Parenting links to parent-child interbrain synchrony: a real-time fNIRS hyperscanning study.

Parent-child interaction is crucial for children's cognitive and affective development. While bio-synchrony models propose that parenting influences interbrain synchrony during interpersonal interaction, the brain-to-brain mechanisms underlying real-time parent-child interactions remain largely understudied. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, we investigated interbrain synchrony in 88 parent-child dyads (Mage children = 8.07, 42.0% girls) during a collaborative task (the Etch-a-Sketch, a joint drawing task). Our findings revealed increased interbrain synchrony in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporo-parietal areas during interactive, collaborative sessions compared to non-interactive, resting sessions. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that interbrain synchrony in the left temporoparietal junction was associated with enhanced dyadic collaboration, shared positive affect, parental autonomy support, and parental emotional warmth. These associations remained significant after controlling for demographic variables including child age, child gender, and parent gender. Additionally, differences between fathers and mothers were observed. These results highlight the significant association between brain-to-brain synchrony in parent-child dyads, the quality of the parent-child relationship, and supportive parenting behaviors. Interbrain synchrony may serve as a neurobiological marker of real-time parent-child interaction, potentially underscoring the pivotal role of supportive parenting in shaping these interbrain synchrony mechanisms.

The presence and role of the intermediary CO reservoir in heterogeneous electroreduction of CO2.

SignificanceThe electroconversion of CO2 to value-added products is a promising path to sustainable fuels and chemicals. However, the microenvironment that is created during CO2 electroreduction near the surface of heterogeneous Cu electrocatalysts remains unknown. Its understanding can lead to the development of ways to improve activity and selectivity toward multicarbon products. This work introduces a method called on-stream substitution of reactant isotope that provides quantitative information of the CO intermediate species present on Cu surfaces during electrolysis. An intermediary CO reservoir that contains more CO molecules than typically expected in a surface adsorbed configuration was identified. Its size was shown to be a factor closely associated with the formation of multicarbon products.

Comparison between pancreatoblastoma (PB) and solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) in pediatric patients with enhanced CT.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether computed tomography features can differentiate pancreatoblastoma (PB) from solid pseudopapillary tumor (SPN) in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and imaging data of 18 cases of PB and 61 cases of SPN confirmed by surgery or biopsy were retrospectively analyzed. All enrolled patients underwent 3 phases (non-contrast, arterial, and portal venous phases) of CT scanning. Qualitative CT analysis (location, margin, solid/cystic component proportion, calcification, hemorrhage, peritumoral vascularity, bile duct dilatation, pancreatic duct dilatation, pancreatic atrophy, vascular invasion, peripancreatic invasion, and distant metastases) and quantitative analysis (maximum tumor diameter, interface between tumor and parenchyma [delta], arterial enhancement ratio [AER], and portal enhancement ratio [PER]) were performed. The general CT morphologic features, age and tumor markers were compared also compared between the groups. Univariate analysis and the F test were conducted to identify features of PB. Then logistic Regression classifier was trained using the top five features with the highest F-value. Moreover, we used 5-fold cross-validation techniques for the validation of our model. RESULTS: PB exhibited a significantly higher frequency of location in the body/tail, larger tumor size, poorly defined margins, calcification, peritumoral vascularity, pancreatic atrophy, and less hemorrhage. In addition, PB had higher AER, PER and lower delta relative to SPN (p < 0.05). PB presented a younger age and higher levels of AFP. Results of the F test indicated that AFP, AER, Age, calcification and pancreatic atrophy were the top five features included in the model that could differentiate pediatric PB from SPN. The combined model of CT and clinical features performed well in differentiating PB from SPN, with an AUC of 0.981 in the training cohort and 0.953 in the validation cohort. CONCLUSIONS: AFP, AER, age, calcification and pancreatic atrophy are robust CT and clinical features for differentiating pediatric PB from SPN. A combination of qualitative and quantitative CT features may provide good diagnostic accuracy in differentiating PB from SPN in children.

