Highly conductive colloidal carbon based suspension for flow-assisted electrochemical systems.

Carbon suspension electrodes are promising for flow-assisted electrochemical energy storage systems. They serve as flowable electrodes in electrolyte solutions of flow batteries, or flow capacitors. They can also be used for other applications such as capacitive deionization of water.

Anosmia and COVID-19: perspectives on its association and the pathophysiological mechanisms involved.

With the spread of SARS-CoV-2, contingency measures and plans to facilitate the screening of infected patients are needed. Changes in olfaction have been cited as symptoms of the disease, and it is important to prove or exclude its association with this condition to refine the symptomatic criteria for early isolation. This article aims to analyze the association between olfactory disorders and SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as investigate the possible underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Listening to the neurological teams for multiple sclerosis: the SMART project.

Objective: Aim of the research was to define the quality of life of Italian neurologists and nurses' professional caring for multiple sclerosis, to understand their living the clinical practice and identify possible signals of compassion fatigue.

Material And Methods: One hundred five neurologists and nurses from 30 Italian multiple sclerosis centres were involved in an online quali-quantitative survey on the organization of care, combined with the Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue Test and a collection of narratives. Descriptive statistics of the quantitative data were integrated with the results obtained by the narrative medicine methods of analysis.

Shape memory nanocomposite fibers for untethered high-energy microengines.

Classic rotating engines are powerful and broadly used but are of complex design and difficult to miniaturize. It has long remained challenging to make large-stroke, high-speed, high-energy microengines that are simple and robust. We show that torsionally stiffened shape memory nanocomposite fibers can be transformed upon insertion of twist to store and provide fast and high-energy rotations.

Health-related quality of life in clinically isolated syndrome and risk of conversion to multiple sclerosis.

Background And Objectives: A few studies have found that low scores on self-rated health and quality of life measures are associated with following worsening disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). We wanted to estimate the association between self-rated quality of life scores among patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and the risk of subsequent conversion to definite MS.

Methods: One hundred sixty-two patients from the GERONIMUS cohort with a symptom or sign suggestive of MS and without a definite diagnosis of MS at the time of inclusion were asked to evaluate their health-related quality of life according to MSQoL-54 scale.

First-line disease-modifying drugs in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: an Italian real-life multicenter study on persistence.

Objective: The introduction of oral disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) in addition to the available, injectable, ones for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) could be expected to improve medication persistence due to a greater acceptability of the route of administration. The aim of the study was to compare the proportion of patients discontinuing injectable DMDs (interferon beta 1a/1b, pegylated interferon, glatiramer acetate) with those discontinuing oral DMDs (dimethylfumarate and teriflunomide) during an observation period of at least 12 months. Secondary aims were to compare the time to discontinuation and the reasons for discontinuation between the two groups and to explore the demographic and clinical factors associated with DMD discontinuation.

Shear Rheology Control of Wrinkles and Patterns in Graphene Oxide Films.

Drying graphene oxide (GO) films are subject to extensive wrinkling, which largely affects their final properties. Wrinkles were shown to be suitable in biotechnological applications; however, they negatively affect the electronic properties of the films. Here, we report on wrinkle tuning and patterning of GO films under stress-controlled conditions during drying.

Giant Electrostriction of Soft Nanocomposites Based on Liquid Crystalline Graphene.

High electromechanical coupling is critical to perform effective conversion between mechanical and electrical energy for various applications of electrostrictive polymers. Herein, a giant electrostriction effect is reported in liquid crystalline graphene-doped dielectric elastomers. The materials are formulated by a phase-transfer method which allows the solubilization of graphenic monolayers in nonpolar solvents.

Carbon nanotube fiber mats for microbial fuel cell electrodes.

Novel carbon nanotube based electrodes of microbial fuel cells (MFC) have been developed. MFC is a promising technology for the wastewater treatment and the production of electrical energy from redox reactions of natural substrates. Performances of such bio-electrochemical systems depend critically on the structure and properties of the electrodes.

Definitive childlessness in women with multiple sclerosis: a multicenter study.

The frequency of definitive childlessness in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be higher than in the general population. MS may also affect decisions on the delivery procedure and on breast-feeding issues. Aim of the study was to assess the frequency of childlessness and its possible causes, the proportion of cesarean deliveries (CD), and the frequency of breast-feeding in patients and controls who have reached the end of their reproductive period.

Giant Electrostrictive Response and Piezoresistivity of Emulsion Templated Nanocomposites.

Using an emulsion road and optimizing the dispersion process, we prepare polymer carbone nanotubes (CNT) and polymer reduced graphene oxide (rGO) composites. The introduction of conductive nanoparticles into polymer matrices modifies the electronic properties of the material. We show that these materials exhibit giant electrostriction coefficients in the intermediate filler concentration (below 1 wt %).

Superflexibility of graphene oxide.

Graphene oxide (GO), the main precursor of graphene-based materials made by solution processing, is known to be very stiff. Indeed, it has a Young's modulus comparable to steel, on the order of 300 GPa. Despite its very high stiffness, we show here that GO is superflexible.

Modified silver nanowire transparent electrodes with exceptional stability against oxidation.

