We propose a novel method and system that utilizes a popular smartphone to realize hyperspectral imaging for analyzing skin morphological features and monitoring hemodynamics. The imaging system ...works based on a built-in RGB camera and flashlight on the smartphone. We apply Wiener estimation to transform the acquired RGB-mode images into "pseudo"-hyperspectral images with 16 wavebands, covering a visible range from 470nm to 620nm. The processing method uses weighted subtractions between wavebands to extract absorption information caused by specific chromophores within skin tissue, mainly including hemoglobin and melanin. Based on the extracted absorption information of hemoglobin, we conduct real-time monitoring experiments in the skin to measure heart rate and to observe skin activities during a vascular occlusion event. Compared with expensive hyperspectral imaging systems, the smartphone-based system delivers similar results but with very-high imaging resolution. Besides, it is easy to operate, very cost-effective and has a wider customer base. The use of an unmodified smartphone to realize hyperspectral imaging promises a possibility to bring a hyperspectral analysis of skin out from laboratory and clinical wards to daily life, which may also impact on healthcare in low resource settings and rural areas.
Adoptive T cell therapy has achieved dramatic success in a clinic, and the Food and Drug Administration approved two chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cell (CAR-T) therapies that target ...hematological cancers in 2018. A significant issue faced by CAR-T therapies is the lack of tumor-specific biomarkers on the surfaces of solid tumor cells, which hampers the application of CAR-T therapies to solid tumors. Intracellular tumor-related antigens can be presented as peptides in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) on the cell surface, which interact with the T cell receptors (TCR) on antigen-specific T cells to stimulate an anti-tumor response. Multiple immunotherapy strategies have been developed to eradicate tumor cells through targeting the TCR-peptide/MHC interactions. Here, we summarize the current status of TCR-based immunotherapy strategies, with particular focus on the TCR structure, activated signaling pathways, the effects and toxicity associated with TCR-based therapies in clinical trials, preclinical studies examining immune-mobilizing monoclonal TCRs against cancer (ImmTACs), and TCR-fusion molecules. We propose several TCR-based therapeutic strategies to achieve optimal clinical responses without the induction of autoimmune diseases.
•The Iowa Gambling Task revealed an interaction between sex and BAS.•Males with high BAS performed worse than those with low BAS in IGT.•The rsFC of left VLPFC-left SOG is correlated with IGT ...performance in males.•The rsFC of left VLPFC-left SOG mediates the relationship of BAS and IGT in males.
It has been observed that one's Behavioral Approach System (BAS) can have an effect on decision-making under uncertainty, although the results have been mixed. To discern the underlying neural substrates, we hypothesize that sex may explain the conflicting results. To test this idea, a large sample of participants was studied using resting state fMRI, utilizing fractional Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuations (fALFF) and Resting-State Functional Connectivity (rsFC) techniques. The results of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) revealed an interaction between sex and BAS, particularly in the last 60 trials (decision-making under risk). Males with high BAS showed poorer performance than those with low BAS. fALFF analysis showed a significant interaction between BAS group and sex in the left superior occipital gyrus, as well as the functional connectivity between this region and the left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Additionally, this functional connectivity was further positively correlated with male performance in the IGT, particularly in the decision-making under risk stage. Furthermore, it was found that the functional connectivity between left ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and left superior occipital gyrus could mediate the relationship between BAS and decision-making in males, particularly in the decision-making under risk stage. These results suggest possible sex-based differences in decision-making, providing an explanation for the inconsistent results found in prior research. Since the research was carried out exclusively with Chinese university students, it is essential to conduct further studies to investigate whether the findings can be generalized.
Abstract
We measured the Δ(1232) radius using Bose-Einstein correlations (BEC) between two neutral pions from photo-production off a hydrogen/deuterium target at the incident photon energies around 1 ...GeV. The experiment was carried out at Research Center for Electron Photon Science (ELPH) in Tohoku University with a 4π electromagnetic calorimeter complex, named FOREST. For low-multiplicity BEC measurements, we developed an event mixing technique by introducing additional mixing constraints to delicately reduce the effect of other non-BEC correlations arising from global conservation law and resonance decays. In addition, a new BEC observing model was established to extract radius information from BEC effects in the presence of resonance decays.
