Abstract Females frequently perform better in empathy, interpersonal sensitivity, and emotional recognition than do males. The mirror-neuron system has been proposed to play an important role in ...social cognition. It remains to be clarified, however, whether the neuroanatomy underlying the human mirror neuron system exhibits sex differences. With the use of voxel-based morphometry analysis, a whole-brain unbiased technique to characterize regional cerebral volume differences in structural magnetic resonance images, concurrent with the dispositional empathy measures, we demonstrate that young adult females ( n =25) had significantly larger gray matter volume in the pars opercularis and inferior parietal lobule than matched males ( n =25) participants. Moreover, higher self-report scores in the emotional empathic disposition was tightly coupled with larger gray matter volume of the pars opercularis across all female and male participants ( P =0.002). These results indicate that the existence of neuroanatomical sex differences in the human mirror-neuron system. They also suggest that the network of the human mirror-neuron system is strongly linked to empathy competence.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
A coherent electromagnetic field can be described by its amplitude, frequency, and phase. All these properties can influence the interaction between the field and an atom. Here we demonstrate the ...phase shaping of microwaves that are scattered by a superconducting artificial atom coupled to the end of a semi-infinite one-dimensional transmission line. In particular, we input a weak exponentially rising pulse with phase modulation to a transmon qubit. We observe that atom-field interaction can be tuned from a nearly full interaction (interaction efficiency, i.e., amount of the field energy interacting with the atom, of 94.5 %) to effectively no interaction (interaction efficiency of 3.5 %).
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
Background and Objective
This study aimed to develop pH‐responsive polylactide‐glycolic acid co‐polymer and chitosan (PLGA/chitosan) nanosphere as an inflammation‐responsive vehicle and evaluate the ...potential of the nanosphere encapsulating metronidazole, an antibiotic, and N‐phenacylthiazolium bromide (PTB), a host modulator, for treating periodontitis.
Material and Methods
PLGA/chitosan nanospheres were fabricated using oil‐in‐water emulsion method. Experimental periodontitis was induced on the rat maxillae, and the sites were randomly allocated to four treatment categories, including periodontitis alone (PR), periodontitis with nanospheres alone, nanospheres encapsulating metronidazole (MT) and nanospheres encapsulating PTB (PB). The ligature was retained until the animals were killed, and the treatment outcome was evaluated by the progression of periodontal bone loss (PPBL), inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition.
Results
The encapsulated drug was released rapidly from the nanospheres without significant initial burst release at pH 5.5. Compared with group PR, PPBL was significantly reduced in groups MT and PB on day 4 (P<.05). On day 21, PPBL was significantly lower in group PB (P<.05). In groups MT and PB, inflammation was significantly reduced in groups MT and PB relative to groups PR and periodontitis with nanospheres alone (P<.05), and collagen deposition was significantly greater relative to group PR (P<.05).
Conclusion
PLGA/chitosan nanospheres encapsulating metronidazole or PTB showed potential for modulating periodontitis progression.
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CMK, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
To establish an ideal microenvironment for regenerating maxillofacial defects, recent research interests have concentrated on developing scaffolds with intricate configurations and manipulating the ...stiffness of extracellular matrix toward osteogenesis. Herein, we propose to infuse a degradable RGD-functionalized alginate matrix (RAM) with osteoid-like stiffness, as an artificial extracellular matrix, to a rigid 3D-printed hydroxyapatite scaffold for maxillofacial regeneration. The 3D-printed hydroxyapatite scaffold was produced by microextrusion technology and showed good dimensional stability with consistent microporous detail. RAM was crosslinked by calcium sulfate to manipulate the stiffness, and its degradation was accelerated by partial oxidation using sodium periodate. The results revealed that viability of bone marrow stem cells was significantly improved on the RAM and was promoted on the oxidized RAM. In addition, the migration and osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stem cells were promoted on the RAM with osteoid-like stiffness, specifically on the oxidized RAM. The in vivo evidence revealed that nonoxidized RAM with osteoid-like stiffness upregulated osteogenic genes but prevented ingrowth of newly formed bone, leading to limited regeneration. Oxidized RAM with osteoid-like stiffness facilitated collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and osteogenesis and induced robust bone formation, thereby significantly promoting maxillofacial regeneration. Overall, this study supported that in the stabilized microenvironment, oxidized RAM with osteoid-like stiffness offered requisite mechanical cues for osteogenesis and an appropriate degradation profile to facilitate bone formation. Combining the 3D-printed hydroxyapatite scaffold and oxidized RAM with osteoid-like stiffness may be an advantageous approach for maxillofacial regeneration.
