Cortico-cortical circuits originating from the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) of the intact left hemisphere (LH) may become hyperexcitable in patients with hemispatial neglect due to a right ...hemispheric (RH) stroke.
In the current randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study, we investigated safety and efficacy of continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) in 10 sessions over 2 weeks applied over the intact PPC of the LH in subacute ischemic stroke patients. Severity of neglect was assessed through the standardized Behavioral Inattention Test (BIT). We also measured, by means of bifocal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), how cTBS modified the excitability of the parieto-frontal functional connections in the intact LH.
We found that 2 weeks of cTBS, but not sham cTBS, were effective in improving neglect symptoms as measured by BIT score. BIT scores improved by 16.3% after 2 weeks of cTBS and 22.6% at 1 month follow-up. We also found that hyperexcitability of LH parieto-frontal circuits was reduced following treatment with real but not sham cTBS.
These findings suggest that a 2-week course of cTBS over the LH PPC may be a potential effective strategy in accelerating recovery from visuospatial neglect in subacute stroke patients, possibly counteracting the hyperexcitability of LH parieto-frontal circuits.
This study provides Class III evidence that left posterior parietal cortex theta-burst stimulation improves hemispatial neglect for up to 2 weeks after treatment.
•Cheap and easily customisable memristors electrical characterisation system.•Capability of performing retention, endurance and DC sweeps measurements.•Capability of imposing a fine-tuneable current ...compliance.
A cheap, compact and customisable characterisation system for memristor devices, working between ± 10 V, is presented. SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) simulations are performed to verify the circuit feasibility and a proper software is developed to drive the system. The potentiality of the realised system is tested by performing several electrical measurements on both Cu/HfO2/Pt memristors and two-terminals commercial devices.
Nearly every recent article on tailings starts by mentioning a large tailings dam failure. The consequences of these failures have been so devastating they have pushed conversations about the risks ...inherent in these structures beyond the mining community into the general population. We are left to question how we address the risks associated with tailings disposal, and in so doing, transform the image of the mining industry and perhaps the industry itself. With this as a backdrop, the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME) challenged tailings and mining professionals to re-imagine the future of tailings. The book symposium, held at the SME 2020 annual conference, started that conversation. Over three days, tailings professionals from around the world gathered to discuss tailings storage practices and the changes both the industry and the world want and need. The discussions squarely focused on how we, as an industry, can collectively make changes that will eliminate catastrophic tailings dam failures and lead to better outcomes for the industry and society.
We present a detection technique based on a flux-switchable Josephson Digital Phase Detector (JDPD), which is capable of discriminating between two phase values of a coherent input tone. When ...suitably flux stimulated, the JDPD switches from a single-minimum to a double-minima potential and, as a result, relaxes in one of two stable configurations depending on the phase sign of the input stimulus. The outcome of this procedure is digitally encoded in the occupation probability of the phase particle in either of the two JDPD wells. In this manuscript, we demonstrate the working principle of the JDPD by discriminating the phase of a 5 GHz tone with a protocol of 300 ns of time duration. This result supports the future implementation of the JDPD to readout the state of a qubit.
We investigated the influence of nipple areolar complex (NAC) sparing in mastectomy, on patient satisfaction with cosmetic results, body-image, sexuality and psychological well-being. We developed a ...specific questionnaire and compared two groups of women who underwent radical mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). Between 2004 and 2006, 310 women with NAC preservation and 143 patients with successive NAC reconstruction were mailed the questionnaire at follow-up 1 year after definitive complete breast reconstruction surgery. 256 questionnaires was available. Our results showed significant differences in favour of the NAC sparing group regarding body image (difficulty in looking at themselves naked and being seen naked by their partners after surgery, P = 0.001 and P = 0.003, respectively); regarding satisfaction with the appearance of the nipple (P < .0001) and with the sensitivity of the nipple (P = 0.001); regarding the feeling of mutilation (P = 0.003). NAC sparing in mastectomy has a positive impact on patient satisfaction, body image and psychological adjustment.
•Mesoporous TiO2 nanocrystalline lithium battery anodes with tunable morphology.•Simple sol–gel technique using different cationic surfactants is adopted.•Textural/morphological characteristics ...define the electrochemical behaviour.•TiO2 anatase using C16TAB exhibits stable performance after 200 cycles.•It shows promising prospects as high-voltage safe Li-ion battery anode.
