Brain Functional Network Changes in Patients with Poststroke Cognitive Impairment Following Acupuncture Therapy

Background: The mechanisms by which acupuncture affects poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) remain unclear. Objective: To investigate brain functional network (BFN) changes in patients with PSCI after acupuncture therapy. Methods: Twenty-two PSCI patients who underwent acupuncture therapy in our hospital were enrolled as research subjects. Another 14 people matched for age, sex, and education level were included in the normal control (HC) group. All the subjects underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans;the PSCI patients underwent one scan before acupuncture therapy and another after. The network metric difference between PSCI patients and HCs was analyzed via the independent-sample t test, whereas the paired-sample t test was employed to analyze the network metric changes in PSCI patients before vs. after treatment. Results: Small-world network attributes were observed in both groups for sparsities between 0.1 and 0.28. Compared with the HC group, the PSCI group presented significantly lower values for the global topological properties (γ, Cp, and Eloc) of the brain;significantly greater values for the nodal attributes of betweenness centrality in the CUN. L and the HES. R, degree centrality in the SFGdor. L, PCG. L, IPL. L, and HES. R, and nodal local efficiency in the ORBsup. R, ORBsupmed. R, DCG. L, SMG. R, and TPOsup. L;and decreased degree centrality in the MFG. R, IFGoperc. R, and SOG. R. After treatment, PSCI patients presented increased degree centrality in the LING.L, LING.R, and IOG. L and nodal local efficiency in PHG. L, IOG. R, FFG. L, and the HES. L, and decreased betweenness centrality in the PCG. L and CUN. L, degree centrality in the ORBsupmed. R, and nodal local efficiency in ANG. R. Conclusion: Cognitive decline in PSCI patients may be related to BFN disorders;acupuncture therapy may modulate the topological properties of the BFNs of PSCI patients.

无机化学中“酸碱解离”教学内容的重构探讨

依据素质教育中知识-能力-素质有机融合的思想指导,对《无机化学》酸碱解离内容进行重组,构建新的课程设计模块。内容重组扩充为5个模块,包括电解质溶液基础、酸碱理论概述、酸碱强度、弱酸弱碱解离平衡和酸碱滴定与误差基本概念。教学内容的重构在保证基本面知识结构完整的前提下与时俱进,从专业能力方面促进学生发展。

Unexpected divergence in magnetoreceptor MagR from robin and pigeon linked to two sequence variations

Birds exhibit extraordinary mobility and remarkable navigational skills,obtaining guidance cues from the Earth’s magnetic field for orientation and long-distance movement.Bird species also show tremendous diversity in navigation strategies,with considerable differences even within the same taxa and among individuals from the same population.The highly conserved iron and iron-sulfur cluster binding magnetoreceptor(MagR)protein is suggested to enable animals,including birds,to detect the geomagnetic field and navigate accordingly.Notably,MagR is also implicated in other functions,such as electron transfer and biogenesis of iron-sulfur clusters,raising the question of whether variability exists in its biochemical and biophysical features among species,particularly birds.In the current study,we conducted a comparative analysis of MagR from two different bird species,including the migratory European robin(Erithacus rubecula)and the homing pigeon(Columba livia).Sequence alignment revealed an extremely high degree of similarity between the MagRs of these species,with only three sequence variations.Nevertheless,two of these variations underpinned significant differences in metal binding capacity,oligomeric state,and magnetic properties.These findings offer compelling evidence for the marked differences in MagR between the two avian species,potentially explaining how a highly conserved protein can mediate such diverse functions.

Mitochondrial targeting sequence of magnetoreceptor MagR:More than just targeting

