Alzheimer’s pathogenic mechanisms and underlying sex difference

Both men and women can have Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and there might be sex differences. AD is a neurodegenerative disease, and its frequency is often reported to be higher for women than men: almost two-thirds of patients with AD are women. One prevailing view is that women live longer than men on average of 4.5 years, plus there are more women aged 85 years or older than men in most global subpopulations; and older age is the greatest risk factor for AD. However, the differences in the actual risk of developing AD for men and women of the same age is difficult to assess, and the findings have been mixed. An increasing body of evidence from preclinical and clinical studies as well as the complications in estimating incidence support the sex-specific biological mechanisms in diverging AD risk as an important adjunct explanation to the epidemiologic perspective. While some of the sex differences in AD prevalence are due to differences in longevity, other distinct biological mechanisms increase the risk and progression of AD in women. These risk factors include 1) deviations in brain structure and biomarkers, 2) psychosocial stress responses, 3) pregnancy, menopause, and sex hormones, 4) genetic background (i.e., APOE), 5) inflammation, gliosis, and immune module (i.e., TREM2), and 6) vascular disorders. More studies focusing on the underlying biological mechanisms for this phenomenon are needed to better understand AD. This review presents the most recent data in sex differences in AD – the gateway to precision medicine, therefore, shaping expert perspectives, inspiring researchers to go in new directions, and driving development of future diagnostic tools and treatments for AD in a more customized way

Applying the Convolutional Neural Network Deep Learning Technology to Behavioural Recognition in Intelligent Video

In order to improve the accuracy and real-time performance of abnormal behaviour identification in massive video monitoring data, the authors design intelligent video technology based on convolutional neural network deep learning and apply it to the smart city on the basis of summarizing video development technology. First, the technical framework of intelligent video monitoring algorithm is divided into bottom (object detection), middle (object identification) and high (behaviour analysis) layers. The object detection based on background modelling is applied to routine real-time detection and early warning. The object detection based on object modelling is applied to after-event data query and retrieval. The related optical flow algorithms are used to achieve the identification and detection of abnormal behaviours. In order to improve the accuracy, effectiveness and intelligence of identification, the deep learning technology based on convolutional neural network is applied to enhance the learning and identification ability of learning machine and realize the real-time upgrade of intelligence video’s "brain". This research has a good popularization value in the application field of intelligent video technology

Similarities and differences in coatings for magnesium-based stents and orthopaedic implants

SummaryMagnesium (Mg)-based biodegradable materials are promising candidates for the new generation of implantable medical devices, particularly cardiovascular stents and orthopaedic implants. Mg-based cardiovascular stents represent the most innovative stent technology to date. However, these products still do not fully meet clinical requirements with regards to fast degradation rates, late restenosis, and thrombosis. Thus various surface coatings have been introduced to protect Mg-based stents from rapid corrosion and to improve biocompatibility. Similarly, different coatings have been used for orthopaedic implants, e.g., plates and pins for bone fracture fixation or as an interference screw for tendon-bone or ligament-bone insertion, to improve biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. Metal coatings, nanoporous inorganic coatings and permanent polymers have been proved to enhance corrosion resistance; however, inflammation and foreign body reactions have also been reported. By contrast, biodegradable polymers are more biocompatible in general and are favoured over permanent materials. Drugs are also loaded with biodegradable polymers to improve their performance. The key similarities and differences in coatings for Mg-based stents and orthopaedic implants are summarized

Evolution of magnetic component in Yang-Mills condensate dark energy models

The evolution of the electric and magnetic components in an effective Yang-Mills condensate dark energy model is investigated. If the electric field is dominant, the magnetic component disappears with the expansion of the Universe. The total YM condensate tracks the radiation in the earlier Universe, and later it becomes $w_y\sim-1$ thus is similar to the cosmological constant. So the cosmic coincidence problem can be avoided in this model. However, if the magnetic field is dominant, $w_y>1/3$ holds for all time, suggesting that it cannot be a candidate for the dark energy in this case.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, minor typos correcte

Use of dual-grating sensors formed by different types of fiber Bragg gratings for simultaneous temperature and strain measurements

We report on a systematic investigation of the dependence of both temperature and strain sensitivities on the fiber Bragg grating type, including the well-known Type I, Type IIA, and a new type that we have designated Type IA, using both hydrogen-free and hydrogenated B/Ge codoped fibres. We have identified distinct sensitivity characteristics for each grating type, and we have used them to implement a novel dual-grating, dual-parameter sensor device. Three dual-grating sensing schemes with different combinations of grating type have been constructed and compared, and that of a Type IA-Type IIA combination exhibits the best performance, which is also superior to that of previously reported grating-based structures. The characteristics of the measurement errors in such dual-grating sensor systems is also presented in detail. © 2004 Optical Society of America

Approach to E-Business: A Case Study of Shanghai Tobacco Group Corporation

With the fast development of Internet, e-Business is prospering in the recently five years. Many traditional companies have been convinced of this revolutionary change, and they are exploring a feasible way to adapt to the transition. Chinese companies have weaker bases than the developed countries, but they are also cognizant of the big trend, and are making great efforts to grasp the opportunities. This paper introduces a practical Chinese case that illustrates the increasingly strategic role of e-business applications in traditional manufacturing industries. The company we studied is a large Chinese tobacco corporation, which locates in Shanghai, one of the most developed areas of China. After the WTO entry of China, the regulation system of Chinese tobacco industry will be transformed from STMA (State Tobacco Monopoly Administration) to a more open one. This will bring about more competitive pressures to Chinese tobacco enterprises. How can traditional large corporations adapt to the real new economy in the new environment, it is a big problem that most of the Chinese tobacco corporation faced on. Sensing the challenges and opportunities, Shanghai Tobacco Group Corporation started to search after a new development way, and they intend to develop an e-business application model to improve its distribution processes to integrate their purchasing, manufacturing, delivering, logistics, and sales. Studying such a typical large company , it may be helpful for other large company in other industry. This paper first reports the background of Chinese tobacco industry and a brief history of the IT applications in Shanghai Tobacco Group Corporation (in the next part we use SHTG for short), then we discusses the environment and business factors that led to the e-business application. Based on the above introductions and discussions, we illustrate an e-business solution to handle the situation SHTG faced

Supermode-noise suppression using a nonlinear Fabry–Pérot filter in a harmonically mode-locked fiber ring laser

A simple efficient method for stabilizing a harmonically mode-locked fiber ring laser is proposed. In this method, a linear optical filter and a nonlinear Fabry–Pérot filter in which the refractive index is optical intensity dependent are located in the laser cavity. The linear filter is used to select a fixed lasing wavelength, and the Fabry–Pérot filter introduces a negative all-optical feedback mechanism that is able to suppress pulse-to-pulse amplitude fluctuations in the laser cavity. The scheme was experimentally demonstrated using a fiber Bragg grating as the linear filter and a laser diode biased below threshold as the nonlinear Fabry–Pérot, and stable harmonically mode-locked pulses with a supermode noise suppression ratio >55 dB were obtained

Stable dual-wavelength oscillation of an erbium-doped fiber ring laser at room temperature

We propose a simple Er-doped fiber laser configuration for achieving stable dual-wavelength oscillation at room temperature, in which a high birefringence fiber Bragg grating was used as the wavelength-selective component. Stable dual-wavelength oscillation at room temperature with a wavelength spacing of 0.23nm and mutually orthogonal polarisation states was achieved by utilising the polarisation hole burning effect. An amplitude variation of less than 0.7dB over 80s period was obtained for both wavelengths