Exploring Brain Age Calculation Models Available for Alzheimer's Disease

The advantages of structural magnetic resonance imaging(sMRI)-based multidimensional tensor morphological features in brain disease research are the high sensitivity and resolution of sMRI to comprehensively capture the key structural information and quantify the structural deformation.However,its direct application to regression analysis of high-dimensional small-sample data for brain age prediction may cause“dimensional catastrophe”.Therefore,this paper develops a brain age prediction method for high-dimensional small-sample data based on sMRI multidimensional morphological features and constructs brain age gap estimation(BrainAGE)biomarkers to quantify abnormal aging of key subcortical structures by extracting subcortical structural features for brain age prediction,which can then establish statistical analysis models to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and monitor health conditions,intervening at the preclinical stage.

Impaired SWEET-mediated sugar transportation impacts starch metabolism in developing rice seeds

Sugar transportation and sugar-to-starch metabolism are considered important processes in seed development and embryo viability.A few plant SWEET proteins acting as sugar transporters have been reported to function in inflorescence and/or seed development.Here,we identified seven members of the 21 Os SWEET genes in rice that play essential roles in sugar transportation and sugar-to-starch conversion in seed development.Nineteen Os SWEET genes exhibiting different expression patterns during inflorescence and seed development were knocked out individually by CRISPR/Cas9.One third of the mutants showed decreased fertile pollen viability and shriveled mature caryopses,resulting in weakened seed traits.Grain fill-related genes but not representative grain shape-regulating genes showed attenuated expression in the mutants.Seed of each of these mutants accumulated more sucrose,glucose or fructose but less starch.Among all Os SWEET genes,Os SWEET4 and Os SWEET11 had major effects on caryopsis development.The sugar-to-starch metabolic pathway was significantly altered in ossweet11 mutants based on differential expression analysis in RNA sequencing assays,confirming that Os SWEET11 functions as a sugar transporter with a key role in seed development.These results help to decipher the multiple functions of Os SWEET genes and to show how they might be used in genetic improvement of rice.

Time-resolution enhanced multi-path OTD measurement using an adaptive filter based incoherent OFDR

High accuracy and time resolution optical transfer delay(OTD)measurement is highly desired in many multi-path applications,such as optical true-time-delay-based array systems and distributed optical sensors.However,the time resolution is usually limited by the frequency range of the probe signal in frequency-multiplexed OTD measurement techniques.Here,we proposed a time-resolution enhanced OTD measurement method based on incoherent optical frequency domain reflectometry(I-OFDR),where an adaptive filter is designed to suppress the spectral leakage from other paths to break the resolution limitation.A weighted least square(WLS)cost function is first established,and then an iteration approach is used to minimize the cost function.Finally,the appropriate filter parameter is obtained according to the convergence results.In a proof-of-concept experiment,the time-domain response of two optical links with a length difference of 900 ps is successfully estimated by applying a probe signal with a bandwidth of 400 MHz.The time resolution is improved by 2.78times compared to the theoretical resolution limit of the inverse discrete Fourier transform(iDFT)algorithm.In addition,the OTD measurement error is below±0.8 ps.The proposed algorithm provides a novel way to improve the measurement resolution without applying a probe signal with a large bandwidth,avoiding measurement errors induced by the dispersion effect.

Cerebral ischemic injury after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with pure aortic regurgitation

Considering the surgical risk stratification for patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis(AS),transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)is a reliable alternative to surgical aortic valve replacement(SAVR)(Fan et al.,2020,2021;Lee et al.,2021).Despite the favorable clinical benefits of TAVR,stroke remains a dreaded perioperative complication(Auffret et al.,2016;Kapadia et al.,2016;Kleiman et al.,2016;Huded et al.,2019).Ischemic overt stroke,identified in 1.4%to 4.3%of patients in TAVR clinical practice,has been associated with prolonged disability and increased mortality(Auffret et al.,2016;Kapadia et al.,2016;Levi et al.,2022).The prevalence of hyperintensity cerebral ischemic lesions detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging(DW-MRI)was reported to be about 80%,which is associated with impaired neurocognitive function and vascular dementia(Vermeer et al.,2003;Barber et al.,2008;Kahlert et al.,2010).

Nuclear events during conjugation in the poorly studied model ciliate Paramecium jenningsi

Ciliated protists are highly differentiated unicellular eukaryotes that possess special sexual processes(conjugation and autogamy)that rely on their unique nuclear dimorphism,i.e.,the presence of both a germline micronucleus(MIC)and a somatic macronucleus(MAC)in a single cell.The sexual processes show a high diversity in different ciliates.To better understand the differentiation and evolution of sexual processes in closely related species,we investigated the nuclear events during conjugation in Paramecium jenningsi strain GZ,a poorly studied close relative of the well-known P.aurelia complex.The main results include:(1)the conjugation process takes about 48 h,including three prezygotic divisions(meiosis I,II,and mitosis)and three postzygotic divisions;(2)the MICs are dominated by the“parachute”phase at the prophase of meiosis I;(3)after meiosis II,a variable number of nuclei undergo the third prezygotic division,and the two products near the paroral cone become the genetically identical migratory and stationary pronuclei;(4)the synkaryon divides three times to form the MIC and the MAC anlagen,but only one nuclear product of the first postzygotic division completes the next two divisions;and(5)an extra cell division is required to complete the last step of conjugation,during which two MIC anlagen undergo mitotic division while two MAC anlagen are distributed between the daughter cells without division.The comparison of the nuclear events during conjugation in representatives of the class Oligohymenophorea reveals that usually there are three prezygotic divisions and a variable number of postzygotic divisions.However,the number of selected and differentiated nuclei after each division differs among species.This study provided a new model ciliate for further investigations of nuclear selection and differentiation as well as nuclear morphology during meiosis.

