Rapid High-Sensitivity Analysis of Methane Clumped Isotopes (ΔCHD and ΔCHD) Using Mid-Infrared Laser Spectroscopy.

Mid-infrared laser absorption spectroscopy enables rapid and nondestructive analysis of methane clumped isotopes. However, current analytical methods require a sample size of 20 mL STP (0.82 mmol) of pure CH gas, which significantly limits its application to natural samples.

Impact of physiological ionic strength and crowding on kinesin-1 motility.

The motility of biological molecular motors has typically been analyzed by in vitro reconstitution systems using motors isolated and purified from organs or expressed in cultured cells. The behavior of biomolecular motors within cells has frequently been reported to be inconsistent with that observed in reconstituted systems in vitro. Although this discrepancy has been attributed to differences in ionic strength and intracellular crowding, understanding how such parameters affect the motility of motors remains challenging.

Wavefront-aberration-tolerant diffractive deep neural networks using volume holographic optical elements.

As the demand for computational performance in artificial intelligence (AI) continues to increase, diffractive deep neural networks (DNNs), which can perform AI computing at the speed of light by repeated optical modulation with diffractive optical elements (DOEs), are attracting attention. DOEs are varied in terms of fabrication methods and materials, and among them, volume holographic optical elements (vHOEs) have unique features such as high selectivity and multiplex recordability for wavelength and angle. However, when those are used for DNNs, they suffer from unknown wavefront aberrations compounded by multiple fabrication errors.

Hierarchical representations of relative numerical magnitudes in the human frontoparietal cortex.

The ability to estimate numerical magnitude is essential for decision-making and is thought to underlie arithmetic skills. In humans, neural populations in the frontoparietal regions are tuned to represent numerosity. However, it remains unclear whether their response properties are fixed to a specific numerosity (i.

Animacy processing by distributed and interconnected networks in the temporal cortex of monkeys.

Animacy perception, the ability to discern living from non-living entities, is crucial for survival and social interaction, as it includes recognizing abstract concepts such as movement, purpose, and intentions. This process involves interpreting cues that may suggest the intentions or actions of others. It engages the temporal cortex (TC), particularly the superior temporal sulcus (STS) and the adjacent region of the inferior temporal cortex (ITC), as well as the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC).

A neurocognitive mechanism for increased cooperation during group formation.

How do group size changes influence cooperation within groups? To examine this question, we performed a dynamic, network-based prisoner's dilemma experiment with fMRI. Across 83 human participants, we observed increased cooperation as group size increased. However, our computational modeling analysis of behavior and fMRI revealed that groups size itself did not increase cooperation.

Engineering Dynein Motors to Move on DNA Nanotube Tracks.

The recent development of the DNA-binding domain (DBD)-dynein chimera motors with a dynein motor core and a DNA-binding domain has made it possible to move on DNA nanostructure tracks. In contrast to naturally occurring cytoskeletal filaments such as microtubules and actin filaments, DNA tracks can be programmed with structural properties such as length, stiffness, and circumference. There might be many advantages to using DNA as a track, for example, for applications in nanotechnology.

Right middle occipital gyrus is associated with egocentric spatial orientation during body tilt: Evidence from a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

Accurate perception of the orientation of external objects relative to the body, known as egocentric spatial orientation, is fundamental to performing action. Previously, we found via behavioural and magnetic resonance imaging voxel-based morphometry studies that egocentric spatial orientation is strongly distorted when the whole body is tilted with respect to gravity, and that the magnitude of this perceptual distortion is correlated with the grey matter volume of the right middle occipital gyrus (rMOG). In the present study, we further validated the association between the neural processing in the rMOG and the perceptual distortion by transiently suppressing neural activity in this region using low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and evaluating the consequent effect on perceptual distortion.

Managing linguistic obstacles in multidisciplinary, multinational, and multilingual research projects.

Environmental challenges are rarely confined to national, disciplinary, or linguistic domains. Convergent solutions require international collaboration and equitable access to new technologies and practices. The ability of international, multidisciplinary and multilingual research teams to work effectively can be challenging.

Evaluating correlations between reading ability and psychophysical measurements of dynamic visual information processing in Japanese adults.

