Time-Varying Networks of Inter-Ictal Discharging Reveal Epileptogenic Zone

The neuronal synchronous discharging may cause an epileptic seizure. Currently, most of the studies conducted to investigate the mechanism of epilepsy are based on EEGs or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) recorded during the ictal discharging or the resting-state, and few studies have probed into the dynamic patterns during the inter-ictal discharging that are much easier to record in clinical applications. Here, we propose a time-varying network analysis based on adaptive directed transfer function to uncover the dynamic brain network patterns during the inter-ictal discharging. In addition, an algorithm based on the time-varying outflow of information derived from the network analysis is developed to detect the epileptogenic zone. The analysis performed revealed the time-varying network patterns during different stages of inter-ictal discharging; the epileptogenic zone was activated prior to the discharge onset then worked as the source to propagate the activity to other brain regions. Consistence between the epileptogenic zones detected by our proposed approach and the actual epileptogenic zones proved that time-varying network analysis could not only reveal the underlying neural mechanism of epilepsy, but also function as a useful tool in detecting the epileptogenic zone based on the EEGs in the inter-ictal discharging

Early on-treatment plasma interleukin-18 as a promising indicator for long-term virological response in patients with HIV-1 infection

Background and aimsIt is necessary to identify simple biomarkers that can efficiently predict the efficacy of long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially in underdeveloped countries. We characterized the dynamic changes in plasma interleukin-18 (IL-18) and assessed its performance as a predictor of long-term virological response.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study of HIV-1-infected patients enrolled in a randomized controlled trial with a follow-up of 144  weeks of ART. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to evaluate plasma IL-18. Long-term virological response was defined as HIV-1 RNA <20 copies/mL at week 144.ResultsAmong the 173 enrolled patients, the long-term virological response rate was 93.1%. Patients with a long-term virological response had significantly lower levels of week 24 IL-18 than non-responders. We defined 64  pg./mL, with a maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity, as the optimal cutoff value of week 24 IL-18 level to predict long-term virological response. After adjusting for age, gender, baseline CD4+ T-cell count, baseline CD4/CD8 ratio, baseline HIV-1 RNA level, HIV-1 genotype and treatment strategy, we found that lower week 24 IL-18 level (≤64 vs. >64 pg./mL, a OR 19.10, 95% CI: 2.36–154.80) was the only independent predictor of long-term virological response.ConclusionEarly on-treatment plasma IL-18 could act as a promising indicator for long-term virological response in patients with HIV-1 infection. Chronic immune activation and inflammation may represent a potential mechanism; further validation is necessary

Factors Influencing Customers' Intention to Purchase the Brand Extension in China

