Microglial over-pruning of synapses during development in autism-associated SCN2A-deficient mice and human cerebral organoids.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a major neurodevelopmental disorder affecting 1 in 36 children in the United States. While neurons have been the focus of understanding ASD, an altered neuro-immune response in the brain may be closely associated with ASD, and a neuro-immune interaction could play a role in the disease progression. As the resident immune cells of the brain, microglia regulate brain development and homeostasis via core functions including phagocytosis of synapses. While ASD has been traditionally considered a polygenic disorder, recent large-scale human genetic studies have identified SCN2A deficiency as a leading monogenic cause of ASD and intellectual disability. We generated a Scn2a-deficient mouse model, which displays major behavioral and neuronal phenotypes. However, the role of microglia in this disease model is unknown. Here, we reported that Scn2a-deficient mice have impaired learning and memory, accompanied by reduced synaptic transmission and lower spine density in neurons of the hippocampus. Microglia in Scn2a-deficient mice are partially activated, exerting excessive phagocytic pruning of post-synapses related to the complement C3 cascades during selective developmental stages. The ablation of microglia using PLX3397 partially restores synaptic transmission and spine density. To extend our findings from rodents to human cells, we established a microglia-incorporated human cerebral organoid model carrying an SCN2A protein-truncating mutation identified in children with ASD. We found that human microglia display increased elimination of post-synapse in cerebral organoids carrying the SCN2A mutation. Our study establishes a key role of microglia in multi-species autism-associated models of SCN2A deficiency from mouse to human cells.

Visualization of Biomolecular Radiation Damage at the Single-Particle Level Using Lanthanide-Sensitized DNA Origami.

Precise monitoring of biomolecular radiation damage is crucial for understanding X-ray-induced cell injury and improving the accuracy of clinical radiotherapy. We present the design and performance of lanthanide-DNA-origami nanodosimeters for directly visualizing radiation damage at the single-particle level. Lanthanide ions (Tb3+ or Eu3+) coordinated with DNA origami nanosensors enhance the sensitivity of X-ray irradiation. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) revealed morphological changes in Eu3+-sensitized DNA origami upon X-ray irradiation, indicating damage caused by ionization-generated electrons and free radicals. We further demonstrated the practical applicability of Eu3+-DNA-origami integrated chips in precisely monitoring radiation-mediated cancer radiotherapy. Quantitative results showed consistent trends with flow cytometry and histological examination under comparable X-ray irradiation doses, providing an affordable and user-friendly visualization tool for preclinical applications. These findings provide new insights into the impact of heavy metals on radiation-induced biomolecular damage and pave the way for future research in developing nanoscale radiation sensors for precise clinical radiography.

Taurine reduces glycolysis of pig skeletal muscle by inhibiting HIF-1α signaling.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of taurine on skeletal muscle glycolysis in pigs. The results showed that dietary supplementation of taurine significantly reduced the activities of hexokinase (HK), phosphofructose kinase (PFK), and pyruvate kinase (PK) in finishing pigs. Meanwhile, taurine reduced the protein and mRNA expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and the mRNA expression of glycolytic enzyme related genes (such as HK type II, HK Ⅱ; pyruvate kinase M2, PKM2; lactate dehydrogenase A, LDHA). In addition, taurine reduced the expression of HIF-1α, lactate content, and the expression of glycolysis related genes in porcine myotubes. These results suggest that taurine may regulate glycolysis in skeletal muscle of finishing pigs through the HIF-1α signaling pathway. To further investigate the mechanism by which taurine affects skeletal glycolysis, HIF-1α activator dimethyloxalyl glycine (DMOG) was used to treat porcine myotubes, our results showed that DMOG significantly increased the protein and mRNA expression levels of HIF-1α, lactate content, and glycolytic enzyme (HK, PFK, PK, and LDH) activity, but taurine treatment significantly inhibited this effect. Taken together, these results of in vivo and in vitro experiments revealed that taurine reduces skeletal muscle glycolysis by inhibiting HIF-1α signaling.

Effects of Dietary Glutamine Supplementation on the Modulation of Microbiota and Th17/Treg Immune Response Signaling Pathway in Piglets after Lipopolysaccharide Challenge.

