Effect of Laser Irradiation on sIg A and Mucosa Structure of Upper Respiratory Tract with Six-week Incremental Exercise

[Objective] Mucosal immune suppression, with chronic intensive exercise, can be associated with an increased risk of upper respiratory tract infections, which should be related to the deterioration of the nasal mucosa structure. This study aimed to observe the change of nasal mucosa structure with 6-week incremental exercise, and to explore the effect of low level laser irradiation on nasal mucosa structure and mucosal immune function. [Methods] 40 Sprague–Dawle rats, aged 8 weeks, were divided into 4 groups : Control, Exercise, Low power (4mw, 12.23 J/cm2) and High power laser (6mw, 18.34J/cm2) groups. Incremental treadmill exercise protocols: successive 6 weeks, 6 days/week, 30min /day. 10 m/min velocity during wk1, 20 m for wk2, with 5m/min/wk increment following weeks. The treatment of low level laser as following: He-Ne laser (0.19625 cm2 ), two irradiation point of nasal ala, 6-week duration, 6 days/wk, 2 times/day; 5min/time. Samples were taken pre and post 6-week exercise. Structure of mucosa of nose was observed by HE staining and sIgA tested by ELISA. [Results] 1) following changes occurred in Exercise group after 6-wk exercise: nasal mucosa was seriously damaged and cilia layer of free edge fell essentially off. And mucous degeneration, necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration were observed. 2）compared with exercise group, significant improvement was found with laser treatment. 3) sIgA with different groups saw as Table 1. Table 1 sIgA changes after 6-wk exercise groups Control Exercise Low dose laser High dose laser sIgA(μg/ml) 52.92±6.69 50.20±4.76 70.77±4.24 73.71±3.91* * P\u3c0.05 [Conclusion] The long-term high-intensity exercise training would lead to destruction of nasal mucosa structure, and low energy laser irradiation had a beneficial effect on sIgA and nasal mucosa structure

A Review of Emotion Recognition Methods from Keystroke, Mouse, and Touchscreen Dynamics

Emotion can be defined as a subject’s organismic response to an external or internal stimulus event. The responses could be reflected in pattern changes of the subject’s facial expression, gesture, gait, eye-movement, physiological signals, speech and voice, keystroke, and mouse dynamics, etc. This suggests that on the one hand emotions can be measured/recognized from the responses, and on the other hand they can be facilitated/regulated by external stimulus events, situation changes or internal motivation changes. It is well-known that emotion has a close relationship with both physical and mental health, usually affecting an individual’s and a team’s work performance, thus emotion recognition is an important prerequisite for emotion regulation towards better emotional states and work performance. The primary problem in emotion recognition is how to recognize a subject’s emotional states easily and accurately. Currently, there are a body of good research on emotion recognition from facial expression, gesture, gait, eye-tracking, and other physiological signals such as speech and voice, but they are all intrusive and obtrusive to some extent. In contrast, keystroke, mouse and touchscreen (KMT) dynamics data can be collected non-intrusively and unobtrusively as secondary data responding to primary physical actions, thus, this paper aims to review the state-of-the-art research on emotion recognition from KMT dynamics and to identify key research challenges, opportunities and a future research roadmap for referencing. In addition, this paper answers the following six research questions (RQs): (1) what are the commonly used emotion elicitation methods and databases for emotion recognition? (2) which emotions could be recognized from KMT dynamics? (3) what key features are most appropriate for recognizing different specific emotions? (4) which classification methods are most effective for specific emotions? (5) what are the application trends of emotion recognition from KMT dynamics? (6) which application contexts are of greatest concern

Establishment and application of 72 alkaloids database with high resolution mass spectrometry

Objective The high resolution mass spectra database of common alkaloids were established and applied to the automatic screening of poisoning samples. Methods The accurate molecular mass and appropriate collision energy of each alkaloid was obtained by injecting alkaloid standard solutions into the Q exactive mass spectrometry directly or separated by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. The chromatographic analysis was performed on a HSS T3 column (2.1 mm×100 mm, 1.8 μm) by gradient elution using methanol and 5 mmol/L ammonium acetate containing 0.1% formic acid solution as mobile phase. The secondary mass information of alkaloid was collected in positive electrospray ionization and targeted-selected ion monitor-ddMS2 mode. The mass spectrometry data were applied to the automatic screening of actual samples. Results The mass spectrometry database of 72 alkaloids were established containing the theoretical accurate molecular mass, retention time collision energy and fragment ions. The multiple alkaloids in actual samples were locked rapidly by automatic screening with the mass spectra database. Conclusion This method is simple, fast, accurate and suitable for the rapid automatic screening of alkaloids in poisoned food sample

Learning in Hybrid-Project Systems: The Effects of Project Performance on Repeated Collaboration

This study advances contingency theories of performance-outcome learning in hybrid-project systems, in which both project participants and superordinate organizations influence the formation of project ventures. We propose that performance-outcome learning depends on the perceived relevance of prior performance and on organizational control over project participants. We examine this framework using data on 239 U.S. movie projects from the years 1931-40. In keeping with our theory, higher project performance led to future collaborations with the same partners, contingent on prior collaborations, project similarity, and organizational control. Our findings imply distinct patterns of network evolution and unfolding adaptation of hybrid-project systems through slow-moving, local adjustments

Clinical characteristics and lateralization of the horizontal semicircular canal light cupula

