A novel temporal-frequency combination pattern optimization approach based on information fusion for motor imagery BCIs.

Motor imagery (MI) stands as a powerful paradigm within Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) research due to its ability to induce changes in brain rhythms detectable through common spatial patterns (CSP). However, the raw feature sets captured often contain redundant and invalid information, potentially hindering CSP performance. Methodology-wise, we propose the Information Fusion for Optimizing Temporal-Frequency Combination Pattern (IFTFCP) algorithm to enhance raw feature optimization. Initially, preprocessed data undergoes simultaneous processing in both time and frequency domains via sliding overlapping time windows and filter banks. Subsequently, we introduce the Pearson-Fisher combinational method along with Discriminant Correlation Analysis (DCA) for joint feature selection and fusion. These steps aim to refine raw electroencephalogram (EEG) features. For precise classification of binary MI problems, an Radial Basis Function (RBF)-kernel Support Vector Machine classifier is trained. To validate the efficacy of IFTFCP and evaluate it against other techniques, we conducted experimental investigations using two EEG datasets. Results indicate a notably superior classification performance, boasting an average accuracy of 78.14% and 85.98% on dataset 1 and dataset 2, which is better than other methods outlined in this article. The study's findings suggest potential benefits for the advancement of MI-based BCI strategies, particularly in the domain of feature fusion.

Cardiac autonomic regulation following a 246-km mountain ultra-marathon: An observational study.

Physical exercise requires integrated autonomic and cardiovascular adjustments to maintain homeostasis. We aimed to observe acute posture-related changes in blood pressure, and apply a portable noninvasive monitor to measure the heart index for detecting arrhythmia among elite participants of a 246-km mountain ultra-marathon. Nine experienced ultra-marathoners (8 males and 1 female) participating in the Run Across Taiwan Ultra-marathon in 2018 were enrolled. The runners' Heart Spectrum Blood Pressure Monitor measurements were obtained in the standing and supine positions before and immediately after the race. Their high-sensitivity troponin T and N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide levels were analyzed 1 week before and immediately after the event. Heart rate was differed significantly in the immediate postrace assessment compared to the prerace assessment, in both the standing (P = .011; d = 1.19) and supine positions (P = .008; d = 1.35). Postural hypotension occurred in 4 (44.4%) individuals immediately postrace. In 3 out of 9 (33.3%) recruited finishers, the occurrence of premature ventricular complex signals in the standing position was detected; premature ventricular complex signal effect was observed in the supine position postrace in only 1 participant (11.1%). Premature ventricular complex signal was positively correlated with running speed (P = .037). Of the 6 individuals who completed the biochemical tests postrace, 2 (33.3%) had high-sensitivity troponin T and 6 (100%) had N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide values above the reference interval. A statistically significant increase was observed in both the high-sensitivity troponin T (P = .028; d = 1.97), and N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (P = .028; d = 2.91) levels postrace compared to prerace. In conclusion, significant alterations in blood pressure and heart rate were observed in the standing position, and postexercise (postural) hypotension occurred among ultra-marathoners. The incidence of premature ventricular complexes was higher after the race than before.

Heteroaggregation kinetics of oppositely charged nanoplastics in aquatic environments: Effects of particle ratio, solution chemistry, and interaction sequence.

Interactions between positively charged amino-modified (APS) and negatively charged bare (BPS) polystyrene nanoplastics may cause heteroaggregation in aquatic environments. This study investigated the effects of particle concentration ratio, solution chemistry [electrolytes, pH, and natural organic matter (NOM)], and interaction sequence on their heteroaggregation kinetics. In the absence of electrolytes and NOM, the APS/BPS ratio for attaining maximum heteroaggregation rate (khetero) increased from APS/BPS= 3/7 to APS/BPS= 1/1 as pH increased from 4 to 10, indicating that electrostatic interactions dominated heteroaggregation. In the absence of NOM, khetero ranked APS/BPS= 2/3 > APS/BPS= 1/1 > APS/BPS= 3/2. Colloidal stability decreased linearly as pH increased from 4 to 8 at APS/BPS= 1/1, while diffusion-limited heteroaggregation persisted at pH 10. In NaCl solution, humic acid (HA) retarded heteroaggregation more effectively than sodium alginate (SA) via steric hindrance and weakening electrostatic interactions, following the modified Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (MDLVO) theory. Compared with simultaneous interactions among APS, BPS, NaCl, and NOM, the NOM retardation effects on heteroaggregation weakened if delaying its interaction with others. In CaCl2 solution, the effects of NOM on heteroaggregation depended on counterbalance among charge screening, steric hindrance, and calcium bridging. These findings highlight the important role of heteroaggregation between oppositely charged nanoplastics on their fate and transport in aquatic environments.

