Effects of Ketone Bodies on Brain Metabolism and Function in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Under normal physiological conditions the brain primarily utilizes glucose for ATP generation. However, in situations where glucose is sparse, e.g., during prolonged fasting, ketone bodies become an important energy source for the brain. The brain’s utilization of ketones seems to depend mainly on the concentration in the blood, thus many dietary approaches such as ketogenic diets, ingestion of ketogenic medium-chain fatty acids or exogenous ketones, facilitate significant changes in the brain’s metabolism. Therefore, these approaches may ameliorate the energy crisis in neurodegenerative diseases, which are characterized by a deterioration of the brain’s glucose metabolism, providing a therapeutic advantage in these diseases. Most clinical studies examining the neuroprotective role of ketone bodies have been conducted in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, where brain imaging studies support the notion of enhancing brain energy metabolism with ketones. Likewise, a few studies show modest functional improvements in patients with Parkinson’s disease and cognitive benefits in patients with—or at risk of—Alzheimer’s disease after ketogenic interventions. Here, we summarize current knowledge on how ketogenic interventions support brain metabolism and discuss the therapeutic role of ketones in neurodegenerative disease, emphasizing clinical data.     

中国大学生创造性4C认知量表修订

目的对创造性4C认知量表(CC4CS)在中国大学生中进行修订,以便探讨创造性4C理论在中国本土文化中的适用性。方法从在线大学生QQ群中招募全国各地3 360名在校大学生为被试,填写CC4CS中文版初测量表,分析其信效度。结果 (1)各项目的区分度与鉴别性较好(t=14.01~34.77,r=0.31~0.55,P均0.001)。(2)经探索性因子分析,得到与原量表一致的创造性4C结构,累积方差解释率为55.22%。(3)总量表Cronbachα系数为0.85,重测信度为0.88,各分量表的α系数在0.72~0.82之间,重测信度在0.81~0.90之间;与Lawdsei认知创造力量表和Rudowicz-Hui创造力概念调查量表的关联效度分别为0.67、0.77;各分量表与总分以及各分量表之间的相关分别在0.53~0.74、0.10~0.60之间,结构效度良好。结论 CC4CS中文版具有较好的心理测量学指标,适用于在中国文化背景下大学生的创造性4C认知测量。     

Does interior color contrast enhance spatial memory?

This study investigated the effect of contrast in neutral-, warm-, and cool-colored spaces on spatial memory. Spatial memory was measured in terms of architectural scale and recollection of architectural elements and furniture. Participants (N = 114) viewed a short virtual simulation video of a residential studio and were asked to sketch a map of the architectural elements on distributed grid paper. Spatial memory was measured in terms of scale, and item recall rate. Contrast and hue had no significant effect on the memorization of proportional scale. However, high-contrast schemes allowed for a significantly higher recollection of architectural elements than low-contrast schemes. In comparing the effect of hues, a significant difference was seen in recalling detailed furniture and lighting items. Participants reported significantly better spatial memory of neutral and warm color schemes than of cool color schemes. There was no interaction effect between contrast and hue in the color combinations. These results can be applied in the design of color schemes for architectural spaces requiring enhanced spatial cognition and memory.     

The Regulatory Functionality of Exosomes Derived from hUMSCs in 3D Culture for Alzheimer's Disease Therapy

Reducing amyloid‐β (Aβ) accumulation could be a potential therapeutic approach for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Particular functional biomolecules in exosomes vested by the microenvironment in which the original cells resided can be transferred to recipient cells to improve pathological conditions. However, there are few reports addressing whether exosomes derived from cells cultured on scaffolds with varying dimension can reduce Aβ deposition or ameliorate cognitive decline for AD therapy. Herein, both 3D graphene scaffold and 2D graphene film are used as the matrix for human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell culture, from which the supernatants are obtained to isolate exosomes. The levels of 195 kinds of miRNAs and proteins, including neprilysin, insulin‐degrading enzyme and heat shock protein 70, in 3D‐cultured exosomes (3D‐Exo) are dramatically different from those obtained from 2D culture. Hence, 3D‐Exo could up‐regulate the expression of α‐secretase and down‐regulate the β‐secretase to reduce Aβ production in both AD pathology cells and transgenic mice, through their special cargo. With rescuing Aβ pathology, 3D‐Exo exerts enhanced therapeutic effects on ameliorating the memory and cognitive deficits in AD mice. These findings provide a novel clinical application for scaffold materials and functional exosomes derived from stem cells.     

复杂系统的设计认知和创新

目的研究复杂系统设计过程中设计师的设计认知和设计创新行为。方法通过国内外相关文献的研究和分析,总结归纳复杂系统设计问题界定和解决方案构思的认知过程、复杂系统创新设计构思的生成机制、复杂系统的创新设计策略,分析复杂系统设计认知和创新研究领域将发生的变革和未来发展的趋势。结论系统探讨了复杂系统设计认知与创新过程中的设计问题界定和解决方案构思的联合演化机制、给定和自发性解决方案示例,给设计师带来的认知固化和类比推理创新启发作用、结构化和机会主义的创新设计策略,发现当下的复杂系统创新设计理论和实践研究,还需要进一步开展跨学科知识融合激励的复杂系统创新设计研究,与此同时,加强关于设计师主观认知不确定性的定量建模研究,从而更好、更有针对性地探究复杂系统创新设计中认知过程的自然本质。     

A calm companion lowers fear in groups of dairy cows

Dairy cows are generally calm and compliant, but some management procedures can make cows fearful or stressed. Not only are fearful cattle a threat to human safety, but fear is also detrimental to animal welfare and productivity. This study aimed to test whether fear in small groups of dairy cattle could be attenuated by the presence of a calm and experienced companion. Twenty-seven dairy cows from a Swedish agricultural school participated in the study. The study included a standardized fear-eliciting stimulus, which was 3 sudden, repetitive openings of a red and white umbrella. Demonstrator cows (n = 9) were selected based on age to ensure that all demonstrators were older than the naïve test cows (n = 18). Of these 9 demonstrator cows, 6 were selected as untrained (i.e., habituated to the presence of the test person) and 3 were selected as trained demonstrators (i.e., additionally habituated to the fear-eliciting stimulus). The remaining 18 test cows comprised 6 test-cow groups of 3 cows each, which were their own controls, resulting in a crossover design; 3 groups were tested with a trained demonstrator first and then with an untrained demonstrator, and vice versa for the other 3 groups, resulting in a total of 12 trials (4 sub-treatments). Response variables were heart rate increase from baseline, behavioral reaction indicative of fear, and latency to resume feeding after exposure to the fear-eliciting stimulus. The study found a calming effect of a trained demonstrator on test cows' heart rate but not on latency to resume feeding or behavioral reaction. Post hoc analyses revealed a carryover effect on latency, indicating that test cows who were accompanied by an untrained demonstrator first had longer latencies than cows in all other sub-treatments. Adding a calm, experienced cow to groups of dairy cattle may mitigate fear and thereby improve welfare and safety.