Radiomic Features From Multi-Parameter MRI Combined With Clinical Parameters Predict Molecular Subgroups in Patients With Medulloblastoma

The 2016 WHO classification of central nervous system tumors has included four molecular subgroups under medulloblastoma (MB) as sonic hedgehog (SHH), wingless (WNT), Grade 3, and Group 4. We aimed to develop machine learning models for predicting MB molecular subgroups based on multi-parameter magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) radiomics, tumor locations, and clinical factors. A total of 122 MB patients were enrolled retrospectively. After selecting robust, non-redundant, and relevant features from 5,529 extracted radiomics features, a random forest model was constructed based on a training cohort (n= 92) and evaluated on a testing cohort (n= 30). By combining radiographic features and clinical parameters, two combined prediction models were also built. The subgroup can be classified using an 11-feature radiomics model with a high area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8264 for WNT and modest AUCs of 0.6683, 0.6004, and 0.6979 for SHH, Group 3, and Group 4 in the testing cohort, respectively. Incorporating location and hydrocephalus into the radiomics model resulted in improved AUCs of 0.8403 and 0.8317 for WNT and SHH, respectively. After adding gender and age, the AUCs for WNT and SHH were further improved to 0.9097 and 0.8654, while the accuracies were 70 and 86.67% for Group 3 and Group 4, respectively. Prediction performance was excellent for WNT and SHH, while that for Group 3 and Group 4 needs further improvements. Machine learning algorithms offer potentials to non-invasively predict the molecular subgroups of MB.</p

Genomic, Pathway Network, and Immunologic Features Distinguishing Squamous Carcinomas

This integrated, multiplatform PanCancer Atlas study co-mapped and identified distinguishing molecular features of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from five sites associated with smokin

The Integrative Effects of Cognitive Reappraisal on Negative Affect: Associated Changes in Secretory Immunoglobulin A, Unpleasantness and ERP Activity

Although the regulatory role of cognitive reappraisal in negative emotional responses is widely recognized, this reappraisal's effect on acute saliva secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), as well as the relationships among affective, immunological, and event-related potential (ERP) changes, remains unclear. In this study, we selected only people with low positive coping scores (PCSs) as measured by the Trait Coping Style Questionnaire to avoid confounding by intrinsic coping styles. First, we found that the acute stress of viewing unpleasant pictures consistently decreased SIgA concentration and secretion rate, increased perceptions of unpleasantness and amplitude of late positive potentials (LPPs) between 200–300 ms and 400–1000 ms. After participants used cognitive reappraisal, their SIgA concentration and secretion rate significantly increased and their unpleasantness and LPP amplitudes significantly decreased compared with a control condition. Second, we found a significantly positive correlation between the increases in SIgA and the decreases in unpleasantness and a significantly negative correlation between the increases in SIgA and the increases in LPP across the two groups. This study is the first to demonstrate that cognitive reappraisal reverses the decrease of SIgA. In addition, it revealed strong correlations among affective, SIgA and electrophysiological changes with convergent multilevel evidence

Can Sophie's Choice Be Adequately Captured by Cold Computation of Minimizing Losses? An fMRI Study of Vital Loss Decisions

The vast majority of decision-making research is performed under the assumption of the value maximizing principle. This principle implies that when making decisions, individuals try to optimize outcomes on the basis of cold mathematical equations. However, decisions are emotion-laden rather than cool and analytic when they tap into life-threatening considerations. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), this study investigated the neural mechanisms underlying vital loss decisions. Participants were asked to make a forced choice between two losses across three conditions: both losses are trivial (trivial-trivial), both losses are vital (vital-vital), or one loss is trivial and the other is vital (vital-trivial). Our results revealed that the amygdala was more active and correlated positively with self-reported negative emotion associated with choice during vital-vital loss decisions, when compared to trivial-trivial loss decisions. The rostral anterior cingulate cortex was also more active and correlated positively with self-reported difficulty of choice during vital-vital loss decisions. Compared to the activity observed during trivial-trivial loss decisions, the orbitofrontal cortex and ventral striatum were more active and correlated positively with self-reported positive emotion of choice during vital-trivial loss decisions. Our findings suggest that vital loss decisions involve emotions and cannot be adequately captured by cold computation of minimizing losses. This research will shed light on how people make vital loss decisions

The transferable placebo effect from pain to emotion: Changes in behavior and EEG activity