Iron-sulfur clusters(ISC)are essential cofactors for proteins involved in various biological processes,such as electron transport,biosynthetic reactions,DNA repair,and gene expression regulation.ISC assembly protein IscA1(or MagR)is found within the mitochondria of most eukaryotes.Magnetoreceptor(MagR)is a highly conserved A-type iron and iron-sulfur cluster-binding protein,characterized by two distinct types of iron-sulfur clusters,[2Fe-2S]and[3Fe-4S],each conferring unique magnetic properties.MagR forms a rod-like polymer structure in complex with photoreceptive cryptochrome(Cry)and serves as a putative magnetoreceptor for retrieving geomagnetic information in animal navigation.Although the N-terminal sequences of MagR vary among species,their specific function remains unknown.In the present study,we found that the N-terminal sequences of pigeon MagR,previously thought to serve as a mitochondrial targeting signal(MTS),were not cleaved following mitochondrial entry but instead modulated the efficiency with which iron-sulfur clusters and irons are bound.Moreover,the N-terminal region of MagR was required for the formation of a stable MagR/Cry complex.Thus,the N-terminal sequences in pigeon MagR fulfil more important functional roles than just mitochondrial targeting.These results further extend our understanding of the function of MagR and provide new insights into the origin of magnetoreception from an evolutionary perspective.

On the evolutionary trail of MagRs

Magnetic sense,or termed magnetoreception,has evolved in a broad range of taxa within the animal kingdom to facilitate orientation and navigation.MagRs,highly conserved A-type iron-sulfur proteins,are widely distributed across all phyla and play essential roles in both magnetoreception and iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis.However,the evolutionary origins and functional diversification of MagRs from their prokaryotic ancestor remain unclear.In this study,MagR sequences from 131 species,ranging from bacteria to humans,were selected for analysis,with 23 representative sequences covering species from prokaryotes to Mollusca,Arthropoda,Osteichthyes,Reptilia,Aves,and mammals chosen for protein expression and purification.Biochemical studies revealed a gradual increase in total iron content in MagRs during evolution.Three types of MagRs were identified,each with distinct iron and/or iron-sulfur cluster binding capacity and protein stability,indicating continuous expansion of the functional roles of MagRs during speciation and evolution.This evolutionary biochemical study provides valuable insights into how evolution shapes the physical and chemical properties of biological molecules such as MagRs and how these properties influence the evolutionary trajectories of MagRs.

Particle agglomeration and inhibition method in the fluidized pyrolysis reaction of waste resin

This work investigated the pyrolysis reaction of waste resin in a fluidized bed reactor.It was found that the pyrolysis-generated ash would adhere to the surface of ceramic particles,causing particle agglomeration and defluidization.Adding kaolin could effectively inhibit the particle agglomeration during the fluidized pyrolysis reaction through physical isolation and chemical reaction.On the one hand,kaolin could form a coating layer on the surface of ceramic particles to prevent the adhesion of organic ash generated by the pyrolysis of resin.On the other hand,when a sufficient amount of kaolin(-0.2%(mass))was added,the activated kaolin could fully contact with the Na+ ions generated by the pyrolysis of resin and react to form a high-melting aluminosilicate mineral(nepheline),which could reduce the formation of low-melting-point sodium sulfate and thereby avoid the agglomeration of ceramic particles.

Establishing VIGS and CRISPR/Cas9 techniques to verify RsPDS function in radish

Virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS)and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein(CRISPR/Cas)systems are effective technologies for rapid and accurate gene function verification in modern plant biotechnology.However,the investigation of gene silencing and editing in radish remains limited.In this study,a bleaching phenotype was generated through the knockdown of RsPDS using tobacco rattle virus(TRV)-and turnip yellow mosaic virus(TYMV)-mediated gene silencing vectors.The TYMV-mediated gene silencing efficiency was higher than the TRV-based VIGS system in radish.The expression level of RsPDS was significantly inhibited using VIGS in'NAU-067'radish leaves.The rootless seedlings of‘NAU-067'were infected with Agrobacterium rhizogenes using the 2300GN-Ubi-RsPDS-Cas9 vector with two target sequences.Nine adventitious roots were blue with GUs staining,and four of these adventitious roots were edited at target sequence 1 of the RsPDS gene as indicated by Sanger sequencing.Furthermore,albino lines were generated with A.tumefaciens-mediated transformation of radish cotyledons.Five base substitutions and three base deletions occurred at target sequence 2 in Line 1,and three base insertions and three base substitutions occurred at target sequence 1 in Line 2.This study shows that VIGS and CRISPR/Cas9 techniques can be employed to precisely verify the biological functions of genes in radish,which will facilitate the genetic improvement of vital horticultural traits in radish breeding programs.

