Detection of Alzheimer’s disease onset using MRI and PET neuroimaging:longitudinal data analysis and machine learning

The scientists are dedicated to studying the detection of Alzheimer’s disease onset to find a cure, or at the very least, medication that can slow the progression of the disease. This article explores the effectiveness of longitudinal data analysis, artificial intelligence, and machine learning approaches based on magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography neuroimaging modalities for progression estimation and the detection of Alzheimer’s disease onset. The significance of feature extraction in highly complex neuroimaging data, identification of vulnerable brain regions, and the determination of the threshold values for plaques, tangles, and neurodegeneration of these regions will extensively be evaluated. Developing automated methods to improve the aforementioned research areas would enable specialists to determine the progression of the disease and find the link between the biomarkers and more accurate detection of Alzheimer’s disease onset.

In-vitro digestibility,protein digestibility corrected amino acid,and sensory properties of banana-cassava gluten-free pasta with soy protein isolate and egg white protein addition

Soy protein isolate and egg white protein were added to cassava-banana gluten-free pasta and the effects on the nutritional quality,digestibility properties,protein digestibility corrected amino acid(PDCAA),and sensory acceptance of the pasta was observed.Banana-cassava composite flour(75:25)was blended with soy protein isolate or egg white protein at the following rates:0,5,10,and 15 g/100 g flour.Cooked pasta samples were analysed for total phenolic content(TPC),antioxidant activity,amino acid profiles,protein content,starch digestibility,protein digestibility and protein digestibility corrected amino acid score(PDCAAS).Addition of both proteins decreased starch digestibility,increased protein digestibility,improved the balance of the amino acid profile,and PDCAAS whereas only soy protein isolate enhanced the TPC and antioxidant capacity of the banana-cassava pasta.An egg white protein-fortified banana-cassava pasta had better customer acceptance and purchase intent than soy protein isolate inclusion.

A mathematical model of synaptotagmin 7 revealing functional importance of short-term synaptic plasticity

Synaptotagmin 7(Syt7), a presynaptic calcium sensor, has a significant role in the facilitation in shortterm synaptic plasticity: Syt7 knock out mice show a significant reduction in the facilitation. The functional importance of short-term synaptic plasticity such as facilitation is not well understood. In this study, we attempt to investigate the potential functional relationship between the short-term synaptic plasticity and postsynaptic response by developing a mathematical model that captures the responses of both wild-type and Syt7 knock-out mice. We then studied the model behaviours of wild-type and Syt7 knock-out mice in response to multiple input action potentials. These behaviors could establish functional importance of short-term plasticity in regulating the postsynaptic response and related synaptic properties. In agreement with previous modeling studies, we show that release sites are governed by non-uniform release probabilities of neurotransmitters. The structure of non-uniform release of neurotransmitters makes shortterm synaptic plasticity to act as a high-pass filter. We also propose that Syt7 may be a modulator for the long-term changes of postsynaptic response that helps to train the target frequency of the filter. We have developed a mathematical model of short-term plasticity which explains the experimental data.

How does the tea L-theanine buffer stress and anxiety

Tea(Camellia sinensis)is widely considered to promote feelings of calming and soothing.This effect is attributed to L-theanine(L-γ-glutamylethylamide)in tea,a non-protein amino acid mainly derived from tea leaves.As a naturally occurring structural analogue of glutamate,L-theanine competes for the receptors with glutamate and is able to pass the blood-brain barrier to exert its relaxation effect.This review focuses on the relaxation effect of L-theanine,including animal models and the latest human trials as well as the potential molecular mechanisms regarding neuron stem cells.The biological efficacy of dietary L-theanine in the food matrix has been further discussed in this review in relation to the physiological changes in the gastrointestinal tract and bindings of L-theanine with other food components.

Functional repertoire of protein kinases and phosphatases in synaptic plasticity and associated neurological disorders

Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are two essential and vital cellular mechanisms that regulate many receptors and enzymes through kinases and phosphatases.Ca^2+- dependent kinases and phosphatases are responsible for controlling neuronal processing;balance is achieved through opposition.During molecular mechanisms of learning and memory,kinases generally modulate positively while phosphatases modulate negatively.This review outlines some of the critical physiological and structural aspects of kinases and phosphatases involved in maintaining postsynaptic structural plasticity.It also explores the link between neuronal disorders and the deregulation of phosphatases and kinases.