We report an easy method to prepare thin, flexible and transparent electrodes that show enhanced inertness toward oxidation using modified silver nanowires (Ag NWs). Stabilization is achieved through the adsorption of triphenylphosphine (PPh3) onto the Ag NW hybrid dispersions prior to their 2D organization as transparent electrodes on polyethylene terephtalate (PET) films. After 110 days in air (20 °C) under atmospheric conditions, the transmittance of the PET/Ag NW/PPh3 based films is nearly unchanged, while the transmittance of the PET/Ag NW-based films decreases by about 5%.

Graphene liquid crystal retarded percolation for new high-k materials.

Graphene flakes with giant shape anisotropy are extensively used to establish connectedness electrical percolation in various heterogeneous systems. However, the percolation behaviour of graphene flakes has been recently predicted to be far more complicated than generally anticipated on the basis of excluded volume arguments. Here we confirm experimentally that graphene flakes self-assemble into nematic liquid crystals below the onset of percolation.

Giant Permittivity Polymer Nanocomposites Obtained by Curing a Direct Emulsion.

Near-percolated CNT-polymer composites are promising high-permittivity materials. The main challenge in the field consists of finding compromises that allow high permittivity and low losses in frequency ranges of interest. Using an emulsion approach and optimizing the size of the droplets and the curing procedure, we obtain unprecedented performances and measure giant permittivity larger than 20,000 at 100 Hz along with a conductivity below 10(-4) S/m.

The burden of distress and related coping processes in family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease living in the community.

Background: Many patients with dementia live in the community and depend on a family member for assistance. Taking care of non-self-sufficient people such as those with dementia causes distress. This study concerns factors contributing to feelings of burden and consequent coping strategies adopted by family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's disease living in the community.

Pattern of care and effectiveness of treatment for glioblastoma patients in the real world: Results from a prospective population-based registry. Could survival differ in a high-volume center?

Background: As yet, no population-based prospective studies have been conducted to investigate the incidence and clinical outcome of glioblastoma (GBM) or the diffusion and impact of the current standard therapeutic approach in newly diagnosed patients younger than aged 70 years.

Methods: Data on all new cases of primary brain tumors observed from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010, in adults residing within the Emilia-Romagna region were recorded in a prospective registry in the Project of Emilia Romagna on Neuro-Oncology (PERNO). Based on the data from this registry, a prospective evaluation was made of the treatment efficacy and outcome in GBM patients.

Neuroimaging in diagnosis of atypical polyradiculoneuropathies: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Neuroimaging is increasingly used in the study of peripheral nerve diseases, and sometimes may have a pivotal role in the diagnostic process. We report on three patients with atypical chronic inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nerve Ultrasound (US) were crucial for a correct diagnostic work-out. A literature review on MRI and US in acquired demyelinating polyneuropathies is also provided.

Sleep-related behaviors in Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Abstract Prevalence studies suggest that Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are the most common dementing illnesses in the elderly. The aim of this narrative review was to provide data on sleep-related behaviors in AD and DLB. This paper contains arguments, with a clinical approach, on both circadian rhythm changes and dissociated states of wakefulness and sleep in these two conditions.

How polymers lose memory with age.

Uniquely in the world of materials, polymers deformed at high temperature and subsequently quenched at low temperature, memorize the temperature at which they have been processed. Polymers can even memorize multiple temperatures. This temperature memory is reflected by a maximum of residual stress restored at the temperature of initial processing.

Carbon nanotube fiber microelectrodes show a higher resistance to dopamine fouling.

We have compared the properties and resistance to DA fouling of a carbon nanotube fiber (CNTF) microelectrode to a traditional carbon fiber (CF) microelectrode. These two materials show comparable electrochemical activities for outer-sphere and inner-sphere redox reactions. Although the CNTF might have a higher intrinsic RC constant, thus limiting its high-frequency behavior, the CNTF shows a significantly higher durability than the CF in terms of electrode stability.

Sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease: a narrative review of the literature.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is classically considered to be a motor system affliction; however, also non-motor alterations, including sleep disorders, are important features of the disease. The aim of this review is to provide data on sleep disturbances in PD in the following grouping: difficulty initiating sleep, frequent night-time awakening and sleep fragmentation, nocturia, restless legs syndrome/periodic limb movements, sleep breathing disorders, drug induced symptoms, parasomnias associated with rapid eye movements (REM) sleep, sleep attacks, reduced sleep efficiency and excessive daytime sleepiness. Research has characterized some of these disturbances as typical examples of dissociated states of wakefulness and sleep that are admixtures or incomplete declarations of wakefulness, REM sleep, and non-REM (NREM) sleep.

A chemically reactive spinning dope for significant improvements in wet spun carbon nanotube fibres.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes can be spun in a polyvinyl alcohol stream to produce nanocomposite fibres. We use a facile ester linking between both elements to create improved fibres which exhibit outstanding enhancements in the absence of post-processing stages, providing a promising alternative based on a chemical method.

Risk of multiple sclerosis following clinically isolated syndrome: a 4-year prospective study.

The aim of the study was to estimate the rate of conversion from clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) to multiple sclerosis (MS) and to investigate variables predicting conversion in a cohort of patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of MS. Patients with a first symptom suggestive of MS in the preceding 6 months and exclusion of other diseases were enrolled in an observational prospective study from December 2004 through June 2007. Conversion from CIS to MS according to both McDonald and Clinically Defined Multiple Sclerosis (CDMS) criteria was prospectively recorded until March 2010.