Working memory is an executive memory process that includes encoding, maintenance, and retrieval. These processes can be modulated by transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with sinusoidal waves. However, little is known about the impact of the rate of current change on working memory. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of two types of tACS with different rates of current change on working memory performance and brain activity. We applied a randomized, single-blind design and divided 81 young participants who received triangular wave tACS, sinusoidal wave tACS, or sham stimulation into three groups. Participants performed n-back tasks, and electroencephalograms were recorded before, during, and after active or sham stimulation. Compared to the baseline, working memory performance (accuracy and response time) improved after stimulation under all stimulation conditions. According to drift-diffusion model analysis, triangular wave tACS significantly increased the efficiency of non-target information processing. In addition, compared with sham conditions, triangular wave tACS reduced alpha power oscillations in the occipital lobe throughout the encoding period, while sinusoidal wave tACS increased theta power in the central frontal region only during the later encoding period. The brain network connectivity results showed that triangular wave tACS improved the clustering coefficient, local efficiency, and node degree intensity in the early encoding stage, and these parameters were positively correlated with the non-target drift rate and decision starting point. Our findings on how tACS modulates working memory indicate that triangular wave tACS significantly enhances brain network connectivity during the early encoding stage, demonstrating an improvement in the efficiency of working memory processing. In contrast, sinusoidal wave tACS increased the theta power during the later encoding stage, suggesting its potential critical role in late-stage information processing. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms by which tACS modulates working memory.
Humans ; Memory, Short-Term/physiology* ; Male ; Female ; Young Adult ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation/methods* ; Brain/physiology* ; Adult ; Electroencephalography ; Single-Blind Method

Objective To assess the applicability of sound touch elastography ( ST E) and sound touch quantify ( ST Q ) in measuring liver and spleen stiffness . Methods One hundred and eighteen healthy volunteers were included and underwent ST E and ST Q . T he success rate ,variability and reproducibility of ST E and ST Q were analyzed . T he accurate sampling size and number of tests for liver ST Q were also analyzed . Results T he success rates ,variability ,reproducibility of ST E and ST Q in liver were 97 .5% and 99 .2% ,8 .7% and 12 .0% ,0 .917 and 0 .916 , respectively . While those with spleen were 76 .3% and 66 .9% ,12 .4% and 16 .4% ,0 .847 and 0 .706 ,respectively . The sampling size of 1 .5 cm×1 .0 cm yield the lowest variability ( 8 .5% ) ( F ＝6 .562 , P ＝0 .002) ,and there was no significant difference between results of detecting 5 times and 10 times( P ＝0 .571) . T he liver and spleen stiffness of ST E were 5 .75 kPa ( 95%CI :5 .60－5 .91 kPa) and 15 .58 kPa ( 95% CI :14 .99 －16 .16 kPa) . Conclusions The measurement of liver stiffness using both ST E and ST Q have a high success rate and low variability . However ,ST E is better than STQ in measuring spleen stiffness .

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Ebolavirus ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; therapeutic use ; Glycoproteins ; genetics ; HEK293 Cells ; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; genetics ; pathology ; virology ; Mucins ; genetics ; Transfection ; Viral Envelope Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVEThis study is performed to investigate the cell topographies and biomechanical properties of two different types of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs from goats by using JPK Nano Wizard 3 biological atomic force microscopy (AFM). This process provides a guideline for selecting seed cells for TMJ disc tissue engineering.

METHODSTMJ disc cells from primary goats were cultured by monolayer culture method. AFM was used to contact scan the topographies of the two types of TMJ disc cells under physiological environment. Approximately 20 chondrocyte-like and fibroblast-like cells were selected randomly to plot the force-versus-distance curves of the cytoplasm and nucleus. Young's modulus and adhesion were analyzed by JPK Data Processing.

RESULTSThe triangle-shapednucleus of the chondrocyte-like cell occupied a large portion of the cell. Cytoskeleton was arranged dendritically on the surface. Pseudopodia were extended from cell edges. The spindle-shaped nucleus of the fibroblast-like cell occupied a significantly larger region compared with the cytoplasmic region. Cytoskeleton was arranged regularly. Cell edges were smooth with less pseudopodia extended. No difference was found in the surface roughness between the two types of cells. According to the force-versus-distance curves, the Young's moduli of the two types of cells were not statistically different (P>0.05), but differences were found in the cytoplasmic regions (P=0.047). No statistical difference was found in the adhesions between the two types of cells (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe AFM topography and curves were compared and analyzed. The two types of TMJ disc cells exhibited significantly different topographies, but only slight difference in their mechanical abilities.

