Template electrosynthesis of La(OH)3 and Nd(OH)3 nanowires using porous anodic alumina membranes

High quality arrays of Ln(OH)3 (Ln = La, Nd) nanowires have been successfully fabricated for the first time by an electrochemical process using anodic alumina membrane templates. A physico-chemical characterisation of electrodeposited hydroxides has been carried out by different techniques (XRD, SEM and EDX). The results show that the synthesized nanostructures are crystalline, dense, continuous, well aligned, and with high aspect ratio, suggesting further development of possible applications in the lanthanide family species

Room temperature electrodeposition of photoactive Cd(OH)2 nanowires

Cd(OH)2 nanowires (NWs) were successfully prepared by room temperature electrogeneration of base using Cd(NO3)2 aqueous electrolyte and Anodic Alumina Membrane (AAM) as template. Cd(OH)2 films have been also deposited on tin-doped indium oxide (ITO) for comparison. SEM analysis shows high quality deposits made of closely packed nanowires (NWs) into AAM and uniform flake-like surface on ITO. XRD analysis reveals that Cd(OH)2 films on ITO are polycrystalline, while the nanowires grow along the preferential directions [100] and [110]. Photoelectrochemical measurements show that Cd(OH)2 NWs are photoactive materials with indirect and direct band gap of 2.15 and 2.75 eV, respectively. Keywords: Electrogeneration of base, Cd(OH)2, Nanowires, Band ga

Self-Healing Nanocomposites—Advancements and Aerospace Applications

Self-healing polymers and nanocomposites form an important class of responsive materials. These materials have the capability to reversibly heal their damage. For aerospace applications, thermosets and thermoplastic polymers have been reinforced with nanocarbon nanoparticles for self-healing of structural damage. This review comprehends the use of self-healing nanocomposites in the aerospace sector. The self-healing behavior of the nanocomposites depends on factors such as microphase separation, matrix–nanofiller interactions and inter-diffusion of polymer–nanofiller. Moreover, self-healing can be achieved through healing agents such as nanocapsules and nanocarbon nanoparticles. The mechanism of self-healing has been found to operate via physical or chemical interactions. Self-healing nanocomposites have been used to design structural components, panels, laminates, membranes, coatings, etc., to recover the damage to space materials. Future research must emphasize the design of new high-performance self-healing polymeric nanocomposites for aerospace structures

Cutting-Edge Green Polymer/Nanocarbon Nanocomposite for Supercapacitor—State-of-the-Art

Supercapacitors have attained a special stance among energy storage devices such as capacitors, batteries, fuel cell, and so forth. In this state-of-the-art overview on green synthesis approaches and green materials for supercapacitors, the cutting-edge green polymer/nanocarbon nanocomposite systems were explored by focusing on the design and related essential features. In this regard, various polymers were reconnoitered including conjugated polymers, thermosetting matrices, and green-cellulose-based matrices. Nanocarbon nanomaterials have also expanded research thoughtfulness for green-technology-based energy storage devices. Consequently, green polymer/nanocarbon nanocomposites have publicized fine electron conduction pathways to promote the charge storage, specific capacitance, energy density, and other essential features of supercapacitors. Future research directions must focus on the design of novel high performance green nanocomposites for energy storage applications

Thalamic nuclei in frontotemporal dementia: Mediodorsal nucleus involvement is universal but pulvinar atrophy is unique to C9orf72

Thalamic atrophy is a common feature across all forms of FTD but little is known about specific nuclei involvement. We aimed to investigate in vivo atrophy of the thalamic nuclei across the FTD spectrum. A cohort of 402 FTD patients (age: mean(SD) 64.3(8.2) years; disease duration: 4.8(2.8) years) was compared with 104 age‐matched controls (age: 62.5(10.4) years), using an automated segmentation of T1‐weighted MRIs to extract volumes of 14 thalamic nuclei. Stratification was performed by clinical diagnosis (180 behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD), 85 semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA), 114 nonfluent variant PPA (nfvPPA), 15 PPA not otherwise specified (PPA‐NOS), and 8 with associated motor neurone disease (FTD‐MND), genetic diagnosis (27 MAPT, 28 C9orf72, 18 GRN), and pathological confirmation (37 tauopathy, 38 TDP‐43opathy, 4 FUSopathy). The mediodorsal nucleus (MD) was the only nucleus affected in all FTD subgroups (16–33% smaller than controls). The laterodorsal nucleus was also particularly affected in genetic cases (28–38%), TDP‐43 type A (47%), tau‐CBD (44%), and FTD‐MND (53%). The pulvinar was affected only in the C9orf72 group (16%). Both the lateral and medial geniculate nuclei were also affected in the genetic cases (10–20%), particularly the LGN in C9orf72 expansion carriers. Use of individual thalamic nuclei volumes provided higher accuracy in discriminating between FTD groups than the whole thalamic volume. The MD is the only structure affected across all FTD groups. Differential involvement of the thalamic nuclei among FTD forms is seen, with a unique pattern of atrophy in the pulvinar in C9orf72 expansion carriers

