Reduced neural responses to reward reflect anhedonia and inattention: an ERP study

An inhibited neural response to reward is typical of clinical depression and can predict an individual's overall depressive symptoms. However, the mechanism underlying this are unclear. Previous studies have found that anhedonia and inattention may mediate the relationship between reward sensitivity and depressive symptoms. Therefore, this study aimed to verify the relationship between reward sensitivity and overall depressive symptoms in a depressive tendency sample as well as to explore the mechanism underlying the ability of neural responses to reward to predict overall depressive symptoms via a mediation model. Sixty-four participants (33 with depressive tendencies and 31 without; dichotomized by BDI-II) finished simple gambling tasks while their event-related potential components (ERPs) were recorded and compared. Linear regression was conducted to verify the predictive effect of ERPs on overall depressive symptoms. A multiple mediator model was used, with anhedonia and distractibility as mediators reward sensitivity and overall depressive symptoms. The amplitude of reward positivity (ΔRewP) was greater in healthy controls compared to those with depressive tendencies (p = 0.006). Both the gain-locked ERP component (b = − 1.183, p = 0.007) and the ΔRewP (b = − 0.991, p = 0.024) could significantly negatively predict overall depressive symptoms even after controlling for all anxiety symptoms. The indirect effects of anhedonia and distractibility were significant (both confidence intervals did not contain 0) while the direct effect of reward sensitivity on depressive symptom was not significant (lower confidence interval = − 0.320, upper confidence interval = 0.065). Individuals with depressive tendencies display impaired neural responses to reward compared to healthy controls and reduced individual neural responses to reward may reflect the different biotypes of depression such as anhedonia and inattention.publishedVersio

Clinical implications of metastatic lymph node ratio in gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The 5-year survival rate in patients with gastric cancer is still poor, and lymph node metastasis is considered one of the most important prognostic factors. However, there are controversies in the classification of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer. This study was carried out to investigate whether the metastatic lymph node ratio is a reliable classification of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer in Chinese.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>224 cases with gastric cancer with more than D1 dissection were retrospectively reviewed. The association between the total number of resected lymph nodes and the number of metastatic lymph nodes was determined. The prognostic value of the metastastic node ratio, defined as the ratio of the number of metastatic lymph nodes over the total number of resected lymph nodes, and the pN classification was assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The number of metastatic lymph node increased with the number of total resected lymph nodes. A Cox regression revealed that the metastatic node ratio, the number of metastatic nodes, histological type, and histological growth pattern independently influenced prognosis. The 5-year survival rates were 78%, 61%, 25%, 0% in cases with a metastastic node ratio of 0%, > 0% but < 40%, 40–80%, > 80%, respectively (<it>P </it>< 0.001), and were 78%, 62%, 38%, 0% in cases with gastric cancer histologically classified as pN0, pN1, pN2, pN3, respectively (<it>P </it>< 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The metastatic lymph node ratio is a simple and useful independent prognostic factor. It may obviate possible confounding factors that are related to stage migration, and should be considered as an important component in the lymph node category.</p

Stage-Specific Deletion of Olig2 Conveys Opposing Functions on Differentiation and Maturation of Oligodendrocytes

The temporal and spatial patterning involved in the specification, differentiation, and myelination by oligodendroglia is coordinated in part by the activation and repression of various transcriptional programs. Olig2 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor necessary for oligodendroglial development and expressed continuously throughout the lineage. Despite evidence for the critical role of Olig2 in oligodendroglial specification and differentiation, the function for Olig2 during later stages of oligodendroglial development, namely, the transition into mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) and the formation of the myelin sheath, remains unclear. To address the possibility for a stage-specific role, we deleted Olig2 in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) under the control of the CNPase-promoter or in immature OLs under the inducible proteolipid protein promoter. As expected, ablation of Olig2 in OPCs significantly inhibits differentiation, resulting in hypomyelination. However, deletion of the Olig2 gene in immature OLs significantly enhances the maturation process and accelerates the kinetics of myelination/remyelination. Underlying the stage-specific roles for Olig2 is the compensatory expression and function of Olig1, a transcription factor that promotes OL maturation and (re)myelination. Olig1 expression is significantly reduced upon Olig2 deletion in OPCs but is dramatically increased by nearly threefold when deleted in immature OLs. By enforcing expression of Olig1 into OPCs in a null Olig2 background, we demonstrate that overexpression of Olig1 is sufficient to rescue the differentiation phenotype and partially compensates for the Olig2 deletion in vitro. Our results suggest a stage-specific regulatory role for Olig2, mediated by Olig1 that conveys opposing functions on the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocytes

