Does the Cognitive Reflection Test Work with Chinese College Students? Evidence from a Time-Limited Study.

The cognitive reflection test (CRT) is an experiment task commonly used in Western countries to test intuitive and analytical thinking styles. However, the validity of this task for Chinese participants has not been explored. Therefore, this study recruited Chinese college students to finish CRT tasks with various experimental designs. To gauge the accuracy of the CRT tasks, 438 Chinese college students first completed online questionnaires. Participants were then invited to participate in an offline laboratory with the same experimental settings. Finally, time pressure was used to strictly control intuition and analytical thinking to explore the performance of Chinese college students on CRT tasks. The results show that of the three experiments, Chinese college students had the highest accuracy in the offline test, and the CRT's intuitive conflict problem still applies to Chinese students under the time-limited condition. This study demonstrates the validity of the CRT in China and proves that time pressure is an effective method for identifying individuals with strong logic ability.

Tip-Enhanced Sub-Femtomolar Steroid Immunosensing via Micropyramidal Flexible Conducting Polymer Electrodes for At-Home Monitoring of Salivary Sex Hormones.

Noninvasive testing and continuous monitoring of ultralow-concentration hormones in biofluids have attracted increasing interest for health management and personalized medicine, in which saliva could fulfill the demand. Steroid sex hormones such as progesterone (P4) and ß-estradiol (E2) are crucial for female wellness and reproduction; however, their concentrations in saliva can vary down to sub-pM and constantly fluctuate over several orders of magnitude. This remains a major obstacle toward user-friendly and reliable monitoring at home with low-cost flexible biosensors. Herein we introduce a 3D micropyramidal electrode architecture to address such challenges and achieve an ultrasensitive flexible electrochemical immunosensor with sub-fM-level detection capability of salivary sex hormones within a few minutes. This is enabled by micropyramidal electrode arrays consisting of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin film as the coating layer and electrochemically decorated gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to improve the antibody immobilization. The enhanced mass transport around the 3D tips provided by the micropyramidal architecture is discovered to improve the detection limit by 3 orders of magnitude, pushing it to as low as ∼100 aM for P4 and ∼20 aM for E2, along with a wide linear range up to µM. Accordingly, these hormones down to sub-fM in >1000-fold-diluted saliva samples can be accurately measured by the printed soft immunosensors, thus allowing at-home testing through simple saliva dilution to minimize the interfering substances instead of centrifugation. Finally, monitoring of the female ovarian hormone cycle of both P4 and E2 is successfully demonstrated based on the centrifuge-free saliva testing during a period of 4 weeks. This ultrasensitive and soft 3D microarchitected electrode design is believed to provide a universal platform for a diverse variety of applications spanning from accurate clinical diagnostics and counselling and in vivo detection of bioactive species to environmental and food quality tracing.

Modular Synthesis of Biphen[n]arenes Directed by Five-Membered Heterocycles.

Modular synthesis of novel biphen[n]arenes (n = 2-4) with customizable heterocycle blocks, functional skeletons, binding sites, and topological structures could be facilely achieved through the rational design and replacement of reaction modules (furan and thiophene), functional modules (substituted benzene, biphenyl, and naphthalene), and linking modules (methylene). These biphen[n]arenes were characterized by NMR, HRMS, and X-ray crystalline diffraction, complemented by DFT calculations. Their photophysical properties were thoroughly studied.

