Brain-guided manifold transferring to improve the performance of spiking neural networks in image classification.

Spiking neural networks (SNNs), as the third generation of neural networks, are based on biological models of human brain neurons. In this work, a shallow SNN plays the role of an explicit image decoder in the image classification. An LSTM-based EEG encoder is used to construct the EEG-based feature space, which is a discriminative space in viewpoint of classification accuracy by SVM. Then, the visual feature vectors extracted from SNN is mapped to the EEG-based discriminative features space by manifold transferring based on mutual k-Nearest Neighbors (Mk-NN MT). This proposed "Brain-guided system" improves the separability of the SNN-based visual feature space. In the test phase, the spike patterns extracted by SNN from the input image is mapped to LSTM-based EEG feature space, and then classified without need for the EEG signals. The SNN-based image encoder is trained by the conversion method and the results are evaluated and compared with other training methods on the challenging small ImageNet-EEG dataset. Experimental results show that the proposed transferring the manifold of the SNN-based feature space to LSTM-based EEG feature space leads to 14.25% improvement at most in the accuracy of image classification. Thus, embedding SNN in the brain-guided system which is trained on a small set, improves its performance in image classification.

The Association Between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and Some Serum Oxidative Stress Markers in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Case- Control.

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the dietary inflammatory index (DII) and the serum oxidative stress markers in patients with NAFLD. Methods: In this case-control study, 121 patients with NAFLD and 119 healthy subjects were frequency-matched on gender. DII scores were calculated by using a 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Blood samples were collected to measure serum oxidative markers. Linear regression and odds ratio (OR) were also used in this study. Results: The mean ± standard deviation of age for case and control group was 38.04 ± 6.7 and 35.6 ± 10.2, respectively. The gender ratio (female to male) for the case and control group was 1:1.42 and 1:1.38, respectively. The mean of the DII in the patient group was significantly higher than the healthy group, (P-values < 0.01). There was a significant negative relationship between TAC and DII (B = -2.63 (95%CI: -4.59, -0.68) and there was also a positive relationship between Malondialdehyde (MDA) and DII (B = 0.15 (95%CI: 0.02, 0.28) in the healthy group, but they were not significant in the case group. After multivariate adjustment, subjects in the most pro-inflammatory DII group had 73 times higher odds of NAFLD compared to subjects in tertile 1 (OR = 72.9; 95%CI (14.3-371.9)). Conclusions: Our findings suggest a direct association between the pro inflammatory properties of diet in patient and healthy group, but no relationship between TAC, MDA, and DII in the case group.

The association between major dietary patterns with the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, oxidative stress and metabolic parameters: A case-control study.

Purpose: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by the increase of fat in the liver. The present study aimed to study the association between different dietary patterns and NAFLD in adults. Methods: This study included 121 adult patients with NAFLD and 119 non-NAFLD. Dietary intake was calculated by a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Biochemical markers were measured. Dietary patterns were determined by factor analysis. The association between dietary patterns and NAFLD was evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Two dietary patterns (healthy, western) were recognized in participants. Western dietary pattern was related with 72 percent increase in the odds of NAFLD (OR: 1.72; 95% CI: 1.32,2.14), after adjustment for covariates. Healthy dietary pattern was associated with 38 percent lower odds of NAFLD (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.65). Adherence to the western diet was related to 0.486 greater amounts of ALT, 3.248 mg/dl higher levels of FBS, and 3.989 mg/dl greater amounts of TG and 2.354 mg/dl greater amounts of MDA after adjusting for confounding factors (p > 0.001, p = 0.042, p > 0.001, p = 0.036 respectively). The healthy dietary pattern score was negatively associated with FBS and Cholesterol and TG levels (p = 0.035, p = 0.048, and p = 0.025), respectively. Moreover, it was associated with 3.211 mg/dl higher levels of TAC (p = 0.049). Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between dietary patterns and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Adherence to a western dietary pattern is related to an increase in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Comparison of peripapillary and macular vascular density in primary open-angle glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and normal control eyes.

