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Recent research suggests that cognitive performance might be altered by the respiratory-synchronized activity generated in the brain. Previous human studies, however, have yielded inconsistent results when assessing task performance during distinct respiratory phases (inspiratory phase vs. expiratory phase). We therefore tested whether cognitive performance was regulated based on the timing of breathing components (e.g., expiratory-to-inspiratory (EI) phase transition) during the retrieval process. To determine the role of respiration in performance, the present study employed healthy subjects (n = 18) in a delayed matching-to-sample visual recognition task where a test cue was given in the respiratory phase-locked (Phased) or regularly paced (Non-phased) presentation paradigm. During the Phased session but not during the Non-phased session, the response time (RT) of the task increased by 466 ms (p = 0.003), and accuracy decreased by 21.4% (p = 0.004) when the retrieval process encompassed the EI transition. Breathing-dependent changes were particularly prominent when the EI transition occurred during the middle step of the retrieval process. Meanwhile, changes in the RT and accuracy were not observed when the retrieval process encompassed the inspiratory-to-expiratory phase transition. This is the first time that a certain phase transition in the respiratory cycle has been shown to modulate performance on a time scale of several seconds in a cognitive task. We propose that attenuation of these breathing-dependent cognitive fluctuations might be crucial for the maintenance and stability of successful performance in daily life and sports.

Enteric viruses like norovirus, rotavirus and astrovirus have long been accepted as spreading in the population through fecal–oral transmission: viruses are shed into feces from one host and enter the oral cavity of another, bypassing salivary glands (SGs) and reaching the intestines to replicate, be shed in feces and repeat the transmission cycle 1 . Yet there are viruses (for example, rabies) that infect the SGs 2 , 3 , making the oral cavity one site of replication and saliva one conduit of transmission. Here we report that enteric viruses productively and persistently infect SGs, reaching titres comparable to those in the intestines. We demonstrate that enteric viruses get released into the saliva, identifying a second route of viral transmission. This is particularly significant for infected infants, whose saliva directly transmits enteric viruses to their mothers’ mammary glands through backflow during suckling. This sidesteps the conventional gut–mammary axis route 4 and leads to a rapid surge in maternal milk secretory IgA antibodies 5 , 6 . Lastly, we show that SG-derived spheroids 7 and cell lines 8 can replicate and propagate enteric viruses, generating a scalable and manageable system of production. Collectively, our research uncovers a new transmission route for enteric viruses with implications for therapeutics, diagnostics and importantly sanitation measures to prevent spread through saliva. Enteric viruses replicate in salivary glands, can be propagated in salivary gland-derived spheroids and cell lines, and are released into saliva, which is a new transmission route having implications for therapeutics, diagnostics and sanitation measures.  

The Kuroshio‐Oyashio Extension and Gulf Stream oceanic frontal zones are characterized by enhanced activity of synoptic‐scale cyclones and anticyclones and vigorous air‐sea heat and moisture exchange in the cold season. However, the time‐mean air‐sea exchange attributed separately to cyclones and anticyclones has not been assessed. Here we quantify cyclonic and anticyclonic contributions around the frontal zones to surface turbulent heat fluxes, precipitation, and the associated hydrological cycle using atmospheric general circulation model experiments with observed and artificially smoothed sea‐surface temperature gradients. The evaluation reveals that precipitation exceeds evaporation climatologically within cyclonic domains while evaporation dominates within anticyclonic domains. These features as well as the net moisture transport from anticyclonic to cyclonic domains are all enhanced by the sharpness of the frontal zones. Oceanic frontal zones thus climatologically act to strengthen the hydrological cycle. These findings aid our understanding of the relationship between midlatitude air‐sea interactions on synoptic‐ and longer‐time scales. Plain Language Summary Two regions with pronounced sea surface temperature gradients over the North Pacific and North Atlantic are known as major oceanic frontal zones that are important for air‐sea interactions with vigorous heat and moisture release from the ocean to the atmosphere. Recent studies found that day‐to‐day variations, due to migratory low‐ and high‐pressure systems, are essential for the time‐mean air‐sea interaction over these frontal zones. However, the relative importance of those low‐ and high‐pressure systems has not been quantified. Using atmospheric general circulation model experiments with observed and artificially smoothed sea‐surface temperature gradients, we show that contributions of high‐pressure systems are important for the enhanced heat and moisture supply from the ocean in response to realistic oceanic frontal zones, while contributions of low‐pressure systems are crucial for the changes in rainfall. We further demonstrate that the moisture transport from high‐ to low‐pressure systems is strengthened climatologically with the sharpness of midlatitude oceanic frontal zones, indicative of a strengthening of the hydrological cycle. Our findings indicate that synoptic‐scale migratory low‐ and high‐pressure systems play an important role in midlatitude air‐sea interactions. These results bridge the gap between our understanding of midlatitude air‐sea interactions from day‐to‐day to climatic time scales. Key Points Cyclonic and anticyclonic contributions to air‐sea heat and moisture exchange are quantified around midlatitude oceanic frontal zones Oceanic frontal zones enhance surface turbulent heat fluxes within anticyclones and precipitation within cyclones, respectively Sharpness of midlatitude oceanic frontal zones strengthens the net moisture transport from anticyclones to cyclones

