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Background Recent findings suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation of the primary motor cortex may ameliorate freezing of gait. However, the effects of multitarget simultaneous stimulation of motor and cognitive networks are mostly unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of multitarget transcranial direct current stimulation of the primary motor cortex and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on freezing of gait and related outcomes. Methods Twenty patients with Parkinson's disease and freezing of gait received 20 minutes of transcranial direct current stimulation on 3 separate visits. Transcranial direct current stimulation targeted the primary motor cortex and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex simultaneously, primary motor cortex only, or sham stimulation (order randomized and double-blinded assessments). Participants completed a freezing of gait-provoking test, the Timed Up and Go, and the Stroop test before and after each transcranial direct current stimulation session. Results Performance on the freezing of gait-provoking test (P = 0.010), Timed Up and Go (P = 0.006), and the Stroop test (P = 0.016) improved after simultaneous stimulation of the primary motor cortex and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, but not after primary motor cortex only or sham stimulation. Conclusions Transcranial direct current stimulation designed to simultaneously target motor and cognitive regions apparently induces immediate aftereffects in the brain that translate into reduced freezing of gait and improvements in executive function and mobility. © 2018 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Composite energetic salts (CES) of 3,4-dinitraminofurazan based on hydroxylammonium and ammonium in the ratio of 3:1 (salt 7) and 1:1 (salt 8) were successfully prepared for the first time and their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Salt 7 showed better thermal stability, higher density and lower impact sensitivity while possessing the detonation performance equally to that of the corresponding hydroxylammonium salt.

This proof-of-concept, double-blind study was designed to determine the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on the ‘cost’ of performing a secondary cognitive task on gait and postural control in healthy young adults. Twenty adults aged 22 2 years completed two separate double-blind visits in which gait and postural control were assessed immediately before and after a 20 min session of either real or sham tDCS (1.5 mA) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Gait speed and stride duration variability, along with standing postural sway speed and area, were recorded under normal conditions and while simultaneously performing a serial-subtraction cognitive task. The dual task cost was calculated as the percent change in each outcome from normal to dual task conditions. tDCS was well tolerated by all subjects. Stimulation did not alter gait or postural control under normal conditions. As compared with sham stimulation, real tDCS led to increased gait speed (P = 0.006), as well as decreased standing postural sway speed (P = 0.01) and area (P = 0.01), when performing the serial-subtraction task. Real tDCS also diminished (P < 0.01) the dual task cost on each of these outcomes. No effects of tDCS were observed for stride duration variability. A single session of tDCS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex improved the ability to adapt gait and postural control to a concurrent cognitive task and reduced the cost normally associated with such dual tasking. These results highlight the involvement of cortical brain networks in gait and postural control, and implicate the modulation of prefrontal cortical excitability as a potential therapeutic intervention.

An energetic cocrystal containing benzotrifuroxan (BTF) and 1,3-dinitrobenzene (DNB) in 1:1 molar ratio was prepared by slow evaporation of solvent. The structure of the cocrystal was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction (XRD). It belongs to the monoclinic crystal system with space group P2(1)/c. The performance of the cocrystal was evaluated on the basis of thermolysis, impact sensitivity, and detonation properties. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that the cocrystal has a melting point of 130 degrees C, which is an increase of 38 degrees C compared to pure DNB; the decomposition temperature is similar to that of pure BTF. The cocrystal exhibits an impact height with 50% ignition probability of 88cm, suggesting a substantial reduction in impact sensitivity compared to pure BTF. Furthermore, the cocrystal is predicted to have a detonation velocity of about 7373ms(-1) and a detonation pressure of about 24GPa, respectively, indicating excellent detonation performance.

High-efficiency and color stable 3.5-inch white backlight panel with maximum efficiency of 9.5 cd A−1 and CIE coordinates of (0.30, 0.31) is obtained utilizing a solution-processible fluorescent π-conjugated dendrimer, G0, as host, and MEH-PPV and P-PPV as guests.