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Background/Objectives: Sleep disturbances often accompany mood disorders and persistent insomnia after mood symptoms have resolved may be a marker of poor outcome. The association between sleep symptoms and mood disorders seems to change with age and sex. This study aims to assess the frequency of depressive episodes and sleep disorders in the general population through an agile screening questionnaire and to evaluate the association of depressive episodes and sleep symptoms by sex and age categories. Methods: 774 women and 728 men from Sardinia aged > 16 years old were enrolled. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was administered through a computer-assisted telephonic interview. Results: The frequency of depressive episodes was double in women (10.6% vs. 4.4%; p < 0.0001), with the highest values in women > 75 yo (17.4%). The frequency of sleep dysregulation was double in women (18.7% vs. 9.6%; p < 0.0001), with the highest values in women > 75 yo (35.9%) and the lowest in the group of men > 75 yo. The group of young males showed the lowest frequency of depressive episodes (1.4%) and a frequency of sleep dysregulation (9.1%) similar to that of the other groups of age and sex. Sleep dysregulation without depressive episodes presented a higher distribution in the elderly, both in males (20.7%) and in females (18.5%). No significative differences were found across sex and age groups in the distribution of depressive episodes without sleep dysregulation. Conclusions: The use of an agile screener such as PHQ9 in the general population and/or in populations at risk can be a valuable tool in finding those individuals in whom sleep dysregulation may represent an early warning signal, one that may be thoroughly evaluated to identify and treat possible sleep disorders early. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repeated airway obstructions during sleep, causing hypopnea, apnea, intermittent hypoxia, and sleep fragmentation. The severity of OSA is measured using the apnea–hypopnea index (AHI), with AHI ≥ 5 indicating OSA. This study aims to assess the frequency and type of depressive disorder characteristics of OSA patients and to evaluate the impact on quality of life, also considering the presence of hyperactivity. Methods: A case-control study using OSA patients referred to Cagliari's sleep disorder center. Controls were matched by age and sex from community databases. OSA diagnoses were made with AHI > 15. Depressive episodes were identified using BDI-SF, and H-QoL (Health related Quality of Life) was measured with the SF-12, focusing on item 10 for hyper-energy. Results: The clinical sample (n = 25) had a higher frequency of depressive episodes (36%) compared to controls (7% and 4%). Depressed OSA patients had worse H-QoL and higher hyper-energy scores, but the additional burden from depression was relatively low. Conclusions: The OSA sample has a higher frequency of depressive episodes compared to the general population. Depressive episodes in OSA patients are linked to higher scores on item 10 of the SF-12, indicating hyper-energy despite lower overall quality of life scores. While OSA significantly impacts quality of life, the additional burden from depression is less severe than in other chronic diseases. These findings suggest that depressive episodes in OSA may be related to rhythm dysregulation and hyperactivity (DYMERS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nerve conduits may represent a valuable alternative to autograft for the regeneration of long-gap damages. However, no NCs have currently reached market approval for the regeneration of limiting gap lesions, which still represents the very bottleneck of this technology. In recent years, a strong effort has been made to envision an engineered graft to tackle this issue. In our recent work, we presented a novel design of porous/3D-printed chitosan/poly-ε-caprolactone conduits, coupling freeze drying and additive manufacturing technologies to yield conduits with good structural properties. In this work, we studied genipin crosslinking as strategy to improve the physiochemical properties of our conduit. Genipin is a natural molecule with very low toxicity that has been used to crosslink chitosan porous matrix by binding the primary amino group of chitosan chains. Our characterization evidenced a stabilizing effect of genipin crosslinking towards the chitosan matrix, with reported modified porosity and ameliorated mechanical properties. Given the reported results, this method has the potential to improve the performance of our conduits for the regeneration of long-gap nerve injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen storage is a key enabling technology for the extensive use of hydrogen as energy carrier. This is particularly true in the widespread introduction of hydrogen in car transportation. Indeed, one of the greatest technological barriers for such development is an efficient and safe storage method. So, in this tutorial review the existing hydrogen storage technologies are described with a special emphasis on hydrogen storage in hydrogen cars: the current and the ongoing solutions. A particular focus is given on solid storage and some of the recent advances on plasma hydrogen ion implantation, which should allow not only the preparation of metal hydrides, but also the imagination of a new refluing circuit. From hydrogen discovery to its use as an energy vector in cars, this review wants to be as exhaustive as