Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polymorphism in Li4Zn(PO4)2 and Stabilization of its Structural Disorder to Improve Ionic Conductivity

Realization of the vulnerability of current rechargeable battery systems drives the research of solid electrolytes. In the search for a new Li ion conductor, we explored the rich crystal chemistry of Li4Zn(PO4)2, which presents a low-temperature monoclinic (α-) and a high-temperature orthorhombic (β-) polymorph. We solved the crystal structure of the β phase and found that it has a disordered Li/Zn-sublattice while showing the largest conductivity; however, it could not be stabilized at room temperature by quenching. We discovered that the partial substitution of Zn2+ with Ga3+ in Li4–xZn1–xGax(PO4)2 first leads to an intermediate β′ phase. Increasing the Ga content to 0.5 mol pfu enables us to stabilize the pure β phase at room temperature, which exhibits a conductivity by several orders of magnitude higher than the pristine sample. The crystal structures of the new β′/β-phases have been solved to elucidate the conduction mechanism, which confirms the high sensitivity of ionic conductivity on disorder.
Elektrophysiologische Eigenschaften von kultivierten Perizyten aus dem Rinderherz

Koronare Perizyten, die sich vor allem im Bereich des Ubergangs von kleinen Arteriolen zu Kapillaren befinden, sind mit den benachbarten Endothelzellen - durch die Ausbildung von Gap Junctions - elektrisch gekoppelt. Einzelne, kultivierte Perizyten wurden mit der Patch Clamp Technik untersucht. Das Ruhemembranpotential der Zellen betrug -46,5 ± 8,6 mV bei 5 mM Kalium in der extrazellularen Losung. Als wesentliche Ionenstrome wurden ein Kaliumstrom durch Einwarts-Gleichrichter-Kaliumkanale (KIR-Kanale) und ein Kaliumstrom durch spannungsabhangige Kaliumkanale (KV) identifiziert und charakterisiert. Die Regulation dieser beiden Strome kann vermutlich den koronaren Blutfluss beeinflussen.
A fast and sensitive method for the continuous in situ determination of dissolved methane and its δ13C‐isotope ratio in surface waters

A fast and sensitive method for the continuous determination of methane (CH4) and its stable carbon isotopic values (δ13C‐CH4) in surface waters was developed by applying a vacuum to a gas/liquid exchange membrane and measuring the extracted gases by a portable cavity ring‐down spectroscopy analyser (M‐CRDS). The M‐CRDS was calibrated and characterized for CH4 concentration and δ13C‐CH4 with synthetic water standards. The detection limit of the M‐CRDS for the simultaneous determination of CH4 and δ13C‐CH4 is 3.6 nmol L−1 CH4. A measurement precision of CH4 concentrations and δ13C‐CH4 in the range of 1.1%, respectively, 1.7‰ (1σ) and accuracy (1.3%, respectively, 0.8‰ [1σ]) was achieved for single measurements and averaging times of 10 min. The response time τ of 57 ± 5 s allow determination of δ13C‐CH4 values more than twice as fast than other methods. The demonstrated M‐CRDS method was applied and tested for Lake Stechlin (Germany) and compared with the headspace‐gas chromatography and fast membrane CH4 concentration methods. Maximum CH4 concentrations (577 nmol L−1) and lightest δ13C‐CH4 (−35.2‰) were found around the thermocline in depth profile measurements. The M‐CRDS‐method was in good agreement with other methods. Temporal variations in CH4 concentration and δ13C‐CH4 obtained in 24 h measurements indicate either local methane production/oxidation or physical variations in the thermocline. Therefore, these results illustrate the need of fast and sensitive analyses to achieve a better understanding of different mechanisms and pathways of CH4 formation in aquatic environments.
Altered Patterns of Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations and Fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuations Between Amnestic and Vascular Mild Cognitive Impairment: An ALE-Based Comparative Meta-Analysis

