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In patients with hypertension and pre‐frailty or frailty, the influence of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) time in target range (TTR) on clinical outcomes is unclear. Thus, we conducted a post hoc analysis of the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). Classifying 4208 participants into frail and non‐frail groups using a frailty index, the study calculated blood pressure time in target range (BP‐TTR) for the first three months using the Rosendaal method. The primary endpoint included a composite of nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), acute coronary syndromes, stroke, acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF), and cardiovascular death. Relationships between BP‐TTR and outcomes were analyzed using Kaplan‐Meier curves, Cox models, and restricted cubic spline curves, with subgroup analysis for further insights. In a median follow‐up of 3.17 years, primary outcomes occurred in 6.7% of participants. Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed that a lower systolic blood pressure time in target range (SBP‐TTR) (0%–25%) correlated with an increased cumulative incidence of the primary outcome (p <.001), nonfatal MI (P =.021), stroke (P =.004), and cardiovascular death (P =.002). A higher SBP‐TTR (75%–<100%) was linked to a reduced risk of these outcomes. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve revealed a linear association between SBP‐TTR and the primary outcome (non‐linear P =.704). Similar patterns were observed for diastolic blood pressure time in target range (DBP‐TTR). Subgroup analysis showed that the protective effect of higher SBP‐TTR was less pronounced at low DBP‐TTR levels (P for interaction =.023). In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of maintaining BP within the target range to mitigate cardiovascular risks in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphate‐coordination triple helicates A2L3 (A=anion) with azobenzene‐spaced bis‐bis(urea) ligands (L) have proven to undergo a rare in situ photoisomerization (without disassembly of the structure) rather than the typically known, stepwise "disassembly‐isomerization‐reassembly" process. This is enabled by the structural self‐adaptability of the "aniono" assembly arising from multiple relatively weak and flexible hydrogen bonds between the phosphate anion and bis(urea) units. Notably, the Z→E thermal relaxation rate of the isomerized azobenzene unit is significantly decreased (up to 20‐fold) for the triple helicates compared to the free ligands. Moreover, the binding of chiral guest cations inside the cavity of the Z‐isomerized triple helicate can induce optically pure diastereomers, thus demonstrating a new strategy for making light‐activated chiroptical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phosphate‐coordination triple helicates A2L3 (A=anion) with azobenzene‐spaced bis‐bis(urea) ligands (L) have proven to undergo a rare in situ photoisomerization (without disassembly of the structure) rather than the typically known, stepwise "disassembly‐isomerization‐reassembly" process. This is enabled by the structural self‐adaptability of the "aniono" assembly arising from multiple relatively weak and flexible hydrogen bonds between the phosphate anion and bis(urea) units. Notably, the Z→E thermal relaxation rate of the isomerized azobenzene unit is significantly decreased (up to 20‐fold) for the triple helicates compared to the free ligands. Moreover, the binding of chiral guest cations inside the cavity of the Z‐isomerized triple helicate can induce optically pure diastereomers, thus demonstrating a new strategy for making light‐activated chiroptical materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gastrointestinal infection is a leading cause of gut diseases attracting global health concerns. The emerging antimicrobial resistance in enteric pathogens drives the search of viable and renewable alternatives to antibiotics for the health of both human beings and animals. Spore-forming probiotic Bacillus have received extensively interests for their multiple health benefits, including the restoration of microbiota dysbiosis and the reduction of drug-resistant pathogens. These promising benefits are mainly attributed to the activity of structurally diverse Bacillus-derived metabolites, such as antibacterial compounds, short-chain fatty acids, and other small molecules. Such metabolites show the capacity to directly target either the individual or community of bacterial pathogens, and to potentiate both host cells and gut microbiota. The better understanding of the mechanisms by which probiotic Bacillus and the metabolites modulate the metabolism of hosts and microbiota will advance the screening and development of probiotic Bacillus. In this review, we discuss the interaction among probiotic Bacillus, microbiota and host, and summarize the Bacillus-derived metabolites that act as key players in such interactions, shedding light on the mechanistic understanding of probiotic Bacillus against enteric bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) are spherical zero-dimensional carbon nanomaterials, generally below 10 nm in size, which have received increasing attention in the field of corrosion because of various advantages such as good water solubility, abundant raw materials, and environmental protection. In this work, water-soluble carbon dots (CDs) with particle sizes of 5–10 nm are obtained by electrochemical oxidation with anhydrous ethanol. FTIR, Raman, UV–Vis, XPS, and TEM are used to characterize the obtained CDs, and electrochemical tests are used to investigate the anti-corrosion performance of the CDs. The results reveal that the corrosion inhibition performance increased with the addition of CDs, and the highest corrosion inhibition efficiency reaches 98% when the addition amount is 200 mg/L. Moreover, the inhibition mechanism for CDs needs to be further investigated, and the stable adsorption of CDs on carbon steel to form adsorption film may be the key factor for its good corrosion inhibition performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: As psychosis is associated with decreased quality of life, increased institutionalization, and mortality in Parkinson disease (PD), it is essential to identify individuals at risk for future psychosis. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate whether diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of white matter hold independent utility for predicting future psychosis in PD, and whether they could be combined with clinical predictors to improve the prognostication of PD psychosis. Methods: This study included 123 newly diagnosed PD patients collected in the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative. Tract‐based spatial statistics were used to compare baseline DTI metrics between PD patients who developed psychosis and those who did not during follow‐up. Binary logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the clinical and white matter markers predictive of psychosis. Results: Among DTI measures, both higher baseline whole brain (odds ratio [OR] = 1.711, p = 0.016) free water (FW) and visual processing system (OR = 1.680, p < 0.001) FW were associated with an increased risk of future psychosis. Baseline FW remained a significant indicator of future psychosis in PD after controlling for clinical predictors. Moreover, the accuracy of prediction of psychosis using clinical predictors alone (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.742, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.655–0.816) was significantly improved by the addition of the visual processing system FW (AUC = 0.856, 95% CI = 0.781–0.912; Delong method, p = 0.022). Conclusions: Baseline FW of the visual processing system incurs an independent risk of future psychosis in PD, thus providing an opportunity for multiple‐modality marker models to include a white matter marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) that has been associated with high morbidity and mortality in patients with STEMI. Acute tubular damage may be reflected by serum creatinine (Scr) values that do not meet the criteria for AKI. Methods. This analysis included 19,424 patients from the Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China, Acute Coronary Syndrome Project (n = 5,221 (36.8%), patients with a small increase in Scr within 48 h of hospitalization; n = 14,203 patients with no increase in Scr). The primary outcome was the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Secondary outcomes included the incidence of massive hemorrhage, in-hospital death, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, and stroke. