Fully differential data for H2 dissociation in ultrashort (6 fs, 760 nm), linearly polarized, intense (0.44 PW/cm{2}) laser pulses with a stabilized carrier-envelope phase (CEP) were recorded with a ...reaction microscope. Depending on the CEP, the molecular orientation, and the kinetic energy release (KER), we find asymmetric proton emission at low KERs (0-3 eV), basically predicted by Roudnev and Esry, and much stronger than reported by Kling et al. Wave packet propagation calculations reproduce the salient features and discard, together with the observed KER-independent electron asymmetry, the first ionization step to be the reason for the asymmetric proton emission.
Reproducible functional assays to study in vitro neuronal networks represent an important cornerstone in the quest to develop physiologically relevant cellular models of human diseases. Here, we ...introduce DeePhys, a MATLAB-based analysis tool for data-driven functional phenotyping of in vitro neuronal cultures recorded by high-density microelectrode arrays. DeePhys is a modular workflow that offers a range of techniques to extract features from spike-sorted data, allowing for the examination of functional phenotypes both at the individual cell and network levels, as well as across development. In addition, DeePhys incorporates the capability to integrate novel features and to use machine-learning-assisted approaches, which facilitates a comprehensive evaluation of pharmacological interventions. To illustrate its practical application, we apply DeePhys to human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived dopaminergic neurons obtained from both patients and healthy individuals and showcase how DeePhys enables phenotypic screenings.
•DeePhys is a tool for electrophysiological phenotyping of in vitro neuronal cultures•DeePhys allows for phenotypic screenings at the cellular and network levels•DeePhys uncovers reliable features to predict healthy and mutant neuron lines•DeePhys enables comprehensive evaluations of pharmacological interventions
Hornauer and colleagues introduce DeePhys, a novel analysis workbench for functional phenotyping of human neurons using high-density microelectrode array data. The authors apply DeePhys to iPSC-derived neuronal cultures obtained from healthy controls and patients. They demonstrate that DeePhys uncovers reliable features to predict healthy and mutant neuron lines. Moreover, they show how DeePhys enables a detailed characterization of pharmacological interventions.
COMMONSIM: Simulating the utopia of COMMONISM Gerdes, Lena; Aigner, Ernest; Meretz, Stefan ...
Review of Evolutionary Political Economy,
10/2023, Letnik:
4, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
This research article presents an agent-based simulation hereinafter called COMMONSIM. It builds on COMMONISM, i.e. a large-scale commons-based vision for a utopian society. In this society, ...production and distribution of means are not coordinated via markets, exchange and money, or a central polity, but via bottom-up signalling and polycentric networks, i.e. ex ante coordination via needs. Heterogeneous agents care for each other in life groups and produce in different groups care, environmental as well as intermediate and final means to satisfy sensual-vital needs. Productive needs decide on the magnitude of activity in groups for a common interest, e.g. the production of means in a multi-sectoral artificial economy. Agents share cultural traits identified by different behaviours: a propensity for egoism, leisure, environmentalism and productivity. The narrative of this utopian society follows principles of critical psychology and sociology, complexity and evolution, the theory of commons and critical political economy. The article presents the utopia and an agent-based study of it, with emphasis on culture-dependent allocation mechanisms and their social and economic implications for agents and groups.