Vascular calcification: High incidence sites, distribution, and detection.

Vascular calcification is an important pathological change in a variety of disease states such as atherosclerosis (AS), diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), hypertension, and is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events. The distribution and location of calcification in different vessels may have different clinical effects and prognosis. Therefore, the study of high-risk sites of vascular calcification will help us to better understand the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of related diseases, as well as to evaluate the efficacy and prognosis. So far, although there are some studies on the sites with high incidence of vascular calcification, there is a lack of systematic sorting out the distribution and location of vascular calcification in humans. Based on this, relevant databases were searched, literatures were retrieved, analyzed, and summarized, and the locations of high incidence of vascular calcification and their distribution characteristics, the relationship between high incidence of vascular calcification and hemodynamics, and the common detection methods of high incidence of vascular calcification were systematically described, hoping to provide help for clinical and research.

Medicaid expansion in California and breast cancer incidence across neighborhoods with varying social vulnerabilities.

PURPOSE: To investigate changes in breast cancer incidence rates associated with Medicaid expansion in California. METHODS: We extracted yearly census tract-level population counts and cases of breast cancer diagnosed among women aged between 20 and 64 years in California during years 2010-2017. Census tracts were classified into low, medium and high groups according to their social vulnerability index (SVI). Using a difference-in-difference (DID) approach with Poisson regression models, we estimated the incidence rate, incidence rate ratio (IRR) during the pre- (2010-2013) and post-expansion periods (2014-2017), and the relative IRR (DID estimates) across three groups of neighborhoods. RESULTS: Prior to the Medicaid expansion, the overall incidence rate was 93.61, 122.03, and 151.12 cases per 100,000 persons among tracts with high, medium, and low-SVI, respectively; and was 96.49, 122.07, and 151.66 cases per 100,000 persons during the post-expansion period, respectively. The IRR between high and low vulnerability neighborhoods was 0.62 and 0.64 in the pre- and post-expansion period, respectively, and the relative IRR was 1.03 (95% CI 1.00 to 1.06, p = 0.026). In addition, significant DID estimate was only found for localized breast cancer (relative IRR = 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.09, p = 0.049) between high and low-SVI neighborhoods, not for regional and distant cancer stage. CONCLUSIONS: The Medicaid expansion had differential impact on breast cancer incidence across neighborhoods in California, with the most pronounced increase found for localized cancer stage in high-SVI neighborhoods. Significant pre-post change was only found for localized breast cancer between high and low-SVI neighborhoods.

Exosome-loaded hyaluronic acid hydrogel composite with oxygen-producing 3D printed polylactic acid scaffolds for bone tissue repair and regeneration.

Bone defects can interfere with bone healing by disrupting the local environment, resulting in vascular damage and hypoxia. Under these conditions, insufficient oxygen availability is a significant factor that exacerbates disease by blocking angiogenesis or osteogenesis. Exosomes play a crucial role in intercellular communication and modulation of inflammation to aid bone regeneration. However, the distance between exosomes and areas of damage can hinder efficient bone generation and cell survival. To overcome this limitation, we fabricated a continuous oxygen-supplying composite scaffold, with the encapsulation of calcium peroxide in a polylactic acid three-dimensional (3D) printing construct (CPS), as both an oxygen source and hydroxyapatite (HAP) precursor. Furthermore, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived exosomes were incorporated into hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels to stimulate cell growth and modulate inflammation. The release of exosomes into cells leads to an increase in alkaline phosphatase production. In vivo results demonstrated that the composite scaffold regulated the inflammatory microenvironment, relieved tissue hypoxia, and promoted new bone formation. These results indicate that the synergistic effect of exosomes and oxygen promoted the proliferation of BMSCs, alleviated inflammation and exhibited excellent osteogenic properties. In conclusion, this osteogenic functional composite scaffold material offers a highly effective approach for bone repair.

