TDP-43 aggregates in neurons and glia are the defining pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), raising the possibility of glial damage in the disease pathogenesis. However, the normal physiological functions of TDP-43 in glia are largely unknown. To address how TDP-43 may be required for oligodendroglial functions we selectively deleted TDP-43 in mature oligodendrocytes in mice. Although mice with TDP-43 deleted in oligodendrocytes are born in an expected Mendelian ratio, they develop progressive neurological phenotypes leading to early lethality accompanied by a progressive reduction in myelination. The progressive myelin reduction is likely due to a combination of the cell-autonomous RIPK1-mediated necroptosis of mature oligodendrocytes and the TDP-43–dependent reduction in the expression of myelin genes. Strikingly, enhanced proliferation of NG2-positive oligodendrocyte precursor cells within the white matter, but not the gray matter, was able to replenish the loss of mature oligodendrocytes, indicating an intrinsic regeneration difference between the gray and white matter oligodendrocytes. By contrast, there was no loss of spinal cord motor neurons and no sign of denervation at the neuromuscular synapses. Taken together, our data demonstrate that TDP-43 is indispensable for oligodendrocyte survival and myelination, and loss of TDP-43 in oligodendrocytes exerts no apparent toxicity on motor neurons.

We have developed a noninvasive, unobtrusive magnetic wireless tongue-computer interface, called “Tongue Drive,” to provide people with severe disabilities with flexible and effective computer access and environment control. A small permanent magnet secured on the tongue by implantation, piercing, or tissue adhesives, is utilized as a tracer to track the tongue movements. The magnetic field variations inside and around the mouth due to the tongue movements are detected by a pair of three-axial linear magneto-inductive sensor modules mounted bilaterally on a headset near the user’s cheeks. After being wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer, the sensor output signals are processed by a differential field cancellation algorithm to eliminate the external magnetic field interference, and translated into user control commands, which could then be used to access a desktop computer, maneuver a powered wheelchair, or control other devices in the user’s environment. The system has been successfully tested on six able-bodied subjects for computer access by defining six individual commands to resemble mouse functions. Results show that the Tongue Drive system response time for 87% correctly completed commands is 0.8 s, which yields to an information transfer rate of ~130 b/min.

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A new method for the AgSCF3-mediated radical cascade difunctionalizing trifluoromethythiolation of alkynes with dearomatization is developed. This protocol provides a novel route to SCF3-substituted spirocyclic compounds via the formation of one C-SCF3 bond, one C-C bond, and one C-O double bond in a single step.

Hybrid nanostructures based on carbon nanotubes and mixed transition-metal oxides hold a great promise as highperformance electrode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. In this work, we report the synthesis of chemically integrated MWCNT/ZnMn 2 O 4 (MZMO) hybrids via a polyol method and subsequent thermal annealing treatment. Benefiting from the larger specific surface area, strongly coupled interaction and synergic effect between ZnMn 2 O 4 nanocrystals and MWCNT, the MZMO hybrids exhibit improved electrochemical performance, with a high reversible specific capacity, and excellent rate capability, as well as a superior cycle stability. After 100 cycles, the MZMO2 demonstrates a reversible capacity of 847 mA h g −1 at a current density of 400 mA g −1 . Even at 1600 mA g −1 up to 1000 cycles, the reversible capacity still preserves 527 mAh g −1 , which is much higher than the theoretical capacity of graphite.

Novel chitosan (CS)/oxidized starch (OST)/ graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites (COST/GO-n) films are prepared in a casting and solvent evaporation method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractions, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, tensile testing, and moisture uptake are used to study the structure and properties of these nanocomposites. To indicate the effect of carboxyl groups of OST, some results of the properties of CS/starch/GO nanocomposite (CST/GO-n) were selected for control experimentation. Compared with the control CST/GO-n series, COST/GO-n films, which have the same component ration showed higher tensile strength (r b ) and lower elongation at break (e b ). Additionally, in the COST/GO-n series, the r b increased with an increase of GO loading. However, higher proportion of GO could result in aggregations of GO nanosheets and deterioration of the film properties. Compared with the COST/GO-0, the values of r b and water resistance of the COST/GO-4 containing 2.0 wt % of GO were improved by 57.7 and 20.1%, respectively.

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