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Photonic switches have attractive application prospects in optical communication data networks that require dynamic reconfiguration. Integrating optical switching devices with optical fiber, the most widely deployed photonic technology platform, can realize signal transmission and processing in practical applications. Here, we demonstrate the multilevel optical switching using the phase-change material Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) integrated on a graded-index multimode fiber. This switching process works by exploiting the significant difference in extinction coefficient between the crystalline state and the amorphous state of the GST. Using GST to achieve the switch function, no external energy source is needed to maintain the existing state of the switch, and the device is nonvolatile. This multi-level optical switch is an all-fiber integrated device. We apply GST to the end facets of the graded-index multimode fiber by magnetron sputtering, which is a reflective structure. A pulsing scheme is used to control the optical propagation state of the optical modulation signal to realize the switching function. It can store up to 11 non-volatile reliable and repeatable levels encoded by the pump source laser with a wavelength of 1550 nm. At the same time, the switching process between states is on the order of hundreds of nanoseconds. The present experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of 11 multilevel states in the field of optical fibers commonly used in communications. It can be well coupled with the all-fiber terminal device. It also shows that the device is still applicable in the 1525 nm∼1610 nm broadband range, promising for designing future multilevel photonic switches and memory devices.

Selective neuronal accumulation of misfolded proteins is a key step toward neurodegeneration in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's (HD) diseases. Our recent studies suggest that Hsp70-binding protein 1 (HspBP1), an Hsp70/CHIP inhibitor that reduces protein folding, is highly expressed in neuronal cells and accounts for the accumulation of the HD protein huntingtin (HTT) in neuronal cells. To further determine the role of HspBP1 in regulation of mutant protein accumulation, we investigated whether increasing expression of HspBP1 in glial cells can also induce the accumulation of endogenous mutant HTT in glial cells and yield non-cell-autonomous toxic effects. We performed stereotaxic injection of AAV to selectively express HspBP1 in astrocytes in the brains of HD140Q knock-in (KI) mice that express mutant HTT ubiquitously but do not display obvious neurodegeneration. However, HspBP1 expression in HD140Q astrocytes led to the increased accumulation of endogenous mutant HTT and robust neuronal loss in the striatum of HD140Q KI mice. In transgenic HD mice that selectively express mutant HTT in astrocytes, increased accumulation of mutant HTT in astrocytes via HspBP1 expression did not elicit neurodegeneration but could exacerbate neurological symptoms. Consistently, suppressing the expression of endogenous HspBp1 in the striatum of HD140Q KI mice via CRISPR/Cas9 led to a significant reduction of mutant HTT accumulation. Our findings suggest that although endogenous mutant HTT in astrocytes can exacerbate neurological symptoms, it mediates neurodegeneration only when mutant HTT is also accumulated in neuronal cells.

Huntington disease (HD) is an ideal model for investigating selective neurodegeneration, as expanded polyQ repeats in the ubiquitously expressed huntingtin (HTT) cause the preferential neurodegeneration in the striatum of the HD patient brains. Here we report that adeno-associated virus (AAV) transduction-mediated depletion of Hap1, the first identified huntingtin-associated protein, in adult HD knock-in (KI) mouse brains leads to selective neuronal loss in the striatum. Further, Hap1 depletion-mediated neuronal loss via AAV transduction requires the presence of mutant HTT. Rhes, a GTPase that is enriched in the striatum and sumoylates mutant HTT to mediate neurotoxicity, binds more N-terminal HTT when Hap1 is deficient. Consistently, more soluble and sumoylated N-terminal HTT is presented in HD KI mouse striatum when HAP1 is absent. Our findings suggest that both Rhes and Hap1 as well as cellular stress contribute to the preferential neurodegeneration in HD, highlighting the involvement of multiple factors in selective neurodegeneration.

