面向脑机接口的犹他神经电极技术

A human brain is composed of a large number of interconnected neurons forming a neural network. To study the functional mechanism of the neural network, it is necessary to record the activity of individual neurons over a large area simultaneously. Brain-computer interface (BCI) refers to the connection established between the human/animal brain and computers/other electronic devices, which enables direct interaction between the brain and external devices. It plays an important role in understanding, protecting, and simulating the brain, especially in helping patients with neurological disorders to restore their impaired motor and sensory functions. Neural electrodes are electrophysiological devices that form the core of BCI, which convert neuronal electrical signals (carried by ions) into general electrical signals (carried by electrons). They can record or interfere with the state of neural activity. The Utah Electrode Array (UEA) designed by the University of Utah is a mainstream neural electrode fabricated by bulk micromachining. Its unique three-dimensional needle-like structure enables each electrode to obtain high spatiotemporal resolution and good insulation between each other. After implantation, the tip of each electrode affects only a small group of neurons around it even allowing to record the action potential of a single neuron. The availability of a large number of electrodes, high quality of signals, and long service life has made UEA the first choice for collecting neuronal signals. Moreover, UEA is the only implantable neural electrode that can record signals in the human cerebral cortex. This article mainly serves as an introduction to the construction, manufacturing process, and functioning of UEA, with a focus on the research progress in fabricating high-density electrode arrays, wireless neural interfaces, and optrode arrays using silicon, glass, and metal as that material of construction. We also discuss the surface modification techniques that can be used to reduce the electrode impedance, minimize the rejection by brain tissue, and improve the corrosion resistance of the electrode. In addition, we summarize the clinical applications where patients can control external devices and get sensory feedback by implanting UEA. Furthermore, we discuss the challenges faced by existing electrodes such as the difficulty in increasing electrode density, poor response of integrated wireless neural interface, and the problems of biocompatibility. To achieve stability and durability of the electrode, advancements in both material science and manufacturing technology are required. We hope that this review can broaden the scope of ideas for the development of UEA. The realization of a fully implantable neural microsystem can contribute to an improved understanding of the functional mechanisms of the neural network and treatment of neurological diseases.     

Astaxanthin and its Effects in Inflammatory Responses and Inflammation-Associated Diseases: Recent Advances and Future Directions

Astaxanthin is a natural lipid-soluble and red-orange carotenoid. Due to its strong antioxidant property, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and immune modulation, astaxanthin has gained growing interest as a multi-target pharmacological agent against various diseases. In the current review, the anti-inflammation mechanisms of astaxanthin involved in targeting for inflammatory biomarkers and multiple signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, Nrf2, NF-κB, ERK1/2, JNK, p38 MAPK, and JAK-2/STAT-3, have been described. Furthermore, the applications of anti-inflammatory effects of astaxanthin in neurological diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, hepatic and renal diseases, eye and skin disorders, are highlighted. In addition to the protective effects of astaxanthin in various chronic and acute diseases, we also summarize recent advances for the inconsistent roles of astaxanthin in infectious diseases, and give our view that the exact function of astaxanthin in response to different pathogen infection and the potential protective effects of astaxanthin in viral infectious diseases should be important research directions in the future.     

Irreversible Amide‐Linked Covalent Organic Framework for Selective and Ultrafast Gold Recovery

Design of stable adsorbents for selective gold recovery with large capacity and fast adsorption kinetics is of great challenge, but significant for the economy and the environment. Herein, we show the design and preparation of an irreversible amide‐linked covalent organic framework (COF) JNU‐1 via a building block exchange strategy for efficient recovery of gold. JNU‐1 was synthesized through the exchange of 4,4′‐biphenyldicarboxaldehyde (BA) in mother COF TzBA consisting of 4,4′,4′′‐(1,3,5‐triazine‐2,4,6‐triyl)trianiline (Tz) and BA with terephthaloyl chloride. The irreversible amide linked JNU‐1 gave good stability, unprecedented fast kinetics, excellent selectivity and outstanding adsorption capacity for gold recovery. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy along with thermodynamic study and quantum mechanics calculation reveals that the excellent performance of JNU‐1 for gold recovery results from the formation of hydrogen bonds C(N)?H???Cl and coordinate interaction of O and Au. The rational design of irreversible bonds as both inherent linkage and functional groups in COFs is a promising way to prepare stable COFs for diverse applications.     

Kinetic model of living radical polymerization

This work studies the kinetics of living radical polymerization by means of both the nonsteady state approach and the quasi-stationary state method. Expressions for the numberand weight-average degress of polymerization and the polydispersity index were derived. Numerical results show that the concentration of residual initiator seriously influences the polydispersity index of the resulting polymer. The calculated outcomes of the non-steady state approach are evidently different from those of the quasi-stationary state method when the magnitude of the rate constant of termination is comparable with that of the propagation rate constant, and the difference becomes negligible if the rate constant of the termination (k_t) is much larger than that of propagation (k_p). The polydispersity index of the resulting polymer increases with decreasing ratios of k_t to k_p or M_O to I_O (initial concentrations of monomer and initiator).     