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between a small increase in Scr within 48 h of hospitalization (>0.1 to <0.3 mg/dl) and MACE or massive hemorrhage during hospitalization. Results. Patients with a small increase in Scr within 48 h of hospitalization were significantly more likely to experience MACE (11.2% vs. 9.1%; P < 0.001) or massive hemorrhage (3.2% vs. 2.2%; P < 0.001) compared to patients with no increase in Scr, but there was no significant difference in in-hospital mortality (0.8% vs. 0.9%; P = 0.301). Logistic regression analysis showed that a small increase in Scr within 48 h of hospital admission was a risk factor for MACE (OR, 1.168; 95% CI, 1.044–1.306; P = 0.006) or massive hemorrhage (OR, 1.413; 95% CI, 1.164–1.715; P < 0.001). Other risk factors included age ˃65 years, history of heart failure, use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, aspirin or ACEI/ARB, LVEF <40%, Killip class III-IV, and increased SBP and heart rate. Conclusion. A small increase in Scr during hospitalization in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI that does not meet the criteria for AKI is a risk factor for in-hospital adverse outcomes. This effect is maintained in patients with normal Scr at hospitalization. Trial Registration. Clinical trial registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02306616. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, high‐yield carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are successfully synthesized by a simple chemical oxidation method using acetaldehyde as raw material. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetry (TGA), and XPS are used to analyze the structural characteristics of CQDs. The results demonstrate that many oxygen‐containing functional groups are on the surface of carbon nuclei. The inhibitive efficiency of electrochemical experiments and weight loss is 87.1 % and 95.3 %, respectively. SEM observes the surface morphology of the sample after 72 h corrosion with or without CQDs, and EDS analysis confirms that CQDs are effectively adsorbed on the surface of carbon steel. Furthermore, through calculation, the standard adsorption‐free energy of CQDs is −25 kJ/mol, concluding that the adsorption process is a combination of physisorption and chemisorption. This work is helping to solve the corrosion problem of metal equipment in the acid process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HoFe1−xCrxO3 (x = 0.4–0.6) near half-doping were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction method. A great correlation between the structural distortion and the competition of magnetic order is reported in this work. Fe2+/Fe3+ and Cr3+/Cr4+ ions were checked to coexist in these compounds. With the increase of Cr concentration, the reduction of Fe (Cr)–O–Fe (Cr) bond angle and the rising of octahedral distortion were investigated by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The spin reorientation and the magnetic compensation temperatures of TSR and Tcomp move to high temperatures. The competition of antiferromagnetic (AFM) and ferromagnetic (FM) orders results in a complex magnetic phase transition. There is a Griffiths-like phase at the temperature range between AFM transition temperature TN and Griffiths temperature TG. Weak FM and AFM orders coexist at a temperature below TN, and spin order transforms from Γ4 to Γ2 at TSR. The evolution of the magnetic phase diagram is given for HoFe1−xCrxO3 near half-doping. The results show that the magnetic ground state could be adjusted by controlling the mixed valence states and structural distortion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social norms can coordinate individuals and groups during collective threats. Pandemic-related social norms (e.g., wearing masks, social distancing) emerged to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, little is known about the psychological consequences of the emerging norms. We conducted three experiments cross-culturally, during the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic in China (Study 1), the recovery period in China (Study 2), and the severe period in the United States and Canada (Study 3). Across the three studies, we first distinguished the opposite effects of social norms and risk perception on individuals' psychological characteristics during the COVID-19 pandemic and further revealed that individuals who perceived stronger pandemic norms reported a lower level of COVID-19 risk perception, which in turn would be associated with fewer negative emotions, lower pressure, more positive emotions, higher levels of trusts, and more confidence in fighting against COVID-19. Our findings show that perceived tighter social norms are linked to beneficial psychological outcomes. This research helps governments, institutions, and individuals understand the mechanism and benefits of social norms during the pandemic, thereby facilitating policy formulation and better responses to social crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-stage aging treatment with different initial loading stresses were carried out in the Inconel 718 alloy after solution annealing process to investigate the stress relaxation and age hardening behaviors on basis of microstructural evolution. The result showed that the stress relaxation behavior mainly occurred in the first aging stage and the corresponding mechanism changed from diffusion creep with initial loading stress of 100 MPa into dislocation slip with initial stress of 600 MPa. Simultaneously, the influence of initial stress on yield strength was counteracted balanced the creep recovery and dislocation hardening, resulting in nearly constant value if yield strength. During the secondary aging stage, the strength of the purely aged sample is 3% higher than that of the high initial stress sample, and the precipitated phase morphology distribution is more uniform. The stress relaxation occurred in the secondary aging stage was negligible, irrespective of initial stress status. In condition, the application of initial stress gave rise to the precipitation behavior, which presented faster growth and coarsening with increasing initial stress value. As a comparison, the distribution of precipitates in sample without loading stress relatively more homogeneous and revealed denser, leading to higher yield strength compared with other samples with initial stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residual stress reduction, the precipitation behavior of γ" phase and the evolution of mechanical properties of Inconel 718 alloy in solid solution annealed with different pretreatment were investigated. The results show that the pretreatment process can effectively reduce the quenching residual stresses. With the increase of pretreatment temperature from 680 °C to 720 °C, the residual stress reduction rate increased from 52% to 65%, and the corresponding stress relaxation mechanism changed from dislocation slip dominated to both dislocation slip and grain boundary migration. Meanwhile, the pretreatment process promotes the nucleation and precipitation of the γ" phase, which is uniformly nucleated and always consistent with the matrix. The yield strength of the pretreated samples was slightly increased compared to the purely aged state, with an extreme value of 5.1%. The increase in strength is mainly attributed to the coherent hardening effect associated with the morphology and distribution of the γ" phase. • The pretreatment process can significantly reduce the residual stress of the alloy, with a maximum reduction of 65%. • The pretreatment process can improve the strength and plasticity of the alloy, with the maximum enhancement rate reaching 5% and 17%, respectively. • The kinetic behavior of γ″ phase precipitation and strength contribution under the pretreatment process were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the stress relaxation behavior and microstructure development of 300 M steel was explored using stress relaxation experiments from 100 to 600 °C at 300 MPa. Using the Norton, Arrhenius, and Bird-Murkherjee-Dorn (BMD) equations, the stress exponents within this temperature range were determined to range from 4.52 to 9.27, and dislocation slip was identified as the dominant stress relaxation mechanism. The results of transmission electron microscopy analysis and non-isothermal tempering tests revealed that the carbide evolution can be divided into four stages between 100 and 600 °C: carbon segregation, ε-carbide precipitation, ε-carbide to θ-carbide transition, and θ-carbide precipitation and growth. On this basis, the relationship between the stress relaxation behavior and specimen microstructure was further investigated by calculating the internal stresses in the specimens, yielding the following findings: when the relaxation temperature is 100–200 °C, the decrease in the dislocation density is the primary cause of stress relaxation, whereas when the relaxation temperature is 300–400 °C, the stress relaxation effect is determined by the decrease in the dislocation density and θ-carbide precipitation. Finally, when the temperature is 500–600 °C, carbide coarsening is the primary reason for further stress relaxation. • The stress relaxation mechanism of 300 M steel at 300 MPa and 100–600 °C is dislocation slip. • Carbide evolution can be divided into four stages of 100–600 °C. • The stress relaxation behavior of 300 M steel is determined by dislocations and carbides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The field of microbiota-gut-brain research in animals has progressed, while the