Distinct Patterns of Overlapping Neural Representation Of Sensorimotor Variables in Primary and Associative Motor Areas: Insights from Chronic Intracortical Recordings in the Human Brain

Although many of the movements we make are produced without much conscious thought, motor control requires the coordination of multiple brain areas and several complex processes to occur as seamlessly as it does, two of which are primary motor cortex (MC) and posterior parietal cortex (PPC). Traditional views of the organization of these areas have mapped separate parts of the body, or effectors, onto separate areas of cortex. However, recent findings that show extensively overlapping representations of different effectors within small populations of neurons in both motor and posterior parietal cortices have reignited a debate over the organization of each area. The studies in this thesis aim to reconcile these conflicting records through a unique opportunity to directly compare between single neuron recordings in both areas in human participants chronically implanted with intracortical electrode arrays. The functional organization of these areas was investigated during movement of different parts of the body in different contexts. In the first study, I found that the entire body is represented within small patches of both MC and PPC, but with a clear emphasis on a single part of the body in MC. In PPC, although single neurons showed specialization for particular effectors, there were an equal number of neurons specialized for every effector resulting in an equal strength in representation of the population across effectors. In the second study, I investigated how spatial information was represented across different effectors. In particular, it has previously been reported that some areas within PPC represent location of an object in space relative to the position of one's eyes, or in an eye-centered coordinate frame, while other areas represent location in space as relative to the position of one's body, for example a hand-centered coordinate frame. We find that the population in PPC flexibly changes the coordinate frame it encodes the location of a visual target in from hand centered during a reach paradigm to eye-centered during a delayed saccade paradigm. In contrast to the multiple coordinate frames coded by the population in PPC, in MC the population predominantly encoded spatial location in hand-centered coordinates during reaches. The flexibility seen in the population results in PPC motivate the study of Chapter 4, where I explore these changing coordinate frames in more detail at the single neuron level. I found that the distinct coordinate frames are encoded by almost entirely separate sets of neurons, with very few neurons engaged in both task. Overall, these results show clearly distinct organization of motor variables within MC and PPC, and offer important insights into the possible functions of each region both within and beyond motor control. In addition, they highlight a need to continue exploring how neurons within a defined region respond beyond their traditionally associated functional roles

Molecular basis of FIR-mediated c-myc transcriptional control

The far upstream element (FUSE) regulatory system promotes a peak in the concentration of c-Myc during cell cycle. First, the FBP transcriptional activator binds to the FUSE DNA element upstream of the c-myc promoter. Then, FBP recruits its specific repressor (FIR), which acts as an on/off transcriptional switch. Here we describe the molecular basis of FIR recruitment, showing that the tandem RNA recognition motifs of FIR provide a platform for independent FUSE DNA and FBP protein binding and explaining the structural basis of the reversibility of the FBP-FIR interaction. We also show that the physical coupling between FBP and FIR is modulated by a flexible linker positioned sequentially to the recruiting element. Our data explain how the FUSE system precisely regulates c-myc transcription and suggest that a small change in FBP-FIR affinity leads to a substantial effect on c-Myc concentration.MRC Grant-in-aid U11757455

Body condition as a quantitative tool to guide hand-rearing decisions in an endangered seabird

