Cognitive flexibility is a core cognitive control function supported by the brain networks of the whole-brain. Schizophrenic patients show deficits in cognitive flexibility in conditions such as ...task-switching. A large number of neuroimaging studies have revealed abnormalities in local brain activations associated with deficits in cognitive flexibility in schizophrenia, but the relationship between impaired cognitive flexibility and the whole-brain functional connectivity (FC) pattern is unclear.
We investigated the task-based functional connectivity of the whole-brain in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls during task-switching. Multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) was utilized to investigate whether the FC pattern can be used as a feature to discriminate schizophrenia patients from healthy controls. Graph theory analysis was further used to quantify the degrees of integration and segregation in the whole-brain networks to interpret the different reconfiguration patterns of brain networks in schizophrenia patients and healthy controls.
The results showed that the FC pattern classified schizophrenia patients and healthy controls with significant accuracy. Moreover, the altered whole-brain functional connectivity pattern was driven by a lower degree of network integration and segregation in schizophrenia, indicating that both global and local information transfers at the entire-network level were less efficient in schizophrenia patients than in healthy controls during task-switching processing.
These results investigated the group differences in FC profiles during task-switching and not only elucidated that FC patterns are changed in schizophrenic patients, suggesting that task-based FC could be used as a potential neuromarker to discriminate schizophrenia patients from healthy controls in cognitive flexibility but also provide increased insight into the brain network organization that may contribute to impaired cognitive flexibility.
Translating the advantages of carbon nanomaterials into macroscopic energy storage devices is challenging because the desirable nanoscale properties often disappear during assembly processes. Here we ...describe a new nonequilibrium subcritical hydrothermal method capable of independently manipulating the temperature and pressure to create unique assembly conditions crossing the commonly used liquid-vapor boundary. Highly conductive and dense-packed yet ion-accessible nanocarbon microfibers can be obtained from graphene oxide sheets, single-walled carbon nanotubes, and a nitrogen-doping crosslinker under 20 min of hydrothermal assembly, 80% energy saving compared to standard hydrothermal methods, and one of the shortest time in the field of hydrothermal processing of carbon nanomaterials. Using those microfibers, we built microsupercapacitors that reach a high volumetric capacitance of 52 F cm−3, energy density of 7.1 mWh cm−3, and power density of 1645.7 mW cm−3, respectively. We further demonstrate the 3D integration of multiple fiber microsupercapacitors that reduces the device footprint by 75% while expanding the operational voltage and current window. This strategy is a promising tool for harmoniously assembling carbon nanostructures as energy storage components for various energy applications.
A new hydrothermal system is capable of controlling the temperature and pressure of water independently to create unique hydrothermal assembly conditions for achieving ultrafast assembly of carbon nanomaterials into carbon architectures. Display omitted
Insufficient trophoblast invasion is the key factor for the occurrence of recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). Our previous studies identified Yin Yang 1 (YY1) as a transcription factor involved in ...the regulation of trophoblast invasiveness at the maternal–fetal interface. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate gene expression and autophagy in many ways. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between YY1 and lncRNAs and the mechanism by which lncRNAs affect the biological behavior of trophoblasts. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that YY1 had three binding sites in the plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) promoter region. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments and electrophoretic mobility shift assays verified that YY1 can directly bind to the PVT1 promoter. Compared with its expression levels in human placental villi tissue samples from the normal pregnancy group, the PVT1 expression levels were significantly lower in tissues from the RSA group. PVT1 knockdown significantly reduced adhesion, invasion, autophagy, and mTOR expression in HTR‐8/SVneo cells and greatly increased apoptosis in vitro. This study revealed a novel regulatory pathway in which YY1 can act directly on PVT1 promoter to regulate its transcription, which further affects trophoblast invasion and adhesion by regulating autophagy via the mTOR pathway, and these effects might be involved in RSA pathogenesis.
Insufficient trophoblast invasion is the key factor for the occurrence of recurrent spontaneous abortions (RSA). This study revealed a novel regulatory pathway in which YY1 can directly bind to the PVT1 promoter to regulate its transcription, which further affects trophoblast invasion and adhesion by regulating autophagy via the mTOR pathway, and these effects might be involved in RSA pathogenesis.
