Clustering Based Kernel Reinforcement Learning for Neural Adaptation in Brain-Machine Interfaces.

Reinforcement learning (RL) interprets subject's movement intention in Brain Machine Interfaces (BMIs) through trial-and-error with the advantage that it does not need the real limb movements. When the subjects try to control the external devices purely using brain signals without actual movements (brain control), they adjust the neural firing patterns to adapt to device control, which expands the state-action space for the RL decoder to explore. The challenge is to quickly explore the new knowledge in the sizeable state-action space and maintain good performance.

Convolutional Neural Network for Target Face Detection using Single-trial EEG Signal.

Face recognition plays an import role in our daily lives. However, computer face recognition performance degrades dramatically with the presence of variations in illumination, head pose and occlusion. In contrast, the human brain can recognize target faces over a much wider range of conditions.

Tracking the Time Varying Neural Tuning via Adam on Point Process Observations.

Brain machine interfaces(BMIs) translate the neural activity into the control of movement by understanding how the neural activity responds to the movement intension. However, the neural tuning property, where the modulation depth and preferred direction describe how a neuron responses to stimuli, is time varying gradually and abruptly during the interaction with environment. There has been some research to address such an issue considering either one of the cases, but never address them in a general framework.

Multiscale Analysis of the Microstructure and Stress Evolution in Cold Work Die Steel during Deep Cryogenic Treatment.

Through a combination of 3D representative volume element (RVE) and the metallo-thermo-mechanical coupling finite element (FE) analysis, a multiscale model was established to explore the localized characteristics of microstructure and stress evolution during deep cryogenic treatment (DCT). The results suggest that after cooling to near -160 °C, the largest intensity of martensite is formed, but the retained austenite cannot be eliminated completely until the end of DCT. The driving force for the precipitation of fine and uniform carbides during DCT is provided by the competition between the thermal and phase transformation stresses.

Visualizing hematopoiesis as a stochastic process.

Stochastic simulation has played an important role in understanding hematopoiesis, but implementing and interpreting mathematical models requires a strong statistical background, often preventing their use by many clinical and translational researchers. Here, we introduce a user-friendly graphical interface with capabilities for visualizing hematopoiesis as a stochastic process, applicable to a variety of mammal systems and experimental designs. We describe the visualization tool and underlying mathematical model, and then use this to simulate serial transplantations in mice, human cord blood cell expansion, and clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential.

Surface plasmon resonance biosensor for the accurate and sensitive quantification of O-GlcNAc based on cleavage by β-D-N-acetylglucosaminidase.

Abnormal O-linked-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) concentrations have been associated with a variety of diseases (e.g., cancer, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, etc.

Nonlinear Modeling of Neural Interaction for Spike Prediction Using the Staged Point-Process Model.

Neurons communicate nonlinearly through spike activities. Generalized linear models (GLMs) describe spike activities with a cascade of a linear combination across inputs, a static nonlinear function, and an inhomogeneous Bernoulli or Poisson process, or Cox process if a self-history term is considered. This structure considers the output nonlinearity in spike generation but excludes the nonlinear interaction among input neurons.

Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and the new bone formation factor Dkk-1 in patients with spondyloarthritis.

In recent years, MRI has been regarded as a major diagnostic tool for spondyloarthritis (SpA), and anti-TNF therapy has been widely confirmed as an effective treatment strategy. This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the secreted protein dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) and abnormal findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through a prospective study of 30 cases of SpA. Thirty patients with active SpA were included, all treated with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-antibody fusion protein (YiSaiPu) injection at 50 mg/week for 6 months.

Development of a Novel Pre-Vascularized Three-Dimensional Skin Substitute Using Blood Plasma Gel.

Skin substitutes with existing vascularization are in great demand for the repair of full-thickness skin defects. In the present study, we hypothesized that a pre-vascularized skin substitute can potentially promote wound healing. Novel three-dimensional (3D) skin substitutes were prepared by seeding a mixture of human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and fibroblasts into a human plasma/calcium chloride formed gel scaffold, and seeding keratinocytes onto the surface of the plasma gel.