IntroductionPositional vertigo and nystagmus are the main symptoms and signs of dizziness, respectively. Despite the clinical utility of the supine roll test (SRT) and null point (NP) in diagnosing light cupula, a type of positional vertigo, there exists a notable gap in the literature concerning the comprehensive evaluation of lateralization values based on various nystagmus characteristics and the intensity of direction-changing positional nystagmus (DCPN) in the SRT, particularly in comparison to the NP. Additionally, limited data on abnormal canal paresis (CP) in light cupula patients underscores the need for further research with a larger patient population to elucidate this mechanism. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of positional nystagmus and lateralization of the horizontal semicircular canal (HSCC) light cupula, which is a type of positional vertigo and nystagmus that is poorly understood.MethodsEighty-five patients (17 males, 68 females; mean age, 60.9 years) with light cupula were reviewed. We summarized the characteristics of spontaneous nystagmus and positional nystagmus, including supine positioning nystagmus, bow nystagmus, and lean nystagmus. Then, the side of the NP was identified as the affected side, and the values of the fast phase direction of the spontaneous nystagmus, supine positioning nystagmus, bow nystagmus, and lean nystagmus, as well as the intensity of the DCPN in the SRT, were used to diagnose the affected sides. Caloric testing was also performed for some patients.ResultsLight cupula was observed in 5.7% of the patients with positional nystagmus. The frequencies of supine positioning nystagmus (88.2%), bow nystagmus (90.6%), and lean nystagmus (83.5%) were higher than spontaneous nystagmus (61.2%) (p < 0.001). The second NP (NP2) (92.9%) and third NP (NP3) (83.5%) were readily detected, affecting the left and right sides in 38 and 47 patients, respectively. Lateralization through the fast phase directions of bow nystagmus and lean nystagmus did not significantly differ from that of NP (all p > 0.05). However, the accuracy rate of lateralization through the sides with more vigorous DCPN in the SRT was 63.5%, significantly lower than through NP (p < 0.001). Particularly in patients with supine positioning nystagmus (n = 75), the rate was only 58.7% (p < 0.001). However, the rate was 100% in patients without supine positioning nystagmus (n = 10). Among the 70 patients who underwent caloric testing, 37 had abnormal CP, and the sides of the reduced caloric reaction were ipsilateral to the affected sides of the light cupula in 83.8% of the patients.ConclusionBesides utilizing the NP to determine the affected side, the fast phase direction of the bow nystagmus or lean nystagmus can also aid in identification. However, a simple comparison of the intensity of DCPN in SRT cannot provide accurate lateralization, especially in patients with supine positioning nystagmus. There is a high incidence of CP on the affected side of the light cupula

Service utilization in community health centers in China: a comparison analysis with local hospitals

BACKGROUND: Being an important part of China's Urban Health Care Reform System, Community Health Centers (CHCs) have been established throughout the entire country and are presently undergoing substantial reconstruction. However, the services being delivered by the CHCs are far from reaching their performance targets. In order to assess the role of the CHCs, we examined their performance in six cities located in regions of South-East China. The purpose of this investigation was to identify the utilization and the efficiency of community health resources that are able to provide basic medical and public health services. METHODS: The study was approved by Peking University Health Science Center Institutional Reviewing Board (NO: IRB00001052-T1). Data were collected from all the local health bureaux and processed using SPSS software. Methods of analysis mainly included: descriptive analysis, paired T-test and one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The six main functions of the CHCs were not fully exploited and the surveys that were collected on their efficiency and utilization of resources indicate that they have a low level of performance and lack the trust of local communities. Furthermore, the CHCs seriously lack funding support and operate under difficult circumstances, and residents have less positive attitudes towards them. CONCLUSION: The community health service must be adjusted according to the requirements of urban medical and health reform, taking into account communities' health needs. More research is required on the living standards and health needs of residents living within the CHC's range, taking into consideration the users' needs in expanding the newly implemented service, and at the same time revising the old service system so as to make the development of CHCs realistic and capable of providing a better service to patients. Several suggestions are put forward for an attainable scheme for developing a community health service

Efficacy and safety of triazavirin therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 : A pilot randomized controlled trial

Acknowledgements: We are deeply grateful to the front-line clinicians who participated in the study while directly fighting the epidemic. This study was supported by the Chinese Academy of Engineering Projects for COVID-19 (2020-KYGG-01-04) and Heilongjiang Province Urgent Project-6 for COVID-19. Data and safety monitoring board members of this trial included Kang Li, Yong Zhang, Songjiang Liu, and Yaohui Shi.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The survey of serum retinol of the children aged 0~4 years in Zhejiang Province, China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vitamin A can have a positive impact on growth and development of children, but vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was found to be a public health problem in Zhejiang Province, China in 1998. There have been no studies on this topic in Zhejiang Province recently. This study was designed to evaluate the serum retinol levels of children aged 0~4 years in Zhejiang Province, southeast China. This epidemiological data will help design supplementation strategies for vitamin A in high-risk groups and improve their vitamin A status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Children were randomly recruited for this study using a stratified sampling method. A blood sample was collected from each child. Assessment included C-reactive protein (CRP), serum retinol measured with HPLC and a questionnaire completed providing for family information and nutritional status. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors for VAD in children.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A group of 357 subjects aged 1 day to 4 years were recruited. The mean plasma retinol concentration was 1.653 (sd 0.47) μmol/L. There were 3.08% (11/357) of children affected with VAD, and 7.28% (26/357) of children had low vitamin A status, but none of the children showed any clinical symptoms of VAD. There was no significant difference in the levels of plasma retinol and the incidence rate of VAD between male and female children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that living in urban region, having parents with good education and taking vitamin A capsule regularly prevented children from VAD, whereas being young (less than 2 years old) was a risk factor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low vitamin A status remains a nutritional problem in Zhejiang Province. The high-risk group in this study were young, dwelled in rural regions, had parents with poor education and did not take a regular vitamin A containing supplement.</p

Abstracts from the 8th International Conference on cGMP Generators, Effectors and Therapeutic Implications

This work was supported by a restricted research grant of Bayer AG