Applications of neurofeedback training in cognitive rehabilitation / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Cognitive impairment is a common dysfunction after central nervous system disease or injury, which seriously affects the daily life of patients and brings heavy economic burdens to the family and society. Neurofeedback training (NFT) based on electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive method of neuroregulation, which can improve cognitive function and behavior by autonomously adjusting brain function through feedback. This paper reviews the application of EEG signal-based neurofeedback training in cognitive rehabilitation, and discusses the current problems and future development trends in this field, so as to provide new ideas for clinical research and treatment of cognitive disorders.

Clinical study of acupuncture using the principle of invigorating viscera and purging fu, replenishing qi and nourishing yin for the type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with qi and yin deficiency / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective:To evaluate the effect of acupuncture with invigorating viscera and purging fu, replenishing qi and nourishing yin for the T2DM patients with qi and yin deficiency syndrome.Methods:A total of 59 patients who met the inclusion criteria from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2020 in the Endocrinology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine were divided into the acupuncture group with 30 cases and a control group with 29 cases, according to the random number table method. The control group received conventional hypoglycemic treatment. And the acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture on the basis of the control group treatment. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks. TCM syndrome scores were performed before and after treatment, respectively. Serum IL-6 was measured by ELISA, serum CRP by immunoturbidimetry, and serum fasting blood glucose (FPG), 2 hPG, HbAlc, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C levels by spectrophotometry. The BMI, clinical effect rates were calculated.Results:The total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in acupuncture group and 75.9% (22/29) in control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.96, P<0.01). After treatment, the scores of fatigue, dryness of mouth and pharynx, spontaneous sweating and night sweating, shortness of breath and lazy speech in acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( t values were 6.02, 4.31, 4.34, 3.63, respectively, all Ps<0.01). The serum CRP level in acupuncture group was significantly lower than that of the control group at 21, 48 d after treatment ( t values were -4.36, -3.75, respectively, all Ps<0.01), and IL-6 level was significantly lower than that of the control group at 14, 21, 28 d after treatment ( t values were -2.92, -5.35, -8.71, respectively, all Ps<0.01). After treatment, the serum TC [(4.62±0.68) mmol/L vs. (5.56±0.72) mmol/L, t=5.16], TG [(1.48±0.42) mmol/L vs. (2.12±0.89) mmol/L, t=3.55], LDL-C [(2.48±0.84) mmol/L vs.(3.02±0.95) mmol/L, t=2.32] in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.05), HDL-C [(1.39±0.27) mmol/L vs. (1.26±0.22) mmol/L, t=-2.02] in the acupuncture group was significantly higher than that of the control group ( P<0.05). The serum FPG level at 21 d [(6.12±0.67) mmol/L vs. (6.57±0.61) mmol/L, t=-4.96], 28 d [(5.78±0.52) mmol/L vs. (6.49±0.58) mmol/L, t=-2.70] in acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01). The 2h PG level at 14 d after treatment [(10.23±1.06) mmol/L vs. (11.76±1.34) mmol/L, t=-4.87], 21 d [(9.05±0.98) mmol/L vs. (10.53±1.24) mmol/L, t=-5.10], 28 d [(7.45±0.69) mmol/L vs. (9.31±0.78) mmol/L, t=-9.71] in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01), and HbA1c level were decreased 14 d [(7.93±0.86)% vs. (8.52±0.97)%, t=-2.47], 21 d [(7.63±0.85)% vs. (8.15±0.92)%, t=-2.26], 28 d [(6.47±0.51)% vs. (7.51±0.62)%, t=-7.05] significantly lower than those in the control group ( P<0.01), BMI [(22.13±1.57) kg/m 2vs. (24.16±1.82) kg/m 2, t=-4.59] 28 d after treatment was significantly lower than that of the control group ( P<0.01). Conclusion:Acupuncture therapy of nourishing viscera and purging fu, nourishing qi and nourishing yin can regulate the disorder of glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with T2DM and syndrome of qi and yin deficiency.

Fixed time output feedback containment for uncertain nonlinear multiagent systems with switching communication topologies.

This paper presents a fixed time containment protocol within output feedback framework for uncertain nonlinear multiagent systems (MASs) exposed to unknown leader dynamics under switching communication topologies. To characterize dynamic communication links among agents in uncertain environments, a Markov jumping process with partially known transition probability is introduced to circumvent the difficulties of requiring the exact elements of transition rates as a prior. Then, in order to eliminate the necessity of broadcasting local velocity states between neighboring agents over the wireless and reject the comprehensive uncertainties including unknown model nonlinearities, external disturbances as well as switching topology jumps, a fixed time extended state observer (FTESO) only using the relative position information as input data is established for follower agents to achieve a uniform fast and precise estimation capability. A fixed time output feedback containment protocol by means of observer is presented to ensure that individual follower is guided into the geometric area constituted by a fleet of unknown leaders with a consistent convergence time irrelevant of initial conditions. The outstanding features of the developed algorithm are threefold: First, a prescribed fixed time containment consensus with reduced communication burden and enhanced robustness can be implemented. Second, a Markov jumping process with a partially known transition probability is considered to stimulate switching communication topologies. Third, a FTESO is constructed for each agent to realize a fixed-time estimation without requiring accurate modeling information. Finally, the fixed time stabilization of cascaded system is illuminated by applying the Lyapunov-based methods and bi-limit homogeneity. Simulation examples validate the feasibility and strengths of developed control protocol.

