Search

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been demonstrated to modulate neural activity and related brain functions. In clinical studies, tDCS has been shown to reduce craving in various substance use disorders including cocaine, heroin and nicotine. Our previous report suggested that cathodal tDCS on the frontal-parietal-temporal (FPT) brain areas reduced cigarette consumption in moderate smokers. However, whether it is effective in smokers with history of drug use is unknown. This study investigated the effects of bilateral FPT areas cathodal tDCS on smokers with history of heroin use. 22 abstinent heroin users were recruited and randomly assigned to sham group and tDCS group. The sham group received 30 s tDCS treatment and tDCS group received normal tDCS (one trial of 20 min, 1 mA, cathodal electrodes were placed bilaterally on the FPT areas). The average of daily cigarettes consumption was recorded for the week before the tDCS and the following day after tDCS. In addition, pupil light reflex was measured right before and after tDCS treatment. One trial of tDCS stimulation significantly reduced daily cigarette consumption in smokers who had heroin use history. This reducing effect was also observed in heavy smokers. In addition, this effect on cigarette consumption lasted at least 48 h after the stimulation. Furthermore, it has been shown that opiates decrease pupillary size in humans, we found detectable changes of the dynamic pupil light reflex after bilateral tDCS stimulation. These findings suggest that FPT cathodal tDCS may be an effective approach to reduce cigarette craving in heroin users.

Purpose Privacy has been understood as about one’s own information, information that is not one’s own is not typically considered with regards to an individual’s privacy. This paper aims to draw attention to this issue for conceptualizing privacy when one’s privacy is breached by others’ information. Design/methodology/approach To illustrate the issue that others' information can breach one's own privacy, this paper uses real-world applications of forensic genealogy and recommender systems to motivate the discussion. Findings In both forensic genealogy and recommender systems, the individual’s privacy is breached by information that is not one’s own. The information that breached one’s privacy, by its nature, is beyond the scope of an individual, which is a phenomenon that has already been captured by emerging discussions about group privacy. This paper further argues that the underlying issue reflected by the examples of forensic genealogy is an extreme case even under the consideration of group privacy. This is because, unlike recommender systems that rely on large amounts of data to make inferences about an individual, forensic genealogy exposes one’s identity by using only one other individual’s information. This paper echoes existing discussions that this peculiar situation where others’ information breaches one’s own privacy reveals the problematic nature of conceptualizing privacy relying only on individualistic assumptions. Moreover, this paper suggests a relational perspective as an alternative for theorizing privacy. Originality/value This situation that others’ information breached one’s own privacy calls for an updated understanding of not only privacy but also the relationship between the person and their information. Privacy scholars need to renew their ethical language and vocabularies to properly understand the issue, which recent privacy conceptualizations are already doing (e.g. group privacy).