PURPOSE: To compare the optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) of the macula, and optic disc in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PXG), and normal eyes. METHODS: In this observational, cross-sectional study, Sixty-five eyes with POAG, 61 eyes of age, and mean deviation (MD) from standard automated perimetry matched PXG patients, and 45 normal control eyes underwent OCT-A using AngioVue, and optic disc-associated vessel density (VD), macular-associated VD, Foveal avascular zone (FAZ) area, FAZ perimeter (PERIM), and vessel density within a 300 µm wide region of the FAZ (FD) were compared between groups. RESULTS: Peripapillary OCT-A parameters were significantly different among normal, and glaucomatous eyes with the highest values in the control eyes, but none of the peripapillary OCT-A parameters except inside disc VD was statistically significantly different between the PXG eyes, and POAG eyes. Correlation analysis revealed significant correlation between mean retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and peripapillary VD in control (r = 0.427, P = 0.006), PXG (r = 0.82, P<0.001), and POAG (r = 0.79, P<0.001) eyes. PXG eyes exhibited significantly lower superficial, and deep macular vessel densities in parafoveal and perifoveal regions compared with POAG eyes after adjustment (p<= 0.05). Overall, moderate /severe PXG eyes had lower superficial, and deep vessel densities in parafoveal and perifoveal regions compared to mild PXG. CONCLUSION: Peripapillary VD (inside disc), and macular vessel densities (parafovea and perifovea) demonstrate a significant difference in age and glaucoma severity-matched POAG and PXG eyes. Moderate/advance glaucomatous eyes, exhibit significant damage to the superficial and deep macular vascular structures.

Antibacterial Effects of Chitosan, Formocresol and CMCP as Pulpectomy Medicament on Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans.

INTRODUCTION: During pulpectomy of primary teeth, cytotoxic medicaments such as formocresol or camphor mono-chlorophenol (CMCP) are used as medicaments. For the first time it is theorized that chitosan can substitute these traditional materials used in pulpectomy of infectious primary teeth. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This preliminary in vitro study consisted of two separate phases (n=75), each of which assessed the antibacterial effects of chitosan versus formocresol and CMCP and positive/negative controls (n=15) on three bacteria types [Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, (n=5 per subgroup)]. Phases 1 and 2 concerned respectively with 1- and 7-day effects of these materials. Bacteria were cultured and injected into sterilized canals and colonies were counted. Medicaments were applied and colonies were re-counted after 1 day of treatment (phase 1). Specimens were re-sterilized and re-randomized, and used for phase 2, in which the same procedures were performed for a 7-day period. Effects of agents on bacteria were analyzed statistically (Kruskal-Wallis α=0.05 and Mann-Whitney α=0.017). RESULTS: Treatments reduced bacterial count either after 1 or 7 days (P=0.000). Their effects on different bacteria types were not significant either after 1 or 7 days (P>0.48). Antibacterial efficacies of treatments (indicated by colony reduction) were significantly different, after 7 days (P=0.045). Antibacterial efficacy of chitosan was similar to that of formocresol or CMCP, in both phases [either after 1 or 7 days of treatment (P>0.017). Formocresol and CMCP had similar efficacies in either phase (P>0.017). CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study confirmed the appropriate antibacterial efficacy of chitosan as a medicament in pulpectomy of infectious primary teeth.

The effects of facemask and reverse chin cup on maxillary deficient patients.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to assess differences in the effects of face mask and reverse chin cup therapy on maxillary deficient growing patients. METHODS: The sample consisted of 42 class III patients with maxillary deficiency randomly divided into two equal groups. Twenty-one patients (10 males and 11 females) with a mean age of 8.9 (SD: 1.4) years were treated with a face mask for 18 (SD: 2) months. Twenty-one patients (9 males and 12 females) with the mean age of 9.2 (SD: 1.1) years were treated with a reverse chin cup for 19 (SD: 4) months. Cephalometric radiographs were taken at the beginning and end of treatment and the cephalometric measurements were analysed. Paired t-tests and a Wilcoxon test were used for intra-group evaluations. Mann-Whitney test was used for inter-group evaluations. RESULTS: Sella-Nasion-A point (SNA) was increased by 1° (SD: 1.7°) (P<0.003) and 1.8° (SD: 1.7°) (P<0.001) in the face mask and reverse chin cup groups, respectively. The IMPA decreased by 4.1° (SD: 6.5°) in face mask group (P<0.009) and 3.1° (SD: 4.7°) in the reverse chin cup group (P<0.008). However, no statistically significant differences were seen in changes between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Both face mask and reverse chin cup appliances are successful at moving the maxilla forward.