Background: Changes in the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) have provided stronger evidence for the pathophysiology of cognitive impairment. Whether the altered patterns of ALFF and fALFF differ in amnestic cognitive impairment (aMCI) and vascular mild cognitive impairment (vMCI) is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the ALFF/fALFF changes in the two diseases and to further explore whether they contribute to the diagnosis and differentiation of these diseases. Methods: We searched PubMed, Ovid, and Web of Science databases for articles on studies using the ALFF/fALFF method in patients with aMCI and vMCI. Based on the activation likelihood estimation (ALE) method, connectivity modeling based on coordinate meta-analysis and functional meta-analysis was carried out. Results: Compared with healthy controls (HCs), patients with aMCI showed increased ALFF/fALFF in the bilateral parahippocampal gyrus/hippocampus (PHG/HG), right amygdala, right cerebellum anterior lobe (CAL), left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), left cerebrum temporal lobe sub-gyral, left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG), and left cerebrum limbic lobe uncus. Meanwhile, decreased ALFF/fALFF values were also revealed in the bilateral precuneus (PCUN), bilateral cuneus (CUN), and bilateral posterior cingulate (PC) in patients with aMCI. Compared with HCs, patients with vMCI predominantly showed decreased ALFF/fALFF in the bilateral CUN, left PCUN, left PC, and right cingulate gyrus (CG). Conclusions: The present findings suggest that ALFF and fALFF displayed remarkable altered patterns between aMCI and vMCI when compared with HCs. Thus, the findings of this study may serve as a reliable tool for distinguishing aMCI from vMCI, which may help understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of these diseases.
Alkali-Activation of Synthetic Aluminosilicate Glass With Basaltic Composition

Alkali-activated materials (AAMs) are a potential alternative to Portland cement because they can have high strength, good durability and low environmental impact. This paper reports on the structural and mechanical characteristics of aluminosilicate glass with basalt-like compositions, as a feedstock for AAMs. The alkali-activation kinetics, microstructure, and mechanical performance of the alkali activated glass were investigated. The results show that AAMs prepared from basalt glass have high compressive strength (reaching up to 90 MPa after 7 days of hydration) compared to those made using granulated blast furnace slag (GBFS). In addition, calorimetry data show that the hydrolysis of the developed glass and subsequent polymerization of the reaction product occur at a faster rate compared to GBFS. Furthermore, the obtained results show that the alkali activation of the developed glass formed sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (N-A-S-H) intermixed with Ca aluminosilicate hydrate gel (C-A-S-H), while the alkali activation of GBFS resulted in predominantly C-A-S-H gel. The developed glass can be formed from carbonate-free and abundant natural resources such as basalt rocks or mixtures of silicate minerals. Therefore, the glass reported herein has high potential as a new feedstock of AAMs.
The Performance of a Spherical-tip Catheter for Stent Post-dilation: Finite Element Analysis and Experiments

At present, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the most effective treatment of coronary artery stenosis. However, in case post-dilation of the stent is needed, the tip of the commonly used post-dilation balloon catheter cannot always pass through the stent smoothly, especially when it is situated in the curved part of the vessel. To improve the performance of traditional post-dilation balloon catheter, a preliminary design of a novel catheter with a spherical-tip is proposed. Since the performance of this spherical-tip catheter is still unclear, in this study, finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental validation of blood vessel with different curvature radii were performed to test and evaluate the performance of the spherical-tip catheter design. The comparative results between the two types of catheters demonstrate that in the simulated post-dilation process, the spherical-tip catheter is easier to pass through the stent placed in the curved vessel without the deformation of the stent strut, and can theoretically reduce the operation time and improve the safety of the operation. Furthermore, the strong consistency between simulation and experiment indicates that the finite element (FE) model can be a helpful tool for future optimization and evaluation of novel catheters, so as to save time and budget in product development and reduce/replace animal studies.
Effects of in ovo Injection of Astragalus Polysaccharide on the Intestinal Development and Mucosal Immunity in Broiler Chickens