During offline brain states, such as sleep and memory consolidation, respiration coordinates hippocampal activity. However, the role of breathing during online memory traces remains unclear. Here, we show that respiration can be recruited during online memory encoding. Optogenetic manipulation was used to control activation of the primary inspiratory rhythm generator PreBötzinger complex (PreBötC) in transgenic mice. When intermittent PreBötC-induced apnea covered the object exploration time during encoding, novel object detection was impaired. Moreover, the mice did not exhibit freezing behavior during presentation of fear-conditioned stimuli (CS + ) when PreBötC-induced apnea occurred at the exact time of encoding. This apnea did not evoke changes in CA3 cell ensembles between presentations of CS + and conditioned inhibition (CS − ), whereas in normal breathing, CS + presentations produced dynamic changes. Our findings demonstrate that components of central respiratory activity (e.g., frequency) during online encoding strongly contribute to shaping hippocampal ensemble dynamics and memory performance. Breathing might be crucial for cognition during both offline and online brain states. Here, the authors show that temporal apnea induced by activating the PreBötzinger complex during memory formation resulted in memory impairments.

The impact of mid‐latitude oceanic frontal zones with sharp meridional sea‐surface temperature (SST) gradients on the middle atmosphere circulation during austral winter is investigated by comparing two idealized experiments with a high‐top gravity wave (GW) permitting general circulation model. Control run is performed with realistic frontal SST gradients, which are artificially smoothed in no‐front run. The control run simulates active baroclinic waves and GW generation around the mid‐latitude SST front, with GWs propagating into the stratosphere and mesosphere. In the no‐front run, by contrast, baroclinic‐wave activity is significantly suppressed, and GWs with smaller amplitude are excited and then dissipated at higher altitudes in the mesosphere. Westward wave forcing in the winter hemisphere was more pronounced in the control run up to ∼0.03 hPa, resulting in a more realistic reproduction of the middle atmospheric polar vortex. The results demonstrate the importance of realistic mid‐latitude ocean conditions for simulating the middle atmosphere circulation. Plain Language Summary The impact of the mid‐latitude oceanic fronts characterized by sharp sea‐surface temperature (SST) gradients is investigated using a global gravity‐wave permitting atmospheric model that represents the troposphere, stratosphere and mesosphere. Two idealized experiments were conducted with different SST profiles. Control run features a realistic SST profile characterized by frontal SST gradients in mid‐latitudes, while they are smoothed out artificially in the “no‐front” run. In winter the no‐front run simulates significantly suppressed generation of synoptic‐scale cyclones and anticyclones, which results in reduced upward propagation of higher‐frequency gravity waves into the stratosphere, exerting marked impact on the large‐scale circulation extending as high as the mesopause. Notably higher gravity wave activity in the control run leads to a weaker, and more realistic wintertime polar vortex in the stratosphere and mesosphere. This study emphasizes the potential influence of mid‐latitude oceanic conditions on the atmospheric circulation, not only in the troposphere but also throughout the stratosphere and mesosphere. Key Points High‐top global model simulations are conducted to examine the impact of a mid‐latitude oceanic front on the atmospheric circulation The oceanic front enhances tropospheric baroclinic‐wave activity and generation of gravity waves propagating into the middle atmosphere The enhanced gravity waves act to reduce cold bias of the wintertime polar vortex in the Southern Hemisphere middle atmosphere

