Deep Multi-View Feature Learning for EEG-Based Epileptic Seizure Detection

Epilepsy is a neurological illness caused by abnormal discharge of brain neurons, where epileptic seizure can lead to life-threatening emergencies. By analyzing the encephalogram (EEG) signals of patients with epilepsy, their conditions can be monitored and seizure can be detected and intervened in time. As the identification of effective features in EEG signals is important for accurate seizure detection, this paper proposes a multi-view deep feature extraction method in attempt to achieve this goal. The method first uses fast Fourier transform (FFT) and wavelet packet decomposition (WPD) to construct the initial multi-view features. Convolutional neural network (CNN) is then used to automatically learn deep features from the initial multi-view features, which reduces the dimensionality and obtain the features with better seizure identification ability. Furthermore, the multi-view Takagi-Sugeno-Kang fuzzy system (MV-TSK-FS), an interpretable rule-based classifier, is used to construct a classification model with strong generalizability based on the deep multi-view features obtained. Experimental studies show that the classification accuracy of the proposed multi-view deep feature extraction method is at least 1% higher than that of common feature extraction methods such as principal component analysis (PCA), FFT and WPD. The classification accuracy is also at least 4% higher than the average accuracy achieved with single-view deep features.

Study of an energy degrader made of B4C/graphite composites

The HUST-PTF (proton therapy facility in Huazhong University of Science and Technology) is now under construction based on an isochronous superconducting cyclotron at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Because the energy extracted by the cyclotron is fixed, an energy degrader is necessary to modulate the beam energy after the cyclotron for clinical requirements. However, the multiple Coulomb scattering that occurs in the degrader increases the beam emittance. Therefore, collimators are designed after the degrader to decrease the beam emittance. Because of the severe beam losses in the aforementioned energy degradation and emittance restriction, the main design consideration is improving the beam transmission efficiency. In this note, a novel energy degrader made of B₄C/graphite composite (BGC) is studied regarding its material fabrication, improved beam transmission efficiency, energy degradation, emittance growth, and secondary-neutron yield using the Geant4 Monte Carlo software. Moreover, the thermal properties of the BGC degrader are analyzed. Finally, for a degrader with 40% boron content, the emittance after the degrader decreases by 5.5% and the transmission efficiency after the final collimator increases by 15.9% at 70 MeV compared with a pure-graphite degrader.

Experimental impacts of less lethal rubber spheres on a skin-fat-muscle model

INTRODUCTION

Effectiveness and safety assessment for kinetic energy (KE) bullets is of importance, considering numerous reports about excessive damage cases of KE bullets in recent years. Early study of KE impacting targets mainly focused on threshold penetration issue, but did not involve cavity evolution of target and energy transfer. The paper aimed at analyzing cavity evolution and energy transfer during rubber bullet impacting skin-fat-muscle model.

METHOD

In the ballistic experiment, skin-fat-muscle model was built including cowhide, paraffin gel and gelatin, respectively simulating skin, fat and muscle. 16 mm spherical rubber bullets were fired at a range of velocities (71 m/s-134 m/s) to skin-fat-muscle model. There were totally 7 valid impacts. Cavity evolution and cowhide deformation were captured by a high-speed camera.

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

Experiment result indicates that cavity shape evolution can be divided into 3 stages: parabola stage, arc stage, and bowl stage. The cavity shape evolution at different velocities follows a similar changing rule. Cavity depth firstly increases and then decreases with time. Cavity width gradually increases with time and the rate at which the cavity width grows decreases with time. The maximum cavity depth and cavity width at the same moment increase linearly with impacting velocity. When bullet impacts on the model, deformation occurs on the cowhide, paraffin gel and gelatin. Kinetic energy of bullet gradually transfers into kinetic energy of cowhide, strain energy of cowhide, absorbing energy of soft tissue (paraffin gel and gelatin). Energy transfer analysis result of 134 m/s demonstrates rubber bullet kinetic energy mainly transfers into cowhide strain energy and absorbing energy of paraffin gel and gelatin. Moreover, cowhide strain energy firstly increases and then decreases with time.

