Exploring persistence in animal models: The sinking platform test.

Persistence is the capacity to sustain goal-oriented behavior despite recurring obstacles and setbacks. Recent studies have underscored the importance of this attribute as an integral facet of resilience and a protective factor against depression. In animal models, persistence is commonly examined through operant paradigms, wherein it is operationalized as resistance to the extinction of reward-directed actions.

Effect of TiO nanoparticles on the assembly of a copolymer-clay dispersion.

Nanocomposites based on copolymer and clay minerals are attracting increasing attention as they are appropriate for extensive applications. In this work, we present results from an experimental study on the effects of TiO nanoparticles on a pluronic-F127/laponite water solution in the sol state. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflection Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) were used to characterize the systems.

The role of neuroactive steroids in tic disorders.

Tics are sudden, repetitive movements or vocalizations. Tic disorders, such as Tourette syndrome (TS), are contributed by the interplay of genetic risk factors and environmental variables, leading to abnormalities in the functioning of the cortico-striatal-thalamo-cortical (CSTC) circuitry. Various neurotransmitter systems, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and dopamine, are implicated in the pathophysiology of these disorders.

Demineralization Pretreatments for Reducing Biomass Variability in Pyrolysis.

Thermogravimetric and calorimetric analyses are applied to study how washing modifies the pyrolysis rates and heats of five samples of potato plant stems. Hot (553 K) water or dilute (hydrochloric) acid washing of powdered samples causes a reduction in the alkali content by about 62-78 or 97-99%. The feedstock variability is highly reduced, especially for dilute acid treatment.

A Modular Microfluidic Organoid Platform Using LEGO-Like Bricks.

The convergence of organoid and organ-on-a-chip (OoC) technologies is urgently needed to overcome limitations of current 3D in vitro models. However, integrating organoids in standard OoCs faces several technical challenges, as it is typically laborious, lacks flexibility, and often results in even more complex and less-efficient cell culture protocols. Therefore, specifically adapted and more flexible microfluidic platforms need to be developed to facilitate the incorporation of complex 3D in vitro models.

Polypyrrole Solid-State Supercapacitors Drawn on Paper.

Solid-state supercapacitors with areal capacitance in the order of 100 mF⋅cm are developed on paper substrates, using eco-friendly, low-cost materials and a simple technology. The electrochemically active material used as the electrode is prepared from a stable water-based ink, obtained by doping commercial polypyrrole (PPY) powder with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA), and characterized by optical and electrical measurements, Raman investigation and Atomic Force Microscopy. The PPY:DBSA ink can be directly applied on paper by means of rechargeable water pens, obtaining, after drying, electrically conducting solid state tracks.

High RIPK3 expression is associated with a higher risk of early kidney transplant failure.

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is associated with reduced allograft survival, and each additional hour of cold ischemia time increases the risk of graft failure and mortality following renal transplantation. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) is a key effector of necroptosis, a regulated form of cell death. Here, we evaluate the first-in-human RIPK3 expression dataset following IRI in kidney transplantation.

TiO Nanoparticles Dispersion in Block-Copolymer Aqueous Solutions: Nanoarchitectonics for Self-Assembly and Aggregation.

Achieving homogenous dispersion of nanoparticles inside a polymeric matrix is a great challenge for numerous applications. In the present study, we aim at understanding the role of different factors on the dispersion properties of TiO in pluronic F-127 mixtures. The mixtures were prepared with different pH and guest/host ratios and investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, infrared spectroscopy and electrical conductivity.

The BCL-2 family member BOK promotes KRAS-driven lung cancer progression in a p53-dependent manner.

A variety of cancer entities are driven by KRAS mutations, which remain difficult to target clinically. Survival pathways, such as resistance to cell death, may represent a promising treatment approach in KRAS mutated cancers. Based on the frequently observed genomic deletions of BCL-2-related ovarian killer (BOK) in cancer patients, we explored the function of BOK in a mutant Kras-driven murine model of lung cancer.

Electrochemical and Fluorescent Properties of Crown Ether Functionalized Graphene Quantum Dots for Potassium and Sodium Ions Detection.

The concentration of sodium and potassium ions in biological fluids, such as blood, urine and sweat, is indicative of several basic body function conditions. Therefore, the development of simple methods able to detect these alkaline ions is of outmost importance. In this study, we explored the electrochemical and optical properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) combined with the selective chelating ability of the crown ethers 15-crown-5 and 18-crown-6, with the final aim to propose novel composites for the effective detection of these ions.