Highly efficient broadband second harmonic generation mediated by mode hybridization and nonlinearity patterning in compact fiber-integrated lithium niobate nano-waveguides.

The inherent trade-off between efficiency and bandwidth of three-wave mixing processes in χ nonlinear waveguides is the major impediment for scaling down many well-established frequency conversion schemes onto the level of integrated photonic circuit. Here, we show that hybridization between modes of a silica microfiber and a LiNbO nanowaveguide, amalgamated with laminar χ patterning, offers an elegant approach for engineering broadband phase matching and high efficiency of three-wave mixing processes in an ultra-compact and natively fiber-integrated setup. We demonstrate exceptionally high normalized second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of up to η ≈ 460% W cm, combined with a large phase matching bandwidth of Δλ ≈ 100 nm (bandwidth-length product of Δλ · L ≈ 5 μm) near the telecom bands, and extraordinary adjustment flexibility.

Global metabolomic responses in urine from atm deficient mice in response to LD gamma irradiation doses.

Exposures to ionizing radiation (IR) may either be accidental or intentional, for medical purposes or even through terrorist actions. As certain populations emerge to be more radiosensitive than others, it is imperative to assess those individuals and treat them accordingly. To demonstrate the feasibility of rapid identification of such cases, we utilized the highly radiosensitive mouse model Atm in the C57BL/6 background, and evaluated the urinary responses in 8-10 week old male mice at early time points (4, 24, and 72 h) after exposure to their respective LD doses [4 Gy for Atm , and 8 Gy for wild type (WT)].

Organophosphate and Pyrethroid Pesticide Exposures Measured before Conception and Associations with Time to Pregnancy in Chinese Couples Enrolled in the Shanghai Birth Cohort.

Background: Pesticides have been associated with reproductive disorders, but there is limited research on pesticide exposures and human fertility.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the effects of preconception exposure to pesticides on time to pregnancy (TTP) and on infertility in a general population of couples planning to become pregnant in Shanghai, China.

Method: A total of 615 women who were planning a pregnancy were enrolled before conception and were prospectively followed for 1 y to observe their TTP.

An electrophysiological index of outcome evaluation that may influence subsequent cooperation and aggression strategies.

Human social decision-making is significantly modulated by previous decision outcomes. Using event-related potentials (ERPs), we examined whether ERP components evoked by outcome feedback could serve as electrophysiological indices to examine the influence of current outcome evaluation on subsequent cooperative or aggressive decision-making. Thirty-four adult volunteers participated in a social game task, in which they were asked to choose between cooperation and aggression with an opponent player.

High mobility group box protein 1 downregulates acid β-glucosidase 1 in synovial fibroblasts from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

High mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but the pathogenic mechanisms of HMGB1 in RA and the involvement of the lysosomal enzyme acid β-glucosidase 1 (GBA1) are not fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to use HMGB1 to treat RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs) and to examine the changes of transcriptional factors. RASFs were isolated from synovial tissues obtained from five RA patients undergoing synovectomy or joint replacement.

Fungal Gene Mutation Analysis Elucidating Photoselective Enhancement of UV-C Disinfection Efficiency Toward Spoilage Agents on Fruit Surface.

Short-wave ultraviolet (UV-C) treatment represents a potent, clean and safe substitute to chemical sanitizers for fresh fruit preservation. However, the dosage requirement for microbial disinfection may have negative effects on fruit quality. In this study, UV-C was found to be more efficient in killing spores of in dark and red light conditions when compared to white and blue light.

Triggers and decision-making patterns for receiving total knee arthroplasty among older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A qualitative descriptive study.

Aims And Objectives: To explore triggers of and decision-making patterns for older adults with knee osteoarthritis to receive total knee arthroplasty.

