Publications by authors named "Meneghetti M"

Optical fibers are between the most common implantable devices for delivering light in the nervous system for optogenetics and infrared neural stimulation applications. Tapered optical fibers, in particular, can offer homogeneous light delivery to a large volume and spatially resolved illumination compared to standard flat-cleaved fibers while being minimally invasive. However, the use of tapers for neural applications has up to now been limited to silica optical fibers, whose large Young's modulus can cause detrimental foreign body response in chronic settings.

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Vesicle trafficking is pivotal in heparan sulfate (HS) biosynthesis, influencing its spatial and temporal regulation within distinct Golgi compartments. This regulation modulates the sulfation pattern of HS, which is crucial for governing various biological processes. Here, we investigate the effects of silencing Rab1A and Rab2A expression on the localisation of 3-O-sulfotransferase-5 (3OST5) within Golgi compartments and subsequent alterations in HS structure and levels.

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Carbyne-related materials permit exploring the potentially extraordinary properties of this long-sought but still elusive carbon allotrope. However, accurate understanding of these materials is challenging. Here we report the crystal structure of a Au-pseudocarbyne, a representative of a possible new family of materials consisting of sp-hybridized carbon chains and stabilizing metal atoms.

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Significance: Extending the photoacoustic microscopy (PAM) into the mid-infrared (MIR) molecular fingerprint region constitutes a promising route toward label-free imaging of biological molecular structures. Realizing this objective requires a high-energy nanosecond MIR laser source. However, existing MIR laser technologies are limited to either low pulse energy or free-space structure that is sensitive to environmental conditions.

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Microplastics pollution is being unanimously recognized as a global concern in all environments. Routine analysis protocols foresee that samples, which are supposed to contain up to hundreds of microplastics, are eventually collected on nanoporous filters and inspected by microspectroscopy techniques like micro-FTIR or micro-Raman. All particles, whether made of plastic or not, must be inspected one by one to detect and count microplastics.

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One of the recurring issues in forensic document analysis is determining the chronological order of line-crossing sequences. This seemingly simple but tricky task allows forensic laboratories to demonstrate the real order of events. The aim of this work is to analyse black ink/toner intersections using the digital microscope Hirox RH-2000.

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The immune checkpoint programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein is expressed by tumor cells and it suppresses the killer activity of CD8 T-lymphocyte cells binding to the programmed death 1 (PD-1) protein of these immune cells. Binding to either PD-L1 or PD1 is used for avoiding the inactivation of CD8 T-lymphocyte cells. We report, for the first time, Au plasmonic nanostructures with surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) properties (SERS nanostructures) and functionalized with an engineered peptide (CLP002: Trp-His-Arg-Ser-Tyr-Tyr-Thr-Trp-Asn-Leu-Asn-Thr), which targets PD-L1.

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Copper acetate (also known as verdigris) is a bimetallic Cu(II) greenish pigment widely used in oil paintings. Since ancient times, this pigment has been known as a degradation-prone compound, especially when combined with lipidic binders. However, the degradation mechanism and the involved species have not yet been disclosed.

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Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have a tremendous potential to boost renewable electricity production thanks to their very high performance combined with promising cost structure. However, for actual field deployment, any solar cell technology needs to be assembled into modules, where the associated processes involve several challenges that may affect both the performance and stability of the devices. For instance, due to its hygroscopic nature, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is incompatible with perovskite-based photovoltaics.

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Variation of the brain temperature is strongly affected by blood flow, oxygen supply, and neural cell metabolism. Localized monitoring of the brain temperature is one of the most effective ways to correlate brain functions and diseases such as stroke, epilepsy, and mood disorders. While polymer optical fibers (POFs) are considered ideal candidates for temperature sensing in the brain, they have never been used so far in vivo.

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Multifunctional optical fiber-based neural interfaces have attracted significant attention for neural stimulation, recording, and photopharmacology towards understanding the central nervous system. In this work, we demonstrate the fabrication, optoelectrical characterization, and mechanical analysis of four types of microstructured polymer optical fiber neural probes using different soft thermoplastic polymers. The developed devices have integrated metallic elements for electrophysiology and microfluidic channels for localized drug delivery, and can be used for optogenetics in the visible spectrum at wavelengths spanning from 450 nm up to 800 nm.

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Controlling neuronal activity using implantable neural interfaces constitutes an important tool to understand and develop novel strategies against brain diseases. Infrared neurostimulation is a promising alternative to optogenetics for controlling the neuronal circuitry with high spatial resolution. However, bi-directional interfaces capable of simultaneously delivering infrared light and recording electrical signals from the brain with minimal inflammation have not yet been reported.