A New Algorithm of Rain Type Classification for GPM Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar in Summer Tibetan Plateau

In this study, a new rain type classification algorithm for the Dual-Frequency Precipitation Radar(DPR) suitable over the Tibetan Plateau(TP) was proposed by analyzing Global Precipitation Measurement(GPM) DPR Level-2 data in summer from 2014 to 2020. It was found that the DPR rain type classification algorithm(simply called DPR algorithm) has mis-identification problems in two aspects in summer TP. In the new algorithm of rain type classification in summer TP,four rain types are classified by using new thresholds, such as the maximum reflectivity factor, the difference between the maximum reflectivity factor and the background maximum reflectivity factor, and the echo top height. In the threshold of the maximum reflectivity factors, 30 d BZ and 18 d BZ are both thresholds to separate strong convective precipitation, weak convective precipitation and weak precipitation. The results illustrate obvious differences of radar reflectivity factor and vertical velocity among the three rain types in summer TP, such as the reflectivity factor of most strong convective precipitation distributes from 15 d BZ to near 35 d BZ from 4 km to 13 km, and increases almost linearly with the decrease in height. For most weak convective precipitation, the reflectivity factor distributes from 15 d BZ to 28 d BZ with the height from 4 km to 9 km. For weak precipitation, the reflectivity factor mainly distributes in range of 15–25 d BZ with height within 4–10 km. It is also shows that weak precipitation is the dominant rain type in summer TP, accounting for 40%–80%,followed by weak convective precipitation(25%–40%), and strong convective precipitation has the least proportion(less than 30%).

Instrumented oscillographic study on impact toughness of an axle steel DZ2 with different tempering temperatures

Compared with the conventional Charpy impact test method,the oscillographic impact test can help in the behavioral analysis of materials during the fracture process.In this study,the trade-off relationship between the strength and toughness of a DZ2 axle steel at various tempering temperatures and the cause of the improvement in impact toughness was evaluated.The tempering process dramatically influenced carbide precipitation behavior,which resulted in different aspect ratios of carbides.Impact toughness improved along with the rise in tempering temperature mainly due to the increase in energy required in impact crack propagation.The characteristics of the impact crack propagation process were studied through a comprehensive analysis of stress distribution,oscilloscopic impact statistics,fracture morphology,and carbide morphology.The poor impact toughness of low-tempering-temperature specimens was attributed to the increased number of stress concentration points caused by carbide morphology in the small plastic zone during the propagation process,which resulted in a mixed distribution of brittle and ductile fractures on the fracture surface.

Optimization Mechanism of Mechanical Properties of Basalt Fiber-Epoxy Resin Composites by Interfacially Enriched Distribution of Nano-Starch Crystals

Fibre reinforced polymer composites have become a new generation of structural materials due to their unique advantages such as high specific strength,designability,good dimensional stability and ease of large-area monolithic forming.However,the problem of interfacial bonding between the resin matrix and the fibres limits the direct use of reinforcing fibres and has become a central difficulty in the development of basalt fibre-epoxy composites.This paper proposes a solution for enhancing the strength of the fibre-resin interface using maize starch nanocrystals,which are highly yield and eco-friendly.Firstly,in this paper,corn starch nanocrystals(SNC)were prepared by hydrolysis,and were deposited on the surface of basalt fibers by electrostatic adsorption.After that,in order to maximize the modification effect of nano-starch crystals on the interface,the basalt fiber-epoxy resin composite samples were prepared by mixing in a pressureless molding method.The test results shown that the addition of basalt fibers alone led to a reduction in the strength of the sample.Deposition of 0.1 wt%SNC on the surface of basalt fibers can make the strength consistent with pure epoxy resin.When the adsorption amount of SNC reached 0.5 wt%,the tensile strength of the samples was 23.7%higher than that of pure epoxy resin.This is due to the formation of ether bond homopolymers between the SNC at the fibre-epoxy interface and the epoxy resin,which distorts the originally smooth interface,leading to increased stress concentration and the development of cracks.This enhances the binding of basalt fibers.The conclusions of this paper can provide an effective,simple,low-cost and non-polluting method of interfacial enhancement modification.