BACKGROUND: Glutamine (Gln) has an important effect on the growth performance and immune function of piglets. However, the effect of Gln on intestinal immunity in piglets through modulating the signaling pathways of the helper T cells 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cells (Treg) immune response has not been reported. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effect of Gln on piglet growth performance and immune stress response and its mechanism in piglets. METHODS: Twenty-four weaned piglets were randomly assigned to 4 treatments with 6 replicates each, using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: diet (basal diet or 1% Gln diet) and immunological challenge [saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)]. After 21 d, half of the piglets on the basal diet and 1% Gln diet received the intraperitoneal injection of LPS and the other half received the same volume of normal saline. RESULTS: The results showed that Gln increased average daily feed intake and average daily weight gain in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05). Dietary Gln increased the villus height, villus height-to-crypt depth ratio, and the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Lactobacillus sp., and Ruminococcus sp. while reducing the abundance of Firmicutes, Clostridium sensu stricto 1 sp., and Terrisporobacter sp. (P < 0.05). Furthermore, Gln increased the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the colon and the expression of genes of interleukin (IL)-10, transforming growth factor-beta-1, forkhead box P3 while downregulating the expression of genes of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-17A, IL-21, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and rar-related orphan receptor c in ileum (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated a strong association between colonic microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, and ileal inflammatory cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that dietary Gln could improve growth performance and attenuate LPS-challenged intestinal inflammation by modulating microbiota and the Th17/Treg immune response signaling pathway in piglets.

Dietary α-Ketoglutarate Alleviates Escherichia coli LPS-Induced Intestinal Barrier Injury by Modulating the Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondrial System Pathway in Piglets.

BACKGROUND: α-Ketoglutarate (AKG) plays a pivotal role in mitigating inflammation and enhancing intestinal health. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate whether AKG could protect against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal injury by alleviating disorders in mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (MAM) membranes, dysfunctional mitochondrial dynamics, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in a piglet model. METHODS: Twenty-four piglets were subjected to a 2 × 2 factorial design with dietary factors (basal diet or 1% AKG diet) and LPS treatment (LPS or saline). After 21 d of consuming either the basal diet or AKG diet, piglets received injections of LPS or saline. The experiment was divided into 4 treatment groups [control (CON) group: basal diet + saline; LPS group: basal diet +LPS; AKG group: AKG diet + saline; and AKG_LPS group: AKG + LPS], each consisting of 6 piglets. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that compared with the CON group, AKG enhanced jejunal morphology, antioxidant capacity, and the messenger RNA and protein expression of tight junction proteins. Moreover, it has shown a reduction in serum diamine oxidase activity and D-lactic acid content in piglets. In addition, fewer disorders in the ER-mitochondrial system were reflected by AKG, as evidenced by AKG regulating the expression of key molecules of mitochondrial dynamics (mitochondrial calcium uniporter, optic atrophy 1, fission 1, and dynamin-related protein 1), ER stress [activating transcription factor (ATF) 4, ATF 6, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein, eukaryotic initiation factor 2α, glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78, and protein kinase R-like ER kinase], and MAM membranes [mitofusin (Mfn)-1, Mfn-2, GRP 75, and voltage-dependent anion channel-1]. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary AKG can prevent mitochondrial dynamic dysfunction, ER stress, and MAM membrane disorder, ultimately alleviating LPS-induced intestinal damage in piglets.

CircRNA and Stroke: New Insight of Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets.

Stroke, the second-largest cause of death and the leading cause of disability globally, presents significant challenges in terms of prognosis and treatment. Identifying reliable prognosis biomarkers and treatment targets is crucial to address these challenges. Circular RNA (circRNA) has emerged as a promising research biomarkers and therapeutic targets because of its tissue specificity and conservation. However, the potential role of circRNA in stroke prognosis and treatment remains largely unexplored. This review briefly elucidate the mechanism underlying circRNA's involvement in stroke pathophysiology. Additionally, this review summarizes the impact of circRNA on different forms of strokes, including ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. And, this article discusses the positive effects of circRNA on promoting cerebrovascular repair and regeneration, maintaining the integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and reducing neuronal injury and immune inflammatory response. In conclusion, the significance of circRNA as a potential prognostic biomarker and a viable therapeutic target was underscored.

Nivolumab combined docetaxel versus nivolumab in patients with previously treated nonsmall cell lung cancer: a phase 2 study.

