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While TOPSIS is a widely used evaluation method, it lacks evaluation from the perspective of indicator coordination. Based on the analysis of TOPSIS evaluation methods, this paper proposes a new assessment method, coordinated TOPSIS, which takes into account the advantages of TOPSIS evaluation methods and the coordination level of evaluation indicators. Taking the robotics academic journals as an example, the TOPSIS evaluation and the coordinated TOPSIS evaluation results are compared. The research shows that the weights of the coordinated TOPSIS method can be manually adjusted according to the purpose of evaluation and have a good flexibility; the TOPSIS evaluation results and coordinated TOPSIS evaluation results have a high degree of correlation, but the difference from the perspective of the ranking is big; the coordinated TOPSIS is very suitable for evaluation field that needs to consider the coordinated development, and it can be replicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human intrinsic motivation is of great importance in human behavior. However, although researchers have focused on this topic for decades, its neural basis was still unclear. The current study employed event-related potentials to investigate the neural disparity between an interesting stop-watch (SW) task and a boring watch-stop task (WS) to understand the neural mechanisms of intrinsic motivation. Our data showed that, in the cue priming stage, the cue of the SW task elicited smaller N2 amplitude than that of the WS task. Furthermore, in the outcome feedback stage, the outcome of the SW task induced smaller FRN amplitude and larger P300 amplitude than that of the WS task. These results suggested that human intrinsic motivation did exist and that it can be detected at the neural level. Furthermore, intrinsic motivation could be quantitatively indexed by the amplitude of ERP components, such as N2, FRN, and P300, in the cue priming stage or feedback stage. Quantitative measurements would also be convenient for intrinsic motivation to be added as a candidate social factor in the construction of a machine learning model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saskatoon berry (SKB) may have the potential to counter reno‐cardiac syndrome owing to its antioxidant capacity. Here, we investigated the renal and cardiovascular effects of SKB‐enriched diet in a rat model of reno‐cardiac disease. Two groups of wild‐type rats (+/+) and two groups of Hannover Sprague‐Dawley (Han:SPRD‐Cy/+) rats were given either regular diet or SKB diet (10% w/w total diet) for 8 weeks. Body weight, kidney weight, kidney water content, and left ventricle (LV) weight were measured. Blood pressure (BP) was measured by the tail‐cuff method. Echocardiography was performed to assess cardiac structure and function. Serum creatinine and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also measured. Han:SPRD‐Cy/+ rats had significantly higher kidney weight, kidney water content, LV weight, BP, and creatinine compared with wild‐type rats (+/+). The SKB diet supplementation did not reduce kidney weight, kidney water content, BP, and LV weight in Han:SPRD‐Cy/+ rats. The SKB diet also resulted in higher systolic BP in Han:SPRD‐Cy/+rats. Han:SPRD‐Cy/+rats showed cardiac structural remodeling (higher LV wall thickness) without any cardiac functional abnormalities. Han:SPRD‐Cy/+ rats also had significantly higher creatinine whereas the concentration of MDA was not different. The SKB diet supplementation reduced cardiac remodeling and the concentration of MDA without altering the concentration of creatinine in Han:SPRD‐Cy/+ rats. In conclusion, Han:SPRD‐Cy/+ rats developed significant renal disease, high BP, and cardiac remodeling by 8 weeks without cardiac functional impairment. The SKB diet may be useful in preventing cardiac remodeling and oxidative stress in Han:SPRD‐Cy/+rats. Practical applications: Saskatoon berry (SKB) is widely consumed as fresh fruit or processed fruit items and has significant commercial value. It may offer health benefits due to the presence of bioactives such as anthocyanins. SKB has very good culinary flavors, and it is an economically viable fruit crop in many parts of the world. The disease‐modifying benefits of SKB are mainly ascribed to the antioxidant nature of its bioactive content. Polycystic kidney disease is a serious condition that can lead to renal and cardiac abnormalities. Here, we showed that SKB supplementation was able to mitigate cardiac remodeling and lower the level of a marker of oxidative stress in an animal model of reno‐cardiac syndrome. Our study suggests that SKB possesses beneficial cardioprotective properties. Further evidence from human studies may help in increasing the consumption of SKB as a functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in USA, and pediatric diabetes teams are seeing increasing numbers of Somali children with