Switching Rate Research Articles

Effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in Long-Term Care: A Five-Year Prospective Single-Center Study.

Objective To report the effectiveness of the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in a long-term care (LTC) facility, by analyzing the change in antimicrobial consumption and cost and multidrug resistance (MDR) rates over a 5-year period. Method A prospective interventional study was conducted at a 106-bed facility (nursing home: 100 beds and an intensive care unit (ICU): 6 beds). The ASP was designed and led by a multidisciplinary team including an infectious disease consultant, two clinical pharmacists, a clinical microbiologist, and an infection control preventionist. Five key performance indicators were monitored: (1) intravenous (IV)-to-oral switch rate, (2) consumption of restricted IV antimicrobials (raw consumption and defined daily doses (DDD) index), (3) cost of restricted IV antimicrobials, (4) antimicrobial sensitivity profiles, and (5) MDR rate among hospital-acquired infections (MDR-HAI). Result A ∼5.5-fold enhancement of the IV-to-oral switch and a 40% reduction in the overall consumption of restricted IV antimicrobials were observed. Regarding the cost, the cumulative cost saving was estimated as 5.64 million SAR (US$1.50 million). Microbiologically, no significant change in antimicrobial sensitivity profiles was observed; however, a large-size reduction in the MDR-HAI rate was observed, notably in ICU where it declined from 3.22 per 1,000 patient days, in 2015, to 1.14 per 1,000 patient days in 2020. Interestingly, the yearly overall MDR rate was strongly correlated with the level of antimicrobial consumption. Conclusion The implementation of a multidisciplinary ASP in LTC facilities should be further encouraged, with emphasis on physicians' education and active involvement to enhance the success of the strategy.

100 GHz micrometer-compact broadband monolithic ITO Mach–Zehnder interferometer modulator enabling 3500 times higher packing density

Abstract Electro-optic modulators provide a key function in optical transceivers and increasingly in photonic programmable application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for machine learning and signal processing. However, both foundry-ready silicon-based modulators and conventional material-based devices utilizing lithium-niobate fall short in simultaneously providing high chip packaging density and fast speed. Current-driven ITO-based modulators have the potential to achieve both enabled by efficient light–matter interactions. Here, we introduce micrometer-compact Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI)-based modulators capable of exceeding 100 GHz switching rates. Integrating ITO-thin films atop a photonic waveguide, one can achieve an efficient V π L ${V}_{\pi }L$ = 0.1 V mm, spectrally broadband, and compact MZI phase shifter. Remarkably, this allows integrating more than 3500 of these modulators within the same chip area as only one single silicon MZI modulator. The modulator design introduced here features a holistic photonic, electronic, and RF-based optimization and includes an asymmetric MZI tuning step to optimize the extinction ratio (ER)-to-insertion loss (IL) and dielectric thickness sweep to balance the trade-offs between ER and speed. Driven by CMOS compatible bias voltage levels, this device is the first to address next-generation modulator demands for processors of the machine intelligence revolution, in addition to the edge and cloud computing demands as well as optical transceivers alike.

To switch or to repeat? Commonalities and differences in the electrophysiological correlates of preparation for voluntary and forced task choices.

When switching tasks in the laboratory, either the experimenter or the participant can decide which task comes next. So far, this kind of forced and voluntary task switching is usually investigated in isolation. However, in our everyday life, switching between different tasks and goals often depends both on current situational demands and on our intentions. While research has mainly focused on differences between forced and voluntary switching, it is still unclear whether, and if so, which neural processes are shared between both switch types. To identify these, we compared electrophysiological preparatory activity in blocks of randomly intermixed voluntary and forced task-switching trials. We further manipulated the forced switch rate (20% vs. 80%) between blocks to de-confound voluntariness with switch frequency and to investigate how switch frequency effects influence preparatory potentials. ERP analysis revealed an enhanced early parietal activity pattern in the P3b time window on voluntary trials, possibly reflecting early traces of a decision process. A later pre-target negativity was enhanced on forced as compared to voluntary trials. Multivariate pattern analyses revealed that a common preparatory activity on both forced and voluntary switch trials can be found in the switch positivity time window, which we interpreted as an index of a common endogenous task preparation process.

Long-Term Treatment Patterns Among Patients With Psoriasis Treated With Ixekizumab or Adalimumab: A Real-World Study.

