Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been associated with relative skeletal muscle mass in several cross‐sectional studies. We explored the effects of relative skeletal muscle mass and ...changes in relative muscle mass over time on the development of incident NAFLD or the resolution of baseline NAFLD in a large, longitudinal, population‐based 7‐year cohort study. We included 12,624 subjects without baseline NAFLD and 2943 subjects with baseline NAFLD who underwent health check‐up examinations. A total of 10,534 subjects without baseline NAFLD and 2631 subjects with baseline NAFLD were included in analysis of changes in relative skeletal muscle mass over a year. Subjects were defined as having NAFLD by the hepatic steatosis index, a previously validated NAFLD prediction model. Relative skeletal muscle mass was presented using the skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), a measure of body weight–adjusted appendicular skeletal muscle mass, which was estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Of the 12,624 subjects without baseline NAFLD, 1864 (14.8%) developed NAFLD during the 7‐year follow‐up period. Using Cox proportional hazard analysis, compared with the lowest sex‐specific SMI tertile at baseline, the highest tertile was inversely associated with incident NAFLD (adjusted hazard ratio AHR = 0.44, 95% confidence interval CI = 0.38‐0.51) and positively associated with the resolution of baseline NAFLD (AHR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.02‐4.28). Furthermore, compared with the lowest tertile of change in SMI over a year, the highest tertile exhibited a significant beneficial association with incident NAFLD (AHR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.59‐0.82) and resolution of baseline NAFLD (AHR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.90‐6.17) even after adjustment for baseline SMI. Conclusion: Increases in relative skeletal muscle mass over time may lead to benefits either in the development of NAFLD or the resolution of existing NAFLD.
Deep learning (DL) techniques have been intensively studied for the optimization of multi-user multiple-input single-output (MU-MISO) downlink systems owing to the capability of handling nonconvex ...formulations. However, the fixed computation structure of existing deep neural networks (DNNs) lacks flexibility with respect to the system size, i.e., the number of antennas or users. This paper develops a bipartite graph neural network (BGNN) framework, a scalable DL solution designed for multi-antenna beamforming optimization. The MU-MISO system is first characterized by a bipartite graph where two disjoint vertex sets, each of which consists of transmit antennas and users, are connected via pairwise edges. These vertex interconnection states are modeled by channel fading coefficients. Thus, a generic beamforming optimization process is interpreted as a computation task over a weighted bipartite graph. This approach partitions the beamforming optimization procedure into multiple suboperations dedicated to individual antenna vertices and user vertices. Separated vertex operations lead to scalable beamforming calculations that are invariant to the system size. The vertex operations are realized by a group of DNN modules that collectively form the BGNN architecture. Identical DNNs are reused at all antennas and users so that the resultant learning structure becomes flexible to the network size. Component DNNs of the BGNN are trained jointly over numerous MU-MISO configurations with randomly varying network sizes. As a result, the trained BGNN can be universally applied to arbitrary MU-MISO systems. Numerical results validate the advantages of the BGNN framework over conventional methods.
The use of 3D printing (3DP) is increasing in a number of industries, including the fashion industry. It poses a number of advantages compared to traditional manufacturing processes, including an ...accelerated design process, less-production time, and lower costs related to inventory, warehousing, packaging, and transportation. This paper discusses the five types of 3DP methods that exhibit great potential in an application of fashion, including stereolithography, selective laser sintering, fused deposition modelling, PolyJet, and binder jetting. Examples of each 3DP method as it is used in the industry are provided. In addition, advantages and disadvantages are discussed for each 3DP method and specific printers. As the use of 3DP in the fashion industry is an emerging topic for discussion, this paper will provide a new guideline for designers about the uses, benefits, and challenges of 3DP in regards to the design process.
Background
The purpose of this study was to establish the association between continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)‐defined glycaemic variability (GV) and cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) in ...type 1 diabetes independent of mean glucose and to examine the relative contribution of each internationally standardized CGM parameter to this association.
