Structuring lipid nanoparticles, DNA, and protein corona into stealth bionanoarchitectures for in vivo gene delivery.

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) play a crucial role in addressing genetic disorders, and cancer, and combating pandemics such as COVID-19 and its variants. Yet, the ability of LNPs to effectively encapsulate large-size DNA molecules remains elusive. This is a significant limitation, as the successful delivery of large-size DNA holds immense potential for gene therapy.

Emotion perception through the nose: how olfactory emotional cues modulate the perception of neutral facial expressions in affective disorders.

Humans can decode emotional states from the body odors of the conspecifics and this type of emotional communication is particularly relevant in conditions in which social interactions are impaired, as in depression and social anxiety. The present study aimed to explore how body odors collected in happiness and fearful conditions modulate the subjective ratings, the psychophysiological response and the neural processing of neutral faces in individuals with depressive symptoms, social anxiety symptoms, and healthy controls (N = 22 per group). To this aim, electrocardiogram (ECG) and HD-EEG were recorded continuously.

Nociception level index variations in ICU: curarized vs non-curarized patients - a pilot study.

Purpose: Pain is a major physiological stressor that can worsen critical medical conditions in many ways. Currently, there is no reliable monitoring tool which is available for pain monitoring in the deeply sedated ± curarized critically ill patients. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the multiparameter nociception index (NOL®) in the critical care setting.

Predation risk of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus juveniles in an overfished area reveal system stability mechanisms and restocking challenges.

Where sea urchin harvest has been so intense that populations have drastically regressed, concerns have arisen about the effectiveness of harvesting management. According to the theory of phase transition in shallow rocky reefs between vegetated and barren habitats, sea urchin recruitment, a key population structuring process, seems hampered by some stabilizing feedback despite an end to local human harvest of sea urchins. To shed a light on predation effects on sea urchin recruits, a 27-day field experiment was conducted using mega-predator exclusion cages (40x40x40 cm, 1 cm in mesh size) in barren and turf substrates.

Toward the nanoscale chemical and physical probing of milk-derived extracellular vesicles using Raman and tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Tip-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TERS) is an advanced technique to perform local chemical analysis of the surface of a sample through the improvement of the sensitivity and the spatial resolution of Raman spectroscopy by plasmonic enhancement of the electromagnetic signal in correspondence with the nanometer-sized tip of an atomic force microscope (AFM). In this work, TERS is demonstrated to represent an innovative and powerful approach for studying extracellular vesicles, in particular bovine milk-derived extracellular vesicles (mEVs), which are nanostructures with considerable potential in drug delivery and therapeutic applications. Raman spectroscopy has been used to analyze mEVs at the micrometric and sub-micrometric scales to obtain a detailed Raman spectrum in order to identify the 'signature' of mEVs in terms of their characteristic molecular vibrations and, therefore, their chemical compositions.

M1-derived extracellular vesicles polarize recipient macrophages into M2-like macrophages and alter skeletal muscle homeostasis in a hyper-glucose environment.

Background: Macrophages release not only cytokines but also extracellular vesicles (EVs). which are small membrane-derived nanovesicles with virus-like properties transferring cellular material between cells. Until now, the consequences of macrophage plasticity on the release and the composition of EVs have been poorly explored.

Occurrence and Biological Activities of Seco-Iridoids from Jasminum L.

In this paper, the first complete review on the seco-iridoids from the genus Jasminum L. was presented. In particular, their occurrence in the genus was detailed together with their biological activities.

Electron Spin-Dependent Electrocatalysis for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction in a Chiro-Self-Assembled Iron Phthalocyanine Device.

The chiral-induced spin selectivity effect (CISS) is a breakthrough phenomenon that has revolutionized the field of electrocatalysis. We report the first study on the electron spin-dependent electrocatalysis for the oxygen reduction reaction, ORR, using iron phthalocyanine, FePc, a well-known molecular catalyst for this reaction. The FePc complex belongs to the non-precious catalysts group, whose active site, FeN4, emulates catalytic centers of biocatalysts such as Cytochrome c.

Advances in Focused Ion Beam Tomography for Three-Dimensional Characterization in Materials Science.

Over the years, FIB-SEM tomography has become an extremely important technique for the three-dimensional reconstruction of microscopic structures with nanometric resolution. This paper describes in detail the steps required to perform this analysis, from the experimental setup to the data analysis and final reconstruction. To demonstrate the versatility of the technique, a comprehensive list of applications is also summarized, ranging from batteries to shale rocks and even some types of soft materials.

The moderating role of depressive symptoms in the association between heart rate variability and cognitive performance in cardiac patients.

