Direct Projections Research Articles

Spiny projection neurons exhibit transcriptional signatures within subregions of the dorsal striatum

The dorsal striatum is organized into functional territories defined by corticostriatal inputs onto both direct and indirect spiny projection neurons (SPNs), the major cell types within the striatum. In addition to circuit connectivity, striatal domains are likely defined by the spatially determined transcriptomes of SPNs themselves. To identify cell-type-specific spatiomolecular signatures of direct and indirect SPNs within dorsomedial, dorsolateral, and ventrolateral dorsal striatum, we used RNA profiling in situ hybridization with probes to >98% of protein coding genes. We demonstrate that the molecular identity of SPNs is mediated by hundreds of differentially expressed genes across territories of the striatum, revealing extraordinary heterogeneity in the expression of genes that mediate synaptic function in both direct and indirect SPNs. This deep insight into the complex spatiomolecular organization of the striatum provides a foundation for understanding both normal striatal function and for dissecting region-specific dysfunction in disorders of the striatum.

Impact of Foreign Enterprises’ Capital Inflow on Urbanization Factors: Evidence from Northeastern Cities of China

This study investigates the impact of foreign capital inflow and the number of contracted foreign direct investment projects on urbanization. The study focused on the less-explored provinces of Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, covering the period from 2007 to 2021. The definition of urbanization was expanded to include three elements: the urbanized labor force, emission and pollution levels, and the productivity of services in the economy. Most importantly, an urbanization index was generated to estimate the total effect of foreign capital investment on sustainable green urbanization. The analysis employs both random and fixed effects regression models, complemented by robustness checks using the generalized least squares (GLS) method. The findings indicate that while foreign capital investments contribute positively to labor urbanization and service productivity, they have a notably adverse impact on environmental quality in the examined cities. Moreover, our findings confirm an overall inverse relationship between foreign capital investment and the urbanization index: the negative impact is primarily driven by inadequate procedures for emissions control in the northeastern Chinese cities. In conclusion, this research provides insights and strategic recommendations for promoting sustainable green urbanization.

THE IMPACT OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP ON THE QUALITY OF VOCATIONAL (VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL) EDUCATION

Relevance. This paper explores the key factors influencing the quality of vocational (vocational-technical) education through public-private partnerships. It delves into the involvement of partnership entities – the state, private business, and the community – in modernizing the content, forms, means, and structure of vocational training for future qualified professionals, in line with the needs of the contemporary labor market. Objective: To characterize the potential directions of public-private partnership impact on enhancing the quality of vocational (vocational-technical) education. Methods: The study involves processing scientific sources, legislative and regulatory documents, and empirical data on enhancing the quality of vocational (vocational-technical) education in the context of public-private partnership projects. It includes a scientific summary based on theoretical analysis and synthesis of scientific approaches to the development of the researched problem, particularly identifying the impact directions of public-private partnership projects on the quality of vocational education. Results: Based on the analysis of legislative and normative-legal documents in the field of vocational (vocational-technical) education and public-private partnerships, scientific sources, and empirical data, the potential directions of public-private partnership projects on the quality of vocational education are characterized. These include developing modern professional and educational standards for specific specialties based on a competence approach, modernizing the material-technical base of educational institutions, implementing contemporary production and pedagogical technologies, and providing various types of financial support to vocational (vocational-technical) education institutions. Conclusions: The paper identifies and describes the potential directions of public-private partnership impact on the quality of vocational (vocational-technical) education, including: joint participation in financing V(VT)E; modernization of infrastructure and material-technical base of V(VT)E; updating standards for educational programs in line with labor market needs; introducing modern forms, methods, and technologies of learning; ensuring adaptability of management systems, transparency of agreements, monitoring, and evaluation of V(VT)E quality, and establishing effective feedback with students, teachers, and employers. The paper concludes with the necessity of improving legal regulation for the participation of public and private partners in ensuring the quality of vocational (vocational-technical) education.

Smart Turns: Revolutionizing Road Safety

Abstract: A technological replacement for traditional convex mirrors at blind curves and T-junctions is presented in the abstract of this research article. The suggested system makes use of ultrasonic proximity sensors to see oncoming cars and sends timely notifications to drivers on both sides of the turn. The technology also computes and shows the oncoming vehicle's speed. A typical signal system or direct roadside projection of the alerts are both options provided by the system. This approach facilitates safer navigation at blind bends and T-junctions by using proximity sensors to measure vehicle speed and improve driver awareness. Our method improves accuracy, range, and reliability in vehicle detection and alerting by overcoming the limitations of convex mirrors. This technology improves safer driving by enhancing driver awareness and reducing accidents.

