaqueductal gray (PAG). These findings suggest that the dBNST is a potential subcortical forebrain site necessary for the mediation of S-IRA, potentially through its outputs to brainstem respiratory regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] parental inbred lines IA100RPS (Reg. no. PL‐319, PI 698107) and IA101RPS (Reg. no. PL‐320, PI 698108) were developed by the Iowa State University sorghum breeding program in Boone, IA, and released in 2019. These restorer inbred lines were generated to provide the forage and biofuel industry with improved germplasm capable of producing photoperiod‐sensitive hybrids with high biomass yield adapted to northern latitudes. IA100RPS and IA101RPS were developed using the pedigree breeding method from the cross of P89008 and RTx2910. IA100RPS is a purple plant with red grain, ∼2.4 m tall, that flowers on average 70 d after planting. IA101RPS is a tan plant with red grain, ∼2.1 m tall, that flowers on average 72 d after planting. From 2015 to 2018, both lines were evaluated in testcross combinations with a set of public A‐lines in multiple locations in the state of Iowa. Hybrids generated with IA100RPS and IA101RPS had significantly higher biomass yield than those derived from RTx2910 and RTx2909, with superior lodging resistance and higher dry matter content. This germplasm adapted to northern latitudes represents novel inbred lines with good general combining ability for the production of photoperiod‐sensitive forage or biofuel hybrids and could be used as parental sources for the development of improved sorghum lines with adaptation to the midwestern United States. Core Ideas: Novel restorer lines were developed to produce photoperiod‐sensitive biomass hybrids.Pollinator parents are adapted to northern latitudes.Inbred lines in hybrid combination produce biomass yield superior to those of Tx2910 and Tx2909.IA100RPS‐ and IA101RPS‐derived hybrids are valuable for forage use and biofuel industry.IA100RPS and IA101RPS have good general combining ability with diverse public A‐lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-Hermitian lattices under semi-infinite boundary conditions sustain an extensive number of exponentially localized states, dubbed non-Hermitian quasi-edge modes. Quasi-edge states arise rather generally in systems displaying the non-Hermitian skin effect and can be predicted from the non-trivial topology of the energy spectrum under periodic boundary conditions via a bulk-edge correspondence. However, the selective excitation of the system in one among the infinitely many topological quasi-edge states is challenging both from practical and conceptual viewpoints. In fact, in any realistic system with a finite lattice size most of the quasi-edge states collapse and become metastable states. Here we suggest a route toward the selective and tunable excitation of topological quasi-edge states that avoids the collapse problem by emulating semi-infinite lattice boundaries via tailored on-site potentials at the edges of a finite lattice. We illustrate such a strategy by considering a non-Hermitian topological interface obtained by connecting two Hatano–Nelson chains with opposite imaginary gauge fields, which is amenable for a full analytical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Availability of different types of data and advances in data-driven techniques open the path to more detailed analyses of various phenomena. Here, we examine the insights that can be gained through the analysis of historical flight trajectories, using data mining techniques. The goal is to learn about usual (or nominal) choices airlines make in terms of routing, and their relation with aircraft types and operational flight costs. The clustering is applied to intra-European trajectories during one entire summer season, and a statistical test of independence is used to evaluate the relations between the variables of interest. Even though about half of all flights are less than 1000 km long, and mostly operated by one airline, along one trajectory, the analysis shows that, for longer flights, there exists a clear relation between the trajectory clusters and the operating airlines (in about 49% of city pairs) and/or the aircraft types (30%), and/or the flight costs (45%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity mechanism and function of bacterial base-pairing small non-coding RNA regulators (sRNAs) are largely shaped by their main interacting cellular partners, i.e., proteins and mRNAs. We describe here an MS2 affinity chromatography-based procedure adapted to unravel the sRNA interactome in nitrogen-fixing legume endosymbiotic bacteria. The method consists of tagging of the bait sRNA at its 5'-end with the MS2 aptamer followed by pulse overexpression and immobilization of the chimeric transcript from cell lysates by an MS2-MBP fusion protein conjugated to an amylose resin. The sRNA-binding proteins and target mRNAs are further profiled by mass spectrometry and RNAseq, respectively., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Time processing is a fundamental subject in cognitive sciences and neuroscience. Current research is deepening how our brains process time, revealing its essential role in human functionality and survival. In his autos sacramentales , Early Modern Spanish playwright Pedro Calderón de la Barca portrays the relationships between human inner workings and the Christian concept of time. These plays portray the experience of the present, the perception of the flow of time, the measure