Disrupted cortical connectivity theory as an explanatory model for autism spectrum disorders

Recent findings of neurological functioning in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) point to altered brain connectivity as a key feature of its pathophysiology. The cortical underconnectivity theory of ASD (Just et al., 2004) provides an integrated framework for addressing these new findings. This theory suggests that weaker functional connections among brain areas in those with ASD hamper their ability to accomplish complex cognitive and social tasks successfully. We will discuss this theory, but will modify the term underconnectivity to ‘disrupted cortical connectivity’ to capture patterns of both under- and over-connectivity in the brain. In this paper, we will review the existing literature on ASD to marshal supporting evidence for hypotheses formulated on the disrupted cortical connectivity theory. These hypotheses are: 1) underconnectivity in ASD is manifested mainly in long-distance cortical as well as subcortical connections rather than in short-distance cortical connections; 2) underconnectivity in ASD is manifested only in complex cognitive and social functions and not in low-level sensory and perceptual tasks; 3) functional underconnectivity in ASD may be the result of underlying anatomical abnormalities, such as problems in the integrity of white matter; 4) the ASD brain adapts to underconnectivity through compensatory strategies such as overconnectivity mainly in frontal and in posterior brain areas. This may be manifested as deficits in tasks that require frontal–parietal integration. While overconnectivity can be tested by examining the cortical minicolumn organization, long-distance underconnectivity can be tested by cognitively demanding tasks; and 5) functional underconnectivity in brain areas in ASD will be seen not only during complex tasks but also during task-free resting states. We will also discuss some empirical predictions that can be tested in future studies, such as: 1) how disrupted connectivity relates to cognitive impairments in skills such as Theory-of-Mind, cognitive flexibility, and information processing; and 2) how connection abnormalities relate to, and may determine, behavioral symptoms hallmarked by the triad of Impairments in ASD. Furthermore, we will relate the disrupted cortical connectivity model to existing cognitive and neural models of ASD.     

基于涡流场有旋分量的磁声电导率重建方法*

感应式磁声成像(MAT-MI)是一种融合磁感应技术和超声断层扫描技术的新型生物电阻抗成像方法,兼具电阻抗功能成像和超声技术高空间分辨率的优点。重建涡流场有旋分量的模值可以避免洛伦兹力的散度在边界处的奇异性、能够获得分辨率更好的电导率图像。本文对涡流场有旋分量的方向进行了分析,对格林函数解的积分项进行化简,提出一种基于涡流场有旋分量模值的电导率重建方法。为了验证新方法的正确性,我们使用电导率具有空间分布的两种模型进行了数值模拟,并使用新方法快速地重建得到高精度的电导率分布。     

差分吸收光谱CT诊断技术

提出了浓度场测量的差分吸收光谱层析技术,设计出一种由光源及控制系统、光学扫描测量系统和数据采集及处理系统三部分组成的典型差分吸收光谱层析诊断系统.采用改进的联合代数重建算法进行层析图像重建,数值模拟结果表明：在0°~180°视场范围内,在4个不同的投影方向获取投影数据的条件下,能有效地重建出待测场分布,其最大误差不大于5％,平均误差不大于1％.     

生物医学光声成像的研究进展

光声成像是21世纪初发展起来的新兴的生物医学成像技术,它同时具备光学成像和声学成像两者的优点,因而备受关注。本文对生物医学光声成像的发展进行了综述。首先,介绍了光声成像的特点以及相对于广泛应用的光学成像技术和声学成像技术的优点;其次,在成像原理上解释了光声成像优点的成因,并介绍了光声断层成像和光声显微镜这两种典型的光声成像技术;再次,详细介绍了多尺度的光声图像分辨率和成像深度,以及多信息维度的光声成像参数;最后,展望了光声成像在生物医学领域的应用潜力并讨论了其局限性。     

Polynomial approximation method for tomographic reconstruction of three-dimensional refractive index fields with limited data

We propose a polynomial approximation method (PAM) for reconstruction of three-dimensional refractive index fields by interferometric tomography using limited data. Based on the assumption that the fields to be reconstructed are usually smooth and can be decomposed into a finite order of (orthogonal) polynomials, a set of linear equations can be constructed using both the measured projection data and the Radon transform of the basis functions. By solving these equations, the least-squares solutions of expansion coefficients can be obtained and then substituted back to yield the desired fields. Numerical results have demonstrated that the proposed method is fast, robust to noise and can achieve satisfactory results for refractive index fields with limited projection views and large opaque objects.     

Linking Composition,Structure and Thickness of CoOOH layers to Oxygen Evolution Reaction Activity by Correlative Microscopy

The role of β-CoOOH crystallographic orientations in catalytic activity for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) remains elusive. We combine correlative electron backscatter diffraction/scanning electrochemical cell microscopy with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atom probe tomography to establish the structure–activity relationships of various faceted β-CoOOH formed on a Co microelectrode under OER conditions. We reveal that ≈6 nm β-CoOOH(01 0), grown on [ 0]-oriented Co, exhibits higher OER activity than ≈3 nm β-CoOOH(10 3) or ≈6 nm β-CoOOH(0006) formed on [02 - and [0001]-oriented Co, respectively. This arises from higher amounts of incorporated hydroxyl ions and more easily reducible Co^III−O sites present in β-CoOOH(01 0) than those in the latter two oxyhydroxide facets. Our correlative multimodal approach shows great promise in linking local activity with atomic-scale details of structure, thickness and composition of active species, which opens opportunities to design pre-catalysts with preferred defects that promote the formation of the most active OER species.