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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to major global health concern. However, the focus on immediate effects was assumed as the tip of iceberg due to the symptoms following acute infection, which was defined as post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS). Gut microbiota alterations even after disease resolution and the gastrointestinal symptoms are the key features of PACS. Gut microbiota and derived metabolites disorders may play a crucial role in inflammatory and immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection through the gut-lung axis. Diet is one of the modifiable factors closely related to gut microbiota and COVID-19. In this review, we described the reciprocal crosstalk between gut and lung, highlighting the participation of diet and gut microbiota in and after COVID-19 by destroying the gut barrier, perturbing the metabolism and regulating the immune system. Therefore, bolstering beneficial species by dietary supplements, probiotics or prebiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) may be a novel avenue for COVID-19 and PACS prevention. This review provides a better understanding of the association between gut microbiota and the long-term consequences of COVID-19, which indicates modulating gut dysbiosis may be a potentiality for addressing this multifaceted condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the 1987 referendums, the Italian government stopped its nuclear energy production. Radioactive waste produced by existing nuclear facilities and the very-low- and low-level radioactive waste due to other activities (e.g., healthcare) require the construction of a National Repository. To this end, the National Map of Suitable Areas (CNAI), through which the optimal site to host the National Repository would be identified, was published on 23 December 2023. Over the years, the possible location of the National Repository has been repeatedly contested by the citizens of the territories concerned. However, the need to identify a site and build the National Repository is unavoidable. This study proposes an approach based on multi-criteria analysis. The approach represents an alternative model useful for enriching the public debate with additional information and criteria and is also consistent with the local needs of the communities involved. The proposed approach compares the sites proposed in the CNAI by analyzing their main short- and long-term risks, namely their seismic, transport-related and socio-economic risks. The obtained results show a possible different priority order of the CNAI sites. They highlight the possibility of identifying the optimal site mainly via using site safety criteria assessed throughout the entire service life of the infrastructures to be built and also consider the possible short-term economic advantages deriving from the construction of the National Repository. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-conducting NASICON materials have emerged as a promising alternative to organic liquid electrolytes for high-energy-density Li-metal batteries, owing to their superior ionic conductivity and excellent air stability. However, their practical application is hindered by poor sintering characteristics and high grain boundary resistance. In this investigation, Li1.3Al0.3−xYxTi1.7(PO4)3 (LAYTP-x, x = 0.00, 0.01, 0.03, 0.05, and 0.07) were successfully synthesized via conventional solid-state reaction to explore the impact of Y3+ on both ionic conductivity and chemical stability. The structural, morphological, and transport properties of the samples were comprehensively characterized in order to identify the optimal doping concentration. All samples exhibited a NASICON structure with a uniform distribution of Y elements within the electrolyte. Due to its highest relative density (95.8%), the LAYTP-0.03 electrolyte demonstrated the highest total conductivity of 2.03 × 10−4 S cm−1 with a relatively low activation energy of 0.33 eV, making it suitable for solid-state batteries. When paired with the NCM811 cathode, the Li/LAYTP-0.03/NCM811 cell exhibited outstanding electrochemical performance: a high capacity of 155 mAh/g was achieved at 0.2C after 50 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency of approximately 100%, indicating highly reversible lithium plating/stripping facilitated by the LAYTP-0.03 electrolyte. These results suggest that the LAYTP-0.03 ceramic electrolyte could be a promising alternative for developing safe solid-state Li-metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]