Objective This study aimed to develop and validate a simple-to-use nomogram for predicting refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP) in children. Methods A total of 73 children with RMPP and 146 children with general Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia were included. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological data were obtained. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was used to determine optimal predictors. The nomogram was plotted by multivariable logistic regression. The performance of the nomogram was assessed by calibration, discrimination, and clinical utility. Results The LASSO regression analysis identified lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, neutrophil ratio, and high fever as significant predictors of RMPP. This nomogram-illustrated model showed good discrimination, calibration, and clinical value. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the nomogram was 0.884 (95% CI, 0.823-0.945) in the training set and 0.881 (95% CI, 0.807-0.955) in the validating set. Calibration curve and Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed good consistency between the predictions of the nomogram and the actual observations, and decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram was clinically useful. Conclusion A simple-to-use nomogram for predicting RMPP in early stage was developed and validated. This may help physicians recognize RMPP earlier.

Spinocerebellar ataxias 17 (SCA17) is caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the TATA box-binding protein (TBP). The selective neurodegeneration in the cerebellum in SCA17 raises the question of why ubiquitously expressed polyQ proteins can cause neurodegeneration in distinct brain regions in different polyQ diseases. By expressing mutant TBP in different brain regions in adult wild-type mice via stereotaxic injection of adeno-associated virus, we found that adult cerebellar neurons are particularly vulnerable to mutant TBP. In SCA17 knock-in mice, mutant TBP inhibits SP1-mediated gene transcription to down-regulate INPP5A, a protein that is highly abundant in the cerebellum. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated deletion of Inpp5a in the cerebellum of wild-type mice leads to Purkinje cell degeneration, and Inpp5a overexpression decreases inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) levels and ameliorates Purkinje cell degeneration in SCA17 knock-in mice. Our findings demonstrate the important contribution of a tissue-specific protein to the polyQ protein-mediated selective neuropathology., It is not yet clear how ubiquitously-expressed proteins can cause the selective degeneration of particular populations of neurons, such as in spinocerebellar ataxia type 17, SCA17, which results from a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the ubiquitously expressed transcription factor TBP. Here, the authors show that mutant TBP suppresses the cerebellum-enriched transcription of Inpp5a and link altered levels of INPP5A to the selective degeneration of cerebellar neurons.

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs), also called highly concentrated emulsions with a minimal internal phase volume fraction of 74%, have been paid increasing attention in the development of functional foods due to their high potential in loading with large amounts of hydrophobic nutriceuticals. In the present study, HIPEs stabilized by polyphenol-amyloid supramolecular filaments were prepared for encapsulation of olive oil and loading with lutein. Binding and stacking of the green tea polyphenol epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on the surface of amyloid fibrils fabricated from hen egg lysozyme resulted in the hybrid supramolecules, which assembled to form hydrogels. The amyloid fibril clusters shrouded by EGCG were observed in the microstructure of the hydrogels characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). HIPEs stabilized by the EGCG-amyloid fibril supramolecules showed the typical microstructure of highly packed polyhedral geometric oil droplets. The gel strength of the HIPEs stabilized by the hybrid supramolecules was greater than that of HIPEs stabilized by pure amyloid fibrils. The droplet size of the HIPEs first decreased and then increased with the increase of EGCG contents in the hybrid supramolecules, which was consistent with the corresponding emulsion morphologies obtained from the images of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Aggregation of the protein-based nanofibrils appeared in the continuous phase at higher EGCG contents. The droplet size of the HIPEs decreased with the increase of the amyloid fibril concentration, accompanied by more packed and homogenously dispersed lipid droplets, as shown in the CLSM images. A high loading content of lutein of up to 10 mg/mL in the prepared HIPEs was realized, and the stability of lutein against ultraviolet irradiation, heat, iron, and hydrogen peroxide was promoted significantly. In addition, encapsulation with the HIPEs prevented the oxidization of olive oil, and this effect was enhanced with the increase of the EGCG content in the hybrid supramolecules ranging from 0 to 0.25 wt %. The protection function of the HIPEs might be ascribed to the membrane of interfacial amyloid fibrils and the crowded oil droplet environment, both of which could shield the pro-oxidation factors.

We demonstrate a nonvolatile multilevel optical switch used by GST integrated on a graded-index multimode fiber. This optical switch works by the crystalline state and the amorphous state of the GST. The present experimental results demonstrate the feasibility of 11 multilevel states in the field of optical fibers commonly used in communications.