Dissertação de Mestrado em Marketing apresentada à Faculdade de EconomiaEste relatório é sobre descobrir a correlação entre Brand Awareness, Ajuste Perceived, qualidade Perceived Da Marca de Pais, História Da Marca Pai anterior, suporte de marketing, lealdade de Marca e intenção de compra do cliente chinês sobre a extensão Da marca.O questionário é usado para coletar questionários Neste papel, e vários métodos estatísticos são usados para analisar a hipótese.Os resultados mostram que tanto a história Da qualidade percebida Como Da extensão Da Marca desempenham um Papel importante Na promoção Da lealdade à marca, e a elevada lealdade à Marca causará um Impacto positivo Na intenção de comprar produtos estendidos.A história Da extensão Da Marca afetará a qualidade percebida, e a qualidade percebida Pode aumentar ativamente a intenção de comprar extensão Da marca.O apoio Ao mercado, Como a publicidade, Pode aumentar o significado de importantes associações de marcas, o que Ajuda OS consumidores a inferir Recursos e benefícios alargados, e o contacto repetitivo Pode suscitar a associação DOS consumidores, aumentando assim a SUA intenção de compra.Depois de OS consumidores concluírem o julgamento Da adequação e Da adequação, também aumentarão a SUA intenção de compra.Este estudo também explora se o gênero e o estado civil terão efeitos significativos NOS resultados de diferentes dimensões.Foi provado que o estado civil TEM um Impacto significativo EM muitos fatores, o que Pode ser porque a intenção de compra DOS respondentes que se casaram Pode ser afetada pelos membros Da família, assim a SUA escolha de Marca Pode também ter necessidades e considerações diferentes com aqueles que não são casados.This report is about discovering the correlation between Brand Awareness, Perceived fit, Perceived quality of the Parent Brand, History of the previous parent brand, Marketing support, brand loyalty and purchase intention of Chinese customer about the brand extension. questionnaire survey is used to collect questionnaires in this paper, and various statistical methods are used to analyze the hypothesis. The results show that both the perceived quality and brand extension history play an important role in promoting brand loyalty, and high brand loyalty will cause a positive impact on the intention to purchase extended products. Brand extension history will affect the perceived quality, and the perceived quality can actively boost the intention to purchase brand extension. Marketing support, like advertising can increase the significance of important brand associations, which helps consumers infer extended features and benefits, and repetitive contact can arouse consumers' Association, thus increasing their purchase intention. After consumers infer the judgment of suitability and fitness, they will also increase their purchase intention.This study also explores whether gender and marital status will have significant effects on the results of different dimensions. It has been proved that marital status has a significant impact on many factors, which may be because the purchase intention of the respondents who have married may be affected by the family members, so their choice of brand may also have different needs and considerations with those who are not married

Systemic understanding of <i>Lactococcus lactis</i> response to acid stress using transcriptomics approaches

Abstract During fermentation, acid stress caused by the accumulation of acidic metabolites seriously affects the metabolic activity and production capacity of microbial cells. To elucidate the acid stress-tolerance mechanisms of microbial cells, we performed genome mutagenesis combined with high-throughput technologies to screen acid stress-tolerant strains. Mutant strain Lactococcus lactis WH101 showed a 16,000-fold higher survival rate than that of the parent strain after 5 h of acid shock at pH 4.0 and maintained higher ATP, NH4+, and intracellular pH (pHi) levels during acid stress. Additionally, comparative transcriptomics analysis revealed enhanced regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and sugar transport to provide additional energy, amino acid metabolism and transport to maintain pHi homeostasis and ATP generation, and fatty acid metabolism to enhance cellular acid tolerance. Moreover, overexpression of identified components resulted in 12.6- and 12.9-fold higher survival rates after acid shock for 3 h at pH 4.0 in L. lactis (ArcB) and L. lactis (MalQ) compared to the control strain, respectively. These findings provide valuable insight into the acid stress-response mechanisms of L. lactis and promote the further development of robust industrial strains.</jats:p

Metformin regulates the Th17/Treg balance by glycolysis with TIGAR in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury

The balance of Th17/Treg plays an important role in hepatic ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury. Glycolysis and glutaminolysis for energy metabolism governs the differentiate of CD 4+ T-cells to Th17/Treg. Metformin can regulate glucose metabolism in the liver, but its protective effect on I/R liver injury and its effect on Th17/Treg balancestill unknown. In this study, the I/R liver injury rat model and the primary hepatocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation injury model were established. The biochemical indexes, inflammatory factor indexes, Th17/Treg balance and energy metabolism were evaluated. RNA-seq and gene knockout cells were used to investigated the target protein of metformin. The results showed that metformin could effectively improve liver injury caused by I/R, significantly inhibit the glycolysis, improve the Th17/Treg balance, and inhibit the expression of inflammatory factors. RNA-seq results showed that TIGAR was a possible regulatory site of metformin. However, the protective effect and the regulating effect of Th17/Treg balance by metformin in TIGAR knock-out cells were disappeared. In conclusion, metformin could regulate TIGAR inhibit glycolysis then regulate Th17/Treg balance, inhibit the release of liver inflammatory factors, and finally play a role in inhibiting the occurrence of liver injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion