Artificial intelligence-enhanced brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are expected to significantly improve the performance of traditional BCIs in multiple aspects, including usability, user experience, and user satisfaction, particularly in terms of intelligence. However, such AI-integrated or AI-based BCI systems may introduce new ethical issues. This paper first evaluated the potential of AI technology, especially deep learning, in enhancing the performance of BCI systems, including improving decoding accuracy, information transfer rate, real-time performance, and adaptability. Building on this, it was considered that AI-enhanced BCI systems might introduce new or more severe ethical issues compared to traditional BCI systems. These include the possibility of making users' intentions and behaviors more predictable and manipulable, as well as the increased likelihood of technological abuse. The discussion also addressed measures to mitigate the ethical risks associated with these issues. It is hoped that this paper will promote a deeper understanding and reflection on the ethical risks and corresponding regulations of AI-enhanced BCIs.
Brain-Computer Interfaces/ethics* ; Artificial Intelligence/ethics* ; Humans ; Deep Learning ; User-Computer Interface ; Electroencephalography

Natural products (NPs) have historically been a fundamental source for drug discovery. Yet the complex nature of NPs presents substantial challenges in pinpointing bioactive constituents, and corresponding targets. In the present study, an innovative natural product virtual screening-interaction-phenotype (NP-VIP) strategy that integrates virtual screening, chemical proteomics, and metabolomics to identify and validate the bioactive targets of NPs. This approach reduces false positive results and enhances the efficiency of target identification. Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), a herb with recognized therapeutic potential against ischemic stroke (IS), was used to illustrate the workflow. Utilizing virtual screening, chemical proteomics, and metabolomics, potential therapeutic targets for SM in the IS treatment were identified, totaling 29, 100, and 78, respectively. Further analysis via the NP-VIP strategy highlighted five high-confidence targets, including poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1 (PARP1), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), amyloid precursor protein (APP), glutamate-ammonia ligase (GLUL), and glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67). These targets were subsequently validated and found to play critical roles in the neuroprotective effects of SM. The study not only underscores the importance of SM in treating IS but also sets a precedent for NP research, proposing a comprehensive approach that could be adapted for broader pharmacological explorations.

Natural products(NPs)have historically been a fundamental source for drug discovery.Yet the complex nature of NPs presents substantial challenges in pinpointing bioactive constituents,and corresponding targets.In the present study,an innovative natural product virtual screening-interaction-phenotype(NP-VIP)strategy that integrates virtual screening,chemical proteomics,and metabolomics to identify and validate the bioactive targets of NPs.This approach reduces false positive results and enhances the ef-ficiency of target identification.Salvia miltiorrhiza(SM),a herb with recognized therapeutic potential against ischemic stroke(IS),was used to illustrate the workflow.Utilizing virtual screening,chemical proteomics,and metabolomics,potential therapeutic targets for SM in the IS treatment were identified,totaling 29,100,and 78,respectively.Further analysis via the NP-VIP strategy highlighted five high-confidence targets,including poly[ADP-ribose]polymerase 1(PARP1),signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3),amyloid precursor protein(APP),glutamate-ammonia ligase(GLUL),and glutamate decarboxylase 67(GAD67).These targets were subsequently validated and found to play critical roles in the neuroprotective effects of SM.The study not only underscores the importance of SM in treating IS but also sets a precedent for NP research,proposing a comprehensive approach that could be adapted for broader pharmacological explorations.

Objective:To analyze the genetic variant characteristics of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) in families from Henan Province.Methods:This study conducted a retrospective analysis of 19 PID pedigrees referred to the Prenatal Diagnosis Center at Henan Provincial People's Hospital between January 2016 and March 2024. Among the 19 families, 13 underwent prenatal diagnosis at our hospital, while the remaining six received genetic counseling based on third-party genetic testing reports (confirmed by our institution's laboratory). The clinical data from these families were analyzed, and descriptive statistical analysis was applied to the data.Results:Among the 19 PID families, there were seven cases of combined immunodeficiency, three immunodeficiency syndromes, three phagocyte deficiencies, three antibody-dominant immunodeficiencies, and three immunodysregulatory disorders, involving a total of 12 genes ( IL2RG, ADA, RAG2, STAT3, SMARCAL1, ATM, POLA1, CYBB, BTK, RAB27A, LRBA, IL10R). A total of 25 genetic variants were identified, including 11 novel variants not previously documented in the ClinVar and HGMD professional databases. The novel variants comprised: IL2RG gene mutations (Exon5_8del and c.903_904delinsCT leading to p.E302*), ADA gene mutation (c.884A>G resulting in p.D295G), RAG2 gene mutation (c.513dupA causing p.W172Mfs3), POLA1 gene mutation (c.25+5G>C), CYBB gene mutations (c.824G>A/p.G275D and c.472A>T/p.K158), BTK gene mutations (c.522_523insC/p.A175fs and c.142-2A>C), and RAB27A gene mutations (c.121delA/p.T41fs and c.272delA/p.D91fs). Among the 13 families undergoing prenatal diagnosis, genetic testing revealed that 11 fetuses carried wild-type genes, and these families elected to continue their pregnancies. One fetus exhibited identical genetic variants to the proband and received a clinical diagnosis consistent with the genetic disorder, while another fetus demonstrated chromosomal copy number variations. In both of these latter cases, the families opted for pregnancy termination. Conclusion:This study identified 11 unreported variants across seven genes, highlighting the need for further expansion of PID genetic variant databases.

