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ZnO nanofibers were synthesized via a hydrothermal method. A single nanofiber was delicately transferred and deposited onto a TiNx thin film on a silicon substrate to facilitate the investigation of its piezotronic properties. An aluminum-coated atomic force microscope tip was employed in contact mode as a top nanoscale electrode to locally induce bending deformation in the individual ZnO nanofiber. The current--voltage (I-V) characteristics recorded between the top atomic force microscope tip electrode and the bottom TiNx surface exhibited rectifying behavior, indicative of the formation of a Schottky junction upon the application of a minimum bending force of 25 nN by the atomic force microscope tip. This force threshold was necessary to ensure adequate contact between the atomic force microscope probe and the ZnO nanofiber. However, upon exceeding the 25 nN bending force perpendicular to the c-axis, the forward current underwent a substantial reduction, eventually leading to complete suppression of the Schottky junction under further increments in the bending force. Finite element method simulations elucidated the presence of piezoelectric activity within the ZnO nanofiber, which was responsible for the observed attenuation in the forward current. The Cheung--Cheung method was employed to quantify the increase in barrier height at the Schottky junction as a function of the applied bending force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moderate etching current densities of 1, 3, and 5 mA/cm2 were used for anodic etching in HF electrolytic solution to realize Si Nanocrystals (Si-NCs). Thanks to high resolution atomic force microscope (AFM), Si-NCs sizes of about 3-12 nm were observed. Photoluminescence (PL) measurements combined to the stochastic model revealed the presence of Si nanowires (Si-NWs), and Nano dots (Si-NDs). Pronouncing luminescence from Si-NWs was recorded near the infrared. Meanwhile Si-NDs exhibited a luminescence above 2 eV. Furthermore, luminescence from localized states band (LS) was identified thanks to spectra deconvolution and the stochastic model. The luminescence from LS band was recorded for all Si-NCs samples. The examination of the surface by carful grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD), and grazing incidence X-ray reflectivity (GIXR) suggested the existence of partially oxidized Si Si-NCs that stabilize the luminescence at the value of 2 eV. The presence of such oxide was more benefic for the stabilization of Si-NWs, and Si-NDs luminescence. The slight bit oxidation of Si-NCs was attributed to the (311) planes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the quality of adherence to mental health care follow-up and the mental health caregiver-patient relationship after diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES)., Methods: We conducted an ancillary study of a multicenter prospective study. Patients (n = 108) received a standardized diagnostic explanation of PNES following video-EEG. They were referred to their community mental health centers or to a private psychiatrist/psychologist, who received written information about PNES and the study. Data collected about adherence to care (follow-up started or not, consensual and those who withdrew non-consensually, ongoing follow-up) were cross-tabulated from patients and care structures by telephone at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after diagnosis. At M24, we collected reasons for stopping follow-up by phone using a predefined 9-item questionnaire. We also assessed the perception of the caregiver-patient relationship among patients who started follow-up and their mental health caregivers with a simple questionnaire based on five dimensions: feeling comfortable, continuity of care, content of therapy sessions, effectiveness of therapy sessions, and the patient's overall assessment of the follow-up., Results: From M6 to M24, ongoing follow-up decreased from 64.8 to 25.8%, while the "not following initial recommandations" group of patients (those who never started follow-up and those who withdrew non-consensually) increased from 35.2 to 64.9%. We found two main reasons for stopping follow-up: lack of interest and feeling better. Adherent patients had an overall more positive view of their therapy than caregivers., Conclusion: Only a third of PNES patients adhered to a mental health care program and felt comfortable in the caregiver-patient relationship. Solutions need to be found to help patients understand the interest of follow-up therapy and help mental health caregivers improve their feeling of competence., (Copyright © 2020 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)