Activating transcription factor 6 contributes to cisplatin­induced ototoxicity via regulating the unfolded proteins response.

As a broad-spectrum anticancer drug, cisplatin is widely used in the treatment of tumors in various systems. Unfortunately, several serious side effects of cisplatin limit its clinical application, the most common of which are nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Studies have shown that cochlear hair cell degeneration is the main cause of cisplatin-induced hearing loss. However, the mechanism of cisplatin-induced hair cell death remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the potential role of activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized protein, on cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we observed that cisplatin exposure induced apoptosis of mouse auditory OC-1 cells, accompanied by a significant increase in the expression of ATF6 and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). In cell or cochlear culture models, treatment with an ATF6 agonist, an ER homeostasis regulator, significantly ameliorated cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity. Further, our in vivo experiments showed that subcutaneous injection of an ATF6 agonist almost completely prevented outer hair cell loss and significantly alleviated cisplatin-induced auditory brainstem response (ABR) threshold elevation in mice. Collectively, our results revealed the underlying mechanism by which activation of ATF6 significantly improved cisplatin-induced hair cell apoptosis, at least in part by inhibiting apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 expression, and demonstrated that pharmacological activation of ATF6-mediated unfolded protein response is a potential treatment for cisplatin-induced ototoxicity.

Recognition of regions of stroke injury using multi-modal frequency features of electroencephalogram.

Objective: Nowadays, increasingly studies are attempting to analyze strokes in advance. The identification of brain damage areas is essential for stroke rehabilitation. Approach: We proposed Electroencephalogram (EEG) multi-modal frequency features to classify the regions of stroke injury. The EEG signals were obtained from stroke patients and healthy subjects, who were divided into right-sided brain injury group, left-sided brain injury group, bilateral brain injury group, and healthy controls. First, the wavelet packet transform was used to perform a time-frequency analysis of the EEG signal and extracted a set of features (denoted as WPT features). Then, to explore the nonlinear phase coupling information of the EEG signal, phase-locked values (PLV) and partial directed correlations (PDC) were extracted from the brain network, and the brain network produced a second set of features noted as functional connectivity (FC) features. Furthermore, we fused the extracted multiple features and used the resnet50 convolutional neural network to classify the fused multi-modal (WPT + FC) features. Results: The classification accuracy of our proposed methods was up to 99.75%. Significance: The proposed multi-modal frequency features can be used as a potential indicator to distinguish regions of brain injury in stroke patients, and are potentially useful for the optimization of decoding algorithms for brain-computer interfaces.

Modeling and Experiments on Temperature and Electrical Conductivity Characteristics in High-Temperature Heating of Carbide-Bonded Graphene Coating on Silicon.

A novel non-isothermal glass hot embossing system utilizes a silicon mold core coated with a three-dimensional carbide-bonded graphene (CBG) coating, which acts as a thin-film resistance heater. The temperature of the system significantly influences the electrical conductivity properties of silicon with a CBG coating. Through simulations and experiments, it has been established that the electrical conductivity of silicon with a CBG coating gradually increases at lower temperatures and rapidly rises as the temperature further increases. The CBG coating predominantly affects electrical conductivity until 400 °C, after which silicon becomes the dominant factor. Furthermore, the dimensions of CBG-coated silicon and the reduction of CBG coating also affect the rate and outcome of conductivity changes. These findings provide valuable insights for detecting CBG-coated silicon during the embossing process, improving efficiency, and predicting the mold core's service life, thus enhancing the accuracy of optical lens production.

DCDiff: Dual-Granularity Cooperative Diffusion Models for Pathology Image Analysis.

