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In the rubber hand illusion (RHI), individuals perceive a fake hand as their own when the hidden real hand and visible fake hand are synchronously stroked. Several RHI studies have reported that visual manipulation of the embodied fake hand inversely affects the perceptual processing of the observer's own hand (e.g., thermal or pain sensitivity). In this study, we examined whether motor manipulation of the fake hand similarly affects the observer's motor system. Our study employed a novel RHI paradigm wherein stroking was interrupted by unexpected movement of the fake hand (i.e., finger spreading) while measuring electroencephalography (EEG). We found that participants often spontaneously moved their hands in accordance with the movement of the fake hand only in the RHI (synchronous) sessions. EEG analyses revealed enhanced neural activation (mu-rhythm desynchronization) of the motor system during observation of the fake hand movement. Moreover, motor activation was greater in the synchronous than in the asynchronous condition and significantly correlated with the feeling of body ownership over the fake hand. These findings provide strong behavioral and neurophysiological evidence of ‘motor back projection’, in which the movement of an illusory embodied body part is inversely transferred to the sensorimotor system of the observer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The decomposition rate was significantly increased by the addition of oxygen. [•] The influence of DO concentration on selectivity for nitrite and nitrate was examined. [•] The selectivity for nitrite and nitrate was suppressed as the initial concentration of ammonia was increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background context: In animal studies, distal and proximal arm movements are differently affected by spinal pyramidotomy because of the contributions of spinal interneuronal systems. In animals, interneuronal systems are also suggested to contribute to the recovery of dexterous hand movements. However, no clinical tests to evaluate proximal arm movements and functions of interneuronal systems have been described. Purpose: To compare parameters from proximal arm movements between patients and controls and in patients before and after decompression surgery. Study design: A cross-sectional and longitudinal study performed at Kyorin University School of Medicine, Japan. Patient sample: Patients with clinical features of cervical spondylotic myelopathy, without coexisting neurological abnormality. Methods: Twenty-eight patients and 15 age-matched controls performed reach-to-touch movements. Analysis of these movements identified several parameters, including time for online correction (correction time) induced by sudden target jump. Parameters were compared with scores from conventional tests, such as Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score, 10-second grip-and-release test, manual muscle testing, and motor-evoked potential. Results: Preoperatively, patients showed long correction time and variable touch position, neither of which correlated with any scores from conventional tests. Reaching parameters recovered markedly immediately after decompression surgery, whereas conventional scores, which mainly assess hand functions, recovered much more slowly. Correction time and JOA score showed correlations when postoperative data were included, and long-term recovery of JOA score was more predictable with the inclusion of data for correction times from before and immediately after surgery. Conclusion: Analysis of arm movements is useful to evaluate symptoms and predict recovery of hand functions after surgery in patients with cervical myelopathy. These results suggest the importance of interneuronal systems, in addition to the pyramidal tract, for motor control even in humans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We synthesized bicyclic ether sialidase inhibitors such as tetrahydro-furan-2-yl, tetrahydro-pyran-2-yl, and oxepan-2-yl derivatives related to zanamivir. These compounds substituted by diol at the C-3′ and C-4′ positions resulted in the retention of low nanomolar inhibitory activities against not only influenza A virus sialidase but also influenza A virus in cell culture. Compound 11a in particular showed comparable efficacy in vivo relative to that of oseltamivir phosphate. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The rubber hand illusion (RHI) is a phenomenon whereby participants recognize a fake hand as their own. Studies have examined the effects of observing fake hand movements after the RHI on brain sensorimotor activity, although results remain controversial. To address these discrepancies, we investigated the effects of observation of fake hand rotation after the RHI on sensorimotor mu (μ: 8–13 Hz) and beta (β: 15–25 Hz) rhythm event-related desynchronization (ERD) using electroencephalography (EEG). Questionnaire results and proprioceptive drift revealed that the RHI occurred in participants when their invisible hand and fake visible hand were stroked synchronously but not during asynchronous stroking. Independent component (IC) clustering from EEG data during movement observation identified three IC clusters, including the right sensorimotor, left sensorimotor, and left occipital cluster. In the right sensorimotor cluster, we observed distinct modulation of μ and β ERD during fake hand rotation. Illusory ownership over the fake hand enhanced μ ERD but inversely attenuated β ERD. Further, the extent of μ ERD correlated with proprioceptive drift, but not with questionnaire ratings, whereas the converse results were obtained for β ERD. No ownership-dependent ERD modulation was detected in the left sensorimotor cluster. Alpha (α: 8–13 Hz) rhythm ERD of the left occipital cluster was smaller in the synchronous condition than in the asynchronous condition, but α ERD was not correlated with questionnaire rating or drift. These findings suggest that observing embodied fake hand rotation induces distinct cortical processing in sensorimotor brain areas. • Brain activity during fake hand rotation after RHI was investigated using EEG. • Embodied fake hand rotation enhanced sensorimotor mu (μ: 8–13 Hz) rhythm ERD. • Beta (β: 15–25 Hz) rhythm ERD was attenuated by embodied fake hand rotation. • μ and β ERD were related to hand localization and ownership, respectively. • Observing embodied fake hand rotation induces distinct sensorimotor processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sordaricin derivatives possessing a cyclohexane ring appendage attached via an ether, thioether, amine, oxime, ester or amide linkage were synthesized and their antifungal activity was evaluated in vitro. Compounds containing a thioether bond or an oxime bond as a linkage exhibited potent MICs (≤0.125 μg/mL) against four Candida albicans strains including azole-low-susceptible strains. They were also active (MIC ≤0.125 μg/mL) against Candida glabrata. Their in vivo efficacy was confirmed in a murine intravenous infection model with Candida albicans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]