Brain functional network connectivity based on a visual task: visual information processing-related brain regions are significantly activated in the task state

It is not clear whether the method used in functional brain-network related research can be applied to explore the feature binding mechanism of visual perception. In this study, we inves-tigated feature binding of color and shape in visual perception. Functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected from 38 healthy volunteers at rest and while performing a visual perception task to construct brain networks active during resting and task states. Results showed that brain regions involved in visual information processing were obviously activated during the task. The components were partitioned using a greedy algorithm, indicating the visual network existed during the resting state.Z-values in the vision-related brain regions were calculated, conifrming the dynamic balance of the brain network. Connectivity between brain regions was determined, and the result showed that occipital and lingual gyri were stable brain regions in the visual system network, the parietal lobe played a very important role in the binding process of color features and shape features, and the fusiform and inferior temporal gyri were crucial for processing color and shape information. Experimental ifndings indicate that understanding visual feature binding and cognitive processes will help establish computational models of vision, improve image recognition technology, and provide a new theoretical mechanism for feature binding in visual perception.

Functional Brain Network Learning Based on Spatial Similarity for Brain Disorders Identification

Functional brain network (FBN) measures based on functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, has become important biomarkers for early diagnosis and prediction of clinical outcomes in neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s diseases (AD) and its prodromal state (i.e., Mild cognitive impairment, MCI). In the past decades, researchers have developed numbers of approaches for FBN estimation, including Pearson’s correction (PC), sparse representation (SR), and so on. Despite their popularity and wide applications in current studies, most of the approaches for FBN estimation only consider the dependency between the measured blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) time series, but ignore the spatial relationships between pairs of brain regions. In practice, the strength of functional connection between brain regions will decrease as their distance increases. Inspired by this, we proposed a new approach for FBN estimation based on the assumption that the closer brain regions tend to share stronger relationships or similarities. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, we conduct experiments on a public dataset to identify the patients with MCIs from health controls (HCs) using the estimated FBNs. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach yields statistically significant improvement in seven performance metrics over using the baseline methods.

Estimating Functional Brain Network with Low-Rank Structure via Matrix Factorization for MCI/ASD Identification

Functional brain networks (FBNs) provide a potential way for understanding the brain organizational patterns and diagnosing neurological diseases. Due to its importance, many FBN construction methods have been proposed currently, including the low-order Pearson’s correlation (PC) and sparse representation (SR), as well as the high-order functional connection (HoFC). However, most existing methods usually ignore the information of topological structures of FBN, such as low-rank structure which can reduce the noise and improve modularity to enhance the stability of networks. In this paper, we propose a novel method for improving the estimated FBNs utilizing matrix factorization (MF). More specifically, we firstly construct FBNs based on three traditional methods, including PC, SR, and HoFC. Then, we reduce the rank of these FBNs via MF model for estimating FBN with low-rank structure. Finally, to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments have been conducted to identify the subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from norm controls (NCs) using the estimated FBNs. The results on Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) dataset and Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) dataset demonstrate that the classification performances achieved by our proposed method are better than the selected baseline methods.

Extracting Multiple Nodes in a Brain Region of Interest for Brain Functional Network Estimation and Classification

Purpose: Brain functional networks (BFNs) has become important approach for diagnosis of some neurological or psychological disorders. Before estimating BFN, obtaining blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) representative signals from brain regions of interest (ROIs) is important. In the past decades, the common method is generally to take a ROI as a node, averaging all the voxel time series inside it to extract a representative signal. However, one node does not represent the entire information of this ROI, and averaging method often leads to signal cancellation and information loss. Inspired by this, we propose a novel model extraction method based on an assumption that a ROI can be represented by multiple nodes. Methods: In this paper, we first extract multiple nodes (the number is user-defined) from the ROI based on two traditional methods, including principal component analysis (PCA), and K-means (Clustering according to the spatial position of voxels). Then, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was issued to construct BFNs by maximizing the correlation between the representative signals corresponding to the nodes in any two ROIs. Finally, to further verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, the estimated BFNs are applied to identify subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from health controls (HCs). Results: Experimental results on two benchmark databases demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the baseline method in the sense of classification performance. Conclusions: We propose a novel method for obtaining nodes of ROId based on the hypothesis that a ROI can be represented by multiple nodes, that is, to extract the node signals of ROIs with K-means or PCA. Then, CCA is used to construct BFNs.