Playing Internet games has emerged as a growing in prevalence leisure activity. In some cases, excess gaming can lead to addiction-like symptoms and aversive outcomes that may be seen by some as ...manifestations of a behavioral addiction. Even though agreement regarding the pathologizing of excessive video gaming is not yet achieved and perhaps because the field requires more research, many works have examined the antecedents and outcomes of what is termed internet gaming disorder (IGD). In this article, we aim at summarizing perspectives and findings related to the neurocognitive processes that may underlie IGD and map such findings onto the triadic-system that governs behavior and decision-making, the deficits in which have been shown to be associated with many addictive disorders. This tripartite system model includes the following three brain systems: (1) the impulsive system, which often mediates fast, automatic, unconscious, and habitual behaviors; (2) the reflective system, which mediates deliberating, planning, predicting future outcomes of selected behaviors, and exerting inhibitory control; and (3) the interoceptive awareness system, which generates a state of craving through the translation of somatic signals into a subjective state of drive. We suggest that IGD formation and maintenance can be associated with (1) a hyperactive "impulsive" system; (2) a hypoactive "reflective" system, as exacerbated by (3) an interoceptive awareness system that potentiates the activity of the impulsive system, and/or hijacks the goal-driven cognitive resources needed for the normal operation of the reflective system. Based on this review, we propose ways to improve the therapy and treatment of IGD and reduce the risk of relapse among recovering IGD populations.
In order to identify the bacteria in wound infection, an electronic nose system with a sensor array of 34 sensors was designed. Eight kinds of samples were detected, i.e., culture medium, Escherichia ...coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and their mixture with different concentration. Using support vector machine as the classifier and without sensor array optimization, the recognition rate is up to 86.54%. To simplify the sensor array and improve the recognition rate for bacteria samples, Wilks' lambda statistic (Wilks' Λ-statistic), Mahalanobis distance, principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and genetic algorithm are used to optimize the sensor array. It is shown that the sensor array optimization may be realized efficiently by these methods except PCA. After sensor array optimization by Wilks' Λ-statistic and LDA, both of their recognition rates are the highest and up to 96.15%, while the numbers of sensors in optimized sensor arrays are 22 and 20, respectively. Under the limitation of ten sensors, the recognition rate optimized by Wilks' Λ-statistic and LDA may still reach 95.19%.
Substance addiction and food addiction are significant social problems worldwide. In previous studies of substance addiction, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to influence ...craving of substance or food. However, the reported effects are not always consistent due to inconsistent experimental settings. The way modulators influence the effect of tDCS on substance addiction is worth exploring. This meta-analysis was conducted to estimate the effect size of tDCS on substance and food craving and to investigate the influence of potential modulators. We systemically identified and reviewed studies on substance/food craving using tDCS that were published between January 2008 to January 2020. A total of 32 eligible studies were identified. Hedges' g was computed as an indicator of the effect of tDCS and some potential moderators (substance type, stimulation sites, current intensities, number of sessions, duration of stimulation, and study design) were examined using subgroup analysis. Random effects analysis revealed a total medium effect size Hedges' g = 0.536, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.389-0.683, after adjusting Hedges' g = 0.416, 95% CI: 0.262-0.570 preferring active over sham stimulation to reduce craving. A significant difference was observed between the number of sessions (repeated stimulation was better than single stimulation). The duration of stimulation may have a positive influence on the effects of tDCS. No other significant differences were found in other subgroups analysis. In conclusion, our results provided evidence that tDCS can be an effective way to reduce craving of substance or food, and longer multiple stimulus durations in all can more effectively reduce craving; however, the influences of modulators still need be to be examined in depth in future.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a widely-used tool to induce neuroplasticity and modulate cortical function by applying weak direct current over the scalp. In this review, we first ...introduce the underlying mechanism of action, the brief history from discovery to clinical scientific research, electrode positioning and montages, and parameter setup of tDCS. Then, we review tDCS application in clinical samples including people with drug addiction, major depression disorder, Alzheimer's disease, as well as in children. This review covers the typical characteristics and the underlying neural mechanisms of tDCS treatment in such studies. This is followed by a discussion of safety, especially when the current intensity is increased or the stimulation duration is prolonged. Given such concerns, we provide detailed suggestions regarding safety procedures for tDCS operation. Lastly, future research directions are discussed. They include foci on the development of multi-tech combination with tDCS such as with TMS and fMRI; long-term behavioral and morphological changes; possible applications in other research domains, and more animal research to deepen the understanding of the biological and physiological mechanisms of tDCS stimulation.
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