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A convenient method for the production of graphene is developed using the electrochemical reduction of graphite oxide (GO) in solution without assembling it onto the electrode. The samples were examined by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The results show that the number of oxygen functional groups can be significantly decreased. The electrochemical capacitance of the prepared graphene after 8 h of reduction is 158.5 F g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, much higher than that of GO and carbon nanotubes. The mechanism for this reaction is also proposed in this paper.

In plants, Photosystem I (PSI) is composed of a core complex and a membrane-associated antenna complex light-harvesting complex I that captures light and funnels its energy to the core complex. To obtain Raman structural information on β-carotenes embedded in the PSI core complex, a ‘sandwich’ system of roughened silver slice: target protein complexes: single silver nanoparticles was fabricated for Surface-Enhanced Resonance Raman Scattering (SERRS) measurements. This study provided a method to overcome spectral irreproducibility, which is the main drawback of Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering/SERRS-based studies. The Raman spectra of β-carotenes embedded in the PSI core complex can be obtained at very low sample concentrations (1–5 µg Chl/ml) and high signal/noise ratios. The β-carotenes in the spinach PSI core complex were predominantly all-trans configuration. The membrane protein-mediated adsorption of silver nanoparticles induced the uniform distribution of a large number of single nanoparticles, which contributed to achieving highly reproducible SERRS spectra. This study is the first to apply single silver nanoparticle-based SERRS analysis in membrane proteins. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this article, indigo carmine (IC) was introduced into poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) hydrogel by in situ polymerization to prepare PEDOT/IC composite hydrogel. The structural characterization of PEDOT/IC composite hydrogel was analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–vis spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that IC was successfully introduced into PEDOT-PSS hydrogel. Electrochemical performances were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, galvostatic charge-discharge, and electrochemical impedance technology. The specific capacitance of PEDOT-PSS hydrogel was efficiently increased by the introduction of IC. The specific capacitance of PEDOT-PSS hydrogel increased first and then decreased with the increase of the concentration of IC. The specific capacitance of PEDOT-PSS hydrogel was increased from 38F/g to a maximum value of 123F/g (current density = 0.5 A/g) when the concentration of IC reached 5 mM. On the basis of cycle-life tests, the capacitance retention of about 68% for the PEDOT/IC composite hydrogel after 5000 cycles suggested a high cycle stability of PEDOT/IC composite hydrogel and its potential as an electrode material for supercapacitor applications. POLYM. COMPOS., 34:989–996, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/sulfonic acid-functionalized graphene composite hydrogel was prepared by introducing microcontent of sulfonic acid-functionalized graphene (SFG) using in situ polymerization. The specific capacitance of the composite hydrogel was significantly improved by the introduction of SFG when the feeding ratio of SFG to 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was as low as 1:1000, the specific capacitance of the composite hydrogel can reach 93 F/g, which was more than two times than that of the pure PEDOT hydrogel (39 F/g). The composite hydrogel showed a high specific capacitance of 135 and 220 F/g at high current density (5 A/g) when KI and K 3 Fe(CN) 6 –H 2 SO 4 solution were employed as redox-active electrolytes, respectively. The composite hydrogel in K 3 Fe(CN) 6 –H 2 SO 4 can be used as potential electrode material for supercapacitor applications.

Li-rich layered Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 has been surface modified by nickel–manganese composite oxide (Ni0.5Mn1.5O x ) to serve as a novel cathode material with novel layered spinel structure for lithium-ion battery. The as-prepared Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 before and after surface modification by Ni0.5Mn1.5O x as well as simply blended Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 with spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4, have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electronic microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. Electrochemical studies indicate that the Ni0.5Mn1.5O x surface modified Li1.2Ni0.2Mn0.6O2 with peculiar layered spinel character dramatically represented increased discharge capacity, improved cycling stability as well as excellent rate capability at high-voltage even up to 5.0 V.

Flexible porous films are prepared from electrospun carbon nanofibers (CNFs) embedded with Co3O4 hollow nanoparticles (NPs) and are directly applied as self-supported electrodes for high-performance electrochemical capacitors. Uniform Co3O4 hollow NPs are well dispersed and/or embedded into each CNF with desirable electrical conductivity. These Co3O4-CNFs intercross each other and form 3D hierarchical porous hybrid films. Benefiting from intriguing structural features, the unique binder-free Co3O4 hollow NPs/CNF hybrid film electrodes exhibit high specific capacitance (SC), excellent rate capability and cycling stability. As an example, the flexible hybrid film with loading of 35.9 wt% Co3O4 delivers a SC of 556 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, and 403 F g−1 even at a very high current density of 12 A g−1. Remarkably, almost no decay in SC is found after continuous charge/discharge cycling for 2000 cycles at 4 A g−1. This exceptional electrochemical performance makes such novel self-supported Co3O4-CNFs hybrid films attractive for high-performance electrochemical capacitors.