diabetes. Objective To assess the immune basis of diabetes in Somali children in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Methods A total of 31 Somali children ≤19 yr were treated for type 1 diabetes ( T1D) at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital and Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota underwent analysis of human leukocyte antigen ( HLA) alleles (n = 30) and diabetes autoantibodies [glutamic acid decarboxylase ( GAD65), islet antigen 2 ( IA-2), zinc transporter 8 ( ZnT8); n = 31]. HLA alleles were analyzed in 49 Somalis without diabetes (controls). Anti-transglutaminase autoantibodies ( TGA) for celiac disease were also measured. Results In Somali children with T1D aged 13.5 ± 5 yr (35% female, disease duration 6.5 ± 3.6 yr), the most common HLA allele was DRB1*03:01 (93%, compared with 45% of Somali controls), followed by DRB1*13:02 (27%). There was a relatively low frequency of DR4 (13%). Controls showed a similar pattern. All 31 participants were positive for at least one diabetes autoantibody. Insulin antibodies were positive in 84% (all were on insulin). Excluding insulin antibodies, 23 (74%) subjects tested positive for at least one other diabetes autoantibody; 32% had 1 autoantibody, 32% had 2 autoantibodies, and 10% had 3 autoantibodies. GAD65 autoantibodies were found in 56% of subjects, IA-2 in 29%, and ZnT8 in 26%. Four (13%) were TGA positive. Conclusion The autoantibody and HLA profiles of Somali children with diabetes are consistent with autoimmune diabetes. Their HLA profile is unique with an exceptionally high prevalence of DRB1*03:01 allele and relative paucity of DR4 alleles compared with African Americans with T1D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main pathophysiological abnormalities in type 2 diabetes (T2D) include pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance. Due to hyperglycemia, patients receive long-term treatment. However, side effects and drug tolerance usually lead to treatment failure. GuaLouQuMaiWan (GLQMW), a common traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has positive effects on controlling blood sugar and improving quality of life, but the mechanism is still unclear. To decipher their molecular mechanisms, we used a novel computational systems pharmacology-based approach consisting of bioinformatics analysis, network pharmacology, and drug similarity comparison. We divided the participants into nondisease (ND), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and type 2 diabetes groups according to the WHO's recommendations for diabetes. By analyzing the gene expression profile of the ND-IGT-T2D (ND to IGT to T2D) process, we found that the function of downregulated genes in the whole process was mainly related to insulin secretion, while the upregulated genes were related to inflammation. Furthermore, other genes in the ND-IGT (ND to IGT) process are mainly related to inflammation and lipid metabolic disorders. We speculate that 17 genes with a consistent trend may play a key role in the process of ND-IGT-T2D. We further performed target prediction for 50 compounds in GLQMW that met the screening criteria and intersected the differentially expressed genes of the T2D process with the compounds of GLQMW; a total of 18 proteins proved potential targets for GLQMW. Among these, RBP4 is considerably related to insulin resistance. GO/KEGG enrichment analyses of the target genes of GLQMW showed enrichment in inflammation- and T2D therapy-related pathways. Based on the RDKit tool and the DrugBank database, we speculate that (-)-taxifolin, dialoside A_qt, spinasterol, isofucosterol, and 11,14-eicosadienoic acid can be used as potential drugs for T2D via molecular docking and drug similarity comparison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueberry is considered a functional food due to various beneficial health effects associated with its consumption. Therefore, we examined the cardiovascular benefits of a blueberry polyphenolic extract in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Male SHR and Wistar–Kyoto (WKY) rats were administered with blueberry polyphenolic extract for 15 weeks. SHR showed significant augmented media‐to‐lumen ratio compared to WKY rats and blueberry polyphenolic extract significantly improved media‐to‐lumen ratio. SHR also had high blood pressure (BP), cardiac remodeling, and diastolic dysfunction and treatment did not affect BP or cardiac structure and function. SHR showed significantly increased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and blueberry polyphenolic extract did not lower MDA. The levels of interleukin 6 and nitrate/nitrite ratio were unaltered in SHR. SHR showed a significant increase in the pro‐apoptotic marker, Bax. Blueberry polyphenolic extract significantly lowered Bax. Our study shows that blueberry polyphenolic extract is beneficial in preventing vascular remodeling and cardiac apoptosis. Practical applications: Similar