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Background and aim: Patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) commonly experience aberrant skin sensation sensitivity; however, the causal relationship is not yet clear. This study uses a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) method to explore the relationship between disturbance of skin sensation (DSS) and ASD. Methods: Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) extracted from the summary data of genome‐wide association studies were used as genetic instruments. MR was performed using the inverse‐variance‐weighted method, with alternate methods (e.g., weighted median, MR‐Egger, simple mode, weighted mode, and MR‐pleiotropy residual sum and outlier) and multiple sensitivity analyses to assess horizontal pleiotropy and remove outliers. Results: The results of the analysis using six SNPs as genetic instruments showed that the DSS is associated with an increased risk of ASD (odds ratio = 1.126, 95% confidence interval = 1.029–1.132; p =.010). The results of the sensitivity analyses were robust with no evidence of pleiotropy. The reverse MR analyses showed no causal effects of ASD on DSS. Conclusion: This study's findings suggest that DSS has potential causal effects on ASD, whereas ASD has no effect on DSS. Thus, skin sensitivity may represent a behavioral marker of ASD, by which some populations could be subtyped in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sleep loss with work overload can impact human cognitive performance. However, the brain's response to an increased working memory load following total sleep deprivation (TSD) remains unclear. In the present study, we focussed on the dynamic response of the hippocampus to increased working memory load before and after total sleep deprivation of 36 h. A total of 16 male participants completed a verbal working memory task under functional magnetic resonance imaging. After whole‐brain activation analysis and region of interest analysis of the hippocampus, the generalised form of context‐dependent psychophysiological interactions (gPPI) was used to analyse the hippocampal functional connectivity with the whole brain. The results revealed that as the working memory load increased within a small range, from 0‐back to 1‐back task, the left hippocampal functional connectivity decreased with the left supplementary motor area, left pars opercularis, left rolandic operculum, right superior frontal gyrus, bilateral precentral gyrus, and left middle cingulate cortex following total sleep deprivation compared with that observed in resting wakefulness. When the working memory load further increased from 1‐back to 2‐back task, the connectivity increased between the left hippocampus and the left superior parietal lobule as well as between the left hippocampus and right lingual gyrus after total sleep deprivation compared with that observed in resting wakefulness. Moreover, the left hippocampus gPPI effect on the left middle cingulate cortex and left superior parietal lobule could predict the behavioural test accuracy in 1‐back and 2‐back task, respectively, following total sleep deprivation. These findings indicated that increased working memory load after total sleep deprivation disrupts working memory processes. The brain reacts to these disruptions in a dynamic and flexible manner, involving not only brain activation but also hippocampus‐related functional network connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have found that the use of clinically approved caffeine and modafinil can alleviate cognitive impairment due to sleep deprivation (SD) to some extent. However, the neural mechanisms by which these two cognitive enhancers work to counteract the effects of SD on cognitive impairment remain unclear. A double-blind within-subjects experiment using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) was designed. Participants underwent three 36-h SD trials, each of which involved taking 200 mg of caffeine, modafinil, or placebo at the 28th and 32 nd h of SD. Sixteen subregions of the thalamus were selected as the regions of interest and changes in functional connectivity (FC) between the thalamus and the other brain regions were explored after the participants took caffeine or modafinil. The subjective sleepiness of the participants increased with the duration of SD. compared with placebo, modafinil and caffeine had insignificant effects on wakefulness or sleepiness. However, in terms of neural FC, we found varying degrees of attenuation or enhancement of the FC between the thalamus and other regions. Taking caffeine during SD weakened the FC between the right rostral temporal thalamus (rTtha) subregion and the left lingual gyrus compared with placebo. Caffeine enhanced the FC between three subregions of the thalamus, namely the left sensory thalamus, the left rTtha, and the