Changes in emotion regulation strategies during the pandemic: prospective pathways to adolescent depressive symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Emotion regulation (ER) is considered central in adolescent psychopathology, and ER strategies may change during challenging times, such as a global pandemic. Despite this, there remains a limited understanding of individual differences in ER mechanisms and their associations with psychopathology. This study examined whether and how cognitive reappraisal, expressive suppression, and self-compassion changed over COVID-19 and how these changes uniquely predicted adolescents' depressive symptoms. METHODS: A total of 2,411 adolescents (58.6% females; Mage = 18.51, SD = 0.80) completed the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire, the Self-compassion Scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90 before COVID-19 (in 2019) and during COVID-19 (in 2020). The predictive associations between each ER strategy and depressive symptoms were tested with latent change score models. RESULTS: Adolescents' use of expressive suppression and self-compassion strategies both increased during COVID-19. More increases in expressive suppression predicted more depressive symptoms, whereas more increases in self-compassion predicted fewer depressive symptoms. Although, on average, cognitive reappraisal did not change, it did show significant variations within the sample - increases (vs. decreases) in cognitive appraisal predicted fewer depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The study indicates how adolescents' ER strategies changed during the unprecedented global pandemic. It underscores protective roles of increased cognitive reappraisal and self-compassion, as well as the adverse consequence of heightened expressive suppression on adolescents' depressive symptoms. Findings offer insights for targeted interventions aimed at addressing specific ER strategies.

Large-Scale Formation and Long-Term Culture of Hepatocyte Organoids From Streamlined In Vivo Genome-Edited GGTA1-/- Pigs for Bioartificial Liver Applications.

Hepatocyte transplantation and bioartificial liver (BAL) systems hold significant promise as less invasive alternatives to traditional transplantation, providing crucial temporary support for patients with acute and chronic liver failure. Although human hepatocytes are ideal, their use is limited by ethical concerns and donor availability, leading to the use of porcine hepatocytes in BAL systems due to their functional similarities. Recent advancements in gene-editing technology have improved porcine organ xenotransplantation clinical trials by addressing immune rejection issues. Gene-edited pigs, such as alpha-1,3-galactosyltransferase (GGTA1) knockout pigs, offer a secure source of primary cells for BAL systems. Our research focuses on optimizing the safety and functionality of porcine primary hepatocytes during large-scale cultivation. We achieved this by creating GGTA1 knockout pigs through one-step delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 to pig zygotes via oviduct injection of rAAV, and enhancing hepatocyte viability and function by co-culturing hepatocytes with Roof plate-specific spondin 1 overexpressing HUVECs (R-HUVECs). Using a Rocker culture system, approximately 1010 primary porcine hepatocytes and R-HUVECs rapidly formed organoids with a diameter of 92.1 ± 28.1 µm within 24 h. These organoids not only maintained excellent functionality but also supported partial hepatocyte self-renewal during long-term culture over 28 days. Gene-edited primary porcine hepatocyte organoids will significantly advance the applications of hepatocyte transplantation and BAL systems.

Parental autonomy support and psychological control and children's biobehavioral functioning: Historical cohort differences in urban China.

This study examined parental autonomy support and psychological control and their relations with child biobehavioral functioning. Participants included 238 Chinese parent-child dyads (Mage-child = 8.38 years, 42.0% girls) in two cohorts (2013 and 2021). Parents in the 2021 cohort displayed higher levels of autonomy support and psychological control during the parent-child interaction than in the 2013 cohort. Parental psychological control was positively associated with emotion regulation and negatively associated with externalizing problems in the 2013 cohort, but not in the 2021 cohort. Parental psychological control was also negatively associated with vagal suppression in the 2021 cohort, but not in the 2013 cohort. The result suggests that sociocultural contexts may shape the display of parental behaviors and their significance for child development.

Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) dynamics matter for children's emotion regulation: RSA inertia and instability within a stress task.

The present study employed two key dynamic indicators (i.e., inertia and instability) to the psychophysiological research of child emotion regulation (ER) and examined whether respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) dynamics were associated with child ER during a stress task. Eighty-nine Chinese school-age children (Mage = 8.77 years, SD = 1.80 years; 46.1% girls) and their primary caregivers participated in the study. After controlling for RSA static reactivity, multiple regression analyses indicated that lower RSA inertia was related to fewer in-task negative emotions rated by children and their caregivers, and higher RSA instability was associated with better child trait ER. This study introduces physiological indicators of the dynamic aspects of parasympathetic activity to the study of child ER.

Parent emotional support alters the association between parent-child interbrain synchrony and interaction quality.

Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning methodology, this study investigated whether parent emotional support moderated the relation between parent-child interbrain synchrony and interaction quality (via behavioral observation and child-report), controlling for individual emotional distress. Eighty-eight parent-child dyads (96.6% Han ethnicity), including a school-age child between the ages of 6 and 11 (Mage = 8.07 years, SD = 1.16 years; 58.0% boys) and their parent (Mage = 39.03 years, SD = 3.54 years; 69.3% mothers), participated in a cooperative task during which brain activity was assessed. Cluster-based permutations indicated parent-child interbrain synchrony in the left and right temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Interbrain synchrony in the left TPJ positively related to parent-child interaction quality in the context of high parent emotional support, whereas the association was weaker and negative when parents demonstrated low emotional support. Findings suggest the emotional context of an interaction is critical when assessing interbrain synchrony.

