Novel Neural Network Inspired by Neuro-Endocrine-Immune System with Its Application to Beam Pumping Unit

Inspired by the modulation mechanism of neuroendocrine-immune system(NEIs),a novel structure of artificial neural network(ANN) named NEI-NN and its learning method are presented.The NEI-NN includes two parts,i.e.,positive subnetwork(PSN) and negative sub-network(NSN).The neuron functions of PSN and NSN are designed according to the increased and decreased secretion functions of hormone,respectively.In order to make the novel neural network learn quickly,the novel neuron based on some characteristics of NEIs is also redesigned.Besides the normal input signals,two control signals are considered in the proposed solution.One is the enable/disable signal,and the other is the slope control signal.The former can modify the structure of NEI-NN,and the later can regulate the evolutionary speed of NEINN.The NEI-NN can obtain the optimized network structure by using error back-propagation(BP) learning algorithm.Since the modeling of the beam pumping unit is very difficult by using the conventional method,the modeling of bean bump unit is chosen to examine the performance of the NEI-NN.The experiment results show that the optimized structure and learning speed of NEI-NN are better than those of the conventional neural network.

Frontiers and future perspectives of neuroimmunology

Neuroimmunology is an interdisciplinary branch of biomedical science that emerges from the intersection of studies on the nervous system and the immune system.The complex interplay between the two systems has long been recognized.Research efforts directed at the underlying functional interface and associated pathophysiology,however,have garnered attention only in recent decades.In this narrative review,we highlight significant advances in research on neuroimmune interplay and modulation.A particular focus is on early-and middle-career neuroimmunologists in China and their achievements in frontier areas of"neuroimmune interface","neuro-endocrine-immune network and modulation","neuroimmune interactions in diseases","meningeal lymphatic and glymphatic systems in health and disease",and"tools and methodologies in neuroimmunology research".Key scientific questions and future directions for potential breakthroughs in neuroimmunology research are proposed.

Comfortable Lifestyle-induced Imbalance of Neuro-endocrine-immunity Network:A Possible Mechanism of Vascular Endothelial Dysfunction

Objective： To observe the changes of vascular endothelial functions and general neuroendocrine-immunity （NEI） network under the state of qi-deficiency syndrome induced by excessive idleness and to approach their internal relevance and illuminate initially the pathophysiological mechanism of vascular lesion induced by excessive idleness. Methods： A total of 100 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the control group and the qi-deficiency syndrome model group, 50 rats in each group. The qi-deficiency syndrome model was established by feeding the animals with hyper-alimentation diet in combination with restricting movement for 10 weeks. Changes of common chemical signal molecules related to NEI and vascular endothelial functions were measured by the end of the experiment. Furthermore, their internal relevance was analyzed by the method of canonical correlation analysis. Results： The vascular endothelial structure and function were obviously injured in the model group. Compared with the control group, the chemical signal molecules, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT）, corticosterone （CORT）, triiodothyronine （T3）, tetraiodothyronine （T4）, angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ）, interleukin-1 （IL-1）, and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） in peripheral blood of the model group （n=43） were changed significantly （P〈0.05 or P〈0.01）. Canonical correlation analysis showed that vascular endothelial dysfunction was correlated to the changes of these signal molecules in the NEI network. Conclusions： Comfortbased lifestyle induced not only vascular endothelial dysfunction but also an imbalance of the NEI network. Vascular endothelial dysfunction and the imbalanced NEI network interacted with each other, and an imbalance of the NEI network may be the pathophysiologic basis for the genesis and development of vascular endothelial dysfunction, even diseases of the blood vessel.

Current Tracking on Effectiveness and Mechanisms of Acupuncture Therapy: A Literature Review of High-Quality Studies

The scientific evidenee of acupuncture studies has been improved in recent years,and one of the important manifestations is that more and more acupuncture clinical trials and mechanism researches have been published in the source periodicals of Science Citation Index(SCI).This study summarized the dominant diseases of acupuncture focusing on of acupuncture efficacy and mechanisms,and discussed the existing problems,highlight!ng the directi on of future developme nts.Most clinical studies were published in journals with journal impact factor(JIF)score of 10 or above,and majority of the basic researches had JIF scores of 5 to 10.The above literature were further divided according to the International Classification of Diseases(ICD).The most concerned diseases in these articles were neurological diseases,musculoskeletal system and connective tissue diseases,tumor and digestive system diseases.The therapeutic effect and mechanism of acupuncture on each kind of disease were summarized.The results showed that the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on nerve injury focused on the anti-oxidation pathway,neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory processes.The antiinflammatory effect also played an important role in the treatme nt of musculoskeletal diseases.The an algesic effect was underlined in most of these studies.Clinical trials were well carried out on acupuncture curative effect of tumor complications and side effects of chemo-radiotherapy,but the potential mechanisms have not been clarified.Somato-visceral reflex was suggested to be strongly associated with the effects of acupuncture changing the motor activity of the gastrointestinal tract.Functional magnetic resonance imaging studies indicated that non-specific effects play important roles in acupuncture analgesia.Lines of evidenee have pointed out that the regulation of neuro-endocrine-immune networks may be a common switch of acupuncture on different nerve system diseases.

Neuroendocrine-Immune Regulating Mechanisms for the Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Actions of Acupuncture

Pain and inflammatory diseases are important clinical indications of acupuncture,which have been widely accepted in the international community.Previous studies have been focusing on rapid analgesia of acupuncture through the regulation of nervous system,but few studies on the inflammation regulatory mechanisms in which acupuncture inhibits the peripheral sensitization-induced pain.Based on studies concerning acupoint mechanisms of acupuncture actions and related researches on acupuncture regulating neuroendocrine and immune systems,we put forward the scientific hypothesis that acupuncture regulates neuroendocrine-immune(NEI)network and key response media therein,so as to achieve anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in target organs.We have established a platform for acupuncture at ST36 to alleviate inflammatory pain in adjuvant induced arthritic rats.Based on the complex network analysis of multi-dimensional data from multi-time point and multi-site detection of NEI common signaling molecules,we have clarified the regulatory effects of acupuncture on NEI network and corresponding downstream immune network.Results indicated that monocytes/macrophages are the key targeting cells of acupuncture regulation,and acupuncture may display the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects by regulating polarization of T cells in lymph nodes and polarization of M1/M2 macrophages in inflamed joints/paws.In addition,we have spotted a key molecule for acupuncture analgesia,CXCL1,as well as clarified the novel central analgesic mechanism of acupuncture mediated by CXCL1/CXCR2 desensitization.Thereby,we have provided novel evidence of the anti-inflammatory and analgesic actions of acupuncture through regulating NEI network and several key substances,highlighting a systemic research paradigm for investigating mechanisms of acupuncture actions.