Whole Slide Images (WSIs) are paramount in the medical field, with extensive applications in disease diagnosis and treatment. Recently, many deep-learning methods have been used to classify WSIs. However, these methods are inadequate for accurately analyzing WSIs as they treat regions in WSIs as isolated entities and ignore contextual information. To address this challenge, we propose a novel Dual-Granularity Cooperative Diffusion Model (DCDiff) for the precise classification of WSIs. Specifically, we first design a cooperative forward and reverse diffusion strategy, utilizing fine-granularity and coarse-granularity to regulate each diffusion step and gradually improve context awareness. To exchange information between granularities, we propose a coupled U-Net for dual-granularity denoising, which efficiently integrates dual-granularity consistency information using the designed Fine- and Coarse-granularity Cooperative Aware (FCCA) model. Ultimately, the cooperative diffusion features extracted by DCDiff can achieve cross-sample perception from the reconstructed distribution of training samples. Experiments on three public WSI datasets show that the proposed method can achieve superior performance over state-of-the-art methods. The code is available at https://github.com/hemo0826/DCDiff.

APOL1 Kidney Risk Variants and Long-Term Kidney Function in Healthy Middle-Aged Black Individuals: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

Rationale & Objective: The effect of apolipoprotein L1(APOL1) genotype on future risk of kidney disease among middle-aged individuals with good kidney function is not well established. Study Design: Longitudinal cohort study. Setting & Participants: In total, 5,886 healthy individuals (45-64 years old) enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study with creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 80 mL/min who would be suitable kidney donors. Exposures: Race and APOL1 genotype. Outcomes: Creatinine- and cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcr-cys) using the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) 2021 equation, urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), proportion with chronic kidney disease (CKD) 3a or worse, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and death. Analytical Approach: Participants grouped based on race and APOL1 genotype. Compared eGFRcr-cys and UACR across groups. Multinomial logistic regression models were used compare odds of CKD. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were created to compare rates of ESKD and death at last follow-up. Results: There were 5,075 Whites (86%), 701 Blacks carrying the low-risk APOL1 genotype (12%), and 110 Blacks carrying the high-risk APOL1 genotype (2%). The mean age at baseline was 53 ± 6 years. At 10 years, White participants had lower eGFRcr-cys than low-risk and high-risk groups (89 ± 16 vs 91 ± 16 and 92 ± 15 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively; P < 0.001). At 25 years, White participants continued to have lower eGFRcr-cys than the low-risk group (70 ± 18 vs 72 ± 19 mL/min/1.73 m2; P < 0.001) but not compared with the high-risk APOL1 genotype (67±23 mL/min/1.73 m2). There was no difference in UACR among groups at 10 and 25 years (P = 0.87 and 0.91, respectively). The odds of developing CKD stage 3a or worse were not different between low-risk and high-risk APOL1 group in both unadjusted and adjusted models (P = 0.26 and P = 0.39, respectively). At last follow-up, <5% developed ESKD, and 45% of individuals either died or reached ESKD with no difference in outcomes between the groups. Limitations: Low ascertainment because of death and long follow-up. Conclusions: Among middle-aged individuals, APOL1 genotype does not appear to be a major driver of future risk of kidney disease.

Black patients with kidney disease carrying 2 variants of the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene, referred to as the high-risk genotype, experience an accelerated decline in kidney function than those with 0 or 1 risk variant. It is unknown whether the high-risk genotype negatively affects kidney function of healthy middle-aged individuals. We evaluated the effect of APOL1 genotype on kidney function of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study participants (mean age 53 years) who had normal kidney function and blood pressure at baseline. At 25 years of follow-up, the APOL1 high-risk genotype did not appear to be a major driver of future risk of kidney disease. Our study findings are relevant for counseling older living donor candidates as well as family members of patients with APOL1-associated kidney disease.

Self-error learning framework-based algorithm for parameter recovery of extended Wiener-Hammerstein systems subject to quantised measurements.

In this study, a novel estimation scheme is proposed for identifying extended Wiener-Hammerstein systems with hysteresis nonlinearity subject to quantised measurements. The proposed scheme is established in a self-error learning framework to achieve high-performance parameter estimation compared with classic error feedback learning estimation algorithms. Initially, the useful identification data can be extracted from contaminated system data by introducing an adaptive filter. Then, with the help of the filtered data, the identification error expression used to establish the estimator is derived. Subsequently, an online compensation estimation error variable is proposed to eliminate the effect of the regression vector on the convergence performance. A new adaptive law is designed with adaptive recursive gain, considering the compensation estimation error data and parameter initial error data. Under general persistent excitation (PE) condition, the PE condition of the regressor information is verified online, and the estimator convergence is strictly proven. Finally, the statistical results of two illustrated examples and a real-word example are provided to validate the positive features and effectiveness of the proposed estimation scheme.

