High-Level Theoretical Study of the C1Π States of GaCl, GaBr, InCl, and InBr.

For the first singlet excited states C1Π of IIIA group monohalides GaCl, GaBr, InCl, and InBr, a very shallow potential well may exist in the flat potential energy curve, which poses a challenge to the theoretical accuracy. In this study, high-level theoretical calculations have been performed through the Feller-Peterson-Dixon composite approach to study the C1Π states, and the obtained spectroscopic constants agree well with the known experimental ones. It is found that the C1Π states are sensitive to the size of basis functions, spin-orbit coupling, and strong correlations mainly due to triple excitations. The final results show that the C1Π states of GaCl and InCl are quasi-bound with one (v' = 0) and four (v' = 0-3) vibrational levels, respectively, being consistent with the experimental findings, whereas the C1Π states of GaBr and InBr are repulsive. Our conclusions deny the existence of higher vibrational levels v' = 1 for GaCl, v' > 3 for InCl, and v' ≥ 0 for InBr in previous experimental and theoretical studies of C1Π.

Mild behavioral impairment is related to frailty in non-dementia older adults: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Frailty and cognitive decline are highly prevalent among older adults. However, the relationship between frailty and mild behavioral impairment (MBI), a dementia risk syndrome characterized by later-life emergence of persistent neuropsychiatric symptoms, has yet to be elucidated. We aimed to evaluate the associations between MBI and frailty in older adults without dementia. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a consecutive series of 137 older adults without dementia in the Anti-Aging Study, recruited from primary care clinics, were enrolled. Frailty was estimated using the Fried phenotype. MBI was evaluated by the Mild Behavioral Impairment Checklist (MBI-C) at a cut-off point of > 8. Cognition was assessed with the Chinese versions of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-BC) and Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to estimate the relationship between MBI and objective cognition with frailty status. RESULTS: At baseline, 30.7% of the older adults had frailty and 18.2% had MBI (MBI+ status). Multivariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated that compared to those without MBI (MBI- status), MBI+ was more likely to have frailty (odds ratio [OR] = 7.44, 95% CI = 1.49-37.21, p = 0.02). Frailty and MBI were both significantly associated with both MMSE and MoCA-BC score (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both frailty and MBI status were associated with higher odds of cognitive impairment. MBI was significantly associated with an increased risk of having frailty in the absence of dementia. This association merits further study to identify potential strategies for the early detection, prevention and therapeutic intervention of frailty.

Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Cognitive Deficit and Improves Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity in Adult Rat with Neonatal Maternal Separation.

Exposure to adverse early-life events is thought to be the risk factors for the development of psychiatric and altered cognitive function in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) treatment in young adult rat would improve impaired cognitive function and synaptic plasticity in adult rat with neonatal maternal separation (MS). Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, MS group, MS with EA treatment (MS + EA) group, and MS with Sham-EA treatment (MS + Sham-EA) group. We evaluated the cognitive function by using Morris water maze and fear conditioning tests. Electrophysiology experiment used in vivo long-term potentiation (LTP) at Schaffer Collateral-CA1 synapses was detected to assess extent of synaptic plasticity. Repeated EA stimulation at Baihui (GV 20) and Yintang (GV 29) during postnatal 9 to 11 weeks was identified to significantly ameliorate poor performance in behavior tests and improve the impaired LTP induction detected at Schaffer Collateral-CA1 synapse in hippocampus. Collectively, the findings suggested that early-life stress due to MS may induce adult cognitive deficit associated with hippocampus, and EA in young adult demonstrated that its therapeutic efficacy may be via ameliorating deficit of hippocampal synaptic plasticity.