Bridging the Gap between Field Experiments and Machine Learning: The EC H2020 B-GOOD Project as a Case Study towards Automated Predictive Health Monitoring of Honey Bee Colonies.

Honey bee colonies have great societal and economic importance. The main challenge that beekeepers face is keeping bee colonies healthy under ever-changing environmental conditions. In the past two decades, beekeepers that manage colonies of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) have become increasingly concerned by the presence of parasites and pathogens affecting the bees, the reduction in pollen and nectar availability, and the colonies' exposure to pesticides, among others. Hence, beekeepers need to know the health condition of their colonies and how to keep them alive and thriving, which creates a need for a new holistic data collection method to harmonize the flow of information from various sources that can be linked at the colony level for different health determinants, such as bee colony, environmental, socioeconomic, and genetic statuses. For this purpose, we have developed and implemented the B-GOOD (Giving Beekeeping Guidance by computational-assisted Decision Making) project as a case study to categorize the colony's health condition and find a Health Status Index (HSI). Using a 3-tier setup guided by work plans and standardized protocols, we have collected data from inside the colonies (amount of brood, disease load, honey harvest, etc.) and from their environment (floral resource availability). Most of the project's data was automatically collected by the BEEP Base Sensor System. This continuous stream of data served as the basis to determine and validate an algorithm to calculate the HSI using machine learning. In this article, we share our insights on this holistic methodology and also highlight the importance of using a standardized data language to increase the compatibility between different current and future studies. We argue that the combined management of big data will be an essential building block in the development of targeted guidance for beekeepers and for the future of sustainable beekeeping.

The effect of different frequencies of electroacupuncture on BDNF and NGF expression in the hippocampal CA3 area of the ischemic hemisphere in cerebral ischemic rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to observe the effects of different frequencies of electroacupuncture (EA) on expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) in the hippocampal CA3 region of cerebral ischemic rats. METHODS: Middle cerebral artery occlusion was successfully introduced to simulate cerebral infarction in 48 healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats. Totally, 48 rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control group, the EA 5-Hz group, and the EA 50-Hz group, 16 in each group. The rats in the control group were placed in an ordinary cage and fed normally without any treatment. EA treatment was given at a certain frequency 24 hours after surgery in the EA 5-Hz group and EA 50-Hz group. Morris water maze test was used to measure the learning and memory abilities of rats in each group after 14-day treatment with EA. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of BDNF- and NGF-positive cells in the ischemic hippocampal CA3 area of the rats. RESULTS: The EA 5-Hz group and EA 50-Hz group had significantly improved learning and memory ability compared with the control group according to Morris water maze findings (P<0.05). The number of BDNF- and NGF-positive cells in the hippocampal CA3 region of the ischemic hemisphere in the 5-Hz group and 50-Hz EA group was significantly more than that in the control group after EA treatment (P<0.05), and the difference in the 50-Hz group was more obvious than that in the 5-Hz group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: EA stimulation of "Baihui" and "Dazhui" can promote the expression of BDNF and NGF in the hippocampal CA3 region of cerebral ischemic rats, and the 50-Hz EA stimulation effect is more obvious.

Combined Effects of Electroacupuncture and Behavioral Training on Learning-Memory Ability and Event-Related Potential P300 in Rats with Mid/Advanced Cerebral Infarction.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of the combination of electroacupuncture (EA) and behavioral training (BT) for mid/advanced cerebral infarction (M/ACI) and related mechanisms remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the combined effects on the learning-memory ability and event-related potential P300 in rats with M/ACI. METHODS: Eighty rats with M/ACI were divided into Group Model (M), Group EA, Group BT, and Group EA-BT (n = 20) according to the random number with five healthy rats in Group Control (CON). On the 6th week after modeling, EA, BT, and EA-BT were given to Group EA, Group BT, and Group EA-BT, respectively, whereas Group M and Group CON were not given any intervention. Y-maze test and P300 were recorded before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After intervention, the P300 latency was lower and the amplitude was higher in the Group EA-BT, Group EA, and Group BT than before (for latency, t = -7.638, -4.334, and -5.916; for amplitude, t = 8.125, 3.846, and 5.238; P < 0.01), with Group EA-BT superior to Group EA (for latency, t = -3.708; for amplitude, t = 3.653; P < 0.01) and Group BT (for latency, t = -2.067; for amplitude, t = 2.816; P < 0.05), with no significant difference between Group BT and EA (for latency, t = -1.439; for amplitude, t = 1.075; P > 0.05). While the performances of Y-maze tests in the Group EA-BT, Group EA, and Group BT were all better than before (t = 10.359, 4.520, and 7.791, P < 0.01), with Group EA-BT better than Group EA (t = 5.627, P < 0.01) and Group BT (t = 2.913, P < 0.01) respectively, and Group BT better than Group EA (t = 2.912, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: EA or BT can affect P300 in rats with M/ACI, and the combination of these two methods can significantly improve the learning-memory ability.

