Functional Similarities Research Articles

Application of Different Techniques in Facial Nerve Reconstruction on Experimental Models

Abstract The facial nerve is the main motor nerve that activates the mimic musculature of the face. Nerve tree injuries lead to paralysis of the same half of the face. In addition to functional damage in the form of difficulty in chewing, speaking and closing the eyes, paresis is the cause of pronounced emotional and social problems in patients. The etiology of facial nerve damage is diverse, including trauma, neurological, infectious, metabolic, vascular, neoplastic processes, as well as idiopathic and iatrogenic. Of special importance to us are iatrogenic injuries of the transcranial part of the facial nerve, which most often occur as part of surgical interventions in the area of the parotid lodge, where the nerve itself branches into its final branches that innervate facial muscles. A high degree of iatrogenic damage over 40% requires the timely application of adequate techniques and materials for the purpose of neuroregeneration. Considering the delicacy of the function of the facial nerve and the consequences of its damage, previous methods described in some studies, used in the regeneration process are based on the summarized results of experimental studies on different animal models. A prerequisite for the success of an experimental study is certainly the anatomical compatibility of experimental animals and humans. Based on the analyzed research, in the last decade rats were used the most, which can be linked to acceptable maintenance costs. Nevertheless, rabbits represent an ideal experimental model due to their anatomical and functional similarities with humans, in which it is possible to successfully simulate paralysis of the facial nerve and monitor the recovery of mimic musculature using the method of movement visualization and electromyography.

Predicting CircRNA-Disease Associations via Feature Convolution Learning With Heterogeneous Graph Attention Network.

Exploring the relationship between circular RNA (circRNA) and disease is beneficial for revealing the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis. However, a blind search for all possible associations between circRNAs and diseases through biological experiments is time-consuming. Although some prediction methods have been proposed, they still have limitations. In this study, a novel computational framework, called GATCL2CD, is proposed to forecast unknown circRNA-disease associations (CDAs). First, we calculate Gaussian interactive profile kernel (GIP) similarity and semantic similarity for diseases, circRNA sequence similarity and function similarity, and GIPs for circRNAs. Then, we combine them to construct a heterogeneous graph. Thereafter, GATCL2CD proposes a feature convolution learning framework, that uses a multi-head dynamic attention mechanism to obtain different aggregated representations of features that correspond to the nodes in the heterogeneous graph. Then, it extracts rich higher-order features from the stacked feature representations of each node by using of a single-layer convolutional neural network with filter kernels of different sizes. Finally, a pairwise element-wise product operation is implemented to capture the interactions of higher-order feature representations, and a multilayer perceptron neural network is introduced as an efficient classifier for inferring potential CDAs. Major experimental results under 5-fold cross-validation (5-fold CV) on three different datasets show that GATCL2CD is superior to five other state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, case studies demonstrate the suitability of GATCL2CD as a useful tool for identifying potential disease-related circRNAs.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging study of children's brain development in phonological processing and speeded naming

AbstractThe brain structure and language skills of children are understood to be in a phase of rapid development and are especially represented by key phonological‐semantic expressions that actively develop with age. In the present study, resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 85 healthy children were retrospectively analyzed. Correlations of the phonological processing and speeded naming of specific brain regions of interest with age were assessed using the fractional amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuations (fALFF), degree centrality (DC), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and chain mediation effect analysis. Our results suggest that the developmental stages of children's posterior cingulate gyrus (PCC) and right inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) mediate language development in children. Additionally, the functional similarity of the bilateral IFG triangular part was noted during development as was the stronger activation and higher local and whole‐brain connectivity of the left IFG triangular part. Moreover, the PCC displayed stronger activation and higher local connectivity in the same period. Our data suggest that the development of the PCC and right IFG and the similarity of bilateral IFG function are important imaging markers of phonological processing and speeded naming in children and that the PCC and IFG show a more comprehensive development with age.