In vivo staging of frontotemporal lobar degeneration TDP-43 type C pathology

Background: TDP-43 type C is one of the pathological forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and mainly associated clinically with the semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia (svPPA). We aimed to define in vivo the sequential pattern of neuroanatomical involvement in a cohort of patients with FTLD-TDP type C pathology. Methods: We extracted the volumes of a set of cortical and subcortical regions from MRI scans of 19 patients with post mortem confirmed TDP-43 type C pathology (all with left hemisphere-predominant atrophy at baseline). In the initial development phase, we used w-scores computed from 81 cognitively normal controls to define a set of sequential stages of neuroanatomical involvement within the FTLD-TDP type C cohort where a w-score of < − 1.65 was considered abnormal. In a subsequent validation phase, we used 31 follow-up scans from 14 of the 19 patients in the same cohort to confirm the staging model. Results: Four sequential stages were identified in the initial development phase. Stage 1 was defined by atrophy in the left amygdala, medial temporal cortex, temporal pole, lateral temporal cortex and right medial temporal cortex; Stage 2 by atrophy in the left supratemporal cortex; Stage 3 by atrophy in the right anterior insula; and Stage 4 by atrophy in the right accumbens. In the validation phase, calculation of w-scores in the longitudinal scans confirmed the staging system, with all patients either staying in the same stage or progressing to a later stage at follow-up. Conclusion: In vivo imaging is able to detect distinct stages of neuroanatomical involvement in FTLD-TDP type C pathology. Using an imaging-derived staging system allows a more refined stratification of patients with svPPA during life

Polymer/Fullerene Nanocomposite for Optoelectronics—Moving toward Green Technology

Optoelectronic devices have been developed using the polymer/fullerene nanocomposite, as focused in this review. The polymer/fullerene nanocomposite shows significant structural, electronics, optical, and useful physical properties in optoelectronics. Non-conducting and conducting polymeric nanocomposites have been applied in optoelectronics, such as light-emitting diodes, solar cells, and sensors. Inclusion of fullerene has further broadened the methodological application of the polymer/fullerene nanocomposite. The polymeric matrices and fullerene may have covalent or physical interactions for charge or electron transportation and superior optical features. Green systems have also been explored in optoelectronic devices; however, due to limited efforts, further design innovations are desirable in green optoelectronics. Nevertheless, the advantages and challenges of the green polymer/fullerene nanocomposite in optoelectronic devices yet need to be explored

Patterns of regional cerebellar atrophy in genetic frontotemporal dementia

BACKGROUND: Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder with a strong genetic component. The cerebellum has not traditionally been felt to be involved in FTD but recent research has suggested a potential role. METHODS: We investigated the volumetry of the cerebellum and its subregions in a cohort of 44 patients with genetic FTD (20 MAPT, 7 GRN, and 17 C9orf72 mutation carriers) compared with 18 cognitively normal controls. All groups were matched for age and gender. On volumetric T1-weighted magnetic resonance brain images we used an atlas propagation and label fusion strategy of the Diedrichsen cerebellar atlas to automatically extract subregions including the cerebellar lobules, the vermis and the deep nuclei. RESULTS: The global cerebellar volume was significantly smaller in C9orf72 carriers (mean (SD): 99989 (8939) mm(3)) compared with controls (108136 (7407) mm(3)). However, no significant differences were seen in the MAPT and GRN carriers compared with controls (104191 (6491) mm(3) and 107883 (6205) mm(3) respectively). Investigating the individual subregions, C9orf72 carriers had a significantly lower volume than controls in lobule VIIa-Crus I (15% smaller, p < 0.0005), whilst MAPT mutation carriers had a significantly lower vermal volume (10% smaller, p = 0.001) than controls. All cerebellar subregion volumes were preserved in GRN carriers compared with controls. CONCLUSION: There appears to be a differential pattern of cerebellar atrophy in the major genetic forms of FTD, being relatively spared in GRN, localized to the lobule VIIa-Crus I in the superior-posterior region of the cerebellum in C9orf72, the area connected via the thalamus to the prefrontal cortex and involved in cognitive function, and localized to the vermis in MAPT, the 'limbic cerebellum' involved in emotional processing