Mesoscopic Quantification of Cortical Architecture in the Living Human Brain

Mesoscopic (0.1-0.5 mm) interrogation of the living human brain is critical for a comprehensive understanding of brain structure and function. However, in vivo techniques for mesoscopic imaging have been hampered by the sensitivity challenges of acquiring data at very high resolutions and the lack of analysis tools that can retain fine-scale detail while also accurately positioning measurements relative to the complex folded structure of the cerebral cortex. Here, we present an experimental dataset in which we image the anatomical structure of the visual and auditory cortices of five participants at 0.35 × 0.35 × 0.35 mm3 resolution. To analyze this challenging dataset, we design and implement two sets of novel methodology: a method for mitigating imaging artifacts related to blood motion and a suite of software tools for accurate quantification and visualization of the mesoscopic structure of the cortical surface. Applying these methods, we demonstrate the ability to clearly identify structures that are visible only at the mesoscopic scale, including cortical layers and intracortical blood vessels. We freely share our dataset and tools with the research community, thereby enabling investigations of fine-scale neurobiological structures in both the current and future datasets. Overall, our results demonstrate the viability of mesoscopic imaging as a quantitative tool for studying the living human brain.

Virucidal Effect of the Mesoscopic Structure of CAC-717 on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2

Here, the virucidal effect of calcium bicarbonate with a mesoscopic structure (CAC-717) on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was determined. Assays showed that CAC-717 had a strong virucidal effect on all examined SARS-CoV-2 isolates, including variant strains. The viral infectivity decreased within 15 s, and the virucidal activity of CAC-717 at a 1:49 ratio was similar to that of ethanol disinfectant. CAC-717 neutralization eliminated this virucidal effect, indicating that the alkaline condition of CAC-717 is important for virus inactivation and is an indicator of its mesoscopic structure and virucidal activity. The virucidal effect was observed in the presence of organic matter (bovine serum albumin). CAC-717 is a non-invasive and non-flammable substance with a low environmental burden, and its usefulness as a novel disinfectant has been confirmed.

Exploring Electron-Sink Behaviors of Molecular Assemblies

Metal carbonyl clusters, such as the [Ni32C6(CO)36]6- anion, have been documented to display electron-sink phenomena. However, such large clusters suffer from inefficient yields due to their demanding and unreliable synthesis routes. To approach this obstacle, we investigated the electrochemical properties of Fe2(μ-PPh2)2(CO)6, an organometallic complex known to experience a reversible two-electron transfer process. In this work, we report a modular synthetic strategy for expanding the electron-sink capacity of molecular assemblies by installing Fe2(μ-PPh2)2(CO)6 redox mediators to arylisocyanide ligands. Specifically, the coordination of three Fe2(μ-PPh2)2(CO)6 subunits to a trifunctional arylisocyanide ligand produces an electron-sink ensemble that can accommodate six electrons, exceeding the precedent benchmark [Ni32C6(CO)36]6- anion. The redox mediators store electrons within quantized unoccupied frontier orbitals and act as individual quantum capacitors. Ultimately, we propose to modify the electrode surfaces with these redox mediators to examine the relationship between the electrode’s mesoscopic structure and its macroscopic capacitance.

Study on factors of interface properties of axial braided C/C composite materials

In order to study the influencing factors of the tensile properties of axial braided C/C composites, the interfacial shear strength of the fiber rod and matrix was studied and ejecting tests of the fiber rod were carried out. The ejecting test specimens were formed with different thicknesses to obtain the changing rule of the interface shear strength with the thickness of the sample, and the testing method for the interface shear strength of the axial braided C/C composite material. The results show that the recommended thickness of the ejecting test specimens for the interface shear strength of is four times the diameter of the fiber rod. The interface shear strength distribution law of two different batches of materials was obtained through the interface ejecting test. The mesoscopic structure characteristics and pore statistical distribution law of the hole surface after ejecting were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the mechanism of the difference of the interface shear strength was obtained. The tensile properties of two different batches of materials were obtained by tensile tests. The results show that the tensile properties of the two batches of materials differ greatly. The analysis suggests that the reason for this difference is the differences in interfacial bonding strength between the fiber rod and matrix. The higher the interface shear strength, the better the tensile property of the material will be.

Mechanism studies on the cellular internalization of nanoparticles using computer simulations: A review

Nanomaterial drug delivery systems have become one of the most important targeted therapy technologies. Although great efforts have been made to study the self-assembled mesoscopic structure of nanoparticles and understand drug loading and release mechanisms, the interaction between nanoparticles and cell membranes has not yet been clearly studied. Moreover, the research of experimental methods in this field has been greatly restricted due to its special time-space scale, so it is necessary to apply computer simulations to visualize the cell internalization of the nanoparticle. This review covers modelling methods and the current status and viewpoints of research on the influencing factors of the nanoparticle-biomembrane interaction mechanism. In particular, we discussed in detail the positive and negative effects of various nanoparticle properties. This article may assist researchers in rationally optimize the nanoparticle structure to improve therapeutic efficiency.

