Application of Artificial Intelligence in the MRI Classification Task of Human Brain Neurological and Psychiatric Diseases: A Scoping Review

Artificial intelligence (AI) for medical imaging is a technology with great potential. An in-depth understanding of the principles and applications of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), machine learning (ML), and deep learning (DL) is fundamental for developing AI-based algorithms that can meet the requirements of clinical diagnosis and have excellent quality and efficiency. Moreover, a more comprehensive understanding of applications and opportunities would help to implement AI-based methods in an ethical and sustainable manner. This review first summarizes recent research advances in ML and DL techniques for classifying human brain magnetic resonance images. Then, the application of ML and DL methods to six typical neurological and psychiatric diseases is summarized, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia (SCZ), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Finally, the limitations of the existing research are discussed, and possible future research directions are proposed

Glycosyltransferase FvCpsA Regulates Fumonisin Biosynthesis and Virulence in Fusarium verticillioides

Fusarium verticillioides is the major maize pathogen associated with ear rot and stalk rot worldwide. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) produced by F. verticillioides, poses a serious threat to human and animal health. However, our understanding of FB1 synthesis and virulence mechanism in this fungus is still very limited. Glycosylation catalyzed by glycosyltransferases (GTs) has been identified as contributing to fungal infection and secondary metabolism synthesis. In this study, a family 2 glycosyltransferase, FvCpsA, was identified and characterized in F. verticillioides. ΔFvcpsA exhibited significant defects in vegetative growth. Moreover, ΔFvcpsA also increased resistance to osmotic and cell wall stress agents. In addition, expression levels of FUM genes involved in FB1 production were greatly up-regulated in ΔFvcpsA. HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) analysis revealed that ΔFvcpsA significantly increased FB1 production. Interestingly, we found that the deletion of FvCPSA showed penetration defects on cellophane membrane, and thus led to obvious defects in pathogenicity. Characterization of FvCpsA domain experiments showed that conserved DXD and QXXRW domains were vital for the biological functions of FvCpsA. Taken together, our results indicate that FvCpsA is critical for fungal growth, FB1 biosynthesis and virulence in F. verticillioides

Associations between Brain Microstructure and Phonological Processing Ability in Preschool Children

Neuroimaging studies have associated brain changes in children with future reading and language skills, but few studies have investigated the association between language skills and white matter structure in preschool-aged children. Using 208 data sets acquired in 73 healthy children aged 2–7 years, we investigated the relationship between developmental brain microstructure and phonological processing ability as measured using their phonological processing raw score (PPRS). The correlation analysis showed that across the whole age group, with increasing age, PPRS increased, fractional anisotropy (FA) of the internal capsule and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and some other regions increased, and mean diffusivity (MD) of the corpus callosum and internal capsule and some other regions decreased. The results of the mediation analysis suggest that increased FA may be the basis of phonological processing ability development during this period, and the increased number of fiber connections between the right inferior parietal lobule and right supramarginal gyrus may be a key imaging feature of phonological processing ability development. Our study reflects the changes in brain microstructure and contributes to understanding the underlying neural mechanisms of language development in preschool children

Highly efficient Tb-utilization in sintered Nd-Fe-B magnets by Al aided TbH2 grain boundary diffusion

Al aided TbH2 grain boundary diffusion (GBD) was applied to sintered Nd-Fe-B magnet in comparison with the TbH2 GBD magnet. The coercivity was enhanced from 13.73 kOe to 23.29 kOe, higher than the 22.26 kOe of TbH2 GBD magnet. The Tb content in the bulk magnet was reduced to 0.47 wt%, much lower than the 1.85 wt% of the TbH2 GBD magnet. Microstructure analysis showed that continuous grain boundary phases were formed and completely enveloped the grains with thin Tb-rich shells, which can be attributed to the reduced Tb content in diffusion source and the promoted GBD aided by Al. (C) 2018 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Data_Sheet_1_Relationship among number of close friends, subclinical geriatric depression, and subjective cognitive decline based on regional homogeneity of functional magnetic resonance imaging data.docx