A new model based on gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase to lymphocyte ratio and systemic immune-inflammation index can effectively predict the recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is one of the most effective treatment modalities for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but patients with HCC recurrence after LT always have poor prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of the gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-lymphocyte ratio (GLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in terms of HCC recurrence after LT, based on which we developed a more effective predictive model. Methods: The clinical data of 325 HCC patients who had undergone LT were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The patients were randomly divided into a development cohort (n = 215) and a validation cohort (n = 110). Cox regression analysis was used to screen the independent risk factors affecting postoperative recurrence in the development cohort, and a predictive model was established based on the results of the multivariate analysis. The predictive values of GLR, SII and the model were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, which determined the cut-off value for indicating patients' risk levels. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the competing-risk regression analysis were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the model, and the effectiveness of the model was verified further in the validation cohort. Results: The recurrence-free survival of HCC patients after LT with high GLR and SII was significantly worse than that of patients with low GLR and SII (P<0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified GLR (HR:3.405; 95%CI:1.954-5.936; P<0.001), SII (HR: 2.285; 95%CI: 1.304-4.003; P=0.004), tumor number (HR:2.368; 95%CI:1.305-4.298; P=0.005), maximum tumor diameter (HR:1.906; 95%CI:1.121-3.242; P=0.017), alpha-fetoprotein level (HR:2.492; 95%CI:1.418-4.380; P=0.002) as independent risk factors for HCC recurrence after LT. The predictive model based on these risk factors had a good predictive performance in both the development and validation cohorts (area under the ROC curve=0.800, 0.791, respectively), and the performance of the new model was significantly better than that of single GLR and SII calculations (P<0.001). Survival analysis and competing-risk regression analysis showed that the predictive model could distinguish patients with varying levels of recurrence risk in both the development and validation cohorts. Conclusions: The GLR and SII are effective indicators for evaluating HCC recurrence after LT. The predictive model based on these indicators can accurately predict HCC recurrence after LT and is expected to guide preoperative patient selection and postoperative follow-up.

Systematic analysis identifies XRCC4 as a potential immunological and prognostic biomarker associated with pan-cancer.

BACKGROUND: XRCC4 is a NHEJ factor identified recently that plays a vital role in repairing DNA double-stranded breaks. Studies have reported the associations between abnormal expression of XRCC4 and tumor susceptibility and radiosensitivity, but the potential biological mechanisms by which XRCC4 exerts effects on tumorigenesis are not fully understood. This study aimed to systematically investigate the role of XRCC4 across cancer types. METHODS: The TIMER, GTEX and Xiantao Academic database were used to interpret the expression of XRCC4. Genomic alterations and protein expression in human organic and tumor tissues were applied in cBioPortal and the Human Protein Atlas databases. Correlations between XRCC4 expression and immune and molecular subtypes were analyzed by using the TISIDB database. Protein-protein interactions, GO and KEGG enrichment were also applied for XRCC4-related genes. The TIMER and the Tumor Immune Single Cell Hub (TISCH) online databases were used to explore the relationship between XRCC4 and tumor immune microenvironment. Drug sensitivity information was acquired from the CellMiner database to analyze the effect of XRCC4 on sensitivity analysis. RESULTS: The XRCC4 expression was significantly upregulated in 15 tumor types and downregulated in two tumor types compared with the normal tissues, most of which were validated by the results of Xiantao academic platform. XRCC4 was expressed at intermediate level in malignant cells. The XRCC4 expression was related to the molecular and immune subtypes of human cancers, and the survival outcome of 11 types of cancers, including KIRC, STAD and LIHC. The main type of frequent genetic alteration is amplification. Strong correlations were also found between XRCC4 and immune checkpoint genes in 33 human cancers. Furthermore, the abnormal expression of XRCC4 was related to immune cell infiltration and drug sensitivity. Enrichment analysis showed that XRCC4 was significantly correlated with DNA damage response. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive pan-cancer analysis suggested that XRCC4 may play a vital role in the prognosis and immunotherapy response in cancer patients, and it is a promising therapy target in the future.

High-Transconductance, Highly Elastic, Durable and Recyclable All-Polymer Electrochemical Transistors with 3D Micro-Engineered Interfaces.

Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) have emerged as versatile platforms for broad applications spanning from flexible and wearable integrated circuits to biomedical monitoring to neuromorphic computing. A variety of materials and tailored micro/nanostructures have recently been developed to realized stretchable OECTs, however, a solid-state OECT with high elasticity has not been demonstrated to date. Herein, we present a general platform developed for the facile generation of highly elastic all-polymer OECTs with high transconductance (up to 12.7 mS), long-term mechanical and environmental durability, and sustainability. Rapid prototyping of these devices was achieved simply by transfer printing lithium bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS/LiTFSI) microstructures onto a resilient gelatin-based gel electrolyte, in which both depletion-mode and enhancement-mode OECTs were produced using various active channels. Remarkably, the elaborate 3D architectures of the PEDOT:PSS were engineered, and an imprinted 3D-microstructured channel/electrolyte interface combined with wrinkled electrodes provided performance that was retained (> 70%) through biaxial stretching of 100% strain and after 1000 repeated cycles of 80% strain. Furthermore, the anti-drying and degradable gelatin and the self-crosslinked PEDOT:PSS/LiTFSI jointly enabled stability during > 4 months of storage and on-demand disposal and recycling. This work thus represents a straightforward approach towards high-performance stretchable organic electronics for wearable/implantable/neuromorphic/sustainable applications.