The rice Raf-like MAPKKK OsILA1 confers broad-spectrum resistance to bacterial blight by suppressing the OsMAPKK4-OsMAPK6 cascade

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase(MAPKKK)are the first components of MAPK cascades,which play pivotal roles in signaling during plant development and physiological processes.The genome of rice encodes 75 MAPKKKs,of which 43 are Raf-like MAPKKKs.The functions and action modes of most of the Raf-like MAPKKKs,whether they function as bona fide MAPKKKs and which are their downstream MAPKKs,are largely unknown.Here,we identified the osmapkkk43 mutant,which conferred broad-spectrum resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae(Xoo),the destructive bacterial pathogen of rice.Oryza sativa(Os)MAPKKK43 encoding a Raf-like MAPKKK was previously known as Increased Leaf Angle 1(OsILA1).Genetic analysis indicated that OsILA1 functioned as a negative regulator and acted upstream of the OsMAPKK4-OsMAPK6 cascade in rice-Xoo interactions.Unlike classical MAPKKKs,OsILA1 mainly phosphorylated the threonine 34 site at the N-terminal domain of OsMAPKK4,which possibly influenced the stability of OsMAPKK4.The N-terminal domain of OsILA1 is required for its homodimer formation and its full phosphorylation capacity.Taken together,our findings reveal that OsILA1 acts as a negative regulator of the OsMAPKK4-OsMAPK6 cascade and is involved in rice-Xoo interactions.

OsMAPK6 phosphorylates a zinc finger protein OsLIC to promote downstream OsWRKY30 for rice resistance to bacterial blight and leaf streak

Rice OsLIC encoding a CCCH zinc finger transcription factor plays an important role in immunity.However,the immune signaling pathways that OsLIC-involved and the underlying mechanisms that OsLIC-conferred resistance against pathogens are largely unclear.Here,we show that OsLIC,as a substrate for Os MAPK6,negatively regulates resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv.oryzae(Xoo)and X.oryzae pv.oryzicola(Xoc)by directly suppressing OsWRKY30 transcription.Biochemical assays showed that OsLIC bound to OsWRKY30 promoter and suppressed its transcription.Genetic assays confirmed that the osilc knockout mutants and OsWRKY30-overexpressing plants exhibited enhanced resistance to Xoo and Xoc,knocking out OsWRKY30 in the oslic mutants attenuated the resistance against bacterial pathogens.Os MAPK6 physically interacted with and phosphorylated OsLIC leading to decreased OsLIC DNA-binding activity,therefore,overexpression of OsLIC partially suppressed Os MAPK6-mediated rice resistance.In addition,both Os MAPK6-phosphorylated activation of OsLIC and phosphorylation-mimic OsLIC_(5D) had reduced DNA-binding activity towards OsWRKY30 promoter,thereby promoting OsWRKY30 transcription.Collectively,these results reveal that Os MAPK6-mediated phosphorylation of OsLIC positively regulates rice resistance to Xoo and Xoc by modulating OsWRKY30 transcription,suggesting that Os MAPK6-OsLIC-OsWRKY30 module is an immune signaling pathway in response to the bacterial pathogens.

Thermal stability of polyphenylsilsesquioxane-modified meta-aramid insulation paper

The development of new materials for use in advanced distribution transformers is required to improve their heat resistance rating,operational safety,and reliability.The combination of polymer and nanoparticles is the preferred approach to improve the thermal stability of materials.In this study,the thermal stability of laboratory-prepared meta-aramid insulation paper modified with polyphenylsilsesquioxane(PPSQ)was evaluated.The results showed that the thermal stability of the modified insulation paper was superior to that of the unmodified paper.Molecular dynamics simulations were used to analyse the internal mechanism of the performance improvement achieved by modification with PPSQ.From a microscopic perspective,the addition of PPSQ provided a relatively larger structural space for the meta-aramid fibre and increased the free volume of the entire system,which tightened the meta-aramid fibre molecular chains,increased the density of the structure of the paper,and enhanced the mutual permeability between meta-aramid fibre chains.Therefore,the stress can be better transmitted,the performance loss such as phase delamination was effectively prevented,and the bonding between the meta-aramid fibres was strengthened.

Kidney function change after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with diabetes and/or hypertension

Aortic stenosis(AS)is a progressive heart valve disease occurring predominantly in older patients.According to a survey in a western country,the prevalence of AS is nearly 6.4%in patients over 75 years old(Carabello and Paulus,2009).Transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)is an alternative method for AS patients.Previous studies have described how up to 66%of TAVR patients have concomitant baseline kidney dysfunction(Ferro et al.,2015;Gargiulo et al.,2015).The majority of patients can benefit from the TAVR procedure with the recovery of kidney function.

Novel apical-to-femoral rail technique for horizontal aorta in transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement(TAVR)has emerged as a viable treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis regardless of its surgical risk stratification(Otto et al.,2021).Aortic angulation is usually measured as the angle between the horizon-tai and the aortic annulus planes based on preprocedural multidetector computed tomography(MDCT)(Al-Lamee et al.,2011).Extremely horizontal aorta,defined as an aortic angulation greater than 70°.