Introduction: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is strongly associated with cognitive impairment, which is a core feature of depression, highly prevalent in patients with CHD. Interestingly, patients with CHD and individuals with depression display reduced heart rate variability (HRV), which proxies a complex network integrating autonomic and attentional systems. This study investigated the moderating role of depressive symptoms in the relation between reduced HRV and cognitive performance in patients with CHD.

3D fractures analysis and conservation assessment of wrought iron javelin through advanced non-invasive techniques.

3D imaging is a powerful tool of high resolution and non-destructive imaging technology for the study of ancient weapons and military technology, which reveals the original microstructures and corrosion patterns that threaten these artefacts. Here we report quantitative analysis of the 3D distribution and the orientation of fractures, and uncorroded metal particles within a wrought iron javelin unearthed at the Phoenician-Punic site of Motya, Italy. The study aimed to gain a better understanding of the relationship between corrosion and local stresses within the artifact and to evaluate its manufacturing technology, as well as the effects of post-treatment with Paraloid B72 on concretion and mineralized layers.

Enabling water-free PEDOT as hole selective layer in lead-free tin perovskite solar cells.

Metal halide perovskites are set to revolutionise photovoltaic energy harvesting owing to an unmatched combination of high efficiency and low fabrication costs. However, to improve the sustainability of this technology, replacing lead with less toxic tin is highly desired. Tin halide perovskites are approaching 15% in power conversion efficiency (PCE), mainly employing PEDOT:PSS as a hole-selective layer.

Reduced heart rate variability and expressive suppression interact to prospectively predict COVID-19 pandemic-related post-traumatic stress symptoms.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a unique period of stress that, in some cases, led to post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs). Emotion regulation strategies are known to modulate the emotional response to stressful events. Expressive suppression (ES) is a maladaptive strategy related to the exacerbation of the physiological stress response.

High-resolution atomic force microscopy as a tool for topographical mapping of surface budding.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membranous nanoparticles secreted by almost all cell types. Reflecting the physiopathological state of the parental cell, EVs circulate in all body fluids, reaching distant cell targets and delivering different bioactive cargoes. As biological carriers, EVs influence their microenvironment altering cellular responses, being considered promising biomarkers for both physiological and pathological conditions.

The Influence of Emotion Regulation on the Association Between Depression and Heart Rate Variability in Cardiac Patients.

Objective: Poor vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV) is a mechanism linking depression to coronary heart disease (CHD). Reduced vmHRV is also considered an index of emotion dysregulation-the frequent use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, one of the most important being expressive suppression-which is a key component of depression. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the moderating role of expressive suppression in the relation between depression and vmHRV in patients with CHD.

Occurrence of immune thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient with essential thrombocythemia: How the immune system can overcome a neoplastic clone.

Our case highlights the possible coexistence of essential thrombocythemia (ET) and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), two pathological entities with opposite clinical and laboratory manifestations. It also underlines how an autoimmune attack has been temporarily able to overcome a neoplastic clone.

Active microbial ecosystem in Iron-Age tombs of the Etruscan civilization.

Earth's microbial biosphere extends down through the crust and much of the subsurface, including those microbial ecosystems located within cave systems. Here, we elucidate the microbial ecosystems within anthropogenic 'caves'; the Iron-Age, subterranean tombs of central Italy. The interior walls of the rock (calcium-rich macco) were painted ~2500 years ago and are covered with CaCO needles (known as moonmilk).

Blueberry-Derived Exosome-Like Nanoparticles Counter the Response to TNF-α-Induced Change on Gene Expression in EA.hy926 Cells.

Exosome-like nanoparticles (ELNs) are attracting interest as important vehicles of intercellular communication, both in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Recently, dietary nanoparticles similar to mammalian exosomes have attracted attention for these features. In particular they appear to be relevant in the modulation of several cellular processes as well as candidate carriers of bioactive molecules (proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, including miRNAs) with therapeutic value.

Free radicals derived from γ-radiolysis of water and AAPH thermolysis mediate oxidative crosslinking of eGFP involving Tyr-Tyr and Tyr-Cys bonds: the fluorescence of the protein is conserved only towards peroxyl radicals.

The enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) is one of the most employed variants of fluorescent proteins. Nonetheless little is known about the oxidative modifications that this protein can undergo in the cellular milieu. The present work explored the consequences of the exposure of eGFP to free radicals derived from γ-radiolysis of water, and AAPH thermolysis.

A Mixed Reality system for the simulation of emergency and first-aid scenarios.

Simulation is a powerful learning tool, as it allows gaining direct experience in a controlled and repeatable way. However, the simulation is effective when it is able to reproduce the real conditions and when the user feels him/herself immersed and present in the situation. With the aim of improving these critical points, we propose an immersive virtual reality system for first-aid handling.