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of in ovo injection of Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on hatchability, body weight (BW), intestinal histomorphology, the number of IgA+ cells and sIgA content in intestine, and the expression of intestinal immune-related genes in broiler chickens. On day 18 of the incubation, a total of 960 live embryo eggs were weighed and randomly divided into 4 treatment groups: a control group and three APS groups. The eggs in the control group were injected with 0.5 mL physiological saline. The eggs in the APS groups were injected with 3 different amounts of APS in 0.5 mL physiological saline: 1 mg (APSL), 2 mg (APSM) and 4 mg (APSH). The solution was injected into the amnion of each egg. The results showed that in ovo injection of APS did not affect the hatchability but increased the body weight of the 14 d and 21 d chickens, with a significant increase observed in the APSM group (P < 0.05). At most time points, the villus height (VH) was increased (P < 0.05) and the crypt depth (CD) was decreased (P < 0.05) in the small intestine of the broilers, with higher VH/CD ratios in the APSL and APSM groups compared with the control group. The number of IgA+ cells in the mucosa and the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels in the intestinal washings were higher in the APSM and APSH groups than in the APSL and control groups. The gene expression levels of interleukin (IL)-2, interleukin (IL)-4, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 were significantly enhanced by APS stimulation at most time points (P < 0.05). These results indicated that in ovo injection of APS has the potential of promoting intestinal development and enhancing intestinal mucosal immunity of broiler chickens in the early stage after hatching.
Exploring Signatures of Neurodegeneration in Early-Onset Older-Age Bipolar Disorder and Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia

Introduction: Older-age bipolar disorder (OABD) may involve neurocognitive decline and behavioral disturbances that could share features with the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), making the differential diagnosis difficult in cases of suspected dementia. Objective: To compare the neuropsychological profile, brain morphometry, and structural connectivity patterns between patients diagnosed with bvFTD, patients classified as OABD with an early onset of the disease (EO-OABD), and healthy controls (HC). Methods: bvFTD patients (n = 25, age: 66 ± 7, female: 64%, disease duration: 6 ± 4 years), EO-OABD patients (n = 17, age: 65 ± 9, female: 71%, disease duration: 38 ± 8 years), and HC (n = 28, age: 62 ± 7, female: 64%) were evaluated through neuropsychological tests concerning attention, memory, executive function, praxis, and language. Brain morphometry was analyzed through surface-based morphometry (SBM), while structural brain connectivity was assessed through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Results: Both bvFTD and EO-OABD patients showed lower performance in neuropsychological tests of attention, verbal fluency, working memory, verbal memory, and praxis than HC. Comparisons between EO-OABD and bvFTD showed differences limited to cognitive flexibility delayed recall and intrusion errors in the memory test. SBM analysis demonstrated that several frontal, temporal, and parietal regions were altered in both bvFTD and EO-OABD compared to HC. In contrast, comparisons between bvFTD and EO-OABD evidenced differences exclusively in the right temporal pole and the left entorhinal cortex. DTI analysis showed alterations in association and projection fibers in both EO-OABD and bvFTD patients compared to HC. Commissural fibers were found to be particularly affected in EO-OABD. The middle cerebellar peduncle and the pontine crossing tract were exclusively altered in bvFTD. There were no significant differences in DTI analysis between EO-OABD and bvFTD. Discussion: EO-OABD and bvFTD may share an overlap in cognitive, brain morphometry, and structural connectivity profiles that could reflect common underlying mechanisms, even though the etiology of each disease can be different and multifactorial.
RNA-Seq Reveals Different Gene Expression in Liver-Specific Prohibitin 1 Knock-Out Mice