There is a paucity of long-term real-world evidence comparing the effectiveness of ixekizumab (IXE) and adalimumab (ADA). We compared real-world treatment patterns of IXE-treated and ADA-treated patients with psoriasis over 24 months in the United States. A retrospective observational study was conducted using IBM Watson Health MarketScan® databases. Adult patients with psoriasis having ≥1 claim for IXE or ADA from March 1, 2016 – October 31, 2019 were identified. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to address cohort imbalances. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the risks of non-persistence, discontinuation, and switching. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds of high adherence. Persistence, adherence, discontinuation, reinitiation, and dosing and switching rates were also analyzed. The final cohorts comprised 475 IXE users and 3159 ADA users over 24 months. IXE users demonstrated higher adherence (36.3% vs 28.8%; P<0.001) and persistence rates (35.2% vs 28.8%; P=0.004), and a lower discontinuation rate (59.1% vs 65.3%; P=0.007) compared to ADA users. IXE users had a higher likelihood of being treatment-adherent compared to ADA users (OR=1.52, 95% CI: 1.24–1.87), a lower risk of non-persistence (HR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.75–0.95), and a lower risk of discontinuation (HR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.74–0.94), respectively. Switching rates were similar in both groups (31.2% vs 30.0%; P=0.608). IXE users had better treatment adherence and persistence, and a lower risk of discontinuation compared to ADA users over 24 months. There was no difference in the risk of switching between IXE and ADA. J Drugs Dermatol. 2022;21(4):399-407. doi:10.36849/JDD.6336.

Retrospective Database Analysis to Explore Patterns and Economic Burden of Switchback to Brand After Generic or Authorized Generic Utilization.

BackgroundDespite demonstration of bioequivalence of generics to brands and the potential for reduced costs, some patients switch back from a generic to the brand. A prior retrospective analysis suggested that this switchback rate may be lower among patients that had initially switched to authorized generics (AG), often both produced and marketed by the brand company, compared to those initially switched to another generic.ObjectiveExplore switching patterns of brands, AGs, and generics, switchback rates, and the potential impact of switchbacks on healthcare costs.MethodsAn analysis of the Pharmetrics Plus™ database (2007–2019), a United States (US) payer administrative database, was conducted to examine the use of Upjohn medications available as AGs across multiple therapeutic areas. Patients initiating treatment with brand medication in the 6 months prior to generic market entry were identified and switch rates to generics and AGs, as well as switchback rates, were evaluated. Costs were descriptively compared between patients who switched back to brand and those who remained on any generic.ResultsAcross 14 brand medications, more than half of the patients initiating treatment with the brand medication were switched to a generic. Generally, switching to AG, which ranged from 0.5 to 39.6%, was lower than switching to non-AG generics (16.7–79.9%). The comparison of switchback rates from AGs to brand and non-AGs to brand showed similar results (AG:1.3–7.5%; non-AG:1.4–12.9%); however, the most substantial differences were observed where non-AG switchbacks were higher. Patients that switched back to brand remained on AG or generic for an average of 1–3 months (32–88 days). The analysis showed a tendency towards increased medical costs in the period immediately preceding switchback for all medications except sildenafil in both indications (erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension). For the remaining medications, medical costs ranged from $63 to $1544 higher for the switchback population. Pharmacy costs similarly tended to be higher for patients who had a switchback, with the exception of sildenafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension and sirolimus.ConclusionPatients receiving a brand medication are likely to be switched to a generic upon market availability. Some patients switch back to the brand medication, usually within 1–3 months; this may be associated with increased medical costs. Additional research is needed to understand switching, its potential disruption to patients, and the role of brands, generics, and AGs.

Domain Wall Acceleration by Ultrafast Field Application: An Ab Initio‐Based Molecular Dynamics Study

Optimizing ferroelectrics for contemporary high‐frequency applications asks for the fundamental understanding of ferroelectric switching and domain wall (DW) motion in ultrafast field pulses while the microscopic understanding of the latter is so far incomplete. To close this gap in knowledge, ab initio‐based molecular dynamics simulations are utilized to analyze the dynamics of 180° DWs in the prototypical ferroelectric material BaTiO3. How ultrafast field application initially excites the dipoles in the system and how they relax to their steady state via transient negative capacitance are discussed. Excitingly, a giant boost of the DW velocity related to the nonequilibrium switching of local dipoles acting as nucleation centers for the wall movement is found. This boost may allow to tune the local ferroelectric switching rate by the shape of an applied field pulse.

Exchange-Torque-Triggered Fast Switching of Antiferromagnetic Domains.

