Unusually large magnetic anisotropy in electrochemically deposited Co-rich Co-Pt films.

Co-rich Co-Pt films grown by electrodeposition from an amino-nitrite/citrate/glycine electrolyte onto Au(111) substrates apparently grow with a hexagonal structure, with its c-axis directed perpendicular to the surface. The films exhibit a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (MCA) of the same order of magnitude as the shape anisotropy. Experimental estimates of the MCA result in a higher anisotropy than that reported for bulk materials of the same composition, but similar to values measured in films grown by vacuum methods at relatively high temperature, which partly consist of a high anisotropy, metastable orthorhombic Pmm2 phase. Comparison of valence band X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements on electrodeposited films with density functional theory simulations of the electronic structure of the various reported Co(3)Pt structures support the notion that the films may consist of a mixture of the hexagonal and the Pmm2 structure.

Constraint-induced movement therapy in stroke patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Upper extremity paresis is a leading cause of disability after stroke. A Cochrane review found an impact on disability of Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), its modified forms (mCIMT) and Forced Use (FU), with a moderate significant effect and a large significant effect on arm motor function. This article aims to present an update of the Cochrane review and assess the effects of CIMT, mCIMT and FU on disability and arm motor function. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for Randomised Controlled Trials (RCT) and quasi-RCTs comparing CIMT, mCIMT or FU with other rehabilitative techniques, or none, in adult stroke patients. The primary and secondary outcomes were disability and arm motor function. Two reviewers independently screened search results, documented the methodological quality and extracted data. RESULTS: Four new studies were added to the previous review, for a total of 18 studies. The updated meta-analyses no longer indicate a benefit of CIMT mCIMT and FU on disability (eight studies, 276 participants, Standardised Mean Difference (SMD) 0.21, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.50), and a moderate benefit on arm motor function (14 studies, 479 participants, SMD 0.44, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.93). CONCLUSION: New evidence pushes the overall estimate of benefit toward the null effect. The majority of studies were underpowered and imprecise, exposing these analyses to small-study bias. This may explain why accumulation of evidence makes overall estimates inconsistent. Larger randomised trials to resolve these uncertainties are needed.

Manual autotraction: preliminary study on the effectiveness of a new device for back pain treatment.

AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of a new, simple and cheap device of manual autotraction (MAT), in comparison with Natchev's autotraction system. METHODS: Fifty-four patients, with lumbalgia or sciatalgia for more than 4 months and disc herniation or protrusion at computed tomography (CT) or nuclear magnetic resonance (NRM), have been selected, at random, in a randomized control trial. Patients have been treated by MAT or by Natchev's autotraction. Treatments' efficacy has been assessed through the differences in visual analogic scale (VAS) for pain, and Backill scale for disability, before and after therapy (diffVAS and diffBi). The results of the 2 autotraction's devices have been compared in order to distinguish their differences. The results have been considered significant if p<0.05. RESULTS: Both treatments proved to be effective (MAT: diffVAS p<0.0001, diffBackill p<0.001; Natchev's group: diffVAS p<0.0001, diffBackill p<0.001). No significant difference of efficacy emerges between the treatments in diffVAS (p=0.199) and diffBi (p=0.906), and a greater efficacy of both in case of pain with nocturnal aggravation (MAT group: diffVAS: p=0.001; Natchev's group: p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show an equal efficacy of MAT compared to the known Natchev's system, so it could be equally proposed like a simple conservative treatment in disc protrusion or herniation without surgery indication.