Water­Borne ZnO/Acrylic Nanocoating: Fabrication, Characterization, and Properties.

This work aims to explore how ZnO nanoparticles enhance the mechanical, photoaging, and self­cleaning properties of water­borne acrylic coating. Micro/nano­ZnO particles (at 2 wt.% of total solid resin) were dispersed into the acrylic polymer matrices using ultrasonication to understand the effect of the size of the coating properties. The effect of ZnO particles on the properties of composite coatings (25 µm of thick) have been evaluated through various tests, such as abrasion measurement, ultraviolet/condensation (UV/CON) weathering aging, and methylene blue self­cleaning. Experimental data indicated that the incorporation of ZnO particles enhanced both abrasion resistance and methylene blue removal efficiency of the water­borne acrylic coatings, with nano­ZnO particles being the best. However, the weathering degradation of nanocomposite coatings was more severe as compared to the coating with micro­ZnO (at the same ZnO content).

Plasma Biomarkers: Potent Screeners of Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurological disorder, is as a complex chronic disease of brain cell death that usher to cognitive decline and loss of memory. Its prevalence differs according to risk factors associated with it and necropsy performs vital role in its definite diagnosis. The stages of AD vary from preclinical to severe that proceeds to death of patient with no availability of treatment. Biomarker may be a biochemical change that can be recognized by different emerging technologies such as proteomics and metabolomics. Plasma biomarkers, 5-protein classifiers, are readily being used for the diagnosis of AD and can also predict its progression with a great accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity. In this review, upregulation or downregulation of few plasma proteins in patients with AD has also been discussed, when juxtaposed with control, and thus serves as potent biomarker in the diagnosis of AD.