Background: Older adults with knee osteoarthritis pain are often reluctant to undergo total knee arthroplasty until their physical health and psychological health have deteriorated. This delay may lead to poor long-term outcomes after the surgery.

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as an innovative preclinical ADME model for solute carrier membrane transporters, with consequences for pharmacology and drug therapy.

Solute carrier membrane transporters (SLCs) control cell exposure to small-molecule drugs, thereby contributing to drug efficacy and failure and/or adverse effects. Moreover, SLCs are genetically linked to various diseases. Hence, in-depth knowledge of SLC function is fundamental for a better understanding of disease pathophysiology and the drug development process.

High correlation between skin color based on CIELAB color space, epidermal melanocyte ratio, and melanocyte melanin content.

Background: To treat skin color disorders, such as vitiligo or burns, melanocytes are transplanted for tissue regeneration. However, melanocyte distribution in the human body varies with age and location, making it difficult to select the optimal donor skin to achieve a desired color match. Determining the correlations with the desired skin color measurement based on CIELAB color, epidermal melanocyte numbers, and melanin content of individual melanocytes is critical for clinical application.

Metabolomics based predictive classifier for early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

The availability of robust classification algorithms for the identification of high risk individuals with resectable disease is critical to improving early detection strategies and ultimately increasing survival rates in PC. We leveraged high quality biospecimens with extensive clinical annotations from patients that received treatment at the Medstar-Georgetown University hospital. We used a high resolution mass spectrometry based global tissue profiling approach in conjunction with multivariate analysis for developing a classification algorithm that would predict early stage PC with high accuracy.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in matched parental and cord serum in Shandong, China.

Background: Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been widely detected in different populations. However, limited data is available about exposure among family members.

Objectives: To investigate the PFASs levels in parents and their newborns and to understand their correlation and health implications of in utero exposure to PFASs.

Multi-Sensor Registration in High-Precision CMM Based on a Composite Standard.

Registration is a critical step in multi-sensor dimensional measurement. As the accuracy of registration directly impacts the quality of final results, a reference sphere as a common standard is problematic in high-precision registration. In this paper, a novel method based on a composite standard is proposed to fuse the multiple heterogeneous sensors in high-precision coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), which will void the drawbacks of a reference sphere.

Amiodarone promotes cancer cell death through elevated truncated SRSF3 and downregulation of miR-224.

Amiodarone is a widely used class III antiarrhythmic agent which prolongs the action potential and refractory period by blockage of several types of myocardial potassium channels. Emerging evidence suggests that amiodarone sensitize tumor cells in response to chemotherapy. Nevertheless, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanism.

Conditional Regulation of Gene Expression by Ligand-Induced Occlusion of a MicroRNA Target Sequence.

RNA switches that modulate gene expression with small molecules have a number of scientific and clinical applications. Here, we describe a novel class of small regulatory on switches based on the ability of a ligand-bound aptamer to promote stem formation between a microRNA target sequence (miR-T) and a complementary competing strand. Two on switch architectures employing this basic concept were evaluated, differing in the location of a tetracycline aptamer and the region of a miR-21 target sequence (miR-21-T) masked by its competing strand.

Progesterone receptor membrane component 1 as a potential prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the clinicopathological significance of progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1) and PGRMC2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: We performed immunohistochemical staining to evaluate the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), PGRMC1, and PGRMC2 in a clinical cohort consisting of 89 paired HCC and non-tumor liver samples. We also analyzed HCC data ( = 373) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Combination of resveratrol-containing collagen with adipose stem cells for craniofacial tissue-engineering applications.

Repair and regeneration of craniofacial tissues is particularly challenging because they comprise a complex structure of hard and soft tissues involved in intricate functions. This study combined collagen scaffolds and human adipose stem cells (hASCs) for oral mucosal and calvarial bone regeneration by using resveratrol (RSV), which affects the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. We have evaluated the effect of collagen scaffold-containing RSV (collagen/RSV) scaffolds both in vitro and in vivo for their wound healing and bone regeneration potential.