The antiferromagnet is considered to be a promising hosting material for the next generation of magnetic storage due to its high stability and stray-field-free property. Understanding the switching properties of the antiferromagnetic (AFM) domain state is critical for developing AFM spintronics. By utilizing the magneto-optical birefringence effect, we experimentally demonstrate the switching rate of the AFM domain can be enhanced by more than 2 orders of magnitude through applying an alternating square-wave field on a single crystalline Fe/CoO bilayer. The observed extraordinary speed can be much faster than that triggered by a constant field with the same amplitude. The effect can be understood as the efficient suppression of the pinning of AFM domain walls by the strong exchange torque triggered by the reversal of the Fe magnetization, as revealed by spin dynamics simulations. Our finding opens up new opportunities to design the antiferromagnet-based spintronic devices utilizing the ferromagnet-antiferromagnet heterostructure.

Medicare claims analysis of agents used to manage dementia-related psychosis: a treatment pattern study.

Currently, no agents are approved in the USA to treat dementia-related psychosis. After failure of a nonpharmacologic approach to treatment, antipsychotics or divalproex is often prescribed. We characterized existing treatment patterns in patients with dementia-related psychosis. Medicare claims data from 2008 to 2016 were used to identify patients with dementia-related psychosis. The agents and associated dosages prescribed, time to first use, and patterns of use were evaluated for agents prescribed to treat dementia-related psychosis. In total, 49 509 patients were identified as having dementia-related psychosis. Over three-quarters (76.8%) received an antipsychotic or divalproex. The most prescribed first-line agents were quetiapine (30.5%), risperidone (19.5%), and divalproex (11.2%). More than 80% of patients received a low dose of an agent, and 65.5% switched or discontinued their first-line treatment during a mean follow-up period of 1.8 years. In the absence of US FDA-approved therapies to treat dementia-related psychosis, treatment after behavioral intervention involves frequent use of low-dose antipsychotics or divalproex. The high rate of treatment switching or discontinuation is consistent with current treatment guidelines and suggests a need for an improved, standardized pharmacological approach to treat dementia-related psychosis.

Different Stochastic Resonances Induced by Multiplicative Polynomial Trichotomous Noise in a Fractional Order Oscillator with Time Delay and Fractional Gaussian Noise

A general investigation on the mechanism of stochastic resonance is reported in a time-delay fractional Langevin system, which endues a nonlinear form multiplicative colored noise and fractional Gaussian noise. In terms of theoretical analysis, both the expressions of output steady-state amplitude and that of the first moment of system response are obtained by utilizing stochastic averaging method, fractional Shapiro and Laplace methods. Due to the presence of trichotomous colored noise, the excitation frequency can induce fresh multimodal Bona fide stochastic resonance, exhibiting much more novel dynamical behaviors than the non-disturbance case. It is verified that multimodal pattern only appears with small noise switching rate and memory damping order. The explicit expressions of critical noise intensity corresponding to the generalized stochastic resonance are given for the first time, by which it is determined that nonlinear form colored noise induces much more of a comprehensive resonant phenomena than the linear form. In the case of slow transfer rate noise, a newfangled phenomenon of double hypersensitive response induced by a variation in noise intensity is discovered and verified for the first time, with the necessary range of parameters for this phenomenon given. In terms of numerical scheme, an efficient and feasible algorithm for generating trichotomous noise is proposed, by which an algorithm based on the Caputo fractional derivative are applied. The numerical results match well with the analytical ones.

Understanding treatment patterns and patient-reported outcomes associated with the use of authorized generics and corresponding independent generics across multiple therapeutic areas

Objectives To assess patient characteristics, treatment patterns, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) associated with authorized generics (AGs) and independent generics (IGs) use. Methods Prescription claims and National Health and Wellness Survey (NHWS) data were linked. Adults with billable national drug code (AG or IG), NHWS completion from June 2015 to July 2019, AG or IG on-hand at NHWS completion, and continuous insurance eligibility in 12 months pre- and post-NHWS completion were included. To be included, all unique medication formulations had to have at least one AG and one IG observation. PRO index date was NHWS completion; claims index date was defined as the first prescription claim identified during the 180-day period prior to NHWS completion for the same active ingredient and formulation type that was on-hand at NHWS completion. Results Patients (N = 20,229; 17.2% AG users) in six therapeutic areas (attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder [ADHD], antidepressants, beta blockers [BBs], calcium channel blockers [CCBs], statins, and thyroid) were included. Generally, AG (vs. IG) users were younger and differed in regional access and insurance type (all, p < .05). In multivariable analysis, significant differences were observed for presenteeism and overall work impairment (BBs), healthcare provider visits (BBs), and indirect costs (thyroid) (all, p < .05). AG and IG users differed in persistence (ADHD and statins; both, p < .05) and switch (BBs and CCBs; both, p < .01) rates. Conclusions PRO differences were often small in magnitude and varied by therapeutic area. The impact of switching should consider observed PRO differences, patient preferences, and market availability of AG and IG alternatives.