Radial growth in Qinghai spruce is most sensitive to severe drought in the Qilian Mountains of Northwest China

Global warming and frequent extreme drought events lead to tree death and extensive forest decline,but the underlying mechanism is not clear.In drought years,cambial development is more sensitive to climate change,but in different phenological stages,the response rela-tionship is nonlinear.Therefore,the dynamic relationship between tree radial growth and climatic/environmental fac-tors needs to be studied.We thus continuously monitored radial growth of Qinghai spruce(Picea crassifolia Kom.)and environmental factors from January 2021 to November 2022 using point dendrometers and portable meteorological weather stations in the central area of the Qilian Mountains.The relationship and stability between the radial growth of Qinghai spruce and environmental factors were compared for different levels of drought in 2021 and 2022.The year 2022 had higher temperatures and less precipitation and was drier than 2021.Compared with 2021,the growing period in 2022 for Qinghai spruce was 10 days shorter,maximum growth rate(Grmax)was 4.5μm·d^(-1) slower,and the initiation of growth was 6 days later.Growth of Qinghai spruce was always restricted by drought,and the stem radial increment(SRI)was more sensitive to precipitation and air relative humidity.Seasonal changes in cumulative radial growth were divided into four phenological stages according to the time of growth onset,cessation,and maximum growth rate(Grmax)of Qinghai spruce.Stability responses of SRI to climate change were stronger in Stage 3 and Stage 4 of 2021 and stronger in Stage 1(initiation growth stage)and Stage 3 of 2022.The results provide important information on the growth of the trees in response to drought and for specific managing forests as the climate warms.

Syntheses and properties of associative acrylamide copolymers containing short hydrophobic chains used in a friction reducer for slick-water fracturing

Two allyldimethylalkyl quaternary ammonium salt(AQAS)monomers,N,N-dimethylallylphenylpropylammonium bromide(AQAS1)and N,N-dimethylallylnonylammonium bromide(AQAS2),were synthesized and used to prepare modified polyacrylamide materials.Two new drag reducers were synthesized from acrylamide(AM),sodium acrylate(Na AA)and a cationic modified monomer(AQAS1 or AQAS2)via aqueous solution polymerization,and the copolymers were named P(AM/Na AA/AQAS1)and P(AM/Na AA/AQAS2),respectively.The structures of the drag reduction agents were confirmed by IR and1H NMR spectroscopies.The molecular weight(Mw)of P(AM/Na AA/AQAS1)was 1.79×10^(6)g/mol.When the copolymer concentration was 1000 mg/L and the flow rate was 45 L/min,in fresh water the highest drag reduction rate was 75.8%,in 10,000 mg/L Na Cl solution the drag reduction rate decreased to 72.9%.The molecular weight of P(AM/Na AA/AQAS2)was 3.17×10^(6)g/mol.When the copolymer concentration was500 mg/L and the flow rate was 45 L/min,the drag reduction rate reached 75.2%,and in 10,000 mg/L Na Cl solution the drag reduction rate was 73.3%,decreased by approximately 1.9%.The drag reduction rate for partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide(HPAM)was also investigated,and the results showed that the drag reduction rates for 500 and 1000 mg/L HPAM solutions were merely 43.2%and 49.0%in brine,respectively.Compared with HPAM,both of the above copolymers presented better drag reduction capacities.

Effect of valence and spin state on ethane dehydrogenation in Fe-S-1 catalyst

Light alkanes non-oxidative dehydrogenation is an attractive non-oil route for olefins production.The alkane dehydrogenation reaction is limited by thermodynamic equilibrium,and the C-H bond cleavage is commonly considered as the rate-determined step.The valence state of metal sites in catalysts will influence the stabilization of the vital intermediate(i.e.,C_(x)H_(y)...M^(δ+)...H)during the C-H bond cleavage process,which in turn affects the catalytic reactivity.Herein,we explicitly investigated the effect of different valence states of framework-Fe in silicate-1 zeolite on ethane dehydrogenation reaction through the combination of experimental and theoretical study.Fe(Ⅱ)-S-1 and Fe(Ⅲ)-S-1 catalysts are successfully synthesized by ligand-assisted in situ crystallization method,In-situ C_(2)H_6-FTIR shows the higher coverage of hydrocarbon intermediates on Fe(Ⅱ)-S-1,Under the same evaluation co nditio n,Fe(Ⅱ)-S-1 exhibits a higher space time yield of ethylene.Density functional theory(DFT)results reveal that the more coordinate-unsaturated and electron-enriched Fe(Ⅱ)sites boost the first C-H bond activation by slight deformation and efficient electron donation with C_(2)H_(5)^(*)species.Remarkably,the second C-H bond cleavage on Fe(Ⅱ)-S-1 undergoes a spin-crossing process from quintet state to triplet state,which involves a two-electro n-two-orbital interaction,further promoting the formation of ethylene.Microkinetic analysis is consistent with the experimental and DFT results.This work could provide methodology for elucidating the effect of metal valence states on catalytic performance as well as offer guidance for designing more efficient Fe-zeolite catalysts.

