In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether long-term musical training could improve audio-visual speech integration in Chinese, using event-related brain potential (ERP) measurements. Specifically, we recruited musicians and non-musicians to participate in our experiment where visual Chinese characters were presented simultaneously with congruent or incongruent speech sounds. In order to maintain participants' focus on both auditory and visual modalities, they were instructed to perform a probe detection task. Our study revealed that for the musicians, audiovisual incongruent stimuli elicited an N1 effect and an N400 effect compared to audiovisual congruent stimuli. Conversely, only the N400 effect was observed for the non-musicians. Furthermore, correlation analyses indicated that more years of music training was associated with a larger N1 effect for the musicians. These results suggest that musicians were capable of detecting character-speech sound incongruence at an earlier time window compared to non-musicians. Overall, our findings provide compelling evidence that music training is associated with better integration of visual characters and auditory speech sounds in language processing.
BackgroundAccurately predicting the survival rate of submandibular gland cancer (SGC) is of significant importance for guiding treatment decision-making and improving patient outcomes. This study was aimed to identify the independent prognostic factors of overall survival (OS) in SGC patients, and develop novel prediction models to aid clinicians in predicting the survival probability.Materials and methodsPatients diagnosed with primary SGC after the year 2010 were extracted from SEER database and then randomly allocated into training and test samples in a 7:3 ratio. Uni- and multi-variable COX analyses were employed using the training sample to ascertain independent prognostic factors for OS. Subsequently, graphic and online dynamic nomograms were established basing on the independent prognostic factors. We utilized C-index, calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and area under ROC curve (AUC) value to evaluate the discrimination capacity and the consistency between predicted and actual survival.ResultsA total of 527 SGC patients were included (369 assigned to training group and 158 assigned to test group). The multivariable COX analysis showed that age, sex, marital status, tumor histology, summary stage, metastases to bone, and tumor size were independently associated with OS. Novel graphical and online dynamic (URL: https://yangxg1209.shinyapps.io/overall_survival_submandibular_gland_tumor/) nomograms were established. The C-indices (training: 0.77, 95%CI 0.71–0.84; test: 0.77, 95%CI 0.68–0.85) indicate favorable discrimination ability of the model, and the calibration curves demonstrated favorable consistency between the predicted and actual survival rates.ConclusionsOur study identified the independent prognostic factors influencing OS in patients with SGC, and successfully established and validated novel nomograms, which provide accurate prediction of survival rates and allows for personalized risk assessment.
Peroxidases play a critical role in the anti-oxidant enzyme protection system of plants accordingly, we assumed that wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), as a multi-resistant plant adapting to a variety of stressful conditions, should contain certain special peroxidase. In this study, a putative peroxidase cDNA containing a ORF (CpPOD) was cloned by screening the full-length cDNA library of wintersweet. In order to decipher the its function, the cloned gene was overexpressed in tobacco system via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. The results initially showed that overexpression of CpPOD can not only enhance the ability of water-keeping, but also provide anti-oxidant activity to stress injury. All these results suggested that the CpPOD gene presents multiple resistance actions.
Abstract Zhou et al. (2022) proposed a method for instantaneous source depth estimation in deep water using matched beam intensity processing (MBIP) that leverages depth‐related oscillatory features arising from Lloyd's mirror interference in the frequency domain (Appl. Acoust., 2022, 186, 108493). However, the efficacy of MBIP diminishes with a random source spectrum. To counteract the effect of a random source spectrum, a vertical line array (VLA) positioned near the sea bottom is employed and a cross‐spectrum is generated from the conventional beamforming output, which is achieved by dividing the VLA into upper‐half and lower‐half arrays. The authors find that the cross‐spectrum phase interference pattern is determined by the source depth and is unaffected by the source spectrum. Consequently, a matched cross‐spectrum phase processing method is proposed, which demonstrates appreciable depth estimation accuracy compared to that of the existing techniques, as evidenced by the results from both simulated and experimental data.
The feasibility of storing two electrolyzed waters (EW), acidic (AEW) and neutral (NEW), were elucidated through Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella typhii inactivation experiments. Free chlorine (FC) loss, pH and oxidation-reduction potentials were monitored for 30 days. Initial activities of fresh EWs were determined at 5 mg Cl2·min/L for 8 Log10 inactivations of both strains. However, stored EWs exhibited activity declines which were associated to FC losses. All FC loss rates were first-order; AEWs underwent two phases of decays while NEWs had single decay rate constants. Two FC loss mechanisms were identified: chlorine (Cl2) volatilization and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) decomposition, wherein Cl2 volatilization occurred at a faster rate. Chlorine volatilization was primarily influenced by storage condition as indicated by intensive FC losses on EWs stored in open vessels. Under the same storage conditions (open or closed), Cl2-rich AEW experienced higher FC losses which indicated the higher stability of HOCl-rich NEW. Overall, FC losses could be minimized if (1) samples are stored in closed vessels and (2) Cl2 is not the main chlorine component. NEW in closed vessel is the most feasible system for EW storage; its initial activity (8 Log10 inactivation) was preserved for up to 17 days.
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the clinical value of Tension-free Herniorrhaphy in treatment of 218 Cases with Inguinal Hernia.METHODS 218 patients with Inguinal Hernia were collected from May 2003 to Oct.2011 in our hospital,and all the patients were received He US flat Short plug patch treatment.RESULTS The operation time was at the range of 30-90 minutes,with an average of 70 minutes.All the patients were followed up for 6-36 months,and no foreign body sensation and recurrence presented.CONCLUSION The method is simple,less pain,quicker recovery,and less recurrence,which is ideal surgery for surgical treatment of inguinal hernia.
Abstract The melanoma differentiation-associated gene 7 (mda-7) has been studied primarily in the context of its tumor suppressor activity. Although mda-7 has been designated as IL-24 based on its gene location in the IL-10 locus and its mRNA expression in leukocytes, no functional evidence supporting this cytokine designation exists. To further characterize MDA-7/IL-24 expression patterns in the human immune system, MDA-7/IL-24 protein levels were examined in human PBMC. MDA-7/IL-24 was detected in PHA- and LPS-stimulated whole PBMC lysate by Western blot and in PHA-activated CD56 and CD19 subsets by immunohistochemistry. The biological function of MDA-7/IL-24, secreted from Ad-MDA7-transfected HEK 293 cells, was assessed by examining the effect of MDA-7/IL-24 on the cytokine secretion profile of PBMC. Within 48 h MDA-7/IL-24 induced secretion of high levels of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ and low levels of IL-1β, IL-12, and GM-CSF from human PBMC as measured by ELISA. The MDA-7/IL-24-mediated induction of these Th1-type cytokines was inhibited by the addition of IL-10 to the PBMC cultures, suggesting that these two related protein family members may provide antagonistic functions. Therefore, because human blood leukocytes can be stimulated to produce MDA-7/IL-24, as well as respond to MDA-7/IL-24 by expressing secondary cytokines, MDA-7/IL-24 has the expression profile and major functional attributes that justify its designation as an IL.