The relationship between geriatric depression and dementia has been widely debated, and the neurological mechanisms underlying subjective cognitive decline (SCD) associated with social relationships remain elusive. Subclinical geriatric depression (SGD) is common in patients with SCD, and close friends (CFs) have a great influence on a person’s social life. Studies have proven that communication or leisure activities with CFs can improve the cognitive performance of elderly. However, it remains unclear whether the engagement of specific brain regions mediates having CFs, SGD, and SCD. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between social relationships (that is, CFs), SGD, and SCD from the perspective of brain function. We examined the data of 66 patients with SCD and 63 normal controls (NC). Compared with NC, SGD was significantly inversely correlated with the number of CFs in the SCD group. We calculated regional homogeneity (ReHo) of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of each subject. At a corrected threshold, the right occipital gyrus (SOG.R) and right fusiform gyrus (FFG.R) exhibited positive correlation with SGD in patients with SCD. Mediation analyses to query the inter-relationships between the neural markers and clinical variables exhibited a best fit of the model with CFs → FFG.R → SGD → SOG.R → SCD. These findings suggested a pathway whereby social relationships alter the function of specific brain regions, and SGD may be an early symptom of SCD. We observed that the FFG.R mediate social relationships and SGD, and the abnormality of the SOG.R may be a key factor in the SCD caused by depression. Moreover, a greater number of CFs may reduce the risk of developing SGD.</p

The fungal myosin I is essential for <i>Fusarium</i> toxisome formation

<div><p>Myosin-I molecular motors are proposed to function as linkers between membranes and the actin cytoskeleton in several cellular processes, but their role in the biosynthesis of fungal secondary metabolites remain elusive. Here, we found that the myosin I of <i>Fusarium graminearum</i> (FgMyo1), the causal agent of Fusarium head blight, plays critical roles in mycotoxin biosynthesis. Inhibition of myosin I by the small molecule phenamacril leads to marked reduction in deoxynivalenol (DON) biosynthesis. FgMyo1 also governs translation of the DON biosynthetic enzyme Tri1 by interacting with the ribosome-associated protein FgAsc1. Disruption of the ATPase activity of FgMyo1 either by the mutation E420K, down-regulation of FgMyo1 expression or deletion of FgAsc1 results in reduced Tri1 translation. The DON biosynthetic enzymes Tri1 and Tri4 are mainly localized to subcellular structures known as toxisomes in response to mycotoxin induction and the FgMyo1-interacting protein, actin, participates in toxisome formation. The actin polymerization disruptor latrunculin A inhibits toxisome assembly. Consistent with this observation, deletion of the actin-associated proteins FgPrk1 and FgEnd3 also results in reduced toxisome formation. Unexpectedly, the FgMyo1-actin cytoskeleton is not involved in biosynthesis of another secondary metabolite tested. Taken together, this study uncovers a novel function of myosin I in regulating mycotoxin biosynthesis in filamentous fungi.</p></div

Thermal inactivation of Cronobacter sakazakii ATCC 29544 in powdered infant formula milk using thermostatic radio frequency

A 27.12 MHz thermostatic radio frequency (RF) system was employed to inactivate Cronobacter sakazakii in powdered infant formula milk. A proportional-integral-derivative controller achieved constant material temperature during the holding period. Hot air and similar dielectric material assistance were used to improve RF heating uniformity. The results showed that the microbial thermal resistance was reduced by increasing temperature (55–70 °C) and water activity (0.2–0.4 at 25 °C). Combined RF and hot air pasteurization (RF-HA) was more effective than single RF and material assistance due to better temperature uniformity. D70°C-value (23.3 min) of Cronobacter sakazakii at water activity of 0.2 from RF-HA was not significantly (P > 0.05) higher than that under hot water treatment (20.8 min), indicating that thermal effect led to microbial inactivation. Flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy further confirmed that RF had no additional damage to cell membrane. The findings contribute to better understanding of RF pasteurization mechanism

FgMyo1 is required for toxin biosynthesis.

