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Compulsive-like rigidity may be associated with hyposerotonergia and increased kynurenine (KYN) pathway activity. Conversion of tryptophan (TRP) to KYN, which may contribute to hyposerotonergia, is bolstered by inflammation and could be related to altered gut microbiota composition. Here, we studied these mechanisms in a naturalistic animal model of compulsive-like behavioural rigidity, that is, large nest building (LNB) in deer mice (Peromyscus sp.).
Methods:
Twenty-four (24) normal nest building (NNB) and 24 LNB mice (both sexes) were chronically administered either escitalopram (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor; 50 mg/kg/day) or a control solution, with nesting behaviour analysed before and after intervention. After endpoint euthanising, frontal cortices and striata were analysed for TRP and its metabolites, plasma for microbiota-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its binding protein (lipopolysaccharide binding protein), and stool samples for microbial DNA.
Results:
LNB, but not NNB, decreased after escitalopram exposure. At baseline, LNB was associated with reduced frontal cortical TRP concentrations and hyposerotonergia that was unrelated to altered KYN pathway activity. In LNB mice, escitalopram significantly increased frontal-cortical and striatal TRP without altering serotonin concentrations. Treated LNB, compared to untreated LNB and treated NNB mice, had significantly reduced plasma LPS as well as a microbiome showing a decreased inferred potential to synthesise short-chain fatty acids and degrade TRP.
Conclusions:
These findings support the role of altered serotonergic mechanisms, inflammatory processes, and gut microbiome involvement in compulsive-like behavioural rigidity. Our results also highlight the importance of gut-brain crosstalk mechanisms at the level of TRP metabolism in the spontaneous development of such behaviour.
We develop combinatorial tools to study partial rigidity within the class of minimal $\mathcal {S}$-adic subshifts. By leveraging the combinatorial data of well-chosen Kakutani–Rokhlin partitions, we establish a necessary and sufficient condition for partial rigidity. Additionally, we provide an explicit expression to compute the partial rigidity rate and an associated partial rigidity sequence. As applications, we compute the partial rigidity rate for a variety of constant length substitution subshifts, such as the Thue–Morse subshift, where we determine a partial rigidity rate of 2/3. We also exhibit non-rigid substitution subshifts with partial rigidity rates arbitrarily close to 1 and, as a consequence, using products of the aforementioned substitutions, we obtain that any number in $[0, 1]$ is the partial rigidity rate of a system.
The exact mechanisms underlying dysfunction of the basal ganglia that lead to Parkinson’s disease (PD) remain unclear. According to the standard model of PD, motor symptoms result from abnormal neuronal activity in dysfunctional basal ganglia, which can be recorded in human basal ganglia structures as functional neurosurgery for PD provides a unique opportunity to record from these regions. Microelectrode and local field potential recordings studies show alterations exist in basal ganglia nuclei as well as in the motor thalamus. Lesioning or stimulation of the basal ganglia results in significant improvement of PD symptoms, supporting the view that basal ganglia–thalamocortical circuits abnormality is important in parkinsonism generation. Different patterns of oscillatory neuronal activity plus changes in firing rate are associated with different parkinsonian motor subtypes. We present recordings of basal ganglia activity obtained with microelectrode recordings in parkinsonian patients, providing pathophysiology insight.
David Chalmers argued against the claim that for all p, or even for all entertainable p, it is knowable a priori that p iff actually p. Instead of criticizing Chalmers’s argument, I suggest that it can be generalized, in a sense, and in interesting ways, concerning other principles about contingent a priori truths. In particular, I will argue that the puzzle presented by Chalmers runs parallel to others that do not turn on ‘actually’. Furthermore, stronger arguments can be presented that do not turn on apriority either, though they do entail the conclusion of Chalmers’s argument. All such puzzles involve interactions between rigidifying sentence-forming devices with factive operators.
Anosov automorphisms with Jordan blocks are not periodic data rigid. We introduce a refinement of the periodic data and show that this refined periodic data characterizes $C^{1+}$ conjugacy for Anosov automorphisms on $\mathbb {T}^4$ with a Jordan block.