In this study, graphite oxides (GOs) with different oxidation degrees and graphene nanosheets were prepared by a modified Hummers method and thermal exfoliation of the prepared GO, respectively. Polystyrene (PS)/GO and PS/graphene nanocomposites were prepared via melt blending. X-ray diffraction results showed that GOs and graphene were exfoliated in the PS composites. It could be observed from the scanning electron microscope images that GOs and graphene were well dispersed throughout the matrix without obvious aggregates. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis suggested that the storage modulus for the PS/GO1 and PS/graphene nanocomposites was efficiently improved due to the low oxygen content of GO1 and the elimination of the oxygen groups from GO. The flammability of nanocomposites was evaluated by thermal gravimetric analysis and cone calorimetry. The results suggested that both the thermal stability and the reduction in peak heat release rate (PHRR) decreased with the increasing of the oxygen groups in GOs or graphene. The optimal flammability was obtained with the graphene (5 wt%), in which case the reduction in the PHRR is almost 50 % as compared to PS.

Delusions are cardinal positive symptoms in schizophrenia; however, the neural substrates of delusions remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the neural correlates of delusions in schizophrenia using multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques. Diffusion, structural and perfusion MRIs were performed in 19 schizophrenia patients with severe delusions, 30 patients without delusions and 30 healthy controls. Fractional anisotropy (FA), gray matter volume (GMV) and cerebral blood flow (CBF) were voxel-wisely compared among the three groups. Although patients without delusions exhibited decreased FA in white matter regions and decreased GMV in gray matter regions relative to controls, patients with severe delusions demonstrated comparable FA in all of these white matter regions and similar GMV in most of these gray matter regions. Both patient subgroups had less GMV in the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex than controls. Although two patient subgroups showed consistent CBF changes relative to controls, only CBF in the anterior cingulate cortex was lower in patients with severe delusions than in patients without delusions. These findings suggest that schizophrenia patients with severe delusions have relatively normal structural integrity. Importantly, the excessively reduced perfusion in the anterior cingulate cortex may be associated with the development of delusions in schizophrenia.

Using big data analysis technologies to cluster user data and mine the potential of stock users is of great significance to telecom operators. In this paper, we present an intelligent swarm clustering algorithm using swarm similarity measure for this purpose. In the proposed scheme, according to the definition of cluster center and the probability distribution of the similarity between objects and cluster centers, we accomplish the cluster process. The improved algorithm can meet requirements of customer clustering and choose clustering centers without human supervision. Moreover, the algorithm can adjust the similarity and its probability distribution decided by different features, so it can work more flexibly and efficiently.

Background Although previous studies found that aberrations in gray matter volume (GMV) and global functional connectivity density (gFCD) are important characteristics of schizophrenia, to the best of our knowledge no study to date has investigated the associations between the spatial distribution patterns of GMV and gFCD alterations. We investigated pattern changes in gFCD and GMV among patients with schizophrenia and their associated spatial distributions. Methods Ninety-five patients with schizophrenia and 93 matched healthy controls underwent structural and resting-state functional MRI scanning to assess gFCD and GMV. Results We found that gFCD increased in the subcortical regions (caudate, pallidum, putamen, and thalami) and limbic system (left hippocampus and parahippocampus), and decreased in the posterior parieto-occipito-temporal cortices (postcentral gyri, occipital cortex, temporo-occipital conjunction, and inferior parietal lobule), in patients with schizophrenia. By contrast, we found decreased GMV in brain regions including the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, cingulate cortices, and the insular, striatum, thalamus in these patients. Increased gFCD primarily occurred in subcortical regions including the basal ganglia and some regions of the limbic system. Decreased gFCD appeared primarily in the cortical regions. There were no statistically significant correlations between changes in gFCD and GMV, and their spatial distribution patterns, in different regions. Conclusions Our findings indicate that gFCD and GMV are both perturbed in multiple brain regions in schizophrenia. gFCD and GMV consistently decreased in the cortical regions, with the exception of the Supplementary Motor Area (SMA). However, in the sub-cortical regions, the alterations of gFCD and GMV showed the opposite pattern, with increased gFCD and decreased GMV simultaneously observed in these regions. Overall, our findings suggest that structural and functional alterations appear to contribute independently to the neurobiology of schizophrenia.