The current standard second-line treatment is immune checkpoint inhibitors monotherapy for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The objective of this phase 2 study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nivolumab plus docetaxel compared with nivolumab monotherapy for second-line therapy in immunotherapy-naive patients with advanced NSCLC. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint of this phase 2 study. Patients were randomized to receive nivolumab plus docetaxel or nivolumab monotherapy. From July 2019 to June 2022, a total of 22 patients were recruited, with significantly longer median PFS observed in the nivolumab plus docetaxel group (4.0 months) compared to the nivolumab group (2.0 months), P  = 0.0019. The study was closed in June 2022 due to slow recruitment. The objective response rate was 10.0% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0-28.6] in the nivolumab group and 25% (95% CI, 0.5-49.5) in the nivolumab + docetaxel group ( P  = 0.346). Disease control was significantly higher in the nivolumab plus docetaxel arm (40.0% versus 83.3%, P  = 0.035). There was also an improvement in overall survival (OS) in the nivolumab + docetaxel arm, but this was not statistically significant (10.0 months versus 7.2 months, P  = 0.129). The addition of docetaxel to nivolumab was well-tolerated, with adverse events more common in the combination group. Despite the small sample size, the results suggest that the addition of docetaxel to nivolumab may be a promising treatment option for NSCLC patients progressing on platinum-based chemotherapy, with trends towards improved OS observed.

Thromboelastography-Guided Antiplatelet Therapy for Patients with Ischemic Cerebrocardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The effectiveness of thromboelastography (TEG)-guided antiplatelet therapy in patients with ischemic cerebrocardiovascular diseases is not well-established. This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of TEG-guided antiplatelet therapy compared to standard treatment in patients with ischemic cerebrocardiovascular diseases. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing TEG-guided antiplatelet therapy with standard therapy in patients suffering from ischemic stroke (IS) or coronary artery disease (CAD) were identified. The primary efficacy measure was a composite of ischemic and hemorrhagic events. Secondary efficacy measures included any ischemic events, while safety was assessed by the occurrence of bleeding events. RESULTS: Ten studies involving 4 RCTs and 6 observational studies with a total of 1,678 patients were included. When considering a composite of ischemic and hemorrhagic events in RCTs, a significant reduction was observed in IS or CAD patients under TEG-guided therapy compared to standard therapy (OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.27-0.75, p = 0.002). After pooling RCTs and observational studies together, compared to standard antiplatelet therapy, TEG-guided therapy significantly reduced the risk of a composite of ischemic and hemorrhagic events (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.19-0.37; p < 0.00001), ischemic events (OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.19-0.41; p < 0.00001), and bleeding events (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.16-0.62; p = 0.0009) in patients with IS or CAD. CONCLUSION: TEG-guided antiplatelet therapy appears to be both effective and safe for patients with IS or CAD. These findings support the use of TEG testing to tailor antiplatelet therapy in individuals with ischemic cerebrocardiovascular diseases.

Site-controlled growth of In(Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots on patterned substrate.

In(Ga)As quantum dot(QD) with uniform size and controlled sites have great potential in optical communications and quantum computing. In this review, we focus on the site-controlled preparation of In(Ga)As quantum dot arrays based on patterned substrates, including the improvements made by the researchers to enhance the quantum dot site-control capability and optical quality. Based on the current research on site-controlled In(Ga)As QDs, it has been possible to grow uniformly ordered In(Ga)As QD arrays, in which the size, morphology, and nucleus location of each quantum dot can be precisely controlled. In addition, the study of deoxidation treatment of patterned substrates has led to the performance enhancement of the prepared QD arrays. Finally, we propose that the future development of site-controlled In(Ga)As QD arrays lies in improving the optical quality and tuning their emission wavelength to the telecommunication band. .

The effect of ratios upon improving patient-based real-time quality control (PBRTQC) performance.

OBJECTIVES: Large biological variation hinders application of patient-based real-time quality control (PBRTQC). The effect of analyte ratios on the ability of PBRTQC to improve error detection was investigated. METHODS: Four single analyte-ratio pairs (alanine aminotransferase [ALT] vs. ALT to aspartate aminotransferase ratio [RALT]; creatinine [Cr] vs. Cr to cystatin C ratio [RCr]; lactate dehydrogenase [LDH] vs. LDH to hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase ratio [RLDH]; total bilirubin [TB] vs. TB to direct bilirubin ratio [RTB]) were chosen for comparison. Various procedures, including four conventional algorithms (moving average [MA], moving median [MM], exponentially weighted moving average [EWMA] and moving standard deviation [MSD]) were assessed. A new algorithm that monitors the number of defect reports per analytical run (NDR) was also evaluated. RESULTS: When a single analyte and calculated ratio used the same PBRTQC parameters, fewer samples were needed to detect systematic errors (SE) by taking ratios (p<0.05). Application of ratios in MA, MM and EWMA significantly enhanced their ability to detect SE. The influence of ratio on random error (RE) detection depended upon the analytes and PBRTQC parameters, as consistent advantage was not demonstrated. The NDR method performed well when appropriate parameters were used, but was only effective for unilateral SE. Rearrangement of sample order led to a significant deterioration of conventional algorithms' performance, while NDR remained almost unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: For analytes with large variation and poor PBRTQC performance, using ratios as PBRTQC indexes may significantly improve performance and achieve better anti-interference ability, providing a new class of monitoring indicators for PBRTQC.