Dopaminergic Input Regulates the Sensitivity of Indirect Pathway Striatal Spiny Neurons to Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.

Motor dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD) is closely linked to the dopaminergic depletion of striatal neurons and altered synaptic plasticity at corticostriatal synapses. Dopamine receptor D1 (DRD1) stimulation is a crucial step in the formation of long-term potentiation (LTP), whereas dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) stimulation is needed for the formation of long-term depression (LTD) in striatal spiny projection neurons (SPNs). Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) and its ligand brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are centrally involved in plasticity regulation at the corticostriatal synapses. DRD1 activation enhances TrkB's sensitivity for BDNF in direct pathway spiny projection neurons (dSPNs). In this study, we showed that the activation of DRD2 in cultured striatal indirect pathway spiny projection neurons (iSPNs) and cholinergic interneurons causes the retraction of TrkB from the plasma membrane. This provides an explanation for the opposing synaptic plasticity changes observed upon DRD1 or DRD2 stimulation. In addition, TrkB was found within intracellular structures in dSPNs and iSPNs from Pitx3-/- mice, a genetic model of PD with early onset dopaminergic depletion in the dorsolateral striatum (DLS). This dysregulated BDNF/TrkB signaling might contribute to the pathophysiology of direct and indirect pathway striatal projection neurons in PD.

Join Up or Stay Away? Coalition Formation for Critical IT Infrastructure

PRACTICE AND POLICY ABSTRACT We consider the formation of a coalition when districts invest in critical IT infrastructure that, if disrupted, can cause significant damage to security, the economy, public health, or safety. The benefits from these investments can spill over to other districts. Districts choose whether to participate in a coalition, and the coalition subsequently makes IT infrastructure investment decisions for those districts that join the coalition. These inside districts have superior interoperability in their spillovers relative to outside districts. We find that inside districts’ resource levels decrease with the size of the coalition, and this size depends on the coalition’s economies of scale and relative interoperability. Depending on these factors, any size coalition can be an equilibrium or socially optimal. In most cases, the socially optimal coalition size is larger than the equilibrium coalition. A subsidy or tax can incentivize the equilibrium coalition size and district investment levels to be socially optimal, providing a general solution to the provisioning of critical IT infrastructure. We use the European Union’s Digital COVID Certificate program providing vaccine status information and the U.S. Government’s Direct Project that supports the establishment of nationwide health information exchanges to illustrate elements of our model.

A non-canonical striatopallidal Go pathway that supports motor control

In the classical model of the basal ganglia, direct pathway striatal projection neurons (dSPNs) send projections to the substantia nigra (SNr) and entopeduncular nucleus to regulate motor function. Recent studies have re-established that dSPNs also possess axon collaterals within the globus pallidus (GPe) (bridging collaterals), yet the significance of these collaterals for behavior is unknown. Here we use in vivo optical and chemogenetic tools combined with deep learning approaches in mice to dissect the roles of dSPN GPe collaterals in motor function. We find that dSPNs projecting to the SNr send synchronous motor-related information to the GPe via axon collaterals. Inhibition of native activity in dSPN GPe terminals impairs motor activity and function via regulation of Npas1 neurons. We propose a model by which dSPN GPe axon collaterals (striatopallidal Go pathway) act in concert with the canonical terminals in the SNr to support motor control by inhibiting Npas1 neurons.

Selective Activation of Subthalamic Nucleus Output Quantitatively Scales Movements.

The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is a common target for deep brain stimulation (DBS) treatments of Parkinsonian motor symptoms. According to the dominant model, the STN output can suppress movement by enhancing inhibitory basal ganglia (BG) output via the indirect pathway, and disrupting STN output using DBS can restore movement in Parkinson's patients. But the mechanisms underlying STN DBS remain poorly understood, as previous studies usually relied on electrical stimulation, which cannot selectively target STN output neurons. Here, we selectively stimulated STN projection neurons using optogenetics and quantified behavior in male and female mice using 3D motion capture. STN stimulation resulted in movements with short latencies (10-15 ms). A single pulse of light was sufficient to generate movement, and there was a highly linear relationship between stimulation frequency and kinematic measures. Unilateral stimulation caused movement in the ipsiversive direction (toward the side of stimulation) and quantitatively determined head yaw and head roll, while stimulation of either STN raises the head (pitch). Bilateral stimulation does not cause turning but raised the head twice as high as unilateral stimulation of either STN. Optogenetic stimulation increased the firing rate of STN neurons in a frequency-dependent manner, and the increased firing is responsible for stimulation-induced movements. Finally, stimulation of the STN's projection to the brainstem mesencephalic locomotor region was sufficient to reproduce the behavioral effects of STN stimulation. These results question the common assumption that the STN suppresses movement, and instead suggest that STN output can precisely specify action parameters via direct projections to the brainstem.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Our results question the common assumption that the subthalamic nucleus (STN) suppresses movement, and instead suggest that STN output can precisely specify action parameters via direct projections to the brainstem.