right lateral pre-frontal thalamus, and the right inferior temporal, left orbitofrontal, and right superior occipital gyris. Modafinil weakened the FC between the right posterior parietal thalamus and left middle temporal gyrus, and enhanced the FC between the left medial pre-frontal thalamus, left rTtha, and right occipital thalamus and left middle frontal gyrus. After 36 h of total SD, modafinil and caffeine administration enhanced or attenuated the time-domain correlations between various subregions of the thalamus and brain regions of the frontal and temporal lobes in healthy adults, compared with placebo. These results provide valuable evidence for further unraveling the neuropharmacological mechanisms of caffeine and modafinil, as well as important insights for exploring effective pharmacological intervention strategies against SD. • Sleep deprivation leads to weakened or enhanced functional connectivity (FC) between the thalamic subregions and other brain regions. • Compared with placebo, caffeine enhanced FC between the thalamic subregions and the inferotemporal, orbital inferior frontal, and superior occipital gyrus. • Compared with placebo, modafinil enhanced FC between the thalamic subregions and the left middle frontal gyrus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The combination of metallic copper ion and two organic monomers forms a new type of MOFs material. • The DPV value of new MOFs is higher than that of organic monomers. • Phen-Cu-PTA has a strong ability to recognize tryptophan, and the current ratio of l-type to d-type is 2.3. • The structure of MOFs provides us with new ideas to prepare chiral selectors, and CMOF is a trend. Construction of chiral electrochemical sensors for stereoselective recognition is of great significance in medicine and pharmacy. Compared with traditional chiral recognition materials, metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are undoubtedly a new type of materials for chiral recognition. Here, we report a novel MOFs structure (Phe-Cu-PTA) that formed by the metal ion Cu2+ and organic ligands [1.10-Pheanthroline (Phe), Terephthalic acid (PTA)], which was used to distinguish L-tryptophan and D-tryptophan (L/D-Trp) enantiomers. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) test results showed the ability of the Phe-Cu-PTA to recognize the Trp-enantiomers. Owing to the different steric configuration of the L/D-Trp-enantiomers, host (MOFs)-guest (Trp-isomers) interactions are different for L/D-Trp, the peak current values of L-Trp-and D-Trp-are obviously different, thereby effectively distinguishing the Trp-isomers. The results demonstrated that the developed MOFs (Phe-Cu-PTA) showed significantly higher binding force toward D-Trp-than L-Trp. Therefore, the proposed electrochemical chiral interface can be considered as a potential platform for enantiomeric recognition of chiral compounds. We have reported a novel MOFs for the construction of electrochemical sensing interface. Metal ions Cu2+ and organic ligands [1.10-phenanthroline (Phen), terephthalic acid (PTA)] are used to identify tryptophan (Trp) enantiomers. The electrochemical recognition results show that the novel MOFs has good recognition effect for tryptophan enantiomers. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous studies revealed that sleep deprivation (SD) impairs risk perception and leads to poor decision-making efficiency. However, how risk perception is related to brain regions' communication after SD has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the neuropsychological mechanisms of SD-impaired risk perception. Methods: Nineteen healthy male adults were recruited and underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging during a state of rested wakefulness and after nearly 36 h of total SD. They then completed the balloon analog risk task, which was used to measure the risk perception ability of risky decision-making. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and voxel-wise functional connectivity were used to investigate neurobiological changes caused by SD. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between changes in ReHo, function, and risk perception. Results: At the behavioral level, risk perception decreased after 36 h of SD. At the neural level, SD induced a significant increase in ReHo in the right postcentral gyrus and was positively correlated with risk perception changes. The functional connectivity between the right postcentral gyrus, left medial temporal gyrus, and right inferior temporal gyrus was enhanced. Critically, increased right postcentral gyrus and right inferior temporal gyrus connectivity positively correlated with changes in risk perception. Conclusions: SD impairs the risk perception associated with altered postcentral connectivity. The brain requires more energy to process and integrate sensory and perceptual information