Background:Modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) can rapidly eliminate suicide attempts in patients with suicidal depression. However, no study has investigated the neural mechanisms by which MECT eliminates suicide attempts. Currently, we conducted a study to explore the potential mechanisms by which MECT eliminates suicide attempts in patients with suicidal depressive episodes. Methods:Four drug-naive patients with suicidal depressive episode underwent structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning before and after MECT treatment. The voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and functional connectivity density mapping(FCDM) methods were used to analyze the imaging data. The gray matter volume (GMV) and resting-state global functional connectivity density (rs-gFCD) were used to evaluate the structural and functional alterations, respectively, that occurred subsequent to MECT. Results:The VBM analysis revealed that MECT induced a GMV increase that was primarily localized to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral thalamus. The FCDM analysis revealed that MECT induced an rs-gFCD decrease that was mainly localized in the left medial superior frontal gyrus and bilateral orbitofrontal cortex. No overlap existed between brain regions that exhibited structural and functional alterations. Conclusion:The structural and functional alterations subsequent to MECT were mainly located in the brain regions that are related to the suicide attempts in suicidal depressive patients. The brain regions that exhibited structural alterations did not overlap with those that exhibited functional alterations, which suggests that the structural and functional alterations contributed independently to the efficacy of MECT in the elimination of suicide attempts in patients with suicidal depression

Background: A modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) may prevent suicide attempts in potentially suicidal depressive patients. No study is known to have investigated the neural mechanisms by which MECT may inhibit suicide attempts. A study was conducted to explore potential mechanisms by which MECT might deter suicide attempts by patients with suicidal depressive episodes. Methods: Four drug-naive patients with suicidal depressive episodes underwent structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning before and after MECT treatment. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and functional connectivity density mapping (FCDM) were used to analyze the imaging data. Gray matter volume (GMV) and resting-state global functional connectivity density (rs-gFCD) were used to evaluate structural and functional alterations, respectively, that occurred subsequent to MECT. Results: VBM analysis revealed that MECT induced a GMV increase that primarily localized to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and bilateral thalamus. An FCDM analysis revealed that MECT induced an rs-gFCD decrease that mainly localized in the left medial superior frontal gyrus and bilateral orbitofrontal cortex. No overlap existed between the brain regions that exhibited structural and functional alterations. Conclusion: Structural and functional alterations subsequent to MECT located primarily in brain regions that are related to suicide attempts in suicidal depressive patients. The brain regions that exhibited structural alterations did not overlap with those that exhibited functional alterations suggesting that the structural, and functional, alterations contributed independently to MECT efficacy in inhibiting, or preventing, suicide attempts by patients with suicidal depression.

Patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO) have shown structural and functional impairments in the visual cortex. We aimed to characterize subregional grey matter volume (GMV) and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes in the visual cortex in NMO. Thirty-seven NMO patients and forty-two controls underwent structural and functional MRI scans. The GMV and rsFC of each visual subregion were compared between the groups. Compared with controls, NMO patients had GMV reductions in the bilateral V1, V2, V3d, VP, and LO and in the left V3A. In canonical visual pathways, the relatively low-level subregions showed more significant GMV reductions than did the high-level ones. Regardless of GMV correction, NMO patients showed reduced rsFC in the bilateral LO and V4v and in the left V2. The GMVs of the bilateral V1 and LO and of the left V2 and V3d were negatively correlated with clinical disability in NMO patients; these correlation coefficients were associated with hierarchical positions in the visual pathways. These findings suggest that in NMO, the low-level visual subregions have more severe structural damage; structural damage is not the only factor affecting rsFC alterations of visual subregions; GMV reduction in the low-level visual subregions has the highest predictive value for clinical disability.

