Phase-Pure α-Sn Quantum Material on Si Seeded by a 2 nm-Thick Ge Layer.

α-Sn, a new elemental topological quantum material, has drawn substantial attention lately. Unique transport properties and intriguing spintronics applications of α-Sn are demonstrated, resurrecting this material from its notorious "tin pest" infamy. With a diamond cubic crystal structure, group-IV α-Sn holds the potential for integrated topological quantum devices on Si.

Effect of 40 Hz light flicker on cognitive impairment and transcriptome of hippocampus in right unilateral common carotid artery occlusion mice.

Vascular cognitive impairment caused by chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) seriously affects the quality of life of elderly patients. However, there is no effective treatment to control this disease. This study investigated the potential neuroprotective effect of the 40 Hz light flicker in a mouse model of CCH.

Accurate binding of porous aluminum molecular ring catalysts with the substrate.

Metal molecular rings are a class of compounds with aesthetically pleasing symmetry and fundamentally useful properties. The reported work generally focuses on the ring center cavity, and there is little known about those on the ring waist. Herein, we report the discovery of porous aluminum molecular rings and their performance and contribution to the cyanosilylation reaction.

Palladium-Catalyzed Enantioselective Isodesmic C-H Iodination of Phenylacetic Weinreb Amides.

Isodesmic reactions represent mild alternatives to other chemical transformations that require harsh oxidizing agents or highly reactive intermediates. However, enantioselective isodesmic C-H functionalization is unknown and enantioselective direct iodination of inert C-H bond is very rare. Rapid synthesis of chiral aromatic iodides is of significant importance for synthetic chemistry.

Post-Assembly Modification of Homochiral Titanium-Organic Cages for Recognition and Separation of Molecular Isomers.

A chiral metal-organic cage (MOC) was extended and fixed into a porous framework using a post-assembly modification strategy, which made it easier to study the host-guest chemistry of the solid-state MOC using a single-crystal diffraction technique. Anionic Ti L (L=embonate) cage can be used as a 4-connecting crystal engineering tecton, and its optical resolution was achieved, thus homochiral ΔΔΔΔ- and ΛΛΛΛ-[Ti L ] cages were obtained. Accordingly, a pair of homochiral cage-based microporous frameworks (PTC-236(Δ) and PTC-236(Λ)) were easily prepared by a post-assembly reaction.

Effect of Virtual Reality on Cognitive Impairment and Clinical Symptoms among Patients with Schizophrenia in the Remission Stage: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

: This intervention study evaluates the effect of a virtual reality cognition training system (VRCTS) on improving cognitive function and clinical symptoms in Han Chinese patients with schizophrenia in the remission stage. : Sixty-eight patients with schizophrenia in the remission stage were recruited for this study and were randomly allocated to either the virtual reality training (VRT) group or the treatment-as-usual (TAU) group. For the VRT group, patients received training with the VRCTS for two weeks and antipsychotic treatment as usual, while the TAU group only received antipsychotic treatment as usual.

Formal C-H/C-I Metathesis: Site-Selective C-H Iodination of 2-Aryl Benzoic Acid Derivatives Using Aryl Iodide.

C-H functionalization via functional group metathesis is extremely rare. A protocol of remote site-selective C-H iodination of 2-aryl benzoic acid derivatives via formal C(sp)-H/C(sp)-I metathesis using readily available 1-iodo-4-methoxy-2-nitrobenzene as the mild iodinating reagent was reported herein. A range of 2-aryl benzoic acid derivatives including 2-(naphthalen-1-yl)benzoic acids and [1,1'-binaphthalene]-2-carboxylic acids were iodinated under mild conditions to give valuable iodinated products in a site- and chemo-selective fashion.

Formal C-H/C-I Metathesis: Site-Selective C-H Iodination of Anilines Using Aryl Iodides.

Functional group metathesis has the potential to render mild reaction conditions for C-H functionalization. Protocols for the - and -C-H iodination of aniline derivatives via formal C(sp)-H/C(sp)-I metathesis using 2-nitrophenyl iodides as mild iodinating reagents are reported herein. These protocols led to the production of a range of valuable iodinated aniline derivatives.

Palladium-catalyzed remote -C-H activation of arenes assisted by a recyclable pyridine-based template.

Direct -selective C-H functionalization of arenes remains a daunting challenge and is still significantly restricted to a few scaffolds. Herein, we report an unprecedented pyridine-based -directing template (DT) assisted, Pd-catalyzed -C-H alkenylation of three classes of arenes, phenylpropanoic acids, 2-phenyl benzoic acids and benzyl alcohols, with a series of alkenes including perfluoroalkenes. Notably, the pyridine-based -DT could be easily synthesized and readily recycled under mild conditions.

Increased Hypocretin (Orexin) Plasma Level in Depression, Bipolar Disorder Patients.