Abnormal characterization of dynamic functional connectivity in Alzheimer’s disease

Numerous studies have shown abnormal brain functional connectivity in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease(AD)or amnestic mild cognitive impairment(aMCI).However,most studies examined traditional resting state functional connections,ignoring the instantaneous connection mode of the whole brain.In this case-control study,we used a new method called dynamic functional connectivity(DFC)to look for abnormalities in patients with AD and aMCI.We calculated dynamic functional connectivity strength from functional magnetic resonance imaging data for each participant,and then used a support vector machine to classify AD patients and normal controls.Finally,we highlighted brain regions and brain networks that made the largest contributions to the classification.We found differences in dynamic function connectivity strength in the left precuneus,default mode network,and dorsal attention network among normal controls,aMCI patients,and AD patients.These abnormalities are potential imaging markers for the early diagnosis of AD.

Acupuncture enhances brain function in patients with mild cognitive impairment: evidence from a functional-near infrared spectroscopy study

Mild cognitive impairment(MCI)is a precursor to Alzheimer’s disease.It is imperative to develop a proper treatment for this neurological disease in the aging society.This observational study investigated the effects of acupuncture therapy on MCI patients.Eleven healthy individuals and eleven MCI patients were recruited for this study.Oxy-and deoxy-hemoglobin signals in the prefrontal cortex during working-memory tasks were monitored using functional near-infrared spectroscopy.Before acupuncture treatment,working-memory experiments were conducted for healthy control(HC)and MCI groups(MCI-0),followed by 24 sessions of acupuncture for the MCI group.The acupuncture sessions were initially carried out for 6 weeks(two sessions per week),after which experiments were performed again on the MCI group(MCI-1).This was followed by another set of acupuncture sessions that also lasted for 6 weeks,after which the experiments were repeated on the MCI group(MCI-2).Statistical analyses of the signals and classifications based on activation maps as well as temporal features were performed.The highest classification accuracies obtained using binary connectivity maps were 85.7%HC vs.MCI-0,69.5%HC vs.MCI-1,and 61.69%HC vs.MCI-2.The classification accuracies using the temporal features mean from 5 seconds to 28 seconds and maximum(i.e,max(5:28 seconds))values were 60.6%HC vs.MCI-0,56.9%HC vs.MCI-1,and 56.4%HC vs.MCI-2.The results reveal that there was a change in the temporal characteristics of the hemodynamic response of MCI patients due to acupuncture.This was reflected by a reduction in the classification accuracy after the therapy,indicating that the patients’brain responses improved and became comparable to those of healthy subjects.A similar trend was reflected in the classification using the image feature.These results indicate that acupuncture can be used for the treatment of MCI patients.

DETERMINING THE STRUCTURES AND PARAMETERS OF RADIAL BASIS FUNCTION NEURAL NETWORKS USING IMPROVED GENETIC ALGORITHMS

The method of determining the structures and parameters of radial basis function neural networks(RBFNNs) using improved genetic algorithms is proposed. Akaike′s information criterion (AIC) with generalization error term is used as the best criterion of optimizing the structures and parameters of networks. It is shown from the simulation results that the method not only improves the approximation and generalization capability of RBFNNs ,but also obtain the optimal or suboptimal structures of networks.

High-precision chaotic radial basis function neural network model:Data forecasting for the Earth electromagnetic signal before a strong earthquake

The Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field data consists typically of an underlying variation tendency of intensity and irregularities.The change tendency may be related to the occurrence of earthquake disasters.Forecasting of the underlying intensity trend plays an important role in the analysis of data and disaster monitoring.Combining chaos theory and the radial basis function neural network,this paper proposes a forecasting model of the chaotic radial basis function neural network to conduct underlying intensity trend forecasting by the Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field signal.The main strategy of this forecasting model is to obtain parameters as the basis for optimizing the radial basis function neural network and to forecast the reconstructed Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field data.In verification experiments,we employ the 3 and 6 days’data of two channels as training samples to forecast the 14 and 21-day Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field data respectively.According to the forecasting results and absolute error results,the chaotic radial basis function forecasting model can fit the fluctuation trend of the actual signal strength,effectively reduce the forecasting error compared with the traditional radial basis function model.Hence,this network may be useful for studying the characteristics of the Earth’s natural pulse electromagnetic field signal before a strong earthquake and we hope it can contribute to the electromagnetic anomaly monitoring before the earthquake.

