[A study on the regulation of motor behavior in mouse based on temporal interference].

Temporal interference (TI) as a new neuromodulation technique can be applied to non-invasive deep brain stimulation. In order to verify its effectiveness in the regulation of motor behavior in animals, this paper uses the TI method to focus the envelope electric field to the ventral posterior lateral nucleus (VPL) of the thalamus in the deep brain of mouse to regulate left- and right-turning motor behavior. The focusability of TI in the mouse VPL was analyzed by finite element method, and the focus area and volume were obtained by numerical calculation. A stimulator was used to generate TI current to stimulate the mouse VPL to verify the effectiveness of the TI stimulation method, and the accuracy of the focus location was further determined by c-Fos immunofluorescence experiments. The results showed that the electric field generated by TI stimulation was able to focus on the VPL nuclei when the stimulation current reached 800 µA; the mouse were able to make corresponding left and right turns according to the stimulation position; and the c-Fos positive cell markers in the VPL nuclei increased significantly after stimulation. This study confirms the feasibility of TI in regulating animal motor behavior and provides a non-invasive stimulation method for brain tissue for animal robots.

[Simulation design and experimental study of magnetic stimulation coil for robot pigeon].

To explore the feasibility of applying magnetic stimulation technology to the movement control of animal robots, the influence of coil radius, number of turns and other factors on the intensity, depth and focus of magnetic stimulation was simulated and analyzed for robot pigeons. The coil design scheme was proposed. The coil was placed on the head and one of the legs of the pigeon, and the leg electromyography (EMG) was recorded when magnetic stimulation was performed. Results showed that the EMG was significantly strengthened during magnetic stimulation. With the reduction of the output frequency of the magnetic stimulation system, the output current was increased and the EMG was enhanced accordingly. Compared with the brain magnetic stimulation, sciatic nerve stimulation produced a more significant EMG enhancement response. This indicated that the magnetic stimulation system could effectively modulate the functions of brain and peripheral nerves by driving the coil. This study provides theoretical and experimental guidance for the subsequent optimization and improvement of practical coils, and lays a preliminary theoretical and experimental foundation for the implementation of magnetic stimulation motion control of animal robots.

Association between mixed dietary B vitamin intake and insulin resistance in US middle-aged and older adults without diabetes: The Bayesian kernel machine regression approach.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In daily life, the intake of dietary nutrients is mixed. However, evidence for the association between mixed dietary B vitamin intake and insulin resistance is limited. In this study, we estimated the joint effect of intake of various dietary B vitamins on insulin resistance. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2018. We included 1,628 middle-aged and 1,058 older adults without diabetes. Multivariable logistic regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression models were constructed. RESULTS: In the multivariable logistic regression, when all B vitamins were included in the model, the ORs (95% CIs) of insulin resistance were 3.06 (1.00-9.37) and 0.42 (0.19- 0.93) for the highest quartile of vitamin B-1 and B-12 intake in the middle-aged group when the lowest quartile was the reference. In the older group, no significant association was observed. In the Bayesian kernel machine regression analysis, a negative trend was noted between mixed B vitamin intake and insulin resistance in both examined groups. The univariate exposure-response function indicated that vitamin B-12 intake was negatively associated with insulin resistance in the middle-aged group, and that vitamin B-6 and dietary folate equivalent intakes were negatively associated with insulin resistance in older group. The bivariate exposure-response function indicated a potential interaction effect between dietary intake of vitamin B-12 and those of vitamin B-1, B-2, niacin, and dietary folate equivalent on insulin resistance in older people. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that mixed dietary B vitamin intake tends to decrease the OR of insulin resistance both in middle-aged and older people.

[Research and application of photovoltaic cell online monitoring system for animal robot stimulator].