The Yin and Yang of Antiviral Innate Immunity in Central Nervous System.

The innate immune system provides protection against invading neurotropic viruses. It acts as the first line of defense against invading viruses and plays an elementary role in their pathogenesis. The list of viruses capable of infecting human central nervous system (CNS) is quite long, most important of them are Japanese Encephalitis virus (JEV), rabies virus, West Nile virus (WNV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV), La Crosse virus, tick borne encephalitis virus (TEBE) and polio virus. Germ line pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) such as Toll like receptors (TLRs), nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD) - like receptors (NLRs), retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) -like helicases or RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) and cytosolic DNA sensors recognize the pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and initiate an immune response against invading pathogen. Although PRRs were originally characterized in peripheral immune cells but accumulating evidence also suggest their crucial roles in CNS to combat against neurotropic viruses. In this review, we will highlight the recent developments in our understating of the mechanisms by which PRRs in resident brain cells provide protection against invading neurotropic viruses.

[Regulation effects of liuwei dihuang pill, jingui shenqi pill, jiangu erxian pill containing serums on adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation-related genes expressions in the differentiation process of preadipocytes to osteoblasts].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Chinese medical recipes for invigorating Shen on rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs)-derived preadipocytes' differentiation to osteoblasts. METHODS: The BMSCs were cultured using whole bone marrow adherence wall method. The BMSCs were induced to preadipocytes by classic chemical method. The osteogenic differentiation process of preadipocytes was intervened by Liuwei Dihuang Pill (LDP), Jingui Shenqi Pill (JSP), or Jiangu Erxian Pill (JEP)-containing serums (with the concentRation of 10%, on behalf of tonifying Shen yin, tonifying Shen yang, and tonifying Shen essence). Reverse transcription-real time fluorescent quantitative-PCR (RT real time qPCR) was used to detect RUNX2, ALP, BGP, BMP2, BMP4, SPP1, and IGF1 mRNA expressions of osteogenic differentiation-related genes, mRNA expressions of LPL, FABP4, and PPARgamma of adipogenic differentiation-related genes on the 6th, the 12th, and the 18th day. RESULTS: As for the osteogenic differentiation-related gene, when compared with the control group, there was no statistical difference in the gene expression level in the experimental groups on the 6th day (2.0 > Ratio > 0.5). On the 12th day, the mRNA expressions of IGF1 and Runx2 increased more significantly in the JSP group, with their relative quantification (Ratio) being 2.97 and 1.81 respectively. On the 18th day the IGF1 mRNA expression significantly increased, being the Ratio value of 3.74, 12.60, and 8.35, respectively, in the LDP group, the JSP group, and the JEP group. The SPP1 mRNA expression also significantly increased, with the Ratio value of 2.94, 3.18, and 2.62, respectively, in the LDP group, the JSP group, and the JEP group. As for adipogenic differentiation-related genes, on the 6th day, when compared with the control group, FABP4 mRNA expression significantly decreased in the LDP group and the JSP group (with the Ratio value of 0.47 and 0.40 respectively). The expression levels of other genes were all down-regulated, but not significantly. On the 12th day and 18th day, there was no statistical change in the adipogenic differentiation-related genes expressions (2.0 > Ratio > 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: Up-regulation of osteogenic differentiation-related genes expression occurred in later time, while down-regulation of adipogenic differentiation-related genes expression occurred in earlier time after treatment by Chinese medical recipes for invigorating Shen. In general, above data indicated that tonifying Shen yang was more effective in promoting osteogenic differentiation and inhibiting adipogenic differentiation of BMSCs.

[Acupoint catgut-embedding therapy: superiorities and principles of application].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the superiorities of acupoint catgut-embedding therapy, discuss its law of clinical application and provide scientific decision-making for clinical treatment. METHODS: Literatures on acupoint catgut-embedding therapy in the recent 40 years were selected, input, examined and verified, picked up and analyzed by establishing database with the modern computer technology. RESULTS: (1) One thousand and seventy-five literatures were input. It shows that the acupoint catgut-embedding therapy has an extensive application in all departments, especially in the internal department, accounting for 48.54% (50/103) of the total disease category. It has the most extensive application on treatment of epigastric pain, with the frequency of 102 times, and obesity of 74 times. The next is surgery, accounting for 14.56% (15/103). The major application is on low back pain and leg pain with the frequency of 79 times. Psoriasis, with the frequency of 30 times, holds the major application in dermatological department. And blepharoplasty, with the frequency of 30 times, gains the most application in department of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology. (2) In the included literatures, selection of adjacent acupoints and distal acupoints are held as the major method of acupoint selection. The adjusted lumbar puncture needle is taken as the major tool for the acupoint catgut-embedding therapy. And catguts of different sizes are adopted for the operation. (3) Analysis of the therapeutic effect shows that acupoint catgut-embedding therapy has obvious effect in all departments, especially in surgery and dermatology, with the total effective rate over 90%. CONCLUSION: Epigastric pain, obesity, epilepsy, asthma, abdominal pain, facial paralysis and constipation of the internal medicine, low back pain and leg pain of the surgical department, psoriasis of the dermatological department and blepharoplasty of the department of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology are considered as the dominant diseases for acupoint catgut-embedding therapy.