Modulatory effects of acupuncture on brain networks in mild cognitive impairment patients

Functional magnetic resonance imaging has been widely used to investigate the effects of acupuncture on neural activity. However, most functional magnetic resonance imaging studies have focused on acute changes in brain activation induced by acupuncture. Thus, the time course of the therapeutic effects of acupuncture remains unclear. In this study, 32 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment were randomly divided into two groups, where they received either Tiaoshen Yizhi acupuncture or sham acupoint acupuncture. The needles were either twirled at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints, including Sishencong（EX-HN1）, Yintang（EX-HN3）, Neiguan（PC6）, Taixi（KI3）, Fenglong（ST40）, and Taichong（LR3）, or at related sham acupoints at a depth of approximately 15 mm, an angle of ± 60°, and a rate of approximately 120 times per minute. Acupuncture was conducted for 4 consecutive weeks, five times per week, on weekdays. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging indicated that connections between cognition-related regions such as the insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, inferior parietal lobule, and anterior cingulate cortex increased after acupuncture at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints. The insula, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, and hippocampus acted as central brain hubs. Patients in the Tiaoshen Yizhi group exhibited improved cognitive performance after acupuncture. In the sham acupoint acupuncture group, connections between brain regions were dispersed, and we found no differences in cognitive function following the treatment. These results indicate that acupuncture at Tiaoshen Yizhi acupoints can regulate brain networks by increasing connectivity between cognition-related regions, thereby improving cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Brain networks modeling for studying the mechanism underlying the development of Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a primary age-related neurodegenerative disorder that can result in impaired cognitive and memory functions.Although connections between changes in brain networks of Alzheimer’s disease patients have been established,the mechanisms that drive these alterations remain incompletely understood.This study,which was conducted in 2018 at Northeastern University in China,included data from 97 participants of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative(ADNI)dataset covering genetics,imaging,and clinical data.All participants were divided into two groups:normal control(n=52;20 males and 32 females;mean age 73.90±4.72 years)and Alzheimer’s disease(n=45,23 males and 22 females;mean age 74.85±5.66).To uncover the wiring mechanisms that shaped changes in the topology of human brain networks of Alzheimer’s disease patients,we proposed a local naive Bayes brain network model based on graph theory.Our results showed that the proposed model provided an excellent fit to observe networks in all properties examined,including clustering coefficient,modularity,characteristic path length,network efficiency,betweenness,and degree distribution compared with empirical methods.This proposed model simulated the wiring changes in human brain networks between controls and Alzheimer’s disease patients.Our results demonstrate its utility in understanding relationships between brain tissue structure and cognitive or behavioral functions.The ADNI was performed in accordance with the Good Clinical Practice guidelines,US 21 CFR Part 50-Protection of Human Subjects,and Part 56-Institutional Review Boards(IRBs)/Research Good Clinical Practice guidelines Institutional Review Boards(IRBs)/Research Ethics Boards(REBs).

Evidential method to identify influential nodes in complex networks

Identifying influential nodes in complex networks is still an open issue. In this paper, a new comprehensive centrality mea- sure is proposed based on the Dempster-Shafer evidence theory. The existing measures of degree centrality, betweenness centra- lity and closeness centrality are taken into consideration in the proposed method. Numerical examples are used to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

改进YOLOv7-tiny与D-S理论结合的实验室人员行为检测研究

针对目前实验室场景缺少对人员行为检测的方法,且主流算法精度低、误检率高的问题,文中提出一种改进YOLOv7-tiny的人员行为检测算法,并通过多源信息融合,提高人员行为在实际实验室场景中的识别准确率。首先,在检测算法主干网络引入GhostNetV2轻量化网络,进一步降低模型计算量和复杂度;其次,在颈部网络嵌入改进后的CBAM_E注意力模块,加强目标重要特征的提取;再次,在预测端使用SIoU替换原有的损失函数,减少角度因素和边界框回归精度的影响。检测结果表明,相较于YOLOv7-tiny,文中算法精度提升10.08%,模型参数量和复杂度分别下降36.45%和46.76%。最后通过将检测数据与传感器采集数据运用D-S证据理论进行信息融合后发现,人员不规范行为检测的误检率得到有效降低。结果表明,该方法可实现对实验室人员不规范行为的有效检测。

