Sex-Related Differences in Regional Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity in Non-Demented Elderly Subjects

The role of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) breakdown has been recognized as being important in Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis. We aimed to evaluate whether regional BBB integrity differed according to sex and whether differences in BBB integrity changed as a consequence of aging or cognitive decline, using dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In total, 75 participants with normal cognition (NC) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI) underwent cognitive assessments and MRI examination including DCE-MRI. Regional K_trans was calculated in cortical regions and the Patlak permeability model was used to calculate BBB permeability (K_trans, min⁻¹). Females had a lower median K_trans in the cingulate and occipital cortices. In the “older old” group, sex differences in K_trans were only observed in the occipital cortex. In the MCI group, sex differences in K_trans were only observed in the occipital cortex. Age was the only predictor of cognitive assessment scores in the male MCI group; however, educational years and K_trans in the occipital cortex could predict cognitive scores in the female MCI group. Our study revealed that females may have better BBB integrity in cingulate and occipital cortices. We also found that sex-related differences in BBB integrity are attenuated with aging or cognitive decline.     

Macrophage Polarization in Cardiac Tissue Repair Following Myocardial Infarction

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity around the globe, creating a substantial socio-economic burden as a result. Myocardial infarction is a significant contributor to the detrimental impact of cardiovascular disease. The death of cardiomyocytes following myocardial infarction causes an immune response which leads to further destruction of tissue, and subsequently, results in the formation of non-contractile scar tissue. Macrophages have been recognized as important regulators and participants of inflammation and fibrosis following myocardial infarction. Macrophages are generally classified into two distinct groups, namely, classically activated, or M1 macrophages, and alternatively activated, or M2 macrophages. The phenotypic profile of cardiac macrophages, however, is much more diverse and should not be reduced to these two subsets. In this review, we describe the phenotypes and functions of macrophages which are present in the healthy, as well as the infarcted heart, and analyze them with respect to M1 and M2 polarization states. Furthermore, we discuss therapeutic strategies which utilize macrophage polarization towards an anti-inflammatory or reparative phenotype for the treatment of myocardial infarction.     

Supplementing with L-Tryptophan Increases Medium Protein and Alters Expression of Genes and Proteins Involved in Milk Protein Synthesis and Energy Metabolism in Bovine Mammary Cells

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supplementing with L-tryptophan (L-Trp) on milk protein synthesis using an immortalized bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cell line. Cells were treated with 0, 0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, and 1.5 mM of supplemental L-Trp, and the most efficient time for protein synthesis was determined by measuring cell, medium, and total protein at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Time and dose tests showed that the 48 h incubation time and a 0.9 mM dose of L-Trp were the optimal values. The mechanism of milk protein synthesis was elucidated through proteomic analysis to identify the metabolic pathway involved. When L-Trp was supplemented, extracellular protein (medium protein) reached its peak at 48 h, whereas intracellular cell protein reached its peak at 96 h with all L-Trp doses. β-casein mRNA gene expression and genes related to milk protein synthesis, such as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and ribosomal protein 6 (RPS6) genes, were also stimulated (p < 0.05). Overall, there were 51 upregulated and 59 downregulated proteins, many of which are involved in protein synthesis. The results of protein pathway analysis showed that L-Trp stimulated glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and ATP synthesis, which are pathways involved in energy metabolism. Together, these results demonstrate that L-Trp supplementation, particularly at 0.9 mM, is an effective stimulus in β-casein synthesis by stimulating genes, proteins, and pathways related to protein and energy metabolism.     

基于卡尔曼滤波的电力虚假数据注入攻击检测方法

能源互联网的主体是基于状态估计下的电力系统。虚假数据注入攻击（FDIA）通过恶意篡改或注入电力数据,进而引发错误的状态估计结果。这种攻击方式存在引发大面积停电事故的风险,严重影响能源互联网的正常运行。在matpower 4.0中的IEEE-14节点系统上,利用以残差方程为基础的标准残差检测法和目标函数极值法,对FDIA进行了检测实验。提出了一种基于卡尔曼滤波的FDIA检测方法,并在MATLAB上进行了验证。实验结果表明,该方法可以在短时间内发现FDIA的发生。     

基于BC聚类的差分隐私保护推荐算法

为提高差分隐私保护下推荐算法的准确性,提出了一种考虑差分隐私保护的基于Bhattacharyya系数（BC）的聚类推荐算法.以BC作为项目相似性度量的标准,根据BC相似性对项目进行K-medoids聚类,并在聚类簇中进行私有项目邻居选择.最后,根据最近邻居集信息,对用户的评分进行预测和Top-n推荐.提出的方案有效地克服了已有方法中存在的相似性度量依赖于共同评分的问题,提高了相似性度量的准确性,有效避免了因隐私保护而造成的最近邻居集质量下降的问题.理论分析和实验测试的结果表明,该方法在实现隐私保护的同时还能有效保证推荐的高质量,较好地实现了隐私保护和数据效用之间的平衡,具有良好的应用潜力.     

基于自然拼读的穿戴式哑语翻译装置研究

本文所研究的"基于自然拼读的穿戴式哑语翻译装置",以手套为主要的穿戴式载体,利用手套上位于指关节上的弯曲传感、手背的加速度传感器及部分特殊部位的光敏传感器对字母手势进行识别编码,并利用标准手语将识别的手势转换成对应的字母和音调,然后组合成对应的汉语拼音,发送给语音模块,由语音模块合成并朗读出汉字,从而实现任意哑语信息的实时翻译.该基于自然拼读的穿戴式哑语翻译装置,易于携带,不受使用位置和待翻译文字内容的限制,易于推广,有较大的研究价值和实用价值.     

基于纳米压痕技术的电子玻璃微观力学性能研究

为了研究不同电子玻璃的微观力学性能,采用先进的纳米压痕技术记录钠钙硅、无碱硼铝硅和碱铝硅等典型电子玻璃的载荷-位移曲线,利用Oliver-Pharr方法和经典的弹塑性变形理论,计算玻璃的硬度和弹性模量. 玻璃的硬度主要与结构的键合度相关,平均非桥氧数越高,外力作用下越容易致密化,硬度越小;弹性模量主要取决于质点间的化学键强度,化学键力越强,变形越小,弹性模量越大;九点法测得的弹性模量与硬度的变化趋势不完全相同,借助硬度-弹性模量-能量耗散之间的本征关系,评价玻璃样品的微观均匀性,其中无碱硼铝硅玻璃的恢复阻力大,局部能量耗散大,不容易引起整体破坏,力学性能最好;与浮法工艺相比,溢流下拉法制备样品的局部力学性能波动较小,微观均匀性较好.     

强度传输方程和神经网络融合的三维重构算法

针对原有强度传输方程法所恢复的相位精度不够精确的缺点,提出强度传输方程和神经网络融合的三维重构算法. 利用强度传输方程求解出物体不同角度的初始相位,利用神经网络算法进行优化,根据不同角度的最终恢复相位结合乘法技术重构出三维体信息. 该算法具有精度高的特点,可以为三维成像技术的应用提供参考. 对于实验中的示例图像,该算法将强度传输方程得到的相位误差从21.40%降低为5.26%,重构三维物体与模拟真实物体的相关程度为显著相关.