Past studies indicate that the placebo expectation established by analgesic treatment significantly relieves pain perception, while ataractic treatment significantly alleviates unpleasant arousal evoked by negative picture processing. But it is unclear whether the placebo effect can be transferred from one domain to the other, namely from pain to emotion. In this study we led participants to believe in the analgesic effect of magnetic treatment equipment (the placebo) by secretly reducing the intensity of pain stimulus. Then, we examined if this placebo could significantly alter participants' negative affect evoked by watching unpleasant pictures. Our results indicated a significant transferable placebo effect that alleviated negative feelings. EEG recordings showed the transferable placebo treatment induced decreased P2 amplitude and increased N2 amplitude, with source location near the posterior cingulate.Past studies indicate that the placebo expectation established by analgesic treatment significantly relieves pain perception, while ataractic treatment significantly alleviates unpleasant arousal evoked by negative picture processing. But it is unclear whether the placebo effect can be transferred from one domain to the other, namely from pain to emotion. In this study we led participants to believe in the analgesic effect of magnetic treatment equipment (the placebo) by secretly reducing the intensity of pain stimulus. Then, we examined if this placebo could significantly alter participants' negative affect evoked by watching unpleasant pictures. Our results indicated a significant transferable placebo effect that alleviated negative feelings. EEG recordings showed the transferable placebo treatment induced decreased P2 amplitude and increased N2 amplitude, with source location near the posterior cingulate

The transferable placebo effect from pain to emotion: Changes in behavior and EEG activity

Past studies indicate that the placebo expectation established by analgesic treatment significantly relieves pain perception, while ataractic treatment significantly alleviates unpleasant arousal evoked by negative picture processing. But it is unclear whether the placebo effect can be transferred from one domain to the other, namely from pain to emotion. In this study we led participants to believe in the analgesic effect of magnetic treatment equipment (the placebo) by secretly reducing the intensity of pain stimulus. Then, we examined if this placebo could significantly alter participants' negative affect evoked by watching unpleasant pictures. Our results indicated a significant transferable placebo effect that alleviated negative feelings. EEG recordings showed the transferable placebo treatment induced decreased P2 amplitude and increased N2 amplitude, with source location near the posterior cingulate.Past studies indicate that the placebo expectation established by analgesic treatment significantly relieves pain perception, while ataractic treatment significantly alleviates unpleasant arousal evoked by negative picture processing. But it is unclear whether the placebo effect can be transferred from one domain to the other, namely from pain to emotion. In this study we led participants to believe in the analgesic effect of magnetic treatment equipment (the placebo) by secretly reducing the intensity of pain stimulus. Then, we examined if this placebo could significantly alter participants' negative affect evoked by watching unpleasant pictures. Our results indicated a significant transferable placebo effect that alleviated negative feelings. EEG recordings showed the transferable placebo treatment induced decreased P2 amplitude and increased N2 amplitude, with source location near the posterior cingulate

Influence of birefringence dispersion on a distributed stress sensor using birefringent optical fiber

Distributed stress sensor with a white-light scanning interferometer is used to detect stress distribution by analyzing polarization mode coupling caused by forces exerted on PMFs (polarization maintaining fibers). In measurement of polarization coupling, the birefringence in sensing fiber is usually considered to be wavelength independent. Sensitivity and spatial resolution of the distributed stress sensor are constant for a given optical source spectrum. In practical measurement, however, the birefringence in PMFs is related with optical wavelength. In other words, birefringence dispersion exists in PMFs. Due to birefringence dispersion, the relationship between stress and coupling strength varies with different positions of external forces, and spatial resolution of the distributed stress sensor descends obviously with transmitted distance. In this paper, influences of external-force positions and optical source spectrum on distributed stress sensor are analyzed in consideration of birefringence dispersion and validated with experiments. A method for compensating birefringence dispersion in the sensing system is proposed in the end

Vibration analysis based on electronic stroboscopic speckle-shearing pattern interferometry

In this paper, an electronic speckle-shearing pattern interferometer with pulsed laser and pulse frequency controller is fabricated. The principle of measuring the vibration in the object using electronic stroboscopic speckle--shearing pattern interferometer is analyzed. Using a metal plate, the edge of which is clamped, as an experimental specimen, the shear interferogram are obtained under two experimental frequencies, 100 Hz and 200 Hz. At the same time, the vibration of this metal plate under the same experimental conditions is measured using the time-average method in order to test the performance of this electronic stroboscopic speckle-shearing pattern interferometer. The result indicated that the fringe of shear interferogram become dense with the experimental frequency increasing. Compared the fringe pattern obtained by the stroboscopic method with the fringe obtained by the time-average method, the shearing interferogram of stroboscopic method is clearer than the time-average method. In addition, both the time-average method and stroboscopic method are suited for qualitative analysis for the vibration of the object. More over, the stroboscopic method is well adapted to quantitative vibration analysis