Evolving Neuro-Fuzzy Systems-Based Design of Experiments in Process Identification

This paper presents a new design of experiment approach based on an evolving neuro-fuzzy model. The input of the process is proposed by a space-filling method that uses a sequence of step functions to maximise the coverage of the antecedent clusters in the input space of the evolving model, which is called the heuristic step sequence (HSS). When the system reaches a steady state, a new rule is added, existing rules are merged based on the similarity of the consequent transfer functions, and a new optimal excitation is calculated. The output error model structure was chosen because it assumes a noise distribution common to real processes and is suitable for identification, while the step function input signal is one of the most commonly used signals in identification and control. A filtered recursive least squares method is used to identify the consequent parameters of the output error models and the optimisation filter is adapted based on the the confidence interval of the local model. Evaluations were performed on a Hammerstein type model comparing the HSS method with a staircase excitation and on a real plate heat-exchanger pilot plant. The experiments show that the proposed HSS method outperforms the staircase excitation and can be used to identify nonlinear dynamical systems of Hammerstein-Wiener type.

An in vitro model for equine placental research

A fundamental understanding of placental development and its associated pathologies is crucial to mitigating the losses associated with placental disorders. Organoids are widely used to investigate the developmental biology of organs and in disease modeling. In humans, placental organoids have been successfully developed using trophoblast cells. In this study, we aimed to 1) develop placental organoids using pre-term and term equine placentae, 2) evaluate the organoid structures, 3) compare the organoid transcriptome with their respective chorioallantois (CA), and 4) evaluate organoids based on their starting material (pre-term vs term). The CA was collected from healthy placentae following elective abortion (80-100d of gestation) and following spontaneous term parturition. CA samples were processed for culture, fixed for histology, and stored in RNAlater. For culture, each CA sample was enzymatically digested to a single cell suspension and was seeded into 50µL Matrigel Matrix droplets surrounded by medium. Passage-3 organoids (P3) were used for histology (H&E), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and transcriptomic analysis. Steroid production and conversion were measured by mass spectrometry (MS) of culture media. After optimization of culture conditions, we produced 3D-organoids (Pre-Term, n=6 and Term, n=3). Organoids were passaged up to 12 times over ±3 months and were successfully frozen and re-cultured post-thaw. Total extracted RNA from initial CA samples and organoids was sequenced (150PE; ∼43 million reads/sample). The genes expressed in the organoidsclosely resemble those of the tissue of origin, 19.4% of the expressed genes were differentially expressed (DEGs) between the initial CA and P3 (n=3,949 genes; FDR<0.001). H&E staining of both CA and the organoids indicates the epithelial origin of the cells within the organoids. The enriched expression of trophoblast-specific genes PLAC8B, GATA3, KRT7, VGLL1, and EGFR, and the presence of the trophoblast-specific genes TFAP2A and TFAP2C, and GATA2 in the organoids confirm their trophoblast identity. The presence of SOX2 and OCT4, as demonstrated by IHC, confirms the pluripotency of the organoid cells. The SRD5A1 and SRD5A3 genes were expressed in all organoids and our preliminary MS analysis demonstrated the conversion of progesterone to 5α-DHP, further suggesting functional integrity. Comparison between Pre-Term and Term organoids revealed 552 DEGs (FDR<0.001), with downregulation of immune/inflammatory/defense responses and blood vessel development, and upregulation of molecule transport, development, and adhesion in the Pre-Term group. To conclude, this is the first report of placental organoids in domestic animals. The organoids show structural, transcriptomic, and functional similarities to the equine placenta in vivo and consequently could be used as an in vitro model to study placental development and associated pathologies. Funded by The Foundation for The Horse, GJCRF, UGent BOF, BAEF, L'Oréal-UNESCO FWO, and the Center for Equine Health at UC Davis.

Tamburstock: Its Practical and Aesthetic Functions in Conducting Parade Concerts

Parade concerts occupy a special place in activities of modern military bands. Years of practice show that the most relevant form of the parade concert performance entails two parts: a march parade and a concert section. The bandmaster uses the manual conductor’s technique in the concert section, while a twirling baton is used to manage the band in the march parade, the bandmaster of which is called the drum major or “tamburmajor”.This article describes the origin and functional particularities of the drum major’s position in the armed forces of Europe and Russia. Throughout the entire period of the position’s existence, the uniform of drum majors has been notable for its splendor, picturesqueness and dress-up severity. Apart from managing the band on the march and training of musicians, other requirements could be imposed on drum majors in the 17th and 18th centuries. Moreover, this article considers the topical issue of a correct term for the tamburstock (twirling baton).The author puts forward an assumption of a connection between the tamburstock and the battuta: their formal and functional similarity help to determine the most likely time of appearance of the twirling baton — tamburstock. The obvious influence of German music culture on the development of Russian military music since the time of Peter I explains our term “tamburstock” for the twirling baton.The criteria and methods of using the twirling baton emphasize its importance when conducting a band and express the colorfulness and improvisation features typical for a parade concert. The inclusion of the new “majorettes” genre in the program section of band performances is conditioned by the fact of its active development not only in the United States and Europe, but also in Russia. Due to the operational versatility and widespread demand of the tamburstock in recent decades, there has been an interest in its use by military musical groups of Asian countries.