Prohibitin 1 (PHB1) is an evolutionarily conserved and ubiquitously expressed protein that stabilizes mitochondrial chaperone. Our previous studies showed that liver-specific Phb1 deficiency induced liver injuries and aggravated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced innate immune responses. In this study, we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis with liver tissues to investigate global gene expression among liver-specific Phb1−/−, Phb1+/−, and WT mice, focusing on the differentially expressed (DE) genes between Phb1+/− and WT. When 78 DE genes were analyzed for biological functions, using ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) tool, lipid metabolism-related genes, including insulin receptor (Insr), sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1 (Srebf1), Srebf2, and SREBP cleavage-activating protein (Scap) appeared to be downregulated in liver-specific Phb1+/− compared with WT. Diseases and biofunctions analyses conducted by IPA verified that hepatic system diseases, including liver fibrosis, liver hyperplasia/hyperproliferation, and liver necrosis/cell death, which may be caused by hepatotoxicity, were highly associated with liver-specific Phb1 deficiency in mice. Interestingly, of liver disease-related 5 DE genes between Phb1+/− and WT, the mRNA expressions of forkhead box M1 (Foxm1) and TIMP inhibitor of metalloproteinase (Timp1) were matched with validation for RNA-seq in liver tissues and AML12 cells transfected with Phb1 siRNA. The results in this study provide additional insights into molecular mechanisms responsible for increasing susceptibility of liver injuries associated with hepatic Phb1.
Dissecting a Zombie: Joint Analysis of Density and Resistivity Models Reveals Shallow Structure and Possible Sulfide Deposition at Uturuncu Volcano, Bolivia

The recent identification of unrest at multiple volcanoes that have not erupted in over 10 kyr presents an intriguing scientific problem. How can we distinguish between unrest signaling impending eruption after kyr of repose and non-magmatic unrest at a waning volcanic system? After ca. 250 kyr without a known eruption, in recent decades Uturuncu volcano in Bolivia has exhibited multiple signs of unrest, making the classification of this system as “active”, “dormant”, or “extinct” a complex question. Previous work identified anomalous low resistivity zones at <10 km depth with ambiguous interpretations. We investigate subsurface structure at Uturuncu with new gravity data and analysis, and compare these data with existing geophysical data sets. We collected new gravity data on the edifice in November 2018 with 1.5 km spacing, ±15 μGal precision, and ±5 cm positioning precision, improving the resolution of existing gravity data at Uturuncu. This high quality data set permitted both gradient analysis and full 3-D geophysical inversion, revealing a 5 km diameter, positive density anomaly beneath the summit of Uturuncu (1.5–3.5 km depth) and a 20 km diameter arc-shaped negative density anomaly around the volcano (0.5–7.5 depth). These structures often align with resistivity anomalies previously detected beneath Uturuncu, although the relationship is complex, with the two models highlighting different components of a common structure. Based on a joint analysis of the density and resistivity models, we interpret the positive density anomaly as a zone of sulfide deposition with connected brines, and the negative density arc as a surrounding zone of hydrothermal alteration. Based on this analysis we suggest that the unrest at Uturuncu is unlikely to be pre-eruptive. This study shows the value of joint analysis of multiple types of geophysical data in evaluating volcanic subsurface structure at a waning volcanic center.
Janus Kinase Inhibitors and Cell Therapy

Cellular therapies such as allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and immune-effector cell therapy (IECT) continue to have a critical role in the treatment of patients with high risk malignancies and hematologic conditions. These therapies are also associated with inflammatory conditions such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) which contribute significantly to the morbidity and mortality associated with these therapies. Recent advances in our understanding of the immunological mechanisms that underly GVHD and CRS highlight an important role for Janus kinases (JAK). JAK pathways are important for the signaling of several cytokines and are involved in the activation and proliferation of several immune cell subsets. In this review, we provide an overview of the preclinical and clinical evidence supporting the use of JAK inhibitors for acute and chronic GVHD and CRS.
Neurofilament Light Chain and Intermediate HTT Alleles as Combined Biomarkers in Italian ALS Patients

