Highlights: ► Twelve entropy indices were systematically compared in monitoring depth of anesthesia and detecting burst suppression.► Renyi permutation entropy performed best in tracking EEG changes associated with different anesthesia states.► Approximate Entropy and Sample Entropy performed best in detecting burst suppression.Objective: Entropy algorithms have been widely used in analyzing EEG signals during anesthesia. However, a systematic comparison of these entropy algorithms in assessing anesthesia drugs' effect is lacking. In this study, we compare the capability of 12 entropy indices for monitoring depth of anesthesia (DoA) and detecting the burst suppression pattern (BSP), in anesthesia induced by GABAergic agents.Methods: Twelve indices were investigated, namely Response Entropy (RE) and State entropy (SE), three wavelet entropy (WE) measures [Shannon WE (SWE), Tsallis WE (TWE), and Renyi WE (RWE)], Hilbert-Huang spectral entropy (HHSE), approximate entropy (ApEn), sample entropy (SampEn), Fuzzy entropy, and three permutation entropy (PE) measures [Shannon PE (SPE), Tsallis PE (TPE) and Renyi PE (RPE)]. Two EEG data sets from sevoflurane-induced and isoflurane-induced anesthesia respectively were selected to assess the capability of each entropy index in DoA monitoring and BSP detection. To validate the effectiveness of these entropy algorithms, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling and prediction probability (Pk) analysis were applied. The multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis (MDFA) as a non-entropy measure was compared.Results: All the entropy and MDFA indices could track the changes in EEG pattern during different anesthesia states. Three PE measures outperformed the other entropy indices, with less baseline variability, higher coefficient of determination (R2) and prediction probability, and RPE performed best; ApEn and SampEn discriminated BSP best. Additionally, these entropy measures showed an advantage in computation efficiency compared with MDFA.Conclusion: Each entropy index has its advantages and disadvantages in estimating DoA. Overall, it is suggested that the RPE index was a superior measure. Investigating the advantages and disadvantages of these entropy indices could help improve current clinical indices for monitoring DoA.

BackgroundWhile repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been applied in treatment of patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), a standardized stimulation protocol has not been proposed, and its therapeutic effects are inconsistently documented.ObjectivesTo assess the efficacy of rTMS in improving consciousness in patients with persistent minimally conscious state (MCS) or unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS), previously known as vegetative state (VS).MethodA prospective single-blinded study, with selected subjects, was carried out. In total, 16 patients (5 MCS and 11 VS/UWS) with chronic DOC were included. All patients received active 10 Hz rTMS at the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), at one session per day, for 20 consecutive days. A single daily session of stimulation consisted of 1,000 pulses (10 s of 10 Hz trains; repeated 10 times with an inter-train interval of 60 s; and 11 min and 40 s for total session). The main outcome measures were changes in the total score on the JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) scale. Additional measures were the impressions of caregivers after the conclusion of the interventions, which were assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement (CGI-I) scale.ResultsThe CRS-R scores were increased in all 5 MCS patients and 4 of 11 VS/UWS patients, while a significant enhancement of CRS-R scores was observed compared to the baseline in all participants (p = 0.007). However, the improvement was more notable in MCS patients (p = 0.042) than their VS/UWS counterparts (p = 0.066). Based on the CGI-I scores, two patients improved considerably, two improved, six minimally improved, six experienced no change, and none deteriorated. Good concordance was seen between the CGI-I result and the increases in CRS-R scores.ConclusionTreatment of 10 Hz multisession rTMS applied to the left DLPFC is promising for the rehabilitation of DOC patients, especially those in MCS. Further validation with a cohort of a larger sample size is required.

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study of gray matter changes in Parkinson disease. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2015;36(12):2219-2226. 27. Sterling NW, Wang M, Zhang L, et al. Stage-dependent loss of cortical gyrification as Parkinson disease "unfolds." Neurology 2016; 86(12):1143-1151. 28. Vymazal J, Righini A, Brooks RA, et al. T1 and T2 in the brain of healthy subjects, patients with Parkinson disease, and patients with multiple system atrophy: relation to iron content. Radiology 1999; 211(2):489-495. 29. Nurnberger L, Gracien RM, Hok P, et al. Longitudinal changes of cortical microstructure in Parkinson's disease assessed with T1 relaxometry.A BS T RA C T : Background: Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation is a new noninvasive brain modulation method with high spatial resolution and high penetration depth. However, until now, it was unclear whether transcranial ultrasound stimulation has a significant effect on PD.Objectives: In order to evaluate the effect of transcranial ultrasound stimulation on PD.Methods: We used transcranial ultrasound stimulation to modulate parkinsonian-related activity in mice administered MPTP and recorded local field potentials in the motor cortex before and after ultrasound stimulation. We analyzed neuronal oscillatory activity known to be relevant to the pathophysiology of PD. Results: After ultrasound stimulation, mean power intensity in the beta band (13-30 Hz) significantly decreased, and the phase-amplitude coupling strength between the beta and high gamma (55-100 Hz) bands and between the beta and ripple (100-200 Hz) bands also became significantly weaker.Conclusions: This study demonstrates that ultrasonic neuromodulation can significantly decrease parkinsonianrelated activity in mice administered MPTP.

Co/ZnO and Co/ZnAlO films were prepared by depositing ultrathin cobalt layers and semiconductor layers on glass substrates at room temperature. The films consist of metallic Co particles, semiconductor matrix, and an interfacial magnetic semiconductor with the substitution of Co(2+) for Zn(2+) in the ZnO lattice at the interface between Co particles and the semiconductor matrix. Large room temperature negative tunneling magnetoresistance was observed in the films. In addition, the magnetism and magnetoresistance were obviously enhanced by adding aluminum to the ZnO, and in one Co/ZnAlO sample, the room temperature negative magnetoresistance value reaches -12.3% at 18 kOe (compared with -8.4% of the corresponding Co/ZnO film) and the spin polarization of the tunneling electrons is about 37.5% which is characteristic of metallic Co. This enhancement of the tunneling spin polarization has been ascribed to the tunneling through an interfacial magnetic semiconductor, which causes the robust spin injection from cobalt metal into the semiconductors at room temperature resulting from the spin filter effect of the interfacial magnetic semiconductors.

Zn 0.97 Cu 0.03 O films were prepared by pulsed-laser deposition on c-cut sapphire substrates under various conditions in order to investigate the growth-dependent properties of the films. All the films exhibit room temperature ferromagnetism. Samples deposited at low temperature and low pressure show large saturation magnetization (Ms). Moreover, the enhancement of Ms was observed in films annealed both in vacuum and in Zn vapor. However, postannealing in air led to the remarkable reduction of ferromagnetism. The results show that the itinerant electrons introduced by oxygen-deficient or Zn-rich atmospheres may play a significant role in room temperature ferromagnetism observed in this ZnCuO dilute magnetic semiconductor. It is consistent with carrier-induced ferromagnetism. The magnetization strongly depends on the appearance of free carriers and is relatively insensitive to whether they arose from VO or/and Zni.

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