Observation on effect of meridian stimulation on blood oxygenation level of brain by applying Near Infra Red Spectrum(NIRS)

Objective To observe the effect of stimulating Yinttang （印堂 EX-HN 3） and Baihui（百会 GV 20） with electroacupuncture （EA） on blood oxygenation level of brain and explore the feasibility of measuring the therapeutic effect of acupuncture by applying near infra red spectrum （NIRS）. Methods Ten participants semi-randomly selected from 158 adults （random test sequence） were stimulated with EA at the acupoints of EX-HN 3 and GV 20. Verbal fluency task was conducted before and after acupuncture, and changes in blood oxygenation level of cerebral cortex were tested by applying NIRS. Quantitative data were processed with JMP 10.0.2 software, and changes in waveforms of blood oxygenation level of brain before and after treatment were compared by applying NIRS. Results ① The mean of reacting dose （integral value） of blood oxygenation level of cerebral cortex of the 158 adults in the verbal fluency task was 10.6 ± 1.1, and the mean of the whole reacting dose of blood oxygenation level of cerebral cortex at 1/2 period of time during the test （centroids value） was 46.8 ± 1.6. ② In the EA group, the mean of integral value and centroids value of 10 adults were 8.4 ± 5.1 and 54.7± 12.2 before EA while 9.8±3.5 and 41.2±6.7 after EA. The integral value and centroids value of the EA group were closer to the mean of all the subjects. Conclusion It was found by NIRS that the blood oxygenation level of cerebral cortex could be regulated in bi- directional way by stimulating EX-HN 3 and GV 20 with EA, and a further research on whether it directly related to EA is to be made.

Paleo-fires and Atmospheric Oxygen Levels in the Latest Permian:Evidence from Maceral Compositions of Coals in Eastern Yunnan,Southern China

Inertinite maceral compositions of the Late Permian coals from three sections in the terrestrial and paralic settings of eastern Yunnan are analyzed in order to reveal the paleo-fire events and the atmospheric oxygen levels in the latest Permian. Although the macerals in the studied sections are generally dominated by vitrinite, the inertinite group makes up a considerable proportion. Its content increases upward from the beginning of the Late Permian to the coal seam near the Permian- Triassic boundary. Based on the microscopic features and the prevailing theory that inertinite is largely a by-product of paleo-fires, we suggest that the increasing upward trend of the inertinite abundance in the latest Permian could imply that the Late Permian peatland had suffered from frequent wildfires. Since ignition and burning depend on sufficient oxygen, a model-based calculation suggests that the 02 levels near the Wuchiapingian/Changhsingian boundary and the Permian-Triassic boundary are 27% and 28% respectively. This output adds supports to other discoveries made in the temporal marine and terrestrial sediments, and challenges the theories advocating hypoxia as a mechanism for the PermianTriassic boundary crisis.

Multimodality magnetic resonance imaging in hepatic encephalopathy: An update

Hepatic encephalopathy(HE) is a neuropsychiatric complication of cirrhosis or acute liver failure. Currently, HE is regarded as a continuous cognitive impairment ranging from the mildest stage, minimal HE to overt HE. Hyperammonaemia and neuroinflammation are two main underlying factors which contribute to the neurological alterations in HE. Both structural and functional impairments are found in the white mater and grey mater involved in HE. Although the investigations into HE pathophysiological mechanism are enormous, the exact pathophysiological causes underlying HE remain controversial. Multimodality magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) plays an important role in helping to understand the pathological process of HE. This paper reviews the up-to-date multimodality MRI methods and predominant findings in HE patients with a highlight ofthe increasingly important role of blood oxygen level dependent functional MRI.

FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING STUDY OF THE BRAIN IN PATIENTS WITH AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS

Objective To study the activation changes of the brain in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis （ALS） while executing sequential finger tapping movement using the method of blood oxygenation level dependent （BOLD） functional magnetic resonance imaging （tMRI）. Methods Fifteen patients with definite or probable ALS and fifteen age and gender matched normal controls were enrolled. MRI was performed on a 3.0 Tesla scanner with standard headcoiL The functional images were acquired using a gradient echo single shot echo planar imaging （EPI） sequence. All patients and normal subjects executed sequential finger tapping movement at the frequency of 1-2 Hz during a block-design motor task. Structural MRI was acquired using a three-dimensional fast spoiled gradient echo （3D-FSPGR） sequence. The tMRI data were analyzed by statistical parametric mapping （SPM）. Results Bilateral primary sensorimotor cortex （ PSM）, bilateral premotor area （ PA）, bilateral supplementary motor area （SMA）, bilateral parietal region （ PAR）, contralateral inferior lateral premotor area （ ILPA）, and ipsilateral cerebellum showed activation in both ALS patients and normal controls when executing the same motor task. The activation areas in bilateral PSM, bilateral PA, bilateral SMA, and ipsilateral cerebellum were significantly larger in ALS patients than those in normal controls （ P 〈 0.05 ）. Extra activation areas including ipsilateral ILPA, bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule, and contralateral cerebellum were only detected in ALS patients. Conclusions Similar activation areas are activated in ALS patients and normal subjects while executing the same motor task. The increased activation areas in ALS patients may represent neural reorganization, while the extra activation areas in ALS patients may indicate functional compensation.

BOLD-fMRI study of auditory cortex in patients with tinnitus

Objective Blood oxygenation level-dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging (BOLD-fMRI) was used to study activation signals in the brain cortex evoked by tone stimulation in patients with tinnitus for its potential utility as an objective indicator of tinnitus. Methods BOLD-fMRI examination was conducted in 7 patients with chronic tinnitus and 15 control subjects. The activation signal in the brain cortex was recorded. Results Significant activation was found in temporal lobe in control subjects, with greater signal volume and intensity on the contralateral than ipsilateral auditory cortex (P < 0.01). However, there was no discernable patterns in the anatomical location, volume and intensity of cortical activation signals in patients with chronic tinnitus. Conclusions Patients with chronic tinnitus may have abnormal neural activities in the auditory cortex.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging and the brain: A brief review

Functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) is em-ployed in many behavior analysis studies, with blood oxygen level dependent-(BOLD-) contrast imaging being the main method used to generate images. The use of BOLD-contrast imaging in f MRI has been refined over the years, for example, the inclusion of a spin echo pulse and increased magnetic strength were shown to produce better recorded images. Taking careful precautions to control variables during measurement, comparisons between different specimen groups can be illustrated by f MRI imaging using both quantitative and qualitative methods. Differences have been observed in comparisons of active and resting, developing and aging, and defective and damaged brains in various studies. However, cognitive studies using f MRI still face a number of challenges in interpretation that can only be overcome by imaging large numbers of samples. Furthermore, f MRI studies of brain cancer, lesions and other brain pathologies of both humans and animals are still to be explored.

Cerebrovascular reactivity mapping for brain tumor presurgical planning

This article provides a review of Blood Oxygen Level Dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging(BOLD fMRI)applications for presurgical mapping in patients with brain tumors who are being considered for lesion resection.Initially,the physical principle of the BOLD effect is discussed,followed by a general overview of the aims of presurgical planning.Subsequently,a review of sensorimotor,language and visual paradigms that are typically utilized in clinical fMRI is provided,followed by a brief description of studies demonstrating the clinical impact of preoperative BOLD fMRI.After this thorough introduction to presurgical fMRI,a detailed explanation of the phenomenon of neurovascular uncoupling(NVU),a major limitation of fMRI,is provided,followed by a discussion of the different approaches taken for BOLD cerebrovascular reactivity(CVR)mapping,which is an effective method of detecting NVU.We then include one clinical case which demonstrates the value of CVR mapping in clinical preoperative fMRI interpretation.The paper then concludes with a brief review of applications of CVR mapping other than for presurgical mapping.

