Heterogeneous and higher-order cortical connectivity undergirds efficient, robust, and reliable neural codes.

We hypothesized that the heterogeneous architecture of biological neural networks provides a substrate to regulate the well-known tradeoff between robustness and efficiency, thereby allowing different subpopulations of the same network to optimize for different objectives. To distinguish between subpopulations, we developed a metric based on the mathematical theory of simplicial complexes that captures the complexity of their connectivity by contrasting its higher-order structure to a random control and confirmed its relevance in several openly available connectomes. Using a biologically detailed cortical model and an electron microscopic dataset, we showed that subpopulations with low simplicial complexity exhibit efficient activity.

The Late Orchid Catches the Bee: Frost Damage and Pollination Success in the Face of Global Warming in a European Terrestrial Orchid.

Global warming changes flowering times of many plant species, with potential impacts on frost damage and their synchronization with pollinator activity. These effects can have severe impacts on plant fitness, yet we know little about how frequently they occur and the extent of damage they cause. We addressed this topic in a thermophilic orchid with a highly specific pollination mechanism, the Small Spider Orchid, RchB, in six populations in Northern Switzerland.

Physical Activity and Dexamethasone for Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Preliminary Placebo-Controlled, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial.

Background: Physical activity (PA) and dexamethasone (Dex) when used independently have modest benefits for cancer-related fatigue (CRF) in patients with advanced cancer. In this study we aimed to determine the feasibility (adherence, safety, and satisfaction) of combining PA with Dex versus PA with placebo (PBO) for CRF, and to explore the effects of PA+Dex and PA+PBO on CRF.

Patients And Methods: In this phase II, randomized, double-blind controlled trial, eligible patients had advanced cancer and a CRF score of ≥4 on the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) for fatigue (0-10 scale).

Of mice and men: Dendritic architecture differentiates human from mice neuronal networks.

The organizational principles that distinguish the human brain from other species have been a long-standing enigma in neuroscience. Focusing on the uniquely evolved human cortical layers 2 and 3, we computationally reconstruct the cortical architecture for mice and humans. We show that human pyramidal cells form highly complex networks, demonstrated by the increased number and simplex dimension compared to mice.

Neuroradiological Findings in Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy with a Particular Consideration of the Boston Criteria 2.0: An Imaging Review.

In the elderly, cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is the most common cause for intracranial lobar hemorrhages. CAA is caused by the accumulation of amyloid-β fibrils in cortical and leptomeningeal vessels. In 2022, the Boston Criteria 2.