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Wiley via the DOI in this record.The use of wildlife rehabilitation for conservation is growing, but quantitative criteria are rarely used to guide whether and when to remove animals from the wild. Since 2006, large numbers of African penguin Spheniscus demersus chicks have been abandoned annually when adults enter moult with dependent young still in the nest. As part of conservation initiatives for this endangered species, these chicks were collected and hand reared to fledging age. Post-release survival has been well documented; in this study we develop models to predict survival of individuals during rehabilitation with the aim of improving hand-r earing success and guiding the use of scarce resources. For 1455 chicks abandoned between 2008 and 2013, we assessed whether a chick body condition index (BCI) could predict outcome (death or release) and time spent in rearing. In addition, for a subset of 173 chicks in 2012, we assessed whether BCI at admission influenced chick growth rates during rehabilitation and examined whether the use of additional structural measurements and sex provided additional power to predict outcome. Models predicted an 82.9% (95% confidence interval: 73.3–89.5%) release rate for chicks admitted with a BCI > 0, the proposed guideline for removal from colonies. This fell below 50% for BCIs  <  −1.05; 66% of chicks were admitted with BCIs between these thresholds. Adding bill length to BCI improved the relative model fit, but in both cases only ~70% of rehabilitation outcomes were correctly predicted. Chicks that grew more quickly were more likely to be released and, for those that were released, had lower BCI at admission suggesting compensatory growth. Chicks were generally removed at an appropriate time to ensure successful hand-rearing. However, 32% were admitted in good condition, highlighting the importance of using adaptive management to guide wildlife rehabilitation and the allocation of conservation resources.This study contributes to the African Penguin Chick Bolstering Project (CBP) and benefitted from donations to the CBP from 46 supporter organizations (listed at http://tinyurl.com/SANCCOB-CBP). In addition, the Earthwatch Institute (N.J.P., R.B.S.), the Leiden Conservation Foundation (R.B.S.) and our institutions provided financial support. We thank the staff members and volunteers of SANCCOB, CapeNature, the City of Cape Town's Environmental Resource Management Department, the IFAW oil spill response team who helped to rear the chicks

Pediatric Life Support: 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations

This 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science With Treatment Recommendations (CoSTR) for pediatric life support is based on the most extensive evidence evaluation ever performed by the Pediatric Life Support Task Force. Three types of evidence evaluation were used in this review: systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and evidence updates. Per agreement with the evidence evaluation recommendations of the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, only systematic reviews could result in a new or revised treatment recommendation. Systematic reviews performed for this 2020 CoSTR for pediatric life support included the topics of sequencing of airway-breaths-compressions versus compressions-airway-breaths in the delivery of pediatric basic life support, the initial timing and dose intervals for epinephrine administration during resuscitation, and the targets for oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in pediatric patients after return of spontaneous circulation. The most controversial topics included the initial timing and dose intervals of epinephrine administration (new treatment recommendations were made) and the administration of fluid for infants and children with septic shock (this latter topic was evaluated by evidence update). All evidence reviews identified the paucity of pediatric data and the need for more research involving resuscitation of infants and children

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment and their removal from wastewater through constructed wetlands

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products are emerging organic contaminants that are continuously introduced into the environment due to their regular and widespread consumption by human beings. Their sources and fate in the aquatic environment are multiple and depend on the particular compound. Conventional wastewater treatment plants constitute the major source of these contaminants in the environment due to their incomplete removal by unspecific treatment methods. While advanced treatment technologies are available to treat these substances, their use is oftentimes not economically justified under the current concept of wastewater treatment. In this context, constructed wetlands represent an appropriate low-cost, energy-efficient, and easy-to-operate technology to treat wastewater, which are able to achieve a very high removal of these substances due to the vast number of biotic and abiotic processes that occur within these units, especially when different wetland types are used.Postprint (published version

Effects of Subtle Heterosexism on Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals

This study examined heterosexism that is not specifically targeted at LGB individuals, but may be experienced as antigay harassment, and may contribute to the stigma and stress they experience. LGB participants (N= 175, primarily Euro-American college students), read scenarios of heterosexuals saying or assuming things potentially offensive to gay men or lesbian women. For each scenario, they indicated the extent to which they would be offended and less open about their sexuality, and their perceptions of the behaviors as evidence of antigay prejudice. Not only did respondents find the scenarios to be offensive and indicative of prejudice, but perceived offensiveness was associated with a decreased likelihood of coming out. In comparison to gay men, lesbian women and bisexuals found the scenarios more offensive and more indicative of prejudice. Limitations of the current study and directions for future research are outlined

Usage possibilities of EQF in comparing sectoral qualifications within the construction and hospitality sectors in Lithuania, Austria, the Czech Republic, France and Ireland

This article examines the first findings of the comparative research of qualifications in the construction and hospitality sectors in Lithuania, Austria, the Czech Republic, France and Ireland. Its aim is to define, how the EQF can be helpful for the comparison of sectoral qualifications of the different EU countries belonging to different structures of qualifications inside, possessing different internal structures and compositions due basically to their contextual specificitie