after SD, which may be one possible reason for decreased risk perception ability after SD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Excellent response inhibition is the basis for outstanding competitive athletic performance, and sleep may be an important factor affecting athletes' response inhibition. This study investigates the effect of sleep deprivation on athletes' response inhibition, and its differentiating effect on non-athlete controls' performance, with the aim of helping athletes effectively improve their response inhibition ability through sleep pattern manipulation. Behavioral and event-related potential (ERP) data were collected from 36 participants (16 table tennis athletes and 20 general college students) after 36 h of sleep deprivation using ERP techniques and a stop-signal task. Sleep deprivation's different effects on response inhibition in the two groups were explored through repeated-measures ANOVA. Behavioral data showed that in a baseline state, stop-signal response time was significantly faster in table tennis athletes than in non-athlete controls, and appeared significantly longer after sleep deprivation in both groups. ERP results showed that at baseline state, N2, ERN, and P3 amplitudes were lower in table tennis athletes than in non-athlete controls, and corresponding significant decreases were observed in non-athlete controls after 36 h of sleep deprivation. Table tennis athletes showed a decrease in P3 amplitude and no significant difference in N2 and ERN amplitudes, after 36 h of sleep deprivation compared to the baseline state. Compared to non-athlete controls, table tennis athletes had better response inhibition, and the adverse effects of sleep deprivation on response inhibition occurred mainly in the later top-down motor inhibition process rather than in earlier automated conflict detection and monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise monitoring of the subtle pH fluctuation during biological events remains a big challenge. Previously, we reported an ultra‐pH‐sensitive (UPS) nanoprobe library with a sharp pH response using co‐polymerization of two tertiary amine‐containing monomers with distinct pKa. Currently, we have generalized the UPS nanoparticle library with tunable pH transitions (pHt) by copolymerization of a tertiary amine‐containing monomer with a series of non‐ionizable monomers. The pHt of nanoparticles is fine‐tuned by the non‐ionizable monomers with different hydrophobicity. Each non‐ionizable monomer presents a constant contribution to pH tunability regardless of tertiary amine‐containing monomers. Based on this strategy, we produced two libraries of nanoprobes with continuous pHt covering the entire physiological pH range (5.0–7.4) for fluorescent imaging of endosome maturation and cancers. This generalized strategy provides a powerful toolkit for biological studies and cancer theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precise monitoring of the subtle pH fluctuation during biological events remains a big challenge. Previously, we reported an ultra‐pH‐sensitive (UPS) nanoprobe library with a sharp pH response using co‐polymerization of two tertiary amine‐containing monomers with distinct pKa. Currently, we have generalized the UPS nanoparticle library with tunable pH transitions (pHt) by copolymerization of a tertiary amine‐containing monomer with a series of non‐ionizable monomers. The pHt of nanoparticles is fine‐tuned by the non‐ionizable monomers with different hydrophobicity. Each non‐ionizable monomer presents a constant contribution to pH tunability regardless of tertiary amine‐containing monomers. Based on this strategy, we produced two libraries of nanoprobes with continuous pHt covering the entire physiological pH range (5.0–7.4) for fluorescent imaging of endosome maturation and cancers. This generalized strategy provides a powerful toolkit for biological studies and cancer theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

So far, the fabrication of chiral metal-organic framework (CMOF) is difficult to predict and the chiral functionality mainly comes from the building blocks that is a part of the frameworks. The induction effect in the chiral nanochannels of the metal-organic framework (MOF) makes achiral polymers have chiral properties, which has not been well explored. Therefore, CMOFs with chiral nanochannels or chiral pores appear to have special functions. Herein, CMOFs (D-his-ZIF-8) with chiral micropores or chiral nanochannels are prepared through a simple 2-methyl imidazolate in-situ substitution by d -histidine. The unmodified polyaniline with chirality (c -PANI) was synthesized in chiral nanochannels and pores of CMOF, which brought about chiral induction from the chiral nanochannels and pores of CMOF to c -PANI chains. The circular dichroism shows that the c -PANI chains released from the chiral nanochannel