possible, introducing the basics of hydrogen storage, and discussing the experimental practicalities of car hydrogen fuel. It wants to serve as a guide for anyone wanting to undertake such a technology and to equip the reader with an advanced knowledge on hydrogen storage and hydrogen storage in hydrogen cars to stimulate further researches and yet more innovative applications for this highly interesting field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to elucidate the chemistry of cellular degeneration in human neuroblastoma cells upon exposure to outer-membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) oral bacteria by monitoring their metabolomic evolution using in situ Raman spectroscopy. Pg-OMVs are a key factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, as they act as efficient vectors for the delivery of toxins promoting neuronal damage. However, the chemical mechanisms underlying the direct impact of Pg-OMVs on cell metabolites at the molecular scale still remain conspicuously unclear. A widely used in vitro model employing neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells (a sub-line of the SK-N-SH cell line) was spectroscopically analyzed in situ before and 6 h after Pg-OMV contamination. Concurrently, Raman characterizations were also performed on isolated Pg-OMVs, which included phosphorylated dihydroceramide (PDHC) lipids and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the latter in turn being contaminated with a highly pathogenic class of cysteine proteases, a key factor in neuronal cell degradation. Raman characterizations located lipopolysaccharide fingerprints in the vesicle structure and unveiled so far unproved aspects of the chemistry behind protein degradation induced by Pg-OMV contamination of SH-SY5Y cells. The observed alterations of cells' Raman profiles were then discussed in view of key factors including the formation of amyloid β (Aβ) plaques and hyperphosphorylated Tau neurofibrillary tangles, and the formation of cholesterol agglomerates that exacerbate AD pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) is one of the most studied bio-based monomers, being considered the best substitute for fossil-derived terephthalic acid in plastic production. FDCA is employed in the preparation of polyethylene furanoate (PEF), demonstrating superior mechanical and thermal proprieties compared to the widely used polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Nevertheless, FDCA synthesis mostly relies on the oxidation of the bio-based platform chemical hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), whose notoriously instable nature renders FDCA yield and industrial scale-up production complicated. On the contrary, FDCA esters are less studied, even though they have greater solubility in organic media, which would favor their isolation and potential application as monomers for PEF. On these premises, we report herein an alternative green synthetic approach to FDCA methyl ester (FDME) using galactaric acid as the substrate, dimethyl carbonate (DMC) as the green media, and Fe2(SO4)3 as the heterogeneous Lewis acid. Optimization of the reaction conditions allowed the selective production of FDME in a 70% isolated yield; product purification was achieved via flash column chromatography over silica. Furthermore, it was possible to employ up to 5.0 g of galactaric acid in a single reaction, leading to a good isolated yield of FDME. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Definition: This entry overviews the pioneering experimental studies exploiting eye movement data to investigate language processing in real time. After examining how vision and language were found to be closely related, herein focus the discussion on the evolution of eye-tracking methodologies to investigate children's language development. To conclude, herein provide some insights about the use of eye-tracking technology for research purposes, focusing on data collection and data analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When a traumatic event causes complete denervation, muscle functional recovery is highly compromised. A possible solution to this issue is the implantation of a biodegradable polymeric tubular scaffold, providing a biomimetic environment to support the nerve regeneration process. However, in the case of consistent peripheral nerve damage, the regeneration capabilities are poor. Hence, a crucial challenge in this field is the development of biodegradable micro- nanostructured polymeric carriers for controlled and sustained release of molecules to enhance nerve regeneration. The aim of these systems is to favor the cellular processes that support nerve regeneration to increase the functional recovery outcome. Drug delivery systems (DDSs) are interesting solutions in the nerve regeneration framework, due to the possibility of specifically targeting the active principle within the site of interest, maximizing its therapeutical efficacy. The scope of this review is to highlight the recent advances regarding the study of biodegradable polymeric DDS for nerve regeneration and to discuss their potential to enhance regenerative performance in those clinical scenarios characterized by severe nerve damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Volunteers' participation in scientific research has increased in recent decades. Citizen science (CS) data have been used in quantitative ecology to analyse species ranges by means of species distribution models. We investigated the Italian distribution