Clinical and brain structural differences have been reported between patients with familial and sporadic schizophrenia; however, little is known about the brain functional differences between the two subtypes of schizophrenia. Twenty-six patients with familial schizophrenia (PFS), 26 patients with sporadic schizophrenia (PSS) and 26 healthy controls (HC) underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The whole-brain functional network was constructed and analyzed using graph theoretical approaches. Topological properties (including global, nodal and edge measures) were compared among the three groups. We found that PFS, PSS and HC exhibited common small-world architecture of the functional brain networks. However, at a global level, only PFS showed significantly lower normalized clustering coefficient, small-worldness and local efficiency, indicating a randomization shift of their brain networks. At a regional level, PFS and PSS disrupted different neural circuits, consisting of abnormal nodes (increased or decreased nodal centrality) and edges (decreased functional connectivity strength), which were widely distributed throughout the entire brain. Furthermore, some of these altered network measures were significantly correlated with severity of psychotic symptoms. These results suggest that familial and sporadic schizophrenia had segregated disruptions in the topological organization of the intrinsic functional brain network, which may be due to different etiological contributions.

Background: There have been many attempts at explaining the underlying neuropathological mechanisms of auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) in schizophrenia on the basis of regional brain changes, with the most consistent findings being that AVH are associated with functional and structural impairments in auditory and speech-related regions. However, the human brain is a complex network and the global topological alterations specific to AVH in schizophrenia remain unclear. Methods: Thirty-five schizophrenia patients with AVH, 41 patients without AVH, and 50 healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The whole-brain functional and structural networks were constructed and analyzed using graph theoretical approaches. Inter-group differences in global network metrics (including small-world properties and network efficiency) were investigated. Results: We found that three groups had a typical small-world topology in both functional and structural networks. More importantly, schizophrenia patients with and without AVH exhibited common disruptions of functional networks, characterized by decreased clustering coefficient, global efficiency and local efficiency, and increased characteristic path length; structural networks of only schizophrenia patients with AVH showed increased characteristic path length compared with those of healthy controls. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that less “small-worldization” and lower network efficiency of functional networks may be an independent trait characteristic of schizophrenia, and regularization of structural networks may be the underlying pathological process engaged in schizophrenic AVH symptom expression.

Graphene nanosheets–MWCNTs (GNS–CNTs) composites were synthesized by in situ reduction method, and then palladium nanoparticles (NPs) were supported on the GNS–CNTs by a microwave-assisted polyol process. Microstructure measurements showed that the graphene nanosheets and the CNTs formed a uniform nanocomposite with CNTs absorbed on the graphene nanosheets surface and/or filled between the graphene nanosheets. Compared to Pd/Vulcan XC-72R carbon, Pd/GNS, or Pd/CNTs catalysts, the Pd/GNS–CNTs catalysts exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity and stability for formic acid electro-oxidation when the mass ratio of GO to CNTs is 5:1. The superior performance of Pd/GNS–CNTs catalysts may arise from large surface area utilization for NPs and enhanced electronic conductivity of the supports. Therefore, the GNS–CNTs composite should be a promising carbon material for application as electrocatalyst support in fuel cells.

A new simple, time-saving method of preparing highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles with large electrochemically active area (ECA) on three-dimensional dendrite-like Au supported on Si (100) was successfully developed by electroless displacement deposition (EDD). The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscope and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The electro-catalytic properties of Pt/Au/Si for methanol and CO electrooxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and electrochemical impedances spectra. The results show that Pt/Au/Si catalyst prepared by EDD method presents the higher electro-catalytic activity and higher stability than that of Pt/Si composite. The electro-catalytic activity of Pt supported on Au could be enhanced with the growth of Au, leading to the higher electro-catalytic properties toward methanol and CO oxidation. The anodic peak of CO of Pt/Au/Si catalyst showed negatively shifted with respect to similarly prepared Pt/Si electrode. The supposed schematic of the reaction was also introduced. Overall, the approach provides a convenient method to prepare the Pt catalyst on Au dendrites with high ECA properties for DMFC and PEMFC through bottom-up assembly.

Background Gut microbiota has been suggested to play a role in almost all major diseases including cardio‐ and cerebrovascular diseases. A possible mechanism is the transformation of dietary choline and l ‐carnitine into trimethylamine by gut bacteria. This metabolite is further oxidized into trimethylamine‐N‐oxide ( TMAO ) in liver and promotes atherogenesis. Nevertheless, little is known about gut microbial diversity and blood TMAO levels in stroke patients. Methods and Results We performed a case‐control study of patients with large‐artery atherosclerotic ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. TMAO was determined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Gut microbiome was profiled using Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA V4 tag. Within the asymptomatic control group, participants with and without carotid atherosclerotic plaques showed similar levels of TMAO without a significant difference in gut microbiota; however, the gut microbiome of stroke and transient ischemic attack patients was clearly different from that of the asymptomatic group. Stroke and transient ischemic attack patients had more opportunistic pathogens, such as Enterobacter , Megasphaera , Oscillibacter , and Desulfovibrio , and fewer commensal or beneficial genera including Bacteroides , Prevotella , and Faecalibacterium . This dysbiosis was correlated with the severity of the disease. The TMAO level in the stroke and transient ischemic attack patients was significantly lower, rather than higher, than that of the asymptomatic group. Conclusions Participants with asymptomatic atherosclerosis did not exhibit an obvious change in gut microbiota and blood TMAO levels; however, stroke and transient ischemic attack patients showed significant dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, and their blood TMAO levels were decreased.