exact nature of gut microbiota-brain-cognition relationship in humans is not completely elucidated, likely due to small sample sizes and single neuroimaging modality utilized to delineate limited aspects of the brain. We aimed to comprehensively investigate such association in a large sample using multimodal MRI. Methods Fecal samples were collected from 157 healthy young adults and 16S sequencing was used to assess gut microbial diversity and enterotypes. Five brain imaging measures, including regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity density (FCD) from resting-state functional MRI, cerebral blood flow (CBF) from arterial spin labeling, gray matter volume (GMV) from structural MRI, and fractional anisotropy (FA) from diffusion tensor imaging, were jointly analyzed with a data-driven multivariate fusion method. Cognition was evaluated by 3-back and digit span tasks. Results We found significant associations of gut microbial diversity with ReHo, FCD, CBF, and GMV within the frontoparietal, default mode and visual networks, as well as with FA in a distributed set of juxtacortical white matter regions. In addition, there were FCD, CBF, GMV, and FA differences between Prevotella- versus Bacteroides-enterotypes in females and between Prevotella- versus Ruminococcaceae-enterotypes in males. Moreover, the identified neuroimaging fusion biomarkers could mediate the associations between microbial diversity and cognition. Conclusions Our findings not only expand existing knowledge of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, but also have potential clinical and translational implications by exposing the gut microbiota as a promising treatment and prevention target for cognitive impairment and related brain disorders. • Gut microbiota-brain-cognition association was assessed using multimodal MRI. • Multimodal MRI measures were jointly analyzed with a multivariate fusion method. • Gut microbial diversity was correlated with multiple neuroimaging fusion measures. • There were differences in multiple neuroimaging fusion measures between enterotypes. • Fusion biomarkers mediated the relations between microbial diversity and cognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• ADAR3 is downregulated in neuropathic pain. • ADAR3 suppresses inflammation and pyroptosis triggered by neuropathic pain. • NLRP3 is the downstream gene of ADAR3 in neuropathic pain. Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 3 (ADAR3) was known as a prognosis factor in gliomas, while its function on neuropathic pain (NP) is barely investigated. Therefore, our present study concentrated on the potential role of ADAR3 in NP. The chronic constriction injury (CCI) mouse model was established to induce NP in vivo. Behavioral experiments were carried out to analyze mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. RT-qPCR and western blotting assays were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions. The ADAR3-overexpressed adenovirus was injected into the CCI mice through an intrathecal catheter. ELISA was used to detect the contents of IL (interleukin)-6, IL-10, TNF (tumor necrosis factor)-α, IL-1β and IL-18. NLR Family Pyrin Domain Containing 3 (NLRP3) was predicted to be the target gene of ADAR3 using Starbase. The interaction between ADAR3 and NLRP3 was verified via RNA pull-down, RNA immunoprecipitation and Pearson's correlation coefficient assays. Immunohistochemical staining assay visualized the expressions of NLRP3 and caspase1. Allodynia and hyperalgesia were exacerbated in the CCI mice, which implied a successful establishment of the NP model, while ADAR3 expression level was suppressed. After injecting ADAR3-overexpressed adenovirus into the CCI mice, allodynia, hyperalgesia and inflammation were all restrained. Moreover, NLRP3 was verified to negatively correlated with ADAR3. Additionally, the pyroptosis-related protein NLRP3, ASC, caspase1, IL-1β, IL-18 and GSDMD expressions were all decreased by ADAR3. In conclusion, ADAR3 alleviated inflammation and pyroptosis of NP through targeting NLRP3, which suggested a therapeutical target for NP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexagonal Lu0.5−xZrxSc0.5FeO3 polycrystalline samples are synthesized by conventional solid‐state reaction. Effects of slight Zr4+ ions substitution on the structural distortion and magnetoelectric properties are investigated. The coexistence of Fe2+ and Fe3+ is checked by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectrum (RS) microstructural analysis reveal that all samples are in the hexagonal structure with the polar space group of P63cm. With x increasing slightly, the tilting of FeO5 bipyramids and the bending of rare‐earth atomic layers are suppressed. The Néel temperature TN of antiferromagnetic (AFM) transition is decreased, whereas the weak ferromagnetic (WFM) order is strengthened. The permittivity εr of the samples is significantly increased. A dielectric anomaly near TN in Lu0.45Zr0.05Sc0.5FeO3 may indicate magnetoelectric coupling. It is attributed to the spin–phonon coupling as is evidenced by the Raman phonon modes. The improvement of dielectricity and magnetoelectric coupling is explained by considering the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction, structural distortion, and the incremental ratio of Fe2+ ions. These results provide an idea for sensitive control of electric and magnetic properties in related materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extensive neuroimaging research on brain structural and functional correlates of suicide has produced inconsistent results. Despite increasing recognition that damage in multiple different brain locations that causes the same symptom can map to a common brain network, there is still a paucity of research investigating network localization of suicide. To clarify this issue, we initially identified brain structural and functional damage locations in relation to suicide from 63 published studies with 2135 suicidal and 2606 nonsuicidal individuals. By applying novel functional connectivity network mapping to large-scale discovery and validation resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging datasets, we mapped these affected brain locations to 3 suicide brain damage networks corresponding to different imaging modalities. The suicide gray matter volume damage network comprised widely distributed brain areas primarily involving the dorsal default mode, basal ganglia, and anterior salience networks. The suicide task-induced activation damage network was similar to but less extensive than the gray matter volume damage network, predominantly implicating the same canonical networks. The suicide resting-state activity damage network manifested as a localized set of brain regions encompassing the orbitofrontal cortex and middle cingulate cortex. Our findings not only may help reconcile prior heterogeneous neuroimaging results, but also may provide insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of suicide from a network perspective, which may ultimately inform more targeted and effective strategies to prevent suicide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disturbance is one of the most frequent somatic symptoms in major depressive disorder (MDD), but the neural mechanisms behind it are not well understood. Sleep efficiency (SE) is a good indicator of early awakening and difficulty falling asleep in MDD patients. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep efficiency and brain function in MDD patients. We recruited 131 MDD patients from the Fourth People's Hospital in Hefei, and 71 well-matched healthy controls who were enrolled from the community. All subjects underwent resting-state functional MRI. Brain function was measured using the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), sleep efficiency was objectively measured by polysomnography (PSG), and clinical scales were used to evaluate depressive symptoms and sleep status. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between the amplitude of the low frequency fluctuation fraction and sleep efficiency. Three brain regions with relevance to sleep efficiency in MDD patients were found: inferior occipital gyrus (Number of voxels = 25, peak MNI coordinate x/y/z = −42/-81/-6, Peak intensity = 4.3148), middle occipital gyrus (Number of voxels = 55, peak MNI coordinate x/y/z = −30/-78/18, Peak intensity = 5.111), and postcentral gyrus (Number of voxels = 26, peak MNI coordinate x/y/z = −27/-33/60, Peak intensity = 4.1263). But there was no significant relationship between fALFF and SE in the healthy controls. The reduced sleep efficiency in MDD may be related to their lower neural activity in the inferior occipital gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and postcentral gyrus. The findings may provide a potential neuroimaging basis for the clinical intervention in patients with major depressive disorder with sleep disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An azobenzene‐functionalized bis‐bis(urea) ligand (Lazo) and phosphate anion assemble to give the first photoactive "aniono" constructs, tetrahedron (A4L6) and helicate (A2L3), which readily undergo interconversion through cis‐trans isomerization of the azo group under irradiation/heating. Most strikingly, the tetrahedral cage can accommodate an [18]crown‐6 molecule, which can capture two tetramethylammonium (TMA+) ions with an unusually high affinity, even capable of replacing K+ in [K([18]crown‐6)]+ to form a {(TMA)2⊂ ([18]crown‐6)}⊂ cage "Russian doll" structure. Thus, the current work may provide a model for the light‐driven binding and exchange of the biologically important K+ and TMA+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An azobenzene‐functionalized bis‐bis(urea) ligand (Lazo) and phosphate anion assemble to give the first photoactive "aniono" constructs, tetrahedron (A4L6) and helicate (A2L3), which readily undergo interconversion through cis‐trans isomerization of the azo group under irradiation/heating. Most strikingly, the tetrahedral cage can accommodate an [18]crown‐6 molecule, which can capture two tetramethylammonium (TMA+) ions with an unusually high affinity, even capable of replacing K+ in [K([18]crown‐6)]+ to form a {(TMA)2⊂ ([18]crown‐6)}⊂ cage "Russian doll" structure. Thus, the current work may provide a model for the light‐driven binding and exchange of the biologically important K+ and TMA+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior studies have discussed rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disturbance as a potential endophenotype of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, the neural substrates underlying the percentage of REM sleep duration (REM%) and its association with disease progression in MDD remain unclear. One hundred and fourteen MDD patients and 74 healthy controls (HCs) underwent resting-state functional and perfusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans as well as overnight polysomnography examination to assess brain function and REM%, with 48 patients completing follow-up visits. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted to investigate the associations among baseline REM%, multimodal brain imaging measures, and the improvement of depressive symptoms at follow-up in MDD. We found voxel-wise correlations between baseline REM% and multimodal brain imaging metrics in many brain regions involved in sensorimotor, visual processing, emotion, and cognition in patients with MDD. Moreover, the baseline REM% was correlated with the improvement of depressive symptoms from acute to remitted status in patients through regulating brain activity in the left inferior temporal gyrus and cerebral blood flow in the bilateral paracentral lobule. Our findings help to identify the neural underpinnings of REM% in depression and highlight REM% as a potential prognostic biomarker to predict disease progression. These may inform future novel interventions of MDD from the perspective of regulating REM sleep. • MDD patients exhibited abnormal rapid eye movement sleep duration (REM%). • REM% is related to multimodal brain functional imaging measures in MDD. • Baseline REM% could predict symptom improvement via changing brain function in MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite advances in our understanding of the critical role of the microbiota in stroke patients, the oral microbiome has rarely been reported to be associated with stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP). We sought to profile the oral microbial composition of SAP patients and to determine whether microbiome temporal instability and special taxa are associated with pneumonia progression and functional outcomes. Methods: This is a prospective, observational, single-center cohort study that examined patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who were admitted within 24 h of experiencing a stroke event. The patients were divided into three groups based on the occurrence of pneumonia and the use of mechanical ventilation: nonpneumonia group, SAP group, and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) group. We collected oral swabs at different time points post-admission and analyzed the microbiota using 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. The microbiota was then compared among the three groups. Results: In total, 104 nonpneumonia, 50 SAP and 10 VAP patients were included in the analysis. We found that SAP and VAP patients exhibited significant dynamic differences in the diversity and composition of the oral microbiota and that the magnitude of this dysbiosis and instability increased during hospitalization. Then, by controlling the potential effect of all latent confounding variables, we assessed the changes associated with pneumonia after stroke and explored patients with a lower abundance of Streptococcus were more likely to suffer from SAP. The logistic regression analysis revealed that an increase in specific taxa in the phylum Actinobacteriota was linked to a higher risk of poor outcomes. A model for SAP patients based on oral microbiota could accurately predict 30-day clinical outcomes after stroke onset. Conclusions: We concluded that specific oral microbiota signatures could be used to predict illness development and clinical outcomes in SAP patients. We proposed the potential of the oral microbiota as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker in the clinical management of SAP patients. Clinical Trial registration: NCT04688138. Registered 29/12/2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04688138. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Extensive research has shown abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) that is a heritable disease. The objective of this study was to investigate the genetic mechanisms of CBF abnormalities in MDD. Methods: To achieve a more thorough characterization of CBF changes in MDD, we performed a comprehensive neuroimaging meta-analysis of previous literature as well as examined group CBF differences in an independent sample of 133 MDD patients and 133 controls. In combination with the Allen Human Brain Atlas, transcriptome-neuroimaging spatial association analyses were conducted to identify genes whose expression correlated with CBF changes in MDD, followed by a set of gene functional feature analyses. Results: We found increased CBF in the reward circuitry and default-mode network and decreased CBF in the visual system in MDD patients. Moreover, these CBF changes were spatially associated with expression of 1532 genes, which were enriched for important molecular functions, biological processes, and cellular components of the cerebral cortex as well as several common mental disorders. Concurrently, these genes were specifically expressed in the brain tissue, in immune cells and neurons, and during nearly all developmental stages. Regarding behavioral relevance, these genes were associated with domains involving emotion and sensation. In addition, these genes could construct a protein-protein interaction network supported by 60 putative hub genes with functional significance. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a cerebral perfusion redistribution in MDD, which may be a consequence of complex interactions of a wide range of genes with diverse functional features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The precuneus shows considerable heterogeneity in multiple dimensions including anatomy, function, and involvement in brain disorders. Leveraging the state-of-the-art functional gradient approach, we aimed to investigate the hierarchical organization of the precuneus, which may hold promise for a unified understanding of precuneus heterogeneity. Resting-state functional MRI data from 793 healthy individuals were used to discover and validate functional gradients of the precuneus, which were calculated based on the voxel-wise precuneus-to-cerebrum functional connectivity patterns. Then, we further explored the potential relationships of the precuneus functional gradients with cortical morphology, intrinsic geometry, canonical functional networks, and behavioral domains. We found that the precuneus principal and secondary gradients showed dorsoanterior-ventral and ventroposterior-dorsal organizations, respectively. Concurrently, the principal gradient was associated with cortical morphology, and both the principal and secondary gradients showed geometric distance dependence. Importantly, precuneus functional subdivisions corresponding to canonical functional networks (behavioral domains) were distributed along both gradients in a hierarchical manner, i.e., from the sensorimotor network (somatic movement and sensation) at one extreme to the default mode network (abstract cognitive functions) at the other extreme for the principal gradient and from the visual network (vision) at one end to the dorsal attention network (top-down control of attention) at the other end for the secondary gradient. These findings suggest that the precuneus functional gradients may provide mechanistic insights into the multifaceted nature of precuneus heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vitamin D is engaged in various neural processes, with low vitamin D linked to depression and cognitive dysfunction. There are gender differences in