of five large saproxylic beetles (big five), to describe their niche space, paramount areas for their conservation, and conservation gaps. Methods. CS data from two projects, climate and environmental variables were used to produce Habitat suitability (HS) maps for each species and averaged HS maps. The big five's conservation status was assessed interpolating HS maps with the distribution of protected areas, concomitantly identifying conservation gaps. Results. The pre-alpine and Apennines arcs, north-eastern Sicily and eastern Sardinia, were identified as conservation's hotspots. Ranking HS levels from minimum to optimal, the extent of conservation gaps decreases as environmental suitability for the big five increases. Conclusions. For the first time in Italy, CS data have been used to investigate niche space of the largest protected saproxylic beetles and analyse the distribution of their suitable habitat. The resulting HS raster maps and vector layers, reporting HS value in all Italian protected areas (n° 3771), were provided and discussed, reporting an application example for conservation purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a hereditary and sporadic neurodegenerative illness defined by the gradual and cumulative loss of neurons in specific brain areas. The processes that cause AD are still under investigation and there are no available therapies to halt it. Current progress puts at the forefront the "calcium (Ca2+) hypothesis" as a key AD pathogenic pathway, impacting neuronal, astrocyte and microglial function. In this review, we focused on mitochondrial Ca2+ alterations in AD, their causes and bioenergetic consequences in neuronal and glial cells, summarizing the possible mechanisms linking detrimental mitochondrial Ca2+ signals to neuronal death in different experimental AD models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Piezoelectric materials are a class of compounds that is gaining increasing interest in various applications such as energy harvesting. During the last decade, lead-free ZnSnO3 perovskite ceramic has gained attention among the scientific community thanks to its unique symmetry-dependent and spontaneous polarization properties such as piezoelectricity and ferroelectricity. Nevertheless, only a few studies successfully prepared pure ZnSnO3, while most seem to mislead the product for its hydroxide precursor (ZnSn(OH)6) or a mixture of Zn2SnO4 and SnO2. In our work, we investigated the conversion of ZnSn(OH)6 at different temperatures (500, 600, 700, 750 and 800 °C) by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, and in-situ using synchrotron radiation up to 950 °C under ambient atmosphere and in a vacuum, to reproduce conventional reaction conditions. SEM and TEM have been used to understand the evolution of the particle shape and surface structure before and after the thermal treatments. Our results show the instability of the ZnSn(OH)6 phase, which converts into an amorphous structure at low temperature. Above 750 °C, the material segregates into Zn2SnO4 and SnO2, supporting the hypothesis that the thermal treatment of the hydroxide phase under typical conditions results in the formation of an oxide mixture rather than the phase pure ZnSnO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implantable flexible neural interfaces (IfNIs) are capable of directly modulating signals of the central and peripheral nervous system by stimulating or recording the action potential. Despite outstanding results in acute experiments on animals and humans, their long-term biocompatibility is hampered by the effects of foreign body reactions that worsen electrical performance and cause tissue damage. We report on the fabrication of a polysaccharide nanostructured thin film as a coating of polyimide (PI)-based IfNIs. The layer-by-layer technique was used to coat the PI surface due to its versatility and ease of manufacturing. Two different LbL deposition techniques were tested and compared: dip coating and spin coating. Morphological and physiochemical characterization showed the presence of a very smooth and nanostructured thin film coating on the PI surface that remarkably enhanced surface hydrophilicity with respect to the bare PI surface for both the deposition techniques. However, spin coating offered more control over the fabrication properties, with the possibility to tune the coating's physiochemical and morphological properties. Overall, the proposed coating strategies allowed the deposition of a biocompatible nanostructured film onto the PI surface and could represent a valid tool to enhance long-term IfNI biocompatibility by improving tissue/electrode integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare, genetic, multisymptomatic, neurodevelopmental disease commonly associated with sleep alterations, including sleep-disordered breathing and central disorders of hypersomnolence. Excessive daytime sleepiness represents the main manifestation that should be addressed by eliciting the detrimental effects on quality of life and neurocognitive function from the patients' caregivers. Patients with PWS have impaired ventilatory control and altered pulmonary mechanics caused by hypotonia, respiratory muscle weakness, scoliosis and obesity. Consequently, respiratory abnormalities are frequent and, in most cases, severe, particularly during sleep. Adults with PWS frequently suffer from sleep apnoea syndrome, sleep hypoxemia and sleep hypoventilation. When excessive daytime sleepiness persists after adequate control of