Osmotically Activated Anion Current of Phycomyces Blakesleeanus-Filamentous Fungi Counterpart to Vertebrate Volume Regulated Anion Current.

Studies of ion currents in filamentous fungi are a prerequisite for forming a complete understanding of their physiology. Cytoplasmic droplets (CDs), obtained from sporangiophores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus, are a model system that enables the characterization of ion currents in the native membrane, including the currents mediated by the channels not yet molecularly identified. Osmotically activated anionic current with outward rectification (ORIC) is a dominant current in the membrane of cytoplasmic droplets under the conditions of hypoosmotic stimulation. We have previously reported remarkable functional similarities of ORIC with the vertebrate volume regulated anionic current (VRAC), such as dose-dependent activation by osmotic difference, ion selectivity sequence, and time and voltage dependent profile of the current. Using the patch clamp method on the CD membrane, we further resolve VRAC-like ORIC characteristics in this paper. We examine the inhibition by extracellular ATP and carbenoxolone, the permeation of glutamate in presence of chloride, selectivity for nitrates, and activation by GTP, and we show its single channel behavior in excised membrane. We propose that ORIC is a functional counterpart of vertebrate VRAC in filamentous fungi, possibly with a similar essential role in anion efflux during cell volume regulation.

DSF inactivator RpfB homologous FadD upregulated in Bradyrhizobium japonicum under iron limiting conditions

Phytopathogenic bacteria Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) causes black rot and other plant diseases. Xcc senses diffusible signal factor (DSF) as a quorum-sensing (QS) signal that mediates mainly iron uptake and virulence. RpfB deactivates DSF in this DSF–QS circuit. We examined differential gene expression profiles of Bradyrhizobium japonicum under low versus high iron conditions and found that fadD and irr were upregulated under low iron (log2 fold change 0.825 and 1.716, respectively). In addition to having similar protein folding patterns and functional domain similarities, FadD shared 58% sequence similarity with RpfB of Xcc. The RpfB–DSF and FadD–DSF complexes had SWISSDock molecular docking scores of − 8.88 kcal/mol and − 9.85 kcal/mol, respectively, and the 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation results were in accord with the docking results. However, significant differences were found between the binding energies of FadD–DSF and RpfB–DSF, indicating possible FadD-dependent DSF turnover. The protein–protein interaction network showed that FadD connected indirectly with ABC transporter permease (ABCtp), which was also upregulated (log2 fold change 5.485). We speculate that the low iron condition may be a mimetic environmental stimulus for fadD upregulation in B. japonicum to deactivate DSF, inhibit iron uptake and virulence of DSF-producing neighbors. This finding provides a new option of using B. japonicum or a genetically improved B. japonicum as a potential biocontrol agent against Xcc, with the added benefit of plant growth-promoting properties.

A molluscan class struggle: exploring the surprisingly uneven distribution of chemosymbiosis among two major mollusk groups

Many bivalves and gastropods from marine reducing environments such as deep ocean hydrothermal vents and seeps host chemosynthetic bacteria in a nutritional symbiosis. Despite their functional similarities, the distribution of chemosymbiosis in these two mollusk classes is surprisingly uneven: the number of bivalve species known to host chemosynthetic symbionts is more than twenty times that of gastropods, and chemosymbiotic bivalves are reported from a far greater diversity of marine habitats. Here we explore the potential drivers for this trend, including but not limited to physiological differences, habitat characteristics, and sampling bias. Sampling bias likely contributes to the magnitude of the observed discrepancy, but we posit that the phenomenon itself reveals how intrinsic (e.g. morphology) and extrinsic (e.g. organic matter availability) factors might have shaped the distribution of extant gastropod and bivalve associations. These observations also serve as an impetus for increasing investigation into gastropods and other mollusks from chemically reducing environments to better understand the evolution and ecology of chemosymbiosis among molluscan hosts.