Self-Compacting Alkali-Activated Materials: Progress and Perspectives

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are considered to be alternative cementitious materials for civil infrastructures. Nowadays, efforts have been made in developing AAMs with self-compacting ability. The obtained self-compacting AAMs (SCAAMs) accomplish superior passing and filling properties as well as excellent mechanical and environmental advantages. This work critically revisits recent progresses in SCAAMs including mixture proportions, fresh properties, mechanical strength, microstructure, acid and sulfate resistance, high temperature behaviors, impact resistance and interface shear strength. To facilitate direct comparison and interpretation of data from different publications, mixture proportions were normalized in terms of the content of key reactive components from precursors and activators, and correlation with mechanical behaviors was made. Moreover, special attention was paid to current research challenges and perspectives to promote further investigation and field application of SCAAMs as advanced construction material.     

A carbonyl-rich covalent organic framework as a high-performance cathode material for aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries

Aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) provide high theoretical capacity, operational safety, low-cost and environmental friendliness for large-scale energy storage and wearable electronic devices, but their future development is plagued by low capacity and poor cycle life due to the lack of suitable cathode materials. In this work, a covalent organic framework (Tp-PTO-COF) with multiple carbonyl active sites is synthesized and successfully introduced in aqueous rechargeable ZIBs for the first time. Tp-PTO-COF delivers high specific capacities of 301.4 and 192.8 mA h g⁻¹ at current densities of 0.2 and 5 A g⁻¹, respectively, along with long-term durability and flat charge–discharge plateaus. The remarkable electrochemical performance is attributed to the abundance of nucleophilic carbonyl active sites, well defined porous structure and inherent chemical stability of Tp-PTO-COF. Moreover, the structural evolution and Zn²⁺ ion intercalation mechanism are discussed and revealed by the experimental analysis and density functional theory calculations. These results highlight a new avenue to develop organic cathode materials for high performance and sustainable aqueous rechargeable ZIBs.

A covalent organic framework (Tp-PTO-COF) with carbonyl active sites was proposed as a novel cathode material and successfully applied in aqueous rechargeable zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs).     

激活型有机光声造影剂的应用

光声(PA)成像作为一种结合了光学和声学成像优势的新型成像方式,具有深层组织穿透和高空间分辨率等优点,在重大疾病的早期影像诊断方面有着巨大的应用前景.然而传统的PA造影剂依然存在信噪比低、选择性及特异性差等不足,容易产生假阳性诊断结果.激活型PA造影剂可以有效的降低背景噪声,并提升成像的灵敏度和特异性,是目前PA造影剂...     

Structure Charcterization of EDTA Transition Metal Complexes (I) Study on Sr[Co(HEDTA)H2O]2 · 4 H2O

The d-d transition spectrum of Sr[Co(HEDTA)H₂O]₂ · 4 H₂O crystal was recorded at room temperature and experimental results are discussed quantitatively. Using the ligand field theory and the radial wave function of non-free Co(II), the d-d transition energy levels of the title compound were calculated. And the results are seen to be in good agreement with the experimental values.     

黏弹性接触界面端附近的奇异应力场

研究蠕变加载条件下线黏弹性材料接触界面端附近的奇异应力场问题.考虑接触界面的摩擦,假设界面端的滑移方向不改变,相对滑移量微小,且其与位移同量级,由此线性化局部边界条件,根据对应原理得到Laplace变换域中的界面端应力场,导出时域中奇异应力场的卷积积分表达式.对卷积积分核函数进行数值反演,考虑接触材料的两类组合,一是持久模量具有量级上的差异,另一是持久模量接近相同.算例结果证实核函数可以用准弹性法求得的解析式较准确地近似.在此基础上,利用积分中值定理,并引入各应力分量的修正系数,得到黏弹性奇异应力场的简化式.结合核函数的数值反演结果分析修正系数表达式的取值范围,得到如下结论,若两相接触材料的持久模量相差很大,可以采用准弹性解的解析式较准确地描述界面端的奇异应力场;一般情况下,应力场不存在统一的奇异值和应力强度系数,当采用类似于准弹性解的表达式近似给出黏弹性应力场时,可以估计此近似描述的误差限.文中最后采用有限元分析黏弹性板端部嵌入部位的应力场,算例包括了黏弹性板与弹性金属支承、黏弹性板与黏弹性垫层所形成的滑移接触界面端,利用黏弹性有限元的数值结果验证理论分析所得结论的有效性.      

Establishment of the tension stress model considering metal lateral flow for foil rolling

In rolling production, the foil flatness quality is judged by detecting the lateral distribution of the front tension stress. Currently, because of the inaccuracy of the tension control model, there are still many flatness defects in foil rolling production. For the tension stress model of foil rolling, the primary problem is the inaccuracy of the metal lateral flow model. Therefore, based on Fleck’s foil rolling theory, a new model of the lateral displacement in the foil deformation region is established by using the principle of minimum potential energy. Next, a tension stress model is established, which takes the effect of the metal lateral flow into account. Last, using a laboratory 20-high rolling mill as the research object, the finite element model of foil rolling is established, and the accuracy of the new model is demonstrated by comparing the theoretical calculations with the simulation results.