Understanding emotion dysregulation from infancy to toddlerhood with a multilevel perspective: The buffering effect of maternal sensitivity.

Challenges with childhood emotion regulation may have origins in infancy and forecast later social and cognitive developmental delays, academic difficulties, and psychopathology. This study tested whether markers of emotion dysregulation in infancy predict emotion dysregulation in toddlerhood, and whether those associations depended on maternal sensitivity. When children (N = 111) were 7 months, baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), RSA withdrawal, and distress were collected during the Still Face Paradigm (SFP). Mothers' reports of infant regulation and orientation and maternal sensitivity were also collected at that time. Mothers' reports of toddlers' dysregulation were collected at 18 months. A set of hierarchical regressions indicated that low baseline RSA and less change in RSA from baseline to stressor predicted greater dysregulation at 18 months, but only for infants who experienced low maternal sensitivity. Baseline RSA and RSA withdrawal were not significantly associated with later dysregulation for infants with highly sensitive mothers. Infants who exhibited low distress during the SFP and who had lower regulatory and orienting abilities at 7 months had higher dysregulation at 18 months regardless of maternal sensitivity. Altogether, these results suggest that risk for dysregulation in toddlerhood has biobehavioral origins in infancy but may be buffered by sensitive caregiving.

From prenatal maternal anxiety and respiratory sinus arrhythmia to toddler internalizing problems: The role of infant negative affectivity.

Prenatal maternal anxiety is considered a risk factor for the development of child internalizing problems. However, little is known about potential mechanisms that account for these associations. The current study examined whether prenatal maternal anxiety was indirectly associated with toddler internalizing problems via prenatal maternal physiology and infant negative affectivity. We examined these associations in a longitudinal study of 162 expectant mothers from their third trimester until 18 months postpartum. Path analyses showed that higher prenatal anxiety was associated with higher infant negative affectivity at 7 months, which in turn was associated with higher toddler internalizing problems at 18 months. Prenatal anxiety was not indirectly associated with child outcomes via baseline or task-evoked respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) in response to an infant cry while pregnant. However, pregnant women with greater decreases in task-evoked RSA had toddlers with greater internalizing problems, which was mediated by infant negative affectivity at 7 months. Findings suggest that prenatal anxiety and RSA reactivity to an infant cry may be independent risk factors for the development of infant negative affectivity, which in turn increases risk for toddler internalizing problems. These findings contribute to a growing literature on mechanisms that underlie intergenerational transmission of internalizing problems.

Vibrational relaxation dynamics in layered perovskite quantum wells.

Organic-inorganic layered perovskites, or Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites, are two-dimensional quantum wells with layers of lead-halide octahedra stacked between organic ligand barriers. The combination of their dielectric confinement and ionic sublattice results in excitonic excitations with substantial binding energies that are strongly coupled to the surrounding soft, polar lattice. However, the ligand environment in layered perovskites can significantly alter their optical properties due to the complex dynamic disorder of the soft perovskite lattice. Here, we infer dynamic disorder through phonon dephasing lifetimes initiated by resonant impulsive stimulated Raman photoexcitation followed by transient absorption probing for a variety of ligand substitutions. We demonstrate that vibrational relaxation in layered perovskite formed from flexible alkyl-amines as organic barriers is fast and relatively independent of the lattice temperature. Relaxation in layered perovskites spaced by aromatic amines is slower, although still fast relative to bulk inorganic lead bromide lattices, with a rate that is temperature dependent. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we explain the fast rates of relaxation by quantifying the large anharmonic coupling of the optical modes with the ligand layers and rationalize the temperature independence due to their amorphous packing. This work provides a molecular and time-domain depiction of the relaxation of nascent optical excitations and opens opportunities to understand how they couple to the complex layered perovskite lattice, elucidating design principles for optoelectronic devices.

Energy Funneling in a Noninteger Two-Dimensional Perovskite.

