High autistic traits linked with reduced performance on affective task switching: An ERP study.

Few studies have investigated affective flexibility in individuals with high autistic traits. In the present study, we employed affective task-switching paradigm combined with event related potential (ERP) technology to explore affective flexibility in individuals with high autistic traits. Participants were instructed to switch between identifying the gender (gender task) and emotion (emotion task) of presented faces. Two groups of participants were recruited based on the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores: a High Autistic Group (HAG) and a Low Autistic Group (LAG). The results confirmed that the HAG exhibited greater behavioral emotion switch costs and increased N2 and decreased P3 components when switching to the emotion task. Additionally, we identified an affective asymmetric switch cost in the HAG, where the switch cost for the emotion task was larger than for the gender task at both behavioral and electrophysiological levels. In contrast, a symmetrical switch cost was observed in the LAG. These findings indicate that the HAG experiences difficulties with affective flexibility, particularly in tasks involving emotional processing. The patterns of affective asymmetric switch costs observed in both groups differed from previous results in autistic children and the general population, suggesting that the relative dominance of gender and emotion tasks may vary between the two groups. We propose that the dominance of emotion tasks declines as autistic traits increase.

Brain-Controlled Hand Exoskeleton Based on Augmented Reality-Fused Stimulus Paradigm.

Advancements in brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) have led to the development of novel rehabilitation training methods for people with impaired hand function. However, contemporary hand exoskeleton systems predominantly adopt passive control methods, leading to low system performance. In this work, an active brain-controlled hand exoskeleton system is proposed that uses a novel augmented reality-fused stimulus (AR-FS) paradigm as a human-machine interface, which enables users to actively control their fingers to move. Considering that the proposed AR-FS paradigm generates movement artifacts during hand movements, an enhanced decoding algorithm is designed to improve the decoding accuracy and robustness of the system. In online experiments, participants performed online control tasks using the proposed system, with an average task time cost of 16.27 s, an average output latency of 1.54 s, and an average correlation instantaneous rate (CIR) of 0.0321. The proposed system shows 35.37% better efficiency, 8.03% reduced system delay, and 35.28% better stability than the traditional system. This study not only provides an efficient rehabilitation solution for people with impaired hand function but also expands the application prospects of brain-control technology in areas such as human augmentation, patient monitoring, and remote robotic interaction. The video in Graphical Abstract Video demonstrates the user's process of operating the proposed brain-controlled hand exoskeleton system.

Identification of the key biochemical component contributing to disinfection byproducts in chlorinating algogenic organic matter.

Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) remains an ongoing issue because of their widespread occurrence and toxicity. Various organic substances in Algogenic organic matter (AOM) can produce DBPs in the chlorination process. To provide specific suggestions for the targeted removal of DBP precursors in AOM, the main biochemical components in AOM were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. An accurate model for predicting the DBP formation potentials (DBPFPs) of AOM was herein developed based on the dissolved organic carbon of the five main biochemical components in AOM and the DBPFPs of their corresponding surrogates. The contributions of each biochemical component to the three DBP species were evaluated, and the key components were identified. The results showed that lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, humic acid-like substances, and fulvic acid-like substances were the main biochemical components in AOM. Thereof, proteins (71.2 ± 2.1%) and carbohydrates (53.1 ± 2.1%) were the major contributor to the carbon content in intracellular organic matter and extracellular organic matter, respectively. The contribution results of biochemical components to the formation of DBPs showed that proteins were the key contributor to DBPs, suggesting that the targeted removal of proteins before the chlorination process would effectively reduce DBPs from AOM.

Deep Learning for LiDAR Point Clouds in Autonomous Driving: A Review.

Recently, the advancement of deep learning (DL) in discriminative feature learning from 3-D LiDAR data has led to rapid development in the field of autonomous driving. However, automated processing uneven, unstructured, noisy, and massive 3-D point clouds are a challenging and tedious task. In this article, we provide a systematic review of existing compelling DL architectures applied in LiDAR point clouds, detailing for specific tasks in autonomous driving, such as segmentation, detection, and classification. Although several published research articles focus on specific topics in computer vision for autonomous vehicles, to date, no general survey on DL applied in LiDAR point clouds for autonomous vehicles exists. Thus, the goal of this article is to narrow the gap in this topic. More than 140 key contributions in the recent five years are summarized in this survey, including the milestone 3-D deep architectures, the remarkable DL applications in 3-D semantic segmentation, object detection, and classification; specific data sets, evaluation metrics, and the state-of-the-art performance. Finally, we conclude the remaining challenges and future researches.

