Complex vaccination strategies prevent the emergence of vaccine resistance.

Vaccination is the most effective tool to control infectious diseases. However, the evolution of vaccine resistance, exemplified by vaccine resistance in SARS-CoV-2, remains a concern. Here, we model complex vaccination strategies against a pathogen with multiple epitopes-molecules targeted by the vaccine.

Design and rationale for the SIB trial: a randomized parallel comparison of semaglutide placebo on intestinal barrier function in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To describe the rationale and design of the SIB trial, an interventional clinical trial testing the hypothesis that subcutaneous (s.c.) once-weekly semaglutide can improve intestinal permeability and reduce systemic inflammation in participants with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity.

Analysis of prognostic factors in COVID-19 hospitalized patients: an Italian single-center case-control study.

Objective: COVID-19 clinical presentation ranges from asymptomatic infection to an inflammatory cytokine storm with multi-organ failure and fatal outcomes. The identification of high-risk patients for severe disease is crucial to plan an early treatment and intensive follow-up. We aimed to investigate negative prognostic factors in a group of patients hospitalized for COVID-19.

An Insight into Chemistry and Structure of Colloidal 2D-WS Nanoflakes: Combined XPS and XRD Study.

The surface and structural characterization techniques of three atom-thick bi-dimensional 2D-WS colloidal nanocrystals cross the limit of bulk investigation, offering the possibility of simultaneous phase identification, structural-to-morphological evaluation, and surface chemical description. In the present study, we report a rational understanding based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and structural inspection of two kinds of dimensionally controllable 2D-WS colloidal nanoflakes (NFLs) generated with a surfactant assisted non-hydrolytic route. The qualitative and quantitative determination of 1T' and 2H phases based on W 4f XPS signal components, together with the presence of two kinds of sulfur ions, S and S, based on S 2p signal and related to the formation of WS and WOS in a mixed oxygen-sulfur environment, are carefully reported and discussed for both nanocrystals breeds.

Rates of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and vaccination impact the fate of vaccine-resistant strains.

Vaccines are thought to be the best available solution for controlling the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, the emergence of vaccine-resistant strains may come too rapidly for current vaccine developments to alleviate the health, economic and social consequences of the pandemic. To quantify and characterize the risk of such a scenario, we created a SIR-derived model with initial stochastic dynamics of the vaccine-resistant strain to study the probability of its emergence and establishment.

Intracellular Antioxidant Activity of Biocompatible Citrate-Capped Palladium Nanozymes.

A method for the aqueous synthesis of stable and biocompatible citrate-coated palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) in the size range comparable to natural enzymes (4-8 nm) has been developed. The toxicological profile of PdNPs was assessed by different assays on several cell lines demonstrating their safety in vitro also at high particle concentrations. To elucidate their cellular fate upon uptake, the localization of PdNPs was analyzed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

Sputtering-Enabled Intracellular X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy: A Versatile Method To Analyze the Biological Fate of Metal Nanoparticles.

The investigation of the toxicological profile and biomedical potential of nanoparticles (NPs) requires a deep understanding of their intracellular fate. Various techniques are usually employed to characterize NPs upon cellular internalization, including high-resolution optical and electron microscopies. Here, we show a versatile method, named sputtering-enabled intracellular X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, proving that it is able to provide valuable information about the behavior of metallic NPs in culture media as well as within cells, directly measuring their internalization, stability/degradation, and oxidation state, without any preparative steps.

Maghemite Nanoparticles with Enhanced Magnetic Properties: One-Pot Preparation and Ultrastable Dextran Shell.

In the field of nanomedicine, superparamagnetic nanoparticles are one of the most studied nanomaterials for theranostics. In this study, a one-pot synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles is presented, with an increased control on particle size from 10 to 40 nm. Monitoring of vacuum level is introduced here as a crucial parameter for achieving a fine particle morphology.

Sub-parts per million NO2 chemi-transistor sensors based on composite porous silicon/gold nanostructures prepared by metal-assisted etching.

Surface doping of nano/mesostructured materials with metal nanoparticles to promote and optimize chemi-transistor sensing performance represents the most advanced research trend in the field of solid-state chemical sensing. In spite of the promising results emerging from metal-doping of a number of nanostructured semiconductors, its applicability to silicon-based chemi-transistor sensors has been hindered so far by the difficulties in integrating the composite metal-silicon nanostructures using the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. Here we propose a facile and effective top-down method for the high-yield fabrication of chemi-transistor sensors making use of composite porous silicon/gold nanostructures (cSiAuNs) acting as sensing gate.

A Southern Ocean trigger for Northwest Pacific ventilation during the Holocene?

Holocene ocean circulation is poorly understood due to sparsity of dateable marine archives with submillennial-scale resolution. Here we present a record of mid-depth water radiocarbon contents in the Northwest (NW) Pacific Ocean over the last 12.000 years, which shows remarkable millennial-scale variations relative to changes in atmospheric radiocarbon inventory.

When does nursing burnout begin? An investigation of the fatigue experience of Australian nursing students.

Aim: Investigation of chronic maladaptive fatigue evolution among a large group of Australian Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree students.

Background: The training of Australian nurses has changed from a salaried, 'apprenticeship' structure (usually including accommodation) to a University-based (fee paying) degree. Relatively little is known about how these changes have impacted on the strain and fatigue experience of nursing students.

Treatment of morbid obesity with intragastric balloon in association with diet.

Background: The BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB, BioEnterics, Santa Barbara, CA) in association with restricted diet has been used for the treatment of obesity and morbid obesity.

Methods: Since March 1998, 322 BIB were placed in 281 obese and morbidly obese patients; 73 patients were male and 208 female; mean age was 41.6 years (21-70); mean weight was 117.