Local origin of excitatory-inhibitory tuning equivalence in a cortical network.

The interplay between excitation and inhibition determines the fidelity of cortical representations. The receptive fields of excitatory neurons are often finely tuned to encoded features, but the principles governing the tuning of inhibitory neurons remain elusive. In this study, we recorded populations of neurons in the mouse postsubiculum (PoSub), where the majority of excitatory neurons are head-direction (HD) cells. We show that the tuning of fast-spiking (FS) cells, the largest class of cortical inhibitory neurons, was broad and frequently radially symmetrical. By decomposing tuning curves using the Fourier transform, we identified an equivalence in tuning between PoSub-FS and PoSub-HD cell populations. Furthermore, recordings, optogenetic manipulations of upstream thalamic populations and computational modeling provide evidence that the tuning of PoSub-FS cells has a local origin. These findings support the notion that the equivalence of neuronal tuning between excitatory and inhibitory cell populations is an intrinsic property of local cortical networks.

Pynapple, a toolbox for data analysis in neuroscience.

Datasets collected in neuroscientific studies are of ever-growing complexity, often combining high-dimensional time series data from multiple data acquisition modalities. Handling and manipulating these various data streams in an adequate programming environment is crucial to ensure reliable analysis, and to facilitate sharing of reproducible analysis pipelines. Here, we present Pynapple, the PYthon Neural Analysis Package, a lightweight python package designed to process a broad range of time-resolved data in systems neuroscience. The core feature of this package is a small number of versatile objects that support the manipulation of any data streams and task parameters. The package includes a set of methods to read common data formats and allows users to easily write their own. The resulting code is easy to read and write, avoids low-level data processing and other error-prone steps, and is open source. Libraries for higher-level analyses are developed within the Pynapple framework but are contained within a collaborative repository of specialized and continuously updated analysis routines. This provides flexibility while ensuring long-term stability of the core package. In conclusion, Pynapple provides a common framework for data analysis in neuroscience.

Contribution of household dishwashing to microplastic pollution.

At household level, clothes washing has been recognised as an emitter of microplastics (MPs) into the environment and it is supposed that dishwashing is also a source of MPs, although little attention has been paid so far. In this work, the emission of MPs released from dishwashing procedures at household level has been studied. The effect of different parameters such as time, temperature and type of detergent has been analysed. In addition, the MP content of tap water has been evaluated in order to determine its contribution to the MPs in dishwasher effluent. Results showed that when the dishwasher was operated empty with a pre-wash programme (15 min and room water temperature), between 207 and 427 MPs were released per load (3 L), whereas this value increased notably with an intensive programme (164 min and water at 70 °C) (1025-1370 MPs per load, 15 L), which highlighted the effect of temperature and time on MP release. Additionally, when a polypropylene lunch box was washed, the number of MPs released increased by 14 ± 3 MPs and 166 ± 12 MPs of total. Finally, the influence of the use of detergent with the dishwasher empty and containing lunch boxes has been studied. With detergent, 35-54% more MPs were released from dishwasher accessories, whereas no additional release took place from lunch boxes. This work shows for the first time the important contribution of domestic dishwashing to MP pollution and the environmental benefits of using more environmentally friendly materials in both dishwashing machine accessories and food utensils.

Aproximación a la performance como estrategia política de resistencia al apartheid ocupacional: la situación de las personas travestis / Aproximação à performance como estratégia política de resistência ao apartheid ocupacional: a situação das pessoas travestis / Approach to the performance as a political strategy of resistance to occupational apartheid: the situation of transvestite people

Resumen Introducción Las personas travestis se ven enfrentadas a diferentes situaciones de injusticias sostenidas por un sistema heteronormado que violenta sus vidas, corporalidades y silencia sus identidades. En este sentido, el apartheid ocupacional opera a través de la conformación de una estructura que limita sus posibilidades ocupacionales, pero, al mismo tiempo, las personas travestis podrían poner resistencia a ese ejercicio del poder a través de diferentes mecanismos como las performances. Objetivo Explorar y analizar la expresión artística y política de la performance, realizada por disidentes sexuales, como estrategia política de resistencia al apartheid ocupacional. Metodo Este estudio exploratorio corresponde a un diseño de estudio de caso, basado en el análisis documental audiovisual. Se analizó una pieza audiovisual denominada "Yo me maquillo" performada por dos artistas y activistas disidentes sexuales en la ciudad de Valparaíso (Chile). Para el análisis, se realiza una codificación abierta de elementos significativos y una codificación axial posterior. Resultados Se evidencia cómo la performance opera como una estrategia política de resistencia al apartheid ocupacional que personas travestis experimentan en sus vidas cotidianas, a través de la denuncia, visibilización, acción, agitación y desafío de las matrices hegemónicas, permitiendo dar cuenta de las desigualdades y violencias estructurales que cruzan sus vidas. Conclusiones Se discuten los aportes del estudio para la terapia ocupacional y la ciencia de la ocupación. Se destaca la performance como una ocupación colectiva y política que se desarrolla desde la resistencia y subversión al apartheid ocupacional que viven las personas travestis.