The presence of both inversion ( P ) and time-reversal ( T ) symmetries in solids leads to a double degeneracy of the electronic bands (Kramers degeneracy). By lifting the degeneracy, spin textures manifest themselves in momentum space, as in topological insulators or in strong Rashba materials. The existence of spin textures with Kramers degeneracy, however, is difficult to observe directly. Here, we use quantum interference measurements to provide evidence for the existence of hidden entanglement between spin and momentum in the antiperovskite-type Dirac material Sr 3 SnO. We find robust weak antilocalization (WAL) independent of the position of E F . The observed WAL is fitted using a single interference channel at low doping, which implies that the different Dirac valleys are mixed by disorder. Notably, this mixing does not suppress WAL, suggesting contrasting interference physics compared to graphene. We identify scattering among axially spin-momentum locked states as a key process that leads to a spin-orbital entanglement. The spin texture in presence of both inversion and time-reversal symmetries has been difficult to observe. Here, Nakamura et al. report evidence of hidden entanglement between spin and momentum in antiperovskite Dirac material Sr 3 SnO.

Following the early prediction of the skyrmion lattice (SkL)—a periodic array of spin vortices—it has been observed recently in various magnetic crystals mostly with chiral structure. Although non-chiral but polar crystals with C n v symmetry were identified as ideal SkL hosts in pioneering theoretical studies, this archetype of SkL has remained experimentally unexplored. Here, we report the discovery of a SkL in the polar magnetic semiconductor GaV 4 S 8 with rhombohedral ( C 3 v ) symmetry and easy axis anisotropy. The SkL exists over an unusually broad temperature range compared with other bulk crystals and the orientation of the vortices is not controlled by the external magnetic field, but instead confined to the magnetic easy axis. Supporting theory attributes these unique features to a new Néel-type of SkL describable as a superposition of spin cycloids in contrast to the Bloch-type SkL in chiral magnets described in terms of spin helices. A Néel-type skyrmion lattice is found to be formed in the lacunar spinel GaV 4 S 8 —a polar magnetic semiconductor with rhombohedral symmetry and easy axis anisotropy.