Energy funneling is a phenomenon that has been exploited in optoelectronic devices based on low-dimensional materials to improve their performance. Here, we introduce a new class of two-dimensional semiconductor, characterized by multiple regions of varying thickness in a single confined nanostructure with homogeneous composition. This "noninteger 2D semiconductor" was prepared via the structural transformation of two-octahedron-layer-thick (n = 2) 2D cesium lead bromide perovskite nanosheets; it consisted of a central n = 2 region surrounded by edge-lying n = 3 regions, as imaged by electron microscopy. Thicker noninteger 2D CsPbBr3 nanostructures were obtained as well. These noninteger 2D perovskites formed a laterally coupled quantum well band alignment with virtually no strain at the interface and no dielectric barrier, across which unprecedented intramaterial funneling of the photoexcitation energy was observed from the thin to the thick regions using time-resolved absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

Linking Parent-Adolescent Congruence in Perceived Parental Emotional Support to Adolescent Developmental Outcomes: The More, the Better?

Parents and their children can have congruent or incongruent perceptions of parenting, which has been shown to have downstream effects on certain adolescent outcomes. However, little is known about whether such effect holds for various domains of developmental outcomes or across adolescent boys and girls. Investigating 2268 parent-girl (Mage = 15.73, SDage = 0.29, 75.5% were mothers) and 2090 parent-boy (Mage = 15.75, SDage = 0.29, 71.8% were mothers) dyads from Hong Kong, this study examined the associations between parent-adolescent (in)congruence and adolescent emotional symptoms, positive emotions, and academic performance. Polynomial regression and response surface analyses revealed that both congruence and incongruence were linked to emotional symptoms and positive emotions in varying patterns, but only congruence was tied to academic performance. Associations between (in)congruence and developmental outcomes generally were similar between boys and girls. These findings underscore the importance of decomposing (in)congruence effects in family processes and emphasizing the complexity of adolescent development.

Direct Observation of Transient Structural Dynamics of Atomically Thin Halide Perovskite Nanowires.

Halide perovskite is a unique dynamical system, whose structural and chemical processes happening across different timescales have significant impact on its physical properties and device-level performance. However, due to its intrinsic instability, real-time investigation of the structure dynamics of halide perovskite is challenging, which hinders the systematic understanding of the chemical processes in the synthesis, phase transition, and degradation of halide perovskite. Here, we show that atomically thin carbon materials can stabilize ultrathin halide perovskite nanostructures against otherwise detrimental conditions. Moreover, the protective carbon shells enable atomic-level visualization of the vibrational, rotational, and translational movement of halide perovskite unit cells. Albeit atomically thin, protected halide perovskite nanostructures can maintain their structural integrity up to an electron dose rate of 10,000 e-/Å2·s while exhibiting unusual dynamical behaviors pertaining to the lattice anharmonicity and nanoscale confinement. Our work demonstrates an effective method to protect beam-sensitive materials during in situ observation, unlocking new solutions to study new modes of structure dynamics of nanomaterials.

The prevention strategies of swine viruses related to xenotransplantation.

Xenotransplantation is considered a solution for the shortage of organs, and pigs play an indispensable role as donors in xenotransplantation. The biosecurity of pigs, especially the zoonotic viruses carried by pigs, has attracted attention. This review introduces several viruses, including porcine endogenous retroviruses that are integrated into the pig genome in a DNA form, herpesviruses that have been proven to clearly affect recipient survival time in previous xenotransplant surgeries, the zoonotic hepatitis E virus, and the widely distributed porcine circoviruses. The detail virus information, such as structure, caused diseases, transmission pathways, and epidemiology was introduced in the current review. Diagnostic and control measures for these viruses, including detection sites and methods, vaccines, RNA interference, antiviral pigs, farm biosecurity, and drugs, are discussed. The challenges faced, including those posed by other viruses and newly emerged viruses, and the challenges brought by the modes of transmission of the viruses are also summarized.

Controlling the Phase Transition in CsPbI3 Nanowires.

Cesium lead iodide (CsPbI3) is a promising semiconductor with a suitable band gap for optoelectronic devices. CsPbI3 has a metastable perovskite phase that undergoes a phase transition into an unfavorable nonperovskite phase in an ambient environment. This phase transition changes the optoelectronic properties of CsPbI3 and hinders its potential for device applications. Therefore, it is of central importance to understand the kinetics of such instability and develop strategies to control and stabilize the perovskite phase. Here, we use ultralong CsPbI3 nanowires as a model platform to investigate the phase transition kinetics. Our results depict the role of environmental stressors (moisture and temperature) in controlling the phase transition dynamics of CsPbI3, which can serve as guiding principles for future phase transition studies and the design of related photovoltaics. Furthermore, we demonstrate the controllability of phase propagation on individual nanowires by varying the moisture level and temperature.

A Novel Gene Alignment in Dorea sp. AM58-8 Produces 7-Dehydroxy-3ß Bile Acids from Primary Bile Acids.