<p><b>(A)</b> Localization of FgMyo1-RFP in hyphae of PH-1::FgMyo1-RFP growth in toxin non-inducing media PDB and MM at 28°C for 48 h. Bar = 10 μm. <b>(B</b>) FgMyo1-RFP was co-localized with Tri1-GFP under the toxin inducing condition. Bar = 10 μm. <b>(C)</b> The interaction of FgMyo1 with Tri1 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) analysis. Total proteins (input) extracted from the strain bearing FgMyo1-3×Flag and Tri1-GFP constructs or a single construct (FgMyo1-3×Flag or Tri1-GFP) were subjected to SDS-PAGE, and immunoblots were incubated with anti-Flag and anti-GFP antibodies, as indicated (Input panel). Each protein sample was pulled down using anti-Flag agarose and further detected with anti-GFP antibody (Flag pull-down panel). The protein samples were also incubated with the anti-GAPDH antibody as a reference. <b>(D)</b> The interaction of FgMyo1 with Tri1 was confirmed by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analysis. The constructs of pFgTri1-YFP^N and pFgMyo1-YFP^C were co-transformed into PH-1 to generate the strain FgTri1-YFP^N+FgMyo1-YFP^C. The strains bearing a single construct (FgMyo1-YFP^C or FgTri1-YFP^N) were used as negative controls. The YFP signals in hyphae of each strain grown in the TBI medium were examined under a confocal microscope. Bar = 10 μm. <b>(E)</b> The sensitivity of FgMyo1 derived mutants towards phenamacril. The wild-type PH-1, FgMyo1 silencing mutant FgMyo1-S2, inducible mutant Pzear-FgMYO1, and the point mutation strain FgMyo1^E420K were incubated on PDA supplemented with 0.3 μg/ml phenamacril (left panel). For the inducible mutant, PDA was also added with (+) or without (-) the inducer 30 μg/ml β-estradiol. Mycelial growth inhibition of each strain by phenamacril was quantified (right panel). Values on the bars followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to a Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test at <i>P</i> = 0.05. <b>(F)</b> The toxisome formation patterns in FgMyo1 derived mutants. Each strain was grown in TBI, and images were taken after incubation for 48 h (left-upper panel). The accumulation of Tri1-GFP protein in each strain was determined by western blot assay with the anti-GFP antibody. The protein samples were also incubated with the anti-GAPDH antibody as a reference (left-lower panel). The intensities of GFP signals in each strain were also quantified. Values on the bars followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to a Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test at <i>P</i> = 0.05 (right panel). <b>(G)</b> The DON production of FgMyo1 derived mutants. DON was extracted from mycelia of each strain grown in TBI for 7 days. Values on the bars followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to a Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test at <i>P</i> = 0.05.</p

The actin cytoskeleton is involved in toxisome formation.

<p><b>(A)</b> The interaction of Actin-RFP and Tri1-GFP was verified by the Co-IP assay. Total proteins (input) extracted from the strain bearing Actin-RFP and Tri1-GFP constructs or a single construct (Actin-RFP or Tri1-GFP) were subjected to SDS-PAGE, and immunoblots were incubated with anti-GFP and anti-RFP antibodies, as indicated (Input panel). Each protein sample was pulled down using anti-GFP agarose and further detected with anti-RFP antibody (GFP pull-down panel). The protein samples were also incubated with the anti-GAPDH antibody as a reference. <b>(B)</b> Co-IP analysis for verification of the interaction between FgMyo1-GFP and Actin-RFP. Total proteins (input) extracted from the strain bearing Actin-RFP and FgMyo1-GFP constructs or a single construct (Actin-RFP or FgMyo1-GFP) were subjected to SDS-PAGE, and immunoblots were incubated with anti-Flag and anti-GFP antibodies, as indicated (Input panel). Each protein sample was pulled down using anti-GFP agarose and further detected with anti-RFP antibody (GFP pull-down panel). The protein samples were also incubated with the anti-GAPDH antibody as a reference. <b>(C)</b> The actin polymerization inhibitor latrunculin A inhibited toxisome formation. After growth in TBI for 24 h, ΔTri1::Tri1-GFP was treated with 0.1 μg/ml latrunculin A for another 24 h before examination (left panel). The solvent DMSO was used as a control. Bar = 10 μm. The accumulation of Tri1-GFP protein was further verified by western blotting assay using the anti-GFP antibody (right panel). The protein samples were also incubated with the anti-GAPDH antibody as a reference. <b>(D)</b> DON was extracted from mycelia of PH-1 grown in TBI supplemented with 0.1 μg/ml latrunculin A. The solvent DMSO was used as a control. Values on the bars followed by different letters are significantly different according to a Fisher’s least significant difference (LSD) test at <i>P</i> = 0.05.</p

A proposed model showing the role of FgMyo1 in toxisome formation.

<p>Trichothecene biosynthesis enzymes (Tri proteins) are produced at a low level under toxin noninducing conditions. In toxin inducing conditions, FgMyo1 directly participates in remodeling the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the myosin-actin cytoskeleton to form the spherical and ovoid structures termed “<i>Fusarium</i> toxisomes.” In addition, FgMyo1 interacts with FgAsc1 indirectly to enhance the translation of Tri proteins. Phenamacril is able to suppress toxisome formation by inhibiting the ATPase activity of FgMyo1, and subsequently reduces the biosynthesis of DON in <i>Fusarium graminearum</i>.</p