Development of QuEChERS-DLLME method for determination of neonicotinoid pesticide residues in grains by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Monitoring neonicotinoid residues in grains is of significant interest for the proper assessment of pesticide exposure to human. The quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe extraction method combined with dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction (QuEChERS-DLLME) was developed for extracting, purifying, and concentrating seven common neonicotinoid pesticides from the grains (rice, millet, and maize). Water and acetonitrile were used in tandem as extractants in QuEChERS, while water, acetonitrile, and trichloromethane in DLLME acted as the external phase, dispersant, and extractant, respectively. Comprehensive consideration of the single factor test and response surface method to optimize parameters including type and volume of extractants and dispersant. The evaluation showed that the QuEChERS-DLLME method held excellent linearity (R2 > 0.99). The limits of quantitation ranged from 0.003 to 0.08 µg kg-1 for the seven insecticides. The recoveries were in the range of 62-118%, and good reproducibility was obtained with a relative standard deviation below 15%.

Combined Chemical Modification of Bamboo Material Prepared Using Vinyl Acetate and Methyl Methacrylate: Dimensional Stability, Chemical Structure, and Dynamic Mechanical Properties.

Acetylation and in situ polymerization are two typical chemical modifications that are used to improve the dimensional stability of bamboo. In this work, the combination of chemical modification of vinyl acetate (VA) acetylation and methyl methacrylate (MMA) in situ polymerization of bamboo was employed. Performances of the treated bamboo were evaluated in terms of dimensional stability, wettability, thermal stability, chemical structure, and dynamic mechanical properties. Results show that the performances (dimensional stability, thermal stability, and wettability) of bamboo that was prepared via the combined pretreatment of VA and MMA (VA/MMA-B) were better than those of raw bamboo, VA single-treated bamboo (VA-B), and MMA single-treated bamboo (MMA-B). According to scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, VA and MMA were mainly grafted onto the surface of the cell wall or in the bamboo cell lumen. The antiswelling efficiency and contact angle of VA/MMA-B increased to maximum values of 40.71% and 107.1°, respectively. From thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG curves), the highest onset decomposition temperature (277 °C) was observed in VA/MMA-B. From DMA analysis, the storage modulus (E') of VA/MMA-B increased sharply from 15,057 Pa (untreated bamboo) to 17,909 Pa (single-treated bamboo), and the glass transition temperature was improved from 180 °C (raw bamboo) to 205 °C (single-treated bamboo).

Adsorption of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol onto granular activated carbon in water: isotherms, thermodynamics, kinetics, and influencing factors.

Adsorption was found to be an acceptable treatment option to remove geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB). It is meaningful to investigate the adsorption capacity of granular activated carbon (GAC) for the two algal odorants in water, and the influences of natural organic material (NOM) and particle size. The adsorption process was studied with the four isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and modified Freundlich), four kinetic models (pseudo first-order, pseudo second-order, Elovich, and intra-particle), and thermodynamics. The results showed that the adsorption of both compounds could be best described by the modified Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second-order model, and the obtained thermodynamic parameters (changes in heat of adsorption, entropy, and Gibbs free energy) revealed that the adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous. Downsizing the particle size of GAC was effective for improving the adsorption capacity and rate. The concentrations of the two odorants could be reduced from 500 ng L-1 to less than 10 ng L-1 with the presence of NOM (<20 mg L-1 total organic carbon, TOC).

Degradation of geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol in water with UV/chlorine: Influencing factors, reactive species, and possible pathways.

Geosmin (GSM) and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB) are two common odor compounds in drinking water. In this paper, the performance of UV/chlorine was compared with that of chlorine and UV to degrade GSM (100 ng L-1) and 2-MIB (100 ng L-1) in water. UV/chlorine was further exploited, and a steady-state kinetic model was used to conduct a detailed study on efficiency, rate, reactive species and pathway. The results showed that UV/chlorine greatly could improve the removal ratio to 90% within 5 min, from approximately 20% with only UV or dark chlorine in 60 min. The removal ratio and rate depended on UV light intensity, free chlorine dosage, reaction time and water quality parameters (e.g. pH, concentrations of HCO3- and Cl-). Among these factors, the first two obviously could accelerate the rate and increase the ratio. The degradation was also significantly improved in an acidic condition, while alkaline conditions and HCO3- had inhibitory effects, and Cl- created no difference. Contributions of OH and Cl to the degradation of 2-MIB and GSM were further revealed, and OH was found to be the most important reactive species. In the UV/chlorine process, 6 degradation byproducts of 2-MIB, including 1 alcohol, 2 ketones, and 3 olefins, were identified, and 14 degradation byproducts of GSM, including 6 ketones, 1 aldehyde, 2 alcohols, 3 naphthenes, and 2 olefins, were found by using solid-phase microextraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The possible degradation pathways of GSM and 2-MIB in UV/chlorine thus were proposed.

The requirement of SEPT2 and SEPT7 for migration and invasion in human breast cancer via MEK/ERK activation.