Modeling protein-protein interactions in axon initial segment to understand their potential impact on action potential initiation

The axon initial segment(AIS)region is crucial for action potential initiation due to the presence of high-density AIS protein voltage-gated sodium channels(Nav).Nav channels comprise several serine residues responsible for the recruitment of Nav channels into the structure of AIS through interactions with ankyrin-G(AnkG).In this study,a series of computational experiments are performed to understand the role of AIS proteins casein kinase 2 and AnkG on Nav channel recruitment into the AIS.The computational simulation results using Virtual cell software indicate that Nav channels with all serine sites available for phosphorylation bind to AnkG with strong affinity.At the low initial concentration of AnkG and casein kinase 2,the concentration of Nav channels reduces significantly,suggesting the importance of casein kinase 2 and AnkG in the recruitment of Nav channels.

Medium Term Survival of Bovine Caudal Epididymal Sperm under Conditions Based on Epididymal Fluid Characteristics

Fresh semen has a very limited life span after it leaves the gonad. The relative research shows that the epididymal plasma provides a special environment to spermatozoa for survival. In this study, the osmolarity and protein concentration of caput and caudal bull epididymis were analyzed. Bovine caudal epididymal sperm were incubated in different protein and sorbitol combinations of CEP-2 diluents at 4 ℃ for 120 h and sperm viability was assessed. Under this condition, sperm viability was greater than 60% after 5 d. The osmolarity of caput and caudal epididymis were （287.0 ± 13.7） and （310.8 ± 17.0 ） mOsm, respectively. The protein concentration of caput and caudal epididymis were （ 37.43 ± 12.55 ） and （50.58±11.08） mg/mg, respectively. This may have an application in the animal production industry.

On electrostatic interactions of adenosine triphosphate-insulin-degrading enzyme revealed by quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics and molecular dynamics

The insulin-degrading enzyme(IDE)plays a significant role in the degradation of the amyloid beta(Aβ),a peptide found in the brain regions of the patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.Adenosine triphosphate(ATP)allosterically regulates the Aβ-degrading activity of IDE.The present study investigates the electrostatic interactions between ATP-IDE at the allosteric site of IDE,including thermostabilities/flexibilities of IDE residues,which have not yet been explored systematically.This study applies the quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics(QM/MM)to the proposed computational model for exploring electrostatic interactions between ATP and IDE.Molecular dynamic(MD)simulations are performed at different temperatures for identifying flexible and thermostable residues of IDE.The proposed computational model predicts QM/MM energy-minimised structures providing the IDE residues(Lys530 and Asp385)with high binding affinities.Considering root mean square fluctuation values during the MD simulations at 300.00 K including heat-shock temperatures(321.15 K and 315.15 K)indicates that Lys530 and Asp385 are also the thermostable residues of IDE,whereas Ser576 and Lys858 have high flexibilities with compromised thermostabilities.The present study sheds light on the phenomenon of biological recognition and interactions at the ATP-binding domain,which may have important implications for pharmacological drug design.The proposed computational model may facilitate the development of allosteric IDE activators/inhibitors,which mimic ATP interactions.

农村金融市场竞争对农村信用社信贷风险的影响研究——基于福建县级农村信用社数据

本文以福建省54家县级农村信用社(包括县级农村商业银行)2010—2015年的面板数据为样本,通过构建动态面板数据模型,运用系统广义矩估计方法,结合存款竞争与贷款竞争两个方面,检验了农村金融市场竞争对农村信用社信贷风险的影响。结果表明,农村信用社面临的存款竞争与贷款竞争对其信贷风险的影响方向相反而且影响程度不同,存款竞争水平与总贷款不良率正相关,贷款竞争水平与总贷款不良率负相关,存款竞争对信贷风险的影响远大于贷款竞争;涉农贷款不良率与存款竞争水平显著正相关,与贷款竞争水平负相关,但并不显著,而中小企业贷款不良率则没有受到存、贷款竞争水平的显著影响。

Effect of High-Intensity Intermittent Hypoxic Training on 3-on-3 Female Basketball Player’s Performance

Purpose To investigate the effects of 4 weeks high-intensity interval training in hypoxia on aerobic and anaerobic perfor-mance of 3-on-3 basketball players.Methods In a randomised controlled trial,15 female basketballers completed eight 1-h high-intensity training sessions in either normobaric hypoxia(hypoxic group n=8,altitude 3052 m)or normoxia(normoxic group n=7,sea-level).Results After training,the hypoxic group increased their 1-min all-out shuttle run distance by 2.5%±2.3%(mean±95%CI,d=0.83,P=0.04),compared to the normoxic group 0.2%±2.3%(d=0.06,P=0.8),with the difference between groups being clinically worthwhile but not statistically significant(d=0.77,P=0.1).Distance covered in the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test tended to increase in the hypoxic(32.5%±39.3%,d=1.0,P=0.1)but not normoxic group(0.3%±24.5%,d=0.08,P=0.9),with a non-significant change between groups(d=0.9,P=0.2).Compared to normoxia,the hypoxic group significantly increased subjective markers of stress(d=0.53,P=0.005),fatigue(d=0.43,P=0.005),and muscle soreness(d=0.46,P=0.01),which resulted in a lower perceived training performance in the hypoxic compared to the normoxic group(d=0.68,P=0.001).Conclusion High-intensity interval training under hypoxic conditions likely improved 1-min all-out shuttle run ability in female basketball 3-on-3 players but also increased subjective markers of stress and fatigue which must be taken into con-sideration when prescribing such training.