Construction of an expression platform for fungal secondary metabolite biosynthesis in Penicillium crustosum.

Filamentous fungi are prolific producers of bioactive natural products and play a vital role in drug discovery. Yet, their potential cannot be fully exploited since many biosynthetic genes are silent or cryptic under laboratory culture conditions. Several strategies have been applied to activate these genes, with heterologous expression as one of the most promising approaches. However, successful expression and identification of new products are often hindered by host-dependent factors, such as low gene targeting efficiencies, a high metabolite background, or a lack of selection markers. To overcome these challenges, we have constructed a Penicillium crustosum expression host in a pyrG deficient strain by combining the split-marker strategy and CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Deletion of ligD and pcribo improved gene targeting efficiencies and enabled the use of an additional selection marker in P. crustosum. Furthermore, we reduced the secondary metabolite background by inactivation of two highly expressed gene clusters and abolished the formation of the reactive ortho-quinone methide. Finally, we replaced the P. crustosum pigment gene pcr4401 with the commonly used Aspergillus nidulans wA expression site for convenient use of constructs originally designed for A. nidulans in our P. crustosum host strain. As proof of concept, we successfully expressed a single polyketide synthase gene and an entire gene cluster at the P. crustosum wA locus. Resulting transformants were easily detected by their albino phenotype. With this study, we provide a highly efficient platform for heterologous expression of fungal genes. KEY POINTS: Construction of a highly efficient Penicillium crustosum heterologous expression host Reduction of secondary metabolite background by genetic dereplication strategy Integration of wA site to provide an alternative host besides Aspergillus nidulans.

Comparison of Therapeutic Effect of Apheresis Platelets and Buffy Coat-Derived Platelet Concentrates.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate the difference in clinical efficacy between apheresis platelets and buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates infusion in patients with hematological diseases. METHODS: A total of 218 patients with hematological diseases were enrolled in Xi'an Central Hospital, from January 2023 to October 2023, and randomly divided into two groups: 109 patients were treated with apheresis platelet transfusion (AP group) and 109 patients with buffy coat derived platelet concentrates (BC-PC group). Platelet counts were measured before and 24 hours after transfusion, and the corrected platelet ascending number (CCI) and platelet recovery rate (PPR) were calculated. The clinical efficacy and blood transfusion reaction were observed. RESULTS: After 24 hours of platelet transfusion, there was no significant difference in the platelet count between the AP and BC-PC groups (p > 0.05). However, CCI and PPR significantly differed between the two groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the incidence of transfusion reaction in the AP group was significantly lower than in the BC-PC group. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical efficacy of buffy coat-derived platelet concentrates is lower than that of apheresis platelets, but it can also improve the patient's condition and quality of life. Therefore, clinicians could rationally use BC-PC, according to the actual situation of the patients.

Effects of Thermal Insulation on Recovery and Comfort of Patients Undergoing Holmium Laser Lithotripsy.

BACKGROUND Patients with urolithiasis often undergo transurethral ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy, a procedure that can be affected by perioperative thermal management. This study examines the impact of compound thermal insulation management on patient recovery and comfort during transurethral ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS In this study, 551 patients who underwent transurethral ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy from April 2019 to December 2022 were randomly assigned to either an observation group (n=276) or control group (n=275). Both groups received routine surgical care, with the observation group additionally receiving compound thermal insulation management. We recorded and compared perioperative body temperature changes, anesthetic resuscitation indicators (bispectral index recovery time, extubation time, fully awake time, Postanesthesia Care Unit retention time), comfort level (General Comfort Questionnaire), and quality of life (Nottingham Health Profile). We also compared the incidence of complications. RESULTS There was no significant difference in body temperature between groups at the start surgery. However, the observation group showed significantly higher temperatures during and at the end of surgery. Anesthetic resuscitation indicators were significantly better in the observation group. Both groups showed improved comfort and quality of life after surgery, with more significant improvements in the observation group. The observation group also had a lower incidence of complications, such as hypothermia and rigor. CONCLUSIONS Compound thermal insulation management during transurethral ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy improved perioperative temperature maintenance, accelerated postoperative recovery, reduced complication rates, and enhanced patient comfort and quality of life.