Review of Sc microalloying effects in Al-Cu alloys

Artificially controlling the solid-state precipitation in aluminum (Al) alloys is an efficient way to achieve well-performed properties,and the microalloying strategy is the most frequently adopted method for such a purpose.In this paper,recent advances in lengthscale-dependent scandium (Sc) microalloying effects in Al-Cu model alloys are reviewed.In coarse-grained Al-Cu alloys,the Sc-aided Cu/Sc/vacancies complexes that act as heterogeneous nuclei and Sc segregation at the θ′-Al_(2)Cu/matrix interface that reduces interfacial energy contribute significantly to θ′precipitation.By grain size refinement to the fine/ultrafine-grained scale,the strongly bonded Cu/Sc/vacancies complexes inhibit Cu and vacancy diffusing toward grain boundaries,promoting the desired intragranular θ′precipitation.At nanocrystalline scale,the applied high strain producing high-density vacancies results in the formation of a large quantity of (Cu Sc,vacancy)-rich atomic complexes with high thermal stability,outstandingly improving the strength/ductility synergy and preventing the intractable low-temperature precipitation.This review recommends the use of microalloying technology to modify the precipitation behaviors toward better combined mechanical properties and thermal stability in Al alloys.

Deciphering gastric inflammation-induced tumorigenesis through multi-omics data and AI methods

Gastric cancer(GC), the fifth most common cancer globally, remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Inflammation-induced tumorigenesis is the predominant process in GC development;therefore, systematic research in this area should improve understanding of the biological mechanisms that initiate GC development and promote cancer hallmarks. Here, we summarize biological knowledge regarding gastric inflammation-induced tumorigenesis, and characterize the multi-omics data and systems biology methods for investigating GC development. Of note, we highlight pioneering studies in multi-omics data and state-of-the-art network-based algorithms used for dissecting the features of gastric inflammation-induced tumorigenesis, and we propose translational applications in early GC warning biomarkers and precise treatment strategies. This review offers integrative insights for GC research, with the goal of paving the way to novel paradigms for GC precision oncology and prevention.

Structure characterization of the oxide film on FGH96 superalloy powders with various oxidation degrees

The structure of the oxide film on FGH96 alloy powders significantly influences the mechanical properties of superalloys.In this study,FGH96 alloy powders with various oxygen contents were investigated using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and atomic probe technology to elucidate the structure evolution of the oxide film.Energy dispersive spectrometer analysis revealed the presence of two distinct components in the oxide film of the alloy powders:amorphous oxide layer covering the γ matrix and amorphous oxide particles above the carbide.The alloying elements within the oxide layer showed a laminated distribution,with Ni,Co,Cr,and Al/Ti,which was attributed to the decreasing oxygen equilibrium pressure as oxygen diffused from the surface into the γ matrix.On the other hand,Ti enrichment was observed in the oxide particles caused by the oxidation and decomposition of the carbide phase.Comparative analysis of the oxide film with oxygen contents of 140,280,and 340 ppm showed similar element distributions,while the thickness of the oxide film varies approximately at 9,14,and 30 nm,respectively.These findings provide valuable insights into the structural analysis of the oxide film on FGH96 alloy powders.