depression and vitamin D level. However, the relationship between depression, gender, vitamin D, cognition, and brain function has yet to be determined. Methods: One hundred and twenty-two patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 119 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional MRI and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) was calculated to assess brain function. Serum concentration of vitamin D (SCVD) and cognition (i.e. prospective memory and sustained attention) were also measured. Results: We found a significant group-by-gender interaction effect on SCVD whereby MDD patients showed a reduction in SCVD relative to controls in females but not males. Concurrently, there was a female-specific association of SCVD with cognition and MDD-related fALFF alterations in widespread brain regions. Remarkably, MDD- and SCVD-related fALFF changes mediated the relation between SCVD and cognition in females. Conclusion: Apart from providing insights into the neural mechanisms by which low vitamin D contributes to cognitive impairment in MDD in a gender-dependent manner, these findings might have clinical implications for assignment of female patients with MDD and cognitive dysfunction to adjuvant vitamin D supplementation therapy, which may ultimately advance a precision approach to personalized antidepressant choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneity of the cingulate cortex is evident in multiple dimensions including anatomy, function, connectivity, and involvement in networks and diseases. Using the recently developed functional connectivity gradient approach and resting-state functional MRI data, we found three functional connectivity gradients that captured distinct dimensions of cingulate hierarchical organization. The principal gradient exhibited a radiating organization with transitions from the middle toward both anterior and posterior parts of the cingulate cortex and was related to canonical functional networks and corresponding behavioral domains. The second gradient showed an anterior–posterior axis across the cingulate cortex and had prominent geometric distance dependence. The third gradient displayed a marked differentiation of subgenual and caudal middle with other parts of the cingulate cortex and was associated with cortical morphology. Aside from providing an updated framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of cingulate heterogeneity, the observed hierarchical organization of the cingulate cortex may constitute a novel research agenda with potential applications in basic and clinical neuroscience. Analysis of resting-state fMRI data reveals the presence of functional connectivity gradients of the human cingulate cortex, which updates our understanding of cingulate heterogeneity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The angular gyrus (AG), given its rich connectivity and its location where multisensory information converges, is a functionally and anatomically heterogeneous structure. Using the state‐of‐the‐art functional gradient approach and transcription‐neuroimaging association analysis, we sought to determine whether there is an overarching hierarchical organization of the AG and if so, how it is modulated by the underlying genetic architecture. Resting‐state functional MRI data of 793 healthy subjects were obtained from discovery and validation datasets. Functional gradients of the AG were calculated based on the voxel‐wise AG‐to‐cerebrum functional connectivity patterns. Combined with the Allen Human Brain Atlas, we examined the spatial correlations between the AG functional gradient and gene expression. The dominant gradient topography showed a dorsoanterior–ventroposterior hierarchical organization of the AG, which was related to its intrinsic geometry. Concurrently, AG functional subdivisions corresponding to canonical functional networks (behavioral domains) were distributed along the dominant gradient in a hierarchical manner, that is, from the default mode network (abstract cognition) at one extreme to the visual and sensorimotor networks (perception and action) at the other extreme. Remarkably, we established a link between the AG dominant gradient and gene expression, with two gene sets strongly contributing to this link but diverging on their functional annotation and specific expression. Our findings represent a significant conceptual advance in AG functional organization, and may introduce novel approaches and testable questions to the investigation of AG function and anatomy in health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the brain. Empirical evidence has demonstrated sex differences in both the gut microbiome and the brain. However, the effects of sex on the gut microbiota-brain associations have yet to be determined. We aim to elucidate the sex-specific effects of gut microbiota on brain and cognition. Methods: One hundred fifty-seven healthy young adults underwent brain structural, perfusion, functional and diffusion MRIs to measure gray matter volume (GMV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), functional connectivity strength (FCS) and white matter integrity, respectively. Fecal samples were collected and 16S amplicon sequencing was utilized to assess gut microbial diversity. Correlation analyses were conducted to test for sex-dependent associations between microbial diversity and brain imaging parameters, and mediation analysis was performed to further characterize the gut microbiota-brain-cognition relationship. Results: We found that higher gut microbial diversity was associated with higher GMV in the right cerebellum VI, higher CBF in the bilateral calcarine sulcus yet lower CBF in the left superior frontal gyrus, higher FCS in the bilateral paracentral lobule, and lower diffusivity in widespread white matter regions in males. However, these associations were absent in females. Of more importance, these neuroimaging biomarkers significantly mediated the association between gut microbial diversity and behavioral inhibition in males. Conclusions: These findings highlight sex as a potential influential factor underlying the gut microbiota-brain-cognition relationship, and expose the gut microbiota as a biomarker-driven and sex-sensitive intervention target for mental disorders with abnormal behavioral inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite remarkable success in identifying genetic risk factors for depression, there are still open questions about the exact genetic mechanisms underlying certain disease phenotypes, such as brain structural and functional impairments. Comprehensive multi-modal neuroimaging meta-analyses were conducted to examine changes in brain structure and function in drug-naive first-episode patients with major depressive disorder (DF-MDD). Combined with the Allen Human Brain Atlas, transcriptome-neuroimaging spatial association analyses were performed to identify genes whose expression related to these brain structural and functional changes, followed by a range of gene functional signature analyses. Meta-analyses revealed gray matter atrophy in the insula, temporal pole, cerebellum and postcentral gyrus, and a complex pattern of hyper-function in the temporal pole and hypo-function in the cuneus/precuneus, angular gyrus and lingual gyrus in DF-MDD. Moreover, these brain structural and functional changes were spatially associated with the expression of 1194 and 1733 genes, respectively. Importantly, there were commonalities and differences in the two gene sets and their functional signatures including functional enrichment, specific expression, behavioral relevance, and constructed protein-protein interaction networks. The results merit further verification using a large sample of DF-MDD. Our findings not only corroborate the polygenic nature of depression, but also suggest common and distinct genetic modulations of brain structural and functional impairments in this disorder. • Meta-analyses revealed structural and functional impairments in depression. • These brain structural and functional changes were spatially associated with expression of 1194 and 1733 genes, respectively. • There were commonalities and differences in the two gene sets and their functional signatures. • Our findings not only corroborate the polygenic nature of depression, but also suggest genetic modulations of brain structural and functional impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diverse functional roles of the insula may emerge from its heavy connectivity to an extensive network of cortical and subcortical areas. Despite several previous attempts to investigate the hierarchical organization of the insula by applying the recently developed gradient approach to insula‐to‐whole brain connectivity data, little is known about whether and how there is variability across connectivity gradients of the insula to different cerebral systems. Resting‐state functional MRI data from 793 healthy subjects were used to discover and validate functional connectivity gradients of the insula, which were computed based on its voxel‐wise functional connectivity profiles to distinct cerebral systems. We identified three