Control of multiferroic domains by external electric fields in TbMnO3

The control of multiferroic domains through external electric fields has been studied by dielectric measurements and by polarized neutron diffraction on single-crystalline TbMnO$_3$. Full hysteresis cycles were recorded by varying an external field of the order of several kV/mm and by recording the chiral magnetic scattering as well as the charge in a sample capacitor. Both methods yield comparable coercive fields that increase upon cooling.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figure

De Novo Mutations in Synaptic Transmission Genes Including DNM1 Cause Epileptic Encephalopathies

Correction to The American Journal of Human Genetics, Volume 95, Issue 4, 2 October 2014, Pages 360-370. Volume 100, Issue 1, 5 January 2017, Page 179.Peer reviewe

The Sub-Regional Functional Organization of Neocortical Irritative Epileptic Networks in Pediatric Epilepsy

Between seizures, irritative network generates frequent brief synchronous activity, which manifests on the EEG as interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs). Recent insights into the mechanism of IEDs at the microscopic level have demonstrated a high variance in the recruitment of neuronal populations generating IEDs and a high variability in the trajectories through which IEDs propagate across the brain. These phenomena represent one of the major constraints for precise characterization of network organization and for the utilization of IEDs during presurgical evaluations. We have developed a new approach to dissect human neocortical irritative networks and quantify their properties. We have demonstrated that irritative network has modular nature and it is composed of multiple independent sub-regions, each with specific IED propagation trajectories and differing in the extent of IED activity generated. The global activity of the irritative network is determined by long-term and circadian fluctuations in sub-region spatiotemporal properties. Also, the most active sub-region co-localizes with the seizure onset zone in 12/14 cases. This study demonstrates that principles of recruitment variability and propagation are conserved at the macroscopic level and that they determine irritative network properties in humans. Functional stratification of the irritative network increases the diagnostic yield of intracranial investigations with the potential to improve the outcomes of surgical treatment of neocortical epilepsy

Primary Investigation of the Preparation of Nanoparticles by Precipitation

The absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion of a drug involve its transport across cell membranes. This process is essential and influenced by the characteristics of the drug, especially its molecular size and shape, solubility at the site of its absorption, relative lipid solubility, etc. One of the progressive ways for increasing bioavaibility is a nanoparticle preparation technique. Cholesterol, cholestenolone and pregnenolone acetate as model active pharmaceutical ingredients and some of the commonly used excipients as nanoparticle stabilizers were used in the investigated precipitation method that was modified and simplified and can be used as an effective and an affordable technique for the preparation of nanoparticles. All 120 prepared samples were analyzed by means of dynamic light scattering (Nanophox). The range of the particle size of the determined 100 nanoparticle samples was from 1 nm to 773 nm, whereas 82 samples contained nanoparticles of less than 200 nm. Relationships between solvents and used excipients and their amount are discussed

Performance studies of new optics for the time-of-flight detector of the AFP project

We present the results of performance studies of the upgraded optical part of the time-of-flight subdetector prototype for the AFP (ATLAS Forward Proton) detector obtained during the test campaign in a synchrotron test-beam facility with 5 GeV electrons at the DESY laboratory (Hamburg, Germany) in June 2019. The detection of the particle arrival time is based on generation of Cherenkov light in an L-shaped fused silica bar. In the previous version of the ToF, all bars were made of two pieces (radiator and light guide) glued together with a dedicated glue (Epotek 305). This solution suffers from additional radiation damage of glue. We adopted a new technique of bar production without the need of glue. The new bars have a higher optical throughput by a factor of 1.6, reduced fragility, and better geometrical precision

Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis: the clinical course in light of the chemokine and cytokine levels in cerebrospinal fluid