Power supply plays a key role in ensuring animal robots to obtain effective stimulation. To extending the stimulating time, there is a need to apply photovoltaic cells and monitor their parameter variations, which can help operators to obtain the optimal stimulation strategy. In this paper, an online monitoring system of photovoltaic cells for animal robot stimulators was presented. It was composed of battery information sampling circuit, multi-channel neural signal generator, power module and human-computer interaction interface. When the signal generator was working, remote navigation control of animal robot could be achieved, and the battery voltage, current, temperature and electricity information was collected through the battery information sampling circuit and displayed on the human-computer interaction system in real time. If there was any abnormal status, alarm would be activated. The battery parameters were obtained by charging and discharging test. The battery life under different light intensity and the stimulation effect of neural signal generator were tested. Results showed that the sampling errors of battery voltage, current and electric quantity were less than 15 mV, 5 mA and 6 mAh, respectively. Compared with the system without photovoltaic cells, the battery life was extended by 148% at the light intensity of 78 320 lx, solving the battery life problem to some extent. When animal robot was stimulated with this system, left and right turns could be controlled to complete with the success rate more than 80%. It will help researchers to optimize animal robot control strategies through the parameters obtained in this system.

Global Positioning System-Based Stimulation for Robo-Pigeons in Open Space.

An evaluation method is described that will enable researchers to study fight control characteristics of robo-pigeons in fully open space. It is not limited by the experimental environment and overcomes environmental interference with flight control in small experimental spaces using a compact system. The system consists of two components: a global positioning system (GPS)-based stimulator with dimensions of 38 mm × 26 mm × 8 mm and a weight of 18 g that can easily be carried by a pigeon as a backpack and a PC-based program developed in Virtual C++. The GPS-based stimulator generates variable stimulation and automatically records the GPS data and stimulus parameters. The PC-based program analyzes the recorded data and displays the flight trajectory of the tested robo-pigeon on a digital map. This method enables quick and clear evaluation of the flight control characteristics of a robo-pigeon in open space based on its visual trajectory, as well as further optimization of the microelectric stimulation parameters to improve the design of robo-pigeons. The functional effectiveness of the method was investigated and verified by performing flight control experiments using a robo-pigeon in open space.

Modification of Hypoxic Respiratory Response by Protein Tyrosine Kinase in Brainstem Ventral Respiratory Neuron Group.

Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) mediated the tyrosine phosphorylation modification of neuronal receptors and ion channels. Whether such modification resulted in changes of physiological functions was not sufficiently studied. In this study we examined whether the hypoxic respiratory response-which is the enhancement of breathing in hypoxic environment could be affected by the inhibition of PTK at brainstem ventral respiratory neuron column (VRC). Experiments were performed on urethane anesthetized adult rabbits. Phrenic nerve discharge was recorded as the central respiratory motor output. Hypoxic respiratory response was produced by ventilating the rabbit with 10% O2-balance 90% N2 for 5 minutes. The responses of phrenic nerve discharge to hypoxia were observed before and after microinjecting PTK inhibitor genistein, AMPA receptor antagonist CNQX, or inactive PTK inhibitor analogue daidzein at the region of ambiguus nucleus (NA) at levels 0-2 mm rostral to obex where the inspiratory subgroup of VRC were recorded. Results were as follows: 1. the hypoxic respiratory response was significantly attenuated after microinjection of genistein and/or CNQX, and no additive effect (i.e., further attenuation of hypoxic respiratory response) was observed when genistein and CNQX were microinjected one after another at the same injection site. Microinjection of daidzein had no effect on hypoxic respiratory response. 2. Fluorescent immunostaining showed that hypoxia significantly increased the number of phosphotyrosine immunopositive neurons in areas surrounding NA and most of these neurons were also immunopositive to glutamate AMPA receptor subunit GluR1. These results suggested that PTK played an important role in regulating the hypoxic respiratory response, possibly through the tyrosine phosphorylation modification of glutamate AMPA receptors on the respiratory neurons of ventral respiratory neuron column.

The robo-pigeon based on the multiple brain regions synchronization implanted microelectrodes.