Highly sensitive wearable strain sensor based on silver nanowires and nanoparticles.

Here, we propose a highly sensitive and stretchable strain sensor based on silver nanoparticles and nanowires (Ag NPs and NWs), advancing the rapid development of electronic skin. To improve the sensitivity of strain sensors based on silver nanowires (Ag NWs), Ag NPs and NWs were added to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as an aid filler. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) increase the conductive paths for electrons, leading to the low resistance of the resulting sensor (14.9 Ω). The strain sensor based on Ag NPs and NWs showed strong piezoresistivity with a tunable gauge factor (GF) at 3766, and a change in resistance as the strain linearly increased from 0% to 28.1%. The high GF demonstrates the irreplaceable role of Ag NPs in the sensor. Moreover, the applicability of our high-performance strain sensor has been demonstrated by its ability to sense movements caused by human talking, finger bending, wrist raising and walking.

Effects of Infrasound on Expression of Calmodulin-dependent Protein Kinase II and Tau Protein in Hippocampus of Rats / 中国康复理论与实践

@#Objective To study the effect of infrasound on expression of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) and tau pro-tein in hippocampus of rats. Methods Fifty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into control group (n=8), 1-day group (n=8), 7-day group (n=8) and 14-day group (n=32), and the 14-day group was subgrouped as 1-hour, 6-hour, 24-hour, 48-hour subgroups, naming after the time after infrasound exposure, 8 in each subgroup. All the test groups were put in an infrasound field with 8 Hz, 130 dB for 2 hours daily, while the control group was put in the infrasound instrument without infrasound exposure for 2 hours daily. The expression of pT286-CaMKII and tau protein in hippocampus was detected with immunohistochemisty, Western blotting and enzyme-linked immunoabsor-bent assay. Results The expression of pT286-CaMKII was the most in 14-day group (F>14.912, P<0.001), as well as the expression of tau pro-tein (F>36.229, P<0.001), and secondary in 7-day group (P<0.05). For 14-day group, the expression of tau protein was the most in 1-hour and 6-hour subgroups, and dropped down in 24-hour subgroup, although more than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Exposure of 8 Hz, 130 dB infrasound may induce phosphorylation of CaMKII and tau protein, and the expression of tau protein in hippocampal cells in rat, which may disturb their learning and memory function.

Molecular characteristics of the hemagglutinin genes of avian influenza virus subtype H5N1 in the boundary region of Yunnan province / 中国人兽共患病学报

To elucidate the molecular characteristics of the hemagglutinin (HA) genes of H5N1 subtype of avian influenza viruses in the boundary region of Yunnan province. Of 420 samples were collected from the foreign poultry in boundary region of Yunnan province during 2003 to 2008 and these samples were subjected to screening by H5/N1 subtype-specific and multiplex RT-PCR. testing. The HA genes of H5N1 viruses from positive samples were amplified by RT-PCR and cloned into vector pMD18 T for subsequent sequencing. The alignment with sequences of the known reference strains and phylogenetic analysis were then performed. The genes from 21 representative positive samples with 4 different sequences at the cleavage site were obtained and all of them possessed the molecular characteristic of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. The mutation of key amino acids had been found among receptor-binding sites, potential glycosylation sites and neutralizing epitopes.-Phylogenetic analysis showed those positive samples could be divided into 5 distinct clades, including clade 1, 2.4. 2.3.2, 2.3.4 and 7. It is evident that H5N1 viruses from the foreign boundary region of Yunnan province in 2003 to 2008 show genetic divergence and clade 2,3,4 is the dominant clade in this region.

Reported reasons for initiating drug use among drug-dependent adolescents and youths in Yunnan, China.

BACKGROUND: As an entry point for illicit drug trafficking, Yunnan was hit hard by the twin epidemics of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS. There are no empirical studies regarding the reasons for initiation of drug use in Yunnan. OBJECTIVES: The study investigated the reasons for initiating drug use in drug-dependent adolescents and youths in five regions in Yunnan. METHODS: The data were collected in 2004-2005 from a stratified random sample of 467 registered drug addicts under age 25. Pearson chi-square tests were used to analyze the association of reasons for drug use with sociodemographic factors, knowledge of drug related harm, and access to illicit drugs. RESULTS: Curiosity was the most commonly reported reason for initiating drug use and the majority of the respondents reported having little or no knowledge of drug-related harm. The majority of the drug abusers initiated drug use at the age of 13-14 years or younger. CONCLUSIONS: There is a potential for sustained educational programs to reduce the high prevalence of adolescent drug use in Yunnan. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first empirical study that has investigated reasons for initiating drug use based on a random sample of registered drug users in a high risk province of China.