sleep-disordered breathing, a sleep study on ventilatory treatment, followed by an objective measurement of excessive daytime sleepiness, is recommended. These tests frequently identify central disorders of hypersomnolence, including narcolepsy, central hypersomnia or a borderline hypersomnolent phenotype. The use of wake-enhancing drugs (modafinil, pitolisant) is discussed in multidisciplinary expert centres for these kinds of cases to ensure the right balance between the benefits on quality of life and the risk of psychological and cardiovascular side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For Alzheimer's disease (AD), aging is the main risk factor, but whether cognitive impairments due to aging resemble early AD deficits is not yet defined. When working with mouse models of AD, the situation is just as complicated, because only a few studies track the progression of the disease at different ages, and most ignore how the aging process affects control mice. In this work, we addressed this problem by comparing the aging process of PS2APP (AD) and wild-type (WT) mice at the level of spontaneous brain electrical activity under anesthesia. Using local field potential recordings, obtained with a linear probe that traverses the posterior parietal cortex and the entire hippocampus, we analyzed how multiple electrical parameters are modified by aging in AD and WT mice. With this approach, we highlighted AD specific features that appear in young AD mice prior to plaque deposition or that are delayed at 12 and 16 months of age. Furthermore, we identified aging characteristics present in WT mice but also occurring prematurely in young AD mice. In short, we found that reduction in the relative power of slow oscillations (SO) and Low/High power imbalance are linked to an AD phenotype at its onset. The loss of SO connectivity and cortico-hippocampal coupling between SO and higher frequencies as well as the increase in UP-state and burst durations are found in young AD and old WT mice. We show evidence that the aging process is accelerated by the mutant PS2 itself and discuss such changes in relation to amyloidosis and gliosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium (Ca2+) signaling coordinates are crucial processes in brain physiology. Particularly, fundamental aspects of neuronal function such as synaptic transmission and neuronal plasticity are regulated by Ca2+, and neuronal survival itself relies on Ca2+-dependent cascades. Indeed, impaired Ca2+ homeostasis has been reported in aging as well as in the onset and progression of neurodegeneration. Understanding the physiology of brain function and the key processes leading to its derangement is a core challenge for neuroscience. In this context, Ca2+ imaging represents a powerful tool, effectively fostered by the continuous amelioration of Ca2+ sensors in parallel with the improvement of imaging instrumentation. In this review, we explore the potentiality of the most used animal models employed for Ca2+ imaging, highlighting their application in brain research to explore the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cognitive decline is often present in stroke survivors, with a significant impact on motor recovery. However, how specific cognitive domains could impact motor recovery after robotic rehabilitation in patients with stroke is still not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the relationship between cognitive impairment and the outcome of a robot-mediated upper limb rehabilitation intervention in a sample of 51 subacute stroke patients. Participants were enrolled and treated with a set of robotic and sensor-based devices. Before the intervention, patients underwent a cognitive assessment by means of the Oxford Cognitive Screen. To assess the effect of the 30-session rehabilitation intervention, patients were assessed twice with the following outcome measures: the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for Upper Extremity (FMA-UE), to evaluate motor function; the Upper limb Motricity Index (MI), to evaluate upper limb muscle strength; the Modified Barthel Index (mBI), to evaluate activities of daily living and mobility. We found that deficits in spatial attention and executive functions impacted the mBI improvement, while language, number processing, and spatial attention deficits reduced the gains in the FMA-UE. These results suggest the importance to evaluate the cognitive functions using an adequate tool in patients with stroke undergoing a robotic rehabilitation intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of efficient targeting strategies poses significant limitations on the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic treatments. This issue also affects drug-loaded nanocarriers, reducing nanoparticles cancer cell uptake. We report on the fabrication and in vitro characterization of doxorubicin-loaded magnetic liposomes for localized treatment of liver malignancies. Colloidal stability, superparamagnetic behavior and efficient drug loading of our formulation were demonstrated. The application of an external magnetic field guaranteed enhanced nanocarriers cell uptake under cell medium flow in correspondence of a specific area, as we reported through in vitro investigation. A numerical model was used to validate experimental data of magnetic targeting, proving the possibility of accurately describing the targeting strategy and predict liposomes accumulation under different environmental conditions. Finally, in vitro studies on HepG2 cancer cells