Electric field-assisted laser ablation fabrication and assembly of zinc oxide/carbon nanocomposites into hierarchical structures for supercapacitor electrodes.

One of the major challenges in the field of electrochemical energy storage device performance improvement is the development of suitable synthetic materials for electrodes that can provide high power and high energy density features combined with their long-term stability. Here, we have developed a novel two-step approach based on DC glow discharge plasma pre-treatment of a carbon cloth substrate followed by electric field-assisted laser ablation for the synthesis of ZnO/C nanocomposites in a liquid and their simultaneous assembly into hierarchically organized nanostructures onto the pre-processed carbon cloth to produce a supercapacitor electrode. To form such nanostructures, a processed carbon cloth was included in the electrical circuit as a cathode during laser ablation of zinc in water, while a zinc target served as an anode.

Photoluminescent neodymium-doped ZnO nanocrystals prepared by laser ablation in solution for NIR-II fluorescence bioimaging.

The work reports on the use of laser ablation and post-ablation irradiation techniques for the preparation Nd doped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). The focus has been made on photoluminescence of Nd-doped ZnO NPs in the second near infrared (NIR-II) spectral window (1000-1700 nm) of the biological transparency. Morphology, phase composition and optical properties of the synthesized NPs were studied by absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy, X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy.

[Thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and right portions of the heart in a relapsing retroperitoneal malignant tumour].

Presented herein is a clinical case report regarding successful treatment of a female patient with a relapsing malignant retroperitoneal tumour complicated by disseminated thrombosis of the inferior vena cava, right atrium and right ventricle of the heart. A relapse of the malignant uterine tumour had developed 3 years after the primary operation and was represented by a large-size mass ingrowing into the infrarenal segment of the inferior vena cava, aorta, as well as jejunum. Additional examination revealed the presence of a tumorous thrombus extending from the primary tumorous node in the lumen of the inferior vena cava to the right atrium and ventricle.

Hydrogel-assisted neuroregeneration approaches towards brain injury therapy: A state-of-the-art review.

Recent years have witnessed the development of an enormous variety of hydrogel-based systems for neuroregeneration. Formed from hydrophilic polymers and comprised of up to 90% of water, these three-dimensional networks are promising tools for brain tissue regeneration. They can assist structural and functional restoration of damaged tissues by providing mechanical support and navigating cell fate.