Materials and methods
This study included 80 adults with type 1 diabetes who underwent 3‐day CGM and autonomic function tests within 3 months. The degree of association between internationally standardized CGM parameters and CAN, defined as at least two abnormal parasympathetic tests or the presence of orthostatic hypotension, were analysed by logistic regression, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and dominance analysis.
Results
A total of 36 subjects (45.0%) were diagnosed with CAN. When adjusted with mean glucose and clinical risk factors of CAN, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glycaemic excursion, percent time in level 1 (glucose 54‐69 mg/dL) and level 2 (glucose < 54 mg/dL) hypoglycaemia, area under the curve in level 2 hypoglycaemia, low blood glucose index, high blood glucose index, and percent time in glucose 70 to 180 mg/dL were independently associated with CAN. Multivariable ROC analysis and dominance analysis revealed the highest relative contribution of percent time in level 2 hypoglycaemia to the independent associations between CGM parameters and presence of CAN.
Conclusions
CGM‐defined GV was associated with CAN independent of mean glucose in adults with type 1 diabetes. Among internationally standardized CGM parameters, those describing the degree of level 2 hypoglycaemia were the most significant contributors to this association.
In vitro platforms for studying the human brain have been developed, and brain organoids derived from stem cells have been studied. However, current organoid models lack three‐dimensional (3D) ...vascular networks, limiting organoid proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, we created a 3D model of vascularized spheroid cells using an injection‐molded microfluidic chip. We cocultured spheroids derived from induced neural stem cells (iNSCs) with perfusable blood vessels. Gene expression analysis and immunostaining revealed that the vascular network greatly enhanced spheroid differentiation and reduced apoptosis. This platform can be used to further study the functional and structural interactions between blood vessels and neural spheroids, and ultimately to simulate brain development and disease.
Current organoid models lack 3D vascular networks, limiting proliferation and differentiation of organoid. In this study, we developed a 3D model of vascularized iNSC spheroids using an injection‐molded microfluidic chip. The vascular network in chip was perfusable and in contact with neural spheroid. Furthermore, vascularized neural spheroids showed enhanced differentiation and reduced apoptosis. We suggest that this model could be applied to the organoids‐on‐a‐chip model, and it would be a powerful tool for understanding of developmental biology and human diseases.
Abstract
Context
Low skeletal muscle mass often accompanies abdominal obesity in the aging process.
Objective
We aimed to investigate the effect of reduced skeletal muscle mass and its interaction ...with abdominal obesity on incident type 2 diabetes.
Methods
This retrospective longitudinal study included 36 304 diabetes-free Koreans who underwent 2 or more health checkups annually or biannually. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis and was presented as a skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) adjusted for body weight. Presarcopenia was defined as an SMI less than 1 SD of the sex-specific mean for a healthy young reference group. Abdominal obesity was defined using waist circumference greater than or equal to 90 cm for men and greater than or equal to 85 cm for women. Participants were classified into 4 groups of normal, presarcopenia alone, abdominal obesity alone, and presarcopenic obesity according to initial body composition.
Results
The cumulative incidence of diabetes was 9.1% during the 7-year follow-up. Compared with the highest tertile, the lowest sex-specific SMI tertile was significantly associated with a greater risk of incident type 2 diabetes (adjusted hazard ratio HR = 1.31; 95% CI, 1.18-1.45) in a fully adjusted model. Presarcopenic obesity significantly increased incident diabetes risk (adjusted HR = 1.57; 95% CI, 1.42-1.73) compared with normal body composition, presarcopenia alone, or abdominal obesity alone.
Conclusion
Low skeletal muscle mass and its coexistence with abdominal obesity additively increased the risk of incident type 2 diabetes independent of the glycometabolic parameters.
•The central findings are the uses and gratifications of Pinterest.•A confirmatory factor analysis revealed five uses and gratifications.•Fashion, entertainment, organization, virtual exploration and ...creative projects.•A second-order model was proposed to explain the motivations to use Pinterest.•Motivations provide retailers information about using Pinterest as a marketing tool.
This study examined the user gratifications obtained from Pinterest, an image-sharing social networking site, by applying the traditional mixed-method approach of the uses and gratifications framework (U&G). In the first phase of the study, using a qualitative questionnaire, a preliminary list of descriptive terms was collected from 27 college students who use Pinterest. From the list, an item analysis extracted 54 descriptive terms, which served as the basis for the item generation in the second phase of the study. In the second phase, using a quantitative online survey method, data was analyzed from 243 college students who use Pinterest. A confirmatory factor analysis revealed five dimensions of uses and gratifications obtained from the image-sharing SNS: ‘fashion’, ‘creative projects’, ‘entertainment’, ‘virtual exploration’, and ‘organization’. Furthermore, the results propose new measures for the uses and gratifications of Pinterest.
Implantable electronic devices for recording electrophysiological signals and for stimulating muscles and nerves have been widely used throughout clinical medicine. Mechanical mismatch between ...conventional rigid biomedical devices and soft curvilinear tissues, however, has frequently resulted in a low signal to noise ratio and/or mechanical fatigue and scarring. Multifunctionality ranging from various sensing modalities to therapeutic functions is another important goal for implantable biomedical devices. Here, a stretchable and transparent medical device using a cell‐sheet–graphene hybrid is reported, which can be implanted to form a high quality biotic/abiotic interface. The hybrid is composed of a sheet of C2C12 myoblasts on buckled, mesh‐patterned graphene electrodes. The graphene electrodes monitor and actuate the C2C12 myoblasts in vitro, serving as a smart cell culture substrate that controls their aligned proliferation and differentiation. This stretchable and transparent cell‐sheet–graphene hybrid can be transplanted onto the target muscle tissue, to record electromyographical signals, and stimulate implanted sites electrically and/or optically in vivo. Additional cellular therapeutic effect of the cell‐sheet–graphene hybrid is obtained by integrated myobalst cell sheets. Any immune responses within implanted muscle tissues are not observed. This multifunctional device provides many new opportunities in the emerging field of soft bioelectronics.
Stretchable and transparent cell‐sheet–graphene hybrid composed of cultured C2C12 myoblast sheets on mesh‐patterned, and buckled graphene electrodes brings high quality biotic/abiotic interface with multifunctional properties ranging from various sensing and actuating modalities to therapeutic functions in vitro and in vivo. Reduced acute immune responses due to the cell sheet support the advantage of the cell‐sheet–graphene hybrid.
This paper studies learning-based decentralized power control methods for cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems where a central processor (CP) controls access points (APs) ...through fronthaul coordination. To determine the transmission policy of distributed APs, it is essential to develop a network-wide collaborative optimization mechanism. To address this challenge, we design a cooperative learning (CL) framework which manages computation and coordination strategies of the CP and APs using dedicated deep neural network (DNN) modules. To build a versatile learning structure, the proposed CL is carefully designed such that its forward pass calculations are independent of the number of APs. To this end, we adopt a parameter reuse concept which installs an identical DNN module at all APs. Consequently, the proposed CL trained at a particular configuration can be readily applied to arbitrary AP populations. Numerical results validate the advantages of the proposed CL over conventional non-cooperative approaches.
To explore how symptom perception affects functioning in patients with advanced cancer.
We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of 459 advanced cancer patients at the national cancer ...center. Functioning was assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) II, and symptoms were evaluated using the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to develop a structural model based on different symptom perceptions, such as somatic sensation and experienced symptoms.
The structural model of disability revealed a significant direct pathway involving somatic sensation (β = 16.11, p < 0.001). Experienced symptoms significantly affected somatic sensations (β = 0.717, p < 0.001) but were not directly associated with disability. Unidimensional models exhibited a poor fit. In contrast, a complex model with first-order (somatic sensation) and second-order (experienced symptoms) factors provided an excellent fit, with comparative fit indexes (CFIs) and Tucker Lewis indexes (TLI) of more than 0.950 threshold.
Our findings suggest that relationships to functioning may vary between somatic sensations versus experienced symptoms. The structure of symptoms is best conceptualized by direct somatic sensation and indirect experienced symptoms. A better understanding of symptom perception and the relationship between symptoms and function would facilitate the development of effective rehabilitation programs.
PDF