Functional properties of the brain may be associated with changes in complex brain networks. However, little is known about how properties of large-scale functional brain networks may be altered ...stepwise in patients with disturbance of consciousness, e.g., an encephalopathy. We used resting-state fMRI data on patients suffering from various degrees of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) to explore how topological and spatial network properties of functional brain networks changed at different cognitive and consciousness states. Severity of HE was measured clinically and by neuropsychological tests. Fifty-eight non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients and 62 normal controls were studied. Patients were subdivided into liver cirrhosis with no outstanding HE (NoHE, n=23), minimal HE with cognitive impairment only detectable by neuropsychological tests (MHE, n=28), and clinically overt HE (OHE, n=7). From the earliest stage, the NoHE, functional brain networks were progressively more random, less clustered, and less modular. Since the intermediate stage (MHE), increased ammonia level was accompanied by concomitant exponential decay of mean connectivity strength, especially in the primary cortical areas and midline brain structures. Finally, at the OHE stage, there were radical reorganization of the topological centrality—i.e., the relative importance—of the hubs and reorientation of functional connections between nodes. In summary, this study illustrated progressively greater abnormalities in functional brain network organization in patients with clinical and biochemical evidence of more severe hepatic encephalopathy. The early-than-expected brain network dysfunction in cirrhotic patients suggests that brain functional connectivity and network analysis may provide useful and complementary biomarkers for more aggressive and earlier intervention of hepatic encephalopathy. Moreover, the stepwise deterioration of functional brain networks in HE patients may suggest that hierarchical network properties are necessary for normal brain function.
•We studied effects of various degrees of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) on rs-fMRI.•Decrease of clustering and modularity of networks happened even before minimal HE.•Since minimal HE ammonia increased with nonlinear decay of connectivity strength.•Since overt HE there was extensive topological and spatial network reorganization.•We provide novel and complementary biomarkers of HE diagnosis and follow-up.
In article number 2000223, Silvia Ronchi, Michele Fiscella, and co‐workers show neurons plated on a high‐density microelectrode array. The small electrode size and the tight spacing between the 26 ...400 electrodes enable functional extracellular electrophysiological characterization of neurons across scales, from subcellular‐resolution features, like axons and dendrites, through individual neuronal cells to entire networks. Image credits: M. Oeggerli
This study aimed to define the genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of reversible acute liver failure (ALF) of infancy resulting from biallelic pathogenic TRMU variants and determine the role of ...cysteine supplementation in its treatment.
Individuals with biallelic (likely) pathogenic variants in TRMU were studied within an international retrospective collection of de-identified patient data.
In 62 individuals, including 30 previously unreported cases, we described 47 (likely) pathogenic TRMU variants, of which 17 were novel, and 1 intragenic deletion. Of these 62 individuals, 42 were alive at a median age of 6.8 (0.6-22) years after a median follow-up of 3.6 (0.1-22) years. The most frequent finding, occurring in all but 2 individuals, was liver involvement. ALF occurred only in the first year of life and was reported in 43 of 62 individuals; 11 of whom received liver transplantation. Loss-of-function TRMU variants were associated with poor survival. Supplementation with at least 1 cysteine source, typically N-acetylcysteine, improved survival significantly. Neurodevelopmental delay was observed in 11 individuals and persisted in 4 of the survivors, but we were unable to determine whether this was a primary or a secondary consequence of TRMU deficiency.
In most patients, TRMU-associated ALF was a transient, reversible disease and cysteine supplementation improved survival.
•Biodiversity and ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes are often disregarded.•We synthesize insights from “Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE” on rural areas.•Three case studies showcase how ...an economic perspective may inform decision-making.•Recommendations are provided for enhanced consideration and improved management.
Agricultural landscapes safeguard ecosystem services (ES) and biodiversity upon which human well-being depends. However, only a fraction of these services are generally considered in land management decisions, resulting in trade-offs and societally inefficient solutions. The TEEB Study (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) spearheaded the development of assessments of the economic significance of ES and biodiversity. Several national TEEB follow-ups have compiled case studies and derived targeted policy advice. By synthesizing insights from “Natural Capital Germany – TEEB DE” and focusing on rural areas, the objectives of this study were (i) to explore causes of the continued decline of ES and biodiversity, (ii) to introduce case studies exemplifying the economic significance of ES and biodiversity in land use decisions, and (iii) to synthesize key recommendations for policy, planning and management. Our findings indicate that the continued decrease of ES and biodiversity in Germany can be explained by implementation deficits within a well-established nature conservation system. Three case studies on grassland protection, the establishment of riverbank buffer zones and water-sensitive farming illustrate that an economic perspective can convey recognition of the values of ES and biodiversity. We conclude with suggestions for enhanced consideration, improved conservation and sustainable use of ES and biodiversity.
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