Mutation of a histidine-rich calcium-binding-protein gene in wheat confers resistance to Fusarium head blight

Head or ear blight, mainly caused by Fusarium species, can devastate almost all staple cereal crops (particularly wheat), resulting in great economic loss and imposing health threats on both human beings and livestock^1-3. However, achievement in breeding for highly resistant cultivars is still not satisfactory. Here, we isolated the major-effect wheat quantitative trait locus, Qfhs.njau-3B, which confers head blight resistance, and showed that it is the same as the previously designated Fhb1. Fhb1 results from a rare deletion involving the 3' exon of the histidine-rich calcium-binding-protein gene on chromosome 3BS. Both wheat and Arabidopsis transformed with the Fhb1 sequence showed enhanced resistance to Fusarium graminearum spread. The translation products of this gene's homologs among plants are well conserved and might be essential for plant growth and development. Fhb1 could be useful not only for curbing Fusarium head blight in grain crops but also for improving other plants vulnerable to Fusarium species.

The relationship between plasma homocysteine levels and MTHFR gene variation, age, and sex in Northeast China

Background

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) is the risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. However, the impacts on the genetic variation of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) on plasma homocysteine levels in the Northeast Chinese population have not been studied. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the relationship between HHcy and MTHFR gene variation, and whether it was influenced by age and sex of the population in Northeast China.

Materials and Methods

A total of 466 subjects were randomly enrolled in this study. According to the homocysteine levels (Hcy ≥ 15 μmol/L) of the subjects, they were divided into hyperhomocysteine (HHcy = 206) and normal homocysteine (Hcy = 260). Polymerase chain reaction/high-resolution dissolution curve and homocysteine determination kit methods were used for genotype testing and homocysteine detection, respectively.

Results

High plasma homocysteine levels are associated with MTHFR 677T and 1298A [P < 0.00, odds ratio (confidence interval) = 1.842 (1.418-2.394) >1], which is related to increasing age (P_range = 0.0005-0.0161), with the homocysteine levels of males higher than females (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

High plasma homocysteine levels were linked to the MTHFR gene mutation. In addition, plasma homocysteine levels increased significantly with age with male's homocysteine levels higher than that of females.

Dissolution Chamber for Small Drug Delivery System in the Periodontal Pocket

Existing dissolution chambers have relatively large volume compared to the size of the periodontal pocket. A small volume dissolution method that simulates the physiological release environment for periodontal drug delivery is needed. The objectives were to construct a small, more physiologically relevant, dissolution chamber and investigate the properties of the new dissolution chamber for the assessment of sustained drug release systems in periodontal delivery. Flow-through dissolution chambers were constructed using three-dimensional (3D) printing. Drug release experiments were performed using the dissolution chamber and a commercially available long-acting periodontal insert product, PerioChip®. Similar experiments were performed under more traditional larger volume bulk solution conditions for comparison. Computer simulations and experimental results showed that drug clearance from the dissolution chamber was fast compared to drug release from the periodontal product. Drug clearance from the flow-through dissolution chamber and drug release from the sustained release product in the chamber were related to the dissolution medium flow rate and chamber volume. Drug release in the flow-through chamber was slower than that observed in bulk solution, but approached it when the medium flow rate increased. The presence of trypsin in the dissolution medium enhanced drug release from the product. A flow-through dissolution system was constructed that could evaluate drug release from a sustained release product in a small dimension environment by modifying the flow rate and composition of the dissolution medium.

