26 research outputs found
Stacking the Nanochemistry Deck: Structural and Compositional Diversity in One-Dimensional Photonic Crystals
No full textOne-dimensional photonic structures, known as Bragg stacks reflectors or Bragg mirrors, represent a well-developed subject in the field of optical science. However, because of a lack of dynamic tunablity and their dependence on complex top-down techniques for their fabrication, they have received little attention from the materials science community present recent and ongoing developments on the way to fun dimensional photonic structures obtained from simple botton-up techniques. We focus on the versatility of this new approach, which allows the incorporation of a wide range of materials into photonic structures
Antagonizing α7 nicotinic receptors with methyllycaconitine (MLA) potentiates receptor activity and memory acquisition
No full textalpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (alpha 7nAChRs) have been targeted to improve cognition in different neurological and psychiatric disorders. Nevertheless, no alpha 7nAChR activating ligand has been clinically approved. Here, we investigated the effects of antagonizing alpha 7nAChRs using the selective antagonist methyllycaconitine (MLA) on receptor activity in vitro and cognitive functioning in vivo. Picomolar concentrations of MLA significantly potentiated receptor responses in electrophysiological experiments mimicking the in vivo situation. Furthermore, microdialysis studies showed that MLA administration substantially increased hippocampal glutamate efflux which is related to memory processes. Accordingly, pre-tetanus administration of low MLA concentrations produced longer lasting potentiation (long-term potentiation, LTP) in studies examining hippocampal plasticity. Moreover, low doses of MLA improved acquisition, but not consolidation memory processes in rats. While the focus to enhance cognition by modulating alpha 7nAChRs lies on agonists and positive modulators, antagonists at low doses should provide a novel approach to improve cognition in neurological and psychiatric disorders.</p
Nanofabrication by self-assembly
Get PDFThe self-assembly paradigm in chemistry, physics and biology has matured scientifically over the past two-decades to a point of sophistication that one can begin to exploit its numerous attributes in nanofabrication. In what follows we will take a brief look at current thinking about self-ssembly and with some recent examples taken from our own work examine how nanofabrication has benefited from self-assembly
Enhancing photovoltaics with broadband high-transparency glass using porosity-tuned multilayer silica nanoparticle anti-reflective coatings
No full textThe performance of optoelectronic devices using glass envelopes can be improved substantially by the application of an effective anti-reflective coating. In this paper, we investigate the preparation of low index films through modulation of the porosity of silica nanoparticle films. Porosity variation is accomplished by introducing polystyrene porogen within colloidal silica nanoparticle films, which are deposited in a controlled manner, followed by pyrolysis of the porogen. Multilayer stacks of nanoparticle films with varying degrees of porosity were fabricated by sequentially spin coating and sintering various silica-polystyrene mixtures. The average transmittance (400-1000 nm) of Corning glass was improved from 91.0% to 95.2% using a three layer stack on one glass-air interface, and to 99.0% using three layer stacks on both interfaces-the highest reported values for facile synthesized multilayer structures. Utilization of the single and dual interface high transparency glass placed on a crystalline silicon solar cell leads to increased photocurrent densities by 4.0% and 6.0%, respectively, relative to uncoated glass. This journal is</p
Reading Skills Deficits in People with Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Get PDFAll data supporting the meta-analysis reported in this article are available from Brunel University London research repository [Brunel figshare] at https://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.13123334© The Author(s), 2021. Background: Good reading skills are important for appropriate functioning in everyday life, scholastic performance, and the chances of acquiring a higher socio-economic status. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify possible deficits in specific reading skills in people with a variety of mental illnesses, including personality disorders. Methods: We performed a systematic search of databases (Academic Search Complete, CINAHL Plus, PsycInfo, PsycARTICLES, SocINDEX, MEDLINE, and PubMed) from inception until February 2020 and conducted random-effects meta-analyses. Results: The search yielded 34 studies with standardised assessments of reading skills in people with one or more mental illnesses. Of these, 19 studies provided data for the meta-analysis. Most studies (n=27; meta-analysis, n=17) were in people with schizophrenia and revealed large deficits in phonological processing (Hedge’s g=-0.88, p<0.00001), comprehension (Hedge’s g=-0.96, p<0.00001) and reading rate (Hedge’s g=-1.22, p=0.002), relative to healthy controls; the single-word reading was less affected (Hedge’s g=-0.70, p<0.00001). A few studies in affective disorders and non-forensic personality disorders suggested weaker deficits (for all, Hedge’s g<-0.60). In forensic populations with personality disorders, there was evidence of marked phonological processing (Hedge’s g=-0.85, p<0.0001) and comprehension deficits (Hedge’s g=-0.95, p=0.0003). Conclusions: People with schizophrenia, and possibly forensic populations with personality disorders, demonstrate a range of reading skills deficits. Future studies are needed to establish how these deficits directly compare to those seen in developmental or acquired dyslexia and to explore the potential of dyslexia interventions to improve reading skills in these populations.Brunel University London College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences Doctoral Scholarshipshttps://doi.org/10.17633/rd.brunel.1312333