Locating $$\gamma$$-ray sources on the celestial sphere via modal clustering

AbstractSky surveys represent the fundamental data basis for detecting and locating as yet undiscovered celestial objects. Since 2008, the Fermi LAT Collaboration has catalogued thousands of $$\gamma$$ γ -ray sources with the aim of extending our knowledge of the highly energetic physical mechanisms and processes that lie at the core of our Universe. In this article, we present a nonparametric clustering algorithm which identifies high-energy astronomical sources using the spatial information of the $$\gamma$$ γ -ray photons detected by the large area telescope onboard the Fermi spacecraft. In particular, the sources are identified using a von Mises–Fisher kernel estimate of the photon count density on the unit sphere via an adjustment of the mean-shift algorithm which accounts for the directional nature of the collected data and the need of local smoothing. This choice entails a number of desirable benefits. It allows us to bypass the difficulties inherent on the borders of any projection of the photon directions onto a 2-dimensional plane, while guaranteeing high flexibility. The smoothing parameter is chosen adaptively, by combining scientific input with optimal selection guidelines, as known from the literature. Using statistical tools from hypothesis testing and classification, we furthermore present an automatic way to skim off sound candidate sources from the $$\gamma$$ γ -ray emitting diffuse background and to quantify their significance. We calibrate and test our algorithm on simulated count maps provided by the Fermi LAT Collaboration.

Dopamine in the nucleus accumbens shell controls systemic glucose metabolism via the lateral hypothalamus and hepatic vagal innervation in rodents

BackgroundGrowing evidence demonstrates the role of the striatal dopamine system in the regulation of glucose metabolism. Treatment with dopamine antagonists is associated with insulin resistance and hyperglycemia, while dopamine agonists are used in treatment of type 2 diabetes. The mechanism underlying striatal dopamine effects in glucose metabolism, however is not fully understood. Here, we provide mechanistic insights into the role of nucleus accumbens shell (sNAc) dopaminergic signaling in systemic glucose metabolism. MethodsEndogenous glucose production (EGP), blood glucose and mRNA expression in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) in male Wistar rats were measured following infusion of vanoxerine (VNX, dopamine reuptake inhibitor) in the sNAc. Thereafter, we analyzed projections from sNAc Drd1-expressing neurons to LHA using D1-Cre male Long-Evans rats, Cre-dependent viral tracers and fluorescence immunohistochemistry. Brain slice electrophysiology in adult mice was used to study spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents of sNAc Drd1-expressing neurons following VNX application. Finally, we assessed whether GABAergic LHA activity and hepatic vagal innervation were required for the effect of sNAc-VNX on glucose metabolism by combining infusion of sNAc-VNX with LHA-bicuculline, performing vagal recordings and combining infusion of sNAc-VNX with hepatic vagal denervation. ResultsVNX infusion in the sNAc strongly decreased endogenous glucose production, prevented glucose increases over time, reduced Slc17A6 and Hcrt mRNA in LHA, and increased vagal activity. Furthermore, sNAc Drd1-expressing neurons increased spontaneous firing following VNX application, and viral tracing of sNAc Drd1-expressing neurons revealed direct projections to LHA with on average 67 % of orexin cells directly targeted by sNAc Drd1-expressing neurons. Importantly, the sNAc-VNX-induced effect on glucose metabolism was dependent on GABAergic signaling in the LHA and on intact hepatic vagal innervation. ConclusionsWe show that sNAc dopaminergic signaling modulates hepatic glucose metabolism through GABAergic inputs to glutamatergic LHA cells and hepatic vagal innervation. This demonstrates that striatal control of glucose metabolism involves a dopaminergic sNAc-LHA-liver axis and provides a potential explanation for the effects of dopamine agonists and antagonists on glucose metabolism.