Health Care Cost Analysis of PPI or P-CAB-First Treatment in Patients With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

The aim was to examine actual health care cost in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who were initiated on proton pump inhibitor (PPI) or potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB) as first-line therapy in Japanese real-world clinical settings. To date, cost-utility evaluation of acid-suppressants treatment in Japan has only been conducted by model analysis. A cost utilization analysis was performed using a Japanese nationwide hospital-based claim database by extracting patients with GERD initiated on either PPI or P-CAB (242,102 pairs) and esomeprazole (EPZ) or P-CAB (241,825 pairs). Health care costs were compared in each comparison cohort with propensity-score matched pairs. The switching rates of initial acid-suppressants were also examined. Baseline characteristics were well-balanced after matching. The 3-year mean cumulative GERD-related and hospitalization costs per patient were ¥142,620 and ¥122,444 in PPI-first and P-CAB-first treatment groups, and ¥105,263 and ¥121,958 in EPZ-first and P-CAB-first treatment groups, respectively. Most hospitalization costs were non-GERD related in all the groups. The switching rates of PPI to P-CAB and P-CAB to PPI in 12 months were 7.5% and 20.2%, respectively. In this propensity-score matched analysis, health care cost was higher in patients with GERD initiated on PPI than in those initiated on P-CAB mainly owing to non-GERD-related hospitalization cost, whereas it was lower in those initiated on EPZ than in those initiated on P-CAB. When considering health care costs except hospitalization costs, PPI-first treatment was less expensive than P-CAB-first treatment. Low switching rate from PPI to P-CAB in the real-world practice may partially explain the discrepancy.

Large herbivores in a partially migratory population search for the ideal free home.

Migration is a tactic used across taxa to access resources in temporally heterogenous landscapes. Populations that migrate can attain higher abundances because such movements allow access to higher quality resources, or reduction in predation risk resulting in increased fitness. However, most migratory species occur in partially migratory populations, a mix of migratory and non-migratory individuals. It is thought that the portion of migrants in a partial migration population is maintained either through (1) a population-level evolutionary stable state where counteracting density-dependent vital rates act on migrants and residents to balance fitness or (2) conditional migration, where the propensity to migrate is influenced by the individual's state. However, in many respects, migration is also a form of habitat selection and the proportion of migrants and residents may be the result of density-dependent habitat selection. Here, we test whether the theory of Ideal Free Distribution (IFD) can explain the coexistence of different migratory tactics in a partially migratory population. IFD predicts individuals exhibit density-dependent vital rates and select different migratory tactics to maximize individual fitness resulting in equal fitness (λ) between tactics. We tested the predictions of IFD in a partially migratory elk population that declined by 70% with 19 years of demographic data and migratory tactic switching rates from >300 individuals. We found evidence of density dependence for resident pregnancy and adult female survival providing a fitness incentive to switch tactics. Despite differences in vital rates between migratory tactics, mean λ (fitness) was equal. However, as predicted by the IFD, individuals switched tactics toward those of higher fitness. Our analysis reveals that partial migration may be driven by tactic selection that follows the ideal free distribution. These findings reinforce that migration across taxa may be a polymorphic behavior in large herbivores where migratory tactic selection is determined by differential costs and benefits, mediated by density dependence.

Properties of 2-locus genealogies and linkage disequilibrium in temporally structured samples.

Archeogenetics has been revolutionary, revealing insights into demographic history and recent positive selection. However, most studies to date have ignored the nonrandom association of genetic variants at different loci (i.e. linkage disequilibrium). This may be in part because basic properties of linkage disequilibrium in samples from different times are still not well understood. Here, we derive several results for summary statistics of haplotypic variation under a model with time-stratified sampling: (1) The correlation between the number of pairwise differences observed between time-staggered samples () in models with and without strict population continuity; (2) The product of the linkage disequilibrium coefficient, D, between ancient and modern samples, which is a measure of haplotypic similarity between modern and ancient samples; and (3) The expected switch rate in the Li and Stephens haplotype copying model. The latter has implications for genotype imputation and phasing in ancient samples with modern reference panels. Overall, these results provide a characterization of how haplotype patterns are affected by sample age, recombination rates, and population sizes. We expect these results will help guide the interpretation and analysis of haplotype data from ancient and modern samples.

