Age-related hearing loss accelerates the decline in fast speech comprehension and the decompensation of cortical network connections

Patients with age-related hearing loss face hearing difficulties in daily life.The causes of age-related hearing loss are complex and include changes in peripheral hearing,central processing,and cognitive-related abilities.Furthermore,the factors by which aging relates to hearing loss via changes in audito ry processing ability are still unclear.In this cross-sectional study,we evaluated 27 older adults(over 60 years old) with age-related hearing loss,21 older adults(over 60years old) with normal hearing,and 30 younger subjects(18-30 years old) with normal hearing.We used the outcome of the uppe r-threshold test,including the time-compressed thres h old and the speech recognition threshold in noisy conditions,as a behavioral indicator of auditory processing ability.We also used electroencephalogra p hy to identify presbycusis-related abnormalities in the brain while the participants were in a spontaneous resting state.The timecompressed threshold and speech recognition threshold data indicated significant diffe rences among the groups.In patients with age-related hearing loss,information masking(babble noise) had a greater effect than energy masking(speech-shaped noise) on processing difficulties.In terms of resting-state electroencephalography signals,we observed enhanced fro ntal lobe(Brodmann’s area,BA11) activation in the older adults with normal hearing compared with the younger participants with normal hearing,and greater activation in the parietal(BA7) and occipital(BA19) lobes in the individuals with age-related hearing loss compared with the younger adults.Our functional connection analysis suggested that compared with younger people,the older adults with normal hearing exhibited enhanced connections among networks,including the default mode network,sensorimotor network,cingulo-opercular network,occipital network,and frontoparietal network.These results suggest that both normal aging and the development of age-related hearing loss have a negative effect on advanced audito ry processing capabilities and that hearing loss accele rates the decline in speech comprehension,especially in speech competition situations.Older adults with normal hearing may have increased compensatory attentional resource recruitment represented by the to p-down active listening mechanism,while those with age-related hearing loss exhibit decompensation of network connections involving multisensory integration.

Rational Design of Hybrid Peptides: A Novel Drug Design Approach

Peptides play crucial roles in various physiological and pathological processes. Consequently, the investigation of peptide-based drugs is a highlight in the research and development of new drugs. However, natural peptides are not always ideal choices for clinical application due to their limited number and sometimes cytotoxicity to normal cells. Aiming to gain stronger or specific or novel biological effects and overcome the disadvantages of natural peptides, artificial hybrid peptides have been designed by combining the sequence of two or more different peptides with varied biological functions. Compared to natural peptides, hybrid peptides have shown better therapeutic potentials against bacteria, tumors, and metabolic diseases. In this review, design strategies, structure features and recent development of hybrid peptides are summarized;future directions for the research and development of hybrid peptide drugs are also discussed.

文化遗产保存的草根行动和里邻复兴:宜兰旧城案例

本文讨论政府措施对文化保存特别是以常民生活为根基之文化土壤的作用,说明政策目标与结果的落差及政府角色与职能的本质性缺陷,与体制外民间自主行动的必要性与可能性。同时,从行动研究分析草根行动的多元参与和网络化特质及其渐进滚动进程,指出专业在政府与民间之两极光谱中的相对自主性,以及共作行动的价值依归与可能的策略方法。本文还尝试探讨政府与草根行动在本质、内涵和结果上的差异,指出遗产保存的多重主体与起自日常生活的多样化行动方式。本文的最主要论点可以总结为:回归以民为本的日常生活实践,从全民共享人文生活到重建集体认同感,是遗产保存和老城活化的根本道路。