Objective: We aimed to investigate sex-dependent alterations in resting-state relative cerebral blood flow, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and relative cerebral blood flow–amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations coupling in patients with schizophrenia. Method: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and three-dimensional pseudo-continuous arterial spin labeling imaging were performed to obtain resting-state amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and relative cerebral blood flow in 95 schizophrenia patients and 99 healthy controls. Sex differences in relative cerebral blood flow and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations were compared in both groups. Diagnostic group differences in relative cerebral blood flow, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations and relative cerebral blood flow–amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations coupling were compared in male and female subjects, respectively. Results: In both healthy controls and schizophrenia patients, the males had higher relative cerebral blood flow in anterior brain regions and lower relative cerebral blood flow in posterior brain regions than did the females. Compared with multiple regions exhibiting sex differences in relative cerebral blood flow, only the left middle frontal gyrus had a significant sex difference in amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations. In the females, schizophrenia patients exhibited increased relative cerebral blood flow and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in the basal ganglia, thalamus and hippocampus and reduced relative cerebral blood flow and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in the frontal, parietal and occipital regions compared with those of healthy controls. However, there were fewer brain regions with diagnostic group differences in the males than in the females. Brain regions with diagnostic group differences in relative cerebral blood flow and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations only partially overlapped. Only the female patients exhibited increased relative cerebral blood flow–amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations couplings compared with those of healthy females. Conclusion: The alterations in the relative cerebral blood flow and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations in schizophrenia are sex-specific, which should be considered in future neuroimaging studies. The relative cerebral blood flow and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations have different sensitivity in detecting changes in neuronal activity in schizophrenia and can provide complementary information.

Although extensive resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes have been reported in schizophrenia, rsFC changes in the temporal pole (TP) remain unknown. The TP contains several subregions with different connection patterns; however, it is not known whether TP subregions are differentially affected in schizophrenia. Sixty-six schizophrenia patients and 76 healthy comparison subjects underwent resting-state fMRI using a sensitivity-encoded spiral-in (SENSE-SPIRAL) imaging sequence to reduce susceptibility-induced signal loss and distortion. The TP was subdivided into the dorsal (TPd) and ventral (TPv) subregions. Mean fMRI time series were extracted for each TP subregion and entered into a seed-based rsFC analysis. Direct between-group comparisons revealed reduced rsFC between the right TPd and brain regions involved in language processing and multisensory integration in schizophrenia, including the left superior temporal gyrus, left mid-cingulate cortex and right insular cortex. The rsFC changes of the right TPd in schizophrenia were independent of the grey matter reduction of this subregion. Moreover, these rsFC changes were unrelated to illness severity, duration of illness and antipsychotic medication dosage. No significant group differences were observed in the rsFC of the left TPd and bilateral TPv subregions. These findings suggest a selective (the right TPd) functional disconnection of TP subregions in schizophrenia.

Altered spontaneous brain activity as measured by ALFF, fALFF, and ReHo has been reported in schizophrenia, but no consensus has been reached on alternations of these indexes in the disorder. We aimed to clarify the regional alterations in ALFF, fALFF, and ReHo in schizophrenia using a meta-analysis and a large-sample validation. A meta-analysis of activation likelihood estimation was conducted based on the abnormal foci of ten studies. A large sample of 86 schizophrenia patients and 89 healthy controls was compared to verify the results of the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis demonstrated that the alternations in ALFF and ReHo had similar distribution in schizophrenia patients. The foci with decreased ALFF/fALFF and ReHo in schizophrenia were mainly located in the somatosensory cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and occipital cortex; however, foci with increased ALFF/fALFF and ReHo were mainly located in the bilateral striatum, medial temporal cortex, and medial prefrontal cortex. The large-sample study showed consistent findings with the meta-analysis. These findings may expound the pathophysiological hypothesis and guide future research.

