Mean Remaining Strength Estimation of Multi-State System Based on Nonparametric Bayesian Method

In a stress-strength system, the mean remaining strength is the key to deciding the safety threshold for the system continuing to operate. In this study, a multi-state stress-strength system composed of two-state components is discussed, and the mean remaining strength of the system is studied. Applying a multidimensional signature, the dynamic signature form is established, and the mean remaining strength of the system in different states is deduced. Moreover, the nonparametric Bayesian method is used to estimate the mean remaining strength of the system. The results of Monte Carlo simulation show that the nonparametric Bayesian method can reasonably estimate the mean remaining strength of a multi-state system, and its estimation effect is better than that of the nonparametric estimation method. A practical case based on a fiber strength dataset is presented as an application of the proposed methodology

Relationship between personality and gray matter volume in healthy young adults: a voxel-based morphometric study.

This study aims to investigate the neurostructural foundations of the human personality in young adults. High-resolution structural T1-weighted MR images of 71 healthy young individuals were processed using voxel-based morphometric (VBM) approach. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify the associations between personality traits and gray matter volume (GMV). The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised, Short Scale for Chinese was chosen to assess the personality traits. This scale includes four dimensions, namely, extraversion, neuroticism, psychoticism, and lie. Particularly, we studied on two dimensions (extraversion and neuroticism) of Eysenck's personality. Our results showed that extraversion was negatively correlated with GMV of the bilateral amygdala, the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, the right middle temporal gyrus, and the left superior frontal gyrus, all of which are involved in emotional and social cognitive processes. These results might suggest an association between extraversion and affective processing. In addition, a positive correlation was detected between neuroticism and GMV of the right cerebellum, a key brain region for negative affect coordination. Meanwhile, a negative association was revealed between GMV of the left superior frontal gyrus and neuroticism. These results may prove that neuroticism is related to several brain regions involved in regulating negative emotions. Based on those findings, we concluded that brain regions involved in social cognition and affective process accounted for modulation and shaping of personality traits among young individuals. Results of this study may serve as a basis for elucidating the anatomical factors of personality

Gut microbiota-metabolite interactions meditate the effect of dietary patterns on precocious puberty

Summary: Precocious puberty, a pediatric endocrine disorder classified as central precocious puberty (CPP) or peripheral precocious puberty (PPP), is influenced by diet, gut microbiota, and metabolites, but the specific mechanisms remain unclear. Our study found that increased alpha-diversity and abundance of short-chain fatty acid–producing bacteria led to elevated levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, contributing to precocious puberty. The integration of specific microbiota and metabolites has potential diagnostic value for precocious puberty. The Prevotella genus-controlled interaction factor, influenced by complex carbohydrate consumption, mediated a reduction in estradiol levels. Interactions between obesity-related bacteria and metabolites mediated the beneficial effect of seafood in reducing luteinizing hormone levels, reducing the risk of obesity-induced precocious puberty, and preventing progression from PPP to CPP. This study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between diet, gut microbiota and metabolites in the onset, development and clinical classification of precocious puberty and warrants further investigation

Correlations of N score and GMV (<i>p</i><0.05, Alphasim corrected) in the (A) L superior frontal gyrus (−20, 13, 56) (<i>r</i> = −0.3853, <i>p</i><0.0001), and (B) R cerebellum (8, −41, −14) (<i>r = </i>0.3720, <i>p</i><0.05).

<p>The GMV values in the figure were extracted from the significant clusters after age, gender, and total intracranial volume of each subject were regressed out. More details of these regions are described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0088763#pone-0088763-t002" target="_blank"><b>Table 2</b></a>.</p

Negative correlation of E score and GMV (<i>p</i><0.05, Alphasim corrected) in the (A) L parahippocampal (−18, 3, −24) (<i>r</i> = −0.42, <i>p</i><0.0001), (B) R parahippocampal (27, 6, −26) (<i>r</i> = −0.50, <i>p</i><0.0001), and (C) R middle temporal gyrus (54, −71, 20) (<i>r</i> = −0.38, <i>p</i><0.05).

<p>The GMV values in the figure were extracted from the significant clusters after age, gender, and total intracranial volume of each subject were regressed out. More details of these regions are described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0088763#pone-0088763-t002" target="_blank"><b>Table 2</b></a>.</p

Brain regions in which GMV were significantly related with E and N.

<p>MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute; BA, Brodmann’s area; E, extraversion; N, neurocitism; L, Left; R, right; AMYG, amygdala; ParaHG, parahippocampal gyrus; MTG, middle temporal gyrus; SFG, superior frontal gyrus; CER, cerebellum. <i>T</i> value represents the statistical value of peak voxel showing brain regions’ GMV correlated with E and N. Positive and negative <i>T</i> values indicate positive and negative correlations, respectively, between GMV and E/N scores.</p

Descriptive statistics of sample characteristics and personality scores.

<p>Age and personality scores are displayed as <i>mean</i>±<i>SD</i>.</p

Engineering a transposon-associated TnpB-ωRNA system for efficient gene editing and phenotypic correction of a tyrosinaemia mouse model

Abstract Transposon-associated ribonucleoprotein TnpB is known to be the ancestry endonuclease of diverse Cas12 effector proteins from type-V CRISPR system. Given its small size (408 aa), it is of interest to examine whether engineered TnpB could be used for efficient mammalian genome editing. Here, we showed that the gene editing activity of native TnpB from Deinococcus radiodurans (ISDra2 TnpB) in mouse embryos was already higher than previously identified small-sized Cas12f1. Further stepwise engineering of noncoding RNA (ωRNA or reRNA) component of TnpB significantly elevated the nuclease activity of TnpB. Notably, an optimized TnpB-ωRNA system could be efficiently delivered in vivo with single adeno-associated virus (AAV) and corrected the disease phenotype in a tyrosinaemia mouse model. Thus, the engineered miniature TnpB system represents a new addition to the current genome editing toolbox, with the unique feature of the smallest effector size that facilitate efficient AAV delivery for editing of cells and tissues