Objective:In order to solve the problem that traditional theoretical examination has become more and more difficult to comprehensively and accurately evaluate the students' understanding, taking the endodontics course as the breakthrough, this study investigates the application of process evaluation method based on the "four-step" teaching method in the endodontics experimental courses. Meanwhile, the characteristics and feasibility and significance of the study are expounded.Methods:A total of 64 students were selected from two grades majoring in Stomatology in Medical School of Shenzhen University, and they were taught and assessed according to the new or old course designs. At the end of the course, comparisons of course assessment scores between the two grades were finished and the questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the teaching effect. SPSS 23.0 was used to perform the independent-samples t-test. Results:The analysis showed that 84.38%(27/32) of the students thought that the "four-step" teaching method helped with the learning of endodontics and significantly improved the scores of the experimental course; 90.62%(29/32) of the students thought it was helpful to stimulate self-learning skills. Compared with the students in the Class of 2018, the students in the Class of 2019 had significantly higher experimental examination scores [(87.29±4.13) vs. (84.07±1.77), P<0.01], while the scores of theoretical examination showed no significant difference between the two grades [(78.07±5.70) vs. (76.52±6.49)]. Conclusions:This teaching reform has provided the opportunities for practical operations, improved the quality of practical teaching and also stimulated the interest in independent learning of students. Moreover, it can accumulate experience for the reform of other dental experimental courses.

To address the insufficiency of domestic small-dose Chinese herbal granule dispensing equipment,this study introduces the"black box method"design concept and,on this basis,designs a lightweight,compact and highly accurate dispensing device.This device uses a two-phase four-wire brushless motor to drive the slider for displacement,thereby controlling the volume of the medicine falling into the weighing device to complete the weighing of the medicine.Finally,a two-phase hybrid stepping motor is used to drive the weighing device to transfer the medicine.This paper first elaborates in detail on the mechanical structure and weighing dispensing principle of this device.Secondly,the ANSYS finite element software is used to conduct a force analysis test on the weighing device,and it is concluded that the deformation of the weighing device during the working process is 9.98×10-5 mm,and the maximum deformation of the discharge port is 6.65×10-5 mm.Finally,the ADAMS software is used to simulate and analyze the motion process of the mechanism.The results show that,under the premise of ensuring the accuracy of weighing,there are no virtual points or interference in the motion process.On this basis,a prototype test is conducted,and the error accuracy of the dispensing machine is about 0.066 g,which is higher than the traditional dispensing accuracy.This equipment has strong adaptability and high dispensing accuracy,providing a new solution for small-dose precise quantitative equipment.

Objective:In order to solve the problem that traditional theoretical examination has become more and more difficult to comprehensively and accurately evaluate the students' understanding, taking the endodontics course as the breakthrough, this study investigates the application of process evaluation method based on the "four-step" teaching method in the endodontics experimental courses. Meanwhile, the characteristics and feasibility and significance of the study are expounded.Methods:A total of 64 students were selected from two grades majoring in Stomatology in Medical School of Shenzhen University, and they were taught and assessed according to the new or old course designs. At the end of the course, comparisons of course assessment scores between the two grades were finished and the questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the teaching effect. SPSS 23.0 was used to perform the independent-samples t-test. Results:The analysis showed that 84.38%(27/32) of the students thought that the "four-step" teaching method helped with the learning of endodontics and significantly improved the scores of the experimental course; 90.62%(29/32) of the students thought it was helpful to stimulate self-learning skills. Compared with the students in the Class of 2018, the students in the Class of 2019 had significantly higher experimental examination scores [(87.29±4.13) vs. (84.07±1.77), P<0.01], while the scores of theoretical examination showed no significant difference between the two grades [(78.07±5.70) vs. (76.52±6.49)]. Conclusions:This teaching reform has provided the opportunities for practical operations, improved the quality of practical teaching and also stimulated the interest in independent learning of students. Moreover, it can accumulate experience for the reform of other dental experimental courses.