Chemokine and cytokine levels in CSF and peripheral blood. The Wilcoxon signed ranked test was used for pairwise analyses of the CSF and sera samples to detect differences between the CNS compartment and the peripheral blood. The interesting differences in the general chemokine and cytokine levels between the CNS compartment and the peripheral blood are depicted. A) The CXCL10 concentration was markedly higher in CSF than in serum, whereas B) the CXCL13 and D) BAFF concentrations showed the opposite trend. Because patient No. 1 provided more than 1 sample per period, the average value for this patient was used for multiple-group analysis; a special sign marks this value. (TIF 79 kb

data_sheet_1.PDF

<p>Between seizures, irritative network generates frequent brief synchronous activity, which manifests on the EEG as interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs). Recent insights into the mechanism of IEDs at the microscopic level have demonstrated a high variance in the recruitment of neuronal populations generating IEDs and a high variability in the trajectories through which IEDs propagate across the brain. These phenomena represent one of the major constraints for precise characterization of network organization and for the utilization of IEDs during presurgical evaluations. We have developed a new approach to dissect human neocortical irritative networks and quantify their properties. We have demonstrated that irritative network has modular nature and it is composed of multiple independent sub-regions, each with specific IED propagation trajectories and differing in the extent of IED activity generated. The global activity of the irritative network is determined by long-term and circadian fluctuations in sub-region spatiotemporal properties. Also, the most active sub-region co-localizes with the seizure onset zone in 12/14 cases. This study demonstrates that principles of recruitment variability and propagation are conserved at the macroscopic level and that they determine irritative network properties in humans. Functional stratification of the irritative network increases the diagnostic yield of intracranial investigations with the potential to improve the outcomes of surgical treatment of neocortical epilepsy.</p

Cognitive performance in distinct groups of children undergoing epilepsy surgery—a single-centre experience

Background We aimed first to describe trends in cognitive performance over time in a large patient cohort (n = 203) from a single tertiary centre for paediatric epilepsy surgery over the period of 16 years divided in two (developing—pre-2011 vs. established—post-2011). Secondly, we tried to identify subgroups of epilepsy surgery candidates with distinctive epilepsy-related characteristics that associate with their pre- and post-surgical cognitive performance. Thirdly, we analysed variables affecting pre-surgical and post-surgical IQ/DQ and their change (post- vs. pre-surgical). Methods We analysed IQ/DQ data obtained using standardized neuropsychological tests before epilepsy surgery and one year post-surgically, along with details of patient’s epilepsy, epilepsy surgery and outcomes in terms of freedom from seizures. Using regression analysis, we described the trend in post-operative IQ/DQ. Cognitive outcomes and the associated epilepsy- and epilepsy surgery-related variables were compared between periods before and after 2011. Using multivariate analysis we analysed the effect of individual variables on pre- and post-operative IQ/DQ and its change. Results Epilepsy surgery tends to improve post-surgical IQ/DQ, most significantly in patients with lower pre-surgical IQ/DQ, and post-surgical IQ/DQ strongly correlates with pre-surgical IQ/DQ (Rho = 0.888, p < 0.001). We found no significant difference in pre-, post-surgical IQ/DQ and IQ/DQ change between the periods of pre-2011 and post-2011 (p = 0.7, p = 0.469, p = 0.796, respectively). Patients with temporal or extratemporal epilepsy differed in their pre-surgical IQ/DQ (p = 0.001) and in IQ/DQ change (p = 0.002) from those with hemispheric epilepsy, with no significant difference in post-surgical IQ/DQ (p = 0.888). Groups of patients with different underlying histopathology showed significantly different pre- and post-surgical IQ/DQ (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001 respectively) but not IQ/DQ change (p = 0.345).Variables associated with severe epilepsy showed effect on cognitive performance in multivariate model. Discussion Post-surgical IQ/DQ strongly correlates with pre-surgical IQ/DQ and greatest IQ/DQ gain occurs in patients with lower pre-surgical IQ/DQ scores. Cognitive performance was not affected by changes in paediatric epilepsy surgery practice. Pre- and post-operative cognitive performances, as well as patients’ potential for cognitive recovery, are highly dependent on the underlying aetiology and epileptic syndrome