EQNAS: Evolutionary Quantum Neural Architecture Search for Image Classification.

Quantum neural network (QNN) is a neural network model based on the principles of quantum mechanics. The advantages of faster computing speed, higher memory capacity, smaller network size and elimination of catastrophic amnesia make it a new idea to solve the problem of training massive data that is difficult for classical neural networks. However, the quantum circuit of QNN are artificially designed with high circuit complexity and low precision in classification tasks. In this paper, a neural architecture search method EQNAS is proposed to improve QNN. First, initializing the quantum population after image quantum encoding. The next step is observing the quantum population and evaluating the fitness. The last is updating the quantum population. Quantum rotation gate update, quantum circuit construction and entirety interference crossover are specific operations. The last two steps need to be carried out iteratively until a satisfactory fitness is achieved. After a lot of experiments on the searched quantum neural networks, the feasibility and effectiveness of the algorithm proposed in this paper are proved, and the searched QNN is obviously better than the original algorithm. The classification accuracy on the mnist dataset and the warship dataset not only increased by 5.31% and 4.52%, respectively, but also reduced the parameters by 21.88% and 31.25% respectively. Code will be available at https://gitee.com/Pcyslist/models/tree/master/research/cv/EQNAS, and https://github.com/Pcyslist/EQNAS.

Acid sphingomyelinase promotes diabetic cardiomyopathy via NADPH oxidase 4 mediated apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Increased acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) activity is associated with insulin resistance and cardiac dysfunction. However, the effects of ASMase on diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the molecular mechanism(s) underlying remain to be elucidated. We here investigated whether ASMase caused DCM through NADPH oxidase 4-mediated apoptosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: We used pharmacological and genetic approaches coupled with study of murine and cell line samples to reveal the mechanisms initiated by ASMase in diabetic hearts. The protein expression and activity of ASMase were upregulated, meanwhile ceramide accumulation was increased in the myocardium of HFD mice. Inhibition of ASMase with imipramine (20 mg Kg-1 d-1) or siRNA reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis, fibrosis, and mitigated cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac dysfunction in HFD mice. The similar effects were observed in cardiomyocytes treated with high glucose (HG, 30 mmol L-1) + palmitic acid (PA, 100 µmol L-1) or C16 ceramide (CER, 20 µmol L-1). Interestingly, the cardioprotective effect of ASMase inhibition was not accompanied by reduced ceramide accumulation, indicating a ceramide-independent manner. The mechanism may involve activated NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), increased ROS generation and triggered apoptosis. Suppression of NOX4 with apocynin prevented HG + PA and CER incubation induced Nppb and Myh7 pro-hypertrophic gene expression, ROS production and apoptosis in H9c2 cells. Furthermore, cardiomyocyte-specific ASMase knockout (ASMaseMyh6KO) restored HFD-induced cardiac dysfunction, remodeling, and apoptosis, whereas NOX4 protein expression was downregulated. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that HFD-mediated activation of cardiomyocyte ASMase could increase NOX4 expression, which may stimulate oxidative stress, apoptosis, and then cause metabolic cardiomyopathy.

Effects of dual-task training on gait and balance in stroke patients: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of dual-task training on gait and balance in stroke patients.Data sources: A systematic review of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library from their inception through 20 August 2021. REVIEW METHODS: The bibliography was screened to identify randomized controlled trials that applied dual-task training to rehabilitation function training in stroke patients. Two reviewers independently screened references, selected relevant studies, extracted data and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane tool of bias. The primary outcome was the gait and balance parameters. RESULTS: A total of 1992 studies were identified and 15 randomized controlled trials were finally included (512 individuals) were analyzed. A meta-analysis was performed and a beneficial effect on rehabilitation training was found. Compared to patients who received conventional rehabilitation therapy, those who received dual-task training showed greater improvement in step length (MD = 3.46, 95% CI [1.01, 5.92], P = 0.006), cadence (MD = 4.92, 95% CI [3.10, 6.74], P < 0.001) and berg balance scale score (MD = 3.10, 95% CI [0.11, 6.09], P = 0.040). There were no differences in the improvements in gait speed (MD = 2.89, 95% CI [ - 2.02, 7.80], P = 0.250) and timed up and go test (MD = -2.62, 95% CI [ - 7.94, 2.71], P = 0.340) between dual-task and control groups. CONCLUSION: Dual-task training is an effective training for rehabilitation of stroke patients in step length and cadence, however, the superiority of dual-task training for improving balance function needs further discussion.

The Proper Motor Control Model Revealed by Wheelchair Curling Quantification of Elite Athletes.