To address the insufficiency of domestic small-dose Chinese herbal granule dispensing equipment,this study introduces the"black box method"design concept and,on this basis,designs a lightweight,compact and highly accurate dispensing device.This device uses a two-phase four-wire brushless motor to drive the slider for displacement,thereby controlling the volume of the medicine falling into the weighing device to complete the weighing of the medicine.Finally,a two-phase hybrid stepping motor is used to drive the weighing device to transfer the medicine.This paper first elaborates in detail on the mechanical structure and weighing dispensing principle of this device.Secondly,the ANSYS finite element software is used to conduct a force analysis test on the weighing device,and it is concluded that the deformation of the weighing device during the working process is 9.98×10-5 mm,and the maximum deformation of the discharge port is 6.65×10-5 mm.Finally,the ADAMS software is used to simulate and analyze the motion process of the mechanism.The results show that,under the premise of ensuring the accuracy of weighing,there are no virtual points or interference in the motion process.On this basis,a prototype test is conducted,and the error accuracy of the dispensing machine is about 0.066 g,which is higher than the traditional dispensing accuracy.This equipment has strong adaptability and high dispensing accuracy,providing a new solution for small-dose precise quantitative equipment.

Objective:To analyze the genetic variant characteristics of primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) in families from Henan Province.Methods:This study conducted a retrospective analysis of 19 PID pedigrees referred to the Prenatal Diagnosis Center at Henan Provincial People's Hospital between January 2016 and March 2024. Among the 19 families, 13 underwent prenatal diagnosis at our hospital, while the remaining six received genetic counseling based on third-party genetic testing reports (confirmed by our institution's laboratory). The clinical data from these families were analyzed, and descriptive statistical analysis was applied to the data.Results:Among the 19 PID families, there were seven cases of combined immunodeficiency, three immunodeficiency syndromes, three phagocyte deficiencies, three antibody-dominant immunodeficiencies, and three immunodysregulatory disorders, involving a total of 12 genes ( IL2RG, ADA, RAG2, STAT3, SMARCAL1, ATM, POLA1, CYBB, BTK, RAB27A, LRBA, IL10R). A total of 25 genetic variants were identified, including 11 novel variants not previously documented in the ClinVar and HGMD professional databases. The novel variants comprised: IL2RG gene mutations (Exon5_8del and c.903_904delinsCT leading to p.E302*), ADA gene mutation (c.884A>G resulting in p.D295G), RAG2 gene mutation (c.513dupA causing p.W172Mfs3), POLA1 gene mutation (c.25+5G>C), CYBB gene mutations (c.824G>A/p.G275D and c.472A>T/p.K158), BTK gene mutations (c.522_523insC/p.A175fs and c.142-2A>C), and RAB27A gene mutations (c.121delA/p.T41fs and c.272delA/p.D91fs). Among the 13 families undergoing prenatal diagnosis, genetic testing revealed that 11 fetuses carried wild-type genes, and these families elected to continue their pregnancies. One fetus exhibited identical genetic variants to the proband and received a clinical diagnosis consistent with the genetic disorder, while another fetus demonstrated chromosomal copy number variations. In both of these latter cases, the families opted for pregnancy termination. Conclusion:This study identified 11 unreported variants across seven genes, highlighting the need for further expansion of PID genetic variant databases.

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of postoperative thoracic deformation in patients who underwent multi-rib autologous rib cartilage transplantation auricle reconstruction based on 3dMD imaging system.Methods:A retrospective study was conducted using 3dMD data of the thorax from patients who underwent auricle reconstruction surgery using multiple autologous costal cartilages at the First Department of Ear Reconstruction of the Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from July to September 2019. The normal-side chest wall image was superimposed on the rib-harvested side chest wall for automatic registration and alignment, with distance numerical data presented in a Cartesian heat map through color mapping technology. By observing the areas where the rib-harvested side thorax had obvious deformation, the distance difference of the concave and convex peaks on the sagittal diameter was measured to judge the degree of thoracic deformation in children (≤10 mm as none; >10-20 mm as mild; >20-30 mm as moderate; >30 mm as severe).Results:A total of 42 children were included, with 27 males and 15 females, aged from 7 to 12 years old. The Cartesian heat map of thoracic deformation showed that the obvious concave area of the chest wall was located at the junction of the middle and inner one-third of the clavicle and the 7th rib, and the obvious convex area was located in the area from the nipple to the 5th rib. The measurement range of the protrusion peak in the upper chest nipple area was from -7.638 9 to -14.288 4 mm; the measurement range of the depression peak in the rib arch area was from 7.238 7 to 14.653 2 mm. The range of the distance difference between the concave and convex peaks was from 14.877 6 to 28.941 6 mm.The degree and incidence of thoracic deformation in children: mild in 5 cases; moderate in 37 cases.Conclusion:Based on the analysis with 3dMD photogrammetry, the overall characteristics of chest wall deformation in patients who underwent ear reconstruction with autologous rib cartilage grafts were the coexistence of protrusion in the upper chest nipple area and depression in the area where the rib cartilage was harvested, with changes occurring on the sagittal diameter.