[Analysis of correlation between serum fatty acid profile and cognitive impairment in the elderly]

Objective: To explore the relationship between cognitive impairment and serum fatty acid profile. Methods: Participants aged ≥60 years were selected from 3 communities in Shijiazhuang in 2015. The questionnaire was performed to collect basic information. And Montreal Cognitive Assessment was applied for the evaluation of cognitive impairment. Blood lipid parameters and serum fatty acid profiles were analyzed for all the subjects. A total of 529 subjects were finally included in this research. Multivariate ordinal logistic model was used to analyze the relationship between serum fatty acid profile and cognitive impairment. Results: Normal, mild and moderate cognitive impairment accounted for 41.2% (n=218), 51.4% (n=272) and 7.4% (n=39) of all the subjects respectively. With control of age, gender, education, total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), the OR (95%CI) of eicosenoic acid, nervonic acid and ratio of n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3/n-6) was 1.06 (1.01-1.10), 0.93 (0.91-0.96), and 0.17 (0.04-0.73). Conclusion: The risk of cognitive impairment decreased with the raise of serum nervonic acid concentration and n-3/n-6, and increased with the raise of serum eicosenoic acid concentration.

[The diagnostic framework for screening Alzheimer's disease in the Chinese population]

Criteria for diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is not available in China. The international criteria is not a proper choice due to issues such as translation and lead to low diagnostic rate and high rate of missed diagnosis. The research group of Alzheimer's Disease Chinese (ADC) reviewed knowledge and techniques in neuropsychology, neuroimaging, molecular biology, and clinical neurology, and systematically studied the detection techniques such as memory, language, visuospatial, executive function, and medial temporal lobe visual scores on MRI, and their optimal threshold and diagnostic value for the diagnosis of AD. Through a systematic review and consensus meeting, a diagnostic framework for screening AD in the Chinese population was established. Among these methods, an operational standard for clinical pathology models increased the diagnostic sensitivity by 15%. The sensitivity and specificity of screening memory impairment increased by 18.1% and 11.6%, respectively. The sensitivity of screening medial temporal lobe atrophy increased by 24.5% and missed diagnosis was decreased by 34.5%. An operational standard for clinical biology models, incorporating the latest molecular imaging and molecular biology techniques, has enabled the early diagnosis of AD in China. The framework combines a principled diagnostic guideline with an operational screening protocol, which is applicable to all clinical settings and of great significance for the early detection, early diagnosis and early treatment of AD.

Corrigendum: Enhanced Topological Network Efficiency in Preschool Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00278.].

[Dementia screening and diagnostic framework in Chinese population]

There are no standard diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in China. The copied international criteria has led to a high rate of missed diagnosis due to issues such as translation and cultural discrepancy. Under the principles of semantic equivalence, content equivalence and performance equivalence, the research group of Alzheimer's Disease Chinese (ADC) adopted several effective methods, such as two-way translation, content conversion, performance evaluation, etc. to systematically study the cognitive, behavioral, functional, and general assessment techniques in dementia screening and diagnosis, as well as their screening thresholds and diagnostic values. We also established a dementia screening and assessment framework in clinical practice through systematic reviews and group consensus. It has improved the early diagnosis rate of dementia in China, been accepted by home and abroad academic institutions, which is of great significance for early diagnosis and treatment of dementia.

Influencing factors on gelatin matrix for chlorhexidine delivery

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to evaluate the influencing factors in the fabrication of gelatin matrix (gelatin chips) for drug delivery. The attributes affecting drug release characteristics of the gelatin products were examined.

SIGNIFICANCE

Understanding the attributes that affect drug release from gelatin matrix could provide the knowledge base for the development, manufacturing, and performance evaluation of gelatin-based drug products for sustained drug delivery.

METHODS

Chlorhexidine (CHX) was the model drug in the gelatin-product testing. The gelatin products were fabricated by two methods: a single-pot mixing of all the components and a two-step gelatin crosslinking followed by drug loading. Different gelatin types (Type A porcine and Type B bovine), glutaraldehyde (GTA) crosslinking conditions, glycerin concentration, and CHX concentration in drug loading and loading time were used to fabricate the products. The cumulative amounts of CHX release from the gelatin products were determined using in vitro release testing (IVRT).

RESULTS

The attributes affecting CHX release from the gelatin products were gelatin type, GTA crosslinking, and CHX loading concentration. The fabrication methods (two-step method of gelatin crosslinking and drug loading by equilibration vs. direct mixing of the components) also affected CHX release. Other attributes such as glycerin and CHX loading time did not show significant effects on drug release under the conditions studied. In addition, the results in the two IVRT methods employed in this study were comparable.