U-shaped association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and urinary leakage among adult females aged 45 years and over in the United States: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between serum vitamin D status and urinary leakage (UL) among middle-aged females needs to be further studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations with UL among American females ages 45 years and over. METHODS: Seven cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with self-report UL data, were used. A total of 9525 women aged 45 years and older were enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and the smooth curve fitting were utilized to analyze the association between clinical UL and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations. RESULTS: A non-linear relationship between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and clinical ULwas observed. When serum 25(OH)D concentration was higher than the inflection point 63.5 nmol/L, a positive correlation was observed between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and clinical UL ([OR]: 1.007, 95%CI: 1.005-1.009, P < 0.01). However, when serum 25(OH)D concentration was below the inflection point 63.5 nmol/L, a negative correlation was observed between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and clinical UL ([OR]: 0.993, 95%CI: 0.989-0.996, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The association between serum vitamin D and the risk of UL exhibited a U-shaped pattern among US middle-aged females, with an inflection point occurring at a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 63.5 nmol/L.

A Novel Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Specifically Improving the Solubility and Antioxidant Activities of Edible Bird's Nest.

Edible bird's nest (EBN), a most highly priced and valuable foodstuff, contains high percentage of proteins and carbohydrates. However, proteins adhering to these carbohydrates make the EBN hard and tough, which need to be boiled as the bird's nest soup to make the Chinese cuisine. To overcome the hard and tough texture of EBN and improve the digestion degrees, the present study screened and identified a probiotic strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens YZW02 from 5-year stored EBN sample completely solubilizing EBN for the first time. The 24-h B. amyloliquefaciens fermented EBN contained 20.30-21.48 mg/mL of the soluble protein contents with a recovery rate of 98-100%, DPPH radical scavenging rate of 84.76% and ABTS radical scavenging capacity of 41.05%. The mixed fermentation of B. amyloliquefaciens YZW02 and Bacillus natto BN1 were further applied to improve the low-MW peptide percentages and antioxidant activities. The mixed-fermentation of B. natto BN1 with 4-h cultured B. amyloliquefaciens YZW02 had the lowest percentage (82.23%) of >12-kDa proteins/peptides and highest percentages of 3-12 kDa, 1-3 kDa and 0.1-1 kDa peptides of 8.6% ± 0.08, 7.57% ± 0.09, 1.77% ± 0.05 and 0.73% ± 0.05, with the highest DPPH, ABTS and •OH scavenging capacity of 90.23%, 46.45% and 49.12%, respectively. These findings would provide an efficient strategy for improving the solubility and antioxidant activities of EBNs.

Application of artificial intelligence in medical education: A meta-ethnographic synthesis.

With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), it has had a profound impact on medical education. Understanding the advantages and issues of AI in medical education, providing guidance for educators, and overcoming challenges in the implementation process is particularly important.The objective of this study is to explore the current state of AI applications in medical education.A systematic search was conducted across databases such as PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science to identify relevant studies. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was employed for the quality assessment of these studies, followed by thematic synthesis to analyze the themes from the included research.Ultimately, 21 studies were identified, establishing four themes: (1) Shaping the Future: Current Trends in AI within Medical Education; (2) Advancing Medical Instruction: The Transformative Power of AI; (3) Navigating the Ethical Landscape of AI in Medical Education; (4) Fostering Synergy: Integrating Artificial Intelligence in Medical Curriculum.Artificial intelligence's role in medical education, while not yet extensive, is impactful and promising. Despite challenges, including ethical concerns over privacy, responsibility, and humanistic care, future efforts should focus on integrating AI through targeted courses to improve educational quality.