Classifying the surrounding rock of tunnel face using machine learning

Accurately classifying the surrounding rock of tunnel face is essential. In this paper, we propose a machine learning-based automatic classification and dynamic prediction method of the surrounding rocks of tunnel face using the data monitored by a computerized rock drilling trolley based on the intelligent mechanized construction process for drilling and blasting tunnels. This method provides auxiliary support for the intelligent decision of dynamic support at the construction site. First, this method solves the imbalance in the classification of the surrounding rock samples by constructing the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) algorithm using 500 samples of drilling parameters covering different levels and lithologies of a tunnel. Second, it filters the importance of the characteristic samples based on the random forest method. Third, it uses the XGBoost algorithm to model the processed data and compare it with AdaBoost and BP neural network models. The results show that the XGBoost model achieves a higher accuracy of 87.5% when the sample size is small. Finally, we validate the application scenarios of the above algorithm/model regarding the key aspects of the tunnel construction process, such as surrounding rock identification, design interaction, construction supervision, and quality evaluation, which facilitates the upgrading of intelligent tunnel construction

Stigmatizing attitudes toward mental illness among caregivers of patients with mental disorders in China

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate stigmatizing attitudes toward depression, schizophrenia, and general anxiety disorder (GAD) among caregivers of patients with mental disorders in China.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 607 caregivers in China, using vignettes that described three mental illnesses. Data on the caregivers’ attitudes and other people’s attitudes toward individuals with mental disorders and their willingness to come in contact with people with mental disorders were collected.ResultsIn the three vignettes, caregivers agreed that positive outcomes outnumbered negative outcomes. The top two statements endorsing the stigma were “the person could snap out of the problem” and “people with this problem are dangerous.” In the section for perceived stigma, caregivers in the GAD vignette agreed that most people believed this problem is not a real medical illness, compared to schizophrenia. The rates of the statement endorsing unpredictability were significantly different in the schizophrenia (57.2%) and depression (45.5%) vignette, in comparison to the GAD (45.6%) vignette. For personal stigma, the caregivers tended to avoid people described in the depression vignette more often than in the GAD vignette. The caregivers were most unwilling to let the person described in the vignettes marry into their family, especially in the schizophrenia vignette.ConclusionDespite the stigma and desire for social distance associated with schizophrenia, depression, and GAD, caregivers often expect positive outcomes. Actions should be taken to improve caregivers’ knowledge about mental health and reduce the stigma

The complete chloroplast genome of Primula odontocalyx, a heterostylous species

Primula odontocalyx (Franch.) Pax (1905) is a perennial herb of the genus Primula in Primulaceae with heterostyly and ornamental value. Here, the chloroplast genome of P. odontocalyx was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The complete chloroplast genome was a closed-circular molecule of 151,738 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region (LSC) of 83,817 bp, a small single-copy region (SSC) of 17,529 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,196 bp. A total of 115 unique genes were annotated in the whole cp genome, including 81 protein-coding genes, 4 rRNA genes, and 30 tRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the close relationship between P. odontocalyx and Primula moupinensis, and both species belong to Sect. Petiolares Pax

A Novel Stick-Slip Type Rotary Piezoelectric Actuator

A novel stick-slip rotary piezoelectric actuator is designed for optical use. The actuator is proposed, fabricated, and tested with the aim of realizing both fine resolution and a long stroke. The dynamic model of the actuator is established, and simulations are performed to discover how the input driving voltage affects the stick-slip motion of the actuator. An experimental system is built to evaluate the performance of the actuator at different frequencies, voltages, and numbers of driving piezoelectric stacks. Experimental results show that the minimal output stepping angle is 3.5 μrad (0.2 millidegrees) under a sawtooth waveform having a voltage of 13 V and frequency of 3000 Hz and that the velocity reaches 0.44 rad/s (25°/s) under a sawtooth waveform having a voltage of 93 V and frequency of 3000 Hz, while the stroke is infinite. The proposed actuator provides stable and accurate rotary motion and realizes a high velocity

The complete chloroplast genome of Primula vialii (Primulaceae), an ornamental plant

Primula vialii Delavay ex Franch. (1905) is an alpine species with an ornamental value. In this study, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the chloroplast genome of P. vialii. The results showed that it was a double-stranded, closed circular DNA with 154,897 bp in length, comprising a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,766 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 85,379 bp and a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,876 bp. A total of 113 unique genes were annotated, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that P. vialii is closely related to Primula flaccida. The cp genomic data will be useful for systematics and evolutionary studies of Primula