Focal shock waves increase efficacy and prolong the effect of botulinum toxin on spasticity in patients with brain injury from stroke and multiple sclerosis.

Objective: Assess the effects on spasticity reduction of the association between focal extracorporeal shock wave therapy and botulinum toxin type A, versus the toxin only in brain injury patients.

Design: Eighteen patients were included. The study had two phases: the first phase was observational, and botulinum toxin type A was used.

Homeotropic orientation of an ion-channel forming mesophase induced by nanotemplate wetting.

Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes were used as templates to control orientation of an ion-channel forming columnar mesophase obtained by self assembly of a wedge-shaped sulfonate molecule. Inside the AAO structure, the director vector of the mesophase is oriented parallel to the pore axis due to the confinement effect. The molecular arrangement induced by the spatial confinement within the pores is extended over several microns into the remnant film on the AAO surface.

Integrated tire wear buildup and rainfall-runoff model to simulate tire wear particles in stormwater.

This paper presents an approach to integrate tire wear buildup and rainfall-runoff models to simulate tire wear buildup on road surfaces and its subsequent transport in stormwater runoff events. To do so, a buildup model is presented based on vehicle kilometers traveled, vehicle type, vehicle speed, and road roughness within a watershed. This buildup model was integrated into an EPA SWMM model that simulated the runoff of tire wear particles in twelve watersheds in the San Francisco, CA bay area.

High-Performance Implantable Sensors based on Anisotropic Magnetoresistive LaSrMnO for Biomedical Applications.

We present the design, fabrication, and characterization of an implantable neural interface based on anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) magnetic-field sensors that combine reduced size and high performance at body temperature. The sensors are based on LaSrMnO (LSMO) as a ferromagnetic material, whose epitaxial growth has been suitably engineered to get uniaxial anisotropy and large AMR output together with low noise even at low frequencies. The performance of LSMO sensors of different film thickness and at different temperatures close to 37 °C has to be explored to find an optimum sensitivity of ∼400%/T (with typical detectivity values of 2 nT·Hz at a frequency of 1 Hz and 0.

Evaluation of Objective Functions for the Optimal Design of an Assistive Robot.

The number of individuals with upper or lower extremities dysfunction (ULED) has considerably increased in the past few decades, resulting in a high economic burden for their families and society. Individuals with ULEDs require assistive robots to fulfill all their activities of daily living (ADLs). However, a theory for the optimal design of assistive robots that reduces energy consumption while increasing the workspace is unavailable.

Roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography of high efficiency Fresnel lenses for micro-concentrator photovoltaics.

Roll-to-roll nanoimprint lithography (R2R-NIL) is an enabling technology for the low-cost mass production of high-quality micro- and nano-sized optical elements. Particularly, the fabrication of Fresnel lenses using R2R-NIL is a promising approach to produce optical arrays for micro-concentrator photovoltaic modules. This work investigates the application of a continuous R2R imprinting process based on ultraviolet curing of transparent photopolymer resins (UV-NIL) to fabricate high-efficiency and low-cost Fresnel lenses.

Assessing Fast Structure Formation Processes in Isotactic Polypropylene with a Combination of Nanofocus X-ray Diffraction and In Situ Nanocalorimetry.

A combination of in situ nanocalorimetry with simultaneous nanofocus 2D Wide-Angle X-ray Scattering (WAXS) was used to study polymorphic behaviour and structure formation in a single micro-drop of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) with defined thermal history. We were able to generate, detect, and characterize a number of different iPP morphologies using our custom-built ultrafast chip-based nanocalorimetry instrument designed for use with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) high intensity nanofocus X-ray beamline facility. The detected iPP morphologies included monoclinic alpha-phase crystals, mesophase, and mixed morphologies with different mesophase/crystalline compositional ratios.

Validation of multiparametric approaches for the prediction of sudden cardiac death in patients with Brugada syndrome and electrophysiological study.

Introduction And Objectives: Multiparametric scores have been designed for better risk stratification in Brugada syndrome (BrS). We aimed to validate 3 multiparametric approaches (the Delise score, Sieira score and the Shanghai BrS Score) in a cohort with Brugada syndrome and electrophysiological study (EPS).