Neural Network Approach for Solving Singular Convex Optimization with Bounded Variables

Although frequently encountered in many practical applications, singular nonlinear optimization has been always recognized as a difficult problem. In the last decades, classical numerical techniques have been proposed to deal with the singular problem. However, the issue of numerical instability and high computational complexity has not found a satisfactory solution so far. In this paper, we consider the singular optimization problem with bounded variables constraint rather than the common unconstraint model. A novel neural network model was proposed for solving the problem of singular convex optimization with bounded variables. Under the assumption of rank one defect, the original difficult problem is transformed into nonsingular constrained optimization problem by enforcing a tensor term. By using the augmented Lagrangian method and the projection technique, it is proven that the proposed continuous model is convergent to the solution of the singular optimization problem. Numerical simulation further confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed neural network approach.

基于去偏置项SoftMax和紧致度量损失函数的牛脸识别方法

为了实现精准畜牧业生产及畜牧业保险理赔中牛只身份的准确识别,试验提出了基于去偏置项SoftMax和紧致度量损失函数的牛脸识别方法,即采用深度卷积神经网络(deep convolutional neural networks,DCNNs)模型提取特征,利用去偏置项SoftMax损失函数优化特征空间中的特征分布,提高特征线性可分辨性,解决特征归一化后在投影超平面上的重叠问题;采用紧致度量损失函数结合去偏置项SoftMax损失函数联合监督模型训练,使同类特征与类内特征的平均距离最小化,提高特征聚类的紧凑性和可辨识性,同时兼顾了类内样本分布的多样性;最后试验将本算法(去偏置项SoftMax和紧致度量损失函数联合监督算法)与ArcFace损失函数、标准SoftMax损失函数、去偏置项SoftMax损失函数、标准SoftMax损失函数结合紧致度量损失函数进行了性能对分分析。结果表明:本算法的识别准确率在所有模型中最高,为97.61%;且能对高相似度牛脸正确识别。说明基于去偏置项SoftMax和紧致度量损失函数的牛脸识别方法可满足牧场牛只身份识别要求。

ZigBee Sensor Network Platform for Health Monitoring of Rails Using Ambient Noise Correlation

WSNs （wireless sensor networks） can be used for railway infrastructure inspection and vehicle health monitoring. SHM （structural health monitoring） systems have a great potential to improve regular operation, security and maintenance routine of structures with estimating the state of its health and detecting the changes that affect its performance. This is vital for the development, upgrading, and expansion of railway networks. The work presented in this paper aims at the possible use of acoustic sensors coupled with ZigBee modules for health monitoring of rails. The detection principle is based on acoustic noise correlation techniques. Experiments have been performed in a rail sample to confirm the validity of acoustic noise correlation techniques in the rail. A wireless communication platform prototype based on the ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 technology has been implemented and deployed on a rail sample. Once the signals from the structure are collected, sensor data are transmitted through a ZigBee solution to the processing unit.

Effect of cognitive training on brain dynamics

The human brain is highly plastic.Cognitive training is usually used to modify functional connectivity of brain networks.Moreover,the structures of brain networks may determine its dynamic behavior which is related to human cognitive abilities.To study the effect of functional connectivity on the brain dynamics,the dynamic model based on functional connections of the brain and the Hindmarsh–Rose model is utilized in this work.The resting-state fMRI data from the experimental group undergoing abacus-based mental calculation(AMC)training and from the control group are used to construct the functional brain networks.The dynamic behavior of brain at the resting and task states for the AMC group and the control group are simulated with the above-mentioned dynamic model.In the resting state,there are the differences of brain activation between the AMC group and the control group,and more brain regions are inspired in the AMC group.A stimulus with sinusoidal signals to brain networks is introduced to simulate the brain dynamics in the task states.The dynamic characteristics are extracted by the excitation rates,the response intensities and the state distributions.The change in the functional connectivity of brain networks with the AMC training would in turn improve the brain response to external stimulus,and make the brain more efficient in processing tasks.