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CMK, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Atomic layer plasma treatment (ALPT) enhances the corrosion protection of the ZrO2 film prepared by thermal-driven ALD mode (TALD-ZrO2) and further reduces the corrosion rate of MgCa alloy by more ...than an order of magnitude. The ALPT effect significantly increases the crystallinity and reduces the oxygen defects of TALD-ZrO2 film. The ALPT time of 30 s has the most increase in the polarization resistance of TALD-ZrO2 film, from 1.8kΩ·cm2 to 74.7kΩ·cm2. The enhancement of corrosion resistance of TALD-ZrO2 film caused by the 30s-ALPT is equivalent to the thickness effect of increasing the thickness from 200 cycles to 300 cycles. ALPT technique is considered as a potential and feasible method to prepare TALD-ZrO2 films with high film quality and excellent corrosion protection.
•ALPT effectively enhances the corrosion protection performance of TALD-ZrO2 film on Mg-Ca alloy.•Clarify that ALPT technique effectively improves the quality of the TALD-ZrO2 films.•30s-ALPT greatly enhances the polarization resistance from 1.8kΩ·cm2 to 74.7kΩ·cm2.•Clarify that ALPT significantly improves the long-term protection performance of TALD-ZrO2 film on Mg-Ca alloy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Resting-state functional MR imaging has been used for motor mapping in presurgical planning but never used intraoperatively. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of applying intraoperative ...resting-state functional MR imaging for the safe resection of gliomas using real-time motor cortex mapping during an operation.
Using interventional MR imaging, we conducted preoperative and intraoperative resting-state intrinsic functional connectivity analyses of the motor cortex in 30 patients with brain tumors. Factors that may influence intraoperative imaging quality, including anesthesia type (general or awake anesthesia) and tumor cavity (filled with normal saline or not), were studied to investigate image quality. Additionally, direct cortical stimulation was used to validate the accuracy of intraoperative resting-state fMRI in mapping the motor cortex.
Preoperative and intraoperative resting-state fMRI scans were acquired for all patients. Fourteen patients who successfully completed both sufficient intraoperative resting-state fMRI and direct cortical stimulation were used for further analysis of sensitivity and specificity. Compared with those subjected to direct cortical stimulation, the sensitivity and specificity of intraoperative resting-state fMRI in localizing the motor area were 61.7% and 93.7%, respectively. The image quality of intraoperative resting-state fMRI was better when the tumor cavity was filled with normal saline (
= .049). However, no significant difference between the anesthesia types was observed (
= .102).
This study demonstrates the feasibility of using intraoperative resting-state fMRI for real-time localization of functional areas during a neurologic operation. The findings suggest that using intraoperative resting-state fMRI can avoid the risk of intraoperative seizures due to direct cortical stimulation and may provide neurosurgeons with valuable information to facilitate the safe resection of gliomas.
Aims: The cell‐surface display of Cex, which encodes xylanase and exoglucanase from Cellulomonas fimi, was constructed on Escherichia coli using PgsA as the anchor protein. Characterization of the ...cell‐surface display of Cex was performed. Methods and Results: PgsA was fused to the N‐terminus of Cex and six histidines were utilized as spacers between the targeting and anchor proteins. Successful cell‐surface display of Cex was demonstrated by Western blot and immunofluorescence analyses on E. coli C41 (DE3). According to the time‐course analysis, the xylanase activity of Cex was achieved at 49 U g−1 dry cell weight after 12 h culture at 37°C. The optimal temperature and pH ranges of the cell‐surface displayed protein with whole‐cell were broader than the corresponding ranges of the purified form. Further determination of thermostability indicated that the half‐life of cell‐surface displayed Cex was 1·6 times longer than that of purified Cex at 60°C. Conclusions: We have successfully developed the cell‐surface display of xylanase on E. coli. The cell‐surface display can enhance the stability of xylanase against changes in temperature and has the potential of becoming a whole‐cell biocatalyst for industrial applications, such as biobleaching of paper and production of renewable energy. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results demonstrated that the cell‐surface display of xylanase embedded in the cell membrane is more stable than that of the purified enzyme. Thus, to improve the stability of heterologous proteins production, cell‐surface display using the PgsA anchor protein as a tool can be considered in E. coli.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The blocking of advanced glycation end-products (AGE) has been shown to reduce diabetic complications and control periodontitis. This study investigated the pattern of palatal wound-healing after ...graft harvesting under the administration of aminoguanidine (AG), an AGE inhibitor, or N-phenacylthiazolium bromide (PTB), a glycated cross-link breaker. Full-thickness palatal excisional wounds (5.0 x 1.5 mm2) were created in 72 Sprague-Dawley rats. The rats received daily intraperitoneal injections of normal saline (control), AG, or PTB and were euthanized after 4 to 28 days. The wound-healing pattern was assessed by histology, histochemistry for collagen matrix deposition, immunohistochemistry for AGE and the AGE receptor (RAGE), and the expression of RAGE, as well as inflammation- and recovery-associated genes. In the first 14 days following AG or PTB treatments, wound closure, re-epithelialization, and collagen matrix deposition were accelerated, whereas AGE deposition, RAGE-positive cells, and inflammation were reduced. RAGE and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were significantly down-regulated at day 7, and heme oxygenase-1 was persistently down-regulated until day 14. The levels of vascular endothelial growth factor, periostin, type I collagen, and fibronectin were all increased at day 14. In conclusion, anti-AGE agents appeared to facilitate palatal wound-healing by reducing AGE-associated inflammation and promoting the recovery process.
