Trace elements produce double-edged effects on the lives of animals and particularly of humans. On one hand, these elements represent potentially toxic agents; on the other hand, they are essentially ...needed to support growth and development and confer protection against disease. Certain trace elements and metals are particularly involved in humoral and cellular immune responses, playing the roles of cofactors for essential enzymes and antioxidant molecules. The amount taken up and the accumulation in human tissues decisively control whether the exerted effects are toxic or beneficial. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to re-consider, harmonize and update current legislative regulations regarding the concentrations of trace elements in food and in drinking water. This review aims to provide information on the interrelation of certain trace elements with risk of autoimmune disease, with a particular focus on type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis. In addition, an overview of the current regulations and regulatory gaps is provided in order to highlight the importance of this issue for everyday nutrition and human health.
Organic-inorganic perovskites are a class of solution-processed semiconductors holding promise for the realization of low-cost efficient solar cells and on-chip lasers. Despite the recent attention ...they have attracted, fundamental aspects of the photophysics underlying device operation still remain elusive. Here we use photoluminescence and transmission spectroscopy to show that photoexcitations give rise to a conducting plasma of unbound but Coulomb-correlated electron-hole pairs at all excitations of interest for light-energy conversion and stimulated optical amplification. The conductive nature of the photoexcited plasma has crucial consequences for perovskite-based devices: in solar cells, it ensures efficient charge separation and ambipolar transport while, concerning lasing, it provides a low threshold for light amplification and justifies a favourable outlook for the demonstration of an electrically driven laser. We find a significant trap density, whose cross-section for carrier capture is however low, yielding a minor impact on device performance.
The synthesis, structural characterization, photophysical studies, and exfoliation of two-dimensional (2D) layered coordination polymers, formulated as {Ln2(ClCNAn)3(DMF)6·(DCM) x } n (Ln(III) = ...Yb(x = 0), Nd, and Er (x = 2)) based on the heterosubstituted chlorocyananilate ligand, are reported. These compounds consist of neutral polymeric 2D networks of the chlorocyananilate ligand alternating with Ln(III) ions. They form six-membered rings with rectangular cavities, where neighbor layers are eclipsed along the a axis (Yb), and a regular honeycomb-like structure, with hexagonal cavities filled by dichloromethane solvent molecules (Nd and Er), where neighbor layers alternate along the c axis. Several interlayer interactions between lanthanide centers and dimethylformamide molecules, facing the cavities, are present in all compounds. Free-standing nanosheets, obtained by a top-down strategy involving sonication-assisted solution synthesis and characterized by atomic force microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, show lateral dimensions on the micrometer scale, thicknesses down to the monolayer, and the presence of lattice fringes. Time-resolved photoluminescence studies performed on both the bulk and nanosheets clearly demonstrate that the chlorocyananilate ligand acts as an efficient antenna toward Ln(III) ions and that emission sensitization occurs as a multistep relaxation process involving, in sequence, intersystem crossing and energy transfer from ligand triplet states to the Ln(III) ions. Effects induced by the exfoliation process on the photophysical properties of the nanosheets are also discussed.
The catalytic performance in the direct CO2 methanation of a model biogas is investigated on NiO–CeO2 nanostructured mixed oxides synthesized by the soft-template procedure with different Ni/Ce molar ...ratios. The samples are thoroughly characterized by means of ICP-AES, XRD, TEM and HR-TEM, N2 physisorption at −196 °C, and H2-TPR. They result to be constituted of CeO2 rounded nanocrystals and of polycrystalline needle-like NiO particles. After a H2-treatment at 400 °C for 1 h, the surface basic properties and the metal surface area are also assessed using CO2 adsorption microcalorimetry and H2-pulse chemisorption measurements, respectively. At increasing Ni content the Ni0 surface area increases, while the opposite occurs for the number of basic sites. Using a CO2/CH4/H2 feed, at 11,000 cm3 h−1 gcat−1, CO2 conversions in the 83–89 mol% range and methane selectivities >99.5 mol% are reached at 275 °C and atmospheric pressure, highlighting the very good performances of the investigated catalysts.
•A series of NiO–CeO2 mixed oxides is synthesized by the soft-template procedure.•All samples show high surface areas and strong interactions between NiO and CeO2.•Small Ni0 crystallites (6–9 nm) are obtained upon reduction regardless of Ni content.•Good catalytic performance is obtained in the direct upgrading of a model biogas.•Depending on composition and temperature, different steps control the overall rate.