Zhaoyang Guo,1,&ast; Yuanye Ma,1,&ast; Yaqing Wang,2 Hongfei Xiang,1 Shang-You Yang,3 Zhu Guo,1 Ronghuan Wang,1 Wujun Chen,4 Dongming Xing,4,5 Bohua Chen,1 Hao Tao,1 Xiaolin Wu1,4 1Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People’s Republic of China; 3School of Medicine-Wichita, University of Kansas, Wichita, KS, USA; 4Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao Cancer Institute, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China; 5School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xiaolin Wu; Hao Tao, Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, People’s Republic of China, Email fyqs01@qdu.edu.cn; taohaob2008@163.comBackground: It is well established that discogenic low back pain (DLBP) is often caused by the inflammatory response during intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). However, it remains unclear how inflammatory mediators such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) are involved in discogenic pain caused by degeneration and intervertebral disc (IVD) metabolism. The purpose of this study is to study the relationship between IL-6 and Transmembrane protein 100 (TMEM100), and to analyze the different metabolites and metabolic pathways in various rat intervertebral discs by metabonomics.Methods: We established a rat model of IDD-DLBP by disc punctures and PBS infusion to examine the rat pain behaviors. Intervertebral disc tissues were harvested for molecular biology experiments to explore the relationship between IL-6 and TMEM100. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) was performed for untargeted metabolomics, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy metabolomics (MRS) for differential metabolites and metabolic pathways.Results: The results showed a significant decrease in vonFrey test, hot plate test and acetone test (P < 0.05). The expression of IL-6 and TMEM100 in DLBP model was significantly higher than that in sham control group and IDD discs without PBS infusion group (P < 0.05). There were 15 major contributing metabolites identified in the DLBP intervertebral discs through metabolomic studies, involving 6 major metabolic pathways. The main differential metabolites included nitric oxide (NO), ammonia, and lactic acid as the metabolic endpoints; and the differential metabolic pathways included the glycine-serine-threonine (Gly-Ser-Thr), which is gradually weakened with the progression of inflammation.Conclusion: The change of TMEM100 expression mediated by il-6 is related to the Gly-Ser-Thr metabolic axis and plays an important role in the relief of discogenic pain.Keywords: metabolomics, DLBP, IDD, IL-6, TMEM100, inflammatory mediators

There is no effective treatment for peripheral nerve injury-induced chronic neuropathic pain (NP), which profoundly impacts the quality of life of those affected. Transmembraneprotein100 (TMEM100) is considered to be a pain regulatory protein and is expressed in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) of rats. However, the mechanism of pain regulation and the expression of TMEM100 following various peripheral nerve injuries are unclear. In this study, we constructed two pain models of peripheral nerve injury: tibial nerve injury (TNI) and chronic constriction injury (CCI). This study found that the Paw Withdrawal Mechanical Threshold (PWMT) and Paw Withdraw Thermal Latency (PWTL) of the rats in the two pain models decreased significantly, and the expression of TMEM100 in the DRG of two groups also decreased significantly. Furthermore, the decrease in the CCI group was more obvious than in the TNI group. There was no significant statistical significance (P > 0.05). We constructed an adeno-associated virus 6 (AAV6) vector expressing recombinant fluorescent TMEM100 protein and injected it into the sciatic nerve (SN) of two pain models: CCI and TNI. PWMT and PWTL were significantly increased in the two groups, along with the expression of TMEM100 in the spinal cord and DRG. It also significantly inhibited the activation of microglia, astrocytes, and several inflammatory mediators (TNF- α, IL-1 β, and IL-6). In summary, the results of this study suggested that TMEM100 might be a promising molecular strategy for the treatment of NP, and its anti-inflammatory effects might play an important role in pain relief.

type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a complex disease affected by lifestyle and genetic factors. Although the drugs currently used to treat T2DM have certain curative effects, they still have some adverse side effects. Therefore, it is urgent to find new effective drugs with few side effects to cure T2DM.to study the role of Inonotus obliquus (IO) in diabetic model mice.we used high-fat diet (HFD) combined with streptozocin (STZ) to establish a diabetic mouse model. Mice were divided into non-high-fat diet group (ND), diabetes model group (HFD + STZ) and IO-treated diabetes model group (IO). The mice in the IO group were orally treated with IO (150 mg/kg) at 10 ml/kg for five weeks. Body weight, glucose level, food intake and water consumption, glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance were evaluated in all mice. The pathological sections of liver, kidney and pancreas were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.after IO administration, the blood glucose level, water consumption, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triacylglycerol (TG) levels of mice decreased. Compared with the HFD + STZ group, the number of normal islet β cells increased and focal necrosis of the liver was significantly reduced in the IO administration group.IO reduced the levels of blood glucose, restored body weight, and enhanced insulin sensitivity along with insulin tolerance and glucose tolerance in diabetic mice. Additionally, IO also reversed HFD and STZ-induced organ injury.