Synthesis and macrocyclization-induced emission enhancement of benzothiadiazole-based macrocycle.

We presented an effective and universal strategy for the improvement of luminophore's solid-state emission, i.e., macrocyclization-induced emission enhancement (MIEE), by linking luminophores through C(sp3) bridges to give a macrocycle. Benzothiadiazole-based macrocycle (BT-LC) has been synthesized by a one-step condensation of the monomer 4,7-bis(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (BT-M) with paraformaldehyde, catalyzed by Lewis acid. In comparison with the monomer, macrocycle BT-LC produces much more intense fluorescence in the solid state (ΦPL = 99%) and exhibits better device performance in the application of OLEDs. Single-crystal analysis and theoretical simulations reveal that the monomer can return to the ground state through a minimum energy crossing point (MECPS1/S0), resulting in the decrease of fluorescence efficiency. For the macrocycle, its inherent structural rigidity prohibits this non-radiative relaxation process and promotes the radiative relaxation, therefore emitting intense fluorescence. More significantly, MIEE strategy has good universality that several macrocycles with different luminophores also display emission improvement.

Modular Introduction of endo-Binding Sites in a Macrocyclic Cavity towards Selective Recognition of Neutral Azacycles.

Macrocycles with a functionalized interior, which is a general cavity feature of bioreceptors, are relatively hard to synthesize. Here we report a modular strategy to customize diverse endo-binding sites in the macrocycle cavity. Only two steps are needed. First, one V-shaped functional module bearing an embedded binding site and two 2,5-dimethoxyphenyls as reaction modules are connected. Then the condensation of the resulting monomer and paraformaldehyde directly produces the designed macrocycle. V-shaped monomers are deliberately used to guarantee the binding sites equatorially directing inward into the cavity and 2,5-dimethoxyphenyls standing axially as macrocycle sidewalls. More than a dozen endo-functionalized macrocyclic receptors have been constructed. Host-guest complexation studies show that macrocycle BP1-decorated interior OH moieties can strongly encapsulate neutral azacycles by forming inner hydrogen bonds, giving a high association constant of 4.59×104  M-1 in non-polar media.

Reversibly Stretchable Organohydrogel-Based Soft Electronics with Robust and Redox-Active Interfaces Enabled by Polyphenol-Incorporated Double Networks.

Hydrogel electrolytes as soft ionic conductors have been extensively exploited to establish skinlike and biocompatible devices. However, in many common hydrogels, there exists irreversible elongation upon prolonged stretching cycles and poor interfacial contact, which have significantly hindered their practical applications where long-term operation at large deformations is needed. Herein, multifunctional soft electronic devices with reversible stretchability and improved electrode/electrolyte interfaces are demonstrated by employing polyacrylamide-based double-network organohydrogel electrolytes soaked with a high content of tannic acid (TA) that affords multiple noncovalent interactions and redox activity. Performances of the TA-rich gels are evaluated for the first time in realizing shape-recoverable stretchable devices against repeated deformations to 500% strain, with superior gel-electrode interfaces exhibiting both intimate adhesion and boosted electrochemical capacitance of >200 mF·cm-2. A maximal 4-fold higher capacitance can be achieved by introducing TA and ethylene glycol (EG) into hydrogels. Moreover, a soft electronic system consisting of stretchable supercapacitors and gel-based microsensors was demonstrated, in which the electronic performance of these devices can be well preserved after >1000 repeated cycles at strains of up to 200%, without obvious residual strain or electrode delamination. This could pave a route to the design of multifunctional gel networks tackling both the mechanical and interfacial issues in soft and biocompatible devices.