XIAP restrains TNF-driven intestinal inflammation and dysbiosis by promoting innate immune responses of Paneth and dendritic cells.

Deficiency in X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) is the cause for X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome 2 (XLP2). About one-third of these patients suffer from severe and therapy-refractory inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the exact cause of this pathogenesis remains undefined. Here, we used XIAP-deficient mice to characterize the mechanisms underlying intestinal inflammation.

Polypyrrole and Graphene Nanoplatelets Inks as Electrodes for Flexible Solid-State Supercapacitor.

Flexible energy storage devices and supercapacitors in particular have become very attractive due to the growing demand for wearable consumer devices. To obtain supercapacitors with improved performance, it is useful to resort to hybrid electrodes, usually nanocomposites, that combine the excellent charge transport properties and high surface area of nanostructured carbon with the electrochemical activity of suitable metal oxides or conjugated polymers. In this work, electrochemically active conducting inks are developed starting from commercially available polypyrrole and graphene nanoplatelets blended with dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.

Comprehensive characterization of central BCL-2 family members in aberrant eosinophils and their impact on therapeutic strategies.

Purpose: Hypereosinophilia represents a heterogenous group of severe medical conditions characterized by elevated numbers of eosinophil granulocytes in peripheral blood, bone marrow or tissue. Treatment options for hypereosinophilia remain limited despite recent approaches including IL-5-targeted monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Methods: To understand aberrant survival patterns and options for pharmacologic intervention, we characterized BCL-2-regulated apoptosis signaling by testing for BCL-2 family expression levels as well as pharmacologic inhibition using primary patient samples from diverse subtypes of hypereosinophilia (hypereosinophilic syndrome n = 18, chronic eosinophilic leukemia not otherwise specified n = 9, lymphocyte-variant hypereosinophilia n = 2, myeloproliferative neoplasm with eosinophilia n = 2, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis n = 11, reactive eosinophilia n = 3).

Quali-quantitative analysis of plastics and synthetic microfibers found in demersal species from Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Central Mediterranean).

This study highlights plastics occurrence in five demersal fish species from the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea: the Red mullet Mullus barbatus barbatus, the Piper gurnard Trigla lyra, the Blackmouth catshark Galeus melastomus, the Lesser spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula and the Brown ray Raja miraletus. Overall, 125 fish were examined: 21 Red mullets, 16 Piper gurnards, 75 Blackmouth catsharks, 72 Dogfish and 1 Brown ray. The percentage of fish with ingested plastics was 14.

Aggregation behavior of pluronic F127 solutions in presence of chitosan/clay nanocomposites examined by dynamic light scattering.

Hypothesis: Although several researches have explored the dynamics of pluronic aqueous solutions under different conditions, little is known about the dynamical properties of pluronic copolymers in presence of nanoparticles. Knowing and understanding the fundamental dynamical behavior of such systems is crucial to optimize the formulation of high performance multifunctional structures.

Experiments: In the present work, dynamic light scattering (DLS) is used to investigate the temperature dependence of the dynamical properties of Pluronic F127 aqueous solutions in presence of intercalated chitosan/clay nanocomposites; for comparison, the pluronic aqueous solution and the binary systems pluronic/chitosan and pluronic/montmorillonite having the same copolymer concentration were also investigated.

Microplastics occurrence in the Tyrrhenian waters and in the gastrointestinal tract of two congener species of seabreams.

In this work it is reported for the first time the characterization of microplastics from sea water samples and in two congener species of seabreams: Pagellus erythrinus and P. bogaraveo, Mediterranean fish species of great commercial importance. An experimental survey was conducted on May-June 2017 in the southernmost part of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Temporal and regional progression of Alzheimer's disease-like pathology in 3xTg-AD mice.

Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and fibrillary tangles, as well as neuroinflammation and memory loss, are hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). After almost 15 years from their generation, 3xTg-AD mice are still one of the most used transgenic models of AD. Converging evidence indicates that the phenotype of 3xTg-AD mice has shifted over the years and contradicting reports about onset of pathology or cognitive deficits are apparent in the literature.

Multiple Interacting Collective Modes and Phonon Gap in Phospholipid Membranes.

We combine Brillouin neutron scattering measurements with recent inelastic X-ray scattering [ Zhernenkov et al. Nat. Commun.