primary patterns of functional connectivity gradients of the insula to distinct cerebral systems. The connectivity gradients to the higher‐order transmodal associative systems, including the prefrontal, posterior parietal, temporal cortices, and limbic lobule, showed a ventroanterior‐dorsal axis across the insula; those to the lower‐order unimodal primary systems, including the motor, somatosensory, and occipital cortices, displayed radiating transitions from dorsoanterior toward both ventroanterior and dorsoposterior parts of the insula; the connectivity gradient to the subcortical nuclei exhibited an organization along the anterior–posterior axis of the insula. Apart from complementing and extending previous literature on the heterogeneous connectivity patterns of insula subregions, the presented framework may offer ample opportunities to refine our understanding of the role of the insula in many brain disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human sensorimotor cortex has multiple subregions showing functional commonalities and differences, likely attributable to their connectivity profiles. However, the molecular substrates underlying such connectivity profiles are unclear. Here, transcriptome‐neuroimaging spatial correlation analyses were performed between transcriptomic data from the Allen human brain atlas and resting‐state functional connectivity (rsFC) of 24 fine‐grained sensorimotor subregions from 793 healthy subjects. Results showed that rsFC of six sensorimotor subregions were associated with expression measures of six gene sets that were specifically expressed in brain tissue. These sensorimotor subregions could be classified into the polygenic‐ and oligogenic‐modulated subregions, whose rsFC were related to gene sets diverging on their numbers (hundreds vs. dozens) and functional characteristics. First, the former were specifically expressed in multiple types of neurons and immune cells, yet the latter were not specifically expressed in any cortical cell types. Second, the former were preferentially expressed during the middle and late stages of cortical development, while the latter showed no preferential expression during any stages. Third, the former were prone to be enriched for general biological functions and pathways, but the latter for specialized biological functions and pathways. Fourth, the former were enriched for neuropsychiatric disorders, whereas this enrichment was absent for the latter. Finally, although the identified genes were commonly associated with sensorimotor behavioral processes, the polygenic‐modulated subregions associated genes were additionally related to vision and dementia. These findings may advance our understanding of the functional homogeneity and heterogeneity of the human sensorimotor cortex from the perspective of underlying genetic architecture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexagonal Y1 - x Hox Mn0.8 Fe0.2O3 polycrystalline samples were synthesized by high-temperature solid-state reaction method. The effects of Ho3+ doping on microstructure and magnetic properties of YMn0.8 Fe0.2O3 were investigated in this paper. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectra (RS) show that all samples are of single-phase hexagonal structure without another impurity phase. When the doping concentration (x) of Ho3+ is lower than 0.15, the lattice constants, unit cell volume and bond length between the Mn--O of the samples decrease with x increasing. The decrease of the lattice constants may be related to the interaction between the Mn3+ / Fe3+ 3d orbital and the Ho3+ 4f orbital, resulting in lattice distortion and electron loss. The displacements of the rare-earth atoms at the A-site relative to the plane and the inclination of the MnO5 bipyramids are suppressed with increasing doping concentration, which is demonstrated by the shift deviations of the rare-earth atoms and the variations of the Raman phonon modes. At the same time, the trimerization of Mn3+ at the B-site is weakened. The magnetic properties of the samples were measured using the superconductor quantum interference device (SQUID). Results show that the antiferromagnetic (AFM) order decreases upon Ho3 + doping, consistent with the reduced superexchange interaction between Mn3+ --O2- --Mn3+. The AFM transition temperature TN decreases. Besides, the magnetization of the samples and the weak ferromagnetic (WFM) order at low temperature are significantly enhanced, which is attributed to the suppressed magnetic resistance behavior of the system and the ferromagnetic order generated by the spin exchange interaction between Ho3+ --O2- --Mn3+. These provide an idea for us to further explore room temperature multiferroic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the increasing application requirements for the efficient adsorption of wastewater pollutants, graphene oxide-carbon nanotube/activated carbon (GO-CNT/AC) composites are constructed from the optimal microstructure matching of GO, CNTs, and AC materials by solution impregnation and freeze-drying methods. Three-dimensional structures with nano-micro hierarchical pores are established, with GO and CNTs uniformly dispersed on the AC surface, effectively restrain the agglomeration. The added CNTs played a "spring" role, supporting the gap between the GO sheets and AC matrix. Meanwhile, stable links are formed between GO, CNTs, and AC, realizing the synergistic matching of the microstructure, which provides abundant active absorption sites beneficial for improving the adsorption performance. The influences of the CNT contents, adsorbent amounts, methylene blue (MB) concentrations, and pH values on the adsorption property of GO-CNT/AC composites are systematically investigated. The results show that when the pH value of the MB solution is 13, the CNT concentration is 3 mg/mL and the MB concentration is 200 mg/L, the adsorption property of the composite is the best, with an adsorption capacity of 190.8 mg/g and a removal percentage of 95.4%. Compared with the raw AC, the adsorption capacity and removal percentage of the composites are increased by 73.9% and 72.8%, respectively. The GO-CNT/AC composites exhibit excellent cyclic adsorption performance, with a cyclic stability of 91.8% after six rounds of adsorption–desorption cycles. The kinetic analysis shows that the adsorption process conforms to the PSO kinetic model. By fitting of the IPD model, the adsorption mechanisms of the GO-CNT/AC composites are divided into two adsorption stages and described respectively. This study provides a new way to achieve highly efficient adsorption of pollutants in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the large specific surface area and excellent adsorption potential of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) materials, a GQDs@ZIF-8 composite was constructed to achieve optimal matching of the microstructure and to acquire efficient adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). GQDs and ZIF-8 were synthesized and then compounded by the solution co-deposition method to obtain GQDs@ZIF-8 composites. GQDs were uniformly decorated on the surface of the ZIF-8 metal-organic framework (MOF), effectively restraining the agglomeration, improving the thermal stability of ZIF-8 and forming abundant active sites. Thus, the VOC removal percentage and adsorption capacity of the GQDs@ZIF-8 composites were significantly improved. Toluene and ethyl acetate were chosen as simulated VOC pollutants to test the adsorption performance of the composites. The results showed that, after the addition of GQDs, the adsorption property of GQDs@ZIF-8 composites for toluene and ethyl acetate was obviously improved, with maximum adsorption capacities of 552.31 mg/g and 1408.59 mg/g, respectively, and maximum removal percentages of 80.25% and 93.78%, respectively, revealing extremely high adsorption performance. Compared with raw ZIF-8, the maximum adsorption capacities of the composites for toluene and ethyl acetate were increased by 53.82 mg/g and 104.56 mg/g, respectively. The kinetics and isotherm study revealed that the adsorption processes were in accordance with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the Freundlich isotherm model. The thermodynamic results indicated that the adsorption process of the GQDs@ZIF-8 composites was a spontaneous, endothermic and entropy increase process. This study provides a new way to explore MOF-based adsorption materials with high adsorption capacity which have broad application prospects in VOC removal fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conditionally pathogenic bacterium called Bibersteinia trehalosi inhabits the upper respiratory tract of ruminants and is becoming a significant cause of pneumonia, especially in goats. In this study, we identified a gram-negative bacteria strain isolated from dead goat's lungs, which was named M01. By integrating the outcomes of its morphological and biochemical characterization with the investigation of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolate was identified as B. trehalosi. Based on antibiotic susceptibility tests, the isolate was shown to be resistant to