BACKGROUND: Wheelchair users are disadvantaged when it comes to accruing the benefits of physical activities. Hence, promoting various sports is crucial for keeping this population healthy. Since wheelchair curling can be played by individuals from a wide range of ages, strengths, and endurance levels, it has potential to improve wheelchair users' well-being. Yet, hardly any motion studies exist. This study aimed to facilitate understanding of optimized control of wheelchair curling for promoting wheelchair users' participation. METHODS: Using motion capture technology, nine national-level athletes were tested. Kinematic parameters related to segment/joint control and their coordination were quantified for both slow and fast curling. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) and correlation analysis were applied for characterizing the skill. RESULTS: (1) Curling control consists of an acceleration phase and a stabilizing delivery phase; (2) the control of trunk, shoulder, and wrist are responsible for accelerating the rock; (3) elbow control is accountable for the accurate delivery of the rock; and (4) during the slow curling, a synchronized effort of trunk, shoulder, and wrist is used for accelerating the rock, while a sequential control among the segment/joints is applied in fast curling. CONCLUSIONS: The results supply valuable motor learning markers that could have a significant positive impact on the teaching and learning of wheelchair curling, as such, the findings have great potential for the health promotion of wheelchair users.

DnaJA4 is involved in responses to hyperthermia by regulating the expression of F-actin in HaCaT cells.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthermia in combination with DnaJA4-knockout (KO) obviously affects the anti-viral immunity of HaCaT cells. The mechanisms of this process are not yet fully explored. However, it is known that DnaJA4 interacts with actin cytoskeleton after hyperthermia. Our aim was to investigate the effects of DnaJA4 on F-actin in HaCaT cells following hyperthermia. METHODS: Wild-type (WT) and DnaJA4-KO HaCaT cells were isolated at either 37°C (unheated) or 44°C (hyperthermia) for 30 min followed by testing under conditions of 37°C and assessing at 6, 12, and 24 h after hyperthermia. The cytoskeleton was observed with immunofluorescence. Flow cytometry and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of F-actin and relevant pathway protein. RESULTS: DnaJA4-KO and hyperthermia changed the cytoskeleton morphology of HaCaT cells. F-actin expression levels were elevated in DnaJA4-KO cells compared with WT cells (6364.33 ±â€Š989.10 vs. 4272.67 ±â€Š918.50, P < 0.05). In response to hyperthermia, F-actin expression levels of both WT and DnaJA4-KO cells showed a tendency to decrease followed by an obvious recovery after hyperthermia (WT cells: unheated vs. 6 h after hyperthermia or 24 h after hyperthermia: 0.34 ±â€Š0.02 vs. 0.24 ±â€Š0.01, 0.31 ±â€Š0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.05; DnaJA4-KO cells: unheated vs. 6 h after hyperthermia or 24 h after hyperthermia: 0.44 ±â€Š0.01 vs. 0.30 ±â€Š0.01, 0.51 ±â€Š0.02, P < 0.001, P < 0.01). WT cells restored to baseline levels observed in the unheated condition, while DnaJA4-KO cells exceeded baseline levels in the recovery. As the upstream factors of F-actin, a similar profile in rho-associated serine/threonine kinase 1 (ROCK 1) and RhoA expressions was observed after hyperthermia. While E-cadherin expression was decreased in response to hyperthermia, it was increased in DnaJA4-KO cells compared with WT cells. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperthermia affects the expression levels of F-actin in HaCaT cells. DnaJA4 knockout increases the expression of F-actin in HaCaT cells after hyperthermia. DnaJA4 regulates the expressions of F-actin and the related pathway proteins in response to hyperthermia in HaCaT cells.

Assessment of Platycodon grandiflorum germplasm resources from northern Anhui province based on ISSR analysis.

Based on genetic diversity analysis with ISSR-PCR, this study was to access the germplasm resources of Platycodon grandiflorum in northern Anhui province. Ten primers that could produce more distinct and repeatable bands were used for ISSR-PCR. Statistic analysis was conducted by POPGENE v. 1.32, Arlequin3.l, NTSYS-pc version 2.1. (1) Seventy-four polymorphic bands (76.29 %) out of a total of 97 were generated from 105 individuals in five populations. (2) Shannon index of diversity ranged from 0.307 to 0.260, diversity at species level was 0.3581, which means superior genetic diversity. (3) Genetic diversity across all the populations revealed by AMOVA indicated that 86.02 % occurred within populations. (4) The Fst value was 0.1398, indicating a intermediate genetic differentiation among populations. (5) Dendrogram relationship illustrated genetic distance was correlated with geographic distance. ISSR markers can be used for studying genetic diversity of P. grandiflorum. Degradation of populations doesn't happen in northern Anhui province, bank of germplasm preservation should be established for cultivation of excellent variety of P. grandiflorum.