Three-step modernization of the ocean:Modeling of carbon cycles and the revolution of ecological systems in the Ediacaran/Cambrian periods

Important ecological changes of the Earth （oxidization of the atmosphere and the ocean） increase in nutrient supply due to the break-up of the super continent （Rodinia） and the appearance of multi-cellular organisms （macroscopic algae and metazoan） took place in the Ediacaran period, priming the Cambrian explosion. The strong perturbations in carbon cycles in the ocean are recorded as excursions in carbonate and organic carbon isotope ratio （δ13Ccarb and δ13Corg） from the Ediacaran through early Cambrian periods. The Ediacaran-early Cambrian sediment records of δ13Ccarb and δ13Corg, obtained from the drill-core samples in Three Gorges in South China, are compared with the results of numerical simulation of a sim- ple one-zone model of the carbon cycle of the ocean, which has two reservoirs （i.e., dissolved organic carbon （DOC） and dissolved inorganic carbon （DIC）. The fluxes from the reservoirs are assumed to be proportional to the mass of the carbon reservoirs. We constructed a model, referred to here as the Best Fit Model （BFM）, which reproduce δ13Ccarb and δ13Corg records in the Ediacaran-early Cambrian period noted above. BFM reveals that the Shuram excursion is related to three major changes in the carbon cycle or the global ecological system of the Earth： （1） an increase in the coefficient of remineralization by a factor of ca. 100, possibly corresponding to a change in the dominant metabolism from anaerobic respiration to aerobic respiration, （2） an increase of carbon fractionation index from 25‰, to 33‰, possibly corresponding to the change in the primary producer from rock-living cyanobacteria to free-living macro algae, and （3） an in- crease in the coefficient of the organic carbon burial by a factor of ca. 100, possibly corresponding to the onset of a biological pump driven by the flourishing metazoan and zooplankton. The former two changes took place at the start of the Shuram excursion, while the third occurred at the end of the Shuram excursion. The other two excursions are explained by the tentative decrease in primary production due to cold periods, which correspond to the Gaskiers （ca. 580 Ma） and Bikonor （ca. 542 Ma） glaciations.

Comparative analysis of time series neural network methods for three-way catalyst modeling

Relative Oxygen Level of the Three-Way Catalyst is an important parameter that affects the conversion efficiency of pollutants. ROL is a time-varying hidden state variable that is difficult to directly observe in practice. Therefore, it is common to use a method of clearing oxygen storage to simplify control in vehicles. However, this method negates the positive effects of ROL on pollutant treatment. ROL can be indirectly observed through modeling methods. Chemical modeling methods involve extensive computational requirements that cannot meet the demands of practical control. In contrast, time-series neural networks offer computational speed advantages when dealing with similar problems. Therefore, the ROL observation models using both NARX and LSTM neural networks are developed and compared in this study. The results indicate that the NARX neural network exhibits higher precision with a smaller number of neurons and time steps. The LSTM neural network demonstrates greater stability when dealing with data error fluctuations. In practical applications, the ROL model can monitor the TWC operating status and assist in the development of intelligent pollutant aftertreatment control strategies.

Evaluating oxygen level of Si-deoxidized H13 die steel using ferrous oxide-containing slags at 1873 K

Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the oxygen content of Si-deoxidized H13 die steel by ferrous oxide-containing slags at 1873 K.The calculation of thermodynamics and kinetics was performed to evaluate the oxygen level of molten steel through[Si]-[O]equilibrium and[Fe]-[O]equilibrium.The results show that as the FeO content in slag increases,the oxygen content with[Si]-[O]equilibrium(w([O])Si)has almost no change.When both the oxygen content with[Fe]-[O]equilibrium(w([O])Fe)and w([O])Si are less than the initial oxygen content in steel(w(TO)i),the oxygen content in steel(w([O]))depends on the higher value between w([O])Si and w([O])Fe.In the case of w([O])Fe>w(TO)i,the value of w([O])is the difference between the sum of w(TO)i and w([O])Si and the value of w([O])Fe.The reaction rates of[Si]-[O]and[Fe]-[O]are equal,which are controlled by the mass transfer of oxygen in molten steel.The evaluation method is suitable to the whole smelting process of Si-deoxidized H13 die steel.