Bile acids are essential metabolites and signaling molecules in mammals. Primary bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol in the liver. At the same time, the microbiota in the mammalian gut has many interactions with bile acid, including various biotransformation processes such as 7-dehydroxylation and 3-epimerization. 7-Dehydroxylation is mediated by a bile acid-inducible (bai) operon, while 7-dehydroxylation and 3-epimerization are independently observed in only a few strains. Herein, we describe a novel microbe, Dorea sp. AM58-8, that can accomplish a two-step transformation and turn primary bile acids into both 3α secondary bile acids like deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid, and 3ß secondary bile acids like isodeoxycholic acid and isolithocholic acid. We subsequently characterized BaiA, BaiB, BaiE, and their substrate profiles biochemically. The potential bai gene clusters in the metagenomes were further mined. Their evolution, potential functions, and possible regulatory pathways were predicted using bioinformatics based on our understanding of the 7-dehydroxylation pathway in Dorea sp. AM58-8. This study of Dorea sp. AM58-8 also helps us distinguish the inactive bacteria that seem to have the 7-dehydroxylation pathway proteins and discover the 7-dehydroxylation pathway in other mammalian gut microbes.

Supramolecular Assembly of Halide Perovskite Building Blocks.

The structural diversity and tunable optoelectronic properties of halide perovskites originate from the rich chemistry of the metal halide ionic octahedron [MX6]n- (M = Pb2+, Sb3+, Te4+, Sn4+, Pt4+, etc.; X = Cl-, Br-, and I-). The properties of the extended perovskite solids are dictated by the assembly, connectivity, and interaction of these octahedra within the lattice environment. Hence, the ability to manipulate and control the assembly of the octahedral building blocks is paramount for constructing new perovskite materials. Here, we propose a systematic supramolecular strategy for the assembly of [MX6]n- octahedra into a solid extended network. Interaction of alkali metal-bound crown ethers with the [M(IV)X6]2- octahedron resulted in a structurally and optoelectronically tunable "dumbbell" structural unit in solution. Single crystals with diverse packing geometries and symmetries will form as the solid assembly of this new supramolecular building block. This supramolecular assembly route introduces a new general strategy for designing halide perovskite structures with potentially new optoelectronic properties.

CT and CEA-based machine learning model for predicting malignant pulmonary nodules.

Computed tomography (CT), an efficient radiological technology, is used to detect lung cancer in the clinic. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a common tumor biomarker, is applied in the detection of various tumors. To highlight the advantages of two-dimensional techniques and assist clinicians in optimizing lung cancer diagnostic schemes, we established a favorable model combining CT and CEA. In the study, univariate analysis was performed to screen independent predictors in a training cohort of 271 patients with malignant pulmonary nodules (MPNs) and 92 with benign pulmonary nodules (BPNs). Six machine learning-based models involving five CT predictors (mediastinal lymph node enlargement, lobulation, vascular notch sign, spiculation, and nodule number) and lnCEA were constructed and validated in an independent cohort of 129 participants (92 MPNs and 37 BPNs) by SPSS Modeler. A nomogram and the Delong test were generated by R software. Finally, the model established by logistic regression had highest diagnostic efficiency (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.912). Moreover, the diagnostic ability of the logistic model in the validation cohort (AUC = 0.882, 80.4% sensitivity, 75.7% specificity) was higher than that of the Peking University model (AUC = 0.712, 68.5% sensitivity, 70.3% specificity) and the Mayo model (AUC = 0.745, 62.0% sensitivity, 75.7% specificity). Interestingly, for the participants with intermediate (10-30 mm) and CEA-negative nodule, the model reached an AUC of 0.835 (72.3% sensitivity, 83.3% specificity). The AUC for the early lung cancer was as high as 0.822 with 67.3% sensitivity and 78.9% specificity. As a conclusion, this promising model presents a new diagnostic strategy for the clinic to distinguish MPNs from BPNs.

Parent-child relationship quality and adolescent health: Testing the differential susceptibility and diathesis-stress hypotheses in African American youths.

This study tested two competing models of differential susceptibility and diathesis-stress in a prospective longitudinal study of African American youths (N = 935). It examined whether individual variations in the functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis at age 11 interact with middle childhood parent-child relationship quality to predict mental and physical health problems in adolescence (ages 11-15 years old). Adolescent boys with lower levels of cortisol reactivity to laboratory challenges had the highest levels of internalizing problems if they experienced a high conflictual relationship with their parents. Equally low-reactive boys, however, reported the lowest number of physical illnesses if their relationship with their parents was characterized by high levels of intimacy and support.