Optical switches based on phase change materials have enormous application potential in optical logic circuits and optical communication systems. Integration of all-optical switching devices with optical fibers is a promising approach for realizing practical applications in enabling the optical fiber to transmit and process signals simultaneously. We describe an all-fiber nonvolatile broadband optical switch using an all-optical method. We use a single optical pulse to modulate the phase change material deposited on the tapered fiber to achieve logical control of the transmitted light. The response time of our optical switch is 80 ns for SET and 200 ns for RESET. Our optical switches can operate in the C-band (1530–1565 nm). The optical switching contrast is 40%. Our approach paves the way for all-optical nonvolatile fiber optic communication.

Selective neuronal accumulation of misfolded proteins is a key step toward neurodegeneration in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington's (HD) diseases. Our recent studies suggest that Hsp70-binding protein 1 (HspBP1), an Hsp70/CHIP inhibitor that reduces protein folding, is highly expressed in neuronal cells and accounts for the accumulation of the HD protein huntingtin (HTT) in neuronal cells. To further determine the role of HspBP1 in regulation of mutant protein accumulation, we investigated whether increasing expression of HspBP1 in glial cells can also induce the accumulation of endogenous mutant HTT in glial cells and yield non-cell-autonomous toxic effects. We performed stereotaxic injection of AAV to selectively express HspBP1 in astrocytes in the brains of HD140Q knock-in (KI) mice that express mutant HTT ubiquitously but do not display obvious neurodegeneration. However, HspBP1 expression in HD140Q astrocytes led to the increased accumulation of endogenous mutant HTT and robust neuronal loss in the striatum of HD140Q KI mice. In transgenic HD mice that selectively express mutant HTT in astrocytes, increased accumulation of mutant HTT in astrocytes via HspBP1 expression did not elicit neurodegeneration but could exacerbate neurological symptoms. Consistently, suppressing the expression of endogenous HspBp1 in the striatum of HD140Q KI mice via CRISPR/Cas9 led to a significant reduction of mutant HTT accumulation. Our findings suggest that although endogenous mutant HTT in astrocytes can exacerbate neurological symptoms, it mediates neurodegeneration only when mutant HTT is also accumulated in neuronal cells.

The typical functions of the optical fiber are communication and sensing. However, the fiber functions need to extend to meet the requirements of the development of artificial intelligence. This paper achieves an all-fiber device with storage and logic computing functions using a single-mode fiber and Ge 2 Sb 2 Te 5 (GST) material. We use the pulse amplitude modulation (the switching energy is about 50 nJ) to switch the GST state for performing the eight-level data storage (3-bit). The all-fiber memory device has the advantages of high optical contrast (about 38%), good reversibility, and high repeatability. We implement the all-optical logic operations (“AND” and “OR”) by using two memory cells in series and parallel. For the first time, we use the single-mode optical fiber to realize storage and computing functions, and this intelligent fiber has tremendous application potential in intelligent optical fiber communication and portends a new paradigm for brain-like computing.

A recently proposed optical packet switch [10], optical cut-through (OpCut) switch, has the potential to achieve high energy efficiency by allowing packets to cut through the switch in optical domain, thus avoiding power-consumptive O/E/O conversions for those packets cut through. In [14], wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) technology is further adopted in OpCut switch to fully exploit the ultrahigh bandwidth of optical fibers. However, since the packet scheduling algorithm in [14] operates on coarse-grained switch flows, the cut-through ratio of WDM OpCut switch drops significantly under high WDM density due to flow blocking. In this paper, we propose a fine-grained flow scheduling algorithm for WDM OpCut switch to mitigate the flow blocking problem. We formulate the fine-grained flow scheduling in WDM OpCut switch as an optimization problem, denoted as maximal cut-through (MCT) problem, which is proved to be NPhard. A heuristic scheduling algorithm, denoted as cut-through first (CTF) algorithm, is then designed for WDM OpCut switch. Our extensive simulation results demonstrate that CTF algorithm significantly increases the cut-through ratio, sustainable traffic load and energy efficiency of WDM OpCut switch under various traffic models and real Internet traffic trace.