Methods: We included patients diagnosed with BrS and previous EPS between 1998 and 2019 in 23 hospitals.

Improved thermal stability of antireflective moth-eye topography imprinted on PMMA/TiOsurface nanocomposites.

The thermal stability of antireflective moth-eye topographical features fabricated by nanoimprint lithography on poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) incorporating TiOnanoparticles is explored. The effect of nanoparticle load on the relaxation dynamics of the moth-eye nanostructure is evaluated via grazing incidence small angle x-ray scattering measurements bymonitoring the structural decay of the nanopatterns upon thermal annealing. It is demonstrated that the incorporation of TiOnanoparticles to the imprinted surface nanocomposite films delays greatly the pattern relaxation which, in turn, enhances the stability of the patterned topography even at temperatures well above the polymer glass transition (T).

Bioinspired antireflective flexible films with optimized mechanical resistance fabricated by roll to roll thermal nanoimprint.

This work describes the fabrication process of moth eye antireflective poly (methyl methacrylate) transparent films via roll to roll thermal nanoimprint lithography. The process parameters are investigated and adjusted in order to obtain from a single moth-eye structured mold, a range of antireflective topographies that gradually vary their geometry from protruding to intruding nanocones. A correlation between the process parameters with the optical and mechanical properties of the films is established to illustrate the influence of the processing parameters and serve as guideline to produce antireflective flexible films with balanced properties and optimized performance adequate to the application environment.

Long-term prognosis of women with Brugada syndrome and electrophysiological study.

Background: A male predominance in Brugada syndrome (BrS) has been widely reported, but scarce information on female patients with BrS is available.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of women with BrS.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study of patients diagnosed with BrS and previous electrophysiological study (EPS) was performed.

Engineered protein-based functional nanopatterned materials for bio-optical devices.

The development of new active biocompatible materials and devices is a current need for their implementation in multiple fields, including the fabrication of implantable devices for biomedical applications and sustainable devices for bio-optics and bio-optoelectronics. This paper describes a simple strategy to use designed proteins to develop protein-based functional materials. Using simple proteins as self-assembling building blocks as a platform for the fabrication of new optically active materials takes previous work one step further towards the design of materials with defined structures and functions using naturally occurring protein materials, such as silk.

Reevaluating the pathogenicity of the mutation c.1194 +5 G>A in GAA gene by functional analysis of RNA in a 61-year-old woman diagnosed with Pompe disease by muscle biopsy.

Glycogen storage disease type II, or Pompe disease, is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of lysosomal acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA). We performed genetic analysis to confirm the diagnosis of Pompe disease in a 61-year-old patient with progressive weakness in extremities, severe Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome, a significant reduction of alpha-glucosidase in liquid sample of peripheral blood and muscular biopsy diagnosis. GAA gene sequencing showed the patient is homozygous for the splice-site mutation c.

Nano-engineering safer-by-design nanoparticle based moth-eye mimetic bactericidal and cytocompatible polymer surfaces.

Nanotechnology provides a new design paradigm for alternative antibacterial strategies in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria. In this paper, the enhanced bactericidal action of moth-eye nanocomposite surfaces with a collaborative nanoparticle functional and topography structural mode of action is reported. The moth-eye nanocomposite surfaces are fabricated in combined processing steps of nanoparticle coating and surface nanoimprinting enabling the production of safer-by-design nanoparticle based antibacterial materials whereby the nanoparticle load is minimized whilst bactericidal efficiency is improved.

Single-imprint moth-eye anti-reflective and self-cleaning film with enhanced resistance.

Antireflective transparent materials are essential for a myriad of applications to allow for clear vision and efficient light transmission. Despite the advances, efficient and low cost solutions to clean antireflective surfaces have remained elusive. Here, we present a practical approach that enables the production of antireflective polymer surfaces based on moth-eye inspired features incorporating photoinduced self-cleaning properties and enhanced mechanical resistance.

Moth-eye mimetic cytocompatible bactericidal nanotopography: a convergent design.