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Nanostructured thin metal films are exploited in a wide range of applications, spanning from electrical to optical transducers and sensors. Inkjet printing has become a compliant technique for sustainable, solution-processed, and cost-effective thin films fabrication. Inspired by the principles of green chemistry, here we show two novel formulations of Au nanoparticle-based inks for manufacturing nanostructured and conductive thin films by using inkjet printing.

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It is well-known that there are size- and shape-dependencies to nanoparticle uptake and processing by living cells. Small gold nanorods have shown to exhibit low toxicity and high clearance rates when compared to larger ones, making smaller particles more desirable for biomedical applications. In this study gold mini-rods (approximately 9.

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Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has become a promising method for the detection of contaminants or biomolecules in aqueous media. The low interference of water, the unique spectral fingerprint, and the development of portable and handheld equipment for in situ measurements underpin its predominance among other spectroscopic techniques. Among the SERS nanoparticle substrates, those composed of plasmonic and magnetic components are prominent examples of versatility and efficiency.

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All-inorganic lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) have shown great potential as emerging semiconducting materials due to their excellent optoelectronic properties. However, syntheses in solution commonly use high temperatures and toxic solvents, which are obstacles for safety and sustainability of the process. In this work, laser ablation in alcohol is proposed as a simple and sustainable, ligand-free, top-down approach to synthesize CsPbBr nanocrystals in ambient conditions.

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Malaria is among the tropical diseases that cause the most deaths in Africa. Around 500,000 malaria deaths are reported yearly among African children under the age of five. Chloroquine (CQ) is a low-cost antimalarial used worldwide for the treatment of Plasmodium vivax malaria.

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A significant fraction of patients are affected by persistent fear and anxiety. Currently, there are several anxiolytic drug options, however their clinical outcomes do not fully manage the symptoms. Here, we evaluated the effects of a bromazepam‑palladium derivative [2-{(7-bromo-2-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-5-il)pyridinyl-κ-N,N}chloropalladium(II)], [(BMZ)PdCl], on fear/anxiety and memory-related behavior in mice.

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Heparan sulfate (HS), a sulfated linear carbohydrate that decorates the cell surface and extracellular matrix, is ubiquitously distributed throughout the animal kingdom and represents a key regulator of biological processes and a largely untapped reservoir of potential therapeutic targets. The temporal and spatial variations in the HS structure underpin the concept of "heparanome" and a complex network of HS binding proteins. However, despite its widespread biological roles, the determination of direct structure-to-function correlations is impaired by HS chemical heterogeneity.

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In this article, the depositions and functional characterizations of Ta-N and Ta-Al-N coatings for protection purposes, grown by reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering onto silicon substrates, are described. Nitride films were grown while changing the substrate polarization voltage (i.e.

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. Optical fiber devices constitute significant tools for the modulation and interrogation of neuronal circuitry in the mid and deep brain regions. The illuminated brain area during neuromodulation has a direct impact on the spatio-temporal properties of the brain activity and depends solely on the material and geometrical characteristics of the optical fibers.

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Biallelic pathogenic variants in TBCK cause encephaloneuropathy, infantile hypotonia with psychomotor retardation, and characteristic facies 3 (IHPRF3). The molecular mechanisms underlying its neuronal phenotype are largely unexplored. In this study, we reported two sisters, who harbored biallelic variants in TBCK and met diagnostic criteria for IHPRF3.

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Background: Garcinia brasiliensis is a species native to the Amazon forest. The white mucilaginous pulp is used in folk medicine as a wound healing agent and for peptic ulcer, urinary, and tumor disease treatments. The activity of the proprotein convertases (PCs) Subtilisin/Kex is associated with the development of viral, bacterial and fungal infections, osteoporosis, hyperglycemia, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and neoplastic diseases.

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Angiogenesis is the formation of new vessels from pre-existing vasculature. The heparan sulfate chains from endothelial cell proteoglycans interact with the major angiogenic factors, regulating blood vessels´ formation. Since the FDA´s first approval, anti-angiogenic therapy has shown tumor progression inhibition and increased patient survival.

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Article Synopsis
  • Illuminated manuscripts are products of various skills and reflect the historical and geographical context of their creation.
  • Analyzing these manuscripts' materials and characteristics is crucial for understanding their history and comparing them to other works.
  • Recent studies on a Persian illuminated manuscript using non-invasive methods like multispectral imaging and portable instruments have led to new insights into the creation techniques of Middle Eastern manuscripts.
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