We here investigate the physico-chemical/morphological characteristics and cycling behaviour of several kinds of nanocrystalline TiO2 Li-ion battery anodes selectively prepared through a simple sol–gel strategy based on a low-cost titanium oxysulfate precursor, by mediation of different cationic surfactants having different features (e.g., chain lengths, counter ion, etc.): i.e., cetyl-trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), cetyl-trimethylammonium chloride (CTAC), benzalkonium chloride (BC) or octadecyl-trimethyl ammonium bromide (C18TAB). X-ray diffraction profiles reveal single phase anatase having good correspondence with the reference pattern when using short chain CTAB, while in the other cases the presence of chloride and/or an increased chain length affect the purity of the samples. FESEM analysis reveal nanosized particles forming cauliflower-like aggregates. TiO2 materials demonstrate mesoporous characteristics and large specific surface area ranging from 250 to 30m2g−1. Remarkably stable electrode performance are achieved by appropriately selecting the cationic surfactant and the surfactant/precursor ratio. Detailed analysis is provided on the effect of the reaction conditions upon the formation of mesoporous crystalline titania enlightening new directions for the development of high performing lithium storage electrodes by a simple and low cost sol–gel strategy.
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Mesoporous TiO2 nanocrystals were prepared by a simple and fast hydrolytic process, in the presence of tetrabutylammonium bromide surfactant, and their ambient temperature ...electrochemical behaviour as high-rate Li-ion battery anodes was successfully demonstrated even after very long-term cycling (>1000 cycles). Samples were thoroughly characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption analyses and electrochemical techniques. Using a novel synthesis approach, regular mesoporous TiO2 anatase phase with a specific surface area of 258m2g−1 and a good degree of crystallinity was directly obtained without further treatments. The material was also calcined at different temperatures between 250 and 550°C, to increase the degree of crystallization and assess the influence of the structural modifications on the electrochemical characteristics. Very good rate capability and excellent stability upon very prolonged cycling were achieved, thus indicating the prospects of the prepared materials for next-generation high-power lithium-based batteries.
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Titanium dioxide/reduced graphene oxide (TiO2-rGO) composites were synthesized at different loadings of carbonaceous phase, characterized and used as anode materials in Lithium-ion ...cells, focusing not only on the high rate capability but also on the simplicity and low cost of the electrode production. It was therefore chosen to use commercial TiO2, GO was synthesized from graphite, adsorbed onto TiO2 and reduced to rGO following a chemical, a photocatalytic and an in situ photocatalytic procedure. The synthesized materials were in-depth characterized with a multi-technique approach and the electrochemical performances were correlated i) to an effective reduction of the GO oxidized moieties and ii) to the maintenance of the 2D geometry of the final graphenic structure observed. TiO2-rGO obtained with the first two procedures showed good cycle stability, high capacity and impressive rate capability particularly at 10% GO loading. The photocatalytic reduction applied in situ on preassembled electrodes showed similarly good results reaching the goal of a further simplification of the anode production.
Synthesis of single‐crystal bismuth telluride nanorods is reported by using a low‐temperature, template‐free approach (see Figure). Films of thioglycolic acid functionalized nanorods doped with ...sulfur exhibit n‐type behavior with a high Seebeck coefficient, holding promise for thermoelectric device applications.
•Nanostructured LiFePO4/C by surfactant assisted solvothermal synthesis.•Novel and simple preparation method, with no critical parameters.•Noticeable stability, good capacity values and capacity ...retention after prolonged cycling.•Improved rate capability at a very high C-rate (100C).•High performance for the next generation of advanced high power Li-ion batteries.
A surfactant-assisted solvothermal synthesis is hereby applied to produce carbon-coated LiFePO4/C nanostructured Li-ion battery cathodes. The use of different mixed alcohol/water solutions for the dissolution of a cationic surfactant is absolutely peculiar in this field and herewith exploited to tailor-make the properties of the active material particles (e.g., morphology and electrochemical behaviour). Thorough investigation is carried out by means of X-ray powder diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry and constant current charge-discharge cycling. The best performing sample, obtained in a 20:80 w/w ethanol:water solution, demonstrates good specific capacity values, high Coulombic efficiency and rate capability, with stable behaviour upon long-term cycling even at ultrafast 100C discharge regime. This is definitely remarkable for a nanosized powder specifically conceived for high power applications obtained by means of low cost raw materials, simple and reliable procedures.
