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• Aphasia outcome is better in subcortical stroke as compared to cortical. • Intracerebral Hemorrhage has better aphasia outcome than Acute Ischemic Stroke. • FA of Arcuate Fasciculus has positive correlation with aphasia score while MD has negative correlation with the same. • Improvements in modified Rankin Scale and Aphasia scores are positively correlated. Aphasia is a language disorder acquired secondary to brain damage. This study aims to evaluate clinical and radiological profile of patients with post stroke aphasia and factors affecting its recovery. We conducted a prospective study of patients with first left Middle or Anterior Cerebral Artery infarct or Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) with aphasia admitted within 14 days of stroke onset. Aphasia Quotient (AQ) was assessed at 2 weeks (AQ1) and 3 months (AQ2) using Western Aphasia Battery-Hindi version. Magnetic Resonance Imaging of brain with Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) of bilateral Arcuate Fasciculus (AF) and Corticospinal Tract was done at admission, and stroke volume, Laterality Indices of Fractional Anisotropy (LI-FA), Mean Diffusivity (LI-MD), Radial Diffusivity (LI-RD), Axial Diffusivity (LI-AD) and Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (LI-ADC) were obtained. 36 patients [8 ICH and 28 Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS)] were included. AQ1 and AQ2 were significantly higher in subcortical stroke than cortical. AQ2 and increase in AQ scores (including its subscores) were significantly higher in ICH than AIS. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission and volume of stroke had significant negative correlation with AQ1 and AQ2. Laterality Index of Fractional Anisotropy of Arcuate Fasciculus [LI-FA (AF)] had significant positive correlation with AQ2 and naming score at 3 months. Laterality Index of Mean Diffusivity of Arcuate Fasciculus [LI-MD (AF)] had significant negative correlation with AQ1, AQ2 and all subcomponents of AQ2. Significant positive correlation was seen between improvements in Modified Rankin Scale score and AQ. The study shows that DTI can be used to predict severity of aphasia at follow up and recovery in language and motor functions occur in parallel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Three new sterically demanding unsymmetrical zinc phthalocyanines have been designed and synthesized as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells. All three unsymmetrical phthalocyanines have been completely characterized by elemental analyses, mass spectrometry, FT-IR, 1H NMR, UV–Visible, and fluorescence (steady-state and life-time) spectroscopies as well as electrochemical methods. Photophysical properties (absorption, emission and redox properties) indicate that the LUMO of unsymmetrical phthalocyanines lies above the TiO2 conduction band and HOMO is below the redox electrolyte. The experimental results are supported by DFT/TD-DFT studies. Electrochemical and in-situ spectroelectrochemical studies suggest that the redox reactions belong to the macrocyclic ring-based electron transfer processes. All three unsymmetrical phthalocyanines were tested in DSSC using I−/I3 − redox electrolyte system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) are autoimmune inflammatory central nervous system diseases. NMOSD patients typically have recurrent attacks of severe optic neuritis or/and myelitis with majority of them having autoantibodies against the aquaporin-4 (AQP4). In the recent past, a robust association of autoantibodies to full-length human myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) with optic neuritis, myelitis and brainstem encephalitis, as well as with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)-like presentations had been demonstrated. MOG-IgG antibody associated disease (MOGAD) is now considered as a disease entity in its own right, distinct from classic MS and from AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD. Here, we compared the clinical, laboratory, radiological features and treatment outcomes of patients with Aquaporin-4-IgG seropositive NMOSD and MOGAD. Relatively younger age at onset, lesser number of relapses, better response to treatment and favorable clinical outcomes were found in MOGAD group in comparison to AQP4-IgG-positive NMOSD group. [Display omitted] • NMOSD are autoimmune inflammatory central nervous system diseases with majority of them having AQP4 antibodies. • MOG-IgG antibody associated disease (MOGAD) is now considered as a separate disease, distinct from classic MS and NMOSD. • This study compares the clinico-radiological features, clinical course & treatment outcomes between NMOSD & MOGAD patients. • Younger age at onset, lesser relapses, better response to treatment & favorable outcomes were found in MOGAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free-standing, flexible ionic liquid based gel polymer electrolyte (ILGPE) membranes containing polymer PVdF-HFP, imidazolium-based ionic liquid EMIMFSI with lithium salt LiTFSI are synthesized and characterized by various techniques. Thermal, electrochemical and electrical properties of prepared ILGPE membranes are investigated by thermogravimetric analysis, linear sweep voltammetry, cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy techniques. Prepared membranes are found to be thermally stable upto 200 °C. The ionic conductivity is found to be ∼3.8 × 10 −4  S cm −1 at 25 °C and ∼6.0 × 10 −4  S cm −1 at 50 °C for 40 wt% IL containing GPE. Lithium transference number and lithium ion conductivity of 40 wt% IL containing GPE shows the maximum value ∼0.4 and ∼1.5 × 10 −4  S cm −1 respectively with electrochemical window ∼4.7 V versus Li/Li + at 25 °C. The 40 wt% IL containing GPE is used for battery application because of its better compatibility with lithium electrode compared to other prepared ILGPEs. The discharge capacity attains a maximum value ∼141.2 mAh g −1 and ∼160.3 mAh g −1 at 25 °C and 50 °C respectively at 0.1C. About ∼99% Coulombic efficiency is obtained upto 100 th cycles at 50 °C. These results indicate that the Li/40 wt% IL containing GPE/LiFePO 4 cell shows high Coulombic efficiency, good charge-discharge capacity and cyclic stability upto 100 th cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]