Breathing is a natural daily action that one cannot do without, and it sensitively and intensely changes under various situations. What if this essential act of breathing can impact our overall well-being? Recent studies have demonstrated that breathing oscillations couple with higher brain functions, i.e., perception, motor actions, and cognition. Moreover, the timing of breathing, a phase transition from exhalation to inhalation, modulates specific cortical activity and accuracy in cognitive tasks. To determine possible respiratory roles in attentional and memory processes and functional neural networks, we discussed how breathing interacts with the brain that are measured by electrophysiology and functional neuroimaging: (i) respiration-dependent modulation of mental health and cognition; (ii) respiratory rhythm generation and respiratory pontomedullary networks in the brainstem; (iii) respiration-dependent effects on specific brainstem regions and functional neural networks (e.g., glutamatergic PreBötzinger complex neurons, GABAergic parafacial neurons, adrenergic C1 neurons, parabrachial nucleus, locus coeruleus, temporoparietal junction, default-mode network, ventral attention network, and cingulo-opercular salience network); and (iv) a potential application of breathing manipulation in mental health care. These outlines and considerations of “brain–breath” interactions lead to a better understanding of the interoceptive and cognitive mechanisms that underlie brain–body interactions in health conditions and in stress-related and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Osteoporosis is one of the major comorbidity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A low bone mineral density (BMD), especially in the femoral neck, was associated with the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) and rheumatoid factor (RF). However, there are few reports investigated the influence of autoantibody on BMD change in patients with RA after osteoporosis treatment. There are a lot of evidence that denosumab increased BMD in patients with osteoporosis, and improved bone eroison in patients with RA. We evaluated the BMD change in patients with RA treated denosumab, and assessed the effect of autoantibody, such as ACPA and RF. This study included 196 RA patients (187 female; mean age, 71.0 ± 9.0 years; mean disease duration, 17.8 ± 15.3 years; mean DAS28-CRP, 2.9 ± 1.2) who fullfilled the criteria of osteoporosis and treated with denosumab. Disease activity of RA was treated according to EULAR recommendation 2022. BMD at the lumbar spine, proximal femoral and femoral neck were evaluated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry at baseline and 12 months after denosumab treatment. We evaluated the influence of ACPA and RF for BMD change. Improvement ratio of BMD at the lumbar spine, proximal femoral and femoral neck were 6.4% (p<0.01), 3.4% (p<0.01) and 1.6% (p=0.10) after 12 months treatment. There were no differences in BMD at the lumbar spine, proximal femoral and femoral neck before denosumab treatment between 101 ACPA-positive patients and 30 ACPA-negative patients (0.77 vs 0.77g/cm2, p=0.68; 0.58 vs 0.61 g/cm2, p=0.13; 0.48 vs 0.47 g/cm2, p=0.7), between 128 RF-positive patients and 42 RF-negative patients (0.75 vs 0.76 g/cm2, p=0.47; 0.59 vs 0.59 g/cm2, p=0.68; 0.47 vs 0.46 g/cm2, p=0.12). Improvement ratio of BMD at the lumbar spine, proximal femoral and femoral neck were 6.1% (p<0.01), 3.6% (p<0.01) and -0.18% (p=0.49) in ACPA-positive patients, 5.8% (p<0.01), 2.3% (p=0.01) and 3.7% (p<0.01) in ACPA-negative patients after 12 months treatment. Although there were no differences between ACPA-positive patients and ACPA-negative patients in BMD change at the lumbar spine (p=0.86) and proximal femoral (p=0.72), BMD change at femoral neck in ACPA-positive patients were lower than ACPA-negative patients (p=0.03). Improvement ratio of BMD at the lumbar spine, proximal femoral and femoral neck were 6.6% (p<0.01), 3.5% (p<0.01) and 1.1% (p=0.47) in RF-positive patients, 6.5% (p=0.04), 2.5% (p<0.01) and 2.0% (p=0.06) in RF-negative patients after 12 months treatment. There were no differences between RF-positive patients and RF-negative patients in BMD change at the lumbar spine (p=0.08), proximal femoral (p=0.66) and femoral neck (p=0.45). Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that low BMD at baseline (β=-0.35, p<0.01) and ACPA positive (β=-0.2, p=0.04) inhibited the improvement of BMD at femoral neck (table 1). Denosumab improved BMD at the lumbar spine and proximal femoral in patients with RA independently regardless of ACPA and RF. ACPA-positive patients were difficult to improve BMD at femoral neck despite denosumab treatment. [1] Gökhan Sargin et al. Eur J Rheumatol 2019; 6(1): 29-33. NIL. None Declared. Table 1Multivariate linear regression analysis of risk factors to inhibit the improvement of BMD at femoral neck in patients with RA.β95% CIpAge (years)-0.054-0.193, 0.1030.551Male (0, male; 1, female)-0.007-5.815, 5.3670.937ACPA (0, negative; 1, positive)-0.199-6.814, -0.2330.036RF (0, negative; 1, positive)0.011-2.995, 3.3640.909BMD of femoral neck at baseline (g/cm2)-0.355-44.361, -14.521<0.01Glucocorticoid dose (mg/day)-0.032-0.741, 0.5000.701b/tsDMARDs use (0, no; 1, yes)-0.110-4.219, 0.9080.204Preosteoporosis treatment (0, no; 1, yes)0.029-2.078, 2.9450.733RA, rheumatoid arthritis; BMD, bone mineral density; ACPA, anti-citrullinated protein antibodies; RF, rheumatoid factor; b/tsDMARDs, biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

It has been pointed out that climatological-mean precipitation-evaporation difference (P–E) should increase under global warming mainly through the increasing saturation level of moisture. This study focuses on evaporation changes under global warming and their dependency on the direct warming effect, on the basis of future projections from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5). Over most of the tropical, subtropical and midlatitude regions, the direct contribution from surface temperature increase is found to dominate the projected increase in evaporation. This contribution is nevertheless offset partially, especially over the oceans, by contributions from weakening surface winds and increasing near-surface relative humidity. Greater warming of surface air than of the sea surface also acts to reduce surface evaporation, by reducing both the exchange coefficient and humidity contrast at the surface. Though generally of secondary importance, this contribution is the dominant factor over the subpolar oceans. Over the polar oceans, the effect of sea-ice retreat dominantly contributes to the evaporation increase in winter, whereas the reduced exchange coefficient and surface humidity contrast coupled with the sea-ice retreat account for most of the response during summertime. Over the continents, changes in the surface exchange coefficient, reflecting changes in soil moisture and vegetation among other factors, are important to modulate the direct effects of the warming and the generally reduced surface air relative humidity.