Romantic love involves peculiar psychological and neural processes that are closely connected with autonomic-visceral changes. The present study aimed at investigating the thermal response associated ...to the love induction task. The facial thermal imprints of forty-four people who were in love and in romantic relationships at the time of the experiment were recorded. Thermal signals were extracted from six regions of interest (ROIs), positioned on the tip of the nose, the upper nose and the perioral areas. The experimental protocol was composed of two conditions, randomised among the subjects: love and control conditions. In the first one, participants were initially asked to think about their partners, then to keep continuing this task while listening to a song related to their relationships; in the second one, they were asked to think about someone else's relationship, then keep continuing this task while listening to positive-content song, unknown to the specific participant.
The results showed that, when experiencing the love condition, the temperature of the nasal tip of the subjects increased, compared to the control condition. Moreover, the data showed that music induced a far more intense peripheral response. Thinking about their partners whilst listening to the love song caused higher peripheral (nose temperature) and subjective responses than with the unknown happy song, which suggests that love induction task activates peculiar patterns that go beyond mere positive feelings.
Blood rheology plays a key role in the pathophysiology of sickle cell anaemia (SS) and sickle cell haemoglobin C disease (SC), but its evolution over the lifespan is unknown.
Blood viscosity, red ...blood cell (RBC) deformability and aggregation, foetal haemoglobin (HbF) and haematocrit were measured in 114 healthy individuals (AA), 267 SS (161 children + 106 adults) and 138 SC (74 children + 64 adults) patients.
Our results showed that 1) RBC deformability is at its maximal value during the early years of life in SS and SC populations, mainly because HbF level is also at its peak, 2) during childhood and adulthood, hydroxycarbamide treatment, HbF level and gender modulated RBC deformability in SS patients, independently of age, 3) blood viscosity is higher in older SS and SC patients compared to younger ones and 4) haematocrit decreases as SS patients age.
The hemorheological changes detected in older patients could play a role in the progressive development of several chronic disorders in sickle cell disease, whose prevalence increases with age. Retarding these age-related haemorheological impairments, by using suitable drugs, may minimize the risks of vaso-occlusive events and chronic disorders.
It has been shown that different genes could be associated with distinctive clinical and radiological phenotypes of FTD. TARDBP gene has been described worldwide in few cases of FTD so its phenotype ...is still unclear. The objective is to study the clinical and radiological characteristics of TARDBP-related FTD. In the present study, we report clinical, neuropsychological and radiological features of five new Sardinian non-related cases of FTD carriers of the p.A382T TARDBP mutation. Furthermore, we reviewed non-related FTD cases with TARDBP mutations previously described in literature. The p.A382T missense mutation of TARDBP was present in the 21.7 % of familial cases of our FTD cohort (5/23) and in no one of the sporadic patients. 3 of 5 patients showed a temporal variant FTD and 4/5 a predominant temporal involvement at MRI. The review of the literature of FTD cases with TARDBP mutations showed that in 5 of 16 cases, the clinical phenotype was consistent with temporal variant of FTD or semantic dementia (31 %) and in 7 of 16 cases neuroimaging showed predominant temporal lobe involvement (43.7 %). Our study further supports the pathogenetic role of TARDBP mutations in pure FTD and in the full spectrum of FTD/ALS. The presence of a predominant temporal lobe involvement in a high percentage of FTD mutated patients with a peculiar clinical pattern could be useful in the differential diagnosis with other forms of dementia/FTD both sporadic and familial.
Among the main measures adopted to reduce anthropogenic impacts on elasmobranch communities, understanding the ecology of deep-sea sharks is of paramount importance, especially for potentially ...vulnerable species highly represented in the bycatch composition of commercial fisheries such as the blackmouth catshark
Galeus melastomus
. In the present work, we unravelled the first indication of population genetic structure of
G. melastomus
by using a novel and effective panel of nuclear, and polymorphic DNA markers and compared our results with previous findings supporting high genetic connectivity at large spatial scales. Given the lack of species-specific nuclear markers, a total of 129 microsatellite loci (Simple Sequence Repeats, SSRs) were cross-amplified on blackmouth catshark specimens collected in eight geographically distant areas in the Mediterranean Sea and North-eastern Atlantic Ocean. A total of 13 SSRs were finally selected for genotyping, based on which the species exhibited signs of weak, but tangible genetic structure. The clearcut evidence of genetic differentiation of
G. melastomus
from Scottish waters from the rest of the population samples was defined, indicating that the species is genetically structured in the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent North-eastern Atlantic. Both individual and frequency-based analyses identified a genetic unit formed by the individuals collected in the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Strait of Sicily, distinguished from the rest of the Mediterranean and Portuguese samples. In addition, Bayesian analyses resolved a certain degree of separation of the easternmost Aegean sample and the admixed nature of the other Mediterranean and the Portuguese samples. Here, our results supported the hypothesis that the interaction between the ecology and biology of the species and abiotic drivers such as water circulations, temperature and bathymetry may affect the dispersion of
G. melastomus
, adding new information to the current knowledge of the connectivity of this deep-water species and providing powerful tools for estimating its response to anthropogenic impacts.