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CMK, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSEThe shortcomings of synucleinopathy-based Parkinson disease staging highlight the need for systematic clinicopathologic elucidation and biomarkers. In this study, we ...investigated associations of proteinopathy and inflammation markers with changes in gray matter volume that accompany Parkinson disease progression. MATERIALS AND METHODSWe prospectively enrolled 42 patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease, subdivided into early-/late-stage groups and 27 healthy controls. Parkinson disease severity and participants' functional and cognitive performance were evaluated. Peripheral plasma α-synuclein, β-amyloid42, and tau were quantified with immunomagnetic reduction assays, and nuclear DNA by polymerase chain reaction, and regional gray matter volumes were determined by MR imaging. Statistical tests identified stage-specific biomarkers and gray matter volume patterns in the early-stage Parkinson disease, late-stage Parkinson disease, and control groups. Correlations between gray matter volume atrophy, plasma biomarkers, Parkinson disease severity, and cognitive performance were analyzed. RESULTSPatients with Parkinson disease had significantly elevated α-synuclein, tau, and β-amyloid42 levels compared with controls; nuclear DNA levels were similar in early-stage Parkinson disease and controls, but higher in late-stage Parkinson disease (all P < .01). We identified 3 stage-specific gray matter volume atrophy patterns: 1) control > early-stage Parkinson disease = late-stage Parkinson disease: right midfrontal, left lingual, and fusiform gyri, left hippocampus, and cerebellum; 2) control > early-stage Parkinson disease > late-stage Parkinson disease: precentral, postcentral, parahippocampal, left superior-temporal, right temporal, right superior-frontal, and left cingulate gyri, occipital lobe, and bilateral parts of the cerebellum; 3) control = early-stage Parkinson disease > late-stage Parkinson disease: left midfrontal, superior-frontal and temporal, amygdala, and posterior cingulate gyri, caudate nucleus, and putamen. We discovered stage-specific correlations among proteinopathy, inflammation makers, topographic gray matter volume patterns, and cognitive performance that accompanied Parkinson disease progression. CONCLUSIONSIdentifying associations linking peripheral plasma biomarkers, gray matter volume, and clinical status in Parkinson disease may facilitate earlier diagnosis and improve prognostic accuracy.
We describe the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's CM4.0 physical climate model, with emphasis on those aspects that may be of particular importance to users of this model and its simulations. ...The model is built with the AM4.0/LM4.0 atmosphere/land model and OM4.0 ocean model. Topics include the rationale for key choices made in the model formulation, the stability as well as drift of the preindustrial control simulation, and comparison of key aspects of the historical simulations with observations from recent decades. Notable achievements include the relatively small biases in seasonal spatial patterns of top‐of‐atmosphere fluxes, surface temperature, and precipitation; reduced double Intertropical Convergence Zone bias; dramatically improved representation of ocean boundary currents; a high‐quality simulation of climatological Arctic sea ice extent and its recent decline; and excellent simulation of the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation spectrum and structure. Areas of concern include inadequate deep convection in the Nordic Seas; an inaccurate Antarctic sea ice simulation; precipitation and wind composites still affected by the equatorial cold tongue bias; muted variability in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation; strong 100 year quasiperiodicity in Southern Ocean ventilation; and a lack of historical warming before 1990 and too rapid warming thereafter due to high climate sensitivity and strong aerosol forcing, in contrast to the observational record. Overall, CM4.0 scores very well in its fidelity against observations compared to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 generation in terms of both mean state and modes of variability and should prove a valuable new addition for analysis across a broad array of applications.
Plain Language Summary
The Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration participates along with a number of model centers around the world in constructing state‐of‐the‐art climate models for use in studies for climate change and prediction. GFDL's latest multipurpose atmosphere‐ocean coupled climate model, CM4.0, is described here. It consists of GFDL's latest atmosphere and land models at about 100 km horizontal resolution and ocean and sea ice models at roughly 25 km horizontal resolution. A handful of standard experiments have been conducted with CM4.0 for participation in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6, an archive of climate model results utilized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the climate research community more generally. The model results have been extensively evaluated against observations. This paper makes the case that CM4.0 ranks high among state‐of‐the‐art coupled climate models by many measures of bias in the simulated climatology and in its ability to capture modes of climate variability such as the El Niño‐Southern Oscillation and Madden‐Julian Oscillation. The paper also discusses some potential weaknesses, including unrealistically large internal variability in the Southern Ocean and insufficient warming before 1990 in the simulation of the twentieth century.
Key Points
A team at GFDL has developed a new model of the physical climate system referred to as CM4.0
Strengths of model include ENSO simulation and small biases in TOA fluxes, precipitation, Arctic sea ice extent, and sea surface temperature
Problematic aspects include large variability in Southern Ocean and historical simulation with little warming prior to 1990
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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