still maintains the chiral properties even leaves the chiral nanochannel. It can be seen from the electrochemical results that c -PANI has excellent conductivity, and the conductivity of CMOF is very poor. Electrochemical recognition showed that both CMOF and c -PANI have certain chiral recognition effects for L-Trp and D-Trp, from which the optimal recognition effect was obtained from c -PANI chains. This shows that the excellent conductivity of c -PANI not only expands the electrochemical signal, but also the helical structure of the c -PANI chains accelerates the distinction of chiral molecules. This study provides a novel perspective to induce chiral polymer chains with better conductivity in the nanochannels of CMOF. Herein, CMOF (D-his-ZIF-8) with chiral nanochannels are prepared through a simple 2-methyl imidazolate in-situ substitution by d -histidine. The unmodified chiral PANI (c -PANI) was synthesized in chiral nanochannels and pores of CMOF, meanwhile chiral sites were introduced in the c -PANI polymer chains , which brought about chiral induction from the chiral nanochannels of CMOF to PANI chains. [Display omitted] • CMOFs with chiral nanochannels are prepared through a simple in-situ substitution method. • The unmodified PANI was synthesized in chiral nanochannels of CMOF. • The chiral induction from the chiral nanochannels of CMOF to PANI chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A sharpened pencil-like hierarchically porous carbon (MPC) is prepared by using the MOFs as precursor/template. • The unique structural merits endow the hierarchically porous carbon with superior electrochemical performances. • A novel ZIHC device is constructed with high energy/power density and excellent cyclic stability. Aqueous zinc ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) are an emerging class of energy storage devices with the merits of high-energy-power density, low cost and high safety. But the energy density still is behind the expectation due to the low voltage output and small specific capacitance. Seeking high performance capacitive-type carbon material are the one choice to capture these challenges. Herein, a high performance ZIHC device in aqueous electrolyte was assembled by using a sharpened pencil-like hierarchically porous carbon rod derived from the metal–organic framework. Thanks to the high specific surface area, fairish pore size distribution and rich oxygen-containing functional groups of carbon cathode, the excellent specific capacitance and high energy density were demonstrated. The assembled ZIHC device could achieve a high energy density of 130.1 W h kg−1 at power output of 180.3 W kg−1 under a relatively wide operation voltage of 0–1.8 V, and remain 59 W h kg−1 even at high power density of 7.8 kW kg−1. Meanwhile, this device also exhibited an excellent cycling life up to 10 000 cycles at 10 A g−1 with capacity retention of 96.7%. This research provides a new idea for the application of MOF-derived carbon materials in zinc ion hybrid capacitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sixteen male participants were enrolled in a randomized crossover control study involving three sleep-deprivation sessions. • The study investigated the effect of modafinil on working memory decline caused by sleep deprivation, by studying ERPs. • Modafinil may effectively improve the decline in pronunciation-related working memory after sleep deprivation. We aimed to explore whether modafinil mitigates the working memory decline induced by 36 h of acute total sleep deprivation (36-h TSD). Sixteen healthy male participants were enrolled in a randomized double-blind crossover control study involving three sleep-deprivation sessions. Participants were administered 400 mg of placebo, caffeine, or modafinil during these sessions. Behavior and EEG data were recorded while participants performed pronunciation-related working memory tasks. Behavioral indicators showed that, compared with placebo, modafinil improved the accuracy of pronunciation-related working memory tasks and reduced the response time. Compared with before sleep deprivation, the amplitudes of the event-related potentials (ERPs) increased in the N2 component and decreased in the P3 component after sleep deprivation in the placebo condition. In the caffeine condition, the amplitude of the P3 component decreased, the latency of the N2 component was prolonged, and the N2 amplitude remained unchanged. In the modafinil condition, the P3 latency was shortened, and no significant difference was found in the amplitude of the N2 or P3 ERPs; no significant difference was recorded in the N2 latency. Modafinil (400 mg) effectively ameliorated the decline in pronunciation-related working memory after 36-h TSD, suggesting that it may effectively counteract cognitive decline caused by acute sleep deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]