As hypocretin can markedly affect neurophysiological and behavioural processes in mood disorders. However, few studies have measured changes in hypocretin levels in patients with mood disorders. We estimated the hypocretin-1 plasma levels in mood disorder patients and controls (CON) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Verification of using virtual reality to evaluate deficiencies in cognitive function among patients with schizophrenia in the remission stage: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Schizophrenia is associated with widespread cognitive impairment. The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) is most frequently used to assess cognitive function. However, the MCCB test is time consuming for the clinician.

Gray Matter Volume and Functional Connectivity in Hypochondriasis: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Support Vector Machine Analysis.

: Patients with hypochondriasis hold unexplainable beliefs and a fear of having a lethal disease, with poor compliances and treatment response to psychotropic drugs. Although several studies have demonstrated that patients with hypochondriasis demonstrate abnormalities in brain structure and function, gray matter volume (GMV) and functional connectivity (FC) in hypochondriasis still remain unclear. : The present study collected T1-weighted and resting-state functional magnetic resonance images from 21 hypochondriasis patients and 22 well-matched healthy controls (HCs).

Carboxyl-Assisted -Selective C-H Functionalizations of Benzylsulfonamides.

A protocol of carboxyl-group-assisted, Pd(II)-catalyzed remote -C(sp)-H olefination and arylation of benzylsulfonamides has been developed. It was supposed to proceed through a κ coordination of the carboxyl group to the Pd center. These findings demonstrated the versatility of carboxyl-assisted remote -C-H activation strategy and might stimulate the exploration of novel reactivity and selectivity of other traditional chelating groups in different contexts.

Effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on the cognitive impairment induced by sleep deprivation: a randomized trial.

Objective: Currently, an efficient method for improving cognitive impairment due to sleep deprivation (SD) is lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) during SD on reversing the adverse effects of SD.

Methods: A total of 66 healthy people were randomized into the rTMS group and sham group.

Direct Visualization of Vesicle Disassembly and Reassembly Using Photocleavable Dendrimers Elucidates Cargo Release Mechanisms.

Release of cargo molecules from cell-like nanocarriers can be achieved by chemical perturbations, including changes to pH and redox state and optical modulation of membrane properties. However, little is known about the kinetics or products of vesicle breakdown due to limitations in real-time imaging at nanometer length scales. Using a library of 12 single-single type photocleavable amphiphilic Janus dendrimers, we developed a self-assembling light-responsive dendrimersome vesicle platform.

The Effect of Auditory Verbal Hallucinations on the Relationship between Spontaneous Brain Activity and intraventricular Brain Temperature in Patients with Drug-Naïve Schizophrenia.

Our recent study reported that adolescent-onset schizophrenia showed an uncoupling between intraventricular brain temperature (iBT) and local spontaneous brain activity (SBA). While auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are common in schizophrenia, the role of AVH in the iBT-SBA relationship is unclear. The current study recruited 24 drug-naïve schizophrenia patients with AVH, 20 patients without AVH and 30 matched healthy controls (HC).

Uncoupled relationship in the brain between regional homogeneity and attention function in first-episode, drug-naïve schizophrenia.

The relationship between the cognitive impairment and the structural and functional abnormalities in the brains of patients with schizophrenia (SZ) is not yet clear. This study aims to investigate the relationship, thereby exploring the neuromechanism underlying SZ. We collected multimodal MRI data from 68 first-episode, drug-naïve patients with SZ, and 64 well-matched healthy controls, and used regional homogeneity (ReHo) and gray matter volume (GMV) to assess the functional and structural integrity of the brains, respectively.

Carboxy Group as a Remote and Selective Chelating Group for C-H Activation of Arenes.

The first example of carboxy group assisted, remote-selective C(sp )-H activation with a Pd catalyst has been developed and proceeds through a possible κ coordination of the carboxy group, thus suppressing the ortho-C-H activation through κ coordination. Besides meta-C-H olefination, direct meta-arylation of hydrocinnamic acid derivatives with low-cost aryl iodides has been achieved for the first time. These findings may motivate the exploration of novel reactivities of the carboxy assisted C-H activation reactions with intriguing selectivities.

Palladium-Catalyzed C(sp)-H Olefination of Free Primary and Secondary 2-Phenylethylamines: Access to Tetrahydroisoquinolines.

A rapid construction of THIQs by a Pd(II)-catalyzed C(sp)-H olefination of free primary and secondary 2-phenylethylamines with high step- and atom-economy was reported. Notably, no substituent was required at the α-position to the amino group of the 2-phenylethylamines. The substrate scope was broad, and the reaction could also be applied to generate THIQs from the biologically active molecules such as the drug molecule baclofen and phenylalanine ester.

Ligand Promoted, Palladium-Catalyzed C(sp)-H Arylation of Free Primary 2-Phenylethylamines.

A mono- N-protected amino acid (MPAA) ligand promoted, Pd(II)-catalyzed C(sp)-H arylation of free primary 2-phenylethylamines using the native NH as the directing group has been achieved. This method is compatible with challenging simple primary 2-phenylethylamines bearing α-hydrogen atoms. Application of this protocol in the direct structure modification of the drug molecule amphetamine is also demonstrated.