Schizophrenia patients have shown altered resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of the cingulate cortex; however, it is unknown whether rsFCs of the cingulate subregions are differentially affected in this disorder. We aimed to clarify the issue by comparing rsFCs of each cingulate subregion between healthy controls and schizophrenia patients. A total of 102 healthy controls and 94 schizophrenia patients underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging with a sensitivity-encoded spiral-in imaging sequence to reduce susceptibility-induced signal loss and distortion. The cingulate cortex was divided into nine subregions, including the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), areas 24 and 32 of the pregenual ACC, areas 24 and 32 of the anterior mid-cingulate cortex (aMCC), posterior MCC (pMCC), dorsal (dPCC) and ventral (vPCC) posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) and retrosplenial cortex (RSC). The rsFCs of each cingulate subregion were compared between the two groups and the atrophy effect was considered. Results with and without global signal regression were reported. Most cingulate subregions exhibited decreased rsFCs in schizophrenia after global signal regression (GSR). Without GSR, only increased rsFC was found in schizophrenia, which primarily restricted to the aMCC, PCC and RSC. Some of these increased rsFCs were also significant after GSR. These findings suggest that GSR can greatly affect between-group differences in rsFCs and the consistently increased rsFCs may challenge the functional disconnection hypothesis of schizophrenia.

Objective Although extensive resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) changes have been reported in schizophrenia, rsFC changes of the frontal pole (FP) remain unclear. The FP contains several subregions with different connection patterns; however, it is unknown whether the FP subregions are differentially affected in schizophrenia. To explore this possibility, we compared rsFC differences of the FP subregions between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. Method One hundred healthy controls and 91 patients with schizophrenia underwent resting-state functional MRI with a sensitivity-encoded spiral-in (SENSE-SPIRAL) imaging sequence to reduced susceptibility-induced signal loss and distortion. The FP was subdivided into the orbital (FPo), medial (FPm), and lateral (FPl) subregions. Mean fMRI time series were extracted for each FP subregion and entered into a seed-based rsFC analysis. Results The FP subregions exhibited differential rsFC patterns in both healthy controls and schizophrenia patients. Direct comparison between groups revealed reduced rsFCs between the bilateral FPl and several cognitive-related regions, including the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus, temporal cortex and inferior parietal lobule in schizophrenia. Although the FPl exhibited obvious atrophy, rsFC changes were unrelated to volumetric atrophy in the FPl, to duration of illness, and to antipsychotic medication dosage. No significant differences were observed in the rsFCs of other FP subregions. Conclusion These findings suggest a selective (the lateral subregion) functional disconnection of the FP subregions in schizophrenia.

A 3D hybrid nickel-aluminum layered double hydroxide (NiAl-LDH)–graphene nanosheets (GNS) composite as a supercapacitor material has been fabricated by in situ deposition of LDH nanosheets on graphene oxide (GO) through a liquid phase deposition method. The results reveal that NiAl-LDH homogeneously grew on the surface of GNS as spacers to keep the neighboring sheets separate. Optimum effects could be achieved when feeding ratio, reaction time and temperature are tuned. The obtained porous GNS/NiAl-LDH composite exhibited high-capacitance performance with a specific capacitance of 1255.8 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and 755.6 F g−1 at 6 A g−1, respectively. Moreover, the composite exhibited excellent cycling performance with an increase of 6% capacitance compared with the initial capacitance after 1500 cycle tests. Such high specific capacitance, rate capability and exceptional cycling ability of the composite offered great promise in energy storage device applications.

Structural and functional abnormalities of the cerebellum in schizophrenia have been reported. Most previous studies investigating resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) have relied on a priori restrictions on seed regions or specific networks, which may bias observations. In this study, we aimed to elicit the connectivity alterations of the cerebellum in schizophrenia in a hypothesis-free approach. Ninety-five schizophrenia patients and 93 sex- and age-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). A voxel-wise data-driven method, resting-state functional connectivity density (rsFCD), was used to investigate cerebellar connectivity changes in schizophrenia patients. Regions with altered rsFCD were chosen as seeds to perform seed-based resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) analyses. We found that schizophrenia patients exhibited decreased rsFCD in the right hemispheric VI; moreover, this cerebellar region showed increased rsFC with the prefrontal cortex and subcortical nuclei and decreased rsFC with the visual cortex and sensorimotor cortex. In addition, some rsFC changes were associated with positive symptoms. These findings suggest that abnormalities of the cerebellar hub and cerebellar-subcortical-cortical loop may be the underlying mechanisms of schizophrenia.