Animals ; Chondrocytes ; Elastic Modulus ; Fibroblasts ; Goats ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; Tissue Engineering

Objective??This?study?is?performed?to?investigate?the?cell?topographies?and?biomechanical?properties?of?two?different?types?of?temporomandibular?joint?(TMJ)?discs?from?goats?by?using?JPK?Nano?Wizard?3?biological?atomic?force?microscopy?(AFM).?This?process?provides?a?guideline?for?selecting?seed?cells?for?TMJ?disc?tissue?engineering. Methods??TMJ?disc?cells?from?primary?goats?were?cultured?by?monolayer?culture?method.?AFM?was?used?to?contact?scan?the?topographies?of?the?two?types?of?TMJ?disc?cells?under?physiological?environment.?Approximately?20?chondrocyte-like?and?fibroblast-like?cells?were?selected?randomly?to?plot?the?force-versus-distance?curves?of?the?cytoplasm?and?nucleus.?Young’s?modulus?and?adhesion?were?analyzed?by?JPK?Data?Processing.?Results??The?triangle-shapednucleus?of?the?chondrocyte-like?cell?occupied?a?large?portion?of?the?cell.?Cytoskeleton?was?arranged?dendritically?on?the?surface.?Pseudopodia?were?extended?from?cell?edges.?The?spindle-shapednucleus?of?the?fibroblast-like?cell?occupied?a?significantly?larger?region?compared?with?the?cytoplasmic?region.?Cytoskeleton?was?arranged?regularly.?Cell?edges?were?smooth?with?less?pseudopodia?extended.?No?difference?was?found?in?the?surface?roughness?between?the?two?types?of?cells.?According?to?the?force-versus-distance?curves,?the?Young’s?moduli?of?the?two?types?of?cells?were?not?statistically?different?(P>0.05),?but?differences?were?found?in?the?cytoplasmic?regions?(P=0.047).?No?statistical?difference?was?found?in?the?adhesions?between?the?two?types?of?cells?(P>0.05).?Conclusion??The?AFM?topography?and?curves?were?compared?and?analyzed.?The?two?types?of?TMJ?disc?cells?exhibited?significantly?different?topographies,?but?only?slight?difference?in?their?mechanical?abilities.

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of pinacidil,an opener of ATP-sensitive K+ channels,in protecting the myocardium of immature rabbit hearts from ischemic reperfusion injury.Methods Rabbit hearts underwent 30 min of global normothermic ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion on the modified Langendorff apparatus.Fifty-two isolated hearts of 3 - 4 week-old immature rabbits were divided into 4 groups randomly.During ischemia,3 different cardioplegic solutions were administered intermittently by infusion every 15 min(20-25 mi each time in all groups).Group 1:control group(n = 13);group 2:Krebs-Henseleit(K-H)solution with potassium(16 mmol/L)(n = 1:3);group 3:K-H solution with potassium(16 mmol/L)and pinacidil(50 μmol/L)(n = 13);group 4:K-H solution with potassium(16 mmol/L),pinacidil(50 μmol/L)and glibenclamide(10 μmol/L)(n = 13).The pre-ischemic and post-ischemic myocardial functions were assessed by the percentage recovery of the left ventricular developed pressure(LVDP);the left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVEDP);both the Positive peak and negative peaks of the first derivative of the left ventricular pressures(± dp/dtmax);coronary flow;the level of creatine kinase(CK),lactic dehydrogenase(LDH)and aspartate transcarbamoylase(AST)in coronary sinus venous effluent;and by myocardial ultrastructural changes. Results Before myocardial ischemia,there were no significant differences among the four groups in any of the parameters mentioned above.Post-ischemic recovery of LVDP,LVEDP,± dp/dtmax,coronary flow,the level of CK,LDH and AST,and myocardial ultrastructural changes were better in group 3 than those in the three other groups.Conclusions As a new and effective composition,pinacidil can significantly improve myocardial protection from cardioplegia for immature rabbit hearts.