The immunomodulatory effects of HLA-G expression and its role in cancers, human liver infections and liver transplantation are well documented, but so far, there are only a few reports addressing ...autoimmune liver diseases, particularly autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).
Method and materials
We analyzed the genetic and phenotypic characteristics of HLA-G in 205 type 1 AIH patients (AIH-1) and a population of 210 healthy controls from Sardinia (Italy).
Results
Analysis of the HLA-G locus showed no substantial differences in allele frequencies between patients and the healthy control population. The HLA-G UTR-1 haplotype was the most prevalent in both AIH-1 patients and controls (40.24% and 34.29%). Strong linkage was found between the HLA-G UTR-1 haplotype and HLA-DRB1*03:01 in AIH-1 patients but not controls (
D’
= 0.92
vs D’
= 0.50 respectively; P = 1.3x10
-8
). Soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G) levels were significantly lower in AIH-1 patients compared to controls 13.9 (11.6 – 17.4) U/mL
vs
21.3 (16.5 – 27.8) U/mL; P = 0.011. Twenty-four patients with mild or moderate inflammatory involvement, as assessed from liver biopsy, showed much higher sHLA-G levels compared to the 28 patients with severe liver inflammation 33.5 (23.6 – 44.8) U/mL
vs
8.8 (6.1 – 14.5) U/mL; P = 0.003. Finally, immunohistochemistry analysis of 52 liver biopsies from AIH-1 patients did not show expression of HLA-G molecules in the liver parenchyma. However, a percentage of 69.2% (36/52) revealed widespread expression of HLA-G both in the cytoplasm and the membrane of plasma cells labeled with anti-HLA-G monoclonal antibodies.
Conclusion
This study highlights the positive immunomodulatory effect of HLA-G molecules on the clinical course of AIH-1 and how this improvement closely correlates with plasma levels of sHLA-G. However, our results open the debate on the ambiguous role of HLA-G molecules expressed by plasma cells, which are pathognomonic features of AIH-1.
Among solution‐processed nanocrystals containing environmentally benign elements, bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) is a very promising n‐type semiconductor for solar energy conversion. Despite the prompt ...success in the fabrication of optoelectronic devices deploying Bi2S3 nanocrystals, the limited understanding of electronic properties represents a hurdle for further materials developments. Here, two key materials science issues for light‐energy conversion are addressed: bandgap tunability via the quantum size effect, and photocarrier trapping. Nanocrystals are synthesized with controlled sizes varying from 3 to 30 nm. In this size range, bandgap tunability is found to be very small, a few tens of meV. First principles calculations show that a useful blueshift, in the range of hundreds of meV, is achieved in ultra‐small nanocrystals, below 1.5 nm in size. Similar conclusions are envisaged for the class of pnictide chalcogenides with a ribbon‐like structure Pn4Ch6n (Pn = Bi, Sb; Ch = S, Se). Time‐resolved differential transmission spectroscopy demonstrates that only photoexcited holes are quickly captured by intragap states. Photoexcitation dynamics are consistent with the scenario emerging in other metal–chalcogenide nanocrystals: traps are created in metal‐rich nanocrystal surfaces by incomplete passivation by long fatty acid ligands. In large nanocrystals, a lower bound to surface trap density of one trap every sixteen Bi2S3 units is found.
Bandgap tunability and density of midgap states in Bi2S3colloidal nanocrystals are investigated. Energy shifts of tens of meV are observed in nanocrystals with 3 nm size. Similar bandgap tunability is envisaged for pnictide chalcogenides with the same ribbon‐like structure Pn4Ch6n (Pn = Bi, Sb; Ch = S, Se). An intragap density of states in excess of 1020 cm−3 is found.
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