Objective of the study: This study aimed at characterizing output features of the higher-order motor control centers (hoMCCs), including secondary (premotor cortex [Pre] and supplementary motor area [SMA]) and associa...Objective of the study: This study aimed at characterizing output features of the higher-order motor control centers (hoMCCs), including secondary (premotor cortex [Pre] and supplementary motor area [SMA]) and association (prefrontal cortex [PFC]) motor regions to the primary motor cortex (M1) during graded force tasks. It is well known that one of the major roles of the primary motor cortex (M1) is controlling motor output such as muscle force. However, it is unclear how the hoMCCs interact with M1 in regulating voluntary muscle contractions. Methods: fMRI data was acquired during graded force tasks and fMRI-based effective connectivity (EC) and muscle force analyses were performed to study the relationship between hoMCCs-M1 effective connectivity and voluntarily exerted handgrip force. Results: The results show that there is a consistent information flow from the hoMCCs to M1 under all force conditions, suggesting a hierarchical control mechanism in the brain in regulating voluntary muscle force. Only the premotor cortex exhibited a significant role in mediating the level of force production through its EC with M1 but that role diminished when the exerted force was high, suggesting perhaps a ceiling and/or fatigue effect on the EC. A flip in the direction of EC from the primary sensory cortex (S1) to the hoMCCs (PFC, SMA, and Pre) at lower force levels while at higher forces EC was observed from the hoMCCs to S1. Conclusion: The hoMCCs regulate M1 output to produce desired voluntary muscle force. Only the Pre-to-M1 connectivity strength directly correlates with the force level especially from low to moderate levels. The hoMCCs are involved in modulating higher force production likely by strengthening M1 output and downgrad<span style="font-size:12px;line-height:102%;font-family:Verdana;">ing</span><span style="font-size:12px;line-height:102%;font-family:Verdana;"> inhibition from S1 to M1.</span>展开更多
Graphene nanoribbons(GNRs)not only share many superlative properties of graphene but also display an exceptional degree of tunability of their electronic properties.The bandgaps of GNRs depend greatly on their widths,...Graphene nanoribbons(GNRs)not only share many superlative properties of graphene but also display an exceptional degree of tunability of their electronic properties.The bandgaps of GNRs depend greatly on their widths,edges,etc.Herein,we report the synthesis path and the physical properties of atomic accuracy staggered narrow N=8 armchair graphene nanoribbons(sn-8AGNR)with alternating"Bite"defects on the opposite side.The intermediate structures in the surface physicochemical reactions from the precursors to the sn-8AGNR are characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy.The electronic properties of the sn-8AGNR are characterized by scanning tunneling spectroscopies and 6//6V mappings.Compared with the perfect N=8 armchair graphene nanoribbons(8AGNR),the sn-8AGNR has a larger bandgap,indicating that the liB\Xen edges can effectively regulate the electronic structures of GNRs.展开更多
文摘Objective of the study: This study aimed at characterizing output features of the higher-order motor control centers (hoMCCs), including secondary (premotor cortex [Pre] and supplementary motor area [SMA]) and association (prefrontal cortex [PFC]) motor regions to the primary motor cortex (M1) during graded force tasks. It is well known that one of the major roles of the primary motor cortex (M1) is controlling motor output such as muscle force. However, it is unclear how the hoMCCs interact with M1 in regulating voluntary muscle contractions. Methods: fMRI data was acquired during graded force tasks and fMRI-based effective connectivity (EC) and muscle force analyses were performed to study the relationship between hoMCCs-M1 effective connectivity and voluntarily exerted handgrip force. Results: The results show that there is a consistent information flow from the hoMCCs to M1 under all force conditions, suggesting a hierarchical control mechanism in the brain in regulating voluntary muscle force. Only the premotor cortex exhibited a significant role in mediating the level of force production through its EC with M1 but that role diminished when the exerted force was high, suggesting perhaps a ceiling and/or fatigue effect on the EC. A flip in the direction of EC from the primary sensory cortex (S1) to the hoMCCs (PFC, SMA, and Pre) at lower force levels while at higher forces EC was observed from the hoMCCs to S1. Conclusion: The hoMCCs regulate M1 output to produce desired voluntary muscle force. Only the Pre-to-M1 connectivity strength directly correlates with the force level especially from low to moderate levels. The hoMCCs are involved in modulating higher force production likely by strengthening M1 output and downgrad<span style="font-size:12px;line-height:102%;font-family:Verdana;">ing</span><span style="font-size:12px;line-height:102%;font-family:Verdana;"> inhibition from S1 to M1.</span>
基金support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11674136,61901200,51662023,and 51861020)The National Recruitment Program for Young Professionals(No.1097816002)+2 种基金Yunnan Province for Recruiting High-Caliber Technological Talents(No.1097816002)reserve talents for Yunnan young and middle aged academic and technical leaders(No.2017HB010)the Yunnan Province Science and Technology Plan Project(No.2019FD041).Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDB30010000).
文摘Graphene nanoribbons(GNRs)not only share many superlative properties of graphene but also display an exceptional degree of tunability of their electronic properties.The bandgaps of GNRs depend greatly on their widths,edges,etc.Herein,we report the synthesis path and the physical properties of atomic accuracy staggered narrow N=8 armchair graphene nanoribbons(sn-8AGNR)with alternating"Bite"defects on the opposite side.The intermediate structures in the surface physicochemical reactions from the precursors to the sn-8AGNR are characterized by scanning tunneling microscopy.The electronic properties of the sn-8AGNR are characterized by scanning tunneling spectroscopies and 6//6V mappings.Compared with the perfect N=8 armchair graphene nanoribbons(8AGNR),the sn-8AGNR has a larger bandgap,indicating that the liB\Xen edges can effectively regulate the electronic structures of GNRs.
