We present a facile route which combines the functionalization of a highly oriented pyrolytic graphite surface with an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process to allow for conformal Al2O3 layers. While the trimethylaluminum (TMA)∕H2O process caused selective deposition only along step edges, the TMA∕O3 process began to provide nucleation sites on the basal planes of the surface. O3 pretreatment, immediately followed by the ALD process with TMA∕O3 chemistry, formed Al2O3 layers without any preferential deposition at the step edges. This is attributed to functionalization of graphene by ozone treatment, imparting a hydrophilic character which is desirable for ALD deposition.

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There is some controversy regarding the effects of HNO3 on films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). In this study we examined the change in sheet resistance of an HNO3-modified SWCNT film after different drying times at 85 degrees C using various analytical techniques. The shift and suppression in the Raman spectra, bleaching of the transition peaks related to van Hove singularities and a shift in the original peak in the C 1s XPS spectra provided evidence for p-type doping. A decrease in sheet resistance was also observed in the SWCNTs films due to the removal of residual N-methylpyrrolidone solvent on the surface and bundle of SWCNTs. These results suggest that p-type doping has a larger effect on the sheet resistance than the removal of residual N-methylpyrrolidone by an HNO3 treatment.

To explore the effects of white matter in the absence of auditory input in the early deaf, we conducted a tract-based statistical analysis of the diffusion tensor anisotropy and the voxel-based morphometry in the white matter of 13 early deaf and 29 hearing individuals. Deaf individuals showed significant decreases in diffusion anisotropy and in regional volume reductions within the temporal white matter. Decreased anisotropy was also found at the internal capsule, superior longitudinal fasciculus, and the inferior frontal white matter. In contrast, the forceps major of the corpus callosum, where interhemispheric connections between visual cortices exist, showed increased anisotropy. We interpreted these white matter alterations in terms of both disuse-driven atrophy and compensatory plasticity in the early deaf.

Background Radical lymph node dissection (LND) along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is surgically demanding and can be associated with substantial postoperative morbidity. The question of whether robot-assisted esophagectomy (RE) might be superior to video-assisted thoracoscopic esophagectomy (VATE) for performing LND along the RLN in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains open. Methods/design We will conduct a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial (Robotic-assisted Esophagectomy vs Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Esophagectomy (REVATE)) enrolling patients with ESCC scheduled to undergo LND along the RLN. Patients will be randomly assigned to either RE or VATE. The primary outcome measure will be the rate of unsuccessful LND along the left RLN, which will be defined as: failure to remove lymph nodes along the left RLN (i.e., no identifiable nodes on pathology reports); or occurrence of permanent (duration > 6 months) left RLN palsy following LND. Secondary outcomes will include the number of successfully removed RLN nodes, postoperative recovery, length of hospital stay, 30-day and 90-day mortality, quality of life, and oncological outcomes. Discussion The REVATE study provides an opportunity to explore whether RE could facilitate LND along the left RLN—a complex surgical procedure that, as of now and with the use of VATE, remains difficult to perform and associated with a significant burden of morbidity. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03713749 . Registered on 22 October 2018. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13063-019-3441-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a heterogeneous inherited disorder that manifests with lower extremity weakness and spasticity. HSP can be inherited by autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked inheritance patterns. Recent studies have shown that, although rare, mutations in a single gene can lead to multiple patterns of inheritance of HSP. We enrolled the HSP family showing autosomal dominant inheritance and performed genetic study to find the cause of phenotype in this family. We recruited five members of a Korean family as study participants. Four of the five family members had pure HSP. Part of the family members underwent whole-exome sequencing (WES) to identify the causative mutation. As the result of WES and Sanger sequencing analysis, a novel missense mutation (c.452 C > T, p.Ala151Val) of ERLIN2 gene was identified as the cause of the autosomal dominant HSP in the family. Our study suggests that the ERLIN2 gene leads to both autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant patterns of inheritance in HSP. Moreover, autosomal dominant HSP caused by ERLIN2 appears to cause pure HSp in contrast to autosomal recessive ERLIN2 related complicated HSP (SPG18). Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a heterogeneous disease that manifests clinically as lower extremity weakness and spasticity. It is divided into two types, complicated and pure, and the complicated type shows additional neurological symptoms, such as ataxia, seizure, cognitive decline, extrapyramidal symptoms, and peripheral neuropathy 1. Currently, more than 80 causal genes or loci have been identified and 75-80% of these are autosomal dominant, 25-30% are autosomal recessive, and 1-2% are X-linked 2. A few studies have shown that mutations in Endoplasmic Reticulum Lipid Raft-Associated 2 (ERLIN2) gene cause autosomal recessive HSP and one recent study suggested that ERLIN2 causes autosomal dominant HSP in two unrelated Caucasian families 2,3. Here, we describe an Asian family with pure autosomal dominant HSP caused by a novel ERLIN2 mutation that segregated among the family members. Results Clinical presentation. The proband was a 53-year-old male who presented with progressive gait disturbance. The patient noticed running difficulties as a teenager, began to use a single cane in his 30's, and was wheelchair-bound in his 50's. He had an autosomal dominant family history (Fig. 1A), and his mother, younger sister, and brother also experienced gait disturbance and difficulty walking. The initial neurological examination of the proband showed grade 3-4 lower limb weakness according to the Medical Research Council Scale with

The bonding nature of Na0.44MnO2 particle surfaces is tailored by introducing Al2O3 nanopowder and/or multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs).