Liquid Metal Flexible EMG Gel Electrodes for Gesture Recognition.

Gesture recognition has been playing an increasingly important role in the field of intelligent control and human-computer interaction. Gesture recognition technology based on electromyography (EMG) with high accuracy has been widely applied. However, conventional rigid EMG electrodes do not fit the mechanical properties of human skin. Therefore, rigid EMG electrodes are easily influenced by body movements, and uncomfortable to wear and use for a long time. To solve these problems, a stretchable EMG electrode based on liquid metal nanoparticles was developed in this research. It is conformal with human skin because of its similar mechanical properties to skin. Liquid metal nanoparticles mixed in polymer can be connected to each other to form conductive circuits when pressed by mechanical force. Therefore, this preparation method of liquid metal flexible gel electrodes is low-cost and can be fabricated largely. Moreover, the liquid metal flexible gel electrodes have great stretch ability. Their resistance increases slightly at maximum strain state. Based on these advantages, the flexible gel electrodes are applied to arm to collect EMG signals generated by human hand movements. In addition, the signals are analyzed by artificial intelligence algorithm to realize accurate gesture recognition.

Development of survival predictors for high-grade serous ovarian cancer based on stable radiomic features from computed tomography images.

Less than 35% of advanced patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) survive for 5 years after diagnosis. Here, we developed radiomics-based models to predict HGSOC clinical outcomes using preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) images. 891 radiomics features were extracted between primary, metastatic, or lymphatic lesions from preoperative venous phase CECT images of 217 patients with HGSOC. A heuristic method, Frequency Appearance in Multiple Univariate preScreening (FAMUS), was proposed to identify stable and task-relevant radiomic features. Using FAMUS, we constructed predictive models of overall survival and disease-free survival in patients with HGSOC based on these stable radiomic features. According to their CT images, patients with HGSOC can be accurately stratified into high-risk or low-risk groups for cancer-related death within 2-6 years or for likely recurrence within 1-5 years. These radiomic models provide convincing and reliable non-invasive markers for individualized prognostic evaluation and clinical decision-making for patients with HGSOC.

circFBXO7/miR-96-5p/MTSS1 axis is an important regulator in the Wnt signaling pathway in ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: CircRNAs are a novel class of evolutionarily conserved noncoding RNA molecules that form covalently closed continuous loop structures without 5' caps and 3' poly(A) tails. Accumulating evidence suggests that circRNAs play important regulatory roles in cancer and are promising biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, as well as targets for cancer therapy. In this study, we identify and explore the role of a novel circRNA, circFBXO7, in ovarian cancer. METHODS: rRNA-depleted RNA-sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed circRNAs between ovarian cancerous and normal tissues. qRT-PCR and single-molecule RNA in-situ hybridization was used to quantify circFBXO7 expression in tumor tissues. The association of circFBXO7 expression with patient prognosis was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The biological function of circFBXO7 was also investigated using loss-of-function and gain-of-function assays in vivo and in vitro. Luciferase reporter and TOP/FOP-Flash reporter assays were then conducted together with RNA immunoprecipitation and western blot to assess the circFBXO7/miR-96-5p/MTSS1/Wnt/ß-catenin axis. RESULTS: circFBXO7 was downregulated in ovarian cancer which was associated with poor prognosis. Biologically, circFBXO7 overexpression significantly suppressed ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in vivo, whereas its knockdown exerted an opposite role. Mechanistically, circFBXO7 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA for miR-96-5p to regulate the expression of MTSS1. Consequently, downregulation of MTSS1 led to excessive accumulation of ß-catenin and increased phosphorylation of GSK3ß, leading to the translocation of ß-catenin to the nucleus, thereby activating the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway and ultimately promoting ovarian cancer progression. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that circFBXO7 acts as a bone fide tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer and that the circFBXO7/miR-96-5p/MTSS1 axis is an important regulator in the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway which may provide a promising target for ovarian cancer therapy.

Effect of biological additives on Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) growth performance, digestive enzymes activity and immunology.

Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) has become a commercially important fish species all over the world. High-density aquaculture has led to congestion and contributed to bacterial infection outbreaks that have caused high mortality. Therefore a 56-days feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (GB-9) and Yarrowia lipolytica lipase2 (YLL2) on growth performance, digestive enzymes activity, innate immunity and resistance to pathogens of A. japonica. Fish growth performance was significantly affected by dietary YLL2 supplementation but not by GB-9. Fish fed diets with YLL2 at 2.0 g/kg diet in combination of high and low levels of GB-9 (5.0 g/kg and 2.0 g/kg) produced the highest growth. For digestive enzyme, lipase and trypsin activities was promoted by dietary containing YLL2, while amylase activities was increased by dietary containing YLL2, GB-9 single or combination. For innate immunity, the mucus lysozyme activity, leukocytes phagocytosis activity and reactive oxygen species level of skin, peroxidase and lysozyme activity of serum were enhanced in fish fed with GB-9 compared to those in control group (p < 0.05). The highest resistance to Vibrio anguillarum and Aeromonas hydrophila was determined in fish fed with 5.0 g kg-1 GB-9 + 2.0 g/kg YLL2. This study demonstrated that GB-9 and YLL2 enhanced non-specific immune defense system of A. japonica, providing them with higher resistance to pathogens. The present results suggested that the combination of these supplements could be considered as potential biological additives for aquaculture farmed fish.

Effects of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Yarrowia lipolytica lipase 2 on immunology and growth performance of Hybrid sturgeon.

A 12-weeks feeding trial was performed to investigate the possible effects of supplementation of Hybrid sturgeon diet with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (GB-9) and Yarrowia lipolytica lipase2 (YLL2) single or combined on immune response and growth performance of Hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser schrenkii ♂and Acipenser baeri ♀). For this aim, Hybrid sturgeons were fed with four experimental diets namely: Diet 1 (0-control), Diet 2 (5.0 g/kg GB-9), Diet 3 (4.0 g/kg YLL2), and Diet 4 (5.0 g/kg GB-9 + 4.0 g/kg YLL2), respectively. After fed with varied diets, growth performance, mucosal immune response, leukocytes immune response and serum immunological response were measured. The results indicated that supplementations of GB-9 + YLL2 resulted in a significant increase in final weight, Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentenoic acid (EPA) concentration, compared with that of control (p < 0.05). For innate immunity, the results showed that skin mucus lysozyme activity, leukocytes phagocytosis activity and reactive oxygen species level, and serum alternative complement pathway activity, peroxidase and lysozyme activity were significantly higher in supplemented groups compared to the control (p < 0.05). The highest values were recorded in fish fed both YLL2 and GB-9 with respect to the individual application. The present results suggested that the combination of these supplementation could be considered as potential feed-additives for aquaculture farmed fish.

Aging Systemic Milieu Impairs Outcome after Ischemic Stroke in Rats.

Compelling evidence indicates that factors in the blood can profoundly reverse aging-related impairments, as exposure of aged mice to young blood rejuvenates adult stem cell function, improves cognition, and ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy. Systemic factors from mice can also extend the life span of a partner exposed to a lethal treatment or disease. These findings suggest that the systemic milieu of a healthy young partner may be beneficial for an aged organism. However, it is unknown whether a healthy young systemic milieu can improve functional recovery after ischemic stroke. Intraperitoneal administration of young plasma into aged rats after ischemic stroke induced by distal middle cerebral artery occlusion (dMCAO) reduced infarct volume and motor impairment, compared with vehicle group. On the contrary, intraperitoneal administration of plasma from aged rats into young ischemic rats worsened brain injury and motor deficits. Using a proteomic approach, we found that haptoglobin levels were significantly increased in serum of aged rats and that intraperitoneal administration of haptoglobin impaired outcome after ischemic stroke in young rats. Our data suggest that the aging systemic milieu plays a critical role in functional outcome after ischemic stroke.

Cross-talk between human neural stem/progenitor cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells in an allogeneic co-culture model.

Transplantation of human neural stem/progenitor cells (hNSCs) as a regenerative cell replacement therapy holds great promise. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We, here, focused on the interaction between hNSCs and allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in a co-culture model. We found that hNSCs significantly decrease the CD3+ and CD8+ T cells, reduce the gamma delta T cells and increase the regulatory T cells, along with reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines after co-culture. We also found that PBMCs, in turn, significantly promote the proliferation and differentiation of hNSCs. Our data suggest that hNSCs cross-talk with immune cells.