β-lactams, tetracyclines, and amphenicols. Its genome was discovered to comprise 2115 encoded genes and a circular chromosome measuring 2,345,568 bp using whole genome sequencing. Annotation of the VFBD database revealed that isolate M01 had four virulence genes encoding three virulence factors. The CARD database revealed that its genome has two antibiotic-resistance genes. Based on pathogenicity testing, isolate M01 was highly pathogenic to mice, primarily causing pneumonia, with an LD50 of 1.31 × 107 CFU/ml. Moreover, histopathology showed loss of alveolar structure and infiltration of lung inflammatory cells. Hence, the current study could provide sufficient information for prevention and control strategies for future epidemics of B. trehalosi in goat species. • Bibersteinia trehalosi M01 is resistant to β-Lactam, Tetracyclines and Amphenicols. • Bibersteinia trehalosi M01 has four virulence genes, which are cyll, wbaP/rfbP, wbbM, and wbbN. • The LD50 of Bibersteinia trehalosi M01 in mice is 1.31*107 CFU/ml. • This is a rare study of Bibersteinia trehalosi , which is important for the control of Bibersteinia trehalosi in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The alterations in dFC and SC networks unveil distinct characteristics associated with cLBP. • The enhanced connectivity between the FPN, SMN and thalamus signifies the most relevant changes in brain networks associated with cLBP. • The integration of different features effectively enhances the classification accuracy between cLBP patients and HC. The prolonged duration of chronic low back pain (cLBP) inevitably leads to changes in the cognitive, attentional, sensory and emotional processing brain regions. Currently, it remains unclear how these alterations are manifested in the interplay between brain functional and structural networks. This study aimed to predict the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) in cLBP patients using multimodal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data and identified the most significant features within the multimodal networks to aid in distinguishing patients from healthy controls (HCs). We constructed dynamic functional connectivity (dFC) and structural connectivity (SC) networks for all participants (n = 112) and employed the Connectome-based Predictive Modeling (CPM) approach to predict ODI scores, utilizing various feature selection thresholds to identify the most significant network change features in dFC and SC outcomes. Subsequently, we utilized these significant features for optimal classifier selection and the integration of multimodal features. The results revealed enhanced connectivity among the frontoparietal network (FPN), somatomotor network (SMN) and thalamus in cLBP patients compared to HCs. The thalamus transmits pain-related sensations and emotions to the cortical areas through the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and primary somatosensory cortex (SI), leading to alterations in whole-brain network functionality and structure. Regarding the model selection for the classifier, we found that Support Vector Machine (SVM) best fit these significant network features. The combined model based on dFC and SC features significantly improved classification performance between cLBP patients and HCs (AUC=0.9772). Finally, the results from an external validation set support our hypotheses and provide insights into the potential applicability of the model in real-world scenarios. Our discovery of enhanced connectivity between the thalamus and both the dlPFC (FPN) and SI (SMN) provides a valuable supplement to prior research on cLBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A liquid attenuator with multi‐aperture coupling is proposed. It consists of two coupled rectangular waveguide cavities, two transparent containers and pure water. By utilising the multi‐aperture coupling structure, the proposed design achieves large attenuation with good flatness across a wide frequency range. The pure water is employed as the liquid loading to dissipate the energy. Both simulations and measurements have been conducted. It is demonstrated that the proposed attenuator exhibits an attenuation of 59.2 dB with an attenuation flatness of ±0.9 dB from 2.19 to 3.64 GHz (the reflection coefficient is less than −10 dB across the band). Compared with conventional waveguide attenuators, this design provides a wider frequency working range, a more compact size, larger and flatter attenuation and better heat dissipation. It can be a promising candidate for high power applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Network neuroscience has broadly conceptualized the functions of the brain as complex communication within and between large‐scale neural networks. Nevertheless, whether and how the gut microbiota influence functional network connectivity that in turn impact human behaviors has yet to be determined. We collected fecal samples from 157 healthy young adults and used 16S sequencing to assess gut microbial diversity and enterotypes. Large‐scale inter‐ and intranetwork functional connectivity was measured using a combination of resting‐state functional MRI data and independent component analysis. Sleep quality and core executive functions were also evaluated. Then, we tested for potential associations between gut microbiota, functional network connectivity and behaviors. We found significant associations of gut microbial diversity with internetwork functional connectivity between the executive control, default mode and sensorimotor systems, and intranetwork connectivity of the executive control system. Moreover, some internetwork functional connectivity mediated the relations of microbial diversity with sleep quality, working memory, and attention. In addition, there was a significant effect of enterotypes on intranetwork connectivity of the executive control system, which could mediate the link between enterotypes and executive function. Our findings not only may expand existing biological knowledge of the gut microbiota‐brain‐behavior relationships from the perspective of large‐scale functional network organization, but also may ultimately inform a translational conceptualization of how to improve sleep quality and executive functions through the regulation of gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated sex-dependent associations between behavioral inhibition and resting-state brain function as well as their underlying molecular mechanisms. • A negative correlation between behavioral inhibition and functional connectivity density in the left superior parietal lobule was found in females but not males. • The female-specific neural correlates of behavioral inhibition were associated with expression of specific gene categories and the serotonergic system. • Our findings may provide a critical context for understanding how biological sex might contribute to variation in behavioral inhibition and its related disease risk. Previous literature has established the presence of sex differences in behavioral inhibition as well as its neural substrates and related disease risk. However, there is limited evidence that speaks directly to the question of whether or not there are sex-dependent associations between behavioral inhibition and resting-state brain function and, if so, how they are modulated by the underlying molecular mechanisms. We computed functional connectivity density (FCD) using resting-state functional MRI data to examine their associations with behavioral inhibition ability measured using a Go/No-Go task across a large cohort of 510 healthy young adults. Then, we examined the spatial relationships of the FCD correlates of behavioral inhibition with gene expression and neurotransmitter atlases to explore their potential genetic architecture and neurochemical basis. A significant negative correlation between behavioral inhibition and FCD in the left superior parietal lobule was found in females but not males. Further spatial correlation analyses demonstrated that the identified neural correlates of behavioral inhibition were associated with expression of gene categories predominantly implicating essential components of the cerebral cortex (glial cell, neuron, axon, dendrite, and synapse) and ion channel activity, as well as were linked to the serotonergic system. Our findings may not only yield important insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the female-specific neural substrates of behavioral inhibition, but also provide a critical context for understanding how biological sex might contribute to variation in behavioral inhibition and its related disease risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroimaging research has revealed significant changes in brain structure and function in patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy(CSM). The thalamus plays a crucial role in this process, although its mechanisms of action remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate whether spinal cord compression leads to alterations in the functional connectivity between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex, and to determine if such changes are associated with