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Abstract Spiking neural networks (SNNs) employ discrete spikes that mimic the firing of neurons in biological systems to process and transmit information. This characteristic enables SNNs to effectively capture temporal dynamics and capitalize on the time information inherent in time‐varying inputs, such as motion, audio/video streams, and other sequential data. Currently, most hardware implementations of SNNs are designed to use rate‐coding, where information is encoded in the rate of spikes. However, it still remains challenging for the hardware implementation of temporal coding in SNNs, which allows for higher input sparsity and exploits additional dimensions such as precise spike timing and relative spike timings. This study presents hardware implementations of SNNs constructed by organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs), processing temporal‐coded information. The protic dynamics in response to electrical stimuli enable the emulation of temporal integration, reset, and leaking of membrane potential in a simple leaky integrate‐and‐fire (LIF) neuron circuit. By utilizing these features, the emulated LIF neuron can be employed to construct SNNs capable of processing temporal‐coded information in complex tasks including coincidence detection and dynamic handwriting recognition, exhibiting high performance and good tolerance even when dealing with noisy datasets.

Background: This study focuses on the heterogeneity, interaction, and imbalance in the concurrent development of physical and mental health trajectories among Chinese elderly. Methods: The data used in this study are from four waves of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHRLS) conducted between 2011 and 2018. A multidimensional growth mixture model (MGMM) was employed to analyze the patterns and characteristics of co-occurring physical and mental health development. Additionally, multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to systematically investigate the factors that predict the conjoint trajectories of physical and mental health. Results: The study findings reveal the presence of four distinct latent classes of conjoint trajectories for physical and mental health. These classes are categorized as follows: ‘physical and mental health deteriorating’, ‘physical disease increasing & low mental vulnerability maintaining’, ‘low physical & mental vulnerability maintaining’, and ‘high physical disease increased & mental health moderate-stable’. Furthermore, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, family-society relations, health behaviors, and institutional factors were found to significantly predict these latent classes. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the diversity and complexity of physical and mental co-occurring developmental health issues in the elderly population in China. These findings have significant implications for the development of targeted intervention strategies that take into account the unique health changes experienced by older adults. Additionally, they can serve as evidence for the establishment of a comprehensive long-term care system.

In the published publication [...]

We established a mouse model of Schistosoma japonicum infection in order to study the effects of the infection on hepatocyte autophagy and apoptosis. We also stimulated HepG2 cells with soluble egg antigens (SEA) in vitro. At two, four, and six weeks post-infection, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot (WB) were used to detect liver expression levels of autophagy and apoptosis-related proteins. HepG2 cells were treated with different concentrations of SEA. The changes in the levels of autophagy-related proteins and HepG2 cell apoptosis were detected. The Lc3b, Beclin1, Atg7, and Atg12 mRNA levels were significantly lower at four and six weeks after infection than those in the uninfected group. At four and six weeks following infection, the levels of Beclin1, LC3BII/I, Atg7, and p62 proteins were considerably lower than those in the uninfected group. The protein levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and cleaved caspase 3 and fibrosis-related proteins α-SMA and collagen 3 in the liver post-infection were significantly higher than those in uninfected mice. HepG2 cells stimulated with SEA showed decreased levels of Beclin1, p62, and Atg7 proteins and significantly increased apoptosis rates. The findings demonstrated that following infection with S. japonicum, mice’s liver fibrosis worsened, hepatic autophagy was suppressed, and hepatocyte apoptosis was encouraged.

Abstract Spinal cord injury (SCI) represents a profound central nervous system affliction, resulting in irreversibly compromised daily activities and disabilities. SCI involves excessive inflammatory responses, which are characterized by the existence of high levels of proinflammatory M1 macrophages, and neuronal mitochondrial energy deficit, exacerbating secondary damage and impeding axon regeneration. This study delves into the mechanistic intricacies of SCI, offering insights from the perspectives of neuroimmune regulation and mitochondrial function, leading to a pro-fibrotic macrophage phenotype and energy-supplying deficit. To address these challenges, we developed a smart scaffold incorporating enzyme mimicry nanoparticle-ceriumoxide (COPs) into nanofibers (NS@COP), which aims to pioneer a targeted neuroimmune repair strategy, rescuing CGRP receptor on macrophage and concurrently remodeling mitochondrial function. Our findings indicate that the integrated COPs restore the responsiveness of pro-inflammatory macrophages to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) signal by up-regulating receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP1), a vital component of the CGRP receptor. This promotes macrophage fate commitment to an anti-inflammatory pro-resolution M2 phenotype, then alleviating glial scar formation. In addition, NS@COP implantation also protected neuronal mitochondrial function. Collectively, our results suggest that the strategy of integrating nanozyme COP nanoparticles into a nanofiber scaffold provides a promising therapeutic candidate for spinal cord trauma via rational regulation of neuroimmune communication and mitochondrial function.

Abstract As one of the most intractable neurological diseases, spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to permanent neurological impairment in patients. Unfortunately, due to the complex pathological mechanisms and unique postinjury microenvironment, there is currently no way to completely repair the injured spinal cord. In recent years, with the rapid development of tissue engineering technology, the combination of biomaterials and medicine has provided a new idea for treating SCI. Here, we systematically summarize representative biomaterials, including natural, synthetic, nano, and hybrid materials, and their applications in SCI treatment. In addition, we describe several state-of-the-art fabrication techniques for tissue engineering. Importantly, we provide novel insights for the use of biomaterial-based therapeutic strategies to reduce secondary damage and promote repair. Finally, we discuss several biomaterial clinical studies. This review aims to provide a reference and new insights for the future exploration of spinal cord regeneration strategies.