CONCLUSION

Gelatin products of qualitative (Q1) and quantitative (Q2) differences could lead to different drug release behaviors. Drug release was also affected by the ingredient mixing steps during gelatin chip fabrication.

Real-World Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment with Intravenous Thrombolysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Evidence from outside the typical clinical research setting, such as the real-world setting, complements evidence coming from randomized controlled trials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate all available evidence from the real-world observational trials about long-term outcomes of treatment with intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) compared with not treated with IV rt-PA (non-rt-PA) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

METHODS

We searched PubMed and Embase until March 1, 2018 for observational studies reporting matched or adjusted results comparing IV rt-PA versus non-rt-PA in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Outcomes assessed included all-cause mortality, hospital readmission rates, and independence rates. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used as a measure of comparing between patients treated with IV rt-PA and non-rt-PA.

RESULTS

Six observational trials with 16,399 participants were identified. The use of IV rt-PA in acute ischemic stroke patients was associated with a lower risk of mortality (hazard ratio .61; 95% confidence interval, .52-.70; P < .00001), and there was no heterogeneity across trials. There was no evidence of an effect on hospital readmission rates and independence rates.

CONCLUSIONS

IV rt-PA is associated with reduced long-term mortality in acute ischemic stroke patients.

Key Role of Lanthanum Oxychloride: Promotional Effects of Lanthanum in NiLaOy /NaCl for Hydrogen Production from Ethyl Acetate and Water

The hydrogen economy is accelerating technological evolutions toward highly efficient hydrogen production. In this work, the catalytic performance of NiO/NaCl for hydrogen production via autothermal reforming of ethyl acetate and water is further improved through lanthanum modification, and the resulted 3%-NiLaO_y /NaCl catalyst achieves as high as 93% H₂ selectivity and long-term stability at 600 °C. The promoting effect is caused by the strong interactions between lanthanum and NiO/NaCl, by which LaNiO₃ and a novel LaOCl phase are formed. The key role of LaOCl in promoting low-temperature hydrogen production is highlighted, while effects of LaNiO₃ are well known. The LaOCl (010) facet possesses high adsorption capacity toward co-chemisorbing ethyl acetate and water. LaOCl strongly interacts with ethyl acetate and H₂ O in the form of hydrogen bonding and coordination effect. The interactions induce tensions inside ethyl acetate and H₂ O, activate the molecules, and hence decrease the energy barrier for reaction. In situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) reveals that LaOCl along with NaCl enhances the adsorption ability of NiO/NaCl. Moreover, LaOCl improves the dispersion of Ni species in NiO-LaNiO₃ -LaOCl nanosheets, which possess abundant active sites. The effects together promote hydrogen evolution. Furthermore, the NiLaO_y /NaCl catalyst can be easily reborn after deactivation due to the water solubility of NaCl.

Efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of antidepressant treatments for patients with post-stroke depression: a network meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of antidepressants in treating post-stroke depression (PSD) by performing a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the current literature. Eligible studies were retrieved from online databases, and relevant data were extracted. The primary outcome was efficacy as measured by the mean change in overall depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes included discontinued treatment for any reason and specifically due to adverse events. Fourteen trials were eligible, which included 949 participants and 9 antidepressant treatments. Few significant differences were found for all outcomes. For the primary outcome, doxepin, paroxetine, and nortriptyline were significantly more effective than a placebo [standardized mean differences: −1.93 (95%CI=−3.56 to −0.29), −1.39 (95%CI=−2.59 to −0.21), and −1.25 (95%CI=−2.46 to −0.04), respectively]. Insufficient evidence exists to select a preferred antidepressant for treating patients with post-stroke depression, and our study provides little evidence that paroxetine may be the potential choice when starting treatment for PSD. Future studies with paroxetine and larger sample sizes, multiple medical centers, and sufficient intervention durations is needed for improving the current evidence.