Development and analysis of an artificial olfactory bulb.

This article presents the development of an artificial olfactory bulb (OB) using an electronic nose with thermally modulated metal-oxide sensors. Inspired by animal OBs, our approach employs thermal modulation to replicate the spatial encoding patterns of glomeruli clusters and subclusters. This new approach enhances the classification capabilities of traditional electronic noses and offers new insights for biomimetic olfaction.

Transient targeting of hypothalamic orexin neurons alleviates seizures in a mouse model of epilepsy.

Lateral hypothalamic (LH) hypocretin/orexin neurons (HONs) control brain-wide electrical excitation. Abnormally high excitation produces epileptic seizures, which affect millions of people and need better treatments. HON population activity spikes from minute to minute, but the role of this in seizures is unknown.

1064nm Nd:YAG laser promotes chondrocytes regeneration and cartilage reshaping by upregulating local estrogen levels.

Cartilage is frequently used as a scaffolds for repairing and reconstructing body surface organs. However, after successful plastic surgery, transplanted cartilage scaffolds often exhibit deformation and absorption over time. To enhance the shaping stability of cartilage scaffolds and improve patients' satisfaction after reconstructions, we employed the ear folding models in New Zealand rabbits to confirm whether the 1064nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser could promote cartilage reshaping.

Multimodal Data for the Detection of Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease.

Freezing of gaits (FOG) is a very disabling symptom of Parkinson's Disease (PD), affecting about 50% of PD patients and 80% of advanced PD patients. Studies have shown that FOG is related to a complex interplay between motor, cognitive and affective factors. A full characterization of FOG is crucial for FOG detection/prediction and prompt intervention.

The analysis of genetic structure and characteristics of the chloroplast genome in different Japanese apricot germplasm populations.

Background: Chloroplast (cp) genomes are generally considered to be conservative and play an important role in population diversity analysis in plants, but the characteristics and diversity of the different germplasm populations in Japanese apricot are still not clear.

Results: A total of 146 cp genomes from three groups of wild, domesticated, and bred accessions of Japanese apricot were sequenced in this study. The comparative genome analysis revealed that the 146 cp genomes were divided into 41 types, and ranged in size from 157,886 to 158,167 bp with a similar structure and composition to those of the genus Prunus.

Hypothalamic deep brain stimulation as a strategy to manage anxiety disorders.

Fear is essential for survival, but excessive anxiety behavior is debilitating. Anxiety disorders affecting millions of people are a global health problem, where new therapies and targets are much needed. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is established as a therapy in several neurological disorders, but is underexplored in anxiety disorders.

Effective Safety Message Dissemination with Vehicle Trajectory Predictions in V2X Networks.

Exploring data connection information from vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications using advanced machine learning approaches, an intelligent transportation system (ITS) can provide better safety services to mitigate the risk of road accidents and improve traffic efficiency. In this work, we propose an end-edge-cloud architecture to deploy machine learning-driven approaches at network edges to predict vehicles' future trajectories, which is further utilized to provide an effective safety message dissemination scheme. With our approach, the traffic safety message will only be disseminated to relevant vehicles that are predicted to pass by accident areas, which can significantly reduce the network data transmission overhead and avoid unnecessary interference.

miR169 and PmRGL2 synergistically regulate the NF-Y complex to activate dormancy release in Japanese apricot (Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.).

This study is the first to demonstrate that GA-induced dormancy release is associated with the NF-Y complex, which interacts with gibberellin inhibitor RGL2 in Japanese apricot. Seasonal dormancy is not only vital for the survival in cold winter but also affects flowering of temperate fruit trees and the dormancy release depends on the accumulation of the cold temperatures (Chilling requirement-CR). To understand the mechanism of dormancy release in deciduous fruit crops, we compared miRNA sequencing data during the transition stage from paradormancy to dormancy release in the Japanese apricot and found that the miR169 family showed significant differentially up-regulated expression during dormancy induction and was down-regulated during the dormancy release periods.

Aggressive cytoreduction and multiple subpial cortical transections may obtain good surgical outcomes in refractory epilepsy with multiple epileptic foci.

Backgrounds: Epilepsy surgery is the most efficacious therapeutic modality for patients with medical refractory epilepsy, especially resective surgery. However, the variable etiologies and multiple epileptic foci are usually associated with the outcomes. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that combination of different intervention procedures might be an alternative option for patients of refractory epilepsy.

Role of spontaneous and sensory orexin network dynamics in rapid locomotion initiation.

