Detecting functional connectivity in the resting brain: a comparison between ICA and CCA

Independent component analysis (ICA) and cross-correlation analysis (CCA) are general tools for detecting resting-state functional connectivity. In this study, we jointly evaluated these two approaches based on simulated data and in vivo functional magnetic resonance imaging data acquired from 10 resting healthy subjects. The influence of the number of independent components (maps) on the results of ICA was investigated. The influence of the selection of the seeds on the results of CCA was also examined. Our results reveal that significant differences between these two approaches exist. The performance of ICA is superior as compared with that of CCA; in addition, the performance of ICA is not significantly affected by structured noise over a relatively large range. The results of ICA could be affected by the number of independent components if this number is too small, however. Converting the spatially independent maps of ICA into z maps for thresholding tends to overestimate the false-positive rate. However, the overestimation is not very severe and may be acceptable in most cases. The results of CCA are dependent on seeds location. Seeds selected based on different criteria will significantly affect connectivity maps.     

Additional Symmetries and String Equation of the CKP Hierarchy

Based on the Orlov and Shulman’s M operator, the additional symmetries and the string equation of the CKP hierarchy are established, and then the higher order constraints on L ^l are obtained. In addition, the generating function and some properties are also given. In particular, the additional symmetry flows form a new infinite dimensional algebra , which is a subalgebra of W _1+∞.      

Reliability of Speaking and Maximum Voice Range Measures in Screening for Dysphonia

Speech range profile (SRP) is a graphical display of frequency-intensity occurring interactions during functional speech activity. Few studies have suggested the potential clinical applications of SRP. However, these studies are limited to qualitative case comparisons and vocally healthy participants. The present study aimed to examine the effects of voice disorders on speaking and maximum voice ranges in a group of vocally untrained women. It also aimed to examine whether voice limit measures derived from SRP were as sensitive as those derived from voice range profile (VRP) in distinguishing dysphonic from healthy voices. Ninety dysphonic women with laryngeal pathologies and 35 women with normal voices, who served as controls, participated in this study. Each subject recorded a VRP for her physiological vocal limits. In addition, each subject read aloud the "North Wind and the Sun" passage to record SRP. All the recordings were captured and analyzed by Soundswell's computerized real-time phonetogram Phog 1.0 (Hitech Development AB, T?by, Sweden). The SRPs and the VRPs were compared between the two groups of subjects. Univariate analysis results demonstrated that individual SRP measures were less sensitive than the corresponding VRP measures in discriminating dysphonic from normal voices. However, stepwise logistic regression analyses revealed that the combination of only two SRP measures was almost as effective as a combination of three VRP measures in predicting the presence of dysphonia (overall prediction accuracy: 93.6% for SRP vs 96.0% for VRP). These results suggest that in a busy clinic where quick voice screening results are desirable, SRP can be an acceptable alternate procedure to VRP.     

Ab initio calculations on the spectroscopic constants, vibrational levels and classical turning points for the 21∏u state of dimer 7Li2

The accurate dissociation energy and harmonic frequency for the highly excited 2^1Пu state of dimer ^7Li2 have been calculated using a symmetry-adapted-cluster configuration-interaction method in complete active space. The calculated results are in excellent agreement with experimental measurements. The potential energy curves at numerous basis sets for this state are obtained over a wide internuclear separation range from about 2.4a0 to 37.0a0. And the conclusion is gained that the basis set 6-311＋＋G（d,p） is a most suitable one. The calculated spectroscopic constants De, Re, ωe, ωeχe, ae and Be at 6-311＋＋G（d,p） are 0.9670 eV, 0.3125 nm, 238.6 cm^-1, 1.3705 cm^-1, 0.0039 cm^-1 and 0.4921 cm^-1, respectively. The vibrational levels are calculated by solving the radial SchrSdinger equation of nuclear motion. A total of 53 vibrational levels are found and reported for the first time. The classical turning points have been computed. Comparing with the measurements, in which only the first nine vibrational levels have been obtained so far, the present calculations are very encouraging. A careful comparison of the present results of the parameters De and We with those obtained from previous theories clearly shows that the present calculations are much closer to the measurements than previous theoretical results, thus representing an improvement on the accuracy of the ab initio calculations of the potentials for this state.     

Sulphur isotope compositions of components of coal and S-isotope fractionation during its combustion and flue gas desulphurization

Sulphur isotope compositions were determined in two different Polish coals (hard coal and lignite) and by-products originating from their combustion. The desulphurization process was also investigated. It was demonstrated that desulphurization changes the isotopic composition of sulphur emitted in the form of SO(2) to the atmosphere even if the process is conducted in a different way (wet lime technology and electron beam method). This fact has to be considered in the studies regarding anthropogenic sulphur genesis and its fate in the environment.     

