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Synthesis of neural imaging information from many studies is valuable for identifying stable cortical targets for non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS). Typically, these targets are specified in Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) standard brain space. However, in practical NIBS applications, localizing MNI cortical targets often relies on the International 10–20 system or heuristic scalp approaches, which often lacks precision or applies only to specific targets. We aim to establish a probabilistic mapping from any cortical target in MNI space to continuous proportional coordinate (CPC) standard scalp space (MNI2CPC) and assess the performance of this mapping for NIBS targeting. The MNI2CPC mapping was calculated based on a large MRI dataset (n = 114). Its targeting error was evaluated via cross-individual validation using a leave-one-out approach, as well as through independent validation across race (n = 27) and across patient (n = 58) cohorts. The cross-individual validation demonstrated targeting errors of 4.03 ± 0.69 mm on the scalp and 3.30 ± 0.59 mm in the cortex. For independent cohorts, targeting errors were 4.71 ± 0.81 mm (scalp) and 3.85 ± 0.64 mm (cortex) across race, and 4.66 ± 0.77 mm (scalp) and 3.77 ± 0.61 mm (cortex) across patient. We publish a free online tool to enable querying of the CPC coordinate for any given MNI cortical target. The resulting CPC coordinates enable rapid and accurate manual localization on the scalp in a user-friendly manner. The MNI2CPC mapping developed in this study allows for manual localization of any MNI cortical target, which improves the accessibility and ease of application of NIBS in diverse settings. • Establish a probabilistic mapping from MNI space to the CPC standard scalp space (MNI2CPC) to guide NIBS device placement. • Evaluate the targeting performance of MNI2CPC through cross-individual, cross-race and cross-disease validation. • Publish a free online tool to query the CPC coordinates for any cortical target in MNI space (transcranial-brain-atlas.org/MNI2CPC). • Provide a neuro-navigation-system-free approach for localizing any MNI cortical target on the scalp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Carthamus tinctorius L. (Compositae), a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, was known as Hong hua (Chinese: ▪), safflower. Safflower with a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects has been used to treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pain and mass, trauma and pain of joints, etc. The present paper reviews the advancements in investigation of botany and ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of safflower. Finally, the possible tendency and perspective for future investigation of this plant are discussed, too. Materials and methods: The information on safflower was collected via piles of resources including classic books about Chinese herbal medicine, and scientific databases including Pubmed, Google Scholar, ACS, Web of science, CNKI and others. Results: Over 104 compounds from this plant have been isolated and identified, and quinochalcones and flavonoids are considered as the characteristic and active constituents of safflower. Safflower with its active compounds possesses wide-reaching biological activities, including dilating coronary artery, improving myocardial ischemia, modulating immune system, anticoagulation and antithrombosis, antioxidation, antiaging, antihypoxia, antifatigue, antiinflammation, anti-hepatic fibrosis, antitumor, analgesia, etc. Conclusions: As an important traditional Chinese medicine, it is important to investigate the pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of this plant based on modern realization of diseases' pathophysiology. More bioactive components should be identified using bioactivity-guided isolation strategies, and the possible mechanism of action as well as potential synergistic or antagonistic effects of multi-component mixtures derived from safflower need to be evaluated integrating pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, bioavailability-centered and physiological approaches. Further studies on safflower can lead to the development of new drugs and therapeutics for various diseases, and how to utilize it better should be paid more attention to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Microscopic and macroscopic experiments on the effects of non-ionic anti-agglomerants were carried out. • The adhesion force between hydrate particle and droplet on wall surface was affected by liquid bridge and its solidification. • The optimal concentrations of CDEA and AEO-9 to reduce adhesion between hydrate particle and droplet on wall surface are 0. 5 wt% and 0. 1 wt% respectively. • The feedback torque is the smallest for the CDEA and AEO-9 solutions at their optimal concentrations respectively. Non-ionic anti-agglomerants (AAs) are important agents to prevent hydrate deposition. In this study, the microscopical experimental results show that the adhesion force between hydrate particle and droplet on wall surface mainly depends on the force of the liquid bridge under low subcoolings; while it is dependent on the resultant force of the liquid bridge and hydrate shell under high subcoolings. Below the concentration of 2 wt%, the optimal concentrations of CDEA and AEO-9 to reduce the adhesion are 0. 5 wt% and 0. 1 wt%, respectively. The adhesion force decreases gradually with the increase of their concentrations when their concentrations are lower than the optimal values, but gradually rises with the increase of their concentrations when higher than the optimal values. Moreover, the hydrate formation experiments in a stirred reactor show that the feedback torques are the smallest at the optimal concentrations of them, which is consistent with the results of the microscopical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report here new zircon U-Pb age and Hf-isotope as well as geochemical analyses of the recently discovered Archean-Paleoproterozoic Zhongxiang Complex in the northern-central Yangtze Craton, South China, and interpret the early crustal evolution of the Yangtze Craton. Zircon LA-ICP-MS dating yielded magmatic crystallization ages of ca. 2.90–2.87 Ga for two monzogranites, ca. 2.77 Ga for a trondhjemitic gneiss, and ca. 2.67–2.62 Ga for three potassic granites. The trondhjemitic gneiss also contains zircon rims that record a metamorphic event at ca. 2.08 Ga. These results demonstrate that the Zhongxiang Complex is significantly older than previously thought, and it contains the only potential TTG with ages of 2.8–2.7 Ga for the Yangtze Craton. These granitoids vary considerably in zircon Hf isotopic and geochemical characteristics. The ca. 2.90–2.87 Ga monzogranites correspond in composition to alkaline and calc-alkalic peraluminous granites originated from mixing of ancient and juvenile crustal components at relatively shallow depths. In contrast, the ca. 2.77 Ga trondhjemitic gneisses are calc-alkalic and peraluminous with relatively high Sr/Y and (La/Yb) N ratios and slightly evolved zircon Hf signatures, but without significant Eu anomaly that is, typical of a medium-pressure TTG component. Consequently, they are interpreted to be the products of partial melting of a basaltic source with appreciable involvement of pre-existing crustal components (i.e., tonalites), with garnet and amphibole in the residue. The ca. 2.67–2.62 Ga potassic granites are alkaline, faintly peraluminous and ferroan, exhibiting a high-silica A-type granite affinity. They are characterized by low Al 2 O 3 /TiO 2 ratios with dominantly undepleted zircons, suggesting their derivation from melting of meta-sedimentary rocks under high-temperature conditions with plagioclase as the main residual phases. The Zhongxiang Complex thereby differs from the Kongling Complex and other Archean provinces in the Yangtze Craton by preserving distinct magmatic pulses (ca. 2.90–2.87 Ga; ca. 2.77 Ga; ca. 2.67–2.62 Ga) with different nature and sources. A comparative analysis of the crustal evolution of the Zhongxiang Complex and other Archean provinces of the Yangtze Craton indicates a compositionally heterogeneous Archean Yangtze Craton, which likely comprises several Archean terranes that accreted together to form a uniform craton during the late Archean to Paleoproterozoic time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]