Objective To study the possible implication of the two biomarkers, intermediate alleles (IAs) of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene and neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in plasma, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods We analyzed IAs in a cohort of 106 Italian ALS patients and measured the plasma NfL levels in 20% of the patients of the cohort. We correlated the two biomarkers with clinical phenotypes. Results Intermediate alleles were present in 7.5% of the patients of our cohort, a frequency higher than that reported in general population. Plasma NfL levels increased with age at onset (p < 0.05). Patients with bulbar onset (BO) had higher plasma NfL concentration (CI −0.61 to −0.06, p = 0.02) and a later age at onset of the disease (CI −24.78 to −4.93, p = 0.006) with respect to the spinal onset (SO) form. Additionally, two of the patients, with IAs and plasma NfL concentration lower with respect to normal alleles’ carriers, presented an age at onset higher than the mean of the entire cohort. Conclusion According to our findings, plasma NfL and IAs of HTT gene may represent potential biomarkers in ALS, providing evidence of a possible implication in clinical phenotype.
Staphylococcus aureus Putative Vaccines Based on the Virulence Factors: A Mini-Review

Since the 1960s, the frequency of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as a recurrent cause of nosocomial infections has increased. Since multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus has overcome antimicrobial treatment, the development of putative vaccines based on virulence factors could be a great help in controlling the infections caused by bacteria and are actively being pursued in healthcare settings. This mini-review provides an overview of the recent progress in vaccine development, immunogenicity, and therapeutic features of some S. aureus macromolecules as putative vaccine candidates and their implications against human S. aureus-related infections. Based on the reviewed experiments, multivalent vaccines could prevent the promotion of the diseases caused by this bacterium and enhance the prevention chance of S. aureus infections.
Olivocochlear Changes Associated With Aging Predominantly Affect the Medial Olivocochlear System

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a public health problem that has been associated with negative health outcomes ranging from increased frailty to an elevated risk of developing dementia. Significant gaps remain in our knowledge of the underlying central neural mechanisms, especially those related to the efferent auditory pathways. Thus, the aim of this study was to quantify and compare age-related alterations in the cholinergic olivocochlear efferent auditory neurons. We assessed, in young-adult and aged CBA mice, the number of cholinergic olivocochlear neurons, auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds in silence and in presence of background noise, and the expression of excitatory and inhibitory proteins in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body (VNTB) and in the lateral superior olive (LSO). In association with aging, we found a significant decrease in the number of medial olivocochlear (MOC) cholinergic neurons together with changes in the ratio of excitatory and inhibitory proteins in the VNTB. Furthermore, in old mice we identified a correlation between the number of MOC neurons and ABR thresholds in the presence of background noise. In contrast, the alterations observed in the lateral olivocochlear (LOC) system were less significant. The decrease in the number of LOC cells associated with aging was 2.7-fold lower than in MOC and in the absence of changes in the expression of excitatory and inhibitory proteins in the LSO. These differences suggest that aging alters the medial and lateral olivocochlear efferent pathways in a differential manner and that the changes observed may account for some of the symptoms seen in ARHL.
p53 Activation Effect in the Balance of T Regulatory and Effector Cell Subsets in Patients With Thyroid Cancer and Autoimmunity

Carcinomas evade the host immune system by negatively modulating CD4+ and CD8+ T effector lymphocytes through forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) positive T regulatory cells’ increased activity. Furthermore, interaction of the programmed cell death 1 (PD1) molecule and its ligand programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1) inhibits the antitumor activity of PD1+ T lymphocytes. Immunotherapy has become a powerful strategy for tailored cancer patients’ treatment both in adult and pediatric patients aiming to generate potent antitumor responses. Nevertheless, immunotherapies can generate autoimmune responses. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of the transformation-related protein 53 (p53) reactivation by a peptide-based inhibitor of the MDM2/MDM4 heterodimer (Pep3) on the immune response in a solid cancer, i.e., thyroid carcinoma frequently presenting with thyroid autoimmunity. In peripheral blood mononuclear cell of thyroid cancer patients, Pep3 treatment alters percentages of CD8+ and CD4+ T regulatory and CD8+ and CD4+ T effector cells and favors an anticancer immune response. Of note that reduced frequencies of activated CD8+ and CD4+ T effector cells do not support autoimmunity progression. In evaluating PD1 expression under p53 activation, a significant decrease of activated CD4+PD1+ cells was detected in thyroid cancer patients, suggesting a defective regulation in the initial activation stage, therefore generating a protective condition toward autoimmune progression.