Increased functional connectivity of the posterior cingulate cortex with the lateral orbitofrontal cortex in depression

To analyze the functioning of the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) in depression, we performed the first fully voxel-level resting state functional-connectivity neuroimaging analysis of depression of the PCC, with 336 patients with major depressive disorder and 350 controls. Voxels in the PCC had significantly increased functional connectivity with the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, a region implicated in non-reward and which is thereby implicated in depression. In patients receiving medication, the functional connectivity between the lateral orbitofrontal cortex and PCC was decreased back towards that in the controls. In the 350 controls, it was shown that the PCC has high functional connectivity with the parahippocampal regions which are involved in memory. The findings support the theory that the non-reward system in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex has increased effects on memory systems, which contribute to the rumination about sad memories and events in depression. These new findings provide evidence that a key target to ameliorate depression is the lateral orbitofrontal cortex

Functional connectivity of the human amygdala in health and in depression

To analyze the functioning of the amygdala in depression, we performed the first voxel-level resting state functional-connectivity neuroimaging analysis of depression of voxels in the amygdala with all other voxels in the brain, with 336 patients with major depressive disorder and 350 controls. Amygdala voxels had decreased functional connectivity with the orbitofrontal cortex, temporal lobe areas, including the temporal pole, inferior temporal gyrus, and the parahippocampal gyrus. The reductions in the strengths of the functional connectivity of the amygdala voxels with the medial orbitofrontal cortex and temporal lobe voxels were correlated with increases in the Beck Depression Inventory score and in the duration of illness measures of depression. Parcellation analysis in 350 healthy controls based on voxel-level functional connectivity showed that the basal division of the amygdala has high functional connectivity with medial orbitofrontal cortex areas, and the dorsolateral amygdala has strong functional connectivity with the lateral orbitofrontal cortex and related ventral parts of the inferior frontal gyrus. In depression, the basal amygdala division had especially reduced functional connectivity with the medial orbitofrontal cortex which is involved in reward; and the dorsolateral amygdala subdivision had relatively reduced functional connectivity with the lateral orbitofrontal cortex which is involved in non-reward

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Risk Propagation in Complex Financial Networks

The methods of complex networks have been extensively used to characterize information flow in complex systems, such as risk propagation in complex financial networks. However, network dynamics are ignored in most cases despite systems with similar topological structures exhibiting profoundly different dynamic behaviors. To observe the spatiotemporal patterns of risk propagation in complex financial networks, we combined a dynamic model with empirical networks. Our analysis revealed that hub nodes play a dominant role in risk propagation across the network and respond rapidly, thus exhibiting a degree-driven effect. The influence of key dynamic parameters, i.e., infection rate and recovery rate, was also investigated. Furthermore, the impacts of two typical characteristics of complex financial systems—the existence of community structures and frequent large fluctuations—on the spatiotemporal patterns of risk propagation were explored. About 30% of the total risk propagation flow of each community can be explained by the top 10% nodes. Thus, we can control the risk propagation flow of each community by controlling a few influential nodes in the community and, in turn, control the whole network. In extreme market states, hub nodes become more dominant, indicating better risk control

Preparation and Properties of Toluene-Diisocyanate-Trimer-Modified Epoxy Resin

In this paper, a novel modified epoxy resin with an interpenetrating network structure for use as a grouting material with high toughness was prepared by a method of graft copolymerization between polyurethane prepolymer (PUP) trimer and epoxy resin (E-44). Polyurethane prepolymer was synthesized using poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) and 2,4-toluene diisocyanate trimer (TDIT) at 70 °C for 3 h. The graft copolymer was prepared by grafting polyurethane prepolymer onto the side chain of epoxy resin at 110 °C. The mechanical properties, fracture surface morphology, chemical structure, thermal properties, and corrosion resistance of the modified epoxy resin curing products were studied. Due to the beneficial flexible segments and the interpenetrating network structure, the results show that when the ratio of epoxy resin to polyurethane prepolymer is 10:2, the optimum mechanical properties are obtained; these include a compressive resistance of 184.8 MPa, impact property of 76.6 kJ/m2, and elongation at break of 31.5%. At the same time, the modified epoxy resin curing product also has excellent heat and corrosion resistance. This work provides a new method for the study of epoxy resins with high performance