The value of public audit - theories and empirical evidence

This study is a review of the main issues in public audit. The theoretical concepts of operation, organizational differences, national and regional peculiarities, visions of specialists in the field, etc. are investigated. Practically all states in the world have institutions or commissions with the ability to check the bodies that work with public money. There are three basic models based on which any superior entity in the public audit functions: Westminster, the board of administration, and Napoleonic. Obviously, variations may appear. However, there are more and more trends of structural and functional similarity of higher institutions. Their sources are classified into three types of isomorphism: coercive, mimetic and normative. For a deeper analysis, we did not limit ourselves to findings of the structures, but we even addressed the theoretical bases of the necessity or value of the public audit. Within the broader framework of neo-institutional theory, we have reviewed six economic and administrative theories that could explain the demand for public audit: agency theory, signal theory, assurance theory, management control theory, governance theory, and confirmation theory. In order not to remain only in the strictly theoretical framework, we also discussed the opinions of specialists working in the field, expressed through a questionnaire administered by the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions. The conclusions try to foreshadow some future trends in public audit, under the pressure of current economic transformations.

ModDiff: Modularity Similarity-Based Malware Homologation Detection

In recent years, the number and scale of malicious codes have grown exponentially, posing an increasing threat to cybersecurity. Hence, it is of great research value to quickly identify variants of malware and master their family information. Binary code similarity detection, as a key technique in reverse analysis, plays an indispensable role in malware analysis. However, most existing methods focus on similarity at the function or basic block level, ignoring the modular composition of malware. Implementing similarity detection among malware modules would greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of homology detection. Inspired by the successful application of deep-learning techniques in program analysis, we propose a binary code module similarity detection method called ModDiff. It abstracts malware into attribute graphs, clusters functions using graph-embedded clustering algorithms to decompose malware into function-based modules, and calculates module similarity using graph-matching algorithms and natural language processing-based function similarity detection algorithms. The experimental results indicated that ModDiff improves the accuracy of module partitioning by 10.8% compared with previous work, and the highest F1 score of 89% is achieved in malware homologation detection. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of ModDiff in detecting and analyzing malware with important application value and development prospects.

A comprehensive review on phytochemistry, nutritional and pharmacological properties of Momordica charantia

is known as the bitter gourd or bitter melon and is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae. It is a medicinal plant and its fruit is consumed as a food also. This plant is grown in tropical as well as subtropical areas around the world, mainly in Asia, India, China, South America and Brazil. Due to the presence of bioactive compounds like charantin, α-momorcharin and cucurbitacins, some of which possess potent biological actions, this plant is used in folk medicine all over the world and has many pharmacological activities, like antidiabetic, anticancerous, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, antimalarial, antihelmintic etc. This plant has been used as traditional medicine in various diseases treatments like syphilis, rheumatism, gout, and illness of the liver and spleen. But mainly is famous for its effectiveness in the treatment of diabetes due to the presence of polypeptide-p and is also known as p-insulin due to very similarity in function against diabetes.

Evaluation of scleral thickness in patients with Fuchs endothelial dystrophy.

To evaluate scleral thickness using anterior segment-optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) in Fuchs endothelial dystrophy (FED) and compare the results with healthy individuals. Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with FED and 30 eyes of 30 age, gender, spherical equivalent and axial length matched healthy participants were included. All subjects underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination including endothelial cell density and central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements. Scleral thickness was measured by AS-OCT (Swept Source-OCT, Triton,Topcon,Japan) in 4 quadrants (superior, inferior, nasal, temporal) from 6mm posterior to the scleral spur. The mean ages were 62.5 ± 13.2 (33-81) for FED group; 64 ± 8.1 (48-81) for control group. CCT was significantly greater in FED group than in the control group (586.8 ± 33.1 (514-635) vs 545.0 ± 20.7 (503-587), respectively)(p = 0.000). In FED group, mean scleral thickness in the superior, inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants were 434.0 ± 30.6 (371-498), 442.8 ± 27.6 (395-502), 447.7 ± 31.4 (382-502), 443.4 ± 30.3 (386-504) μm, respectively. In control group, the mean scleral thickness in the superior, inferior, nasal and temporal quadrants were 381.3 ± 20.0 (341-436), 383.2 ± 16.0 (352-436), 389.2 ± 21.0 (353-440), 383.2 ± 19.2 (349-440) µm, respectively. The mean scleral thickness was significantly higher in all quadrants in FED group than in control group (p = 0.000). In patients with FED, scleral thickness was significantly higher. FED is a progressive corneal disease that results in the accumulation of extracellular material in the cornea. These findings suggest that the accumulation of extracellular deposits may not be limited to the cornea. Due to their functional similarity and anatomical proximity, sclera may also be affected in FED.