The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has prompted the need for radically different approaches to combat bacterial infections. Among these, bioinspired surface topographies have emerged as an effective sustainable strategy to deter bacterial infection. This study demonstrates the bactericidal activity and cytocompatibility of the moth-eye mimetic topography produced by thermal polymer nanoimprinting.

Multifunctional Nano-engineered Polymer Surfaces with Enhanced Mechanical Resistance and Superhydrophobicity.

This paper presents a multifunctional polymer surface that provides superhydrophobicity and self-cleaning functions together with an enhancement in mechanical and electrical performance. These functionalities are produced by nanoimprinting high aspect ratio pillar arrays on polymeric matrix incorporating functional reinforcing elements. Two distinct matrix-filler systems are investigated specifically, Carbon Nanotube reinforced Polystyrene (CNT-PS) and Reduced Graphene Oxide reinforced Polyvinylidene Difluoride (RGO-PVDF).

Effect of fiber fractions of prickly pear cactus (nopal) on quality and sensory properties of wheat bread rolls.

In this study the addition of total fiber (TF), insoluble fiber (IF), and soluble fiber (SF) from nopal to wheat flour used to make bread rolls was assessed. The rheological properties of dough as well as quality, texture, sensorial and physical characteristics of the crumb rolls produced were evaluated. The storage (23.

Evaluation of a novel dried blood spot collection device (HemaSpot™) to test blood samples collected from dogs for antibodies to Leishmania infantum.

Collection of blood samples from veterinary and wildlife patients is often challenging because the samples have to be collected on farm or in the wild under various environmental conditions. This poses many technical problems associated with venipuncture materials, their safe use and disposal, transportation and processing of collected samples. Dried blood spot (DBS) sample collection techniques offer a simple and practical alternative to traditional blood collection methods to obtain blood samples from animals for parasite antibody evaluation.

Random mutagenesis by error-prone pol plasmid replication in Escherichia coli.

Directed evolution is an approach that mimics natural evolution in the laboratory with the goal of modifying existing enzymatic activities or of generating new ones. The identification of mutants with desired properties involves the generation of genetic diversity coupled with a functional selection or screen. Genetic diversity can be generated using PCR or using in vivo methods such as chemical mutagenesis or error-prone replication of the desired sequence in a mutator strain.

[Effects of a neuropsychology program based on mindfulness on Alzheimer's disease: randomized double-blind clinical study].

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to assess effects of a mindfulness based neuropsychological intervention on the clinical course of Alzheimer's disease.

Material And Method: A two year randomized and double blind clinical trial was conducted on 127 probable Alzheimer's disease patients, according to NINCDS-ADRDA scale. Patients were grouped into three experimental groups (cognitive stimulation, progressive muscular relaxation, and mindfulness) plus a control group.

Humidity-modulated phase control and nanoscopic transport in supramolecular assemblies.

Supramolecular assembly allows for enhanced control of bulk material properties through the fine modulation of intermolecular interactions. We present a comprehensive study of a cross-linkable amphiphilic wedge molecule based on a sulfonated trialkoxybenzene with a sodium counterion that forms liquid crystalline (LC) phases with ionic nanochannel structures. This compound exhibits drastic structural changes as a function of relative humidity (RH).

Additional value of B-type natriuretic peptide on discrimination of patients at risk for mortality after a non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Few studies have addressed the additional value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) on risk stratification in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). We aimed to evaluate whether BNP levels provide additional improvement on discrimination and reclassification of patients at risk of mortality during admission and follow up after a NSTE-ACS.

Methods: BNP levels were measured 24-96 hours post admission in 600 patients with a NSTE-ACS.

High-resolution thermal imaging with a combination of nano-focus X-ray diffraction and ultra-fast chip calorimetry.

A microelectromechanical-systems-based calorimeter designed for use on a synchrotron nano-focused X-ray beamline is described. This instrument allows quantitative DC and AC calorimetric measurements over a broad range of heating/cooling rates (≤100000 K s(-1)) and temperature modulation frequencies (≤1 kHz). The calorimeter was used for high-resolution thermal imaging of nanogram-sized samples subjected to X-ray-induced heating.