•Emergence of synchrony identified in verbal communication hyperscanning studies.•Identifies knowledge sharing, turn-taking, and naturalistic discussion paradigms.•Alignment predominantly occurred in ...the frontal and temporo-parietal areas.•Second-person neuroscience assists our understanding of interpersonal communication.•Suggest new experimental conditions and deep learning data analysis techniques.
A growing body of literature examining the neurocognitive processes of interpersonal linguistic interaction indicates the emergence of neural alignment as participants engage in oral communication. However, questions have arisen whether the study results can be interpreted beyond observations of cortical functionality and extended to the mutual understanding between communicators. This review presents evidence from electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning studies of interbrain synchrony (IBS) in which participants communicated via spoken language. The studies are classified into: knowledge sharing; turn-taking speech co-ordination; cooperation, problem-solving and creativity; and naturalistic discussion paradigms according to the type of interaction specified in each study. Alignment predominantly occurred in the frontal and temporo-parietal areas, which may reflect activation of the mirror and mentalizing systems. We argue that the literature presents a significant contribution to advancing our understanding of IBS and mutual understanding between communicators. We end with suggestions for future research, including analytical approaches and experimental conditions and hypothesize that brain-inspired neural networks are promising techniques for better understanding of IBS through hyperscanning.
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, affecting over 3.5 million women worldwide, yet the functional role of cis-regulatory elements including super-enhancers in different breast cancer subtypes ...remains poorly characterized. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer with a poor prognosis. Here we apply integrated epigenomic and transcriptomic profiling to uncover super-enhancer heterogeneity between breast cancer subtypes, and provide clinically relevant biological insights towards TNBC. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing, we identify genes that are specifically regulated by TNBC-specific super-enhancers, including FOXC1 and MET, thereby unveiling a mechanism for specific overexpression of the key oncogenes in TNBC. We also identify ANLN as a TNBC-specific gene regulated by super-enhancer. Our studies reveal a TNBC-specific epigenomic landscape, contributing to the dysregulated oncogene expression in breast tumorigenesis.
The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family member, Nlrp6, has been implicated in inflammasome signaling to activate caspase-1, which is essential for the production of ...mature IL-1β and IL-18. However, a function for Nlrp6 in vivo has never been demonstrated. Due to the relative high expression of Nlrp6 in intestinal tissue, we hypothesized that Nlrp6 has a role in intestinal homeostasis. Indeed, Nlrp6-deficient mice are more susceptible to chemically induced colitis as well as colitis-induced tumorigenesis than wild-type (WT) mice. Nlrp6-deficient mice exhibited significantly more inflammation within the colon than WT mice after dextran sulfate sodium treatment. Their inability to resolve inflammation and repair damaged epithelium as efficiently as WT mice resulted in prolonged increases in epithelial proliferative activity that likely underlie the increased propensity for tumors in these mice during chronic inflammation. We further show that the activity of Nlrp6 in hematopoietic cells is critical for protection against inflammation-related colon tumorigenesis. This study highlights the importance of NLR function in maintaining intestinal homeostasis to prevent the development of aberrant inflammation and tumor development within the colon.
•Gaming disorder patients experience raised delta and theta activity and reduced beta activity.•Gaming disorder coherence analysis suggest altered brain activity in the mid-to-high frequency ...range.•Internet addiction patients experience raised gamma and reduced beta and delta activity.•Results suggest that gaming disorder and internet addiction are unique neurophysiological constructs.
Neurophysiological studies of Gaming Disorder (GD) and internet addiction (IA) are providing important insight into neurocognitive mechanisms underpinning these disorders, which will enable more accurate diagnostic classification. Electroencephalography (EEG) has been widely used to investigate addictive behaviours, and offers advantages of accessibility, low cost, and excellent temporal resolution. The present systematic review evaluates resting-state EEG studies in GD and IA. Papers (n = 7293) were identified in the PsychARTICLES, PsychINFO, Scopus, and Pubmed databases. Following inclusion/exclusion criteria, ten studies remained for evaluation. Results suggest individuals with GD have raised delta and theta activity and reduced beta activity, with coherence analysis suggesting altered brain activity in the mid-to-high frequency range. IA individuals demonstrate raised gamma activity and reduced beta and delta activity. Results suggest that the altered brain activity found in GD/IA may represent distinct underlying neurophysiological markers or traits, lending further support to their unique constructs. Results are also discussed in relation to relevant psychometric measurements and similar (higher frequency) activity found in substance addiction. Future research should focus on replicating the findings in a wider variety of cultural contexts to support the neurophysiological basis of classifying GD and IA.
High power density is required to commercialize solid oxide fuel cells for vehicular applications. In this work, high performance of metal supported solid oxide fuel cells (MS-SOFCs) is achieved via ...catalyst composition, electrode structure, and processing optimization. The full cell configuration consists of a dense ceramic electrolyte and porous ceramic backbones (electrodes) sandwiched between porous stainless steel metal supports. The conventional YSZ electrolyte and backbones are replaced with more conductive and thinner 10Sc1CeSZ ceramics. MS-SOFCs are co-sintered in a single step and subsequently infiltrated with nanocatalysts. Five categories of cathode catalysts are screened in full cells, including: perovskites, nickelates, praseodymium oxide, binary layered composites, and ternary layered composites. Various anode compositions are also tested. The conventional LSM cathode catalyst is replaced with more active Pr6O11 and the Ni content of the SDC-Ni anode is increased. The resulting cells achieve a peak power of 1.56, 2.0, and 2.85 W cm−2 at 700, 750, and 800 °C, respectively, with 3%H2O/H2 as fuel and cathode exposed to air. Multiple cells show reproducible performance (Pmax = 1.50 ± 0.06 W cm−2) and OCV (1.10 ± 0.02 V). The performance is further increased with cathode exposed to pure oxygen (2.0 W cm−2 at 700 °C).