Septins are a novel class of GTP-binding cytoskeletal proteins evolutionarily conserved from yeast to mammals and have now been found to play a contributing role in a broad range of tumor types. However, their functional importance in breast cancer remains largely unclear. Here, we demonstrated that pharmaceutical inhibition of global septin dynamics would greatly suppress proliferation, migration and invasiveness in breast cancer cell lines. We then examined the expression and subcellular distribution of the selected septins SEPT2 and SEPT7 in breast cancer cells, revealing a rather variable localization of the two proteins with cell cycle progression. To determine the role of both septins in mediating malignant behavior of cancer cells, we used RNA silencing to specifically deplete endogenous SEPT2 or SEPT7 in highly invasive breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Our findings showed that SEPT2/7 depletion had virtually identical inhibitory effects on cellular proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Moreover, the opposite performance in migration and invasion was observed after enforced expression of SEPT2/7 in the same cell line. We further demonstrated MEK/ERK activation, but not other MAPKs and AKT, was positively correlated with the protein levels of SEPT2 and SEPT7. Additionally, in SEPT2/7-overexpressing cells, the MEK specific inhibitor U0126 was able to correct the high active status of MEK/ERK while normalizing the increased invasive behaviors of these cells. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that SEPT2 and SEPT7 are involved in breast carcinogenesis and may serve as valuable therapeutic targets for breast cancer.

[Impact of insertion timing of iodophor cotton ball on the control of infection complications after transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of insertion timing of iodophor cotton ball on the control of infection complications after transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guided prostate biopsy. METHODS: A total of 197 patients undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsy from March 2012 to January 2013 were randomly divided into post-discharge, pre-discharge and pre-discharge plus post-discharge groups. A prospective study was made on the symptoms of infections, signs and relevant laboratory examinations in all three groups. RESULTS: Infections occurred in 6/66 patients in the post-discharge group and 2 patients in the other two groups. The prevalence rates were 7.58%, 3.08% and 3.03% respectively. Statistically significant difference existed in the prevalence rate between pre-discharge and post-discharge groups (P < 0.05). Yet no statistically significant difference existed between pre-discharge and pre-discharge plus post-discharge groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: During the TRUS guided prostate biopsy, inserting an iodophor cotton ball before placing an ultrasonic probe to the rectum can control the infection and reduce its prevalence rate.

Modulating the p66shc signaling pathway with protocatechuic acid protects the intestine from ischemia-reperfusion injury and alleviates secondary liver damage.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a serious clinical pathophysiological process that may result in acute local intestine and remote liver injury. Protocatechuic acid (PCA), which has been widely studied as a polyphenolic compound, induces expression of antioxidative genes that combat oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of PCA pretreatment for protecting intestinal I/R-induced local intestine and remote liver injury in mice. Intestinal I/R was established by superior mesenteric artery occlusion for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 90 min. After the reperfusion period, PCA pretreatment markedly alleviated intestine and liver injury induced by intestinal I/R as indicated by histological alterations, decreases in serological damage parameters and nuclear factor-kappa B and phospho-foxo3a protein expression levels, and increases in glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, manganese superoxide dismutase protein expression, and Bcl-xL protein expression in the intestine and liver. These parameters were accompanied by PCA-induced adaptor protein p66shc suppression. These results suggest that PCA has a significant protective effect in the intestine and liver following injury induced by intestinal I/R. The protective effect of PCA may be attributed to the suppression of p66shc and the regulation of p66shc-related antioxidative and antiapoptotic factors.

Sulforaphane protects liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia reperfusion through Nrf2-ARE pathway.

AIM: To investigate the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) on regulation of NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway in liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). METHODS: Rats were divided randomly into four experimental groups: control, SFN control, intestinal I/R and SFN pretreatment groups (n = 8 in each group). The intestinal I/R model was established by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 1 h and 2 h reperfusion. In the SFN pretreatment group, surgery was performed as in the intestinal I/R group, with intraperitoneal administration of 3 mg/kg SFN 1 h before the operation. Intestine and liver histology was investigated. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. Liver tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were assayed. The liver transcription factor Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Intestinal I/R induced intestinal and liver injury, characterized by histological changes as well as a significant increase in serum AST and ALT levels (AST: 260.13 +/- 40.17 U/L vs 186.00 +/- 24.21 U/L, P < 0.01; ALT: 139.63 +/- 11.35 U/L vs 48.38 +/- 10.73 U/L, P < 0.01), all of which were reduced by pretreatment with SFN, respectively (AST: 260.13 +/- 40.17 U/L vs 216.63 +/- 22.65 U/L, P < 0.05; ALT: 139.63 +/- 11.35 U/L vs 97.63 +/- 15.56 U/L, P < 0.01). The activity of SOD in the liver tissue decreased after intestinal I/R (P < 0.01), which was enhanced by SFN pretreatment (P < 0.05). In addition, compared with the control group, SFN markedly reduced liver tissue MPO activity (P < 0.05) and elevated liver tissue GSH and GSH-Px activity (P < 0.05, P < 0.05), which was in parallel with the increased level of liver Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. CONCLUSION: SFN pretreatment attenuates liver injury induced by intestinal I/R in rats, attributable to the antioxidant effect through Nrf2-ARE pathway.