We prove that the existence of one horosphere in the universal cover of a closed Riemannian manifold of dimension $n \geq 3$ with strongly $1/4$-pinched or relatively $1/2$-pinched sectional curvature, on which the stable holonomy along one horosphere coincides with the Riemannian parallel transport, implies that the manifold is homothetic to a real hyperbolic manifold.
We prove that every genuinely partially hyperbolic $\mathbb {Z}^r$-action by toral automorphisms can be perturbed in $C^1$-topology, so that the resulting action is continuously conjugate, but not $C^1$-conjugate, to the original one.
We investigate numbers of faces of polytopes. We begin with the face numbers of 3-polytopes. The characterisation of $f$-vectors of $d$-polytopes ($d\ge 4$) is beyond our current means.In view of this, researchers have considered characterisations of the "projections" of the $f$-vectors, namely the proper subsequences of the $f$-vector; we review the existing results. Section 8.2 gives a proof of a theorem of Xue (2021) on the minimum number of faces of $d$-polytopes with at most $2d$ vertices, answering a conjecture of Grunbaum (2003). This is followed by results on the minimum number of faces of $d$-polytopes with more than $2d$ vertices. We then discuss the lower and upper bound theorems for simplicial polytopes, due to Barnette (1973) and McMullen (1970), respectively, and their extensions such as the $g$-conjecture of McMullen (1971), now the $g$-theorem. The proof of the lower bound theorem connects rigidity theory and the combinatorics polytopes. The chapter ends with a discussion of the flag vector of a polytope. This includes a result of Bayer and Billera (1985) on linear equations for flag vectors like the Dehn--Sommerville’s equations for simplicial polytopes.
Inspired by a result in T. H. Colding. (16). Acta. Math.209(2) (2012), 229-263 [16] of Colding, the present paper studies the Green function $G$ on a non-parabolic $\operatorname {RCD}(0,\,N)$ space $(X,\, \mathsf {d},\, \mathfrak {m})$ for some finite $N>2$. Defining $\mathsf {b}_x=G(x,\, \cdot )^{\frac {1}{2-N}}$ for a point $x \in X$, which plays a role of a smoothed distance function from $x$, we prove that the gradient $|\nabla \mathsf {b}_x|$ has the canonical pointwise representative with the sharp upper bound in terms of the $N$-volume density $\nu _x=\lim _{r\to 0^+}\frac {\mathfrak {m} (B_r(x))}{r^N}$ of $\mathfrak {m}$ at $x$;
\[ |\nabla \mathsf{b}_x|(y) \le \left(N(N-2)\nu_x\right)^{\frac{1}{N-2}}, \quad \text{for any }y \in X \setminus \{x\}. \]
Moreover the rigidity is obtained, namely, the upper bound is attained at a point $y \in X \setminus \{x\}$ if and only if the space is isomorphic to the $N$-metric measure cone over an $\operatorname {RCD}(N-2,\, N-1)$ space. In the case when $x$ is an $N$-regular point, the rigidity states an isomorphism to the $N$-dimensional Euclidean space $\mathbb {R}^N$, thus, this extends the result of Colding to $\operatorname {RCD}(0,\,N)$ spaces. It is emphasized that the almost rigidities are also proved, which are new even in the smooth framework.
Treating comorbid obsessive-compulsive disorder and eating disorders can be complex as OCD symptoms such as rigidity, perfectionism, and reassurance seeking can disrupt typical ED interventions such as meal planning. Additionally, the content of a patient’s obsessions in OCD can shift to different categories in their life, including ED recovery (e.g., intrusive thoughts that they are going to relapse). To address the challenges of treating comorbid OCD and EDs, it is important to promote flexibility in various aspects of meal planning such as incorporating a variety of foods, being flexible with meal times, meal prepping, and promoting mindfulness and self-compassion. Cognitive techniques such as cognitive restructuring can be used to help patients identify and challenge rigid and perfectionistic thinking. Gradual exposure to flexibility can also be used to help patients learn to tolerate and manage their anxiety. A collaborative approach involving patients in the meal-planning process can also be helpful in reducing rigidity and promoting a more active role in decision-making.