Effects of germinated brown rice and germinated black rice on people with type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with dyslipidaemia.

Objective: This study aimed to observe the effects of germinated brown rice and germinated black rice on blood lipid levels, blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism-related enzymes in T2DM patients with dyslipidaemia and to study their effects on the gut microbiome and short-chain fatty acids. Methods: According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 68 subjects were randomly divided into a germinated brown rice group, a germinated black rice group and a white rice group. At the end of the intervention, relevant anthropometric indices, blood biochemistry, and levels of adipokines and lipid metabolism-related enzymes were measured. Faecal samples were collected for 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing and for an analysis of short-chain fatty acids. Results: After 3 months of intervention with germinated brown rice, germinated black rice or white rice, 21 people in each group completed the intervention as required. At the end of the intervention, the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the germinated brown rice group and germinated black rice group were significantly lower than those in the white rice group. The levels of adiponectin (ADPN) and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) in the germinated brown rice group were significantly higher than those in the white rice group (P < 0.05). At the genus level, interventions with germinated brown rice and germinated black rice significantly increased the relative abundance of Megamonas, Muribaculaceae and Alloprevotella and significantly decreased the relative abundance of Veillonella (P < 0.05). After 3 months of intervention, a significant decrease in waist circumference was observed within the germinated brown rice group compared to that at baseline (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Compared with the consumption of white rice, the consumption of germinated brown rice and germinated black rice can effectively regulate the glucose and lipid metabolism of this population. In addition, interventions involving the use of germinated brown rice and germinated black rice may further improve intestinal diversity and abundance, increase the relative abundance of Megamonas and decrease the relative abundance of Veillonella.

Impact of frailty on mortality, hospitalization, cardiovascular events, and complications in patients with diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have focused on the impact of frailty on the health outcomes of individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM). This meta-analysis aims to systematically synthesize the existing evidence on frailty and its association with mortality, hospitalizations, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetic complications in DM. METHODS: A comprehensive search in PubMed, Embase, and SCOPUS was carried out to identify relevant studies assessing the impact of frailty on mortality, hospitalizations, complications, and cardiovascular events in individuals with DM. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the New Castle Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: From the 22 studies included, our meta-analysis revealed significant associations between frailty and adverse outcomes in individuals with DM. The pooled hazard ratios for mortality and frailty showed a substantial effect size of 1.84 (95% CI 1.46-2.31). Similarly, the odds ratio for hospitalization and frailty demonstrated a significant risk with an effect size of 1.63 (95% CI 1.50-1.78). In addition, frailty was associated with an increased risk of developing diabetic nephropathy (HR, 3.17; 95% CI 1.16-8.68) and diabetic retinopathy (HR, 1.94; 95% CI 0.80-4.71). CONCLUSION: Our results show a consistent link between frailty and increased mortality, heightened hospitalization rates, and higher risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic retinopathy for patients with DM. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42023485166.

Intratesticular Testosterone and Its Precursors among Azoospermic Men: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to comprehensively analyze testosterone and precursor concentrations in the testicular interstitial fluid (TIF) of men with azoospermia, exploring their significance in the testicular microenvironment and their correlation with testicular sperm retrieval outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 37 TIF samples, including 5 from men with obstructive azoospermia (OA) and 32 from men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry quantified testosterone and precursor levels. Comparative assessments of the outcomes of testicular sperm retrieval were performed between the OA and NOA groups as well as among men with NOA. RESULTS: Men with NOA who had not undergone hormone treatment exhibited significantly higher intratesticular concentrations of testosterone (median 1,528.1 vs. 207.5 ng/mL), androstenedione (median 10.6 vs. 1.9 ng/mL), and 17-OH progesterone (median 13.0 vs. 1.8 ng/mL) than men diagnosed with OA. Notably, in the subgroup of patients with NOA subjected to medical treatment, men with successful sperm retrieval had significantly reduced levels of androstenedione (median androstenedione 5.7 vs. 18.5 ng/mL, p=0.004). Upon a more detailed analysis of these men who underwent hormone manipulation treatment, the testosterone/androstenedione ratio (indicative of HSD17B3 enzyme activity) was markedly increased in men with successful sperm retrieval (median: 365.8 vs. 165.0, p=0.008) compared with individuals with NOA who had unsuccessful sperm recovery. Furthermore, within the subset of men with NOA who did not undergo medical treatment before microdissection testicular sperm extraction but achieved successful sperm retrieval, the ratio of 17-OH progesterone/progesterone (indicative of CYP17A1 activity) was substantially higher. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests distinct testosterone biosynthesis pathways in men with compromised spermatogenesis and those with normal spermatogenesis. Among NOA men with successful retrieval after hormone optimization therapy, there was decreased androstenedione and increased HSD17B3 enzyme activity. These findings have diagnostic and therapeutic implications for the future.