confirmed the cytotoxicity of drug-loaded magnetic liposomes, with cell viability reduction of about 50% and 80% after 24 h and 72 h of incubation, respectively. Conversely, plain nanocarriers showed no anti-proliferative effects, confirming the formulation safety. Overall, these results demonstrated significant targeting efficiency and anticancer activity of our nanocarriers and superparamagnetic nanoparticles entrapment could envision the theranostic potential of the formulation. The proposed magnetic targeting study could represent a valid tool for pre-clinical investigation regarding the effectiveness of magnetic drug targeting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presenilin-2 (PS2) is one of the three proteins that are dominantly mutated in familial Alzheimer's disease (FAD). It forms the catalytic core of the γ-secretase complex—a function shared with its homolog presenilin-1 (PS1)—the enzyme ultimately responsible of amyloid-β (Aβ) formation. Besides its enzymatic activity, PS2 is a multifunctional protein, being specifically involved, independently of γ-secretase activity, in the modulation of several cellular processes, such as Ca2+ signalling, mitochondrial function, inter-organelle communication, and autophagy. As for the former, evidence has accumulated that supports the involvement of PS2 at different levels, ranging from organelle Ca2+ handling to Ca2+ entry through plasma membrane channels. Thus FAD-linked PS2 mutations impact on multiple aspects of cell and tissue physiology, including bioenergetics and brain network excitability. In this contribution, we summarize the main findings on PS2, primarily as a modulator of Ca2+ homeostasis, with particular emphasis on the role of its mutations in the pathogenesis of FAD. Identification of cell pathways and molecules that are specifically targeted by PS2 mutants, as well as of common targets shared with PS1 mutants, will be fundamental to disentangle the complexity of memory loss and brain degeneration that occurs in Alzheimer's disease (AD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyol Process Coupled to Cold Plasma as a New and Efficient Nanohydride Processing Method: Nano-Ni2H as a Case Study. In the last paragraph of Section 3 - Results and Discussion, the sentence "Within relatively soft operating conditions almost pure granular Ni SB 2 sb H hydrides are produced reaching a hydrogen storage capacity of 1.7 wt %" should be "Within relatively soft operating conditions almost pure granular Ni SB 2 sb H hydrides are produced reaching a hydrogen storage capacity of 0.9 wt %". In Section 4 - Conclusions, the sentence "By this material processing route, a hydrogen storage capacity of 1.7 wt % was reached" should be "By this material processing route, a hydrogen storage capacity of 0.9 wt % was reached". [Extracted from the article]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Even though most AD cases are sporadic, a small percentage is familial due to autosomal dominant mutations in amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1 (PSEN1), and presenilin-2 (PSEN2) genes. AD mutations contribute to the generation of toxic amyloid β (Aβ) peptides and the formation of cerebral plaques, leading to the formulation of the amyloid cascade hypothesis for AD pathogenesis. Many drugs have been developed to inhibit this pathway but all these approaches currently failed, raising the need to find additional pathogenic mechanisms. Alterations in cellular calcium (Ca2+) signaling have also been reported as causative of neurodegeneration. Interestingly, Aβ peptides, mutated presenilin-1 (PS1), and presenilin-2 (PS2) variously lead to modifications in Ca2+ homeostasis. In this contribution, we focus on PS2, summarizing how AD-linked PS2 mutants alter multiple Ca2+ pathways and the functional consequences of this Ca2+ dysregulation in AD pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative route for metal hydrogenation has been investigated: cold plasma hydrogen implantation on polyol-made transition metal nanoparticles. This treatment applied to a challenging system, Ni–H, induces a re-ordering of the metal lattice, and superstructure lines have been observed by both Bragg–Brentano and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction. The resulting intermetallic structure is similar to those obtained by very high-pressure hydrogenation of nickel and prompt us to suggest that plasma-based hydrogen implantation in nanometals is likely to generate unusual metal hydride, opening new opportunities in chemisorption hydrogen storage. Typically, almost isotropic in shape and about 30 nm sized hexagonal-packed Ni2H single crystals were produced starting from similarly sized cubic face-centred Ni polycrystals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithography on a sub-100 nm scale is beyond the diffraction limits of standard optical lithography but is nonetheless a key step in many modern technological applications. At this length scale, there are several possible approaches that require either the preliminary surface deposition of materials or the use of expensive and time-consuming techniques. In our approach, we demonstrate a simple process, easily scalable to large surfaces, where the surface patterning that controls pore formation on highly doped silicon wafers is obtained by an electrochemical process. This method joins the advantages of the low cost of an electrochemical approach with its immediate scalability to large wafers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]