[Basic rules and characteristics of acupoint application therapy based upon data mining].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the basic characteristics of effects of acupoint application therapy in order to guide clinical decision better. METHODS: A database on acupoint application therapy was established first by collection, sorting, screening, recording, collation, data extraction, and statistical analyses of the related literature published in recent 60 years, and using modern computer system. Then, its predominant indications and application rules in clinical practice were analyzed using data mining techniques. RESULTS: Outcomes of data mining showed that the acupoint application therapy was extensively utilized in the treatment of a variety of diseases or clinical conditions (142 in total) in different clinical departments, particularly in the internal medicine which contains 51 types of clinical conditions or diseases (accounting for 35.92%). Among them, the top 3 are asthma, cough, and abdominal pain, with the appearance frequency being 161, 79 and 45 times (= articles) in the domestic journals, respectively. The second one is the paediatric department, containing 30 kinds of diseases or clinical conditions (accounting for 21.13%). Among them, cough (106 articles), asthma (104 articles) and diarrhoea (82 articles) are frequently seen. The surgery department takes the third place, involving 27 disorders (accounting for 19.01%), with lumbago-leg pain being the most (31 articles). In the departments of ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, 14 types of disorders (accounting for 9.86%) have been reported, with nasosinusitis being the most (56 papers). This therapy has also been used to treat 10 types of gynecopathy (7.04%) and 10 kinds of dermopathy (7.04%), with dysmenorrhea (37 articles) and shingles (6 articles) being the most. For acupoint application, complex prescriptions of Chinese herbal medicines in the forms of paste and cataplasm are frequently adopted, but with fewer application of enhancer of cutaneous penetration. Regarding the utilized acupoint, local points are often chosen. In the light of the collected papers, the highest effective rate is for dermopathy, followed by surgical problems, gynecopathy, paediatric conditions, and disorders of the internal medicine, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology. CONCLUSION: Acupoint application therapy has been used for 142 kinds of disorders of different clinical departments, with the dominant indications being asthma, cough, abdominal pain, facial paralysis and constipation in the internal medicine, cough, asthma and diarrhoea in the paediatrics, lumbago-leg pain in the surgery, nasosinusitis in the otorhinolaryngology, and dysmenorrhea of gynecopathy.

[Research on characteristics of different clinical conditions treated by red-hot acupuncture needle based on data mining needle].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the regularities and characters of clinical application of red-hot needle therapy in ancient and modern literature of Chinese medicine by using data mining techniques, so as to provide a reference for study on the specificity of efficacy of red-hot needle therapy. METHODS: Sample data was collected from some medical books, medical cases, reports of modern journals for calculating frequent item sets by using methods of association rules of data mining. Then, the collected data was extracted, sorted out, and summed up by using our newly developed literature database platform of red-hot needle therapy in order to find out the most suitable indications of this therapy in clinical practice. RESULTS: A total of 6 categories of clinical conditions treated by red-hot needle therapy were found. Among them, the frequency times (percentages) of red-hot needle application for surgical problems appeared in journals, medical cases and medical books are 287 times (49.83%), 235 times (48.96%), 154 times (41.73%), respectively. The frequency times of red-hot needle application for disorders of internal medicine and dermatology are 276 times and 360 times. Among the 115 categories of clinical conditions or diseases treated by red-hot needle appeared in journals, arthromyodynia and struma are frequently found, with the frequency being 115 and 46 times, separately. The total effective rates of the present therapy from higher to lower are 99.46% for pediatric problems, 98.65% five sensory organs department, 97.32% surgery, 96.66% dermatology, 96.34% gynecology, and 93.95% internal medicine, respectively. Among the 97 types of clinical conditions recorded in the literature on medical cases, aural verruca is more frequently seen apart from arthromyodynia and struma. In medical books, 94 types of clinical conditions treated by red-hot needle therapy are found, including 32 types of problems of internal medicine. CONCLUSION: Data mining results show that red-hot needle therapy has been widely used in different clinical departments, and more frequently used in surgery (mainly orthopedic and general surgery), internal medicine (mainly neurology and gastroenterology), dermatology.