The Impact of Back Optic Zone Design in Orthokeratology on Visual Performance.

Purpose: To evaluate the visual performance in adolescents undergoing orthokeratology (OrthoK) treatment with two different optical zone diameters (OZDs). Methods: This randomized, double-masked, self-controlled prospective study was conducted at Tianjin Eye Hospital (Tianjin, China) in June 2022. Thirty-six eligible schoolchildren were enrolled and fitted with corneal refractive therapy lenses with two sizes of OZDs (5 mm [5OZ] and 6 mm [6OZ]). Each participant was randomized to wear the 5OZ in one eye and the 6OZ in the contralateral eye. Subjective visual quality was assessed using visual acuity, refraction, contrast sensitivity function, and visual symptoms, and the objective optical quality was assessed using ocular higher order aberrations (HOAs) and modulation transfer function (MTF). Results: Thirty-five myopic children completed a 1-month follow-up visit. The 5OZ lens induced significantly smaller treatment zone diameters than the 6OZ lens (P < 0.001). Subjective visual quality did not differ significantly between the two groups. Compared to baseline, aberrations of Z40, coma-like, spherical-like, and total HOAs in both groups increased significantly (P < 0.05). For the 3-mm pupils, spherical aberration in the 5OZ group was significantly higher than that in the 6OZ group (P < 0.05). The MTF value of the 6OZ group was significantly higher than that of 5OZ group for 0.3 and 1.5 cycles per degree for the 3-mm pupils (P = 0.006 and P = 0.026, respectively). However, HOAs or MTF did not differ significantly between the two groups for the 5-mm pupils. Conclusions: The difference induced by varying OZD was significant only in the smaller pupil condition. The selection of OZD in OrthoK designs in real-world patient management should be done while considering individual pupil size. Translational Relevance: This study revealed that the objective visual quality of small OZD lenses was only slightly affected for the small pupil size.

Engineering Properties and Microstructure of Soils Stabilized by Red-Mud-Based Cementitious Material.

Red mud (RM) is an industrial waste generated in the process of aluminum refinement. The recycling and reusing of RM have become urgent problems to be solved. To explore the feasibility of using RM in geotechnical engineering, this study combined magnesium oxide (MgO) (or calcium oxide (CaO)) with RM as an RM-based binder, which was then used to stabilize the soil. The physical, mechanical, and micro-structural properties of the stabilized soil were investigated. As the content of MgO or CaO in the mixture increased, the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the RM-based cementitious materials first increased and then decreased. For the soils stabilized with RM-MgO or RM-CaO, the UCS increased and then decreased, reaching a maximum at RM:MgO = 5:5 or RM:CaO = 8:2. The addition of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) promoted the hydration reaction. The UCS enhancement ranged from 8.09% to 66.67% for the RM-MgO stabilized soils and 204.6% to 346.6% for the RM-CaO stabilized soils. The optimum ratio of the RM-MgO stabilized soil (with NaOH) was 2:8, while that of the RM-CaO stabilized soil (with NaOH) was 4:6. Freeze-thaw cycles reduced the UCS of the stabilized soil, but the resistance of the stabilized soil to freeze-thaw erosion was significantly improved by the addition of RM-MgO or RM-CaO, and the soil stabilized with RM-MgO had better freeze-thaw resistance than that with RM-CaO. The hydrated magnesium silicate generated by the RM-MgO stabilized soil and the hydrated calcium silicate generated by the RM-CaO stabilized soil helped to improve the UCS of the stabilized soil. The freeze-thaw cycles did not weaken the formation of hydration products in the stabilized soil but could result in physical damage to the stabilized soils. The decrease in the UCS of the stabilized soil was mainly due to physical damage.