Simultaneous Determination of 1-Methyltryptophan and Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Biomakers of Tryptophan and Kynurenine in Mice Tumors by HPLC–MS/MS

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), an immune checkpoint protein, can cause the depletion of tryptophan (Trp) and accumulation of its metabolite of kynurenine (Kyn) in cancer cells, and generates the immunosuppressive microenvironment that supports tumor cell growth. A novel immunoregulatory prodrug micelle based on polyethylene glycol-derivatized an IDO-selective inhibitor of 1-methyltryptophan (1-MT), PEG-Fmoc-1-MT, was developed for inhibiting the IDO activity of the conversion of Trp to Kyn in tumor microenvironments. To investigate the 1-MT distribution and Trp/Kyn ratios in mice tumors with PEG-Fmoc-1-MT prodrug micelles treatment, a HPLC–MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of 1-MT and IDO biomakers of Trp and Kyn in mouse tumors was developed and validated. Triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionization as source ionization in multiple reaction monitoring at m/z 219.0?→?160.1, 205.0?→?118.2, 209.0?→?146.1 and 249.3?→?148.3 was used for determination of 1-MT, Trp, Kyn and matrine (internal standard). The method demonstrated good linearity at the concentrations ranging from 10 to 10,000 ng/mL and lower limits of quantitation of 1 ng/mL for 1-MT, Trp and Kyn, respectively. The validated method was successfully applied to 1-MT tumor biodistribution and Trp/Kyn ratio studies in 4T1 tumor bearing mice i.v. with PEG-Fmoc-1-MT prodrug micelles. The mice tumors with PEG-Fmoc-1-MT prodrug micelles treatment exhibited higher 1-MT accumulation and lower Trp/Kyn ratio, in comparison with those of mice with 1-MT solution treatment. The developed PEG-Fmoc-1-MT prodrug micelles could be a promising IDO immunoregulatory prodrug micelles for cancer immunotherapy.

     

酰胺连接的共价有机骨架的制备及其在水中高效光催化性能

光催化是将太阳能转换为化学能的绿色可持续发展途径,有望解决日益严重的能源危机和环境污染问题.在光催化过程中,半导体材料作为光催化剂,负责可见光的捕获、光生载流子的生成和传输以及氧化还原反应,在整个光催化系统中起着决定性的作用.共价有机骨架材料(COFs)是一类新兴的半导体光催化剂,已被证明在可见光诱导的水分解、二氧化碳还原、有机转化反应和水中污染物降解方面具有应用前景.然而,大部分COFs是通过可逆反应构筑的,在水中及苛刻条件下的稳定性差.因此,提升基于COFs的光催化剂在水相中的光催化活性和循环稳定性仍然面临巨大挑战.本文提出了一种新策略,即通过实现多重协同效应,设计和开发2D-COFs作为在水中的高效非均相光催化剂.通过后合成策略将亚胺键连接的2D-COFs氧化,制备了两种具有丰富三嗪结构单元的以酰胺键连接的2D-COFs(命名为COF-JLU18和COF-JLU19).结果表明,COF-JLU18和COF-JLU19具有高比表面积和孔体积,其比表面积分别为1156和541 m2/g;COF-JLU19具有比相似拓扑结构的亚胺COF-JLU17更好的水蒸气吸附性能.此外,COF-JLU19表现出了极高的化学稳定性,在水中、盐酸和氢氧化钠溶液中浸泡两天,其结构和结晶性均没有发生明显变化.由此可见,酰胺键不仅可以增加材料骨架的亲水性,还能够提高COFs对水的稳定性.本文制备的酰胺键连接的COF-JLU19材料,在光降解罗丹明B水溶液(RhB)反应中可以获得高达0.69 min?1的光降解速率常数,活性明显优于其他光催化剂,如C3N4等.COF-JLU19具有较好的催化活性主要归因于以下两方面:一方面,良好的亲水性和固有孔隙率之间的协同效应可以增强COFs在水中对染料的吸附能力,使其光催化活性得到有效提升;另一方面,高的结晶度和优秀的稳定性使酰胺键连接的COFs在多相光催化中实现稳定循环利用.为了扩展COFs的应用前景,本文还制备了一种基于酰胺键连接COFs的静电纺丝膜,在以太阳光为光源的光降解罗丹明B水溶液实验中表现出较高的光催化活性和重复使用性.综上,本文提出的多重协同效应为基于COFs的高效光催化剂的设计提供了一种有效策略.     

Syntheses and crystal structures of new mononuclear and binuclear ruthenium complexes supported by salicylaldimine ligands

Treatment of Ru₃(CO)₁₂ with salicylaldimines [2-HOC₆H₄-CH?=N–C₆H₄-4-R] [R?=?Me; Cl; Br; OMe; CF₃] in refluxing toluene gave three novel binuclear ruthenium carbonyl complexes {[µ-?²-2-OC₆H₄-CH=N-C₆H₄-4-R)][µ-?²-2-CH₂-OC₆H₄][µ-?-NH-C₆H₄-4-R]}Ru₂(CO)₄ [R?=?Me (1), Cl (2), Br (3)] and three mononuclear carbonyl complexes [2-OC₆H₄-CH=N-C₆H₄-4-R][2-OC₆H₄-CH₂NH-C₆H₄-4-R]Ru(CO)₂ [R?=?Me (4), OMe (5), CF₃ (6)], respectively. The structures of 1–6 were fully characterized using IR and NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These results suggest that the substituent group on the phenyl of salicylaldimine has a significant effect on the structure of the Ru complex.

     

多元杂环萘二酰亚胺衍生物的合成及其场效应性能研究

杂环修饰的萘二酰亚胺(NDI)类化合物由于其独特的光电性能被研究人员广泛关注,并应用于有机场效应晶体管(OFETs)、有机太阳能电池中(OSCs)、传感器等领域。但是含有给受体单元的多元杂环萘二酰亚胺衍生物的合成并不容易,本文通过简单高效的方法设计合成了含有氮、硫原子的11个杂环类萘二酰亚胺衍生物,并通过紫外可见吸收光谱、循环伏安曲线和X射线衍射对其进行了物性研究。通过溶液旋涂法,制备了该材料的底栅底接触场效应晶体管器件,在空气中表现出p型半导体性能,当退火温度为140 ℃时性能达到最优,其空穴迁移率为0.2 cm_²?V_^-1?s_^-1。