The stochastic Fisher-KPP Equation with seed bank and on/off branching coalescing Brownian motion

We introduce a new class of stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) with seed bank modeling the spread of a beneficial allele in a spatial population where individuals may switch between an active and a dormant state. Incorporating dormancy and the resulting seed bank leads to a two-type coupled system of equations with migration between both states. We first discuss existence and uniqueness of seed bank SPDEs and provide an equivalent delay representation that allows a clear interpretation of the age structure in the seed bank component. The delay representation will also be crucial in the proofs. Further, we show that the seed bank SPDEs give rise to an interesting class of “on/off”-moment duals. In particular, in the special case of the F-KPP Equation with seed bank, the moment dual is given by an “on/off-branching Brownian motion”. This system differs from a classical branching Brownian motion in the sense that independently for all individuals, motion and branching may be “switched off” for an exponential amount of time after which they get “switched on” again. On/off branching Brownian motion shows qualitatively different behaviour to classical branching Brownian motion and is an interesting object for study in itself. Here, as an application of our duality, we show that the spread of a beneficial allele, which in the classical F-KPP Equation, started from a Heaviside intial condition, evolves as a pulled traveling wave with speed sqrt{2}, is slowed down significantly in the corresponding seed bank F-KPP model. In fact, by computing bounds on the position of the rightmost particle in the dual on/off branching Brownian motion, we obtain an upper bound for the speed of propagation of the beneficial allele given by sqrt{sqrt{5}-1}approx 1.111 under unit switching rates. This shows that seed banks will indeed slow down fitness waves and preserve genetic variability, in line with intuitive reasoning from population genetics and ecology.

Who pays the loyalty tax? The relationship between socioeconomic status and switching in Australia's retail electricity markets

The liberalisation of retail electricity markets aimed to benefit consumers through innovation and lower electricity prices. However, well-functioning retail markets require active consumers who are motivated to switch between offers for financial savings or better tailored products. Policymakers did not adequately consider the behavioural biases, market complexities and switching costs that have led to customer disengagement. This can have significant welfare implications, particularly if many of the disengaged customers are also vulnerable. In this article, we investigate the relationship between socioeconomic status and customer engagement using household survey data covering the three largest cities in Australia. We find that lower socioeconomic status is associated with lower engagement. Unemployment, lower educational attainment, and lower income are all associated with lower switching rates. Solving this issue is complex and requires a suite of solutions however it is critical that vulnerable, disengaged customers are brought along because the costs of disengagement are likely to increase with digitalisation and the renewable energy transition.

Migratory behaviour does not alter cophylogenetic congruence between avian hosts and their haemosporidian parasites.

Parasites display various degrees of host specificity, reflecting different coevolutionary histories with their hosts. Avian hosts follow multiple migration patterns representing short but also long distances. As parasites infecting migratory birds are subjected to multiple environmental and biotic changes through their flyways, migration may disrupt or strengthen cophylogenetic congruence between hosts and parasites. On the one hand, parasites might adapt to a single migratory host, evolving to cope with the specific challenges associated with the multiple habitats occupied by the host. On the other, as migrants can introduce parasites into new habitats, higher rates of host switching could also disrupt cophylogenetic patterns. We analysed whether migratory behaviour shapes avian haemosporidian parasite–host cophylogenetic congruence by testing if contributions of host–parasite links to overall congruence differ among resident and short-, variable- and long-distance migrants globally and within South America only. On both scales, we found significant overall cophylogenetic congruence by testing whether overall congruence differed between haemosporidian lineages and bird species. However, we found no difference in contribution towards congruence among links involving resident vs migratory hosts in both models. Thus, migratory behaviour neither weakens nor strengthens bird–haemosporidian cophylogenetic congruence, suggesting that other avian host traits are more influential in generating phylogenetic congruence in this host–parasite system.

