Grip training improves handgrip strength, cognition, and brain white matter in minor acute ischemic stroke patients.

Objective: A large proportion of stroke patients experience cognitive impairment. Previous studies found that handgrip training can improve cognitive dysfunction after stroke through an unknown mechanism. In this study, we aimed to examine the influence of handgrip training on the cognition of patients with acute mild ischemic stroke and explore the mechanism using an advanced post-processing method for magnetic resonance imaging.

Pioglitazone is an effective treatment for patients with post-stroke depression combined with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The antidepressive effects of the antidiabetic medicine, pioglitazone, were recently reported in several studies. These effects may ameliorate the depressive symptoms of patients with post-stroke depression (PSD). The present study aimed to evaluate the antidepressive effect of pioglitazone in patients with PSD combined with type 2 diabetes.

Rapid preparation of crystalline colloidal arrays using a strong electric field dialysis.

We present a simple method for rapid preparation of crystalline colloidal arrays (CCAs) by a strong electric field dialysis (SEFD). This method is based on rapid removing of ionic impurities in colloidal suspensions by applying a strong electric field. In a SEFD process, the negatively charged ions in colloidal suspensions are rapidly driven to the anode, the positively charged ones are rapidly driven to the cathode, and the colloidal particles are withheld in the dialysis tube.

Electrical characterization of silicon tips using conducting atomic force microscopy.

The electrical properties of n-doped Si tips have been characterized in conducting atomic force microscopy under various conditions. Si tips with SiO2 layer on them present complex electric properties: which include a larger positive threshold bias, which is different from that of its doped semiconductor material. Silicon tips after removing their SiO2 layer had smaller positive threshold bias; such bias varied with the loading force: smaller loading forces corresponding to larger positive threshold biases, and it remained constant at lower levels for larger loading forces.