Recent progress in the research on magnesium and magnesium alloy foils:A short review

Magnesium and magnesium alloy foils have great potential for application in battery anodes,electromagnetic shielding,optics and acoustics,and biology because of their excellent specific damping,internal dissipation coefficients,magnetic and electrical conductivities,as well as high theoretical specific capacity.However,magnesium alloys exhibit poor deformation ability due to their hexagonal close-packed crystal structure.Preparing magnesium and magnesium alloy foils with thicknesses of less than 0.1 mm is difficult because of surface oxidation and grain growth at high temperatures or severe anisotropy after cold rolling that leads to cracks.Numerous methods have been applied to prepare magnesium alloy foils.They include warm rolling,cold rolling,accumulative roll bonding,electric plastic rolling,and on-line heating rolling.Defects of magnesium and magnesium alloy foils during preparation,such as edge cracks and breakage,are important factors for consideration.Herein,the current status of the research on magnesium and magnesium alloy foils is summarized from the aspects of foil preparation,defect control,performance characterization,and application prospects.The advantages and disadvantages of different preparation methods and defect(edge cracks and breakage)mechanisms in the preparation of foils are identified.

Strategies of selective electroreduction of aqueous nitrate to N_(2) in chloride-free system:A critical review

Electroreduction of nitrate has been gaining wide attention in recent years owing to it's beneficial for converting nitrate into benign N_(2) from the perspective of electrocatalytic denitrification or into value-added ammonia from the perspective of electrocatalytic NH_(3) synthesis.By reason of the undesired formation of ammonia is dominant during electroreduction of nitrate-containing wastewater,chloride has been widely used to improve N_(2) selectivity.Nevertheless,selective electroreduction of nitrate to N2 gas in chloride-containing system poses several drawbacks.In this review,we focus on the key strategies for efficiently enhancing N_(2) selectivity of electroreduction of nitrate in chloride-free system,including optimal selection of elements,combining an active metal catalyst with another metal,manipulating the crystalline morphology and facet orientation,constructing core–shell structure catalysts,etc.Before summarizing the strategies,four possible reaction pathways of electro-reduction of nitrate to N_(2) are discussed.Overall,this review attempts to provide practical strategies for enhancing N2 selectivity without the aid of electrochlorination and highlight directions for future research for designing appropriate electrocatalyst for final electrocatalytic denitrifi-cation.

In-situ construction of abundant active centers on hierarchically porous carbon electrode toward high-performance phosphate electrosorption: Synergistic effect of electric field and capture sites

Phosphate removal is crucial for eutrophication control and water quality improvement.Electro-assisted adsorption,an eco-friendly elec-trosorption process,exhibited a promising potential for wastewater treatment.However,there are few works focused on phosphate electro-sorption,and reported electrodes cannot attach satisfactory removal capacities and rates.Herein,electro-assisted adsorption of phosphate via in-situ construction of La active centers on hierarchically porous carbon(LaPC)has been originally demonstrated.The resulted LaPC composite not only possessed a hierarchically porous structure with uniformly dispersed La active sites,but also provided good conductivity for interfacial electron transfer.The LaPC electrode achieved an ultrahigh phosphate electrosorption capability of 462.01 mg g^(-1) at 1 V,outperforming most existing electrodes.The superior phosphate removal performance originates from abundant active centers formed by the coupling of electricfield and capture sites.Besides,the stability and selectivity toward phosphate capture were maintained well even under comprehensive conditions.Moreover,a series of kinetics and isotherms models were employed to validate the electrosorption process.This work demonstrates a deep understanding and promotes a new level of phosphate electrosorption.

An innovative approach to effective breeding blanket design for future fusion reactors

An effective breeding blanket is critical to support tritium self-sufficiency for future fusion reactors.The difficulty is to achieve tritium breeding ratio(TBR)target of 1.05 or more.This paper presents a new design approach to the blanket design process.It indicates that fusion blanket design is affected by universal functions based on iterations.Three aspects are worth more attention from fusion engineers in the future.The first factor is that the iterations on the material fractions affect not only structure scheme but also TBR variation.The second factor is the cooling condition affecting final TBR due to the change of the structure material proportion.The third factor is temperature field related to the tritium release.In particular,it is suggested that the statistical calculation of effective TBR must be under reasonable control of the blanket temperature field.This approach is novel for blanket engineering in development of a fusion reactor.