to many other berries, blueberries are repertoire of many phytochemicals including polyphenols. Along with its considerably well‐established role as a sought after berry, blueberries have been at the forefront of approaches to hharnessing health benefits from plant food sources. Several studies have attempted to unravel the role of blueberry and their major phytochemicals in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and reported their beneficial effects. Our pre‐clinical study found that blueberry polyphenolic extract can reduce vascular remodeling in the setting of hypertension. This new finding further suggests the potential of blueberry‐based phytochemicals. Further exploration of blueberries and their phytochemicals and positive outcomes from such studies can lead to substantial benefits for consumers and economy as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Creep rupture behavior of dissimilar weldments between FB2 and 30Cr1Mo1V heat-resistant steel by multipass welding at 783 K (510°C) under different stresses (260 to 420 MPa) was researched. The fitted creep rupture exponent is 14.53, and the 10,000 h extrapolating strength values predicted by the power law and Larson-Miller parameter show good agreement with experimental data. The samples exhibit a ductile fracture character and fracture in the weld fusion zone, which has a highly heterogeneous microstructure and grains with different morphologies and sizes and an obvious softening. There exist a decrease in the dislocation and precipitate density and an increase in the subgrain size in the weld metal after creep. The rupture is a transgranular fracture characterized by dimples as a result of microvoid coalescence. Laves phases along with copper-rich precipitates are observed in the vicinity of fracture surface, which creates a stress concentration that can cause transgranular fracture initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Autoimmunity Screening for Kids (ASK) study was launched to screen general population children for type 1 diabetes (T1D) and celiac disease (CD).Methods: A total of 23,319 children from general population were screened. A high throughput multiplex electrochemiluminescence (ECL) assay to screen multiautoantibodies in a single well was applied, parallel with a standard radiobinding assay (RBA). All children with any positive autoantibodies in screening were revisited within one month for confirmation and followed every 6 months.Results: Among 23,319 children, 2.6% (606/23,319) of children were tested positive for TGA. Multiplex ECL assay detected more TGA (584/23,319) in the initial screening than RBA (490/23,319, p = 0.004) and was able to detect TGA earlier than RBA in a subset of children by 0.8 to 34.8 months. Prevalence of TGA by either ECL or RBA in children with islet autoantibodies was found significantly higher than overall prevalence in general population screened.Conclusions: A multiplex ECL assay was more sensitive than standard RBA by identifying more TGA positivity and detecting TGA earlier in general population screening. It also provides a high efficient tool with its unique advantage of multiplexing measurements to screen for multiple autoimmune diseases simultaneously in general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the blood pressure (BP) lowering and cardioprotective effects of oat avenanthramide C and beta‐glucan alone or in combination in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Five‐weeks‐old male SHR and Wistar‐Kyoto rats received vehicle, avenanthramide C and beta‐glucan alone or a combination of avenanthramide C and beta‐glucan via gavage for 15 weeks. BP was measured at 0, 10, and 15 weeks of treatment. Echocardiography was performed at 15 weeks of treatment. Oxidative stress and inflammation were also measured. Beta‐glucan alone prevented the increase in systolic and diastolic BP in SHR, but avenanthramide C alone or the combination did not prevent the increase in systolic and diastolic BP. SHRs treated with beta‐glucan and not avenanthramide C or the combination reduced isovolumetric relaxation time when compared to SHR treated with vehicle. Beta‐glucan and avenanthramide C decreased the levels of malondialdehyde, a marker of oxidative stress in SHR. In conclusion, beta‐glucan is a potential antihypertensive agent that may alleviate cardiovascular abnormalities. Practical applications: Oats products are believed to contain many bioactives that possess potential beneficial properties against chronic diseases. Specifically, oats beta‐glucan has been well‐established for its efficacy in positively modulating the risk factor for dyslipidemia. This preliminary in vivo study shows that beta‐glucan is a potential antihypertensive agent that may alleviate cardiac dysfunction as well. In light of the current findings, further human studies may establish the efficacy of oats beta‐glucan in hypertensive patients alongside the current antihypertensive