Kinetic resolution of thermal runaway for lithium-ion batteries: A Gaussian surrogate-assisted separate optimization approach

Accurate kinetic resolution of thermal runaway (TR) for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) plays a central role in battery safety design and early warning. However, simultaneous extraction of the number and kinetic parameters of TR reactions from multi-peak overlapping differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) profiles is a complicated nonlinear programming optimization problem. A Gaussian surrogate-assisted separate optimization framework is proposed to address the kinetic resolution problem. First, an offline equivalent kinetic database, based on the geometric similarity of heat flow peaks and Gaussian functions, is designed to provide initial parameter estimations for multiple reactions. Second, an adaptive range division method, based on priori local extrema, is proposed to divide the DSC profile into separate ranges of fitting (ROF) to assist the key mechanism selection. Third, divisional kinetic resolution is performed for each ROF where kinetic models initialized by the above database are utilized to fit sub-range profiles and then potential solutions are searched based on a posteriori error-based criterion. Finally, Bayesian information criterion is utilized for the optimal solution selection among the combinations of potential solutions for multiple ROFs. The proposed framework is validated through experimental data from the DSC tests of types of LIBs. The results illustrate the applicability and efficiency of the proposed framework.

Non-Invasive Ayurvedic Management of Cholelithiasis - A Case Study

Cholelithiasis or gall stones is one of the most common diseases of biliary tree. Modern medicine majorly relies on surgical management of the disease as conservative treatment is usually futile. Although, Ayurvedic sciences has no mention of gallstones but the contextual representation of stones comes under Bastigata Ashmari (renal calculi). After thoroughly revising Ayurvedic texts, we discover that the bile secreted from gallbladder can correspond to Accha Pitta mentioned in Ayurveda due to its similarity in location and function. Case Report: A 64-year-old male patient approached with complaints of heaviness of abdomen, mild-to-moderate intermittent abdomen pain, nausea and with ultrasonography report which was suggestive of chronic cholecystitis with cholelithiasis measuring 0.44cm. Conclusion: The patient was diagnosed with Pittashmari and Ayurvedic treatment protocol was followed for approx. 2 months resulting in dissolution of stone and relief in signs and symptoms. Hence our article is a step further for understanding and pursuing conventional and non-surgical management of cholelithiasis.

Characterization of the planarian surface electroencephalogram

BackgroundDespite large morphological differences between the nervous systems of lower animals and humans, striking functional similarities have been reported. However, little is known about how these functional similarities translate to cognitive similarities. As a first step towards studying the cognitive abilities of simple nervous systems, we here characterize the ongoing electrophysiological activity of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. One previous report using invasive microelectrodes describes that the ongoing neural activity is characterized by a 1/fx power spectrum with the exponent ‘x’ of the power spectrum close to 1. To extend these findings, we aimed to establish a recording protocol to measure ongoing neural activity safely and securely from alive and healthy planarians under different lighting conditions using non-invasive surface electrodes.ResultsAs a replication and extension of the previous results, we show that the ongoing neural activity is characterized by a 1/fx power spectrum, that the exponent ‘x’ in living planarians is close to 1, and that changes in lighting induce changes in neural activity likely due to the planarian photophobia.ConclusionsWe confirm the existence of continuous EEG activity in planarians and show that it is possible to noninvasively record this activity with surface wire electrodes. This opens up broad possibilities for continuous recordings across longer intervals, and repeated recordings from the same animals to study cognitive processes.