An expanding energy absorber with variable thickness distribution tube is proposed and studied in this work. At first, a uniform thickness tube structure finite element (FE) model was developed and ...then verified by the results of an impact test. The parametric study found that outer obliquity angle
β
and inner obliquity angle
γ
have positive influence on initial peak force (
F
p
). While as axial distribution ratio
l
less than 0.1, the
l
has significant positive effect on
F
p
. The non-monotonicity of specific energy absorption (SEA) with design parameters of
β
and
γ
was found. Increasing the parameter
l
could obviously improve the SEA. To obtain the optimal design, an integrated optimization methodology was applied. The Pareto fronts show that there is a lot of room for improvement of original design. The optimal compromising solution increased the SEA by 12.60 % with
F
p
decreased by 14.24 kN comparing with that of original design. At last, the optimization result were verified. The study stated that the proposed variable thickness distribution tube of expanding energy absorber is conducive to improving the crashworthiness of rail vehicles.
Rare earth elements possess 4f orbitals without full electron occupancy and lanthanide contraction. This characteristic results in their unique catalytic performance when they are used as active ...components or as catalyst supports. Research into and the development of rare earth catalytic materials will significantly promote the high-efficiency utilization of abundant rare earth elements, such as lanthanum and cerium. Currently, rare earth catalytic materials play an important role in such areas as the petroleum chemical industry, the catalytic combustion of fossil fuels, automotive emissions control, the purification of industrial waste air, and solid solution fuel cells. In this paper, we review the application of and recent research progress that has been made on rare earth catalytic materials, including relative theoretical research. The effects of rare earth elements on the structure, activity, and stability of the catalysts of interest are described.
Rare earth elements have 4f orbits without full electron occupancy and lanthanide contraction. This results in their unique catalytic performance when they are used as components and catalyst supports for many important chemical processes, such as in the petroleum chemical industry, in automotive emissions control, in the catalytic combustion of CH4, and in VOC purification.
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is among the most prominent contaminates in human serum and has been reported to possess potential toxicity to the human body. In this study, the effects of PFOS on ...the conformation and activity of bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated in vitro. The results indicated that the binding interaction of PFOS with BSA destroyed the tertiary and secondary structures of protein with the loss of α-helix structure and the increasing of hydrophobic microenvironment of the Trp or Tyr residues. During the thermal denaturation protein, PFOS increases the protein stability of BSA. The proportion of α-helix decreased on increasing the PFOS concentration and the microenvironment of the Trp or Tyr residues becomes more hydrophobic. The results from molecular modeling indicated that BSA had not only one possible binding site to bind with PFOS by the polar interaction, hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces. In addition, the BSA relative activities were decreased with the increase of PFOS concentration. Such loss of BSA activity in the presence of PFOS indicated that one of the binding sites in BSA is located in subdomain IIIA, which is in good agreement with the fluorescence spectroscopic experiments and molecular modeling results. This study offers a comprehensive picture of the interactions of PFOS with serum albumin and provides insights into the toxicological effect of perfluoroalkylated substances.
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•Binding interaction of PFOS with BSA was investigated.•PFOS exhibits influence on the conformation of BSA.•PFOS increases the protein stability of BSA during the thermal denaturation of protein.•Multiple non-covalent binding forces are involved in the binding process.
Biomimetic mineralization of high-strength apatite structure essentially relies on mimicking the inorganic building blocks of naturally occurring bones. However, conventional routes still have ...substantial function gaps in providing precision control over the geometrical dimensions and crystalline morphology of biomineralized apatite. Herein, we conceived the concept of microwave-assisted biomineralization (MAB) to customize 1D hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers (HANWs) at graphene templates, rendering the formation of graphene-hydroxyapatite (Gr-HA) nanohybrids. The HANWs essentially resembled bone apatite in elemental composition (Ca/P = 1.74), diameter (~20 nm), crystallinity (63 %), and rodlike geometry (aspect ratio of ~6). The Gr-HA nanohybrids were uniformly incorporated into poly(lactic acid) (PLA) microfibers (~1 μm) by electrospinning, engendering fibrous membranes with a set of Gr-HA loadings (10, 20 and 30 wt%). Intimate interactions were generated between Gr-HA and PLA matrix, contributing to significant promotion of the mechanical properties for PLA composite membranes. For example, the yield strength and elastic modulus of the PLA composite membranes loaded with 30 wt% Gr-HA achieved 5.4 and 66.4 MPa, increasing nearly 182 % and over 94 % compared to those of pure PLA, respectively. Moreover, the bone-like HANWs endowed PLA membranes with excellent cytocompatibility and good bioactivity, as demonstrated by over 38 % increase in cell viability and rapid apatite formation in mineral solution. The impressive combination of mechanical properties and biological characteristics make the PLA/Gr-HA scaffolds promising for guided tissue/bone regeneration therapy.