Self-monitoring is a core component of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and is often used in the treatment of eating disorders (EDs) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It enables individuals to observe their behaviors and thought patterns, identify triggers and areas of strength, and make changes to improve their mental and physical health. For individuals with co-occurring OCD and EDs, self-monitoring can be especially useful in discerning between their thoughts and those influenced by their pathology. However, there is a risk that self-monitoring can become compulsive and part of the OCD. In people with OCD, the process of information gathering can fuel the disorder and lead to prolonged distress, rigidity, and a lack of mindfulness. To address this, a therapist may suggest modifying the self-monitoring protocol or incorporating OCD-specific treatment such as exposure and response prevention (ERP) into the treatment plan. It’s important for individuals to seek professional help and support to address their co-occurring OCD and ED. Clinicians treating EDs should be aware of the signs that OCD may be impacting the self-monitoring process and take steps to address it.
We prove that under restrictions on the fiber, any fibered partially hyperbolic system over a nilmanifold is leaf conjugate to a smooth model that is isometric on the fibers and descends to a hyperbolic nilmanifold automorphism on the base. One ingredient is a result of independent interest generalizing a result of Hiraide: an Anosov homeomorphism of a nilmanifold is topologically conjugate to a hyperbolic nilmanifold automorphism.
Let $\mathfrak{p}$ be a prime ideal in a commutative noetherian ring R and denote by $k(\mathfrak{p})$ the residue field of the local ring $R_\mathfrak{p}$. We prove that if an R-module M satisfies $\operatorname{Ext}_R^{n}(k(\mathfrak{p}),M)=0$ for some $n\geqslant\dim R$, then $\operatorname{Ext}_R^i(k(\mathfrak{p}),M)=0$ holds for all $i \geqslant n$. This improves a result of Christensen, Iyengar and Marley by lowering the bound on n. We also improve existing results on Tor-rigidity. This progress is driven by the existence of minimal semi-flat-cotorsion replacements in the derived category as recently proved by Nakamura and Thompson.
In this paper, we study centrally symmetric Birkhoff billiard tables. We introduce a closed invariant set $\mathcal {M}_{\mathcal {B}}$ consisting of locally maximizing orbits of the billiard map lying inside the region $\mathcal {B}$ bounded by two invariant curves of $4$-periodic orbits. We give an effective bound from above on the measure of this invariant set in terms of the isoperimetric defect of the curve. The equality case occurs if and only if the curve is a circle.
In this article we define a logical system called Hybrid Partial Type Theory ($\mathcal {HPTT}$). The system is obtained by combining William Farmer’s partial type theory with a strong form of hybrid logic. William Farmer’s system is a version of Church’s theory of types which allows terms to be non-denoting; hybrid logic is a version of modal logic in which it is possible to name worlds and evaluate expressions with respect to particular worlds. We motivate this combination of ideas in the introduction, and devote the rest of the article to defining, axiomatising, and proving a completeness result for $\mathcal {HPTT}$.
Problems with cognitive flexibility have been associated with multiple psychiatric disorders, but there has been little understanding of how cognitive flexibility compares across these disorders. This study examined problems of cognitive flexibility in young adults across a range of psychiatric disorders using a validated computerized trans-diagnostic flexibility paradigm. We hypothesized that obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (eg, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trichotillomania, and skin-picking disorder) would be associated with pronounced flexibility problems as they are most often associated with irrational or purposeless repetitive behaviors.
Methods
A total of 576 nontreatment seeking participants (aged 18-29 years) were enrolled from general community settings, provided demographic information, and underwent structured clinical assessments. Each participant undertook the intra-extra-dimensional task, a validated computerized test measuring set-shifting ability. The specific measures of interest were total errors on the task and performance on the extra-dimensional (ED) shift, which reflects the ability to inhibit and shift attention away from one stimulus dimension to another.
Results
Participants with depression and PTSD had elevated total errors on the task with moderate effect sizes; and those with the following had deficits of small effect size: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), antisocial personality disorder, and binge-eating disorder. For ED errors, participants with PTSD, GAD, and binge-eating disorder exhibited deficits with medium effect sizes; those with the following had small effect size deficits: depression, social anxiety disorder, OCD, substance dependence, antisocial personality disorder, and gambling disorder.
Conclusions
These data indicate cognitive flexibility deficits occur across a range of mental disorders. Future work should explore whether these deficits can be ameliorated with novel treatment interventions.