Niche specialization and community niche space increase with species richness in filter‐feeder assemblages

AbstractEcological theory posits that higher species richness should be associated with greater exploitation of resources and niche packing resulting from either increasing species niche overlap or specialization of species' niches. Research evaluating niche theory in animals tends to focus on organisms among functional feeding guilds, while resource partitioning might be more critical within functional groups. Freshwater mussels (Family: Unionidae) are a diverse and imperiled group of animals that are ideal models to test niche occupancy due to their functional similarity as filter‐feeders and their occurrence in spatially and temporally stable multispecies aggregations. We evaluated the relationship between species richness and the trophic niche area for 25 mussel species occurring in 22 aggregations in the southeastern United States using stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N) of soft tissue (n = 1057). Mean species standard ellipse area decreased with species richness, whereas ellipse overlap was not related to richness, indicating increased niche specialization may be the primary mechanism allowing coexistence in species‐rich communities. Total community isotopic area increased with richness, suggesting species‐rich communities also use a broader range of resources and may not be species‐saturated. Overall, our data support the niche‐packing hypothesis by illustrating the importance of niche partitioning within a species‐rich guild of aquatic animals.

Phafins Are More Than Phosphoinositide-Binding Proteins.

Phafins are PH (Pleckstrin Homology) and FYVE (Fab1, YOTB, Vac1, and EEA1) domain-containing proteins. The Phafin protein family is classified into two groups based on their sequence homology and functional similarity: Phafin1 and Phafin2. This protein family is unique because both the PH and FYVE domains bind to phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate [PtdIns(3)P], a phosphoinositide primarily found in endosomal and lysosomal membranes. Phafin proteins act as PtdIns(3)P effectors in apoptosis, endocytic cargo trafficking, and autophagy. Additionally, Phafin2 is recruited to macropinocytic compartments through coincidence detection of PtdIns(3)P and PtdIns(4)P. Membrane-associated Phafins serve as adaptor proteins that recruit other binding partners. In addition to the phosphoinositide-binding domains, Phafin proteins present a poly aspartic acid motif that regulates membrane binding specificity. In this review, we summarize the involvement of Phafins in several cellular pathways and their potential physiological functions while highlighting the similarities and differences between Phafin1 and Phafin2. Besides, we discuss research perspectives for Phafins.

An Evolutionary Algorithm with Gene Ontology-Aware Crossover Operator for Protein Complex Detection

Evolutionary algorithms (EAs), as global search methods, are proved to be more robust than their counterpart local heuristics for detecting protein complexes in protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Typically, the source of robustness of these EAs comes from their components and parameters. These components are solution representation, selection, crossover, and mutation. Unfortunately, almost all EA based complex detection methods suggested in the literature were designed with only canonical or traditional components. Further, topological structure of the protein network is the main information that is used in the design of almost all such components. The main contribution of this paper is to formulate a more robust EA with more biological consistency. For this purpose, a new crossover operator is suggested where biological information in terms of both gene semantic similarity and protein functional similarity is fed into its design. To reflect the heuristic roles of both semantic and functional similarities, this paper introduces two gene ontology (GO) aware crossover operators. These are direct annotation-aware and inherited annotation-aware crossover operators. The first strategy is handled with the direct gene ontology annotation of the proteins, while the second strategy is handled with the directed acyclic graph (DAG) of each gene ontology term in the gene product. To conduct our experiments, the proposed EAs with GO-aware crossover operators are compared against the state-of-the-art heuristic, canonical EAs with the traditional crossover operator, and GO-based EAs. Simulation results are evaluated in terms of recall, precision, and F measure at both complex level and protein level. The results prove that the new EA design encourages a more reliable treatment of exploration and exploitation and, thus, improves the detection ability for more accurate protein complex structures.

Adaptive coding of stimulus information in human frontoparietal cortex during visual classification

The neural mechanisms of how frontal and parietal brain regions support flexible adaptation of behavior remain poorly understood. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and representational similarity analysis (RSA) to investigate frontoparietal representations of stimulus information during visual classification under varying task demands. Based on prior research, we predicted that increasing perceptual task difficulty should lead to adaptive changes in stimulus coding: task-relevant category information should be stronger, while task-irrelevant exemplar-level stimulus information should become weaker, reflecting a focus on the behaviorally relevant category information. Counter to our expectations, however, we found no evidence for adaptive changes in category coding. We did find weakened coding at the exemplar-level within categories however, demonstrating that task-irrelevant information is de-emphasized in frontoparietal cortex. These findings reveal adaptive coding of stimulus information at the exemplar-level, highlighting how frontoparietal regions might support behavior even under challenging conditions.