Distinct gut microbiomes in Thai patients with colorectal polyps

BACKGROUND Colorectal polyps that develop via the conventional adenoma-carcinoma sequence[e.g.,tubular adenoma(TA)]often progress to malignancy and are closely associated with changes in the composition of the gut microbiome.There is limited research concerning the microbial functions and gut microbiomes associated with colorectal polyps that arise through the serrated polyp pathway,such as hyperplastic polyps(HP).Exploration of microbiome alterations asso-ciated with HP and TA would improve the understanding of mechanisms by which specific microbes and their metabolic pathways contribute to colorectal carcinogenesis.AIM To investigate gut microbiome signatures,microbial associations,and microbial functions in HP and TA patients.METHODS Full-length 16S rRNA sequencing was used to characterize the gut microbiome in stool samples from control participants without polyps[control group(CT),n=40],patients with HP(n=52),and patients with TA(n=60).Significant differences in gut microbiome composition and functional mechanisms were identified between the CT group and patients with HP or TA.Analytical techniques in this study included differential abundance analysis,co-occurrence network analysis,and differential pathway analysis.RESULTS Colorectal cancer(CRC)-associated bacteria,including Streptococcus gallolyticus(S.gallolyticus),Bacteroides fragilis,and Clostridium symbiosum,were identified as characteristic microbial species in TA patients.Mediterraneibacter gnavus,associated with dysbiosis and gastrointestinal diseases,was significantly differentially abundant in the HP and TA groups.Functional pathway analysis revealed that HP patients exhibited enrichment in the sulfur oxidation pathway exclusively,whereas TA patients showed dominance in pathways related to secondary metabolite biosynthesis(e.g.,mevalonate);S.gallolyticus was a major contributor.Co-occurrence network and dynamic network analyses revealed co-occurrence of dysbiosis-associated bacteria in HP patients,whereas TA patients exhibited co-occurrence of CRC-associated bacteria.Furthermore,the co-occurrence of SCFA-producing bacteria was lower in TA patients than HP patients.CONCLUSION This study revealed distinct gut microbiome signatures associated with pathways of colorectal polyp development,providing insights concerning the roles of microbial species,functional pathways,and microbial interactions in colorectal carcinogenesis.

基于双分辨率S变换和改进的多尺度ResNet模型的电能质量扰动检测方法

准确的电能质量扰动检测对改善智能电网中电能质量问题、保证电网安全可靠运行具有重要意义。对此,提出一种基于双分辨率S变换和改进的多尺度ResNet模型的电能质量扰动信号的检测方法。首先,利用双分辨率S变换准确提取电能质量扰动信号的时频特征向量;其次,提出利用Mish函数代替传统ReLU激活函数来改进ResNet,再利用不同卷积核大小的改进ResNet模型对复杂电能质量扰动信号进行特征学习与扰动分类;然后,在不增加网络参数的情况下,提出利用轻量级通道注意力(efficient channel attention,ECA)对电能质量扰动检测分类结果影响较大的重要特征分配更大的权重值,提升模型的分类性能。最后,实验结果表明,与其他电能质量扰动检测方法相比,所提方法具有更高的准确率和抗噪性。

用接收函数反演甘肃测震台网下方的S波速度结构

利用接收函数方法对甘肃测震台网下方的一维S波速度进行了研究。结果显示甘肃测震台网各个台站下方地壳内部可分为两层：第一层深度为20～25km之间；第二层为Moho界面，其平均深度约为50km，界面上表面的速度约为3．8km／s，界面底部的速度约为4．5km／s。

带有两个优先权M/M/s排队的通信网交换性能分析

目前 ,基于不同优先权的通信网交换的研究十分活跃 文中分析了通信网中输入为泊松到达 ,带有两个优先权的M/M/s排队交换系统 通过对状态转移方程和部分状态转移方程的分析 ,得出了到达交换器的两种信元 (分组 )的稳态队长 ,并利用指数分布和泊松分布的关系 。