Appropriate motor control is critical for normal life, and requires hypothalamic hypocretin/orexin neurons (HONs). HONs are slowly regulated by nutrients, but also display rapid (subsecond) activity fluctuations in vivo. The necessity of these activity bursts for sensorimotor control and their roles in specific phases of movement are unknown.

Effectiveness and safety of perampanel in adults with mesial temporal epilepsy: A single-center postmarketing study in Taiwan.

Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is a common epilepsy syndrome often refractory to antiepileptic drug (AED) treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of perampanel (PER) as add-on treatment for patients of MTLE.We pooled retrospective data from adult patients with MTLE, from a tertiary center in Taiwan, who were prescribed PER between March 2016 and December 2016.

Clinical, Electroencephalographic Features and Prognostic Factors of Cefepime-Induced Neurotoxicity: A Retrospective Study.

Background: The incidence of cefepime-induced neurotoxicity (CIN) has been previously underestimated, and there have only been sporadic reports from critical neurological settings. The present study aimed to investigate the potential factors associated with disease development, electroencephalography (EEG) sub-classification, and outcome measures.

Methods: The 10-year medical records of patients who underwent EEG between 2007 and 2016 at a tertiary medical center in Taiwan, and developed encephalopathy after cefepime therapy were retrospectively reviewed.

Efficacy of limited hippocampal radiofrequency thermocoagulation for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: Radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RFTC), which has been developed for drug-resistant epilepsy patients, involves less brain tissue loss due to surgery, fewer surgical adverse effects, and generally good seizure control. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of RFTC performed at limited hippocampal locations.

Methods: Daily seizure diaries were prospectively maintained for at least 6 months by 9 patients (ages 30-59 years) with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) before treatment with RFTC.

Different routes of heroin intake cause various heroin-induced leukoencephalopathies.

Objective: Toxic leukoencephalopathy is a rare but critical neurological disorder in heroin abusers. Our aim is to compare the clinical manifestations, brain MRIs and prognoses of heroin-induced leukoencephalopathy by different intake routes.

Methods: We present two patients with toxic leukoencephalopathy caused by intravenous (IV) injection of heroin and 48 additional cases from systematic reviews of the literature published between 1994 and 2018.

Predictive Factors for Early Initiation of Artificial Feeding in Patients With Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease.

Akinetic mutism has often been used as the predictor of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (sCJD) endpoints, but it may be difficult for general physcians to assess. Nasogastric (NG) tube insertion is indicated for many neurodegenerative diseases with a clinical course of swallowing failure, and can be more easily identified than akinetic mutism by general physicians. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify whether there are predictive factors for early initiation of artificial feeding in patients with sCJD who require enteral nutrition due to swallowing failure.

Correlation of vocals and lyrics with left temporal musicogenic epilepsy.

Whether the cognitive processing of music and speech relies on shared or distinct neuronal mechanisms remains unclear. Music and language processing in the brain are right and left temporal functions, respectively. We studied patients with musicogenic epilepsy (ME) that was specifically triggered by popular songs to analyze brain hyperexcitability triggered by specific stimuli.

Preliminary Asian experience of using perampanel in clinical practice.

Background: To analyze the efficacy and safety of perampanel over a 3-month period in a sample of Asian people with epilepsy.

Methods: The efficacy and safety of perampanel as an adjunctive therapy for patients with epilepsy were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Patients were categorized according to seizure type, concomitant antiepileptic drug usage, and perampanel dosage.

Clinical correlation and prognostic implication of periodic EEG patterns: A cohort study.

Objective: Despite increasing amounts of research on periodic discharges (PDs), large clinical studies regarding their prognostic value are lacking. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the clinical implications and prognostic value of PDs.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, we included patients who underwent electroencephalographic recording either during hospitalization or from our outpatient clinics.

Seizure Freedom After Limited Hippocampal Radiofrequency Thermocoagulation.

Background: Surgical interventions are often used for freedom from seizure in patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. A patient with seizure foci in the left mesiotemporal region underwent limited-size stereotactic radiofrequency thermocoagulation (RF-TC) over the left hippocampus.

Case Description: A 37-year-old woman with febrile convulsion in her childhood was admitted to our neurologic department with complex partial seizure with secondary generalization.

Clinical and electrodiagnostic characteristics of nitrous oxide-induced neuropathy in Taiwan.

Objective: Nitrous oxide-induced neuropathy is toxic neuropathy occasionally encountered in Taiwanese neurological clinics. Only several case reports described their electrodiagnostic features. We used a case-control design to investigate the detailed electrodiagnostic characteristics and possible factors relating to severe nerve injury.