Almost all multichannel microelectrodes are only applied to the same nucleus. The multiple brain regions synchronization implanted microelectrodes can be implanted in the several brain regions at the same time, when used in the robo-animal, which can reduce the operation process, shorten animals operation time. Due to electrode position relatively fixed, errors caused by each separately implanted electrode were reduced and the animal control effect was greatly increased compared to the original electrodes. The electrode fixed time was also extended. This microelectrode provided beneficial reference function for the study of the free state of small animals in different brain regions.

A robo-pigeon based on an innovative multi-mode telestimulation system.

In this paper, we describe a new multi-mode telestimulation system for brain-microstimulation for the navigation of a robo-pigeon, a new type of bio-robot based on Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) techniques. The multi-mode telestimulation system overcomes neuron adaptation that was a key shortcoming of the previous single-mode stimulation by the use of non-steady TTL biphasic pulses accomplished by randomly alternating pulse modes. To improve efficiency, a new behavior model ("virtual fear") is proposed and applied to the robo-pigeon. Unlike the previous "virtual reward" model, the "virtual fear" behavior model does not require special training. The performance and effectiveness of the system to alleviate the adaptation of neurons was verified by a robo-pigeon navigation test, simultaneously confirming the practicality of the "virtual fear" behavioral model.

Overexpression of ANO1/TMEM16A, an arterial Ca2+-activated Cl- channel, contributes to spontaneous hypertension.

Calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCCs) have been implicated in hypertension; however, the mechanism underlying their involvement is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine whether the CaCC ANO1 is involved in the pathogenesis of spontaneous hypertension. Arterial ANO1 expression and the effects on blood pressure (BP) of inhibiting ANO1 with an ANO1 inhibitor, T16(Ainh)-A01, and in vivo RNAi, were examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Knockdown of ANO1 by siRNA prevented hypertensive development, and attenuation of ANO1 channel activity reduced BP in SHRs. Angiotensin II upregulated ANO1 expression in primary cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The protein level and activity of cellular ANO1 positively correlated with VSMC proliferation. Our data indicate an important role of increased ANO1 expression and activity in inducing hypertension in SHRs. It may mediate angiotensin II-dependent vascular remodeling. Our results increase the mechanistic understanding of hypertension and suggest ANO1 as a possible therapeutic target for hypertension.

Vasorelaxing and antihypertensive effects of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone.

BACKGROUND: Although 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) has been demonstrated to be potently neuroprotective, its effect on vascular function remains unknown. METHODS: The effect of 7,8-DHF on phenylephrine (PE)-induced preconstriction was examined with aortic rings isolated from normal rats. Its effective mechanisms were studied with blockers, Western blotting, and primarily cultured vascular smooth myocytes. The blood pressure (BP) of rats was measured with a tail cuff method. RESULTS: 7,8-DHF dose-dependently dilated the PE-preconstricted, endothelia-intact aortic rings with concentration for 50% of maximal effect (EC50) of approximately 24 µM. Both Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, a soluble guanylyl cyclase blocker, significantly reduced the vasorelaxing effect of 7,8-DHF. Western blotting showed that 7,8-DHF increased the aortic endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression and phosphorylation. With endothelia removed, 7,8-DHF also dilated the PE-preconstricted rings but with EC50 of approximately 104 µM. Ca(2+) imaging experiments detected that 7,8-DHF probably blocked both intracellular Ca(2+) release and extracellular Ca(2+) influx. Therefore, the mechanisms of 7,8-DHF dilating effect might be stimulating the nitric oxide/cGMP production and blocking the Ca(2+) signaling pathway instead of tropomyosin receptor kinase B receptors because ANA-12, its specific antagonist, did not show any effect against 7,8-DHF. When administered intravenously, 7,8-DHF significantly reduced the BP of the spontaneously hypertensive rats. However, when used orally, there was only a slight but significant reduction in the diastolic pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that neuro-protective 7,8-DHF is also a vasorelaxing and antihypertensive substance in rats.