Switching of oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation: a cohort study using Australian general practice data

ABSTRACT Background We assessed switching patterns of oral anticoagulants (OACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the period following widespread availability of the direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Research design and methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted using NPS MedicineWise’s MedicineInsight dataset, collected from Australian general practices. Patients with AF who newly commenced an OAC between 1 January 2013 and 30 September 2017 were included. The switching rate was calculated within 12 months post-initiation. Switching rates between OACs were compared, and predictors of switching were identified. Results We included 15,020 patients who were recorded as having been commenced on warfarin or a DOAC. Overall, 5.7% of patients switched their OAC within 12 months. The switching rates from warfarin, apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban were 9.4%, 2.6%, 8.9% and 4.0%, respectively. Compared to apixaban, commencement on warfarin, dabigatran or rivaroxaban was associated with a higher risk of switching to another OAC. Patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min were more likely to switch from DOACs to warfarin and less likely to switch from warfarin, compared to those with an eGFR >60 mL/min. Conclusion There was a low switching rate between OACs in Australian general practice patients with AF. A key determinant of switching appeared to be kidney disease.

Population Dynamics of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Heterogeneity in Cancer Cells.

Phenotypic heterogeneity is a hallmark of aggressive cancer behaviour and a clinical challenge. Despite much characterisation of this heterogeneity at a multi-omics level in many cancers, we have a limited understanding of how this heterogeneity emerges spontaneously in an isogenic cell population. Some longitudinal observations of dynamics in epithelial-mesenchymal heterogeneity, a canonical example of phenotypic heterogeneity, have offered us opportunities to quantify the rates of phenotypic switching that may drive such heterogeneity. Here, we offer a mathematical modeling framework that explains the salient features of population dynamics noted in PMC42-LA cells: (a) predominance of EpCAMhigh subpopulation, (b) re-establishment of parental distributions from the EpCAMhigh and EpCAMlow subpopulations, and (c) enhanced heterogeneity in clonal populations established from individual cells. Our framework proposes that fluctuations or noise in content duplication and partitioning of SNAIL—an EMT-inducing transcription factor—during cell division can explain spontaneous phenotypic switching and consequent dynamic heterogeneity in PMC42-LA cells observed experimentally at both single-cell and bulk level analysis. Together, we propose that asymmetric cell division can be a potential mechanism for phenotypic heterogeneity.

Brain Neural Activity Patterns in an Animal Model of Antidepressant-Induced Manic Episodes.

Background: In the treatment of patients with bipolar disorder (BP), antidepressant-induced mania is usually observed. The rate of phase switching (from depressive to manic) in these patients exceeds 22%. The exploration of brain activity patterns during an antidepressant-induced manic phase may aid the development of strategies to reduce the phase-switching rate. The use of a murine model to explore brain activity patterns in depressive and manic phases can help us to understandthe pathological features of BP. The novel object recognition preference ratio is used to assess cognitive ability in such models.Objective: To investigate brain Ca2+ activity and behavioral expression in the depressive and manic phases in the same murine model, to aid understanding of brain activity patterns in phase switching in BP.Methods: In vivo two-photon imaging was used to observe brain activity alterations in a murine model in which induce depressive-like and manic-like behaviors were induced sequentially. The immobility time was used to assess depressive-like symptoms and the total distance traveled was used to assess manic-like symptoms.Results: In vivo two-photon imaging revealed significantly reduced brain Ca2+ activity in temporal cortex pyramidal neurons in the depressive phase in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress compared with naïve controls. The brain Ca2+ activity correlated negatively with the novel object recognition preference ratio within the immobility time. Significantly increased brain Ca2+ activity was observed in the ketamine-induced manic phase. However, this activity did not correlate with the total distance traveled. The novel object recognition preference ratio correlated negatively with the total distance traveled in the manic phase.

The subjective evaluation of task switch cues is related to voluntary task switching

Task switching refers to the effortful mental process of shifting attention between different tasks. While it is well-established that task switching usually comes with an objective performance cost, recent studies have shown that people also subjectively evaluate task switching as negative. An open question is whether this affective evaluation of task switching is also related to actual decision making. In this pre-registered study, we therefore examined whether individual differences in the negative evaluation of task switch cues are related to less voluntary task switching. To this end, participants first performed a cued task switching paradigm where abstract cues signaled task transitions (repetition or alternation). In a second phase, these transition cues were used as prime stimuli in an affective priming procedure to assess participants' affective evaluation of task switching. In a third phase, participants were allowed to freely choose whether to switch or repeat tasks. We found that a more negative evaluation of task switching cues was related to lower switch rates in the voluntary task switching phase. This finding supports neuroeconomic theories of value-based decision making which suggest that people use their subjective value of control to decide whether to engage in (different) tasks.