Resumo Introdução As travestis se deparam com diversas situações de injustiça sustentadas por um sistema heteronormado que viola suas vidas, sua corporeidade e silencia suas identidades. Nesse sentido, o apartheid ocupacional opera por meio da formação de uma estrutura que limita suas possibilidades ocupacionais, mas, ao mesmo tempo, as travestis poderiam resistir a esse exercício de poder por meio de diferentes mecanismos, como as performances. Objetivo Explorar e analisar a expressão artística e política da performance, realizada por dissidentes sexuais, como estratégia política de resistência ao apartheid ocupacional. Método este estudo exploratório corresponde a um desenho de estudo de caso, baseado na análise documental audiovisual. Foi analisada uma peça audiovisual intitulada "Yo me maquillo" [Eu me maquio], interpretada por dois artistas chilenos e ativistas dissidentes sexuais na cidade de Valparaíso (Chile). Para a análise, é realizada uma codificação aberta dos elementos significativos e uma codificação axial posterior. Resultados Evidencia-se como a performance opera como estratégia política de resistência ao apartheid ocupacional que as travestis vivenciam em seu cotidiano, por meio da denúncia, visibilidade, ação, agitação e desafio das matrizes hegemônicas, permitindo dar conta das desigualdades e violências estruturais que cruzam suas vidas. Conclusões São discutidas as contribuições do estudo para a terapia ocupacional e a ciência ocupacional. A performance é destacada como uma ocupação coletiva e política que se desenvolve desde a resistência e subversão ao apartheid ocupacional vivido pelas travestis.

Abstract Introduction Transvestite people face different situations of injustice sustained by a heteronormative system that violates their lives, bodies, and silences their identities. In this sense, Occupational Apartheid operates through the formation of a structure that limits their occupational possibilities, but, at the same time, transvestite people resist this exercise of power through different mechanisms such as performances. Objective To explore and analyze the artistic and political expression of performance, developed by sexual dissidents, as a political strategy of resistance to Occupational Apartheid. Method This exploratory study corresponds to a case study design, based on audiovisual documentary analysis. An audiovisual piece called "Yo me maquillo" [I put on makeup] performed by two Chilean sexual dissidents and activists was analyzed in the city of Valparaíso (Chile). For the analysis, open coding of significant elements and posterior axial coding was performed. Results It is evident how the performance as a political strategy of resistance to the occupational apartheid experienced by transvestite people in their daily lives, through the denunciation, visibility, action, agitation, and defying the hegemonic matrices, allowing to account for inequalities and structural violence that crosses their lives. Conclusions The contributions of the study for occupational therapy and occupation science are discussed. Performance is highlighted as a collective and political occupation that develops from the resistance and subversion to occupational apartheid experienced by transvestite people.

Systems consolidation impairs behavioral flexibility.

Behavioral flexibility is important in a changing environment. Previous research suggests that systems consolidation, a long-term poststorage process that alters memory traces, may reduce behavioral flexibility. However, exactly how systems consolidation affects flexibility is unknown. Here, we tested how systems consolidation affects: (1) flexibility in response to value changes and (2) flexibility in response to changes in the optimal sequence of actions. Mice were trained to obtain food rewards in a Y-maze by switching nose pokes between three arms. During initial training, all arms were rewarded and mice simply had to switch arms in order to maximize rewards. Then, after either a 1 or 28 d delay, we either devalued one arm, or we reinforced a specific sequence of pokes. We found that after a 1 d delay mice adapted relatively easily to the changes. In contrast, mice given a 28 d delay struggled to adapt, especially for changes to the optimal sequence of actions. Immediate early gene imaging suggested that the 28 d mice were less reliant on their hippocampus and more reliant on their medial prefrontal cortex. These data suggest that systems consolidation reduces behavioral flexibility, particularly for changes to the optimal sequence of actions.