The reading ability of English readers has been shown to correlate with psychophysical measurements of dynamic visual information processing. This study investigated the relationship between reading ability and dynamic visual information processing in healthy adult native Japanese readers (n = 46). Reading ability was assessed using three different tests: the Japanese Adult Reading Test (JART), transposed-letter detection task, and oral reading.

Cybernetic avatars: Teleoperation technologies from in-body monitoring to social interaction.

Cybernetic avatars integrate physical and virtual avatars to enhance human capabilities in diverse scales and contexts.

Dopamine-induced relaxation of spike synchrony diversifies burst patterns in cultured hippocampal networks.

The intricate interplay of neurotransmitters orchestrates a symphony of neural activity in the hippocampus, with dopamine emerging as a key conductor in this complex ensemble. Despite numerous studies uncovering the cellular mechanisms of dopamine, its influence on hippocampal neural networks remains elusive. Combining in vitro electrophysiological recordings of rat embryonic hippocampal neurons, pharmacological interventions, and computational analyses of spike trains, we found that dopamine induces a relaxation in network synchrony.

Revealing single-neuron and network-activity interaction by combining high-density microelectrode array and optogenetics.

The synchronous activity of neuronal networks is considered crucial for brain function. However, the interaction between single-neuron activity and network-wide activity remains poorly understood. This study explored this interaction within cultured networks of rat cortical neurons.

[How Can We Reconstruct Mental Imagery from Brain Activities?].

Advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled the extraction of information such as perception and motor intention from neural activities, which is called neural decoding. A recent study demonstrated that mental imagery can be reconstructed from brain activity measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This article describes the method of mental image reconstruction and the underlying technologies that support it.

Broadband generation and tomography of non-Gaussian states for ultra-fast optical quantum processors.

Quantum information processors benefit from high clock frequencies to fully harness quantum advantages before they are lost to decoherence. All-optical systems offer unique benefits due to their inherent 100-THz carrier frequency, enabling the development of THz-clock frequency processors. However, the bandwidth of quantum light sources and measurement devices has been limited to the MHz range, with nonclassical state generation rates in the kHz range.

Unprecedented NO production by nitrate-ammonifying with distinctive NO isotopocule signatures.

Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), driven by nitrate-ammonifying bacteria, is an increasingly appreciated nitrogen-cycling pathway in terrestrial ecosystems. This process reportedly generates nitrous oxide (NO), a strong greenhouse gas with ozone-depleting effects. However, it remains poorly understood how NO is produced by environmental nitrate-ammonifiers and how to identify DNRA-derived NO.

Neural Transformation from Retinotopic to Background-Centric Coordinates in the Macaque Precuneus.

Visual information is initially represented in retinotopic coordinates and later in craniotopic coordinates. Psychophysical evidence suggests that visual information is further represented in more general coordinates related to the external world; however, the neural basis of nonegocentric coordinates remains elusive. This study investigates the automatic transformation from egocentric to nonegocentric coordinates in the macaque precuneus (two males, one female), identified by a functional imaging study as a key area for nonegocentric representation.

Optogenetic estimation of synaptic connections in brain slices.

Background: Detection of synaptic connections is essential for understanding neural circuits. By using optogenetics, current injection, and glutamate uncaging to activate presynaptic cells and simultaneously recording the subsequent response of postsynaptic cells, the presence of synaptic connections can be confirmed. However, these methods present throughput challenges, such as the need for simultaneous multicellular patch-clamp recording and two-photon microscopy.

Effects of website-based risk communication of radio-frequency electromagnetic fields on general public.

Background: Radio-frequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) are utilized in communications and appliances and are indispensable in daily life. However, some people have concerns about the adverse health effects of RF-EMFs; therefore, effective risk communication (RC) is needed in this field.

Objective: In this study, we investigate public attitudes towards RF-EMFs and examine the impact of RC via a website on these attitudes and objective knowledge.

Bistable perception of symbolic numbers.

Numerals, that is, semantic expressions of numbers, enable us to have an exact representation of the amount of things. Visual processing of numerals plays an indispensable role in the recognition and interpretation of numbers. Here, we investigate how visual information from numerals is processed to achieve semantic understanding.