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is difficult to diagnose by clinical imaging. Thus many mTBI patients are usually misdiagnosed and cause some long-term sequelae. According to our previous studies that there is nothing much changed structure of whole brain network in mTBI, we propose a framework based on Structured Sparse representation (SSR) to analyze the Functional Brain Connectivity (FBC) of mTBI from rs-fMRI. Our SSR strategy can extract the similarity of structure and the differences components from subjects divided into 32-patients group and 28-healthy control group. The experiment indicated that there were no significant difference on whole brain characteristics, clustering coefficient, and shortest path length (p > 0.05) between the mTBI and healthy groups. However, mTBI group demonstrated significantly different graph theoretic parameters including node connectivity, node-clustering coefficient, shortest path length, betweeness centrality, and local and global efficiency at several brain areas. Typically, the disorder of executive function was significantly correlated to the global efficiencies of the dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate cortex.

The aim of this study is to test the psychometric properties and acceptability of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) inpatient satisfaction with care questionnaire 32 (IN-PATSAT32) for evaluating Chinese cancer patients and to analyze the influence of age, educational level, diagnostic time, and tumor stage on patient satisfaction. Three hundred two cancer inpatients in Tianjin Cancer Institution and Hospital from June 2013 to December 2013 were recruited for this study. All participants self-administered the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 and EORTC quality of life questionnaire–core 30 (QLQ-C30). Psychometric evaluation of the validity, reliability, acceptability, as well as the influence of age, educational level, diagnostic time, and tumor stage on patient satisfaction, was conducted. A favorable internal consistency reliability was confirmed, as the Cronbach’s α coefficients were >0.80 for all scales in the EORTC IN-PATSAT32, ranging from 0.849 to 0.944. Multi-trait scaling analysis showed that all item-scale correlation coefficients met the standard of convergent validity, and 79.3 % met the standard of discriminant validity. Weak correlations were found between the scales and single items of the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 and EORTC QLQ-C30, proving the validity of EORTC IN-PATSAT32. None of the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 scales were able to discriminate between patients across age categories, while significant influences of educational level on doctors’ and nurses’ conduct, as well as influences of diagnostic time and tumor stage on nurses’ conduct, and information provision scales were discovered. The questionnaire was easily understood with a satisfactory acceptability. The EORTC IN-PATSAT32 appears to be a reliable, valid, and acceptable instrument to use on cancer patients and is appropriate for measuring the patient satisfaction of Chinese patients.

Bo Yang,1 Fang Zhao,1 Zhenfeng Zong,1 Jun Yuan,1 Xiang Song,1 Mingming Ren,1 Qingjun Meng,1 Guoguang Dai,1 Fanyi Kong,1 Shumin Xie,2 Siying Cheng,2 Tianwen Gao2 1Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Hebei, 2Xiangya Medical School of Central-South University, Changsha, People’s Republic of China Background: This study was designed to investigate the preferences for treatment of lobectomy in Chinese lung cancer patients and differences in the psychological and social factors that influence treatment decision-making.Methods: One hundred and forty patients with stage I lung cancer were recruited from Hebei Cangzhou Central Hospital. Before surgery, the patients completed a questionnaire that surveyed their preferences for treatment and the relevant influencing factors. Differences in psychological and social characteristics were compared between lung cancer patients who chose video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and those who opted for open thoracotomy.Results: Among the 135 valid questionnaires, 79 patients preferred VATS and 56 patients chose open thoracotomy. Potential side effects, doctors’ recommendation, the prognosticated chance for cure, cosmesis, and financial burden influenced the patients’ decisions.Conclusion: The minimally invasive advantages of VATS, including lesser trauma to the chest wall, earlier remission of postoperative pain, faster recovery, less bleeding, and improved cardiopulmonary function made VATS more attractive to patients needing lobectomy for lung cancer. However, the choice of VATS over open thoracotomy is still influenced by the degree of prognosticated cure and the feasibility of surgery. Keywords: lobectomy, treatment decision-making, Chinese, oncologists