medications. This novel attribute established via rigorous studies may provide an impetus for oats products and oats industry. Last but not least, it will also help improve the cardiovascular disease burden in a cost‐effective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The incidence of type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing, most notably in young children and in racial and ethnic minorities. Historically, screening for risk with T1D‐associated antibodies has been limited to those with a family history, while up to 90% of newly diagnosed patients lack such a family history. To address the needs to screen diverse ethnic groups in the general population, we screened children for T1D‐associated antibodies in the Denver, Colorado metro area at community health fairs. Methods: Children attending health fairs from 2015 to 2018 were offered free T1D screening by measuring the four prototypical T1D‐associated antibodies. A finger stick capillary puncture was performed to collect blood spots on filter paper. Dried blood spots (DBSs) were eluted and antibodies were measured using fluid‐phase radio‐binding assays. Results: At 39 health fairs, children were educated on the signs and symptoms of diabetes, and screened for T1D‐associated antibodies (n = 478), which represented 90% of those that attended. Median age was 9.0 years (range of 1‐18) with diverse ethnic backgrounds: 37% Hispanic, 31% Caucasian, 20% African American, and 12% other. Nine children screened positive for antibodies, single n = 8 and multiple n = 1, and confirmation with serum samples showed excellent correlation to the measurements from DBSs for antibodies directed against GAD, IA‐2, and ZnT8 (P < .01 for each). Conclusions: Screening for T1D risk at community health fairs using DBSs on filter paper is feasible and provides an avenue to screen children from ethnically diverse backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Higher sensitive transglutaminase autoantibody (TGA) assay will detect the onset of celiac disease (CD) autoimmunity earlier. In developing a nonradioactive assay for TGA, we utilized electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology and compared it to a high-performance radioimmunoassay (RIA) currently being used to screen patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and genetically at-risk individuals for CD. We selected 183 T1D patients with 60 patients having received biopsy and analyzed 396 sequential samples from 73 young children longitudinally followed up with TGA seroconversion, with 27 undergoing biopsy. In addition, 112 age-matched healthy control subjects were included in the study. With the 99th percentile of specificity, the ECL assay detected significantly more TGA positivity among patients with T1D (133/183) than RIA (114/183) and more of the sequential samples (34%) from 73 children than RIA (18%). The TGA assay performed by ECL was positive in all 59 subjects with villous atrophy. Among 73 longitudinally followed up children, ECL assay had earlier detection of TGA on 34 children by a mean of 2.5 years. In conclusion, the new TGA assay by ECL has a higher sensitivity than the current RIA assay and may better predict the onset of CD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Type 1 diabetes ( T1D) or celiac disease ( CD) develops in at least 2% of the general population. Early detection of disease-specific autoimmunity and subsequent monitoring would be possible if screening tests were more widely available. Currently, screening for islet autoimmunity is available only in a research setting, and CD-specific autoimmunity screening is limited to those in high-risk groups. This study assessed the feasibility of incorporating T1D and CD autoantibody screening into a pediatric practice. Methods Patient engagement strategies, blood collection preference, blood sample volume, rate of autoantibody detection in the general population, and parental satisfaction were assessed. Over 5 weeks, research staff recruited 200 patients, aged 2-6 yr from two pediatric practices in the Denver area to be screened for islet autoantibodies (IAs) and the transglutaminase antibody. Results Of the 765 parents approached, 200 (26%) completed the same-day screening. Of the 565 subjects who did not complete the screening, 345 expressed interest, but were unable to make a participation decision. A finger stick, compared with a venous draw, was the preferred method of sample collection. Both methods yielded sufficient blood volume for autoantibody determination. IAs or the transglutaminase antibody were detected in 11 subjects. Parents expressed satisfaction with all aspects of participation. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that it is feasible to conduct this type of screening in a pediatric clinic. Such screening could lead to increased disease awareness and the possible benefits that can result from early detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]