High-order optical Hall effect at the tight focus of laser radiation

In this work, by the Richards-Wolf method, which describes the behavior of electromagnetic radiation at the tight focus, it is shown that high-order spin and orbital Hall effects take place in the focal plane. It is shown that when focusing a linearly polarized optical vortex with unit topological charge, four local subwavelength regions are formed in the focal plane, in which directions of the longitudinal projection of the spin angular momentum are opposite in the neighboring regions. That is, photons falling into neighboring regions in the focus have the opposite spin. This is the spin Hall effect of the 2nd order. It is also shown that when tightly focusing of superposition of cylindrical vector beams of the m-th order and zero order, 2m subwavelength regions are formed in the plane of tight focus, in which directions of the longitudinal projection of the orbital angular momentum are opposite in the neighboring regions. That is, photons falling into the neighboring regions at the focus have the opposite-sign on-axis projections of the orbital angular momentum. This is the orbital Hall effect of the m-th order.

Leading-Following and Community Change Concepts: A Humanbecoming Perspective.

Nurses in various settings are called upon to lead new projects and initiatives that further the mission of healthcare organizations or communities. It is important that there is a nursing theoretical framework to serve as a leadership foundation. This foundation grounds the direction of projects and initiatives, so that the path toward success is clear. The purpose of this paper is to explore leading-following within the humanbecoming community change concepts.

Direct projection of remaining potential from historical discoveries

Direct projection of remaining potential from historical discoveries

지방 소도시 도시재생사업 추진방안 연구

This study reviewed the system and policy direction of the urban regeneration project currently being promoted, and analyzed the residents' perception of the urban regeneration project in small local cities.
 Although the recent urban regeneration policy is in the direction of avoiding non-physical software projects such as resident capacity building, the purpose of urban regeneration projects is to revitalize the region through integrated promotion of non-physical projects along with physical projects such as maintenance projects. If the software business is completely excluded and the regeneration business is promoted, it is thought that there will be many difficulties in actual regional revitalization through the business.
 In addition, in the case of local eup/myeon units, the conditions for promoting urban regeneration projects in many aspects, such as the number of local populations and aging, are very different from those in the metropolitan area and urban areas. It is considered that it should be applied somewhat differently.
 Therefore, this study tried to find out the parts that need to be supplemented when promoting local regeneration projects by reviewing the current urban regeneration project promotion method from an institutional perspective such as legal guidelines. In addition, through an empirical analysis of residents' perceptions of the Hapcheon-eup urban regeneration project district, we analyzed the matters that should be applied differently from the urban regeneration project in the metropolitan area when promoting the urban regeneration project in the local area, and thus for the future urban regeneration policy of small local cities. It is intended to be presented as a reference.

문화다양성법에 대한 입법평가

How does cultural diversity contribute to our lives? What is the difference between a society where cultural diversity is protected and promoted and a society that is not? The subject of this paper is how the Act on the Protection and Promotion of Cultural Diversity plays a role in the protection and promotion of cultural diversity after legislation and how it can be evaluated.
 The enactment and enforcement of the Cultural Diversity Protection Act should be an important basis for practical cultural diversity protection and promotion in Korea. The Cultural Diversity Act is evaluated as an important law that can operate as a stabilizer in our society. The Cultural Diversity Act should be a legal and institutional device that can reduce cultural conflicts between members of society and groups, coordinate cultural values, and contribute to creative cultural development based on individual creativity and autonomy. Various national policies that can be implemented under the Cultural Diversity Act should help protect and promote practical aspects of cultural diversity.
 The direction of the cultural diversity project is also important. Both bottom-up and top-down approaches are valuable and need an appropriate balance. Various attempts should be made to spread cultural diversity from below, such as a model to spread cultural diversity by establishing and revitalizing cultural and artistic networks among migrant groups, local governments, grassroots organizations, and culture and arts organizations.

한국군 합성훈련환경(STE) 정보체계 구축에 대한 연구

This study examined the necessity and project direction of the synthetic training environment (STE) information system (IS). The STE is a metaverse-based next-generation training system that will replace the existing LVC scientific training system. The STE IS performs the function of centrally controlling the STE’s training and analyzing various training data. SWOT analysis was used to establish development strategies such as the informatization vision and development goals of the STE IS. The operating concept of the STE information system was established for the design of the target model, and the structural and security design of the target model were performed. In addition, the project’s feasibility was verified through a cost-benefit analysis of the STE IS project.