of time raging from seconds to eternity, and the mental travel necessary to inhabit the past and future with the help of memory and imagination. Calderón explores how the dramatic form can portray all these temporal phenomena and how that portrait of time can constrain the dramatic structure. The different parts of the brain in charge of executive decisions, projections, memories, computation, and calibration are the basis that leads these characters to make the choices that will take them to the future they have cast for themselves. This paper analyzes how the processes that Calderón ascribed to the soul of his characters in the 17th century relate to ongoing cognitive and neuroscientific findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Very few studies have investigated whether unilateral choanal atresia is associated with permanent olfactory deficits. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the olfactory performance of patients with unilateral choanal atresia postsurgically. Methods: Three patients with unilateral atresia were examined in terms of olfactory performance with the Sniffin' Sticks test (odor identification, threshold, and discrimination), size of the olfactory bulb, and volumetric brain changes. Results: All patients demonstrated significantly lower olfactory performance in terms of odor threshold on the same side with the choanal atresia. Grey matter reductions were found ipsilaterally in the hippocampus. Conclusions: This pilot study indicates that persistent olfactory deficits and volumetric brain changes are present in patients with unilateral choanal atresia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current review study is to shed light on the relationship between respiration and attention. Specifically, we examined whether and how respiration can provoke alterations in attentional states. Secondly, we investigated the benefits of breath-control training techniques in attention. Furthermore, we explored the effectiveness of virtual reality breathing training in improving respiration along with attention. Finally, we discussed the role of metacognition in the conscious synchronization of respiration with attention. It was revealed that every time respiration loses stability, attention fluctuates. Every time respiration is stabilized, attention finds steadiness. The results confirmed that respiration, attention, and as a result consciousness are characterized by bidirectional synchronization since their systems present coupling functions and dynamical interactions. It was also confirmed that breath control practices guarantee instant as well as long-lasting attentional improvements regulating all those mechanisms that strengthen mental alertness firing either the pathways of relaxation or excitation. Conscious-breath training is a practice of mindful metacognition that supports the coupling of attention with respiration. Metacognition in breathing utilizes respiration to improve attention but at the same time attention is used as a tool to consciously control breathing. Finally, breathing control training in virtual reality not only improves attention along with respiration but may finetune internal and external attention. This study concludes that breathing and attention are two 'giant' mechanisms that go hand-in-hand and carry on their 'shoulders' the whole cognition. Training conscious breathing via advanced technologies should be incorporated into the dialogue of education as methods for brain rewiring assuring better inclusion and academic achievement, especially for those with disabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple lines of evidence show that the human amygdala is part of a neural network important for perception of emotion from environmental stimuli, including for processing of intrinsic attractiveness/"goodness" or averseness/"badness," i.e., affective valence. Objective/Hypothesis: With this in mind, we investigated the effect of electrical brain stimulation of the human amygdala on perception of affective valence of images taken from the International Affective Picture Set (IAPS). Methods: Using intracranial electrodes in patients with epilepsy, we first obtained event-related potentials (ERPs) in eight patients as they viewed IAPS images of varying affective valence. Next, in a further cohort of 10 patients (five female and five male), we measured the effect of 50 Hz electrical stimulation of the left amygdala on perception of affective valence from IAPS images. Results: We recorded distinct ERPs from the left amygdala and found significant differences in the responses between positively and negatively valenced stimuli (p = 0.002), and between neutral and negatively valenced stimuli (p = 0.017) 300–500 ms after stimulus onset. Next, we found that amygdala stimulation did not significantly affect how patients perceived valence for neutral images (p = 0.58), whereas stimulation induced patients to report both positively (p = 0.05) and negatively (< 0.01) valenced images as more neutral. Conclusion: These results render further evidence that the left amygdala participates in a neural network for perception of emotion from environmental stimuli. These findings support the idea that electrical stimulation disrupts this network and leads to partial disruption of perception of emotion. Harnessing this effect may have clinical implications in treatment of certain neuropsychiatric disorders using deep brain stimulation (DBS) and neuromodulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]