Analysis of virtual standardized patients for assessing clinical fundamental skills of medical students: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: History-taking is an essential clinical competency for qualified doctors. The limitations of the standardized patient (SP) in taking history can be addressed by the virtual standardized patient (VSP). This paper investigates the accuracy of virtual standardized patient simulators and evaluates the applicability of the improved system's accuracy for diagnostic teaching support and performance assessment. METHODS: Data from the application of VSP to medical residents and students were gathered for this prospective study. In a human-machine collaboration mode, students completed exams involving taking SP histories while VSP provided real-time scoring. Every participant had VSP and SP scores. Lastly, using the voice and text records as a guide, the technicians will adjust the system's intention recognition accuracy and speech recognition accuracy. RESULTS: The research revealed significant differences in scoring across several iterations of VSP and SP (p < 0.001). Across various clinical cases, there were differences in application accuracy for different versions of VSP (p < 0.001). Among training groups, the diarrhea case showed significant differences in speech recognition accuracy (Z = -2.719, p = 0.007) and intent recognition accuracy (Z = -2.406, p = 0.016). Scoring and intent recognition accuracy improved significantly after system upgrades. CONCLUSION: VSP has a comprehensive and detailed scoring system and demonstrates good scoring accuracy, which can be a valuable tool for history-taking training.

Hand Gesture Recognition Based on High-Density Myoelectricity in Forearm Flexors in Humans.

Electromyography-based gesture recognition has become a challenging problem in the decoding of fine hand movements. Recent research has focused on improving the accuracy of gesture recognition by increasing the complexity of network models. However, training a complex model necessitates a significant amount of data, thereby escalating both user burden and computational costs. Moreover, owing to the considerable variability of surface electromyography (sEMG) signals across different users, conventional machine learning approaches reliant on a single feature fail to meet the demand for precise gesture recognition tailored to individual users. Therefore, to solve the problems of large computational cost and poor cross-user pattern recognition performance, we propose a feature selection method that combines mutual information, principal component analysis and the Pearson correlation coefficient (MPP). This method can filter out the optimal subset of features that match a specific user while combining with an SVM classifier to accurately and efficiently recognize the user's gesture movements. To validate the effectiveness of the above method, we designed an experiment including five gesture actions. The experimental results show that compared to the classification accuracy obtained using a single feature, we achieved an improvement of about 5% with the optimally selected feature as the input to any of the classifiers. This study provides an effective guarantee for user-specific fine hand movement decoding based on sEMG signals.

Muscle Synergy during Wrist Movements Based on Non-Negative Tucker Decomposition.

Modular control of the muscle, which is called muscle synergy, simplifies control of the movement by the central nervous system. The purpose of this study was to explore the synergy in both the frequency and movement domains based on the non-negative Tucker decomposition (NTD) method. Surface electromyography (sEMG) data of 8 upper limb muscles in 10 healthy subjects under wrist flexion (WF) and wrist extension (WE) were recorded. NTD was selected for exploring the multi-domain muscle synergy from the sEMG data. The results showed two synergistic flexor pairs, Palmaris longus-Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (PL-FDS) and Extensor Carpi Radialis-Flexor Carpi Radialis (ECR-FCR), in the WF stage. Their spectral components are mainly in the respective bands 0-20 Hz and 25-50 Hz. And the spectral components of two extensor pairs, Extensor Digitorum-Extensor Carpi Ulnar (ED-ECU) and Extensor Carpi Radialis-Brachioradialis (ECR-B), are mainly in the respective bands 0-20 Hz and 7-45 Hz in the WE stage. Additionally, further analysis showed that the Biceps Brachii (BB) muscle was a shared muscle synergy module of the WE and WF stage, while the flexor muscles FCR, PL and FDS were the specific synergy modules of the WF stage, and the extensor muscles ED, ECU, ECR and B were the specific synergy modules of the WE stage. This study showed that NTD is a meaningful method to explore the multi-domain synergistic characteristics of multi-channel sEMG signals. The results can help us to better understand the frequency features of muscle synergy and shared and specific synergies, and expand the study perspective related to motor control in the nervous system.

Higher socioeconomic status is associated with higher ultra-processed food intake: a cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the differences in ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption across different socioeconomic status (SES) levels. METHODS: Data on UPF consumption (grams/day) were derived from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The analysis controlled for age, marital status, race, and sex. A restricted cubic spline (RCS) model was applied to examine the nonlinear response curve. RESULTS: UPF consumption increased with higher poverty income ratio (PIR), the ratio of household income to the established poverty line. Compared to the low PIR group, the medium group showed a non-significant increase (ß = 34.23[95%CI: -28.81, 97.28], p = 0.287), while the high group exhibited a significant increase (ß = 115.15[95%CI: 43.53, 186.76], p = 0.002). A linear positive correlation was observed in RCS analysis (p-nonlinear = 0.166, p-overall < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights that higher SES is associated with greater consumption of UPF in the US. The findings suggest that policy interventions should take SES into consideration.