PRIORITIES OF IMPACT INVESTING IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROJECTS: THE CASE OF THE FUTURE POST-WAR RECONSTRUCTION OF UKRAINE

The purpose of this article is to identify environmental protection projects for priority impact investing on the example of the future post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. To evaluate priorities, it is proposed to use the results of a survey of ten independent experts in the field of environmental projects and ecology, belonging to the public, private and non-profit sectors of Ukraine. The survey includes an assessment of environmental protection projects based on the importance and effectiveness of their impact, the characteristics of stakeholders, the duration and risks of the projects, their contribution to the environment and sustainable development. The obtained scores are ranked based on the criteria of Laplace, Wald, Hurwitz, Savage, and Bord and Condorcet rules. In accordance with this, the most priority projects for impact investing are environmental protection projects aimed at land reclamation, conservation and protection, forest restoration, implementation of the national system of trading quotas for greenhouse gas emissions, and eco-modernization of industrial and infrastructural enterprises. This indicates the need for a comprehensive multi-vector approach to the selection of priority areas for impact investing. The lessons learned will be useful for the effective direction or selection of investment projects, their forecasting and analysis.

Effectiveness of motor and prefrontal cortical areas for brain-controlled functional electrical stimulation neuromodulation

Objective. Brain-computer interface (BCI)-controlled functional electrical stimulation (FES) could excite the central nervous system to enhance upper limb motor recovery. Our current study assessed the effectiveness of motor and prefrontal cortical activity-based BCI-FES to help elucidate the underlying neuromodulation mechanisms of this neurorehabilitation approach. Approach. The primary motor cortex (M1) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) BCI-FES interventions were performed for 25 min on separate days with twelve non-disabled participants. During the interventions, a single electrode from the contralateral M1 or PFC was used to detect event-related desynchronization (ERD) in the calibrated frequency range. If the BCI system detected ERD within 15 s of motor imagery, FES activated wrist extensor muscles. Otherwise, if the BCI system did not detect ERD within 15 s, a subsequent trial was initiated without FES. To evaluate neuromodulation effects, corticospinal excitability was assessed using single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation, and cortical excitability was assessed by motor imagery ERD and resting-state functional connectivity before, immediately, 30 min, and 60 min after each intervention. Main results. M1 and PFC BCI-FES interventions had similar success rates of approximately 80%, while the M1 intervention was faster in detecting ERD activity. Consequently, only the M1 intervention effectively elicited corticospinal excitability changes for at least 60 min around the targeted cortical area in the M1, suggesting a degree of spatial localization. However, cortical excitability measures did not indicate changes after either M1 or PFC BCI-FES. Significance. Neural mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of BCI-FES neuromodulation may be attributed to the M1 direct corticospinal projections and/or the closer timing between ERD detection and FES, which likely enhanced Hebbian-like plasticity by synchronizing cortical activation detected by the BCI system with the sensory nerve activation and movement related reafference elicited by FES.

Atom counting from a combination of two ADF STEM images

To understand the structure–property relationship of nanostructures, reliably quantifying parameters, such as the number of atoms along the projection direction, is important. Advanced statistical methodologies have made it possible to count the number of atoms for monotype crystalline nanoparticles from a single ADF STEM image. Recent developments enable one to simultaneously acquire multiple ADF STEM images. Here, we present an extended statistics-based method for atom counting from a combination of multiple statistically independent ADF STEM images reconstructed from non-overlapping annular detector collection regions which improves the accuracy and allows one to retrieve precise atom-counts, especially for images acquired with low electron doses and multiple element structures.

A review of few-shot image recognition using semantic information

In recent years, the utilization of deep learning techniques has been employed in the field of image recognition with the aim of improving performance. However, deep learning demands a substantial amount of labeled data for model training, a process that is both expensive and time-consuming. In order to tackle this particular difficulty, the approach of few-shot learning (FSL) has emerged as a viable alternative. FSL, or Few-Shot Learning, is a computational approach that aims to replicate the cognitive processes observed in humans. By using a small set of examples and experiences, FSL enables the acquisition of new concepts. Research in the field of FSL has investigated many approaches to extracting the highest amount of information from limited data or making use of affordable and easily accessible sources of information. Researchers have been incorporating outside data into FSL techniques more frequently. This paper conducts an in-depth exploration of leveraging semantic information to enhance few-shot learning. By reviewing papers from the last five years in WOS, IEEE, and Science Direct (some papers in arXiv are also used), this study delves into the strategies employed to bridge the gap between visual and semantic information. The review extends to encompass zero-shot learning, which is considered a subcategory of FSL, enriching the analysis. Moreover, this paper identifies the potential of employing semantic information to enhance fine-grained few-shot (FGFS) learning. Techniques such as direct projection and the application of generative adversarial networks (GANs) emerge as promising avenues to accomplish this enhancement.