The concept of microwave-assisted biomineralization was conceived to customize 20-nm-sized hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers with bone apatite-like structural features, conferring a combination of mechanical strength, osteogenesis and bioactivity for the poly(lactic acid) scaffolds. Display omitted
•A microwave-assisted biomineralization (MAB) approach was established.•MAB enabled rapid fabrication of hydroxyapatite nanowhiskers (HANWs) at graphene templates.•The HANWs (diameter of ~20 nm, crystallinity of 63 %) copied the structure of bone apatite.•The bone-like HANWs promoted the osteogenesis and bioactivity of poly(lactic acid) scaffolds.
Cytisine N-methylene-(5,7-dihydroxy-4′-methoxy)-isoflavone (CNF2) is a new compound isolated from the Chinese herbal medicine Sophora alopecuroides. Preliminary pharmacodynamic studies demonstrated ...its activity in inhibiting breast cancer cell metastasis. This study examined the pharmacokinetics, absolute bioavailability, and tissue distribution of CNF2 in rats, and combined computer-aided technology to predict the druggability of CNF2. The binding site of CNF2 and the breast cancer target human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) were examined with molecular docking technology. Next, ACD/Percepta software was used to predict the druggability of CNF2 based on the quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR). Finally, a simple and effective HPLC method was used to determine plasma pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of CNF2 in rats. Prediction and experimental results show that compared with the positive control HER2 inhibitor SYR127063, CNF2 has a stronger binding affinity with HER2, suggesting that its efficacy is stronger; and the structure of CNF2 complies with the Lipinski’s Rule of Five and has good drug-likeness. The residence time of CNF2 in rats is less than 4 h, and the metabolic rate is relatively fast; But the absolute bioavailability of CNF2 in rats was 6.6%, mainly distributed in the stomach, intestine, and lung tissues, where the CNF2 contents were 401.20, 144.01, and 245.82 µg/g, respectively. This study constructed rapid screening and preliminary evaluation of active compounds, which provided important references for the development and further research of such compounds.
Throughout billions of years, biological systems have evolved sophisticated, multiscale hierarchical structures to adapt to changing environments. Biomaterials are synthesized under mild conditions ...through a bottom-up self-assembly process, utilizing substances from the surrounding environment, and meanwhile are regulated by genes and proteins. Additive manufacturing, which mimics this natural process, provides a promising approach to developing new materials with advantageous properties similar to natural biological materials. This review presents an overview of natural biomaterials, emphasizing their chemical and structural compositions at various scales, from the nanoscale to the macroscale, and the key mechanisms underlying their properties. Additionally, this review describes the designs, preparations, and applications of bioinspired multifunctional materials produced through additive manufacturing at different scales, including nano, micro, micro-macro, and macro levels. The review highlights the potential of bioinspired additive manufacturing to develop new functional materials and insights into future directions and prospects in this field. By summarizing the characteristics of natural biomaterials and their synthetic counterparts, this review inspires the development of new materials that can be utilized in various applications.
Enterprises play a vital role in emergency management, but few studies have considered the strategy choices behind such participation or the collaborative relationship with the government. This study ...contended that enterprises have at least three strategies regarding emergency management: non-participation, short-term participation, and long-term participation. We constructed a two-stage evolutionary game model to explore the behavioral evolution rules and evolutionary stability strategies of the government and enterprises, and employed numerical simulation to analyze how various factors influence the strategy selection of the government and enterprises. The results show that if and only if the utility value of participation is greater than 0, an enterprise will participate in emergency management. The evolutionary game then enters the second stage, during which system stability is affected by a synergistic relationship between participation cost, reputation benefit, and government subsidies, and by an incremental relationship between emergency management benefit, government subsidies, and emergency training cost. This study provides a new theoretical perspective for research on collaborative emergency management, and the results provide important references for promoting the performance of collaborative emergency management.
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