The Association Between Thyroid Hormones and Renal Function in Euthyroid Chinese Individuals: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective This population-based cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the association between thyroid hormones and renal function in euthyroid Chinese individuals, as the relationship between thyroid hormones and renal function in this population remains unclear. Methods A total of 661 participants were included in the study after excluding individuals with thyroid diseases, incomplete clinical measurements, or those taking medications affecting thyroid function. Participants were categorized into three groups based on serum thyroid hormone and antibody levels. The study adjusted for covariates and assessed the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) in relation to thyroid hormone levels. Results After adjusting for covariates, the study found a significant increase in GFR in the middle and highest tertiles of free triiodothyronine (FT3) and the highest tertile of total triiodothyronine (TT3). Serum FT3 and TT3 levels were significantly associated with GFR. Additionally, the study observed a significantly lower GFR in the highest tertile of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) compared to the lowest tertile. However, thyroid hormone and antibody levels were not associated with the ACR. Furthermore, the highest tertiles of TT3 and total thyroxine (TT4) were associated with a decreased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Conclusion In our study among euthyroid Chinese individuals, we observed a significant association between thyroid function and GFR. Specifically, lower FT3, TT3, and higher TSH were associated with reduced GFR, indicating a potential role for thyroid hormones in maintaining renal function. Furthermore, lower levels of TT3 and TT4 were associated with an increased risk of CKD. These findings suggest a direct link between thyroid and renal function, even in euthyroid individuals, emphasizing the need for further investigation to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic implications.

Nrf2 expression, mitochondrial fission, and neuronal apoptosis in the prefrontal cortex of methamphetamine abusers and rats.

Methamphetamine (MA), a representative amphetamine-type stimulant, is one of the most abused drugs worldwide. Studies have shown that MA-induced neurotoxicity is strongly associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis. While nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), an antioxidant transcription factor, is known to exert neuroprotective effects, its role in MA-induced dopaminergic neuronal apoptosis remains incompletely understood. In the present study, we explored the effects of MA on the expression levels of Nrf2, dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), cytochrome c oxidase (Cyt-c), and cysteine aspartate-specific protease 3 (Caspase 3), as well as the correlations between Nrf2 and mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis. Brain tissue from MA abusers was collected during autopsy procedures. An MA-dependent rat model was also established by intraperitoneal administration of MA (10 mg/kg daily) for 28 consecutive days, followed by conditioned place preference (CPP) testing. Based on immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis, the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and Mfn1 showed a decreasing trend, while levels of Drp1, Cyt-c, and Caspase 3 showed an increasing trend in the cerebral prefrontal cortex of both MA abusers and MA-dependent rats. Notably, the expression of Nrf2 was positively associated with the expression of Mfn1, but negatively associated with the expression levels of Drp1, Cyt-c, and Caspase 3. These findings suggest that oxidative stress and mitochondrial fission contribute to neuronal apoptosis, with Nrf2 potentially playing a critical role in MA-induced neurotoxicity.

Predicting individual autistic symptoms for patients with autism spectrum disorder using interregional morphological connectivity.

Intelligent predictive models for autistic symptoms based on neuroimaging datasets were beneficial for the precise intervention of patients with ASD. The goals of this study were twofold: investigating predictive models for autistic symptoms and discovering the brain connectivity patterns for ASD-related behaviors. To achieve these goals, we obtained a cohort of patients with ASD from the ABIDE project. The autistic symptoms were measured using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS). The anatomical MRI datasets were preprocessed using the Freesurfer package, resulting in regional morphological features. For each individual, the interregional morphological network was constructed using a novel feature distance-based method. The predictive models for autistic symptoms were built using the support vector regression (SVR) algorithm with feature selection method. The predicted autistic symptoms (i.e., ADOS social score, ADOS behavior) were significantly correlated to the original measures. The most predictive features for ADOS social scores were located in the bilateral fusiform. The most predictive features for ADOS behavior scores were located in the temporal pole and the lingual gyrus. In summary, the autistic symptoms could be predicted using the interregional morphological connectivity and machine learning. The interregional morphological connectivity could be a potential biomarker for autistic symptoms.