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•Performance of metal-supported SOFCs with stainless steel supports is improved.•Unprecedented and reproducible power density is demonstrated.•Numerous cathode and anode catalysts are evaluated.•Cell ASR is sensitive to cathode composition and cell configuration.
Aggression in substance use treatment seekers Wang, Grace Y.; Crook-Rumsey, Mark
Personality and individual differences,
October 2021, 2021-10-00, 20211001, Letnik:
180
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Recent evidence suggests that the relationship between substance use and aggression is more complicated than previously proposed, which may vary by drug type and a combination of physiological, ...environmental and individual differences. The present, cross-sectional study investigated differences in aggression and its relationship with schizotypal personality traits, negative emotional states (depression, anxiety, and stress) and coping style, in a sample of 104 patients with substance use disorder (SUD) and non-drug using control subjects (n = 57). The SUD group reported higher levels of physical aggression, anger, and hostility than the controls, which were positively correlated with schizotypal traits (i.e., impulsive nonconformity), negative emotional states and emotional coping style. Impulsive nonconformity appeared as the most influential factor in aggression, which is directly related to both physical and verbal aggression, and influenced anger and hostility, through emotional coping and negative emotional states, i.e., depression.
The paper proposes a new method for deep learning and knowledge discovery in a brain-inspired Spiking Neural Networks (SNN) architecture that enhances the model’s explainability while learning from ...streaming spatiotemporal brain data (STBD) in an incremental and on-line mode of operation. This led to the extraction of spatiotemporal rules from SNN models that explain why a certain decision (output prediction) was made by the model. During the learning process, the SNN created dynamic neural clusters, captured as polygons, which evolved in time and continuously changed their size and shape. The dynamic patterns of the clusters were quantitatively analyzed to identify the important STBD features that correspond to the most activated brain regions. We studied the trend of dynamically created clusters and their spike-driven events that occur together in specific space and time. The research contributes to: (1) enhanced interpretability of SNN learning behavior through dynamic neural clustering; (2) feature selection and enhanced accuracy of classification; (3) spatiotemporal rules to support model explainability; and (4) a better understanding of the dynamics in STBD in terms of feature interaction. The clustering method was applied to a case study of Electroencephalogram (EEG) data, recorded from a healthy control group (n = 21) and opiate use (n = 18) subjects while they were performing a cognitive task. The SNN models of EEG demonstrated different trends of dynamic clusters across the groups. This suggested to select a group of marker EEG features and resulted in an improved accuracy of EEG classification to 92%, when compared with all-feature classification. During learning of EEG data, the areas of neurons in the SNN model that form adjacent clusters (corresponding to neighboring EEG channels) were detected as fuzzy boundaries that explain overlapping activity of brain regions for each group of subjects.
The intestinal epithelium is highly regenerative. Rapidly proliferating LGR5+ crypt base columnar (CBC) cells are responsible for epithelial turnover needed to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Upon ...tissue damage, loss of LGR5+ CBCs can be compensated by activation of quiescent +4 intestinal stem cells (ISCs) or early progenitor cells to restore intestinal regeneration. LGR5+ CBC self-renewal and ISC conversion to LGR5+ cells are regulated by external signals originating from the ISC niche. In contrast, little is known about intrinsic regulatory mechanisms critical for maintenance of LGR5+ CBC homeostasis. We found that LGR5 expression in intestinal crypt cells is controlled by the circadian core clock gene BMAL1 and the BMAL1-regulated RNA-binding protein MEX3A. BMAL1 directly activated transcription of Mex3a. MEX3A in turn bound to and stabilized Lgr5 mRNA. Bmal1 depletion reduced Mex3a and Lgr5 expression and led to increased ferroptosis, which consequently decreased LGR5+ CBC numbers and increased the number of crypt cells expressing +4 ISC marker BMI1. Together, these findings reveal a BMAL1-centered intrinsic regulatory pathway that maintains LGR5 expression in the crypt cells and suggest a potential mechanism contributing to ISC homeostasis.
Histologic Mimics of Basal Cell Carcinoma Stanoszek, Lauren M; Wang, Grace Y; Harms, Paul W
Archives of pathology & laboratory medicine
141, Številka:
11
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
- Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common human malignant neoplasm and is a frequently encountered diagnosis in dermatopathology. Although BCC may be locally destructive, it rarely ...metastasizes. Many diagnostic entities display morphologic and immunophenotypic overlap with BCC, including nonneoplastic processes, such as follicular induction over dermatofibroma; benign follicular tumors, such as trichoblastoma, trichoepithelioma, or basaloid follicular hamartoma; and malignant tumors, such as sebaceous carcinoma or Merkel cell carcinoma. Thus, misdiagnosis has significant potential to result in overtreatment or undertreatment.
- To review key features distinguishing BCC from histologic mimics, including current evidence regarding immunohistochemical markers useful for that distinction.
- Review of pertinent literature on BCC immunohistochemistry and differential diagnosis.
- In most cases, BCC can be reliably diagnosed by histopathologic features. Immunohistochemistry may provide useful ancillary data in certain cases. Awareness of potential mimics is critical to avoid misdiagnosis and resulting inappropriate management.