structural and functional remodeling of the brain in patients with CSM, and to identify potential neuroimaging biomarkers for classification. The study included 40 patients with CSM and 34 healthy controls(HCs) who underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) and structural MRI scans. Brain structural and functional metrics were quantified using functional connectivity(FC), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations(fALFF), surface-based morphometry(SBM), and independent component analysis(ICA) based on functional and structural MRI. Patients with CSM exhibited significantly reduced fALFF in the bilateral lateral lingual gyrus, bilateral calcarine fissure, left precentral gyrus and postcentral gyrus, left middle and superior occipital gyrus, left superior marginal gyrus, left inferior parietal gyrus, and right Rolandic operculum. ICA results revealed weakened functional connectivity between the sensorimotor network (SMN) and the left and right frontoparietal network(FPN), and lateral visual network (lVN), along with decreased connectivity between lVN and rFPN, and increased connectivity between lFPN and rFPN. Patients with CSM also had decreased sulcus depth in the bilateral insula, left precentral and postcentral gyrus, and right lingual gyrus and calcarine fissure. Furthermore, cervical spondylotic myelopathy patients showed decreased functional connectivity between the left ventral posterolateral nucleus (VPL) of the thalamus and the right middle occipital gyrus (MOG). Finally,multimodal neuroimaging with support vector machine(SVM) classified patients with CSM and healthy controls with 86.00% accuracy. Our study revealed that the decrease in functional connectivity between the thalamus and cortex mediated by spinal cord compression leads to structural and functional reorganization of the cortex. Features based on neuroimaging markers have the potential to become neuroimaging biomarkers for CSM. • CSM patients exhibit significant alterations in both brain structure and function. • Reduced thalamo-cortical synchronization in CSM patients mediates brain remodeling. • Neuroimaging metrics with SVM can accurately classify CSM patients and healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is a risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases. Accumulating evidence has revealed that gut dysbiosis plays an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular diseases. However, little is known about the role of gut dysbiosis in stroke in obesity. In this study, we established a rodent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model to investigate whether obesity-induced gut dysbiosis exacerbates cerebral ischemic injury and the role of the bile salt sequestrant cholestyramine resin (CR) in gut microbiota and stroke outcome in obese mice. Long-term 45% high-fat diet (HFD) diet (8 weeks) induced an obesity phenotype and caused gut dysbiosis, resulting in a larger infarct volume and higher serum levels of inflammatory cytokines after stroke, compared to those in the lean counterparts. LC-MS/MS and GC analysis revealed that obese mice with stroke developed an obviously perturbed bile acid (BA) profile characterized by higher levels of deoxycholic acid and its conjugated forms, and lower levels of butyrate in the cecal content. CR administration improved the obesity-induced dysbiotic microbiome, attenuated ischemic brain injury and modulated the stroke-perturbed BA profile. Furthermore, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments revealed that the impact of obesity on stroke and the neuroprotective effects of CR were mediated by gut microbiota. In conclusion, Obesity induces gut dysbiosis, worsens stroke outcomes, and perturbs the BA profile. The dysbiotic microbiome is an important linkage between obesity and stroke. CR confers metabolic benefits and neuroprotective effects in obesity, perhaps by modulating gut microbial composition and BA metabolism. • Long-term high-fat diet induced obesity and gut dysbiosis. • Obesity aggravated cerebral ischemic injury and intestinal barrier disruption. • Cholestyramine resin improved stroke outcome in obesity mice. • Gut microbiota was an important linkage between obesity and stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few empirical studies have explored the familial impact on career indecisiveness in parent–child dyads. This study aimed to explore how parent–child incongruence in self-reliance is associated with career indecisiveness by conducting a polynomial regression model (PRM) with response surface analysis (RSA). The buffering role of psychological separation was also examined. This sample contained 520 undergraduates (51.35 % female, M age = 21.42 years, SD = 1.25). The final model (i.e., shifted squared difference model) demonstrated parent–child incongruence in self-reliance, especially discrepancy directions, is predictive of career indecisiveness rather than parental or young adults' career expectations per se. Divergent children with a higher level of parental expectation in self-reliance experienced more career indecisiveness than those with lower levels. Low-level psychological separation may aggravate the association between parent–child incongruence and career indecisiveness. Both theoretical and practical implications were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low vitamin D is linked to major depressive disorder (MDD) through affecting the brain. Gender difference is apparent in MDD and vitamin D level. We aimed to examine the association between gender, vitamin D, clinical presentations, and brain functional connectivity in a large cohort of MDD patients and comparison subjects. Resting-state functional MRI data from 122 patients and 119 controls were collected to perform a combined analysis of functional connectivity density (FCD) and seed-based functional connectivity (FC). Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained to measure serum concentration of vitamin D (SCVD). Clinical presentations (symptoms profiles and cognition) were also assessed. We found an interaction of group and gender on SCVD in which MDD patients demonstrated lower SCVD than controls in females rather than males. Concurrently, lower SCVD was associated with worse cognitive performance (prospective memory and sustained attention). Compared with controls, female MDD patients showed reduced FCD and FC of the left middle frontal gyrus, which were related to lower SCVD. Importantly, these FCD and FC changes mediated the relationship between lower SCVD and cognitive dysfunction. Our findings suggest that functional connectivity abnormalities may serve as neural substrates underlying the associations between low vitamin D and cognitive impairments in female MDD patients, providing unique insight into treatment and prevention of MDD and its related cognitive dysfunction from the perspective of regulating circulating vitamin D. • Depressive patients exhibited lower vitamin D than controls in females but not males. • There is a female-specific relation between lower vitamin D and poorer cognition. • Depression-related functional connectivity changes related with vitamin D in females. • Connectivity changes mediated relations between vitamin D and cognition in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional stability is a newly developed dynamic functional connectivity approach. The objective of this study was to adopt functional stability to investigate diagnosis-associated abnormalities (patients vs. controls) and status-related changes (acute vs. remitted status) in brain function in major depressive disorder (MDD). 132 MDD patients and 102 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional MRI as well as clinical and cognitive assessment at baseline, with 48 patients completing follow-up examinations at an average of 7 months. Results showed no group differences in baseline functional stability and no longitudinal functional stability changes from acute to remitted status in patients. However, we found that baseline functional stability in the dorsal and ventral anterior cingulate cortex, calcarine sulcus, and middle occipital gyrus could predict improvement in depressive symptoms from acute to remitted status in MDD patients, with longitudinal functional stability changes in these regions related to the degree of symptom improvement. In addition, lower baseline functional stability in the inferior temporal gyrus could predict a greater improvement in sustained attention, which was associated with a greater functional stability increase in this region. Our findings highlight functional stability as a potential prognostic biomarker to predict and track disease progression or stratify MDD patients for optimizing disease management and treatment strategies. • Baseline functional stability could predict clinical improvement in MDD patients. • Longitudinal functional stability changes related to clinical improvement degree. • Baseline functional stability could predict cognitive improvement in MDD patients. • Longitudinal functional stability changes related to cognitive improvement degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]