How does the addition of mushrooms and their dietary fibre affect starchy foods

Mushrooms contain multiple bioactive compounds of which dietary fibre is a representative type.Fortification of extracted or naturally derived dietary fibre in staple starchy foods constitutes a strategy to increase fibre intake in terms of cardiovascular disease and other metabolic diseases.Food matrix is viewed as a physical domain containing nutrients in which interactions and behaviours are different from those in isolation or free state.The nutritional effect of mushrooms'addition in the starchy food matrix is reviewed together with the alterations of cooking properties.Prospective studies include nutrients bioaccessibility due to the interfere of dietary fibres in consideration of their types and quality.The future approach to shaping microbial colonisation in the digestive tract through metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids from dietary fibres is required to sustain host physiology and health.

Agroecological management of a soil-dwelling orthopteran pest in vineyards

The efficacy of different combinations of undervine and inter-row treatments for managing a soil-dwelling orthopteran pest, weta （Hemiandrus sp.）, in vineyards was investigated over 2 seasons. This insect damages vine buds, thus reducing subsequent grape yield. The undervine treatments comprised pea straw mulch, mussel shells, tick beans [Viciafaba Linn. var minor （Fab）], plastic sleeves on vine trunks （treated control） and control （no intervention）, while inter-rows contained either the existing vegetation or tick beans. Treatments were arranged in a randomized complete block design with 10 replicates. Data were collected on weta densities, damage to beans and components of yield. The latter were numbers of bud laid down per vine, shoots per bud, clusters per shoot, grape bunches per vine, bunch weight and yield. The undervine treatments significantly affected all variables except the number of shoots per bud. In contrast, none of the variables was significantly affected by the inter-row treatments or their interaction with undervine treatments, apart from weta density. At the end of the experiment, weta density in the shell treatment was about 58% lower than in the control. As a result, there was about 39% significant yield increase in that treatment compared to the control. Although the undervine beans and sleeves treatments increased yield, there were no reductions in weta density. With undervine beans, the insect fed on the bean plants instead of vine buds. Thus, yield in that treatment was approximately 28% higher than in the control. These results demonstrate that simple agroecological management approaches can reduce above-ground damage by soil-dwelling insects.

Alleviating the unwanted effects of oxidative stress on Aβclearance:a review of related concepts and strategies for the development of computational modelling

Treatment for Alzheimer’s disease(AD)can be more effective in the early stages.Although we do not completely understand the aetiology of the early stages of AD,potential pathological factors(amyloid beta[Aβ]and tau)and other co-factors have been identified as causes of AD,which may indicate some of the mechanism at work in the early stages of AD.Today,one of the primary techniques used to help delay or prevent AD in the early stages involves alleviating the unwanted effects of oxidative stress on Aβclearance.4-Hydroxynonenal(HNE),a product of lipid peroxidation caused by oxidative stress,plays a key role in the adduction of the degrading proteases.This HNE employs a mechanism which decreases catalytic activity.This process ultimately impairs Aβclearance.The degradation of HNE-modified proteins helps to alleviate the unwanted effects of oxidative stress.Having a clear understanding of the mechanisms associated with the degradation of the HNE-modified proteins is essential for the development of strategies and for alleviating the unwanted effects of oxidative stress.The strategies which could be employed to decrease the effects of oxidative stress include enhancing antioxidant activity,as well as the use of nanozymes and/or specific inhibitors.One area which shows promise in reducing oxidative stress is protein design.However,more research is needed to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of this technique.This paper discusses the interplay of potential pathological factors and AD.In particular,it focuses on the effect of oxidative stress on the expression of the Aβ-degrading proteases through adduction of the degrading proteases caused by HNE.The paper also elucidates other strategies that can be used to alleviate the unwanted effects of oxidative stress on Aβclearance.To improve the effectiveness and accuracy of protein design,we explain the application of quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical approach.