Magnetization of Ultraviolet-Reduced Graphene Oxide Flakes in Composites Based on Polystyrene

This work presents our study results of the magnetization of multilayer UV-reduced graphene oxide (UV-rGO), polymer matrix (polystyrene), and a conjugated composite based on them. The mesoscopic structure of the composites synthesized in this work was studied by such methods as X-ray diffraction, SEM, as well as NMR-, IR- and Raman spectroscopy. The magnetization of the composites under investigation and their components was measured using a vibrating-sample magnetometer. It has been shown that the UV-reduction process leads to the formation of many submicron holes distributed inside rGO flakes, which can create edge defects, causing possibly magnetic order in the graphite samples under investigation on the mesoscopic level. This article provides an alternative explanation for the ferromagnetic hysteresis loop in UV-rGO on the base of superconductivity type-II.

Electrocatalysis for Oxygen Reduction Reaction on EDTAFeNa and Melamine co-Derived Self-Supported Fe-N-C Materials

To explore high-performing alternatives to platinum-based catalysts is highly desirable for lowering costs and thus promoting fuel cell commercialization. Herein, self-supported Fe-N-C materials were prepared by the pyrolysis of dual precursors including EDTA ferric sodium (EDTAFeNa) and melamine (MA), followed by acid-leaching and final annealing. Towards an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 0.1 M KOH, the as-prepared MA/EDTAFeNa-HT2 delivered onset (Eonset) and half-wave (E1/2) potentials of 0.97 and 0.84 V vs. RHE, respectively, identical with that of a state-of-the-art Pt/C catalyst, accompanied with predominantly a four-electron pathway. The introduction of MA and extension of acid-leaching promoted a positive shift of 50 mV for E1/2 relative to that of only the EDTAFeNa-derived counterpart. It was revealed that the enhancement of ORR activity is attributed to a decrease in magnetic Fe species and increase in pyridinic/quanternary nitrogen content whilst nearly excluding effects of the graphitization degree, variety of crystalline iron species, and mesoscopic structure. The usage of dual precursors exhibited great potential for the large-scale production of inexpensive and efficient Fe-N-C materials.

Technical Specification of the Small-Angle Neutron Scattering Instrument SKADI at the European Spallation Source

Small-K Advanced DIffractometer (SKADI is a Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) instrument to be constructed at the European Spallation Source (ESS). SANS instruments allow investigations of the structure of materials in the size regime between Angstroms up to micrometers. As very versatile instruments, they usually cater to the scientific needs of communities, such as chemists, biologists, and physicists, ranging from material and food sciences to archeology. They can offer analysis of the micro- and mesoscopic structure of the samples, as well as an analysis of the spin states in the samples, for example, for magnetic samples. SKADI, as a broad range instrument, thus offers features, such as an extremely flexible space for the sample environment, to accommodate a wide range of experiments, high-flux, and optimized detector-collimation system to allow for an excellent resolution of the sample structure, short measurement times to be able to record the internal kinetics during a transition in the sample, as well as polarized neutron scattering. In this manuscript, we describe the final design for the construction of SKADI. All of the features and capabilities presented here are projected to be included into the final instrument when going into operation phase.

Numerical Study of Concrete Dynamic Splitting Based on 3D Realistic Aggregate Mesoscopic Model

In mesoscopic scale, concrete is regarded as a heterogeneous three-phase material composed of mortar, aggregate and interfacial transition zone (ITZ). The effect of mesoscopic structure on the mechanical behaviors of concrete should be paid more attention. The fractal characteristics of aggregate were calculated, then the geometric models of aggregate were reconstructed by using fractal Brownian motion. Based on the random distribution of aggregates, the concrete mesoscopic structure model was established. And the numerical model was generated by using grid mapping technology. The dynamic compression experiments of concrete under Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) loading verify the reliability and validity of the mesoscopic structural model and the parameters of the constitutive model. Based on these, a numerical study of concrete under dynamic splitting is carried out. By changing the parameters of the constitutive model, the effects of tensile strengths of aggregate, mortar and ITZ on the dynamic tensile strength of concrete are discussed. The results show that the dynamic failure of specimen usually occurs at the interfacial transition zone, then extends to the mortar, and the aggregates rarely fail. However, the increase of strain rate intensifies this process. When the strain rate increases from 72.93 s−1 to 186.51 s−1, a large number of aggregate elements are deleted due to reaching the failure threshold. The variation of tensile strengths of each phase component have the same effect on the dynamic tensile strength and energy of concrete. The dynamic tensile strength and energy of concrete are most affected by the tensile strength of mortar, following by the ITZ, but the tensile strength of aggregate has almost no effect.