Massage for gastrointestinal function among participants after abdominal surgery: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative gastrointestinal dysfunction (PGD) is one of the most common complications among participants undergoing abdominal surgery, with an incidence of 10%-30%. In China, massage is generally the most widely used technique to treat various diseases by the theory of Yin and Yang. In this study, our aim is to assess the effect and safety of massage on gastrointestinal function among participants undergoing abdominal surgery. METHODS: We will search seven databases including Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CNKI, VIP, CBM and WANGFANG. Meanwhile, we will include all randomized controlled trials if they recruited participants undergoing abdominal surgery. Primary outcomes will be the time to first defecation. Two authors will independently scan all the potential articles, extract the data and assess the risk of bias by Cochrane tool of risk of bias. Al analysis will be performed by RevMan 5.3 software. Dichotomous variables will be expressed as RR with 95% CIs and continuous variables will be reported as MD with 95% CIs. If possible, a fixed or random effects models will be conducted and the confidence of cumulative evidence will be assess using GRADE. RESULTS: This study will be to assess the effect and safety of massage on gastrointestinal function among participants undergoing abdominal surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This study will assess the effect and safety of massage among participants undergoing abdominal and move forward to help inform clinical decisions.

The Resting-State Electroencephalogram Microstate Correlations With Empathy and Their Moderating Effect on the Relationship Between Empathy and Disgust.

Humans have a natural ability to understand the emotions and feelings of others, whether one actually witnesses the situation of another, perceives it from a photograph, reads about it in a fiction book, or merely imagines it. This is the phenomenon of empathy, which requires us to mentally represent external information to experience the emotions of others. Studies have shown that individuals with high empathy have high anterior insula and adjacent frontal operculum activation when they are aware of negative emotions in others. As a negative emotion, disgust processing involves insula coupling. What are the neurophysiological characteristics for regulating the levels of empathy and disgust? To answer this question, we collected electroencephalogram microstates (EEG-ms) of 196 college students at rest and used the Disgust Scale and Interpersonal Reactivity Index. The results showed that: (1) there was a significant positive correlation between empathy and disgust sensitivity; (2) the empathy score and the intensity of transition possibility between EEG-ms C and D were significantly positively correlated; and (3) the connection strength between the transition possibility of EEG-ms C and D could adjust the relationship between the disgust sensitivity score and the empathy score. This study provides new neurophysiological characteristics for an understanding of the regulate relationship between empathy and disgust and provides a new perspective on emotion and attention.

The spontaneous brain activity of disgust: Perspective from resting state fMRI and resting state EEG.

In recent years, more and more studies on disgust have shown the association between disgust and various psychopathologies. Revealing the spontaneous brain activity patterns associated with disgust sensitivity from the perspective of individual differences will give us an insight into the neurologic nature of disgust and its psychopathological vulnerability. Here, we used two modal brain imaging techniques (resting fMRI and resting EEG) to reveal spontaneous brain activity patterns closely related to disgust sensitivity. The amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation results showed that disgust sensitivity is negatively correlated with the spontaneous activity of the right cerebellum crus II and positively correlated with the spontaneous activity of the right superior frontal cortex, which are inhibition-related brain regions. Furthermore, the microstate results of rest EEG indicated that the corrected duration, occurrence rate, and contribution of Class C, which is related to the anterior default mode network and is considered to be related to subjective representation of one' own body by combining interoceptive information with affective salience, were significantly positively correlated with the disgust sensitivity level. This data-driven approach provides the first evidence on the intrinsic brain features of disgust sensitivity based on two resting-state brain modalities. The results represent an initial effort to uncover the neurological basis of disgust sensitivity and its connection to psychopathology.

The electrophysiology correlation of the cognitive bias in anxiety under uncertainty.

The intolerance of uncertainty (IU) model holds that excessive emotional response under uncertain conditions is conducive to the maintenance of anxiety, and individuals with a high anxiety level may exhibit a negative bias and experience anxiety when processing uncertain information. However, the dynamic electrophysiological correlation of this negative bias is not clear. Therefore, we used an adapted study-test paradigm to explore the changes in the electroencephalography (EEG) of subjects when processing uncertain cues and certain cues (certain neutral and certain threatening) and correlated the differences with anxiety level. The behavioral results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the trait anxiety score and ß value under the threatening condition, which indicated that individuals with high trait anxiety take a more conservative approach in the face of negative stimuli. The results of EEG showed that during the test stage, the components N1 and P2, which are related to early perception, had significant conditional main effects. Meanwhile, under uncertain conditions, the N1 peak was positively correlated with the state anxiety score. In the study stage, we found that the N400 component was significantly larger in the early study stage than in the late study stage under uncertain conditions. In sum, individuals with high anxiety levels had a negative bias in the early cue processing of the test stage, and anxiety did not affect the study stage.