Rapid detection and response to visual threats are critical for survival in animals. The amygdala (AMY) is hypothesized to be involved in this process, but how it interacts with the visual system to do this remains unclear. By recording flash-evoked potentials simultaneously from the superior colliculus (SC), lateral posterior nucleus of the thalamus, AMY, lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) and visual cortex, which belong to the cortical and subcortical pathways for visual fear processing, we investigated the temporal relationship between these regions in visual processing in rats. A quick flash-evoked potential (FEP) component was identified in the AMY. This emerged as early as in the LGN and was approximately 25 ms prior to the earliest component recorded in the SC, which was assumed to be an important area in visual fear. This quick P1 component in the AMY was not affected by restraint stress or corticosterone injection, but was diminished by RU38486, a glucocorticoid receptor blocker. By injecting a monosynaptic retrograde AAV tracer into the AMY, we found that it received a direct projection from the retina. These results confirm the existence of a direct connection from the retina to the AMY, that the latency in the AMY to flashes is equivalent to that in the sensory thalamus, and that the response is modulated by glucocorticoids.

Industrial Internet links the new-generation information technology and advanced industries; therefore, industrial Internet standardization is crucial for both the innovative development of the industrial Internet and the effective connection of all links in the industrial chain. In this study, we review the foundation work conducted in China and abroad for the standardization of the industrial Internet in fields such as industrial network, big data, platform, and information security, and summarize the problems faced by industrial Internet standardization. Moreover, a framework of the industrial Internet standards system is proposed, consisting of basic and common, network, data, platform, and security standards. An implementation path for industrial Internet standardization is proposed and demonstrated, focusing on common demand in key areas such as reference architecture construction; interconnectivity in data circulation, processing, and use; monitoring control and decision optimization; and network security. Advancing the industrial Internet standards system requires accelerating breakthroughs for key industrial Internet standards, strengthening the application and promotion of standards, and cultivate and improve the industrial ecology.

The world's ever-growing digital economy demands better ways to build products that meet the varied needs of a diverse set of users. Through the work of the IEEE Computer Society Smart Manufacturing Standards Committee, a new series of standards defining, describing, and solving problems in smart manufacturing is slated for completion in the very near future.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique that can modulate cortical excitability and behavioral performance. However, its effects on spontaneous low-frequency fluctuations of brain activity are still poorly understood. Here, we systematically investigated the frontopolar tDCS effects on resting-state brain activity and connectivity. Twelve healthy participants were recruited and received anode, cathode, and sham stimulation in a randomized order. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed before and after stimulation. Functional connectivity was calculated to examine tDCS effects within and beyond the frontopolar network. To assess the frequency-dependent changes of brain activity, fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) was computed in the slow-4 (0.027–0.073 Hz) and slow-5 (0.01–0.027 Hz) bands. The results showed anodal tDCS-induced widespread connectivity reduction within and beyond the frontopolar network. Regardless of tDCS polarity, stimulation effect on fALFF was significantly larger in slow-5 band compared with the slow-4. Notably, anodal tDCS-induced connectivity changes were associated with pre-tDCS fALFF in slow-4 band, showing positive correlations in the frontal regions and negative correlations in the temporal regions. Our findings imply that tDCS-induced brain alterations may be frequency-dependent, and pre-tDCS regional brain activity could be used to predict post-tDCS connectivity changes.

The cognitive phenotypes of Rett syndrome (RTT) remain unclarified compared with the well-defined genetic etiology. Recent clinical studies suggest the eye-tracking method as a promising avenue to quantify the visual phenotypes of the syndrome. The present study explored various aspects of visual attention of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene mutant RTT monkeys with the eye-tracking procedure. Comprehensive testing paradigms, including social valence comparison (SVC), visual paired comparison (VPC), and social recognition memory (SRM), were utilized to investigate their attentional features to social stimuli with differential valence, the novelty preferences, and short-term recognition memory, respectively. To explore the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the eye-tracking findings, we assessed changes of the brain subregion volumes and neurotransmitter concentrations. Compared with control monkeys, RTT monkeys demonstrated increased viewing on the more salient stare faces than profile faces in the SVC test, and increased viewing on the whole presented images composed of monkey faces in the VPC and SRM tests. Brain imaging revealed reduced bilateral occipital gyrus in RTT monkeys. The exploratory neurotransmitter analyses revealed no significant changes of various neurotransmitter concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood of RTT monkeys. The eye-tracking results suggested social-valence-related increased attention in RTT monkeys, supplementing the cognitive phenotypes associated with the syndrome. Further investigations from broader perspectives are required to uncover the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Autism Res 2019, 00: 1-13. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Altered expressions of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene are usually associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders, Rett syndrome (RTT), and so forth. The present eye-tracking study found social-valence-related increased attention in our firstly established MECP2 mutant RTT monkeys. The novel findings supplement the cognitive phenotypes and potentially benefit the behavioral interventions of the RTT syndrome.

For high speed transmission devices, there is an urgent demand for MC nylon with high thermal conductivity and high mechanical strength simultaneously. In this study, the MC nylon/graphene nanocomposite has been prepared via pre-dispersed method, which was beneficial to distribute graphene uniformly in the MC nylon matrix. The thermal conductivity of the nanocomposite with 1.0 wt% graphene was 93% higher than that of the pure MC nylon. The impact strength of MC nylon/0.8 wt% graphene nanocomposite increased by 53%. The thermal stability of the MC nylon/graphene nanocomposites has also been improved. We attributed the excellent properties of MC nylon/graphene nanocomposites to the uniform dispersion of graphene in MC nylon matrix, which was confirmed by TEM and SEM characterization. This work provides an effective way for graphene dispersion and obtained MC nylon/graphene nanocomposites with excellent thermal and mechanical properties.

Adolescence is a period that exhibits both vulnerability and adaptation to environmental stimulus. This study explored the co-existence effect of environmental enrichment (EE) and restraint stress (RS) on innate anxiety and depressive-like behavior in adolescent mice. Male ICR mice were treated with daily EE and RS (4 h/d or 8 h/d) for 2 or 4 weeks from early adolescence (postnatal day 30) and emotional behaviors were evaluated 24 h after the end of treatment. 4 weeks of 8 h RS treatment decreased immobility time in forced swimming test, demonstrating an antidepressant-like effect. For 2 weeks of treatment, 8 h RS significantly reduced the time spent in the lighted compartment of the light-dark box, indicating an increased anxiety level. These results show that under the present experimental design, RS treatment with different duration could have different effect on mice emotion-related behavior, but there was no interaction between EE and RS.

The tumor suppressor p53 is a key regulator of cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Recent studies show that the delicate balance of p53 expression is important for neural tube defects, neuronal degeneration, embryonic lethality, as well as differentiation and dedifferentiation. Moreover, p53 showed different regulatory patterns between rodent and primate embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, the role of p53 and apoptosis stimulating protein of p53 (ASPP) during neural differentiation (ND) from primate ESCs is still unknown. In this study, using an FGF-2 and/or HGF selectively containing ND culture systems for rhesus monkey ESCs (rESCs), the changes of p53 and ASPPs, and p53 targets, i.e. BAX and p21, were analyzed. Our results showed that the expression patterns of ASPP1/ASPP2 and iASPP were opposite in rESCs but similar in differentiated cells, and the expression of p53 was approximately consistent with BAX, but not p21. These findings indicate that the strong expression of iASPP in ESCs and weak expression of ASPP1/ASPP2 maintain the stability of stemness; and in ND niche, unimpaired iASPP may decrease its inhibition of ASPP1/ASPP2 expression, the interaction of p53 and ASPPs causing rESCs to convert towards a neural fate concomitant with apoptosis, but not to cell cycle arrest.